My Favorite Auto Collecting Moments

My favorite auto collecting moments, which happen a couple times a year, are graduating players from my Reds Minor League album to the Major League albums.

The latest honoree is Ivan Johnson.

Drafted by Cincy in 2019 out of Chipola College in Florida, he got his call-up on July 30. I wanted to wait until he got his first hit to make a post, though. My dude went 0 for 5 in his first two weeks in The Show and was sent back to Louisville. But he got called back to get his first big league hit on Tuesday against Cleveland. Threw in a couple stolen bases and his 2nd walk as well.

  

Welcome to the club, kiddo.

Go Redlegs. 

Single Card Post - 1990 Upper Deck Looney Tunes #519 signed by Mariano Duncan

Why do I have this? Because it was under a dollar. Some kid surely brought it to a game because it's what he had and got a sig from whomever would give him one. Which is nice. Mariano Duncan was part of the 1990 Reds World Series roster, so it fits in the ol' collection. Plus it's so bizarre I couldn't not buy it for that price.

 

 

Until just now, I had assumed Mariano played for Seattle and this was the result of a young Mariners fan's efforts. But I looked it up and no, he never played for them. Dodgers, Reds, Phillies, Reds again, Yankees, Blue Jays, and the Yomiuri Giants. Oh, a 23-year coaching career after his playing days, surely this solves the mystery. But no. None of his minor league coaching stints line up with Mariner affiliation. So there is absolutely no reason for this to exist. And now it's etched in the annals of the internet forever.

 

Here's the other side, for posterity. 

 

Go Redlegs.

The Most Ickey Woods Cards You Will See Today.

A minor PC of mine is the inimitable Elbert Levon "Ickey" Woods. If you are unfortunately unaware of the Ickster, he was a standout running back for UNLV in the 80's, drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in '88, rushed for 1000 yds/15 tuddies in his rookie year, leading the league in yards per carry, and started in that year's Super Bowl. Dude was electric. The Ickey Shuffle touchdown celly remains in the Cincinnati Legendarium to this day.

Then he tore his ACL in the 2nd game of the next season. 100 lackluster carries in 1990 and 1991 and thus ends the tale.

 

 

But he is still so beloved that he keeps popping up in random card sets. I'd love to hear more examples of someone with 1500 career yards getting a modern card treatment.

Ickey only had 40 different cards and 3 stickers made during his career. And six of these are "wider logo" or "extra asterisk" type variations. So not much to work with. I'm only missing a board game card, 2 of his 3 Starting Lineup cards, 2 of the Panini stickers, and his ProLine autographed and National Convention stamped releases. Not too shabby.

His post-career releases began in 2004, and there are over a thousand. You know how it is.

Oh, I also played little league soccer and high school football with his oldest son.

Who Dey. Go Redlegs. 

 

Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle... Costanza?

Nine Pockets held a contest recently. I was among the lucky wieners, got confused about the prizes because I no read so good, and requested this bad boy. He was gracious enough to comply.

Most iconic trucking since Pete Rose over Ray Fosse in 1970. I shall now enjoy this summer day with a block of cheese the size of a car battery.

Go Redlegs. 

Surprise Vintage Auto

Batting Out of Order dropped some hotness in the mail for yours truly recently. This is among the most obscure Reds autos I own now. Fantastic.

cxvv

 

Who is Vern Benson, you may ask. Major League debut in 1943 at age 18 for the A's. Went 0 for 2 and didn't make it back to The Show for 3 years and promptly went 0 for 5. Another 5 year stint in the minors then about 100 at bats for the Cardinals 1951-1953, barely clearing the Mendoza line, and it's onto a coaching career.

 

A few minor league head coaching gigs and several Major League bench coaching gigs that led to precisely one game as the Atlanta Braves manager when the league got angry at Ted Turner for firing manager Dave Bristol and taking over the helm himself. MLB told Teddy he can't manage as an owner. One game with Turner managing (a loss) and then one game managed by Benson (a win) while Bristol was being compelled to return. 

 

Signed is a 1967 Cincinnati Reds Photocard from one of the four years bench coaching the Reds under Bristol. Sweet.

 

Also included was this nonsense I put on my want list, because I'm truly insane.

 

And toss in a couple Salt Lake Bees cards, which have upgraded my Opening Day Nines album. This set was produced by a local radio station in Utah as a promo for the local Minor League squad. Handful of legends for the kids.

 

Thanks, dude. Go Halos.

And Go Redlegs. 

Big Haul Photo Dump - Junk Retail Issue, Junk Parallels, Junk Sets

And I said, "What about Breakfast at Jimmy Dean's?"
She said, "I think I remember those links and
As I recall, I think we both kinda liked it"
And I said, "Well, that's the one card we got"

This is the last post from the big haul. Not everything has been shown, but every set has. Seriously beefed up the Junk Wax binders.

 

Notes:

It will be a sad day when I finally snag every Jimmy Dean card.

I forgot all about those '91 Topps Scratchers. 

Mid-90s Finest continues to resist good scans.

I dread the day when the only '93 Topps Gold I need is the Jeter.

Sadly had been missing any hardware store cards until now. Huzzah. 

Go Redlegs

Big Haul Non-Baseball Photo Dump

I do, I'm standin' in your line
I do, hope you have the time
I do, pick a number too
I do, keep a date with you 

My precious Junk Wax

 

Notes:

Needed a Jerry Jones for the NFL HoF binder. Him with Jimmy will suffice until I find a solo.

The Bengals Topps are all silly variations involving copyright line asterisks or whatever.

Daugherty is a Micky Dees release.

Abdul-Rauf in front of that brick wall is dope. Too bad 94 Finest scans like garbage.

Flair USA bumping up their checklist with like 30 coach cards is a stunning use of resources. 

 

 

Go Redlegs.