All Griffeys Great and Small: Quality Meats and a Mystery Solved

I always seem to get trade packages on Mondays, which is cool because it makes them suck less. 

First, old business.  Remember that trade post wherein I had no idea who sent me that stuff, and I decided it was probably Bill Murray? 

Turns out I was wrong.

The generous Griffey-mailing culprit is none other than renowned blogger Wes from Jaybarkerfan's Junk!  He's a Braves collector, which means he is about to get mail-pounded with red and blue cardboard.

Here's another look at what he sent my way:



Look at the picture on that 1999 Ultra checklist.  What a goofball.



I've never heard of Topps HD, but this card looks and feels expensive.  Penny sleeved....



One with a coin, one without.  I have neither, so a welcome addition.  I'ma  bit of a coin collector, too, so this makes perfect sense.



Thanks, Wes!  You're in my address book now, so here's to many successful trades to come....

Kerry from Cards on Cards sent me some beautiful Upper Deck Griffeys and a few other surprises.  Check 'em out!

I already had one of these, but it was in horrible condition.  These are minty fresh.

Kerry posted that Buhner a few weeks ago and I drooled in the comments (Buhner and I have a platonic love thing going on).  Being the stand-up dude he is, Kerry sent me two of them: one for the binder and the other for the bathroom mirror.  Or perhaps the ceiling above the bed, whichever my wife lets me get away with.  Now that I think about it, they'll probably both go in the binder.

I am proud to be part of Kerry's excuse to continue buying basketball packs.

Being a New Orleans boy, it's hard not to root for the Hornets who are about to undergo a name change to the Pelicans next season.  Hopefully that will energize the team a little.  First pick will help, too (we're very much on pace to get that).

This thing is HUGE:

It's a big ol' 5 x 7 baseball card.  It is thick like double-stacked mat board.  The picture is high-gloss, multi-level and the border is a nice textured matte silver.  I may have to run by Michael's and pick up a frame for it.  And check out all the data on the back:

Oh, man.  Remember Posse?  And how about toughest pitcher to face: Scott Radinsky?  We'll have to spend more time on this 5" x 7" beast in my eventual GOUS post wherein I'll cover all my Griffeys of Unusual Size.

Thanks, Kerry!  I'm assembling a package for you, too!

I also got some great new Griffeys from Jason over at The Writer's Journey. 

More lovely Upper Deck Griffeys plus a Bowman with a great shot of the crowd.  I still hope to find someone picking their nose in the background.  Someday....

I get so excited about oddballs, especially if they are for brands I've never heard of.  This one has a reasonably nice design and no logo.  Let's flip this baby over:

WOW!  This card was made for Kahn's Quality Meats out of Cincinnati.  And what did they do?  An amazing job - that's what.  Look at that stat box!  They even included Griffey's three AAA at-bats when he was in recovery following his wrist injury back in '95.  I am blown away by this beast.  I may even put it into a screw case.

So, I am now on the lookout for Kahn's Quality Meats cards.  No joke.  I want them all.

Thanks for the amazing cards, Jason and this, the king of branded oddballs!

Junior and Buhner: a Friendship on Cardboard



1996 Score #323

There's a ton of cardboard featuring both Ken Griffey, Jr. and Jay Buhner in the same shot, and for good reason.  Since 1989, they have been field mates, neighbors and good friends. 

Jay "Bone" Buhner, right-fielder #19, played in Seattle for 14 years.  He batted .259 lifetime with 310 dingers, and an OBP of .359.  He is also a Gold Glove recipient with a solid lifetime fielding percentage of .983.  His unique look helped make him a fan favorite in Seattle, and he was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2004. 

 

1993 Upper Deck #55

When Griffey arrived in Seattle in '89, Buhner had already been there for more than a season.  Jay is a bit older, so at the time he was already a family man while Griffey was just entering stardom.  They differed greatly.

I don't remember Kevin Mitchell ever playing with the Mariners, but there you go.  It happened, but not for long.  Nothing against K-Mitch, but this card would have been so much cooler with a long-time Mariner like Randy Johnson or either Martinez.

 

1993 Upper Deck #224

By coincidence they ended up living two doors down from one another in a cul de sac outside Seattle.  Eventually they would carpool to games, probably in the pimpest cars the 90's had to offer.  



1994 Ultra #120

Lou Piniella put the two together all day long.  Griffey in center field, Buhner in right, and both in the heart of the batting order.  Then, of course, they would drive home to the same street.  The two couldn't help but become buds.  Between games and in the off-season they would hang out and go on vacations. 



1995 Fun Pack #216

Fun Pack noted the pair in their "What's the Call?" subset of animation cards featuring Stumpy the Ump......



1996 Fun Pack #88

....and they did it two years in a row.  I think they just wanted to re-use that Buhner illustration.

Just from collecting their cards it was apparent to me that the two were close.  I remember thinking that was pretty cool.



1998 Pinnacle Inside #4, front and back.

This is like a Seattle Mariners heyday megacard featuring Griffey, Buhner, Johnson, and A-Rod.  I really need the other piece!  That's Buhner's glove next to Griffey.



1995 Pacific Seattle Mariners Set #1


Of course '95 was their big year as teammates with Griffey bouncing back from his worst injury to date and helping lift the team to the franchise's first-ever post-season appearance.  Sharing something like that should make friends for life.

1996 Collector's Choice #333



And so they remain friends to this day.  Buhner seems to praise Griffey to the sky in every interview I come across; and I read that they continue to hang out, call and text each other.  How awesome is that?

There are not many co-workers I can remember who I stay in touch with.  Then again, none of my co-workers is Ken Griffey, Jr.  Or a millionaire.

Shake and Bake!