Players favorite cards

I'm sure players love cards that feature them doing something great. A great swing, a great catch, maybe even a play at the plate. Since I'm off spending time with my kids, I thought about these cards which I'll bet rank up there as these players favorite cards.

2003 Ultra Sean Casey

2002 Ultra Luis Gonzalez

2002 Ultra Steve Finley



2002 Ultra Ramon Hernandez

That is probably not Hernandez's kid. Mark Bellhorn played for Oakland in 2001 and wore #14. Still, how could you not like that card. As a matter of fact, I think that qualifies as a play at the plate.

Sign of the Times

I'm on vacation this week. That means I had to decide early last week between going a week without posting (shudder!!) or scheduling out posts further than I normally do ( I never blog on the weekends so anything you see from me on Saturday or Sunday was done earlier that week). I decided to use this opportunity to schedule some posts highlighting some quirky cards, some of my favorite Fleer Ultra cards and anything else that I had scanned, but set aside for other reasons. I hope you aren't too bored by this week's selections. I look forward to returning to regular posting next Monday. Fortunately, I'll have my phone so I should be reading/commenting throughout the week time permitting.

I guess Ozzie just hates the media...and the umpires....and opposing players...and...

Get it..."Sign of the Times"? The blog title...get it? Jeffrey Hammonds got it.

Play at the Plate 20: Fleer Ultra No Catcher Edition

In my continuing quest to showcase Fleer Ultra, particulary the 2002 and 2003 cards which I seem to have in quantity, I give you some "catcher-less" plays at the plate.

2002 Fleer Ultra Rafael Furcal. It appears Furcal is going for the swipe tag of home.

2003 Fleer Ultra Eric Chavez. Chavez is also going for the sweep tag of home, only he's going in head first.

Last, but not least, we have Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, circa 2002 Fleer Ultra. That is a load coming in spikes first. I don't know the catcher who is going to be on the receiving end of this play, but I don't envy him one bit.

Enjoy your Sunday.

A "Thrill"ing package from Stats on the Back

Mark over at Stats on the Back is posting an alphabetic list of cards up for grabs. I missed his "C" post the first time, but managed to find it in time to claim some Will Clark cards. The package included 40 Will Clarks and was a very welcome diversion over the long weekend.


I just realized that I scanned 6 of the 40 cards (well, one is a little Collect-A-Book) and none of them were in a Rangers uni. That is odd.

I'll start off with one of my favorite's from the package.

I'm on record about how much I like the Flair cards and this 1992 Flair Clark is no exception. That would look really nice with a sharpie auto right across the front.

2000 Topps Traded. I hated seeing Will go to the Orioles, but he tore it up in his brief stint with the Cardinals. In 51 games he hit 12 homers, drove in 42 and hit .345. And then he was done.

1990 Score something or other. I've never seen this card and it's not a regular card. Maybe it's an insert. It says Super Star and has the number 30 on the back.

1989 Fleer Baseball's Exciting Stars. Another card I've never seen, but this must be from some small box set.

1990 Donruss (Blue?) A third card I've never seen. And I bought about a million 1990 Donruss cards. Where did the blue ones come from?

This is one of my favorite Will Clark cards. Ever. It's a 1992 Leaf card. I don't normally like pictures of players' backs, but this shows the great swing Clark was known for and you can really see the torque on the bat as it sends the ball off into the bleachers. Great shot and a great horizontal card.

Mark, thanks a bunch and I will be sending you something soon as well!

Double Vision, A Night Card for you know HOO and an All-Star Moment

I love titles that are short and to the point. Succinct even. Don't you? Well, you won't get that today.

As I searched through cards looking for something to post this weekend, I found some of these interesting multiple exposure shots.

1995 Topps Royce Clayton. Tim Hyers only played in 52 games for the Padres in 1994. That made it easy to find this play was from May 26, 1994. In the bottom of the first inning, Hyers walked against William VanLandingHam and the great Tony Gwynn hit into a double play. The Giants would win that game 5-3. That's a nice series of shots of the double play turn.

This 1995 Topps Wayne Kirby also tells a story. May 1, 1994. The Rangers are visiting Cleveland. It's the bottom of the 6th, tied 3-3. Kenny Lofton singles, but gets picked off first by Rick Helling. Wayne Kirby walks. Carlos Baerga strikes out, but Kirby steals second and advances to 3rd on the errant throw from Rangers catcher Junior Ortiz. Kirby didn't score however, and the Rangers won the game 5-4.

I don't know when this picture was taken, but I do know Dave Nilsson hit the first homerun ever at the Ballpark in Arlington. It was the home opener on April 11, 1994. He hit it off Kenny Rogers in the top of the 5th inning. I got to see it in person...and it was bittersweet as the Brewers beat the Rangers 4-3.

I think this 1990 Upper Deck Wade Boggs may be a night shot. It's a cool shot no matter when it was taken. The back is even better. (That scan sure is crooked)

There is no mistaking when this shot was taken. July 11, 1989. The All-Star game in Anaheim. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the first, the A.L. leads off with Bo Jackson against Rick Reuschel. Bo knows baseball and Bo knows homeruns. Bo leads off with a homer and is greeted at home plate by Wade Boggs, in a moment captured on the back of this card. Moments later, Boggs also homers, tying the game 2-2. The A.L would go on to win the game 5-3 and Bo would win MVP honors for going 2-4 with homer, 2 RBIs and a stolen base.

These are all fun cards and I got to use the word succinct in a post. Twice.

Cards from the Old Man Part 21: The LAST card!

This is the twenty-first in a series of posts about cards I received from the old collector in our town who had library card catalogs full of cards from the 1950's-1970's. You can see those original posts here and here if you missed them.

You may recall my May contest, posted on May 1st, was to guess the year and player of the final "Cards from the Old Man" card. Only three people, Night Owl, madding, and omegawax guessed the right year, 1959. No one guessed the right player.

Well, here he is.

Robin Roberts died 4 days after that contest post and I didn't post anything about it. I had been thinking about him because I knew this card post was coming so it was sad to hear the news of his passing.

Robin Roberts had a very nice 19 year career. Hall of Fame nice according to the BBWAA who elected him to the Hall of Fame in 1976. Roberts pitched in 676 games, posting a 286-245 record. He had a 3.41 ERA to go along side his amazing 305 complete games (36th all-time) and 45 shutouts. He even found time to earn 25 saves along the way. He threw 4,688.2 innings, striking out 2,357 (40th all-time). Roberts won 20 or more games 6 times, including a career high of 28. He threw 300+ innings 6 times, the same 6 years he won 20 or more games. He had 20+ complete games 8 times, including a staggering 30+ complete games twice.

Roberts made 5 All-Star appearances and made it to one World Series with the 1950 Phils. Unfortunately, the Yankees swept that Series 4-0. Roberts had a masterful performance in his one start, pitching a 10 inning complete game in Game 2, losing 2-1 in the 10th on a Joe DiMaggio homerun.

Roberts was the Sporting News Player and Pitcher of the Year in 1952 when he posted a 28-7 record with 330 innings pitched and 30 complete games. He repeated the SN Pitcher of the Year honors in 1955.

RIP Robin Roberts.

I've enjoyed writing this series and I wish I had a 100 more of these great old vintage cards to show off. Unfortunately, my friend ended up with most of the cards through trading and the fact that he was willing to go to the old man's house more than once.

This just in: TOPPS SERIES 2 IS HERE!

I know most, if not all, of you have opened some Topps Series 2 cards already, but I just found some a couple of days ago. I picked up 10 packs at the LCS. The owner of the LCS opens a box and places the packs down inside a plexiglass box. I just took the 10 packs off the top and here is what I got. I only scanned one card per pack.

Pack 1:

Gerardo Parra, ARI--First card of Series 2
Brett Cecil, TOR
Jesus Flores, WAS
Conor Jackson, ARI
Ken Griffey Jr. CYMTO
Red Hot Rookies #3 Redemption

Johan Santana Turkey Red
Nick Punto, MIN
Corey Hart, MIL
Jason Bay, TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 2:

Brandon Webb, ARI
Mike Pelfrey, NYM
Esmil Rogers, COL
Padres Franchis History
Legendary Lineage Tris Speaker/Jacoby Ellsbury
Pee Wee Reese Vintage Legends

Tigers Franchise History
Alfonso Soriano, CHC
Miguel Cabrera, DET
Alexei Ramirez, TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 3:

Michael Young, TEX

Jose Lopez, SEA
Paul Konerko, CHW
Edgar Renteria, SF
Red Sox Franchise History
Million Card Code: Bob Gibson
Alcides Escobar Turkey Red
Jordan Zimmerman, WAS
Ervin Santana, LAA
Derrek Lee TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 4:

Josh Fields, KC
Kevin Slowey, MIN
Gary Matthews Jr., NYM
Ryan Perry, DET
Raul Ibanez, PHI (Really nice pic!)
Jimmie Foxx Vintage Legends
Matt Kemp Topps 2020

Jorge Cantu, FLO
Derek Holland, TEX
Justin Morneau TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 5:

Carlos Pena, TB
Steve Pearce, PITT
Ramon Hernandez, CIN
Yankees Franchise History
Legendary Lineage Dale Murphy/Matt Kemp
Million Card Code: Mickey Mantle
Jason Hammel, COL
Luke Hochevar, KC (that quite an expression on his face)

Landon Powell, OAK
Zack Greinke TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 6:

Scott Feldman, TEX
Jimmy Rollins, PHI
Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS
Julio Borbon, TEX
Orioles Franchise History
Peak Performers Phil Rizzuto
Joe Mauer Topps 2020 (a play at the plate even!)

Chad Qualls, ARI
Melky Cabrera, ATL
Pablo Sandoval TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 7:

Travis Ishikawa, SF
Clete Thomas, DET
Wandy Rodriguez, HOU
John Raynor, PITT
Athletics Franchise History
Jackie Robinson Vintage Legends (see this Night Owl post for thoughts on this card)



Madison Bumgarner Topps 2020
Everth Cabrera, SD
Vin Mazzaro, OAK
Grady Sizemore TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 8:

Luis Valbuena, CLE
Brian Bruney, WAS
Orioles Bird Watching Adam Jones & Nick Markakis



Whatever Jones and Markakis are watching must not be that interesting because no one in the stands is watching it.

Kyle Kendrick, PHI
Johnny Bench, CYMTO
Legendary Lineage Jackie Robinson/Ichiro
Chad Billingsley, LAD
Jered Weaver, LAA
David Murphy, TEX
Ryan Zimmerman TOPPS ATTAX

Pack 9:

Yuniesky Betancourt, KC (someone blogged about his crazy eyes, but I forgot who)
Cliff Pennington, OAK
Bronson Arroyo, CIN
Alberto Callaspo, KC



Ryan Howard, PHI
Chris Getz, KC TOPPS GOLD 1218/2010
Alex Rodriguez, CYMTO
Jeremy Hermida, BOS
Texas Franchise History (tied for the best Franchise History card with the O's)
Max Scherzer TOPPS ATTAX (nice return to the bigs Max)

Pack 10:

Martin Prado, ATL
Wade LeBlanc, SD
Scott Sizemore, DET
Ruben Tejado, NYM
Maicer Izturis, LAA
Peak Performers Al Kaline
Scott Feldman, TEX TOPPS GOLD 1946/2010

Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS
Jayson Werth, PHI
Joey Votto, TOPPS ATTAX

I don't hate the inserts. I don't even hate the amount of inserts. But I want more base cards, more players. PLEASE BRING BACK TOPPS TOTAL IN SOME FORM!

I'm just saying.

I did login and redeem my card and got a "RED HOT ROOKIES #3". I guess no announcement has been made. I should keep up with those sort of things I guess.

I already redeemed my two codes for a couple of 1971 cards. I couldn't wait for the next '50s run. I'll be picking up more of these as I find them. I still haven't seen any in any of the local retail outlets.

NOTE: I made another trip back to the shop, picking up 12 more packs. I pulled the usual inserts/gold cards. And this one "hit":

No pie in the face (I do want the Cruz), no auto's, just another #$*&^$ Yankee.