Brooks Raley

I've gotten quite a few compliments on my ATCRCS cards recently and again on my success at the Cubs/Nats game last weekend. I just wanted to take a moment and give a shoutout to one of my favorite websites, sportcollectors.net (SCN), that helped make a lot of them possible.

If you collect autographs in addition to your cards, either in person or TTM, and haven't joined SCN yet, I don't know what you're waiting for. It has a database put together by thousands of other collectors that features the TTM signing habits and addresses for tons of players, past and present. I've saved a bunch of postage by not mailing to guys who had 0%, 10% or 25% success rates. Players I thought would be sure things, weren't necessarily and surprisingly, vice versa.

To be honest though, I haven't done a whole lot of TTM in the past few years. I have every intention, especially with my ATCRCS cards, but just never seem to get around to it. However, as a premium member of the site ($14.99/year, I think), I not only have full access to the database that goes back at least 10 years, I also can read the community message boards. Through these boards, I have made numerous contacts throughout the country that have benefitted my collection tremendously. Many have helped me get autographs from former Cubs on their local team while are others are local to me and have given me some tips to get the autographs myself.

I didn't mean to go all infomercial on you just then but I received a package the other day from one of these deals. Not only did I add a couple of ATCRCS cards to the collection, but some other cards too of a couple of different Iowa Cubs players.

Today, I'll start with Brooks Raley. He was an August callup last year and had a pretty rough go of it in five appearances. As of right now, he with the Iowa Cubs. According to SCN, Raley has a 7% success rate TTM so asking for a little help to get him in person seemed like a good next step.

I don't know what the future holds for Raley with the Cubs, and I know I've said it before, but sometimes these "cup of coffee" guys can be tougher to get than the stars. Not only did I get help with the ATCRCS card, but I was able to get his 2010 Topps Pro Debut card done too!

One thing I noticed between the two, Raley signed #43 (the # he wore on the Cubs) on his ATCRCS card and #19 (his current Iowa Cubs #) on his Pro Debut. I like when they pay attention to the little things like that.

This marks the 52nd signed ATCRCS card in my collection.

If you are on SCN, let me know your username!

Cubs Shakeup

Like just about every other team this time of year, the Cubs are going through some changes. I understand them but that doesn't mean I have to like them. The timing is also odd seeing that the Cubs were 7-1-1 in their last nine series but 0-2 since the shakeup, including a current 5 game losing streak.

Those who follow this blog know that I enjoy the style of play Tony Campana brings to the game. Well, he was sent back down to AAA Iowa on Sunday. I know he hasn't had much playing time so going back to AAA should get him more and help his game but it still sucks.

On the bright side, they did play a decent game on Sunday, despite the loss. There were several lead changes and the Cubs didn't necessarily implode. Two of the top Cubs prospects also made their Major League debuts. The announcers said during Sunday's broadcast that Josh Vitters would probably make his debut Monday but he ended up pinch hitting in the pitcher's spot in the 7th inning.

The bigger debut was that of starting center fielder Brett Jackson. Although his first at-bat was an awkward foul-ball-off-his-foot-ruled-fair and thrown out, he did move the lead runner, David DeJesus into scoring position which helped when the next batter, Anthony Rizzo drove him in with a single. He followed that up with a walk and 2 singles before bring his day to a close with a strikeout.

He also scored his first run with an awkward slide on an Alfonso Soriano double in the 7th inning. Not sure what happened but it looked like he wanted to slide and tackle the catcher and it became a head first slide turned sideways barrel roll? Granted its his MLB debut but I would think sliding is taught earlier than that. If I can find a .gif later today, I'll add one.

Here a couple of cards I have been lucky enough to have signed by Brett Jackson. I sent them to someone who regularly 'graphs the Iowa Cubs last season and he got them done very promptly. Thanks Doug!

2010 Topps Pro Debut Brett Jackson

2011 Topps Pro Debut Brett Jackson

2009 Donruss Elite College Ties Brett Jackson & Jeff Kobernus

I picked up two College Ties cards and got them both signed by Jeff Kobernus when he was with the Potomac Nationals last season. I sent them both to Doug to get signed by Jackson, allowing him to keep one of them. Nice way to get a dual signed card! Not sure why they scanned so dark this time but they all look great in person.

I hope the Cubs can work out the kinks and take advantage of all of these prospects they seem to be getting in these trades. Waiting until next year is getting old (and I don't mean Waiting 'til Next Year, that one is cool). I guess only time will tell...

Upcoming Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball Release

I was snooping around Dave and Adam’s Card World (of course, when I should have been doing other things) and noticed they are preselling the 2012 Topps Heritage Minor League Baseball Hobby boxes. In the details section they had listed the now all too common listing of autographs, relics, parallels, etc. of guys I am not yet familiar with.

But something else caught my attention.

"Make YOUR Pro Debut"- Topps will offer a lucky fan the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being a pro player for a day with the Corpus Christi Hooks during the 2013 season, and have their own baseball card in 2013 Topps Pro Debut.
Become a pro player for a day with the Corpus Christi Hooks and have your very own baseball card offered in next year's Topps Pro Debut release. Plus, you will have the chance to meet and spend time with current owner and Hall-of-Famer, Nolan Ryan! Here are some of the other highlights of your contract:
- Press conference & photo ops to announce winner and sign a one-day contract
- Locker in the Corpus Christi clubhouse (or auxiliary for female winner)
- A complete uniform (cap, jersey, pants, socks, spikes)
- Equipment (Wilson glove, Louisville Slugger bat, Franklin batting glove, Rawlings helmet)
- Pre-game warm-up/stretches with team
- Pre-game batting practice
- Shag fly balls in outfield
- Post-BP snacks in Clubhouse
- Present lineup with Manager
- Ceremonial first pitch
- Spend time in broadcast booth and be interviewed by broadcaster
- Spend time (with your guest) in the owner's suite with Hooks owner and baseball legend Nolan Ryan
- Post-game meal with team
- Presented with official dugout lineup card after game
- Winner will have their very own "Pro Debut" trading card featured in the 2013 Topps Pro Debut release

There’s no mention of how to actually win but that is quite a haul for the eventual winner. I wonder how the Corpus Christi Hooks were chosen. Or did they volunteer this prize? An Astros affiliate and the chance to hobnob with Nolan Ryan? Sounds right up The Daily Dimwit’s alley.

I would love this prize regardless but if I were able to do it with the Cubs? Or one of their minor league affiliates? Wow. A little further down the list of prizes it mentions doing something “with your guest” so that’s pretty cool. Its one thing to be able to do all this but to share it with someone else is pretty awesome.

As for my card in the 2013 Pro Deut set...

I would hate to have one of those lame posed photos.

I definitely couldn't pull off the Badass Catcher pose.

As a lefty, I couldn't do the middle infielder turning two or tagging out an attempted basestealer.

I wouldn't want to be immortalized on my lone baseball card making crazy faces.

I wouldn't look nearly as good rounding the bases these days.

Which leaves some kind of Web Gem that the photographers could hopefully catch while I'm in the outfield shagging fly balls as part of my prize. When I did play, I loved chasing down fly balls in the outfield so I think that would be perfect.

My question to you is what pose would you strike on your Pro Debut card if you were the winner?