Signed Jerry Koosman baseball card from my collection
Four members of the New York Mets Hall of Fame are scheduled to sign autographs at MAB Celebrity Services’ “That ’90s Show” on Sunday, October 26th. The weekend event, which begins on Saturday, October 25th, will be held at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights-Meadowlands.
The former Mets stars are Jerry Koosman (autographs are $39), Cleon Jones ($20), Bud Harrelson ($20) and Ed Kranepool ($18). Fans desiring autographs from all of the ex-Mets players can purchase a super ticket for $69.
The main focus will be a mini-reunion of 1994 New York Rangers hockey players on Saturday, along with a scheduled appearance by Hulk Hogan and several other pro wrestlers. Sunday’s slate of guests includes the ex-Mets as well as a couple of baseball Hall of Famers: Jim Palmer and Rollie Fingers.
The next two weeks are probably the swan song for this blog. The domain renewal is coming up, and I don’t really feel the same enthusiasm for baseball that I did when I began.
I could still change my mind, but I’m having a hard time imagining what I might find to say about the 2014 Mets that anyone would want to read and other commitments will keep me from going to more than a handful of minor league games next season.
I do want to thank everyone who stops by to read Random Baseball Stuff, and I appreciate the friends I’ve made because of this blog.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our Mets Baseball Card of the Week.
In 1972, Topps came up with the idea for a “Boyhood Photos of the Stars” subset, using old family photos for a “then and now” look at some of the game’s more prominent players. (In reality, I suspect the checklist had a lot to do with which players had moms that sent in old photos.)
I know Bud Harrelson as a coach and manager, first of the New York Mets and later of the independent Atlantic League’s Long Island Ducks. For me, regular baseball cards from his playing days are a glimpse into the past. Looking at this baseball card might as well be stepping into a time machine.
Depending on condition, you could expect to pay between 50 cents and $1 for your own copy of this card.
I’m still getting back cards that I mailed out during spring training.
Mike Napoli went 7-for-20 with two home runs and 10 RBI in the World Series last year for the Texas Rangers. So far in 2012, he’s already hit seven home runs in 18 games.
My other recently received autographs are from a pair of long-retired shortstops.
Atlantic League spring training is underway, and there are quite a few former New York Mets players on the rosters.
Tobi Stoner will make his Atlantic League debut with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2012. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)
Reliever Jorge Julio (2006) is back for his second season with the Bridgeport Bluefish. Pitcher Tobi Stoner (2009-10) will make his Atlantic League debut with Bridgeport after being released from the Mets organization this spring. Outfielder Prentice Redman (2003) will also return for his second season with the Bluefish.
Kevin Baez (1990, 1992-3) is back for his second season as the Long Island Ducks’ manager and his 10th with the organization. Bud Harrelson (1965-77) is a co-owner of the team and is likely to be seen at some games at Bethpage Ballpark this year. While none of the players on the Ducks’ roster ever appeared in a game for the New York Mets, pitcher Eric Niesen was one of the minor leaguers released by the Mets organization this spring.
Infielder Chin-Lung Hu (2011) will make his Atlantic League debut with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs this year.
Pitcher Tim Hamulack (2005) returns to the Lancaster Barnstormers for his third Atlantic League season.
The Somerset Patriots don’t have any former New York Mets players, but pitcher Roy Merritt had been part of the Mets organization until he was released this spring.
I don’t see any former Mets on the spring training rosters of the Camden Riversharks, Sugarland Skeeters or York Revolution either, though there are undoubtedly more players who spent time in the Mets organization on the rosters of the eight Atlantic League teams.
At the moment, it seems as though you’d have better luck checking rosters by visiting the individual team websites than going to AtlanticLeague.com. The league site has incomplete or 2011 information for several teams.
In a few weeks, I’ll take a look at the rosters of the five Can-Am League teams to see how many players I can find with ties to the New York Mets organization.
Bud Harrelson's plaque in the Mets Hall of Fame at Citi FIeld (Photo credit: slgckgc)
Cage 16, a baseball training academy in Bay Shore, Long Island, will be holding an “Opening Day” event on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. New York Mets fan-favorite Buddy Harrelson will be a special guest, and there will be a free baseball/softball seminar at 2:30 p.m. For more details, click here
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at our Mets Baseball Card of the Week.
PaulHadsall.com 