RIP Bob Welch, Dodgers World Series Hero - Just Ask Mr. October

I first became a fan, I mean a Big Fan, of Bob Welch during Game 2 of the 1978 World Series between the Dodgers and those damn Yankees.

  The Yankees beat the Dodgers that year, but that series gave me one of my greatest Dodger memories - one that I see clearly in my mind as though it happened yesterday - courtesy of an epic battle between a 21 year-old rookie pitcher and a legendary home run hitter named Mr. October.

However, my personal connection to Welch extends well beyond baseball. He fought battles in his life far larger than those on the diamond. Although Welch had a great career pitching for the Dodgers and the Oakland A's, winning a Cy Young Award and 211 games, he may have been able to get those 300 wins and secure his very own plaque in Cooperstown, if not for his struggles with alcoholism.

Welch and I both battled with alcohol at the same time. I was personally inspired by Welch, following his stint in rehab and his climb back to the top of the pitchers mound. We fought together, Welch and I, and his determination to succeed in life helped me to overcome that same demon that we both shared.  Thanks for that Bob; you never knew how much you helped me, but you surely did. 

Many today are going to remember Welch as an Oakland A, but I will forever remember him as A Dodger and for that nail-biting World Series matchup against Reggie Jackson. 

The Dodgers were ahead by one run entering the ninth at Dodger Stadium. Tommy Lasorda called upon the rookie, Welch, to save the game. 

Fast forward: One out and Yankees runners on first and second. Welch got Yankees's legend Thurmon Munson to pop up for the second out, and then up to the plate - yet another legend - the World Series cheater, Mr. October, the straw that stirs the drink, the Dodger killer, Reggie frickin' Jackson.  

Every Dodger fan in the stadium and watching at home (as I was) was sweating bullets and absolutely on the edge of their seat, knowing what Reggie can do with just one mighty swing.  

One threw with all his might while the other swung with all of his. Welch let it all go, pitching nothing but fastballs.  Jackson let it all go, swinging every time at nothing less than the fences. You knew it was going to be epic right from the way the first pitch played out. 

It was the kind of situation every young pitcher goes to bed and dreams of: 
World Series, game on the line, 9th inning, their biggest hitter at the plate, and it's all up to me. That one came true for Welch. Let's take a look at it one more time...

 Farewell Bobby, you'll always be number 35 (and number 1) to me.

Crackin Dose Waxy Prizes Part 4

And THAT'S how bad-ass this Mystery Prize Package is.  Yet even more from Tom the Ripper...

Devo here played for a number of teams, including a stop for a cup of coffee with the Dodgers (1999-2000).

Did you know these things about Devo?
3x All Star
3x World Series Champ!
7x Gold Glove

Gaby Sanchez comes in from first base to defend his pitcher!

How about a dark hunk of helmet from a member of the 500 Home Run Club? And it's limited edition numbered 55/99.  I've never even SEEN a helmet card before!  That slipped under my radar and I had to be tipped off.  *oops*

Remember when the Dominican Republic owned the major leagues for imported players? Venezuela has surely but steadily been adding to the mix.

They hit the nail on the head when they printed the word "ICONS" in big letters for this man, as Stargell and his bat certainly were.  This is a great looking bat card with high rarity 24/99.


The final 2 cards from Tom are definitely not for trade.  These go straight to personal binder glory...

 Just how awesome is this sweet old timey swatch of baseball hero Killer Killebrew?

Topher himself remarked he'd like to have this card when it came up on the prize video feed.  This might be my favorite individual card from the whole package. It's numbered 155/199.  The sleek  black gloss of the card plays off perfectly against the darkened and aged grey wool.  'Game Used' next to the window says it all.


Why do I say, 'Might be"?  Because this card is also right up there...

 Mr. October.  Limited run 50/99.  Beautiful, subdued, classic card design.
OK, this one is my favorite!


One might think that's the end of the prizes.  3 words...

No...

crackin....

way.


Next Post: Prizes from Reader Toby.  This time there's some football stuffs! 

World Series Heroes Mr. October (the first)

i know the babe was the first guy to hit 3 homers in one World Series game, but after seeing a few of the sportscaster talking heads out there call that panda from nocal by the same moniker...well, i just hadda let the whipper snappers out there know there was another guy who was first dubbed mr. october, and he wasn't chubby like the babe or the panda.

the first mr. october was reggie.  one of those players called by only one name, and everybody knew who it was.  like ichiro or manny, he was known by baseball fans, writers and players as just plain "reggie", and that was about the only plain thing about him. 

in commemoration of what happened in game one, it's only natural that the next installment of World Series Heroes feature one of the four guys to hit 3 homers in one Fall Classic game, reginald martinez jackson...

reggie first came up with the A's.  this is his topps '75 miiiiiiiinnnniiii.  again, this is about the only thing mini about reggie.  long before the cheater brothers canseco and mcguire were 'bashing' HR's for oakland, reggie blasted 47 in 1969.

2012 topps archives.  got this one in a trade :)

caught this in a group break. love the design - text, logos, info and still doesn't feel crowded.

reggie was World Series MVP twice !  1973 and '77

AWESOME relic card from a trade  :)   the gold swatch just jumps off the card.

quality control alert: "jackson was oakland" ???

here's reggie's card commemorating those 3 knocks in one WS game.  if you want to know the story, read the back of the card below.  it would pain me too much to type it out.

i don't know if jackson was ever oakland, but he was definitely new york. "I didn't come to New York to be a star. I brought my star with me."
-- Reggie Jackson, when he joined the Yankees after the 1976 season

i've got the card, but not the figurine :(

just this week i upgraded this card in a trade with The Diamond King ! THANKS D.K.

reggie hit his 500th HR with the angels - and he hit it on the 17th anniversary of hitting his first.

THANKS for reading !