Willie caught a Brooklyn subway in New Mexico

Not long ago I set up a deal with Corey of Classon Ave. I sent some Tim Wallach's for his other blog. I also included some other Topps sets needs. I was supposed to send him a '83 Fleer Ryne Sandberg RC that started the deal. He didn't get it, and I can't find it. Did I missend it to somebody else??

Corey did send me some Mariners I needed during that deal that helped knock down the Mariners collection. I got home yesterday and there was a PWE in the mail. Corey decided to send a couple of Willie's for the Pops PC. It had a great hand written note saying one was well loved, and the note even used my Six Degrees idea from the 1979 Topps Blog.

Big thanks from my son Andrew who is the new Pops fan, and also from me for cards for a PC we both are proud to be building. I think the end of this post needs an old school Expos logo for Corey and his Tim Wallach love.

Want to see my Willie??

As you might know, I recently put up a wantlist for some vintage. It was a player of my youth and my son's new favorite player. Who in their right mind doesn't love "Pops?" In my mailbox yesterday was two cards from a Cubs fan of all people. I honestly think sometimes that Paul of Wrigley Wax owns just about every card ever made. You ask for it, he probably has it. Look at these two beauties:

A nice 1969 Topps featuring a a young Willie. If you look at the back, you can see it been loved but I don't care. Also in the envelope was a nice '76 of a now 1B Willie. Funny though that he grew an inch and gained almost 40 pounds. That extra weight was one of the things that made him lovable at the end of his career.

Big thanks again to Paul. I can't say I'm a Cubs fan, but I do want to make it to Wrigley someday.

Feeling like a FREAK on a leash

Time again to put up one last wantlist for a player collection. This one belongs to my 13 year old son. Ever since he was a phenom at the UW for the Huskies, my son know his name. He couldn't understand why he didn't play for the Mariners since he grew up here. He knows he can't duplicate Tim's mechanics, but would love to have the awards and the ring that he has. My son is realistic and isn't expecting to find or buy all the relics and autos of him, but any base, subsets, and inserts will suit him fine.

2007 Bowman Chrome 217
2007 Bowman Draft BDP11
2007 Bowman Heritage 202
2007 Fleer 428
2007 Topps 52 130
2007 Allen&Ginter 274
2007 Turkey Red 88
2007 Upper Deck 918
2008 Bowman 44
2008 Stadium Club 2
2008 Topps 165
2008 Allen&Ginter 201
2008 Topps Heritage 303
2008 Upper Deck 362 CL
2008 Upper Deck 634
2009 Bowman 100
2009 OPC 300
2009 OPC 542
2009 Topps 206 286
2009 Topps Heritage 7
2009 Topps Heritage 165
2009 Allen&Ginter 224
2009 Turkey Red TR9
2009 Upper Deck 323
2009 Upper Deck 485
2009 Upper Deck 851
2010 Bowman 175
2010 Topps 106
2010 Topps 206 255
2010 Topps 206 333
2010 Topps 206 344
2010 Allen&Ginter 175
2010 Topps Heritage 45
2010 Topps Heritage 49
2010 Topps Heritage 383
2010 Topps Heritage 429
2010 Topps Heritage 496
2010 Turkey Red TR22
2010 Upper Deck 440
2011 Bowman 141
2011 Topps 590
2011 Allen&Ginter 170
2011 Topps Heritage 60
2011 Topps Heritage 237
2011 Topps Heritage 319
2011 Topps Heritage 429
2011 Topps Update US58

We want our Willies

As a kid, the first player I fell in love with was "Pops." My first journey into the baseball world was Topps cards in 1979. The only game I ever saw was the Saturday game of the week. In the 1979 World Series, there was something about Willie's windmill of the bat, and the stars on his hat that caught my attention. Fast forward 30 years, and my son has really gotten into the '79 Pirates. He has the same fascination with Willie that I did. He had to wear #8 for baseball last year, and has already said that is his number going forward. We don't have many cards of his, but hope we can bump up the collection without having to buy too many spendy cards.



1963 Topps 553
1965 Topps 377
1966 Topps 255
1967 O-Pee-Chee 140
1967 Topps 140
1968 O-Pee-Chee 86
1968 Topps 86
1970 Kellogg's 29
1970 O-Pee-Chee 470
1970 Topps 470
1971 Kellogg's 68
1971 O-Pee-Chee 230
1971 Topps 230
1972 Kellogg's 53
1972 O-Pee-Chee 343 Boyhood
1972 O-Pee-Chee 447
1972 O-Pee-Chee 448 In Action
1972 Topps 343 Boyhood
1972 Topps 448 In Action
1973 Kellogg's 25
1973 O-Pee-Chee 370
1974 Kellogg's 37
1974 O-Pee-Chee 100
1974 Topps 100
1975 Hostess 135
1975 O-Pee-Chee 100
1975 Topps Mini 100
1975 Topps 100
1976 Hostess 49
1976 Kellogg's 22
1976 O-Pee-Chee 270
1977 Hostess 27
1977 O-Pee-Chee 25
1978 Hostess 11
1979 Hostess 104
1979 O-Pee-Chee 22
1980 Kellogg's 25
1980 O-Pee-Chee 319
1981 Fleer Star Stickers 15
1981 Kellogg's 11
1981 O-Pee-Chee 127
1982 Fleer Stamps 76
1982 O-Pee-Chee 188
1982 O-Pee-Chee 372
1983 Donruss 610
1983 Donruss 8 DK
1983 Fleer 324
1992 Kelloggs 1
1992 Pinnacle 588

Chopping down some Murphys

For many summers, I would come to Seattle to spend the summer with Grandma. It was awesome because she got the SuperStation WTBS on cable. I got to watch almost every Braves games at 4:05 PM everyday. I fell in love with the team and instantly was a huge fan of #3. I still think it is a crime that one of the best players of the '80s and 2 time MVP isn't in the Hall of Fame. I have decided to try and really bump up my collection of the Dale Murphy cards. Here's a look at what I need. Any oddball, small maker, insert, or subset cards are also always welcome if they aren't listed.

1978 Topps 708
1979 Hostess 121
1981 Fleer 243
1983 Donruss 47
1983 Fleer 142
1983 Topps 401
1983 Topps 502
1984 Donruss 66 
1984 Fleer 186
1984 Topps 126 
1984 Topps 133
1984 Topps 391
1985 Donruss 66
1985 Fleer 335
1986 Donruss 66 
1986 Donruss 60
1987 Donruss 3
1988 Donruss 78
1988 Fleer 544
1988 Fleer 639
1988 Score 450
1988 Topps 549
1989 Donruss 104
1989 Fleer 596
1989 Upper Deck 672
1990 Bowman 19
1990 Fleer Update 46
1990 Topps 750
1990 Upper Deck 533
1991 Donruss 484
1991 Donruss 744
1991 Fleer 409
1991 Score 650
1991 Stadium Club 243
1991 Studio 220
1991 Upper Deck 447
1992 Bowman 684
1992 Donruss 146
1992 Pinnacle 124
1992 Pinnacle 284
1992 Score 80
1992 Stadium Club 280
1992 Studio 79
1992 Ultra 249
1992 Upper Deck 127
1993 Fleer 496
1993 Pinnacle 479
1993 Pinnacle 503
1993 Score 597
1993 Select 103
1993 Stadium Club 572
1993 Topps 445
1993 Ultra 353
1993 Upper Deck 706

Looking for Mr. Right

I will leave that job to the ladies. I am looking for Mr. Mariner Alvin Davis. While he didn't have the longest careers, he was one of my favorites. Here is a list of the major cards from his days from 1984-92 when he played and a nice looking retro card. I know that there are many oddball and subset cards for Alvin, and I'm always open to those too.

Who couldn't collect a guy that was always smiling?

1985 Leaf DK 18
1986 SportFlics 31
1987 Leaf 118
1987 O Pee Chee 235
1988 Leaf 196
1988 O Pee Chee 349
1988 SportFlics 52
1989 O Pee Chee 57
1989 SportFlics 33
1990 O Pee Chee 373
1991 Fleer Ultra 334
1991 O Pee Chee 515
1992 Bowman 341
1992 Fleer Ultra 324
1992 Leaf 168
1992 O Pee Chee 130
1992 Pinnacle 467
1992 Stadium Club 617
2003 Topps Fan Fave 96

Big Time Timmy Jim

First off, I would like to congratulate my son on being only 1 of 2 boys in the 7th grade to made the varsity squad of his middle school baseball team. It is quite an accomplishment considering the talent of the other guys on the team. Secondly, since our trip to San Francisco and doing more pitching for his school team he has been studying pitchers. While he is a fan of Nolan Ryan, Felix Hernandez, and Jonathan Papelbon, he has found his new favorite. He wants to pitch like a local kid, The Freak.

Tim Lincecum

While I haven't gone through my cards yet to see what I have of Tim for him, I will try to make a list soon of cards needed to make him a happy fan.

Is this heaven??

There is always a pursuit and wanting for the Holy Grail. Every person is striving to find it.

It's Mine!! All Mine!!
 Do you have those cards that you hope to someday own so they can be the cornerstone of your collection?? I know that those cards for me were the three 1983 Tony Gwynn rookie cards. After spending a very warm Saturday afternoon at the Boeing Classic golf tournament with my son, we decided to head to my favorite card store that I don't get to very often. After finding a few Mariners I needed, and some Angels cards for the other side project, I perused the the cases of unobtainable cards. They shined at me like a beacon of light!! The first card I see is the mother lode I have longed for:

What would you pay for this card??The sticker said book value: $25, our price $10!! Sign me up, I own the first white whale.

Also in the great case was the second of his rookies. This 1983 Donruss beauty had a  price tag stating it was $6.95. A little high, but I could live with that to get the second of three rookies.

The completion of the trifecta was there in the case too. 1983 Fleer #360 was also on the glass shelf with a low, low price of $4.95. Hot diggity dog, I can have all three rookies for only $22?? Sold, sold, and sold!!
I thought I would never own any of his rookies, let alone all three at the same time. I guess it is time to start to focus on the player collections of Pops, and the Murph now.

Hop on "Pops" list!

My very first player I liked was found in the 1979 World Series. He was nearing the end of his career, but I loved the windmill of the bat, and the leader role he played.

 I became such a big fan of his, I had to go out and buy a black stovetop Pirates hat, and one of the old yellow batting helmets we all wore as kids in the 70's and early 80's. After retiring in 1982, the Pirates retired his #8. He made it to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1988 with 82.4 of the vote, and we lost "Pops" to cancer in 2001.
Here is a wantlist of cards I need for the "Pops" collection. It is vintage heavy, and I'm thin on cards of his. Raise the Jolly Roger for "Pops" cards. Any inserts, odd balls, relics, or autos are welcome but not expected.

Topps
1963 #553 RC (I'm not expecting anybody to give up a RC)
1964 #342
1965 #377
1966 #99 Buc Belters
1966 #255
1967 #140
1967 #266 Pitt Power
1968 #86
1969 #545
1970 #470
1971 #230
1972 #87 RBI Leaders
1972 #89 HR Leaders
1972 #343 Boyhood Stars
1972 #447
1972 #448 In Action
1973 #370
1974 #100
1974 #202 HR Leaders
1974 #203 RBI Leaders
1975 #100
1976 #270
1978 #510
2010 #110B SP

Donruss
1983 #8 Diamond King
1983 #610
1991 #702 Puzzle Card

Fleer
1983 #324
1983 #634 Fountain of Youth

Chop down this list!!

I started not too long ago to try and collect one of my childhood favorites, Dale Murphy. If you are Twitter, give him a follow at @DaleMurphy3.

After looking through what cards I have of Murph, it's pretty slim pickins. Here's a list of the base cards I need of his, inserts, autos, and relics are just icing on the cake.

Topps
1977 #476 (not expecting anybody to send me his RC)
1978 #708
1983 #401 All Star
1983 #502 Team Leaders
1984 #126 Team Leaders
1984 #133 RBI leaders
1984 #391 All Star
1986 #456 Team Leaders
1986 #600
1986 #705 All Star
1987 #490
1988 #90
1990 #750
1992 #68
1993 #445
2010 #532B
2011 #135B

Donruss
1983 #299
1983 #47
1984 #66
1985 #66
1986 #66
1987 #3 Diamond King
1987 #78
1988 #46 All Star
1988 #78
1989 #104
1990 #168
1991 #484
1992 #146

Fleer
1981 #243
1982 #443
1983 #142
1984 #186
1985 #335
1986 #640 NL West Sluggers
1988 #544
1988 #639 All Star
1989 #596
1991 #409
1993 #496

Score
1988 #450
1990 #66
1991 #650
1992 #80
1993 #597

Upper Deck
1989 #672 Team Card
1990 #533
1991 #447
1992 #127
1993 #706

Great Taste, More Filling

My son who loves baseball has been asking me about his favorite players. I told him to list them out and I would see what I have for him. Of course the kid has good taste in players, but not always the most affordable kind. Here is who he chose as his favorites:

David Ortiz "Big Papi"

"King" Felix Hernandez

Nolan "The Ryan Express" Ryan

Willie "Pops" Stargell

Nice choices by the boy. I hope to be able to add to his collection the next time I make it to a LCS.

Addition to the list

I have decided to add another to the Player Collection page. As my son has been a fan of his for a long time, the trip to Boston sealed it.  Add "Big Papi" David Ortiz to the player collection.

Player Collections

I thought it might be time to start a list of players that I collect. It's not long, but they are my favorites.

Tony Gwynn

Willie Stargell

Dale Murphy

Alvin Davis

Ryan Rowland-Smith

David Ortiz-For my Son

Nolan Ryan-For my Son