Competed Set - 1996 Pacific Advil Nolan Ryan

Last week I posted an old Advil advertisement in my collection promoting a Nolan Ryan Commemorative set issued by Pacific. Here's the ad again:

The ad included a coupon to send away for a special 27-card Pacific Advil Nolan Ryan Commemorative box set. I had forgotten about that set, and didn't have one, so I jumped on ebay and purchased one. I also purchased an unopened pack.

The 2-card pack was given out to customers who purchased certain Advil items:

and included two cards commemorating Ryans first and last strikeouts.

All packs had the same two cards. The back of the pack also noted that you can send away for the box set for only $3.99 plus $1.50 for shipping and handling (interesting since thats only a little less than I spent on mine 24 years later).

Nice card design, typical of early 90's Pacific with all the royalty bling, as well as a foil "Advil" in the corner.

The cards were numbered 1a and 2a (obviously I opened my pack).

The design front and back is the same you'll see in the 27-card box set. Kinda strange that they numbered them 1a and 2a, as 2a especially wouldn't really fit into the format of the box set in that order.

As mentioned, the 27-card commemorative set came in shrink-wrapped box, with the cards already in numerical order. The first four cards show Ryans four different teams, cards 5-11 celebrate his 7 no-hitters, and the remainder celebrate milestones in his career.

So you can see how card 2a (his last strikeout) wouldn't really fit after his first Angels card #2.

There's a really nice difference in the backs of the no-hitter cards: they show the box score of the no-hitter. Nice touch Pacific.

I'm glad that I re-discovered this sweet, though once forgotten, set.

My Mistake Was My Gain

The other day Card Buzz was mildly lamenting how he accidently sent the wrong letter in a TTM to Storm Davis, it turned out well, but you can go read his post here. I commented that thats a pretty common occurance with TTMers and it had happened to me at least once. I shared how I accidently sent Eric Karros of the Dodgers, an Angels pocket schedule to sign, and how he wrote back and included a signed Dodgers pocket schedule instead.

I remember being kinda surprised to even get the return since Karros had just won the ROY award the previous season, 1992.

Anyhow, I just wanted to show those items off now.

Awesome.

So I not only got the autograph, I got a cool hand-written note, and a great story to tell about it.

Today's TTM Return From Greg Kosc

As you can tell, I've been hitting up umpires lately, umpires that have an association to an Angels accomplishment.

Greg Kosc was the home plate umpire for Mike Witts Perfect Game on the final day of the 1984 season.

I sent Mr. Kosc the 1976 Topps checklist as that was his rookie umpire season, and the 1985 Fleer commemorating the Perfect Game.

And Mr. Kosc made a kind effort to answer a few questions.

Always appreciated!

I sent these to his home in Medina, Ohio and got them back after 8 days.

...And His Famous Dad

Yesterday I posted about the TTM return I got from Umpire Jerry Crawford. When I was researching Jerry's history, I was reminded that he's the son of another notable umpire, Shag Crawford, which I mentioned in the post. I saw that Shag had passed away in 2007 at the age of 90, and I had a regret that I never corresponded with him.

I was looking through my binder of non-Angels correspondence/autographs today and guess what...

I did get it!

Shag was an NL umpire from 1956-1975. Man I bet he saw some really great baseball, and ballplayers.

He was on the field for:

 - Koufax's third no-hitter

 - The Marichal/Roseboro Incident

- And, he ejected Orioles manager Earl Weaver in Game 4 of the 1969 Series

amoung others.

I got this return from Shag Crawford sometime prior to 2005.

Today's TTM Return From Jerry Crawford

Jerry Crawford was the home plate umpire (and crew chief) for Game 7 when the Angels beat the Giants to win their first and only World Series in 2002. If you didn't know, Jerry is also the son of the famous umpire Shag Crawford, and inherited his number 2 after Shag retired in 1975.

I had him sign this 2003 Upper Deck commemorating the Game 7 win.

Jerry was kind enough to answer a couple questions. I love #1...he literally got a break to make it to the bigs.

Jerry signed these in 7 days, returned from his home in St Petersburg, Florida.

Today's TTM Return from Larry Barnett

Larry Barnett was the home plate umpire for the Angels first ever visit to the postseason. They had been an MLB team since 1961, but didn't make it to postseason play until 1979. They met the Orioles that year and were eliminated three games to one. FUN FACT: This was the only ALCS between 1971 and 1981 that did not feature either the Oakland Athletics or the Kansas City Royals.

I chose the 1979 Topps to correspond with the '79 postseason, and the '69 Topps because that was Mr. Barnett's rookie season as an umpire.

Mr. Barnett also included two of his own personal cards.

And was kind enough to answer a few questions.

I sent these to his home in Prospect, Ohio and received them back 7 days later.

Nolan Ryan Binder Tour - Exhibit A

Various clippings and odd keepsakes found in my Nolan Ryan Binder.

Exhibit A

1996 Advil Advertisement

Probably cut from the coupon section in the Sunday paper. Ryan was a spokesman for Advil for several years in the '90s. Kind of a generic picture of him sitting in insleeves and baseball pants in an unidentified dugout. He's looking pretty serious, like he has a headache and needs an Advil.

Along with the dollar off of Advil, you also had the opportunity to send away for this sweet 27-card Nolan Ryan Career Retrospective set from Pacific. Honestly I had forgotten about this set until I was making this post. I don't have the set, but in researching it for the post my desire to have one escalated, so I just purchased one on ebay.

Todays TTM Return From Vic Voltaggio

Vic Voltaggio was the AL Umpire behind the plate for the Langston/Witt No-Hitter in 1990. He umpired in the American League from 1977-1996, and was also behind the plate for the Chris Bosio's no-hitter with the Mariners in 1993, but I was more concerned about that one with the Angels, for my All-Time Angels Collection.

The first time I sent a couple cards to Voltaggio was back in 2013 and he nicely signed those on the front (note that) and answered a few questions. Recently, I was sorting some cards and came across a couple different Langston/Witt no-hitter cards and thought again about Voltaggio. 

Now normally, when I send someone a card and they're not pictured on the card, I put a stickie on the back that says "Please sign the front." I do that because these guys are polite and they dont want to sign across the face of someone else, unless they are asked to do so. Well, I forgot the stickies in this case and guess what happened? 

He signed on the back. Good old Vic Voltaggio. That doesn't bother me one bit though. I've been collecting autographs long enough to be thankful for whatever I get in return. I'm just appreciative he took the time to sign them. Oh, and he took the time to answer a few questions too.

This was sent to Vic's home in Florida, and returnd in 8 days.