A Hall of Fame TTM

I received another TTM the day before I left on my trip to the upper-Midwest. This one left my hands shaking when I opened it. 

I'm certain you saw the inscription and thought to yourself, "That doesn't look like any of the men elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014." You're right...and wrong.

As a kid, I lived out in the country. My closest neighbor was a few miles away. We had three television stations by antennae broadcast, but Texas Rangers baseball wasn't on any of them.

We did receive the games on the radio, though. That's where I would get to hear Eric Nadel call the games as I hoped to hear his signature "That one is history!" call for a home run. It seemed to happen a lot in the mid-to-late 90's and it has made its way back to the mainstream during the last decade.

In 2014, Nadel received the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, which acknowledges the game's great radio broadcasters. It was his fourth time being name a finalist for the award. This makes him a Hall of Famer, though many people forget about the Frick Award when thinking of the Hall. 

Nadel has essentially provided the baseball soundtrack of my lifetime. While the Rangers have a great (in my opinion) television color commentator in Tom Grieve, Nadel is on a level few ever reach. He doesn't have the national name recognition of Vin Scully, but you wouldn't be disappointed if you ever tuned-in and listened. The man calls a game flawlessly.

He began calling games for the Rangers in 1979 made a few television appearances in his early career. Recently, it has been solidly radio with his partner Matt Hicks. The duo was awarded "Best Broadcast Team" by Fangraphs in 2016.

I've cried twice listening baseball. The second time was when the Rangers lost the World Series to the Cardinals. The first, however, came as I listened to these words driving along Interstate 20:

Retail Treats Me Right

I have zero interest in Topps Archives. I think it is ridiculous that Topps has two "vintage inspired" products in Heritage and Archives, and for me, Heritage is enough. However, Archives frequently has Fan Favorite autographs of some lesser-known former players, and that I do like. 

When the checklist for 2017 Archives was released, I saw that Lenny Randle was representing the Rangers in this year's Fan Favorites autograph insert. I decided that I would grab some retail, as I did not and do not care to purchase a box for approximately $100 at my LCS.

I went to my local Wally World and grabbed three rack packs and a blaster. Nothing fun in the blaster, but in the second of the rack packs, I pulled this:

What are the odds that I would actually pull the card I was looking for? I'm not sure that has ever happened to me. I love the card, especially the smiley face Randle included over his last name!

So, I was fortunate. Retail treated me right and I have no need - or desire - to buy any more Archives this year. 

'72 TTMs

A couple weeks ago, I realized that for my own sanity, I needed to get away from school and Lubbock. So naturally, I decided to head back to my former stomping grounds of Omaha, Nebraska, and Yankton, South Dakota. I managed to get in some quality time at the College World Series (it was fun, but it isn't the same since it left Rosenblatt) and I also got to visit with a couple of my best friends before I had to cut things short and come back home to tend to a family matter.

Before I left, I dropped a few cards in the mail, hoping that I could get a few of my 1972 Topps cards signed. So far, I have received two of the three I sent.

First up:

Doug Rader. The Red Rooster spent most of his playing years with the Astros before spending his final three seasons with the Padres and Blue Jays. He would go on to manage for seven seasons: three with the Rangers, one with the White Sox, and three with the Angels. I need to snag one of his Rangers manager cards and try sending it to him to sign.

The second card I received back was from Fritz Peterson. Peterson spent the majority of his career with the Yankees. He was traded to the Rangers and made two starts before injuring his shoulder. He was later released by the organization. He doesn't have a Rangers card, so I need to learn Photoshop so I can make one. All of that aside, Peterson is probably most well-known for his agreement with Yankee teammate Mike Kekich to "trade" wives. The two held separate press conferences on March 4, 1973 announcing their intentions to "trade" spouses. The "trade" actually happened, too. Peterson is still married to his wife, though Kekich divorced soon after the arrangement. Oddly enough, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck once considered making a movie about the trade. I don't think it happened, but who knows if it's still on the radar. 

Peterson included a business card in the envelope:

He signed the front, which advertised his book, "When the Yankees were on the Fritz." See what he did there?

The back of the card has instructions on how to get a copy of the book. I will probably order a copy soon, since I am only a few months away from having time to read books I actually want to read!

So, there ya go. The more you know!

It's Been Awhile...So Here Are Some Recent eBay Pickups

I feel like a broken record saying this, but I've been gone awhile and haven't posted since the end of May. That being said, I feel the need to break the postless streak. So let's look at what I have picked up on eBay during the past month or so.

First up, I finally broke down and grabbed a couple cards I have been wanting for a while:

First up is this Buddy Bell card from the 1982 Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars set. I also snagged this card from the same set:

Al Oliver! I love the Kellogg's sets. I've thought about trying to put together the entire line, but I keep postponing that idea. We'll see if I take the jump one day. But back to the cards - I really love the now "vintage" T on the hat. I wouldn't be upset if I never saw the bubble font used on the jerseys, though.

I also purchased a card from a recent set:

This meaningful material relic of Cole Hamels comes from the 2017 Museum Collection set. I gotta say, I really like this set. Sadly, a box runs about $200...and I do not have that kind of cash. No worries though, I can pick up cards like this one, which set me back a whopping $8, shipping included. 

That's it for now, but I promise that I am working on having more posts ready for you to read soon!

The Collecting Doldrums

After my year started out hot, I've hit a wall - I feel like nothing has hit the shelves that interests me. Part of that is also the absolutely crazy prices that boxes are selling for these days because of names like Judge, Bellinger, and Benintendi. A box of Bowman going for $150-4200? C'mon man.

I'm also a logo snob. This has prevented me from purchasing anything Panini in years past. But when one's desire to rip packs gets strong enough, one will consider logoless cardboard.

I did just that and bought three boxes of 2017 Diamondkings. My LCS owner gave me a really good deal on the boxes so I couldn't pass them up. I'll share the "big" hits now, but don't plan on much commentary.

This Ted Lyons dual relic was the first hit I pulled. Numbered 7 of 10, it offers a solid patch on the right and some kind of weird fabric on the left. I couldn't figure out what it was until I read the back:

So I went searching to see if I could find an image of I assumed to be a warm-up jacket, thinking I would have very little luck. But, thanks to Goldin Auctions, I was in luck. I found this jacket that once belonged to Lyons:

It seems that the swatch in the left window of the card came from the wrist of the jacket. Very cool!

The next "big" hit was this Trey Mancini auto relic, numbered to 49. The swatch in the bottom is pretty awesome, but the auto is a sticker. I gather than most, if not all, autos in this product are stickers.

The other auto I puled (worth noting) is this Yasmany Tomas Bat Kings auto relic, numbered 2 of 5. Low-numbered auto, that's pretty awesome. The relic could have been larger, though. I guess I shouldn't complain, though.

There wasn't much else worth mentioning. I pulled a couple Cubs relics that went to P-Town Tom. He made a few kind words directed towards me and I appreciate it. I forgot one card in the package I sent, Tom, so I will show it to you here:

A Rizzo Artist's Proof parallel numbered to 25. Nothing special, but I know it will find a good home with you. I'm on my way to Omaha for some CWS action and then on to South Dakota for some time with college friends, but I will drop it in the mail when I return home.

I hope everyone is well!

A Post Before The Month Ends

First, a request: if I owe you cards, please send me an email or leave a comment. I have unintentionally lost my sheet that I use to keep up with trades and I don't want to leave anyone hanging. Please forgive me.

Second, this post has little (if anything) to do with baseball cards. If you have no interest in a post about my personal life, you may want to close this page now. You won't hurt my feelings one bit.

Still here? Thank you. It means a lot to me that you care about what I have to say beyond little pieces of cardboard!

I haven't posted a new update on this blog in almost a month. I studied all semester for my qualifying exams. I took the exams in early April. I had my oral defense in late April. I then had to watch, critique, and grade final projects for the class I taught. By the second week of May, I was mentally shot. I literally felt as if I were on the verge of a mental collapse. I needed a break, so I went "off grid," deciding that my cell phone, email, and social media could wait.

In the States, May is Mental Health Awareness month. I didn't know that until about two months ago, when I began doing some research with a faculty member here at Tech. For me, mental health and mental health awareness are very important. I (probably against my better judgment) have decided that I want to share my story in hopes that it can help someone. So bear with me.

In my youth, I never really experienced what I would consider a "mental health issue." Though I was (and am) an only child, I never felt alone. I played just about every sport I could. Furthermore, I never got into trouble, as my parents did a terrific job in instilling discipline in me. Sometimes this meant a paddle or belt, sometimes it even meant digging cactus (a form of manual labor punishment meant to rid our farm of the plant, but in reality, only making it spread quicker). This was also true of my academics - I was expected to earn all "A" grades, and with the exception of one class, I did. Everything seemed great, but I never experienced failure, which meant that I never learned how to use it in a positive manner.

My freshman year of college, a perfect storm of bad luck descended upon me. I found my "first true love," and was promptly dumped, leaving me with heartbreak for the first time. Two days later, my grandfather (who has always been a father figure to me) had a massive heart attack and spent the better part of a month in the hospital, seemingly always teetering between life and death. The stress of these events lead me to not study properly (or enough, for that matter) and I received my first "C" in microeconomics. When I saw my grade in early December, I mentally broke - I locked myself in my room and didn't come out for about two weeks. I rarely ate and slept even less than I ate. During those two weeks, I lost close to 25 pounds. Finally, my roommate got in touch with my mom to let her know he was afraid for me.

My mom came to visit and convinced me to get out and get a breath of fresh air. I left my room and convinced her that I was okay. I put on a happy face and told everyone I was fine. In reality, I was still battling all kinds of emotions.

This was the beginning for me. It opened me up to what has been a lifetime of of battling depression. This is usually brought on by a failure of some sort. I've gotten much better - I generally cope with failure pretty successfully now, but every once in a while, I have a relapse and it takes me some time to move forward.

This happened earlier this month. Though not a typical failure - I passed my comps - my feedback was pretty brutal (but fair). I had a hard time coping with it. This is why I disappeared, this is why I went silent. I needed to get myself centered again.

What I have left out of this story is the instrumental role my family has played in helping me cope with my depression. I also have a professional that I speak with when times get really tough. All of this help is vital for me to stay healthy.

I don't share this to gather your condolences. I share this with you in hopes that it will inspire you to seek help, should you need it. I often feel alone in my fight, but this couldn't be further from the truth. I am never alone in my fight, and neither are you. All you need to do is ask for help, and you will certainly find it.

Thanks for your time.

Only FIVE More!!!!!

We only need five more spots to be filled for the group break to happen! Take a look here and leave a comment picking your team if you are interested!