Random Topps Card of the Day: 1974 Topps #34 Andy Kosco

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

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1974 Topps #34.
• Player Name, position, team: Andy Kosco, outfielder, Cincinnati Reds.
• Major League Debut: August 13, 1965.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1973 stats (Reds): 118 AB, 33 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 21 RBI, .280 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Tigers as a Free Agent before the 1959 season. Traded by the Red Sox to the Reds 03/27/1973. Bats: right. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 8. This is his eighth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Named Most Valuable Player in Northern League for 1964. Led Northern League with .346 Avg; 28 Homers & 97 RBI's, 64."
• Commentary: It's rare that we get a card from 1974 to show up on the Randomizer. It is mostly remembered for being the set that had jumped the gun, assuming that the San Diego Padres would be relocating to Washington, DC. Thus, a number of Padres cards had the city they played for as "Washington, Nat'l Lea." Andrew John Kosco was a nine year veteran whose career saw him travel from Minnesota (where he took over for Harmon Killebrew when the Killer was on the DL) to the Yankees (as backup to Mickey Mantle at first base - he was with the Oakland A's organization at the time he was selected in a Rule 5 draft). He was then traded at the end of the 1968 season to the Dodgers, and then again to the Brewers after two seasons. After a year in Milwaukee, he was traded again to the Angels, but after August, was traded out to Boston. Finally, by March of 1973, he was traded to Cincinnati. Was it because he was in high demand that many teams stood in line to trade for him? He was a formidable bench player at best, with his best years with the Yankees and Dodgers. In his final season with the Reds, Kosco appeared in 33 games in a pinch hitting role, hitting 7-37 (.189) with five rbi's. By July 30, he played his final major league game. He was released from the team after the 1974 season ended. He did play for one more year in the minors with Toledo (AAA-Phillies), but after 48 games, he decided to call it a career. Since his playing days ended, he has gone on to a successful career as an insurance salesperson. There is a cartoon sketch of a beaten up and bandaged baseball flying over a fence with the caption "Andy homered into left-center bleachers at Yankee Stadium, '68."
• Beckett value: $0.20-$0.50.
• 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: 1988 Topps #247. 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

Éirinn go brách! Happy St. Patrick's Day from Elgin!!!

It's been a busy weekend for us as my daughter was Confirmed yesterday (one year early as there were not enough 8th graders in our church's CCD program). If that wasn't enough, she had a dance competition early that morning (her group dance was moved up so that we could go to Confirmation) that meant we had to arrive in Elgin, a town about 30 miles away from home, at 6:00 AM. As soon as she finished her one dance, it was off to Chicago for Mass. Once Mass was done, and we had a little reception, it was back to Elgin for the remainder of the evening's competition, with my daughter on stage for two more dances. The whole thing, with the hour-long award ceremony, ended roughly just before midnight. We made it home at 1:00 AM.

And guess what...WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN!!! She has to be back at the competition for a 5:00 pm act, but the Dance Company insisted that all the kids arrive by NOON. Most of these kids are only going to be on once, five hours after the call time. So what is my family going to do? Go to church, and meet the rest of the troupe at 3.

Go team!!!

Okay, rant over. It's St. Patrick's Day.

Today is St. Patrick's Day. It is the day that honors St. Patrick, who is the patron saint of Ireland. It also commemorates the arrival of Christianity to the Emerald Isle. In fact, it is said (thanks Wikipedia) that he used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity.

The Chicago River will be dyed a nice green this year. And it is said that they do a fantastic job of it as it pretty much stays that color for the rest of the year. My family enjoyed the corned beef dinner on Thursday night and unless we find a restaurant serving it, we won't be having it tonight. We'll probably stop by a sushi restaurant before the show...nothing says Happy St. Pat's like a platter of sushi.


If anybody says, "Top of the morning to you," to you today, make sure to respond in kind, "And the rest of the day to yourself."

Public Service Announcement: As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, please remember to celebrate responsibly.




Now for the baseball portion of the program. If you're wondering, while there are many players of Irish descent in both the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues, the last native born Irish player was Joe Cleary. Born in County Cork, Cleary only appeared in one game (08/04/1945) in 0.1 inning of work for the Washington Senators. But in that eventful inning, he struck out one batter (the good news), but allowed five hits, three walks, and seven earned runs to score. Saving time for the math, but seven runs in 1/3 innings equals an ERA of 189.

So now, a quick toast...

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be at your back.
May your cards collections grow to unmeasurable heights in both volume and value.
May the quest for new cards be swift.
May the journey of life treat you well today and always.
And may a certain North Side baseball team win it all this year.
If you catch my drift.

Sláinte!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1995 Topps #438 Roberto Alomar

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Saturday, March 16, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1995 Topps #438.
• Player Name, position, team: Roberto Alomar, second baseman, Toronto Blue Jays.
• Major League Debut: April 22, 1988.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1994 stats (Blue Jays): 107 G, 392 AB, 78 R, 120 H, 25 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 19 SB, .452 SLG, 51 BB, 41 SO, .306 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Signed with the Padres as a Free Agent 02/16/1985. Traded by the Padres to the Blue Jays 12/05/1990. Bats: both. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 20. This is his ninth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Alomar's love of the game ("Baseball is the greatest thing in the world.") runs in his family. In 1973, his Dad, Sandy, made the first out of Nolan Ryan's first no-hitter; 18 years later, Roberto made the final out of Ryan's 7th and final masterpiece!."
• Commentary: Back in January, the Topps Card Randomizer picked Robbie Alomar's 1994 Topps card. As cool as that card looked, the picture on this card is just as nice. Look at how he balances the baseball on one finger (or is it two, it's hard to tell). With most of what I would normally write already one two months ago, I'll just stick to facts about his 1995 season. Yes, it was a shortened season, but it would also be Alomar's final one in Toronto. In 1995, he would once again make the All-Star Team and earn another Gold Glove award. And that was on the strength of a .300 average with 13 home runs and 66 rbi's. In 703 games for Toronto, Roberto Alomar would hit a fantastic .307 batting average with 55 home runs, 342 rbi's, an OPS of .833, 5 Gold Glove Awards, 5 All-Star Game appearances (four starts), one Silver Slugger Award, and Two World Series Championships. Although he would sign on with Baltimore after the 1995 season, and would go on to play for the Indians (1999-2001), Mets (2002-03), White Sox (2003, 2004) and Diamondbacks (2004), and his final Topps card has him in a Devil Rays' uniform, he was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay, the first player to be inducted representing the Toronto franchise.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.20-$0.50.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 66.

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 #34. Come back at 1:00 PM CST to see who (or what) it is.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Card of the Day: 2000 Topps #123 Ryan McGuire

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Friday, March 15, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 2000 Topps #123.
• Player Name, position, team: Ryan McGuire, first baseman, Montréal Expos.
• Major League Debut: July 5, 1997.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1999 stats (Expos): 88 G, 140 AB, 17 R, 31 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 1 SB, .343 SLG, 27 BB, 33 SO, .221 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Red Sox #3rd, June 1993. Traded by the Red Sox to the Expos 01/10/1996. Bats: left. Throws: left.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 4. This is his fourth and final Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "He plays the same position as that other McGwire, but spells his name with a "u" and earns his living with a fancy glove and a lot of line drives. The Expos have been enamored of Ryan ever since seeing him hit safely in his first 12 games as a big-leaguer in 1997, provoking a 10-game winning streak."
• Commentary: Topps 2000 featured silver borders (compared to two years of gold-ish) that made the pictures really stand out. However, because of the use of a vertically-oriented reverse (or back of card), the statistics were sometimes hard to read, especially if there were a lot of lines on them. Maybe it's my vision, maybe it's the lighting in my office, but man I had a hard time reading the stats on the back of this one. With Brad Fullmer holding down the first base position for the Expos, if Ryan Bryon McGuire was not on the bench, he was covering the outfield for the regular starters, giving them a much needed day off or two. However, McGuire struggled badly at the plate, hitting .186 with 1 home run and 10 rbi's. In 1999, McGuire would begin the season in Ottawa, but would be called up by the Expos in May, remaining with the team in the same role as he had the year before. In 2000, McGuire signed on with the Mets as a Free Agent. He spent most of the year with the Mets' minor league affiliate in Norfolk, and did appear in one game in June for the Mets, going 0-2 with a walk. In 2001, he signed on with the Marlins and was placed onto the opening day roster. But after 63 games, most of which was off the bench as a pinch hitter, McGuire was sent to the Calgary to finish out the season (and get more playing time than he would have in Miami). The Orioles signed McGuire for the 2002 season, and he joined the major league roster from May to July again in a pinch-hitter/bench role. Ryan was designated for assignment after 17 appearances, hitting .077 (2-26), and was sent back to Rochester to finish the season. It would be the last time he would play in the majors. The following year, he split time with both the Yankees' and Twins' minor league systems, and called it a career soon afterwards.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.07-$0.20.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 4.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1995 Topps #438. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Flash back with the blog tomorrow.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Did Somebody Say π???

Happy π Day!!! That is all.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

PS: Personally, I like banana cream, or French silk pi. I've even had grasshopper pi (no, it is not made with grasshoppers...that I'm aware of anyway). But a good apple pi with ice cream??! Okay, I'm off to the bakery. jba

Random Topps Card of the Day: 1980 Topps #187 Alan Ashby

Thanks to the Topps Card Randomizer, introducing the Random Topps Card of the Day for Thursday, March 14, 2013:

• Official Card Set Name and Card Number: 1980 Topps #187.
• Player Name, position, team: Alan Ashby, catcher, Houston Astros.
• Major League Debut: July 3, 1973.
• Last Line of Statistics: 1979 stats (Astros): 108 G, 336 AB, 25 R, 68 H, 15 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 35 RBI, .202 AVG.
• Any special information about player: Drafted by the Indians #3rd, June 1969. Traded by the Blue Jays to the Astros 11/27/1978. Bats: both. Throws: right.
• Number of regular Topps Cards (includes regular and traded cards only): 14. This is his fifth Topps card.
• Blurb on the back: "Ranked among A.L. catching leaders in Assists and Double Plays at Toronto during 1978 season. Threw out 53% of the runners trying to steal against him, 1978."
• Commentary: Forget the fact that the headshot does not show the awesome late 70's Astros jersey (this being the one with the hot color "rainbow" stripes that went across the front of the jersey). But the hair, the mustache, it screams 70's fashion. Just what is he looking at anyway? And look at the clean and clear signature. That's a rarity nowadays on cards with facsimile autographs. After six seasons and 400 games in the American League, Alan Dean Ashby came to Houston in a trade that sent three players to Toronto (which shows that the Astros really wanted/needed a catcher) for the 1980 campaign. While Ashby wasn't the best offensive catching option out there, he certainly was among the best defensively. As the back of the card indicates, he had a cannon for an arm, and many daring base runners trying to steal a base off of him were sent back to the dugout with their heads hung down. In his first year in Houston, 31 runners were called out trying to steal, and one more was picked off base. In 1980, he started to show a bit more offense at the plate. In 116 games, Ashby hit for a .256 average with 3 home runs, 48 rbi's, and an OPS of .665. Defensively, he had a fielding percentage of .991 (6 errors in 674 chances), caught 27 runners napping on base, and even started 10 double plays. The only knock on him that year was that he led the league's catchers with 14 passed balls. He would stay on with the Astros throughout the 80's, with highlights including catching no hitters from Nolan Ryan (1981) and Mike Scott (1986). He also helped guide the 1986 pitching staff to lead the NL in strikeouts and second in ERA. He had his best season in 1987, hitting career highs in average (.288), home runs (14), and rbi's (63). He also led the league's catchers in fielding percentage (.993). But after that incredible season, his playing time started to decrease. By 1989, with Craig Biggio taking over the catching duties full-time, the Astros released Alan Ashby, and thus, he ended his playing career. Since then, Ashby began a career in broadcasting, first as a Sports Director and Anchor for a local Houston TV station. In between TV gigs, he managed the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the independent Texas-Louisiana League. He joined the Houston Astros' organization as manager of the team's A-league affiliate in Kissimmee. He would go on to join the major league coaching staff in 1997 as the team's bullpen coach. An opening in the Astros' radio booth prompted Ashby to return to broadcasting in 1998, and he stayed on in that role until 2006. He continued his radio career with another former team, the Blue Jays, in 2007, staying with the team until 2012. When Jim Deshaies left the Astros' TV booth for Chicago, Ashby resigned from his post in Toronto and in 2013 will return to broadcast Astros' games, this time for television. In 2012, the Houston Astros selected an All-Time 25-Man roster. Ashby was named the team's starting catcher.
• Lo-Hi Beckett value: $0.10-$0.25.
• How many cards of this player do I own?: 14.

Tomorrow's card will be: 1976 Topps #589. Post will arrive at 1:00 PM CST. Until tomorrow everybody.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Random Topps Team Set of the Week: 2008 Topps Baltimore Orioles

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

• Team: 2008 Baltimore Orioles
• Record: 68-93, fifth place, AL East Division.
• Manager: Dave Trembley
• Card on the Top: Nick Markakis

The checklist consists of the following players:

• BAL1 Nick Markakis
• BAL2 Brian Roberts
• BAL3 Ramon Hernandez
• BAL4 Kevin Millar
• BAL5 Aubrey Huff
• BAL6 Jeremy Guthrie
• BAL7 Jay Payton
• BAL8 Chris Ray
• BAL9 Melvin Mora
• BAL10 Adam Loewen
• BAL11 Daniel Cabrera
• BAL12 Brian Burres
• BAL13 Luke Scott
• BAL14 Erik Bedard

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:

• Brian Roberts' card in the base set shows more of the picture used in the retail set:
  
  

• Jay Payton's eponymous card shows him in action, so his posed card in the retail set is unique:
  
  

• Luke Scott plied his craft for the Astros in 2007, so his 2008 Topps card shows him in a Houston uniform. However, he was traded to Baltimore on December 12, 2007. While it was too late to photoshop an O's uni on Scott's card, he was included in the Updates and Highlights set that came out after the season:
  
  

So of the 14 players included in this set, there are three cards that feature different pictures in the retail set that was used in 2008 Topps, of which one card was the "same picture, wider shot" situation with Roberts' card. The other 11 cards use the same pictures.

Next week's featured set will be the 2006 Minnesota Twins. 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.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama