Cards That Make You Go...What??! of the Week: 1998 Topps #3 Billy Wagner and #184 Jeff Montgomery

Okay, it's been a while since I last did one of these. It may sound like I'm griping over nothing. It may sound like I'm nitpicking. It may sound like I need some sleep. But hey, if it was a one time occurrence within a certain set, it's one thing. When you see it twice in the same set, you question the sanity of the people involved in the making of sports cards.

This week's What??! of the Week features cards that maybe the ladies at Dinged Corners would love, if for no other reason than the players are holding props that normally would not appear in a game situation.

In this age of specialized pitching staffs, nobody is more important to a team than it's closing pitcher, or closer. They are the guys who's sole purpose on the team is to, ahem, close out ballgames. Sometimes, they are called in to put out the "fires" that are left by the pitchers ahead of them, (men on base in a close ball game) to help preserve a win for the team. So these relievers are also called "firemen."

Two such relievers who found tremendous success in the later part of the 1990's were the Astros Billy Wagner and Royals closer Jeff Montgomery. In fact, between the two men, they saved 66 games in 1998 (Montgomery with 36, Wagner with 30). This only goes to show that they both were very good in their respective roles with their teams.

So in 1997, the Topps company decided to have a little fun with both men in preparing for their 1998 Topps baseball cards. What better way to show that you are among the best "firemen" in the league by having each pitcher hold something that firefighters would use for their cards?

Without further ado, here are the cards that make me go What??!:

1998 Topps #3 Billy Wagner and #184 Jeff Montgomery. I guess if they needed to find work after their baseball careers end, they could enlist in the Fire Academy.

Now, I personally like action photography in my baseball cards. A pitcher going through his windup, a batter swinging for the fences, or an outfielder making a spectacular catch. Anything that makes it look like the picture was taken on a field of play. At least Wagner is wearing a fireman's helmet. Montgomery looks like he's posing for a future Firefighter Hunks calendar. And check out the extinguishers. Young Billy there looks like he's ready to oust a kitchen fire with that thing. On the other hand, Jeff's ready to tackle a small building with that tank.

Again, it would not have been so bad if they used one picture or the other, but both??? I'm sure plenty of parents looked at these cards as a reason to teach their children about fire safety and how to use the fire extinguisher in case of an emergency.

These cards were not even given away to kids by the local fire department as part of some fire safety program. If they were, then it makes all the sense in the world, and I look like I'm just nitpicking just to find something to write about. Otherwise, here are more cards that make me wonder...

What Were You Thinking??!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Topps Trivia Question of the Week, October 6, 2008

Time to try another new segment for the blog. This time, I'll pose a question regarding some cards that are in my collection or some interesting bit of trivia about the card company we know and love, and we'll see if anyone can get it right. Will I be giving anything away? Maybe. I'm sure I can dig up something worth while to give away.

Today's question is:

In 1996, Topps inserted 19 reprinted cards of Mickey Mantle. In 1997, they reprinted all 27 Topps Willie Mays cards. In 1998, Roberto Clemente earned the honor with 19 reprinted cards. Nolan Ryan and his 27 cards were reprinted and inserted into packs of 1999 Topps. And in 2000, Hank Aaron was given the honor with 23 cards reprinted.

In Topps history, what year or years did all five appear in the same set at the same time???

You can leave your answers in the comments section. This may be a bit too easy, but hey, this segment has to start somewhere right??? The answer, and possibly a winner, will be announced soon. Good luck to all.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

If This is His Topps Card, Then What Card is This?: Todd Helton

Okay, so last week's edition of What Card is This? was too easy. I hope our next subject will help make what is becoming my favorite posts of the blog a little bit more challenging.

This week's subject is has been the face of the Colorado Rockies for the last ten seasons. Even though he played in a little more than half of the Rockies games this year, he still is their franchise player, and since being drafted by the team in 1995, he has been the Rockies...well, Rock. The steady hand at first base. And while being out for half the year could be one of the reasons why the Rockies fell from NL champion to a third place finish in 2008, hope springs eternal for a better 2009 campaign. I'm talking about none other than Todd Helton.

From 2000-2004, Todd Helton was an NL All-Star, and an MVP candidate. In 2000, arguably his best season, he led the National League with a batting average of .372, 147 RBI's, 216 hits, 59 doubles, a slugging percentage of .692, on base percentage of .463, which also means he lead in OPS with 1.162, and on and on and on.

This week, I am including two cards with the now famous 2005 Topps design. Here is his regular card, #385:

Probably not one of the best pictures to use. He looks like he just woke up here, and underneath that cap and pair of sunglasses is a squished mullet, waiting to pop out. So now that every 2005 Topps card of Helton looks like the one above, here is card number two:

Now this actually looks a lot better. It's an action shot, and he's swinging and watching as a ball sails out of whatever ball park he's in (if this card was taken in Denver, then the ball maybe outside the stadium.

So now fellow readers, I leave you to ponder,

What Card Is This?

Answer to be given tomorrow night. Make your guesses now. I'm going to turn in early.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

UPDATE: Monday, October 6, 2008.

As Night Owl correctly answered, the second card does come from the 2006 Topps WalMart set. I do agree with him when he says that the second card does look better than the one in the eponymous set. Thanks for playing. This was apparently too easy.

jba

More Cards to Look Forward to When 2008 Topps U & H Arrives

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, there will be more second version cards of our Presidential candidates.

Along with the Palin "beauty queen card," there will also be a second Barack Obama card with him playing basketball, and another John McCain card with the Republican hopeful watching a ball game in the stands.

Makes one wonder...what happened to Joe Biden??? Does he get one too??? Will there also be an additional card to the 2008 Topps Presidential Match Ups with an Obama/McCain card???

To think, we'll have to wait until 2012 for this Presidential madness to return to the Hobby.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

bdj610's End of Year MLB All-Star Teams...The Final Rosters

After pouring over stats and arguing with myself as to who deserves to be on the team, I have finally finished completing my 36-man teams. I think I can say with confidence that the players who made my "All-Star Teams" were worthy of inclusion, not just because many of them are major superstars, but because the their statistics were high enough above their peers that made them stand out from the rest.

So, without further ado, here are the players who made my 2008 MLB End of Year All-Star Teams (in alphabetical order by position):

(Lots of space here when I added the table. Don't know why...)

American League First Basemen Miguel Cabrera, Tigers Justin Morneau, Twins Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox Second Basemen Ian Kinsler, Rangers Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox Brian Roberts, Orioles Third Basemen Evan Longoria, Rays Melvin Mora, Orioles Alex Rodriguez, Yankees Shortstops Derek Jeter, Yankees Jhonny Peralta, Indians Michael Young, Rangers Outfielders Jack Cust, Athletics Vladimir Guerrero, Angels Joey Hamilton, Rangers Raul Ibañez, Mariners Nick Markakis, Orioles Magglio Ordoñez, Tigers Carlos Quentin, White Sox Grady Sizemore, Indians Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners Catchers Joe Mauer, Twins Dioner Navarro, Rays A. J. Pierzynski, White Sox Designated Hitter Jim Thome, White Sox Pitchers A. J. Burnett, Blue Jays Gavin Floyd, White Sox Roy Halladay, Blue Jays Cliff Lee, Indians Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox Mariano Rivera, Yankees Francisco Rodriguez, Angels Joe Saunders, Angels Scot Shields, Angels Joakim Soria, Royals

National League First Basemen Lance Berkman, Astros Adrian Gonzalez, Padres Ryan Howard, Phillies Second Basemen Mark DeRosa, Cubs Dan Uggla, Phillies Chase Utley, Phillies Third Basemen Chipper Jones, Braves Aramis Ramirez, Cubs David Wright, Mets Shortstops Cristian Guzman, Nationals Hanley Ramirez, Marlins Jose Reyes, Mets Outfielders Carlos Beltran, Mets Ryan Braun, Brewers Pat Burrell, Phillies Adam Dunn, Diamondbacks Matt Holliday, Rockies Carlos Lee, Astros Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals Nate McLouth, Pirates Alfonso Soriano, Cubs Catchers Russell Martin, Dodgers Bengie Molina, Giants Geovany Soto, Cubs Designated Hitter Albert Pujols, Cardinals Pitchers Chad Billingsley, Dodgers Ryan Dempster, Cubs Brad Lidge, Phillies Tim Lincecum, Giants Carlos Marmol, Cubs Johan Santana, Mets Jose Valverde, Astros Edinson Volquez, Reds Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks Brian Wilson, Giants Kerry Wood, Cubs

Most of the position players were chosen based on statistics comparing the top eight position players in each league (hits, runs, home runs, rbi's, walks, strikeouts, stolen bases, caught stealing, and batting average). In most cases, the players I had chosen earlier due to the one person per team rule made the top three (with the only exception of the shortstop position in the NL).

In previous years, I tended to show a little more bias to Chicago players (on both sides) in cases where if I thought I could choose them over another person, I would (hey, I'm from Chicago, what can I say). And when I introduce the teams from previous years, you will see what I mean. But this year, because I am presenting them to the world, I thought I'd try to be as open minded as I can and pick the proper deserving players. And at the end of the choosing, I still wound up with four White Sox and six Cubs players on the teams. One person teams this year included the Athletics (Cust), Royals (Soria), Brewers (Braun), Nationals (Guzman), Padres (AGonzalez), Pirates (McLouth), Volquez (Reds), and Rockies (Holliday). The Cubs lead both teams in representatives with 7, the Angels, Red Sox, White Sox, Mets, and Phillies each have four players on the two teams.

So ends the presentation for my 2008 End of Year MLB All-Star Teams. Already in previous posts, I have had people already start commenting on my judgement. And that's the idea. Please feel free to comment, debate, tell me that I did a good job, or that I don't know what I'm talking about and should have put in this person for another (the guy from Fielder's Choice blog suggested I should have looked at Grant Balfour's numbers closer before I picked Scot Shields for example).

Let the debates continue. Again, during the off-season, I'll be looking back at past teams that I made up in my spare time. It'll be an experience for me to look back and see where my mind was at the time. And it will give me something to do before the 2009 Topps cards come out.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

At Least They Let Us Know About this Early...

When I saw this on Trader Crack's blog, I thought it was a joke.


Then I saw this on the Dave and Adams Card blog, and now I'm not so sure.

So let me see if I understand this correctly. They are going to add a regular Campaign 2008 GOP card for Governor Palin, and then they're going to add this gimmick card in limited quantities??? And they're going to do this with 2008 Topps Updates and Highlights???

WHAT??!

Well, if anything, we have now seen gimmick card #1 for the 2008 Topps U&H season.

Somewhere, Chris Harris is banging his head against anything solid!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

UPDATE: October 1, 2008 1:08 p.m.

Friend of the blog tlindgren made a comment a few minutes ago saying:

"We knew there had to be some gimmicks in updates and highlights. This seems to be the norm now and if the media gets a hold of it watch out!"

Guess what just happened??? (Thanks to the Toledo Free Press and their staff writers).

Liftoff in ten...nine...eight...

jba

Who Will Be Named to Topps 2008 All-Star Rookie Team?

It's finally the end of the MLB season. And before the playoffs (or maybe a game or two after) start, the Topps Company will be sending to the 30 MLB managers a ballot that will determine who will get voted into the 2008 Topps All-Star Rookie Team, and will get that lovely golden trophy added to their 2009 Topps baseball cards.

So who's going to be named to the ASR team? Here are my predictions, and if you can think of another player who should get the nod, please feel free to say so (at least defend your choice with stats and intangibles):

• 1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (.294 batting average, 23 HR, 82 RBI, 2008 stats)
• 2B: Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox (.290, 21, 4 GS new rookie record, 77)
• 3B: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays (.274, 27, 85)
• SS: Mike Aviles, Kansas City Royals (.323, 10, 51)
• OF: Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds (.256, 21, 52)
• OF: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox (.280, 9, 47)
• OF: David Murphy, Texas Rangers (.275, 15, 74)
• C: Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs (.285, 23, 86)
• RHP: Brad Ziegler, Oakland Athletics (3-0, 1.06 ERA, 30 K's, 11 saves, record scoreless streak)
• LHP: Glen Perkins, Minnesota Twins (12-4, 4.41 ERA, 74 K's)

I'm very sure that players like Ian Stewart of the Rockies, Blake DeWitt of the Dodgers, Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs, Denard Span of the Twins, Jair Jurrgens of the Braves, Chris Davis of the Rangers, and others will have their votes (from either the MLB managers, or you the readers).

Let the debates begin!!!

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama