Meet Us In St. Louis
We’re heading back to “The Gateway City” for Game 3 of the World Series on Tuesday night. Not surprisingly, the Tigers bounced back last night with a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals behind the strong pitching of 40-something Kenny “The Gambler” Rogers. Normally I like seeing “old guys” performing well on the playing field because it gives me hope, but I don’t like it as much when they’re wearing the opposite team’s uniform.
One thing’s for sure: Rogers missed the lesson in kindergarten about washing one’s hands before a game. In the first inning, Fox Sports commentators spied a dark spot on the thumb and palm of Roger’s left throwing hand. The Cardinals saw it too and brought it to the umpire’s attention. Roger’s apparently went into the clubhouse and washed his hands and showed up for the second inning spotfree (or almost anyway).
The umpires were satisfied that it was merely dirt and the game went on. It was probably nothing since if you were going to use a “foreign substance” to doctor the ball it seems you would try something that was a little more difficult to see. Still, even after he washed his hands, there was a trace stain visible. Doesn’t soap and water usually erase dirt completely? Whatever the case, it sure made for some interesting moments and will no doubt be water cooler fodder in St. Louis today.
Today’s featured baseball cards come from the Eyegal collection. St. Louis is considered by many to be the greatest baseball town in the country, and everyone both roots for the Cards and collects cards it seems. Eyegal has many fond memories of collecting cards along with her brothers and attending games at the old Busch Stadium. Everyone who got straight “As” on their report card back then received a free game pass, so she was there often.
To this day, she swears that her brothers either stole or tricked her into trading her best cards. This can’t be proven, of course, but the subject always seems to come up when we get together at Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the accusations flowing as fast and furious as the turkey and gravy.
Still, some of the best cards in our album belong to her. Among them are some that I’ve always liked and don’t recall seeing around when I was collecting. In 1969, Fleer Corporation did a commemorative set featuring an animated depiction of all the previous World Series with a Series summary on the back. Here are the two depicting the previous Series matchups between the Tigers and the Cardinals in 1934 and 1968:
Her brothers may have made off with her Roger Maris and Bob Gibson cards, but somehow she managed to collect nearly every World Series card from 1903-1968.
Eyegal hasn’t been back to St. Louis in over 5 years, and I can see it in her eyes that she’s overdue for a fix of Ted Drewes Frozen Custard and baseball. Come next spring, meet us in St. Louis–you can find us at the new Busch stadium, watching what we hope will be the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
8 Comments
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Ed
Regardless if the “smudge” was something significant or not, Kenny managed to pitch some outstanding baseball. These are some great cards – keep’em coming. Understand the St Louis homecoming – I’m ready to go back.
Mike the Eyeguy
Agreed. He was as dominating in the 8th inning as in was in the 1st.
There are more cards to come.
Jon
leyland almost out managed himself by pulling Rogers. Let the man stay in. He has gone 8 innings, 0 ER and 2 hits.
Mike the Eyeguy
Jon, I’ll admit to having fallen asleep just prior to Leyland’s too-clever-by-half switch.
I awoke in the top of the 9th with the Cardinals having scored a run and threatening more with the bases loaded and 2 outs. I focused my eyes just in time to see Molina’s weak ground out to the SS.
I arose, turned off the TV and managed to make it to my bed, just barely, before once again falling into a deep slumber.
tom
Mike,
Well, I sure am glad I tuned into your blog today. The last time I saw those cards I owned them. No, I didn’t steal them from my sister, I saved them from the dumpster or, if I remember correctly, a garage sale. Years later, your wife saw them and remembered (correctly) that she had once owned them and I (very gallantly) relinquished the cards back to her custody. Perhaps I should have just given her the 50cents she might have gotten from the garage sale in 1978 🙂
Your brother-in-law,
Tom
PS It was pine tar on Rogers’ hand, without a doubt. See Si.com
Mike the Eyeguy
I just checked, and your sister doesn’t remember a dumpster or a garage sale, but she allows that she may have stored them in your closet as she tended to do with things from time to time.
Either way, she is thankful that you remembered whose they were and returned them. Now let’s all get together and hold hands and sing “Kum Ba Ya,” ok?
That’s an interesting sequence of photos over at Si.com (click here)
Jason Bybee
Mike,
Love the recent posts! I’m in class this week (tell EyeGal I’m sorry I missed her call ealier today), but I just checked out your flurry of baseball related posts. Awesome! Here’s hoping the Cards will bring their A-game with Carp on the mound in Game 3. I have several tests to study for, but I’ll be making time tomorrow night to sit down and watch my team in a pivotal Game 3. Go Cardinals (from Nashville)!!!!
Mike the Eyeguy
Hey Jason, glad you like them and that they’re providing some relief from all the grad school chores.
Go Cards! (and Carpenter)