Derby Day

Greetings from Denver!

Today is the HR Derby, which is always a fun day during MLB All-Star festivities. I've always enjoyed the Derby, growing up watching guys like Griffey and McGwire showcase their power. I don't care that it's just BP. Watching a guy launch a ball 450 feet away is an impressive feat that most humans cannot do. 

I've seen one other Derby in person. I was there in 2008 when Josh Hamilton put on his epic display at old Yankee Stadium. While Morneau won that year, no one can forget what Hamilton did.

And of course, 1997 has always been a favorite of mine, when Tino Martinez won the event.

I will be in the crowd tonight, although not in HR landing territory. I think it's a trendy pick, but I think Joey Gallo is going to take it home.

What about you? Who is your pick to win tonight's HR Derby?

Welcome, eBay standard envelope

One of my favorite developments over the last few weeks as been the arrival of the eBay standard envelope. This provides the seller and buyer with the option of what is generally a trackable PWE shipping envelope.

I couldn't be more on board.

As a Tino Martinez collector, I often see his cards listed for $1 or $2, with $3.99 shipping. Unless it's a card I rarely come across, I generally refrain. Once in a while I'll check out other items for combined shipping, but for the most part I HATE paying more for shipping than the card itself.

And as someone who is firmly in the camp of #TeamPWE, I would gladly pay for non-bubble mailer shipping.

I'm not 100% how it works as a seller yet. I know there are three pricing options: $.51, $.71, and $.91. What I'm not sure of yet is if they are enforced, what sort of envelope qualifies for which option, etc. It's still unclear to me.

And I fully expect to see sellers still charging $4 for shipping and using this option. That won't be ok.

Additionally, if I dabble in selling and using this method, I am unsure if I can just drop these envelopes in a normal blue mailbox like I have at my corner, or if I need to make the trek to the post office to have the clerk scan these envelopes like they would a larger package. If the latter, that loses some appeal for me, as a seller.

Regardless, it has helped land me cards like these two for $2 shipped (each). To me, that is much more palatable than $.99 + $3.50.

Welcome, eBay standard envelope. I hope you're here for good.

The Derby, 23 years later

Topps Update is a complete mess. We all know this. Instead of just making a smaller set or forgoing it all together, Topps made what might be their worst set in years.

But in effort to still put out a large Update base set, Topps went back to the well to show old All-Star Games and Home Run Derbies.

While this was a peculiar choice, it gave me a Tino Martinez card to track down, along with a zillion parallels. As the victor of the 1997 Derby at Jacobs Field, Tino was honored with a card depicting his win. It was one of the biggest highlights for me watching baseball growing up, so I wasn't too upset to see him included here, despite the set being lackluster. I honestly put his victory on par for me personally with the four World Series titles, Gooden no-hitter, and Cone and Wells perfect games. Is the feat the same? No. But does it hold the same type of place in my heart? 

You bet.

I picked up the base card on Trading Card Database rather easily. I didn't even have to upload my entire collection. I just found a few people who were offering the card, and found some cards on their wantlist that I had on my trade list. That's all it takes.

The parallels haven't been so easy, so I had to turn to trusty eBay for the Yellow Walgreen's version.

I really like when I'm able to find the Topps hangers at Walgreen's. I found a lot of Update there last year. This year, I found two hangers of Series 2. But I try not to go to Walgreen's these days unless it's necessary. Each time I've had to go grab milk or vitamins, I check. And it's been months since I've seen cards there. It's probably for the best.

I'm would have been disappointed anyways given this turd of a set. Last year I pulled a yellow Vlad Jr RC. This year, the only yellow I really would have wanted is the one above. And it cost me less than half of what a hanger would have.

While it sucks to not be able to find cards to open, at least I'm saving by just buying the singles I want...something I should do anyways.

The Derby

This year's Home Run Derby definitely feels a lot different than last year's. It seems that the HR Derby is starting to go the way of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where the big-ticket players will choose not to participate.

I see both sides of it, and I'm not disappointed that no Yankees are in it tonight. Being 29 games over .500 at the break is more important, and whatever players can do to gain a little more rest at this point is totally cool with me.

Still, it's fun to look back at the four Yankees who won the derby, especially in 1997 when Tino Martinez won it. That's still a highlight of my childhood fandom.

1997 - Tino Martinez at Jacobs Field in Cleveland

2002 - Jason Giambi at Miller Park in Milwaukee

2011 - Robinson Cano at Chase Field in Arizona

2017 - Aaron Judge at Marlins Park in Miami

If I had to guess, I'd say Bryce Harper puts on a show for the home crowd and takes home the win tonight.
 

Derby Day!

I haven't been this excited about the Home Run Derby since I was a kid. I'd be surprised if it lives up to the hype - when does anything ever? - but that's ok. Baseball has a bunch of young, marketable stars lining up tonight to mash, and hopefully they put on a show that's talked about for years.

The Home Run Derby also reminds me of the summer of 1997, when my favorite player, Tino Martinez, took on sluggers like Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., and Barry Bonds and came out on top. His homer total looks comical compared to what these guys put up now, but it was a huge deal for me as a kid watching my underdog player rise to the occasion.

Even better, it was immortalized on cardboard!

The Yankees had two other winners in the event over the years, including Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano.

I hope one of these two can pull it off tonight. While most money will be on Judge or Stanton, I have a feeling neither of them will win. My bet is Gary Sanchez.

I have both of these cards coming to me in recent weeks, and hope I get to add another of one of them holding up the trophy.

Just a Derby Day reminder...

...that despite who wins tonight's HR Derby, Tino Martinez was the champion in 1997!

Ok, now that I got that out of the way, I'm interested to see how the HR Derby and its newest format goes tonight. I don't mind MLB trying to spice it up a little bit. I feel like every couple of years it needs a change to stay exciting. Even if it's not, it's mostly an event for kids, and as long as they are entertained, that's what matters. Baseball has a major youth problem, so anything that keeps kids interested and excited is a win in my book.

That's why I get annoyed when adults take to Twitter/social media to talk about how stale or boring it is or how annoying Chris Berman is. While all things that are usually true, if the kids are liking it, and they think Berman's shtick is great (I know I did as a youngster), then that's a win for baseball and the event. It's the same thing in the NBA. The dunk contest hasn't been good in ages, but the NBA does a great job parading around Drake and making it an event that kids love.

My pick for tonight? Anthony Rizzo. Not sure why, but I just feel like he's going to do well. I like Todd Frazier, but the pressure of being in front of the home crowd might be a bit too much to overcome. Either way, I hope it's an entertaining night.

Yearly HR Derby post

I think I recycle this post every year on the night of the HR Derby. This, along with the dunk contest, was must-see TV for me growing up. It would equal a sleepover with buddies. Pizza, ice cream, candy, snacks. It was an event.

Like the dunk contest, I think it's gotten pretty stale. MLB does keep trying to switch the format to find something that works, although it tends to keep just ending up a bit flat, not to mention inconsistent. Maybe it's me in my older age, just not enjoying something I used to. Wouldn't be the first time.

Regardless, I'll still watch. I always do.

Besides being at Yankee Stadium in-person in 2008 to see the Josh Hamilton HR Derby show, my favorite HR Derby memory is easily from 1997, when Tino Martinez won. That was awesome. I remember watching it and living and dying by every swing. I was 13. It meant something, watching my guy take on guys like McGwire and Griffey and coming out on top.

In 1998, a few sets had Tino in his HR Derby jersey, and I made just to gobble those cards up. It's still one of my fondest memories of him.

HR Derby Memories

I’ve always loved the HR Derby. Some years it’s really entertaining. Some years it blows. Some years the favorite wins, some years it’s the guy you’d least expect.

However, it’s a staple for All-Star festivities, and it’s fun to see the players all sitting in foul territory watching the event. Many times, they have their kids, and they really do seem to enjoy the light-hearted times that come with watching.

I had the fortune of attending the 2008 HR Derby at Yankee Stadium. You know, the Josh Hamilton year. It was unreal watching the show he put on. I was in the first deck in right field, so none of Hamilton’s shots came my way. Not many did. Maybe Braun or Longoria hit one out that way, but I don’t remember much other than Hamilton’s show and Morneau “winning” the derby.

My second-favorite HR Derby memory was from 1997 in Cleveland. Tino Martinez, in the middle of his career-high 44-HR season, edged Larry Walker in the Finals. It was a cool moment for me, seeing my favorite player win. This was before the days of worrying if participating was going to screw up player’s swing for the rest of the year. Thanks, Bobby Abreu.

Two other Yanks have won the Derby as well: Jason Giambi in 2002 and Robinson Cano in 2011. Cano then put up a 0 in Kansas City was booed relentlessly by their fans for not picking Billy freakin’ Butler. I would have picked Butler…if it were a Doubles Derby. Anyhow, being the good sport that he is, Cano is back at it again this year, and hopefully will knock a few balls out of the park. I hope at least someone hits a HR at Citi Field…the Derby may end up just being who can come closest to hitting a HR in that massive park.

Tino Tuesday #48: 2001 Upper Deck Home Run Derby Heroes #HD5

With the Home Run Derby being last night, this felt like an appropriate Tino card to show off. It is actually from 2001 Upper Deck Home Run Derby Heroes. I do have several Tino cards from the Home Run Derby in 1997, as it ended up being a fairly popular in several 1998 releases to show him during the contest.

To this day, it's one of my best Tino memories. I was 13 years old at the time, so events like the Home Run Derby and the Slam Dunk Contest were major events each year. The fact that Tino was participating in the 1997 affair had me incredibly excited.

Tino came out on top, beating Larry Walker in the final round (although Walker had more HRs during the entire contest). Tino used his sweet lefty swing to his advantage at Jacobs Field, parking a bunch of balls in the right field stands. Not many picked him to win, and it was thrilling for me to watch my favorite player come away with the trophy. I still have the event on a VHS tape.

Go Cano!

I'll be pulling for Robinson Cano tonight to win back-to-back HR Derbies. Ken Griffey Jr is the only other player to win two in a row. Now, you might think I'm pulling for Cano since he is a Yankee. You couldn't be more wrong. I'm pulling for him because we all need more cards that look like this: