Monday, February 25, 2013

Mike Sadek, Michael Haynes, Sid Bream, Derek Loville

Hi everyone,
I received some great returns recently.

Mike Sadek was a catcher for the San Francisco Giants when I was growing up.  I liked him.  He was a hard nosed player who gave it his all.  He worked hard to make it to the major leagues and that was one of his favorite memories.  He said that just finally making it to the big leagues after 6 years in the minors - calling my dad to let him know - playing against and with some of the best player playofs in the world!  I asked what made him want to be a catcher--his dad loved the position and my older brother was a catcher (a much bigger catcher!!).  I asked if he could rewatch any game, what game would it be.  He siad he would rewatch the game in Chicago where he broke his jaw in a collision with Ivan Dejesus.  He never saw it on the field or on a replay.  His brother said that it was the worst collision he ever saw.  He also said that Ivan Dejesus played the next day.

Michael Haynes was an excellent receiver for the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints.  He had a great career and was part of the first Atlanta playoff team in a long time.  He had a great game in the win over the Saints.  He had over 100 yards and two touchdowns.  He had over 1100 in 1991 and two straight seasons of double digit touchdowns.

Sid Bream was a good player who was part of one of the most famous plays in baseball playoff history.  Who can forget the slide? Outside of the slide, his favorite memory was returning to Pittsburgh from going to the Braves and hitting a HR in his first at bat.  His favorite stadium to play in was San Diego before football played on it. 

Derek Loville was a great running back for the Oregon Ducks and I was shocked that he went undrafted.  He was part of the last San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl championship team as well as the back to back Denver Broncos Super Bowl championship teams.  He was a starter for the 49ers for one season and played excellent.  It was too bad he didn't get more opportunity.


Saturday, February 9, 2013

Photo update

The past month has been very good to me.  I have loved going to the mailbox.







Thursday, January 31, 2013

Catch up Time!!

Hello everyone.  It has been awhile.  I always take December off because of Christmas and that makes for a little bit of a slow January at the start.  I really didn't write any letters over my Christmas break so the beginning of January I tried to get some new letters out.  It has resulted in a good end of the month.  I actually received six returns in one day :)  Those are always great days.  I also participated in a private signing on sportscollectors.net and went to the Oakland A's Fan Fest.

Here is how January has turned out for me:

Eddie Brown - the excellent wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Hurricanes
Tony Carey - the All American defensive back for the 1964 Notre Dame Figting Irish
Phil Carter - a great running back for the Fighting Irish
Ralph Guglielmi - another excellent Irish alum
John Kuhn - one of my favorites - love the fullbacks :)
Bobby Jones - wide receiver for the New York Jets
Joe Lavender - cornerback for the Washington Redskins

Private Signing:
Bobby Jones - pitcher for the Texas Rangers
Jim Sundberg - one of the best defensive catchers in baseball
Bobby Bundy - Orioles minor league pitcher - was in Modesto for last year's single A all star game
Dylan Bundy - hot pitcher for the Orioles who made his major league debut last year (total surprise - had accidently sent an extra card to a signing that he was also a part of and he signed it for me)
George Wright - former Texas Rangers outfielder

A's Fan Fest: Evan Scribner, Sal Bando, Eric Sogard, Dan Strailey, Michael Taylor, Seth Smith, Bill North

John Wathan- one of my favorite Royals from my youth
Broderick Perkins - first baseman for the Padres and Indians
Don Mosebar - great center for the Los Angeles Raiders
Jeff Reardon - an awesome closer
William White - loved him especially when he was paired with Bennie Blades on the Lions
Ray Webster - an ex-Sacramento Solon
Patrick Lennon - ex Oakland A's and Seattle Mariner
Tom Gatewood - an All American and Academic All American for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish- formed a great pair with Joe Theismann
Bobby Bryant - a great defensive back with the Minnesota Vikins
Jerry Mumphrey - a very good outfielder for a couple of teams like Padres, Cubs, Astros, Yankees
Adam Melhuse - one of my favorites  - backup catcher
Leon Roberts - outfielder for the Rangers and Mariners during my youth

I will post pictures and post the answers to some of the questions that I asked later