The Greatest DS Of All Time?

      Hello all. Nachos Grande's contest beckons again. Thanks for reading and please vote for me when the time calls for it.

 

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    This is the story of an epic event in the long and illustrious career of  one of the greatest Designated Slayers (DS for short) of all time. His name, Sir Edgar Martinez, a legendary slayer of all kinds of beasts from coast to coast. His home castle located in the Great Northwest territory in the region known as Seattle. He comes from a large group out of the region that included Lord Randall Johnson who was renowned for his fireball throwing, Sir Kenneth Griffey a wielder of a great sword and one Squire Ichiro who's speed and accuracy was his calling card. Perhaps the biggest from the King Castle was a warrior went by the moniker Aeth Rod who's skills were much in demand. Alas all these great slayers left the region in search of greater gold, treasures and conquests while Sir Edgar spent his entire slaying career in said Seattle region.

 

   Here we see Sir Edgar leaving a castle after his conquest of a feared dragon from the east.

 

 

    This Dragon was known across the land as a fierce beast that was destroying everything in it's path. There were strange pinstripes on it and it was very strong. When this dragon came to the west region all thought it would spell the end for the Seattle.

 

 

   The evil dragon even captured the fair princess, it was a sad day for all.

 

 

    The Princess was scared but she was hopeful that possibly the greatest DS in all the land would come and save her. The dragon wasn't aware of Sir Edgar's prowess with his favorite weapon..........

 

 

 

 

his Louisville Slayer! For it was known across the land that he would strike anything he swung at .356 percent of the time while his OBP (Ogre Bashed Percentage) was .479 and his OPS (Ork Pounded and Slayed) percentage was 1.107 which was the greatest in the land at the time and this meant bad news for the dragon. It was a five day battle, the dragon had the advantage for most of the first 3 but on day 4 Sir Edgar was on fire with many key strikes upon the dragon. Day 5 saw a fierce battle come to an end when Sir Edgar used his strength to execute his double move which felled the evil dragon from the east once and for all. It was a magical moment for all in the region to see such bravery and fortitude by such a noble warrior.

    Many could argue that Sir Edgar Martinez was the greatest Designated Slayer of all time, what do you think?

Thanks For Reading!

Dime Box Goodies.... Kind Of.

   Hello all. First off, a big Thank You to all those who helped me advance in Nachos Grandes contest, it was a tight race but I was lucky enough to pull out a victory in the third round thanks to your votes. Stay tuned for the next round, it's a tough card and I will need your votes again.

     Today I have a trade post from a great blogger. Nick over at Dime Boxes -- The Low-End Baseball Card Collector's Journey has a great blog, I suggest reading his stuff if you haven't had the chance. Anyhow, he contacted me about a Marlon Byrd GQ auto I had and a trade was born, well half a trade since I have fallen way behind and owe several packages out to Blogoland including Nick's. It will go out this week Nick and others. On to the goodies he sent me. Here are the highlights of a great package.
     Nick really hit my"What I Collect" table here at The Buffet as he hit several players from it.

   Here are my 9 favorite of the 17 Vlads he sent my way.

    Can't go wrong with some Oleruds, a Dawson and a "Kid".

    An octet of legend Steve Carltons

     Some Pirates all time greats in Stargell, Kiner, and Parker along with a couple Big Red Machine legends Bench and Rose.

   How about HOF Pitchers Seaver and Ryan with future HOFer Ichiro. I guess I liked the Dawson so much I had to show it twice. Oops.

  All in all a fun package from Nick, Thanks and I hope you like what I send out this week for you along with the Byrd auto.

That it for now. Keep rocking your cardboard dreams gang.

Thanks for Reading!

Times Running Out!

   Hey all. Some of my friends want to tell you something!

    Won't you join them?  Head on over to Nachos Grande and vote. You don't want to disappoint them, do you?

Calvin and Hobbes Voted! Did You?

   Get your votes in at Nachos Grande!

 These guys checked out my post HERE ........

    and loved it!

They Voted!! So should YOU!

VOTE HERE!

I Need Your Vote Again!

  

      Hello all. Round 2 voting is live over at Nachos Grande and I need your vote! Read some great entries and vote on all the match ups (then vote for me too). Thanks for your support!

Thanks for Reading!

We Need A Few Good Men!

Still looking for a few for a fun Fantasy Football league. Find all the info HERE.

Thanks for Reading!

Chipper Jones, A Man Of Many Talents

Nachos Grande Contest Entry Round 2.

BA Benny's Baseball Card Buffet presents

American Legends Celebrated

Today we look back at a championship and a legend  that should be celebrated.

 The 2000 National Musical Chairs Champion!

Chipper Jones

     This 2001 card commemorates the winning sit at the 2000 National Musical Chairs Championship (NMCC) where Chipper Jones outlasted competition from all over the country including this finals sweep over west coast champion Carlos Hernandez. The competition was held at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium as a result of Jones earning home field advantage through his unprecedented 98.77 winning percentage during all the qualifying rounds. Before we get to this moment lets take a brief look at Chippers road to this moment.
     At age 4 Jones was already winning Pin the Tail on the Donkey games at his older cousins' birthday parties and thus was the beginning of his party games career. Pin the Tail was just the beginning, He mastered Duck Duck Goose by age six, Apple Bobbing by 7 (he had to wait for his jaw to grow), and he was the regional Freeze Dance 11U Champion and the 12U Red Light, Green Light 123 East Coast champion at age 8 and 10 respectively. Little Larry really had a gift, party games became his ticket to stardom and he wasn't afraid to grab it. By his teen years he was excelling at Scavenger Hunt, Egg Spoon Racing, Hula Hoop Spin, and he was the reigning water balloon toss Champion by age 15. After defending that championship for 3 consecutive years he was at a competition where his team mate who was a rising star on the Musical Chairs circuit had an injury and the coach asked Chipper a to replace him so the team wouldn't take a forfeit and lose national ranking points. Now Jones was gifted at many games but he was not a regular in the "sitting" games genre but for the good of the team he stepped up and finished in the top 15 out of the field of 77, the standard starting group for a regular chairs event. That was the beginning as he found his next event to chase gold in. With the help of his team, coaches, and family he embarked on a rigorous training schedule and competed world wide learning the techniques of the greats. By 1998 he as nationally ranked and was rising to the top of the Musical Chairs world. Top 5's at the NMCC in 98 and 99 just made him all the more hungry and he was not to be denied.
    His march to the champion ship was hard fought with wins in the regional, southeast and mid atlantic tournaments and a second place in the northeast, he lost to "fat ass" Cosmo Naut who has been long suspected of ass padding via PED's. Chippers victory at Madison Square Garden captured the "East of the Mississippi" title and launched him into the national championship as the favorite. He battled 257 other competitors to reach the final and it was the "West of the Mississippi" title winner Carlos Hernandez  he would have to out sit in the title match so it was the best against the best for the golden chair trophy.

     That brings us back to the point where this card photo was taken. From this angle you can't even see the chair as it is behind Hernandez where Jones has one and a half butt cheeks making contact with the sitting surface of the chair, the required minimum to score a qualified sit. This was the third and decisive landing on the chair in his sweep  of the 3 out of 5 finals. Hernandez was game but no match for the man on the mission, Chipper Jones. Both men battled their way through the many world class competitors even sustaining injuries along the way. Hernandez had leg and chest issues and was forced to wear extra padding while Jones had a head injury from a wayward chair in the early rounds that forced him to wear a helmet most of the event.
     Some say the era (1995-2005) this championship is from was the golden age of Musical Chairs and I have to agree. With the change from folding chairs to solid straight leg chairs in 2004 and new musical limitations, a lot of people feel that a big part of the skill was taken out of the sport and it was made to generic. Chair selection used to be key to a competitors skill set while music choice was pivotal in the mental gamesmanship of the sports development in the 70's and 80's and it's heyday in the 90's and early 2000's.
     That wraps up this edition of American Legends Celebrated. Stay tuned for the next edition where we celebrate the world champion of throwing cards into a bedpan.



  I hope you enjoyed my take on this card, if so please vote for me when prompted over at Nachos Grande

  Keep rocking your cardboard dreams!

Thanks for Reading!

I'm On A Hot Streak!

    Hello all. I have been very fortunate lately in the luck department. I have been winning or finishing in the money so to speak in a bunch of contests since my return to Blogoland a few months back. Maybe I am making up for lost time or have some good karma thing going on or something. I have scored from all of the following as of late.

Number 5 Type Collection

Drews Cards

Bass On Balls

All Trade Bait All the Time

Sports Card Info

Fantastic Catch

Eutaw Street Cardboard

The Chronicles Of Fuji

Arbitrary Crap

I already posted the ATBATT loot, the Fantastic Catch and Arbitrary Crap prizes are to be determined as they are group break spots in separate breaks, some are still pending arrival, and I still have to post the rest. I am also in the Nachos Grande contest where I won the Round Zero entry and hope to continue in Round One so head on over there to vote. (don't forget to vote for Dawgbones as well)

    Today I show off my Fuji loot. As most know the legendary Fuji holds his question and answer contest each summer and this year's was great as always. I landed on the winners list and scored a lot of basketball autos.

Damon Bailey,  Rodney Dent,  Jevon Crudup

Jamie Feick,  Jamal Faulkner,  Roberto Bergersen

Dan Dickau,  Ousmane Cisse,  Torraye Braggs

San Jose Fuji

    Now I am no basketball expert by far so these players are none that I ever heard of so please enlighten me to any you may know. I know what I read in the local papers about the Knicks and with the Nets moving to Brooklyn my interest has perked up a bit but that is the extent of my hoops knowledge.  I have heard great things about that San Jose Fuji guy so getting an auto from him rocks!

     On a different front, I still have 4 spots left in my Fantasy Football League. Go HERE for details.

 That's all I have for now. Keep rocking your cardboard dreams!

Thanks for Reading!

Ebay Scores (Perfect Timing For Martyn's Contest)

   Hello all. Timing is everything they say and in this case it's true. Martyn over at Arbitrary Crap is holding a contest and today he asks "What was the last thing you bought off of Ebay/COMC or similar site?" Well as things would have it, a padded mailer was in my mailbox today when I got home from work and it was an E-Bay package so lets get to the loot.

    Three for the letter patch collection. I already spelled out the Parnell's but for 99 cents I bid and won. The Tris Speaker is a straight manu letter patch /50 while the Hansack is auto'd /50.

    These 3 jump all over the collections. A cool UFC two color mat relic, the Maybin jersey card hits the American Flag collection (see the patch on his jersey), and the Piven is for my small, but fun celebrity relic collection.

   These 3 are my favorites of the haul. A Piazza jersey card I didn't have (I am around 115 or so Piazza relics now), a sweet 2 color Curtis Martin jersey 24/25, and an over sized Michael Jordon 00520/45000! Hey it's serial numbered, that may be the largest sn'd run I have.

     A great combined shipping deal had me grab these two for trade bait. The Dimwit has first crack at the Lugo while the Wood is up for an offer. Check out the Dimwit's group break too, there are good teams left.

    Head on over and check out Nachos Grande's contest and read the entries for the next round and cast your votes. Of course I hope you vote for me and and Dawgbones (Thanks for the support buddy) if you deem our entries worthy.

Get Out The Vote!

   That's a wrap for now, keep rocking your cardboard dreams.

Thanks for Reading!

Fantasy Football Anybody?

   Hey all. I am looking to do another fantasy football league and am looking for team owners.If you were in last season just let me know that you want back in and new owners are welcome also. I figure we could send some cards to the winner as a prize and to keep everybody interested through the season. A prize always helps keep you involved. Leave a comment here and shoot me your e-mail address so I can send you an invite. I will be using ESPN as the league host, they have a pretty simple set up so it's easy to make your moves each week. Any questions feel free to ask.

Are You Ready For Some Football!?!

My Best Group Break Pull!

    Hey all. Today I have a post for an entry into a contest over at Arbitrary Crap. Martyn asks "Have you joined a Box break & What's the best card you've got?"

   Well I have joined many a group break out in Blogoland and have even hosted one plus I have done some break slot auctions on E-Bay. It really is a great way to get cards of your favorite teams without the clutter of other cards you don't really want and it can save you a bunch of money, especially with higher end products. For this post I will go with a group break I jumped in a while back that Joe was hosting over at The Sandlot. He was busting 2 boxes of 2009 Topps Unique. I picked the Yankees since Joe had the Mets and in this case I am sure glad it worked out that way. Long story short, these were the highlights of my haul.

2009 Topps Unique Unparalleled Performances Alex Rodriguez  
Gold Parallel sn'd 23/25

    This is not the best card but it was a nice start to an awesome box for me. A gold parallel /25 of A-Rod. Love him or hate him, its a great card. Like Joe said when he pulled it for me, "It's funny hoe an insert called Unparalleled Performance has parallels."

Now the feature card that answers Martyn's question.

2009 Topps Unique Triple Threat Auto sn'd 3/10
Johnny Damon
Alex Rodriguez
Robinson Cano

    Sweet!!! The picture doesn't do the job when showing off this card. It looks great! A triple auto from the Yankees. While Damon is cool to get, add A-Rod and Robbie Cano and its a bonanza. Sn'd to just 10 makes it too cool!

     There you have it, my best pull from a group break. The crazy part is that this card was not the best pull from the break. An Albert Pujols Bat Barrel Auto 1/1 came out of one of the boxes.

Thanks for a fun contest Martyn!

Keep rocking your cardboard dreams people!

Thanks For Reading!

My Interview with Trevor Hoffman

     Back some time ago I had the opportunity to interview Trevor Hoffman (currently #2 on the all time saves list) and we discussed many topics. Here is an excerpt from that interview in relation to his second career in photography.

1998 Upper Deck Collectors Choice Trevor Hoffman

     Me: Let's go back in time to 1994 , the year of yet another baseball strike. What was it like for you during that period.

   Trevor: 1994 was a turbulent year for me. I had taken over as closer for the  Padres and was having a decent season. My fastball was working real good and I settled into the closer role pretty well. Then in early August the players union decided that we needed to go on strike since the owners wouldn't budge on their CBA demands. We were the worst team in all of baseball so in some ways it was like a case of mercy for us since we were losing so much. 

    Me: So where does the second career come in?

  Trevor: I am getting to that, don't rush me.

    Me: My apologies, please continue.

   Trevor: After we went on strike I was hanging out at Del Mar Beach playing football and volleyball. there were a couple of instances where I fell on my shoulder where the second time I heard a sound like the air being let out of a tire. I didn't let on how bad it was but I never threw 95 again after that. That was the beginning of my development of my change up that I learned from Donnie Elliot a year or two earlier. I never used it in a game before but it was time to make it happen since my fastball was no longer quite as fast.
   Anyway while we were out and my arm was hurting I figured I should find something else, you know just in case the whole closer thing didn't work out as planned, little did I know it would. I had always liked taking pictures and a friend asked me for a favor and that was the beginning. He needed pictures taken at a charity event he was holding at the beach so I offered my time since I was out of work so to speak at the time. I ended up having a ball and had the "shutter bug" if you will.

   Me: Shutter Bug? That's a bit corny, don't you think?
 
   Trevor: You know what I mean, don't be a schmuck.

   Me: Sorry. How did you take it to the next level?

   Trevor: Well, when my buddy got the pictures from the event they looked real good, so good in fact that a few made it into a local magazine called Cali Country. He told me the editor said I could go pro taking photos if I wanted too.

    Me:  Did you believe him?

    Trevor: Of course I did, I am the #2 all time saves leader, damn Mariano, I was a seven time all-star, a Cy Young runner up, and I hold a bunch of pitching records.

    Me: Um, Trevor..... you hadn't done any of that stuff just yet, this was 1994, remember.

   Trevor: Shut up, my mother told me I took great pictures so it had to be true.

     Me: So how did things progress from there?

    Trevor: At first it was small steps, I would get hired for birthday parties or baby baptisms and other stuff like that. It was fun, I made a few bucks, and I could work things around my training schedule. Then in the fall I got my big break. I was pretty bummed at that point since it was the time that the World Series would have been played but I got a call to do a Bat Mitzvah. Not just any Bat Mitzvah but the Schwartz Bat Mitzvah. Benny Schwartz was a big Hollywood guy who invested in movies, rock bands, clubs, etc. and was a well liked person in the elite circles down in Burbank. I went to do the gig with a pocket full of business cards and it was incredible. There were so many people from all different ends of the entertainment industry from movies, music, and sports. I made many contacts that night.

   Me: Sounds like a big break for sure.

   Trevor: I just said that, didn't I?  Who do you work for anyway?
 
   Me: That's not important, please go on. Take us to the point of that picture on the 98 UD Collectors Choice card (above).

   Trevor: I continued to book those upscale parties and such through the end of 94 and into 95. In March it looked like we may settle the strike thing and get rid of those scab players in training camps around the league so I upped my training regiment and really honed in on my new change up so I would be ready for the season. I still did the picture thing on the side since you never know when it could all end. Also when we returned to baseball we did not have an agreement, we just returned under the old contract and a new CBA wasn't agreed on until November of 96 so who knew what would really happen.

   Me: That picture on the card looks like you were playing at the time.

   Trevor:  I'm getting to that point, you really suck as an interviewer, who are you anyway?

  Me: Who I am doesn't really matter, we are here to talk about the great Trevor Hoffman.

   Trevor: Oh yes, the great me! Anyhow as my career on the field was taking of, you know a bunch of saves, awards, etc. but I still did the picture thing on the side and during the off season. In 1997 I was contacted by several of the baseball card companies to take pictures for them. They figured that I could get much better access to the players and they were right. Like that card shows, I would get shots on the field before, during, and after games and have many many of my pictures on cards from the late 90's on up. Topps, Panini, Donruss, Upper Deck, and all those other companies don't have anything on my creative twist on baseball card pictures.

   Me: As a collector I have seen your work and think it's great.

   Trevor: Of course you do, why an I doing this interview again?

   Me: Your agent set it up but don't bother him with any of the details, I have that all covered. Now that we learned about your photography career, let's get to know the personal side of Trevor Hoffman, you know, the soft side.

   Trevor: I've had enough of you, SECURITY, SECURITY!



Disclaimer: While some facts may or may not be true, this interview is fake, made up, full of it, imaginary, phony, fictional,   and all my creation with no input from anybody else including Trevor Hoffman.

   There you go, this is my latest entry in Nachos Grandes contest. Please vote for me when prompted  toward the end of the week.

Thanks for Reading!

American Flag Card Of The Day

      Hello all. A quick hit today. I was at my LCS yesterday and grabbed this beauty on the cheap for my "cards with American Flags" collection.



01-02 Fleer Marquee Banner Season Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)

     A great photo with the flag image in the background with a nice game used jersey piece. This is a great card for any basketball collector but the flag background gets it into my collection.

     The back is even a better flag shot. A great looking card all in all in my opinion and I am super happy to have gotten it.

   Check out The Pack Rip Cafe for a new pack today. That's it for now. Keep rocking your cardboard dreams.

Thanks for Reading!

I'm A Winner! and You Can Help Me Win Again.

   Hello all. Today I have the swag from a contest I won. Oscar, aka Stealing Home, over at All Trade Bait All The Time (ATBATT) held a contest to celebrate 10,000 hits and it was a fun one. There were some questions to answer and some comments to leave and all kinds of good stuff and when all was said and done Random dot org smiled on me and spit my name on the top of all the entrants list and fourth place also to add to my good fortune.
    Now when Oscar posted the winners, this card was under my name....

    I was stoked! A 1962 Topps in great condition with Elston Howard as one of the players. I already set a space in my vintage Yankees binder when he showed the card. Now I figured that was the big card and he may sprinkle a few Mets in the envelope and I was very happy with that but boy was I mistaken.......

    This Philip Rivers manu patch is way cool.

    A Taylor Price jersey, a Marlon Byrd GQ auto, a Clemente 95 reprint, a Mize Lineage and a Sparky Lyle from the Ted Williams set are all awesome cards as well. Now while these are great cards they don't really fit into my already too many categories collection so I will offer them up for trade. They deserve a spot in others collections that will appreciate them more then I.

 

    Some Mets are always a great prize for me. The Kingman brings back memories.

    More Mets including 3 rc's wit a pair of them being Philip "perfect game' Humber.

    Yankees in the mix also. Lovin the Righetti DK along with some cool Ginters.

    Now this is where Oscar went the extra mile and hit some of my "other" player collections. The Piazza (Dodgers) Laser looks awesome. I put the envelope under it to show the die cut better. I can't tell you the last time I got a Kirby Puckett in a Blogoland package and a sweet DK it is too. Ripken, Murray, Orel, and Rice round out this bunch.

        I five spot of Ozzie Smith cards......

   and a six pack of Ichiros also rocked the package. 

     Here are some other football cards added in that don't have a spot here at the Buffet so these are on the freebie pile, just claim them and they are yours. Some great players in there.

   All and all I could not be happier with my winning loot from Stealing Home and his 10,00 hit contest. Thanks a bunch Oscar and I look forward to adding to the hit counter on your blog reading your great posts.

    Not to be greedy but I want to win more stuff so I need your votes over at Nachos Grande's contest where I am in the running. There is only a half hour left tonight but there will be more chances to help me out in the near future as well so head on over.

That's a wrap for now.
 Keep rocking your cardboard dreams.

Thanks For Reading!