Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz

The News of the Day

2012-01-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

I assume you've heard the news.

A super short-printed Albert Pujols in an Angels uniform ...

A super short-printed Jose Reyes in an ugly-ass fish uniform ...

MORE super short prints ...

BORING.

I've already purchased my 330 card series 1 set for $16.00 shipped.

Game changer? Ha.

What dayf Says ...

2012-01-18T09:32:00.002-05:00

http://cardjunk.blogspot.com/2012/01/stop-sopapipa.html

Autograph Collection: Andruw Jones Part 2

2012-01-15T11:25:00.000-05:00

I actually purchased this card before the one I posted yesterday. I had a set a goal of acquiring an Andruw autograph this year, and I was able to score this dirt cheap off of eBay. It wasn't my favorite Andruw auto I saw, but it was the cheapest Buy it Now option. Of course, the very next day, the card I posted yesterday appeared and it was my favorite Andruw auto available, and even better, it was even cheaper than this one.

So, now I have two Andruw autos. I'm not complaining.

Autograph Collection: Andruw Jones

2012-01-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Fleer autograph cards from the early 2000s are always easy favorites of mine, and this is no exception. Andruw has a beautiful signature and it looks great on the wood.

Despite his decline, Andruw has always been a favorite of mine. I don't think any fan will ever forget his rapid rise through the Braves minor league system, and that memorable World Series against the Yankees in 1996. (In fact, he's just about the only thing worth remembering from that World Series team.)

Autograph Collection: Martin Prado

2012-01-13T11:09:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I established that I thought Triple Threads sucks. I really don't even consider it a matter of opinion. That said, unlike the big three triple relic from yesterday, I think this card is rather attractive. If the autograph were on card, it might even be perfect.

I really, really, really hope Martin Prado is wearing a Braves uniform again this season. I don't know that the Braves would be better off with or without him in left field. I suppose it depends upon who they get in a trade. I know that, as a fan, I'd rather have him out there and let the chips fall where they may.

Braves Collection: Triple Threads, Triple Relic, The Big 3

2012-01-12T22:58:00.000-05:00

Well, here's my latest pickup and I can't really say that it's one of my favorite cards of my favorite three players. In fact, I'd say it just looks off. There's just something weird looking in the faces of all the players. I'd go as far to say it's off-putting. That's not really a surprise because Triple Threads sort of Triple Sucks.

On the other hand, it's a card of my three favorite players. I like the Maddux patch and the Glavine bat. It has a nice home in my collection, even if I won't be pulling it out to show off.

How cool is this?

2012-01-03T21:45:00.000-05:00

Nothing will ever make me like Bowman Chrome (or Bowman or Bowman Sterling or Bowman Platinum or Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects), but after reading this kid's reaction to his first card, I know I want a Ryan Tatusko card.

Set Collection: 1977 Topps (Making Progress ...)

2012-01-02T15:52:00.000-05:00

I just got another batch of 1977 cards in from eBay. These were DIRT CHEAP. I like it a lot.

Goals for 2012

2012-01-01T18:17:00.000-05:00

Set Collecting

I finished a number of sets in a flurry at the end of 2011 by choosing to spend my card money wisely rather than opening endless boxes of the same old crap. I'm going to carry this over into 2012.

My primary goal with set collecting is to complete all of the Topps sets released in my lifetime. I was born in November of 1970, so I'm going for everything from 1971 on. Here's what I finished up last year, and what I'll get done this year.

1970s: When 2011 began, only the 1974 base set, the 1974 traded set and the 1976 set were complete. I've now completed 1979, 1978, 1975 and the 1976 traded set. This year, I'll finish off 1977. I'm still way off on the 1971, 1972 and 1973 sets. This year, I'll complete at least one series in both the 1971 and 1972 sets. As for the 1973 set, I'm looking to get 40 cards closer and I include the Mike Schmidt rookie in the list of cards I intend to find in 2012.

1980s: I believe that I have finished off my Topps sets from the 1980s. I completed 1982 and 1985 late in the year. I was so close on so many of the sets that I was trying to complete an extra of each, but I'm abandoning this project. My goal in 2012 is to finish off the 1982 and 1983 Donruss sets and the 1982 Fleer set. Of course, I'll need to get organized and put together my want lists first!

1990s: I have no idea what I have complete from the 1990s other than the 1990 - 1992 sets. So, by the end of 2012, I'll complete two of the sets from the rest of the decade.

2000s: I'm just a few cards short of completing the 2006 - 2009 run. I'll get those this year and I'll finish off one other set from the early part of the decade. I'm also just two short prints away from completing the 2002 Heritage set. I need to get my want lists together from each of the Heritage sets. I might as well finish off the 2005 Topps Total set while I'm at it since I'm just a card short.

Autograph Cards

I'm not a big auto collector, so I'll set a modest goal and just look to add 12 new Braves autographs to my collection by the end of the year. I'd really like to add an Andruw Jones auto.

Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz

My MGS collection fell by the wayside this year, and I expect the same this year. I had wanted to expand the collection by quite a bit last year, but I didn't come anywhere close. This year, I'll settle for just 25 new maddux and Glavine cards and 50 new Smoltz cards. There are so many affordable base and inserts I haven't picked up yet I can do this cheaply and easily.

Other Goals

I picked up quite a few vintage Aaron's this year and I'd like to add at least five more over the coming year.

I'll also look to expand my Jason Heyward collection where possible, but I won't specify a specific goal. I''ll also pick up any cards I can of Tim Hudson, Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Hanson, Craig Kimbrel, Jonny Venters, Eric O'Flaherty and Martin Prado. Same for all the young arms as well.

Last year, I received several other great vintage cards including a Stan Musial and an Eddie Mathews. I'm going to go ambitious in 2012 and look to get a vintage card of each of the following players from the "vintage" left coast teams:

Willie Mays
Willie McCovey
Juan Marichal
Duke Snider
Don Drysdale
Sandy Koufax
Jackie Robinson

It won't be easy, but I can get it done.

New Cards

Other than base Topps and Heritage, I'm not sure I'm going to go after any of the other sets released this year. A&G looks nice as does Gypsy Queen, but I've tired of hunting down SPs.

Trading

I'm not sure I'll be very active with trading this year. Due to the nature of my job and a family crisis, I got way behind with everything this year. If I can't turn things around quick enough for people, I'd rather not trade. If I get organized and get caught up with everything, I'll jump back in with both feet. Otherwise, I'll just stick to the rare occasional trade.

There we go. Good luck to everyone with their collecting goals for the year!

Set Collection: 1975 Topps

2012-01-01T11:51:00.000-05:00

Here's the final set I managed to complete in 2011. I love this set and it was not cheap to finish off. The one thing I had going for me is that I already had the Robin Yount and George Brett rookies. Most of these cards were picked up from the card show in Norcross and Check Out My Cards. I think I picked a few of these up off of eBay as well.

And here are the final three that I've picked up over the past two weeks on eBay. (Apologies for the poor scans.)

Set Collection: 1971 Topps

2011-12-31T08:46:00.000-05:00

I've also added a few 1971 Topps High Numbers to my collection recently. (Of course, they weren't short prints!) I've a long way to go to finish this set.

Set Collection: 1976 Topps Traded

2011-12-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

My 1976 set was completed some time ago, but I only had four of the Traded cards. My mother got me the set for Christmas, making this the 5th set I've completed in the past two weeks. This set features Topps airbrushing at its absolute worst.

Set Collection: 1977 Topps (109 to Go!!!!)

2011-12-29T08:38:00.001-05:00

Through Check Out My Cards, and Through eBay, I picked up 40 cards I needed for my 1977 set which leaves me 109 cards short of completing the set. I'll get that done early in 2012. Here are the cards I picked up. These are nothing special, but each puts me closer to the goal!

Set Collection: 1978 Topps

2011-12-28T15:27:00.000-05:00

Last month, there was a card show over in Norcross, GA. I headed over with the intention of buying a few newer wax boxes and picking up a vintage Stan Musial. I also brought along my wishlist for 1975 and 1978 Topps. I was going through the new boxes on one of the tables, and it occurred to me that almost every new box I break leaves me disappointed. Instead, I set down at one of the tables with binders from seemingly every year and just started pulling cards from my wishlists. I walked out of there only 3 cards short of the 1978 set. Here are the cards I picked up at the show.

A few weeks later, I grabbed two of the remaining cards on eBay.

Now, thanks to Check Out My Cards, I have the last card I needed to complete this set.

I think I'm much happier with these cards (and the 1975s to come) than I would have been with yet another box of Finest or Chrome, as much as I like those products.

Set Collection: 1980 Topps Superstar 5x7 Photos

2011-12-28T11:47:00.011-05:00

It's been a long journey to complete this set. I had a number of cards from the set that I would have gotten in wax packs back in the day. My Father in Law picked up a few for me that he found at a Flea Market the year before last which rekindled my interest. I then bought a box on eBay and ended up a card short. I picked up the card off of eBay last week. Here's the card that completed yet another set!

Set Collection: 1982 Topps

2011-12-27T13:15:00.000-05:00

Using my credit at Check Out My Cards, I also picked up the cards I needed to complete my 1982 Topps set. Back in the day, I never really came close to completing this set. In fact, I bought as many packs of 82 Donruss as I did Topps. Since I got back into collecting, I've slowly brought this set to near completion thanks to a number of trades. Like the 1985 set, I was lacking some pretty good baseball players. Four guys in the Hall of Fame and one who sure as hell belongs there. Unlike with the players I was missing from 1985, I like four of these players a lot, with only Yaz leaving me cold. (I rode on a plane with Rod Carew once a few years ago. He rates behind Bob Newhart and Stevie Wonder, and ahead of Little Richard and many of the WCW wrestlers for the coolest people I've seen on airplanes.)

Set Collection: 1985 Topps

2011-12-27T10:35:00.000-05:00

I'm on an end of year set completion binge. In the past two weeks, I've managed to complete six different sets (and make significant dents in two others). The first of these is 1985 Topps where I only needed two cards. They were, unfortunately, good ones so I kept putting off buying the cards. Well, I had a decent amount of credit in my Check Out My Cards account so I bought a bunch of cards including the two below.

These are two of my least favorite players of all time, but they were certainly damn good ones. (Seeing Clemens Topps rookie card reminds me of a fateful decision I made years ago. I was in a card shop in late 1984 and had the choice of purchasing 1984 Topps Traded or 1984 Fleer Update. I chose the Topps set. Big mistake since 84 Fleer Update had both Clemens and Kirby Puckett.)

I'm utterly certain I had both of these cards at one time, but cards have come and gone from my collection over the years. I have, at various points of time, sorted all of my cards by team. Ugh. Anyway. I can finally mark this set complete!

Still Posting At Talking Chop

2011-12-19T22:22:00.000-05:00

Hi all!

Yes, I'm still lazy. However, I have been posting every Sunday over at Talking Chop for a feature called Braves Cardboard Sundays. Unlike here where, let's be honest, I usually just post a picture and make a smart-ass comment or two, I put some effort into my writing. Of course, my stuff pales in comparison to the rest of the staff over there. Talking Chop is aces and should be a daily read for every Braves fan.

Now I'm rambling. So be it.

Anyway, here are my last seven posts for Talking Chop. Check them out, and then click around the site for awhile.

Finest Braves
The Affordable Hank Aaron
Sticky Braves
Five to Collect: Dale Murphy
Cardboard Memory: 1993
Gifting a Braves Collector
The Late Season Bowman Braves of 2011

Peace. Out.

It's Mine! All Mine!

2011-12-11T00:48:00.000-05:00

I don't have the words to describe just how happy I am that I finally own this card. Every Braves or Yankees or baseball fan should get one of these.

Lou Whitaker

2011-12-08T21:23:00.001-05:00

Wait, he's not on the ballot anymore? Absurd.

Dale Murphy

2011-12-07T21:23:00.001-05:00

Crime Dog

2011-12-06T21:22:00.002-05:00

Edgar Martinez

2011-12-05T21:22:00.002-05:00

Alan Trammell

2011-12-04T21:23:00.002-05:00

Jeff Bagwell

2011-12-03T21:23:00.001-05:00

Barry Larkin

2011-12-02T21:23:00.001-05:00

Tim Raines

2011-12-01T21:23:00.003-05:00

Bobby Valentine

2011-11-30T21:21:00.001-05:00

Congratulation to fans of the Orioles, Blue Jays, Rays and Yankees on the hiring of Bobby Valentine to manage the Red Sox. Even bigger congratulations are due to watchers of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. Valentine made me wish Joe Morgan was still announcing, and I'll never forgive him for that.

College Football

2011-11-21T09:01:00.000-05:00

Is it just me, or is college football the only sport left where they actually try and find out who the best team is and award them the championship? I'm not saying their system is perfect, but I admire the goal of it.

Is it really better to just have a tournament at the end? What does that prove? Is there any man alive who believes the St Louis Cardinals were the best team in baseball in 2011? I suppose there are a few idiots who think so, but this was a team whose record wasn't good enough to win any of the three divisions in the NL after 162 games. I'm not knocking the Cards mind you, I would have loved to see the Braves in the same position.

None the less, we are left with a MLB season that lasts 162 games, and means increasingly less whenever another team is added to the playoffs. With the new system, the Braves and the Red Sox would have made the post-season. This season, there would have been NO DRAMA in late September. Even the wild card drama pales when compared to the old championship drama. Remember the 1993 NL West race between the Braves and the Giants? That was about WINNING something, not simply finishing second so you could keep playing. So, now we have a system where a third of the teams get a shot at being champion and a regular season that lasts forever and determines nothing. By expanding the playoffs, is MLB sacrificing the regular season even more for a playoff payoff?

You can argue that playoffs generate more revenue and I can't argue with you.

You can argue that playoffs give more teams a shot at winning the championship and I can't argue with you.

You cannot argue that playoffs are a useful tool for determining who is best.

You can also argue there are the hopeless ramblings of an idiot and a lunatic and a hopeless traditionalist who doesn't understand modern sports. You'd be right.

WOW!!!!

2011-11-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

INTERLEAGUE PLAY EVERY DAY OF THE SEASON!!!!!

ALL OF MLB'S PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED!!!!

BUD SELIG IS A GENIUS!!!!

Anyone have any guesses about how long it will be before the stupid ass DH will infect both leagues?

Braves Cardboard Sundays

2011-11-02T15:54:00.000-04:00

Hi all! Its been awhile ...

I haven't disappeared completely. I've been working on a column that appears every Sunday morning at Talking Chop (the best of the Atlanta Braves blogs) called Braves Cardboard Sundays. Here's a short summary of each of my columns so far, in reverse chronological order:

Carboard Memory: Francisco Cabrera - A look at Francisco Cabrera's big hit, but not the one you're thinking about.

Five to Collect: Brian McCann - Do you want to start a Brian McCann collection? Start here.

Eric O'Flaherty Gets His Due - A look at the Atlanta Braves cards in 2011 Topps Update Series, including the long overdue first card of EOF in a Braves uniform.

Collecting Jason Heyward - A discussion of why I collect Jason Heyward, even after the season he just had.

Hope and Pain and Hope Again - I attempt to put the Braves collapse into perspective. Mostly, I wrote this so I wouldn't sit around sobbing like a baby.

Is It Worth It? - About the psychology that goes into purchasing a box of cards.

Cardboard Memory: Ernie Johnson - A tribute to late Braves announcer Ernie Johnson.

Braves on the Box - Topps has one sure fire way to get me to spend money on cards I don't want: stick a Braves player on the box.

Cardboard Memory: Chris Chambliss - I recall the first Braves game I attended in person, including Chris Chambliss' game winning hit.

Where, Oh Where, Is Eric O'Flaherty? - Why does Topps exclude certain players from a set?

A Baseball Fan, A Braves Fan, A Card Collector - An introductory column.

Mike Flanagan RIP

2011-08-24T21:53:00.000-04:00

News Story

Still Working At It

2011-08-21T20:40:00.000-04:00

Hey all. After two weeks off, I think it's about time I get off my ass and get things going around here again.

I wanted to let you know that I have a new Sunday column over at Talking Chop called "Braves Cardboard Sundays". It's awesome of Gondeee to give me the chance. I can, at the very least, promise that the posts will be better written than the ones here! (A low bar to clear my friends, as you know.) My first post: A Baseball Fan, A Braves Fan, A Card Collector has been recommended on Twitter by someone you may know.

Anyway, I'll be back later this week with some new trade bait, some pictures of some cool gifts from my Father-In-Law, and more of the usual crap.

Later!

Be Back Soon

2011-08-18T20:36:00.002-04:00

Note to Rhubarb_Runner - Thanks for the cards David! I've got a package in the mail to you and another on the way shortly. Sorry for the delay in acknowledgement.

Smoltz Collection: 1995 Finest #313

2011-07-30T14:29:00.000-04:00

This card is going to sit in my Smoltz binder. It may never be touched by human hands again. Why have I left the protective film on the card?

I love that they've highlighted Smoltz's 10-1 record down the stretch in 1991. He was truly amazing during the pennant race. In one of those stories that people seem to forget, Smoltz needed the help of a shrink to get over an awful first half and dominate the second. The shrink even had a seat behind home plate on days when Smoltzie would pitch. I'm not poking fun. It worked. What do you think, does the shrink get the credit he deserves for the role he played in Smoltz's career? (Yes, I am too damn lazy to look up the shrink's name.)

Maddux Collection: 2008 Bowman Chrome #124

2011-07-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

Wow. The white chrome cards from 2008 really POP on my scanner. Hey Greg, when you're posing, it's OK to smile.

I like the resume, skills and evolution sections, but there's clearly room for a few more stats on the back. Why include Complete Games? On most cards, the number is just going to be zero. Wouldn't WHIP make more sense?

Braves Collection: Terrell Wade

2011-07-29T08:25:00.001-04:00

Wade would make 59 appearances with the Braves from 1995 to 1997. He was primarily a "long man" out of the bullpen but would get the occasional spot start. That might not seem like much of a career, but I bet he loves baseball.

After all, despite pitching just 4 innings for the Braves in 1995, and not making the post season roster, he got a World Series ring.

In 1996, he would spend most of the year in Atlanta and would pitch in the NLCS and the World Series.

After leaving the Braves for Tampa in the expansion draft in late 1997, Wade would spend years in the minors before hanging up his spikes in 2000. He would return and play independent ball for parts of the 2003, 2004 and 2006 seasons.

Sounds like a cool career to me.

Thanks to Derek at Tomahawk Chopping for the card!

Maddux Collection: 1993 Upper Deck #535

2011-07-28T09:20:00.001-04:00

Man, Upper Deck could sure pick a photograph. 1993 was a different year for Upper Deck. There were a lot of similarities between their first four sets, and this was the first one to really look different. Truth be told, I like the set, but it looks more ordinary than the earlier years. Every time I see a card from the set, my first though is Donruss. I can't say why though. That's just what I see.

Braves Collection: Roberto Kelly

2011-07-27T08:25:00.001-04:00

Remember this guy? Me too.

Remember anything he did as a Brave? Not me either.

Was he the lead off hitter between Otis and Grissom?

Thanks to Derek for the card!

Smoltz Collection: 2007 Upper Deck First Edition #182

2011-07-26T08:11:00.001-04:00

A great photograph of Smoltz from a rather pointless set. First Edition was even less useful than Opening Day. There are a lot of things I miss about Upper Deck producing baseball cards, First Edition is not among them. (Thanks to Adam at Thoughts and Sox for the card.)

Braves Collection: Reid Gorecki

2011-07-25T08:25:00.001-04:00

Does anyone know of Gorecki is still playing in the Yankees minor league system? I like the guy a lot. He played well in the Braves minor league system in both 2008 and 2009 earning himself a cup of coffee in 2009. He signed with the Yankees and spent the 2010 season in their system.

I know ... I could look it up myself but I'm much too damn lazy to do that.

Thanks, again, to Derek at Tomahawk Chopping for this card.

Glavine Collection: 2005 Topps Total #125

2011-07-24T08:45:00.002-04:00

This is the set that got me back into card collecting. Naturally, Topps dumped it from their schedule immediately. After all, why make a nice set devoted to most of the players on each team's roster when you can make more, dull, boring, expensive high end products where you get a chance to pull Felix Pie's auto?

I will never forgive Upper Deck for moving the industry away from cardboard. Topps Total may have been printed on white stock, but it was still cardboard!!!

Glavine Collection: 2001 Upper Deck #372

2011-07-23T19:00:00.002-04:00

A lefty about to bring his arm toward the plate? A deadly serious look on his face? A tomahawk across his chest? Must be Tom Glavine.

Full bleed picture? Colors that pop? Understated but classy card design? Must be Upper Deck.

Braves Collection: Quilvio Veras

2011-07-22T08:25:00.001-04:00

One of the forgotten players of the Braves run of 14 straight division championships. Well, I forgot him anyway. He was actually pretty great that first season with the Braves. The second year? Not so much. The Braves would cut him ... the Red Sox sign him ... and he would never be heard from again.

Thanks to Derek at Tomahawk Chopping for the card.

Maddux Collection: 1990 Donruss #158

2011-07-21T09:20:00.002-04:00

Oh no. 1990 Donruss. Red borders? No, no, no. Speckles? No, no, no. Just a bad set. Every bit as bad as 1988 Donruss. That was also a bad set. I love 82, 83, 84, 85, 87, and 89. 1981 was at least new and unique. 1986 was dull, 1988 was a bit worse, and 1990 was just bad. Bad, bad, bad.

Smoltz Collection: 1989 Upper Deck #17

2011-07-20T08:11:00.001-04:00

And here's the post where I commit card collecting blasphemy. (First, thanks to Derek for the card!) Allow me to acknowledge that 1989 Upper Deck is every bit the game changing set that it is hyped as being. No doubt.

I just find it overrated. The photography is awesome of course and the card stock was excellent. The hologram was probably a necessary addition to the back. So why do I find the set overrated? Easy. I cannot stand the base line up the side of the card.

I won't even go into the reasons why this set was the beginning of the end for me as a collector. Well, at least until I discovered 2005 Topps Total and jumped back into hobby.

Smoltz Collection: 2007 SP Authentic #3

2011-07-19T08:11:00.002-04:00

Oh SP Authentic, how I love thee. Let me count the ways.

Eh, never-mind.

Great card though. Thanks to Adam at Thoughts and Sox!

Maddux Collection: 1993 Topps Stadium Club #2

2011-07-18T08:14:00.002-04:00

I love Stadium Club, but the back of this card is just awful. I like the pic on the back, and even the little shot of his rookie card, but there are just too many design elements. It's just a mess. The stats border on the useless. Yes, Greg was awesome in July. So? He was awesome the whole damn year. He's Greg Maddux.

Glavine Collection: 2000 Topps Limited Edition #241

2011-07-17T08:45:00.001-04:00

Hey look!!!! Its a "Limited Edition" parallel of Glavine's 2000 Topps base card! It must be very limited because while I have seven of his base card, I only have four of this version.

I'm in the money!!!!

Maddux Collection: 1996 Collector's Choice #754

2011-07-16T08:14:00.002-04:00

You've got to love the look on his face. Who picked this photo? Is this a rib on Maddux? I gotta say, it makes what would otherwise be a fairly ordinary card spectacular.

Not that it really matters, but Tom Glavine is on this checklist. Wow! What an awesome occurrence! Or whatever. I may just be typing to type. Who knows.

Braves Collection: Mike Gonzalez

2011-07-15T08:25:00.001-04:00

I love weird players and this guy was WEIRD. I found his stretch to be fascinating, and perhaps, a little ridiculous. I wanted him to be great. I wanted him to be the closer. He did OK for a bit. Injuries saddled him.

He's now stinking up the joint in Baltimore.

Thanks to Derek for the card!

Braves Collection: Damon Hollins

2011-07-14T09:30:00.001-04:00

Damon was an Atlanta Brave for a short time in 1998. He was then traded to the Dodgers and would bounce around the minors for the Reds, Brewers and Twins, before finding his way back to the Atlanta minor league system, and returning to the big league club in 1994. Briefly though. Just briefly.

Amazingly, he would get significant playing time in Tampa during the 1995 and 1996 seasons, before again returning to the minors with the Royals and the Phillies along with a stop in Japan.

Damon Hollins ... we salute you!

Thanks to Derek at Tomahawk Chopping for the card.

Smoltz Collection: 1998 Sports Illustrated #114

2011-07-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

Thank you for the cool large font name and position! Thank you for the great shot of Smoltz getting ready to fire one to the plate. Thank you Fleer for putting out the Sports Illustrated set. Thank you Derek for the card!

Twitter

2011-07-12T18:18:00.000-04:00

Folks, if you follow me on Twitter (@MadGlavSmoltz), you might think the All-Star festivities have left me in a blind rage but that's mostly just schtick. Well, except for the parts about Berman and Selig. They are among the worst ever at what they do.

(Although, I did watch the entire Home Run Derby and that was a BORE and it did leave me in a bad mood. I hate wasting my time and I have no-one to blame but myself.) It's three hours long and you basically watch the hitters NOT SWING for two hours and forty-five minutes and the other 15 minutes they hit majestic shots. Sure, it was quite a power display by Cano and Gonzalez ... but deadly DULL. And Berman's "back, back, back" call is the worst in the history of baseball. And who though it would be a good idea to give Bobby Valentine a job announcing? The same idiots who thought he'd make a good manager?)

Awww shit. Time to do my breathing exercises again ...

Why I Like Ron Washington

2011-07-12T16:38:00.000-04:00

I am not a fan of the Texas Rangers ... one of my least favorite teams ever. Still, I like the manager. Quotes like this, about umpire Angel Hernandez, are why:

Angel is just bad. That's all there is to it.

Glavine Collection: 2001 Upper Deck MVP #171

2011-07-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

Am I allowed to love this set? I love this set. If I weren't trying to complete roughly 9000 other sets, I'd go after this one.

Snubbed!!!!!!!

2011-07-11T14:45:00.000-04:00

Maddux Collection: 2008 Topps Co-Signers #028

2011-07-11T08:50:00.000-04:00

It's really hard for me to picture anyone getting excited about this product. I really never understood the point of it all.

Here you can see one of Topps big plans to save money put into action. Instead of printing the team name next to every year in the stats, they used an asterisk when it was the same team. This change led to record profits in 2008 making Michael Eisner a very happy man.

Braves Collection: Tony Cloninger

2011-07-10T18:09:00.000-04:00

1968 Topps

How do you go 24-11 with a 3.29 ERA and not get even a single vote for the CY Young Award? Well, you do it in 1965. As good as Cloninger was that year, and he was very good, this guy was better. Historically better.

Smoltz Collection: 2007 Bowman Chrome #138

2011-07-09T20:00:00.000-04:00

Bowman designs are just so similar at this point that I have a hard time remembering one year's design from the next. I've loved black borders forever ... at least from the first time I laid eyes on 1971 Topps and two of my favorite sets from the 80s are 1985 and 1987 Donruss. Still, Bowman just seems tired. At least the Chrome is slightly more interesting than the base. (Thanks for the card Derek!)

Glavine Collection: 2000 Topps Finest #37

2011-07-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

There are days when I wonder why I bother as a player collector. At least half my Glavine cards have Tom captured at this exact spot in his delivery. Some days, I flip through my player binders and a marvel at the differences from issue to issue, but sometimes, I just think that thanks to the pictures, every card looks the same.

Look at him. I really have a hard, hard time believing he could have been a professional hockey player.

Maddux Collection: 2009 Topps Heritage #62

2011-07-07T09:20:00.003-04:00

This card always strikes me as weird. The coloring on the card suggests this is a San Diego Padres card. The Dodgers logo and the Dodgers photo just don't look right on this card. Come to think of it, they never look right on a Maddux card.

Braves Collection: Hoyt Wilhelm

2011-07-06T16:09:00.000-04:00

1970 Topps

Well, here's one you can add to the list of things I did not know: Holy Wilhelm and Phil Niekro pitched together for the Braves. I've got to say, Wilhelm does not look like a man pushing 50 in the picture. Plus, looking at his career stats, you have to wonder why after 1959 and 1960, he never really got a chance as a starter. Putting a knucleballer in the bullpen seems like a bad practice to me. Or perhaps I've just read Ball Four one time too many?

Smoltz Collection: 1995 Flair #108

2011-07-05T17:22:00.001-04:00

Ooh, look at Fleer getting all fancy. I love the pictures on this card, but that occasional fancy script? No thanks. (I will, however, thank Charlie at the Lifetime Topps Project for the card!)

Glavine Collection: SP Authentic #372

2011-07-04T08:45:00.001-04:00

I like this card ... quite a bit actually. Still, I don't think the position gimmick to the left adds anything of value to the card. Could just be me.

Maddux Collection: 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-GM

2011-07-03T10:00:00.003-04:00

Right now, I say this is, hands down, the best baseball card put out by Topps in 2009. Only the worst of fans wouldn't love a Maddux card featuring him in an awesome throwback Braves jersey.

Braves Collection: James Parr

2011-07-02T19:03:00.000-04:00

2009 Topps Heritage

Not to be critical of Parr himself, but Topps really outdid themselves on the back of this card. It reads, "What a debut he had with the Braves: 14 1/3 innings over a trio of starts before he was scored upon." Totally true, but it sort of seems pointless when you consider that over the remaining 8 innings of his 2008 season, including the remainder of his third start, and his fourth and fifth start, Parr gave up 13 earned runs.

Dog hair once again makes an appearance on one of my scans.

Thanks to BA Benny for the card!

Smoltz Collection: 2008 Topps Stadium Club #49

2011-07-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

For reasons I don't understand, Topps rendered the returning version of Stadium Club in 2008 pretty much uncollectable to your average set builder such as myself. That's too damn bad because I love these cards. I especially like Smoltzie's menacing glare in the camera. I miss Smoltz. (Thanks Derek!)

Glavine Collection: 2000 Topps #241

2011-06-30T10:00:00.002-04:00

Greg Maddux cards often feature a goofy face. Its a nice change of pace because otherwise, virtually every picture of a great pitcher in their motion tends to look the same. Now, Tom Glavine cards often catch him in his pitching motion. Fine. No problem. Typically, as for a lot of southpaws, it looks great ... it just doesn't vary much from card to card. The problem with Glavine cards is that, unlike the goofy faced Maddux, he has the same deadly serious look on his face whenever he's pitching.

Check out the close up below. That's the definition of a deadly serious look.

Maddux Collection: 1996 Collector's Choice #396

2011-06-29T09:20:00.001-04:00

Two things make this more than just a HO-HUM Upper Deck card. First, there's the look on Maddux's face. There's no shortage of cards with a goofy look on his face. Second, there's the World Series champs logo. I'll never get tired of seeing that on a Braves card.

Braves Collection: Gene Oliver

2011-06-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

1967 Topps

I wonder is a player like Gene Oliver was happy with the Braves move to Atlanta? For one thing, he was from Moline so being in Milwaukee would seem to be a more natural place for him. Additionally, he was a good (not great) major league hitter before the move, but after the move, well, he was NOT.

I keep thinking I need to try and build a set from the 60s. I always lean towards the 1964 set, but I gotta say, the more I see of the 1967, the more I like it.

Braves Collection: Jung Bong Redux

2011-06-27T09:30:00.001-04:00

The return of Mr. Bong. I first featured Mr. Bong in this post, but I decided to replace that card in my Atlanta Braves binder with this one (thanks Derek), because it doesn't, you know, feature some irrelevant Astro never-was. No, I prefer my cards only feature an Atlanta Brave never-was. (The usage of the English language in this post is brought to you by 8 years of schooling in Columbus, Georgia.)

Braves Collection: Jose Oliva

2011-06-26T08:25:00.001-04:00

Rest in Peace (1971 - 1997)

Braves Collection: 1964 Topps Giant Warren Spahn

2011-06-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, I picked up my father-in-law the Mickey Mantle from the 1964 Topps Giant set as a Christmas present. For a while afterwards, I thought about picking up a few cards from the set. Those thoughts went by the wayside.

Back in February, at the FCB National Card Show, this one guy had a three dollar table. Late in the day, it became a two dollar table. He had this card on the table. What the hell, right? It is, at the moment, the only card I have of Spahn from his playing career, and I like it. I like it a lot.

Braves Collection: Jimmy Kremers

2011-06-24T19:58:00.000-04:00

1991 Upper Deck

I assert that Jimmy Kremers, who only hit .110 in his 1990 cup of coffee with the Braves served an important role in the surge the franchise would begin in the 1991 season. How you ask? Easy. He was one of the players traded for Otis Nixon right before opening day 1991.

Thanks to BA Benny for the card.

Maybe

2011-06-24T13:28:00.000-04:00

Maybe I'm ignorant.

Maybe I'm stupid.

Maybe I don't understand.

Still, I support Jim Riggleman.

Braves Collection: Felipe Alou

2011-06-23T16:09:00.000-04:00

1968 Topps

He may fall well short of being a hall of fame player, but Felipe Alou was a major league hitter all the way. He had such an excellent career, but I guess it is inevitable that he will be better known, if not as a manger, then as Moises Dad.

Do I have a point? Nah.

Check out the box score at this link. Notice the three players in the outfield after Mays, McCovey and Cepeda exited the game. Damn cool.

Braves Collection: Chipper Jones Relic

2011-06-22T20:25:00.000-04:00

I don't really seek out Chipper cards, but I often come across some cool ones. I like this a lot. Too bad the Chipper swatch isn't from a blue jersey.

Oh wait. There's another guy on the card. Yeah. He's pretty darn good, isn't he? (And he gets a red swatch on a red background.)

Smoltz Collection: 2003 Topps Finest #37

2011-06-21T08:08:00.002-04:00

I've never made it a secret that I prefer "old school" baseball cards. Give me pictures without fake backgrounds on cardboard and I'm a happy camper. That said, I still love me some Finest. I'm awfully glad that Derek sent this card my way!

Smoltz Collection: 1997 Limited Counterparts #16

2011-06-20T10:00:00.001-04:00

Sure, the design is a little on the boring side, but this is TWO future hall-of-fame pitchers on a single baseball card. You can't beat that. (Thanks Derek!)

Smoltz Collection: 1990 Topps #535

2011-06-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

It would be an understatement to say I don't see eye to eye with a lot of people on the interwebs about the design of baseball cards. I think from 1983 though 1990 Topps was on a hell of a roll. Sure, the cards from 86 on are just one step above worthless, but I liked all the designs. The 1990 is nice. If every card in the set had the same border (see Donruss 1990) it would be tiresome and a mess. Fortunately, Topps didn't fall into that trap.

If you're reading the stats there on the monthly scoreboard, you'll notice that Smoltz didn't see much action that September. It was the first of his elbow injuries. (There's no truth at all to the rumor that he faked the injury because the 1989 team was so bad.)

Smoltz Collection: 2007 Fleer Ultra #11

2011-06-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

One of the sets that came out not long after I left the hobby in the early 90s was Fleer Ultra. I was more or less oblivious to its existence until I got back into the game in 2005. Of course, Fleer was almost immediately snatched up by Upper Deck. Looking back now, I think Ultra is easily one of my favorite brands of the 90s, and Upper Deck's 2007 resurrection of the set is terrific. I love this card. (Thanks Derek!)

Smoltz Collection: 1998 Donruss Preferred #61

2011-06-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

Ooooooohhhhhhhh. Purdy. Berry, berry purdy. (Thanks, yet again, to Derek over at Tomahawk Chopping for the purdy card.)

Smoltz Collection: 2008 Topps #327

2011-06-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

It is obvious that one of these is so superior to the others. Yet, why the disrespect Topps? You show Peavy and Harang in their pitching motions, but you show Smoltz giving a ball back to an umpire? Boo. Hiss. (Thanks Derek!)

Glavine Collection: 2000 Fleer Tradition #192

2011-06-15T18:09:00.000-04:00

Look at Fleer with their "throwback" design from 2000. We could say it was a blatant rip off of the 1954 Topps Design, but that wouldn't be very nice, would it? Either way, I LOVE this card. Makes me want to get the set.

Two Words: Pops and Prado

2011-06-15T13:12:00.000-04:00

I just had what might be the best mail day I've had since I started trading online. A HUGE thanks to Derek and Troll for the cards. I'll post the details when I get a break in a few days. Let me say again: THANKS AND AWESOME!!!!!!

P.S. - I'm going to be at the Ted tonight to pick up my Heyward bobble head. Is anyone else going to be there?

Glavine Collection: 1997 Pacific Crown Collection #232

2011-06-14T10:09:00.000-04:00

Egads I hate Pacific. (No offense anyone!) Everything to the right of that awful Gold border is great. The border is just tacky looking. It looks out of place. I really hate that logo.

The bilingual backs are almost enough to save this card, but not quite. I know for a lot of people, the 90s are the epitome of great card making, but I don't see it. I miss cardboard.

Glavine Collection: 2009 Upper Deck First Edition #15

2011-06-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

I have mixed feelings about the 2009 Upper Deck design. I like it on cards where the shading on the background behind the team logo represents the team, as it does on this Glavine. There are, however, cards where it does not. I don't like those. (Thanks to AdamE for the card!)

Glavine Collection: 2001 UD Reserve #94

2011-06-12T08:45:00.003-04:00

OK. I'm going to bitch and moan about a good looking baseball card that I'm happy to have in my collection. I do like this card a lot, but I do not care for the green bar on the left. Yes, as I say repeatedly, I would prefer cards where these types of colors are keyed against the player's team's colors. If they aren't going to do that, at least switch up the colors of these design elements from card to card. Otherwise, as a set, the cards just look too damn similar. (At least this set includes some background behind the players to break the color monotony. If they didn't do this, it would be EE, which is a fine set for player collections, but just awful as a set.)

Two Types of Baseball Fans

2011-06-11T22:01:00.000-04:00

There are two types of baseball fans:

Those that vote for Brian McCann to start as the catcher for the NL in the All Star game.
Those that are truly, deeply stupid.

Glavine Collection:2004 Fleer inScribed #45

2011-06-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

inScribed? They named the set inScribed?

I must say, I like the way they superimpose the signature over the (ugly) Mets logo on the back.

Glavine Collection: 2002 Topps Total #37

2011-06-10T20:00:00.000-04:00

Topps Total is what base Topps ought to be. Obviously, that's my own opinion. The cards are nice and simple. They are printed on cardboard. (Well, very thin cardboard.) Most importantly, Total treated every player on every team as IMPORTANT and deserving of a card. If Topps was still making Total, I bet Eric O'Flaherty would have had a Braves card by now.

Of course, Tommy was going to get a card in any set Topps put out at the time.

Thanks to Derek for this card! The only other Glavine cards I have from Topps Total show him in that AWFUL Mets uniform.

Autograph Collection: Jordan Schafer

2011-06-09T18:58:00.007-04:00

This kid has me legitimately excited right now. He certainly hasn't been perfect out of the leadoff spot, but he adds genuine excitement to the Braves lineup. He can flat our run too. He's fun to watch. I'm glad the Braves didn't give up on him and that he hasn't given up on himself.

This card is purdy.

Glavine Collection: 1989 Bowman #267

2011-06-08T10:00:00.002-04:00

Here it is, Tom Glavine's card in the first Bowman set in a billion years. This was the grand return. The cards were even sized the same as they were in the early 50s. I have a ton of cards from this set lying around, but somehow, I didn't have the Glavine card until Derek sent it over. Thanks dude! (Yes, I hate this set. Yes, I love this card.)

Maddux Collection: 2000 SP Authentic Midsummer Classic #MC10

2011-06-07T18:00:00.000-04:00

Ooh. I'm not always big on the shiny, but I'm liking the look of this card something fierce. Thanks to Charlie at the Lifetime Topps Project.

Maddux Collection: 1990 Topps #715

2011-06-06T08:13:00.002-04:00

What's not to love about 1990 Topps? The cards are colorful and are on cardboard. Sure, the color borders can be tacky, but imagine how awful the set would look if every card used the exact same color scheme?

OK. If pressed, I can find a few things I don't like about 1990 Topps. First, it is almost impossible to find cards that weren't slightly miscut. Also, the cards are virtually worthless, so there's that. Still, I love the set and I love most of Topps designs right up through 1990.

Notice those 82 walks in 1989? Not a great number ... not an awful one. Mad Dog would never top 80 again. I miss watching Maddux pitch.

Maddux Collection: 2005 Donruss Champions #217

2011-06-05T07:43:00.001-04:00

I've decided to forgive Donruss for these cards. Now, my problem with the card is all that blank space on the right. Serves no purpose!!!! Why do I forgive them then you ask? Easy. Maddux is wearing a Braves uniform even though he played for the Cubs the previous season. (Thanks to Rhubarb_Runner for the card!)

Maddux Collection: 2008 SP Authentic #15

2011-06-04T19:46:00.000-04:00

Now THIS is a beautiful modern baseball card. That's not a surprise with SP. Upper Deck almost never misses with SP.

Now most manufacturers tend to go with limited stats on the backs of their higher end sets, but Upper Deck knocks this one out of the park with full career stats and a nicely done head shot.

Maddux Collection: 1996 Pinnacle SportFlix #8

2011-06-03T08:50:00.000-04:00

I used to think the technology used to make these cards was amazing. Those days have passed, but I still get a kick out of seeing these cards. Thanks to Charlie at the Lifetime Topps Project for this one.

Maddux Collection: 1996 Collector's Choice You Make the Play #22

2011-06-02T19:07:00.000-04:00

I must have seen Maddux pitch in person at least a dozen times during his years in Atlanta. Not once do I remember him giving off a pink glow. Perhaps Upper Deck added it in themselves and it isn't actually a part of the picture?

Yes, I realize that what I wrote above was stupid, but go back through my archives. I've written dumber things.

Thanks to AdamE at Thoughts and Sox for the card.