An OK Suprise and a new member of our family

Meet " Colors ". A temporary new member of our family ! Colors is a seven year old Shetland (miniature collie) who belongs to our youngest son's girlfriend. She needed someone to take her in for while so we volunteered.Colors was a little apprehensive at first but finally calmed down on the living room floor with a pillow from Andy's room.

Now, the surprise was Ok as in Oklahoma. Jeremy over at no one's going to read this blog sent me a few Tribe cards to perk up my summer a little. Lord knows the Tribe isn't doing their part! They had a nice win streak going but that seems to have faded out.

This is my first Manny Acta card ! At first I was a little concerned when they chose him, but the more I see, the more I like. He has a good base of players, they just need some experience. I never lose my my faith in the Tribe !

The past - Kenny Lofton

The departed - Victor Martinez

The new - Justin Masterson

The yet to be- Ben Carlson

Ben had terrific college numbers :

.326 AVG. - .611 SLG - 38 HR - 149 G

But is currently struggling in A ball

Jeremy also sent about a dozen oldies but goodies as shown here.

Thanks very much for the great Tribe cards !

Mets Collector Attic

First, there is a new Mets blog. Mets Collector Attic. He seems anxious to get involved in the sports card world so if you get a chance pop on over and say hello !

Yeah, I know I haven't had much to say as of late. Been busy around the house and watching the Tribe finally getting some of the pieces put together. 7 wins in the last 10 games ! A 4-game sweep of Detroit and 2 of 3 from the Twins. The next two series' will tell the story. Rays and Yankees.

I've mentioned a wrapper collection and a few of you have graciously sent me some hobby versions and others. Thank you very much. And David, a late answer to your question.I only collect baseball wrappers. To the tune of 1,295 different ones ! Some of the differences are subtle. The wrapper may look the same but one might have 5 cards and the other 8. Or 12, or 18. There are really a lot of variations. That's one thing I've been doing . Sorting them all out and getting them in albums so I can make up a checklist.I also have a lot of duplicates in case anyone else is a little crazy like me and interested in wrappers.

I do hope to get back to more regular posts now so I will get to work on something, hopefully, more interesting !

A little baseball humor and a football wedding.

Well, I said it was a little humor !

Last week, our local county seat newspaper from Norwalk, Ohio,
had this interesting marriage licence application.

When Charlie played for the Browns there was a lot of hoopla in the area.Obviously things have calmed down a little. I'm sure the folks in Willard are still proud and excited ,and I'm happy for him, although I'm not really much of a football fan.

Good luck Charlie and Lenette !!

I've Got Mail ! From Covered in Wrappers and Night Owl

Running to first, I am so far out of the base line I should be called out by even the least experienced umpire! Read on to see why.

I am just so far behind on everything right now I really don't where to start, so I'll just start!.

I received two packages in the mail this week. One from everybody's friend, Night Owl.

He sent this great mixture of Tribe cards with a litle bit of everything. New, old, retro, rookies.

I really like the Cy Young (lower right) and the Asdrubal Cabrera is my first National Chicle Tribe card.

Next are these 1991 Score Rising Stars. I only had one from that set, Beau Allred, so these are all new additions to my collection!

He also sent this pair of 2010 Bowman, Bo Greenwell cards. Bo, the son of former Red Sox star Mike Greenwell, was drafted #6 in 2007 by Cleveland.

One more card in the package gets a well deserved place in one of binders also.

2002 SPx Winning Materials Thome/Sabathia dual jersey. Even though they have both left the wigwam !

Thanks for the great cards!

Oh, by the way, as I was loading the photos, I realized I hadn't posted the last cards Night Owl sent me. Sorry, I told you I was a little screwed up right now. Between graduation, vacation, getting the garden out and my neice's wedding I'm stretched a little thin right now.

This package started out with some very nice shiny, chrome Topps.

Next, a little Heritage action with Choooooooo and a Brantley rookie card.

Night Owl also knows of my childhood affection for "The Mick" . How much more would he have done had he not stepped on that sprinkler.

Just for good measure, he threw in a couple oldies but goodies, too.

Wilkens and Veryzer take me back to the good old days. We still lost, but it seemed like more fun.

Ok. I think I'm caught up with you now, Night Owl. Thank you very much for everything!!
Now we'll move on to the other package I received last week.

This came from Marie ( Covered in Wrappers ) over at A Cardboard Problem.

Wow ! 50 card packs of 2010 Topps! Well she sent the wrappers.I wish I could find some place close where I could get these.

Does anyone know how many different players are depicted on these wrappers?

I'd like to have one of each. Were they available in series 1 as well ?
I also like the regular hobby wrappers as I can't get them either.

She also gave me a good start on series 2 Tribe cards.

Plus some 2010 Bowman, including a pair of Mastersons. One of them the gold version.

Oh, by the way, as I was loading the photos, I realized I hadn't posted the last cards Covered in Wrappers sent me. Sorry, I told you I was a little screwed up right now. Between graduation, vacation, getting the garden out and my neice's wedding I'm stretched a little thin right now.
( Yeah, I'm really behind !! )









More wrappers ! I guess if she's covered in them, she needs to get a rid of a few.

Once again, I can really use the hobby versions. I get most of the regular ones from the chain stores and such but high end and hobby packs are hard to come by out here in the "sticks" !

More additions for the wrapper binders.I keep saying I'll do more posts on the wrapper collection (and I will someday!!)

Marie's last package had a big stack of Tribe cards! The highlight are shown below. I'll let the photos do the talking as these have long been placed in my binders.

Some very nice copper 206's.

Nice mixture here, with the refractor.

Now, I should be caught up with the cards I've received.

Marie, Thank you very much for the great cards and wrappers!!

I working on a package for you with that guy you collect. What's his name again? lol.

If I have have missed anyone else I'm very sorry. I hope to get back to my old routines now and get caught up on a lot of things!

Pronk says : Stephen who?

Sunday

June 13th, 2010

Approximately Noon

My two sons and I approached downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Peering out of the train car windows, we could

see an eerie mid day fog that hung over the tops of the tall buildings.

In the distance the light towers of Progressive field were barely visible.

But, by game time things were clearing up !

Although Strasburg got the best of most of the Tribe hitters...

the fireworks started in the second inning.

On a 1-0 pitch , Strasburg tried to sneak

a 100 mph fastball passed Hafner.

Pronk said "no way" as he parked it over the right field wall!

Travis walked the next two at bats against him.

We did did make him (Strasburg) work a little.

95 pitches in 5.1 innings

52 strikes and 43 balls - not a good ratio

Ultimately, 5 walks sent him to the showers.

However, the bullpen couldn't contain the Nationals.

After a valiant attempt in the 9th inning, we lost 9-4.

It was an exciting day though!

Rookie vs. Rookie

The Tribe is HOT right now !!

but can this guy.....

beat this guy ?!

In an hour or so, our two sons and I will be on our way to Cleveland to see how this battle turns out.

Baseball Dreams, Part 1

Hey ! It's good to be back !



The next few posts may not have much to do with baseball cards or the Cleveland Indians so I hope you will all be patient with me. Some of the bloggers may not be interested but I know at least a couple of you will be.





The first picture you are about to see is one of utmost importance and has a very sacred aura.

This may be the most valued item that made it's way back to Ohio with us. Everyone thinks I'm crazy and maybe they're right!

The red, sandy dirt and small grass particles that I scraped from the sides of my shoe after playing ball with my two sons on the field of dreams. We played three way catch to warm up and then pitched to each other while my wife took videos.

We used my son's gps to get us here. The curved road in the background leads to this sign but it's not the same road you see lit up at the end of the movie. The long line of headlights fading into the night,indicating people will come, just don't jibe up with roads we had to go down to get here! This place is really out in the sticks...er... cornfields. We followed several different genuine dirt roads, leaving thick clouds behind and a layer of Iowa dust all over the back of our white rental van !

There is a long driveway leading up the house and playing field once you turn at the sign.

As we approached the property the sight was very, very familiar. Except for the fence, which provides little privacy for the owners, it looked just like the movie. As it should.

It's not quite the same without the tall corn beyond the outfield but it still sent shivers down my spine when I got out of the car and walked toward the field. All of the special moments of the movie were going through my head in a whirlwind of baseball memories.

Here we are, standing behind home plate, just gazing at the beautiful field. It had been raining for the past several days but the baseball gods were good to us this day. It was chilly and overcast but no rain. The field was covered with a fine gravel and seems to have a very good drainage system. All was set for a little small ball !

After playing some 3-way catch to warm up, I stepped up to the plate. Bat in hand, going through my "Mike Hargrove" routine, I connected with the first pitch. As you can see, the ball is heading out on it's flight through the hazy Iowa sky. I know it looks like a line drive, but I believe this is the hit that became a towering fly ball, easily clearing the height of the light towers, landing about 400-450 ft. away. ( Hey, you weren't there. It's my word against yours!!)

Then, stepping out to the mound, I baffled my sons with my devastating curve and 104 mph fast ball.

Here, our youngest son Andy, is pitching to his brother Josh.

And this is what happens when you're almost 60 years old and try to judge a pop fly with bifocals! I swore that ball was over my head. I started running back, turned my head to find the ball and did just that. Two days later I still had trouble opening my mouth wide enough to take a bite of hot dog. It's all better now, and I stayed in the game!

This is the view from from center field. We walked out to check out the corn.

Sure enough, it was there !

We had a really great time and had the field all to ourselves for about 1 1/2 hours, except for 2 or 3 older people who stopped to look around. Andy and I are working on a video clip for U - Tube. If it works it will be hilarious !!

Next up, Van Meter and the Bob Feller museum.