Blackhawks Bling

The Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks got their rings yesterday.

I Love the 90's?

The 1990's were a kind of lost decade for me in terms of card collecting.  There are literally thousands of cards I've never seen.  Here are three that I got in a box lot.  The circular insert is a kind of plastic transparency, with the baseball background being more transparent than the player.

1999 Pacific Invincible #121 Matt Clement

1999 Pacific Invincible #88 Doug Mientkiewicz

1999 Pacific Invincible #79 Geoff Jenkins

Another Legend is Gone

The legendary George Blanda passed away today at the age of 83.  Brett Favre still has quite a ways to go to equal George's feat of playing in the NFL at age 48.

George with the Bears

SI July 19, 1971

Here are a few of his cards from my collection:

1968 Topps #142

1969 Topps #232

1971 Topps #39

Hall of Fame Teammates 9

The Astros had either one of the best or worst uniforms in 1982 depending on your point of view.  I say best.  I can't afford a jersey but I do have a hat.

Here are a couple of Hall of Fame teammates from that era:

1982 Topps #90

1982 Topps #305

Both of these cards will be included in my upcoming 500th post contest.

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame teammates?

Is this a significant record?

2008 UD #74

Cubs closer Carlos Marmol struck out the side yesterday  to close out a Cubs win over the Cardinals.  In the process he raised his strikeout total for the season to 131, surpassing the previous Cubs record of 129 held by Bruce Sutter.

1980 Topps #17

Is this a significant achievement?  I'd say yes.  The record stood for 33 years.  The previous record holder is in the Hall of Fame.  I'll add that while Sutter needed 107 innings, Marmol took only 74.  

Murton Does Japan

2006 Topps Turkey Red #490

Former Cubs outfielder Matt Murton  has had a very successful season this year  playing for the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese Central League. 

On Thursday, Matt became only the fourth player in Japanese baseball history to reach the 200 hit mark in one season.  If I'm reading his stats right he's hitting .352 with 85 RBI and 46 stolen bases.

Way to go Matt!

Fan Pack Fun -- Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens fan pack is all about the logo, which is cool indeed.

The Ravens address is "1 Winning Drive"

The back of the envelope celebrates their Championship season of 2000

This is a temporary tatoo

Really cool sticker

We Report, You Decide -- Better Unibrow?

We Report, You Decide.  Who has the better unibrow? 

 Is it

 Bert from Sesame Street?

Or

Wally Moon from the 1962 Dodgers?

Hall of Fame Teammates 8

Our last group of Hall of Fame teammates was a quartet from Milwaukee.  A quarter century earlier another  Milwaukee team boasted four future Hall of Famers as well:

1958 Topps #488

HOF Class of 1982

1958 Topps #494

HOF Class of 1973

1958 Topps #480

HOF Class of 1978

1958 Topps #190

HOF Class of 1989

Stormy Weather

Have you ever bought a card because you saw it posted on someone else's blog?

I think this was the card I saw on someone's blog a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately I can't find the blog.  Anyway, I'm a sucker for a great nickname and a nice vintage card so I went a-looking for my own.  I didn't get this one exactly but did find this one:

It's the same image but from the previous year's set (1940).  I'ts B&W but I like the extended nickname.

If you're the one who turned me on to Stormy, thanks.

PS  Thanks to Crinkly Wrappers who was my inspiration.

Hall of Fame Teammates 7

Suggested my My First Cards was  this group of Milwaukee Brewers:

1983 Topps #350

HOF Class of 1999

1983 Topps #630

HOF Class of 2004

1983 Topps #145

HOF Class of 1998

1983 Topps #35

HOF Class of 1992

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame Teammates?

Hall of Fame Teammates 6

I thought I'd get my ass out of the sixties and seventies this time:

1984 Topps #750 "Cakes"

HOF Class of 1990

1984 Topps #240  "Steady Eddie"

HOF Class of 2003

1984 Topps #490 "Ironman"

HOF Class of 2007

By the way, these three cards will be offered as part of my upcoming 500th post giveaway/contest.  Stay tuned.

Fire! Fire!

If Beavis collected cards I'm guessing these would be some of his favorites:

1996 Topps Laser #127 Kenny Rogers

1996 Topps Laser #125 Mike Mussina

1996 Topps Laser #117 Alex Fernandez

1996 Topps Laser #113 Rick Aguilera