The 792: #151 - 200

I can't seem to stay motivated to write about cards lately. Maybe it's because when I moved, most of my collection found its way into boxes currently sitting in my parents' basement. Or maybe it's because I've started watching Red Dwarf and I can't seem to stop. Or maybe it's because I'm too busy reading everybody else's card blog and can't make time for my own. If 2006 was the year of the re-emergence of the baseball card, 2007 is the year of the baseball card-themed blog. There's Cardboard Junkie, Stale Gum, Cardboard Gods, The Brill Report, Thorzul Will Rule, Indians Cards, White Sox Cards, the 1983 Fleer Project – hell, even Beckett has got into the act. Next thing you know, Topps is going to roll out Bazooka Joe's Blog. Hopefully by then blogs will be passe.

My not writing doesn't mean that I haven't been doing card-related things. I'm in the process of putting together an ebook as sort of a "collected blog." I've still got a lot of layout and editing to do, so it probably won't be ready for download for a while. I'm giving myself February as a launch date. My best guess is that it will be 200 pages or so. One of the obstacles will be figuring out how to keep the file size down for easy loading and viewing. I'm sure I'll work it out.

Before we get to the next installment of The 792 (with Checklister's Notes), I just want to add that I don't normally address comments left on the site. I welcome any comments you want to leave on any given post (as long as they have to do with the subject matter and are not vulgar), though if your only reason for leaving a comment is to tell me that my writing isn't up to par with your expectations, well, thanks for that. Sorry my writing about baseball cards has put a damper on your day.


The 792: #151 - 200

151. Dave Stapleton, 1986
It still gets me that Stapleton–the Red Sox late-inning defensive replacement–wasn't in the game at the end of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. He was on the team for a good reason: he didn't have creaky arthritic knees like Bill Buckner. Instead, John McNamara left Buckner in and the rest is sad, torturous history. In any event, this is a great card of Stapleton.

152. John Urrea, 1981
153. Jerry Koosman, 1983
154. Dave Henderson, 1984
155. Yogi Berra, 1985 MGR
For some reason, I really like cards of players wearing old-school aviator style sunglasses. Oh sure, players wearing wrap-around shades are cool, but they're a little too sleek, a little too safe. The old aviators remind you how baseball equipment has matured over the years. Remember when Bob Watson got hit in the face and part of the glass in his glasses ended up in his eye? If he played today, he'd be wearing contact lenses and wrap-around shades. Sure, he'd still get beaned, but, well, it wouldn't be so traumatic.

156. A's Team Leaders, 1982
157. Tom Glavine, 1989
158. Fergie Jenkins, 1981
When did Ferguson become Fergie? Also, does this mean that we should call Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas 'Ferguson'? I understand that her name is Stacy Ferguson, but that would be awesome... her name would be Ferguson Ferguson. That's almost as good as Thurman Merman.

159. Ken Clay, 1980
160. Eddie Murray, 1980
It's actually kind of shocking that it only took Murray two years to get to a 2nd tier number (160).

161. Gregg Olson, 1989 (RC)
My friend also wanted to form a band called 'Greg Olson: Catcher.'

162. Home Run Leaders, 1982
163. Cal Ripken, Jr., 1983
164A+B. Greg Pryor, 1980
165. Robin Yount, 1988
166. Dickie Thon, 1986
167. Jim Deshaies, 1987 (RC)
168. Leading Relievers, 1982
169. Larry Parrish, 1984
170. Bo Jackson, 1987 (RC)
This is one of the most iconic cards of the decade.

171. Giants Future Stars, 1982 (RC)
172. Ron Hodges, 1980
173. Alex Trevino, 1987
174. Doug Rau, 1981
175. Bob Stanley, 1987
176. Lee Smith, 1984
177. Monty Farriss, 1989 (RC)
178. Luis Tiant, 1983
179. Steve Garvey, 1982
I chose the Garvey over the Tiant Super Veteran because the Tiant doesn't have a picture of him on the Red Sox, the team he is most associated with. And yes, I understand that it wouldn't include him on the Sox, as he started his career on the Indians.

180. Don Mattingly, 1986
181. Roger Clemens, 1985 (RC)
182. Darryl Strawberry, 1984 (RC)
183. Dick Davis, 1981
This card of Davis is one of my favorites. He looks like a hobo. Actually, 1981 Topps is full of cards of guys who look like hobos.

184. Bobby Bonilla, 1987 (RC)
185. Phil Niekro, 1982
186. Bob Lillis, 1985 MGR
187. Darren Daulton, 1989
188. Doug DeCinces, 1981
189. Kevin Mitchell, 1989
190. Rusty Staub, 1985
191. Wally Backman, 1986
192. Cory Snyder, 1987 (RC)
193. Jimmy Key, 1985 (RC)
194. Tom Kelly, 1988 MGR
195. Paul Molitor, 1982
196. Lance Parrish, 1980
197. Jim Eisenreich, 1983 (RC)
198. Lee Mazzilli, 1987
199. Chuck Rainey, 1981
200. Rod Carew, 1983
Diggin' the headband.