My First 2010 Topps Cards

I've been so preoccupied with watching and enjoying the competition of Olympic hockey lately I've found myself neglecting this blog. Fortunately, the tournament ends this weekend, so I'll be able to focus my attention over here, come Monday. In the meantime, I did a little bit of shopping at my local Target recently, and found myself staring at the aisle filled with new 2010 Baseball card product. So, I grabbed a couple of rack packs of 2010 Topps. See what I found below.

First, I am going to start with a non-Dodger, Omar Vizquel. Not because he's a great player- he is. Not because he's a future Hall of Famer- he is. I am starting with his card because it uses such a great photo. Omar is doing what he does best- leaping into the sky to complete a double play. This card, of all the ones I picked up, makes me yearn more deeply for Baseball to begin anew.
A Jackie card! Below is a Tales of the Game insert card of Jackie Robinson stealing home during the 1955 World Series. This is a play Yogi Berra still claims was called wrong. Of course, we all know that Jackie was safe- even some retired umpires I saw on the MLB network recently said so!
Here is the back of the card with a helpful explanation of the event.The first Dodger I pulled in my rack pack was Andre Ethier. I thought the photo above was a little bland, but the back of the card is great. It brings back some great memories about Andre's clutch hitting last season.
Here are some more Dodgers I pulled, including the Dodger franchise card of a colorized Ebbets Field facade. Below is the back of that card.
Here are some Peak Performance insert cards of a couple of Hall of Famers. Walter Johnson was a local boy who once pitched for Fullerton High School in his youth.
This Nolan Ryan insert below brings back some memories. It is a "The Cards Your Mom Threw Out" subset, and I can honestly say that my Mom did throw out this card. How funny is that?
I was also fortunate enough to pull one of those Topps Million Card Give-Away inserts to unlock the below card online. Unfortunately, it's a damn Yankee. Anyone want to trade for a Dodger?

Be A Honarary Bat Girl

This sounds like a great opportunity to share your story about supporting the fight against breast cancer. Submit your story (or submit on behalf of another) of someone who has or had breast cancer, or is an advocate/supporter of the cause. One person per ballclub is chosen to be honored with that person receiving two free tickets and some Mothers Day Pink memorabilia. Check out some more about it below.

Major League Baseball® (MLB) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, today launched the 2010 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, a campaign developed to recognize MLB fans who are Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer in their daily lives. Men and women 18 and older can go online at www.mlb.com/honorarybatgirl to vote and enter to win a chance at becoming an Honorary Bat Girl during scheduled Mother’s Day celebrations. Each Honorary Bat Girl will have an opportunity to take part in pre-game activities, be honored during an on-field ceremony and receive two tickets to the game and pink MLB merchandise. MLB.com, the official web site of MLB, has begun accepting fan submissions for the online contest that ends April 13.

During the six-week online submission period, baseball fans can share their stories of inspiration and hope of how they are supporting the fight against breast cancer and why they want to be an Honorary Bat Girl for their favorite MLB Club. Testimonials can be submitted by breast cancer survivors, advocates and supporters of the cause. A celebrity panel of judges will select the winning submissions, based on the following criteria: originality, quality of writing, demonstration of commitment to breast cancer awareness and public appeal as determined by online fan votes.

“Major League Baseball is very proud of the partnership we have forged with Susan G. Komen for the Cure,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “The launch of the Honorary Bat Girl campaign last year was a successful complement to our Mother’s Day Celebration, and helped put a face on the millions of fans affected by breast cancer and further helped raise awareness for the cause.”

Gagne Galore

This past Thursday I wrote about Eric Gagne and his recent signing with the Dodgers. As I said previously, those handful of years when he came out of the bullpen to raukous applause and a flashing "Game OVer" sign will forever resonate in my mind. I know his past accomplishments have been sullied by the HGH revelations, but I cannot help but reminisce about how great those days were.

As promised (a few days late, though), below are some scans of Gagne cards in my collection. As you'll notice, all of the cards below are certified autographed cards. The bulk of my modern era Dodger collection consist of cards like these.

Blog Kiosk: 2/21/2010

Go USA! Team USA just beat Team Canada in Olympic Hockey!

• Baseball-Reference to be bringing in Negro League Stats, via Big League Stew. This is long overdue.
  
• Why did the 1914 Boston Braves wear swastikas on their hats? Go to the Baseball Researcher to find out.
• Sports Collectors Daily takes a look at the creator of one of the first Baseball cards- Peck & Snyder.
  
• Worlds Largest Dodgeball Game.

Video Link:
Hat Tip: Huffington Post:

Welcome Back, Eric!

Per Dylan Hernandez's twitter, Eric Gagne is back.

He won't be quite "Game Over," but I will admit to having a soft spot for the guy. Those years when he blew out the competition was magical. Welcome home Eric!!!

In celebration I'm gonna go home tonight, pull out some of my favorite Gagne cards, scan them and post them tomorrow, yhea!
Hat Tip: Memories of Kevin Malone:

UPDATE:

I'm sure you all remember this classic shirt. I think I'm going to have to search my closet and wear it under my work clothes tomorrow.

A Great Dodger Quilt

One of the great American folk art crafts is the creation of quilts. Often made by women and children, they were emblems of a family's past, a communities history or an interest that was loved by the maker. Other times, they would consist of ornate artistic patterns worthy of display in any museum. Quilts would be passed down through the generations and they are always one-of-a-kind. I have seen many quilts on shows like the Antique Roadshow that were dated to as far back as the revolution. Over the years they have become very collectible.

Thanks to The Sport Collectors Daily we find out about a collection of quilts made by an avid Baseball fan named Clara Schmitt Rothmeier that will be auctioned later this month. Go to the auction information page for more information.

Clara was an accomplished baseball player as well as a quiltmaker. Her father played minor league ball in the Pittsburgh organization, and her five brothers and four sisters had all played on traveling baseball and softball teams from Springfield, Illinois. While on the road, she started sewing to keep busy. Her "My Favorite Baseball Stars" quilt took more than 10 years to complete, has 340 actual autographs, and was exhibited in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in 1959-1960.

Last year on June 16, 2009 she passed away at the age of 78. You can know check out her work and possibly take one home in their upcoming estate auction on February 20, 2010. Below is her 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers quilt she made after they beat the Yankees in the World Series. There are 32 hand drawn portraits. It measures 79" x 90" and was once on tour with the "Grand Slam: A Century of Baseball Quilts" traveling museum. You may have seen this in 1998 when it came through Southern California.
A Close up.
Below is a great photo from the 1960's of Clara in front of some of her quilts.