Blow Out the Candles -- November 10

Tiger great Norm Cash was born on this date in 1934.

1968 Topps #256

 Norm was a member on the 1968 Tigers World Championship team.  Do check out the Wikipedia article.  It has some great stuff.
In terms of collecting, Norm is the white whale of the 68 Tigers.  Since he passed away before the age of certified autos his signature is relatively expensive.  Even jersey and bat cards are scarce.

1994 MTV #5469
Astronomer John Bevis was born on this date in 1695.  Oh wait, I guess that's the wrong card above.  John Bevis is known for having discovered the Crab Nebula in 1731.  The Bevis on the card may have had crabs but that's another story.

I'm a big fan of the Marx Brothers.  Today is the birthdate of Groucho's sidekick and announcer on You Bet Your Life, George Fenneman who was born in Beijing China in 1919.

George was also the voice you hear at the beginning of the old Dragnet TV shows saying "The story you are about to see is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."

Singer /songwriter Dave Loggins is celebrating his 6th2nd birthday today.  Born in Mountain City, TN in 1947 Dave, a cousin of  fellow singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins, is most well known for his 1974 Top Ten single Please Come to Boston.

Novelist and graphic novel pioneer Neil Gaiman turns 51 today.

“Life is a disease: sexually transmitted, and invariably fatal.”

“People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.” 

“Things need not have happened to be true. Tales and adventures are the shadow truths that will endure when mere facts are dust and ashes and forgotten.”

Blow Out the Candles Nov 10

1968 Topps #256

Tiger great Norm Cash was born on this date in 1934. Norm was a member on the 1968 Tigers World Championship team. Do check out the Wikipedia article. It has some great stuff.

In terms of collecting, Norm is the white whale of the 68 Tigers. Since he passed away before the age of certified autos his signature is relatively expensive. Even jersey and bat cards are scarce.

1994 MTV #5469

Astronomer John Bevis was born on this date in 1695. Oh wait, I guess that's the wrong card above. John Bevis is known for having discovered the Crab Nebula in 1731. The Bevis on the card may have had crabs but that's another story.


I'm a big fan of the Marx Brothers. Today is the birthdate of Groucho's sidekick and announcer on You Bet Your Life, George Fenneman who was born in Beijing China in 1919. George was also the voice you hear at the beginning of the old Dragnet TV shows saying "The story you are about to see is true, only the names have been changed to protect the innocent."

Singer /songwriter Dave Loggins is celebrating his 62nd birthday today. Born in Mountain City, TN in 1947 Dave, a cousin of fellow singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins, is most well known for his 1974 Top Ten single Please Come to Boston.

Novelist and graphic novel pioneer Neil Gaiman turns 49 today.

Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Favorites C-F

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 #7

Love this image. The card design is 1977 and so is the Time magazine.

2004 #106

What better year's design, 1968, for Tiger great Norm Cash. He hit .385 in the Series for the World Champions.

2005 #112

12 seasons with the Cubs deserves a spot here.

Shawon's lifetime average was just nine points lower. If you're from Chicago and are old enough you'll remember the Shawon-O-Meter.

2004 #103

Dennis looks cool here. I like the flash lighting and the clouds in the background. It's a big improvement over the original from 1979:

2005#15

It's John Elway playing baseball. Guess he made the right choice.

2005 #24

One of the "Boys of Summer", Carl Erskine.

What is this over Carl's right shoulder?

2004 #56

One of the great names, "Elroy Face". Aside from being a great pitcher Roy looks like he would have made a great character actor, don't you think?

2005 #88
Just a terrific looking card!

Here's the original photograph:

2003 #110

Pretty much any Rollie Fingers card would be here. This one looks like classic Rollie. Better than the original 1973?

2003 #21

This is a 1976 design but the picture of a young Carlton Fisk is from no later than 1972. I like the big catchers mitt and the distant look.

2005 #120

Pal to Mantle and Berra, HOFer, the "Chairman of the Board", Whitey Ford. A classic card of a classic player.