Jarry Park Front MK2

Hello Friends!

Tonight I want to share with you another version of the Jarry Park custom I've been working on. 

A couple things I didn't like about the first one was the way the logo looked. The other thing I didn't like was the lettering on the bottom. 

So I tried another version.. 

I may touch it up again, depending on how I feel.. 

So.. Drumroll please..

*drum roll* 

*watches the drum roll down the hallway, hopes nobody gets in the way.. hears it bounce down the stairs... * 

*ahem...*

I think this version looks so much better.. About the only thing I might change would be the border on the top to blue. Otherwise, I love this version. This may actually end up turning into a template if I end up working on a set of stadium cards like I've been thinking about. 

What say you? Do you like this version? Would you change the top part to blue? Or does this work?

EDIT:

I ended up going and trying the blue border on the top.. 

This is what it looks like.. I think it works.. 

Jarry Park has a Back

 Hello Friends!

Last post was the front of the card I made for Jarry Park. I may play with it more to improve it some.. 

But today I created a back for it. 

I'm actually pretty happy about how this turned out..

I think the only thing I don't like is not having that much under the line. 

I will admit, I borrowed the template from this card:

I think if I was using more robust software, I could add things like year by year record and maybe smaller font size.. Though I think some of my friends and fellow collectors may like the font they don't need a magnifying glass for.. 

(sorry)

So, what say you? How was my attempt at the creation? Once I get more confortable/back on a better machine, I may try doing more freehand stuff.. Until then this is wonderful for me. 

First Attempt

 Hello Friends!

Well, I've had ideas bouncing around in my head for a while. One of those was to create a set of Stadium custom cards. 

Tonight was my first attempt. I just created the front.. I'm likely going to go back and do another try later 

But... Here it is

I borrowed the bottom design from a Stuart Bakery Expos set. Since it was vertical, I had to rearrange the lines and logo to a horizontal configuration. I'm not 100% sold on the font and debating on if I take another kick at the can, to actually put the logo on, rather than have it as part of the background. And maybe have a bit of a border around the picture.. 

So, dear readers.. What say you? I'm also thinking about what to create for the back of the card. 

Canadian Minor League Baseball

 Hello Friends!

I just finished the book Canadian Minor League Baseball: A History Since WWII

It details the year by year results and happenings for the Canadian based teams in the different minor leagues. 

The start documents the International League's teams in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. (Toronto and Montreal lasted much longer than Ottawa)

Obviously we know Jackie Robinson got his start in "Organized Baseball" in Montreal. There were many Brooklyn Dodgers stars that went through Montreal, really too many to mention, though it is interesting to see names like Gene Mauch, Roland Gladu, Al Campanis, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, Duke Snider, Tommy Lasorda, and Roy Hartsfield.

Really there seems to be a number of managers that played for the Royals. Hartsfield, Mauch, Lasorda, and Sparky Anderson. 

The Royals were affiliated with the Dodgers until the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, putting their affiliation in Spokane. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs were the complete opposite. They had affiliations with the Phillies, Athletics, Browns, Indians, and stints as an unaffiliated team. 

Leon Day played for the Leafs. As did Elston Howard, Sparky Anderson (who also started his managing career here) Chuck Tanner, Mack Jones, Bobby Knoop, Dennis Menke, Rico Carty and Phil Roof. 

(Interesting that Carty and Roof played for both the Maple Leafs and the Blue Jays) 

By time 1967 rolled around, attendance and stadium issues caused the team to be sold and moved to Louisville.

Other Leagues mentioned were the ManDak, Western International League, Northern League, PONY, The Provincial League (run in Quebec) Eastern League, NYP, the Independent Northern League, American Association (current), Frontier League, Northeast/Can-Am League, Northwest League, Pioneer League, and Pacific Coast League. 

Things I found out through the book:

Canadians were very hospitable to black players

The Canadian Baseball League maybe needed more time to plan and get things together before trying to run.. 

Booms and lulls boiled down to the economy, people having options for entertainment, and weather. 

Edmonton and Calgary will probably never see another minor league team

Nation capitals seem to not be very great at hosting teams.. (Ottawa had a number of minor league teams both in Organized and Independent ball that never really got off the ground) 

One team in London was going to be called the Rippers.. Until backlash hit. Then they became the Werewolves. 

If you enjoy reading about minor league teams and want to learn more about it in a Canadian angle, this book can be insightful. 

Until next time!

Canadians in the Majors: Jack Graney

 Hello Friends!

I'm back today with another installment of Canadians in the Major Leagues, this time focusing on former Cleveland Naps/Indians player Jack Graney (Not calling it Guardians, since he wasn't around under that name) 

Jack Graney was born June 10, 1886 in St. Thomas Ontario. 

Here is a visual of where St. Thomas is. It's west of Hamilton, south of London. There black square is the location. 

He was recommended to the Cubs by another Canadian, Bob Emslie. He spent one year in the Cubs organization, then was sold to Cleveland. He started his Major League career as a pitcher, but was sent to Portland for more seasoning. When he returned to Cleveland, he was an outfielder, based on the distrust of the front office of Graney being able to control his pitches enough for Major League hitting. 

He was the first batter to face Babe Ruth in a MLB game. He also was the roommate of Ray Chapman, the shortstop who died as a result of a bean ball by Carl Mays. 

He spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Indians, retiring in 1922. 

Overall, he hit .250, with 18 home runs and 420 RBI

After retiring, he moved to the broadcast booth, calling games for the Indians on the radio. He was the first to do so. (So I guess we can thank/curse him for the trend....) He also did the national broadcast of the 1935 World Series and called games for the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League.

So..

Jack Graney was the first to face Babe Ruth when he was a pitcher

The first to wear a uniform number to bat. 

The first to transition from playing to broadcasting.

Led the league in walks twice

Led the league in doubles

Inducted to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. 

Inducted into the Cleveland Indians Distinguished Hall of Fame for non-uniformed Personnel

Won the 2021 Ford C Frick award. 

In 1987 the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame created an award to celebrate journalists who made a significant contribution to spreading baseball in Canada. 

Jack Graney passed away in 1978 at the age of 91 in Louisiana, Missouri. 

Stadium Series: Robison Field

 Hello Friends!

I don't know why this one came to mind but it's been rattling around for a couple weeks. 

I want to talk about one of the early homes for the St. Louis Cardinals, Robison Field. Now, this one doesn't have cards manufactured of it, so I'll be using some old photos only.. 

Now.. Robison Field was just one of several names given to the park. It was known as "New" Sportsman's Park (1893-1899) League Park (1899-1911) and Cardinal Park (1917-1920)

Prior to Robison field, the American Association Browns played at Sportsman's Park at the corner of Grand and Dodier. Once absorbed into the National League, Chris von der Ahe moved the team to the corner of Natural Bridge Ave and Vandeventer Ave. This move was part of a deal made with a trolley company that operated nearby. 

Along with the grandstands, an amusement park and beer garden were built alongside the ballpark. The teams were generally not good, as von der Ahe would sell his best players to keep the team afloat. 

In 1898, a fire started from a lit cigar and burned the structure. Overnight repairs allowed the game the next day to take place. 

In 1899, von der Ahe sold the team to Frank and Stanley Robison. They changed the identity of the team, first by dropping the Browns name, and changing the solour scheme to cardinal red. 

Part of what allowed the Cardinals to improve as a result of the Robison ownership was they also owned the Cleveland Spiders. They moved the best players from Cleveland to St. Louis. 

The early days being what they were, when the league contracted, the Perfectos as they were known, fell to the bottom of the league again. 

Fires also played a heavy role in the history of the time. In 1901, a fire underneath the stands consumed the park in 30 minutes. After finding the "Old" Sportsman's Park inadequate, the team spent a month on the road while a new stadium was built. 

When the Robisons passed, Frank's daughter Helene inherited the team. She sold her interest in 1917. 

By 1920, the owners of the Cardinals were tired of the wooden park, finding it inadequate for Major League Baseball purposes. They ended up moving the Cardinals into a rebuilt "Old" Sportsman's Park, owned by the AL Browns. 

Robison Field was the last park in MLB that was primarily constructed of wood. The grounds of Robison Field became Beaumont High School in 1926, and educated citizend of St Louis until 2014. 

So Who used this Park??

The St Louis Cardinals from 1893-1920

Columbus Club (St Louis Soccer League) 1913-1915

I find it interesting that St Louis has really used what amounts to three names for their stadia.. 

Sportsman's Park for multiple parks.

Busch Stadium for multiple. (The naming of Busch is interesting)

Robison Field.. 

The next one I do might just be staying in St Louis, looking at Sportsman's Park. 

A Couple Cards from Johnny

 Hello Friends!

I realize I haven't written anything so far this year. I've been still up and down mentally and a few days physically. 

However.. I want to show a couple cards I received from Johnny at Johnny's Trading Spot.

First is a card I claimed in his giveaways. Tristan is Dalton Pompey's brother. Unlike Dalton, Tristan never got a taste of the Majors. According to Baseball Reference, he last played in 2022, splitting between Quebec of the Frontier League and Winnipeg of the American Association. 

He played last season in the Intercounty Baseball League. 

There was also this very shiny Vlad Jr. Of course, being a Chrome/Prizm/whatever, it's got a little bend to it, but oh well.. Still a card I didn't have. 

I haven't forgotten, Johnny.. I will have those 90 OPCs out for you.