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.

Related Posts:

1. The Icky Shuffle: MLB Free Agency 2012

2. The Icky Shuffle: Adam LaRoche

3. The Icky Shuffle: Dan Haren

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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Bob Costas Eulogizes Stan "The Man" Musial

RIP Stan "The Man" Musial

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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This Day in Sports History - 12/31/1972

Roberto Clemente dies when the chartered DC-& on which he is traveling crashes into the Atlantic Ocean one mile from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is 38. The plane is carrying relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. During his stellar 18-year career, all with the Pirates, Clemente batted .317 and collected exactly 3,000 hits. He won four betting titles, led the NL in hits twice, was named to 12 All-Star teams, and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was also the NL MVP in 1966 and the World Series MVP in 1971. He will be elected posthumously to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

Happy Birthday Ozzie Smith

Josh Hamilton

2012 Stats: 148 Games, .285 BA, 43 HRs, 128 RBIs & .930 OPS

Josh Hamilton signed a 5 year contract with the Los Angeles Angels worth $125 million. Last off-season the Angels signed Albert Pujols & C.J. Wilson and the signing of Hamilton should help the team immensely. Hamilton will play in an outfield that includes Rookie of the Year Mike Trout and Peter Bourjos. If Hamilton repeats his homerun and hits numbers this year he will reach the milestones of 200 HRs and 1,000 Hits.

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Zack Greinke

2012 Stats: 34 Games, W-L: 15-5, 3.48 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 200 Ks

The top free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke signed a 6 year contract worth $147 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2012 Greinke started the season with the Milwaukee Brewers and finished it with the Los Angeles Angels. Greinke is 9 career wins away from 100 and has a strikeout-walk ratio of 3.5. In 2009 he won the Cy Young Award while leading the AL in ERA and WHIP. Greinke joins a rotation which includes Clayton Kershaw, Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley. The Dodgers are definitely going "all-in" and expect to see them playing in October.

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Shane Victorino

2012 Stats: 154 Games, .255 BA, 11 HRs, 55 RBIs, 39 SBs, .704 OPS and 72 Runs Scored

Shane Victorino spent the 2012 season between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Victorino signed this off-season with the Boston Red Sox for $39 million over 3 years. Victorino had a down year in 2012 but will look to rebound in a lineup that will include Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz & Jonny Gomes among others. Victorino will have the ability to bat in the lower part of the lineup and alleviate some of the pressure he felt in the first half of last season in Philadelphia. Victorino has been in the top five in the NL from 2008-2011 in triples and look for him to have a solid amount of triples this season as he will be playing in Fenway Park.

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Dan Haren

2012 Stats: 30 Games, W-L: 12-13, 4.33 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 142 Ks

The Washington Nationals signed Dan Haren to a 1 year deal worth $13 million. Haren will join a rotation that already includes Stephen Strasberg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman and Ross Detwiler which helped lead the Nationals to the AL East title. Haren's 2012 numbers may not seem too good, but he will bring a veteran presence to a very young rotation. Look for Haren to have more wins and a lower ERA in 2013 and maybe even lead the Nationals back to the playoffs for a second straight season.

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B.J. Upton

2012 Stats: 146 Games, .246 BA, 28 HRs, 78 RBIs, 31 SBs & .752 OPS

The Atlanta Braves signed OF B.J. Upton to a 5 year $75 million contract. In 2012 the Braves made the playoffs but lost in the Wild Card round to the St. Louis Cardinals. Upton will play CF and can bat in a few places in the lineup and he is 90 hits away from 1,000 in his career. With the retirement of Chipper Jones look for the Braves to either go after a 3B or LF with Martin Prado filling in the other position. 

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This Day in Sports History - 11/29/1971

In a swap of pitchers, the San Francisco Giants trade Gaylord Perry to the Cleveland Indians for Sam McDowell. It appears to be an even exchange. Perry is 33 and has a 133-109 career record. Despite pitching for some terrible teams in Cleveland, the 29 year old McDowell is 122-109 and has led the American League in strikeouts four times. Perry will be 24-16 in 1972, and from that season until the end of his career in 1983, he performs for seven teams with 181 more victories. Perry ends up with a record of 314-265 and a berth in the Hall of Fame. After the trade on this day, McDowell is 25-35 with three clubs and will exit the majors in 1975. He will later admit that alcoholism led to his downfall.

David Ortiz

2012 Stats: 90 Games, .318 BA, 23 HRs, 60 RBIs & 1.026 OPS

The Boston Red Sox resigned DH David Ortiz to a 2 year 26 million dollar deal. Ortiz spent part of 2011 on the DL and that helped contribute to Boston's disappointing season and the firing of Manager Bobby Valentine. New Manager John Farrell will be happy to have Ortiz back in the lineup. Also Ortiz is closing in on 2,000 career hits as he is only 137 hits from the milestone.

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MLB Free Agency 2012

As the off-season is now upon us here is our list of 16 Free Agents that we will be keeping our eyes on. As players get signed we will let you know about it.

1. Adam LaRoche
2. B.J. Upton
3. Dan Haren
4. David Ortiz
5. Delmon Young
6. Ichiro Suzuki
7. Josh Hamilton
8. Kevin Youkilis
9. Kyle Lohse
10. Michael Bourn
11. Mike Napoli
12. Nick Swisher
13. Shane Victorino
14. Shaun Marcum
15. Stephen Drew
16. Zack Grienke

This Day in Sports History - 10/26/2002

In Game 6 of the World Series, the Anaheim Angels come from behind to defeat the San Francisco Giants, 6 - 5, in Anaheim. The Giants, who haven't won a World Series since moving to San Francisco in 1958, come into the game with a 3 - 2 lead in the Series. Russ Ortiz shuts out the Angels for six innings and holds a 5 - 0 lead before giving up two singles in the seventh. In the eighth, Tim Worrell surrenders a leadoff homer to Darrin Erstad, and the score is 5 - 4. After a pair of singles, Rob Nen comes in from the bullpen, and Troy Glaus belts a two-run double to put the Angels ahead. Troy Percival records the save with a perfect ninth. In Game 7, the Giants go down 4 - 1, and the Angels have their first world championship in franchise history.

This Day in Sports History - 10/12/1982

Paul Molitor becomes the first player in World Series history to collect five hit in a game while leading the Brewers to a 10 - 0 thrashing of the Cardinals in Game 1 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It is also Molitor's first World Series. Batting leadoff, Molitor grounds out in the first inning, then hits singles in the second, fourth, and sixth innings off Bob Forsch. Facing Dave LaPoint, Molitor singles again in the eighth and adds a fifth single in the ninth with Jeff Lahti on the mound. Three of Molitor's five hits fail to leave the infield. Robin Yount, batting second, has four hits in six at bats. Molitor will end the 1982 Series with a .355 average (11 - 31), although Milwaukee loses to St. Louis in seven games. He will play in one other Fall Classic, with the Blue Jays in 1993, and bat .500 (12 - 24) as Toronto downs the Phillies in six games.

This Day in Sports History - 10/10/1982

The California Angels lose the fifth and deciding game of the ALCS, 4 - 3, to the Brewers at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The Angels won the first two games in Anaheim before dropping games 3 & 4 by scores of 5 - 3 and 9 - 5. In game 5, the Angels lead 3 - 2 in the seventh with two out, the bases loaded, and left-handed-batting first baseman Cecil Cooper at the plate. Angels manager Gene Mauch decides to stick with right-handed pitcher Luis Sanchez instead of bringing in lefty Andy Hassler who is warming up in the bullpen. Cooper delivers a two-run single for a 4 - 3 lead. The Angels have the tying run on second base with one out in the ninth, but reliever Bob McClure retires the final three batters to give the Brewers their first World Series berth. Milwaukee will lose the Series in seven games to the Cardinals.