Wallet Card at Frames by You

Back in the eighties there were several shops that specialized in do-it-yourself custom framing. One of them was Frames by You on Eighth Avenue by 20th Street. They are long gone but you can still see their sign under the awning for the Chelsea Food Mart.

Here is what the store looks like today.

Down the street this Steakhouse sign caught my eye. There is no steakhouse at the location, just a closed-up Italian restaurant and a closed-up French restaurant.

Player Profile: John Briscoe

I have seven cards of John Briscoe. This one is from 1991 Score Traded.

Playing career: John Briscoe pitched for Oakland from 1991 to 1996. In exactly 100 major league games he went 5-5 with 2 saves and a 5.67 ERA.

Where he is now: Senior Instructor at Frozen Ropes in McKinney, TX.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is second when you type John Brisc, between John Briscoe Weatherford, referring to the oilfield company’s former CFO, and John Briscella, a 3D printing artist. There are no references to the ballplayer on the first page of Google results; the first is for an environmental engineering professor at Harvard.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Bernardo Brito.

Trade with Wrigley Roster Jenga

Got some cool cards in a trade with Wrigley Roster Jenga. Mostly recent Topps stuff but some other sets as well. Here are some highlights:

I have complained a few times about the sameness of the recent Topps sets, as well as praised several times the eccentricities of the early 80's Fleer sets. This card reminded me more of the latter than the former, with it's off-center photo of Gary Sheffield awkwardly avoiding an inside pitch. The only thing it needed was to be blurry and it would have fit right into 1982 Fleer.

 From this card I learned that Didi Gregorious's father is also named Didi and was a famous pitcher in Curacao. I also learned that Didi was originally a Red. One slightly sad thing about being a grown-up is not knowing all the career moves of a starting player on my favorite team.

 Here's a shirt that just screams 1990's.

WalletCard in old Chelsea

It's very unusual to see wood-frame buildings in Manhattan. The three buildings in the center of the photo (185-189 Ninth Avenue) were built in the 1850s-1860s and are some of the last survivors of that bygone era. The brick building on the corner of 21st Street is even older, built in 1832.

Player Profile: Dante Brinkley

I have one card of Dante Brinkley, from 2008 Multi-Ad Albuquerque Isotopes.

Playing career: Outfielder Dante Brinkley played in the Mets and Marlins organizations from 2003 to 2008. In 579 games he hit .272 with 54 HR and 253 RBI.

Where he is now: Owns CBL Sports in Chicago.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is sixth when you type Dante Bri, between Dante Basco, an actor, and Dante Brittanica, referring to an encyclopedia entry for the Italian poet. Another prominent Dante Brinkley is a youth football player in Connecticut.

Coming up next: The next profile will be John Briscoe.

Wallet Card at Adamici Shoe

I noticed this "sign behind a sign" at 17th Street Food Market on 7th Avenue. Appears to say "Adamici". I found one reference on the internet - an expired ebay listing - that mentioned a handbag bought at Adamici Shoe on 17th street in 1994.

Player Profile: Brad Brink

I have four cards of Brad Brink. This one is from 1990 ProCards.

Playing career: Brad Brink had high expectations as the Phillies first-round draft pick in 1986, but injuries limited him to just 145 minor league games and 14 major league games over his nine-year professional career. In his three major league stints with the Phillies and Giants he went 0-4 with a 3.54 ERA.

Where he is now: A second-grade teacher at Carroll Fowler Elementary in Ceres, CA.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is fifth when you type Brad Brin, between Brad Brinkley, a country musician, and Brad Brinkman, a San Diego realtor. Another prominent Brad Brink is an engineer in San Francisco.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Dante Brinkley.

Wallet card at an 1890's livery stable

Well, now it's just another trendy restaurant. But the faded painted signs on the second level attest to the building's function in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Player Profile: Tyler Brilinski

I have one card of Tyler Brilinski, from 1990 ProCards.

Playing career: Power-hitting first baseman Tyler Brilinski played in the Oakland organization from 1985 to 1989, which was the wrong time and organization to be a power-hitting first baseman, blocked as he was by Mark McGwire. In 1986 at Class-A Modesto he hit .324 with 27 HR and 91 RBI. Though he put up pretty good home run totals as he moved up to AA and AAA, his batting averages plummeted and he did not make the major leagues.

Where he is now: Founding Member & Partner at Watermark Wealth Strategies in Phoenix.

My memories: Only know him from his card.

Google Autocomplete results: He is fourth when you type Tyler Bril, between Tyler Briley Hockey, a youth hockey player in Maryland, and Tyler Briley, a youth football player in Louisiana. There do not appear to be any other prominent Tyler Brilinskis.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Brad Brink.

Wallet Card catches a man jumping out the window

Don't worry it's not a real guy. Apparently this jump has been going on for years, I wonder when he'll finally hit the ground.