Before You Get Your Strasburg Tattoo...

I was happy to see Stephen Strasburg make history last night. He seems like a good guy and I have nothing against the Nationals. Also, after so many years of "chicks dig the long ball" it's a nice change to see pitching get the upper hand. On the other hand, before you name your kid after him or get his face tattooed on your ... arm I have two words for you---KERRY WOOD. I still like Kerry (even as an Indian) but he's a reminder that young pitchers, as great as they seem, can break down. Let's hope this doesn't happen with Strasburg and we get to witness the next really great pitching star.

The Shot Heard Round the World

Looking for a good baseball book to read this summer?

"The Echoing Green" tells the story of how a decision by Giant's manager Leo Durocher on July 19, 1951 changed a baseball season, affected the lives of millions of fans in New York and around the country and ultimately set up a moment that would forever link two players.

Thomson and Branca, both in their eighties, have had almost sixty years to sign so these cards can be had for very little.

Anyone else read a good baseball book lately?

This Bird Rocks!!

Have you all seen this video yet? It was new to me.

Is this Ebay Seller Kidding?

Fans of Craigslist idiots check this out.

I found it on Ebay today. In case you think the price is a misprint, check out his other items.

I just sent him a note asking if he was joking.

NBA Cheerleader Cards

Here's another group of cards that I guess the only good answer as to why I'm posting would be, "Because they're there". Put out in 1991 by a company called Lime Rock International, the set consisted of 41 cards of NBA cheerleaders from just three teams, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and Washington Bullets. The following year the company issued a similar set featuring NFL squads from New Orleans, Dallas, Miami and Oakland. Other Lime Rock sets I've seen listed are MAD magazine (might be interesting) and Bozo the Clown (what?).

Amy did not want to give her last name.

Not one to give up, Diane did become Miss Pennsylvania in 1993.

Marjorie Black was the black Twiggy.

"HELLLOOO NURSE!"

Looking at these cards also made me think of this video from a decade earlier:

And this one:

The Al Kaline Story

In Chicago we have "Mr. Cub", Ernie Banks. Detroit has "Mr. Tiger", Al Kaline. In 1983 Homeplate Sports Cards put out a 73 card set commemorating Kaline's 30 years with the Tigers.

Here is the box the set came in along with about a third of the cards. The bottom image shows two of the backs. (Click twice to completely enlarge.)

She Loved Elvis

I'm not sure if anyone noticed, but it's been a while since my last post. Three days before Mother's Day (I had my post already scheduled) my dear mother-in-law suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and sadly passed away five days later. She was 68 years old. Like all of us here, she was a collector. Her treasures included dolls, commemorative bells, cookie jars, cat related items and lots of Christmas things. In her modest collection of Elvis Presley items were these cards I gave her a few years back. She had them on a shelf still inside the opened pack. Thanks Mom, for the time we had. This post is for you.

Happy Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day here is a bouquet of 1933 Wills' Garden Flowers:

A Cut Above Your Average Air-Brushed Card

While looking for another card I came across this air-brushed beauty.

1974 Topps #237

The late Ken Brett, older brother of HOFer George, played for 10 teams in 14 years. Check out all the uniform #'s.

Free Group Break at the Sandlot

The Sandlot is having a FREE group break. There are many teams left. Don't miss the the fun! Go there now!!!