a horrible rookie star card

In thumbing through some of my "vintage" cards I came across three Chicago Cubs 1965 Rookie Stars cards.

The first (#549) highlighted Roberta Pena (six years in majors)and Glenn Beckert (long time Cubs 2nd baseman); the second (#386) had Paul Jaeckel (played in only four games in 1964 for the Cubs) and Fred Norman (19 year career and two world series rings with the Cincinnati Reds in 75 and 76) and then there was this card . . . probably one of the worst displays of stardom on one card that one could imagine.

Billy Ott went 11 for 67 (a .164 BA) and appeared in just 32 games in his major league career (actually played in 1962 and 1964 only). He did hit one homerun and had 3 RBI's.

And Jack Warner, well he played in only 33 games, pitched 54 innings with a 0 - 2 record and a 5.10 ERA in his entire big league career.

One heck of a duo on one card . . . Rookie Stars, not really.

A CUBS extravaganza

Thanks to A Cardboard Problem my Cubs collection took a big boost today. Once again the generosity of fellow bloggers make me smile. The offer to send "free cards" of my favorite team was too hard to pass up and I just received a small box of 117 cards -all Chicago Cubs. Here is a picture of about half of them.

Yes, many of them are the over-produced mid 1980's cards but for his Cub fan one can not have enough duplicates of these (great for putting in team sets, team binders and year binders). Thank you ! An added note of interest to those who care; there were three Ryne Sandbergs, four Andre Dawsons, two Mark Grace and three Greg Maddux's.

There was also two 1981 Cubbies: Lenny Randle and Larry Biittner.

A small collection of Frank DiPino - a twelve year, 5 team journeyman who spent the middle of his career (2 1/2 years; 1986-87-88) as a Cub. DiPino's highlight was in 1989 going 9 - 0 for the St Louis Cardinals.

Two 1998 Fleer Ultra, my first cards of this set and nice cards they are.

And one cannot forget to mention two of the happiest Cubs ever, always smiling, always playing hard; Manny Trillo and Bob Dernier.

Thank Card Bandits and A Cardboard Problem . . .you have given this Cubs Fan much to smile about !

Night Owl Strikes Again

A few months ago when I first entered this blogsophere, it became rapidly apparent that I was incredibly naive as to what the hobby had changed into since I left this hobby over 20 years ago (actually I stopped buying any cards in 1987 but still followed along until 1991).

My favorite year in baseball was 1969 (go figure) and the 1970 set is my work in progress, thanks to my re-newed efforts I am now at 92.6 % complete. In my attempt to get "modern" I decided to try to collect some 1991 cards (the year my daughter was born). Night Owl was one of the first to catch on and sent me a few interesting 1991 Score Dream Team cards (among other prime samples).

I liked those Dream Team cards and put out a ask to see if I could complete the set (ok it is only a 13 card set but nonetheless my first set to start and finish solely upon the generosity of bloggers). Tim at 90s box breaks had a few I needed and kindly sent them to me and just the other day Night Owl sent me the last card I needed; the Ken Griffey Jr. So my first official complete set (sub-set) started and finished by bloggers is done - Thank you Tim and Greg.





But Night Owl has done it again. Knowing I like the Cubs and the 1970' set he also sent me this 1992 Baseball Card Magazine 1970's reprint of Andre Dawson. All I could say is WOW ! I did a little research and found that this set has only two Cubs (Ryne Sandberg being the other) and totals 88 cards. So naturally I am on a new quest - to complete this much larger set that will compliment my 1970 original set with a more modern look.


The back of this card (I did not scan for no good reason) tries to duplicate the 1970's feel with the bio and paragraph of info on the upper left and a cartoon in he upper right. Instead of traditional statistics these cards gave "investment advise". On the bottom of Dawsons card it reads: "A real bargain is Dawson's 1977 Topps, which is priced at just $ 60. There's no question that this card is a perfect long-term and short-term investment value". I guess that was the state of the hobby back then . . . for me the value is in the fact he is in a Cubs uniform and reflect the 1970's set.

Thanks to Night Owl, he struck again, and now I have a new adventure.

Bonds as a Cub

Yes Bobby Bonds, the father of the "famous" Bonds (as in Barry) played for the Cubs. His official last year in the majors was 1981 and he was in a Cub uniform. He played in only 45 games for the Cubs in 1981, hit 6 HR's, batted .215 and struckout 44 times.

While Bobby made a name for himself as a San Fransisco Giant in the late sixties and early seventies he actually played for seven other teams during his 14 year career. One of the best power and speed combination players; Bobby was actually the second player ever to reach 300 HR's and 300 stolen bases (Willie Mays was the first).I found this card (1982 Fleer # 588) in the bargain bin (20 for $ 1.00) at a flea market this past weekend and could not pass it up. The other nineteen cards I found were also cards I needed, wanted or liked but none compare to having Bobby Bonds in a Cubs uniform. Nothing exciting about this card except for the traditional blue Cub hat which does not match his pants (I wonder what uniform he was actually wearing ?).

Bobby Bonds passed away in 2003 but will always be one of the more exciting players I was able to see play growing up . . . and was a Cubbie, albeit for a very short time.

Oh what a year it was . . .

. . . in 1959 for Chicago baseball.

While this year was most celebrated on the southside with the White Sox winning the American League pennant and facing the Los Angels Dodgers in the World Series (eventually losing to the Dodgers 4 games to 2), Chicago baseball can boast one thing !

Each team had their league MVP ! Nellie Fox led the White Sox and Ernie Banks won his 2nd consecutive MVP for the bottom dweller Chicago Cubs. 1959 was the year Chicago bragged about having two MVP's (as an aside, Early Wynn from the Sox won the Cy Young as well).

The same city MVP's had happened quite often in the 40's and 50's with the Yankees and Dodgers dominating the award (Brooklyn at the time) but for Chicago, 1959 was the year. The closest since 1959 was in 2000; Jeff Kent of the San Fransisco Giants (NL) and Jason Giambi of the Oakland Athletics (AL). So the Bay area fans can brag about that if they want to.

1959 is also the year that future Chicago Cub MVP and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg was born.

Oh what a year it was . . .

101st post

This is my "official" 101st post since I started my new life as a blogger. I could have "celebrated" my 100th but as a former Chicagoan and always a Cubs fan . . . this is the 101st year since 1908 and . . . well the number "101" is something to celebrate (this year).

I want to first start off by saying THANK YOU to so many of you who have guided me, traded with me, commented on my blog, and continue to help me learn more about a hobby I left long ago. All of your blogs are prominently featured on the right in two places. I have certainly learned so much from all of you - my collection has grown (as my wife says I have reluctantly and finally entered the "modern" era). I still remember and relish the simpleness of the hobby when I was a kid (born in 1960) and am constantly amazed in awe of the hobby of today.

Blogging has taken on a new life for me . . . just a short three months ago my life was "normal". Now with new friends (bloggers), a re-newed passion (some newer cards) and a growing desire to learn more (looking at cards differently); the blogosphere is the first thing I check in the morning and the last ting I do at night (many times I check it during the day as well).

So this being my 101st post in "honor" of the Chicago Cubs. Looking back at some of my entries I see I have had some winners (good seasons like the Cubs of 1945, 1969, 1984) and some not so good (like the early sixties and late seventies). That is what happens over the course of a 101 span of anything.

Maybe the Cubs will repeat as:

Once again I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who read, share, trade, comment, teach, educate, guide, laugh, have fun with and enjoy this hobby and blogging as much as I have grown to after 101 posts.

Maybe this is the year we can escapes all curses and scream:

. . . for me it has been 101 posts . . . for the Cubs 101 years . . . with a bit o' luck the "Cubs will shine in 2009" . . . if not its "wait-til-next-year" . . .

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 . . .