John's Big League Baseball Blog

My #HappyBaseballBirthday! present to myself arrived in the mail on Thursday.


   Topps Living Set #145 Justin Verlander 


This card of the 2018 American League strikeout king arrived less than a week after I placed the order, a record speed for anything I've ever ordered with Topps...I guess they knew if was my Birthday! 




When the Verlander card was released I automatically thought how beautiful a card it was, and also how so much I'd wish that it had come while he was still wearing a Detroit Tigers uniform.

I have lots of cards of JV, but this may be my 2nd favorite in my collection...its definitely my favorite of him as a Houston Astros player in the little over a year that he's had Astros cards.

This is my 7th TLS card, and my 1st Astros TLS card.

Remember, as you finish reading this, that Sunday will be the start of another contest to win a TLS card.

If you're on Twitter, follow Topps Living Stats, and when he posts the contest, nominate three players (not already chosen by another player) who you think will be the next in the TLS.

If the player you chose is in the three cards that Topps releases on Wednesday afternoon, you'll win that card...it's great fun, and I hope you'll get involved with us.

Last week I chose Rich Hill, Dawel Lugo, and Mike Clevinger, and, as always I missed on all three.

Each week you get a keeper pick, and I'm thinking I'll keep my Michigan Man, Rich Hill.


Until next time, PLAY BALL! ⚾️

It's Super Bowl Sunday, the final football game of the 2018-19 NFL season.


With Spring Training just 10 days away, my Baseball Picture of the Day is the perfect transition from the pigskin to the horsehide, courtesy of Houston Astros fireballer Justin Verlander. 



         Photo from Justin Verlander/Instagram


Why, you're wondering. is he rooting for Tom Brady to win his 9th Super Bowl?


Well, my guess is his wife, the beautiful Kate Upton, a Michigan native and fan of the football team that calls Ann Arbor home, has a lot to do with it.




Also. Verlander did pitch in Detroit for 12 years, a city only about 45 miles east of Ann Arbor, so he may have some connections there.


Whatever the reason, it's a great picture, and it's awesome that Verlander is rooting for my favorite All-Time QB and cheering on the Patriots with his wife.


Have a great Sunday night, enjoy the game, and, always... PLAY BALL! 🏈⚾️

Happy Baseball Birthday! to my favorite lefty hurler, Matthew Boyd, who turns 28 today.


It's already been a good start to collecting 2019 issued cards of Matthew, with Topps adding him to their Topps Living Set in January.




Wednesday was the release of 2019 Series 1 Topps cards, and Matthew is well represented, with a base card, base  card variations, and this card with the 150 Years shield to commemorate a century and a half of big league baseball.





After being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2012, Matthew stayed one more year at Oregon State, and then in 2013 he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.


The Tigers acquired Matthew from the Blue Jay's at the end of the trading deadline in 2015 in a deal that sent David Price to Toronto.

Matthew will be in the starting rotation, the 3rd/4th starter, and I hope to see him pitch at home again this season.



Happy Baseball Birthday! Matthew Boyd... #yeahboyd #BoydsForever 


Play Ball! 🐯⚾️ 

As I was scanning ye olde Internet for something to read after midnight here in Portage, lo and behold, what grabs my attention, but Lindy's Baseball Preview Magazine, and look who's gracing our regional cover!




You know I've gotta head over to the bookstore next week to pick up my copy...another thing to add to my Mathew Boyd collection.


Play Ball! 🐯⚾️

When I first saw this picture on Instagram yesterday I just knew that I had to share it as the first Baseball Picture of the Day for 2019.




    Photo courtesy of Alanna Rizzo/ Instagram 


It's just is about as awesome a picture as you'll see to get you excited about the start of Spring Training in a couple of weeks.


⚾️📺 Alanna Rizzo is an outstanding broadcaster that I first came to know from her time on the MLB Network, especially when she would hang out with Chris Rose and Kevin Millar on International Talk and give her famous Rizzo Report.



I've continued to follow her since she joined the Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasts in 2014, both on her Twitter page and on her Instagram page.


👍 It's a bonus when the Dodgers are on late night West Coast games on the MLB Network, as they have as good a broadcast crew as you'll find, with Joe Davis, Orel Hershiser, Nomar Garciaparra, and Alanna.


If you're on Twitter, make sure to follow her during the baseball season...you don't need to be a Dodgers fan...just a baseball fan.


As I finish up this post I'd like to personally thank Alanna for not only this awesome picture, but for her passion and professionalism in reporting on the great game that we love. ❤


Until the next post, you know what's up...Play Ball! ⚾️🍊🌵