Official Mike Napoli Home Run Count In Cards #9

Mike Napoli's second home run in two days, and his ninth of the season, this one a three run shot in the sixth to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead in an eventual 4-2 win over the Mariners.

Official Mike Napoli Home Run Count In Cards #8

Mike Napoli hit his 8th home run of the season Sunday.  It had been 24 games since his last.

Naps homer came in the bottom of the 7th off of Jesse Chavez after a Nelson Cruz double and made the score 12-3.  Napoli went 2 for 3 on the night raising his average to a measly .239.

Bible Card Sunday - Pat Combs

Pat signed my card with John 14:6

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Pat signed this card through the mail shortly after I saw he was working for the Rangers in 2010.

Sorry for the "quick post" today with no biographical information.

Now Pitching...Jeff Mathis!?

So I'm watching the Rangers game, and they're spanking the Blue Jays 10-1 in the bottom of the 7th inning, and the camera pans to the Jays bullpen where Jeff Mathis is warming up.

Wait...rewind...WHO is warming up?

Former Angels CATCHER Jeff Mathis, that's who.

(Remember, he was traded to the Blue Jays on December 3, 2011 for Brad Mills?)

Tom Grieve is speculating that the Jays don't want to waste any REAL pitchers in such a blowout.

Oh and Nelson Cruz just hit a grand salami to make it 14-1.

Then Jason Frasor FINALLY finishes the inning.

So let's wait and see who'll pitch the 8th for the Jays.

And Holy Cow!  The 45 year old Omar Vizquel is up!?

I thought he retired in the 00's.  And I mean the EARLY 00's.

What's going on in Toronto?

OK end of the Jays 8th, they scored 2 more runs to make it 14-3.

Who will pitch to the Rangers in the bottom of the 8th....

MATHIS!!

Hey, a nice easy windup.  Not bad looking.

Mitch Moreland - long fly double. 

Uh-oh.

Consistently hitting 85 MPH.

Ian Kinsler - popped to short

He kinda looks like Kenny Rogers

Elvis Andrus - walk.

He's having difficulty getting the ball down.

Craig Gentry - popped up to left.

Still casually chomping on the bubble gum.

Alberto Gonzales - fly out to warning track in left.

1IP 0R 1H

Jeff Mathis - Major League pitcher.

Trout Added To The Collection

Trouts in my Trout Collection:
2009 Tristar Prospects Plus #20
2010 Topps Pro Debut #181 (signed)
2010 Bowman Platinum PP5
2011 Obak #16 Mini Green 09/25
2011 Topps Heritage Minors #44 (signed)
2011 Topps Pro Debut #263
2011 Topps Update US175
2011 Topps Finest #94
2011 Tristar Pursuit #1 (signed)
2011 Bowmans Best Prospects BBP9
2011 Bowman #101
2011 Bowman #101 Blue 413/499
2011 Bowman Topps 100 #TP90
2011 Bowman Chrome #101
2011 Bowman Chrome #101 Refractor
2011 Bowman Chrome #101 Refractor Purple
2011 Bowman Sterling #22
2011 Cedar Rapids Pocket Schedule
2012 Topps Gold Futures #GF-16
2012 Topps Heritage #207
2012 Topps Opening Day #85
2012 Topps Gypsy Queen #195

Completed Team Sets - 2011 Topps

2011 Topps Series 1 and 2.

23 Angels cards in the team set.

Rookie cards of Mark Trumbo, Hank Conger, Michael Kohn.

Signed cards of Peter Bourjos and Hank Conger.

2011 Topps Opening Day.

9 card Angels team set.

Last Angels card of Mike Napoli.

2011 Topps Update.

12 Angels cards in the team set.

Rookie cards of Mike Trout and Tyler Chatwood. 

Interesting Cards From A Flurry Of Trades

The padded envelopes were stacking up.  I had made trades or won something from GCRL, Stealing Home, reader Tim, Community Gum, Big D, Texas Rangers Cards, and Waxaholic.  No relics, autographs or jerseys here, but some great Angels cards none the less.  I only picked a handful to show off, but believe me there were about 10 team bags full of Angels.

Here's just a few.

2004 Donruss Team Heroes #14 Tim Salmon.  This was one of about 5 Tim Salmon cards I received along with numerous Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, and Mike Napoli cards, some of my favorite Angels.

Nice pair of 1989 Donruss The Rookies featuring Dante Bichette and Jim Abbott.  A complete team set actually, these are the only Angels in the set. 

I remember when Jim Abbott cards started coming out I kept looking for one that would clearly show his right arm.  This one finally gave me a good idea of the challenge he was faced with.

I can't even imagine what it was like to compete at the Major League level with only one hand.

He still inspires me.

1987 M&Ms #1 Wally Joyner

1990 Topps Ames All-Stars #30

2008 Topps Trading Card History #TCHC49 Torii Hunter Chrome.

2011 Topps Diamond Tribute #285 Hank Conger.

1996 Topps #213 Future Star Todd Greene.

Another great Todd Greene card, and that Future Star logo is one of the best logos ever.

2012 Topps Gold Sparkle #46 Peter Bourjos.

2010 Topps Gold #356 Franchise History Mike Scioscia 382/399.

I have a version of that 2002 World Championship hat.

I've never worn it.

It's sacred.

2003 Upper Deck Standing O #S-2 Troy Glaus.

Check it out, a ROUND baseball card!!

2012 Topps Heritage Chrome HP50 Dan Haren 0147/1963.

1981 Fleer Star Sticker #50 Bobby Grich

I appreciate every card that comes my way.  Thank you all.

Bible Card Sunday - Randy Tomlin

Randy Tomlin was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round of the 1988 amateur draft.

He made is Major league debut on Monday, August 6, 1990, at Veterans Stadium against the Phillies.

He went the full nine giving up 1 run on 5 hits for his first career win.

Nice introduction to the Big Game.

He spent his entire 5 year career with the Pirates going 31-30 with 3.43 ERA.

Randy signed this card with Colossians 3:23

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men"

Patriots Autograph of the Month - Russ Francis

Russ signed this 1977 Topps, along with a '76, '78, and a CIC.  He also sent some nice comments.  I sent these to his home in Vermont in 2005 but if I recall the envelope was postmarked Hawaii, hence the "Aloha!"

1965 Plus From The LCS

More 1965 Topps from the LCS plus a couple of other cards for the ol' collection.

I didn't notice until I got home that the Houston/Astros pennants were different on these two cards.

Is that common with this set?  I'll have to do some research.

Also picked up the 1982 Kelloggs Carl Yastrzemski above and the 1983 Kelloggs below for a buck each.

Neither of which have cracks.

So these were nice finds.

I love Kelloggs and Hostess cards.  Maybe an idea for another collection someday.

Bye Mickey, You Done Good

I thought Mickey Hatcher was pretty awesome.  Awesome dude, awesome coach.  But the hitting coach always takes the fall when the team won't hit, so Hatch had to go.

Mickey Hatcher has been the Angels hitting coach since Mike Scioscia took over the helm in 2000.  Under his guidance the Angels won 5 Division Championships and 1 World Series, not too bad.  But the team has struggled offensively the last several years, and then being shutout 8 times in the first 36 games this season (which hasn't happened to any team since 1907) pretty much sealed Mickeys fate.

Jim Eppard will be taking over as hitting coach. He has been in the Angels' minor-league organization since 2003 as a hitting coach, and played for the Angels from 1987-1989.

Jim Bouton TTM

I picked this card up on Listia recently to add to my autographed, and not autographed, 1965 Topps set.

I sent it along with a 5 dollar bill to Jim's home in Egremont MA and 24 days later here it is.

Jim played 10 seasons in the Majors for the Yankees, Pilots, Astros, and Braves.

His connection to the Angels is that he played for the 1968 Seattle Angels, the AAA affiliate of the California Angels.  Jim had 8 starts in 27 games and went 4-7 with a 4.00 ERA for the team.

Angels Debut #112 Frank Malzone

Frank James Malzone
Third Baseman
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Height: 5' 10", Weight: 180 lb.
Born: February 28, 1930 in Bronx, NY (Age 82)
MLB Debut: September 17, 1955 Boston Red Sox
Final MLB Game: October 1, 1966 California Angels
Years with the Angels: 1966

ANGELS TRANSACTIONS:
November 30, 1965: Signed as a Free Agent with the California Angels.
October 18, 1966: Released by the California Angels.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Third Angel debut in the same game in the same inning. In the top of the 14th of a 2-2 tie, after Ed Bailey came in as a pinch hitter for Ed Sukla and made it as far as the batters box, Bailey was replaced by Frank Malzone (who struck out to end the inning) making his Angels debut.  The Angels lost 3-2 in the bottom of the 14th to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, April 12, 1966 (D) at Comiskey Park I.

ANGELS RECORD:
Came to the plate 166 times in 82 games and hit .206 with 2 HR and 12 RBI.  Committed 8 errors in 106 chances with 38 put outs.

Best Angels Performance:
Went 1 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBI in a 7-2 win against the Twins on Thursday, June 16, 1966 (N) at Metropolitan Stadium.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:

• Signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1947.
• Played 11 of his 12 seasons with the Red Sox.
• 6-time AL All-Star (1957-1960, 1963 & 1964)
• 3-time Gold Glove Winner (1957/ML, 1958/AL & 1959/AL)
• Hit 2 home runs in a game 12 times.

Bible Card Sunday - Cal Eldred

Calvin John Eldred was a big league pitcher from 1991 - 2005 primarily for the Brewers but also for the White Sox and Cardinals.his career record was 86-74 with a 4.42 ERA. He hit the ground running in his rookie season winning 13 of his first 15 decisions.  He ranked first in games started in 1993 and 1994 and innings pitched in 1993.  Cal appeared in 2 games in the 2004 World Series for the Cardinals but lost the Championship to the Red Sox.

Cal added Romans 8:28

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Cal signed this card for me a long time ago.

Angels Here We Come

Going to the Rangers/Angels game tonight.

Wilson, Trout, Trumbo and Pujols

vs

some guy named Darvish

and this guy

Oh I'm so TORN!!

Completed Set - 2010 Cap'n Crunch

Definitely no Angels in this set.

 As a follow on to my last post about completing the 1989 Cap'n Crunch set I thought it would be appropriate to show the retro 2010 Cap'n Crunch set. I think that Quaker Oats missed the boat though by not making these baseball themed. Would have been pretty cool to see Jean LaFoote with a baseball bat in his hands.

i apologise for the overly blurry pictures.  The boxes are so large they wouldn't fit on my scanner so I tried to do the best I could with dim light and a cheap digital camera.

In 2010 Quaker Oats put out a set of six different Cap'n Crunch Limited Edition cards.  The cards were printed on retro style boxes of Cap'n Crunch.

Two different cards were printed on the backs of the three types of Cap'n Crunch: Regular, Crunch Berries, and Peanut Butter.

Instead of printing the backs of the cards on the inside of the box, Quaker chose to print the card backs right next to the fronts, so the kid would have to cut out both sides separately, apply heavy doses of Elmers, and then try to align the two halves up.  Good luck with that kiddos.

I found it so difficult I decided to keep the whole box instead.

The regular box featured the two dominant Cap'n Crunch characters and arch rivals, The Cap'n and his arch enemy the notorious Jean LaFoote.

Crunch Berries of course had cards of the Crunch Beast and the Cap'ns best little buddy Sea Dog.

On the Peanut Butter (yuck) box you would find Magnolia Bulkhead and another of the Cap'n little friends Smedley.

Below are some close-up of the individual cards.

Though not numbered I would consider these in numerical order, the Cap'n (or Cap'n Horatio Magellan Crunch to you) of course being card #1.

I never knew the Cap'ns mission statement until now.  Who is this Wild Man of Borneo?  And why is the Cap'n searching for him?  And has anyone ever seen a Soggie? Or is a Soggie just a state you don't want your cereal to be in?  They were introduced in the 80's when I was a young 20-something and wasn't paying much attention.

Maybe some day there will be an extended set to include the Wild Man and a Soggie, with Alfie, Carlyle, Dave, and Brunhilde.

The answer to a popular arch-rival trivia contest, Jean LaFoote was a barefoot bad guy.

Jean's mustache is actually growing OUT of his nose.

I vaguely remember the Crunch Beast, but obviously he's a happy fellow, therefore allowed to hang with the Cap'n.  Crunch Berries were my personal favorite until Quaker changed them up and completely ruined them.

I probably would have put Sea Dog just ahead of Crunch Beast as I remember Sea Dog always being at the Cap'ns side.

Magnolia Bulkhead?  No clue who she was but obviously in love with The Man.  I have a feeling she was a gold digger though, just wanted the Cap'n for his Crunch.

Smedley often rode a bicycle to get his hands on Crunch, usually resulting in something being smashed and Smedly missing out.

Tsk Tsk Smedly (get it?)

I'm digging Cap'n Crunch cards and so is Alfie!