SORRY MR OWL & GRCL BUT HAD TO CUT THE MUSTARD!!!!!

 

             Thanks to my good friend Dave Gollnick in Wisconsin & huge Brewers fan I had the Gorman Thomas fan favorite autograph card but he earlier this year sent me some Gorman Thomas Stormin Sauce & yes thats sauce is autographed by Stormin Gorman himself.  I wanted 2 sauce bottles 1 signed not to be opened & 1 to try Dave said he'll try to send me another one if the Brewers should win the World Series. Well....the Brewers are returning to Fall Classic for the first time since 1982 When Gorman was the leading home run leader for that team but back then they were an American League team. How I wish they would return to American League & Houston back to the National League. I understand fully that Milwaukee was in the National League when the Braves played there but c'mon I can remember as a kid looking at the American League East standings in the 1980s seeing Milwaukee there as well watching guys like Molitor,Yount,Cecil Cooper,Ben Oglivie,Jim Gantner,Rollie Fingers,Pete Vuckovich,Moose Haas come for a series usually around in early June around my birthday to Detroit. While Ohtani is still wondering why he can't get a ring this year for the Dodgers.

What no ring for me why not!!!!

             Sorry Mr Owl & GRCL but its time for a new National League team to be representing the National League in the World Series even though I still want them in the American League. 

So as I type this the American League Championship Series is heading to Game 4 with Cleveland up 2-1. If the Guardians win the series I see the Brewers taking it in 5 games if the Rays should move on to make their 3rd appearance in the Fall Classic well.....then again I will say Milwaukee sweeps them. Regardless someone will break their curse of not winning a World Series title it all depends on who is the winner. So thanks again Dave for the sauce hoping you can send me some more to try & Dave is trying to complete his Topps run of Brewers Team Sets here's what he needs if ya can help him out he'd appreciate it just make a trade to me & I'll send it along to him. He also collects these guys in his PC Jackson Churio, Jonathan Lucroy, Paul Molitor, Christian Yelich, Robin Yount, and Ken Griffey Jr.

  

Dave's list of needs 

2009 Topps

595b Robin Yount

2010 Topps

116b Robin Yount

2012 Topps

US271 Ryan Braun SP

Topps Golden Moments #GMR-JLU Lucroy x2

2016 Topps

298b Ryan Braun

2017 Topps

220b Ryan Braun

2018 Topps

615 Thames SP Var

2019 Topps

100 Hank Aaron SP

287 Jesus Aguilar SP

300 Christian Yelich SP

330 Lorenzo Cain SP

676 Yount SP

US150 Keston Hiura RC SSP Var

2019 Topps Gold

300 Christian Yelich

330 Lorenzo Cain

2020 Topps

U269 Yelich SP Var

2021

100 Yelich SP

100 Yelich SS

521b K Hiura SP VAR

2024

Celebration of the Kid

3,5,7,9,11,12,13,14,16,18,20,21,24

2025

636 Tobias Myers

2026

379 Blake Perkins

409 L Henderson

518 Brandon Woodruff

542 Joey Ortiz

604 Jake Bauers

684 Quinn Priester

US67 Shane Drohan

US101 Gary Sanchez

US109 Brandon Lockridge

US136 Miz

US138 Tyler Black

US216 Joel Kuhnel

US218 G Mitchell

US229 Brian Fitzpatrick

US325 Luis Renigfro

           I hope someone can help him out until then I'm reminded of former Brewers Manager Dave Bristol once saying "There'll be 2 busses leaving the hotel for the park tomorrow. The 2:00pm bus will be for those of you who need a little extra work. The empty bus will leave at 5:00pm." 

YOU BE THE JUDGE

 

               On a recent blog post by Buckstore he mentioned the card featured on top of my piece is a bit uh..... bonkers I commented on it saying no I think this one is of San Diego Chicken & Smokey the Bear is more bonkers.

Kiss me ya big bear you 😘 😘😘😘 lol. 

                  To me Kurt is playing Smokey Claus with Smokey I even replied back with the same comment but you can be the judge on it. So let me know in the comments below on which one you think is more bonkers my incumbent of the San Diego Chicken or Buckstore choice of Kurt Bevacqua. Until then I am reminded of Rogers Hornsby once saying about signing autographs for kids "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

THERE'S AT LEAST ONE OR MORE EVERY DECADE

 

      On last Tuesday I after I got done with my school job I did my usual looking at my fellow blogs as well catch up with the recent passings of people to see who I'm surprised that have passed away. Well I was surprised that Sam 'Sudden Sam' McDowell passed away then it occurred to me that there's always someone like him that is yes he's was a fan favorite with the Indians but a pitcher that had numbers but didn't win a Cy Young Award. So it got me to think what pitchers would fall in the same category had numbers but didn't win a Cy Young award & from what I gathered there's at least one pitcher every year so I broken it down since 1956 when the first Cy Young Award was rewarded but I'll break it down by the decades. 

           Now the criteria for them to be on here these pitchers had long careers with numbers but didn't win the award some were considered for it but somehow someone else won it & there is alot of Hall of Fame pitchers listed as well future Hall of Fame members in my opinion & then there's a bunch of fan favorites if I don't mention a player you think deserves to be included drop it in the comments below thanks also some of these guys played in multiple decades but I will focus when they started their careers as well mentioned the other decades that they qualify for as well even if they didn't start or finish a particular decade. 

           But before I featured the list I will point out on my Ken Griffey Sr. Post I mentioned that someone if they had a keen eye in finding what "I Spyed" with my lil eye 2 people mentioned but 1 correctly identified the location but I figured both people deserved a prize they are Fuji & Derek. Derek identified the the location correctly so Derek send me your email address & I'll drop you an email once I receive it from you to get further information about your redemption award Fuji I'll be sending yours in a pwe later this week. Those are wondering you'll have to read the comments to fully understand why they won so congratulations to again Fuji & Derek.

             Now on with the list of pitchers that were stars had numbers & lengthy careers but didn't win a Cy Young award. 

1950s

Robin Roberts as well the 1960s

Frank Lary

Billy Pierce as well in the 1960s 

Lew Burdette

Johnny Podres as well in the 1970s

Elroy Face as well the 1960s

Jim Kaat as well in the 1960s,1970s, & 1980s

1960s

Juan Marichal as well the 1970s

Don Sutton as well the 1970s & 1980s

Mickey Lolich as well the 1970s

Nolan Ryan as well the 1970s,1980s & 1990s

John Hiller as well the 1970s & 1980s

Phil Niekro as well in the 1970s & 1980s 

Joe Coleman Jr. as well in the 1970s 

Joe Niekro as well in the 1970s & 1980s 

Bob Veale

Tommy John as well in the 1970s & 1980s 

1970s

Paul Splitrorff as well in the 1980s

Steve Busby

Jack Morris as well in the 1980s & 1990s

JR Richard as well in the 1980s

Frank Tanana as well in the 1980s 

Dave Stieb as well in the 1980s, & 1990s

Bert Blyleven as well in the 1980s & 1990s

Jim Clancy as well in the 1980s & 1990s

1980s

Tom Browning as well in the 1990s 

Mark Langston as well in the 1990s

Dave Stewart as well in the 1990s 

Mike Witt as well in the 1990s

Dave Righetti as well in the 1990s

Danny Jackson as well in the 1990s 

Jim Abbott as well in the 1990s 

Teddy Higuera 

1990s 

Mike Mussina as well in the 2000s

               I am sure that you get the idea of these guys like I mentioned before if ya can think of others don't hesitate to mention them. As always I am reminded of what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs for little kids "Any ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."

2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970’S BAT PIECES PART XXX

 

                                        "Now Batting #30 Ken Griffey....." George Kenneth Griffey Sr was a member of the Big Red Machine during the 1970's. He first started with the Reds from 1973 to 1981 before joining the New York Yankees in 1982 as he was traded for Fred Toliver.

Imagine how Fred would tell his kids & grandkids he once was traded for Ken Griffey Sr. 

There he went to the Atlanta Braves in 1986

  
          My question for Johnny on Johnny's Trading Spot is how many of the Braves players have you asked if they have signed any of these cards like Ken Griffey Sr. shown here.

 Before returning to Cincinnati in 1988 then 1 last stop to play 1.5 years in Seattle where he played the game with his son becoming the 1st father & son actively playing teammates.

 During Ken's career he was a 3 time All-Star winning the 1980 MVP Award. He was a 2 time World Series Champion 1975 & 1976. Runner up to Bill Madlock (He was featured in the set earlier in the blog) in the 1976 Batting Average.

                    I know I had this poster as a kid how many collectors did, let me know in the comments below. My mom would hate me cause I would always play "I Spy...." with it an example of a thing I would say I Spy with me lil eye something yellow & edible can you find what I am looking for.

                  Now if ya ask me does Ken Sr. make the a case for the line up in this set. Yes he does cause of being a provided spark in the outfield for The Big Red Machine plus he wasn't flashy like his kid but then again his kid in the Hall of Fame & he's only in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. So let me know does Ken make it or not in the comments below as well Ill do a random surprise to anyone that can spot with the location of the thing "I Spyed" must be included in your comments to be eligible if no one can find it well you just don't have keen eyes like me until the next installment which will cover Keith Hernandez until then I am reminded of what Red Smith sports writer once said "Baseball is dull only to dull minds."

DOES ANYONE COUNT THEM

                            Am I odd that I count how many cards I have in my collection when I am looking at the galleries of cards of a recently deceased player. The other day I found myself having basically 27/70 of the cards listed for former pitcher Larry Christensen according to the TCDB site. I mention this cause I have great memory skills on things with cards I guess its cause I quiz myself every time I go through 1 of my many set binders no matter what sport it is I can find something interesting a little tibit if you will indulge me on. Case in point when I was counting the cards of Larry that I had I recalled the amount I paid for on my 1984 Nestle Set at a show plus I remember watching Larry pitch in the 1980 World Series game 4 plus at 1 time while looking for cheap 1981 Fleer double of Mike Schmidt for the binder spine to identify my 1981 Fleer binder I had Larry sit in the spot keeping warm for Mike. Plus if I am ever needing a player for my Immaculate Grid 1 team player for the Phillies he's my go to guy. So I ask any of my loyal readers if do you do this or not let me know in the comments below. 

                 This last Saturday I attended the local show they hold at end of every month at the mall & I had my phone opened in 8 different tabs the first 4 that I never close are devoted to the TCDB sets by years area of each sport just in case I find a good portion of a starter of a potential set build of a set I don't have & I get curious how many are in the set as well what inserts I might want to add to it if they have inserts as well hidden surprises case in point earlier this month I picked up the 2026 Topps Flagship football set & I was looking over the list of inserts a no doubter was adding the 1991 35th Anniversary ones then I was debating should I add the Greatest Hits Insert or the Big Ticket Players or just stay with 1991s. Needless to say I stuck with the 1991s cause the Big Ticket Players yeah theres only like 25 of them but those inserts really didn't say if ya see me get all 25 of them to me, & then the Greatest Hits sure there's 25 them as well again didn't lure me in adding them to the set. The Topps Profiles had 25 but they looked to boring to add plus again the reason for the 1991s cause it was unlike in the baseball versions they did 50 regular veteran players & 50 Rookies making it 2 different subsets while in baseball the combined the 2 sets into one. 
                            Sorry for that long version about the first 4 tabs but the other 4 were devoted to my wantlists so all I had to do is just click on the sport I found then scroll up or down to see if I needed that particular card. So I am going through this 3200ct box found a great portion of the `19/`20 Hoops Premium Stock now they aren't in order which is typical plus prior to finding the portion I found bits a pieces of other sets needs from all over my lists some football to 1 card off my 2022 Stadium Chrome baseball set so I have a small stack in my hand going through the Hoops when this guy reaches in the row I'm currently going through messing up where I already went through as well what to look forward to seeing I had to speak up on it after all its the 2nd time I've gone through a box & someone just intervenes thinking that it is fine to go through things that I'm currently going through. The guy says how am I supposed to know where ya when you were looking at your phone of course I was looking at my phone cause my list was on there & so sorry I don't know everything on my lists by heart plus I have scroll up or down on my lists but if ya ask me how can anybody be so rude to do that sorta thing. 

                       I'll end this post by saying that next season will be hard to not see or hear that famliar #35(Which I see the Astros retiring soon as he gets into the Hall of Fame as well in Detroit) getting ready for a long season whether he was with my hometown Detroit Tigers to the Houston Astros to the New York Mets then back to the Astros & then San Francisco Giants before returning this last winter to where it all began in Detroit Justin Verlander I await for his call to Cooperstown 5 years from now but for now Ill just enjoy my 1 auto I have in my PC his 2006 UD Artifacts. Jeff Passen tweet says it all So Thank you Justin for the 21 year ride in watching you pitch someday when your daughter gets older & you can show her the video of her throwing out the first pitch to you on the eve of your last ever start & this old veteran of card collecting will let you walk into the sunset instead of him leaving his quote he usually ends so again Thank you Justin. 

 

2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s GAME USED BAT PART XXVIIII

 

                           "Now batting #25 Jose Cruz Sr......." The Left-handed outfielder made his debut with the St Louis Cardinals in 1970 to which he played until 1974 when he was dealt to the Houston Astros where he would be the catalyst of a player for them until 1987 before switching leagues to join the New York Yankees for the 1988 season. He only played 38 games for the Yankees that year before being released on July 22nd & if you play the Immaculate Grid game I am sure Jose would be great score for you to use for former Cardinals/Yankee players as well Astros/Yankees players. 

                                As I mentioned Jose made a name for himself when he was with the Astros to me he is the equivalent to another Astros player named Jose Altuve but taller. Jose was a 2 time All-Star & 2 Time Silver Slugger but again he's more of a Fan Favorite type hence why the Astros retired his jersey #25 in 1992 does he make my 1970s line-up not really cause of the forementioned of being a Fan Favorite type of a player so tell me what you think until then next in our line up is Ken Griffey Sr. until then I am reminded of Rogers Hornsby once said "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't American, He's a Communist."

SAGE WORKING WITH DAD ON THE BLOG

 

                      Well the secret is out I guess this is my collecting partner in crime & my blog writer. For those who read my blog you are familiar with Sage. I just stepped away briefly from my Chromebook while working on an upcoming piece on my 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s Bat series & whom do I catch typing away on the blog a new post about her. She wanted to share this post to her cat collecting friends that she sees when I am reading blogs. 

Sage & I during THE GAME in college football with our game faces on.

           Sage is very protective when it comes to certain binders cause she usually lends a hand in working on "HER SETS" I say it like that cause when I try to take it she'll give me a look like uh why do you need that particular binder its my set I am building unless you got a package of singles that I need for my set. If you like to know what sets she has claimed,hers they are as follows.

Baseball sets shes building
2024 Topps Heritage
2025 Topps Heritage
2026 Topps Heritage

Basketball sets 
`99/`00 Skybox Impact
`99/`00 Victory
`00/'01 Victory
`00/`01 Topps 
`19/`20 Hoops Premium Stock

Football sets
1992 Wild Card WLAF
1996 Pinnacle Summitt
1998 Score 
2000 Skybox Impact
2024 Score-a-Treat both Orange Pumpkins & Green Bats

Hockey sets
`69/`70 Topps
`21/`22 Upper Deck 

                      Anytime I am in my Man Cave I have a shadow watching me seeing if she can help me out especially when it comes to her sets being completed.

                          Like any collector she works hard trying to go through all the 5000ct boxes I have of singles to help her collecting friends. Anyways Sage would like to hear from my readers on what you think of a cat collecting cards. Well that's her post she liked to remind you of what Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist."