Play Ball!

Tomorrow is Opening Day in MLB.  

U.S. and Canada only.

People who have previously commented on non-give away posts only.

PWE of baseball cards for the winner.

Predict the team that scores the most runs on Opening Day in an AL ballpark.

Predict the team that scores the most runs on Opening Day in an NL ballpark.

Deadline: First pitch of the first game. 

The Weekly Clean-Up

 

Combining last week and this week.  

-  I expected to have  a couple more singles from my dealer to show off, but I guess that will have to wait.  They're being held for me, but I keep putting off going down there. 

-  I did, however, land my first 2021 Topps baseball card in a Time Travel trade with Matt from Diamond Jesters.

     

That's a Jo Adell rookie card.  The name is tiny, but I only gave up a few traders.

http://diamond-jesters.blogspot.com

-  The madre is talking about coming down in June, so the slow migration south of my childhood cards might make more progress.  

-  Nick, from Dime Boxes, flipped an Allen and Ginter non-sport card for several baseball cards, including a '56 Ernie Banks and a '57 Pee Wee Reese.   

http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/2021/03/keep-your-crypto-ill-take-real-stuff.html

-  Johnny, from Johnny's Trading Spot, landed a stack of relic cards for 40 cents each.  

https://johnnnystradingspot.blogspot.com/2021/03/best-deal-of-year-thus-far.html

-  Saw the new neighbor in the hall and she has a nice rack.  Wanted to blurt out "Cuomo let one get away!", but I behaved myself. 

Film Friday: The Elliptical 100 (6)

 

Time to get some exercise, so you can wear that polka dot bikini in the summer.

Based on actual events.

Directed by Hugh Hudson.

Released in 1981. 

-  Vangelis won an Oscar for Best Original Score.  

Based on a book by Eliot Asinof.

Directed by John Sayles.

Released in 1988.

-  John Cusack and Charlie Sheen were cast because of their baseball skills.

Directed by Robert Clouse.

Released in 1973.

-  Bruce Lee's last completed film before his death at 32. 

Based on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Directed by Penny Marshall.

Released in 1992.

-    Marshall wanted Demi Moore for the part of Dottie Hinson (Geena Davis), but she was pregnant.

Directed by John Avildsen.

Released in 1976.

-  An acquaintance of Brett Alan's, Susan Sarandon, auditioned for the role of Adrian.    

If I could save only one:  Rocky

Last week's answer:  Rocky

This week's question:  There will be five movies next week.  Which organization is featured in all five? 

Leaderboard

Jon:  4

Brett Alan:  3

Note:  There has been a query about prizes.  The winner will get a PWE of cards from his / her chosen sport.  There will also be points for the top three finishers: 3 for first, 2 for second, and 1 for third.  I plan on having occasional auctions for people to bid on prizes with their accumulated points. 

If a non-collector wins, I'll find a different prize to send.        

Upgrading and Downsizing

The eternal quest to improve quality while reducing quantity continues.  Here's a partial want list and an idea of what I have to give up:  

Baseball

1982 Donruss DK:  Alan Trammell, Richie Zisk, Ivan DeJesus, Dave Kingman, Carlton Fisk, Ken Singleton

1983 Donruss DK:  Rollie Fingers, Reggie Jackson, Jim Palmer, Rickey Henderson, Steve Carlton, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan

Cy Young Winners:  Fergie Jenkins (Cubs), Denny McLain (Tigers), Gaylord Perry (Indians) - pending, Catfish Hunter (A's) 

AL MVPs:  Dick Allen (White Sox)

Others:  Willie McCovey (Padres) - pending, Joe Rudi - pending, Herb Washington, D.J. Dozier - pending 

Elite Others:  Hank Aaron (Braves), Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente, Sandy Koufax, Mickey Mantle, Juan Marichal (Giants), Willie Mays (Giants)  

I don't think I have the fire-power to trade for this group, but putting them on here just in case.  It doesn't help that I care about condition.         

Football

Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) x2

Joe Burrow (Bengals)

Joe Namath (Jets)

2015 Panini Prizm Collegiate Draft Picks:  A.J. Green, Aaron Rodgers, Andre Johnson, Andrew Luck, Antonio Gates, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, Drew Brees, Earl Thomas, Jason Witten, J.J. Watt, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Marshawn Lynch, Matt Forte, Mike Evans, Nick Foles, Patrick Peterson, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Reggie Wayne, Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Steve Smith, Tom Brady, Troy Polamalu 

Hockey

Terry Sawchuk

Bernie Parent (Flyers)

Dave Schultz (Flyers)

Bobby Hull

Bobby Orr

Available

Unfortunately, most of my baseball traders are overproduction era.  I have my manager cards and my Rated Rookies, Rookie Prospects, All-Stars, etc. sorted into their own sections.    

Football is more spread out - from 1983 through the 2010s.  A lot of 2019 Panini Black Friday, 2018 and 2019 Donruss, early 1990s Pro Set, and 1988 Topps.  For college, 2019 and 2020 Leaf Draft.         

Hockey is mostly 1990-91 Upper Deck, 1998-99 Topps, and 2007-08 Upper Deck Victory, with a sprinkling from other 1990s sets.  

Notice to Readers

Apparently I got a lot of comments that I never saw.  I thought I had it set for comments more than two days after a post to trigger an email notification so I would know about them and approve their publication.  But the notifications went to a different section of the blog menu page without any kind of sign that they were there.  So I never knew I got them.  

Anyway, I wasn't ignoring anybody.  Credit to Jon for alerting me that something was amiss.  

This is a boring post.  So here's Anna Silk as a flight attendant:

Film Friday: The Elliptical 100 (5)

 

We had criminals and spies the last couple weeks, so let's lighten it up a bit.

 

Directed by Woody Allen.

Released in 1977.

-  Sigourney Weaver's film debut.

*  There's some stuff with Allen.  Decide for yourself how to handle it.

Based on comic book characters created by Bob Kane.

Directed by Leslie Martinson.

Released in 1966.

-  Lee Meriwether (Catwoman) was Miss America 1955.

 

Based on a book by Cameron Crowe.

Directed by Amy Heckerling.

Released in 1982.

-  Film debuts of Nicolas Cage and Eric Stoltz. 

Directed by John Hughes.

Released in 1986.

-  Cameron lives in a Chicago suburb, but wears a Gordie Howe Red Wings jersey.

Based on a Gregory McDonald novel.

Directed by Michael Ritchie.

Released in 1985.

-  McDonald vetoed Mick Jagger and Burt Reynolds as Fletch. 

Directed by Harold Ramis.

Released in 1993.

-  The end of the Murray / Ramis relationship (Caddyshack, Stripes, Ghostbusters).

Directed by Robert Altman.

Released in 1975.

-  Keith Carradine wrote and performed "I'm Easy", which won an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

If I could save only one:  Annie Hall

Last week's answer:  Fast Times at Ridgemont High  

This week's question:  Burgess Meredith played the Penguin in Batman.  Which other movie gets him in the Elliptical 100?  

Leaderboard

Jon- 3 (correction: see comments section for explanation)

Brett Alan - 2

I believe Brett Alan has a story related to the Sean Penn / Susan Sarandon film Dead Man Walking.            

March 17

 

You might have to raise the volume to hear it properly.  

East vs West (Soccer)

East

Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal

Roberto Baggio - Italy

Gerd Muller - West Germany

Ferenc Puskas - Hungary

Midfielders

Johan Cruyff - Netherlands

Michel Platini - Italy

Zinedine Zidane - France

Defenders

Franz Beckenbauer - West Germany

Paolo Maldini - Italy

Bobby Moore - England

Keeper

Lev Yashin - Soviet Union

Key Reserves

Eusebio (Portugal) - Forward

George Best (Northern Ireland) - Midfielder

Franco Baresi (Italy) - Defender

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) - Keeper

West

Forwards

Pele - Brazil

Lionel Messi - Argentina

Ronaldo - Brazil

Hugo Sanchez - Mexico

Midfielders

Diego Maradona - Argentina

Carlos Valderrama - Colombia

Socrates - Brazil

Defenders

Elias Figueroa - Chile

Daniel Passarella - Argentina

Nilton Santos - Brazil

Keeper

Tim Howard - United States

Key Reserves

Landon Donovan (USA) - Forward

Rivaldo (Brazil) - Midfielder

Cafu (Brazil) - Defender

Jose Luis Chilavert (Paraguay) - Keeper

Alex Morgan - soccer legend.

Time Traveling

Traded with Matt, of Diamond Jesters.  He has a fun Time Traveling project that he updates monthly. 

-  Three-time All-Star.

-   Ten-time All-Star.  Two-time NL MVP.

-  Ten-time All-Star.  NL MVP in 1974.

-  Three-time All-Star.

-  Seven-time All-Star.

-  Eighteen-time All-Star.  Al MVP in 1967.

Not shown:  

1982 Topps IA Johnny Bench (great player, but not much action)

2018 Topps Xander Bogaerts

1986 Topps Wade Boggs (Red Sox hot pack!)

1987 Donruss Rated Rookie Terry Steinbach      

So this makes me a bit less frustrated with the postal service.   

http://diamond-jesters.blogspot.com

Scoring from My Dealer

 

Four singles again:

-  '74 Topps.  Of course, his career highlight was playing for the Phillies. 

-  '67 Topps.  Eight-time All-Star.  

-  '72 - 73 OPC double prints.  Obviously, Roy is the GOAT.  But Plante is top five.  Mikita was a two-time MVP.    

Film Friday: The Elliptical 100 (4)

 

Let's do some snooping around.

Loosely based on an Ian Fleming novel.

Directed by Martin Campbell.

Released in 2006.

-  First Bond movie with Daniel Craig.  

Based on an Ian Fleming novel.

Directed by Terence Young.

Released in 1962. 

-  The first Bond movie.

-  Patrick McGoohan turned down the role of Bond.

Based on a nonfiction book by Robert Lindsey.

Directed by John Schlesinger.

Released in 1985.

-  The real life Falcon escaped from prison and went on a bank robbing spree before being recaptured.

-  They've both been paroled. 

Based on an Ian Fleming novel.

Directed by Terence Young.

Released in 1963.

-  Screened at the White House by President Kennedy on November 20, 1963. 

Directed by John Frankenheimer.

Released in 1998.

-  Katarina Witt portrays the ice skater.

Based on a John le Carre novel.

Directed by Martin Ritt.

Released in 1965.

-  They changed the female lead's name to Nan because she was Liz and Richard Burton was married to Liz Taylor at the time. 

Based on Six Days of the Condor, by James Grady.

Directed by Sydney Pollack.

Released in 1975.

-  There's an homage in a Seinfeld episode.

If I could save only one:  From Russia with Love

Last week's answer:  Three Days of the Condor

This week's question:  We've had two Sean Penn movies - Carlito's Way and The Falcon and the Snowman.  Which movie gets him in the Elliptical 100 a third and final time? 

The Leaderboard

Brett Alan - 2

Jon - 2

Recent Collection Additions

 

So yeah - I got another batch of baseball cards from an online store.  31 this time.

       

                     

-  Blue for my Cy Young collection.  Got a couple others on the cheap.

-  Allen is a place holder for my MVP collection.  

-  My Palmer collection has certainly improved the last couple weeks, with his 1970 (from my dealer), 1978 (this one), and 1979 Topps (also in this order).    

-  Rose as a 3B.  Also got him as an Expo.     

-  The Legend. Also got his 1982 Donruss (Rangers).  Have him as a Mariner.

-  The inventor of the high five.  Got him with Oakland too. 

-  Three Gwynns.  The other is a Diamond King.

-  This and another Pujols.         

-  This Verlander and another one as a Tiger.  He's married.