I finished my 2012 Topps Series I Mets team set on Sunday, though I may still try to track down the gold parallel cards. (They remind me of the 1994 Score Gold Rush cards, which were fun to collect back then. So far, I’ve got Justin Turner so I just need 13 more 😉 )
I’m not crazy about the “surfboard” design Topps chose for this year, but it doesn’t really bother me. (Except for the players’ last names being printed in hard-to-read gold foil, that is.) I love the photography, though. Not every card has a great shot, but it looks like whoever was choosing photos made a conscious effort to look for ones from games where players were wearing retro uniforms or patriotic caps, and that helps them to stand out. And I love the decision to use so many victory celebration pictures.
The inserts are forgettable, except for the 1987-style mini cards. So I’m not going to bother about them.
Click “Read More” to see the rest of the 2012 Topps Series I Mets cards.
We’re eight days from the start of spring training for the New York Mets, but the Seattle Mariners were the first team to officially report yesterday.
Former New York Mets farmhand Mike Carp distributed t-shirts to all of his teammates honoring the memory of outfielder Greg Halman, who was killed in November. According to Seattle Times reporter Geoff Baker, Carp is looking into ways to make the shirts available to the public with proceeds benefiting Halman’s family or a charity.
“We thought it might be a good idea to make them available in the team stores,” Carp said. “I’m going to go in (Sunday) and talk to the team about it. But I think it would be neat if we could come up with a way to sell them and use the money to help the (Halman) family or give it to charity. It would be a great tribute to him.”
And since I gave in to temptation & picked up a $5 pack of 2012 Topps baseball cards when I was in Target on Saturday, here are the three newest Mets cards in my collection.
We’re ten days from the official start of spring training for the New York Mets, and GM Sandy Alderson told the New York Post yesterday that his roster is “pretty much there.” Now I could point out the folly of going into the season with substantially the same team – minus Jose Reyes – that finished 4th with a 77-85 record in 2011, but spring training is a time for optimism.
2010 Topps National Chicle Josh Thole autograph card from my collection
(The 2007 draft wasn’t a particularly good one — the Mets had five picks in the first 100. Eddie Kunz briefly pitched in the majors in 2008, but has been stuck in Double-A for the last two years. In 2011, he played for the San Antonio Missions in the San Diego farm system. Nathan Vineyard retired from baseball at age 19 after 11 pro games. Moviel has yet to move past the Single-A level and was 5-10 with a 5.10 ERA for the St. Lucie Mets in 2011. Brant Rustich has been plagued by arm issues, has not pitched above the Single-A level and did not pitch at all last season. Eric Niesen has spent the last three years at Double-A Binghamton. He struggled in his first full year as a reliever, posting an 0-5 record with a 7.94 ERA in 27 games.)
Back to something fun, Corey Mansfield is creating a set of virtual 2012 Long Island Ducks baseball cards for his LI Ducks Blog. The latest creation? New York Mets fan-favorite Buddy Harrelson.
Tim Hudson didn't allow a run against the Mets on Saturday. (Photo credit: Paul Hadsall)
I’d like to give Tim Hudson credit for pitching a good game, but after watching the Mets’ offense look pathetic all week (except for Friday’s 20-hit game) I just don’t know how much he deserves.
R.A. Dickey pitched well again and ended up with a loss – he never seems to get any run support. However, he bears part of the responsibility for the team’s failure to score. Twice yesterday he came up in sacrifice situations; both times (including once with runners on first and second with none out), he failed to get the bunt down. This has become a pattern with the team – one that Terry Collins needs to address.
signed R.A. Dickey 2011 Topps card from my collection
The Mets’ magic had to run out sometime, and it picked last night. R.A. Dickey struggled, Ruben Tejada didn’t slide and Bobby Parnell had another meltdown in the 9-5 loss to the Padres.
Oh, and Angel Pagan left the game with back spasms.
This is a game you want to forget if you’re a Mets fan. Still, there were a few bright spots: Josh Thole had a four-hit night, Tejada had a pair of doubles and Nick Evans had a pinch-hit RBI double.
Former New York Mets farmhand Mike Carp distributed t-shirts to all of his teammates honoring the memory of outfielder Greg Halman, who was killed in November. According to Seattle Times reporter Geoff Baker, 
PaulHadsall.com 