I Won the Shirt Off McEnroe's Back (Actually Just a Tiny Piece)

A short while back, William from View From the Skybox, ran a contest to promote his Allen & Ginter Relic Exchange Program.  I was lucky enough to win my pick of any one of dozens of relics.  For me it quickly came down to just two, Mark Cuban and John McEnroe.  I was tempted to go with Cuban but I chose Johnny Mac.  My McEnroe card collection now stands at three.

This is the glossy version.

 1987 Fax-Pax

If you don't mind a lot of swearing  and particularly if you like it, you'll enjoy these clips of John playing himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Do It Yourself COMC Pack #22 -- Tennis

I recently had 8 months worth of Check Out My Cards purchases shipped.  I divided the 153 cards into 35 groups.  I like to think of these as hand picked "packs".   I'm posting them in random order.  "Pack" #29, five cards, was $6.17 including shipping.

While not the most charismatic of guys, Pete is arguably the best men's tennis player of all-time.

This guy does have personality.  This is the glossy version #'d to 999.  It didn't cost much more than the regular version.

John Newcombe was prominent at the beginning of my favorite era of tennis in the 1960's and 70's.  He won 7 singles and 26 Grand Slam titles overall.  I hemmed and hawed about buying this card.  Every other autographed card I've seen from this set has a sticker auto.  The signature does look right and it has an ACE sticker.  I'm hoping this is just a rare "on card" version.

Blow Out the Candles February 16

Tennis great John McEnroe is celebrating his 53rd birthday today.

 1987 Fax-Pax

John won 7 Grand Slam Singles and 9 Doubles titles

December 18, 1978

September 15, 1980

 July 13, 1981

September 21, 1981

July 16, 1984

 September 17, 1984

On this date in 1936 centerfielder Don Landrum was born in Santa Rosa, California. 

 1966 Topps #43 (not my card)

 Don played in 456 games over 8 seasons for 4 teams.  He was the Cub's regular centerfielder in 1965.

As every Ron Santo collector knows, Landrum is significant for adding one more vintage card to Santo's catalog, 1963 Topps #113.  Here it is followed by Ron's "real" card:

Don Landrum's 1966 Topps card states that "Chicago feels he is ready for a big season in 1966."  I guess they changed their minds because he was traded in the offseason along with Lindy McDaniel for Bill Hands and fan favorite Randy Hundley.  

I don't know if the 1963 card bothered Don (anyone have a story?) but it's interesting to note that it currently appears in the memorial section next to his biography on the Find a Grave website. 

 Montreal Canadiens great Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion was born on this date in 1931.

Bernie was a six time Stanley Cup Champion, 1952 Calder Trophy, and 1961 Hart Trophy winner.  

Boom Boom's #5 jersey was retired by the Canadiens on March 11, 2006.

Geoffrion claimed to have invented the slapshot when he was 9 or 10 years old.

Bernie Geoffrion was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.

Actor Hugh Beaumont was born in Eudora, Kansas on this date in 1909.

Beaumont is best known for his role as Ward Cleaver, Jerry Mather's sarcastic but understanding father on Leave It to Beaver.

Singer turned politician Sonny Bono was born in Detroit, Michigan on this date in 1935.

Sonny was mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988-92 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1995 until his death in a skiing accident on January 5, 1998.

I feel kind of like the black sheep in Congress, but here I am.

Sonny was of course, the shorter half of the musical and comedy duo of the sixties and seventies, Sonny and Cher.

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour ran on CBS from 1971-1974.

Blow Out the Candles -- Feb 16

Tennis great John McEnroe is celebrating his 52nd birthday today.

 1987 Fax-Pax

John won 7 Grand Slam Singles and 9 Doubles titles

December 18, 1978

September 15, 1980

 July 13, 1981

September 21, 1981

July 16, 1984

 September 17, 1984

On this date in 1936 centerfielder Don Landrum was born in Santa Rosa, California. 

 1966 Topps #43 (not my card)

 Don played in 456 games over 8 seasons for 4 teams.  He was the Cub's regular centerfielder in 1965.

As every Ron Santo collector knows, Landrum is significant for adding one more vintage card to Santo's catalog, 1963 Topps #113.  Here it is followed by Ron's "real" card:

Don Landrum's 1966 Topps card states that "Chicago feels he is ready for a big season in 1966."  I guess they changed their minds because he was traded in the offseason along with Lindy McDaniel for Bill Hands and fan favorite Randy Hundley.  

I don't know if the 1963 card bothered Don (anyone have a story?) but it's interesting to note that it currently appears in the memorial section next to his biography on the Find a Grave website. 

 Montreal Canadiens great Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion was born on this date in 1931.

Bernie was a six time Stanley Cup Champion, 1952 Calder Trophy, and 1961 Hart Trophy winner.  

Boom Boom's #5 jersey was retired by the Canadiens on March 11, 2006.

Geoffrion claimed to have invented the slapshot when he was 9 or 10 years old.

Bernie Geoffrion was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.

Actor Hugh Beaumont was born in Eudora, Kansas on this date in 1909.

Beaumont is best known for his role as Ward Cleaver, Jerry Mather's sarcastic but understanding father on Leave It to Beaver.

Singer turned politician Sonny Bono was born in Detroit, Michigan on this date in 1935.

Sonny was mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1988-92 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1995 until his death in a skiing accident on January 5, 1998.

I feel kind of like the black sheep in Congress, but here I am.

Sonny was of course, the shorter half of the musical and comedy duo of the sixties and seventies, Sonny and Cher.

The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour ran on CBS from 1971-1974.