My, how things have changed since I was collecting baseball cards as a kid. In July, Kate Upton will appear on her very own Topps trading card featured in the Allen & Ginter’s World Champions set modelled after the first cigarette cards that were collected and traded in the late 1800’s. Safe to say that this is one trading card that will never be traded.

“I am coming back. Put it down. Write it down in big letters. I’m not going down like this. God willing and given the strength, I’m coming back.” — Mariano Rivera

Pedro Alvrarez’s true calling? A Harlem Globetrotter, cue ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’.

YOLO streaker at tonight’s Blue Jays game. via @JeehadMm

If you were to tell me that this dude actually got a tattoo of Bobby Cox’s face on his thigh without photo evidence, I wouldn’t have believed you. That’s passion, I think.

Attention all Philadelphia Phillies fans: The Phillies “have you covered” with Facebook timeline photos on their website with “add to timeline” button. Hoping more teams role this out *cough, cough* Blue Jays.

H/T @KyleHarty

I was saddened to hear of the passing of baseball great, Gary Carter. Three weeks ago I posted that the Hall of Fame catcher was one of my first baseball idols.

Michael Baron of MetsBlog shares a memory of meeting his childhood idol in Carter’s final season with the Expos.

”Carter was my childhood hero – the ballplayer I looked up to as a kid and made me want to play. I remember wanting to be him; my dad had a jersey made for me with his name and number screened on it, and I wore that jersey everyday to school during the playoffs and World Series in 1986. I even wanted curly hair like Carter had. Unfortunately, my hair is straight. And as stupid as it may sound, I would take my book bag and pretend it was a chest protector, and wear two mesh hats – one as a hat on backwards and the other as a catchers mask over my face.

It may have been stupid, but Carter was my hero, and I think many of us always pretend to be and fantasize about our heroes and their moments of glory, as much as we don’t always admit it.

I didn’t get to meet Carter while he was with the Mets. I met him in 1992 when he was with the Expos for his 19th and final season in Major League Baseball. I don’t remember the conversation I had with him; I just remember looking at him as he was speaking with me and being absolutely floored by the moment. How many people get to meet and speak with their ultimate hero? I guess I’m luckier than I think I am. I walked away with an autographed ticket, and a memory I will cherish forever.

I’m especially saddened by the news of his passing and that he had to suffer the way he did. Your heroes aren’t supposed to suffer and they’re not supposed to die, right? After all, that’s why they’re heroes. I will always have 1986, 1992, and my front yard…

Way back when I was a kid Gary Carter was one of my first baseball idols. From what I recall, Carter wasn’t the most talented, wasn’t the fastest, wasn’t the strongest, or the flashiest. Carter was all about hustle and determination.

Former Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez on Gary Carter:

“He was a human backstop back there. Early, before his knees went bad, you couldn’t steal on him in Montreal. When he wasn’t able to throw because of his knees, that never affected his performance. He was running on and off the field after three outs. This guy played in some pain and it was hustle, hustle, hustle.”

photo: SI Vault

Flip Flop Fly Ball keepin’ it real.

flipflopflyball:

No offence to the homeless guy, but as a baseball fan, these search results are depressing.

teachmehowtodougflutie:

Some of us don’t get past little league. Not this kid.

mightyflynn:

Kimbrel, ca. 1994

(photo craigkimbrel.com)

New York Yankees fans will appreciate this commemorative baseball stadium artwork on a baseball. Rumor has it Derek Jeter has a whole sock drawer of these puppies.

Henderson’s Neon Green Mizuno Batting Gloves

When I was a little leaguer there was no one cooler to step foot on a baseball diamond than Rickey Henderson. Nicknamed “The Man of Steal”, Rickey had more showtime in him than all of Magic’s Lakers combined. He talked to his bats, wore his uniform as tight as possible, and his homerun trot was legendary.

But for some reason it was Henderson’s neon green Mizuno batting gloves that I thought were the coolest thing—trumping my extensive micro machine collection. I searched high and low for a pair of those batting gloves, well, as hard as a kid with just a bike could search. I remember scoping out sports stores and Walmart-esque department stores but to no avail.

I never did find that neon green pair, I had to settle for a red pair. I guess in the end it all worked out because our team colors were white and red. I don’t really play baseball anymore and have no use for a pair of brightly colored batting gloves. But, consider me still searching.