>>>>>>>MFC Keith Hernandez Collection

Happy Birthday Keith Hernandez!!

And many, many more!!!

>>>>>>MFC salutes Howard Johnson!

MFC salutes Howard Johnson

(N.Y. Mets, 1985-1993)

On September 11, 1987, "HoJo" stole his 30th base to join the 30-30 club for the first time. He and Strawberry became the only teammates to achieve 30–30 status in the same season.

                                               Awesome photo by David G. Whitham

The entire league took notice of Johnson's unexpected rise in 1987 and he received 42 points in the voting for National League MVP. His home run and RBI totals were second only to Strawberry on the team and his home runs were seventh-best in the entire majors.

In 1987 Johnson's 36 home runs were the most in National League history by a switch-hitter, breaking Ripper Collins' 53-year-old record.

With his 30th home run on August 20, 1989, Johnson joined Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays as the only multi-year members of the 30–30 club.

Johnson's best game was his first ever five-RBIs game, including a grand slam, at Wrigley Field on June 13, 1990.

Howard became the leader of the offense for the Mets and, in response, became arguably the best offensive player in the National League in 1991, winning two-thirds of the coveted Triple Crown.

At season's end, Johnson had won both the National League home run title and RBI title. The 38 home runs broke his own record for N.L. switch hitters and 117 RBIs set the Met record for most runs batted in in a season until 1999. Both were also career bests for Johnson. On October 1, 1991, he stole his 30th base becoming only the second player, after Bobby Bonds, to join the 30–30 club in three different seasons.

Johnson's time with the Mets came to an end in 1993 as he was granted free agency.

In 1994, Johnson signed with the Colorado Rockies.  After a sub-par season with the Chicago Cubs in 1995, Johnson retired at age 35.

HoJo served as a hitting coach for the Butte Copper Kings (Tampa Bay Devil Rays), the Brooklyn Cyclones (N.Y. Mets), St. Lucie Mets, Birmingham Mets, Norfolk Tides (N.Y. Mets),

In 2007, he took over first base coaching duties for the Mets, and later that year was named hitting coach (until 2011).

Johnson was named hitting coach for AAA Tacoma Rainiers of the Seattle Mariners organization for the 2013 baseball season.

He then joined the Mariners as a hitting coach for the 2014 Season part of the new coaching staff (until June 20, 2015).

Johnson managed the single-A Down East Wood Ducks (Texas Rangers affiliate) in 2017, and is now hitting instructor for the AAA Round Rock Express in 2018.

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Career Highlights

•>Member of the 1984 World Series champion Tigers and the 1986 World Series champion Mets.

•>1992–1997: Held career National League record for home runs by a switch hitter.

•>1987–1996: Held single-season National League record for home runs by a switch hitter.

•>Three-time member of the 30–30 club (1987, 1989 and 1991). Only Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano have reached the marks more often.

•>1987–1991: Second highest home run total in the National League behind only teammate Darryl Strawberry.

•>1989 and 1991: Member of the National League All-Star team.

•>1989 and 1991: Winner of National League Silver Slugger award for third basemen.

•>Second on Mets all-time home run list from 1991 until 2004.

•>Second on Mets all-time RBI list from 1993 until 2005.

•>1991: Became the only switch-hitter to ever lead the NL in both HRs and RBIs in the same season.

•>1991: Became the only Met to lead the National League in RBI.

•>1991: Became the first switch-hitter to lead the National League in RBI. (Lance Berkman became the second in 2002.)

•>June 1989, September 1991: Winner of the National League Player of the Month award. He was the last Met to win the award until David Wright in June 2006

The mfc SCOREBOARD Collection UPDATE to the UPDATE!

Some more additions to the scoreboard cards. 

Hey, I'll make these all month.

 

Joe Shlabotnik of The Shlabotnik Report reminded me that there was a time when the Yankees logo marred the white patch where the slide show used to be, displacing the best logo known to man and the universe. This card must be added to the record.

 

Of course when the Mets played at home the best logo known to man and the universe went right back up there.

More about the photo used here below.

So if we are going to rep scoreboard logos the Jets have to get a card.

If this is going to be accurate I need to find a picture of the old "Jets in the helmet" version of the logo. I put that Jets logo there for the card (should have angled it). In the original photo that area was all black.

I found two pictures of Shea taken by the same person and tried to join them together. That sky needs work. I used this photo for the 1975 Shea (Mets) scoreboard because of the similar angle to the Shea Yankee logo picture. But because of the Longines clock, this can't be 1975 (I did fooshop it in on the card). I'm thinking 1978. Does anyone know what year the clock was switched to Elgin?

I really should have thought of cards for all these versions of the scoreboard. I loved that huge monstrosity. I thought that thing was a space age work of modern art. So thanks to those who commented on my omissions. It proves my belief that Mets fans are the best.

In the Shea poster I gave a lot of thought into getting all the variations in, so I really should have known better. I needed some additional information regarding the stadium before calling the Shea poster complete, and I found it at Baseballfever recently, so the finishing touches should be going in soon.

The mfc SCOREBOARD Collection UPDATE:1988

This card goes out to Louis because he was absolutely correct. How could I not have covered the late 80's and 90's scoreboard look! I was able to find one decent photo from, I think, 1988. If that is incorrect please let me know, I can change the border. 

As of now, it's a 1988 mfc SCOREBOARD card!

Thanks for the input Louis. If I find a better photo someday I'll update this one.

The mfc SCOREBOARD Collection 1962-2015

I've been waiting for the Mets to make a move and pump me up for 2015. And yes, a  move was announced the other day. A brand new ...shortstop,...Scherzer,...manager,..owners,...

SCOREBOARD!!!  YAY!!!

That's right folks. It don't take much to pump me up. A superficial move. I'm a simple man. I appreciate things like scoreboards. So lets bring on the mfc SCOREBOARD Collection!

 The Polo Grounds 1962-'63

Look at that old thing. I know as a kid I would have had to try and sneak up inside there. What are those? Offices? Amazin'.

The new fantastic space age Shea Stadium scoreboard was under construction in late 1963.

   Shea Stadium is born 1964. The scoreboard in all it's intended glory.

The giant slide show did not last long.

After the slideshow failed, before the logo, 1965

 The best scoreboard known to man and the universe circa 1969-'73.

I did sneak up into this the structure in 1971 or '72. There really was a giant slide projector up there behind that logo.

The Mets and Yankees shared the Shea scoreboard in 1975.
I didn't agree with the switching of the logos and displayed my displeasure by never attending any Yankee games at Shea.
 The Mets attracted 1,730,566 to their home games while the Yankees attracted 1,288,048 to their home games at Shea.
Special thanks to Joe Shlabotnik

                                     

Last look at the white shell.

Mets sell some prime real estate.

 

The twin towers stood tall at Shea.

Special thanks to Louis Smith

A last goodbye.

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 Citi Field's erector set scoreboard

 

 I knew Wright was too big for the original scoreboard.

And a "!" on a baseball card means it's exciting!

I wasn't sure but that clinched it. This is exciting news.

Yes, to me any Mets news is exciting.

mfc will continue with the 1973 World Series in the near future.

The mfc Gil Hodges Collection

Here is the mfc Gil Hodges Collection. I've gathered all Hodges cards and related stuff.

I'm very disappointed in the Hall Of Fame Golden Committee.

Mr. Hodges not getting in (again) was bad enough, but he only gets three votes? That's pretty sad.

So a man who was one of the best amongst his peers for a decade, who when he retired from playing, was third in all time home runs by a right handed batter...a man who managed a miracle, and who gave three prime years of his life serving his country in WWII (Mr. Hodges served in the battles of Tinian and Okinawa and received a Bronze Star Medal and a commendation for courage under fire for his actions) does not get more than three votes?

There's something wrong there.

It's no consolation, but today I'll be holding a press conference to announce that Gil Hodges has become the first member of the Mets Fantazy Cards Hall Of Fame. (MLB-TV 2pmEST)  

;)

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         Up Next: Game 5 of the 1973 World Series                  
http://metsfantasycards.blogspot.com/2014/12/1974-mfc-73-world-series-as-vs-mets_12.html