A Huge Bass Upgrade

Brian Bass 2008-09

For all intents and purposes, I have solved my Brian Bass autograph collection issue with this awesome Orioles signed player card/postcard of him. I got it on eBay and it fits nicely into my collection, even though I prefer regular signed cards to these.

So I present to you the issue I faced with Mr. Bass and what autograph of his I should have in my collection.


This is an "Orioles" card of his, technically the only unsigned one. But I'm calling Upper Deck's bluff on this one. He's not wearing an Orioles uniform on the card and just slapping an O's logo on it doesn't make it one.


And this is his only certified "Orioles" autograph. Same problem with this one. That's blatantly a Twins uniform. I would probably prefer a half-ass photoshop job to this, although with the Twins' pinstripes, it would have looked awful. It's a pet peeve of mine when card companies obviously mix logos and uniforms.


And this is the Twins card that I got signed in person at a game last season. I really like the look of these A&G cards when they are signed and this will stay in my collection too since if I have a signed post card of a player, I still like to have a signed card of theirs as well.

So that is my explanation of my Brian Bass autograph quandary and my dislike of Upper Deck's attempts to make an Orioles card of his. He made his Orioles debut on 9/5/08 and they weren't able to make a single Orioles card of him, so I solved the problem my own way.

I'm Off to Spring Training

Today, I fly to Florida for my more-or-less yearly trip to visit some future family members and go to spring training games. I'm very excited to be able to attend a few Orioles games this year, something that was really hard to do when I stay in Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale was the absolute furthest Spring Training site from where I was. I will get to see three games, including two O's games, with my family and can't wait. You know that I have my giant box of cards ready for autographs and I hope to come back with at least a few signed. I would be surprised if I don't get at least a few new autographs with all the new guys in camp.

I will do my best to get on the computer once or twice to either post or update the Spring Training contest. You can link on the contest right below the title of the blog to keep up with all of the teams' records. So far the Nationals and Pirates, who are both 0-2, are the two teams that aren't looking that great thus far. But it's early and things are bound to change. Good luck to everyone that entered (but especially those that chose the O's!).

And the Winner Is....

packaddict is the winner of the HOF autograph giveaway as a benefit of being a follower of the blog. Shoot me an email and let me know which of these autographs you would like and I will get it sent out to you. Thanks to everyone who linked to my contest or is a follower. And good luck to everyone with the contest!

Last Chance to Get Counted for the HOF Autograph Giveaway

Here's the list of entries I have for this contest. If you are in the Spring Training Contest and either follow the blog or linked to it on your blog, you should have an entry. If you don't see your name here, then you won't be counted. Let me know if I missed you. The plan is to pick the winner tonight at 9PM Eastern via Random Dot Org.


Captain Canuck
Aaron
Slangon
Play at the Plate
RadicalEddie
Rod
kmsals
JoesAutographs
JoesAutographs
Collective Troll
Collective Troll
Mark's Ephemera
packaddict
TheBrooklynMet
BA Benny
SpastikMooss
Grand Cards
Drew
zman40
night owl
white sox cards
sean benton

The Amazing Orioles Spring Training Start

The Orioles thoroughly dominated the Rays yesterday in their Spring Training home opener, which was also their first home game at Ed Smith Stadium. The game was on the radio in Baltimore and I am lucky enough to work at a job where I can listen to games during the work day, so I randomly hooted and hollered as my coworkers looked at me wondering if I was having a seizure. The O's top position prospect Josh Bell, went deep twice, as did Rhyne Hughes, both in their first game with the big league club. Nick Markakis and Scott Moore also went deep and the O's rolled over the Rays in a 12-2 victory.

I know that it's just Spring Training and that these games don't count and won't be remembered at the end of the season, but it was a great way to start things out. Even in Spring Training, the Orioles don't often look this good, and it got me even more excited for my trip to Florida next week.

Let's Go O's!!

Back to the Autographs- Don Hood TTM Success

After posting for most of the last week about my spring training contest, I felt like it was about time that I got back to the heart of the blog, showcasing my Orioles autographs!

Don Hood 1973-74

My second TTM request to Don Hood produced a better result than the first. He seems to be very hit-or-miss with his signing habits; signing all requests he gets some times and ignoring all of them other times. I'm glad he signed this card for me since it was the last card of his I have in my collection as the first card I sent seems unlikely to come back at this point (it's been 6 months since I sent it). He has a pretty awesome autograph though, I like that it's very loopy and exaggerated.

Don spent the first two seasons of his ten year MLB career with the O's and appeared in 28 games overall for the black and orange.

The Mets Take an Early Lead

With the Mets' victory over the Braves yesterday, it appears almost certain that Slangon will win the contest and that Captain Canuck picked the worst team possible.

Wait, what's that? You say there's still over 30 games to be played by each team. Oh, well in that case, anyone can still win!

Good luck everyone.

Contest Closed-Here's the Final List of Entries

So 40 of you entered my first ever contest and I consider that a darn good draw. If your name is highlighted that means the record you selected doesn't add up to the number of games that your teams plays. Please send me your new record soon or I will be forced to adjust it for you (0-33, what?), and nobody wants that!

Now I need to know which of you linked my contest in your blog and/or are a follower of the blog so I can hold my HOF autograph giveaway. I have a tentative list but please comment on this post if you earned entries into that contest within a contest.

Here is the official list of everyone in the contest:

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Atlanta Braves (33) Captain Canuck 24-9 11-5
Baltimore Orioles (32) Aaron 20-12, Jeremy 23-9 5-10
Boston Red Sox (33) AdamE 21-12 8-7
Detroit Tigers (35) Grand Cards 19-16 9-7
Florida Marlins (31) Paul W 23-8 9-8
Houston Astros (33) Steve E. 13-20 8-7
Minnesota Twins (31) SpastikMooss 23-8 6-8
New York Mets (34) Slangon 22-12 10-6
New York Yankees (33) Bo 22-11, Drew 25-8 7-8
Philadelphia Phillies (31) KmSals 26-5 8-4
Pittsburgh Pirates (32) Paul 24-7-1 4-10
St. Louis Cardinals (30) Kevin 22-8, madding 14-16 5-9
Tampa Bay Rays (32) RadicalEddie 19-13, BA Benny 22-10 11-4
Toronto Blue Jays (30) mmmrhubarb 21-8-1, The Gooch 23-7 8-6
Washington Nationals (33) Collective Troll 25-8, Mark's Ephemera 16-17 2-12

CACTUS LEAGUE

Arizona Diamondbacks (33) Sean Benton 20-13, TheBrooklynMet 21-12 9-7
Chicago Cubs (35) The Diamond King 23-12 9-6
Chicago White Sox (34) White Sox Cards 24-10 6-7
Cincinnati Reds (32) heavy hitter 19-13, Carl Crawford Cards 22-10 6-7
Cleveland Indians (32) night owl 20-12 8-4
Colorado Rockies (33) phaedrusX 21-12 10-8
Kansas City Royals (31) zman40 21-10 6-6
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (33) Wickedliquids 26-8 3-9
Los Angeles Dodgers (31) Roy 25-6 5-6
Milwaukee Brewers (33) Thorzul 20-13 10-7
Oakland Athletics (33) dan 23-10 7-7
San Diego Padres (32) Rod 20-12 5-9
San Francisco Giants (34) Joe K 22-12 11-6
Seattle Mariners (33) Play at the Plate 20-13, packaddict 19-14 5-9
Texas Rangers (31) Moe 21-10, Spiff 19-12 6-8

Good luck to everyone, you will be able to follow the contest and your team's record below the title at the top of the blog throughout spring training.

The Last Few Hours to Enter the Spring Training Contest

Here's a quick reminder for any of you that still want to enter the contest to win a bunch of cards...you have until 1PM today to get me your entry. At that time, everyone is locked in.

Also, if you are a follower of the blog or linked to it on your blog you could win your choice of these HOF autographs.

Good luck everyone!

T Minus 16 Hours Until Registration For the Spring Training Contest Closes

Now that all of the teams have been claimed by at least one person, here is an update on who has picked which teams in the contest:

GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE

Atlanta Braves (33) Captain Canuck 24-9
Baltimore Orioles (32) Aaron 20-12, Jeremy 23-9
Boston Red Sox (33) AdamE 21-12
Cincinnati Reds (32) heavy hitter 19-13
Detroit Tigers (35) Grand Cards 19-16
Florida Marlins (31) Paul W 23-8
Houston Astros (33) Steve E. 13-20
Minnesota Twins (31) SpastikMooss 23-8
New York Mets (34) Slangon 22-12
New York Yankees (33) Bo 22-9, Drew 25-8
Philadelphia Phillies (31) KmSals 26-5
Pittsburgh Pirates (32) Paul 24-7-1
St. Louis Cardinals (30) Kevin 22-8
Tampa Bay Rays (32) RadicalEddie 19-13, BA Benny 22-10
Toronto Blue Jays (30) mmmrhubarb 21-8-1, The Gooch 23-7
Washington Nationals (33) Collective Troll 25-7

CACTUS LEAGUE

Arizona Diamondbacks (33) Sean Benton 20-13, TheBrooklynMet 21-12
Chicago Cubs (35) The Diamond King 23-12
Chicago White Sox (34) White Sox Cards 24-10
Cleveland Indians (32) night owl 20-12
Colorado Rockies (33) phaedrusX 21-12
Kansas City Royals (31) zman40 21-10
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (33) Wickedliquids 26-8
Los Angeles Dodgers (31) Roy 25-6
Milwaukee Brewers (33) Thorzul 20-13
Oakland Athletics (33) dan 23-10
San Diego Padres (32) Rod 20-12
San Francisco Giants (34) Joe K 22-12
Seattle Mariners (33) Play at the Plate 20-13
Texas Rangers (31) Moe tbd, Spiff 19-12

Anyone can still pick any team they would like, but please make sure you don't pick the same record as someone that's already chosen. Remember, entries will be accepted until 2pm tomorrow. Then the contest is closed and the games begin; I don't know about you all but I am ready for some baseball!

Contest Update, Still Time to Enter!

Teams continue to get selected in my Spring Training Contest. If you need to see all of the rules and possible winnings, just click on the link to the original post and enter!

You can pick any team you want, but the following teams still are looking for someone to pick them. Don't let one of these teams have the best record and you not select them to get free cards!
Red Sox
Tigers
Astros
Twins
Mets
Yankees
Blue Jays
Nationals
Diamondbacks
Cubs
White Sox
Dodgers
Brewers
A's
Padres

Good luck everyone!

Spring Training Contest Update

Things are coming together pretty well for the Spring Training Contest. If you haven't already entered, please do. If you enter and are a follower of the blog or link to my contest on your blog, you can win any of these HOF autographs.

As a reminder, the winner of the contest will win their choice of many inserts, short prints, autographs or base cards. Trust me, the winner will be very pleased with their winnings.

So far, 8 teams have been claimed. The Braves, Red Sox, Reds, Tigers, Astros, Twins, Mets, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Cubs, White Sox, Indians, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Dodgers, Brewers, A's and Padres still need to be claimed.

Get your entries in by Tuesday at 1pm! Good luck everyone.