on July 21st, 2009 by oldschoolbreaks
In my personal opinion, game-used ball or base cards are about as useless as a manufactured lettermen patch, with a few exceptions, of course. However, this card is not one of those exceptions. In 2000, Upper Deck inserted game-used ball cards at a rate of 1 in every 287 packs. The cards are approximately 1/8 [...]
Continue reading about Old School Hits: 2000 Upper Deck Game Ball »
Posted in Old School Breaks
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on July 21st, 2009 by Dinged Corners
Posted in Dinged Corners
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on July 21st, 2009 by chrisolds
Posted in Beckett Blog
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on July 21st, 2009 by chrisolds
Posted in Beckett Blog
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on July 21st, 2009 by Tracy Hackler
Topps officials on Tuesday morning released preliminary details of 2009 Topps Mayo Football, the follow-up to one of last year’s most successful new products due to go live in early November.
In addition to an attractive new white-bordered design that provides a stark contrast to last year’s black-bordered scheme, 2009 Topps Mayo features the introduction of [...]
Continue reading about 2009 Topps Mayo Football First Images Released! »
Posted in Beckett Blog
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on July 21st, 2009 by chrisolds
Posted in Beckett Blog
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on July 21st, 2009 by Dinged Corners
Posted in Dinged Corners
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on July 21st, 2009 by 30-Year Old Cardboard
Dave Henderson turns 51 years old today.
Quite possibly the most underrated player on the Oakland Athletics dynasty of the late 1980’s, Dave Henderson put up some monster numbers as a member of the ‘Bash Brothers’. Hendu had an all-around game and although he was not an all-star, his talent level and skills on the baseball [...]
Continue reading about Happy Birthday Dave ‘Hendu’ Henderson!!! »
Posted in 30 Year Old Cardboard
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on July 21st, 2009 by T.S.
Some time tomorrow afternoon, a limousine is going to swing by Sy Berger’s home
in suburban New York City. Sy, one of the great names in the card-collecting history
of the last six decades, is going to jump into the car and head off to the wilds of
Upstate New York and the tiny village of Cooperstown to take part in the various festivites
that surround the annual induction ceremonies. And he’s going to do all this with
his pal, Willie Mays, just as the duo has done for many years.
One of the many joys of my job is that Sy calls me from time to time
to reminisce a bit, and he almost always mentions his enduring friendship with Willie.
Berger’s characterization of Mays as a sweetheart of a guy may conflict a bit with
a lot of conventional hobby wisdom about the Hall of Famer, but I don’t doubt for
a minute the sincerity of his affection. They go back a very long way.
(Willie is pictured in an incredible painting by yet another well-known hobby
figure, Mike Schacht.)
“Back in 1951, Willie was just a kid and I met him in the Giants locker
room,” Berger told me in a 2000 interview for SCD. Sy is now 86 and Willie
is all of 78, and they share a lifetime of memories that trace their lineage all the
way back to the Polo Grounds that year.
“Willie was just a nervous kid, and since it was my first trip to a big-league
locker room, I was nervous, too. As Willie says, he was scared and looking for a friendly
face, and I walked in. I am probably one of his best and oldest friends.”
Sy befriended literally hundreds of ballplayers over the years as he
waved those exclusive Topps contracts around major league dugouts and helped conceive
and design some of the most beloved – and valuable – postwar baseball card sets ever
created. His stories of wrasslin’ with Willie over just about every aspect of Mays’
cards are priceless, and it must have paid off because the great center fielder ended
up nearly two dozen classics. They obviously would have been valuable just because
they were his cards, but it’s pretty neat that they also were pretty uniformly wonderful
pasteboards.
Just the thought of those two icons palling around for four days in that
bucolic shrine to the greatest game on Earth is enough to bring a smile to my face.
Also a nice reminder that there are baseball immortals who don’t end up on a bronze
plaque but nonetheless have an unshakable claim to a role in the game’s lore and legend.
Have a nice weekend, guys.
Continue reading about Willie and Sy have excellent Cooperstown adventure … »
Posted in Infield Dirt
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on July 21st, 2009 by Tuff Stuff
Over the past few months, I’ve unveiled some fearless predictions in
this column. Some have come to fruition, others not so much. But the
great thing about having a blog is that you can write almost anything
you want and still have a space to write some more the next day. With
that said, I decided to toss out a few more predictions with the new
approach being, we’ll revisit the predictions in the future and see
exactly how things played out.
MLB
With the Trade Deadline just 10 days away, expect a flurry of activity as teams try
and find that one/two pieces to the puzzle that will put them
over
the top. The biggest name available is Roy Halladay. While every team would
love to acquire a top-of-the-rotation, innings hound ace like Halladay, only a few
teams have the necessary resources to actually make the deal. My Brewers are one such
team with several strong minor league gems in their system, but according to Milwaukee
GM Doug Melvin, the Brewers aren’t willing to part with SS of the future Alcides
Escobar or 3B Matt Gamel, the two players the Blue Jays apparently covet.
One possible deal that hasn’t gotten much attention is Gamel and former All-Star shortstop J.J.
Hardy in exchange for Halladay.
If the Blue Jays view Hardy as the hard-hitting defensive wizard he was last year
the deal would make a lot of sense for both sides. Toronto would get a new, young
left side of its infield and the Brewers would get an ace who could consistently take
them deep into ballgames and allow young pitcher Yovani Gallardo to return
to his role as the team’s No. 2 starter because he has yet to display the consistency
needed from a staff ace. I was leaning toward Halladay going to Philadelphia but the
Phils are rolling and should have plenty of in-house talent to win the East. The slumping
Hardy is slowly falling out of favor in Milwaukee and Escobar being the heir at short
for the Brewers, I think Melvin rolls the dice one more time and pulls the trigger
on the Halladay deal, calls up Escobar and hopes he can make a smooth transition to
the bigs.
While I admit I’m a Brewers fan and would love to see Halladay come to Milwaukee,
I’m not sure he would be enough to get the Crew into the postseason but the window
of opportunity is wide open right now so why not take another shot. Besides, throughout
Hardy’s minor league career he was known as a defensive-minded shortstop that would
have to learn how to hit major league pitching. He appeared to do that in 2007 and
last season when he hit 24 HRs, knocked in 74 and batted .283, but perhaps this year’s
.226 average with 61 strikeouts is a better indication of what to expect from him?
Other players that will be relocated before the trade deadline will be Matt Holliday,
Victor Martinez, Freddy Sanchez and left-handed reliever Scott Downs.
NFL
Former Pro Bowl QB Michael Vick has finished paying his 23-month sentence for
dogfighting charges but the next question is how will commisioner Roger Goodell handle
his possible reinstatement. My prediction is that Goodell will come down with an iron
fist and stays true to his past. He’s been tough on players convicted before and let’s
not forget Vick straight up lied to his face before the trial when Goodell asked him
point blank, “Did you do what they are accusing you of?” My guess is Roger hasn’t
fogetten that day and will make Vick pay a little more before he gets to take the
field again. Prediction: Vick remains suspended for the first eight games of the season
then signs with a playoff-contending team who needs an established veteran to make
their postseason push, perhaps Carolina.
Let me hear what you think about these predictions and feel free to post some of your
own. Then we’ll check back and see who’s crystal ball works and who’s is cracked.
Continue reading about Not So Deep Thoughts: Crystal Ball Time »
Posted in 7th Inning Stretch
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on July 21st, 2009 by chemgod
Posted in Bad Wax
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on July 21st, 2009 by admin
Topps announces the player redeemable for the 2009 Topps Finest Baseball Redemption # 5 is Colby Rasmus, Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals.
Throughout the 2009 Major League Baseball season, Topps will announce the subjects for the 10-card Rookie Redemption set. Each Master Box of Topps Finest includes one Rookie Redemption. In addition, collectors can also [...]
Continue reading about Topps Unveils 2009 Finest Baseball Rookie Redemption # 5 »
Posted in sports card forum
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on July 21st, 2009 by Tuff Stuff
The Blogger improved to post 7 of 10 picks but it wasn’t enough to deny Ray
Maye a trip to the winner’s circle. Maye posted a perfect card and connected on
the doubler to win the week and take home the prize. For the rest of us, it’s time
to start studying up for this week’s games. This week’s matchups will be posted
on Wednesday. Contestants make sure you get your picks in before the start of
the week’s first game t be eligible to win. Thanks for playing and spread the word.
Last week’s winners are posted below so check them with your answers to see if
you Beat The Blogger.
For those unfamiliar with the Beat the Blogger contest, the idea is simple.
The Blogger posts 10 matchups each week and then selects his choices fo
r
the winners of those matchups. Contestants enter the Beat the Blogger contest by clicking
on the “Comment” section below the post with the matchups and then select their
own 10 winners. You can also designate one of your picks as a “Doubler” and
you will receive an extra point if you’re correct so don’t forget to designate your
“Doubler” pick and increase your chances of winning. If you Beat The Blogger’s
total and post the high score for the week, you win. The regular weekly
prize is an authentic signed 8-by-10 color photo of stars such as LaDainian
Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Marshall Faulk, Santonio Holmes, Gale Sayers, Catfish
Hunter and many more. From time to time, the Blogger will sweeten the pot for
the weekly contest and that’s where the Chipper Jones jersey comes into play. If we
can get more than 300 entries this week, the weekly winner will receive the
Jones jersey so we need everybody to spread the word about the contest so we
can reach our goal.
Last week’s Matchups (Winning picks in parenthesis)
Saturday July 18
MLB
NY Mets at Atlanta (NY Mets)
LA Angels at Oakland (Angels)
Tampa at Kansas City (Tampa)
Philadelphia at Florida (Postponed by Rain)
Chicago Cubs at Washington (Chicago)
Sunday July 19
Boston at Toronto (Toronto)
Milwaukee at Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
Arizona at St. Louis (St. Louis)
British Open
Tiger Woods or the Field (Field)
Winning Score: -6 or higher or -7 or lower (-6 or higher)
Continue reading about Beat The Blogger Results »
Posted in 7th Inning Stretch
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on July 21st, 2009 by admin
Topps announces the player redeemable for the 2009 Topps Baseball Series 2 RED HOT ROOKIE Redemption # 5 is Nolan Reimold, Outfield, Baltimore Orioles.
Throughout the remainder of the 2009 Major League Baseball season, Topps will announce the subjects for the 10-card RED HOT ROOKIE program. Each Topps Series 2 Hobby Box includes (1) RED [...]
Continue reading about Topps Announces Red Hot Rookie Redemption #5 »
Posted in sports card forum
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on July 21st, 2009 by Joey
I remembered that I still had a couple of dollars of credit over at Sportlots from a previous transaction so I logged on the other day and shopped for some new Ivan Rodriguez cards. I got side tracked on Ian Kinsler cards in the process so I only managed to pick up one Pudge card [...]
Continue reading about The Menacing Gaze of Ivan Rodriguez »
Posted in SqueezePlayCards
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on July 21st, 2009 by 30-Year Old Cardboard
On this day in 1973, Hank Aaron belted the 700th home run of his amazing baseball career. This milestone came against the Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Ken Brett, yes he is the brother of Hall of Famer George. In the bottom of the third inning, Aaron crushed a 2-run home run and all of a sudden [...]
Continue reading about Happy Anniversary Hank Aaron!!! »
Posted in 30 Year Old Cardboard
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on July 21st, 2009 by JT
Two-sport megastar Neon Deion Sanders played for the Reds in 1994, 1995, 1997, and 2001. It’s kinda funny to look at the transaction history on baseball-reference.com:
May 29, 1994: Traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Cincinnati Reds for Roger Etheridge (minors) and Roberto Kelly.
July 21, 1995: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds with David McCarty, Ricky [...]
Continue reading about 2009 Topps Deion Sanders »
Posted in Writers Journey
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on July 21st, 2009 by Mario A.
Below is Mr. Scott’s 2-box break of the very overlooked 2009 Upper Deck Icons baseball. As you can see, while he did pull an amazing low-numbered letterman auto, one has to wonder how a poker player made it into the set.
.
2009 Icons
Boxes: 2 Boxes
Packs: 10 Packs
Cards: 6 per pack
Price: $82 per Box (Includes Shipping)
.
Box 1
Base: [...]
Continue reading about The Wax Report – Upper Deck Icons »
Posted in Wax Heaven
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on July 21st, 2009 by Captain Canuck
Posted in Waxaholic
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on July 21st, 2009 by steveisjewish
Posted in Easy Life
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on July 21st, 2009 by Chris Harris
Posted in Stale Gum
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on July 21st, 2009 by PunkRockPaint
Posted in punkrockpaint
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on July 21st, 2009 by Dan
Posted in OMGAutos
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