Gary Carter HOF Index

This is an index to our postings related to Hall of Fame Catcher Gary Carter.

1976 Topps #441 Gary Carter

1976 Topps #441 (SABR BB Cards)

2017 Hall of Fame Candidates Index

This is an index of our posts related to the 2017 Hall of Fame Candidates

 2009 UD A Piece of History Box Score Memories #BSM-PB Pat Burrell

New to the BBWAA HoF Ballot in 2017

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Aaron Rowand

Arthur Rhodes

Carlos Guillen

Danys Baez

Derrek Lee

Edgar Renteria

Freddy Sanchez

Ivan Rodriguez

J.D. Drew

Jason Varitek

Javier Vazquez

Jorge Posada

Julio Lugo

Magglio Ordonez

Manny Ramirez

Melvin Mora

Mike Cameron

Orlando Cabrera

Pat Burrell

Tim Wakefield

Vladimir Guerrero

Final BBWAA Ballot in 2017

Tim Raines

Lee Smith

Players from previous BBWAA Ballots 

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Barry Bonds

Billy Wagner

Curt Schilling

Edgar Martinez

Fred McGriff

Gary Sheffield

Jeff Bagwell

Jeff Kent

Larry Walker

Mike Mussina

Roger Clemens

Sammy Sosa

Trevor Hoffman

Sources and Links

Phungo HoF Index

Baseball-ref

Baseball Hall of Fame

Joe Morgan HoF Index

This is an Index of Cards and Postings related to Joe Morgan

1976 Topps #420 Joe Morgan AS

Joe Morgan HoF Index
1976 Topps #420 (1976 ASG 40th Anniversary)
1984 Topps #705 (NL Active SB Leaders / 1983 NL Champ Series)

Babe Ruth HoF Index

This is an index of our Postings related to Babe Ruth and Babe Ruth cards.

 1962 Topps #138 Babe Ruth Special The Famous Slugger

1972 Topps #626 Babe Ruth Award
1973 Topps #1 (#1 Club - All Time HR Leaders)
Post Cereal 500 HR Club (2008 September - The House that Ruth Built closes)
2010 Topps Legendary Lineage #LL-3 w/ Alex Rodriguez
2011 Gypsy Queen the Great Ones #GO2 (100th Anniversary of MLB Debut)

Babe Ruth Mosaic (ESPN Zone NYC)

Sunday Night Baseball: Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken

Last week when we published a posting on the Anniversary of Cal Ripken's streak breaking game I realized that I had yet to create an HoF Index for the Iron Man.

Tonight with the Orioles hosting the Royals on Sunday Night Baseball we correct that oversight.

1992 Topps #40 Cal Ripken

When Cal Ripken posed for the above shot he was likely still four years from passing Lou Gehrig for the consecutive games record. Apparently he had no fear of jinxing the streak by alluding to hit in the photo.

To me this is one of the great shots in the history of Topps. Cardboard Connection put together a top 10 list of Ripken cards, the 1992T card didn't make the cut, but it did get an honorable mention. The Article's Author Ryan Cracknall sums up the card beautifully:

So it's not the most valuable card, but do they all have to be? 1992 Topps Baseball has a beautiful shot of Ripken sitting next to the Lou Gehrig monument in Yankee Stadium, looking as classy as ever. The horizontal layout and slightly raised angle take it to another level.

There is nothing further I can add to that fitting description. The card is a member of the ubiquitous 1992 set and can be found anywhere for nothing. I likely found mine in a dime box.

The O's are five games below .500, but that hasn't stopped Baseball-ref from publishing the teams progress (regress?) in the playoff standings - and accordingly I will add this card to our 2015 Playoff contenders index as well. The Royals are also repped in Playoff Contenders (Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon, and Salvador Perez)

Also as noted above this card will function as our Cal Ripken HoF index

Cal Ripken HoF Index
2001 UD Cal Ripken Commemorative set #4 (2008 - 10h Anniversary of ending the streak)
2001 UD Cal Ripken Commemorative set #4 (2015 - 20h Anniversary of breaking Lou Gehrig's Record)
2011 Phungo #8

Throws out First Pitch on 15th Anniversary of Breaking Record (2010)
Cal Ripken Statue at Camden Yards (2012 Photo)

Sources and Links
2015 Playoff Contenders (O's include Adam Jones, Hardy, Chris Tillman) 
Cardboard Connection - Ryan Cracknell

2016 Hall of Fame Candidates Index

This is an index of players who will likely be on the 2016 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot.

First Time Candidates

Ken Griffey Ken Griffey pt 2

Jim Edmonds

Jason Kendall

Troy Glaus

Mike Hampton

Luis Castillo

Randy Winn

Garret Anderson

Mike Lowell

Billy Wagner Veto

Trevor Hoffman

Mark Grudzielanek

Mike Sweeney

Chan Ho Park HOF

David Eckstein

Jeff Weaver

Brad Ausmus

Russ Ortiz

Gary Matthews

Cristian Guzman

Jose Guillen

Bob Howry

Bengie Molina

Fernando Tatis

Russ Springer

Returning to the Ballot

Mike Piazza

Jeff Bagwell

Tim Raines

Curt Schilling

Roger Clemens

Barry Bonds

Lee Smith

Edgar Martinez

Alan Trammell HOF (final Ballot)

Mike Mussina

Jeff Kent

Fred McGriff

Larry Walker

Gary Sheffield

Mark McGwire (final Ballot - VETO)

Sammy Sosa

Nomar Garciaparra

Source and Links
2015 HoF Candidates

Baseball-ref

Hall of Fame Index - Non Baseball

Football
Chuck Bednarik
George Blanda 
Art Donovan
Don Maynard 
Roger Staubach 
Mick Tinglehoff
Emlen Tunnell (Radnor HS Alum)

Hockey
Gordie Howe
Eric Lindros 
Bobby Orr

Hoop
Paul Arizin
Elgin Baylor (1961-62 Fleer #46)

Wilt Chamberlain (1961-62 Fleer)
Rollie Massimino

Olympic Medalists
Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) 
Joe Frazier
Bruce Jenner
Jesse Owens
Noelle Pikus-Pace
Lindsey Vonn
David Wise
 

Tom Seaver Celebrates 70th Birthday

Tomorrow one of the greatest pitchers of my youth, Tom Seaver, turns 70.

1974 Topps #80 Tom Seaver

I am  not sure when and where I became a Tom Seaver fan. When I was younger, I grew up outside the Philadelphia area, so I wasn't real clued into the Mets being a Phillies rival. This allowed me to root for Tom Terrific without thinking about he uniform he wore.

I think I started to follow Seaver after reading one of those Scholastic Books that was offered through our school. Each book covered four players and had a quad photo on the cover. I can remember reading about Seaver playing a high school tournament in a Alaska where they played all night because the sun never set at the height of the summer. I also remember the chapter mentioning Seaver coming an out short of a no-hitter.

Hall of Fame and Pitcher MVPs
Last week we saw Clayton Kershaw win both the MVP and Cy Young awards. Any time a pitcher has an exceptional season it is debated whether or not they can win the MVP award.

There is a perceived school of thought that believes that the MVP award should be dedicated to position players.

This appears more myth than reality - at least in the 2014 vote it was. Kershaw was listed on all 30 ballots and 27 of the 30 listed him as either first or 2nd. To mean that does not indicate a bias against pitchers. Kershaw did have to dip to 4th place to garner his 30 ballots, while Giancarlo Stanton was top 3 on all 30 ballots. That is a tiny margin of two fourth place votes.

This brings me back to Tom Seaver. He is the current record holder for HoF vote percentage - he received 425 of 430 votes - that is 98.8%. Pretty close to perfect, yet he was a pitcher, and 2nd is Nolan Ryan 491/497 (Also 98.8%) The first batter shows up at #3 Cal Ripken 537/545 or 98.5%.

My question is, if pitchers command the #1 and #2 spots on the Hall of Fame vote percentage list, why is there a stigma toward giving them MVP votes.

1974 Topps
Action shots were sill pretty new to Topps in 1974. Yes 1972T did have the "In Action" subset, but while some were ok, many were questionable to refer to as "In Action". 1974T has a couple of simlar looking Mets pitcher cards - the Jon Matlack base card is a landscape action shot as is a NLCS card featuring pitcher Jerrr Koosman. Most of 1974T is portrait style which helps these pitcher cards seem unique. 

Tom Seaver HoF Index
1970 Topps Scratch Off 

1974 Topps #80 (memorial)
1977 Andy Warhol Portrait
1984 Topps #706  Active Career Victory Leaders - With HOFs Steve Carlton and Fergie Jenkins

Sources & Links 
Phungo Hall of Fame Index
baseball-ref
BBWAA
Newsday - Anthony Rieber
Baseball Almanac

2014 Playoffs: Royals George Brett 1978 Topps #100

The Kansas City Royals return home tonight, Unfortunately for them they are down 3-2 in the best of seven series and facing elimination. Tonight in an effort to help the Royals extend the Series and the season we bring out a Hall of Famer for our posting.

1978 Topps #100 George Brett

We have seen plenty of George Brett during the 2014 World Series and for good reason - 3000 Hits, 300 Homers and a member of the Royals 1985 World Series Team for whom he won ALCS MVP honors.

He is also the Royals only legitimate Hall of Fame Player. They have had a few other players make cameo appearances on the teams HoF register - Kllebrew, Cepeda, and Gaylord Perry - but none of them spent more than a season in Kansas City.

1978 Topps #100
1978 was the first time that George Brett checklisted a Hero Number. It was an honor that Topps gave to Brett 10 times during his career including his return to card #100 in 1985. At one time or another Brett occupied every Hero Number between 100 and 700.

I like a couple of things about this card, first George appears to be enjoying a nice pinch of chewing tobacco - that may be a no-no on a modern baseball card. Secondly I like the All-Star Shield used in 1978T. I believe it is the only year that style of flair was used for All-Stars, it has always evoked a Interstate route number sign for me. 

1978 Topps #100 George Brett (b-side)

On the flip of Brett's 1978T Card his 215 hit 1976 season is noted. 38 years later it still ranks as the Royals 2nd best single season hit total - Willie Wilson eclipsed Brett with 230 hits for the 1980 AL Pennant Champion Royals.

George Brett HoF Index
This posting is going to function as our HoF Indes for George Brett:
1977 Topps #231 Record Breaker Consecutive 3-Hit Games
1982 Topps Kmart #34 1976 All-Star Game/1980 MVP aWARd discussion
1991 Topps #2 RB 3 Batting Titles in 3 Different Decades 
1991 Score #769 HL 3 Batting Titles in 3 Decades
1994 Topps #180
2002 Fleer GOTG Dueling Duos #DD-27 (with Phillies HoF Mike Schmidt)
Phungo Complete HoF Page

Sources & Links
Playoff Teams
Phungo Complete HoF Page
Baseball-ref
Baseball Card Database

HoF Index: Willie Mays

This is the Phungo Hall of Fame Index for Willie Mays Cards.

1959 Topps #464 Baseball Highlights Willie Mays

1959 Topps #464 Baseball Highlights Willie Mays - 60th Anniversary of the Catch

1959 Topps Willie Mays Foursome - (Mays Feature) 
1961 Topps #482 1954 MVP Willie Mays - (A-Rod at 659 HRs)

1961 Topps #579 Willie Mays All-Star - (2010 Heritage Review)

1965 Topps #4 League Leaders Home Rurs (2014 Heritage Preview)
1973 Topps #1 LL All Time HR Ruth Aaron Mays

Hall of Fame Thursday - Hank Aaron

1974 Topps #1 Hank Aaron

Today is Hammerin Hank's 75th birthday. I am not sure but I think 75 is the Diamond Anniversary, which is appropriate, because it is upon the Baseball Diamond where Hank Aaron made his name.

Hank Aaron: 755 Career Homers, 2297 RBI ,1477 XBH all still tops among Right Handed batters. He also scored 2174 Runs (4th overall, 2nd RH). Aaron played in 24 All-Star games during a 23 year career, try and top that! For a couple of years in the late 50s and early 60s they played two all-star games, which made this All-Star feat possible.

Aaron was also a member of the 1957 World Champion Milwaukee Braves who bested the Yankees in seven games. He homered 3 times in that series, but the big star was Lew Burdette who won three World Series games - including shutouts in games 5 and 7.

This is kind of cool - archive.org has audio of three different Home Run calls for Hank Aarons 715th Home Run.

1974 Topps
This is a card from the Phungo 1.0 collection which means it's from when I was a kid. Somehow it made it all the way through to 2009. My first pack of cards was 1974 Topps. I don't remember much about it, other than I picked it up at a 7-11. I doubt the Aaron card was in that pack.

and I will leave you with this tidbit from baseball-reference:

6,858 people saw Hank Aaron's final game.

Hank Aaron HoF Index
1959 Topps #467 Baseball Thrills (1957 WS Home Run)

1964 Topps #11 NL LL RBI Aaron, Ken Boyer, Bill White

1967 Topps #242 LL RBI Aaron Clemente Dick Allen (2016 Heritage Preview)

1973 Topps #1 LL All Time HR Ruth Aaron Mays

1974 Topps #5 (Retro of 1966-1969 Topps)

1975 Topps #1 (40th anniversary of record HR) 

1976 Topps #660 (1st Brewers card) 

1976 Topps #1 Hank Aaron (Record Breaker Career RBI)

Aaron Statue Miller Stadium Visit

Sources and Links

Topps #1 Club

Baseball-reference