Westbrook out for season

Jake Westbrook has to have elbow surgery. Not just any elbow surgey, but ulnar collateral ligament surgery. It is referred to as "Tommy John surgery." The word on the street is that he will be out for 'just' the season. Of course, the big question is whether or not he'll be back in the Bigs afterward. Above everything, I hope all goes well with "Big Jake's" surgery, and secondmost, I hope he pulls off a full recovery and returns to the Majors wearing a Tribe uniform.

The Indians have been battling pitcher problems throughout the season. Now is not the time for Tribe fans to give up hope! Remember, no matter how you cut it, it is always TRIBE TIME NOW! :-)

My own memories of Jim McKay

I was very young when the Olympic hostage situation occurred. I don't remember much of it at all. But, growing up, McKay was always the voice of competition. He had a way of telling a story that brought me into an event as more than a simple spectator. Suddenly, I actually CARED about certain athletes.

But, to me, Jim McKay was the voice of a little-known computer game called "British Open." My Dad had found the game in some bargain bin somewhere, so we each ended up with a copy of it. Though much of the commentary turned repetitive (which is understandable given 18+ holes of golf in a game), there was still the familiar voice of Jim McKay. In fact, my Dad and I played the game long after Tiger came onto the scene to dominate golf gaming. The game itself wasn't a bad golf game, but it was the fact that you were playing as Jim McKay made comments about YOUR gameplay.

In a way, McKay gave me some of the best memories of playing on the computer with my Dad.

Selling 7,000+ Indians Cards

Allow me to say, before anyone panics, I am NOT selling off my collection of Indians cards! Having said that, I AM selling off most of my duplicates in an eBay auction (here).


It amazes me that I have almost as many duplicate Indians cards as I have in my singles collection. Seriously, we're talking about having more than 7,000 cards of a single team in DUPLICATE. That either makes me a pack-rat or a very reckless bulk buyer, or both. I vote for both.


See, I love to buy Indians card in bulk. By bulk, I mean in lots of 1,000 or 2,500 or even as much as 5,000 cards. Why? Because I can usually buy that many cards cheaper than buying the few cards I ultimately need for my collection by themselves.


Don't get me wrong, I buy plenty of singles that I need (and some I buy more than once because I buy without consulting my folders and/or database - foolish I know). But, I love getting a box (or boxes) of cards that I know are all Indians cards. I mean, really, no matter how you cut it, how can I go wrong!?


Sometimes I end up putting the cards into some kind of order, usually by year, but sometimes by manufacturer, and sometimes by player. But, more often than not, I don't put them in any kind of order. I simply star pulling them out of the box(es) and look through them like a kid on Christmas morning. Many times I come across players I haven't seen in years.


A smile crosses my lips as I recall watching folks like "Super Joe" or Len Barker, "Kuipe" or Andre (Thornton). I still look on in awe when I pull Joe Carter, Bob Feller, Jim Thome, or Kenny Lofton (or quite a few other Tribe stars).


Alas, out of all the cards, I usually only need 10-20% and the rest go into storage. So, I decided to pull out at least one card type of every duplicate player I have (I have quite a few Sandy Alomar cards from varying years and brands, etc) and I put the rest into two flat-rate large boxes for sale on theBay.


I've been collecting off and on since about 1974 or so. With all these duplicates, you'd think I was happy to get rid of them. I am to an extent. After all, by selling them, I have money to buy more Tribe cards, plus they will go to someone else who is a Tribe fan (or is looking to sell a bunch of cards anyway). But, I rifled through every card while randomly picking out cards to display in the auction, and I *STILL* smiled in awe at some of the cards I came across.


Remember, these are the DUPLICATES, so I already have these cards! Maybe I'm getting old and sentimental (maybe just mental). Maybe I'm a long-time Tribe fan. Maybe I'm a die-hard Indians card collector. And, maybe, I'm all of those things, which could be why I feel like I'm sending 7,000 of my kids off into the world...

Me and Julio Down by the School Yard...

Some time ago, I received an email from Mr. Franco (I am not using his first name because I'm not sure he wants me to). He asked me if I happened to have any Julio Franco cards that he might need. Of course, I am dense as dirt, so it took a few emails back and forth before I finally asked if HE was related to Julio Franco. He is not, though his son is a huge fan of Julio's and Julio even made a surprise visit to Mr. Franco's son's school to visit him as part of a fundraiser Mr. Franco's son had headed up!

It turned out I only had 1 (maybe 2) of the cards he needs for his collection of Julio Franco cards, and I happily sent those along. I am hoping that he and I can get his "want list" down to nothing! :-) In the meantime, however, he sent me a padded envelope with ALL KINDS of Tribe goodies!

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These are Polaroid/JcPenney Team Issue cards from 1985. The Indians issued this type of card before, but the sponsor in previous years had been Wheaties. The complete set has 32 cards, and there are enough cards here to make a nearly complete set! That alone would have made my day, but there is more...

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There were also a stack of Oh Henry! Cleveland Indians from 1986!! The complete set has 30 cards total plus a team photo. Again, he sent me a nearly-complete set of them!! Thrilled to death, I couldn't believe there were more cards inside...

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Mr. Franco had told me that he wanted to send me some "Gatorade cards." I had not heard of these before, so I was anxious to see what they looked like. Well, again, he sent me a bunch of them!! There are cards from 1987 AND 1988! SUH-WEET!

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Of course, what would a trade of Julio cards be without some Julio cards!? :-)

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I have to say that when I pulled this out of the envelope, I knew I was going to be on a mission to hunt down any and every Julio Franco card he needs! This is a 1953 Red Man BOB FELLER! UN-believable!

In order to help him out, I am posting his Julio Franco want list below. If you happen to have any of these, let me know and we'll work out a trade so that I can get them to Mr. Franco. Thanks!

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# list Set Name Card # Description
1. 1984 Indians 13 Julio Franco
2. 1985 Indians 14 Julio Franco
3. 1985 Indians Polaroid 14 Julio Franco
4. 1985 Topps/OPC Minis 237 Julio Franco
5. 1986 Indians Team Issue 21 Julio Franco
6. 1988 Indians Team Issue 13 Julio Franco
7. 1988 Starting Lineup Indians 11 Julio Franco
8. 1990 Rangers Smokey 7 Julio Franco
9. 1990 U.S. Playing Cards All-Stars Silver JKO Joker#{Julio Franco
10. 1992 L and K Decals 12 Julio Franco
11. 1992 Rangers Team Issue 7 Julio Franco
12. 1993 Pacific Beisbol Amigos 14 Julio Franco#{Jose Canseco#{Rafael Palmeiro
13. 1993 Rangers Decker 8 Julio Franco
14. 1994 Rangers All-Stars Pins 17 1989 Julio Franco#{==Ruben Sierra#{==Nolan Ryan#{=
15. 1994 Rangers All-Stars Pins 18 Julio Franco
16. 1994 Rangers All-Stars Pins 19 1991 Rafael Palmeiro#{==Ruben Sierra#{==Julio Fran
17. 1994 White Sox Kodak 8 Julio Franco
18. 1995 BBM Japan 628 Julio Franco SP
19. 1995 BBM Japan All-Star Game A49 Julio Franco
20. 1995 Donruss Press Proofs 328 Julio Franco
21. 1995 Ultra RBI Kings Gold Medallion 5 Julio Franco
22. 1997 Donruss Team Sets Pennant Edition 89 Julio Franco
23. 1997 Finest Embossed Refractors 291 Julio Franco S
24. 1997 Fleer Tiffany 77 Julio Franco
26. 1997 Indians Score Platinum 5 Julio Franco
27. 1997 Indians Score Premier 5 Julio Franco
28. 1997 Pacific Light Blue 68 Julio Franco
29. 1998 BBM Japan All-Star Game A38 Julio Franco
30. 1998 Calbee Japan Star Cards S-26 Julio Franco
31. 1998 Pacific Invincible Team Checklists 15 Nil/Vina/Burn/Franco/Cir
32. 1998 Takara Japan MA-7 Julio Franco
33. 2002 Topps Chrome Black Refractors 424 Julio Franco
34. 2002 Upper Deck 40-Man Electric 527 Julio Franco
35. 2002 Upper Deck 40-Man Electric Rainbow 527 Julio Franco
36. 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Chicago Collection 34 Julio Franco
37. 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Glossy Hawaii 34 Julio Franco
38. 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Hawaii 34 Julio Franco
39. 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Master 34 Julio Franco
40. 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Samples 34 Julio Franco
41. 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Samples Gold 34 Julio Franco
42. 2003 MLB Showdown 26 Julio Franco
43. 2003 Upper Deck 40-Man Rainbow 411 Julio Franco
44. 2004 Absolute Memorabilia Signature Spectrum Gold 22 Julio Franco/25
45. 2004 Absolute Memorabilia Signature Spectrum Platinum 22 Julio Franco
46. 2004 Absolute Memorabilia Spectrum Gold 22 Julio Franco
47. 2004 Absolute Memorabilia Spectrum Platinum 22 Julio Franco
48. 2004 Diamond Kings Recollection A 32 Julio Franco 87 DK/25
49. 2004 Donruss Classics Significant Signatures Platinum 76 Julio Franco
50. 2004 Donruss Classics Timeless Tributes Green 76 Julio Franco
51. 2004 Donruss Classics Timeless Tributes Platinum 76 Julio Franco
52. 2004 Donruss Classics Timeless Tributes Red 76 Julio Franco
53. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 499 Julio Franco 83/14
54. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 500 Julio Franco 84/15
55. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 501 Julio Franco 85/30
56. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 502 Julio Franco 86/46
57. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 503 Julio Franco 87/59
58. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 504 Julio Franco 88/122
59. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 505 Julio Franco 88 BB/1
60. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 506 Julio Franco 88 DK/75
61. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 508 Julio Franco 90/46
62. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 509 Julio Franco 90 AS/26
63. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 510 Julio Franco 90 MVP/1
64. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 511 Julio Franco 91/62
65. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 512 Julio Franco 92/38
66. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 514 Julio Franco 94/18
67. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 515 Julio Franco 95/21
68. 2004 Donruss Timelines Recollection A 516 Julio Franco 97/14
69. 2004 Fleer Sweet Sigs Autograph Gold JF Julio Franco
70. 2004 Fleer Sweet Sigs Auto Masterpiece JF Julio Franco
71. 2004 Fleer Sweet Sigs Autograph Platinum JF Julio Franco/14
72. 2004 Leaf Recollection Autographs 12 Julio Franco 90/8
73. 2005 Topps Pristine Power Core Bat Knob Relics JF Julio Franco/6
74. 2005 Topps Pristine Power Stick Bat Knob Relics JF Julio Franco
75. 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Gold 52 Julio Franco
76. 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Original Relics 116 Julio Franco B/2
77. 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Reprints Chrome 52 Julio Franco 84
78. 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Reprints Chrome Refractors 52 Julio Franco 84
79. 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Silver 52 Julio Franco
80. 2006 Fleer Glossy Gold 62 Julio Franco
81. 2006 Fleer Glossy Silver 62 Julio Franco
82. 2006 Topps Platinum 431 Julio Franco
83. 2006 Upper Deck Gold 710 Julio Franco
84. 2006 Upper Deck Silver Spectrum 45 Julio Franco
85. 2006 Upper Deck Special F/X Blue 45 Julio Franco
86. 2006 Upper Deck Special F/X Blue 710 Julio Franco
87. 2006 Upper Deck Special F/X Purple 45 Julio Franco
88. 2006 Upper Deck Special F/X Red 45 Julio Franco
89. 2007 Fleer Mini Die Cuts Gold 139 Julio Franco
90. 2007 Topps Platinum 531 Julio Franco

Into the void... Indians Uniform Number 9

Well, I had typed up my selection for Uniform Number 9 on my EeePC using KWRITE. Now, why did I not use Openoffice Writer that's preinstalled? Because I like quick and easy and simple - a plain text editor. Problem with that? No autosave. Problem with that? Lost document when I hit the wrong hot-key combo (a custom combo for instant shutdown - DUH!).

I don't remember exactly what I said in my witty and thoughtful write-up initially, so you are left with what little my brain (or my little brain?) can come up with...

Luke Easter, Ron Hassey, Glenn Myatt, Carlos Baerga, and Duke Sims had all made my "Top 3" Number 9 player. I know, there are more than three listed... I had a tough time choosing this one. Tradition would hold that I choose Luke Easter. After all, he is often mentioned in the same breath as "2nd greatest 1st baseman." Hassey is a personal favorite, not to mention a perennial "Fan Favorite." Myatt has the longest Indians career of the players listed (or any wearing #9). And, Baerga!? Fuggedaboutit! Not only does he have longevity, but is definitely one of the Tribe's best. Duke Sims had a very good run with the Tribe as well.

Ultimately, I narrowed it down to Baerga and Easter. As I mulled over these two great Tribers, I could not escape my own conviction of tradition and believe I have chosen the best player in Luke Easter as the all-time Tribe Uniform Number 9!!



(Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 2a) (Part 3)