If It's a Severed Head, I'm Going to Be Very Upset

QUICK!! Name that movie!

This afternoon, I was skimming through my Google Drive looking for blog inspiration, as I am often liable to do.  In my skimming, I noticed a card that I had looked fairly hard for, but had forgotten to show off on this here blog.  So, today I am going to rectify that slight:

Now, I can forgive you if you cannot tell that this famous/infamous floating head card from 1962 Topps is a Cub card because it is definitely not immediately obvious.  See that lonely levitating noggin in the upper left?  That's Jim McKnight and he was a rookie infielder for the 1962 Cubs.

Now, these multi-player, flying skull cards are not for everyone, me included.  I prefer my baseball cards to focus on one player and to, hopefully, show at least most of their body; however, I understand there are printing budgets and compromises must be made.

But Tony, why don't you quit your whining and just get a card that features only Mr. McKnight?  Well, to that I'd say, since Jim only appeared in 60 games that season and then never again sniffed the Bigs, he has no other baseball cards.  It's not like he played in the 90's, for cryin' out loud.

However, there is one (sort of) exception:

The 1962 Salada coin you see above (whose image was gratuitously ripped from Ebay) is the only other piece of sports memorabilia that showcased the young infielder.  But then, I guess a .231 career batting average and a spotty fielding record will do that to you.

I know a lot of collectors enjoy these coins and a lot of people even seem to catalog these coins or Topps Chips as cards; but, that does not compute with me.  A coin is a coin and a card is a card.  Until I can pay for my gumballs with a '91 Donruss card, nothing will sway me from that.

Sidenote - I totally understand that Salada coins are not legal tender; I was exaggerating for comedic effect.

Long story short, I have no other option than to include those other three wayward melons in my CATRC along with Jimbo.

**********EDIT*************

In the course of my writing this post, I discovered that I'm not very bright and there is in fact another Jim McKnight card in existence and it's a full body shot of just him and everything.  That said, it still won't displace that '62 Topps card.

Let me explain:

 Images courtesy of the Trading Card Database

What you see above is Jim's entry into TCMA's "The 1960's" set.  It's a beautiful card that let's the picture do the talking that I would otherwise love to include.  What's the issue then?

Well, as you can plainly see, he is wearing a Cardinals uniform, even though he never suited up for them in the Majors.  He was signed by the Devil's team in 1955 and spent the first five years of his pro career in their system, before the Cubs traded Moose Moryn to acquire him (oddball "zero year" card!).

But, since the '62 Topps floating head card lists him as a member of the Cubs, it will still take priority, even though I like the above card much more overall.  One of my CATRC goals is to obtain as many Cubs players on Cubs cards as possible, after all.

Thems the breaks sometimes.

Anyway, let's talk about the guy on all this stuff, for just a minute:

Image courtesy of ootpdevelopments.com

As we stated earlier, he was originally part of the Cardinals system, before finding his way to Chicago in 1960.  That summer, he got a brief, 3 game cuppacoffee, but he did well - going 2 for 6 with and RBI in that time.

Unfortunately, he had the misfortune of being primarily a third baseman in the Ron Santo era, so he was never able to crack into the starting lineup.  He did get another chance as a bench piece two years later, but was unable to capitalize as a utility infielder.  

Without a use for him, the Cubs sent him to the Braves for Ken Aspromonte and though he was never again to reach the Bigs, he was far from done with baseball.  He kept lacing it up in minor league circuits through the 1972 season, playing for 18 seasons overall.

His son Jeff tripled his father's amount of time in the MLB, playing parts of 6 seasons from 1989-94 for the Orioles and the Mets (in two, separate stints).  Just like his proud papa, he also served as a spare infielder.

Sadly, Jim was killed in a car accident in 1994.  He was only 57 at the time.  Even more tragic, Jeff  also passed away at a young age, dying of complications from Leukemia just this past March.  Jeff was only 52.

Well, this post took a dark turn, didn't it?

Image courtesy of ootpdevelopments.com

There - that should cleanse the palette nicely.  I think that's Jim having some fun with the Salvation Army.

Anyway, I had no idea where this post was going to go when I started, in case you couldn't tell.  What a journey though; we laughed, we cried, we learned a lot about a forgotten player and my reasearch skills too.  Thanks for coming along on this ride with me.

All of this just from a floating heads card that I forgot to write about months ago.  Isn't is funny how inspiration works?

By the way, if you're still driving yourself crazy trying to remember where the quote in the post title comes from, the answer is Wayne's World. Calm yourself!

Cubs Call Up Carl Edwards

First of all, happy Labor Day everyone!  I would have come up with a nice themed post; but, I couldn't generate an interesting idea (my brain got the day off too) and then an important roster move was made as well.

If you're confused as to why the Cubs would be calling up the back-flipping, NASCAR star to their Major League roster this morning, I can hardly blame you.

It's not because the proven winner just stole the storied Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway yesterday.  It's also not because of his ability to generate MPH (though if his pitching arm is as fast as his Toyota Camry, that'd be something.  In fact, it has nothing to do with this Carl Edwards at all.

This case of mistaken identity is centered around the Cubs' pitching prospect formerly known as C.J. Edwards:

You see, the highly-touted arm decided to go by his given first name, Carl, instead of using C.J. (which stood for Carl Jr.).  Melvin Upton, eat your heart out.

Seeing as from about 2000 until 2005, I watched NASCAR religiously every Sunday and still follow casually to this day, my mind first wanders to the race car driver before the Cub prospect when I hear this name.  Maybe I'm the only one, but whatevs.

Back to the matter at hand, "The Stringbean Slinger" was added as bullpen depth this morning and will soon make his MLB debut.  Acquired in the Matt Garza trade with Texas in 2013 that also produced Justin Grimm, Neil Ramirez and Mike Olt (wowzer!), he stands 6'3," 170 lbs.  Hence his moniker and the concerns about his durability.

His live-arm makes him an interesting bullpen piece, where he's been working all year in AA and AAA.  Control has been an issue (41 walks in 51.1 IP), but he's missed bats at an impressive clip (75 Ks).  At any rate, it'll be nice to see what the Cubs have here in a late-season trial.

I have had two cards sitting at the ready to go into the CATRC in anticipation of this call-up, the Breakouts insert from 2013 Bowman that you saw at the top of this post and the 2013 Minor League Heritage piece you see above.

The Breakouts card will be going into the master binder, seeing as it depicts him in a Cubs uniform; plus, I just like black borders.  Meanwhile, the Heritage card will be inserted into my burgeoning "Cubs as minor-leaguers" collection, for which I have yet to come up with a snappy name.  Suggestions welcome.

Sidenote - the Garza trade went down on July 22, 2013.  The 2013 edition of Heritage Minors hit shelves on September 11.  Why in the world is C.J. or Carl or the artist formerly known as Prince still listed on a Rangers' minor league affiliate?  Little slow on the uptake there, huh Topps?

Good grief, is he gangly or what?

Image courtesy of Vineline

As I'm typing this post, the Cubs are clobbering the hated Cardinals 8-0 in the fourth inning.  Besides the fact that this really gets me pumped up, it seems possible that Carl could even get to make his debut today.  Blowout situations are great for prospects to get some action with little pressure, after all.

That is, if the Northsiders can keep the Cards team from creeping back into this game.  Due to their obvious deal with the devil, you really can't ever count them out.

Anyway, that wraps up today's post - go back outside and enjoy a cold one and a burger and celebrate your day off.  I'll go back to praying the Cubs don't screw this one up.

Cubs of a Different Color - The Letter A

So, I've been trying to streamline my collection lately, due to it overflowing our living room and my girlfriend's gentle nudges.  Turns out that boxes of baseball cards are not acceptable living room decor - who knew?

Thus, when I saw that Red Cardboard had this new collection idea, I decided that I was going to "borrow" this creative line of thought.  Like my CATRC, this accumulation aspires to obtain one card of every Cubs player; however, these cards will showcase the players in other Major League uniforms.  *Gasp*

I shall call this binder my "Cubs of Different Color Collection."

"Well now - that's a Cub of a different color!"

Obviously, not every player has played for other franchises,so this won't be completely comprehensive; but it will allow me to create some space and use up a stray binder.  Plus, it made for a fun little project.

The rules:

1. The card must depict them in an MLB uniform that is not the Cubs.  
2. MiLB cards do not count; they go into their own, separate collection.  
3. "Zero-year" cards do count, provided they show MLB teams (so Bowman Draft counts).
4. Have fun (mandatory!)

I chose each card based on availability, which I liked the best and variety in clubs - with extra weight given to teams each player may be most identifiable with.  Plus, I may have been biased to other teams I have a rooting interest in  (White Sox, Red Sox & Phillies).  Sue me.

Each Sunday, I'll showcase a letter of the alphabet, since I have these cards sorted in ABC order.  Spoiler alert - we're starting today with the letter A:

Who do we have here?:

• David Aardsma - 2005 Bowman #162 - Giants
• Aardsma is both first on the Cubs' all-time roster and overall in MLB - two a's will be tough to beat - and I'll always remember the day the Cubs traded the maligned LaTroy Hawkins to SF for him and Jerome Williams.  So, Giants it is.
• Bobby Adams - 1986 CCC '51 Bowman Reprints #288 - Reds
• This is the only other card I had of Bobby Adams.  I found the full, boxed set of these a garage sale several years ago for $5.  One of my favorite bargains!
• Terry Adams - 2002 Fleer Tradition #156 - Dodgers
• Again, the only non-Cubs card I had of the guy.  But, the faux vintage of this set has always caught my eye.
• Rick Aguilera - 1987 Classic  #79 - Mets
• The Mets might have a stigma attached to them by the Cubs fanbase; but, as a member of the iconic '86 Mets, Rick will go in as such.
• Manny Alexander - 1996 UD Collector's Choice # 53 - Orioles
• Manny was honored with a pretty excellent fielding shot in this checklist - easy selection here.
• Grover C. Alexander - 1986 Hygrade Baseball's All-Time Greats #?? - Phillies
• Oddballs rock and this particular set has always been one of my favorites.  Plus, this is the only colorized card I had of "Ol' Pete."
• Antonio Alfonseca - 2005 Topps Update #UH64 - Marlins
• "El Pulpo" may have had a couple of extra digits on his hands and toes, but, I didn't have many extra cards of him.  This nifty grip shot will have to suffice.
• Ethan Allen - 1993 TSN Conlon Collection #779 - Phillies
• The well-know and much-celebrated blog reader Stubby sent me this piece shortly after I bought a card of Allen and I immediately regretted my impatience.  Now, this mess up has been rectified.
• Moises Alou - 1999 UD Ovation #27 - Astros
• Moises has many cards in my collection, as he was the first player that I dubbed my favorite.  But, the baseball design/texture of Ovation made this an easy choice,

Page 2 of the A's:

• Jimmy Anderson - 2002 Topps #198 - Pirates
• Most people seem to find the brown borders of 2002 Topps quite unappealing; however, I've always been drawn to them for some reason.  I guess it's because they're just different.
• Shane Andrews - 1999 Upper Deck #420 - Expos
• Remember the Expos!  When I pass this binder down to my future child, I want them to ask me, "there was a team called the Expos?" like I asked my grandpa about the Browns.
• Jose Arcia - 1971 Topps #134 - Padres
• The first piece of actual vintage in the binder.  It always saddened me that when I "Cubgraded" an old card from my CATRC, that I didn't have anything specific to do with it anymore.  This collection will help rectify this issue.
• Alex Arias - 1993 Upper Deck #631 - Marlins
• Arias was always a glove-first infielder; thus, it's appropriate to include a slick-fielding shot of the man.  Plus, teal jerseys!
• Jake Arrieta - 2012 Topps Update #US150 - Orioles
• One day, in the not so distant future, baseball fans will think "Jake Arrieta was an Oriole? I totally forgot about that" when they see this card.  Sweet throwback cap too!
• Richie Ashburn - 1986 CCC '51 Bowman Reprints #186 - Phillies
• Cards of this Hall of Famer (definitely not for his time in Chicago) within my budget are tough to come by.  However, thankfully this garage-sale set find rescued me again.  Plus, my girlfriend is a Phillies fan; so, I have a tendency to root for them as well.
• Paul Assenmacher - 1986 Topps Traded #4T - Braves
• 1987 Topps is hit or miss with me, however, the colors on this particular card play well together.  Not to mention, the stirrups really make the choice a no-brainer.
• Bobby Ayala - 1996 Donruss #199 - Mariners
• I honestly just chose this card because I didn't use a Mariner yet.  It's a bland set with 90's foil, but the Emerald City needs some love too.

And that's all I have for the letter A so far - it's a short introduction to my "Cubs of Different Color" collection.

I've really enjoyed putting together this collection and I look forward to adding more.  It's always great to find a use for cards I like but don't really know what to do with.

Also, thanks again to Red Cardboard for providing this idea - I tip my cap to you, sir!

Next Sunday, we'll take a look at the letter B.  There's a few more B's listed in the Cubs franchise history; so, we'll have a few more pages to look at.  That said, I think today was a nice first foray.  

Until next time.

Purple Rodney Majesty

Just a quick post today - I'm currently trying not to die after running a collegiate 5k last night while coming off of a torn hamstring and a massive case of shin splints.  In short, I hurt.  A lot.

However, I can't help but feel a bit better when I look at this card:

So shiny.  So purple.  So easy to draw me in.

When the Cubs traded for Rodney a week and a half ago, I already had a couple cards to chose from to use in my CATRC; however, I really wanted a card that showed him doing his infamous/famous bow and arrow routine after a successful save.

I am not a member of the fun police.  Entertain me!  Play better baseball if you don't want to be shown up.

Is someone disrespecting the game up there, Brian?

While perusing Ebay, I came across this awesome purple refractor from 2012 Topps Chrome with an opening bid of a mere 50 cents.  The price was right, it's shiny, it shows his routine and the purple looks swell with the Rays jersey, so, I put in a bid on a lark.  Lo and behold, I was apparently the only one interested.  Into the CATRC binder it goes!

In the meantime, I think I'm going to take a nice ice bath and regret my decision to race so soon... if I can get up off of this computer chair.

Neon Angel - a Trade Post

We're back to pop music references for post titles, Neon Angel was the title of Cherie Curie's (The Runaways) autobiography.  This is how my mind works; although, sometimes it doesn't work at all.

A few weeks ago, Tom of the excellent blog Angels in Order contacted me about arranging a trade. This is something I'm always up for and I whipped up a set of my best Angels and sent them on their way. Then, I completely forgot about it.

So, when I found a padded mailer in the mail box the other day, it was like a surprise Christmas! Cards you aren't expecting are the best kind of cards, right? Nevermind that I'm absent-minded.

Anyway, this was my first swap with Tom and when I saw this card on top of his stack, I knew it wouldn't be the last:

Shiny and colorful, what more could one ask for? Adrian Cardenas only played one season (2012) with the Cubs and retired after discovering he no longer felt any passion towards the game. At the time, a lot was made of it.

This orange refractor is easily better than the base chrome version I had in my CATRC and, thus, in it goes.

That wasn't the only card that found its way into that binder though:

I've long seen these Toys R Us Stadium Club cards pop up on blog after blog; but, I had never even once seen them in person.  As a lover of oddballs with a nostalgic attachment to day after Christmas trips to Toys R Us to spend gift money, I badly wanted to get my hands on some.

Now, I can cease my lust. These two beauties easily replace the cards that had represented the above players before.

Also, my lasting memory of Jim Bullinger is that after I pulled his card from a pack way back when I was a kid, I was so excited to get a Cubs card that I ran to tell my grandfather.  His only response was a muttered, "I hate Jim Bullinger."  I guess Jim had a particularly rough outing that day.

This may just your run of the mill, junk wax era base card, but it's one that I still needed. This is the only mainstream baseball card that Jim Essian got as Cubs manager. His tenure was rather forgettable as the interim replacement for Popeye, so it's understandable.

Therefore, we have a nice Cubgrade for the manager's section of my CATRC.

These were the only cards that weaseled their way into my main collection; however, that doesn't mean there wasn't a trove of other interesting pieces.

At first, I thought the two cards above were duplicates; after all, they are damn near identical.  It wasn't until I set the bottom one on the table that I realized I was quite wrong.

When it hit the table, it made an audible clang.  As it turns out, the foil image of Sammy Sosa is actually a coin that's been embedded into the card, a fitting idea for a set titled Pinnacle Mint.

Now, I knew these sorts of "relics' were floating around on the market today; but, I had no idea that they had roots back in the mid to late 90's.  Who knew?

I'm a sucker for black bordered cards and the marble texturing of the background really makes these cards pop in my eyes.  Also, it's really nice to see Gabby Hartnett on a modern card, as the HOFer seems to be oft-passed over for modern cards by Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, and  *ahem* Fergie Jenkins.

These two Mark Grace oddballs are a welcome sight as well.  That's my first Starline card on the right and this Post set was the very first set that I collected when I was a kid.  Nostalgia strikes again!

Furthermore, oddballs are the spice of the card-collecting life.  One can only look at Topps products for so long without getting bored.

Which is why I hope against all hope that, someday, Panini can get an MLB license.  However, I seriously doubt that will happen anytime soon.

I've always had an affinity for Triple Play though.  Many collectors seem to hate it because it's gimmicky and, granted, there are a lot of nightmare-inducing cards in the checklists.  That said, I enjoy it because it's different, and it's goofy/fun.  Card collecting isn't a serious business after all.... well, at least it shouldn't be.

Here we have a couple of oddballs from the various box sets put out by Fleer in the late 80s/early 90s that shine the spotlight on Cubs, one franchise icon and one flash in the pan.

I'm curious as to how Jerome Walton was included in a set called "League Leaders;" the card bears no mention of him leading the league in anything.  I know he set the franchise record for consecutive hits in 1989; does it have something to do with that?

Furthermore, today it was reported by Michael Sneed of the Chicago Sun Times that Ryno was in town yesterday for a private lunch meeting with Tom Ricketts and Theo Epstein.  Is a reunion in the works after the unceremonious end to his Phillies tenure?  Finger crossed!

These  Cover Glory inserts from 1999 Upper Deck Collector's Choice have long been of interest to me, as are any cards that commemorate specific moments or events.  I picked up a copy of the Sammy Sosa card at a local garage sale many moons ago and I thought he was the only Cub included in the set.

Thank you Tom, for saving me from ignorance and sending me this card that shines the spotlight on the greatest game pitched in Cubs history!

Here we have a couple of Cubs cards that aren't completely Cubs cards.

If you notice, there's an Orioles logo at the bottom of the Flair Sammy Sosa and, though the Soriano card actually includes a Cubs logo, he's clearly pictured in a Nationals jersey.  These cards are phonies!

Not that that really bothers me in anyway, that's just where my mind wandered off to as I was typing. Again, when my brain works, it works in bizarre ways.

 There was also a healthy smattering of faux-vintage, including these 2009 Upper Deck Goudey nods.  Also, that Woody on the right is another phony; he's listed as an Indian.  Gasp!

Plus, a nice smorgasbord of Topps Heritage releases; it's like a sampler platter of appetizers at your local eatery... and I love sampler platters!

 

Prospects!  And since they're Cubs prospects from the previous decade, that means they're failed prospects!

Even though they never ascended to the Majors, these cards will find a spot in another collection of mine, my aptly titled Failed Prospect Collection, guys who the Cubs drafted that never cracked the roster.  They'll fit in quite nicely with Ryan Harvey, Bobby Brownlie, Matt Creighton, Mark Pawelek, Hayden Simpson... OK, this is getting depressing.

Also, I had never heard of Ferenc Jongejan in my life.  I never knew the Cubs had a Dutch prospect - you learn something new everyday.

Here are some Bowman prospects who did, in fact, crack the Major League roster, with varying degrees of success.

Randy Wells had a brief, but serviceable tenure in the back end of the Cubs rotation, Matt Szczur is currently racking up crazy frequent flyer miles going back and forth between Chicago and Iowa this season, Eric Patterson managed to be the least successful Patterson brother and let's not talk about the D.J. LeMahieu trade, OK?

There ends the best of the bunch and what a bunch it was!  Thank you very much Tom for the generous trade package.  I can only hope you got as much enjoyment out of my Angels as I did out of your Cubs.  Let's do this again sometime, eh?

A Berry Busy Day

There are three points in the baseball season which provide the most roster movement and thus prove to be of great interest for my CATRC and I:  the end of spring training, the non-waiver trading deadline and the waiver deadline/September call-up period.

Well, of those three periods, the waiver/call-up period took the cake for busiest time of the year here at Wrigley Roster Jenga HQ.  In a span of just a few hours, the Cubs added three new names, via both avenues, to their all-time roster, with more potentially on their way come the end of the MiLB season.

First, the call-ups:

Quintin Berry was signed to a minor league deal last week and it was pretty obvious why.  In 117 career MLB games, he has swiped 21 bases and not once has he been caught.  Additionally, he put up 35 stolen bases this season while playing in AAA for the Sawx.

If you haven't connected the dots yet, Quintin is Berry, Berry fast and will be a pinch-runner extraordinaire, a la Dave Roberts of the 2004 Bostonian squad.

Seeing this coming a mile away, I was able to score this super shiny refactor from the 2006 edition of Bowman Chrome for just 17 cents with free shipping on the same day he signed.  Shiny and cheap, what a combo!

One last thing about Berry, if and when the Cubs first wear their blue alternate uniforms this month, can you guess what that will make Quintin? Huh? Huh???????

A blue Berry!!!! Wocka Wocka.

I hope nobody severely injured themselves while reflexively smacking their forehead.  Let's get back to our regularly scheduled program:

While I knew Berry was destined for September duty when he inked his minors pact, I was completely blindsided when I read that Trevor Cahill was getting the call as well.  Still, I guess I'm batting .500; so, I'll take that.

After an exceptional sophomore season in 2010 (18-8, 2.97 ERA, All-Star), Cahill has quickly faded to mediocre and then to downright awful.  He went 3-12 with a 5.61 ERA last season in AZ and was even worse this year for Atlanta, with his ERA ballooning to 7.52.  Yikes!

When the Cubs signed him (just a few days before Berry), it looked to me like minor league depth and that maybe he'd get a chance next spring as an NRI.  Well, what do I know?  Maybe some bullpen work will serve him well.

For now, this card from the controversial 2010 Upper Deck set will represent Trevor in my CATRC, in hopes that he can reclaim just a little bit of the success he had that season.

But, the Cubs didn't just call up depth pieces, they also swung a fairly significant trade too:

Austin Jackson cost the Cubs only a PTBNL and some international spending money.  With Jorge Soler out with an oblique injury and a plethora of defensively challenged outfield options, this deal may loom large.

Even though he hasn't had the same kind of success in Seattle as he had in Detroit, he at the very least upgrades the outfield defense.  Not to mention, perhaps a move from the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field will do him some good as well.

This is the second deal the Cubs have made with the Mariners in the past week, having rid them of Fernando Rodney for cash considerations last Thursday.

Most importantly, since Austin was added to the fold before the end of August, he is officially eligible for postseason play.  But, in order to make that happen, someone had to be designated off the roster:

Sorry Mike, but the Cubs just couldn't wait for you to regain your stroke any longer.  It seems likely that a rebuilding club will claim him though, so here's hoping he lands on his feet somewhere.

Meanwhile, as I mentioned, both Berry and Cahill were minor league signings and thus were not already on the 40-man roster either.  Thus, there will be some more goodbyes before the day is over.  After James Russell's performance last night, I sure wouldn't mind if he got the axe!

That wraps up the flurry of roster moves made by the Cubs in the last 24 hours; however, that doesn't mean more call-ups are on the way.  Prospects like Carl Edwards, Jr. and Christian Villanueva have been floated around to further flesh out the bullpen and the bench once the Iowa Cubs conclude their season.

The mood is tense!

For a roster junkie like me, this time of year can be pretty interesting and 2015 certainly didn't disappoint me,  So many moving pieces and so many new faces!

I selfishly kind of hope that they add a couple more new names just so I can add some new cards to my CATRC... but, only if they help out the roster of course.

Plus, it's really nice that these kinds of move actually matter for the Cubs again this year, postseason eligibility, roster-strengthening and all that jazz.  It's a good time to be a Cubs fan!