Cake or gum? 1977 Vida Blue

Last time it was a 6-2 win for gum. Who will win here?

Hostess has a closeup of a smiling Blue sitting on the ground, while Topps has him all business in a pitching pose. Both shots have a nice view of the Bicentennial patch.

Blue burst onto the national scene as a 21-year old rookie in 1971, going 24-8 with 301 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA. He held out for much of 1972 and slipped considerably, going 6-10 and being demoted to the bullpen. However, his strikeout and ERA numbers, though not as good as '71, were still better than most pitchers in the league. He rebounded to win 20 games in '73. Blue was never again as dominant as he was in '71 (he never struck out 200 batters again, let alone 300), but he still put up excellent numbers for Oakland and San Francisco though the 1981 season. Blue was traded to the Royals before the 1982 season, and quickly became embroiled in the cocaine scandals that engulfed that team. He was suspended for the 1984 season, though he returned in 1985 and 1986 as a solid starter for the Giants. He signed with the A's in 1987 but abruptly retired in spring training, presumably due to more drug problems. His career 209-161 record and 3.27 ERA compare well to other pitchers of his era who get Hall of Fame consideration. He is hurt by not living up to his rookie-year hype, his history of drug abuse, and a poor postseason record (1-5, 4.31 ERA in 17 games). Blue was one of the players most directly involved in the cocaine scandals of the 1980s, eventually serving 81 days in jail. Substance abuse continued to haunt him after his career, with at least three DUI arrests in the 2000s and 2010s. Blue was an announcer for the Giantswas involved in various charitable endeavors. He died of cancer in 2023.
 
 

1981 Topps Bob Stanley

 

The front: This looks like Memorial Stadium, one of the last parks to have such a wide open view beyond the outfield wall. Stanley pitched in two day games in Baltimore, Saturday and Sunday, July 5 & 6. On Saturday he got four outs among the 7th and 8th innings to hold a 1-0 Sox win, and on Sunday he pitched to the last two batters in the ninth, retiring Ken Singleton on a groundout to save a 6-4 Boston triumph.

The back: Stanley pitched the third and fourth innings of the '79 All Star Game, in relief of starter Nolan Ryan. He allowed a double to Mike Schmidt and an RBI groundout to Dave Winfield. To this date he is still the only person from Maine to play in an All Star Game.

The player: Stanley had some fantastic years as a reliever for the Red Sox, twice finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting. In 1986 he finally got to pitch in a World Series, and put together a terrific stat line - 6.1 scoreless innings over five appearances, with four K's and only one walk. Yet the inherited runners he allowed to score in Game 6, including his own wild pitch that tied the game, leave him forever remembered as a World Series goat (not the good kind). In 13 seasons in the majors, all with Boston, he went 115-97 with 132 saves and a 3.64 ERA.

The man: Stanley had a long career as a minor league pitching coach for several teams. He is now retired.

My collection: I have 47 of his cards, from 1978 to 1990. I would be interested in trading for 1978 SSPC #164.
 

Mostly vintage roundup

Some nice amounts of cards, mostly vintage, mostly needed, that came to me in the past couple of week. 

 Starting off with several envelopes from OBCers. Cliff Franklin sent these three. I needed the '54 but already had the '55s, so there's some vintage tradebait.

Doug Smith sent a nice group of cards including a Luis Tiant rookie. I already have that Ed Sadowski card so it is available for trade. It does have one of the best photos in the set.

Andrew Goguen sent these great cards. Showing their backs because that's where the fun is with OPC!

Cooter Bankston sent three old cards of much older players. My favorite of these shows Hal Chase as a New York Highlander at Hilltop Park with the Fort Washington Armory in the background.

Some vintage cardboard came my way from some TCDB trades. Just as cool as the older cards that woodmangb sent, is a set kill for 1986 Sportflics, with that Nolan Ryan card.

 

Another final card I needed from a set from my childhood, card #1 George Brett of 1989 Topps Sticker Backs, thanks to WildwoodSam. That Steve Finley card is really fantastic too, though.

Two wooden vintage cards and a Sony Betamax Topps Heritage card, from JBozovsky. Bloggers might remember him from the semi-dormant Wax Pack Wonders blog. (That's a good enough segue to note that a former blogger has returned from hiatus with a new blog - The Angels in Order are now Batting Out of Order).

 

Vintage cards on eBay seem to get more expensive every week, but I still find the occasional gently used cards at bargain prices, though even my estimation of bargain prices is creeping up.

Starting off with an end of career "rookie card", 1933 Goudey Lefty O'Doul, often considered one of the best players not in the Hall of Fame.  

A couple of cool exhibits, with Ralph Kiner and Don Newcombe. I do like the randomness of Newcombe shaking a disembodied hand.

Finally, the Scooter, Phil Rizzuto! One of the best card pictures of it's era.

 

1976 SSPC Gary Lavelle

 

The card, in brief: This card make me wonder how many night cards Night Owl has, where the player pictured at night is wearing sunglasses.

Playing career, in brief: Gary Lavelle was an outstanding reliever who unfortunately spent most of his career with some bad SF Giants teams, denying him the chance for postseason success. A two-time all-star, he pitched in 745 games, going 80-77 with 136 saves and a 2.93 ERA.

Post-playing career, in brief: Lavelle had a long career as head baseball coach at Greenbrier Christian Academy in Virginia, winning over 500 games. At age 77 he is still active, as Assistant Pitching Coach at Bryant & Stratton College.

My collection: I have 32 of his cards, from 1975 to 1986. I would be interested in trading for 1978 Hostess #32. 

1986 Renata Galasso Mattingly #9

This card would have been a little more appropriate a couple of weeks ago, but there's still lots of snow on the ground here on Long Island. Apparently it's also been a historically snowy winter in Evansville, IN this year.

Looks like he's an adult in that photo, too. Below Mattingly comments on his 1985 MVP award.

1988 Domino's Al Kaline

The Domino's set came out with the '68 Tigers best player, Al Kaline walking off the field.

Perhaps people complained that a big star should have a better photo, so at some point that card was replaced with this one.

Al Kaline was one of the best Tigers of all time. He started his career off spectacularly. In 1955 he won the AL batting title at the age of 20, hitting .340 with 27 HR and 102 RBI. He had another monster year in 1956, hitting .314 with 27 HR and 128 RBI. From then on, he was a consistent, if not exactly spectacular, presence on the Tigers for almost 20 years. He regularly hit around .300 with 20+ HR and 75+ RBI. His numbers would have looked better if he was able to stay on the field more consistently; he only topped 140 games played three times between 1962 and 1973, though he did play a full season in 1974 thanks to the new DH rule. Overall, in 22 seasons he hit .297 with 3,007 hits, 399 HR and 1,582 RBI. After his career he was a long-time Tigers announcer. He died in 2020. 

I have 32 of his cards, from 1955 to 1974. I would be interested in trading for 1954 Topps #201, 1955 Topps #4, and 1956 Topps #20. 

Burgers or gum? Kirk Gibson

Last time the emojis came out in full force, giving a 7-1 win to 🍔. Who will win here?

Two pre-game photos in the batting practice jersey at Tiger Stadium. Only the sleeves give away that these are different days.

Gibson was very consistent throughout the '84 season, hitting .282 with 27 HR, 91 RBI and 29 SB. He followed it up with a fantastic postseason, winning the ALCS MVP, and then hitting a clutch home run off of Goose Gossage in Game 5 of the World Series. 

Gibson was drafted in both baseball and football after college. He chose baseball, and had an excellent career. In 17 seasons, mostly with the Tigers and Dodgers, he hit .268 with 255 HR, 870 RBI and 284 SB. He was a consistent performer who regularly put up good numbers, but rarely great ones; he is considered one of the best players ever who never made an All-Star team. Despite several excellent seasons in Detroit, and that huge home run in the 1984 World Series, he will best be remembered as a Dodger. He came to the Dodgers as a free agent before the 1988 season, and sparked the team to a surprise World Championship. He won the MVP award, as much for his team leadership as for his on-field play. His pinch-hit, game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 1 shocked the A's and propelled the Dodgers to an upset series victory, and is one of the most memorable home runs of all time.

Gibson has stayed in baseball as an announcer, coach and manager. He managed the Diamondbacks from 2010 to 2014, going 353-375 and winning the NL West in 2011. He was a Tigers announcer until leaving the booth last year, and remains a special advisor for the team. Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2015, and has a foundation that raises awareness and funding for research on the disease.
 

Wood vs. Wood #326

Last time it was a 5-2 win for 1962. Who will win here?

Tom Parsons looks like he has a long neck in this photo. He actually was one of the tallest major leaguers of his time, at 6-7 (lol). Mets announcer Bob Murphy would call him "Long Tom Parsons". Parsons made his debut with the Pirates in 1963, pitching in one game. He ended up with the Mets for four games in 1964 and 35 in 1965. Overall he went 2-13 with one save and a 4.72 ERA. He stayed in pro ball through 1969 but did not pitch again in the minors. Parsons seems to have kept a low profile during his baseball career. He currently lives in Florida and is a regular TTM signer.

Mark Gubicza delivers a pitch in spring training. Gubicza pitched fourteen seasons in the major leagues, thirteen of them with the Royals. A two-time all-star, he won 132 career games, including 20 in 1988, and had a 3.96 ERA. He is now an announcer for the Angels. He shared his favorite cards with this blog in 2018.
 

Cake or gum? 1977 Fred Lynn

Last time it was a 6-0 shutout for gum. Will cake get on the board here?

Looks like two photos taken at the same time. Hostess has a portrait, Topps a swing follow-through.

Fred Lynn had a solid career punctuated by some big highlights. In 1975 he became the first player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, hitting .331 with 21 HR and 105 RBI, leading the AL in runs, doubles, slugging and OPS. After a dip in production the next few years due to injuries, he had an even better season in 1979, hitting a league leading .333 with 39 HR and 122 RBI. He fell off again in 1980 and was traded to the Angels. Throughout the 1980s he bounced around for several seasons, putting up solid numbers but never again was an MVP-level player. Overall in 1,969 games he hit .283 with 306 HR and 1,111 RBI. After his playing career he did some announcing, and has been involved in many charitable endeavors, most notably his own organization for emergency pet care, the FACE Foundation.
 

Wallet card at Grand Central Terminal in Grand Central Terminal

I had a little time before my train this evening so I stopped by the NYC Transit Museum's little annex/store there. They always have some kind of exhibit. This time it was a model train set. The back half was a standard Lionelville town, but the front was various NYC locations, including CBGBs, the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, and the Lenox Lounge in Harlem. 

I thought it would be a fun little wallet card photo to show Grand Central at Grand Central. Just like in real life, the MetLife building rises behind the famous station. In 2018, MetLife moved away from this logo to a less bold design, and replaced the logo that looks like the one you see here.