On this day.... It get's by Buckner

25 years later, even this version is painful to watch.

Parade of Ridiculousness: Clemente dressed as a bumble bee

The tragic death of Roberto Clemente in December 1972 forever immortalized the original black and white version of this image. Here you see the great Clemente acknowledging the ovation of the Pirate fans following his 3000th hit.

It was September 30th, 1972, the Pirates had clinched the NL East title 9 days earlier -- but Clemente provided some more drama for the home fans after a long injury plagued season (he only played 102 games) when he laced a double to left center field to lead off the 4th inning for the milestone hit. At the time, no one knew it would be the last (regular season) at-bat and last (regular season) hit of his career. Because Pirate Manager Bill Virdon pinch hit for him (using soon to be retired and future Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski) before his next turn came up in the game. He did not play in the final three games of the season.

Even though he was still a very productive player when he was playing in 1972, there is no disputing the fact at age 38 -- Clemente was nearing the end of his career. If he had not died, I highly doubt he would have been an active player in 1977 when the Pirates entered their Bumble Bee fashion era. However, I always wondered what he would have looked like sporting these colorful fashion disasters.

Wonder no more Pirates fans.... Roberto Clemente even looked great even wearing those hideous late 1970's all yellow Pirates uniforms.

1975 Topps Traded Project: Tim McCarver

I quickly made this 1975 Tim McCarver "traded" card after getting a request from a friend. He needed it as a gag before Game 3 of the World Series tonight. Appropriately he his talking.

I watch a lot of baseball. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I just can't stand listening to the drone of national broadcasters during the post season. Joe Buck takes every opportunity to turn the games into a series of overly dramatic moments. Once the home team goes down a run or two, TBS and Fox spend as much time panning the crowd for sad faces as they do showing the players playing the actual game. Former big leaguers are brought in for their knowledge and experience to add color, but they just end up sounding like baboons.

I consider myself in the top half of the population regarding baseball knowledge and understanding of the game, and Tim McCarver's voice has turned into nails on a chalkboard for me. I swear McCarver thinks he is teaching a kindergarten class in baseball 101 to a new crowd each and every day. I'm not the only one that feels this way. He has developed quite a cult following of people that simply can't stand to listen to him anymore. If you don't believe me, type in SHUT UP TIM MCCARVER in your search engine.

1975 Topps Traded Project: Garry Maddox

One of the reasons I added DAHoF to the ever expanding Facebook universe is my increased interactions with the growing number of fun baseball focused online communities.

I've posted about them before, but one of these groups I frequent is The Topps Traded 1975 Project. The idea behind this grass roots community is to demonstrate to Topps the unique baseball card concept of "throwback traded sets". Essentially a collection of cards "that never were" because of timing or just plain oversight. There are some really great looking concepts out here including gems such as Mets/Dave Kingman and Indians/Dennis Eckersley.

I have already produced and submitted a couple of these featuring possible Dick Allen (White Sox + Phillies, and Braves) & Reggie Jackson.

Yesterday, while I was sitting in the Houston Airport waiting on a connection, I decided it was time I took a shot at a Garry Maddox version.

May 4, 1975: Garry Maddox is traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Philadelphia Phillies for Willie Montanez. The Phils knew they had Dick Allen coming out of "retirement" making Montanez expendable so they pulled off one of the greatest trades in Phillies history. Maddox developed into the best defensive center-fielder in baseball, winning eight consecutive gold gloves and hitting a respectable .284 during his 12 years in Philadelphia.

On this day.... Red October

October 20th, 1990. The Cincinnati Reds complete an improbable four-game World Series sweep over the heavily favored Oakland Athletics. The A's were the defending World Series Champions and had rolled to their third straight AL pennant. Tony LaRussa's Oakland lineup featured all-stars at almost every position and were led by superstars like Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco & Mark McGwire. Lou Pinella's Reds were predicted to be easy prey for the seemingly invincible green and gold A's but Chris Sabo, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Jose Rijo and a bullpen anchored by three nasty flame throwers (Meyers, Charlton, and Dibble) had other ideas.

Familiar Faces / Strange Places: Frank Robinson / Indians

On October 15, 1972, Jackie Robinson attended a World Series game that included a commemoration for the twenty-fifth anniversary of breaking the color line.

In his televised speech, Robinson again pushed baseball to employ blacks in more capacities: "I'd like to live to see a black manager, I'd like to live to see the day when there's a black man coaching at third base." When Robinson stepped onto the field, it was his second appearance at a Major League Baseball game since ending a self-imposed boycott of baseball which he had begun in protest of the sport's poor record in hiring minorities for managerial and front-office positions.

Nine days later, on October 24, 1972, Jackie Robinson died of a heart attack at his home in Stamford, Connecticut.

The first black baseball manager, Frank Robinson, was hired three years later by the Cleveland Indians.

1993 Topps Dick Allen White Sox card

Parade of Ridiculousness: Mickey in Teal

I'm back!

It has been an incredibly busy week for me. The real world of work, customers, and bosses caught up to me.

I made this Mickey Mantle as a Florida Marlin card last week. It makes me laugh every time I glance over at it. The lack of professional dignity just wearing the color teal brings to a professional baseball player is staggering.

This is the first card I've made using a 1993 Topps design. I wanted to use 1993 because that was the first season of the Marlins franchise. Not 100% pleased with the font match, but the rest of it was pretty simple to piece together.

On this day... Maz goes deep

This ain't no bandwagon you are riding on...

I wrote this last night on my facebook wall after the game ended. Rather than drinking or breaking something, I was searching for something to soothe my crushed soul.

I've been a Phillies Phan since I was 9 years old (1975). I picked them because my grandmother watched the games and the guy on my favorite baseball card played for them. The Phils were something only she and I shared. She comforted me when they lost in the playoffs in '76. And again in '77 and '78.

She died of breast cancer before they finally won the World Series in 1980, so she wasn't there to celebrate with me.. but I knew she was there when Pete Rose snagged that ball as it popped out of Bob Boone's glove.

I've cheered for Dick Allen, Dave Cash, Mike Schmidt, Tug McGraw, Gary Matthews, Von Hayes, Juan Samuel, Lance Parrish, Ricky Jordan, Curt Schilling, Dave Hollins, John Kruk, Doug Glanville, Jim Thome, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and yes... even Ryan Howard.

They were my team when they lost 96 games in 1988. They were my team when Joe Carter walked off the 1993 World Series in Toronto. They were my team when they lost 97 games in 1997. They are my team tonight after falling to the Cardinals.

It was a great summer. We came up a bit short. Spring Training starts in March.

There is still a lot of baseball to enjoy this fall and I've got a couple of fun ideas brewing for the off-season.

2011 NLDS - Game 5

And so it ends. Game Story.

Parade of Ridiculousness: Lou Gehrig in Veeck's shorts

I am posting this absolutely ridiculous card three reasons:

1. Reivax made this suggestion on the original Babe Ruth in Astros rainbow stripe post - and I want to keep encouraging ideas to come in.
2. Once you get past the desecrating a legend part, it does look pretty funny. For someone who spent his entire professional career wearing Yankee pinstripes, I think the Iron Horse looks like he loves the shorts.
3. I am hoping posting this somehow jinxes the Yankees tonight as they take on the Detroit Tigers in an elimination Game 5 of the ALDS.

Got another one you want to see? Put it in the comments section below, email me, tweet me, or post on my Facebook wall.

This should go up on every telephone pole in Philly tomorrow

A quick recap on why I can't sleep tonight...

2011 NLDS - Game 4

Game Story

2011 NLDS - Game 3

Game Story

Parade of Ridiculousness: Blood clot red Bob Feller

This one was much easier to create because the original image was already in color. I've got a couple of others in the works, keep your suggestions coming in.

Happy Dave Winfield Day

Happy 60th birthday to one of the three people ever drafted by Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Football League (NFL). Growing up in Minnesota, I would have thought he would have also played hockey?

In total, Dave Winfield was selected by five teams in three different professional sports. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him out of high school, but did not sign him because he went to the University of Minnesota. After college, the San Diego Padres selected him as a pitcher in the first round (4th overall pick) in the 1973 MLB draft. The NBA's Atlanta Hawks selected him in with the 74th pick in the 1973 NBA draft. The ABA's Utah Stars also drafted him that year. And even though he never played college football, the Minnesota Vikings selected Winfield in the 17th round of the 1973 NFL draft.

2011 NLDS - Game 2

Game Story

2011 NLDS - Game 1

Game Story