Blow Out the Candles Dec 31

1994 Baseball The American Epic #9

Hall of Famer, Mike "King" Kelly was born in Troy, NY on this date in 1857.



French artist Henri Matisse was born on this date in 1869.

La Lit Dans La Glace 1919

La Joie de Vivre 1905-06

Icarus

Pack Break -- 2009 UD X

My In-Laws got me some cards for Christmas. This is my one and only pack of "X".

#49 Prince Fielder

#35 Hanley Ramirez

#4 Chipper Jones Diecut

#X-TL Tim Lincecum Xponential

#100 Derek Holland Rookie

#54 Jose Reyes

No Cubs in this pack but it's not bad. All good players with the exception of Holland. The Lincecum Xponential card is pretty cool.

Blow Out the Candles Dec 30

1964 Topps #200

Dodger great, Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax turns 74 today.

March 4, 1963

April 12, 1964

If you want a good read about Sandy Koufax I highly recommend this one. It alternates biography with an inning by inning account of Sandy's perfect game against the Cubs on Sept. 9, 1965.

Last week was brother Frank's birthday, today it's Lester Patrick, born in 1883. Like his brother, Lester is also a member of the Hall of Fame.

Half of the pre-fab four, The Monkees, share a birthday today.

Michael Nesmith turns 67

Davy Jones turns 64

Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Favorites N-P

Topps put out 150 card sets of retired players in 2003-2004-2005. Players are pictured on card designs from their playing days but with different photos than were in the originals. Here are my favorites, alphabetically.

2003 #67

1956 design. Boys of Summer pitcher Don Newcombe. Don was 27-7 in 1956.

2003 #92

1969 design. If Phil's pitching that's a balk. (I know, he not even on the mound). Phil was 23-13 in 1969.

2004 #8

1966 design. This is a very "clean" looking card. Lots of blue!

2004 #138

1962 design. In 1962 the Cubs made Buck the first African-American coach to coach in the major leagues.

2003 #17

1963 design. Who doesn't like Joe Pepitone?

2003#11

1967 design. Nice card overall of The Big Red Machine's popular Tony Perez.

2005 #97

1952 design. The 1952 backs actually gives you the players hair color. Pesky's is brown. 1952 saw Johnny traded to the Detroit Tigers on June 3 along with Walt Dropo, Fred Hadfield, Don Lenhardt, and Bill Wight, for Hoot Evers, George Kell, Johnny Lipon and Dizzy Trout.

2003 #73

Another 1956 design. Great design, interesting guy. Jimmy hit .293 in '56 with 40 doubles.

2005 #84

1955 design. Another of the Boys of Summer, Brooklyn pitcher Johnny Podres was World Series MVP in 1955. He beat the hated Yankees twice, in game's 3 and 7.

2003 #28

1970 design. The 60'-70's Orioles are still one of my favorite teams and in 1970 Big Boog was the AL MVP, smacking 35 HR's and driving in 114. He hit 2 home runs in the World Series win over the Reds as well.

Blow Out the Candles Dec 29

Hall of Fame Green Bay Packers linebacker Ray Nitschke was born in Elmwood Park, Illinois on this date in 1936.

Ray at the University of Illinois

Actress, Mary Tyler Moore is celebrating her 73rd birthday today. Mary is unusual in having had tremendous runs in two different sit-coms, first as Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show and then as Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It always seemed like two different actresses to me, though the roles were not that far apart in time. Maybe the characters were just so different or the change from B&W to color. ???

Sam "Mayday" Malone on Cheers, Ted Danson turns 62 today.

Ted received 11 consecutive Emmy nominations for his role on Cheers.

Ted as himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm

Blow Out the Candles Dec 28

HOF White Sox pitcher, Ted Lyons was born on this date in 1900. "Sunday" Teddy won 260 games. His #16 was retired by the White Sox.

Ranger great and Hall of Famer Harry Howell turns 77 today.

2009

Harry Howell and Andy Bathgate had their numbers retired earlier this year

Hall of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuck was born on this date in 1929.


Sawchuck died at age 40 from injuries sustained while scuffling with a teammate in the home they were sharing.