by Matt | Mar 26, 2013 | Baseball
So, hopefully most people should have their packages at this point. I know I’ve gotten a couple emails already, a couple blog posts as well. I’m really happy you guys liked them. I’m glad the cards found the right homes. They were just collecting dust in my possession, so I’d rather see them put to good use.
Just a quick update about teams that remain, here’s the current list:
That leaves the White Sox, Brewers, Pirates, and Giants. I would normally send my Braves to Derek and my Royals to Kyle4KC, but they’ve both stepped back from blogging and/or collection and I’m not sure they’d want them (if you’re reading this, either of you, let me know if you’d still like some cards!).
Derek was actually one of my inspirations behind this. He sent me 3 boxes of cards last year, for no reason other than generosity, and in some small way I’d like to think I’m paying it forward.
So, with this update comes this new post to claim a team on. You can claim any of the remaining teams by leaving a comment on THIS POST, and then, after you’ve done that, sending me your address via my contact form. Gotta leave the comment first though, that’ll be our “time stamp” of sorts for claiming. I just got two more claimed teams over the weekend, the Mariners and Athletics, and those will be going out probably in a week or so. I like to batch them up and send more than 1 or 2 out at a time.
by Matt | Mar 25, 2013 | Aggravation
I learned this morning that SCAD has completely dismantled their baseball program. The 2012 season was their last and there will be no more SCAD baseball or softball going forward. Apparently they did the same for basketball a couple years back as well. In all honesty, Division III ball in the Florida Sun Conference isn’t exactly top-level, but they were fun to watch. The rumors surrounding the closing of the program involve, and no one from SCAD will be surprised at this, the President’s daughter becoming head of the “Equestrian Team” and the funding for those horse-jumpers surpassing all other SCAD sports combined. The “official” reason is that it helps reallocate money to the scholarship fund and that baseball, being the largest sport, was easier to cut that a lot of smaller programs combined (cross country running, golf, etc). I don’t buy it.
The sad part is that the SCAD baseball program was actually pretty good, even for being in a crappy division. They routinely competed in the playoffs, they had multiple players on All-Star teams, and they even had two players drafted. Ryan Pope, currently playing for the Yankee’s Double-A team, the Trenton Thunder. And Charlie Zink, minor league knuckleballer for the Red Sox, then Angels and free agent released in 2011.
I might have to pick up a Pope and Zink card, or even auto if they exist, just to say I collect something from the old alma mater. What I really want to know is where the baseball jerseys ended up? My brother tells me that all the jerseys they had at Dartmouth, they had to routinely turn back in, and weren’t allowed to keep, but they could keep their hats. I can only presume it’s similar for SCAD, especially with them being such cheapskates. I would love to get my hands on one. I bet you anything they’re sitting in a closet in the Athletic Directors office somewhere, just going to waste. That also reminds me, I can’t get a decent fucking SCAD hat anywhere. Right before we graduated, they switched companies and eFollett, those text book assholes, took over the out-sourcing of our college tshirts, hats, coffee mugs, etc. Now I can only get cheap, generic “campus” style hats from the bookstore. I really wanted one of the nice, pro-style, wool hats with the bees logo.
Edit: It’s come to my attention that this post is actually #1 on Google if you search for “SCAD Baseball Jersey” and #7 if you search for just “SCAD Baseball”. That said, hopefully someone from SCAD and/or any alumni that have old baseball jerseys will see this. If you’re either of those things, please contact me. I’d be very interested in getting my hands on a jersey for old times sake.
by Matt | Mar 22, 2013 | Baseball, Personal
All 10 boxes I had packed up are now on their way. Everyone who had requested cards in the past two weeks has a box on the way to them. I used the option on USPS.com to email each recipient, so you should all have tracking info in your inbox. It’s ALL priority 2-3 day, since those priority boxes ended up being the cheapest route, so start looking for boxes Mon/Tues. Have a great weekend everybody!
by Matt | Mar 20, 2013 | Baseball
I decided to put most of my February and March card money towards two massive breaks. Sam’s Gypsy Queen case break, and Tophers Allen & Ginter case break. By buying into those two, I’ve pretty much guaranteed my important sets are complete for the year. The only other product I’ll buy, Bowman Platinum, won’t come out until the end of the summer. Everything else, IF I buy it, I’ll buy in “team set” form from somewhere online. I just don’t have the cash to go chasing a bunch of retail this year. That doesn’t mean I’ve been completely devoid of pickups this month though. I actually have a couple nice ones, and a couple pieces of trade bait too!
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by Matt | Mar 18, 2013 | Aggravation, Baseball
With the beginning of the season right around the corner, and the “season ticket holders first” bullshit embargo finally over with buying tickets, I took a look at getting some seats to all the Astros vs Red Sox games this year. I had heard on the radio that they had artificially inflated the prices of the Red Sox, Yankees and Rangers games since they figured they would draw larger crowds, and that people were pissed, but I hadn’t heard any prices. Sadly (and this isn’t a slight against Houston fans, just Houston management), they didn’t realize that Astros fans just weren’t willing (yet) to shell out that kind of cash for tickets. If you’re used to paying less than $30 a ticket for the past decade or so, you’re not going to shell out $400 suddenly, just because a particular AL team is in town. Case in point.
I don’t sit in the outfield at Astros games. I don’t. There just isn’t any reason to. I hate to sound like a snob, but if I’m going to a game, and can get seats along 1st/3rd for under $30, why would I pay $7.50 to sit where I can’t see the game? $30 isn’t breaking the bank, and for me going to a game is a treat. A treat I’m willing to pay for. Now, that’s the direct result of having the Astros as my local team. Back home in Boston, there simply aren’t any seats available near the infield, and certainly not for less than $100, it just doesn’t happen. Hell, to get season tickets someone has to die. Literally. There’s a waiting list. I’ve sat out in the bleachers at Fenway for most of my life, so, this isn’t a slight at the seats either. It’s FUN out there. I like it.
Minute Maid park is the complete opposite. I take full advantage of the low ticket prices and I treat myself to a good seat. This move to the American League might bring some more of the “fan favorite” teams to town, but Houston ownership needs to realize people won’t pay THOSE prices. Sure, add $20 to a ticket. I get that. A $30 seat becomes $50. I’d still buy it. $450 a ticket? No, no, nope, nupe, noooope. Not going to happen.
That’s a MONDAY NIGHT game as well. That’s a “leave work early and sit in traffic” game. That’s just not going to happen.
I think I might actually wait a bit. I have until August. I’m guessing with the Astros perceived level of play this year, and the Red Sox equally mediocre predictions, that those ticket prices are just high because the season hasn’t started yet. It’s going to feel damn good to sit next to people in August, knowing that I got a ticket for a tenth of what some sucker is paying this week… if those suckers exist. I doubt too many people are jumping on $400 tickets this year. Please keep is real Astros front office! You might be in the AL now, but you’ve got a long way to go before we’re dropping $462.35 on a ticket. Just saying.
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