Category: HOF

Expanding My Port-Zoilo

Today I received a couple items which are great to add to the collection. The first was a card I bought off eBay. noahsmemorabilia listed a 1975 Topps Zoilo Versalles MVP card #203 for sale. It was the last card I needed to complete my 1975 Topps Twins set so I was happy to see it available.

The other package was a box of Sports Illustrated magazines that Tom O (orr23mj on SCN) got via a pair of private signings he took part in. The first was a trio of Pedro Martinez SIs and the other was a pair of Johnny Bench SIs. I already had the two Bench SIs signed in the collection but the price was so good I had to send these in. It was cool to get Pedro on my 11.08.2004 SI. It already has Curt Schilling and Johnny Damon. All I need is David Ortiz to complete it! The SIs I got this time around are:
10.13.2003 Pedro Martinez
04.20.1998 Pedro Martinez
11.08.2004 Pedro Martinez
03.13.1972 Johnny Bench
11.01.1976 Johnny Bench

Lanny’s A Dandy!

Today I received a pair of items that really made my day! The first item was a 10.25.1999 Sports Illustrated that was already signed by Jason Varitek that I sent to Todd S (toddschafer on SCN) for his signing with Scott Brosius. Scott signed it and completed the magazine. It looks great!

The other package I received was a bunch of scorecards I bought from Lanny Frattare’s son. Lanny was the Pirates broadcaster for a number of years and after he retired, his son built a website that sells the scorecards. I was sitting at Sam’s Club a couple weeks ago waiting to get the tires replaced on Caden’s car and decided to look and see if I could find a scorecard or two to add to the collection. Over a couple days of research I found fifteen that were pretty cool. All of them are signed by Lanny and I hope to get a lot of them signed by the player I chose the scorecard for. I have a few I got previously already signed and they are neat. The ones I picked up this time around, and the reason, are:
-04.08.1986 – Jim Leland’s Managerial Debut (I just bought a ticket to the game)
-09.13.1976 – Tom Seaver Complete Game Shut Out
-06.25.1978 – Bert Blyleven Complete Game Shut Out
-08.06.1978 – Steve Carlton Complete Game Shut Out
-06.30.1977 – Steve Carlton Complete Game Win 1R 8K
-08.19.1980 – Nolan Ryan Win 7.2 IP 7K
-06.22.1977 – Rich Gossage Save 4 batters faced and 4 K’s/Rollie Fingers appearance
-05.01.1978 – Dave Winfield HR/got thrown out at 1st base/Willie Stargell RBI/Gaylord Perry start/Rare Ozzie Smith error
-07.25.1978 – Dave Winfield HR and GW RBI Walk off single
-06.01.1979 – Dave Winfield 2 HRs/Lots of runs scored/Ozzie Smith hits
-06.12.1979 – Dave Winfield HR/Gaylord Perry CG Win
-05.22.1980 – Dave Winfield HR/Rollie Fingers Save/Bert Blyleven 5.2 IP 8K
-07.24.1980 – Bert Blyleven CG Win 1 Run/Dave Winfield HR 2 outs Bottom of 9th (off Bert)
-08.21.2006 – John Smoltz Win 8 IP 0R 10K
-08.01.2006 – John Smoltz Win 7 IP 1R 6K
I am really looking forward to getting these signed by the above players.

Walk(er) This Way!

Today I received a Larry Walker signed baseball from TriStar. Not exactly what I wanted but it works. Larry was doing a private signing with TriStar so I sent in my 1993 Sports Illustrated along with the payment back in, I think, about March. With COVID happening and Larry in Canada, the signing was delayed. Earlier this week I received a call that Larry refused to sign the SI. I asked if the money I paid could be put towards a baseball with HOF 2020 and it worked out that I could so I received the SI (unsigned) and the ball today. Since he is a TriStar exclusive, I think the prices will stay high for him so I doubted I would get him any cheaper down the road so I got the ball. I do not know the reason why he would not sign that specific SI but this was the second, and final, time I try.