TTM: Ross Grimsley

Did you know that despite being a premier starting pitcher for the Reds, Ross Grimsley was traded to the Orioles for Merv Rettenmund after the 1973 season, largely in part for his constant resistance to the Reds organization's conservative grooming rules?

Finding the Time

It's been tough recently to find time to blog. My life has been hectic recently with the demands of work and home life. Not that that's a reasonable excuse or anything. I'm also beginning to ponder the future of this blog. I've reviewed most of the Topps Reds team sets I have from 1952 to 2013 as well as the T 206 set, but I haven't touched on the Bowman sets from 1948-1951, the Play Ball sets, the Goudey sets, the American Caramel set or the original Cracker Jack sets mostly because I still don't have a single card from these sets and I don't want to judge something that I don't have in my possession as of yet. Basically, I'm to the point where I have no time to blog on a daily basis nor the desire really to do so. I do want to finish what I started so I plan on wrapping up this blog by the end of the year. I just hope I have enough enthusiasm to do so :)

TTM: Tim Birtsas

Did you know that on June 4, 1990 Tim Birtsas struck out four batters in one inning? That's un-possible!

TTM: Jim Greengrass

Did you know that Jim Greengrass share the major league record for most doubles hit on opening day? He belted four of them on April 13, 1954.

Dusty Baker Bobblehead

This past week I was fortunate enough to add another bobblehead to my collection. While I haven't had much success with completing my 2013 card collecting goals, I've knocked off half of the remaining bobbleheads I need for my collection. This amazing bobblehead was given out to the first 30,000 fans on July 2, 2011 when the Reds fell to the Indians. This is probably one of my most favorite bobbleheads I have in my collection for three reasons: a bobblehead of a manager, he's wearing the gray uniform (which is by far my favorite), and it comes with toothpicks! Very sweet!

TTM: Gary Nolan

Did you know that Gary Nolan was third in voting for Rookie of the Year Award in 1967? He lost out to some guy names Seaver.

It took me a while but...

I finally finished my 2005 Studio set. I started on this set back in 2011 and I had every intention of finishing up this set last year, but I became sidetracked with acquiring some bobbleheads I needed for my collection. I've always thought the Studio sets were some of the best sets that Donruss released in terms of design and photography. Granted, the set doesn't scream out ACTION with its laid back imagery of ballplayers but that's what makes it so appealing. The one gripe I have with this set is that I wish Donruss had stayed true to it's original 1991 release and had the card backs consists of personal information about the ballplayers instead of laden with stats. I think it's fascinating to know what someone's favorite movie is, who their hero is, and what their favorite food might be. Does that stuff deal with baseball? No, but it does give us a glimpse into the player beyond the numbers they post from season to season. Baseball is more than numbers. It's about the guys we love to cheer for each and every night as they take the diamond to play a game they love.