Contest Time – ‘Home Run Derby’

Contest Time – ‘Home Run Derby’

We’ve all see the ‘Home Run Derby’ before, but trust me this is not like ESPN’s version.

It is however the theme for this contest.

So, here is the deal – There are 15 major league baseball games being played on Wednesday, May 22nd. To win this contest, simply predict the total number of home runs hit on this day and win!!

Review the schedules now and make your selection.  Once a total home run tally is selected it is off the boards and cannot be chosen again.

Here is a peek at the games for Wednesday’s schedule; study it closely and submit your pick into the comments section of his post.

What’s up for grabs this time around???

How about a sweet lot of 2013 Topps Heritage baseball cards??

Have a look:

NICE!!!

I will keep the entry window for this contest open until 9:00 PM on Tuesday so I have enough time to put all of the info together and post a final list of the players and their picks on Wednesday morning before any of the action takes place?

Sound good?

Great.  Get going and make your pick now!!!

Tom Seaver 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic – Needs Just A Tad Of Red In It…

Tom Seaver 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic – Needs Just A Tad Of Red In It…

Sometimes, and it does not happen that often, there comes a card in which it can go from a ‘Strong B’ to a ‘Super-Strong A’ with just one slight but very powerful change.

And this card of Tom Seaver from the 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot set fits into that group.

Imagine this card with Red coloring on Seaver’s cap, uniform, and stirrups.

It would go from ‘B’ to ‘A’ very rapidly!!!

1993 Topps Manager’s Card With Detroit’s Sparky Anderson & Houston’s Art Howe

1993 Topps Manager’s Card With Detroit’s Sparky Anderson & Houston’s Art Howe

Of all of the multi-player cards issued over the years, it is the manager’s card that I care for the least.

Actually – let me say that differently, I REALLY DON’T LIKE THESE MULTI-MANAGER CARDS!!!!

The reason?

The team set!

Imagine yourself as a team collector, a team set builder.

And let’s say that you are working on the 1993 Topps Detroit Tigers team set.

And this is your manager card for the set:

 

FAIL!!!!

 

TTM SUCCESS: Another Fantastic Andre Dawson Baseball For My Collection!!! Y-E-S!!!

TTM SUCCESS: Another Fantastic Andre Dawson Baseball For My Collection!!!  Y-E-S!!!

I have been craving a few more signed baseballs for my Andre Dawson ‘Ultimate Dawson’ collection so I put a plan in place a few weeks ago to work towards that goal.

Ultimately, I am trying to seek out and find new inscriptions to ask for – and I have some really great ideas to request for future signing options.

This time around, I went with the request of a ’4X Sillver Slugger’ option.

And Andre did not disappoint (he never does).

Have a look:

As always, the ball is signed perfectly – and is so neat and clean!!!

Dawson won four Silver Slugger awards during his major league career and I find this to definitely be an inscription-worthy feat.  At the peak of his career, he had some major competition for the award so walking away with four of these honors is a great, great accomplishment.

This is the 11th Andre Dawson signed baseball in my collection and I am so very proud of how it all looks together.

And the next few I hope to go after will only help take ’Ultimate Dawson’ to the next level.

Thanks for reading!!!

2012 Topps ‘Career Day’ Subset – Card #24 – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

2012 Topps ‘Career Day’ Subset – Card #24 – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

I am working on this set because I find it to be the most appealing of the subsets issued by Topps in 2012.

The cards feature bold colors, great images, and a unique horizontal design.

I especially like the ‘Career Day’ theme as it pays homage to some of the greatest individual performances of baseball’s elite players.

Card #24 – Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

The Career Day – August 10, 2009.  On this day, the Rockies were playing in Chicago against the Cubs.  Tulo went 5-for-5 on the day as he hit for the cycle - 2 singles, 1 double, 1 triple, and 1 home run.  He scored 2 runs in the game and drove in 7 runs.  Tulo was the first shortstop in the history of the game to connect for 5 hits and drive in 7 runs in the same game.

Progress – 24/25

Willie McCovey 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – Base – Mehhhh….

Willie McCovey 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – Base

Well, I have found my first card from the new 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen that does not thrill me.

Unfortunately, it features one of my favorite legends – Mr. Willie McCovey.

Have a look:

I like the setting of the card.  And I really like that vintage Giants uniform that McCovey is wearing too.

It’s the image that does this player and set no justice.  Did he hit a foul ball?  Did he pop one up behind first base?  The shot used leaves a little to the imagination, which is ok, but it is not a supremely positive question that other cards conjure up…

1985 Fleer Super Star Special – ‘NL Pitcher’s Nightmare’ – Starring Mike Schmidt & Ryne Sandberg

1985 Fleer Super Star Special – ‘NL Pitcher’s Nightmare’ – Starring Mike Schmidt & Ryne Sandberg

Fleer did a great job of pairing up players with their ‘Superstar Special’ sets from the mid-1980′s.

And this card from the 1985 Fleer set is no exception.

The card tagged as ‘NL Pitcher’s Nightmare’ features two future Hall of Famers, and two great sluggers – Mike Schmidt and Ryne Sandberg.

Of the pair, I would have to think that at the time this shot was snapped that Schmidt was the more feared hitter.  He was a veteran by the time the 1985 baseball season rolled around while Sandberg was still getting his feet wet.  Still, Ryno mashed a ton of homers early in his career and this is a magnificent pairing.

A great addition to my Mike Schmidt player collection!!!

1984 HEADLINE: Roger Clemens Wins First Major League Game

1984 HEADLINE: Roger Clemens Wins First Major League Game

On this day back in 1984, Roger Clemens won his first major league baseball game.

With his team on the road in Minnesota, the Boston Red Sox were battling the Minnesota Twins. Clemens needed just 131 minutes to earn victory number 1 of his career.

Against a solid Twins team, Clemens pitched 7 strong innings in the 5-4 win. He allowed 7 hits and 4 runs during the contest. He also showed off his ability to dominate hitters with his powerful pitching and sharp control as he struck out 7 batters while walking just 1.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Clemens. Win #1 of your 354 career victories came on this day 26 years ago!!!