Branching out into the 1960s with my "Dedicated Rookies" theme, this time a 1962 card for flame-thrower Bob Veale of the Pittsburgh Pirates:
Saturday, November 30, 2024
DEDICATED ROOKIES: 1962 BOB VEALE
Friday, November 29, 2024
REVISITING: "MISSING IN ACTION" 1975 JACK AKER
Thought it'd be fun to revisit a post from just about ten years ago featuring my "missing" 1975 card for former reliever Jack Aker, who wrapped up a very nice MLB career in 1974:
Thursday, November 28, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: VADA PINSON
On the blog today, a beautiful card I hope to have released as part of a multi-series custom set, "Beautiful Baseball", by the end of the year, featuring one of my favorite players, All-Star outfielder Vada Pinson:
The man could slug the ball, hitting 256 home runs, while also swipe the base, as his 305 steals show. He collected 200+ hits in a season four times while topping .300 four times with a high of .343 in 1961 for the pennant winning Reds.
He led the N.L. in hits, doubles and triples two times each, while also topping the Senior Circuit in runs in his first full season, 1959, with 131.
By the time he completed his career, he topped 2700 hits, 1300 runs, 1100 runs batted in, 250 homers and 300 stolen bases.
To this day it amazes me that guys like Pinson, Al Oliver, Ted Simmons, Steve Garvey, Dave Parker and Jack Morris get snubbed by both the BBWA at first, then the Veterans Committee, yet Cooperstown has players like Stonewall Jackson, Chick Hafey, Jesse Haines and “High Pockets” Kelly in there.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
THE WHOLE NINE: SERIES 2- NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION: 1980 TIM RAINES
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: WILLIE MAYS
Today on the blog, we finally add the greatest of them all, Willie Mays, to my upcoming custom "Classic Baseball" set, celebrating the great game and its impact on my life all these decades:
660 home runs, 3000+ hits, over 2000 runs scored and over 1900 runs batted in, with over 300 stolen bases and a .300+ batting average as well!
He took home the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951, then proceeded to win two Most Valuable Player Awards, the first in 1954 and the second eleven years later in 1965.
Let’s also not forget the 20 all-star nods and 12 Gold Gloves, leaving him in that rarified company of Ruth, Cobb, Aaron and Gehrig as far as accomplishments and legend.
Of course, Hall of Fame voting being what it is, he wasn’t a UNANIMOUS selection because of this silly unspoken rule of “no one gets 100% voting”, something I will NEVER understand.
Monday, November 25, 2024
REVISITING: "MISSING IN ACTION" 1976 IVAN DeJESUS
From way back in 2015, today we revisit my "missing" 1976 card for Ivan DeJesus, originally for a project for my buddy Jim, who was creating a master 1976 set, including many players originally left out of the classic set:
Sunday, November 24, 2024
WTHBALLS CUSTOM SET SPOTLIGHT: 1890 "BASEBALL CHAMPIONS" PETE BROWNING
On the blog today, we spotlight SHOULD-BE Hall of Famer Pete Browning, from my 2018 custom "19th Century Base Ball Champions" set:
Saturday, November 23, 2024
DEDICATED ROOKIE: 1968 JERRY KOOSMAN
On the blog today, we dip into the 1960s and post up my 1968 "Dedicated Rookie" card for New York Mets pitcher Jerry Koosman, who had himself a wonderful Major League career:
But over the following two seasons, and not entirely HIS fault, Koosman posted a combined 11-35 record, even though his ERA was around 3.62 and he struck out 352 batters.
That was enough for the Mets to ship him to Minnesota on December 8th, 1978 for a relief pitcher that would pay off years later, Jesse Orosco.
Koosman immediately made an impact in Minnesota, posting another 20-win season (at the time one of the few to do so in both leagues), while posting a 3.38 ERA and 157 strikeouts.
By the time he retired after the 1985 season he’d win 222 games, while collecting a nice 3.36 ERA with 2556 strikeouts and 33 shutouts over 612 games, 527 of which were starts.
I remember hearing years ago that Koosman loved to tell people how his “rookie card” was worth a lot of money and was the hottest card in the 1968 set, only to follow up and casually mention that “Oh yeah, some guy named Nolan Ryan is on there too.”
Love it...
Friday, November 22, 2024
REVISITING A "MISSING" 1976 CARD: WAYNE SIMPSON
On the blog today, we revisit my "missing" 1976 card for pitcher Wayne Simpson, which was originally created for my buddy Jim for his "1976 Project".
Thursday, November 21, 2024
THE WHOLE NINE: SERIES 2- MISSING IN ACTION: 1980 KIRK GIBSON
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
AVAILABLE NOW! 1954 WILSON'S FRANKS EXTENSION SET
Hello everyone!
Excited to announce the release of my 1954 Wilson's Franks extension set:
I went and added 15 baseball stars of that era to the classic and highly sought after oddball set, finally finding a commercial printer who could guarantee the very tight white borders particular to the original set.
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: AL KALINE
On the blog today, we add an incredibly underrated and under-appreciated Hall of Famer, Detroit Tigers great Al Kaline, to my custom "Classic Baseball" set, celebrating the great game and it's "Golden Era":
An easy Hall of Fame pick, he was inducted in his first year of eligibility in 1980 with 88.3% of the ballots cast.
“Mr. Tiger” indeed!
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION: 1975 JOHN STROHMAYER
Up on the
blog today, we have a "not so missing" 1975 card for former New York
Mets pitcher John Strohmayer, who wrapped up a brief Big League career
with a single game in 1974:
Monday, November 18, 2024
REVISITING A "MISSING" CARD POST FROM 2014: 1973 JOHN CUMBERLAND
Here's a "missing" 1973 card for pitcher John Cumberland of the St. Louis Cardinals:
Sunday, November 17, 2024
WTHBALLS CUSTOM SET SPOTLIGHT: 1890 "BASEBALL CHAMPIONS" MICKEY WELCH
But this time the Committee got it right as opposed to some of those other questionable picks in the early-1970's, as Welch found his place with all the other aforementioned 19th-century 300-game winners.
Saturday, November 16, 2024
REVISIT: 1975 "NICKNAMES OF THE 1970s" SPARKY ANDERSON
Friday, November 15, 2024
THE WHOLE NINE: SERIES 2- MISSING IN ACTION: 1968 SPARKY LYLE
Thursday, November 14, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: BOB GIBSON
He’d also collect NINE Gold Gloves and be named to eight all-star teams, all while hurling for the Cardinals, leading them to two World Championships, 1964 and 1967.
Before a game between the Cardinals and the Phillies in 1970, both teams were on the field loosening up and getting ready. Tim, who was a teammate of Gibson for about ten years before being traded, figured he'd go say hello to him. Not only were they teammates for so long, but they came up in the Cardinals system together in the late-50's.
Well as Tim says it, he went up to Gibson near the batter's box, stuck out his hand and went to say "hi", and knew immediately he was done for. Gibson just stared him down and walked away.
First time McCarver was up at the plate, Gibson delivered his first pitch and brushed him back.
Message delivered: they weren't teammates anymore, and while ON the field, they were enemies.
How can you NOT love that!?
The man was a force on the mound, and of course his 1968 season is the stuff of legend. I STILL wonder how on earth he managed to have 9 losses with a season E.R.A. of 1.12!!! Just incredible.
Needless to say, the Hall of Fame was sure to call in 1981 and an obvious choice for induction was granted.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
REVISIT: MISSING IN ACTION- 1972 GOMER HODGE
Today we'll revisit my "missing" 1972 card for Gomer Hodge, whose only taste of the "Big Time" was in 1971 with the Cleveland Indians:
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1974 SONNY SIEBERT
Monday, November 11, 2024
CAREER-CAPPER: 1973 JULIAN JAVIER
Sunday, November 10, 2024
CAREER-CAPPER: 1981 WILLIE MCCOVEY
On the blog today, we break away from the 1970s and create a 1981 Career-Capper for Willie McCovey, something I plan on doing more of in the upcoming new year:
Saturday, November 9, 2024
THE WHOLE NINE: SERIES 2- 1966 MASANORI MURAKAMI
Friday, November 8, 2024
REVISITING A POST FROM 10 YEARS AG: "MISSING" 1979 MARDIE CORNEJO
On the blog today, we revisit my "missing" 1979 card for former New York Mets pitcher Mardie Cornejo:
So why no other action in his career? Anyone familiar with Cornejo and what happened?
Nevertheless it was awesome finding this photo of the guy so I could whip this card up for the blog.
Thursday, November 7, 2024
FOR FUN: 1977 "NOT REALLY MISSING IN ACTION" PETE VARNEY
Found this great image of former catcher Pete Varney, and figured I'd create a "not so missing" 1977 card, even though he did finish the 1976 season as a member of the Atlanta Braves after starting the season on the South Side of Chicago:
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
"CLASSIC BASEBALL" CUSTOM WTHBALLS SET: ROBIN ROBERTS
He led the league in wins four times with a high of 28 in 1952, while also leading the National league in strikeouts twice, complete games five times, innings pitched five times and shutouts once.
By the time he retired after the 1966 season, he finished with 286 wins and a 3.41 earned run average, with 45 shutouts and 2357 strikeouts over 676 games and 4688.2 innings pitched.
Between 1950 and 1956 he was named to the all-star team each year, while also garnering MVP attention every season.
To be honest how he didn’t win the MVP in 1952 is beyond me, as the award went to Chicago Cubs slugger Hank Sauer.
Granted the Phillies finished in fourth place with an 87-67 record, 9.5 games behind the Dodgers.
But the Cubs finished in fifth place, with a 77-77 record.
So what went on there is something worth looking into considering all Roberts did was go 28-7 with a 2.59 ERA, three shutouts, 148 strikeouts and 30 complete games out of his 37 starts!
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
REVISITING A POST FROM 10 YEARS AGO: "MISSING" 1976 JERRY MARTIN
It was his second taste of the big leagues, and he’d go on to play for another nine years before hanging them up after the 1984 season after 51 games with the New York Mets.
In between he suited up for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, putting in his best seasons with the Cubs in 1979 and 1980 when he hit a combined 42 home runs with 146 runs batted in.
Monday, November 4, 2024
BY SPECIAL REQUEST: RE-DO 1974 ELLIOTT MADDOX
By special request today, we have on the blog a "do-over" for Elliott Maddox and his 1974 card, with today's example showing him as a New York Yankee, the team he helped finish in second place in perhaps his finest season in the Major Leagues:
Sunday, November 3, 2024
WTHBALLS CUSTOM SET SPOTLIGHT: 1890 "BASEBALL CHAMPIONS" WILLIE KEELER
Saturday, November 2, 2024
GIMMIE A DO-OVER: 1969 VADA PINSON
I've wanted to give one of my favorite players, Vada Pinson, a do-over for his 1969 card for quite some time, so today is the day, with this little beauty:
The man could slug the ball, hitting 256 home runs, while also swipe the base, as his 305 steals show. He collected 200+ hits in a season four times while topping .300 four times with a high of .343 in 1961 for the pennant winning Reds.
He led the N.L. in hits, doubles and triples two times each, while also topping the Senior Circuit in runs in his first full season, 1959, with 131.
By the time he completed his career, he topped 2700 hits, 1300 runs, 1100 runs batted in, 250 homers and 300 stolen bases.
To this day it amazes me that guys like Pinson, Al Oliver, Steve Garvey, Dave Parker get snubbed by both the BBWA at first, then the Veteran’s Committee, yet Cooperstown has players like Stonewall Jackson, Chick Hafey, Jesse Haines and “High Pockets” Kelly in there.
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