Artelopes: Lake Erie Monsters

Its been quite awhile since I've shown any artelopes here. November was the last time to be exact. With basketball, hockey, and college football being the sports that were running during this time. I took some time away from the mailing teams or bowl games for business cards, and schedules. This changed recently as I have been itching to not only keep my skills improving. I have been feeling the urge to write some team as well. All this came together with me sending out five artelopes in the month of January. On Monday the first of the five made its way home, and it was the Lake Erie Monsters.

The Monsters are an AHL level hockey team. To those who don't know about the AHL. The league is the equivalent of baseball's Triple A. Lake Erie is affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche, and is why I collect their schedules. It also doesn't hurt that I like the teams logo.

Being a little out of practice I thought it best to keep it fairly simple. The main logo has a stream of water at the bottom, and the monster is a little more streamlined. Not a bad attempt being it was a few months since my last drawing. Hopefully here soon I'll get back to where I was as baseball starts, and many more mailing start going out. As for the return the Monsters sent exactly what I had requested.

Looking at the schedule also reminds me why this is one of the very few hockey teams I collect schedules from. Not only is their logo cool, but they produce some sweet looking schedules. Included in the envelope was a business card for the collection.

Not a bad addition being I didn't request a business card with this request. Last year I got a business card from the team for my hockey business cards. I know you are looking at this, and saying that card isn't for the Monsters. The great things is this card is double sided with the backside being for the Monsters. Normally I'd show it, but she wrote thanks in big black sharpie across it. Not a big deal as this card will just go into the arena football collection. So in the end it all works out great.

Favorite Team.. Win Or Lose

First I have to say my apologies to the Cubs fans who read this blog. Growing up I was a Cubs fan myself before moving on to the Mariners, and Rockies.

A few months ago the MLB Network started showing the Ken Burns Baseball. Until we started watching the first inning. I had never had any interest in watching the documentary. Getting older I have started to appreciate more things about baseball as I go. While there have been moments in the documentary that I started to fade it always seemed to suck me back in before I was totally gone. Its been a great watch that has been taking us longer than expected to get through. Things moved along faster this past weekend while at the coast though. Before heading over we were at the start of the seventh inning. After leaving we were halfway through the bottom of the tenth. It's so much easier to watch the documentary on Netflix than having to fast-forward through every commercial break.

It wasn't until I believe the tenth inning that something really peaked our interest. One of the people talking made the comment that he was a Cubs fan. During the comment he said the Cubs even lost on the day I was born. This got the wife, and myself thinking about how common is that of an occurrence really? Curiosity got the best of me as I went straight to work on the day I was born. Without giving the exact date here is what I learned.

HOUSTON ASTROS-10

CHICAGO CUBS- 4

Winning pitcher Jack Billingham went 5 innings giving up three runs off five hits while striking out three.

Pappas took the loss giving up six runs in six innings. Milt struck out five, and gave up two home runs in the loss.

Looking at both teams rosters the Cubs had the most names I have heard. The Astros roster consisted of Joe Morgan, Jim Wynn, and Cesar Geronimo. Not all big names, but names I recognized nonetheless. Names for the Cubs were Poppas, Don Kessinger, Billy Williams, and the great Ron Santo. I think if I was still a Cubs fan odds are I'd recognize the entire roster, but I was young.

Keeping the wife's info out here is what I came up for her date of birth.

CHICAGO CUBS- 3

CINCINNATI REDS- 12

Only pitching for 2.1 innings, and giving up six runs off six hits. Hobbie took the loss as things didn't slow down when he was replaced by John Buzhardt. Another three runs crossed the plate after Hobbie left in the third. After the inning would end the Cubbies were already down 9-2

While Hobbie would struggle against the Reds, Purkey dominated the Cubs. Pitching a complete game six hit, and three run gem. Not only did he dominate the mound he was just as brutal at the plate. Hitting a double, and a home run. Purkey would finish with four RBI's in helping his own cause.

A quick look at the rosters gave the Cubs the advantage on players I've heard of. For the Cubs it was Bobby Thomson, and "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks. The Reds came through with 1st baseman Frank Robinson. 

Rather than to keep picking on the Cubs. I'd love to hear what the final score was for your favorite team on the day you were born. You don't need to give a date just the score.

They Might Be Minor League, But They Are Big League To Me

Monday ended up being a great day at the cat house. Not only did I finally get to scratch my itch when it comes to 2014 Topps. When the mailman finally made his stop on our block. There was a PWE all the way from Ohio left behind. Inside the envelope was four cards from fellow TradingBases member Jimi. Not only was it four cards, but four cards that were awesome additions. Three of the cards were from a subset that has long been neglected. That subset is the League Leaders from 1993-1994 Fleer Excel minor leagues.

 (Ryan Karp)

Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 1992. Ryan started his minor league career in 1993 playing for Greensboro. Moving up the teams rank fairly quickly before being traded in 1994 to the Philadelphia Phillies. Making his debut in 1995 Karp would only pitch in one game before being sent back down. Spending the rest of 1995, and all of 1996 Karp would reach the majors again in 1997. Playing in 15 games it would be the last time Karp would play in the MLB. For his career Karp went 1-1 with a 5.29 ERA, and 20 strikeouts.

(Rich Krivda)

Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, and starting his career in 1991. Krivda would fly through the minor leagues before making it into the Orioles rotation in July of 1995. Starting decent, and going 2-2 the wheels suddenly fell off. Losing his next five games he would end the season at 2-7. Returning back to Triple A for the start of 1996 he'd get called up again. Faring just slightly better at 3-5 in 22 games before seasons end. Another return to Triple A for 1997 where Krivda was brilliant. Baltimore came calling again for ten games. Going 4-2 his stats were beginning to decline as his ERA climbed to a huge 6.20. 1998 would come, and a new team the Cleveland Indians would claim Krivda off waivers. By June Krivda was traded to the Reds where his decline was more obvious than ever. At seasons end he would be signed by the Royals, but never make the roster. More years in the minors would follow as well as a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics. Krivda would never make it to the MLB again.

(Jose Silva)

Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. By 1996 Silva would be pitching for the team. His time in Toronto would be short-lived as in 1997 he would move on to Pittsburgh, and the Pirates. Playing there through 2001, Silva would spend 2002 in Cincinnati with the Reds. 2003 would be spent in the minors along with the remaining part of his career. Moving on too baseball in Mexico before retiring.

Closing out all this minor league madness Jimi decided to go pro. While these aren't the coolest looking cards they just appeal to me for some strange reason. Cutting the list of remaining needs down to three before I can cross these off the wantlist.

Jimi thank you so much for going minor league in your PWE.

My First 2014 Topps Lottery Tickets

I can't remember which blogger it was that I read buying packs referred to as buying a lottery ticket. In honor of that blogger I thought why not refer to my first packs as lottery tickets. Why I'm thinking about this now who knows? If I can remember long enough maybe I'll use that as my titling for all pack purchases for 2014. Maybe it'll stick, and be how all my pack purchases are labeled from this day forward.

Since the 2014 Topps posts started I've been itching to get my hands on some of these cards. Until Monday all my attempts have been met with no results. After a busy long weekend at the coast I wanted to keep it simple. No trips to any Goodwill stores to look for treasures. The days plan was to hang with the dog, and head to the store. Hoping that there would be some jumbo rack packs, and loose packs. While there weren't any of the smaller loose packs. I did manage to buy two of the jumbo's.

Currently my plan is to buy packs for the single players I collect. There are around 15 cards for my main players, and secondary players. This doesn't include any of the color parallels of the base set cards. Even with this being the plan, things could be subject to change into building the full set later. Until then though it'll be strictly players.

(1st card of 2014 Topps)

Not the worst start in the world of cards to have as a first card.  There are a group of guys who could be better. Looking at it the same way there are a ton of guys who could have been worse. So you could say I'm pretty pleased with having Buehrle be the guy. Comparing him to last years first card of Didi Gregorius he is a vast improvement. For card looks I'd give Didi the advantage, but career wide its Buehrle hands down.

I've seen some of the other blogs showing off their first Future Stars card. Being I not only got the regular, but a blue parallel as well. I thought why not show both cards? If there are any Braves fans out there the blue card is up for grabs. Just comment, and drop me an e-mail so I can send it your way.

In the main players category I nailed down three of the fifteen cards. Looking at all the Trout cards I'd bet Trout is around one-third of the cards I'm looking for in series 1. Getting two wasn't a bad start for the collection. Hopefully the cards will keep coming to fill in the collection.

Overall I'd say I didn't do too bad for my first purchase. As for the cards design this year. In 2013 I fell into the category of a returning collector, and loved the look of those cards. Looking at them now they have lost some of their luster in my eyes. With the silver running through the card I like this design better. Now will it keep that luster in my eyes only time will tell. I'm still getting my feet wet in my return to cards if you ask me. Due to this I'm not one to break down all the subsets, and everything. What I do know is I wasn't even considering building any of the sets this year. Now I am considering the Opening Day once again, but as I've said. This might all change by the time those cards hit the shelves.