Getting Horizontal with Jay Bell

I think I'm like a lot of collectors in that I have a love/hate relationship with horizontal baseball cards.

In one sense, if a card is framed in a horizontal fashion it usually means that some sort of interesting action sequence has been captured, and no flimsy vertical-orientation card could do it justice.  And, obviously, that's a great thing for all parties involved.

On the other hand, while the majority of these horizontal portraits are easily admired in a vacuum, they tend to be jarring when presented within a set whose cards predominantly are of the vertical variety.  This is most certainly true when the cards are displayed in nine-pocket pages.  It also makes those cards kind of annoying to view.

But, when it comes down to brass tax, I'm a sucker for the horizon-friendly cards and normally show them added favor relative to their upright cousins.  I just think they lend themselves to more artistic expression (in most cases) in an aesthetically rebellious sort of way.

Well, a recent "frankenset" post on Nick's Dime Boxes blog had a few dandy horizontal cards, but it also featured a great vertical double-play card of Jay Bell.  The combination of those elements got me thinking about my own Jay Bell collection, so I took a breeze through the cards.

As I had correctly remembered, Bell has quite a few great horizontal cards.  Now, I don't claim to have a vast Jay Bell collection, but of the 40 that reside in my player collection, 10 of them were base cards of the horizontal kind.  If you're a faux math major like me, you know that equates to 25% or one quarter.  And that's pretty substantial I think.

Anyhow, I figured I'd display those 10 horizontal dandies right here, right now in chronological order.  At the top of the post, we've got Bell's 1991 Stadium Club entry.  It doesn't look like Bell is going to have a very comfortable landing on the green carpet of ol' Three Rivers Stadium.  But, it's is a good start, and a sign of good things to come in regards to Bell's cards.

And here are the rest from the Clubhouse Vault...

1992 Bowman

1992 Stadium Club

If I were pressed to choose one of these Bells as my favorite, I'd have to go with this one.  Even though it's not necessary for us to see Jose Lind jogging into the frame in order for this sequence to make sense, his inclusion is the stuff of Stadium Club exceptionalism.

1993 Topps

We actually have to use our imaginations to complete this potential play.  And, ya know, I'm okay with that sometimes.  It's kind of like reading a book versus watching the movie.

1993 Stadium Club

No matter the year, Stadium Club was always good for more than a few of these artsy-fartsy photo session outtakes.  It's a shame baseball cards aren't so imaginative and well thought out any longer.

1995 UD Collector's Choice

1997 Topps

A cloud of dust at second base signals the conclusion of a pickoff play at the Veteran's Stadium second bast cut-out.

1997 Score

This is actually Bell's second card from the 1997 Score set, found in Series 2.  He also had a card in the Series 1 checklist featuring him in Pittsburgh garb.  It looks like Jay has some easy prey just entering the frame, probably thanks to a pickoff play or a busted hit and run.

1998 Upper Deck

This one is right up there with Bell's 1992 TSC card that we already looked at.  That's old Tiger Stadium in the background, and that makes this card even more spectacular.

2000 Topps

The ball's already in his mitt, and Bell is set to make the tag on what appears to be a Giants baserunner.

I guess we are left to conclude that the various card companies had a tremendous amount of respect for Bell's defensive prowess coupled with his longevity in the game.  Otherwise, why would they expend so many quality horizontal cards on him?  And this is just a small sampling of Bell's catalog.  Who knows what other gems of his are out there waiting to be discovered...

MK

Clubhouse Correspondence: Weekend PWE

Saturday was a happy mail day at Kaz Manor thanks to a PWE from my good buddy Marcus of Backstop blogging fame.  Marcus, my oldest trading pal, always includes a nice personal note with his deliveries and, of course, lots of cool cardboard.

I'd have to say that this Darryl Strawberry from Upper Deck's 1992 All-Star FanFest box set was my favorite of the bunch.  The shades, the bubble gum, the hat over the heart... it's all the early '90s baseball vibe you can fit into one little trading card.  The back of the card informs us that Straw was the first National Leaguer to be selected as an ASG starter in each of his first four full seasons.  That's some hefty knowledge right there!

Of course, when you talk about legendary National League All-Stars who patrolled the outfield, the conversation should begin and end with the Say Hey Kid.  This, of course, is a reprint of Willie's 1953 Topps card, lest you think Marcus is either the most generous man on God's green earth or he's simply lost his marbles.  I'm not 100% sure, but I think this is from 1991's Topps Archives set.  Regardless, it's a pretty neat card.  I can't say that I was too familiar with Mays' 1953 card previously.

Bret Saberhagen isn't the most warmly remembered pitcher from Mets annals.  Nonetheless, I've taken to collecting his cards over the past few years, proving that time and distance mend all wounds.  His 1994 Stadium Club card is a pretty sharp number.  So much so that I'm going to have to think long and hard about the possibility of uprooting the Saberhagen that currently resides in my All-Time Mets Project collection.  That would be Bret's 1993 Upper Deck card.  Either way, I think I've got a winner.

Aaahhh, wonderful and decadent oddball cards!  And not just any kind of oddballs, but actual playing cards from the U.S. Playing Card Company.  They issued a Major League All-Stars deck in 1991, including the likes of HoJo And Will the Thrill.  I'm not sure if Clark would approve of his "Wild" card designation.  I guess it's better than being a joker.

Thanks for keeping me and my family in your thoughts, Marcus.  And I most certainly appreciate the loot!

MK

Dime Box Delivery

The monthly card show at my local firehouse is upcoming this Sunday and, under normal circumstances, your's truly would be in attendance taking full advantage of the many discounted pieces of cardboard joy.  But, y'know: new baby, family coming to the house to visit said baby since it's the weekend... yada yada yada, as they say. Hey, no biggie, it comes with the turf.

Lucky for me--and the rest of the card-collecting and card-blogging world--there's a guy named Nick who merrily writes a wondrous blog called Dime Boxes.  Well, the planets must be properly aligned because a robust package from Nick arrived in my mailbox just the other day.  With such perfect timing, who needs a crummy card show?  I got delivery!  (Hey, top that, Domino's!)

The above '92 Stadium Club of Doc Gooden is one of the best cards ever (over)produced.  It's not only one of Gooden's best-ever cards, it's probably one of the top five greatest TSC cards ever made.  Furthermore, it's among the most awesome non-traditional pitcher photos you'll find on a baseball card.  In other words, you might say this would make a good business card for Nick!

Pretty fitting, then, that this Doc masterpiece was among the many cards Nick put in the package. Sure, it's a card already in my collection, but that doesn't make it any less impactful or meaningtful.  Every time I see it I'm reminded of how unparalleled a card it is in so many ways.  That said, I'd happily accept 1,000 more.

Nick's a guy who keeps a pretty regular eye out for some of those lesser-known Mets players lacking from my All-Time Mets checklist.  He hit the jackpot with this one.  Takashi Kashiwada made his big league debut for the Mets in 1997, becoming the first Japanese-born player to wear the blue and orange.  I wasn't even sure they made a card of him, but now I've got one for my collection.  Considering TK was probably at the top of my most-wanted Mets list, this is a pretty big deal.

Then there's Carlos Mendoza.  Sure the card reads "Tampa Bay Devil Rays" but all I see is a blue jersey top and an orange NY on the batting helmet.  Unlike Kashiwada, I don't remember Mendoza's cameo for the '97 Mets. Heck, I didn't even have him on my list of players to get.  So this is a most unexpected and happy discovery.

If there was ever a "That's So Mets" moment, Jimmy Piersall may have clinched in back in 1963.  This beautiful card captures one of the zaniest moments in Mets and baseball history, and will make a tremendous addition to the ATMP binder.

If you've never seen "Fear Strikes Out," I most definitely recommend checking it out.  It paints a pretty vivid picture of a tortured man.  Plus, you can't beat the cast (Anthony Perkins, Karl Malden).

Dennis Ribant is one of the many vintage Mets I was missing.  And it's a purdy '65 Topps, to boot.  Which reminds me, we're only a couple months away from 2014 Heritage which, by the way, celebrates the '65 set. Can't wait!

What a perfect example of the greatness of Topps All-Time Fan Favorites.  Grote was the catcher for the '69 World Champs and was one hell of a backstop for a good many years.  This card will fit nicely into the ATMP collection.

This card doesn't exactly fit the bill of a card I'd include for the All-Time Mets Project, but what a freakin' great card!  Certainly one of the coolest Todd Hundley cards in my collection, and definitely the most unique.  As an aside, I liken the Pacific brand to an onion: you keep peeling back the layers and discovering more...layers.  Just tremendous!

Get a load of this dominant quad of Seaver cards.  George Thomas is greatest Met that God ever created (and probably ever will).   By virtue of that, it's my godly duty to grab up as many of his cards as possible.

But, it's not all about Mets with packages from Nick.  He always hooks me up big-time with cards for my various player collections.

Boy, does Johnny O wish he had the type of physique that the cartoonist bestowed upon him.  It's a Bazooka cartoon and a jersey card?!  I love this country!  From one Olerud collector to another, I most definitely appreciate this neat card.

Nick and I also share a love of Vald Guerrero cardboard.  It was tough to choose a favorite among the bounty he sent me, but the unique pose and the setting (Jack Murphy dugout?) on this Upper Deck MVP card make it a true standout.

The pronounced batting crouch (you prefer booty shot?) of fearsome slugger Albert Belle.

What, you don't like Sammy Sosa?  Too bad, I do!  Even when he's on a "Vintage" card that is an obvious a shameless rip off of a classic card design from another company.

Oh, you really, really don't like A-Rod?  Good; more for me!  Did anyone watch 60 Minutes last Sunday?  I did, and I think it did more to fortify Rodriguez than hurt him.  Granted, I don't think Alex has been without sin, but the case against him is joke.

Anyhow...HEY...speaking of A-Rod, check this out:

It's a super-huge A-Rod card!

What do you mean you can't tell?  Take my word for it: it's huuuuge!

Still not sold?  Okay...

The green Starquest card is a standard sized trading card.

Told ya so!

Not sure where this larger-than-life StarQuest A-Rod came from, but I'm glad it's in the safe haven of the Kaz household, shielded from the venom of the outside world.  Thankfully, Nick also placed it in a huge top loader, the kind probably reserved for photographs.  Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to properly protect this guy.

Last but not least, one of my newest favorites:

I sincerely hope EY stays in NY this coming season.  He filed for arbitration earlier this week.  I think he deserves a starting spot on the Amazins, whether that's playing LF or 2B.  He's got game-changing speed and a positive attitude that is contagious.  I'm not yet formally collecting his cards, but I'm just about there.  Snagging this attractive rookie card is a nice start.

Once again, thanks for coming to the rescue with a dime box home delivery, Nick!

MK

Four Topps, #65

When coming about the card number for today's edition of Four Topps, I decided to give Random.org the day off. Instead, and in honor of my little guy's birth weight (6 lbs., 5 oz.), I selected card no. 65 as the subject for this study in Topps baseball between 1987 and '90.

And away we go!

1987

Browning looks like a bad dude in this photo.  And, indeed, he wasn't a man to mess with during his prime playing days, which began in the mid 1980s and stretched into the early '90s.  He's got a perfect game, an All-Star apperance and a World Series ring on his resume.  He apparently was also superstitious and didn't shave between starts, resulting in the sort of facial scruff you see on this card.  Hey, Stat Man:  Started a league-high 39 games for the Reds in 1986, posting a 14-13 record.

1988

Speaking of badasses, how about Leon "Bull" Durham?  A two-time All-Star, Durham was a Chicago mainstay for most of the '80s, posting 20 homers five times.  He even posted a nifty 20-20 season in 1982.  But, when you boil it down, it's all about the aviator specs and the meticulously trimmed goatee, right?  Hey, Stat Man:  Leon clubbed a career-best 27 homers for the Cub in 1987.

1989

More doughy than gruff in appearance, Rick Reuschel was nonetheless a quality pitcher for many years.  His career ledger includes 214 wins, three All-Star appearances and a pair of Gold Gloves.  Reuschel was the NL's starting pitcher in the '89 Midsummer's Classic, letting up a pair of runs in one inning of work.  Looks like Rick is warming up in the Giants "bullpen" in this card.  Hey, Stat Man:  Rick fashioned 19 wins and a 3.12 ERA for San Francisco in 1988.

1990

Chalk this up as one of those cards from 1990 Topps that I didn't come to appreciate til way after the fact.  When I finally got around to putting my '90 Topps set in a binder a few years back, this one really stood out to me.  I definitely dig the warm-up jacket Devo is sporting as we find him in the tail end of a smooth practice cut.  Great looking card.  Hey, Stat Man:  Devo swiped 44 bags and racked up an All-Star bid and a Gold Glove for the 1989 Angels.

And the Winner Is:  This is a really great foursome, but I like that '90 Devo card way too much.  Props to the '88 Durham, as well.

MK

Set Collecting Goodness

A big tip of the cap to friend of the blog Robert from $30 a Week Habit, as he sent along a nice congratulatory package of cards to help welcome the newest member of the Kaz family to the world.  While little Gabriel is not yet two weeks old and cannot comprehend anything beyond feeding and napping, his old man is very appreciative of this most wonderful gesture.

It's tough to say what the true centerpiece of the package was since each component touched on a set-collecting campaign that is near and dear.  Robert, a fellow set collector, pushed all the right buttons with this latest act of kindness.

Right off the bat, the above Vlad Guerrero SP from 2011 Heritage got my engines revved up.  The short prints from '11 Heritage are tough to come by, so any addition is a blessed event.  And this one, y'know, is Vladimir Guerrero.  He's kind of a big deal!  Still a long way to go with this set, but enjoying the ride!

Next up, a pair of Heritage parallels from the 2012 edition:

I really love the black bordered variations, especially those from the '12 collection.  I've now managed to collect 30 of them.  I can't imagine tracking down all 100, so I won't pretend to dream of such a challenge.  But, that doesn't mean I won't attempt to get my mitts on as many as possible.  At this point I'd settle for four full binder pages.

Last but not least, the most vintage set I'm working on is '77 Topps.  And now I'm five cards closer to accomplishing that goal...

Lots of great hair styles, blue skies, fancy airbrushing, and even a bat barrel photo make this is a pretty lively lot of cards.  The hat-less Torrez is a personal favorite.

Once again, thanks much for the great loot, Robert!  Maybe I'll finish off one or more of these sets before Gabe graduates from high school!

MK

One Week in the Baby Book (and ATMP Progress)

Whew!

The past week has been a whirlwind.  One week ago today, Mrs. K and I brought out little guy home from the hospital.  And since then, it's been non-stop baby swaddling and diaper changing... and little sleep, of course.  But, it's been an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Also, please let me extend my most sincere gratitude and thanks for all the wonderful wishes and sentiments that many of you left in the comments section of my last post.  That means a lot to Mrs. K and me, truly.  And we are happy to report that both baby and momma are doin' just fine!

In between fits of crying and desperate little screams for feeding or changing (or both), I've been busy with the All-Time Mets Project.  Logging cards, organizing them, and admiring the final product.  You know, the stuff us collectors do to take a timeout from life and relax for a few minutes.

The last Sunday of 2013, the local fire house's sports card show featured a vendor with a few discount vintage boxes that netted me some older players to the tune of 10 for a dollar.  The general condition of these cards wasn't great, but for cards from the '60 and '70s I'm not as much a stickler for condition.  Besides, for a dime, who cares??

Besides the vintage Mets, I also picked up a few neat odds and ends for my various collections, including the Seaver Press Pass card up top.  Someday, I hope to own a jacket just like the one George Thomas is sporting. I figure it'll be in style again by the time Gabriel is in high school.  If not, it'll still be fun to wear when I meet his prom date.

Also, just at the start of the new year, I made my first JustCommons.com purchase and the cards arrived just the other day.  I've read the accounts others have written about this site, and I must say that I was quite pleased with the prices, selection and quickness of delivery.  I was able to knock out quite a few non-traditional needs for the Project...nearly 60 new players and over 100 new cards total!

A few of my top favorites...

Finally found a Tony Phillips card!!!

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  Hopefully, in the near future I'll delve further into my hual.

And, because they are "just commons," most of these cards are in the dime-to-quarter range.  If you're a team collector of a set collector and you haven't used the site before, definitely check it out. The best part: If you spend at least 10 bucks, the shipping is free!  I know I'll be placing another order again soon.

Thanks for checking in, and happy collecting!

MK

Our New Babe Gabe

On Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 5:43 p.m., God gave Mrs. K and me a gift beyond words.  We are now blessed to have a beautiful baby boy in our lives: Gabriel Walter, or Gabe for short.

The rush of wide-ranging emotions that overtook me when I first saw his little head appear were off the chart.  No amount of preparation or conversation could have truly prepared me for that moment and the uncontrollable spasm of prideful joy that accompanied it.

And when the doctor announced the gender -- or, more accurately, when she showed me -- I went completely weak and cried like I've never cried before.  Though I woulda been indescribably happy with either sex, I guess subconsciously I always dreamed of having a little boy to share all my nerdy sports habits with, etc.

Seeing that dream become a reality utterly floored me.

Bringing it all back to baseball cards, I found it to be a pretty cool coincidence that I have already featured a famous Gabe in one of my posts, way back in September of 2012.  And this was prior to Mrs. K and me even discussing family planning and potential baby names.

So maybe this post was something of a premonition?

Who knows, but I think one of my new hobby goals will be a "Gabe" collection, which I suppose would predominantly feature Mr. Kapler and maybe an occasional Gabe White and Gabe Gross.  FYI, according to baseball-reference.com, there are only seven Gabriels or Gabes who have ever played in the bigs.  But, mostly, I think I'll focus on Kapler.

Then again, I'm not bourgeois enough to turn my nose up at, say, a Gabe Alvarez card.

So that's the big announcement from our little family.  I figured I'd share since I've brought up the pregnancy a few times previously on the ol' blog.

I can't wait to begin my little guy with the hobby I love when the time is appropriate.  In the meantime, I'll probably sock away a pack or two of Topps baseball from each year he's on the planet and present them to him later on.

I figure that would be a cool introduction into daddy's incessant vice.

MK