Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all you great bloggers put there.

Here's a Turkey Red card of Matthew Boyd, because, well, why not.

Have a great day of food, family, and football, Play BALL! 🦃

Tigers Card Tuesday- 2022 Topps Archives- 500 Miggy Card

I haven't been able to purchase any 2022 Topps Archives, so I went to eBay to get today's pick for Tigers Card Tuesday! 

           2022 Topps Archives #308, 

           Miguel Cabrera 500th HR

        
🐅⚾️ Miguel Cabrera hit his 500th big league HR in Toronto, last August, and the photo of him coming back out of the Tigers dugout...on the road, to a cheering crowd is one of my favorite images from what was another dismal season in the Motor City. 

🐅⚾️ Miggy was the Tigers best player in the first half this season, but another injury slowed down the future HOFer...2023 will be his last year in the big leagues. 

3️⃣0️⃣8️⃣8️⃣/5️⃣0️⃣7️⃣ Miggy sits at 3,088 career base hits, and 507 HRs after the 2022 season. Id like to see the big fella get to 520 dingers in his last go around, and he'll be well over 3,100 base knocks. 

Have a great week! 

Tigers Card Tuesday- Go Vote!

Today is Election Day across America, and I hope that you're going to exercise your Right To Vote!, no matter if you're a Blue, Red, Purple, or Green voter.

🗳 The Contemporary Era ballot was released yesterday, and once again, I really don't understand how these ballots are made up.

The Contemporary Era is supposed to consist of players from 1980, and after, yet, Lou Whitaker, the 1978 American League Rookie of the Year, isn't on the ballot. 

🐅⚾️ Lou played for the Tigers from 1977-95, was the best 2nd Baseman in the A.L. during the majority of the time, and his record setting teammate 

Alan Trammell, is already in the HOF.

The HOF/BBWAA continue to infuriate, baffle fans, but at least voters got it right in voting for Whitaker as the ROY in 1978.

🎖 Lou received all 21 First Place votes, beating out some guy named Paul Molitor, who got 3 votes, and is also in the HOF.

Topps certainly got it right when they came out with card #704, 1978 Rookie 2nd Baseman, however...

...why is Lou's 1979 Topps card missing the Rookie Cup logo?🏆

As far as the 2022 ROY, I'd go with Mariners Rookie CFer Julio Rodriguez.

⚾️ Well, I'll be heading out soon to vote, and, as I mentioned at the start, no matter what your opinions are, please go out and vote, it's very important that our voices are heard! 

🌞 It's a beautiful day here in SW Michigan, high in the mid 50s, and I hope you are having a good weather day were you are.

It's officially Hot Stove time in baseball, and, remember, it's always gonna be a great time to go out and Play BALL! ⚾️

Updating Matthew Boyd TCDB Page

I've been lacking in posting on ye Olde Baseball Blog, and I need to be much better at it.

Life seems to always throw big league curveballs my way health wise, so the blog suffers because it takes me a while to type on my phone...blame my arthritis and fibromyagia, that's what I do.

⚾️ Today I was able to work a bit on my Matthew Boyd collection, including putting cards in the ever growing BOYD Binder, and actually entering a few new cards into TCDB.

⚾️ 1️⃣6️⃣7️⃣ different/unique cards of Matthew Boyd, still hanging in the top spot.

⚾️ Matthew pitched for the Mariners after being called up on September 1st, and even made an appearance for Seattle in the Wild Card round vs the Houston Astros.

🔱 I'm looking forward to seeing Matthew in cards as a Mariners player.

⚾️ I haven't been able to buy many cards lately, just a few here, and there, but I'm hoping to add a few more cards of Matthew in the next month.

Until next time, thanks for taking time out of your day to read my blog. 

Play BALL! ⚾️ 

Tigers Card Tuesday- Happy Baseball Birthday, Willie Horton

Today is a milestone in Detroit Tigers fandom, as the legendary "Willie the Wonder," World Series Champion, Willie Horton , turns 80.

🐅⚾️ Willie Horton is a local legend, born in the Motor City on October 18, 1942.

🐅 Willie would go to games at old Briggs Stadium, sit with his friends in the left field Bleachers, telling his buddies that, one day, he, Willie, would be playing left field for the men wearing the Olde English D. 

🐅 Of course, when it comes to Willie Horton, there's no better highlight than his throw to Bill Freehan in Game 5 of the 1968 World Series.

🐅 Freehan blocked the plate, Lou Brock was out, and the Tigers rebounded from a 3-0 deficit, winning Game 5, and then, in St. Louis, win Games 5&6, and the Series, shocking the Baseball world.

🐅⚾️ Willie's #23 has been retired by the Tigers.

📖 Willie has a book out, and I definitely need to read it.

🐅⚾️ If you get to a game at Comerica Park, head out beyond centerfield and look for Willie's statue amongst some of the Tigers greats.

🐅 Happy Baseball Birthday, Willie! 

Play BALL! ⚾️ 

Happy Baseball Birthday! Tigers Rookie Riley Greene.

Today's Happy Baseball Birthday! best whises go out to my favorite young player on the Detroit Tigers, rookie centerfielder Riley Greene.

2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Riley Greene was born on September 28, 2000, in Orlando, Florida, and in 2019, the Tigers drafted Riley #1 (5th overall) out of Paul J. Haggerty High School in Oviedo, Florida. 

Riley was well on his way to making the 2022 Opening Day roster for Detroit, but was injured in late Spring Training.

☎️ The Tigers finally called Greene up, and he made is big league debut on June 18th, collecting his first big league hit, a single, in his very first base hit of his career. 

Last Sunday afternoon, in Chicago, Riley made another of his spectacular catches, this time taking a home run from Andrew Vaughn of the ChiSox.

 

8️⃣5️⃣ games into his 1st look at tye big leagues, Riley Greene is already one of the best defensive centerfielders I'm baseball, and will win a few Gold Gloves in the future, and should be a finalist this year.

Riley's catch was featured on a Topps NOW card, his 5th this year. 

 🐅⚾️ This picture is from my.           collection on Topps BUNT.

Hope yall are doing well, especially those in Riley's home state of Florida...be safe, stay safe.

Play BALL! 🐅⚾️🐅⚾️🐅⚾️🐅⚾️

Football Card Friday- Kicking Things Off

The other day on Twitter someone wanted to see us post cards of our favorite kickers as the new NFL season was upon us.

🏈 Being that is was way go late at night, I couldn't share anything at that time, but, as I was going through some boxes today I came across the perfect card to post.

                   1982 Topps #344

                              IA 

                      Eddie Murray 

🦶 Kicking off Football Card Friday! on ye Olde Blog this year, is this 1981 In Action card of Eddie Murray, , my favorite Detroit Lions kicker of All-Time. 

🦁🏈 Eddie Murray was the BEST kicker in the NFL as a rookie! 

🏈 Murray, drafted by the Lions in the 7th round (#166 overall) out of Tulane University, was the Detroit kicker for  

12 years, making 75.1% of his field goals for the Honolulu Blue & Silver.

🏈 In 1992, the Lions drafted kicker 

Jason Hanson, out of Washington State, and Eddie moved on to kick for Tampa & Kansas City, then kicked for the 1993 Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys.

🏈 Hanson would kick in Motown for 21 years...that's 33 years with only two place kickers...we Detroit fans were certainly blessed with that position.

🏈🤔 Do you have a favorite kicker from your team?

2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ This is my 53rd years following the Detroit Lions, and having such terrific kickers has certainly been one of the few things that us fans have been able to cheer for.

😊 Thanks, as always, for stopping by my blog, I appreciate it.

Have an awesome weekend of watching football, and, of course, baseball...it's a great time of the year, for sure.

Let's kick off the season with a resounding  Play BALL! 🏈🏈🏈

Football Card Friday, 2022, Week 1

It's finally here, the return of college football, with my beloved Michigan Wolverines playing host to Colorado State University at The Big House tomorrow afternoon, in Ann Arbor.

🚗 My wife Tracy has a 4 day weekend, so, she drove me the two hours to meet up with fellow Michigan fan, and card blogger, Dennis, at the Taylor Card Show.

Dennis had a package for me, which is another reason we drove to see him, so he wouldn't have to mail it, but that's for another post. 

I went to the card show looking for Matthew Boyd cards, and found a couple, but, that's for another Tigers Card Tuesday post.

Now, to the first edition of Football Card Friday of 2022.

          Chad Henne, Upper Deck 2008             SPx RM-CH,  EVENT-WORN                        NFL Memorabilia Card.

7️⃣  After a bit of negotiating, I got this beautiful card, #171/199, for just $4.00

🏈 Chad Henne has played 12 years in the NFL, starting in 2008, when he was the Miami Dolphins 2nd round seat pick out of the University of Michigan. 

Tigers Card Tuesday- 2022 Topps NOW- Garret Hill MLB Debut

On July 4th 🇺🇸 of this year we ventured  the 2+ hours from South Portage to Downtown Detroit to watch the Detroit Tigers take on the Cleveland Guardians.

🐅⚾️ The 1pm game was the first of a split Doubleheader, and our first ever big league game on July 4th.

2️⃣4️⃣ Yes, that's the great Miguel Cabrera batting...we had awesome seats! 

📞The Tigers called up young right hander Garrett Hill , a 26 year old out of Petaluma, California and San Diego State University to pitch Game One.

⚾️  Topps NOW cards aren't for everyone, but when it's a card that's of significance in Tigers history, especially when it's a game that I was in attendance, then I get the card, if possible. 

🐅⚾️ Hill was brilliant in his big league debut, holding the Guardians, a team that Detroit has struggled mightily against, to just 2 hits.

As the back of Hill's card states, the young man made Tigers franchise history, and we were there to see it. 

🤔 Have you been to a big league game on July 4th, or on Memorial Day?

Do you get any of the Topps NOW cards?

😊 Thanks for taking part of your day tonstop by and read my post today, it's much appreciated. 

Play BALL! ⚾️ 

Vin Scully, 1927-2022

Tonight on Twitter the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the passing, at the age of 94, of legendary broadcaster Vin Scully.

         

      From the Los Angeles Dodgers.                            Twitter page.

💙 I'd like to send out my condolences to the Scully family, the team, and all the great fans of Dodgers baseball.

Rest in Peace, Vin Scully. 

The Blogger National Bat- Around

Every morning I have a routine that I go through when I open my phone, and that includes reading your awesome blogs.

Not sure how, but I managed to miss the blog bat-around that Cards over Coffee got started earlier this week. 

👍 Thanks to Fugi for posting on his blog today so that I didn't miss out.

📌 You can call it a pick up instead of going all the way to Atlantic City, I'm certainly happy I found out about this card.

➡️ Going through my Matthew Boyd cards this weekend, I found a card that I hadn't yet entered into my Trading Card Database page.

💛 This Topps Yellow 2019 Topps card has been in the Boyd Binder for quite a while, but, just missed it...it's not the last one that I'll find.

1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣ Entering that overlooked card had allowed me to hit a milestone, of sorts, on TCDB, 150 different Matthew Boyd baseball cards entered onto my page.

⚾️ I've actually been to one National, back in the mid 1990s in Atlanta....and, hey, being that The National is back in Chicago next year might just give me a reason to go back. 

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

😎 Hope your Sunday was a good one, and, as always, Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday- 2022 Topps All-Star Card

Tonight is the 92nd MLB All-Star Game, and will be played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. 

The famed ballpark at Chavez Ravine, it's been the Dodgers home since 1962. 

It will be the first All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium since 1980.

It's very fitting that the game is at the Dodgers ballpark, as it's the teams 60th Anniversary playing there, as well as 2022 being the 75th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game in 1947, and... it's the 100th Happy Baseball Birthday! of the beautiful Mrs. Robinson, Rachel, born on this day in 1922! 

🐅⚾️ This year the Detroit Tigers have two All-Stars, Gregory Soto, and, Miguel Cabrera. 

For Cabrera, this is his 12th time coming to the Mid- Summer Classic, and, his first selection since the 2016 season.

Yesterday my amazing wife, Tracy, brought me this card home.

         2022 Topps All-Star Baseball

                    #87AS-19

                Miguel Cabrera 

She also got me a HUGE bag of Cracker Jacks, as well as a couple of old wax packs to open up.

⭐️⭐️I'm all set for tonight's game.⭐️⭐️

Have a great night, enjoy the game, and, as always, Play BALL! ⭐️⚾️⭐️⚾️

Hitting 500K!

Seeing this surprised me when I checked in on the blog today.

Last I knew I was somewhere in the mid 400k area, and, because I've slowed down on the posts as of late, I didn't think 500,000 page views was gonna happen anytime soon.

It's been a little over 12 years since I started this blog, and I'm so grateful for all the people who've taken time out of their very busy lives to give it a read.

My health has really taken its toll on my ability to blog like I did just a few years ago, but I try as best I can, especially on events and milestones like Riley Greene making his big league debut, a cool Blog Batt Around, or, when it's a good Happy Baseball Birthday! 

Hey, it's former Tigers 1st Baseman Sean Casey's Happy Baseball Birthday! today! 

                🐅  48th, Mr. Casey! 🐅

Many thanks, again, to one, and all, I'm truly a blessed man.

Have a great 4th weekend! 

Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday- More Topps NOW Tigers

My last post for Tigers Card Tuesday was for the first big league hit for Tigers rookie Kody Clemens.

Since then we've been treated to more Tigers cards from the Topps NOW brand, including young Clemens first big league home run last Saturday night in Detroit's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

The Tigers had an off day on Monday, and are starting a 2 game series in San Francisco tonight...maybe a splash down HR from a lefty batter like Clemens,  maybe Hittin' Harold Castro, or, heck, Riley Greene.

Have a terrific week, appreciate you stopping by to read the blog.

Play BALL! 🐅⚾️

Blog Bat Around- National Sunglasses Day

Today is National Sunglasses, Day.

🕶 I don't remember this being a thing, but Marvel reminded me this morning when I opened up the card app.

 

🕶 Our friend Collecting Cutch posted about it as well, showing off some cool cards of his main PC guy, Andrew McCutchen, and suggesting this would be a cool Blog Bat Around idea, and, if course, I had to get a post up.

🕶 Cutch also asked if we had any cool baseball cards featuring players wearing shades, and, of course, my mind went straight to my main PC pitcher, Matthew Boyd.

           2019 Topps Living Set #129,                             Matthew Boyd

🕶 I've certainly worn my share of cool sunglasses in my day, but these days all I have are the kind that clip on to my every day glasses.

🕶 It's just 3 months and 3 days until October 1st, when Cutch hosts his annual Save Second Base Blog event to help raise awareness of Breast Cancer. 🎀 

Let's see those sunglasses baseball cards, and, as always, remember to Play BALL! ⚾️

Happy Farher's Day, 2022.

Just a quick post to wish all the Dad's out there a Happy Father's Day! 

Have a terrific day with all of your loved ones today, and, as always, remember to Play BALL! ⚾️

Tigers Card Tuesday- 2022 Topps NOW Kody Clemens

This card isn't in my collection yey, because it's only been out for a few hours.

Kody Clemens, the Detroit Tigers 3rd round pick in 2018 out of the University of Texas, collected his first big league hit last night against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. 

Kody added another base knock and a walk, scoring two runs,in the Tigers loss to the ChiSox. 

It took the kid from Houston, Texas 10 games and 17 at bats before collecting his first career base knock, but Tigers fans were certainly cheering for him in every plate appearance, and those in attendance last night can say they saw history. 

Kody's "Call Up" ToppsNOW card is available until 24 hours after its release this afternoon, and you can purchase the card on Topps.com. 

⚾️ Or, you can save a few dollars by hitting up eBay, (my choice) it'll just take about a month to get to yall.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to stop by to read my blog, it's much appreciated. 

It's also available on the Topps BUNT App.

Congratulations, Kody, and, keep swinging and playing hard in that Olde English D. 

Play BALL! 🐯⚾️