"O" It's "A" Shameless Plug

I'm not sure what possessed me to take on the responsibility of contributing to another blog. Hell, I can barely keep up with my two solo blogs. Add in my fantasy football commish and writing duties and I'm behind almost all the time. But I couldn't resist Jim from Downingtown's invite to add some posts to his 1963 Topps blog, so I bit.

Jim has also added Collective Troll as part of the blog so it should be fun. I'm definately third string on this team but I'll do what I can when called on. My supply of '63s is pretty limited. I've got the Orioles in the set of course, and a few star cards that are buried somewhere in my hobby closet. But I've picked up a few small, really cheap lots on eBay so I have some cards to keep things moving for awhile. If you are looking for NM examples you are going to be disappointed. My cheap lots were cheap for a reason.

The 1963 set is colorful and it is one I clearly recall collecting as a kid. I was a fifth grader at St. Mary's School in Nutley, NJ when the packs first hit the candy counter of Lee's Confectionary that spring. I'd use my milk money to pick up a pack as we waited for the city bus that took us to school and I'd open the pack on the way. I'm guessing that half the time I'd either lose the cards 'flipping' at recess or have them taken away by Sister Theresa during class. 

The Chuck Estrada card up top is a nice one. The pose that has him rubbing up the baseball is just a little different than most pitchers cards. I love the Orioles unis from that era. That cartoon bird on the sleeve just rocks. 

I have a few '63 cards posts up already. I hope you'll take a peek over there from time to time and let us know how we are doing. Thanks.

Meanwhile, here are a few of the more colorful cards from the little stack on my desk.

1957 Topps Art Ditmar

The '57 Topps set is just so great. I'm partial to it to a large extent because it contains the rookie card of Brooks Robinson. But so many of the cards are nice. The Koufax, the flipped negative Hank Aaron, The Ted Williams. Take a stroll over here and see if you don't agree. I bet you have forgotten how cool the '57 set is.

I like that Art Ditmar is wearing white undersleeves for his shot. I think those are against the rules nowadays. Might have been then, too. Ditmar may just have been wearing them before the game on a day he wasn't pitching.

The coloring on this card almost makes it look like a 'night card' but I doubt it is. Probably just how the flash illuminated Ditmar or maybe it was recolored. Hard to say. And Topps included an unusual 'Traded' line on the back. Instead of the standard dry 'Traded to Yankees in April' they fleshed it out with "As this card went to press..." and they used red ink to set it off.

Ditmar is pictured in his A's uni with the Yankees listed as his club. Interestingly one of the players he was traded for, Tom Morgan has been airbrushed into an A's cap. Morgan's Yankee pinstripes are still visible.

Getting my Mossi on

A few weeks ago I was posting about cheap classic Don Mossi cards. I mentioned that I was missing the wonderful 1966 Topps Mossi. Well I found this really nice copy on eBay for $1.25 shipped. Can't beat that!

The card is a bit off-centered to the left on the back, but not above the name box/cartoon as my scan would lead you to believe. It's a really sharp card. KC was Don's last major league stop. And I think this is his last card. 

I'm not the only guy happy to own it either. Not sure who this guy* is but he's damn proud of his '66 as well.

                           

*Actually I do know now, it's film critic Glenn Kerry. Don't know what he thinks of any movies but his taste in baseball cards is impeccable.

Even more of Mossi. He's included in the Italian American Baseball Heroes set that I bought but haven't gotten around to unsealing yet. This is the portrait that is on his card. Wonder where the artist found his inspiration?

                                             

And finally Don Mossi salutes my adopted state of Texas!