1993 in 2024

 Hello Friends!

I decided to pop online and do up a little post today because (a) I have the energy and (b) I have something to share..

As you may or may not know, Canada Post was on strike for about a month before Christmas. They were ordered back to work and people could get packages as usual. Close to when they got back to work, I decided to go to Pastime Sports' website to see if there was anything I wanted since I had a couple relatives give me some money for Christmas. I found: 

1994 O Pee Chee Premier. I have most of 1991 and 1992. I'm not really a fac of the design from those two years, but I liked the look of 93. 

It's another 132 card set. It has Three inserts: Star Performers, Foil Star Performers, and Top Draft Picks. 

The Star Performers are one per pack. The other two, I don't know though I might hazard a guess to say the Draft Pick one may be one per box and Foil Star Performers might be 2 per box.. Or thereabouts.. 

I was able to complete the Star Performers insert, and two cards from finishing the base set. Just missing Jimmy Key and Fernando Valenzuela. 

It will never not be weird seeing Andre Dawson in a Red Sox uni. 

Incidentally, this is fairly common for the OPC Premier set in 1993. A nice action shot or a closeup pose. Though there are some closeup action shots that are a little.. Uncomfortable... 

Tony Fernandez as a Met. He was traded to the Mets in October 92, and then was dealt to the Jays in June 93 after Dick Schofield broke his arm. 

Post contact Wade Boggs.

It will always be wrong to see Dave Stieb in anything but a Jays uni. I believe this was one of the few that caught him with this uni. 

I just had to show this one because I miss those uniforms. Loved the teal and white. 

Henke as a Ranger. 

Trevor Hoffman as a Marlin. I've noticed in the pics here that the OPC logo in the corner is different colours for some teams. 

The set starts off with Barry Bonds. 

And here is the back of the card. A single year of stats, and really a barebones line at that. I think we either have come a long way, or some companies put more effort in than others. Maybe both. 

Here is the back of the Star Performers inserts. Again the one line of stats, but a little writeup in both Official Languages. 

Here's the front. Almost the same as the base set, but with a coloured border and "Star Performers" on the top banner. 

The Foil Star Performers inserts looked like this. Now, I think I prefer this version of the Star Performers than the one above. 

Finally, the Top Draft Picks. It's a four card insert with two Jays and two Expos. Again, a really nice card. 

So overall, I really like this set. It was a major step up over 1991 and 1992. 

This wasn't the only thing I got myself though.

It's a Youppi Funko Pop!

Yeah he's in those damned Montreal Canadiens colours (Montreal fans, like Yankees fans, can be very obnoxious about their past successes and feel preordained to be in the championship sometimes) 

But I couldn't say no to Youppi.. Now.. I'm holding out hope they'll do an Expos one. This one is apparently a Canadian exclusive. 

Anyway. Tomorrow is the final day of 2024. It's been a ride. Stay safe and don't do anything stupid tomorrow night. 

2024 Update

 Hello Friends!

I wanted to share with you a few cards and thoughts about 2024 Update

Now.. I haven't been collecting new sets for a while. But, I really like 2024. I'm almost tempted to maybe do a factory set and if there's variations that interest me, look at picking them up.. I would most likely try to hand build Update though..

I really like the look of this year's set.. That said, I want to highlight the cards I know for a fact are going into the collection.. 

Vogelbach's time with the Jays was short and not so sweet.. 

Tyler Black is a Canadian born player from Toronto. There are two cards of his in Update from what I can tell. 

Ernie Clement, who came over from Cleveland at some point in the last couple years. Has been somewhat solid, I guess..

Davis Schneider. Kind of became a folk hero at first because of the 'stache. His siblings got a lot of hate on Twitter over the summer while Davis struggled. I'm hoping that with some time in the Majors and a more stable/defined role, he can improve. 

Looking at the backs I definitely need to get my eyes tested. 

Anyway. I'm not sure if I'll be posting again before Christmas. I may start again in the New Year and hopefully be more consistent in posting content. 

I really do want to get into some of the things I was doing like Custom cards and stadium histories. Both of those seemed to be things my readers enjoyed as much as I enjoyed making the posts.. 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. Happy Hanukkah, whatever holidays you celebrate. Just.. Do me a favour. Check in on your friends who may not have a family. This time of year sucks for people without family or really friends that they can do something with on the holidays. 

I've been fighting the feeling of not wanting to be here all week. 

Where Was It Taken?

 Hello Friends!

I was sitting here looking through some old cards on TCDB trying to get ideas for blog posts. I haven't had maildays in a while, so I can't really show anything that way. I haven't gone to the two stores in town that sell cards, mainly because they're inaccessible for someone who uses a wheelchair to get around. So I decided to see if looking through my collection would give an inspiration.. 

And it did.. 

I started with 1981 Donruss and just tried to see if I could figure out where the photo was taken. If it was a big league park or spring training. The ones I show here today were MLB parks. 

Of the three shown here, the Stieb pic is the clearest for the background. If I recall, the shape of the upper deck (being basically a square) and the windows on the bottom tier make this Comiskey Park. 

I think because of the scoreboard, the Garcia pic was taken there as well. 

As for the Buskey.. I can't tell. It looks like it could have either been Comiskey or Tiger Stadium. I'm leaning toward Tiger for the Buskey photo, just due to the ads/scoreboard on the upper deck facing. 

So what say you?

Sparky Anderson

 Hello Friends!

Today I want to do something a little differernt. It's in the same vein as Canadians in the Majors, but this one is kind of reversed.. Americans with Impact on Canadian Baseball

Now, obviously this would be an incredibly long series if I ever tried to make it into one. If anything, I only would have a few people I'd want to cover. 

Today is Sparky Anderson. Before he was a Hall of Fame Manager for the Reds and Tigers, he was a player that spent one season in the Majors with the Phillies. 

I guess you could say he was a Quad A player. Solid in AAA but not really cut out for MLB. 

Now, anyone can show the cards he had with the Reds and the Tigers. I'm going a different route. Honestly, these cards, aside from the Canadian Baseball HOF card, are not mine. I would like to get them at some point, seeing as I collect Canadian baseball. The Royals and Maple Leafs would be a natural progression. 

Speaking of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sparky played for the Maple Leafs from 1960-1963. He managed the team in 1964, kicking off his Hall of Fame Managerial Career. 

Here is the write up from the back of the CBHOF card

Here's the front. Of course, it shows Sparky as a Maple Leaf. Now, I'm not sure if he's in his player phase or his managerial phase in the photo. 

Speaking of the Montreal Royals, he was a player for them for two seasons. Oddly enough, he spent one season with them while the Dodgers were in Brooklyn, and the second season was while the Dodgers were in Los Angeles. 

Looking at his managerial record, he managed the Maple Leafs in 1964, at the time a farm team for the Braves. 

1965 Rock Hill Cardinals

1966: St. Petersburg Cardinals

1967: Modesto Reds (Oddly enough a Cardinals affiliate)

1968: Asheville Tourists

Nothing in 1969, then in 1970, he started Managing the Cincinnati Reds. 

We all know he has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He also was inducted in St Mary's.

He did have an impact on Canadian baseball both as a player and a manager. As I said previously, he was a solid player for the Royals and the Maple Leafs. His managerial career started with the Maple Leafs. Finally, in the 1980s, when he managed the Tigers, they were a thorn in the side of the Blue Jays. (and Vice-versa) 

Tell me what you think. 

COMC Holding Space Part 2

 Hello Friends!

I recently mentioned how I have a few cards sitting at COMC partially because I want to make shipping worthwhile and partially due to that pesky Canada Post Strike.. .

Well, I've added three cards to that pile. 

Dave Pagan from Nipawin, Saskatchewan. He played for the Yankees, Orioles, Mariners, and Pirates. Here, we have a card of him on the Columbus Clippers. 

Another Dave Pagan. This time an SSPC card as a Yankee. 

Finally, the other big rookie from the 1983 OPC build I'm doing. I already have the Sandberg and I was able to get this for $12, so why not?

I'm hoping to get back into doing some posts I have done prior, like the Stadium Series. I miss doing them and always enjoyed researching for them.. 

Keebler Rangers

 Hello Friends!

I'm a little distracted by something today.. If you want to see what it is, it's on my other blog here

I was looking through my collection on TCDB to try to find something to write about. I came across the 1993 Keebler Texas Rangers all time set. I do have one card from it, Reggie Cleveland. Now, as with most "all time" sets, I thought it was a small section of players.. That was till I looked at the checklist today.. 

443 cards.. 

So I wanted to see who I recognized and more importantly, which Canadians were in there. 

As I mentioned, I have Reggie Cleveland from the set. There were a few more than I need. 

Of course, I need a Fergie from this set. 

I've probably forgotten the places Ducey played. I know Toronto, Anaheim, Texas, Philly, Montreal.. The one I forgot was Seattle. 

There's also a Kevin Reimer from this set but there's no photo on TCDB.

Finally, Arlington Stadium for my stadium collection. 

Today has been a rough day mentally and emotionally. I hope you're all well. 

COMC Holding Space

 Hello friends!

Today is December 1st. Obviously people have been thinking about Christmas shopping for a little while now. Others have just started. 

Me? Since I don't have money or people to do gifts with. And, really not to put myself down or anything, but I'm also not going to be one of those people who say "Spending time with me *is* the gift"

So about the title.. 

I found some cards through Shlabotnik Report's COMC page that I wanted. I decided what the Hell.. And bought them..

I call it the Holding Space because I have a couple cards from 2023 still sitting there that I completely forgot about. (This year has been not great for my collection) 

So because Canada Post is on strike right now, getting the cards to me is going to take longer than normal. So I'll show the COMC images of the cards I have waiting for me to hit send on...

Bo Naylor, who plays with his brother Josh on the Guardians. 

A nice Tacoma Twins Dave McKay 

A Jeff Fassero Expos auto from the 50 years of Expos set a few years ago (Looking for any and all both base and auto'd) 

Joey Votto, of course.

Now.. I was a little upset he never got to officially suit up for the Jays, but I understand the decision he made to end his career when he did. This way, at least at the MLB Level, he's still a Career Red. 

A Lloyd Moseby OPC from 1985. 

Shawn Hill auto. Another one towards my Canadian born autograph project. 

Finally a Bomb Squad Vlad Jr. 

I'll likely try to find a few more cards before I even think about shipping. Plus waiting for a while after the strike finishes. 

Anyway, until next time!