Sunday, December 9, 2012

Cool stuff from Jaybarkerfan's Junk

Had a great trade with Jaybarkerfan's Junk. I love a trade where thousands of cards go in each direction.  Here's two awesome, but very different cards.

Cool to get an "event-used" card of a Yankee, even if those kind of cards have lost some of their luster after the recent game-used scandal.

This is a fun unlicensed card of Pete Incaviglia.
 
The back indicates this was published by "Big Apple Card" in Baldwin, NY, which is two towns over from me.


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Dan Jennings on baseball cards

Dan Jennings was the Marlins ninth round draft pick in 2008, and made the major leagues in 2012, going 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA in 22 games for Miami. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I used to always keep big books of cards as a kid but haven't gone through them in years. I imagine I would have a few cool cards in there seeing as they are all 90's cards. The only cards I have ever had are the minor league/college team cards but I am hoping to sign a card deal this year."

Thanks!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Scott Nichols on baseball cards

Catcher Scott Nichols played seven seasons in the Cardinals organization, hitting .210 with 15 HR and 104 RBI. Now a Brewers scout and owner and inventor of the Lock and Load swing trainer, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"Never got into collecting them. I used to put them in my bicycle spokes... pretty stupid now that I'm older and probably had some pretty valuable cards back then. Was a big Pirates and Cincy fan back in the day."

Thanks!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

1987 St. Petersburg Cardinals (ProCards)

St. Petersburg was pretty low in the Cardinals chain, so not many well-known names in this set. Craig Wilson did play a few years in the big leagues. The photos in this set are pretty standard.
 This guy, however, should be on the porn-star name all-star team. Randy Butts!
I have two of these sets so one is up for trade if anyone is interested.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

1987 Calgary Cannons (ProCards)

Calgary was the AAA team of the Seattle Mariners. I think I enjoy AAA cards the best because it means getting a card of someone you may only have one or two junk wax cards of. It's nice to see a familiar name in an unfamiliar pose.
Here's future Hall-of-Famer (in my opinion, anyway), Edgar Martinez.
 This set was sponsored by the Calgary Police Service, and each card had one of a handful of warnings on the back. Edgar reminds you not to be a show-off on your bike.
 Outfielder Jim Weaver poses as a pitcher.
 He reminds you not to shoplift - "It only takes 20 seconds to shoplift - but it destroys years of trust." How does it take 20 seconds?
 Here's Hall of Very Good favorite Ross Grimsley in his coaching days.
 Ross tells you - Don't Hitchhike - You may be thumbing your life away. Yeah, I wouldn't get in a car with him, either.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Picked up some more minor league cards

I bought more minor league card sets on ebay. I couldn't resist 25 of the 26 AAA teams in 1989 ProCards for just over a dollar a set shipped. (Only the Padres team in Las Vegas was not in the lot.) I think I'd better stop with ebay before I get carried away.

These cards have an interesting variation that I would be curious if any of you readers know about - I couldn't find anything about it online. I realized it because I had one of the sets, the Iowa Cubs, from my previous minor league set lots.  The fronts are identical:

But the backs of the cards I just got include full 1989 stats - the cards I had before only go up to 1988!
Are there two versions of each card from 1989 ProCards - one with 1989 stats and one without? I would be curious if anyone knows more about this variation.

Monday, December 3, 2012

1987 Savannah Cardinals (ProCards)

Not a lot to say about this set. Not much interesting in terms of either player or photo selection, I'm afraid.
One mildly interesting photo of pitcher Scott Lawrence posing with a glove and a bat.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

1987 Asheville Tourists (ProCards)

The Asheville Tourists were a Houston Astros farm team. "Tourists" has got to be one of the least threatening team names.

The Tourists' uniforms look more like the Rangers then the Astros. Ryan Bowen pitched several years in the major leagues where he got to use a bat. In 112 big league at bats he hit .176 with 0 HR and 3 RBI. He now works as a "Hitting and Pitching Instructor" at Homerun Alley in Carrollton, TX, where his picture on the website shows him holding a bat during his Marlins days.
 There are a few vaguely goofy-looking photos in this set.
 Here's another pitcher batting, this time bunting. Unlike Bowen, Wasilewski and Hall did not make it to the major leagues.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Bobby Holley on baseball cards

Infielder Bobby Holley played six seasons in the Royals and Mariners organizations, hitting .259 with 52 HR and 283 RBI. Now a youth baseball instructor in Georgia, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I don't collect baseball cards actively, although I do have a card set from 1994.  My two sons have a small collection started.  I have several minor league cards of myself.  Two come to mind.  Both of them were taken while I was playing for the Peninsula Pilots.  The first shows me standing with a bat in hand and I have the phrase, "Hi Mom" written on it in black ink.  The other card is me holding a sledgehammer with an angry grimace on my face."

 
Thanks! I don't have either of those cards, but I do have this one from the Jacksonville Suns.

Friday, November 30, 2012

J.J. Pearsall on baseball cards

J.J. Pearsall pitched eight seasons in the Dodgers, Reds, Rangers, Tigers and Marlins organizations, going 49-35 with 20 saves. Now a youth baseball instructor in upstate New York, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I held 3 bats on my Tulsa Drillers card even though I am a pitcher, thought that was funny. My favorite one would be my Portland Sea Dogs card, I only have one of them!"

Thanks! Unfortunately I could not find a picture of either one. This one is from the San Antonio Missions.