Happy Johnny - Mad Pudge

We haven't had a good Johnny Bench card lately so here it is:

2001 Topps
Topps Combos
TC5 Ivan Rodriguez / Johnny Bench

Every generation has two great catchers fans immediately think of. That is why this card makes sense showing Bench and I Rod together. The 1970's / 80's had Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. Thurmon might have had it if not for the plane crash. Both guys are icons of the game for the catcher's position. Bench for being the greatest defensive catcher ever and a master field general with strong bat. Fisk for his historic home run , a gritty, long career and a decent bat. The debate between Yogi and Johnny will always play on but Johnny Bench will always be the best in my books.
Now for Ivan. From the early 1990's until about 2005 it was clearly between he and Mike Piazza for the generations best catcher. Ivan has the edge in game calling with Piazza the edge in batting. Too even for me to call.

So tie breaker goes to Johnny Bench.
Gretest catcher of the last fourty years. Period.

The Hutch

All I gotta say is what a guy.

The 1961 Topps card of
Fred Hutchinson
Manager of the 1961 National League champion Cincinnati Reds.

This guy had quite a history.
24 games over .500 as a major league pitcher.
Managed the Reds.
3.72 career E.R.A
Managed the Reds.
Stole Pete Rose's date at the ballpark when Pete was a rookie.
Learned how to get fired from the Cardinals and lead the Reds to the World Series.

Unfortunately, Fred had his baseball life cut short by cancer. He was an architect of rebuilding the Reds farm system in the early sixties that led to the days of the Big Red Machine of the 1970's.

As for the Rose story:
In "My Life Behind Bars" Pete recalls how he managed to show off the crew cut as a rookie during Spring Training to a "more experienced" woman. He brought her to the ball park the next day. Seems Fred had seen her around during the past few Spring Trainings and warned Pete about how he was young and could ruin his reputation and career with a woman like that. Young Rose agreed and promptly sent the lass away. Next afternoon Pete looks up to see a smiling Hutch with balloons on one arm and the lovely young lady on the next. Fred sees Pete staring in disbelief and yells "You're welcome. Don't miss curfew!"
That guy should be in the Hall of Fame for that alone. The only pitcher to make Pete Rose freeze in disbelief.

This person

Should be:

A. Shot
B. Gutted
C. Smighted
D. Forced to watch Yankee games between Fran Dresher and Carrot Top for eternity
E. All of the above

I present to the jury:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350166480369

It's one thing to get the team wrong. But to insult any person with an I.Q. over Vince Young's Wonderlick score is just infuriating.
This is a clear case of ebay fraud and the seller should be banished. For being a typical Cubs fan,

A Full Reds Team Set of

1987 K-Mart

10 Frank Robinson

12 Johnny Bench
19 Pete Rose

I have been hearing the grumblings.
"Look at Bay Rat and all his shiny Reds."
"All Bay Rat has are serial numbered cards. What a mo mo."
"If I see another game used Reds card........."

For those who thought I was too high puhlootin to mix it up with the lesser folk here is proof I can kick it old school and show off my mad cuhlektn sklz.

How can anyone who was collecting in the mid eighties not have these cards? 79¢ a box in '82 and then 99¢ in '87 for a box of these bad boys. Can you think of any other sets from then that have retained their values? I think not.

These glossy cards mark the celebration of 25 years of Blue Light Specials and crappy toy knockoffs. I bet that is where dayf got his first one! Nicer photos than in '82 and better printing make this a better set. At least to me.

How can you go wrong with Frank, Pete and Johnathan? You can't!

It's the most wonderfull time of the year!

OPENING DAY!
IN CINCINNATI!

So I offer you the Greatest Professional Baseball Team
on 2008 Topps Opening Day Red Bordered Cardboard

No. 9 in the checklist and No. 1 in your heart:
Ken
Grifffffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy
Juuuuuuuuuunnnnnnniiiioorr

No. 118 Brandon "Taco" Phillips

The Reds full caliber 2nd baseman.
Who denied starving students free tacos.No. 144 Josh Hamilton

Now with the Texas American League baseball team

No. 153 Adam Dunn
BAM! BAM!
I see 52 homers, 116 RBI, 100 runs and 182 strikeouts!

No. 176 Aaron Harang The Reds unsung hero.
The 200+K starter who does nothing but get people out.
I would like to thank Topps for finally finding a picture of Aaron that does not make him look pregnant or like Frankenstein. Here he is throwin dat stinkee chedduh.No. 218 Joey Votto RC
The Future!

Man it's gonna be a good year. Hard hitting outfield. Smooth hitting and fielding infield. Good pitching. A true closer.

We win the division in a one game playoff. At Great American Ballpark. Against the Chicago National League semi-pro baseball team. 2 - 0 on a Dunn home run in the ninth driving in Phillips. Kerry Wood retires after Lou Pinella asks for his job back with the Reds.

Reds sweep the Phillies in the shocker of all shockers Division Series battles.

Reds 4 games to 3 over the Braves in the National League Championship Series. Chipper breaks down and pulls an Adam Morisson crying in the dirt between short and third.

The American League refuses to play in the World Series for fear of embarrassment.

Just sayin'.

Rare Cincinnati Area Topps Test Issue

Brads55 decided he would post some Reds die cut cards this week. Graet idea! This gives me a chance to post one of the greatest finds I ever had. In 2005 Topps tested out a possible insert set in the greater Cincinnati area for 2005 baseball. As most of you know I am a truck driver. During a trip to the 'Nati in early 2006 I met a local wholesaler who had a set of die cuts that were test marketed in Cincinnati. I thought he was pulling my leg at first. Then he showed me these 1 / 1 die cut cards. And then gave them to this Reds fan from Salt Lake City. I could not believe my luck! 13 1 / 1 Test Issue cards from Topps! The stuff collectors dreams are made of. And they spoke louder for a Reds fan than a stadium full of Reds fans could yell.

I present to you
one of the rarest
Topps Test Issues ever!

C- No. 106 - Mark I Will Not Spell That Name
U- No. 105 - Joe Borowski
B- No. 155 - Greg Maddux
S- No. 132 - Kyle Farnsworth

A- No. 438 LaTroy Hawkins
R- No. 570 Todd Hollandsworth
E- No. 533 Glendon Rusch

Card No. 404 Jerry Hairston Jr.
Card No. 503 Jeromy Burnitz
Card No. 304 Chad Blasko
Card No. 258 Carlos Zambrano
Card No. 306 Sean Marshall
Card No. 406 Kerry Wood

And there you have it. Some of the rarest cards ever made! The edges look a little rough because they are test issues after all.
Make sure you check back on Tuesday to see the test issue cards I found at an Atlanta dealer's store. And if the deal is right for Reds or Austin Kearns cards I am open to trades for one card or whole words. remember these are 1 of 1's!

A full Reds team set of

2005 Diamond King
Challenge Redemption Set

It is estimated that between 200 and 450 sets were redeemed from Donruss. What sets these cards apart is the word Challenge is embossed into the cards on the lower right hand side in cursive lettering. Other than that there is no difference.

So take a look and enjoy the best looking of the Diamond King sets made by Donruss. To see the embossing click on the card for the full size scan and squint. Challenge does not show up well because it is embossed.

No. 69 Adam Dunn

Looking forward to another quiet 40+HR season from Bam Bam.

No. 70 Austin Kearns

The move to the new Nationals park looks like Austin will finally have a shot at a 30+ HR, 90 RBI season we have been waiting on. Between Zimmerman, Milledge and Johnson he will get some opportunities to score. And my fantasy teams shall crush!

No. 71 Barry Larkin

My second favorite all-time Red. Only behind Johnny Bench in my book.

No. 72 Ken Griffey Jr.

I plan on taping the 600th HR game this season. Some words of advise. If you have a dish MLB Direct Ticket is AWESOME.

No. 73 Ryan Wagner

Another Red let go and picked p by the Nationals. No wonder they have no card bloggers out there. If they are not good enough for the Reds system that only leaves the Braves and Mets for refuge. Until the Nats came along.

No. 74 Sean Casey

The Mayor has had a decent career since leaving The 'Nati. Pirates to the Tigers for a World Series appearance and now with the Red Sux. Good luck Mayor.

No. 75 Danny Graves

Reds closer for a few years until he lost his control. Though not as bad as Rick Ankiel did.

No. 336 Sean Casey

These cards have a different write up on back. That's it.

No. 337 Adam Dunn

No. 338 Ken Griffey Jr.

Hope you enjoyed the cards and there are plenty more where this came from. So stay tuned all 14 loyal readers for more full team sets this week from me. Brad is probably gonna throw in some ultra rare 1989 Score so come back soon!

Random Red? for March 24 in the AM

1981 Donruss
No. 554 Mike Vail

I am torn. Do I like this card? Yes. It is a Reds player. Sorta.
Do I dislike this card? Yes. It is a Cubs player. Sorta.

It is in my Reds 1980's binder, but at the end. Hidden. And unfortunately there are two versions of this card. As if one Reds/Cubs catastrophe card were not enough to send me to the shrink. This is why we have Update sets. To stop this kind of madness and toying with fan's emotions. I want to embrace the card, yet burn it in Dan's pile of Cubs cards. What is a Red's fan to do? And pulling for the New York semi pro National League team is not an option.

As we climb aboard the wayback machine

Do Do Do
Do Do Do
Do Do Do

We go back to the early days of Topps
Nineteen Hundred and Fifty Six

Jinkies! These were dark days for the nation. The New York American League Baseball team and the New York National League teams were in the World Series year after year. And winning them. Only the Braves were strong enough to defeat the dreaded New Yorkers.
Now 1956 was not a bad year for the Redlegs from 'Nati. So renamed in 1954 as to not play into the nations fear of dirty commies. The team finished with 91 wins and 63 not wins. 2 games back of the blue New York team. A new guy on the scene in Cincinnati was making a name for himself. You might have heard of him. Frank Robinson. Frank won the Rookie of the Year Award for 1956 after posting a line of 122 Runs / 38 HR / 83 RBI and a .290 Avg. Not to mention an almost error free year in the field.
Shown here in vintage 1959 gear is Mr. Robinson. Getting ready to wallop a home run. Crap. Those 1986 Topps are rubbing off. What's up with the pants? I have only seen paratroopers do their legs like that over boots. Not ball players over leggings. The small jersey swatch lets us know that this is actually a rare jersey. Not many to be found. Plus you get Frank's uni number and 1.5 Reds logos. Who does not like that? Behind Frank faded into the background are the empty Chicago baseball team home stands. The only good use I have seen of them. Providing shade for the Reds.

I Gots Some Reds Cards

And You Aint Got None!

At least none from Cardboard Junkie. I contacted Ol' Dayf (as his closest friends know him) about a certain card. I wondered what it would take to pry it from his warm, live fingers and we swapped auto cards. He also included this smorgasborg of extras.

A near complete Team Set of 1988 Topps Big
If anyone has card 167 Nick Esascky let me know.
I like this set. Just a smidge bigger than normal but cool back and good photos of both portrait and action shots on front.

No. 20 Eric Davis
No. 48 Kalvoski Daniels
No. 74 Barry Larkin
No. 96 Tom Browning
No. 144 Dave Concepcion
1982 All-Star Game M.V.P.
No. 214 Jeff Treadway
No. 232 John Franco

2 Holgram Stickers from Upper Deck

2003 SP Legendary Cuts
No. 40 Ernie Lombardi
Ernie was a Hall of Fame catcher before there was such a thing. A good hitting catcher who was great defensively. Runner did not run on him often and he was known as a great game caller. A key member of the Reds 1940 World Series team and 1938 M.V.P. The card itself shows Ernie warming up before a shutout of the Chicago National League Team on July 9, 1938 at their own field. 11 - 0. The card itself is ho hum and too dark for my liking.

1989 Topps Sticker Cards
No. 65 John Franco
No. 47 Eric Davis
Both cards have no stickers on the back.
They must be on Junkie's English notebook next to the I love (Wife's name) drawing.

A 2002 Bowman Heritage of
NOOCHIE!
Man I wanted Noochie Varner to make the big leagues. The name alone would have made him a star. Alas it was not meant to be. He was traded in 2002 to the Tigers I think and has not made it. Plus I have a friend who everyone calls Nootchie because he says Nootchie Rats instead of Nutria rats.

You down with O-Pee-Chee?
Yeah you know me!

A Hockey Stick Set Card
No. 427 Ron Oester

1983 Topps No. 554 Mike Vail.
This guy is one of the variation cards in 1981 Donruss. Good luck finding both versions.

Vintage 1987 Woodgrain Set
No. 412 Eric Davis
Is it just me or he have a look of "Who the heck does this Larkin kid think he is? Autograph a ball for is Mom?

1997 SP
No. 54 Hal Morris
Hal was born in Fort Rucker, AL.
I once drove through there. On my way to someplace nice.

1988 Topps
No. 282 Pat Perry
What kind of career have you had when after 4 seasons in the majors the highlights on the back are that you played Little League and American Legion ball, Has a wife and 2 daughters and was traded by the Cardinals?

1994 Leaf
No. 426 Erik Hanson

1994 Pinnnacle
No. 510 Bret Boone

1990 Topps
No. 176 Luis Quinones

2001 Topps
No. 570 Sean Casey
No. 593 Ken Griffey
How much does Topps dislike Griffey to give him No. 593?
Isn't that kind of card number reserved for a Cub?

Eh? You want more Canadian cards?
1986 Leaf
No. 179 Tom Browning

2003 Topps
No. 18 Jason LaRue
No. 30 Ken Griffey Jr.

2003 Game Face
No. 33 Aaron Boone

2000 Stadium Club
No. 30 Barry Larkin
Gaze in awe at the effortless Larkin Leap over Barry Bonds to complete the double play.

2004 Donruss
No. 251 Ken Griffey Jr.
I miss Donruss. They may have had 200 parallels per card but they made some nice ones

2005 Topps Cracker Jack
No. 49 Adam Dunn
Look at Dunn as he shows just how bad the Cubs sluggers are. Notice that it seems they barley get it to the outfield? OOOOOOO. It looks like Adam fears them about as much as facing Kerry wood fresh out of rehab. Again.

1986 Topps
No. 54 John Franco
Who was writing card backs for Topps in 1985?
This is the third card I have come across that says someone walloped a Home Run.
What up with that?
Might have to do an All-Time Wallop card countdown.

1996 Pinnacle Aficondio
No. 177 Steve Gibraltar

I like these cards. They are like an early 2000 Fleer Gamers with the silver textured foil and a good smooth photo on the front together. They could have done a better job of making his name fit on the front. Looks out of place and off center. Like a Cubs fan.

For Austin Kearns Cards click here. I am enjoying this blog. I have met plenty of great people. Made some good trades to rebuild the Reds collection and have had a lot of fun writing this. Thanks to all who check me out and feel free to contact me about ant trades or offers. Especially if you play for the Reds or live in the Cincinnati area. I would like to hear from you.

Last but not least.....

Stats on the Back also sent something unexpected cuz dat Statsy is one heck of a guy!

A VINTAGE PACK OF 1986 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS!

UNOPENED!!!

UNSEARCHED!!!

UNREAL!!!

So click on this before you gaze upon the freshest cardboard treasures I have seen in a long time.

Card 1
No. 68
Ed Lynch of the Mets

Stat on the Back:
A mets player WALLPOED a home run.
A Titanic Tater no doubt.

Card 2
No. 203
Record Breaker!
Keith Hernandez of the Mets

Stat on the Back:
Keith broke the record established by White Sox player Harold Baines in 1983.




Card 3
No. 771
John McNamara MGR Red Sux

Stat on the Back:
Home: Cincinnati, O.
Why did Topps get cheap on black ink all of a sudden? They could not afford to put the H after the O for Ohio's abbreviation? There are 28 cards of Red Sux but they could not print an H?



Card 4
No. 401
Turn Back the Clock of a 1981 Fernando Valenzuela

Stat of the Movie:
Fernando breaths out of his eyelids while pitching like the Fire Lizards of Guadalahara and the ancient Mayans. And once Nook LaLoosh learned it he went to the Show! And Crash was let go. Bummer.



Card 5
No. 397
Steve Buechele of the Rangers

Stat on the Back:
The first Rangers pitcher to author a no-no was Jim Bibby on July 30 of The year of our blog creator 1973.





Card 6
No. 605
Dennis Boyd of the Red Sux

Stat from me:
This guy was a local hero back in Mississippi for a while when he was throwing that stinky cheddar. And he is from Merridian, MS. Only 30 minutes fro Newton. Birthplace of former Red Joe Gibbon.



Card 7
No. 701
All-Star Keith Hernandez of the Mets

Stat of the Pack:
Two Keith Hernandez cards in one pack? And both are subsets?
Un Frickin Believe It Able! Staty gave up all these Mets cards for a non Mets fan!



Card 8
No. 279
Al Pardo of the Orioles

Stat on the Back:
Born in Spain






Card 9
Freakin filler card of a contest I never saw anyone win.

Stat on the back:
For name of winner mail a SASE addressed to:
TOPPS SPRING FEVER BASEBALL WINNER
Who actually does this? I remember when you could mail in 3x5's for a chance at cards and was actually sent a 2002 Roger Clemens Own the Game insert. Out of 150 SEPARATE envelopes I mailed.


We have reached the halfway point of the pack. So if you need to go the lavatory and release all that built up excitement I will wait.

OK. Back to the
1986 TOPPS VINTAGE UNREAL PACK BREAK

Card 10
No. 308
Ray Fontenot
(FONT UH NO) of the
Cough Cubs Cough Cough.

Stat on the Back:
Cubs Suck

Card No. 11
No. 497
JOHN STUPER
OF THE
CINCINNATI REDS

THE GREATEST
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM
ON THE PLANET
Stat on the Back:
Cubs Suck

Card 12
No. 377
Joe Carter of the other Ohio baseball "team"

At least he did not hit a game winner off of a former Red in the World Series. That honor goes to a former Cubbie!

"I wanted to kill Mitch.
But they told me I couldn't, it was illegal."
1993 by John Martin Kruk of the Philadelphia Phillies

Card 13
No. 450
Graig Nettles of the Padres

Stat on the Back:
My name is not Craig






Card 14
No. 77
Charlie Leibrandt of the Royals

Stat on the Back:
Charlie won 10 games for the Reds in 1980.
And has the same first name as my nephew,
Charlie Breath





Card 15
No. 672
Rob Picciolo of the Oakland Athletics

Stat on the Back:
Rob had 22 RBI in 419 AB in 1977. How did he last 9 years in the Majors when that was only 5 RBI lower than his CAREER BEST ?




Card 16
No. 387
Steve Kemp of the Pirates
Stat on the Back:
Pirates cards are the best for keeping gum off the rest of the cards.

And there you have it!
A GENUINE UNOPENED PACK OF 1986 TOPPS HAS BEEN OPENED!
1986 Topps is dead! Long live 1986 Topps!