Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Oldest School TTM: Eddie Joost

First don't forget the up coming 5-box Ginter break! We've got the Pirates and Giants left. Leave a comment or drop me a line if you are interested.

Next, gotta give credit where credit is due on this one to zman over at Autographed Cards, with some indirect credit to dayf the Cardboard Junkie. See, it's like this:

Zman posted about how his oldest ttm card was an awesome 1949 Bowman Lou Brissie. A friend of his promptly hooked him up with a PSA certified 1940 Play Ball autographed card of "Suitcase Seeds." Check out his blog. Both cards are AMAZING.

At some point later dayf posted about having scored a 1940 Play Ball Eddie Joost. In a DOLLAR box or some such. I still can't believe it. 

THEN, zman had a really cool post about a 1952 Topps ttm he did to Mr. Joost with a card that, among other things, had a coke stain. 

I put these strands together and realized: one might possibly try a ttm to Mr. Joost with a 70 year old card. When I got home this was in the mailbox:
That is some impressive penmanship, and I really love the "2x All Star" inscription. 

Joost was a batter with a tremendous eye and, until the steroid era and the advent of Barry Bonds, owned  one of the top-10 all-time seasons in walks (149 in 1949). And that was no fluke. Dude could draw a TON of walks. For example: in 1950 his BA was a pedestrian .233 while his OBP was .373, a difference of 140 points! That all-time great good.

His career spanned 1936-1955, during which time he was in and out of the Majors. He credits his last surge (beginning in 1947) with being given another shot by the great Connie Mack.

Thanks to Mr. Joost for the great sig and to zman and dayf for the inspiration.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Fargo Find: Early Wynn

So you've got guys like Mr. Murder who actually have smiles and are probably pleasant, then you have a guy like Early "Gus" Wynn whose nickname hides the fact that, according to Mickey Mantle, "That s.o.b. is so mean he would #$%#ing knock you down in the dugout." Seriously, check out the Early Wynn quotes over at Baseball Almanac. It's all about drilling batters, hating batters, and winning at all costs. 

That's the kind of pitcher you wanting pitching for you, NOT against you, so I've been on the lookout for a Wynn card fir a while. In the Fargo $3.99 box I caught this '55 Bowman from the Doris Pederson collection:
Not sure what the heck pose that is, but Wynn doesn't strike me as the type to do what anyone tells him to anyway. The best part, however, is the back:

Early is giving advice to Little Leaguers!?! This is obviously pot-boiler stuff, but I can just imagine what a REAL Little League clinic with Wynn would have been like. 

"If he hit off you last time you brush him back. If it was a double you hit him in the ribs, a homer in the head. Baseball's a living boys, and if you wanna earn yours you gotta roll up your sleeves and get dirty like everybody else."That, of course, with an Alabama lilt.

Have a good one everybody and good night Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Wicked Ortega Part 1: The Andrew Miller Post

Wicked and I have been talking trade for months. This card, that card, those cards, you know how it goes. Then school ended and I was shipping out for various purposes. Right before I left he emailed me: "Is x still your address?"

When I got home there was one of those massive packages he's famous for. 
Now that Mario at Wax Heaven has signed off I guess there aren't too many Miller collectors out here in the blogo-whatever. I pick up his cards when I can but, like a lot of CCs at the moment, prices have exceeded my means. At the moment his cards are a lot more affordable, but that's because he's in the minors, and struggling at that

I think Miller can bounce back, not so much because of his talent (he IS really good) but because he is young and pretty goofy. When I was a teaching assistant at UNC he was in one of my classes when he was a freshman. Despite the fact he had been drafted out of high school and offered a good bit of money, he'd gone to college. However, if you had thought he was just another freshman you would have been right. In fact, I didn't even know he was THAT Andrew Miller until I read a Peter Gammons article on his legendary stint in the Cape Cod League and recognized the photo. He didn't put on airs or beg off work because he already knew he was virtually guaranteed a million dollar payday his junior year, he attended class and worked like everyone else. In short, he struck me as a humble guy with his head on straight whose pretty laid back, just the kind of makeup you need to rebound from the place he's at now. Andrew, I'm pulling for you!

So I was pretty stoked Wicked sent up an in-person Miller auto on a card with him in a UNC uni, as well as a jersey card, not to mention about 20 other additions to my Miller collection. Very cool stuff Wicked, many thanks, and I'm getting something together for you now!

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Post 301: HOF TTM from Monte Irvin

Seeing as how Mr. Irvin was honored by the Giants yesterday by having his number retired (hat tip to A Giant Blog), I thought I'd post this card that popped up in the mailbox.
1955 Topps ttm courtesy of the man himself. I'm not sure when it showed up (hey, I've been out of the country) but was pretty stoked to get the SASE from Texas. 

Monford Merrill "Monte" Irvin was a beast at the plate in the Negro, Mexican, and Major Leagues. How much so? According to BB Reference his moniker was "Mr. Murder." Ballplayer nicknames are usually cuddly, like "The Say 'Hey' Kid," "Hammerin' Hank," or "Kung Fu Panda," Irvin's being called something akin to a mafia hit man is pretty surprising. A lifetime OPS+ of .858 in the Majors gets you noticed I guessed. Congrats on having your number retired Mr. Irvin, and thanks for the auto!

I'm back for a while, so the posts will start rolling out beginning today.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Thank Yous, Group Break Update (2 teams left!)

A quick post to say thanks to the folks who dropped cards in the mail to me while I was away. I'm now back in the US after 3 weeks and can start giving people their due.

If you are interested in the group break this month we're doing 5 boxes of 2010 A & G and the Giants and Pirates are available! Leave a comment to claim them! 

Anyway, after a three week hiatus tomorrow we'll be back to regular programming around these parts!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Pirates, Giants: 2 teams left for 5-box Ginter Break

As of this morning we have the following teams available for the 5-box 2010 Ginter break courtesy of DA Card World: Pirates (tier 1), Giants (tier 1).

People have inquired about the Mariners and the White Sox, so those are taken pending payment.  (edit: Sox are taken)

Tiers refer to the one and only JC pricing structure: 
(6)Any team newer than 1980 including the Nationals are in Tier 3 $13.75

(8)Any team newer than 1961 shall be in Tier 2 $16.75

(16) Any team older than 1961 shall be in Tier 1 $20.50

A&G has a TON of non-team affiliated randomness, so here's what we'll do. I'll random the break participants 3x to come up with a list. I'll keep the list on hand during the break. As random world leaders, monsters, etc. come up, they go to the next person in the list. I think that'll be fair, exciting, and keep me from randoming 100 cards. 

See anything you like leave a comment to claim it. I'll be turning moderate comments off to speed things along! Paypal to crawfordcards (at)gmail.com.

Monday, June 21, 2010

CCC SMG Group Break Update: Open Teams

As of this morning we have the following teams available for the 5-box 2010 Ginter break courtesy of DA Card World: Pirates (tier 1), Giants (tier 1), Astros (tier 2), D-Backs (tier 3).

Tiers refer to the one and only JC pricing structure: 
(6)Any team newer than 1980 including the Nationals are in Tier 3 $13.75

(8)Any team newer than 1961 shall be in Tier 2 $16.75

(16) Any team older than 1961 shall be in Tier 1 $20.50

A&G has a TON of non-team affiliated randomness, so here's what we'll do. I'll random the break participants 3x to come up with a list. I'll keep the list on hand during the break. As random world leaders, monsters, etc. come up, they go to the next person in the list. I think that'll be fair, exciting, and keep me from randoming 100 cards. 

See anything you like leave a comment to claim it. I'll be turning moderate comments off to speed things along! Paypal to crawfordcards (at)gmail.com.


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

July CCC SMG Break

Hey folks, we're going 5 boxes of Ginter. I sent the email out but in case you didn't get it, here are the details and team assignments I have from the last break. If you did NOT get the email let me know ASAP so I can straighten out the list.

Here's the Ginter checklist.

Payment due by next Wednesday, June 16. Teams open to new breakers/other breakers after that.

If things have changed or you are out drop me a line.


1) I'll use to the JC's pricing structure for the break, details below as well as what teams I have you down for, etc. 

2) A&G has a TON of non-team affiliated randomness, so here's what we'll do. I'll random the break participants 3x to come up with a list. I'll keep the list on hand during the break. As random world leaders, monsters, etc. come up, they go to the next person in the list. I think that'll be fair, exciting, and keep me from randoming 100 cards. 

Here's the JC pricing structure:






(6)Any team newer than 1980 including the Nationals are in Tier 3 $13.75

(8)Any team newer than 1961 shall be in Tier 2 $16.75

(16) Any team older than 1961 shall be in Tier 1 $20.50

ONLY IF YOU PAY AT THE SAME TIME FOR ALL OF THE BREAKS.

Second team or break discount: 1.00
Third team or break: 1.50
Fourth Break and thereafter discount 2.00

American League
East Baltimore Orioles 1901
Boston Red Sox 1901
New York Yankees 1901
Tampa Bay Rays 1998
Toronto Blue Jays 1977
Chicago White Sox 1901
Cleveland Indians 1901
Detroit Tigers Detroit 1901
Kansas City Royals 1969
Minnesota Twins 1901
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1961
Oakland Athletics 1901
Seattle Mariners 1977
Texas Rangers 1961

National League
Atlanta Braves 1871
Florida Marlins 1993
New York Mets 1962
Philadelphia Phillies 1883
Washington Nationals 1969 - Will be Considered Tier 3
Chicago Cubs 1870
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati 1890
Houston Astros 1962
Milwaukee Brewers 1969
Pittsburgh Pirates 1882
St. Louis Cardinals 1882
West Arizona Diamondbacks 1998
Colorado Rockies 1993
Los Angeles Dodgers 1890
San Diego Padres 1969
San Francisco Giants 1883

Here are the team assignments I have:







Baltimore Orioles 1901 (Ryan ~
Boston Red Sox 1901 (Adam ~
New York Yankees 1901 (Sooz ~
Chicago White Sox 1901 (TiedGame
Cleveland Indians 1901 (Dan ~
Detroit Tigers 1901 (Sewingmachineguy ~
Minnesota Twins 1901 (Stephane ~Confirmed
Oakland Athletics 1901 (Daniel ~
Atlanta Braves 1871 (Aaron & Dennis ~
Philadelphia Phillies 1883 (ArfMax ~Confirmed-Paid
Chicago Cubs 1870 (Brian ~
Cincinnati Reds 1890 (Dean ~
Pittsburgh Pirates 1882 (Dean ~
St. Louis Cardinals 1882 (Ike & Tony ~ Paid)
Los Angeles Dodgers 1890 (GCRL ~
San Francisco Giants 1883 (Maybe Open
Tampa Bay Rays 1998 (CarlCrawfordCards ~ Paid)
Toronto Blue Jays 1977 (Dennis ~Confirmed
Kansas City Royals 1969 (Nick ~
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1961 (Open
Seattle Mariners 1977 (Open
Texas Rangers 1961 (Brian ~
Florida Marlins 1993 (Chuck/HamRam ~
New York Mets 1962 (BA Benny ~Confirmed
Washington Nationals/Expos 1969 (Stephane ~Confirmed
Houston Astros 1962 (Jason ~
Milwaukee Brewers 1969 (Ed ~Confirmed-Paid
Arizona Diamondbacks 1998 (Bruce
Colorado Rockies 1993 (Ryan ~
San Diego Padres 1969 (Padrographs

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Get Your Suitcase Packed: Another Fargo Addition

I know I'm backed up and again, apologies to those to whom I owe posts. These were scanned in from before I went to Honduras, and I'm gonna let them rip until I get the scanner running.

I noticed Big Nick's had a small box marked "$3.99/ no discounts" last time I was there. Had I not noticed it before? Where had it been? No matter. It was mostly vintage commons in decent shape. The randomness of the offerings (and the name written on some of them!) have me convinced they belonged to a little old lady who brought them in to make a few bucks. 

First up of the 4 cards I scored: Harry "Suitcase" Simpson, the larger version of "Briefcase" Simpson found here
Troll posted about Suitcase a while back, but try as I might I can't find it (help me out, T!). The '50s were FULL of great sets, and for some reason I feel like the '53s get lost in the mix. These are a REAL painted set (sorry Nat'l Chicle) and show what can be done with that kind of card production. And as you can tell by Mr. Simpson's awkward, toothy smile, these aren't even idealized portraits. Here we've got Suitcase Simpson, misaligned teeth and all, flashing a ML smile with the lip of the upper deck railing rising just over his right shoulder. And then, of course, the back:

Stengel once called him the best defensive RF in the game? Great praise! And here you also have the marks from a stamp which, I believe, says "Dolores Pederson." I'll have some more Dolores for you tomorrow, but that's all for now.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Where Have You Gone: Choo-Choo Coleman Edition

I've been laying low for a while. I'm way behind on post commitments, trade posts, and others things. I'm fine, doing great actually, just exceeding busy.

For instance: the last two weeks I was in Honduras doing some work. Good stuff, but I'm pretty tapped at the moment.
When I think of the disappeared, I think of Choo-Choo Coleman. He's Unibomber-style off the grid. Never heard of a public appearance, much less a ttm. There are a few GREAT Choo-Choo stories out there, and I'd like to think that, like the mythical Pumpsie Green disappearing with Gene Conley for a few days of anonymous debauchery, Choo-Choo is out there somewhere doing his thing and doing OK. 

Right before I went to Honduras I happened upon an antique store in Fargo and came across this Choo-Choo display card for cheap, so I bit. It's oversized but, despite the printed sig, the serendipity of the find made it seem like Choo-Choo had sent that out there just for me to find, almost with my name on it.

Have a good one everybody and goodnight Pumpsie Green, wherever you are!