MLB Dream Team: Outfielders & Designated Hitters

While studying Child Development in college, I discovered that I have "anal retentive" tendencies... which means that sometimes I pay too much attention to certain detail. More specifically... I'm a neat freak... and love to organize & sort things, which is why sports cards is the perfect hobby for me.

So, when I decided to start this blog, I knew I wanted it to be structured and organized. As a result, you'll often notice many of my posts are part of a series. Here are few of my personal favorites:

Blog Trade - A series which shares and documents trades I have made with fellow bloggers.

Flea Market Finds - A series of posts where I share my purchases from local flea markets.

I Love the 80's - A series that shows off items of personal interest from my childhood.

Sports Card Busts - A series that displays my personal collection of top 5 draft busts from the four major sports.

Set Showcase - A series where I showcase some of my favorite sets in my collection.

Hidden Treasures - A series of posts that catalogs the discovery of hidden treasure within my collection.

And of course there's my MLB Dream Team series, which gave me the opportunity to blog about my favorite baseball players. But unlike the other series... this one is coming to an end, because after today, I will have covered all of the key positions in baseball. If you're interested in reading my first two posts from the series, click the appropriate links:

Part A - Manager, Catcher, & Pitchers

Part B - Infielders

Part C - Outfielders & Designated Hitter

Okay... I've stalled long enough. Here's the final part of my MLB Dream Team series... in which I share my favorite outfielders and designated hitters of all-time.

Left Fielder - Rickey Henderson

One of the most exciting players in the game during the 80's and early 90's... and he played in Oakland for most of those years. He's one of the greatest leadoff hitters in MLB history and arguably the greatest Oakland Athletic to take the field. I can still picture Rickey leading off of first base... feet spread apart... hunched over... fingers dangling... waiting for the right moment to take off and steal second base.

Honorable Mention - Bo Jackson

Center Fielder - Kirby Puckett

Puckett was my American League version of Tony Gwynn. He was a chubby ball player, with a great personality, who was loyal to his team, and could hit for average. My only regret is that he wasn't drafted by the A's or the Padres.

Honorable Mention - Ken Griffey Jr.

Right Fielder - Tony Gwynn

Tony Gwynn isn't just one of my favorite baseball players... he is and always will be... my all-time favorite baseball player. If you're interested in a more detailed explanation... click here.

Honorable Mention - Ichiro Suzuki

Designated Hitter - Frank Thomas

The Big Hurt was one of the best hitters during the 90's and I was excited that he played on the A's twice in his career. It was tough not putting him at first base on my team, since that's the position I associated with him for the majority of his career. But it just wasn't possible to put Will Clark at DH, so thankfully... Frank's flexibility solved my dilemma.

Honorable Mention - Edgar Martinez

I really enjoyed building this team and writing these posts, but as Porky Pig likes to say... "That's all folks!". One of these days, I'll go back and see if I need to make any revisions to the roster. Until then... maybe I'll build my NBA Dream Team or NHL Dream Team next.

Okay... you know the routine. It's your turn.

Which players would make up your dream outfield and who would be your designated hitter?

Happy Monday everyone... have a great week... and until next time... sayonara!

I've Got Worms!

"I go out there and get my eyes gouged, my nose busted, my body slammed. I love the pain of the game" - Dennis Keith Rodman

There's the saying... "we're all unique in our own special way". Well Dennis Rodman took this to the next level and beyond. Whether you're fifteen years old or fifty... if you're reading this blog... then you're probably a sports enthusiast who has either witnessed Mr. Rodman "on the court", "off the court", or hopefully both.

Last night, he was honored for his basketball accomplishments by being inducted into The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. While a lot of NBA superstars are recognized for their offensive skills, The Worm is known for his defense and rebounding abilities.

Here are just a few of his basketball achievements from his 14 year career:

5x NBA Champion

2x NBA All-Star

2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year

7x NBA All-Defensive First Team

4x NBA Rebound Leader

4,329 Career Offensive Rebounds (4th All-Time in NBA)

7,625 Career Defensive Rebounds (16th All-Time in NBA)

11,954 Career Rebounds (22nd All-Time in NBA)

I'll admit... I wasn't really a Rodman fan until he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1998-99. The fact is... his Detroit Pistons kicked the Lakers' butts to end the 80's and kickoff the 90's... and he didn't become more popular by my standards when went to the Chicago Bulls in the midst of their dynasty.

These days, I look at the big picture and can appreciate everything he's given to his employers, his teammates, and of course his fans. So this post is my tribute to The Worm.

Today... I have two questions for you...

What adjectives would you use to describe The Worm?

&

When you picture The Worm playing basketball, what uniform is he wearing and what color is his hair?

Zany, Athletic, Outlandish, Colorful, Extraordinary, Talented, Arrogant, Eccentric, Confident, and Loud

This is the list of words my friend and I came up with to describe The Worm.

And although I was glad to see him play for the Lakers, I'll always remember him as one of Detroit's Bad Boys... with Isaiah Thomas, Rick Mahorn, John Salley, Vinnie Johnson, Bill Laimbeer, and of course Chuck Daly.

So one more round of applause for Dennis Rodman and the rest of Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2011... which includes Chris Mullin, Teresa Edwards, Tara Vanderveer, Arvydas Sabonis, Reece "Goose" Tatum, Artis Gilmore, Tom "Satch" Sanders, Herb Magee, and Tex Winter.

I can't believe my summer is officially over. On Monday, I go back to work... and by next Wednesday... I'll be in front of the room with my new group of seventh graders. So... I'll be enjoying every minute of it. I hope you do too. Stay safe & sayonara!

MLB Dream Team: Infielders

If you were creating your dream MLB team, who would be on your team? Would you load up your squad with legendary Hall of Famers? Or would you go with only current players who are bonafide superstars. What about players from your favorite team(s)?

Well if you're like me... then you'd go with your favorite players from the past and present.

Today is Part B of my three part series showcasing my MLB dream team and I'll be focusing on the perfect infield. Last week, I blogged about my dream team's manager, catcher, and pitchers. If you missed it, click part A below:

Part A - Manager, Catcher, & Pitchers

Part B - Infielders

Part C - Outfielders & Designated Hitter

Okay... let's get to it...

First Baseman - Will Clark

I'm a lifelong A's fan... and grew up hating their Bay Area counterpart... the San Francisco Giants. However Will Clark is a huge part of my hobby history and there's no denying his ability to thrill his fans.

Honorable Mention - Adrian Gonzalez

Second Baseman - Jackie Robinson

He's the only player on my roster that played before my time. But his legacy lives on in baseball today. His accomplishments on the diamond are amazing... but to me, Mr. Robinson is more than a ball player... he's a man of character. Every year I use a quote of his in my classroom to inspire students to be positive role models in our society.

Honorable Mention - Ryne Sandberg

Shortstop - Ozzie Smith

If you grew up in the 80's and loved baseball... then chances are you've seen The Wizard of Oz and his incredible defensive plays... along with his trademark back flip. If not... I encourage you to check it out.

Honorable Mention - Cal Ripken Jr.

Third Baseman - Bill Madlock

My third baseman selection is the perfect example of where childhood trumps adulthood. I originally chose Chipper Jones, because of his loyalty to the Atlanta Braves and his accomplishments over the past two decades. But then I remembered Mad Dog and how I used to pretend to be him when I was younger.

Honorable Mention - Chipper Jones

So what do you think? As The Rock would say... "It doesn't matter what you think!". This is my dream team... not yours. Just kidding... feel free to leave me some feedback.

And stay tuned for the final post in this series... where I'll share my dream outfield... and whether you like them or not... my all-time favorite designated hitter.

Until then...

Who's your dream infield?

Have a great day... only two days until the weekend. Sayonara!

Flea Market Finds #12

When: Saturday, August 6th

Where: De Anza Flea Market

What: SLU's, a McFarlane, some Star Wars figures, a Yu-Gi-Oh booster box, & two trading card sets

How Much: $81

Purchase #1: 1985 Robotech Trading Card Set $2

This is the most affordable purchase and easily the best deal of the day (IMHO). It's a 60 card Robotech trading card set that was produced in 1985. The set highlights the first 36 episodes from The Macross Saga, which was the cartoon I watched religiously in the 80's.

I've never seen this set before and wasn't able to find any completed sales on eBay... but it's the best $2 I've spent all year.

Purchase #2: 2010 Aaron Rodgers McFarlane $13

I'm not sure how much these sell for at Target and Walmart... but Toys R Us sells these for $15.99. I probably can find one of these for $10 or less online... but ultimately... shipping is costly. So when the lady offered me this figure for $15, I countered with an offer of $13... which I consider to be fair for both sides. She gets to make a few dollars on the piece... and I get to add another Green Bay Packer to my McFarlane collection.

Purchase #3: 1996 Star Wars 12" Luke Skywalker & Obi-wan Kenobi Figures $16

These two figures were actually two separate purchases, but since they make a nice pair, I decided to combine them in this post. I found the Kenobi figure first for $8. The box was sealed and in beautiful condition, so this purchase was a no-brainer in my book.

Less than five minutes later at another booth, I came across the Skywalker counterpart. His box was a little beaten up, but I decided to inquire about the piece anyways. The gentleman wanted $15 for the Skywalker and I told him about my Kenobi purchase.

He asked me about my collection and I explained that I planned on opening up both pieces to display them on my Star Wars shelf in my office. I had no intention of paying $15 and just as I was picking up my backpack... he told me he'd sell it for $8 too.

Purchase #4: 1991 Upper Deck Football Set + Bonuses $5

This is one of those purchases that was too good to pass up. I know what you're thinking... 1991 Upper Deck football? What a waste of good cardboard!

But for $5... I received the following:

A. The complete series one base set (#1-500), which books for an overwhelming $10.

B. Joe Montana Heroes set (#'s 1-9 w/ SP header card) BV: $10

C. Game Breaker Hologram set #'s GB1-GB9) BV: $8

D. 1991 Upper Deck #SP1 Darrell Green BV: $.50

E. Binder & Pages

Okay... so book value doesn't mean anything... but anytime I can pick up a complete base set with two insert sets, a short print card, and a binder with enough pages to hold everything for $5... well... I'll take it.

Purchase #5: Various Kenner Starting Lineups $30

At first glance... some of you might be shaking your heads asking yourself... why would this guy waste $30 on a bunch of worthless toys. However... if you collected SLU's in the 80's and 90's... then you can appreciate the money I spent on these pieces of plastic.

Sure... these weren't super cheap... but at the same time... as a SLU collector... it was money well spent. Four of the six figures are either Kenner Club or Convention figures... and were not sold in retail stores. The other two figures are retail store pieces, but were popular in the 90's and difficult to find on shelves.

Best of all... all of them are in beautiful condition... as if a collector purchased them and tucked them away for the past 13 years.

1994 Kenner Collector Club Joe Namath

1995 Kenner Great Western SLU Convention Joe Montana

1996 Kenner Collector Club Bobby & Brett Hull

1998 Kenner Collector Club Joe Montana Freeze Frame

1989 Kenner SLU Jerry Rice

1995 Kenner Timeless Legends SLU Walter Payton

Back in the 90's these six figures would have easily fetched $100+. But today... I was able to add these beautiful figures for a fraction of those prices.

Purchase #6: Pharaonic Guardian Booster Box $15

As I was heading back to my car, I came across a box of Yu-Gi-Oh packs. The woman wanted $.50 for a pack, which seemed cheap... so without thinking... I offered her $15 for the box. She accepted and now I'm the proud owner of some cards that I don't know how to use.

I checked online and noticed that these boxes sell for as little as $39.00 (+ $9.99 shipping) on eBay... so I guess I got a decent deal.

The plastic wrapping on my box was coming apart, so the lady suggested I open it up in front of her... to make sure it hadn't been tampered with. I figured I was probably going to give them away as prizes in my class anyways... so it didn't matter if the box is sealed or not.

So how did I do? After today, I have two days left of summer vacation. Then I'm headed back into the classroom for another year of joyous wonder with my students... teenage drama... waking up early... checking and correcting homework... and of course report cards.

And since I have to do report cards... why shouldn't you?

Today's question of the day:

How would you grade each of my purchases?

Here's the grading scale:

A = Steal of the Century

B = Impressive, but not great!

C = Ummm... you did okay... I guess.

D = What were you thinking? Did you really need this?

F = You need to turn around and see if they'll give you a refund. Epic waste of money.

Here's how I graded myself:

Purchase #1: 1985 Robotech Trading Card Set $2 A+

Purchase #2: 2010 Aaron Rodgers McFarlane $13 B-

Purchase #3: 1996 Star Wars 12" Luke Skywalker & Obi-wan Kenobi Figures $16 B

Purchase #4: 1991 Upper Deck Football Set + Bonuses $5 A-

Purchase #5: Various Kenner Starting Lineups $30 B+

Purchase #6: Pharaonic Guardian Booster Box $15 C+

Obviously, I'm a little biased... since I'm completely happy with my purchases and have no regrets for once.

But as always... I'm interested in hearing what all of you have to say. So keep it real and don't hold back... I'm a big boy.

And just in case you're wondering... I truly love my job. I compare it to Aaron Rodgers and football... I get paid to do something I love... teach.

Happy Monday everyone... enjoy the rest of your week. Sayonara!

Contest Alert: The Daily Dimwit

The Daily Dimwit is giving away some cards... five to be exact:

Alex Rodriguez jersey card

Felix Hernandez jersey card

Fausto Carmona autographed card

Carlos Zambrano jersey card

Carl Crawford jersey card

If you're interested in winning one of these, head over to his blog and comment in the following post:

http://www.thedailydimwit.com/2011/08/first-trade-night-and-pack-war-plus.html

If you'd like a bonus entry... plug his contest on your blog and then leave a link to your blog post in the comments.

Best of luck... and Sayonara!