Sports Immortals Part 1

 It's been awhile since my last post, but I came across some unique cards I had not seen before.

1993 Kitchen Sink Sports Immortals.  I found this 36 card set at a garage sale.  I'll show some of the baseball cards today and later in Part 2.  The following is an excerpt from an internet web site:

Steve Krupp's Curio Shoppe

In 1993, Kitchen Sink Press routinely announced and published Sports Immortals card set. Featuring "immortal" stars from baseball, football, basketball, golf and boxing, with incisive text by author Mike Barson, and was part of its ongoing series of boxed card sets that included R. Crumb's Heroes of the Blues; Charles Burns' Good Squad; Barson's Dinosaur Nation; Scott Shaw's Oddball Comics; Monte Beauchamp's War Cry; Will Eisner's The Spirit; Confidential, Saucer People, Republicans Attack! and many, many others.

Kitchen Sink Press (KSP) and Barson were careful to use only historic images that had lapsed into public domain. This included the cover of a biography of Babe Ruth, just one of 36 different sports figure images in the set (other sports figures in the set are listed below). But soon after publication of Sports Immortals, KSP and Barson were put on notice by the company that licensed Babe Ruth merchandise, that KSP must immediately "cease and desist" selling the cards, based on an obscure "right to privacy" law in place in only two or three states. Nor was the Ruth estate's representative willing to retroactively license the single Babe Ruth card image (it allegedly conflicted with a separate exclusive license). After quick discussions with Barson and its attorney, KSP determined grudgingly that it would be too expensive to challenge the large licensing firm and, thus, KSP immediately ceased selling Sports Immortals, notifying its distributors and wholesale customers that no further orders could be fulfilled.

KSP publisher Denis Kitchen set aside a small quantity for his personal archives and the balance was destroyed. Only about 1,200 of the 3,000 sets originally published were wholesaled prior to the cease and desist order, leaving Sports Immortals ---by far--- the scarcest card set ever produced by KSP. In 1999 KSP went out of business. 

Remembering and a Tribute

 As we remember 9/11 today, I'd also like to pay tribute to Tom Terrific, Lou, Roberto and Jackie.

They were all Heroes.

A random Topps card Commemorating 9/11.

Since they're all wearing 42, I'm assuming it was on Jackie Robinson Day.

More oddballs

 Just a few more oddball cards.   I know Nick has posted the Alvarado in the past and probably some of the others.

Not some much the leap by Carter, but the shirt of Mattingly in the stands.

Vintage uniform and new high jump champ?

Other oddballs

 There doesn't seem to be as many oddballs in the other sports, so when I come across a few I'd 

like to show them off.

Here are a couple of Hockey oddballs.

Do Baseball spikes also smell?

A picture from the past, but we still need to say thanks to our first responders.

A non-sports card

Get your wish list in early this year.

Al Kaline oddball

 Al Kaline was my favorite player.  I had an A2000 Al Kaline mitt and my first little league home run was with a 34 Inch Al Kaline bat.  My tribute to Al is this card from Tiger Stadium.

The following are some other oddball cards.  The first is from a Tigers schedule.

Stroh's, Blatz, Milwaukee's best, Buckeye and Heilman's were all Regional Beers.

Another of my favorite Minor League cards.

I never liked black licorice, but Red Twizzlers were the best.

Tony's daughter says he must hydrate.

And this card is one of the many colorful names that frequent baseball cards.

Hat Topper

 It's been awhile since my last post.   I have been reading all your posts and decided to get back in the game.  My favorite cards are oddballs.  Bubbles are first, but there are lots of other interesting topics.

Today is Hat Toppers.

Most Hat Toppers are curtesy of autos.

However, once in awhile, you never know.

And we'll finish with the helmet oddballs.

oddballs and more hammers

Anytime I go through cards, the first thing after bubbles are the oddballs.  I have more fun looking at the backgrounds of cards, the backs and poses more than the stats or accolades.

I've always wondered what Ayala was doing in 1994.  Now I know.  He was ahead of his time.

I hope the players are having picnics with their families.  It sure looks like Jeter is eating a hot dog.

Kranepool's got a better caterer, lobster.

I got a special issue of Beckett with Art cards.

Background cars.

Fun in the minor leagues.  I'll miss my Mud Hens this summer.

No Mize, Manning or Skubal.  We were projected to have the best Minor league rotation in baseball.

Hooter's is known for their chicken wing,  Sure.

imitation is the best form of flattery, go U.L.

Was Mouton imitating Eddie Gaedel .

Is this a version of the hidden ball trick.

Fair or Foul.

Will football and baseball compete for awhile in the fall?

More hammers.

Relax

Baseball will be back.