Baseball Cards Come to Life!

Guillermo Moscoso likes all his cards

2012-01-27T09:12:00.003-05:00

Guillermo Moscoso came up with the Rangers in 2009, and was traded to Oakland before the 2011 season, where in his first full season in the majors he went 8-10 with a 3.38 ERA. Two weeks ago he was traded to the Colorado Rockies. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards with this brief comment.

"Every year I get new cards... So I like all that I have ..."

Thanks!

Humberto Cota's favorite card

2012-01-26T09:20:00.002-05:00

Catcher Humberto Cota played seven years for the Pirates. His best year was 2005, when he hit .242 with 7 HR and 43 RBI. For the last three years he has played for the Monterrey Sultanes in the Mexican League, hitting .327 with 10 HR and 45 RBI in 2011. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"No I don't collect!! There's one of mine tagging Jacob Cruz at the plate in Spring Training!! He's a good friend of mine."

Thanks! I don't have that card, from 2006 Upper Deck, but here is one I do have, from 2000 Bowman.

Trade with All Tribe Baseball

2012-01-25T13:00:00.002-05:00

A while back I got a Cal Ripken Christmas bear as package filler from one of my Amazon purchases. I couldn't get any Orioles bloggers interested in it, but Baseball Dad from All Tribe Baseball has a son who is a big Ripken fan so I sent it to him and in return he sent me some cards from my wantlist, mostly from 2007 Topps. I really enjoy the card backs from that set. The best from the ones he sent me is the Bronson Arroyo card. There are two errors (2 Pirates instead of 02 Pirates and incorrectly saying he led the league in games pitched), plus a rather bizarre comparison of his hair with Bo Derek's!

Also, the new This Week in Baseball Cards is up at the Hall of Very Good. Enjoy!

Player Profile: Doug Angeli

2012-01-24T09:26:00.002-05:00

I have one card of Doug Angeli, from 1994 ProCards.

Playing career: Shortstop Doug Angeli played five seasons in the Phillies organization. His best season was 1996 at Reading, when he hit eight home runs in only 187 at bats.

Where he is now: Head coach/Owner of the Spartanburg Phillies travel team in South Carolina.

My memories: Last year I wrote to him asking about his baseball card experiences. He replied that he never collected cards and that all of his cards “are basically boring.”

Google Autocomplete Results: He is fourth when you type Doug Ang, between Doug Anglin, founder of the UCLA Drug Abuse Research Center, and Doug Angove, a chiropractor in Minnesota. There do not appear to be any other prominent Doug Angelis.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Rick Ankiel.

Player Profile: Luis Andujar

2012-01-23T13:31:00.003-05:00

I have one card of Luis Andujar, from 1996 Donruss.

Playing career: Luis Andujar pitched for the White Sox and Blue Jays from 1995 to 1998. In 20 starts and 15 relief appearances he was 3-10 with a 5.98 ERA.

My memories: Was vaguely aware of him with the White Sox but he didn’t really make an impression.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Luis Andujar is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Luis Andu, ahead of Luis Andujas Insurance, a State Farm agent in Miami. Another promiment Luis Andujar is an architect in Ohio.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Doug Angeli.

Player profile: Juan Andujar

2012-01-22T17:24:00.002-05:00

I have one card of Juan Andujar, from 1991 Classic Best.

Playing career: Shortstop Juan Andujar played in the Cardinals and Indians organizations from 1989 to 1994. He hit .241 with 26 HR and 202 RBI.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Juan Andujar is now?

My memories: Never heard of him until I got his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Juan Andu, before Juan Anduiza, a Litigation Partner at Squire Sanders. When you google Juan Andujar, before the baseball player you get Juan Andujar Oliver, a Spanish soccer referee.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Luis Andujar.

Bill Swift on baseball cards

2012-01-21T10:43:00.002-05:00

Bill Swift pitched thirteen seasons in the major leagues, winning 94 games. His best seasons were with the Giants - he led the National League with a 2.08 ERA in 1992, and the next year he won 21 games and finished second in the Cy Young voting. Now the head baseball coach at Scottsdale Christian Academy, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I believe Purina Dog Chow put out a set of cards about players and their dogs! My dog at the time was a Cocker spaniel! My Olympic card is my favorite!"

Thanks! The dog card was actually from Milkbone, not Purina.

Matt Mieske on baseball cards

2012-01-20T09:04:00.003-05:00

Outfielder Matt Mieske played for the Brewers, Cubs, Mariners, Astros and Diamondbacks from 1993 to 2000, hitting .262 with 56 HR and 226 RBI. Now a certified financial planner at LPL Financial Services, the nation's largest independent broker-dealer, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I am not really a collector of cards. I have kept copies of all of my cards, but not really anyone elses. I have collected autographed baseballs over the years, but not cards.

My favorite one is probably the one that I posed left-handed, as I am right-handed, and never hit left-handed. I didn't think that they would let me do it, but it went through anyways."

Thanks!

Scott Cooper's favorite card

2012-01-19T09:09:00.002-05:00

Third baseman Scott Cooper played seven seasons in the major leagues. He was an American League All Star in 1993 and 1994, his first two seasons replacing Wade Boggs as the Red Sox third baseman. Now a coach for the St. Louis Gamers youth team, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"My favorite card is an Upper Deck card because the photographer came up to me after the game and told me he got a picture of the home run swing against the Yankees in my 2nd at bat and was going to send it in to Upper Deck and see if they would print it. He was right. Probably my best swing ever on a card. Upper Deck -1992"

Thanks! That means the photo was taken on October 3, 1992. He went 2-5 in Boston's 7-5 win.

Player profile: Joaquin Andujar

2012-01-18T13:44:00.002-05:00

The new This Week in Baseball cards is up at the Hall of Very Good - lots of new Hall of Famer Barry Larkin!

I have 33 cards of Joaquin Andujar. This one is from 1987 Topps.

Playing career: Joaquin Andujar pitched for the Astros, Cardinals and Athletics from 1976 to 1988. By far his best two seasons were 1984 and 1985, when he won 20 and then 21 games for the Cardinals.

My memories: My mental image of Andujar is not pitching but of getting into fights – he always seemed to be in the middle of a brawl or yelling at the umpire.

Interesting stories: One of several former Cardinals to be briefly suspended by the league for cocaine use. That use could explain his several on-field blow-ups, including one in Game 7 of the 1985 World Series, from which he was ejected. He also had many famous quotes, including "There is one word in America that says it all, and that one word is, 'You never know.'" A full list of quotes can be found here.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Joaquin Andujar is now?

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type Joaquin A, between Joaquin Arias, the former MLB infielder currently in the Royals organization, and Joaquin Almunia, VP in charge of Competition at the European Commission. There do not appear to be any other prominent Joaquin Andujars.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Juan Andujar.

Player Profile: Elvis Andrus

2012-01-17T13:57:00.002-05:00

I have four cards of Elvis Andrus. This one is from 2011 Bowman.

Playing career: As a 20 year old rookie in 2009, shortstop Elvis Andrus was second in the AL Rookie of the year voting. He suffered no sophomore jinx, earning his first All Star selection in 2010.

Where he is now. Shortstop for the Rangers. In 2011 he hit .279 with 5 HR, 60 RBI and 37 SB. He had a rough time in the postseason - in 17 games he hit just .235 with 1 RBI.

My memories: It’s amazing he’s only 23 – he’s been a star for quite a while now. One of many Texas Rangers who seem to always do well against the Yankees.

Interesting facts: His brother Erold Andrus used to play in the Yankees organization.

Google Autocomplete Results: He is eighth when you type Elv, between Elvis Costello Tour, referring to a singer-songwriter, and Elven Names, referring to what you would name an elf. There do not appear to be any other prominent Elvis Andruses.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Joaquin Andujar.

Matt Morizio on baseball cards

2012-01-16T17:01:00.002-05:00

Catcher Matt Morizio played in the Royals organization from 2006 to 2009. His best season was 2007, when he hit .250 with 5 HR and 27 RBI. Now the head coach of the 15U New England Ruffnecks, he kindly answered my question about his favorite card.

"My favorite card would have to be that of my friend Will Inman this past season with the AAA Padres. The picture is priceless."

Thanks! Unfortunately I couldn't find a picture of Inman's 2011 Tucson Padres card - do any of you readers have that card?

Here is a card of Morizio, from the 2009 Wilmington Blue Rocks.

Flint Wipke on baseball cards

2012-01-15T13:14:00.003-05:00

Catcher Flint Wipke played in the Angels organization from 2005 to 2009, hitting .230 with 25 HR and 123 RBI. Now a territory representative for Patterson Dental, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"My cards were pretty limited to 1 per year based on which team I was playing with. My favorite card would probably be my 2008 Rancho card. I have a small collection from when I was younger back in the late 80's early 90's and I think the cards are worth maybe half now what they were when I was collecting as a kid. I don't actively collect."

Thanks! I couldn't find a picture of his 2008 Rancho card, but here is his 2009 Arkansas Travellers card.

Chris Gimenez on baseball cards

2012-01-14T12:25:00.003-05:00

Catcher Chris Gimenez played for the Indians in 2009 and 2010, hitting 12 HR in 73 games. He played briefly for Seattle in 2011 and will be back with the Mariners in 2012. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"Honestly I have no idea what cards of me are even out there! I do have Griffey and McGwire rookie cards though, my prized possesions! i Used to have a pretty sweet collection of cards but I'm giving them all to my son, hopefully he can add to it!"

Thanks! Here is a link to a list of all of Gimenez's, cards, including 2011 Topps Update, pictured below.

Kyle Gaedele on baseball cards

2012-01-13T09:34:00.003-05:00

The sixth round draft choice of the Padres in 2011, Kyle Gaedele played in 63 games at Class A Eugene and showed a keen batting eye, ranking eighth in the league in walks. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"The only story I have about trading cards of myself is that the information on the back of my first Bowman card is not correct. It is a false card. The scouting report on the back is for some other player and not myself. My favorite cards growing up were Michael Jordan cards. Being from Chicago he was my favorite athlete and whenever I got him in a pack of cards I was pumped. I do not collect cards. I used to before when I was younger."

Thanks! The scouting report is for Roman Quinn, a Phillies draft choice who is not even in the Bowman set.

Jed Bradley on baseball cards

2012-01-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

Jed Bradley was the Brewers number one draft pick in the 2011 draft after winning 18 games in three seasons at Georgia Tech. He makes his pro debut in 2012. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I have a collection of cards that I started when I was a kid, but haven't added to it since I was 12. My favorite card of myself is my little league card from when I was about 13."

Thanks!

Jack Peel on baseball cards

2012-01-11T09:11:00.003-05:00

Jack Peel played in the White Sox and Rangers organizations from 1986 to 1990, hitting .255 with 22 HR and 181 RBI. Now the Director of Football Operations at Arkansas State University, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

- Do you have any stories about cards of yourself or of other players?
-My daughter and I were looking in a card catalog with prices and she found mine that was still selling for 23 cents. She said I was still "famous", little does she know.

- Do you have a favorite card of yourself or of another player?
-My favorite card is the Sarasota White Sox of 1989 because it is an action shot.

- Do you collect baseball cards?
-I collected cards up until I was about 10 and have not since.

Thanks!

Player Profile: Shane Andrews

2012-01-10T11:34:00.003-05:00

I've been promising this one since November 7. The last two months have featured a bunch of card acquisitions and interviews, pushing this post back more than two months! I have 19 cards of Shane Andrews. This one is from 2001 Topps.

Playing career: Third baseman Shane Andrews played for the Expos, Cubs and Red Sox from 1995 to 2002. He was a one-dimensional slugger who hit only .220 but hit a home run every 19 at-bats. His career was derailed by several injuries.

Where he is now: Anyone know what Shane Andrews is doing now?

My memories: His 1991 Topps card was one of the first draft pick cards I remember getting. Thought he would be a big star, but it didn’t happen.

Google Autocomplete results: He is first when you type Shane Andr, ahead of Shane Andrus, the kicker for the 49ers. Another prominent Shane Andrews is the CEO of Kingscliff Investments in Australia.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Elvis Andrus.

Player Profile: Andrew Alvarado

2012-01-09T10:56:00.001-05:00

I have one card of Andrew Alvarado, from 2004 SP Prospects.

Playing career: Andrew Alvarado pitched in the Astros organization in 2004 and 2005, going 6-3 with a 3.71 ERA in 21 games.

Where he is now: Anyone know where Andrew Alvarado is now?

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete Results: He is second when you type Andrew Alv, between Andrew Alvarez, a photographer in New Orleans, and Andrew Alvis, a Senior Finance Manager at Bank of America. Another prominent Andrew Alvarado is the Sports Director at Town Sports YMCA in Dallas.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Shane Andrews.

Player Profile: Alexi Amarista

2012-01-08T13:20:00.003-05:00

I have one card of Alexi Amarista, from 2011 Bowman.

Playing career: Second baseman Alexi Amarista made his big league debut with the Angels in 2011, hitting .182 in 23 games.

Where he is now: Playing winter ball in Venezuela.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is eighth when you type Alexi A, between Alexi Ashe Attorney and Alexi Ashe Bio, both of which refer to the girlfriend of comedian Seth Meyers. There do not appear to be any other prominent Alexi Amaristas.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Shane Andrews.

Trade with Stats on the Back

2012-01-07T13:48:00.002-05:00

Got some great cards yesterday from Mark at Stats on the Back. He finished off the last two needs of mine from 1986 Donruss, Mookie Wilson and Buddy Biancalana.

However, he generously sent 60 more cards off of my wantlist as well! Between him and Scott Crawford, I have now completed the 1988 Donruss MVP set, need one more card for 1992 Fleer (710 Nolan Ryan Pro-Visions), finished 1991 Stadium Club, need one more card for 1991 Leaf (32 Pat Combs) and four more for 1987 Sportflics (44, 62, 63 and 120).

Trade with Scott Crawford

2012-01-06T11:59:00.004-05:00

Had another mega-trade with Scott Crawford, with well over 1000 cards going each way. Like Smed, he always delights with a great variety of cards from the last thirty years.

A lot of the cards were of the lenticular variety, including a bunch of 1987 Sportflics. I really love the photography in this set, though it is hard to capture in a picture.

I chose this card to show in part because of the odd error on the back - the number 8 appears to be upside down. No other 8s in the set look like this, with the larger circle on the top of the 8 instead of the bottom. Not sure how clear it is in this picture but if you have the card you'll be able to tell pretty easily.

There were also a bunch of cool 1979 Kellogg 3-D Super Stars cards. Though only 60 cards, this interesting set includes some folks like John Henry Johnson and Mario Guerrero who you wouldn't think of as superstars. It also includes a guy who was briefly a superstar, and was certainly paid like one - the patron saint of the other blog I write for, the Hall of Very Good - Ross Grimsley.

Interview with Jason Hirsh

2012-01-05T09:14:00.003-05:00

Jason Hirsh has pitched professionally since 2003 in the Astros, Rockies and Yankees organizations, including three years in the major leagues. A member of a baseball family, I interviewed his brother Matt in 2009. He missed the 2011 season due to injury, and is currently playing in the Australian Baseball Winter League. You can follow his comeback on his blog, On My Way Back Up Down Under. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I collected baseball cards all through my childhood. I use to go to my local card shop (After The Anthem) and hang out there for hours talking with the owner and the workers. I collected everything from Topps to Upper Deck to OpeeChee to Donruss. One my favorite things to do was collect the Diamond Kings from the Donruss packs. One story in particular that I always tell to people is the story of my 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. It was my birthday and I had money burning a hole in my pocket so naturally I headed to the card shop. I saw the Griffey rookie packaged tightly in a big glass protector sitting on the top shelf of the display case and it was only $20. I thought it was a great price and I was a fan of Griffey so what a perfect match. I bought the card and treasured it as my prized possession in my collection. I still have the card and its still tightly sealed in the case it came in. I know the value of the card has probably peaked for now but its always nice to look at the investment of $20 has now gone as high at $120 bucks or more. That was definitely the crowning achievement of my card collecting days. I also have an UpperDeck SP hologram card of ARod that I think is pretty valuable. Baseball wasn't the end all of my card collecting however. I also have some football, basketball and hockey cards. I possess a Shaq rookie card that I think I traded for or picked up real cheap. I didn't really know much about hockey but I definitely have a bunch of cards including an Eric Lindros card that I thought at the time was like the best card ever for hockey. Needless to say I've spent quite a fortune on cards in my time and as I grew older the prices of packs got too expensive to collect anymore so I stopped and moved on. But I have countless white organizing boxes in my closet at my parents house with what I'm sure will one day be cardboard gold.

Once I got into pro baseball it was kind of surreal to finally see myself immortalized on a baseball card. I have a bunch of cards from my time in the bigs and I've tried to collect every one of them but there are so many subsets and colors and other BS now its almost impossible. Its definitely pretty cool to think that some kid can open a pack of cards and pull out my picture. Whether he values it or not is not for me decide, but nonetheless pretty cool. I dont collect cards anymore because the hobby has gotten way out of hand. The prices for a pack of cards are ridiculous. I remember being able to buy a pack for 50 cents and the most expensive pack was 5 bucks. Today you cant even sniff a pack for 5 bucks. Plus the number of cards in each pack has shrunk as well. We use to get anywhere between 8-12 cards a pack and that always made it fun to open packs and see what you got. Its just not the same today. Sports memorabilia has such value today that baseball cards are almost an afterthought to baseballs, bats, jerseys, hats etc... Oh well maybe one day my kids will learn what true baseball card collecting is all about and I'll pass along to them my cards and hope they appreciate them like I did."

Thanks!

Player Profile: Jose Altuve

2012-01-04T11:06:00.003-05:00

Check out This Week in Baseball Cards at the Hall of Very Good, featuring a Pete Rose WWE card, and the story of the 1986 Mets rap song.

I have one card of Jose Altuve, from 2011 Topps Update Set.

Playing career: Second baseman Jose Altuve made his big league debut with the Astros in 2011, hitting .276 in 57 games.

Where he is now: Still in the Astros organization.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is seventh when you type Jose Al, between Jose Alvarez, the former Braves pitcher, and Jose Alvarez NYU, a law professor. There do not appear to be any other prominent Jose Altuves.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Alexi Amarista.

Player Profile: Ryan Adams

2012-01-03T13:12:00.002-05:00

I have one card of Ryan Adams, from 2011 Topps Update Set.

Playing career: Second baseman Ryan Adams made his major league debut for the Orioles in 2011, hitting .281 with 0 HR and 7 RBI.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Where he is now: Still in the Orioles organization.

Google Autocomplete results: He is fifth when you type Ry, between Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills quarterback, and Ryanair, an Irish airline. There are no references to the ballplayer on the first page when you google Ryan Adams; most entries refer to a singer.

Coming up next: the next profile will be Jose Altuve.

Ed Vosberg on baseball cards

2012-01-02T14:03:00.007-05:00

Ed Vosberg pitched ten seasons in the major leagues for the Padres, Giants, A's, Rangers, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Phillies and Expos. Now the Marketing Specialist for San Diego's AAA team, the Tucson Padres, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"My favorite card of myself would be my Topps A's card taken during the '94 season...It's the only Topps card I have.

I did collect baseball cards as a kid, and even collected Slurpee cups from Circle K, back in the day. Its a shame, baseball cards don't have the same special meaning as they used to. Sports in general has changed, and the money is so astronomical, that a family can't even afford to go to the games. Its tragic!"

Thanks! I don't have that card, but here is one I do have, from 1991 Score.

Player Profile: Alfredo Aceves

2012-01-01T13:27:00.003-05:00

I have one card of Alfredo Aceves, from 2011 Topps Update Set.

Playing career: Alfredo Aceves pitched for the Yankees from 2008-2010, going 14-1. He pitched for the Red Sox in 2011, going 10-2.

My memories: Aceves was a bit of a vulture with the Yankees, one of those relievers who would come in with the team losing and then get lucky when the Yankees would come back the inning he happened to be in the game. While they didn’t really need him, it’s a shame he went to Boston.

Where he is now: The Red Sox may be converting him to a reliever in 2012.

Google Autocomplete results: He is third when you type Alfredo, between Alfredo, the pasta sauce, and Alfredo Flores, a music video director. There do not appear to be any other prominent Alfredo Aceveses.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Ryan Adams.