In Memoriam: The Original Frank Thomas (1929-2023)

I follow probably a dozen or more baseball-related groups on Facebook, and one of them is dedicated to announcements of athletes from various sports who have died. I always feel a certain level of sadness when I see these posts, particularly when I knew of the athlete and perhaps cheered for him during his career. In the past year and a half, I have written to some old baseball players, many who once played for the Cubs. One of the most memorable series of correspondence was with Frank Thomas, "The Original One", who played for several teams in the 1950s and through the mid-1960s. 

Thomas passed away Monday morning in Pittsburgh. While I'm sure there are still plenty of old baseball fans who remember Thomas's career, probably thousands more communicated with him through the mail. He was a prodigious autograph signer, replying to anyone who wrote to him. While I'm certain he signed many, many cards for free, it was widely known that he requested $5 per autograph. This was a more than reasonable fee, especially considering he donated the proceeds to various causes, once of which I recall was dedicated to the care of sick children. 

As far as I can gather, Thomas provided personalized notes to everyone who took the time to write to him. I received full page letters on two occasions, an unexpected but much appreciated response that created a connection that didn't match any of the responses I received from other former players, though many of those responses were quite generous in their own right. 

I initially sent Thomas his 1960 Topps card, which he graciously signed:

Thomas seemed so genuine and sincere in his communication that I felt compelled to send an additional $20 or so for an autographed 8x10 photo of his time with the Cubs. In that same mailing, I sent another $5 along with his 1955 Bowman card.

As a testament to his generosity, Thomas each time sent an extra signed card back with the card I sent him. 

He also sent his business card each time. I kind of regret that I never called him, though I don't know what I would have said. I'm sure, though, that he would have gladly answered the call and given of his time to a random fan halfway across the country. Seems like that was just the kind of guy he was. A man of faith with a large family that left a legacy of generosity. Rest in peace, Mr. Thomas.

He Played for the Cubs? - An All-Time Team

This is a post that I've had in my mind for a couple years now. Using just the cards in my Cubs collection, I wanted to put together an all-time Cubs team, consisting of players that made most of their impact on other teams. Accompanying each member of the roster is an image of their Cubs card in my collection. I used WAR (Wins Above Replacement) as a quick metric to try to measure the player's relative impact on the Cubs compared to their whole career. In some cases, I favored a player with lower WAR in my starting lineup. Enjoy the 25-man roster and let me know your thoughts in the comments. Happy New Year!

The Batting Order:

*Hall of Fame

1. Lou Brock - RF*

2010 Topps Update - Cards Your Mom Threw Out

Career: 19 seasons / 45.3 WAR

Cubs: 4 seasons / 3.6 WAR

2. Richie Ashburn - CF*

Career: 15 seasons / 58.1 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 4.1 WAR

3. Fred McGriff - 1B*

Career: 19 seasons / 52.6 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 3.3 WAR

4. Ralph Kiner - LF*

1977-84 Galasso Glossy Greats

Career: 10 seasons / 48.1 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 4.6 WAR

5. Nomar Garciaparra - SS

Career: 14 seasons / 44.3 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 1.5 WAR

6. Tony Lazzeri - 2B*

Career: 14 seasons / 47.6 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / 0.7 WAR

7. Gary Gaetti - 3B

Career: 20 seasons / 42.1 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 0.8 WAR

8. Roger Bresnahan - C*

Career: 17 seasons / 42.0 WAR

Cubs: 4 seasons / 3.8 WAR

9. Robin Roberts - P*

Career: 19 seasons / 86.1 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / -0.7 WAR

Goose Gossage - Closer*

Career: 22 seasons / 41.1 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / -0.2 WAR

Bench:

Kenny Lofton - OF

Career: 17 seasons / 68.4 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / 1.8 WAR

Jim Edmonds - OF

Career: 17 seasons / 60.4 WAR

Cubs: 1 season 1.1 WAR

Luis Gonzalez - OF

Career: 19 seasons / 51.6 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 4.7 WAR

Jason Kendall - C

Career: 15 seasons / 41.7 WAR 

Cubs: 1 season / -0.3 WAR

D.J. LeMahieu - SS

Career: 12 seasons / 30.3 WAR (still active)

Cubs: 1 season / -0.2 WAR

Davey Johnson - 3B

Career: 13 seasons / 27.4 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / 0.5 WAR

Chris Speier - Utility

Career: 19 seasons / 30.6 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 0.9 WAR

Other Starting Pitchers:

Cole Hamels - #2 Starter

Career: 15 seasons / 59.0 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 5.0 WAR

Burleigh Grimes* - #3 Starter

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats #37

Career: 19 seasons / 52.8 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / -0.6 WAR

Curt Simmons - #4 Starter

Career: 20 seasons / 43.3 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / -1.1 WAR

Dan Haren - #5 Starter

Career: 13 seasons / 35.1 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / 0.2 WAR

Other Relief Pitchers:

Hoyt Wilhelm*

Career: 21 seasons / 46.8 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / -0.2 WAR

Tom Gordon

Career: 21 seasons / 35.0 WAR

Cubs: 2 seasons / 0.8 WAR

Bobby Shantz

1964 Topps Style Custom
(Shantz never had a Cubs card issued.)

Career: 16 seasons / 34.7 WAR

Cubs: 1 season / -0.1 WAR

Craig Kimbrel

Career: 13 seasons / 21.8 WAR (still active)

Cubs: 3 seasons / 1.8 WAR

Others considered:

Rick Aguilera, Jeff Blauser, George Bell, Rod Beck, Joe Carter, Nick Castellanos, Tommy Davis, Cliff Floyd, Jimmie Foxx* (I don't have a Cubs card of Foxx, or else he would have made the team), Monte Irvin*, Eric Karros, Harvey Kuenn, Phil Nevin, Carlos Pena, Joc Pederson, Benito Santiago, Bobby Thomson, Willie Wilson

A Merry Cubs Christmas to You!

Here's a short Christmas-themed post featuring cards from my Cubs collection:

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas!

Hope you got some nice gifts. Maybe six geese a laying?

Or four calling birds? 

Three French hens?

How about a diamond ring?

If you didn't do much for gifts, maybe you enjoyed some Christmas carols. 

The Holly and the Ivy is a classic.

Or Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Maybe We Three Kings.

(Technically a Chicago White Stocking, but it's the same franchise!)

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is another popular one.

Deck the Halls is always fun.

Hope you had some treats, too. Maybe a cherry candy cane:

Or some fudge?

Yeah, I know I fodged on that one a little. 

Well, regardless, from the words of White Christmas, I hope your days will be merry and bright.

 And that your Christmas is white (but that the snow is manageable).

Multitasking - The Pros and Cons of Working on 7 (or more) Collecting Goals at Once

Well, it's been a month since my last post. The general craziness and challenges of life explain much of my absence. I've still been working on my collection, but in kind of a haphazard way that reflects the general chaos I feel around me on a daily basis. I thought I'd update everyone with a rundown of the randomness that I've been working on the last month.

Frankenset and Mini-Collection Builds:

You may or may not know that I've already completed a Frankenset. So why does this say I've been working on a Frankenset build? Because I started a second one, of course! Yes, even though I have failed to chronicle the first Frankenset in any manner resembling completeness, I've embarked on Frankenset #2. (Side note - I plan to post all the cards in Frankenset #1 in full-page form. Done with two pages so far!)

I've alluded to Frankenset #2 in the past. There are a couple main differences between the first Frankenset and this one. Mainly, there are a few additional categories that I've added (Throwback Uniforms and Wrong Team are the two I can think of right now.) "Wrong Team" means the player is pictured in a different uniform than the team name listed on the card. Also, I'm including the back of cards in this set, so a card can qualify based on the picture/text on the reverse side (this was strictly forbidden in my first Frankenset). The cards that qualify based on their back are displayed as such. Otherwise, it's mostly the same categories as the first set. And I'm again going for 800 cards this time, but with the goal of not filling a single number with a checklist. Wish me luck!

In addition to the new Frankenset, I've been picking up new cards of some lesser knowns. Off the top of my head, this list includes: Reggie Jackson (a pitching coach), Todd Blyleven (Bert's son), and James Lofton (not the NFL wide receiver). There are several more I'm forgetting. 

2003 Multi-ad Savannah Sand Gnats - Reggie Jackson

All-Time Cubs Team:

I'm over 910 different Cubs for my All-Time Cubs Team set. The march to 1,000 will be a slow one, with many of my needs at this point coming from either vintage or obscure sets. I'll usually pick up no more than 5 new cards in any order these days, though Sportlots is showing some promise for me. Thanks to Nick for the tip to check them out, and to search by seller to save on shipping. With all my random collections, I can find a lot to order from one seller, so I'll be throwing in Cubs cards along the way.

Cubs Legend Al Lary (1983 Fritsch's One Year Winners, #118)

Local Players/Teams:

This is where I've gone a bit nuts lately. Looking for autographed cards, autographed index cards, and just regular base cards for players either from North Dakota or who played for a team in Fargo. I plan on putting the autographed cards in a display and using the cut signatures to create some photo displays. I plan to try to get to the library at some point and find pictures of some of the old-time players in a Fargo uniform from the local papers. 

Through the Mail Autographs:

I'm also interested in the stories/memories of some of the local players, so I've written to a few of them asking them for their autograph on usually two cards and also asking if they have memories of Fargo. I plan to do more of this in the coming weeks/months. The guys who played here in the 1950s and early 1960s for the F-M Twins are a priority, as they are all in their 80s at this point. I've sent to five players who played for the F-M Twins and also appeared in the major leagues. 

The top three (Travis Hafner, Rick Helling, and Andy Young, as well as the bottom right, Tim Olson, are recent eBay pickups. The Coste is from Tom from Angels in Order, the Strahm was a cheap eBay pickup last year, and the Goltz was through the mail.)

Starting a display of players who played in Fargo. The Dick Stigman was obtained through the mail. The faded Coste and Akers autographs are from my childhood. Kes Carter and Correlle Prime (bottom right) are recent eBay pickups. 

Cooperstown, ND native Floyd Stromme - played 5 games for the 1939 Indians

Hall of Famers:

Shout out to Tom from Waiting Til Next Year who sent over four customs of non-players for my Hall of Fame set. Thanks Tom!

Player Collection Builds:

Still chipping away at these, too, usually throwing in a few Sandberg or Grace cards with other orders if I find new ones for my collection.

Hall of Fame Frankenset:

I almost forgot! An idea that I'd been tossing around for a while was a Hall of Fame Frankenset. It's truly insane that I'm putting together a third Frankenset, but even more insane that I almost forgot to include it in this post. I'm trying to find a card picturing a Hall of Famer for every card number 1 through 800. I've established that nearly every card number has a card that would qualify (still need to research a few of the high 700s in more detail). I started with less common players, because you don't want to fill card #7 with Wade Boggs when you need to put your one and only Mule Suttles card there. So I'm going for as broad of a representation of players as I can. 

So as you can see, I've had my hands in a lot of different projects. I going to try to narrow my focus and try to work on them more on a "one at a time" basis, but it's tricky when you know there are cards scattered among your various want lists that you can add to an order. I hope to provide more updates on some of these projects in the future.