The Girl’s Guide to Sports – ‘Girly’ Sports Take

I friend of mine created a new site, The Girl’s Guide to Sports. The basic premise is to give female type people enough sports background info to be moderately fluent and therefore able to communicate with men (presumably husbands and boyfriends but this could clearly extend to the workplace and other areas). I think general coping skills are also discussed.

Check out her post on the baseball playoffs - Now that the MLB Playoffs Have Started, I Only Have a Few Weeks Until They’re Over….

Yeah, that’s some sass.

Pictured above is Ila Borders rearing back with a two seam heater. She’s credited with being the first woman to win a professional men’s baseball game - just an FYI that tied in.

If you’re a woman and looking to get more into sports and/or are looking for ways to get your man’s attention – check out eBay, they have women’s jersey’s for baseball and every team sport!

T206 McCormick Stamp Found!

Back in July I received an incredible email. Ed was in search of T206 baseball cards once owned by Howe McCormick. The baseball cards have McCormick’s distinctive Gainsville Florida stamp. Check out my original post for more detail on Ed’s incredible quest.

I was excited to do a post to help Ed recreate McCormick’s T206 collection. Since this blog is part emarketing experiment I was curious to see if we could make a connection. I’m happy to announce that just last month thanks to the power of blogs, search engines and all kinds of other cool gizmos Rodrigo found me. I put him in contact with Ed and the McCormick T206 baseball card collection is one step closer to completion.

You can find great T206 baseball cards on eBay!

Fantasy Baseball Wrap for 2008

I do 2 fantasy baseball leagues every year, the NFBC and a ‘beer’ league on Sportsline with some friends of mine, click here for my post about my auction draft and if you’d like a laugh here is Part 1 NFBC Draft Results, Part 2 NFBC Draft Results, Part 3 NFBC Draft Results, and Part 4 NFBC Draft Results. Here are the results and some highs and lows.

I came in 3rd in my Sportsline league, so I got paid a little. In a daring move I traded Tim Lincecum for Ryan Howard at the trade deadline to bump up my offense. I got swept in the first round however. My league plays best of 3 and in the championship week my breakdown was a perfect 18-0, just missed it.

I think my best pickups were Alexei Ramirez (pictured Upper Deck rookie baseball card) and Kevin Slowey. At $1 I’ll probably keep both for next year. I really think Slowey will put together more consistency and is on the verge of being a top 20 pitcher. Alexei Ramirez is older and from Cuba so he’s more of a finished product. Looks to me like a 300 BA, 20/20 middle infielder. Since he’s a little older I don’t anticipate a sophomore slump – should be a solid gold fantasy baseball player.

We came in 9th in the NFBC, but finished above average overall at 160 out of 390 teams in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship. Our pitching was dominant, top 5 out of 390 up through early September – led by Johan Santana and Brandon Webb and Brad Lidge and “Good Vibrations” Brian Wilson in the pen. Just could not string an offense together.

Josh Field was a bust. Wladimir Balentine never panned out and I thought he was a nice bet for rookie of the year. I’d keep an eye on him next year if he can cut down his Ks, but I’m not drafting him until I see something. Don’t get me started on JR Towels. One of these years we’ll put it all together and get our $100,000.

Time to get on the bandwagon and score an Alexei Ramirez baseball card on eBay!

T206 Baseball Cards with Tolstoi Backs – Auction Results 10/9/08

It's been a while since I've posted Tolstoi's. Really looks like the market may be a little soft for T206s, if not all baseball cards. Check out the Bescher SGC 80 that only went for $316 - that's an exceptional card. Back in September the Joss PSA 6.5 went for more than $1,300. A PSA 2 Cobb pushed a grand but what's new.

T206 McGraw New York HOF - Rare HiGrade Tolstoi !	PSA 6	8/10/08	$ 787
1909 T206 Tolstoi Frank Delehanty Louisville Good	PSA 2	8/12/08	$ 63
1910 T206 - Jimmy Collins (Minneapolis) - Tolstoi !!		8/17/08	$ 81
T206 White Border Ty Cobb Red Portrait Tolstoi	PSA 2	8/18/08	$ 998
T206 TY COBB Red Portrait VG 3 TOLSTOI Back	SGC 40	8/18/08	$ 710
1909-11 Tolstoi Cigarettes T206 Davy Jones	SGC 20	8/24/08	$ 27
1909-11 Tolstoi Cigarettes T206 Frank Delehanty	SGC 20	8/24/08	$ 24
T206 T-206 Livingstone - Tolstoi		8/28/08	$ 49
1909 T206 "Happy" Smith Tolstoi reverse Good 2	SGC 30	8/31/08	$ 47
T206 TOLSTOI TOM NEEDHAM CUBS	PSA-3	9/4/08	$ 48
T206 T-206 Jap Barbeau baseball card Tolstoi back	PSA 1	9/2/08	$ 30
T206 Joss HOF EX-MT+ Rare HiGrade Tolstoi back!	PSA 6.5	9/7/08	$ 1,346
1909-11 Tolstoi Cigs T206 Rube Marquard	SGC 60	9/8/08	$ 510
T206 T-206 HOME RUN BAKER TOLSTOI BACK	SGC 40	9/14/08	$ 132
T206 Tim Jordan Brooklyn Dodgers TOLSTOI	GAI 4	9/12/08	$ 61
1909-11 T206 TOLSTOI CHRISTY MATHEWSON Dark Cap	SGC 40	9/10/08	$ 330
1909 - 1911 T206 Hugh Duffy Tolstoi	PSA 5	9/9/08	$ 458
1909-11 Tolstoi Cigs John McGraw T206	SGC 40	9/9/08	$ 134
T-206 T206 McIntyre Blazer w Rare Tolstoi bk!	SGC 60	10/5/08	$ 214
1909 T206 Strang,Baltimore-Tolstoi Back-Rare		10/2/08	$ 33
T206 T-206 Camnitz - Tolstoi Back		10/1/08	$ 20
T-206 T206 Mattern Blazer w/ Rare Tolstoi bk !	SGC 60	9/28/08	$ 280
T-206 T206 Schlei NY Blazer w Rare Tolstoi bk!	SGC 60	9/28/08	$ 127
T206 Hal CHASE Throwing, Dark Cap, Tolstoi Back	PSA 5	9/27/08	$ 264
T206 Pfeffer TOLSTOI Back		9/27/08	$ 23
T206 Geyer TOLSTOI Back		9/27/08	$ 22
T206 Crandall TOLSTOI Back		9/27/08	$ 27
1909-11 T206 Tim Jordan Batting Tolstoi	PSA 4	9/25/08	$ 68
1909-11 TOLSTOI CIGARETTES T206 BOB BESCHER	SGC 80	9/25/08	$ 316
1909-11 TOLSTOI CIGARETTES T206 JACK HAYDEN	SGC 60	9/25/08	$ 203
1909 TOLSTOI CIGARETTES T206 CHARLIE RHODES	PSA 5	9/25/08	$ 155
T206 DOUGHERTY ARM IN AIR TOLSTOI BACK!	GAI 5	9/21/08	$ 114
T206 FRANK CHANCE (Portrait) Chicago Nat’l TOLSTOI		9/20/08	$ 90

Find your T206 Baseball Cards with Tolstoi Backs on eBay!

Longoria and Rays Continue World Series Push

After winning the American League East with 97 wins the Tampa Bay Rays continue their push to their first World Series. I think I’m the only person in New Jersey that has a Carl Crawford Devil Rays Jersey (that’s right, not ‘Rays’, old school ‘Devil Rays’ circa 2007) which is going to get a lot of wear over the next several weeks.

I’ve been making a living off of the Rays in fantasy baseball for 3-4 years now. Carl Crawford has been a centerpiece of several of my fantasy teams and guys like BJ Upton, Shields, Sonnanstine, and Kazmir have all been on my teams. Bummed out that I missed out on Evan Longoria but loved his two home runs last night.

Some think the Rays are a fluke but they have the starting pitching and a fairly deep bullpen. The general theory in baseball is that good pitching beats good hitting and I think they have the best staff in the playoffs. I also like the speed that Crawford and Upton bring to the game – very disruptive for the opposition. Baseball’s ‘surprise team’ looks more like a favorite to me. We’ll see how it plays out but I’m stoked for some of my fantasy baseball mainstays to have a chance at a big ‘reality’ World Series win!

Click Here to get Evan Longoria gear for the playoffs on eBay!

T206 Drum Wrappers Show Up on eBay

While not confirmed if T206 baseball cards where distributed in these Drum cigarette wrappers I couldn’t help but check them out on eBay. I have no clue what these might fetch but for a tobacco era baseball card collector like T206s or T205s these seem like a great complimentary piece of accent memorabilia.

Check out the latest Drum T206 baseball cards on eBay!

Final Home Run Baseball at Shea – Beltran’s Ball Snagged by Zack

Found this article today about Zack Hample, The Baseball Collector, and it reminded me of my buddy Chris – The Ultimate Baseball Collector. Not only did Zack get the final home run ball at Shea (courtesy of Carlos Beltran) but he caught 2 other historic baseballs last week at Yankee Stadium.

Zack is open about his baseball shagging techniques – get a seat in the picnic area, watch batting practice, etc. I’m inclined to believe he has real instincts for how to position himself and move toward the ball. Just a guess but he’s probably pretty aggressive too.

Click here to buy a commemorative baseballs of Shea Stadium on eBay!

T206 Baseball Cards with Cycle Backs – Auction Results 9/19/08

Here are some Cycle T206s from the past few months. Check out the Tris Speaker pushing a grand – nice baseball card. He may have to be the next hall of famer I add to my collection but I may need a different back as that price is a tad rich.

T206 Doc Crandall Cycle	460 GAI	8/10/08	$74
T206 T-206 Bliss - Rare HiGrade Cycle Back!	PSA 6 EX-MT	8/10/08	$587
1909 T206 Cycle Frank Delehanty Louisville	SGC 30	8/12/08	$47
GEORGE MULLEN T206 *CYCLE* TOBACCO CARD	PSA 3	8/13/08	$81
1909 T206 CYCLE BACK - KRAUSE - PORTRAIT	PSA 4	8/17/08	$32
T206 CYCLE HOF TRIS SPEAKER Boston RED SOX RaRe !	PSA 4	8/17/08	$852
T206 T-206 Bliss EX-MT - Rare HiGrade Cycle Back!	PSA 6	8/10/08	$587
T206 Doc Crandall Cycle 460 GAI		8/10/08	$74
1909 T206 Cycle Frank Delehanty Louisville	SGC 30	8/12/08	$47
GEORGE MULLEN T206 *CYCLE* TOBACCO CARD	PSA 3	8/13/08	$81
T206 CYCLE HOF TRIS SPEAKER Boston RED SOX RaRe !	PSA 4	8/17/08	$852
1909 T206 CYCLE BACK - KRAUSE - PORTRAIT	PSA 4	8/17/08	$32
1909-11 T206 T 206 Harry Howell CYCLE Pop=1 EX-MT+		8/29/08	$123
T206 T-206 Pryor McElveen front card Cycle back	PSA 1	9/2/08	$23
T206 CYCLE 350 CHARLIE RHODES	PSA-2	9/4/08	$50
T206 CYCLE RUBE MARQUARD FOLLOW THROUGH	PSA-3	9/7/08	$136

Get T206 Baseball Cards for your collection with Cycle Backs on eBay!

USAA and Strikeouts for Troops Team Up to Help U.S. Veterans

I first wrote about Strikeouts for Troops this past July and decided this is a topic worth promoting after receiving and email from John at USAA. I’m a big believer in doing as much as possible to help U.S. veterans and personally their needs are at the top of my non-profit causes. Presently I’m broke so for now I’ll blog, the fact that Strikeouts for Troops is promoted by Barry Zito and over 100 other major league baseball players makes it a natural fit for Bloop Single.

John is part of an advocacy team at USAA which specializes in insurance and financial services products for vets (John, feel free to comment if you’d like to add more) and he reached out to me to let me know about a special event they held called Patriot Day on September 11th. USAA matched $500 per strikeout thrown across all Major League Baseball Games that day.

The contributions from Strikeouts for Troops help wounded vets and their families. I know it’s late in the season but it’s never too late to help our vets so please check go to StrikeoutsForTroops.com, pick out your favorite Major League Baseball Player that participates and do what you can to help out.

New Era Las Vegas 51s Pop Color Hat

I’m I big fan of the Las Vegas 51s gear especially caps. Being a big baseball fan and science fiction fan I practically have no choice in the matter. It cracks me up that a professional baseball team feature little green men on their hat.

I was surfing the New Era site the other day and came across the Las Vegas 51s Pop color hat. Very cool with the black and green (as opposed to gray) LGM logo. I love fitted minor league baseball hats so this is on my way early holiday wish list.

You can find other Las Vegas 51s gear on eBay by clicking here!

T206 Baseball Cards with Tolstoi Backs – Auction Results 8/24/08

The PSA 6 McGraw is the highlight of this batch of T206 Tostois. Although the Cobb (red background) SGC 40 is a close runner up!

T206 DICK HOBLITZELL 1910-1912 TOUGH TOLSTOI REDS	PSA 1	7/17/08	$33
T206 Geirge Mullin 'With Bat' VG-EX Tolstoi Back!	PSA 4	7/18/08	$86
T206 T 206 Jake Atz Tolstoi Back Rare(Portrait)	SGC 40	7/19/08	$64
1909 T206 Tolstoi Rube Geyer	PSA 4	7/21/08	$89
1909-11 TOLSTOI T206 FRANK SMITH TOLSTOI T 206	SGC 20	7/22/08	$46
T206 Ray Demmitt 'New York' Good Tolstoi Back	PSA 2	7/24/08	$56
1909 T206 TOLSTOI - RANDALL - LOUISVILLE	SGC 60	7/27/08	$166
1909 T206 TOLSTOI - CAMNITZ - PITTSBURG	SGC 60	7/27/08	$147
1909 T206 TOLSTOI - CLYMER - COLUMBUS	SGC 60	7/27/08	$118
T206 Tannehill, Chicago Amer. Tolstoi Back!		7/29/08	$41
T206 Howie Camnitz, Pittsburg Tolstoi Back RARE 1909!!		7/30/08	$188
1909 T206 TOLSTOI BACK - DEVORE - GIANTS	SGC 50	8/3/08	$65
T 206 Doc Adkins T206 #391 Minor Leaguer Tolstoi back		8/3/08	$162
T206 BERGEN CATCHING WITH SCARCE TOLSTOI BACK		8/8/08	$31
T206 T-206 Tim Jordan Tolstoi back baseball card	PSA 1	8/10/08	$23
T206 McGraw New York HOF - Rare HiGrade Tolstoi !	PSA 6	8/10/08	$787
1909 T206 Tolstoi Frank Delehanty Louisville Good	PSA 2	8/12/08	$63
1910 T206 - Jimmy Collins (Minneapolis) - Tolstoi !!		8/17/08	$81
T206 TY COBB Red Portrait TOLSTOI Back	SGC 40	8/17/08	$710
T206 White Border Ty Cobb Red Portrait Tolstoi	PSA 2	8/18/08	$998

Get your T206 Baseball Cards with Tolstoi Backs on eBay!

T206 Baseball Cards with American Beauty Backs – Auction Results 8/23/08

This crop of American Beauty T206s features an absolutely exquisite Smith from Buffalo. Weighing in with a grade of SGC 80 the Smith card also features a ghost image - really a nice treat!

T206 CRANDALL SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY AB 460 BACK	SGC 40	7/19/08	$150
T206 AMERICAN BEAUTY TOM DOWNEY SCARCE BACK	PSA 4.5	7/20/08	$203
T206 Charley Carr American Beauty Back	PSA 4 VG-EX	7/23/08	$108
1909 T206 AMERICAN BEAUTY - HARTSEL - ATHLETICS	SGC 60	7/27/08	$178
T206 T-206 Smith Buffalo American Beauty Ghost	SGC 80	8/3/08	$676
T206 QUINN WITH SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 FRAME BACK		8/8/08	$49
T206 CARRIGAN WITH SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$100
T206 STEINFELDT SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY NO FRAME BACK		8/8/08	$82
T206 LAKE SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 NO FRAME BACK		8/8/08	$78
T206 TINKER HOF CUBS SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 BACK		8/8/08	$190
T206 SHECKARD CUBS SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 460 BACK		8/8/08	$24
T206 PFEISTER CUBS SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$41
T206 HOFMAN CUBS SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$45
T206 YOUNG SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$73
T206 BECK SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$56
T206 HOWARD CUBS SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$41
T206 MORAN CUBS SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$49
T206 WILLIS BATTING HOF SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$16
T206 MCGINNITY HOF SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$43
T206 HALLMAN SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$46
T206 CLARK SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$41
T206 ARELLANES SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$40
T206 BRASHEAR SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/8/08	$25
T206 WILLETT SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/10/08	$43
T206 BRESNAHAN HOF SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/10/08	$57
T206 SWEENEY SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 NO FRAME BACK		8/10/08	$24
T206 LAKE SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 NO FRAME BACK		8/10/08	$45
T206 MANNING SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 NO FRAME BACK		8/10/08	$26
T206 KISINGER SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/10/08	$23
T206 LATTIMORE SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/10/08	$22
T206 HINCHMAN SCARCE AMERICAN BEAUTY 350 BACK		8/10/08	$21
T206 American Beauty BILL MALARKEY	PSA 3	8/11/08	$61
T206 T-206 Birdie Cree card American Beauty	PSA 4	8/11/08	$90
T206 T-206 McGinley Rare American Beauty Back!	PSA 4	8/17/08	$192
T206 Ira Thomas - American Beauty 350	SGC 40	8/21/08	$71

Find T206 Baseball Cards with American Beauty Backs on eBay!

BJ Upton – Get Your Act Together

BJ Upton (pictured 2008 Allen and Ginter Ripped baseball card) is killing my fantasy baseball team. He was benched last week for failing to run out a ground ball and after saying all the right things about the incident he pulled the same thing last night. Upton was pulled immediately and will sit today. The Rays are in the playoff hunt and if that’s not enough to motivate him to keep his head on straight then I have no illusions that screwing up my fantasy baseball season is of no concern – though it bugs me!

Upton was one of my 5 keepers headed into this season and as the defending champ I felt pretty good heading into the 2008 baseball season. This week marks the start of a 3 game set for our league’s first round and I’m having a horrendous week and BJ Upton’s antics are the cherry on top.

Although Upton’s power and average are down this year he’s on pace for almost 50 stolen bases. Upton turns a mere 24 later this month and already has over 1,200+ major league at bats under his belt. If he can put it all together and keep his head on straight I see BJ Upton as a perennial 30/40 guy – so from a fantasy baseball perspective I still say “buy” on Upton at your 2009 fantasy baseball draft.

Click here to find BJ Upton baseball cards on eBay!

T206 Baseball Cards with Cycle Backs – Auction Results 8/12/08

T206 Cycles have been far and few between. Check out the Stoney McGlynn PSA 7!!! That's a real gem. Granted $1,250 more than I have to spend on a baseball card at the moment, but given the scarcity and the fact that it's in better shape than many cards right out of the pack it's an exceptional find.

T206 GASPER WITH SCARCE CYCLE 350 BACK!	SGC 10	6/17/08	$29
T206 Cycle Iron Man McGinnity Newark HOF	PSA 1	6/23/08	$57
T-206 T206 Huggins Cincinnati HOF Rare Cycle Bck	SGC 40	6/29/08	$165
1909 T206 Stoney McGlynn Cycle back PSA 7 Highest grade	PSA 7	7/6/08	$1,270
1910 T206 CONGALTON SCARCE CYCLE BACK	SGC 50		$95
1910 T206 SCHLAFLY SCARCE CYCLE BACK	PSA 3	7/13/08	$50
1910 T206 KELLEY HOF SCARCE CYCLE BACK	SGC 40	7/13/08	$188
T206 MORIARITY WITH SCARCE CYCLE BACK	SGC 50	7/13/08	$83
T206 T-206 HARRY HINCHMAN PORTRAIT (CYCLE 350)	PSA 5	7/16/08	$138
1909 T206 Cycle Jimmy Slagle	PSA 5	7/21/08	$153
T206 VIC WILLIS WITH CYCLE 460 BACK	SGC 50 VG/EX 4	7/23/08	$238
T206 T-206 McGinnity New York Rare Cycle Bk HOF	PSA 4.5	7/27/08	$257
1909 T206 CYCLE BACK - HERZOG - BOSTON -NL	SGC 80	7/27/08	$293
T206 HULSWITT WITH SCARCE CYCLE 350 BACK		8/8/08	$32

Find T206 Baseball Cards for your collection with Cycle Backs on eBay!

Switch Pitcher – The Future of Baseball

Somehow I don’t think we’ll see Johan Santana throwing the change up from the right side or Brandon Webb develop a lefty power sinker. That said, I’ve long wondered why there aren’t ANY switch pitchers. I would think they’d only have to develop a fastball they can keep down and a looping curve.

Someone sent me this link of a switch pitcher in a minor league baseball game. The punch line here is that he’s going up against a switch hitter – place your bets.

Check out the video on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrM5PITsn7Q

You can also click here to buy a pitching machine on eBay so you’ll never get caught off guard by a switch pitcher!

T206 Baseball Cards with Hindu Backs – Auction Results 8/2/08

There has been an absolute flood of T206s with Hindu backs lately. The Shaw pictured is one of the better specimens.

T206 Woodie Thornton MK Hindu Southern League	PSA 3	7/11/08	$214
T206 George Paige MK Hindu Southern League	PSA 3	7/11/08	$236
T206 J.F. Kiernan MK Hindu Southern League	PSA 3	7/11/08	$334
T206 Perry Lipe MK Hindu Southern League	PSA 2	7/11/08	$255
T206 Tom Guiheen - Brown Hindu Southern League	PSA 2	7/11/08	$174
T206 Johnny Evers - Brown Hindu (Cubs on Shirt)	PSA 2	7/11/08	$380
T206 Joe Tinker (Hands on Knees) - Brown Hindu	PSA 3	7/11/08	$743
T206 Roy Ellam - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 3	7/11/08	$271
T206 George Brown (Browne,Chicago) - Brown Hindu	PSA 4	7/11/08	$621
T206 Whitey Alperman - Brown Hindu	PSA 4.5	7/11/08	$474
1909 T206 T-206 Roy Brashear American Beauty		7/11/08	$44
T206 Mordecai Brown (Cubs Shirt) - Brown Hindu	PSA 1	7/13/08	$256
T206 Johnny Evers (Portrait HOF) - Brown Hindu	PSA 1.5	7/13/08	$379
T206 Al Burch (Batting) (MK) - Brown Hindu	PSA 2	7/13/08	$191
T206 Jimmy Sheckard (No Glove) - Brown Hindu	PSA 2	7/13/08	$263
T206 Al Shaw - Brown Hindu - Highest Graded!	PSA 5	7/20/08	$510
T206 Al Bridwell (No Cap) - Brown Hindu	PSA 1	7/20/08	$88
T206 Bill Bradley (Portrait) - Brown Hindu	PSA 1	7/20/08	$103
T206 Elmer Flick - Brown Hindu - HALL OF FAMER	PSA 1	7/20/08	$178
T206 Vic Willis (Pittsburg) Brown Hindu	SGC 30	7/20/08	$225
T206 Sherry Magee - Brown Hindu	SGC 40	7/20/08	$349
T206 Ed Reulbach (Glove) - Brown Hindu	SGC 30	7/20/08	$153
T206 Josh Devore with RED HINDU back	PSA 1	7/20/08	$698
T206 Ed Reulbach (Glove) Brown Hindu	SGC 30	7/20/08	$153
T206 Harry Bay - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA Auth	7/23/08	$46
T206 Ed Greminger - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/23/08	$83
T206 Sid Smith - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/23/08	$89
T206 Josh Devore with RED HINDU back	PSA 1	7/20/08	$698
T206 AMERICAN BEAUTY TOM DOWNEY SCARCE BACK	PSA 4.5	7/20/08	$203
T206 Tom Guiheen - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/21/08	$83
T206 Hub Purdue - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/21/08	$103
T206 Shag Shaughnessy - Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/21/08	$108
T206 Cad Coles - Brown Hindu - (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/21/08	$61
T206 William Otey - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/21/08	$100
T206 Bill Dahlen (Boston) - Brown Hindu	PSA AUTHENTIC	7/21/08	$35
T206 Roy Ellam PSA 1 - Brown Hindu - (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/21/08	$71
T206 Cad Coles - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1.5	7/21/08	$147
T206 Charlie Fritz MK - Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 2	7/21/08	$103
T206 Hub Purdue - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 2	7/21/08	$106
T206 Mike Donlin (Fielding) - Brown Hindu	SGC AUTHENTIC	7/21/08	$36
T206 O'LEARY WITH RARE RED HINDU BACK!	SGC 10	7/22/08	$308
T206 DEVORE WITH RARE RED HINDU BACK!		7/22/08	$250
T206 Hub Perdue - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/23/08	$91
T206 Ed Walsh - Brown Hindu - HALL OF FAMER	PSA 1	7/23/08	$123
T206 George Manion - Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1.5	7/23/08	$128
T206 Ernie Howard - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 3	7/23/08	$153
T206 Ed Reagan - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 1	7/27/08	$125
T206 Gordon Hickman - Brown Hindu Southern League	PSA 1	7/27/08	$125
T206 Dutch Jordan - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 2	7/27/08	$148
T206 William Otey - Brown Hindu (Southern League)	PSA 3	7/27/08	$219
T206 Fred Parent Chicago Hindu Back pop 1	PSA 3	7/27/08	$236

Get T206 Baseball Cards with Hindu Backs on eBay!

Ichiro Suzuki Autographed Baseball Scored by the Ultimate Baseball Collector

My buddy Chris, AKA the Ultimate Baseball Collector, landed an autographed Ichiro Suzuki baseball to his collection. He went to a Blue Jays game early when the Mariners were in town and Ichiro was nice enough to give him an auto.

This is a particularly nice piece for his collection given that Ichiro got his 3,000th hit last night which includes his playing in Japan. I think it would be great if Suzuki could get to 3,000 in MLB and top 4,000 overall – doubt he’d have any side issues from preventing him from getting into the Hall of Fame!

Be sure to check out his Baseball Collector blog and his website SnaggingBaseballs.com.

Get autographed Ichiro Suzuki baseball cards on eBay!

Francisco Rodriguez Headed for Save Record According to Heater Fantasy Baseball Magazine

Francisco Rodriguez (pictured Topps 2007 Turkey Red baseball card) is the quickest baseball player to 40 saves in the history of baseball. This shatters John Smoltz record by 16 games and poises K-Rod to capture the all-time single season save record of 57 held by the White Sox Bobby Thigpen.

According to fantasy baseball magazine, Heater, K-Rod has a great shot. At his present pace Rodriguez needs to stay on pace for 46 saves for the remainder of the season. After analyzing some recent work by David Pinto, David Gassko of Heater believes the conditions are excellent for K-Rod to remain on pace.

2 key factors have Rodriguez sitting pretty. First, the Angles have a .600 winning percentage. Second, their 2.6 run margin of victory is the lowest in baseball. Both factors indicate that K-Rod has a better than 50/50 chance to become baseball’s all-time single season saves record – just in time for arbitration too! Look for K-Rod to get seriously paid in the off season.

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Chris Carpenter, Fantasy Baseball Comeback After Tommy John

After several Cy Young Award type seasons Chris Carpenter went under the knife last July for Tommy John surgery. The timetable for recovery is about a year just to pitch again and roughly another year to round back into form. It’s clear that Carpenter won’t be back to full pitching form this season but he did throw 63 pitches Sunday in a minor league rehab start and felt fine. He walked 4 batters which is not the type of control you want to see in your fantasy baseball rotation but he did touch 92 MPH on the radar gun.

I don’t think Chris Carpenter is the savior of my fantasy baseball season but with playoffs starting in one of my leagues in a few weeks I’m eyeing him for some spot starts in late August and September. He threw a bullpen sessions this past Tuesday and felt fine and will get a better test on Friday at AAA. If you can stash a player I think he’s worth a gamble and be sure to monitor Carpenter’s progress closely. Those one or two weeks down the stretch where he gets 2 starts or faces the Nationals, Giants or Padres could be key in helping you win your fantasy baseball league.

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T206 Baseball Cards with Carolina Brights – Auction Results 7/18/08

There have only been a handful of scarce Carolina Brights for T206 collectors over the past month or so. These are among the rarest of the T206 baseball cards with even an SGC 20 going for over $100. Dygert is the cream of this crop topping out at nearly $600.

1910 T206 Tobacco Wilson CAROLINA BRIGHTS back		6/8/08	$182
T206 Lavender CAROLINA BRIGHTS back 1st graded!	SGC 20	6/15/08	$116
T206 T-206 Delehanty Scarce Carolina Brights bk	PSA 4	7/6/08	$450
1909 T206 CAROLINA BRIGHTS BK.- DYGERT - TOUGH	SGC 50	7/13/08	$599

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