The Many Faces of Moises Alou

This post was inspired by some cards sent to me recently by John from The Pursuit of 80's(ness). Another awesome batch of cards came across from the UK and whilst going through them I was reminded of the solid but rarely flashy career of Moises Alou.

Drafted second overall in the 1986 draft by the Pirates, Alou was the "player to be named later" in a 1990 trade that saw Zane Smith pack for Pittsburgh. It wasn't long before he became one of Montreal's outfield cornerstones dependable for above-average stats in both average and power. He might not have been as flashy as Larry Walker or as speedy as Marquis Grissom but he got the job done. With his father Felipe managing him, Alou finished second behind Eric Karros in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 1992 and was an All-Star two years later.

As good as the Expos got, the team suffered from a lack of commitment from ownership and the team was soon dismantled following the strike that ended the 1994 season. He stuck around for a couple more years but signed on as a free agent with the Marlins for the 1997 season and made an immediate impact hitting .292, knocking in 115 runs and smacking 23 home runs. Oh yeah, he was also the winner of the Babe Ruth Award, which is similar to World Series MVP, in that it's given for the best World Series performance as voted by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, leading an unlikely team to their first World Championship.

Alou's stay with the Marlins wasn't meant to last. Florida owner Wayne Huizenga promptly dismantled his championship squad in a firesale that looked a lot like the ongoing deals that Alou would have become accustomed to seeing in Montreal. Off to Houston.

Different team, same plucky player. In his four years playing with Houston (he missed all of 1999 due to a psychopathic treadmill so I'm not counting it), Alou was an All Star twice and finished third in NL MVP voting in 1998 where he set a career high for RBIs, driving in 124 runs for a dangerous team that included Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio.

As Alou approached and surpassed 40 years of age, he continued to put play a solid game yet never managed to find a place to really call his baseball home. After leaving the Astros via free agency following the 2001 season, Alou got a ripe three-year deal with the Cubs. In 2004, at the age of 37, he set a career high in home runs with 39. But that would be all for his days in the Windy City.

Although his power numbers were starting to taper off, Alou continued to hit for average in his final four seasons (spending two each with the Giants and Mets). Between 2005 and 2008 the Atlanta-born outfielder never hit below .300.

Last year marked the end of Alou's playing career. He'll likely never get any Hall of Fame career, nor does he necessarily deserve it. He was, however, one of the more overlooked players of a generation, quietly playing contently in the shadows of some of the game's bigger stars. Superstars might make those around them look better than they actually are but it's guys like Moises Alou that enable superstars to rise to the top of their game.

Thanks again, John for the awesome cards and for reminding me of an Expos great.

One of These Things is Doing It's Own Thing, One of These Things Desn't Belong

The day before I disappeared from my home computer a surprise package from Jim at GCRL arrived on my doorstep. I didn't have time to go through them until I came back, despite my pain and suspense.

Jim sent an awesome bunch of cards, mostly Expos but a couple John Jaha inserts and even a Canadian or two thrown in for good measure. I've got a few highlights and observations but first, a game. Play the video here and follow the instructions (just alter "cookie" for "baseball player" and ignore quantity). There's something strange about one of these below. Can you guess? They're arranged in numerical order, so as not to give any hints.

These cool little pieces aren't cards but rather mini-posters from 1981 O-Pee-Chee. Jim included seven of the 24 cards in the set, which I'm guessing are divided between 12 Expos and 12 Blue Jays. I looove fun little oddball finds, especially when they're Canadian in origin.

Moving on to some more goodies Jim sent, were these four cards. Have you ever stopped to notice how cool Rondell White is? The guy just oozes with it - at least he did for the era. I'm not sure if the lines in his fair are quite back yet. Jim included four different Ronell's and in each one he just has this aura of cool about him. Take a peak:

So if you need tips on cool and you can't find Rico Suave, I'm sure Rondell can be tracked down and offer some pointers.

While there were oodles of neat cards from Jim, this is my favorite:

That would be Ron Hunt making an awkward "action" pose for the camera. It's not a traditional baseball card but rather a postcard. I'd imagine it's from the early 1970s as Hunt was an Expos for less than four seasons between 1971 and 1974. From the shadowy bright lights, to the simple background, to the awkward look on Hunt's face to the facsimile autograph, this postcard just reeks of good simplicity.

Over the years I've amassed a few similar postcards but the Hunt is one I know I have not seen until now.

Thanks again, Jim, for the awesome bunch of cards!

And the Oscar Goes to...Lebron James?

Okay, maybe not but Shaq's new teammate is the subject of a documentary More Than a Game, which is set to be released in theatres by Lions Gate on October 2. The film focuses on James as he's getting ready to become the king of the post-MJ basketball world and his roots.

Last week I received an email that contained five "trading cards" of the five primary subjects of the film. As of right now, I think they're just images. However, I wouldn't be surprised if actual promos start showing up before the film's release date.

In case you're curious about the movie, here's the scoop from the studio's promotional materials:

Five talented young basketball players from Akron, Ohio star in this remarkable true-life coming of age story about friendship and loyalty in the face of great adversity.  Coached by a charismatic but inexperienced player’s father, and led by future NBA superstar LeBron James, the “Fab Five’s” improbable seven-year journey leads them from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship.  Along the way, the close-knit team is repeatedly tested—both on and off the court—as James’ exploding worldwide celebrity threatens to destroy everything they’ve set out to achieve together.  More Than A Game combines a series of unforgettable one-on-one interviews with rare news footage, never-before-seen home videos, and personal family photographs to bring this heart-wrenching and wholly American story to life.

 

  

  

  

  

And the trailer:

Razor Hosts Lisa Gleave at the National

The Razor booth will be hosting an autograph signing with Let's Make a Deal's Lisa Gleave at this year's National in Cleveland. She'll be signing four different Bench Warmer redemption cards including one that Razor says will be "the CRAZIEST Bench Warmer redemption card ever!!"

The autographs will be via redemption and available all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Collectors will get one of three redemptions at the Razor booth by opening up either a box of pre-2008 Bench Warmer product or 10-plus packs of Bench Warmer cards from 2008 or 2009. Once you've got all three redemptions you get the fourth, an in-person autographed Kiss card where Gleave will sign and plant a smacker on the card right before your very eyes. Talk about creating cardboard jealousy.

For more information on the National, click here.

San Diego Comic Con Card Swag List

I'm going to do my best to keep a tally of the cards handed out at this year's Halloween costume mecca better known as Comic Con. The list will get to the point and that's about all, meant purely for reference purposes. If you know of anything that's missing (cards only, please), please email me so it can be added.

Artbox:

Harry Potter
Artbox is once again selling goodie bags that contain an assortment of previously released products and some new exclusives:

Prop/Costume Cards
SDCC09-CP1 Just Like That & Boxing Telescope Boxes
SDCC09-CP2 Slughorn's Office Cushions and Armchair
SDCC09-CP3 Slughorn's Christmas Party Guest Costume and Lantern Prop
SDCC09-CP4 Death Eater & Dumbledore Dual Costume

Prop Cards
Three different prop cards featuring pieces from Quidditch stand material. The cards are numbered /550 and showcase Gryffindor, Slythrin and one for all schools.

Harry Potter Stinks button. This will likely be one of the more popular exclusives from the show as it's limited to 33 copies and will only be given out through a raffle - five per day with three left over for the Artbox and licensor vaults.

Oversized Autograph
SDCC09. Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood

Breygent:

Dexter
Breygent will be offering special Dexter sets at SDCC. According to the Canadian company you get a 72-card base set, two costume cards and seven foil cards.


Ghost Whisperer
The first Ghost Whisperer cards will arrive at Comic Con with Breygent selling a box with a 72-card base set, two costume cards, two autographs and nine foil cards. The two autographs I've seen on eBay have the SDCC logo.

Rittenhouse Archives:
Althout RA won't be set up at the show themselves, they are making promos available at several card dealers' booths.
 

Lost 
P1 (Wednesday)
P2 (Thursday)
P3 (Friday)
P4 (Saturday)
P5 (Sunday)

 

  

  

Spider-Man Archives

SD09 available only at the Marvel booth. 

Stargate Heroes

SD09

 

Star Trek: The Original Series 2009

P4

 

  

Summit Entertainment:

New Moon
Two different promo packs for the upcoming Twilight sequel. The first is a set of five that focuses on Team Jacob. The second set of promos has four cards: Bella, Edward, Jacob and a header.

Unknown Manufacturers:

Spartacus
Promo pack of eight cards promoting the new series or mini-series that debuts in the winter.

2009 Topps Magic Football Shortprints Announced

Here's the checklist Topps sent over earlier today listing the 50 2009 Topps Magic Football base set shortprints (inserted 1:3 packs):

2 Brodie Croyle Alabama

6 DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
18 Kenny Irons, Auburn
21 Ben Obomanu, Auburn
26 Robert Meachem, Tennessee
27 Isaiah Stanback, Washington
34 John Beck, BYU
35 Justin Forsett, California
36 Lavelle Hawkins, California
44 Tye Hill, Clemson
46 Chris Simms, Texas
47 Chris Brown, Colorado
52 Dave Thomas, Texas
55 Derrick Harvey, Florida
58 Fred Taylor, Florida
60 Lorenzo Booker, Florida State
63 Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State
66 Ernie Sims, Florida State
75 Sean Jones, Georgia
79 Leonard Pope, Georgia
82 P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech
86 Kevin Kolb, Houston
98 Yamon Figurs, Kansas State
105 Terry Bradshaw, Louisiana Tech
111 Kolby Smith, Louisville
125 Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall
130 Shawne Merriman, Maryland
131 DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
136 Greg Olsen, Miami
138 Antrel Rolle, Miami
154 Marlin Jackson, Michigan
165 Deuce McAllister, Mississippi
172 Brad Smith, Missouri
174 Brandon Jackson, Nebraska
176 Alvin Pearman, Virginia
178 Matt Schaub, Virginia
180 Ronald Curry, North Carolina
185 DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State
193 Julius Jones, Notre Dame
195 Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame
199 Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
206 Marc Bulger, West Virginia
207 Mark Bradley, Oklahoma
208 Owen Schmitt, West Virginia
211 Allen Patrick, Oklahoma
222 Reggie Williams, Washington
224 Derrick Williams, Penn State
233 Kyle Orton, Purdue
236 Brian Leonard, Rutgers
239 Lee Evans Wisconsin

They also sent along the autograph print runs. The list is huge and I don't have time to reformat it right now, but if you've pulled an autograph and want me to check the print run, drop me an email.

Another Week, Another Obama Card, This Time From eTopps

Last week there was the announcement that there'd be a Barack Obama Cut Signature in Sport Kings Series C. This week it looks as though there'll be another card featuring the President coming from eTopps. I logged in this morning to see if I was allocated the first three UFC cards the program offered (I was) and proceeded to check the message boards for this week's offerings. There I was directed to the following:

That'd be a card showing the first pitch from the All-Star Game. It's not a very exciting looking card but one that is likely to generate a lot of interest. Last year eTopps had four cards of Presidential candidates done in a shiny Allen & Ginter style. While the other three can now be found cheap, the Obama continues to trade for more than $85.

This week's other eTopps cards include Joe Mauer, Brett Anderson and Prince Fielder in his Home Run Derby garb.

2009 Topps Allen and Ginter Shortprints, Unannounced Inserts and Black Light Autographs

Topps has announced the list of shortprints and all sorts of other goodies for 2009 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball:

Short Printed Base Cards
Cards 301-350 in the base set are short printed at 1:2 packs.

Short Printed Autographs & Print Runs (all of the autograph subjects in the product including the ones below have signed 10 cards in red ink accept for Michael Phelps and the Invisible Man)
AGA-MC Miguel Cabrera 49
AGA-DW David Wright 49
AGA-JW Jayson Werth 49
AGA-JR Jose Reyes 49
AGA-JC Joba Chamberlain 49
AGA-DO David Ortiz 49
AGA-MH Matt Holliday 49
AGA-RH Ryan Howard 49
AGA-LM LaShawn Merritt 239
AGA-AT Anna Tunnicliffe 239
AGA-MZ Mariel Zagunis 239
AGA-WE Walton Glenn Eller 239
AGA-KA Kristin Armstrong 239
AGA-SB Stephanie Brown Trafton 239
AGA-DOW Dominique Wilkins 239
AGA-FE Frank Evans 239
AGA-AP Art Pennington 239
AGA-RM Red Moore 239
AGA-HS Herb Simpson 239
AGA-CP Clyde Parris 239
AGA-WW Willie Williams 239
AGA-MN Millito Navarro 239
AGA-BM Billy The Marlin 239
AGA-HT Hannah Teter 239
AGA-SD Shani Davis 239
AGA-CO Cat Osterman 239
AGA-RMA Robbie Maddison 239
AGA-BC Bob Crowley 239
AGA-RF Richard Fosbury 239
AGA-SW Steve Wiebe 239
AGA-WS Will Simpson/Archie Bunker 239
AGA-MM Mike Metzger 239
AGA-BBE Bryan Berg 239
AGA-IK Iris Kyle 239
AGA-BCA Brian Cappelletto 239
AGA-LO Loren Opstedahl 239
AGA-LC Lynne Cox 239
AGA-BY Brock Yates 239
AGA-JH John Higby 239
AGA-BK Burke Kenny 239
AGA-KM Kolan McConiughey 239
AGA-YM Yuto Miyazawa 239

Michael Phelps Autographs
Phelps has 8 different versions #’d to 8 and there is a gold 1 of 1 for each of the versions representing his 8 gold medals at the last Olympics.

Short Printed Inserts (Unannounced)

Inventions of the Future
FI1 AeroMobile
FI2 Clock Defier
FI3 Protecto-Bubble
FI4 Here-to-There-o-matic
FI5 Mental Movies

Extinct Animals
EA1 Velociraptor
EA2 Dodo
EA3 Xerces Blue
EA4 Labrador Duck
EA5 Eastern Elk

Creature Relics (#’d to 10)
Bigfoot
The Loch Ness Monster
Unicorn
The Invisible Man
Yeti

Creatures Autographs
The Invisible Man (only a black light will reveal the Invisible Man’s signature). These are limited to 10 copies.

Short Printed Relics & Print Runs
AGR-AR Alex Rios 90
AGR-DM Daisuke Matsuzaka 110
AGR-NS Nick Swisher 164
AGR-AP2 Albert Pujols 190
AGR-MR2 Manny Ramirez 190
AGR-AS Alfonso Soriano 191
AGR-RC Robinson Cano 195
AGR-HR Hanley Ramirez 199
AGR-EC Eric Chavez 210
AGR-MM Mickey Mantle 250
AGR-BTM Billy The Marlin 250
AGR-LM LaShawn Merritt 250
AGR-AT Anna Tunnicliffe 250
AGR-MZ Mariel Zagunis 250
AGR-WE Walton Glenn Eller 250
AGR-KA Kristin Armstrong 250
AGR-SB Stephanie Brown Trafton 250
AGR-DOW Dominique Wilkins 250
AGR-HT Hannah Teter 250
AGR-SD Shani Davis 250
AGR-CO Cat Osterman 250
AGR-RMA Robbie Maddison 250
AGR-BC Bob Crowley 250
AGR-RF Richard Fosbury 250
AGR-SW Steve Wiebe 250
AGR-WS Will Simpson/Archie Bunker 250
AGR-MME Mike Metzger 250
AGR-BBE Bryan Berg 250
AGR-IK Iris Kyle 250
AGR-BCA Brian Cappelletto 250
AGR-LO Loren Opstedahl 250
AGR-LC Lynne Cox 250
AGR-BY Brock Yates 250
AGR-JHI John Higby 250
AGR-BK Burke Kenny 250
AGR-KM Kolan McConiughey 250
AGR-MP Michael Phelps 250
AGR-AP3 Albert Pujols 255

I have to say, the Creature relics are strange but in a good way. I'd love to get me a unicorn horn or some of Bigfoot's fur. The Invisible Man autograph is genius. I scanned eBay but couldn't find one though. The Bigfoot relic has sold for over $200, which puts it waaaay out of my range for something that's "cute". Maybe someone needs to make a full-blown set of these. It's not like there's any shortage of bigfoot fur.