Random Card of the Day

A good photo and some nice features though the big grey boader is a little distracting.

To learn more about the Senior League's creation and failure, read Extra Innings by David Whitford, a journalist who embedded himself in the league for its first season. It was a winter league in Florida and didn't generate enough interest to attract fans or make money.

The card design is something I have learned to love.  The set list is love at first sight!

I miss the Senior League.  Bring it back!  

I went to a Winter Haven Super Sox Senior League game. Player-Manager Bill Lee was the starting Pitcher for the Sox and went 5 innings. A couple of innings later I heard a voice in the row behind me that I thought I recognized. I turned around and it was Bill Lee, sitting in the stands in his uniform! During the game they had a "Guess Tonight's attendance contest".  I won by counting everyone in the stands. The attendance was 103!

@mp775  Extra Innings is a great read.  Part of the problem was that they didn't get the superstar names they were hoping for, while the bigger names they did get (Luis Tiant, Rollie Fingers) were no longer the best players (I believe Ron Washington was the league MVP the first season).

There's also a book called Forever Boys by Peter Golenbock. I will check out Extra Innings. 

Would think that with all of the snowbirds in Florida, there would be some interest in just slight name recognition. With modern marketing techniques, I could definitely see a similar idea being tried again soon. With the XFL bringing spring football (albeit with little success), the idea of former players combined with winter baseball to fill a void on MLB Network until spring, I'd see no reason for a league like this not to try a comeback.

Did the 103 include Lee?

I remember the senior league and have all of the sets (although there are some variations, the 1990 set had an issue similar to the Ripken FF and 1991 had a bunch of photo variations and I never got them all). The league itself was supposed to be played in the winter in Florida during the major league offseason. Curt Flood was the commissioner. I think you had to be at least 35 to play but they fudged it for catchers. A couple of guys, Paul Mirabella comes to mind, played in the league and were still active in the majors. There were some big names but there were also guys who had a cup of coffee at best, and by the end they were filling out rosters with whoever they could find. The 1991 set even features a handful of guys who never played pro ball, so you know the league wasn't going to last. Still, it was good fun.