Just Another Madlock Monday

Actually, this is the first (and probably only) Madlock Monday but who doesn't like a good song pun?

At any given time, I feel like I have a bazillion side projects within my overall umbrella of being a Cubs collector. One that's been on the back burner was trying to get all of the Topps All-Star Rookie Cup cards signed. Well, I guess everything has technically been on the back burner lately, haha.

Paul of Wrigley Wax recently did a write-up on all of the Cubs players with this honor with the recent additions of Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber in 2016 and another one from a few years back with Cubs from the "missing years" when Topps named the teams but neglected to put trophies on the cards. And here's the Wiki list of each year's teams.

Sometime before my hiatus, I had picked up a very nice copy of Bill Madlock's 1975 Topps card that showcased his All-Star Rookie Team honors. Sharp corners, nicely centered.



1975 Topps #104 Bill Madlock

And when an autograph appearance came up, I sent in my card to be signed. Not only that, but I knocked off my ATCRCS card too.

I mostly remember Madlock as a Pirate and Dodger, but as the blog title used to say before it was shortened says, Once a Cub...Always a Cub.

And speaking of which, he also joins my collection through my Ivy niche collection with those teams.

1981 Donruss #252 Bill Madlock

 

1987 Fleer #445 Bill Madlock

Carlos Lezcano

Carlos Lezcano signed with the Cubs as a free agent in 1977 but didn't make his Cubs (& MLB debut) until 1980 when he was the Cubs Opening Day center fielder. He played 21 games with them until mid-May when he was sent down to the Triple A Wichita Aeros. Lezcano stayed there until he was a September call-up and played 21 more games that season. He played another 7 games in 1981 during a mid-season call-up but that was it for his Major League career. 

He has been a minor league manager for the past 20 years or so, including a pretty long stint with the san Diego Padres organization. In 2006, he guided the AZL Padres to the League Championship and won the California League Manager of the Year Award in 2010 as head of the Lake Elsinore Storm.

This season, Lezcano is managing the El Paso Diablos of the American Association, an independent league. I found somebody on SCN who attends Diablos games was able to secure a few autographs for my collection. Lezcano benefitted from playing in a time that included the beginnings of Donruss and Fleer. He had a card in both inaugural sets, as well as Cubs Future Stars cards in both 1980 and 1981 Topps.

My Topps cards were in crummy shape, but I did send my Donruss and Fleer cards.

That Fleer card is partially badly scanned, but mostly a victim of bad factory cutting.

Of course, I also sent some ATCRCS cards, two of which were returned. I've taken to sending extras when I can in case the player wants one/some. I usually print a couple anyway so I don't end up with too many cards that end up like the Fleer above.

I made a back for this but forgot to scan it and can't find the original file. I'll keep looking though.

UPDATE: Found the back!