Saturday, November 30, 2013

Random Topps Team Set of the Week: 2008 Topps Seattle Mariners

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Team Set of the Week:


The checklist consists of the following players:
The cards in order from the set (the checklist at the end was cut from the back of the package. What, you don't do that?):



Key differences between the team set and 2008 Topps eponymous set:
  • You see more of Kenji Johjima on his regular card than you do in the retail one...and its the same picture too:

  • Same for Yuniesky Betancourt (notice how Topps chose to get pics of these guys at Wrigley?):

  • Adam Jones was traded to the Orioles for the 2008 campaign with four other guys to the Orioles for Erik Bedard. I think the M's are wishing they kept him. He was included in Series 2 as a member of the O's. For the record, here is his 2008 card:

So of the 14 players included in this set, only 1 player's card can only be found on the retail sets. The two other pairs of cards feature different croppings of the same picture, which is often the case found in some of these team sets.

Next week's featured set will be the 2009 Baltimore Orioles. Hope you'll be here when we compare the cards from the retail set to their counterparts found in Topps and Topps Updates and Highlights sets.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1993 Topps #657 Mike Harkey

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, November 30, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1993 Topps #657.
  • Player Name, position, team: Mike Harkey, pitcher, Chicago Cubs.
  • Major League Debut: September 5, 1988.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1992 stats (Cubs): 7 G, 38 IP, 4-0, 13 R, 8 ER, 21 SO, 15 BB, 7 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1.89 ERA.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cubs #1st, June 1987. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 6. This is his fifth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Mike attended California State University-Fullerton 3 years. He registered 125 strikeouts in 129 Innings as sophomore and was Third Team All-American as junior. Mike made his big leauge debut in second game of double-header, 9-5-88."
  • Commentary: There have been many players that the Cubs have hedged their bets on to lead the franchise to the promised land while I was growing up (and even now) that you could probably create a 25-man roster full of them and then have many extras as part of the taxi-squad. I'm not talking about those players who had a few good years and then were gone soon afterwards (like a Jerome Walton/Dwight Smith), but players who had many chances to prove themselves. However, whether it be not adjusting to major league level hitting/pitching, injuries, or just flat out bad luck, prospects that were once touted as the next big thing turned out to be busts. It's hard to call Michael Anthony Harkey a "bust" per se, as if you looked at his big league numbers (at least between 1988 through 1992), they weren't really that bad. Injuries were a factor as to why he didn't play in as many games as he should have (everything from shoulder to arm injuries, to a knee injury caused by an attempted cartwheel). Heck, his brief run in 1992 was fantastic. In 1993, he did get it all together and was part of the Cubs rotation. In 28 starts, he earned a 10-10 record, but with an ERA of 5.26. He did strikeout 67 batters in 157.1 innings of work, and had a WHIP of 1.462. But the Cubs brass had enough I guess, and allowed the former Future Star to enter the Free Agent market. His trip through the majors included stays in Colorado (1994), the Athletics and Angels (1995), a couple of seasons with the Dodgers AAA team in Albuquerque in which he became the Dukes' closer, before finishing for good with the Dodgers in 1997. His career numbers include an even 36-36 record, a 4.49 ERA, 316 strikeouts in 656 innings pitched, and a WHIP of 1.441. Sadly, you will not find any Topps cards of Harkey as a member of any other team since his last Topps card came out in 1994, still as a member of the Cubs. Since retiring, Harkey became a pitching/bullpen coach, learning the trade with the Cubs' minor league team in Iowa. He joined the Marlins as their bullpen coach in 2006, then joined the Yankees in 2008, first as a bullpen coach, then the team's hitting coach. After the 2013 season, Harkey was hired by the Diamondbacks to take over as their pitching coach.
  • Beckett value: $0.02-$0.10.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 8 cards.


Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1974 Topps #487. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Friday, November 29, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1977 Topps #10 Reggie Jackson

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, November 29, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1977 Topps #10.
  • Player Name, position, team: Reggie Jackson, outfielder, New York Yankees
  • Major League Debut: June 9, 1967.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1976 stats (Orioles): 134 G, 498 AB, 84 R, 138 H, 27 2B, 2 3B, 27 HR, 91 RBI, .277 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the A's #1st, June 1966. Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent 11/29/1976. Bats: left. Throws: left.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 21. This is his ninth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Reggie tied for 2nd in Homers in A.L. in 1976 and was 10th best in R.B.I's."
  • Commentary: So much has been written about the career of Reginald Martinez Jackson that I'm not going to do the usual career summary that normally appears here in the commentary. No. Two things will be discussed. First, his numbers from the 1977 season, and second, the controversy over this particular card and how Topps could have, if they so chose to do so, depicted him as an Oriole instead of a Yankee. Let's get the stats out of the way first. In his first season in the Bronx, Jackson would hit for a .286 average, launch 32 home runs, drive in 110 rbi's, steal 17 bases, and percentages of .375/.550/.925. In the 1977 World Series, five of Jackson's nine hits were home runs, including three in Game 6, sealing the World Series victory for the Yankees and earning him the nickname "Mr. October." Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about the card itself (something I should be doing more of instead of these biographies). With free agency coming, and knowing that the team could not afford to pay him large sums of money, Jackson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. This has been considered Jackson's "Lost Season." Why? In a stretch from 1971 through 1978, Jackson would appear in the playoffs all but one year (1976). From 1971 through 1984, Jackson would be named an All-Star in every season except one (1976). In Topps' second attempt at a Traded set, Jackson was not among the 43 subjects. Had he been, his name would have been the biggest in the set, and probably (in my opinion) would have lent some credibility to the set. But thanks to the guys at the Baseball Card Blog, we now have a "What Could Have Been" 1976 Topps Traded Reggie Jackson card, appropriately numbered #500T.



    Finally, instead of immortalizing Jackson in an Orioles uniform for his stint with the team in 1976 (save for a team card), upon signing with the Yankees in November, Topps took time to airbrush a Yankees helmet and pinstripes over Jackson's Orioles uniform. This move would be akin to say, something like Jose Reyes' 2013 Topps card as a Blue Jay in Series 1 without having played for the team yet. In today's Hobby, the Jackson card would be nothing new. Topps has been doing this for years now. But this had to be a big deal back then, especially for O's fans and team collectors who now could only dream of having their own Jackson O's card. It wasn't until Keith Olbermann showed the world that indeed Topps had a card of Jackson at the ready as an Oriole...and he had the proof (card) too.


    So there's Reggie, smiling, wearing an Orioles' jersey, with the iconic orange bird atop the helmet. And the Yankees name up above. Sigh. But thanks to Cliff Corcoran over at Camden Chat, we know know what a true 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson Orioles card would have looked like had Topps actually proceeded to make one.


  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $4.00-$10.00.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 142.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1993 Topps #657. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1976 Topps #654 Doug Griffin

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, November 28, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1976 Topps #654.
  • Player Name, position, team: Doug Griffin, second baseman, Boston Red Sox.
  • Major League Debut: September 11, 1970.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1975 stats (Red Sox): 100 G, 287 AB, 21 R, 65 H, 6 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 29 RBI, .240 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Angels #22nd, June 1965. Traded by the Angels to the Red Sox 10/11/1970. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 7. This is his sixth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: n/a.
  • Commentary: So I'm spending time with my wife's family at my brother-in-law's house in Indiana. His in-laws are in town from Massachusetts, and I had to tell them that after the Tigers went down, there was nobody left for me to root for, even as a NL fan, so it was "Go Red Sox" for me. It then turned into a discussion about how Ben Cherington has been a great GM since Theo left and that John Farrell was robbed of the AL MGR of the Year Award. Maybe I should show them my Doug Griffin card from 1976, the card that came out AFTER the 1975 World Series run and ask what they thought of the second baseman. Apparently Douglas Lee Griffin was a pretty good ballplayer when his career started. After being traded to Boston from the California Angels, he finished fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1971 and won a Gold Glove in 1972 despite a broken hand injury that affected his hitting. In 1973, he was beaned by a Nolan Ryan fastball, knocking him unconscious. The beaning would ultimately affect Griffin for the rest of his career. Although he played in more than 100 games as the team's second baseman during that magical 1975 season, he was left off the playoff roster throughout the ALCS and only appeared in one game (Game 5) of the World Series as a pinch hitter. In 1976, Griffin would be the backup at second base and the team's primary pinch hitter. In 49 games, Doug would hit .189 with 4 rbi's in a very limited capacity. Griffin would only appear in five games during the 1977 season, and by June, was given his unconditional release. He would never work in baseball after his release, working in the construction business in both California and Florida. Griffin's story is one of many that can be found thanks to the SABR's BioProject
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.15-$0.40.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 2.


Tomorrow's card will be: 1977 Topps #10. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

What I AM Thankful For in 2013.

I looked back at last year's post for inspiration. Many of the sentiments I wrote about then still hold true. Yes, lots have changed in my life, personally, professionally, spiritually, and even how I look at the Hobby. It is a sign that as I get older, and my priorities change, I realize that I am still fortunate for the life I've led and for all the things that there are to look forward to. I learned a very hard lesson recently that life is too short and that the ride could end at a moment's notice. My daughter likes to say "YOLO," a lot. I have come to realize that life isn't about just doing something crazy because you might never do it again (hence the meaning...You Only Live Once). It means that you have to take life as it comes and make your choices based on the situation. Make the best (or most...or both) of it with what you have, whether you have a lot, or not so much. I have had the opportunity to be on both sides of that spectrum. It's great when you have all or most of what you need. It truly is disheartening when you don't and have to scrape by. But through it all, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. And hopefully, just hopefully, the best is still yet to come.

(Before I continue, I know it is, or at least has already started, so Happy Hanukkah to everyone in the Jewish community and of Jewish faith).

By the time this post comes online, my family and I will be on our way to Indiana to join my wife's family as we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. One of the challenges of these holidays is that there will be times where we can't be with both sides. Last year was a rare exception as both families shared Thanksgiving within driving distance. This time, not so much. While I know my family will have a wonderful dinner, I am looking forward to what my in-laws are preparing for as well.

Anyway, I can rattle on and on about how tough it is nowadays, but everyone already has an idea. For all the bad news out there (and it seems there is plenty), there is so much for me personally to be thankful for.

I am thankful that I have a wonderful family that gives me a reason to be alive. My wife and I have been together for 15 wonderful years, and I look forward to many more with her. Do we fight? Of course. All couples do. Have there been breakdowns? Yes, during our times of struggle. But though we may have had our share of disagreements, somehow the good times we've had together outweigh all the negativity. As both of us have gotten older, and as we still talk about how it would be nice if we went to this place, or if we had this car, or whatever, we still have our moments where we laugh at ourselves and wonder out loud what the heck we were thinking back then. While those dreams of travelling to exotic locales have been put off to the side for now, at least we will always have St. Louis. We finally were able to bring the kids along this time, and what an adventure just to get down there. For now, we just have to keep going with what we have. As with many who took this vow of marriage, I promised to be with her for richer or poorer, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I loved her then, and I love her more so now.

I am thankful for being the father of two beautiful children who I love with all my heart. I am truly grateful to have them in my life. Both are growing up to be fine individuals. And as the years go by, our children are developing way too fast. They are both figuring themselves out now and after visiting with their teachers earlier this week, I can breathe a bit easier knowing that they are at least heading in the right direction. It is just a matter of maintaining that focus and scheduling whatever time they have so that they can balance school time and their other activities. In my heart, they will always be my little babies. It's hard not to look at them and see them when they were five years younger, or even ten years. But my wife and I couldn't be happier with how they've grown to love us and each other (as pre-adolescents and teenagers do). The rules of raising them have changed. We just have to figure what those rules are as we go along. Both their mom and I still have a lot of work to do raising them, but it is something that I would never exchange.

I am thankful to have a family to lean on when times are hard. My parents, who have been my support when I have nobody to turn to when I'm having troubles and give me good advice whether I ask or not. My siblings, who keep me grounded as a person (based on whatever they're doing in their lives). When we're all together, there is just that warmth that comes with remembering who we were, the people we've become, and just enjoying each other's company. The sibling rivalries, fights, teasings, and all that comes with it still are there. But it makes for good conversation. The laughter that comes with it at times is much louder as the stories of our lives become wilder (or at least for my younger sibs). But we still have our moments, and when we get together, it is always fun (like finally camping out in Sublette with my brother and his family, my sister and her family, et. al).

I am thankful for my wife's family. They help keep my wife in check and make sure that she's doing well. Although we don't get to spend as much time with her side of the family as we'd like (everyone is busy it seems), it makes the times when all can get together much more special. When we're with them, I tend to stay back a bit. I'm more there to see my wife and children have fun. It may feel like I'm just there for the ride, but I know where I stand, and am more than happy to be a part of this family too.

I am thankful for the opportunities I've been given to broaden my horizons professionally. In 2013, working with a temp agency, I have been able to work for two very different companies. One was for a small business that is continuing to grow (Star Creations Inc), and the other, where I presently work, a very large corporation whose influence has spread worldwide (United Stationers). Though both jobs I have taken are way out of my comfort zone, I am grateful for the experiences. In fourteen years at DPI, although I had worked in a wide variety of roles, I still felt like I wasn't doing enough. What a epiphany it was when I arrived at these two places to see that there was so much more to do and that there were industries out there that I never thought about (I can assure you that I will never look at framed art at Target the same way again). I still miss the people I've worked with over the years and continue to think about them. I wish them well and pray that they have adjusted in their new lives outside of DPI.

I am thankful for having a roof over my family's head. Yes, I have to admit it's been rough at times, both financially and physically (and by this, I mean our house is old, and there has been a lot of work that needed to be done with it). Somehow we are able to scrape through another month. I've had a lot of sleepless nights, especially when I was unemployed. But through it all, I am grateful that my family still has a place to call home.

I am thankful that we have food on our table. We try not to eat out, although at times with our children's schedules it has become a necessity at times. We've had to cut back on many luxury items (seafood, steaks), but we still try to have a sense of normalcy when it comes to cooking at home, whether it's my wife cooking or me taking a turn. I'm not saying that we've had to totally give up on good food (I've tried my hand at cooking a wide variety of foods since being home more. Some were hits...others, not so much), but as long as we have the basics (milk, bread, eggs), and we're never out of pasta, I'm happy.

The final thing I am for which I am thankful, for all intents and purposes, is the reason I am able to keep sane through all the things going on in my life. It is something that many understand, but few will admit relating to it. Many people, no matter what their situation, have at least one. And often times, use it for the same reasons I do. For the goals this one thing accomplishes is not just to give joy to my life, but to give it an escape. An outlet if you will, to a time where I didn't have stress, or have much to worry. This one thing is the reason why I write this humble little blog. I give thanks to the Hobby. Because with everything going on in the world today, second to my family, it is the one thing that gives me comfort. Yes, I know that if Sitemeter is to believed, my readership is down. But I never wrote for others. I wrote it more for me. The idea of writing this blog was more for me to learn and appreciate the Hobby, and learn more about the game of baseball. I recently came to the reality that there will be a time the faces of the game will completely change. There are players who are coming up that were born after I graduated high school. Soon, there will be players who will be my children's age. There are so few players left in the game who are older than me, and most of my childhood heroes are now being considered for enshrinement into Baseball's Hall of Fame. It's funny to look at a set from 1985 set and realize that none of the players are active anymore. Heck, even the 1988 Topps Turn Back the Clock card from "Twenty-Five Years Ago" is now (as of 2013) "Fifty Years Ago." Looking back at the names in Topps Magazine from the early 1990's, many of the names of the rising stars (not the prospects) have become legends. There will be a time where I will really have to think to continue collecting or if I should stop. I can say this though...now is not the time to stop.

If this sounds like I'm whining at the same time that I'm being grateful, I apologize as that was not the intent of my writing. There are many people out there who are struggling and somehow surviving on less than what we have. To them I pray that things will get better. It will take some work, but it will get better.

If there is one thing I have forgotten to do above, it's to say thank you to those who have read my blog, left comments, accepted me into this crazy community, and have added to my card collection since I started this blog. Thank you for adding me to your blogrolls and welcoming me into your online lives. I will do my best to fill this blog with information about the Hobby and the cards that we all enjoy. After all, 2014 Topps Series I won't be out until February, and I don't plan on leaving this site hanging until then.

On behalf of my family, may you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please stay safe if you are travelling this year.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2011 Topps #519 Corey Hart

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, November 27, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2011 Topps #519.
  • Player Name, position, team: Corey Hart, outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Major League Debut: May 25, 2004.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 2010 stats (Brewers): 145 G, 558 AB, 91 R, 158 H, 34 2B, 4 3B, 31 HR, 102 RBI, 7 SB, 45 BB, 140 SO, .525 SLG, .865 OPS, .283 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Brewers #11th, June 2000. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 7. This is his fifth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Corey, a second-time MLB All-Star Game selection in 2010, blazed to eighth-place NL finishes in homers and slugging. On back-to-back May days, he hit his first walk-off bomb and first grand slam.
  • Commentary: I am not sure why, but as soon as I saw that today's card would be of Corey Hart, I thought of two songs. "Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart (no relation) and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes. Maybe my mind was on an 80's kick. Maybe I was up late watching TV again and one of those 80's music compilation album infomercials was on in my sleep. I don't know. Probably the Brewers' most underrated talent, Jon Corey Hart has quietly made a name for himself as a power hitter in Milwaukee. Unfortunately for Brewers fans, surgery on his left knee in January, followed by surgery on his right knee in June forced Hart off the playing field in 2013. Not good timing considering controversy with the superstar of the franchise. But he is not far removed from what made him a two-time All-Star. In 2011, #1 hit 26 home runs, drove in 63 rbi's, a batting average of .285, and percentages of .356/.510/.866. When the 2014 season rolls around, whether it be at first base or in right field, Hart will be back and so will his offense (just not against the Cubs).
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.25-$0.60.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 31.


Tomorrow's card will be 1976 Topps #654. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1988 Topps Traded #92T Jose Rijo

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, November 26, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1988 Topps Traded #92T.
  • Player Name, position, team: Jose Rijo, pitcher, Cincinnati Reds.
  • Major League Debut: April 5, 1984.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1987 stats (Athletics): 21 G, 82.1 IP, 2-7, 67 R, 54 ER, 67 SO, 41 BB, 14 GS, 1 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 5.90 ERA.
  • Any special information about player: Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent 08/01/1980. Traded by the Athletics to the Reds 12/08/1987. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 17. This is his sixth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Jose led Florida State League with 15 Wins, 1.68 Earned Run Average and 1 Complete Games while tying for lead with 4 SHO at Fort Lauderdale in 1983."
  • Commentary: Here is something you may (or may not) have known about the career of Jose Antonio (Abreu) Rijo. On hte day he made his MLB debut, the left fielder for the Yankees was veteran Lou Pinella. It would be only less than six seasons later that the two would reunite, this time with Pinella being the Reds' manager. How is that for trivia. When I was growing up, I liked reading the "This Way to the Clubhouse" blurb on the backs of the 1988 Topps cards (when there was room on the back). If the transaction happened fairly recently, I could get the all the cards of the players involved and make them walk (move them) to their new team. When I was able to buy the traded set, I actually took the base cards and the traded cards and compared the cards of the players with their old teams and then with the new ones. After three seasons with Oakland, the A's sent Rijo and pitcher Tim Birtsas to Cincinnati for outfielder/designated hitter Dave Parker. While the Cobra helped get the A's to the AL pennant (for three straight seasons), Rijo was finally getting acclimated to the Queen City. In his first season with the Reds, Rijo earned a record of 13-8, with an ERA of 2.39 (his career best), struck out 160 batters, and had a WHIP of 1.130. From 1988 through 1995, Rijo would have a record of 92-57, a 2.71 ERA, strikeout 1201 of the 5636 batters he'd face, a WHIP of 1.168, become an All-Star, win 3 games during the 1990 playoffs, including two in the World Series, and be named the 1990 World Series MVP. In 1996, he suffered a serious elbow injury that knocked him out for the entire campaign. Actually, the injury, which required Tommy John surgery, kept him off the field for five full years. He finally made his comeback with the Reds in 2001 as a reliever. After two seasons, his elbow troubles returned, and Rijo finally decided to retire as a player. Funny enough, during his five-years away, he wound up on the 2001 Hall of Fame ballot, and earned a vote out of 515 cast. He was back on the ballot in 2008, and received no votes.
  • Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 23 cards.


Tomorrow's card will be: 2011 Topps #519. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 2011 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Monday, November 25, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1999 Topps #24 Paul Konerko

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, November 25, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1999 Topps #24.
  • Player Name, position, team: Paul Konerko, first baseman, Cincinnati Reds.
  • Major League Debut: September 8, 1997.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1999 stats (Indianapolis, AAA-International League): 39 G, 150 AB, 25 R, 49 H, 8 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 39 RBI, 1 SB, .540 SLG, 19 BB, 18 SO, .327 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Dodgers #1st, June 1994. Traded by the Dodgers to the Reds 07/04/1998. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 20. This is his fifth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "On May 12, 1997, Paul hit three home runs for San Antonio. On May 12, 1998, he belted three for Albuquerque."
  • Commentary: He's been with the White Sox for so long that it's easy to forget that Paul Henry Konerko was traded to the White Sox by the Reds for Mike Cameron. Now Cameron's career with the Reds lasted just that one season in 1999, where he appeared in 146 games, hit for a .256 average, 21 home runs, drove in 66 rbi's, and stole 38 bases as the team's centerfielder. But Paul Konerko would go on to play in 15 seasons and 2,187 regular season games for the Pale Hose, hit for a respectable .281 average, 427 home runs, 1,361 rbi's, six All-Star Team selections, and oh yeah, one World Series title. But at the time this card came out, there were no black pinstripes adorning Konerko's uni. The stripes were red, and after being in 75 games, in which he was a terrible .217, hit 7 homers, and drove in 29 rbi's, it was off to Indy, allowing Sean Casey full reign over first. With the first base spot already settled, the Reds kindly sent Paul to the White Sox. The rest is history. In his first full season in the majors, Paulie would hit .294, 24 homers, 81 rbi's, and achieve percentages of .352/.511/.862. With Konerko now the Pale Hose's new first baseman, it allowed their superstar, Frank Thomas to slowly transition to the DH role. The rest, as they say, is history. Yes, the White Sox got the better of Cincinnati that day. Oh, and just for kicks, I looked up what Konerko did on May 12, 1999. Why no link? Because the team was off that day.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 85 cards.


Tomorrow's card will be: 1988 Topps Traded #92T. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week: 2013 Topps Pro Debut #158 Matthew Skole

It's Minor League Monday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2013 Topps Pro Debut #158.
  • Player Name, position, team: Matthew Skole, third baseman, Hagerstown Suns.
  • Level-League, Team Affiliation: A-South Atlantic League, Washington Nationals.
  • Minor League Stats (stats with team depicted only): 101 G, 343 AB, 73 R, 98 H, 18 2B, 0 3B, 27 HR, 92 RBI, 10 SB, 94 BB, 116 SO, .574 SLG, 1.013 OPS, .286 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Nationals #5th, June 2011. Bats: left. Throws: right.
  • Major League Debut: n/a.
  • Baseball America Organizational Ranking After Season with Team: Washington Nationals #4 prospect after the 2012 season.
  • Blurb on the back: "Skole's trophy cases filled up quickly in 2012, as the second-year player claimed South Atlantic League MVP and organizational Hitter of the Year honors. He made the choices easy by recording the third-most home runs and RBI ever by a Washington Nationals farmhand. The Georgia Tech's toolbox is headed by serious power and an extreme ability to draw walks."
  • Official Topps Rookie Card: n/a.
  • Commentary: I'll be honest. I don't keep tabs on prospects. That's nothing new. When I write the commentaries of the minor leaguers depicted on the cards, I go online to see to both baseball-reference (the good old standby) and Baseball America websites to try and get an idea of what a player is like. When I saw that Matthew Thomas Skole only appeared in two games for the Harrisburg Senators, the Nat's AA team in the Eastern League, my first thought was, oh no, he got released. But why? Even with a .200 average in five at bats (seven plate appearances), he managed two rbi's, two walks, and his lone hit was a double. So what gives? Then I read the article about him "starting over" in the Arizona Fall League. That intrigued me to read more. It turns out that on the second game of the season, he suffered an elbow ligament tear that put a kibosh on his entire season. While he'd rather forget the circumstances that caused him to sit out for the year, it's what he did during his down time that actually made me like where his story is headed. He stayed in Florida while his the season was going, working hard but not using his elbow for the first few months. He was told "You lost a season of at-bats but you also have an opportunity to do some things physically that you otherwise wouldn’t be capable of doing," by the Nat's director of player development Doug Harris. So he kept on working out, activities that were not baseball related. He learned to cook, which, if you're a minor leaguer on a fixed stipend, could be better than eating out all the time on the road. By the time September came, he was ready to participate in baseball activities, enough so that he could get some games in the instructional league. Soon he was ready for another stint in the Arizona Fall League. He made up for lost time during his month in the AFL, and was recently named the Nationals' #4 prospect by Baseball America, despite missing the entire season. Things can only look up for Skole, who could see himself back in Harrisburg or even AAA-Syracuse in 2014.
Next week's featured card will be: 2011 Topps Pro Debut #129. Post will arrive at 9:00 AM CST. Hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Minor League Monday.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1961 Topps #51 Detroit Tigers Team Card

It's Retro Sunday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Sunday, November 24, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1961 Topps #51.
  • Team: 1960 Detroit Tigers.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1960 stats: Managers: Jimmy Dykes (44-52); Billy Hitchcock;(1-0); Joe Gordon (26-31), 71-83, .461 PCT., 26 GB, Sixth Place American League.
  • Commentary: Hey, the Randomizer has picked another team card. And it's of a team that was so horrible the year prior that nobody would have picked them to win the AL the next. Well, the 1961 Tigers did not go on to win the American League pennant, but they sure made an improvement from the previous year. The Tigers finished in second place with a 101-61 record, 8 games behind the unstoppable Yankees, under new manager Bob Scheffing. Ironically, it was an 8 game losing streak at the beginning of September that may have eventually been the death of their chances of reaching the postseason. Anyway, the point of this card was to review the 1960 season. Basically, the card back lists the names of the team's batting leaders: Al Kaline (leader in average - .253 - and hits - 153) and Rocky Colavito (leader in home runs - 35 - and runs batted in - 153) and pitching leaders: Jim Bunning (leader in ERA - 2.79 - and strikeouts - 202). Below the leader stats is a list of all 14 of the Tigers pitchers with their records versus the other seven teams.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $3.00-$8.00.


In case you're actually wondering, I don't own this card, but was able to get a crystal clean copy of the image from the from the Baseball Card Cyber Museum. So thank you Joe McAnally and the folks at the BCCM.

Well, it's back to normal on Monday. Tomorrow's card will be: 1999 Topps #24. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Come on back then to see what the Topps Card Randomizer gets us to look at then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Random Topps Team Set of the Week: 2008 Topps Chicago White Sox

(That Dr. Who thing got contagious as it delayed a day-and-a-half worth of posts...)

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Team Set of the Week:


The checklist consists of the following players:
The cards in order from the set (the checklist at the end was cut from the back of the package. What, you don't do that?):



Key differences between the team set and 2008 Topps eponymous set:
  • You see more of Nick Swisher on his regular card than you do in the retail one...and its the same picture too:

  • Same for Carlos Quentin:

  • Orlando Cabrera played for the Angels the year before, so he is depicted as an Angel. His traded card shows him with the Pale Hose jersey:
  • Joe Crede's base card uses the same picure but different cropping:
So of the 14 players included in this set, four have picture variations of which only 1 can only be found on the retail sets. The three other pairs of cards feature different croppings of the same picture, which is often the case found in some of these team sets.

Next week's featured set will be the 2008 Seattle Mariners. Hope you'll be here when we compare the cards from the retail set to their counterparts found in Topps and Topps Updates and Highlights sets.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1994 Topps #328 Donn Pall

(Sorry...these posts were supposed to publish yesterday. But the kids were tuned to the Dr. Who marathon thingy and we were hooked onto it until the Day of the Doctors episode).

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, November 23, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1994 Topps #328.
  • Player Name, position, team: Donn Pall, pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Major League Debut: August 1, 1988.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1993 stats (Phillies): 8 G, 17.2 IP, 1-0, 7 R, 5 ER, 11 SO, 3 BB, 0 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 2.55 ERA.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the White Sox #23rd, June 1985. Traded by the White Sox to the Phillies 09/01/1993. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 6. This is his sixth and final Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Donn's keys in 1993 were consistency (sub 3.00 ERA in 6 of the season's 7 months), and control (no BB in 34 of his 47 games)."
  • Commentary: There was a book that I remember reading that had set aside chapters by decade of baseball history. One of the sections included a few "what could have been teams." Among them were the 1994 Chicago White Sox. They were easily cruising through the 1994 season when the strike hit. And while they did finish the season in first place that year, who knows...they may have won that World Series title 11 years earlier than they actually did. But that's not the point of this post, and it definitely doesn't apply to Donn Steven Pall (somehow given the obvious nickname of "The Pope"...not that I know of his religious affiliation, but most likely the moniker was given to him because of his name). In 1993, the White Sox were running roughshod over the competition in the American League West division. By September 1, the Sox were 75-57, had just beaten the Yankees 5-3, and were ready to call it a day, when they made one more announcement. Donn had been traded to the Phillies for a player to be named later (Doug Lindsey). The Chicago-born Pall must have been heartbroken. It was a month past the trading deadline, it was almost the end of the year. He had performed amicably for the Sox (2-3, 3.22 ERA, 29 K's, 1.244 WHIP in 39 games), assured a spot onto the postseason roster. Now he was off to Philly, themselves in 1993, a playoff contender looking for pitching to put them over the top. Although Pall did not make it onto the postseason roster of the Phils, while his old team failed to get past Toronto in the playoffs, his new one shocked the Braves and moved on to the World Series. In 1994, Pall signed with the Yankees as a free agent, but by July 26, was released. He was then signed by a team in Chicago...this time the Cubs. He finished the season with a combined 1-2 record, a 3.69 ERA, and 23 strikeouts in 39 innings of work. He re-signed with the White Sox for the 1995 season, but spent the entire year in Triple-A Nashville. He left the White Sox organization again after the 1995 season, and signed on with the Marlins. In Florida, Pall bounced between the big leauge club and the AAA team in Charlotte. After a 4 game stint with the Reds' farm team in Indianapolis, Pall retired from the game as a player. He has since returned to the White Sox, this time as a Community Relations Representative.
  • Beckett value: $0.02-$0.10.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 8 cards.


Tomorrow is Retro Sunday, the one day of the week that we feature a card from 1951-1975. The card we will feature tomorrow is: 1961 Topps #51. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Friday, November 22, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1996 Topps #266 Kent Mercker

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, November 22, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1996 Topps #266.
  • Player Name, position, team: Kent Mercker, pitcher, Atlanta Braves
  • Major League Debut: September 22, 1989.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1995 stats (Braves): 29 G, 143 IP, 7-8, 73 R, 68 ER, 102 SO, 61 BB, 26 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 4.15 ERA.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Braves #1st, June 1986. Bats: left. Throws: left.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 9. This is his sixth Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "A fifth starter for pitching-prosperous Atlanta, hard-throwing Kent could be a top-of-the-rotation guy for many teams. He is able to work in several roles. The Braves won 16 of his starts in 1995 yet, for his career, Mercker owns a nifty 3.06 ERA in 211.2 relief innings."
  • Commentary: The 90's-early 2k's were sure a great time to be a Braves fan. From the time they became NL Champs in 1991 all the way through the middle of the next 2005, the Braves would guarantee themselves a spot in the post season (that 1994 strike season aside when they finished second in the NL East to Montreal notwithstanding). Pitching heavy, and an offense to boot, everything finally clicked in 1995 when the Braves finally won their first World Series title in Atlanta. Overshadowed by All-Stars Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery, Kent Franklin Mercker may not have had the fame, but he did hold his own when it was his turn on the mound. Whether a starter or in relief, Mercker knew he was counted on heavily by manager Bobby Cox to keep the Braves in the game. In his first six plus seasons in Atlanta, he would start 54 of his 233 career games, earn a 31-25 record, strikeout 426 batters and have an ERA of 3.49. I know all this by looking at the back of the card. In 1996, though, Mercker left Atlanta, traded to Baltimore for Joe Borowski and a minor leaguer. In 14 games, 12 starts, Kent earned a disastrous 3-6 record, a 7.76 ERA, a WHIP of 1.862 and struck out only 22 batters in 58 innings of work. His time with the O's a disaster, he was soon traded off to Cleveland, where he fared much better out of the bullpen. Then began a long journeyman career for Mercker as he found himself spending time with the Reds, Cardinals, Red Sox, and Angels from 1997 through the 2000 season. Then in 2002, after a year away from the game, the travelling continued, from Colorado, back to Cincinnati, a return to the Braves (for am 18 game stint that saw him pitch in 18 games, 17 innings, and a dominant 1.06 ERA to boot), then a year with the Cubs before finally settling down in Cincinnati, where he had a good three year run (130 games, 3.73 ERA, 5-2 record, 68 strikeouts) before retiring to the Reds broadcast booth.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 12.


Tomorrow's card will be: 1994 Topps #328. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2001 Topps #588 Ray Lankford

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, November 21, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2001 Topps #588.
  • Player Name, position, team: Ray Lankford, outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals.
  • Major League Debut: August 21, 1990.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 2000 stats (Cardinals): 128 G, 382 AB, 73 R, 99 H, 16 2B, 3 3B, 26 HR, 65 RBI, 5 SB, .508 SLG, 70 BB, 148 SO, .253 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Cardinals #3rd, June 1987. Bats: left. Throws: left.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 12. This is his eleventh Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Did 200 seem to be an off-season for Ray, an 11-year vet? Look again. He was one of only two National Leaguers to hit at least 25 home runs in fewer than 400 at-bats. The other was Mark McGwire."
  • Commentary: Raymond Lewis Lankford will always be a St. Louis Cardinal. Even after he was traded to the Padres after the trading deadline, he returned to the Cardinals as a Free Agent. So what happened in 2001 that caused the Cards to trade this offensive powerhouse? Simple. While the power was still there (15 home runs in 264 at bats during 91 games, percentages of .345/.496/.841), his batting average reached a career worst .235. The trade to San Diego for Woody Williams helped as he hit for a .288 average with 4 home runs and 19 rbi's in 40 games played. The following year was marred by injury, with Ray only appearing in 81 games. He signed back with the Cards for the 2003 season, but was on the shelf for the entire season due to a hamstring injury. After one last run in 2004, Lankford called it a career. His name is scattered all over the Cardinals' record lists, which include a cumulative .273 average, 228 home runs, 829 rbi's, 250 stolen bases, and an OPS of .846. He is also the only Cardinal to hit 200 home runs and steal 200 bases in a Cardinals' uniform.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 21.


Tomorrow's card will be: 1996 Topps #266. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1988 Topps #145 Bill Madlock

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Wednesday, November 20, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1988 Topps #145.
  • Player Name, position, team: Bill Madlock, designated hitter/third baseman, Detroit Tigers.
  • Major League Debut: September 7, 1973.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1987 stats (Tigers): 87 G, 326 AB, 56 R, 91 H, 17 2B, 0 3B, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 4 SB, .460 SLG, 28 BB, 45 SO, .279 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Senators #5th, January 1970 (Special). Signed with the Tigers as a Free Agent 06/04/1987. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 16. This is his sixteenth and final Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: n/a.
  • Commentary: Yes, I really have to go through the Randomizer to see what cards it has chosen so that this doesn't happen again. This is probably the first time ever that cards selected by the Randomizer on consecutive days have already been featured on this humble little blog (it was February 09, 2013 when this card was first picked). Which now makes me wonder how really random is the Randomizer??! The kids are back in school now, so I guess this saves me just a bit of time and agony having from having to come up with something. Anyway, here is what I wrote for Bill Madlock's final Topps card. Nothing more needs to be said about my love for the 1988 Topps set. It was the set that really got me into collecting, and I loved the way the team name hovered above the player's picture. And the 1988 Topps set was the home of the final card of Bill Madlock. What a career this man had. He was member of the Topps All-Star Rookie Team (with the rookie cup proudly displayed on his 1975 Topps card), led the National League in batting average four times, he was a three-time All-Star (even shared MVP honors in the 1975 ASG), and World Series Champion (with the 1979 Pirates, Madlock hit .375 with three runs driven in against the Orioles). As 1987 was his final season in the majors, the totals line at the bottom of the statistics are complete. He finished with a .305 batting average, hit 163 home runs, drove in 860 rbi's, and had OBP/SLG/OPS percentages of .365/.442/.807. He spent the 1988 season in Japan with the Lotte Orions and retired as a player after the season ended. He has taken positions as a coach with the Detroit Tigers and managed the independent Newark Bears for a couple of years in the mid 2000's.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.02-$0.10.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 33.


Tomorrow's card will be 2001 Topps #588. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Hope you will be too.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies #T46 Victor Zambrano

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Tuesday, November 19, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies #T46.
  • Player Name, position, team: Victor Zambrano, pitcher, New York Mets.
  • Major League Debut: June 21, 2001.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 2003 stats (Devil Rays): 34 G, 188.1, 12-10, 97 R, 88 ER, 132 SO, 106 BB, 28 GS, 1 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1.44 WHIP, 4.21 ERA.
  • Any special information about player: Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent 08/19/1993. Traded by the Devil Rays to the Mets 07/30/2004. Bats: both. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 4. This is his second Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "Victor is known for pitches with exceptional break, so much so that finding the strike zone can be a challenge for him. He posted a splendid 22-17 record with the Devil Rays in the year and a half before his trade, even though he led the American League in wild pitches, walks and hit batsmen. "Victor has an uncanny ability to work out of a jam," explained Devil Rays manager Lou Pinella."
  • Commentary: Eventually, and I swear I'll get around to it, I will have to go over all the Random Card of the Day posts and keep track of which cards have already been used. Why? Because this specific card from 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies, was already a previous subject for a Random Card of the Day (December 12, 2012). Which is just as well. Both kids are sick and I promised my daughter that I'd leave the laptop at home so she can play on the net. I can live with that. Personally, I'm not feeling too well either, but after getting some rest (and taking some medicine), I should have no problems getting going. So here's what I wrote last year for Victor Manuel Zambrano's traded card. As the Devil Rays were the doormat of the AL East for the earlier part of their existence, it would not be a stretch to believe that many players would have been happy to get out of there. Zambrano probably wasn't one of them. He was doing rather well for himself down there, going 35-27 with 372 strikeouts, an ERA of 4.47, and a WHIP of 1.491 in 135 games, 61 of them starts. But just before the trading deadline, the Devil Rays sent him and Bartolome Fortunato to the mets in exchange for Scott Kazmir and Jose Diaz. With the Mets, Zambrano went 2-0 down the stretch in 3 starts. While the Mets didn't make the playoffs that year, Victor was slated to be in the Mets rotation for 2005. He didn't fare so well that year, with a 7-12 record and 4.17 ERA. Tommy John surgery knocked him out after May in 2006. Zambrano signed on with the Blue Jays, but couldn't find the success he did at Tampa Bay. In 2008, he spent the year with both the Rockies and Yankees minor league systems, and after two years playing in Taiwan and the Mexican League, he retired from baseball.
  • Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 6 cards.


Tomorrow's card will be: 1988 Topps #145. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. We're looking back at a card from 1988 here on the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Monday, November 18, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1995 Topps #125 John Doherty

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Monday, November 18, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1995 Topps #125.
  • Player Name, position, team: John Doherty, pitcher, Detroit Tigers.
  • Major League Debut: April 8, 1992.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1994 stats (Tigers): 18 G, 101.1 IP, 6-7, 75 R, 73 ER, 28 SO, 26 BB, 17 GS, 2 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 6.48 ERA.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Tigers #19th, June 1989. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 3. This is his third and final Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "John's family lived within walking distance of Yankee Stadium until he was seven, then moved a half-hour north to Westchester County. He's not, he says, "this tough kid from The Bronx. We had pick-up games from 10 in the morning until 6 at night."
  • Commentary: Maybe it's just my mind wandering, or maybe it's the scanner that needs to be cleaned. Maybe it's the card itself, I don't know. But the borders of this card are a darker shade of white (is there even such a thing???). Maybe the card is just showing it's age...after all, it's almost 18 years old. John Harold Doherty's major league career lasted for about four-plus seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox (that's where the plus comes in). In 1995, his last with the Tigers, Doherty earned a 5-9 record, finished 18 games, saving six of them, had an ERA of 5.10, and struck out 46 of the 499 batters he faced in 113 innings of work. The following year, the Tigers placed him on waivers, with the Red Sox claiming him from the waiver wire. Although he did begin the year on the Boston roster, after 3 appearances and a 5.68 ERA, Doherty was sent to the minors, playing for both the Trenton Thunder (AA-Eastern) and Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA-International). But after doing well in Trenton to earn the promotion to Pawtucket (4 games, 1-1, 1.85 ERA, 14 K's), he couldn't keep it going in AAA. A 6.62 ERA, along with a 1-4 record as the PawSox's swingman did not earn him a contract with the Red Sox the following season. It would be his last year as a player in professional baseball. But at least he was able to get in on some cardboard history from 1993-1995.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.05-$0.15.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 3 cards.


Tomorrow's card will be: 2004 Topps Traded and Rookies #T46. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week: 2010 Topps Pro Debut #404 Darin Ruf

It's Minor League Monday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Pro Debut Card of the Week:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2010 Topps Pro Debut #404.
  • Player Name, position, team: Darin Ruf, first baseman, Gulf Coast League Phillies.
  • Level-League, Team Affiliation: Rookie-Gulf Coast League, Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Minor League Stats (stats with team depicted only): 20 G, 43 AB, 5 R, 14 H, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 3 BB, 8 SO, .395 SLG, .795 OPS, .326 AVG.
  • Any special information about player: Drafted by the Phillies #20th, June 2009. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Major League Debut: September 14, 2012.
  • Baseball America Organizational Ranking After Season with Team: n/a.
  • Blurb on the back: "Ruf enjoyed a smooth transition to the pros in 2009, debuting with a .326 average in 20 Gulf Coast League games. The No. 2 RBI man in Creighton University history drove in 24 runs in 37 contests after being promoted to Williamsport. He joined Clearwater in '10 following a .330-4-17 start for Lakewood."
  • Official Topps Rookie Card: 2013 Topps #83.
  • Commentary: When your major league club already has a man who plays your position signed to a long term deal (signed a five-year deal through 2016 with an option for 2017), injured or not, he's not going anywhere. What are your options? Hope to be traded? Perhaps. But if you don't want to be a journeyman before making it to the majors, you do what is best for your organization...and your chances of making the majors. You learn a new position. Such was the case for Darin Cortland Ruf. A first baseman (as seen on his first and only Pro Debut card), Ruf began the transition from infielder to outfielder slowly. In 2010, Ruf played for both the Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League and Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League. Combined, he appeared in 129 games, hit for a .290 average, 9 home runs, 67 rbi's, and percentages of .363/.451/.814. From 2011 through 2013, Ruf climbed the ladder, spending a full year in Clearwater, then spending the following season with the AA-Reading Phillies of the Eastern League where he showed big time power on the heels of 38 home runs, 104 rbi's, a .317 average and an OPS of 1.028. Thanks to those strong numbers, the Phillies rewarded him with a September call-up. He would start the 2013 campaign with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, but it was only a matter of time before he would be called up to the big leagues for good. Many feel that he was robbed recently of earning a spot on the 2013 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. But the Phillies know that they have a guy who can give Domonic Brown, Ben Revere, and Delmon Young big-time competition for a spot on the 2014 Phillies opening day roster. 
Next week's featured card will be: 2013 Topps Pro Debut #158. Post will arrive at 9:00 AM CST. Hope you enjoyed this week's installment of Minor League Monday.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1956 Topps #88 Johnny Kucks

It's Retro Sunday!!! Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Sunday, November 17, 2013:


  • Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1956 Topps #88.
  • Player Name, position, team: Johnny Kucks, pitcher, New York Yankees.
  • Major League Debut: April 17, 1955.
  • Last Line of Statistics: 1955 stats (Yankees): 29 Games, 127 Innings, 8-7, .533 Pct., 122 Hits, 54 Runs, 48 E.R., 48 S.O., 44 Walks, 3.40 E.R.Avg.
  • Any special information about player: Signed with the Yankees as a Free Agent before the 1952 season. Bats: right. Throws: right.
  • Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 7. This is his first Topps card.
  • Blurb on the back: "After his Army discharge, Johnny went to the Yanks' spring training camp. His great pitching in exhibition games won him a job with N.Y. Johnny, with only 1 year of minor league ball is now a real major leaguer.
  • Commentary: To market the cards for their target audiences (that would be kids), Topps took the unique step of replacing most of the boring text usually found on the backs of cards (if they even had them at all) with cartoons. And they were a hit. So much so that Topps continued the practice on and off over the decades. And although they are not as prevalent as they were in the 50's and 60's, there is still a bit of nostalgia that comes with these cartoons. They have come so close to iconic and recognizable that one can look at just a cartoon sketch and know that it came from or was to have been used on a baseball card. If only they replaced some of the long boring texts on some of the cards today with cartoons. I'm sure it would be more interesting to read card backs. The cartoon captions on the back of John Charles Kucks Jr.'s (last name pronounced as "Cooks.") card would have been just text in today's cardboard. But back then, the cartoons were the thing and were a perfect way to tell kids what he was doing before making it to the majors. Kucks career was a bit delayed due to his stint in Army. His best season would come in 1956, when he appeared in 34 games, 31 starts, achieved a record of 18-9, an ERA of 3.85, 67 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.315. Did I mention that he also completed 12 games, 3 as shutouts, and earned a trip to the All-Star Game? Some could argue though that the following year was better statistically for Kucks, even with the losing record of 8-10 as he had better numbers across the board (3.56 ERA, 78 K's, 1.271 WHIP are all career bests). But during the 1956 World Series against Brooklyn, Kucks appeared in three games, started Game 7, and earned the shutout victory as the Yanks trounced the Dodgers 9-0. After that fantastic 1956 season, Kucks spent time between the starting rotation and bullpen, but he could not maintain the numbers that made him an All-Star, and after appearing in nine games for the Bombers in 1959 became part of the infamous NYY-KCA pipeline, going to the Athletics with two others in exchange for Ralph Terry and Hector Lopez. His major league career ended after the 1961 season, with Kucks finishing with a career 54-56 record, a cumulative 4.10 ERA, 338 strikeouts, two World Series rings, and as the answer to the trivia question, "Who was the last pitcher Jackie Robinson faced in the Majors?". He became a stockbroker after his playing days ended. Johnny Kucks passed away on October 31, 2013 due to cancer at a hospice in New Jersey. He was 80 years old.
  • Lo-Hi Beckett value: $7.00-$15.00.
  • How many cards of this player do I own?: 0.


In case you're actually wondering, I don't own this card, but was able to get a crystal clean copy of the image from the from the Baseball Card Cyber Museum. So thank you Joe McAnally and the folks at the BCCM.

Well, it's back to normal on Monday. Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #125. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Come on back then to see what the Topps Card Randomizer gets us to look at then.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Pack Break Week 2013: Topps Update Series and Topps Chrome Update Series

(For some reason, this post did not get published as scheduled last Sunday. Then, it got lost in the shuffle. I apologize for that. This is what should have concluded last week's Pack Break Week on Sunday, November 10.)

Sunday. It's the Day of Rest. And before Mass begins, the kids are at CCD. My daughter has a dance rehearsal, so we're going to be rushing it from church to home so she can get ready. Then there's the matter of raking leaves in the front yard...

You know, now would be the ideal time to finish off Pack Break Week.


To conclude Pack Break Week, I will now be opening the pack of 2013 Topps Update Series and the second pack of 2013 Topps Chrome Update Series found exclusively in those Mega Boxes found at the big box store..

Enclosed, in order, is what appeared in my 12-card pack of Topps Update Series:

  • #US25 Wade Davis, Royals
  • #US81 Casey Kotchman, Marlins
  • #US165 A. J. Pierzynski, Rangers
  • #US147 Charlie Morton, Pirates
  • #US200 Wil Myers, Rays
  • #US218 Miguel Cabrera, American League All-Star


  • #US106 Clayton Kershaw, National League All-Star Gold #0601/2013
  • #TM-4 Bo Jackson, Royals, 1971 Mini Card
  • #US260 Darren O'Day, Orioles
  • #US299 Ian Kennedy, Padres
  • #US183 Jeff Bianch, Brewers RC
  • #US92 Jeanmar Gomez, Pirates


Getting the gold card of a guy who should win this year's 2013 Cy Young is great. I know there's going to be demand somewhere in the Hobby Blogging Community for it (unless somebody already has given it to that person already). The Bo Jackson card is nice too. Surprised that the corners haven't been dinged...the paper quality seems to have improved over the years (at least what was used in 1971).

Now onto the Chrome Update Series pack (carefully peeling it for Baseball Dad):


  • #MB-38 Kyle Gibson, Twins
  • #MB-28 Rafael Soriano, Nationals
  • #MB-22 Ian Kennedy, Padres
  • #PH-6 Sandy Koufax, Dodgers Postseason Heroes


I guess the "MB" stands for "Mega Box." Cool, so not only did I break a pack with Ian Kennedy's regular Update card in it, but the Chrome pack had his Chrome card too. WOOT for coincidences. I also realized that not only do I have the Gold parallel of Kershaw's Update card, but his Gold Chipz too (from earlier in the week...must be a sign). Getting a chrome insert is nice, but I totally whiffed on the parallels on my two packs. Que sera sera.

I hoped you enjoyed this year's edition of Pack Break Week. I hope 2014 will bring us great things to talk about and good packs to rip.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama