Blog Archives
Fun Cards: 1986 Topps Bob Gibson (Gold Glove edition)
I created a handful of “fun cards” for Bob Gibson a couple of days ago, and thought I would share them with you over the next few days. This one features Gibby receiving one of his nine Gold Glove Awards.
Goodbye, Bob Gibson
(November 9, 1935 – October 2, 2020)
Bob Gibson was one of the most intimidating pitchers to ever take the mound in Major League Baseball. His 1968 season stands as one of the greatest of all time, with 268 strikeouts and a minuscule 1.77 ERA earning him both Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player honors. After his Hall of Fame playing career, “Hoot” served as the pitching coach for the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves under manager Joe Torre.
Bob Gibson quite literally changed the game of baseball.
He was a fierce competitor and beloved by Cardinal Nation.
We will miss him dearly.
Rest in peace, Gibby ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TQDT21c6wU
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) October 3, 2020
Bob Gibson was one of the best we’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/9usybsp14F
— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2020
Bob Gibson. Complex, Courageous and yes Competitive. Behind that tough exterior was a caring Father, Husband and proud big hearted person with a great sense of humor. Cardinal nation has lost a Giant. My biggest disappointment was that I didn’t get the chance to play behind the
— Ozzie Smith (@STLWizard) October 3, 2020
From the very first time I met Bob Gibson (decades after he threw his last pitch), he had this competitive spirit that expected to win every game! pic.twitter.com/6SxEYfxmhT
— Albert Pujols (@PujolsFive) October 3, 2020
#BobGibson @MLB @baseballhall my dad always thought he could hit ML pitching. They came to St. Louis to see me my first game there. I faced Gibby. He struck me out the 1st 3 AB. I was smiling as I got back to the dugout. Mgr was P.O. I told him “I don’t think Dad could hit Bob
— Johnny Bench (@JohnnyBench_5) October 3, 2020
I just got the horrible news of the passing of my dear friend Bob Gibson. My thoughts and prayers are with Wendy and the Gibson Family. A huge loss for the entire @MLB and @Cardinals family. Will miss you Bob. pic.twitter.com/NI1r0IpfvD
— Fergie Jenkins (@fergieajenkins) October 3, 2020
As much as I wanted be, tried to be like Bob Gibson, there was only one Bob Gibson! My deepest sympathy to the Gibson family. RIP to the #1 starter of the Black Aces. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
— Dave “Smoke” Stewart (@Dsmoke34) October 3, 2020
Rip Mr Bob Gibson! We will miss you dearly. A standard setter on the mound your entire career and one of the most feared competitors to ever play the game of baseball! I totally enjoyed my conversations with you in Cooperstown. #Thanksforeverything#TrueLegend#Godbless
— Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35) October 3, 2020
MLB Network mourns the passing of St. Louis Cardinals legend and Hall of Famer Bob Gibson. pic.twitter.com/mAbU5voIcH
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 3, 2020
Like Tom Seaver, the same year, in the same shared spring training camp, the late Bob Gibson managed to accomplish the players’ eternal joke: fooling the photographer by posing lefty. The 1968 card got as far as the printed “proof” stage but was never issued. pic.twitter.com/64FCIohZYa
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 3, 2020
Goodbye, Lou Brock
Speedy Hall of Famer Lou Brock, the holder of the all-time stolen base record until Rickey Henderson came on the scene, passed away today. He was 81 years old. The six-time All-Star was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 on the strength of his prowess on the basepaths and more than 3,000 hits.
We mourn the passing of Lou Brock, a Hall of Famer and World Series champion. He was 81. pic.twitter.com/vUubODd8hQ
— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2020
Our hearts are broken.
Lou Brock was an amazing player and outstanding person.
He loved the game and all of Cardinal Nation.
Rest in peace, Lou ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MSxnIJOHhK
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 7, 2020
We join the @Cardinals organization and all @MLB in mourning the passing of Hall of Famer Lou Brock. pic.twitter.com/VNqalvEHwp
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 6, 2020
Lou Brock the Base Burglar was a class act on and off the field. Made @Cardinal baseball what it is. Had the ability to change the momentum of a game with his legs and his bat. May he Rest In Peace. One of the greatest Cardinals of all time.
— Ozzie Smith (@STLWizard) September 6, 2020
Lou Brock was one of the finest men I have ever known.
Coming into this league as a 21-year-old kid, Lou Brock was one of the first Hall-of-Fame players I had the privilege to meet. He told me I belonged here in the big-leagues. pic.twitter.com/JIbSKMYI13— Albert Pujols (@PujolsFive) September 7, 2020
Saddened to hear of the passing of Lou Brock. Many years of rivalries between us but always respected Lou as a person and player. My thoughts are with the Brock family and the Cardinals nation. pic.twitter.com/0TOO0IlVbf
— Fergie Jenkins (@fergieajenkins) September 6, 2020
Just heard about Lou Brock. He was a great one. So sad. Rest In Peace my brother! pic.twitter.com/nnKNDtyXd9
— Dick Allen (@DickAllen_15) September 7, 2020
RIP Lou Brock😞 pic.twitter.com/6CUcAxUYff
— Expos Fest❤️#EnRoutePour1Million #RoadTo1Million (@ExposFest) September 6, 2020
MLB Network is saddened by the passing of Lou Brock.
A look back at the life and career of the Hall of Famer and Cardinals legend. pic.twitter.com/3YwPPV380B
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) September 6, 2020
Fun Cards: 1986 Topps, 1993 Donruss, 1996 Topps Poison
Poison has been one of my favorite bands for a long time. Although I’ve been disappointed that they seem to only be interested in doing “greatest hits” tours for the past 20 years, they are still fun to see in concert. Bret Michaels is supposed to be playing a solo show in my hometown at the end of next month, if it doesn’t get Covid-canceled.
But my favorite part of the music is the guitar. C.C. DeVille is, in my opinion, a vastly underrated guitarist. I love his riffs.
The rhythm section is solid but a bit underwhelming. Rikki Rockett and Bobby Dall are consistent, but Bret and C.C. are where the show is really at.
After three studio albums and a live record, C.C. DeVille was ousted from the band and replaced by Richie Kotzen. He was an excellent guitarist, not as flashy but more technically competent than DeVille.
The 1993 Native Tongue release was the only album Kotzen appeared on, and he was fired near the end of the year, replaced by another young solo guitar whiz, Blues Saraceno.
Saraceno worked on an album called Crack A Smile. It was originally scheduled for a 1994 release, but was delayed due to an injury Michaels sustained. In 1996, Capitol Records decided to release Greatest Hits 1986-1996 rather than Crack A Smile. It was finally released in 2000, but since two of the tracks appeared on the 1996 compilation, Saraceno gets the 1996 virtual cardboard treatment.
I really love the band’s remake of “Cover of the Rolling Stone.” Check it out below…
Fun Cards: 1977, 1983, 1986, and 1988 Topps Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali passed away on Thursday last week after battling pancreatic cancer. Banali joined the group in 1982 and made his recording debut with DuBrow and the boys on 1983’s Metal Health. I love making “fun cards” of musicians using classic baseball card designs, and his passing reminded me that I had not created cards for Quiet Riot yet. So, without further ado, the classic 1983 Metal Health lineup of Quiet Riot: Kevin DuBrow, Frankie Banali, Carlos Cavazo, and Rudy Sarzo…
Metal Health was the first heavy metal album to reach #1 on the Billboard charts on the strength of their cover of the Slade song, “Cum On Feel the Noize.”
Unfortunately, the follow-up Critical Condition did not fare as well, and subsequent releases failed to recapture that spark from 1983. On 1986’s QR III, bassist Sarzo was replaced with Chuck Wright.
By 1988 DuBrow was out of the band in favor of Rough Cutt vocalist Paul Shortino (as was Wright, replaced by Sean McNabb). Shortino only appeared on one album and the group disbanded in 1989 (only to be resurrected a couple of years later by DuBrow and Cavazo, with Kenny Hillery on bass and Pat Ashby on drums).
Membership in the band was a revolving door, regardless of your role in the band. Eight singers, seven guitarists, eight bass players, and four drummers spent time with the group. Banali was the most consistent, appearing on every studio recording except for the first two (which were released in Japan only) and the underrated 1993 compilation that featured some of the best of those records and outtakes.
Speaking of the first two records…it was 1978’s Quiet Riot II that featured the first Quiet Riot “fun cards” on the back cover, styled after 1978 Topps football cards…
Goodbye, Marie Fredriksson
(May 30, 1958 – December 9, 2019)
Singer and songwriter Marie Fredriksson, best known for her work with the 1980s pop duo Roxette, died yesterday in Sweden from complications from a brain tumor. She was 61 years old.
Roxette’s debut album, Pearls of Passion, was released in 1986, but it was 1988’s Look Sharp! that put the group in the spotlight, selling 9 million copies across the globe. The follow-up, Joyride, was released in 1991 and sold 11 million worldwide. They scored four #1 hits in the US: “The Look,” “Listen To Your Heart,” “It Must Have Been Love,” and “Joyride.” One of my personal favorites, however, failed to reach the top spot…
Time goes by so quickly. It’s not that long ago we spent days+nights in my tiny apartment sharing impossible dreams. And what a dream we eventually got to share! I’m honoured to have met your talent+generosity. All my love goes to you+your family. Things will never be the same. pic.twitter.com/CTegAUGrXG
— Per Gessle (@PartyPleaser) December 10, 2019
Roxette is still in my song playlist and I so admire Marie and her love of life! David Hasselhoff #MarieFredriksson #Roxette https://t.co/nHsrQARvhX
— David Hasselhoff (@DavidHasselhoff) December 10, 2019
After a 17-year-long battle with cancer, the singer for Swedish pop rock duo @TheRealRoxette has passed away, leaving us a grand musical legacy. https://t.co/gJlHqL8WDP
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) December 11, 2019
Fun Cards Submission: 1986 Topps Ken Griffey, Jr. by Lanny Ribes!
Lanny Ribes (@DOCBZ17 on Twitter) stepped up to the challenge and started sending custom Ken Griffey Jr. cards last night. The first was 1986 Topps featuring Junior with the White Sox.
Lanny posts a bunch of customs on his Twitter feed featuring his son and always does a spectacular job. Thank you for sharing a few Griffeys with me and allowing me to post them here!
I’ll post another Lanny custom tomorrow. If anyone else wants to get in the game, send files or links to my e-mail or on Twitter! (P.S. — It’s not really a game and there are no prizes.)
1986 Topps oddballs
When I dove into collecting baseball cards at about ten years old, I collected everything I could get my hands on. There were nearly as many oddball sets as there are parallel sets today, and I grabbed as much as I could. Here are a few of the offerings that bore the Topps name.
Glossy Send-Ins
These cards did not come in packs. You had to collect a certain number of “offer cards” from regular packs, then send them in along with postage to receive them. I never did order them directly from Topps but picked up a few in trades.
Mini League Leaders
Before baseball-reference.com, we relied on baseball cards stats to know who the best players were. In 1986, Topps issued a set of mini “League Leaders.” The back of this card reveals that Mario Soto finished the 1985 season second in the National League with 214 strikeouts, tied for 6th in games started, tied for 6th in complete games, and 7th in innings pitched.
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
Baseball card companies partnered with food products often in the olden days. Post Cereal, Kellogg’s, and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese were just a handful of the food products that featured cards in products. Quaker Chewy Granola bars was another, and Dave Parker was one of the more common Reds players to show up in these sets from 1985-1988. These cards are usually found in very good condition, so I assume they were available through mail-order rather than included in the box itself.
Topps Tattoos
Topps Tattoos were sold in packs, but I don’t recall ever seeing them in stores. I picked up a few featuring Reds players through trades. The full sheets featured several players; this particular sheet included not only Tony Perez, but fellow Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith and a player with one of the greatest nicknames in the history of baseball: Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd. Right next to Perez is the late Donnie Moore, who tragically took his own life in 1989.
Let’s flip the image to see what it would look like if you applied it to your skin:
I’m so used to seeing them reversed, flipping it just looks weird.
O-Pee-Chee
Are O-Pee-Chee cards oddballs? Sold in packs in Canada, but singles always traveled south and into the hands of American kids. I loved cards like this Bill Gullickson, showing the original Topps photo but new team designation.
My first complete set
I started acquiring baseball cards in 1985.
I started collecting baseball cards in 1986. The first packs I remember opening were 1986 Topps. I received some cards here and there in 1985 but didn’t really know what I was doing at all. In 1986, though, that all changed. Not only did I open packs, but I also traded with friends. I read box scores. I researched card prices in Beckett. I became a fanatic. Finding Reds cards of Eric Davis, Tony Perez, Mario Soto, Dave Parker, and Buddy Bell became an obsession.
My parents gave me the complete factory set of 1986 Topps ordered from the JC Penney at Christmas, and I was over the moon. Seven hundred ninety-two pristine, gem mint baseball cards. This was before the era of graded cards, and I knew little about printing defects or off-centering. All I knew was that I had the complete factory set in the yellow box.
Pete Rose was likely a big reason for my initial interest in baseball. In 1985 he was chasing Ty Cobb‘s all-time hits record and every Cincinnati news outlet covered the milestone. He was a Cincinnati kid, he epitomized the value of hustle and hard work. Topps honored Rose with a special subset in the 1986 base set. The legend was featured on card #1, while cards #2-7 showed all of Pete’s base cards through the years. Topps also featured him as a manager on a separate card (#741), featuring a checklist of all the 1986 Topps Reds cards on the back. And then there was the Record Breaker” (#206).
That’s nine different cards of one player. Complete insanity at the time. Also completely worth it to honor such a legend. Bear in mind this was a couple of years before the whispers of gambling and betting on baseball. To Reds fans, Pete Rose could do no wrong.
There is one other card Topps produced for Rose in conjunction with their standard set, but it was not a part of the complete factory set. Rather, you had to be one of the last kids buying a pack at the convenience store to get this card.
The box bottom cards were not easy to come by. Most stores, after selling all the packs, would pitch the box in the trash. If you knew about the special cards you could cut out then you could ask for the box but if it wasn’t close to empty, most store clerks would deny your request. It was difficult to cut the cards out properly because of the thickness of the box and the fear of getting caught with Mom’s good scissors.
There may not have been a lot of great rookie cards in the 1986 Topps set, but it will always hold a special place in my collection and in my heart.
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