Card of the Day: Walter Johnson 2004 Topps Tribute HOF #18

Card of the Day: Travis Jackson 1980-87 SSPC HOF Baseball Immortals #180

“Pin-Up” of the Week: Ozzie Smith/Harry Kalas 2002 HOF Cooperstown

I think the biggest surprise in baseball this season are the Phillies.  Nobody thought they would have a winning record.  That includes the fans.  Now I know its early in the season, but things have been going great for them.  They’re currently 21-15, and sitting in third place in the N.L. East Division.  The Phillies have even had a couple of moments worthy of Topps Now cards.

Former Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas continues to be a major focal point in my collection.  I rarely get to add anything though because he doesn’t have that much merchandise.  He isn’t someone that manufacturers jump on when its time to make new cards.  I’ve got a feeling the cost to use his image might be too high.  Upper Deck, Fleer, and Sportkings have all made cards of him.  Topps literally only made one card.  It was a cut signature from 2013 Topps Series 1, and I own it.  I’d love to know if the one-of-one sketch from Sportkings Series E was ever redeemed.

Every now and then a Harry Kalas black patch pin will show up.  It resembles the patch the players wore when he passed away.  I’ve only seen the above pin one time.  Who, how, and where it was distributed remains a total mystery.  Cooperstown 2002 perhaps?  I picked it up a few years ago.

Card of the Day: Henry Chadwick 1950 Callahan HOF

Back from Cooperstown!

Cooperstown, NY has to be one of the best towns in the country if you are a baseball fan.  I walked around and looked at every single HOF plaque.  I had no idea that there were so many writers in the Hall of Fame.  While I was there I picked up a “Goose” Gossage 2008 HOF inductee bat that is limited to 500.  That may seem like a lot of baseball bats, but 500 isn’t very many.  I also picked up a bat that is modeled after the type Napoleon Lajoie used.  Right down the street from the HOF there is a wax museum which has about 30 different wax figures on display.  Below are a few pictures that I took.  The rest of the pictures can be found in the Photostream to your right.  Enjoy!!!

1858 baseball

                                                                       2008 HOF inductees

HOF entrance

Plaque room

“Shoeless” Joe Jackson hat, glove, & jersey

1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner

World Series rings & pins

Wax Museum

Mickey Mantle

Wade Boggs

Founders of baseball

Roberto Clemente

Jackie Robinson