A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Houston Astros

A lot of Houston Astros cards here from the Shoebox that keeps on giving. If you collect Astros cards, just imagine how wonderful it would be to received a mailing from me with free cards in it! Any Dave Dohde collectors out there? Any one? Please do send this post to any Astros collector's you may know.

1987 Topps: Mark Bailey, Mike Scott, Astros Team Leaders
1988 Donruss: Bill Doran, Denny Walling, Dave Meads
1988 Topps: Kevin Bass, Astros Team Leaders (2)
1989 Topps: Terry Puhl TRADED,, Bill Doran, Jim Deshaies, Craig Reynolds
1990 Fleer: Eric Anthony, Kevin Bass
1990 Topps: Glenn Davis
1991 Bowman: Dave Dohde TRADED
1991 Donruss: Dave Smith, Mark Portugal
1991 Fleer: Mark Davidson, Mike Simms
1991 Score: Xavier Hernandez, Randy Hennis, Andujar Cedeno, Glenn Davis
1991 Topps: Jim Deshaies
1991 Upper Deck: Mike Simms
1992 Fleer: Xavier Hernandez (with forged signature!)
1992 Score: Ken Caminiti, Eric Yelding (2), Luis Gonzalez, Mark Portugal, Mark Davidson, Gerald Young (2)
1992 Topps: Gerald Young (2), Jim Deshaies, Xavier Hernandez, Dwayne Henry
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Rob Murphy
1992 Upper Deck: Eric Yelding
1993 Pinnacle: Eric Anthony
1993 Topps: Eric Anthony, Xavier Hernandez, Butch Henry, Rich Scheid
1994 Upper Deck: Joe Boever
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Peter Harnisch
1995 Topps Stadium Club: Steve Finley
1995 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Darryl Kile (Special Edition), Orlando Miller (Special Edition)

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Detroit Tigers

What can you say about the Detroit Tigers? Paul Gibson had some killer glasses back in the day. That's for sure. Many of the greats are here like Chet Lemon, Lou Whitaker, and Willie Hernandez. It's a shame the Mike Laga card fell victim to my friends practicing the art of forgery -- makes me wonder though if he's still at it...

1984 Donruss: Mike Laga (with forged signature!)
1986 Topps Mini: Darrell Evans (very damaged)
1987 Donruss: Frank Tanana
1987 Topps: Mike Heath
1988 Donruss: Willie Hernandez, Jim Morrison
1988 Topps: Eric King, Mark Thurmond
1989 Donruss: Mike Heath
1989 Topps: Doyle Alexander, Jeff Robinson, Pat Sheridan, Paul Gibson, Dave Bergman
1990 Donruss: Doyle Alexander, Mike Brumley, Gary Ward, Tracy Jones
1990 Fleer: Paul Gibson, Steve Searcy (2), Frank Tanana
1990 Topps: Ken Williams, Tracy Jones
1991 Donruss: Lloyd Moseby, Chet Lemon, Scott Aldred
1991 Fleer: Mike Schwabe
1991 Score: Dave Bergman, Scott Aldred, Rico Brogna, Cecil Fielder (1990 Highlight)
1991 Topps: Clay Parker
1991 Upper Deck: Travis Fryman, Mike Henneman, Chet Lemon
1992 Donruss Triple Play:
1992 Score: Milt Cuyler (2), Rob Deer (2), Travis Fryman, Mickey Tettleton (3), John Cerutti, Mike Henneman, Bill Gullickson, Lou Whitaker, Paul Gibson, Pete Incaviglia, Scott Livingtone (4)
1992 Studio: Lou Whitaker
1992 Topps: Dave Bergman, Rob Deer
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Travis Fryman, Bill Gullickson, Dave Bergman, Paul Gibson, Rich Rowland
1992 Upper Deck: Travis Fryman (Diamond Skills: Best Infield Arm)
1993 Donruss: Milt Cuyler
1993 Fleer Ultra: Milt Cuyler
1993 Score: Gary Pettis TRADED
1993 Score Select: Bill Gullickson, Milt Cuyler, Kurt Knudsen
1993 Topps: Mark Carreon TRADED
1994 Score: Gary Thurman

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins

It was interesting to see baseball cards suddenly appear in 1993 for the two expansion teams that entered Major League Baseball that year: the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins. As such, there are far fewer cards here than for the other more established teams. These were the first teams to enter MLB since 1977 when Seattle and Toronto started up.  Anyway, here are the cards:

The Colorado Rockies:
1993 Leaf: Darryl Boston TRADED
1993 Pinnacle: Eric Wedge TRADED
1993 Topps: Travis Buckley, Curtis Leskanic TRADED
1993 Topps Stadium Club: Armando Reynoso, Jim Tatum TRADED
1994 Score: Chris Jones, Steve Reed, Armando Reynoso, Freddie Benavides TRADED
1994 Upper Deck: Roberto Majia TRADED
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Dave Nied TRADED
1995 Donruss: Bruce Ruffin TRADED

The Florida Marlins:
1993 Topps: Chuck Carr TRADED
1994 Upper Deck: Ryan Bowen TRADED
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Luis Aquino TRADED
1994 Upper Deck Electric Diamond: Darrell Whitmore TRADED
1995 Fleer: Luis Aquino TRADED

Anyone see anything they want? You know the drill: contact me!

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Cleveland Indians

All of these Cleveland Indians baseballs cards from 1982-1995, have been claimed and already mailed. But, because I had prepared the blog post I thought I'd still post it anyway so that you all could see what you were missing...

1982 Fleer: Ron Hassey
1987 Topps: Cory Snyder, Brook Jacoby, Andy Allanson, Brett Butler
1988 Donruss: Carmen Castillo
1988 Topps: Greg Swindell, Scott Bailes, Brook Jacoby
1989 Donruss: Greg Swindell
1989 Topps: Mel Hall (with forged signature), Mark Lewis
1990 Donruss: Greg Swindell (MVP, BC-10), Jerry Browne, Dion James, Scott Bailes
1990 Fleer: Dave Clark, Pete O'Brien, Joel Skinner (2), Greg Swindell
1990 Score: Greg Swindell
1990 Topps: John Farrell, Kevin Wickander
1991 Donruss: Mark Lewis, Joel Skinner, Brook Jacoby, Chris James, Colby Ward, Dion James  (with forged signature)
1991 Fleer: Joel Skinner
1991 Fleer Ultra: Felix Fermin
1991 Score: Jerry Browne, Jesse Orosco (3), Tim Costo, Efrain Valdez
1991 Topps: Tim Costo, Charles Nagy
1991 Upper Deck: Mark Lewis, Tim Costo, Cory Snyder
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Mark Whiten, Mark Lewis
1992 Fleer: Shawn Hillegas, Rod Nichols
1992 Score: Doug Jones, Shawn Hillegas, Reggie Jefferson
1992 Topps: Reggie Jefferson, Rod Nichols (2), Chris James (2)
1992 Topps Gold: Jesse Orosco
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Chris James, Shawn Hillegas, Brook Jacoby
1993 Fleer: Reggie Jefferson, Ted Power
1993 Pinnacle: Dave Mlicki
1993 Score: Mark Lewis, Jack Armstrong
1993 Topps: Carlos Martinez, Dennis Cook, Rod Nichols, Charles Nagy
1994 Fleer Ultra: Chad Ogea
1994 Score: Candy Maldonado, Derek, Lilliquist, Jerry DiPoto
1995 Score: Julian Tavarez
1995 Topps Stadium Club: Paul Sorrento
1995 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Herbert Perry

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Cincinnati Reds

Please note that while many Cincinnati Reds baseball cards are listed below, some of the cards have already been send away to a new home. That's how much in demand these cards are. Please note that one of the Jose Rijo cards is "signed" and when I say "signed" I mean that the signature is forged. These cards came from a friend so it might have been him, or maybe his brother. Maybe I should've just chucked it? But maybe someone out there collect's cards with forged signatures made by 8-10 year olds?

1987 Topps: Ron Oester, Eddie Milner
1988 Donruss: Ron Robinson
1988 Topps: Ron Oester, Ted Power, Nick Esasky, Ron Robinson, Rob Murphy
1988 Topps Traded: Jose Rijo
1989 Donruss: Bo Diaz
1989 Topps: Rob Dibble, Danny Jackson
1990 Donruss: Tim Birtsas
1990 Fleer: Jack Armstrong
1990 Topps: Eric Davis (All-Star)
1991 Donruss: Billy Hatcher, Randy Myers, Glenn Braggs
1991 Fleer: Keith Brown, Rob Dibble, Jeff Reed
1991 O-Pee-Chee: Reggie Sanders TRADED
1991 Score: Mariano Duncan, Ron Oester, Glenn Sutko, Bill Doran, Luis Quinones (2)
1991: Score Dream Team: Randy Myers
1991 Topps: Rick Mahler
1991 Upper Deck: Jose Rijo
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Paul O'Neill, Dan Wilson
1992 Fleer: Freddie Benavides, Glenn Braggs, Mariano Duncan
1992 Fleer Ultra: Rob Dibble
1992 Score: Eric Davis, Scott Scudder, Jose Rijo, Mariano Duncan, Glenn Braggs
1992 Topps: Randy Myers (2), Glenn Braggs, Terry Lee, Kip Gross, Steve Foster TRADED, Norm Charlton, Mo Sanford, Rob Dibble, Hal Morris
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Scott Ruskin
1992 Upper Deck: Glenn Braggs
1993 Donruss: Jose Rijo
1993 Fleer: Freddie Benavides TRADED
1993 Leaf: Joe Oliver TRADED
1993 Score: Dwayne Henry, Rob Dibble (2) TRADED
1993 Score Select: Hal Morris, Bip Roberts
1993 Topps: Reggie Sanders, Jose Rijo, Bill Doran
1994 Score: Tom Browning TRADED
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Roberto Mejia TRADED
1995 Donruss: Brian Dorsett
1995 Fleer: Hall Morris, Deion Sanders TRADED
1995 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Jose Rijo
1996 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: John Smiley

Classic 1980s and early 1990s Reds here from Bo Diaz to Eric Davis to Glenn Braggs and the Nasty Boys. (So... they'd have to address her as Ms. Jackson, cause they're nasty).


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A Strawberry Surprise

P-Town Tom, of Waitin' Till Next Year, sent me a little PWE Strawberry surprise the other day. And I think he might be a mind reader. I recently had my first real, intensive brush with baseball cards from 1991-1996 as I was sorted a shoebox of baseball cards that a friend gave to me. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of sorting the cards by team and learning some of the design characteristics of the period. Most of the card designs were fine, but it was Fleer's 1995 that was giving me epileptic fits of ocular displeasure. But in also sorting through them, I coincidentally took a look at the 1995 Darryl Strawberry cards that I have and discovered I got acquire the bulk of his cards for this year pretty cheap as there are so few (tradingcarddb lists only 25 cards - and most of them are base & parallels). So I put in an order via COMC which included this dreaded 1995 Fleer and wiped my hands clean.

But, Tom in his prescience had picked up said Fleer plus two others: the 1993 Upper Deck Diamond Gallery card with a hologram and, as well, a 1998 Bowman.

I still struggle mightily seeing Strawberry in the Dodgers uniform. I just always consider him a Mets. This is perhaps unfair of me.

Ok. 1995. I scanned this card and looked at it at super 100% view in Photoshop. I found it really intriguing and it certainly might have seemed sophisticated for the time? Anyone know? I mean, it seems like opinions are instantly proffered these days for card designs but am not sure if they were reviewed contemporaneously.

Inverting the color profile and using 3-D Technology, I separated the layers.  I used Photoshop to restitch together the pieces and to my surprise, the image that appeared was the Wanted poster for Mama Fratelli in from The Goonies;

Uncanny, right?

For some reason I'm more comfortable with Strawberry in a Giants uni than the others if he's not being a Mets. He played just 29 games for the Giants in 1994 so it was nice of the card makers to issue him a 1995 card even though he was released by the Giants in early February of that year before signing with the New York Yankees.

The only thing stranger than Strawberry wearing a Dodgers uniform is him wearing a Yankees uniform.But, at least the backs of these Bowman cards offers a different perspective on the player's previous years performance. Big fan of this manner of stats presentation.

All the cards are very welcome additions to my collection. I can't help but thing that the 1993 hologram was was very technologically cool at the time. It's kind of still really cool to me now.

Thanks Tom! You rock!

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Chicago White Sox

UPDATE: ALL OF THESE CARDS HAVE BEEN TRADED. Sorry. -- 25 November 2016

Neil Allen looks like he's got wings, like Gidget the flying nun, in his 1987 Topps card. But, check this out, a whole slew of Chicago White Sox cards -- all free for the taking if you want them -- from 1987 to 1995.  Great players in this batch of cards!

1987 Topps: Neil Allen, White Sox Team Leaders, Ron Karkovice
1988 Topps: Steve Lyons, Fred Manrique, Ozzie Guillen
1989 Donruss: Steve Lyons
1989 Topps: Fred Manrique (2), Lance Johnson, Steve Lyons, Ken Patterson
1990 Donruss: Greg Hibbard, Carlos Martinez
1990 Fleer: Eric King
1990 Topps: Bobby Thigpen
1991 Donruss: Dan Pasqua, Greg Hibbard, Ivan Calderon, Lance Johnson
1991 Score: Bobby Thigpen (1990 Highlight), Phil Bradley, Melido Perez (No-Hit Club), Jerry Kutzler, Ron Karkovice
1991 Topps: Melido Perez
1991 Upper Deck: Ken Patterson, Steve Lyons
1992 Score: Scott Fletcher, Dan Pasqua (2), Charlie Hough, Wilson Alvarez (No-Hit Club)
1992 Topps: Donn Pall (name in gold), Ron Karkovice, Brian Drahman, Wilson Alvarez, Greg Hibbard, Matt Merullo
1992 Upper Deck: Bob Wickman, Lance Johnson, Jack McDowell
1993 Score: Ron Karkovice, Wilson Alvarez
1993 Score Select: Lance Johnson, Roberto Hernandez
1993 Topps: Craig Grebeck, Jack McDowell, Donn Pall
1993 Topps Stadium Club: Dave Stieb
1994 Score: Jack McDowell (2)
1995 Topps Stadium Club: Jack McDowell, Wilson Alvarez
1995 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Jack McDowell (Special edition blue)

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are very well represented with cards from this shoebox of baseball cards: starting with a loner from 1982 and then the rest from 1988 to 1996. We got 'em all here: Topps, Fleer, Score, Donruss, and Upper Deck.

Classic commons & a couple of guys that made something of their careers.

1982 Topps: Steve Henderson
1988 Topps: Les Lancaster, Frank DiPino, Luis Quinones
1989 Score: Doug Dascenzo, Mike Harkey
1989 Topps: Shawon Dunston
1990 Donruss: Mitch Williams (2), Vance Law (2)
1990 Topps: Marvell Wynne, Paul Assenmacher, Steve Wilson
1991 Fleer: Doug Dascenzo
1991 Score: Derrick May, Curtis Wilkerson, Rick Sutcliffe, Damon Berryhill (2)
1991 Topps: Luis Salazar (2)
1991 Upper Deck: Jerome Walton
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Lance Dickson, Shawon Dunston, Shawn Boskie
1992 Fleer: Dwight Smith
1992 Score: Mike Harkey, Jose Vizcaino, Les Lancaster, Chuck McElroy, Ced Landrum, Shawn Boskie
1992 Topps: Ced Landrum, Dwight Smith, Les Lancaster, Chico Walker, Doug Dasenzo (name in gold foil-like stuff)
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Les Lancaster, Shawn Boskie
1992 Upper Deck: Ryan Hawblitzel
1993 Fleer: Jim Bullinger, Dwight Smith
1993 Topps: Chuck McElroy, Matt Walbeck
1994 Score: Mike Morgan
1994 Topps Stadium Club: Greg Hibbard
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Brooks Kieschnick
1995 Fleer: Jose Bautista, Brooks Kieschnick
1995 Score: Randy Myers TRADED
1995 Topps Stadium Club: Steve Trachsel
1996 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Matt Franco

Ryan Hawblitzel!  Sounds like one of Santa's Reindeer's! & no, not "that" Jose Bautista...

And don't forget, if you're a Ryne Sandberg collector, I've got some cards for you to consider...

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: California/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

To be honest, I wasn't sure whether to post this under California, Anaheim, or Los Angeles and so decided to post it under California, which is what the teams name was back when these cards were in production. These Angels teams finished solidly in the middle of the AL West pack from 1988 to 1995, though with two outstanding last place finishes in 1991 and 1994.

1988 Donruss: Mike Witt, Wally Joyner, Brian Downing
1988 Topps: Brian Downing, Gus Polidor
1989 Donruss: Brian Downing
1989 Score: DeWayne Buice
1989 Topps: Jim Eppard, Jack Lazorko
1989 Upper Deck: DeWayne Buice 1990 Fleer: Brian Downing
1990 Score: Kirk McCaskill TRADED, Brian Downing
1990 Topps: Greg Minton, Willie Fraser
1991 Donruss: Jack Howell (2), Dick Schofield (3)
1991 Fleer: Dick Schofield, Angels Team Logo Sticker
1991 Score: Dante Bichette, Devon White, Scott Lewis, Gary DiSarcina, Chili Davis, Jack Howell (2)
1991 Topps: Brian Downing, Willie Fraser`
1991 Topps Cracker Jack I: Mark Langston  TRADED
1991 Upper Deck: Chuck Finley (Checklist), Dick Schofield, Luis Sojo
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Bryan Harvey, Lance Parrish
1992 Score: Gary Gaetti, Luis Polonia, Kirk McCaskill TRADED,, Luis Sojo, Scott Lewis, Donnie Hill (2), Dave Gallagher, Lance Parrish, Scott Bailes
1992 Topps: Buck Rodgers, Luis Polonia, Scott Bailes, Luis Sojo (2), Kirk McCaskill, Dave Gallagher (2)
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Lance Parrish, John Orton, Hubie Brooks
1992 Upper Deck: Joe Grahe, Tim Salmon (Checklist)
1993 Donruss: Reggie Williams
1993 Pinnacle: Julio Valera
1993 Score: Junior Felix TRADED
1993 Score Select: Bryan Harvey
1993 Upper Deck: Jim Abbott (Community Heroes)
1994 Fleer Ultra: Joe Grahe
1994 Score: Luis Polonia, Steve Frey (2)
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Hilly Hathaway
1995 Score: Chris Turner, Rex Hudler

I wonder if Bichette means "Little Bitch" or "Small Bitch"?

Like the other cards - a lot of nobodies in here but if anyone wants any of them let me know. I predict there will be more interest in that Fleer sticker than in any of the players.  Do you like these place-mats better than the solid red ones?

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Boston Red Sox

Some classic Boston Red Sox commons here. Who doesn't want another Todd Benzinger in their collection? Or everyone's favorite - a manager card for John McNamara! Anyone, anyone? Hello?

1995 Fleer gives me seizures.

1987 Topps: Kevine Romine, Ed Romero
1988 Donruss: Spike Owen
1988 Topps: Todd Benzinger, Bruce Hurst, Wes Gardner, Rich Gedman, Steve Crawford, Marc Sullivan, John McNamara, Tom Bolton, Marty Barrett, Calvin Schiraldi
1989 Donruss: Mike Greenwell (MVP, BC-13)
1989 Topps: Rick Cerone, Spike Owen, Marty Barrett, Dennis Lamp, Tom Bolton (2), Steve Curry (2), Todd Benzinger, Carlos Quintana (2)
1990 Fleer: John Dopson, Nick Esasky. Jody Reed
1990 Topps: Marty Barrett, Joe Price
1991 Donruss: John Dopson, Gregg Harris
1991 Fleer: Dana Kiecker, Luis Rivera
1991 Score: Mike Rochford, Tony Pena, Danny Heep, John Marzano
1991 Topps: Greg Harris, Mike Boddicker, Tom Brunansky
1991 Upper Deck: Tim Naehring (2)
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Jody Reed, Scott Cooper
1992 Fleer: Carlos Quintana
1992 Score: Tom Brunansky, Tom Bolton, Danny Darwin, Carlos Quintana (3), Joe Hesketh, Kevin Morton, Bob Zupcic
1992 Topps: Dana Kiecker, Bob Zupcic, Joe Hesketh, John Marzano, Mike Gardiner
1992 Topps Gold: Dana Kiecker TRADED
1992 Upper Deck: Tony Pena, Tom Brunansky
1993 Pinnacle: Luis Rivera
1993 Score: Tony Pena TRADED
1994 Fleer Ultra: Paul Quantrill
1994 Score: Danny Darwin, Bob Zupcic (2)
1995 Fleer: Carlos Quintana

As per usual, if any cards listed here will fill in a need in your collection or will help to level out a wonky table, please do let me know!

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Baltimore Orioles

The following are Baltimore Orioles baseball cards from the shoebox. No Len Sakata or Al Bumbry - they were kind of before the time where these cards start. But these cards from 1988 when the Orioles really stunk playing in Memorial Stadium to 1995, a few years after the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and which were some better years of  to represent the more common players on those Orioles teams.

1988 Donruss: Terry Kennedy
1988 Fleer: Rene Gonzales
1988 Topps: Mike Young, Mark Williamson
1989 Score: Bob Milacki
1989 Topps: Jose Bautista
1990 Fleer: Dave Schmidt, Mickey Tettleton, Mark Williamson
1990 Score: Phil Bradley (Super Star)
1990 Topps: Bob Milacki, Jeff Ballard (All-Star)
1991 Donruss: Leo Gomez, Bob Milacki, Pete Harnisch, Jeff Ballard
1991 Fleer: Juan Bell
1991 Score: Dave Johnson, Mark Williamson, Rene Gonzalez, Leo Gomez (3)
1991 Topps: Mark Williamson
1991 Upper Deck: Dwight Evans
1992 Donruss Cracker Jack II: Gregg Olson TRADED
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Ben McDonald, Luis Mercedes
1992 Fleer: Leo Gomez
1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier: Chito Martinez
1992 Score: Mike Devereaux (3), Randy Milligan (2), Billy Ripken, Jeff Ballard, Jeff Robinson (3), Leo Gomez, Paul Kilgus, Sam Horn, Tim Hulett, Chito Martinez, Todd Forhwirth, Dave Johnson, Jim Poole
1992 Topps: Juan Bell, Glenn Davis, Brady Anderson, Gregg Olson, Chito Martinez, Arthur Rhodes
1993 Score: Alan Mills TRADED
1993 Score Select: Craig Lefferts, Leo Gomez
1993 Topps: Leo Gomez, Tim Hulett, Brady Anderson
1994 Score: Jeff Tackett TRADED
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Jeffrey Hammonds, Mark McLemore
1995 Fleer: Jamie Moyer
1995 Topps Stadium Club: Chris Hoiles (Virtual Reality) TRADED
1995 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Chris Hoiles (Special Edition, Silver Signature) TRADED

#BradyAndersonsSideburns

If any of these cards are interesting to anyone, contact me and let me know what you need for your collection. Don't forget I have a bunch of Cal Rikpen, Jr. cards that are mostly available for the taking!

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A Shoebox of Baseball Cards: Introduction & the Atlanta Braves

Last week a friend gave me a shoebox overflowing with baseball cards (some football, basketball and hockey, too...no girly cards: hit here for those...). I sorted through them over the weekend when I was generally making a nuisance of myself in my wife's presence or outside playing in the yard. This is the first post that will look at the cards in the box. If there are any that are of interest to any of you out there, contact me. I'm going to basically run through these sequentially and post every day or two. But, to mix it up, I'll chuck in a Darryl Strawberry post, too, because I know you love that the most.

Baseball cards & Bailey's: A Match made in heaven

Cards sorted...

As he and I are both archivists, I thought I'd start this post in the vernacular and spirit of the traditional archival finding aids.

Creator(s): Bowman, Donruss, Fleer, Pinnacle, Score, Topps, Upper Deck

Title: Johnson/Steinberg Card Collection

Dates: 1982-1996 (bulk 1991-1994)

Physical Description: 1 wonky shoe box

Scope and Content: The Johnson/Steinberg Card Collection, 1982-1996 (bulk 1990-1994), show baseball in a state many would no longer recognize. Representing long retired players, demolished stadiums, and defunct teams, these baseball cards record baseball history at the height of production and at a crossroads in the collecting field. Included in these monumental moments are the expansion teams Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins and the strike-shortened season of 1994 which makes some interesting reading on the 1995 card backs.

Condition Note: Many cards are in very good condition; however, some are in crap shape, #tbh. Like, for example, the only Darryl Strawberry has a tear in it. Thanks, d*ck. j/k, ha ha. Many cards contain forged signatures by the young owner, then a child, and makes for some laughable moments. Highlights will be included in the blog posts. Some cards have more wrinkles than Jim Leyland.

Organization: By team. Then by year, by maker, and then by card number

Restrictions on Access: None

Container list: The Atlanta Braves (1987-1995)

1987 Topps: Ken Oberkfell
1988 Topps: Andres Thomas, Charles Puleo, Dion James, Jeff Dedmon, Joe Boever

1989 Score: Derek Lilliquist
1990 Donruss: Andres Thomas, Derek Lilliquist, Jose Alvarez
1990 Fleer: Darrell Evans, Dale Murphy, Pete Smith
1991 Donruss: Jim Presley, Kent Mercker, Charlie Puleo
1991 Score: Jim Vatcher, Ron Gant (2), Tony Castillo (2), Andres Thomas
1991 Topps: Tony Castillo, Paul Marak
1991 Upper Deck: Jeff Treadway
1992 Donruss: Brian Hunter
1992 Donruss Triple Play: Lonnie Smith
1992 Score: Charlie Liebrandt, Sid Bream, Brian Hunter
1992 Topps: Tommy Gregg, Jim Clancy, Mike Heath, Armando Reynoso, Mark Wohlers
1992 Topps Stadium Club: Jeff Treadway, Rafael Belliard
1992 Upper Deck: Charlie Liebrandt, Otis Nixon
1993 Score Select: Ron Gant
1994 Donruss: Greg Olson, Mike Stanton TRADED
1994 Fleer Ultra: Terrell Wade
1994 Score: Rafael Belliard
1994 Upper Deck: Terrell Wade
1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice: Greg McMichael
1995 Fleer: Mark Wohlers
1995 Upper Deck: Jose Oliva

Not a great photo, but the Braves...

The interesting thing about these cards, for me, is that they largely pick up in 1991 where I dropped off after the 1990 collecting season. So in some ways there is a continuation of where I was as a 16 year old. (Though I'm more bald than I was then, and certainly less mature.) Sorting the cards, I learned so many different card designs which lends to the history of and adds perspective to the industry. And seeing all the players that were on some teams pre-1990 in different uniforms year after year was bizarre. For example, Vince Coleman will always be a St. Louis Cardinals player to me, not a New York Mets or Kansas City Royals member, as he is in these cards.

1995 Fleer can suck it. Worst freakin' card design of all time. On the other hand, 1992 Topps I completely love, especially those card backs that show the home stadium of the player depicted. I found this truly wonderful. The other thing I learned, which I think I knew anyway, is that the kiss of death for a player, more than likely, is being touted as a "Future Stars" or a "Rated Rookie". I guess a good baseball batting average is .275 and above. I'm not a betting many, but I'm betting Topps, Donruss, et. al. are batting closer to the Mendoza line on their ability to forecast who's going to be a star. #hensleymeulens.

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Some 1980s Darryl Strawberry Broder's

Another recent eBay purchase was eight 1980's no-border Broder baseball cards from Darryl Strawberry's heydey with the New York Mets. 11 cents a pop!...

I kind of got taken, though, as the sneaky eBay seller had red backgrounds or borders on a couple of the cards and so when the cards arrived, they didn't match and I ended up buying a dupe. I like the picture a lot, and at .11 cents I didn't really worry about it BUT, I certainly won't be buying from this seller again. It may be, of course, that I didn't pay close enough attention to the image on the card. I've actually always wondered if you, the people, have sellers that you like the buy from and if so, who are they? Feel free, please, to comment or email their names/stores/etc.

A list of the cards:

1986 Rob Broder, Card #NNO

1987 Broder Action Superstars Series III, Card #53
1987 Broder Action Superstars Series IV, Card #63 (2)

1988 Broder Action Superstars Series I, Card #14
1988 Broder Action Superstars Series II, Card #8
1988 Broder Classic Baseball Superstars I, Card #16
1988 Broder Classic Baseball Superstars II, Card #28

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... the images!

The second photo in the third row looks like he's deciding if he finally has enough chin hair to start shaving. I wonder, in the first card in the last row, who he's about to smooch?

The backs are so boring I fell asleep scanning them so didn't include them. If anyone feels shorted by this omission, please send me a check for $49.99 and I'll scan them and post them immediately.

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Darryl Strawberry 1988 Nova by Star

Continuing the 1980s Star posts of Darryl Strawberry baseball cards, this post features the 1988 Nova by Star series of cards numbered 10 to 18. The checklist on tradingcarddb.com is incomplete but other players in the Nova set include Don Mattingly (19-27), Gregg Jeffries (46-54), and Kirby Puckett (55-63). Each player series thus appears to have 9 cards each.

On the web, there is a lot of confusion about this set as I've seen it listed as both 1988 and 1988-1989.  Even PSA graded cards are stated, on the little sticker-bit, sometimes 1988 and sometimes 1988-89... So what's a sucka supposed to do?

I did a little digging using the Google machine and found a number of other players with cards in this set:

(1-9)
Darryl Strawberry (10-18)
Don Mattingly (19-27)
(28-36)
(37-54)
Gregg Jeffries (46-54)
Kirby Puckett (55-63)
Orel Hersheiser (64-72)
Wade Boggs (73-81)
(82-90)
(91-99)
(100-108)
(109-117)
Ken Griffey Jr. (118-126)

Others that appear to have been in the set, but for whom I can't verify are: Sandy Alomar, Jr., Jose Canseco, Will Clark, Roger Clemens, Eric Davis, Bo Jackson, Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt, Gary Sheffield. This is, of course, more players than there are card ranges and I'm pretty sure Alomar Jr. wasn't one of them because he play all of 1 game in 1988 and he didn't really have meaningful cards until 1989. Actually, the same might go for Griffey, Jr. Oh, I don't know... Anyone got any concrete information (or cards!)??

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