Ty Kovach on baseball cards

Ty Kovach pitched five seasons in the Indians and Mariners organizations. His best season was 1990, when he went 12-3 with a 2.56 ERA for the Kinston Indians. Now a Mortgage Loan Originator at Fifth Third Mortgage in Medina, OH, he kindly answered my baseball card questions.

"The very first card of me in Watertown NY was probably the favorite for me. I was pitching that day and missed the "typical" head shot for the card and they took a picture of me pitching which was pretty cool and was my favorite card. The way the shadow was over the plate and myself in the sunlight was pretty cool looking. I do not collect baseball cards, but I am still humble when I receive about 3-4 times a month people sending me cards to sign. I do believe I get cards still to sign due to the fact that I played with Charles Nagy, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez just to name a few and they are looking for a full set of their minor league team set.

Now I am a mortgage loan originator here in Medina Ohio where I live with my wife in a house we built 8 years ago. I have 4 wonderful step-children and 3 grandchildren and love them all as if they were my own."

Thanks! I don't have that card, but do have this one from 1991 Classic Best.

Alan Probst on baseball cards

Catcher Alan Probst played ten seasons in the Astros, Blue Jays and Mets organizations. He is now a successful producer of outdoors television shows - his programs All Outdoors with Alan Probst and North American Trapper air on various channels around the country. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

- Do you have any stories about cards of yourself or of other players?
Don't have any stories about any cards but do remember the f**k face Billy Ripken error card back in the day. Lol.

- Do you have a favorite card of yourself or of another player?
My first card from 1992 Auburn Astros.

- Do you collect baseball cards?
Used to collect cards but sold most for beer and food money in college. Had Mantle rookie plus many other prizes but basically gave them away for spirits. Live and learn.


Thanks!

Jesus Guzman answers baseball card questions

Jesus Guzman originally came up with the Giants in 2009, but had a breakout season last year with San Diego, hitting .312 with 5 HR and 44 RBI after a mid-season call-up. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"My favorite player is Omar Vizquel! I like to learn from players who have more experience in baseball! Playing for the same cause, to further develop your experience in baseball is a good thing."

Thanks! I assume that means he likes to collect Omar Vizquel cards.

Here is a card of Guzman, from 2009 Topps Update.

Michael Schlact on baseball cards

Michael Schlact pitched in the Rangers organization from 2004 to 2010, winning 34 games. Last year he went 6-4 for the independent Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. An active blogger and tweeter, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

- Do you have any stories about cards of yourself or of other players?
I remember the 1st time I was approached by a baseball card company. Upper Deck asked me to do a signature series for them and I was blown away. I used to collect cards as a kid, and to have my own was such an honor! It took FOREVER to sign all the individual stickers that were to be placed on each card, but it was totally worth it when I finished.

- Do you have a favorite card of yourself or of another player?
My favorite card is the Upper Deck rookie card that I had done when I was drafted. I think your first card is the most sentimental.

- Do you collect baseball cards?
I used to collect cards. I have gotten away from it since I became a pro player, but it still interests me to see how much money old cards can go for!

Thanks!

Baseball card story from Brandon Smith

Catcher Brandon Smith played in the A's and Mets organizations from 1991 to 1995. Now the owner of BaseballSmith baseball instruction in Marietta, GA, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards. "I signed out of high school with the A's in 1991...Played 2 and 1/2 seasons with the AZ Rookie team which won two championships. I had a shoulder and a knee surgery in my first 2 seasons. So when they released me I was ready to "hang 'em up". Until I realized I did not have a baseball card. Even though I had 2 championship rings I still wanted a card.

I went on to sign a minor league contract with the Mets the next season.

I was assigned to the Pittsfield Mets. This was a short season A club. Early in the season I was sent to AAA for 2 weeks while Brook Fordyce rehabbed a knee injury. As luck would have it the two weeks that I was in Norfolk the baseball card guy came and took photos. My teammates knew that I was pretty much playing just to get that elusive card. Fortunately for me Jay Payton (supplemental 1st round pick) held out for more money. When he finally arrived to Pittsfield the baseball card guy came back.

Before he left I made sure he took my picture along with Payton's.

The following year was the strike year and I broke camp in AA Binghamton but about a month into the season I was released. My final season was with the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League.

As my career would have it...the day I was leaving the team to come back to Atlanta to have career ending back surgery the guys were out in the outfield taking team photos and of course baseball card pics.

I grew up collecting baseball cards and I am happy to have one of my own. Even though it took parts of 6 professional seasons it was worth the journey."

Thanks!

GIANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. I can't believe the Giants pulled it out again. Eli really is magic in the fourth quarter.

When I first started collecting cards I actually collected football first. I first started collected football cards in 1986 and baseball cards in 1987, and collected them both for a few years. However, after 1989 I stopped buying football cards and concentrated on baseball. The one exception was after the 2008 Super Bowl win, when I bought a Giants team set. I'll probably do the same this year.

Super!

Doug Bochtler on baseball cards

Doug Bochtler pitched for the Padres, Tigers, Dodgers and Royals from 1995 to 2000, winning nine games and saving six. Now the owner of the Cherokee Baseball Facility in Tennessee, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"No really good stories about my cards. My favorite card is from San Diego 1996 or 1997."

Thanks! 

 

Willie Blair on baseball cards

Willie Blair pitched twelve seasons in the major leagues for eight different teams. His best season was 1997 when he went 16-8 for Detroit. Now the pitching coach for the Fort Wayne Tin Caps in the Padres organization, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I do not collect cards as a hobby. I have tried to collect all of my cards to pass on to my kids but that's about it."

Thanks!

Brendan Harris on baseball cards

Infielder Brendan Harris has played for the Cubs, Expos, Reds, Devil Rays and Twins, and was in the Orioles organization in 2011. He has signed with the Rockies for 2012. Also the owner of the Brendan Harris Baseball Clinic in Wisconsin, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I played with two guys in AA where they put the wrong names under their pictures. I don't collect a lot of cards, but my favorite is a Don Mattingly rookie card."

Thanks! He played AA ball for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx in 2002 and 2003 - if anyone has those team sets you may want to check them out. Here is a card of Harris from 2007 Topps Update.

Player Profile: Willie Ansley

Check out the newest This Week in Baseball Cards at the Hall of Very Good!

I have three cards of Willie Ansley. This one is from 1989 Topps.

Playing career: Willie Ansley was the Astros’ first-round pick in 1988, but never made the major leagues, ending his career at AAA Tucson in 1993. He stole 141 bases in 515 minor league games. A detailed description of his playing career can be found at The Greatest 21 Days, which features Ansley’s reverse-negative 1990 CMC card.

Where he is now: Ansley is the Pastor of Bondage Breaking Ministries Houston. He has also coached youth baseball for fifteen seasons, and his students have included Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford. He is currently the coach of the Southeast Longhorns and the Fort Bend Texans.

Interesting stories: He shared his thoughts on baseball cards here last September.

My memories: I remember him from that great card with the bulldog in 1989 Topps.

Google Autocomplete Results: He is first when you type Willie Ans, ahead of William and Kate, referring to the royal couple. There do not appear to be any other prominent Willie Ansleys.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Craig Ansman.