Musings of a Baseball FanMusings of a Baseball Fan

Finally, another update!

nofrills — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:21:49 +0000

Yeah, yeah. I know. Too long between updates. As I’ve said, it’s just a slow time of year.
However, I have picked up a couple new additions.

2011 Bowman Chrome Draft purple refractor.
Also picked up this:

My first Leaf Card. I think it looks great! I’ve started a small Knecht collection, mainly because he’s from Toronto, and a Jays prospect.
Finally I added this:

It’s a ticket from Henderson Alvarez’ first career MLB win. Found it cheap, and a great addition to my ever growing collection.

Holiday Update!

nofrills — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:28:43 +0000

Well, the 2011 Christmas season has come and gone. Thank God.
Between work, home, family and friends, it is always a stressful time of year.
Once again, I survived. Not quite sure how I managed, even though I was working 50+ hours weekly, but I made it.
Due to the holidays, my card buying had slowed down. In fact, I only bought one card since my last update. Here it is:

It’s a 2010 Topps Pro Debut Futures Game Jersey, #rd to 25. Pretty sweet looking card! Click the image, and it will take you to my Alvarez card gallery.
Believe it or not, I also did not get anything with the new Jays logo on it for Christmas! Astounding!
I did however, get not one, not two, but over THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS in Blue Jays gift cards!
I’ll give you one guess where I’m heading today…

New Team Logo, New Cards!!

nofrills — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:22:43 +0000

As I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, the Blue Jays have a brand new logo, seen above, and new uniforms to go along with the logo.
Personally, I think they look great. I love the royal blue alt. jersey, and the home whites are amazing.
I will be picking one up, but probably not until the new year. I don’t think the Jay’s Shop has letters/numbers yet, and I don’t plan on going with Bautista, or any of the other pre-made jerseys. We will see.
While messing around on the web, I came across these images, taken from the up-coming Playstation 3 game, MLB: The Show 2012. Look:

Needless to say, I can’t wait for the release date! The images come from http://mopupduty.com/, a fantastic baseball blog. Make sure you check it out!

I have also added a few more cards to my Collections. You can check them out at the links below:

11-26-2011 Update

nofrills — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:41:18 +0000

Just added a few more Bautista cards to my collection.
I also added a couple of Bautista Cameo’s cards. Here they are

I think they’re kinda neat. I was at that game, so that makes it even neater!
Also added a few more cards to my PC collection. I need to go through and organize them a bit better. Once I do, I will post an updated link.

11/17/2011 – Bautista signing!

nofrills — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:18:41 +0000

Because Bautista was slated to be a part of the new logo unveiling, AJ’s Sportsworld, who has an exclusive agreement with Jose, scheduled an instore autograph signing.
Obviously, I had to go, and spend a stupid amount of money, but it was worth it.
Here’s some pics from the event.
The arrival:

Hard at work

Signing my item

Waiting for my holograms

Signing my brothers card. Apparently, he had never seen his own 2011 Ginter card before

Bill and Jose

When I arrived, I was about 5 people from the front of the line.
When the signing started, there was a little bit of manuvering, which resulted in me not getting my picture taken with Jose.
I explained the situation to my brother when he arrived. He went and discussed this with the owner of AJ’s, who said it would be no problem to get a picture with him.
After Jose signed my brothers card, he explained the situation to Jose, who said it would be no problem to get a picture. Here is the result.

Better than I expected.
Here is what I went home with

It is a Marucci Sports Jose Bautista Player Model bat. The same bat that Jose uses every time he takes to the plate.
I contacted Marucci in the past to inquire about purchasing one of these, and was told they were only available to the player, and never to the general public. That never made sense to me, as you can find them, autographed on eBay.
I guess it is some sort of deal that is worked out between the stores, and the players.
Regardless, I absolutely love it. I’m heading out tomorrow in search of a decent display case for it.
I can’t wait until they bring someone else in for a signing!

11-14-2011 Card Update and MORE!

nofrills — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:03:40 +0000

Been a little slow with cards lately. I even went to the Toronto Sportscard Expo, but left empty handed. They simply wanted too much money for anything Bautista.
I have recently added these though:
2011 Topps Triple Threads Unity Relic /18

2011 Topps Triple Threads Unity Relic /27

They look great, with this:
2011 Topps Triple Threads Unity Relic /36

In my last post, I had mentioned that I had something bigger on the way.
Well, it has arrived, safe and sound. Here it is:

These figurines were given out by the Altoona Curve. Bautista played there while in the Pirates Farm system.
Only 1000 were produced.
As soon as I heard about these, I knew I had to have one.
I searched eBay constantly.
I found one a while back, and won the auction, but never got the item, just a refund. When this one showed up, I had to make it mine.
I still have a number of cards on the way. Be sure to check back every now and then!!

Card Updates, and some Thoughts

nofrills — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:28:15 +0000

First of all, a HUGE CONGRATS to Jose Bautista, for winning the 2011 Silver Slugger Award for the second year in a row.
You can read more about it here.

In more depressing news, John McDonald has signed a 2 year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Johnny Mac has been a Toronto favorite for many years.
Late last season, he, along with Aaron Hill, were traded to the Diamondbacks for second baseman, Kelly Johnson.
Needless to say, many fans were upset with the decision.
During the ensuing Press Conference, McDonald made it quite clear that he would love to come back to Toronto, as a player, or even a coach. Yesterday, those dreams were crushed with the 2 year announcement.
I look at it this way: He is finally being given a chance to play…a lot more frequently than he was here. He deserves to play more often, and after playing in the Postseason, deserves to be on a team that can’t make it to the play offs.
We will miss you Johnny! Hopefully, one day, you will be back!

I also added around 10 new Bautista cards to my collection. Watch the slide show below, or click on it to see all of my collection!

I think I still have about 10 more cards still to come, along with something I never thought I’d own. I won’t reveal what that it just yet. You’ll have to stay tuned!
I am still attending the Bautista In Store Signing as well. I’m not 100% decided as to what I will be getting signed, but at $60 for an 8X10 photo, I might splurge and get something bigger!
STAY TUNED!!

Card Update 10/27/11

nofrills — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:54:50 +0000

Added some new cards to my Bautista collection. Click the slide show below to check them out.

Also added some new Alvarez cards as well. Click below to check them out:

If you ever have any questions about any of my cards, feel free to contact me, using any of the links on the right!

Jose Bautista In-Store Signing Nov. 17

nofrills — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:01:42 +0000

A.J. SPORTS WORLD EXCLUSIVE

Signing In Store: Thursday November 17th – 6:30 pm

In Store Fees:

$59.00 regular item
$89.00 premium item
$20.00 inscription fee

Mail Order or Drop Off Fees Price in CAD

Our Signed 8×10 Photo (TBJ) $99.00
Our Signed Official MLB Baseball $119.00
Our Signed 16×20 (TBJ) $149.00
Our Signed Baseball Bat (Player Model) $299.00
Our Signed Replica Baseball Jersey (TBJ) $499.00
Your Regular Item (photos, cards, baseballs, books, toys, etc) $90.00
Your Premium Item (jerseys, numbers, equipment, posters, etc) $120.00
A personalization is included in the price. Other inscriptions $20.00

Another Card Update, Oct. 18

nofrills — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:55:32 +0000

I added a few Bautista cards to my ever growing collection. Here they are:

Click here to view my entire Bautista card collection.
I also received the cards that I unlocked in the Topps Diamond Giveaway. Nothing too special:

A couple from the 50′s:

And a few Jay’s Die Cuts: