TTM and Card Show

 Hello Friends!

I have a couple things to talk about/show today.. 

First is a TTM return that I got back today. I sent it out in March. Denis Boucher! I love 1994 OPC and what better uniform to get him in than an Expos one?

Thank you Mr Boucher!

Sunday was the card show in Peterborough. The building it was held in was busy on Sunday. It has some hockey rinks in it as well as a convention/meeting room. So hockey and a card show all at once meant lots of people milling around. 

I'm probably going to have a couple sources for Expos cards and maybe OPC from the vendors. One mentioned he has a number of boxes of Expos cards and he'll charge $15 per.. The other one is looking through my OPC wants/needs and seeing what they have for me. Probably get that December 20 at the next show. 

I picked up a few things that ended up being extras, but I know someone I can pass them on to.. 

But, here's what's new of the pickups!

I got a complete set of the 1985 Fleer Update for $10.. 

These were the only two Jays from that I needed for the first thing, but since I have the set, I still need Thornton and Shepherd for the Jays binders.. 

Any time I can feature a card of Rich Yett I will.. 

OPC Cro! I had one already, but since I'm doing the OPC set build, I needed a second. 

Daulton Varsho Deckle edge.. I don't think I'd normally pick this one up especially since it's from when he was in the D-Backs system, but it called to me. 

Vladdy!

Gotta get a Votto.. 

Two Yesavage rookies.. 

Ernie Clement defying gravity.. 

I also got a set of the 88 Fleer minis.. It was also $10.. 

So that's what's new in my house. 

Canadians in the Majors: Jack Graney

 Hello friends!

I'm writing this today while still dealing with anxiety. I feel I may have done this topic before, but I don't really care right now.. I just find his story fascinating.. 

Today is Jack Graney. 

John Gladstone Graney was born in St Thomas, Ontario June 10, 1886. St Thomas is south of London, Ontario between the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Erie. 

He was signed by the Cleveland Indians (when they were still the Naps) and played his entire career with the club. Both his first career game and his last career game came against the St Louis Browns.

Graney started his career as a pitcher, but was converted to the outfield because the team was concerned about his control. It turned out to be the right move.  

Graney was also the first batter to face a rookie pitcher named George Ruth in 1914. In 1916, he was the first player to go to bat with a uniform number. Because it was a new concept, it was pinned to his sleeve, rather than on his back as the norm is now. 

Graney was friends with Ray Chapman and was devestated when Chapman was killed by the errant Carl Mays pitch. Jack never forgave Mays, believing the beaning was intentional. 

The beaning also caused a fight between Graney and Tris Speaker, based on how Chapman should be buried, Protestant or Catholic. Speaker was Protestant, Graney was Catholic. Chapman was baptized as Protestant, but married a Catholic woman and was about to convert. 

The fight between Speaker and Graney ended up making both men too injured to show at the funeral. 

He was on the 1920 Championship Indians team, though he was hitless in his three at bats. 

Graney played until 1922 and, after retiring, became the first ex-player to transition to the broadcast booth. 

Jack Graney passed away April 20, 1978 in Louisiana, Missouri. He was 91. 

He has since been inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, the Guardians Hall of Fame, and the recipient of the 2022 Ford Frick Award, 

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame has an award named after Graney, awarded to the Journalist deemed to have made notable contributions towards baseball in Canada. 

The Cleveland chapter of SABR is named for Graney as well. 

Notable Achievements. 

• AL Doubles Leader (1916)
• 2-time AL Bases on Balls Leader (1917 & 1919)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1916)
• Won a World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 1920.

An Anxiety Post

 Hello Friends!

I hope you haven't forgotten about me. I haven't forgotten about you.. I've just been very busy and dealing with a lot of anxiety right now. Including anxiety about not posting in almost a month.. 

Anyway, earlier today I was texting with Stuart from SR75 cards and he asked how my 1988 OPC build was going.. I have no clue, as I haven't looked in a while. 

Now that I'm sitting in front of my computer, I see that I only need 18 to finish the set.. 

What ones do I need? 

Some names.. Some regional names.. But there's a visual representation of the cards I need. 

I'm hoping to be able to do more on here again soon. I miss writing but I really have had no inspiration lately. I have ideas, but those ideas getting executed tends to be the roadblock. 

Team Set Joy

 Hello friends!

I did something last week that I haven't done in a long time. I bought something out of depression. However, I was able to stop the cycle in its tracks. I've had an issue with buying things before to make me feel better, only for me to feel worse because there were things that money could have gone to to help me survive.. I'd get feeling worse and repeat... 

So what did I buy in my depression? 

Two things.. 

One I'm going to show today.. The other, when I sit down and photograph the whole thing.. 

So today is the 1991 Score Toronto Blue Jays team set, I'm not showing all the cards, but some that I liked.. 

I like the front of the card.. I think this would have been a better choice for the flagship Score set design in 1991.. 

The Original Franchise.. 

Frank Wills. He played from 1983 to 1991. Toronto was his final stop in the Majors. 

For some reason, I get this guy and original Jay Mike Willis confused in my head.. 

Rene Gonzales played for Toronto in one season.. 1991.. He was a typical utility infielder from the era... Not much of a bat and decent with the glove.. 

Rob Ducey! CanCon! I actually need to find another single of this for my Canadians binder. 

Eddie Zosky was the next big thing in Toronto... Until he wasn't. Between injuries and having difficulty in the batters box, he was seen as the future. By 1993, that shine has gone to Alex Gonzalez. 

Steve Karsay. He was part of the package that went to Oakland for Rickey Henderson in 1993. His career was littered with injuries.. 

Ray Giannelli is a name I've heard but never saw a photo of, honestly. He played 18 games in the Majors. 8 for Toronto, 8 for St Louis. 

Jerry Schunk. I never heard of this guy until now.. After looking him up, I know why. He was a career minor leaguer. This photo would be from Spring Training. 

David Weathers. He started with Toronto. I remember him briefly in Toronto. He was taken in the expansion draft by the Marlins. 

His son is currently in the Majors. 

Doesn't that look gorgeous? I want to see Toronto get the All Star Game again sometime soon.. 

So unlike the regular Score sets, this has one season of stats. I do think it's a nice back.. 

Finally, The Terminator. In a way, his pitching looked effortless. 

So yeah, that's the 1991 Score Jays set in a nutshell..