Count It - My 1987 Topps Roberto Clemente Is Signed

Since he died in 1972, there was no possible way I would have been able to get Roberto Clemente to sign my 1987 Topps Turn Back The Clock.  Unless I had a DeLorean, but I don't.  So, I have been working since I started this set several years ago to try to get a Clemente to sign the card.  Three failed attempts sending to the Roberto Clemente Foundation, two failed attempts sending to his brother, finally, I was able to have my friend, Jackson, get this signed by Luis Clemente while he was visiting Puerto Rico this summer.

Jackson was really cool about getting my card signed.  He was going to try to get it done in February, but the Clementes weren't there, so I had to wait until Jackson went back this summer.  The card is finally done, and one that most folks leave off of their checklist has been added to the album.

Thank you so much for helping me out, Jackson!  It is really appreciated.

The Foulbunt Top Ten - No. 3

I've covered rookie cards, amazing vintage and set building in the previous Top Ten posts.  There was no card I was more excited to receive that the next one on the list.  I was working really hard on building a major vintage set at that time, but I had told myself that I wouldn't ever be able to afford the key rookie card, so my set would likely be incomplete.

It took a cursory look on Ebay one afternoon at the card shop, some nudging from my friend, and I put a bid in.  Little did I know at the time that the card would be one of the crown jewels of my collection.  Card No. 3 in my top ten is:

My 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente rookie card.  I placed the bid on the computer at the card shop, but the auction was ending about 30 minutes after closing time.  I raced to my parents' house and begged my mom to let me use her computer so I could watch the end of the auction (since I was still winning).  She let me, but said "If your dad comes in, he's going to want to get on the computer and you'll have to get off."  I took my chances and signed into Ebay.  With about a minute to go, my dad walked in, wondering why I was on his computer.  I told him I was winning an auction and really wanted to make sure I won.  He walked over and saw it was for a baseball card; then he saw the price.  I figured he would tell me how silly it was that I was bidding so high for a piece of cardboard.  What he said next really surprised me, though.  He chuckled and said "I guess we all have our things, don't we?  You should see what I paid for the engine I just bought..."

He walked away, saying he would be back in about five minutes, to which I told him that would be fine.  I ended up winning the auction for this card for about $150.  That was a complete steal, since the book value on the card is exponentially higher.

It isn't mint, but it looks great.  The card now resided with my 1955 Topps set, which I was able to finish about a year and a half later.  I still think it is really cool that my dad got to see me get it, and he understood the importance of my collection to me.  I'll always remember that about this card.  I have met a lot of collectors over the years who's parents either didn't understand or support their hobbies.  I am lucky to say that both of my parents not only understand, but they support it and they each have their own hobbies as well (Dad actually collects a great number of things, from fishing reels to trains to Johnny West figures and more).  This card reminds me just how lucky I am.

2015 National Free VIP Signer - Manny Sanguillen

I think the free signer I looked forward to the most was Manny Sanguillen.  I kind of follow the Pirates a little bit, here and there, especially since I have been to PNC Park twice now.  Sanguillen is a Pirates legend, having won two World Series in Pittsburgh (1971 and 1979).  He played in the majors from 1967 and 1969 to 1980 for the Pirates and A's.

What sticks out most to me about Sanguillen, though, is a story that I read about the memorial service for his former teammate, Roberto Clemente.  When Clemente passed away, the Pirates held a memorial service for him that was attended by all of his teammates, with the exception of one, Sanguillen.  The reason he wasn't at the memorial was because he was busy diving off the coast of Puerto Rico in shark infested waters, looking for Clemente's body.  That's true friendship, right there.

According to Sanguillen's SABR page, it says that Sanguillen was actually supposed to accompany Clemente on his ill-fated flight, but had misplaced his car keys and missed the flight.

Sanguillen was really quiet during the signing at The National, but he was friendly when I spoke to him.  I thanked him for the autograph and moved along, since his line was so long.

Vintage Pickups From Bryce

I got a Kik message the other day from my buddy, Bryce, showing me this sweet Carlos Gomez patch card that he was hoping to be able to pick up.  Bryce was a little worried, though, that he wouldn't be able to raise enough funds fast enough, before someone else jumped on the card.

I had a little money in my PayPal, so I was willing to help him out.  While looking on his page, I noticed that he had a few vintage cards that I really liked, so, instead of contributing a little bit toward his cause, I ended up putting him over the top of what he needed.

The above Roberto Clemente was the card that was the key to the deal, for me.  I knew I had my '64 Mantle coming in, so I figured if I could get this one as well, I would be well on my way with the '64 set, whenever I decided to start it.

The card is in great shape, regardless of the bad centering.  The corners are sharp, and there are no creases.  Bryce was really reluctant to let it go, but he knew I would give the card a good home.

I have picked up a few '61 Topps cards here and there, the Ernie Banks being a key one, so I was happy to see that Bryce had this Mathews available.  The '61 set is another of those early 60s sets that I want to get moving on, but will have to wait until I get some others completed.

Here is yet another set that I already have a good head start on, being that I have the Ernie Banks and Sandy Koufax in my possession.  This Killebrew second year card has soft corners, but is otherwise in pretty decent shape.  1956 Topps has grown on me, and I wouldn't be surprised if I get the urge to start building this one if I can get some others out of the way.

I was really happy with the deal with Bryce.  He has quickly become one of the people I talk to the most from Instagram.  He wrote me a really nice, long note that he included with the deal, and you all know that the notes are my favorite part of any package.

Thanks for the deal, Bryce!  I hope you enjoy your Carlos Gomez patch card as much as I enjoy these sweet vintage cards!

June 21, 2014 Raleigh Card Show Part 2 - 1969 Topps Set Pickups

As promised, here is my next installment (Part 2, if you will), of what I got today at the Raleigh card show.  I got such good deals on vintage set needs.  I added 7 1969s to my set, including 5 Hall of Famers, a checklist and a RC.

I made a rare double up purchase by picking up this Roberto Clemente that I already had in the set. The guy made me such a good deal on it, I couldn't pass it up.

New Hall of Famer, Joe Torre is included in the lot of cards that I got.  The 1969s I got were cheap for the most part, most around $1 a piece, but the below Rod Carew was much higher than that.

Hooray for high numbers because this Carew carried a premium.  Oh well, I would have bought it at some point, anyway, so why not now.  This was one of the last purchases I made before I tapped out and went home, but I'm glad I got the card.

Can't forget Bill Mazeroski, even though most do forget he is a Hall of Famer.  This is a really nice card of the former Pirate.  This was just about at the end of his Topps run as he had cards in 1970, 1971 and 1972 after this one.

Finally, a Hall of Fame manager, Leo Durocher.  Kind of funny seeing the Torre from above, a newly minted Hall of Fame manager and this card of thelegendary Leo Durocher.  Kind of interesting seeing them close to each other.  Kind of like a lineage or something.

Stay tuned for my next installment, set to be written in a few minutes, my 1959 Topps pickups.

Some Vintage Pickups From This Weekend

While I was visiting my parents this weekend, I stopped by the new card shop in Winston-Salem (actually, Clemmons) and picked up quite a few vintage cards for my sets.  I also got the above 1967 Topps Joe Morgan for my now-growing Morgan PC.

The '67 is in pretty good shape and I didn't spend a whole lot on it, so I'm happy.

I was even happier to knock off two Hall of Famers out of my 1969 set.  I got the above Clemente and below Kaline for a combined total of $20 plus tax, so that was really nice.  I got those two, the Morgan and a 1966 Bob Gibson for a total of $30, so I think their prices are really fair.

I'm happy to be knocking out some bigger cards from my 1969 set.  Maybe I'll be able to finish it sometime soon, so I can move onto another 60's set sooner rather than later.

Ebay Pickup - 1959 Topps Roberto Clemente

I'm posting early because I have plans tonight, but I wanted to show off the 1959 Topps Roberto Clemente that I got off of Ebay.

The condition of this card is pretty good, considering I spent only $15 on it.  Not too bad, I think.  I don't like how they refer to him as "Bob" though and as far as I know, he didn't like it either.  It seems almost disrespectful.  I don't know.

Clemente was amazing and I'm glad I was able to get this one really cheap!

40 Years Ago Today

40 years ago today, baseball lost a legend.  Roberto Clemente was killed when his plane crashed as he was attempting do deliver goods and relief aid to earthquake ravaged Nicaragua.  He passed away doing something he enjoyed, helping others.  Clemente was a legendary player, one of the all-time great people, let alone players.  At the time of his death, he had exactly 3,000 hits, 240 home runs and a lifetime average of .317.  He was a 4-time batting champion (1961, 1964, 1965 and 1967).  He hit more than 200 hits in a season 4 times.  He was the 1966 NL MVP.  He hit .300 or better 13 times out of 18 seasons.  He won the World Series with the Pirates in 1960 and 1971.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973 by a special election shortly after his death. 

His close friend, Manny Sanguillen, was the only Pirates player who did not attend Clemente's funeral because he was diving in the waters where the plane had reportedly crashed in an attempt to find Clemente's body.  That's friendship, right there.  True friendship.

So, tonight, as the curtain closes on another year, I am glad to shine a light on a true baseball legend and a great man.  Rest in peace, Roberto.

My Thoughts on 2012 Topps Update

To get my mind off of last night's meltdown, I figured I would post about the jumbo box of Topps Update that I picked up from the card shop yesterday.

When one of the gold cards you get is one of the players who you are trying to get every single parallel of, that definitely makes getting the box worthwhile.  I was super excited to pull this Topps Gold Nolan Reimold from one of the first packs I opened (I think it was the second or third pack I opened.  I think all I need of him from 2012 now is a printing plate, any 1/1 they issued (platinum or whatever) and the orange factory set exclusive (I should have bought one when I saw it.  Oh yeah, I still need his mini black parallel.

Speaking of black parallels, I pulled the above Jay Bruce from my box.  Cool.  I also got the above Roberto Clemente award winner golden ring.  Pretty cool card.  I'm probably one of the few who likes the manufactured rings.  But hey, I also enjoyed the manufactured patches also.

I think my biggest hit was the above Yu Darvish relic.  Usually, pulling Darvish stuff is up to my buddy Scott, since it seems Darvish is in every pack he opens.  I bet Scott could buy a crappy wax pack of 1987 Topps and pull a Darvish...

Hey look!  My wife can finally have that Jesus Montero autograph that he denied her a few months ago.  If you don't remember the story, my wife asked him to sign her notepad at a game in August and he told her he doesn't sign pieces of paper.  He does, however, sign stickers.  Yeah, this is trade bait.

Finally, after doing a google search this evening for Topps Update Short Prints, I discovered that I owned a short print of Prince Fielder.  The all star cards featuring players in suits is one of the variations that permeate this year's set.  There are also some All Star parade SPs as well as horizontal SPs.

I had two minor disappointments with this set/box.  One i that Miguel Gonzalez didn't make it into the checklist, so I'll have to wait until sometime in 2013 to get his RC.  My other gripe is that the Jim Thome in an O's uniform is a SP and it is going at a ridiculous price on Ebay.  I figure I'll wait for them to flood the market and snatch one up for cheap.

Foul Bunt on Location - August 1, 2011 Pirates vs. Cubs

I decided this year that instead of going to Baltimore (like I have since 2005) I would check out another team in another city. I settled on Pittsburgh since I had heard that the city was pretty nice and PNC Park was a great place to catch a game. I was definitely pleased with my decision.

PNC Park, which opened in 2001, is finally able to house a competitive team. Outside the park are statues of former Pirate greats Honus Wagner (seen above)...Roberto Clemente (this was amazing to see in person, by the way)

Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski. I really liked the Stargell statue. I think he is pretty underrated in the history of the game. He was definitely a thorn in the side of some great Oriole teams, especially in 1979 when he helped the Pirates beat the O's in 7 games in an epic World Series.
I got to see Pirate superstar Andrew McCutchen go 1 for 4 on the night. He was very impressive in his at bats and the crowd was solidly behind him.


I was pleasantly surprised at the ovation that Derrek Lee received each time his name was called. It looks like Pirate fans are very happy that he was added at the trade deadline. Lee was the source of all of the Pirates' offense tonight when he belted 2 home runs (both to standing ovations) and got 3 RBI.
Sadly, the Pirates lost their 4th in a row to a score of 5-3. Derrek Lee went 2-4 with 3 RBI. His second homer measured 410 feet.


I got a signed ball from the 1992 AL Rookie of the Year Pat Listach. He played his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992 to 1997) and had a career batting average of .251 with 444 hits, 5 home runs and 116 stolen bases.

I also got a ball signed by Cubs' rookie outfielder Tony Campana. He is batting .256 on the year with 22 hits, no home runs and 12 stolen bases in 52 games. He appeared as a pinch hitter and bunt grounded out.

I had a really good time in Pittsburgh. Everything I have heard about the city was true, it looks awesome. The city deserves a lot of credit, all of the soot from the steel industry has been cleaned up and now the city looks amazing. I definitely would consider coming back any time to catch a game.

1955 Topps #164 - Roberto Clemente

It's here. That is what the post title said when this card arrived in the mail. An absolute holy grail for baseball card collectors, and I owned it. This card is probably the jewel of the 1955 set, and here it is, being posted on my blog for, I think, the 4th time. The Roberto Clemente rookie card. As you can see, the card isn't in mint condition. No big deal. It is still a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie Card. Rookie Card should be capitalized in this instance. This is what collecting baseball cards is all about boys and girls. This is what set building is all about. Most sets have that one big rookie card. Some sets have two. God forbid you have one of those classic sets that has 3 or more.... 1955 Topps boasts an impressive rookie card lineup of: Clemente, Koufax, Killebrew, Boyer, Zimmer, etc. However, it is the Clemente that would be the Big Gold Belt of this set.

I remember looking at the auction on ebay one Saturday at the card shop, daring myself to bid. My good friend P.A. tellinh me I should go for it. Max texting me that I should do it. I placed a bid on the card, and it had about 15 minutes to go. I had to close the shop, so I did in record time and drove the 5 minutes to my parents' house. I asked my mom if I could get on her commputer, and she agreed, so I went in my parents' bedroom and put the auction on, thinking that I'd get outbid any second. Surprisingly, I was still in the lead with something like 30 seconds to go, and my dad comes in his room and says 'What are you doing on my computer?' 'Watching an auction end, Dad, 25 seconds to go...' 'Oh? You getting off after that?' 'Yeah Dad... hold on... HOLY CRAP I won it!!!' 'What'd you win?' 'I won a baseball card.' 'How much did you spend?'

I had won the auction for $238.75. The most I had ever spent on a single baseball card in my life.... Fearing my father's ridicule on how ridiculous it would be that I would spend that much on a single card, I sheepishly told him $238.75. He asked 'Was it worth it?' I said 'Oh, yeah, far more than that...' He chuckled and said 'Well, damn, it looks like we have an addiction to our hobbies don't we?' with which he then told me how much he had dropped on a racing engine earlier that day. Kind of made my $238.75 look like pennies. It made me happy, though, that my did didn't care a thing about baseball, and baseball cards, but he understood the feeling of finally getting that big thing you want for your collection.

Roberto Clemente (b. 1934 - d. 1972) played from 1955 to 1972 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. During a career that would be cut short one fateful night in December 1972, he amassed 3,000 hits, 240 home runs and a career batting average of .317. Known for his cannon of an arm, he had 276 assists in his career as a right fielder (1st all-time). Let's take a look at some of his accomplishments:

• 3,000 career hits
• .317 career batting average
• 4-time batting champion (1961 - .351, 1964 - .339, 1965 - .329 and 1967 - .357)
• Hit over .300 in 13 different seasons
• 1966 NL MVP
• 1971 World Series MVP
• Won the World Series in 1960 and 1971 with the Pirates
• Led the league in hits in 1964 (211) and 1967(209)
• Had 200+ hits in 4 seasons
• 12-time All Star
• 12-time gold glove winner
• Only player in history to hit an inside the park grand slam

Originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers (sorry Max), Clemente would later be drafted by the Pirates in what is now known as the Rule V draft.

Clemente was heavily involved in charity work. When the country of Nicaragua suffered a devastating earthquake on December 23, 1972, Clemente rushed to be of aid. The plane that Clemente had chartered on December 31, 1972 crashed almost immediately after takeoff, killing everyone on board. A few days later, the fuselage of the plane, and the body of the pilot were recovered. Manny Sanguillen, Clemente's close friend and teammate was the only Pirates player who did not attend Clemente's memorial service. He, instead, chose to dive into the waters off the coast of Puerto Rico in an attempt to find his fallen teammate. Clemente's body was never found. He was 38.

(HALL OF FAME 13)

(DECEASED 88)

POST NUMBER 500!!!!! (Or, Great Moments in Foul Bunt History)

Hooray! Foul Bunt has made it to another milestone!! 500 Posts! Wooooo.
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Let's take a look back and remember some great moments in Foul Bunt history...

• On November 16, 2008, Foul Bunt opened it's doors. You can read the post here. I chose the name Foul Bunt because I figured the blog would be pretty lame and a foul bunt was one of the lamest things you could do in baseball. Apparently, 80 followers later, my blog isn't as lame as I thought it would be.
• On December 14, 2008, I discussed my best pull ever (up to that time, of course). A 1960 Topps Stan Musial out of a shoebox bought off of Ebay. Read it here.
• On December 31, 2008, I got my 1955 Topps Jackie Robinson card. Read the post here. I also posted the Robinson while counting my 1955 set. That post (here) became my most viewed post yesterday (February 8, 2011), according to my handy dandy stats page.
• On February 1, 2009, I got the Roberto Clemente 1955 Topps rookie card in the mail. Check it out here.
• On May 31, 2009, I demonstrated the perils of alcohol and ebay after I had a couple beverages and bid on (and won) a 1955 Topps Phil Rizzuto.
• On July 3, 2009, Max and I demonstrate that it is not a good idea to try the gum found in 1988 Topps wax packs. Make sure you watch the video. Check it here.
• On July 24, 2009, I completed my first trade with Drew. Who knew that we'd become such good friends since then. Read the post here.
• I said earlier that my 1955 Jackie Robinson post had become my most viewed post. The previous champ that had held the record since google started keeping track in June was my September 22, 2009 post on meeting Bryce Harper.
• On October 27, 2009, I posted one of my most memorable posts, when I met Brooks Robinson in person. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I'm glad I was able to share it with all of you here.
• On December 19, 2009, I completed the 1955 Topps set. One of my greatest card accomplishments ever.
• On May 2, 2010, I got my first TTM signed ball - Bobby Doerr. I've done pretty well with TTMs since then, but Doerr was the first.
• On June 11, 2010, I met Nolan Reimold in person. I was working at a site close to Norfolk and my boss allowed me to stay there overnight. I went to two games at Harbor Park and met Nolan outside the clubhouse. He was a really nice guy and I hope that he can finally put injuries behind him and become the great player that I know he is.
• On July 29, 2010, I met MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko. I read Roch's blog every day (multiple times a day). It was awesome to meet him in person and talk about baseball for a while.
• On October 1, 2010, I started my daily listing of 1955 Topps cards. It has become a nice feature of my blog. I wonder what I'm going to do when I finish posting the set. Read the post here.
• On November 8, 2010, I posted probably my greatest TTM success. That of Virgil Trucks. If you read this blog regularly, you know that I am now a huge fan of Trucks, but this post is what started it all.
• On December 15, 2010, I posted on the huge loss of Bob Feller. I was really upset when he passed, I sure would have loved to meet him in person. You can read the post here.
• Finally, one of the coolest things to ever happen to me was being able to conduct an interview with the great Virgil Trucks. You can remind yourself here. I'm still amazed that I was afforded the opportunity.

So, there you have it. A much bigger recap post than I thought I'd do. I hope everyone has enjoyed everything. I've really enjoyed it and I hope that I can keep it up! Thanks everyone. Click the links and enjoy some nostalgia!

Hidden in my Collection - 2007 Sweet Spot Classic Roberto Clemente

I got this card back in 2007 when I could actually spend some money on packs of cards. Yeah, I know, that seems to be a recurring theme around here... I USED to be able to afford nice things. I remember being stoked when I pulled this card. I love the old flannel jersey. This is the only relic card I have of Clemente and I have no desire to ever part with it.
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I just watched the movie 'Chasing 3,000' the other day, which was primarily set around Clemente's 3,000th hit and 2 brothers' quest to make it to that game. It got pretty sappy at the end, but it was a pretty good movie nonetheless.
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I'm a Clemente fan, for sure. He was a true ambassador for the game and is still missed, almost 40 years after he died. I'll post more about Clemente himself when I get to his RC in my 1955 set.

Trip to the Card Shop

Max came to visit 2 weeks ago and we went to the Greenville card shop to kill some time. The card shop owner is holding some 1971 Topps cards for me to pick up when I can afford them...
I picked up this really sweet Roberto Clemente during that trip. I've already gotten a good many of the star cards, and knocking the Clemente out cheaply was nice. I'm hoping I can pick up the other cards that the guy has for me soon, because I'd really like to get moving on this set.

1998 Topps Series II Box Break

Here are a few things out of my Series II box. I'm in the process of sorting the cards in order to put the set together, but so far, I have 1-199. I got a finest Clemente insert, which is a pretty nice version of the 1957 Topps. Not bad; I remember the 'protective film' haha.

Can't go wrong with Cal. As you can see, the cards scanned much better today. Must have been operator error.

I like this Maddux insert. A good shot of Maddux looking like a professor, which is what he was, the Professor of Pitching. He could probably get people out today and still win 10-12 games with the right team...

I thought this card was fitting, since this was 1998 Topps. McGwire was on the cusp of his most glorious achievement... then his fall from grace. Kinda weird to see it right before it happened. If we knew then, what we know now...

IT'S HERE- BLOG ENTRY 100!!!

Alright guys. Here it is. Blog entry #100. Are you ready? I started this blog on November 16, 2008, did not have a scanner and had no idea that a month later I would be offered a new position in the company that required me moving 4 hours away and packing all my stuff up, making this a little more difficult.



I have completed several sets, gotten some 'big hits', met some new friends, reconnected with a good friend (my best friend), dragging him along on this wonderful ride which is my life. I had no idea where I was going with this blog (you can see that here), but I feel like it has evolved nicely into what you see today.



I was talked into writing a blog by Pete and P.A. one Saturday at the shop. I cannot thank them enough for giving me an outlet to discuss and show off my cards.



I also need to thank my mom for hooking me up with a LOT of cards over the years... a LOT of them.



I have 24 followers (official, according to blogspot) and others who follow, but have not linked as followers. I have completed several trades. I have a couple still outstanding, we'll see if they get done.



You may ask, what is my favorite entry on my blog? I have two. I posted an entry on Sunday, February 1, 2009 detailing my acquisition of this 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente Rookie Card.


The second one is an entry I posted on Friday July 3, 2009. The videos of Max and I trying the gum from 1988 Topps. I have done some goofy stuff with my friends, but have not recorded it via webcam. The fact that Max plays along and puts up with me (which must be difficult) is amazing. If you guys haven't checked his blog, please do! He's a great guy.



So, now, I turn it over to you guys. What post that i have done is your favorite? What card did you enjoy seeing most? I especially would like comments for this post, since post #100 is pretty important to me. Thanks again guys, and keep reading!!!

Its HERE!!!

Most of the guys at the card shop were treated on my last day there by being able to check out, in person, my 1955 Roberto Clemente RC that i picked up from the post office yesterday morning. I still can't believe that I was able to nab it so cheap. Now, if I can get the Koufax as cheap... Here it is guys, enjoy!

Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone! I got one 'vintage' card for Christmas, but its SWEET...

I hope everyone else is doing well. Pete and P.A., I have some news I will pass along to you guys at the shop on Saturday if you come by... Have a good one!!