Blow Out the Candles -- November 7

Jim Kaat turns 73 today. Jim won 283 games in his 25 year career and won 16 Gold Gloves.

1967 #300

"I’ll never be considered one of the all-time greats; maybe not even one of the all-time goods. But I’m one of the all-time survivors.

Jim Kaat pitching in the 1965 World Series

Joe Niekro was born on this date in 1944. Joe played for 22 seasons amassing a record of 221-204.

1969 #43

Trivia---Joe Niekro only hit one home run in his career, on May 29, 1976. It was off his older brother Phil.

Albert Camus was born in Monovi, Algeria on this date in 1913. Author of The Stranger, The Myth of Sisyphus, and The Plague he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. He died in a car accident in a small town in France in 1960.


"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened." 

"For if there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life."

Singer/artist Joni Mitchell turns 68 today.

Christopher Knight, aka Peter Brady, turns 54 today.

Blow Out the Candles Nov 7

1967 #300

Jim Kaat turns 71 today. Jim won 283 games in his 25 year career and won 16 Gold Gloves.
"I’ll never be considered one of the all-time greats; maybe not even one of the all-time goods. But I’m one of the all-time survivors.

Jim Kaat pitching in the 1965 World Series

1969 #43

The late Joe Niekro was born on this date in 1944. Joe played for 22 seasons amassing a record of 221-204.

Trivia---Joe Niekro only hit one home run in his career, on May 29, 1976. It was off his brother Phil.

Albert Camus was born in Monovi, Algeria on this date in 1913. Author of The Stranger, The Myth of Sisyphus, and The Plague he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. He died in a car accident in a small town in France in 1960.


"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened."

"For if there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life."

Singer/artist Joni Mitchell turns 69 today.

Christopher Knight, aka Peter Brady, turns 52 today.

Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Favorites K-L

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.

2005 #130

1966 design. Nice smile. 283 wins. Not in the HOF.

2005 #37

1959 design. Nice portrait goes well with circular inset. HOFer. Great guy.

2004 #44

1972 design. A '69 Cub. Another really nice guy. Jack Brickhouse always used to refer to his "boardinghouse reach".

1969 design. I guess these are called "fan favorites" for a reason. "Killer" is another HOFer who is also known for being a gentleman. Another nice portrait shot.

2004 #31

1953 design. Love the Pirate logo. Nice relaxed pose.

2005 #69

1967 design. Classic wind-up shot. Love it that Jim Lonborg is a dentist.

2003 #142

1975 design. A Chicago area guy. Classic slugger. Like another big guy, Boog Powell, "The Bull" now dishes out barbeque outside the ballpark.

2003 #77

1976 design. I like the colors and the rookie cup. I'm also a fan of the 60's and 70's Red Sox.

2003 #31

1988 design. "Psycho"!!!