Satisfying a friend's Frank Tanana lust - ITS BIRTHDAY TIME!!
mosaic
Posts: 700 ✭
THE GIFT HAS BEEN GIVEN -- SEE ABOUT 20 POSTS DOWN FOR PICTURES!! SUCCESS!!
I have a female friend in her 30's that back in her teens collected baseball cards and had mad lust for Frank Tanana. I mean, if you talk about 1980's and early 90's Tigers teams, she can quote the team stats by heart and give you spooky stalker-esque memories of games Tanana pitched.
Her birthday is next month and that gave me the idea to give her something Tanana-related. But the question is, what?
Autographed ball?
Autographed card?
Autographed rookie? (Though she prefers thinking of him as a Tiger)
I have zilch Tigers knowledge, so I don't even know what Tanana was known for, if anything, during his tenure in Detroit. I'm wondering also if there was some stadium giveaway or some goofy promo that involved Tanana back then that I am not aware of, but that she might be.
It's hard to ask her these things, ya know?
Thoughts?
THE GIFT HAS BEEN GIVEN -- SEE ABOUT 20 POSTS DOWN FOR PICTURES!! SUCCESS!!
I have a female friend in her 30's that back in her teens collected baseball cards and had mad lust for Frank Tanana. I mean, if you talk about 1980's and early 90's Tigers teams, she can quote the team stats by heart and give you spooky stalker-esque memories of games Tanana pitched.
Her birthday is next month and that gave me the idea to give her something Tanana-related. But the question is, what?
Autographed ball?
Autographed card?
Autographed rookie? (Though she prefers thinking of him as a Tiger)
I have zilch Tigers knowledge, so I don't even know what Tanana was known for, if anything, during his tenure in Detroit. I'm wondering also if there was some stadium giveaway or some goofy promo that involved Tanana back then that I am not aware of, but that she might be.
It's hard to ask her these things, ya know?
Thoughts?
THE GIFT HAS BEEN GIVEN -- SEE ABOUT 20 POSTS DOWN FOR PICTURES!! SUCCESS!!
Nolan Ryan & Edgar Martinez are my favorite players...
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
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<< <i>I have a female friend in her 30's that back in her teens collected baseball cards and had mad lust for Frank Tanana. I mean, if you talk about 1980's and early 90's Tigers teams, she can quote the team stats by heart and give you spooky stalker-esque memories of games Tanana pitched.
Her birthday is next month and that gave me the idea to give her something Tanana-related. But the question is, what?
Autographed ball?
Autographed card?
Autographed rookie? (Though she prefers thinking of him as a Tiger)
I have zilch Tigers knowledge, so I don't even know what Tanana was known for, if anything, during his tenure in Detroit. I'm wondering also if there was some stadium giveaway or some goofy promo that involved Tanana back then that I am not aware of, but that she might be.
It's hard to ask her these things, ya know?
Thoughts? >>
By the time Tanana got to Detroit he was something of an early version of Jamie Moyer. I don't know what you should get here, but I'll bet you'll get extra points if you find something signed by Frank AND Walt Terrel.
They have four children and four sons-in-law and now reside in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Both serve on the Pro Athletes Outreach Board of Directors, and are involved in the Home Plate and Career Impact ministries.
Assuming that you know how to get something signed, I'd go with a photo. If you get a ball signed, you risk the signature not holding but more importantly, you lose space for an inscription. Find a nice photo and you can get a nice inscription on there.
Barry
<< <i>Tanana does sign through the mail; PM if you want his address.....maybe he can sign a birthday card for her >>
now, that would be a cool surprise
the b-day card would be cool
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
Frank Tanana
28492 Harwich Dr
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
I think when he stopped having a perm, is right around the time Gary Carter started. Coincidence??? hmmmm
I think I'm going to go that route. Even if he takes forever to respond, I'll give her a backup gift and surprise her with it at some future point. I mean, it'd still be amazingly cool regardless of when it came back!
Thanks guys!
EDIT: When somethin comes back, I'll make sure to post scans!
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better
Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete
<< <i>I have zilch Tigers knowledge, so I don't even know what Tanana was known for, if anything, during his tenure in Detroit. I'm wondering also if there was some stadium giveaway or some goofy promo that involved Tanana back then that I am not aware of, but that she might be. >>
He was terrific with the Tigers. His best season with them was 1987 (no surprise) when he was 15-10. He is best known, remembered, and loved for throwing a complete game shutout against Toronto on the final day of the 1987 season to clinch the AL East division title. Detroit started that year 11-19, were in last place, then got hot and came roaring back to get into a dogfight with Toronto for the title. The Blue Jays came into Detroit for a 3-game series with a 1-game on the Tigers and Detroit swept all 3 games to take it, capped by Tanana's masterpiece to end the season. Jimmy Key was brilliant, giving up just 3 hits, but one of the 3 was a home run to Larry Herndon, who hit only 9 all year.
Everybody remembers Doyle Alexander's contributions* to the '87 Tigers (rightfully so), but it was Tanana who won the clincher.
Tabe
* - 9-0, 1.53 ERA, 3 shutouts in 11 starts (avg of 8 IP per start!). The Tigers never trailed in ANY of his starts.
PM me your name and address. I am pretty sure I have an autographed Tanana card that you can have for FREE your friend's birthday. It MIGHT be a Tiger card as well.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Thankfully, Farmington Hills is far enough from Lansing that he won't think I'm stalking him. Maybe I will include how I found the address in the note...
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
Anyway, I had to post!! First, thanks to DboneEsq for contributing an awesome 1988 Topps auto'd by Frank Tanana.
Now the big news!! Mr. Tanana came through in a BIG way!
I couldn't find a baseball themed birthday card for my friend, so I sent a decent Hallmark card and a 1990 Bowman baseball card, with a lengthy handwritten letter.
He signed the baseball card, signed and personalized the birthday card with "Ana, hope you have the best birthday ever!," and included an interesting signed fold out card that explains why he inscribes bible verses when he signs autographs. I'm going to give her that too!
He also sent back my pen. Turnaround time, two weeks.
Mr. Tanana is a total class act.
And my friend is going to have a very Tanana birthday.
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
I agree, Tanana is a class act. I have sent to him twice...always a great return!
Congrats on putting that together for your friend!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
IMF
To sum up, originally I was just going to get her an autographed card. But then I couldn't deny the sheer awesomeness of the birthday card idea put forth by Ironmanfan. Of course, getting that to work would depend on Mr. Tanana's address being "good" and on him being speedy with reading his fan mail. As it turns out, he's like lightning with a pen. Total turnaround time of about two weeks.
This first picture was going to be my standbys. Literally right after I ordered the 1987 by BIN on eBay, our very own DboneEsq offered up a "surprise," which turned out to be a 1988. I figured if my through-the-mail attempt didn't work out, that two autographed Tanana cards would be pretty sweet.
lostdart58 is correct that Tanana signs everything nowadays with a bible inscription. Thankfully, my friend was raised Catholic, and while she isn't exactly a shining example, she also isn't turned off by obvious proselytizing.
This 1990 Bowman card is what I sent with the birthday card to Mr. Tanana. I thought an extra-fine point Sharpie would be good. As it turns out, he's one of those players that doesn't mash a pen when he signs, so a standard Sharpie would've been better.
And here is the biggie. The birthday card I asked him to sign. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any baseball themed cards at such short notice.
A close up of the inscription on the birthday card: Ana, I hope this is your best B-day ever! In Christ, Frank Tanana, John 14:6.
This was a surprise. In addition to signing what I sent, he also signed and sent this interesting biography / religious tract fold out that's just about the same size as a baseball card when closed. The inscription reads: To Ana, Jesus Loves You! Frank Tanana, John 14:6.
The tract summarizes his playing career, explains why he turned to God and Jesus, and invites others to do the same.
I guess there is a large organization for sports athletes that also do religious outreach?
I'm going to give her everything when her birthday comes around in a couple weeks. As you can see, I ended up with an interesting mix. It's so cool that Tanana signed the birthday card. But I also think the tract is a really unique item as well.
Thank you guys, so much, for this idea!!
Once I give her the items, I think I'm going to write him again to let him know how it went, and to thank him again. This is the first time in 20ish years I've tried the TTM thing to a baseball player, and I'm so thrilled with how it turned out.
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
IMF
Anyways, that's some pretty awesome stuff there!
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
"Molon Labe"
<< <i>Hmm, the auto on the 1987 Topps card doesn't look anything like the items he signed TTM.
Anyways, that's some pretty awesome stuff there! >>
Agreed on both thoughts.
Tanana was a class act from Day 1 with the Tigers and well-remembered by people in that area. Very cool of him to be so quick to turn around the autographs.
Tabe
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
I gave the packet containing the baseball cards and greeting card to my friend/co-worker today at work. She was so overcome with emotion (flabbergasted, in a good way) that I was also too flabbergasted to take pictures of the actual reveal. But, as you can see from the color of her cheeks in this photo, she was most happy.
Seriously, she was going on and on about how sweet and thoughtful it was. Even her husband, who works there now, thought it was an amazing idea.
On a scale of 1 to 10, this idea landed like an 11. Thank you so much guys!
mosaic's Nolan Ryan Basic Topps registry set
mosaic's Big 3 Nolan Ryan Run Showcase
Awesome. Well done.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.