Anniversary: 45 Years ago Harmon Killebrew Joins 500 HR Club.

August 10th marks the 45th Anniversary of Harmon Killebrew's 500th Homer. The milestone occurred in the first inning of a Twins 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles

2015 Topps #H-74 Harmon Killebrew 500 Home Runs.

 

The event was honored in Topps 2015 Highlight of the Year insert.

 

2015 Topps #H-74 Harmon Killebrew 500 Home Runs. (b-side)

A brief synopsis on the back of the card also notes that the hit was part of a pretty big day for Killebrew in which he had a pair of Home Runs, both lead changers, and 3 RBIs.


Sources and Links
Phungo Harmon Killebrew HoF Page
Baseball-ref

 

ANNIVERSARY: 75 Years Ago - Joe DiMaggio Hitting streak reaches 45 Games

This card showed up in 2015 Stadium Club. It's a great image and I just had to find out more information.

2015 Topps Stadium Club #279 Joe DiMaggio

On July 2nd 1941 during a Yankees 8-4 Victory over the Red Sox Joe DiMaggio's Hitting Streak reached 45 games which broke Wee Willie Keeler's 1897 record of 44 games.  The record breaking hit was a 5th inning Home Run off starting pitcher Dick Newsone. It should be noted that Keeler's record was set at the beginning of the season and he had also hit safely in the final game of 1896, so his cross season Hit Streak was a total of 45 games.

I had originally thought the photo on the above card was taken to note the consecutive hit streak record. However, I found the matching Getty Image and their information dates the photo a few years earlier (1937), when DiMaggio hit 46 Home Runs.

However there is a similar image which is Dated 1941, albeit July 1st.

I am inclined the date on the latter photo is closer to the truth. There are a couple of reasons for this 1) DiMaggio hit HR #45 on the road in DC in 1937, The Photo above shows him in The Yankee Home Pinstripes.
2) 45 Home Runs while a big number and a somewhat round number, it is not as significant as the Record Breaking 45 of the Hit Streak. Also DiMaggio reached game 45 in the hit streak at Yankee Stadium. 

2015 Topps Stadium Club #279 Joe DiMaggio (b-side)

The back of the 2015 TSC card features a color photo and career numbers for the Hall of Fame centerfielder.

Joe DiMaggio HoF Index
2012 Topps Golden Greats #GG-22 (1936 06 24: 2 HR Inning 80th Anniversary)
2012 Topps Archives #138 (1980T Retro/Paul Simon Birthday)

Sources and Links
Baseball-Ref
Getty Images
Baseball Almanac

40th ANNIVERSARY: April 1 1976 - Apple Incorporated

The first day of April marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Apple - well the incorporating of Apple anyway.

2015 Topps Baseball History #9A Apple Founded

Interesting that Topps chose to have Steve Wozniak for the Apple photo rather than Steve Jobs. It appears that Jobs was actually cropped out of a larger photo. It should also be noted that the photo was from an event on April 24 1984 when a new generation Apple IIc was released. A third Apple exec John Scully stands between Wozniak and Jobs in the original photo. A power struggle between Scutlly and Jobs would lead to Jobs leaving Apple later in 1984.

Regardless I am happy with Wozniak getting top billing here, partially because he is often seen as the sidekick and partially because he just seems like a cooler dude.

2015 Topps Baseball History #9A Apple Founded (b-side)

Wozniak may be on the front of the card, but Topps leads off with Jobs on the back. In addition to mentioning the 1976 incorporation of Apple Topps also notes the 1984 MacIntosh release, perhaps a nod to the photo on the front.

April 2 1976
In 1976 I am pretty sure nobody in Silicon Valley or the Bay Area noticed the founding of Apple. If they did they likely had their attention diverted a day later when Reggie Jackson was traded by the Oakland A's to the Baltimore Orioles. The trade is the subject of the Baseball History #9B card which is related to the Apple Card. It is one of the few cards to feature the Hall of Fame slugger as an Oriole.  

Sources and Links
Cardboard Connection
Check out My Cards
New York Daily News

NPR

Junk of the Month: January 2016

Time to bring back a fan favorite we haven't run in a few years - Junk of the Month!

 2016 Topps #170 New Order (Houston Astros)

Despite the use of the name of a Classic 80's Alternative Band I dislike this card. Checkers are a necessary evil in flagship which have been done a number of different ways. When I was a kid (1970s) they were a checklist, nothing more nothing less. No Player Picture, Not a Team card, not a manager card. 

This year Topps has taken a similar approach to the last couple of releases. A player or team photo of a Highlight from the previous season is on the front with the data on the back.

My Issue w/ 2016 Topps is that the cards are no longer highlights. This year they are multi-player shots. I have no problem with Multi-Player cards - we took a long look at the MPs from 1967 Topps last week. The big difference is that in the 1960s Topps the Multis had some interesting Bio info on the back.

At best it is a half-baked multi-player, at worst it is a throw a picture on a checklist. Regardless it is a downgrade from 2015T

By Definition checkers need to have a checklist on the back.

2016 Topps #170 New Order (b-side)

So No information on the players on the front of the card. In fact the player names for the Carlos' aren't on the card at all (Correa and Gomez).

And there is an oddity that Night Owl Cards brought up last year, for whatever reason the recent checkers are not part of the checklist that they present. This isn't really and issue, but I find it odd especially since the checkers are interspersed throughout the set.

2015 Topps #317 Clayton Kershaw (CL)

Here is an example of how a checker appeared last year. Nice Highlight of a significant baseball event. Player CLEARLY identified.

2015 Topps #317 Clayton Kershaw (CL - b-side)

I would like to see a one sentence summary of the event on the back. For others like me that would like that info Clayton Kershaw no-hit the Rockies in a Dodgers 8-0 victory in LA. The Dodgers Southpaw recorded 15Ks with no walks. A Hanley Ramrirez 7th Inning error was the only blemish on what was otherwise a perfect outing for Kershaw.

It might get a little crowded for a blurb on the back, the typeface is about as small as one would want. While most folks are averse to adding a checklist to the set, I think if it was a highlight card that wold be more acceptable. Highlight cards are good :)

FYI if things go as planned, folks who are fans of checklists will really enjoy this week. Others well maybe you will enjoy something funny I write.

Sources and Links
2016 Topps Index
Night Owl Cards
Baseball Almanac
Baseball-ref

Card Show Report: Valley Forge 2016 02 27

Just a couple of highlights from this weekend's Card Show at Valley Forge.

1951 Bowman Eddie Waitkus

Card collecting wasn't dead at the Valley Forge convention center this weekend. It was very alive - or at least Autograph Chasing was. Much of the large crowd was likely due to Brian Dawkins being at the show, but I would like to think that while there some of the patrons took a look at some cards and other memorabilia

For a year or two I sponsered Eddie Waitkus' Baseball-Ref page. He is better known as the subject the story Malumud's "the Natural" was based. 

1961 Topps MVP Ernie Banks

Slowly working on putting together the 1961 MVP Subber. The above Banks card was an upgrade $7.

1962 Topps LL Ws Whitey Ford, Frank Larry, Steve Barber, Jim Bunning

I picked up a LOT of HoF League Leader Cards. This is thee earliest of the bunch. All went for $1 or $2, I think this was from the Dueces.
 
1967 Topps

1967 Topps Duos Twin Terrors Bob Allison and Harmon Killebrew

Our research into the 2016 Heritage/1967 Topps led us into a couple of purchases of the original cards. Mostly Hall of Famers and Subset cards like the Special of the Killer above.

1967 Topps #103 Checker Mickey Mantle 

The 1967T bounty included this Checker for $2. Little steep for a Checklist except this one features a floating head of MICKEY MANTLE - and it is UNCHECKED.

1954 Topps Johnny Podres 

I have been working on 1954T at the last couple of shows. Checked about a half dozen commons on Saturday, plus this semi-star. Podres went for $5. I also picked up a more significant 1954 Card of one of a fellow Dodger teammates, which I am teasing here for a future post.

1971 Topps Johnny Briggs, Rick Wise, Jim Lonborg, Dick Drago

There was a dealer that had 1971 Topps for a dime a pop. I picked up 40 of them. The selection was solid and included HI NUMBERS, Dick Drago in the bottom right is card #752 which is the last card in the set.

1956 Topps Mickey Vernon

Local Hero and Gentleman Mickey Vernon. Just one of the many pickups I made while thumbing through cheap bins $2.

1976 OPC #500 Reggie Jackson

This is for an upcoming Phungo Pheature $2.

 2015 Topps JJ Hardy

I spent a record almost no time in dime bins for current cards, We will return to this card at a future post.

1974 Topps Washington Padres

2 Bucks for a team card of club that never existed.

Topps mum on 2016 #1 and Where does the Derek Jeter 2015T #1 rank

Topps recently released their 2016 Series 1 checker....without card numbers. Doesn't sound like much of a checklist, but I do understand the attraction to withholding the info until the date of release. Bryce Harper who is this years cover boy and has already sat at #1 is a legit candidate as are Mike Trout, Matt Harvey and possibly a Kansas City Royal. 

2015 Topps #1
When 2015 Topps was released last year there was some discussion on the choice of Derek Jeter for the #1 Slot on the checker.

2015 Topps Chrome #1 Derek Jeter

Those unhappy with Jeter at #1 were mainly concerned that a retired player took the top spot in the set. In my opinion this is boloney. I think those that didn't like the Captain at number one were Jeter/Yankees Haters.

Retired players have been part of Topps sets for years - Mickey Mantle occupied the #7 slot on a half dozen sets between 2006 and 2012. George Brett has a 1994 card after announcing his retirement the previous September, Roberto Clemente was issued a card in 1973 Topps following his death in a plane crash the previous year. In 2000 Hank Aaron occupied his uniform number (#44)

In my opinion this is a great card. It captures a moment that every baseball fan knows. It is a career moment rather than a big postseason play.The picture has action, excitement and emotion. The 2015 design is a good one - throughout the set it helps show of a photo without detracting from the shot.

Just for the sake of accuracy I would like to note that the above card is from 2015 Chrome. Jeter occupied the #1 slot in both sets last year

2015 Topps Chrome #1 Derek Jeter (b-side)

Check the upper right of the card and yes it is card #1, also note the Chrome designation



Where does the Jeter #1 Card Rank
I am a little surprised that Derek Jeter has never* appeared as Card #1 in Topps, he has been the last card and been the subject of a noteworthy variation but never #1. 

We took a look at the history of Topps #1 and broke down the cards to figure out which cards we liked best. Charted below are the results - For each card I list the subject Jeter is competing with, and then two columns Jeter and Field. If I felt that this years card was better, The Jeter column gets noted, otherwise the Field Column is labelled the winner.

	Subject	Jeter	Field			Subject	Jeter	Field
2014	Mike Trout	Jeter			2006	A-Rod	Jeter
2013	Bryce Harper	Jeter			2005	A-Rod		Field
2012	Ryan Braun	Jeter			2004	Jim Thome	Jeter
2011	Ryan Braun	Jeter			2003	A-Rod	Jeter
2010	Prince Fielder	Jeter			2002	Pedro	Jeter
2009	A-Rod	Jeter			2001	Cal Ripken		Field
2008	A-Rod	Jeter			2000	McGwire	Jeter
2007	John Lackey	Jeter
1999	Clemens	Jeter			1989	George Bell RB	Jeter
1998	Tony Gwynn	Jeter			1988	Vince Coleman RB	Jeter
1997	Barry Bonds	Jeter			1987	Roger Clemens RB		Field
1996	Gwynn Sub	Jeter			1986	Pete Rose		Field
1995	Frank Thomas		Field		1985	Carlton Fisk RB		Field
1994	Mike Piazza cup		Field		1984	Steve Carlton RB		Field
1993	Robin Yount		Field		1983	Tony Armas RB	Jeter
1992	Nolan Ryan		Field		1982	Steve Carlton RB		Field
1991	Nolan Ryan		Field		1981	LL BA Brett Buckner		Field
1990	Nolan Ryan		Field		1980	HL 3000 Hits Brock Yaz		Field
1979	LL BA Carew D Parker	Jeter			1969	LL BA Yaz Cater Oliva	Jeter
1978	RB Lou Brock SB Car		Field		1968	LL BA Clemente		Field
1977	LL BA Brett Madlock	Jeter			1967	WSC Robinson Robinson		Field
1976	RB Hank Aaron RBI		Field		1966	Willie Mays		Field
1975	HL Hank Aaron HR		Field		1965	LL BA Oliva B Robinson		Field
1974	Hank Aaron HR King		Field		1964	LL ERA Koufax		Field
1973	HRs Ruth Aaron Mays		Field		1963	LL BA NL		Field
1972	WSC Pirates		Field		1962	Roger Maris		Field
1971	WSC Orioles		Field		1961	Dick Groat		Field
1970	WSC Mets		Field		1960	Early Wynn	Jeter
1959	Ford Frick	Jeter			1955	Dusty Rhodes	Jeter
1958	Ted Williams		Field		1954	Ted Williams		Field
1957	Ted Williams		Field		1953	Jackie Robinson		Field
1956	William Harridge	Jeter			1952	Andy Pafko		Field

There are nine grey blocks that I felt were debatable, A good argument could get me to switch my allegiance on any of those columns.

For the life of me I have no idea what I was doing with the yellow blocks.

2015 marks the 64th edition of Topps. Of the 63 previous I felt as the the Derek Jeter #1 Card was better than 27 of them. The field took the remaining 36. HOWEVER, if you were to give Jeter all 6 of his borderline that would elevate this years card to 33 Wins versus 30 for the field.

That puts 2015 Topps #1 Derek Jeter pretty close to the middle of the 63 #1 Cards all time.

The Green Blocks are links to postings on the specified card. See "Topps #1 Project" below for additional info. 

Topps 2005 #1
In 2005 the top spot was occupied by Alex Rodriguez - Above I mentioned that Derek Jeter has never been Card #1, this is mostly true, I am pretty sure he has a guest cameo on the 2005 Alex Rodriguez Card

I am curious on feedback on any of the lists, a lot of these cards you may be familiar with, for others I would suggest going to the Topps Baseball Card Database

Topps #1 Project
We have an index of the Topps #1 cards here. Just another of the many features that we plan on starting for 2016, who knows how far we will get into the project. Also cards listed in green link to a posting discussing the specific #1 card. Some of these cards are from past columns. Hopefully the future will have additional posts. 

Derek Jeter vs other #1 Polls
Shortly after I posted this column I started running Polls to see which card folks preferred Jeter or another #1. Hopefully this will give us a picture of where the 2015 #1 card ranks. The results of these polls are below:

2016 Mike Trout 4: 2015 Jeter 3 (2016 01 28)
1982 Steve Carlton 8: 2015 Jeter 1 (2016 01 27)


Sources, Links and Updates
Phungo Topps #1 Index
Phungo 2015 Topps Index
Lawrence Jounal World
A Cardboard Problem
Cardboard Connection
Baseball Card Database

Update: 2016 01 31 - added Derek Jeter vs other #1 Polls section