Attack of the old-timeys

Been doing a lot of reading about late 19th Century and early 20th century tobacco cards lately. Even made the plunge into the expensive waters of T-206 and T-205. Here are my first buys:

'Doc' Merle Theron Adkins (wonder why he went with Doc?  Merle Theron is much catchier)
 Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles (Eastern league)
16-14 record in 1911.
Like him because he's in the Mickey Lolich school of chubby pitchers, and because of that big BALTIMORE slabbed across his chest.

Hack (Arthur Clyde) Engle, 1B/3B/OF, Boston Red Sox (Americans) 2-48-.270 in 1911 with 24 steals. Love that catcher's mitt at the bottom - looks like an unfrosted layer cake. My card isn't this nice - has some paper damage below his name on the front.

And last, but not least, a T-205 of Fred Merkle, he of Merkle's Boner fame, whose failure to touch second base on a walk off game-winning single by the guy behind him, cost the New York Giants a game in the standings. Instead of beating the Cubs in that game, they tied them, then also tied them for the National League title, then lost the playoff game to determine who went to the World Series. He was only 19 when all that happened.

Some favorite cards

Because I love looking at baseball cards so much, I thought I'd throw in some pictures of a few of my favorites.

69 Brooks?

1969 was the first year that I really started collecting baseball cards. I was 8 years old - and a Baltimore Orioles fan. Little did I know how lucky I was at the time, to come to the hobby and to that team at that time. The 69-71 Orioles were one of the great teams of the era, with three Hall-of-Famers on the field, and one more in the dugout. Along with guys like McNally, Powell, Cuellar, and Blair to round out the cast.

Over the years, the 69 Brooks has come to be my touchstone card, one that takes me back to my youth and to the happy times I spent with those Orioles teams. The original card that I bought as a kid at Fino's drugstore still lives in my wallet, replete with red flair pen markings on the back, thoroughly rounded corners, and a layer of scotch tape on the front and back to protect Brooks from the elements.

What's he thinking behind that smiling face?

Keep it simple - be a good guy - stay humble.

 Thanks Brooks.