Chadwick Boseman, 1977-2020

Chadwick Boseman, the actor who portrayed Jackie Robinson in the movie "42," has passed away.

Boseman was just, and you cannot make stuff like this up, just 42 years young.

I was literally just finishing up my Jackie Robinson Day post, watching the Mets/Yankees game on the MLB Network, when Matt Vasgersian broke the news to the viewers.


Only in this crappy year of 2020 can we lose a brilliant young man that portrayed Jackie Robinson... on the very day that all of MLB celebrated the 75th Anniversary of Robinson signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers.


If you've never seen "42," I can only say that it's worth every second of your time.

🎥 Boseman also portrayed legendary Syracuse Heisman Trophy Winning running back Ernie Davis in "The Express," former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall ("MARSHALL"), and, probably, most famously, played the lead role in the Marvel blockbuster "Wakanda."

💯 I saw Black Panther...an amazing movie, but have yet to see Marshall...that needs to change this weekend.


🌈 I'm closing this post, I must say that I have already prayed for God's blessings on Chadwick, and that He watch over the young man's friends and family during this time of need.


If you're of faith, I hope you'll say a prayer for Chadwick Boseman, and his family.


Rest in Peace, young man. 🙏

Jackie Robinson Day 2020

Four and a half months after we were originally supposed to celebrate, MLB is finally honoring Jack Roosevelt Robinson with the 24th annual Jackie Robinson Day.

Because of the short season, MLB decided to hold Jackie Robinson Day on the 75th Anniversary of the Brooklyn Dodgers signing the future HOFer. 

👀👀 With all the racial unrest going on in America, all the Black players have decided to donate today's paychecks. 



Now, unfortunately, I don't own any 1950s era baseball cards of Jackie Robinson, but I do have two awesome cards of the Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer.


Topps Living Set

Topps Project 2020 by  @efdot 

I was skeptical at first on the Project 2020 set, but the more that came out, the better, it seemed, the cards got, and I simply couldn't pass on this awesome card of  Jackie.




Topps BUNT  also gives it's users a FREE card of Jackie Robinson each year.

This year we received this card of Jackie.

I really think I should've been born earlier in time, because, well, I would've been able to watch Jackie and the old Brooklyn Dodgers.



➡️➡️ What's your favorite Jackie Robinson card, or cards?


Here's to a terrific weekend, and thanks for taking time out of your day to read this post.


Play Ball! ⚾

Tigers Card Tuesday... Blown Away by Collecting Cutch

I'm 60 years old, yet, yesterday, after opening a package from Brian of Collecting Cutch, I was brought to actual tears.


A baseball card shouldn't make a person as old as me cry, but that's exactly what happened when I gazed upon this.

                1955 Bowman #23 Al Kaline


➡️ Three months ago, while reading a post by The Lost Collector,  a simple comment from yours truly turned into this 1955 Bowman Al Kaline.


⚾ 1955 was a good year in baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers winning their only World Series title, and Kaline becoming the youngest batting champion.



📽️ 1955 was also the yearayear movie called Some Like It Hot much made a young woman named Marilyn Monroe a global superstar.

This picture is one of the most famous in cinema history, and Marilyn would've definitely been a sure fire first ballot Save Second Base inductee.


💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀

We're only a month and a half away from CUTCH's annual event to raise awareness to Breast Cancer, raising funds to ensure that at least one woman may have access to a much needed mammogram.

💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀💙👀


I've already thanked Brian on Twitter, but I need to publicly do so.

His posts are always entertaining, and his generosity over the years continues to impact collectors across the blogosphere.


Please make sure to set your calenders for October 1st, and, keep an eye on those big league leaders in DOUBLES, information that just might be valuable. 

Anthony Rendon was my choice (and winner) for National Leader leader in DOUBLES in 2019.


Have a great Tuesday night...and, heck, PLAY BALL! ⚾

2020 UTZ J.T. Realmuto 💯🔥⚾💯🔥⚾💯🔥⚾

A couple of weeks ago I came across this post by Jim of The Phillies Room.


It was the headline that I saw scrolling through the many blogs I follow-

Game 7 - 2020 Topps Utz #23 J.T. Realmuto

➡️ Jim always does a great recap of Phillies games, incorporating baseball cards into each post, and that's what I saw...one AWESOME Baseball Card!

I'm a fan of J.T. Realmuto, going back to his days as a catcher for the 2014 Southern League Champion Jacksonville Suns.

I can't get every baseball card of Realmuto, and I actually just like finding his cards in packs.

🌟🌟 Thanks, Jim, for putting that terrific card of my favorite big league catcher on that days post, I really appreciate it.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

This J.T. Realmuto card...OH, MY! 

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Have a great weekend, and, hey, ,💯💯💯....PLAY BALL! ⚾

Happy Left-handers Day

OK, I'm not left-handed, but today's post is in honor of National Left-Handers Day and all you Southpaws out there.


The best Lefty in Detroit Tigers history is 1968 World Series MVP, Mickey Lolich.

In a Tigers Card Tuesday blog post last October. I talked about the Tigers All-Time leader in wins and strikeouts, and how he still ranks 20th all time in big league strikeouts.


Lolich deserves to be honored by the Tigers, and have his number #29 retired by the club.


Who's your teams best ever lefty pitcher?

Who's your current favorite left handed hurler?

I'm pretty sure everyone knows mine.

Have a terrific evening.


Play Ball! ⚾

Tigers Hit 4 Home Runs...In the First Inning!

Yesterday afternoon in Pittsburgh the Detroit Tigers hit four homers in the 1st inning vs the Pirates.

( Of course, I've already ordered this Topps NOW Card.)


Here's how that 1st inning went yesterday for Detroit.

⚾ Leadoff HR by Niko Goodrum

🐱 Single by Jonathon Schoop

⚾ 2-RUN HR by Miguel Cabrera

⚾ Solo HR by C.J. Cron

⚾ Solo HR by Jemier Candelario


➡️ This was the first time the Tigers had done this in the first inning of a game since Al Kaline, Bill Freehan, Mickey Stanley, and Eddie Brinkman on July 29, 1974.


If you play Topps BUNT you can get a copy of the Topps NOW card as well. 

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon!


Play Ball!🐱 ⚾

2020 National Baseball Card Day Checklist

This morning Topps released the complete checklist for this Saturday's National Baseball Card Day.


I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little sad and  disappointed that my #1 PC guy, Matthew Boyd, isn't the Tigers player in this year's set.

Nothing against the great Miguel Cabrera, but this will be the 3rd year in a row that the big man has been the Tigers representative, and another player, like Boyd, or JaCoby Jones, would've been nice.


I do hope to get the card of Miggy in my FREE pack, as well as future HOFers Justin Verlander and Yadier Molina.

In addition to my local shop, I'm hoping to find the hanger boxes at both Walmart and Target as part of my day.

I'm glad to see that Topps has included both retail giants in the event, a nice outlet for those in markets w/o a participating card shop in their area.


I've never pulled a signature card, but hey, you never know.

It's gonna be interesting to see how the Luis Robert card will go for on the secondary market, not for me, but for kids who are White Sox fans and don't get the exciting young ballplayer in their pack.


Are you planning on participating this year, what player(s) are you hoping to get in your pack?


Have an awesome Thursday, and I hope you get to participate in National Baseball Card Day... Play Ball!

2021 Topps Baseball Cards

Today Topps released the first image for it's 2021 Flagship Baseball cards.


It looks again as if, as was the case w/ 2020 Series 1, I'll have to actually wait until I have the cards in hand before giving the cards a 👍 or a 👎, w/ Tigers cards being the ultimate yes, or, no, obviously. 😊

                Photo courtesy of Topps.

One thing of notice is that the players name seems way to small, and that's something I hope changes.


The other thing is the return of borders on the cards, something not seen in quite a while.


Oh, and the Topps 70th Year logo looks pretty cool.

What are your thoughts? 🤔


Have a great day... Play Ball! ⚾

Tigers Card Tuesday- Tyler Alexander Topps NOW #47

The Tigers lost both games of a double header on Sunday to the Reds, but Detroit fans were treated to quite the accomplishment in the form of pitcher Tyler Alexander.


Alexander came on in relief in the top of the third inning of game one and struck out Cincinnati 2nd Baseman Mike Moustakas, then, he mowed down the next eight Cincy batters, setting a new American League record.

🐱 Tyler got his first ever Topps NOW card for his record performance, a card that's available only until this afternoon at Topps.com. ($9.99)

👀👀 You can also find the card, as is the case with all the Topps NOW cards, on the secondary market.

(I ordered mine on eBay for just $4.50/ FREE shipping).


➡️➡️ If you're on the Topps BUNT app, the card is also available in select packs while supplies last, or, hey, you can probably trade for it as well.

Feel free to follow me on the BUNT App.

My fan name is- FREEHANFAN11


Have a awesome Tuesday...and, by all means, Play Ball! ⚾

My Mailbox...2020 Topps Fat Pack from BUCS STOPS HERE

The mailman brought be a few packages yesterday, including a contest prize from The Bucks Stop Here.


Let's look at what the 2020 Topps Jumbo pack had inside.


Best card-

I'll let you decide, two cool cards.



An old friend. ( Still miss him)-

My favorite shortstop-

Turkey Red Cards-

The shiny card in the middle is a  Mauricio Dubon RC.

The Texas Rangers Cards-

I'm not a Rangers fan, but this year's Rangers cards have the logo for the new ballpark, do I'm collecting the team set.

( p.s. A friendly reminder that I'm taking these pictures from my phone, so, I couldn't get the logo in focus.)

Here's look at the logo courtesy of ye olde Internet.


Thanks, again, to The Bucs Stop Here for the jumbo pack!


Play Ball! ⚾

Tiger Killers, Volume 1... Whit Merrifield

I was playing baseball quizzes on Sporcle, reading my blog roll, thinking about ideas for future posts, when it came to me... Tiger! Killers

🐱⚾ Tiger killers are, simply, players on opposing teams that, every game, of every series, in a win, or a loss, just smack the ball all over the park, or, they pitch like they were the reincarnation of Cy Young.

Whit Merrifield is the current leader of all Tiger 🐯  Killers, as was evident this past week when Whit's KC Royals came to Comerica Park.

All Whit Merrifield does is hit when he sees the Tigers....he most certainly circles the trips to Motown when the schedule is released.


😷 In his 5 years vs the Detroit Tigers, this is the autopsy report.

70 Games

290 At Bats/313 Plate Appearances

102 HITS
41 RBI
65 Runs Scored

11 HRS / 26 Doubles/ 7 Triples

175 Total Bases

.998 OPS

Oh, and at Comerica Park-

37 Games

54 Hits
9 HRs
24 RBI

37 Runs Scored

.342 Average

.371 On Base %

.648 Slugging %

( Thanks to Baseball Reference for the stats)

🥇 The 31 year old from North Carolina led the American League in hits in both 2018 and 2019.

Whit is also a versatile player.

In his 5 years in the big leagues, Merrifield has played 391 games at his natural position at 2nd base, but he's also played 152 games between all 3 outfield positions, and has played 1st, 3rd, and has also been the Royals DH.

➡️  I'm a big fan of Whit, an unusual thing for a player who beats your team like he does my Tigers, but I look at it like Merrifield's a poor man's Mike Trout, just not with all the hype...he's what I call, simply, a ballplayer. 

🤔 Who's your teams nemesis? 

Let me know in the comments section, or, maybe we could get a good ole blogaround going on all the great blog sites out there.

Thanks for taking time out of your day to read my posts, it's much appreciated. 

Play Ball! ⚾

Tigers 7, Redlegs 2

Spencer Turnbull picked up his first win of his career at Comerica Park Friday night, allowing the Reds just 3 hits, 2 runs, while striking out 6 Cincy batters in 6 innings.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

This 2019 Topps NOW Players Weekend of BULL is awesome!

Now, if I could only find a copy, as a check of eBay and COMC came up empty.

According to Trading Card Database, there were just 56 copies made...Yikes!

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

▶▶ The Tigers  play the Reds on Saturday afternoon, a time change from the scheduled night game because of bad weather headed to the Motor City.


Michael Fulmer will start for the Tigers, while the Reds call on right hander Trevor Bauer.

Have a awesome weekend,  and, as always...PLAY BALL! ⚾️🌭📻📺