Rickey visits Target

Posted by cardboard hogs on January 5, 2015

First day back at work and the first day of toting a baseball card in my pocket all day long. This is a fantastic way to start the year…in order to save some money around our house, the wife and i have been diligently packing our lunches on a daily basis. Typically i hate left overs, but i hate not having money either…that really sucks, like really really sucks. I also really hate staying in the office all day long so it’s a double whammy for me. My solution has been to eat quickly, not stomach cramping quickly, but fast enough to make a nice little walk around downtown P-Town for 30-45 minutes to look at people and things. It’s also a great time to hit up the Target for few random requirements like lithium batteries and cliff bars. These are both vital to me staying active and healthy. The battery for the bike speedometer and the cliff bars to keep me from donking off mid-day. Today was special though. It was a chance for wallet Rickey to see the world…unfortunately i was in a rush today so we didn’t spend too much time with the photo shoot, but needless to say, Rickey likes transformers…you can’t wipe that smile off his face.

See, he has a huge smile…it’s so great to see Rickey being Rickey in the toy aisle. Rickey will be making a trek to the record shop tomorrow afternoon and just might make an appearance at Whole Foods. It’s a big day for Rickey, so he needs to get some rest…his corners are rounding out. It’s time for a nap.

2014 Topps S1 – Packs 5 and 6

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 10, 2014

I’m now 6 packs deep and haven’t pulled a big hit…but I’m going to show you what i’ve got anyways. Because I know you all love to see some scans of base cards and stuff.

Donny Baseball was one of my favorite players growing up, not Rickey Henderson favorite, but way ahead of whomever was third at the time…maybe Nolan Ryan or George Brett? Mattingly was always an elusive pull or me. I never got his card in the packs I bought during the 1985 and 1986 seasons. I got a whole bunch of 1987 Topps though…damn that set was so overproduced. I think I had about 4 complete sets that year due to everyone in my family buying me boxes from Sam’s. Mattingly seemed destined for the Hall of Fame and put up phenomenal numbers especially with a healthy Rickey Henderson hitting in front of him. Seeing this young skinny photo of Donny baseball brings back some great memories of being a young collector. I appreciate Topps pulling old stock photos of baseballs legends and the players that were really good. It keeps the older kids connected and provides a great lesson for the kids that are starting to collect.

Topps has also provided the kids with a look at their previous card designs, which is also a very good thing in my mind. Although, i’m not sure if copying the late 80’s and early 90’s is the way to go. Best to make up for it by making these babies die cut.

Here are some Power Player cards that have powerful players on them. Yadi would like to salute you and Giancarlo is getting a Marlin cortisone shot to the knee…sorry…I couldn’t think of anything else to add to these cards. It’s a parallel that could have been more parallel-y in my mind. I guess changing the border color has been done a million times. Maybe if they edited out the backgrounds…I don’t know, crap. I actually didn’t notice these were Power Player cards at first pass. My oversight was corrected when I realized that these ‘base’ cards should not have been in the middle of the pack. I’m sleuthy!

Love the Mo cards. Love the bottom one the most though. Such a great baseball moment.

The next two cards are last because they deserve to be last.

Although the back of Melky’s card doesn’t suggest anything about PED as Night Owl had suggested it should. I find it telling that Topps decided to quote A-Rod with the very insightful “He’s a big, big, big-time player.” That’s three bigs. I would have gone with he’s a big, bigger, biggest time player but that wouldn’t make much sense either. Don’t do drugs kids, especially if they are to be inserted with needles.

Lastly. This guy. The finger pointer. Topps was smart enough to not drop any photos of him with eye black. I’m finding it difficult to justify writing what I feel about his homophobic eye black last year. He seemed to play it off as ignorance and something that wasn’t a big deal.

But, I’m an adult and I know words can be filled with hate and bad intentions. My dilemma though, is that I’m a die hard Redskins fan. Another term that has been deemed as hateful or oppressive. It’s an unfair position for me to be ok with one derogatory term but not with another. It doesn’t really matter if one is worse, if the words offend someone than it’s an offensive term…besides, what’s with finger pointing at the cameraman? Who does that?

2014 Topps S1 – Packs 3 and 4

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 9, 2014

Ok, here are some of the highlights from packs 3 and 4. Nothing overly exciting or notable so this is mostly a post about what I got rather than “HOLY CRAP!! LOOK AT WHAT I GOT!”

In the previous post I pulled two Jean Segura Inserts and whattayaknow, in the third pack, I pulled another! How many The Future is Now cards does this kid have? Oh yeah, in the fourth pack I got the Future Stars version of Mr. Segura. Here is a side by side comparison of the base bandit with eye black and without eye black. Run Jean Run!

The next couple of pairings come with mixed feelings.

I love Jeet and think this could be the last season we see him in a major league uniform. I guess it’s going to depend on how he can recover and produce in the revamped Yankee lineup. It’s going to be a whole different world without #2 at short…here’s hoping he has a great season and we get to see him pick it for another year or two…or three. It will make his gift baskets so much more valuable, especially his balls that he gives to the ladies. His scan partner is A-Rod. I’m really glad he won’t be on the field this season. I’ve mentioned many times in the past that I can’t stand the kid and hope he never rocks the pinstripes again. Such a self-absorbed, neon orange chump.

These guys are the future for the Yankees rivals. Bogaerts and Machado are going to be great players for so many years…oh…so…many…years. Those Machado ears though. Kinda with Xander was a Yankee…that’s my problem with the Yankees organization, they just don’t ever seem to develop major league talent. They have tons of guys that have the potential, but it never works out for them. Xander picked up some great experience in the World Series last year…good for him…

Up here in Portland as in many other cities throughout our beautiful country. Beards have taken over. Along with beards, you have facial hair of many types, like curly mustaches. I’ve never been a fan of facial hair and do my best to keep my face clear of facial hair other than the times I’m too lazy to shave. One thing I would never do though, is sculpt my facial pubes in the same manner as Mr. New House. It’s just way too much time sculpting and crafting in front of the mirror. We have lots of guys with handlebar staches in this great town I live in and they are the only guys I will order an old fashioned from. They are the ones who know how to make them properly. Not with all that muddled fruit crap. Just whiskey, bitters, sugar cube an orange slice and cherry. Any bartender that muddles the fruit and turns your drink into a pink liquor concoction should not be trusted…and will more than likely not have a handlebar mustache.

Here is the hits part of our program.

First up. Elvis Andrus. A great glove and a mediocre bat. So here is a bat card with a picture of him throwing a ball. Nice photo/object coordination.

Next. Matty Alou. One of the 83 Alou’s (actually, I think it’s just 4) that have played Major League Baseball. It’s a buyback, which means now that it is stamped nobody will buy it back. At least Topps went smaller with their foil stamp logo.

2014 Topps S1 – Packs 1 and 2

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 8, 2014

I’ve always been a little slow and therefore have been late to various things in my life. So i’ve developed a mentality of sitting and waiting for other people to do something before I go. It allows me time to think of what I want to do or can provide…since 2014 Topps has been out for a couple of weeks I’m going to show you what I got as well as give you a piece of my mind! 🙂

I know some folks don’t like the Topps flagship or are upset with their exclusive MLB license. You won’t get any of that vibe over here though, I’m all in for the Topps flagship. To the parallels and inserts, I say…”I don’t care” or “I choose to ignore you”. I say that to the cards. Take them out of the center of the packs and put them aside. Sift through the base cards first and them make my way to the “hits” part of the program. You should probably also know that I always eat muffins by starting from the bottom and working my way up. I like to save the best for last. Gives me something to look forward to.

On to the card judgement.

Topps has come back with the white border cards and personally i’d like to see a different color border, or possibly a full bleed. I know this isn’t anything groundbreaking but a little variation would be great for the borders. I’d like to se a card from each year and know that there was more than just a slight variation of the previous years designs…something bigger like the changes in card designs from 85 to 86 to 87. Basically I want a fresh and new design each year. The photos though, those are great. Lots of action photos from what i’ve seen so far and great shots of men leaping in to walls.

One of the things that Topps has done with their photos is select the image that makes you stop…and look…and think…why this photo? The Crisp card has appeared all over the blogosphere and it now appears here. That afro is straight up Oaktown. If rappers had baseball cards, this would be the exact same image that Boots Riley from The Coupe would have. Big Ass Afro and a clean pair of mutten chops piercing out of each cheek, shoulders back doing the Bernie lean.

Besides the cool images, you get the obligatory post game celebration photo. The gatorade bath. Now, this would make a much better football card. In fact, I think Topps should have one football head coach card next year and it should be Pete Carroll getting an orange bath after the Super Bowl and it should be card number 48. That’s a free one for you Topps people, run with it. This Dozier card though…it reeks of gimmick that folks complain about. Dozier…remind me of the Souls of Mischief lyric…’Maintain composure, hit dosia, pick a booga, don’t be shook up, i got the hook up.’

TWO OAKLAND RAP REFERENCES in one blog post!

This kid. Love this kid.

One last base card before i show a couple of the ‘Hits’. The Kendrys Morales card. This card should never have been made unless it was a Mariners team card. In this modern world of high price cameras and digital media at every turn, how can you have a card of a player that only shows his back. AND THE BACK IS OUT OF FOCUS!!! Seriously??!!??! The only guy that’s really in focus is Felix Hernandez. Not Morales! The moral of this card is that team celebrations are good and should only be shared as a team card. Really bad decision on this one.

Mini’s. Die Cuts. I love both and that’s what you get this year! Some 1989 design mini with various border colors that are die cut! Yes please! Sign me up for that. AND I get a Lou Gehrig. Such a lucky boy I am.

This next pair of cards came in my first two packs and I started to think I had a Segura Hot Box. Guess you will have to wait and see…I’m not trying to tease you, I have no idea either as i’ve only opened two packs.

Be on the lookout for the following 8 packs America. I can only hope that I get more blurry cards of guys backs.

Happy Birthday Rickey and Merry Christmas

Posted by cardboard hogs on December 25, 2013

Today is the 55th birthday of my childhood idol. Rickey Nelson Henley Henderson.

The Man of Steal. He was the all time stolen base leader and the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. I can’t think of any position or spot in a lineup where you can say that about a baseball player and not get twenty other names from twenty other people. Maybe it’s a bold statement, but I don’t think there really is an argument for his greatness at the leadoff position. Fielding…eh…not the greatest.

Rickey Henderson 7

He was the reason I became a Yankee fan (but still secretly love the A’s) and the reason why I wear #24 any chance I get. Whenever people asked me in a confused manner, “Why are you a Yankees fan?” They are only more confused after I tell them because of Rickey Henderson…I’m a very loyal fan and hitched my wagon to the Yanks in 1985. I was 9 and there was no going back as far as I was concerned.

Hall Of Fame Baseball

He was also the reason I fell in love with baseball and insisted on stealing as many bases as i could in little league. I also stole them by sliding head first. The coaches never liked it, but the one time I went in feet first I rolled my ankle and got a nasty strawberry…never jammed my wrist sliding head first thank you very much!

He may not have been the greatest teammate of all time and maybe he was a little self absorbed…or aloof 🙂 But he is a Hall of Famer and remains my all time favorite athlete.

This will always be my favorite card. I purchased this with $12 of my allowance money from the West Avenue Card Shop in San Antonio, Texas over the summer of 1986. Funny story about the West Ave. Card Shop…a few years after I purchased this card along with many others through the years, they were busted for buying and selling large amounts of cocaine. I guess they were using the card shop as a way to launder their drug money…and here I just thought they had bad allergies with all the sniffing and wiping of their noses. They were just coke-heads.

Happy Birthday Rickey Henderson as I’m sure you are reading this wonderful post about you on your day of birth that you share with baby Jesus. I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Christmas! Stay safe and keep collecting!

I can make a M’s hat more famous than a Mariner can

Posted by cardboard hogs on December 7, 2013

I took some artistic licensing with the well know Jay-Z verse on this post.

Robinson Cano is no longer a Yankee and I am kind of sad about that.

Next to Jeter, he was my favorite baseball player…a very close second mind you. I loved his hitting and his quiet confidence on the field, some may say it was apathy or laziness. I’m going with subtle greatness. The kind of numbers he put up, you had to love him as a baseball player. Even if you are a Yankee hater. I have complete respect for Dustin Pedroia and you should have respect for Cano.

My admiration for him will continue to keep him in my personal collection for the duration of his career, albeit less of a priority now to Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. I can take some joy in the fact that he is now a Mariner and I don’t hate them. I actually like the M’s and have the opportunity to watch him more frequently on TV and possibly in person…if I can convince the wife to take a trip or two up to Seattle. Which is never too difficult! The great thing about Panini cards is that they only need to change New York to Seattle. DONE! No additional photoshop skills needed!

As for the Mariners locking him up for 10 years at $240M, i can’t believe that’s a great contract for them in their market. Now, i’m no market analyst, but i’m just thinking that when I pick through the great baseball franchises the Mariners rarely come up, if ever. That’s not to say I don’t like them. I am actually a fan of theirs and tried my hardest to make them my second team when i moved to Portland…but I just couldn’t do it. Other than Ichiro, they didn’t have any player that I could latch on to. Griffey, A-Rod and Randy Johnson were gone and they were a franchise sinking away. They have King Felix, whom I love to watch pitch, but doesn’t really do it for me.

I really hope this signing helps catapult them into relevance as Seattle is a phenomenal baseball town with a gorgeous ballpark. I just don’t know if his contract is going to allow them to get the various pieces they need to compete year in and year out against the thrifty A’s and powerful Angels and Rangers…and Astros.

Robbie is going to continue to put up great numbers and play well for the M’s, but i’m thinking in 3-5 years he will end up getting dealt for prospects to a larger market team. Maybe the Yankees?

Don’t go Cano!

Posted by cardboard hogs on December 3, 2013

There are rumors that Robbie Cano may be joining the Seattle Mariners. I’m torn. I would love to see him stay with the pinstripes as he is currently my favorite player on my currently favorite team. He’s demanding a boat load of money and with the amount of dollars the Yankees spent today and last week, i’m not sure they can afford Cano…i’m also not sure he wants to return to the team…or maybe Jay-Z doesn’t want him to re-join the Yanks. Did you know that Hova can make a Yankee hat for famous than a Yankee can? Maybe he’s trying to outshine Cano, i don’t know.

Here is a shiny colorful gold parallel card of Cano sidearming the ball to what i would assume is first base.

Ellsbury is not worth $20+ million a year.

Holy crap, that’s a lot of cash.

2013 Topps S2 – Packs 9 and 10

Posted by cardboard hogs on August 15, 2013

Rounding Home.

So, i was going to post the final two packs from my series two box last night but we had a nice family dinner night with my mother, mother in law and brother in law. Where did we go you ask, well we went to Pok Pok. If any of you ever venture up to Portland, it’s not to be missed. The restaurant has received quite a bit of notoriety the past few years and a place that we love to visit whenever we get a chance. If you do indeed make it to Pok Pok, you MUST get the wings. They are unlike any other wings you have ever had, they are BETTER! Just a little local Portland foodie plug for any foodies out there. There is also a spot out in Brooklyn, which i’ve heard is not quite the same…guess you need that Southeast Portland flavor to make it great.

Back to cardboard. I’ve only two packs left to share and there isn’t too much for gloriousness, as i’ve pulled the ‘hits’ already. As has been the case with the previous posts, i like to show dueling or similar cards. The two below feature great faces of intense physical exertion. Joaquin and Jorge are both doing their ultimate lip pursing, almost to the point that their lips have disappeared…but they haven’t because that would be wierd.

Next is the contorting Jered Weaver Cut to the Chase. This photo gives you a great idea as to how much pressure pitching can put on your body…and of course there is more lip pursing.

Enter Sandman Chasing History. This is an open mouth lip pursing. Something only legends can do. Can you do it properly?

Salvador Perez is super happy in this card. I’m assuming it’s a walk off for the win…but no lip pursing. Disappointing.

Finally. Tiny Tim Lincecum. Look at those long flowing locks, splayed glove and a cream white ANTS jersey. Does the MLB test for weed? I know it’s not really a PED, but i can only imagine with this kid. Inappropriate, i know…

2013 Topps S2 – Packs 7 and 8

Posted by cardboard hogs on August 13, 2013

I feel like a dope writing about 2013 Topps series two, but i will manage to get over it sooner or later…plus i have another post to go!

I’m not really sure where I left off on the Topps post, but these two cards really caught my eye…plus they were in my to be organized scan folder. So here they are, Trouty and Alvarez. Both amazing photos and both are landscape cards, which i LOVE in base sets! Both cards manage to get the player and ball in the shot…great photography to the photographer.

This sideburn slash sort of neck beard is disturbing…plus he’s a Red Sox guy. Not much for me to like about this card.

Ah jeez. Jackie and the Babe. The only problem with Topps pushing out these old school legend cards is the lack of photo variety. I’ve got 5 other Jackie cards with that same pose…wish they had access to other images, you know, to spice it up a bit?

Bryce Harper. Love this kid. He is the newest addition to my player personal collection and a reason i started following the Nats a few years ago. He seems like he can be quite a jerk sometimes, but he’s intense and he goes all out each game. That is how I would want my son to play.

Rizzo – Italien – Cub.

Joey Belle. Remember how crazy this guy was. Dude had a serious temper and would go off over the stupidest crap. I’ve said too much…

This guy. Love the Cuban players. Did you hear, he won the home run derby over the all star break…it’s been that long since i’ve been blogging.

Good night.

2013 Topps S2 – Packs 3 and 4

Posted by cardboard hogs on July 17, 2013

For the first couple of cards, I’m going to stick with the twofers…and it goes a little something like this, HIT IT!

As usual, I’m late for the bus on this one. I just wanted to add my two cents on the whole celebration card that Topps seems to be putting out more and more each season. I like the concept, and sometimes it works brilliantly as it does with the Francisco Cervelli card. Then there are other times when it doesn’t work well, like this Derek Norris card. It’s more of an Oakland A’s team card and I fully expected to see some team leader stats on the back of the piece of card stock. If the camera man was a couple of inches to the right, nobody would know who this card is for, including the wonderful mlb-baby-making parents of Mr. Norris! I would have thought it was for Reddick or that little dude squatting in the middle of the card. Get it together Topps!

Here are a couple more celebration cards. Am I the only one that thinks Homer Bailey and Christian Bale are twins lost at birth? Maybe they should be doing those cheesy State Farm Chris Paul commercials. This is a good example of a celebration card. You can see his Batman looking face and yet, he is still sharing a personal moment with Chris Heisey after his no-no last year. The Ryan Ludwick card on the other hand is all kinds of terrible. Not only is his face nowhere to be seen, his nameplate on the back is blurry!!! At the very least this should have been a Jay Bruce card because his unbridled enthusiasm is…unbridled (first time using that word on the blog and i drop it twice!).

Alright, enough whining. These making their mark cards are nice and the player selection is great. I love that they went with the young future superstars for this subset. Both of these guys are great players…and I kind of have a baseball crush on Manny Machado…the kid is all kinds of awesome. I’m no Orioles fan and have no idea when he will make the move to short, if ever, but he is going to become their rock for the next 10-15 years like Jeter has been for the Yankees.

Bryce Harper. Stud. Kind of want to do a player collection of him. I think this kid is great and i’m sure i’ve mentioned it here before, but I would love for Bryce to be my sons favorite ballplayer. If everyone played all out each play like he did, the game would be so much more fun to watch day in and day out.

Here is a nice little cut to the chase Ernie Banks card. You can’t ever go wrong with Mr. Banks and some die cut action.

Last card for the night was my autograph hit from the box. Alex Cobb chasing history. I’m going to chase some whiskey with a little sleep. Goodnight collectors of the internets.