TTM Success: Yankees Prospect Angelo Gumbs

In 2010, the Yankees drafted a lot of young, up-the-middle athletes. While many of their selections were raw in terms of baseball ability, they displayed the athleticism that made the Yankees believe they'd progress into legit prospects. The Yanks farm system right now is very pitching-rich, so some up-the-middle athletes were refreshing to see. Many of these players were fresh out of high school and found themselves assigned to Short Season Staten Island this year.

One of my favorites of this group of players is Angelo Gumbs. Drafted in the 2010 Second Round as a SS but mentioned as a possible CFer one day, Gumbs has been playing 2B all year for Staten Island. Teaming up with Cito Culver (SS) and Mason Williams (CF), this is exactly what the Yanks have envisioned. As I write this, Gumbs is hitting .280 but with a .360 OPB. Not bad for a kid who is only 18.

Gumbs signed my 2011 Topps Pro Debut (in silver) and also answered my questions:

1. Do you consider yourself an outfielder or infielder long-term? Things are going good in the infield so I really don't know.
2. What ML pitcher do you dream of facing? Strasburg
3. What's it like to be on a baseball card? A dream come true (note: I need to stop asking this question...they always say the same thing...what else is their to say?)

Thanks to Angelo for signing my card and taking the time to write back. He's a name to watch in the next few years.

I like white cards

I'm not talking about cards of people, you racists. Last night during the Yankees rain delay, I was sorting through a few stacks of cards, and this Tino Martinez Topps Gallery really jumped out at me:

I just thought, wow, that's a nice looking card. The border is a bit large and the photo a bit small, but aesthetically speaking, white cards with blue accents look nice. That brought me to another white set: 2011 Bowman and the prospect cards. I know it isn't a popular set, but for some reason, the cards really jump out at me, and I tend to think it's the white/blue combo again.

We all have different tastes. I think 2011 Ginter is ugly, but most like it. Just goes to show there's something for everyone and that's why all of this is fun.

Congrats to Mark Teixeira - 12th game homering from both sides

Mark Teixeira is quickly establishing himself as one of the greatest switch hitters in MLB history. Earlier this year, he hit his 300th career homer. Last night, he hit his 30th and 31st homers - becoming only the fourth Yankee (Ruth, Maris, ARod) to his 30+ in each of his first three seasons with the team.

Last night's two HR effort against the White Sox was also significant because it was the twelfth time Tex has homered from both sides of the plate in the same game. That broke a tie with Chili Davis and HOFer Eddie Murray and gave Mark sole position of first place atop that list. Hopefully he'll distance himself from the pack in the coming years.

Munson, I wish I could have seen you.

I was born in 1983, just four years after Thurman Munson tragically passed away. Other than stats on baseball cards and a Yankeeography, I've never known much about Munson. However, I keep hearing quotes and stories about how great of a player he was. How unique he was. How he played the game the right way.

There are countless Yankee legends which I obviously never had the opportunity to see. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra. I could go on but I won't. There is grainy video that gives me an idea of at least what the player looked like, but it's impossible for me to get the same appreciation that I do from watching Jeter make his jump throw or the way Bernie Williams used to glide for a ball hit in the gap or the way Paul O'Neill hit a home run and immediately put his head down and ran. I watched these guys every night and can appreciate the little things they do that don't show up on a card or in a box score.

If I could watch one Yankee player from the past on a daily basis, I'd rank Munson right up there probably only after Mantle. I'd love to see his hard-nosed style of play and his leadership ability on a daily basis. I'd even want to see his ugly orange catcher's gear, just so I could watch him catch a gem by Ron Guidry or Catfish Hunter. The Yanks have had a few good offensive catchers over the years, most recently Posada, but it's usually offense or defense and never both. I'd love to see someone who had both.

It's in my current book queue, but I have yet to read Munson's biography. It's a must-do for me, as I need to learn more about him and what he meant to the Yankees, both while he was alive and after his death.

A lesson from Ralph Houk

About 10 years ago or so, I sent a TTM request to Ralph Houk, and it taught be a valuable TTM lesson: send the cards by themselves - no penny sleeves or top loaders. Up to that point, I usually put the few requests I sent out in a penny sleeve or a soft plastic case. When Mr Houk returned my request, I found that he had signed the penny sleeve and not the card. My fault - the guy was obviously pretty old and it was naive of me to think he would take the card out. I ended up sending the card back with no case and got this one back signed.

Since then, I've never included a case or sleeve of any kind. After this happened, I started putting two index cards on both sides of the card, but then started to get worried that a player thought I wanted those signed in addition to the cards. Now I just send the card unprotected in the letter and fold the SASE around them. For the most part, the cards come back unscathed. I've had a few come back with dinged corners or a crease, but overall no issues. Condition doesn't matter too much to me anyways, these are for me.

Thanks for the valuable lesson, Mr. Houk. Even after your coaching days you were still a great teacher and I thank you.

Tartabull contest winners! Scott Crawford and BA Benny

 I had twelve entrants into my contest to give away two Danny Tartabull TTM autos. I put the first twelve into a random.org drawing. Once a winner was picked in that one, I removed that entrant and randomized again.

Winner #1 is Scott Crawford!

Scott was then removed, and winner #2 is BA Benny!

Congrats to both! Scott, I have your address. BA Benny - shoot me an email (thelostcollectorATgmailDOTcom) with your address. Thanks to everyone for playing!

Yankee Stadium Museum

On Saturday night, I had the opportunity to attend the Yankees game. It was actually a make-up game from a rain out on April 12. I usually arrive a few minutes before game-time, but for some reason my girlfriend and I were running very early. We decided to go to the museum in Yankee Stadium to kill some time. I have been to the new Stadium probably 50 times or so, and I have never ventured in. The line is either too long or there isn't enough time.

Immediately I noticed that the outside of the museum was decorated in in floor to ceiling with four blown up larger than life Topps cards. The 1985 Winfield really caught my eye. I'm sorry I didn't think to snap a photo of them and Google search left me empty-handed.

Once inside, you take a right and there is a jersey and bat exhibit. It's amazing - has a minor Cooperstown feel to it - just on a much smaller scale. The old bats were really more like giant wooden clubs. I guess that's what a bat is after all. There were jerseys of not only past Yankee greats, but New York greats as well. In one section, the Big Three centerfielders - Mantle, Snider, and Mays - were all featured together. There were jerseys as recent as the 2000 Subway Series of Jeter, O'Neill and Piazza. There were a ton of old baseball cards weaved in throughout, and I was I had the foresight to snap a few more photos. It's funny because there is a 1964 Mantle, and a 2000 Pacific Omega Jeter. They don't quite go hand in hand, do they? I did make sure to take a picture of the Babe's jersey:

After this display, there is a really cool Latino section. A lof of jerseys, cards and signed hats from players such a Luis Aparacio and Tony Perez. With the large Latino population that undoubtedly comes to each Yankee game, I'm glad this section was included. You then cross by a statue of Yogi, and into the championship trophy section. It never gets old seeing those. Opposite the trophies are more signed baseballs than you could ever imagine. The worst part is that there is no rhyme or reason to the way they are displayed. Henry Cotto and Esteban Loaiza were next to guys like Elston Howard and Don Larsen. Sort of random, but fun to look through.

At the end of the trophies are a display of George Steinbrenner's life through memorabilia. A bit self-serving, but he built the place so he's allowed a corner. I took a picture of his ring collection...and it's not all Yankee rings. The ring on the bottom far right is from the 1967 Rose Bowl when he was a part of Purdue's coaching staff. The two rings to the left of that are from the 1994 and 1996 Olympics.

Finally, the last thing you see on the way out is one of the most haunting things in there. Thurman Munson's empty locker, moved across the street from the old stadium. Many people were getting their photos taken in front of it. There is actually a glass window so you can't step in.

I could have spent hours in the museum if it weren't so crowded and if the game wasn't about to start. The Yanks went out and scored 12 runs in the first inning, so I guess I probably should have gone back to the museum after that. Oh well.