Baseball Card Blogs » Dinged Corners

Winner of the forehead trials. Undeniably.

Dinged Corners — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:38:00 +0000

There's so much great about this card that it brings tears to our eyes. Not the least of which is that Mr. Forehead apparently did not think it important to dress in a baseball uniform for his Topps baseball card photo. Before we receive a slew of emails telling us that we are pitiable idiots for not realizing this is in fact a baseball uniform, we say, well, it doesn't look like one.

The entry is from Travis at punkrockpaint. I trust the rest of us agree that we should fold our cardboard tents and go home. In the meantime, we at the Corners will work on putting together an adequate prize.

Blogger template question. :(

Dinged Corners — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:47:00 +0000

Last evening I clicked around in blogger a little and, long story short, my DC template is gone. There is something horrible in blogger called "New! Template designer!" that is beyond awful. Here's what I'd like to know: I finally got to 'classic template' and 'old editor' but how do you get to the point where you can change fonts, colors, and so forth?

This new, improved blogger design template has got us down.

1, 2, 3, Foreheads…

PunkRockPaint — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:15:00 +0000

Dinged Corners has issued a challenge. Since my collection is so utterly disorganized, I couldn't possibly hope to find any "fierce forehead" cards without digging through boxes, piles, and drawers of cards. Rather than risk an avalanche, I went to a "slightly" more organized part of my collection. I figured that I could pull a few ferocious foreheads from my collection on Topps Million Card Giveaway.

I was surprised at how many fierce foreheads I came across. Here are three of my favorites:

Wrinkly Warren

Galloping Goodwin

and last, but not least: Bud Daley's "Five" Head

Forehead findings.

Dinged Corners — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:10:00 +0000

From Shane D., Mr. Harrist happily models a perfect forehead, as its fierceness is enhanced to a degree that renders its size at least equal to home plate.

Also from Shane D., we have a Steve Howe. He often looks 12 years old on his baseball cards, but here his age has skyrocketed to roughly 19. Is it our imagination, or did old-style caps gargantuanize foreheads?

From Steve D., who doesn't have a blog but is willing to play, we have this card of Dave Stewart, whose forehead looks fierce enough--and then is helped along by his perfect "you talkin' to me?" expression.

Another fine Steve D. card: We can't rotate this because we're lame, but the sideways effect is OK because it makes Harold and his eyeblack look like a living emoticon. His forehead is certainly scrunched; the question is, would you call that a fierce scrunch or a worried scrunch?

This contribution from Pulitzer-Prize winning blogger (well he would be if they had Pulitzers for bbc blogs, which they oughta) Night Owl is impressive, and quite satisfying in ferocity, until you see N.O.'s second contribution:

The shine! The square footage! The forehead balancing the name circle!

Here's a contribution from Matthew G. of the classy Number 5 Type Collection. We'd say something about this one, but we're frightened and must hide under the dining room table.

This one from Bo is good because not only is the forehead in partial shadow, but there's something written under the lid of the cap. However, it's the following contribution that rocks, because of Bo's narrative for it:

"Darren Lewis grits his forehead"

Now that's good baseball card blog writing!

Last but certainly not least is this contribution from Paul:

Excellent not only regarding foreheads, but because this card could also qualify in other categories, such as: "tiny hats," "massive eyebrows," and "crooked yet impressive mustaches."

Thanks to all of you for participating. The poll will appear tomorrow (just in case we get more contributions before then). Those too lazy to suggest cards will, perhaps, at least find the time to vote. ;)

Blogger challenge: Fierce Foreheads.

Dinged Corners — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:50:00 +0000

We challenge all readers, lurkers, and bloggers: send us a picture of your fiercest forehead baseball card--preferably one in your collection. We'll post them all and then have a community vote. We need to play more as a group, and since we can't flip 'em, we will post 'em instead.

Can you enter more than once? Of course, this isn't Moscow. What if there's a tie? There'll be two victims. We mean victors. What is the prize? The UNDYING ADMIRATION of the baseball card blog community and possibly something else based on your favorite team.

Let the ferocity begin!

Ginter girls; love poems to Tobacco.

Dinged Corners — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:53:00 +0000

I've sent three of the A&G card packages out; will respond to emails this evening; and mail the rest tomorrow.

Good news and bad news in the Ginter History Department. Bad: For many years, Allen & Ginter apparently advertised that it was always 'white' girls who rolled A&G cigarettes.

Good: Did you know that A&G published a 24-page booklet called With the Poets in Smokeland (1875-1890)? Actually, we're sure you already knew that if you're dayf. They're odd paeans to the wonders of smoking. For example:

How know I that she will not change;
My wishes at defiance set? Oh!
(Pray this in smallest type arrange),
She smokes--at times--a cigareto.
FW Littleton Hay
[Note to Mr. Hay: 'cigarette' would rhyme; what's with the 'o'?]

or:

If you were the aroma,
And I were simply smoke,
We'd skyward fly together,
As light as any feather;
And flying high as Homer, <---2010 mini available
His grey old ghost we'd choke;
If you were the aroma,
And I were simply smoke.
--From Cope's Tobacco Plant

If you'd like to peruse the rest of these, go to
http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;view=toc;idno=B98-54-42679916
and pick a page.

Simply smokily,
DC

Allen & Ginter blaster for you. UPDATE.

Dinged Corners — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:37:00 +0000

Packs five through eight have been added at the bottom of the post.

Remember, other than Mets, if you need or want any of these cards, just email us with your address, and we'll mail them out tomorry.

First pack:
6 Bumgarner
52 Floyd
64 Beckett
TDH43 Broxton
L0212 Cronos:

Pray tell, did Mr. Cronos hit his thumb with a hammer? You'd think the leader of the Titans would be a little more circumspect.
Also:
205 Keflezighi

Pack two:
TDH64 Hamilton
70 Votto
137 Zimmerman
146 Lee
313 Doumit

Pack three:
Uh-oh! We need to keep two from this pack, one for each kid--Jordin Sparks for the teen and a Chihuahua for Lucy. Ok?

Here are the lesser, puny, mewling shadows of cards, so very unchihuahua, included in the Chi-Sparks pack:
TDH20 Sabathia
31 Montero mini (Ginter guy back)
49 Mejia
171 Young
268 Kilby

Pack Four:

Sacagawea looking...old? Our daughter pronounces this 'Sah KAH jah way ya' and it sound right. Is it my imagination or does Mr. Dunn bear a slight resemblance to her?
Also:
2 E. Cabrera
TDH1 Utley
338 Liriano
347 O. Cabrera mini

Pack Five:
THD59 Pence
MM10 Brachiosaurus:

7 Howard
147 Guzman
154 Francisco
287 Brees

Pack Six:
101 Buehrle
170 Gonzalez
246 Sito mini
270 Poser:

TDH24 Votto
Checklist Two
332 Nolasco

Pack Seven
148 Donovan
224 Stewart
265 Morales
TDH75 Rivera
286 Revolving Door

Crack the Code :(

Pack Eight

54 Hawk

71 Pence mini (Ginter back)

256 Porcello

269 Burnett

344 Holland

TDH62 Youkilis

So...hmm. Hmm. Er. We like the chihuahua and the revolving door!

We’re baaaaaaaack. Also: who is the face of your team? Also: free cards!

Dinged Corners — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:27:00 +0000

So! I picked this up on eBay for a song for our daughter Lucy, 10, because she now loves David Wright more than baseball or even the Mets. However, as she becomes more aware of how our world works, she said today, "I hope he doesn't quit the Mets" because they are doing poorly and behaving thuggishly.

There is a heartbreaking notion: what would we do if David Wright goes to another team, ever? It's almost as unthinkable as Derek Jeter leaving the Yankees. The players who are the "face of a team," such as Ichiro on the Mariners, upturn the entire baseball world if they flee. Don't flee, David! Who is the face of your favorite team?

By the way: shortly--this evening--we're going to open a pathetic little blaster of Allen & Ginter. When we do so, please feel free to email us if you need any of the cards, as we won't keep any except Metropolitans...and only certain Mets at that. Just include your address in the email and we'll mail it or them off to you tomorrow, Thursday! A way of saying "hi, we're back."

Checking in! and a threeinapack analysis.

Dinged Corners — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:43:00 +0000

We're almost back--three more projects, two more weeks of school, and we'll have days off again! Today for the first time in forever we had to run an errand (done expertly fast, between classes, at Target, our PBOS* of baseball cards) and we picked up a single pack of 2010 Topps Series 2. We are always determined to find something to like on at least three cards in a 12pack, no matter how stinky the assortment might be. This pack is a pleasing tentative return to Cardboardville because we found one card we loved. It is good to experience a flash of that hopeful, gee whiz feeling when looking through a pack. Here he is:

This is a mockup, correct? This card doesn't actually exist, no? Normally we'd google and find the answer but don't have time right now. Anyhow, on the back of the "Vintage Legends" series my only quibble is maybe Topps could explain what it's doing. As in, "this is a mockup," or "we did a reprint of this card because it was one of the most sought-after or toughest to get" or "this was a popular bike spoke card" or whatever. A little card history about the cards themselves, Topps, when you go all vintage on us, along with baseball history, would be sweet. Do you agree? Aren't we about cards as much as baseball?

Then there was this:

which we like because it is a classic midair moment, and because it contains seven human limbs but only one baseball cap.

This one is good too, because it contains two baseball players, ten spectators, and a fellow's rear end. Our guess is he has just delivered his buddy a $14 hot dog and would like to wiggle back into his seat. Can you imagine being immortalized in this manner on a baseball card? It would not be ideal.

Anyhow, we're looking forward to getting some more cards and getting back into the mix come August. See you soon!

*pathetic but only source

Players and specs. And a question!

Dinged Corners — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:06:00 +0000

Quick note: It turns out that starting a new job and taking three classes on your two days off makes it a little difficult to post. That's why we've been so, um, low-profile lately. We fully intend to revive in August so please don't give up on us!

Today someone asked us: who was the first player to wear glasses in a Major League game? Bruce Markusen of Bronx Banter/Baseball Toaster answered this question in 2008:

"The first major leaguer to wear glasses during a major league game was 19th century workhorse Will 'Woop-La' White, who completed 394 out of 401 starts in his career. (I wonder what his pitch counts were like.) In 1877, White wore a pair of eyeglasses for the Boston Red Sox Stockings, who were then a National League franchise. [Does anyone out there have a photo or a card of Woop La?] After White finished donning the spectacles for Boston, no other major leaguer would sport glasses for another 38 years. In 1915, pitcher Lee "Specs" Meadows cracked the 20th century glasses barrier with the Cardinals. Like White, Meadows was a very good pitcher, a winner of 188 games over a 15-year career.

Up until 1921, only pitchers dared wear glasses during games. That changed when George 'Specs' Toporcer became the first position player to make the transition. A singles-hitting middle infielder who played for the Cardinals, Toporcer wore glasses for the balance of his eight-year career in St. Louis."

Do you have any other insights about spec-wearin' players? Since both Lucy (our daughter the card collector) and moi have been known to sport spectacles, we have another urgent question. We'll print it embiggened for everyone who might be nearsighted:

What's the best baseball card ever made of a player wearing glasses?