My Favorite Find in the 1973 Pile

Here is a great card from the 1973 Kellogg's baseball card set.  

I've seen old cards from Topps, Bowman, etc. where someone scratches off the team name or position to accurately reflect any changes.  On this card, all that was cut off was the line of blue stars on the top that look just like the ones on the bottom.

Was someone trying to match the size of some other card or binder?

Did they not see Kline as a star?  If so, why not cut off the stars on the bottom?

Was this the work of a sibling of a collector trying to get revenge?  If so, why did the sibling choose Kline when lots of other stars would have been better revenge?  I think this way since I've got lots of siblings and some wouldn't know any of the players.

I Like 1973s - If You Don't Then Send Them to Me Please

I read lots of negatives about the 1973 Kellogg's baseball card set.  It's 2-D, it wasn't printed by Xograph, the cards are red...

I was sorting through these cards on my day off today.  It is nice not to worry about cards that I put in a top loader now being cracked.

These cards also seem to keep their color well.  That is not always the case with these 3-D cards.

Sure, they do seem more like regular baseball cards than Kellogg's 3-D cards, but that's a nice diversion when I'm organizing the cards.

Since they don't crack, their prices also don't seem to be as high as comparable cards from other years.

So, if you don't like them, I certainly will take them off your hands.  I've decided to make a few extra sets.  I'm missing the usual three (Rose, Ryan, Jackson) and a variety of others (Blyleven, Blass, Brock, Seaver, Gibson, Carew, Kaline, Stargell).

1980 Kellogg's Unopened Packs

I've mentioned before how the 1980 Kellogg's unopened packs are not secured well.  The top pieces can easily separate.  I've got a lot of them that have separated but I keep them as a sealed pack for no real reason.  Here is one of the worst ones.

The wrapper is so loose that one can even notice that the card shifted positions between the two pictures.  I also made sure to show one that had as much Raisin Bran on the card as possible.  The only thing good going on for this card is that the card is Eddie Murray.  I haven't taken the card out yet to check its condition, but that wouldn't be difficult to do.

A few of these cards have fallen out of the wrappers and the color has been great.  I guess that is reason enough to keep these in the wrappers for now.

Is This Collection Still at the Smithsonian?

I found this by accident today. 

Smithsonian Card Collection

This collection was given to the Smithsonian in 1996.  Has anyone ever seen it?  It's great to see that Kellogg's cards were included. 

Standard Catalog of Vintage Football Cards

This is how the Standard Catalog of Vintage Football Cards described the early Kellogg's football card sets.

1970 Kellogg's Set

1971 Kellogg's Set

1982 Kellogg's Set

I don't remember these cards being on the boxes.  I do remember them being displayed in three-card panels near the Raisin Bran.  Does anyone else remember that?

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #37 - 38

Since I already covered #39, Cookie Rojas, I've only got two cards to check out today. 

#38 - Mickey Lolich

Before I knew much about Lolich, I figured he must be a great player.  Why?  He had a World Series game seven card in the 1969 Topps set.  Those were some great cards.  

A rare switch-hitting pitcher.  I need to check out his stats on that even though I might have done that before.  He was the 1968 World Series MVP with three hits in three games including a homer.  Maybe three wins, all in complete games, with an ERA of 1.67 helped.

He hit a post-season homer without ever hitting one in his 16-year career.  I think that puts him on  a really short list.  He batted .110 for his career but he managed to get walks in 10% of his plate appearances.  Why didn't they just throw him strikes?

Back to the card.  He led the league in losses in 1970 and then led the league in wins in 1971.  He pitched 376 innings in 1971 which was the highest total in 54 years.  They didn't mention who achieved that mark.

Not on the card - Grove Alexander pitched in 388 innings in 1917.

Finally, something unique.  He wasn't really left-handed but a shoulder injury in a childhood accident forced him to become a lefty.  

#37 - Lee May

Lee May or Lee Maye?  Topps kept me confused as a kid on this one.  Luckily, both played in the NL so I had a chance to figure it out.

Lee May - played from 1965 to 1982.  He started with Cincinnati and then went to Houston before heading to the AL.  

Lee Maye - played from 1959 to 1971.  He spent a lot of time with Milwaukee Braves.  He also played for Houston which didn't help me to figure this out.  He was also a well-known R&B singer?

Lee May is shown as a Red on the front and back, but it is mentioned that he was traded to Houston in the text.  I guess it is more difficult to air brush a 3-D card than a Topps card.  With the technology of the times I'm glad they made no attempt to do that.

He is the brother of Carlos May, who is also featured in this set.

The card mentions that the 1970 World Series was disastrous for the Reds.  They loss two one-run games and two games by a score of 9-3.  May's homer gave the Reds their only win in the five-game series.  

May is no liability in the field.  If he were a good fielder, wouldn't they just say he is a good fielder?  He didn't win any Gold Gloves, but neither did I. 

Why was May traded after so many good seasons?  They were able to move Tony Perez to first base full time and the Astros sent Joe Morgan over to Cincinnati.  They were on their way to becoming the Big Red Machine.  Ugh!

More About the Basketball Cards

I was planning to write about the Kellogg's basketball cards again today if I could find a way.  It became easy to do when I got this item in the mail today. 

These look like they were packaged for a discount store.  Does anyone know where they were sold with this packaging?  According to the packaging, the cards had a value of $7.00 when sold in this format.  The back also mentions that the cards were randomly inserted into Raisin Bran boxes. 

Why was I thinking about basketball?  For the second time this week I decided to spend a few minutes before school shooting around in the gym since the basketball coach was there.  The first day was uneventful, but today was quite different.

Why was today different?  Three of my runners walked through the gym and laughed at me, before even watching me do anything.  I would have been okay with their behavior if they at least waited until I missed 12 shots in a row, but no.  They just chucked and went on their way.  Ouch.

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #40 - 42

Here are three more cards to read from the 1972 Kellogg's baseball card set.

#42 - Andy Messersmith

They packed a lot of text onto Messersmith's card.  He went 8-1 to end the season as a 20-game winner.  

The 1972 pitching staff is built around him.  He has the team record of 211 strikeouts in a season.

Not on the card - 1972 was his last season with the Angels after he won eight games and lost 11.  He was sent to the Dodgers after the season in a trade that involved seven players.  Nolan Ryan joined the Angels in 1972 and won 19 games while crushing Andy's strikeout record by fanning 329 batters.

#41 - Nate Colbert

Colbert's hobbies are cards, checkers and music.  That's a nice departure from the guys who mention only some of these typical answers - sports, golf, hunting, fishing.  

Kellogg's is quick to mention San Diego's dismal roster.  I like that.  In their first six seasons they finished last in their division.  They finished 4th, 5th or 6th in every season from 1969 to 1983 and only once did they win more games than they lost.  I won't mention anything after that because now my mood has soured.   

#40 - Dick Drago

Drago was another guy who wasn't good enough for an NL fan like me to know much about. 

Lots of boring stuff on this card.  I like that it mentions that his biggest goal will be beating the Tigers, his former team, the only team in the AL that he is winless against.

I really like the design of these card backs.  It's great that they've added lots of text, but they really didn't do enough to make the backs interesting.  I'm guessing that I even thought this way in 1972.

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #43 - 45

I've got pictures to add today, but I forget to get pictures of the last three.  I will add those soon.


#45 - Bob Robertson

Kellogg's was projecting Bob to be one of the major leagues' top home run hitters after his two solid seasons.  

Not on the card - he played until 1979 and he never had more at-bats than in 1971.  He also never exceeded 16 homers in any season after 1971.  

Not on the card - he did have major league sideburns.

I was always surprised to see him on multiple Kellogg's cards.  But the back of the card mentions his six post-season homers.  That will get everyone to remember you.  They only had 11 post-season games that year so six is quite an accomplishment.  

The card said that he was "improving as a fielder each year".

Not on the card - they wanted to say "he stinks in the field and he should hope that the designated hitter rule is implemented soon".  In his 79 AL games at the end of his career he was DH 33 times.

Bob's hobby was playing the guitar.  Great, but who names their kid Robert Robertson.    

#44 - Steve Blass

Like Robertson, Blass was known well because he had a great World Series performance.  He won two games against the Orioles.

The card back wasn't too interesting so I think the kid in me focused on the fact that he was one of the first players I knew of that had an apparent swear word in his name.  Hey, we didn't have cable or any other electronics back then so our cards were our entertainment on rainy days. 

#43 - Dave Johnson

He had a great season in 1971.  Finally a card that mentions some different stuff.  He was a basketball star at Texas A & M, a pilot and a scratch golfer.  For those who don't follow golf, that means he was really good at it.  

I caddied for lots of baseball players and hockey players.  Every one of them could hit the ball far.  It takes additional skill to actually get the ball in the hole.  

I love the facts on the bottom, but they aren't on a lot of cards.  There were 10 20-game winners in the AL in 1971.  Can you name them?

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #46 - 48

Back for more from the 1972 Kellogg's baseball card set.  Did they mention anything interesting on the back?  Wow, this is quite a trio. 

#48 - Lou Brock

Not much of interest on the back.  He led the league in steals and stole 50+ bases for the seventh time - a record.  How did he become the only player to hit a homer into the right-center bleachers in the Polo Grounds?  He hit nine homers that year. 

#47 - Juan Marichal

I've got a few problems with this card back.  First, the card uses the word commensurate.  As a nine-year-old I had no chance of understanding what this meant.  I doubt anyone in my family could have helped me at all. 

Second, the first line starts with "still one of baseball's top pitchers".  He was only 33 at this time and I guess the Kellogg's writers expected that he should be done by this age.  He won only 22 games while losing 33 from 1972 - 1975.  That certainly hurt one of baseball's best winning percentages.

#46 - Billy Williams

Here it is. the most common phrase that could have been on any T-206, Goudey, Bowman and Topps cards - until 2016.  The bio for Williams starts with the sad line - "Most Cub fans were disappointed with their ballclub last year".

He held the NL record with 1,117 consecutive games played.  Steve F****** Garvey broke that record. 

Brock and Williams were teammates from 1961 - 1964. 

Brock faced only one pitcher in his career more than Marichal.  Can you figure out which pitcher that was?  Against Marichal Lou batted .320 with four homers in 128 plate appearances.  Marichal did strike him out 18 times.

Williams  also only faced one pitcher more in his career than Marichal.  Can you name this pitcher, who is not the same one from the question above?  Against Marichal Williams batted .266 with six homers in 135 plate appearances.  Marichal struck him out 22 times. 

So far, the 1972 card backs haven't been very interesting.  I hope that changes.

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Back #39

I am skipping around on the 1972 Kellogg's baseball card set and looking at card #39 today only.  Why?  No, I'm not turning 39 - I wish!

Is 39 the number of pounds I can bench press?  Sadly, that might be close to the truth.

Card #39 is Cookie Rojas.  I've given up cookies, cakes, candies and similar items as I try to get in shape for a marathon in the fall.  I came home to my teens making chocolate chip cookies.  Of course the smell is now everywhere in the house since one can't open windows in Illinois until June.

I need a better version of this card back but I'm too busy avoiding the scent of cookies to find it.

Rojas is primarily a second basemen, but he has played all positions in his career.  He played seven seasons in the minors before making the majors.

Not on the card - that means he was a 17-year-old in the minors. 

I checked baseball-reference.com.  He did play every position at some point in this career.  Even after this card came out he managed to DH 16 times once that came into being. 

The card didn't mention his quick moves from Philly to St. Louis to Kansas City.  He was traded at the end of 1969 to St. Louis in the Curt Flood trade.  Then in June of 1970 he was sent to K.C. for Fred Rico. 

Why was he sent to K.C.  He batted .106 in limited action over 23 games.  Fred Rico never played in the majors after 1969 and Rojas was named to the All-Star team from 1971 - 1974 with K.C.

Milk goes with cookies.  Maybe in October.   At least I can eat the Fruit Snacks that I just bought.  The kids better not expect me to share them.

One of the Earlier Underwear Models from MLB

Those of you old enough to remember probably quickly thought of Jim Palmer since he had his own lone of Jockey underwear sometime during the 1970s - 1980s?  I recently picked up a bunch of 1976 Kellogg's cards of Palmer in really nice, flat condition.

One of my athletes started reading this blog last week.  I warned her that I rarely talk about much other than baseball cards, but she kept reading on.  So I might as well add something about me.

When one of my kids needed a physical for summer camp I took them to one of those drugstores that can do this without an appointment.  I found out that I needed a physical too.  Since it wasn't a complete physical and nothing about it was intimate, we were all in the room together.

I've been involved in sports for all of my life and I've been a runner since high school.  I've been blessed with good feet I guess. So, it didn't come as a surprise to me when the nurse told me that I could be a foot model.

I took that as a compliment for about five seconds.  The sarcastic person in me immediately spun it the other way and as soon as the nurse stepped out of the room I had one thing to say to my kids.  My immediate reaction was that she thought I could be a model - only from the ankle down.  That is no longer a compliment and unfortunately probably a true statement.

Sadly, she's probably correct.  That was never more clear than when I was asked how I met my wife during a team dinner on Friday.  I mentioned that I met my wife after a race in 1988 and that she met me in 1989 at a track workout.  How is that?  My wife doesn't remember meeting me in 1988.  One of my runners quickly retorted that why would she remember a scrawny, distance runner who didn't even with the race?  She'll regret making that comment during tomorrow's practice.  FYI - my wife refused to refute the athlete's thoughts on the matter.

If Al Bundy can be a model then maybe there is hope for me.  But, I never scored four touchdowns in the city championship high school football game.  I did exactly the opposite in freshmen football - during the few times I entered a game I never touched the ball at all.  In fact in the entire season I only touched a football once in practice.

I Should Use the Trading Card Database More

I checked out the trading card database today - tradingcarddb.com.   I like how it has the checklist, errors and variations listed.  I may go on there someday to make updates where needed.  Someday will probably be in 11 years when I retire, so I home some of you beat me to this and make the database even better.

This could be a resources, but my i-book should be better if I ever get it going.

Does Anyone Have Worse?

I always liked mis-cut cards when I was a kid.  And Topps always supplied plenty of them.  I got a few Kellogg's mis-cuts today. 

Can anyone show me a better mis-cut?  I really want to see one that has half of two different cards.

Another Set Almost Done?

Here's another card I picked up today.  It's a 1971 Kellogg's unopened football card of Doug Cunningham.

If I get three more of these cards................................... I will have 10.  Yeah, this is my seventh unopened from this set.  This project will probably take me into my retirement years.

Is anyone working on this set?  How many do you have?

Stories Always Get Me In Trouble

I was telling my track team some stories from childhood last week.  I let them know that at some brainless point in my youth I actually ate a penny on more than one occasion.   I don't think that I will stop hearing about that one.

Questions came from a few of the runners.  What about a nickel or even a dime, which is smaller than the penny.  I had an easy response to those questions.  There is no way that I would eat a dime since that dime could buy me a pack of baseball cards. 

Today I went to a card show that I attend often before going for a run.  I found a bunch of Kellogg's cards in a 0.25 box and then a bunch in a 0.10 box.  Check out this one from the cheaper box.

It's not a beauty, but it matches quite well with all of my 1975s that are in poor condition.  I also picked up a handful of 1975 commons that were in nice condition.  That never happens for me. 

That will keep me going back every other month or so. 

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #49 - 51

Back to read a few more card backs after a long day of track meets.  Pictures will need to be added tomorrow.

#51 - Don Wilson


Not many players listed their hobbies as cabinetmaking.  Not many people probably even think that cabinetmaking is one word, but I guess Kellogg's knew that. 

Kellogg's starts their paragraph mentioning the arm problems that are hurting Wilson's career.  His two no-hitters are mentioned.

Not on the card - as kids we always thought that anyone who had thrown a no-hitter must be one of the best pitchers. 

Not on the card - his death in 1975 was memorable to me and my friends who new him well due to our baseball card collections. 

#50 - Mel Stottlemyre



Like lots of players, Mel liked hunting and fishing. 

The steadiest pitcher on the Yankees had seven shutouts last year.  He also had 19 complete games. 

Surprisingly, the card admits that Mel was signed without any bonus.  Now other teams are asking for him during trade talks. 

Experts think he'd win 20 games every year if the Yankees weren't so bad.  So far he's won 20 games in three seasons.

Not on the card - he pitched three more seasons with the Yankees before being released at the end of spring training in 1975.


#49 - Roberto Clemente




Roberto liked to listen to classical music and read.  He had a great season and a fine post-season.  His 178 hits was his most in four years. 

Not on the card - he had less hits in each season in the prior three seasons because he played less games, not because he couldn't hit. 

Not on the card - that's two of these three who died during their careers. 

Article I Found - 1991 Kellogg's

The Baltimore Sun had a nice article about the 1991 Kellogg's cards.  This Collector's Corner also showed a list of upcoming card shows.  I remember when the Chicagoland papers had weekly articles about sports collectibles.




http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-05-19/sports/1991139061_1_corn-flakes-kellogg-two-pictures

What Do You Think of These 1999 Prices?

Check out this link to see what Kellogg's set prices were in 1999.

http://williamt.com/scrapbook/bill/beckett21.htm#kelloggs

Too bad he doesn't like the 1973 set.  I like it.

1972 Kellogg's Baseball Card Backs #52 - 54

I've covered the card backs from 1970, 1973 - 1976 and 1981 - 1983.  Now I will check out the 1972 Kellogg's baseball card backs.  I hope that there are some interesting paragraphs.  Some of the paragraphs have variations.

#54 - Willie Mays

Nice way to end a set - Willie Mays.  He's good enough to have a Babe Ruth comparison on the back of the card.  

Not much space to write much on the card.  Mays was 68 homers short of Ruth's record at this point.  He'd have gotten close without military service in the early 1950s.  

He hit 14 more homers in 1972 and 1973.  

#53 - Willie Stargell

Stargell is consistent with mentioning his hobby of bowling.  I've mentioned that in other posts.  

The paragraph has lots to say.  He is working to fight Sickle Cell Anemia, he led the league in homers and he was second in the MVP voting. 

He is mentioned as being "burly".  Stargell also added that guys who score 100+ runs are usually "greyhounds".  I guess he means that those guys generally are not burly.

#52 - Sal Bando

Lots to say on this card since Salvatore has not played as long as Stargell or Mays.  

The agent who signed him after the College World Series, Hank Peters, is mentioned.  That shows how times have changed.  He was drafted in the 6th round in 1965.  

He was a four-sport star in high school in Cleveland.  

Not on the card - QB in football, he also played baseball and basketball while competing in track.

PSA Numbers From the Last Few Weeks

I'm interested in tracking PSA numbers for Kellogg's cards.  Here is what I've found for February 19th and March 3rd. 

Why am I doing this?   I want to see if there are any spikes since I don't really track this much since I've still never sent a card to PSA.

Does anyone have any history or is this readily available and am I wasting my time with this?

What about the other grading services?  I may check that some other time.

Finally Retired....................................

from coaching park district sports today.  Ten years of that is enough.  Track season continues, but I'm glad that my last season of volleyball is done.

I don't remember seeing volleyball as a hobby on the back of any Kellogg's cards.