Ebay Win!

My latest Ebay purchase is of David Garner:

Garner pitched for MSU for the three years and then was drafted by Chicago Cubs.  He decided to sign with Chicago instead staying for his senior year. Time will tell if he made the right decision.
Garner is my 41st Spartan baseball player. He is placed between Wayne Fontes and Steve Garvey in the binder.

The card is from the 2013 Donruss Elite Extra Edition set. Frankly, I didn't know this card existed for awhile. The only reason I found out about it is that I have saved Ebay interest of "Spartans". So when I go on Ebay, A pictured collection of "Spartans" auctions are shown on front page.  Of course, I have to make sure they are MSU Spartans.  The Garner happened to be there to be noticed.
I recommend this tool on Ebay for other collectors

Way To Go Flozell!!

Over the past weekend, it was announced that former Spartan All American Flozell Adams donated $1.5 million dollars to the Spartan Stadium renovation project.  The donation is named in honor of her late mother and will go to the locker room.
Adams,nicknamed "The Hotel",  was 2nd round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 1998 and became a 5 time Pro Bowler with them.  He finished his career as a Steeler in 2010 and played in his only Super Bowl.
In my collection, I have 12 total Flozell Adams cards including:

1998 Press Pass

1998 Upper Deck rookie card

2004 Bazooka Pro Bowl jesey card

I also have an 8x10 autograph photo of him pictured as a Spartan.  I would also mention part of my wantlist is his 2009 Upper Deck America's Team insert card.

Spartan Family Mourns .... Earl Morrall

Former Michigan State quarterback passed away on Friday at the age of 79.  While at MSU he was an All American in 1955 and led the Spartans to a Rose Bowl victory in 1956.
 Morrall also on MSU's baseball team.  On the diamond, he was a part of MSU's 1954 Big Ten Championship team as a backup infielder.

2003 TK Legacy

Morrall was drafted in the first round by San Francisco 49ers but his name became known as a Baltimore Colt and Miami Dolphin.  He could be considered as the greatest back up quarterback in NFL history.  As a Colt, when Johnny Unitas was injured, he stepped in and won the 1968 NFL MVP and led the Colts to a Super Bowl.
While with Dolphins, Morrall stepped in for injured Bob Griese and started 9 of the games for Miami's undefeated 1972 season.  Morrall played a total of 22 seasons in the NFL after retiring in 1976.

I have a total of 28 Earl Morrall cards. I will show some here:

1964 Philadelphia

1969 Topps

1997 Upper Deck Legends autograph

Spartan Family Mourns... Princess Lacey

Today I am going to take a break from my regular programming.  Instead, I will honor a fallen member of the Spartan family.
Princess Lacey Holsworth was a eight year old girl who had been fighting cancer for the last three years.  She befriended MSU star forward Adreian Payne couple years ago during the team's visit to a hospital where she was staying.  Here is a nice piece about their relationship from the Big Ten Network's program, The Journey:

Sadly,  this past Wednesday, Princess Lacey lost her battle with cancer.  Through her toughest times, she always had a smile on her face, kept a positive attitude and loved unconditionally.  We all should do the same in our daily lives. Love like Lacey:

More than just cards...

I added another addition to my Michigan State collection today, but it is not a trading card.

The latest issue of Sports Illustrated has sophomore guard Gary Harris pictured on the cover along with members of the Izzone.  Plus a cameo of Mateen Cleaves.
Every time a Spartan is on the cover of Sports Illustrated, it is a must buy.  Especially if they are in the green and white.  I now have about dozen issues of Spartan Sports Illustrateds dating back to 1979.  Which of course is with Magic Johnson after winning the 1979 title.
I also have a couple Sporting News covers including a 1979 Magic Johnson also.

Spartan Family Mourns... T.J. Turner

Former MSU linebacker lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday. He was only 35 years old.
He was a native of Hillsboro, Ohio and lettered at MSU from 1997-2000.  He was drafted by New England Patriots in the seventh round in the 2001 NFL draft and played one season for them.
Below is my only Turner card, his 2001 Bowman card:

Go Cats?

No, I am not a Kentucky Wildcat fan or will start a collection of former Wildcat players.  Bob Brannum played for Kentucky in the mid 40s for a couple years and then transferred to Michigan State.  After one season at MSU, he went on to play for Boston Celtics for a several years.
Bob Brannum is 58th MSU basketball player.  He is placed between Tim Bograkos and Mike Brkovich in the binder.   Also, Brannum is my 35th Spartan player I have card of who has played in the ABA/NBA.  Only 3 others exist, but all three don't own any trading cards.

Trade Completed!

I received cards back from http://swingandapopupboston.blogspot.com/ recently.  I helped him complete a few sets and he did well and sending me a few Spartan baseball cards I needed.  He also sent some cards for my regular baseball collection also.  But here is the MSU ballplayers:

a couple Kirk Gibsons, Here is a Steve Garvey:

a few Mark Mulders:

 

and surprisingly this Tim Birtsas:

 

Autographs are Rolle-ing In

I recieved another autograph in the mail just recently.  It is of former tight end Butch Rolle.

Rolle played for MSU from 1982-85 and in the NFL from 1986-93 for the Bills and Cardinals.  As a Bill, he was primarily used as a blocking tight end and short yardage receiver, particularly near the goal line.  If you look behind his 1990 Score card pictured above, through the 1989 season, Rolle had nine career receptions and five were for touchdowns.
He finished his career with 38 receptions and 11 touchdowns.

More TTM Success!

I received back one of my through the mail attempts on Saturday. It was success and  I even got a bonus.  I sent away for Ralf Mojsiejenko's autograph.  He was a kicker/punter for MSU from 1981-84.  The years I started to watch MSU sports.  I sent Mr. Mojsiejenko his 1986 Topps rookie card to get signed:

As you can see, a success. But I also got this one back also.  I didn't even send that card.  His 1989 Topps Traded auto, pictured with the Washington Redskins.  It must be a 2 for 1 promotion going in the Mojsiejenko household right now.

By the way, sending away for autographs is a great use for your extra cards from the junk wax era.

Didn't Know It Existed

During my last trip to the local card shop, I was flipping through the Detroit Tiger binders looking for a few cards for my baseball card collection.   Then I came across this card for my MSU collection.  I saw his name and it seemed rather familiar.  It is kinda hard to keep track of the baseball players from MSU as they are rarely on television like football, basketball or even hockey.  So, I try to keep up to date from the local newspaper and news.

2009 Bowman Prospects #BP39

I checked the back of the card and it confirmed my familiarity. It said "Michigan State". 
Jon Kibler is my 39th Spartan baseball player and will be slotted between Steve Juday and Jack Kralick in my baseball binder.  Kibler never made to the big leagues, so he doesn't count toward the MLB Spartans.
I also picked up a Kirk Gibson 2012 Topps Heritage card. He is pictured as the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks:

Spartans in Sochi

There are two Spartans who are playing hockey during these Winter Olympics.

2002-03 Between the Pipes rookie card

One is Ryan Miller.  The Buffalo Sabres goalie is a backup for Team USA behind Jonathan Quick.  He will be starting against Slovenia in the preliminary round.

2005-06 Upper Deck MVP rookie

The other is Duncan Keith.  A defenseman of the Chicago Blackhawks.  He is a member of  Team Canada as they attempt to defend the gold medal.
Both Miller and Keith were a part of their teams during the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 also.

Happy Valentine's Day

1990 Collegiate Collection #149

Carlton Valentine was a forward on the MSU team from 1984-1988 after playing for DeMatha High in Maryland under Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten.  
Other than the 1986 sweet sixteen team, Valentine did not experience the successes of modern day Spartan basketball teams.  He was a valuable member off the bench during his sophomore on that team and by his senior season he led the team in both and scoring.
Carlton is the father of guard/forward Denzel Valentine on the current team.  He coached his son at Lansing Sexton High where they won two state championships.  Carlton's oldest son, Drew, is a graduate assistant on the 2013-14 season after finishing his playing days at Oakland University.
If you look close at the card. Carlton Valentine wore #45 jersey, the same as Denzel is wearing right now.

TTM Success!

I have been sending autograph requests to former players through the mail off and on.  This past week I got one back signed.  A Success!
A pretty good one too.  How about a 10x All Star, winning MVP awards in two of those games, 1974 NL MVP,  5x pennant winner and named MVP in two of those series, winning a World Series in 1981, 4x Gold Glove winner and a NL record 1,207 games played.

You would think that would be enough for the Hall of Fame for Steve Garvey, guess not though.  I think he will make it someday on the veterans committee.  Regardless, I am a proud to finally have a Steve Garvey autograph in my MSU collection.

2014 Senior Bowl

I look forward to the Senior Bowl each year and see what, if any, Spartans is selected.  Not only because a possible MSU player gets to play with and against the top seniors in NCAA, but they release a set each year of the players.
The Spartan in the 2014 edition is All- Big Ten defensive back Isaiah Lewis.  He was named as replacement for fellow Spartan db Darqueze Dennard, who decided not to play.
I have most of the Senior Bowl Spartan cards of the past.  I am missing the 2002 Josh Thornhill Sr Bowl card, which is also my most wanted MSU football card.  I am also missing all of them prior to the 2000 game.  If you have any of these, lets work out a deal.

Super Bowl Champion Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks won the latest Super Bowl. It gives me a chance to show you my Seahawk Spartan cards. In my collection, I only have four different Spartans with cards in their Seattle uniform.
They are:

1990 Oroweat Seahawks

Willie Bouyer.  He was the starting WR opposite of Andre Rison in the 1988 Rose Bowl.  He was a member of Seattle's practice squad team before playing in one game for them.  One side note of Bouyer, I have cards of him from NFL, CFL and WLAF. My only 3 league guy.

2008 Topps

T.J. Duckett followed his older brother's footsteps and decided to attend MSU.  The big bruising running back had a fine career at MSU and became a 1st round draft pick of Atlanta. He finished his career playing one year with Seahawks in 2008.

2007 Score

Julian Peterson was a Seahawk from 2006-08.  His last two of his five Pro Bowl appearances was as a Seahawk after playing for the 49ers. 

1985 Topps

Daryl Turner was a Seahawk from 1984-87.  He was the deep threat opposite of Hall of Famer Steve Largent in Seattle's offense.  He has a career yards per reception of 18.5 and amazingly of his career 101 receptions, Turner scored on 36 of them.

Big Will

With my newest Ebay purchase, I now have all 2014 NFL rookies from MSU.  William Gholston of Tampa Bay.  This card has him in MSU uniform and is the Sign of Times autograph insert from SP Authentic.

Big Will is my 207th Spartan football player and is placed between Steve Garvey and Kirk Gibson in my binders.  Yes. Garvey and Gibson. They both lettered in football as well as baseball at MSU

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Current Michigan State Offensive Lineman Travis Jackson carved out a niche in Spartan lore with his "Yes! Yes! Yes!" chants.  If you don't know Jackson borrowed the chant from WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan and used it as a celebration after a touchdown against Michigan and part of the post game celebration in the locker room after each MSU victory this past season.
I had been procrastinating in picking up this card from the 2010 Big 33 Ohio set, but since his "Yes. Yes. Yes" dance has become so popular, I could wait any longer in acquiring it.
Spartan Nation agrees:

And as for my collection, Jackson is #205 for MSU football players and is placed between Sedrick Irvin and Carlos Jenkins in my binders.