Hall of Fame Cards

Reactions to the 2010 Hall of Fame announcement and a look ahead

2010-01-07T12:06:00.002-06:00

As you can see below from my previous post, this year's vote went almost exactly as I had hoped! I plan to make the journey to Cooperstown in New York for the Hawk's induction ceremony. I'm now hoping that the Cubs will retire #8 later this summer.

I expected that Bert Blyleven would join him, but he came up painfully short--a mere 5 votes. He will certainly get in next year, along with Robbie Alomar. I was somewhat surprised to see Barry Larkin only garner a little more than 50% of the votes, but that number bodes well for his chances in the future. Edgar Martinez's vote totals show that a significant percentage of Hall voters are amenable to a full-time DH joining the ranks of baseball's elite. It was also encouraging to see Tim Raines' numbers increase this year--he is very underated and warrants induction.

Next year's ballot will include these worthy players, along with some interesting first-time candidates, including Jeff Bagwell, John Franco, Juan Gonzalez, Larry Walker, and Rafael Palmeiro. I think only Bagwell stands a reasonable chance of making it on the first ballot, but Palmeiro's vote total will be quite interesting.

My 2010 Hall of Fame Ballot

2009-12-27T09:00:00.003-06:00

On January 6, the Hall of Fame class of 2010 will be announced. Given the name of this blog, you know that this topic is most interesting to me. First-timers on the ballot include Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, Fred McGriff, and Edgar Martinez, among others. Holdovers include Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines, Mark McGwire, Alan Trammell, and Lee Smith, among others.

Up front, I must disclaim that I am a long-time suffering Cubs fan. However, this has no bearing on the first person on my ballot: Andre Dawson. 438 homers, 314 steals, eight Gold Gloves, a Rookie of Year award, an MVP award, and stellar defense are all you need to know about Dawson to place him in the Hall. His intangibles, though, are what makes him one of my most favorite ballplayers--he was a pillar in the clubhouse, and a mentor to young players such as Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace. The fact that he has been shunned from Cooperstown for this amount of time is mind-boggling to me. Here's hoping that 2010 is THE YEAR for Andre.

There are also three additional carry-over candidates that I feel are worthy of enshrinement. Bert Blyleven gained little notoriety during his year. As I have noted here before, had he played for Boston, Chicago, or New York, he would certainly be in the Hall already. His 287 wins, 60 career shutouts, and 3701 career strikeouts make him Hall-worthy in my mind. Another contemporary of Blyleven's, Jack Morris, similarly deserves enshrinement for his stellar career statistics and playoff performances. I will continue to campaign for Alan Trammell as well, despite what I perceive as little chance that he will ever get in, unless the Veteran's Committee is reorganized in the next 20 years. Trammell was overshadowed by Cal Ripken at the time, but Trammell's 6 All Star game appearances, 4 Gold Gloves, and 3 Silver Sluggers demonstrates that he was in Ripken's class.

Although they would not receive my vote, I feel that two specialists of sorts on the ballot warrant discussion. Lee Smith was the all-time saves leader for a time, but has seen little increase in voter support since Bruce Sutter and Goose Gossage were enshrined. I do not believe Smith will make the Hall, because while he accumulated an impressive number of saves, he was a traditional one-inning stopper and never had the opportunity to build a solid body of postseason work like Mariano Rivera. Harold Baines may be one of the two best designated hitters of all time (see below for the other), but I cannot yet bring myself to find that a full-time DH is Hall worthy.

From the first year candidates, there are two infielders deserving. Roberto Alomar stands the better chance of being elected in his first year, but I anticipate that it may take an additional year or two before he gains 75% of the vote, based on his off-the-field issues and the infamous spitting incident. But his statistics cannot be ignored--he is clearly Hall material. I consider him one of the three best 2B of my lifetime, along with Craig Biggio and Ryne Sandberg. Barry Larkin was an MVP caliber player and the clear leader of the Reds in the late 80s and 90s. While his career statistics may seem short, one must remember that he was almost annually an NL All Star and that injuries cut short his career. Edgar Martinez does not get my vote for the same reasons as Baines. Fred McGriff is just short of Hall worthy in my mind, similar to Dale Murphy and Don Mattingly in my mind.

I will post my reactions to the January 6th announcement in the days that follow. Here's to a Happy 2010.

Latest Santo Addition (sort of): 1963 Topps

2009-11-16T17:00:00.004-06:00

One of Topps' patented tricks in the 1960s was to feature the wrong player picture on a card front, with the error going uncorrected. While the value of these cards isn't terribly significant (since they were never corrected), it still makes for interesting collecting experiences. This weekend I was rummaging my way through a box of 1960s common cards at a Detroit area card store. Then, I came across this beauty:

I knew at once it was Ron Santo. While Santo's official card was #252 in the '63 set, he was also featured on teammate Don Landrum's card #113. The statistical difference between the two is hard to understate: in 1963, Landrum hit .242 with 1 HR and 10 RBI. Santo, on the other hand, hit .297 with 25 HR, 99 RBI, an All-Star appearance, and was #8 in NL MVP voting.

Fun finds from some old school wax packs

2009-11-01T08:32:00.006-06:00

My lovely wife and I had the chance to visit my favorite card shop yesterday. I told her to select some packs from the $.50 pile. For $4, we ended up with about 100 cards. Today, kids are lucky to get a pack of 8 cards for that price, hoping for that hit autograph or relic card. Call me old school, but I would rather pay $.50 a pack and get a couple Darrin Fletchers or Scott Bankheads!

Without further ado, here are some of the highlights. I never collected the Topps Big set when I was younger, so I struck a little gold with some of my favorites, particularly Alan Trammell.

The next packs ended up as duplicates for me...I had neglected to remember that I had already collected the monster 990 card 1991 Score set back in the day. But still, it's good to see a Hall of Famer and future Hall member in my pack.

Those dream team cards from the 91 Score set are terrific, aren't they?

And finally, two additional packs netted two Hall of Famers--Henderson from the 1995 Fleer set and Ryan from the 1991 Ultra set.

Sometimes the best part of collecting is ripping some old wax to see what bargains you might find!

What Gives, Topps? Angst from a Sandberg collector.

2009-10-16T17:47:00.006-05:00

I've previously gone on record with my lack of enthusiasm for Topps' pervasive use of variation cards throughout its regular 2009 set. Now, the trend continues with the Topps Updates and Highlights set. Like a good Sandberg fan, I diligently picked up the variation card in the regular season set--it is always a treat to pick up a Sandberg card in the sharp 2009 design.

So Topps, in what is definitely a novel idea, inserts "traded" versions of the same subjects (with some exceptions) in its Update set. And to my surprise, Sandberg is featured again, but this time in a Phillies uni!

Certain readers of this blog know that there are only a few Phillies Sandberg cards in the market, so I was looking forward to picking this one up. But wait, that image looks familiar, doesn't it? You bet it does, courtesy of the 2007 eTopps Cards That Never Were collection.

Come on, Topps. I like the idea, but not the execution. For player collectors, we would like to see what should be a relatively rare card seem truly rare, not an afterthought. Still, an addition to the Sandberg collection, nonetheless.

New Sandberg Addition: 2009 Tristar Obak SP with Josh Vitters

2009-10-13T17:36:00.002-05:00

As promised, here is the other half of the Tristar Obak Sandberg additions. Hopefully Vitters will become even half of the player that Ryno was.

New Sandberg Addition: 2009 Tristar Obak

2009-10-11T12:58:00.004-05:00

I'll admit that I've never been a fan of the Tristar cards before. I consider them pre-rookie cards, since the players are not featured in MLB uniforms or with the parent MLB clubs. But the new/retro Obak set is an exception because of the terrific players featured, most notably Ryne Sandberg in an OKC 89'ers uni.

However, this is not Sandberg's first card in an 89ers uniform. Those serious collectors probably know of his rare 1981 TCMA card. That one still eludes my collection, so I will enjoy this OKC addition to my collection.

P.S. This is not the only Sandberg card in the Obak set. He is featured with Josh Vitters on an SP card that will be displayed on this blog once it arrives in the mail!

Top Ten Cards of the 1980s: #1 is . . .

2009-09-18T17:02:00.005-05:00

While the rookie cards of stars such as Rickey Henderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire were among the ten most valuable of the 1980s, there is one card that stands above the rest in value. I’m also pleased to report that this player epitomizes all that is right with the game of baseball, unlike some of the other PED-influenced stars that have been featured in this list to date. Without further delay, the number one card of the 1980s belongs to none other than Mr. Oriole, Cal Ripken Jr.

This “rookie” card is a bit of an oddity, in that Ripken’s true RC was actually in the regular issue of 1982 Topps. While Ripken shared this card with two teammates (Bob Bonner and Jeff Schneider), he was deemed worthy of his own individual card in the 1982 traded set. Card number 98T remains a Holy Grail of sorts to collectors today, and it should remain that way long into the future.

I hope you have enjoyed the top ten series of posts. I’m considering replicating the same concept for other decades if there is interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #2, Roger Clemens 1984 Fleer Update

2009-09-06T18:05:00.002-05:00

As I previously alluded to, the 1984 Fleer Update set is one of the most valuable sets of the modern era. We already reviewed the Gooden and Puckett rookie cards in the top 10 countdown. At #2 is the most valuable card of the set, Roger Clemens. Clemens' exploits are well known, and the steroid allegations are well documented. Regardless of his Hall of Fame possibilities, this card should continue to hold its value.

The Fleer Update card is Clemens' only 1984 XRC. Topps, Fleer and Donruss all featured RCs of Clemens in their 1985 issues.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #3, Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps

2009-08-30T13:50:00.003-05:00

The number 3 card in our top ten most valuable cards of the 1980s countdown is a 1980 Topps entry. While the set design was nothing special, Topps was lucky enough that a young speedster named Rickey Henderson made his debut in 1979 with the A's. Henderson went on to re-write the record book for a number of statistical categories. Most notably, he set the single-season steals record with 130 in 1982, and the career steals record with an astounding 1406. Henderson is also the all-time leader in runs scored and lead-off home runs.

The 1980 rookie card is truly an iconic card. 1980 marked the final year of Topps's monopoly, so collecting Henderson's rookie card is relatively easy. The card has a book value of approximately $60 today, and Henderson's recent Hall of Fame induction should ensure this card continues to maintain its value.

New Set Review: 2009 Topps Chrome

2009-08-28T08:23:00.003-05:00

I have recently had the opportunity to pick up some nice Chrome sets. Most of my additions have been traded sets, but I was able to pick up this year's 220-card Chrome set. The basic set does not include the rookie autographs, but it does include key rookie cards from future stars such as Gordon Beckham, Rick Porcello, and Andrew McCutchen.

A scan of the Chrome cards never seems to do them justice, so I haven't included an image of any cards here. The 2009 design in particular really pops on the Chrome cards. For those Cubs collectors, there are 10 cards from the team (Harden, Fukudome, Samardzija, Soto, Zambrano, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, and rookie cards from Patton and Scales). For me, the best card here is of Bobby Scales. He was the 220th (thus the final) card selected for the set based on his spark plug role earlier this season. His absence from the current team, in favor of Aaron Miles, is just one of many reasons why this current Cubs team is not likeable. I have not seen a checklist for the Topps Updates and Highlights set yet to see if Scales and any other rookies from the team are included. I'm certainly hoping that impact players such as Jake Fox and Randy Wells get their due with cards in that set.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #4, Kirby Puckett 1984 Fleer Update

2009-08-19T08:39:00.003-05:00

At number 4 in our countdown is Mr. Twin, Kirby Puckett. His playing career was cut short by the loss of vision, but he made a huge impact during his abbreviated 12-year career. Thus, his career numbers do not really tell the story of Puckett. Even still, he was a 10-time All Star, 6-time Gold Glove winner, and he totaled more than 2300 career hits. He led the Twins to two World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. The 1991 World Series stands out to me as the best World Series of my lifetime. Puckett had key defensive plays and a game-winning home run in Game 6.

His rookie card is #93 from the 1984 Fleer Update set. Based on the relative rarity of this set, his card generally has a value of between $50-60 in near mint condition. This is his only XRC, as his first Topps and Donruss appearances were in 1985.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #5, Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck

2009-08-09T12:12:00.003-05:00

The number 5 card in the countdown is an absolute must-have for collectors. To me, Griffey Jr. is one of the brightest spots of the steroid era, along with Greg Maddux. It is terribly unfortunate that injuries sidelined his run toward Hank's record, but he has still accumulated more than 600 homers naturally.

A 13-time All Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and winner of the 1997 AL MVP award, Griffey should be a unanimous selection to Cooperstown on the first ballot. It's hard to find any fault with his career. I do hope, however, that Mr. Griffey hangs it up after this season. It has been great to see him finish his career in a Mariners uniform, but his current .220 batting average tells the story of a man whose best days are behind him.

Griffey was THE reason the 1989 Upper Deck set was a must-have for collectors. The set also contains key rookie cards of Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield, and John Smoltz, among others. This card is a frank reminder of what Upper Deck used to be. I do not think the average collector would look at UD's products today with the same regard as we had 20 years ago. That's why for me, Topps' exclusive license with MLB will have little practical effect on my collecting.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #6, Mark McGwire 1985 Topps

2009-08-08T10:43:00.003-05:00

Number 6 in our top 10 countdown of the most valuable cards of the 1980s is one of the most controversial figures of the steroid era, Mark McGwire. He set the short-lived single season home run record with 70 in 1998 and along with Sammy Sosa sparked a comeback for baseball after the 1994 strike. Big Mac hit 583 home runs and was a 12-time All Star. His connections to andro and his Congressional testimony are well known, and his shortcomings in Hall of Fame votes are well known. Based on numbers alone, he certainly warrants consideration for the Hall, but his lifetime average of .263 is quite low. While he was a one-dimensional player, he was undoubtedly the finest hitting first baseman during the four-year stretch of 1996-1999.

Some of McGwire's earliest exploits are quite impressive. He debuted as a third baseman in late 1986 with some limited success. But in his first full season of 1987, he hit 49 homers, 118 RBI with a .289 batting average. The Bash Brothers of the late 1980s were exciting to watch, albeit those memories are now stained.

While McGwire debuted in late 1986, he was not featured in any 1986 traded sets. He was featured in each of the 1987 sets, but his first card was in the 1985 Topps set. I personally love the U.S.A. Olympic cards that have been featured in Topps sets over the years, including 1985 Topps, 1988 Topps Traded, 1991 Topps Traded, and 1992 Topps Traded. Sadly with no baseball in the 2012 Olympics, there will be a cycle without Olympic cards. But in recent years the Olympic cards have been offered exclusively in Upper Deck sets.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #7, Don Mattingly 1984 Donruss

2009-08-02T11:32:00.002-05:00

Number 7 in our Top 10 countdown of the most valuable cards from the 1980s is a former Yankee favorite, Don Mattingly. I was a fan of Mattingly's growing up, as Donny Baseball is also a Hoosier native. From a Hall of Fame perspective, it is unlikely that Mattingly will ever make it into Cooperstown. But he had a tremendous 4 year stretch of being one of the very best players in the American League. During his 1985 MVP season, Don hit 35 HRs, 145 RBIs, with a .324 average.

Don's 1984 Donruss RC has always been considered one of the most valuable cards of the decade. The Donruss card usually rates a bit more valuable than Don's Topps and Fleer rookie cards.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #8, Ryne Sandberg 1983 Topps

2009-07-26T09:22:00.004-05:00

On this Cooperstown Sunday, there is no better time to reflect on the career of my favorite player, Ryne Sandberg. I was lucky enough to personally attend his Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and I hope to return to Cooperstown in the coming years for the inductions of Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux, and Ron Santo.

Sandberg's most valuable 1983 rookie card was the 1983 Topps. He was also featured in a 1982 Red Lobster set that most would consider an oddball card. His minor league cards from 1980 and 1981 are hard-to-find treasures that still elude my collection. But for me, the 1983 Topps card is a classic representation of a classic player. Sandberg was of course also featured in the 1983 Donruss and Fleer sets.

Finally, in 2005 Topps had an insert set titled Rookie of the Week. Card number 24 of 25 in that set was a reproduction of Sandberg's 1983 rookie card, but with a different image. I like the idea (it is much like the Fan Favorites sets), but I still prefer the original. Topps did reproduce the original version in its 2001 Topps Archives set.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #9, Tony Gwynn 1983 Topps

2009-07-21T20:49:00.005-05:00

Up next in the countdown of the ten most valuable cards of the 1980s is Mr. Padre, Tony Gwynn. Gwynn's exploits have previously been documented here. He immediately made an impact on San Diego, helping lead them to the World Series in 1984 in a forgetful NLCS over the Cubs (if you are a Cubs fan, like myself).

Each of the three card companies issued a Gwynn rookie card in their regular series. The Topps card is the most valuable of the three. Despite my extensive Hall of Fame collection, I have still not yet acquired his Donruss rookie card.

HONORABLE MENTION: While his card fell just outside the top 10, Wade Boggs also debuted in the 1983 Topps set. His Hall of Fame career was most impressive, as he dominated a traditional power position as a contact hitter.

Top Cards of the 1980s: #10, Dwight Gooden 1984 Fleer Update

2009-07-19T10:42:00.002-05:00

Our subject at #10 is one of only two players of the top ten of the 1980s who did not progress to have a Hall of Fame caliber career. Dwight Gooden, however, certainly began his career like a Hall of Fame player. After winning the rookie of the year in 1984 at the age of 19, Gooden won the Cy Young in 1985 with a sparkling 24-4 record and an otherworldly 1.53 ERA. "Doc" continued his success into the 90s, but problems with drugs derailed what could have been.

Late in his career, he threw a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1996. While his career is a bit short of Hall of Fame standards, he was one of the memorable players of the 1980s. After making his debut in 1984 he was featured in two update sets, Fleer Update and Topps Traded. Of the two, the Fleer card is the more valuable of the two. Those of you familiar with this set know that there is more to come from this set for this Top 10 list. The 1984 Topps Traded card has a Beckett value of approximately $10, while the Fleer card (#43) is double that.

Coming Soon: The Top 10 Most Valuable Cards of the 1980s

2009-07-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

In the baseball card industry, the 1980s have received a bad rap based in large part to the glut of cards available in the market. As a consequence, the cards from that decade did not keep their value as much as those from earlier years. Having said that, my card collection from the 1980s is still quite special to me, because that is when I began collecting. Additionally, many of my favorite stars growing up made their card debut in the 1980s. The decade also saw the dissolution of the Topps monopoly, and most notably, the debut of Upper Deck during the final year of the decade which really kick-started the higher quality cards of the 1990s.

Through some recent acquisitions, I have now compiled what I believe to be the ten most valuable cards from the 1980s. My plan is to have an individual post on each featured card. My criteria were rather simple. I only used one card per player (thus, an ‘82 Topps Traded Ripken would moot the need to review his other ‘82 cards), the cards had to come from one of the major distributors (Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Score, Upper Deck), and they could not be a gimmick card such as an autograph or error card. I will begin debuting the list with #10 later this weekend.

On a related note, I am also considering an “oddball” type series of posts about cards from the 1980s. These cards aren’t necessarily the most valuable, but they are memorable nonetheless. If anyone has any suggestions for these cards, let me know.

2001 Topps Collection: Who Would Have Thought Insert Set

2009-07-11T11:51:00.005-05:00

In line with the release of 2001 Topps Traded, Topps issued an insert set featuring 20 star players who changed teams during their career. Some are more surprising than others. For instance, I didn't realize Steve Carlton began his career as a Cardinal. And of course, it is difficult to picture the Say-Hey Kid ending his career as a Met. Other team changers are more familiar, particularly my favorite card of the set, Andre Dawson. The design mirrors the regular design of the set, but features two great images of the stars.

Building My Topps 2001 Collection: Topps Chrome Traded Set

2009-07-07T19:54:00.010-05:00

As time has gone on, I have come to realize that 2001 was a truly special year for Topps. It marked Topps' 50th anniversary, and Topps spared no expense in making great cards. 2001 featured several great subsets (Through the Years, Who Would Have Thought, Before Topps), as well as the new series Topps Archives and the premiere issue of Topps Heritage. Let's start with the biggest star of 2001--the Traded set.

By some minor miracle, I secured a complete set of 2001 Topps Chrome Traded from the Bay for less than $80. The regular traded set continues to sell for well north of $100, and Chrome cards are usually graded a bit higher. But that is not why this is my new favorite set. First, this set contains some of the most important rookie cards of this decade. Everyone knows about the Pujols rookie card, as well as the Ichiro/Pujols rookie of the year card. But what makes Chrome special is that card T266 is an Ichiro rookie card, which was not printed in the regular Topps Traded set. While Ichiro appeared in the Series 2 Topps set for non-Chrome cards, he did not appear in the Chrome set. Thus, my question for the readers is the following: should I get these cards graded? While there is a cost involved with the grading process, these cards are key additions to my collection. I'm leaning towards grading them. If you have a recommendation, let me know!

(Note that the Chrome cards do not scan very well, as each one is completely clean and Near Mint.)

But these aren't the only cards worth noting. In addition to the rookies mentioned above, the set includes rookie cards of key stars including Jimmy Rollins, Jose Reyes, Jake Peavy, and Justin Morneau.

But my favorite part of this set is the Traded reprint subset that consists of cards T100 to T144. As part of Topps' 50th anniversary blitz (and what a blitz it was), Topps reprinted some of the most important Topps Traded cards from the 1970s-90s. I am a huge fan of Topps reprints, and these cards are probably my favorites (they are quite similar to Topps Reserve Archives). Here is a small sampling of this subset.

Finally, readers of HOF Cards know that I'm a Cubs collector. Well, the Cubs cards in this set are nothing special, as they feature some journeyman veterans (Tom Gordon, Jeff Fassero, Todd Hundley, Bill Mueller) and the usual assortment of Cubs prospects that never pan out (Steve Smyth, Corey Patterson, Luis Montanez, Hee Seop Choi). Of course the one saving grace from a Cubs perspective is Mark Grace's Diamondbacks card from his bittersweet 2001 championship season. There is also a Shawon Dunston card from his Giants days.

Hall of Fame Tracker: Mets Edition

2009-07-01T21:18:00.008-05:00

This is the second team-specific analysis I have done of potential Hall of Fame players in the game today (the first team was the Phillies). Up next is another National League team with a plethora of Cooperstown capable players--the New York Mets. There are six current Mets players (not including the disabled Billy Wagner) who are on track to make the Hall. Some are more certain than others, but each one deserves recognition.

Up first is the most obvious candidate, Johan Santana. Since his trade from the Twins, Santana has picked up right where he left off by continuing his exploits in the NL. The winner of two Cy Young awards by the age of 30, Santana has racked up 118 wins and, along with Roy Halladay, may have the best chance of reaching 300 wins for his career among active pitchers. While he needs another five or six first tier seasons to punch his ticket, Santana is on a one-way trip to Cooperstown. One of Santana's best known rookie cards is from the 2001 Topps Finest set.

The other Mets pitcher that warrants consideration is Francisco Rodriguez. K-Rod is only 27, and he has already accumulated 228 saves. Last year he set the single season record with 62 saves. This year he has posted a 1.23 ERA to date, and he has solidified a problematic Mets bullpen. Another ten seasons of 40 saves each, and K-Rod will obliterate the career saves record (likely to be held by Mariano Rivera by that time). While K-Rod's rookie cards have not been popular with collectors (much like other relievers), his first Topps card is from the 2000 Traded set.

Now, let's head around the infield. The most obvious candidate is third baseman David Wright, who has a tremendous all-around game. In five full seasons, he has already been an All Star four times (including this season's likely election), and he is currently batting .345. At the age of 26, he has already accumulated more than 900 hits. He is certainly on track for a 3000 hit career. Wright's best known rookie card is his 2001 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres.

At shortstop, the Hall of Fame candidacy of Jose Reyes should garner some debate. Reyes splashed onto the scene in 2003 and led all NL players in steals for three consecutive seasons (2005-2007). Surprisingly, he has shown solid power in recent years, hitting 16 homers last season. But like his shortstop counterpart Jimmy Rollins, Reyes has been hit with the injury bug. While he is still only 26 years old, his future is a bit more unknown than his teammate Wright. Reyes' rookie card is the 2001 Topps Traded.

With tongue-in-cheek apologies to Luis Castillo, the final member of the regular Mets infield also warrants conversation. Carlos Delgado has been injured for much of this season, but his career numbers cannot be ignored. Delgado's strongest stat is his 473 career homers, but with today's diluted power numbers, his likely target of 500 home runs is not an automatic admission. He has just over 2000 hits and 1500 RBIs, with a career average of .280. Perhaps the most telling number is that Delgado has only been a two-time All Star, despite his prodigious power. With a game similar to Jim Thome's, but with less power, it is unlikely that Delgado will fly into Cooperstown. Delgado's key rookie card is the from the fabled 1992 Bowman set. While it's hard to remember him as a Blue Jay, it is even harder to remember him as a catcher.

Finally, the Mets also boast an outfielder who is on the Hall of Fame track. Carlos Beltran burst onto the national scene when he was traded from Kansas City to Houston during the 2004 season. Beltran has never been a high-average hitter (career BA is .283), but he has hit .336 this year in an injury shortened campaign, much like several of his Mets teammates. Beltran is a four-time All Star, a former Rookie of the Year, and three-time Gold Glove winner. If he rebounds from injury to post another solid year, he is probably only five years away from cementing his spot in the Hall. Beltran's Topps rookie card is the subject of much debate, as the card was actually an error card by Topps in its 1995 Traded set. Thus I have included both his "real" rookie card (featuring an image of Juan Lebron), and Lebron's card which features Mr. Beltran.

Of the six, I think the most likely Met to make the Hall of Fame is Johan Santana. But of the under-30 subset, I think David Wright is on track to follow Santana. Not surprisingly, those two player's rookie cards are in the most demand.

HOF Career Review: Robin Yount

2009-06-29T08:04:00.004-05:00

It is well documented that some players live in the spotlight, and their Hall of Fame resume seems predestined even while they are playing in their prime (see Jeter, Derek; Pujols, Albert). Then there are others who played in relative obscurity, showing loyalty to their team and fans, and having the longevity to warrant inclusion in Cooperstown. Robin Yount falls into this latter category of baseball superstars.

Yount played all 20 seasons of his career in Milwaukee. Of his many feats, one of his most impressive was his successful conversion from SS to CF midway through his career. Yount won two MVP awards, most notably in 1982 when he led the Brewers to their only World Series appearance. While he was not a classic power hitter, he did hit 251 homers in his brilliant career, while accummulating more than 3100 hits. As can be said of many a small market player, Yount's profile would have been huge had he played in New York or Chicago. As it was, he was an outstanding player, most definitely deserving of the honors he received.

Additionally, he was one of four future Hall of Fame players to make their Topps debut in the 1975 set. As a result, the '75 set is often considered one of the most important Topps sets of all time. Yount's card is the second most valuable from the set, behind only George Brett. Here is card #223.

HOF Review: Mr. Padre

2009-06-21T12:08:00.004-05:00

Today, being Father's Day, is a great time to reflect on the most famous "Padre" of the team's relatively short existence, Tony Gwynn. I had a real appreciation for Gwynn as a youngster, because he did the right things by staying with his original team his entire career, and he was a hitter, not merely a slugger. In these times, players like Gwynn and Wade Boggs should be respected for the way they played the game.

Gwynn was a 15-time All Star, 7-time Silver Slugger winner, and somewhat surprisingly a 5-time Gold Glove winner. He led the NL in hitting eight times, and I am saddened by memories of the 1994 season, when he hit .394 and us fans were left to wonder what could have been. There was no other player of the era who was more deserving of hitting .400, although today I am certainly rooting for Joe Mauer to beat that mark.

His 1983 rookie cards are relatively inexpensive compared to his contemporaries of the era. But the 1983 Topps set marked the debut of three world class hitters, with Sandberg and Boggs joining Gwynn in this desirable set.

Latest Sandberg Addition: 2009 Topps Variation

2009-06-17T06:33:00.003-05:00

While I am not the biggest fan of Topps' expansive use of variation cards in its base set, I had to pick up Mr. Sandberg's #350. Even as a Hall of Fame and Topps collector, I still find it hard to justify the significant financial undertaking to obtain a complete set of the variation cards. But I can certainly make exceptions for truly exceptional players, of which Ryno must be included.

2007 Topps Flashback Fridays Insert Set Review

2009-06-14T17:55:00.003-05:00

I recently picked up the 25-card Flashback Fridays set from 2007 Topps. For all of $0.50, I was able to get an interesting looking set with many future Hall of Famers such as Ken Griffey, Chipper Jones, and Derek Jeter. The sets feature a retro look, with the featured player depicted in black and white (for the most part) in front of a colorful stadium depiction. The backs of the cards feature a Goudey-style paragraph about the player, rather than a statistical grid.

One question for the readers--does anyone know if this set was modeled after a particular past set, or was this an original Topps retro creation?

2009 Topps Career Best Legends of the Game Insert Set Review

2009-06-12T08:19:00.003-05:00

As you may have surmised by the title of this blog, I am a sucker for a reasonably priced set of Hall of Famer cards, especially with a great design by Topps. While Topps has perhaps gone overboard with its Hall of Fame issues this year (Legends of the Game set, Variation inserts, Turkey Red inserts), I couldn't resist picking up the 15-card Career Best insert set with Series 2. The sepia look is appealing, as are the actual subjects of the set. Here are six of my favorites from the insert set.

Future HOF RC Review: Mike Piazza and Frank Thomas

2009-06-08T08:11:00.004-05:00

While much of the talk in this era surrounds who took performance enhancing drugs and whether that suspicion or fact should preclude admission into the Hall of Fame, I have become much more choosy about which recent players I am collecting. The two players listed here have had absolutely no ties to PEDs, and each of them displayed a natural talent at their respective positions and should be first-ballot Hall of Famers.

Mike Piazza will always be a Dodger to me, despite his exploits with the Mets. A 12-time All Star, Piazza finished his brilliant career with a .308 average and 427 home runs. While his defense may have left something to be desired, he gets extra credit for longevity in my book for his catching duties.

Frank Thomas was undeniably one of the biggest stars of the 1990s. He won 2 MVP awards and was an AL Top 10 vote getter for the award an additional 7 times. Somewhat surprisingly, Thomas was only an All Star five times, although part of that was his relatively cold relationship with the press and the strength of American League first basemen in the era (Mo Vaughn, John Olerud, Jim Thome, and Rafael Palmeiro are among those who were deemed better players for the All Star game at the time).

The two cards I picked up have both been on my wish list for some time. The Piazza RC card is from 1992 Fleer Update, and the Thomas RC card is his most valuable RC, the 1990 Leaf.

Latest Additions to My Ron Santo Collection

2009-06-02T08:10:00.003-05:00

Unlike my Sandberg collection, which is relatively complete, I have only recently started collecting Ron Santo cards. My goal is to have a complete "Topps Anthology" of all of his original Topps cards from 1961-1975. I put a good dent in my collection with a trip to my local card shop on Saturday, where I came away with four Topps cards, as well as a recent card.

The Topps additions include his final two cards (1974 Traded and 1975), both in a White Sox uniform (albeit one airbrushed). The two other cards are from 1970 and 1972, plus a nice looking Fleer Greats. By my calculations, I have twenty more cards to go. I do have Santo's rookie card (which was an awesome birthday gift from my wife last year), so the investment shouldn't be too significant.

Happy Collecting.

Latest Sandberg Addition: 2009 Topps Legends of the Game

2009-06-01T18:21:00.003-05:00

I recently picked up both the Series 1 and Series 2 Topps Legends of the Game subsets (50 cards in total). Of course, my favorite card is Mr. Sandberg. Ryno is the only Cub featured in the series, although Greg Maddux is featured in a throwback Braves jersey.

Up next in my ongoing quest is to pick up Sandberg's 2009 Topps SP Variation #350. I would try to collect all of the Topps Variations, but that would break the bank.

A New Minor League Baseball Team in My Backyard: The Lake County Fielders

2009-05-30T13:21:00.002-05:00

Although it is slightly off topic for a blog about baseball cards, I have to share my enthusiasm for the new Northern League baseball team that is starting next summer in Zion, Illinois. As a resident of the north suburbs, this is my closest team.

Lake County Baseball held a "name the team" contest in recent weeks, and just announced that Fielders was the winner. This name is appropriate, given that the owner of the team is none other than Kevin Costner. The team's logo certainly evokes thoughts of the Field of Dreams.

As a baseball fanatic, I'm excited for any type of baseball, but independent leagues such as the Northern League are baseball purity at its best. The games are fun for fans of all ages, and the players give their best every game. Also, the addition of the Fielders gives the Schaumburg Flyers a natural rival, which should make for compelling ball games.

Topps Insert Set Review: 2009 World Baseball Classic Box Set

2009-05-27T19:51:00.004-05:00

I picked up the 55-card insert set (not to be confused with the Topps Series 2 WBC set) featuring players from the recently completed WBC. The cards were obviously selected prior to the actual WBC, as noted by the card featuring A-Rod. For Hall of Fame collectors, there are cards featuring Derek Jeter, Ichiro, David Wright, Miguel Cabrera, Pedro Martinez, Chipper Jones, and Carlos Beltran. There are also several cards of potential HOF players including Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, Justin Morneau, Joey Votto, and Dustin Pedroia. For Cubs collectors, there are cards featuring Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto. There are also several prospects featured, most notably Yu Darvish.

The set looks good, although some of the same images are used in the Series 2 inserts (such as the Darvish cards), thus negating to some extent the desire to collect both sets. The good part of the Series 2 insert set is that those 25 players actually played in the WBC, thus ensuring a satisfying insert set. But I have no complaints about this set. It's rare that you'll find an insert set featuring this many stars at such a reasonable price.

Memorial Day Special: 1991 Score American Flag

2009-05-25T10:27:00.002-05:00

The 1991 Score set featured nearly 1000 cards, many of which were unique at the time (Jose Canseco shirtless, for instance). But one of my favorites was this beauty, which requires no description. Happy Memorial Day to all.

Hall of Fame Tracker: Phillies Edition

2009-05-21T20:52:00.007-05:00

Among the many National League hitters who are on a Hall of Fame career track, the Philadelphia Phillies are lucky enough to have three, if not four, potential candidates at the early to mid stages of their careers. With an infield consisting of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins, the Fightin' Phils have plenty of talent to back up last year's World Series championship.

Of the three infielders, Utley probably has the best chance of making the Hall, based on his position and the stats he has put as a second baseman. Utley is hands down the best offensive second baseman in baseball today, with all due respect to Ian Kinsler. He may not finish his career with more than 2000 hits, but he stands a solid chance of setting the all-time record for most home runs by a second baseman. His most notable rookie card is a 2001 Bowman Draft Picks.

The biggest knock on Ryan Howard's Hall of Fame resume is that he had a relatively late start to his career and may not accumulate the key power stats. In many ways, his career may parallel David Ortiz, who was also a late bloomer and unfortunately appears to be on the downside now. But Howard is a huge force for the Phils, and there is no reason to believe he will be on the downside anytime soon. Howard's most recognized rookie card is the 2001 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres #62.

Jimmy Rollins is already on the verge of collecting his 1500th hit, so he is well on his way to a stellar career. Rollins was the 2007 NL MVP but seems to have taken a step back the past year and a half, due in part to injury. Rollins is still only 30 years old, but he will likely be overlooked as an NL SS the remainder of his career, assuming that Hanley Ramirez remains a shortstop (and a Marlin). Rollins' most notable rookie card is a 1998 Bowman Chrome #181.

Finally, an honorable mention goes to Cole Hamels. Hamels' postseason performance proved that he has true ace material, but it remains too early in his career to see if he will meet his potential. Injuries have derailed him this year, but he is only 25 years old. His most notable RC is a 2002 Bowman Draft.

Latest Cubs Subset Additions: Donruss, Fleer, and Stadium Club

2009-05-12T08:20:00.012-05:00

I've nearly completed my quest to own all Cubs cards from the basic Topps sets since 1978. But recently there was a deal on the Bay too good to pass up--8 Cubs subsets for essentially $2 plus shipping. Here are some highlights:

Fleer: I picked up the two early sets, 1981 and 1982. While neither has a noteworthy design (or players), it was good to see the plethora of powder blue pinstriped jerseys in the 1982 set. While the 1982 set may be better known for the Lee Smith rookie card, I particularly like the Jody Davis rookie. From the 1981 set, the most fascinating card is that of current Cubs coach Ivan De Jesus. He looks exactly the same now, almost thirty years later.

Other Fleer sets that I picked up include the 1989 and 1991 Cubs sets. The '89 set is pretty bland with a gray pinstripes background. It did include a Maddux card that I didn't have before. I feel that the '91 set is underrated. I really like the yellow design on the front, and this card is classic Dawson (even with those short lived road jerseys with the small Chicago font).

Donruss: while I am not a huge fan of Donruss cards in general, I did pick up the Cubs cards from the 1989 and 1990 sets. Neither design is particularly inspiring, and the backs of both years' cards are nearly identical. But many of my favorite players are featuring in these sets, including of course Grace and Sandberg.

Stadium Club: Finally, the 1991 Stadium Club set was one of my all-time favorites. These cards blew the competition away in 1991 with their glossy stock and full color photos. Stadium Club and Fleer Ultra should receive a ton of credit for the evolution of card quality and design in the 1990s. My favorite feature of the 91 Stadium Club cards is that the card backs feature a picture of the Topps rookie card of the player. For example, Shawon Dunston's card features his 1985 Topps card. Of marginal note, the only player whose rookie card was the actual 1991 Stadium Club card was Gary Scott (and I think we know how that turned out).

Latest Sandberg Additions: 2009 Goudey

2009-05-05T19:47:00.003-05:00

While the 2009 Goudey design has been panned by many a blogger in recent days, I found the two Sandberg cards to be collection-worthy. One card is a "Sports Royalty" SP card. There is also an Ernie Banks Sports Royalty card that I picked up.

But my favorite is this card, which shows Ryno in his signature stance.

Sandberg is also featured in two 4 in 1 cards, one with fellow Cubs (Santo, Ramirez, Lee) and one with fellow second basemen (Utley, Kinser, and Uggla). I will probably have to pick up each of those as well.

Retiring #31 Tomorrow

2009-05-02T22:47:00.003-05:00

I am happy to say that I will be in attendance at tomorrow's Cubs game, and more importantly I'll be there for the retirement of #31 for Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux. Each of these pitchers is deserving of this honor, particularly Jenkins for his multiple 20-win seasons with the Cubs. Seeing Maddux honored is always bittersweet, thinking what could have been if Larry Himes hadn't low-balled him with a contract offer in 1992. But tomorrow is about a celebration, and I look forward to the festivities (not to mention a third straight Cubs win).

New Set Addition: 1983 Topps

2009-04-29T21:06:00.005-05:00

Unlike yesterday's review of the 1984 set which outside of the Mattingly card was fairly lackluster, the 1983 set was absolutely full of key cards, most notably the Topps rookie cards of three future Hall of Famers: Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, and Ryne Sandberg.

This blog has revered the career of Ryne Sandberg before. But those of Boggs and Gwynn also deserve appreciation. Tony Gwynn was undoubtedly the best hitter in the NL during the 1980s, and in the 1990s perhaps only Barry Bonds would merit an argument. Gwynn also wins respect points for spending his entire career with the Padres.

Perhaps Wade Boggs' most lasting legacy was his ill-fated agreement to go into the HOF as a Tampa Bay Devil Ray when he signed with them toward the end of his career. Thankfully the HOF took that decision away from the player, and instead made that determination in a more objective manner. While Boggs had a terrific beginning of his career with Boston, my lasting memory is of Boggs riding a police horse around Yankee Stadium after a mid-90s World Series Championship.

New Set Addition: 1984 Topps

2009-04-28T18:54:00.002-05:00

The 1984 Topps set is most widely known for its most valuable card, a Don Mattingly rookie card, #8. The design featured a large full action shot with a second profile picture. The set was fairly nondistinguishable otherwise, featuring second year cards from Sandberg, Gwynn, and Boggs, plus cards from several Hall of Famers.

Making the HOF Case: Brandon Webb

2009-04-20T20:05:00.003-05:00

Up first for analysis in the current poll is Brandon Webb. Webb has a career record of 87-62, and he is arguably just now entering his prime. He has been injured early this season, but he has either been #1 or #2 in the NL Cy Young voting the past three seasons. Webb stands to cash in with a big pay day in the near future, so his future with the D-Backs may be limited. Moving to a more high profile team could elevate his status in the game. But he is certainly on track for a Hall of Fame career.

Webb's rookie card of choice is the 2003 Topps Traded, #T169.

New HOF Poll: National League Pitchers

2009-04-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

The results of the first poll are in, and it was a tie between Mark Teixeira and Miguel Cabrera among AL hitters. The next poll is National League pitchers. I excluded Johan Santana because I felt he was the most obvious choice. I also excluded young candidates such as Cole Hamels and Tim Lincecum because they have not yet pitched five seasons. Thus, four candidates emerged:

1) Jake Peavy: 87 wins, 2007 Cy Young winner, 2 All-Star appearances

2) Brandon Webb: 87 wins, 2006 Cy Young winner and runner up in 2007 and 2008, 3 All-Star appearances

3) Carlos Zambrano: 97 wins, 3 All-Star appearances, two-time Silver Slugger, no-hitter in 2008

4) Roy Oswalt: 129 wins, 3 All Star appearances

To this author, none of these four are a slam-dunk candidate for the Hall at this time. I also considered adding Tim Hudson to this poll (146-77, 3.48 career ERA), but with his Tommy John surgery I am hesitant to predict the future for him. Of these four, Brandon Webb seems to be the most likely to continue improving his game. Both Peavy and Oswalt have taken a step back in recent years, and Zambrano is volatile.

So this should be an interesting poll. Vote early and vote often.

Latest Set Additions: 1993 Topps Factory and Topps Traded

2009-04-10T13:50:00.005-05:00

In my continuing quest to collect the complete Topps set from each of the past thirty years, I recently acquired a few sets off the Bay. The newest of these sets is the 1993 Topps set. The Series 1 and 2 factory set was huge, with 825 cards plus 10 Topps Gold and 3 Topps Black Gold cards. Of course one of the three Black Gold cards I received was a C/D winner card, but that has long since expired. The regular set contains scores of current and future HOF cards, but it is best known for containing the first regular issue Topps card of Derek Jeter:

Of the many Jeter rookie cards, this one often gets overlooked in favor of some of the more premium sets he was featured in. This collector prefers the Stadium Club Murphy card as his coolest rookie, but this one is great because it is from the regular set. The set also contained rookie cards from notable players including Jim Edmonds, Preston Wilson, and an unofficial rookie card of future catchers including Mike Piazza and Carlos Delgado. The set was also the first to contain those lovely teal hats that the Marlins featured in their early years.

Although I have not committed to purchasing each full Traded set, I did grab the 1993 Traded set. This set contained traded cards of Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Paul Molitor, Wade Boggs, and Andre Dawson. It also featured Olympians from 1992, most notably rookie cards of Todd Helton and, to a much lesser extent, Todd Walker.

Todd Helton probably warrants a separate post to consider his borderline Hall of Fame caliber career. It will be interesting to see if he can overcome the Colorado thin air stereotype to become the Rockie's first Hall of Fame player (assuming Larry Walker is not elected).

Opening Night, with Predictions!

2009-04-05T17:47:00.004-05:00

In honor of tonight's season opener between the Braves and Phillies, here is a stylin' 1992 Bowman rookie card of tonight's starter for the Braves, Derek Lowe.

And I thought I would provide my two cents for this season:

AL Division winners: Yankees, Indians, Angels
AL Wildcard: Red Sox

NL Division winners: Mets, Cubs, Diamondbacks
NL Wildcard: Phillies

AL Division Series: Yankees over Angels, Indians over Red Sox
NL Division Series: Cubs over Phillies, Mets over Diamondbacks

ALCS: Indians over Yankees
NLCS: Mets over Cubs

World Series: Indians over Mets

MVPs: Grady Sizemore, David Wright

Cy Young winners: CC Sabathia, Johan Santana

Rookies of the Year: David Price, Cameron Maybin

Managers of the Year: Eric Wedge, Tony LaRussa

HOF Tribute: George Kell

2009-04-02T09:38:00.003-05:00

George Kell passed away earlier this week, at the age of 86. He is arguably one of the ten greatest third basemen of all time, playing in 10 All Star games with a career batting average of .306. Kell was a most unusual third baseman, in that he only hit 78 career homers at a power position.

He was revered as a Tigers legend, although he also played for the Philadelphia A's, the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. After his retirement he had a successful broadcasting career, most recently with the Tigers. He was known for hanging around Tiger Stadium (and later Comerica Park) to sign autographs for fans.

Kell was inducted into the Hall in 1983. While he debuted in 1943, his first baseball card was a 1949 Bowman, #26.

HOF Tracker: Matt Holliday

2009-03-31T21:24:00.003-05:00

Last up in the American League hitter group of potential HOF players is Matt Holliday. A recent transplant to the AL, it will be interesting to see how much of an effect the move out of Denver will have on Holliday. After only five seasons, Holliday is a three-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner, with a lifetime .319 batting average.

His first Topps card was a shared card in the 1999 regular series. He also appeared on a popular Bowman Chrome issue the same year.

NOTE: If any readers have suggestions on potential candidates for the remaining polls (AL pitchers, NL pitchers, NL hitters), please feel free to leave a comment. Again, the criteria are that the player must have played at least five seasons (including partial seasons), and the players should not be an obvious slam-dunk candidate for the Hall (such as Pujols, Ichiro, Jeter, etc.).

Latest Sandberg Addition: 2007 Topps Cards That Never Were, 1982 Topps Traded

2009-03-29T13:55:00.005-05:00

In 2007, Topps issued a series of special cards at the National Convention, including a "pre-rookie" card that could have been released for Ryne Sandberg (the other cards were a 1952 Joe DiMaggio, 1952 Ted Williams, 1967 Nolan Ryan, and 1954 Stan Musial). There were approximately 900 cards released of Sandberg's 1982 Topps Traded card, numbered 133T. As an avid Cubs and Sandberg fan, I am always intrigued by cards of Sandberg in a Phillies uniform. This card is probably my favorite to date:

HOF Tracker: Miguel Cabrera

2009-03-28T20:05:00.004-05:00

There is no denying Miguel Cabrera's offensive prowess. He is only 25, and he has already accumulated 175 home runs and more than 1000 hits. A four-time All-Star, Cabrera's biggest obstacles are of his own making; namely, his weight is a subject of concern for many Tigers' fans. In his first season with Detroit, he was finally switched off of third base, where his defense was suspect. As a first baseman, he may be limited in future All Star game appearances, with Teixeira and Youkilis likely to garner more popular support.

But Cabrera is an outstanding hitter, and with his young age and experience, he is uniquely positioned to be on track for a Hall of Fame career. Below is Cabrera's rookie card, a 2000 Topps Traded Chrome:

Making the HOF Case: Curt Schilling

2009-03-24T08:32:00.002-05:00

After Curt Schilling announced his official retirement yesterday, I have read many negative comments about his legacy, mostly based on his bigger than average ego it seems. Well, if ego excluded a player from the Hall, how can you explain Rickey Henderson's election this year?

Let's look objectively at the stats. Schilling was a 6-time All Star, a three-time Cy Young runner up, and a World Series co-MVP in 2001 (with D-Backs teammate Randy Johnson). Impressive stats, but there are indeed areas where his career could come up short. He only accummulated 216 wins, and his career ERA was 3.46.

His National League legacy was somewhat limited until he starred with the Diamondbacks from 2000-2003. His postseason resume rivals that of John Smoltz and Mariano Rivera in terms of success. His record in postseason play was 11-2, with a 2.23 ERA. His "bloody sock" exploits are well documented, and his ability to win the big games could be enough to warrant selection.

One of the most interesting part's of Schilling's career was that he was on the side of many one-sided trades in his career:

From Boston to Baltimore for Mike Boddicker
From Baltimore to Houston for Glenn Davis (along with Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch)
From Houston to Philadelphia for Jason Grimsley
From Philly to Arizona for Omar Daal, Travis Lee, Nelson Figueroa, and Vicente Padilla
From Arizona to Boston for Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, and Jorge de la Rosa

Thus it appears that even during his career, Schilling was undervalued and underappreciated. In this writer's opinion, Schilling deserves the call, but probably will not be elected on the first ballot. I foresee his fate being similar to that of Bert Blyleven, who will eventually be enshrined but after a laborious journey.

Blog Bat Around V

2009-03-23T20:46:00.004-05:00

This is my first time participating in the Blog Bat Arounds, which have been thoroughly entertaining to date. This time around the BBA, hosted by Cardboard Junkie here, asks this: What is the best experience you have had acquiring cards or memorabilia?

For me, there are two distinct events that come to mind. The first was when I was about eight years old and I lived in Kokomo, Indiana. I was a huge Cubs fan and at that time the Cubs caravan went as far south as central Indiana. I had my picture taken in the local newspaper, proudly wearing my Cubs jacket and hat. My favorite memory that day was meeting Scott Sanderson. I got his autograph, and in his honor I include my favorite Cubs card of Sanderson, his 1986 Topps:

My second memorable event was only a few years ago. I moved to the north suburbs of Chicago after graduating from college. It wasn't until a few years ago that I found a great card shop with lots of old stuff and tons of Cubs cards. The shop reintroduced me to card collecting, as I had drifted away from the hobby for many years. The most fun part of the shop was their "rookie card vault" of sorts with their most valuable cards. I subsequently adopted the phrase with my most valuable cards at home, albeit they are not properly displayed in a proper case just yet. Of the many cards purchased there, one of my favorites is the 1977 Topps Andre Dawson RC:

Retiring Number 31

2009-03-19T10:35:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to two of my favorite Cubs pitchers of all time, Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux, on the Cubs announcement that their #31 will be retired on May 3rd. I'm looking forward to being there for a Cubs victory and to see a new flag raised.

In honor of this announcement, here are the Topps rookie cards of each player:

1966 Topps Fergie Jenkins, #254

1987 Topps Traded Greg Maddux #70T

HOF Tracker: Mark Teixeira

2009-03-17T21:03:00.003-05:00

Up next in the HOF tracker poll is the new first baseman for the Yankees, Mark Teixeira. Only 28, Teixeira has already hit over 200 home runs and won two Gold Gloves. Playing for the Yankees will give him much more visibility than he had as a Ranger, Brave, and Angel, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure. He played the best baseball of his career after he was traded to the Angels in 2008, batting .358 in 54 games. He profiles as a Carlos Delgado/Jim Thome type hitter for his career, but with better defense. Barring injury, his HOF case should be solid.

Of the many rookie cards for Teixeira, my favorite is his 2001 Fleer Tradition.

HOF Tracker: Grady Sizemore

2009-03-16T05:33:00.003-05:00

Up next in my rundown of AL hitting candidates with an early track toward the Hall of Fame is Grady Sizemore. Anyone who has watched Sizemore play knows his ability and potential. After five seasons, Sizemore has been an All Star three times and last year was a 30-30 guy for the first time. At this point he profiles like a young Barry Bonds, without the supplements.

Sizemore's most widely collected rookie card is the 2000 Bowman Draft Pick:

HOF Tracker: Michael Young

2009-03-07T15:44:00.004-06:00

Of the five players listed in my first poll, Michael Young may be the most under-appreciated. But take a close look at his numbers at what is likely the half-way point in his career. He has almost 1500 hits, a .300 career batting average, five all-star appearances and one Gold Glove. His impending switch from SS to 3B could jeopardize his chances, however. While his hitting style profiles more like a middle infielder, his relative lack of power could be a problem. Also, his $80 million contract will likely keep him playing for the Rangers for a number of years, where his profile is much lower than it would be in a larger market.

But for me, Young has Hall of Fame ability. He is on pace for more than 3000 hits. And few remember that he willingly switched from 2B to SS after the Rangers traded A-Rod for Alfonso Soriano. While he initially demanded a trade earlier this year when he was asked to move to 3B, he again put the team first and accepted the new role. My favorite card of Young's is his 2000 Topps Traded rookie card, where he was listed as "Mike Young".

New HOF Poll: American League Hitters

2009-03-07T11:18:00.003-06:00

Over the next few months, I am going to post a series of polls asking which current players in their prime are most likely to make the Hall of Fame. I decided to break this into four separate polls--for NL pitchers, NL hitters, AL pitchers, and AL hitters.

The first post is American League hitters, as you can see on the right sidebar. I decided not to mention the "slam-dunk" HOF players such as Derek Jeter, Ichiro, Vlad Guerrero, etc. I also decided that the players eligible for this poll must have played at least 5 years.

I will post an individual profile for each player featured in the polls, with the first post later today. Please vote and comment if you want!

Latest Sandberg Additions

2009-03-03T18:58:00.003-06:00

As an avid collector of Ryne Sandberg cards, including his post-career non-relic cards, I recently acquired two interesting Upper Deck cards from 2008.

First up is the UD Masterpieces SP, #94:

Next is the UD Goudey SP, #210:

2011 Topps Archives "Wishlist": Players from the 80s and 90s

2009-03-01T11:45:00.005-06:00

JayBee from bdj610's Topps Baseball Card Blog (here) has started a great series of posts regarding a "wishlist" of players to be featured on a 2011 Topps Archives set, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Topps. The conditions are that none of the players could have been featured in the 2001 Archives set--and I will add that players from the 2002 Archives set are also off limits--and that the players must be retired as of this year.

JayBee started with Mickey Mantle, who is a terrific selection to get things going. Given that my relative knowledge of baseball is limited to the past thirty years, I will provide a few suggestions from the 1980s and 1990s. From the 1980s, the most obvious addition to me is Alan Trammell. I have extolled Trammell's HOF worthiness before, so that does not bear repeating.

Other prominent stars of the 1980s that come to mind include Eric Davis, Rick Sutcliffe, Tim Raines, and Harold Baines. From the 1990s, there are several somewhat forgotten stars that warrant inclusion, including pitchers David Cone and Bret Saberhagen.

Cone's career gets overlooked because he did not win 200 games. But he was a tremendous big-game pitcher with five All Star appearances. Other players from the 1990s that I would consider include Terry Pendleton, Larry Walker, Mo Vaughn, and the Big Cat, Andres Galarraga.

Finally, I would lobby for inclusion of my two favorite "Francos", Julio and John.

Chicago Cubs Checklists: Topps Turkey Red and O-Pee-Chee Insert Sets

2009-02-24T20:14:00.006-06:00

Both Topps and Upper Deck have included a popular throwback-style insert product in their Series 1 sets. This year Topps has used its Turkey Red product as an insert set rather than a standalone product. While this decision has sparked various opinions, Turkey Red works well as an insert. There are two Cubs cards in this set, belonging to Kosuke Fukudome (#TR-40) and Geovany Soto (#TR-42).

In Upper Deck's Series 1 set, UD has included a 1975 style throwback set based on the 1975 O-Pee-Chee design. The Cubs cards in this set include Derrek Lee (#OPC-17), Kosuke Fukudome (#OPC-35), and Alfonso Soriano (#OPC-3).

Many bloggers have posted about the similarity between this OPC throw-back design and the 1975 Topps design. While the cards are similar, there are several differences, including the background color scheme, the font for the Cubs team name, and the placement of a logo rather than the player's position in the inset circle:

2009 Topps Heritage Cubs Checklist- Update

2009-02-22T13:17:00.006-06:00

For those interested in the Cubs cards in the 2009 Topps Heritage set, there are 13 regular issue cards and 5 SPs:

Ryan Theriot #47
Aramis Ramirez #95
Carlos Zambrano #182

Joey Gathright #188
Lou Piniella #223
Kerry Wood #233 (UPDATE: Wood is in an Indians uniform)
Henry Blanco #248
Kosuke Fukudome #259
Mark DeRosa #294 (UPDATE: DeRosa is in an Indians uniform)
Alfonso Soriano #305
Jason Marquis #311
Geovany Soto #323
Cubs Team Card #397
Rich Harden #398
Ted Lilly #412

SPs:
Mike Fontenot #444
Ryan Dempster #453
Alan Trammell/Matt Sinatro/Larry Rothschild #457
Kosuke Fukudome AS #492
Geovany Soto AS #496

1978 Topps Rookies: Murray, Molitor, and Morris

2009-02-22T10:52:00.006-06:00

One of my favorite Topps sets is 1978, the year I was born. The look is classic Topps, and the set was quite large at 726 cards. The set is littered with Hall of Famers, 31 base cards if my math is correct. The most noteworthy cards are the Topps debuts of two Hall of Famers and one pitcher that should be in the Hall. Finally, I'll share my favorite card in the set, which is not one of the aforementioned cards.

Eddie Murray was one of the biggest sluggers of the 1980s and is one of a handful of player to accomplish both 500 home runs and 3000 hits. One of the most professional hitters in the game, his 1978 rookie card, #36, is a classic.

The other Hall of Fame debut in the set is Paul Molitor. Molitor had over 3300 hits, which ranks him ninth all-time. His career was somewhat overlooked because he played the majority of it in Milwaukee, and he garned nationwide recognition following his 1993 season with the Blue Jays (.332 BA, 22 HR, 111 RBI, 2nd in MVP voting). Molitor's rookie, #707, is shared with fellow shortstops Alan Trammell, Mickey Klutts, and U.L. Washington.

Jack Morris makes his Topps debut on card #703. Morris has come up short in Hall of Fame voting thus far, but I feel his Hall of Fame case is solid. His career stats are good, but he is best known, and understandably so, for pitching in probably the best game of the past 30 years--game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Morris pitched 10 scoreless innings against the Braves, clinching the Series for the Twins.

Finally, I promised to share my favorite card. Although he is not yet in the Hall, Andre Dawson's 1978 card, #72, was his first solo card after his 1977 debut on a card with three other outfielders. Appropriately, Dawson was a member of Topps' All-Star Rookie team. Dawson's Hall of Fame candidacy is undeniable, and I cannot wait to go to Cooperstown for his induction speech.

Making the HOF Case: Fred McGriff

2009-02-18T22:02:00.004-06:00

Up first in our review of 2010 first-time Hall eligibles is the Crime Dog, Fred McGriff. He was never necessarily the best first baseman in the league (one could argue that Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell were the dominant players at the position in the 90s), but he finished his career just shy of 500 homers. In this era, 500 homers is not an automatic lock anyway, so let's consider some additional stats.

McGriff was a five-time All Star, a three-time Silver Slugger winner, and he had over 1,500 RBI. McGriff also performed at his best when he was traded from the Padres to the Braves (for Melvin Nieves among others, no less) in the midst of the 1993 pennant race. McGriff was instrumental to the Braves' playoff run, hitting 19 home runs in just 68 games. But as a Cubs fan, my lasting memory of the Crime Dog is his resistance to accept a trade from the Devil Rays to the Cubs during the 2001 season. At the time it seemed he didn't want to leave the luxury of Tampa for a pennant race in Chicago. While he played well for the Cubs, his indecision left a bad taste for many fans.

In this fan's opinion, McGriff falls into that category of good but not great players. I do not believe he will make the Hall, but his career is certainly worth admiration.

Iconic Cards II: 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr.

2009-02-14T09:43:00.004-06:00

For many 30-something year-old collectors, the 1989 Upper Deck set was a huge leap forward in card collecting. While this collector favors Topps sets, there is no denying that the quality of the 1989 Upper Deck was well ahead of its Topps, Donruss, Fleer, and Bowman counterparts. The most prized card of this set is of course Ken Griffey's rookie card.

As Mr. Griffey is (hopefully) on the verge of signing a contract to rejoin the Mariners to end his illustrious career, his impact on the game cannot be understated. For many a fan today, Griffey represents what baseball should be--a truly talented player who did not need PEDs or steroids to compete. It is unfortunate that his historical legacy will be somewhat minimized based on the presence of controversial players such as Bonds, Clemens, and A-Rod, among others. But for fans who have lost some respect for the game, Griffey stands out as a truly terrific ballplayer and a role model for the next generation of collectors.

2009 Topps Insert Set: Legends of the Game

2009-02-08T20:36:00.004-06:00

One of the more interesting insert sets in Topps 2009 Series 1 is the 25-card Legends of the Game. The set contains a broad range of Hall of Fame players, from Cy Young to Cal Ripken Jr. The cards have a very traditional look, and there appear to be relic versions of each.

It remains to be seen how popular these inserts will be, when many of these 25 players are also the subject of an SP variation card within the Topps Series 1 Set. As described on bjd610's Topps Blog here, there are 19 SPs in Topps Series 1. Seventeen of the 19 (not including Barack Obama and the Yankees CC Sabathia variation) are also featured in this set.

Thus, the substantial overlap between the two could detract collectors from this set, in favor of the more rare SPs. But this set appears to be a more economical set for Hall of Fame collectors.

A Look Ahead: Hall of Fame Class of 2013

2009-01-31T17:17:00.008-06:00

The Class of 2013 should be stellar, albeit overshadowed by two of the biggest victims of the Steroids Era. First, there are two no-brainers for enshrinement. Craig Biggio was one of the most versatile players of the 1990s, playing C, 2B, and OF in his career, which was entirely spent with the Astros. He was a top performer at 2B for the majority of his career, and his 3060 career hits warrant automatic admission. His most notable rookie card is his 1988 Score Rookie/Traded.

The other "automatic" candidate is Mike Piazza, who obliterated the HR record for catchers and was the most influential catcher in the NL since Johnny Bench. Piazza was a 12-time All Star and a 10-time Silver Slugger winner. The only possible knocks on Piazza is that he was not a top notch defensive catcher, and that his presence in the postseason seemed lacking. His key rookie cards include 1992 Bowman and 1992 Fleer Update.

An interesting borderline candidate is Curt Schilling. First, Schilling is not officially retired and has hinted at returning during the 2009 season, so this debate may be premature. While he only won 216 career games, he was a dynamic postseason performer with three World Series championships. His "bloody sock" is Boston lore, and his vote totals will be interesting to watch. His most notable rookie card is a most unflattering 1989 Donruss.

While Biggio, Piazza, and Schilling were star players and had Hall-worthy careers, three of the most influencial, and most controversial, players of the last twenty years will also appear on the ballot in 2013. The careers of Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa are invariably tied to the Steroids/HGH scandals of the past ten years. Each, to a varying degree, has been linked to the use of illegal substances. And each, undoubtedly, has the statistical resume to warrant automatic enshrinement.

The saddest part, at least for Bonds and Clemens, is that their Hall tickets were punched well before they allegedly began use of banned substances. Given the plight of Mark McGwire in Hall voting thus far, none of these three stand a strong case of immediate admission to the Hall. However, by 2013, more information may be available that could influence voting.

What isn't debatable, though, is that these three players have been three of the most widely collected players of the past twenty years. Roger Clemens' 1984 Fleer Update remains a gold standard in rookie card collecting.

Similarly, whatever one thinks of Barry Bonds, his 762 home runs and 7 MVP awards, one has to respect his ability and skill. Of his major issued rookie cards, his 1986 Topps Traded is probably the most widely collected.

The final player to consider is Sammy Sosa. As a die-hard Cubs fan, I certainly respected and enjoyed every minute of his home run feats, particularly his 1998 HR battle with Mark McGwire. There has never been any evidence of his use of performance-enhancing substances, but his performance on Capital Hall, next to Rafael Palmeiro and McGwire, did him no favors.

Always controversal, and always "Sammy", one of the most enduring images of Sammy (other than blowing kisses in the camera or his chest bump to the bleacher fans) was his corked bat incident. That event tarnished his image with Cubs fans, who still sour at the end of Sosa's 2004 season. Sammy is apparently attempting a comeback again, so he could be off of the 2014 ballot. But unless he distances himself from Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, and Palmeiro, he is likely doomed to their same fate.

While Sosa had several rookie cards, my favorite is his 1990 Leaf. Why is it my favorite? This was probably the only time I ever saw Sosa attempt a bunt.

MLB Properties v. Donruss: MLBP should prevail

2009-01-28T19:45:00.008-06:00

As a trademark attorney and avid baseball card collector, I could not resist a post regarding the recent complaint filed by MLB Properties against Donruss. A full account of the lawsuit can be found at the Beckett blog, http://blogbeckett.wordpress.com.

Essentially Donruss, which no longer has a license to create officially-licensed MLB baseball cards (and thus no longer has the right to use MLB trademarks, trade dress, and the like), has been distributing and selling baseball cards featuring current and past ballplayers, featured in their MLB uniforms albeit with logos obscured or blurred in most cases. As an example, here is a 2008 Alan Trammell Donruss Threads:

As is obvious, Donruss made efforts to avoid use of the Tiger's logo and name. However, the card still undoubtedly features MLB "trade dress" via the color scheme of the Detroit Tigers, which is protectable under federal trademark law. MLBP seeks injunctive relief, to prevent Donruss from further use of the trade dress and trademarks. To succeed, MLBP must show that Donruss is using a similar mark or dress, on related goods, that could cause consumer confusion about the sponsorship of the Donruss products.

MLB Properties has a strong case here, as there is no denying that Donruss is using official trademarks and dress on baseball cards and memorabilia cards, which are licensed by MLB exclusively to Topps and Upper Deck. Furthermore, MLB Properties can show trademark "injury", simply based on the popularity of the Donruss cards that have (at least arguably) diverted sales away from similar products from Topps and Upper Deck. My take is that MLBP will likely prevail on the trademark infringement claims, and perhaps on its dilution count as well.

A more interesting claim is MLBP's right of publicity claim, which states that Donruss has infringed the players' right of publicity by using their likeness. Courts have generally been hesitant to recognize these types of claims. Recently, a court upheld a website owner's use of MLB player statistics for a fantasy baseball league. There is, of course, a substantial legal difference between using one's name and statistics versus a picture of the person. Thus it remains to be seen how far the court will reach.

One can debate whether the absence of Donruss has been good or bad for the industry. But what is not debatable is that Donruss attempted to skirt the exclusive licensing rules, and they are likely going to pay the consequence.

Finally, as a reminder of more innocent times, here is one of the first major Donruss must-have cards, Cal Ripken's 1982 rookie card.

Iconic Cards, Part I: 1968 Nolan Ryan

2009-01-25T18:52:00.009-06:00

For most of us collectors, there are some special cards that come to mind as representing the best of baseball card collecting. Nolan Ryan's 1968 Topps rookie card, shared with Jerry Koosman, is undoubtedly one of the most coveted cards of the Topps era. The book value for this card varies by source, but according to the 2009 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, edited by Don Fluckinger, a near mint card is worth $375.

Much has already been written about Nolan Ryan, so I will not repeat his stellar statistical career. I will, however, share a personal story. My wife and I had the opportunity to visit the Nolan Ryan Center in Alvin, Texas a couple years ago. Ryan's museum is one of the very best centers dedicated to a major league ballplayer in the country. I would strongly suggest a visit, if you happen to be in the Houston/Galveston area. For more information, please visit www.nolanryanfoundation.org/museum.htm.

Finally, like many other Hall of Famers, Topps has produced reprinted versions of this card. In 1999, Topps issued a complete set of 27 reprints, representing Ryan's 27 base cards from 1968 through 1994. Also, Topps issued a modified version of a 1968 reprint with its 2006 Topps "Rookie of the Week" series.

HOF Debate: Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker

2009-01-19T20:34:00.004-06:00

This is the first installment of a regular series, analyzing the Hall of Fame case for players that have escaped the attention of the baseball writers. This article focuses on two teammates, Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, who played their careers in relative obscurity (aka Detroit), thus at least in part explaining their lack of HOF support.

It is almost impossible to think about one player without the other--the double play combo played together for 19 seasons, including a World Series championship in 1984 (where Trammell was the series MVP). Both players spent their entire careers with Detroit, a feat almost unheard of today.

First, the easier case to make is for Trammell. Trammell was a six-time All Star SS (playing SS the same time as Cal Ripken), a four-time Gold Glove winner, and a three-time Silver Slugger winner. According to baseball-reference.com, the most comparable player to Trammell is Barry Larkin, who most likely will be inducted in the Hall of Fame within the next few years. But he played in Ripken's shadow for most of his career, and the powerful shortstops of the 1990s diminished the view of Trammell's more traditional SS performance. Trammell remains on the writer's ballot, but he failed to garner even 20% of the votes this year. Trammell's best bet for induction will be after he leaves the writer's ballot, as he stands a fairly good chance with a Veteran's Committee.

Trammell also possesses one of the best rookie cards of all time, sharing the 1978 Topps card with Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.

Trammell's teammate, Lou Whitaker, faces an even more onerous challenge in making it to the Hall. The "original" Sweet Lou, Whitaker was the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year, a five-time All Star, and three-time Gold Glove winner. He was arguably the best second baseman in the American League in the 1980s. Baseball-reference.com states that the most comparable player is Ryne Sandberg, who certainly benefited from the brighter lights of Chicago versus Lou's anonymity. Whitaker failed to receive 5% in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, thus he is ineligible for the writer's ballot. Again, he deserves a close look by the Veteran's Committee, as he was instrumental in the success of the Tigers teams of the 1980s.

Ironically, both Trammell and Whitaker debuted in the same 1978 Topps set.

In this author's opinion, both players deserve Hall of Fame consideration, along with their former teammate Jack Morris (but that's a story for another day). Like many of their 1980s contemporaries, particularly as midden infielders, they have not gotten their proper recognition based on the inflated offensive statistics of the steroid era.

Finally, a bit of trivia. Not only were Trammell and Whitaker teammates on the field, but they both guest starred in a 1983 episode of Magnum P.I.

Cubs Trade Felix Pie to Orioles for Garrett Olson and a Prospect

2009-01-18T21:00:00.008-06:00

No, the Cubs didn't acquire Brian Roberts from Baltimore. However, the move of Pie to the Orioles could reopen the Cubs' talks with the Padres for Jake Peavy, as there was talk that San Diego may be interested in Olson. While Felix never met his potential in Chicago, he was never really given the chance to show what he could do on a regular basis. With Baltimore, he'll likely play some left field, ironically along with former Cub Luis Montanez.

Like many Cubs fans, I was excited to acquire this 2003 Topps Traded rookie card. Oh well.

The Cubs did acquire an interesting lefty in Garrett Olson. Olson was rushed to the bigs a bit early (sound familiar, Felix?), and he went 9-10 with a 6.65 ERA in 2008. If he isn't traded in a Peavy deal, I hope he pushes Marshall for the fith starter/long reliever role.

Below is Olson's 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick rookie card.

Welcome!

2009-01-17T22:09:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Hall of Fame Cards blog! My hope for this blog is share my humble opinion on many things baseball card-related. My personal philosophy on collecting is to focus on traditional Topps sets and rookie cards for Hall of Fame caliber players.

Like many of you, I grew up with these sets and I feel that today's insert sets, special subsets and memorabilia cards are beyond the scope (and interest) of the traditional collector. I will provide information on the key rookie cards for some of the most popular current Hall of Fame players, particularly those that have played in the last thirty years. I will also post my thoughts on potential future Hall of Fame players, as I've found that conversations on this topic are sparse.

As a die hard Cubs fan, I will also indulge in some Cubs related facts and fun along the way. I of course welcome all comments and hope to spark some interesting conversations on these and other issues. Please enjoy the blog and share your comments.

To start with, I've included an image of the card that really jump started my collection as a kid. Ryno was my favorite player growing up, and this is Sandberg's 1983 Topps rookie card.

Jeremy

Congratulations to the 2009 Hall of Fame inductees

2009-01-17T21:48:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Jim Rice, who was finally inducted on his fifteenth and final ballot. Seriously, aren't his stats the same today as they were fifteen years ago? As someone smarter than me noted though, only now are the stars of the 70s and 80s getting their due. Rice has steadily increased his vote total over the years, even though he initially garnered less than 30% of the vote in his first year. At least this increasing appreciation is one good thing to come out of the steroids era.

Also, Rice's election no doubt pleases Red Sox Nation. However, our equally impassioned base of Cubs fans should be encouraged, not discouraged, by Andre Dawson's near miss. Given the relatively unimpressive candidates coming onto the ballots in 2010 and 2011, Dawson should be elected within the next two years. Dawson was undoubtedly one of the most feared sluggers of the 1980s, and his prowess was overlooked for much of his career until he left Montreal in 1987.

Congratulations are also in order for Rickey Henderson. Won't that be an interesting acceptance speech? Here's a good drinking game--take a shot each time he refers to himself in the third person. While he was certainly no student of the game, there is no player who revolutionized the game more in the 1980s. Although isn't it interesting how lead off hitters with his skill set have all but disappeared today? Stolen bases been deemphasized throughout MLB, and the days of power/speed combos at the top of the lineup card are mostly gone.

Finally, here's my prediction for next year's HOF results: the inductees will be Dawson and Roberto Alomar. But here's hoping that Barry Larkin isn't overlooked...