Topps be lazy

Other bloggers such as Wriglywax have noted the reuse of photos for various Topps issues. So Topps is at it again with the 2014 flagship issue and the 2014 Gypsy Queen Mini Photo Variation. Come on Topps do you think someone isn't going to notice?

STL MLB Player of the Week #8

I remember the name Juan Eichelberger from my youth and didn’t know he was born in the STL. Juan was a right-handed pitcher who played 7 seasons in the bigs. Juan Tyrone Eichelberger was born October 21, 1953 in STL. However, he grew up in San Francisco and attended Balboa High School (isn’t this school real close to Ghirardelli Square?). Following graduation in 1971 he attended UC Berkley where he played ball. In the 1975 amateur draft he was drafted in the 1^st round (19^th pick) by the San Diego Padres. He debuted with the Padres on September 7, 1978 and for the rest of the season had a 10.80 ERA. He spent four more seasons with the Padres where he pitched 432 innings, went 20 and 25, had an ERA of 3.88, 212 SO, and 213 walks. He was traded with one other player to Cleveland on November 18, 1982 for Ed Whitson. He spent one year with the tribe and was 4 and 11, had a 4.90 ERA, 56 Ks, and 59 walks. The Tribe released him on April 1st, 1984 (not an April fools joke). He went on to play with the Brewers, Pirates, ended his career with Atlanta. His final game was June 20,1988. Following the Majors he played one season in Japan with the Yakult Swallows. His career stats were a 26 and 36 record, pitched in 125 games, 603.1 innings, ERA of 4.10, 281 Ks, and 283 walks. The Chicago Cubs drafted his son Jared in 2001 as a right-handed pitcher. Together they now run the youth baseball-training program Baseball ASAP in San Diego, CA.

1981 Topps #478. Sweet A$$ Old school Padres' uni. Let's not mention the even older old school facial hair!

Yadi card of the week #10

The Yadi card or cards of the week is 2008 Topps Co-Signers #44. According to baseballcardpedia the Co-Signers set is hobby exclusive and consists of 112 cards. A high end product each 12-pack box should give up three autos including one multi-player and nine serial numbered parallels.  Parallels of Yadi’s #44 are Silver Red #d to 400, Silver Bronze #d to 300, Silver Blue #d to 250, Silver Green #d to 200, Silver Gold #d to 150, Hyper Plaid Red #d to 100, Hyper Plaid Bronze #d to 75, Hyper Plaid Blue #d to 50, Hyper Plaid Green #d to 25, Hyper Plaid Gold #d to 10, and Hyper Plaid Silver one-of-one.  On the parallels the STL logo to his left is replaced by a shot of Yadi in his catcher's gear throwing. This is in the color of the parallel.

There is also #44a on which Yadi and Troy Glaus share face time with the same parallels.

It would have made more sense to partner him up with a pitcher since he is a catcher, dah. I don’t think there is any reason why they would have Yadi share a card with Troy except to make more bank. Oddly enough many of the autos in this set are of boxers! What the…

OK, enough of my complaining let’s get to Yadi’s #44. Let's examine the base card, which is a very attractive white card with silver borders and a textured back ground. It has Yadi batting to the right side of the card with the STL logo to the left. Along the top right is St. Louis Cardinals; to the left of this is the Topps Co-Signers’ logo. Vertical to the left is St. Louis and Catcher. Finally along the bottom is Yadi’s name.

The reverse shows Yadi framed by a half border to his left and top in the color of the card. He is throwing in home uni. The graphics are simple but effective with STL logo prominent. It has his MLB batting record however this only begins with the 2005 season.  If #d it will be located in the top left. I find myself confused as to which ones we have, and if it wasn’t for the serial #d out of it can be a challenge to determine on the computer screen which one you are looking at. These Co-signers are not that difficult to locate though the #d to 25 or below are. More of these could pop up since there are some unopened boxes on EBay.

I've been Fujied!

I have been Fujied. A few weeks ago I received a care package from Fuji and since it was the week that my wife and I were preparing for a getaway I haven’t been able to blog the goodies I received from him. What did I receive? First up a 2013 Topps Finest Yadi Refractor! Niiceee!

He also included some Cardinal autos this one Jon Jay (2007 Tristar Signature Moves). This is my first Jay auto. I really hope he is able to stick around with the logjam in the outfield for the Birds. Another auto this one a Topps Archives 1954 Cot Deal!

I can’t say I was familiar with Cot before this card arrived. Cot played a few years with the Red Sox and the Cardinals. He spent many years coaching in several organizations. This is what I like about cards you get to learn about players from the past and the present.

Sticking with the old-timer theme Fuji included a Johnny Mize from the 2011 Topps Champions of Games and Sports insert.  Johnny played 15 seasons in the Majors with the Cardinals, the New York Giants and Yankees and has 5 World Series rings to show for it.

Another Stan card in the stack is a 1977 TCMA #16 Stan Musial.

I really like this card as it has a really cool picture. Last of the oldies but goodies are a 2009 Topps Legends of the Game Rogers Hornsby. He was a two-time Triple Crown winner, NL MVP X2, and 1926 World Series champ with the Cards.

2010 Topps Legendary Lineage insert with Stan “the Man” Musial and Albert Pujols.

 Nice looking card of two of the greatest Redbirds. It will be interesting to see whose cap Albert chooses when he enters the Hall of Fame.

Fuji also included some gold Joe Kelly, Mike Perez, and Bernard Gilkey.  I have to say the Topps Cards Your Mom Threw Out is one of my favorite inserts.

My dad told me bout his mother throwing his baseball cards out after he moved out. Bummer really, I could imagine the Bowmans and early Topps that he must have had. I am pretty sure Fuji noticed this but the two blue serial numbered 2011 Topps Opening Day Albert Pujols and Colby Rasmus (how is Toronto treating you?) are both #1025 out of 2011. What are the odds!

The best card of the bunch? Drum roll please is….

Many thanks Fuji!.

All though the boys from LA aren't winning you could be the winner of a Chavez Ravining contest.

Hey folks it is raining contests on the card blog scene. Check out Alex’s contest over at chavezravining contest. Good luck!

Big 44 is having a contest

Hey everyone please check out Big 44's contest here. Check out his Pirates blog and good luck.

STL MLB Player of the Week #7

This week’s player is David Edward Phelps who is a right-handed reliever and a starter for the Yanks. David was born in STL on 10/9/1986. David attended Hazelwood West High School in suburban Hazelwood. Prior to the 2005 MLB Draft he was ranked as 6th best prospect from Missouri. Following graduation he attended
University of Notre Dame.

David was drafted by the Yanks in the 14th round of the 2008 MLB draft. In 2010 he was named to the Eastern League All-Star Team. Also in 2010 he was Yankees’ minor league pitcher of the year.  After the 2011 season he was added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster. He debuted as a starter on April 29, 2012 but wasn’t particularly effective with 0-0 record and a 3.57 ERA in 6 games. He headed back to the bullpen as a result. Again he became a starter when injuries to Sabathia and Pettitte required it, unfortunately for David he didn’t do well. From July 6th to September 14th he was on the disabled list.

Checking Baseball Reference I don’t see stats for this season yet. I will pull for the STL kid even if he is a Yankee. Here is David’s 2013 Topps Update #US127.