Vintage Fridays: Jim Palmer, 1975 Hostess #126

Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM, autograph vouchers for Orioles FanFest (two weeks away!) go on sale. As I've done each of the past two years, I'll be dropping $15 for one voucher. It's worked out pretty well thus far, as I added signed cards of Dick Hall, Matt Wieters, Jim Johnson, Troy Patton, and Buck Showalter to my collection. (Oh, and Craig Tatum and Alfredo Simon. Can't forget them just because they're not very good at baseball!) Before the player and coach lineup was posted earlier this evening, I thought that this might be the year that I finally get a Jim Palmer autograph. Unfortunately, the Hall of Famer's a part of some less-than-exciting combos. At 12:40 PM, he joins 2012 first-round draft pick Kevin Gausman and backup catcher Taylor Teagarden for some grins, grabs, and 'graphs. Then at 3:20, he's the meat between the white bread of relievers Luis Ayala and Pedro Strop. For overall appeal, I'm drawn toward the 2:00 foursome of Brady Anderson, Jake Arrieta, Troy Patton, and Brian Roberts. Since BRob wasn't well enough to attend last year's FanFest, I still need his John Hancock. I grew up watching Brady, and I don't have any signed Arrieta cards either. I don't mind doubling up on Patton.

Sorry, 'Cakes. Maybe in 2014.

Vintage Fridays: Bobby Grich, 1975 Hostess #72

Hey kids! Do you all know the witty, urbane, and knowledgeable HandyAndy, whose comments have enlivened several of the posts on this very blog? Of course you do! If I were you (and I may very well be, but I'm not), I would want to read more of his insights on Orioles cards.

Well, you're in luck! Andy recently launched his very own blog, the Vintage Orioles Cards Project, and it's got my seal of approval! He's trying to collect all of the major vintage cards featuring Baltimore's boys of summer (that's all Bowman, Fleer, and Topps issues from 1954-1980). He's posting his finds one-by-one, with information about how he obtained the card and some facts about the players themselves. So far, it looks like a promisingly good read. If you're itching to share your vintage O's with Andy, he's assured me that a want list will be posted soon. So head on over, and tell him that Kevin sent you! Or don't, that's your call.

So why did I post a vintage Hostess snack cakes card of Bobby Grich, when Andy's not seeking these out? I didn't want to steal his thunder. Pretty crafty, huh?