Vacation part 2

 We got to DC on a Wednesday night I believe, and the next day we went to tour the White House. I thought it was going to be a nice tour where you get some time to look at everything and see some stuff up close, but it seemed like they just wanted to get people in and get them out. Secret service was everywhere, which I figured would be the case. Karen said the tours before 9-11 and the 2021 riots were a lot more friendly, so I can understand why it was like it was. We got to the White House visitor center first and the info person there told us where to go for the tour.  While there, I found a place that had stamps you could stamp paper with that had different White House things and the date. As many of you know, any time I go to a historical place or a baseball stadium, if I have a card of the place, I write the date that I visited the place on it, and note who I was with. I have an Allen & Ginter mini insert of the White House which I took with me on the trip, and I figured why not stamp it on the back, as well as mark it with the date and Karen & Kylers names on the front. I haven’t got around to marking the front, but here’s how it looks now. 

The stamp didn’t come out as clear as I had hoped, but if you squint, you can see the date and White House info on it. I also found a cool card relating to my trip to the Pirates game from the big junk wax lot that John for Johnny’s Trading Spot so graciously let me have. You will have to wait for that as I am doing that bunch of cards in at least its own post, maybe 2-3. 

Before the tour, we waited in line to go through security, and we saw the Presidents Motorcade leave the White House. That was kind of cool. While close to the security area, Karen mentioned that the building next to the White House was the Treasury building or something. She lived in DC for a few years in high school. Later, during the tour, there was a picture of a president on a wall, and Kyler had been fascinated with presidents for a while and has a placemat with all of them on it. Kyler said he thought the painting was on McKinley, and the secret service agent in the room said he was correct. Kind of cool to have secret service tell my wife and son that they were right. I hang out with cool company. 

At the first part of the tour, we saw a garden through a window. There was a guy in a suit talking on the phone, and he had a leash and was kind of watching the dog (who was off the leash).  We think it might have been the presidents dog, but still aren’t sure. 

We got a picture near the exit before leaving. 

Before we went back to the hotel, we stopped by Karens old church and toured the building. 

The next day, we were just tired, and stayed in the room most of the day and hung out. 

Saturday we went to the National Zoo. It was pretty hot, and we got off to a late start, so we only spent a few hours there. 

Sunday was Fathers Day, and we took the Metro to the Nats-Marlins game. Riding the Metro, we ran into some bums, tourists, and just your normal subway riders. 

I think he was looking for some Jedi, but fortunately for us, we didn’t see any there. 

We got to the game as the doors opened, and I was impressed with the stadium. A block or 2 away from the park, it was just like a block party. Streets were blocked off, people were selling snacks and Nats stuff from tables on the steeet, and Nats gear was everywhere. Why can’t the Rays do this in St. Pete? Inside the park, it almost looked like some outside features were on the inside. Ticket sales had a few windows and looked like something you could see outside a ballpark. 

We rushed to our seat area and I got down to business, which was to try to meet DeLand native and Marlins catcher Nick Fortes. We made a sign that said we drove from DeLand to see him play, and luckily for us, he was the first person out of the dugout. He saw our sign and came over. I mentioned I live in DeLand and he asked what we were doing in DC. I told him we were on vacation and he signed a card for us. 

He was a really nice guy, and I think he would’ve signed without us having the sign, as he stopped for a few other fans. Needless to say, I am collecting him and hope he gets in some 2023 sets. I got a few pictures of him warning up and playing. He went 2-4 with 2 hits, an RBI, and a run. 

We left the game in the 4th or so. It was just so freaking hot in our section. I got a shot of the field on the way out. 

After the game, we were tired, but decided to see the Lincoln Memorial since we were in DC for just the rest of Sunday and were leaving Monday. 

We ended up parking closer to the Washington Monument, so went over to it first. Karen had seen all of the touristy things multiple times, so she took pictures of me and Kyler and stayed back for some of the places. Here is me and Ky at the Washington Monument. 

After that, we walked the length of the reflecting pool and went to the Lincoln Memorial. We probably walked 3 miles that day between the historic sites and the ballgame, but it was worth it. 

That wraps up our vacation. We drove home Monday and I spent Tuesday unpacking and mowing our front yard as it was so long it was starting to attract cows. Wednesday I was off, and that gave me the chance to head over to Ocala and pick up that huge lot of junk wax cards from John. Words cannot express how lucky and grateful I am that John not only got the cards for me, but also let me rummage through his trade box for some Rays cards. That will be the subject of the next post or three. It’s a ton of cards, but I just want to do it justice. 

Thanks for checking out my latest post. 

-Jeremy

Vacation Part 1

 I have been back from vacation for a few days, and we did a lot, but had a great time. There were a number of baseball things during the trip, and of course, baseball cards. 

We left DeLand on a Friday after I got off work, and stopped somewhere in North Carolina for the night. The next day, we drove to West Virginia and saw 2 of Karens cousins before going in for the night. That Sunday was a Pirates-Mets game at PNC Park. I have so many great things to say about not only PNC Park, but also the city of Pittsburgh. I would almost think about moving there if it weren’t so cold in the winter. A pro-union city, a beautiful park, a beautiful city, rivers, bridges, hills…it just seemed great. Driving into the city, we went through a tunnel that went under a mountain. Coming out of it, you are met with the beautiful city skyline, rivers, a few bridges, the other side of the hill, and it was just spectacular. We got to the park, and it was also spectacular. Every seat was angled to the mound so you had a great view of the game, and seeing the other seats angle from our view in LF was different. 

I wanted to see the Pirate Parrot and try to get Manny Sanguillen’s autograph, so before the game started, I took Kyler to walk around the park. We never did find the Parrot, but found Manny’s BBQ stand after walking around the outfield area. It was a nice area. There were some playground areas and toys for the kids, you could see the Allegheny River from the entire OF area, and there were tables where you could sit and watch the river/game, some food and bar areas, and some statues, just a great way to have a park layed out. 

By the time we found the BBQ stand, I was hungry and the game had started. I got in line and spotted Manny getting out of a walker and going to a table with markers. I got a 15 dollar macaroni and while I was paying, Andrew McCutchen came up. He was somehow still at 1,999 hits. I should’ve looked for a TV or just got out of line and walked the 6 feet past the stand so I could watch his AB, but I didn’t, and of course, he got the hit right then. Karen got some video of him running to 2nd and I believe she got a pic of him before the AB, but I would’ve loved to have seen it. 

After I paid, I noticed a TV at the BBQ stand where I could’ve seen it, and also noticed that Manny was gone. There was a line by his table, so I just decided to wait. He came back after 30 minutes and signed my cards.  

My first Topps sunset card signed since I started collecting them. 

We had some friends, the Dickinson’s, that we have known for a little over 10 years. They went to our church in DeLand, and moved back to Pittsburgh, where they are from, about 6 years ago.  Karen Dickinson played guitar in our band at church, and her husband John is hilariously funny. They have a son Calvin, who just had a baby, and a younger daughter Gracie, who couldn’t make the trip. They met up with us at the game, and took us up to a nice lookout point in the city, and then to a local restaurant. I spent most of the day talking sports with John and Calvin, and also got some nice facts about the city. Karen caught up with Karen (lol), and Kyler entertained the whole crew. 

The crew at PNC Park 

At the lookout point. 

The next day, we drove to Niagara Falls, and had a chill day. We stopped at a Target, and I got a blaster of Heritage. I was a little disappointed with the collation (between 2 blasters and a 10 pack box, I got triples of a few cards, and doubles of 2 inserts), and noticed that SPs were a little tougher to pull and that every 4th or 5th pack didn’t have an insert of any kind. I’ll cut to the chase and post the highlights of the Heritage cards. 

I got 3 of the Blue Sparkle cards, but those are going in trades, so I just shown the 1. I pulled a Brandon Crawford relic, which was kind of meh for me. He was on that overrated Giants team that beat my Tigers in the World Series. There was a guy with a Crawford jersey at the Nats game I went to. I wish I would’ve had it with me, cause I would’ve just given it to the guy. I pulled a few flashback cards, and like 3 of whatever the rookie inserts were called. Those are the SPs, which are probably going to go to Night Owl if he is going for the complete set. 

The Falls were incredible up close. We got soaked while riding the Maid of the Mist. 

After 3 days in Niagara, we drove to Washington DC on the 14th, which also was my 40th birthday. We arrived in DC, and met up with Karens old plaster from Virginia and his wife. They took us out on their boat. They lived in this nice community which featured many empty nesters and had nice little restaurants and shops in it. I would love to move to a place like that later in life. It had everything you needed in the village within walking distance, and was along a beautiful lake. 

There was a little outside stage area and it had a big ‘LOVE’ sign and we got our picture in it. 

The next day, we went to see the White House. I will stop here as it was a long trip and so many things, so I don’t want to drag this on. 

It’s good to be back home and in a routine, even if it does include work. I think all of us are refreshed and with some great memories. 

Thanks for checking out my latest post. 

-Jeremy

Contest recap and my ballgame plans

 

Yesterday I held a contest pertaining to our vacation, and Vroomed got the first correct response with PNC Park/Pittsburg Pirates. Vroomed, if you are reading this, please let me know what to send you and where to send it. 

We are planning on seeing the Pirates/Mets game on Sunday the 11th, and it will be a great experience seeing Ke’Bryan Hayes, Andrew McCutchen, Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and others play in person. Perhaps we’ll get lucky and see Verlander or Scherzer pitch. I believe I’ve seen Verlander live in spring training before, but don’t believe I’ve seen Scherzer live. We will be sitting in right field, so maybe we’ll have a chance for a HR ball during the game or batting practice. I’d love to get some autographs, but I have a feeling the only chance might be the Pirate Parrot. I had 5 cards of him, but while going through my Pirates binders, I came across the blue parallel at the bottom of the photo and remembered I had the base copy in my highlights binder. The Taylor Buchholz card features the Parrot in the background. 

I also came across Manny Sanguillen’s bbq stand, and I don’t know if he still comes to it to sign autographs, but if he does, I’m pretty sure I have some of his cards, and I’ll be ready. 

As far as the Nats game, I have a couple of cards of Screetch, their mascot, and I’ll try to get them signed and we’ll see if I can meet Nick Fortes of the Marlins. I can’t remember if I mentioned it, but Fortes is from DeLand, FL (where I currently live), and went to high school here. Our paths could have crossed for all I know. Our seats are by the Marlins dugout, so we’ll see if I can make a ‘We drove all the way from DeLand, FL to see Nick Fortes play’ sign and maybe he will come over and say hi. It will be a fun trip regardless of what happens at the games, and hopefully we can make a bunch of memories. 

Posting should be sparse, if at all during vacation, but I’ll be back at it when I’m back, probably with a recap post and probably some new cards from wherever we can find some. 

Thanks for checking out my latest post. 

-Jeremy

Quick contest

 Yesterday, Karen and I were planning out our driving route for our vacation. Basically going from DeLand, FL to somewhere in VA, resting, driving from there to Niagara Falls, spending 3 days there, driving to Northern VA, spending 2-3 days seeing stuff in Washington, DC (including a Nats game), driving to Charlotte, NC, spending a day there to see family, and then driving back to DeLand. June 10-21 and I can’t wait. 

While planning out everything, I took note of where we were driving through, checked the schedule, and we timed it out so we will be visiting a new ballpark and seeing a second game. This will be my 12th ballpark visited by myself (Tropicana Field, Turner Field, Fenway Park, Shea Stadium, Miller Park, Comiskey Park (2), Kauffman Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Comerica Park, Wrigley Field, Nats Ballpark, and this next one). It will be the 6th one I’ve been to with Karen and Kyler (The Trop, Minute Maid, Comerica, Wrigley, and the 2 on this trip), and it will be the 3rd one I’ve been to this season, tying the 3  I’ve been to in 2008 (Miller, Comiskey #2, and Kauffman). 

I figured I would do a little contest to spice things up on the blog since I don’t have any new cards to show and probably won’t until we’re on the trip. The first one to correctly guess which ballpark or home team we will be seeing (besides the Nationals) on our trip will win a pwe of cards of their favorite team(s) and/or player(s). If nobody correctly guesses by tomorrow, I’ll post a clue tomorrow. Good luck. 

Thanks for reading my latest post. 

-Jeremy

2023 Bowman and another team set

 Yesterday, the family and I went to Wal-Mart to get some things. Unlike last time, there was a little more there. Blasters of 2023 Bowman and more 2023 Topps team sets, this time, the Rays, Orioles, and Nationals. Kind of weird to have the O's and Nats there instead of the Marlins, or a team like the Tigers which trains nearby, but hey, we're going to see the Nats in less than a month, so I scooped up a blaster of Bowman and a Nats team set. I didn't expect much from Bowman, and don't think I did good from a flipper brah perspective, but feel like I got a ton more rookies than when I got some 2022 Bowman, and did well in the Rays department. 

First up are the vets and first part of the Nats team set. Nothing to spectacular. A bunch of 2nd year guys and a few people I have actually heard of. 

The rest of the Nats set and the vets, as well as the Rays, Tigers, and the 1 favorite player I pulled. Surprisingly (even though he is injured), the Nats set didn't have a Stephen Strasburg card in it. He is the face of the franchise now, and as long as he has been playing, he deserves a card. Yeah, he is hurt, but he will be back next year (if not, this one), and for him to miss out on a Series 2 card and be relegated to the company of Ryan Yarbrough, Connor Joe, Michael Chavis, etc non-household name guys who get in Update every year, it is just a shame. The guy who was THE card to pull in 2010 Topps. Fanatics guys must not be 'yearbook style' guys, but even so, you know Strasburg (and Glasnow for that matter!) will be back this year, so why not put them in the set?  I can't think of any other big name guys who had Tommy John in 2022 who might not be back till the end of this year, but I'm curious to see who is in the 2023 Topps set (or at least in team sets) so far (just checked and Casey Mize is in the Tigers 2023 team set). I swear, Fanatics needs to let me (or another normal baseall fan who is opposed to advanced stats, pitch clocks, flippers, SPs, and has actually put together a complete baseball card set) work in their player selection department. 

The Rays were nice ones for me. I have been hearing alot about Caminero lately, and knew that Isaac was a 2022 1st Round pick, and I was hoping to get cards of them sooner than later. Also got 1 Miggy card, and a Jacob deGrom. 

I really haven't heard of any of the rookies, other than some of the guys with Major League time. The Harris cards are my first of his, and I'm glad I pulled that Henderson card. Just hope the Orioles (Yankee$ and Blue Jays for that matter) can go on some nice losing streaks sooner than later. 

More of the same with the Chrome, and also a (Green?) Refractor. The last 3 are rookies from the team set. Only Menses will have a chance at being at the game as Cavalli is out for the year with surgery, and Lee is in AA right now. Good thing Cavalli got diagnosed with Tommy John in Spring Training after the 2023 cards were released, else he might not have got into a 2023 card with the way Fanatics seems to run things. 

I have been going through the Nats and Marlins roster so I can pull cards for autographs and have a nice master list going of which binders to look for which players in. Friday morning's project will be pulling a card or 2 out for everyone on my list and putting them in a box to take to the game. 18 more days until we leave if I'm counting correctly. Should be all downhill once Memorial Day is over with. I'll get to spend some time with my youngest 2 sisters the first week of June (they are twins, and the youngest who lives in Texas is coming to Florida), and one of Karen's stepsisters is coming down that week as well, so we will spend time with them, and with the packing and last minute things during the final week, it will fly by. The master Topps needlist only got as far as the Red Sox, but more important things need to be done for the trip, so I'll most likely pick that up with the White Sox when we get back. 

Thanks for checking out my latest post.

-Jeremy

Cards from John and rant about spin rate

 Today I got a pwe from John of Johnny’s Trading Spot in the mail. I won one of his week-daily giveaways recently, and the envelope contained a smattering of shiny Rays. 

The ‘07 Bowman Sterling refractor of Delmon Young would’ve been a hot card back in 2007. While it might be found in a dollar box now, I am happy to have it and would’ve probably paid more for it. The Brendan McKay card is one of those Mojo Box refractors. I have like 4 or 5 of those from that set, all Rays and Tigers. McKay is currently on the DL and will probably be out until next year as far as pitching, which is a shame because the Rays could use him. I just don’t understand why they can’t use him as a DH and try to get some value out of him. Perhaps the injury is more complicated than I think it is. Here’s to hoping McKay can put it together in 2024. The Charlie Morton is a 2020 Optic parallel. Not quite sure without looking at TCDB, but it kind of looks like snakeskin and is numbered to 88. Another McKay and then a 2021 Chrome Sapphire Chris Archer. Next is one of the guys swiped from the Pirates in the Archer trade and another numbered parallel with a 2022 Topps Chrome Sonic purple parallel of Tyler Glasnow. Those are cool enough that if the prices are similar, I might have to buy a blaster or a box of it. I feel like I have a number of variations of Vidal Brujan’s 2022 Topps card, with the base, Opening Day, team set, Chrome, Holiday, and now Holiday snowflake parallel card. Of course, there are probably still the Ben Baller, Chrome Sapphire, Chrome Sonic, and all of the 200 parallels per set. Next is a guy I collect, Paul DeJong, on a 2019 Leaf Limited insert blue parallel numbered to 99. Lastly is a ‘22 Archives SP of Randy Arozarena that I will put in my highlights binder since I have another copy in my Rays box. A great envelope of cards. Thanks so much, John!

Right now, I just want to take a moment and whine about these stat nerds and all of the crap that they are doing to baseball to hurt it. The pitch clock is bad enough, but I’m really pissed about a little stat they like to call ‘spin rate’. It basically tells you how many revolutions per minute a breaking ball spins. The more it spins, the harder it is to hit. While I enjoy a good curveball as much as the next guy, there were guys I’ve watched dominate like Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Trevor Hoffman who never worried about spin rates because they located their fastball and used a dominating changeup. While the pitch clock does play a small part in some of these pitcher injuries with pitchers having to snap off a pitch when they aren’t ready if the clock is winding down, the real problem is the damn spin rate that is being pushed by every pitching coach. The Rays have been big spin rate guys ever since it became popular, and are probably the most bullish on the stat. With that being said, they have also had a rotation and a half worth of good starting pitchers who have lost seasons to injury. I believe it is due to their marriage to the spin rate. Tyler Glasnow, Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, Shane Baz, Nick Anderson, Brendan McKay, Brent Honeywell. Those are just the ones I could name off the top of my head. Every time I see. Rays headline, I cringe because I wonder which pitcher is going down next. It’s going to be tough to get through 2023 even with the record start if they only have 2-3 starting pitchers and 2 crappy bullpen games where the opposition is going to bat around in at least one inning of the game. I hope for Rasmussen’s injury to be low grade. I hope Glasnow stays healthy for the rest of this season. I hope that Baz can be ahead of schedule with his rehab and slide in as a #4 starter at the seasons end. That would give us McClanahan, Glasnow, Rasmussen, Baz, and Eflin as a solid rotation come playoff time, no bullpen games!!!, and the option to put Chirinos, Taj Bradley, Josh Fleming, and Pete Fairbanks as bullpen options. They can help solidify the bullpen and the Rays might have a decent shot at winning their first championship. Just give the spin rate a rest, throw changeups and regular curveballs, and give the arms a chance to stay healthy!

Tomorrow I am off and I am planning on working on my Topps checklists, with the Red and White Sox being the next 2 teams.  I can probably get at least one of them done and possibly both. We’ll see. The end is starting to be in sight. 

Thanks for checking out my latest post. 

-Jeremy

2023 Topps Rays team set

 Yesterday the family and I went to Wal-Mart, and while I wasn’t really expecting to get any cards there, I did end up with a small stack of them. 

The one we frequent sometimes has stuff when new product is out, but the last month has been bare other than blasters of ‘22 Archives, ‘22 Allen & Ginter, and ‘22 Optic. I’ve already sampled Archives and Optic, and A/G isn’t my style, so unless something new was there, I wasn’t planning on getting any. 

They didn’t have much else new, but did have Topps team sets of the Rays and Orioles. I was hoping for the Tigers as well, but I haven’t got the Tigers team set in probably 15-20 years, so it wasn’t a big loss. I got the Rays set and was wondering what the guys who would probably be on Series 2 or team set exclusives would be. 

Not many surprises here. I think maybe Adam and Poche might not be Series 2 guys. I was surprised not to see Zach Eflin and Tyler Glasnow in the set. Eflin was the big free agent sign (largest in Rays history I believe), and Glasnow did get a couple of innings last year, and is still expected to be a big part of the rotation this year. I assume they will be in Update, as will Taj Bradley, and perhaps Curtis Mead and a few other prospects should they get called up before the deadline to get in Update. I hope Ryan Thompson will get his first Topps card as well. I think Luke Raley, Pete Fairbanks, Yonny Chirinos, and Josh Fleming  will get cards in Update as well if they keep producing and stay relatively healthy.  Of course, if Manfraud has his way, everyone on the cheating Yankee$ and the overspending Padre$ gets 2 cards each. We’ll see towards the end of the year. 

Thanks for checking out my latest post. 

-Jeremy