Titans to Omaha

(Image Link: Fullerton Titans.com)

My Alma Mater is going to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Cal State Fullerton easily came out of their Super Regional Tournament with a full head of steam. They defeated Louisville 11-2 on Saturday and 12-0 on Friday.

Fullerton, which will be making its fourth trip to Omaha in the last six seasons and the first under second-year Head Coach Dave Serrano, improved to 47-14 overall on the year, having won its last nine games and 15 consecutive contests at home. The Titans, who have advanced seven times out of nine super regionals with a 15-6 record, will meet Arkansas in their opener at the College World Series after the Razorbacks swept host Florida State by the scores of 7-2 and 9-8.

They are currently ranked 2nd in the country behind UCI (who failed to make it out of the regional tournament). The tournament starts on June 13th.

Go Titans!

Card of the Week: In Your Face

Here we have a very common 1990 Upper Deck Baseball card of back-up infielder Jose Oquendo. This fellow spent most of his career with the Cardinals. He had a fairly unremarkable career, but did fill a niche. Oquendo was a very patient hitter and an able utility man. In fact, he could play any position on the diamond, including pitcher.

Oquendo even made it into TV.

In 2004, a comical one hour special aired on ESPN and was produced by MLB Productions about José Oquendo. It featured Randy and Jason Sklar of Cheap Seats going on a trip all the way to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown on a campaign to get José "The Utilityman" Oquendo inducted for his versatility to play any position on the baseball field. The special included the Sklars receiving Oquendo's blessing to lobby for his spot in Cooperstown, collecting signatures for the petition, and giving a lackluster presentation to the Hall of Fame's committee. After initially denying their claim, the committee agreed to place his plaque in a spot that fits the man- the utility closet.

Now, why is his card the "Card of the Week?" Well, it's not the front of the card that strikes my fancy, but the reverse which makes me laugh. This card features a wrongly placed hologram sticker on the back that covers Jose's face.

I guess Upper Deck was still working through some kinks as they improperly aligned the card sheet when putting on the holograms. I have 6 different cards like this, as well as, 3 no hologram cards, and they are all number in the 300's. I do not believe other double hologram/ no hologram cards exist on cards starting with a number other than 3.
Here is a Willie Wilson no hologram card.

Pics on Flickr

The nicest thing about sites like Flickr are the great fan photos. Check out the one I recently came across.

It looks like this rabid fan is in enemy territory.

(Flickr Pic Link: Geoff Livingston)

A childhood collection.

(Flickr Pic Link: gala us guy)

Look at that beautiful sky.

(Flickr Pic Link: OctopusHat)

These composite photos are just great.

(Flickr Pic Link: Jimenagamio)

Blog Kiosk: 6/7/2009

Dodger magic is in the air.

• Are you watching the NBA Finals? Do you have the bankroll to afford Kobe's game-worn jersey from Game 1 of this years finals? Go here to make a bid. It's already over $10,000.00.(Hat Tip: SCD)
  
• Night Owl Cards retells the magic of Friday nights game in cards, then he does the same as he reminds us of a game, 32 years ago, where the Dodger beat the Phillies in a similar fashion during a National League Championship game.
• Dodgers get their own zip code. Dodger Stadium is now at Dodgertown, CA 90090.

  "The magic of a Major League Baseball team for the first time in history having its own ZIP code and becoming a worldwide destination."- Jamie McCourt
  

  "This new ZIP code goes far beyond the volumes of mail. There's such civic pride for the Dodgers and for the incredible community efforts that they have undertaken." -Los Angeles council member Ed Reyes

  Not every town in America has its own ZIP code and we're proud today to be able to announce that Dodgertown, a destination of such a great organization of such a great team, has its own ZIP code."-Gregory G. Graves, Postal Service's district manager of Los Angeles

  Go here for more information and a video of the ceremony.
  
• Giants outfielder Fred Lewis wipes his face with the Presidential dog towel.

  “[A]s the group walked from the South Lawn to a receiving room, [outfielder Fred] Lewis grabbed a towel and wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

  “Oh, no, no,” the tour guide exclaimed with Lewis in mid-dab. “Those are for the dog.”

  The team burst out laughing, and the tour guide apologized for embarrassing Lewis.

  “Naw, that’s the best part,” right-hander Matt Cain said. “Trust me, he does it all the time.”

  Hat Tip: Diamond Notes:
  
• Upper Deck recently treated 18 lucky folks to an hour with Tiger Woods. Go here to find out more.
• Sully is sure that Lidge's troubles have something to do with a pact with the Devil.
  
• Why hadn't anyone thought of doing this sooner. Check out the hat "Hat Trick" display case.
• 7 helpful "don'ts" of card collecting.
  
• 7 Helpful "do's" of card collecting.
  
• Bill Cosby as the keynote speaker at Carnegie Mellon's 2007 graduation ceremony.
  

YouTube Link: carnegiemellonu:

Ladies Go GaGa Over Ethier

Kershaw And Ethier were signing at Macy's yesterday. Here is a video of their introduction as you can hear the cheers from the fans. Especially obvious is the "rock star" status Ethier is gaining.

Flickr Video: DaBruins07:

Upper Deck May Have Hit It Big

Upper Deck recently released pics of cards from their upcoming new set called 2009 Goodwin Champions Baseball. So far, I like what I see.

The design is borrowed from a late 19th century vintage set put out in 1888 called Goodwin Champions. They originally measured 1 1/2" X 2 5/8" and were inserted in 10-count slide & shell boxes of Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes.

(Pic Link: Baseball & Tobacco)

This set consisted of 50 cards and featured only 8 Baseball players. Below is a Brooklyn Bridegrooms Bob Caruthers card from this set.

(Pic Link: Old Cardboard)

The other ballplayers include Cap Anson, Ed Andrews, Dan Brouthers, Fred Dunlap, Jack Glasscock, Tim Keefe and King Kelly. Non-Baseball subjects include marksman, boxers and bicyclist. Notable figures like Jack Dempsey, John L.Sullivan and Buffalo Bill Cody are included in the set. In fact, Upper Deck is making a new version of Cody's card as you can see below.
The Manny card is the set is just gorgeous. The stormy skies in the background give this card a ominous look. He looks zeroed in and ready to hit the next pitch.
Below are other pics they released that really caught my eye. Here is Bo Jackson and Ichiro.
Non-sport subjects will also be a part of the 2009 Upper Deck set. Along with the Buffalo Bill Cody card above Abraham Lincoln and other famous folks will be featured.
The strangest card in the set is this limited insert Thoroughbred Hair Cut of Smarty Jones.
See the rest of the photos at Upper Deck's Facebook page.