Card of the Week: "**** Happens"

I haven't been very active in posting up a "Card of the Week," and I cannot promise that there will be any future post in this vein.  On the other hand, maybe this winter gives me an opportunity to restart this feature.  I dunno, we'll see what the future holds.  Nevertheless, with the Giants winning the World Series last night I thought this 1996 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Baseball card of Dante Bichette (#135) would be a fun way to start.  After all, after witnessing yesterdays final game of the season, all I can say is "Bichette Happens!"

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Card of the Week: 1951 Bowman Paul Richards

This is probably one of the goofiest vintage drawings on a Baseball card ever made. Featured is former White Sox manager Paul Richards giving his best "outstretched-neck" rooster impression on a 1951 Bowman Baseball card. 

When I first saw this I couldn't figure out how an artist could fail so badly as to find this drawing acceptable.  That giant neck doesn't look natural.  Well, as luck would have it I ran into a photo of Paul Richards just a few years older (when he managed Baltimore) than this card that explains it.  Richards seemed to have a really long neck.  Check out that photo below.

(Photo via Wikipedia Commons)

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Card of the Week: Ouch!!

This is a feature I had done for many months several years ago, but stopped doing for reasons that are totally foreign to me today.  I dunno.  Maybe I just got bored with it.  Or maybe, the constant search for cards that I thought were noteworthy became too taxing.

Either way, I thought I would bring it back, at least for a short time.

Check out the above minor league card made in 1989 by Pro Cards.  It features Las Vegas Stars pitcher Keith Comstock, and as you can see he took one for the team.

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Card of the Week: King of Beers

This Bud's for you, Jay Johnstone. He sure knows how to party. He's hanging out at good ol' Wrigley Field prepared for some wet weather and thinking about lounging out on the dugout steps with a cold one. Here is his 1984 Fleer Baseball card which is this week's "Card of the Week".

Card of the Week: Happy Birthday Bulldog

One of the great pitchers from my childhood turned 52 today. His name is Orel Leonard Hershiser, and this fan will never forget his amazing season in 1988. He was unstoppable like a runaway 18 wheel truck heading down the Cajon Pass. You better get out of the way otherwise you'll get flattened with the force of a thousand Dodger Blue angels. So in honor of this glorious day I bring you the above 1988 Topps "Big" Baseball card of Orel Hershiser, also affectionately known as the Bulldog, as this weeks "Card of the Week."

I remember when this set first came out. They were the hottest thing out there. Fans and collectors went crazy for them. They were meant to resemble the 1956 Topps set and even measured in size to that vintage set- hence the name Topps Big. Printed on clean white and thick cardboard stock with a glossy finish, they really had the quality many collectors had not seen yet. So, collectors lined up in groves to get a box, or two.

Card of the Week: Nice Hair

The man known for the greatest hair in Baseball, this 1976 Topps card of Oscar Gamble is one of the hobby's most well known cards and worthy of distinction as this weeks "Card of the Week." Below are some more pics of the famous Gamble style.

Card of the Week: Triple Womack

I really enjoy Baseball cards with multiple negatives. They are a great way to capture the grace and majesty of the game on a little piece of cardboard. Above is Tony Womack's 1998 Upper Deck card featuring Sammy Sosa sliding into 2nd base as Womack attempts to turn a double play. Just another great addition to this weeks "Card of the Week."

Card of the Week: Monobrow

All hail the monobrow. This iconic card is a favorite of mine, so, I felt it was about time I declare this 1963 Topps card of Wally Moon as this weeks "Card of the Week."

Vintage cards don't get much better than this.

Card of the Week: Snake Man

After a short hiatus I bring to you this weeks "Card of the Week." It is a 1984 Fleer card of Glenn Hubbard as he shows off a giant snake. Strangely enough, the Phillie Phanatic looks eager to get closer. I wonder if boa's are a part of his diet.

Card of the Week: Tekulve

I just realized that I had not posted a "Card of the Week" for some time- a couple of weeks by my estimation. So, in my haste to do this before getting back to work, here is a 1985 Topps card of side-arm reliever Kent Tekulve. This guy was always an oddity on the field- at least to me. He wore dark sunglasses on the mound and had a herky-jerky side-arm throw that looked like a farmer with a sickle harvesting grain. His tall and lanky stature allowed him to stretch his arms out on the follow-through- as if reaching across the dinner table for the mash potatoes. Tekulve hardly seemed intimidating, but his pitch came as such a strange angle it just must have been difficult to see the ball.

Card of the Week: A Vintage Allen & Ginter

With the recent unveiling of this years Topps Allen & Ginter set I thought that an actual vintage A&G would make a good "Card of the Week". Above is my 1887 N28 Allen & Ginter card of master shooter and rifleman Annie Oakley. It's far from being in mint condition, but at least I can say it's mine.

Card of the Week: Power of the Big Unit

Here is Randy Johnson's 1993 Stadium Club card, #501, as this weeks "Card of the Week." It shows the power this man brought to the field.

Card Of The Week: Kuiper broken bat

Check out this "Card of the Week." Even though a Giant player is featured you gotta love the uniqueness of the photo. It is a 1983 Fleer Duane Kuiper.

Card of the Week: Rojo Johnson

Could this possibly be the best card of 2010. Above is the "Card of the Week" featuring the wild and crazy Billy Ray Rojo Johnson- who plays comedian Will Ferrell during the off-season. It is a part of the Round Rock Express minor league team set that was handed out to fans this past Saturday in Texas.

Hat Tip: Beckett.com.

Here's some background on this pitcher.

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Here are some videos to remind you of his debut game.

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From behind home plate.

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Warming up.

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Card of the Week: Nolan Ryan's Routine

Now that Upper Deck is out of the picture, Topps decides to copy one of the best cards they have ever made. See it here. Above is a short printed variation in the 2010 Topps Series 2 set that came out recently which features Nolan Ryan warming up his arm with a football. According to published reports only 3,000 cards were made.

Card of the Week: Bat Follows Ball

Sometimes the bat and ball are inseparable. Above is Roberto Alomar's 1993 Leaf card, as this weeks "Card of the Week," which proves the point.

Card of the Week: Etch-A-Sketch Nomo

I use to hate Etch-A-Sketch. For hours on end I would try to draw something nice, but it ended up just being ugly and indecipherable. An artist I was not.

So, to see a piece of work like this done by a 18 year old kid named George Vlosich made me both green with envy and mesmerized as I looked with wonder. I remember that he gained some notoriety in the 90's which eventually led to a group of Baseball cards that showed off some of his art. Above is a insert from the 1997 Topps set of Hideo Nomo.

Check out more of George's artwork here.

Card of the Week: Dual Autos

It doesn't get much better than this. Above is a Upper Deck Exquisite Signature card featuring autos of Chad Billingsley and Hong-Chih Kuo. Even better is that Kuo signs in Chinese.

Card of the Week: Nomo Three Times

Here is this weeks "Card of the Week." It is a 1995 Upper Deck Collectors Choice #180 rookie card of Hideo Nomo. This is a great view of Nomo's wind-up to his follow-through.

Card of the Week: Thumbs Up

From Donruss's inaugural effort, here is legendary manager Billy Martin on his 1981 Donruss card.