Wishing you all a Very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!
I absolutely LOVE this 2018 Panini Diamonds KING 119/299 of former Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann!
PLAY BALL! ⚾️✝️🎅🌲
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Tigers Card Tuesday... Merry Christmas!✝️ 🎅🌲☃️
🐯 Belated Tigers Card Tuesday! 🐯
Wishing you all a Very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!
I absolutely LOVE this 2018 Panini Diamonds KING 119/299 of former Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann!
PLAY BALL! ⚾️✝️🎅🌲
Wishing you all a Very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year!
I absolutely LOVE this 2018 Panini Diamonds KING 119/299 of former Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann!
PLAY BALL! ⚾️✝️🎅🌲
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Football Card Friday... 1963 Topps Dick "Night Train" Lane
Last week former Detroit Lions defensive back Dick "Night Train" Lane was honored as one of the top 100 players in the NFL.
Looking for today's card didn't take long after I opened up my Lions binder, as Night Train's 1963 Topps card immediately called my name!
🏈 My 1963 Topps #32 DICK LANE 🏈
It looks like Night Train is ready to rip your head off!
If you don't know Night Train Lane, just head over to YouTube, his highlights are easily found there.
Richard Lane was born on April 16, 1928, in Austin, Texas, played college football at West Nebraska CC.
💯 In 1952 as rookie playing with the Los Angeles Rams, Lane set a NFL record with 14 interceptions... a record that still stands!
Lane played for the Rams, the Cardinals... the Chicago Cardinals and my Detroit Lions.
Now, I didn't see Lane play football, unless one of my Uncle's had me sitting with me watching the Lions play when I was a little tyke.
Have a great weekend...one football game remains, the Army/ Navy Game.
Go Navy! ⚓🏈 Beat Army!
Play Ball!
Looking for today's card didn't take long after I opened up my Lions binder, as Night Train's 1963 Topps card immediately called my name!
🏈 My 1963 Topps #32 DICK LANE 🏈
It looks like Night Train is ready to rip your head off!
If you don't know Night Train Lane, just head over to YouTube, his highlights are easily found there.
Richard Lane was born on April 16, 1928, in Austin, Texas, played college football at West Nebraska CC.
💯 In 1952 as rookie playing with the Los Angeles Rams, Lane set a NFL record with 14 interceptions... a record that still stands!
Lane played for the Rams, the Cardinals... the Chicago Cardinals and my Detroit Lions.
Now, I didn't see Lane play football, unless one of my Uncle's had me sitting with me watching the Lions play when I was a little tyke.
Have a great weekend...one football game remains, the Army/ Navy Game.
Go Navy! ⚓🏈 Beat Army!
Play Ball!
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Topps Living Set Wednesday/ World Series Contest Winner(s)
It's Wednesday, hump day for you working citizens as you look forward to the weekend.
To me Wednesday means it's another Topps Living Set release by Topps.
This week's cards are:
Roy Halladay is a must have for TLS HOF collection. ✅
🐪 Hump Day is the day I get to see what new cards have been added to the TLS, and, of course, to see if I correctly guessed either of the two players in the weekly contest run by Topps Living Stats over on Twitter.
❎ I did NOT correctly predict either Halladay or Keller.
👉 Back in October I had a World Series contest, with the winner receiving two TLS cards, one of the Nationals Juan Soto, and one of the Astros George Springer.
I'd like to apologize for the delay...It's totally my fault that I'm terribly bad at technology and tried, futilely, to figure out Tweetdraw.
I actually had to stop for a couple of weeks as well because of my health...I'm not using these as excuses, it's just how bad my November was.
Two entries had the Washington Nationals winning the World Series in 7 games, and after all this time, well, it's only fair that both entries are winners!
Matt and Derek both had the Nats in 7, but neither had the MVP of the Series (Stephen Strasburg), so, Im declaring a tie and will get both cards out to them.
In addition, CapKirk42 and The Lost Collector both had the Nationals as winners, and I'm going to send them their choice, Soto, or Springer.
Winners- If you're on Twitter, message me your addresses, or, email me.
📧 johnsharp1960@gmail.com.
Again, I sincerely apologize the delay, and hope you'll all have a very, very, Mery Christmas and Happy New Year!
PLAY BALL! ⚾️🎁🎅🌲
To me Wednesday means it's another Topps Living Set release by Topps.
This week's cards are:
Roy Halladay is a must have for TLS HOF collection. ✅
🐪 Hump Day is the day I get to see what new cards have been added to the TLS, and, of course, to see if I correctly guessed either of the two players in the weekly contest run by Topps Living Stats over on Twitter.
❎ I did NOT correctly predict either Halladay or Keller.
👉 Back in October I had a World Series contest, with the winner receiving two TLS cards, one of the Nationals Juan Soto, and one of the Astros George Springer.
I'd like to apologize for the delay...It's totally my fault that I'm terribly bad at technology and tried, futilely, to figure out Tweetdraw.
I actually had to stop for a couple of weeks as well because of my health...I'm not using these as excuses, it's just how bad my November was.
Two entries had the Washington Nationals winning the World Series in 7 games, and after all this time, well, it's only fair that both entries are winners!
Matt and Derek both had the Nats in 7, but neither had the MVP of the Series (Stephen Strasburg), so, Im declaring a tie and will get both cards out to them.
In addition, CapKirk42 and The Lost Collector both had the Nationals as winners, and I'm going to send them their choice, Soto, or Springer.
Winners- If you're on Twitter, message me your addresses, or, email me.
📧 johnsharp1960@gmail.com.
Again, I sincerely apologize the delay, and hope you'll all have a very, very, Mery Christmas and Happy New Year!
PLAY BALL! ⚾️🎁🎅🌲
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Tigers Card Tuesday... 2014 Topps #500 Miguel Cabrera
Today's Tigers Card Tuesday is my 2014 Topps #500, Miguel Cabrera BLACK Variation.
You know you've made it when Topps gives you Card #500!
🎁 What makes this card special to me is that it was my first Twitter card trade.
The transaction put me in touch with one of my now favorite baseball card collectors, Jenny, from Jenny's Card Collecting.
Jenny sent me that Miggy card after I posted on Twitter and wrote a blog about this card from 2018 Topps.
👫⚾️ So, after my tweet, Jenny, who I didn't know, or follow on Twitter, reached out to me to see if I wanted to trade the card, as she was a HUGE fan of Miguel Sano.
Since that simple transaction I've followed Jenny on Twitter, on her blog, and, on the Topps BUNT App, a terrific place to celebrate baseball cards in this digital age.
👉 Jenny wrote a great blog post about the BUNT app.
Jenny is as good as it gets, even though she cheers on the Twins. Ha Ha! 😂
🐯⚾️ As I tweeted out, there's only one Miggy, and as long as Miguel Cabrera continues to play baseball, that simply won't change.
Make sure to follow Jenny's blog, and, if you're on Twitter, make sure you do the same.
Until next time, PLAY BALL! ⚾️
You know you've made it when Topps gives you Card #500!
🎁 What makes this card special to me is that it was my first Twitter card trade.
The transaction put me in touch with one of my now favorite baseball card collectors, Jenny, from Jenny's Card Collecting.
Jenny sent me that Miggy card after I posted on Twitter and wrote a blog about this card from 2018 Topps.
👫⚾️ So, after my tweet, Jenny, who I didn't know, or follow on Twitter, reached out to me to see if I wanted to trade the card, as she was a HUGE fan of Miguel Sano.
Since that simple transaction I've followed Jenny on Twitter, on her blog, and, on the Topps BUNT App, a terrific place to celebrate baseball cards in this digital age.
👉 Jenny wrote a great blog post about the BUNT app.
Jenny is as good as it gets, even though she cheers on the Twins. Ha Ha! 😂
🐯⚾️ As I tweeted out, there's only one Miggy, and as long as Miguel Cabrera continues to play baseball, that simply won't change.
Make sure to follow Jenny's blog, and, if you're on Twitter, make sure you do the same.
Until next time, PLAY BALL! ⚾️
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Tigers Card Tuesday...1976 Topps Sporting News Ty Cobb
For the past month, or so, I've gotten back into playing baseball quizzes/trivia games on SPORCLE.
My favorite is the Hall of Fame quiz.
I start every HOF quiz by typing in all the Detroit Tigers players in the HOF, starting with the very first player elected into the HOF, Tyrus Raymond Cobb.
My favorite card of Tyrus growing up collecting cards was the 1976 Topps #346 Sporting News All-Time ALL STARS.
The Sporting News was the go to paper for all things baseball when I was growing up, and the cards came out during the American Bicentennial, and 1976 was also the 100th Anniversary of the National League.
⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸
✅ After I type in all the Tigers HOFers in the Sporcle quiz I go to the 1800s, w/ Wee Willie Keeler, Ed Delahanty, Old Hoss Radbourn, and BIG Dan Brouthers.
Next, I go through all the HOF ballplayers elected through the 1940s, as well as any players that pop into my head, like Tinkers to Evers to Chance.
After I get through those HOFers, I go to the most recent, Roy Hallady, Mariano Rivera, etc.
I also go through all the Negro Leagues HOF players, starting w/ Detroit Stars great Turkey Stearnes.
The Sporcle quizzes are a ton of fun, especially those on the American League and National League MVP, World Series winners, all the players w/ 3,000 base hits, 500 HRs, and 300 big league victories.
Head over and play the games, and let me know how you do on the HOF quiz.
I've gotten up into the 220s (out of 260) on the HOF quiz, probably about 5 years ago, and now I'm around the 200 mark, and trying to improve.
Enjoy the baseball quizzes, and, as always, PLAY BALL! ⚾️
My favorite is the Hall of Fame quiz.
I start every HOF quiz by typing in all the Detroit Tigers players in the HOF, starting with the very first player elected into the HOF, Tyrus Raymond Cobb.
My favorite card of Tyrus growing up collecting cards was the 1976 Topps #346 Sporting News All-Time ALL STARS.
The Cobb card is, easily, (in my opinion), the best of all the cards in this 10 card group of All-Time greats...look at that picture of The Georgia Peach!
🐯⚾️🍑
⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸
✅ After I type in all the Tigers HOFers in the Sporcle quiz I go to the 1800s, w/ Wee Willie Keeler, Ed Delahanty, Old Hoss Radbourn, and BIG Dan Brouthers.
Next, I go through all the HOF ballplayers elected through the 1940s, as well as any players that pop into my head, like Tinkers to Evers to Chance.
After I get through those HOFers, I go to the most recent, Roy Hallady, Mariano Rivera, etc.
I also go through all the Negro Leagues HOF players, starting w/ Detroit Stars great Turkey Stearnes.
The Sporcle quizzes are a ton of fun, especially those on the American League and National League MVP, World Series winners, all the players w/ 3,000 base hits, 500 HRs, and 300 big league victories.
Head over and play the games, and let me know how you do on the HOF quiz.
I've gotten up into the 220s (out of 260) on the HOF quiz, probably about 5 years ago, and now I'm around the 200 mark, and trying to improve.
Enjoy the baseball quizzes, and, as always, PLAY BALL! ⚾️
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Happy Thanksgiving!.
A very Happy Thanksgiving! to all of you out there in blogger land!
I hope you and yours had a awesome day filled with family, friends, food, and football.
These cool Pumpkin Pie cards are in the Topps HUDDLE App today... and, as usual, are better than the game at Ford Field today.
My Lions lost again, 24-20, to the Bears, a game they should've won.
The Lions have led in every game this season, but are now just 3-8-1.
Detroit was down to their 3rd string quarterback, David Blough, who made not only his first start in a NFL game, he played in his first game.
Have a great night of TV and leftovers!
I hope you and yours had a awesome day filled with family, friends, food, and football.
These cool Pumpkin Pie cards are in the Topps HUDDLE App today... and, as usual, are better than the game at Ford Field today.
My Lions lost again, 24-20, to the Bears, a game they should've won.
The Lions have led in every game this season, but are now just 3-8-1.
Detroit was down to their 3rd string quarterback, David Blough, who made not only his first start in a NFL game, he played in his first game.
Now I'll have to look for Blough's 2019 PRIZM Dract Picks cards.
Thanks to each and every one of you who take time to read my posts, I'm a very blessed guy.
Have a great night of TV and leftovers!
Friday, November 8, 2019
Football Card Friday... Tyrone Wheatley
My Michigan Wolverines are off on a bye this weekend, but that doesn't mean that we stop thinking about our famed Maize and Blue!
When I began to watch Michigan play football in 1976, running the ball was always the #1 priority for the Wolverines.
Starting w/ Bo Schembechler in the 1970s, then onto Gary Moeller, and Lloyd Carr, running backs, great ones, took turns in the backfield, smashing their way through Big Ten defensive squads, and none was better than the great Tyrone Wheatley.
1996 Upper Deck SPx
#30 Tyrone Wheatley
(Special thanks go out to Michigan Card Blogger EXPERT Dennis of TOO MANY VERLANDERS for helping identify the card!)
🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
👉 These Upper Deck SPx Football Cards were all the rage in the mid 1990s, and this card of the 1993 Rose Bowl ⚘ MVP is probably my favorite card that I have of the former NY Giants running back.
〽️ The technology of the SPx cards were so cool, moving the card back and forth...WOW! that image of Wheatley winking at you!
Amazing, how cool is that!
Wheatley is, in my opinion, the most powerful Michigan back in my lifetime as a fan, and that means something when your talking about guys like Rob Lytle, Butch Woolfolk, Jarrod Bunch, Anthony Thomas, and Chrois Perry.
Wheatley could run, and once he broke loose, he probably wasn't going to be caught.
📣 The 1992 Big Ten Player of the Year, Tyrone is now the Head Football Coach at Morgan State University, where he has teamed up w/ fellow Michigan Men, Derek Alexander and Will Carr, to restore the program at the Historical Black University.
Check out this awesome article on Wheatley and his Wolverine family by Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to read my posts, it's greatly appreciated.
Enjoy the football this weekend!
Play Ball! 🏈
When I began to watch Michigan play football in 1976, running the ball was always the #1 priority for the Wolverines.
Starting w/ Bo Schembechler in the 1970s, then onto Gary Moeller, and Lloyd Carr, running backs, great ones, took turns in the backfield, smashing their way through Big Ten defensive squads, and none was better than the great Tyrone Wheatley.
1996 Upper Deck SPx
#30 Tyrone Wheatley
(Special thanks go out to Michigan Card Blogger EXPERT Dennis of TOO MANY VERLANDERS for helping identify the card!)
👉 These Upper Deck SPx Football Cards were all the rage in the mid 1990s, and this card of the 1993 Rose Bowl ⚘ MVP is probably my favorite card that I have of the former NY Giants running back.
〽️ The technology of the SPx cards were so cool, moving the card back and forth...WOW! that image of Wheatley winking at you!
Amazing, how cool is that!
Wheatley is, in my opinion, the most powerful Michigan back in my lifetime as a fan, and that means something when your talking about guys like Rob Lytle, Butch Woolfolk, Jarrod Bunch, Anthony Thomas, and Chrois Perry.
Wheatley could run, and once he broke loose, he probably wasn't going to be caught.
📣 The 1992 Big Ten Player of the Year, Tyrone is now the Head Football Coach at Morgan State University, where he has teamed up w/ fellow Michigan Men, Derek Alexander and Will Carr, to restore the program at the Historical Black University.
Check out this awesome article on Wheatley and his Wolverine family by Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to read my posts, it's greatly appreciated.
Enjoy the football this weekend!
Play Ball! 🏈
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
It's #WCW and oh, Secret Santa is Back!
I've always wanted to do a Women's Crush Wednesday (#WCW) post on Twitter, but always seem to forget...until today.
It's the beautiful Emma Stone's Happy Birthday Day, and that's a terrific way to start my #WCW on Twitter as well as here on the blog.
Emma's Birthday also happens to come a day after National Redheads Day!
Honoring a beautiful woman like Emma Stone on your first #WCW post, well, it's like opening a great gift on Christmas Day.
I haven't seen The Amazing Spiderman (2012), but now that I have Netflix on my TV, I'll definitely be looking to watch it.
🎅 Speaking of Christmas, and the upcoming Holiday Season, it's also time again for the annual bloggers Secret Santa, run by our friend Jon over at A Penny Sleeves For Your Thoughts.
I'll be honored to once again be involved, because, hey, isn't it great to send out some baseball cards to make someone's day?
If you'd like to get involved, make sure to hit the link to get involved, and believe me, it's worth it to get involved with all these amazing bloggers we have in the community.
Happy Birthday Emma! 🎁🎂🎅
Play Ball!
It's the beautiful Emma Stone's Happy Birthday Day, and that's a terrific way to start my #WCW on Twitter as well as here on the blog.
Emma's Birthday also happens to come a day after National Redheads Day!
Honoring a beautiful woman like Emma Stone on your first #WCW post, well, it's like opening a great gift on Christmas Day.
I haven't seen The Amazing Spiderman (2012), but now that I have Netflix on my TV, I'll definitely be looking to watch it.
🎅 Speaking of Christmas, and the upcoming Holiday Season, it's also time again for the annual bloggers Secret Santa, run by our friend Jon over at A Penny Sleeves For Your Thoughts.
I'll be honored to once again be involved, because, hey, isn't it great to send out some baseball cards to make someone's day?
If you'd like to get involved, make sure to hit the link to get involved, and believe me, it's worth it to get involved with all these amazing bloggers we have in the community.
Happy Birthday Emma! 🎁🎂🎅
Play Ball!
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Happy National Readhead Day!
📣 UPDATE! 📣
On Wednesday afternoon Topps released their weekly Topps Living Set cards, and whaddya know, another Ginger made it into the set!
Sean Doolittle ( Card #257l, is the second Washington Nationals player in the past three weeks to get into the set (Ryan Zimmerman/ Card #254), and he fits perfectly into Tuesday's post (below).
👉 Special thanks go out to TOPPS LIVING STATS over on Twitter for recognizing that Mr. DOOLITTLE was worthy of inclusion!
⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Because it's National Redhead Day here's a reminder that tomorrow is Topps Living Set release day.
Play Ball! ⚾️
On Wednesday afternoon Topps released their weekly Topps Living Set cards, and whaddya know, another Ginger made it into the set!
Sean Doolittle ( Card #257l, is the second Washington Nationals player in the past three weeks to get into the set (Ryan Zimmerman/ Card #254), and he fits perfectly into Tuesday's post (below).
👉 Special thanks go out to TOPPS LIVING STATS over on Twitter for recognizing that Mr. DOOLITTLE was worthy of inclusion!
⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
Because it's National Redhead Day here's a reminder that tomorrow is Topps Living Set release day.
Play Ball! ⚾️
Tigers Card Tuesday...Sweet Lou Whitaker
Today's Tigers Card Tuesday! is all about former second baseball Sweet Lou Whitaker!
On Monday it was announced that Whitaker was officially on the 2020 Modern ERA Ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Tigers fans are ready to help get him there.
On Twitter I asked that fans use the hashtag #SweetLouHOF in their posts, in support of Whitaker, and I've also seen #LouHOF2020 and #WhitakerHOF.
1985 Topps #480 Lou Whitaker
1️⃣ Yes, "Sweet Lou" signed this card for me at a Spring Training game back in the 1980s.
The cool thing about the 1985 Topps cards is the TIGERS team banner and players name are all in the clubs colors.
🐯 How awesome is this baseball card as we see Lou turning one of his 1,527 double plays as a Tigers second baseman, just above that great Detroit Tigers logo!
The Modern Committee definitely has plenty of great ballplayers to choose from, including Dale Murphy, Tommy John, and Ted Simmons, with a player needing 75% of the 16 votes cast to be elected.
If you had a vote, what player, or players, would you elect from the Modern Ballot?
Here's to Sweet Lou joining 1984 teammates Alan Trammell and Jack Morris in Cooperstown!
Have a great week.
Play Ball! 🐯⚾️1️⃣
On Monday it was announced that Whitaker was officially on the 2020 Modern ERA Ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Tigers fans are ready to help get him there.
On Twitter I asked that fans use the hashtag #SweetLouHOF in their posts, in support of Whitaker, and I've also seen #LouHOF2020 and #WhitakerHOF.
1985 Topps #480 Lou Whitaker
1️⃣ Yes, "Sweet Lou" signed this card for me at a Spring Training game back in the 1980s.
The cool thing about the 1985 Topps cards is the TIGERS team banner and players name are all in the clubs colors.
🐯 How awesome is this baseball card as we see Lou turning one of his 1,527 double plays as a Tigers second baseman, just above that great Detroit Tigers logo!
The Modern Committee definitely has plenty of great ballplayers to choose from, including Dale Murphy, Tommy John, and Ted Simmons, with a player needing 75% of the 16 votes cast to be elected.
If you had a vote, what player, or players, would you elect from the Modern Ballot?
Here's to Sweet Lou joining 1984 teammates Alan Trammell and Jack Morris in Cooperstown!
Have a great week.
Play Ball! 🐯⚾️1️⃣
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Tigers Card Tuesday... 1976 Topps #3 *'75 Record Breakers* Mickey Lolich
The retirement of New York Yankees lefty pitcher C.C. Sabathia after the playoffs leads me to today's Tigers Card Tuesday post.
⭐ On September 19, 2017, Sabathia struck out Chris Gimenez of the Minnesota Twins, the 2,833th K of his big league career.
The whiff sent Sabathia past legendary Detroit Tigers left hander Mickey Lolich on the All-Time left handers career strike ou list, and C.C is now 3rd All-Time in MLB career punch outs by a lefty (3,093), behind Hall of Fame greats Steve Carlton (4.136), and Randy Johnson (4,875).
Lolich, 40 years after he last pitched, is still 20th All-Time in career K's, and is the best left hander to pitch for the Tigers in my lifetime.
🔥 On June 6, 1975, Lolich struck out four Oakland Athletics batters to become the All-Time left handed leader, with 2,679 K's, passing HOFer Warren Spahn.
1976 Topps #3 '75 Record Breakers
Mickey Lolich
👉 I always liked this card.
When your favorite big league pitcher breaks a record and it gets on a baseball card, well, heck, that's pretty special.
Look at all those great southpaw pitchers Mickey passed!
Lolich was a strike out machine for the Tigers back in the 1960s and 70s.
The portly lefty K'd 200+ batters seven times, and in 1971 he led the American League with 308 punch outs, on his way to 25 wins, which also led the league.
Sabathia's retirement leaves Chicago Cubs lefty Cole Hamels as the current lefty K King, with 2,558.
Have a fantastic day, and PLAY BALL! 🐯⚾️
⭐ On September 19, 2017, Sabathia struck out Chris Gimenez of the Minnesota Twins, the 2,833th K of his big league career.
The whiff sent Sabathia past legendary Detroit Tigers left hander Mickey Lolich on the All-Time left handers career strike ou list, and C.C is now 3rd All-Time in MLB career punch outs by a lefty (3,093), behind Hall of Fame greats Steve Carlton (4.136), and Randy Johnson (4,875).
Lolich, 40 years after he last pitched, is still 20th All-Time in career K's, and is the best left hander to pitch for the Tigers in my lifetime.
🔥 On June 6, 1975, Lolich struck out four Oakland Athletics batters to become the All-Time left handed leader, with 2,679 K's, passing HOFer Warren Spahn.
1976 Topps #3 '75 Record Breakers
Mickey Lolich
👉 I always liked this card.
When your favorite big league pitcher breaks a record and it gets on a baseball card, well, heck, that's pretty special.
Look at all those great southpaw pitchers Mickey passed!
Lolich was a strike out machine for the Tigers back in the 1960s and 70s.
The portly lefty K'd 200+ batters seven times, and in 1971 he led the American League with 308 punch outs, on his way to 25 wins, which also led the league.
Sabathia's retirement leaves Chicago Cubs lefty Cole Hamels as the current lefty K King, with 2,558.
Have a fantastic day, and PLAY BALL! 🐯⚾️
Monday, October 28, 2019
World Series Contest UPDATE!
Well, we're down to the last two games of the baseball season...maybe.
The Houston Astros went to Washington, D.C. over the weekend and battered the Nationals to take a 3-2 lead in the Best of 7 Series.
Here's the World Series Contest UPDATE.
6️⃣ If the Astros win Tuesday night we have two entries w/ the Astros in 6.
👉 BRETT has Gerrit Cole as MVP.
👉 ALEC has Jose Altuve as MVP.
7️⃣ If we go to a Game 7 on Wednesday night we have THREE entries w/ the Nationals in 7.
👉 MATT has SOTO as MVP.
👉 THE LOST COLLECTOR has SCHERZER as MVP.
👉 DEREREK has RENDON as MVP.
🚨 There are two other entries.
👉 SCRIBBLED INK has the Astros in 5, w/ Altuve as MVP, and CAP KIRK 42 has the Nationals in 6, w/ RENDON as the MVP.
🎟 With all 5 Series games being won by the road teams, it's anyone's guess if the Astros will close it out tomorrow night, or if the Nationals win and we get to see a Game 7 matchup between Max Scherzer and Zach Greinke.
Good Luck! 👍
The Houston Astros went to Washington, D.C. over the weekend and battered the Nationals to take a 3-2 lead in the Best of 7 Series.
Here's the World Series Contest UPDATE.
6️⃣ If the Astros win Tuesday night we have two entries w/ the Astros in 6.
👉 BRETT has Gerrit Cole as MVP.
👉 ALEC has Jose Altuve as MVP.
7️⃣ If we go to a Game 7 on Wednesday night we have THREE entries w/ the Nationals in 7.
👉 MATT has SOTO as MVP.
👉 THE LOST COLLECTOR has SCHERZER as MVP.
👉 DEREREK has RENDON as MVP.
🚨 There are two other entries.
👉 SCRIBBLED INK has the Astros in 5, w/ Altuve as MVP, and CAP KIRK 42 has the Nationals in 6, w/ RENDON as the MVP.
🎟 With all 5 Series games being won by the road teams, it's anyone's guess if the Astros will close it out tomorrow night, or if the Nationals win and we get to see a Game 7 matchup between Max Scherzer and Zach Greinke.
Good Luck! 👍
Friday, October 25, 2019
Football Card Friday... 1969 Topps John Brodie
Football Card Friday! is gonna be a short post today, as I'm on Day #4 of a a bad cold and it's hard enough to post these when I'm my normal self.
My favorite QB when I first started to watch football in the early 1970s was San Francisco 49ers QB John Brodie.
1969 Topps #249 John Brodie
🏈 Besides the great looking pose, this is a great card because of that awesome 49ers logo!
John Riley Brodie was born in San Francisco, played quarterback in college at Stanford and, and was drafted by his hometown San Francisco 49ers in 1957.
Brodie was All-Pro in 1970, which, along with having the best first name, is probably the reason that I liked watching him play so much.
Enjoy your weekend watching baseball and football, and thanks for reading my post today.
PLAY BALL! 🏈
My favorite QB when I first started to watch football in the early 1970s was San Francisco 49ers QB John Brodie.
1969 Topps #249 John Brodie
🏈 Besides the great looking pose, this is a great card because of that awesome 49ers logo!
John Riley Brodie was born in San Francisco, played quarterback in college at Stanford and, and was drafted by his hometown San Francisco 49ers in 1957.
Brodie was All-Pro in 1970, which, along with having the best first name, is probably the reason that I liked watching him play so much.
Enjoy your weekend watching baseball and football, and thanks for reading my post today.
PLAY BALL! 🏈
Thursday, October 24, 2019
My Mailbox... 1988 Topps USA Jim Abbott
There are few athletes in Michigan Athletics history as special as Jim Abbott.
James Anthony Abbott was born on September 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan, played baseball at Michigan, pitched Team USA 🇺🇸 to a Gold Medal 🥇 at the 1988 Olympics, and spent 10 years in the big leagues.
I was so excited when this card of the former Wolverines pitcher arrived in my mailbox on Wednesday.
1988 Topps Traded #1T Jim Abbott
This card was sent to me via another awesome giveaway on Twitter.
Many thanks to Blanco Banco/ @Jayinprovidence , who gave away some 1980s baseball rookie cards...just because we asked.
Twitter is easily my favorite social media platform, and it's been made that way in part, a HUGE part, by the many terrific hobby people that I follow.
👉 If you aren't on Twitter, hey, I get it, but being part of our great hobby is a good reason to get involved.
My Twitter is @freehan11 ...give me a follow if you get to, or already there!
Thanks again, for taking time out of your day and reading my blog.
Have a great day!
PLAY BALL! 💗⚾️📺
James Anthony Abbott was born on September 19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan, played baseball at Michigan, pitched Team USA 🇺🇸 to a Gold Medal 🥇 at the 1988 Olympics, and spent 10 years in the big leagues.
I was so excited when this card of the former Wolverines pitcher arrived in my mailbox on Wednesday.
1988 Topps Traded #1T Jim Abbott
This card was sent to me via another awesome giveaway on Twitter.
Many thanks to Blanco Banco/ @Jayinprovidence , who gave away some 1980s baseball rookie cards...just because we asked.
Twitter is easily my favorite social media platform, and it's been made that way in part, a HUGE part, by the many terrific hobby people that I follow.
👉 If you aren't on Twitter, hey, I get it, but being part of our great hobby is a good reason to get involved.
My Twitter is @freehan11 ...give me a follow if you get to, or already there!
Thanks again, for taking time out of your day and reading my blog.
Have a great day!
PLAY BALL! 💗⚾️📺
Nationals Take 2-0 World Series Lead
Wednesday night the Washington Nationals took out the whoopin' stick in the last three innings of Game 2 of the World Series, powering their way to a 12-3 win over the Houston Astros.
Kurt Suzuki led off the top of the 7th inning with a solo home run off of Justin Verlander, and the Nats never looked back.
Houston must now travel to our Nation's Capital down 2 games to none, with the next 3 games at Nationals Park.
👉🇺🇸⚾️ Friday nights game will be the first in Washington, D.C. since 1933, when the old Washington Senators played the New York Giants.
The Astros will send Zack Greinke to the mound and face another former Tigers pitcher, Anibal Sanchez, for Washington.
Have a fantastic Thursday!
PLAY BALL!
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Juan Soto powers Nationals to Game 1 World Series Win
Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto doesn't turn 21 until Friday, but the young man certainly came of age last night as the Nats took Game 1 of the World Series, 5-4, over the Houston Astros.
Soto hit a solo home run and doubled in two more runs, as Washington handed Gerrit Cole his first loss since May 22nd.
👉 There were 7 entries in my first ever World Series contest, and our early leader in the clubhouse is Matt, who's got the Nats winning and Soto as the MVP.
Tonight's game 2 is a another matchup of power throwers as Stephen Strasburg goes up against Justin Verlander.
As a fan of JV, I'm hoping he pitches well tonight and that the Astros even the Best of 7 Series.
Have a great day... PLAY BALL! 💗⚾️📺
Soto hit a solo home run and doubled in two more runs, as Washington handed Gerrit Cole his first loss since May 22nd.
👉 There were 7 entries in my first ever World Series contest, and our early leader in the clubhouse is Matt, who's got the Nats winning and Soto as the MVP.
Tonight's game 2 is a another matchup of power throwers as Stephen Strasburg goes up against Justin Verlander.
As a fan of JV, I'm hoping he pitches well tonight and that the Astros even the Best of 7 Series.
Have a great day... PLAY BALL! 💗⚾️📺
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Tigers Card Tuesday... 1968 Topps Mickey Stanley
As the World Series starts tonight I thought I'd share a card that represents my favorite Series, the 1968 matchup between my Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals.
👉 Enter my Word Series contest... Go HERE!
In the last week of the 1968 season, Tigers manager Mayo Smith made what could easily be the greatest managerial decision in the history of the Fall Classic.
The Detroit skipper decided to take centerfielder Mickey Stanley, and move him to shortstop.
1968 Topps #129 Mickey Stanley
The 1968 Topps Set is a favorite of mine.
The set is simple, with the player taking center stage.
👉 This picture of Mickey, in his road DETROIT uniform, was taken at old Yankee Stadium, probably in 1967.
👉 Mickey's also sporting the 1967 Tigers Olde English D Ballcap.
The move of playing Stanley at shortstop served two purposes, in that it allowed the great Al Kaline to play right field, and it removed the weak hitting Ray Oyler (.135 avg in '68), the Tigers every day shortstop, from the lineup.
In Stanley's place in center, Mayo Smith inserted power hitting left hander Jim Northrup.
Stanley played shortstop like he'd been there his entire life, making just two errors in the seven games.
🐯⚾️ The Tigers were heavy underdogs to the defending World Series Champions, and fell behind in the Series, 3-1, before making a monumental comeback.
Stanley would go back to his normal position in the Tigers outfield, becoming a 4 time Gold Glove Award winner.
👉 A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mickey Stanley turned 77 this past July 20th.
Enjoy the World Series, a battle of former Tigers Cy Young winners in Justin Verlander(2011], and Max Scherzer (2013), as well as former Tigers pitchers, and now Nats teammates, Anibal Sanchez and Fernando Rodney.
PLAY BALL! ⚾️📺
👉 Enter my Word Series contest... Go HERE!
In the last week of the 1968 season, Tigers manager Mayo Smith made what could easily be the greatest managerial decision in the history of the Fall Classic.
The Detroit skipper decided to take centerfielder Mickey Stanley, and move him to shortstop.
1968 Topps #129 Mickey Stanley
The 1968 Topps Set is a favorite of mine.
The set is simple, with the player taking center stage.
👉 This picture of Mickey, in his road DETROIT uniform, was taken at old Yankee Stadium, probably in 1967.
👉 Mickey's also sporting the 1967 Tigers Olde English D Ballcap.
The move of playing Stanley at shortstop served two purposes, in that it allowed the great Al Kaline to play right field, and it removed the weak hitting Ray Oyler (.135 avg in '68), the Tigers every day shortstop, from the lineup.
In Stanley's place in center, Mayo Smith inserted power hitting left hander Jim Northrup.
Stanley played shortstop like he'd been there his entire life, making just two errors in the seven games.
🐯⚾️ The Tigers were heavy underdogs to the defending World Series Champions, and fell behind in the Series, 3-1, before making a monumental comeback.
Stanley would go back to his normal position in the Tigers outfield, becoming a 4 time Gold Glove Award winner.
👉 A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mickey Stanley turned 77 this past July 20th.
Enjoy the World Series, a battle of former Tigers Cy Young winners in Justin Verlander(2011], and Max Scherzer (2013), as well as former Tigers pitchers, and now Nats teammates, Anibal Sanchez and Fernando Rodney.
PLAY BALL! ⚾️📺