2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s GAME USED BATS PART VI

                                    
                             "Now Batting #5 3rd baseman Bill Madlock......."  What can I say about Bill "Maddog" Madlock but basically he was a 4 Time NL Batting Champion(1975,1976,1981,1983)Co-MVP Award winner of the 1975 All-Star Game (He shared it with Jon Matlack),World Series Champion as part of the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates "We Are Family" squad. Bill played for Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs (whom traded Bill to the Giants for Bobby Murcer another member of this line-up),San Francisco Giants,Pittsburgh Pirates,Los Angeles Dodgers,Detroit Tigers. He later played for the Senior League for the Orlando Juice. To me when he was winning those batting titles he was a precursor to Tony Gwynn (Who won 7 titles himself). Bill came close to winning the 1982 title only to lose to Al Oliver who was talked about in Part III of my series.

Funny thing is the TCDB doesn't show the Orlando Juice as a team or any of the other Seniot League teams if you look them up alphabetically.

               I have had the pleasure to meet up with Bill on 2 separate events to discuss his career the first time we met was when he was a coach for the Detroit Tigers back in 2001 we discussed how lucky he was to win the 1976 Batting Crown edging out Ken Griffey Sr. (Another member of the line-up) for the title. As well how he felt to be a member coming in mid-season joining the Pirates for their run of the Championship in 1979. Then we met up again in 2011 at the National Sports Card Convention & we discussed the Senior League as well those Batting Crowns. When he signed my cards of the Senior League he hadn't seen them before so he asked if I was willing to part with them I told him Ill hunt them down & later gave him to him but I still had my originals as a thank you gesture on his part he signed my cards. 

             

I was able to help him find some of his cards & he signed mine here's us in 2011.

                      So does Bill make it to be a member of this line-up yes cause he was Batting Champion 2 times in the 1970s he was a World Champion during the decade & well he's a gracious signer as long as you don't get him upset he wasn't called Maddog for nothing he had temper problems we alot of his teams the only team he didn't showcase his temper with much was when signed in June of 1987 to the Tigers to help them with their run to the playoffs that year he mentioned that Sparky wanted his bat to help with the short porch in rightfield at Tigers Stadium. He would hit with authority but instead his 14 Home Runs weren't enough to help them get past the Twins in the post season but his veteran approach to the game was good enough to help the younger bats that's one reason he went into coaching. So what do you think does Madlock join your team let me know until then when we discuss the case of the 2nd Oklahoma Kid that the Yankees thought would be good enough to be the next Mickey Mantle the one & only Bobby Murcer until then Remember what another batting champion by the name of Rogers Hornsby once said about signing autographs "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for a little kid ain't an American, He's a Communist."

2001 DECADE 1970’S BAT PART V

 

               "Now Batting #3 Bobby Grich......" We are now on part 5 of this series of my 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s Single Bat Game Used pieces that has 48 subjects & there's only 97 sets available of this set to make but your reading mine so you can have 96 others trying to make this set but I think I might be the only one that has done it. Bobby Grich was an All-Star 2nd baseman for the Orioles most of the 1970s before leaving becoming 1 of the first Free Agents to test the market back after the 1976 season.

 During the 1977 season Bobby found himself in Anaheim playing with the Angels. He was an underratted 2nd baseman when he was playing but overall the 6 time All-Star only led the Home Runs in 1981 well he actually tied with the league lead with 22 along with Dwight Evans(Another member of this elite set),Tony Armas,Eddie Murray (He too is another member of the set) mind you the season was delayed by the biggest strike year that year. He won the Silver Slugger that year as well but Bobby was known for his glove work winning 4 Gold Gloves. When Bobby broke into the Baltimore line-up he started off as a back up to Davey Johnson but the Orioles brass were high on him that they traded Johnson to Atlanta after the 1972 season. Then as I mentioned before a few weeks after the final out of the 1976 World Series he & 23 other players filed for free agency. 

That's him & I in 2010 discussing the baseball free agency process back in 1976 & how it has changed.

                      When I talked to Bobby back in 2010 at the National Sports Card Convention about it he told me its totally different than when he was an active player. He said he felt more pressure from Earl Weaver managing him that he needed a change & he could've gone to the Yankees to back up young Willie Randolph but instead wanted to go to a warmer area to play & so that's how he chose the Angels plus at the time Gene Autry, The Singing Cowboy himself saw that Bobby could make a difference for his ballclub plus Bobby was living in California at the time & wanted to be close to his family. There were 5 years(1970,1971,1979,1982,1986) where Bobby could have played for in the World Series but he got a ring for the 1970 Orioles even though he was on the post season roster he never got to play. Plus he was just on a grizzled veteran squad for the Angels in 1982 unfortunately the Brewers had taken down the Angels in 5 games. Then 4 years later Bobby's base hit had been the Game winning hit in Game 4 then he slugged what he thought was the back to back game winning hits with his Game 5 home run with the help of Dave Henderson (who later got the winning hit) Glove work by deflected it into the stands. Then Boston later won it on Henderson's hit sparking the comeback in the 1986 ALCS so after Game 7 of the series Bobby quietly announced his retirement.   So does Bobby make the cut to me he is a borderline player to be included so where does Bobby fit in your views.  So until our next installment which has Bill Madlock waiting for his turn at bat until then I am reminded of what Rogers Hornsby another famous 2nd baseman who once said "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, Hes a Communist."

2001 DECADE 1970s GAME USED BATS PART IV

 

"Now Batting #25 Bobby Bonds........" Most people know he is the famous father of minor league slugger Bobby Bonds Jr. 

                    What do you expect for me to say you weren't thinking that name either were you lol unlike his father the Bobby Jr didn't pan out to become like his dad or brother but its his dad the Senior one is whom we are featuring in this piece. Bobby played mainly for the Giants during the early part of the 1970s & was suppose to be the replacement for a man who was later known to his other son's godfather Willie Mays. But the "Say Hey" Kid proved that he wasn't done until he felt the game was the best of him which was in 1973 ending his career with the Mets in the 1973 World Series. Bobby had a few good years when was with Giants being almost a 30/30 threat every year that includes how a rained out home run prevented him from being MLBs first 40/40 man before another player by the name of Jose Canseco later formed the standard which his son Barry accomplished as well during his career that season Bobby had 39 home runs & 43 steals during the 1973 season. Here are some more interesting things about Bobby that most people seemed to overlook besides what I mentioned he almost accomplished in the 1973 season.

                            Bobby at the end of the 1974 season was traded to the New York Yankees who were tired of having to deal with another member of this bat set line-up Bobby Murcer which I will discuss more ultimately when he comes up in a future piece so basically the headline was Bobby was traded for Bobby cause the Yankees wanted a lead off batter that would do something someone else would do later on the next decade of the 1980s. (Yes I am talking about Rickey Henderson folks). Bobby was elected as a starter for the All-Star game in 1975 played in Milwaukee. What is interesting is Bobby never played a single game with the Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium meanwhile they played their home games for the 1974 & 1975 season at Shea Stadium home of the Mets. Reason & I am sure Bo knows that I am right again with my Cha-Ching moment here is that Yankee Stadium was still under renovation construction cause it was completed until 1976 in time for the All-Star game to be featured there for the 1977 Season by then Bobby had moved on to Angels whom acquired his services for the 1976 Season for Mickey Rivers. 

                    Another thing is Donruss back in 1981 predicted that Bobby would have broken Hank Aaron's record for career Home Runs as you can see if you can read it says he slugged 986 Home Runs. They later corrected it by saying Bobby hit 326. 

                  Heck if Bobby was able to do that then there would be no doubt the old saying like Father like son when it comes to hitting home runs would we speculated Bobby was on the juice too who knows. 

          As I mentioned before Bobby was sent to the Angels later he played for the Chicago White Sox,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, then finally calling it a career with the Chicago Cubs in 1981. He later was a batting coach for the Indians who I remembered hitting fungos in the outfield during one dreadful foggy game to see if it was possible to play in it before he moved on in 1993 to reunited to coach his son Barry upon his arrival to Giants & stayed coaching up until the 1996 season. 

                 Now comes my point does Bobby deserve to be honored is this set answer is yes & Upper Deck pictured him with the correct team the Giants which as I mentioned before he was a threat of being a 30/30 player that's my take on Bobby what do you think does he or doesn't he next up in the line up is another Bobby this one is a real Grich if ya catch my drift until then I am reminded 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."

DECADE 1970’S BAT SET PART III

 

                                  "Now Batting #0 Al Oliver......." Al Oliver aka Scoops Oliver he played for the Pirates,Rangers,Expos,Giants,Dodgers,Blue Jays. Led the NL in Batting Average in 1982 with an .331 when he was traded to the Expos the Rangers wanted someone with a little more bang in the bat so they traded for Larry Parrish little they knew Al would return to the Senior Circuit to lead the league in hitting  as I mentioned before.  When he was traded by the Pirates to the Rangers he was in a 4 team trade with another member of this set Willie Montanez in case your curious the 4 teams involved with the trade which are Rangers,Pirates,Braves,Mets. 

Al was also part of the 1971 Pirates World Series Championship team as well Danny Murtaugh's 6 African-Americans 3 Latinos Starting Line-Up game on September 1st 1971 where Al went 2 for 4 during that contest. So your wondering does Al Oliver deserve to be in this set the answer is in my opinion yes he does. Another thing I will always remember of Al is back in 2024 when I was visiting my friend Greg from The Collective Mind blog was lucky to get Al's on the card Autograph on his 2024 Topps Heritage card from our case break. So my reader do you agree again with this choice or not lmk in the comments below until then on deck is Bobby Bonds & as always 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 SINGLE BAT GAME USED SET PART II

                                       

         "Now Batting #10 Andre Dawson....." this card truly deserves to be in the set even though Andre came to play back in 1976 the following year he was Rookie of the Year so I agree with this choice. He played 10 years with Expos before trying free agency to see whom would take his blank check which the Cubs were surprised when they got the call in 1987. In 1987 he led the National League in home runs with 49 he won the NL MVP that year despite the Cubs being 6th in the NL East standings. He later moved to Boston for a few years 1 of 2 most people that wouldn't knew that he played there.

          The reason why he chose Boston cause he wanted to play on grass & see if he could reinvent his swing in a different league plus he heard how some of the American League parks were Homer friendly unfortunately it wasn't meant to be so he played with the Florida Marlins thus when he entered the Hall of Fame in 2010 he was the first Marlins player in the Hall. Andre remains 1 of 8 ex-Marlins (people worn the uniform) in the Hall as of the time of this post. The other 7 are Mike Piazza,Trevor Hoffman,Ivan Rodriguez,Tim Raines,Ichiro, 2 managers Jim Leyland & Tony Perez. 

         So my loyal reader do agree that Andre deserves to be here lmk until next time we'll focus on Al Oliver so with that Rogers Hornsby once said "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for little kids ain't an American, He's a Communist." 

A 48 CARD SALUTE INSPIRED BY 2 BLOGGERS aka 2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970's SINGLE BAT GAME USED PIECE SET

 

                This post will be a 48 card salute to this set here that ya see before you its 1 of 97 sets of this calibur that could be made. For this is the 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970's Single Bat piece set. This post will be conducted into 50 parts this being the start of that set that I started back in 2001 & concluded it in 2003 with the final piece being Tom Teriffic himself Tom Seaver that I purchased on eBay after playing email tag with a seller selling me the Keith Hernandez piece. I am doing these posts since 1 Mr. Fujimoto of The Chronicles of Fuji who commented that I should do a post on this set I mentioned that I have to talk to someone about it & that person was a 1 Mr. Rosny of Baseball Cards Come to Life I sent him an email about it he said he like to see something like that so with those 2 giving me praise I am going to do it.

                       First as good as my memory is I am sorry I only remember the first one I got & the last one I got but I can't remember how the other 46 came in so instead I'll just focus the 1 card at a time ala like Bo does. I will do them how they are listed on the TCDB alphabetical order by their name. As I mentioned there's only 97 sets of these sets you can make well.....actually 96 cause you'll be reading about my set. You'll read my comments if I agree with Upper Deck if this player should be in this set or not plus you'll hear who I think should been in the set instead in the final post I look forward to hearing your comments on what I have to say about these 48 players some will get some great love for & then there's a few that I think you'll see why I don't think they needed to be in this set. Then when I conclude it with the players who I could seen Upper Deck done but they didn't due to the fact they perhaps didn't have acquired a bat of that player when later on they did or they didn't think that player best represents the 1970s like some that they used.

      First up on the list which will be in my next post on these is Hall of Famer Andre Dawson.  Until the next installment I am reminded of Rogers Hornsby once said about signing Autographs "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for a little kid ain't an American, He's a Communist."

SORTING THROUGH 5000ct BOXES

         Since I was let go from working at Dollar General I have been lately started to go through the bulk of my 5000ct boxes that I have of basketball since they were mixed starter lots in them I decided to rearrange them so the next time I am at a show I know what boxes I want to take with me or be able to help someone who might be looking for stuff from those sets & I won't have to go through them all cause they will be sorted so I just will have to pull those boxes that have that set in it & BAM!!!!! I can find what they need or see how close I am to another set to offer as a give away in a contest in the future.

          Most of the boxes are filled with early to mid 1990s stuff sure there's no Michael Jordans or Kobe Bryants or LeBron James  in them nor not many of my hometown team the Detroit Pistons in them cause my LCS guy who sells them at $12 a box cherry picked through them got all what he wanted out of them & usually puts them in his $.10 or $.25 boxes but bigger names well as you know go in the display cases. Anyways as a set builder I have started many of my sets by getting them & then going hunting for the missing ones. Oh yeah my LCS guy does this for all 4 of the sports so if ya are interested in certain sport & would like to see what ya can find or make with them lmk & Ill see what I can do to send ya one of them. 

          As you can see in the picture I have a lot of them to go through currently I went through all those boxes pulled out all the `89/`90 Hoops cards. Then I placed them in 1 5000ct box in numerical order lots of dupes as well some of the variations so if your building the `89/`90 Hoops Master set lmk & I'll see if I can help you out in finding those variations. 

           There's 32 of these Pat Riley's ya see before ya in my way of sorting them & yes those white things on the  bottom of that picture are my giant feet. Maybe I should send them to Pat & have him sign all 32 of them serial numbered out of 32 cards LOL.

                This took me about a good 3 days to gather them all up then putting them in numerical order I can say this if ya want a regular set I could possibly do it.  Now ya can see what I am going through when I get requests for cards in Football & Basketball. Yes I am calling you out Angels Tom,Mr Night Owl,Johnny on the Spot sirs as well anyone who just wants their favorite NFL or NBA teams in singles. Yes I know I mentioned football cause I have them like that in football as well that's next to tackle on once I finish getting the basketball done but I am a long ways in doing that hence why I need a job so I am not stuck doing this dubious honor cause I am not getting paid to do this & I rather go through these when I need to relieve myself from stress at my jobs plus at the age of 50 I ain't getting any younger so I need to do it so if something should happen to me someone wont be like I don't want them etc......

                 Anyways I am taking a short break from sorting out all the `90/`91 Skybox now to type up this post my goal before I go to bed tonight (I am typing this on Friday night) is to get at least to the Milwaukee Bucks team when I took the break I was just starting to pull all the Atlanta Hawks cards in order. So I will end this piece by saying I have a long ways to go still & remember 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."