There's treasure in the Ivy

As we all know, I recently updated all my wantlists. I even tried to separate them out by maker to simplify. One of the bloggers who was willing to help was Paul from Wrigley Wax.

Paul is one of the many bloggers that I strive to be like someday. There are some guys that are legendary, and they know who they are. They post all the time, have great content, and are helpful with trades. While what Paul sent isn't much, it's of great importance to me. These four 1969 Pilots cards mean I need six more cards from '69, and six more from '70 complete the Pilots cards.

Anybody out there that does vintage, you know who you are, can you help? I really want to knock down all these Pilots and Mariners wants by the start of next season. With the continued help of the blog community, I know I can achieve it.

To the two bloggers out there that I know for sure will appreciate this, today is a big day. The mighty Maize and Blue take on Nebraska. We need to win this game to ride the momentum in to Columbus and kick Ohio State's butt. I know that Dennis of Too Many Grandersons, and Jeff of My Sports Obsession will agrre with me on two words today:

GO BLUE!!!

Praying for Pilots

Before the Mariners came into existence for one year in Seattle there was the Pilots. While they weren't a very good team, they have their place in Seattle sports history. While in their existance, Topps made cards for them in their only year of 1969, and they had cards for the 1970 set, thinking the team would be here and not on the way to Milwaukee after Spring Training. In those two years, there were 56 cards for the Pilots. I have 56 of those cards so far. I now own all 56 Pilots cards!!!

Updated 12/9/12

Current 56/56(100%)

Double Dipping

After getting some inspiration from the Heartbreaking one's post, I decided to look into players, properties and coaches that were with Pilots somehow and the Mariners. I found more guys than I thought I would.

Don Bryant spent the spring of 1970 with the Pilots, but left before Milwaukee. Don would be a coach the expansion Mariners.

Also with the Pilots in Tempe in 1970 was Phil Roof. Phil would eventually be a bullpen coach for the Mariners.

taken from cookandsonsbats.mlblogs.com

from baseball card cyber museum

Wes Stock was a coach with the 1970 Pilots/Brewers. Wes would come back to Seattle to coach with the Mariners.

from gasolinealleyantiques.com

Lou Piniella was a famous property of the Pilots to be let go of, only to come back and be the Mariners greatest manager.

Diego Segui hold the distinction of being the only man to play for both the Pilots and the Mariners.

from the baseball card cyber museum

Wayne Twitchell was in spring camp with the Pilots in 1970, and would also pitch for the Mariners in 1979. Wayne sadly passed on September 16, 2010 from cancer.

from the baseball card cyber museum

Jim Slaton was drafted by the Pilots in 1969, and would coach for the mariners in AAA Tacoma, and in Seattle from 1999 until 2007.

Slaton is on the right 

from the baseball card cyber museum

Rich Auerbach would also be drafted in '69, only to come to Seattle in 1981.

from the baseball card cyber museum 

Gorman Thomas was the Pilots first pick in the 1969 draft, and would come and be a Mariner from 1984 until 1986.

Strange to think that all these guys with some type of Pilots ties would make it back to be with the Mariners. Thanks again to Matt for the inspiration to do some digging.

I guess the mall is OK...

While out doing the weekly shopping thing, my family needed to go to the mall yesterday. It is someday going to get spring like weather here, and we all need new shorts and sneakers. The three of us are doing good finding clothes and such, and I'm thinking "I'm done, let's get out of the mall." We walk around the corner, and what do I see, but a circle of tables.

Comic books, autographed pictures, and toys. Then, I see tables with cards. My wife says, "go ahead and look. I'm moving forward." The look was like I shouldn't, but how could I resist. I could have easily spent a couple hours looking for cards, but didn't have my list of needs with me. I just blindly start looking, pulling up my want list on my phone. I only spend 10 minutes looking through half a box, knowing I couldn't spend all day looking. I did find 3 cards for the Super Set.

 The dealer who was too busy playing cribbage and grazing on Wendy's, wanted $1 a piece for these. I told him would he take $2 for all three since the '69 was in rough shape. He finally relented, and a '69 Pilots and the two cards to finish off the '09 UD are now home safely in their binders. I'm still not a fan of the mall, but it wasn't such a bad trip today, new kicks and some new cards.

Goodbye Goose

It was reported last night that Seattle had lost another former athlete. Greg Goossen who played for the Pilots was found dead in his home in Sherman Oaks, CA on Saturday. He was scheduled to be inducted into the Notre Dame hall of fame that day. When he didn't show up for a photo session, a family member found him at home. Sadly, the list of deceased Pilots continues to grow, with Goossen joining shortstop Ray Oyler, pitchers Miguel Fuentes, Gene Brabender, George Brunet and Steve Barber, catcher Jim Pagliaroni, and manager Joe Schultz.

Greg wasn't the most gifted player, but made the most of his time in the majors. He was fairly successful after baseball, be a stand-in for Gene Hackman in many movies. A couple of years ago, the LA Daily News did a nice write up on Goossen here. Greg Goossen was 65 years old. I hope all the former Pilots that have passed are in heaven "pounding a Budweiser" together.

Please check this out

I put up another post on my new blog. Today we get the history of how the Pilots came to be. The Ride of the Ancient Mariner is still in the beginning stages, but I hope that everyone will have fun with the trips down memory lane, and might be informed by something I write. Please tell your friends, tell your neighbors, heck tell your mom and your signifigant otherto give it a read. If there is something I forget to tell in a story, feel free to let know and I can adjust it. Thanks everybody, happy reading and Happy Saturday!

Cards in the mail

Sometimes Facebook has it's privileges. I started a group long ago for Topps collectors on Facebook. Along comes a member of my group and says he has extra Pilots cards for the Super Set. In my mailbox I get a package with four cards from the 69 set and ten cards from the 70 set. I just want to give a big thanks to Tom Lowden for just sending these cards out of the kindness of his heart. Thanks again Tom for getting me closer to getting the Pilots in the binder!!

Pilots it is

I have been thinking about it, and I guess everyone is right. I will add the Pilots to my Mariners super set. It is only two years of cards, and they were an MLB team. I don't like the fact that my city lost it's team to a nincompoop like Bud Selig, but what can I do.

If anyone has any extra 69 or 70 Topps Pilots cards laying around that they would like trade away let me know and I will start on this venture.

Help Wanted

No, I'm not hiring someone for a job. I do need the help of all you out there though. I have been pondering the thought of whether or not to include the 69 and 70 Topps Seattle Pilots cards into my Mariners super set. I know that they became the Brewers, but they were professional Seattle baseball. I would love to hear what everyone thinks. I also will be putting up a wantlist of Donruss, Fleer, and Upper Deck Mariners. I think I will try to finish those team sets and have all brands of M's.