80's Astros

Hey, I hope that everyone is well out there in the baseball blogging universe. Yesterday I received a package from blog reader Tim in Ohio. He sent me some Bagwell's, Biggio's, Ryno and Pudge cards to add to my collection of those players, but I wanted to focus on the cards I have pictured here.

They are all of Houston Astros, my late father's favorite team. I am putting together a binder of cards of the players on the 1976-1987 time frame Astros. These are the players that I remember on those teams and that I remember watching on TV with my father.

A lot of these guys are not big name players, a few are, but for the most part they are just forgotten names, but to me they are reminders of those times when my father was still alive and cheering on his Astros. In a way this is just a small tribute to him and to those players that made up the team that he so loved very much.

Pictured here are Jose Cruz, Enos Cabell, Joe Niekro, Terry Puhl, Bob Knepper, Alan Ashby, Ray Knight, Mike Scott and Dickie Thon.

Legit or fleas?

Does anyone know anything about these jersey cards? I can't seem to find much on them. Just wondering if they are legit jerseys or flea market specials. The card pictured here is a 2003 Upper Deck Rickey Henderson. Any information on these would be helpful, thanks.

The Middle Child

I received a package over the weekend from ShellieB from The Middle Child sports cards, check out her blog and work out a trade with her, you won't be dissapointed. I recently sent her some Big Mac cards, Albert Pujols and Chipper Jones cards along with a few others that I hope she will like. Here are just a few of the cards that she sent to me in exchange.


Pictured above is a 1995 Upper Deck Final Tribute Ryne Sandberg #447 along with a couple of Craig Biggio cards, a 1997 Score Artist Proof PP35 and a 1998 Pacific Paramount # 169. The scan does not do justice to the Biggio Artist Proof card, it is a great looking card.

Here a a few of the Pudge cards that she sent over, a 1998 Sports Illustrated 12 of 12, a 1998 Pinnacle Mint Collections #20, Topps 2005 Opening Day #30 and a 2006 Upper Deck First Pitch #69. Great cards to add to my Pudge collection.

Also include were some Vlad cards, he is new to my collection, but thanks to ShellieB, my Vlad collection is growing rapidly. The surprise card here is the 2005 Fleer Platinum Diamond Dominators DD/VG jersey card, I was not expecting to receive this great card. I also received a 2007 Fleer Ultra #85, a 1997 Topps Gallery and a 1998 Donruss Hit List # 346.

Thanks for the trade ShellieB, I hope that we can trade again in the future.

Another trade

I recently completed a trade with blog reader Tim from Ohio. He does not have a blog himself, but he does manage to read trading blogs and work out some trades. I sent him a package not long ago filled with some Expos, Nationals and Indians to add to his collection. In return he sent some Ryno, Pudge, Biggio and Bagwell cards. Along with those he included some 70's and 80's Houston Astros cards. They were my late father's favorite team, so I am working on putting together some cards of the players that were on the team when he would watch them on television. Here is sample of the cards he sent my way. Thanks for the cards Tim, hope to trade with you again.

Clear Cut Trade

I recently completed a trade with Jason over at Clear Cut Cards http://clearcutcards.blogspot.com/ I sent him a bunch of Piazza and Olerud cards along with some other players to add to his collection. In return he sent me some Ryno, Pudge, Bagwell, Biggio and Vlad cards to add to my collection. These are just a few of the cards he sent my way. Go check Jason out and trade with him, he is very cool.

Here are some Ryno and Pudge cards that I was missing, gotta love the Ryno TR #312.

Biggio and Bagwell two of my favorite players, gotta love their dedication to one team, very rare to see players do that these days.

And finally some Vlad, the greatest swing in baseball, the man with no strike zone....lol. I really like the UD #47 A Piece of History.

Jason, thanks again for the trade, I look forward to more in the future.

Topps Ticket To Stardom 2009

I picked up a box of old packs over the weekend at Target that contained a pack of these cards, 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom. I have never seen or heard of these, but don't look too bad, kind of plain looking in a way, but sometimes minimum is better. I did notice however that three of the cards, Garko, Pujols and Penny are missing a little something. Look closely and you will be able to tell right away? See it? Notice the black looking bar? It's actually silver foil, it reads from left to right, position-name-card#:.
As you can see now, the three cards I mentioned are missing the silver foil. If I angle the card properly, I can see where the foil was supposed to be and can just barely see an imprint of the words position-name-card#: on there. Someone must have fallen asleep when the silver foil ran out or taken an extra long smoke break. I can see getting one card like this, but three in one pack? What are the odds....lol

Future stars

Here are some current big leaguers back when they were young, up and coming ball players. As you know by now, they have all panned pretty out well in the big leagues, the only one still with their original club is Carl Crawford, the remaining three have moved on to other teams. Of the three Carlos Lee is my favorite because of his interactions with the fans while he is playing left field, especially at Wrigley Field. El Caballo as he is nicknamed hit a home run in his first major league at bat for the White Sox back in May 1999. Miguel Cabrera hit a walk off home run in his first big league game for the Florida Marlins and is a four time All Star. Carl Crawford is a four time All Star and four time American League stolen base champion. Rafael Furcal made his debut for the Atlanta Braves in April 2000 against the Colorado Rockies. He in one of twelve players in MLB to have an unassisted triple play. He got his against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 10, 2003. Cabrera is shown on a 2001 Royal Rookies Futures #16. The others are shown on 1999 Just cards, Lee #106, Crawford #72 and Furcal #20.