COMC Pickup - 1994 UD Virgil Trucks

I got this 1994 Upper Deck All Time Heroes Virgil Trucks on Black Friday for under 50 cents.  I thought it was a nice card, and a good addition to my Trucks PC.

I haven't heard any recent updates on his health, but I had heard that even though he has 'retired' from signing TTM autographs, a few have still been coming in.  That is a good sign, I suppose.  Considering that things weren't looking too good for him this summer.  I really hope he heals and continues to live on.  He is 95 now, it sure would be cool to see him get to 100.  He is a really great guy who has always been amazing to fans.

1951 Topps #19 - Dick Kokos

Dick Kokos (b. 1928 - d. 1986) played in the majors from 1948 to 1950, 1953 and 1954 for the Browns and Orioles.  He had 410 career hits, 59 home runs and a .263 batting average.  He was a member of the inaugural 1954 Baltimore Orioles.

Deceased: 14

COMC Pickup - 2011 Topps Bob Feller SP

Here is another card that I got from COMC on Black Friday, the 2011 Topps Bob Feller SP.  I had this on my want list for a while and was finally able to get it for a couple bucks.

There's still a ton of Feller cards I need to add to my PC, but his earlier stuff gets really expensive.  I've got plenty of time, though.  I would love to add his 1953 Bowman sometime soon.  I really like the legends SPs in recent Topps offerings.  It is always kind of cool to see one of those players on today's cards.

1951 Topps Red Back #18 - Gerry Coleman

Gerry Coleman (b. 1924) played in the majors from 1949 to 1957 for the Yankees.  He had 558 career hits, 16 home runs and a .263 batting average.  He finished 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1949 and was an All Star in 1950.  He won the World Series 4 times (1949, 1950, 1959 and 1956) and wore the number 42 which is now worn by Yankee legend Mariano Rivera.  He managed the Padres for one season (1980) where he went 73-89.

Manager: 2

COMC Pickup - 2005 Topps Update Andrew McCutchen RC

It has been a struggle for me to file blog entries while I am at this conference for work.  I mean, I'm only in Las Vegas.  Yep, that's right, I am in Las Vegas for work.  Did I mention that I love my job?  Anyway, before I left, I scanned the cards I got from COMC from Black Friday that I hadn't already posted.  I also scanned a few extra 1951 Topps Red Backs so I would be able to file entries when I had the time.  I haven't had much time, yet, thanks to there being tons to do here.  I visited the sports book last night and bet on 5 NFL games.  I won on 3 of them, so I came out a little ahead.  Not bad.  I played some slots and didn't do too well.  No big deal, though, I only played quarter slots with a $10 that had been in my wallet for months.

Anyway, here is one of the cards I was able to pick up on Black Friday.  I have been wanting this 2005 Topps Update Andrew McCutchen RC for a while.  I have a completed set of these cards, so I did have it, but I didn't want to break the set for my PC.  I'm sure I had one at some point, but it was probably sold for some reason back in the day.  I mean, 2005 was a long time ago.  Now, I typically put all RCs I find in packs into a box and put them up.  This tactic has helped me retain some nice RCs over the last few years.

I think McCutchen is a heck of a player.  Both my good buddy Drew and I are big fans, so I know Drew will like to see this card.  Maybe one of these days, I'll throw down a little more money and get his gold parallel.  Hmmm, maybe I need to go downstairs and play a few hands and try my luck...

1951 Topps Red Back #17 - Dave (Gus) Bell

Dave (Gus) Bell (b. 1928 - d. 1995) played in the majors from 1950 to 1964 for the Pirates, Reds, mets and Braves.  He had 1,823 career hits, 206 home runs and a .281 average.  He was the father of former player and manager Buddy Bell and grandfather of former player, David Bell.  Gus was a 4-time All Star and finished as high as 20th in the NL MVP voting (1953).

Deceased: 13

1951 Topps Red Back #16 - Preacher Roe

Preacher Roe (b. 1916 - d. 2008) played in the majors from 1938, 1944 to 1954 for the Cardinals, Pirates and Dodgers.  We was 127-84 with a 3.43 career ERA and 956 strikeouts.  He won 22 games in 1951 against 3 losses for an 0.880 winning percentage.  That year, he finished 5th in the NL MVP voting, his highest placing on the MVP vote.

Deceased: 12