Today on the blog, we have my mini custom card for Boston Red Sox legend Carl yastrzemski, from my "Gum Pack" custom set released a few months back:
Friday, April 26, 2024
WTHBALLS GUM PACK CUSTOM SET: CARL YASTRZEMSKI
Thursday, April 25, 2024
1970 "IN-GAME ACTION": LUIS APARICIO
On the blog today, a card I created a while back that I never profiled here on the blog to my surprise, my 1970 "In-Game Action" card for "Little Louie" Aparicio, from me Series 2 set released a couple years back:
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
REVISITING A 10-YEAR-OLD POST: MISSING 1971 TONY HORTON
Up on the blog today, time to revisit a 10-year-old post, this one my "missing" 1971 card for slugger Tony Horton, a bit of an enigma both to his missing Topps cards and to his issues with mental health:
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: ROBERTO CLEMENTE
Up on the blog today, a spotlight on my "Classic Baseball" custom card for "The Great One", Roberto Clemente, all-time great and true hero in a time when the term gets thrown around a bit too freely:
Monday, April 22, 2024
MISSING IN ACTION: 1975 RUSTY TORRES
Good day folks.
Sunday, April 21, 2024
1960S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. THIRD BASEMAN RON SANTO
Up on the blog today, my pick for the National League's top third baseman of the 1960s, and I went with Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo:
Post-playing career, Santo moved on to broadcasting, where he was a beloved color commentator over the years, working with guys like Harry Caray, Thom Brennaman and Steve Stone.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
MINOR LEAGUE DAYS: LEGENDS EDITION- CHARLIE GEHRINGER
Today on the blog we add the "Mechanical man" Charlie Gehringer, one of the most overlooked all-time greats of the game, to my "Minor League Days: Legends Edition" thread:
Friday, April 19, 2024
WTHBALLS GUM PACK CUSTOM SET: HANK AARON
Just tremendous!
He also had eight top-5 finishes for MVP, including taking home the award in 1957, as well as three Gold Gloves won consecutively between 1958-1960.
It's incredible to look at his 15 years of topping 100 or more runs scored, 11 seasons of 100 or more runs batted in, five more seasons of 90+ RBI's, and TWENTY STRAIGHT years of 20 or more home runs.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: DON NEWCOMBE
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
OPC IMAGE VARIATION: 1977 DON GULLETT
Good day my friends!
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
1960S "IN-ACTION": 1960 WHITEY FORD
Up on the blog today, another of my "1960s In-Action" cards from my Series 2 custom set just released, this one a 1960 card of New York Yankees legend Whitey Ford:
Monday, April 15, 2024
1969 "DO-OVER" CUSTOM SET: JIM KAAT
Good day all!
If there were a Cy Young winner for both leagues in place for the 1965 season, he most likely would have taken home the trophy when he posted a league-leading 25 wins to go along with a 2.75 ERA and 205 strikeouts for the American League champs.
After being selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox in 1973, he’d go on to post two straight 20-win seasons in 1974 and 1975, before moving on to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1976.
In 1979, at the age of 40, he’d transition to the bullpen, where he would carve out a niche for himself as a reliable reliever, pitching another five seasons, finishing up with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1983, fresh off a World Championship in 1982.
One of the greatest fielding pitchers the game has ever seen, Kaat took home 16 straight Gold Glove Awards between 1962 and 1977. Incredible.
By the time he retired as a player, he appeared in 898 games, posted a record of 283-237 along with a 3.45 ERA and 2461 strikeouts, as well as 31 shutouts and 17 saves.
The man is a walking baseball resource who still shares his knowledge of the game. His time as a New York Yankees announcer was one of my favorites alongside other former players like Ken Singleton and Bill White.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
1960S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. SHORTSTOP LUIS APARICIO
Time for our next player to be named to my 1960s All-Decade All-Star team, with today's entry the American League shortstop of the 1960s, and I chose Luis Aparicio:
Saturday, April 13, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: NELLIE FOX
He led the AL in hits four times in the 1950’s, and of course would lead the Chicago White Sox to the 1959 World Series, taking home the league’s MVP Award for his efforts.
By the time he retired as a player after two years with the Houston Astros in 1964-65, he finished with 2663 hits and a .288 batting average, with twelve all-star nods and three Gold Gloves.
Defensively, it’s incredible to see he led the American League in putouts every single season between 1952 and 1961, while leading the league’s second basemen in fielding percentage six times, double-plays five times and assists six times.
In 1997, the Veteran’s Committee selected Fox for the Hall of Fame, joining former teammates Luis Aparicio and Early Wynn from that 1959 pennant winning team.
Friday, April 12, 2024
1960s "IN-ACTION" SERIES 2 AVAILABLE NOW!
WTHBALLS GUM PACK CUSTOM SET: THURMAN MUNSON
On the blog today, we spotlight my Thurman Munson mini-card, from my custom "Gum Pack" special set released a few months back, showcasing 25 of the legends that played the game during the 1970s:
Thursday, April 11, 2024
REVISITING A 10-YEAR OLD POST: 1977 "MISSING" AL DOWNING CARD
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
MISSING ALL-STAR MANAGER: 1979 TOMMY LASORDA
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
OPC IMAGE VARIATIONS: 1977 DAVE COLLINS (AT LEAST ON THE OPC CARD!)
He would go on to play 16 years in the Major Leagues, stealing as many as 79 bases in 1980 while with the Cincinnati Reds, while also stealing 60 in 1984 when he was playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, a season where he also led the league in triples with 15.
I’ll always remember him for his disappointing year with the New York Yankees in 1982, a year that was a failure for the organization in so many ways actually.
Nevertheless, Collins would finish his career with 395 steals, while also batting a very nice .272 with 1335 hits over 4907 at-bats in 1701 games, finishing up with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1990.
I never even realized he made it that far to be honest!
Monday, April 8, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: REGGIE JACKSON
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!
Sunday, April 7, 2024
1960S "IN-ACTION": 1967 JUAN MARICHAL
Today on the blog, a fun 1967 "In-Action" card for the "Dominican Dandy" Juan Marichal, from my Series 2 "1960s In-Action" set to be released next week:
As much as Marichal is celebrated as an all-time pitching legend, you still have to feel for the guy when you consider the timing of all his banner years in the big leagues.
In 1963 he has his breakout year, going 25-8 with a 2.41 E.R.A., but takes a back seat to another guy who has a breakout year, Sandy Koufax.
In 1966 he wins 25 games again, but again takes a backseat to a now dominating Koufax, who wins 27 along with a bunch of other eye-popping numbers.
In 1968 he sets a career high of 26 wins to go along with a 2.43 earned run average, but wait, a guy named Bob Gibson has a year for the ages, winning both the Cy Young Award and the M.V.P.
But when you look at the decade as a whole, there wasn't a better pitcher in the game from 1960-1969, as Marichal went on to win 191 games, winning 25 or more wins three times, post seven sub-3.00 E.R.A. seasons, top 200+ strikeouts six times , and get selected as an all-star every year between 1962-1969.
What a BEAST on the mound!
Easily would have been the first 3-time Cy Young winner if not for Koufax and Gibson.
Ah well, I’m sure his spot in Cooperstown makes it a bit easier to take.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
1960S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. SHORTSTOP MAURY WILLS
Good day everyone!
Friday, April 5, 2024
GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1970 LUIS TIANT
About time I go and give "El Tiante", Luis Tiant a do-over with his 1970 card, from a boring close up cap-less portrait shot to a better posed image in full uni:
Thursday, April 4, 2024
WTHBALLS GUM PACK CUSTOM SET: GAYLORD PERRY
He was also (and I remember this vividly) the first pitcher to reach 300 wins since Early Wynn, which was a 20 year gap, the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award in both leagues, which he did with the Indians in 1972 and the Padres in 1978.
That 1978 season saw him take home the award after a fantastic year that saw him go 21-6 with a 2.73 earned run average at the age of 39 after coming over from the Texas Rangers.
People may also forget that for a relatively brief moment he was the all-time strikeout king before a couple of guys by the name of Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton caught up soon after.
He posted 5 20-win seasons, finished with 314 for his career, along with 53 shutouts and 3534 strikeouts over a 22-year Big League career, tossing 300+ innings six times.
Is it safe to say that he’s almost a forgotten all-time great?
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: ROBIN YOUNT
On the blog today, we add Milwaukee Brewers legend Robin Yount to my custom "Classic Baseball" set, which I hope to produce later this year, celebrating the great game:
Anyway, it’s amazing to realize that when he had his first true All-Star season in 1980, after what was already seven years in the Big Leagues, Yount was STILL only 24 years of age!
He was on cruise-control from then on, elevating his game to become one of the elite players in the American League, with 1982 the high point when he led the Brewers to the World Series and taking home his first MVP Award.
What a player...
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1978 CARL YASTRZEMSKI
On the blog today, my do-over for Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski and his 1978 card, something I've wanted to do for some time now:
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