Who do you want to see in the TriStar Autograph pavilion at The National?
Gary Carter entered the baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. He was elected with Eddie Murray. To end my Gary Carter autograph baseball week, here's Gary's autograph with his HOF inscription.
Who's the best catcher ever? Here's my list:
1. Josh Gibson
2. Yogi Berra
3. Johnny Bench
4. Gary Carter
5. Carlton Fisk
6. Ivan Rodriguez
7. Mike Piazza
8. Jerry Grote
9. Todd Hundley
10. Mackey Sasser
OK, I'm joking of course with 8-10, but I like the top 7.
New images have been released for the proposed Florida Marlins baseball stadium.
This is the only Gary Carter autograph I have without a special inscription. I couldn't think of a good one for this Shea Stadium specialty baseball.
Gary Carter signed this one for me at last year's MAB Metsfest. Again, I asked him to sign it directly under the Shea Stadium logo for display purposes.
Gary Carter signs a lot of autographs with Tri-Star so I'm hoping he'll be at The National this year (did I mention that crazy Facebook group for The National - yes, I'm sick of writing that already). I doubt Gary will be at this year's National considering his new manager job for the Long Island Ducks.
Gary Carter Baseball Autograph Collection week continues!
Gary Carter earned his second All-Star game MVP in 1984. The game was held in San Francisco on July 10, 1984.
A go-ahead home run by Gary Carter earned him the MVP. This autograph is under the 1984 All-Star game logo with Carter's MVP inscription. He also signed this for me at the 2007 National.
What? An autograph not on the sweet spot?!
In my opinion, if you're getting a specialty ball signed, then get it right under the special logo. The reason is because of the display. You're going to want to display the baseball with the special logo and the autograph. Get it done this way, so both will show.
Originally, the 1981 All-Star game was going to be played on July 14, but had to be moved back due to the player's strike. As a result, the game was held in Cleveland on August 9. Gary Carter hit two home runs in the game to earn the 1981 All-Star game MVP award.
This autograph is on a 1981 All-Star game baseball and has Carter's MVP inscription. I obtained this one from the 2007 National in Cleveland. If you're on Facebook, be sure to join The National group!
A friend of mine sent this picture to me from last month's Toys for Tots drive in Naperville, IL. Ernie Banks signed a baseball, added the inscription "Mr. Cub," and paused for a great photo opportunity.
In addition to being one of the best hitting catchers in baseball history, Gary Carter won his share of gold gloves. Gary Carter is a 3-time gold glove winner (80, 81, 82).
This sweet spot autograph is on a Gold Glove baseball with the Gold Glove years inscribed.
This week I'm posting my ultimate Gary Carter Autograph Baseball Collection. I have several Gary Carter autograph baseballs that I'll post this week.
The first (and most important to me) is the Gary Carter autograph with 1986 World Series Champion inscription.
In the 1986 World Series Gary Carter hit two huge home runs and banged out 9 RBIs for the Mets. Carter's biggest hit was a single in the last inning of Game 6. With two outs and no one on base, Carter started the rally that Mookie Wilson and Ray Knight finished.
Good karma vibes going out to Project '62. Earlier this month the blog announced a Pete Rose project. I received the cards and they are AWESOME.
Thanks for cards and organizing everything. These are great!
The NFL Experience kicks off this Jan. 24 in Tampa for Super Bowl 43.
If you're in the area, check it out. There's a huge card show, events, autograph sessions. I've been to two of these - Super Bowl 40 in Detroit, MI and Super Bowl 42 in Glendale, AZ.
This year, I noticed they have a text message system to find out where players are appearing. Last year, it was tough to find out when Topps, Burger King, Samsung, etc had players. I picked up some great autographs and it only cost admission to the experience: Archie Manning, Roy Williams (def), Todd McFarlane and a few others.
To get the alerts, text "NFLX" to "Tampa" (82672).
Elaine, "Who does this guy think he is?"
Keith, "I'm Keith Hernandez."
To me, Keith Hernandez is a Hall of Fame player. I believe there is more to baseball than home runs and RBI totals. Keith Hernandez was a leader with the Mets and Cardinals and oh yeah, is the best fielding first baseman in the history of the game.
I've met Keith a few times at different events. Each time he's been great with the fans.
Keith has some great stats that stack up against other Hall of Famer players. Check out this great SI.com article and tell me what you think.
Fees, feedback and foolishness are driving eBay stores and customers into the arms of other companies like the MAB Store.
Thanks to the great blog, 30-Year old Cardboard for some great Mets cards!
This week I received 7 awesome Mets. My favorites: 1988 Score - Len Dykstra Score, 199 Fleer - Howard Johnson, 2008 UD - Pedro Martinez!
Good blog karma to 30-Year old Cardboard.
The National, National Sports Collectors Convention, will be here sooner than we think! If you're on Facebook, I created a group to join.
You can share photos with the group of previous National conventions you've been to, discuss rumors of guest list for the autograph pavilion, or anything you want. To join, do a group search for "The National."
The only thing I request is that we keep in clean.
1965 Topps, #533.
Bring Edgardo Alfonzo back to Flushing!
"The Manster" - One of the best nicknames in sports. This is a Randy White 1984 Topps. Randy White has #54 because Tom Landry planned to groom him as his next great linebacker - #54 was Chuck Howley's number.
White never really grabbed the LB position so he moved back to his DT role and earned himself a spot in Canton, OH.
This is another great photo from the flea market purchase. Here Ted Williams is shaking hands with Bob Knepper at Doubleday Field. The photo is from July 28, 1985 (I think date on the back is a bit blurry).
So a few other blogs to do this: I add the photo, you put the caption, and everyone laughs. I'll start:
- TW, "Bobby - I would have tore you up."
- BK, "So, you would actually have your head frozen?"
Thanks to Baseball Think Factory for the link. 
The American Sports Announcers Association came out with their Top 50 Sports Announcers of all-time list. These all-time type of lists are always interesting and stir discussions.
To start, I totally disagree with Bob Costas being ranked #6 ahead of Jim McKay and Keith Jackson.
I also don't like #31 Joe Buck and #35 Chris Berman ranked higher than Phil Rizzuto. Why is Berman even on this list?!!
How did Bill Walton get ranked higher than Pat Summerall and Harry Kalas. Personally, I think Kalas should be ranked #2!
Where is Verne Lundquist, Bob Murphy and Bob Uecker? I say dump Nantz, Berman and Buck for those guys.
Thanks to Awful Announcing Blog and Blue Heaven for posting the list.
1. Vin Scully
2. Mel Allen
3. Red Barber
4. Curt Gowdy
5. Howard Cosell
6. Bob Costas
7. Jim McKay
8. Keith Jackson
9. Al Michaels
10. Dick Enberg
11. Jack Buck
12. Ted Husing
13. Jack Brickhouse
14. Don Dunphy
15. Graham McNamee
16. Ernie Harwell
17. Marv Albert
18. Harry Caray
19. Jon Miller
20. Bill Stern
21. Chick Hearn
22. Marty Glickman
23. Jack Whitaker
24. Jim Nantz
25. Chris Schenkel
26. Lindsey Nelson
27. Russ Hodges
28. Ray Scott
29. John Madden
30. Bob Prince
31. Joe Buck
32. Milo Hamilton
33. Bob Wolff
34. Chuck Thompson
35. Chris Berman
36. Phil Rizzuto
37. Marty Brennaman
38. Clem McCarthy
39. Bill Walton
40. Foster Hewitt
41. Harry Kalas
42. Johnny Most
43. Bob Elson
44. Brent Musberger
45. Pat Summerall
46. Merle Harmon
47. Dick Vitale
48. Dick Stockton
49. Tony Kubek
50. Bud Collins
So the team laid an egg for this game.
So the team closed Texas Stadium by not being able to tackle.
So the team's offense choked until it was too late.
It's still a cool ticket stub!
This is a ticket stub from the last game at Texas Stadium - it is my latest purchase from eBay. I'm starting to really like ticket stubs from major events - I think they really help tell the story of the event.
I'm trying to get a few things from Texas Stadium before it's blown to Texas dust.
I exchanged email with the Cowboys Customer Service people yesterday about selling Texas Stadium turf. They still have tours scheduled through the end of this month, but they plan on cutting it and selling pieces of it in Feb. or March.
1990 Topps Traded#27T
The weekend is here and a lot of us are bringing back the poker table after a holiday hiatus.
Here is my fantasy sports table:
Does anyone know why the Gavel Chat blog hasn't been updated in about two months? The last post from Chris is from Nov. 3.
I liked reading his blog, he always found interesting sports card and memorabilia topics to talk about. Did Mr. Mint kick him off the blog?! :)
The King is 74 and living the life Kalamazoo, MI (or so I believe). Celebrate Elvis' birthday by eating one of his favorite dishes: fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.
Pete ended the 1983 season with the Phillies a little dissapointed.
When did the Baseball Hall of Fame become a CD Music Club?
On Monday, I received Inning #1 of the Ken Burns baseball documentary along with a postage paid return envelope. Basically, I can:
- Keep the DVD and pay the Hall of Fame to get more, or
- I can use the envelope provided and send it back.
Who is doing the marketing over there? Why are they following college CD club marketing tactics which only captured the guy who lived down the dorm hall from you because he actually believed he would received 100 CDs for a penny! In my dorm, that was the same guy who thought the Dorm RA was cool.
This is the worst marketing I've seen by the Baseball Hall of Fame. They are sitting on the greatest collection of sports history and memorabilia and they best they can do is send me one part of a 15 year old DVD! Are you kidding me? Hasn't every baseball fan on the planet seen this at least 100 times on PBS or already bought the DVD collection? I admit, I own it and I love it. I watch it every spring before the season begins.
The Baseball Hall of Fame can gain membership in better ways than following the Columbia House or BMG marketing playbook. Here are some of my ideas.
I think every baseball fan would love to part of some of these activities.
Baseball Hall of Fame: You can do better than sending me part of a 15 year old documentary series and hoping I subscribe for more. I know someone at the Baseball Hall of Fame reads this blog - I love baseball, please take my suggestions and move the museum into the 21st century.
http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/index.jsp
Its Jerry Koosman Day at Shea Stadium! Sept. 9, 1989.
It was all smiles in December when the contracts were signed, but what will the back of the NY Post look like this May?
The Yanks have opened up the checkbooks and bought Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and AJ Burnett for close to a half a billion dollars. As a Mets fan, I'm well aware that championships are won in September/October, but how will the media respond if the Yankees half billion dollar investment doesn't pay immediate dividends?
Based on last year's April and May statistics, the headline writer for the NY Post and NY Daily News could be busy.
Mark Teixiera
Through May, 2008 (54 games): Tex was hitting .271 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs.
CC Sabathia
Through May, 2008 (12 starts): CC was 3-7 with a 4.73 ERA
AJ Burnett
Through May, 2008 (11 starts): AJ was 5-5 with a 4.56 ERA
Championships may be won in Sept/Oct, but the papers could get pretty interesting this spring. Seven home runs, and eight wins for three players worth half a billion dollars isn't what the Steinbrenner boys are expecting.
Who is next in line for a Federal Government bailout? How about Bill Buckner?
An Idaho car dealership, Bill Buckner Dodge Chrysler Jeep, has closed according to Buckner’s attorney.
From the Idaho Statesman: The dealership sold Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles. Buckner lent his name to the dealership, had a minority ownership, but according to his attorney did not have operational control.
This photo is from the Chicago Sun Times Autograph and Memorabilia show in November, 2008.
Source: http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/593923.html
Billy Cowan isn't the most well-known baseball player and didn't have a stellar professional career, but he left his legacy with his 1972 Angels "Halo" card.
Cowan and the photographer had some good fun with the giant Angels halo that marked the stadium. Thanks to the photographers' eye and Cowan's sense of humor, this card is one of the most popular TTM autograph cards.
Check out the entire article at the Bronx Banter blog. It's pretty interesting.
Thanks to the BronxBanter for writing this and the Baseball Think Factory for bringing it to my attention.
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