2.28.2011
Joe Bitker, 1991 Fleer
2.27.2011
Charlie Kerfeld, 1988 Topps
Team: Houston Astros
Position: Reliever
Value of card: Two noogies
Key 1987 stat: Kept jacket zipped at all times to hide man boobs
Nerd alert: Poor old Charlie Kerfeld never really fit in. He was a pitcher, but his fastball was so slow it looked like it was moving backward. No one ever told him you were supposed to spit out the chew. He grew a mullet like the rest of the 1980s ballplayers, but it really just looked like a dead ferret. He heard earrings were gaining popularity, but he only had enough money to put a lead fishing weight in his piercing. He wore a jacket to cover up his girth, but never learned how to pop his collar. So, for all us other misfits and outcasts, we say to you, Charlie Kerfeld: Nice glasses, loser!
Charlie Kerfeld, 1988 Topps
2.26.2011
Brad Davis, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 7)
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Position: Guard
Value of card: Wait, guard?
Key 1990-91 stat: Was an impoverished man's Steve Nash
Give it up for the little man: We close White Ballers Week with an anomaly: the white guard. All this week, we've brought you the finest white centers money could buy (oh, and that Laettner guy), but today we'll examine their diminutive cousin. Brad Davis carried all the traits of a white baller — mullet, porn 'stache, a thicket of armpit hair, playing for a really crappy team — and yet he stood only 6-foot-3. In the early '80s, Davis was starting for the Mavericks, who were winning about nine games a year. During that time, he averaged about 11 points and seven assists a game — not bad for a guy who could get a sunburn from a flashlight. In the end, Davis blamed the lengthening of the league's shorts for his departure, saying his creamy thighs would never be smothered by such censorship.
Brad Davis, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 7)
2.25.2011
Dave Corzine, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 6)
Team: Seattle Supersonics
Position: Center
Value of card: A used mustache grooming kit
Key 1990-91 stat: One forgettable finish
Choose your own adventure: You are Dave Corzine, The Great White Hope. But at age 34, you know your time in the league is near an end. You can barely get up the court anymore without your short-shorts bunching up so far that "The Space Needle" nearly falls out. Your days of growing a scraggly beard and carousing with Bill Cartwright and friends have passed; you've since grown a respectable mustache and started using Just For Men. However, life after basketball is a daunting notion. How will you spend your retirement?
To put that mustache to its god-given use and become, ahem, an adult entertainer, click here.
To give up, put on 50 pounds and start collecting stamps, click here.
To open a multimillion-dollar business babysitting Shawn Kemp's 271 children, click here.
Dave Corzine, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 6)
2.24.2011
Dan Schayes, 1992-93 NBA Hoops (White Ballers Week No. 5)
Dan Schayes, 1992-93 NBA Hoops (White Ballers Week No. 5)
2.23.2011
Dwayne Schintzius, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 4)
Dwayne Schintzius, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 4)
2.22.2011
Christian Laettner, 1992-93 Front Row (White Ballers Week No. 3)
Christian Laettner, 1992-93 Front Row (White Ballers Week No. 3)
2.21.2011
Mark Eaton, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 2)
Mark Eaton, 1991-92 Upper Deck (White Ballers Week No. 2)
2.20.2011
Rich King, 1991-92 Upper Deck NBA Draft (White Ballers Week No. 1)
Rich King, 1991-92 Upper Deck NBA Draft (White Ballers Week No. 1)
2.19.2011
Lynn Jones, 1986 Topps
Lynn Jones, 1986 Topps
2.18.2011
Rob Deer, 1991 Studio (Studio Saturday No. 5)
Rob Deer, 1991 Studio (Studio Saturday No. 5)
2.17.2011
Howie Long, 1991 Fleer Pro-Visions (Football Friday No. 72)
Team: Los Angeles Raiders
Position: Defensive end
Value of card: 268 lbs. of hunk
Key 1990 stat: Two gigantic veins
The essence of a man: Look at Howie Long. Women want him, men want to be him, and artists want to draw him. The bulging, rippling arm muscles. The cropped, well-manicured blond hair. The jaunty neck pads. The steely gaze that reminds us of Slider from "Top Gun." The incredibly defined arm veins. The bullet marks in the wall behind him. The slightly torn jersey that only hints at the oiled chest below. The suggestively untucked belt that hints at, well, you know. It's likely no coincidence the artist stopped just above the crotch. He probably couldn't bring himself to draw that bulge. Some things are simply not for children's eyes.
Howie Long, 1991 Fleer Pro-Visions (Football Friday No. 72)
2.16.2011
Neal Heaton, 1984 Donruss
Neal Heaton, 1984 Donruss
2.15.2011
Jeff Leonard, 1985 Topps
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Outfield
Value of card: Less than one star
Key 1984 stat: Refused to wear team-issued clothing
When flash photography goes wrong: We were going to make our typical brand of jokes about Jeff Leonard, his nondescript clothing, his backward hat, and (as usual) his mustache, but we've been partially blinded by the light reflecting off his forehead. Just because this is an all-star card, doesn't mean it needs to have a light source comparable to sun, Topps!
Card contributed by FatShawnKemp
Jeff Leonard, 1985 Topps
2.14.2011
Ron Villone, 1995 Topps Stadium Club
Team: Seattle Mariners
Position: Relief pitching prospect
Value of card: Whatever these crazy bar charts mean
Key 1994 stat: Eight minor-league saves
Top 10 categories not listed by the "Topps Skills Rating System" on the back of this fabulous card:
10) Number of big-league appearances (0)
9) Number of Villones on this card (3)
8) Open-mouth rape stare: (8.4)
7) Tradeability (10.0)
6) Hot dog eating (7.1)
5) Number of team's he'd pitch for by 2010 (12)
4) Appearances in the Mitchell Report (1)
3) Chin (2.0)
2) I.Q. (85)
1) Mullet (Immeasurable)
Bonus nugget from Wikipedia: "During a July 23, 2010, game with the Durham Bulls, Villone took the mound in the eighth inning with a one-run lead but gave up a walk to what would become the tying run. He then threw to first base 12 times to hold the runner, without once throwing to home plate, annoying the crowd, who booed Villone mercilessly. When Villone finally threw to home plate, the batter bunted the ball back to Villone, who appeared to be caught off guard and failed to make the play. The local press called him visibly 'rattled' at that point. Villone walked the next batter and hit the following batter with a two-strike pitch to force in the tying run. He was immediately pulled from the game. Less than a month later, on Aug. 12, 2010, he was once again released after posting an ERA of 6.59 during his time in Triple A."
Ron Villone, 1995 Topps Stadium Club
2.13.2011
Junior Kennedy, 1980 Topps
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Position: Shortstop, second base
Value of card: One meaningless signature
Key 1979 stat: 281 nets held onto
Fun facts about a man named Junior:
- Spent six seasons in the show, though at no point did he post a stat line deserving of the title "major-leaguer."
- Grew a sideburn like nobody's business.
- A rare condition caused him to lose his balance around batting cages.
- Junior Kennedy once called Johnny Bench "the greatest catcher to play the game." Johnny Bench once called Junior Kennedy "that prick who grounded into the game-ending double play today."
- Could tie seven different types of knots. Was tied up in even more by pitchers.
- No one was really sure why he was called "Junior." No one, that is, except the ladies.
- Had one son. His name? Junior Kennedy Jr.
Junior Kennedy, 1980 Topps
2.12.2011
Dennis Cook, 1993 Upper Deck
Team: Cleveland Indians
Positions: Pitcher, spaz
Value of card: A nightmare
Key 1992 stat: One mullet tucked in
Back-of-the-card special: The backs of baseball cards used to feature tiny print on colored cardboard, detailing a player's career stats, height, weight, hometown and a few season highlights or nuggets about the player himself. But in the early 1990s, Upper Deck and a handful of other card companies decided it would be a good idea to feature a second photo of the player, as well as the statistical information. Thus, we got to see what Dennis Cook would look like shortly before he bashed in our skulls while growling and laughing maniacally. Thanks, Upper Deck. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight.
More back-of-the-card gems: There's this Skybox atrocity. There's Jeff Nelson's Kenny Powers impersonation. And then there's the worst sports card ever.
Dennis Cook, 1993 Upper Deck
2.11.2011
Sammy Sosa, 1991 Studio (Studio Saturday No. 4)
Team: Chicago White Sox
Position: Outfield
Value of card: The joy of an innocent smile
Key 1990 stat: One Sharpie mustache
The fur flies: Before Sammy Sosa became a home run-hitting hero for the Chicago Cubs, he was an animal-loving outfielder on the city's south side. After arriving in a trade from Texas, Sosa opened up a shelter for abandoned creatures. Sammy, however, was never the sharpest tool in the shed, and began taking in more than just lost cats and dogs. Soon, Sosa's chicken-wire cages were filled with ferrets, raccoons, porcupines, a handful of wolf spiders and one ill-tempered mole rat. In fact, a mischievous badger can be seen atop Sosa's head in the above photo. Sosa called it Lamar.
Sammy Sosa, 1991 Studio (Studio Saturday No. 4)
2.10.2011
Steve Tasker, 1993 Score Dream Team (Football Friday No. 71)
Team: Buffalo Bills
Positions: Special teams, wide receiver
Value of card: A series of boring dreams
Key 1993 stat: A bunch of punts covered
What it means to be Steve Tasker:
Special teams expert
That's like being an expert at growing grass
Everyone knows they're supposed be impressed, but
Very few people give a crap —
Even Mrs. Tasker
Tumbled from the ugly tree
And hit every branch on the way down
Seems to be emerging from a rip in the time-space continuum on the above card
Keeps trying to grow chest hair, but it just isn't working
Even though those neck flaps look like gills, he can't actually breathe under water
Resembles the lady at Walmart who rang up our groceries the other day
Steve Tasker, 1993 Score Dream Team (Football Friday No. 71)
2.09.2011
Bret Saberhagen, 1996 Donruss
Team: Colorado Rockies
Position: Aging ace
Value of card: Knowing that Bret Saberhagen actually played for the Rockies
Key 1995 stat: Two wins
Bret Saberhagen's dating profile, circa 1996:
Screen name: FormerCy2
Age: Younger than Nolan Ryan
Height: 6'1", but I look taller in purple pinstripes
Weight: 160 lbs., without my cleats on
Hair color: Dirty blond. Very dirty
Hair style: Sweaty mullet
Ethnicity: Midwestern
Religious views: You better pray I don't bean you
Want children? Nah, I only like women 18 and older
Martial status: I believe in pre-marital and post-marital
Best feature: Fastball
Smoke? How does 96 mph sound?
Drink? Not before 8 a.m.
Seeking: Women; a new contract
Location: Wherever I get traded to
Her body type: Anything with teeth
Her ethnicity: Redneck
About me: Everyone says it, but I never pictured myself ending up here. No, not an Internet dating service — Denver. I was a legend! I had it all! Cy Youngs, fans, groupies, all the barbecued brisket I could eat. Now, here I am, on a team that didn't even exist back then. Anyway, needless to say, I'm new in town and could use a friend to help me groom my mullet, line up my pinstripes and get the crumbs out of my goatee. I won't deny I've been around the block a few times, but there's a lot of gas left in this old heater. And while I ain't as good as I once was, I'm as good once as I was two weeks ago.
Bret Saberhagen, 1996 Donruss
2.08.2011
Dan Peltier, 1994 Topps Stadium Club
Team: Texas Rangers
Position: Outfield
Value of card: A three-day-old scab
Key 1993 stat: 72,018 things sanded
On deck, one pop quiz:
What's ol' Dan Peltier up to in this photo?
A) Getting a bat ready for his next plate appearance
B) Oh, wait, Dan Peltier never actually got any playing time
C) Getting a bat ready for one of his teammates' next plate appearances
D) Oh, wait, he wasn't allowed to touch the team's bats or talk to any of the other Rangers
E) Hmm. I guess that leaves ... grinding his shaft?
Dan Peltier, 1994 Topps Stadium Club
2.07.2011
Roger Cedeno and Ron Coomer, 1995 Topps On Deck
Roger Cedeno and Ron Coomer, 1995 Topps On Deck
2.06.2011
Jose Canseco, 1989 Fleer Baseball All Stars
Team: Oakland A's
Position: Outfield
Value of card: One eighth-grade graduation certificate
Key 1988 stat: 1,922 flies caught in mouth
Jose Canseco's train of thought from 12:10 p.m. to 7:44 p.m. July 23, 1988: "Hit ball ... Hit ball ... Hit ball ... Ice cream ... Hit ball ... Hit ball ... Cars go fast ... Catch ball ... Hit ball ... Puppies are cute ... Hit ball ... Socks go inside shoes ... Hit ball ... Catch ball ... Hit ball ... Steroids ... Hit ball ... Keys are shiny ... Hit ball ... Hit ball ... Ladies are pretty ... Catch ball ... I like ketchup ... Catch ball ... Hit ball ... Hit ball ... Garfield. Ha-ha. ... Hit ball ... Hit ball ... Two plus three is — uh-oh. Wait. Crap, what do I do with ball? Oh no, Mr. LaRussa's going to beat me again. Oh yeah! Hit ball!"
Jose Canseco, 1989 Fleer Baseball All Stars
2.05.2011
Ryan Nye, 1994 Topps Draft Pick
Ryan Nye, 1994 Topps Draft Pick
2.04.2011
Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, 1991 Studio (Studio Saturday No. 3)
Team: Montreal Expos
Position: Pitcher
Value of card: A broken spark plug
Key 1990 stat: 14 tons of gold purchased
Transcript from a late-night cable TV commercial circa 1990: "Hey everyone, Oil Can Boyd here to let you know that there's a valuable resource in your home. No, it's not your children; it's your unwanted gold! Tangled gold chains, broken gold watches, loose gold teeth; you may not want them any more, but your old pal Oil Can sure does — and I'm willing to pay top dollar for them. Here at Oil Can 4 Gold, I'll melt down your unwanted jewelry and turn it into hundreds and dozens of thin gold chains that I can wear on the mound. I know what you're saying: 'Oil Can, you already have a Zales' worth of crappy necklaces; what can you possibly want with more?' Look, that's really none of your damn business, is it? You get the money, Oil Can gets the gold, everyone goes away happy. Send me your freakin' gold!"
Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, 1991 Studio (Studio Saturday No. 3)
2.03.2011
David Treadwell, 1991 Pro Line Portraits (Football Friday No. 70)
David Treadwell, 1991 Pro Line Portraits (Football Friday No. 70)
2.02.2011
Barry Bonds, 1991 Score The Franchise
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Position: Outfield
Value of card: One used syringe
Key 1990 stat: Normal-size testes
We've got questions, you've got answers:
What crime was Barry Bonds accused of before this mug shot was taken?
A) Facial hair fraud — that thing is drawn on, and poorly at that
B) Reckless smirking
C) Grand theft crappy personalized necklace
D) It's (cream and) clear, isn't it?
E) All of the above
Barry Bonds, 1991 Score The Franchise
2.01.2011
Dan Meyer, 1979 Topps
Team: Seattle Mariners
Position: First base
Value of card: One nasty sunburn
Key 1978 stat: Eyes never fully opened
Fun facts about towhead Dan Meyer:
- The title character in the movie "Powder" was loosely based on Dan Meyer.
- Meyer had to play in Seattle — it was the only place where he could stay out of the sun enough to keep from being burned alive.
- His torso was so pale, you could actually see his organs through his skin.
- Meyer was so white, his home uniform looked gray on him.
- Meyer grew out the mullet seen above in hopes that his hair would darken as it got longer. Instead, he ended up looking like he was wearing a doll's wig.
- His chain is made of — wait for it — white gold.
- Meyer portrayed the abominable snowman in TV's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Christmas special.
Dan Meyer, 1979 Topps