Happy 75th Birthday Mick Jagger

Found out on via Twitter today is Mick Jagger's 75th Birthday.

2014 Topps Heritage #NF-TRS The Rolling Stones

The Stones made 2014 Topps Heritage as part of the retro-theme sets News Flashbacks Insert. The card celebrates the June 6 1965 release of the single "Satisfaction".

The inserts nod to the original 1965 set is the pennant in the bottom right corner plus a a 60s flavored color pallet. I find it odd that Topps elected to round 3 of the corners instead of four as in the orginal. Perhaps that better balances the design.

 Flip

2014 Topps Heritage #NF-TRS The Rolling Stones (b-side)

The backside of the card gives a brief history of the hit "Satisfaction". The 1965T theme carries through to the backside with the familiar light blue colors and a cartoon - As with all Heritage sets the same generic cartoon runs across the entire insert. 

"Satisfaction" was the closing encore by the Stones the only time I saw them in 2006. A week later it was one of three songs featured in their SuperBowl Performance.

Sources and Links
Rolling Stones Index
imdb
youtube 

Sunday Night Baseball Angels @ Royals

Sunday Night Baseball is in Kansas City to see the AL Pennant Winners host the LA Angels. The last four seasons the Royals Team WAR leader has been Alex Gordon. That streak is likely to end this year and the prime candidate to take the KC throne is Lorenzo Cain

2015 Topps Heritage #54 Lorenzo Cain

Back in September of 2010 I caught a Brewers Phillies game, Buried in the random observations I wrote the following:

I am pretty proud of the underlined portion, The followups regarding Mat Gamel and Craig Counsell can be ignored.

2015 Topps
I like this card, It appears that Topps moved to expand the photo selection for Heritage in 2015. Prior to this year a standard headshot was used on most cards - this has opened them up for more interesting pix. As I have mentioned in our first pack posting, I am a fan of any shot that has a patch in it, Heritage has lots of patches on the uniforms - this card of Lorenzo Cain has a World Series Patch on his cap. Nothing like catching a guy at the top of his season and to that point his career.

Flip

2015 Topps Heritage #54 Lorenzo Cain (b-side)

Card #54 in the original 1966T set was occupied by Jose Pagan. There are no real connections between the two players, unless you count that fact that Pagan had a great 1962 World Series and Cain was coming off a great ALCS in 2014.

Playoff Contenders - Kansas City Royals
     Alex Gordon  (2010 Topps CYMTO/2006 Topps - from 2014)
     Salvador Perez (2014 Topps Opening Day Superstar Celebrations #SC-11- from 2014) 

     Tom Gordon (1989 Donruss #45- from 2014) 
     Black & Blue - Bud Black and Vida Blue (1983 Fleer Super Star Special #643 & #644- from 2014)
     George Brett (1978 Topps #100- from 2014)  

Sources and Links
2015 Playoff Contenders Index
Baseball-ref

2015 Playoff Contenders Index

This is our Index of postings Related to the 2015 Playoff Teams

 2015 Topps Heritage #54 Lorenzo Cain

Mets
     Noah Syndergaard (2013 Futures Game at CitiField)
     Dilson Herrera (2015 Topps Opening Day #111 /Wilson Tovar)
     Game Report 2015 0508 Harvey vs Hamels
     Tom Seaver turns 70 (1974 Topps #80)

Nationals
     Jordan Zimmermann (2013 Topps Opening Day #96 - from 2014)
     Gio Gonzalez (2006 Bowman Draft Chrome Futures Game Prospects - from 2014)

Cardinals
     Matt Adams (2014 Topps #157 Rookie Cup - from 2014)
     Kolten Wong (2015 Heritage #22 - Rookie Cup)
     Lou Brock (1968 Topps #372 All-Star - from 2014)    
     Matt Holliday (2011 Topps #US324 - from 2014)

 Pirates
     Gerrit Cole (2013 Topps Chrome #210 Orange Parallel)
     Starling Marte (2015 Topps Stadium Club Triumvirate #T-7B)
     Andrew McCutchen/Willie Stargell (2015 Topps Inspired Play #I-15)
     Neil Walker (2006 Bowman Draft - Futures Game Prospects - from 2014)
     Rennie Stennett (1976 Topps Record Breakers #6 - 7 Hit Game)

Cubs 
    Jake Arrieta (2015 Heritage #384)
    Javier Baez (2013 Bowman Platinum #BPP10)
    Addison Russell (2011 Topps USA Baseball #USA-57)

    Ernie Banks (Memorial Postings)
    Andre Dawson (2015 Topps F40-7 Free Agent 4)
    Game Report 2015 0625 Dodgers 4 @ Cubs 0 (Wrigley Field Visit)
   
Dodgers
     Yasiel Puig (2014 Topps #331 - Rookie Cup - from 2014)
     Utley - Rollins (2008 Topps Heritage #408 - As Phillies)
     Rollins - Utley (2011 Topps Heritage #72)
     Davey Lopes (1976 Topps #4 Record Breaker)
     Sandy Koufax (2007 UD #17 - 1965 Perfect Game)
     Dodger Stadium Visit (from 2014)
     Game Report 2015 0625 Dodgers 4 @ Cubs 0 (Wrigley Field Visit)

Giants
    Madison Bumgarner (2010 Bowman Prospects - from 2014)
    Hunter Pence (2013 topps Chrome #2 - from 2014)
    Pence Again (2011 Topps #US92 - with the Phillies - from 2014)
    Buster Posey (2009 Obak #23 - from 2014)

Orioles
     JJ Hardy (2003 Bowman Draft #BDP137 - from 2014)
     Adam Jones (2013 Topps Chase It Down #CD5 - from 2014)
     Chris Tillman (2015 Topps/Topps Growth Chart)
     Jim Palmer (1973 Topps #160 - from 2014)
     Cal Ripken (1992 Topps #40 - HoF Index)
     Cal Ripken (2001 UD Commemorative) 
     Frank Robinson (1967 Topps #100)

Yankees
     Masahiro Tanaka (2014 Topps Chrome Update #MB-43)
     Whitey Ford (2012 Cooperstown Collection With Honors - Memorial Day)
     Derek Jeter (2015 Phungo #2)
     Phil Niekro (1986 Topps #204 - Oldest Pitcher to toss Shutout/300 Wins)
     Game Report 2015 0306 (Spring Training Yankees 4 @ Phillies 1)

Blue Jays
     Eric Lindros (1990 Score #100T)
     Dave Stieb (1991 Score No Hit Club #707)

Royals
     Lorenzo Cain (2015 Heritage #54)
     Alex Gordon  (2010 Topps CYMTO/2006 Topps - from 2014)
     Salvador Perez (2014 Topps Opening Day Superstar Celebrations #SC-11 - from 2014)
     Bo Jackson (1991 Scrore #420 HL 4 Consecutive Home Runs)
     Black & Blue - Bud Black and Vida Blue (1983 Fleer Super Star Special #643 & #644 - from 2014)
     George Brett (1978 Topps #100 - from 2014)
     Tom Gordon (1989 Donruss #45 - from 2014)


Twins
     Eddie Rosario (2012 Bowman Platinum #BDP36)
     Miguel Sano (2014 Baseball America Prospect Handbook Cover)
     Ted Uhlaender (1966 Topps #264 rc / Olympic-Daughter Katie Uhlaender)

Rangers
     Joey Gallo (2011 Topps USA Baseball)
     Nolan Ryan (1991 Score #701 - Various Cards related to No-Hitter #6)

Astros
     Jose Altuve (2013 Topps Archives #176 RTC Posting from 2014)
     Carlos Correa (2014 Hi-A All Star Game in Wilmington DE)
     George Springer (2015 Topps #318 rCup) 
     Craig Biggio (1991 Score the Franchise #802 - HoF Posting)
     Nolan Ryan (2015 Topps Baseball History #14B 4000 Ks / Live Aid)
     Jason Lane (2006 Topps #473 Oscars - Boyhood)

Angels
     Mike Trout (2013 Topps - Defensive Playoff of the Year  - from 2014)  
     Angels Stadium (from 2014)

Sources and Links
2014 Playoff Contenders
Baseball-ref

2015 Heritage First Look - I am obsessed with PATCHES

Successfully avoided Target for a week after Heritage's release this year, but finally gave in earlier this week. Overall I was happy with look and feel of the cards. Here are the highlights from 3 purchases - 1 Blaster, 1 Rack, 1 Loose Pack.

please excuse the meh photo quality, these are Quick and Dirty shots under low light, Hopefully will revisit Heritage a little more in the upcoming weeks.

First Pack

2015 Heritage Glen Perkins

2015H First card is a nice one of Twins Pitcher Glen Perkins. I like the ASG patch on his cap. Late we will see this repeated on the card of Perkins Teammate Kyle Gibson/

Alicides Escobar
Brian McCann
Curtis Granderson (b-side)
Kelvin Herrera

Pack 1 was a Royals hot pack. Have been a fan of Herrera since seeing him pitch at Wilmington DE a few years back.

Kendrys Morales
Derek Holland
Mark Buehrle
Rookie Stars (John Holdkon RJ Alvarez)

There are far too many of the rookie stars representing two ball clubs. I appreciate Topps trying to carry the banner motif to both sides of the card, but it looks lame. On the other hand, I do like the Mark Buehrle card. Good shot of a deserving veteran.

Highlights from other packs
No Phils or hits in the first pack, but did find a few in the remaining pickups.

First Phillies card

Ryne Sandberg

It's a Phil, but not a player - although he was a Hall of Fame player prior to being a manager. As the Phillies Rooom pointed out, it is a little sad that Topps neglected matching the capitalization on the original 1966T cards.

Flair

Freddie Freeman
Steve Pearce
Nick Castellanos
Kyle Gibson

I really like all the special patches that are on MLB unis these days. Here we have Freddie Freeman with Hank Aaron 715 HR anniversary swag. Steve Pearce has a patch honoring the memory of Orioles minority owner and author Tom Clancy. Kyle Gibson has the ASG patch mentioned at the top of this post.

No patch for Nick Casteallanos but I wanted to post a Rookie Cup card, which reminds me - Are there any RC logos in 2015 Heritage. I didn't recall seeing any in the lot I picked up. 

SPs and New Age

Jacob DeGrom
Alex Gordon
#NAP 15 - Javier Baez
Chris Carter

Three Hi numbers and an NAP. There are 75 Hi SPs in Heritage, kind of curious if there is a disproportionate number of stars in the range. Future post possibility.

Flashbacks

#NF-5 Jimi Hendrix
#BF-6 Al Kaline

The top card notes the date the Experience was formed by Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell , October 12 1966.

The Al Kaline card refers to a game a few weeks earlier on September 28th. Kaline hit a pair of Homers including a 10th inning shot which was the difference. The card does not mention that Kaline also had a stolen base and outfield assist in the game. 

Then and Now

#TN-9 Sandy Koufax and David Price

Not a fan of this card, also saving that up for a future post.

Target Only

2015 Topps Heritage #NR-4 Nolan Ryan A Legend Begins

This card is dedicated to Ryan's second no-hitter, July 15 1973. There are 15 cards in the Target Only set, this is the first where Ryan reps the Angels. 

MMMM Serial

2015 Topps Heritage Chrome #THC-441 Dee Gordon (#d 383/999)


I think the Topps Heritage Chrome inserts come 1 in 23 packs.

Relic

2015 Heritage Clubhouse Collection #CCR-MS Max Scherzer

So yeah the hit of the box and the Chrome card are both cards of players that have changed teams. bleck.

By the Numbers
1 Blaster (71 Cards)
1 rack pack (20 Cards)
1 standard pack (9 cards)

forgive me but I forgot to track pricing but my guess is $29 for the bounty ($20-Blaster,  $6-Rack, $3-single)

100 cards
2 Duplicates

3 Phillies
3 Hi Numbers
5 Inserts
1 Chrome
1 Relic

25 Teams represented (Snubs for Brewers, Rockies, Rays, White Sox, and Mariners) 

Phungo Verdict
As I mentioned above, I am happy with this years set. This may be due to low expectations. 1966 is one of the blander Topps releases. But I think Topps has done a good job of mixing in some semi-action shots and featuring more than the standard headshots of the original sets. Solid photography has caught some players in interesting moments and as I have noted, I like seeing several cards with interesting patches and uniform flair.

Sources & Links
1966 Topps/2015 Heritage Index
the Phillies Room
Cardboard Connection
baseball-ref

2015 Topps Heritage the Originals - 1966 Topps

We have slowly been putting together a series of posts looking at different aspects of 1966 Topps/2015 Heritage.

 1966 Topps #80 Richie Allen
 
I haven't seen 2015H live yet, so most of these links are to posts that related to 1966 Topps. A few of these are for upcoming features that we hope to hit in the feature

Base cards #506 Bo Belinsky
Team Combo Cards
League Leader Cards (Ks Sonny Siebert Mystery)
Variations  #104 Alex Johnson (Traded Variation)
Phillies Checker comparison

HoF RC Fergie Jenkins
HoF Card and Hero Number #100 Sandy Koufax 
HoF RC Sutton 

Sources and Links
Dick Allen Player Collection Index

2015 Heritage the Originals: League Leaders Cards Sonny Siebert - Mysterious Extra

The League Leaders subset returned in 1966 Topps, but it was moved away from the top of the set where it had lived in the past three releases. 

The 12 cards were numbered from 215-226 and represented the same six categories (for each league) that were present in 1965: Batting, HR, RBI, ERA, Pitching, Ks 

There is at least one oddity in the subset

1966 Topps #226 LL AL Strikeouts

All of the other League Leaders cards are of the triple variety, the logical explanation here would have been that McLain and Siebert had tied in strikeouts. But they did not.

1966 Topps #226 LL AL Strikeouts (b-side)


This opens the door for King Felix to get on the 2015 Heritage League Leaders card. In 2014 he finished 4th behind David Price, Corey Kluber and Matt Scherzer.

And YES the Topps Heritage checker came out recently - check it out card #226 has 4 players on the card. Max Scherzer had a legit claim on the #3 spot in AL Strikeouts (252), but he will share his podium spot with Felix Hernandez (248)

Nice attention to detail Topps. 

Sources and Links
1966 Topps Blog
2015 Heritage/1966 Topps Index
topps
cardboard connection
Topps Database
Baseball-ref

2015 Heritage the Originals: Bo Belinsky 1966 Topps #506

I know we are all caught up in 2015 Topps, but this is the modern world folks, and the Blog cycle must move on. 2015 Heritage will be out in about 3 weeks and I wanted to take a look at a few cards from the set that inspired the set 1966 Topps.

1966 Topps #506 Bo Belinsky

One of the things I enjoy most about the annual release of Heritage is the opportunity to reconsider the original set. Last year we got to look back at one of Topps most memorable offerings. This is not the case for 1966T.

The design is functional it covers all the bases Photo, Player name, team and position are all present. Each team is given a color scheme, but they are not necessarily related to the team colors. As seen above the Phillies have Red lettering on a grey background.

There is a minor design element that is unprecedented by Topps. The diagonal strip with the team name goes over the photo in a fashion that the picture extends beyond the banner. It gives the photo a frame within a frame feel. I am not sure it helps the picture pop that much but it does center your attention a tad.      

This is definitely a set that I often dismiss, The minimal design doesn't really draw the eye of the collector, but as I browsed through a binder, I did find a decent variety in the Photos, Lots of head shots, but there are also a niec mix of casual posed and faux action shots.

1966 Topps #506 Bo Belinsky (b-side)

Backs are decent, pretty bright, easy to read card number, numbers and an nice informative -toon.  The no-hitter referred to occurred while Belinsky was pitching for the Angels. It was the 4th start of his career.

Card #506 is from a Semi-Hi series (#447-#522) of the 598 card 1996 set.

Bo Belinsky
I didn't realize that Belinsky did time with the Phillies until I returned to collecting. I did know he had a bigger off the field reputation than on field. His popularity likely rose quickly after the aforementioned early career no-hitter.    



2015 Heritage
Over the next month or so we will take a look at both 1966 Topps and 2015 Heritage. For an index of these postings click here


Sources n Links
2015 Topps Heritage/1966 Topps Index 
NY Times