Monday Mopup, 8/24/2021

What a wave of emotions it's been for me over the past few days.

From the low of my baseball hero, Bill Freehan, passing away, last Thursday night, to watching history on television yesterday afternoon, as the great Miguel Cabrera became just the 28th player to hit 500 career homers.

5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Cabrera's historical dinger cane off lefty pitcher Steven Matz, a 400 foot rocket that cleared the RCF wall at Rogers Centre in Toronto 🇨🇦. 

#️⃣5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ This Topps NOW Card is available for 24  order it here. 

⚾️🐯 Topps BUNT players got this cool avatar today.

💙 Man, I love all the attention Miggy is getting,  it's very well deserved.

👏👏 Oh, and Tigers centerfielder Derek Hill made the catch of the year as well, helping the Tigers win the series against the Blue Jays.

📌 I may have sent a litte karma to Miggy yesterday, as my mailbox included a few new cards for the Cabrera Collection. 

⚾️ It's been quite the week in baseball, headed up by the Atlanta Braves, winners of nine straight games, and the Bronx Bombers, winners of 9 consecutive games themselves.

👉 The two teams meet in Atlanta today for a quick two game Inter-League series, and I'll definitely keep an eye out.

💜🔥💯 When the Yankees are on TV, I try to catch all of Giancarlo Stanton's at bats...he's Tracy's favorite current ballplayer.

🪙 On the flip side, the Chicago Cubs, who emptied their once mighty squad at the July 31st trade deadline, have lost 13 straight games at home, and 18 out of 22 games.

👉 Joc Pederson, one of my favorite ballplayers, has hit 15 HRs this season...11 of them with the Cubs, and 4 since being traded to the Braves.

1️⃣8️⃣ Another bad squad is the Baltimore Orioles, lovers of 19 straight games.

↘️ I was around in 1989 when the Orioles lost 21 games in a row...it was to start the season, I believe. 

🌞🛥 I was feeling well enough on Saturday to make a trip to Marble Lake, about an hour east of Portage.

🤳😊 We ate hamburgers, hot dogs, potato & macaroni salad before gathering together with our church friends and taking a pontoon boat trip for a couple of hours.

(The camera loves my Princess...but not as much as I do!)

(Our Pastor, Tom Gregg, one terrific man of faith.)

😎 It was a good time go get out on the water and relax, something much needed for me, as my heart was, is, still sad because of the passing of my baseball hero, Bill Freehan. 

🐯⚾️ Freehan, 79, passed away last Thursday, after a long battle with Alzheimers.

#️⃣1️⃣1️⃣ was with me for all of my 5️⃣4️⃣  years as a baseball fan, and it's gonna be hard to get over that, even at my age.

Baseball is such a terrific game, the best game, the sport that has the most heart, romance, and history, and it's very difficult when our heroes aren't around anymore. 

No matter our age, be it 7, or, 61, our love of baseball will always be there, because deep down, the best times of our existence have been playing baseball on the sandlots of our youth, standing up to the plate pretending to be Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Ernie Banks, AL Kaline, Roberto Clemente, and, yes, William Ashley Freehan. 

💙 I cannot thank ya'll enough for all the kind words about Bill Freehan since last Thursday, it's much appreciated. 

🙏 My hero is in a better place, free from all the suffering, and pain that took it's toll on his body.

👉 That great ball club in the sky got one heck of a catcher, and I know Cobb, Crawford, Heilman, Gehringer, Greenberg, Kell, Cash, and Al Kaline gave him a big hug. 

🔥💯🔥 I watched my first ever Summer Slam on Saturday night. 

I have Xfinity cable TV, so, Peacock TV is FREE. so, with absolutely nothing else to watch, I turned it on and it was terrific, especially because my #1 Favorite Wrestler, Charlotte Flair, was wrestling...and ,WOW!

💜💜 What a match it was, and "The Queen" winning made it even better.

📺 I'll definitely be watching the next big event on Peacock, as long as it's not during the college football season and my Wolverines are playing...Go BLUE! 💛💙🏈

😊 Thanks for taking the time out of your day to stop by and read this post, it's very much appreciated. 

Until next time, go out there, and have a wonderful week.

Play BALL!  ⚾️

Miguel Cabrera Hits Career HR #500!

This afternoon in Toronto,  Canada 🇨🇦, Detroit Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera hit career HR #500 off the Blue Jays Steven Matz, a 400 foot dinger to RCF on Rogers Centre.

The homer was Miggy's 13th of the season, and his first since hitting #499 in Baltimore on August 11th.

Cabrera is the 28th big league ballplayer to collect 500 HRs, and, Miggy is the FIRST player to do so wearing YE OLDE ENGLISH D. 

For me, as a Tigers fan of 54 years, this is one of the best memories of my lifetime as a baseball fan. and I'm happy for Miggy, his family, his teammates, and all the amazing Tigers fans out there. 

Next up is the 3,000th career hit club...Miggy now has 2,555. 

Have a great Sunday, and, as always, remember, to PLAY BALL! 🐯⚾️🔥

Bill Freehan, 1941-2021

My hero passed away today.

             ( From the Detroit Tigers Twitter Page.)

Bill Freehan was the best catcher in Detroit Tigers history, and, since I first saw him play at Tiger Stadium in 1967, has been my All-Time favorite ballplayer.

Most of you know what Bill Freehan has ment to me, so I won't go into to much right now.

I'm hoping to get a series of posts together, maybe starting later today, about Bill, the accolades I've seen today, thoughts on his career, and, of course, his baseball cards.

Please remember his widow, Pat Freehan, and his family today, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks, again, for stopping by.

Rest in Peace, Bill Freehan. 

Happy Baseball Birthday! Akil Baddoo

Happy Baseball Birthday! best wishes go out to Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo, who turns a very young 23 today.

My favorite card of Akil Baddoo, his 2021 Topps Living Set card.

Hitting a HR on the first pitch you see in the big leagues is pretty darn special.

This kid has been that spark the organization has needed for quite a few years now, and he's one of those players that you don't ignore when he's at bat.

Who's been that spark for your favorite ballclub? 

Akil should be back later this week, probably this weekend, after spending time on the IL after crashing into center fielder Derek Hill last week in Baltimore. 

Have a great week, and, as always, remember to keep kind to one another.

Happy Baseball Birthday! , Akil Baddoo! 

Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday...Topps Living Set Akil Baddoo

Technically, it's now Wednesday, but that's OK, this post is still  Tigers Card Tuesday! 

I  started writing this a little after the Tigers started playing the Twins, and, then, got distracted, when rookie Akil Baddoo hit a double...and then a homer, in his first two at bats, as Detroit ended it's 4 game losing skid, with a come from behind win, 6-5, at Target Field.

          Topps Living Set #430 Akil Baddoo 

When this card was released by Topps a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't wait to add it to my collection of Tigers baseball cards, as well as the Living Set collection that I have.

I didn't want to wait the extra time that it takes going through eBay, so I had it ordered so that it would get here a bit faster through Topps.

👉 Akil Baddoo  is the 12th Detroit Tigers player in the Topps Living Set, and, the 11th Tigers player in my TLS Collection (Still hoping, one day, that I'll get Nicholas Castellanos.)

( Photo/Stats from Cardboard Stats via Twitter. )

Baddoo, a Rule 5 Draft Pick last December from the Minnesota Twins, has been exciting fans in Motown since his debut on April 4th. 

This young man has brought the energy that the Tigers have been missing, and, along with fellow rookie Eric Haase, have certainly made this a fun year to be a Tigers fan, regardless of the team's record. 

👉🐯⚾️ Haase hit a game tying Grand Slam HR in the 9th inning, and the Tigers won in extras! 

Gonna cut it short, as it's past 1:30 am here in South Portage.

As always, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this blog, it's very much appreciated! 

Go Tigers! 🐯⚾️

Play BALL! ⚾️

 

All-Star Game, 2021

In a couple of hours, the 91st Big League All-Star Game will be played, with Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals taking the mound for the National League at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. 

Scherzer, the 2013 American League Cy Young Award Winner with my Detroit Tigers, started the All-Star Game that year at Citi Field, in Queens, New York. 

I've watched every ASG since 1970, when, at the age of 10, I watched the game while our family was on vacation, the only time that I can remember watching with my Dad, who wasn't a baseball fan, but let me watch the game.

👉 The Tigers had two All-Stars that year, Left Fielder Willie Horton, a reserve player, and Catcher Bill Freehan, who started the game at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.  

This year the Tigers have only one representative, lefty reliever Gregory Soto, a first time All-Star.  

Soto was definitely in style with his family today on the Purple carpet show on the MLB Network. 

The Tigers haven't had more than one player in an ASG since 2017, when Justin Upton and Michael Fulmer were selected. 

I'm an American League fan, and although the game has changed over the years, I'll still cheer the Junior Circuit, and it'll be interesting to see the amazing Shoehi Ohtani as he starts...and hits, for the A.L.

👉 Are you an American League fan, or do you root for the Senior Circuit?

👉 Is your favorite player in the game? 

Enjoy the game...Let's Play BALL! 

2021 Home Run Derby- Story Time

Tonight is the annual Home Run Derby, with this year's even being held at Coors Field, in Denver, Colorado. 

My pick to win is a simple one.

I'll take my favorite big league shortstop, the player with the home field advantage, and the player who's hit 90 HRs at Coors, All-Star Trevor Story. 

Who do you have winning tonight?

Enjoy, and, as usual,  Play Ball! ⚾️

Lou Gehrig Day, June 2, 2021

Today we celebrate the life of Yankees legendary 1st Baseman Lou Gehrig, who passed away on this day in 1941, at the age of 37.

MLB has added this day in honor of Gehrig, who joins Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente as the only "official days" honoring former ballplayers. 

Henry Louis Gehrig was born in New York on June 19, 1903, made his big league debut with the Yankees on June 15, 1923, and wouldn't miss another game for the next 14 years, playing his last game against the Washington Senators on May 30, 1939.

Gehrig and the Yankees were in Detroit on May 2, 1939, when Gehrig took himself out of the Yankees lineup, ending his them big league record of playing in 2,130 consecutive ballgames.

This iconic picture of Gehrig atop the steps of the visiting dugout at Briggs Stadium in Detroit is something that I always remembered growing up, that it was in the ballpark of my favorite team, the Detroit Tigers, that he knew it was time to step aside, for the good of the club.

We must always remember that Gehrig took on this horrible disease with the grace that few of us will ever have, giving a face to ALS, the only thing that could defeat him, both on the field, and off.

4️⃣ Here's how I spent my Lou Gehrig Day- 

🎬 Today I watched "Pride of the Yankees," starring Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright.

It's one of my favorite movies, and I make sure to watch it every year.

📺 I stated out the be day watching MLB Central on the MLB Network, and will watch as much baseball as possible later tonight. 

⚾️ On Topps BUNT today all users were given out this beautiful baseball card, a #4 Gehrig avatar, and 25,000 FREE coins. 

📬 I really need to collect more Lou Gehrig cards, starting with this one. 

I had the card as a kid, part of the complete set of 1976 Topps, long ago gone, but not forgotten. 

4️⃣ Have you seen "Pride of the Yankees?"

     What's your favorite card of "The Iron Horse?"

Appreciate you taking time to stop by and check out my blog, I really do appreciate it. 

For information on Lou Gehrig, and ALS, visit here.

A-Z= My Favorite Ballplayers by Letter

This wasn't easy, as my memory ain't what it used to be.

First, thanks to Fuji for posting this A-Z blog around.

Second, thanks to The Diamond King for kicking off this A-Z blog around.

I've been watching baseball for a long time, and I definitely had to go through the A-Z Guide on Baseball Reference to help my memory.

So, here goes, from AARON to ZIMMER. 

A- Hank Aaron

⚾ The most important live event of my lifetime on TV was Henry Aaron breaking the 39 year old record of the legendary Babe Ruth with his 714th and 715th Home Runs at the start of the 1974 season.

That Monday night in Atlanta, broadcast by the great Curt Gowdy on NBC, Aaron's mighty feat certainly help shape my passion for learning about the games history beyond just the back of my baseball cards.

This has always been my favorite card of Aaron. 

B- Matthew Boyd 

                            🐯Yeah, BOYD! 🐯

As Fugi said a couple of times in his blog post, there are gonna be no-doubters in every list, and this is the first of my list.

C- Ty Cobb

Another no-doubter choice, Cobb is the greatest hitter in baseball history, and the greatest Detroit Tigers player to ever wear the Olde English D.

D- Ed Delahanty

One if the great ballplayers of the 19rh Century, I've grown to appreciate the big man much more from playing the HOF Quiz on Sporcle.

E- Luke Eater

Luke played baseball in the Negro Leagues, and signed w/ the Bill Veeck ran Cleveland Indians.

He's a favorite of mine, to a large degree, for being someone I can name on quizzes on Easter Sunday.

F- Bill Freehan

1️⃣9️⃣6️⃣7️⃣ 

My hero since I was seven years old, Bill Freehan is, and always will be, the best catcher in Tigers history.

My #1 no doubter in my A-Z list, Freehan, who played baseball at Michigan, still holds the Big Ten record for batting average in a single season, .585, in 1961.

His 5 Gold Gloves remain a standard for Tigers catchers, as does his .993 lifetime fielding percentage, 11 All-Star Game Selections, 

1️⃣1️⃣ Yes, this is card #11 of 25...VERY COOL! 

G- Charlie Gehringer

The "Mechanical Man," Gehringer is one of the most underrated second baseman in baseball history, a man who won two A.L. pennants, a World Series, an A.L. Battling Title, a MVP Award, and is in the HOF.

👉 When you get to hold the bat Gehringer used to win the A. L. Batting Title you can't not smile.

H- Harry Heilmann

Another overlooked player, Heilmann won A.L. Batting Crowns in 1923, 25, 27, 29.

I- Ichiro (Yes, I'm going with ICHIRO because that's all I've ever called him and know him by.)

I've been a fan of Ichiro from the day I saw his first highlights on TV, and read his first box scores in the morning newspaper.

J- Derek Jeter, a.k.a, The Kalamazoo Kid! 

This could've been almost anybody...until Jeter became the starting shortstop for almost 20 years in the Bronx...oh, yeah, he's from my hometown of Kalamazoo Michigan, and had already committed to playing college baseball at Michigan under Bull Freehan before being drafted by New York.

K- Al Kaline

There was never a ballplayer that ever played right field better than Al Kaline.

Clemente ( I love Roberto, by the way) was a great right fielder as well, and is as good as Kaline, but just not better... Clemente was the Kaline of the National League, and not the other way around. 

This is one of the best baseball cards you'll ever see.

L- Rick Leach 

When your favorite college QB as a teenager decides to play baseball for your favorite team, instead of playing in the NFL, that gives you a special place, and that's what Leach did, going from All-Big Ten QB at Michigan, to playing for my Detroit Tigers.

M- Dale Murphy

Nobody, nobody, in the National League, played better baseball than Dale Murphy did during the span of 1982-88.

Moving to Jacksonville, Florida in December, 1980, I quickly found Superstation TBS and was fascinated by pro wrestling, cool TV shows, and, every single Atlanta Braves baseball game.

On Michigan, we only got a few home games a year, and selected road games per year...we never got to watch every game.

Murphy quickly became my favorite Braves player, and I would watch the replays of tat nights games after getting home from my Dad's bar at 3am.

Murphy should already be in the HOF, and I hope he eventually gets there.

N- Jim Northrup

A true Detroit Tigers World Series Hero.

O- Tony Olivia

All Tony Olivia did was hit, and, it seemed like all of them came against my Tigers.

P- Mike Piazza

I was a HUGE Piazza fan when he played for the Dodgers (my favorite Senior Circuit team), and followed and cheered for him through his days in New York playing for the Metropolitans.

Q- Frank Quilici

Quilici played for, and managed, the Minnesota Twins...and, he played college baseball in my hometown of Kalamazoo, for Western Michigan University.

R- Jackie Robinson

The best to ever wear the uniform of the old Brooklyn Dodgers.

S- Turkey Stearnes

My favorite ballplayer from the Detroit Stars.

T- Alan Trammell

Yes, he's in the Baseball HOF, but Trammell is still highly underrated.

For 19 seasons in the Motor City, Team and Lou Whitaker were the best double play duo in baseball...Sweet Lou belongs next to Team in the HOF.

U- Bob Uecker

When I was little I would stay up late with my Uncle Bob when he visited and we watched Johnny Carson together...that's how I learned about "Mr. Baseball." 

V- Justin Verlander

No right handed pitcher in Tigers history was better than JV, who, had he not been traded at the deadline in 2017, would hold every single pitching record in Detroit history.

W- Lou Whitaker

The best second baseman in the American League in the 1980s.

X- n/a

Y- Robin Yount

Yes, I'm old enough to remember "Rockin' Robin" play as a teenager.

Z- Don Zimmer

OK, so Im not old enough to have watched "Zim" play baseball, but, he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and I watched him manage a lot of baseball games over the years.

A.K.A. "Popeye," Zimmer was such an amazing baseball man who saw more than any of us can imagine.

Well, that's my list, appreciate you checking it out.

Are you, have you, done the A-Z blog around?

Hope you're having a terrific weekend.

Play BALL! ⚾ 🇺🇸