Alan Simon Writer
@alansimonwriter.bsky.social
Historical fiction📕Contemporary novels also📗Business&tech books📘College instructor🎓Consultant📊1980s USAF Captain✈️Farmer🧑🌾Gotta have range, right?📚💹😀
Was in starting lineup for a lot of games I went to in '68 and '69 (card says Catcher but played OF more with Pirates, also card in photo isn't one of the dozens I have :-) )
November 11, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Was in starting lineup for a lot of games I went to in '68 and '69 (card says Catcher but played OF more with Pirates, also card in photo isn't one of the dozens I have :-) )
Here’s a Twin that’s actually half of a twin 🤔
September 2, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Here’s a Twin that’s actually half of a twin 🤔
And might as well complete the 1980 Pirates-Mets mashup
August 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
And might as well complete the 1980 Pirates-Mets mashup
A 2-fer: the former left side of the Pirates infield, looking way out of place in Mets uniforms
August 8, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A 2-fer: the former left side of the Pirates infield, looking way out of place in Mets uniforms
Having heard essentially the same story many times going back to the earliest days of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) in the 1980s, I gotta be a bit skeptical and cynical. Still, maybe…so I asked ChatGPT :-) and was told “this time it’s for real.” Maybe…time will tell
June 24, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Having heard essentially the same story many times going back to the earliest days of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) in the 1980s, I gotta be a bit skeptical and cynical. Still, maybe…so I asked ChatGPT :-) and was told “this time it’s for real.” Maybe…time will tell
Also not exactly the same - no fathers shown - but this one is an honorary Father's Day card
June 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Also not exactly the same - no fathers shown - but this one is an honorary Father's Day card
I always liked this one also
June 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I always liked this one also
1989 Bowman did have a few interesting cards, including these ones
June 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM
1989 Bowman did have a few interesting cards, including these ones
Or Tony Cloninger in between Koufax and Drysdale for wins
June 1, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Or Tony Cloninger in between Koufax and Drysdale for wins
I always like when you see a good, steady player who had a great year or two preserved for all time on a vintage league leader card. Deron Johnson beating out Frank Robinson and Mays in RBIs; Vic Davalillo finishing 3rd in batting behind Oliva and Yaz. Good times
June 1, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I always like when you see a good, steady player who had a great year or two preserved for all time on a vintage league leader card. Deron Johnson beating out Frank Robinson and Mays in RBIs; Vic Davalillo finishing 3rd in batting behind Oliva and Yaz. Good times
Here’s the ticket stubs from that game
April 27, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Here’s the ticket stubs from that game
I was at that Game 3, every time I look at my mustard-stained scorecard I’m amazed and impressed how Johnson rose to the occasion in that game. Was the height of his time with the Pirates but he was there when they needed him.
April 26, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I was at that Game 3, every time I look at my mustard-stained scorecard I’m amazed and impressed how Johnson rose to the occasion in that game. Was the height of his time with the Pirates but he was there when they needed him.
One of the 1st 2 MLB autographs I ever got along with Claude Osteen, 3rd grade, Forbes Field -
April 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
One of the 1st 2 MLB autographs I ever got along with Claude Osteen, 3rd grade, Forbes Field -
Today’s was a strange one. First I did 9 very short-term Pirates and also got zero; then I cleared cookies a couple times and did the starting lineups for both the 1960 and 1971 Pirates, Clemente in both, and still got zeroes on both.
April 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Today’s was a strange one. First I did 9 very short-term Pirates and also got zero; then I cleared cookies a couple times and did the starting lineups for both the 1960 and 1971 Pirates, Clemente in both, and still got zeroes on both.
Alright! 50+ year old mustard stains on the scorecard part, like about half of mine :-)
March 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Alright! 50+ year old mustard stains on the scorecard part, like about half of mine :-)
If things come together still feels more like 1988…a couple years away, if (and that’s a big if) they can carry the momentum into the following season. Would be nice to think this is the year but they need to avoid their annual nosedive
March 27, 2025 at 3:22 AM
If things come together still feels more like 1988…a couple years away, if (and that’s a big if) they can carry the momentum into the following season. Would be nice to think this is the year but they need to avoid their annual nosedive
All 4 basic food groups: sugar, sugar water, artificial coloring, and ice :-)
March 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
All 4 basic food groups: sugar, sugar water, artificial coloring, and ice :-)
Celebrate Manny’s birthday with a Slurpee and some of those delicious/nutritious Hostess products
March 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Celebrate Manny’s birthday with a Slurpee and some of those delicious/nutritious Hostess products
Ha - only Boomer (or older) Pirates fans ever heard of him, mostly. He’s a great choice for ImmaculateGrid or trivia for “Pirates batting champion” - even Matty Alou and Freddie Sanchez are “non-rare.” But Garms is a good one to use
March 17, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Ha - only Boomer (or older) Pirates fans ever heard of him, mostly. He’s a great choice for ImmaculateGrid or trivia for “Pirates batting champion” - even Matty Alou and Freddie Sanchez are “non-rare.” But Garms is a good one to use
Found right photo, also have the year before that. Think I need to go through them again soon
March 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Found right photo, also have the year before that. Think I need to go through them again soon
I still have one from season before - need to take a pic, thought I had one. Anyway cool publication, instant time travel
March 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I still have one from season before - need to take a pic, thought I had one. Anyway cool publication, instant time travel
Looks like a screenshot I took online to check pricing not my own photo FWIW
March 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Looks like a screenshot I took online to check pricing not my own photo FWIW
I don’t do well on these non-team ones; for kicks I filled in 4 Pirates from when I started following them in ‘66 then gave up
March 15, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I don’t do well on these non-team ones; for kicks I filled in 4 Pirates from when I started following them in ‘66 then gave up
I love “boomer era” exhibit cards; got 3 of them at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh when I was a kid: Clemente, Killebrew, and Cepeda. Every time I see exhibit cards online, instantly takes me back in time, even more than regular baseball cards do
March 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I love “boomer era” exhibit cards; got 3 of them at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh when I was a kid: Clemente, Killebrew, and Cepeda. Every time I see exhibit cards online, instantly takes me back in time, even more than regular baseball cards do