#119 Don Stanhouse, Orioles

Card Front: Ahh, good old Yankee Stadium on a nice sunny day. Don looks like he and a few of the boys just rolled out of the van after getting seriously baked! I guess maybe he is just smiling because neither you nor I have an afro as cool as his! You can see the beginnings of some massive 70's sideburns going but I don't remember Don ever growing them out. I'm not sure I like the no hat look though, it reminds me of this year's Heritage with all the forehead going on.

Card Back: It seems that neither the Rangers or the Expos could decide if Don was a starter or a bullpen guy. I remember Don form the 1979 World Series but not much else. I know he was in the game a long time but kind of gets forgotten about. He was traded with some recognizable names from Montreal to Baltimore. Don must obviously be comfortable in DuQuoin, Illinois since he was born there and is still listed as his home. I think they could have given us Don's minor league stats too, but I wonder if Topps had a rule that if a guy saw more than 5? seasons in the majors that they left off the minors numbers?

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Don's rookie season with the newly relocated 1972 Texas Rangers, another of those guys new to Dallas was Jim Mason. During that magic season of 1979, Jim was part of Les Expos de Montreal with Scott Sanderson. Scott was a guy that was here, there, and everywhere during his long career. One of Scott's stops include a turn with the 1994 strike shortened version of the Chicago White Sox. Another young player on that team was Warren Newson. Warren came to the Mariners in July of 1995 for Jeff Darwin. He saw some time in the black hole of Seattle: Left Field and was a pinch hitter. He was let go after that one season.

Blog related to the team: I really hope the Orioles have another good season. I think it will continue to bring us more bloggers that love the Birds. I'm still jealous that they stole Adam Jones away from us, but I do love the look they went back to last year with the iconic cartoon bird. I guy that I know loves all the logos of the Orioles is Kevin. You may recognize his work from the Orioles Card "O" the Day. It is awesome how everyday he can show us a card of a Baltimore player that we have all seen or one that is totally new and mind blowing. Head over and see what today's card might be..

Next Card: Jim Sundberg, Rangers

#102 Mike Anderson, Orioles

Card Front: Thanks for this thing of beauty Topps. Are you telling me that some time in the last months of the 1978 season you couldn't get down to Baltimore to get some king of picture of Mike in Orioles gear? The airbrush job on Mike's hat is awful. The bird isn't smiling, he almost looks like he's unsure. Mike even looks like he was aged by the airbrush to look older.

Card Back: I guess that looking at Mike's numbers, he was more of a defense first guy. While none of his stats in either Philly or St. Louis were off the charts, those Orioles numbers absolutely horrendous. I guess the only positive from an .094 average is that you had as many RBI's as hits. Jimmy Cooney of the Cubs, never heard of him but unassisted triple plays are awesome to see.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Mike's second and final season as a Redbird in 1977, he spent time playing along side Joel Youngblood. Joel decided it was time to go out west , and in 1987 was a San Francisco Giant with Candy Maldonado. Candy decided he needed some foreign time and in 1995 was with the Toronto Blue Jays, and being teammates with Paul Menhart. Paul would come to Seattle for the 1996 season in a minor deal of players. Paul did see 11 games for the Mariners.

Blog related to the team: Do you know Bob? I'm sure you know a Bob, there are many out there but this man is Commishbob. He is multi talented and has more than one blog. Today he is proud to show us the joys of being The Five Tool Collector. He's kind of like me in that we like the same things but different teams, and decades. I have really found this blog to be a joy to read. It is well written, and always is giving me something new to look out. How could you not love that his avatar is being used by the O's in their postseason run this year!! Go see him and read up on some fun stuff.

Next Card: #103 Jim Todd, Mariners

#91 Terry Crowley, Orioles

Card Front: It is always good to see a player that is all smiles. I don't know if Terry is just happy to be wearing the Orioles colors or if something caught his eye. It seems as though it is a nice sunny day in Charm City. I must say I'm very proud of the O's for going back to tradition this year and bringing back the cartoon bird for their uniforms. As we all know, this logo is much more happy and playful than the correct looking bird just standing on the front of a cap.

Card Back: As you can tell, Terry is the defensive replacement extraordinaire. While Terry never really was a full time starter, Earl Weaver and other managers found a spot for him. Terry even has a World Series ring to show for his big league career. Since Terry retired in 1983, he spent three years ad a hitting coach in Baltimore. He then moved to Minnesota for the same job from 1991-98, and came back the Birds from 1999-2010 to help Orioles hitters. Not bad for a career .250 hitter.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Terry's season with the 1975 Big Red Machine, he would play along with Dan Driessen. Fast forward to 1985, and Dan has moved on to Les Expos in Montreal to team with and teach a young Andres Galarraga. Near the end of the run in Montreal, the Big Cat would call Brad Wilkerson an Expo teammate. Brad would spend a very forgetful April in 2008 as the Mariners DH being released at the end of the month for getting 13 hits in 68 AB's with no homers.

Blog related to the team: I hope with their new success that Orioles fans will start to come back to the blog world. There are a few that are loud and proud of the Orange and Black. One that I must say I'm jealous of the amount of success that William has on his autograph adventures. William is a lover of the great Foul Bunt, or should I say that's his blog. Go over and check how well he does with obtaining them, and his minor league adventures.

Next Card: #92 Jim Bibby, Pirates 

#65 Mark Belanger, Orioles

Card Front: Here is Mark showing young kids what a proper batting stance looks like. For a skinny guy, Mark definitely has big hands, and those serious eyes, but all the while still smiling. I wonder if he could hear the footsteps of the next shortstop behind him? I am very happy to see the Orioles go back to uniforms very similar to these this year, I really missed the cartoon bird.

Card Back: These are the cards that grab at my sentimental side. I love the sight of one team over and over on a veteran player's card. Obviously, Mark would be there until the end of 1981 when #7 would give way to some hotshot #8 at shortstop. If only Mark would have hung it up after '81 and not been a Dodger he would have been another of those whole career with one team guys. I really don't understand the 445 foot throw from August 1, 1957 and its relevance.

Six Degrees or less to Seattle: Most all of Mark's teammates were Orioles at one time. As a member of the 1975 squad in Charm City, Mark played with a young Doug DeCinces. Doug would pack up his game and head out west to the California Angels. While playing third as an Angel in 1987, Doug played with Chuck Finley in Anaheim. Chuck would move to Cleveland and receive a beat down from his wife in 2002, but would also share the mound with a young Cliff Lee. Cliff would be in Seattle for half the 2010 season before being dealt to the Texas Rangers.

Blog related to the team: I know there are happy O's fans right now being ahead of the Yankees and Red Sox in the standings. I think it is great to see new teams at the top. One man that is a happy Birds fan is Ryan. Ryan writes and runs the aptly named O No!!! Another Orioles Blog. Not only is Ryan an Orioles fan, he is also a man who loves that #8 guy, somebody named Cal Ripken Jr but I've never heard of him. Go over and say hi to Ryan and the Birds.

Next Card: #66 Detroit Tigers Team Card

#37 Joe Kerrigan, Orioles

Card Front: It seems as though it is a warm day in Florida. Joe is sweaty and the grass isn't very green. I for years have tried to figure out if that is his tongue in his cheek or just the weirdest looking chaw I've ever seen. His hat doesn't make much sense either with it's look of two birds on it.

Card Back: From the facts of Joe's brother Tom playing for the hometown Phillies to the players in his trade, there info galore on this card. I think the Orioles got the better end of the deal by looking at the players that came to Charm City. How amazing is it that Babe Ruth's 60th HR in 1927 was more than any AL teams total!

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Back in Joe's rookie season in 1976, the Olympics came to Montreal. As an Expo that year, Joe would play with Jim Lyttle. Earlier in Jim's career he was a Yankee in 1970. On that '70 team with Jim was Mike Kekich. Mike was an original Mariner in 1977, which was also his last season in the big leagues.

Blog related to the team: There are many bloggers out there that love the Birds. I can't think of one that I don't like their blogs. One that I have read for a long time and am very envious of is Ryan of The Great Orioles Autograph Project. He has just completed obtaining autos of everyone to wear an Orioles uniform. Go give him a look and tell him hello from the year 1979.

Next Card: #38, Bernie Carbo, Indians

#10 Lee May, Orioles

Card Front: Lee is showing off a classic looking right handed batting stance. I'm guessing from the looks of the stadium and the road unis it is Yankee Stadium. It is nice to know the O's are going back to the classic look. Who doesn't love the cartoon Oriole?

Card Back: Look at that long list of stats. While no big offensive numbers stand out, you must do something right to have played at that time for 14 years. I love the What Happened part: Stan Musial hit 5 HR's in a double header. Yeas kids, back in the day they scheduled two games on the same day every year.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: With a little work we can connect Lee to the Mariners. Way back in 1970 Lee played with some guy named Pete Rose while in Cincinnati. Pete spent a short time in Montreal in 1984 and teamed with Rene Gonzales. Rene would play along side Jamey Wright as a Rockie in 1997, and Jamey Spent time in Seattle last year with a young Trayvon Robinson.

Next Card: #11 Marc Hill, Giants