This afternoon (12/16) Eric Lindros and John LeClair will be signing autographs at the Granite Run Mall near Media PA to beneifit Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania.
Only 500 Autograph Tickets will be available. Tix go on sale at 4pm for the 6pm signing. I suggest you get there early if your interested in the signing. I think it could be a little crazy.
If I read the info correctly. the Tix are $25 for both signatures all proceeds go to towards CHOP.
More info click here
Great signing, great cause.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Card Show Report 2011 12 10 - Bucks Technical High School
This was my first show at Bucks Technical. After going to a pair of more larger regional shows over the last month the Bucks show was a little disappointing. There were many 10-15 dealers with a decent variety of items. There wasn't much of a selection in the cheap vintage category, which hurt my day a bit.
Still Team Phungo was able to bring home some cool items:
2007 Topps Finest Ryan Howard ($4 #d to 50)
I try and collect cards that relate to games I have been to, so yeah I am the one guy that is interested in annoying stuff like UD Documentry or Moments and Milestones. Trouble is, I am only interested in specific cards in those set. Howard actually hit a pair of homers in this game as I remember. The Philllies pummeled Matt Cain. I think Moises Alou took out his knee running into a wall.
2007 Topps Finest is actually pretty decent as far as these cards go. The Description on the back is actually particular to the game specified on the card and the player pictured on the card is the one talked about on the reverse (unlike documentry and M&M)
More Phils
83 OPC Mike Schmidt
89 Topps Mike Schmidt Special (Card Number = L)
06 A&G Ginter back mini Chase Utley
75 Topps Mini Greg Luzinski
87 OPC Mike Easler
The OPC Schmidt, Utley Mini and Luzinski cards all went for a buck each while the remaining cards were dimers, I believe. The Easler is a bit of an oddity in the OPC Phils collection as it isn't part of the Topps set for 1987. The Utley card is a mini from the first issue of A&G. A buck is typically higher then I would go for a 75 mini but the bull is worth it. The 89 T Schmidt card appears to be a box bottom, I haven't bothered to find out where exactly this card originited.
Noteworthy
2007 A&G Box Loader N43 Joe Frazier ($2)
Couldn't lett this one got for $2, this is the 2nd A&G boxtopper I have picked up pretty cheaply in the last year. Kind of a pain to store, but nice to have a few.
Hall of Fame
All-Star Stand Up Ricky Henderson
2000 Topps #44 Hank Aaron
These were both dimers - Henderson is a popout/stand up card made by Leaf in the mid 80s to commemorate the All-Star game. These are similar to the 60s era standups that were homaged in 2011 Lineage.
In 2000 card #44 in the Topps set was dedicated to Hank Aaron, ala #7 for Mickey Mantley both prior and since. As far as I know this is the only year which Topps reserved #44 for Aaron. 2000 Topps is a minimalist design, which I like and consider a hidden gem in the Topps Pantheon.
Still Team Phungo was able to bring home some cool items:
I try and collect cards that relate to games I have been to, so yeah I am the one guy that is interested in annoying stuff like UD Documentry or Moments and Milestones. Trouble is, I am only interested in specific cards in those set. Howard actually hit a pair of homers in this game as I remember. The Philllies pummeled Matt Cain. I think Moises Alou took out his knee running into a wall.
2007 Topps Finest is actually pretty decent as far as these cards go. The Description on the back is actually particular to the game specified on the card and the player pictured on the card is the one talked about on the reverse (unlike documentry and M&M)
More Phils
89 Topps Mike Schmidt Special (Card Number = L)
06 A&G Ginter back mini Chase Utley
75 Topps Mini Greg Luzinski
87 OPC Mike Easler
The OPC Schmidt, Utley Mini and Luzinski cards all went for a buck each while the remaining cards were dimers, I believe. The Easler is a bit of an oddity in the OPC Phils collection as it isn't part of the Topps set for 1987. The Utley card is a mini from the first issue of A&G. A buck is typically higher then I would go for a 75 mini but the bull is worth it. The 89 T Schmidt card appears to be a box bottom, I haven't bothered to find out where exactly this card originited.
Noteworthy
Couldn't lett this one got for $2, this is the 2nd A&G boxtopper I have picked up pretty cheaply in the last year. Kind of a pain to store, but nice to have a few.
Hall of Fame
2000 Topps #44 Hank Aaron
These were both dimers - Henderson is a popout/stand up card made by Leaf in the mid 80s to commemorate the All-Star game. These are similar to the 60s era standups that were homaged in 2011 Lineage.
In 2000 card #44 in the Topps set was dedicated to Hank Aaron, ala #7 for Mickey Mantley both prior and since. As far as I know this is the only year which Topps reserved #44 for Aaron. 2000 Topps is a minimalist design, which I like and consider a hidden gem in the Topps Pantheon.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Moneyball 2011 - Art Howe
Understandably Art Howe isn't very happy with his portrayal in Moneyball. Google his name and you can find a bevy of articles that all mention his complaints.
For my part I will mention that the Brad Pitt version of "Moneyball" is a Movie and is just that. The Film is based on "Moneyball" the book, which is the work of the talented author Michael Lewis. That being said the book is only one persons interpretation of the events.
For my part I will mention that the Brad Pitt version of "Moneyball" is a Movie and is just that. The Film is based on "Moneyball" the book, which is the work of the talented author Michael Lewis. That being said the book is only one persons interpretation of the events.
Opinion: There really isn't anything such as unbiased journalism - we all have our slants and opinions - Michael Lewis is an author and he is in the business of selling books. As a narrative "Moneyball" has lots of villains - to make the story more effective it was likely best for Lewis to find a way of personifying the villain (the possibly outmoded way of judging baseball talent - scouting) as a person - In the book and the movie this is largely done in the form of A's manager Art Howe - to a somewhat lesser extent the A's scouts were also villified.
I think this works for the story, casual baseball fans, and film fans. And isn't the audience that Moneyball is after?
1979 Topps #329 Art Howe (image stolen from the Baseball Card Database)
For the record, during each of the finals two seasons Art Howe was with the Athletics they 100 games. The A's have not won a 100 games since Howe left almost a decade ago. Howe took the A's to the playoffs during each of his final 3 seasons with the team. In the 9 seasons since the A's have returned to the playoff only twice, Although they did win a series in 2006 under Ken Macha - Art Howe has never won a post-season series as a manager.
After leaving Oakland Howe led the Mets through a couple of mediocre seasons in 2003-04. He was in the Rangers organization as recently as 2008 but appears to be cuirently out of baseball.
Moneyball 2011
Links to previous MB 2011 posts
etc
Here is a link to a Moneyball and Collecting related article in Beckett that I first saw referenced by Chris Olds via Twitter.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Last Card Show of the Year
I know I have been blasting Card Show posts repeatedly over the last month and a half, but other then a possible recap next week, this should be the last one of the year.
On Saturday Team Phungo plans on hitting a new show - This is only in the interest of professional resarch - it isn't because we have a bad card habit or something like that.
This is a show sponsored by Poppel.com at the Bucks Co Technical Institute in Bristol Twp PA. I have only ever been to one previous Poppel show at the Granite Run Mall - which may have had a dozen tables. From what I understand the shows hosted at Bucks Technical are their bigger shows.
2009 Phungo #37 Chad Durbin
There are a bunch of low-level autograph guests scheduled for the show including former Phils Chad Durbin, Greg Dobbs, Wes Chamberlain, and Ben Riviera. Flyers Great Ed Van Impe and Phils Broadcaster Chris Wheeler are other notable guests.
The Show runs 9:30-3:30 and admission is $3. Autos are $10 and up. for more information clikc here and then hit the Bucks Co Technical School Tab.
On the Hunt
What will Team Phungo be looking for?
1) My first priority will be completing my 1959 Topps set. After a banner day at the Valley Forge Show last week and picking up a couple of cards on the Bay this week, I am down to the final 11 cards in this set. Part of me thinks I am in the zone, the other part of me thinks the hot streak has got to be coming to an end.
2) Phillies Vintage. I have been pretty busy working on getting my Phils vintage want list into a more user friendly form. This will get it's dry run at the Poppel show.
3) At each show, I try and add something to my Type Collection. Last week I picked up my first 1963 Fleer Card.
4) Would like to add to list of Hall of Famer's whom I have cards from their playing career collection. I have been looking at Kiner, Rizzuto and Bobby Doerr cards recently, but haven't found anything suitable in my $$ range.
5) knocking out a few checkers from my various want lists of recently issued sets.
On Saturday Team Phungo plans on hitting a new show - This is only in the interest of professional resarch - it isn't because we have a bad card habit or something like that.
This is a show sponsored by Poppel.com at the Bucks Co Technical Institute in Bristol Twp PA. I have only ever been to one previous Poppel show at the Granite Run Mall - which may have had a dozen tables. From what I understand the shows hosted at Bucks Technical are their bigger shows.
2009 Phungo #37 Chad DurbinThere are a bunch of low-level autograph guests scheduled for the show including former Phils Chad Durbin, Greg Dobbs, Wes Chamberlain, and Ben Riviera. Flyers Great Ed Van Impe and Phils Broadcaster Chris Wheeler are other notable guests.
The Show runs 9:30-3:30 and admission is $3. Autos are $10 and up. for more information clikc here and then hit the Bucks Co Technical School Tab.
On the Hunt
What will Team Phungo be looking for?
1) My first priority will be completing my 1959 Topps set. After a banner day at the Valley Forge Show last week and picking up a couple of cards on the Bay this week, I am down to the final 11 cards in this set. Part of me thinks I am in the zone, the other part of me thinks the hot streak has got to be coming to an end.
2) Phillies Vintage. I have been pretty busy working on getting my Phils vintage want list into a more user friendly form. This will get it's dry run at the Poppel show.
3) At each show, I try and add something to my Type Collection. Last week I picked up my first 1963 Fleer Card.
4) Would like to add to list of Hall of Famer's whom I have cards from their playing career collection. I have been looking at Kiner, Rizzuto and Bobby Doerr cards recently, but haven't found anything suitable in my $$ range.
5) knocking out a few checkers from my various want lists of recently issued sets.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Card Show Report 2011 12 03 - Philly Show, Valley Forge PA
The December edition of the Philly Show was a real success for Team Phungo. I was real happy with results of the vintage bins I checked out. Here are some of the Highlights:
1959 Topps
Ernie Banks All-Star $6.00
Al Kaline Baseball Thrills $3.50
Commons Gus Bell 0.50, $1 for the Rest - I did spy a Solly Drake for 50 cents after I had already picked up the one above.
The quest to complete 1959 Topps set is in the home stretch. Going into the show I needed 20 cards to finsh the set, knocking out 35% of the cards on my want list in a matter of a few hours was a complete victory.
Phillies Vintage Bowmans
This is a section of the Phungo collection that I plan on taking more seriously. I have completed the 1948 Bowman Phils Set (all 2 cards of it) and have a lot of the 1955 set. The rest of the years are pretty sparse. Most of the above cards went for $2-$5 each. The commons were $1 or $2 while the High Numbers went for $5. The Highlight in there is the 1955 Del Ennis Card ($2.50).
Other Phils Vintage
1963 Fleer Clay Dalrymple ($2)
1940 Playball Syl Johnson ($5)
The Dalrymple is my first 63 Fleer. $5 for a card that is older then my parents is a buy. The 1940 Phillies Play Ball Set is likely hard to build, it is 15 cards. One of the 15 is Chuck Klein, which I would imagine commands a bit of a price tag.
Hall of Famers
1969 Topps Willie McCovey
1969 Topps Phil Niekro
1970 Topps AL HR League Leaders (Killebrew/F Howard/Reggie)
1970 Topps NL Battling LL (Pete Rose, Clemente, Cleon Jones)
The first 3 cards were all 3 for a buck - The Rose/Clemente LL card went for a dollar. A stinking Dollar for Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente on a League Leaders card - That is like stealing.
The McCovey Card is in rough condition but the others are pretty decent the 1970 cards are in real good shape.
etc
1965 Topps Masanori Murakami RC (0.50)
This is a card I have always wanted but never was interested in throwing down real money for. Masanori Murakami is the first Japanese player ever to play for Baseball in the US at the Major League level - 30+ years prior to Ichiro. Murakami had some success with the Giants in his only season in the Majors but was forced to return to Japan due to a contract squabble involving his Japanese team.
Murakami is still alive at the age of 67. The Giants honored him with a bobblehead at a game in 2008. More info on his wiki.
Links
Willie McCovey Index
1959 Topps
Al Kaline Baseball Thrills $3.50
Commons Gus Bell 0.50, $1 for the Rest - I did spy a Solly Drake for 50 cents after I had already picked up the one above.
The quest to complete 1959 Topps set is in the home stretch. Going into the show I needed 20 cards to finsh the set, knocking out 35% of the cards on my want list in a matter of a few hours was a complete victory.
Phillies Vintage Bowmans
Other Phils Vintage
1940 Playball Syl Johnson ($5)
The Dalrymple is my first 63 Fleer. $5 for a card that is older then my parents is a buy. The 1940 Phillies Play Ball Set is likely hard to build, it is 15 cards. One of the 15 is Chuck Klein, which I would imagine commands a bit of a price tag.
Hall of Famers
1969 Topps Phil Niekro
1970 Topps AL HR League Leaders (Killebrew/F Howard/Reggie)
1970 Topps NL Battling LL (Pete Rose, Clemente, Cleon Jones)
The first 3 cards were all 3 for a buck - The Rose/Clemente LL card went for a dollar. A stinking Dollar for Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente on a League Leaders card - That is like stealing.
The McCovey Card is in rough condition but the others are pretty decent the 1970 cards are in real good shape.
etc
This is a card I have always wanted but never was interested in throwing down real money for. Masanori Murakami is the first Japanese player ever to play for Baseball in the US at the Major League level - 30+ years prior to Ichiro. Murakami had some success with the Giants in his only season in the Majors but was forced to return to Japan due to a contract squabble involving his Japanese team.
Murakami is still alive at the age of 67. The Giants honored him with a bobblehead at a game in 2008. More info on his wiki.
Links
Willie McCovey Index
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
2010 Phungo Cards Jonathan Papelbon - The New Guy
Running behind as always - A few weeks back the Phillies are welcoming a new closer, Jonathan Papelbon, formerly of the Boston Red Sox.
2010 Phungo #15 Jonathan Papelbon
Typically I don't get to many shots of closers for Phungo Cards. There are a variety of reasons - once the game starts I tend to put the camera away, Closers typically are only involved in tight games, and they only pitch at the end of games when light is less favorable for good shots. The game this pix is from happened to be one of Boston's blowouts of the Phils and by that point in the game, I was more interested in gettting a decent picture then in the game.
Regardless I am happy to have already produced a Phungo Card of Papelbon prior to him ever suiting up for the Phils. Hopefully act II of his career will be as successful as his stint in Boston.
############
I hope to have a card show regarding the Philly Show which was this past weekend up tomorrow. The Show was pretty successful for team Phungo. I was able to knock out quite a few cards from my vintage want list and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Typically I don't get to many shots of closers for Phungo Cards. There are a variety of reasons - once the game starts I tend to put the camera away, Closers typically are only involved in tight games, and they only pitch at the end of games when light is less favorable for good shots. The game this pix is from happened to be one of Boston's blowouts of the Phils and by that point in the game, I was more interested in gettting a decent picture then in the game.
Regardless I am happy to have already produced a Phungo Card of Papelbon prior to him ever suiting up for the Phils. Hopefully act II of his career will be as successful as his stint in Boston.
############
I hope to have a card show regarding the Philly Show which was this past weekend up tomorrow. The Show was pretty successful for team Phungo. I was able to knock out quite a few cards from my vintage want list and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Phiadelphia Sports and Memorablia Show returns December 2nd - 4th
Lately the majority of posts here have been card show related. I am not doing this to make those of you that don't have nearby shows envious - we just happened to have 2 pretty decent shows running a few weekends apart here.
The Philly Show returns to Valley Forge this weekend. Team Phungo expects to hit the show on Saturday depending on the status of my sprained ankle. In the vernacular of espn I am Day-To-Day (but then again aren't we all).
The Show which is run by the local Hunt Auctions isn't quite as good for me as the CSA shows at the Oaks convention center, but it is still a decent show. Show Admission is $8, typically there is a $1 off coupon in the local papers, the weekend of and prior to the show.
Hunt Auctions is always giving more room and attention to their autograph guests - which are almost always out of my price range. This year for the first time there are signers on Friday Night - Jockey Steward Elliot, and Brad Lidge. Saturday is dedicated primarily to the 2008 World Championship Phillies team with Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Chris Coste, Charlie Manuel and Pedro Feliz among the guests. Sunday is focused on the 1983 NL Pennant Winners and includes SIX er I mean FIVE Hall of Famers Schmidt, Carlton, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Jim Bunning, and uhm some guy they played with named Pete Rose - All the above are $45 - $69.
The shows complimentry Auto on Saturday is of local sportscaster Michael Barkann, while on Sunday it is Ike Reese. The Barkann as the complimentry auto is insulting. At the Oaks show in the spring they had 2 complimentry autos for a $5 adimission and they were both actual players (Gary Matthews Sr and Art Mahaffey).
Regardless, the rest of the show is typically pretty decent. There are two vendors I like to hit for dimers and off grade vintage cards one is a guy that comes down from Connecticut and usually has a dozen or so dime boxes of all sorts of singles and commons - The other is Uncle Dick who has a flourascent green theme and has lots of cheap vintage sorted by year. Hopefully I will have some positive news to report on the show next week.
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a thousand words
2008 World Champions