Happy Birthday, Coach!

Ron Santo will always be my favorite player.  He died just over eight years ago and yesterday would have been his 79th birthday.  One of the saddest things was that he didn't live to enjoy his enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I still find it a bittersweet honor.

This image (not an exact replica) is a little weird.

Do you ever find youself appreciating the packaging as much as the actual collectible.  

This is my all-time favorite  image of Ron.  I have a framed colorized copy hanging on a wall in my house.

Happy Birthday, Ronnie!

Hall of Fame Teammates 15

Meet the Mets,  meet the Mets, 
Step right up and greet the Mets!

1968 Topps #45

HOF Class of 1992

1968 Topps #177

HOF Class of 1999

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame teammates?

Hall of Fame Teammates 14

Twins Hall of Fame teammates from 1967-1974.  Both their names end in R E W.

1968 Topps #80

HOF Class of 1991

1968 Topps #220

HOF Class of 1984

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame teammates?

Hall of Fame Teammates 13

Three Hall of Fame teammates from a great Topps set and another of my favorite teams growing up.

1972 Topps #37

HOF Class of 1989

1972 Topps #313

HOF Class of 1984

1972 Topps #79
HOF Class of 2000

If you haven't noticed I'm giving away some great cards to celebrate my 500th post.  Click here for details.

Hall of Fame Teammates 12

These are the Orioles I grew up with and still have a tremendous respect for.  The cartoon bird cap is probably my all-time favorite.

1968 Topps #575

HOF Class of 1990

1968 Topps #500 

HOF Class of 1982

1968 Topps #20

HOF Class of 1983

If you haven't noticed I'm giving away some great cards to celebrate my 500th post.  Click here for details.

Hall of Fame Teammates 11

These three Hall of Famer's played together in Pittsburgh from 1962 to 1972.

 1969 Topps #335

HOF Class of 2001

1970 Topps #470

HOF Class of  1988

1969 Topps #50

HOF Class of 1973

If you haven't noticed I'm giving away some great cards to celebrate my 500th post.  Click here for details.

Hall of Fame Teammates 10

Our next group of Hall of Fame teammates began their time together in Brooklyn but from 1959-62 they were the future Hall of Famers on the Los Angles Dodgers.

1958 Topps #88

HOF Class of 1980

1961 Topps #260

HOF Class of 1984

1964 Topps #200

HOF Class of 1972

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame teammates?

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?

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

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.

Hall of Fame Teammates 5

MattR of A Giant Blog suggested four Giant teammates (go figure).  They were actually next on my list (although I forgot about Perry).

1971 Topps # 140

HOF Class of 1991

1971 Topps #325

HOF Class of 1983

1972 Topps #280

HOF Class of 1986

1972 Topps #49

HOF Class of 1979

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame teammates?

Hall of Fame Teammates 4

One of my favorite all-time teams is the group of Oakland A's that collectively won three World Series Championships from 1972-74.  From this group came this trio of Hall of Famers:

HOF Class of 1993

HOF Class of 1987

HOF Class of 1992

Who are you favorite Hall of Fame teammates?

Hall of Fame Teammates 3

Night Owl's favorites are four of the "Boys of Summer".  Nice that all of them are included in the 2003 Flair Greats set:

Flair Greats #87

HOF Class of 1980

Flair Greats #84

HOF Class of 1962

2003 Flair Greats #77

HOF Class of 1969

2003 Flair Greats #12

HOF Class of 1984

Hall of Fame Teammates 2

Johngy and Wrigley Wax mentioned these two as favorite Hall of Fame teammates.  Can't argue with their choice.
P.S. Johngy adds that Greg Maddux will make it a trio in 2014:

1988 Donruss #242

HOF Class of 2005

1988 Donruss #BC-10

HOF Class of 2010

1988 Donruss #539 (not my card)
HOF Class of 2014