Jeff Reardon TTM Success

Sent: 4/20/2020 | Received: 4/30/2020 | 10 days
2/2: 1983 Stuart, 1986 Provigo
Address: Home (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) from SportsCollectors.Net

A return from the one-time all-time saves leader (Reardon currently ranks 10th all-time with 367). Reardon – a four-time All-Star – played for seven teams over 16 years: the Mets, Expos, Twins, Red Sox, Braves, Reds, and Yankees.

He had a career year, with Montreal, in 1985 when he finished with 41 saves, won the Rolaids Relief Man Award, and a seventh place Cy Young finish.

Nicknamed “the Terminator” for his demeanor and 98 mph fastball, Reardon finished with more career saves (367) than walks (358).

Reardon became MLB's all-time saves leader in 1992 with his 342nd save, breaking Rollie Fingers' previous record of 341. Reardon's time at the top was short-lived however, as the record was broken the following season by Lee Smith (and eight more times since).

Reardon’s retirement has been eventful and tragic. In February of 2004, Reardon’s son Shane – who had long struggled with drug addiction – died of a drug overdose. Reardon has battled with depression and had several run ins with law enforcement.

Sparky Lyle TTM Success

Sent: 4/22/2020 | Received: 4/30/2020 | 8 days
1/1: 1981 Fleer Star Sticker
Address: Home (Gilbertsville, PA) from SportsCollectors.Net

"Sparky" Lyle – or Albert Walter Lyle – is likely best known for his dominant peek years with the New York Yankees, or for the 1977 tell-all book The Bronx Zoo that he co-authored with Peter Golenbock.

Lyle spent his first five years in Boston, before the Red Sox traded him to their rival for Danny Cater and a PTBNL. The 1972 deal was lopsided as Lyle morphed into one of the best relief pitchers of the decade.

With New York, Lyle earned three All-Star nods (1973, 1976, 1977), led the league in saves twice (1972, 1976), won the AL Cy Young Award (1977) and won two World Series rings (1977, 1978).

Lyle is the only Yankees reliever (sorry Mo) to win a Cy Young. He went 13-5 with 26 saves and a 2.17 ERA over 137 innings (72 games). He continued his dominance in '77 the postseason, winning three straight games in relief, starting with an amazing 5 1/3-inning outing in Game Four of the ALCS against the Royals, an elimination game for the Yankees.

The Yankees rewarded Lyle by acquiring Goose Gossage and reducing Sparky to a middle relief role. After another title in 1978, New York traded him (and others) to the Rangers for a package that included Dave Righetti.

He pitched five more season with the Rangers, Phillies and White Sox.

***
1981 Fleer Star Sticker Set Progress: 38 of 125 (30.4%)

Breaking a Panini 2020 USA Stars & Stripes Blaster

During the same Sunday “essentials” run that netted my biggest ever retail hit, I also picked up a blaster of Panini 2020 USA Baseball Stars & Stripes.

Why? (I was asking myself that after I tore this thing open, but more on that in a minute).

I picked it up for a few reasons:

1. As I said about the Gypsy Queen value pack, I wasn’t inclined to open more Series 1 or Heritage. 
2. I’m very unfamiliar with the product. I had exactly one Stars and Stripes card in my collection, a 2019 Bobby Witt Jr. that I scooped up for TTM. 
3. I thought these might provide some fodder for future TTMs. 
4. (and lastly), I was intrigued by the 2-hit promise. Not bad for a blaster.

As I tossed this in my cart I thought to myself, “hopefully one of the two hits are not some high school kid.” [Spoiler alert: I would disappointed].

7 packs. 5 cards per pack. 2 autos or relics (on average).

The base checklist is 100 cards, with a dozen or so players that are on my radar. Admittedly, I’m not a big follower of college baseball.

I sat on the box until today… which is quite an accomplishment. More often than not, I tear into packs in the parking lot. I can’t relate to collectors who can square away packs for a rainy day. I require instant gratification and have zero patience.

By the time I did sit down to tear in, I was feeling a little buyers’ remorse. Should I have picked up something different? I really hope I don’t end up with a bunch of high schoolers.

So let’s get to rippin’…

Pack One: Nolan Schubart, Nick Loftin, Josh Jung, Andrew Abbott, Brandon Olivera

These cards are very shiny, so I had to break out the scanner. Results still leave something to be desired. It is an attractive design. My images do not do the set justice.
The first card out of the blaster does nothing to alleviate my tempered enthusiasm. Nolan Schubart is 15 years old. He might turn out to be a great player (I hope he does). But I’m a 37-year-old dude and this feels weird.

Pack Two: Spencer Tokelson, Asa Lacy, Mikey Romero (auto), Robert Hassell, Nick Frasso

A hit. 15U National Team infielder Mikey Romero. The card is numbered 69/299. He’s a sophomore at Vista Murrieta High School. This is weird.

Let’s bright side this pack… I have heard of Spencer Torkelson. He’s a slugging first base prospect out of Arizona State. He hit .337 with 54 home runs through his abbreviated junior season at ASU. He should be a high draft pick (whenever that happens). With the season cut short, Torkelson will finish his collegiate career two homers shy of the school’s home run record, held by Bob Horner (56).

Pack Three: Termarr Johnson, Casey Optiz, Checklist – 18U team, Garrett Mitchell, Jason Savacool

Is this an error? A 2019 checklist?

Pack Four: Max Rajcic, Adley Rutschman, Luis Rodriguez, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Logan Allen

That’s a little more like it. I’ve actually heard of three of the five. Strike that. Two of five. Wrong Logan Allen. I was confused why he was in the set.

Rutschman, of course, was the number one overall selection last year.

Pack Five: Ben Hernandez, Reid Detmers, Doug Nikhazy, Zack Thompson, Colton Coswer

If I have a favorite college player, it’s Detmers. I heard Louisville coach Dan McDonnell speak at an event this offseason and was really impressed. I told myself I’d follow the Cardinals team this year. I did, for the entire 3- or 4-week season. Detmers made four starts (went 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA). He’s got a crazy good breaking ball.

Pack Six: Justin Foscue, Matthew Matthijs, CJ Abrams, Jeff Criswell, Heston Kjerstad

Heston Kjerstad, aside from having a really cool name, racked up some great numbers over 150 games for Arkansas. He slashed .343/.421/.590 with 37 home runs and 129 RBI. He will also be a high draft pick.

Pack Seven: Garrett Mitchell, Duke Ekstrom, Mikey Romero (auto), Jack Bulger, Asa Lacy

Are you f- kidding me? Mikey Romero, numbered 159/299. Sigh.

Both Asa Lacy and Garrett Mitchell are also high draft prospects, but I’m too frustrated at this point to write them up.

Two Mikey Romero autos from the same blaster?

I think I have to go all in at this point: track down the other 279 autos out there and then personally do everything I can to support this child. If he grows into one of the game’s greats, I’ll be set.

Gut reaction: I’m a tad disappointed. I mean, I can’t be too upset as this was from the same trip as the Luis Robert hit, but still. I suppose I won’t be able to fully appreciate what’s here for another 10 or so years. In the interim, I’ll try a few TTMs (and stick to more familiar products going forward).

Frank White TTM Success

Two TTM returns makes it a two blog post day…

Sent: 10/12/2019 | Received: 4/28/2020 | 199 days
2/2: 1981 Fleer Star Sticker, 2005 Donruss Champions
Address: Home (Lees Summit, MO) from SportsCollectors.Net

I tried Mr. Frank White twice in 2019 once through the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball (he’s a coach) and once at home. I recently noticed he was on PastPros and was about to go that route when this landed in my inbox nearly 200 days after it went out.

Frank White spent his entire 18-year career with the Kansas City Royals (1973-1990). He and teammate George Brett had set a major-league record by appearing in 1,914 games together. That record was surpassed in 1995 by the Detroit Tigers’ duo Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker.

White earned his reputation as a slick fielder with eight Gold Glove awards. Among second basemen, only Roberto Alomar (10) and Ryne Sandberg (9) have more.

"Frank White, though, jumped and leaped and dived. He had this beautiful, light-footed way of moving, like a dancer, and so when the ball was hit his way there was a jolt of anticipation throughout the stadium. He threw from all angles -- overhand, sidearm, underhand, whatever the situation demanded. He contorted his body any number of ways to complete dazzling double plays. No one who saw Frank White play could doubt that they were watching a master. And this was something that would stay with them for the rest of their lives." Joe Posnanski [link]

He was a five-time All-Star (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986), the ALCS MVP in 1980, and won the Silver Slugger in 1986. He was a World Series champion in 1985.

He finished his career second on the Royals all-time list in games played (2,324), at bats (7,859), and hits (2,006). His #20 is retired by the franchise.

***
1981 Fleer Star Sticker Set Progress: 37 of 125 (29.6%)

Juan Gonzalez TTM Success (x2)

Over the weekend on one of the TTM Facebook groups I follow, someone asked what players you have sent to and – despite others’ success – have never gotten back. My answer was an easy one: Juan Gonzalez. I’ve gritted my teeth in jealously many times as I’ve seen others share their “Juan Gone” successes.

I have tried no less than four times over the years, and low and behold… success²

Sent: 3/9/2019 | Received: 4/28/2020 | 416 days
3/3: 1992 Topps, 1991 Leaf, 1994 Topps
Address: Home (Vega Baja, PR) from SportsCollectors.Net

Sent: 4/15/2020 | Received: 4/28/2020 | 13 days
3/3: 2000 Fleer Ultra, 2014 Gypsy Queen [Mini], 1998 Fleer Sports Illustrated
Address: Home (Vega Baja, PR) from SportsCollectors.Net

I’d typically feel guilty about double-dipping – if we over send to these guys, we’ll lose them – but I did wait more than a year between sends.

I think we may forget just how good Juan Gonzalez was. He was a premier run producer in the 1990s.

Gonzalez hit over 40 home runs five times and amassed at least 100 RBIs eight times. He averaged 
42 home runs and 135 RBI per 162 games. He also hit .310 or better in five seasons.

Over 17 years, he slugged 434 homers while carrying a .295/.343,.561 slash line.

He was a three-time All-Star (1993, 1998, 2001), a two-time A.L. MVP (1996, 1998), and a six-time Silver Slugger (1992, 1993, 1996-98, 2001). He led the A.L. in homers twice (1992, 1993) and RBI once (1998).

Maybe we forgot, or maybe we associate him steroid allegations. Gonzalez was one of several players Jose Canseco outed in his notorious book Juiced. He was also mentioned in the Mitchell Report.

Gonzalez has maintained over the years that he has never taken steroids.

Doug Drabek TTM Success

No TTM today, but I feel like doing a write up so here’s one from my blogging siesta...

Sent: 3/11/2019 | Received: 4/11/2020 | 397 days
3/3: 1987 Topps [Base], 1987 Topps Traded [Base], 1988 Topps Big [Base]
Address: Home (Magnolia, TX) from SportsCollectors.Net

At 397 days, this one’s up there among the longest returns I’ve had. Admittedly though, I haven’t been doing this for as long as others in the hobby.

Drabek’s best years were with the Pirates. He won the Cy Young Award and led the N.L. in wins for his 1990 season. He went 22-6 that year with a 2.76 ERA. He pitched six years in Pittsburgh and eclipsed 200 innings in all but one of them.

Drabek was drafted by the White Sox and traded to the Yankees as a minor leaguer. He played the 1985 season for my hometown Albany-Colonie Yankees. I didn’t see him pitch; I was two. He would debut with New York a year later.

Following the 1986 season he was traded to the Pirates. There were others involved but the principals were Drabek for Rick Rhoden. The Yankees felt they were a starting pitcher short of a playoff berth, and Rhoden was supposed to fill that role. The Yanks did not make the playoffs with him around, and Drabek went on to be a very good pitcher for the next eight years.

Drabek signed with the Houston Astros before the 1993 season, and earned his only All-Star nod in 1994. He’d wrap his career with ineffective years with the White Sox (1997) and Orioles (1998).

Breaking Gypsy Queen 3-Pack Retail Hanger (Big Hit)

Had to run to Target today to do some “essentials” shopping. So of course, I was going to swing by the card aisle. Picked up a 3-pack hanger of Gypsy Queen. It was between that, Heritage and Series 1. I’ve opened plenty of the latter two, so I opted for GQ.

Even though I’ve had a bit of success with retail packs lately (I pulled a Mike Clevenger auto out of a Series 1 blaster), I keep my expectations low. Hopefully I’ll net a rookie. Hope to pull some Yankees or Red Sox for the boys’ collections.

So imagine my surprise when I tear into pack one...

Mike Trout, Francisco Mejia, Jesus Luzardo (R)… upside-down redemption!

I am due to receive an autographed, Gypsy Queen logo swap parallel of Luis Robert!

This is one of the biggest, and least expected, hits that I’ve ever pulled. And yes, I am aware that Luis Robert is yet to even appear in the majors.

That didn’t stop the White Sox from inking Robert to a six-year, $50 million contract this January.

Robert is a 22-year-old outfielder, the #2 prospect in the game (according to Baseball America), and part of the White Sox bright future. He was number one across the minor leagues last season in hits (165) and number two in runs (108).

I couldn’t have asked for a better start to pack one, and frankly, didn’t really register what else I got until much later as I sat down to write this.

So… what else? Mauricio Dubon (R) and Max Kepler rounded out pack one.

Pack two: Michael Lorenzen, Jose Ramirez, Brendan Rodgers, David Price, Sean Murphy (R), and Stephen Stasburg.

Pack three: Yolmer Sanchez, Christian Yelich, David Fletcher, Jean Segura, Mitch Garver, and Trea Turner.

Finally, the three green parallels: Miguel Cabrera, Lorenzo Cain, and Emmanuel Clase (R).

Very pleased with my pick up. =)

Charlie Culberson TTM Success

I had pretty much written this one off…

Sent: 6/18/2019 | Received: 4/25/2020 | 312 days
1/1: 2018 Topps Update Series [Gold]
Address: Sun Trust Park (now Truist Park), Atlanta, GA

What a great card. Happy it made its way home.

I am not as talented as others at identifying the exact moment a card image is from, but this one’s fairly easy. On May 28th, 2018, Culberson clubbed a pinch-hit, two-run walk-off homer off Seth Lugo of the Mets in the 9th. Notice the Memorial Day uniforms.

He repeated the feat on June 3rd against the Nationals, earning him the nickname “Charlie Clutch.” Amusing to me, that Baseball-Reference lists his primary position as pinch hitter.

Charlie Clutch is well travelled having suited up for the Giants, Rockies, Dodgers, and Braves over his seven years in the bigs. He’s slashed .249/.295/.392 over that time.

Jim “Mudcat” Grant TTM Success

Another return today, this one from the first African-American twenty-game winner in the American League (Twins, 1965) and the first African-American to win a World Series game for the American League: Mr. Jim Grant.

Sent: 4/16/2020 | Received: 4/24/2020 | 8 days
2/2: 1969 Topps, 1972 Topps
Address: Home (Los Angeles, CA) from SportsCollectors.Net

Grant was erroneously endowed the moniker “Mudcat” during a tryout for the Cleveland Indians. “[A guy] saw me, decided I was from Mississippi and called me ‘Mudcat.’” Grant was a three-sport star from Florida, but the nickname stuck.

Mudcat Grant debuted for the Indians as a 22-year-old in 1958. He was an All-Star in 1963. In June 1964, Grant was traded to the Twins.

The following season, Grant led the AL in wins (21) pitching the Twins to the pennant. He went 2-1 in the World Series (winning games one and six), but Minnesota was eventually bested by the Koufax-led Dodgers in seven.

Mudcat would go on to pitch for the Dodgers (1968), Expos (1969), Cardinals (1969), A’s (1970), Pirates (1970-1971), and A’s again (1971).

Grant tallied 145 wins, 119 losses, and 54 saves over a 14-year career. He had a 3.63 ERA over 2,442 innings.

In 2007, Grant penned The Black Aces, Baseball’s Only African-American Twenty-Game Winners. That exclusive club includes: Grant, Vida Blue, Al Downing, Bob Gibson, Dwight Gooden, Ferguson Jenkins, Sam Jones, Don Newcombe, Mike Norris, David Price, J. R. Richard, CC Sabathia, Dave Stewart, Dontrelle Willis, and Earl Wilson.

Phil Niekro TTM Success

Another success in my 1981 Fleer Star Sticker project, and a Hall of Famer, to boot.

“Wait’ll it stops rolling, then go pick it up.” 

“Niekro stuck out a hitter once and I never touched the bal. It hit me in the shinguard, bounced to Clete Boyer at third base and he threw out the runner at first. Talk about a weird assist: 2-5-3 on a strikeout.” 

Bob Uecker

Sent: 4/15/2020 | Received: 4/23/2020 | 8 days
1/1: 1981 Fleer Star Sticker
Address: Home (Flowery Branch, GA) from SportsCollectors.Net

Surely there’s some irony to be found in the game’s most notorious knuckleballer also being one of the most consistently speedy TTM returns.

Niekro won 318 games (16th on MLB’s all-time wins list) over a 24-year career in the bigs. Yet crazily he only had six wins and on MLB start by the time he was 28 years old. Of course, the knuckleball lent itself to incredible longevity (he’d pitch into his age-48 season). He won 121 games after he turned 40, the most by anyone over that age in baseball history

He was a five-time All Star and Gold Glover. He led the NL in wins twice (1974, 1979). He was the MLB leader in ERA in 1967 (1.87) and led the NL in strikeouts in 1977 (262).

On August 5, 1973, he pitched a no-hitter against the Padres.

He and the late Joe Niekro are the all-time leaders in wins by brothers (539), besting Jim and Gaylord Perry (529).

***
1981 Fleer Star Sticker Set Progress: 36 of 125 (28.8%)

Catching Up (1981 Fleer Star Sticker Progress)

It’s been a while. Sorry. I don’t need to tell you life is crazy these days.

Everyone is affected. Personally, my wife and I are both in the work-from-home/homeschooling-our-children bucket. Let me tell you: it’s not easy to balance two work schedules, entirely too many conference calls, a third grader, a kindergartner, and a toddler. It doesn’t leave much time for things like blogging.

Of course, my wife and I are extremely fortunate to be working, so don’t interpret the above as complaining.

Anyways, I needed a little cardboard therapy so I figured I’d write up an update on my 1981 Fleer Star Sticker autograph project. Haven’t posted since December, so have some catching up to do. I’ll forego the write ups and stick to the pics/facts…

Goose Gossage (TTM)

Sent: 12/16/2019 | Received: 1/6/2020 | 21 days
2/2: 1986 Topps - [Base], 1981 Fleer Star Sticker
Address: Home (Colorado Springs, CO) from SportsCollectors.Net

Larry Parrish (TTM)

Sent: 12/7/2019 | Received: 1/6/2020 | 30 days
1/1: 1981 Fleer Star Sticker
Address: Home (Ft. Gaines, GA) through PastPros.com

Mike Norris (TTM)

Sent: 12/7/2019 | Received: 1/16/2020 | 40 days
1/1: 1981 Fleer Star Sticker
Address: Home (Oakland) through PastPros.com

Paul Molitor (TTM)

Sent: 1/16/2020 | Received: 2/18/2020 | 23 days
3/3: 1981 Fleer Star Sticker, 1994 Stadium Club (w/ Olerud & Alomar)
Address: Home (E. Hopkins, MN) from SportsCollectors.Net

Steve Rogers (TTM)

Sent: 8/24/2019 | Received: 2/27/2020 | 187 days
3/3: 1978 Topps [Base], 1981 Fleer Star Sticker
Address: c/o MLBPA

 *** Progress: These five returns plus a Fergie Jenkins (card #84) purchase brings me to 35 of 125 (28%).

Chris Chambliss TTM Success

It’s been too long blog. Sorry about that.

Got a TTM return today that encouraged me to return to this space. Technically, it was a pair of returns. Apparently, I had sent once to Chris Chambliss before I started tracking my sends/returns (2018, maybe?) in Excel. For my purposes below, I'll treat it as a single return.

“If you’re not having fun, you miss the point of everything.”

Sent: 5/14/2019 | Received: 4/20/2020 | 342 days
3/3: 1978 Topps - [Base], 1979 Topps - [Base], 2001 Upper Deck Legends of New York
Address: Home (Alpharetta, GA) from SportsCollectors.Net

Chambliss is best known for his 1976 ALCS Game 5 walk-off homer, for bulldozing a half dozen fans while rounding the bases, and for never actually touching the plate. Mobbed, he did not make an attempt and opted for the safety of the clubhouse. He was later escorted back onto the field to touch home, but by then the plate had been stolen.

Chambliss broke into the majors with Cleveland, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1971. He was traded to the Yankees early in the 1974 season. He spent five seasons in New York, earned an All-Star nod in 1976, a Gold Glove in 1978, and won two World Series rings (1977 & 1978).

He moved onto Atlanta from 1980 through 1986. He would later serve as coach for the Yankees (he’d win four more World Series titles as hitting coach in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000), Cardinals, Mets, Reds, and Mariners.