The Quake From 30 Years Ago

This 1990 Score baseball card immortalized event that took place 30 years on this date. I still remember it so vividly watching entire thing unfold on TV. I was 8 at the time getting ready to watch game 3 of World Series between Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants. Dubbed the Bay Bridge Series both cities separated by 5 mile bridge across the bay. A's took first two games at home and it across the bridge to Candlestick for games 3 and 4. Just as festivities about to start disaster struck as major earthquake shook the area including the stadium. TV feed was lost only to be restored minutes later. Outside the stadium it was carnage as buildings and highways collapsed and fires from ruptured gas lines raged. The game no longer mattered as TV crews focused of damages and loss of life in front of the viewers. I was glued on the screen as live helicopter shots showed section of upper part of Bay Bridge collapse down to lower level. With TV stations focused around San Francisco and Bay Bridge I didn't know about collapse of Cypress Freeway in Oakland. I found out about it watching a documentary of the earthquake (which I forgotten the name) I saw 10-15 years later on a movie channel. Another importance I have relatives living in Oakland (and still do to this day). I remember being scared for them. After hours passed my dad got a hold of my great aunt and great uncle revealing they along everyone else is okay leaving entire the family relieved. They were at home when the quake happened. That moment was re-lived 5 years ago with ESPN 30 for 30 documentary called "The Day The Series Stopped."

The World Series would resume on October 27 with A's taking 2 games at Candlestick in sweeping the Giants. At the time it was longest end date to World Series. It was only World Series victory for A's in their three straight appearances from 88-90 which included stacked lineup of Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson, Dave Henderson, Terry Steinbach, Dave Stewart, and Dennis Eckersley. I still remember game 3 for being homerun fest. Not much of celebration at the end due to the earthquake and causalities around of surrounding Bay Area. It was one of the memories etched in my mind while growing up.

Some things changed or stayed the same during those 30 years. Bash Brothers were no more, potential A's dynasty never materialized and despite many attempts for new one, A's still play in that shit stadium that been renamed many times that I'll just call it Oakland-Alameda. Giants landed Barry Bonds from Pittsburgh and bashed many homeruns. They left Candlestick for ATT Park located just few miles south of 80. Giants would have small dynasty with 3 World Series championships starting 2010. Both my great aunt and great uncle still living at the same house in Oakland along uncle who never launched out unlike three others.

EDIT: Another blogger point of view of Loma Prieta earthquake as he was living there when it hit head to Fuji's post at The Chronicles of Fuji.

Book on Baseball Cards from 30 Years Ago

Here's a book I remember looking through at book store when I was a kid. I end up picking this book up few years ago from used book store. It feature baseball cards of 600 players from Topps, Donruss, Fleer, and Score. Upper Deck didn't make the print here. Investment advice are given as well. Say what? Investment advice? Yep, they wrote advice on investing player's baseball cards along a summary of the player's 1988 season. It mention a price and trajectory investment of the card will go from end of the season to long term. In their opinion which of four brands will be best to invest in of a player. Junk wax era was a crazy time in the hobby. Regular joes with no knowledge of the hobby buying cards and hoarding them hoping to get rich in the future til they found out it was overproduced and the baseball card market tanked. The opening pages talked about booming baseball card industry and its investment.You can read all eight pages of it.

First cards to appear on the pages are Shawn Abner and Jim Acker. Don Aase didn't make the list despite having two cards that year. I didn't count Topps Traded as it was released later in the year.

Who was hottest players at the time? Jose Canseco for one as he was first player to hit 40 homeruns and stole 40 bases in a same year. They predicted his cards in $1.50 range with Score as the best pick. I do like his Topps card that year.

Another is Mark McGwire who is next to Fred McGriff. McGwire at $1 while McGriff is at dime, but with "long term" investment.

Wade Boggs and Barry Bonds shared the same page. Boggs listed over a $1 and will soar once he gets to Hall of Fame. Bonds priced at commons but tell collectors to load up his cards because of his increase homerun and stolen base production in the future. They got one thing right.

Also on the hot list? Will Clark, Roger Clemens, Eric Davis, Dwight Gooden, and Cal Ripken, Jr.

Speaking of Ripken let's check his little brother Billy.

It printed the infamous Fleer "Fuck Face" card on it.

Let's go to the rookies and second year players. The hottest rookie of that year's sets.....

Gregg Jefferies was hottest prospect at the time. How many pulled his card thinking they are gonna get rich quick? I remember his cards was selling $5-$10. He didn't turn to Hall of Fame player many predicted. His cards ended up in common pile years later.

Another set of rookies how about Alomar brothers, Roberto and Sandy?

Sandy expected to be better brother to invest in. Turns out to be other way as Roberto went on to Hall of Fame career. And c'mon, 89 Donruss is best to invest in? I prefer his Topps and Score cards.

Another Hall of Fame player, Craig Biggio listed as quarter and good long term buy.

Flash Gordon and Ramon Martinez were one of top pitching prospects at the time. Flash went on longer career. Ramon was eclipse by his brother Pedro.

Big Unit at quarter range. He went on to Hall of Fame career. His Fleer card turned out be better investment, but only if you have his Marlboro variations.

Phillies teammates Ron Jones and Ricky Jordan with Jones at 40 cents mark, but proceed investment with caution. Jordan was up to $1 listing as good investment. Neither end up making a dent. Jones tore his knee up and was out of the league after 91 season. Jordan peaked in 89 season last appearing in 96 season with Mariners.

Gary Sheffield starting investment range up to 75 cents with buy now before his card prices goes up.

Let's go to Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

Wow. Rough on Glavine going far to list it to nickel prices. Smoltz at 20 cent prices with speculative investment on him. Both players are now in the Hall of Fame.

They list Cameron Drew at 35 cents investment prices. He never returned back to the majors after 1988 stint.

Mark Grace and Mike Greenwell shared the page and listed their investment prices to a $1.

Ellis Burks started out at 50 cents with potential of doubling at end of the year.

Jay Buhner 1989 card investment price starts at 20 cents with his 1988 rookie card going up. Phelps for Buhner trade end up being a line on Seinfield.

Final page end with Mike Young and Hall of Famer Robin Yount.

Good look into junk era of cards. It printed out a coffee-style book with advice on investing. I wonder how many used this book as advice. It still goes on to this day under the name "Prospecting" banking on prospect's Bowman, Panini, and Leafs cards.