#78 Elias Sosa, A's

Card Front: Do you ever get the feeling that there is too much of one color going on in a card? Why do feel like everything is green here? While I do love the Athletics old green jerseys, I don't think I would be caught dead in a hat that sits that high off my head. One good thing Topps did was put the A's banner in red to break up some color since you hardly see Elias' name in green.

Card Back: The 68 games that Elias saw in the green and gold of the A's in 1978 was all he would ever play for Oakland. Elias left the A's in November of 1978 and signed with the Montreal Expos in January of 1979 for 3 seasons. Elias was a well traveled guy ending playing for 8 different teams. It is unusual to see a player out of the D.R. that isn't from San Pedro de Macoris, that place turns out ballplayers!

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Elias' travels he would team with many guys. As a part of the 1980 Expos, Elias was a teammate of Tim Wallach. Tim played a long time including a stint with the 1996 California Angels, a team that would include Troy Percival. Troy went on to play with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007 with Brendan Ryan. Brendan came to Seattle last year in 2011 and still plays shortstop for the Mariners.

Blog related to the team: I know that the A's have been down for a few years, but where are their fans. Is it the fact of the cheating Bash Brothers, and then the let our players go Moneyball that makes A's fans hide? We know of a couple A's bloggers, so I thought I would give some love to a guy that collects the A's and any other cheap cards he can find. Everyone say hello to Nick of Dime Boxes. Nick is self confessed Dime Box-aholic. He does come up with some great cheap cards so go see what he's got!

Next Card: #79 Ted Cox, Indians

#54 Dell Alston, A's

Card Front: I'm proud of Topps for sending somebody to the West Coast to take photos. I was a good thing they did, or they wouldn't have Dell in the A's glorious Green and Gold. I have to admit the stripes on the shirt and down the side of the pants really do make that green jersey stand out.

Card Back: It looks like Dell was what we would now call a AAAA guy. Not really a minor leaguer, but not a good enough for the bigs. At the end of Spring Training in 1979, the Athletics would let Dell go, only to see him sign with the Indians for the 1979 season. Dell would spend his final 2 years in Cleveland. On my birthday in 1883 Tommy Burns had 3 Long Hits in an inning. Is a Long Hit a HR back in the olden days??

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Because Dell didn't have a long MLB career doesn't mean we can't find him a home in Seattle. In his short time in Oakland, Dell played with Dwayne Murphy as Athletics in 1978. Dwayne would go on to be part of the 1989 Philadelphia Phillies with Terry Mulholland. Terry would come to the Mariners in a deadline trade for Desi Relaford and would finish the 1996 season in Seattle. 

Blog related to the team: The A's don't have too many faithful, or no one wants to admit it. One blogger that had been gone for a while looks like he might be coming back. Nathan is a Canuck. He runs the blog at Canadian Cardboard  and one of his teams is the Athletics in Oakland. Read his stuff and let's get him back on the blogging wagon.

Next Card: #55 Willie Stargell, Pirates

#29 Rick Langford, A's

Card Front: I love the look of the old kelly green hats and pullover shirts of the Athletics. When you add in the green grass and background, it really starts to get washed out. Rick needs to trim down the 'stache, and take a weed wacker to that chest hair. It's good that the high hats of the day are long gone.

Card Back: It seems that the Pirates thought of Rick as a reliever. The A's felt he would make a better starter. While "Scrap Iron" Garner was a big name for the Pirates, it's hard to tell who really did better in a 6 for 3 player trade. How about Rich Reese with not only his 3rd grand slam, but they all were of the pinch hit variety.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: In Rick's final year in 1986, Rick was an Athletic with Jose Rijo. Jose would go from Oakland to play with Bruce Chen as Cincinnati Reds in 2002. Bruce and former Mariner Yuniesky Betancourt would team up in the 2009 version of the Kansas City Royals.

Blog related to the team: It is sad that there are very few blogs that are Oakland A's fans. When they are at the height of playing good, everybody loves them(early 1970's, mid 1980's), and these days no one claims them. One blogger that I know is with them through thick and thin is Mark of the Chronicles of Fuji. The San Jose Fuji may soon have the A's playing in his town if they move like owners Lew Wolff and John Fisher have their way and move south.

Next Card: #30 Dave Winfield, Padres