VOTE FOR A CRACKED BAT !

Today begins a months' long journey to Election Day, Tuesday November 4th.  My previous post shared an overview of what you can expect to find in the Cracked Bat Ballot Box. It's possible you won't like the item offered. I encourage you to vote for the candidate you hate least - you know, the lesser of two evils. There will be fun items offered - new, old and...vintage.  More to like or love than not! I will track your votes with the help of a nonpartisan assistant. Your names will be entered into the final drawing, equivalent to the number of times you voted.

Voting opportunities may be a standalone post or found within one of my outlandishly creative ventures.  Basic rules will be available each time as a reminder:

I apologize in advance, for the questionable quality of these shots taken with my 5 year old phone. With election proceeds, I'm purchasing a high-end smart phone with elaborate camera capabilities. Oh wait... I'm not making one RED cent during this election! And now, without further ado, here are your first Cracked Bat Candidates:


A)  1987 SPORTFLICS TEAM PREVIEW SET
26 cards plus 26 team logo/trivia minis.  This set contains the only 1987 MLB card featuring Tom Glavine.  Checklist here.

CANDIDATE A

B) 1988 TOPPS GLOSSY SEND-INS
60 card set. Available through mail-in offer. Contains several HOFers.  Checklist here.

CANDIDATE B

Both are common oddball sets from the 80s but aren't often seen. Sportflics was somewhat unique in its time. Topps Glossy contains many stars and fan favorites. Take a look at the checklist links and choose your candidate wisely. The loser of this round may or may not, be seen again.  The winner goes into the Ballot Box!  Thank you for being loyal to this blog. Let the voting begin!

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Also in my previous post , I shared my fireworks display. A friend filmed my short but fun finale from 4th of July evening. She didn't turn her phone for landscape viewing. Her husband is the pyro who assisted me. Next year, we are fusing the cakes together for better timing. We had a blast!

DUPE, DUMP OR DWINDLE: Round Three - Jeff Bagwell

I intended to share this post over two weeks ago. BWTP's recent departure has me reexamining my own reasons for being here. My second round of 'busy seasons' is rapidly approaching at the tax firm that provides my living.  Around the first of September through mid-October, I tend to disappear from the blogs altogether.  I was fortunate to transfer from Dallas with my employer three years ago. I'm now beginning to resent the amount of time a regular work day and its commute are consuming.  Changes in management have added to the increasing levels of stress in the office.  I find myself at a crossroads, needing to work for a few more years. The challenge in finding a new position at my age cannot be underestimated.  Any new job must include a shorter commute.  I live in the country...  All I know for certain is that my current career path is nearing its end. I simply cannot take it much longer.  I should be sleeping at 4am instead of writing about how much I dread going into the office.

Reading your blogs and sharing on mine are therapeutic for me.  It's beyond frustrating when I can't find enough time to be here. Simply put, it makes me sad. Life has its responsibilities for each of us, of course.  No one needs to tell me 'suck it up, Buttercup.'   If you do read regularly then perhaps you've noticed I don't share my personal challenges often.  This situation is weighing on me heavily. I may be absent in streaks of weeks but am not going away.

                 *******************

Jeff Brown Paper Bagwell.  I hated - still hate - this nickname. I was never a fan of ESPN's Chris Berman anyway which probably added to my dislike. Along with Chipper, Jeff is a recent HOF inductee.  Many baseball fans will associate him with the steroid era, slapping their own * by his name.  Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire were evicted from my collection long ago.  I never collected Barry Bonds.

Jeff was the first Astro I pc'd. Though I can't say why I began keeping his cards, it was likely the uniform.  I also had some crazy notion that all Rookie of the Year winners were worth pursuing.  Some may recall I began collecting in 93.  The history of failed Rookie winners was unknown to me then. Many would argue I still know little but I digress. As time passed, I learned he was a dependable hitter - homers yes - but on base often, stealing well over 200 bags in his career. Okay, 202.  I couldn't resist the opportunity. Perhaps Berman deserves a little slack.

Although drafted by the Red Sox, he spent his entire MLB career with the Astros. In 1994, Jeff made  the first of his four All Star appearances.  During this strike shortened season, he won a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and the NL MVP.  For six  years, 1996-2001, Baggypants had at least 30 homers, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored and 100 walks in each year becoming the only player in MLB history to do so. Jeffrey concluded a 15 year career with a .297 average, 2314 hits, 449 round-trippers and 1529 runs batted in.

It was 1994 when the Astros entered what I believe to be the ugly uni years. The bright colors and stripes were replaced with gold and navy, then brick and black in 2000.

 

Baggy Pants

                                             

Real Topps Gallery 

One of my favorite baseball memories was a trip to the Astrodome in September 1998.  I hadn't yet moved to Texas so was unaccustomed to 6 point beer. Heck, I really didn't drink at all. I found a stand with 24 ounce draft beers for $2!  One would have been enough but I had at least two...possibly more.  I wasn't too drunk because I remember this day well.  The Astros were playing the Reds. I do recall fake flowers hanging on the outfield wall. So odd.  With 217 homeruns, Jeff had the longest active streak in baseball without a grand slam.  Sitting on the first base side, I was there when it happened.  With a long swing, he unloaded the bases and the Reds went on to lose 13-7. What a rush!  It was the first grand slam I'd ever witnessed in person. Also the first time I ever wore balloons on my head - publicly. My head felt like one the next morning.

Ugly Unis

Why is Jeff the headliner for our third round of Triple Ds?  As in the previous two posts, not every card on the move is scanned and shared here.  Is he getting the boot? What say you?

THE FINE PRINT

Do you want these cards?  If so, you must be a regular reader with a USA mailing address, be the Card Papoy or a regular Canadian reader. No contest hounds. The rules are simple: determine why I’m giving away these cards.  You must comment with a correct response to have a chance via Randomizer.   Your only response choices are:

•      DUPE  (duplicates)
•      DUMP   (player booted from my collection)
•    DWINDLE  (player collection thinned, only select cards kept)

The next edition of Dupe, Dump or Dwindle will reveal the reason for the removal of these cards from my collection, and our randomized winner.  Remember, only correct responses will be randomized.

The twist?  You can win only ONCE every three rounds.  Cards that go unclaimed won’t be offered here again. There will be many players listed in the coming weeks but you have no way to know who’s up next. Do you need any of these cards?  Leave one of the only three correct responses for a chance to win a stack of Jeff's cards - or pass.  

I'll wait at least a week to close out this edition's commentary with my own response noting the end of this round.

ROUND TWO SYNOPSIS: Chipper Jones

Chipper didn't drum up much interest. Of the responses, there were four dwindles, four dumps and no dupes.  Baseball Cards Come To Life author Bo commented: Not entering this one either. If you're dumping Donnie you've got to be dumping this guy too, right? Especially as you didn't really say anything nice about him in your writeup.   I did mention in the first 3D post that some choices may be surprising.  My decision to feature a player here has no bearing on his career or personal history outside the game.  Tiger Pride left this: Passing on the entry for your contest (great way to have one btw) but I'm going to go with "dwindle"...because who takes two dumps in a row?! - a comment that left me rolling!

No one guessed DUPE. There are double dupes in the lot of Jones cards. Scanning the dupes would have given this one away.  Chipper hits the discard pile. 

More players ahead. Thanks for reading!

DUPE, DUMP OR DWINDLE: Round Two - Chipper Jones

WHAT??? I'm parting with the Jones boy? Could be a dump. Perhaps a lessening of sorts.  The 90s shout duplication. So what's your best guess?

Larry Wayne Jones Jr. is joining Cooperstown this summer. How is this even possible?  Were the 90s so long ago?  Larry's MLB debut with the Braves happened in September 1993, just as I'd begun collecting. Thanks to TBS, I was able to enjoy the Braves in some of their best years. He was a hot prospect so naturally, I collected Chipper Jones. 

    There's 93 Donruss, rubbing itself in my face once more. A very clean 94 Collector's Choice! 

Initially, Larry was a shortstop.  Throwing errors pushed the Braves to move him to third base. Even then his defense was only average. He owns no Gold Glove awards.  Among switch-hitters however,  only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray have more home runs. Chipper will enter the Hall as an eight-time All-Star with 468 dingers, 2726 hits and a career .303 batting average. 

96 Fleer featured a gorgeous matte finish.   Otherworldly 97 Pinnacle Aura subset...different.

Chipper had a reputation for being cocky. The young girls loved him.  Young women did too which would account for his three marriages. [Insert launch angle joke here.] His first marriage ended when his 18 month extramarital affair with a Hooters' waitress produced a son. I left him in 2002 when the hobby became for me, confusing and expensive.

Ten years passed as Chipper continued to rack up the numbers. Playing all 19 years with the Braves, he called it career in 2012. In 2013, the Braves retired number 10.

These cards are moving out but to where?  Time for someone to step up to the plate!

2016 GQ Power Alley - an insert set I should've assembled.

THE FINE PRINT

I’ve culled several hundred cards from my collection but what to do with them? Well that’s where you come into play. Literally. It’s game time!

Do you want these cards?  If so, you must be a regular reader with a USA mailing address, be the Card Papoy or a regular Canadian reader. No contest hounds. The rules are simple: determine why I’m giving away these cards.  You must comment with a correct response to have a chance via Randomizer.   Your only response choices are:

•      DUPE  (duplicates)
•      DUMP   (player booted from my collection)
•    DWINDLE  (player collection thinned, only select cards kept)

The next edition of Dupe, Dump or Dwindle will reveal the reason for the removal of these cards from my collection, and our randomized winner.  Remember, only correct responses will be randomized.

The twist?  You can win only ONCE every three rounds.  Cards that go unclaimed won’t be offered here again. There will be many players listed in the coming weeks but you have no way to know who’s up next. Do you need any of these cards?  Leave one of the only three correct responses for a chance to win Chipper - or pass.  

I'll wait at least a week to close out this edition's commentary with my own response noting the end of this round.

ROUND ONE SYNOPSIS: Don Mattingly

Of the responses left for Donnie, only six readers were interested in these cards. Of eight Dwindles, four were officially entered as guesses.  Only two Dump guesses, both entered as well. No one guessed DUPE which would have been incorrect. John Miller ventured 'dwindle' as I'd mentioned two of these cards as favorites. Perhaps that was a bit misleading. They are favorite Donnies but not favorites in the sense of keepers. There may be some disappointed folks here when they read Mattingly was a dump.  Forgive me Bo.  It's not that Mattingly was undeserving of my collection.  He just doesn't fit.  I didn't have all that many Donnie's but that's not necessarily a reflection of my player collections. I do have many smaller PCs. 

Our two dump guessers are defgav and The Card Papoy. Randomized by the number of correct guesses leaves us with our winner:

Kevin - Donnie is moving to France!  You were first place both times. I'll hang on to these for a bit in order to fill a trade package for you. You'll have to sit out the next two rounds which includes Chipper.  Gavin, thanks for making the final round! 

Thanks to all of you who took time to read, comment and participate!

DUPE, DUMP, OR DWINDLE: Round One - Don Mattingly

When I began collecting in 1993, the hobby was entirely new to me.  I had no memories of childhood collecting that most of you do.  It does make me envious at times.  

Although drawn to the beauties of cardboard men, I didn’t know ‘how’ to collect. Picking up prospects and any players I was “supposed” to collect, my collection began to grow rapidly.  Puckett, McGwire, Griffey, Big Frank, Piazza, Ripken and HOF guys like Cobb, Gehrig quickly filled my 3000 count boxes.   Along the way, I developed an attachment or affection if you will, to some of these men. I also had some crazy notion that if I kept a few cards of a particular player then I should be saving them all.   I’m coming to terms with who I am as a collector. 

Over the past few months, I’ve become reacquainted with my 90s collection. I felt strangely disconnected to many of the players and found no hobby joy while going through their cards.   Why am I keeping them?  Among other players, I found many dupes. Still there are players I enjoyed collecting but now feel no desire to keep all their cards.  I chose my favorites and put the others aside.

Don, it’s seems you’re the first contestant of Dupe, Dump or Dwindle. I wasn't watching the Yankees at the time. Your 'stache and cleft chin caught my eye.  I'm certain a lot of guys found you to be a man's man, Donnie Baseball.  

A lifetime Yankee with respectable career numbers, saddled with a back injury, you hung up your glove in 95 at the age of 34.  Eight gold gloves, six straight all-star games, but no World Series championships and no call to the Hall.

1989 Topps - a favorite Donny

a favorite Stadium Club design -1995

looking antique, another favorite design - 1996 Upper Deck 

THE FINE PRINT

I’ve culled several hundred cards from my collection but what to do with them? Well that’s where you come into play. Literally. It’s game time!

Do you want these cards?  If so, you must be a regular reader with a USA mailing address, be the Card Papoy or a regular Canadian reader. No contest hounds. The rules are simple: determine why I’m giving away these cards.  You must comment with a correct response to have a chance via Randomizer.   Your only response choices are:

•      DUPE  (duplicates)
•      DUMP   (player booted from my collection)
•    DWINDLE  (player collection thinned, only select cards kept)

The next edition of Dupe, Dump or Dwindle will reveal the reason for the removal of these cards from my collection, and our randomized winner.  Remember, only correct responses will be randomized.

The twist?  You can win only ONCE every three rounds.  Cards that go unclaimed won’t be offered here again. There will be many players listed in the coming weeks but you have no way to know who’s up next.  Is Donnie your guy?  Do you need any of these cards?  Leave one of the only three correct responses for a chance to win Don Mattingly - or pass.  

I'll wait at least a week to close out this edition's commentary with my own response noting the end of this round.

Summer Lingers On

Hey Everybody!  Where you been???  Me?  Oh, just clinging to summer.  Until I share trade packages received in August and September, summer lingers on.  Yes. I have the power to stop winter, should I choose!   Packages are scanned, ready for public viewing but what's more important - to share your generosity? or  to enjoy eighty degree days during a Michigan January?   I can show off these cards this Spring!  [Note, I did NOT say it was 80 degrees IN Michigan.]

Some fun things happened over the summer.  For instance, I now have a personalized car tag:

Isn't that a sweet plate?  Unfortunately, it's not mine.  No, someone beat me to it.  Perhaps the owner's a crazy cat lady? Hard to guess by the riff-raff that unloaded from this van.  With my first tag choice taken, I had to go with the second:

I'm a gal who loves her cars!  The Baja is the only foreign model I've ever owned.  As a rule, I'm a Mopar woman with an affection for Mustangs.  Go figure.

Goodbye Tall Man

This summer, I said goodbye to the Gibraltar Trade Center.  No sooner had I discovered the monthly card show, the doors were locked one last time.  During this final visit, I picked up  a few hundred cards, mostly for trading.  $14 for these fun items:

A friend and I made the hour trip over to the Taylor Town Center in September to see Tiger great Willie Horton.   He is slowing down these days but Willie's smile is vibrant and voice strong.  He still has a nice handshake too:

Willie's sweet signature!

I also put together another contest box for an October giveaway but never found the time to tease you with it.  Thanksgiving came and went.  Before I knew it, Christmas was here.  Now it's 2018.  Is this box still relevant?  These cards are all dupes from my collection or cards previously traded; sad and neglected.   Wanna peek?

Who feels sorry for these cards? The old deckles have some wear and tear.  (So do I at nearly the same age!)   

I have another 4000 count box ready for the Salvation Army.  I donate cards regularly, packing the boxes with rookies, stars and minimal dupes, with this odd fantasy that someone is just waiting for my cards to show up on the shelves.  At the Army's $6 - $10 pricing, these boxes are a steal.   Yes, I do have card fantasies.  

You'll be seeing a few posts on the changing direction of my collection.  I have begun player elimination rounds: dupes, deletes or scaling back of certain player collections.  Most cards will be base or low-end inserts.  Perhaps you'll want some of these??  

In Michigan, summers will always be too short.  I've lived in OK and TX, where summer stretched on for weeks.  I'm learning to embrace every moment here, each time that glorious ball of orange rises into the sky.  

A recent morning commute

A Covfefe ... er, um - Contest!

A post that doesn't mention covfefe?  I can assure you, this post will not discuss high level Twitter mishaps.  No comments about smart phone tweeting at midnight from the Throne Room.   Not at all.  Instead, this post celebrates a milestone, one that slipped right past me.  It’s taken awhile but I’ve actually hit the 100 post mark!!   I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the big and continued welcome to this community.  I’ve not seen a negative post or comment in reference to newcomers or regular bloggers.  You are a good and generous people!  I’d tweet it around the world but am not a twit. 

courtesy Google Images

I’ve been giving away a lot of cards recently, always within a trade post.  That will continue.   Most all bloggers with reason to celebrate do so with a contest, many with a pimp clause.   I’ve never done this and think it’s past time for a pimp – or pimping.  [Please note -  I’m not  looking for part time work.]  

So here are the rules:

A >    follow my blog if you haven’t already 

B >    post a link on your blog to tell your readers about A Cracked Bat.   If you don’t  blog but tweet instead, TWEET me!    I’ll even give you a link.

C >   comment below with a link to your post or tweet which shows the pimping.  You can post AND/OR tweet but only one entry per person.   

D >   you must live in the USA, Canada or Rambouillet France.

E >    all previous winners are eligible

What’s the prize this time?  One 400 count box of my disCards!  There will be no junk wax.  Cards are from the 90s right up thru 2017.  There may be a relic or auto, some shiny or numbered cards but zero junk.  If you don’t like surprises then maybe this contest isn’t for you.

There is a short window of opportunity.  The contest will close Friday, June 2^nd at 10pm EST.   I’ll announce the winner sometime Sunday evening.  Randomized  FIVE TIMES, the winner will be the last name from the list.   Last place wins!   All contests I've ever entered have me falling somewhere in the middle.   It's a good time to be last!

So don't be a loser!  Enter this contest!

Spotlight On ...

Over the course of  eight months, Johnny has made several appearances in my mailbox.  Not literally of course.  He is one of the more prolific traders around.  Most of us have been recipients of big fat mailers and boxes full of our favorite teams and players.  I had three trade packages from him ready to share and just when I thought I was done - along came yet another package.  Here's a few cards from the most recent package:

That is one shiny lot of refractors!  All but two were needed for a team set.  The pennant was a great accent to this picture and made me smile when I found it tucked in a toploader.

Love these 87 Coke cards.  I have a few of these packs still sealed and tried opening one but it didn't go so well.  I will eventually have the whole set with the help of trade partners. I should put a list together.

John included three post-card size team sets:

1988 Kroger

1989 Marathon Gas

1990 Kroger

 A little bit of Leaf Preferred and Pinnacle Zenith

New Heritage

2005 Topps 205 - like these a lot!

 A smattering of Tiger greatness in Fan Favorites design.

    

   A very cool schedule!  I can't say old since there's only ten years difference between it and me!

Thank you John!  If you are new to the blogs, be sure to check out two of his regular features:

Shadow Shots and Wacky Wednesdays.  Both are favorites of mine.

And new or not, you are welcome to join now in another giveaway from the disCard pile! We'll let this one run through Wednesday night, 8pm EST.  That gives me time to have it on the way to our winner before the holiday weekend!  Open to all 50 US States, with  previous winners excluded. Your part?  Comment on this post and ask to be entered.  One catch... your comment must be different than other comments.  For example, I'm in can only be used once. Count me in and please count me in would be considered the same as would I'm down or put me down.  The point is to be original. I'll randomize the list four times and post the winner on Thursday evening.  Oh, and the winner will be the fourth name on the list.  Your prize will be a three to four hundred count box.  The cards are random - a mix from 90s to now.  There may be an older card or two but junk wax is not part of this deal.  The 80s find their way into nearly everything - a bit like cockroaches.

Have fun with your comments - and thank you for reading!!!