1979 TCMA Ogden A's Baseball #5, Craig Mitchell

With Seattle already several games underwater in the standings, I've got an eye on their AAA affiliate Tacoma Rainiers, 2010's defending Pacific Coast League champions. Unfortunately, they're also in last place at 4-10. Sooooo...how about former MLB slugger Wily Mo Pena, huh? 6 homers in just 9 games for the Reno Aces! En Fuego!

Today's #5 hails from Utah and features an erstwhile Oakland A's affiliate of the same name. But life is more than former baseball teams--interested in a state with good business and natural wonders? According to Forbes in 2010, the Ogden area trails only Pittsburgh as America's most livable city. That rating's a combo of employment levels, crime rate, cost of living, local economic health, and available culture. Judging by Craig's card, I'll add "great weather." Not a cloud in the sky!*

(*Brought to you by the Odgen Chamber of Commerce.)

That blank section looks just like a stadium scorecard, perfect for adding Craig's stats by hand. Just assume I penciled in "12-9 for Vancouver in 1978" and then "2-2 for Ogden in 1979." (Full minor league stats at B-R.) The latter marked his final pro season, but I bet he's still a ringer in local softball leagues.

Value: This #5 cost $2 at MinorLeagueSingles.com.

Fakes / reprints: Haven't seen any in the marketplace.