Bad Wax

Well, I didn’t get to write this at work, so I have to write this one at home while babysitting a 4 month old puppy, who weighs 45 pounds and likes to jump . . . a lot!  So needless to say it’s been rough just typing out the first few sentences.  So we are 20 packs into this glorious set and over 300 cards into the set, a stark difference to the 1986 boxes we went through previously.  I also came home today to 3 returned mail packages which were low in postage.  So to the three people I had intended to send these out to, I appologize, and the packs will be resent this Saturday.  Well all the administrative stuff is done, let’s get on to the pack review, number 20!

1. Jay Howell - P - A’s -391 - This was Jay’s third and final year in Oakland.  He wasn’t a bad reliever, but he was a reliever, in 1987 he went 3-4/5.89/1.56 with 16 saves.  For some unknown reason, he actually had an All Star appearance this year?!?! His fun fact was that he enjoys hiking as a hobby, guess he picked that up from walking to the bullpen.

2. Greg Mathews - P - Cardinals - 567 - 1987 was his second year in the majors, Greg was an average starter and in 1987 looking to build upon his 11-8 record from 1986, he ended up going 11-11/3.73/1.29 and somehow and I’m not sure how this was even possible, he was 6th in rookie of the year voting.  His fun fact is that he liked to surf, cylce, and jog.  He was a tri-athlete in his spare time.

3. Dick Schofield - SS - Angels - 502 - 1987 was supposed to be a pretty good year for Dick.  He was coming off a solid 1986 season and this was his fifth season as a pro, as luck would have it though (bad luck) he didn’t put up the big numbers, he went 0.251/9/46/19.  His fun fact was hat in high school he earned 11 athletic letters in three sports.

4. Cecil Fielder - 1B - Blue Jays - 178 - This was the year that he showed he deserved to be in the bigs.  This wasn’t his big year by any means but Toronto should have seen this line and said, hey, I wonder what he could do with 600 at bats?  He went 0.269/14/32 in 175 at bats.  How did they not see him becoming a big time hitter?  No fun fact for Cecil.

5. Rich Yett - P - Indians - 134 - Do you think when he was a kid he got the “Hey Rich Yet?” joke a few times?  It probably even got worse as he went into pro ball.  I think overall his did well for himself, but not rich.  In 1987 he went 3-9/5.25/1.49, definitely not worth making him rich by any stretch of the imagination.  No fun fact for Rich.

6. Howard Johnson - 3B/SS - Mets - 267 - Now in todays era, this is not a funny name, but trust me, if you grew up in the 80s, this name has a funny meaning.  Back then, there were Howard Johnsons all over the place.  After getting shunned in Detroit and waiting patiently in New York, he came onto the scene in a big way in 1987 when he went 0.265/36/99/32 and finishing in 10th place for the MVP.  Like I said he put in his time and he was rewarded.  His claim to fame was that he was co-winner of the rib eating contest among pro athletes after the 1985 season.

7.  Mike Smithson - P - Twins - 225 - Mike put up some solid seasons before 1987, but then the wheels came off.  He was injured most of the 1987 season but put up 4-7/5.94/1.51, not a very good year and this is the year that his career started to slide.  His fun fact was that he was an All American in basketball and All Tennessee in baseball and foorball in high school.

8. Eric King - P - Tigers - 36 - OK now I know I’m not the only one who collected this guy’s card. In 1986 he was 11-4 and people couldn’t praise him enough, it was his rookie season and they were ready to crown him the next great Detroit pitcher.  Well it never materialized, in 1987 he went 6-9/4.89/1.47 and it never got better after that.  His fun fact was the in the off season he is employed as a construction worker, and he enjoys riding motorcycles.

9. Daryl Boston - OF - White Sox - 482 - Daryl never really became the hitter the Sox were hoping for, but I’ll tell you what, he was a great guy coming off the bench.  In 1987 he went 0.258/10/29/12.  He gave you a little bit of everything off the bench, power and speed.  His fun fact is that he can do a great impersonation of Stevie Wonder. Isn’t he lovely?

10. Check list 529-660 - 654 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

11. Steve Sax - NL All Star - 596 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

12. Darren Daulton - C - Phillies - 636 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

13. Bruce Ruffin - P - Phillies - 499 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

14. Luis Salazar - 3B/OF - White Sox - 454 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

15. Jim Dwyer - OF/1B - Orioles - 246 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

16. Bob Dernier - OF - Cubs - 715 - Double, first reviewed in pack 16.

17. Billy Beane - OF - Twins - 114 - Double, first reviewed in pack 11.

Not too shabby, not great, but not horrible either.  Out of the non-doubles, Fielder and HoJo were the best.  I give this pack a 2.0 star rating, just because of the Fielder card.  I just can’t help but wonder at how frustrated he was in Toronto.  I guess his was frustrated enough to head to Japan.  I wonder if Cecil Jr. knows that with each passing day, he is more and more like his old man.  Someday I hope he gets a dose of humble pie like his old man did. Tomorrow I will be off, but look for me again on Saturday.  Have a fun Friday!

After reviewing Eckersley’s Game Used card, I only find it fitting to show this video of Vin Sculley’s call of the 1988 World Series, in which Kirk Gibson hits a home run. The catch? Well, this story is told by baseball cards. I think you are going to enjoy it. I know I did. I would love to hear your visions of this game. When I was watching it, I just had this feeling in my gut, that Kirk was going to hit it out. I was an Eck fan at the time and I just had this really bad feeling about that at bat.

Player’s Name: Dennis Eckersley

Player’s Position: P - Starter / Closer

Player’s Current Team: Retired (Pictured with the A’s)

Price I Paid for the Card: I got this off eBay for $1.25.

Set it’s from: 2007 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic.

What it’s Worth: Beckett has it listed for $10.00.

Why I like this card: Here is what I like about the Eck, not only was he an amazing closer with 390 saves in 11 seasons, but he was a very good starter with 151 wins in 12 seasons.  When you stop to think about the fact that he had a 20 wins season and a 50+ save season, that seems ridiculous.  He won the MVP and the Cy Young in the same year.  In 1990, one of his best seasons, and maybe the best single season of any closer he had an ERA of 0.61 and a WHIP of 0.614, that’s insane!  Of course a lot of people remember him for one thing, letting up the homer to Kirk Gibson, in game one of the 1988 World Series.  If I were picking a team and had my choice of any closer at the peak of their talent, I wouldn’t even hesitate, Eck in 1990.  Just to even make it more special, he was 35 when he did that.

Why it’s a Cheap Hit: It is what I card of who I consider to be the best closer of the late 90s/early 00s.  Sure Mariano in his prime might give him a run for his money, but I think overall Eck is the best hands down.  Mariano never put together a 0.61 ERA or 0.61 WHIP, and he played on better teams that the Eck.  To get this card of a Hall of Famer for $1.25 is a steal and what makes it better is that it’s the road uniform, which is one I didn’t have for him.

Will if ever be worth more? No, he’s done all he can do at this point.  His card prices are set in stone.