#113 Pete Redfern, Twins

Card Front: Oh, the things that are wrong with the front of this card. I think they did a little too close of a close up of Pete. Secondly, Pete looks like he has been taking bong hits for about an hour and is baked. Thankfully Topps left enough room to see the classic Twins cap, and a small part of the wonderful baby blue road unis. I'm guessing from the red seats and green dugout top, that maybe this was in Fenway Park but I could be wrong.



Card Back: What a quick rise from USC to the Twins. Pete was the #1 pick in the January 1976 Special draft, and spent those 4 appearances with the Tacoma Twins before making Minnesota that same year. While his stats don't show a great pitcher, the Twins saw something. Pete would stay with Minnesota through the 1982 season to be released, and try to come back with the AAA Albuquerque Dukes in the Dodgers system but retired after '83. Pete was nearly killed, and was paralyzed in a  diving accident and confined to a wheelchair in 1983. Pete's son Chad was in the Braves and Rays minor league systems in 2003 and 2004.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Pete's first connection to the Mariners is he was the first pitcher for the Twins in the new HHH Metrodome against Floyd Bannister and the Mariners on April 6, 1982. During that final season of Pete's big league career in 1982, another Twin that played with Pete was Jim Eisenreich. After Jim's rookie season in 1982, he would play for 5 teams during his 15 year big league career. During Jim's final season he did some time with the 1998 Los Angeles Dodgers.One of the guys to wear the Dodger blue in 1998 was a very young Paul Konerko. Paul would find a home in Chicago as a White Sox and one of his 2012 teammates was Jose Lopez. Jose saw time in Seattle from 2004-10 before being dealt to the Rockies for a minor leaguer that got smacked around at AAA Tacoma only to be quickly released,

Blog related to the team: Finding Twins blogs and some other teams, is like finding Mariners fans or blogs. Thanks to the wonderful world of Twitter, I have some new blogs that I didn't know were out there. Recently I saw a guy on Twitter that was a Classic Minnesota Twins! fan. That was all it took to add another blog to my reading list. Not only that, but hopefully it will give you a chance to go and check out his blog, or hit him up @ClassicMNTwins on Twitter too.

Next Card: #114 Cliff Johnson, Yankees

#112 Phildelphia Phillies, Danny Ozark

Card Front: I am sure we all can tell this is definitely a photo shoot set up during Spring Training. Last time I checked there are no palm trees in Philly. I find it odd though that if you really start to sit and study the team photo, there as many guys in polo shirts as there are baseball uniforms. There really is no consistency with a red polo, some white ones with god awful white pants, one with a red collar, some pullover v-necks. The coaches look happy to be sitting there in the front, but the players just want to get back to the clubhouse for a drink and a smoke.

Card Back: Like I've said for every previous team card, and will continue this is what Topps needs to go back to. A team card that gives us who to look for on out team instead of all these fluff extras they give us every year. There are three guys that are HOF'ers on here, two as a player and one broadcaster in Carlton, McCarver, and Schmidt. Unfortunately not one of the guys on the checklist would play for Seattle, but Larry Bowa was a coach in 2000 under Lou Piniella, and Ted Sizemore currently works in the front office.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Danny never made it to the big leagues as a player. During the 1947 season, Danny played for the Ft. Worth Cats of the Texas League. One of his teammates was Toby Atwell. Toby would eventually make it to the majors and in 1955 was a Pittsburgh Pirate with Dick Groat. During his rookie season of 1962, my favorite player Willie Stargell would share time in the Steel City with Dick. During the bicentennial of our country, Willie would spend time in the 1976 season in Pittsburgh with Craig Reynolds. Craig was traded to Seattle before the 1977 season, and was the Opening Day SS for the Mariners. He would be the lone All Star for us in 1978, before being traded after 1978 to the Houston Astros.

Blog related to the team: So many Phillies fans that collect cards and have blogs. I wish sometimes when I do these posts I could assign people to other teams, but I want them to be linked to the boys they love. One collector's love for the Fightin' Phils love that never wavers like it when Things Are Funner Here. I'm sure most all of you have read plenty of what Julie was given us over the last 2+ years. I like the work she does, and I always find it refreshing to have the ladies love of hobby as much as we do. Go over and tell her hi now!

Next Card: #113 Pete Redfern, Twins

#111 Roger Freed, Cardinals

Card Front: Roger is relaxed and ready. He is hanging out before a day game on the road. He must know that he has life pretty good to be playing in the big leagues. I get kind of worried that Roger's eyebrows might swallow his face though. I know that the Cards did a throwback to the powder blues last year at home, but I would love to see them do it more often, I'm such a sucker for some of the old uniforms.

Card Back: It really does amaze me that Topps decided that even though Roger won the player of the year in 1970 we don't get any of his stats in the minors. When I was young and saw this I thought guys took a year off like Roger might have in 1973 and '75 since he didn't play in the majors. Now that I'm older I understand but I didn't back then. The Phils saw something in '71 but that was the only time Roger had really gotten a chance until this point.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During what would be Roger's penultimate season in 1978, Roger was in St. Louis with Tony Scott. Tony would make his swan song season in 1984 north of the border in Montreal. One of Tony's Expos teammates that year was Tim Raines. Rock would take his talents to the south side of Chicago, and in 1993 wore White Sox with Joey Cora. Joey would sign with Seattle in 1995 to be part of the magical playoff run for the Mariners. Joey was also a finalist for the manager's job that is currently held by Eric Wedge.

Blog related to the team: I have to admit there are many fans of the Redbirds out there. I know that some are more passionate than others, but they all love their team just the same. One of the younger bloggers out there loves his team from the banks of the mighty Mississippi River in St. Louis. I'm sure you all have made a Fantastic Catch in your time. Well, Weston does it every time he puts up one of his posts. Whether he is posting about his favorite players, or working on group breaks he has it working. I'm hoping he doesn't lose his interest in the hobby like most younger collectors do, go on over and hit him up!!

Next Card: #112 Philadelphia Phillies, Danny Ozark