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Baseball Card Blogs » punkrockpaint http://baseballcardblogs.org Posts from the Best Baseball Card Blogs on the Net Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:38:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 More Frank http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-frank.html http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-frank.html#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:44:00 +0000 night owl tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2700049103080920994.post-6655392702484741730

Here is my 1953 Topps Frank Smith card. Frank, if you remember my story about him, was a former baseball reliever for the Reds and the Cardinals. I interviewed him three or four times. But I'd hardly call them interviews. It was more like a conversation. He was a great guy who told me great stories about himself and the 1950s. He died almost five years ago.

This is the only Frank Smith card that I have that is not autographed by Frank. That's because I just obtained it a couple of weeks ago.

It came in my very first three-blogger trade. I feel like a general manager now! Travis P. of PunkRockPaint redeemed this card in the Million Card Giveaway thingy. He then traded it to fellow Padre fan, Doc T at Baseball Card Recollections. And then Doc T traded it to me.

How about that -- trading with two Padres fans. You do what you've got to do to get one of your baseball heroes.

I held off on posting this card until I had cards ready to send to Doc T. They have officially hit the mail, so it's time to talk about Frank.

Unfortunately, I said a lot of what I know about him already. It was kind of an involved post. But I do have some leftover notes from the conversations that we had. So I'll just provide some snippets that I hadn't mentioned (some I probably left out of the original big story that went in the paper). Hopefully, some of them will be interesting:

On being signed:

Frank Smith was originally signed by the Cubs at a tryout camp in 1946 in Gloversville, N.Y. He was the only guy signed out of what he estimated was 23 players in that camp. Frank said:

"Years later, I asked (the scout) why. They asked me to pitch. I think I threw 12 pitches to the catcher. He caught maybe 3 or 4. The rest went into the screen. I went and took a shower and said, 'Oh God, that's the end of me.' Then there's a big booming voice calling my name. Years later, I said, 'How the hell do you guys sign me?' And (the scout) laughed. He said, 'Well, Frank, we couldn't see the ball.'"

On deciding to be a pro baseball player:

Frank was drafted by the Reds from the Cubs in the 1948 minor league draft. He was summoned to the office of the Reds general manager, who at the time was future N.L. president Warren Giles. Frank said:

"I'll never forget this. He said, 'Frank, what the hell do you do?' I said, 'I work in the salt mine.' He said, 'I know you have a wife and kids to support.' I got home and 10 days later I get an envelope (in the mail) from him. There's $1,500 in there. I said, "I don't go to the salt mines this year.'"

On starting out in the minors:

"My first pro job in the minors, I made $25 a week with Statesville, N.C. I roomed with four other guys. We paid our rent. My mom used to send homemade cookies. You didn't give any of it a thought. You just wanted to play baseball. You had a love for the game. You'd see the bleachers full, hotter than hell, and the place is packed."

On guys he played with in the majors:

Frank was a friendly sort, but his best buddies were Andy Seminick, a catcher with the Phillies and Reds, as well as former roommate Vic Raschi, and good friends Ken Boyer and Harvey Haddix. He said Boyer came from "a good family," was "a hell of a third baseman," and he attended Boyer's funeral when he died too young. Of Haddix, Frank said:

"Harvey was just a hell of a pitcher for 165 pounds. Harvey was a little boy from the farm from Springfield, Ohio. But he had a grin on his face all the time."

On Mark McGwire:

At the time of my first interview with Frank, Mark McGwire was with the Cardinals. McGwire wore No. 25, Frank's old number with St. Louis. Frank said:

"He got my number. That's all he got from me. He sure didn't get no hitting."

On his Jackie Robinson bat:

Frank collected baseball memorabilia from his days as a big league player. One of the items was a broken bat used by Jackie Robinson. It was a bat Robinson used in at-bat against Frank. He kept it in a closet for years after his retirement. Frank said:

"That's pretty valuable, I would imagine. ... The bat was split. The bat boys said, "what do I do with a cracked bat?' I thought I'd take it home, let one of my kids play with it. And it's his bat, with his signature."

On seeing Babe Ruth:

Frank was in the minor leagues at Columbia, S.C., in 1948 and was headed back home. But he heard that Babe Ruth was going to be at Yankee Stadium to make his famous farewell speech and took a detour. Frank said:

"Going home through New York, I hear Babe Ruth is going to be at the Stadium. I had never been at Yankee Stadium. That's where I see the Babe make his farewell speech. I was in the upper deck staring right down at him."

On Stan Musial:

Frank said the best left-handed hitter he ever saw was Ted Williams. Second on that list was Stan Musial, who he faced often, but became teammates with when he was traded to the Cardinals before the 1955 season. Frank said:

"I used to throw the ball to Stan and hit the black part of the plate, and he never flinched. After I got traded, I asked him, 'when you batted against me, you never looked at my face and always stared at my feet.' He said between me and him he had an imaginary window frame. When the ball come through the frame, he went to swing at it. If it missed the frame, he wouldn't swing at it. Isn't that a hell of a theory on hitting?"

On contract negotiations:

"They always had you. If you was a relief pitcher, especially if you had a great earned run average, they'd say, 'Well, you didn't win very many games.' (If you had) 12 wins, they'd say, 'Well, your earned run average was over 3.' I don't know what they'd pay you (with those stats) today. They'd throw you a blank contract, I guess."

On his love for baseball:

Frank firmly believed that baseball was the greatest game. He had season tickets to Florida State football games and didn't miss a game in seven years. But baseball was his love. Frank would run baseball camps all over the southeast, as well as attend other athletes' camps. During his camp, he would end it with a speech. Frank said:

"It's still the great game, the national pastime. A lot of times I talk at the end of camp. I say, you think of any sport you want to -- baseball, football, basketball. What do the players do after the game -- what does Dan Marino do, what does Michael Jordan do? You see them with a baseball hat on. It's the greatest game out there."

Thanks for the card, Doc and PRP. Now you know why I wanted it so bad.]]> http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2010/08/more-frank.html/feed/ 0 1, 2, 3, Foreheads… http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/1-2-3-foreheads.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/1-2-3-foreheads.html#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:15:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-4054783865357051449 Dinged Corners has issued a challenge. Since my collection is so utterly disorganized, I couldn't possibly hope to find any "fierce forehead" cards without digging through boxes, piles, and drawers of cards. Rather than risk an avalanche, I went to a "slightly" more organized part of my collection. I figured that I could pull a few ferocious foreheads from my collection on Topps Million Card Giveaway.

I was surprised at how many fierce foreheads I came across. Here are three of my favorites:

Wrinkly Warren

Galloping Goodwin

and last, but not least: Bud Daley's "Five" Head

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/1-2-3-foreheads.html/feed/ 0 LOST… The Retro Baseball Card Set + Weezer Update http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set-weezer.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set-weezer.html#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:05:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-3709984343415741478

Yes. That is the cover. No text, nothing but Jorge Garcia's smiling face. I love Weezer. I love LOST. I love this cover!

Now for the REAL Weezer update: I am going to see Weezer tomorrow! For free! (with paid admission to the Del Mar Racetrack) I have only seen them live twice (Once in Seattle about 16 years or so ago, and more recently at Coachella a few years back.) Both times they were absolutely incredible, so I am really looking forward to tomorrow.

This wouldn't be a LOST... The Retro Baseball Card Set post if I didn't make a card, so here you go:

PRP LOST - #61 Hurley

Design based on: 1992 Mr. Turkey Superstars #3 - Sandy Alomar Jr.

Wow! I had never even heard of Mr. Turkey cards before today! Thanks Check Out My Cards! I think this one worked pretty well with the Mr. Cluck's concept.

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set-weezer.html/feed/ 0 LOST… The Retro Baseball Card Set http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set_2065.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set_2065.html#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:29:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-4080983946427785461

PRP LOST - #60 Claudia

Design based on: 2010 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini Lords of Olympus #LO10 - Gaea

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set_2065.html/feed/ 0 LOST… The Retro Baseball Card Set http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set_18.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set_18.html#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:36:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-1375295313972656607

PRP LOST - #59 Jack DFL

Design based on: 1981 Donruss #NNO - Tom Watson SL

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set_18.html/feed/ 0 LOST… The Retro Baseball Card Set http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set.html#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:50:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-8754611539583194174
I am moving on to imaginary characters now...

PRP LOST - #58 Dave

I have never been a fan of the '57 Topps set, and to this point had resisted using it as a basis for one of my retro-LOST cards. But, since I haven't done much lately, I figured I would give you an new card that is exactly that... not much. (I didn't like how the white and yellow lettering worked on this one, so I went with the red & blue. Sue me.)

Design based on: 1957 Topps #351 - Dave Hillman RC

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/lost-retro-baseball-card-set.html/feed/ 0 Fantasy Baseball Season 2… UPDATE http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/fantasy-baseball-season-2-update.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/fantasy-baseball-season-2-update.html#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:42:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-292878054942093346
The Card Blog League is nearing the playoffs. Let's take a look at the standings:

Once again, it looks as if I am heading into the playoffs in 1st place. Unfortunately, I never end up in first...

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/08/fantasy-baseball-season-2-update.html/feed/ 0 Gint-A-Cuffs II Box Break (Packs 19-24) http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-19-24.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-19-24.html#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:44:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-7709357635287462924

Pack #19

115 - T. Hoffman

243 - J. Zapp (2 Points)

41 - D. Hudson RC

204 - R. Martin

259 - S. Feldman

58 - C. Rasmus

LO10 - Gaea (3 Points)

TDH49 - J. Morneau (1 Point)

Pack Total = 6
Running Total = 141.3

Pack #20

287 - D. Brees (San Diegan... My girlfriend ran into him at the grocery store a few weeks back.)

20 - Sacagawea

146 - Carlos Lee

52 - G. Floyd

174 - E. Byrnes

304 - C. Pena (2 Points SP)

45 - J. Verlander mini

TDH29 - Adam Jones (1.7 Points)

Pack Total = 3.7

Running Total = 145

Pack #21

56 - S. Choo

300 - N. Reimold

180 - G. Beckham

43 - Y. Gallardo

AGR-DD - Dale Davis (8 Points) Wow! This is such a cool story! I am glad I pulled this card!

95 - J. Laipply (2 points A&G back Mini) It was all I could do to avoid singing "Tiny Dancer in my hand"

TDH26 - F. Rodriguez (1 Point)

Pack Total = 11

Running Total = 156

Pack #22

162 - J. Pierre

163 - R. Ibanez

183 - T. Manzella

175 - T. Lincecum

290 - J. Lester

334 - B. Myers (2 Points SP)

Oops... Forgot to snap a photo. Hope he doesn't beat me up... Oh, wait. He only beats up women.

NA3 - Falcon (2 Points)

TDH46 - Y. Gallardo (1 Point)

Pack Total = 5

Running Total = 161

Pack #23

216 - J. Sparks

70 - J. Votto

160 - D. Lee

247 - R. Davis

260 - C. Young (1 Point. My fave team!)

AGHS15 - D. Murphy (3 Points)

WGWS15 - Confucius (4 Points)

I made looking through all my blurry-ass pics worth it with this one, eh?

TDH42 - J. Posada (net 0 Points)

Pack Total = 8

Running Total = 169

Pack #24

38 - T. Della Vega

233 - R. Ankiel

153 - J. Bruce

234 - N. Johnson (-1 Yankee Scum)

261 - Adam Jones (2 Points Fave Player)

Forgot to photograph... if I was close to winning I would.

348 - A. Cabrera (2 Points SP)

Also forgot to photograph...

271 - Tut mini

TDH10 - D. Ortiz (1.7 Point)

Also also forgot to photograph...

Pack Total = 5.7

Final Total = 174.7

Pretty fun box! The Dale Davis is far and away the best card, followed closely by the "case hit" lumberjack with the pituitary disorder.

SUMMARY
Beat The Odds:

Creatures of Legend, Myth, & Joy - 1:288 packs, (1) Paul Bunyan

A&G Ad Back SP - 1:65 packs, (1) S. Drew

I didn't miss out on any of the expected hits. I give this box 2.5 out of 5 = Average.

Oh! I forgot the box topper! This could push it over the top!

Dam. (8 Points)

Final Final Total = 182.7

]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-19-24.html/feed/ 0 Gint-A-Cuffs II Box Break (Packs 13-18) http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-13-18.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-13-18.html#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:07:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-4133179336997084964

Pack #13

211 - J. Strange (Youngest Climber)

197 - J. Damon

138 - J. Vazquez (-1 Yankee Scum)

182 - C. Carpenter

214 - C.C. Sabathia (-1 Yankee Scum)

27 - B. Hawpe

319 - A. Jackson RC (3 Points SP Mini)

TDH69 - A. Ramirez (1 Point)

Pack Total = 2
Running Total = 88.3

Pack #14

286 - Revolving Door

154 - J. Francisco RC

245 - M. Dunn RC

278 - J. Francoeur

60 - C. Davis

339 - B. Sheets (2 Points SP)

NA42 - Carabao (2 Points)

TDH8 - Y. Escobar (1 Point)

Pack Total = 5
Running Total = 93.3

Pack #15

236 - S. Johnson

72 - E. Aybar

158 - M. Teixeira (-1 Yankee Scum)

155 - C. Carrasco RC

285 - A. Rodriguez (-1 Yankee Scum)

AGHS9 - J. Rollins (3 Points Sketch Card)

327 - V. Wells Mini (3 Points)

TDH40 - J. Peavy (1 Point)

Pack Total = 5
Running Total = 98.3

Pack #15

104 - M. Duckett (2 Points)

241 - D. Lowe

250 - M. Ordonez

89 - J - Pineiro

47 - D. Stubbs RC

302 - D. Barton (2 Points SP)

345 - S. Drew Mini (6 Points A&G Ad Back Mini SP)

TDH57 - M. Tejada (1 Point)

Pack Total = 11
Running Total = 109.3

Pack #17

148 - A. Donovan

270 - M. Poser

268 - B. Kilby RC

294 - B, Posey RC

AGA-NF - N. Feliz (15 Points Autograph)

75 - J. Werth (3 Points Black Border Mini)

TDH15 - M. Ramirez (1 Point)

Pack Total = 19
Running Total = 128.3

Pack #18

275 - C. Kershaw (2 Points Fave Player)

95 - J. Laipply

109 - I. Kinsler

93 - B. Inge

39 - J. Johnson

329 - T. Glaus (2 Points SP)

NA11 - Harpy Eagle (2 Points)

TDH34 - T. Tulowitzki (1 Point)

Pack Total = 7
Running Total = 135.3]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-13-18.html/feed/ 0 Gint-A-Cuffs II Box Break (Packs 7-12) http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-7-12.html http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-7-12.html#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:48:00 +0000 PunkRockPaint tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746710387834986381.post-952069750250881751

Pack #7

125 - H. Matsui

59 - I. Crockett

262 - Z. Greinke

90 - K. Kouzmanoff (Kooooooz! I miss you Kooz. Headley is playing well, Padres are in 1st place, but I still miss you.)

4 - P. Fielder

202 - A. Ramirez

MM13 - Pachycephalosaurus (Herbivore, but still 3 Points)

TDH12 - A. Ethier (1 Point)

Pack Total = 4
Running Total = 51.6

Pack #8

30 - R. Furcal... I think I got GCRL or Night Owl's box.

144 - S. Scott (Sportscaster, but not "Champion" Sportscaster...)

224 - I. Stewart

102 - T. Hunter (Rather reserved pose...)

74 - R. Ludwick

307 - A. Iwamura (2 Points SP)

38 - T. Della Vega (A&G Back mini 2 Points)

TDH61 - J. Shields (1 Point)

Pack Total = 5
Running Total = 56.6

Pack #9

246 - G. Soto

48 - A. Francis (Horseshoe Champion)

142 - U. Jimenez

31 - M. Montero

133 - N. Cruz

CLMJ6 - P. Bunyan (15 Points... Just cause he was big, should he be deemed a "Creature"?)

86 - A. Bailey

TDH54 - D. Lee (1 Point, Mah Burfday!)

Pack Total = 16
Running Total = 71.6

Pack#10

12 - J. Flores

51 - M. Holliday

44 - C. Coghlan

96 - R. Halladay

177 - P. Feliz

320 - S. Sizemore RC (2 Points SP)

15 - C. Quintin mini

TDH2 - S. Drew (1 Point)

Pack Total = 3
Running Total = 74.6

Pack #11

135 - K. Blackburn (Paper Airplane Champion)

54 - Tony Hawk (San Diegan)

170 - A. Gonzalez (San Diegan & 4 Points for MY Favorite Player)

147 - C. Guzman

35 - J. Lackey

258 - R. Dempster

MM18 - Supersaurus (I'll take the soup... and 3 Points)

TDH53 - N. Markakis (1 Point)x(1.7 fave player multiplier)=(1.7 Points)

Pack Total = 8.7
Running Total = 83.3

Pack #12

280 - K. Uehara

128 - H. Florine (Free Climb Champion)

209 - Alex Gordon

81 - Cliff Lee

79 - J. B. Loney (Bologna Champion)

343 - B. Penny (2 Points SP)

TDH71 - B. Butler (1 Point)

NNO - Crack The Code Promo Card

Pack Total = 3

Running Total = 86.3]]> http://punkrockpaint.blogspot.com/2010/07/gint-cuffs-ii-box-break-packs-7-12.html/feed/ 0