Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Odd Without End



  Lately it seems as though I've had several small thoughts to share, but nothing I could use to write a solid stand alone blog post. So today I am going to write about a few unrelated things, and share them all in one blog post. I suppose not everything will be baseball related, but I will try to include some images, because blog posts without pics are just not as fun. And, if it goes well, I will do this more often. I think it's kind of important that I write something as often as possible.

  🌀 I was reading an article at ESPN, Cubs come right after Bryce Harper -- and get away with it. It was about the Cubs vs. Nationals game played at Wrigley Stadium last night, and how the Cubs did not deliberately walk Harper this time. I was delighted when I came to this line by Eddie Matz. - "It was a stark departure from last season, when the Cubs avoided Harper like LaVar Ball avoids silence." Can I get an amen?! Love it!




  🌀 Onto another subject. I did make it out to watch the 2017 Chicago Pride Parade last Sunday. Well, I watched about the first half of it. I took my Kindle Fire with me to take pictures, but it was too bright outside for me to see anything. So there are no personal pics of the parade from me. This morning I took a few photos of my parade loot to share with all of you.

 
  There were several politicians walking the parade route. For the most part they were distributing stickers and cardboard fans. We live on the very last block that the parade passes through, so we are lucky if any loot survives long enough to reach us. I caught the only strand of beads that was tossed my way. I'm not keeping it though, I just really wanted to make the catch! I'll be using the cardboard from the 2 political fans for packing some card trades.


 
  The Lakeview East Arts Festival had the 2nd best loot. Their fans are artsy (of course), and are made with plastic. I'm actually saving this fan in case (heaven forbid) we have a power outage this summer. Their coolest item though, was the magnet. It's just a tad bigger than a baseball card. A good size for a memento.




   My favorite loot are the rainbow bracelets. I caught the first bracelet just seconds after catching the strand of beads. The other two bracelets were attained in a much more civilized manner. I'll be keeping these, and wearing them with pride. 👭


  I have been gathering images from online sources that depict some of my favorite marchers or show our apartment building. I found a few images that I have been able to credit with a photographer, but not enough photos to create a post yet. I will work towards finding enough pictures for a parade post.

  I've never been a parade watching person. The only times I have been interested in a parade has been to watch a gigantic balloon cause havoc. But, I think getting older lends a certain charm to parades. I think I will go out again next year. -Besides, the preacher on the microphone always sets up camp in front of our building. When we are in our apartment, he is painfully loud. When we are outside though, he is barely audible. If you've seen photos of Chicago Pride Parade protesters, you've seen this lake of fire breathing dragon dude. 

  
  🌀 For your daily grin, check out this video of Page Parker pitching a softball to a surprised  Drew Butera of the Kansas City Royals.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Off Hiatus' Goodies Bundle!

  Yesterday was a very fine mail day on the north side! I received a bubble mailer from Tony of Off Hiatus Baseball, and it was loaded with Cubs goodness! This post is going to be all about sharing some of the treats Tony sent.

  Vintage Ernie pin. (This image is actually Tony's. My scanner is a feed scanner, so I can scan only very flat things.) The pin is about the size of a US quarter, and in hand, it more colorful than the image shows. My kind of treasure! Thank you Tony.

https://offhiatusbaseball.blogspot.com/2016/12/more-cards-from-my-moms-house.html

  The packet brought the last six cards needed to complete the 1989 Bowman Cubs set. The 1989 Dream Team Ryne Sandberg is the 3/4 needed to finish the Kmart Cubs set. Cool. Once the Damon Berryhill card finds its way to me, I can put the Dream Team to bed.  💨




  The Ernies. Oh the Ernies! My E.B. collection has doubled, with some very nice cards. I think I squealed every time a new Ernie appeared in the stack of cards

A pair of Mr. Cub minis


  The same photo was used for the above three cards, but I don't think I can tire of it. It's Ernie for crying out loud! Below, is a very shiny die-cut. It's pretty, and I love the clear view of his hand placement on the bat.




This next one was Zipper's favorite Ernie of the bunch. Nice! 



An Ernie art card! This is sooo freakin' cool! 



Below, this is truly the most beautiful baseball card I have ever had in my possession. This scan just does not hold up to the real deal. There is shiny silver all around and that Cubs logo looks like a gem. Gorgeous! 



  There were several Fleer stickers enclosed and I chose the below sticker to share because it is a pennant. So what makes a pennant sticker the special one you say? This is my first pennant, of any kind. Fantastic!



  Several other cards were also included (all of them keepers!), and an Andre Dawson coin from 1989 Topps too! I am grateful, thank you Tony.  🙏

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Have a Ball Forever


 
  USPS has released a set of eight popular American balls on stamps. Of note is the baseball, with its textured stitches. This is cool. 



 
   Learn more about these stamps at the USPS website.

Friday, June 16, 2017

The Ernie Banks Project -Sports Card Collectors



Sports Card Collectors blog has a few Ernie Banks posts.


Latest Jammin JDcards Break Results! Sports Card Collectors

2012 Topps Prime 9 Home Run Legends Set Sports Card Collectors

Poll Friday: Which ONE Of These Players Would You Want Any Rookie Card Of? Results!! Sports Card Collectors


Other blogs in The Ernie Banks Project

Bucket List -Item #1

  Next month will be the 1 year anniversary of my move to Chicago. Last autumn, when the notice came out, that the outside of the windows would be washed, I tried to be home to witness this event. Somehow, I missed it. Not this year! I was home and I watched a man, dangling from unimpressive ropes, wash our windows. Yes!




  You can see the ropes on the right edge of the photo. There are only two ropes. The duplicate ropes are a reflection from the outside of the window.




  Yeah! How cool is that?! For the curious- Plants left to right: Dracaena tree, Euphorbia trigona cactus, and the seedlings are hyssop (giant white), sage (pink sundae Salvia), and sage (scarlet Salvia). Actually, the hyssop seedlings are hiding behind the cactus.

  One more thing. Our building, and the building across the street from us (shown in top photo), each sit on the corner of an intersection. On one of this intersection's corners sits a cool Victorian era building called The Brewster. You may know it as the place where...


dun-dun-dunnnn... 



  The next new thing I will do for my bucket list is go watch my first Pride Parade later this month. It will pass though the street seen above, so I won't have far to walk. I had really wanted to attend last year's parade because of what happened at the Pulse, but I was unable to get to Chicago in time to attend. This year, I'm a winner!

  Everyone have a great weekend!

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Blog Bat Around -Eamus Catuli! Style



 P-town Tom has tossed us a ball.  Thus spoke Eamus Catuli!-  

http://tilnextyear-tom.blogspot.com/2017/06/blog-bat-around-origins-of-your-player.html

I am 10 months into collecting baseball cards, but I think this is a bat around I can do!


 1.) Let's play two. (6 unique cards)

















  During one of my many previous image searches I came across the above two pictures of Ernie Banks. There were hundreds of other pics, but these two really captured my attention.  I believe the one on the left was part of a Sports Illustrated story, and the one on the right was published by the Chicago Tribune. I do not own a copy of either of these Ernie Banks dedicated periodicals. Wish I did though! There is a spirited child-like joy that Ernie exuded, and that charm still makes the world a better to place to live in. Mr. Cub is my #1 player to collect.




2.) The Wizard! (16 unique cards)


 

 

 I have a soft spot for the elite defensive skills a good shortstop can display. Love it! Ozzie was the ultimate in defensive perfection for a shortstop.  His 13 Gold Glove awards testify on his behalf.

  The first year Ozzie played for the Cards, this lil' shortstop was MVP for the USAEUR champions girls softball team. I was so young! lol

  I 💖 Ozzie because he was Ozsome!



3.) Other player collections I work on are some of Zipper's favorite players, a friend, or the players remind me of her. At this time they are Minnie Minoso (0), Rod Carew (2), Harold Baines (8), Darryl Strawberry (7), Dwight Gooden (8), and A.J. Pierzynski, who is still sitting at (0).

4.) I have also started collecting native American baseball players as an extension of my postcard collection. So far I have acquired a couple of Jacoby Ellsbury's cards.

5.) I do not yet have a card featuring Tetsuharu Kawakami, but I have been on the lookout for them. I mentioned him in one of my first blog posts. He was absolutely amazing!

  That's all for player collections at this time, but I don't doubt there will more players added in the future.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The Ernie Banks Project -Baseball Card Breakdown





This post features the Ernie Banks writings from Baseball Card Breakdown



2004 Topps Retired Signature Edition breakdown  Baseball Card Breakdown 

Trades, contest winnings, and in-person gifts Baseball Card Breakdown

Mr. Cub, Pops, and the gang Baseball Card Breakdown

the rest of my latest card show haul Baseball Card Breakdown

Pairs of serial numbered cards Baseball Card Breakdown

A look into the card box from childhood Baseball Card Breakdown

Night Owl Trade Baseball Card Breakdown

Double, Double, Hoyle and Trouble Baseball Card Breakdown

100 Subscribers Celebration Contest Baseball Card Breakdown

1st Anniversary auto lot contest! Baseball Card Breakdown

Breaking All The Rules (card show recap!)  Baseball Card Breakdown



The Ernie Banks Project Blog List

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

The Ernie Banks Project -Pack War




The Ernie Banks material published by Corky, of Pack War fame. 


Floating Heads For Everyone! Pack War

A Sneak Peek at 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Pack War



Other blogs in The Ernie Banks Project

Monday, June 5, 2017

The Ernie Banks Project -Nachos Grande





The Ernie Banks writings of  Nachos Grande
(mostly box breaks/oodles of images-esp nice Allen & Ginter) 


Topps National Chicle - 2 Blaster Nacho Grande Review Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Going to the Dark Side Nachos Grande

Theme Week: Better Know a Blogger (Paul from Wrigley Wax) Nachos Grande

I Love All Vintage Player Sets! (More Group Break Packs) Nachos Grande

Group Break: Four More Packs of 2003 Donruss Team Heroes Nachos Grande

UD Retro Box Break: Packs 13 and 14 Nachos Grande

Just Cheesin'! Nachos Grande

UD Retro Week: Happy Fourth of July (Let's Open Packs!) Nachos Grande

Group Break 7: Three of the Last Six Packs of Topps Gold Label Nachos Grande

Group Break: 2015 Topps Stadium Club Packs 3 & 4 (Trick-or-Treat!) Nachos Grande

Better Know a Blogger (Tony from Wrigley Roster Jenga) Nachos Grande

2015 Topps Jumbo Case Group Break: Box #4: Pack-by-Pack (Packs 8-10) includes 2 Hits!! Nachos Grande

Theme Week: Better Know a Blogger (Matt from Cardboard Conundrum) Nachos Grande

Theme Week: Better Know a Blogger (David from Tribe Cards) Nachos Grande

2014 Topps Stadium Club: The Contents of Mini Box #5 (of 6) Nachos Grande

2014 Topps Stadium Club Hobby Box #1 - Mini Box #3 Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Do Card Trades Deserve Interest? Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: The Final Three! (And the Final Post of the Countdown!) Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: #6, #5, and #4! Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Pure Cardboard Gold! Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants: The Top 10 Begins Today! Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: So Much Cardinal Stink! Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Have You Heard of the Whiz Kids? Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: We Made it to the Top 20! Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: A Pair of "C" Teams - but Not the Reds! Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: It's Gotta be the 'Stache Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Is that a High School Field, Whitey? Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: The end of the second third of the set. Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: Tossing Water Balloons Nachos Grande

UD Past Time Pennants Countdown: It's My Birthday! Nachos Grande

A Quick Blaster Break - Just for More Kicks and Giggles (Part 3) Nachos Grande

Allen & Ginter Case Rip: Box #6 - Packs 1-12 Nachos Grande

Allen & Ginter Case Rip: Box #1 - Boxtopper & Packs 1 - 6 Nachos Grande

FOR TRADE: 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen Nachos Grande

Allen & Ginter N43s: Wants & Haves! Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! eBay wins: Currency Cards and Other Allen & Ginter Box Toppers! Nachos Grande

2012 Allen & Ginter: FOR TRADE! Nachos Grande

2012 Topps Allen & Ginter: N43 Box Toppers (Got Any?) Nachos Grande

Box Review: 1998 UD Retro (Hobby) Nachos Grande

Announcing: The Elusive Eight! Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Top 10: The Dimwit Delivers Mexican Hats, Relics and uhm...a Lave? Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Trade with my Brother! (Part 2) Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Huge Trade With Blog Reader Steve (Part II) Nachos Grande

Trade Stack 4: Dueces Wild? A Pair of Cubs and a Pair of Red Sox Nachos Grande

Group Break: 2001 Topps HD - Pack 18 Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Trade with Jim from Sixty Feet Six Inches Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Trade with Chris from The Call of Cardboard! Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Trade with Blog Reader Ted Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Trade with David from Drinking the Orange Kool-Aid  Nachos Grande

Nachos Got Bipped (again)! Watch Out World, It's On! Nachos Grande

Nachos Grande Review: 2 Boxes of 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game Nachos Grande

Delivery Time! Trade with Duane from Democratic Roadkill Nachos Grande

Cards on eBay - Topps Short Prints & Commemorative Patches Nachos Grande

Reducing the Want Lists: 2009 Topps Nachos Grande

EBay Auctions Ending Today Nachos Grande

Getting Ready for eBay - Part 1 Nachos Grande

4 Topps Target Old School Blasters Nachos Grande

2009 Topps Heritage Blaster #3 Nachos Grande

2009 Topps Black: 4 Blaster Review Nachos Grande

2008 Topps Stadium Club - 3 Retail Packs Review Nachos Grande

20 Cards: My Choices Nachos Grande

2014 Topps Heritage FOR TRADE! Nachos Grande

2011 Topps For Trade Nachos Grande


The Ernie Banks Project Blog List

Sunday, June 4, 2017

It's Dinnertime and...

I would love a pizza! 


 
 

...and this is... 






Have a great evening!

Baseball Card Breakdown - Celebrates!

It's official, I am now a blog pimp. 

https://baseballcardbreakdown.blogspot.com/


Hey! There is no shame in renting out blog space for a good cause. Baseball Card Breakdown is celebrating its 1,000th post with a card give-away. That's right, ONE THOUSAND blog posts!


https://baseballcardbreakdown.blogspot.com/



Marquis thinks you need to check out the Baseball Card Breakdown blog. 

https://baseballcardbreakdown.blogspot.com/

Seriously. Go. Now. 
 

🔥 Congratulations Baseball Card Breakdown! 🔥