Flashback Gaming!

Recently,I hooked up a small man cave In my basement.It's still a  work In progress. I've got my old Sega Genesis hooked up to the ol' analog   set  with Tony LaRussa's Baseball by EA Sorts queued and ready to go.I also picked up Tommy Lasorda's arcade classic just for the heck of It.While LaRussa's game has a ton of stats and real teams/players,Lasorda's  arcade style of baseball is 20 times better!Both are fun,though,If your looking to flashback into and kill time all at once.I'll play a game or two while I'm doing laundry or when the better half Is having one of those days that make you wonder If she's not the better half and you are.Plus,these are  two of the best that ever did it so having some retro game goodness with their mugs on it Is always great!

Flashbacks of 1988 all over again! 

Look at those killer graphics!I never tire of reading the backs of video game boxes.Even now they have the ability to draw me in and make me want to play!

What Could Have Been,Will Never Be

No.The first word to come out of my mouth after hearing about Miami Marlins pitching phenom Jose Fernandez.Then ,out came the expletives.I just couldn't believe it.Still can't.We never got to see Jose win his first Cy Young award.We never got to witness his 20 strikeout game  against the Mets and we never got to witness his first 20 win season.That perfect game he threw In 2017 versus the Rays,not happening.Jose was well on his way to becoming one of the biggest stories In baseball   ,If he wasn't already.Wherever you are up there,know that you will be remembered.Not just by your family,but by Major League Baseball,It's fans and the Latino American community as a whole.I hate to coin the often used phrase "rest in peace",because that, to me ,Is something you would say if someone was already up in age and sick of life's conundrums and nuances.Tired of the aches and pains that go along with old age before finally coming to their final resting place.Jose Fernandez seemed to be a young  man already at peace.And that's what makes this so hard to stomach.That,and the fact that he had a kid on the way.For what It's worth,my condolences go out  to his family both on and off the field.

Topps Bunt 16 TRADES & DEBUTS

I picked up some digital packs of cards off of the Topps Bunt app this morning.Like I've stated before,I'm not a huge fan of baseball cards that I can't actually touch ,in hand,but I do like using the Bunt app as a way to preview what Topps may have in store for us In the real world.These TRADES & DEBUTS cards are pretty much 2016 Topps flagship with  newly acquired players and those making their MLB debuts.If they do release these ,will they just call them Topps Update or stick with the Bunt 16 label?Not sure ,but I'm digging the new look Beltran and Bruce (not pictured) cards.What do you guys think?

UPDATE:I just realized that these seem to have a power/rarity meter over the top of their name tag.Not sure what that's all about. 

My Favorite 9 Right Now - Updated

I believe It was Junior Junky ,of Baseball Cards Of Griffey,Jr. And Beyond who started the whole "favorite 9 card " thing ,and I've ran with it.I really liked the idea because this always changes for me.Much like the action figures In my collection,certain cards grow on me for a certain length of time.And then I just won't like them anymore.So here's my 9 pockets of baseball card favs ,for the time being.

Bizarro World Canseco's

In my last post,I sent the message out to the blogosphere that I was In need of  some Canseco White Sox/Angels/Expos  cards .I got antsy and kept seeing them on ebay so I picked up a couple singles.These truly are the most bizarre Canseco cards I own.I'm not even sure If  Canseco got any AB's In  for the Expos or Angels.These are like ,from some alternate universe or something.I tend to forget that Canseco got kind of sucky towards the end of his career and In the process of sucking something fierce ,got moved around a bit.It's a shame,too, cuz all he needed was few homers more to reach 500.I gotta believe even that wouldn't have gotten him into the hall with all the animosity .I just love the cards though.They  remind me of  all those mid 80's Reggie Jackson cards .

2001 Topps Canseco triumvirate!

The Kaz Delivers!

A short while back,I posted about a player that I was going to start collecting,Nick Markakis. Mark Kaz from This Way to the Clubhouse decided to help out by sending me a few Markakis cards and a couple of Cansecos to boot!So,a big thank you to Mark for that random act of kindness.It's not everyday that someone just offers up cards like that  ,so I truly am grateful. Now,on to the cards....

Here's a nice Markakis  Fleer  Rookie Sensations.Kenji Johjima came out In this set ,too, so I  believe these came out In 2006 .

Laying out to make the grab!

I'm not a big A&G guy.I never picked any up at retail at the height of my card collecting back In 2006,and I still don't.I can,however,appreciate the distinguished design.  

As much as I liked the Markakis cards,this one here Is my favorite of the bunch.  

 What an awesome Canseco card this Is!I really dig the credit card novelty.I never  knew these cards existed.His name  and stats are really embossed on the front of the card,juts like a real credit card.Good stuff! 

At first I thought I already had this card,but upon further inspection,I didn't!BTW- I was looking at my Can Stash the other day and realized that I had no Canseco White Sox or Expos cards.Two teams he barely got to touch the turf with.So If anybody out there  has any of his White Sox cards or Expos card (I think he only had one) ,let me know ;)

#34 Part3

A few more Thomas's go into the small album I've started In his name.A staple of my childhood and one of the best RB's to ever do it.

Singles Only

I came up short In my hunt for some Topps Bunt 2016  goodness so I went the singles route to snag up a couple  of my favorites from the set.BTW-Sets of 2016 Bunt (minus inserts) are selling for about 11 bucks shipped on eBay,so If your In the market ,that would be one  way to  go.

Night Owl was right about these Lightforce cards.They look better In pics than they do in hand.They'd pop more in hand If they were foil. 

The Program insert Is one I've liked since I saw them on the Topps Bunt  phone app.In fact,this Is just the tip of  the iceberg.Topps Bunt has a ton of amazing inserts exclusive to the app that are begging to be made physical.If you haven't already ,give the app a try.At the least you might be getting a sneak peak into something that may be on the heels of a release.

I love the backs of these Program inserts. Very 90's !