 |
| I didn't look quite like this, but close. |
Let me be honest, when I started this blog, I had no expectations. I was going to do it to post some stuff and figured I would quickly get tired of it and it would be another venture I just lose interest in. There have been many in the past, and this is one of the first ones I have managed to keep in interest in. I think it is because I made it a habit to write daily in my trial period that it still remains fun and interesting. Along the way, I have interacted with a lot of great bloggers and unlike my other attempts of various things, I felt like I found an online family. I can't wait to meet more members of my extended online family.
Okay, let me get back on topic, these cards I'm about to present were not on my radar, as a matter of fact, I didn't even consider these cards because I figured they wouldn't be available to someone like me. So let's take a look.
Okay, don't feel let down, the George Brett card may not fit the bill I just made. I wanted to include it because I scanned all the other cards in the package, so I had to include it. Chalk it up to not scanning it in the right spot. I do appreciate the card though, don't get me wrong.
The Freddie Patek card is the first card that saw my jaw drop. While it is fairly attainable, it wasn't on my radar just yet. I figured it would be a couple years before I started going after any cards in the set. There is something about quirkiness that I like in baseball cards. For many years baseball cards was as much of a pastime as the game itself, but in recent years it has become more of a novelty or better put- a tight knit community that people don't think about. I miss the days of cards of some sort on packages of food or anything else.
Next is an autographed card of Pat Sheridan. Talk about making my jaw drop! I was stunned when I saw this. It is a crisp autograph and a pretty cool card to boot. Going back to my post yesterday, Tony definitely harkened back to a better time.
At this point, I would have been happy if this was it, but it wasn't. I decided to skip to the last card I saw first because the other two cards I want to talk about a bit more.
This may not be vintage, but it flashes back to George Brett's rookie year. It is the closest I have gotten to his rookie card, and both his rookie and this card were on my radar, but my jaw still dropped because I didn't think I'd get either one so soon. I really don't know what to say other than thanks.
The final two cards are ones that need some further reading before I show. Dan Quisenberry is one of the most underrated players I think in MLB history. While other pitchers are still talked about years after they retire, Quiz is really only talked about in Royals circles, or when the Royals are in the spotlight and the news needs filler. He won the Rolaids Relief Pitcher 5 times, a multiple time all star, and the only pitcher to appear in every game in the 1980 World Series. For more on Q, just look at his stats on Baseball Reference. His stats may not do justice, but he had comparable stats to pitchers in the Hall.
Why the bio on Dan Quisenberry?
This is when I let out the squeal. Then I started to get a tear in my eye. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Dan passed away from a brain tumor in 1998, which you can read about here, or check out his Wikipedia bio, and you might think about his inclusion into the Hall.
A couple months ago I was thinking about former Royals I would like autographs of. Some seemed fairly attainable, some seemed possible, and some seemed unattainable. Among those I listed as unattainable was Dan Quisenberry. I thought to myself, "it would be so great just to find an autograph of Dan, even if its just on an index card." That's why I got a tear in my eye.
What makes it better are these aren't just random cards. The 1981 Topps is from the year after the Royals made their first World Series appearance (the one where he pitched in every game). It is a good card in its own right, but having ink on it makes it much better.
The other card is from 1985, the year they won the Series. This isn't just a regular Topps card though, it is a Glossy Send-In. I can't think of a better card to get signed. It is perfect because it makes it easy to read, plus it is an action shot. Just writing this makes me want to tear up a bit.
Thank you so much Tony for the great cards, I could have never imagined anything close to this when we first exchanged emails. Nothing I have to give you can even compare to this package.
That will wrap it up today. Thank you all for reading, and if you are a Veteran I want to thank you for all that you have done. Thank you to everyone, and have a great night.
Also, be sure to check out Tony's blog, you won't be disappointed.
WOW - I understand why you were so touched! I've found though, you can underestimate what you have to offer. I have a lot of stuff from the 90s, and our blogging friends don't seem to mind this kind of junk mail.
ReplyDeleteGreat cards from Tony!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked these autographs and cards. Quiz, Goose Gossage, and Rollie Fingers are still the guys I think of when someone says "80s closer". Quiz was a true gentleman, too -- answered and signed all his own mail, signed at the stadium regularly (even in opposing parks), and always happy to indulge a teenager who wanted to talk baseball for a minute or two if Quiz had the time.
ReplyDeletePat Sheridan was a running gag on my high school baseball team. One of my teammates recalled a commentator calling Sheridan "tall and lanky, with considerable speed." It was such a running gag that the teammate actually gave out copies of Sheridan's 1985 card for people to keep in their uniform pockets. Considering that our team wasn't very good, he was the perfect "mascot." I got that one when Sheridan was with the Tigers in 1987.