tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36696551896346347842024-02-07T02:58:08.136-08:00Angels Master SetA blog discussing the collection of Topps regular issue Angels baseball cards and their inserts soon to be found at AngelsMasterSet.com.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-86863498501744826312014-02-14T11:59:00.001-08:002014-02-14T11:59:42.481-08:00RIP Jim Fregosi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just read that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Fregosi">Jim Fregosi</a>, longtime Angels shortstop and the first manager to bring the team to the playoffs, <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/jim-fregosi-former-manager-dies-at-71-021414">died this morning</a>. </div>
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Long, long before Mike Trout, Jim was the original Angels wunderkind. Acquired from the Red Sox in the first expansion draft in 1960, he made his major league debut as a September call-up in the Halo's first season, was a regular reserve in '62, and was a starter by '63. He was the first Angels player to hit for the cycle, and along with Bobby Knoop was half of one of the greatest double-play combinations in league history.</div>
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Multiple-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner - Fregosi was the face of the franchise for the better part of a decade. He remained a Halo until after the 1971 season, when the Mets sent four players to the Angels to acquire him. He returned to the Angels in '78 as manager. Oddly enough he ended up managing the one remaining player who was traded for him: Nolan Ryan.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1GMCT8hrI9xU2np6F8eu0KCNsCL2hv4fsKvr1a6GSTZi8TlZjHm4CxzJdEn4hrLXvOBA-37Zcckk8zqvWlbpGXWlj2jSiSxQJOvKGcEGZhs3Zg1a1wpSIxxyqqrszwPh_EryEh4SghY/s1600/fregosi.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1GMCT8hrI9xU2np6F8eu0KCNsCL2hv4fsKvr1a6GSTZi8TlZjHm4CxzJdEn4hrLXvOBA-37Zcckk8zqvWlbpGXWlj2jSiSxQJOvKGcEGZhs3Zg1a1wpSIxxyqqrszwPh_EryEh4SghY/s1600/fregosi.png" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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Rest in peace, sir. You were an amazing player, and a great baseball mind.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-24215990282429051372012-06-16T23:23:00.000-07:002012-06-16T23:35:27.596-07:00I don't know if I feel old or young!It's been a tough year so far around these parts so far - within the space of a couple months, my wife lost a pair of grandparents. Ray and Maureen Williams were a true throwback pair - they never took crap from anyone, ever, but they had the biggest hearts of anyone I've ever seen. Like most people who lived through the Great Depression, they acquired a good amount of stuff during their lives, and the family decided to try and unload some of it during our block's recent neighborhood garage sale. So we found ourselves looking at a lot of Mah Woman's grandparents stuff for a bit.<br />
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With all the stuff we tried to unload, there was one thing I grabbed for myself: Jamie's Granddad had a little battery-powered AM/FM radio, and it had to be mine. I'd been looking for a portable radio that actually got AM for a couple years now, so I could listen to the Angels games live. (And if anyone reading this knows anyone at KLAA, PLEASE let them know that BSiD (Brain Sucking iPhone Device) users need a way to listen to Angels games live on the internet!) So now I finally have a way to follow the games without hijacking the TV from my girls.<br />
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The first game I listened to on this radio was the Angels' 3-2 victory over that one team... y'know, the ones with the blue hats, and they used to share a stadium with the Halos? Yeah, that game where Albert Pujols knocked in the game-winning run? That was the first game I listened to on this radio. That made me feel like I chose wisely.<br />
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The second game I've listened to on this little marvel was tonight. And what an amazing game it was - Ervin Santana just threw a one-hit shutout, facing only 29 batters against the Arizona Diamondbacks (and former Angel, and 2008 All-Star Game teammate, Joe Saunders). El Meñeo has struggled for much of this season, so it was AMAZING to listen in as he pitched perhaps the best game of his career.<br />
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The odd thing is that in both of the games I've listened to on this radio, I've been playing the PC video game Diablo III while listening. (What can I say - I work for Blizzard Entertainment, and Diablo II was my second-favorite PC game ever long before I got this job.) As much as I remind myself of an old man when I listen to baseball games on the radio, I still feel like a kid when I'm playing video games, so to do both at the same time creates much confusion.<br />
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On a personal note, this game was so much fun to listen to that I actually called in to Angel Talk on AM 830 for the first time tonight. Terry Smith, producer Darren Chan, and the phone screeners were kind enough to take my call, so I was able to share my thoughts on tonight's game - basically that I think it may have meant a little more than Ervin's no-hitter last season, because tonight he didn't actually give up a run. (And yes, I realize that no-nos are a team effort, especially when the other team scores an unearned run.) I was even given enough time to draw a comparison between Ervin and the great Nolan Ryan, who threw six 1-hitters while an Angel.<br />
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So congratulations to you, El Meñeo, and thanks to the folks at KLAA. Let's earn another win tomorrow!lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-91340977386486333312012-04-06T07:13:00.000-07:002012-04-06T07:13:36.838-07:00It's that time again...Holy cow it's been forever since I've posted to my blog. Sorry 'bout that. Since my last post I've gotten a new job and a new kid, so things have been really crazy for a while. (And then there was the hard drive crash...) But none of that matters, because...<br />
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IT'S OPENING DAY!!!<br />
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I just hung the Angels flag outside, I've got the tickets printed, and the camera's battery is charged. 12 hours and counting!lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-61826697176537408302010-09-09T12:51:00.000-07:002010-09-09T12:53:25.256-07:00Catching Up - All-Star Sunday, Part 1: The All-Star Futures Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Angels have played host to the MLB All-Star Game three times before this year, but 2010 was the first time they've hosted since I moved back to Orange County. There was no way on Earth that I was missing it. I was fortunate to be able to attend all three days of the festivities. (Thanks, anonymous people who sold your tickets on StubHub!)<br />
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It's been great seeing the All-Star Game logo all over everything this year, even if the star looks a little like the Rangers' logo.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh1ngYy7cgHbWymbvWxIsiTaqWuifgN8Qba2ubifeOSZdndAQ949zbUFxgae-pic1SAfYfdmqoFWYmkVKkY7G2sdEqo2sdYH7_8uMt2oveV0yloP8wm5cyyd7Yvjs39lAUgtmXOLRbk8/s1600/DSC_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvh1ngYy7cgHbWymbvWxIsiTaqWuifgN8Qba2ubifeOSZdndAQ949zbUFxgae-pic1SAfYfdmqoFWYmkVKkY7G2sdEqo2sdYH7_8uMt2oveV0yloP8wm5cyyd7Yvjs39lAUgtmXOLRbk8/s320/DSC_0105.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>But seriously, what the heck is this?<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfh8nPBxKzPkvPTvCnJwmYE3iik_dx5ypT5xG95n1iT37K-HLJ0XoGADSAypBk5zID5UM1M3iEz3snaVGYVCKMkADBMZAqHrexGMS8SFRIIN0EhE2JiGl8eOGA4jf7khMKcK3iaDbkJo/s1600/DSC_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfh8nPBxKzPkvPTvCnJwmYE3iik_dx5ypT5xG95n1iT37K-HLJ0XoGADSAypBk5zID5UM1M3iEz3snaVGYVCKMkADBMZAqHrexGMS8SFRIIN0EhE2JiGl8eOGA4jf7khMKcK3iaDbkJo/s320/DSC_0106.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were Mickey statues for every team and then some scattered around Orange County and Los Angeles. They made the mistake of putting the Red Sox statue in OC, and it got vandalized. While I in no way support or encourage acts of vandalism, I was stoked to hear that an Angels fan beat up Boston Mickey.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Topps, cool poster, and thank you for fixing the spelling of Jered Weaver's name before you released his card this year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnysMYDh2rSc16rM7tNutZrVoo_R0hmYza-sjixScPiqYESG7X8SNha57Oh9ky3B8TDLUIhtmIRcwCKuUv4Nd-EG16wbRqyGvf5lzWr33uGEJ7G-lVJ9HxqfYsPCkL-mVFb7IzSFlmn4/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnysMYDh2rSc16rM7tNutZrVoo_R0hmYza-sjixScPiqYESG7X8SNha57Oh9ky3B8TDLUIhtmIRcwCKuUv4Nd-EG16wbRqyGvf5lzWr33uGEJ7G-lVJ9HxqfYsPCkL-mVFb7IzSFlmn4/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of the Red Sox, I saw Boston General Manager Theo Epstein as I was walking in. Theo, that "SOX SUCK!" you heard before you got to your seat was me. You're welcome.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The weekend started off with the All-Star Futures game on Sunday. I was able to score a great seat for this, so with the wife's camera in tow, I settled in and enjoyed some baseball. My seat was in the second row just past the home dugout. There is nothing like watching a baseball game this close when you have a telephoto lens. Here's the World team's third base coach, Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHWMT6iw63863DY9aemtbpSHrQzSLq2zKfpH5LeyMcwuekVg3WidztExir8KkJKtvVukf1HVKRDSF5lNDaozaHwncGNekEnFnttLwQ2KiNk9i_TJzzDl71duSbV_QvKcpyy58Sry4w7Y/s1600/DSC_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHWMT6iw63863DY9aemtbpSHrQzSLq2zKfpH5LeyMcwuekVg3WidztExir8KkJKtvVukf1HVKRDSF5lNDaozaHwncGNekEnFnttLwQ2KiNk9i_TJzzDl71duSbV_QvKcpyy58Sry4w7Y/s320/DSC_0116.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Jeremy Hellickson (Rays AAA) throws the first pitch of the game.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know why it was a surprise to me, but the U.S.'s starting catcher was Huntington Beach High's own Hank Conger.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLqL4tkh-YkbOkXpeSMXhFctlXt1kW20XCtXdfaoKa-AKRTHxo90KL5O7BK1GrbDVHnmLSQG8VinWm0RIygSZebGVONpplFi-tWaIPGifflFDQkej1H75U_Y8JiJFVOdhlqQOby0oNPI/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLqL4tkh-YkbOkXpeSMXhFctlXt1kW20XCtXdfaoKa-AKRTHxo90KL5O7BK1GrbDVHnmLSQG8VinWm0RIygSZebGVONpplFi-tWaIPGifflFDQkej1H75U_Y8JiJFVOdhlqQOby0oNPI/s320/DSC_0126.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Hank at the plate in the first inning.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Another Angels prospect, Mike Trout, pinch ran in the first inning, and remained in the game to play center field. This is my second favorite picture from this game. Hopefully you'll be adding to that banner soon, Mike.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQxw6Hk3Yp_J9TJdBA1v2UR7I6hK0ZA4pNzvBWEkPo5FwZN7d1WSTC_T8uweOAW6e9xbNZRl0ffZMFKgZ7VwlMfySJiwSRlde-itGxHDvYk3fDJ8iY0kAvGk3p2T6hyxvqz11lpEwuh4/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQxw6Hk3Yp_J9TJdBA1v2UR7I6hK0ZA4pNzvBWEkPo5FwZN7d1WSTC_T8uweOAW6e9xbNZRl0ffZMFKgZ7VwlMfySJiwSRlde-itGxHDvYk3fDJ8iY0kAvGk3p2T6hyxvqz11lpEwuh4/s320/DSC_0137.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Trout at the plate. He ended up going 2-4, but reached base every time he went to the plate.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmU3Mo4TxMzwJNsX9CI9Kn9vOI3oF_uNSfiSp1Pbb_HzbcY23Z5eDZkvRdAnvp9c8AOBrUqH8qWyf1FPzKJTPMvK_QBZySobdDx_PMtLA5okEc4hD6YZXmbRVV6NMy3_Sw8ow4XXIzac/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmU3Mo4TxMzwJNsX9CI9Kn9vOI3oF_uNSfiSp1Pbb_HzbcY23Z5eDZkvRdAnvp9c8AOBrUqH8qWyf1FPzKJTPMvK_QBZySobdDx_PMtLA5okEc4hD6YZXmbRVV6NMy3_Sw8ow4XXIzac/s320/DSC_0152.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Hank breaking his bat.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXJHMCck8sJQKagWTPZd9OZyR0TQ3LL1Vn_68OBRxtFXNQqn4kQTri_wSjpW3RHBJZ4u_XsOj2SgF1g9DupKKzAXZixvgL3J-RZiswkeQYt0ghc-miNX-5fDKYTkRa8EUNTM603FgoL8/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXJHMCck8sJQKagWTPZd9OZyR0TQ3LL1Vn_68OBRxtFXNQqn4kQTri_wSjpW3RHBJZ4u_XsOj2SgF1g9DupKKzAXZixvgL3J-RZiswkeQYt0ghc-miNX-5fDKYTkRa8EUNTM603FgoL8/s320/DSC_0158.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They always have a kid "steal third" during Angels games. This time, the MLB mascots tried to block the kid, who took out the Red Sox mascot with a great left hook. That's right, there is no love for Beantown in Anaheim.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAx3e5n_u8-l1SNdoNvQ47SBtFNnyrvkl2MzqHbdZIq1bNLdMQuPOX0RVpeHzvgIaiXjaDLSBgK19M-Nq8bpNbFt6kXci57fBcPAU158Q6mhThV6H9XUf3ThlGRtAk2pWxvZxnpnO1YI/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAx3e5n_u8-l1SNdoNvQ47SBtFNnyrvkl2MzqHbdZIq1bNLdMQuPOX0RVpeHzvgIaiXjaDLSBgK19M-Nq8bpNbFt6kXci57fBcPAU158Q6mhThV6H9XUf3ThlGRtAk2pWxvZxnpnO1YI/s320/DSC_0161.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I get all tingly whenever I see this shot. This is Hank Conger hitting his first-ever home run in the Big A.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37CT9bEO29Y_VaEbiq_jT3L_vAx6JQNbPXK3SFa1O-soEirR4Rr3rFKp0dHXvWWlO8B-9ExoAgRpOZrGKq2t4b2oCwanr5jasv0DCQBeLwY7kk0XFz6SueWhGoGjG4yYaJdfyQlSFIA0/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37CT9bEO29Y_VaEbiq_jT3L_vAx6JQNbPXK3SFa1O-soEirR4Rr3rFKp0dHXvWWlO8B-9ExoAgRpOZrGKq2t4b2oCwanr5jasv0DCQBeLwY7kk0XFz6SueWhGoGjG4yYaJdfyQlSFIA0/s320/DSC_0171.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To his credit, the kid acted like he's been there before.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtyPvVXazufdzQi0Hpc9A-fEvFKxM_nfJy-YIHggYnhX0Rync83Qj6MGPtsu8djRfEfI9NCwK2bGN7-uGXYb8yBHd-TAdNGSuK1maWukJLssgtDTPiimcW0FXWbIEMagxDaKuI0WAipQ/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtyPvVXazufdzQi0Hpc9A-fEvFKxM_nfJy-YIHggYnhX0Rync83Qj6MGPtsu8djRfEfI9NCwK2bGN7-uGXYb8yBHd-TAdNGSuK1maWukJLssgtDTPiimcW0FXWbIEMagxDaKuI0WAipQ/s320/DSC_0172.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLKXS_C6WoXk6KI1anE-kWVmm5EMeHv6wt-h8bXPLsmf6geHph2f8W6U3_DaPGvseUROgCyNtTa-Yn0M3voSNe-diey3R4ZTTMQEA8YMFzpYdHSnm-FXdzO4AyiMxWvWn7D0l0GGq_uY/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLKXS_C6WoXk6KI1anE-kWVmm5EMeHv6wt-h8bXPLsmf6geHph2f8W6U3_DaPGvseUROgCyNtTa-Yn0M3voSNe-diey3R4ZTTMQEA8YMFzpYdHSnm-FXdzO4AyiMxWvWn7D0l0GGq_uY/s320/DSC_0179.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I just read an article where the guys waiting at the plate to give Hank props were referred to as a "Conger line." I like it.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPK_2s6nsrPX2cQilT_-OT456Dl1Gc8mT7wYHS36fsXwcUshFzm1esjE2lKHApbkvuc8PlhcZS_5SDn5OpGboDcekHs5qp970QNB1Ncmkunt8_fdoyCmqjzBtOod75-AX2BVatfa9eCc/s1600/DSC_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPK_2s6nsrPX2cQilT_-OT456Dl1Gc8mT7wYHS36fsXwcUshFzm1esjE2lKHApbkvuc8PlhcZS_5SDn5OpGboDcekHs5qp970QNB1Ncmkunt8_fdoyCmqjzBtOod75-AX2BVatfa9eCc/s320/DSC_0183.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One unexpected bonus during the game was the food. There was a contest where chefs from twelve of the MLB ballparks made their absolute best hot dogs, and saw which one would sell the most. I didn't care who won. I had to support the home team, so I got the Halo Dog. It was the single best chili dog I have ever had in my entire life.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qjjbzjR_M-FLp6XfWeF_g0QEngumjM0_Kp5X5N6M24lHHyjLZLNQ6N1_LhFrR8HBNp4df-DttFE8GldavMbMeirWJw3Qsbmk7zNudhTa2YuIbG3-dHoyn4B4w14TNUJZ2oKnIm_kXas/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qjjbzjR_M-FLp6XfWeF_g0QEngumjM0_Kp5X5N6M24lHHyjLZLNQ6N1_LhFrR8HBNp4df-DttFE8GldavMbMeirWJw3Qsbmk7zNudhTa2YuIbG3-dHoyn4B4w14TNUJZ2oKnIm_kXas/s320/DSC_0184.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Angels farmhand Luis Jimenez came in late in the game to play third base for the World team.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmXZamwMcqbSbIc31pQW1wB0bnGhM3Uq77t3-FEUWqTuZL7dWPGQBCqBZRtAbeWdkzSBH8GhGnvFinTl4k__zjtQFa0luVXJXFMqinfu_8SH52fC-ujOfeFiZjh17vrpvE2iJeVMFSgU/s1600/DSC_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmXZamwMcqbSbIc31pQW1wB0bnGhM3Uq77t3-FEUWqTuZL7dWPGQBCqBZRtAbeWdkzSBH8GhGnvFinTl4k__zjtQFa0luVXJXFMqinfu_8SH52fC-ujOfeFiZjh17vrpvE2iJeVMFSgU/s320/DSC_0186.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another Orange County product, Austin "Romeo" Romine from El Toro High. The people behind me went NUTS when this game came to bat. So nuts that I had to turn around and ask the guy, "So, high school boyfriend?" We had a pretty good laugh over that one. Turns out the guy had gone to school with Romeo, who came over and posed for pics with them after the game.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrd75m_NfZSSKju7tXS6T1oO6Itz_mxTyW6v0sQi6LVqm8hXOGTjgntfa2fraoELPrNVrOlGr39FKCWW3NKfASz6Q2okLQGw_KbM3svYq7XWPvMHRyYksduMQSKn_6vqem3LDvCjrLPE/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrd75m_NfZSSKju7tXS6T1oO6Itz_mxTyW6v0sQi6LVqm8hXOGTjgntfa2fraoELPrNVrOlGr39FKCWW3NKfASz6Q2okLQGw_KbM3svYq7XWPvMHRyYksduMQSKn_6vqem3LDvCjrLPE/s320/DSC_0195.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The U.S. won the game 9-1, and Hank Conger was named MVP. It was the start of a great day for Angels fans. Here's Hank being interviewed by Erin Andrews.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9GGu_N7eBUUsoSH5gkflF88L-bz6TJJ9zk_j51bPnaWbHQunPSZ55IMEmRDgBzSGhJJMgbs8DyYOwjGRtpHeaMl1K4QTzAd1vTWRSCrslCt6UxVfRXX6jZlfS5kaJaUYxRV1TBIIgUI/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9GGu_N7eBUUsoSH5gkflF88L-bz6TJJ9zk_j51bPnaWbHQunPSZ55IMEmRDgBzSGhJJMgbs8DyYOwjGRtpHeaMl1K4QTzAd1vTWRSCrslCt6UxVfRXX6jZlfS5kaJaUYxRV1TBIIgUI/s320/DSC_0201.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Coming soon: All-Star Sunday Part 2 - the Legends and Celebrities game.</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-48479082989074711152010-08-19T21:50:00.000-07:002010-08-19T21:50:28.014-07:001982 - Things keep rolling along.There will always be a soft spot in my heart for the 1982 Topps set. When I was a kid, I came from school one day to find that my parents had bought me the entire set from an ad in a magazine. Man, did I have a blast rooting through that set! For the first year ever, I had every single card. I still have this set, in the same shipping box, sitting in my garage. Thanks, Mom and Dad!<br />
<br />
While 1982 was a great year for my baseball card collection, it was an even better year for the Angels. After a three year wait (and keeping with the "if it ends in a 2, it's a good year" theory), the Halos won their second American League West division title.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoGot0ORmoCTJzEw5zZ9N9_PRQHG2MtusMO0qLF-y29GhyphenhyphenmQmGuys8tI3OarCAKwWPk_8Ti89yXntGIqnwp1RJIZdnlD_AcQFQmwwWHrhq-xct_0EpGXaiyTsO4LEZ5SuZcj97zJPrbg/s1600-h/1982-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoGot0ORmoCTJzEw5zZ9N9_PRQHG2MtusMO0qLF-y29GhyphenhyphenmQmGuys8tI3OarCAKwWPk_8Ti89yXntGIqnwp1RJIZdnlD_AcQFQmwwWHrhq-xct_0EpGXaiyTsO4LEZ5SuZcj97zJPrbg/s320/1982-01.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The '82 Halos boasted one of the strongest lineups the team has ever had, with Rod Carew (.319 BA), Bobby Grich, Doug DeCinces (30 HR, 97 RBI), Brian Downing (28 HR, 109R), Fred Lynn (.299 BA, 21 HR), Reggie Jackson (39 HR, 101 RBI) and Don Baylor (24 HR).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZQSnsMHZKUEFK8g5YV54EVCJ4-ofVeoi9MttdUBXhzcfd7omyM-diqmjffbLK8bWQPbTWQM0MVv6bYwx1XB3CR_sUXZ-JMBF5R26a8ZOSFgy1FVoqkuDKjC9VOyTDZ2KZUMO8RjuW5Y/s1600-h/1982-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZQSnsMHZKUEFK8g5YV54EVCJ4-ofVeoi9MttdUBXhzcfd7omyM-diqmjffbLK8bWQPbTWQM0MVv6bYwx1XB3CR_sUXZ-JMBF5R26a8ZOSFgy1FVoqkuDKjC9VOyTDZ2KZUMO8RjuW5Y/s320/1982-02.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pitching staff was strong as well, with Geoff Zahn going 18-8 and Ken Forsch going 13-11. The team went 93-69 for Manager Gene Mauch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cK9id4VAWQoXk4FDu0okUAfHknDQJfEkdCDUJHEQsWVCYcTpEosn9XTXpMPZYR_pQIz5q0QGgDandfisiZBiog07l8nK3u0_Q4kh36ejbr0giLmeU8bdcQMf8b43F27JiJC3bjrM1uk/s1600-h/1982-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cK9id4VAWQoXk4FDu0okUAfHknDQJfEkdCDUJHEQsWVCYcTpEosn9XTXpMPZYR_pQIz5q0QGgDandfisiZBiog07l8nK3u0_Q4kh36ejbr0giLmeU8bdcQMf8b43F27JiJC3bjrM1uk/s320/1982-03.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAbDAFthPiEyrXTjPy-XEhYxCREhcgUIzMCFlxP7s4csP5tpXT-0RSMpRyNQZfkCLLhAZHdv97sX_E2rv_XiwDyuI9u7bOknZun37H2WuSMGZMdaFdArIJe9KKVajBnOaEXaNyvvn_LI/s1600-h/1982-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAbDAFthPiEyrXTjPy-XEhYxCREhcgUIzMCFlxP7s4csP5tpXT-0RSMpRyNQZfkCLLhAZHdv97sX_E2rv_XiwDyuI9u7bOknZun37H2WuSMGZMdaFdArIJe9KKVajBnOaEXaNyvvn_LI/s320/1982-04.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Angels' season ended with a heartbreaking loss to the Milwaukee Brewers (back when they were where they belong, in the AL), in the American League Championship Series. While the Halos took the first two games in Anaheim, they lost the next three of the best-of-five series in Wisconsin. Even with the loss, Fred Lynn was named the MVP of the series.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XP4blD-yPvT8bLdjPeL0_KN8chy7Ffbb_zShCsa1_DbrMJfNAHDtml0F9AlTwXrus7L9lYWTMJ1Uc8Ir6n5o8p6By-w0S_9X-_22-xES7mPTFj_Bsx-jUVi-yCqNqhHZSxaBYtC4PZs/s1600-h/1982-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XP4blD-yPvT8bLdjPeL0_KN8chy7Ffbb_zShCsa1_DbrMJfNAHDtml0F9AlTwXrus7L9lYWTMJ1Uc8Ir6n5o8p6By-w0S_9X-_22-xES7mPTFj_Bsx-jUVi-yCqNqhHZSxaBYtC4PZs/s320/1982-05.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1982 Topps ANGELS</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">24 - Dave Frost</div><div style="text-align: center;">55 - Rick Burleson</div><div style="text-align: center;">58 - John D'Acquisto</div><div style="text-align: center;">74 - Bob Clark</div><div style="text-align: center;">94 - Andy Hassler</div><div style="text-align: center;">134 - Dan Ford</div><div style="text-align: center;">158 - Brian Downing</div><div style="text-align: center;">199 - Don Aase</div><div style="text-align: center;">229 - Geoff Zahn</div><div style="text-align: center;">251 - Fred Lynn</div><div style="text-align: center;">252 - Fred Lynn IA</div><div style="text-align: center;">257 - Larry Harlow</div><div style="text-align: center;">276 - Angels TL/Rod Carew</div><div style="text-align: center;">284 - Bob Grich</div><div style="text-align: center;">313 - John Harris</div><div style="text-align: center;">357 - Butch Hobson</div><div style="text-align: center;">385 - Ken Forsch</div><div style="text-align: center;">415 - Don Baylor</div><div style="text-align: center;">442 - Bruce Kison</div><div style="text-align: center;">469 - Ed Ott</div><div style="text-align: center;">500 - Rod Carew</div><div style="text-align: center;">501 - Rod Carew IA</div><div style="text-align: center;">514 - Joe Ferguson</div><div style="text-align: center;">547 - Rod Carew AS</div><div style="text-align: center;">572 - Juan Beniquez</div><div style="text-align: center;">602 - Freddie Patek</div><div style="text-align: center;">628 - Bill Travers</div><div style="text-align: center;">653 - Futures Stars - Brunansky, Sanchez, Sconiers</div><div style="text-align: center;">659 - Fred Martinez</div><div style="text-align: center;">682 - Jesse Jefferson</div><div style="text-align: center;">702 - Steve Renko</div><div style="text-align: center;">744 - Mike Witt</div><div style="text-align: center;">772 - Bert Campaneris</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1982 Topps TRADED</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">9T - Bob Boone</div><div style="text-align: center;">21T - Doug Corbett</div><div style="text-align: center;">26T - Doug DeCinces</div><div style="text-align: center;">34T - Tim Foli</div><div style="text-align: center;">47T - Reggie Jackson</div><div style="text-align: center;">48T - Ron Jackson</div><div style="text-align: center;">53T - Mick Kelleher<br />
128T - Rob Wilfong</div><div style="text-align: center;">regular cards: 41</div><div style="text-align: center;">inserts: 0</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-4293140538512723352010-03-05T16:22:00.000-08:002010-03-05T16:22:31.489-08:001972 - Things start to get interesting.1972 was an interesting year for the Angels. On December 10th of the previous year, the face of the franchise was traded to the Mets. Jim Fregosi, who was like a son to Mr. Autry, was sent packing in a deal that (at the time) had Halo Nation in an uproar.<br />
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It turned out to be the best trade the Angels have ever made.<br />
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Why? In addition to catcher Frank Estrada, pitcher Don Rose and outfielder Leroy Stanton, the Angels received a hard-throwing (but very wild) right-hander by the name of Nolan Ryan.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb16_aD7DeHRVXz8odt8-gu1NKIcyYp9VwrcwQ3YF9jljGmliuPz3iZTPfTZo-EEtO5iSYl-HH7Kl0085JqGukHUltg95JjM61zlKRJxCqcMTk72u7-M8O3dW99_PeYDxJc4fmKWiMci0/s1600-h/1972-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb16_aD7DeHRVXz8odt8-gu1NKIcyYp9VwrcwQ3YF9jljGmliuPz3iZTPfTZo-EEtO5iSYl-HH7Kl0085JqGukHUltg95JjM61zlKRJxCqcMTk72u7-M8O3dW99_PeYDxJc4fmKWiMci0/s320/1972-01.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ryan had won a World Series ring in New York in 1969, but after a horrible second half in 1971, the Mets decided they couldn't wait around to see if Ryan could turn things around. The Angels were more than happy to give him that chance, and boy did it pay off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive9GOlonzqQfCCyakj0b2THzN9Vt9eKMDmWM2di2pWYyqpcrd2wpKgZto_DKsYSawhf7qVkf-aCQP8Pgro078Z9jIX_OdqESzw_Y9PCKfp1HVCUVbr_nk6HWnJoWN1bzMhMtlbLAyUhI/s1600-h/1972-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive9GOlonzqQfCCyakj0b2THzN9Vt9eKMDmWM2di2pWYyqpcrd2wpKgZto_DKsYSawhf7qVkf-aCQP8Pgro078Z9jIX_OdqESzw_Y9PCKfp1HVCUVbr_nk6HWnJoWN1bzMhMtlbLAyUhI/s320/1972-02.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While the team went 75-80 for manager Del Rice, Ryan would account for 25% of those wins, going 19-16 with a 2.28 ERA and a ridiculous 329 strikeouts (although he still walked 157 batters). Together with Clyde Wright's 18-11, 2.98 record, things were starting to look up for the Angels' pitching staff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbmKRTJj0t5INn5G154ahizVllrMiKD86En68qt-sYOPR4OvEOJPSZQuLHLOr7ApTFrsYSu7MmO7NHwGzQmtaXM7JRUr8PVAu_W1fiO620bqXDFqBd3CtjuMaU-YMOBpdj-HOFcixn44/s1600-h/1972-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbmKRTJj0t5INn5G154ahizVllrMiKD86En68qt-sYOPR4OvEOJPSZQuLHLOr7ApTFrsYSu7MmO7NHwGzQmtaXM7JRUr8PVAu_W1fiO620bqXDFqBd3CtjuMaU-YMOBpdj-HOFcixn44/s320/1972-03.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The offense didn't fare quite as well, with Bob (father of recent Angel Darren) Oliver's 19 home runs and 70 RBI, and Ken Berry's .289 batting average. Sandy Alomar stole 20 bags, and Vada Pinson swiped 17.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYq5iAJi1cTwL6zW78ouJpLq2I5S3wDb3TYLYGC0194rOxXynlcZXF3EN9mEE8bDrwVlhSVRJQs5SZbHAbsoypd25VYaY-3no3FrXGabC-16_r0gon20rg0q-zap4v_BKO6FgGDbkvL8/s1600-h/1972-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYq5iAJi1cTwL6zW78ouJpLq2I5S3wDb3TYLYGC0194rOxXynlcZXF3EN9mEE8bDrwVlhSVRJQs5SZbHAbsoypd25VYaY-3no3FrXGabC-16_r0gon20rg0q-zap4v_BKO6FgGDbkvL8/s320/1972-04.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 1972 card design draws a mixed reaction from fans. I like the movie marquee-like team names at the top, but some of the color combinations Topps used with the other teams are a bit of an eyesore. Most of the pictures (the ones that don't have the horrible airbrushing when the player's photo was taken when he was on another team) are from 1971, which was the only season that the Angels used the lower-case 'a' on the hats and jerseys. It's interesting to see that in the earlier cards in the set, there is no halo over the 'a' on the jerseys, but it's there in the later cards, where the pictures were taken months later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzropXa85r5g-84fs6Xmjm2TqTiWNgpun6hBQ6qB0k5aJjZKO-b9morfgnqumpgerN5V_qq7HWe3uDRyOVLRQR6h6AOgVLXH7C6svERRNj08y0NNPEUuRGG6qehy76lUip16w_De9_eo/s1600-h/1972-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzropXa85r5g-84fs6Xmjm2TqTiWNgpun6hBQ6qB0k5aJjZKO-b9morfgnqumpgerN5V_qq7HWe3uDRyOVLRQR6h6AOgVLXH7C6svERRNj08y0NNPEUuRGG6qehy76lUip16w_De9_eo/s320/1972-05.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>1972 Topps Angels Checklist</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">19 - Billy Cowan</div><div style="text-align: center;">55 - Clyde Wright</div><div style="text-align: center;">71 - Angels Team</div><div style="text-align: center;">102 - Lloyd Allen</div><div style="text-align: center;">115 - Jim Fregosi</div><div style="text-align: center;">135 - Vada Pinson</div><div style="text-align: center;">160 - Andy Messersmith</div><div style="text-align: center;">196 - Mel Queen</div><div style="text-align: center;">213 - Kusnyr/Parkr/Silvrio</div><div style="text-align: center;">253 - Sandy Alomar</div><div style="text-align: center;">272 - Mickey Rivers</div><div style="text-align: center;">289 - Syd O'Brien</div><div style="text-align: center;">354 - Tom Murphy</div><div style="text-align: center;">379 - Ken Berry</div><div style="text-align: center;">404 - Jeff Torborg</div><div style="text-align: center;">419 - Jim Spencer </div><div style="text-align: center;">462 - Rickey Clark </div><div style="text-align: center;">521 - Alan Foster </div><div style="text-align: center;">541 - Roger Repoz </div><div style="text-align: center;">561 - Leo Cardenas </div><div style="text-align: center;">562 - Leo Cardenas - In Action </div><div style="text-align: center;">595 - Nolan Ryan </div><div style="text-align: center;">629 - Paul Doyle </div><div style="text-align: center;">656 - Rudy May </div><div style="text-align: center;">672 - Archie Reynolds </div><div style="text-align: center;">689 - Eddie Fisher </div><div style="text-align: center;">718 - Del Rice </div><div style="text-align: center;">765 - Ken McMullen </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Topps Posters Inserts</u></div><div style="text-align: center;">18 Andy Messersmith Topps Posters</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">regular cards: 28</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">inserts: 1</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-46322569806587365402010-01-05T10:59:00.000-08:002010-01-05T10:59:52.142-08:00Rory Markas - 1955-2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Very sad news today. Rory Markas, the Angels' primary radio broadcaster since the magical year of 2002 <a href="http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2010/01/05/angels-announcer-markas-passes-away/43185/">passed away last night</a>. I didn't start listening to the Angels on the radio until 2002, so he's really the only lead broadcaster I've ever known for the team (and the Angels have had some greats). I really appreciated the job he did, as he called a great game and his voice was always filled with excitement. Although I was watching TV when we won the Series in '02, the win didn't seem real until I tuned in to the radio on the way home and heard the replay of Rory saying, "Just another Halo victory!" I even have a bottle opener that plays his final call of the Series:<br />
</div><br />
<em>"Here's the pitch to Lofton...</em><br />
<br />
<em> fly ball, center field...</em><br />
<br />
<em> Erstad says he's got it...</em><br />
<br />
<em> Erstad...</em><br />
<br />
MAKES THE CATCH!<br />
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<div align="center">THE ANAHEIM ANGELS... ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL!!!"<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">Rory, you will be missed.<br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSjXa0XiodIbVB1Afx38mg3chSCw1lnP7v9wMpNqVONkw1xbY88gtBm8S54ODCe0c_tQGqAa59ZVGAsFdgDDqYjtVpKkAz4C8M8oR3-g2PR5mVJGavji8wgFKTDQ84OQpPpCRa4GaC_8/s1600-h/RoryMarkas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSjXa0XiodIbVB1Afx38mg3chSCw1lnP7v9wMpNqVONkw1xbY88gtBm8S54ODCe0c_tQGqAa59ZVGAsFdgDDqYjtVpKkAz4C8M8oR3-g2PR5mVJGavji8wgFKTDQ84OQpPpCRa4GaC_8/s320/RoryMarkas.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">File photo from ocregister.com.</span><br />
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</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-52060423704612745832010-01-05T10:26:00.000-08:002010-01-05T11:03:53.494-08:00Happy Holidays!I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Wintereenmas/Ramadan/New Year's. Here's looking forward to a great season.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVtc-uj8TtAoczt6ApBf60bkjcXR1VjD6UgdOMYMqNggWyv7ujn7SxY6-PFMAXRAY4KynYo5fxualcAZZGQ4xubB_wBC5hWQy0B2gGAS2hEb6Mr9e0XuPLr-P-4CvK5s-qOg6Na-kvIo/s1600-h/DSCN0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVtc-uj8TtAoczt6ApBf60bkjcXR1VjD6UgdOMYMqNggWyv7ujn7SxY6-PFMAXRAY4KynYo5fxualcAZZGQ4xubB_wBC5hWQy0B2gGAS2hEb6Mr9e0XuPLr-P-4CvK5s-qOg6Na-kvIo/s320/DSCN0694.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-60384207956657714002009-10-22T00:50:00.000-07:002009-10-29T11:00:06.447-07:001962 - YES WE CAN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Long before Barack Obama's camp adopted the phrase, Angels fans in 1962 were chanting "YES WE CAN!" in hopes of a championship season. Why in the world would a team in just its second season have postseason dreams, especially before the advent of divisional play? To start with, most of these guys looked pretty happy going into the season wearing a halo on their heads:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6LlJ10S3HCm2I3SkAhWaL_c7rWnFTg-CnCtxsVo0gcWOvNbHQPGX7wMD0X-ObB_M3YvBALXYzJQgPjhOIwJm_-i5sxir9aSqJYZbqhTd4ul7V3d1YioijlIyYTiEMDgxnziUabqBooY/s1600-h/1962-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6LlJ10S3HCm2I3SkAhWaL_c7rWnFTg-CnCtxsVo0gcWOvNbHQPGX7wMD0X-ObB_M3YvBALXYzJQgPjhOIwJm_-i5sxir9aSqJYZbqhTd4ul7V3d1YioijlIyYTiEMDgxnziUabqBooY/s320/1962-01.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The '62 Angels did the impossible - they actually led the American League late in the season. In fact, "First on the Fourth" was a cry at one point when the Halos were in first place on the 4th of July. Ultimately they fell to third place, ten games behind some team from New York, but at 86-76, it was an amazing finish for such a new team.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI_zn9wwyq_vOVOqIB_8D7yTOnwbp9r7Mo_tla1hV2Bx9grzirYmoHPlSOnqz_FYBWgKlbLJgFtF4Ife0fFTOk6xgAbn5dvlnMHMj3hSBC7nrfxzwN23ESFERULa_RO3R8bktYLMY0iU/s1600-h/1962-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTI_zn9wwyq_vOVOqIB_8D7yTOnwbp9r7Mo_tla1hV2Bx9grzirYmoHPlSOnqz_FYBWgKlbLJgFtF4Ife0fFTOk6xgAbn5dvlnMHMj3hSBC7nrfxzwN23ESFERULa_RO3R8bktYLMY0iU/s320/1962-02.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While this set is well-loved by collectors because of the wood-grain finish, in terms of quality control 1962 turned out to be one of the worst years for Topps cards ever. Due do a serious production error, an entire run of cards ended up with a greenish tint, and there were many other variations - many including Angels. As you can see in the first image, there was a variation on the team card, with two insert pictures being added in later runs. And the Eddie Yost card was printed with a head shot in one version, and a batting pose in another.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HPcdJe9Aixs1p-F8LJ60NElzk1J2NxLxbMJU5yk22saZZ3TjX0sWcgBYM_1H8377rp5spNNYr1KE3n4i_il6Mwq5HuSCvDsLW9a5nocznFqEaV6L_ecP0q5s6_0u6W7tOMslEfV75rQ/s1600-h/1962-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HPcdJe9Aixs1p-F8LJ60NElzk1J2NxLxbMJU5yk22saZZ3TjX0sWcgBYM_1H8377rp5spNNYr1KE3n4i_il6Mwq5HuSCvDsLW9a5nocznFqEaV6L_ecP0q5s6_0u6W7tOMslEfV75rQ/s320/1962-03.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leon "Daddy Wags" Wagner was the major force on offense that year, with 37 homers and 107 RBI. He ended up winning the Angels' first All-Star MVP award that year and placed 4th in the MVP ballot. Lee Thomas led the Halos with a .290 batting average. On the pitching side, Dean Chance led the team with 14 wins and a 2.96 ERA among the regulars, while Bo Belinsky checked in with 145 strikeouts. Belinsky pitched the franchise's first no-hitter on May 5th (against the Orioles), and became an instant sensation in SoCal.<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BX0GLl6XD4L5draxXzjHrhQpe2jeLHHuq9b2wyCClMZUvE-eK2Q0gsqnjHM3mD2jzXP6177O-0AD8CzrkSEm32m0iy0vIXmTSPzPHgVly1PIAMT6doe9LZIbvG949phIaDStW-BFH34/s1600-h/1962-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BX0GLl6XD4L5draxXzjHrhQpe2jeLHHuq9b2wyCClMZUvE-eK2Q0gsqnjHM3mD2jzXP6177O-0AD8CzrkSEm32m0iy0vIXmTSPzPHgVly1PIAMT6doe9LZIbvG949phIaDStW-BFH34/s320/1962-04.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Belinsky's rookie card, #592) was the hardest pre-1972 card for me to get. Unfortunately this wasn't just because it was Bo's rookie card, but because it was also Jim Bouton's rookie card. Bouton wrote the first real tell-all book about baseball, "Ball Four," and his cards have been more in demand ever since.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The inserts this year were lickable stamps, set two to a panel. While most of what I've acquired are single panels, I'm pretty happy about the double-panels I've found. Having the old-school Angels logo paired with a Houston Colts emblem is really cool.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiKdl0eIdk9RRJXXc3BOmcvJcqZLGq7rXj62zJ0OZofogwlITNPiYAjT1Jr9y_zGdEZm2vti-sIdIFetA3bezdGWHt72_dOTlPP3PbFR0FOH4JEunhmcd0KzSoRmCAVmqNwwvEwYFnG0/s1600-h/1962-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiKdl0eIdk9RRJXXc3BOmcvJcqZLGq7rXj62zJ0OZofogwlITNPiYAjT1Jr9y_zGdEZm2vti-sIdIFetA3bezdGWHt72_dOTlPP3PbFR0FOH4JEunhmcd0KzSoRmCAVmqNwwvEwYFnG0/s320/1962-05.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1962 was such an amazing year for the Angels, that (so far) it ranks as my second favorite season ever. In addition to the 1962 Topps Bucks, I even had to pick up a couple non-regular-Topps cards because I love this team so much. The first is a 1999 Fleer Greats of the Game autograph card of Bo Belinsky, which I obtained after he passed away. Bo was such a huge character on the early Angels teams, largely because he had relationships with many of the hottest starlets of the day.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vIC40aR7pmGaVM7_x8uDIkKwU187ZKQilu_7yEJ1PGGehraezLuHz8MxU1OKJTWB-9ptTqm9AfW3CDzjjUl-Tx-2sMh4ngMZnLnf815-o8ILcs1f_TWL1j8c8aDeZA2Y0ZMm3Jqd4WA/s1600-h/1962-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vIC40aR7pmGaVM7_x8uDIkKwU187ZKQilu_7yEJ1PGGehraezLuHz8MxU1OKJTWB-9ptTqm9AfW3CDzjjUl-Tx-2sMh4ngMZnLnf815-o8ILcs1f_TWL1j8c8aDeZA2Y0ZMm3Jqd4WA/s320/1962-06.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also had to get the Topps Archives Dean Chance auto card, as it just wouldn't be 1962 if Belinsky was there without Chance.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>1962 Topps Angels Checklist</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">11 - Tom Morgan <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">39 - Joe Koppe <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">68 - Ken L. Hunt <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">96 - Eli Grba <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">128A - Art Fowler green tint<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">128B - Art Fowler <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">132A - Angels Team <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">132B - Angels Team w/photo inserts<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">154A - Lee Thomas green tint<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">154B - Lee Thomas <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">176A - Eddie Yost - portrait <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">176B - Eddie Yost - batting <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">194A - Dean Chance green tint<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">194B - Dean Chance <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">209 - Jim Fregosi <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">257 - Jack Spring<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">268 - Ken McBride<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">287 - George Witt<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">343 - Albie Pearson<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">369 - Ted Bowsfield<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">388 - Ryne Duren<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">422 - Steve Bilko<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">431 - Bob Rodgers<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">452 - Earl Averill<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">491 - Leon Wagner<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">498 - Jim Donohue<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">525 - George Thomas<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">539 - Billy Moran<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">549 - Bill Rigney SP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">569 - Ed Sadowski SP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">592 - RC Parade Pitchers (Belinsky, Bonikowski, Bouton, Pfister, Stenhouse) SP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">595 - RC Parade Infielders (Sadowski, Charles, Coughtry, Torres) SP <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Topps Stamps Inserts</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI62 - Los Angeles Emblem<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI63 Steve Bilko <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI64 Ted Bowsfield <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI65 Ken Hunt <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI66 Ken McBride <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI67 Albie Pearson <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI68 Bob Rodgers <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI69 George Thomas <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI70 Lee Thomas <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TSI71 Leon Wagner <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>1962 Topps Bucks</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TB40 Ken Hunt<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TB58 Ken McBride <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TB88 Lee Thomas <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TB90 Leon Wagner <br />
<br />
<u>Extras</u><br />
1999 Fleer Bo Belinsky Sports Illustrated Greats of the Game Autograph<br />
2002 Topps Archives Dean Chance Autograph<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">regular cards: 28 + 4<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">inserts: 14<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-83114506395682861872009-10-19T21:21:00.000-07:002009-10-19T21:25:25.996-07:00ALCS Game 3So I got doubly lucky this year, and was able to score tickets to our first home game of the American League Championship Series. Not wanting to mess with the formula that worked for game one of the AL Division Series, Jamie and I took our friends Clark and Michelle. The Angels were already down in the series two games to none to the hated Yankmes from New Yawk, and I have to admit that I wasn't feeling confident coming in to this game.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeA2lRkYlIC1jy-A41sb9DLZha8N5PeKhhsClf6LRmx4Zk9dsDXL9es92xKNOoGnPNjr6oL7R0ApkzQRvdBYkiz7GFoRKNj45H0BbnZLKDoEXLtgm2Fo0nrjY5qfPdRdhzjjQFMj3xYg/s1600-h/DSC_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeA2lRkYlIC1jy-A41sb9DLZha8N5PeKhhsClf6LRmx4Zk9dsDXL9es92xKNOoGnPNjr6oL7R0ApkzQRvdBYkiz7GFoRKNj45H0BbnZLKDoEXLtgm2Fo0nrjY5qfPdRdhzjjQFMj3xYg/s320/DSC_0090.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unlike the ALDS, we actually had a flyover for this game. This C-130 cargo jet circled so low over the stadium that Michelle thought that terrorists were attacking.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowQuWoO55ZqNsLIpnSaEXbJdxMoh9UTwNvOd3Q-ac51SFg0ZeQgiUE-u7x5UJfdVf3x4CakVOcV7HbMpko4luho4GlNE-mSZqcvqUJw689QYK8iB4vigKfC2j8dfgkC9meQt84quetzM/s1600-h/DSC_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowQuWoO55ZqNsLIpnSaEXbJdxMoh9UTwNvOd3Q-ac51SFg0ZeQgiUE-u7x5UJfdVf3x4CakVOcV7HbMpko4luho4GlNE-mSZqcvqUJw689QYK8iB4vigKfC2j8dfgkC9meQt84quetzM/s320/DSC_0100.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Angels had the right side of the '80s infield there for the first pitch - Rod Carew tossed the ball to Bobby Grich.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGcGx57qMeKfZrjdlsyiinDZZgoxnThp41mpWwcdvyMRSQNfRGmQpJgForlQuc1G7hs4u88nD4-Ngwq6luuzW_AmUB1uO50dn_B17IcQwFvYlJQCjy9cFWQPmBCbfUtUoB-QoqhaF1sE/s1600-h/DSC_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGcGx57qMeKfZrjdlsyiinDZZgoxnThp41mpWwcdvyMRSQNfRGmQpJgForlQuc1G7hs4u88nD4-Ngwq6luuzW_AmUB1uO50dn_B17IcQwFvYlJQCjy9cFWQPmBCbfUtUoB-QoqhaF1sE/s320/DSC_0101.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Big A is still under renovation for the All-Star Game next year. It is so very weird to look out there and see a big hole instead of a cola ad. Unfortunately the Big Halo did not get lit after our win in game 1 of the ALDS. I always like to take a picture of a lit Halo after an Angels victory.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwM2pVDXHZRp_y4Zay1DPHCGNquT2WdiDoKapLqs4Lga09qhy8zOBMENW2Qrh51r9Le9UYjHEO9wfmuRbfG4rd4kyS2KOsxbsuaPXn4GZXPkjS2fL5zGgE63Bb2f_MoqYyqVkp6xUF2A/s1600-h/DSC_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwM2pVDXHZRp_y4Zay1DPHCGNquT2WdiDoKapLqs4Lga09qhy8zOBMENW2Qrh51r9Le9UYjHEO9wfmuRbfG4rd4kyS2KOsxbsuaPXn4GZXPkjS2fL5zGgE63Bb2f_MoqYyqVkp6xUF2A/s320/DSC_0102.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Always nice to see that fans still remember and love Mr. Autry!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwx_tkTZI7jkXZy3OURkKzEXVlAl5Ru9lXjJgX6-4a2Z0bOTv15zds3iBN1ym1rMHHGbH5cBKdOe97CQbUcLRnLIrP_SaelKng_LKiHilusnJ6a9mj0oMTueesuGqlqEqF8Re1Ob7JxM/s1600-h/DSC_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwx_tkTZI7jkXZy3OURkKzEXVlAl5Ru9lXjJgX6-4a2Z0bOTv15zds3iBN1ym1rMHHGbH5cBKdOe97CQbUcLRnLIrP_SaelKng_LKiHilusnJ6a9mj0oMTueesuGqlqEqF8Re1Ob7JxM/s320/DSC_0112.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All right, first pitch, and Jered Weaver throws... a ball. Meh.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBtdAyRe_8gZZmNcEom6-aTXNSeweh_Rqq82FZFeQ19abOecy3Nm6vB6zyXIYRs-czVmZW5hmG0VMGFmHoi9yecjo3utTwrCdUSidIa64M2vQBSMLUTGvjhpyZofn-2shsaHEnpAJnsY/s1600-h/DSC_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBtdAyRe_8gZZmNcEom6-aTXNSeweh_Rqq82FZFeQ19abOecy3Nm6vB6zyXIYRs-czVmZW5hmG0VMGFmHoi9yecjo3utTwrCdUSidIa64M2vQBSMLUTGvjhpyZofn-2shsaHEnpAJnsY/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Weaver gave up three runs in five innings, and left with the Angels in a 3-0 hole. Soon after, Howie Kendrick hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth, and Vladdy said "Yes we can!" with a two-run blast in the sixth. The game was tied at the seventh inning stretch when they introduced the crew of the C-130.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwErBUmbN4dizStJfchGfj_0hMH5eU6Fcd-LsJO9_62WPlnss46APgDa6zvOLAsS-Dd5je1_CESE2yKRMXwFqfaomCmS423hZyDHIyTJjw7IZdyNEVu3f0zlST4W_nXQ0u1GI6EWafW94/s1600-h/DSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwErBUmbN4dizStJfchGfj_0hMH5eU6Fcd-LsJO9_62WPlnss46APgDa6zvOLAsS-Dd5je1_CESE2yKRMXwFqfaomCmS423hZyDHIyTJjw7IZdyNEVu3f0zlST4W_nXQ0u1GI6EWafW94/s320/DSC_0119.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really don't have enough pics of the numbers that the Angels have retired.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgJCYsleDW7sHJboQBe0lRk2f-LwunLzvhGP9OevfLvgobPv8PbFE0SpUTOKblidcV4BzNEvp9juEuZRP0QAJDRMN3CfCTj6eF1PcDM0VGov54vmB3rhDW1V6CJNGha-5SK-06HKWPXY/s1600-h/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgJCYsleDW7sHJboQBe0lRk2f-LwunLzvhGP9OevfLvgobPv8PbFE0SpUTOKblidcV4BzNEvp9juEuZRP0QAJDRMN3CfCTj6eF1PcDM0VGov54vmB3rhDW1V6CJNGha-5SK-06HKWPXY/s320/DSC_0122.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once again, I was so busy watching the game (and our seats were in the nosebleeds) that I didn't get any pics of the action. Oddly enough, I was really tempted to pull out the camera right before Vladdy's two-run shot. We ended up going ahead in the 7th (BRILLIANT move by Mike Scioscia to pinch hit Maicer Izturis for Mike Napoli - Mighty Maicer seems like he's always clutch), but the Yankees tied it in the 8th. I blame this partly on the video crew showing a second Rally Monkey video after we had already taken the lead. Isn't that against the rules?<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd like to take a moment to point out how much respect the Yankees have for Angels fans. Every time the Angels got any sort of momentum going on offense (i.e. anyone on base at all), they did everything they could to slow the game down. I cannot remember the last time I saw a pitcher throw to first four times in a row so early in the game, so thank you for that, Andy Pettitte. Joe Girardi also got in on the fun, having inserted Mo Rivera into the batting order at one point, and stopping the game to confirm with the umpire that that's what he was doing. All these delays did a good job of getting us fans to sit back down (especially when beer sales stopped an inning earlier than usual) but it didn't knock us out of the game. As usual, Angels fans were up to the occasion, and went nuts when--<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--after three more scoreless innings, the Angels finally came through in the bottom of the eleventh when Jeff Mathis knocked in Howie Kendrick to make it a 2-1 series. The folks in the condos across the parking lot were pretty happy about it.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztJfKoCV8bpcdL9Cg1m-80_E1zjvYxaWDi30j3Y6rZEvTw_uEXfUvoZh3agmI_PX4TDoUAhUq449j09G561PtJXhEEx39vwfBj9D77td4O0vgt7bPAoyvqeL2ZObZFzTMHTAUKXPzR6o/s1600-h/DSC_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztJfKoCV8bpcdL9Cg1m-80_E1zjvYxaWDi30j3Y6rZEvTw_uEXfUvoZh3agmI_PX4TDoUAhUq449j09G561PtJXhEEx39vwfBj9D77td4O0vgt7bPAoyvqeL2ZObZFzTMHTAUKXPzR6o/s320/DSC_0131.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Taking a cue from the <a href="http://fromthedugout.freedomblogging.com/2009/10/09/afternoon-angel-confession-to-make/37929/#more-37929">Afternoon Angel</a>, I made sure to congratulate a couple of Yankees fans on a great game before heading out. After all, no matter who wins, an eleven inning game won by one run is always a good beisbol game. It made me happy that the first two guys I said "good game" to shook my hand and took my well wishes as they were intended. They both looked to be in their twenties. I find it very interesting that the two older gentlemen that I said "good game" to looked at me like I had just spat on Babe Ruth's grave.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mr. Autry was all smiles as we made our way back to the parking lot.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlGCBYkDxQxgXlwzN3C-Fgq67jQsuxN9Huxi-jA3s_Z-eBZaA0yqd_ejbrXRLp-8P6Lln751YGz1fKnRpSAO3Uj7LOBdbD5MU1szT4KJ_pMjofIXpsQjBRajfB8Vu6RdUcWANcO8rTmU/s1600-h/DSC_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlGCBYkDxQxgXlwzN3C-Fgq67jQsuxN9Huxi-jA3s_Z-eBZaA0yqd_ejbrXRLp-8P6Lln751YGz1fKnRpSAO3Uj7LOBdbD5MU1szT4KJ_pMjofIXpsQjBRajfB8Vu6RdUcWANcO8rTmU/s320/DSC_0133.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One great bonus was realizing that part of the renovation on the Big A is complete; they lit up the Halo! Now instead of a single row of white light, we have a bunch of rows that can go multiple colors.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwLaw21l5ffL4WUjO6HIfUKy7WV1Bbgllf7cUWIBVQkkMErKU036EnjhQZbm6xfoNXiaJXFGIxv_pK8X6N7KB8Kgjd-ZxxRP9dNiOQC9XiUfwc7HbfqlpaS_1iyqZ9smemRbNZnEKmXQ/s1600-h/DSC_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwLaw21l5ffL4WUjO6HIfUKy7WV1Bbgllf7cUWIBVQkkMErKU036EnjhQZbm6xfoNXiaJXFGIxv_pK8X6N7KB8Kgjd-ZxxRP9dNiOQC9XiUfwc7HbfqlpaS_1iyqZ9smemRbNZnEKmXQ/s320/DSC_0136.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After thirteen innings Saturday night, and eleven today, I am WIPED. Rest up, Angels fans. The Halos are going to need every cheer we can muster to even this up.<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-36887700573416319762009-10-15T22:06:00.000-07:002009-10-15T22:06:15.220-07:00Look what I got! - Part Two in a SeriesAnd now for something different:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0FFHWUgiECmcvGwiEQjxQL2rghVeSF8iVrjgx-sOx4ZKXbh6hM0c1pHJBcuRn_wwiKm28Bozi1_9oGN_2SuuNaxwjISSVGWB8qlkkn_TdutAUzlD9iAqucos_5Cth_2cY4Uc1Fg6kt0/s1600-h/Pettis+File+Card+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0FFHWUgiECmcvGwiEQjxQL2rghVeSF8iVrjgx-sOx4ZKXbh6hM0c1pHJBcuRn_wwiKm28Bozi1_9oGN_2SuuNaxwjISSVGWB8qlkkn_TdutAUzlD9iAqucos_5Cth_2cY4Uc1Fg6kt0/s320/Pettis+File+Card+1.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g7IuFd5uhswrX0NYDjFTNCmMh1v_tvxdOAlAcgoUbEtdIYtHTghD3EK7pHKtUEwijFYZ1v_ZS6SYRrZpCzrFiDuOlFQYILt_lSq8fmVjk4YIuznmLvX6Pajo1yrfF5hduXfPBVRfwFY/s1600-h/Pettis+File+Card+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1g7IuFd5uhswrX0NYDjFTNCmMh1v_tvxdOAlAcgoUbEtdIYtHTghD3EK7pHKtUEwijFYZ1v_ZS6SYRrZpCzrFiDuOlFQYILt_lSq8fmVjk4YIuznmLvX6Pajo1yrfF5hduXfPBVRfwFY/s320/Pettis+File+Card+2.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
This, my friends, is the Topps File Card for one Gary George Pettis. Topps has always done business with individual players, instead of signing a blanket deal with the MLBPA. Back before the internet (and evidently before Topps bought computers?), Topps kept their records on File Cards like this one so they could keep track of who they had signed, what they paid them (usually cash, but sometimes stuff like stereo systems) and what number their card ended up being. Considering that I'm keeping a running history of Topps Angels cards here, I'm really happy to have finally added one of these to the collection. The first image is of the whole card, and the second is of the attachment that's stapled onto the front.<br />
<br />
Gary played for the Angels from 1982 through 1987, winning Gold Gloves in 1985 and 1986 (and three more with the Tigers (2) and Rangers). His best season with the Halos came in 1986, when he hit .258 with 5 homers, 58 RBI, 93 runs scored and 50 stolen bases. He held the Angels' steals record until Chone Figgins broke it in 2007. He's currently the first base coach for the Texas Rangers (he still gets cheers when Tejas comes to town), and his #20 jersey can be seen being placed into his locker during the pregame video every night at the Big A.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-27599340718505284102009-10-13T11:27:00.000-07:002009-10-13T21:58:06.570-07:00Now where did I put my broom?So I'm standing there watching the game in the 7th, and the wife's Uncle turns to me and says, "Oh well, I guess we can clinch it in tomorrow's game."<br />
<br />
I looked at him and calmly said, "Game's not over yet."<br />
<br />
I had no doubt in my mind that the Angels could come back from a 5-1 deficit on Sunday to beat the hated Red Sox and sweep them out of the playoffs. Soon after, we made it 5-2. Then Billy Wagner let two men on in the eighth, and they brought in Papelbon.<br />
<br />
I smiled.<br />
<br />
It seems like every time Tito Francona sends in Papelbon against us and there are men on base, we end up scoring. True, we usually only score enough runs against the kid to lose by 1, but we seem to reach him regularly. And I had a feeling this time would be different.<br />
<br />
Top of the eighth. Two on, two out. Juan Rivera gets his first-ever hit off of Papelbon, and suddenly it's a 1 run game. Bottom of the eight, it becomes 6-4 Red Sox. Okay, that's just one extra run we need.<br />
<br />
Top of the ninth. Casey Kotchman in at first for the Red Sox (never thought I'd ever type that). Papelbon gets two quick outs. I'm so focused on what the Angels are doing, I don't even realize we're one out from playing another game in Boston.<br />
<br />
Then Aybar singles. They let him take second.<br />
<br />
Figgins walks. I start to smile.<br />
<br />
CLANG! - Abreu doubles off the wall. 6-5 Red Sox. Men on 2nd and 3rd.<br />
<br />
And then, AND THEN, they intentionally walk Torii to get to Vladdy. My confident smile becomes a huge grin. Do these Sox not remember what happened the last time Vladdy came to bat in a do-or-die moment in this stadium with bases loaded? I sure do. And sure enough--<br />
<br />
--CRACK! - Vladdy singles to knock in two runs, and the Angels take their first lead of the game. Fuentes comes in and locks down the win.<br />
<br />
7-6 Angels.<br />
<br />
I hope Donnie Moore can finally rest in peace after this one.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-82383243414518604052009-10-10T19:12:00.000-07:002009-10-13T21:34:47.629-07:002001 - Not Quite an OdysseyOnce again, a year ends in a 1, and the Angels didn't have a great year. (I'd start to think that putting up the cards by alternating decades wasn't such a great idea; luckily years that end in 2 have been much nicer to the Halos.) They went 75-87 and finished in third place, largely due to a ton of injuries and a Seattle Mariners team that won a Major League record 116 games. But in spite of all this, the Angels drew over 2 million fans to the ballpark (then named Edison Field of Anaheim; man, I want to smack myself for calling it the Big Ed a couple of times).<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAV8L6ZNT2b8GENwxtzalLbhKy_ftIlh011M5_N9xfZIWXpnfU1fUyQG1hG1qzJ1QFhMPrVQJAozWyU-MMOZO4R3eV0pyXLtsTWIVymu3UC6Efr76OyFGxMG7tmPN58CInF6nSbwIDYE/s1600-h/2001-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAV8L6ZNT2b8GENwxtzalLbhKy_ftIlh011M5_N9xfZIWXpnfU1fUyQG1hG1qzJ1QFhMPrVQJAozWyU-MMOZO4R3eV0pyXLtsTWIVymu3UC6Efr76OyFGxMG7tmPN58CInF6nSbwIDYE/s400/2001-01.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of the cards here are Topps' "Home Team Advantage" variants, with an extra gold stamp. I believe these were exclusive to hobby shops that year. That's Bengie Molina's first card as an Angel at the bottom right, and he signed it for me at the Angels Fan Fest in 2004, as did Ramon Ortiz. Jeff Mathis signed his card for me during Spring Training in 2008.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpE9aBhyphenhyphenKuzMiUSuTI2Eqq94Nt1sIKYREepNieaCqux2axlPYMH8tF4Q6Awm2LCVE1oKzwFn5CfWdNS1hSWhXycw2szeUuPPxyRPAGenuibvMgC8gUBaBiImij8NGjFtUugcgkRmiXd4/s1600-h/2001-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpE9aBhyphenhyphenKuzMiUSuTI2Eqq94Nt1sIKYREepNieaCqux2axlPYMH8tF4Q6Awm2LCVE1oKzwFn5CfWdNS1hSWhXycw2szeUuPPxyRPAGenuibvMgC8gUBaBiImij8NGjFtUugcgkRmiXd4/s400/2001-02.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Man, 2001 was a great year for first-year Angels cards. In addition to the Bengie, Ortiz and Mathis cards, Scott Spiezio and Mike Scioscia got their first regular Angels cards, and there were certifed auto cards of Scioscia and John Lackey (rookie auto!).<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpu0PnvlUE__PMWy2Cg1njDIKjeC9ZUBqkJMnOJv2NxHMf3kmwHfvc4kM5e6v1RUH4M5iP82YoTOS5ZPAC0KT7IDexVDnychdg7hXylTSNDqaqrOMGV4PgoTFAel6P1OKpCoBVM2fg7c/s1600-h/2001-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpu0PnvlUE__PMWy2Cg1njDIKjeC9ZUBqkJMnOJv2NxHMf3kmwHfvc4kM5e6v1RUH4M5iP82YoTOS5ZPAC0KT7IDexVDnychdg7hXylTSNDqaqrOMGV4PgoTFAel6P1OKpCoBVM2fg7c/s400/2001-03.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">2001 was a great looking set, with the green borders being oddly evocative of the outfield wall at the Big A.<br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZfOd3VSIdzf3yA3Lt3x2TBXmWadtL1TyuBLRHvlnjCx8_W3vTwLQ2iBg0F2SRG2utOe0MBzSUiS2ITrnIrpuIX0NdKNGtnW_qS6sQI4DkbRzSIqPH8QqpcZE9d_W5cwoszHo-ke0UWM/s1600-h/2001-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZfOd3VSIdzf3yA3Lt3x2TBXmWadtL1TyuBLRHvlnjCx8_W3vTwLQ2iBg0F2SRG2utOe0MBzSUiS2ITrnIrpuIX0NdKNGtnW_qS6sQI4DkbRzSIqPH8QqpcZE9d_W5cwoszHo-ke0UWM/s400/2001-04.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">2001 was also the 50th year of Topps baseball cards. As such, the set included a bunch of reprints, including the oft-reprinted 1980 Nolan Ryan.<br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ24jwVwXIMe0oJpYZXN1zEjSUoZ0WttUoE5WsTM_-mmg6L9tBDB395o17B_A_-pvlZaSmONOYeSeSvuOD1l2Z9BSPIO6h2v2ZmZscObW_ttliLEZFlmBuGeB9gobspv06bGSkKGIIdY/s1600-h/2001-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZ24jwVwXIMe0oJpYZXN1zEjSUoZ0WttUoE5WsTM_-mmg6L9tBDB395o17B_A_-pvlZaSmONOYeSeSvuOD1l2Z9BSPIO6h2v2ZmZscObW_ttliLEZFlmBuGeB9gobspv06bGSkKGIIdY/s400/2001-05.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Topps inserts finally got interesting in 1996, but it wasn't until 2001 that the Angels got their first jersey card with the "King of Kings" Nolan Ryan card. The "Who Would Have Thought" cards were great this year as well, covering two of the greatest acquisitions in team history, Ryan and Carew.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFlzU1lO6scgBKiLopru0Zm3jn4irWlgEDSQxu1uY7RvpNtKA9Y5f8ig3Jt2MFajDDSb1oFbWEqt8WIovxcCMcjW1kpyylgHmmsRKvZvvpJQTwVjC_c3lNciTaqtJ1EYwyvCCAxNbaIc/s1600-h/2001-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFlzU1lO6scgBKiLopru0Zm3jn4irWlgEDSQxu1uY7RvpNtKA9Y5f8ig3Jt2MFajDDSb1oFbWEqt8WIovxcCMcjW1kpyylgHmmsRKvZvvpJQTwVjC_c3lNciTaqtJ1EYwyvCCAxNbaIc/s400/2001-06.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Although '01 wasn't a great year, the position players got a lot of experience working together, which would come in handy in 2002...<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>2001 Topps Angels</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 - Garret Anderson<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">39 - Shigetoshi Hasegawa<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">80 - Darin Erstad<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">87 - Scott Spiezio<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">161 - Benji Gil<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">175 - Troy Glaus<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">186 - Seth Etherton<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">251 - Scott Schoeneweis<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">271 - Bengie Molina<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">309 - Matt Walbeck<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">324 Mike Scioscia MGR<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">390 - Troy Glaus SH<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">392 Sammy Sosa/Troy Glaus HR Leaders<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">397 Todd Helton/Darin Erstad Hit Leaders<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">419 - Troy Percival<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">470 - Gary DiSarcina<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">484 - Tim Belcher<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">514 - Adam Kennedy<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">529 - Orlando Palmeiro<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">546 - Tim Salmon<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">586 - Kevin Stocker<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">604 - Jarrod Washburn<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">621 - Mo Vaughn<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">636 - Jose Canseco<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">722 - Ramon Ortiz<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">728 - Phil Wilson Angels - Jake Peavey (sic) Padres - Darwin Cubillan Rangers<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">729 - Steve Smyth Cubs - Mike Bynum Padres - Nathan Haynes Angels<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">731 - Pena - Larry Barnes Angels - Wise<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">745 - Joe Torres/Ben Diggins<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">752 - Anaheim Angels Team Card<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Golden Anniversary Prospect Autograph</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">GAAJL - John Lackey<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Golden Anniversary Great Autograph</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">GAARC - Rod Carew<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Going for Gold</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">GA45 - Troy Glaus <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">GA48 - Mo Vaughn<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Through the Years Reprints</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">39 - 1980 Nolan Ryan<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>A Tradition Continues</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TRC17 - Mo Vaughn<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Base Hit Base Card</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">BH1 - Mike Scioscia MGR<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>King of Kings Jersey</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">KKR6 - Nolan Ryan<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>2001 Topps Traded</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T33 - Ismael Valdes <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T38 - Pat Rapp <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T104 - Reggie Jackson 82 <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T120 - Wally Joyner 86 <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T142 - 1995 Sexson, Arias, Sweeney, Schneider Reprint<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T151 - Jared Abruzzo RC <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T197 - Brian Specht RC<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T227 - Alfredo Amezaga RC<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">T258 - Jeff Mathis RC<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Who Would Have Thought?</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">WT1 - Nolan Ryan<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">WT12 - Rod Carew<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-49072986430756485042009-10-08T23:42:00.000-07:002009-10-13T11:30:13.609-07:00Let the Playoffs Begin!Yes, I know five playoff games had already begun by the time the Angels' first postseason first game started, but let's face it - the playoffs don't truly begin until the Halos play their first postseason game. And what a game it was!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQevJuMVOzA68PWJ6Q_cIo2W1ktJAXqGwLaksooikfOUxYL3o8YXaLb8-N7k6nuDkCeKKcnR7uFSRdgpGIliVn2r5jNP6gNW8cSsA3DNEJqBjGYcODsW3DWZ0vuQIWSrbAAJo3J8diBA/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQevJuMVOzA68PWJ6Q_cIo2W1ktJAXqGwLaksooikfOUxYL3o8YXaLb8-N7k6nuDkCeKKcnR7uFSRdgpGIliVn2r5jNP6gNW8cSsA3DNEJqBjGYcODsW3DWZ0vuQIWSrbAAJo3J8diBA/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A game can't start any better than the wife giving Vladdy a beeg kees.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP13oopAF2qy26-eSKcxGCxapqkYdFVKa9eP0mucJL7gYusYWOWn6BsdAt9JkuCwNHGjI8HCM3cWXMNntFBAqrf2El3Juet6y-WN86j_QKmPw8jVixBFjL874iSfnfgeSA2j8hnc2ZmN8/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP13oopAF2qy26-eSKcxGCxapqkYdFVKa9eP0mucJL7gYusYWOWn6BsdAt9JkuCwNHGjI8HCM3cWXMNntFBAqrf2El3Juet6y-WN86j_QKmPw8jVixBFjL874iSfnfgeSA2j8hnc2ZmN8/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not the best picture, but this is what we play for every year:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb1AkdHYefmzEVFl4KBljCdgRPhyH9zcG2K3wsCXb95tMizPprezHuaElnDC_DQB5DJNQggb0FuZd4t6jLo9aPTWCsxA2Jnc1vil3TgcL06NDepjEal7T4JWgdEbjPIChUPvXr1qGXms/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb1AkdHYefmzEVFl4KBljCdgRPhyH9zcG2K3wsCXb95tMizPprezHuaElnDC_DQB5DJNQggb0FuZd4t6jLo9aPTWCsxA2Jnc1vil3TgcL06NDepjEal7T4JWgdEbjPIChUPvXr1qGXms/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> And every year we play for Mr. Autry--<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcLeLWgErh8ANAmGR4i4oU_xK0481jWeUukRyinY4qabIM6eIZV1Im2cn7mKQj_bcXsEYXSVLyFwJqVlxYuml_qqCzqEuxS4WaD8lusCs18e-C0sSEfrNSe3Q7uDB3LAhfjbFYNnOLOU/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcLeLWgErh8ANAmGR4i4oU_xK0481jWeUukRyinY4qabIM6eIZV1Im2cn7mKQj_bcXsEYXSVLyFwJqVlxYuml_qqCzqEuxS4WaD8lusCs18e-C0sSEfrNSe3Q7uDB3LAhfjbFYNnOLOU/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">--and this year we also play for Nick Adenhart and his family. I almost lost it when the Angels paid tribute to Nick in the pre-game video.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3qZdt9suHsho_iM9jNT6ri4pVv_RM0NJAeMglg2iaEXruV95TeA2eMxYg9S1SFH-Eyc_-VKrPowfC5pR5O3U1qDeY8vF6bVmwOPqJ2upG5fpDLBP61rsKGC3XN-yMwLYOM0OFcQ7Hd4/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3qZdt9suHsho_iM9jNT6ri4pVv_RM0NJAeMglg2iaEXruV95TeA2eMxYg9S1SFH-Eyc_-VKrPowfC5pR5O3U1qDeY8vF6bVmwOPqJ2upG5fpDLBP61rsKGC3XN-yMwLYOM0OFcQ7Hd4/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was especially happy to see that the Angels included a clip of Jon Wilhite (the sole survivor of the accident that took the lives of Nick and his friends Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson) throwing out the first pitch on August 29.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will never get tired of seeing an American flag this large stretched across the lawn of my favorite place in the world.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN7vK1KzbER2NjvPa6HwNgobM_EBXgma4nmkXx9yvwlO9CTfGnjdybeSlBjFHFKLIB-QVP3-tKGBuLpgTEMjYPgkluVZwUwZVx84gxebvH5-Px3b9418VQ-ES_YXiJzY_WOzlgYl0TRk/s1600-h/DSCN0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN7vK1KzbER2NjvPa6HwNgobM_EBXgma4nmkXx9yvwlO9CTfGnjdybeSlBjFHFKLIB-QVP3-tKGBuLpgTEMjYPgkluVZwUwZVx84gxebvH5-Px3b9418VQ-ES_YXiJzY_WOzlgYl0TRk/s320/DSCN0536.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eventually it was time for the lineups to be introduced--<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZMoG-Rug55j-oZcyk3Cv36XB5WjeJsh-z9KcpOzZ9dzieBIERcsjleexWB_ykrd8DLNosZPRlFXukvy88iGLL0b9QUNTPi0-gqt_gujunVuz_tF87b4fAtMYUOEX6tIWkcbWtXuxgB4/s1600-h/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZMoG-Rug55j-oZcyk3Cv36XB5WjeJsh-z9KcpOzZ9dzieBIERcsjleexWB_ykrd8DLNosZPRlFXukvy88iGLL0b9QUNTPi0-gqt_gujunVuz_tF87b4fAtMYUOEX6tIWkcbWtXuxgB4/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> --and for John Lackey to throw out the first pitch. It was a strike.<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1B9BESZ2lncdN0Ngiz48P6I-wBOV6vGOTh3Cie5zdM6BZ_n6HEPvfyuPFP3fw3R8S3V3oqGWT3j7yIBmfRZXcRPn4X7OBd7jyms93XSIeKIbV8EHfnosFQjCyk3dDWU6Zc2v330RSqI/s1600-h/DSC_0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1B9BESZ2lncdN0Ngiz48P6I-wBOV6vGOTh3Cie5zdM6BZ_n6HEPvfyuPFP3fw3R8S3V3oqGWT3j7yIBmfRZXcRPn4X7OBd7jyms93XSIeKIbV8EHfnosFQjCyk3dDWU6Zc2v330RSqI/s320/DSC_0057.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of these pics were taken from our seats in the top deck, section 431. Not very close to the action, which explains why I don't have more in-game pics, but it was a great place to get pics of the celebration after we won the game.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbUFhreL_Qhl_XjkYI5RHTQQfxWCPv99KIPKd8AHyWJDb79Ox0E8tpf1IeJRZ39YVdxtCaRWVrXFWDk1mXjNytsgQU_BURjYYcYLa9WKjuSnLJ7IV-oNvzUvalOdWsK5S8SXPAm_1nuY/s1600-h/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbUFhreL_Qhl_XjkYI5RHTQQfxWCPv99KIPKd8AHyWJDb79Ox0E8tpf1IeJRZ39YVdxtCaRWVrXFWDk1mXjNytsgQU_BURjYYcYLa9WKjuSnLJ7IV-oNvzUvalOdWsK5S8SXPAm_1nuY/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nine innings of shutout ball. John Lackey's first postseason victory since he won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. The first postseason shutout in Angels history. Heck, it was the first time I've witnessed a playoff win at the Big A since the 2002 ALDS. Here's hoping that we keep dealing more of the same.<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-40074672521832763092009-09-30T18:51:00.000-07:002009-09-30T18:51:48.795-07:00Look What I Got! - Part One in a Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpty7bMCRiIwg2uyxhITrzpYyfYJtqojiT7wux-alIYHPvPD4d_2ICZqy09Qv1OpIeiHFDPau9vwxm1asmahqRQH49f0X1EbqwMLbanTWMN1MaNnDtpWtgGfZx5DoY0ncRkqOrgVlIHs/s1600-h/!BbKYTfQ!2k~%24(KGrHqMH-CsEquoIYNfSBKurIOUZ6Q~~_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpty7bMCRiIwg2uyxhITrzpYyfYJtqojiT7wux-alIYHPvPD4d_2ICZqy09Qv1OpIeiHFDPau9vwxm1asmahqRQH49f0X1EbqwMLbanTWMN1MaNnDtpWtgGfZx5DoY0ncRkqOrgVlIHs/s400/!BbKYTfQ!2k~%24(KGrHqMH-CsEquoIYNfSBKurIOUZ6Q~~_12.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just won an auction on teh eBay today - the 2006 Topps Updates & Highlights Midsummer Covers #MC-VG, Vladimir Guerrero, numbered 9 of 10. I'm not sure I've ever seen this card on eBay, and if I have, it's been a few years.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe I should call this section "Reasons Why My Wife Wants to Kill Me."<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-2758302786196031002009-09-29T20:58:00.000-07:002009-09-29T20:58:42.692-07:00HOW 'BOUT THEM HALOS?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWjDYQwY2y2x2aY6_Skg6dEZx1Nutil4SwafsoN_muIdhw-CtRhEonNpsHiaRnrd14f4q4vWZNnHvIKxxVqWDvn-QOecocvgoGLFsue2UVBOQXQHZVWoV2RI0sPRS5PlWch_XvXNNSiE/s1600-h/DSCN0501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWjDYQwY2y2x2aY6_Skg6dEZx1Nutil4SwafsoN_muIdhw-CtRhEonNpsHiaRnrd14f4q4vWZNnHvIKxxVqWDvn-QOecocvgoGLFsue2UVBOQXQHZVWoV2RI0sPRS5PlWch_XvXNNSiE/s400/DSCN0501.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now THIS should be Ervin Santana's 2010 card.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Congratulations to the Angels on winning their third straight AL West title. I was bawling like a baby when they all ran out to take a picture in front of Adenhart's picture in center. Great job, guys. Now let's finish strong, rest up, and obliterate the Sox when they come to town.<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-69308971547834012702009-09-27T20:45:00.000-07:002009-10-02T11:16:30.502-07:001991 - A Great Year for Cards.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the time 1991 rolled around, it had been 7 years since I had collected baseball cards. By now I was living up in Chico, CA, with a bunch of high school friends, and it would be giving me too much credit to say that I wasn't doing very much with my life. But gosh darn it, I was collecting the Topps set that year. Not only did the set have a nice design, and the packs were cheap, but there was that all too enticing "40th Anniversary" design that somehow sucked me in. Of course it didn't hurt that the local supermarket had them placed where I had to pass by them every time I was ready to check out.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3NgZ9dPdKhzRCDHqbkyNdYlkQI_S6-0m8h3K5PwZF0PFXYWoEb6qBo7AOC1T8QK9gOkiwPBj18mC9zFyl5yMtAA2s73toAyMpm20vBfm3gf5Oq6Mm38T1MwhKFGNDvl1i1_iWWwuiJk/s1600-h/1991-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3NgZ9dPdKhzRCDHqbkyNdYlkQI_S6-0m8h3K5PwZF0PFXYWoEb6qBo7AOC1T8QK9gOkiwPBj18mC9zFyl5yMtAA2s73toAyMpm20vBfm3gf5Oq6Mm38T1MwhKFGNDvl1i1_iWWwuiJk/s320/1991-02.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Topps had started releasing a parallel "Tiffany" set a few years earlier, but in '91 they went a step further with the "Desert Shield" set. From <a href="http://sportscardarticles.com/baseball_cards/1991_topps_desert_shield_baseball.html">SportsCardArticles.com</a>:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"When news hit the hobby that Topps was planning a special parallel set of it's 1991 Topps baseball set for the U.S. troops serving in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the set was immediately sought after by regular non-military collectors. The only difference in the regular Topps baseball set and the Topps Desert Shield parallel set is that the Desert Shield baseball cards all have a gold foil stamp on the front, featuring a palm tree inside of a shield, and the words "Operation Desert Shield" beside an American Flag."<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKnOLnfrczO5ghGyNqjuOT6vtFlT2SC1YNyjFXgn2FHIHF8mUO8p9HRA8QAo9q50eUcpa88Kl2cku8Paxt92y4dYm-dfLf6rgTdjcVhOwdn6I-zjGR-PKWXO7L7aGbv1gOLnhj7ydoes/s1600-h/1991-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKnOLnfrczO5ghGyNqjuOT6vtFlT2SC1YNyjFXgn2FHIHF8mUO8p9HRA8QAo9q50eUcpa88Kl2cku8Paxt92y4dYm-dfLf6rgTdjcVhOwdn6I-zjGR-PKWXO7L7aGbv1gOLnhj7ydoes/s320/1991-01.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although the regular '91 set was easy to find, the Desert Shield? Not so much. Considering that there are supposedly only 6800 of each card in existence, and how often cards get lost/destroyed/never opened, this has turned out to be one of the most rare sets in Topps' existence. Even the commons typically go for around five bucks a pop on teh eBay.<br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPpsKqbX15gni4wxIJXNbUSMNOtT_NG1d5qdbX9k93JP8Ig934-iBSvB2cK5sYqGhaCGB3Hm_OTRzT8Pu3mlpoNx_itcgLGR7uVqwcvINUxAld9v5X9C3VC3nDW1iblU-8ylDL46uVVk/s1600-h/1991-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPpsKqbX15gni4wxIJXNbUSMNOtT_NG1d5qdbX9k93JP8Ig934-iBSvB2cK5sYqGhaCGB3Hm_OTRzT8Pu3mlpoNx_itcgLGR7uVqwcvINUxAld9v5X9C3VC3nDW1iblU-8ylDL46uVVk/s320/1991-03.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1991 turned out to be another mediocre year for the Halos, as they went 81-81. Manager Doug Rader was replaced after being two games under .500 in 124 games by former player Buck Rodgers, who went a whopping 2 games over .500 the rest of the way. Possibly the brightest spot in the season came on June 24, when a 39-year-old Dave Winfield became the oldest player in the history of the game to hit for the cycle.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXib62g9NKON_0Bba7Kk1QGSJTRZSELIBnS96GD8nY8enVqusdUkHW6b-Kq9diMZNw2kVVnwZgmldzqEaVAdPi38ocjhPhlMtJGlcVeoK7rkyST5eXtxdav96k8PU73bx4TdHuRkHon8/s1600-h/1991-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXib62g9NKON_0Bba7Kk1QGSJTRZSELIBnS96GD8nY8enVqusdUkHW6b-Kq9diMZNw2kVVnwZgmldzqEaVAdPi38ocjhPhlMtJGlcVeoK7rkyST5eXtxdav96k8PU73bx4TdHuRkHon8/s320/1991-04.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This last bunch is actually from the '90 "Major League Debut" set. Topps used the 1991 design for this set, that's why I include them with the '91s in my collection. These cards highlighted the big time debuts of guys who made their debut in 1990 (complete with quotes from "The Register") - and for many of these guys, that's all they did. Pete Coachman (whose given name is Bobby Dean, so I have no idea where the "Pete" comes from) had his only 45 ML at bats come in '90 (which seems weird, as he batted .311 - you'd think he'd have gotten another chance). Scott Lewis had a 2.20 ERA in '90, but was pretty mediocre after that. Jeff Richardson got one out to finish a game, and never pitched in the bigs again. With results like this, it's no wonder that Topps only ran this set for three years.<br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cBZpryj7sKQR0OZZvinKbnLPFCKpaTFdAfVMmDcSegBHCrpys-JV2OEaSr7rjZ00ExslQKkwatfjeN63Re3GhoUo8MetOSU0UqCZxaOj2rGNFMvoumoyAj83bEo-eRENxreOinXZ2Fw/s1600-h/1991-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" iq="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cBZpryj7sKQR0OZZvinKbnLPFCKpaTFdAfVMmDcSegBHCrpys-JV2OEaSr7rjZ00ExslQKkwatfjeN63Re3GhoUo8MetOSU0UqCZxaOj2rGNFMvoumoyAj83bEo-eRENxreOinXZ2Fw/s320/1991-05.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The only Angels insert this year was a "Wax Box" card of Bert Blyleven, highlighting his reaching #4 on the all-time strikeouts list. I seriously do not understand why this man is not yet in the Hall of Fame. He won 287 games, often pitching for teams with losing records. This makes him the winningest pitcher not already in the Hall. He's currently 5th all-time in strikeouts (3,701) and 9th in shutouts (60). And he went 5-1 in the post-season, winning a World Series ring with the Twins in '87. Heck, he could probably still pitch for the Netherlands in the WBC today.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>1991 Topps Angels Checklist</u><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">36 - Donnie Hill<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">57 - Jack Howell <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">84 - Bob McClure <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">107 - Luis Polonia <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">129 - Mark Eichhorn <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">153 - Bryan Harvey <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">176 - John Orton <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">195 - Wally Joyner <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">210 - Lance Parrish <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">231 - Doug Rader MG <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">255 - Brian Downing <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">273 - Johnny Ray <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">285 - Jim Abbott <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">355 - Chili Davis <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">395 - Chuck Finley AS <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">426 - Joe Grahe RC <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">452 - Bill Schroeder <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">477 - Mike Fetters <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">505 - Chuck Finley <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">532 - Kirk McCaskill <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">564 - Dante Bichette <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">615 - Bert Blyleven <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">630 -Dave Winfield <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">648 - Lee Stevens <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">667 - Kent Anderson <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">704 - Devon White <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">736 - Dick Schofield <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">755 - Mark Langston <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">784 - Willie Fraser <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<u>Wax Box Cards</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A - Bert Blyleven <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>1991 Topps Traded</u><br />
40T - Junior Felix<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">44T - Gary Gaetti<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">50T - Todd Greene Team USA<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">89T - Dave Parker<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">99T - Jeff D. Robinson<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">112T - Luis Sojo<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>1990 Topps Debut</u><br />
32 - Pete Coachman<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">58 - Joe Grahe <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">88 - Scott Lewis <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">131 - Jeff Richardson <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">149 - Lee Stevens <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">169 - Cliff Young<br />
<br />
regular cards: 41<br />
inserts: 1<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-41167801391461010432009-09-21T18:52:00.000-07:002009-10-02T11:12:52.553-07:001981 - Strike!<div>1981. Now we're talking! I really starting taking baseball cards seriously in 1980, but 1981 was the first time I really made an attempt at completing the whole set. This is definitely one of my favorite designs, as I still love the hat in the corner, and the fonts Topps used for the players' names on the fronts and backs of the cards.<br />
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</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGff5DgHG-M_ua2LAfEnUXelQkNVP9SLtDmogP9gKSzMYOrgWB0ECDqRUvbgI0GXIkweIsNcvQ_q8etCLNk2e9-1rjmH_zIQwsFMAzDGlPPa64vdUe3BwiJNs7HCikRkK_Q7AADYFIWM/s1600-h/1981-01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382446514431700114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGff5DgHG-M_ua2LAfEnUXelQkNVP9SLtDmogP9gKSzMYOrgWB0ECDqRUvbgI0GXIkweIsNcvQ_q8etCLNk2e9-1rjmH_zIQwsFMAzDGlPPa64vdUe3BwiJNs7HCikRkK_Q7AADYFIWM/s400/1981-01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
</div><div>By now, the free agency era in baseball was in full swing, and the Angels were one of the teams shelling out big bucks for top players. But in spite of having already paid for the likes of Rod Carew, Don Baylor, Bobby Grich and adding Fred Lynn in the off-season, '81 wasn't a great year for the Angels. Heck, it wasn't a great year for baseball. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981_Major_League_Baseball_strike">The players went on strike</a> in the middle of the season, causing a cancellation of 38% of the games that year.<br />
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</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZND4-7oDxBzRNGXzgH4i3swLKPND6CFI99MEzc6PFC6V-Lp0NFSoLV-I6a28Fj06yWRbTS-UiErgJvB4ChxxQzy7SjCrEiIIpRRXbd_vO2t5FKVkVKCGGQ35gfqpuwaCGnNpxJkXUYh0/s1600-h/1981-02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382446521639308674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZND4-7oDxBzRNGXzgH4i3swLKPND6CFI99MEzc6PFC6V-Lp0NFSoLV-I6a28Fj06yWRbTS-UiErgJvB4ChxxQzy7SjCrEiIIpRRXbd_vO2t5FKVkVKCGGQ35gfqpuwaCGnNpxJkXUYh0/s400/1981-02.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
</div><div>Rather than just use overall records to decide the division leaders, it was decided that the season would be split in two. Whoever was in 1st before the strike won that half of the year, and records were reset afterward, so whoever had the best records post-strike won that half. Then the two teams played each other (or the second half second-place team if the same team won both halves) to see who won the division.<br />
<br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw48UOebWoVtSw4cW7uPizXlau-7T3eftFa0OsBYTvJU7C_699TmVDp2gXsnZqpLIaqJ0TFQBvWK3dK2dTB6Xxks8VvZJki0f_WRoBkHS-4d7q87Pga2pXPYNurn1g5Vu4KO0P7CUzk8/s1600-h/1981-03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382446533354627570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw48UOebWoVtSw4cW7uPizXlau-7T3eftFa0OsBYTvJU7C_699TmVDp2gXsnZqpLIaqJ0TFQBvWK3dK2dTB6Xxks8VvZJki0f_WRoBkHS-4d7q87Pga2pXPYNurn1g5Vu4KO0P7CUzk8/s400/1981-03.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
</div><div>Unfortunately, the Angels didn't do well in either half. They went 31-29 and finished 4th in the first half, and 20-30 in the second, finishing 6th. This continued a trend of having bad seasons in years that end with a 1.<br />
<br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bwJw3qcQs0JwSepe4zPxR-0qUiLpOEZa5MSjbAMoFeg8cbM3AIQDTkOREzsn0cpYhqzsBghgbgY3x1wCGZL9sJ6O_SW6ECK2Ie1rF3TaS4xIb_bTuRuS-AIxQBBcvapEczz8vA4N5F4/s1600-h/1981-04.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382446537593732946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bwJw3qcQs0JwSepe4zPxR-0qUiLpOEZa5MSjbAMoFeg8cbM3AIQDTkOREzsn0cpYhqzsBghgbgY3x1wCGZL9sJ6O_SW6ECK2Ie1rF3TaS4xIb_bTuRuS-AIxQBBcvapEczz8vA4N5F4/s400/1981-04.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
</div><div>1981 was also the year that Topps greatly expanded the stats on the cards. Through 1980, batters had 9 categories: games appeared in, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, runs batted in and batting average (G, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, AVG). Pitchers had games appeared in, innings pitched, wins, losses, runs, earned runs, strikeouts, walks and earned run average (G, IP, W, L, R, ER, SO, BB, ERA). In '81, Topps added stolen bases, slugging percentage, walks and strikeouts (SB, SLG, BB, SO) for batters, and games started, complete games, shutouts and saves (GS, CG, SHO, SV). For a stathead like myself, this was a huge addition to the cards, and was a big part of what made Topps way more enjoyable to collect than the new Donruss and Fleer sets that started up that year. I never did end up completing this set, but I remember getting pretty close. <br />
<br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5GnAqfuLXe2dVRwtlYfDff5_bocIKajwkSaI_TOp1lucuZ_CARDLNvAE-qlE8g1rpwJ72nO3p5x_eLT6gKYU4Obx_Zt98gRcrjVlQRbNpz1_t4FYy4rhyvo468GFKiSTk9k5hOaO9cY/s1600-h/1981-05.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382446538728609186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5GnAqfuLXe2dVRwtlYfDff5_bocIKajwkSaI_TOp1lucuZ_CARDLNvAE-qlE8g1rpwJ72nO3p5x_eLT6gKYU4Obx_Zt98gRcrjVlQRbNpz1_t4FYy4rhyvo468GFKiSTk9k5hOaO9cY/s400/1981-05.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
</div><div>The early-mid '80s weren't a great time for Topps inserts, and the 1981 set had zero. (After I shelled out some cash for them, I found out that those two Scratch-Offs weren't part of the main set. Ah, well.) But one great thing Topps did that year was reintroduce their Traded set. They had fooled around a little bit showing some players in their new uniforms in '74 and '76, but it wasn't until '81 that they got serious. The '81 Traded set added a ton of players, included the first Angels cards of Fred Lynn, Geoff Zahn, and current Angels Assistant General Manager Ken Forsch.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>1981 Topps Angels Checklist</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">12 - Mark Clear<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">48 - Dave Skaggs<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">69 - Ed Halicki<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">100 - Rod Carew<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">121 - Larry Harlow<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">182 - Bob Grich<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">209 - Dickie Thon DP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">214 - Angels Rookies Ralph Botting Jim Dorsey<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">227 - Fred Martinez<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">239 - Rick Miller DP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">263 - Brian Downing<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">286 - Dave Frost<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">288 - Bob Clark<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">311 - Freddie Patek<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">340 - Bruce Kison<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">369 - Frank Tanana<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">391 - Dave Lemanczyk DP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">410 - Bert Campaneris<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">422 - Dan Ford<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">454 - Andy Hassler<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">505 - Jason Thompson<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">529 - Dave LaRoche<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">557 - Chris Knapp<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">580 - Don Baylor<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">601 - Don Aase<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">621 - Tom Donohue<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">639 - Carney Lansford<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">652 - John Montague<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">663 - Angels Team/Mgr Jim Fregosi<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">701 - Joe Rudi<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">717 - Jim Barr DP<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Topps Scratch-Offs</u><br />
(not part of main set)<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">18 - Rod Carew<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">25 - Carney Lansford<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>1981 Topps Traded Angels</u><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">733 - Juan Beniquez <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">743 - Rick Burleson <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">764 - Ken Forsch <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">771 - Butch Hobson <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">797 - Fred Lynn <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">810 - Ed Ott <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">818 - Doug Rau <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">821 - Steve Renko <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">845 - Bill Travers <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">856 - Geoff Zahn <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
regular cards: 41<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-58403956156362854162009-09-11T15:44:00.000-07:002009-10-13T21:55:43.827-07:001971 - I Have no Snappy Comment for this.<div align="left">Ah, 1971. The year the NASDAQ opened, the Libertarian party was founded, Disney World opened, women in Switzerland got the right to vote, and the London Bridge opened in Havasu. Oh, and the Angels played some baseball.<br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffPMmvGYyxjxO80XGr684hLG_vXLJcxcjy3s3AAqvwKwyrpjTTmSWF8VMNGIV_4JXW0dKOZ3UKg9wVv_t6vFVtgZOyuPUpncCCLeOVlCzDFVaEU5xKtOYz1U6AvmGlJSTYYJJ9NjrArc/s1600-h/1971-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffPMmvGYyxjxO80XGr684hLG_vXLJcxcjy3s3AAqvwKwyrpjTTmSWF8VMNGIV_4JXW0dKOZ3UKg9wVv_t6vFVtgZOyuPUpncCCLeOVlCzDFVaEU5xKtOYz1U6AvmGlJSTYYJJ9NjrArc/s320/1971-01.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
One thing I do know: Topps released a pretty cool set of baseball cards that year. With its black borders, understated design and lots of horizontal cards, 1971 remains a favorite of collectors.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NgeZIc9xRtL8OtxTJKt0HHrSFy-ZDWarE-69J8QHMe_f9gTXP2sVO6npLQG0UHVkNvPeYvaK04Ha8lr0E08cZ18YPoc238X5cWfP8kbg7rMe1o2LwKEQiV-8tCjMPDMqmNTirCGFDpU/s1600-h/1971-02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382445152291953506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NgeZIc9xRtL8OtxTJKt0HHrSFy-ZDWarE-69J8QHMe_f9gTXP2sVO6npLQG0UHVkNvPeYvaK04Ha8lr0E08cZ18YPoc238X5cWfP8kbg7rMe1o2LwKEQiV-8tCjMPDMqmNTirCGFDpU/s400/1971-02.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
1971 wasn't a spectacular year for the Halos. To start the team's second decade, Lefty Phillips managed the team to a 76-86 record, finishing 4th in the AL West. 3B Ken McMullen's 21 homers and 68 RBIs, and 2B Sandy Alomar's 39 stolen bases and .260 batting average led the offense.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1KJZJ6WGuTZDND0-D15UnJRl6-d-dxLk_glDqPdeuz9Gxnr6Me1FXSqwmfbbg7lZmEUH10WOxPhBuoFrXjUIteilY32v2krBVhugwaJrhw66vpuciBdGQZ89nDN58k-WsLj9TFaiXAs/s1600-h/1971-03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382445155613030642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1KJZJ6WGuTZDND0-D15UnJRl6-d-dxLk_glDqPdeuz9Gxnr6Me1FXSqwmfbbg7lZmEUH10WOxPhBuoFrXjUIteilY32v2krBVhugwaJrhw66vpuciBdGQZ89nDN58k-WsLj9TFaiXAs/s400/1971-03.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
On the pitching side, Andy Messersmith went 20-13 with a 2.99 ERA and 179 strikeouts. The pitching staff was great, but the offense was anemic.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemUyruZ7dGu1M3ltGNMvMzvvkeoxXQ8jU2rEsYPKjTLB06mXlG_py4S2vfiAA3S3IoxA72JRu8CkvAgvtTZ2QP3IlsZTuYfTpTYjFHYY-1u8_CLeOWYeFXOnBbUYC9A1Aie24mFfQz5E/s1600-h/1971-04.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382445171263868434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemUyruZ7dGu1M3ltGNMvMzvvkeoxXQ8jU2rEsYPKjTLB06mXlG_py4S2vfiAA3S3IoxA72JRu8CkvAgvtTZ2QP3IlsZTuYfTpTYjFHYY-1u8_CLeOWYeFXOnBbUYC9A1Aie24mFfQz5E/s400/1971-04.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
1971 was the first major change in the Angels' uniforms since they began play in 1961. The basic colors remained the same, but the fancy script letters on the jerseys and the halos on the hats were replaced with a boring font and a lower-case a with a small halo at the corner. A small change to this uniform in 1972 would end up being the most iconic Angels uniform ever.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj_AppqQDWISAGmu-kL7Ki5s80VHRF_SIyYq_xEYVKL2s0AKgYU1CON1tL7FejyB2jwF_vbiv4NiL_q8ZjdbXqQgtk6DNrCng0iZDLTUgm_4XAWzDa7087HgEtuC2t8t7XBCbcnMa4JQ/s1600-h/1971-05.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382445177019661346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj_AppqQDWISAGmu-kL7Ki5s80VHRF_SIyYq_xEYVKL2s0AKgYU1CON1tL7FejyB2jwF_vbiv4NiL_q8ZjdbXqQgtk6DNrCng0iZDLTUgm_4XAWzDa7087HgEtuC2t8t7XBCbcnMa4JQ/s400/1971-05.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 291px;" /></a><br />
<br />
That last card there is a recent addition. The 1971 Jim Spencer Scratch-Off was a thorn in my side for a while. I've had the 1970 Jim Spencer Scratch-Off for years, but every time I saw a scan of something calling itself a 1971 Spencer, it was the exact same image. I didn't know if the '71 really existed, if people kept mislabeling the pics or what. It wasn't until I found the <a href="http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/">Topps Archive</a> blog that I found out what the deal is - if you open up the Scratch-Offs from different years, they have different colors on the inside. Once I knew that, I had the '71 in my hands the next week, which gave me all of the inserts from 1961 through 1998. (Would be through 2002 if it weren't for those dadburn '99 Nolan Ryan autos. Grr...)<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><u>1971 Topps Angels Checklist</u><br />
<br />
15 - Andy Messersmith<br />
43 - Steve Kealey<br />
61 - AL Batting Leaders Alex Johnson Angels, Carl Yastrzemski Red Sox, Tony Oliva twins<br />
67 - AL ERA Leaders Diego Segui A's, Jim Palmer Orioles, Clyde Wright Angels<br />
78 - Jim Spencer<br />
105 - Tony Conigliaro<br />
152 - Angels Rookies-Lloyd Allen-Winston Llenas<br />
174 - Dave LaRoche<br />
205 - Gerry Moses<br />
240 - Clyde Wright<br />
256 - Tony Gonzalez<br />
279 - Lefty Phillips<br />
318 - Rudy May<br />
360 - Jim Fregosi<br />
401 - Tom Murphy<br />
421 - John Stephenson<br />
442 - California Angels-Team Card<br />
466 - Ken Berry<br />
485 - Ken McMullen<br />
508 - Roger Repoz<br />
526 - Ray Jarvis<br />
559 - AL Rookie Pitchers-Terry Cox Angels, Bill Gogolewski Senators, Gary Jones Yankees<br />
561 - Syd O'Brien<br />
590 - Alex Johnson<br />
614 - Billy Cowan<br />
631 - Eddie Fisher<br />
645 - Jim Maloney SP<br />
657 - Jose Azcue<br />
664 - Rookie Pitchers SP-Archie Reynolds Angels, Bob Reynolds Expos, Ken Reynolds Phillies SP<br />
666 - Gene Brabender SP<br />
676 - Tommie Reynolds<br />
686 - Chico Ruiz SP<br />
697 - Rickey Clark SP<br />
707 - Fred Lasher<br />
718 - Billy Wynne<br />
736 - Mel Queen SP<br />
745 - Sandy Alomar SP<br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><u>Topps Coins</u><br />
</div><div align="center">TCI4 - Jim Spencer<br />
TCI28 - Sandy Alomar<br />
TCI60 - Clyde Wright<br />
TCI84 - Alex Johnson<br />
TCI112 - Andy Messersmith<br />
TCI136 - Jim Fregosi<br />
TCI142 - Tony Conigliaro<br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><u>Topps Scratch-Offs</u><br />
</div><div align="center">20 - Jim Spencer<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
regular cards: 37<br />
inserts: 8<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-83435385888323728462009-09-10T22:30:00.000-07:002009-09-19T13:33:13.346-07:00And the Thanks go to...As I mentioned in the last post, I've researched the heck out of my collection, and continue to do so. Not only do I research the checklists that come in the packs, but I check multiple websites, and sometimes do somewhat random eBay searches to see if I missed anything (that's how I discovered the '64 Friendly Foes card).<br />
<br />
So please let me take a moment to thank the following sites/people/organizations that have helped me put my collection together:<br />
<br />
My wife. As much as she may want to, she's yet to kill me for spending this much cash on baseball cards.<br />
<br />
Erich L., my former compatriot at Ricoh, for giving me the idea in the first place. My wife may curse you, but I love you, man.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.topps.com/">Topps</a> - If it weren't for them, you wouldn't be reading this blog (and would likely be doing something more productive).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/">eBay</a> - Really kind of explains itself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.beckett.com/marketplace/default.osi">The Beckett Marketplace</a> - Probably would have saved myself a few bones if I had started checking here earlier than I did. Also a great place to make sure I didn't miss any inserts.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.teamsets4u.com/">TeamSets4U.com</a> - The first site I found that had any sort of team checklists for sets prior to 2001.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gcxonline.com/ss_baseball.htm">Georgetown Card Exchange</a> - They post the sell sheets for multiple sports, and have checklists for upcoming sets available long before anyone else I know of.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.surf.com/">Surf laundry detergent</a> - They released a series of "Baseball Card Collector Series" books in 1987 (one for every team, collect them all!) that not only let me know about some cards I was missing, but also included a nice season summary for every year through 1986.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/">Night Owl Cards</a> - This site is the inspiration for the blog. It's always well-written and entertaining. It's done by the same guy who does <a href="http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/">The Topps Archives</a>, a blog that's been invaluable in helping me figure out what's up with those early inserts.<br />
<br />
Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Gene Autry, for making sure this franchise started with quality ownership (you may not have made a profit, but I know this team made you happy), and Mr. Arte Moreno, for leading this team to being the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4297569">#1 sports franchise in America</a>. I know you love this team as much as Mr. Autry did, and I owe you many beers.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-78174920257489700712009-09-10T21:53:00.000-07:002009-09-10T22:30:30.547-07:00I guess it's a good time----to mention that if you notice any cards I've missed in this collection, <a href="mailto:lwk@sbcglobal.net">please let me know!</a> I've spent countless hours pouring over every checklist I've been able to find to make sure I have the most complete collection of regular issue Topps Angels cards possible, but sometimes I miss things.<br /><br />Heck, it was just earlier this year that I found out about the 2002 Topps Coaches' Collection Relic card of Don Baylor. Sure the main picture may be of him in a Cubs uniform, but the inset pic of him as a player features his 1977 card as an Angel. So I had to get it.<br /><br />I guess this is a good time to talk about what I consider to be a "regular issue Topps Angels card." Obviously, if the team listed on the card is the Anaheim/California/Los Angeles Angels, be it a base card or an insert, it's in. But I also include multi-player cards, such as league leader, combo, 'rookie star', or playoff cards (even if it's another card of us losing to the BloSox) as long as there's at least one Angels player on it. So stuff like the 1964 "Friendly Foes" card of Leon Wagner and Willie McCovey is in, as is the 1983 "Super Vet" card of Dave LaRoche (he was with the Yankmes, but the inset pic is from his days as an Angel) and the aforementioned Baylor relic card.<br /><br />Again, if it looks like I've missed something, <a href="mailto:lwk@sbcglobal.net">please let me know</a>, but keep in mind that I'm only collecting the regular Topps set. I'm not looking for any Upper Deck, Stadium Club, Pristine, Fleer, Chrome, Ricky and Lucy, Triple Threads, O-Pee-Chee, Yo Mama, Heritage, or anything else. In my entire 2000+ card collection, I've made maybe seven exceptions to this rule (and all for good reason). But if there's something that fits my collection and I somehow missed it, <a href="mailto:lwk@sbcglobal.net">let me know!</a><br /><br />And as Ed and Frank often said, "Thank you for your support."lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-50548871871232358742009-09-01T19:27:00.000-07:002009-10-13T21:33:50.659-07:001961 - In the beginning...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It may be hard to believe now, but prior to 1961, there were half as many teams in Major League Baseball as there are today: 16. MLB had only reached the West Coast in 1958 when the National League's Giants and Dodgers moved out of New York (and who can blame them?).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM4vOcLhbSfdBbva4q09fzaMxSs8_TCKV2xlnbmFXC2hsGpnPcLWhMpvXvMF3hNoFkOzq-2wlDRaJEOVkShMwxqI73c-dUVvqbQ02V4Qtkkebz6WDCAqhhFS0_27hUvaDraJA6xbdBwg/s1600-h/1961-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM4vOcLhbSfdBbva4q09fzaMxSs8_TCKV2xlnbmFXC2hsGpnPcLWhMpvXvMF3hNoFkOzq-2wlDRaJEOVkShMwxqI73c-dUVvqbQ02V4Qtkkebz6WDCAqhhFS0_27hUvaDraJA6xbdBwg/s320/1961-05.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The story has it that the American League wanted a franchise in Los Angeles, and was looking for a franchisee. Cowboy singing legend and media mogul Gene Autry went to the winter baseball meetings looking to buy the radio rights to this new team, and ending up buying the team as well. And thus were born the Los Angeles Angels (sort of - there had been a minor league team called the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League not long before). The team that had been the Washington Senators moved to Minnesota and became the Twins, and a new Washington Senators team was created along with the Angels to bring the number of teams in baseball to 20.<br />
<br />
Now starting a new MLB franchise wasn't the same back then as it is today. Today, existing teams are allowed to protect a certain number of players on their roster, and the new teams can draft almost anyone else. But for the 1961 season, it was the opposite - existing teams got to pick a list of players on their rosters that <u>could</u> be drafted, so the new teams pretty much got stuck with the dregs of the league.<br />
<br />
Experts predicted that the Angels would win around 40 games and come in dead last, but that wasn't to be the case. The Halos (so nicknamed because of the silver halos embroidered on their hats) went 70-91 (a first-year record that still stands today) and came in 8th place, ahead of the new Senators and the Kansas City Athletics, a franchise that was started in 1901. <br />
Topps wanted to include players from these new teams, but they needed to print the first series of cards before anyone had been in an Angels uniform. As a result, the first bunch of Angels cards featured one player in a White Sox uni, and a whole bunch of head shots of guys without hats.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklPEzi0y4_lslM04CKKMMZHvHEukxuRzOy88gqSo38vuhIJXHqo-1cxwP6i8bpHI3LnrfHp8WJ0MrKjztrT5HI6KTHmuubGh6dz6jJZ5WeA4kxmVkffMAiw_eSfUqnwOAZJHN0MP_a2g/s320/1961-01.jpg" /><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Angels played their first season in a place called Wrigley Field, former home to the PCL Angels. Obviously this wasn't in Chicago (although both places were named after the chewing gum magnate), but on the south side of Los Angeles. The place was a bandbox, and set a season record for homers that stood for thirty years.<br />
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The Angels' skipper was Bill Rigney, who piloted the team from day one to partway through 1969. He had managed the Giants when they moved from New York to San Francisco, so he was already familiar with baseball on the West Coast.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScXQD4pJvW2dyvtEm6I13sN-5ZTBeIzwulyzlT0eOTUgbyoK6xzHfKAYnNuZKkOwKHAe1BAytMOjt9qSs48jACbRp_hMHLbfEfYty1KsTXEPQA1bFfaPVL49zgCyAGWXUnXoMLoDJrOM/s1600-h/1961-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScXQD4pJvW2dyvtEm6I13sN-5ZTBeIzwulyzlT0eOTUgbyoK6xzHfKAYnNuZKkOwKHAe1BAytMOjt9qSs48jACbRp_hMHLbfEfYty1KsTXEPQA1bFfaPVL49zgCyAGWXUnXoMLoDJrOM/s320/1961-02.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Ah, finally we get to some Angels in Angels unis! While none of these cards are listed as short prints, they're all from the second and third series, so they start to get a little pricey. Especially those last few, which explains why I really need to find a better Gene Leek card.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYyHPiP0NR1Xs05HVrepgcUQIdPmYWfi09wVw-BrRVDZzPT1UZ7l2DYYiay_Wd0_e_v3Est-5GbYkh4MTj9gBOblB45B39gXaffpMFjjPQHfp_oNXXmRP45k2SDoSMIsYi_wCAEr79oM/s1600-h/1961-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYyHPiP0NR1Xs05HVrepgcUQIdPmYWfi09wVw-BrRVDZzPT1UZ7l2DYYiay_Wd0_e_v3Est-5GbYkh4MTj9gBOblB45B39gXaffpMFjjPQHfp_oNXXmRP45k2SDoSMIsYi_wCAEr79oM/s320/1961-03.jpg" /></a><br />
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1961 was also in the middle of Topps' golden age of inserts. Every pack had an insert in it and, unlike today's inserts, they were meant to have fun with. The first two inserts below are Rub-Offs - temporary tattoos. The Duke Maas (misspelled Mass) Rub-Off would be the only time Topps would show him as an Angel (he never actually pitched for the team). The other images are the Topps Stamps from the year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPzknZT2Yc3cFoP3ADF9VQ8utVmq4vkUqDOybzcWU50xUa-IVJQNfRg3xj47GPmZS86-mRzzFXagM9PAPizblAAEmPLNgPDISeDd1W0QLbHnm3fcVaiGzWyKwgcvxTbO5SEfPoodqQew/s1600-h/1961-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPzknZT2Yc3cFoP3ADF9VQ8utVmq4vkUqDOybzcWU50xUa-IVJQNfRg3xj47GPmZS86-mRzzFXagM9PAPizblAAEmPLNgPDISeDd1W0QLbHnm3fcVaiGzWyKwgcvxTbO5SEfPoodqQew/s320/1961-04.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>They played better than expected, largely because Mr. Autry had put together a solid front office, and hired a good manager in Rigney. They had four players hit over 20 home runs, led by Leon "Daddy Wags" Wagner with 28. Albie Pearson, a former Rookie of the Year who outplayed his 5' 5" frame, led the team with 11 stolen bases. Some of the players who got their first taste of The Show that year would go on to be Halos for years to come: Tom Satriano, Buck Rodgers, Dean Chance and a 19-year-old shortstop named Jim Fregosi. 1961 was a great start for the Angels.<br />
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<div align="center"><u>1961 Topps Angels Checklist</u><br />
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65 - Ted Kluszewski<br />
121 - Eli Grba<br />
156 - Ken Hunt<br />
163 - Ed Sadowski<br />
176 - Ken Aspromonte<br />
184 - Steve Bilko<br />
195 - Jerry Casale<br />
209 - Ken McBride<br />
216 - Ted Bowsfield<br />
225 - Bill Rigney MGR<br />
246 - Bob Davis RC<br />
263 - Ken Hamlin<br />
272 - Tom Morgan<br />
282 - Faye Throneberry<br />
288 - Albie Pearson<br />
291 - Tex Clevenger<br />
329 - Julio Becquer<br />
331 - Ned Garver<br />
358 - Earl Averill<br />
413 - Eddie Yost<br />
448 - Del Rice<br />
457 - Johnny James<br />
464 - Leroy Thomas RC<br />
466 - Ron Moeller RC<br />
508 - Rocky Bridges<br />
527 - Gene Leek RC<br />
547 - Leon Wagner<br />
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<div align="center"><u>Stamps Inserts<br />
</u>169 - Jerry Casale<br />
170 - Bob Cerv<br />
171 - Ned Garver<br />
172 - Ken Hunt<br />
173 - Ted Kluszewski<br />
174 - Ed Sadowski<br />
175 - Eddie Yost<br />
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<div align="center"><u>Rub-Offs</u><br />
6 - Los Angeles Angels<br />
23 - Duane "Duke" Mass<br />
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<div align="center"><u>Extras</u><br />
</div><div align="center">That card at the top of this post is a 1961 Nu-Card Scoops #414. Yes, I realize I started off a blog about Topps cards with a card from another company, but what better way to get things moving than with a card announcing the birth of the Angels?<br />
</div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-40587613266746854092009-08-24T21:52:00.000-07:002009-10-13T11:28:25.837-07:00And lo... there shall be a banner!Finally finished the banner! Being an Anaheim native, I had to keep the Anaheim in the logo (at least for now). And since this is a blog about Angels cards, I figured it was finally time to throw some up here. As I was flipping through the binders, I decided to go with a spread of the Angels' uniforms throughout the years, including some of my favorite players, coolest cards, and a legend. So here's the lowdown on the cards in the banner:<br />
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<strong>1961 Topps #413, Eddie Yost</strong><br />
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This was the first card to feature a player in an Angels uniform. And he looks damned happy to be wearing it!<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLxm2ELM9ZgZ0ykO_ijgEVC1p2Y_dt86EzNdaZpMgClhfLm-nhorzy6yv-Y6KlexGhCkGw4mTJbD8gBrFo0RBGDZVkk77aSmmZcZjVi26poWXN_1_yxR0SqOO0OcAWNHl1D8djUB1Bhw/s1600-h/61Yost.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373773619055568930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLxm2ELM9ZgZ0ykO_ijgEVC1p2Y_dt86EzNdaZpMgClhfLm-nhorzy6yv-Y6KlexGhCkGw4mTJbD8gBrFo0RBGDZVkk77aSmmZcZjVi26poWXN_1_yxR0SqOO0OcAWNHl1D8djUB1Bhw/s400/61Yost.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 286px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>1986 Topps #345, Donnie Moore</strong><br />
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If you know your Angels history, you know all about Donnie Moore. I found this signed card on the eBay, and had to grab it.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpbXhLgRYqMUStahHGUfGvOHiWfvgXlZ3M9VGMdQI8SK_YxmOhqDy2_heNHvbrQ-hF-6M4CEDp-m_bLiLAwRfzSd6Eu4tEi2r5VhPjrUMvS6y7DMtFPJNiCZP8-la6nMe2kdIAjzDFcY/s1600-h/86Moore.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373765675410826210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpbXhLgRYqMUStahHGUfGvOHiWfvgXlZ3M9VGMdQI8SK_YxmOhqDy2_heNHvbrQ-hF-6M4CEDp-m_bLiLAwRfzSd6Eu4tEi2r5VhPjrUMvS6y7DMtFPJNiCZP8-la6nMe2kdIAjzDFcY/s400/86Moore.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 283px;" /></a> <br />
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</div><div align="left"><strong>2003 Topps Prime Cuts Autograph Series #PCA-DE, Darin Erstad, numbered 14/50</strong><br />
</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Topps really went crazy with the Angels inserts after we won the World Series. This is perhaps the coolest - an end-of-the-barrel chunk of Ersty's bat, and it's signed.<br />
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</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZlgeOez-Cu6K_Ywiy7FQKJEadPo3VBggHTuhz-iOn9NQF51wlaPN0jVhYYKG62Mi6uq9FQPAPDgM2wxNoUPsVqIuiSMK506RSQLxIt9qez2nTR-LSFsRcA-N0XJ6ccNQFX95WBuPxeQ/s1600-h/03Ersty.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373776602305904434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZlgeOez-Cu6K_Ywiy7FQKJEadPo3VBggHTuhz-iOn9NQF51wlaPN0jVhYYKG62Mi6uq9FQPAPDgM2wxNoUPsVqIuiSMK506RSQLxIt9qez2nTR-LSFsRcA-N0XJ6ccNQFX95WBuPxeQ/s400/03Ersty.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 286px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>1980 Topps #700, Rod Carew</strong><br />
Although I was a Dodgers fan as a kid, Rod Carew was almost enough to make me an Angels fan as well. One of the greatest hitters, ever. And you can't go wrong with the only player to ever be name-dropped in a Beastie Boys song.<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4sftp44J9b2dFY346A6wfsuQRUWSAYOW9NXiM3KynqM7nx1uXVDKtvC9HRvR0N9XhSKoC9_o5RM9WryWNGIhkS9GCBIQ-25MN1lIZXxKBcWvoY33ujVtgnvnlR7GiBJ9ixGlAMTGUgM/s1600-h/80Carew.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373777643613602530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4sftp44J9b2dFY346A6wfsuQRUWSAYOW9NXiM3KynqM7nx1uXVDKtvC9HRvR0N9XhSKoC9_o5RM9WryWNGIhkS9GCBIQ-25MN1lIZXxKBcWvoY33ujVtgnvnlR7GiBJ9ixGlAMTGUgM/s400/80Carew.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 288px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>2009 Topps #5, John Lackey</strong><br />
I included a card from the Angels' first year, so why not include one from this year? Lackey was the winning pitcher of Game 7 of the greatest World Series to date. Big John is also the only Angel to ever appear as card #1 in the Topps Regular set (2007).<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_dIyzCoC4kZfQDxfN3g4s5I0I_SvVI3w64KXMiDQXh-cYgG91aTbsMx_uAgCRIsjG-e51Ap1xjG0XK9E-CjBJO2ow_ImTnggnC8y3ncSZeroEhWM0ZWu7q-Ive3ZGC6M6R5RVuIquXg/s1600-h/09Lack.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373778614024532066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_dIyzCoC4kZfQDxfN3g4s5I0I_SvVI3w64KXMiDQXh-cYgG91aTbsMx_uAgCRIsjG-e51Ap1xjG0XK9E-CjBJO2ow_ImTnggnC8y3ncSZeroEhWM0ZWu7q-Ive3ZGC6M6R5RVuIquXg/s400/09Lack.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 289px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>1972 Topps #595, Nolan Ryan</strong><br />
How this man never won a Cy Young during his Angel years is beyond me. This is probably the most expensive non-insert Angels card ever. I'll eventually have to upgrade this one, as there are chunks gouged out of the back of mine.<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr8LwfhzFtPydqER1QFeQHgNaQp0njThagxA1oVRlhcnzYNJJxRDmun5zmD6RtoZ4idLqJl-35D9S7-llR9acEZSIALz-3jygwWoCwkeEgA4q0iKeQD5-fYGqwdI0jU7KW__viYdoYLU/s1600-h/72Ryan.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373779536965022642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr8LwfhzFtPydqER1QFeQHgNaQp0njThagxA1oVRlhcnzYNJJxRDmun5zmD6RtoZ4idLqJl-35D9S7-llR9acEZSIALz-3jygwWoCwkeEgA4q0iKeQD5-fYGqwdI0jU7KW__viYdoYLU/s400/72Ryan.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 284px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>2001 Topps Base Hit Autographed Base card, Mike Scioscia</strong><br />
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This may actually be the coolest card in my entire collection. The front of the card states, "Authentic game-used opening day 2000 base," and the back states that Topps went to 28 MLB ballparks plus the opener in Japan to grab bases. Which should mean that not only is this card signed by the greatest skipper in Angels' history, but the chunk of the base is from his very first game as Manager.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_9ixY6tbzuIMu-hJy9n0GF65FdFgu-6iUXDCOOsenprnVhZFoZNKyRALQ0T7JttLc98t2ZSeF0VHi3PRFxG1CqwyUsIo9DitCxJu07ouDh1S2mJceF586mYmDbTp5qX1mcXq-tKyqAw/s1600-h/01Sciosc.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373780924544322722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_9ixY6tbzuIMu-hJy9n0GF65FdFgu-6iUXDCOOsenprnVhZFoZNKyRALQ0T7JttLc98t2ZSeF0VHi3PRFxG1CqwyUsIo9DitCxJu07ouDh1S2mJceF586mYmDbTp5qX1mcXq-tKyqAw/s400/01Sciosc.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 285px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>1969 Topps #653, "Aurelio Rodriguez"</strong><br />
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Here's the legendary card I mentioned earlier. Not because it's the last card from the year I was born. Not even because I knew about this card even when I was a kid. No, it's because this is likely the greatest blunder Topps has ever made with a card. The guy in the picture isn't Aurelio Rodriguez. It's the Angels' bat boy, Leonard Garcia. How they managed this, I have no idea. Much worse than when they put a picture of Adam Kennedy on the David Eckstein card in 2004.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfCKm8fpTb5ddLQw6zJSA-CNX0FKQCOb1YL3hYpP1Sv4z7n2b8cWX6XFa2ldjFE2NCFFNyEHK0hPgh5XCDPuUYMLE4WjZTAcu6SGD8bzc0ZMkv2v7dQr76gsJh0_IFX_pjclLR3YHtGI/s1600-h/69Rod.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373782137739499922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfCKm8fpTb5ddLQw6zJSA-CNX0FKQCOb1YL3hYpP1Sv4z7n2b8cWX6XFa2ldjFE2NCFFNyEHK0hPgh5XCDPuUYMLE4WjZTAcu6SGD8bzc0ZMkv2v7dQr76gsJh0_IFX_pjclLR3YHtGI/s400/69Rod.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 286px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>2008 Topps Highlights Autographed Relic #HAR-VG, Vladimir Guerrero, numbered 21/25</strong><br />
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I practically squealed with glee when the Angels signed Big Daddy. His only auto/relic card as an Angel definitely belongs in the banner.<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ahEO8WDtdd6NCTuVTiP_fEVTgj8eyDJcChi6EWY0IgGwzm2BviIDhP3FlE_ni-LInSjLzwI1Q7ypz-fqzzghyyt4eFf5ln0Ltvl_CnT40jlaBfD_AjhJCeDJZqPwiknIBmiEJ-kHTSA/s1600-h/08Vlad.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373783009194720546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ahEO8WDtdd6NCTuVTiP_fEVTgj8eyDJcChi6EWY0IgGwzm2BviIDhP3FlE_ni-LInSjLzwI1Q7ypz-fqzzghyyt4eFf5ln0Ltvl_CnT40jlaBfD_AjhJCeDJZqPwiknIBmiEJ-kHTSA/s400/08Vlad.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 287px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>1997 Topps #254, Rex Hudler</strong><br />
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The Wonder Dog! I was lucky enough to get Rex, the one-time Angel and current Angels broadcaster, to sign this for me at the Angels Fan Fest in '05. Thanks, Hud!<br />
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<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0WWoBBTgVK51ML-PeAI4fhzJQsuMi6_ifEEKmM5acIjyZ0e9yNTck1lusi_i9flzOzkgXZUHrfEMFHZVJ9c7NWQeEFnmczazov1vRjGtrP2zTq-gHUpV89INkHE-LLY9Nqc205B0KM8/s1600-h/97Hud.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373783504732740178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0WWoBBTgVK51ML-PeAI4fhzJQsuMi6_ifEEKmM5acIjyZ0e9yNTck1lusi_i9flzOzkgXZUHrfEMFHZVJ9c7NWQeEFnmczazov1vRjGtrP2zTq-gHUpV89INkHE-LLY9Nqc205B0KM8/s400/97Hud.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 290px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>2003 Topps #721, World Series Highlights</strong><br />
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</div><div>The greatest image ever to grace a Topps baseball card. Ever.<br />
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</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBTGkaxc96O3rEB_Q_XSxkIa8yKvfL0MWdELrvv79NNRfP8rhRNSJvl3XghdjXDysSuvtsMmSQcc14NoWBB-d7Fmr0K_kb8WK-IFywNAOt2nSyxSuN_MN0Xte-ZDPvvbvJnuKGlBh5G0/s1600-h/03-Champs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373784113108198258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBTGkaxc96O3rEB_Q_XSxkIa8yKvfL0MWdELrvv79NNRfP8rhRNSJvl3XghdjXDysSuvtsMmSQcc14NoWBB-d7Fmr0K_kb8WK-IFywNAOt2nSyxSuN_MN0Xte-ZDPvvbvJnuKGlBh5G0/s400/03-Champs.jpg" style="cursor: hand; height: 400px; width: 287px;" /></a><br />
</div><div></div>lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-9833626344816474692009-08-10T14:24:00.000-07:002009-08-24T23:52:08.068-07:00So why Topps?With all of the billyuns and billyuns of card companies out there, some of you are probably wondering, "Why do you only collect Topps? And why just the regular set?" Well, it's because I can see the future, and knew that Topps would be the only company with a Major League Beisbol license starting in 2010 and I wanted all of my cards to match.<br /><br />I kid, of course. Sort of.<br /><br />Like most collectors whose blogs I've read, Topps is the brand I collected as a kid. And yes, I'm old enough (but not by much) that Topps was the only brand around back then. Sure, I got a ton of Donruss and Fleer starting in 1981, but that's only because I've always been a compulsive shopper, and who wouldn't want to get the cards from a company's first year? (I didn't realize at the time that Fleer had put out cards before I was born.)<br /><br />But I always liked Topps the most. I was a stathead - at one time I could have rattled off Steve Garvey's batting average for every year he was with the Dodgers - and Topps always had a ton of stats on the back. Especially in '81, when they added a ton more data to the cards. Donruss and Fleer? Not so much with the stats. And the flimsy white cardboard those other two guys used seemed to bend and fray every time I looked at 'em. So I was a Topps guy through and through.<br /><br />But mostly, I decided to concentrate on the Topps regular issue because it's the only brand that has been produced throughout the Angels' 49 seasons. It wouldn't make any sense to me to start with twenty years of Topps, then switch to Donruss in '81, Upper Deck in '89 or whatever, and so on. I think having close to 50 years of Angels cards all from the same brand is a heck of a lot cooler, and provides a better (and more consistent) look at the history of the team.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3669655189634634784.post-29482538601771556732009-06-27T11:23:00.000-07:002009-08-24T23:51:51.800-07:00Welcome to Angels Master Set!Hi there, and welcome to my blog, Angels Master Set. I'm Lance Karutz, native son of Anaheim and diehard fan of the Anaheim Angels. Like a lot of people, I collect baseball cards. But rather than go overboard, I only collect one team from one set from one brand: Topps regular issue Angels cards and their inserts. Over the next few months, I'll be setting up <a href="http://www.angelsmasterset.com/">AngelsMasterSet.com</a> to display my collection.<br /><br />Why do I think my collection is worth having its own website? Because I have almost every Angels card ever to be found in a regular Topps pack. I started this collection in the Spring of 2002 mostly as a fun thing to do, but also so I could learn more about the history of the team and its players. I've spent countless hours of research making sure that my checklist is complete, and a ridiculous amount of money trying to get every card available. Here are my totals so far:<br /><br />regular and team set cards: 1628/1628 - 100%<br />inserts: 432/471 - 91.7%<br />total: 2060/2099 - 98.1%<br /><br />I'll have the website up soon and will blog about each set I put up, so please check back often. Every once in a while I'll throw in some posts about my why certain cards are in my collection, my thoughts on what should and shouldn't be on my checklist, and my experiences as an Angels fan (like the time I confronted Arte Moreno about the name change). I hope you enjoy this walk through the history of the Angels.lwkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14416928709760117139noreply@blogger.com3