The Rawlings hat glove

The Rawlings hat glove is perfect for the pitcher who is popular with the autograph hounds. See how perfectly it slides into place on your hat, leaving your hands free to sign.

Not only that, but it has a perfectly legible autograph on the side in case you get hit on the head and forget how to sign your name.

Ryan Thompson on baseball cards

Ryan Thompson pitched for five years in the Astros organization. His best season was 2006, when he went 2-0 with 10 saves and a 2.93 ERA at Salem. Now a scout for the Brewers, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.
"A kind of funny story was my 2005 Lexington Legends Card. I was sitting on a John Deere mower. The thought process behind the idea was as a Non Drafted Free Agent, I had to "mow" down the opposition or I would be making money riding one. I've been collecting cards since I was very young. I love the cards with players in a uniform that catches you off guard; i.e. Johnson in Houston, Piazza in Miami, Berkman in Yankees. I also have a Nolan Ryan rookie card which is my favorite. Every time I go to the grocery store in Arizona, they have a vending machine of 1990-2009 cards for between .50 and 1.50. I always use spare change to buy a pack or 4."

Thanks!

Mark Lemke's teeth - mystery (partially) solved

Thanks to Steve of The Greatest 21 Days, who clued me in on a Sports Illustrated article about the 1991 World Series which said Lemke "became a folk hero in this series with his hitting, fielding, and tales of how he lost his front teeth as a kid."

Since the tooth loss occurred as a kid, and was interesting enough to constitute a "tale," we can assume it wasn't chewing tobacco or a really aggressive desire for tooth fairy gifts. This still leaves the mystery about what specifically happened to his teeth. A Google archive search reveals some pay-per-view articles from the Atlanta Journal and Constitution if one really wants to follow this up - one of them indicates it would actually have a picture of Lemke without the false teeth.

Mark Lemke's false teeth?

Check out the back of Mark Lemke's 1994 Topps card:

"Mark was once involved in a jarring home-plate collision at Durham in 1987 in which his false teeth popped out and got hung up in the umpire's mask."

What? Mark Lemke had false teeth at the age of 22? Wow. Don't know for sure why he has them (a quick google search on Mark Lemke and false teeth or dentures came up empty), but the most likely culprit would be tobacco, I guess. Hey kids, don't smoke it or chew it.

Adam Greenberg on baseball cards

Adam Greenberg was a ninth round draft choice of the Cubs in 2002. He reached the major leagues in 2005, only to be hit in the head in his first major league at bat, an injury that left him with positional vertigo. Nevertheless, he continues to play professionally, and this year played in 105 games for the Bridgeport Bluefish, hitting .258 with 4 home runs, 39 RBI, and 44 stolen bases. He kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"The coolest thing for me after signing my professional contract had to have been seeing myself on a baseball card. I dont necessarily have a favorite card of myself, but I am hopeful I will get back to the big leagues so I can get another one. I collected cards when I was younger and I still have my collection."

Thanks!

Raunchy names from 1992 Upper Deck

Recently I read the book Mint Condition, which was an interesting history of baseball cards. It had a lot of interesting tidbits. For example, Upper Deck was named after a baseball card store in California, and the employees at the store helped decide who would be in the set and who would get what number. Apparently they decided to play a joke in 1992. In the second half of the set, they gave each card that ended in "69" to a player with a "porn star name".


Actually I think it's pronounced "way-ner".


I guess too slow is better than too fast.


That one is a stretch.


Heh-heh. Dickie.

Chris Capuano on his card collection

Chris Capuano has pitched in the major leagues since 2003. His best season was 2005, when he won 18 games. After missing 2008 and 2009 due to injury, he began his comeback last year with the Brewers, going 4-4 with a 3.95 ERA. Currently a free agent looking to continue his comeback in 2010, he kindly answered my question about whether he collected cards.

"I used to collect cards, but my uncle sold them at highest price, and gave me the money when I was younger. "

Thanks!

Mark Dewey on baseball cards

Mark Dewey pitched six seasons in the major leagues for the Giants, Mets and Pirates, winning 12 games and saving 8. Now the pitching coach for the minor league Washington Wild Things and for Emory and Henry College, he kindly answered my questions about baseball cards.

"I have a baseball card from my time with the Pirates that has a picture of me on the front, but a picture of Jeff Ballard (one of my teammates) on the back.

I did collect as a child, but have not for many years--though I do have a complete set from the 1987 Everett Giants."

Thanks! I couldn't find the card with the Ballard photo (perhaps it is 1994 Fleer Update?) but here is one with Dewey, from 1995 Topps.

Mike Caldwell's favorite cards

Mike Caldwell pitched fourteen years in the major leagues, winning 137 major league games. His best seasons were with the Brewers in 1978, when he won 22 games and finished second to Ron Guidry in the AL Cy Young voting, and 1982, when he won 17 games in the regular season and two more in the World Series. Now the pitching coach for the Scottsdale Giants in the Arizona League, he kindly shared with me his thoughts on his favorite cards.

"'Favorite of myself - 73 Topps--my 1st card.

My two favorite cards are of Mickey Mantle & Willie Mays."

Thanks! I don't have the 1973 card, so here is one from my collection, from 1983 Fleer.

The many hats of Sam Mejias

In this very interesting 1981 article from Sports Illustrated, the magazine examined the impact of the two new card manufacturers, Donruss and Fleer. It has some interesting commentary from fans, players and photographers of the time. There are a lot of interesting stories. For example, they are interviewing Topps photographer George Heyer while he takes pictures of the Reds. Sam Mejias interrupts the interview to complain that he is always wearing his batting helmets in photos, like this one from 1981.

Heyer obliged, giving us the photo that would be in 1982 Topps.