John's Big League Baseball Blog

Boyd Binder- More Oil Can

2026-06-04T13:25:18.607-04:00

Until searching through eBay last week I hadn't remembered this 1991 Topps Stadium Club card of Oil Can Boyd before.

📱(Please remember that I only have my phone to take pictures)

It's easily the coolest card of his, a nice in action photo of him and former big league catcher Mike Fitzgerald after what was an obvious complete game victory (you kids can look that up).

It's now secured in the binder, a great purchase of $1.67... ##yeahBOYD!

Have a great rest of your day and thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by and read my blog.

Play BALL! ⚾️

Kyle Busch, 5/2/85-.5_21/26

2026-05-21T18:56:50.252-04:00

Devastating.

#RIPKyleBusch

Tigers Card Tuesday- Riley Greene

2026-05-19T17:57:44.508-04:00

The Tigers are not playing well.

After last night's 8-2 loss to the first place Cleveland Guardians, the Tigers are now 2-8 in their last 10 games.

Riley Greene had two hits last night (yes, he did get picked off 1st Base. 😐)

Tigers Card Tuesday!

Riley Greene.

Happy Baseball Birthday-OTD- Brooks Robinson

2026-05-18T15:17:09.212-04:00

2022 Topps Living Set #483

Brooks Robinson

Brooks Robinson was born on this date in 1937, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Blog Batt Around- UGH, those Twins

2026-05-15T15:21:53.038-04:00

If you're old enough to remember the 1987 American League Championship Series, well, then, you'll understand my response to the latest Blog Bat Around.

I started disliking/disgust of the Minnesota Twins in that '87 ALCS, and, as a result of that ugly 5 game series loss by my beloved Detroit Tigers, the Twinkies officially replaced the New York Yankees as the team I disliked the most.

The fact that the Twinkies won the World Series in '87, and, again in 1991, with former Tigers ace and future Hall of Famer, Jack Morris.

The last half of the 1990s were not good for the Tigers, especially when facing them Twins Ace Brad Radke.

I don't own this 2005 Fleer Ultra card of Brad Radke, but, its a cool baseball card, and, I wouldn't mind having one

The reign of terror continued in the 2000s with sluggers Justin Morneau and future HOFer, Joe Mauer.

In the 2010s it was Brian Dozier crushing baseballs against, seemingly, every Detroit pitcher. 9

I was born in 1960, is my favorite of all the Topps cards of the decade.

When he's healthy, Byron Buxton is a magnificent ballplayer.

Check out these Love/Hate Blog Bat Around posts.

Night Owl.

Fuji.

Baseball Cards.

Well, that's it, appreciate Night Owl for starting this Bat Around.

As usual, thanks so much for taking time out of your day to stop by and read my blog.

Have a great weekend, Play BALL! ⚾️

No Card on the Table (5/4-5/10/2026)

2026-05-07T00:14:00.001-04:00

We moved this week.

From three years living in Motels in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, we've moved into a home and are renting a room.

And this point, there's no room for a table, but, hopefully, that'll change in the coming weeks.

Here's two card, no table.

These 1969 Milton Bradley game cards were gifted to my by someone on TweetX.

Thanks, and, as always, thanks for taking time out of your day to stop by and reading my blog.

Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday-Topps Now Kevin McGonigle

2026-04-21T23:33:00.000-04:00

Tigers Card Tuesday

Opening Day, March 26, 2026

Detroit Tigers rookie Keving McGonigle had a big league debut to remember.

#TigersCardTuesday on X

Happy Jackie Robinson Day (04/15/2026)

2026-04-15T10:36:00.005-04:00

Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

Freehan on Friday (04/03/2026)

2026-04-03T13:59:00.001-04:00

FREEHAN on GOOD FRIDAY

✝️

Tigers Card Tuesday (3/31/2026)

2026-03-31T23:19:00.001-04:00

14 year big league veteran and former Tigers catcher, John Flaherty, is this week's feature for #TigersCardTuesday 🐅⚾️

N 1996 Topps Stadium Club #397

John Flaherty

Freehan on Friday

2026-03-27T23:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Freehan on Friday!

You know me, I'm not an analytical person.

Bill Freehan is on the list on this Sporcle quiz for his 1967 season.

Card On The Table (3/23-29/2026)

2026-03-24T22:02:00.003-04:00

Happy Tigers Card Tuesday!

Baseball games that count will be played this week, and my Detroit Tigers will start in San Diego vs. the Padres on Thursday afternoon.

This week's Card on the Table

Tarik Skubal, fresh off back to back America League Cy Young Awards, will take the ball for Detroit.

Tigers Card Tuesday/Card on the Table (3/17-22/2026)

2026-03-17T14:32:00.006-04:00

It's a cool combo today on ye olde blog, a two fer' Tuesday, if you will.

I've combined Tigers Card Tuesday & Card on the Table for one post, because, well, I was battling fibromyalgia for a few days and didn't have the energy.

🐅⚾️Any time I can feature a card of the greatest hitter in Tigers history, it's definitely a good thing.

🍑 The Georgia Peach won 12 American League batting championships, hit .366 for his entire career, and, was, fittingly, the first player elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Tyrus Raymond Cobb.

If you're a baseball card fan, and youre on TwitterX, you should, hopefully, been following Cigar Box Cards for great hobby content.

Also, the Olde English D wood block is from Cash Lumber , a Christmas gift...or, his website, here.

Have a great week, and, as always, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to stop by and read my blog.

Play BALL! 🐅⚾️🍑

Freehan on Friday, March 13? 2026

2026-03-13T09:44:00.006-04:00

Bill Freehan won 5 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1965-69), the first big league catcher to do so.

#FreehanOnFriday on TwitterX

Freehan on Friday, 3/06/2026

2026-03-06T12:59:00.005-05:00

My Aunt Arlene's Birthday 🎂 is today.

When she was a young woman, William Ashley Freehan was her ballplayer crush

🐅Denny McLain's win #27 in 1968. ⚾️

Bill Freehan with another complete game behind the dish.

Card Show Saturday- Mike Squires

2026-02-22T10:41:00.003-05:00

We had a card show in Kalamazoo today.

Former big leaguer Mike Squires was the guest signer.

Had a chance to sit and talk for a bit while he was in between signing things for fans.

Mike played at Kalamazoo Central High School, then went on to play for Western Michigan University.

Mike was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the MLB player draft by the Chicago White Sox.

Mike won the Gold Glove Award for American League Baseman in 1981.

Hope everyone had an awesome Saturday, and, as always, thanks for taking time out of your day to stop by and read my blog.

Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday- 1980 Jack Morris

2026-02-17T12:25:00.004-05:00

Tigers Card Tuesday!

1980 Topps #371, Jack Morris

Card on rhe Table (2/2/2026)

2026-02-03T05:12:00.007-05:00

This week's Card on the Table celebrates my favorite big league pitcher, Matthew Boyd, who turned 35 yesterday.

This is one of my absolute favorite cards of Matthew, card #1 of just 3 copies!

2022 Topps Triple Theads, #1/3

That awesome piece of the famous Olde English D really makes this card special.

Here's hoping that Matthew, and all of today's Happy Baseball Birthday! friends had a magnificent day.

Play BALL! ⚾️

Freehan on Friday

2026-01-30T12:12:00.002-05:00

No idea what year/game this photo is from, however, as I continue to battle left arm/shoulder pain from a fractured elbow, it seems appropriate for today's Freehan on Friday!

Have a fabulous Friday!

Card On The Table

2026-01-26T09:44:00.000-05:00

Each Monday morning I change my Card On The Table.

This week's card is my 2019 Topps Living Set Matthew Boyd, the only card of the set that's graded.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week, and, fir those of you, who, like myself, are living in the frigid Midwest, try and stay warm, and, please, , please, be safe.

Freehan on Friday- A look into the Future

2026-01-23T11:53:00.001-05:00

Happy Freehan on Friday!

Spring Training, 1968.

Courtesy of my friend Paul Mayne on TwitterX.

Happy Hoops Birthday! Caitlin Clark.

2026-01-22T18:06:00.001-05:00

The first ever Happy Hoops Birthday! post is here, because, I saw that it was the 24th Birthday of my favorite WNBA hoopster, the amazing Caitlin Clark.

Don't have many of Caitlin's cards, but, I get them when I can.

This is the coolest thing I have of the former Iowa Hawkeye.

Happy Birthday, Caitlin! 🏀

Living Set Wednesday- Card 900!

2026-01-16T20:26:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday Topps released Living Set Card #900, of Philadelphia Phillies legend Mike Schmidt.

This is such a great milestone for my favorite baseball cards.

Love the old school Phillies zip up sweaters, and that awesome ball cap.

My recent Living Set addition-

TOPPS Living Set Card #893

Mel Ott

Hope everyone has a great weekend, thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my blog.

Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday- Matthew Boyd #264

2026-01-13T21:35:00.003-05:00

Thanks to my friend Dennis, I was able to add another 1/1 Matthew Boyd card to my collection.

2022 Topps #128, 1/1 Yellow Printing Plate

Enjoy your Tuesday, and, as always, thanks for stopping by and reading my blog.

Play BALL! 🐅 ⚾️

BOYD Binder! 2025 Topps Chrome Update

2026-01-11T11:51:00.004-05:00

First Topps Chrome Update Matthew Boyd arrived this week.

🐻⚾️ Best picture I could get.

Total Matthew BOYD cards- 262...and counting!

Hope all are enjoying the weekend, as always, thanks for taking time out of your day to stop by and read my blog.

Play BALL! 🐻 ⚾️