One Page of Bob Perry

This series will highlight "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former Angels and Patriots players and personnel.

   Bob Perry,  Outfielder, California Angels 1963-1964

Correspondance received prior to 2005.

Bob Perry was signed by the Giants in 1953, but didn't make it to bigs until the Angels signed him in 1963. In the minors he had 5 seasons with 20+ home runs. He appeared in 131 games for the Halos over two seasons and batted .266 with 6 HR and 30 RBI. In 1965 he was traded to the Pirates for Julio Gotay, but never made it back to the Majors.

Mr. Perry passed away in July 2017, he was 82.

Checkin' It Off - 1975 Topps Checklist Set

Featuring one of my completed checklist sets.

The Topps issue for 1975 was a 660-card set that included 5 checklists.

Each checklist covers 132 cards. There was no Traded set issued for 1975.

I'm disappointed that with 18 different color combinations in the set to choose from (I used Night Owls 1975 Topps blog as a reference) Topps only went with two different for the checklists. It's pretty clear that this was the intent, but why then not make them all the same combo if you're not going to make them all different combos? I'm not sure if the pink background on the two are supposed to be the same shade and the lower one is just a lighter printing, or they are intended to be different.

Interesting that the card numbers on the first three cards are scattered all over. Also interesting that Hank Aaron was on card #1 and on the last card of the set #660. Surprisingly there are no variations in this checklist set, which were so common in previous Topps issues.

All-in-all it's a pretty little checklist set.

The Express Meets the Dark Knight

Picked up a couple of Nolan Ryan's recently on Listia. I originally thought that I already had the 87 Donruss. Glad I double-checked before I passed this auction up, because it turned out that I didn't. I'm not much into the newer retro cards for my PC guys, but this was a two-card lot so I went for it.

1987 Donruss Highlights #53

2019 Diamond Kings DK205 Series 205-11

I was also able to snag this hard-to-find 1995 Skybox The Adventures of Batman & Robin Over-Size Prototype Card #S1

It's an odd size at 10.5 X 7.5, and I'm pretty sure it has not been trimmed. Unfortunately, my favorite Animated Batman villian, Clay Face, isn't represented.  I definately would have replaced Batgirl with Clay Face. The TCDB description for this card calls it an "8-Card Panel" but I wouldn't really call these "cards" because of the back:

...which is one biiiig back, and is representative of the backs found on the individual cards in the set.

Apparently there is also a "NNO 9-Card Panel" out there somewhere, which I have never even seen.

Completed Angels Team Set - 1988 Topps

In the 792-card 1988 Topps set, the Angels had 30 cards (even though the Doug DeCinces card says "Now with Cardinals"). Probably about the average number of cards for a team set. I could do the research to find out exactly what the average per team was, but c'mon, it's 1988 Topps.

 Rookie cards include Mark Ryal, DeWayne Buice, and Gus Polidor.

AUTOGRAPHED: Kirk McCaskill, Gary Pettis, Johnny Ray, Mark McLemore, Jerry Reuss, Willie Fraser, Wally Joyner, Doug DeCinces, Bob Boone, and Gary Lucas.

The Angels had five players in the 132-card Traded Set, and included one of Jim Abbotts most recognized rookie cards. Bryan Harvey is not listed as a rookie card in my SCBC, but I believe that this card actually is. Autographs of Bryan Harvey and Cookie Rojas.

Bob Boone made it into the box bottom set on this beautiful blue bordered cut card from Panel A.

I also have the whole panel, because a team set would not be complete without it, Boone being card D. Noting Boones record for a catcher, he went on to catch 2,225 games. Carton Fisk overtook him by one game at 2,226, and Ivan Rodriguez later shattered the record at 2,427 cames caught.

New 13-1/2 Year TTM Return Record

You read that right.

I mailed 3 cards to Dave Engle on Jan 18, 2007 and just got them back today. That's 4,929 days, or 13 1/2 years! Pretty sure that's now my new longest wait. The previous longest wait was from Kevin Romine at 3,916 days. Coincidentaly, those were also sent in 2007.

I wanted Engels autograph on the '83 and '84 Topps cards for those sets I'm working (or was more actively working 13 years ago!). I also like minor league autographed cards, hence the 1991 Line Drive. I think Dave threw in the '86 Topps as it wasn't in my records that I included one. It's available if anyone needs it.

One Page of Harvey Shank

This series will highlight "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former Angels and Patriots players and personnel.

   Harvey Shank, RHP California Angels 1970

Correspondence received sometime before 2005.

In his only appearance in MLB, he threw three scoreless innings of relief against the A's before being replaced by a pinch hitter. His lifetime ERA is 0.00.

Mr. Shank has been with the Phoenix Suns Front Office since the 71-72 season, and his 10th as Senior Executive Vice President.

Another Long Overdue TTM

Norris was signed by the Angels in early 2017 and ended up going 62 innings, with a 2-6 record and 19 saves. Initially he was a long reliever, but after Cam Bedrosion went on the DL, Norris became the closer. He left by free agency after his only season with the Angels.

I sent these two cards to Bud at Anaheim Stadium in June 2017, and got them back yesterday after 1,127 days, postmarked in Austin, TX.

That's a Wrap(per)

I received a PWE from GCRL (Cards As I See Them) recently and was surprised to see a couple of wrappers in it. I was thinking, "Oh, like Zippy, he likes to use wrappers to protect the cards". Except these weren't just ordinary wrappers used to protect the cards.

Two more for the Mike Trout Wrappers Collection.

I haven't been out much, and when I have baseball cards have been scarce at my local Target and Walmart. I didn't even know Trout was on these wrappers. These are both Hobby packs, so I'll have to keep an eye out for the retail packs as well.

I thought at first I might have been missing that 1992 Pinnacle Lance Parrish, but no.

Newest info card from Topps. I wonder if National Baseball Day has been/will be cancelled due to Covid. The backside has info on the 2020 Home Run Challenge. Cancelled due to Covid, I'm assuming.

Thanks Jim!

Baseball Card #444 - 2020 Topps

Newest Baseball Card #444 from 2020 Topps Series Two.

GCRL jumped all over this one, remembering that I collect #444 baseball cards, and included it in a recent PWE with some other cards (post coming up).

Do pitchers really get credit for "inducing" a triple play? It's not like he was intentionally thinking he would create one, or that there was even the potential for one behind him. That's a stretch.

Contest Winnings And Then Some

I won a prize recently as part of Chavez Ravining's contest back in June, Alex posted about "the card that started it all"...the card that got him started collecting. He asked the question, and held a contest. Of the 15 winners selected I was #13 and here are my winnings:

Two really sweet relic cards. I was especially happy to get the Votto, since I'm a "Someday I'll Have a PC of Joey Votto" guy. The Moncada card is just awesome, I can't stop staring at it.

Along with the contest winnings, Alex threw in a bunch of Angels cards gratis, most of which are parallels and inserts.

AND there were also thirteen other cards to boot!

Oh and the card(s) that started it all for me?

Two wax boxes of 1983 Topps, in 1983.

Keep up the great blogging Alex, and thanks again for the contest.

Model Update

Recent builds

I was on an airplane kick several months ago and built this very basic Japanese Zero. I've had this kit for probably 30 years, picked it up for a buck at a 99c Only store in California.

This 1/72 Focke Wulf 190D-9 was given to me earlier this year by a friend at church. He's a long retired toy distributor and had a few left in his stash.

I almost completely ruined the build when I went to spray it with a matte finish, the paint came out heavy and milkey. Turned out okay.

I found this kit at my daughters resale shop, no, actually she found it for me, sent me a picture, and I said, "Save it for me!" It's a farly sought-after kit, this version was re-released in 2003.

You might recognize the one-off 1955 Lincoln Future since it's the car that became the Batmobile. The kit is fairly basic, but the fit is really poor making it a tough build.

One of my favorite cars, the Model T, and one of my favorite kits, the AMT 1925 Model T Ford. This kit offers two complete cars in one box: build a traditional Model T AND a hot rod Model T. The choices are limitless!

I decided to customize one into a Ford Speedster, a stripped down version used for early racing.

This is the Revell 1926 Ford Model T Sedan. I built this kit like the one that was issued in the late 70's of a custom car by Lil John Buttera.

Revell had a line of 4 cars by Buttera in the late 70's, this build is the second of the four. I hope to build the set at some point.

That's it for now. I have two more cars in the works, and more in the pipeline.

Very Cool Stuff From Padrographs

Rod had a sudden Free Stuff Friday post last week after a time off from hitting us consistently with free stuff  through March and April. I was able to claim some pretty sweet cards, some that I had never seen before. But before we see those, I wanted to show off Rods new logo sticker:

I've alway thought that this was one of the more genius logos out there. It tells you all you need to know about Rod: Padres and Autographs. I love it.

1961 Topps Sports Cars

I have never seen these before, and when I did on the Free Stuff Friday post my eyes popped out and I asked for all 7 of them. I then realized that there was a 4-card cap, so I asked Rod to pick out any 4, and he picked me out some beauties. The complete 66-card set is pretty pricey, and I'm glad to have these 4, but I'm pretty sure that I wont be chasing the set.

2020 Donruss Signature Series SS-PS

Rod also included this sweet Patrick Sandoval autograph. Sandoval had 9 starts for the Angels last year, and went 0-4. He was aquired via trade with the Astros for catcher Martin Maldonado.

Thick as a Brick

I received a fat bubble mailer today from Too Many Verlander's and it was pretty close to being as thick as a brick.

Thick as a Brick Part I

Three stuffed team bags of mostly Angels and Patriots, sealed with the complementary blue painters tape (THANK YOU for NOT using scotch tape!)

When I saw the note on the painters tape above, I was a bit confused at first because even though I am a Patriots collector, I'm not a Michigan Wolverines collector. Fortunately Dennis also included a postcard note that cleared up my confusion: Dennis is a Wolverines collector, and most if not all of the Patriots he included are dupes from his Wolverines collection.

Thick as a Brick Part II

2006 Sweet Spot Signatures #SSS-GM

Whoa! Heavy hitter here of a sweet signed mini-mini helmet. Unfortunatly for Mills though, after being drafted in 2006 he was fourth on the Patriots depth chart at TE, behind studs Ben Watson and Daniel Graham, and never got to play. He bounced around to a few other teams before the Pats signed him again in 2011, but relegated him to the practice squad.

See how thick this thing is? I think that this may just be the thickest card in my collection.

1990 Topps #420 Regular and Disclaimer Back

If your a purist team collector you have to know about the "Disclaimer Back" variations in 1990 Topps Football. Therefore, you need two team sets. On top of that, I believe there is a variation to the disclaimer backs as well. THREE team sets of 1990 Topps Football?

1996 Upper Deck SP Holoview #32

VERY cool card, you have to see it in person to get the full effect: like a magic-motion, holgraphic, refractor. Glenn goes from a serious football look to a big ahppy grin as you move the card back and forth.

1993 Upper Deck SP #262

One of the few Abbott cards showing him batting, let alone showing his right hand. I love it. Love his expression, love the coach manning the camara, love the chain link fence all beat up and hanging down.

1988-89 Broder Type NNO

Love this card too. Not sure that it's a Broder though, I'll have to do more research.

1992 Triple Play #168

If I were Junior Felix, I wouldn't be too happy about this card. There's more of Pete O'Briens backside than there is of Junior Felix.

1992 Pro Set #381

Great card. Even though it's a 1992, I love the old-school look of Marv Cooks pose and the way he wears his uniform. The handwarmer with the old Pats logo is an added bonus. Great that he's running right at the cameraman too.

1993 Pinnacle Team 2001

At one time I had started collecting the Team 2000 sets, but that desire petered out and I never finished them. It's a great design, and I even have a couple that are printing errors: the gold foil never got printed on the cards.