Monday, October 30, 2023

Trapped In Time: Remnants Of The 51st and 52nd Trades

 
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...

After using last Friday to kick off the World Series, it's now time to put some more Time Travel Trading cards on the proverbial chopping block. The first one is a biggie:
 
Trade #51 Brendan (The View From The Third Floor)
Traded 01/27/20: 1979 Topps #680 Carlton Fisk (AS), 1980 Topps #2 Willie McCovey (HL), 1981 Topps #100 Rod Carew (AS), 1981 Topps #210 Jim Palmer

Received 01/24/20:
  • 1982 Topps #34 Joe Sambito (See Trade #78)
  • 1982 Topps #74 Bob Clark (See Trade #78)
  • 1982 Topps #190 J.R. Richard (See Trade #72)
  • 1982 Topps #303 Bill Caudill (See Trade #187)
  • 1982 Topps #399 Pat Zachry (See Trade #187)
  • 1982 Topps #462 Dave Chalk (See Trade #187)
  • 1981 Topps #82 Astros Future Stars (RC)
  • 1981 Topps #98 Clint Hurdle
  • 1981 Topps #121 Larry Harlow
  • 1981 Topps #363 Geoff Zahn (See Trade #129)
  • 1981 Topps #414 John Pacella
  • 1980 Topps #29 Mark Wagner (See Trade #78)
  • 1980 Topps #51 Joe Ferguson (See Trade #68)
  • 1980 Topps #88 Ken Landreaux (See Trade #78)
  • 1980 Topps #325 Dan Driessen
  • 1980 Topps #362 Danny Goodwin (See Trade #78)
  • 1980 Topps #572 Jerry Morales
  • 1980 Topps #642 Ken Forsch
  • 1980 Topps #655 Tug McGraw
  • 1980 Topps #685 Padres Future Stars (RC) (See Trade #57)
  • 1978 Topps #385 Tito Fuentes (See Trade #161)
  • 1978 Topps (football) #487 Eddie Payton (RC) (See Trade #54)
  • 1975 Topps (football) #13 Sam Cunningham (See Trade #54)
  • 1974 Topps #534 Eddie Watt
  • 1972 Topps #225 World Series Game 3 - Manny Sanguillen
Here you will find my very first trade with regular Time Traveler Brendan (The View From The Third Floor). In exchange for a quartet of Hall of Famers, Brendan loaded up the trading stack with 25 cards!
 
 
3/5 of these cards eventually made their way to other collectors, but a whopping 10 still remain. I'm surprised that the 1972 Topps World Series card has lasted this long, it's such a great photo!

Next up is a lone misfit card left over from a trade with TCDB member extraordinaire Mark Z!
 
Trade #52 Mark Z: (TCDB: mzentko)
Traded 01/27/20: 1971 Kellogg's (football) #1 Tom Barrington, 1971 Kellogg's (football) #5 Ron Johnson, 1971 Kellogg's (football) #39 Dick Butkus, 1970 Kellogg's (football) #3 Tom Matte, 1970 Kellogg's (football) #8 Jim Nance, 1970 Kellogg's (football) #56 Tommy Nobis, 1970 Kellogg's (football) #57 Ed Meador, 1970 Kellogg's (football) #58 Carl Lockhart

Received 02/07/20:
  • 1990 Topps Hills Hit Men #29 Carlton Fisk (See Trade #53)
  • 1972 Sunoco Stamp (football) #NNO Carl Eller (See Trade #54)
  • 1970 Topps #457 Rico Petrocelli (AS) (See Trade #188)
  • 1969 Topps #80 Norm Cash (See Trade #195)
  • 1969 Topps #484 Joe Gordon (MGR)
  • 1968 Topps #260 Jim Wynn (See Trade #89)
  • 1967 Topps #1 The Champs (F. Robinson/Bauer/B. Robinson) (See Trade #220)
  • 1967 Topps #127 John O'Donoghue (See Trade #54)
  • 1965 Topps #104 Checklist 89-176 (CL) (See Trade #54)
  • 1963 Topps #58 Bob Will (See Trade #54)
Poor Joe Gordon. It's not his fault some kid didn't like white borders. Maybe the kid was just ahead of his time and knew full-bleed photos would become all the rage in the hobby. Nevertheless, his modification means that there are a smaller, eclectic group of collectors who would even think of giving this card a good home. Could that be you?
 
 
Surely someone out there needs one of these cards? One way or another, their time with the Time Travel Trading Project is reaching an end. Make a trade, any older card will do!

Oh, and Happy Halloween tomorrow!

Friday, October 27, 2023

2023 World Series Tale Of the Tape

 
In 2017, the Astros and Dodgers met in the World Series. In every year since, one of those two teams has reached the World Series, until this year. We may have endured our 7th straight year of seeing the Astros in the AL Championship Series, but thankfully some new blood has reached the final stage, even if it's from the same state. The Rangers, who are only making their third appearance in the World Series, represent the AL. On the other side, one of the most surprising Cinderella runs in recent memory, courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

So who am I rooting for? I'm hoping for a great series either way, but I do tend to give preference to teams that meet certain criteria for me:

Former Red Sox Players

Diamondbacks: Tommy Pham
Rangers:  Nate Eovaldi, Martin Perez

2018 Topps Update #US51 Nathan Eovaldi
 
If I can't root for my Red Sox, I can at least root for the guys who used to play for them. Nathan Eovaldi was one of the heroes of the 2018 title team, and not resigning him last off-season was a big misstep for the Boston front office. Perez was a member of the Red Sox rotation for a couple of years, and provided stability if nothing else. 

The only Red Sox connection on the Diamondback is Tommy Pham, who was a questionable trade deadline pickup last year. He didn't really move the needle in his brief time with the team.

Advantage: Rangers
 

Shenandoah Valley Baseball League Alumni

Diamondbacks: Austin Adams
Rangers: none
 
 
Adams played for the Staunton Braves in 2011. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken ankle during the season and has not appeared in the postseason.

Advantage: Diamondbacks
 

University of Virginia Cavaliers Alumni

Diamondbacks: Jake McCarthy, Pavin Smith
Rangers: Josh Sborz
 
2023 Topps #312 Pavin Smith
 
Go Wa-hoos! Living a short drive from Charlottesville, I've gone to a few UVa baseball games. Both Sborz and Smith were a part of UVa's 2015 College Championship team. The speedy McCarthy unfortunately suffered an oblique injury during batting practice ahead of the first Wild Card game and has missed the entire postseason so far. (Geez...between him and Adams...talk about being *ahem* snake bit...)
 
Advantage: Diamondbacks
 

Championship Drought

Diamondbacks: 21 years
Rangers: 62 years - Never won a World Series
 
2004 Topps - World Series Highlights
#WS-LG Luis Gonzalez

The last (and only) time the Diamondbacks won a World Series, the heavy underdogs defeated the 3x defending Champion New York Yankees in one of the most exciting World Series ever. Ending a Yankee dynasty normally be worthy of bonus points, but not this time. The Rangers have never won a World Series in over 60 years of existence. They made back to back appearances in 2010 and 2011, but were unable to defeat the NL squads.

Advantage: Rangers
 

Personal Connection

Other than an appreciation of their former manager Ted Williams and a deep desire to see the team go back to the Stetson hat-wearing baseball logo, I've got nothing with Texas. As for Arizona...my wife lived in Tuson for awhile before I knew her. Does that count?

1975 SSPC 42 #19 Ted Williams

Advantage: Diamondbacks (I guess?)
 

Spring Training Adventures

Both teams hold their Spring Training in Arizona, so I never saw either team play during my few years of Florida fun. However, I do have a ball autographed by current Ranger Mitch Garver from when he was with the Twins.


Advantage: Rangers
 

Best 2023 Topps Base Set Card

2023 Topps
#422 Jake McCarthy (FS)
2023 Topps
#286 Ezequiel Duran (RC)
Since this is primarily a baseball card blog, I figured this post should have a card show-off! I decided to pick each team's best card from the 2023 Topps base set. No contest here, as McCarthy's almost straight-ahead vantage point as he slides into base is one of the best cards in the entire set, let alone just between these two teams. (Anyone else love how his foot fits perfectly in the space of "Future Stars"?)
 
Advantage: Diamondbacks 

Final Talley: Diamondbacks 4, Rangers 3


 
I won't be disappointed to see Texas wins it's first World Series trophy, but it looks like I'm embracing the chaos! Regardless of who wins, here's hoping for an exciting and memorable World Series!


Go Diamondbacks!

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Repack Haiku #329 (Dave Henderson)

Scapegoat to hero
Twice gave Sox late inning lead
In must-win Game 5
 
1989 Topps #527 Dave Henderson


"Hendu" is mostly remembered for his dramatic home run in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS against the Angels, but that was only part of the story. Henderson was originally on the bench, but came in when starting center fielder Tony Armas sprained his ankle. In the 6th inning, the Red Sox had a 2-1 lead, but with a man on, the Angels' Booby Grich hit a fly ball to center. Henderson timed the catch perfectly, leapt and made the catch....only to hit the wall with his wrist and have the ball go over the fence for a two run home run. Redemption came in the top of the 9th. The Angels were literally one strike away from their first ever World Series appearance when Henderson hit a go-ahead two run home run off Donnie Moore. What many people forget is that the Angels tied the game in the bottom of the 9th and it went to extra innings. Henderson once again came through in the 11th inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to score what would be the winning run.

Monday, October 23, 2023

Time Travel Trading Update #82


First things first - a change in our scheduled programming: For the past few months, my routine is to have a Trapped In Time post on the Friday following the monthly Time Travel Update. However, since the World Series is set for this Friday, I'll be pushing back the Trapped In Time post to Monday so that I can do a more timely postseason post.

Well that was exciting wasn't it? Anyways, let's get on to showing off some cards!
 
Out first trade comes courtesy of Greg (Night Owl Cards). Greg grabbed a couple of cards and sent a couple of cards:
 

Do you ever see a name and immediately think of someone completely different? Seeing Jeff Innis's name made me think of Neil Innes, the brilliant musician often remembered for his work with Monty Python. He's worth a listen if you enjoy that kind of off-beat humor.
 
Bo Rosny (Baseball Cards Come To Life!) was the next trade partner to send in cards. You can never go wrong with a trio of cards from the 60's!

 
Third on our spotlight of cards, we have Brendan (The View From The Third Floor), who "Scored" a couple of Hall of Fame players in exchange for a lot of cards that includes the first soccer/futbal card in the Time Travel stack!


Finally, we have our second Time Travel Trade from Greg (Crocodile Sports). He took advantage of some bonus cards that were hanging around in my wife's purse.


Check it out - a 2 for 1 special! That would be a 1963 Topps Peel-Off affixed to the back of that Post card. I guess a blank back is as good of a place as any to stick those!
 
Even though this was a small update with only a dozen new cards, there's still plenty to like! My thanks to Bo, Brendan, and the two Gregs for keeping this project fresh!
 
As always, these cards are all available in exchange for an older card. You can claim your cards below, or through the TCDB (Kep75). Let's make some trades! 
 

The Time Travel Trade Stack:


2022 Topps Opening Day - Opening Day Autographs
#ODA-LWJ LaMonte Wade Jr. (AU)    
 
2021-22 Donruss - Magicians (basketball)
 
2021-22 Donruss (soccer)
#183 Jose Macias (RR) 
 
 
2020 Leaf Draft - Gold (football)
#66 CeeDee Lamb (AA)
#77 Collin Johnson (TD)   
 
2019 Donruss - Elite Series (football)
#ES-22 Melvin Gordon III

2018 Donruss - The Elite Series (football)
#ES-3 Deshaun Watson

2017-18 Donruss (basketball)
#75 Chandler Parsons
 
2017 Topps - MLB Award Winners
 
2015-16 Donruss (basketball)
#49 John Wall
  
2010 Bowman - Prospects Black
#BP51 Chase D'Arnaud
#BP56 Rolando Gomez

2010 Bowman Platinum - Prospects
#PP38 Brian Johnson     
 
2010 Topps Chrome (football)
#C141 T.J. Houshmandzadeh
 
2009 Bowman - Chrome WBC Prospects
#BCW18 Tao Bu 
 
2008 Topps New York Yankees
#NYY8 Jason Giambi
 
2007 Upper Deck MLB Rookie Card of the Month
#ROM-4 Ryan Braun 
 
2007 Playoff Prestige (football) 
 
2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia
#44 Shawn Green
 
2004 Bowman Chrome
#263 Jeff Allison (FY, RC) 
 
2004 Just Rookies - 05 Preview Autographs
 
2002 Fleer Maximum
 
2002 Upper Deck Ovation
#117 Mark McGwire 
 
2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes
#88 Andy Petitte
 
 
 
1999-00 Topps (basketball)
#12 Juwan Howard
#16 Eric William 
 
1999 SkyBox Metal Universe (football)
#116 Tiki Barber
 
1999 Stadium Club
#214 Tony Saunders 
 
1998 Pinnacle Performers
#14 Hideo Nomo
 
1997 Collector's Choice
#215 Glenallen Hill  
 
 
1997 Pinnacle Inside
#111 Matt Williams

1997 Pinnacle X-Press
#64 Craig Biggio   
 
1997 Upper Deck
#13 Mark Lemke

1996 Leaf
 
1996 SP
 
1996 Topps
#380 Jeff Bagwell
 
 
1995 Finest (football)
#124 Trent Dilfer     
 
1995 Skybox Jumanji (non-sport)
#31 Help Us Finish
 
1995 SkyBox Lois & Clark (non-sport)
#73 Be Mine!
#74 I've Always Loved You!
#75 Do You Love Me?

1995 SkyBox Lois & Clark - Holochip Etched Foils (non-sport)
#BJ3 Belle Curve 
 
1994-95 Finest (basketball)
#43 Rex Chapman 
 
1994 Finest
#413 Mark Portugal
 
1994 Panini Stickers
#207 Sean Berry
#208 Wil Cordero 
 
1994 Classic Four Sport (multi-sport)
#145 Chad Penney  
 
1994 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Champions Collection (racing)
#NNO Danny Sullivan
#NNO Mario Andretti

1993-94 Ultra - Inside Outside (basketball)
#5 Dan Majerle 
 
1993 Leaf
 
1993 Stadium Club
#433 Jeff Innis 
 
1993 Classic '93 Hockey Draft (hockey)
#40 Saku Koivu 
 
1993 Classic Four Sport (multi-sport)
#246 Mike Rathje
 
 
1992 Front Row Draft Picks
#46 Ed Christian   
 
1992 Leaf - Gold Rookies
#BC-10 David Nied
 
1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier
#24 Jose Canseco
 
 
 
1992 Pinnacle
 
 
1991-92 Upper Deck (basketbal)
 
1991 Score
 
1991 Topps
#575 Robin Yount

1991 Ultra
#130 Lou Whitaker  
 
1991 Upper Deck
 
1991 Fleer (football)
 
1991 Pro Set (football)
 
1991 Pro Set Platinum (football)
#81 Lawrence Taylor
 

 
1991 Topps Desert Storm (non-sport)
#147 Working Together   
 
 
1990-91 Pro Set Super Bowl XXV Silver Anniversary (football)
#88 Nick Buoniconti 
 
 

1990 Fleer

1990 Post Cereal
#22 Pedro Guerrero 
 
 
1990 Score (football)
#436 Chet Brooks (RC)
 
1990 Topps Traded (football)
#102T Howard Cross (RC)
 
1989-90 Fleer (basketball)

1989-90 Hoops (basketball)
#64 Armon Gilliam

   
 
 
1988 Card Collectors T-206 Reprint
#NNO Matty McIntyre
 
1988 Donruss 
 
 
 
1988 Topps Toys "R" Us Rookies
#13 Mike Henneman
 
1988 Topps Traded

1987 O-Pee-Chee
 
 
1986 Donruss
 
 
1986 Fleer Baseball's Best Sluggers vs. Pitchers
 
 
1985 Topps #403
Cory Snyder (OLY, RC) 
 
 
1984-85 Topps (hockey)
#3 Tom Fergus 
 
1984 Donruss

1984 Fleer
 
1984 O-Pee-Chee 
 
 
1984 Topps - Glossy NFL Stars (football)
#9 Mark Gastineau
 

1983 Topps Drake's Big Hitters
#14 Dave Kingman
 
 
1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints
 
1982 Dover Publications Reprints National League
#15 Robin Roberts 
 
1982 Topps
 
1982 Topps (football) 
 
1981-82 Topps (hockey)
#51 Dale McCourt (TL)
 
1981 Donruss  
 
1981 Fleer
#427 Steve Braun

1981 Topps
 
 
1980 Topps 
#65 Al Bumbry
 
 
1979 Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars
#25 Darrell Porter (COR, SP)

1979 Topps 
 
1979 Topps (football)
#12 Bernard Jackson

1978-79 Topps (basketball)
#118 Kevin Porter 

1978 Topps  
 

1977-78 Topps - Glossy Inserts (Rounded Corners) (hockey)
 
1977-78 Topps - White Backs (basketball)
#78 Richard Washington (RC) 
 
1977 Dover Publications Classic Baseball Cards Reprints
#10 Lefty O'Doul
#18 Jimmie Dykes
#99 Hal Chase
#NNO Melvin Harder
#NNO Fred Merkle
 
1977 Topps
#426 Dick Drago
 
1977 Topps (football)
 
1976 Funky Sales Corp Funky Facts Baseball
#2 In A Trance
#3 Fans Vs Players
#5 Baseballeese

1976 Topps

1976 Topps (football)
#74 Bryant Salter
 
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#99 Checklist 1-110 (CL)

1975 Topps
 
 
 
1974 Topps - Traded
#43T Jim Wynn
 

 
1972 Topps  
 
1971 Topps
 
1971 Topps (football)
#8 Walt Garrison (RC)
 
1970 Topps
#2 Diego Segui
#287 Fred Talbot   #390 Willie Davis    
 
1970 Topps (football) 
 
1969 Globe Imports Playing Cards Gas Station Issue
#2♦ Paul Casanova
 
1969 Topps
#19 Ken Suarez
#104 Steve Blass
 
1969 Topps - Four-in-One Singles (football)
#NNO Ralph Baker
#NNO John Bramlett
#NNO Billy Martin
#NNO Bob Talamini 
 
1968 Topps
#224 Jim Aker

1967 Topps
 
1965 Topps
#17 Johnny Romano
 
1963 Topps
#26 Ray Moore
#94 Bob Schmidt 

1962 Post Cereal
#27 Jim Gentile (VAR)
 
1962 Topps
1961 Topps
 
1960 Topps
 
1960 Topps (football)
#28 Jim Ray Smith 

1959 Topps
 
1958 JCM 30a Doyusha Team Name Back (solid front w/o borders)
 
1958 Topps (football)
#3 Joe Schmidt 

1957 Topps
 
1956 Topps (football)
#42 Tom Fears
#51 Ted Marchibroda
 
1955 Bowman
 
1955 Topps
 
1955 Bowman (football)
#9 Don Stonesifer

1955 Topps All-American (football)
#46 Arnie Lassman
 
1954 Topps
#215 Ed McGhee

1954 Bowman Power For Peace (non-sport)
#91 USS Coral Sea (CVB43)

1953 Topps
 
 
1939 Wills's Garden Flowers by Richard Sudell (non-sport)
#46 Sweet Sultan 

1938 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Tenth Series (J9-6) (non-sport)
#2 Black-throated Green Warbler
 
1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities (boxing)
#45 Ted Broadribb
#48 Arthur J. Elvin 

1937-38  Diamond Matchbooks Tan 6 (hockey)
#NNO Glenn Brydson
 
1935 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Eighth Series (J9-4) (non-sport)
#10 California Jay

1933 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Fifth Series (J9-1) (non-sport)
#5 Indigo Bunting 
 
1925 Sports Records (multi-sport)
 
1924 Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada (ITC) Dogs Series (non-sport)
#4 Otter-Hound

1922 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Third Series (J7) (non-sport)
#7 Prothonotary Warbler

1915 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America First Series (J5) (non-sport)
#1 Quail
 
1910 Champions (T218) (multi-sport)
 
1890 N245 Sweet Caporal Actors & Actresses (non-sport)
#NNO Frankie Raymond

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: 271
Unique trading partners: 71

Number of cards mailed out: 1,463
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1910-11

Number of cards received: 2,164
Year of oldest card received: 1890