Etopps 2011 Baseball begins this week with a star and a couple of rookies:
Ryan Braun
Freddie Freeman
Kyle Drabek
Depending on prices and print runs, I might buy the Drabek and Braun for the game, as well as points potential. I have to think this will fall below IPO prices in a month or so, so perhaps I'll wait. Again, depends on prices and print runs. I frankly don't know much about Freddie Freeman. Doesn't seem like his cards are too hot on eBay now, or am I wrong? If it comes out at $6 or higher I will take my chances and buy it after it is allocated.
I think I like the looks of these, but mostly because of how I am assuming they will look in-hand.
This was another book I was able to get at 60% off from the local Borders that is closing shop. What to say about this book... It’s not a typical encyclopedia, I'll say that. As I was flipping through this book, pretty quickly I noticed a theme: this author is pretty snide.In fact, the description of the book says it’s a “decidedly snarky trip” through baseball. Is it ever.
I actually laughed out loud at many of the comments. I learned that George Brett had hemorrhoids and that a couple of Yankee pitchers engaged in wife swapping in 1973. Hideki Matsui had over 55,000 "distinct items in his porn stash." I'm pretty sure that is larger than my card collection. The only baseball card reference that I caught was an entry for the 1989 Bill Ripken error card. I won't show a picture of the card, but I'm sure you know what I am talking about.
However, snark, like many things, is something that can get old pretty quickly.I am a bit of a cynical person, but I try to keep it contained somewhat, and I hope I do not come across too cynical in my blog.This book is cynical, and after a while it began to rub me the wrong way.Of course, when the topics turn to Barry Bonds, Ty Cobb, Dixie Walker and some others, you expect a little snarkery...
Ok, here’s the truth.I got ticked off by his entry for baseball enthusiast and my hero, George Will and his book, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball: "A collection of windy, self-consciously erudite observations on game strategy, the book appealed to pseudointellectuals and other literary-minded traditionalists who required an ennobling fig leaf to justify their fandom." There is more, but you get the point.
So on behalf of all literary traditionalists, thank you, George Will for the fig leaf and STICK IT SCHNAKENBERG.
And I like the looks of the cards, and I assume these will be awesome in hand!
No idea who the first offering will be, but I would expect one superstar (Pujols, Jeter etc.), one Rookie and someone who changed uniforms from last year (Cliff Lee, Adrian Gonzales, etc.)
This week it’s plastic, as I received a good chunk of needed cards to complete one of my top 5 important sets to build, 1999 E-X Century.Last summer when I was starting to get back into the hobby and see what all I had that I had forgotten about, I came across a Vlad Guerrero 1999 EX Century card that I do not ever remember buying.It was a clear plastic card with some designs tinted inside the card, and some opaque designs and the photo layered on top.I loved the look and the craft of the card, so I bought a few commons on sportsbuy.com and sportlots.com, and really became hooked on the set.I recently found some of the bigger stars cheap on COMC and grabbed a bunch, which arrive last week.
The Griffey card is beyond cool. I wish the Piazza had been a better pose, but it's cool as well. This pushes the completion % for this awesome set to 75% with 30 cards to go.Most of the ones I still need are commons, so I think I’ll be able to finish the set this summer.Buckle up for that adventure readers!I have listed the cards that I still need at the top of my blog, I have several extras that I will post as trade bait.
One of the big picture goals for my card collection is to get it organized and eye-pleasing. This has been slow going, but fun.I’ve been able to get a handle on sets that are currently incomplete with my super duper checklist (I need a better name for it).I’ve also been able to sort out the players that I want to keep out of the commons boxes, but don’t necessarily want in albums.
Speaking of which, I am pretty dissatisfied with the look of my album collection.I think the binders themselves are pretty boring, and do not have enough of a uniform look. I am not a neat freak by any stretch of the imagination, but would like my card collection to look crisp.For a while, I have been coveting the “Better Binders” at Staples, but they are so stinking expensive, I never bought any.However, the baseball card gods were smiling on Napkin Doon this week, as I noticed the 1” binders happen to be on sale, buy 2 get 1 free!So I got a few to see if they are as great as I think.
Since they are 1” binders, my options to fill them are limited.They will only hold a modest amount so I can’t squeeze in some of the bigger “Master Sets” I am working on, like 2010 Allen and Ginter, or 2003 Diamond Kings.But they will work nicely for my Rangers and Razorbacks collections, and will hold the 1999 Flair Set I am one card away from completing (Hal Morris Row 1).
I like the small window on the binder for labeling.I also like the rubbery feel of the binder itself.It seems durable.Maybe if I can make my binders look nice enough, my lovely wife will let me put them on the bookshelves downstairs instead of on table by the attic.
So there you have it:a whole *#!-ing post about binders.Wait until I show you what I’m going to do with some plastic drawers, foam padding, and Etopps cards!
The big card in the mail this week was this Babe Ruth Sterling 2009, a significant hurdle in completing this set. Now that I have the Ruth, the Cal Ripken is going to be the most challenging to get on the cheap.This takes me to 79% complete on this set, with 28 cards to go.I had thought about building a White Parallel set, #d to 50, but I don’t see it happening.I have listed the remaining cards I need at the top of my blog, so if you happen to have any you can part with, please let me know and we can try to work out a trade (not for this Ruth!).
I was also able to snag some cool Hall’s Well inserts for my Fleer Tradition binder.There are only 15 cards in this set, and I have 7 now.They have been kind of expensive, but I can be patient on these.I also got a McGwire Consummate Prose insert that I needed, but it’s kind of a yawner, as were most of the insert sets for 2000 Fleer Showcase.
I am total sucker for gimmick cards.I love motion and hologram cards, and anything that looks like some effort went into it.That’s why I’m a fan of the Denny’s card sets from the 90’s.I just bought the 1996 set on eBay, and I think it’s a nice little set.You have to angle the cards just right to get the full effect though, and I’m sure my lovely wife thought there was something wrong with me as I contorted my arms and head trying to watch the action unfold on the cards.
The scan won’t show it obviously, but every hologram is actually a little “video” of a significant play or moment for each of the 28 players.There is a write up on the back notating the event.I especially like the Ozzie Smith opening day back flip, and the home run from Cal Ripken’s 2,131st consecutive game.By my count, there are a dozen current or future Hall of Famers in this set.
From a Historical/Americana standpoint, I even like the Denny’s logo being on the cards.The 1997 set is even nicer, as Baseball Cards Come To Life points out in this post. Denny’s put out sets almost every year in the 90s.A collector could put together a pretty interesting master set of Denny’s cards without spending too much money.
The Borders Bookstore in my area is closing, all of their books are at least 60% off , and I was able to grab a couple of books I normally would not have bought. I went in hoping to find a 2011 Baseball Prospectus, or the newest Baseball Card Catalog, or the book Mint Condition (anyone read this?) but no such luck.
I did get my hands on a 2011 Ron Shandler Baseball Forecaster, which I was always curious about but never bought. I typically by a Baseball Prospectus every year, and that is usually enough for me.
I was blown away by this book and it would have been worth buying at full price. Perhaps my report on this book is untimely, since this type of book is geared toward fantasy baseball players, and the season is a week underway. However, even though I am not playing fantasy baseball for the first time in 15 years, I am already finding this book useful from a fan perspective ( take Alexi Ogando's first start for the Rangers, as well as this book's hint that he has some strong upside, and I am already feeling better about the Rangers pitching this year). I also am getting value from it from a collector/investor perspective (buy Mike Stanton). There is a nice section on top Minor League prospects, and I was happy to see some nice write ups for former Naturals/ Royals prospects Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Mike Montgomery.
A big part of book is dedicated individual player historical stats and 2011 projections. There is also a brief, efficient comment about each player as well. Part of the fun of books like this is to revisit them as the season plays out, and see if the authors were on target or not.
There are also several top shelf analytical essays at the front of the book that are really impressive if you are into that sort of thing. I did think it was interesting that in the introduction, there basically was an acknowledgement of, "Hey the more we learn, and the more sophisticated our tools become, the more we realize, these players are humans and we're just not going to ever nail this stuff." To me, that gives the book credibility.
Ok, so I'm late on my Sunday book review, and early on my etopps preview. The book review will be up probably tomorrow. I happened to be looking around on etopps tonight and saw they had the "coming soon" cards up earlier than normal, so I thought I would bang out the "heads up" now.
I hope Etopps has it's stuff together this week better than last week. I was bummed that the Buster Posey we were expecting was never offered, and by the looks of it, never will be. I hope the same thing doesn't happen for these two:
Monday's offerings will be Joe Dimaggio and Walter Johnson. I am all over these two, especially the DiMaggio! I do not know what the cost or print run will be, but for DiMaggio, it won't matter. Again, if you are interested, be sure to be online at 1 pm est when these are posted.
I assume 2011 Baseball is not far behind.
For the great start this season. I really wanted to post something after the 3 game brain-beating-bashing of Boston, but I was able to stop myself when I realized that my not posting is the reason they had started so well! So I held off while they swept the Mariners. I was thinking 162-0 was not only possible, but highly likely. But maybe that was expecting too much. Now that they have lost a game, I can start up my Rangers posts and not feel guilty about it. Rangers fans, feel free to thank me for holding out as long as I did. And standing on an uncompromising history of heterosexuality, let me just say to all of the Rangers, especially Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler: I love you.
I didn't realize it until I scanned it, but that 2010 silk card of Cruz is numbered with his jersey #17! That's got to be a sign! Texas Rangers, World Series Champions 2011, 2012 and 2013!!!!!
Etopps in hand 2008 Peyton Manning. If you've never had an etopps card in hand, I think you will be pleased with how this looks.
Please be sure to email me your addresses, and I will get the packages out early next week.
Here are the final results:
1) Mariner1- Topps 2009 Sterling Lot
1) Mariner1- Topps 2009 Sterling Lot
2) Steve D- Andy Ashby Auto
3) Ryan G- 2010 Triple Threads #d lot
4) Matt Pederson- Topps HD Rodriguez Cutting Edge Di Cut Card
5) Lost Collector- Topps Debut 2010 #d Lot
6) SpastikMooss - Terrell Davis Jersey Card- Frozen w/ SpastikMooss after 2 steals
7) BA Benny- Octavio Dotel Auto
8) Dimwit- Justin Upton Lot
9) dawgbones- 2011 Topps Young Stars Lot
10) hiflew- Etopps Peyton Manning in hand card
Thanks for playing and I hope everyone had fun! I will definately do this again, so please let me know if you have any suggestions for the next time.
Received a nice package of cards from Ben at Baseballcardsrule.com. This is one of my favorite blogs, and he does some cool things over there.
I sent him a card he wanted, and he shot back with some nice cards of two of my favorite players, Mike Piazza and Tony Gwynn:
I'm very excited to get the Holoview Piazza, as it is a new set I have added to my Super Duper Checklist and don't have this important part yet. Also happy to see the 2nd year Bowman card which I didn't have.
He also threw in some Tony Gwynn's and I'm happy to say that 3 of 4 of these I don't have. The Fleer Limited Edition is one I have, but it is tucked away in with the rest of the set, so now I have an extra for my Gwynn pages.
Here is where we are after 6 picks and a handful of steals:
1) Mariner1 Dotel was stolen by BA Benny, so Mariner 1 is up to pick
2) Steve D- Andy Ashby Auto
3) Ryan G- 2010 Triple Threads #d lot
4) Matt Pederson- Topps HD Rodriguez Cutting Edge Di Cut Card
5) Lost Collector- Topps Debut 2010 #d Lot
6) SpastikMooss - Terrell Davis Jersey Card- Frozen w/ SpastikMooss after 2 steals
7) BA Benny- Octavio Dotel Auto
8) Dimwit
9) dawgbones
10) hiflew
Remaining lots are (3, 4, 6, 9)
This has been fun so far, thanks to all the participants!
What a fun evening last night! It was my first game of the season, and it was just about perfect. The weather was a nice 80 degrees, and a couple of big time prospects were on the hill. Some highlights of the evening.
- The guy from Jag was in town promoting his new movie, and threw the first pitch. I don't remember his name or the movie, and didn't take his picture. But not a bad celebrity to throw out the first pitch at a AA game.
- John Lamb and Casey Kelly were on the hill for the Nats and the San Antonio Missions (San Diego's AA team). Prospectors and Red Sox fans probably recognize Casey Kelly's name. He was the central piece to the Adrian Gonzalez trade. Both looked pretty good early, but both started struggling after a while.
- I was thrilled to be able to once again partake in Funnel Dogs. Yes, it's a hot dog wrapped in funnel cake. Yes, it's delicious.
- Wil Myers (Baseball American Top 100 prospect) is young (20) and pretty skinny. But he hits the ball... hard. At least he did his first at bat. Then he walked and struck out and I don't remember what he did his fourth time up. These pics are with my camera phone, and it stinks.
- Christian Colon, the Royals #1 pick last year had some nice hits as well, and few nice plays at short. I wouldn't be shocked if he is called up late this year.
- The Missions left fielder, Jaff Decker, was throwing lasers out of left field all night. He is listed as one of the Padres top prospects.
- Last, but certainly not least, SHE was at the game:
That's right, Miss Arkansas, and runner-up Miss America, Alyse Eady was at the game. I got a big old crush on Alyse, and my wife doesn't even care. Not only is she ultra hot, almost on par with my lovely wife, this is what she did for her talent show at the Miss USA pageant:
That is seriously the most awesome thing a Miss USA contestant could possibly do, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
Jag guy, MLB prospects, funnel dogs and Miss Arkansas. What a night!
The Lost Collector steals Matt's Topps Debut lot. Matt can now either steal from any other revealed lot (other than the Topps Debut Lot) or can pick another door.
***UPDATE*****
Matt has stolen Ryan G's Terrell Davis card. Ryan can now either steal anything but the Davis card (if he steals the Topps Debut lot, it's his since that will be the second steal of it) or he can pick from the remaining available doors.
1) Mariner1
2) Steve D
3) Ryan G
4) Matt Pederson
5) Lost Collector
6) SpastikMooss
7) BA Benny
8) Dimwit
9) dawgbones
10) hiflew
Mariner1 is on the clock. Once he picks from lot 1-10, I will reveal the prize and it will be Steve Ds decision to steal the prize or pick something else. I will check back in an hour or so, now I really have to put the kids to bed.
So help me, I am going to generate some buzz on this blog.One thing I think would be fun to do is a “White Elephant” card giveaway.I am going to select 10 decent-to-good card “gifts” and let the first 10 people to sign up play a game of “White Elephant” to claim them.I think this game has several names, but this is how I know it.Here is how it will work:
After I have 10 readers sign up for the game, I will randomly set a pick order.Whoever has the first pick can choose any lots #1-10.I have already determined the prizes and assigned numbers to them. Rest assured, there won’t be anything crappy, like a 1990 Donruss common.Some prizes will be better than others though.There will be a few single cards, a few player lots, and few autos, and some other surprises.Keep in mind I am doing this on my dime, so don’t expect a vintage Mantle.
After player 1 picks their prize, I will identify the prize and cue player 2 to pick.Player 2 can either steal that prize or pick from the remaining lots.Player 3 can then either steal one of the known prizes, or can steal from the remaining lots.It will go that way all the way until player 10 chooses their prize.If player 10 however, chooses to steal a prize from another player, that player will then have the option of taking the final unknown prize,or stealing from someone else.We’ll keep going until all prizes are claimed.A couple of rules to keep in mind:
Prizes can only be stolen twice.Once an item is stolen twice, it is frozen.
Players cannot steal back from someone who just stole from them.You must wait at least one round to steal an item back if you get the opportunity.
Once the game is over, please email me your address and I will send out your prize.
Signups are first come first serve, and the game will begin as soon as I have 10 contestants.
Hopefully this makes sense, and if it goes well, we’ll do it again sometime.
****UPDATE***** The game has been filled. I have a feeling we will do this again sometime, so keep checking back!
“What do you do with them?”This is the question I get the most from friends and family who are curious about why I collect baseball cards.It’s the question I have the most trouble answering.I don’t really do anything with them once I have them.Sure, I trade a few, and read the backs, and flip through the albums I put together.But the enjoyment for me is in the process of collecting. The enjoyment is in going back through the previously sorted cards and finding the star that came out of nowhere, or the HOFer that I missed the first pass through.The enjoyment is in chasing down and completing a big (or small) set after time and watching my super duper checklist spreadsheet give me that lovely 100% complete approval.The enjoyment is in getting something cool when opening a pack.
The enjoyment is also in finding a card with a story, which may be my favorite aspect of the hobby.As an aside, I highly recommend Bob Lemke’s blog.His “Uncommon Commons” feature that appears regularly is a great source of information and stories behind the cards.
With that in mind, I was especially happy to finally win an eBay auction for this Lena Blackburne T206 card.
I love T206 cards, especially when I can get them at a good price, and when they have some sort of historical significance.I have been hunting this Blackburne card for a long time, and could never score one for under $20.This one I did, even though it is not in the greatest shape.I don’t care about that when it comes to T206, however.
Here’s what’s cool about Lena Blackburne:his contribution to baseball is tied to every ML game, inning, out and pitch that has occurred over the past 60 years.Back in 1930s it was common for pitchers to rub baseballs with all sorts of substances to take the shine off the ball. Blackburne found a source of mud close to home that he liked and used it.Apparently it caught on, because soon he was supplying the entire American League with rubbing mud. He refused to supply the National League until the 50s, apparently out of loyalty to the AL.This is the same mud from the same source that is still used today on every major league baseball.The location has been kept a secret, but if you are so inclined, you can go to the Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud Website and learn more, or even order a can for yourself.I have been very tempted to order some and incorporate it into the flower bed in our front yard.(I’ve incorporated field turf from Razorback Stadium in my lawn, so why not some baseball mud in my flower garden?)
I don't know why I insist on calling this feature "Wax Wednesday." I think I've actually shown pack breaks maybe twice since I've started blogging. Of course, my ridiculous decision to not-buy-cards-for-lent-except-for-when-I-really-really-want-them has a little to do with it. It's kept me from buying wax, but I still can't help myself when I see a good eBay auction or something on Sportlots.com or Checkoutmycards.com. And recently I found some cards on COMC that for my super duper checklist that I couldn't pass up:
The Pujols was the best deal, coming in at a sweet $1.25 per card, so I grabbed 2. These are part of 2002 Stadium Club set , and I am now 85% complete of this insert set, with only cards 9 (Piazza), 10 (McGwire), and 13 (Thome) to go. If anyone has those three that are willing to part with them in trade, please drop a note. I've already completed the base and Stadium Shots insert sets. One of these days I will get my act together and set up a page of what I have for trade.
Last night at the Fayetteville Mall, the entire NW Arkansas Naturals team was signing autographs, so I packed up the family and we headed out. As a father, it was exciting to see my son getting a baseball and a few cards signed.He’s five, so I don’t think he was all that stoked about it to begin with, but as we went around the table, and he was more comfortable talking to the players, he really began to enjoy himself.When we were done and his ball was completely covered with signatures, he was very excited!I was too, thinking, “This is the year he really becomes a baseball fan, and we can really enjoy the game and the cards together.”Then he saw the Cookie Co., handed his ball off to his mother and didn’t mention the Naturals the rest of the evening while he savored every bite of his true prize of the evening.
Overall, the players were very pleasant and gracious.Most took a moment to look my boy in the eye and say hello. A few just took the ball, signed it and passed it down without looking up, which as a father kind of ticked me off.But I imagine this kind of event kind of gets to be a grind for a player, especially with how pushy and obnoxious some fans can be.But come on, talk to my boy just a bit.He is, after all, the cutest 5 year old on the planet.
I would like to mention John Lamb in particular as someone who was very gracious with my son.He is considered a top 100 Major League prospect, and a good bet to be on the Royals roster in the next year or two.As a card hobby enthusiast, I was thrilled that he signed a couple of cards that will mean more to my son over time, and I wish him the best.I also found cards of Derrick Robinson and Christian Colon who were very nice as well. One player I could not find a card of was Wil Myers, who is a top hitting prospect, and supposed to be on par with Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer.I know I have his Bowman 2010 card somewhere, but couldn’t locate it.At least we got his signature on the ball and poster.
Etopps continues it’s T206 offering this week, and it’s a big one!It’s been a long time since they have offered 4 cards at IPO, and the cards this week are outstanding!
Sandy Koufax
Buster Posey
Ryan Howard
Walter Johnson is the fourth card, but no image is available yet.
The Koufax and Posey are must buys, regardless of print run, and I’ll wait and see what the prices and print runs are for the Howard and Johnson.I’m pretty sure I’ll get the Johnson too.
Be sure the order at 1 p.m. est, as these will likely be hard sellouts.
****UPDATE****** Looks like the Posey and Johnson will not be offered this week.
Sometimes a book comes out that ties several interests of mine together, and immediately becomes a must read for me.My hero (George Will) writing about my favorite sport (baseball), Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball, is one example of that happening. Another example is Slouching Towards Fargo.Combining subject matters of Darryl Strawberry, Bill Murray and Independent League Baseball, I was all over this one and gobbled it up quickly once I got my hands on it back when it was released in 2000.I dusted it off again last night and skimmed through it.It would make a great movie, and I wish someone would think about doing it.
As I mentioned in my very first post, Darryl Strawberry was the first baseball player I followed, and I collected the heck out of his cards.Additionally, I used to live in Lubbock, Texas and at the time there was an independent league called the Texas/Louisiana Association.The Lubbock team was called the Crickets, named after Buddy Holly’s (Lubbock native) band.The games were cheap, the baseball was actually not bad, and the atmosphere was odd.It felt a little like a mix of minor league baseball and roller derby.So a book that combined these two subject matters was right up my alley.
The book is based on a two season run of the St.Paul Saints, probably the most well known independent league team out there, who were partially owned by Bill Murray and Bill Veeck, and trotted out such players as J.D. Drew, who at the time was holding out for more money after being drafted by the Phillies, Jack Morris, and Darryl Strawberry.Strawberry at this time had been kicked out of baseball, broke, on probation, and trying to find a way back to the big leagues.
The author of the book was sent to cover this potential hot mess by Rolling Stone Magazine.He intended to do a “hatchet job” on Murray and Strawberry and write a buzz worthy article for the magazine.The book is the story of what he saw in that two year run and his fast changing views of the subject matters.
I am sorry to say, this book is no longer in print, and the only copies I see available are used copies on bn.com and amazon.com.The good news is these copies are dirt cheap.
I had every intention of writing something about the day after opening day.It has actually always been my favorite baseball day, because the bandwagoners and the misty eyed poets have had their say and have moved on once opening day is done.
Thankfully, I saw that an actual writer beat me to it and did it much better than I could.I will avoid posting and suffering by comparison.If you are a baseball fan and not reading Joe Posnanski, trust me, you should. I especially love his Buck O'Neil story...
First pitch for Rangers and Red Sox is just moments away.Got it set up in the DVR so I will be avoiding looking at scores for the rest of the day at work.It is so nice to buzz through commercials, pitching changes and mound visits.How did I ever live without a DVR?The combination of DVRs and HD television has completely spoiled me.Here is the ideal scene for me:
Me+ HD Television + Rangers + couch + 2-3 Coronas + 2-3 Johnsonville Stadium Brats + 2011 Baseball Prospectus (which I have not picked up yet-shame on me!)+ cards to sort= Napkin Doon Bliss
Here’s what will happen:
Me+ urgent work emails + incessant attention request pleas from5 year old boy + incessant attention request screams from the 1 year old girl + no problems from my elegant, lovely wife (she does read this blog and I am not stupid)+ dinner out= Napkin Doon catching the highlights later in the evening
Come to think of it, I’d rather go with the latter anyways….
Speaking of Napkin Doon Bliss, here are some nice looking 2005 Topps Gallery Artist Proofs I picked up on EBay last week.I’m about 35% through with the 05 Gallery Artist Proof set, which is fast becoming one of my favorites:
No wax openings this week, since I am sort of trying to hold off for lent. I don't know why I bother though since I have been buying stuff at a cool local weekly auction, as well as online. I was able to knock off one more set from my monster checklist:
This is from the 2001 Topps HD Set, and is a 10 card dicut set. Actually, a few of these are the aluminum parallels, but sometimes they come cheaper than the base, so I don't care. Does this mean that I technically don't have a complete set? Well, excuse me, but my super checklist says otherwise:
For my redesigned blog. Not that my changes are any big deal. My wife is actually the expert at this stuff so hopefully she will help me put something decent looking together. There are several opening days I am looking forward to over the next few weeks:
- MLB Opening Day Thursday
- Rangers Opening Day Friday
- NW Arkansas Naturals Home Opener April 7th
I am also stunned to say that this will be my first year in 15 years that I have not played fantasy baseball. Yes, I actually played in the late 80s before the Internet. We drafted, made trades and were updated on standings all by mail. At the time I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Once fantasy leagues started showing up on the Internet, I didn't know whether to crap or go blind. But last year, with the Rangers, Razorbacks and Naturals all doing so well and taking my attention, I let my fantasy team slip out of my consciousness. I think I wound up making the playoffs anyway. Not sure what that says about my managing skills. So I am going to forgo a team this year and see if I miss it.
I guess I'll go on record with my homer predictions for the season, and see how I do:
AL West - I refuse to pick this division as I do not want to jinx the Rangers.
AL Central- The Royals, with the help of some young ultra talented Naturals are 2 years away I think. And I can't get a feel for this division at all, so I'll pick the Twins.
AL East- I'll take the chalk and pick the Red Sox. Although, I think the Orioles will make some noise this year.
NL East- Even with the injuries, I'll go with the Phillies.
NL Central- The Brewers look good to me on paper, but I've said that before about them.
NL West- Giants again, but the Rockies will be tough I think.
World Series-
What the heck: Brewers vs. a team whose name I will not mention so that I do not jinx them.
AL MVP: Someone who plays in the outfield with last year's MVP whose name rhymes with Pelson Pooze.
NL MVP: Ryan Braun
AL CY Young: Felix Hernandez
NL CY Young: Roy Halladay
From a collecting perspective, there is not much more satisfying feeling than entering the last remaining cards from an almost complete checklist and watch the % Complete field of my super awesome spreadsheet change to 100%. I can then delete that set from the checklist. Unfortuately, I just wind up adding another set.
One of the master sets I am working to complete is the 2003 Donruss Diamond Kings set. I've finished the base set and am whittling away the inserts. I am pleased to say that the Evolution insert set is now done! The last one I needed was Barry Bonds, and I finally found it for a great price. This is one of those "sportflixy" sets that I am typically drawn to:
This is a fantastic checklist of HOFs, stars, roiders and... Kerry Wood.
Love, love, love etopps T206 cards. These are beautiful cards, especially in hand! For those who are not etopps members, this may be a great week to get started.
One of the silver linings to traveling so much lately is that I have been able to catch up on some reading.A recent trip to Toronto gave me plenty of time to read “Crazy ‘08” by Cait Murphy.If you are at all interested in baseball in the early 1900’s, or the history of baseball at all for that matter, this book is must reading.It is extremely detailed, researched, well written and funny.
The bulk of the book focuses on the three team race for the National League Pennant in 1908, which was fought between the Pirates, the NY Giants and the Cubs.Yes, the Cubs at that time were not only perennial contenders; they were a juggernaut featuring the famous double play combination of Tinker, Evers and Chance and the pitching of Mordeci “Three Finger” Brown.The Giants were also a perennial power, starring the gentlemanly pitcher Christy Mathewson and the un-gentlemanly manager, John McGraw, as well as the ill-fated Fred Merkle.The chapter about the “Merkle” game is enough to warrant reading the book.The Pirates, meanwhile, were not necessarily a great team, but had perhaps the greatest player of the time, Honus Wagner, who carried them on his back. Being a card nerd, I know all about the famous T206 Honus Wagner card , and had an idea of how good of a player he was. Crazy ‘08 really sheds light on not only what an incredible all around player he was, but also one of the decent men of the game, which after reading this book, looks like was the exception and not the rule.
It seemed like every other page of this book included a fight, threat of a fight, or some sort of heated argument.These were wild, agitated people: players, coaches, umpires, fans and all. 1908 was a significant year in the history of baseball, and after reading Crazy ‘08, it’s hard to argue it wasn’t baseball’s greatest.
