Unexpected Awesomeness

After a long day of school today, I was really looking forward to getting away from students and coming home to relax. Sure, sitting on the couch watching King of Queens and waiting for the family to get home wouldn't cure all of my ills, but it was a start. I made the very wise decision of checking the mail on my way in and came across a bubble mailer. Happy happy, joy joy.

However, panic quickly sunk in. I haven't been on eBay in weeks, so barring a late night sleep walk purchase, it wasn't a card I bought. I've sent out some cards lately, but hadn't set up any trades, so again I was stymied. Perhaps I had set up a trade and completely forgotten about it. I would need to scour my e-mails and try to figure it out. In the end, a simple inspection of the mailer revealed that these cards were sent from the UK and that means one man. John from The Pursuit of 80's(ness).

What really made this package a bit of Unexpected Awesomeness is that it was completely unsolicited. John and I completed a trade back in February and this one was accompanied by a note telling me that he had accumulated another stack of Halos so he wanted to send them along. I of course, gladly accept.

Now just for you, here's an exclusive peak at the loot.


I love packages like this because I always end up with cards I don't have, but also cards from sets I've never gotten a card from. This Shawn Wooten Opening Day card is an example of that. I'm certain I've never opened a pack of Opening Day, mainly out of complete disinterest, but at the same time I really like getting these cards in trades and lots.


I've never really understood why a magazine gets its name slapped on a card like Sports Illustrated and Fleer did here or why ESPN had cards with Upper Deck. That being said, this is a pretty slick looking card, so I'm cool with it.


What was the obsession that Topps had with gold bordered cards for some time? I like the look of this, but that may be in part because of Percy's patented face clinch.


Seriously, the gold border thing was a little out of control. Awesome action photo of Jimmy Edmonds though.


Nothing brightens a day quite like floating heads.


This card is pure Mo. It combines his two loves, baseball and the shiny rainbow lights of a strip club.


This card is great on many levels. The high leg kick, the image being raised off the cardboard and the fact that I have no idea what Topps "tMB" is.


When did Bengie Molina transition from great defensive catcher who could hit for a decent average and was slower than a senior citizen to the best offensive player on his team?


I really, really, really miss Ersty. Really.

Thanks so much John for the Halos. After a long day, this was definitely a great way to soothe the pain.

Go Halos!

Fun With 95 SP

Recently I opened a cheap box of 95 SP and came across a bit of an odd trend. Apparently around 1995, players suddenly felt quite generous and were often photographed giving back to the fans. The oddities in 95 SP don't stop there though.

A few other cards popped out at me and over the next couple of days I'd like to document the oddities, wakiness and at times awesomeness that is 95 SP.

First up, broken bats.

Billy Ashley

Broken bat, broken dreams for Mr. Ashley. Supposed to be the next in a long line of Dodger rookie standouts, Mr. Ashley instead never lived up to the hype. Perhaps his use of lumber was the problem.

Matt Williams

The balded one with broken bat. Apparently this lack of stable wood was prevalent among the sluggers as well.

Mo Vaughn

Seriously, was it necessary to have three cards featuring broken bats. It's not like I even have a complete set here, there couldn't certainly be more.


Next up for today, the error.
Honestly, how often do you come across a photo and instantly know that the play was botched? It certainly seems like these photos should have been left on the editing floor.

The best part of it, the errors happened to:
Career backups wearing #58 on their jersey,


Catchers who had no business on the infield,


Talented offensive first basemen,


And perhaps the greatest defensive shortstop of all-time.


95 SP, a set of oddities. Coming tomorrow, Rod Beck's two sport career, Will Clark's hairline, and the Karate Kid as interpreted by an umpire spitting second baseman.

Go Halos!

Fave 4: Boston Red Sox

Ahhh, the Red Sox. The team that went from tortured and somewhat lovable losers to annoying, incessant, always fawned over by ESPN winners. Up until recently, the Red Sox had the cursed stigma and for whatever reason it made them a fairly likable bunch. As an Angel fan it's hard to forget the 1986 ALCS, but somehow the pain is lessened by knowing what the Sox went through against the Mets.

When trying to come up with my Fave 4, I had some trouble because many of the players I had some affinity for ended up leaving the Red Sox and not quite being as lovable or talented. In the end, I think I ended up with a mix of old, new and odd.

We'll start with the man who most Halo fans would rather see in a ditch somewhere,
1. Mo Vaughn

Ahhh, Maurice. The Hit Dog. In the mid-90s, Maurice was an absolute beast and when he signed with the Angels, I thought I was in baseball heaven. It didn't exactly turn out that way. While he put up pretty solid numbers his first two years, he sat out the entire 2001 season and was eventually traded to the Mets for Kevin Appier. He is famous in Halo land for his falling out with the club and Troy Percival's statement that, "We may miss Mo's bat, but we won't miss his leadership". Mo went on to talk about how Anaheim had never won anything and there were no banners. He was right...for a few months until the Angels went on to win the 2002 World Series. So while Mo may be reviled by Halo fanatics, I still look at him as a pretty damn good Red Sox and one of the great strip club patrons of our time.


2. Manny Ramirez

I know there are a ton of haters out there for Manny, but I truly believe this guy is the best hitter of our generation. There are very few players that I will not turn my eyes away from when they're up to bat and Manny is at the top of that list. He's quirky, he's odd, he's an adventure in the field, but he's also a hitting machine and a guy I would love to have on my side.

3. Pedro Martinez

The definition of a must watch player during his heyday. Pedro's 1999 season is probably the greatest pitching season I've seen. He was absolutely electric that season and probably deserved the MVP award over a *cough*juiced up*cough* Ivan Rodriguez. I'm not sure any of us truly appreciate how great Pedro was, not to mention how amazing it was that he did with a midget by his side providing comic relief at all times.

4. Oil Can Boyd

Dennis Boyd was never a spectacular pitcher like Pedro, but from the very first time I heard of Oil Can, I was hooked. It wasn't until years later that I learned that his nickname came from his drinking habits and that down south beer was referred to as oil. It was always part of the mystery to me. Best of all, was Boyd's quote about how Cleveland shouldn't have built their stadium on an ocean if they didn't want fog. Oh, simpler days.

Honorable Mentions:
Ellis Burks

I was a big Ellis Burks guy in the late 80s and he almost nudged Oil Can out of the number 4 spot. His best seasons came later with the Rockies in the "rarified air", but I still have a stockpile of Ellis Burks cards from his Boston days.

Mike Greenwell

Part of the duo with Burks that was supposed to make Boston unstoppable. I always thought Greenwell would turn into a 30 HR guy, but he just never captured that level of stardom.

Nomar Garciaparra

Nomar had the fidgets, the high batting average, and at times the glove, but apparently not a lot of team spirit. I kinds felt bad for Nomar when Boston went on to win without him, but I guess he should have just shaved his damn head.

They've become an arrogant bunch in Boston, but there were once more lovable days. The Yankees are on the Fave 4 horizon and to say I'm torn is an understatement.

Go Halos!