Dale Murphy: Mariner

Did you know that Dale Murphy was a Seattle Mariner in 1980? Neither did I until I found this card.
Bochte was a one time All-Star while the Murph won 2 MVPs and was an early 80's baseball god.

Bochte is an agnostic while Murphy is a Morman.

Bochte sat out the 1983 season in protest of rising salaries ruining the game while Murphy made 1.3 million in 1983.

Neither is in the Hall of Fame.

Jay Bell: EGOMANIAC

It's been a while since I did any actual blogging. Trade posts have littered Stats on the Back since my son was born.

I thought I would get back to blogging about the simple things: cards I like. They are generally worthless and don't really fit into my collecting goals. But I like them so they are allowed to take their place with Aaron, Pujols, Yogi, etc.

1993 Upper Deck #103 Jay BellBell is taking infield, wearing a t-shirt that reads "WE NEED ME". The "WE" must refer to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 1992 Pirates won 96 games and eventually lost to the Atlanta Braves in the postseason. Jay Bell was arguably the 3rd best position player for the Pirates that year, behind Bonds and Van Slyke. In 1993, Bell was the best position player and the Pirates finished 5th in the NL East, winning only 75 games. So while the Pirates "needed" Jay Bell, they didn't need him nearly as much as they needed BARRY BONDS!

Trade Me: What's Going Where and When

The Vintage Card Trade Me Posts have been a success. Most everything has been claimed aside from 1974 Topps. Here is a list of what is going where. If I am sending something to the wrong place, let me know. All addresses have been changed so you don't get extra junk mail.

Packages will be shipped Monday morning. I look forward to the want list cards and/or the "1 card" you will be trading me in return.

Dan - 19 cards (Best: 1970 ERA Marichal/Carlton/Gibson - 3 HOFers)
sending to Apt C back to Cali
Don - 264 cards (Best: 183 1974 Topps cards - should get you closer to the set)
sending to 22 in the dry heat
bfrye3 - 95 cards (Best: 1974 Steve Garvey)
sending to 132 in "the OH"
stewart65 - 46 cards (Best: 1970 Blue/Tenace RC - nice RC of 2 good players)
sending to 7253 in LegalizedMarijuanaVille
gcrl - 93 cards (Maybe not the best but coolest: 1971 Cookie Rojas - midair goodness!)
sending to 3535 in MauerLand
wickedortega - 84 cards (Best: 2 different 1970 AL ldr cards featuring Killebrew and a young Reggie Jackson)
sending to 260 in NoIncomeTaxboro
mariner1 - 2 Pilots + a few wantlist Mariners (Best: Pilots cards are cool!)
sending to 3206 in Starbucks
MattF - 2 cards (Best: 2 1971 High #'s)
sending to 5111 in Oz
Colin(Daniel) - 80 cards (Best: 1960 J.Ginsberg in nice condition)
sending to 96 in MountainMama
BABenny - 15 cards (Best: 1971 Red Sox Team Card)
sending to 88-21 in the Apple
carlcrawford - 1 card (Best: the only one - 1971 Maury Wills)
sending to 1001 in Fargo
nightowl - 9 cards (Best: 1959 Fred Kipp)
sending to 169 in MetsLand
MAttR - 3 cards (Best: 1971 Reds Team)
sending to 141 in GoodLookingPeopleUSA

Stufflestreet and foulbunt - I need an address!

Trade Me: 1974 Edition Part 2

Here is the second installment of 1974. Lots of commons but some stars too. The numbers in parentheses is how many I have of that card. This is the last batch of cards before I ship out cards. Email me your address even if you think I already have it. I will post what I am sending each person and review "the RULES" of trading one more time.

401 (2), 404, 409 (3), 412, 413, 414 Checklist (marked), 417 (3), 418 (2), 423, 425 (2), 429, 430 M.Alou, 432 (4), 443 (4), 447 (3)

452, 453 (2), 455 (4), 462 (2), 463, 467, 468 (2), 469 (2), 480, 482, 493 (3)

501, 502 (2), 509, 511 Harrah, 515 (3), 517, 518 (2), 525 (4), 527, 528 (5), 529 (2), 531 (2) Mauch, 539 (2), 544, 546 (3), 548

553 (3), 555 (2) W.Fryman, 557 (2), 560 Cuellar, 562 (3), 564 (3), 567 Red Sox Team, 572 (3), 573 (2), 576 (2), 577 (4), 583, 585

601 Downing/McBride, 603, 605 Tanana, 606 (2), 607, 608, 615 (2), 627, 629 Staub, 630 Agee, 640 (5) Pappas, 644, 651 (2), 655 (2)

Traded Set
23T, 42T Osteen, 43T Wynn, 51T (2), 59T (2), 62T, 63T (2), 123T Briles, 139T (3) 151T (2) Segui, 165T (2), 175T (3), 182T, 186T (3), 249T (3), 313T (3), 319T (2), 330T (2) Marichal, 348T, 373 (2), 390T Piniella, 428T (3), 454T (5) Bevacqua, 458T (4), 485T (3) F.Alou, 486T, 496T, 516T (2), 534T (2), 538T, 544T, 579T, 585T, 612T (6), 618T (3), 648T (2), Checklist (3) (marked), Checklist (7) (UNmarked)

Team Checklists
Astros, Brewers (3), Cardinals (3), Cubs (3), Dodgers (2), Expos (3), Giants, Orioles (6), Padres (6), Phillies (2), Pirates, Rangers (8), Red Sox, Tigers (7), Twins (3), White Sox (4), Yankees (2)

Trade Me: 1974 Edition Part 1

I have a lot of 1974 Topps. Lots of commons but some stars too. The numbers in parentheses is how many I have of that card. This is the next-to-last post before I ship out cards. Email me your address even if you think I already have it.

11 (3), 14, 16 (2) Orioles Team, 17, 21 (2), 23(2), 38 (3), 41 (3), 44 (4) M.Stottlemyre

53 (5), 58, 67 (2), 68 (2), 71 (3), 72 (3), 94 (3) Tigers Team

107, 121 (2), 122 (2), 124 (2), 136 Reuschel, 137 (3) Bumbry, 139, 142 (3), 143 (2), 149

152 (2) Gamble, 155 (2) Campaneris, 157 (3), 159 (3), 161 (3), 163, 166 McKeon, 168 (3), 186 (3), 191 (3), 194 (2) Porter, 196 (2) Fregosi, 198, 199 (2)

208 (4) Leading Firemen Hiller/Marshall, 209 T.Sizemore, 211 (3) Cubs Team, 214, 218 (2), 233, 239 B.Russell, 240, 244 (2), 245

255 L.Bowa, 256 (2), 257 B.Bell, 259, 261 (2), 266 (2), 270 R.Santo, 271, 289, 292, 294, 296 (3)

304, 306 E.Weaver, 309 (2), 316 J.Perry, 318, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 327, 329 (3) Belanger, 339 (2) AS Pitchers Hunter/Wise, 345, 349

352 (2), 354, 359, 364 (4) C.Gaston, 371, 372 (2), 374, 375, 376 Orta, 381, 384 Chambliss, 386 G.Matthews, 387 (2), 389, 391 (2), 393 (2), 394, 396 T.Davis, 399

Trade Me: '59 - '69 Edition

Yada, Yada, Yada...Claim away!

CLAIMED!

Trade Me: Late 70's Edition

1974 Topps was going be next but Paul over at Carl Crawford Cards put a squash to all of you getting first dibs. Here is a very small sampling of late 70's cards. I have so few of these in my collection. After this, I'll put up some cards from the '60's.

For the rules, see any of the last three posts!

1979 Topps
76 Cromartie, 104 Oates, 403, 655 Koosman

1978 Topps
334, 468 Cromartie

1977 Topps
531

Trade Me: 1970 Edition

Next up is 1970 Topps, the grey ones. Most, but not all, are commons that need a better home. I am going to attempt to give the rules of trading again. You guys follow direction worse than my 8th graders at school!!! (I have enjoyed all the cards sent to me!) My goal is to slowly make my collection smaller and better.

1. Send as many cards off my want list as you want. Check out my new All-Time team want list.
2. If you don't have any off my want lists, send ONE card. (It doesn't have to be a Met but it could be. I am always looking to upgrade cards in my various binders. Shiny, autographed, and swatched cards are always welcome. I also enjoy the random card that I may one day blog about (like the old days).) NOT ONE CARD PER CARD, but ONE CARD FOR ALL THAT YOU CLAIM.

Fill your set list needs, start a team set, Claim away! 1970 Topps
CLAIMED!!!

Stake your claims in the comments section. First come, first get the cards. This is the second in a series of posts. I will hold all cards until the end and ship them together. Don't forget to reread the trading rules.

Get your 1974 Topps want lists ready!

Trade Me: 1971 Edition

More cards to trade! This time I am trading random older cards. Next up is 1971 Topps. Most, but not all, are commons that need a better home. I am going to attempt to give the rules of trading again. You guys follow direction worse than my 8th graders at school!!! (I have enjoyed all the cards sent to me!) My goal is to slowly make my collection smaller and better.

1. Send as many cards off my want list as you want. Check out my new All-Time team want list.
2. If you don't have any off my want lists, send ONE card. (It doesn't have to be a Met but it could be. I am always looking to upgrade cards in my various binders. Shiny, autographed, and swatched cards are always welcome. I also enjoy the random card that I may one day blog about (like the old days).)

Fill your set list needs, start a team set, Claim away!

CLAIMED!

Stake your claims in the comments section. First come, first get the cards. This is the second in a series of posts. I will hold all cards until the end and ship them together. Don't forget to reread the trading rules.

Trade Me: 1972 & 1973 Edition

More cards to trade! This time I am trading random older cards. First up is 1972 & 1973 Topps. Most are commons that need a better home. I am going to attempt to give the rules of trading again. You guys follow directions worse than my 8th graders at school!!! (I have enjoyed all the cards sent to me!) My goal is to slowly make my collection smaller and better.

1. Send as many cards off my want list as you want. Check out my new All-Time team want list.
2. If you don't have any off my want lists, send ONE card. (It doesn't have to be a Met but it could be. I am always looking to upgrade cards in my various binders. Shiny, autographed, and swatched cards are always welcome. I also enjoy the random card that I may one day blog about (like the old days). he Mets are my favorite team but Eric Davis is my favorite player, I am a self-proclaimed Tito Fuentes super-collector, and I don't shy away from Pujols, Ichiro, etc either.)

Fill your set list needs, start a team set, Claim away!

CLAIMED!!!

Stake your claims in the comments section. First come, first get the cards. This is the first in a series of posts. I will hold all cards until the end and ship them together. Don't forget to reread the trading rules.

New Want List: All-Time Teams

Before my son was born in January, I started a series of post presenting All-Time teams for each franchise. I only got around to 2 (Giants and Braves). I will get back to it one of these days. I am collecting one card of each player on each all-time team. The player MUST be in that team's uniform. Here is a list of the players I need. Any help would be appreciated.

Atlanta Braves (Milwaukee Braves)
Kid Nichols
Vic Willis

Baltimore Orioles (St.Louis Browns)
Ken Williams

Harlan Clift
Urban Shocker

Vern Stephens

Chicago Cubs
Pete Alexander
Chicago White Sox
Doc White

Fielder Jones

Cincinnati Reds
Noodles Hahn

Cleveland Indians
Elmer Flick

Detroit Tigers
Bill Donovan
Hooks Dauss
Dizzy Trout

Los Angeles Dodgers

Dixie Walker

Philadelphia Phillies
Ed Delahanty
Billy Hamilton

Roy Thomas

Johhny Callison
Pittsburgh Pirates
Wilbur Cooper
Vern Law

San Francisco Giants (NY Giants)
Roger Connor
George Davis

Frankie Frisch

Tampa Bay Rays

Jim Mecir

MVP & CY

Johnny Evers - Bos(NL)

All-Star Contest Results

The NL won, the NL won! I fell asleep in the recliner before any runs scored but the NL won! I believe that my willingness to cheer for Braves on this one day helped the Senior Circuit prevail.

There were 6 six entries that met the criteria of not having made an All-Star team:
SpastikMooss said...the best active player to never play in an all star game is Eric Chavez
k said...I'd say the best player never to make the all-star game is Don Larsen.
Don said...I will nominate Mickey Stanley.
TheBrooklynMet said...I am going to go with Kurt Gibson.
Dusto said...I'm going to throw a vote in for Tim Salmon.gcrl said...clearly it is eric karros.

Here are some stats of our candidates:
Chavez, Eric - o.1 MVP shares, 115 OPS+, 35.8 WAR
Larson, Don - 99 ERA+, 10.9 WAR
Stanley, Mickey - 0.01 MVP shares, 90 OPS+, 11.9 WAR
Gibson, Kirk - 1 MVP, 1.17 MVP shares, 123 OPS+, 37.1 WAR
Salmon, Tim - 1 ROY, 0.51 MVP shares, 128 OPS+, 37.6 WAR
Karros, Eric - 1 ROY, 0.37 MVP shares, 107 OPS+, 9 WAR
The stats don't tell us about the perfect game or the pinch hit HR but they do narrow the field to 2 clear standouts, Kirk Gibson and Tim Salmon. Salmon has slightly better stats BUT Gibson beats out Salmon 2-1 in World Series wins, including an ALCS MVP in 1984 and a memorable WS MVP in 1988.

The best player to never be an All-Star (at least from these candidates) is Kirk Gibson. I'll dig up something to send to TheBrooklynMet.

All-Star Contest: A bit of research required

The All-Star game is next week. Could this be the year the NL rises above the AL dominance?
In honor of the big game, I will have a little contest. Winner gets cards of their favorite team, blah-blah, etc. I don't know what, but its FREE!

Answer the following question:
Who is the best player to never be an MLB All-Star?

Remember:
1. The All-Star game started in 1933. Don't choose someone who played before then or who had there best years before then.
2. Do your research and give me some rationale. Your strong opinion may sway my decision.
3. I will choose the "correct" answer from all entries. (I don't know the answer but I do know that it is not Rick Dempsey.)
4. First person to name each player has dibs on that player.
5. Entry deadline is the first pitch of the 2010 All-Star game.

Go NL!!!