Welcome Omar Vizquel

The White Sox signed Omar Vizquel, who will be 43 in April, to a one year deal today. He will be used as a backup middle infielder.

The White Sox have a knack for high profile Venezuelan shortstops. Although it would have been nice to have Vizquel ten or twenty years ago, Kenny Williams seems to prefer high profile stars in the twilight of their careers.

Hopefully, Omar will bring a much needed spark to the lineup and stability in the middle infield. He did a decent job as a backup player with the Rangers last year, so there is no indication that the Sox can't expect more of the same.

Welcome to Chicago, Omar! You'll love it here.

Memories Linger

Memories are something that no one can take away. I have vivid memories starting around two years old. One of my best memories was from July 5, 1981. I was a few months shy of five years old, but there I was at my Uncle Jack's house playing catch with him in the backyard.

I can remember feeling so much joy in that one simple act. Playing catch with my uncle may have only lasted a few minutes, maybe less, but at that age, it seemed like an eternity. I was in complete bliss.

I imagine that we were at some type of barbecue, since it was the day after the fourth of July. I also remember that I chose not to watch my favorite movie that had just started on cable, The Blues Brothers (which I had all of the dialogue memorized by that time). Instead, I went out in my aunt and uncle's backyard to play catch.

My uncle saw how much I enjoyed playing with the baseball, so he inscribed it for me. He spelled my first name out on the sweet spot and underneath he wrote, "FROM UNCLE JACK 7-5-81". I still have that ball today and whenever I want a quick smile, I'll pull that ball out and reminisce.

My Uncle Jack passed away on Wednesday in Florida. He was in the middle of playing golf, so I can take comfort that he was doing something he loved in his last moments.

I didn't see him very much over the years. My dad's side of the family only gets together for weddings and funerals, mainly. I did get to visit him when I got my driver's license. He sold me my first auto insurance policy. He shook my hand and offered his congratulations.

It's those little moments that I will always remember. If this blog is lacking in the new post department over the next few days, now you know why. This weekend my mission is to find a ball holder for that ball.

Card Spotlight: 11-20-09

1992 Pinnacle #227 - Dan Pasqua

Once upon a time, there were a plethora of baseball card companies in existence. Each had many different releases. Sometimes the sets were so diverse, that one could not distinguish which cards came from which company without looking at the tiny print.

2009 is a much simpler time, in that respect. There are only so many places where cards come from today. By 2010, there will only be one card company that will be fully licensed to produce cards. That company would be Topps. As of next year, only Topps will be able to produce images of players with logos. Any other company will need to get creative.

Back in 1992, only card sets that came with baked goods and cereal had to airbrush logos out. Pinnacle has long since ceased production of baseball cards. Still, the memories of this age are fresh in my mind. It may have been the overproduction era, but there were so many choices.

Innovations in how cards were presented were born out of healthy competition between card companies. Where will the Dan Pasquas of today find a home? Today's Dan Pasqua is someone like a Nick Swisher, with one difference. Dan Pasqua would not showboat or complain about where he ended up on the field. Dan Pasqua would play wherever the manager assigned him.

He did not fuss or cry foul if he wasn't in the lineup. He came to the park ready to play and did his job to the best of his ability. There was no flash, yet Dan occasionally had a flair for the dramatic, when he would hit a mammoth home run. His numbers may not show it, but I felt confident every time that Dan came up against a right handed pitcher.

I, along with many other collectors, miss Pinnacle. I miss all of the other fallen brands too. There was a feeling I would get when I went to the card shop and had a smorgasbord of packs to choose from. Pinnacle always stood out when I was in a pinch. Dan Pasqua stood out to me when the Sox were in a pinch. Whenever I run across a Pinnacle card in my collection, I always think about this card of Pasqua and collecting as a teenager. Looking back, I wouldn't trade either memory for the world.

Heartbreakingly Random Shiny

I love unexpected packages in the mail! One such package arrived at my house today from Heartbreaking Cards Of Staggering Genius.

Even with Matt being on hiatus, he is still churning out some amazing posts. Not only is it the place to see Royals cards, Matt even managed to showcase my favorite thirsty vampire manager card in a salute to arms sequel.

With only six cards to the lot, each of them makes a powerful statement.

2007 Bowman Chrome Refractor
BDPP43 - Leroy Hunt

There are so many versions of Bowman prospect cards covering various releases, it's hard to keep up with what set each card is from. For those who know, it's dedication.

2007 Topps Chrome Blue Refractor
206 - Jose Contreras

The shiny blue border makes this card look awesome!

2008 Topps Chrome Blue Refractor
79 - Paul Konerko

The same can be said for this blue bordered shiny card from the following year!

2008 Topps Gold
486 - Javier Vazquez (0170/2008)

Let's speak some freaky deeky Dutch. Gooooooooooooold!!!!

2008 Topps Opening Day Gold
113 - Jose Contreras (1908/2008)

These gold variations have eluded me, for the most part.

2009 Sweet Spot
13 - Carlos Quentin

Mmmmm... bumpy card! Feel the stitching!

Thanks, Matt! These cards were an unexpected and cool surprise.

1990 Score McDonalds

One of the greatest thrills and greatest frustrations is running into a set that was a test run. It makes it even harder when that set is issued by a fast food restaurant.

These cards were put out by Score for a McDonalds test run in eleven stores. These eleven stores were located in the great MLB areas of Idaho and eastern Oregon. Whoever had the bright idea that this would be a good testing ground for a MLB card set should have been fired. That's almost like saying that I want to put a hockey franchise in Ecuador.

There are 25 cards in the set, but that's not where it gets bad. It is believed that only 4,000 of each card was produced. Who knows how many cards actually survived due the the extreme nature of the test run.

Regardless, there are still two White Sox cards to chase in the set.

4 - Carlton Fisk
21 - Ozzie Guillen

This looks similar to the 1990 Score release with a McDonalds logo stuck on the card. This actually improves upon that set design by using a gradient style for the border. It does scream early nineties, but the dated look is offset by the rarity of the cards.

The cards are usually way overpriced on the secondary market. A complete set is worth around fifty dollars, while the commons are about a dollar and twenty five cents. If you can find these cards at a decent price, they are worth picking up. Just don't overpay for them.

1983 All-Star Game Program Inserts

Unlike most sets, I really don't know much about this set. From the listing of the set, I would assume that these were inserts in the 1983 All-Star Game program. Even if the history of the cards elude me, I can still enjoy them.

The insert set itself is 180 cards. They seem to be separated by position and then arranged by alphabetical order. The cards only measure 2 inches by 1 1/4 inches, so they are tiny!

Of the 180 cards, there are only six cards featuring White Sox players.

6 - Tom Paciorek
40 - Carlton Fisk
47 - Harold Baines
59 - Greg Luzinski
75 - Richard Dotson
81 - Dennis Lamp

This is a cool little set. The cards are paper thin and remind me of a cross between postage stamps and vending machine stickers. This set is so oddball, that I can't even find it in the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards.

I think it's pretty neat to have a set of White Sox inserts from an All-Star Game played at Comiskey Park. It's a great way to remember the event. Hopefully, I'll be able to track down more of these sets from different years.

Mailbox Joys: Mr. Bo Jackson

2009 Topps Updates & Highlights #UH52b - Bo Jackson

I have a love/hate relationship with hidden variations in sets. I love the idea behind them, but I hate the task of tracking these variations down at a price that won't break the bank.

Luckily, I found the White Sox Bo Jackson variation for under $2.00 with a low shipping price. I'm glad that I jumped on the card because every other seller had this card listed around $5.00 with ridiculously high shipping.

I haven't been lucky enough to find any variations in any 2009 Topps product this year. I'm a little shocked that a White Sox player popped up in the variations. If Topps wanted to go mainstream, they would have chosen Bo in a Royals uniform. If they wanted to go obscure, Topps would have had Bo pictured in an Angels uniform. Instead, Topps went middle of the road and I couldn't be happier about that.

If Topps were to make a set next year with great players in rarely seen uniforms, I would probably collect that set. The oddity of Ken Griffey Jr. in a White Sox uniform could be followed by the strangeness of Babe Ruth in a Braves uniform or George Foster in a White Sox uniform.

Mark Grace in a Diamondbacks uniform, followed by Reggie Jackson as an Oriole. The possibilities are endless! Somewhere down the line, most famous players have worn an odd duck uniform. A regular set featuring that would be collecting heaven for me. I think that's why I loved the Obak set so much this year. Even the career one team players were featured in a different uniform. It was fun!

Bo Jackson was the biggest hurdle of completing the 2009 Topps Update set. Now, it's gotten a whole lot easier.

Who Knew?

Apparently Baileys is better than Bacon.

At least according to the AL Rookie of the Year voting.

Congrats to Andrew Bailey for beating Gordon Beckham.

Maybe I should celebrate by combining alcohol and bacon?

Autographed Hawk

Because some people wanted to see it, here is my autographed 1989 Topps Andre Dawson card.

I obtained it through a card shop around 1990.

Originally, I was unsure of having a Cub autograph in my collection. Hawk won me over with the awesome signature and his even more awesome playing.

I used to love the Expos. I have a soft spot for Expos players. Hawk was an awesome player for the Expos. It was a simple decision after that.

I do have other things in my collection, other than White Sox cards and a few player collections. I just don't seek these things out. Somehow, they seek me.

The Many Faces Of Sosa

Fresh faced rookie

Speedy strikeout king

Raging monster

Aging hipster

Token white guy

Card Spotlight: 11-13-09

1991 Score Traded #81T - Brian Drahman

Sometimes it's the most common cards that elude you. Even in the overproduced era of baseball cards, I still have commons that I have never seen.

A year ago, I lacked a Barry Jones card to complete a 1991 Donruss Sox set. Finally, I got that card in a trade and was able to finally put '91 Donruss to rest.

Today, I finally completed the 1991 Score Traded set. I had a few cards left to pick up but I was never able to find the cards as singles. I broke down and just bought the whole set. It was simpler than tracking down singles that were only available in a set.

I found an unopened set online with free shipping. I was the only bidder so I ended up paying $3.50 for the set. When it arrived in the mail, the postage was $3.89. It literally cost more to ship the set than I shelled out. That's the way it works, when dealing with cards from the overproduced era. That's why you don't see a lot of commons up for sale.

The sad thing is that I now own rookie cards of Ivan Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell and many others in this set that I picked up for a song. I am happy about that aspect, but something still saddens me about having to obtain cards this way. If I were a set collector, I would be thrilled. I only collect the White Sox and a few select players.

The only thing I really remember about Brian Drahman is the palmball. I can remember Ken Harrelson and Tom Paciorek making a huge deal about Brian throwing one. The pitch was a mild success in the hands of Drahman. He stuck around the majors for four years, mainly because of that one pitch. It must have impressed other people as well. He is currently the pitching coach for the minor league Great Falls, Montana team.

The Voyagers, which are an Advanced Rookie class team, have been an affiliate of the White Sox since 2003. Ex White Sox players never fade away. They just become White Sox employees. I can respect that. It's nice to have continuity. It's also nice to complete a pesky traded set with a common reliever.

Dinged Corners Challenge: 3 On Card Autos

I have many autographs in my collection. Not as many as some people, but a fair share. I will share three that I obtained before autographs were included in products.

1990 Topps - Frank Thomas
I bought this after a signing at Chicago Ridge Mall when Frank was there for a signing in his rookie year. The shop always had the signers autograph extra to sell at the shop later. I took one look at the lines for Frank and decided it would be a wise move to come back after the signing to get my autograph. One of the best decisions I ever made!


1990 Upper Deck - Carlton Fisk
The same shop had a Fisk combo autographed card and ball. I saved up and purchased this shortly after the Frank Thomas.

1985 Donruss - Harold Baines
The card was picked up at a card show in 1995. I was rifling through the autographed cards, just to see if they had anything interesting. I had stopped collecting, but my friend thought it would be fun to attend a show at the local K of C. I came with no shopping agenda, but I saw this card cheap and snatched it up. I added an autographed ball about ten years later and tracked down a ball/card display holder and that is how it has stayed.

Other cards that were considered.

1993 Upper Deck - Jason Bere
1989 Topps - Andre Dawson
1990 Leaf - Shawn Boskie

All were cards that I picked up in my youth, before an autograph was expected out of a pack.

Happy Veterans Day

Pictured on their way to Hawaii in 1944: (back row left to right) Walt Judnich; then-future White Sox player, Mike McCormick; Joe DiMaggio; (front row left to right) then-current White Sox player, Dario Lodigiani; Jerry Priddy.

Let us never forget the sacrifices that people in the armed forces made. Some things are even more important than baseball. And remember, even if you don't support war, always support the troops.

2nd Anniversary Contest Winner

I got a lot of interesting responses, which is exactly what I was looking for. I even accepted "nothing" as an answer. I didn't want to come out and say that could be an answer or everyone would end up saying that. That being said, Patrick Swayze definitely was a lame favorite, as was the post where this very contest was announced.

I'm not promising anything, but I don't think that Swayze in drag picture will ever make another appearance on this blog. Never say never though. I can be enough of a cheeky bastard to pull that out again, if provoked.

Congratulations to RoofGod for coming out on top in the randomizer!!

Please e-mail me your address and a choice of baseball team and I will mail out some cards shortly after.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with their entry, opinion and/or well wishes. Let's try for another successful year!

Post script...

I use Firefox exclusively to view and edit this blog. I haven't had any problems since switching over to this browser over a year ago. Kinda weird that someone else could not see this blog properly using the same browser. I'm glad that there are good alternatives out there for those of you who have trouble viewing the blog properly.

Contest Time!

White Sox Cards turns two today. I want to hold an easy contest & I'd like some brutal honesty. Leave a comment on this post between now and 11:59 PM today and your name will be put in the randomizer. You could win some free cards!!

Here's the catch. I want to hear what you think is the lamest post on this blog over the past two years. It could be anything. It's your opinion. It could be something from the infancy of this blog. It could be something recent that you thought was the stupidest thing ever. There are no wrong or right answers here. Just some honest feedback.

If there is no answer whatsoever, the comment will not count towards the contest. You can comment as many times as you like, but only one entry will be accepted.

Be creative. Be honest. I want to give out free cards to somebody!!