TTM: Todd Benzinger

While Barry Larkin and Pete Rose are my favorite Reds, Todd Benzinger will always hold a special place in my heart. Benzinger not only recorded the last out of the 1990 World Series, he's also a graduate of New Richmond High School (New Richmond, Ohio) where I too am a proud alumni.

TTM: Bronson Arroyo

I enjoy watching Bronson Arroyo pitch. His high kick delivery is a thing of beauty. I just wish I had his bobblehead.

Marty and Joe Bobblehead

I picked this up on eBay a few weeks ago to add to my Cincinnati Reds bobblehead collection and all I can say is WOW!!! This is one of my favorite bobbleheads I have in my collection. I've always wanted to add this to my collection and for less than $25 shipped I think it was a steal. Growing up in Cincinnati, if I wasn't watching a game on TV, I was listening to it on the radio and thanks to Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall it was a treat to listen to a Reds game on 700 WLW.

TTM: Lloyd McClendon

I did NOT know that Lloyd McClendon is currently the hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers. Then again, I'm not a Tigers fan and this blog isn't titled Detroit Tigers Baseball Card Collector.

TTM: Tom Carroll

Tom Carroll only played two seasons in the majors (1974-1975) but you can't complain if you're Tom when one of those seasons you play on a world champion team!

TTM: Jim Brosnan

Did you know that Jim Brosnan was born on October 24, 1929...the day most commonly referred to as Black Thursday and the beginning of the Stock Market Crash! Coincidence?

TTM: Ron Oester

Ron Oester was another one of my favorite Reds growing up. Maybe because he didn't live too far from my childhood home.

TTM: Joe Nolan

Joe Nolan, seems as though there were a lot of Joe's who caught for the Reds during the 80s and 90s.

TTM: Dave Bristol

I wonder if Bristol Palin was named after Dave Bristol?

TTM: Joe Oliver

Did you know that Joe Oliver was a member of the 1990 Reds World Champion team? Well, he was!!!

TTM: Mike Cameron

Looking back at the Griffey trade, I think I would have preferred that the Reds held on to Mike Cameron. He didn't wind up on the DL as much as Griffey did.

TTM: Jack McKeon

Still bitter that the Reds let Jack McKeon go back in the 2001, even though he is older than dirt.

TTM: Ed Bailey

One of my first successes in obtaining autographs through the mail. A fact I did not know, Ed Baily had a brother, Jim, who also played in the majors for the Reds.

TTM: Frank McCormick

Did you know that Frank McCormick is one of only three national league players with three consecutive Hits titles (1938, 1939, 1940). Ginger Beaumont and Rogers Hornsby are the other two. My apologies for the crappy scan.

TTM: Ewell Blackwell

Did you know that Ewell Blackwell's nickname was "The Whip"?  Whip it good!

My Very First Trade!

I recently completed my first trade since joining the cardboard blogsphere. While browsing some wantlists on the various blogs I read I came across a list for 1986-87 Fleer basketball over at the Cardboard Junkie. I contacted Dayf to see if he was interested in some cards he needed for the set and the rest is history. I received the package today in the mail and was very happy with the sixteen cards he sent me. My thanks to Dayf for the 86-87 Fleer cards.

TTM: Lonny Frey

Did you know that Lonny Frey was not only named the Red's All-Time Second Baseman, but also the last living player to play for all three New York baseball teams in the 1930s and 1940s.

Another one bites the dust!

Yesterday I received a package in the mail from a recent ebay purchase. Curious as to what was inside? Well, for the price of two blaster boxes I was able to land the last three 1962 cards I needed for my Reds team set. There were a total of 32 cards in the lot with all of them in vg-ex condition. When I first saw the listing I had to do a double take. Although I had most of the high number cards there was one that I was sure would take me FOREVER to acquire...594 Don Pavletich. It's not that Don was a superstar or anything, but he was fortunate to share the card with BOB UECKER!!! I haven't been able to find this card alone for less than $55 and, like I said, I had to do a double take when I saw this card included in the lot. The price I paid for all 32 cards was like getting a steal on the Uecker Rookie and having the other 31 thrown in for free. Other highlights I received was a Frank Robinson card and a Don Zimmer card. I'm very happy to cross this off my list card collecting goal.By the way, if anyone is interested in some 1962 Topps Reds cards, I have 29 cards I would be willing to trade on my wantlist. Here's what I have available (2, 16, 41, 80, 103, 120, 148, 151, 171, 172, 193, 205, 258, 263, 267, 282, 302, 331, 364, 381, 393, 414, 440, 450, 465, 487, 508, 524, 552)

TTM: Bucky Walters

Bucky Walters...not to be confused with Bucky Barnes.

TTM: Pat Zachry

Pat Zachry...the 1976 NL Rookie of the Year and member of the Big Red Machine. Very sweet, especially since he personalized it to me!

TTM: Ted Kluszewski

Ted Kluszewski aka "Big Klu" sported a massive set of guns. So much so that he cut off the sleeves of his uniform because the tight sleeves constricted his large biceps and shoulders and interfered with his swing.