Willie Mays in Minneapolis

The "Say Hey Kid" spent just 35 games in Minneapolis in 1951, but he left quite the impression. His Batting Average of .477 was impressive - he averaged 2 hits per game played. He also scored more than a run per game. He hit 8 Homers for the Millers before the Giants called him up.  Here's an article on his time in MN from a book called Swinging for the Fences: Black Baseball in Minnesota .

The "past year" stats are from his rookie season in New York - the lifetime stats are his time in the Minor leagues (1950 in Trenton and 1951 in Minneapolis).

He's also featured with the Millers on a card from the Ted Williams Company. Ted also had a brief stay in Minneapolis.

The Top 7 Collecting Targets for 2016

Saturday is usually card show day, but I've a few other irons in the fire and will have to wait until the big February show before making it back out there. In the meantime, I've started to fine tune and sharpen the goals for my collection this year.

Here is a list of the top 7 cards I am targeting in 2016, along with runners-up that I will chase (just not as hard/expensive):

Mickey Mantle 1956 Topps #135:

If I'm ever going to finish my 1956 Topps set, all roads lead through this card... There are still a fair number of commons on my list, but after reeling in Aaron, Mays, Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson and the big Luis Aparicio rookie, Mantle looms large. I will be patient. I will stalk eBay. When the time is right, I will strike!!!
Runner-up: Roberto Clemente 1956 Topps

Phil Rizzuto 1948 Bowman #8: UPDATE - Got it!

Similar to Mr. Mantle, this the biggest card left on my list to finishing a  particular set. The others should be fairly easy to find in good shape for a price I can afford. Scooter will command a premium, but finding a copy that meets my arbitrary standards will be a milestone.
Runner-up: the rest of my 1948 Bowman set needs Update - Set is complete!

"Satchell" Paige 1953 Topps #220

I have a fair number of Paige cards in my collection (including a reprint of this card), but none from his playing days. This card hasn't been on my radar in the last year, but I'm putting it on there now. The 1953 Topps Set is literally a work of art, and ol' Satch is one of the most remarkable and intriguing baseball players of all time.
Runner up: 1949 Leaf Satchel Paige

Kirby Puckett 1984 Fleer Update U-93: UPDATE - Got it!

Believe it or not, I don't have a copy of this card - my favorite player as a kid, and the player I have more cards than any other in my collection. This card is not exactly a white whale, but it's definitely in higher demand in MN where I buy most of my cards. I have a price in mind that I want to pay for this card, and I'm willing to wait it out until I can make that deal.
Runner-up: 1984 Fleer Update Box Set


Ted Kluszewski 1957 Topps #165

My dad grew up in Central Ohio and my whole family are Reds fans. This is one of the more iconic Reds cards from the 50s and Kluszewski is a beast. This card is probably going to be the most affordable on the list so far, but I am going to be a bit pickier on condition- I will be a stickler for really red reds and a bright border. 1957 Topps cards have a tendency to fade over time...
Runner-up: 1957 Topps Frank Robinson RC

Elmer Valo 1955 Rodeo Meats

Elmer is a player I collect, and there were lots of regional issues and oddballs in the 50s and 60s, but not too many featured Mr. Valo. The Rodeo Meats card was one I just recently found out existed - I might not even see a copy this year, but I will have my eye out for it! There are not many cards left of Valo that have escaped my grasp, this one will be a part of my collection some day.
Runner-up: Elmer Valo 1955 Topps Doubleheader #85 Update - Got it!

William J. O'Neil, T206 tobacco card

I've been "working" on the T206 Minneapolis Millers team set. This guy's name is very similar to mine, so he's the next guy on the list for me to chase!
Runner-up: Jimmy Collins, T206

If I manage to get all of these, it is probably because I won the lottery or something....

The Greatest Player to Ever Come out of Donora, PA?

We've heard the trivia many times- Stan Musial and Ken Griffey, Jr. both were born in the tiny borough of Donora, PA. Ken Griffey, Sr. was also a Donora native.

 So... What's the story of Donora? When Stan Musial was born in 1920, Donora was at its peak - the population per the 1920 U.S. Census was 14,131. By Comparison, a year after Griffey was born in 1970, the census reported a population of 8,825. A steel town 20 miles south of Pittsburgh.

Can we once and for all end the debate about the best player to come out of Donora?

Griffey won one MVP award, Musial won three. Musial had a career OPS+ of 159, while Griffey's was 136. Griffey had more Homers, Musial more base hits. Musial only stole 78 bases in his career, Griffey had 184. Musial won the World Series three times, Griffey never reached the final round of the playoffs. Griffey was a superlative defender at a premium position. Musial was a capable if unspectacular outfielder and first baseman. Musial's career WAR was 128.1, Griffey's was 83.6.

I don't think the debate will end here... but we can say both were all time greats and now both are Hall Of Famers. Congrats to the Kid and the Man.

Second Guessing - Hall of Fame Edition

Congratulations to Mike Piazza on being selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame! Ken Griffey, Jr. is notable for being the first #1 overall pick to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but Piazza is the lowest drafted player to make the Hall. Famously drafted in the 62nd Round of the 1988 Draft as a favor from Tommy Lasorda to Piazza's dad, the story was that Mike was not cut out for the big leagues. He worked hard and made himself into a major leaguer, then a Superstar.

Here are just a small handful of the Catchers drafted ahead of Piazza in the 1988 Draft:

 Steve Decker -- As a kid I thought he was going to be really good. I wasn't much of a prospect hawk. The back of this card notes that his 1990 cup of coffee was enough to prevent Gary Carter from earning two bonuses in his contract for games played. Way to rip off The Kid, kid. Decker played in 263 MLB games over parts of 7 seasons as a part time back up.

 Jimmy Kremers - Jimmy was a two time MVP of the University of Arkansas baseball team. He was fast tracked to the majors, tearing through the Braves system and making his only MLB appearances in 1990. He impressed the team, but ultimately the Braves went with other options and traded Kremers and a player to be named later to Montreal for Otis Nixon and a minor leaguer. The Expos were already set behind the plate, so Kremers was stuck in AAA. He bounced around to Milwaukee, and then was signed in 1995 by the Marlins -- as a replacement player during the short lived Player's Strike.

 Tim Laker - One of the players blocking Kremer's path to the big leagues was Tim Laker. He was able to carve out a career playing second (or third) fiddle for several seasons in the bigs. His career high for games played was 64 back in 1995. He was injured in 1996, missing the whole year - he then spent several seasons shuttling from AAA to the MLB and re-surfaced in 2003 as a regular backup in Cleveland. He even managed to find the time to pitch a couple innings at the end of two games. Laker is also infamous for being named on the Mitchell Report - he admitted that he had purchased Testosterone at four different times during his playing career.

 Scott Servais -- Servais was a member of the 1988 Olympic Team. Not to be confused with pitcher Scott Service, Servais was another journeyman backup catcher. In 1996, 1997, and 1998 he was the primary backstop for the Chicago Cubs. He has the most at bats of any player to graduate from Creighton University, so he's got that going for him, which is nice. He hit 2 homers in the Majors. He's the new Manager of the Seattle Mariners for the 2016 season.

 John Flaherty - Flaherty was a regular for San Diego, Detroit, and Tampa Bay in the late 90s, and later appeared in the 2003 World Series as a member of the New York Yankees. Among the guys on this list, he had the most career hits, Homers, RBI, etc etc etc... His major league debut he caught a no-hitter... but his team still lost the game. Matt Young went the distance for the Red Sox, allowing 2 runs on no hits, 6 strikeouts . . . and 7 walks. Kenny Lofton walked to lead off the game, stole second, stole third - then scored on an error by Wade Boggs.

 None of those guys could hold a candle to the guy picked in the 62nd Round - the 1993 Rookie of the Year, the 12 time All-Star, and the all-time career leader for home runs by a Catcher, Mr. Mike Piazza.

2016 Goals

Nothing new under the sun here at the old Arbitrary. Except, well, it's a New Year!

That means Arbitrary Declarations of Collecting Goals!!!!

1. Finish the 1948 Bowman set.

I've already picked up most of the heavy hitters - Spahn, Musial, Berra, Feller - just one big name remains, Phil Rizzuto. Less than ten cards to go and a year to find them? I think I can do this.

2. Finish the 1965 O-Pee-Chee set.

Just one card remains - the dual Tigers Rookie of Ray Oyler and Jim Northrup, card #259. If I can find one in good shape (better than the one on eBay), I will be a happy camper.

3. Start a new Vintage Set

Yes, I know I have my hands full with 1956 Topps and with 1964 Topps Venezuelan, but those cards are going to stay just as far out of reach tomorrow as they are today. I haven't decided what to chase next, but you all will be the first to know.

4. Spend smarter!
My first full year back in collecting saw several missteps in spending - I bought too many blasters and jumbo packs of cards I wasn't really interested in - boxes of A&G and Topps Finest than I didn't enjoy - all of which left me with less funds for cards I was trying to acquire. I will take things a bit slower and be patient for the right deal.

what are some of your collecting goals for 2016?