My New Plan

I am a big fan of baseball cards and I always have been. I started collecting cards when I was 8 or 9 years old and now as I'm nearing 30 I find that I have more cards than I ever could have imagined. Of course as my collection has gotten bigger so has the amount of doubles, triples, quadruples etc. (in some cases 14 or 15 of the same card).

The question that must be asked is, "What should I do with all these extras?"

Until this point I have given some away to my cousin's kids to help them start their own collection, put some aside for the day I have a son I can share this passion with and finally I came up with a new plan:

GET THE CARDS SIGNED!

I already had a few cards sign before I came up with this idea but now I have "upped my game":

1. I plan on sending cards to current Managers, Assistant Coaches & players and ask them for their signatures. 
2. I have recently come across a company that does Card Shows in the New York area. At these shows they often have former players available for signings. On May 5th there will be a show in White Plains and they will have Pete Rose and Graig Nettles as just a few of the many former greats.

I intend on posting about each of my signed cards. I will start with the few signed cards I already have and will move on from there. I will not be telling you who I mail cards to because in case they don't sign the cards and send them back I don't want anyone's opinion of these guys to change.

I do hope that you will enjoy keeping up with this new adventure. Of course your feedback is always welcome and if you have any thoughts of how to get cards signed I am always open to suggestions.

Adam LaRoche

2012 Stats: 154 Games, .271 BA, 33 HRs, 100 RBIs & .853 OPS

The Washington Nationals re-signed 1B Adam LaRoche to a two year contract with an option for a third season. LaRoche had a career year in 2012, winning a Gold Glove as well as a Silver Slugger. LaRoche will bat in the middle of a batting order that boasts players like Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper. The Nationals made the playoffs last season and there is no reason to think that they won't make it again this upcoming season.

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Happy Birthday Charles Barkley

Mike Napoli

2012 Stats: 108 Games, .227 BA, 24 HRs, 56 RBIs & .812 OPS

Mike Napoli signed with the Boston Red Sox this off-season. Napoli will spend most of his time playing 1B with the possibility of an occasional game as catcher. Napoli's deal was originally a 3 year contract worth $39 million but due to a hip injury they reworked the deal to be for only one year worth $5 million. Napoli has never hit more than 30 HRs in a season but has had great success at Fenway Park.

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Nick Swisher

2012 Stats: 148 Games, .272 BA, 24 HRs, 93 RBIs & .837 OPS

Nick Swisher signed with the Cleveland Indians this off-season. He's a high energy guy who will bring a good leadership quality to a rebuilt Indians team. He will play mostly at 1B where his career Fielding % is .994. Batting in the middle of the lineup Swisher should get 100 RBIs in a season for the first time in his career.

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This Day in Sports History - 2/7/1970

LSU Guard Pete Maravich sets an NCAA record for most points scored against a Division I opponent, but the Tigers lose 106 - 104 to Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Pistol Pete pumps in 69 with 26 field goals and 17 free throws. Both Pete and his father Press, who is LSU's Head Coach, are assessed with technical fouls during the game. Pete pursues a spectator as he leaves the floor at the end of the game, and several of his teammates become involved in a fight with fans. Pete's 69-point flurry will stand as the record until Kevin Bradshaw of US International nets 72 against Loyola-Marymount in 1991.

Bob Costas Eulogizes Stan "The Man" Musial

This Day in Sports History - 1/21/2004

The Minnesota Wild set an NHL record by scoring two goals three seconds apart during a 4 - 2 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The previous record is five seconds, shared by four teams. With 15.5 seconds remaining, C Jim Dowd puts in a long rebound of his own slapshot to break a 2 - 2 deadlock. Three seconds later, RW Richard Park takes the puck off the faceoff and flicks it into the empty net. The defeat is part of a 19-game franchise record winless streak for the Blackhawks away from home, in which the club dropped 18 in regulation and one in overtime.

RIP Stan "The Man" Musial

This Day in Sports History - 1/17/2003

In the highly anticipated first meeting between seven-foot-six Rockets rookie Center Yao Ming and seven-foot-one Lakers Center Shaquille O'Neal, the Rockets prevail 108 - 104 in overtime at the Compaq Center in Houston. Yao blocks Shaq's first three shots and alters Kobe Bryant's shot at the end of regulation. O'Neal finished with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Yao manages 10 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks. Houston Guard Steve Francis leads all scorers with 44 points, the most he will collect in a single game during his nine-year NBA career.

This Day in Sports History - 1/15/1994

San Francisco 49ers RB Ricky Watters scores an NFL postseason record five touchdowns during a 44 - 3 thrashing of the New York Giants in a divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park. Watters crosses the goal on a run of one yard in the first quarter, jaunts of one and two yards in the second quarter, and six yards and two yards in the third. He is the first to score more than 3 TDs in a playoff game. During the rout of the Giants, Watters gains a total of 118 yards on 24 carries and grabs five passes for another 46 yards.

Kevin Youkilis

2012 Stats: 122 Games, .235 BA, 19 HRs, 60 RBIs & .745 OPS

The New York Yankees signed Kevin Youkilis to a one year deal worth $12 million. Youk spent 2012 with the Red Sox & White Sox. He will play 3B to start the season as Alex Rodriguez will be out for a large portion of the season. Although he only batted .235 last season he still had a .336 OBP. Look for him to play well this year and get a big time contract next off-season.

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