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Alan Simon Writer

@alansimonwriter.bsky.social

35 followers 72 following 60 posts

Historical fiction📕Contemporary novels also📗Business&tech books📘College instructor🎓Consultant📊1980s USAF Captain✈️Farmer🧑‍🌾Gotta have range, right?📚💹😀

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Sep 2

Here’s a Twin that’s actually half of a twin 🤔

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Aug 8

And might as well complete the 1980 Pirates-Mets mashup

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Aug 8

A 2-fer: the former left side of the Pirates infield, looking way out of place in Mets uniforms

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Jun 24

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

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Jun 15

Also not exactly the same - no fathers shown - but this one is an honorary Father's Day card

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Jun 15

I always liked this one also

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Jun 15

1989 Bowman did have a few interesting cards, including these ones

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Jun 1

Or Tony Cloninger in between Koufax and Drysdale for wins

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Jun 1

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

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Apr 27

Here’s the ticket stubs from that game

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Apr 26

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.

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Apr 3

One of the 1st 2 MLB autographs I ever got along with Claude Osteen, 3rd grade, Forbes Field -

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Apr 1

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.

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 28

Alright! 50+ year old mustard stains on the scorecard part, like about half of mine :-)

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 27

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

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 21

All 4 basic food groups: sugar, sugar water, artificial coloring, and ice :-)

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 21

Celebrate Manny’s birthday with a Slurpee and some of those delicious/nutritious Hostess products

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 17

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

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 16

Found right photo, also have the year before that. Think I need to go through them again soon

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 16

I still have one from season before - need to take a pic, thought I had one. Anyway cool publication, instant time travel

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Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 16

Looks like a screenshot I took online to check pricing not my own photo FWIW

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 15

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

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 7

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

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Mar 1

Haven’t posted any of these before but wanted to do this one - 8/9 played for Pirates, and was able to work entire late ‘60s starting outfield (Clemente, Stargell, Alou) into the solution. Rarity score 8

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Feb 27

My parents made a donation in Roberto Clemente’s memory after he died and received this acknowledgement

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Feb 19

Wish he had come back to the Pirates in time for some or all of the 3-year run. Who knows, Telulve in the bottom of the 9th in Game 7 of ‘92, summoning that old 1979 magic…

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Feb 18

I remember watching that on TV…or at least I think I remember, for all I know hearing about it over the years implanted a false memory. Awesome accomplishment in any event

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Feb 18

Never saw those before - nice

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Feb 8

Don’t remember either of them; wonder if Topps did that on purpose as a gimmick, like the ‘71 all-Reynolds rookies; or maybe just coincidence

Alan Simon Writer @alansimonwriter.bsky.social · Feb 8

Van Buren and Pihos were on the ‘48 NFL championship team, all 3 of them in the ‘49 NFL champs