Tigers Futility.

My Detroit Tigers are having trouble scoring runs, and yesterday was a game that summed up my frustrations completely.

             (From the Detroit Tigers Twitter page)

My favorite pitcher, my #1 current baseball card PC guy, Matthew Boyd, deserved better, and that includes manager A.J. Hinch, who, for some nonsensical reason, took his starter out after 8 magnificent innings, having thrown just 89 pitches! 

Today's baseball is hard to understand, at times, because of situations like not allowing your starter to go out and toss a complete game.

As Tigers TV analyst, and HOFer Jack Morris said after Boyd three his last pitch in the 8th inning, "...if not know, it'll probably never happen." 

I despise analytics so much, and I wish teams, and players would stop going all in.

Sure, there might be a time when certain situations call for an analytical approach, but yesterday's game wasn't one of those situations.

Anyhow, today is a new day, and that's the beauty of baseball.

Have a great Sunday, and, as usual, thanks for taking time to read my blog.

Play BALL! 🐯⚾

On The Jumbotron

I woke up this afternoon to find congratulations on Twitter from my friends and followers. 

If only I could've actually been at the ballpark today to see my ugly mug (on the right) on the big Jumbotron at Comerica Park in Detroit.  

On Opening Day the Tigers asked us to send a picture for #DetroitRoots on social media, and this is what I got back.

🥔Yes, I'm wearing an Idaho ball cap, as I was in the land of potatoes on vacation.

☆ I absolutely love my Idaho ballcap! 

I've been a fan of the Tigers since the late 1960s, and this is as cool a thing that's happened  to me involving my favorite baseball team.

🤔 Have you ever been on the big screen at a ballpark?

●Maybe we could get a few posts from the bloggers out there. 

Have a great Thursday night. 

Play Ball! 🐯⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday... BOYD 7OO

Sunday afternoon in Oakland, Detroit Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd became just the 9th left handed pitcher in team history to strike out 700+ batters.

(Image from ye olde Internet) 

Matthew is 2-1,and is having a terrific start to the 2021 season, with a .208 ERA, giving up just 20 hits in 26.2 innings.

    🐯 2020 Stadium Club Chrome Refractor                                    Matthew Boyd 🐯

Matthew will start again sometime this weekend, against the Royals, at Comerica Park.

📌 With 5 Ks against KC, Boyd will tie former Detroit lefty Nate Robertson in a tie for 26th place all time in team strikeouts, along w/ Earl Wilson.

🤔 How's your favorite big league pitcher doing so far?

Have a great Tuesday night! 

Play BALL! 🐯⚾

Happy Baseball Birthday! Miguel Cabrera🐯⚾

The great Miguel Cabrera turns 38 today.

Miggy is currently on the injured list, and with the Tigers being shutout for the last two games, let's hope he's back quickly.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday afternoon, and, as always, thanks for taking time to read the blog today.

Play BALL! 🐯⚾

Flair Friday- Daily SLAM, 4/16/21

 

This Charlotte Flair card is from today's "Daily SLAM" on the Topps SLAM App.

💥 There's two versions of each card, each day, and I wasn't fortunate to get both the base and the autographed version in the first pack I opened up this morning.

This month SLAM divided the "Daily SLAM" into two parts, April 1st-15th, and, now, "SPRING FEVER," April 16-30.

❗Charlotte recently revealed that she tested positive for Covid-19, but it looks as is she's ready to make her return to the ring shortly.

Meanwhile, "The QUEEN" seems to have been busy doing a little modeling.

I'll, of course, all for Charlotte expressing herself any way she seems "fit."

Enjoy this beautiful Friday...WOOOOOO! 

Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, 2021

Today is one of my favorite days of the baseball season.

Jackie Robinson Day agenda today includes watching MLB Central this morning, afternoon baseball on MLB Network, watching the movie 42, checking out all the awesome cards of Robinson on social media, getting ready for the Tigers game in Oakland, and, of course, the annual Dodgers game at Chavez Ravine.

 Topps Project 2020 Jackie Robinson by EFDOT

👌 This is my favorite Jackie Robinson card that I have, one of the few Project 2020 cards that I have put him the last year.

7️⃣0️⃣ Topps cane out w/ three new Project 70 Jackie Robinson cards today, and, I have one that will eventually find its way.

I do have quite a few modern cards of Robinson, including his Topps Living Set card... One day, maybe, I'll be able to get a 1956 Topps card of the great Brooklyn Dodgers HOFer.

What's your favorite card of Jackie Robinson?

Have you seen the movie 42?

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday night.

Play BALL! ⚾4️⃣2️⃣ 

Yadier 2K

Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals became the first catcher in big league history to catch 2,000 games for one team.

Molina is just the 6th backstop to catch 2,000 games in MLB history, joining Ivan Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk, Bob Boone, Gary Carter, and Jason Kendall. 

Most Games Caught, MLB History.

The top 5 is certainly interesting, in that you have the two guys nicknamed "Pudge" at the top, and a guy in Kendall, who was a terrific catcher that most fans, including myself, wouldn't figure would be at #5.

Yadier, one of my favorite All-Time catchers, will most certainly finish the 2021 season in the #3 spot on the list, but that may be as far as he gets, in that many believe this will be the last season for the former 4th rounder from Puerto Rico.

1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣1️⃣ My favorite catcher, a guy named Bill Freehan, is still 26th All-Time on this list!

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday night, and thank, as always, for stopping by to read my blog, it's much appreciated.

Congratulations, again, to Yadi Molina, on his milestone on the way to the HOF in Cooperstown, New York. 

Play Ball! ⚾

Baseball History- First Padres No-Hitter

The San Diego Padres first season in the big leagues was 1968, and, finally, 53 years, and 8,306 games later, the first No-Hitter in Padres history was tossed by Joe Musgrove, a young man who grew just 13 miles from Petco Park. 

⚾ The Padres are the final big league ballclub to have a pitcher toss a No-Hitter, although, if replay were around at the time, Johan Santana's no-no for the Mets would've been overturned. ⚾

⭕ Here's a look at the first no hitter for each club.

Each Big League Club's First No- Hitter

👉Not everyone is a fan of Topps Now cards, but to me, they showcase baseball history, and, for events like this, I'll definitely want to add one to my collection.

Now, I get that $9.99 is a lot for a Topps NOW card, so I'll probably go the eBay route on this, probably for around $5.00, or so...after all, I've already gotten a few cards of young Tigers phenom Akil Baddoo.

So, congratulations to all the great Padres fans out there, and, welcome to the club.

Play BALL! ⚾

Tigers Card Tuesday...Pitchers BEWARE!

Last week on our vacation in Idaho, I found one card shop that had quite a few vintage gems, including this beautiful card.

                           1959 Topps #34 

                          Pitchers BEWARE

                  Al Kaline/Charlie Maxwell

Al Kaline and Charlie Maxwell played together in the era of the late1950s- early 1960s, when the Tigers weren't exactly world beaters, but they continued to hit the baseball, and became fan favorites to Detroit fans.

🛑 Gotta leave it here for know, simply can't finish up.

I'll give it a try again tomorrow. 

My apologies, but my pain doesn't care that I'm trying to write a post. 🛑

Happy Easter Sunday!

A very Happy Easter Sunday to all who celebrate...may you all have a magnificent day.

I got this 1954 Topps Luke Easter card on Wednesday afternoon while I was on vacation in Burley, Idaho.

We found a small...very small, place in a little office style building called CH Coins ( www.coins.com ) , and what a terrific time I had looking through a couple of boxes of amazing 1950s & 1960s Topps baseball cards.

The Easter card was .50c ...it's not at all in good condition, and I didn't care, because I wanted this card.

I also got a few more terrific cards that will make future Tigers Card Tuesday! appearances. 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Play Ball! ⚾✝️ 

 

Tigers WIN..Yeah BOYD!

The Tigers will be in first place for at least two days this year, after today's Opening Day WIN , 3-2 over the Indians. 

Miguel Cabrera hit a 2-run HR in the first inning, his 488th career homer, and his 350th career HR as a Tigers player! 

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Yes, it was snowing when Miggy hit his HR today. 

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

1️⃣9️⃣6️⃣7️⃣ This is my 54th consecutive Opening Day as a Detroit Tigers fan. 

🔥How cool was it that the Tigers did this for us fans on Twitter today!🔥

🐯 My guy, Matthew Boyd, pitched 5 2/3 of shutout baseball, allowing just 3 base hits, striking out 2 Cleveland batters, as Boyd bests the 2020 American League Cy Young Award Winner Shane Bieber.

                                Yeah BOYD! 

The Tigers are off tomorrow, and will be back at it on Saturday against the Indians.

Hope y'all are having a terrific Opening Day.

Play BALL! 🐯⚾💯