#139 Luis Pujols, Astros

 

 

Card Front: Here we find Luis coming out of the box from what I assume is a Spring game in Florida against the Mets. It is strange to see both teams in their home whites. I know the Astros have been blasted for so many years for these duds, but I always love the look. I like that they did show them off and continue to hold some of the heritage in current looks.

 

 

Card Back: When you are a light hitting catcher that has two guys like Alan Ashby, and Bruce Bochy in front of you, you will spend a lot of time in the minors. Luis was not known for power or average, but made use of what he had. When I was a kid and saw Willie Keeler made his debut in 1892, I didn't know who he was until 2004 when Ichiro broke his single season hits record.

 

Six Degrees or less to Seattle: Luis would hang it up in 1985 as a Texas Ranger, but would team with Dwayne Henry. If you move to the shorter 1995 season, Dwayne was in Detroit with the Tigers with Chris Gomez. Mr. Gomez would go north of the border with the Blue Jays for the 2004 season with Guillermo Quiroz. Guillermo came to Seattle in 2006 for a short stop, only to come back for stints in 2009 and 2010 with Seattle only to bounce around amongst teams for the last three years.

 

Did you Know?: Luis was a coach under Felipe Alou in Montreal for seven years and would eventually manage the Tigers in their disastrous 2002 season, and would go back to coaching with Felipe in San Francisco and has managed in AA Corpus Christi for two years and was with Delmarva Shorebirds in 2013.

 

Next Card: #140 Don Gullett, Yankees

#130 Bob Watson, Astros

 

Card Front: It almost feels like a Skittles commercial. Taste the Rainbow. I really think it would be great if the Astros would wear these as a Sunday special. It seems as though we find Bob taking in a spring training game against the Mets. This definitely isn't the Astrodome, but I doubt they would wear white at Shea Stadium. It is always good to track the flight of your hit.

 

Card Back: What a long list of stats. It always neat to me to have seen a card with player's stats from only one team. That would be the case for Bob, but this would be one of the final ones. During the 1979 season he would go to Boston. In his final five seasons, he would make it to New York and Atlanta also. Not too bad to be an All Star in the mid 70's during the times of some great players.

 

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Bob's long run in Houston, he had many players come and go in the locker room of the Astrodome. During the season in 1977, Bob would play with Terry Puhl in the rainbows. Terry would be around for a long time, and would spend some time in 1991 in Kansas City as a Royal with Brian McRae. Brian would make some time in Toronto in 1999, and one of his teammates for three games was Anthony Sanders. Anthony would come to Seattle in 2000 for one game, and would see nine more in 2001 only to have no more big league career. 

 

Next Card: #131 Jim Clancy, Blue Jays



#107 Jesus Alou, Astros

Card Front: Here we have one of the three famous Alou brothers. Jesus was the last of the boys to play in the majors. Both of his brothers would retire after the 1974 season. I know that many people will bash on the Astros and their rainbow uniforms, but I for one loved them. I'm wondering if this picture was taken at spring training because we all know the home whites would be in the Astrodome, but you can see the shadows of sunlight.

Card Back: This is what the backs of cards should look like. Fifteen seasons of stats from the early 60's all the way to the previous season. The Astros must have felt they needed another extra outfielder before the '78 season. It seems that after the 1971 season, Jesus either started to succumb to injuries, or age was starting to catch up since most seasons were a low number of games each season.  How about being drafted in 1959 to eventually play with Willie Mays?

Six degrees or less to Seattle: During Jesus' first season back in Houston in 1978, Jesus played with Tom Dixon. Tom would be a part of the 1983 Montreal Expos with Tim Raines. During Tim's final hurrah in 2002, he was a Florida Marlin with Brad Penny. Brad would move to be a Detroit Tiger in 2011 with Chance Ruffin. Chance came to the Mariners in the 2011 trade that lost us Doug Fister. Chance never saw Seattle in 2012, spending the season at AAA Tacoma.

Blog related to the team: While there aren't many Astros fans to be found in the blog world, I can make a somewhat similar connection. A blogger that at least comes from the same state gives us all good information about baseball cards. I'm sure that many of you read Craig in Texas' blog. He writes about My Topps Cards. I'm sure the Astros have a soft spot in his heart. If you haven't been there lately go and read up his great posts.

Next Card: #108 Eduardo Rodriguez, Brewers

#68 Joe Niekro, Astros

Card Front: Joe is showing us his classic "tequila sunrise" Astros while at the old Spring Training facility in Cocoa Beach, FL. It looks as though somebody forgot to water the grass there, it's looking a little brown boys. I think it would have looked a lot more realistic if Joe actually had a ball in his hand instead of a fist. Joe unfortunately lost his life to a brain aneurysm on October 27, 2006.

Card Back: I love cards that have so many years of stats that there isn't room for much else. As of this card Joe hadn't even reach half of his career wins finishing with 221. I like how the only line of info is that he is the brother of Phil Niekro. Joe would eventually add two more teams to his resume ending  with 7 teams to his credit. He will always be remembered for trying to act like he didn't have a file in his back pocket to doctor balls with the Twins.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: As a member of the 1982 Astros, Joe was on the field with Denny Walling. Denny would move around and play on the 1990 version of the St. Louis Cardinals. One of fellow Redbirds was Omar Olivares. Omar would play on the 2001 Pittsburgh Pirates team along side Jack Wilson. Jack spent part of the 2009, all of 2010, and part of 2011 with the Mariners.

Blog related to the team: I know I recently saw a new blog out there is an Astros fan, but for the life of me I can't remember which one it was. One that I do know of but hasn't been active for awhile is Cam at The Bullpen Cardboard. I'm not sure if he has gotten busy with school or what but maybe we can bring him out of hibernation and get to blogging about the future AL West team.

Next Card: #69 Elliott Maddox, Mets

#49 Vern Ruhle, Astros

Card Front: I wonder why Vern looks so glum? It can't be the colors of his jersey or hat because they are bright and cheery! Maybe it was just a warm day in Florida. I don't know about all you fans, but I'm excited for the Astros 50th so they can wear these again. I don't know yet about them being in the AL West next year.

Card Back: How awesome of a feeling must it have been to not only get drafted, but play or 4 years for your hometown team? I'm sure it is every kid's dream story. The Tigers felt they could let Vern go for other  players they had coming up. He would spend a number of years in the Astrodome in Houston, before Cleveland and Anaheim to finish his career.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: In the summer of 1982, Vern was an Astro with Frank DiPino. Frank would move on to play for the Royals in Kansas City in 1993, and hang out with Tom "Flash" Gordon. Flash would be a member of the 2003 Chicago White Sox with a young Joe Borchard. Joe saw the batter's box 9 times in 6 games for the Mariners in 2006 before being waived in the end of April.

Blog Related to the team: I feel for the fans of the Astros. You have a team that was pretty good for a long time and have had some really good players. Just a few years ago in 2005 they were in the World Series. The team has fallen on hard times with an inept ownership group. Hopefully that will change starting this year. One man keeping the faith is Sam of The Daily Dimwit. When it comes to cards, breaks and trades, he is no Dimwit my friends.

Next Card: #50 Steve Garvey, Dodgers

#14 Rafael Landestoy, Astros



Card Front: Rafael showing off the great looking Astros uniforms of old. While he doesn't have the huge afro working, he wears his hat high on his head. I wonder what is off in the distance to his left that has him so intrigued?

Card Back: Rafael was a September call up for the Dodgers in '77 and saw the World Series. It seems that the Astros used him after acquiring him as a PTBNL in a trade in 1978. He would still play until the end of '84. You look at the June 15, 1925 game that in ended as a 17-15 game, and it sounds like a game from the mid 90's on steroids not a dead ball era game.

Six Degrees or less to Seattle: Rafael had a teammate in Houston in Jose Cruz. Jose's son was a Mariner in 1997 with Norm Charlton. Norm was a Cincinnati Red in 1988 with Eddie Milner. Eddie spent part of the 1981 season as a Red with Rafael.

Blog related to the team: One of the newer blogs to the world. I know that Trey of Rants, reviews, and fandom is an Astros fan. He does some great work and should try and look him up.

Next Card: #15 Ross Grimsley, Expos

#6 1978 Strikeout Leaders

Card Front: Even at a younger age, the look on Nolan's face would scare me if I was in the batter's box. While J.R. looks nice and pleasant, he was a beast on the mound. Who would think that this card is a foreshadowing of teammates in 1980 in Houston. Sadly, J.R.'s career would end that year due to a stroke at the age of 30. The Astros could have really good if they could have stayed together.

Card Back: Talk about strikeout numbers all over the board. Amongst all the Hall of Famers and big names, the separation between #1 and #10 is anywhere between 120 to 150 K's. Back in these days, guys didn't have the 'roids to bump their numbers so they had to adjust and play small ball, or take a seat on the bench after whiffing.

Six degrees or less to Seattle: Most people know that Nolan's last game was on September 22, 1993 in Seattle. Steve Dreyer would finish the at bat against Dave Magadan in the bottom of the 1st inning. As far as hooking him to a Mariner, it's not too hard. Nolan had some time with Matt Whiteside in Teaxas in that '93 season, Matt was a Blue Jay in 2005 with Guillermo Quiroz, and Q has been in and out of the Mariners system three times, including this upcoming year. NL leader J.R. spent the 1972 season with Ken Forsch as an Astro, Ken would move on to play with the Angels and Dick Schofield in 1983. Dick would hang with Chan Ho Park as a Dodger in 1995, and Chan would hook up with Jeff Clement, as a former Mariner in Pittsburgh in 2010. As a side note, some of the names in the first round drafted after Clement: Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Andrew McCutchen, Jay Bruce, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Matt Garza. Thank goodness Bill Bavasi isn't making draft decisions anymore and Jackie Z has a mind for good prospects.

Next Card: #7 1978 ERA Leaders