#152 Rick Cerone, Blue Jays

 

 

 



Card Front: What more can be said than this is so much of an example of the 70's here. You have the little moustache, the curly hair, and the chains hiding under the shirt. The beauty of this one brings us the original Jays logo in the center of the jersey, and the white panel of the common batting helmets of that era. For many teams in the 70's and 1980's the road uniforms were very common to wear the powder blue instead of the normal gray. It worked perfectly with the Jays.

Card Back: The beginnings of a long career show his minor and major league stats . I know that the $60,000 bonus in 1975 was large back then. There is some prestige in playing in two CWS for Seton Hall. Pretty awesome to see not only do you paly in the CWS in 1975 but to also see time in 7 games in the majors that same year says something about your skill level.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Rick moved on to be a Yankee for a long time and in 1987 he would play along side Al Leiter. Al was another guy to have a long career and was part of the 2004 New York Mets with a young Jose Reyes. Jose was part of the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays with Steve Delabar. Steve spent parts of the 2011 and 2012 seasons in the Seattle bullpen.

Next Card: #153 Dennis Lamp, Cubs

#131 Jim Clancy, Blue Jays

 

 

Card Front: Jim says look at me ladies, I'm looking fine with my big hair and 'stache. I know most people are glad to be away from pullovers and double knits. I think that the powder blue of Toronto is such a classic, especially against the red seats of Cleveland Stadium(?). I'm glad that the Jays have finally gone back to a new logo that is similar to the original.

 

Card Back: Ahh, the beginnings of a long career. It is always fun to see minor league stats and have to look up where some places are. I don't think that a team would acquire a player on the advice of a coach who played against a player in minors nowadays. It is unusual to see a team like the White Sox use four pinch runners in a single inning.

 

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Jim's rookie campaign of 1977, he would wave the maple leaf for Toronto with Phil Roof. Phil was a man that would see time in many places including a stint as a Cleveland Indian in 1965 with Dick Donovan. If you hit the rewind button to ten years earlier, Dick spend time teaming up with Jim Busby on the 1955 version of the Chicago White Sox. Jim was part of Darrell Johnson's coaching staff in 1977 and 1978 for the original Mariners.

 

Next Card: #132 Rowland Office, Braves

#101 Roy Howell, Blue Jays

Card Front: There is just so much goodness going on here. As we can all tell it is taken at Yankee Stadium during a day game. That definitely isn't Thurman Munson behind the plate, but I think it is either Ellie Hendricks in 1977, but most likely the 6' 4" Cliff Johnson in 1978. I personally have always loved the baby blues that the Jays used to rock in the 70's and 80's. I know it's all changed, but wasn't the Yankees and their orange chest protectors and knees on the shin guards kind of iconic?

Card Back: Roy has going along just fine in Texas after getting a late 1974 call up. While he wasn't a big bat by today's standards he was there. Then in 1977, the Rangers had Toby Harrah to play 3rd, and Roy was out to Toronto. The fact of hitting .300 for an expansion club I think is a little skewed since Roy only got into 56 games for 364 AB's. Regular 3B at the age of 21, and traded away not long after turning 23 has got to be hard to swallow.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Roy's first full year playing 3rd base for the Rangers in 1975, one of his fellow Rangers was Mike Cubbage(with that name he should be in Chicago). In the strike shortened season of 1981, Mike was a part of the New York Mets with a young man that would last in the big leagues forever in Jesse Orosco. Finally at the age of 46, and playing for three teams in 2003 Jesse saw time in 1252 games and shared the mound in San Diego as he and Oliver Perez were Padres together. Oliver signed as a free agent and spent 2012 in the Mariners bullpen.

Blog related to the team: Is it just me, or are there just not enough fans of the teams from the north? It is not easy to find fans of the former Expos, and I have been able to track a few of the only Canadian team left. One of those that's out there and giving us great stuff on the Blue Jays tells us the virtues of the Tao of Stieb. I remember Dave Stieb as one of the first Jays I knew and liked. The two writers of the blog give you good info and insight to the players and the team that proudly represents the Maple Leaf. Go and see what they have say, and read up!

Next Card: #102 Mike Anderson, Orioles

#64 Tom Underwood, Blue Jays

Card Front: I'm not too sure who was doing quality control when it came to this card. How could you think putting a player that far off center looks fine? The other distracting thing is all the blues in the background on the lower half of the card. Maybe a picture from North of the border in the home whites would have been better. I like that the Jays have gone back to near the original logo this year.

Card Back: Tom had a good first full year in 1975 going one game above .500, but it was all downhill from there. I guess the Jays saw something to make a trade to bring Tom in. Tom would leave Toronto after the '79 season moving to New York and would change a few more times through the 1984 season. Who knew there was any other Kokomo besides the one the Beach Boys sang about? Were they sing about Indiana???

Six degrees or less to Seattle: After 1979 Tom would move down to be part of the Yankees. One of his teammates in the Bronx in 1981 was George Frazier. George would move to the North side of Chicago to be on the 1984 squad of Cubbies. Another one of those 1984 Cubs was "Sarge" Gary Matthews. Gary would spend his last season in 1987 as the DH for the Mariners.

Blog related to the team: There are slowly becoming more fans of the Blue Jays in the card blogging world. One Jays fan that is out there is on a strict diet.. er budget. Some of you may have heard of Robert. He is a man that might some how be a long lost brother. He is also a hockey fan like me. He is working on a Lifetime Jays Project similar to my Super Set of Mariners. I like a man that has principles, and he sticks to his $30 a week habit. Check him out and maybe send some Canadian bird love his way.

Next Card: #65 Mark Belanger, Orioles

#36 Alan Ashby, Blue Jays

Card Front: Alan is in the dugout of an opposing ballpark. You can't really tell which one though. I think the look of the road blues with the classic Jays logo is great. Alan is looking so hip with his 'stache and his feathered hairdo. It is funny that this set has him as a Jay. He was traded to Houston in November of 1978.

Card Back: It took Alan a while to make it to the Indians after getting drafted in '69. Late call ups in '73 and '74 would lead to shared time in Cleveland in 1975 and '76. It seems the Blue Jays thought they needed another catcher for their first season, trading for Alan in the off season. He was their guy in that first season, but would split time with Rick Cerone behind the dish. Then it was off to Houston to finish his career.

Six degrees or less to Seattle:  While Alan was making his name as an Astro in 1980, he would play with Denny Walling. Denny would be a long time Astro, teaming with Joe Boever in the 1992 version of the Astros. The next year in 1993, would see Joe move to Oakland and be an Athletic with Brent Gates. Brent would see time at all 4 infield positions and a game in left field as a Mariner in 1997.

Blog related to the team: There are a few fans of the only team left north of the border. One guy that's been around for a while doesn't hide his love for the Jays. Ted over at Crinkly Wrappers does some great work. I've traded with him before, and he is more than generous. Go on over and give him some Toronto Love!!

Next Card: #37 Joe Kerrigan, Orioles

Side note: How awesome is the new Blue Jays logo for 2012??