Baseball in French, Lesson 6: Le Sabotage

Welcome to Baseball in French, Lesson 6. Previous lessons can be found here.

 

Today's term is le sabotage.

 

You won't be surprised that in English, it translates to "sabotage". What's the baseball translation?

Blown save.

Here's Tim Wallach of the Expos, sizing up a pitcher on his 1984 O-Pee-Chee card. 

 

 

I feel like playing in the shadow of all those other fantastic Expos of the era like Raines, Carter, Dawson, and Reardon places Wallach in the "underrated/underappreciated" category. The guy amassed over 2,000 hits in his career, was a 3x Gold Glover and 2x Silver Slugger at third base, and was an all-star five times from 1984 through 1990. He had a monster year in 1987, setting career highs in hits (177), doubles (42, led majors), RBI (123), runs scored (89), slugging percentage (.514), and stolen bases (9). I'd bet he sabotaged the save attempts of a few opposing relief pitchers along the way.

And I like the French terminology here. The word "sabotage" adds some intrigue and suspense and drama into the story.

 

Now here's Tim Wallach to the plate. Expos down to the Reds by one run in the bottom of the ninth. Two outs, Hubie Brooks on second. The pitch... base hit into right field! Brooks is going to round third and head for home... here's the throw... not in time! And Wallach has sabotaged the Reds!

 

As a hitter, would you walk up to the plate in a similar situation with a little bit of extra mojo if you knew you had the chance to sabotage the game for the other team? 

 

I think I would.

 

Leave your thoughts below, and thanks for reading!

My Contribution to the WRIPP (Warhol Rose Infinite Parallels Project)

Back in April, Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown introduced us to the Warhol Rose Infinite Parallels Project, or "WRIPP" for short.

 

As you can see from that blog post, Gavin took Andy Warhol's original Pete Rose screenprint from 1985, pared it down to a basic template in baseball card size, and began creating some variations—or parallels, as we know them in the hobby.

These parallels would be special one-of-ones, completely unique, designed to be sent out to friends, fellow collectors, and fellow bloggers as part of trade packages. And the coolest part?

Gavin has encouraged all of us to create our own one-of-one parallels to add to the project! (Hence the "infinite" portion of the WRIPP acronym.)

Well that was enough for me. I downloaded the template from Gavin's blog post and soon got to work.

Here's my first contribution to the WRIPP:

 

I call it the "Victorian Wallpaper" variation. The wallpaper design behind Mr. Rose features roses. Cheesy, but effective.

As for the card back, I kept it simple.

 

 

 

I wanted to get Gavin's branding in there, so I placed the WRIPP logo he designed on the top of the card. Other than that, I just listed the name of the parallel, wrote my blog name and the "1/1" mark in red ink, and added a great quote from Mr. Rose himself at the bottom. Done.

 

 

But wait. There's more!

 

 

I created a second parallel. If you collected cards at any point during the late 1980s or early 1990s, you'll know exactly what I decided to call this one:

 

 

 

 

Yep, it's a reverse-negative version!

I'm sure something like this could have theoretically gotten by the quality control team at the WRIPP production facility, because Rose was a switch-hitter.

 

But nostalgia and printing errors aside, now that I had two parallels completed, the next question was what to do with them.

 

Well, being that these were my first two designs, I thought it would only be right if they went to Gavin himself. It wasn't long before he and I agreed on a trade. I sent Gavin the two parallels, along with a few of my other custom cards of his choice. In return, I received these beauties:

 

First, this sweet 1/1 created by Gavin himself.

 

 

It's hard to tell from the photo, but there's mixed media involved there, and the card has more than one level of texture. Pretty cool!

 

Here's the back of the card:

 

 

 

 

Got to love that "CONFIDENTIAL" stamp.

 

Also included were these six cards:

 

 

 

 

 

I'm a big fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Gavin happened to have some "movie poster" inserts that were released as part of an MST3K card set just a few years ago. The particular movies featured on the cards above are from some of my all-time favorite episodes. (If you've never seen the show, I highly recommend it.)

But before I start quoting lines from The Pumaman or Diabolik, let's get back to the WRIPP.

I encourage all of you to go to Gavin's original post again, download the card template, and get to work on your own one-of-one parallels. You can create your designs digitally, or use any physical medium you'd like: colored pencils, crayons, markers, ink, you name it.

 

And if you do create some and send them out to your collecting buddies, be sure to share a photo.

Hope you'll join the fun!

This Custom Card is Sending Out an S.O.S.

How many of you can already hear that repeated line from the song Message in a Bottle?

That's always the sign of a big hit: You hear someone speak a few words from it, and suddenly the entire song—vocals, guitar, drums, and bass—is in your head.

 

The Police certainly had a few of those hits; those songs that were a little different.

 

And if you're a three-man band, you need to be different. Well, actually, you're already different because there are only three of you. But I guess what I'm trying to say is that difference makes you stand out, so you'd better bring something special to the table. Power, speed, quirkiness, a new sound. Something.

And The Police did that. They were a sensation back in the early '80s. They had such good energy. Such a cool sound.

Cool enough, in fact, to inspire me to put them on a custom card.

Why the 1980 Topps template?  

 

Well, in 1979, just a year or two after Copeland, Sumner, and Summers formed The Police, they released Message in a Bottle as well as another super hit, Walking on the Moon. Both songs went to #1 on the charts in the UK. If the three guys were baseball players, I'd bet Topps would have issued them a Future Stars card the following year. It would have been great timing, too, as the band embarked on their first world tour in 1980.

The Police grew so popular that they even touched the trading card realm, having a handful of cards issued in some little-known music sets of the 1980s. And coolest of all, a 7-Eleven Slurpee Disc in 1984 and 1985!

 

Remarkably, though, as those Slurpee discs were being released, the three guys were getting ready to go their separate ways to pursue individual careers. Copeland began producing movie and TV soundtracks, Summers recorded numerous albums, and Sting reached the stratosphere with his solo work.

 

Still, the five albums they released from 1978 to 1983 were, and continue to be, outrageously popular. The trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, 2003. 

 

And for all their success and good energy they put out, I felt a custom card was in order.

 

Speaking of good energy, have a look at this video from their early days:

 

 

Here's to one of the mega-bands of the '80s. And to another custom card.

Any Police fans out there? Favorite song?

Share in the comment section, and thanks for reading!

Four Dudes Wearin' Hockey Jerseys

Who doesn't love looking through vintage photos? And what I mean by vintage photos is "film from a camera that was developed by photo labs and printed on actual paper".

 

Well, recently I was looking through some of these types of images, and I found a few that featured dudes wearing hockey jerseys.

 

Check 'em out.

 

Here's Rogie. He drives a 1970 Buick LeSabre—green with a white hardtop. Doesn't smoke except for after a meal, and even then, only after a good frankfurter cooked and eaten out of doors. He's a Canadian through and through, but last winter his brother-in-law got him a Red Wings jersey. He took one look at it, thought for a few seconds, and said "good enough". Now he wears it every weekend. He's not worried about the future of rock music. He knows it's hit its zenith already, and he's fine with that. There are more than enough rock and roll gems out there to keep him satisfied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born in Montreal, Bob relocated across the border to Buffalo six years ago to work in the up-and-coming computer sales field. He finally got promoted to middle management this year, but after the first month he's not sure it's for him. Had his first luxury box experience at a Sabres game with some company bigwigs last week. Didn't like it. He'll take the cheap seats over that stuff any day. Figures that his freedom and happiness will outweigh any demotion or pay cut he incurs if he goes back to the trenches as a sales assistant. He's also heard about this thing called a sauna. Going to have a good sit and steam. Thinks it might help him reach a decision about the job.

 

 

 

 

 

Gerry is sole proprietor of Gerry's Auto Shop, just a few minutes outside of Boston. He'd rather be farther out in the suburbs, but knows Boston is where the business is. Taught his 10-year-old son how to change an oil filter last weekend. Can't wait for the boy to be old enough to work in the shop. The kid has a better attitude and work ethic than most of the adults Gerry employs now. Knows New England clam chowder is better than Manhattan, but doesn't really get the whole big deal about the debate. Says you should eat what you want and don't worry about the rest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony keeps this fact mainly to himself, but he actually doesn't mind disco. There are some good nightclubs in the Chicago area, but he's too old for that crowd now. He's in that weird spot—too old for disco, too young for bocce. His dad plays bocce all the time, and although Tony has never understood why anyone does, he knows one day he'll try it and like it. Loves a good hot beef sandwich with giardiniera for lunch on Wednesdays. Helps get him over the hump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those were mere fables, of course.

 

The truth about Rogie, Bob, Gerry, and Tony is that they're not just any old dudes wearing hockey jerseys. They're professional hockey goalies. And their photos aren't just any old photos. All four have been printed and preserved on a single hockey card. 

 

Don't believe it? Here's the proof.

Even if you're not much of a hockey fan and the photos and first names weren't familiar to you, the last names of a couple of those guys might do the trick.

 

Here's the card back.

 

Just think: If Michel Larocque and Chico Resch had put up one more shutout each, the front of this card would have had even more photos of cool dudes wearing hockey jerseys.

Still, it's great that Topps/OPC went with four images that showed each goalie's face, sans mask. And I think there's a pretty good chance that Rogie Vachon did drive a 1970s-era Buick LeSabre at some point. Just look at that guy.

Baseball in French, Lesson 5: l'Amorti

Welcome to Baseball in French, Lesson 5. Previous lessons can be found here.

 

Today's term is l'amorti.

 

In English, that translates to "the cushioning". What's the baseball translation?

Bunt.

Here are three Expos fan favorites, showing off their "cushioning" skills.

All three guys had speed, and all three could lay 'em down. Unfortunately I don't think Major League Baseball keeps track of bunt singles separately from regular singles, so I couldn't tell you how many each guy totaled for his career. But I can tell you how many career sacrifice bunts each had:

 

Raines: 39

Grissom: 38

DeShields: 57

 

 

As for the French terminology, I suppose I could get to enjoy it:

 

And here's the pitch. DeShields cushions it up the third-base line and sprints out of the box. . . the throw to first. . . not in time!

I'm just so accustomed to "bunt" being the word for it that anything else seems a bit odd. But when you think about it, "cushion" is a pretty good description of what's going on. I guess it's similar to an American broadcaster saying "pushes it up the line", or "taps it down the line".

What are your thoughts on l'amorti?

 

Share in the comment section, and thanks for reading.

1986 Topps Tattoos are Pop Art

Recently I came across a 1986 offering from Topps that I was not aware of back then:

 

Topps Tattoos.

 

 

Topps Tattoos?

 

Yes. Topps Tattoos. Turns out they were sold in wax packs, with one continuous folded sheet of 18 tattoos inside. (Plus a stick of gum.) After some additional research, it turns out Topps also released a tattoo product in 1960, 1964, and 1971.

 

If I'd seen these on shelves at the local stationery store or drug store when I was a kid back in 1986, I'm sure I would have asked my mom if I could have a pack or two. All these years later, I'm happy to have the panels pictured above in my collection.

 

I'm not going to apply any of the tattoos anywhere on my person, but here are the instructions anyway, straight from a wax wrapper:

 

 

 

Let's have another look at the panel of tattoos above and talk about the design, though, because I do appreciate it.

 

Does it remind you of any works from the pop art era? Roy Lichtenstein's brightly colored comic book–style works come to mind. As does Andy Warhol's work. The Campbell's soup cans. Marylin Monroe. Pete Rose. 

 

And so I thought it would be fun to do a little pop-art tribute using a couple of the baseball players on my sheet of tattoos. But which ones?

 

Pete Rose had already been featured in some actual pop art, so he was out. Scott McGregor had the Magnum P.I. mustache and Cecil Cooper was sporting the '80s dad beard—both solid options. But I had to go with Mookie Wilson as my first choice because he's the happiest baseball player of the group.

 

Just look at him smiling in all those primary and secondary colors and tell me you're not happy now, too. 

 

 

  

 

For the second choice I went with Bruce Bochte, because what better way to capture the 1980s than to feature that pair of eyeglasses four separate times?

 

It was a fun time to be a young baseball fan. Fun players. Fun products. And this was a fun little project.

Do any of you collectors remember Topps Tattoos? Do you have any in your collection? Share in the comment section, and thanks for reading, as always!

 

Completed Set: 1980-81 Topps Hockey

Ohhh, those 1980-81 Topps hockey scratch-off pucks. They still rankle hockey card collectors far and wide, more than 40 years after the set was released. But here's a message to those rankled folks:

 

You have the O-Pee-Chee version.

 

There. I said it.

You see, O-Pee-Chee didn't place any scratch-off material on the pucks in their version of the set. And it was larger too, topping out at 396 cards compared to Topps' 264. So you've got all the clean, unscratched cards you want there.

And I'll absolutely take the Topps cards if no one else wants them. It has everything to do with the nostalgia factor.

If I were a young, unassuming, hockey-loving kid growing up in the States in 1980, I would have probably devoured this set with gusto. The scratch-off surface would have been a bonus, not a deterrent.

Who's that player? Lemme see! (Grabs a quarter and starts scratching.)

 

Back at that time, cards were still fun things you bought in packs for 25 cents. You'd open the wax wrapper, chew the stick of gum, flip through the cards, and then what? Sort them by number or team, assemble them into a stack, and stick them in a drawer or a shoebox. You might even rubber-band them.

 

Simple.

And listen, with 10 cards per pack, would I have lost enthusiasm to scratch every card after a couple of packs? Probably. But that's okay, too. The set is still a fun one. And now that I've said my piece, let's get to the cards. Scratch-offs aside, I think you'll find that it's a pretty solid set.

First things first:  

 

Please rise and remove your helmets for the playing of our national anthems.

 

 

 

O Canada! Our home and native land...

 

 

 

 

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light...

 

 

 

 

Speaking of O say, can you see, perhaps the coolest thing Topps did in this set was to honor the US Olympians from the recent Miracle on Ice team by applying a USA hockey stamp to their cards. That would have provided even more excitement for a hockey-loving kid growing up in the US back then. (How big was the US Olympic victory? Even O-Pee-Chee, a Canadian company, added the USA hockey stamp to those specific cards in their set.)

You know what else must have been cool? Finding these cards featuring goalies in their classic white masks and brown leather pads.

Bonus: Goalies sporting the towel tuck.

 

 

 

 

There's plenty of action captured in this set as well. Check out those five skaters zooming around Rangers goalie John Davidson. He's ready for the onslaught, though.

On the subject of action, let's talk about the design of these cards. The diagonal team bar across the bottom helps show motion and energy, which is fitting for the sport of hockey. And whether you like the scratch-off idea or not, the hockey puck shape is fun. Then you have the thin colored border around the card, which sometimes matches the team colors (Bruins yellow, Canadiens red, Flyers orange), and other times doesn't (Black Hawks green, Whalers purple, Flames green). But that's no big deal here. The colors are bright and fun. You get those magentas and cyans and oranges and yellows.

 

 

You've got some big rookies in this set as well. From left to right, there's Mike Gartner, Ray Bourque, and Michel Goulet. I'm pretty happy that all three of these guys have unscratched pucks, as well as the second-year Wayne Gretzky card at the top of this post.

 

 

You know what else I like? Classic hockey jerseys. You already saw some of them earlier in this post, but I'll reiterate with the six cards here: Those are some fantastic designs. (Even Vancouver's "flying V" design is great in its awfulness.) They're so fantastic, in fact, that over the past few years many of them have made comebacks in one form or another during special retro game nights around the NHL.

 

 

 

 

  

 

One downside to the set would be the airbrushed cards. For Billy Harris (left) and Dave Lewis (middle), it was bad enough that they were traded away from the New York Islanders right before the team would win four straight Stanley Cups. But now they're also airbrushed into Kings uniforms? Robert Picard (right) seems to think that's a little cruel and unusual. And I'd agree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A second downside, some might say, would be the lack of a player name on the card back. But if the player name did appear on the back, there'd be no reason to have the scratch-off material covering up the name on the front. 

 

As for colors, the green text on a dark yellow background isn't the best for readability, but it isn't the worst either. So it's fine. Besides, there are some nice cartoons to be found throughout the set. 

 

 

 

Now let's get to the subsets.

 

 

 

There were some record breaker cards to start things off, including a couple of records set by youngsters. (Bourque's record was most points by a rookie defenseman, 65.)

 

 

 

 

 

Players named as first-team and second-team all-stars received a separate card in the set to go along with their base card. Check out the design on the back. Although sparse, I really like it. Who else hears the sound of wooden stick on puck?

 

 

There were two types of checklists included in the set: a team leaders card (front and back shown) that included each player's position and uniform number, and then a standard checklist. The standard checklists did not receive the scratch-off treatment, but all of that material covering the team card more than made up for it!

 

 

 

 

In the middle of the set, you had the typical group of league leader cards. Got to love the penalty minute leaders. How about these season totals: Jimmy Mann 287 PIM, Dave Williams 278 PIM, Paul Holmgren 267 PIM.

 

 

The final three cards of the set documented some of the previous season's playoff action. I love that image of the Broad Street Bullies skating onto the ice as a team, looking like a pack of hungry wolves. Interstingly, these three cards also did not get the scratch-off treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, one team pin-up was included in each wax pack. These paper inserts folded out to a size of about 4 x 7 inches.

 

Let's get back to the scratched vs. unscratched thing for a moment. Looking through all the cards above, you've noticed that some are scratched, and some are unscratched. That means I've completed this set in the most basic form. And I'm fine with that.

 

I'm not looking to immediately increase the difficulty by trying to assemble an entire unscratched set, or anything. But I thought it would at least be beneficial to know how close I currently stand to that achievement. So I went through the binder, page by page, and tallied the scratched and unscratched cards. Here's the breakdown:

 

Scratched:130

Unscratched: 129

No coating: 5

That means I have almost exactly 50% of the set in unscratched condition, including the Bourque, Gartner, and Goulet rookie cards, as well as the Gretzky base card. It's an intriguing percentage, especially with those big cards already crossed off the list. I'll have to give this one some more thought.

 

In any case, scratch-offs aside, there's a lot to enjoy about this set. Fun colors, some nice-looking subsets, good cartoons, and classic uniforms.

What do you think about the 1980-81 Topps hockey set? Should I go for a fully unscratched set next?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section, and thanks for reading as always!