Repack Haiku #75 (Jamie Moyer)

Ended his career

With team that didn't exist

When he first started

1989 Topps #717 Jamie Moyer

The Rockies were in the 19th year of their existence when Moyer played the last of his 26 seasons with them.

Time Travel Trading Update #21

Tony Taylor walked along the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame and found the plaque with his name on it. A tidal wave of memories came to him - days of pure joy on a baseball diamond. He missed those days, and now he had been blessed with an opportunity to go back again. Thanks to some miracle machine he couldn't quite explain, he now stood here in a body 40 years younger. Young enough to play again, if the Phillies were willing to give him a shot. He glanced at his watch and checked the time. His meeting with the organization's executives was still a half-hour away. Plenty of time to stroll out to the field, maybe take a grounder or two. Yes, that feeling of pure joy will be back soon...

*****

It's been awhile, hasn't it?  Almost 6 weeks without new cards to show off here. Fortunately, Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown came to the rescue! He's putting together the 1978 Topps set, and grabbed three cards from the Time Travel Trade Stack. In return, he sent me some more 70's goodness:

Tony the Tiger and a couple of '75 Padres in all their brown and mustard colored splendor! These guys are great additions to the stack, and they can be yours easily! Help me keep this project flowing! Make me an offer!

The Time Travel Trade Stack:

2008-09 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#128 Tim Thomas

2001 Upper Deck - e-Card (golf)
#E-TW Tiger Woods

1993-94 Fleer (basketball)
#224 Michael Jordan (LL)

1990-91 Hoops (basketball)
#168 Glen Rice (RC)

1990 Topps
#18 Carlos Quintana

1986 Sportflics
#122 John Tudor

1986 Topps
#5 Rose Special '75-'78
#6 Rose Special '79-'82
 #401 Fernando Valenzuela (Turn Back The Clock)

1985 Topps
#694 Joe Carter

1983 Topps (football)
#219 Joe Cribbs (LL)
#280 Mike Renfro
#307 Jim Plunkett

1982 Donruss
#NNO Checklist 545-653

1982 O-Pee-Chee E.T. The Extraterrestrial (non-sport)
#15 Among Elliott's Toys

1981 Topps
#63 Steve Renko
#704 Bill Travers

1980 Topps
#143 Bruce Bochte
#157 Willie Wilson
#671 A's Future Stars

1980 Topps (football)
#280 Jack Lambert (AP)

1979 Topps
#130 Bob Watson
#465 Reggie Smith

1978 Topps (football)
#126 Rick Kane (RC)

1977 Topps
#524 Rowland Office

1977 Topps (football)
#206 Cleveland Browns (CL)
#269 Archie Griffin (RC)
#405 Joe Greene

1975 Topps
#378 Derrel Thomas
#402 Bob Tolan

1974 Topps
#38 Don Kessinger
#67 Tommy Helms

1974 Topps - Team Checklists
#NNO Montreal Expos

1973-74 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#53 Richard Lemieux

1973 Topps
#18 Leroy Stanton
#29 Tony Taylor
#36 Steve Barber
#79 Jim Willoughby (RC)
#98 Dick Woodson
#99 Carl Taylor

1972 Topps
#43 Rick Wise
#109 Jerry May

1971 Topps (football)
#22 Ken Avery (RC)

1970 Topps
#47 Bob Miller
#56 Phillies Rookies - Joe Lis/Scott Reid (RC)
#103 Frank Reberger

1970 Red Rose and Blue Ribbon North American Wildlife In Danger (non-sport)
#32 Polar Bear

1969 Topps
#139 Andy Kosco

1969 Topps - Deckle Edge
#13 Mel Stottlemyre

1969 Topps (football)
#73 Bennie McRae
#154 Sam Baker

1968 Topps
#4 1967 AL RBI Leaders (Yastrzemski/Killebrew/Robinson)
#348 Larry Colton/Dick Thoenen

1968 Topps - Game
#15 Steve Hargan

1968 Topps (football)
#7 Earl Gros

1966 Topps
#154 Chuck Hiller

1967 Philadelphia (football)
#109 New York Giants (TC)

1966 Philadelphia (football)
#104 Rams vs. Browns

1965 Philadelphia (football)
#193 John Paluck

1964 Philadelphia (football)
#172 Ken Gray (RC)

1964 Topps
#60 Frank Malzone
#79 Bob Heffner (RC)
#352 Eddie Bressoud

1963 Topps
#111 Al Jackson
#155 Bill Stafford
#246 Lee Strange
#343 Johnny Pesky (MGR)

1962 Topps
#278 Ken Johnson

1960 Topps
#95 Frank Thomas

1959 Topps (football)
#80 Joe Perry

1958 Topps
#371 Marty Keough (RC)

1958 Topps Zorro (non-sport)
#83 Rude Awakening

1957 Topps
#66 Brooks Lawrence
#235 Tom Poholsky
#249 Dave Pope
#371 Bob Lennon

1956 Topps
#21 Joe Collins
#103 Willie Miranda (white back)
#156 Johnny Antonelli

1956 Topps Flags of the World (non-sport)
#70 Jordan

1955 Topps
#126 Dick Hall (RC)

1954 Bowman
#16 Jim Wilson
#73 Don Mueller

1952 Bowman
#57 Clyde Vollmer

1938 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Tenth Series (J9-6) (non-sport)
#2 Black-throated Green Warbler

The Time Travel Trading Project is simple in concept. I started out with a random pack of 2018 Topps Series 1 baseball cards. My aim was to trade every card in that pack for something older. Each card I receive in turn is then made available for trade, with the goal to get the oldest card I can get.

Number of trades completed: 26
Unique trading partners: 21

Number of cards mailed out: 57
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1956

Number of cards received: 134
Year of oldest card received: 1938

All-Time Red Sox/Dodgers Lineup

Life is good. The World Series resumes tonight in Los Angeles with my Red Sox up 2-0. Here's hoping the magic continues!

I read an article earlier this week showcasing the greatest players that have played for both the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. This year's World Series is also the first where both managers played for both teams. I thought it would be fun to construct a basic lineup of players that have donned both uniforms.

Catcher: David Ross

2014 Topps Update #US-60 David Ross

2003 Upper Deck #590 David Ross

I recently picked up his autobiography at a library sale. I'm hoping it's a good read.

1st Baseman: Adrian Gonzalez

2011 Topps Update #US20 Adrian Gonzalez

2015 Topps Update #US172a Adrian Gonzalez

He was an All-Star for both teams, that makes him an easy inclusion!

2nd Baseman: Alex Cora

2006 Upper Deck #535 Alex Cora

2002 Topps Heritage #372 Alex Cora

This was a tough one to do, but in the end I decided to reward the current Red Sox manager.

Shortstop: Nomar Garciaparra

2002 Fleer Tradition Update #U306 Nomar Garciaparra

2006 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH244 Nomar Garciaparra

I completely forgot he was an All-Star with both teams too. Nomah!!!

3rd Baseman: Adrian Beltre

2010 Topps Update #US-328 Adrian Beltre

1999 Stadium Club #162 Adrian Beltre

Oh, what could have been had the Red Sox resigned him...

Left Fielder: Manny Ramirez

2005 Topps #362 Manny Ramirez

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH237 Manny Ramirez

Say what you will about him, he put the "fun" in dysfunctional.

Center Fielder: Reggie Smith

1968 Topps #61 Reggie Smith

1981 Topps #75 Reggie Smith

A very underrated player in his day.

Right Fielder: J.D. Drew

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH221 J.D. Drew

2005 Topps #498 J.D. Drew

What, you were expecting Carl Crawford?

Starting Pitcher: Pedro Martinez

2004 Topps World Champions Boston Red Sox #53 Pedro Martinez

1994 Donruss #179 Pedro Martinez

Simultaneously one of the worst trades the Dodgers ever made, and one of the best the Red Sox ever made. 

Closer: Eric Gagne

2007 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH130 Eric Gagne

2004 Topps #715 Eric Gagne

He fixed Craig Kimbrel! If the Red Sox win the World Series, they may want to consider giving him a cut of the playoff share.

Manager: Grady Little

2003 Topps #265 Grady Little

2006 Upper Deck #1103 Grady Little

Grady could lead this team to a Championship so long as he remembers to pull Pedro out after 100 pitches...


That's a lot of talent in this group, and it's even more impressive when you consider players that didn't make the cut - guys like Bill Buckner, Hideo Nomo, Hanley Ramirez, and the great Rickey Henderson come to mind, not to mention again the esteemed Dave Roberts!

Go Red Sox!

Repack Haiku #74 (Todd Benzinger)

I remember Todd

as part of young rookie crop

for Boston Red Sox

1991 Fleer #56 Todd Benzinger

5 Reasons to Root for "The Other Team"

 The World Series starts tonight, and my beloved Red Sox will be vying for their 4th title since 2004. My team may be the favorites, but the Yankees and Astros can tell you how much being the favorite amounts to. They still have to play the games and they'll be facing a hungry and motivated team in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Obviously, I'll be rooting for my team until that final out, but to be honest I don't actively hate the other team. They're good and their going to be worthy opponents. To show there's no ill will, I thought it would be fun to come up with 5 reasons I could maybe, potentially be happy for the Dodgers should they win.

5. Red Sox fans can appreciate championship droughts that last generations. We can empathize with other teams that haven't won in decades. Although they came close last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers haven't won the World Series since 1988. 30 years is a long time for Dodgers fans, and a title for that team wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, even if it came at the defeat of the Red Sox.

2018 Stadium Club #142 Chris Taylor

4. Chris Taylor - He's got a local connection! He played college baseball for the University of Virginia. Go Cavaliers!

2017 Topps Archives #172 Rich Hill

3. Rich Hill - He's got a great story. In 2015 his career appeared to be over, and he was playing independent league baseball for the Long Island Ducks. The Red Sox picked him up off the scrap heap, and was lights out during a September call-up. He's been very good starting pitcher ever since.

2004 Donruss World Series #WS-221 Dave Roberts

2. Dave Roberts - The manager of the Dodgers will still be beloved in Boston even if he guides the Dodgers to a World Series win. No one will ever forget "The Steal!"

1.  They're not the Yankees! I recently read how this decade could be the first in Yankees history where they have NEVER appeared in a World Series. This is truly a golden age we live in!

So, yeah, good luck to both teams. This could be a great showdown! Go Red Sox!

Payday Pack - Stories From Spring Training

This year's Heritage set is rather boring. Lots of poses, little in terms of action. Heritage High Series is more of the same. Rather than pick 3 cards based on best posture or most stoic look, I ended up selecting a few players I have seen play in person.

3rd Place

2018 Topps Heritage #579 Gift Ngoepe

I've seen Gift a few times over the years in Bradenton, where the Pirates hold their Spring Training games. Other than his unique name, I didn't know much about him. I soon learned he became the first person born in Africa to play at the Major League level!

2nd Place

2018 Topps Heritage - Rookie Performers
#RP-CS Chance Sisco

This past Spring, I got to see the Orioles play the Red Sox in Sarasota. Chance started that game, made some early defensive mistakes, then redeemed himself by crushing a home run to help the Orioles win. Now I have this sinking feeling he's going to be one of those guys that always hits well playing against my favorite team...

1st Place

2018 Topps Heritage #529 Mitch Garver (RC)

Also this past Spring, I got to watch the Twins play. Usually I'll try to get to the stadium early and try and get a ball signed by the players. The Twins were not very sociable this particular day, most of them just walking on by without acknowledging the fans. Mitch was the only Twins player that took the time to sign for the fans. Guys like him are the easy ones to root for.

Other Not Appearing On Stage:
#699 Miguel Rojas
#582 Brian Johnson
#528 Matt Szczur
#559 Miles Mikolas (RC)
#684 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (RC)
#AW-3 Corey Kluber (Award Winners insert)
#602 Cesar Hernandez
#511 Scott Kingery (RC)
#624 Nick Ahmed
#665 Chase Utley
#698 Merandy Gonzalez (RC)
#542 Marco Gonzalez
#562 Joe Kelley

Oh, yeah...one more thing:

 GO RED SOX!

Repack Haiku #73 (Shawn Hillegas)

Good not great pitcher

This is why repacks exist

Good action shot though

1992 Donruss #72 Shawn Hillegas

A popular theme going around the blogs lately has been posts in five minutes or less. For anyone keeping track, I can usually churn out a haiku post in about that time. To be honest, this one probably took longer just because I had a hard time coming up with something to write about this guy.

Time Travel Trading Update #20

I've got a trade percolating for the three 1978 cards from the last update. So for now, they get a stay of execution. The Frank Malzone generated no interest, which is fine by me. It'll make a nice addition to my personal collection.

In the meantime, I'm going to pimp out some more cards! I'm still going through cards that have been here since February. Ironically, if I continue to go chronologically, more 1978 Topps and another Red Sox vintage hit the chop block again. It's another Last Chance Showcase!

1978 Topps #24 Don Money

1978 Topps #347 Terry Forster

1978 Topps #445 Mike Ivie

Just like the last batch from this set, they would all be doubles in my collection. I rather trade them off and keep this project going. If a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deal will get that done, then I'm listening!

How Acquired - Received from Billy (Cardboard History) in exchange for the 2018 Topps Cleveland Indians team card.

Time Travel Trading Update #4

Why Should You Want These Cards? - It seems fitting that we have a Brewers card and a Dodgers card in this stack. Money was even a member of the Brewers' lone World Series team in 1982! Forster also got his ring, for the 1981 Champion Dodgers. Mike Ivie was a former #1 overall draft pick in 1970.

1964 Topps #305 Jack Lamabe

Another Red Sox vintage that would find a happy home in my collection if it doesn't get traded for soon. I'm cool with it either way.

How Acquired - Received from a TCDB member along with a 1962 Post Cereal Frank Malzone and a 1956 Topps Davy Crockett card in exchange for  a 2018 Topps Justin Turner 1983 insert.

Time Travel Trading Update #3

Why Should You Want This Card? - He played for 3 teams in 1967, and the last team he joined (Cardinals) ended up winning the World Series. He was the first full-time head baseball coach in the history of the LSU baseball program.


These cards will disappear from the trade stack if no one claims them! All it takes is an older card in return. help me keep this going!

The Time Travel Trade Stack:

2008-09 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#128 Tim Thomas

2001 Upper Deck - e-Card (golf)
#E-TW Tiger Woods

1993-94 Fleer (basketball)
#224 Michael Jordan (LL)

1990-91 Hoops (basketball)
#168 Glen Rice (RC)

1990 Topps
#18 Carlos Quintana

1986 Sportflics
#122 John Tudor

1986 Topps
#5 Rose Special '75-'78
#6 Rose Special '79-'82
 #401 Fernando Valenzuela (Turn Back The Clock)

1985 Topps
#694 Joe Carter

1983 Topps (football)
#219 Joe Cribbs (LL)
#280 Mike Renfro
#307 Jim Plunkett

1982 Donruss
#NNO Checklist 545-653

1982 O-Pee-Chee E.T. The Extraterrestrial (non-sport)
#15 Among Elliott's Toys

1981 Topps
#63 Steve Renko
#704 Bill Travers

1980 Topps
#143 Bruce Bochte
#157 Willie Wilson
#671 A's Future Stars

1980 Topps (football)
#280 Jack Lambert (AP)

1979 Topps
#130 Bob Watson
#465 Reggie Smith

1978 Topps
#24 Don Money ***LAST CHANCE!***
#193 Rich Chiles ***PENDING***
#347 Terry Forster ***LAST CHANCE***
#445 Mike Ivie ***LAST CHANCE!***
#471 Roy Smalley ***PENDING***
#581 Lynn McGlothen ***PENDING***

1978 Topps (football)
#126 Rick Kane (RC)

1977 Topps
#524 Rowland Office

1977 Topps (football)
#206 Cleveland Browns (CL)
#269 Archie Griffin (RC)
#405 Joe Greene

1974 Topps
#38 Don Kessinger
#67 Tommy Helms

1974 Topps - Team Checklists
#NNO Montreal Expos

1973-74 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#53 Richard Lemieux

1973 Topps
#18 Leroy Stanton
#36 Steve Barber
#79 Jim Willoughby (RC)
#98 Dick Woodson
#99 Carl Taylor

1972 Topps
#43 Rick Wise
#109 Jerry May

1971 Topps (football)
#22 Ken Avery (RC)

1970 Topps
#47 Bob Miller
#56 Phillies Rookies - Joe Lis/Scott Reid (RC)
#103 Frank Reberger

1970 Red Rose and Blue Ribbon North American Wildlife In Danger (non-sport)
#32 Polar Bear

1969 Topps
#139 Andy Kosco

1969 Topps - Deckle Edge
#13 Mel Stottlemyre

1969 Topps (football)
#73 Bennie McRae
#154 Sam Baker

1968 Topps
#4 1967 AL RBI Leaders (Yastrzemski/Killebrew/Robinson)
#348 Larry Colton/Dick Thoenen

1968 Topps - Game
#15 Steve Hargan

1968 Topps (football)
#7 Earl Gros

1966 Topps
#154 Chuck Hiller

1967 Philadelphia (football)
#109 New York Giants (TC)

1966 Philadelphia (football)
#104 Rams vs. Browns

1965 Philadelphia (football)
#193 John Paluck

1964 Philadelphia (football)
#172 Ken Gray (RC)

1964 Topps
#60 Frank Malzone
#79 Bob Heffner (RC)
#305 Jack Lamabe ***LAST CHANCE!***
#352 Eddie Bressoud

1963 Topps
#111 Al Jackson
#155 Bill Stafford
#246 Lee Strange
#343 Johnny Pesky (MGR)

1962 Topps
#278 Ken Johnson

1960 Topps
#95 Frank Thomas

1959 Topps (football)
#80 Joe Perry

1958 Topps
#371 Marty Keough (RC)

1958 Topps Zorro (non-sport)
#83 Rude Awakening

1957 Topps
#66 Brooks Lawrence
#235 Tom Poholsky
#249 Dave Pope
#371 Bob Lennon

1956 Topps
#21 Joe Collins
#103 Willie Miranda (white back)
#156 Johnny Antonelli

1956 Topps Flags of the World (non-sport)
#70 Jordan

1955 Topps
#126 Dick Hall (RC)

1954 Bowman
#16 Jim Wilson
#73 Don Mueller

1952 Bowman
#57 Clyde Vollmer

1938 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Tenth Series (J9-6) (non-sport)
#2 Black-throated Green Warbler

The Time Travel Trading Project is simple in concept. I started out with a random pack of 2018 Topps Series 1 baseball cards. My aim was to trade every card in that pack for something older. Each card I receive in turn is then made available for trade, with the goal to get the oldest card I can get.

Number of trades completed: 25
Unique trading partners: 20

Number of cards mailed out: 54
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1956

Number of cards received: 131
Year of oldest card received: 1938

Trade Recap - Faster Than I Can Type

Awhile back, I showed off some cards that Bo from Baseball Cards Come To Life gave me as part of my Time Travel Trading project. I hinted in that post that it evolved and a second, larger trade also came to fruition. I sent sent Bo some vintage I had recently acquired. In return Bo sent me, well, he sent me A LOT!

Part of that package was some cards I needed on my So Close! page. Bo was able to knock out the last few cards I needed to complete the 1990 Fleer set, as well as all but one card from the 1991 Donruss set!

**********

We interrupt this trade recap for the following story:

The trade with Bo was agreed upon right before I had to leave town for a wedding. I managed to get Bo's cards mailed out before then, and hoped my cards would be waiting for me shortly after I returned. While I was away, another member of the TCDB contacted me and said he had most of the cards I needed to complete those same two sets. Before I could contact him back and let him know I had cards en route, he messaged me again to tell me they were sent. When I arrived home, his cards had arrived the same day as Bo's:

He of course had the one card I needed for the 1991 Donruss set, so that's now complete too. Now I also have doubles of cards that were needs just the week prior! Too funny!

We now return to our regularly scheduled trade recap.

**********

In addition to the Donruss and Fleer cards, Bo also sent some vintage my way:

Also included was a stack of 1981 Topps, a set I've always loved and may one day try to complete. The bulk of the return package, however, was a large amount of my favorite team!

The last time I got an influx of Red Sox cards, there was too much to show. That's the case again with this lot, so I'm going to borrow from my previous post and highlight my favorite cards from each decade:

1974 - 1979

1975 Topps #152 Mario Guerrero

1976 Topps #152 Bill Lee

1979 Topps #418 All-Time ERA Records (Dutch Leonard/Walter Johnson)

I was curious to see where Jacob deGrom's 1.70 ERA fell on the single season list (It's 87th!) and discovered something noteworthy. According to this card, Dutch Leonard held the record with a 1.01 ERA in 1914. According to Baseball Reference, his ERA for that year was actually 0.961, and it's second all-time to Tim Keefe's 0.857 ERA in 1880!

1980 - 1989

1982 Topps K-Mart 20th Anniversary #11 Carl Yastrzemski

1987 Fleer Limited Edition #9 Roger Clemens

1987 Fleer Record Setters #11 Rich Gedman

Fleer put out a set Record Setters set in 1987. Rich Gedman made this set, but Fleer mentions nowhere on the card what record he set! Nothing! If it didn't say Record Setters on the card, you wouldn't even know. I had to look it up: When Roger Clemens set the all-time strikeout record of 20 in 1986, by default Gedman also set the AL record for most put-outs in a game! (He also set a consecutive days record of 36 put-outs the next day.) And now you know!

1990 - 1999

1991 O-Pee-Chee Premiere #11 Wade Boggs

1993 Ted Williams #121 Babe Ruth/Ted Williams (GH)

1996 Pinnacle #28 Mike Greenwell

1993 was around when I stopped collecting, but I feel that if I knew about the Ted Williams set back then, I'd be all over it. What a fantastic picture of Williams and Ruth! (Even Greenwell loves it!)

2000 - 2009

2000 Fleer Tradition #437 Pedro Martinez (AW)

2001 Fleer Boston Red Sox 100th Anniversary #46 Billy Goodman

2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces #16 Jonathan Papelbon

Amazingly enough, my first card from the 100th Anniversary Red Sox set. As a fan of this team, I almost feel legally obligated to collect this set. Fortunately for us Red Sox fans, it's a really nice looking set!

2010 - 2017

2010 Topps - Tales of The Game #TOG-23 Manny Ramirez

2010 Topps - Vintage Legends Collection #VLC15 Jimmie Foxx

2017 Allen & Ginter #35 Johnny Damon

I'm not going to lie. Despite the PED usage, despite the times he was a flat out jerk - I miss Manny being Manny...

Thanks again Bo for all all the amazing cards!