Angels in the Background - Mark Langston

1992 Upper Deck #203 Pat Tabler

That's Mark Langston dejectedly backing up home plate at the Big A as Pat Tabler scores a run off of him. It didn't hurt though as Langston went on to pitch a complete game, 6-2 win over the Blue Jays on Sunday May 26, 1991.

Patriots Season-Starting Quarterbacks

With week 1 of the NFL season under wraps (I wish the Pats could have a do-over) I got curious as to the history of Patriots season starters. 

Below is a card from my collection for all of the quarterbacks that started the season (Game 1) for the Patriots, and the years listed that they did so.

1960

Butch Songin

Need a 1961 Fleer card

1961-1967

Babe Parilli

Placeholder - need a 1961 Topps

1968-1970

Mike Taliaferro

1971-1974

Jim Plunkett

1975

Neil Graff

No Patriot card exists

1976-1981

Steve Grogan

1982

Matt Cavanaugh

1983-1984

Steve Grogan

1985-1986

Tony Eason

1987-1988

Steve Grogan

1989

Tony Eason

1990

Steve Grogan

1991

Tom Hodson

1992

Hugh Millen

1993-2001

Drew Bledsoe

2002-2015

Tom Brady

2016

Jimmy Garoppolo

Placeholder - need a 2016 Patriots card

2017-2019

Tom Brady

2020

Cam Newton

Placeholder - need a 2020 Patriots card.

2021-2023

Mac Jones

2024

Jacoby Brissett

2025-2026

Drake Maye

Trout Tracker - 21

Number 21 was a solo shot in the 1st inning of a 3-4 loss to the Nationals on September 11th.

#1 solo shot in the 7th in a 3-0 win against the Astros on March 26th

#2 solo shot in the 5th in a 6-2 win over the Astros on March 27th

#3 three-run shot in the 6th

and

#4 two-run shot in the 8th in a 10-11 loss to the Yankees on April 13th

#5 solo shot in the 1st in a 7-1 win over the Yankees on April 14th

#6 two-run shot in the 5th in a 4-5 loss to the Yankees on April 15th

#7 solo shot in the 7th in an 11-4 win against the Yankees on April 16th

#8 solo shot in the 5th in an 7-3 win against the Blue Jays on April 22nd

#9 two-run shot in the 1st in a 9-11, 10th inning loss to the Royals on April 26th

#10 solo shot in the 4th in a 2-3, 10th inning loss to the White Sox on April 29th
#11 solo shot in the 1st in a 4-3 win over the White Sox on May 5th

#12 solo shot in the 3rd in a 6-14 shellacking by the Athletics on May 19th

#13 two-run shot in the 1st in a 5-2 win against the Rangers on May 23rd

#14 solo shot in the 5th in a 14-3 win against the Rays on May 30th.

#15 solo in the 1st in a 3-2 walk-off win in the 10th against the Astros on June 10th

#16 solo shot in the 5th in a 3-4 loss to the Diamondbacks on June 15th

#17 2-run shot in the 5th in a 7-0 win against the Diamondbacks on June 16th

#18 2-run shot in the 8th in a 13-1 win against the Rangers on July 8th, the 15th anniversary of his Major League debut.
#19 solo shot in the 1st in a 4-3 win against the Marlins on his birthday August 7th

#20 solo shot in the 1st of a 1-4 loss to the Rangers on August 10th

Clearing The In Box

TCDB trading has been off for several weeks as I have a lot of sorting, photographing, bindering and blogging to do about the trades and other PWEs in my in box.

These are the last of those. Not much commentary here.

 TCDB trade with Paul Gebauer

Paul added the '75 Topps Hannah card as well.

TCDB trade with sporch10

Some of those cool sepia parallels.

World Cup Contest Winnings from A View From the Third Floor

A PWE of Angels and a PWE of football.

Much appreciated!

TCDB trade with Puma1125

The Patriots kick off the season tomorrow.

TCDB trade with sivart94

Time Travel Trading with Diamond Jesters

1964 Topps Checklist

In in box is clear, all cards have been sorted and bindered now, but trading is still off on TCDB.

I'm not quite ready to start it up again.

Random Angels Debut - Bill Buckner

 

Buckner signed as a Free Agent with the California Angels on July 28, 1987 after being released by the Boston Red Sox.

He started at first base that same night in the bottom of the first against the Oakland A's when the A's leadoff batter Luis Polonia hit a single to right field.

He ended the night 3 for 5, with 2 RBI and a run scored in the 9-2 win.

And that was how Bill Buckner made his Angels debut.

Contest Pack Rip

I won a contest over at The Ignorant Collector who was holding an End of Summer Giveaway. Damien's wrapping up the Summer and getting ready for a busy new school year. All we had to do was leave a comment if we wanted to enter but also add a favorite baseball memory if we like. Easy peasy. The prize was a fat pack of 2026 Topps.

Let's rip it and see what we get.

First card is a Yankee, oh well.

Is that some kind of cheat sheet on Austin's wrist? He might be in trouble for that.

Nice Angel and a few rookies and rookie cups.

A nice Misiorowski rookie.

There's an Ohtani.

These are the inserts, not bad.

And Damien threw in a few random Angels cards as well. Nice touch!

Always happy to rip a pack especially one I didn't have to buy myself!

Thanks for the contest, and I hope this school year is a great one for you.

If you're not already following The Ignorant Collector head over to his blog and give him some love.

Random Angels Debut - Billy Grabarkewitz

 

Billy was acquired with Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, Mike Strahler and Bobby Valentine from the Dodgers for Ken McMullen and Andy Messersmith on November 28, 1972.

He started at third base on Friday April 6, 1973 at home against the Royals. He batted leadoff in the bottom of the first and facing Steve Busby popped out to first baseman John Mayberry.

And that was his Angels debut.

The Collector's Anniversary Package

 

I was one of the lucky recipients of The Collector's 40 Years of Collecting/10th Blogging Anniversary prize packages.

It was certainly fun following along while Chris was ripping stuff the last several weeks in preparation of the main event.

Along with rack packs of 1986 (with an Angel on the front!) and 1991 Topps, I got an unopened pack of 1990 Upper Deck. Not sure if I'll open all these or not. You can also see a pack of penny sleeves...always needed, and some other cards tailor-made to my interests.

I was really surprised when Chris pulled the Caden Dana certified autograph.

I'm not sure where he got the signed Fleury from, but I'm glad to have it.

Did pretty well on pulling Angels parallels.

That Jared Walsh should be in with the Parallels as its numbered 184/199.

Chris knew I was a Theoren Fleury collector and included all these great cards.

My number for the draw was 7 for Mickey Mantle.

Unfortunately, no Mantle's were pulled, but I'm sure pleased and thankful to be a part of Chris' celebration.

Happy 40/10 Chris, and here's to many more.

Junk Mall Junk Wax Wednesday

Ripping a pack of junk wax found recently at my local junk mall.

1992 Upper Deck Football Series II.

Pack of 15 cards with the chance to pull a Game Breakers Hologram, a Dan Marino Football Heroes, a Coach's Report insert, or an SP.

You can't judge a pack by its quarterback content, but three QBs in a pack is pretty good.

And at 1:30 I pulled a Game Breakers Hologram!