JV 3OO/3,000Ks/ Collecting Cutch K Cancer Contest

Saturday night at "The Big A" in Anaheim, Justin Verlander became just the 18th pitcher to strikeout 3,000 batters in the 150 years of the big leagues.

   ➡️➡️ Thanks to CUT 4 on Twitter for this awesome picture!


Verlander struck out 12 Angels batters in six innings, establishing a new season high with 300 Ks exactly.


I'm gonna need this TOPPS NOW card.

3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣  If Justin Verlander doesn't win the A.L. Cy Young Award this year, the Baseball writers who didn't vote for him should lose their ability to VOTE! 


➡️➡️ The Astros go into the American League playoffs with home field advantage and the best pitching staff in baseball.

Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke will make it extremely difficult for any team to beat them in a series, and I believe the Astros will be back in the World Series.

♀️♀️ Speaking of K's, a reminder to all of you that October is almost here, and that means we will all need to head over to Collecting Cutch's blog and help him raise awareness of the horrible disease of Breast Cancer.


Cutch has a K Cancer Contest going on right now...

... 🤔 Which pitching staff will strikeout the most batters this postseason?


My entry in his contest will be, of course, the Astros.

Remember, if you have a nominee for Cutch to honor this October, head on over to his blog, or go hit him up on Twitter.


As the baseball season comes to an end for most teams, included by Detroit Tigers, it's good to have something to look forward to besides the games, and the Cutch Save Second Base Contest will certainly help.


Oh, one last thing...

... the beautiful Catherine Bell will be back as LT. Commander Sarah McKenzie on tonight's season premiere of NCIS: L.A.

Have a great week!

Play Ball!.⚾️
.

Happy Birthday! Olivia Newtown-John is 71 Today!

My favorite female singer, the beautiful and Angelic Australian voice from the Heavens, Olivia Newtown-John, turns 71 today.

Olivia was born in Cambridge, England, and moved to Melbourne, Australia at the age of 5, where she would find her love of music that would lead to her Grammy Award winning career.

I'm posting this Birthday wish to Olivia because she's a Breast Cancer Survivor, and next week our friend Collecting Cutch will start his month long Save Second Base posts on his blog to bring AWARENESS to the deadly disease.


Olivia has fought cancer since her original diagnosis in the early 1990s, and has helped many women in their health battles as well by opening the Olivia Newtown-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre.

I hope all of you will go to CUTCH's blog, follow him, and interact with his contest in October...and make sure you have your pink cards ready to go!

Thanks for reading this post, and, of course, a huge Happy Birthday! Olivia... we "Honestly Love You!"

Play Ball! 💗⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday... 1962 Topps Al Kaline

So, I thought I'd start sharing my collection of Detroit Tigers Baseball Cards, and since I just came up with it today, it's officially Tigers Card Tuesday!

Each Tuesday I'll go through my Tigers cards and pick one card to share here on the blog.


The 1962 Topps set is not only one of my favorite card sets of All-Time, it's considered one of Topps best.

I'll start with my 1962 Topps #470, The Sporting News American League All-Star Al Kaline. 

You can't do much better to start off Tigers Card Tuesday with the great Mr. Tiger!


Fans love the wood grain look, and I can only image those young fans running after school to the candy store for a Hershey Bar and a pack of cards.


What's your favorite 1962 Topps All-Star Card?

Thanks, as always, for stopping by the blog.


Play Ball! 🐯⚾️

The Best There Ever Was

Continuing with his weekly Save Second Base contests leading up to his annual October daily posts, our buddy Collecting Cutch has asked us to  post about our favorite baseball (or sports) movie and how it ties into our card collection.

The first part of this is easy, as I've stated many times that The Natural is the greatest baseball movie ever made.

In the movie Roy Hobbs comes out of nowhere to slug his way to stardom.


In much the same way that Hobbs came through adversity to make it back to the big leagues, a young slugger, once a big leaguer himself, was making his way back from Japan, and he, like Hobbs, would gain fame and celebrity for his mammoth homers.

In 1990 Cecil Fielder signed to play for my Detroit Tigers after playing a year for the Hashin Tigers of the Japan Central League. 

In 106 games Fielder smacked 38 home runs, and that had my Tigers reach out and offer a contract to the former Royals and Blue Jays player.


My favorite baseball card of Big Daddy is this Stadium Club that Cecil Fielder signed...it's not an insert card, it's just a card that he signed in person.

        1992 Topps Stadium Club #599 Cecil Fielder ☆ Members Choice☆ 


In six and a half years in Motown, Fielder smashed 245 HRs, w/ 758 RBI while wearing The Olde English D. 


Now, the card I posted doesn't come in a pink variation, I did find a couple cards of Big Daddy with some pink on the card.

The contest over on Cutch's Blog goes through September 25th, so make sure to head on over and get those entries in.

As I was finishing this post up I was watching FBI on CBS, starring the beautiful Sela Ward.

Sela has been one of my favorite actors since the mid 1980s.

Have a great weekend, and, please, remember to be kind to one another.


Play Ball! ⚾️💙

My Mailbox...Tony's Hobby Vault Prize Pack

This week the mail man brought me a package from Tony's Hobby Vault, from a contest that I won last week over on Twitter.

👉 I had to use the above photos that Tony sent me after I won because my arthritis just won't allow my hands to stay still for me while using my phone.


🎁 Here's some of the highlights of the package.


I'll start with my favorite card in the package, an obvious choice for me.

🎯 2019 Topps Archives Matt Boyd, the one card that I wanted most out of the set.



Here's the two PSA Cards that were in my package.

(As usual, please forgive my phone camera skills, or, lack, thereof. )

👉 Bryce Harper is one of my favorite ballplayers, one of those guys that you absolutely never change the channel when he's up to bat, so I'm very happy that this card is now mine.

Rhys Hoskins is an amazing young ballplayer, the veyeran team leader right in the middle of that Phillies lineup with Harper and my favorite big league catcher, J.T. Realmuto 


Tony tossed in some cool Topps Archives Tigers cards, (pictured above), and a few very cool pink parallel cards for future use in Collecting Cutch's Save Second Base Contest.)

Among the football packs that Tony sent included a card of the one and on Tom Brady!

Tony is an amazing collector that I first came across on Twitter as a Ichiro Super Collector, and he would go on his YouTube channel and share his amazing cards of the legendary Seattle Mariners right fielder and future first ballot Hall of Famer.



If you're on Twitter, head over to Tony's page, as he's already got another contest up and running.

Thanks for taking time to read my posts, it's much appreciated!


Play Ball! ⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸

Topps Living Set ...Mike Piazza

Topps gets a lot of flack for some of the things they do, and while some of its warranted, it's days like today that make me proud to be a baseball card collector.

Topps Living Set #235, Mike Piazza

You can order the Mike Piazza TLS card here


Topps obviously had this planned for weeks, if not months, and I applaud them for selecting Piazza this week in their TLS release.

For those of you who don't remember, the New York Mets hosted the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium in the first baseball game in NYC after the 9/11 attacks, w/ Piazza hitting the game winning HR.

What a awesome way to honor the memory of that day eighteen years ago, when a nation came together with our National Pastime when we needed it most.

🇺🇸 Like I said, there are times when Topps hits a HR with its cards, and this is most definitely one of those times, and this card is a must have for my TLS Collection. 

Never Forget! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸


Play Ball! ⚾️

Contest Post for Sports Card Collector's

Sports Card Collector's has a pretty cool contest going on over at his blog, and I thought I'd get my entry in before I forget, which happens easily for me these days.

My favorite post from SCC this year was the one from back on February 19th.

A few reasons why this was my favorite post:


The post was on my 59th #HappyBaseballBirthday.

There was a Detroit Tigers card posted of a young player that I like named Dawel Lugo.

Cards of four lovely ladies were featured, with my favorite being of actress Kristen Bell, who's from the Great State of Michigan! 

Bell was born in Huntington Woods, near the Motor City, and her husband, actor Dax Shepard, is also from the Detroit area.

👉 These two Michiganders love the Detroit Red Wings! 



SCC posted two Mike Trout cards, with my favorite being the one using the 1960 Topps design from the year I was born.

Not sure what year the Trout card is from, but it sure is pretty!


This old school football card caught my eye.

OK, I'm not sure who Mr. Kavanaugh was, or what team(s) he played for, but those old vintage cards, no matter the sport, are way cool!



SCC is one of the best..I enjoy reading all his stuff, and interacting with him on Twitter, especially when it comes to the pipeline from Ann Arbor to his New York Football Giants.

Go Blue! to BIG Blue!

Make sure to head over to the SCC Contest page and get those entries in!


Have a great weekend!


Play Ball! ⚾️🏈

Happy Baseball Birthday! Jennie Finch

Today we send out Happy Baseball Birthday! wishes to the beautiful GOLD Medal winning USA Softball Pitcher Jenny Finch!

Jennie Finch  was born in La Miranda, California, on September 3, 1980, played college softball at the University of Arizona, and won a Gold Medal playing for Team USA 🇺🇸 in the 2004 Summer Olympics. 

Jennie grew up, and still is, a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers....certainly a plus for all the fans that bleed Dodgers Blue!

I couldn't find any Pink Baseball Cards of Jenny, but she still qualifies for the save Second Base CONTEST over at Collecting Cutch.

Jennie is also a Wife, Mom, author, as well as an amazing Ambassador for the games of softball and baseball to young girls and boys all across playing fields and diamonds world wide.


Happy Baseball Birthday! Jenny Finch...PLAY BALL! 🇺🇸⚾️

Miguel Cabrera HR #475

Yeah, OK, the Detroit Tigers lost, again, on Monday, 4-3, to the Twins, but Miguel Cabrera hit career homer #475, a solo shot of of Jake Ordorizzi, tying a legendary pair of Hall of Fame hitters, Stan Musial and Willie Stargell, for 31 place All-Time in hig league homers.

    ( This PINK Miguel Cabrera Topps Chrome card is a reminder to get over to Collecting Cutch and his Save Second Base Contest.) 



In a season of many ugly moments, I've always kept my eye on Cabrera's hits and homers, because each hit is another step up the ladder to 3,000, and each Miggy tater is another on the way 500 HRs.


Miggy also singled in the game, and those two hits now have the 36 year old slugger with 2,799 base knocks.

👉 I hope Miggy can get close to 480, or so, HRs, before the season ends, making it possible for him to get to 500 next year.

The Tigers head to KC tonight, and maybe, just maybe, he could hit a couple of big flys at Kaufman Stadium the next few days.


Thanks, again, for taking the time to read my posts, and for all of you who may be in the path of Hurricane Doria, please, please take care, and stay safe.


Play Ball! 🐯⚾️

My Favorite Big Leaguer Born in the 1980s

Well, it's September, and, well, it kinda feels like it came outta nowhere, getting here way before it was suppose to.

You know what else came out of nowhere today?


Justin Brooks Verlander.

Before today's games, only five, just five men, had thrown three no hitters in the big leagues.

The legendary career of Justin Verlander hit a new plateau on Sunday after the native of Goochland, Virginia tossed a no-hitter (the 3rd of his career) vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. at Rogers Centre.

📍 I wonder if we can get Topps to issue a follow up to this 2012 Verlander SP card in one of next years card sets...gonna need another baseball!

Now, I'm writing about Justin Verlander for the second time today because Collecting Cutch has issued another Save Second Base blog around contest.


💗💗💗💗💗💗 KATE UPTON 💗💗💗💗💗💗

( Thanks, Kate, for reminding us to take care of those we LOVE!)

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗


OK, so, Cutch wants us to post about our favorite big league ballplayer born in the 1980s.


Now, I've document many times on this blog about my love of all things Justin Verlander, his place not only in Detroit Tigers history, but in the 150 year history of the big leagues as well.

Verlander was born on February 20, 1983, attended Goochland High School in Virginia and then went on to play college baseball at Old Dominion University before being drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 2004 amateur player draft.


👉⚾️ My one regret in all the years that Justin has been in the majors is that I haven't seen him pitch in person.

I need to make that happen in 2020, weather it's when the Astros visit Detroit, play in Chicago, or even if I have to drive to Houston...I must to see my favorite big league pitcher of All-Time!

Verlander is the last of a dying breed, a pitcher who expects to take the ball around 35 times a year, and to pitch until the last batter is retired.

👉👉👉 In this era of analytics and pitch count, JV threw 120 pitches, 79 of them strikes, tossing aside all the new-age analysis, just pitching like a starting pitcher should pitch... "give me the darn ball and get outta my way!"

Verlander is having a awesome year for the Astros...a 17-5 W/L record and a 2.56 ERA.


Truly, as a Tigers fan, I never really knew if a pitcher as good as Jack Morris...now in the HOF, would ever play for that Olde English D and the Motor City, and then along came Verlander, who not only matched Morris, and all the other Tigers hurlers before him...he passed them like a Lamborghini racing against a bunch of Ford Model T's.

JV is a one of a kind pitcher, who takes me back to the days of being a little guy in the backyard pitching like Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich, Joe Coleman...firing those fastballs by my brother...who was the Yankees Bobby Murcer in the box.


⚾️💙⚾️💗⚾️💛⚾️🧡⚾️💜⚾️💚⚾️💙⚾️💛⚾️💜

👉 p.s. In keeping with the Pink Theme of #SaveSecondBase, favorites born in the 1980s, well, I was watching NCIS: New Orleans tonight, a cool TV show that I hadn't seen in a few years, and BOOM!

Necar Zadegan, an American actress born on June 20, 1982. plays Special Agent Hannah Khoury on NCIS: New Orleans, and I also remember her from a season with Jack Bauer on 24, on FOX.

Remember to head on over to Collecting Cutch and get involved in all the fun of helping raise Awareness of Breast Cancer as well as helping Susan G. Komen K this deadly disease.

Here's the link to Cutch's new contest.



Here's one more pink baseball card of the magnificent Justin Verlander.

Until next time, as always...PLAY BALL! ⚾️

Justin Verlander Tosses 3rd Career No-Hitter

Today in Toronto, Canada, Justin Verlander threw another no-hitter, the 3rd of his HOF career, allowing just one baserunner, in the Astros 2-0 win over the Blue Jays.

Verlander returned to the Roger's Centre mound and hurled another masterpiece, some eight-plus years after no-hitting the Blue Jays as a member of the Detroit Tigers in May of 2011.

JV is the first pitcher in MLB history to no-hit the same team on the road! 

Verlander struck out 14 Toronto batters, walked just one, and became just the 6th big league hurler to toss three, or more, no-hittets in a career.


It's pretty obvious, well, to me, at least, that JV has clinched his 2nd Cy Young Award,  and... will win the 2019 A.L. MVP as well.

👉👉👉👉 Yes, I said MVP!

The BEST pitcher in the A.L. on the BEST team in the A.L....and that's what we have going on right now... JV and the Astros are the team to beat for the pennant in the Junior Circuit!

I feel as of I have played a small part in this history today, as I ordered this card about an hour before the final out of JV's masterpiece.

2019 Topps Archives Justin Verlander 

Oh, and by the way, JV has 2,963 career strikeouts through today's game, just 37 punchouts from the magical 3,000 K plateau on his way to that spot reserved in Cooperstown.


Baseball is, simply, the best game.


PLAY BALL! ⚾️