The Best Smile in Baseball

I know I'm new to this. That I haven't been exposed to the tens-of-thousands of cards others have. I hope if you read this, have a favorite card that fits the category "smiles", that you share it with me. A binder of smiles would be pretty awesome.

However, there's no denyin' it. This man could smile with the best of them. I knew it little, and know it now.

As nice as they come. What's that? You want another. OK.

You gotta' own this card to see the smile because my scanner only picked up his holo-swing. Discernible barely at the tops surface of the picture. A peek-a-boo smile indeed.

The last smile is savvy. My first of this much maligned set.

I'll say it again.

Savvy.

These cards were presented courtesy of Angels in the Outfield. Just post new year I will get those Angels out to you. Got a bunch of Lineage and the glossy A&G set, with a few extra.

Show your smiles. I'd love to see.

Some Holiday Candy

Here he is everyone. That last little bit of candy in that orange jack-o-lantern pumpkin with the black plastic handle. The mustachioed hero of the minor leagues, while still residing in Puerto Rico. It's Riverside, he's Candy . . . its cavities.

Take that Wilson!

The next one, while he does look happy on the front. I mean that smile will just suck you in. It is what is on the back that really makes this spectacular. Two Words.

Carl's.
Jr.

That happy little star promising delicious hamburger devilry. Few and far between, here in the midwest, Chicago. A special treat when discovered on the highway, going to some far away place, off in the west.

Riverside, one day. One day I shall sup with temporal proximity where Candy once tread. Or perhaps Ulises, as this card reads on the back. Because who needs candy when you have . . .

The Double Bacon Western Cheeseburger.

This certainly qualifies as a doubly food card. Sweet.

Cubs From the Giving Box

The Extreme Value continues to crank out the hits. Here we have the 2006 Topps team set of the Cubs. I am sure glad I don't have the Diamondbacks, or the Marlins. At least its from a team I like, and since I did buy the box in Chicago it makes since. Here we have the Cubs, only five years ago. Moving into the Epstein era, lets see where these ex-cubies play, and if we would be glad or sad if they still played for the boys in blue.

1. Kerry Wood: Cubs again, Glad

2. Mark Prior: Yankees Farm League, Sad

3. Greg Maddux: Retired, Glad

4. Carlos Zambrano: Probably and Unbelievably a Cubbie, Sad-so-sad

5. Michael Barrett: Mets Free Agent, Sad

6. Derrek Lee: Pirates, Glad

7. Jerry Hairston Jr.: Dodgers, Sad

8. Ronny Cedeno: Pirates Free Agent, Sad

9. Todd Walker: Retired, Sad

10. Aramis Ramirez: Cubs Free Agent, Glad

11. Ryan Dempster: Cubs, Glad

12. Jacque Jones: Free Agent, Sad

13. Glendon Rusch: Free Agent, Sad

14. Juan Pierre: Free Agent, Sad


Well, there's the cards. And judging how I would be sad if the majority were still on the team, I think the Cubs have moved in the right direction. Just drop the big Z, what the heck?!?

More Love from the Box

Well, I hope every one's Christmas season was well spent with friends and family. Food at our house was delicious, a standing rib roast, horseradish whipped potato, various sides, homemade bread. And to wash it all down, Umathum, an amazing Austrian red wine that lends it self, along with a table for 10, to quick drinking and Gregorian chanting.

Alas, we shall return to the cards. Once more into my 1.99 investment we discover some questionable design, and three players, two who previously were strangers and one young surprise.

Tom Browning has the unfortunate fate to be placed on the worst design of the day. I think my sister sponge-painted her bedroom in a similar fashion around the same years. None the less, a year after this card was printed Tom would throw the 12th perfect game in history. Marge Schott, his then owner, attempted to add a clause to his contract that stated if he pitched another perfect game in 19989 his wife would earn 300,000 dollars. This was eventually nixed by the league.

Barry Jones, besides rocking the old-school White sox uni, has a sweet stash and an "East Bound and Down" aesthetic that is hard not to envy.

So, for the most part I figured this must be a different Luis Gonzalez. What were the chances that I got a rookie, minor league card from the "real" Luis Gonzalez's career. Had to be another kid . . . what is that. The same birth date as Luis on wikipedia. And, reading further he was drafted by the Astros in the 4th round of the 88 draft. The card is shot at the Astros compound and field down in Florida, home of the rookie league team. I figure that is what this is from. Pretty cool.

Well, I believe Luis here has pulled ahead of the off-center Buckner as best pull from the plasticine box of value!

It's All a Matter of Perspective

I have almost finished organizing and coallating my 2011 Update set. It has been fun. I pulled the Ozzie Smith SP so that was totally sweet! Why are so many of those cards from his Padres days?  Seems to be all I get, but oh well. He had awesome hair back then.

The two cards today are absolutely stunning photos. I love that a few cards can be like this. For all of the floating head cards, the swing shots, the oh-so boring pitcher throwing . . . there are these.

The colors alone are so refreshing and bright. The yellow banner across the bottom perfect against the green of the grass above and on-deck circle below. Notice the catcher caught between the Pirates players, exceptional. And then the photo continues to rise into the stadium's nose bleed section and into the blue sky above. Reminds me of an EA sports "photo". Refreshing says it best to me.

Wow. Just wow. Amazing work, amazing shadows. I believe it may slow the heart rate akin to watching an aquarium. Don't quote me on this.

Couple of beautiful cards Topps, thanks.