January 25, 2012

This is our 37th Year of hobby columns

Ted Taylor’s Collector’s Corner

Bowman Sterling Baseball Looks to Future

            It’s either the last set of 2011 or the first one of 2012, but whatever you call it the high-end Bowman Sterling Baseball delivers the goods. It comes with six mini boxes of five cards each – and three of them are either relics or autographs.  On top of that there’s a box topper pack that includes a dual relic card.  Do the math, 31 cards and 19 of them are either relics or autographs. Product cover boy is KC Royals future star Eric Hosmer.

            The bad news is that you’ll not likely recognize many of these players unless you are a devotee’ of minor league ball because, like all Bowman products, this one is mostly rookies or pre-rookies – and for good measure some USA team relics as well.

            The base cards (no autograph or relic) in my mini-boxes included Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Beachy and Julio Teheran of the Braves, also Pirate prospect Chase d’Arnaud, Yankee future star Hector Noese and Rangers #1 pick Kevin Matthews.

            Signature cards included a lot of guys I am not familiar with such as Dylan Bundy, Rubby De La Rosa, Matt Moore, Bryce Brentz, Danny Duffy, Starling Marte plus two guys named Zach, Lee and Cone, and others.

            Relics included five relics (one dual signature) USA team cards as well as relics from MLB players Justin Turner, Alexi Ogando and the dual card – Lonnie Chisenhall and Carlos Santana.  Also got one of those pesky cards saying I’m due to get a card if I go on line and mail it in.  I will, but it’s not the same getting it in person.

            Since I never met a pack of cards I didn’t want to open – and with the promise of so many goodies – this certainly is a fun and worthwhile addition to any serious collection.

Topps gets nod for Olympic cards    

The U.S. Olympic Committee announced that the Topps Company would be the exclusive trading card producer of Team USA for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 Through the terms of the agreement, Topps will release its first Team USA offering in the spring of 2012 in preparation for the upcoming London Games. The collection will feature the country's top Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls, including Allyson Felix (track & field), Missy Franklin (swimming), Lolo Jones (track & field), Tatyana McFadden (Para track & field), Michael Phelps (swimming), Jerome Singleton (Para track & field), Hope Solo (soccer) and Jordyn Wieber (gymnastics).

 "It is an honor for the company to commemorate the pinnacle of sports and this country's best athletes," said Doug Kruep, Topps GM of sports & entertainment. "We look forward to offering supporters of Team USA athletes a truly unique keepsake and collectible." 

 The Team USA collection is highlighted by the inclusion of 100 gold-medal hopeful cards - 40 of which feature authentic athlete-autographed special versions. The release will also celebrate past Team USA medalists, the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their diverse sports and venues, and will include randomly inserted cards embedded with Olympic pins, patches and replica medals.

 A portion of each purchase will go directly to supporting the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

 "We are excited to partner with Topps' to highlight Team USA athletes ahead of the London Games," said Peter Zeytoonjian, USOC managing director of consumer products. "Trading cards are a great way to support and learn more about the amazing athletes who will represent Team USA in London next summer and, when the Games end, a great way to remember the athletes and moments that defined the competition."

TOPPS MAGIC FOOTBALL RETURNS!

Topps announced that the collector-favorite Magic Football will make its return, but this time with a twist… Magic football will not only be offered as an online exclusive, but will feature an Autograph in every pack.

 All of the top rookies have signed including Cam Newton, AJ Green, Andy Dalton, Julio Jones, Christian Ponder, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, DeMarco Murray and more!  In addition to the lineup of 68 different autographs, collectors can also find 1 of 1 Black Magic Parallels and Black Magic Cut Signatures.

 And in pure Topps Magic style, the product delivers gorgeous looking base cards with 110 Rookies in all.

 Each $19.99 pack will include 1 Autographed Rookie Card and 10 Rookie Base Cards.  Topps Magic will be limited in production, and was available starting January 25 via www.shoptopps.com.

Whatever became of…Part II

          Today we’ll explore two baseball players that appeared in the landmark 1951 Bowman set (produced right here in Philadelphia).  One of them was seen as “the next Babe Ruth” the other laid claim to being responsible for the Phillies winning the 1950 NL pennant. The players are Steve Bilko and Milo Candini.

            Bilko appeared on card #265 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Candid was pictured on card #255 as a Phillies pitcher.

            A big firstbaseman (6’2, 237) Bilko once hit four homeruns in an International League game (1949) and had trials with the Cards in 1950 and 1951. Bilko had his best pro year with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League in 1956 when he won the PCL's Triple Crown with a .360 batting average, 55 home runs, and 164 RBIs.

Besides the Cardinals, he played for several major league teams, including the Los Angeles Angels (now in the American League) in 1961 and 1962, but never enjoyed the success that he had with the PCL Angels in the 1950s. His other big league stops included stints with Cincinnati, Detroit and the other Los Angeles team, the Dodgers.

Bilko was nicknamed "Stout Steve" during his career because of his ample girth. During his brief stay with the Chicago Cubs in 1954, announcer Bert Wilson placed Bilko at the end of what he hoped would be a soon-to-be-famous double play combination of Ernie Banks, Gene Baker and Steve Bilko. His name for that trio was "Bingo to Bango to Bilko".

His lifetime major league stats show 10 seasons, .249 lifetime batting average, 76 homers and 276 RBI’s. In the minors, over 13 seasons, he batted .312 with 313 homeruns and 854 RBI’s.  He hit 55 homers in ’56 for LA and 56 for them in ’57. He died March 7, 1978 at age 49 in Wilkes Barre, PA.

             Candini, a right-hander, was in 18 games for the ’50 Whiz Kids and went 1-0. Since the Phils won the pennant by one game, Milo logicially concluded that it was his win that won it.  He spent most of his big league career with the Washington Senators (1943-48) and was drafted by the Phils off the PCL’s Oakland Oaks roster – for whom he went 15-9 - following the 1949 season.

 He originally signed with the New York Yankees as a high schooler and played several years in their farm system before being traded to the Washington Senators in 1943. He made his big league debut that season and remained with the club through 1948 with the exception of 1945, when he served in the Army during World War II. Candini was with the Phillies for two seasons. He returned to the minors in 1952, pitching in the Pacific Coast League until his retirement in 1957.

His big league stats for eight seasons show a 26-21 record with a 3.92 ERA. His best year was 1943 when he was 11-7 with Washington.  In 13 seasons in the minors Milo was 133-96 with a 3.71 ERA.

After his baseball career ended, Candini owned a liquor store in his hometown of Mantecca, CA. He died March 17, 1998 at age 80.

 On the horizon…

            Here are new card issues to be on the look-out for. January 30 Topps baseball series 1 (that’s a sure sign that spring is near), February 5 Topps Tribute baseball, February 13 Topps Five Star Football, March 5 Topps Opening Day baseball, March 12 Topps Heritage baseball (this year celebrating the “look” of ’63 Topps), April 4 Topps Museum collection, April 16 Topps Gypsy Queen, May 7 Bowman baseball (many of last year’s top draft picks and rookies), May 21 Bowman Archives baseball. I’m excited, already laid in my supply of 9-pocket Ultra Pro sheets for the new year.

What’s on your mind ????  Don’t’ be bashful. Drop us a line (ted@tedtaylor.com) and let us know what you think. Any ideas for a “Whatever became of” player? Thanks for reading the column.  Your feed-back is important.