Returning to Relevance

For the first time in this blog's history, the Chicago Bears are heading to the NFL playoffs!

With yesterday's thrilling 24-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers (of all teams), Matt Nagy's "Monsters of the Midway" officially punched their postseason tickets by clinching the NFC North Division.  Notably, this is the first time Da Bears have achieved a division title or playoff spot since 2010.  Granted, that's not all THAT long ago, but it sure feels like forever... especially with how embarrassingly bad the marquee franchise has been since that bright spot, under the listless leadership of Marc Trestman and John Fox.

I don't mean to put the buggy before the horse, but 1985 is getting smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror - maybe, just maybe, this team can go all the way and win their first Super Bowl of my lifetime?  The defense is unforgiving, the offense is adequate, and the team seems to be firing on all cylinders as the regular season nears the finish line.  I'm just saying, this lifelong Chicagoan has now seen the Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, and the Cubs win championships in my time... c'mon Bears, you're slacking!

Anyway, there's still a lot of football left to be played before that becomes a real possibility.  Let's live in the moment - to celebrate their divisional crown, how about I show off the two most recent cards to enter my Bears All-Time Roster Collection?

That was a rhetorical question, by the way.  Sorry, not sorry - I'm super excited!

Trey Burton took home a coveted championship ring last season as a key member of the Philadelphia Eagles offense, even throwing a touchdown pass as part of an outstanding trick play during the contest.  The tight end parlayed that performance into a big four year, $32 million contract with Chicago during the off-season; so far, knock on wood, he's earned that paycheck.  All in all, Trey is having himself a career year, matching his career high in TD's (5) with two games yet to play.  Additionally, he's far surpassed his career marks in receptions (40) and receiving yards (470) during his first year as a member of the Bears.

The way things are looking, maybe I'll get to upgrade this 2018 Donruss "The Champ is Here" single with a Bears equivalent in a few months.  Fingers crossed!

Burton has been a popular target for Mitch Trubisky so far in 2018.  Photo credit to Steve Lundy - Chicago Daily Herald

I should also note, that my wife and all of my in-laws are rabid Philadelphia Eagles fans, so our family was a largely happy one this past February... ecstatic even.  While that might sound odd for mid-westerners, they have strong roots on the east coast.  Meanwhile, my entire family and I have been planted in the Chicagoland area for generations and, thus, we are all faithful to "Da Bears."  You might remember that a former Bears hero, Alshon Jeffery, loomed large in the birds SB win over the Patriots, catching 3 passes for 73 yards and scoring the first touchdown of the game.  How appropriate would it be that, just one year later, that the Bears take the crown on the back of a strong performance from a former Eagle?

I'm just saying, that'd be some damn good symmetry.  Plus, it'd make for a helluva two-year run for my family!

Anyway, while Trey Burton appears to be an integral piece of the Bears' 2018 resurgence and in the future to come, this next guy is, unfortunately, an easily forgotten part of the team's past.

The Nigerian-born Amobi Okoye was (and still is) one smart cookie - after all, he spurned Harvard (in favor of Louisville), was in college by the age of 16, and completed his psychology degree in just three and a half years.  Not a one dimensional student, Amobi's smarts were matched by his brawn, eventually, leading to his being drafted by the Houston Texans tenth overall in the 2007 draft.  At just 19 years old, he remains the youngest player to ever be taken in the first round.

Entering the league as the youngest man to take to the turf since 1967, Okoye instantly became a force on the Houston defensive line and had a productive four year tenure with the club.  However, the magic wore off as the years passed and he eventually lost his starting spot.  After taking his talents to the Windy City for the 2011 campaign, Okoye started only one contest for the Bears, though he did post five sacks in blue and orange over the next two seasons.

After 2012, Okoye's NFL career came to a premature close due to some serious medical issues, which necessitated his being placed in a medical induced coma for a while.  He attempted a comeback with the Cowboys and in Canada, but never made it all the way onto an active roster.

Amobi bringing the hurt to Dallas'  Tony Romo in 2012.  Photo credit to Vernon Bryant - Sports Day

Okoye was not a bad player - that's not why he won't be remembered by Bears fans.  It's just that he was a non-starting, defensive tackle who played on some hugely disappointing teams AND had his career cut short.  With that in mind, it's not all that surprising that Okoye does not have an official Bears card listed in the Beckett price guides.  As such, this 2007 Topps Draft Picks and Prospects base single will have to do.

At that, we've covered both of the most recent additions to my Bears All-Time Roster Collection, though there could be more to come.  With the way the Bears are playing, how absolutely dismal the Blackhawks and Bulls have been, and how dull the Cubs' supposedly budget-stunted off-season has been, I may be shifting my main focus to this binder in the near future... we shall see.

In the meantime, I'm still basking in the glow of the Bears return to relevance.  Although, Trey Burton and company still have two more games left to play in the 2018 regular season; so, hopefully everybody makes it through the schedule in one piece.  Then, of course, they have the playoffs to wade through before the "big game" becomes a legitimate thought.  Nevertheless, I'm going to milk this moment for all of the enjoyment that I can before reality sets in.  It's all we Chicago sports fans have to hold onto this winter.

NFC North Division Champs!!

Losing the Lottery

Those of you who have followed Wrigley Roster Jenga for a while might know that, besides being obsessed with the Chicago Cubs, I am equally obsessed with long distance running.  After eight years of cross country and track in high school and college and a subsequent seven year road racing career, I think it's safe to call my still (almost) daily running habit an addiction.  While the 5k distance has long been my specialty, I've competed in races running the distance gamut from 100 meters all the way up to the marathon, the latter of which I attempted as a lark right after college.  Injuries in the month leading up to the 2011 Chicago Marathon nearly kept me from even starting the race, though I still was able to stumble across the line at 3:36.  All told, that experience was enough to satiate my urge to run 26.2 grueling miles and I was content to stick to my local 5k's and 10k's.

Still, over the past couple of years, something has been rattling around in the back of my head.  Seeing as I was hurt and was barely able to run or train in the weeks leading up to my last attempt, I knew I could post a better marathon time.  Plus, the allure of qualifying for the prestigious Boston Marathon was an accomplishment that I would like to list on my running resume.  So, after six years of hemming and hawing, toying with the idea of giving it another go, this fall, I finally decided to quit being coy and enter the 2018 edition of the Chicago Marathon.  I'm not getting any younger, after all!

Not so fast.  The Chicago Marathon has become such an event that you can no longer simply sign up and compete.  There are so many runners anxious to run across the Windy City that you now sign up for a lottery and hope to be selected for entry.  I know - to non-runners, the thought of so many crazies falling over each to other to destroy their bodies must sound insane; but that's just how we're wired.

via GIPHY

The results of that drawing were announced yesterday and... guess who's number did not come up.  I'll give you a hint, he runs a niche blog about Cubs baseball cards and his name rhymes with Stony Curbs.

Now, all hope is not lost.  I could still pair up with a charity and fundraise a ton of money to earn an entry into the crowded field.  Of course, I'm an introvert and the thought of begging my family and friends for money gives me the willies.  Also, I could forgo my hometown event and seek entry into any one of the dozens of other marathons held across the United States in search of a Boston qualifying time.  That said, the allure of running in Milwaukee or the Twin Cities doesn't quite appeal as much to this lifelong Chicago native.  Harumph.

Anyway, I have some options and, once the initial disappointment wears off, I'll sit down and weigh them objectively.  In the meantime, I'm going to take the opportunity to turn this negative into a positive and use this long, drawn out rant as an excuse to show off one of my favorite pieces of sports memorabilia.  It's sort of card-like:

Way back in 1999, Khalid Khannouchi won the Chicago Marathon in world record time, breaking the tape at a (then) astonishing mark of 2:05:42.  The Moroccan native then graciously signed this New Balance poster for my high school cross country coach at some point thereafter.  When I graduated from high school in 2007, that coach (and good friend) generously passed it on to me as a selfless graduation gift.  Obviously, he didn't have to that for little, ol' me and, to this day, this poster has followed me to college, several apartments, through marriage and is still mounted proudly and prominently on my wall.  Without a doubt, it's easily one of the best gifts that I have ever received.

Since that world beating run, the official world record for the marathon distance has come down considerably,as human kind gets closer and closer to the fabled two hour tick.  As of now, the official record is 2:01:39, set by Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin just three months ago.  All told, 19 years later, Khannouchi's time longer ranks in the top 25 - that's how far distance running has come over the past two decades!

That being stated, this advancement does not diminish Khalid's stature - he's still a bonafide badass!  Just look at his body of work.

Embed from Getty Images

Khalid in action during the 1998 running of the Chicago Marathon (he would place second)

Mr. Khannouchi has won the Chicago Marathon a total of four times, including his very first attempt in 1997.  In fact, he's never placed any lower than fifth overall in the storied race.  Plus, although the New Balance sponsored athlete is a native of Morocco, he officially became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 2000 and his third win in the the Second City that year set the American record for the marathon distance at 2:07:01.  Just for good measure, he went out and won the race again in 2002.  In short, he's kind of a legend in Chicago.

Additionally, Khalid has a win in the London Marathon (2002) and several prestigious road races of various distances on his resume.  Unfortunately, Khannouchi was forced into early retirement in 2012 due to recurring, serious foot injuries.  Those are kind of important to runners.

All in all, I'd say that his is not a bad autograph to have in my collection!

1992-00 Sports Illustrated for Kids - [Base] #889 - Khalid Khannouchi

Speaking of collections, while I do have this signed poster, I am still looking for a standard-sized, Khannouchi card for my three-ring binder full of runners.  Seeing as the sport of distance running is does not show up on cardboard very often, according to my research, Khalid has just one trading card to his name - the 1992-00 Sports Illustrated for Kids single above.  The fact that his only card shows up in this product certainly comes as no surprise, as the publication is celebrated for it's wide array of subjects when it comes to their complementary sheets of cards.  As and added bonus, it too celebrates the athlete's historic triumph in the 1999 Chicago Marathon.

If anyone has a lead on one of these bad boys, please give me a holler.  Khalid Khannouchi, while he looks great on my wall, would also fit in nicely with my pages of Roger Bannister, Alan Webb, Wilma Rudolph, Kara Goucher etc. singles.

So, while I was not able to win the lottery and earn my entry into the 2018 Chicago Marathon, at least I got the chance to stroll down memory lane, show off one of my favorite bits of sports ephemera, and examine the career of one of the true greats of the American running scene.  One has to look at the positives to keep from going insane, right?

In the meantime, I'm not going to let my disappointment keep me from hitting the trails and treadmills.  After all, unlike Khannouchi, my feet have healed up just fine since my last marathon attempt.  In fact, I've already signed up for a 5k race in Hammond, Indiana this Saturday in order to keep me focused on my training rather than my dismay.  As an added bonus, it's ugly Christmas sweater themed; so, despite the frigid temperatures we've been experiencing in the Chicagoland area, I'll be warmed with Christmas spirit and heavy wool (at least for my warm-up, anyway).

Are there any other runners on the blogosphere?  If so, do you have any special running memorabilia or running trading card collections?  Has anyone else attempted a marathon, be it in Chicago or elsewhere?  Please feel free to share in the comment section below, I'd love to hear from you!

That is, unless you took a spot in the lottery... then you're dead to me.  Just kidding! Sorta....

Mr. Smith Goes to Cooperstown

An egregious oversight has finally been corrected.

Since the doors of the National Baseball Hall of Fame were unofficially opened to pitchers who excelled in relief with the selections of Hoyt Wilhem (1985), Rollie Fingers (1992) and Dennis Eckersley (2004) and pried open even further for pure closers with the inductions of Bruce Sutter (2006) and Goose Gossage (2008), etc., there's been a notable name ignored by voters.  When he recorded his 358th save in 1993, Lee Smith began his reign as the all-time king of saves, eventually boosting his record all the way up to 478, far more than of any of the previous names mentioned.  Yet, for twenty years after his retirement in 1997, Smith was left on the outside looking in.

It wasn't until 2006 that the big man's mark was surpassed by Trevor Hoffman, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame just last year.  Still, Lee Smith never achieved the necessary number of votes on the general ballot to join his peers, accordingly falling off of the ballot as Hoffman was admitted.  What gives?

While, I must admit, I am a huge Cubs homer and Mr. Smith, despite being a well-traveled mercenary, did the bulk of his damage during his eight-year stint on the North Side of Chicago, I can't be the only one who saw his omission as heinous.  Clearly the Today’s Game Era Committee agreed with me, as just last night, they finally righted the wrong and officially elected Lee Smith to Cooperstown.  Not only that, his selection was completely unanimous, as all sixteen members included Lee on their ballots.

Phew - what a relief!

Welcome to Cooperstown, Lee Smith! #HOF2019 https://t.co/EUezhSayQ1 pic.twitter.com/cLWlmp8Jpa

— Baseball Hall ⚾ (@baseballhall) December 10, 2018

The imposing Lee Smith is finally being recognized for his greatness and he won't have to watch another closer go in before him (I think we all know that Mariano Rivera will be joining Lee in the Class of 2018 when the general ballot is completed).  Perhaps I'm being a tad hyperbolic here, but I do believe that Smith's being left on the sidelines was the worst Cubs-related Hall of Fame snub since Ron Santo.  Thankfully, both wrongs have been rectified.

Being inducted along with Smith is his crosstown peer, Harold Baines - the first designated hitter to be designated Hall of Fame worthy.  Without getting too far lost in the weeds, Baines' credentials are comparatively week and much ado has been made about this on the internet.  That said, this is a Cubs blog so I'm going to play Switzerland on that issue.  Nevertheless, the Class of 2018 will have a distinct Chicago flavor (which I believe is vaguely hotdog-ish, sans ketchup).

When it comes time, Smith will almost undoubtedly be sporting a Cubs cap on his plaque.  While he did have three All-Star appearances and first set the career saves record while donning Cardinal Red, Smith is still largely associated with the Windy City club.  After all, the newest Hall of Famer did spend twice as many years in Chicago as he did in St. Louis and twirled well more than twice as many innings here.  Other marks for Chi-Town include two All-Star teams and being the dominant stopping force behind the immensely loved 1984 Cubs squad, which famously halted a 39-year postseason drought in Wrigleyville.  In the end, he's a true, blue Cub, through and through.  Let's just not talk about the ill-advised and absolutely dreadful trade that sent him out of town.

As a footnote, Smith also took turns in the uniforms of the Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Reds, and Expos.

As an aside, I noticed an interesting common thread between most of the relievers now enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Of the now seven men to have earned a plaque in the museum, five of them spent time on the Chicago Cubs roster:  Hoyt Wilhelm (1970), Dennis Eckersley (1984-86), Bruce Sutter (1976-80), Goose Gossage (1988), and now Smith (1980-87).  As of today, only two bullpen arms in the hallowed halls have not suited up in Cubbie Blue:  Rollie Fingers and Trevor Hoffman.  How's that for a weird bit of trivia?

This isn't to say that the Cubs have been historically great at scouting relievers.  After all, only two of these names spent significant time in town (Sutter and Smith), two were waaaaaayyyyy past their prime when they arrived for their short stints (Wilhelm and Gossage), and one worked exclusively out of the Cubs' starting rotation (Eck).  In the end, it's simply an amusing coincidence.

I wouldn't mess with the Cubs Hall of Fame bullpen - that's a filthy bunch!

Anywho, it's always awesome to see a former Cub go into the Hall of Fame and, after Smith, it's probably going to be a long time until another one gets that call.  Unless the Steroid Era muck gets sorted out and Sammy Sosa sneaks in (doubtful), the next best bet is manager Lou Piniella, who fell just a single vote short on the very same Today's Era ballot as Smith.  However, while it appears as though "Sweet Lou's" day in the sun is coming, that committee does not meet again until 2021.  Like I said, it's likely going to be a few years.

Of course, Lee Smith knows what it's like to wait a few years.  Congratulations on being inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Mr. Smith - it's about darn time!  I can now say that I accidentally ran into TWO Cooperstown residents at the local shopping mall.

R.I.P. Luis Valbuena

We are saddened by the passing of former Cub Luis Valbuena.

The #Cubs organization sends its condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/2Eh4R8EUMZ

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) December 7, 2018

In the wee hours of the morning, I was so hungry that I actually woke up with pangs at around 3am - darn runner's metabolism.  Anyway, I grabbed a protein bar and a glass of water for a quick snack and settled into the couch to satiate my unexpected hunger.  Seeing that everyone else in the world was asleep, like a normal human being, I opened my phone and scrolled through Twitter in order to pass the time while I digested my food.  What I saw when I casually scanned through my feed certainly upset me more than my stomach. 

It was right about then that word had trickled out from Venezuela that former Cubs third baseman, Luis Valbuena and fellow former Big Leaguer, Jose Castillo, had passed away after being involved in a car crash yesterday.

Yikes.

According to the various reports, Luis and Jose had been passengers in a car by a fellow teammate following the completion of a Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in Caracas.  All three men were members of the Cardenales de Lara and were on their way to their next contest.  At some point during their journey home, the driver was forced to swerve to avoid a sliding rock and that's when the fatal accident occurred.  It appears as though the driver was able to escape with injuries, but Luis and Jose were not so fortunate.

At the time of the accident, Valbuena was only 31 while Castillo was just 37 years of age.  While the loss of both of these young lives is devastating, this post will be focusing on Valbuena, as he spent a significant amount of time with my favorite team.  Please don't interpret this imbalance as disrespect to Jose Castillo or his loved ones.

 

After initially coming up with the Mariners and Indians, Luis Valbuena was claimed off of waivers by the Cubs just days before the 2012 season was scheduled to begin.  The franchise was still in the early stages of their famous rebuild and the infielder was brought in to serve as infield depth and to provide some veteran leadership in a young clubhouse.  Before long, Luis established himself as the defacto starter at third base, capably keeping the spot warm for Kris Bryant.  The year 2014 was Luis' banner season in Chicago, as he posted a .249/.341/.435 slash line to go along with 16 home runs in 149 games.  While the club around him was still going through growing pains, Valbuena was entering his peak.

Unfortunately, Luis did not get to stick around for the Cubs current run of success.  That next off-season, he was traded to the Houston Astros (along with Dan Straily) for Dexter Fowler.  WHo knows if the Cubs would have made it to the NLCS without Fowler setting the tone from the top of the lineup, but it's a shame that Luis strove through the dark days in the Windy City without getting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Valbuena continued slugging for couple of years in Houston; however, like in Chicago, he had a blue chip prospect breathing down his neck in Alex Bregman.  Being aware of his precarious situation, Luis signed with the Angels, as a free agent, where a true starting opportunity was guaranteed.  Unfortunately, like with Chicago, he left town just as things were getting good - Houston's rebuild culminated in a World Series win the very next season.  What a frustrating pattern.

The wheels started to come loose in Los Angeles after the injury bug began to rear it's ugly head, eventually leading to his release in August of 2018.  Luis was not content to call it a career yet though, as evidenced by his continued play in the Venezuelan winter league.  Tragically, we'll not get to find out whether or not the enthusiastic corner infielder had anything left in the tank.

In the end, while Luis was consistently productive on the field during his eleven year Major League career, he will always remembered for the joy he brought to the diamond.  I mean, just look how authentically jovial he looks on the above Topps Heritage singles from 2015 and 2018, respectively.  Most of all though, the defining characteristic of Valbuena's baseball career will undoubtedly be his penchant for flipping his bat.  We're not talking casual flips either:

Heck, he didn't even reserve his celebratory tosses for long home runs or big knocks either:

Forget old school baseball and unwritten rules - bat flips are fun and make baseball fun too!  And Luis Valbuena was certainly one of the best at it!

R.I.P. Luis Valbuena.  Thank you for bringing some respectability to the Lovable Losers during the nadir of their dark days, and for making baseball exciting and joyful with your unbridled enthusiasm to the Major League diamond and prodigious bat flips for eleven years.  The baseball world will miss you greatly.

(Original photo credit to Sarah Glen/Getty Images)

Core Charge Cards

Last week I was running late for work.  I got up late and loafed about at a sloth's pace - it was just one of those mornings.  To compact matters, as I flew through the front door, trying to make up for lost time, I was met with a sneaky sheet of black ice and almost went down for the count.  Steadying myself, I realized that my face was already stinging from the chilly breeze in the air, as it was being pelted by snowflakes billowing down from a gray sky.  Needless to say, the weather matched my dreary mood.  All was not lost though - if I left then, I could make it to work on time...or at least close enough that no one could call me on it.

With that in mind, I shuffled through the parking lot and hopped in my car.  I gave the engine a crank and.... uh oh... nothing happened.  That's when I found out my battery was dead... and that I could craft a sentence of cuss words long and strong enough to make a pirate blush.

Long story short, the battery was so shot that I couldn't even jump the damn thing; so, after half an hour of fiddling with the portable jumper, I ended up having to burn some of my sick time which I had so stingily hoarded.  Needless to say, it was not the greatest of mornings for this blogger.

However, after securing a new battery for my ride, I was elated to find out that the receipt for the expired one had not yet been disposed of.  You know what that means -  I had thirteen bucks waiting for me at the local Walmart!  Sure, it's a pittance; but, after waiting in line at customer service for half an hour, I felt like a kid at Christmas time with that "free" money burning a hole in my pocket.

So, let's see if you can figure out what I did next - solve this equation:  Unsupervised card collector + holiday season + Walmart =

You shouldn't have to flip to the back of your text book for this answer.

When I saw that there were still a few of these bad boys sitting on the barren shelves of the recently pillaged card aisle, I could not fight the temptation.  Normally, this cheapskate would have a hard time plopping down a twenty dollar bill for a such a novelty, on the off chance that I might land a card or two that truly appeals to my collecting interests.  That said, with thirteen bucks worth of "house money," suddenly this becomes cheaper than a blaster of Opening Day with a guaranteed hit.

Thanks lousy car battery!

Sure, we can debate for hours whether or not a product as gimmicky as this parallel set is needed with the deluge of cash grab products Topps has flooded the market with lately; but, this is the third year that this blizzard has hit the card collecting community, so why bother?  I must admit, I much prefer my snow on cardboard than I do on the ground and these cards do put me in the holiday spirit.  Plus, I need a couple of cards from this flakey set - which shows what cards from S1, S2, and Update would look like in a snowstorm - for my Cubs All-Time Roster Collection and I haven't ripped any new product in a long time, thanks to my recent hiatus.

As you can see, something good came out of my terrible, no good, very bad morning.  Or did it?  Let's see how I did with my "half price" holiday box, shall we?

The battery box flew right out of the gate with this Yu Darvish parallel falling out of the very first pack I opened.  You'll have to take my word that it's a parallel though, as the glitter effect (which really comes off looking and feeling like a third grade art project) found on the Metallic Snowflake Parallels doesn't show up too well on camera.  These special cards fall one in every two packs, so they aren't exactly rare - however, it's hard not to smile when you actually pull a parallel of a team you collect!

Yu was the only Cubs parallel that I ended up with, though I did uncover a healthy portion of the team's base checklist:

Three big pieces of the Cubs core were found in my "core charge" card purchase, as well as one now former North Sider.  This winter wonderland themed single represents Daniel Murphy's first pack-issued Cubs card, as the late-season acquisition was brought in by the Cubs too late to sneak into the Update checklist.  Of course, that means that this was a needed "Cubgrade" for my CATRC.  On the other hand, I've definitely not been secretive about my distaste for the second baseman, as detailed in the post I drafted about his initial arrival.  The Westboro-approved ballplayer is not one that I want representing my favorite team and I'm glad that he officially became a free agent after the World Series.

Simply put, my emotions about this pull are mixed - let's just say that I hope it's Daniel's ONLY pack-issued card as a Cubs player.

When it comes to the Cubs content, I ended up with one parallel, just under half of the team set, and one of the two cards I needed for my CATRC.  All told, that's not too bad for blaster box, I suppose.  It would have been a smashing success, in my eye, had I also come away with Cole Hamels' snowblind single (only his second pack-issued Chicago card)... but, I can't complain too much about this haul.  As for the rest of the box:

Here we have a couple of familiar faces in unfamiliar uniforms.  He's been gone for a few years now; however, I do believe that this is my first card of Starlin in any colors other than Cubbie Blue.  Additionally, "Jake the Snake" just looks wrong in a Phillies jersey - the dichotomy simply does not compute!

Even still, both of these previous Wrigley residents will fit nicely in my Cubs of Different Color Collection - a binder made up entirely of former/future Cubs featured in non-blue laundry.

With ten total packs included within the Holiday Box, I ended up with the appropriate number of metallic parallels.  Unfortunately, unlike the previously showcased Darvish, none of the other four really move the needle for me... much like the dead battery which funded their purchase.  Although, finding the AL Cy Young winner among the shimmery stack was kind of cool, even if I'll never be able to trade a Rays card.  And speaking of trades, the recently swapped out to Seattle, J.P. Crawford, gets to show of his slick glove in Phillies duds in one last set.  That's not a bad looking card to go out on.

Crawford wasn't the only player traded this winter to show up in the box either.  On that note, it's time to reveal what "one relic, autograph, or autographed relic card" I dug up out of this particular snow drift:

Ah, look, it's fate getting one last cheap shot in on me.  Not only does Paul Goldschmidt not fit into any of my collections, he happens to be a storied Cubs-killer who, just last night, was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Cards lineup just got a helluva lot scarier with "Goldy" in the middle of it.  Ugh.  Why'd it have to be the Red Birds?

The race for the 2018 National League Central crown is going to be a heated one.

Anyway, let's close out this box review with the best of the rest - a pair of cards that just make me smile:

Starling is looking sterling with that sweet, 80's Pirates uniform kit; who doesn't love a good throwback shot?  And check out those flowing locks coming from under Jon Gray's cap - he must use conditioner!

While I probably still didn't get my true money's worth on this purchase, even after the core charge discount, it sure was fun to rip through and I did end up with some nice additions to my Cubs collections.  After that stupid morning, it was just the medicine I needed to fix my mood - well, that and getting a working battery for my automobile.

Before I got, I do have to ask, what are your thoughts about the 2018 Topps Holiday boxes?  Is this set just another disposable, gimmicky, carbon copy parallel set that serves no purpose.  Or, does it inject a little bit of fun and holiday spirit into this hobby that is often taken far too seriously?  I straddle that line, but definitely lean a little more towards the latter.  Also, I never expected to be able to trade a car battery for baseball cards; but, essentially, that's what just happened.  With that in mind, what's the strangest thing you've ever traded for baseball cards?  Am I only the only one who has parlayed a care charge into a blaster box?  Please feel free to leave your thoughts and stories in the comment section below.

In the meantime, here's hoping that my new battery lives a long and healthy life!

Goodwill Goodies

My wife and I like to do a deep cleaning of our living space at least once a month - cleanliness is next to godliness, after all.  Since this weekend was the least busy we'll be until well after the holidays are over, we spent most of Saturday afternoon scrubbing dusting mopping, vacuuming, scrubbing, laundering, and bleaching all over the apartment.  Along the way, we decided to divest ourselves of several items that were simply taking up space and were no longer needed in our household.  Bags of unused clothing, forgotten cups and tumblers, and old purses were stuffed into Trader Joe bags and then loaded into our Kia (how's that for a white sentence?) for drop off at the local Goodwill.

Of course, that's not a chore to me - Goodwill is mystical shop of wonders to this cheapskate junk accumulator.  There's bins upon bins chock full of discount vinyl, slightly used board games, vintage Christmas decorations, and sometimes there's even baseball cards and/or memorabilia - what's not to love?  I think most of us on the blogosphere would agree that thrift stores rule!

That said, this trip was more about getting rid of junk that acquiring more, so I didn't do much more than a courtesy lap around the floor before making my way back home.  However, while this particular trip didn't lead to any notable finds, I was reminded of my last Goodwill haul and how I still haven't written about it here on Wrigley Roster Jenga.  Shame on me - I mean, this is basically my collector's diary.

Back in October, my wife and I were trying put the finishing touches on our Halloween costumes.  In the end, we did complete our viking ensembles; but, as gratifying as that was, I was much more excited about another, completely different article of clothing that I came across:

There, on a random thrift shop hat rack in suburban Chicago, I happened to uncover an authentic Yomiuri Giants, souvenir baseball cap.  What are the odds of that?  Also, please excuse the scruffy, unkempt beard.... I was growing it out for the aforementioned viking costume, after all.

For those who are not up with Japanese baseball, these Giants are the oldest team among the current Japanese professional ranks.  Additionally, while their name and uniforms were based on the New York/San Francisco Giants, the club is often regarded as "The New York Yankees of Japan" due to their widespread popularity and past dominance of Nippon Professional Baseball.  They even had their own Babe Ruth, as the other-worldly slugger, Sadaharu Oh, bashed all of his 868 career home runs with the Tokyo-based ballclub.  All told, I'd say that comparison between the Giants and Yanks appears to be apt.

Seeing as I am dedicated fan of a team that was, until recently, referred to as the "Lovable Losers," this kind of history is not usually one that I identify with; that said, there was no way that I was leaving this surprising oddity abandoned in with the discarded Boy Scouts and Little League caps.

It's your average trucker cap - a style I don't usually sport (though, again, this is a special exception) - with plastic mesh making up the back of the cap:

However, there is one defining feature in it's construction that distinguishes the Japanese hat from it's North American counterparts - just have a gander at that fastener.  It's not a snap back, it's not a velcro, is not even one of those annoying belt-style backs, and it's obviously not fitted.  In fact, the best way that I can describe is that it's like a reusable zip tie.  I'm not particularly knowledgeable about the fashion stylings of Japanese culture, but is this a common style found in the land of the rising sun?  I've certainly never seen this in the States.  Maybe someone like the NPB Card Guy or Zippy Zappy could fill me in here.

According to the labels found on the inside, it's officially licensed by the Yomiuri Giants.  However, I cannot make out the name of the manufacturer of the item.  My ability to read Japanese is rusty... and by rusty, I mean non-existent:

Meanwhile, I mentioned earlier that I don't really identify with dynastic teams like the Yomiuri Giants.  Were I to pick a team from the NPB, I would consider myself a Yokohama Bay Stars booster - a team who's history more closely parallels that of my favorite North American franchise.  In fact, that's something that I discovered courtesy of another surprise Goodwill find.  That being stated, these Giants do have a couple of old friends on their roster:

Former Cubs, Koji Uehara and Casey McGehee, are both currently rostered by Yomiuri.  Of course, that could be temporary for both.  After a one-year stint in Chicago in 2017 and a nine-year run in the MLB altogether, Koji returned to his native Japan and his original club for 2018.  The reunion went quite well, as he was named to the All-Star team - however, he only signed a one-year deal upon his return. So he could be moving on again for 2019.

On the other side of the ball, McGehee posted a .285/.336/.467 slash in his second year with the Giants - a marked decline from his .315/.382/.514 marks from a year before.  The infielder's contract includes a club option for 2019 - so, he too may be seeking employment for next season, if the Giants foresee a continued decline.

This all apropos of nothing; nevertheless, it's still cool to picture some familiar faces under that black and orange cap!

The former Cubs sporting their Giants digs in 2018.  Images courtesy of the Japan Times.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, as captivating as the Yomiuri Giants trucker cap find was, it wasn't the only baseball artifact in that Goodwill hat rack that caught my attention:

A White Sox hat?  I know what you're thinking, "Tony - have you gone completely daffy?! Why would you, a rabid, blue-blooded Cubs fan, purposely purchase anything related to your South Side rivals?"  To that I say, take closer look at the scribble found on the gray brim of this beat-up ballcap:

Hmmmm.... that looks like more than some random Little Leaguer's territorial markings... that appears to be a bonafide autograph.  And, if you happen to be a big fan of forgotten relievers of the early 21st century, you might just recognize that John Hancock:

2000 Fleer Mystique - Fresh Ink #BOHO - Bobby Howry

That right there is the signature of Bobby Howry, one of the relative few players in the history of Major League Baseball to have suited up on both sides of Chicago.  Not to mention, he was a key cog in the bullpen of the 2007-08 Cubs, the first back to back playoff appearances in one hundred years. Neato!

I must admit, that the hat is quite worn and well-loved - clearly somebody did not expect this encounter and took it right off of their head in order to mark the occasion.  Also, it's still a White Sox hat.  But, while it might be a "South Side Hitmen" relic, I couldn't leave this autograph of a former Cub behind, especially when it cost less than a burger and a pop at the local McDonald's. 

Additionally, this is the second autograph of the closer/set up man that I've acquired in recent years - am I accidentally becoming a Bobby Howry super collector? 

My pre-rookie Howry auto, card show find and the Cubs card which reps him in my CATRC.

These two awesome finds, plus the accessories needed to put the finishing touches on my viking outfit, made for an unusually successful and immensely satisfying Goodwill run.  An unexpected artifact from a foreign land AND an autograph from a personal favorite ballplayer?  That's quite the fun combination!

I'd say that this easily ranks among the best of my thrift store trips.  On that note, what are some of your favorite finds?  What crazy and exciting things have you come across at a Goodwill, Savers, Unique, or any other thrift shop location? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comment section below - I'd love to hear about them!

After re-living this experience, I'm almost tempted to do another deep clean of our apartment to create an excuse to drop off another round of donations at a different store location... 

Almost.