Reds Opening Day Starting Nines: 2024, 2025

First installment of the Reds Opening Day binder. Simple concept. The starting nine on Opening Day, pitcher in the middle, catcher below, then going counterclockwise 1B, 2B, RF, CF, LF, SS, 3B. Brings me much satisfaction. If I can upgrade a card on accident, I will. But I don't try very hard. Did the NL adding the DH a few years ago ruin it? Kinda. DH gets the rear.

 

Posting this as I'm watching my Redlegs against the Sawx on this beautiful day. 

 

Here's the two most recent.

 

2024: March 28 vs. Nationals. Reds win 8-2. 

1. India 2B

2. Benson CF

3. Encarnacion-Strand 1B

4. Candelario 3B

5. Fraley RF

6. De La Cruz SS

7. Steer LF

8. Martini DH

9. Stephenson C

SP Montas

 

 

 --------------------------------------------------

2025: March 27 vs. Giants, Reds lose 6-4

1. Friedl C

2. McLain 2B

3. De La Cruz SS

4. Lux LF

5. Candelario 3B

6. Steer DH

7. Encarnacion-Strand 1B

8. Fraley RF

9. Trevino C

SP Greene 

 

 

Go Redlegs.

Single Card Post - 1957 Topps #35 Frank Robinson RC

There are many like it, but this is mine. Snagged it for 20 bucks a decade ago. A steal. '57 is my least-represented Topps flagship set, by percentage complete. That needs remedied.

 

His first year in the bigs, as a 20 year-old: 38 dingers, 83 RBI, .290/.379/.598, league-leading 122 runs, 143 OPS+, 6.6 WAR, unanimous ROY. Decent.

 

 

Go Redlegs.

The Only Blog Post About Cincinnati Minor League Hockey Autos on the Internet

I mean, it's gotta be.

 

Cincinnati has had five minor league hockey teams, from what I can tell. The Mohawks (1949-58), The Swords (1971-74), The Stingers (1975-1979), The Cyclones (1990-now), and The Mighty Ducks (1997-2005). Mark Messier played for the Stingers, which may be the grandest highlight in the history of Cincinnati hockey. For yours truly, Cyclones games were a fun time back in the day. 

Five autos have found their way to my desk:

 

Mark Popovic played for The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks from 2002-2005. Found his way into one game for the NHL's Mighty Ducks and 80 games for the Atlanta Thrashers.

 

Cory Pecker played for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 2002-2005. Never made the NHL.

 

Robbie Ftorek played for the Cincinnati Stingers from 1977-1979, played 334 games in the NHL for the Red Wings, Nordiques, and Rangers, won silver for team USA at the '72 Winter Olympics, and was an NHL head coach for the Kings, Devils, and Bruins. Pictured here in a Phoenix Roadrunners uni, but it has the Stingers logo on the card, so it's good enough for me. 

 

Jamie Linden played for the Cincinnati Cyclones from 1993-1995. He found his way into 4 NHL games for the Florida Panthers in 1994-95.

  

  

 

Dave Tomlinson played for the Cincinnati Cyclones 1994-1996. Made his way into 42 NHL games for the Maple Leafs, Jets, and Panthers.

 

And now I wish to drive home and catch some Cyclones action. My hopefully playoff-bound Columbus Blue Jackets will have to suffice.  

 

Go Redlegs.
 

Reds Manager/Coach Autos

I did not realize I had so many manager autographs until I started pulling em. Still on the lookout for an 1869 Harry Wright. Until then, let's run through the collection.

 

Sparky Anderson 

Managed Reds 1970-1978

Played for Reds? No

  

Dusty Baker

Managed Reds 2008-2013

Played for Reds? No

 

 

David Bell

Managed Reds 2019-2024

Played for Reds? No 

 

 

Bryan Price

Managed Reds 2014-2018

Played for Reds? No

 

 

Bob Boone

Managed Reds: 2001-2003

Played for Reds? No 

 

  

Russ Nixon

Managed Reds 1982-1983

Played for Reds? No

 

 Tommy Helms

Managed Reds 1988-1989

Played for Reds? 1959-1971

 

 

Vern Rapp

Managed Reds 1984

Played for Reds? No

 Dave Miley

Managed Reds 2003-2005

Played for Reds? 1980-1987 (minors only)

 

John McNamara

Managed Reds 1979-1982

Played for Reds? No

 

 Jack McKeon

Managed Reds 1997-2000

Played for Reds? No

 

Rick Sweet

Managed Reds (AAA): 2005-2011

Played for Reds? No

 

Mack Jenkins

Coached Reds 2012-2016

Played for Reds? 1986-1988 (minors only)

 

 Tony Fossas

Coached Reds (High-A) 2009-2014

Played for Reds? No

 

Jim Lett

Managed/Coached Reds/Reds Minors 1977-1995

Played for Reds? 1973-1975 (minors only)

Mark Berry

Coached Reds/Reds Minors 1991-2003

Played for Reds? Yes, 1984-1990

 

Ray Rippelmeyer

Coached Reds (AAA) 1988-1989

Played for Reds? 1960-1965 (minors only)

 

Jose Nieves

Managed Reds (High-A) 2013-2016

Played for Reds? No

Luis Bolivar

Managed Reds (High-A) 2017-2021

Played for Reds? 2002-2009 (minors only)

Jerry Narron

Managed/Coached Reds 2003-2007

Played for Reds? No

 Randy Whisler

Coached Reds 2004-2005

Played for Reds? No

 

 Mike Stefanski

Coached Reds 2004-2018

Played for Reds? 2000-2003

 John Young

Trained Reds Minors 1988

Played for Reds? No

 

Ted Power

Coached Reds Minors 2000-2016

Played for Reds? 1983-1987, 1991

 

Daryle Ward

Managed/Coached Reds Minors 2018-2025

Played for Reds? No

 

Mike Griffin

Coached Reds (AAA) 1990-1992

Played for Reds? 1989

 

J.R. House

Coached Reds 2019-2025

Played for Reds? No

 

Collin Cowgill

Coached Reds 2023-2025

Played for Reds? No

 

GO REDLEGS 

Miami Redhawks... Football

In my many, many years of college, I took a couple summer courses at a Miami branch campus near my hometown in order to pile up some credits and make room for more pertinent courses. This makes me, technically, an alumnus. I've honored my matriculation by grabbing any Redhawks autos that I can find for around a buck or two. This has happened 9 times. No basketball, but such is fate.

 

Zac Dysert is the Hawks all time passing yards leader, having surpassed Roethlisberger. He was drafted in the 7th round in 2013 by the Broncos then bounced around a bunch of practice squads without getting in a game.

Martin Nance retired as the Hawks all time receiving yards leader, but was passed the next year by his teammate Ryne Robinson. Went undrafted, but found his way into one Vikings game in 2006 where he had 4 catches for 33 yards.

Now, Travis Prentice was a dude. Here are the NCAA records he retired with:

Career rushing TDs (73)

Career total TDs (78)

Career points (468)

Career points (non-kickers) (468)

Games with TDs (35)

Game with two or more TDs (25)

Consecutive carries without a fumble, season (365)

Consecutive carries without a fumble, career (862)

Pretty Sure all have been eclipsed, but that's a hell of a legacy. I was in attendance when he broke Ricky Williams' TD record. Prentice was a 3rd round pick by the Browns in 2000. Played for them for one year, scoring 8 TDs and rushing for over 500 yards. One more inauspicious year in the NFL and thus ended the legend.

Let's GOOOOOO Redhawks. Bust some Mustang ass tonight. Then mail a turd to Bruce Pearl.

Go Redlegs. 

Junk WaXXX Trades

Sexy, sexy junk wax. Anything 1995 and earlier, I'm down for. Ever since I pivoted to the collecting era of my childhood, my card happiness quotient has increased at least 40%.

Here's some piles that found my mailbox last week via TCDB.

 

 

1989 and 1990 Upper Deck Team Holograms. Now THIS is how we used to do refractors, kiddos. These are only visible through like 40 degrees of a 180 degree turn, but dangit, we made do.

 

That Ruffin is an actual refractor, 1994 Finest style. A very thrilling 1992 Topps DQ card. 1994 Fleer Sunoco release for the Van Slyke. Couple of 1991 Fleer stickers. And a modern junk card at the end there. Gotta grab the Reds Topps flagship, of course. Yang has precisely one major league at bat to his credit, from 2024. Now with the Cubs, he only has one spring training at bat this year, so he may join the 'one career major league at-bat club'. I hope not, since he didn't get a hit.

1992 Kellogg's Raisin Bran College Greats Horace Grant. Just a bit oversized, so they gotta be squeezed into pages. My pops went to Clemson, so I grew up watching them, even though I'm an Ohioan. Loved the Hoops Collect-a-Books as a yoot. And I associate 91-92 Fleer Bball with my grandma's house for some reason, so I'm actively trying to complete the set. Another set I'm trying to complete...

 

1991-92 Skybox Basketball. Oh man. The best junk era bball set of all-time. Maybe the best across all sports. Scored a nice pile. I'm at 547/659. When this is complete, a full blog treatment is in store. This set is bonkers with subsets.

Go Redlegs. 

1880 Merchant's Gargling Oil Baseball Comics

These are the only cards from the 1800's that I own. I wish for an 1800's card of an actual baseball player, but until then, this bulbous buffoon will do.

 

Several of these oversized ad pieces were made by a snake oil company with all sorts of designs. Five of them featured our man on the baseball diamond. I have three.

 

Ingredients in the gargling oil were petroleum, soap, ammonia, oil of amber, iodine tincture, benzine, and water. It was meant for burn wounds and saddle sores but some duplicitous idiot convinced people to gargle it. I despise people like this, but that's a topic for my future 'old man ranting' blog. It was sold in two forms, one for horses and one for humans, as it was fit "for man and beast". 

 

Back variations include different ads for very 1800's companies. Mine are these.

 

Beauties, all three.

Also, take a moment to get in on my Mickey Mantle giveaway! 

Go Redlegs.