Sunday, April 29, 2012

Bible Card Sunday - Bobby Doerr


Bobby Doerr is a National Baseball Hall of Famer, elected in 1986.
Doerr enjoyed a 14 year career (1937-1951) all with the Boston Red Sox
and was a 9-time All-Star.
You can read all about him here.



Bobby included this signed testimonial card with an autograph request I sent many years ago.  I'm not sure if he still includes these or not.

One of the verses Bobby wanted included in the card text is Jesus speaking in John 14:6
"No comes to the Father except through me."


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Official Mike Napoli Home Run Count In Cards #7

A new card added every time Mike Napoli hits a home run!


Mike Napoli hits his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot as the lead-off batter in the bottom of the fourth off David Phelps with Rangers leading the Yankees 4-0.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Catching Up With Mail Returns

George Thomas played for the Angels from 1961-1963 after being purchased from the Tigers.  He signed this card and answered a couple questions in 9 days from his home in Sarasota Florida.  George responded that "Being sent to the L.A. Angels was the best thing that happened to me.  Got a chance to play more games."


Sam Mele signed his mouth shut on this 1954 Topps Archive card, and signed half his name across the "TWINS" making it difficult to see on the 1965 Topps, but I'm still good with that.
These came back in only 6 days from Quincy, Mass.


Eighty year old Bill Virdon did everything right on these two cards I sent him 5 days prior.  Nice thin blue sharpie on a 1965 Topps and a 1954 Topps Archive, signed in nice locations on each card.  Bill answered some simple questions one of which asked what his favorite meal was. "Hickory smoked steak" was his answer.  My kinda guy Bill Virdon.



Bill Wakefield signed this pretty 1965 Topps card in 8 days from his home in San Rafael, California.  I'm seeing a nice trend here with these 1965 Topps ballplayers...about a week turnaround on TTMs.
Bill also included a color two-page overview of his career from a blog entry.  "1965 TOPPS" I'm guessing?


Another former Angel I received a signed 1965 Topps card from was Len Gabrielson.  Again in 8 days.
Len played for the Angels in 1967 before his final 4 seasons, all with the Dodgers.


Got a late Spring Training return from Michael Wing.  These were sent to the Padres facility back on February 28th.  This is Michaels first season in the Padres organization.

Monday, April 23, 2012

More 1965 Topps Acquired


My favorite from the lot.  A Dodger, a catcher, palm trees in the background.  Perfect.


And a nice variety of classic poses.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

Bible Card Sunday - Dave Wickersham


Dave Wickersham enjoyed a nice 10 season career with the Athletics, Tigers, Pirates and Royals from 1960-1969.  

From wikipedia:
His 19 victories [in 1964] also was a career-mark, missing a 20-win season only because of an ejection in his last start from a ballgame which was tied 1–1 in the 7th inning. Mickey Lolich relieved him and earned a 4–2 win. Wickersham was ejected after calling time out three times to try to keep a base runner from advancing as Norm Cash argued with the call by Bill Valentine. Wickersham, a born-again Christian, had never been ejected from any game all his life up to the time this took place. Valentine apparently deeply regretted the call for years, saying he had been "too impulsive" in his ejection; however, Wickersham wrote him a letter in 2004, reassuring the ump that he made the right call, in an attempt to relieve him of his burden.


Mr. Wickersham signed my card in only 7 days from his home in Kansas.  He added Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Humbers Gem

PERFECT GAME!
Way to go Man!

Official Mike Napoli Home Run Count In Cards #6

A new card added every time Mike Napoli hits a home run!

Mike hit #6 against the Tigers in the first game of a double-header. He hit it in the top of the ninth to make the game 10-4.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Official Mike Napoli Home Run Count - #5

Another card added everytime Mike Napoli hits a home run!


Nap hit number 5 tonight against the Detroit Tigers.

New Trout and Trumbo

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


Trumbos in my Trumbo Collection:
2005 Just Minors Justifiable #81 Orem Owlz
2006 Bowman #B14
2006 Bowman #B14 Gold
2006 Bowman Chrome #BC14
2006 Bowman Chrome #BC14 Refractor 102/500
2006 Bowman Originals #BO16
2006 Bowman Sterling Prospect #BSP-MT
2007 Kernals Team Set #22
2011 Bowman #193
2011 Bowman #193 Gold
2011 Bowman #193 Blue 021/500
2011 Bowman Topps of the Class #TC10
2011 Bowman Brightest #BBR3
2011 Bowman Chrome #173
2011 Bowman Platinum #21
2011 Bowman Platinum #21 Gold
2011 Bowman Platinum #21 Emerald
2011 Bowman Platinum #21 Ruby
2011 Bowman Sterling XDR-MT Dual Relic Refractor 114/199
2011 Topps #57
2011 Topps #57 Diamond Anniversary
2011 Topps #57 Gold 0086/2011
2011 Topps Update #57 Cognac Diamond Anniversary
2011 Topps Update Next 60 Certified Autograph #N60A-MT
2011 Topps Chrome #178
2011 Topps Chrome #178 Autograph
2011 Topps Chrome #178 Refractor
2011 Topps Chrome #178 Refractor Orange
2011 Topps Chrome #178 Xfractor
2011 Topps Chrome #178 Atomic Refractor 045/225
2011 Topps Chrome #178 Sepia 54/99
2011 Topps Chrome #157 Refractor Purple 083/499
2011 Topps Chrome #157 Refractor Blue 96/99
2011 Topps Chrome Heritage #C122 1458/1962
2011 Topps Allen & Ginters #263
2011 Topps Heritage #404
2011 Angel Magazine Vol. 8/No. 4 Insert
2012 Topps #106
2012 Topps #281 (3B 3B)
2012 Topps Gold Futures #GF-15
2012 Topps Heritage #211
Custom All-Time Angels Team Set

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Edgardo Alfonzo Anyone?

Did I see recently on a blog that someone has an Edgardo Alfonzo collection?

And would that person like these cards?


Let me know and they're yours!

Monday, April 16, 2012

A Trade Post I Got Right

After messing up my last trade post by losing my notes and not giving a shoutout to those who sent me cards, I was careful to keep organized for this one.

Someday I'll do a post on a single package and show every card therein, but often there are just too many cards in the package to scan and mention each one.  So usually, as in this post, I'll pick a hand full of my favorites in each package to show you.

First up, cards from Baseball Dad.

The verdict is still out on these gold cards, although this is a good one of Tyler Chatwood.
He really stands out from the background.

Dad saw my post on 2012 Heritage I needed for my team set so he sent this Jeremy Moore 2012 Rookie Stars card.

Three Salmon.
The first one is a 1996 Collectors Choice You Crash The Game #CG8.
Talk about a stunning card!
The second is a nice 1994 Fleer from the Tim Salmon ROY set.
And on the end is another Salmon I needed from 1994 Fleer Sunoco Atlantic set.

Nice selection of Rod Carew in Angels gear.
There was also a nice selection of cards from the 80's and 90's, and a nice bunch of 2012 Topps off my Want list.  He completed a couple sets! 




Cardboard Catastrophe also saw my Heritage Angels post and sent over two of the cards I needed:

The Jered Weaver is an SP #497, so I'm especially happy to get that one.
Also in envelop was this card:

Now I'm not a big fan of the "shirtless ballplayer" card, but this being a Nolan Ryan card I'll have to overlook his partial nudity.




Padrographs had a post showing the bu-zillion Heath Bell autographs he'd gotten. I needed one of the signed testimonial cards for my collection (to be highlighted on a Bible card Sunday post), so I asked if he had an extra. He did, and sent it with a short stack of Angels.

There's the Heath Bell card in green sharpie.  Is there a story behind the green sharpie?

I liked the framing in this picture of CJ Wilson.

And this Peter Bourjos card is a Gold Rush.
Remember when Score used to have their Gold Rush cards?

Also in the package from Padrographs were a bunch of 2012 Topps, Opening Day and Heritage Angels from my wantlists.




And finally, Potch Wheeler also sent a stack of Angels after I had asked about his Heritage dupes. Although he didn't have any of the Heritage Angels I needed, I was very happy to get some other Angel cards I was lacking.
See? this is a Cognac that just doesn't work for me.  Too much Cognac and not enough Izturis.
That ball's about to bean him you know.

Nice little group of minis from 1987 Fleer and 1987 Topps Leaders.
I don't think I already have that Joyner.

Two 2011 Topps Update Walmart Blue cards.

Two of the four in the Angels team set from the 1987 Fleer Award Winners box set.
I just need John Candalaria and Mike Witt now.  Sweet!

Potch also sent a bunch of 1977-1982 Patriots cards for collection.
I really appreciate those too!

Thanks all.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Bible Card Sunday - Frank Tanana

I would think that anyone that collects autographs through the mail has this Frank Tanana card.  Frank includes it with every request he returns and according to SCN he's practically flawless.  He signs EVERYTHING.  So there must be thousands of these Bible testimonial cards out there.
Way to go Frank.

Frank Tanana is one of my all-time favorite Angels.
His testimony is quite remarkable, if you have the opportunity to read it, do.
You can read a bit of it on this fold-out card.

Frank included John 14:6 with his autograph:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Patriots Autograph of the Month - Lou Saban

Lou Saban was the first Head Coach of the new Boston Patriots of the brand new American Football Conference in 1960. In his last season at Western Illinois, before being hired to head the Patiots, his 1959 team had an undefeated 9–0 record. He coached the Patriots for two seasons 1960-1961. He then went to the Buffalo Bills and led them to the post-season three straight years (1963–1965) with championships in 1964 and 1965. He bounced around between college and the pros until 2002.

Saban played for the Cleveland Browns from 1946-1949 after playing college football for Indiana University.

Lou signed this 1961 Topps card and an index card through the mail in 2005.

He also signed the back. Sweet.

Lou Saban passed away March 29, 2009.

Friday, April 13, 2012

New Tom's Top Ten Want List

I added my Top Ten Want list to the side bar.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Random Pack Of Heritage

Target pack of 2012 Topps Heritage.

In order:

#266 Travis Hafner
Meh.


#265 NL 2012 Rookie Stars
I like these cards a lot.  Think I'll try to get the subset.


#165 New Angels CJ Wilson
CJ went to my high school, Fountain Valley, which is 5 houses and a fire station down to the house I grew up in.  That's my CJ connection.  Glad he's with the Angels now.


#350 Tommy Hanson
Anyone named Tommy is alright with me.


#303 Kim Alexi(s) Ogando
Nothing personal Mr. Ogando.


Target Red #210 Clayton Kershaw
Decent pull for a red card.


#312 Tampa Rays team card
Casey Kotchman led the team in batting average with .306?  Seriously?
Did I just find another uncorrected error?


#357 Allen Craig
I hope that ball pops out of your glove Allen.


#195 Desmond Jennings
I love the All-Star Rookie Cup replacing the portrait circle on these cards.
Awesome!

And that's my random pack of Target 2012 Topps Heritage.
Thank you, thank you very much!