Ron Shelton
MiLB Madness: A few familiar names from MLB past & present, a new Bull Durham nod & check out this obscure memorabilia
Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... sometimes stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new fun cards and oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness.
ONE MORE DURHAM NOD ...
The Card: Steve Dalkowski 2009 TRISTAR Obak T212 Minis Green (/25)
The Buzz On This: This set isn't one limited to MiLB players per se -- it's more about the history and oddities around baseball at every level in every direction -- and it's not one issued in team sets, either. But, this card popped up in my digging for unique and different stuff with a story and, well, this one has it. Dalkowski is a legendary minor-leaguer whose powerful arm -- and unruly control -- inspired Bull Durham creator Ron Shelton to create Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh. How unruly was he? As an 18-year-old in Class D- Kingsport in 1957 he struck out 121 batters in 62 innings. He also walked 129 while recording a 1-8 record in 15 games. That's 17.6 Ks per nine innings and 18.7 walks per nine. The next season, he went 4-10 with a 7.63 ERA, striking out 203 batters in 118 innings and walking 245. The final stats, though not complete due to it being MiLB and being way back in the day, are impressive. You can find his only MLB card in 1963 Topps among the higher-numbers (despite never actually pitching in MLB) and basically his cards in this release are the only other option. He was slated to sign certified autos for it, too, but they were never completed. This one will always be an add for me if I see them.Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards (and other stuff) you can find in MiLB.
Without legend of Steve Dalkowski there might not be a Bull Durham ... let alone thoughts of Bull Durham 2
In an interview with Dan Patrick this week, Kevin Costner said he'd be opening to reprising the role of Crash Davis in Bull Durham 2 if creator Ron Shelton was open to the idea and could draft the next chapter in the story of big-screen players that have become minor-league baseball icons.
But there's one cardboard icon in the real world who's partly responsible for the creation of the 1988 film in the first place.
He's Steve Dalkowski.
Buzz Break: 2016 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.
The box: 2016 Topps Archives baseball cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 80
Base set completion: 74 of 300 (25 percent)
Duplicates: 0Notable players on base cards – Stephen Strasburg, George Brett, David Wright, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, Eddie Mathews, Clayton Kershaw, Jose Bautista, Nolan Ryan, Ken Griffey Jr., Jose Fernandez, Yasiel Puig, Frank Thomas, Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams.
Rookie Cards (12) – Greg Bird, Henry Owens, Zach Lee, Brian Johnson, Miguel Sano, Kyle Waldrop, Colin Rea, Tom Murphy, Luis Severino, Frankie Montas, Raul Mondesi, Brandon Drury.
Buzz-worthy Gallery: 2016 Topps Archives Bull Durham baseball cards
It's been nearly 30 years since the arrival of Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh and on Wednesday he gets his first baseball card in a fully licensed MLB release.
The set, of course, is 2016 Topps Archives and the star brought to life by Tim Robbins is just one of the Bull Durham cards to be found inside packs. In all, there will be nine certified autographs to chase and seven unsigned cards along with any parallels.
Bull Durham autographs coming in 2016 Topps Archives
Crash Davis finally makes it back to The Show -- at least in packs of baseball cards.
Topps teased one inclusion coming in its 2016 Topps Archives set on Tuesday morning and it's a Kevin Costner certified autograph in a Durham Bulls uniform -- you know, the team that took center stage in Bull Durham.
5 Item(s)