An Oriole Star Gone Too Soon

Mike Cuellar, nicknamed Crazy Horse, was one of the Orioles four fabled 20-game winners in 1971...and the third to pass away. He died of stomach cancer last year, leaving only Jim Palmer from the '71 pitching staff that features the current record of four 20-game winners. Cuellar ranks in the Orioles top five in wins (143), strikeouts (1011), innings pitched (2028), and trails only Dave McNally among left handers in wins and shutouts.

Cuellar was a four-time All-Star selection (1967, 1970, 1971, 1974), a World Series champion (1970), and the 1969 co-AL Cy Young Award winner (with Denny McLain of the Tigers).

Here is a signed 1973 Topps...

Two for Tuesday

A two for Tuesday special: a dual signed Upper Deck featuring two Cy Young award winning San Diego Padres: Jake Peavy (2007) and Gaylord Perry (1978)

It is Peavy's only Cy Young award to date and it was the second of two for Perry, who became the first pitcher to win an award in each league.

Here it is...

Pretty cool huh?

Cy Young Award Ball

In an earlier post, I referred to not continuing my Cy Young ball project...which features only two signatures: Don Newcombe and Vern Law. The reason I didn't continue it is because I purchased a Cy Young Award logo ball signed by 24 past winners.

The signatures include: Bob Turley, Vern Law, Jim Lonborg, Mike McCormick, Denny McLain, Jim Perry, Vida Blue, Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Steve Carlton, Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, Randy Jones, Ron Guidry, Sparky Lyle, Rollie Fingers, LaMarr Hoyt, Roger Clemens, Steve Bedrosian, Mark Davis, Tom Glavine, Dennis Eckersley, David Cone, and Roy Halladay.

The Perry Brothers

The Perry brothers have more combined wins than any brother combo in Major League history, with the exception of the Niekro brothers. Gaylord is the oldest brother who won 314 games, became the first player in the MLB to win Cy Young Awards in both leagues (AL 1972, NL 1978), and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. Jim went on to have a decent career of his own by winning 215 games and winning the 1970 AL Cy Young Award.

Here's a Jim Perry signed 1973 Topps.

 And here's a ball signed by Gaylord Perry.

Just showing off some stuff I already own

I wanted to kick off the blog right by showing off one of my favorite signed baseballs. I got it signed TTM twice back in 2009 and I haven't added to it, but I'll get to why later.

The first is the inaugural Cy Young Award winner and the only player in Major League history to win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Award, and league Most Valuable Player Award in his career. I'm of course talking about Don "the Newk" Newcombe.

The other is the 1960 Cy Young Award winner who added his Cy Young inscription to my ball. It looks great!

Here it is...