All My Heywards - 2008 MultiAd Rome Braves

2008 MultiAd Rome Braves #16

I was loopy over Heyward from the moment we drafred him, so you'd think I would have been a little more diligent in snagging his minor league sets, especially since two of the Braves' affiliates are an hour's drive from my house. Nope, I managed to pick up a few sets but not the ones with J-Hey in them. So random singles found in the wild are a thrill. This one was acquired from the nearby flea market which used to be a great place to find cheap cards but has hit on hard times. I'll overpay for a Heyward I don't have though so this card (and not much else) came home with me. Gotta love the picture of Heyward looming all over this card.

Obligatory Hockey post

Got to see some Hockey in Atlanta last night with a couple of buddies even though Gary doesn't feel we are worthy, unlike Arizona. Eff the NHL, I spent less on last night's ticket in Row G for a minor league game than I've spent on parking for the big boys and had just as good a time. I took some pictures, but I've spent the past half hour fighting with my crappy BlueTooth gizmo trying to get the pics off my phone and I give up. I really really need to join the 21st century and get one of these newfangled smartphones. Vintage is great in baseball cards but sucks ass with electronics. You'll have to imagine the pics of a hockey crease through the glass and of a minor league goalie picking up teddy bears off the ice. Thoughts/highlights from last night's game.

The game was between the Gwinnett Gladiators and the Greenville Road Warriors. Russell Crowe vs. Mel Gibson.

Before the game we went to get dinner at a joint in Tucker. Not going to mention the name, because foreshadowing. Got a couple of beers and shared a plate of fried pickles/jalapenos. I was told the jalapenos were ruthlessly hot because they kept the seeds in when they sliced and battered them. When I scoffed at the heat or lack thereof, I was told to try the red ones because those were really hot. After querying on how exactly to find out which ones are red when they are covered batter, it was determined that my buddies ate all the red ones. I wanted a burger (with tots! woooooo!) but their house burgers were all weird. Ham on a burger? Pulled pork on a burger?? WTF? I was told a while back by the owner of one of the local card shops (not going to mention the name, because foreshadowing) that one of the best culinary experiences ever is to have a burger with a fried egg on top. I was dubious of this claim, but the advice stuck. One of the burgers at the joint did indeed have a fried egg on top and even though that sounds odd to me, it sounded a helluva lot better than pulled pork. So, I got EggBurger. It was... ok. Barely. Honestly, the bacon probably saved it. Breakfast should probably be kept separate from burgers. We left the restaurant and I felt mostly all right because of the two beers. (FORESHADOWING)

Got to the arena, drove right in, no traffic, free parking, 2 minute walk from the box office. God I love minor league sports.

Walked right into the box office, up to a counter - no waiting in line - and bought three tickets within spitting distance of the glass for 15 bucks less than one ticket for average seat at Phillips for the Atlantipeg Threats. God I love minor league sports.

To make things less complicated, one guy bought the tickets and we paid for his grub all night. I got him a beer and a bag of peanuts. One 12 oz. Yuengling on draft - $7.50. I can get a 24 oz. can of the stuff at the Ted for $8!! Oh well, two out of three ain't bad.

I got the seat in the middle. First thing I did was put my arms around both of them and asked who gets the smooch if we get on KissCam. I have no shame.

For some reason the Canadian National Anthem was played. I guess it's just a hockey thing.

For some reason one of my friends started singing along with the Canadian National Anthem. I apologize to all Canadians, past, present and future. Even if you are a fan of maple syrup, beavers (animal or otherwise), or even just really like snow and at one point in your life felt some sort of kinship to the people of Canada for even a moment, I apologize. I am so, so sorry for what happened last night.

Before the American National Anthem, there was a stern warning not to yell out during the anthem because it is horribly disrespectful and Jesus will cry and Everyone Should Support Our Troops. At the proper time I whispered very softly and respectfully KNIGHTS!!!

No one will understand what that means, but trust me, it is essential for any Hockey game in Atlanta.

The first fight in the game came three seconds in. Seriously, the clock read 19:57 and there were already two roughing penalties. I don't even think the ref dropped the puck before the gloves were off. Great Googley Moogely I LOVE Minor League Hockey.

Somewhere in the middle of the first period I had the epiphany that I had reached the point in my life where I don't necessarily give a crap about the game, I just want to go so I can hang out and bullshit with some friends.

I am happy I have reached this point in my life.

The Road Warriors (whose logo looks like the result of Ghengis Khan knocking up a Viking) got the first goal. Boooooooo.

Right about then my colon most definitely decided it did not like the EggBurger. I had cold sweats for about 10 minutes while the teams skated out the period.

I was able to pass the time watching the end of the Saints/Niners game on one buddy's IPhone. There was about 5 touchdowns in a minute and a half or something? Seemed like it at least.

I don't particularly want to give Steve Jobs' ghost any of my money, but those things are nice.

First intermission: I announce I am going to the bathroom. Singing friend decided to go with me. We go in the bathroom, both stalls are occupied. I have to wait for buddy to finish his business before I can go find a place to do mine. Halfway around the arena I find an open stall. With no lock. Anyone who opens that door deserves what they get. My colon has no shame.

Now with a small measure of relief, I get myself a souvenir cup soda. Pepsi products! Egads! I reluctantly get a diet Pepsi simply because I need a caffeine boost of any kind. The cups are awesome this year though, full schedule and one of the players printed on decent plastic.

There's this one lady who comes to every game wearing a hockey sweater and sexy boots AND PRETTY MUCH NOTHING ELSE. She showed up at the snack bar and we gawked, as is the custom. It is my experience after attending hockey games for over 30 years that there is at least one of these ladies at every single game. This stuff doesn't happen in baseball, folks.

We go back to the seats and get stopped by the "No going down the ice while the puck is in play lady. We get back to our sets just in time to see the Gladiators score. Yay!

Apparently this was Stuffed Animal Donation night. Everyone gets to bring stuffed toys and throw them on the ice after the Glads score their first goal. BEDLAM ENSUES. The ice looks like a tornado hit a Toys 'R Us. Play stops for about 20 minutes while friggin CARS are driven on the ice so the toys can be loaded into the back of them and taken away. The Gladiator goalie helped load toys pretty much the whole time and a few other players pitched in. One car was blocking the exit off of the ice and did not have enough room to turn around and exit, so they tried to push it out backwards. It banged into the glass and got a dent on the bumper. Once everything was off the ice some workers were trying to gather up as much errant fluff as they could off the ice.

One teddy bear got stuck in the net above the glass and stayed there the whole game.

The Warriors soon took the lead. At one point The Glads had 29 shots to the Warriors' 9 and were down 2-1.

Second intermission comes and we all go up to the concourse to chill out and talk about The Good Old Days. We made the mistake of trying to leave during the "Throw the foam puck on the ice into a target and win a prize!" contest and got trapped in the aisle and pelted with foam pucks.

While we were talking my colon once again got antsy and I had to run to the loo. This one was worse because the jalapenos talked to the EggBurger, found out I was mocking their heat and decided to take their Revenge. Victory was ultimately mine as my colon was finally appeased and the Glads tied up the game while I was on the can. My ass is good luck!

We continue talking about the Good Ol' Days in college while the game plods on. Highlights of the conversation:

• The time when Football buddy's ex-girlfriend showed up at our apartment wearing only a tiny tank top and Daisy Dukes. I had forgotten all about that but I'm glad I remembered. 
• The time when Singing buddy got hammered at a party, complemented some girl for having pretty eyes, got essentially a lap dance from this girl AND MANAGED TO NOT EVEN KISS HER. facepalm.jpg
• The time when Football buddy got hammered downtown and called me for over an hour trying to get a ride home. When asked what the hell I was doing instead of picking him up, I replied "probably banging my girlfriend". We all agreed this was likely and a totally acceptable excuse.  
• One of our old roommates wrote a book!
• This reminded us of every terrible roommate we ever had. We mocked them accordingly. 
• I'M SORRY WE THREW YOUR COUCH HALFWAY DOWN THE RAVINE BEHIND OUR OLD APARTMENT AND LOST OUR SECURITY DEPOSIT. If we hadn't stepped into that fire ant nest we could have gotten the couch all the way down the ravine. 

At this point we had to choose between bailing and going to get some coffee or watching the rest of the game. Since the game was tied, we chose to stick it out. We also decided that the view is better from the top of the stairs so we hang out in the handicapped row to watch the game.

Football buddy took his turn in the can. While he was gone I went back to our seats to rescue my nice Gladiators cup. When I got to my row, the Glads took the lead on a sweet slap shot from the corner. My friends' ass is lucky too!

When I rescued my cup I went in the row on one side and exited the other so I could inconvenience everyone in the row equally. I'm thoughtful like that.

Souvenir cups get free refills. I got a free refill of Diet Pepsi even though I hate it. WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO. IT'S FREE.

We worked out that The Glads scored every time someone went to the bathroom. We hectored Singing buddy until he went to the john in hopes that the Glads would score again and get a two goal lead. Nope. The Hockey Gods were so offended by his butchery of O Canada they revoked his ass luck.

The Warriors pulled their goalie with about a minute and a half left. The Glads immediately got a penalty so they had a 6 on 4 penalty kill to win the game. I pointed out that there was an empty net and my friends looked at me like I had announced that I was a 39 year old man who loved My Little Pony or something. "Hey look, empty net. The net... it's empty. Empty! Net! They pulled their goalie! So the net is empty! AM I THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO KNOWS HOCKEY STRATEGY?!"

Of course I had announced that I was a 39 year old man who loved My Little Pony earlier at the restaurant.  Football buddy was dubious, but Singing buddy had seen Pony references on Phineas and Ferb and is now Pony-Positive.

The Glads killed the power play and gained Victory, propelling them into first place in whatever division they are in. On the way out we got free magnetic schedules! Yay!

We passed on coffee and all went our separate ways. I drove home and listened to too-loud techno with a splitting headache. I didn't mind because in one single day I got:

Pinkie Pie Pony Episode
Roger Vintage Card Show
Football at the Sports Bar
Minor League Hockey
Quality Time With the College Buds

No way a headache and EggBurger gastric distress can spoil all that! Best Day Ever!

things seen and heard at Wal-Mart on a Wednesday evening

Actually, before I get into that, let me tell you about something I saw at Target. At Target, in teh card aisle, just yesterday, was a long neglected gravity feed box of 2008 Timelines that had been left forlorn and passed on by. Attached to the box was a sticker. The sticker read:

Find Steven Strasburg autographs!

That my friends, is chutzpah. I might have even bought a pack if I wasn't able to get a hobby box for like, 30 bucks.

Ok, now for Wally World. I had to get the milk and the veggies and the whatnot so I went there last night. The "heard" part of the tale is amusing. Some dude stocking the shelves was totally rocking out to War Pigs by Black Sabbath. It was so loud through his headphones you could hear it in the next aisle over. Awesome.

Ok, card related stuff. Topps Magic Blasters are live, and I aaaaalmost got one. Not quite, but almost. There will be a pack rip of that stuff tonight, by the way. I was also tempted by Heritage and O-Pee-Chee blasters but I passed on the blasters. Upper Deck Icons is out in both baseball and football in blaster form. Baseball had a gravity feed of single packs, football did not. Matt Ryan is the cover boy for football icons and had there been a single pack available, I would have bought it.

I still have not seen a black border or retro UPC in either Target or Wal-Mart. I am not sure if they've abandoned the concept or if they are biding their time to spring them on us. I wish I knew what was going on, because I have been holding off buying any Topps blasters because of it even though there are Chipper patches in there. I've been getting a jumbo pack of series two Topps here and thee, mainly because the Heritage jumbos have dried up and the other rack packs are boring. Yawn.

One last thing in abundance are half off old cheapo blasters. Most of them are crappy '07 Upper Deck and '08 Topps stuff, but I found something today that intrigued me... 2007 Tri-Star minor league blasters. 10 bucks for 7 packs I think? I really had to think about these because while I have the whole set (and a pile of doubles) in my experience about two out of three blaster had not one but two guarantees autographs. Is that worth the ten bucks? Two minor league autos? Ok, maybe you can get a Jason Heyward auto, but that's not likely, and besides there might only be the one auto in the box. I don't know what to do about this one, if I was rich like last year I'd be buying 'em all, but now... not sure about it. Luckily there was this to steer me from temptation:

Tri-Star's minor league set in a pack with all three series. I have liked what I've seen from this set so I gave it a try. Here are the results:

83 Madison Bumgarner

Everyone's favorite "O" face thanks to Mario. Madison is actually a pretty highly rated pitching prospect for teh pitching loaded Giants. We'll have to watch this guy carefully.

77 Adys Portillo

This dude is only 17! I guess the reason thee is not a "Pro Debut" logo on this card is that when the first series came out he hadn't made his debut yet.

144 Miguel Moctezuma

You know what bugs me? When I do a Google Search for some minor leaguer I've never heard of before and I get their Facebook and Linked In profiles in the results. I want to see his stats, not what items he's looking for in Mafia Wars!

264 Brandon Braboy

Right about now is when I remember why I don't bother with minor league cards. i jsut don't know who these guys are.

255 David Welch

David was on the Aussie team in this year's WBC. After that, I got nothin.

So... nice looking cards, in 6 years we might know if any of these guys are good. I guess I can wait.

Tristar Obak

I was reading this blog post about #1 overall picks of the last 10 years when I noticed the Tim Beckham card had an Obak logo on it. To me, Obak is a minor league tobacco card set (T212 to be precise) featuring Pacific Coast League players on cards that are very similar to T206es. Tim Beckham wasn't around 100 years ago so I practiced a little Google-fu to figure out what the heck that card was. The Bay ultimately provided the answer. Tristar is inserting promo cards of Obak into their mini cases (mini case? wtf?) of 2009 Projections Series 1. I was blissfully unaware that Tristar Obak even existed even though Beckett apparently had a post on it over a month ago. Apparently there will be an Obak minor league set later this year to go along with the hinted at Topps206 revival. Or maybe not, I can't find any straight information out there and I don't have the inside connections that some of the other bloggers have. I'd prefer they all wait until 2010 to put this stuff actually, I might actually have some cash for cards by then.

Oh, one other thing: See that Matt Bush autograph in the post? That's mine! I like it when my cards become independently famous.

Swap with Hollin

A couple of weeks ago reader Hollin e-mailed me and offered to send some Braves my way. Hollin is a Red Sox fan so I offered a Sox for Braves swap. I received a loaded package from Hollin so let's show it off... First up is a bunch of assorted Braves. Lots of eclectic stuff in there... Triple Play, Studio, Opening Day, Bowman Chrome, Sports Illustrated for Kids among other things. HEre's the Top 5 Braves:

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Chipper Jones All Star Jersey

This is the card I wanted from that set. I like the design a lot, the oval and star works well with that picture and the foil Yankee Stadium facade you can't see because of the scan is a nice touch. Any possibility of me buying a box of this is now dead.

2008 Topps Chrome Chipper Jones Xfractor

I can't get enough Chipper Jones shiny parallels. This one looks a little odd as the Xfractor squares make Chipper and Teixeira look like they merged into conjoined twins. The lady in the red dress at right only adds to the confusion.

2008 Opening Day Chipper Jones Flapper card

I've wanted this card since I first saw it on the pre-sell checklist. I have a David Wright flapper card that I only held on to as a type card, but now I can give it away to someone who can appreciate the overrated Mets third baseman. Or... I could finally get a chance to utilize the full flapper potential of the card. Hmmmmm...

2006 Topps Jeff Francoeur Wal-Mart Exclusive

This blaster-only insert card features Frenchy on the 1998 Topps design. I think that is one of the best designs Topps ever came up with but it came out during the late '90s card lull so not many collectors are familiar with it.

1992 Donruss Dave Justice Spirit of the Game

A lot of people look at 1992 Donruss and wonder why anyone bought that junk. Well one reason why people bought it is because there was a dramatic jump in quality from the '91 to the '92 set. The design may look a bit boring now, but back then it was really classy looking, especially for a base set. It also came out really early, I want to say before Thanksgiving, so people were very interested in having some 1992 cards in 1991. None of that is the real reason we all went loopy for this set though, the real reason is that we wanted the Diamond Kings and these Spirit of the Game cards. Dang, these are good looking cards.

2008 Opening Day Jake Peavy Puzzle card

The Peavy saga is getting strange. When we last left off, Padres owner John Moores was having a fire sale due to his messy divorce, GM Kevin Towers started shopping Peavy, and the Braves made an offer. The Padres tried to get a bidding war going and dragged their feet on the Braves' offer and Frank Wren got fed up and moved on. Since then, the Cubs have re-signed Ryan Dempster, the Braves are chasing AJ Burnett and Towers has to dump salary, but may have alienated their legit bidders. Lou Piniella even went as far to say that the team needed a bat and the rotation was fine. Now Towers needs to move some salary and has no one bidding. Oops. Meanwhile rumors are still flying, the Braves beat writer is still absolutely convinced that Peavy will eventually be a Brave and to be honestnot much was really going to happen until the arbitration deadline anyway. I remain cautiously optimistic.

Hollin also includes FIVE team sets along with the random Braves, Here they are:

1987 Donruss Opening Day

I really like the '87 Donruss set so this is very cool to me.

1987 Durham Bulls team set

I originally thought the Chipper jersey card would be my favorite thing out of the package. Nope. This was a Lemke card I didn't have and deperately wanted. I think I might have to get my Lemmer collection in order so I can try to get one of every card that was made of Lemke. I've seen the list and it's actually quite doable. I don't think there are any one of ones, but i don't count them anyway.

1990 Durham Bulls team set

Thanks to Hollin's trade and Mark's rescue package I now have at least a partial set of every Bulls team from 1987-1992. Great stuff for a big fan of Crash Davis. Well, I'm more a fan of Annie, but you know what I mean.

1990 Durham Bulls team set

This is actually two team sets, the main set and a 9 card Update set with the immortal Mike Kelly. First seeing the legal pad design of this set back in 1990 was a huge factor behind my coming to the conclusion that minor league sets were cheezy. I like 'em, they're just cheezy.

1992 Durham Bulls team set

I don't really need to explain this one. Just bask in the glory that is Chipper.

Great stuff Hollin! Thanks again!

Saving Braves - part 1

A whole lot of Braves were saved from the landfill by Captain Canuck and myself. I received my rescued cards yesterday and spent all day scanning them. Mark sent a lot of stuff! Supposedly Canuck got an even bigger package than I did, so many Braves were spared. I'm going to have to break up this post into two parts, there's so much to go over. Let's begin with the best card in the universe:

1983 Dale Murphy

Mark said he had a 1983 Fleer card that was "Mangled-you are getting this one whether you want it or not" in an e-mail a while back. Well, this was the only 1983 Fleer card in the box and it's in gem mint 11 shape. I'm kind of disappointed, I would love to have a mangled Murph.

1970 #413 Sonny Jackson

Woot! A card off my 1970-1985 Braves wantlist that isn't finished and I told everyone to ignore! Hooray! Why does no one ever listen to me.... Surprisingly this is not the only Sonny Jackson card I got from Mark.

1975 #105 Buzz Capra
1975 #367 Craig Robinson
1975 #633 Paul Casanova

I'm not 100% sure, but I think if I combine my 1975 regular size and mini Braves cards I have a complete set. Of course if I were to do that all life as you know it would stop instantaneously and every molecule in your body would explode at the speed of light.

Pete Smith Autograph
George Lombard autograph

Two can't miss players who just sort of... did. Lombard is especially hard to swallow since he had committed to the Georgia Bulldogs as a running back before the Braves drafted him. Appropriate that this card be from a minor league set because now we have

A TON OF MINOR LEAGUE CARDS!

1988 Richmond Braves

Three cards from this set including ol' Blausey. These cards are slightly larger than normal, almost the size of Topps cards from the '50s.

1988 Durham Bulls

I have gotten a ton of Bulls cards recently... I'm posting another trade tomorrow that will make you moo from all the Bulls. Fielder's Choice must be jealous. For some reason Paul Marak's card was in a penny sleeve, so I'll show off him.

1989 Durham Bulls

The backs of these cards are all different colors for some reason. White with orange print, pink with blue print and white with blue print. Strange.

1990 Idaho Falls Braves

How'd you like to get drafted by a big league club and then be shipped off to Idaho?

1992 Richmond Braves

I told you there would be another Sonny Jackson popping up. That's all for the minor leaguers, it's time for some old timers!

1991 Conlon Collection

11 beautiful black & white Conlon cards of old Braves. Danny MacFayden shows off his specs in this card, also included are Pinky Whitney, Shanty Hogan, Stuffy McInnis and Heinie Meuller. Why don't we have nicknames like that anymore? Imagine Whiffy Francoeur, Jingle Bells Jurrjens, Bubsy McCann and Kumquats Kotchman playing for the Braves. It would make a 90-loss season more entertaining at least. Ok, last card before cutting off part 1.

1990-91 Skybox Doc Rivers

My favorite player in one of my favorite sets. I went berserk over these cards when they first came out, a condition that was exacerbated by the fact that I was a completely broke ass high school student. I didn't have a dime to my name the winter of '91. I only ended up shoplifting a couple of packs... three or five at the most. What, you thought Mario was the only card obsessed criminal around? Au contraire, mon frere! Gotta have my Skybox.

Up next, a whole lotta Braves who got a reprieve from the landfill!

Card Of the Week 11/10/08

This Card of the Week is going to cause some people to scratch their heads, so a little set up is in order. People who have been following the blog for a while know I'm a big Red Dwarf fan. I've gome to grips with the fact that there will never be a movie, Craig Charles became a DJ, Chris Barrie is probably now a Tory MP from Cholmondeley (ok, he isn't but I'd like to think he is), Danny John-Jules is now a ninja, Robert Llewellyn is the host for a nerdy reality show and that awful Series 8 is what we're going to be left with as the parting images from that genius show. Yeah, sure, there's supposed to be a Red Dwarf Special in production*, but the movie was supposed to be in production 6 or 7 years ago so I'll believe it when I see it. Anyway to understand this week's card you need to know about the Red Dwarf episode The Inquisitor.

Basically the plot of the episode revolves around this crazy immortal God-Robot thing that has decided he is the ultimate judge of humanity and everyone who has not lived a worthwhile life must be eliminated. So this robot travels through time visiting every single person who ever lived and insults them determines if they are worthy of living. If not, the Inquisitor zaps them out of existence and replaces them with someone else who would have been born had the sperm for this unfortunate slob not been quicker. So, knowing this, let's pretend that the Inquisitor had showed up at the Topps corporate headquarters looking for 2008 Updates & Highlights. He's all ready for a zappin' and is prepared to write '08 U&H right out of the fabric of space and time and replace it with 2008 Bowman Heritage. Since he is a fair insane megalomanaical bloodthirsty robot, he gives the set one chance to justify its existence. I have been appointed to be the advocate for this doomed set (after pointing to the 21 followers of my blog in order to keep myself from getting zorched) and I lay down one card that makes the Inquisitor turn around and walk out the door on his way to an urgent appointment with Nancy Grace. This is that card:


Ok, now everyone is COMPLETELY confused. We've somehow transitioned from an episode of Red Dwarf to an entry in Kevin's Orioles Card O the Day blog. I'm guessing the reaction to this choice is somewhere between bewilderment and angry incredulity. I don't even like Updates & Highlights**, I've been griping about it for over a year now and I just sacrificed Bowman freaking Heritage to save this garbage? For a card of Oscar Whatsisface? Who is this guy anyway? How can this card personally justify the existence of Topps Updates and Highlights? Well, let's look at the back of this wonderful card and you'll see why a card of Oscar Salazar is worth it.

Just look at those stats. No, I mean really look at them. FULL. CAREER. MINOR. LEAGUE. STATS. There are more minor league teams on the back of this card than major league games played. Let's look over this career, shall we?

1994 - Signed by A's as an amateur free agent.
1998 - 26 games with the Arizona League Athletics (Rookie League).
1998 - 28 games with the Southern Oregon Timberjacks (Low A).
1999 - 130 games with the Modesto A's (High A).
2000 - 111 games with the Midland Rockhounds (AA).
2000 - 4 games with the Sacramento River Cats (AAA).
2001 - 130 games with the Midland Rockhounds (AA).
2001 - 5 games with the Sacramento River Cats (AAA).
1/24/02 Waived by A's, Signed by Tigers.
2002 - 53 games with the Erie Seawolves (AA).
2002 - 8 games with the Toledo Mud Hens (AAA).
2002 - Eight Glorious, Blissful Games With The Detroit Tigers
7/31/02 Waived by Tigers, Signed by Mets.
2002 - 28 games with the Binghamton Mets (AA).
2/17/03 Signed by the Angels.
2003 - 39 games with the Arkansas Travelers (AA).
2003 - 7 games with the Salt Lake Stingers (AAA).
5/24/03 Cut by Angels.
5/31/03 Signed by Royals
2003 - 78 games with the Wichita Wranglers (AA).
1/26/04 Signed by Indians
2004 - 44 games with the Akron Aeros (AA).
6/18/04 Cut by Indians
2005 - Played in Mexico
2006 - Played in Venezuela
2007ish - Ended up in Baltimore's system somehow
2007 - 136 games with the Bowie Baysox (AA).
2008 - 112 games with the Norfolk Tides (AAA).
2008 - Thirty-Four Heavenly, Orgasmic Games With The Baltimore Orioles Where He Actually Produced This Time

After all that, he gets called up when Steve Trachsel flops utterly and makes the most of his opportunity. The 30 year old infielder popped five home runs, hit .284 and earned himself at least a look in spring training for a job off the bench. The guy scrapped and clawed his way through a decade of bouncing around the bush leagues to earn a spot in the 2008 Updates & Highlights set. As far as I can tell, the guy only has three other cards from non-minor league sets. The guy's earned a card. No Topps U&H, no card. The set has justified its existence, and Oscar's card is the Card of the Week.

* Jesus Christ, there's a TV channel in Britain with my name. I thought the radio station was bad enough. Now do you understand why I go by Dayf?

** I better learn to like it quickly though, as it won the runoff election*** for the next blaster to rip.

*** If I go to Target and there's a blaster of Stadium Club Baseball there, Topps U&H can go to hell and burn brightly, democracy be damned.

Minor League Baseball is Better

Cheap seats, cheap beer, autographs-a-plenty and promotions like the Senator Larry Craig Bobblefoot bathroom stall. The St. Paul Saints are giving away the naughty collectible to the first 15,000 fans at this Sunday's game. The Smoking Gun has great pictures of the giveaway toy with happy feet. All you Minnesota collectors should go support the local team, and come home with a toe tapping treat!

Gwinnett Braves

The Richmond Braves, the AAA franchise of the Braves since they moved to Atlanta, are moving to Gwinnett County, GA by 2010. Wow. This... is stunning. I feel bad for Richmond fans who have supported that team longer than I've been alive, but I'm also excited about the move. This means there will be three professional baseball teams - all Braves - within about an hour and a half drive from my house. The Rome Braves A-ball team are about an hour and 15 minutes north, Gwinnett is about an hour to an hour and a half (depending on where they build the stadium and traffic) and the Turner field is about 45 minutes south. I'll be pretty much assured that anytime I want to go see a game, someone will be in town. Utterly spectacular. And before you protest that an hour and a half drive is a long one, my normal commute to work is an hour if I'm lucky. This also means one other thing for the Braves... If they don't put a high quality product out on Turner Field, people can drive up 1-85 and see a Triple-A team for a hell of a lot less money than they would pay at the Ted. Hell, Atlanta had a Triple-A team for most of the 80's so it's not like it's something new for us. Hey Wren, time to open up the checkbook for Frenchy and Tex! It will be worth it in the long run. Why not make a play for Santana while you're at it since the Yankees just dropped out? If you trade away all our minor leaguers you'll have less competition! It makes perfect business sense.