Wire to Wire

It seems like ages since the 1990 season (26 years to be more precise). The 1990 Reds were a team that no one imagined would win the World Series when the season began, myself included. I still don't know to this day how a scrappy mid market team from the  National League West was able to stay in first place from Opening Day through the end of the season. Regardless, it was a season to remember for Reds fans. This copy of the Cincinnati Post commemorates the Reds spectacular season and World Series championship. I still need to have the newspaper framed for displaying, but I'm happy that it's part of my collection. I don't have much hope for the 2016 season since the Reds appear to be in a rebuilding stage but who knows, they just might surprise everyone like they did back in 1990.

1940 World Series Ticket

Last year I completed my master set of 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen. While I was happy with the design of the cards, for some reason I just had this nagging feeling that it didn't belong in my collection. The old school ballplayers were great, but the more I thought about the set the more I started feeling as though those cards were always second class compared to a card from the year that player graced the field. So, I got rid of the set and decided to pick up a few things that I had my eye on for quite some time but never had the funds to grab them. The first is what you see above, a ticket from the 1940 World Series. This is my fourth World Series ticket (1975, 1976, and 1990 being the others) in my collection. The Reds won this series in seven games over the Detroit Tigers. This will probably be the last ticket I have in my collection until the Reds win another title. I've decided not to chase tickets to series where they were the bridesmaid for that season. I know that I could still go after a ticket from the 1919 World Series, but $2,000 seems a little steep for me at this point in my lift. I will accept donations though from anyone out there that has one lying around that they no longer need.

TTM: Lou Piniella

Lou Piniella not only managed the Reds to a 1990 World Series championship, but he also holds the record for distance in throwing second base.

TTM: Joe Oliver

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

TTM: Jose Rijo

Another baseball season is in the books. While I'm less than thrilled that the Giants won the World Series this year, I suppose it could have been worse (i.e. the Cardinals being crowned World Champions). Regardless, I've been pondering the "What could have been" had the Reds only taken one more game from San Francisco in the NLDS. It's been a loooooooong time since the Reds have made it to the World Series (1990) when Jose Rijo helped Cincinnati win a World Championship and himself winning the MVP in the 1990 series.

GET OVER HERE!

It's always nice to finish a set. Today I was finally able to knock off my 1958 Topps Reds team set from my 2012 Card Collecting Goals list. The last card I needed from the set was the Frank Robinson All-Star card which I was able to pick up in excellent condition on eBay. With three months to go in 2012 it's becoming more likely that I won't be able to complete all my goals, especially since I was sidetracked earlier this year with picking up some World Series tickets from the 1975, 76 and 90 series for a steal. Here's hoping that I'll have to get a 2012 World Series ticket in the next few weeks!

Mariano Duncan Autographed Bat

Here's another autographed Louisville Slugger bat that's part of my Reds collection. Mariano Duncan was a member of the 1990 Reds World Championship team. He was traded in 1989 by the Dodgers, along with Tim Leary, for Kal Daniels and Lenny Harris. While he was never an All-Star during his two years in Cincinnati, his contributions in the field and batting helped the Reds to their first Wire-to-Wire World Series Championship. The bat itself has been cracked and repaired, but the autograph is in pristine condition. A nice piece from a great second baseman for the Reds.

Chris Sabo Bobblehead

My latest pickup this week is another bobblehead to add to my ever expanding Reds bobblehead collection. Spuds was a member of the 1990 World Champion Reds team and also the 1988 National League Rookie of the Year. A three time All-Star, Sabo was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame on July 17, 2010. This bobblehead was given out to fans in attendance of Reds/Rockies game that evening. Reds fans were treated to an 8-1 victory in addition to taking home this awesome nodder! Unfortunately, if I keep buying bobbleheads or world series tickets, I won't be able to complete the Reds team sets on my 2012 card collecting goals. Guess I need to get back on track soon.

1990 World Series Ticket

I'm back from vacation and decided to post my latest pickup. I was able to add this 1990 World Series ticket stub to my memorabilia collection. I still think it's amazing that the Reds went wire-to-wire in 1990 AND swept the Oakland Athletics in the World Series! I won't deny the fact that I was a HUGE Canseco and McGwire fan at the time and was sporting an As hat that year (momentary lapse of sanity). But I was happy that Cincinnati was crowned World Champs that year since Cincinnati needed something special after going through the whole Pete Rose debacle. A Red October....how sweet it was.