http://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php An assortment of various Tampa Bay Rays websites, compiled to offer users a cross section of news and information related to the Tampa Bay Rays My First Time – Don Sutton – April 14, 1966 The Setting – Dodger Stadium.  Los Angeles, CA. From Sutton – ‘The best way that I can describe it is that I was completely prepared and at peace.  Like a … Continue reading → http://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=322&time=1337273399 Thu, 17 May 2012 06:00:00 -0500 bapple2286.wordpress.com?1337273399 1953 Topps #123 - Tommy ByrneOn this day in 1953, Tommy Byrne hit the only pinch hit grand slam by a pitcher in Chicago White Sox history.The amazing feat happened at Yankee Stadium in the ninth inning of a game the White Sox were trailing 3-1. Tommy pinch hit for third baseman Vern Stephens, who was 0 for 3 in the game. Manager Paul Richards made the right decision that afternoon. It turned the game around and made the White Sox 5-3 winners over the New York Yankees.Tommy would be a blink and you'll miss him player for the Pale Hose. Byrne would start the 1953 season with the White Sox, after an October 1952 trade from the St. Louis Browns. On June 11th, Tommy was purchased by the Washington Senators, but was purchased by the White Sox on August 2nd, right after the Senators released him. Byrne didn't make it back with the Sox that season and was traded to the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League after the season for Gordon Goldsberry.Byrne would only start six games for the Sox and come out with a 2-0 record. He was used more frequently as a pinch hitter, appearing in twelve more games in that role. http://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=177&time=1337273399 Wed, 16 May 2012 23:59:00 -0500 whitesoxcards.blogspot.com?1337273399 I came home from work today and found my wife in my den on the floor sobbing hysterically. I saw that she had a bunch of my baseball cards and was trying to wipe them with a towel. It took me a few minutes to get her calmed down to the point that I could understand her. She had been at the computer and had somehow spilled her glass of water on our computer desk, which has stacks and stacks of baseball cards on it. She had been frantically trying to get them dry. I looked at the damage and helped finsh dry the rest of the affected cards. It could have been worse. I lost a stack of Rays cards I had been setting aside for my friend at work, about 10 Yankee Stadium Legacy cards, a stack of Tim Salmon cards (we went to the same high school), and a couple other random cards. She felt really bad about eeverything. I tried explaining that it wasn't that bad and that I knew it was just an accident. She felt really bad because she knows how much I enjoy the hobby. She told me the only way that she will feel better about it is if I by a nice box  or spend $100 on eBay. She made me promise I would get some new cards so she could move on. We'll see if she feels the same way tomorrow. Below is an example of what happens when a 2011 Bowman card gets wet. http://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=374&time=1337273399 Wed, 16 May 2012 22:57:00 -0500 betterthanbeckett.blogspot.com?1337273399 I've done more obituary posts than I care to count and it's always a struggle to find something meaningful to say. Kevin Hickey, who made the jump from the softball fields of Chicago to the mound at Comiskey Park, and was a key bullpen contributor for the 1989 Orioles after a five-year absence from the big leagues, is dead at age 56. He had spent the last decade back in his hometown, working as a batting practice pitcher for the White Sox. Kevin was an insulin-dependent diabetic, and on the eve of Chicago's season opener in Arlington, TX, he was found unresponsive in his hotel room. He reportedly slipped into a coma, and just passed away this morning.Kevin's playing days were already over by the time I started paying attention to the Orioles, but in my near-annual viewing of the team's 1989 "Why Not?" highlights video, he came across as a free spirit who was responsible for helping to keep things loose in the midst of a surprise pennant race. He definitely chipped in on the field as well, turning in scoreless appearances 16 times in his first 18 tries that season and finishing the year with 7 holds, a pair of saves, a couple wins, and a 2.92 ERA. In parts of 6 seasons with the White Sox and O's, Hickey was 9-14 with 17 saves and a 3.91 ERA.I don't enjoy eulogizing former Orioles, especially when they're relatively young like Kevin Hickey. But I do think it's important to take a moment to remember them. http://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=193&time=1337273399 Wed, 16 May 2012 22:14:00 -0500 oriolescards.blogspot.com?1337273399 Wish me luck! See you in a few days! http://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2760&time=1337273399 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:04:00 -0500 greatoriolesautographproject.blogspot.com?1337273399 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://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2999&time=1337273399 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:52:00 -0600 stlcardinalscards.blogspot.com?1337273399 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://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=163&time=1337273399 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:40:00 -0600 tribecards.blogspot.com?1337273399 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://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2663&time=1337273399 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:18:00 -0600 www.collectorscrack.blogspot.com/?1337273399 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://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2084&time=1337273399 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:55:00 -0600 http://garveyceyrusselllopes.blogspot.com/?1337273399 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://rayscards.com/viewlinks.php?id=2085&time=1337273399 Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:15:00 -0600 http://ohmyopc.blogspot.com/?1337273399