Pack Break -- Monarch Corona

As is my way, I bought two of these packs almost two years ago and finally opened one today.  (I can almost hear your exasperation.)  The cards were produced by printer, Allen Miller Jr.  under the name Monarch Corona.  Here's his website.  I know that Mr. Miller was ill some time back but can't find anything about him on the web.  Does anyone out there know if he's better and/or if there are any new cards?  I'm not sure what the connection is but there is an eBay store that seems to be the place to buy the cards now.  It's run by Jim Milo under the wonderful name Grouchy Old Man Baseball Cards.

I don't have a lot to say about the cards.The quality is good, though the images can be a bit fuzzy.  What I really like, of course, is the variety of subjects.  The backs feature narratives and stats written as if the cards were produced at a particular point in the subject's career.  The Koufax and Berg are duplicates for me.  I previously posted the complete 8 card Sons of Israel set.

The four cards below are minis of varying size.

2001 UD Hall of Famers --National Pastime Part Two

I started sharing this set at the beginning of this season so it's fitting that I post the last twenty cards as the World Series gets underway.  Upper Deck put out some great sets of legendary players.  This one is no exception.

2001 UD Hall of Famers White Sox to Indians

I really miss sets like this 2001 UD Hall of Famers.  I picked this one up for $8.00 shipped.  Lets look at them all.

I'll bet Dime Box Nick would pay 20 cents for this one, but he probably did get one for a dime.  And the lights are on but it looks more like an overcast Chicago day than an awesome night card.  Sorry Owl.

"He (Hoyt Wilhelm) had the best knuckleball you'd ever want to see. He knew where it was going when he threw it, but when he got two strikes on you, he'd break out one that even he didn't know where it was going." - Brooks Robinson

It's always a bonus to see Negro League legends in a set.

Buck was known as the Black Lou Gehrig and with teammate Josh Gibson often called the Thunder Twins.

The Heater from Van Meter.  He lost 4 prime years to the war.

Boudreau rode his horse hard in 1946.  48 starts?  371 innings?  Rapid Robert ended up winning 26 games for a team that finished 68-86.  Second highest win total on the team was Allie Reynolds with 11.

He's not just a name on an award kids.

A different era but numbers that will never be matched.

"Satchel Paige was the toughest pitcher I ever faced. I couldn't do much with him. All the years I played there, I never got a hit off of him. He threw fire." - Buck Leonard

"Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching."