Hall of Fame - John Smoltz

Smoltzie gets four cards instead of three because I do what I want.

He's an announcer now, but Smoltz has always liked to talk.

Topps Tek is the new (old) hotness but for my money 1997 Skybox EX2000 is the best looking weird-ass high-end plastic stock set of the '90s.

I've been stuck in the '90s for this Hall of Fame series but 2007 Masterpieces is just so purdy. Have some Cooperstown-worthy laundry.

BONUS DIAMOND KINGS GOODNESS. Signed by the artist himself. This card courtesy of Captain Canuck at Waxaholic. Them Canadians have some amazing autograph hounding skills.

Sketchy Smoltzie

Bad news: I didn't get around to writing up my A&G post.

Good news: I scanned enough cards for a second A&G post!

Bad news: I haven't written that one either.

Better news!: I gots Smoltzie!

The sketch cards look much better this year. Less border, more card area for the sketch. I like the scruffy looking gray borders too. I haven't seen a horizontal one yet, hopefully they aren't as awkward as last year's sketch cards. Hopefully there aren't any horizontal sketches at all actually. Allen & Ginter does not do Horizontal well. Now that I've done some sketch cards myself, I really appreciate how good these look. It's hard to do something like this on a little tiny bit of cardboard.

Only pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves. Another improvement on this year's Sketch set is the name of the artist on the back. I'm not sure about previous years, but there was no artist mention in the 2011 set as far as I could see. This one is by Chris Henderson, who has done artwork in many other sets, including Star Wars Galaxy, 2011 Topps and 2010 National Chicle.

There's nothing at all interesting going on tomorrow at all so maybe I'll get some writing done. On the other hand I still have beer left over from my All Star Game festivities (When Melky Cabrera wins MVP all the booze in the world can't help) so then again maybe not.

#29

I am useless at writing right now so here's a bunch of pictures of Smoltz cards to commemorate his number being retired tonight.

The Rookies

1990 Donruss MVP oops

1988 CMC Richmond Braves

1999 UD Legends

1998 Flair Showdown

1990 Fleer All Stars box set

1999 Topps Gallery

1999 Upper Deck

1996 Fleer Smoke N Heat

2003 Topps Gallery

2000 Starting Lineup

2005 Upper Deck 

2005 Donruss Polo Grounds

1997 EX2000

2007 Goudey

1996 Collector's Choice

2002 Topps Heritage

1993 Pinnacle Idols

1992 Bowman

1993 Ultra Strikeout King

1990 Donruss Diamond King

2003 Bryan's

1997 Sports Illustrated

1995 Pinnacle

1992 Confex Baseball Enquirer

1997 Pinnacle Museum Collection

2009 Topps Heritage

1997 Leaf Limited Limited Exposure

1997 Pinnacle Zenith

Ten Years Ago Today

This atrocity occurred.

AY- TRAH - SIT - TEE

The score is too horrific to post. Instead I will relay the line scores from two players well known to Orioles and Braves fans:

Cal Ripken Jr:

6 at bats, 6 hits, 6 RBIs, 5 runs, 1 double, two homers.

John Smoltz:

2 1/3 IP, 7 hits, 7 runs, all earned, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts.

That pretty much sums up the game. Between the Interleague asswhoopins and the All Star Game in Baltimore where the crowd started a mock chop, I really loathed the Orioles for a few years. The Orioles go for a repeat (or the Braves exact revenge) tonight in Camden.

Dear John Smoltz,

Please stop talking.

You have very effectively established your argument that you did actually desperately want to end your career with the Braves, but the heartless and unfeeling Braves front office physically threw you out the door and forced you at threat to your own bodily person to sign a more lucrative contract with the Red Sox than was being offered by the Braves at the time. The fact that at the time of your signing the Braves still had not signed a single pitcher to bolster the rotation and that you are injured and will not play until at least June had nothing to do with it, it was all Frank Wren being wantonly cruel to you despite all you've done for this franchise. You have made your version of the account abundantly clear, and due to the several negative incidents that have occurred to the Braves this offseason, your version of the story does seem quite plausible.

However, consistently repeating these allegations of unfairness and abuse at the hands of the cold and calculating Atlanta front office every single day to whoever will listen since you signed the dotted line is beginning to undermine your claims. Instead of a bold assertion of your loyalty and disappointment, these constant criticisms are beginning to make you instead sound whiny, guilty and desperate. Your point has been made, any further reiteration of the matter in question will only serve to characterize you as petty and vindictive toward the organization. If you are truly angry at the way you have been treated, please focus that energy into your rehabilitation. Then when you are ready to pitch once again, go out and contribute to a Red Sox playoff berth and World Series Championship. That way you truly will have revenge against the Braves for their ill deeds.

I ask this because there are still millions of Braves fans out there who look up to you as a player, and I do not wish for them to become as disillusioned with you and your childish antics as I have become. While sadly I will never again see you as anything but a greedy, bitter, egotistical, whiny, full of himself, lying, blowhard, turncoat, two faced son of a motherless goat, I would not want your despicable behavior to spoil the joyful memories of all the people who still love you and the Braves. So please John, for the sake of all the fans you have not already completely and utterly alienated, just shut the hell up.

Sincerely,

some jackhole on the internet.

No Comment

Until the deal is finalized. If/when it is, then I will have a comment. Hoo-boy will I have a comment.

2008 Stupid Year In Review - Part 5: Topps Heritage

Johan Santana has been the bane of my collecting existence this year.

Stuff From Shane

Shane over at Shoebox Legends sent me a package last week. Let's see what was in it.

2008 Upper Deck Heroes John Smoltz Patch #06/25

This was a nice surprise! The blue and the red kind of clash, but who cares. The swatch looks like it's from a number or maybe the tomahawk. The card is insanely thick too, if you look at the side, you can see 6 layers on cardboard pressed together to create this thing. I'm not crazy about the Heroes set, but I love the colored parallels, with or without the jersey. I just have to refrain from chasing after a rainbow now that I have this low numbered one. I don't have the time or the funds for that right now.

1 pack of 2005 Upper Deck All Star Classics

This is going to be ripped over at A Pack A Day this evening. You don't want to miss it.

1 pack of 1991-92 Pro Set Platinum Hockey

Pro Set really let their presses run like mad in the early '90s and as a result this stuff has always seemed cheap and overproduced to me. I opened the pack up though and was pleasantly surprised. There's some really good photos in here and all in all it's aged well. Here's a nice card of Pat Verbeek:


The NHL really needs the Whalers back. C'mon, Hurricanes? When's the last time a hurricane hit anywhere with ice? An unfortunate stick placement makes it look like he's doing something terrible to that poor goalie, but it's still a nice horizontal skating shot.



Here's three more grat pictures from the pack. Pierre Turgeon skating close to the ice, Bill Ranford decked out in the pads and the Chicago Blackhawks celebrating their Norris Division Championship. Good looking stuff and hockey fan Shane is going to get a nice package of Whalers (including Verbeek) in return. Thanks Shane!

Trade from David Part 2

Part one of this trade was posted on the 13th. Yes, I'm way behind in everything. Let's knock out the second package from David in that video mailer, shall we? It's actually better than the first one.

2008 Topps Shea Stadium

I don't know what this is from, but it rules. There's no card number on the back so I'm honestly stumped. Paging JayBee... You are wanted at the white courtesy phone...

2007 Turkey Red John Smoltz jersey

Dang, these cards are sweeeeet. I have no idea when the Braves ever wore black jerseys, but it's best not to think too hard about such things. Card collecting is more fun when you maintain the suspension of disbelief.

A Mess O' Mickey Mantles

Four of 'em from the Turkey Red Set. I think one of them is even a short print, but I'm too lazy to check.

2008 Moments & Milestones Greg Maddux

I still like this set. I'm glad it's dying a horrible death in 2009, but it was fun while it lasted.

2007 Topps Frenchy McLowOPS

Ok internet detectives!!! Game. In Turner Field. 2006 most likely, maybe 2005. Francoeur in Right Field. Braves scored 1 in the fifth, opponent scored at least 1 in the 7th. WHAT GAME IS THIS PHOTO FROM???

2008 Chipper Jones 50th Anniversary Star Rookie

I'm looking forward to seeing this design again in 2008 Heritage.

2006 Opening Day Chipper Jones Funny Photos

I didn't know this card even existed... My Chipper collection just went up by 1.

The rest:

2008 Topps Bobby Cox
2007 Turkey Red Chipper Jones
2008 Artifacts Jeff Francoeur
2008 Spectrum John Smoltz
2008 UD First Edition Kevin Millwood
2008 UD First Edition Greg Maddux
2008 UD First Edition Tom Glavine

Excellent stuff, David... let's trade again sometime.