Wednesday, August 4, 2010

1978 San Jose Missions Baseball #5, Ed Crosby

Easy Ed Crosby's sporting a look I know well, "late 70s Mariner," which San Jose adopted as a Seattle minor league club from 1977 to 1980, first as AAA and then as high-A.

Card front

Seattle switched their AAA affiliation to Spokane for 1979, where a 30 year-old Ed played his final pro season. I think he called it quits to settle down and raise a family, which includes current Diamondback Bobby Crosby.

Card back

Mr. Chef sponsored this 25-card set for San Jose's 1978 season. The Missions didn't field any big stars that year, though Tom Paciorek played a brief rehab stint. (Cool dude Andy Dyes switched to Hawaii mid-season and ended up as the #5 in their 1979 set.)

I think you'll agree that Mr. Chef owns the biggest chef hat west of the Pecos. Pretty sure that's a take-out box in his hand, though it could also be a gallon tub of tartar sauce. In any event, awesome logo! You can still visit Mr. Chef under its new name, Race Street Seafood Kitchen.

Bobby Crosby played with the semipro Alaska Goldpanners prior to debuting with Oakland--here's their scrapbook page for him and a card from the 1999 team set.


Value: Ed cost $2.70 from MinorLeagueSingles.com, a fair price for singles from this set.

Fakes / reprints: I doubt anyone faked this set, unless they're an even bigger 1978 Seattle fan than me. And could that happen?

10 comments:

Orioles Magic said...

Wow, what a great card. And an awesome story.

Matthew Glidden said...

Yeah, I liked the Crosby family connection! Good to see it passing from generation to generation.

Mariner1 said...

I just want you to know that you make me very jealous when you keep posting these cards of guys that were in the Mariners minors of the early days. If I ever finish the supet set of mine, that might have to be the next chase is old M's minors cards.

Matthew Glidden said...

Sure, I understand. Wish there were minor league extras to pass around! Got some other M's, though, if you send your mailing address...

holste42 said...

I actually went to Missions game in 1978 when I was 18. The crowd was under a 1000. I thing I remember most was being able to walk into the visitor club house without any questions or being told to get out. Talked to a couple of SLC players, stood next to Dickie Thon.

Matthew Glidden said...

No kidding? That's cool, and a very different access level than sports these days.

Mariner1 said...

I can't find a way to get an e-mail to yuo about those M's cards. Shoot me an e-mail: nosaint44(at)yaoo(dot)com. Thanks for thinking of me for some M's love.

Mark Aubrey said...

I think that Mr. Chef is displaying a Geiger counter. Don't know why, though.

Matthew Glidden said...

That'd be an unusual menu item FOR SURE. Right up there with "fish drumsticks."

Anonymous said...

I am looking for a '78 Missions, Tom Brown...I understand that there were some cards misprinted or miscut...I would be interested in that one or any others...thank you