Justin G from
Tampa Bay Sports Wasteland blog has sent me a list of Jared Sandberg cards from Card Collector. This list shows 100 (a nice even number) cards total. It only lists 1 jersey relic card and I already have that…
Of the 100 cards it lists, many are parallels. It looks like there are maybe 20 different cards and a whole bunch of parallel versions of them. He has several certified autos out there. From 1998 Bowman alone there are 12 different variations of his card including, regular, chrome, international and refractors of each one. There are also 3 different certified autos from that release. It is good to know what I am up against and I think I can handle gathering up ALL 100 of his cards. I need to dig them all out and create a have and needs list, but I believe that I has at least 15 different Sandberg cards. I would like to add the 1983 Topps, Donruss and Fleer trio of his uncle Ryne to the binder as well. I really wanted to find someone that I could realistically obtain EVERY single card of. With all that I lost I do still do own a 1/1 of CC. It is a magenta printing plate from 2009 Goodwins.
It is neat, I guess. I am happy to own it, but I know I will never have the other 3 one of ones from this set. Carl Crawford just is not realistic, nor is Roberto Clemente and Evan Longoria is not possible either. Of the other guys I collect like Jason Bartlett, Carlos Pena, Ben Zobrist, Akinori Iwamura, Pat Neshek and Brian Roberts; they all just have too many high priced, low numbered cards out there.
Jonny Gomes is more affordable to a certain extent, but again he has many low serial numbered cards that just aren’t available. I thought about adding Grant Balfour, but even he has a ton of cards.
I think I can manage Sandberg. Any player who has 1/1 cards that has more than one fan can never be affordable or attainable. I hope to someday organize my Danny Tartabull cards and finish him off. I may never be able to afford his 1993 Finest Refractor, but I can probably track down everything else. Speaking of the Bull...
If anyone has some free time and could put together (from Beckett dot com) a complete list of his cards, I would REALLY appreciate it. Since I started the Tartabull PC when I was 10 years old and still have most of his cards, that collection is very special to me. I have been trying to think of someone else to add to my list that is actually attainable. There are plenty of players I follow, both past and present, but the main ones just have too many high-priced issues out there. Bill Mazeroski, Monte Irvin, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Dave Winfield, Willie Stargell, Tim Raines, Joe Carter, Dave Parker and Larry Doby are all HOFers (or should be).
Anyway, I am open for suggestions. I would like to add a player from the 60s or 70s, someone from the 80s and 90s and 2000s, too. Maybe a current player. Someone who has around the same amount of cards as Jared Sandberg. At least 27, not more than 150 while remaining fairly affordable that is significant to whom I collect. That is former Negro Leaguers (or family of); Devil Rays, Pirates or Orioles, sometimes even White Sox or Senators.
Mudcat Grant, Tony Oliva, Minnie Minoso, Bob Friend (another awesome card from SlangKo!),
Elroy Face, Don Newcombe, Johnny Sain, Donn Clendenon and Junior Gilliam have always been favorites of mine, but how affordable are they? Remember, I am looking for total completion, but ideally would like a player with at least one current relic or certified auto, too. I am strongly considering Ben Grieve and or Quinton McCracken. Billy Pierce and Steve Carlton have always been high on my list, but after losing both their rookie cards last week, I don’t think I could go back. As for the new current player-I have received a few packages from Justin G this week. Today’s included a ton of awesome Evan Longoria cards.
Some replaced ones that I had lost; a few were brand new to me. I haven’t scanned any yet though. Last week he sent a huge package of Pirates cards.
He also sent this Octavio Dotel Career Best jersey relic from 2009 Topps. I don’t think I will become a Dotel collector. I claimed the card to give to my little brother. He met Dotel last month, but we didn’t have any cards of him. Looking at his “career best” numbers on the back, Dotel has had a pretty nice career. The other card that stuck out in the package was this 2010 Topps Gold card of Garrett Jones. I am a sucker for Topps Gold. After losing almost all of my Rays gold cards I thought I was done with them forever, but it just took me getting 1 more to feel the urge to chase down every one I can.
Anyway, this particular gold card is of Pirates right fielder Garrett Jones. I think that Jones is the real deal and has a few really solid seasons ahead of him. Unfortunately I am not the only one. I checked a few of the popular auction sites and his stuff is blowing up. I guess that eliminates him too. He is a great player and a super fan friendly guy. I am really glad he has finally got his shot. I guess that is it for now. All of this player collection madness was inspired by Justin G by the way. When he announced he was
collecting Floyd Rayford who has 36 cards total. That seems attainable. I need a few more than that, but not too much. The ideal candidate would have no 1/1 cards, at least one relic and certified autograph card and an affordable rookie card with less than 200 total cards. Oh, and I have to like him, too! I made this post because I really would like some input and advice. Any comments you can share will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the list
Justin G. and for all of the great cards! Oh, as an end note, my local newspaper, the Bradenton Herald did see fit to send their worst reporter to our bout on Sunday. He left before the bout ended and seemed like he was drunk. It did make the front page (below the fold). Oh well, there is no such thing as bad press I guess. You can find the article
HERE. Speaking of links (and we were) the
Nitty Gritty Card of the Day is back! Has anyone noticed the new headers? One more thing to add... This blog is VERY CLOSE to having 100 followers. When this happens, ya know there will be a contest... The prize? A certified autograph of a Hall of Famer. It will be simple to enter, open to current followers only and there just might be prizes for 2nd and 3rd place, too. Stay tuned. Go Rays! Troll out!
As far as catchers go there are supposed to be six in camp with just two of them on the 40-man roster. Ryan Doumit and Jason Jaramillo were both there. I did not however see 21-year old first round pick Tony Sanchez today, but he certainly could have been there. 
The catchers didn’t appear until late in the afternoon. The pitchers were out early and they did what pitchers do, they ran. And ran. Pitchers run a lot, especially in spring training. That is why I am so surprised that there are so many overweight pitchers in the big leagues. Those guys are always running. After they were done running, the pitchers played catch. Initially a few feet apart and ultimately like 100 feet apart. 
I didn’t take any pictures of the pitchers playing expanding catch because there was batting practice going on at a different field and that was more exciting. After catch there were drills. The pitchers were split up into different groups. Four pitchers including Ross Ohlendorf went into the bullpen area for a real throwing session. The other starting pitchers took fielding practice and this I watched. I was hoping for a little bit of comic relief. The Pirates hurlers didn’t disappoint. 
There is a lot of rust that gathers over the winter and for some this was their first time on the field in months. The pitchers took grounders, fielded bunts, and practiced taking the throw at first base and making the throw to first. 
The ultimate in BASICS. I am really glad they practice this at the big league level because these guys needed it! 
The first round of choppers off the mound guys looked good. Daniel McCutchen got serious air off the mound. 
Octavio Dotel has pitched in 562 games in the big leagues. He has 67 career assists and went 5 seasons without making an error. Today he couldn't hold onto anything… He wasn’t the only one. It was all in fun. If you look close at these series of errors by Dotel, Daniel McCutchen, Donnelly, Zach Duke and Joel Hanrahan, you can see the other pitchers giggling in the background. 
One day of drills is not enough to start making predictions, but you have to love just seeing guys in uniform out on the field. 
Enjoy the comedy of errors above, courtesy of the Pirates pitching staff. I am SURE that scenes like this could be witnessed at each and every camp in baseball. Up next, more drills, more stretching, more catch, but also some bats… Much more to come from Pirate City. I love this game! troll out.
