2001 UPPER DECK DECADE 1970s BAT SERIES PART VIII

 

                   "Now Batting #26 Booooooooooooooooog Powell.............." John Wesley Powell aka Boog or "Booger" from his teammates on the Orioles would call him the lather even though it was his father that was the first called him Boog. 

             Boog would play from 1961 to 1977 mainly with the Balitmore Orioles but had stints with the Cleveland Indians where he was managed by former teammate Frank Robinson in 1975 & 1976 before going to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977. While Boog was an All-Star caliber player he won the American League MVP award in 1970. He once commented on the all red Indians uniforms he wore that he looked like a Bloody Tomato or a Big Red Blood Clot if you ask me I agree. After Boog retired he did Miller Lite commercials then in 1992 he opened up beyond the right field stands at Camden Yards a BBQ place to eat. Now I have only been to Camden one time I like to go back someday & taste test the food from others I had heard he makes a mean BBQ Brisket. 

You tell me does he look like a blood clot or a bloody tomato.

Regardless despite winning the MVP that one year he's another I would say is borderline on being in the set what's your take on it lmk until then next on the line up is Bill Russell & I don't mean the legendary Boston Celtics Center until then I am reminded of Rogers Hornsby once saying about signing autographs "Any Ballplayer who doesn't sign autographs for a little kid ain't an American, He's a Communist."

BACK TO WORK!!!!!

 

                I interrupt my 2001 Upper Deck Decade 1970s Single bat pieces to tell you in a short post I am back to work & from the signage on top of the post its no mystery where I am working for. I used to work for them back in 1996 & man has things changed but at least I am not unemployed anymore we'll see how long I work for them this time go around. Like I mentioned sorry for the short post but I wanted to share this with you my readers so if I am not posting its cause I am exhausted from working at the school job as well here. So thanks for your well wishes when I got when I was unemployed now if ya excuse me I have to get ready for work today by the time you read this after all its only my 2nd day on the job & I am in retraining again to work here so I leave you with 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 GAME USED BATS PART VII

                                    
                                      "Now Batting #2 Bobby Murcer....." Bobby best known to be the 2nd coming of Oklahoman power hitting outfielder only to become a better known announcer for the Yankees after his career was finished in 1983. He's currently the 5th name (One of those names is 3 behind the name of Dale Berra yes he's Yogi's son) prior to Derek Jeter wearing the #2 for the Yankees. As I mentioned before Bobby hailed from Oklahoma he idolized another player who grew up in Oklahoma by the name of Mickey Mantle. In fact Bobby played with Mickey near the end of Mickey's long career being his replacement in Center field while Mickey would play 1st base for the Yankees. 
             
                  Bobby would play with the Yankees the first time around up until 1974 before being traded as I mentioned before to the Giants for Bobby Bonds. After 2 years with the Giants Bobby was on the move again to the Cubs again as I mentioned before for Bill Madlock where he would become the first Chicago Cubs player to earn $1.6 Million for 5 years then after 4.5 years playing in the National League Bobby found himself traded on June 26,1979 to head back to where he started from the Bronx that's right the Yankees were calling for his services again.
               
                Upon returning to the Yankees he found out he couldn't wear #1 due to the fact someone named Billy Martin was wearing it so hence the reason why Bobby went to wear #2 until his last season in 1983. It was on August 2, 1979 where Bobby lost his best friend in Thurman Munson in a plane crash where Thurman on a Yankee off day was home in Canton,Ohio was practicing his taking off & landings in his Cessna 501 Citation I/SP Twin-Engine Jet. Bobby thought back the day before when the 2 players were walking outside of Comiskey Park when Thurman asked Bobby if he like to fly back to Ohio with him Bobby told him sorry no thanks later after hearing about the crash Bobby said it was the hardest thing was not being with his friend that day. On August 6th the day of Thurman's funeral Bobby gave one of the best eulogies to a great friend then as the Yankees were at the cemetery Billy Martin turned to Bobby saying after doing that take the day off Bobby told his manager "NO!!! Thurman was a friend he would want me to play the game regardless." So with that Bobby preceded to go 2 for 5 that night with 5 RBIs, he had hit a 3-run Home Run in the 7th inning off Dennis Martinez of the Orioles then in the 9th inning Bobby walked off a Yankee Victory with a single scoring 2 runs off Tippy Martinez (No Relation to Dennis). Bobby later that night took the bat he had used that game placing his stirrups socks covering it placing it in his bag & later presented the bat to Thurman's widow Diana saying to her "This is the bat I used in memory of my friend Thurman who was helping me that night with the Home Run in the 7th as well the game winning hit in the 9th so I ask you to keep this just to remind you that even though you lost your husband & I a great friend we know his memory will live on in this bat." 'Til this day it remains in the Munson household with no intentions of getting rid of it keeping Thurman's legacy to live on. 

                 It was in spring training of 1983 where Bobby was thinking this might be his last season & in October he would call it a career however the Yankee brass mainly asked Bobby if he step down a little earlier than that. So on June 20th Bobby announced his retirement (That same day the Yankees brought up from Columbus a young 1st baseman/Outfielder by the name of Don Mattingly) & said he was on his way to join the broadcasting team where he would work with the Yankees until 2007. Sadly Bobby passed in 2008 due to cancer but he was fighter of the disease that took his life he was courageous in trying to beat it. Bobby wrote his Autobiography in 2007 it was published a year later a few months before he lost his battle. The day of his funeral was August 6th 2008 29 years to the day when Bobby made his eulogy to his friend Thurman in attendance that day of his funeral was Diana Thurman's widow she later said " Thurman was sitting next to her keeping her spirits up after all Thurman was going to show his friend what lies ahead." 

                 The funniest thing about this card I bought my 2nd hobby box of this product in 2002 & it was a Bobby Murcer Hot box. What happened was I pulled the Game Used Jersey/Autograph of is set you can see a picture of what it looks like unfortunately this isn't the card I just was too lazy to take a picture of mine to show ya so I did a image search lucky for me someone had one to show ya anyways after pulling that I thought I was done I got my Memorabilia piece I am happy with it only to be shocked when I pulled the bat card 3 packs later.

Again this isn't my card mine is similar but its without the Fanatics mumbo/jumbo.

                 So do I believe Bobby deserves to be in this set of the bats. Simply I can say is yes he does cause of what he did on that August night against the Orioles in tribute to his good friend Thurman Munson. I am sure Bo will share some of his memories of listening to Bobby on the Yes Network & I like to hear what you think. 

                 Next in this series is a man named John Westley Powell aka Boog Powell until then 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."

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."