One of the blogs I have followed the longest on this Roll has been dayf over at Cardboard Junkie. I have always found his posts and writing very humorous and very interesting to me. His Allen & Ginter project (the originals) is a very cool idea and should not be missed. You'll have to scroll all the way down on the right side of his blog, but he's got some nice scans of some pretty awesome vintage A&G. And thanks to him, I began my quest for an Allen & Ginter mini "Frankenstein" set only to want any and all mini Ginter cards.
Like many of the blogs out there, he's going after the 2011 Topps Diamond shiny cards so when I offered some Trade Bait that included an Albert Pujols, he came calling.
First up, he knocked off three more 2009 Topps Heritage cards off my needs list. These three cards came from the High Series and puts me closer to finishing that series. I still have a ways to go with the regular series including quite a few short print cards. I think out of all the Topps Heritage issues, the '60 version was one of their best if not THE best execution of the retro set concept. The design and colors are really strong. One of these days I'll get this set in pages.
Next up, I can cross off four cards on my 2010 Heritage set. Getting closer with this one but still need a number of shorts prints. I would think I would have an easier time acquiring the short prints as I don't find many collectors out there collecting this set due to it's "boringness" and "hatless" photos. Sooooo, I know your out there, drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to trade for these SPs! I think one things I do love about the set is the large photo area, nothing flashy, just as clean as the original.
And finally, even though I have barely made a dent in this set (as I returned that eBay lot because the condition was really rough), Junkie sent me five 1972 Topps cards including a semi-high in Ken Brett. Like another blogger told me just yesterday while discussing a trade, no matter how little you have made in-roads on a set like this, you gotta take any card you can get.
Thanks again dayf for the trade!!! I hope to find more shinys to send your way down the line and I have a number of oddball Braves cards (especially of Maddux) that I know could find a home down South. Hopefully, another trade will follow down the road.
One of baseball's toughest feats for a hitter, is hitting for the cycle. One of those few ball players to do so was Cleveland Indians first baseman, Tony Horton.
Trying to find a card of Tony Horton might be as tough as hitting for the cycle. Tony never appeared on a Topps card, even though he had made his Major League debut for the Boston Red Sox in 1964. He appears on a couple of regional issues and a Kellogg's card from the 1971 series.
So with that in mind, I decided to design a Topps Lost Card featuring Mr. Horton. He makes his Topps trading card debut in the 1971 Topps set, card number 753.
1970 was a curious season for Horton. He batted .269 with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs in a season full of ups and downs. On May 24 of that year in the second game of a doubleheader, he hit three home runs in an 8-7 loss to the New York Yankees; he reportedly was upset about not hitting a fourth. Exactly one month later against the Yankees, in the first game of another doubleheader, Horton fouled off a “folly floater” from Steve Hamilton. Horton asked for another "Folly Floater," and Hamilton again threw one, and again Horton popped it into foul territory behind home plate—this time into Thurman Munson's mitt for an out. An embarrassed Horton crawled back into the dugout.
On July 2, Horton hit for the cycle in a 10-9 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The end of Horton's playing career came unexpectedly on August 28, after he took himself out in the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the California Angels. A batting slump and constant booing from the Indians fans led to such emotional distress that Horton would attempt suicide that evening. He would receive treatment and recover, but the stress of professional baseball forced him to leave the game prematurely; he had played his last game three months shy of his 26th birthday. His manager, Alvin Dark, in his book When in Doubt, Fire the Manager, would call Horton’s sudden exit “the most sorrowful incident I was ever involved in, in my baseball career.”
In his very short career, Horton batted .268 with 76 home runs and 297 RBIs in 636 games played.
As an avid baseball historian, there isn't many facts or tidbits that I come across that I find myself saying: "Wow, I didn't know that."
So imagine coming across one such record/factoid that a Boston Red Sox player actually owned the other day when the Boston Globe ran a pictorial about Ray Allen (NBA 3-point record) and other Boston athletes owning places in sports record books.
Cox was heralded as a skilled hitter with a major league swing. He spent five years in the Boston minor league system, stepping up a class every year, that was hastened by a phenomenal season in 1977 with Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. In 95 games, he hit .334 with 14 home runs and 81 RBI, which was highligted by an All-Star selection, and helping Pawtucket to clinch the regular season championship. After the season he won both the Topps Minor League Player of the Year and the International League MVP awards, and was promoted to the big team.
Cox debuted with the Red Sox on September 18, on Brooks Robinson Night at Baltimore. Robinson had just retired, finishing a 23-year career with the Orioles, one of the longest major-league careers with one club. Spoiling Robinson's celebration, Cox went 4-for-4 in his first major league game, a 10–4 victory over Baltimore. After the game, reporters told Cox he had tied the American League record for most hits in a first game. Casey Stengel, Willie McCovey and Mack Jones also share the mark. Boston returned to Fenway Park to face the New York Yankees the next day. In his first at-bat against the Yankees, Cox hit a single to tie a record held by Cecil Travis with the Washington Senators. Travis set the record of five consecutive hits at the start of a major league career in 1933. Then, in his second at-bat Cox singled off Ed Figueroa. This assured him a place in major league history for his unique 6-for-6 hitting streak.
Cox ended 1977 with a .362 average (21-for-58), and drew considerable attention to himself. Before the 1978 season he was sent by Boston along with Bo Díaz, Mike Paxton, and Rick Wise to the Cleveland Indians in the same transaction that brought Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall to the Red Sox. After two years in Cleveland as a backup outfielder and playing all four infield positions, Cox joined the Seattle Mariners in 1980 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981, his last major league season.
In a five-season career, Cox was a .245 hitter with 10 home runs and 79 RBI in 272 games.
Currently, Cox works with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association in raising money for worthy causes and charities.
Cox made his Topps debut with three others at #706 in the 1978 set. The feat made the back of his 1979 Topps card. His last card was in 1981's Donruss and Fleer sets.
A little while back, Johnny over at Cards from the Quarry emailed me about trading. Like myself, he had just got his blog up and running. He has been quite busy as he's had a number of trades on his site lately. Going his way was around 400 cards from various set needs along with a number of Rockies cards.
Coming back to the WALL was a first for my collection. A jersey relic/autograph card and numbered 25 of 50! This is my third jersey swatch card I have of Lester and first autograph. Lester's story is amazing one if you have never heard before. Coming into the 2011 season, many are predicting it could be a Cy Young type of year for the lefty. His last three years have been rock solid and is truly the ace of a pretty strong rotation that includes, Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and if you must, Dice-K.
I think the following line sums it up best:
He beat cancer.
He beat the Rox for the World Series.
He threw a no-hitter.
What's next... Hall of Fame?
Next up are three Red Sox cards I have never seen before and still not sure what set they come from. They are pretty cool and the only other card I have found on eBay is a Johnny Damon. They are some sort of 2006 Upper Deck product. In any case, these are cool and wonder is there is a Lester or Youkilis out there that I can add to my player collections.
Next up, the card that first started off our initial trade talks was a 2009 Topps Update Short Print variation card of Bo Jackson. While I may never obtain all these SP variations, I am always on the look out for them. Others I have are a Lou Gehrig (series 1), Robin Yount (series 2), and a Honus Wagner (Update series). If you have any, I've got a 2010 Topps Rickey Henderson SP variation to trade.
Next up, a couple of cards off from No-Hitters Club collection. A 1989 Topps Tom Browning and a 1992 Mark Williamson. On September 16, 1988, Browning, pitched a perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The game was delayed two-and-a-half hours, but when it finally started, Tom Browning was at his best, throwing 102 pitches, 72 of which were strikes. The small crowd that patiently waited nearly three hours for a 10 p.m. start were treated to a magnificent pitchers' duel that featured Tim Belcher taking a no-hitter into the the sixth inning and Tom Browning completing the first ever Cincinnati Reds perfect game. The following season, Browning barely missed becoming the first Major League pitcher to pitch two perfect games, taking his second bid into the ninth inning on July 4, 1989 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium. A lead-off single by Dickie Thon ended Browning's attempt.
On July 13, 1988, Mark Williamson was part of a combined no-hitter. Baltimore Orioles starter Bob Milacki and three relievers, Mike Flanagan, Williamson and Gregg Olson, combined for the O's first no-hitter since 1969 in a 2-0 victory at the Oakland Coliseum. Milacki pitched 6 innings and struck out three batters before giving ball to the bullpen. He was taken out of the game when he was hit by a line drive in the seventh inning. Flanagan came on to finish the seventh and them Williamson and Olson three 1-2-3 innings in the 8th and 9th innings to preserve the no-no.
And finally, we have three cards off of my other baseball feats collection, Players Have Hit for the Cycle. We've got a 1988 Topps Chris Speier, a 1989 Topps Gary Redus, and a 2010 Topps Chrome Troy Tulowitzki. On July 9, 1988 Chris Speier hit for the cycle as the Giants mauled the Cardinals, 21-2 at Candlestick Park. It marked the second time Speier had accomplished the feat and was almost 10 years to the day of his previous cycle for the Expos on July 20, 1978.
On August 25, 1989, Gary Redus' cycle came against the Reds, who were playing their first game since Pete Rose was banned from baseball for life. The Pirates racked up 17 hits and downed Cincinnati 12-3 at Riverfront Stadium.
On August 10, 2009, Tulo had five hits and drove in seven while hitting his cycle against the Cubs in a 11-5 win at Coors Field. Tulowitzki, who had a home run denied in the first video review at Coors Field, came to bat to lead off the seventh a triple shy of the franchise's fifth cycle and first in nine years.
Thanks again Johnny for the trade, I'm sure we'll trade again down the road and for those of you who haven't checked out his blog out yet, go take a look!
CONTEST THAT IS! Go check out what Crinkly Wrappers is offering to all!
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Won't get to post until later this afternoon or later tonight, but will throw a couple of items up for night reading. Need to do some freelance design today and also try to enjoy the almost 60 degree temperature we'll see in Massachusetts today.
Been a crazy day at work so really haven't had a chance to post at all today. Just wanted to thank reader Matt for the note he passed along:
Shane,
Got the package today. Needless to say I am very happy! Thanks for all the great cards and I'll keep checking your blog and your needs list.
-Matt
Matt had sent these cards about two weeks ago and going his way was a number of 2010 Allen and Ginter base cards, including several SPs and This Day in History Cards. I had picked these up at the local shop and maybe paid a buck for these if that. Matt also likes the Cubs and Pirates, so also tucked in a '70 Topps Hebner, a '76 SSPC Rick Monday, and some '78/79 OPC & Topps Cubs and Pirates cards. Thanks again Matt, I'm sure we'll trade again!
Target Red Diamonds Here!! Target Red Diamonds Here!! Get your Red Diamonds Here!!
Collecting the Gold Foils??? How about Trevor Hoffman's last card?? Numbered 1839/2011.
Now I know what you're thinking, why is Shane got a mini up for trade? Turns out, it's an extra I just got out of a pack. Love this set, but don't need two Pujols.
So take a look at my wants and leave a comment or shoot me an email.
