It took six ballots, but Billy Williams was finally elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987—eleven years after he played his last game. Many thought the decade-long wait was an unjustified limbo for an 18-year big leaguer who recorded 2,711 career hits, a .290 lifetime batting average, 426 home runs and .853 career OPS. That’s more career hits than Mickey … [Read more...] about The Humblest Hall of Famer – 6 Career Chronicling Cards of Billy Williams
Six Career Chronicling Cards of No. 6 – Tony Oliva
One might assume winning the Rookie of the Year award puts a player on the fast-track to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. For Tony Oliva, it was the jumpstart he needed—but for most, it’s anything but a guarantee of having a bust in the most sacred of baseball fraternities. Established as a national award in 1947, Jackie Robinson was the inaugural winner and would … [Read more...] about Six Career Chronicling Cards of No. 6 – Tony Oliva
2015 Bowman Draft Held Strong Class of Future Big Leaguers
Fine wines get better with time as tannins mellow. This is because skin tannins start out extremely astringent, making a wine taste coarse and rough at first. Bowman Draft Baseball products follow a less tasty but similar process--the prospects develop in the minor leagues, much like a fine wine aging in a cellar--then are selected when the time is deemed right. It can seem … [Read more...] about 2015 Bowman Draft Held Strong Class of Future Big Leaguers
Minnie Minoso – Nine Cards that Chronicle the Career of #9
It’s said that if you do what you love, you’ll never work another day in your life. If that’s the case, Minnie Minoso wrote the book on having fun on the job. Having played major league baseball in five different decades (1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s), Minoso’s longevity epitomized his passion for the game. His debut came in 1949 with Cleveland, while his last major league … [Read more...] about Minnie Minoso – Nine Cards that Chronicle the Career of #9
10 Career Chronicling Cards of Buster Posey
Name an offensive or defensive award in baseball and it’s likely you can find at least one in Buster Posey’s trophy case. MVP? Check—won it in 2012, one of two catchers to win the award in the last two decades. He also won the batting title that season, hitting .336. Rookie of the Year? Yep, he has that one too, winning the award in 2010 en route to helping the San … [Read more...] about 10 Career Chronicling Cards of Buster Posey
Once-in-a-Lifetime Chicago Bears/Decatur Staleys Photograph Surfaces
One hundred years ago, football was known as a college game. Rivalries drew thousands of fans to campuses from coast to coast but a professional league was considered a fly by night venture at best. Teams sprung up in unlikely places. Green Bay, WI. Akron, OH. Rock Island, IL. Dayton, OH. Decatur, IL. Now, a photo of one of those first squads--a team … [Read more...] about Once-in-a-Lifetime Chicago Bears/Decatur Staleys Photograph Surfaces
Padres Pitcher/Collector Matt Strahm Hosting Sports Card Show
Every aficionado has their TV show favorites—food lovers have cooking shows, motorheads have shows about cars, while animal lovers can pick between a variety of options for content on their furry friends. But what about sports card collectors? Every once in a while, a show like Pawn Stars or Storage Wars features an episode where a haul of rare cards are found in a storage … [Read more...] about Padres Pitcher/Collector Matt Strahm Hosting Sports Card Show
Bill James and the Miracle Braves of 1914 – The Unlikeliest of Champions
Bill James is a significant name in the history of baseball. It’s often associated with the father of sabermetrics, but is a name known in baseball circles long before the acclaimed statistician ever put pen to paper. Born in 1892 in Iowa Hill, CA, the "other" Bill James was the son of a miner chasing the lure of the gold rush. A booming town at the time, Iowa Hill was once … [Read more...] about Bill James and the Miracle Braves of 1914 – The Unlikeliest of Champions
1991 Topps Turns 30 – Rip for Chip? Or Hunt for Errors?
For a release that features a slew of variations for its time, 1991 Topps served as an early preview of how baseball cards would evolve into the future—whether they intended it or not in some cases. While Chipper Jones may be the only Hall of Fame rookie card in the set, printing errors led to a number of variations that have become sought after. Some of the these are more … [Read more...] about 1991 Topps Turns 30 – Rip for Chip? Or Hunt for Errors?
A Divine Collection? Priest Auctioning Off His Vintage Baseball Cards to Benefit Low-Income Students
Many cosmologies revolve around helping the less fortunate, a principle that is embraced by Christians during the 40-day liturgical season of Lent. Some give up luxuries like coffee, others alcohol—but some use the time to look beyond themselves in an effort to provide for those who may not have many luxuries at all. Father John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul … [Read more...] about A Divine Collection? Priest Auctioning Off His Vintage Baseball Cards to Benefit Low-Income Students