For The Kiddos: Colorado Rockies Kids Guide

I wanted to pass this along, mostly for the parents of elementary or middle school children.  Though this is a Colorado Rockies kids e-book (62-pages), this publication is a great tool for one of your own children to learn the ins and outs of baseball.  Not only baseball is inside, it has portions on living and eating right.  This is a publication from the coloradorockies.com (from the 2008 season) and can be downloaded HERE

I actually found out about this several years ago through my sons old school in Colorado.  I wish more teams did things like this for the children, even if not at school, to print out at home and do by themselves.  Some teams do have this sort of e-book (example the Oakland A's), but many don't.  I think this is a great idea for many teams to have new kids e-workbooks to complete all summer long!

(NOTE: This is a large .pdf file and may take a few minutes to download.)

Here are some of the screen shots below:

Before I go, here is a favorite link that my children love to make their own wacky MLB videos!

CLICK HERE for a cool make your own take me out to the ballgame (JibJab)

Remember This? Topps Magazine 1991-1993

If you collected cards in the early 90s you know this magazine.  I today still have all 16 Topps Magazine issues I got from my local supermarket in St. Louis.  Topps magazine was something different than Beckett.  The issues had lots of different card and player content, had full color pages, baseball cards, and foldout posters.  Most of all the issues came with 4 card inserts that could be cut or ripped out, and it usually had photo card checklist posters.

Issue #1: Winter 1990 featured Jose Canseco

Issue #2: Spring 1990 featured Nolan Ryan 

Issue #3 Summer 1990 Bo Jackson Cover 

Issue #4 Fall 1990 Ken Griffey Sr & Jr Cover 

Issue #5 Winter 1991 Cecil Fielder Cover 

Issue #6 Spring 1991 Bonds & Bonilla

Issue # 7 Summer 1991 Rickey Henderson

Issue #8 Fall 1991 Cal Ripkin Jr

Issue #9 Winter 1992 Ken Griffey Jr

Issue #10 Spring 1992 Frank Thomas

Issue #11 Summer 1992 Mark McGwire

Issue #12 Fall 1992 Gary Sheffield

Issue #13 Winter 1993 Barry Bonds

Issue #14 Spring 1993 Dave Winfield

Issue #15 Summer 1993 Dynamic Duos

Issue #16 Fall 1993 Nolan Ryan 

Here is one of the great articles in each magazine, this one is about vintage Topps Oddball sets.  Topps Magazine was a great and still is a great resource for Topps history.

Each issue had a wide variety of hobby talk.  One item I loved looking at each issue was the Hot and Cold (Sizzlers & Fizzlers) lists.  It amazes me that half of the people on the hot list end up not panning out in the majors or have just an average career.  In addition there were times when the posters inside the magazine were that good, it caused me to get another copy!  Topps magazine had what Beckett didn't have, a full color magazine.  Topps looking back seemed to be the innovator on baseball card magazines, but it run was cut short in 1993 due to the sudden surge on Sports Card Magazines such as Tuff Stuff, Baseball/Sport Card Digest, and of course Beckett.  Below are some of random card fronts and backs of the many issues:

The Card that came inside packs or a box of 1991 Topps Traded

Uncut Sheet inside magazine

There was another flaw that happened to many baseball card magazines that offered special inserted cards, there were the store card pullers.  I have read that Topps Magazine suffered this as collectors started collecting these cards main stream.  Years later down the road, Tuff Stuff had similar issues with card theft.  Tuff Stuff even went as far as sealing their magazine but still many of them were left open on store shelves.  As main stream collecting went from print to the digital age we have seen the card magazine boom go bust leaving us with nothing but reminders of the past.  

Poster of 4 Decades of Baseball Stars (with Pete Rose)

If you are the type of collector who loves nostalgia, you can find many of the issues on ebay for $5-10 per issue, but more if the cards are still intact.  Since I bought usually two issues, one I pulled out the posters or cut photos, and one I kept intact (minus the cards).  Today I proudly display my Topps Magazine collection, one of the only things I proudly display from the overproduction era.  

Hobby Box In A Retail World: 2007 UD Artifacts

Upper Deck had some of the best looking relic and autograph cards, but was guilty of set over kill.  This isn't a secret, most blogs have already covered this in some form over the past.  The biggest difference between Upper Deck and Topps I find is the quality of the base card selections.  Upper Deck did at times put together some good large sets like 40-Man and Victory, but they got caught doing something different.  They started making 100 card sets with only a select few players, or they made 300 card sets in which 200 cards were tough to obtain SP or autograph cards.  The reason I write about this now is today I found one of those hobby boxes in which I am talking about today, 2007 Upper Deck Artifacts.  I was at a Wal-Mart and I struggled with the prospects of two blaster boxes (maybe getting one hit) or getting this box that has 3 hits for the same price, hoping for someone good.  Below is the base card, try not to throw up in your mouth.  

I can't tell if it is supposed to look like an old card or something new and innovative.  First lets look at the definition of the word Artifact to see if this set justifies the name.

ARTIFACT YES Points:

• These cards were made by human beings

ARTIFACT NO Points:

• Has no historical interest (even in the collection world)
• Not made of gold or silver (not even a gold base card variations)
• No widespread tissue infection (unless you count the infection these base cards cause to your eyes)

ARTIFACT: FAIL

When I think of "artifact" and the use in cards, I think of things that are old, gems, jewels, gold, and silver.  I don't classify ultra shinny ugly face shots of players a work of historical interest or art.  Not only are there only 100 cards, minus Tulowitzki the rookie selection is less than be desired.  Like every Upper Deck product with a tiny base set there is promise of hits, which is the only thing that makes these cards desirable. This box was guaranteed at least three numbered hits, and here is what I got. 

Total 4 Hits: 1 Autograph/3 Numbered Relics (Box Price $39.99)

Scott Baker Autofacts Autograph

Chipper Jones Antiquity Relic /199

Jhonny Peralta Divisional Artifacts /199

Joe Nathan Artifacts Apparel /199

I do like the fact I got 4 different hits from 4 different hit subsets.  My first hit was a great one, a Chipper Jones relic, and we all already know about his hall of fame career.  Next hit is an autograph of Scott Baker.  Baker isn't a widely known name in baseball, but has a record of 63-48 and a respectable 4.15 ERA.  Last year he was injured and baseball-reference.com states he is a free agent.  Joe Nathan has averaged 37 saves over the past 8 years and has been an All Star.  Final pull was Jhonny Peralta, he is a career .264 and is a one time all-star.  

All in all, I enjoyed the break, minus the base cards!

Proof of Too Many Morons In This Country!

Joe Average Collector Election Special Report!

Sorry everyone, I know this is a baseball card blog, but this is sort of about baseball.

As you may have noticed it is election day, so if you are still an undecided voter with maybe less than an hour left to vote, don't worry friends, Yahoo News has you covered!  Are you a Derek Jeter or an A-Rod man, then pick the person your favorite player voted for, then sit back, relax, and act like you made a difference.

On top of that, to add insult to the intelligence of Americans, Yahoo News lets us know who Hulk Hogan picked!  Like I want to know who the man who does the Rent-a-Center commercials votes for!  Are you telling me the same man who shouts in his commercials at us telling us that a 42" Flatscreen TV is a good deal at the low rate of $45 a week for 72 weeks.  Are we that smug of a society that we need to know who other people voted for.  America, SHUT UP and VOTE!  I don't even want to know who my wife votes for, it is her decision only.   Don't let your vote come from your favorite sports star, or who a celebrity voted for.  Chances are they are in a total different class in society, their needs and values many not be the same as yours.  As a veteran who served three tours in Iraq, it amazes me some of the news stories America has that isn't actually news.  Finally, if after 2 years of wall to wall coverage on CNN and Foxnews you don't know who to vote for, might as well sit this one out!

Once again Yahoo News...stay classy!

2013 Bowman Baseball: My Take

Bowman is once again back to celebrate their 65th Anniversary, though remember they didn't produce cards from 1956-1988 after they were bought out by Topps in 1955.  Topps once again promises us collectors GIMMICKS at every corner.  Bowman since 1989 has been the home of the rookie or prospect cards and again is packed with tons of variations.  With Bowman you never have to worry about getting the same Mickey Mantle Yankees reprint year after year, just a great mix of current players and prospects.  I have not been able to find an actual photo of a base card yet, but below starts the orange variation of the 2013 Bowman cards.

I like how the auto area is lighter making it easier to see the auto.
For many years chrome cards have been difficult to see the autograph.

I really love the look of the Futures Games Relics over the past  years.
The drawn photo look is a great look and the card design is one that is very clean,
very excited to get a couple of these!

I have really not enjoyed the Bowman base cards for a couple of years, it seems that the only real wow factor comes from the color/chrome variations.  Just looking at the photos of the cards, I really don't like the tininess of the names, and the even smaller team name.  I would of liked to see the name font just a little bigger and instead of a tiny team name a logo somewhere in the bottom corners.

How does this years base stack up to the past two years?

2011 Bowman

2012 Bowman

Between these three years, I like the 2012 because I feel the card needs a nice color logo somewhere.  In 2011 I didn't like the dull looking logo mixed into the ugly black boarders.  The 2012 Bowman had good looking team colored boarders, large logo, and easy to read name.  As of right now I don't think 2013 will blow me away, but I do like some of their inserts, autograph, and relic card designs.

Release date: May 3, 2013 (my change)

2013 Bowman Sales Sheet