tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366995422024-02-08T00:09:30.155-06:00McGee's WillieA baseball card, sports, music, news, opinion blog.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-86281273601171854932011-08-17T11:01:00.000-05:002011-08-17T11:01:46.771-05:00...And Here Comes Albert<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.paraorkut.com/img/baseball/images/a/albert_pujols-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="368" width="298" src="http://images.paraorkut.com/img/baseball/images/a/albert_pujols-15.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I know, long time no post. Since we last spoke, the Cardinals have fallen way back in the standings and it appears that their only hope is to leap over two teams and win the Wild Card. The Brewers are absolutely on fire and they are clearly the team to beat this year. In fact, if they make the playoffs, I hope they defeat the Phillies. That is, if someone hasn't done it already.<br />
<br />
Since the Cardinals barely have a pulse at this point, my attention turns to Albert Pujols. Pujols is not my favorite player on the team but he is the one I start to watch this time of year if the team is faltering. I am always intrigued by the chase for his .300/30/100 line that he has achieved in all of his first ten seasons. It appeared early in the season that he may not get there. He looked horrible at the plate. Rolling over balls, swinging at bad pitches, etc. It wasn't until after the All-Star break did he start to hit well and not until the month of August that he has had a prolonged hot streak.<br />
<br />
As of today he has his 30 home runs. He also has 76 RBI's. I think 24 in the last month and a half is very doable for him. His average is now at .288, his highest mark of the season. He could go on a 7 for 10 streak and be right up near .300. He also leads the league in runs with 82. He has only failed once to get 100 runs scored, and that was 2007 when he <i>only</i> had 99. It looks as if he will get there again.<br />
<br />
Don't look now but he now leads the league in homers and runs, is seventh in RBI's, and has cracked the top 25 in average. I don't think he'll top either of the latter categories, but it's worth watching. McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-49456926282610446612011-07-22T12:02:00.000-05:002011-07-22T12:02:52.229-05:001953 Bowman Color AdditionsGod I love the photography in this set. I am just beginning and it will take a while since they are pretty pricey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjJ5AyTUbj5jW74jkfrKtqYX2LfdNBumkXLCvD_aCC1Gitt6S2HQBYkjFbIcUmy0w2qOJ38mWZjJJIVR7L7wBo7j7O_DFw51mScHGmsDIOQDsidDUZX99M8tNUn4hHdztTWYZSg/s1600/card0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjJ5AyTUbj5jW74jkfrKtqYX2LfdNBumkXLCvD_aCC1Gitt6S2HQBYkjFbIcUmy0w2qOJ38mWZjJJIVR7L7wBo7j7O_DFw51mScHGmsDIOQDsidDUZX99M8tNUn4hHdztTWYZSg/s320/card0002.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6EAUEjCM-BxUnZ51xT-aSSjWJdPJpcOHlgFuKXxP3BgnzsTQ2ncVRMMBE8_rwd_e_2D5Osu46wBlJMapLNLpHiuBZvBOqCEQYJhg7-NJax662WoA1Pqa0ruZsLzQkidc0dOmxQ/s1600/card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6EAUEjCM-BxUnZ51xT-aSSjWJdPJpcOHlgFuKXxP3BgnzsTQ2ncVRMMBE8_rwd_e_2D5Osu46wBlJMapLNLpHiuBZvBOqCEQYJhg7-NJax662WoA1Pqa0ruZsLzQkidc0dOmxQ/s320/card.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZN4YfpBxjT6cTZitq9f-3XSr5jX1Y2Ky4V5ZjBUVhOM4FwSZNEbqkJIe9lATl1GrurTR51I2STTeF7N1kjzWGa3bgVfQuGw4vglCDuFVbcI_hyglLpH-AFVuB01AiuwEjIPI7A/s1600/card0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZN4YfpBxjT6cTZitq9f-3XSr5jX1Y2Ky4V5ZjBUVhOM4FwSZNEbqkJIe9lATl1GrurTR51I2STTeF7N1kjzWGa3bgVfQuGw4vglCDuFVbcI_hyglLpH-AFVuB01AiuwEjIPI7A/s320/card0001.JPG" /></a></div>McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-38323543079746382272011-07-16T12:48:00.001-05:002011-07-16T14:39:10.797-05:00He Said Wood...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/beavis-and-butt-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="368" width="500" src="http://screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/beavis-and-butt-head.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I admit that, even at 36, I still sometimes have a Beavis and Butthead mentality. I have been working on a unique card collection of rather unique names. Most, if not all, sink into the mental realm of the above esteemed pair. Periodically, I will post one of the collection when I have nothing better to write about. Nothing like childish behavior for a fallback huh? Anyway, I present to you my first example.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztKcztLvRZxtHXDhvHB6SnQbAsHD7JuFTWjzVLDFfmX1mYuLWIs0xQOJo0j3gqFEN8jgfoHWFS3yHJzLd5N7N6fh4dhiNc_c1zJJhL-qSGZFg6PxQeJ4zMzf5mb6fT7C_HQZOhA/s1600/card0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztKcztLvRZxtHXDhvHB6SnQbAsHD7JuFTWjzVLDFfmX1mYuLWIs0xQOJo0j3gqFEN8jgfoHWFS3yHJzLd5N7N6fh4dhiNc_c1zJJhL-qSGZFg6PxQeJ4zMzf5mb6fT7C_HQZOhA/s320/card0003.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I know it was the '60s, but you know he had to have taken all kinds of crap for his name. Even a preacher would have a chuckle. Mr. Held had a really long (huhuhuhuhuhuh) career actually. Over 14 seasons he had nearly 1000 hits, averaging 21 homers and 65 RBI's over a 162 game season. His career average was .240, and according to a short bio written on his Baseball Reference page, "At the plate, he swung hard in case he hit something". That pretty much tells you all you need to know. <br />
<br />
He said "hard"...McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-69076830834573487502011-07-15T16:30:00.000-05:002011-07-15T16:30:55.349-05:00A&G? No, I'll Take 1987 Fleer, Thank You.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNe_F29tPLdyzLGnQj7ZefYsOOFuiHeNJcPXeCUDKwmKNSGC-kcOKrdvOX3KBe_hnrQyyueDNl47MMKN_CXcruWSs_GcKmqERBeoayvxt_Xbd1x4kQ47eHkzFfNDj8E9Zie_mmg/s1600/card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="352" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNe_F29tPLdyzLGnQj7ZefYsOOFuiHeNJcPXeCUDKwmKNSGC-kcOKrdvOX3KBe_hnrQyyueDNl47MMKN_CXcruWSs_GcKmqERBeoayvxt_Xbd1x4kQ47eHkzFfNDj8E9Zie_mmg/s400/card.JPG" /></a></div><br />
So almost everyone is going ape sh*t over 2011 Allen & Ginter. I think it's a nice design and I will collect the Cardinals. I will not however fork over money to buy a pack or a box. Topps inserts way too many non-sport/sports nobody cares about cards in these packs. On top of that, they keep on with the abomination that is "game used". These things have completely run their course and should be put down like an injured horse. I don't want to go postal when my "hit" is a piece of cloth that was on the back of Tim Wakefield, no thank you. I saw yesterday on Collector's Crack that Topps is now using "Travel Day Memorabilia". What the hell? Yes, I want a piece of Prince Fielder's designer shirt. Topps has truly jumped the shark. So in conclusion, I am not giving Topps any of my money for A&G, but I will however buy or trade for Cardinals on the secondary market.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I alluded to 1987 Fleer in the title. I was at my LCS yesterday and he just bought a bunch of junk wax from a former dealer. He had quite the variety - '82 Donruss, '84 Topps, '91 Stadium Club and '91 Upper Deck, among others. He had one box of '87 Fleer in the case so I decided to try my luck at...well, I don't know really. Most of the rookies in there aren't worth a whole lot except for Bonds and Bo. Call it nostalgia. I plunked down my $3 and these were the best two cards I got...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CrCDeyyCVq3Pj-5xQ631_M9n3hLGDQVoF01tFX-00_Pgpoi3hxt9BlpzNylrVNQroYc00QcyMD7eGxyOE9z0mKFkHFRso1hw7G_F-ALtBmAC-ZXMdDSqgjsr8TgkolhdxmRULg/s1600/card0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CrCDeyyCVq3Pj-5xQ631_M9n3hLGDQVoF01tFX-00_Pgpoi3hxt9BlpzNylrVNQroYc00QcyMD7eGxyOE9z0mKFkHFRso1hw7G_F-ALtBmAC-ZXMdDSqgjsr8TgkolhdxmRULg/s400/card0002.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZDj3Eh7ouHCxOG6TxZ4pRomeQnHVMY3z-eN4vxLbUIjqZH3KGxb3muP48Qc7vmX7jfNi6zA6QzOcuizVJmDyHA82qYl8RWix6nb85fFy1_omGDAqZhBijz8o0X_cKeqtqbsPlg/s1600/card0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZDj3Eh7ouHCxOG6TxZ4pRomeQnHVMY3z-eN4vxLbUIjqZH3KGxb3muP48Qc7vmX7jfNi6zA6QzOcuizVJmDyHA82qYl8RWix6nb85fFy1_omGDAqZhBijz8o0X_cKeqtqbsPlg/s400/card0001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Neither are Hall of Famers but both were very good. I remember in my youth that '87 and '88 Fleer were hard to come by here in the Midwest. If you found them in a gas station or grocery store it was like Christmas. In my opinion, this was the best looking set that Fleer put out in the junk era. Like something else better? Leave me a comment and state your case.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-31088824375038443602011-07-09T09:00:00.001-05:002011-07-09T09:00:06.206-05:001968...A Year Of Turmoil And Ugly Cards1968 Topps is probably my least favorite set of the '60s. The wood grain borders just don't do it for me. That and they are inconsistent; they look different from card to card. One cannot however complete a run of vintage Topps team sets without also collecting the "inferior" sets. So without further ado, here are three new pickups.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5g1hS5ACucUYUR2AQ3UtrFj4kCSV1QW-aIz7wAb3i8UljKeGdDqDuQIpDF1qtYoQPDwrEfzA0GVTDyeAStCUGFyimjcmgExsKYgUt68SQmb8T1UHoXor1cm0SLhE41soWMjgog/s1600/card0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5g1hS5ACucUYUR2AQ3UtrFj4kCSV1QW-aIz7wAb3i8UljKeGdDqDuQIpDF1qtYoQPDwrEfzA0GVTDyeAStCUGFyimjcmgExsKYgUt68SQmb8T1UHoXor1cm0SLhE41soWMjgog/s400/card0003.JPG" /></a></div><br />
1968 Topps #497 Cardinals Team Card. I have already admitted that team cards don't do it for me, so combine that with an inferior set and you get...a card I actually like. Yes, I actually like the look of this card. Maybe it's because this features the 1967 Championship team.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklkDOxt-2J6xW_MNkchtrf-vwqYs6H_XsnE5Sa9MCXyKYFxRjo4-yo_IP97wvxf37bMqZ1wKiXkkLHyGcVQ8Qupqpcwga8c2Jkswdh35TeiEd8SABVdmyDfbTORslZEAiLhOT7Q/s1600/card0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklkDOxt-2J6xW_MNkchtrf-vwqYs6H_XsnE5Sa9MCXyKYFxRjo4-yo_IP97wvxf37bMqZ1wKiXkkLHyGcVQ8Qupqpcwga8c2Jkswdh35TeiEd8SABVdmyDfbTORslZEAiLhOT7Q/s400/card0002.JPG" /></a></div><br />
1968 Topps #378 Bob Gibson A.S. - Of course 1968 was the year that Robert established the modern record with a 1.12 ERA. He lead the league with <i>13</i> shutouts. Simply dominant. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjD6m1_DIIkZ2AWutjNJavMgFSV5mXQjzoeWsYYx5nkqQ_FB2D7drvaFw66jPaaUhKM8IUDl0wakxxaGQzIBgRWnCejc2rboAd415QnyCnHYJjgPuVfXedVfpHyfLw3wF4Hb1VA/s1600/card0001+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjD6m1_DIIkZ2AWutjNJavMgFSV5mXQjzoeWsYYx5nkqQ_FB2D7drvaFw66jPaaUhKM8IUDl0wakxxaGQzIBgRWnCejc2rboAd415QnyCnHYJjgPuVfXedVfpHyfLw3wF4Hb1VA/s400/card0001+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br />
1968 Topps #372 Lou Brock AS - In 1968 Brock led the league with 46 doubles, 14 triples, and 62 stolen bases. The ultimate table setter.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-42678369803975088412011-07-07T17:51:00.000-05:002011-07-07T17:51:26.042-05:00The Joy Of An Under Graded CardI've seen a lot of over graded cards in the past and I've also seen some under graded ones. This one has to qualify as the latter. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwln4E7l457w0Fp_shq2RHU1mQ9TwwvYUwzLwfzDASAmws0EoF6EG0rHkSg7TpI79WekSGTHpeT_-WJHHZM5tY2rkGDCsFaZB7BMV4MTnLJsm5t-kfJXo2m9lomATnbk02_5cYCQ/s1600/card+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwln4E7l457w0Fp_shq2RHU1mQ9TwwvYUwzLwfzDASAmws0EoF6EG0rHkSg7TpI79WekSGTHpeT_-WJHHZM5tY2rkGDCsFaZB7BMV4MTnLJsm5t-kfJXo2m9lomATnbk02_5cYCQ/s320/card+%25283%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Two 8's a 7 and a 3 equal 4.5? I'm thinking a 5.5 on this one. Beckett is not my first grading choice and they are notoriously tough, but I couldn't pass this one up. I need not post the credentials of Mr. Mays and Mr. Snider. Any baseball fan should know about their greatness already.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-8182146541458146652011-07-03T09:00:00.001-05:002011-07-03T09:00:00.603-05:00Post Card Show PickupsI almost forgot to feature a couple of '67s that I picked up after the "card show" last week. I got them at my LCS. The owner allows me to keep a stack of vintage behind the counter and purchase what I can, when I can. It also makes it easy on him if my wife or other member of the family comes in looking for a gift. It sure beats dropping $20 on modern packs. Anyway, here they are:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2F7eGQ0lm3M-FFQN-O0dxcqBL51Z5euB2cGEFzcz76T0wMoy1br-ZXiFYomf7LzWhQOP1KuV9l8ahyphenhyphen5gn716nS9ZBJ59piRd250xOrjVldv-qpQ3seuOeEZdQ2SWyg0lYpI-WA/s1600/card0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2F7eGQ0lm3M-FFQN-O0dxcqBL51Z5euB2cGEFzcz76T0wMoy1br-ZXiFYomf7LzWhQOP1KuV9l8ahyphenhyphen5gn716nS9ZBJ59piRd250xOrjVldv-qpQ3seuOeEZdQ2SWyg0lYpI-WA/s320/card0001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
1967 Topps Cardinals Team Card #173 - I'm not big on team cards, I admit it. Not enough detail for me. However one must have the team card to have a team set, so here it is. The Cardinals of course won the World Series in 1967 spurred on by the acquisition of Orlando Cepeda and Roger Maris during 1966. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k2Juk7fRt357hAFXC_2NHx5gFq1zTda9ejxuw-tWL0X9qqZ3TJPJhDaObL1yjxbFosrAN-YNbk3kSY4l9kQo4ZoEWcGBUEj5tFilo4t8kfs6pFkPkXZH5ztULPON5hwYRQIKxw/s1600/card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k2Juk7fRt357hAFXC_2NHx5gFq1zTda9ejxuw-tWL0X9qqZ3TJPJhDaObL1yjxbFosrAN-YNbk3kSY4l9kQo4ZoEWcGBUEj5tFilo4t8kfs6pFkPkXZH5ztULPON5hwYRQIKxw/s320/card.JPG" /></a></div><br />
1967 Topps Dave Ricketts #589 - Dave played six total seasons, five of those with the Cardinals. He was a backup catcher to Tim McCarver and a pinch hitter. He had one home run and 20 RBI's over his career. Interesting to note that 14 of those RBI's came in 1967. It's always nice when you can add a high number to your collection in this nice of shape. They get a little pricey; this one has a BV of $15.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-13756855411935132662011-07-01T09:00:00.001-05:002011-07-01T09:00:05.659-05:00My Top Three Most Underrated Pitchers, Based On Card ValueThere is a huge discrepancy in baseball card values when it comes to starting pitchers. In my opinion, these three pitchers somehow fly under most collector's radars.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://rumorsandrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Justin-Verlander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="388" width="407" src="http://rumorsandrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Justin-Verlander.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Justin Verlander. Rookie of the year. Has won 17 games in four (soon to be five) of seven seasons. Every season except for two (one being in his first season in which he pitched in two games) he has had a sub 4.00 ERA. Has led the league in strikeouts. Leads all A.L. pitchers with a .839 WHIP this season. All of that, and his rookie cards can be had for less than a buck and you'll find his base cards in the common bins.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ph.cdn.photos.upi.com/topics-Game-Two-of-the-World-Series-between-the-Tampa-Bay-Rays-and-Philadelphia-Phillies-in-Tampa-Bay/21b18e5803679aeadfa71322f7918daf/D_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="529" width="575" src="http://ph.cdn.photos.upi.com/topics-Game-Two-of-the-World-Series-between-the-Tampa-Bay-Rays-and-Philadelphia-Phillies-in-Tampa-Bay/21b18e5803679aeadfa71322f7918daf/D_1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
David Price. 37-19 career record. 3.43 career ERA. Pitched very well in the post season as a rookie. Second in the Cy Young voting last season and an All Star. Like Verlander, you can find his rookie cards for well below a dollar. I've picked them up for a quarter before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://figurethingsout.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dan-haren-2010-7-26-23-0-40-285x280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="280" width="285" src="http://figurethingsout.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dan-haren-2010-7-26-23-0-40-285x280.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Dan Haren. Has won at least 14 games five times (soon to be six). Leads the league in strikeout to walk ratio. Three time All Star. A perennial 200 strikeout pitcher. Somehow the guy has played for four different teams over nine seasons, including my beloved Cardinals (that Mulder trade still haunts me). Like the previous two, you can get most of his rookie cards for under a buck and his base and insert cards are normally found in the common bin.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-13040028884481001562011-06-30T12:40:00.000-05:002011-06-30T12:40:26.265-05:00Is The Old Chris Carpenter Back?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/chris-carpenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="248" width="250" src="http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/chris-carpenter.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Is Chris Carpenter "back"? I think everyone will agree that he has not been himself over the first three months of the season. His last two starts have made me think that he may have gotten back into form. From what I saw last night, he was dominant. He had command. His fastball had life. His curve looked like it should. I've heard it said that he fell in love with the cutter and his curve suffered because of it. I can't argue with that. He and Wainwright have two of the best curve balls in the league. I'm not sure why he wasn't throwing it but I'm glad he is now. Over his last 16 innings, he has given up only 12 hits and two earned runs. On top of that, he has only walked two. There is some concern about the number of pitches he is throwing. I come from the school of thought that pitch counts are overrated. I'll trust LaDuncan on this one.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-10608237257057910292011-06-29T14:28:00.001-05:002011-06-29T14:30:57.712-05:001951 Bowman AdditionsI find 1951 Bowman cards to be one of the most attractive sets ever produced. It's because of this that I recently added them to my want list of Cardinal team sets. Without further ado, here are the two newest additions, courtesy of of a trade with cptnemo on Beckett.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0soUyHZzYVa990kmarzshzfq66uUTeogKIPLSr6TWg9B3QI-cSyuphoYKAUAYG2o06dp8Z9w0mXgMRqT7XJgpQfOGYE7xfXLW14WNyt0XXSxjGPT2npgZNxAvVK1ePKCfnb0ww/s1600/card0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0soUyHZzYVa990kmarzshzfq66uUTeogKIPLSr6TWg9B3QI-cSyuphoYKAUAYG2o06dp8Z9w0mXgMRqT7XJgpQfOGYE7xfXLW14WNyt0XXSxjGPT2npgZNxAvVK1ePKCfnb0ww/s320/card0001.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Peanuts Lowrey had a lifetime average of .273 while playing for the Cubs, Reds, Phillies, and Cardinals. He amassed 1177 hits over 13 seasons.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy1tvNpjXwT46jreYyPUKNiF6YCzgKg4E4C0iAFUwhmLxdxBLgs_ZYSudMkzFEttoUct6k_-3aNcYVXUqGwQOmU4KgeKfF9xcosEENhP1jYtL6P9BepacvyScHfPdxqH3cqKpLw/s1600/card.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQy1tvNpjXwT46jreYyPUKNiF6YCzgKg4E4C0iAFUwhmLxdxBLgs_ZYSudMkzFEttoUct6k_-3aNcYVXUqGwQOmU4KgeKfF9xcosEENhP1jYtL6P9BepacvyScHfPdxqH3cqKpLw/s320/card.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Al Brazle played all ten of his seasons with the Cardinals, amassing a record of 97-64 with a 3.31 ERA. According to baseballreference.com, he led the league in saves in 1952 with 16 and 1953 with 18.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-56372151043556350062011-06-28T15:52:00.000-05:002011-06-28T15:52:21.062-05:00New Addition...1952 ToppsHere is the latest addition to my vintage Cardinals collection, Cliff Chambers himself. Mr. Chambers pitched from 1948-1953, compiling a 48-53 record with a 4.29 career ERA. His best season was in 1949 with the Pirates when he was 13-7 with a 3.96 ERA.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtNtD6CFSY4ENzEsMcgcAvRFdtnzHRfe2jNs4RcLOOoZ05hGU54VRiOgy93Vtnpd-jOf_UuZgtfFlQkGwZpdTakolR60XGbGz312F7nAeHReDYGo2OWJdYi_v7l0CUmE5c51lmg/s1600/card0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtNtD6CFSY4ENzEsMcgcAvRFdtnzHRfe2jNs4RcLOOoZ05hGU54VRiOgy93Vtnpd-jOf_UuZgtfFlQkGwZpdTakolR60XGbGz312F7nAeHReDYGo2OWJdYi_v7l0CUmE5c51lmg/s320/card0009.JPG" /></a></div>McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-10832378060135409122011-06-27T22:46:00.000-05:002011-06-27T22:46:54.941-05:00Card Show BluesI went to my first card show in a very long time over the weekend. What a disappointment. Four tables. Four whole tables. Everything was overpriced, especially Cardinal stuff. I expect the Cardinal stuff to carry a small premium but most of it was ridiculous. It seems that "dealers" have ignored the fact that we have this thing called the internet now. I can find just about anything I want in a few seconds and have it delivered to my door within days. Now, I know that these guys are banking on the "instant gratification" ideal. I do like to be able to handle a card before purchase and inspect it and that's what they are hoping for. I was at first very hesitant to do trades and purchases online but after over 500 transactions, only a handful have been an issue and they were minor.<br />
<br />
I was at the show for less than an hour. I decided to head to my local card shop to talk to the owner and peruse his stacks of cardboard. The place was packed. I have never seen it that way. It seems that everyone that was disappointed with the show had wandered there for consolation.<br />
<br />
I did pick up a few things at the show for my Cardinal collection. I couldn't leave empty handed. Behold...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d2wReQGmxtOxuXIECcBlWaUhUfXhknfjfZyLSdezdX5EeYksoI9-NyHBpQ7Bp2po-QZ6Ndfid-F_wouJMErz35X1fZfyphuDPjrHE5Sbffau7wjfjzgBblJjNEOfeD9Pk8e2uA/s1600/card0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d2wReQGmxtOxuXIECcBlWaUhUfXhknfjfZyLSdezdX5EeYksoI9-NyHBpQ7Bp2po-QZ6Ndfid-F_wouJMErz35X1fZfyphuDPjrHE5Sbffau7wjfjzgBblJjNEOfeD9Pk8e2uA/s320/card0005.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl9Hh76VIlJg5iqdedpgS-_d6LNVLMxLWULme9t2YEY9WsO1hZAcaiJtlGuz_Q2o-1w4_61eqaqiGJFEiBCe7Tmm08dhbYII9RTV4uK2EDaIj6kr5bmXwGkvoSbg4WQtbi_I_Iw/s1600/card0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl9Hh76VIlJg5iqdedpgS-_d6LNVLMxLWULme9t2YEY9WsO1hZAcaiJtlGuz_Q2o-1w4_61eqaqiGJFEiBCe7Tmm08dhbYII9RTV4uK2EDaIj6kr5bmXwGkvoSbg4WQtbi_I_Iw/s320/card0004.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Two 1975 Topps Cardinals. I now only need the team card to complete the team set. I may now pursue the minis and have a few already.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgWwzQj1kcYHoEenBx5uUhytepzU0MFm4uQS_iLbE53OIw5VlqWNIi7S8XwR1V42-eWGQrovqajvJHWwtIWJIKSBCNj4DCd8mkIL-NHRD_97F6McZujWnjFCL9w2foATHlTe-dQ/s1600/card0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgWwzQj1kcYHoEenBx5uUhytepzU0MFm4uQS_iLbE53OIw5VlqWNIi7S8XwR1V42-eWGQrovqajvJHWwtIWJIKSBCNj4DCd8mkIL-NHRD_97F6McZujWnjFCL9w2foATHlTe-dQ/s320/card0006.JPG" /></a></div><br />
1978 Topps Ted Simmons. This man should be in the HOF. He compares very well with Fisk and Carter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8gNQy5yeNhMz0N7llYKJGzzuUWMlA0eDwsnCq530goSWCwkjd72nVQVWR3HYYV1c2lj5sbB3WQupu3_vLVMlOrQmvJKsfUK6acHdKJLQ77sF5ZuOg9qpcDpD557LFbLDEBsrNA/s1600/card0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8gNQy5yeNhMz0N7llYKJGzzuUWMlA0eDwsnCq530goSWCwkjd72nVQVWR3HYYV1c2lj5sbB3WQupu3_vLVMlOrQmvJKsfUK6acHdKJLQ77sF5ZuOg9qpcDpD557LFbLDEBsrNA/s320/card0008.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pFY7f-7lkic8WrVqtXvcGgLf2lNDs3EdYstTICoN43KxRG0ZtpUx9GWm5K0dEP9LEN9jb5LNhINATUKPc4KI_Y_5BQbsZon97A-6DBMN3lLQLSg1VNu-9RBYc24oBtOmtELe7Q/s1600/card0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pFY7f-7lkic8WrVqtXvcGgLf2lNDs3EdYstTICoN43KxRG0ZtpUx9GWm5K0dEP9LEN9jb5LNhINATUKPc4KI_Y_5BQbsZon97A-6DBMN3lLQLSg1VNu-9RBYc24oBtOmtELe7Q/s320/card0007.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Two Keith Hernandez Kellogg's cards. I don't know why I like Kellogg's so much, but I am like a moth to a flame with them.<br />
<br />
That was my haul. Yep, five whole cards that cost $2.50. At least admission was free.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-74018541736375674012011-04-04T11:11:00.000-05:002011-04-04T11:11:54.617-05:00Holliday's Appendectomy And Other Various Sundries...So Matt Holliday is out for a while. I've had an appendectomy before and it's not fun to say the least. It took me a week before I was able to get around normally. Holliday plays a professional sport for a living and is in great shape, but there is no reason for him to push it too far, too fast. No, we don't have a replacement even close to Holliday's talent, but we do have two young guys who can admirably fill the role in his absence. Of course I am speaking of Allen Craig and Jon Jay. Both have talent (I particularly like Jay) and to be honest, I thought at least a one year platoon in right field was a better choice than spending $8 million on Berkman. I like Berkman but he is far past his prime. He can probably be a serviceable first baseman or dreaded DH at this point in his career but I think that we will find out that a right fielder he is not.<br />
<br />
OK Skip Schumkaker, the dream is over. I think it's time to get one of the young bucks (Descalso, Greene) playing 2B and end this 2 year experiment with Skip. He just does not look comfortable out there. He's flubbed a couple of plays already. He needs to go back to playing a backup role. I'm not that impressed with Theriot at this point either. Another light hitting, average fielder is not what we needed. I would have taken the light hitting, great fielder we had in Brendan Ryan.<br />
<br />
The pitching so far has been good, barring Westbrook's fiasco on Saturday. Westbrook is an average pitcher; we will get those kind of outings here and there. We will just have to live with it. Carpenter looked pretty good in his start and Garcia was lights out. I'm glad he figured out what was wrong in Spring Training. I'm anxious to see Kyle McClellan pitch after the spring he had. I've always thought he should have been a starter, and I even thought they should toss him into the rotation instead of picking up Westbrook. Of course, that was before Wainwright went down.<br />
<br />
No need to panic yet. We're only three games into the season.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-3318643398206710702010-12-22T15:24:00.000-06:002010-12-22T15:24:38.276-06:00No Heat, No Bed, No SleepOur furnace has been out since Saturday. We've been waiting for the part to come in (just came in today) and in the meantime, we have been reduced to using space heaters for warmth. We have two furnaces in our house mind you and the one upstairs is still working (for the time being). So, our bedrooms have been fine but my bedroom has not been upstairs this week. Chivalrous me decided to sleep on the couch downstairs to keep an ear out for any mischief that might be caused by several running space heaters.<br />
<br />
I admit, I have trouble sleeping without my wife next to me. You get used to that sort of thing after a while. In order to get any sleep at all this week, I have been leaving the TV on as it gives just enough background noise to help me dose for a while. The problem with sleeping on the couch and sleeping with the TV on is that you really are never completely asleep. I wake up probably 5 times a night. And boy, is it interesting to see what's on. I fell asleep a couple of nights with ESPN on. You either wake up to Sportscenter (the same one you watched at 10:00 mind you) or to some obscure athletic event that you would never see during the day. I'm talking stuff like Extreme Outdoor sports - log rolling. chainsaw skills, and the like(which I do find mildly entertaining), or maybe the World's Strongest Man from 1976. World Karate Championships anyone? Badminton Invitational?<br />
<br />
The other channel that I left on this week was VH1 Classic. It's a great channel and I hope they don't take it down the same road as VH1 or MTV. Anyway, after say 1:00 A.M., they play videos just like MTV used to. Problem is, a lot of times there is no rhyme or reason to what they play. You may see some obscure 80's band that you've never heard of, followed by Motorhead and then RUN DMC. It's hard to comprehend what you are watching when you just woke up and forgot why the hell you are sleeping on the couch. Why the hell is Lemmy screaming at me? Why is it so damn cold in here?<br />
<br />
This morning I learned that there was actually a video made for Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs". I'm not Stewart fan but that was probably one of his better songs. Also, I had never seen a video for "You Really Got Me", the Van Halen version. Holy Christ, waking up to David Lee Roth in a zipped down jump suit is damn near terrifying. Then they played Dire Straits "Money For Nothing". I remember when that video was cutting edge, now it looks like something my three year old designed.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it's been an interesting last few days. Luckily, the furnace is fixed and I can get back to a regular sleeping schedule.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-36734108069765347942010-12-20T11:58:00.002-06:002010-12-20T11:58:32.093-06:00The Best Weezer Song (And Video) EverToo bad they don't make 'em like they used to.<br />
<br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7CEqVTWo4EI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7CEqVTWo4EI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-78046610119698222562010-12-20T10:33:00.001-06:002010-12-20T10:33:54.937-06:00Ex-Classmates And YouSo, I ran into a classmate from high school at work today. I normally wouldn't go out of my way to engage in conversation but seeing as it is the season of giving and all I decided to initiate contact. One thing I've noticed over the years is that when you see an old friend or classmate, the questions for each other are pretty much always the same. They are:<br />
<br />
1. <b>"How's work"?</b> Yeah, work pretty much sucks for everyone but the standard answer is "oh, pretty good" or "well, I'm still working and that's a good thing".<br />
2. <b>"How are the kids"? </b> This shows general interest in your family though they could probably care less. I try not to go overboard talking about the kids for this reason.<br />
3. <b>"Seen anyone from school lately"?</b> Yeah, I've seen so and so recently which is normally followed by a second of awkward silence.<br />
4. <b>"Who did you marry"?</b> My first wife didn't go to school in the area so I could get away with saying her name and stating that she's not from around here. But now I am married to someone who went to the same school I did, so now I have to state her name and then endure more awkward silence as the person is trying to figure out who the hell I am talking about.<br />
5. <b>"Did you hear about so and so"?</b> Usually this question is followed up by a fake look of compassion. Normally, the answer is something horrible - either that person died, is sick, or was arrested with kiddie porn.<br />
<br />
Any other questions that you are used to hearing from old classmates?McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-17384247580268896352010-12-16T15:43:00.000-06:002010-12-16T15:43:53.838-06:00Ice Storms And AssholesIt's funny when it sleets or freezes rain. No really, it is. I mean, I hate driving in this crap and I worry about my family and friends if they are out driving in it, but some things about it are just funny. People freak the hell out like the end of the world is near. Facebook was on fire last night with tons of reports of how bad the roads were and the fact that school was called off.<br />
<br />
These people aren't the assholes that I speak of though. The true characters of an ice and/or snow storm are the owners (not all but most) of 4WD trucks and large SUVs. They live for this shit. They drive like bats out of hell no matter the road conditions. They ride your ass, pass you, and throw slush all over everyone in their wake. But oh the sweet justice when an ice storm comes. On my way in today, every car in the ditch was a 4WD truck. More than likely, these guys thought that they were invincible last night because of what they drive. Ice however, takes no prisoners. It will take you down when you least expect it. I watched several trucks try to to roar past our house last night and take corners to quickly, only to end up sliding sideways down the street. Normally, I would be worried about the driver but if you are going to drive like that then all I'm going to do is point and laugh. Slow down assholes.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-11918879412255171192010-12-13T13:25:00.002-06:002010-12-13T13:25:47.795-06:00Nothing Better Than Watching a Dome Roof Collapse...Right?<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IxuxNLf87_Y?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IxuxNLf87_Y?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-66695708153942763922010-12-13T10:24:00.000-06:002010-12-13T10:24:59.378-06:00My Newest Addition To The CollectionI love to collect vintage cards but some of the early tobacco cards are pretty pricey. I've decided to add at least one example from certain sets, the first one being T205. I have several T206s and a few other odds and ends from the tobacco era but I had never owned a T205 until now. The set has never really appealed to me for the most part but I wanted to own at least one, since it is an iconic set. This card was priced right and depicted a Cardinal so it was a win win, despite the probable trim job at the bottom. <br />
<br />
John Lush compiled a 66-85 record over seven seasons (1904-1910) with Philadelphia and the Cardinals. He had a nice 2.68 ERA for his career.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/jalbregts/PC/?action=view&current=IMG_0029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/jalbregts/PC/IMG_0029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-13506745981296262082010-12-10T14:44:00.003-06:002010-12-10T15:13:30.383-06:00Things I Like About Christmas...And Things I Don'tIt's that time of the year again. Time for most people to go further into debt just to impress their friends and loved ones with the gifts they give. Time to eat until you look like Santa himself. Time for the hustling and bustling and decorations. Here is my list of favorite and least favorite things about the holidays.<br /><br />My favorites...<br /><br />1. Fire - nothing beats a crackling fire, whether inside or out.<br />2. Live Christmas trees - I love taking the family out to cut down our tree.<br />3. Gifts - C'mon, who doesn't like to get gifts?<br />4. Seasonal Beer - The season has it's own set of beers and they are damn good.<br />5. Food - Like beer, you only get certain foods at this time of year.<br />6. My kids - I love watching my kids tear into their gifts<br />7. Friends/Family - OK, sometimes I get annoyed, but I mostly like them around<br />8. Extra Days Off - For a whole month it seems like you are off every other day<br />9. Christmas Bonuses - Depending on where you work of course.<br />10. Generosity - People are generally more giving this time of year.<br /><br />My not-so-favorites...<br /><br />1. Yard Decor - People, your blow up penguins look stupid.<br />2. Lights - Lights are OK but your house should not look like the surface of the sun<br />3. Slow People - Jesus Christ get what you need and get the hell out of the way!<br />4. Traffic - I'm glad I don't carry a gun with me or I'd be in jail.<br />5. Bell Ringers - OK it's for charity, which is good, but those people annoy me.<br />6. Snow - God I hate snow. <br />7. Family - I know, they're on my favorite list too.<br />8. Client Gifts - You give gifts to people that make your life hell all year long?<br />9. War On Christmas - Celebrate your way, I'll celebrate mine.<br />10. Christmas music - There have been maybe five good Christmas songs ever.<br /><br />There you have it. Anyone want to chime in?McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-44418982923240704402010-12-09T21:38:00.001-06:002010-12-09T21:39:11.662-06:00John Lennon - Nobody Told Me<iframe width="425" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_8GVafKcGCQ?fs=1" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br />A belated tribute to John Lennon, 1940-1980.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-23415607360344225492010-12-09T13:17:00.002-06:002010-12-09T13:32:59.061-06:00And The Rich Get Richer...So, the Red Sox signed Carl Crawford to a seven year, uber-million dollar deal. That is after getting Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres in a trade. The Yankees are expected to counter with a seven year deal for Cliff Lee, which is ludicrous to me but whatever. <br /><br />So there you have the current state of baseball. The teams with the most money reload year after year while the smaller market teams scrounge for the leftovers. Having the highest payroll doesn't always assure you a championship, but it sure as hell doesn't hurt.<br /><br />I can't fault these guys for spending money if they have it. They could be a team like the Pirates, once with a proud and winning tradition, now reduced to rubble because ownership won't spend money on their product. It has been reported that ownership pockets most, if not all, of the profit sharing revenue that they receive from the big boys instead of reinvesting it. Yet, they sit and complain about being broke and how the fans aren't showing up. Why show up to watch a team that will be drastically different by the time they get to the end of the season? That's the pattern of a lot of small market teams - bring a good player up through the system and as soon as they show some ability, trade them off for scrap. God forbid that they ask for a raise for good performance.<br /><br />I love baseball. I'm not sure that a salary cap is the answer but something needs to be done to insure the health of the league.McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-16249112815825020352009-04-13T21:50:00.004-05:002009-04-13T21:55:55.140-05:00Goodbye Harry...You were one of the last of a breed of old school announcers. You will be missed.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NRlbTAXtY-o&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NRlbTAXtY-o&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-46315568129741207462009-04-09T21:15:00.003-05:002009-04-09T21:20:58.431-05:00Nick Adenhart 1986-2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbagqePBLSRS6Ui93ZMlBuMdmp0mNU6NTcdrGIEIdjzZspLqGisTLO0FGcKY0syeadDAt90DkoxqJ7Wu7Jq-8-l5ckLpRUG4VnOyNIoTF6LUD0I8SNJAqitZxvnQ4DenHKOaHKQ/s1600-h/IMG_0046.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbagqePBLSRS6Ui93ZMlBuMdmp0mNU6NTcdrGIEIdjzZspLqGisTLO0FGcKY0syeadDAt90DkoxqJ7Wu7Jq-8-l5ckLpRUG4VnOyNIoTF6LUD0I8SNJAqitZxvnQ4DenHKOaHKQ/s320/IMG_0046.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322881542195421250" /></a><br /><br />Nick Adenhart, pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, died today in a car accident. I never saw him pitch except for the highlights on TV today, but he looked to have a promising career. Above is Nick's 2008 Topps Update card. Cross over easily Nick...McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36699542.post-29751120726253399672009-04-03T17:47:00.004-05:002009-04-03T17:56:11.246-05:00An Unfortunate Name<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W7kutzf2nMlURKuFlE_nvm9h2qCGACVU0IsiSESw-jIhre9gcRRNekTw5LWBbUycRsgzIaa-rqGO7QyTN4wL9-YHsLN0IRAK4bMTENmAusSPVWv9S7k9tMUOY9qHH3x3DYJHRg/s1600-h/IMG_0045.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W7kutzf2nMlURKuFlE_nvm9h2qCGACVU0IsiSESw-jIhre9gcRRNekTw5LWBbUycRsgzIaa-rqGO7QyTN4wL9-YHsLN0IRAK4bMTENmAusSPVWv9S7k9tMUOY9qHH3x3DYJHRg/s200/IMG_0045.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320601357727492162" /></a><br />Well, with a name like Dickshot (born Dicksus, he changed it why?), you have to be good right? No, not really. I'm not sure why they made a card of this guy, he was less than mediocre. I'm sure he was probably the best player in his town though. His career lasted from 1936-1945, though he doesn't have any stats from 1940-1943. I thought maybe he went to fight in the War but it looks as if he was playing in the minors, trying to latch onto another team. Anyhow, we salute you Johnny Dickshot!McGee's Williehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15951524810461698160noreply@blogger.com1