Trum-Bomb #19

Trumbo whalloped another one, number 19.  That's 9 home runs in June so far.  Pretty impressive.

This one was a two run blast in the 4th off Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil and made the game 3-2.  The Angels went on to win 9-7.  Mark also had a run scoring triple.

Ed Charles Thoughtful Response

Ed Charles signed this 1965 Topps as well as a 1966 Topps, an index card, and answered a few questions.

I sent these to his home in New York and 16 days later I got them back.

Ed played from 1962 - 1969 for the Kansas City A's and New York Mets.

I actually didn't realize that Ed was on the 1969 World Champion Miracle Mets.

'69 was his final season in the majors, so what better way to go out than with a World Series title.

I was very impressed with Mr. Charles responses to my questions.  Far more than the more typical one or two word answers.

Thank you very much Mr. Charles.

Trum-Bomb #18

 

Trumbo's blast was one of four hit by the Halos against the Orioles in a 7-3 win and came in the top of the seventh off reliever Tommy Hunter to make it a 6-1 game at that point.

I've been getting a slow trickle back of 1965 Topps cards, and others, that I've sent out recently.  Let's get caught up.  WARNING if smudged autographs disturb you, go no further.

Bill Pleis 10days sent to his home in Bradenton FL.

Mike White 10 days sent to his home in Sun Lakes AZ.

Mike answered a couple questions too.

I asked him if he could would he change anything about his career:

"Stay away from serious injuries.  I had a dislocated knee, broken wrist, torn ligament in my rt shoulder from running into walls."

Fred Gladding 10 days from Columbia SC.

Solly Hemus 27 days from Houston TX.

I asked Solly what his favorite meal was

"Wild salmon from Alaska."

And what he would read first when he opened the newspaper

"Go to the sports section and see what the Cardinals did."

New Blog With A Contest

Andrews Baseball Cards is a newer blog and he's having a nice contest.  Go here to check it out and enter.

Bible Card Sunday - Mark Eichhorn

Mark Eichhorn had a nice 11 year career in the majors, throwing sub-mariner style for the Blue Jays, Braves, Angels, Blue Jays again, Orioles, and Angels again.  He's twice a World Series champion with the Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993, pitching a combined 1.1 scoreless innings for two World Series rings.

He was third in rookie of the year voting in 1986 behind Wally Joyner and the winner Jose Canseco.

Mark added Phillipians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Angels Chris Iannetta TTM

Chris signed these two cards for me sent to the Angels on May 31st. Chris was hit on the wrist by a pitch the night of Jered Weavers no-hitter. The soreness turned out to be a fractured right wrist and he ended up having surgery on it. He's still on the 15 day DL.

Official Mike Napoli Home Run Count In Cards #12

A Nice Jumbo Pack

One of the better, though still not that great, Topps jumbo packs I've ripped in a while.

This one a jumbo rack pack of 2012 Topps Series Two.

I wasn't expecting much, I don't expect much from Topps anymore, or with my luck at ever pulling anything good.  Because I almost never do.

Here's the inserts and Angels I got.

OK so once I saw this Yu Darvish card I was happy.

Got yet ANOTHER stinkin coin.  9 for 9 on lousy virtual coins.

Trum-Bomb #17

Seventeenth of the season and 3rd in his last 4 games!  Mark hit this solo shot in the 8th inning, the second blast of a back-to-back with Kendrys Morales.  This one came off of former Angel Shane Loux in a 6-0 win over the Giants.  That's 7 dingers in June already.

Two From Little Rock

Sent a couple cards to players on the Angels AAA team in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Arkansas Travelers. Two were returned on the same day.

Ariel Pena came back after just seven days.

Nice loopy autograph, kinda looks like an umbrella.

Casey Haerther came back in 18 days.

His sharpie was thick, so he must be signing a lot of stuff.

Glad to have these two "Future Angels" in my collection.

Trum-Bomb #16

Mark hit #16 Monday night off  recent perfect-gamer Matt Cain of the Giants, a solo shot to tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the second inning.  The Angels ended up losing the game 5-3 though.

Leo Cardenas Signed Card

 

I had gotten Chico Cardenas autograph in the past for my All-Time Angels collection, but since I've been working on 1965 Topps lately I figured I'd get him to sign this one as well.

Chico, or Leo as he likes to be called, signed this card in 16 days from his home in Cincinnati.

Trum-Bomb #15

Mark went deep in the first inning Saturday, a two-run shot off D'Backs starter and former Angel Joe Saunders, for all the runs the Angels would need in a near perfect game from Ervin Santana.  It was Trumbo's 15th of the season.  It was also the first time Joe Saunders had faced his former team since the Angels traded him in 2010.  Nice to see you again Joe. 

Bible Card Sunday - Brian Harper

Brian Harper was a catcher and left fielder from 1979-1995, making his MLB debut for the California Angels on September 29, 1979.  He went on to play with the Pirates, Cardinals, Tigers, A's, Twins, and Brewers.  He made it to the World Series twice, losing with the Cardinals in 1985, and then winning with the  Twins in 1991.  After his playing career was over Harper was a manager in the Angels farm system from 2001-2007.

Brian added the popular John 14:6 to his signature

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me."

More Tim Salmon For The Collection

Added some new Tim Salmon cards to my collection.

1993 Major League Baseball Rookies Playing Cards 

1993 Leaf Triple Play #37

1993 Studio #114 

1993 Upper Deck 5th Anniversary #A15

1994 Score #635

1996 Topps ProFiles #AL-20

1997 Bowman #5

2000 Fleer Mystique #92

Wanted: 2008 Topps Heritage Angels

I received this Mike Napoli card in a trade recently:

That led me to check my 2008 Topps Heritage Angels team set where I found that I needed a handful.

If you have any available, I'd love to trade with you.

Here's what I need to complete the team set:

461 Figgins SP

490 Vladdy AS SP

510 Saunders

635 Izturis

636 Rivera

711 Angels SP

Contest For Vintage Cards

At Number 5 Type Collection.  Check it out.

Alex Johnson Signed Sports Illustrated

I recently saw on SCN that Alex Johnson was signing some things through the mail, so I sent him a letter asking permission to send him the 1971 Sports Illustrated with him on the cover.  A bit later I received my letter back in the SASE and written on the letter was "Send it." in blue sharpie.  So I did.  Another little bit later I received my SI.

There's Alex Johnson's autograph on his right insleeve.

Sweet.

I'd gotten Alex about 8 years ago or so.  He signed a baseball card and index card and included a signed Reds postcard.

I had wanted him to sign this SI for a long time but was always afraid to send it.

Glad I finally did.

Angels Debut #113 Lou Burdette

Selva Lewis Burdette

Pitcher 

Bats: Right, Throws: Right 

Height: 6' 2", Weight: 180 lb.

Born: November 22, 1926 in Nitro, WV

School: University of Richmond (Richmond, VA)

MLB Debut: September 26, 1950 New York Yankees

Final MLB Game: July 16, 1967 California Angels

Died: February 6, 2007 in Winter Garden, FL 

Years with the Angels: 1966-1967

ANGELS TRANSACTIONS:

November 29, 1965: Signed as a Free Agent with the California Angels.

September 23, 1967: Released by the California Angels.

ANGELS DEBUT:

Entered the game as a reliever to Marcelino Lopez with two outs and a man on second in the bottom of the 8th inning trailing 3-1 and the first batter he faced, John Romano (per retrosheet) "made an out to third" (whatever that means). In the 9th Burdette got two quick outs, gave up a single, then got a force out to finish the inning.  The Angels failed to score in the bottom of the ninth losing 3-1 to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, April 19, 1966 (N) at Anaheim Stadium.

ANGELS RECORD:

1966-1967

In 98 innings over 73 games went 8-2, 3.67 ERA.  Credited with 6 saves.

Best Angels Performance:

Pitched 4 innings of no-hit ball in relief of Jim McGlothlin and got the win in a 6-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, June 15, 1966 (N) at Metropolitan Stadium.

Final Angels Game:

Threw 1 inning of scoreless, hitless relief in a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, July 16, 1967 (D) at Metropolitan Stadium.

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS:

• Originally signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947.
• Also played for the Yankees (1950); Boston Braves (51-52); Milwaukee Braves (53-63); Cardinals (63-64); Cubs (64-65); Phillies (65).
• Pitched in the 1957 (W) and 1958 (L) World Series with Milwaukee.
• Threw 3 complete game victories in 1957 World Series.
• Was named 1957 World Series MVP.
• No-Hit the Phillies on August 18, 1960.
• 2-time NL All-Star (1957 & 1959).
• NL ERA Leader (1956).
• NL Wins Leader (1959).
• NL Complete Games Leader (1960).
• 2-time NL Shutouts Leader (1956 & 1959).
• 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1958 & 1959).
• Hit 12 home runs in his career.
• Hit 2 home runs in a game twice.