http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php An assortment of various Seattle Pilots websites, compiled to offer users a cross section of news and information related to the Seattle Pilots 1976 Hostess #99 - Wilbur WoodOn this day in 1976, a line drive by future White Sox player Ron LeFlore shattered pitcher Wilbur Wood's left kneecap, in Detroit, Michigan, in a game against the Tigers.Wilbur did come back from the injury and play another two years, but determined never to let a fluke ball injure him again, Wood changed his delivery to the plate and became less effective. Wilbur had just come off of four straight seasons as the AL leader in games started and was one season removed from four straight seasons of twenty or more wins. After the injury, Wood would post a 17-18 record and a 5.10 ERA in 1977 and 1978 combined. This was a far cry from his 2.80 ERA that Wilbur had over his first ten seasons with the White Sox. http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=177&time=1336641403 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:27:00 -0500 whitesoxcards.blogspot.com?1336641403 I was not pleased with the Orioles' 10-3 thrashing at the hands of Josh Hamilton the Rangers last night, but if you're going to get blown out, you might as well make a little history. No player had hit four home runs in a single game in nearly a decade, and since 1900, only 14 have done it. Sure, if someone were going to go deep four times in an O's game, I'd rather it be one of our own players. But Josh Hamilton did something incredible last night, and I'm glad that the sparse crowd at Camden Yards saluted him for it.Unfortunately, that's the second time the Birds have been on the wrong end of a four-homer game. The first was when Jerry Walker, Arnie Portocarrero, and Ernie Johnson combined to surrender four big flies to Rocky Colavito on June 10, 1959. But no Oriole batter has ever gone deep four times in one game. I got to wondering how many close calls they've had, so I swung by Baseball-Reference to investigate. The O's have had 18 games in which a player hit 3 home runs, most recently Nick Markakis' showcase game on August 22, 2006 against the Twins. The full list:Boog Powell (1): August 10, 1963 - The first three-homer game in O's history ends in a 6-5 loss to the Senators, as all three of Boog's clouts were solo shots.Boog Powell (2): June 27, 1964 - Boog provides all of the offense with another trio of solo homers in support of Milt Pappas as the Birds top Washington 3-1.Boog Powell (3): August 15, 1966 - The last of the burly first baseman's three-homer games was his best, as he finally tossed in a two-run shot and added a single for good measure. Overall he was 4-for-5 with all four RBI in a 4-2 win at Boston. His WPA (Win Probability Added) was an astronomical .920!Curt Blefary: June 6, 1967 - "Clank" had an interesting day, taking Pete Cimino of the Angels deep in his first at-bat before being put out each of his next three times up. Home runs number two (a two-run shot) and three (a grand slam) came in the final two innings, as the O's turned a 5-4 nail-biter into a 16-4 romp.Paul Blair: April 29, 1970 - I definitely didn't see this one coming. Motormouth went 3-for-6 and drove in six in an 18-2 rout of the White Sox. Of course, I'd also forgotten that Blair had 134 career homers and a season high of 26 in 1969, so there was some pop in that bat.Bobby Grich: June 18, 1974 - Orioles 10, Twins 1. Bobby had a chance for a fourth in the ninth inning, but Tom Burgmeier got him to ground out to third base to strand a pair of runners in scoring position.Don Baylor: July 2, 1975 - Here's an interesting one. Baylor left the yard in each of his first three at-bats, so he was sitting on three home runs after four innings. But he fouled out to third in the fifth inning, was plunked by Bob Reynolds following a Jim Northrup two-run homer in the seventh, and was walked by John Hiller in the ninth. Orioles 13, Tigers 5.Eddie Murray: August 29, 1979 - Now we're back into the high-leverage stuff. Steady Eddie's first three-homer game accounted for all of the O's runs in a 7-4 win at Minnesota.Eddie Murray (2): September 14, 1980 - Rats. The Birds didn't bother putting anyone on base ahead of him, and three solo shots added up to a 4-3 loss in 13 innings at Toronto.Dan Ford: July 20, 1983 - Disco Danny! Nobody on base for his unlikely three-peat, but Sammy Stewart and Tim Stoddard were untouchable in relief of Mike Boddicker as the Orioles topped the Mariners 4-2. Ford singled and walked as well, giving him a perfect day.Eddie Murray (3): August 26, 1985 - You knew he'd be back. Eddie goes 4-for-5 with a walk and NINE RBI in Baltimore's 17-3 laughter over the Angels.Lee Lacy: June 8, 1986 - 52,021 packed Yankee Stadium on a Sunday to see Lacy and the O's outslug the Yanks 18-9. Lee went 4-for-6, adding a two-run single to give him six RBI in all. His second home run that day came off of rookie Doug Drabek.Juan Beniquez: June 12, 1986 - Just four days after Lacy's power display, Beniquez also feasted on Yankee pitching thrice in a game. Three solo shots once again added up to a Birds loss, by a final of 7-5. Juan had only six home runs total in his lone season in Baltimore.Randy Milligan: June 9, 1990 - Six RBI for the Moose in a 10-1 shellacking of the Yankees. Remind me again why the Orioles needed Glenn Davis?Cal Ripken, Jr.: May 28, 1996 - It took the Iron Man 15 years to crack this list. He drove in eight runs in a 12-8 win at Seattle, and his seventh-inning grand slam off of Mike Jackson put the O's ahead for good. Believe it or not, he and brother Billy each went deep in the ninth inning of this one.Roberto Alomar: April 26, 1997 - Robby went 4-for-4 with three home runs, a single, a sac fly, and six RBI as the Birds rolled over the Red Sox, 14-5. Random note: Rule 5 draft pick Mike Johnson earned his first career save with three shutout innings in relief of Jimmy Key.Albert Belle: July 25, 1999 - I remember watching this one at my aunt and uncle's house. Albert homered, walked, and singled in three trips to the plate against Angels starter Chuck Finley. It was a seesaw game, with the Angels taking a 3-0 lead, the O's tying, and the Angels going up 7-3. Belle swung the momentum in the Orioles' favor with a three-run homer off of Mark Petkovsek, then finished the comeback with a two-out solo shot off of closer Troy Percival to send it to extra innings. There was one out in the 11th and a runner on first when Shigetoshi Hasegawa hit Belle with a 1-0 pitch. The mercurial outfielder originally refused to take his base, trying in vain to convince the umpire that he wasn't hit so that he could take his hacks. Ultimately, he went down to first base. A Will Clark walk loaded the bases with two out, and Cal Ripken, Jr. delivered the walkoff win with a single.Nick Markakis: August 22, 2006 - This is a fun box score. The Orioles hit five solo home runs off of Carlos Silva in the first six innings; the others were hit by Brian Roberts and Corey Patterson. Future Oriole Willie Eyre finally solved Markakis in the sixth inning, coaxing a flyout to left field. The Birds topped the Twins, 6-3. It's also worth noting that Nick has only one two-homer game, and that also came against Minnesota, back in 2008. http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=193&time=1336641403 Wed, 09 May 2012 21:42:00 -0500 oriolescards.blogspot.com?1336641403 Time To Unveil The Winners Of The 500,000 Hits Giveaway!!!! Before I start announcing the winners of the ten giveaways that help celebrate the 500,000th hit on this blog, let me say that I really appreciate all of the kind words that have … Continue reading → http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=322&time=1336641403 Wed, 09 May 2012 21:02:24 -0500 bapple2286.wordpress.com?1336641403 Happy Birthday Tony!In 1989, Topps produced a bunch of baseball card sets for other companies: Woolworth's, K-Mart, Hills department stores, and today's featured set: Cap'n Crunch cereal.However there are a couple of things that make this cereal set stand out among the others produced that year. By now you've probably noticed the airbrushed goodness that Topps featured on this lovely set. But check out the other sets: Why did Cap'n Crunch get the shaft? Maybe it has to do with the way they were distributed. The Woolworth's, K-Mart, and Hills sets were all distributed in boxed sets at their stores. While the Cap'n Crunch cards were inserted into boxes of specially marked cereal as two card packs.But that doesn't seem like the likely reason. My guess is that Sy Berger prefers Coco Puffs over the Captain. Or maybe Quaker Oats was just too cheap to dish out the $$$ to the MLB.Whatever the reason, they're lucky that some fans don't mind a little airbrushing. The fact is... I'm a fan of oddball issued sets... especially when they involve food. So grab a snack, sit back, and enjoy my latest set showcase: 1989 Topps Cap'n Crunch.Set: 22 Cards#1 Jose Canseco, #2 Kirk Gibson, #3 Orel Hershiser#4 Frank Viola, #5 Tony Gwynn, #6 Cal Ripken Jr.#7 Darryl Strawberry, #8 Don Mattingly, #9 George Brett#10 Andre Dawson, #11 Dale Murphy, #12 Alan Trammell#13 Eric Davis, #14 Jack Clark, #15 Eddie Murray#16 Mike Schmidt, #17 Dwight Gooden, #18 Roger Clemens#19 Will Clark, #20 Kirby Puckett#21 Robin Yount, #22 Mark McGwireHall of Famers: 36% (8 players)This set is full of players who were "good", but just aren't "good enough" for Cooperstown. Maybe Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire eventually make the grade if their sins are ever forgiven. But I'm not sure if anyone else gets in. Mattingly? Trammell? I guess with today's standards... anything is possible.Beckett Value: $12It's no surprise that Ripken is the highest valued card at $4. Gwynn, Mattingly, Brett, Clemens, and McGwire are second in the price guide... valued at $2/card. Lowest valued? Jack Clark and Frank Viola... 20¢/card.eBay Value: $5 to $9Two sets have closed within the last 30 days for $4.99 (+ $2 shipping) and $5.94 (+ $2.99 shipping). But there are a couple of sets listed right now with BIN's at $4.99 (free shipping). No surprises here... just around the 1/2 book value mark.It should be noted that according to Beckett, Cap'n Crunch did not offer any mail-in offers. So most collectors had to eat a bunch of cereal to complete the set. Then again, I'm sure a ton of these sets slipped out the back door and were sold as complete sets.Okay... time to hear your thoughts:Will anyone outside of the elite eight ever make it into Cooperstown? If so, who?Out of the four oddball sets listed on this page (Woolworth's, K-Mart, Hills and Cap'n Crunch), which card design do you find the most attractive?Looking past the airbrushed hats, helmets, and jerseys... my favorite is the Cap'n Crunch set. They remind of some sort of little kid's product or a Bazooka bubble gum set.Okay... that's it. Happy Hump Day! We're halfway there... only two more days of work. Sayonara! http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2528&time=1336641403 Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 -0500 sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/?1336641403 Wish me luck! See you in a few days! http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2760&time=1336641403 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:04:00 -0500 greatoriolesautographproject.blogspot.com?1336641403 OK, this one's not a baseball card, but it's still weird all the same.Before I collected baseball cards, I saved my quarters and bought packs of Star Wars, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial cards at Smith's Grocery on North Royal in Jackson, Tennessee in the early 80s. (Sometime I need to complete some of those sets.)This week, while looking for some cards to trade, I came across one of the E.T. cards (#32) and thought it would be an excellent candidate for Weird Card Wednesday honors. http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2999&time=1336641403 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:52:00 -0600 stlcardinalscards.blogspot.com?1336641403 Jeremy contacted me about sending some Indians my way, and I am always happy to relieve anyone of extra Indians cards they may have!  Included in the package was a "random pack" as well (more on that in a moment). The Indians cards represent DECADES of Tribers!  It's always fun to check out the latest players while waxing nostalgia looking at cards with players from days gone by. These are all scanned in as full scanner bed scans.  Sorry, I just didn't have time to cut 'em up. I wanted to get this post up, since it is already way late in THANKING Jeremy for the package! First up, we have Manny Ramirez, Fausto Carmona, Grady Sizemore, Trevor Crowe, Luis Valbuena, Grady Sizemore, Josh Tomlin, Fausto Carmona, and Grady Sizemore.  Since the Indians decided to keep Grady around, I sure with that boy would get better and STAY that way... Next up, we've got Grady Sizemore, Al Rosen, Coco Crisp, Jason Donald, Fausto Carmona, Franklin Gutierrez, Kenny Lofton, Cliff Lee, and Cliff Lee (on a card I don't think I've seen, but could be wrong): The next group includes: , Kelly Shoppach, Trevor Crowe, Anthony Reyes, Jake Westbrook, Justin Masterson, Kerry Wood, Andy Marte, Dick Bosman, and Frank Duffy.  Lovin the vintage! The last three Tribers are Rick Manning, Jim Kern, and Tony Perezchica: THANK YOU to Jeremy for some GREAT Indians cards!! Wahoo!! The "Random Pack" comes in the form of a 2012 Topps Series One pack.  If I were a Pirates collector, I would have hit the jackpot.  Alas, despite my growing up in da 'Burgh, I really never caught on to collecting them.  Which is a might strange considering I grew up there during the heyday of "We Are Family" winning seasons. Thanks again to Jeremy for these very cool cards!  I'm looking forward to checking them against my Tribecards collection! Wahoo! http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=163&time=1336641403 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:40:00 -0600 tribecards.blogspot.com?1336641403 This should be my last post for about 2 weeks.  The wife and I are finally getting out of Dodge for our honeymoon.  We've only been married 7 months so that's not too bad.  We're headed down to Arizona for some warm weather, deep holes, and spring training baseball, also possibly some clickity clack and drinking, and maybe even a hike or two. I know the first thing your going to say is Arizona? For your honeymoon?  Hell yeah, Hawaii's freaking expensive.  We ended up using airline miles to get down to Phoenix, one of our wedding presents was a time share so we opted for Sedona, because there was nothing closer to Phoenix and I hear Sedona is nice, and I found a cheap rental car.  So our honeymoon shouldn't break the bank, which is good considering Heritage comes out right after I get back!We got tickets for the Brewers/Cubs game on the 10th and Brewers/Mariners on the 13th.  And I get to meet a couple fellow bloggers at the Brewers/Cubs game.  That should be fun, at least for me, I'm sure my wife, who claims to be a Cubs fan, but probably couldn't name a single player on the team, will find something to keep her occupied.Alright everybody, have a good couple of weeks and just think Opening day is just a month away!!! http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2663&time=1336641403 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:18:00 -0600 www.collectorscrack.blogspot.com/?1336641403 he may not have had a card in the 2011 topps set, nor have a team in 2012 (yet), but dodger double dipper dioner navarro is so far taking up space on two topps cards in their 2012 flagship set.  here's javy guerra's cardon which navarro is offering some postgame congratulations to the dodgers' young closer.  and then there is george kottaras' cardon which navarro is out at the plate!i don't know and didn't bother to try to figure out which game is represented on the guerra card, but the kottaras card was easy - it was the only game kottaras appeared in against the dodgers all year.8/15/11, a game best remembered for james loney hitting into a triple play in the second inning, also included navarro being thrown out at the plate by jerry hairston (now a dodger) with kottaras applying the tag in the third inning. the score was 0-0 at that point, and the dodgers went on to lose 3-0.  worth noting that navarro flew out in the 7th inning with the bases loaded while all three brewer runs came on solo shots.the brew crew won the game behind another dodger double dipper, randy wolf.  ted lilly, who by my definition is not a double dipper since he did not appear in a game for the dodgers during his first run with the organization, took the loss.keep 'em coming, topps - i can use some more navarro lurker cards! http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2084&time=1336641403 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:55:00 -0600 http://garveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com/?1336641403 fred lynn signed as a free agent with the padres in december of 1989 as they continued to revamp their outfield.  here's his 1990 o-pee-chee card:here's the topps front:now the o-pee-chee back:and the topps back:the pads acquired joe carter on the same day that they signed lynn, and with lynn in left and carter in center, the padres hope for big things. they got 30 home runs and 138 rbi from the pair, but lynn played only about a quarter of the season in the field and contributed just 6 long balls and 23 rbi in what would be his final season in the big leagues.voici à vous, 1990 fred lynn! http://pilotscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2085&time=1336641403 Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:15:00 -0600 http://ohmyopc.blogspot.com/?1336641403