After 41 years, one card away from completing the greatest set ever

 

The Gnome of Celebration and Victory salutes the 1972 set

And so it comes down to Vic Davillio.

I am one card away from completing the greatest baseball card set ever produced, The 1972 Topps, in a journey that started 41 years ago, which I guess is appropriate.

We’re talking about an epic issue, unlike any other Topps has produced in its 60-plus years.

It’s also a set with deep personal connections. My first-ever cards were from 1972, and the Tom Seaver card was the subject of my first-ever trade. That was huge deal at the time, obtaining the Seaver for two Yankees from my friend Jeff.

Topps went through dreadful design doldrums in the late 1960s, recycling design elements and even photos.

That changed in 1970 – perhaps inspired by the Mets’ championship? – with a plain but solid design. The bold, black-bordered 1971 set was a dramatic step up.

But the 1972 set is a magnificent piece of pure 1970s pop art. Team names exploded at the top of the card in big, bold colors. It’s as if the designers took a sabbatical Peter Max and Andy Warhol filled in.

 

It’s unlike anything Topps had done before, or since, for that matter.

The set features all kinds of special cards, with big stars getting a separate “In Action” subset. There were “Boyhood photos of the stars” cards – including Jim Fregosi’s Mets debut, showing him holding what seems like a massive accordion.

Fregosi also appears in a subset with stars in their new uniforms, with “TRADED” stamped across the front of the card. Nolan Ryan, the other end of the deal, appeared in an earlier series in his Mets uniform and an air-brushed Angels cap. It’s a great set, but not perfect!

It’s a great set for Seaver fans, with his base card previously named “The Greatest Card Ever” in this space. But Tom Terrific gets five other cards in the issue, more than in any other issue. And that’s not even counting the six-card puzzle from the backs of “in-action” cards in one of the later series.

That’s right, the cards were issue

d in series, and the 1972 Topps set high numbers are tough because the set is pretty popular.

That means I was able to chip away the set over the years. I was able to find a card here or there as I worked through other sets from the 1970s and 1980s.

Will helped me make a bigger dent, sending my way a bunch of 1972s he had, especially after upgrading some of the cards in his own set. He has higher standards for condition.

The 1972 set was out there as an unobtainable goal, the collecting Everest. I even managed to start and complete the 1971 set from scratch before getting close to 1972.

The mission became more difficult as weekend mall shows became scarce and the remaining cards dwindled to harder-to-find high numbers and short prints. I’d pick up a card here or there, but the pace certainly slowed in the last decade.

There’s a dealer from Ohio who appears at a mall show here in Grand Rapids a couple times a year.

The Clemente card is a classic. He looks sad, tossing the ball. 

He’s got a box of high-number cards in affordable condition, and I work through with my list each time he’s in town. Sometimes I can scratch off five or six cards. The dealer knows me by now and has followed my progress over the years.

He knew I was getting closer to the end, and at last month’s show asked to see who was left on the list. There were 10 left, and he said it’s not likely any of them would be appearing in the bargain box anytime soon. They were players from teams popular in the Midwest or Ohio, where he is based.

“Rick Monday, he’s a Cub. Wayne Simpson’s Red. The Morgan Traded. The Murcer is impossible, because he’s a high-number Yankee,” he said. “Good luck.”

“I guess that’s why they’re the last 10,” I said, dejectedly.

So it appeared the remaining cards would never be showing up in his bargain box.

With the end in sight, I took to eBay. The online auctions aren’t the most fun way to find cards. It’s more fun to have a shared experience and the joy of discovery. Other collectors appreciate the joy of finishing off a classic set.

But being so tantalizingly close, I poked around the site.

During the next couple weeks I landed the Murcer for a surprisingly reasonable price, and even the Monday and the

Simpson. Finally, the Joe Morgan Traded card was obtained after being outbid and losing three or four times.

And then there was one. Vic Davilillo. He was a fine role player for 16 seasons, playing with the Indians, Angels, Cardinals, Pirates and Athletics before finishing up with the Dodgers.

He’s not the best player in the set, but far from the worst. And he’s now a highly sought after slice of cardboard.

In year No. 49, we look back to appreciate Armando Benitez and forward to Jon Niese

The Gnome of Victory and Celebration wishes a "happy birthday" with Hawkeye, known in our house as the" under-appreciated Avenger." Armando Benitez could commiserate with Hawkeye.

Armando Benitez was a misunderstood and maybe an under-appreciated Met.

Today, we embrace birthday No. 49, and the list of Mets wearing that number is not entirely encouraging as we look for inspiration for the year ahead. 

The essential “Mets by the Numbers” by Jon Springer and Matthew Silverman tells that 20 Mets have worn No. 49.  There were lots of players passing through, and some nice guys – Ed Hearn and Walt Terrell – who were traded for big pieces.

But Benitez was the most prolific. The barrel-chested closer seemed like he could throw the ball through a brick wall, and famously tried to throw one though Tino Martinez.

Benitez was a master at stockpiling saves, twice earning more than 40 for the Mets.

Alas, putting out fires in May and June and shutting the door when it counts are different things. 

Armando went from lights out to gas can during inopportune moments, like, say, Game 1 of the 2000 World Series, and Game 6 of the 1999 playoffs. Kenny Rogers never would have earned his “Bleeping” had Armando shut down the Braves earlier.

Benitez’ Mets tenure didn’t end well. Booed unmercifully, he was the team’s lone All-Star Game representative – clearly not a fan vote. Not only didn’t he get into the game, but he was traded during the All-Star Break to – get this – the vile Yankees.

We must remember that we don’t get to the World Series or deep into the playoffs without those early games, so let’s go easier on Armando. Stacking up 160 saves in four seasons is pretty impressive.

And, we have a new hope. No. 49 since 2008 has been issued to Jon Niese, our new Opening Day ace. We have reason to be encouraged as we finish out the 40s.

So much to celebrate in Opening Day victory

Opening Day in New York means that winter is in its death throes here in the great Midwest, and not a moment too soon for the newly christened Gnome of Victory and Celebration.

Let’s count the things we can celebrate today:

First, the 11-2 destruction of the Padres, whom the Mets always seem to play on Opening Day. We usually beat them, too, unless it’s an extra-special day, like the first-ever game at Citi Field.

Jon Niese looked spectacular on the mound and at the plate, too, driving in a run and giving up just two in six-plus innings.

David Wright showed why he’s the captain, making big plays, stealing bases and doing all the cool things that we’ve come to expect from him.

More Cowgill! Yeah, get ready for a season of “I got a fever, and the only prescription is more Cowgill” SNL references after new centerfielder Collin made his Mets debut and hit a grand slam, forgetting that we usually give those up, not hit them! 

Not a single Mets player was injured. Hey, the way we’ve been going, we’ll celebrate that today.
Across town, the Red Sox took care of business against the Evil and Ancient Empire, 8-2. Expect much weeping and gnashing of teeth in the Bronx this year, which is all good!

Stop selfish, grandstanding writers by reforming Baseball Hall of Fame voting rules

The Gnome of Victory and Celebration stands behind Mike Piazza in his bid for Cooperstown

 

This year’s Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is stacked with worthy candidates, perhaps the most-overqualified class since the first.

And yet, according to the blogs there is a growing concern that not a single player will be elected this year. And that class includes Mike Piazza, destined to be the second player to have the Mets cap on his plaque.

That’s a problem. And it might be time to rework the system that has been used for 80 years.

That system allows members of the Baseball Writers Association of America who have covered baseball for at least 10 years can vote for up to 10 players each year.

Players need to appear on at 75 percent of the ballots to be elected, and they can remain on the ballot up to 15 years as long as they appear on at least 5 percent of the ballots.

Usually this process sends one or two or, sometimes, three people into the Hall.  

Occasionally no one gets enough. This happened last in 1996. Six players whom the writers turned up their noses eventually became Hall of Famers. Among those six are two 300-game winners in Don Sutton and Phil Niekro, and Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice and Tony Perez. Ron Santo, spurned by the writers and then assorted versions of the Veterans Committee, was finally elected last year, though it was just after he died. I guess his stats somehow got better or something.

This year is another matter. 

Some writers, including my former Bridgeport Post colleague Mark Faller, say they’re turning in blank ballots as a form of protest. He’s angry that a number of higher-profile players on the ballot are linked to performance-enhancing drugs. So he’s turning in a blank ballot.

"I am choosing to speak loudly by using silence,” Faller wrote. “This is my way of expressing my anger to baseball. Angry that the powers-that-be turned their backs while this was going on. Angry that it took us so long to shine light on it."

So he's protesting because HE AND OTHER SPORTSWRITERS "took so long to shine a light on it?"

This is a grandstanding, “look at me” gesture. And it’s selfish, because it hurts players. 

Keep in mind; this is different than just not voting, not mailing back a ballot. Mark’s blank ballot gets factored in with the others. Election is based on percentage, which means Mark’s move makes it harder for everyone to get to 75 percent.

So Mark’s not just screwing over Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and the other suspected PED users he’s hoping to screw over. He’s also hurting Tim Raines, Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, Dale Murphy and other players not suspected of using PEDs and nearing the end of their 15 years on the ballot.

And the saddest part is that he’s not alone. 

Crusading sportswriters abusing their voting shouldn’t be allowed to mess up the Hall of Fame. Fans like it when players are elected. The museum likes it when players are elected. And there are many people who believe there a glut of worthy players being kept out of the Hall.

So here’s my solution: Change the system so the top two vote-getters are elected no matter the percentage. It’s not like players getting 30 percent of the vote are going to be atop the tally. That keeps stunts like Mark’s from hurting everyone.

I’m curious how many times a player has finished second and not eventually get into the Hall. I wonder if it has ever happened.

OK, so what happens if there are more than two worthy candidates, especially the over-qualified guys who should be first-ballot guys? Why should they be screwed over because of an arbitrary figure set at two?

That’s fair. You don’t want to keep a mega-stud out just because he’s up during a year two other mega-studs are on the ballot.

So, you could elect the top-two vote-getters and everyone else getting over 75 percent of the vote. That keeps amazingly qualified players from getting shut out, and keeps selfish writers from screwing up the process with protest votes.

Of course, the other option is stripping the ballot away from people who abuse it. To this day, I want to hear the guys who didn’t vote for Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Tom Seaver justify their non-votes.

A new year, a new beginning and a new role for the (former) Gnome of Defeat

As Crash Davis once said, “We’re dealing with a lot of heavy stuff.”

A lot has happened since Aug. 19, when we last were able to post. 

In a nutshell, we got the son off to college, got to help cover part of the presidential campaign, considered a career change, respectfully turned down offer for career change, traveled to Florida, New York, Minnesota and Washington, celebrated our 25^th anniversary, chaperoned the marching band and accepted a new role at work. And, today I got a iPad.

As all this was going on, the Mets fell apart, R.A. Dickey won 20 games, the Tigers knocked the Yankees out of the playoffs (sweet!), the Tigers collapsed in the World Series, Jason Bay got banished, R.A. Dickey won the Cy Young Award, David Wright signed a long-term contract, the Mets unveiled new alternative jerseys and caps, Jose Reyes and half the Marlins got traded to the Blue Jays and then R.A. Dickey got traded to the Blue Jays, too.

Throughout this, good friend Greg Prince encouraged me to work through these trying times with the keyboard, and I appreciate that. And, he was tired of seeing the Gnome of Defeat bobbing in the surf as the Nationals continued pounding on the Mets.

So, for better or worse, we are back. You can blame Greg.

I thought it would be appropriate to announced our presence with authority with a glorious Deezo Friday Five.

The rebranding of the Gnome of Defeat

We learned something during the Mets trials and tribulations. It’s a lot more fun the photograph the gnome than the Flag of Victory. 

For one thing, he’s a lot easier to smuggle into places like the Liberty Bell Pavilion than the flag. And, he’s just too happy and cool to be always associated with defeat. If the Mets are going to turn things around, as we all hope, we’d see less and less of the gnome and his antics and travels.

So, as of today, the Gnome of Defeat is reborn as the Gnome of Victory and Celebration! Yes! The Gnome of Victory and Celebration can make appearances after Mets win a game, but also to note other things that make us happy.

Mr. Met on batting practice caps

Yes, batting practice caps are generally useless and exist to try and pry more dollars from fans who must have everything.

The last three versions have flat-out sucked, designed to fit no one well and made of material that looks all lumpy and frumpy.

Usually, news of new batting practice caps is met with ridicule or hostility, sometimes both.

But this week, MLB rolled out new designs for each team – and most look pretty cool. The Braves and Yankees are exceptions. Atlanta for reasons known to no one resurrected an yelling Indian head design from the 1970s that will serve only to reignite the whole debate over Indian team names and logos.

The Yankees design is horrible because it is the Yankees. 

The Mets, however, actually recalled the team’s colorful history and added Mr. Met to the cap. He appeared on the uniform just once before – on the giant NY faux-backs best remembered for the David Wright beaning.

Coupled with the new blue alternate jerseys, and it seems the Mets are continuing to attempt to please their fans. The Gnome would celebrate this.

Awesome Christmas gift collection!

My baseball-loving nephew Zack keeps his eye out for things for Uncle Dave all year and at Christmas presents me with a bag of glorious things.

This year’s bag contained: A Normal Cornbelters fleece blanket and All-Star Game cap and Diet Coke snuggie, a bat and cards from the Peoria Chiefs, and schedule and program from the Las Vegas 51s -- the Mets' new Triple-A team -- an ornament from the Joliet Jammers, two sets of cool glass snowmen ornaments wearing Mets colors, two packs of 1990 Topps -- and an autographed book from Denny McLain. 

Plus, he gave me several cards from the 1970 Topps World Series subset and Gil Hodges, the 1971 Topps Gil Hodges, and a 3D Kellogg’s Tom Seaver card!

Thank you, Z-Man!

Baseball books for Christmas

The McLain book, “I Told You I Wasn’t Perfect,” – with the personalized autograph – was one of several cool baseball books I found under the tree this year.

First, my Dad sent John Grisham’s “Calico Joe.” I don’t usually read fiction, but Caroline made me break that rule with the three “Hunger Games” books before I could see the movie, so we’ve already started down that slippery slope.

Then, my son gave me R.A. Dickey’s “Wherever I Wind Up,” written while he was still a Met. I know, the book has been out since spring training. But, as discussed, we’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff.

Finally, I opened Greg’s “The Happiest Recap – First Base: 1962-1973.” This was confiscated after the box arrived from Amazon and wrapped. 

Greg’s recounting 500 glorious wins. I love Jim Haines’ jacket design showing Shea with the beloved orange and blue panels. It would be cool if each of the four volumes showed Shea in its various decors and then Citi Field, but I’m leaving that to the experts.

Christmas music

I can’t go cold turkey on Christmas music once Dec. 26 arrives. I love it too much.

I’m one of those people who starts looking for news of the new Christmas releases in early October, begins tinkering with new iTunes playlists around Thanksgiving and launch into full jingle mode by Dec.1. That’s way too early to set up decorations – we have rules – but I can’t resist the music.

I’ll start tapering off this week, and will be done tapering by, well, May.

Each year it seems a different Christmas CD dominates the iPod. Last year it was Jars of Clay’s “Christmas Songs” augmented by some live tracks.

This year it was David Crowder*Band’s “Oh For Joy.” It came out last year, but got lost in the shuffle. But after the great iTunes meltdown and computer crash, the EP got heavy rotation this year.

Crowder’s a quirky guy, and does nothing the way you expect it should be done. I don’t like all of his stuff, but I love this disc. The bluegrass version of “Angels We Have Heard on High” is a lot of fun, and he even manages Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Carol Of The Bells / Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)” with the appropriate bombast.

But I’m enjoying “The First Noel,” with its mix of aggressive drums and lilting guitar.  He weaves the chorus from Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” into "O Holy Night." 

Everybody is going to start returning Christmas CDs to the library this week. Put a hold on “Oh For Joy,” throw it on your iTunes and forget about it until next December. Trust me.

It’s good to be back. Thank you, Greg, for the encouragement.