It's time to Stick the Stickers - Giganto Sticker Dump

I got a large package of stickers from Giants fan Adam Smith. Adam was fortunate enough to be the first package I received after Chris Harris' stickah bipping so he managed to complete no less than seven pages. I was going to post these one at a time but what's the point of padding my post count like that? Two-thirds of the NL Central was wiped out in one fell swoop.

I think Astros poster boy Hunter Pence was a Phillie by the time this set was released. I might be wrong.

Completed. I want a sticker update series with Bourn in a Braves uni now.

The Brewers' page features who else - Ryan Braun.

None of these stickers looke like they were pasted in right. It's making me a little nauseous.

The Cubs make my blood pressure rise so I try to avoid them as much as possible. I think that's Aramis Ramirez there?

Or maybe it's Marlon Byrd. I dunno, man.

King Felix. I know this one!

Mis-stuck stickers, cockeyed scan, three posed photos not in a tic-tac-toe row. Feeling REALLY nauseous now.

David Wright. It's a shame we have to past over some of these photos.

I hurt Dinged Corners' feelings last time I talked about the Mets. I'll be nice this time. I, um, really like their... mane?

That's Kinsler right? Michael Young would be coming from the other side of the bag.

I was certain the Rangers would win the World Series when their sticker team set was completed before the Cardinals. Certain, I say! I am a superstitious eeediot.

I spent entirely too long trying to decide if this was Joy Votto or Jay Bruce before I saw the VOTTO on the back of the jersey.

Dangit, Brandon Phillips is too good a player to be stuck sideways. I wish the stickers actually fit in the spaces.
Seven pages stuck! And I still have a few packages left to sort through. If I have time I'll show off something I sent Adam's way later tonight.

Bowman Beaters - Cincinnati Redlegs

Even More Uggla Bowman Cards. When I blow out a series of posts, I really blow. These two are from the Cincinnati Redlegs. Because in the '50s you couldn't just call yourself the same name you had since the 1860s because someone might mistake a baseball team for the Soviet Russian Army.

You might think Andy Seminick is doing the standard "Catcher ripping his mask off to catch a pop-up" baseball card pose, but actually Senator Joe McCarthy is pointing a shotgun at poor Andy and demanding he recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Andy recited it almost perfectly, but forgot the "Under God" line that was added in 1954. The Cincinnati brass, not wanting to be associated with anyone who might be considered UnAmerican, traded Seminick to the Phillies in April of '55. Because, really, the Phillies don't care. That entire organization is just filled up with commies, hippies, Democrats and other unpatriotic reprobates. I mean, Chase Utley. Perfect example.

Joe Nuxhall is not a known communist (And neither is Andy Semenick, I made all that crap up*), he's one of the most beloved players in Reds history. And also the poster child for why high schoolers should not be playing major league baseball. A damn good broadcaster too, from what I understand. The front of this card is just about perfect (or perfect for a beat up old card that is), The only reason this was in the quarter stack was a little bit of paper loss on the back. Hooray for paper loss!

*Chase Utley I'm not too sure about.

Card Show Top 20 - #20 Reds' Heavy Artillery

Ok you guys want scans from the card show? You're gonna get 'em. I'm going to count down the top 20 cards I picked up from the show. There shall also be frequent intermissions to show off the also-rans. I'm not entirely sure if these are the best 20 cards I got or just the ones I thought I could build a post around. Probably a little of both, but the top 10 are pretty dang solid if you ask me. You'll get #20 right now and like it.

1961 Topps #25 Reds' Heavy Artillery

I hate 1961 Topps with a passion but when I saw this I couldn't pass it up. Vada Pinson, Gus Bell and Hall of Everything Frank Robinson all on one card all touching each other's bats. Be careful you guys! There's about a thousand home runs in those bats! DON'T CROSS THE STREAMS! This card with the spiffy sleeveless jerseys and odd bat ritual only set me back 50 cents due to the ink stain at the bottom. If you can believe it there was a second copy of this card that cost more because the ink stain on that one was smaller. Pretty sure PSA is gonna call an ink stain an ink stain folks. There are no different levels of ink stains.

To further infuriate you impatient people, here's the complete list of top 20 pickups from the show with their future post title. See if you can figure any of them out. They should all be posted by April. Muahaha!

#20 Reds' Heavy Artillery
#19 Blue MadDog
#18 Lil' Jimmy
#17 Real Fake '52
#16 First Topps
#15 Bogus Boog
#14 V103 Tree
#13 Sertoma Rico
#12 '55 Finishers
#11 Hey Shiny
#10 What the Dickens
#9 '60 Spahnnie
#8 Lonely '53
#7 Super Chief
#6 Original Frank
#5 Hoops Inspiration
#4 Rocket Robin
#3 Wizard Off Kilter
#2 Shenanigans Were Called
#1 The Holy Grail of Commons

Virtual 1982 Topps Sticker Album - Page 5

PLAYOFF EDITION!

I'm gonna skip around a bit and show off the playoff teams out of my '82 Topps sticker album over the next week or so. Actually, this page is still in order as it is right after the Cubs who were shown last. The Reds were one of my least favorite teams growing up mainly because they beat up my Braves so often in the NL West. Now that we are both in different divisions I can appreciate them again. In fact, if the Braves can't go all the way, I'm rooting for the Reds to come out of the NL. By making this statement, I have all but assured a Giants/Phillies NLCS. Contact your bookies quickly.

As for the background image shadow person, that's gotta be Tom Seaver, right? Even with the effed up face? It sure ain't Mario Soto. Pretty much the Reds' entire pitching staff was righties with the exception of Joe Price, so I suppose it could be Frank Pastore, but why? Gotta stick with Tom here.

(heh heh, get it, stick with Tom, I made a funny)

Tom got stuck along with everyone besides Johnny Bench. I am not unhappy with this turn of events as I am far more likely to come across a stray Johnny Bench sticker in my travels instead of say, a Ron Oester. Tom Seaver is looking upon his image in the background wondering what they did to his poor face. The scan got cut off at the side as did the Concepcion sticker. I didn't realize how badly cut it was until I saw it on the page. That's like, serious Topps206 mini miscut right there. My favorite sticker on the page is George Foster, underrated slugger. We really do need to found a Hall of Very Good just so guys like George, Al Rosen and Bobby Grich can finally be honored. They're more interesting than some of the bums in the 'proper' Hall anyway.

Nino Escalera & Chuck Harmon

April 17th 1954

Fifty five years ago the Cincinnati Reds were the 11th Major League team to integrate, seven years and two days after Jackie Robinson made his debut for Brooklyn. Two players made their debut that night, Nino Escalera and Chuck Harmon.

Saturnino Escalera had a very long career in baseball and is in the Puerto Rico Baseball Hall of Fame. He spent most of his career in Triple-A including a long stint in Cuba, but spent the 1954 season as a bench player for the Reds. He was primarily an outfielder and first baseman, but oddly enough played one inning at shortstop for the Reds. You don't see many left handed shortstops. Escalera was active in baseball after he retired, winning the Puerto Rico Winter League leage championship as manager in 1968 and had a long career as a scout for the Mets and for the Giants. He was the guy who signed Senor Smoke! I'd normally show off a card of Nino, but I don't have one. As far as I can tell, he only had one card ever printed: a 1977 Fritsch One Year Wonders card. You can check it out on his BR Bullpen page.

I've got a card of Chuck Harmon. Chuck spent four years in the National League with Cincinnati, St. Louis and Philadelphia. Chuck was primarily a third baseman, but also played at first and the outfield. Like Nino, Chuck was utilized mostly off the bench but had a nice 1955 season with 5 homers and 9 steals. After his playing days were over he was a scout for the Braves and Indians. Topps was kinder to Chuck than Nino and featured him in the 1954 though 1958 sets including in the 1955 Double Header set.

The two made their debut in a game against the Braves at County stadium. Both were used as pinch hitters in the seventh inning. Nino pinch hit for catcher Andy Seminick and knocked a single off of Lou Burdette. Harmon then pinch hit for the pitcher, Corky Valentine. Chuck popped up to first and Nino would be stranded on second after a double play. The Reds would end up losing the game 5-1, but had a historic night nonetheless.

There's some controversy on who was actually the first black player for the Reds. Some say Nino since he came into the came one batter before Chuck. Some say Harmon since he's the first African-American player for the Reds. Nino did get a hit in his debut, but Chuck lasted four years in the league. The Reds honored Harmon with a plaque at the Great American Ballpark in 2004 on the fiftieth anniversary of his debut. I say it's both. They were both on the roster when that game started and that's what counts. I just wish someone would put poor Nino on another card! The man is a pioneer, give him a card!