Night Owl Cards

  The trouble with me and O-Pee-Chee cards of the '60s, '70s, 80s and early '90s is that I am so fascinated with the differences from the Topps sets from the same year that I ignore OPC cards that look the same as the Topps cards. I mean what's the point of collecting another card that looks like the Topps card in every way? This is particularly true for OPC sets that don't note that it is an O-Pee-Chee set on the front. And, yes, I know there are always differences with the backs -- because there is French -- but as much as I emphasize how you must read your card backs, backs are backs. So, I'm in danger of never completing an OPC set as much as I like them because the cards that are different from their Topps counterparts are SO fascinating that it makes everything else boring in comparison. For example, the 1977 O-Pee-Chee set, which I think is the greatest of all the OPC sets because of all of the variations from Topps, is on my radar. But the only cards I e...

I went to Target today to see if there were any 2010 cards. I kill myself. What was I thinking? So, instead I'll post about vintage. Besides, vintage cards will explain the pile of meat in the photo: I am really missing summer right about now. I miss baseball, the lake, vacations, everything. One of the best things about the summer is the food. Burgers. Potato salad. Corn on the cob. Ice cream sundaes. Great stuff. One my favorite summer meals of all is very simple: barbecue chicken, macaroni salad and deviled eggs. Barbecue is fantastic. I love it all. But I've never been one of those guys to buy the massive grill and spend half of July and August inhaling mesquite. I cooked on a grill both indoors and outdoors when I was in college, and that pretty much cured me. But I have noticed that baseball players from the 1970s are HOOKED on barbecue. Of course, it all started with Boog . He was the first former ballplayer I knew that got on the barbecue kick. And now, ...

OK, we have a problem here. First, I am happy to see that my favorite Manny Sanguillen card of the 1970s is leading the poll. But unfortunately, it is not leading by itself. And that's the problem. The 1970 Manny Sanguillen , with his giant novelty glove, is tied for the lead. I would like the '71 card to win, but whether it does or not, WE HAVE TO BREAK THE TIE! There is only one day to vote. Please vote if you haven't. I need a definitive answer on the best '70 Manny Sanguillen . The future of ridiculous posts on ridiculous blog polls hinges on your very vote!!!!! Click here if you need to see the cards again. As an extra incentive to vote, I bring you one more 1970s Sanguillen card. You might remember the 1977 Topps Sanguillen card. It's an atrocious card, no? The airbrush machine apparently exploded all over Manny. And he doesn't appear to be too happy about it. This card hasn't received a single vote and I am not surprised. However, reader Tony ...

In my quest to determine the best card of some of the more notable players of the 1970s, I've decided not to limit it strictly to the brightest stars. Sure, Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench drew most of the attention, but the 1970s was filled with wonderful baseball characters, true fan favorites, even if they didn't receive the most publicity. And they shouldn't be ignored. One of my favorites as a kid was Manny Sanguillen . The Pirates were a semi-regular presence on television in the 1970s because they were good throughout the decade. And by 1979, you couldn't avoid The Fam -i-lee. In 1979, Sanguillen was just a bit player for the champion Pirates, but I still followed him. The 1970s was a watershed period for great-hitting catchers -- Bench, Carlton Fisk, Thurman Munson , Ted Simmons. No longer were teams content to have someone behind the plate hit .214 year after year after year. And Sanguillen was part of that, hitting almost .300 for his 13-year career. He also...

(2-4-6-8, who do we appreciate? CARD-BOARD! CARD-BOARD! Yaaaaayyyyy! ... Welcome to another edition of Cardboard Appreciation. These are the cards I appreciate the most: my all-time favorites. This is the second in a series): When I saw this card, it was love at first sight. Where do I begin? I loved the green-and-gold combo. I loved that this is one of several '76 Pirates cards that appeared to be photographed in the dead of night (actually, I think it was just poor photography in a poorly-lit Three Rivers Stadium). I loved the name Manny Sanguillen. Who doesn't? I loved the expression on his face. But most of all, I loved, absolutely LOVED, the fireball streak shooting behind Manny. Did a rocket ship just blaze past? A guy with a jet-pack? The young, impressionable mind whirred with possibilities. I still don't know what that burning flame is. Some scoreboard effect? Anyone? Please help me out. But I hope by knowing that I don't lose my appreciation for this card. I ...