C.S.I. Cardboard - 1974 Topps Fran Healy

This is my second attempt to take a card and try to find out what game the picture was taken at.  The first was last year with a 1994 Topps George Brett which you can read about here.  I decided to give it another shot when I received a trade package from Anthony at Get The Bat Off Your Shoulder and it included several Royals including the subject of this version of C.S.I. Cardboard, a 1974 Topps Fran Healy.

The Clues

First, we have the subject of the card, Kansas City Royals catcher, Fran Healy.  The second clue, and this is what originally caught my eye, was the play at the plate with #15 sliding into home.  White uniform, black or "midnight blue" letters (but no visible pinstripes?), #15, sideburns.....none other than the legendary Thurman Munson.  It appears that Munson is scoring a run as Healy is preparing to catch the throw.  Because of the Royals powder blues and the Yankees home whites, we can assume the game was played in New York.  Night game???   Hard to say, photography is not what it is today so we will have to go with the four things we "know":

     1.  Fran Healy was catching for the Royals.

     2.  Thurman Munson was playing for the Yankees.

     3.  Thurman Munson scored a run.

     4.  Game played at Yankee Stadium.

The Story

The Royals played the Yankees six times in New York during the 1973 season.  The Yankees scored a run in all six games.  Healy and Munson both appeared in three of those games, but Munson only scored a run in one of them.  Three scoring opportunities appear in the box score.  

The first was in the bottom of the 2nd after Munson reached on a fielder's choice when he grounded to Freddie Patek who threw to Cookie Rojas for a force out at second base.  Munson would move to second on an error by Patek during Gene Michael's at bat.  He would then move to third on a grounder to second by Horace Clarke.  Munson then scored on a single to left by Matty Alou.  It is doubtful that Munson would have had to slide trying to score from third on a single to left. (Not that it couldn't have happened.)

The second opportunity was in the bottom of the 4th when Munson tripled off Royals starter Dick Drago.  The next batter, Michael, lined to the second basemen for the second out of the inning and then Clarke singled to left scoring Munson.  Again, doubtful that Munson would have needed to slide on a single to left.

Munson's third and final scoring opportunity would come in the bottom of the 5th when he drew a walk off Royals reliever Steve Mingori (which was the other 74 Topps card Anthony sent...hmm!) moving Johnny Callison to second.  Michael was next and hit a double to left field (and I will assume to left-center here because of the angle of Healy in comparison to Munson sliding) scoring Callison and Munson.  This play is most likely the play pictured on the card.  Munson scoring from 1st on a double would have likely resulted in a somewhat close play at the plate, enough for Munson to have gotten dirty.  

The Yankees would go on to win that game 10-3.  Healy, the card's subject, would go 2 for 3 in the game with one RBI.  Munson, would end up going 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a walk.  He would raise his average to .294 with this perfect day.  Munson would be an All-Star during the 1973 season while also winning his first gold glove.

The Day

July 12, 1973 - Bottom of the 5th Inning

Case Closed!

2012 Trade Post #9 - Get The Bat Off Your Shoulder

Anthony from Get The Bat Off Your Shoulder and myself helped each other complete our 1992 Topps sets.  He sent me a big stack from 1992 including the Iron Man and the Big Hurt.

He also sent me 4 of the last 5 cards I needed for my 1983 set including the biggest set of 1980s shades you have ever seen and a perfect picture of fundamentals for infielders.  By looking at Guy's stats it reveals that he literally couldn't "get the bat of his shoulder".

Finally, Anthony got me closer to completion of my 2011 Heritage set with some great cards including Mr. Angel and Mr. Ray, Albert and Evan.

Thanks for a great trade and enjoy your completed 1992 Topps set.

Local Card Shop - Wes' Baseball Cards - Lincoln, NE and Opening Day Baseball

Warm weather + Opening Day baseball = Road Trip.  Today, I headed north to Lincoln, Nebraska for the University of Nebraska home opener against Kansas State.  I went for the Wildcats NOT the Huskers!!!  I remembered a card shop that I visited about 8 years ago so I decided to see if it was still in business.  I found Wes' Baseball Cards to still be in business and full of cards like I remembered.    Wes' Baseball Cards has everything you will need...boxes of commons, many different types of wax packs and boxes, graded cards, relic cards, vintage cards, supplies.  You name it, he has it.  The store is full but very organized.  I had a great conversation with the owner prior to heading to the game and ended up spending an hour and a half finding cards to check off my want list.  Staying true to my promise to not buy any 2012 Topps but work on my set needs I came away with the stash you see below.

A few cards from 7 different sets including 1973, 1983, 1992, 2009, 2010, and 2011.  The one card at the bottom right, a 2009 Topps Chris Dickerson, was the final card I needed to complete my 2009 Topps set.  That was worth the trip right there.  However, if you look at the top left, you will notice what I am most pleased with.  A big stack of 1973 Topps including many high numbers!  I have yet to check, but I am pretty sure this will knock my set needs under 50 as there are well over 100 cards here.

Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost today in an exciting game.  But the day was worthwhile with a trip to Wes' Baseball Cards.  Stop by if you are ever in need of anything!  Here is his information below.

2012 Trade Post #8 - Coot Veal and the Vealtones

Dustin from Coot Veal and the Vealtones and I completed our first trade.  While his cards are on the way with some Orioles and Tigers, I received some nice additions to my Royals collection as well as some fillers for some of my set needs.  I want to highlight the first group of cards because that is what got the trade started. A Justin Huber auto along with a Alex Gordon Bowman parallel and a Joakim Soria Chrome parallel.  I would imagine not many of you have probably heard of Huber.  Justin Huber spent 5 years with the Royals, Padres, and Twins systems, then went to Japan and finally to his native Australia.  I don't know where he will be spending this season, but it looks as if his Major League career my be finished.  It is still a cool card that I am glad to add to my Royals notebook.

The rest of the trade consisted of some more Royals including my first 1975 Topps Mini of Vada Pinson.

Some 1992 Topps, 2009 Topps, 2010 Topps, and 2011 Heritage to help fill some set needs.  Here are the 1992 Mattingly, Olerud, and Mussina cards.

Some very important 1973 Topps for my big project which put me over 500 cards of the set.  They just happen to be the Braves, Giants, and Orioles team cards.

And finally, what may be the best card of the trade, one of the last cards I need for my 1983 Topps set, a Wade Boggs rookie.

Thanks Dustin for a great trade.  I hope you will enjoy your cards that are on the way.

Collecting Goals - A Look Back at the First 2 Months of 2012

For the first time this year, I set some collecting goals for myself figuring that would keep me on task rather than the usual randomness of my collecting.  I figured now would be a good time to go back and see what I have done since a goal is only as good as the effort put into it.  Back in January, here is what I listed as my 5 goals for 2012, where I was then, where I am today and how I got there.

1.  Complete the 1973 Topps Set.  43.5% Complete on 1/1/2012.  75.5% Complete (498/660) on 3/4/2012.   2 trades/1 eBay purchase/COMC.

2.  Complete the 1983 Topps Set.  98.4% Complete on 1/1/2012.  98.5% Complete (780/792) on 3/4/2012.  1 trade with 2 more on the way.

3.  Complete the 2000 Topps HD Set.  76% Complete on 1/1/2012.  98% Complete (98/100) on 3/4/2012 (Need 76 Sean Casey and 78 Juan Gonzalez).  2 eBay purchases/COMC.

4.  Complete the 2009-2012 Topps Base Sets.  None completed on 1/1/2012.  Only ones currently not done as of 3/4/2012 are 2009 Series I (One Card Challenge) and 2010 Series II (Need 4 Cards).  This has been my biggest success through a LCS/5 trades/4 eBay purchases/COMC.

5.  Start working on 1 set per decade beginning in the 1970s.  1973, 1983 were started by 1/1/2012.  1973 and 1983 still going, 1991 and 1992 started and about to be done with a couple trades, no 2000s started yet.  Upon completion, the next sets to be started will be 1975, 1981, 1993, and ???.

I think I have made quite a bit of progress over the last two months.  I was hoping to have the 1983 set out of the way, but I have a couple trades in the works that will bring in most of those and then I will finish it off from COMC.  So while I am disappointed with that, I am pretty sure that I can have that one crossed off before the end of the month.  I would also like to get the 2000 Topps HD finished soon.  I am down to 2 cards but am having a hard time locating them.  The recent Topps base sets are where I have really had success.  Looks like I will be able to get those knocked out within the month as well.

However, my #1 goal, my big project, 1973 Topps, will keep me busy throughout the year.  I am getting to the point where all I have left are the star cards and the high number series.  I am hopeful that I can get to some card shows this summer to try to get some good prices on those cards and work toward completion.

One Card Challenge - 2009 Topps - #114 Chris Dickerson

So I have taken part in my first One-Card Challenge by Night Owl.  I have been trying to get some of my wantlists cleared off before buying any 2012 packs.  So far, between trades, eBay, and COMC, I have made quite a dent over the last couple of months.  However, I need one card to complete my 2009 Topps base set so I decided to take part in the challenge.  It is #114 Chris Dickerson.

  

Thanks to Night Owl for putting this Challenge together.

Dmitri Young to Sell Card Collection

According to Pat Neshek's twitter account, the card collection of Dmitri Young is about to go up for sale.  I read about Young's impressive collection of Gem Mint rookie cards when the original story came out in 2008.  Sounds like a lot of money is about to change hands and new records for some of those cards could be reached.  Here is a link to the original story about his collection from PSA.

Personally, I can say that I don't own one single graded card.  Never found the point in it for the average collector.  However, if you are wanting to make a business out of it, I think that is the only way to go.  Buy cheap, get it slabbed, and sell high.  I have thought about sending one of my cards in to get graded, but just haven't pulled the trigger.  If I ever decide to sell it, I will spend the money to see what kind of grade I can get.  My one card worthy of grading.....

I use to have two of these.  If you want to know what happened to the 2nd one, you will need to listen to  the Thorzul's first Card Wars podcast in which I came out victorious.  Here is the link to my original post about that, and here is the link to the post at Thorzul Will Rule.

Who Knew A Trip to the Dentist Would Be the Highlight of My Day!

Or at least the events after the trip were the highlight of my day.  A week and a half ago I spent 38 straight hours awake.  Not because I was busy working, but because a had a ridiculous toothache that only got worse when I laid down.  Turns out I needed my first root canal.  Not much fun, but definitely not even close to what people said it was going to be like.  Actually, it was absolutely painless.  I did get to sort through a lot of cards though instead of getting some sleep.

So today I head to my regular dentist to get a temporary crown put on that tooth.  Turns out this is more painful than the whole root canal thing.  Anyway, before I head back to work I decide to hit the Dollar General store in search of some cheap packs...fail!  However, it just so happens that the other half of the building is a antique mall.  Now you know where this is going.....

Upon looking at the first glass case I notice some baseball cards.  Wow, a complete 1990 Score set for $20.   I immediately asked the nice lady to open the case so I could get a closer look at......the 3 cards sitting next to the set.  The first was a 1971 Frank Bertaina for $0.10.  Sold!  I am not collecting the 71 set.  I am not even collecting Cardinals, but I will always spend a dime on a piece of 41 year old cardboard.

The other two cards are what actually caught my eye.  Both 1973 Topps, the current obsession of my set collecting.  I dig out my phone to search my blog to make sure that I need them.  I really think the lady thought I was going to be checking prices or something because I got this strange look from her when I did this.  The first card was a 1973 Bobby Winkles, manager of the California Angels (I really wish they would have kept the California name instead of becoming the LA Angels).  I already have this card but I thought it would be a upgrade for what I currently had so I grabbed it for $0.45.  Turns out the cards had a scratch across the face of it that you can see in the scan.  While the corners are better than what I currently have, I am afraid this card is going to my doubles box.  However, I discovered an oddity about one of the coaches on this card, that will warrant a later post.

The next card was a 1973 Dave Marshall #513 and I needed it.  So I plunked down a couple quarters for this one so I could come home and mark off one more card on my 1973 Topps want list.  

Dave Marshall would finish a 7 years major league career in 1973 with the San Diego Padres.  I found the back of the card more intriguing for a couple of reasons.  First, the write-up says he was able to hit 3 Grand Slammers during his NL career.  It then goes on to specifically mention the first and second ones giving the date and opponent.  I guess the third just wasn't that important as it is not mentioned at all.  However, the cartoon on the back summarizes Dave's career with what every players dreads...."Dave is an effective pinch-hitter." At least he was able to have 7 years in the majors even if he wasn't an "effective everyday hitter."  I miss those great cartoons.

So the trip to the dentist was not a total waste.  Three pieces of 40 year old cardboard for $1.05, and the highlight of my day!

Royals Pitchers and Catchers Report Tomorrow - Time to Celebrate with....

...the first showing of one of my favorite baseball movies and the philosophy of the great Lou Brown!

And it doesn't hurt to watch it while sorting through cards.  Baseball season.  Gotta love it!!!

“People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”
—Rogers Hornsby

2012 Trade Post #7 - Blog Reader Jason

I got an email from Jason regarding a Royals Team Set from the 2011 Topps Diamond Anniversary Set.  He was willing to send them to me since he only wanted the Rangers cards.  I was happy to oblige.  When I got them in the mail the other day, they went straight into my Royals binder.  Here is the first page of the set.  Notice the Diamond Anniversary logo along with the "Factory Set Limited Edition" right above the player's name.  Thanks Jason!