i miss the 90's (volume 1)

1994 Leaf Slideshow #5 of 10

Roberto Alomar

Minor League Baseball Logo Rankings: Pacific Coast League

I collect baseball cards. I love baseball, have played it all my life, but have never lived close to a stadium. Thus, I grew up watching Triple-A baseball in Syracuse and Buffalo; with a four-year stretch in college watching Double-A in the Catskills.

It seemed every year there was an affiliation change or re-branding of minor league logos. As a hat collector growing up, I couldn't keep up with the changing logos and colour schemes (and once the Jays left Syracuse, why on Earth would I get a ghastly SkyChiefs hat?)

But being a collector, I collected. My fondest memories were trying to get future big leaguers to sign those MiLB caps. This is actually the route of my Carlos Delgado collection. We were trying to get his autograph (which, of course, we did) when my buddy's Dad just started talking to him during BP. He stayed and chatted with us for 10-15 minutes. It was the greatest gesture I have ever seen in person with a professional athlete (a close second is selling Nathan Gerbe some turkey last winter.)

Anyways, I was always a fan of the changing logos and affiliations. With the latest round of affiliation shake-ups this off-season, with the Blue Jays making my heart grow x4 by moving from hell-on-earth Las Vegas to my once home of Buffalo, I thought I would show tribute. So, with the help of www.sportslogos.net (check it out!) I am ranking the minor league logos. Enjoy! This will take months.

We'll start with the pitching dead zone of the Pacific Coast League:

Well you see, here's your problem. The logo of the PCL doesn't even say Pacific Coast League on it. Super mega fail. The logo debuted in 1989 and hasn't changed since. I debuted in 1986 and I have changed quite a bit. Shape up, PCL. (2/10)

15. Colorado Springs SkySox

Dear baseball: Please stop naming your team after socks. And "Sky" Sox? What the hell are those? Based on the logo, they're the socks of Pikes Peak. But wouldn't they still be in the ground? And not the sky? 

Why the bad ranking: It's been done. So many times. The navy/red colour scheme is washed-up. Accentuate the Rockies purple & silver! To be fair, the SkySox have never had good logos. Check their history here. 

Why I am not biased: I love Colorado Springs. Aside from the suburb sprawl it has become, there is nowhere in the USofA I'd rather live. But I'd probably just go to Rockies games instead. (2/10)

14. Fresno Grizzlies

The logo isn't bad, it's just...meh. The type is nice, the colour scheme is good, but the Grizzly is...well, grizzly. Bear logos and various bear-big cat-wolf-manbearpig mascots have been used to death. 

There's not much else to say about the Fresco logo. If you look at their alternates, the bear always looks odd, and the ball is not to scale with the other logos.The logo itself isn't bad, it's just unimaginative and recycled. (4/10)

13. Sacramento RiverCats

Oh great, River Cats. Cats hate water, jackass. Especially ones that play baseball. why would a cat want to use a soggy-rawhide ball? The alternates aren't much better, featuring one in which the "C" from Cats is about to decapitate this feline. (4/10)

12. Albuquerque Isotopes

The Isotopes logo debuted ten years ago and hasn't changes since. The logo makes sense - balls and electrons revolving around what seems to be an "A". But that's all there really is. It's not a bad logo, it just lacks substance. (5/10)

11. Iowa Cubs

Honestly, I feel a bit bad ranking the Iowa Cubs out of the top 10. It's what a minor-league affiliate should be: an homage to the big team, simple, and geographically reasonable. Bears used to live in the Midwest, we just got rid of them all. And then the Cubs never won a World Series again. 

The alternate logos of the Cubs are excellent. Instead of the Bear silhouette featured by your Chicago Cubs, it's a small bear. You know, a real cub. In this case, the MiLB logo is better than the big team. The cub looks all cuddly from a distance, but up close has aggressive eyes of an impending ankle-bite. (5/10)

10. Salt Lake City Bees

I'd rank this #1 if they would just name their team the SLC Punks and finally answer my demands. But they have not, and they're boring-ass Bee logo remains. The colour scheme is nice, albeit unoriginal, but keep in mind this is Utah. Utah is...not really a baseball state (but probably my favourite place on earth is southern Utah) and a Mormon state - so no gambling, aliens (well, maybe aliens) or scary cat-like creatures. Not a bad logo, but nothing exceptional. (5/10) 

9. Las Vegas 51s

Vegas should probably be lower. But I've already ranked them, so deal with it. I'm sure you know the stories behind Area 51, and thus the namesake of the team. Which is great. It's geographically unique. Much more wholesome than the Las Vegas Strippers or Wayne Newtons. I dislike the HUGE 51s in the background, but working with a mascot that is a number can be difficult, though the 49ers pull it off well. The colour scheme is rooted from the Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate days, didn't change during the Blue Jays regime (likely because the big club never wanted to be there in the first place) and I doubt it will change in 2013 for Los Mets. (5/10)

8. Round Rock Express

Honestly, I'd be more afraid of a Nolan Ryan coming at my face than a train. 

Trains are more MiLB than 35-year old organization catchers (I'm looking at you, Carlos Maldonado). Almost every stadium I have been to runs next to the train tracks. It just works. This is the first of the good logos in the PCL, and looking more closely, it's actually pretty sweet. It's modern and local. Its the Nolan Ryan Express without being as self-serving as Cal Ripken's Aberdeen IronBirds. It hints at Texas without sitting on its porch in a rocking chair brandishing a Savage 16 gauge. (6/10)

7. Reno Aces

Warning: The next two are pretty much the same.

It's okay. Once again, navy blue and red. Yawn. At least it's geographically relevant, with legalized gambling in Las Vegas, Junior. It sticks to baseball, the mascot and probably has some other solid qualities, but I am too excited about the top 5 to give too much of a damn an hour into writing this post. (6/10)

6. Tacoma Rainiers

The fact that the Rainiers came in at number six is not complimentary to the Pacific Coast League. They mostly make it due to their alternate logo depicting an ash cloud as the "T" for Tacoma on their cap logos. This compass-type one is just confusing. Red and navy. Again. With what seems like a compass star. Maybe they were trying to appeal to us geologists out there, but it doesn't work for me so well.Still better than the 11 teams that came before it, though.

What bothers me is that they had a totally rad logo before with a solid green/blue colour scheme, and went modern simpleton, as if to make their fan's clothes match better. (6/10)

5. Omaha Storm Chasers

Very, very cool. Unique colour scheme? Check. geographically relevant? Super check. Improved significantly from the previous logos? Super ultra mega check.

There's always been a baseball presence in Omaha, home of the College World Series - which is incredibly underrated. I've never seen kids play ball so hard. Love it. So of course, Omaha pays tribute to some of the hardest workers out there - storm chasers. Very cool. I'd like to say it could be better - but I know that I, myself, couldn't improve upon it. 

Why I am a bit biased: I want to chase storms. (7/10)

5. Nashville Sounds

I like it. There's not much else to say. The colours work, I love silhouettes, skylines are the best thing ever, and a baseball flying off into the sunset. Well done, Nashville. But you'd be ranked higher if it were not for these guys. 

Originally, I had Nashville ranked at seven. Then I realized that with the skyline, silhouette and baseball, it was way too awesome to not make the top five. (7/10)

4. New Orleans Zephyrs

The New Orleans Zephyrs logo hits on many points that should be included in a proper sports logo. It pays homage to a regional trait - in this case a zephyr. In case you're wondering what a zephyr is, it is a soft, west wind, such as the one coming off of the Gulf Coast. 

Another trait is a certain heritage or ethnic flavour, in this case - a fleur-de-lis, a symbol of strong French influence and creole heritage.

The colour scheme is simple and unconfusing - you won't find anyone else in the PCL to get the Zephyrs confused with. The logo has changed a few times since 1998, and has generally improved - though I wish the nutria would be more relevant nowadays. (7/10)

3. Oklahoma City Redhawks

Yeah, it's bust. Yeah, it's red and navy, but it involves the classic interlocking letters of the city (and not the mascot!). This is an ideal main logo and shoulder-patch type insignia. Crossed bats always work. It's classy. It's got a midwest feel. I like it. The Redhawks don't over do it, and they don't under do it. The alternates are solid, as well, including a badass bird holding a baseball bat in its beak. THAT'S A STRONG BIRD. (7/10)

2. Memphis Redbirds

Yes. Classy. Sure it's red-and-blue, but Cardinals had that colour scheme since 1900! It's so simple. It's hardly changed over the years, even with a move from Springfield, Missoura to Memphis, Tennessee (Mind you, the Springfield Cardinals exist still, in the Texas League since 2005). There;s not much to say, and in this case, that's a good thing. Keep it classy, Memphis. (8/10)

1. Tuscon Padres

The Tuscon Padres logo is about as close to perfect as it gets. I refrained from giving them a 9/10, as that rating is reserved for something as awesome as this (but that's a later post.)

Why it's awesome:

Colour scheme - They take the Padres Navy/Gray and make it better. Adding a lighter shade of watery blue to the navy and accentuating the silver/gray. 

Geographically correct - No Chicago Marlins BS here. The Mexican influenced city lends itself to being represented by the big team's mascot as well, the Padre. Even better? A CACTUS.

Guess what I love? Cacti. And MiLB baseball logos. (9/10)

I hope you all enjoyed this. I will keep them coming, but keep in mind, they take a while to format, grab logos, and write. I change the rankings while I write, forget teams (Tacoma) and go on rants. 

NEXT UP: Carolina League!

And man, there are some good ones in there...

Epic Mail Day (Volume II) Part D: Baby Jays

There have been no outs recorded in the Orioles/Yankees ALDS game tonight, and I have already turned it off. The game, which by MLB mandate, was scheduled for prime time  was delayed two hours, so the Nationals and Cardinals could be tortured by the brutal midday sun of St. Louis and Bud Selig and the ravenous beast of prime time television can feast off of post-6pm viewers. 

Yes, I am bitter. Deal with it. This is not a Yankee-friendly blog.

So I will update ya'll on my final installment of my COMC order for September-Oktober; Baby Jays Edition!

And getting right into it:

2011 Bowman Topps 100 / 2010 Bowman Chrome

Adeiny! Adeiny grew on me in the waning days of the fiery train-wreck that was the 2012 season. He needs to slow down a bit in his fielding, but it otherwise pretty slick with the leather. I'd love to see the player Adeiny (or Adeinis, if it's still 2010) can grow into, out of that scrawny frame. He's got nice pop for a player with a very low hit tool, and his speed probably won't warrant more than 15 steals per season. However, I can see him projecting to an Omar Vizquel-type shortstop, which is pretty damn good by my standards. $.25 and $.43. 

2011 Topps Chrome Rookie Autograph

Ohh heyyyyyy Kyle. So nice of you to join the post. And you brought a Sharpie with you. How nice. Kyle Drabek was the victim of the fickle ulnar cruciate ligament this season, and injury which I think was bothering him way before he actually went on the DL. However, the brief delay in his career has led to a drastic fall in the prices of his single card, as I grabbed this one for only $2 (and his Sepia's twin for $6.)

2012 Bowman International

I had to super-size my boy JPA. Because the 'A' stands for AMERICA.

PS I am totally in love with this card. $.20

2011 Finest Freshman Refractor

Aww lookit that bright JPA smile. Guess how many shits he gives about hitting .226? About twenty-three hundreds. Which isn't much. This was labeled as an Orange Refractor, but I think it's just a regular one, as I didn't see any other colour variations. $.60

2011 Topps Diamond Anniversary

So sparkly. I am making some serious progress on getting every variation of this card. Between Topps flagship and Chrome, there are probably 20+ of this card, which I will have and will wall-mount. $.49

2011 Chrome Refractor

Aaaand a little bit closer. I love refractors. Got any JPA refractors? Give 'em to me. No reason for me to be shy about it.

2011 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Sepia Refractor /99

And back to a huge JPA to end the post. So beautiful. After 2010 Bowman's purple refractors, I thought that the hierarchy of colour-variant refractors was complete. Then in 2011, Topps got all hipsterish and threw down some sepia. And it was glorious. This was actually from eBay. A seller dropped his Buy-it-Now from $22 and change to $15. Easy decision. Definitely a favorite for a top spot in my personal collection power-rankings. So beautiful.    

Epic Mail Day (Volume II) Part C: Carlos Delgado

If you love Carlos Delgado, as I do, you'll love this post. These are my recent killings from COMC and ebay (only one of them), but these were some serious personal collection additions for someone on a lowest rung of government (county) budget.

I actually grabbed about 5 more Delgados than I'll be posting here, which I hope I've added to the World Series Jays checklist (Delgado played one game with the bluebirds in 1993, thus, he was rewarded a ring).  That's all that matters.

But what matters now, are the cards. And here they are:

2002 Bowman (Chrome?)

1992 Reprint Refractor

The reprint refractors were a great idea, especially since the original (which, embarrassingly,  I do not have) was about a year before refractors were born, and many years before Bowman Chrome. Plus, it features Delgado in catcher regalia, which I am all about. $.39

1994 Bowman

Classic. Very little comments needed here. Delgado as a catcher. Playing in what literally looks like the Sandlot. $.25

1994 Bowman Foil

Does anyone know if the foil cards were a subset in '94? I was eight at the time, so I wasn't paying an extraordinary amount of attention. Anyways, here we have Delgado in catcher's equipment again, looking super awkward. Delgado wasn't a great catcher, and was in left field by the time he was getting regular playing time and murdering baseballs. $.25!

1995 Bowman 

I love me some 1995 Bowman. A really classy set. And here you get that Delgado charm, the catcher's equipment, old school Jays logo (my favorite version WITH v-neck) and the inclusion of minimal foil. Man I miss baseball cards like this. $.99

1994 SP HoloViews FX

Ahh, the handsome brother of Robbie Alomar...IN 3-D! These are one of those cards you need to see in person, as the scanner just cannot do them justice. $.74

1997 Upper Deck Rock Solid Foundations

I pulled a Johnny Damon version of this back in 1997. I love these. Some inserts just pop, and UD was awesome and making that happen in the mid-to-late 90's. This is entirely holofoil (imagine a diet refractor) with gold foil, and the border has a granite-marble pattern. Just awesome. I think I'll have to complete this whole set, so if you have some, I'll make it worth your parting. $.24

1998 Score Showcase Series Artist's Proof

I had no idea what this card looked like when I bought it, aside from some holosparkles and an awesome image of Delgado being himself x1000. It's really and excellent pattern and makes me miss the score brand (just a little.) I just wish the rest of the Jays in the dugout- Shawn Green (#15) and others, were not relegated to the background. $.74

2004 Ultra Season Crowns Game Used

Umm. Holy butt. Amazing card. I'm a total homer for Fleer Ultra, Carlos Delgado, coloured jersey swatches and home-plate collisions. This card is an early favourite for my PC power rankings #1 slot (coming soon).  I was thrilled to get this for a poverty-line $2.95 offer. Wow I love this card. To Jays fans out there - go get this card. It's phenomenal, and I think there's another 150 or so out there.

Okay - one more installment from my COMC order. Also, I forgot the ebay Carlos Delgado steal from earlier this week. It's worthy of its own post, even if I don't care for it so much.

Epic Mail Day (Volume II) Part B: Hockerinz

...and now for Part B: The hockey cards.

I'm struggling to build up my hockey collection, and with a recent change of allegience from the impossible-to-collect Toronto Maple Leafs to the ideal-to-collect Minnesota Wild, I'm doing  a bit better.

Also, before you crucify me for my allegience change, mind you:

1. I was originally a Minnesota Northstars fan.
2. My favourite Maple Leafs were Mats Sundin, Matt Stajan, Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. They were all casauaties of the Maple Leafs regulars exodus over the past few years.
3. They're like collecting the Yankees. Everyone wants Maple Leaf relics, autos, etc. Except they're f#ing terrible.

So, on to the cards, starting with ex-Maple Leafs and present who-the-hell-knows-what, probably Flame: Matt Stajan!

2005-2006 Upper Deck Ice Glacial Graphs

Greg was right. These cards are phenomenal. This guy went for a cool $3.33 offer on COMC. Matty's signature is remarkably consistent, as if he's been practicing it since that magical moment where a coach may have said "you've got  a chance to be a pro, kid." No one ever said that to me, but I practiced my signature anyways.

2009-2010 UD Champs Signatures (MINI!)

I love, love, loved 09-10 UD Champs. It was just awesome. Where else can you grab a Martin Havlat with impalas parallel, a stegosaurus and a mini jersey or autograph in one pack? Man, I am starting to miss UD's presence in baseball. Goodwin doesn't count. Nothing with Lebron should count. $3.

2007-2008 Be a Player Signatures Doubles

Niklas Backstrom/Josh Harding

I wanted this one as soon as I saw it on ebay. For $25. No way, tough guy. So I tossed a lowball offer on COMC for $3.75. Winner. The Harding ink is slightly smudged. Not sure if it was myself, the guy who pulled it, or COMC. I don't really care. 

Stay tuned. More COMC Epic Mail Day Posts incoming. 

Epic Mail Day (Volume II) Part A: Robbie Alomar

Yes.

Today, a day in which I took off of work (cough, cough, sneeze) and sat around with my Pug, Sebastian all day, was also a mail day.

I knew, via the magic of internet tracking, that one package in particular would be here. It was an eBay steal (sort of), and won't be mentioned until another EMD post for my Baby Jays.

No.

Twenty-five other new personal collection cards came, only two days after shipping, from Check Out My Cards today. Twenty-five.

I'm used to about 1-5 packages a week, either trades or ebay auctions. Usually one card in an envelope.

Thus, when I saw the COMC package in my mailbox, along with the other, expected package, I could literally hardly breathe. I was so pumped to get the cards in this package, a blog post was necessary. As with all upcoming COMC purchase posts, I'll list the prices I get the cards for, so you can be envious of my dealz.

So, without further Apu, here's Part A: Roberto Alomar.

1994 Topps Finest

It's just a base card, non-refractor, but still awesome. The scan doesn't do it much justice. You get an idea of the brightness, but nothing is like holding a '93 or '94 Topps Finest in your hands. $.45

1994 SP HoloView FX

I saw this on ebay for something in the rediculous range of $15-$20. To date, I think the most I have ever paid for a single card was this, as ~$13. This one, which has a handsome matching brother in Carlos Delgado, set me back $3.

1994 Leaf Slideshow

Eventually, I am going to make a post of cards in which scans cannot possibly represent their awesomeness. This is one of those cards. 1994 Leaf was an incredible set, both in the base cards, inserts, and even some Frank Thomas autographs. The slideshow insert was truly unique, and nothing has really come close since. Upper Deck tried and failed, and so did Pacific (Invincible). Not even close. $.58. 

Man.

I miss the 90's.

Updated 2012 Allen and Ginter's Checklist

Below is the have list. Too long to have a need list at this point.


2012 Allen & Ginter's Baseball
# Player
1 Albert Pujols
2
3
4
5
6
7 Mickey Mantle
8
9 Yonder Alonso
10 Dustin Pedroia
11 Eric Hosmer
12
13 Drew Stubbs
14
15 Joel Hanrahan
16
17 Lonnie Chisenhall (2)
18 Kevin Youkilis
19 Bob Knight
20
21
22
23 Yogi Berra (2)
24 Paul Goldschmidt
25
26
27
28 Dustin Ackley
29
30 Carlos Zambrano
31
32 Ben Zobrist
33
34
35
36
37
38
39 Brad Peacock RC
40
41
42
43 Josh Johnson
44
45
46 Jarrod Saltalamacchia
47
48
49 Jeremy Hellickson
50
51 Don Denkinger
52 Cameron Maybin
53 Hisashi Iwakuma RC
54
55 Colin Montgomerie
56
57 Michael Pineda
58 Ryan Braun
59
60
61
62
63 Zach Britton
64 Mat Latos
65
66
67 Desmond Jennings (3)
68
69 Kurt Suzuki
70
71 Curtis Granderson
72
73 Jordan Zimmerman
74 Johnny Cueto
75
76 Michael Bourne
77
78 Joe Mauer
79 Yoenis Cespedes (RC)
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89 Edwin Jackson
90
91 Grady Sizemore
92 Craig Kimbrel
93 Jose Bautista
94
95 Felix Hernandez
96
97
98
99 Sandy Koufax
100 Troy Tulowitzki
101
102 Huston Street
103 Alexi Ogando
104 Ian Desmond
105
106 Bud Norris
107 CJ Wilson
108
109 Tim Lincecum
110
111 Wandy Rodriguez
112
113 Meadowlark Lemon
114
115
116
117
118
119 Asdrubal Cabrera
120 Mariano Rivera
121 David Wright
122
123
124 Jered Weaver
125
126
127
128
129 Michael Phelps
130
131
132
133
134 David Freese (2)
135 Michael Morse (2)
136 Jacoby Ellsbury
137
138
139
140 Mike Trout
141 Vance Worley (2)
142
143 Nick Hagadone
144 Joe Benson
145
146
147 Tsuyoshi Nishioka (RC)
148
149 Wilson Ramos
150 Norichika Aoki
151
152
153 Robinson Cano
154 Bob Hurley Sr.
155
156
157 Roger Federer
158
159 Devin Mesoraco RC
160
161 Freddie Freeman
162 Jeff Francouer
163 Tom Seaver
164 Ike Davis
165 Alex Avila
166
167
168 Jason Kipnis
169 Mark Teixeira
170
171
172
173 Jay Bruce (2)
174
175
176 Babe Ruth
177
178 Wei-Yin Chen RC (3)
179 Cole Hamels
180
181 Joe DiMaggio
182
183 Darwin Barney
184
185 Starlin Castro
186
187 John Axford
188 Tom Milone
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197 Ty Cobb (2)
198
199
200 Matt Kemp
201
202 Jamie Garcia
203
204 Adam Dunn
205 Tony Gwynn
206
207 Cory Luebke Basic
208 Martin Prado
209
210 Willie Mays
211
212 Ken Griffey Jr.
213
214
215
216
217 Brian Wilson
218 John Danks (3)
219 Ian Kennedy
220
221
222 Yovani Gallardo
223 Carston Charles Sabathia
224 Adam Jones
225
226
227
228 Dexter Fowler
229 Ichiro
230
231
232
233 Shaun Marcum
234
235
236
237
238 Austin Jackson
239
240
241
242 Alfonso Soriano
243
244
245 Hank Haney
246
247
248 Jed Lowrie
249
250
251 B.J. Upton
252 Tsuyoshi Wada RC
253
254
255 Dayan Viciedo
256
257
258
259
260
261 Michael Taylor RC
262 Doug Fister (2)
263
264 Brian McCann (2)
265
266
267
268 Angel Pagan
269
270 Anthony Rizzo
271
272
273
274
275 Kerry Wood
276 James Shields
277 Jesus Montero RC (2)
278 Fatallity
279
280
281 Matt Cain
282
283 Dale Webster
284
285
286
287
288 Alex Rodriguez
289 Brandon Phillips
290 Derek Holland
291
292
293
294 Elvis Andrus
295 Drew Pomeranz
296
297
298
299
300
301 Adron Chambers RC
302
303
304
305
306
307 Jhonny Peralta
308
309
310
311 Bob Gibson
312
313
314
315
316 Adrian Gonzalez (2)
317 Jason Heyward
318
319 Adam Wainwright
320
321
322
323 Ryan Roberts
324 Cal Ripken Jr. (2)
325 Frank Robinson
326
327
328
329 Billy Butler
330
331
332 Guy Buford
333 Kelly Johnson (2)
334
335 Alexei Ramirez
336 Gio Gonzalez
337
338
339
340 Marty Hogan
341
342
343 Zach Greinke
344
345 Nolan Ryan
346
347 Matt Garza
348 Chase Headley
349
350 Howie Kendrick