Anyone collect other signed 1980s sets? Doing a team thing?

[mighty bombjack]

Yes! If I recall, there was a HR derby before the game that was Indians vs. Sky Sox, which was basically (or may have simply just been) Luis Medina vs. Albert (think it was still Joey at the time) Belle. It's awesome that you mention the Skinners, because Joel Skinner was on deck when the Indians made their final out (Sky Sox won!); I was crouching by the visitors' dugout to ask for any cracked bats, and when the last out came I didn't have to ask because Joel Skinner turned around and handed me the bat he'd been warming up with. He and the other Indians were not gonna waste any time hanging around there, that was sure. Great memories.

Do teams still do that anymore, play an exhibition against a minor league affiliate in the middle of the season? That was supposed to be a day off, and I sensed that the Indians weren't all that pumped to be there. With their salaries these days and the extra injury risk, I just can't see it happening anymore outside of ST.

[dgo71]

MLB changed the rule a few years ago so that teams could only play exhibitions in the preseason. The Orioles have been here (Norfolk) a couple times on their way to Baltimore from Spring Training, and several other teams do that as they break camp, but the in-season exhibition is a thing of the past. The Joey Belle game must have been 90 or 91. He wasn't with them when I saw them. It was Joe Carter, Brook Jacoby, Tom Candiotti, Cory Snyder...that terrible late 80s team.

Did you ever get Pat Keedy on his 88 Topps? He was with the Sox briefly but I missed him. The only other Sky Sox guy that always eluded me was Domingo Ramos. If you have anything of those guys I'd be interested!

[mighty bombjack]

Yeah, the one I'm thinking of had to be 1990 because I know Belle was there. I'm thinking maybe Belle was actually on the Sox side with Medina, and they ruled that HR contest against the weak Indians sluggers? I was at the '89 game as well but don't recal specifics; those memories fade, good as they are. Thanks for bringing this up.

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by dgo71

MLB changed the rule a few years ago so that teams could only play exhibitions in the preseason. The Orioles have been here (Norfolk) a couple times on their way to Baltimore from Spring Training, and several other teams do that as they break camp, but the in-season exhibition is a thing of the past. The Joey Belle game must have been 90 or 91. He wasn't with them when I saw them. It was Joe Carter, Brook Jacoby, Tom Candiotti, Cory Snyder...that terrible late 80s team.

Did you ever get Pat Keedy on his 88 Topps? He was with the Sox briefly but I missed him. The only other Sky Sox guy that always eluded me was Domingo Ramos. If you have anything of those guys I'd be interested!

No Pat Keedy, but I swear I got Ramos on a Pro Set card. I just can't seem to find that set (which I ended up getting about 80% of signed-I've already squirreled away the Terry Francona as the only possible future HOFer). I'll let you know if I find it. I also know I have more than one Domingo Ramos on a scorecard with a bunch of other Sky Sox. If you want one of those, PM me your address and I will mail it out (a huge stack of those is in a drawer in my childhood bedroom in Colorado Springs, which I wil be sleeping in next week).

[mighty bombjack]

I was lying about Keedy; look what i just found!

It is so fun to remember this stuff! When it was announced that the Hawaii Islanders were moving to Colorado Springs for the 1988 season, I got out an SCD and mail ordered a 1987 Pro Set team set of the Islanders for the purposes of autographs. In my naivety I didn't even realize that they would also switch parent clubs to the Indians (I think the Islanders were the Pirates AAA team - EDIT-It was the White Sox). Still, I got Keedy and Brian Giles (the black one with a mustache, not the future Pirates star of the same name) on this set.

EDIT TO ADD-I see that Keedy only played 3 games with the Sky Sox, in 1989! I'd bet I got him in 1988 when he came through with Tucson. Ah, the memories!

Get me your address if you want this card; I'd be happy to send it out (though you may only want the '88 Topps as you mentioned).

[dgo71]

Awesome! PM sent, thanks!