Randy Boyd, 1961-2022

It was very sad when I saw on Twitter yesterday that former hockey player Randy Boyd had passed away, at just 59 years old. 

               👉 From NHL ALUMBI on Twitter.

I can't say that I remember Randy playing in the NHL, but I suppose that when watching games way back in the 1980s that I certainly did see him playing for the Penguins, Blackhawks, Islanders, or the Canucks. 

6️⃣2️⃣ Born in 1962, in Coniston, Ontario,Canada, Randy just celebrated his Birthday on January 23rd.

👉 Boyd was drafted in the 3rd Round of the NHL Draft in 1980 by Pittsburgh, and started his professional career with the Ottowa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League.

👉 Boyd made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 1981-82, and made it into the 1983-84 OPC card set, #283.

Rest in Peace, Randy Boyd.

Happy Baseball Birthday! Jake Cronenworth

Looking at Twitter this evening I saw a post by My Sports Obsession, that it's the Happy Baseball Birthday! of former Michigan Wolverine and current Padres 2nd Baseman,  Jake Cronenworth.

Jake has blossomed into an exciting player for the Padres, and, along with Fernando Tatis, Jr. & Many Machado, they have fuled a terrific turnaround in San Diego. 

When Jake goes deep, it's awesome to hear Padres TV play by play announcer Dan Orsillo proclaim "welcome to the CRONE ZONE!"

My favorite Cronenworth baseball card so far is his 2021 Topps Living Set card.

I also have this card of Jake, another winner because of that old school Topps Rookie Cup on the card.

Happy Baseball Birthday, Jake...Go BLUE! 

Tigers Card Tuesday... Topps Living Set Casey Mize

Detroit Tigers RHP Casey Mize is the focus of this addition of Tigers Card Tuesday! 

Mize, the Tigers 1st RD draft choice in 2018, and 1st Overall pick, is Card #478 in the Topps Living Set, and, Casey is the 17th different Detroit player in the set. 

Mize was a bright spot for the Tigers rotation in 2021, made a career best 30 starts, with a 7-9 record, and a 3.71 ERA.

4️⃣ Casey is the 4th Tigers pitcher in the TLS, joining Jack Morris, Spencer Turnbull, and Matthew Boyd.

👉 Tomorrow is Topps Living Set release day, and I'm looking forward to seeing the new cards. 

Have a terrific week, and, Play BALL! 🐯⚾️

 

Contest T8me w/ Cards on Cards

There's still time to get in on the 12th Annual Bowl Pick 'Em w/ Cards on Cards.

Now, I have to admit that, despite reading the contest post the day if came out, I just completed my entry tonight after his reminder post today, so, get your bowl picks in before the first bowl game of the 2021-22 season starts tomorrow at HIGH Noon. 

I'm notoriously bad at these pick 'em things on ESPN, so I'm looking forward to my last place prize.

Thanks to Michigan Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh for making this season an amazing one for all us Wolverines fans, and, of course, to Cards on Cards for this yearly contest. 

Remember, head over to to the link above,create the rules, and get in on the fun.

Have a good time, and, as always,  Play BALL! 🏈

Football Card Friday! 1997 Upper Deck Pigskin Heroes- Jim Harbaugh

Tomorrow night in Indianapolis, Indiana, the #2 ranked Michigan Wolverines will play the Iowa Hawkeyes, ranked #15, for the 2021 Big Ten Championship in football. 

Michigan Head Football Jim Harbaugh, the 1986 Big Ten Silver Football Award Winner, returns to Indianapolis were he played QB for the NFL Colts, from 1994-97.

This card is pretty much emblematic of "Captain Comeback," as Harbaugh was known in Indy.

I can't even begin to imagine how nervous I'll be tomorrow night, as my beloved Wolverines try to win their first Big Ten Title game, and the teams first conference championship since 2004.

Harbaugh will always be one of my favorite Michigan players, especially now that he's cone back to Ann Arbor to coach the team.!

I started watching Michigan play football in 1976, and nobody in college football was tougher than Harbaugh was as Bo Schembechler's starting QB in 1985 & 1986.

Here's hoping that the Wolverines can score against a very tough Iowa defense, one of the nation's best. 

Have a great weekend...oh, yeah, Go Blue! 

FREEHAN 80- Happy Baseball Birthday! Bill Freehan, So Long Matthew Boyd

Today we celebrate what would've been the 80th Happy Baseball Birthday! of my baseball hero, William Ashley Freehan. 

I'm really at a loss for words, as it's taken all day for me to try and find the right things to say about a man who was the cornerstone of the team that I fell in love with at the age of 7.

Thanks to all who've taken time out of their busy day to stop by and read this blog. 

Happy Birthday, Bill. 🐯⚾️

FREEHAN 80- Books & Magazines

Today I thought I'd post some of the books, magazines, and other publications in which Bill Freehan has been included. 

First, and foremost, of course, is, Behind The Mask, his diary during the 1969 big league season.

Reading this book as a kid was so fun, I couldn't even tell you how many times that I re-read, and re-read, the book written by my baseball hero. 

Another favorite of mine growing up was Greatest Catchers of the Major Leagues, with a awesome picture of Bill on the books cover.

Then, there's the greatest Sports Illustrated cover of them all, the Baseball Preview Issue in 1969.

A cool magazine that I definitely need to get, the 1965 Baseball Digest, "The Next Gteat Superstar?" in May, 1965.

Of course Bill was a Superstar, at least for me. 

How cool is this issue of The Sporting News! 

Gotta think Bill smacked that tater pretty good, one of his 25 homers in 1968.

I remember getting this program as a kid at a Tigers game, but it's long been lost.

I wish I had that stuff from my childhood at those games,but, heck, it's not the case.

Came across this cool 1968 Baseball Guidebook while doing research for the post today. 

Gosh, there's so many awesome publications with Bill Freehan on the cover, I'd really like go obtain as many as I can, especially because the 1968 Baseball Guidebook. 

I hope ya'll are enjoying your Thanksgiving Day Eve tonight, and,  again, say thanks for stopping buy to read my blog.

Have a great Turkey Day! 🦃🏈

FREEHAN80- Rating Bill's Topps Base Cards, 1964-77

In today's #Freehan80 post, I'm going to rate Bill's Topps Baseball Cards, from 1964-77.

When I was a kid I threw everything I had into baseball cards, from allowance, paper route money, baby sitting, birthday cash, Christmas, and the money I got from graduating high school.

My priorities in opening up packs were-

1️⃣ Getting that year's Bill Freehan card.

2️⃣ Getting all the Detroit Tigers cards that year. 

3️⃣ Collecting the complete Topps Set that year.

4️⃣ Collecting superstars such as Clemente, Aaron, Mays, Bench, Seaver, and Brooks Robinson, my favorite Baltimore Orioles player.

👉 I'm skipping Bill Freehan's 1963 Topps RC, #466, obviously, because it's my ultimate #1 Bill Freehan Baseball Card, as I previously posted in 2017.

Also, these a few changes since I made that post, call it a " collectors right of re-evaluation."

#14, 1977 

🦁 This card, his last, is so listed because when I got it in a pack it reminded me that my baseball hero had retired on the winter, after 15 years in the big leagues. 

#13, 1974

#12, 1976

🦁 This card always interested me, I always wondered what Tigers player hit the batting practice homer that Bill is watching.

#11, 1966

🦁 Looks like might have been using a Ty Cobb batting style bat grip.

#10, 1968

#9, 1969

🦁 '69 Topps is such a good looking card.

#8, 1964

🦁 A young Freehan looks excited to be posing in the catchers pose.

#7, 1975

🦁 The multi colored '75 Topps set were great to collect. 

#6, 1972

🦁 As a kid I saw this card and wondered why Bill was wearing a jacket under his uniform. 

#5, 1965

🦁 This is ranked fifth simply because of the card design itself.

#4. 1967

🦁 Over the last few years I've grown to like this card, using it as part of our friend Collecting Cutch and his Save Second Base posts each October. 

#3, 1971

🦁⚾️ I hadn't had this in my previous post on my favorite cards of Bill, however, the many years of card talk on social media, especially on Twitter, and my love of the '71 Topps set, has moved this awesome card skyrocketing to the 3 slot in the batting order.

#2, 1970

This is such a terrific pose of Bill during the 1969 season, as you can tell by the 100th MLB Anniversary Patch on Bill's left uniform sleeve.

#1, 1973 Topps

1️⃣ As I've mentioned previously, this card has always fascinated me, as it's the only in action card that Bill had issued by Topps.

🦁 Bill has the ball in his right hand, trying to tag out the runner...wish I'd seen this play live to know why.

🦁1️⃣1️⃣🦁

Well, that's the update rankings for all of Bill's Topps base cards, 1964-77...any changes that you'd make...what's your #1 card of his?

Please comment below, and, I thank you for taking time out of your busy day to stop by andctead my blog, it's much appreciated. 

Until tomorrow, have a terrific evening, and, Play BALL!🦁 ⚾️

FREEHAN 80- Mike Matheny, Michigan Man

Mike Matheny, the current manager of the Kansas City Royals, played college baseball at Michigan, and for his Sophomore and Junior seasons as a catcher for the Wolverines, played for Manager Bill Freehan. 

Freehan, winner of 5 Gold Glove Awards in the big leagues,  returned to coach his Alma Mater in 1990, and had an immediate impact on Matheny. 

Matheny, originally drafted by the the Toronto Blue Jays, deciding on a Michigan education instead, then, as a Junior, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers, and Mike made his big debut on April 7, 1994.

Mike moved on to the Blue Jays as a Free Agent in 1999, then to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000, winning 2 Gold Gloves, before playing his last two years of his career with the San Francisco Giants in 2005-06, winning two more Gold Gloves. 

In 2006, Matheny was given his Gold Glove Award with his mentor, Bill Freehan, in attendance at Pac Bell Park.

Matheny has been a successful manager after his playing days,including taking the Cardinals to the 2013 World Series.

Matheny was let go by the Cardinals, and, in 2019, was hired by their I-70 rivals in KC.

Thanks for stopping by the blog as I continue to post each day about my baseball hero, Bill Freehan, leading up to what would've been his 80th HappyBaseballBirthday! on Sunday.

Have a terrific week, and, as always,  Play BALL! 🐯⚾️

FREEHAN 80- A Man of Faith

Bill Freehan was a devoted family man, as well as a devoted Catholic, so I thought I'd use this Sunday FREEHAN80 post to share my favorite Bible verse, John 3:16.

Here's a terrific story I came across while searching articles on Bill's faith. 

Hope ya'll are enjoying this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Play BALL!  ⚾️