The Quest for '60: 1960 Topps #12 Milt Pappas

Ah yes - how about a nice vintage break?

The crusade to complete my old man's 1960 Topps set is marching on and today we add Mr. Pappas to the mix!

I like the Oriole perched on top of the baseball in the logo on the lower left hand side of the card.   The close-up, color mug shot of Milt is pretty typical of the '60 set but the posed action wind-up shot to the left is pretty nicely framed.   I like the front of this card.

Mr. Pappas was coming off of a pretty successful year in 1959 where he went 15-9, pitching 15 complete games (not all of his wins were CG's though!).   Can you imagine pitchers doing that on such a regular basis today?   Me neither.......He had made his debut with the club in relief against the Yankees in August of '57 and quickly joined the rotation as a regular for the start of '58.  

The Yankees won that game, by the way.

Admirably, Pappas began a streak of eleven straight seasons of double-digit wins in '58 by going 10-10.   He would become the ace of Baltimore's staff, demonstrating excellent control on his way to three All-Star selections.   He threw a no-hitter on September 2, 1972 - a year before retirement as he finished out with the Chicago Cubs!   Mr. Pappas no-hit Don Zimmer's Padres, a line-up that included Mr. Johnny Jeter, who went 0-3 that day.   And you know who Johnny Jeter is, don't you?!?!?!

The father of major leaguer Shaw Jeter, of course.

:)

Pappas' no-no was ONE OUT away from being a perfect game and would end up being the last no-hitter by a Cubs pitcher until Carlos Zambrano tossed one against the Astros in 2008.   Did I read that correctly?   Yo?!   There's even some pretty decent drama surrounding the walk issued to the 27th batter and the grudge between Pappas and umpire Bruce Froemming hat would last for years......

Here's the back of card #12:

Absolutely shocked that a guy named Milt likes to bowl!

The color scheme and layout of the 1960 set will always hold a special place in my heart - for obvious reasons - but I dig it!

You get the usual biographical information up top, including the player's height in a 6:03 format.....I found that to be kind of interesting.   I had never noticed it before?   Plus, Milt was pretty tall for those days.....Mr. Pappas was from Detroit which was where former star Hal Newhouser found him and got Milt in touch with the Orioles (or vice versa).  

I like the list of highlights, too.   My favorite part of this write-up is Topps' use of the thesaurus to break up consecutive uses of the word "hits" by replacing it with "Safeties".   There's also no bullet point for item #6 on the list (July 14 game)!?   Oh, wait a second......unless Pappas beat himself, it looks like we have another error for this card.   On July 14th, Pappas did indeed hurl a five hit, 3-1 win but it was against the Kansas City Athletics.   Huh........S$$$$P ERROR?!?!?
I kid.

Interesting note - Roger Maris hit the 12th of his final 16 home runs for the Athletics off of Pappas in the 2nd inning.   A deep solo shot to right field!   Good stuff, good stuff.......

Great card!   Welcome to the stack, Mr. Pappas!

Thanks for reading.

My Mattingly Collection: 1988 Topps #386 All Star

Some days, I miss these kinds of cards.   Simple and focused with maybe a bit too much color......

I haven't featured a card of Donnie Baseball since I pulled the '13 Gypsy Queen.  I thought this might provide a nice contrast.  

Red, White and Blue! And Yellow!

I have several of these from the childhood portion of my collection.   This particular copy was sent very generously as a throw-in with a recent trades (salute to @jedijeff13 and reader Marcus - good guys!).   It is gladly accepted as the others are tucked away and hidden in the Indiana Jones warehouse that IS my hobby space (see previous post).

Good 'ol Donnie, back in the good 'ol days.   Love this card!   It celebrated Mattingly's 4th straight All-Star selection in 1987.   During that mid-summer classic, Don went 0-1 with two walks - doing his part!   The junior circuit only amassed 6 hits that day and the National League won 2-0.

Here's the back of the card:

Yep, that's orange.

These All-Star cards featured league-specific stat categories with leaders from the previous season.   Mattingly's card featured the RBI category, for which he ranked 5th with 115.  

Solid.

I always like statistical lists like this because it gives us a chance to say, "oh yeah....they were pretty good!".   I, of course, am referring to Dwight Evans and Wally Joyner.   Two guys who often get lost in the shuffle when we speak of the days of yore.

This card is also special because it highlights one of my favorite Mattingly feats - his streak of going yard in eight straight ballgames.   The "8-straight" record tied Dale Long at the time, who accomplished the feat back in 1956.   Some young whipper-snapper named Ken Griffey Jr. would tie the record of Don & Dale again in 1993.

This particular highlight pinpoints #8 against the Rangers on 7-18-87 - though Mattingly would actually total TEN dingers during his 8-game streak.......Griffey and Long could only reach eight each.

Atta boy, Donnie.

Thanks for reading!

State of the Collection

Um.......beautiful disaster?

But, I know where everything is....

(sigh)

Focus. Organize. Trade. Condense. Enjoy. Repeat.

Beginning Step 1.......no.....distractions.......must focus.......

My Yankee Collection - 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen "Sliding Stars" Derek Jeter

I really miss our Captain and hope he can return to action soon.  

My worst fear is that he may encounter further difficulty and decide to hang up his spikes.....but I am optimistic that Jeter will make it back to give us a few more memories.

For now, I can certainly enjoy my Jeter cards and this is one of the more unique examples.   Sure, I've got plenty of Gypsy Queen (particularly from last year) but this is a Sliding Stars insert - my favorite GQ insert set from last year and a clear second place behind this year's Collisions at the Plate set.

This is how I look when I change a diaper 

The intrigue goes on, as this version of the card is a miniature version.   It was a nice pull from the special hobby box topper of mini cards found within each box.   Did Topps do the same thing this year?   It was a nice boost to my boxes, when a boost was SERIOUSLY needed.

Here's a picture of the box topper mini....box:

Exclusive! And yes, I kept the boxes..

Gimmicky, yes.....but when you throw down for a hobby box of anything, you're entitled to some bells and whistles, in my opinion.   You also deserve some solid progress towards a complete set.....and GQ did deliver there.   Back to Jeter.

Here's a look at the back:

I really like the design and layout of the GQ backs. Seriously.

Isn't that 3rd base he's sliding into, based on the front photo?   I'm pretty sure it is, judging by the marking on the OF wall.......the write-up of the specific stolen base story (I love it when cards pertain to a specific event!) refers to Derek stealing second base.

Oh well.   Still a sweet card for my Yankees collection!

Thanks for reading!

 

My Yankee Collection - 1971 Topps #146 Ralph Houk

Ralph Houk was one impressive man.

He was a national hero, entering the service during World War 2 as he was making his way through the Yankees farm system as a backstop.   He made his way to the rank of Major as an Army Ranger, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and Bastogne.   He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star (with oak leaf clusters) for his service.

Amazing!

He then returned to baseball, playing for the Yankees in a limited role as a backup catcher behind the likes of Yogi Berra.   He only played in 91 games from '47 to '54 but finished with a respectable .270 batting average.

Major Houk is best known for his success as a manager.   Tommy Lasorda played for Houk at the Yank's AAA affiliate in Denver and would later describe Ralph as the finest 'leader of men' he ever knew.   Lasorda would, in fact, style his own managerial style after him - and we know what that garnered.

Houk would bring titles to the Bronx during their epic seasons in '61 and '62.   They would fall just short tot he Dodgers in '63 before Houk made the move to the front office, replaced by Yogi Berra as the Yankee skipper. 

From there, Houk would end up firing Berra in '64 and taking over as the Yankee Manager again from '66 to '73.   Like so many others,  Major Houk butted heads with The Boss towards the end of his time in New York.   His time int he game was not finished, however - he would go on to assist with team building efforts in both Detroit and Boston (nobody's perfect) before retiring from managing in 1984.   His influence in both of those towns ushered in the eras of Whitaker/Trammell/Morris and Boggs/Clemens/Hurst, respectively.

The Card

I was able to snag this '71 card of Houk for about the price of a coke.   I have always loved the '71 design and will one day try to build the complete set.   I don't own very many of them but you can bet there's one in particular that is HIGH on this Yankees fan's list!   Any vintage card is a great addition, though, and for now, this card will hold a special place in my Yankee collection - my first card of Ralph Houk.

Would you mess with this guy?

Any shot of Yankee Stadium is always a plus!   As always, here's the back of the card.   Were you expecting a smile?

Lasorda confirmed: Leader of Men

Thanks for reading!

My Rizzo Collection - First Ink, Part One

Yeah, totally a shout-out to those fantastic Rambo movies of my youth with that title.

Happy Friday!   On to baseball cards.....

My last post announced my latest Player Collection (PC), Anthony Rizzo.   A bold move for me as Anthony doesn't play for the Yankees or Braves, my two favorite teams.   Have I betrayed myself?   Some may think so, but that's the great part about our hobby - collect what you like.

And I think Rizzo is pretty damn cool.   So, off I go.....

The collection started with one.

And, then a mini made two.

The next obvious move?   How about some ink on that third card?

YES!

Home Run

From 2013 Gypsy Queen, here's a sharp on-card autograph from the Cubbies' first baseman.   I am not the biggest fan of GQ this year though the 2011 inaugural version is a big part of how my tentative return to the hobby shifted into fifth gear.   Therefore, I still feel some set loyalty.

Rizzo's signature isn't winning any awards from me (I can see Killebrew shaking his head) but it is what it is.   What I DO love about this card is the way the blue ink works with the blue in the Cubs uniform.   It contrasts nicely with the sadly forlorn gray of the '13 GQ border.   AND, IT'S A RIZZO AUTOGRAPH!   For about half the price of a blaster, I was more than happy to scoop it up (30YOC nod).   Here's the back, just for kicks:

Thanks, Topps.

Love it!

Welcome to the collection.

Interesting Note:   Out of all of my official PC's (Mattingly, Freeman, Kimbrel, David Robertson, Rizzo), I lack autographs for the two I've had the longest - Freeman and Mattingly.   For Donnie Baseball, we're talking about 28, 29 years or so.   And while I have autographed cards for both Robertson and Rizzo, this Rizzo is the only CERTIFIED signature.

Funny how that happens.   Hopefully I'll be fortunate enough to remedy the voids soon enough.

But for now, I'm really excited to have a cornerstone for the Rizzo PC.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

Announcing Anthony Rizzo - My Latest PC (Paisan Collection)

Huge news here at Ryan's Pitch.

I'm collecting any and all cards of Anthony Rizzo!

I only have two cards of Rizzo, so we're definitely on the GROUND floor for this collection.   You read that correctly - TWO.   I pulled his Allen & Ginter card out of pack last summer and then stumbled upon his mini from this year's Gypsy Queen set, also out of a pack:

Didn't dig the whole set, but I dig this card!

Without further ado, let the call ring out - I would love the chance to work out some trades for any Anthony Rizzo cards that you don't need for your collections!   That is all.......

But, as the Talking Heads pondered - how did I get here?  

Call it an epiphany of sorts - I've been following Rizzo's career pretty closely since the beginning of the 2012 season.   By then he had already been through Boston and San Diego before being shipped off to Chicago in exchange (pretty much) for Andrew Cashner.    I began my first season of fantasy baseball last year, so for the first time, I began dabbling in the "goings on" of minor league prospects throughout the majors in an effort to scout out rising talent for my own "team".

And I found Mr. Rizzo.

The Cubbies were hurting, as usual.   Their offense needed a boost and first base wasn't exactly blocked off by a long-standing beloved Windy City veteran.   In fact, the last prominent first basemen that I can recall at Wrigley would have to be from my first collecting period - Mark Grace.   No slouch! 

Uniform = AWESOMENESS

Anthony was called up in late June and had an immediate impact.   He couldn't singlehandedly turn around the Cubs' season but Rizzo proved to be a solid fielding 1B (.995 in 735 chances) with a great eye at the plate and some power to boot (.285 and 15 HRs).

But here is where I really started to feel a connection to the guy - he is of Italian descent, just like yours truly.   In fact, Rizzo can trace his family's roots back to the Sicilian village of Ciminna.   Ciminna is just inland, south of Palermo. 

Il mio connazionale!

One of my grandfathers, whom I mention quite frequently on this blog, was primarily responsible for solidifying my love for the game of baseball.......and he was also a first generation Italian American whose parents traveled to this country from the Sicilian village of Villarosa.   Villaroasa is fairly central to the island, several miles northeast of Caltanissetta.

Hopefully, at some point, I'll be able to travel to Sicily and see where I come from.   And don't THINK I didn't take a look at Rizzo's and my ancestors' location relative to Corleone!   I know.   Ridiculous.   But I couldn't help it.   Perhaps one day, I can hang out with Anthony and these guys, drink some coffee and tell some stories:

How y'all doin?

Fantastic.   I'm looking forward to collecting this guy and following his career.   I'm hopeful he can continue his current trends at the plate and settle in as a reliable part of Chicago's fledgling foundation with fellow infielder, Starlin Castro.   Rizzo recently made some comments about his hopes to be a part of the Cubs organization and that city for many years to come.   It's tough to do these days, but I'll hope along with him (unless he wants to wear pinstripes or tomahawks?).   Here's the back of that Rizzo GQ, by the way:

That's right......since RICK WILKINS! What?

It's almost like a return to my collecting youth in a lot of ways.   So many years ago, it was the love of The Mick shared with me by my Dad that introduced me to the Yankees and everything fell into place for my collecting ways to quickly center around Don Mattingly.   That quest continues today!   Likewise, a family connection and some random geographical coincidence from half way around the globe has now led me to cheer on another southpaw first baseman.

You can check out my PC list here.   More changes may be on the way soon, so stay tuned.

I love this hobby!

Thanks for reading!