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Jeff Ballard

MiLB Madness: A few familiar names from MLB past & present, a new Bull Durham nod & check out this obscure memorabilia

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Minor league baseball cards from the past can include some weird stuff ... sometimes stuff you wouldn't imagine to be found on a baseball card. Here are some some new fun cards and oddities in this latest edition of MiLB Madness.
ONE MORE DURHAM NOD ...
The Card: Steve Dalkowski 2009 TRISTAR Obak T212 Minis Green (/25)
The Buzz On This: This set isn't one limited to MiLB players per se -- it's more about the history and oddities around baseball at every level in every direction -- and it's not one issued in team sets, either. But, this card popped up in my digging for unique and different stuff with a story and, well, this one has it. Dalkowski is a legendary minor-leaguer whose powerful arm -- and unruly control -- inspired Bull Durham creator Ron Shelton to create Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh. How unruly was he? As an 18-year-old in Class D- Kingsport in 1957 he struck out 121 batters in 62 innings. He also walked 129 while recording a 1-8 record in 15 games. That's 17.6 Ks per nine innings and 18.7 walks per nine. The next season, he went 4-10 with a 7.63 ERA, striking out 203 batters in 118 innings and walking 245. The final stats, though not complete due to it being MiLB and being way back in the day, are impressive. You can find his only MLB card in 1963 Topps among the higher-numbers (despite never actually pitching in MLB) and basically his cards in this release are the only other option. He was slated to sign certified autos for it, too, but they were never completed. This one will always be an add for me if I see them.
Keep reading for more examples of some weird or fun baseball cards (and other stuff) you can find in MiLB.
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This entry was posted in Baseball, MiLB Madness and tagged Alabama Crimson Tide, Albert Pujols, autographs, Bull Durham, MiLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ron Shelton, Topps, TRISTAR, 2009 TRISTAR Obak, Joe Sewell, Steve Dalkowski, David Robertson, Jeff Ballard, Joe Kelly, Mel Allen, TCMA, Staten Island Yankees, Columbus Clippers, Rochester Red Wings, Choice, ProCards, Chad Mottola, Grandstand, DAV, Tyler Soderstrom, 2021 Topps Heritage Minor League, Bridgeport Bluefish, Andy Phillips, Delmarva Shorebirds, 2011 DAV Las Vegas 51s, 2011 DAV Palm Beach Cardinals, Multi-Ad Sports, Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh, Norwich Navigators, Charleston Pirates, Jean Pierre Leduc, 1978 TCMA The Minors, MiLB no-hitter, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Asheville Tourists, Ericka Ventura, 2013 Bridgeport Bluefish, Liz Pardo, 2021 Choice Delmarva Shorebirds, Wilfredo Pujols, 2005 Choice Johnson City Cardinals, 1987 ProCards, 1999 Multi-Ad Sports Staten Island Yankees, 2002 Grandstand AA All-Stars, 2002 Grandstand Norwich Navigators, 2004 Choice Columbus Clippers, Arizona Complex League Athletics, Jos LeDuc on July 8, 2025 by BlowoutBuzz.
Buzz 12 in 12: Busting a 1991 O-Pee-Chee baseball wax pack (Hour 4)

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 4.

The pack: 1991 O-Pee-Chee baseball
The cost: $3

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...
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This entry was posted in Baseball, Buzz 8 in 8 and tagged Chipper Jones, MLB, PSA, Topps, Don't eat the gum!, Jose Canseco, Jose DeLeon, O-Pee-Chee, 1991 O-Pee-Chee, Andy Hawkins, Billy Spiers, Chipper Jones RC, Dan Pasqua, Derek Lilliquist, Jeff Ballard, Ken Patterson, Ronnie Walden, Willie McGee on December 21, 2017 by BlowoutBuzz.

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SEARCH BUZZ'S ARCHIVES

WHAT'S BUZZING ...

What's new? See all of our First Buzz previews by clicking above.

Making The Grade: What Buzz slabbed or grabbed each month is here.

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Buzz Buys: Buzz shows off new pick-ups and tells us why he likes them.

Book it, Buzz: Collect autographs on a budget? Check out this monthly series about autographed books.

MiLB Madness: A monthly look at oddities found in minor-league baseball card sets.

Buzz's Fantastic Four A new series looking at four interesting or must-own cards each time.

Ticket Stud or Ticket Dud? Collecting tickets on the cheap in this regular series.

NEW RELEASES

Baseball (all dates subject to change)
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Basketball
Oct. 16 - 2025 Donruss WNBA
Oct. TBD - 2024-25 Prizm Black

Football
Oct. 1 - 2025 Leaf Vivid
Oct. 8 - 2025 Panini Black
Oct. 9 - 2024 Panini Flawless
Oct. 10 - 2025 Panini Certified
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Oct. 10 - 2025 TRISTAR H.T. Minis PSE
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Oct. TBD - 2025 Pulse Foundry HSE
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Oct. TBD - 2024 TruMystery Chips
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Hockey
Oct. 8 - 2024-25 Ultimate Collection
Oct. 15 - 2025-26 UD Series 1
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Oct. TBD - 2024-25 Engrained Icons

Other/Multi-sports
Oct. 1 - 2025 Topps Triumphant Tennis
Oct. 3 - 2025 Leaf Metal Halloween
Oct. 3 - 2025 Panini Absolute K League
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Oct. 3 - 2025 Wild Card Haunted Hits
Oct. 6 - 2025 Futera World Unique 21
Oct. 10 - 2025 Leaf History Book SE 2
Oct. 15 - 2025 S.B. Supercharged 2
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Oct. 22 - 2025 Panini Impeccable LIV
Oct. 24 - 2025 Panini Prizm NASCAR
Oct. 29 - 2025 Panini Combat Anth.
Oct. TBD - 2025 AEW SP Game Used

Non-sports
Oct. 1 - Topps Chrome Spongebob
Oct. 9 - Keepsake Invincible S1P
Oct. 10 - Topps Chrome Dune
Oct. 15 - Historic Autos 15th
Oct. 15 - Historic Autos WWII
Oct. 15 - Topps Disney Wonder
Oct. 17 - Pieces of Past Royalty
Oct. 30 - Decision Color Cut SE
Oct. TBD - Keepsake Bob Marley
Oct. TBD - Pieces of Past Asia

Gaming
Oct. 10 - Pokemon ME Build & Battle
Oct. 10 - Pokemon Mega Latias EX
Oct. 10 - Pokemon S&R EX PC
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Oct. 24 - Pokemon Trainer's Tool Kit
Oct. 24 - Pokemon Gengar/Diancie
Oct. TBD - Pokemon S&V Pri. Ev. PFC

Click here for future dates.

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