Blow Out the Candles May 21

Twins fan favorite Kent Hrbek is celebrating his 52nd birthday today.”PAWS OFF THE PIE!”3 time NL Manager of the Year Bobby Cox is celebrating his 71st birthday today.Bobby ranks 4th in all-time wins as a manager.  Bobby holds the record for most …

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 21 »

It probably wasn’t for the first time but I remember hearing this song while sitting with my friends in the left field bleachers at Wrigley Field in the summer of 1973.LIVE:ALBUM:

Continue reading about Song for a Sunday Night »

Blackhawks great Stan Mikita is celebrating his 72nd birthday today.Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser was born in Detroit Michigan on this date in 1921.Cardinals great Ken Boyer was born in Liberty, Missouri on this date in 1931.  Ken was an 11 t…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 20 – Stan, Hal, Ken, Jimmy, Bud and Joe »

Yankees infielder Gil McDougald was born in San Francisco, California on this date in 1928. 2004 UD Sweet Spot Classic #32In addition to being the  1951 AL ROY, Gil was a 6 time All-Star and 5 time World Champion. Gil receiving the 1951 …

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 19 »

I requested a fan pack from the New York Yankees some time last season.  They’re one of the teams that requires a post card rather than e-mail.  I was surprised when an envelope arrived this year in late March.  It is a nice pack and wel…

Continue reading about Fan Pack Fun — New York Yankees »

Hall of Fame Baltimore Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson is celebrating his 75th birthday today.Career highlights and awards18× All-Star (1960, 1960², 1961, 1961², 1962,1962², 1963, 1964, 1965, …

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 18 Full House Today »

I recently had 8 months worth of Check Out My Cards purchases shipped.  I divided the 153 cards into 35 groups.  I like to think of these as hand picked “packs”.   I’m posting them in random order.  ”Pack” #4, 2 cards, was $.87…

Continue reading about Do It Yourself COMC Pack 4/35 Two Young Cubs »

Negro League great, Hall of Famer James “Cool Papa” Bell was born in Starkville, Mississippi on this date in 1903.Cool Papa sliding into thirdQuarterback Earl Morrall is celebrating his 78th birthday today.Earl at Michigan StateComposer Erik Satie was …

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 17 »

Second baseman and manager Billy Martin was born in Berkeley, California on this date in 1928.I may not have been the best Yankee to put on the pinstripes, but I am the proudest. ”Most people miss the great part mental outlook plays in this game.”…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 16 »

Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett is celebrating his 59th birthday today.”Brett’s 3,154 career hits are the most by any third baseman in major league history, and 15th all-time.”"Brett is one of four players in MLB history to accumulate 3,000 hit…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 15 »

Hall of Famer Tony Perez is celebrating his 70th birthday today. 1967 Topps #476 Game 7 1975 World SeriesHall of Fame 2000Yankees great Earl Combs was born in Pebworth, Kentucky o htis date in 1899.White Sox great, pitcher Big Ed Walsh was bo…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 14 »

The Brown Bomber, Joe Louis, was born in Lafayette, Alabama on this date in 1913. Max Schmelling 1936 1937Musician Stevie Wonder is celebrating his 62nd birthday today.

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 13 »

When I got back into collecting five or so years ago one of the things that excited me was the availability of autographed cards.  Perhaps I went a little overboard but I think I picked up some nice cards.  This will be an A-Z series of posts…

Continue reading about Autographed Cards A-Z Hockey Edition N-P »

There’s only one Yogi Berra and  he’s celebrating his 87th birthday today Hall of Fame left winger Johnny Bucyk is celebrating his 77th birthday today.Musician Burt Bacharach is celebrating his 84th birthday todayBurt with lyricist Hal DavidC…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 12 »

I usually try to avoid buying full price packs but the new Topps Olympic cards looked interesting.  Here’s my first of two packs.  I wasn’t really happy with the selection I got.  I think I recognize two of them.  What do you think?…

Continue reading about Pack Break 2012 Topps Olympics »

Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer was born in Iosco Township, Michigan on this date in 1903.Hank Greenberg and Charlie GehringerStatue at Comerica ParkComposer Irving Berlin was born in Tyumen, Russian Empire on this date in 1888.Physicist Richard Feynma…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 11 »

Original Met and ’69 Cub Jim Hickman is celebrating his 75th birthday today. 1971 Topps #175 Step right up and greet the Mets — in their underwear.  Perhaps drunk.  Jim has a boo boo on his knee.Entertainer Fred Astaire was born i…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 10 »

This great shot was taken on April 28, 1923.  The two “Slims” are Walter Howard “Slim” McGrew on the left and William Jennings Bryan “Slim” Harriss on the right.According to Baseball-Reference.com , McGrew was 6’7″, 235 while Harriss was 6’6″…

Continue reading about Shorpy Shot of the Day — Slim and Slim »

First ballot Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn is celebrating his 52nd birthday today.1983 Topps #482Career highlights and awards15× All-Star (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990,1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 199…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 9 »

When I got back into collecting five or so years ago one of the things that excited me was the availability of autographed cards.  Perhaps I went a little overboard but I think I picked up some nice cards.  This will be an A-Z series of posts…

Continue reading about Autographed Cards A-Z Hockey Edition M »

Orioles star Mike Cuellar was born in Santa Clara, Cuba on this date in 1937.With a lifetime record of 185-130, Mike was a 4 time All-Star, 2 time WS Champ, and was the 1969 AL Cy Young Award winner.  He was a part of the last starting rotation to…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 8 »

George Lindsey, better known as Goober Pyle, passed away yesterday at the age of 83.  48 years ago he was introduced to us as Gomer Pyle’s cousin Goober on The Andy Griffith Show.  He’s been making us laugh ever since.

Continue reading about A Tribute to Goober in Cards »

One of the all time greats, #19, Johnny Unitas was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on this date in 1933.”There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.”H…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 7 Johnny and Dick »

Steve Martin just gets better with age.Bonus: Two Wild and Crazy GuysAtheists Don’t Have No Songs (AKA The Atheist Hymnal)Chris­tians have their hymns and pages,Hava Nag­i­la’s for the Jews,Bap­tists have the rock of ages,Athe­ists just sing t…

Continue reading about Song for a Sunday Night — Atheists Don’t Have No Songs »

Willie Mays is celebrating his 81st birthday today.  One of the most influential people of the 20th century, the father of pyschoanalysis, Dr. Sigmund Freud was born in Freiberg, Moravia on this date in 1856.

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 6 »

This pack of 1990 Pacific Wizard of Oz cards is a recent card shop pickup.  I’m always up for a little non-sports at the right price.Is there anyone who hasn’t seen The Wizard of Oz?  Anyone have any bad memories from seeing it as a kid? Judy…

Continue reading about Random Pack Break »

Pitcher Chief Bender was born in Crow Wing County, MN on this date in 1884. 1992 Conlon Collection #335Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin is celebrating his 69th birthday today.

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 5 »

I recently had 8 months worth of Check Out My Cards purchases shipped.  I divided the 153 cards into 35 groups.  I like to think of these as hand picked “packs”.   I’m posting them in random order.  ”Pack” #20, 5 cards, was $1….

Continue reading about Do It Yourself COMC Pack #20/35 The Three Bears and More »

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, author and baseball fan George Will is 71 today.George is a diehard Cubs fans and has written two books about baseball:From my library:19901998″All I remember about my wedding day in 1967 is that the Cubs lo…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 4 »

Pitcher Charles “Red” Ruffing was born in Granville, IL on this date in 1905. 1983 Cramer Baseball Legends #109 1991 Conlon Collection #227Pitcher Eppa Rixey was born in Culpeper, Virginia on this date in 1891.Cubs pitcher…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 3 »

I come from an Original Six town and was born during the Original Six era so when I saw this set I had to have it, though I still waited for a good price.  I like it enough that I’m going to show you every card — no, not all at once.  That w…

Continue reading about 1991 Ultimate NHL 75th Anniversary Original Six Set The End »

White Sox and Athletics great Eddie Collins was born in Millerton, New York on this date in 1887. 1991 Conlon Collection #312 1992 Conlon Collection #582 1926Collins, Cobb, Ruth and SpeakerFormer Phillie and Cub Keith More…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 2 »

Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik is celebrating his 87th birthday today.Bednarik is probably most remembered for this hit on Nov. 20, 1960 that nearly ending Frank Gifford’s career.  Click here for more.Actor and quiz show host Art Fleming w…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles May 1 »

These are the books I read in April. For a link to the book on Amazon, click the cover.This book caught my attention in my local library.  It was a great read.  Here’s a description:”The circus arrives without warning. No announcements preced…

Continue reading about Can’t Read Too Many Books — April »

Actor Al Lewis was born in New York City on this date in 1923 (probably)Al is best known as Grandpa on the TV series “The Munsters”.This is Al Lewis’s Obituary from the Associated Press on Feb. 4, 2006:Al Lewis, the cigar-chomping patriarch o…

Continue reading about Blow Out the Candles April 30 »