The Legend

The Legend

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Trade: The Lost Collector Delivers Operation Shutdown

Today has been a good organization day here at Bob Walk the Plank headquarters. I was able to get 18 bubble mailers ready for shipment with another 4 just waiting for the final cards. Some of this stuff I had been sitting on for over a month, but Hurricane JBF hit me hard and took some time to dig out. Now I'm back to my normal flow, so mailboxes beware!

In the middle of last week I received a nice envelope of cards from my pal AJ, The Lost Collector. Always nice to receive some mail your weren't expecting.

This card can conjure up a lot of memories for Pirate fans. Derek Bell played for the Pirates in 2001 and had a terrible season. Coming into Spring Training 2002 he assumed he still had the starting job. Pirate management said his outfield slot was open competition which lead to one of the greatest sound bites in Pirate history...

Nobody told me I was in competition. If there is competition, somebody better let me know. If there is competition, they better eliminate me out of the race and go ahead and do what they're going to do with me. I ain't never hit in spring training and I never will. If it ain't settled with me out there, then they can trade me. I ain't going out there to hurt myself in spring training battling for a job. If it is [a competition], then I'm going into 'Operation Shutdown.' Tell them exactly what I said. I haven't competed for a job since 1991."

 The Pirates would end up paying Bell 4.5mil not to play for them. He actually retired to a yacht in which local media dubbed him an actual Pirate.  He steals money and lives on a boat!

It has been a long time since I've seen an SI Kids card in person. My brother and I would fight over these back when we were young. 


Thanks for all the great cards AJ. I'll be sure to hit you up soon!

Thanks for reading.
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13 comments:

  1. DennisMay 3, 2015 at 10:10 PM

    Operation Shutdown! I totally remember that season and named my fantasy team that because it was hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 7:51 AM

      It was one of the better stories from a dark period of Pirate baseball.

      Delete
  2. Zippy ZappyMay 3, 2015 at 10:33 PM

    That Derek Bell bit was fascinating. I wish I could get $4.5 million to not do work for whoever is paying me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 7:52 AM

      That is a whole new kind of bad in that you get paid not to play. Maybe I'll tell my boss something similar.

      Delete
  3. UnknownMay 3, 2015 at 10:48 PM

    Bobby Bonilla and the Mets are even better. He turned 5.9 million to be release into almost 30 million. The Mets agreed to pay Bobby a total of $29.8 million (instead of $5.9 million) in 25 annual installments of $1.192 million, starting in the year 2011. The mets thinking was they could invest that 5.9 million with some guy named Madoff and pay for that contract and still make money. Guess that turned out to bite them in the ass

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 7:54 AM

      Some of these old Pirates went on to have interesting careers. Bonilla was a smart man.

      Delete
  4. The Lost CollectorMay 3, 2015 at 11:05 PM

    Glad you enjoyed the cards!

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    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 7:54 AM

      Thanks again! Love seeing that Bell relic. As far as I know it is his only Pirate hit.

      Delete
  5. Stealing HomeMay 3, 2015 at 11:47 PM

    Loved that Derek Bell story. I'm gonna pull Operation Shutdown the next time my old lady tells me to clean the rain gutters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 7:57 AM

      Ha! Probably not a sound plan.

      Delete
    2. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 1:18 PM

      Disclaimer: Bob Walk the Plank does not promote Operation Shutdown for "honey do lists" :)

      Delete
  6. Stealing HomeMay 3, 2015 at 11:56 PM

    P.S. You mentioned a Stargell RC on my blog. I don't know if you saw this post on ATBATT...

    http://alltradebait.blogspot.com/2014/06/rediscovered-vintage-other-teams.html

    In that one I show and mention Pops' second year card. You may find it interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMay 4, 2015 at 7:59 AM

      You are right about the second years cards. Deals can be found if you are not overly concerned about pristine condition. I've even seen a few deals on Clemente, but you really have to like beat up vintage.

      Delete

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