A few days off...

If you have read my blog recently then you know that I have been thinking that I was going to have a big day at the mailbox anytime. Well guess what Today was the big day. A total of 8 envelopes were waiting for me, and I couldn't wait to get home and open them. I am going to call 8 my record for a day as of now. I can't remember any other day in the past when I had received this many. So let me start showing them off.

Danny Cater

The strong, silent Texan signed as a shortstop with the Phillies, but played first, third, and the outfield in his 12-year ML career. He had an unusual batting stance, with his feet close together, and a smooth, lazy-looking swing. Some thought him lackadaisical; he felt his low-key style was responsible for his being traded five times. One of baseball's great worriers, teammates said Cater could quote all his stats after each at-bat. As Oakland's regular first baseman in 1968, he hit .290 to finish second to Carl Yastrzemski's .301 in an anemic AL batting race. Traded to the Yankees, he hit .301 in 1970 but had only 10 homers in two seasons, and he was shipped to Boston in 1972 for reliever Sparky Lyle . Lyle became a three-time All-Star; Cater hit an abysmal .237 that year. He rebounded in 1973 to hit .313 in 63 games. (thanks to baseball Library) A small not this card will be sent off to Bert campaneris next to be signed. Look for that scan in the future.

Johnny Bower
2001 Fleer Greats of the Game

His career would be hampered by poor eyesight, but despite that he remained a top-tier goaltender. He was known for his hard-nosed, scrappy playing style and would win another Stanley Cup in 1967 by tandeming with another Hall of Famer ( Terry Sawchuk). He is the 2nd oldest goalie to play in the Stanley Cup Final at age 42 years, 5 months, 13 days. . Bower claimed, "I wasn't all that glad to see the two-goalie system come in. I wanted to play as many games as I could." But Bower and Sawchuk shared the Vezina Trophy as best NHL netminder in 1964-65 . On April 6, 1969, at the age of 44 years, 4 months, and 29 days, Johnny became the oldest goaltender to play in a Stanley Cup playoff game. His last full season was 1968-69 . He played his final game on December 10, 1969, a 6-3 loss to Montreal, and on March 19, 1970, Johnny publicly announced his official retirement - four months after his forty-fifth birthday. When asked, in light of his retirement, if he might reveal his true age, he replied "If you don't know by now, you never will" (WIKI)

Mark Buehrle
2007 Allen & Ginter

Mark Buehrle is the current White Sox ace. You may remember him from his Perfect game a few years ago ore possibly his great play on opening day this year. Either way Mr. Buehrle is a great pitcher and I am happy to add this card to my collection.

Danny Darwin

Bill Glynn 1953 Topps

Glynn became Cleveland's first baseman when Luek Easter suffered a broken foot in 1953. He lost the job on June 1, 1954, when the Indians acquired Vic Wertz. However, in a July 5 game against Detroit, he hit three of his 10 ML home runs.

Marty Marion
1944 MVP

Marion was the premier defensive NL shortstop of his day, named to seven successive NL All-Star squads. With Marion at SS, the Cardinals won four pennants, three World Championships, and, from 1941 through 1949, never finished lower than second. Nicknamed "Slats" by Burt Shotton, who managed him in the minors, the 6'2" 170-lb Marion disproved the theory that shortstops had to be small men. His unusually long arms, which reached for ground balls like tentacles, prompted writers to dub him "The Octopus."

Marion was a consistent hitter who generally batted toward the bottom of the order. His 38 doubles led the NL in 1942. Deferred from military service because of a trick knee, he was the NL MVP in 1944, when he helped the Cardinals to a World Championship with his glove, winning his first of four fielding titles.

Red Kelly

Another one for my set, and also for the other set I am working on.

Vern Law
Buc Hill Aces
1959 Topps

Law was largely responsible for the Pirates' World Championship in 1960, when he captured the Cy Young Award with a 20-9 record and a league-high 18 complete games. Despite nursing a late-season sprained ankle, he won the first and fourth games of the Series and had a no-decision in the famed seventh game, won by the Pirates on Bill Mazeroski's ninth-inning homer.

Idaho Senator Herman Welker recommended favorite son Law to former classmate Bing Crosby, part owner of the Pirates. Signed by the Pirates in 1948, Law, a control pitcher with a classic, straight-up motion, reached Pittsburgh in 1950 but spent 1952 and 1953 in the military. He and Bob Friend anchored a young pitching staff on last-place teams in 1954, 1955, and 1957. But both blossomed in 1958 and the Pirates rose to second place. Though Friend slumped in 1959, Law went 18-9. Thanks to baseball Library. This card is all off to Elroy Face to complete the trifecta of signatures

There you are a summary of a great day in the mailbox. Enjoy.