One Page Of Hillis Layne

This series highlights "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former players and personnel.

   Hillis Layne

Washington Senators (1941,1944–1945)

Served in WWII (1942-1944)

"My greatest thrill of my 38 year career was hitting a home run in Yankee Stadium in 1945 with 68,000 fans in attendance. I rate the 1941 Yankees the best team I have seen in my 38 year career."

"Tom, I hope this information will be helpful to you. I am 86 yrs. old now but I am grateful that I was able to play the game for the love of the game in lieu of the millions players are receiving to play the great game of baseball."

"Played at Comisky Park in 1941-1944-1945. [Played] over 2,000 pro games. [Played] Pro ball from 1938-1958. 18 Years as Major League scout with NY Mets, Kansas City, Washington, Texas Rangers. Was in baseball 38 years and enjoyed every day I was involved. Played All-Star game in 1947 with Casey Stengel as Mgr. This game in San Francisco in Pacific Coast League involving North + South All-Stars. A great thrill. Best players I played against were (1) DiMaggio - NY Yankees 56 game hit safely. He in my opinion is the best all-around player of all time. (2) Ted Williams the best hitter with .406 average. I was fortunate to have played against these two. Although Hubbell and Gibson were great pitchers, I rate Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians equal or better than either. He was clocked in 1941 in Washington throwing the ball 110-112 miles per hour. He with many others such as Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, Hal Newhouser, Schoolboy Rowe, Dizzy Dean were better than pitchers of their era."

"Tom, Thanks for your nice card and the picture with your son at your side, reminds me of myself and my son in the early days of my baseball career. Good "ole" days. Again, it is a pleasure to do what I can to encourage young people while God spares me the days to do what I can. May God bless you and your family."

Correspondence received January 6 and January 20, 2004.

Not sure of the two dates, I may have written him twice.

Layne passed away on January 12, 2010, at the age of 91.

Christmas in March

Last week I received a Christmas card from Angus (Dawg Day Cards), postmarked March 14.

I guess he's running a little late this year, but in reality, it's never too late to send a Christmas card.

When I opened it up, out fell a couple baseball cards, and after I read the warm greeting, was very pleased to see some O-Pee-Chee stuff.

1978 OPC #233

I've seen the "NOW WITH" on cards before, but I don't think I've seen one with "AS OF...." before. Or at least I never really noticed it. Cool card regardless.

He also sent this 1986 OPC Tattoos with Angels Brian Downing

Only, it was the whole sheet he had sent:

And was too long to fit on my scanner (Bill Buckner not shown)

I love opening envelopes, but I especially love opening envelopes with baseball cards inside!

Thanks Angus, and Merry Christmas (in March)!

Junk Mall Junk Wax Wednesday

Ripping a random pack of junk wax from the local junk mall.

Pack of 15 cards with no inserts.

Randy Johnson rookie, nice pull.

Fred McGriff, always good.

Julio Franco: I recently saw a clip of his final grand slam.

And a lovely Topps Company Store card.

One Page Of Jerry Coleman

 This series highlights "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former players and personnel.

   Jerry Coleman

New York Yankees (1949-1957)

Angels Connection: California Angels Broadcaster (1970-1971)

"My fondest memory was the last game of the 1949 season - Yanks against Boston - Final score Yanks 5 Boston 3 and the American League Pennant went to N.Y."

Marine Corps Combat Pilot in WWII and Korea.

All-Star (1950)

4× World Series champion (1949–1951, 1956)

Ford C. Frick Award (2005)

Correspondence received February 2004.

Coleman passed away on January 5, 2014, at the age of 89.

Completed Set - 2010 Topps Million Card Giveaway

The last card needed to complete this insert set came from a TCDB trade with Nippy Jones.

This 30-card insert set was distributed in 1:6 packs.

The player cards depicted would be really nice to have in a personal collection.

The backs are all the same, each with different code however, that allowed you to win a random (?) Topps card, and not necessarily the one pictured.

For fun, if I could choose any original card of the ones depicted, I'd pick this one:

How about you?

Junk Mall Junk Wax Wednesday

Ripping a random pack of junk wax from the local junk mall.

Whoever originally bought this pack bought it from a military base exchange (AAFES). I'm very familiar with these price stickers from my time spent in the Air Force.

Pack of 15 with no inserts to pull.

There's Smiley again. Just showed his XRC card in the 1987 Topps Traded set I completed.

Angels hot pack!

Not much more to say about it.

Still looking for a couple of the "Cards Not Included" arrow variations of this card.

Unboxing The Angels

I had been enjoying following Padrographs 21 days of unboxing blasters he had received for Christmas (every card collectors dream) when near the end I received a message from Rod asking for my address, he had some Angels to send me. I was excited to say the least and looking forward to a PWE coming in the mail. Well, more than a PWE came, and out of the fat Priority Mail envelope came four 9-pocket pages full of cards.

Thats not nine cards per page there, more like 27-36 cards per page! I'm assuming he sent me just about all the Angels he had pulled in the 21 days. So nice, and most of which I needed. I selected some of my favorites to show.

2023 Bowman Scouts Top 100 #BTP-89

Looking forward to this young guy this season.

2023 Bowman Platinum base and Ice Foil parallel.

And my new favorite second only to Trout.

2023 Topps Chrome Pink Refractor.

I love the pink refractors.

2023 Topps Flagship Collection Companion to Oversize Cards CTCSP-1

That's a mouthful, but a very awesome card.

2024 Topps Holiday Parallel

Took me a while to figure out what this was, but again, a really cool card.

2023 Topps Update All Aces

2020 Topps Holiday Garland Variation HW123

You have to look close to see that garland.

2021 Topps 1952 Topps Redux Chrome TC52-43

Chrome cards have come a long way from when they used to be dark and hard to see.

Rod posted a picture of a Topps Update Target Big Box that included what looked like an oversized foil wrapper for the oversized card included in the box. I asked if the wrapper was available, and he sent it. Only it turned out to be a photo of a foil pack, on thin cardstock. Very cool either way, and still a sweet Trout collectible.

Blessed and thankful Rod.