Classon Ave

Jim Rice Topps #340

2012-05-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

In elementary school I used to trade a lot of cards at recess. 1986-1990 were the prime years for this. The first few years, the "exchange rates" were not what you would describe as being consistent with the price guides. Each kid had his own quirky wants. Big stars such as Pete Rose, Mattingly and Strawberry demanded a premium. A lot of kids also didn't read past the team name. They wanted Cubs, be it Vance Law or Ryne Sandberg, and would pay out for them. Also of value were cards deemed to have cool pictures. For instance the '87 Topps Kevin Mitchell was of no value in 1987 in the price guide, a few years later it briefly became a hot commodity, and I had a stack of them, due to liking the action photo on the card.

Perhaps most in demand though, were grossly mis-cut cards. Ironic that they are actually worth less, but on the playground in 2nd grade they may as well have been printed on gold. You don't see mis-cut cards anymore today. The whole process is too slick now. I miss the element of human error. Much like I love umpires (though I spend a lot of time cursing them) and despise instant replay.

Ken Singleton 1973 Topps #232

2012-05-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

I understand that what this post is about is at best completely ridiculous, and at worst, well, insane. But I'm ok with that. I can't help but be annoyed with Ken Singleton. As you can see in the card, he's wearing #29. The #29 Montreal jersey, of course, belongs to Tim Wallach. Now granted, Tim Wallach was maybe a freshman in high school in 1972, and retro-active jersey retiring doesn't exists, but I'm still annoyed.

Singleton played 3 seasons for Montreal. He batted .285 with 46 home runs over those three years. Wallach played 13 seasons with Montreal and remains the Montreal/Washington Franchise all-time leader in hits, doubles, and RBI's as well as numerous other categories.

Rookies Pitchers 1977 Topps #472

2012-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

For my most of my non-legal-adult life this card served as my collections '52 Pafko. My collection was sorted alphabetically, the result of a poor decision made in my attic one summer, and one that was not corrected until years when I started my own Law Practice and had a lot of free time the first few months. This card almost went under "McClure" but I ended up going with Aase due to his lone All-Star appearance in '86. I stand by the call.

Here are the career stats for the 4 Rookies

W L ERA SV CG SHO K
Don Aase (13 yrs) 66 60 3.80 82 22 5 641
Bob McClure (19 yrs) 68 57 3.81 52 12 1 701
Gil Patterson (1 yr) 1 2 5.40 1 0 0 29
Dave Wehrmeister (6 yrs) 4 9 5.65 2 0 0 96

Derek Jeter 2012 Topps #30

2012-05-21T15:43:00.001-04:00

For the first time in well over a decade I do not have complete confidence in the Yankees ability to make the post-season. A quarter of the season is done and they sit at 21-20, and 1.5 games out of the wild-card, 5.5 back of Baltimore in the AL East. That's not horrible, but that's also the problem. That should be "horrible" for the Yankees, but it doesn't feel that way.

I think this team misses Jorge Posada. His mere physical presence served as a daily reminder of what was expected. Jeter is also a walking monument in his own right, but whereas people looked at Posada and saw five rings, people look at Jeter and see a celebrity. I don't mean to knock Jeter, it's not his doing. I just don't think Raul Ibanez fears losing the way he might if Posada were waiting in the clubhouse after every game.

Damon Stoudamire 1995-96 NBA Hoops #286

2012-05-16T11:34:00.000-04:00

Kyre Irving won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. I don't have an opinion as to his merits, as I have no idea who did what as far as rookie seasons went this year.

Here's a list of the last 30 NBA Rookie of the Year winners, their school, what number they were drafted overall, and a grade for their career.

2012: Kyrie Irving, Duke #1, incomplete
2011: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma #1*, Incomplete
2010: Tyreke Evans, Memphis #4, incomplete
2009: Derrick Rose, Memphis #1, B
2008: Kevin Durant, Texas #2, A
2007: Brandon Roy, Washington #6, C+
2006: Chris Paul, Wake Forest #2, A
2005: Emeka Okafor, Connecticut #2, C+
2004: LeBron James, failed his SAT's #1, A
2003: Amare Stoudamire, failed his SAT's #9, B
2002: Pau Gasol, Spain #3, B+
2001: Mike Miller, Florida #5, C+
2000: Steve Francis, Maryland #2, B-
Elton Brand, Duke #1, A-
1999: Vince Carter, North Carolina #5, B+
1998: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest #1, A+
1997: Allen Iverson, Georgetown #1, A
1996: Damon Stoudamire, Arizona #7, B-
1995: Jason Kidd, California #2, A+
Grant Hill, Duke #3, A
1994: Chris Webber, Michigan #1, A-
1993: Shaquille O'Neal, LSU #1, A+
1992: Larry Johnson: UNLV #1, B+
1991: Derrick Coleman: Syracuse #1, A-
1990: David Robinson: Navy #1, A
1989: Mitch Richmond, Kansas State #5, B+
1988: Mark Jackson, St. Johns #18, B+
1987: Chuck Pearson, Auburn #4, B-
1986: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown #1, A
1985: Michael Jordan, North Carolina #3, A+
1984: Ralph Sampson, Virginia #1, B
1983: Terry Cummings, DePaul #2, B+

Mike Smithson 1988 Topps #554

2012-05-14T11:31:00.000-04:00

I like free cards. I have no problem with people sticking extra cards into an ebay purchase. I do it too, sometimes just to serve as extra "packaging," sometimes to be nice. If it's not purely packaging, I try to stick related cards in with the order. Same player, team, or set. Some correlation. I don't acknowledge it. Recently I bought a few '52 Topps fillers from the same seller on ebay. He stuck a bunch of junk in with the order. Fine. But he made a huge deal, in writing on the invoice, about all the "bonus" cards I was getting for free. Come on man. I just bought a handful of '52 Topps. I don't care about the '92 Triple Play Eric Anthony or the '88 Topps Mike Smithson. One, I'm not 8 years old, and two, I've already got more of this crap than I know what to do with. My wife bitches about the cards in the closet too, but you don't see me trying to dump my problems on you.

Mike Smithson went 76-86 over 8 MLB seasons. Twice he led the AL in games started. I've always loved the way Topps italicised stats that led the league on the backs of cards. I'm not sure I like how they do it for bad stats, like strikes for a batter, or earned runs for Smithson here. I used to really feel bad for the guys that led the league in loses.

Alexander Ovechkin 2008-09 MVP #291

2012-05-11T12:53:00.001-04:00

I don't put anything beyond Gary Bettman. He's a disgusting little man. His vision of a Sun Belt driven NHL nearly killed the league. Yet, the combination of young stars, desirable history-rich match-ups in the Finals, the Winter Classic, and the continued decline into irrelevancy by the NBA, has the league on strong footing with a fresh new t.v. deal. Now Bettman is looking at the very real possibility of a NYC-area team (Rangers/Devils) and L.A. in the Finals. A Kings-Rangers Cup would be huge for the League.

That's bad news for the Capitals and even worse for the Coyotes. Washington is an eastern market with a super-star in Ovechkin. Phoenix isn't. I'm sure they know it too. Whatever the penalty discrepancy is in tonight's Game 7 between the Rangers and Caps (I'm guessing at least 2:1), Phoenix can expect to be twice as bad in each of their games with the Kings.

Mark Whiten 1991 Donruss #607

2012-05-09T15:12:00.000-04:00

The first time I remember a player hitting 4 home runs in a game is when Mark Whiten did it in 1993. Whiten would end up with a career high 25 home runs that season. Not to diminish the accomplishment, but I'm going to classify it as a fluke.

Here's a list of the other guys to hit 4 in one game in the modern era, their career total, and if it was a "fluke," "great day," or "Why didn't they ever hit 5":
1. Lou Gehrig 493 "Why didn't he ever hit 5"
2. Chuck Klein 300 "fluke"
3. Pat Seerey 86 "HUGE Fluke"
4. Gil Hodges 370 "great day"
5. Joe Adcock 336 "great day"
6. Rocky Colavito 374 "Why didn't he ever hit 5"
7. Willie Mays 660 "Why didn't he ever hit 5"
8. Mike Schmidt 548 "Why didn't he ever hit 5"
9. Bob Horner 218 "great day"
10. Mark Whiten 105 "fluke"
11. Mike Cameron 266 "fluke"
12. Shawn Green 328 "great day"
13. Carlos Delgado 473 "great day"
14. Josh Hamilton 132 TBD

Hairy Gary 2nd Series Garbage Pail Kids #55a

2012-05-08T16:54:00.000-04:00

Last December I posted a GPK card for the 1st and only time (until now). It was for a post about the B.C.S., and how it's garbage. Every month since then it's been the most viewed post on this blog. So in the interest of science, and an excuse to list things, I'm posting another, as well as the Top 10 most viewed post in the history of this blog.

Top 10 Most Viewed:

1. John Wallace 1996-97 Fleer #228

2. Aaron Rodgers 2010 Topps #150

3. Joe Sakic 1989-90 O-Pee-Chee #113

4. Allen Iverson 1996 Basketball Rookies #1

5. Roberto Alomar 1995 Topps #438

6. Michael Jordan 1991-92 Skybox #39

7. Tongue Tied Tim 2nd Series Garbage Pail Kids #48a

8. Gary Carter 1977 Topps #295

9. Dave Parker 1978 #560

10. Derek Jeter 1996 Upper Deck #156

I can't make any sort of pattern as to what makes a post popular. But if this one ends up number one or two a month from now, I think I'll have proven for certain that people like pictures of old Garbage Pail Kids a lot more than anything I write.

Derek Jeter 2008 Topps #455

2012-05-07T15:13:00.000-04:00

Mariano Rivera is not the line up, and may not ever be again. For now, that leaves Derek Jeter as the last man standing from the 114-48 1998 New York Yankees. For me, that team is the epitome of the most recent Yankee dynasty.

Here's a run down on the current status of the Yankee regulars from 1998:

C: Jorge Posada: retired a Yankee in 2012
1B: Tino Martinez: went to St. Louis in 2002, returned and retired a Yankee in 2005
2B: Chuck Knoblauch: left NY after 2000, retired in KC 2001
SS: Derek Jeter: Still a Yankee, batting .397 in 2012
3B: Scott Brosius: retired a Yankee in 2001
OF: Chad Curtis: left NY after 1999, retired in Texas in 2001
OF: Bernie Williams: retired a Yankee after 2006 season
OF: Paul O'Neill: retired a Yankee after 2001 season
DH: Darryl Strawberry: retired a Yankee after 1999 season
OF: Tim Raines: left NY after 1998, retired in Oakland after '99 season
C: Joe Girardi: left NY after '99 season, retired in St. Louis 2003
OF: Chili Davis: retired a Yankee after 1999 season
P: Andy Pettite: left NY, then returned, retired 2010, may be returning again
P: David Wells: left NY after '98, returned '02-03, retired a in LA 2007
P: David Cone: left NY after '00, retired a Met after '03
P: Hideki Irabu: left NY after '99, retired in Texas after '02. Deceased.
P: El Duque: left NY after '02, retired a Met in 2007
P: Mariano Rivera: Has remained a Yankee, injured 2012
P: Ramiro Mendoza: left NY after '02, returned in '05 and retired a Yankee
P: Jeff Nelson: left NY after '00, retired a White Sock in '07
P: Mike Stanton: left NY after '02, retired in Cincinnati in 2007

Steve Stipanovich 1986-87 Fleer #106

2012-05-04T07:30:00.000-04:00

I received a couple of curious '86-87 Fleer cards in the mail. I've been hoarding these for years and have never had any issues with "commons." I've come across a couple of high dollar cards that may not be genuine, a Karl Malone in particular, but have never had a common raise by suspicions. This is one of 3 cards the seller sent me. They all have these horribly colored backs (this is what it should look like) and they're all different sizes. I compared them to regular cards and this one is a lot bigger. Another is much smaller, it could be trimmed, but I don't know how to make a card grow.

I have hundreds '86-87 Fleer to use for comparison, and these are the only ones that fall way outside the standard deviation. I know there are tons of bogus '86-87 Fleer floating around out there, I've just never heard of commons. Ultimately, I think this card is legit, just poorly cut. One of these days I'll get around to submitting a few that I have strong suspicions about for authentication. Not sure how I'll handle it if they come back bogus.

Dwayne "Pearl" Washington 1988-89 Fleer #71

2012-05-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

Pleasant surprises as far as cards go don't happen for me very often anymore. For the most part, I know what's out there. Surprises are limited to finding something at a good price. This card was a VERY pleasant surprise for me. I was certain that the great Pearl Washington never had a card. He didn't as Pearl, but orange-blinded idiot that I am, I never bothered to check for Dwayne Washington. I just about fell out of my chair when I unsuspectingly found this in a recent lot I purchased.

It's a little known fact that every time someone shakes Pearl Washington's hand, a half-court shot goes in somewhere. Pearl is one of the all-time great college players, and perhaps no other individual is as responsible for the success of the Big East and ESPN as Pearl. His NBA career never amounted to much, and we later learned it was in part due to the fact that Pearl was suffering from a brain tumor that nearly killed him.

Mike Smith 2011-12 Upper Deck #308

2012-05-02T13:03:00.002-04:00

Mike Smith is 6-2 in the playoffs with a .943 save percentage. The Coyote who finally put Wiley Coyote on his mask has the 'Yotes up 2-0 over Nashville and a franchise on his back. He's been quitely unbelievable in games played too late to make the East Coast papers. The NHL learned it's lesson last year. Not that relocation is an ugly thing they should avoid, but rather, they should stay mum until the bags are packed.

Phoenix was supposed to bow out to the Blackhawks, thank they're fans, and relocate to Seattle. They've gone off script. Should they hold on against Nashville and advance, it looks like the #8 Los Angeles Kings will be waiting. Phoenix playing in the Stanley Cup Finals is not a laughable proposition at the moment. What will Gary Bettman do if that happens, or if Phoenix actually wins the Cup? Would he be rotten enough to move them anyways?

I'm on the bandwagon.

Rob Dressler 1981 Donruss #406

2012-05-01T11:09:00.001-04:00

I'd like to see MLB teams, or even a team, go back to the pull-over jersey. Like the one seen on this card. I always hated the button up jersey. I'm sure I wasn't alone, and there must be at least a few major leaguers that feel that way too.

There's too much uniformity in MLB uniforms and gear. They should let teams decide what they'll wear on their own. They can still slap a logo on it and sell it at a huge mark-up online. Why does every team have to wear the same style of b.p. hat? Why does every team have to wear button up jerseys? You can sell a pull-over just as easily, and probably mark it up even more. Let the teams get creative, if one of them comes up with a good idea, the others can steal it.

Gary Payton 1991-92 Fleer #194

2012-04-30T12:35:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I watched a documentary called "Sonics Gate" on the NBC Sports channel (formerly "Versus"). I'm not going to say it was the greatest film ever, but it would fall in the upper 20% of all the 30 for 30 films I've watched on ESPN over the last year or so. It did however leave me with a fresh sense of outrage over the relocation of the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Here's a link to the film's website. It's embarrassing how in bed ESPN is with Stern and the NBA.

David Stern is a weasel. Just a mean little man. The best scene in the film is at a press conference in which Stern walks right into a trap question from a Seattle reporter, who uses recent quotes from Stern about Seattle being a great city with great fans, great tradition, and a great facility. Stern snaps and acts like a little girl accusing the reporter of interrupting him and refusing to answer more questions. Perhaps most appalling of all was the Revelation that should Seattle ever get a new "Sonics" team, they will not be allowed to hang their old banners, the huckster from OKC who hustled them owns those now.

Sandy Alomar 1973 Topps #123

2012-04-26T13:04:00.000-04:00

Most teams have played around 20 games now. About 12% of their season is in the books. There's still a long way to go, but we're far enough in to start claiming some merit to our opinions.

Hard Imagine these teams not making the post-season:
Texas Rangers - at 15-4 the 2-time defending AL Champs look like the best team in Baseball
New York Yankees - sure, they're not in first, only 10-8, and just found out their Pineda is out for the year. So what?
Los Angeles Dodgers - I didn't expect to be putting the Dodgers in this category this early, but they look awesome. Even if/when Arizona starts playing well, it's hard to envision the Dodgers not making the expanded Post-Season field.

"Hey, this really could be our year!?!"
Chicago White Sox - Peavy looks like the Peavy of old, and the rest of the staff has been a pleasant surprise. Konerko continues to anonymously be one of the best hitter's in baseball, and the Sox look like a team that will compete into August and maybe beyond.
Washington Nationals - Can the Expos keep this up? Probably not. But even .500 baseball the rest of the year would put them in the thick of the pennant race given their phenomenal start.
Baltimore Orioles - Last year they disappointed. This year the pitching has been solid and they may hang around awhile.
New York Mets - at 10-8 no one is complaining at Shea, er, the new place.

Someone is going to get fired if this keeps up
Boston Red Sox - Was the sweep of Minnesota a sign that they've put it together, or is Minnesota that bad?
California Angels - Not going the way they expected.

Too early to bury them, but my shovel is ready:
Chicago Cubs - At least their fans are used to this, and besides it's not like the aging frat-boys that compose the Cubs fan base care about baseball. If they did, they'd be White Sox fans.
Kansas City Royals - I heard a lot of buzz about this young team being ready to compete. Not so much.
Houston Astros - Thankfully, the Cubs will keep the battle to avoid the NLC cellar interesting

Alan Trammell 1983 Topps #95

2012-04-25T16:53:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you heard that this past weekend was the 100th anniversary of that dump called Fenway in the seedy port town of Boston. What didn't get as much of attention, was that it would have also been the 100th anniversary of the old Tiger Stadium. If you have five minutes, this article on yahoo is a great read on the current state of Tiger Stadium, or at least where it used to be at the corner of Michigan Ave and Trumball. It's a quick read and well worth the time.

The facade of old Tiger Stadium was still standing when I went to school in Ann Arbor. I regret never taking the time to stop. I just checked it out from my car window at 75mph on the interstate. I don't expect cities to pay enormous amounts to maintain relics, but a plaque would be nice. Maybe a small park, with the home plate area maintained as it was. I don't know. Anything other than a weed garden to collect hamburger wrappers, empty cans, and broken glass. It deserves better, and making it a Walmart would be worse than the weed garden.

Keyshawn Johnson 1996 Classic #1

2012-04-24T17:32:00.000-04:00

I guess the NFL Draft is soon. It better be anyways. Sportstalk radio is one of the few remaining vestiges of my old life. The one where I slept past noon on a daily basis and spent more time in sports bars than in my apartment. All this draft talk is killing me. I need my A.M. Sports radio during the day, and it's been contaminated with draft talk. I'm not big on the NFL during it's season, I out right abhor it in April.

Who are these losers that need this much draft coverage? If your team is the position to take a high draft pick, it's because they weren't any good, and no rookie is going to change that. If your team did well, congrats, no late first draft pick is going to see that much action as a rookie. I have a favorite team, and about the time HBO's Hard Knocks starts playing every week is a about the time I'll check and see who they drafted.

The Saints didn't acquire Dree Brees in the draft. Nobody wanted Tom Brady and Denver didn't become an instant Super Bowl favorite this off season via the draft. The NFL Draft's significance is perhaps one of the most over-rated things in all of sports.

Bobby Valentine 1987 Topps #118

2012-04-23T17:05:00.000-04:00

I'm enjoying this. It couldn't be going any better really. It's a train wreck. In-fighting, boo's from the idiots who fill the seats in Fenway, and best of all, losing. Lots of losing. In dramatic fashion no less. The Yankees did their part to ruin the first two games of the centennial celebration, and the weather god's took care of the 3rd. Fantastic. Just all in all a fantastic weekend.

Just to be clear, I like Bobby Valentine. But he should have known better than to get involved with those morons in Boston. For his sake, I hope he's back in the Baseball Tonight studio in the near the future.

Tomas Holmstrom 2011-12 Score #178

2012-04-20T11:31:00.000-04:00

The Red Wings are facing elimination tonight in Nashville. It feels like a lot more than that though. In the scheme of things, losing in the first round as a 5 seed isn't all that devastating in an ordinary year. The 5th seed was disappointing enough.

This is no ordinary year or elimination game though. This could also be the end of an era. This could be the last games played by Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Homstrom, the last remaining staples of the Yzerman era cup teams. Sure there are a couple of other guys that skated with 19 at the end of his career, but nobody thinks of them as belonging to that time and those teams. I just don't see those two legends going out with such a whimper in Nashville tonight.

Marian Hossa 2010-11 O-Pee-Chee #274

2012-04-19T12:30:00.001-04:00

The Blackhawks are insisting that Marian Hossa won't play tonight. I'm not buying it. The NHL has already hit the Coyote's Raffi Torres with an indefinite suspension on Hossa. So Chicago got what they wanted with they're little display with the stretcher.

The NHL continues to look stupid with their inconsistent discipline. A brutal, but ultimately clean hit on Hossa earns Torres an indefinite suspension because Hossa is allegedly hurt. Yet Weber's turnbuckle head slam act on Zetterberg only got a fine because the Red Wings had too much class to bring out a stretcher. The stars get wrist slaps or less, and the no-names are getting hammered. It's silly.

Bo Jackson 1990 Upper Deck #105

2012-04-18T18:29:00.000-04:00

I am no fan of the modern card, and Upper Deck garners most of my scorn. That said, there is no denying just how revolutionary their first few sets were. Cards like this one just blew my mind at the time. Of course, I was naive to the negative impact it would have on trading cards. Kind of like a future homeless junkie enjoying his first taste of heroine in the comfort of his nice home and security of his decent paying job.

If you haven't seen these t-shirts nike has put out yet, check them out. Some are better than others, but what struck me was the player selection. It's a surprisingly decent mix of Hall of Famers, and what I love to see, "cult" stars with no (or slim to dying) Hall of Fame ambition. Guys like Will Clark, Kirk Gibson, Don Mattingly, Bo Jackson, and Willie McGee. Good work Nike. I may be picking up a couple. I'd like to see Tim Raines, Tim Wallach, Dwight Gooden, and Darryl Strawberry included, but that's nit-picking. I just find it refreshing to see a lot of the guys they did include.

Shea Weber 2011-12 Victory

2012-04-17T18:07:00.000-04:00

This kid is an unaccomplished punk. He's made it out of the 1st round of the playoffs all of once. He's most well known for grabbing the back of Henrik Zetterberg's head and smashing it into the glass with such force that it cracked Zetterberg's helmet in half (this after the game was over, and a game Nashville won no less). Shea Weber is a tool.

Yet, tool that he is, Weber's Predators are coming off their first ever post-season win at Joe Lewis Arena. Tonight they try to make it two in row, which would give them a commanding 3-1 series lead. Should that happen, and the Nashville then wins game 5 at home, this would likely be the last home game ever for Nicklas Lindstrom, who is decidedly not a punk, or a tool, but rather the best NHL defenseman of his generation. I don't think these "hockey tonkin'" losers win 2 in a row.

Prediction:
Detroit 5, Nashville 2

Earl Monroe 1979-80 Topps #8

2012-04-17T11:24:00.000-04:00

I was excited to see not one, but two of this card in a recent lot I purchased blind. As Spike Lee fan, Earl Monroe is forever associated with the movie "He Got Game," in my mind. In the film, Ray Allen's character, Jesus Shuttlesworth, is told by his father Denzel Washington, that he is named after Earl Monroe, the Jesus of Philadelphia, not Jesus of Nazareth. Here's a link to the scene.

As a set, I'm not wild about these '79-80 Topps. I find them uninspired and boring. I'm guessing the kids at the time did too, as Topps would resort to a gimmicky perforated style set in '80-81, with three "cards" to a card, before eventually dropping basketball cards all together in 1982.

Hiromitsu Ochiai 1992 BBM #24

2012-04-16T14:37:00.000-04:00

At first glance this jersey looks like a Dodgers jersey. Then you say, "wait a second," and realize it's not. At first glance the Dodgers atop the standings in the newspaper at 9-1 looks normal too, but then I find myself doing a double take. I've been rooting for the Dodgers since they hired Tim Wallach as their 3rd base coach, a move that is now clearly paying large dividends. They'd probably be 10-0 if he were manager.

My grandfather brought my brother and I back a few packs of these cards from Japan back in '92. He was working on selling or buying soy beans. They're a little smaller than normal cards, and I can't read the back. But my brother pulled a Hideki Irabu, which at the time meant nothing, but was kind of cool a few a years later.