The only real reason i became a Yankee fan was because my favorite player, Rickey Henderson was traded in the winter to the Bronx Bombers.  I was a 9 year old kid that was easily led astray and more than willing to change my allegiance as i saw fit.  At the time, the Yankees were ok.  They did have the history which I was really not that aware of at the time but something i was more than willing to embrace.  Gehrig, Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle…endless names of a great sports franchise.

Through the years, my friends have given me a hard time about being a Yankee fan and question why i’m not an Astros or Rangers fan.  My response is always the same…Really?  Astros or Rangers?  I couldn’t get down with those rainbow sherbet jerseys that Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan rocked in the 80’s.  As for the Rangers, they played in the Dallas area and I associated that with the Dallas Cowboys…and there was no way i was signing up for that team, ever.  So, I stuck with the Yankees and embraced the team.  Granted, i have always had a little piece of my heart set aside for the Oakland Athletics since they were the first team i followed and the one that Rickey is most associated with.

At our Portland show this past Saturday, i wanted to get some new Henderson cards…and do a little digging through the nickel and dollar boxes.  As you all know, there is a certain time and physical commitment involved in searching through these boxes, but it’s always worth it.  The thing i love the most about doing the digging is finding cards that i have never seen and were issued at a time when i wasn’t collecting.

It also reminds me of the endless amounts of teams Rickey played for…I honestly forgot he played for San Diego.

I do remember those fun Met years.  This is actually a pretty cool card to.  The technology and card design in the late 90’s and early 2000’s was special wasn’t it?

The last Rickey card may or may not already be a part of my collection, but it only set me back one nickel…so i couldn’t pass it up.

Here are a couple Donny Baseball cards i was able to find.  I LOVED the Stadium Club cards, but was never able to get a Mattingly card.  It’s been a long time coming Mr. Mattingly.

As a side note, this is my 42nd post.  My wife and I got a little date day Saturday afternoon and went to see the new Jackie Robinson movie, 42.  Although there were a few parts that were campy and overly sappy for my liking (it is a family movie after all), I felt the movie was very well done and gave a great description of his role with integrating baseball.  It was a 2 hour movie, so there is only so much you can comment on and everything cannot be addressed, but I would highly recommend it if you have time.  Jackie Robinson Day is tomorrow, so get your 42’s out!