Happy 72nd Birthday to Les Cain! Struck out 156 batters as a 22 year old rookie in 1970 still a tigers rookie record! First pitcher to throw two no hitters in the Puerto Rican winter league. Injuries knocked him out of baseball at only 24. His last two appearances in the majors were technically back-to-back no-hit starts! In 1977 he won a landmark case against the Tigers and was awarded $111 a week for life!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
1996 Denny's
The 1996 Denny's set is 28-cards -- one player from every Major League baseball team. After the previous five years with Upper Deck, Pinnacle Brands began producing the Denny's set in 1996. The fronts feature a full motion hologram player image. The backs carry player information. By ordering anything on the menu, a customer could buy two packs. Each Denny's also sponsored a drawing to win all 48 cards (the regular set and both insert sets). There was also a chance at a Instant Win card for the Collector Sets 1:14,600 and World Series Tickets 1:3,504,000
One card per pack plus a 'How To View a Full Motion Hologram' tutorial card.
Inserts
Grand Slam
This set is also available in an "Artist's Proof" parallel. (Odds 1:360 )
Happy 68th Birthday Terry Forster! In the Majors at just 19 years old in 1971 and then saved 29 for the White Sox at age 20 the next year! Led the league in saves in '74. He has a .397 lifetime batting average (31 for 78!) one of the best in history for pitchers! Has a 1-0 record with no ERA in 8 post season games! As a Giants fan I remember him giving up a game winning three run homer to Joe Morgan in 1982 on the last day of the season to knock the Dodgers out of the race. Started gaining a lot of weight soon after and David Letterman called him a "fat tub of goo". In response he made a novelty song & video called "Fat is In" which has to be seen to be believed!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Congratulations to Harold Carmichael on his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Wish I had spent the money on a 10 of this card because prices have already jumped quite a bit!
Born on this day in 1947 in Nu'uuli, American Samoa. He was and is the only MLB player born in American Samoa! Won the 1968 Topps Minor League player of the year by hitting 51 homers the most in all of baseball. Replaced Mickey Mantle at first base in his only game as a Yankee in '68. The second player ever to play for both Canadian teams, he then went to Japan and had four monster seasons (155 HR's!) with one Japan Series (our World Series). Shot and killed in Samoa at age 43 in a land dispute.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
McGriff who had 493 Home Runs (same as first-ballot Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig) and never made it into the hall. Definitely something broken in the system.
1998 Select
Five-Star Bonus
Five-Star Bonus was a 5-card insert that was a quasi-extension of the base set. The look is similar to the base set as each card is printed on silver, dot matrix hologram stock but with a star-design background. There is no Jersey Number parallel of these inserts.
Each card is serially numbered to 50. Given that cards of different players with low, medium, and high serial numbers (e.g., 4/50, 24/50, 47/50) have all surfaced, many believe that all 50 sets of all 5 players in the set were produced and serially numbered.
Further, each of the five players in the set have multiple copies that have emerged on the secondary market since the bankruptcy in 1998 and in early 2007, a number of these cards were sold (as complete 5-card sets with matching serial-numbers) on eBay. Before then, singles from this insert set were incredibly rare.
Originally, Mike Piazza was slated to be card #5 in this set, but was replaced by Derek Jeter.
Happy 66th Birthday Dave Stapleton! 1980 Rookie of the Year runner-up (Joe Charbonneau), he hit .321 to start his career. He is the only player whose batting average dipped each year (7 seasons or more)! Was on the bench for Buckner's infamous error in Game 6 of 1986 WS even though he subbed for him in all 7 of Boston's postseason wins that year and had a .1000 fielding pct. all season! 1986 was his last season but in 1987 another Dave Stapleton (no relation) appeared in the Majors for the next two years!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Many fond memories with my dad attending games at Riverfront, we were there for Rose 4192, Larkin and Sabo's first games, and dozens of other visits. I had no idea this insert set existed until very recently from 03 Topps Series 2. I might have to chase the full set of these, but happy to have just the Larkin for now.
Happy 68th Birthday Ralph Pierre LaCock! His dad (going strong at age 93!) also with the same birth name, is none other than Peter Marshall who hosted "Hollywood Squares" for over 16 years! He won MVP honors in 1974 in Triple A. He got angry during a game that year and threw a ball into the pressbox and almost hit the Governor of Colorado! In Bob Gibson's last appearance, Pete hit a grand slam off him! Played in Japan one year and handed his bat to an umpire during a game over there saying "You're taking the bat out of my hands, anyway, so you might as well have it.".
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
2001 Fleer Legacy
Hot Gloves
Odds 1:180
Hot Gloves was supposed to feature actual swatches of game-used fielding gloves. Unfortunately, redemption cards had to be placed into packs for all fifteen cards, with each card expiring July 1st, 2002. Fleer was unable to procure any gloves, and the fulfilled cards instead featured a swatch of a game-used baseball. The reverse side of each card provides game-dating information on the balls used.
Born this day in 1944, "Big Red" was the 1970 Rookie of the year with 18 wins for the last place Expos! First Expo to win ROY. A top ten in the Cy Young voting too. Traded to Atlanta and had three nice seasons to even his record to 83-83 then in 1976 he lost his first seven decisions and was out of MLB at 32. Passed away from a heart attack in 1983 after jogging at only 39!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 70th Birthday Jon Trumpbour Matlack! 1972 Rookie of the Year, 3 time All-Star and a co All-Star MVP (with Bill Madlock ,only time ever). Led the league in shutouts twice.The Mets first decent pick in the draft after Les Rohr (#2) in '65 and Steven Chilcott (#1!) in '66. The latter is one of only three #1 picks to not play MLB. Pitched a shutout vs. mighty Reds in game 2 of the NLCS in '73 and gave up the 3000th and last hit to Roberto Clemente on 9/30/1972!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Born on this day in 1945 "Bos" came up in 1964 as a 19 year old pitcher for the Twins. His first two pitches in the majors were at Fenway Park and resulted in a home run and a double off the Green Monster. Was beaten to a pulp by manager Billy Martin in 1969 he was out for three weeks and needed 20 stitches in his face! He ended up pitching his best after that and became a twenty game winner! He blew out his arm in the playoffs that year pitching 10 2/3 scoreless innings in a classic match up vs. Dave McNally in game 2 of the ALCS at Baltimore where he lost 1-0 when Ron Perranoski came in after Boswell's injury and gave up a walk off single to...Curt Motton! Out of MLB by the of age 26.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
1994 Topps
Superstar Samplers
Included in each 1994 Topps "Baker's Dozen" factory set, was a cello-wrapped three-card "sampler" of a MLB player. Each player is represented by his 1994 Bowman, Finest, and Stadium Club cards. These cards are identical to their regular issue counterparts except for a special "Topps Superstar Sampler" emblem on their backs.
Born on this day(Jan 21st) in 1946 Johnny had an undistinguished eleven year career although he did appear in the postseason and has a .1000 batting average in the World Series! He managed the Rangers to their first postseason appearance ever in 1996 plus two more in the nineties. He shared the Manager of the Year Award in 1996 with Joe Torre. His #26 and #34 of Nolan Ryan are the only numbers retired by the Rangers.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
1995 Score
Contest Redemption
These two cards were mailed to collectors who correctly identified intentional errors in print ads for 1995 Score. The ads appeared in Beckett Baseball Card Monthly and other Hobby publications.
AD1 Alex Rodriguez
Johnny Oates came in second to the winner of the 1975 Joe Garagiola/Bazooka Bubble gum blowing contest...Kurt Bevacqua! Happy Birthday to the 73 year old! He hit a three run homer to put San Diego in front and give the Padres their only World Series win. It came in 1984. He is also remembered for the many brawls he was involved in including a famous one with George Brett at second base in 1975, a spring training melee in 1981 that lasted 8 minutes and a 1984 classic that included 9 players ejected with 4 (!?) managers tossed and 5 fans arrested that ended with Bevacqua going into the stands after someone threw a beer on him! Great videos of this brawl online. Not to mention the Tommy Lasorda foul mouthed tirade after Kurt called him a "fat little italian"! He is pictured on his Topps card in a Mariners uniform in 1977 but he was cut in late March and never appeared in a game for them! He has a career WAR of...-3.9! Ouch!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
1997 Upper Deck
Power Package
NOTE: A special 5" X 7" version was randomly inserted into specially marked Series One boxes sold exclusively at Sam's Club stores.
Happy 62nd Birthday Atlee Hammaker! All-Star and 1983 E.R.A. champion! Acquired by the Giants from the Royals in the big Vida Blue trade. In 1983 he was 9-3 with a 1.52 and then came the All-Star game. In the bottom of the third he gave up a homer,triple,single,single,two out single,walk and then the only grand slam hit in All-Star game history to Fred Lynn. The six hits and seven runs in an inning are records. He also gave up Jose Oquendo's three run homer in Game 7 of the 1987 NLCS to ice the series and send the Cardinals to the World Series. OUCH! One of his daughters is married to Nationals catcher Yan Gomes.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 75th Birthday Wally Bunker! In 1964 as a 19 year old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, he won 19 games, the most ever for a teenager since the 1890's! The mayor of Baltimore at the time named the mound "Bunker Hill" and sprinkled actual dirt from the real Bunker Hill! He pitched in one game in the 1966 World Series and threw a shutout! He threw the first pitch in Royals history in 1969 and was out of the majors at age 26 with arm trouble.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Those Clemens are beauties. The prices of those signed cards have risen a bit in value. Not sure if it has to do with the fact that it was HOF season or because he’s been charging $25 per auto through his charity for years and he started charging $100 just last year. Either way, love the Rocket inscription. Especially on the Tiffany version. I’m currently getting Big Mac on his 85 Tiffany card but no inscription. That card and price for his signature is already expensive enough.
Happy 86th Birthday to Hall Of Famer, Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker! He led all catchers in the N.L. in passed balls in 1967 with 27 and errors with 11 while only catching in 59 games! Released in spring training of 1968 but not before getting cracked over the head with a beer bottle in a bar fight and getting 48 stitches! My favorite Uecker story... “My first game, my parents and everybody was there, my friends, and the manager came out to take me out of the game. I didn’t want to come out because I was embarrassed. I said, ‘Let me face this guy one more time, because I struck him out the first time I faced him.’ He said, ‘I know, but it’s the same inning."
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
1992 Score Proctor and Gamble
The 1992 Score Proctor and Gamble set is 18 cards and features the starting lineups for that year's All-Star Game. The set was distributed exclusively via mail order.
To order the set, collectors had to send $1.49, proofs of purchase from three P&G products, and a coupon that was distributed in most Sunday August 16th, 1992 newspapers.
A three-card sample set was also produced for sales representatives The three sample cards, featuring Griffey, Sandberg, and Henderson
Happy 73rd Birthday to John Lowenstein! A 16 year career highlighted by a walk off homer in Game one of the '79 playoffs with Baltimore, plus a home run and a great catch in the 1983 World Series for the World Champion Orioles. Had a pretty sweet season in '82 as well by hitting .320 with 24 homers in only 322 at bats. Was third in the A.L. in steals with 36 in 1974. When on the Indians he started an "apathy club" because he hated fan clubs! Fans had a day for him when he was on the road! Fans would bring a long mostly blank sheet to the stadium that only said "Hey Steiner"!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 86th Birthday to Bill White! Five time All-Star, 7 time Gold Glover, first ever black play by play guy in the majors and first ever black president in any major sport! Plus he was a member of the 1964 World Champion Cardinals. Five seasons top ten in ribbies, four time in hits. Traded by the Giants to the Cards and immediately became a star. The Cards traded him away after the '65 season and when Tito Francona didn't work out they got Orlando Cepeda from SF and won another World Series. The Giants supplied the Cardinals with top quality first basemen for most of the sixties!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 60th Birthday Steve Sax! 1982 ROY, Five time All Star, Silver Slugger and two time World Series Champion with Los Angeles. But everyone remembers his 74 throwing errors. He conquered the "yips" and even led the American League in fielding pct. in 1989. In fact, he had five seasons in the top five in fielding %. He even played with his brother Dave on the Dodgers in '82 and '83!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 77th Birthday to Davey Johnson! Four time All Star, 3 time Gold Glove winner, two time manager of the year and two time World Series champion! Got the last hit ever given up by Sandy Koufax! Traded by the Orioles to the Braves and became the first trio to hit 40 homers in a season along with Darrell Evans and Hank Aaron! He left the Majors to play in Japan for two years and hit 26 homers one year and made the All Star team. He comes back to MLB and becomes the first player to hit two pinch hit grand slams in one year! Retired and then managed for 20 years with 16 over .500 and a World Series championship in 1986 with the Mets. Love this card can you see the ball?
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Big day for birthdays today! Three of the greatest baseball players ever are born on this day, including Nolan Ryan,Ernie Banks and this guy. Born on this day in 1919, Jackie Robinson was a 6 time All-Star, 1949 NL MVP, batting champ,World Series champ and the first Rookie Of The Year in baseball! His brother "Mack" came in second to Jesse Owens in the 200 meter sprint at the 1936 Olympics to win silver! Jackie lost three years of baseball due to military service and debuted when he was 28. Batted .311 lifetime but only .234 in 137 World Series at bats. Traded to the Giants in '56 for Dick Littlefield but had already retired. He said he wanted to play for the Giants with Willie Mays and beat the Dodgers and the despised Walter O'Malley but retired and sold his story to LOOK magazine and couldn't tell anyone! He stumped for Richard Nixon (!) during the 1960 presidential campaign!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Born on this day in 1947, Danny Thompson was the Twins first pick in the 1968 secondary phase of the draft. He doubled off Mike Cuellar in the ALCS in 1970 his first year in MLB. Sixth in the league in hits in 1972 and the next year he was diagnosed with leukemia. Traded with Bert Blyleven to the Rangers in 1976 and died less than ten weeks after his last at bat! The Rangers wore a black arm band over his number 4 in the 1977 season as shown by the Mike Hargrove card. There is a memorial golf tournament for cancer research that has raised millions honored for Thompson and Harmon Killebrew. Mickey Mantle even played in the first one!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
The twenty most "l33t" players in the game. All the usual suspects are included. Each is numbered to 2500, with an Elite Dominators parallel numbered to 25.
Happy 83rd Birthday to Don Buford! All-Star and World Series Champion, He scored 99 runs in three straight seasons and led the league in caught stealing in three out of four! He homered in all three World Series he played in and hit 5 in the post season. Had the third highest WAR in the American League in 1965 with a 7.0! Played 4 years in Japan with a sterling.330 batting average in 1974 for the Taiheiyo Club where he played with former MLB stars Matty Alou and Frank Howard He has three sons, one a surgeon, one a lawyer and one that played 9 years in the majors, Damon!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 73rd Birthday Joe Coleman! Two time twenty game winner and All Star, his first game was a complete game win vs. another teenager, Catfish Hunter! He pitched in one postseason game and threw a shutout vs. the A's in the 1972 ALCS striking out a then LCS record 14! He was voted a half share of the 1979 Pirates World Series winnings despite pitching only 20 innings. His MLB career ended like it started with two seasons each of undefeated ball. If you take away his 8-0 in those four seasons he would be under .500! His MLB pitching career ended at just 32 but he became a long time pitching coach in the majors. When his his son Casey pitched for the Chicago Cubs the Coleman's became the first three generation pitching family in MLB!
Pitcher with a bat! Had a .106 lifetime batting average!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Born on this day in 1942 was ...Joe Sparma! Crazy fast but lacking control he pitched the pennant clinching game for the Tigers in 1968! A 16 game winner in 1967 with 5 shutouts. Got rocked in the '68 World Series by giving up a home run to Bob Gibson then a triple to Lou Brock! He was out of baseball by age 29 when he lost control of the strike zone. Died at only 44.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
February 5. Happy 86th Birthday Hank Aaron!!! Not much to say here as he is one of the top five players ever! When he came up, he wore #5. Hit .362 with 6 homers in 69 postseason at bats. Tried out for the Dodgers but didn't make the team! Hank was born one day after the Babe's 39th birthday!
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Born on this day in 1927, Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was a 9 time All-Star, one of the greatest pinch hitters ever and played a key role in game 7 of the Pirates 1960 World Series championship vs. the Yankees. He batted.333 with six hits in that series and the two games he didn't play in for Pittsburgh they lost 10-0 and 12-0! He played for 18 seasons and when he retired he was the all-time pinch hit leader with 145! He is also way up the leaderboard in pinch hit homers. His last 3 seasons he was almost exclusively a pinch hitter with just under 80 pinch hit at bats per year until he was 40! Retired with a .295 career average.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Born on this day in 1953, "Quiz" was a three time All-Star, FIVE time relief pitcher of the year and a member of the 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals. He was the first two time 40 save reliever and was pinch hit for by Dane Iorg in Game 6 of the 1986 WS because of the infamous Don Denkinger blown call. He once said of his submarine pitching style that he "found a delivery in his flaw". He became a poet after baseball! He died at age 45 due to brain cancer. here is a poem from him called "Baseball Cards"
Glory years catch action shots Arm whips and body contortions A human catapult The backs of those cards Cite numbers That tell stories of saves, wins, flags, records Handshakes, butt slaps, celebration mobs You can't see The cost of winning Lines on my forehead under the hat Trench lines between my eyes You don't see my wife, daughter and son Left behind
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
Happy 78th Birthday Fritz Peterson! All-Star and twenty game winner in 1970. He led the league in walks per nine for FIVE straight years! Pitched a complete game victory against the mighty Orioles in 1966 in his first game! Famously switched wives and kids(!) with fellow Yankee pitcher Mike Kekich in 1973 and Fritz and Susanne are still together! There is a great song called "The Ballad of Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson" from the Baseball Project but is tough to find. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wanted to make a movie of their four lives but threatened legal trouble has the subject stalled.
Tallulah Bankhead — 'There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.'
1997 Pinnacle
Home/Away
This 24-card set featured 12 of the top players in the game on a card that was die-cut into the shape of the player's home
or away jersey. "Home" jersey cards had even-number sequential ordering and "Away" jersey cards had odd-number sequential ordering. This set was exclusive to Magazine packs. While never confirmed by Pinnacle Brands, Inc., some collectors speculate that the Home cards were short-printed. /
1996 Upper Deck
Diamond Destiny
This 40-card set was randomly inserted into special "Upper Deck Tech" packs sold exclusively at Wal-Mart, at the rate of one-per-pack. Each Tech pack contained eight Upper Deck base cards and one Diamond Destiny insert. In addition, these cards are also available in the following parallels.
*Silver
*Gold
Comments
1999 UD Choice
StarQuest
StarQuest Blue one-per-pack
Parallels include:
Green (1:8)
Red (1:23)
Gold (serial-numbered to 100 copies).
Happy 72nd Birthday to Les Cain! Struck out 156 batters as a 22 year old rookie in 1970 still a tigers rookie record! First pitcher to throw two no hitters in the Puerto Rican winter league. Injuries knocked him out of baseball at only 24. His last two appearances in the majors were technically back-to-back no-hit starts! In 1977 he won a landmark case against the Tigers and was awarded $111 a week for life!
Less than 10 days to go
1996 Denny's
The 1996 Denny's set is 28-cards -- one player from every Major League baseball team. After the previous five years with Upper Deck, Pinnacle Brands began producing the Denny's set in 1996. The fronts feature a full motion hologram player image. The backs carry player information. By ordering anything on the menu, a customer could buy two packs. Each Denny's also sponsored a drawing to win all 48 cards (the regular set and both insert sets). There was also a chance at a Instant Win card for the Collector Sets 1:14,600 and World Series Tickets 1:3,504,000
One card per pack plus a 'How To View a Full Motion Hologram' tutorial card.
Inserts
Grand Slam
This set is also available in an "Artist's Proof" parallel. (Odds 1:360 )
Happy 68th Birthday Terry Forster! In the Majors at just 19 years old in 1971 and then saved 29 for the White Sox at age 20 the next year! Led the league in saves in '74. He has a .397 lifetime batting average (31 for 78!) one of the best in history for pitchers! Has a 1-0 record with no ERA in 8 post season games! As a Giants fan I remember him giving up a game winning three run homer to Joe Morgan in 1982 on the last day of the season to knock the Dodgers out of the race. Started gaining a lot of weight soon after and David Letterman called him a "fat tub of goo". In response he made a novelty song & video called "Fat is In" which has to be seen to be believed!
Congratulations to Harold Carmichael on his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Wish I had spent the money on a 10 of this card because prices have already jumped quite a bit!
Personal Collection | Willie Woodburn | Legion of Doom
Born on this day in 1947 in Nu'uuli, American Samoa. He was and is the only MLB player born in American Samoa! Won the 1968 Topps Minor League player of the year by hitting 51 homers the most in all of baseball. Replaced Mickey Mantle at first base in his only game as a Yankee in '68. The second player ever to play for both Canadian teams, he then went to Japan and had four monster seasons (155 HR's!) with one Japan Series (our World Series). Shot and killed in Samoa at age 43 in a land dispute.
McGriff who had 493 Home Runs (same as first-ballot Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig) and never made it into the hall. Definitely something broken in the system.
1998 Select
Five-Star Bonus
Five-Star Bonus was a 5-card insert that was a quasi-extension of the base set. The look is similar to the base set as each card is printed on silver, dot matrix hologram stock but with a star-design background. There is no Jersey Number parallel of these inserts.
Each card is serially numbered to 50. Given that cards of different players with low, medium, and high serial numbers (e.g., 4/50, 24/50, 47/50) have all surfaced, many believe that all 50 sets of all 5 players in the set were produced and serially numbered.
Further, each of the five players in the set have multiple copies that have emerged on the secondary market since the bankruptcy in 1998 and in early 2007, a number of these cards were sold (as complete 5-card sets with matching serial-numbers) on eBay. Before then, singles from this insert set were incredibly rare.
Originally, Mike Piazza was slated to be card #5 in this set, but was replaced by Derek Jeter.
Happy 66th Birthday Dave Stapleton! 1980 Rookie of the Year runner-up (Joe Charbonneau), he hit .321 to start his career. He is the only player whose batting average dipped each year (7 seasons or more)! Was on the bench for Buckner's infamous error in Game 6 of 1986 WS even though he subbed for him in all 7 of Boston's postseason wins that year and had a .1000 fielding pct. all season! 1986 was his last season but in 1987 another Dave Stapleton (no relation) appeared in the Majors for the next two years!
Many fond memories with my dad attending games at Riverfront, we were there for Rose 4192, Larkin and Sabo's first games, and dozens of other visits. I had no idea this insert set existed until very recently from 03 Topps Series 2. I might have to chase the full set of these, but happy to have just the Larkin for now.
Happy 68th Birthday Ralph Pierre LaCock! His dad (going strong at age 93!) also with the same birth name, is none other than Peter Marshall who hosted "Hollywood Squares" for over 16 years! He won MVP honors in 1974 in Triple A. He got angry during a game that year and threw a ball into the pressbox and almost hit the Governor of Colorado! In Bob Gibson's last appearance, Pete hit a grand slam off him! Played in Japan one year and handed his bat to an umpire during a game over there saying "You're taking the bat out of my hands, anyway, so you might as well have it.".
2001 Fleer Legacy
Hot Gloves
Odds 1:180
Hot Gloves was supposed to feature actual swatches of game-used fielding gloves. Unfortunately, redemption cards had to be placed into packs for all fifteen cards, with each card expiring July 1st, 2002. Fleer was unable to procure any gloves, and the fulfilled cards instead featured a swatch of a game-used baseball. The reverse side of each card provides game-dating information on the balls used.
Born this day in 1944, "Big Red" was the 1970 Rookie of the year with 18 wins for the last place Expos! First Expo to win ROY. A top ten in the Cy Young voting too. Traded to Atlanta and had three nice seasons to even his record to 83-83 then in 1976 he lost his first seven decisions and was out of MLB at 32. Passed away from a heart attack in 1983 after jogging at only 39!
Happy 70th Birthday Jon Trumpbour Matlack! 1972 Rookie of the Year, 3 time All-Star and a co All-Star MVP (with Bill Madlock ,only time ever). Led the league in shutouts twice.The Mets first decent pick in the draft after Les Rohr (#2) in '65 and Steven Chilcott (#1!) in '66. The latter is one of only three #1 picks to not play MLB. Pitched a shutout vs. mighty Reds in game 2 of the NLCS in '73 and gave up the 3000th and last hit to Roberto Clemente on 9/30/1972!
1997 Finest
Embossed Refractors
Silver Embossed Refractor Odds 1:192
Gold Embossed Die-Cut Refractor Odds 1:1,152
Born on this day in 1945 "Bos" came up in 1964 as a 19 year old pitcher for the Twins. His first two pitches in the majors were at Fenway Park and resulted in a home run and a double off the Green Monster. Was beaten to a pulp by manager Billy Martin in 1969 he was out for three weeks and needed 20 stitches in his face! He ended up pitching his best after that and became a twenty game winner! He blew out his arm in the playoffs that year pitching 10 2/3 scoreless innings in a classic match up vs. Dave McNally in game 2 of the ALCS at Baltimore where he lost 1-0 when Ron Perranoski came in after Boswell's injury and gave up a walk off single to...Curt Motton! Out of MLB by the of age 26.
This is my card of the day, because I literally just found it in a shoebox.
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
1994 Topps
Superstar Samplers
Included in each 1994 Topps "Baker's Dozen" factory set, was a cello-wrapped three-card "sampler" of a MLB player. Each player is represented by his 1994 Bowman, Finest, and Stadium Club cards. These cards are identical to their regular issue counterparts except for a special "Topps Superstar Sampler" emblem on their backs.
Born on this day(Jan 21st) in 1946 Johnny had an undistinguished eleven year career although he did appear in the postseason and has a .1000 batting average in the World Series! He managed the Rangers to their first postseason appearance ever in 1996 plus two more in the nineties. He shared the Manager of the Year Award in 1996 with Joe Torre. His #26 and #34 of Nolan Ryan are the only numbers retired by the Rangers.
>
Ivan Rodriguez had his #7 retired in 2017.
1995 Score
Contest Redemption
These two cards were mailed to collectors who correctly identified intentional errors in print ads for 1995 Score. The ads appeared in Beckett Baseball Card Monthly and other Hobby publications.
AD1 Alex Rodriguez
AD2 Ivan Rodriguez
Thanks count! My bad , especially since his son pitches for my favorite team!
Johnny Oates came in second to the winner of the 1975 Joe Garagiola/Bazooka Bubble gum blowing contest...Kurt Bevacqua! Happy Birthday to the 73 year old! He hit a three run homer to put San Diego in front and give the Padres their only World Series win. It came in 1984. He is also remembered for the many brawls he was involved in including a famous one with George Brett at second base in 1975, a spring training melee in 1981 that lasted 8 minutes and a 1984 classic that included 9 players ejected with 4 (!?) managers tossed and 5 fans arrested that ended with Bevacqua going into the stands after someone threw a beer on him! Great videos of this brawl online. Not to mention the Tommy Lasorda foul mouthed tirade after Kurt called him a "fat little italian"! He is pictured on his Topps card in a Mariners uniform in 1977 but he was cut in late March and never appeared in a game for them! He has a career WAR of...-3.9! Ouch!
1997 Upper Deck
Power Package
NOTE: A special 5" X 7" version was randomly inserted into specially marked Series One boxes sold exclusively at Sam's Club stores.
Happy 62nd Birthday Atlee Hammaker! All-Star and 1983 E.R.A. champion! Acquired by the Giants from the Royals in the big Vida Blue trade. In 1983 he was 9-3 with a 1.52 and then came the All-Star game. In the bottom of the third he gave up a homer,triple,single,single,two out single,walk and then the only grand slam hit in All-Star game history to Fred Lynn. The six hits and seven runs in an inning are records. He also gave up Jose Oquendo's three run homer in Game 7 of the 1987 NLCS to ice the series and send the Cardinals to the World Series. OUCH! One of his daughters is married to Nationals catcher Yan Gomes.
Happy 75th Birthday Wally Bunker! In 1964 as a 19 year old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, he won 19 games, the most ever for a teenager since the 1890's! The mayor of Baltimore at the time named the mound "Bunker Hill" and sprinkled actual dirt from the real Bunker Hill! He pitched in one game in the 1966 World Series and threw a shutout! He threw the first pitch in Royals history in 1969 and was out of the majors at age 26 with arm trouble.
The Rocket
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies
Those Clemens are beauties. The prices of those signed cards have risen a bit in value. Not sure if it has to do with the fact that it was HOF season or because he’s been charging $25 per auto through his charity for years and he started charging $100 just last year. Either way, love the Rocket inscription. Especially on the Tiffany version. I’m currently getting Big Mac on his 85 Tiffany card but no inscription. That card and price for his signature is already expensive enough.
Happy 86th Birthday to Hall Of Famer, Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker! He led all catchers in the N.L. in passed balls in 1967 with 27 and errors with 11 while only catching in 59 games! Released in spring training of 1968 but not before getting cracked over the head with a beer bottle in a bar fight and getting 48 stitches! My favorite Uecker story... “My first game, my parents and everybody was there, my friends, and the manager came out to take me out of the game. I didn’t want to come out because I was embarrassed. I said, ‘Let me face this guy one more time, because I struck him out the first time I faced him.’ He said, ‘I know, but it’s the same inning."
1999 Upper Deck HoloGrFX
UD Authentics Odds 1:431
In Honor of the 2020 Pro Bowl Today
(long story behind this, BUT WAS A GREAT TRIP!!!!)
1992 Score Proctor and Gamble
The 1992 Score Proctor and Gamble set is 18 cards and features the starting lineups for that year's All-Star Game. The set was distributed exclusively via mail order.
To order the set, collectors had to send $1.49, proofs of purchase from three P&G products, and a coupon that was distributed in most Sunday August 16th, 1992 newspapers.
A three-card sample set was also produced for sales representatives The three sample cards, featuring Griffey, Sandberg, and Henderson
Happy 73rd Birthday to John Lowenstein! A 16 year career highlighted by a walk off homer in Game one of the '79 playoffs with Baltimore, plus a home run and a great catch in the 1983 World Series for the World Champion Orioles. Had a pretty sweet season in '82 as well by hitting .320 with 24 homers in only 322 at bats. Was third in the A.L. in steals with 36 in 1974. When on the Indians he started an "apathy club" because he hated fan clubs! Fans had a day for him when he was on the road! Fans would bring a long mostly blank sheet to the stadium that only said "Hey Steiner"!
Happy 86th Birthday to Bill White! Five time All-Star, 7 time Gold Glover, first ever black play by play guy in the majors and first ever black president in any major sport! Plus he was a member of the 1964 World Champion Cardinals. Five seasons top ten in ribbies, four time in hits. Traded by the Giants to the Cards and immediately became a star. The Cards traded him away after the '65 season and when Tito Francona didn't work out they got Orlando Cepeda from SF and won another World Series. The Giants supplied the Cardinals with top quality first basemen for most of the sixties!
Happy 60th Birthday Steve Sax! 1982 ROY, Five time All Star, Silver Slugger and two time World Series Champion with Los Angeles. But everyone remembers his 74 throwing errors. He conquered the "yips" and even led the American League in fielding pct. in 1989. In fact, he had five seasons in the top five in fielding %. He even played with his brother Dave on the Dodgers in '82 and '83!
Happy 77th Birthday to Davey Johnson! Four time All Star, 3 time Gold Glove winner, two time manager of the year and two time World Series champion! Got the last hit ever given up by Sandy Koufax! Traded by the Orioles to the Braves and became the first trio to hit 40 homers in a season along with Darrell Evans and Hank Aaron! He left the Majors to play in Japan for two years and hit 26 homers one year and made the All Star team. He comes back to MLB and becomes the first player to hit two pinch hit grand slams in one year! Retired and then managed for 20 years with 16 over .500 and a World Series championship in 1986 with the Mets. Love this card can you see the ball?
Big day for birthdays today! Three of the greatest baseball players ever are born on this day, including Nolan Ryan,Ernie Banks and this guy. Born on this day in 1919, Jackie Robinson was a 6 time All-Star, 1949 NL MVP, batting champ,World Series champ and the first Rookie Of The Year in baseball! His brother "Mack" came in second to Jesse Owens in the 200 meter sprint at the 1936 Olympics to win silver! Jackie lost three years of baseball due to military service and debuted when he was 28. Batted .311 lifetime but only .234 in 137 World Series at bats. Traded to the Giants in '56 for Dick Littlefield but had already retired. He said he wanted to play for the Giants with Willie Mays and beat the Dodgers and the despised Walter O'Malley but retired and sold his story to LOOK magazine and couldn't tell anyone! He stumped for Richard Nixon (!) during the 1960 presidential campaign!
Born on this day in 1947, Danny Thompson was the Twins first pick in the 1968 secondary phase of the draft. He doubled off Mike Cuellar in the ALCS in 1970 his first year in MLB. Sixth in the league in hits in 1972 and the next year he was diagnosed with leukemia. Traded with Bert Blyleven to the Rangers in 1976 and died less than ten weeks after his last at bat! The Rangers wore a black arm band over his number 4 in the 1977 season as shown by the Mike Hargrove card. There is a memorial golf tournament for cancer research that has raised millions honored for Thompson and Harmon Killebrew. Mickey Mantle even played in the first one!
2001 Donruss
Elite Series
The twenty most "l33t" players in the game. All the usual suspects are included. Each is numbered to 2500, with an Elite Dominators parallel numbered to 25.
Happy 83rd Birthday to Don Buford! All-Star and World Series Champion, He scored 99 runs in three straight seasons and led the league in caught stealing in three out of four! He homered in all three World Series he played in and hit 5 in the post season. Had the third highest WAR in the American League in 1965 with a 7.0! Played 4 years in Japan with a sterling.330 batting average in 1974 for the Taiheiyo Club where he played with former MLB stars Matty Alou and Frank Howard He has three sons, one a surgeon, one a lawyer and one that played 9 years in the majors, Damon!
Happy 73rd Birthday Joe Coleman! Two time twenty game winner and All Star, his first game was a complete game win vs. another teenager, Catfish Hunter! He pitched in one postseason game and threw a shutout vs. the A's in the 1972 ALCS striking out a then LCS record 14! He was voted a half share of the 1979 Pirates World Series winnings despite pitching only 20 innings. His MLB career ended like it started with two seasons each of undefeated ball. If you take away his 8-0 in those four seasons he would be under .500! His MLB pitching career ended at just 32 but he became a long time pitching coach in the majors. When his his son Casey pitched for the Chicago Cubs the Coleman's became the first three generation pitching family in MLB!
Pitcher with a bat! Had a .106 lifetime batting average!
Born on this day in 1942 was ...Joe Sparma! Crazy fast but lacking control he pitched the pennant clinching game for the Tigers in 1968! A 16 game winner in 1967 with 5 shutouts. Got rocked in the '68 World Series by giving up a home run to Bob Gibson then a triple to Lou Brock! He was out of baseball by age 29 when he lost control of the strike zone. Died at only 44.
February 5. Happy 86th Birthday Hank Aaron!!! Not much to say here as he is one of the top five players ever! When he came up, he wore #5. Hit .362 with 6 homers in 69 postseason at bats. Tried out for the Dodgers but didn't make the team! Hank was born one day after the Babe's 39th birthday!
Born on this day in 1927, Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was a 9 time All-Star, one of the greatest pinch hitters ever and played a key role in game 7 of the Pirates 1960 World Series championship vs. the Yankees. He batted.333 with six hits in that series and the two games he didn't play in for Pittsburgh they lost 10-0 and 12-0! He played for 18 seasons and when he retired he was the all-time pinch hit leader with 145! He is also way up the leaderboard in pinch hit homers. His last 3 seasons he was almost exclusively a pinch hitter with just under 80 pinch hit at bats per year until he was 40! Retired with a .295 career average.
Born on this day in 1953, "Quiz" was a three time All-Star, FIVE time relief pitcher of the year and a member of the 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals. He was the first two time 40 save reliever and was pinch hit for by Dane Iorg in Game 6 of the 1986 WS because of the infamous Don Denkinger blown call. He once said of his submarine pitching style that he "found a delivery in his flaw". He became a poet after baseball! He died at age 45 due to brain cancer. here is a poem from him called "Baseball Cards"
Glory years catch action shots Arm whips and body contortions A human catapult The backs of those cards Cite numbers That tell stories of saves, wins, flags, records Handshakes, butt slaps, celebration mobs You can't see The cost of winning Lines on my forehead under the hat Trench lines between my eyes You don't see my wife, daughter and son Left behind
Happy 78th Birthday Fritz Peterson! All-Star and twenty game winner in 1970. He led the league in walks per nine for FIVE straight years! Pitched a complete game victory against the mighty Orioles in 1966 in his first game! Famously switched wives and kids(!) with fellow Yankee pitcher Mike Kekich in 1973 and Fritz and Susanne are still together! There is a great song called "The Ballad of Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson" from the Baseball Project but is tough to find. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon wanted to make a movie of their four lives but threatened legal trouble has the subject stalled.
1997 Pinnacle
Home/Away
This 24-card set featured 12 of the top players in the game on a card that was die-cut into the shape of the player's home
or away jersey. "Home" jersey cards had even-number sequential ordering and "Away" jersey cards had odd-number sequential ordering. This set was exclusive to Magazine packs. While never confirmed by Pinnacle Brands, Inc., some collectors speculate that the Home cards were short-printed. /
1996 Upper Deck
Diamond Destiny
This 40-card set was randomly inserted into special "Upper Deck Tech" packs sold exclusively at Wal-Mart, at the rate of one-per-pack. Each Tech pack contained eight Upper Deck base cards and one Diamond Destiny insert. In addition, these cards are also available in the following parallels.
*Silver
*Gold