36 Pack Wax Match: Pack 27

The Stage has been set. The Match is underway. Who will come out on top? There’s only one way to find out.

Keep going, and open that twenty-seventh pack!

As we dive into this pack, each set is hoping to build some momentum coming off a tie in pack 26. Who will do it with this pack? Let's see!

Red Sox +2

1988 Jumps right out ahead with this fantastic card of Dewey. What do you think the result of this picture was?

Unfortunately for 1988, that's where the scoring ends. Will two points be enough? Let's see!

Hall of Fame +1

 1990 Chips into the lead with this fantastic card of Cal Ripken, Jr. I can't decide how I feel about the close cropping on this card. It certainly puts you in the middle of the action!

Hall of Fame +1

1990 ties it up with this card of George Brett. Assuming this card means players of the previous decade, they certainly made a good choice with Brett.

Would you believe that where the scoring ends with this pack? In another tie? This is incredible. 

Does any year want to win this thing?

Box Bottom: 1988 +1 (1-0)

Pack 1:  1990 +6 (1-1)
Pack 2:  1990 +4 (2-1)
Pack 3:  1988 +3 (2-2)
Pack 4:  1990 +1 (3-2)
Pack 5:  1990 +1 (4-2)
Pack 6:  1988 +2 (3-4)
Pack 7:  1988 +3 (4-4)
Pack 8:  TIE   +0 (4-4)
Pack 9:  1990 +2 (5-4)
Pack 10: 1990 +4 (6-4)
Pack 11: 1990 +4 (7-4)
Pack 12: 1990 +1 (8-4)
Pack 13: 1990 +5 (9-4)
Pack 14: 1988 +3 (5-9)
Pack 15: 1988 +2 (6-9)
Pack 16: 1988 +3 (7-9)
Pack 17: 1990 +3 (10-7)
Pack 18: 1988 +2 (8-10)
Pack 19: 1988 +3 (9-10)
Pack 20: 1990 +2 (11-9)
Pack 21: TIE   +0 (11-9)
Pack 22: 1990 +2 (12-9)
Pack 23: 1988 +2 (10-12)
Pack 24: TIE   +0 (10-12)
Pack 25: 1988 +3 (11-12)
Pack 26: TIE   +0 (11-12)
Pack 27: TIE   +0 (11-12)

What will happen next time?

Molly Sullivan Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Molly Sullivan is a pianist, the current Miss Goldenrod, and (surprisingly) a Red Sox fan. I was

hoping she'd be willing to discuss those topics with us, along with a few more. I'm glad she agreed, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading everything she had to say.

So, let’s see what happens when Molly Sullivan visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate being crowned Miss Goldenrod?

The first thing I did when I won Miss Goldenrod was FaceTime Justin Patton, who has helped me a lot with growing in my communication skills.  Then I went and got Chick-fil-A because I’m obsessed with their lemonade and chicken and fries!  

What did you learn about yourself at the recent Miss Kentucky competition that will help you in future pageants?

The biggest thing I learned from competing at Miss Kentucky this year is to just have fun. I was the youngest contestant at only 18 years old! So I was just so excited to have the opportunity to be there. I watched other girls get so stressed out that they weren’t having fun. Miss Kentucky definitely taught me to not get stressed out at upcoming pageants and to just have fun with all of my friends! 

What has surprised you the most about your time as Miss Goldenrod?

Considering I’m only 18, winning Miss Goldenrod alone was a beautiful surprise! The biggest surprise to me that has come along with being Miss Goldenrod is becoming best friends with my sister queens. Abbie, Alex, and Makayela have all become like real sisters to me. They are all older than me and they really took me under their wing and showed me the ropes of being a title holder for Miss Kentucky! 

How did you select your platform, “Be the Sunshine”?

My platform Be The Sunshine is from experiences I had growing up. Everyday my mom told me to “be the sunshine” and at an early age that meant for me to be nice to other kids. As I grew the meaning also grew with it.  I went through a time in my life that I didn’t love myself and that I was really struggling with making friends. Once I learned to love myself I noticed that I was being a better light in other people’s lives. So, now my platform, “Be The Sunshine” is all about inspiring and encouraging people to radiate positivity through social media and every day life! 

What is your favorite part about performing your piano talent on stage?

I’ve been playing piano since I was 5 and so my favorite part about

piano being my talent for Miss Kentucky is that I get to share my passion with not only the judges, but also the audience! 

How does a Kentucky titleholder become a Red Sox fan?

My dad has always been a Red Sox fan and the MLB Network stays on our family tv at home practically 24/7. I’ve grown up loving the Red Sox and have always wanted to travel to Boston to see Fenway and watch them play. Finally this year we made it, we took a family road trip and drove to Boston. 

You recently were able to take the pregame tour at Fenway Park. What was your favorite part about the tour?

My favorite part of the Pre game tour was definitely getting to watch some of my favorite players warm up and have batting practice!  I’ve watched them on tv for so long so getting to see them in person was an amazing experience. 

You were also able to attend a Red Sox game at Fenway. What was your favorite part about that experience?

I had so many favorite parts of the Red Sox game! Getting to meet Wally and get a picture was so fun. I also loved watching Pearce hit a homerun over the green monster! But of course my absolute favorite part was watching the Red Sox win! 

How will the Red Sox finish the 2018 season?

My prediction for the Red Sox for this season is to be World Series champions! They are really a great looking team this year and I think they can pull it off. 

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Sounds perfect to me!

As usual, I want to give tons of thanks to Molly for doing this interview. It's always fun for me to interview titleholders from a new state. I also want to thank her for providing the pictures to accompany the interview. They went along perfectly, and made it a lot more fun!

As Molly continues her time as Miss Goldenrod, I encourage you to follow her on her Instagram page as well as the Instagram page for her platform!

I also want to wish Molly luck as she starts competing in the next round of local competitions! I'm sure we're all hoping she earns another shot at the Miss Kentucky crown!

Thanks again Molly, and good luck!

Winning the Trade War

The Red Sox dropped a sloppy game to the lowly Orioles last night. In a bit of a back and forth, the Sox fell just short at the end. It happens. It happens when conditions aren’t ideal. It happens when your starting pitcher is making his first start off the DL. It happens because even the Red Sox can’t actually win every game. Just try to win every series from here on out.

Of course one possible reason that the Sox were able to claw back in the ninth inning is that the Orioles traded their closer to the Yankees during the game. So, he was unavailable in the ninth. (That also means he’s unavailable tonight which is handy.)

How annoyed am I about the trade? Marginally. Zach Britton is (was?) a good pitcher. In a vacuum, that’s a pretty good asset to have. So, it’s annoying that The Yankees got another good pitcher. But, here’s the thing. The Yankees already had a good bullpen. A really good bullpen. When you’re already winning every game when you’re leading in the late innings, I’m not sure how this actually helps you. The Yankees have many holes…but bullpen isn’t one of them. I’m also always leery of converting closers to set-up men. Call it the Gagne syndrome. Something about those guys who are wired to be closers won’t let them do anything else. There’s also the concern about getting a closer from a terrible team. For one thing, how “pressured” are save situations when your team is 30 games behind? For another thing, how many quality teams do the Orioles have leads against in the ninth inning? Now, if the guy were free, that’s something I’d try. But, to give up my #6 prospect to rent the guy for two months? I think I’ll pass.

Who might I give up my #6 prospect to rent? How about a starter? That’s exactly what the Red Sox did today trading for Nathan Eovaldi. He’s not the next Chris Sale by any means. But, he’s a hard-throwing righty who can give you six innings and let this offense do its thing. That’s really just what the Sox need to replace EdRo’s spot in the rotation going down the stretch. In the postseason, he even presents himself as an interesting option out of the bullpen. It’s a wonderful combination of a player who should be useful in the regular season as well as the playoffs. That’s pretty hard to do when you’re looking for a bargain.

So I’m glad that the Sox hold their five game lead in the division. They’re not quite as desperate as the Yankees. They don’t need to throw resources at problems they don’t have. They don’t need to bid against themselves in order to win the deadline. They can make the smaller moves that actually make sense.

That’s how you win a trade war.

36 Pack Wax Match: Pack 26

The Stage has been set. The Match is underway. Who will come out on top? There’s only one way to find out.

Keep going, and open that twenty-fifth pack!

As we dive into this pack, 1988 is hoping to build some momentum coming off a win in pack 25. Can it do it with this pack? Let's see!

Red Sox +2

This card of smiling Wes Gardner starts 1988 with two quick points. I wonder if he's smiling because he knows his pack is going to win?

Yankees -2

Leave it to the Yankees to mess up a good thing. Gary Ward looking out towards right field makes me imagine an easy out. And brings the pack total back to zero.

And, unfortunately, that's where the scoring ends! Will zero points possible be enough? Let's find out.

Hall of Fame +1

Usually I love the idea of matching the border color with the team colors. But, this dull brown border with the dull brown uniform makes this a really dull card. But, it's worth a point in this game!

Yankees -2. Hall of Fame +1

I'm not actually sure if this has come up before. If it has, I'm too lazy to look up how I handled it. A Yankees Hall of Famer. Do I combine the points? Does the Yankees awfulness rule all? I'm going to award both scores, so this card gets a minus one total.

Which is important, because that ends the scoring! We have another tie!!

Does any year want to win this thing?

Box Bottom: 1988 +1 (1-0)

Pack 1:  1990 +6 (1-1)
Pack 2:  1990 +4 (2-1)
Pack 3:  1988 +3 (2-2)
Pack 4:  1990 +1 (3-2)
Pack 5:  1990 +1 (4-2)
Pack 6:  1988 +2 (3-4)
Pack 7:  1988 +3 (4-4)
Pack 8:  TIE   +0 (4-4)
Pack 9:  1990 +2 (5-4)
Pack 10: 1990 +4 (6-4)
Pack 11: 1990 +4 (7-4)
Pack 12: 1990 +1 (8-4)
Pack 13: 1990 +5 (9-4)
Pack 14: 1988 +3 (5-9)
Pack 15: 1988 +2 (6-9)
Pack 16: 1988 +3 (7-9)
Pack 17: 1990 +3 (10-7)
Pack 18: 1988 +2 (8-10)
Pack 19: 1988 +3 (9-10)
Pack 20: 1990 +2 (11-9)
Pack 21: TIE   +0 (11-9)
Pack 22: 1990 +2 (12-9)
Pack 23: 1988 +2 (10-12)
Pack 24: TIE   +0 (10-12)
Pack 25: 1988 +3 (11-12)
Pack 25: TIE   +0 (11-12)

What will happen next time?

Brooklynn Lambert Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Brooklynn Lambert is a dancer and the current Miss Monroe County. She has also recently been named

the new Comerica In-Park host for the Detroit Tigers! Since the Red Sox start the second half in Detroit, I thought it was the perfect time to have her visit with us. Thankfully she agreed! I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading everything she had to say.

So, let’s see what happens when Brooklynn Lambert visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate being crowned Miss Monroe County?

Being Miss Monroe County was a dream of mine since I was five-years-old. So celebrating my win was incredible, I feel like it lasted for days. Not only with my famly and friends, but the community. My events hit the ground running the day after I was crowned. So it

was continuous and truly a dream come true. 

What has surprised you the most about your time as Miss Monroe County?

The support from Monroe County. Miss Monroe County is a local pageant, so only girls from the county are able to compete. Therefore, I have had nothing but love and support from my community. When I went to the Miss Michigan pageant, I cannot believe the amount of support and love that I recieved from Monroe. 

How did you select your platform, “Give Graciously: Leave a Legacy”?

When I was thirteen-years-old, I saw a man sitting outside of a

local Subway with nothing but the shirt on his back and wheelbarrow full of his belongings in the dead of winter. I brought him a sub, and he simply smiled at me and said "thank you." I realized that I needed to do something about this, because this wasn't the first case I saw. I then started a coat drive titled Coat-ing with Kindness, and nine coat drives later, I have collected over 5,00

coats and winter accessories for those who don't have something to keep them warm in the winter. I started to realize that it wasn't just coats that I wanted to give back to my community, I had more heart to give. I starting teaching a special needs dance class, volunteering my time with the Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, the United Way, and many other local organizations. Doing all of this, seeing the change that I was making, I wanted to inspire others to do the same. So by giving graciously, I am able to teach others that they can leave a legacy of making a difference in the lives of others. 

What’s your favorite part about performing your jazz dance talent on stage?

I have been performing for 18 years of my life, so getting out on a

stage is home for me. It is something that  truly love doing and don't get nervous about. My favorite part of performing on stage is the crowd. Since my dance is upbeat, the crowd is always yelling or clapping. I feed off of that energy and it only makes me perform more!

Is there a goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Monroe County?

My goal as Miss Monroe County was to make a difference and to make my hometown proud. Going to the Miss Michigan pageant, making top 12, I know I made a difference seeing that I am the first Miss Monroe since 2013 to make top 10. I have also seen the impact I have made on lives as Miss Monroe County, and that is all that matters to me. It has been a dream come true these past 10 months.

What’s your personal fitness routine?

About a year ago, I started doing crossfit. Ever since I have started, I've been hooked. I have seen so many positive changes in my body, and I am truly in the best shape of my life. 

You’re a former member of the Detroit Tigers DTE Energy Squad. What was your favorite part about that experience?

I want to be a sports broadcaster for baseball. So being in the ball park alone, interacting with fans and being in front of the camera gave me the experience I need to move forward with my career.

If a Red Sox fan were to visit Comerica Park, what’s one feature they would enjoy, or not want to miss?

Comerica Park has so many things that anyone of any age would

truly enjoy. But besides the ball game, you don't want to miss our mascot, PAWS. PAWS is anywhere and everywhere throughout Comerica Park during the game and truly makes the experience even better!! [S36: Brooklynn is clearly too modest to mention herself as one of the must-see aspects of Comerica. Definitely keep your eyes open for her during the games!]

What’s your favorite memory of JD Martinez from his time with the Tigers?

The energy he brought to the game, how much he loved Detroit and his fans, there isn't just one moment or memory I have of him. Every single game he played was incredible because of what he brought to the plate. I hated seeing him go, but love watching his success from a far. 

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So far, I have to say she'd absolutely right about JD!

As usual, I want to give huge thanks to Brooklynn for doing this interview, especially as she got to know her new role with the Tigers organization. I also want to thank her for providing the pictures to accompany the interview. They went along perfectly with the interview, and made it a lot more fun!

As Brooklynn continues her time as Miss Monroe County, I encourage you to follow her on the official Miss Monroe County Facebook page and website.

I also want to wish Brooklynn luck as she starts competing in the next round of local competitions! This weekend she takes the stage to compete for the Miss Spirit of the State crown. I certainly hope she brings it home!

Thanks again Brooklynn, and good luck!

I’m Too Excited!

I can’t believe the baseball gods are making us wait another day before more Red Sox baseball. The three-day all-star break was bad enough. But four? That’s just cruel. The Red Sox are too good. The Red Sox are too exciting. The Red Sox are too much fun. How can I possibly be expected to wait so long before enjoying them again?

I thought one way to cope would be to think about the things in the second ‘half’ that I’m most excited about.

The Performances of the All-Stars. The Red Sox had five players at the All-Star game on Tuesday, and all five are on their way towards Epic seasons. (OK. Maybe Mitch Moreland’s season won’t quite be “epic”.) Mookie Betts and JD Martinez are doing their best Manny-Ortiz impression, and then some. Those two may have had more power than Mookie and JD (I say “may”) but neither of them ware the all-around players the current duo is. Especially Mookie. The epitome of a five-tool player, he is just a joy to watch. It will be so much fun to see how high he can go, and where JD will end up in relation. Chris Sale is also on his way to a monster year. The win total won’t be high enough to really get people’s attention, but a Cy Young is definitely a real possibility. He’s going to be fun to watch the next couple months. And last in the list, and in the game, is Craig Kimbrel. He’s just something, isn’t he? It’s been a while since the Sox had a closer who could come into a game, and just mow down the other team. It’s something you take for granted until you don’t have it.

Jackie Bradley, Jr. We know his history. He’s a complete wizard in the field, but closer to the guy behind the curtain at the plate. It’s a deal we’re more than willing to make. But, he always has a stretch…a long stretch…where he absolutely carries the team. Maybe that stretch just started. Maybe it’s still to come. But, when it does it’s a wonder to behold. I can’t wait to see it happen.

David Price. Lost in the shadow of Chris Sale is the fact that Price has done a pretty good job this season. Yes, he’s had a blip here and there. But, lots of pitchers do that. Assuming the injuries are finally behind him, I’m looking forward to watching Price be back to his old self as the season finishes up.

The New Guy. I don’t know who it will be, but the Red Sox will add someone. It might be a pitcher. It might be a bat. But, hopefully it will fill a need for the Sox, and be the push they need to really make this season flow.

The Sox are on a pretty special pace right now. I can’t wait to see them finish strong.

What part of the second half has you most excited?

A Perfect Way to Celebrate Summer!

It's the middle of summer! You're tired of wearing the same old thing when your working out, or going to the beach, or running to the store. You need a new wardrobe!

Lucky for you, the Section 36 store can help you! As it happens, the store is in the midst of a sale! You can take advantage of the opportunity to stock up on wonderful gear you can wear all summer long!

So, head over right now and select something that you like. But, don't delay. The sale only runs through Sunday! That's right only a few days before prices go back to their regular levels.

Click Here Now!

And, as always, when you do get an item, send me a picture wearing it for me to share with the world! The blog, Facebook, and even Instagram!

Like Kylee did to show off her amazing new tank top.

This tank is 27% off!

Or Phil did.

This tank is still 27% off!

Or Holly did with her cozy new hoodie.

This hoodie is 21% off!

Or Nicolette did with her great t-shirt!

This t-shirt is 30% off!

But, first you need to buy something you like. There's a lot to choose from.

What will you get?

An Exhibition Game

It seems to me that Super Bowl commercials aren’t the “thing” they used to be. I might be paying as close attention, but I don’t

remember as many people scheduling their Sunday around the commercials, or talking about them the next day. I’m not sure this is by accident. Super Bowl commercials were the pinnacle of advertising because they brought the most viewers. More eyes on a really good commercial meant mor eyes liking and talking about what you had to say. So, companies brought out their best, most innovative ideas. But, the downside was that the more eyes on an ad, the more that was charged. After a while, though, it seemed that advertisers weren’t willing to fork over the big bucks. Especially with the advent of YouTube and social media, advertisers realized they didn’t need to pay the money to get people to look at their best ads. If the ads were good enough, they could simply post them online and people would actually come on their own to see them. So, why waste quality on something people were going to see either way? And why pay for eyeballs you could get for free on your own?

The NFL itself has always had a similar marketing strategy. The worst time for a television show is Sunday afternoon. If you were trying to get your show in front of people’s faces, that’s the last time of day you’d pick. But, the NFL didn’t care. Why try to pay the money for prime time TV? Take the Sunday afternoons. But, make the show good enough that people seek you out. Sure, they’ve added some prime time games. But, by that point it was the networks looking to fill their prime slots, not the other way around.

What does that have to do with anything?

Baseball has an opportunity. But they haven’t learned anything from those examples.

Tonight, Major League Baseball will hold its All-Star Game. It should very well be the pinnacle event of the summer. A mid-summer classic, perhaps. They have the sports landscape all to themselves. This is their chance to show the world what a quality product they have.

But they’ll blow it.

When people lament the marketability of MLB, they usually point to the star problem. Oh, sure, baseball has star players. They have personalities. The tricky part is marketing them in a regular game. Hard to really draw in viewers with a “Mike Trout vs Chris Sale” tagline for a game in June because Trout will only face Sale two or three times. Spaced out about an hour from each other. That’s not going to draw in viewers. If the NBA hypes Kyrie Irving vs. LeBron James, those two players will be on the court together at least 80% of the game. If you’re trying to draw in the more casual fans, that’s a much easier sell.

But, not tonight. Today, the game features line-ups full of stars to promote. Sure, Mookie Betts might only face Max Scherzer once, but there are plenty of other star pitchers for him to match up against. Same goes for Mike Trout. Or JD Martinez. They should each get three, maybe four at-bats against a quality pitcher. They should demonstrate the very best baseball has to offer.

But they won’t.

None of those three all-stars will get three at bats. They might get two. After that, baseball will replace them with lesser known and less talented stars facing lesser known and less talented pitchers. After an hour, even if it’s an all-star game, most fans won’t have heard of all the players in the game.

How does this make sense to anyone?

But, it won't stop there!

This would seem to be a really good chance to focus on how wonderful baseball can be. Last night, they had their fun. The home run derby tried not to be a snooze-fest by injecting some laughs and personality. They made a nothing into an event as a way to really enhance the players themselves. Tonight, with the amount of talent on the field, MLB can show you how incredibly a well played game can be. How it looks when you have the best facing the best.

They won't do that either.

They'll have players miked. They'll be talking to them between innings. They'll be talking to them in the middle of the inning. 

THEY'LL PUT THE ACTUAL GAME IN A SMALL SCREEN TO SHOW A DUGOUT INTERVIEW FULL SCREEN!

This isn't the Pro Bowl. Players can actually play the game the way it's supposed to be played. They can put everything they usually do into their performance. It doesn't need to be a circus.

But they'll make it one.

If MLB keeps telling people that the sideshow is more entertaining than the game itself, people are going to start believing them.

They need to cut it out.

Bridget Oei Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Bridget Oei is a surfer, a Red Sox fan, and the current Miss Connecticut. She is currently spending the

next couple months gearing up for the Miss America competition in September. I’m flattered that she took the time out of her busy schedule to discuss those topics, and a few more. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading everything she had to say!

So, let’s see what happens when Bridget Oei visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Connecticut crown?

I put on some sweatpants (left my crown and sash on of course), and started preparations for Miss America!

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Connecticut competition that will help you at Miss America?

Throughout my years of competing at Miss Connecticut I have learned to focus on the aspects of competition that I can control. These factors include making sure I am healthy and happy, and presenting my best self. Ultimately the results of the competition are out of my control, so I have learned to not even worry about how I do! As long as I did my best, I am happy and I will continue that same approach at Miss America.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Connecticut?

My greatest goal for my year as Miss Connecticut is to leave every young individual I meet and interact with feeling inspired and excited for their own future. I hope by sharing my story and experiences, I can ignite passion in our young people to pursue whatever it is they love.

How did you select your platform, “Women in STEM: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators”?

I have been involved in science research since the 7^th grade. My science fair projects were simple and innovative solutions to daily problems and I fell in love with the idea that at a young age, I could make a difference in the scientific community. I want to use my position as Miss Connecticut to encourage young women to think creatively and realize their own potential in STEM careers, and come to understand that STEM exploration is possible and effective at any age.

What do you like most about performing your Irish dance talent on stage?

As a competitive Irish dancer, I feel most comfortable when I am on

stage performing what I love. I especially enjoy the opportunity to express emotions to an audience and showcase my culture through Irish dancing.

As an avid surfer, what’s your favorite part about riding the waves?

I love spending many hours out on the water with other surfers and the community that we build out on the water. In addition, the adrenaline rush of catching a wave is like no other! I particularly enjoy the focus and balance that catching a wave requires, and then when the wave is caught, it’s pure fun from

there!

Who is your favorite current Red Sox player? Why?

Chris Sale! I really appreciate pitchers, as they must be so accurate and precise. Chris is both of these things and has been quite successful!

How will the Red Sox finish the 2018 season?

World Series 2018!

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Sounds like the right call to me!

As always, I want to give huge thanks to Bridget for doing this interview, especially with everything going on before Miss America. I also want to thank her for providing the pictures to accompany the interview. They are simply fantastic, and certainly make the interview a lot more fun to read.

As Bridget continues her time as Miss Connecticut, I encourage you to follow her on the official Miss Connecticut social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat. 

I also definitely want to wish Bridget luck this fall as she competes for the Miss America crown! I’m honored by the fact that there will be several Section 36 visitors gracing the stage in Atlantic City. It would be incredible to have her take home the title! 

Thanks again Bridget, and good luck!