Player Collection Spotlight–Tom Seaver

In this series, I randomly select a card from my player collections and show it off here. Being that it’s random, it could be a base, insert, parallel, auto, relic or any other kind of card I have. It could be from Paul Konerko, Tom Seaver, Billy Williams, Dave Dravecky and even Mike Hart or Peyton Manning. I will put a mark next to it on my PC list so it doesn’t get repeated.

2011 Topps Update Diamond Parallel – Tom Seaver

1981 Topps–Christenson, Salazar, Keough, Parrott

I’m collecting the 1981 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Larry Christenson – Philadelphia Phillies – Card #346
• Purchase Price – $.05 (Ebay lot 100/$4.99)

For the record, I prefer these Phillies uniforms.  Not that I don’t like their current ones, just prefer these.  Maybe it just feels more old school.

• Card Facts – Luis Salazar – San Diego Padres – Card #309
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Manupatches & Mustaches”)

Speaking of old school uniforms.  No, I don’t really like these.  Can’t think of any Padres uniforms I like but there may be some out there.  Actually, I take that back, I like the camouflage ones.  So sue me.

• Card Facts – Matt Keough – Oakland A’s – Card #301
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

A rare action shot for the ‘81’s.  Nothing says 70’s like the A’s uniforms.

• Card Facts – Mike Parrott – Seattle Mariners – Card #187
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

Powder blues, oh yeah.  Love the old school Mariners logo on his shoulder.  Just watched the movie 50/50 and the main character had a Mariners hat with that logo and I even told my wife that I liked that logo.

• Cards posted in this set – 50
• Total price paid – $1.94
• Average price per card – $0.04
• Cards left to post – 676
• Percentage posted – 50/726 (7% posted)
• Percentage completed – 483/726 (67% completed)

Percentage posted up a percent.  Went to 4 cards per post so I’m not on these all year long.

1973 Topps–Holtzman, Barber, Murcer, Grote

I’m collecting the 1973 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Ken Holtzman – Oakland A’s – Card #60
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Crinkly Wrappers”)

It’s funny how this set goes from some great action shots, to poised shots.  I’ve always had a soft spot for the A’s.  But I think it’s because I feel bad that they have to wear those colors together.

• Card Facts – Steve Barber – California Angels – Card #36
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Royals and Randoms”)

Now there’s an action shot.  Much better than the first card.  Although I’m not sure I like the shadow pic in the bottom corner.  His arm looks twice as long as it should be.  Either that, or he’s got something coming out of his leg.

• Card Facts – Bobby Murcer – New York Yankees – Card #240
• Purchase Price – $.11 (Ebay lot 40/$4.25)

I know this name.  Of course, he’s a Yankee so I probably heard it on ESPN back in 1973.

• Card Facts – Jerry Grote – New York Mets – Card #113
• Purchase Price – $.11 (Ebay lot 40/$4.25)

Well, at least his pose has to do with his position.

• Cards posted in this set – 45
• Total price paid – $6.49
• Average price per card – $0.14
• Cards left to post – 639 (including NNO Checklists)
• Percentage posted – 44/684 (6% posted)
• Percentage completed – 93/684 (14% completed)

Price per card went down a penny with the 2 trade cards and the lower cost ($.11/each) of the other 2.  I went with 4 cards and will from now on.  I’m not getting a huge amount of traffic from these posts anyways,  Not that I do them for the traffic, but that’s how it is.  The more I post at once, the quicker I’ll get these posted.  I enjoy going through each card one at a time but at over 600 cards, I don’t want to be doing this for over a year or more.  I won a 15 card lot on ebay pretty cheap.  I didn’t look to see if I had them all, but I figured I only have 14% so chances are I needed most if not all.

Have you seen the 2012’s yet?

I got my 2012 cards from Kyle over at “JABO’s” who held a box break.  I also had the Cubs and Tigers but I set those aside for trades so I won’t bother showing those.  You might have seen some 2012’s, I think there has been a post or 2 out there in blog-o-land.  But I will show the White Sox portion of the break because it’s my blog and I want too.  And yes, I’m going to show every Sox card (minus duplicates).

These are the base cards.  I do believe it’s a whole team set.  Last time I looked, www.teamsets4u.com didn’t have them listed yet, but I’ve seen team sets listed on ebay at 11 cards, so there is my brilliant detective work.

Here’s the inserts and parallel’s.  Love the Aparicio, I’m really close to pulling the trigger on starting a player collection of him.  After researching him for my Today’s 9 series, I’ve really gotten into him as a player and his cards.

And 2 cards for my current player collections.  Luckily I got 2 Konerko’s so I was able to fill both.  Only 1 of the Seaver so I need another one for my team collection as I always fill my player collections first.  I’ve been watching some of the relic cards on ebay, they aren’t real high dollar but higher than I’m willing to pay.  I can wait them out till they drop.  I’d really like the Aparicio with the ring, and I know there is another Gold Standard Seaver in his Reds uniform and a Frank Thomas in that same set that I need to get.  I haven’t investigated enough to know what all Sox cards are out there from this set.

Thanks for the break Kyle, I look forward to the next one, which I’m already signed up for.

Today’s 9–Mark Buehrle

I keep my White Sox collection by players last name. When that player reaches 9 cards (a page), they get a post in the Today’s 9 series. I just recently moved all my cards into alphabetical order so most of these posts are just catching up and making sure everybody get’s their due.

MARK   BUEHRLE

Cards (L-R) – (top row) 2002 Donruss, 2002 Topps Heritage, 2002 Upper Deck Diamond Collection

(middle row) 2003 Fleer Tradition, 2003 Topps, 2003 Upper Deck First Pitch

(bottom row) 2003 Upper Deck MVP, 2004 Topps, 2004 Upper Deck

Played with the Sox from 2000-2011

Has made 4 All-Star appearances over his career and has take home a gold glove in his last 3 seasons.  Led the league in innings pitched in 2004 and 2005.  Mark threw a no-hitter against the Rangers with one walk in 2007 and also threw only the 18th perfect game in MLB history in 2009 against the Rays.

Card back info –

“Mark stepped up as the White Sox’ most reliable starting pitcher in ‘01, his first full big league season.  He debuted for the Sox in ‘00 at age 21, and became the primary left-handed setup man, but moved, into the rotation in ‘01.  A native of Missouri and the 38th round pick of the Sox in ‘98, Mark won five straight starts from 5/26/01 to 6/18/01.” – 2002 Topps Heritage

“It had been a while since a White Sox lefty went for 16 victories (Floyd Bannister did it in 1987), but Buehrle ended the drought with a monumental effort in 2001.  Buehrle made his second Major League season a great one, and his third should be even better” – 2002 Upper Deck

“Buehrle tied with three other American League pitchers to finish fourth in the AL in wins with 19.  His 3.58 ERA ranked in 13th in the AL and he finished just one-third of an inning behind Roy Halladay for the lead in innings pitched” – 2003 Fleer Tradition

“Mark, a low draftpick in 1998, rose to stardom in a flash.  In 2002, he made the All-Star team after winning 11 games in the first half.  “It shows kids you can accomplish something even if you’re picked in the 38th round” Buehrle says.  Noted teammate Royce Clayton, “He could have made it last year (too), He’s one of the top young left-handers in the game.”” – 2003 Topps

“There’s no doubt that Buehrle is the ace of Chicago’s pitching staff.  In 2002, the talented lefty paced the club in wins for the second straight season while earning his first trip to the midsummer classic.  Everything was working for Buehrle in a matchup with the Twins on 7/30/02.  In that contest, he wrapped up his first shutout of the year by holding the AL Central champs to just five hits.” – 2003 Upper Deck

“Last year, Buehrle just missed out on becoming the White Sox’s first 20-game winner since 1993.  He did tie for fourth in the American League in victories and second to both complete games (five) and shutouts (two).  Buehrle’s production of such a young age has Chicago fans excited about his future potential.” – 2003 Upper Deck MVP

“Mark’s 2003 season was less consistent than his previous two but along with Bartolo Colon, he’s considered one of the Sox’s dual aces.  That was made clear when he was named the first lefty to start back-to-back Opening Days for Chicago since Wilbur Wood (1972-76).  One of Buehrle’s specialties is controlling the running game.  No one even tried to steal against him in ‘03 until his 16th start.” – 2004 Topps

“Buehrle’s 2003 campaign was filled with peaks and valleys.  July brought him good fortune though as he compiled a 4-0 record, 23 K’s and 3.19 era in six starts.” – 2004 Upper Deck

Cards in Sox uniform that I own currently – 70

Autos/Relics from player above that I currently own - 4

What can I say about Buehrle.  My favorite White Sox pitcher in the last 20 years or so.  Only person I liked more was Tom Seaver but Mark Buehrle was a White Sox all the way up until this coming season of 2012.  A true White Sox player, drafted and played 12 years with us.  Signing away to the Marlins after the 2011 season.  He was a typical crafty left hander, who mixed all his pitches and made you think.  His fastball was in the 80’s so he was far from a flamethrower.

What I liked most about him when he pitched was he didn’t screw around.  When the catcher throws that ball back to him, he catches it and steps on the rubber and waits on the sign.  No fuss, he went out there to do a job and that’s what he did.  He’s had his ups and downs with us, but whether he was on or not, he gave you 110%.  That’s all I can ask from a player.

I have lots more to say about Mark but I have a number of completed pages yet to post so I’ll save for those.