Showing posts with label topps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label topps. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

MLB and MLBPA Discussing 2020 Season - Baseball Cards Timeless Importance





Major League Baseball's current discussions with the Major League Baseball Players Association about the proposed start of the 2020 season are beginning. My old baseball cards are once again in mind as a result...

St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols has hit over 400 home runs, but has never hit more than 49 in one season. Alex Rodriguez, who is in sixth place on the all-time home run list, was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2010, Roy Halladay pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies.

All of the information shown above is easy to access through any baseball website, could be shown on a number of cable television sports programs, or heard on a variety of sports talk shows. But, back in the day, baseball fans learned that type of information through newspaper box scores, magazines and on the backs of baseball cards.

Finding your favorite players
My elementary school friends introduced me to baseball cards in the 1970's. During that pre-internet, pre-video game era, those thin, rectangular encyclopedias were our passion.
While complete sets could be ordered through Topps, it was so much more fun to buy packs at local convenience stores. Opening the wrapper, smelling those pink gum-scented cards and earnestly looking for our favorite players was thrilling.
Local card shows, which were similar to farmer's markets, offered another collection building option. A kid convention filled with a buffet of bubble gum cards. Instead of testing the tomatoes, you looked for that Tom Seaver who was sorely needed to complete the Cincinnati Reds team set.
Those events were nothing short of paradise.
Trading
The free market is a wonderful thing and we had no summer trade deadlines. Duplicates of a Ron Guidry, Catfish Hunter and Thurman Munson could be just the incentive that was needed to obtain the Oakland Athletics' Reggie Jackson card my buddy finally was willing to deal in September.
If there were any disputes about the balance of a deal, Becket's Baseball Card Price Guide was used as a silent arbitrator. We didn't know who Beckett was, or how he determined the card values, but using his book made us feel like we were operating on the up and up.
Proper Storage
Like fine wine, all cards needed to be properly stored. Plastic cases, with individual slots for each team, had to be obtained through the use of accumulated allowance money. Price was no object, as $8 was well worth the investment.
From there, the bedroom closet served as the primary storage vault. As part of a mental fire drill, if the house ever went up in flames, I would grab the dog along with my baseball card boxes and head out the side door to safety. Let the homework burn.
Bygone days
Baseball cards are still available today in larger chain stores, in specialty hobby shops and at card shows. They also continue to hold a spot in the hearts of all who learned to love the game through them.

(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's Voices platform in 2011.)
Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOB, or through Facebook. 

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Spring Training 2020 - Classic Post: When Baseball Cards Were King



Here's a classic post that I wrote about a favorite childhood hobby. It's fitting to re-read as the first games of spring training 2020 get set to begin...

St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols has hit over 400 home runs, but has never hit more than 49 in one season. Alex Rodriguez, who is in sixth place on the all-time home run list, was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2010, Roy Halladay pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies.

All of the information shown above is easy to access through any baseball website, could be shown on a number of cable television sports programs, or heard on a variety of sports talk shows. But, back in the day, baseball fans learned that type of information through newspaper box scores, magazines and on the backs of baseball cards.

Finding your favorite players
My elementary school friends introduced me to baseball cards in the 1970's. During that pre-internet, pre-video game era, those thin, rectangular encyclopedias were our passion.
While complete sets could be ordered through Topps, it was so much more fun to buy packs at local convenience stores. Opening the wrapper, smelling those pink gum-scented cards and earnestly looking for our favorite players was thrilling.
Local card shows, which were similar to farmer's markets, offered another collection building option. A kid convention filled with a buffet of bubble gum cards. Instead of testing the tomatoes, you looked for that Tom Seaver who was sorely needed to complete the Cincinnati Reds team set.
Those events were nothing short of paradise.
Trading
The free market is a wonderful thing and we had no summer trade deadlines. Duplicates of a Ron Guidry, Catfish Hunter and Thurman Munson could be just the incentive that was needed to obtain the Oakland Athletics' Reggie Jackson card my buddy finally was willing to deal in September.
If there were any disputes about the balance of a deal, Becket's Baseball Card Price Guide was used as a silent arbitrator. We didn't know who Beckett was, or how he determined the card values, but using his book made us feel like we were operating on the up and up.
Proper Storage
Like fine wine, all cards needed to be properly stored. Plastic cases, with individual slots for each team, had to be obtained through the use of accumulated allowance money. Price was no object, as $8 was well worth the investment.
From there, the bedroom closet served as the primary storage vault. As part of a mental fire drill, if the house ever went up in flames, I would grab the dog along with my baseball card boxes and head out the side door to safety. Let the homework burn.
Bygone days
Baseball cards are still available today in larger chain stores, in specialty hobby shops and at card shows. They also continue to hold a spot in the hearts of all who learned to love the game through them.

(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's Voices platform in 2011.)
Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOB, or through Facebook. 

Friday, November 13, 2015

Philadelphia Flyers: Topps hockey card mystery revealed


The 1970's Philadelphia Flyers were one of the most controversial sports teams of all-time. My elementary school friends, cousins and I followed the players by watching their games through the antennas that were connected to our TV sets, by playing street hockey and by collecting trading cards. No pack of Topps hockey cards that I ever opened was as memorable as the one that my elementary school buddies gave me in 1978. 


Chicken pox

No kid likes when those alien invaders, known as chicken pox, grotesquely pop out to announce their presence all over your body. Of course, you can't go to school when you get them because they are contagious. That was particularly bad because the entire foundation of our, non-family based, social lives was centered upon school. My buddies were all there, we had recess and some of the cute girls in my class even found me to be very entertaining. What more could anyone want?

The pack

I missed six straight days of school because of those chicken pox. That was highly unusual for me, as I rarely missed a day at 'work' back then. I loved that building that was withing walking distance in my neighborhood and all of the people that were in it. That feeling deepened as the years passed.    
My friends Kevin and Ed brought my assignments to my house at the end of each of those sick days, which was very cool. One day they also delivered a single pack of hockey cards with my homework. They told me that our other friends: Rick, Keith, Eddie and Dave had pooled some of their allowance money to buy it for me.
Along with some other cards, there were six Flyers cards in that pack, including: Bernie Parent, Reggie Leach, Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Jimmy Watson and Andre "Moose" Dupont.
The back of the pack's wrapper appeared to have been opened and resealed. So, I knew that my friends had actually bought multiple packs of cards and then created a specially loaded one just for me. Those six cards are nearing four decades old now. Whenever I take them out, I can see the faces of my hockey heroes and, most importantly, feel the friendship of my old school friends once more.

(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's Voices platform in 2011.)

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Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOBthrough Facebook, or on LinkedIn

Monday, May 25, 2015

When Baseball Cards Were King




St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols has hit over 400 home runs, but has never hit more than 49 in one season. Alex Rodriguez, who is in sixth place on the all-time home run list, was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2010, Roy Halladay pitched a perfect game and a playoff no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies.

All of the information shown above is easy to access through any baseball website, could be shown on a number of cable television sports programs, or heard on a variety of sports talk shows. But, back in the day, baseball fans learned that type of information through newspaper box scores, magazines and on the backs of baseball cards.

Finding your favorite players
My elementary school friends introduced me to baseball cards in the 1970s. During that pre-internet, pre-video game era, those thin, rectangular encyclopedias were our passion.
While complete sets could be ordered through Topps, it was so much more fun to buy packs at local convenience stores. Opening the wrapper, smelling those pink gum-scented cards and earnestly looking for our favorite players was thrilling.
Local card shows, which were similar to farmer's markets, offered another collection building option. A kid convention filled with a buffet of bubble gum cards. Instead of testing the tomatoes, you looked for that Tom Seaver who was sorely needed to complete the Cincinnati Reds team set.
Those events were nothing short of paradise.
Trading
The free market is a wonderful thing and we had no summer trade deadlines. Duplicates of a Ron Guidry, Catfish Hunter and Thurman Munson could be just the incentive that was needed to obtain the Oakland Athletics' Reggie Jackson card my buddy finally was willing to deal in September.
If there were any disputes about the balance of a deal, Becket's Baseball Card Price Guide was used as a silent arbitrator. We didn't know who Beckett was, or how he determined the card values, but using his book made us feel like we were operating on the up and up.
Proper Storage
Like fine wine, all cards needed to be properly stored. Plastic cases, with individual slots for each team, had to be obtained through the use of accumulated allowance money. Price was no object, as $8 was well worth the investment.
From there, the bedroom closet served as the primary storage vault. As part of a mental fire drill, if the house ever went up in flames, I would grab the dog along with my baseball card boxes and head out the side door to safety. Let the homework burn.
Bygone days
Baseball cards are still available today in larger chain stores, in specialty hobby shops and at card shows. They also continue to hold a spot in the hearts of all who learned to love the game through them.

(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's Voices platform in 2011.)
Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOBthrough Facebook, or on LinkedIn

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Topps Hockey Card Mystery Revealed

The 1970s Philadelphia Flyers were one of the most controversial sports teams of all-time.

My elementary school friends, cousins and I followed the players by watching their games through the antenna that was connected to our televisions, by playing street hockey and by collecting trading cards.
No pack of Topps hockey cards that I ever opened was as memorable as the one that my elementary school buddies gave me in 1978.
Chicken pox
No kid likes when those alien invaders, known as chicken pox, grotesquely pop out to announce their presence all over your body. Of course you can't go to school when you get them because they are contagious.
That was particularly bad because the entire foundation of our, non-family based, social lives was centered upon school. My buddies were all there, we had recess and some of the cute girls in my class even found me to be very entertaining.
What more could anyone want?
The pack
I missed six straight days of school because of the chicken pox. That was highly unusual for me, as I often had perfect attendance in past school years.
My friends Kevin and Ed were nice enough to bring my assignments to my house at the end of each of those sick days.
One day they also delivered a single pack of hockey cards with my homework. They told me that our other friends Rick, Keith, Eddie and Dave had pooled some of their allowance money to buy it for me.
Along with some other cards, there were six Flyers cards in that pack which included Bernie Parent, Reggie Leach, Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Jimmy Watson and Andre "Moose" Dupont.
The back of the pack's wrapper appeared to have been opened and resealed. So, I knew that my friends had actually bought multiple packs of cards and then created a specially loaded one just for me.

Those six cards have aged more than three decades now. Whenever I take them out, I can see the faces of my hockey heroes and feel the friendship of my old school friends once more.

(I hold all copyrights to this article which originally appeared on Yahoo's Voices platform in 2011.)


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Let's connect on Twitter @SeanyOBthrough Facebook, or on LinkedIn


Monday, May 20, 2013

Could One Baseball Shatter The Summer?




Over the next few weeks I'm going to provide inside information about some of my favorite story links. Today's spotlight is:

Could One Baseball Shatter The Summer?

Long-gone vacation days remain among our most treasured memories because of the moments we shared with beloved family members and friends. 

My cousin Chris and I used our excess kid energy by playing catch outside the beach home that our families lived in during many memorable July days. One day we were outside having fun when...
(This story doesn't continue exactly as you might expect it to.)
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I look forward to becoming friends on Facebook  
Let's connect on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter @SeanyOB
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Amazon.com is the number 1 online publishing platform in the world. That's why I used it to publish my first ebook: 

I am humbled by the reception it has received to-date and I thank everyone who has been responding to this digital creation.

This mini-tome is a collection of stories and poems for readers who don't take themselves too seriously. I hope that you enjoy it and am always welcome to your feedback. 
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It only takes a few minutes to read any of the stories whose links are shown below:

Horror Story: It Was Crawling Up My Chest!
Television Haiku Poem
The Best Holiday Memories
My First Car Was An All-Time Classic


When Baseball Cards Were King
The Night Lenny Dykstra Was Swinging In The Rain
5 Traits of Hardcore Philadelphia Phillies' Fans


Philadelphia Flyers' Topps Hockey Card Mystery Revealed
5 Lessons Flyers' Fans Have Taught The Hockey World
5 Traits Old School Flyers' Fans Possess
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Interviewing athletes and other sports' personalities happens after a series of steps have been taken. Hard work and smart choices can lead to success if you remain persistent. 

Read between the lines of each interview to learn how you can make your own connections...

My interviews with famous athletes and sports' personalities

Martin Brodeur: Discusses His Record-Setting Shutout Total and Key Rivalries 
Jaromir Jagr: Current NHL Forward and Future Hall of Famer
Philadelphia Flyers' Bernie Parent: Postgame reflections 
Bobby Clarke: Philadelphia Flyers' Legend Talks Hockey
Ron Hextall Recalls His Greatest Season
Kerry Fraser: NHL Referee is Still Making the Right Calls

Sunday, May 19, 2013

When Baseball Cards Were King



Over the next few weeks I'm going to provide inside information about some of my favorite story links. 

When Baseball Cards Were King

The hobby that introduced me to the game of baseball was the collection of baseball cards. 

Buying packs of 'cardboard gold' during my early childhood remains a treasured memory. 

These pre-sabermetric items were mini-encyclopedias in 3-D form. 

So many great moments were shared with family members and friends/classmates in the late 1970s and early 1980s, some of which are listed in this feature. 

'When Baseball Cards Were King' has been one of my most popular features, having been seen by well over 10,000 people since I first wrote it in May, 2011. 

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Random personal favorites that I've written over time... 
(Each story only takes a few minutes to read.)

Horror Story: It Was Crawling Up My Chest!
Television Haiku Poem
The Best Holiday Memories
My First Car Was An All-Time Classic
Could One Baseball Shatter The Summer?

The Night Lenny Dykstra Was Swinging In The Rain
5 Traits of Hardcore Philadelphia Phillies' Fans


Philadelphia Flyers' Topps Hockey Card Mystery Revealed
5 Lessons Flyers' Fans Have Taught The Hockey World
5 Traits Old School Flyers' Fans Possess


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Interviewing athletes and other sports' personalities happens after a series of steps have been taken. Hard work and smart choices can lead to success if you remain persistent. 

Read between the lines of each interview to learn how you can make your own connections...

My interviews with famous athletes and sports' personalities

Martin Brodeur: Discusses His Record-Setting Shutout Total and Key Rivalries 
Jaromir Jagr: Current NHL Forward and Future Hall of Famer
Philadelphia Flyers' Bernie Parent: Postgame reflections 
Bobby Clarke: Philadelphia Flyers' Legend Talks Hockey
Ron Hextall Recalls His Greatest Season
Kerry Fraser: NHL Referee is Still Making the Right Calls

Fox Television's Erin Como Reveals Her Timeless Model for Success: Interview
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I intentionally used Amazon.com to publish my first ebook: 
Fast Fiction and Other Stuff  because that platform is the number 1 eBook publishing site in the world. 
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I look forward to becoming friends on Facebook  
Let's connect on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter @SeanyOB
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Visit my Rant Sports Author Pagemy Examiner Contributor Pageor my Yahoo Contributor Page.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Good Friday and the Easter Season





Why would people who weren't even there when Jesus was alive, or when he died, believe that they know Christianity is false? 

Every person can develop their thoughts and feelings over time. So, don't give up on those individuals who claim to be open-minded, but actually harbor religious bigotry in their hearts and minds and promote that attitude through their actions and words.
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I look forward to becoming friends on Facebook  

Let's connect on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter @SeanyOB
Visit my RantSports Author Page,
my Examiner Contributor Page,
or my Yahoo Contributor Page 
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Digital Creation

A strong thank you to everyone who has been downloading my first book: Fast Fiction and Other Stuff on Amazon.com. Your response has been heartwarming. Humor, horror, mystery, adventure, travel, sports and a few selected stories are all wrapped inside this mini-tome. 
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Some GREAT links to some fine digital friends:

The Paris Review The best site for readers and writers in the world.

Blessed2Play by Ron Meyer via EWTN

Meltzer's Musings by Bill Meltzer via HockeyBuzz.com 

Jen Groover Her name says it all. Click and you'll know why.

The Sports Critic by Raymond Bureau

Awaken the Magic by Maryellen Brady

Positive Calm by Solvita Bennet

(Over the years I've been honored to write guest posts on various friends' websites. Social media connections, just like all other friendships in life, build trust.)
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The Coolest Old School Philadelphia Phillies feature is one that will make mature fans smile and newer fans wish that they were alive way back when. 
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Here's a link to very popular offbeat feature that's sure to make you laugh: Top 10 Old School Professional Wrestling Characters
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Whenever the NHL playoff season nears, I recall those 1970s' days when I first began to love this great game. 


Nothing has topped the meaning that the hockey cards mentioned in this piece still hold for me. Here's a link to the article that continues to rank among the most-read features that I've written since 2010...
Topps Hockey Card Mystery is Revealed.
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Here is a special feature that highlights many of our collective childhood memories:  When Baseball Cards were King.

Each season, when opening day has almost arrived, I always find myself thinking about bygone spring days spent with elementary school days and family members. Playing the game with them on any field, or in our backyards, remains vivid in my mind.

After a game we would often enjoy buying packs of Topps cards, or simply sifting through our current mountains of cardboard gold. 
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At the end of 2012, I was ranked among Yahoo.com's Top 100 Contributors. Yahoo cited more than 600,000 paid writers as of the end of that year. Click on my Contributor Page to learn more.

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My most recent Examiner Television feature on the mystery surrounding J.R. Ewing's killer.

I've also included a link to my most recent Yahoo entertainment feature article: Dallas and the Legacy of J.R. Ewing.
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Philadelphia Flyers' Legends
Each of these Flyers' legends (Brian Propp, Dave Poulin and Tim Kerr) deserved their own article. So, that's why these three features were written...
Here is a link to the story about Propp: 
The link to Poulin's piece: 
Philadelphia Flyers' Captain Dave Poulin Earned Permanent Respect
Last, but not least, here's Kerr's link:
Philadelphia Flyers' Tim Kerr Was a True Power Forward
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My recent feature: State of the Union Address: Commonsense Gun Response Warranted was written in response to an assignment from the Yahoo News editorial team.
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Name-dropper 
These are some of the high achievers I've had the opportunity to interview during the past few years...
Not just sports though...

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