1978 French Open Tennis First Day Cover

 The French Open, 2nd of professional tennis's Grand Slam tournaments, is currently being held in Paris.  The sport holds less interest for me as the years go by.   Maybe it's because I no longer play or maybe it's the lack of players I find intriguing.  45 years ago, when this First Day Cover was issued I followed tennis closely.  

The legendary Swede Björn Borg, in his prime, took the men's singles title.  It was his third in five years and the first of four consecutive French championships.

Stade Roland Garros was named after the famed World War I aviator 

Merci d'être passé.  Au revoir pour le moment.

I've Got the Willies

First Willie that comes to mind?  Gotta be The Say Hey Kid. 

1967 Topps #200 Willie Mays

1960 Topps #316 Willie McCovey

1971 Topps #230 Willie Stargell

1968 Topps #208 Willie Davis

1968 Topps #360 Willie Horton

1984 Topps #310 Willie McGee

1985 O-Pee-Chee #6 Willie Wilson

1988 Donruss #108 Willie Randolph

1994 American Archives Origins of Baseball #81 Willie Keeler 

2008 Upper Deck Hockey Masterpieces #73 Willie O'Ree

1971 Topps Football #114 Willie Lanier

There are two more notable Willies that I don't have cards of, Willie Davis and Willie Wood. Both men played for the Green Bay Packers and both are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Late Night Wars

 It's hard to believe but the well documented period in television history know as the Late Night Wars is now two decades in the past.  This strange set included three of the top players.  I guess you'd have to be at least in your mid thirties to remember how seriously they all took it.  Do you remember?  Did you/do you have a favorite?  I'm a morning person so I've never watched a lot of late night TV.  I really do remember watching Dave Letterman's morning show and was disappointed when it was cancelled.  He'd still be my favorite.  BTW, I hate his beard.

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #11 Johnny Carson

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #13 David Letterman

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #12 Jay Leno

These Guys Are Not Oddballs (Maybe One) But the Cards Are

 It never ceases to amaze me how many cards I've never seen.  These are the athletes from a limited edition set of 30 cards published in 1993 by Freedom Press.  Maybe if I was a collector of one of these six guys I would have discovered them long ago.  I am curious to know if any of you are familiar with them.  Do you own any of the cards?  If so, why did you buy them?  

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #5 Billy Martin

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #6 Thurman Munson

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #7 Reggie Jackson

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #8 Reggie Jackson

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #23 Patrick Ewing

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #24 Patrick Ewing

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #22 Mike Schmidt

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #15 Joe Montana

1993 Freedom Press High School Heroes #16 Joe Montana

Dandy Daves and Davids

 My name is David.  Growing up that's all I ever remember being called.  At some point in college that changed and I started going, in greater part, by "Dave".  After that I reverted back and have always gone by the original.  The funny thing is, lots of people, particularly acquaintances and people I see in my job, automatically call me Dave. Though I find it interesting, I really don't mind.  I see it as a friendly nickname. I have no stories like that about all the guys below.  You'd have to ask them. 

Here's 3 NBA Hall of Famers.  All three were picked for both the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams.  All three were two time NBA Champs.

In 2016, Hall of Famer Dave Keon was voted the greatest Maple Leaf of all time.  He won four Stanley Cups in the 1960's.  Um, they haven't won one since.

If I'm correct there are only two baseball Hall of Famers with my given name, Dave Winfield and Dave Bancroft.  Incidentally, both of their Hall of Fame plaques list them as David.

I do have a story about Dave Winfield that relates to his name.  Click here.

This guy was sure fun to watch.  

While maybe not quite Hall worthy,  David Cone did have an outstanding career.

Sorry for the missing back.

Big Papi.  Hall of Fame?  We'll see.

You can't think about The Big Red Machine without thinking of Dave Concepcion.  You can make a Hall of Fame argument for him.  Some do.

I grew up a Cubs fan but the Orioles were on TV a lot during my childhood.  I have an affinity, particularly for the great American League teams of the era.  Dave, or Davey -- the way I think of him, comes to mind as readily as Brooks, Frank and Boog. 

Dave McNally was part of the Orioles great starting pitching staffs of the sixties and seventies.  From 1968-1973 he went 117-65 with a 2.91 ERA --and he wasn't even the ace of the team.

The Cobra was a fearsome hitter with a great arm.  Should he be in the Hall of Fame?  Talk among yourselves.

Rags had a great career, first as a starter and reliever, then as a pitching coach.

That's a lot of star power!  Who did I miss?

Thanks for reading.