Umpires

 You don't see umpires much these days on baseball cards. There aren't that many sets either dedicated to umpires. A 1976 TCMA, 88', 89', and 90'.  I have 1 set the 88'. There are 10 umpires in the Hall of Fame. There is also 1 in the Canadian HOF. Tonight I have 3 cards and the 1988 set to highlight. I do have a few cards already sitting in my PC's which I did not dig out. 

Back in the day the 80's and 90's I knew the umpires. I knew as much about them as I did the opposing players or teams. It was important back then. You could tell what kind of game it was going to be based on who was behind home plate. It was going to be a pitcher's night or a hitters night. There would be games where you were like crap it's going to be a rough night all because who was calling balls & strikes. You see when I grew up playing baseball the strike zone was from your tits to the knees. Not like it is today waist to the knees. You had umps that would give the corners and those that wouldn't. Besides knowing your teams pitcher's tendencies, knowing the ump was crucial. I'm sure the players today still pay attention to that stuff.... I don't. Not sure when I quit keeping up with the umpires. I had may favorites or at least the ones that you didn't mind so much when they were behind the catcher. I'll point out a few of them as we go through the cards.

I've had this set for quite a while. It was sealed until last night. Even the cards inside the box were sealed in plastic. The fronts look pretty good, the backs look cheap. I will show both so that you can read the write ups on each umpire.

Card #1 is Doug Harvey probably my favorite ump of days gone by. He is in the HOF along with Bill Klem, Jocko Conlan, Bill McGowan, Al Barlick, Cal Hubbard, Hank O'Day, Tom Connolly, Billy Evans, Nestor Chylak. The Canadian HOF is Ernest Quigley.

McSherry and Froemming were two I remember well, Rennert too. I am and will always be a National League guy. Don't confuse the Paul Runge ump with the ball player. Not the same guy. Short story, the player (who is a coach in the ATL farm system) also taught middle school here in Marion county FL. He spent his 8 years of MLB with the Braves. Probably a good idea not to confuse either of them with the serial killer of the same name.

Montague another favorite.

Joe West is another.

The Shulock card is going into the Easter (Holidates) binder. He has a cross on his hat. In case you are wondering I am "breaking up" this set. There are a couple that need to go in my PC. Another one that hits the birthday binders too.

There's Jocko the other HOFer in the set. 

There you go my umpire cards. I did not scan cqrd #64 as it is just the checklist of the cards above (it too has made the mini collections). I do have a few umpire cards in the PC but very few.

Barlick has 2, Chylak 1, Jocko now has 2, Harvey now has 2, Hubbard 2, Klem 4, McGowan 1, Evans 3, Connolly 2. I do not have ANY Hank O'Day, he is one of only 4 HOFers that I do not own a card of  YET.

Normally I would be against anyone sending me cards for my mini collections as that is my pleasure finding them in bulk boxes of cards. I NEVER go looking for specific cards. Well except for brand new released Braves cards, other than those I like finding them in cheap boxes of cards i buy. That is my pleasure, my happy place. Pretty sure I did get a few customs from Gavin a couple years back.

The exceptions are vintage mini collection needs as you don't buy to many "bulk" deals there.... true rarity.  The other being the missing HOFer cards:

Bid McPhee,

Hank O'Day,

Bud Selig,

Deacon White.