Happy Birthday Maz'

September 5 marks the 73rd birthday of Bill Mazeroski - Happy Birthday Maz !

Mazeroski was one of my favorite non-Cub players of my youth. I toiled around youth baseball at second base for about a year, before I became a pitcher, third baseman and finally a bench warmer. But Mazeroski was the star NL second baseman of the day and I tried to be him.

Maz's Rookie Card, Topps 1957 # 24 was one of my first major star cards I remember cherishing and eventually put into a thick single screw plastic holder.

The 1960 card, Topps # 55, is really my all-time favorite for several reasons. First it is the year of my birth (yes 1960 is a looong time ago). The 1960 cards showcase the nice classic vertical style of cards and I like the contrast of background colors used for the two photos; blue sky in the color large head shot (got to love that bulging cheek) and the black and white half body shot with the yellow background (reminds me of day baseball when the sun shines). 1960 is also the year that Maz hit that most unlikely walk-off game seven ninth inning homerun to catapult the Pittsburgh Pirates to World Series Champions over the highly favored New York Yankees.

So today I salute a boyhood "hero", World Series star, perennial all-star (7x) and 8x Gold Glove winner on his birthday - Happy 73rd Birthday Maz !

"The Original" Frank Thomas

for those of you to new to baseball to know, there was indeed a Frank Thomas who hit homeruns before the Frank Thomas you are thinking of. This Frank Thomas burst on the scene full time in Pittsburgh, in 1953, blasting 30 round trippers with 102 rbi's while finishing in the top twenty in MVP voting.

A solid power hitter, this Frank Thomas took over the reigns from HOF'er and legendary Ralph Kiner in 1953 and played the next six years with the Pirates, hitting 163 homeruns. 1958 was Thomas' best year blasting 35 HR's and driving in 109 (both ranked 2nd in the NL behind Cub great and HOF'er Ernie Banks) and finishing fourth in MVP voting. For his efforts, Thomas actually appeared on the cover of sports illustrated on July 28, 1958.

This Frank Thomas was a Chicago Cub in 1960 (coming over from the Cincinnati Reds in 1959, note his uniform) and part of 1961. One of the nicest guys in baseball, always smiling (note his slight smile in this 1960 Topps card # 95) and one of the most feared power hitters of his day.

His career spanned sixteen years, with seven teams ending up in Chicago once again in 1966 before calling it quits. His fianl numbers of 1671 hits a .266 BA to go along with his 286 HR's and 962 RBI's are not too shabby. If you are interested in learning more about this "original" Frank Thomas I highly recommend you check this out: the Original Frank Thomas .

Thomas did play for the "original" New York Mets in 1962 leading the team in HR's (34) and RBI's (94). This Frank Thomas was the "original" . . . . twice !

No More Spring Baseball in Sarasota !

That's right, Thursday April 2nd marked the last major league spring training game played at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida the now former home of the Cincinnati Reds, since 1988. Major League spring baseball had been a tradition in Sarasota since 1924 (when John Ringling of the circus fame, lured the New York Giants here) and next year will be quite different.

In the last couple of years this "little" town has lost the battle to retain the Reds (they will now make Goodyear Arizona their home) and our city never really made a strong enough case to win over the Red Sox, Orioles or Cubs (the only prospects on the immediate horizon).

The last game was quite the non-event; only 2935 people were in attendance (stadium capacity is 6500 and was the lowest of the spring). The Reds lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 and the game itself was overshadowed by the mixed emotions.

Our towns Mayor, Lou Ann Palmer presented the key to the city to Reds owner Robert Castellini, who inadvertently dropped it. There were many boos for our cities officials and much applause for the players.

While spring baseball may not be on the top ten list of attractions for Sarasota, it has been part of this city for 85 years (and no the average age of our residents is not 85 ! ). To be perfectly honest, since moving here, from Chicago, in 2002, I have attended less than ten games (family, work, school, life took precedence) but am sad that this town has lost some of its historical connection.

As an aside . . . we still have the whitest and bestest beaches, culture and restaurants, theatre and concerts, the history of the Ringling Bro's and the circus, not to mention our 350 days of sunshine and beautiful weather. I wake up every morning saying: "just another day in paradise" (with or without spring baseball).

Maybe within the next few years Sarasota can attract a new major league team to make their home here but for now . . . there is no more spring baseball in Sarasota.

1970 Topps: #8 Jose Martinez

Martinez had a short (ok short may be an over-statement, more like a blip) of a major league career. Born in 1942 in Cuba, being a speedy and reliable defensive infielder was not enough to keep his senior circuit membership.
While Martinez did have a reasonably sound year in 1969, helping out at second base for the injured Bill Mazeroski; hitting .268 in 77 games. He played in only 19 games in 1970 batting .050 and then baseball was in his past.

Jose Martinez, card # 8 from 1970; a Pittsburgh Pirate, a blip on the radar.

1970 Topps: #6 Grant Jackson

one of the most accepted definitions of a "journey man" in baseball would be someone who plays for several years (usually over 10), for a few different teams (usually over 3) and is deemed "valuable". I think it is important to add that any and every player on the 25 man roster is valuable and one who spends several years on a teams roster must be valuable.

Having said that, I present card #6 from the 1970 Topps set; Grant Jackson.

An 18 year veteran who played for six different teams (Phillies 1965-70, Orioles 71-76, NYY 76, Pirates 77-81 and 82, Expos 81 and Royals 82). A one-time all-star (1969), where in that year he had career high in wins (14), losses (18), innings pitched (253) and strikeouts (180).

Jackson played in 13 post season games, including three world series' (having won one ring in 1979 with Pittsburgh). His post season record of 3 - 0 in 17 2/3 innings is highlighted by being the winning pitching of record for game 7 in 1979. Jackson ended his career with a 86-75 W-L record to go aong with his 79 saves.

Grant Jackson, card #6 . . . a true valuable journeyman.

03-06-09 12:15pm

I confess, I am a "numbers geek" - not really a statistical numerologist but I like looking for patterns and quirky things with numbers (that is the "old" math teacher coming out in me).

My wife was born on January 2nd and I do remember having a "quirky" celebration in 2003 (01-02-03). And on February 3, 2004 at 5:06 pm glasses were raised to celebrate "nothing".

So today being March 6, 2009 represents a similar oddity {03-06-09} and if I may suggest that all you bloggers out there do something quirky at 12:15 pm. Next occasion to pencil in on your calendar is July, 8th at 10:11 pm (get it ? 07-08-09 10:11). Ok enough already . . .

Today is also Willie Stargell Birthday. He would have been 69 years old but passed away in 2001. Stargell hit some of the longest homeruns in major league history; the only player ever to hit a homer out of Dodger Stadium twice, reaching the upper deck at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, and hitting the furthest shot ever recorded at Veterans Stadium. Stargell ended his 21 year career (all with the Pittsburgh Pirates) with 475 career round trippers, most of which were considered monster shots.

One of his "secrets" to his Ruth-like power was warming up with a sledgehammer in the on-deck circle instead of just a lead weighted bat. Seven times an all-star, two times a World Series Champion (1971, 1979), the 1979 NL MVP award, and a first ballot Hall of Famer (inducted in 1988).

I like this 1970 card (Topps # 470); the double hat both looking too small for his head and that sleeveless vest style uniform. Happy Birthday "Pops", some of us do remember your power.

May all of you enjoy some quirkiness at 12:15 today . . .

Roberto Clemente - 3000 Hits

Happy New Years Eve to everyone ! I hope that 2009 starts off with a bang and brings everyone good health and more baseball cards to enjoy and share. 2009 may just be the year the Cubs win teh World Series too - ok I will continue to believe and dream.

Anyhow, the card I am highlighting today is in honor of one of the greatest basbeall players ever and his last card.

Lets go back in time for a moment: the year is 1973, and the baseball season begins like any other except baseball lost one of the greatest stars of all time before the first pitch ever crosses home plate.


Roberto Clemente died in an aviation accident on December 31, 1972 en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Clemente had been involved in this work for several years, helping those in need in his home country of Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries and the off season of 1972 was no exception. Personally speaking, I admire those that “give back” and I myself am active in Rotary International (I will write more about that in future posts).

So much has been written about Roberto Clemente; schools have been named after him, documentaries, books and even a movie has been produced.

Roberto Clemente was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, the only player for whom the mandatory five year waiting period was waived. A twelve time all-star, twelve time gold glove award winner , the 1966 NL MVP, 1971 World Series MVP and his uniform #21 is retired (just to name a few of his career highlights). This is not a history of Clemente since I could not do that any justice and will not try.

Roberto Clemente’s last card is the 1973 Topps # 50. I find it most interesting to collect the last cards of hall of famers, to have a glimpse of their career stats and Clemente’s ’73 card tops my list for that reason. The back of the card (yes once again the back tells more of a story than the front) depicts a drawing with 3000 in big print on his bat. Yes Clemente got his 3000th hit in 1972. The major league totals on this card bears that fact as well. An accomplishment held by very few and to have his career end with exactly 3000 hits is what I like to term as a “Clemente-ism”. I like this card for that reason.

As far as a Cubs connection goes – July 25, 1956, Clemente hit a walk-off inside the park grand slam at Forbes Field as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 9 – 8.

1960 Bill Mazeroski - The Homerun

The Year I was Born (part 1)

The cost of gasoline was $ .25 cents a loaf of bread only $ .20 cents. Eisenhower is President, though JFK would be elected in November by one of the smallest margin in history. “The Magnificent Seven”, “The Entertainer” and “Psycho” were hit movies; a song about an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini was on the radio. I could go on but this is a baseball card blog and it is the year I was born so I don’t really remember any of that.

Not that I remember any of that baseball season either . . . I did learn to appreciate all that happened in the year of my birth.

The Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series in seven games. They beat the heavily favored and powerful New York Yankees and if that was not good enough (for us Chicago Cubs fan of any era that is usually good enough) the ending of the series was as dramatic as any had seen before.

A second baseball known for his stellar defensive plays, a singles and doubles hitter, career batting average of under .270, less than 50 career homeruns (at the time) hits the game winning, series ending, bottom of the ninth homerun to send the Pirates to their World Series victory. The first ever walk-off homerun to win a world series (since repeated in 1993 with Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays, yet that was a series ending Game 6 homerun).

That is what baseball is all about. The “little” guy, the unsuspecting hero, everyone gets their chance to perform and become a superstar, forever etched in baseball lore. Bill Mazeroski is one of my favorite players outside of Cub-dome.

And speaking of the Cubs . . . did you know that the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates were the first team since 1945 to undo the superstition called the “ex-cub” factor. (the “ex-Cub” factor, in which a team with three or more former Cubs are unable to win the World Series). Thirty-one years later, 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks defied the superstition again.

How many others out there rise to the occasion, perform when the pressure is greatest and make history (baseball or otherwise) when no one expects it ? There are so many stories like Bill Mazeroski in October of 1960. Let’s hear about some of your favorites.







The 1961 card (Topps # 430) depicted here has a great three panel story / comic on the back. That used to be a Topps tradition; mini drawings or comics on every card. Those were the days. Each panel tells us a little something about Mazeroski; his blast that won the series, acknowledging his defensive prowess and that he likes to fish.

The cards of the sixties were fun that way . . . I like the 1961 Topps cards. Simple white border, conventional posed photo, an artist’s rendering of something important about the player and the card has the nine basic stats we all loved to learn about back then (today there are so many more statistics that many argue what is really important any more). Most important to me however, every card has the last line of the stats that read . . . 1960 . . . the year I was born.