Jaylah Young Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Jaylah Young is passionate about helping young adults, a comedian, and the current Miss East Cascades. I was excited she was willing to talk with us and discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let’s see what happens when Jaylah Young visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss East Cascades crown?

Well, In work at Dutch Bros Coffee and all of my coworkers had been listening to me talk about Miss East Cascades coming up, so the first thing I did was stop by my stand in my crown and sash so show them that it actually happened! Then I went home and hung out with my family, played some board games, and enjoyed a cherry Pepsi!

What did you find most surprising about your time as Miss East Cascades?

Photo by
Lynette Smith Photography

I found the lack of knowledge about the organization in my community to be most surprising. Most people that I would meet during appearances didn't know much about the Miss America Organization or that they have local representation! So, it was really awesome to be able to explain all the cool details of the organization to them and how it has changed my life.

What is your fondest memory of the Miss Washington competition?

I have two of my fondest memory of the Miss Washington competition that come to mind: One was celebrating my 21st birthday on the preliminary night and having cake and having the whole crowd at the visitation afterwards sing happy birthday to me. The other is from the Miss Washington spring forum where our main children's miracle network fundraiser was a lip sync battle that my family agreed to be a part of with me. I will always cherish the memory of them being my band-mates and performing one of my favorite songs, "Photograph" by Def Leppard. And we also won the lip sync battle!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Adult(ish): The survival guide”?

My social impact initiative came to be because I had struggled personally with my transition into adult life and ended up finding myself living in my car because I had no idea how to budget to afford an apartment or even how to get the process started of finding and applying for one, let alone the thousands of other responsibilities we're just expected to know how to handle when we turn 18. I also knew that I definitely wasn't the only one who was having a rough time so I wanted to be part of the movement to help end the "lost" feeling people get after graduating from high school by teaching them life skills early on. 

As a comedian, what is your favorite part about performing on stage?

As a comedian, I love that my talent is "out of the box" and I love the compliments I receive from others about how cool it is that I didn't let not having a "traditional" talent stop me from competing in the Miss America Organization. I also love that it is a creative outlet for me to express my emotions and life experiences.

What is your personal fitness routine? 

I'll be honest, my personal fitness routine is nothing crazy or special, I just allow myself to workout when I feel like it and try to make healthier diet choices without restricting myself. I have worked really hard to accept that in the past I had set unrealistic expectations for myself and my body, that I am beautiful whether I weigh 120lbs or 150lbs, and that my worth and ability to be a good person isn't defined by a number on a scale or tape measure. My routine mainly consists of working out at home or at Worx (a wonderful Miss East Cascades sponsor) and trying to avoid foods that are high in sugar, fried, and dairy (fun fact I'm lactose intolerant).

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why? 

Well, Belle is my favorite Disney princess but I would want to be Elsa, because I see a lot of myself in her. She is strong, independent, reliable, and has such an amazing support system. 

If you had an extra ticket to a Red Sox vs Mariners game, who would you take with you? Why? 

I would definitely take my dad because he is a big Mariners fan and we always enjoy sports games together!

Is there a feature or activity at a baseball game that you’d especially like to experience? 

I have ALWAYS dreamed of throwing out the first pitch at a Mariner's game!

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That would be a lot of fun!

As usual, I want to thank Jaylah for visiting and for sending along the great pictures that accompany the interview. They always make posts so much more fun!

As Jaylah wraps up her time as Miss East Cascades, I encourage you to check out her official instagram account, Facebook page, and website. (Especially check out the website if you think you might want to be the next Miss East Cascades!) It’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss out on everything she’ll have going on.

Thanks again Jaylah!

Revised List of 36: Best Players I’ve Seen Play In Person

With the Hall of Fame results released recently, it’s time

to once again update my list. In fact, I realize that I didn’t do this update post last year. So, I have to also look at those inductees to see if they make any changes. As a general rule,  the Hall of Fame elections are usually less disruptive to this list since if you’re in the Hall of Fame, chances are you’re already on this list. But, that’s certainly not been the case lately!

As I’ve said, I make this list based mostly on awards. After all, my grandkids are more likely to ask me if I’ve seen a former MVP than some player who played well for a while (except for David Ortiz, I suppose). I also assume a Hall of Fame probably automatically makes the list.

So, starting with the 2019 induction. I’ve never seen Harold Baines or Lee Smith play live. So, those are easy. I’m also almost positive I never saw Roy Haladay live. But, I have seen the other three: Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, and Mariano Rivera. None of the three were previously on the list, since they all lacked a major award. And, frankly, none of them deserve to be in the Hall…so why would they have been on my list?

That brings us to the 2020 election. Derek Jeter I’ve obviously seen many times. Larry Walker I saw during the 2004 World Series. Again, neither were previously on my list. Jeter obviously didn’t make the cut previously. He didn’t have a major award, and really doesn’t deserve induction. Walker probably should have been on the list, but with just the one MVP he must have been squeaked out at some point.

So, amazingly, the Hall of Fame elections have added five players to the list the last five years. Remarkable.

So, who gets the bump? Right now, about half the list are Hall of Famers, so they’re safe. Bonds , ARod, and Clemens I’ll allow to keep their spots. Ichiro, Trout, and Pujols I assume will be in the Hall eventually, so seems weird to remove them now. That leaves six players who only have the MVP award in their collection. And, only one of those it a Red Sox player. So, the five players who will be eliminated from this list are: Josh Donaldson, Juan Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton,  Matt Holliday, and Andrew McCutchen. Mo Vaught gets to keep his slot…for now.

So, here’s the new list.

1. Roberto Alomar (HOF)

2. Wade Boggs (HOF)

3. Barry Bonds (MVP)

4. Ryan Braun (ROY, MVP)

5. Miguel Cabrera (MVP, triple crown)

6. Jose Canseco (ROY, MVP)

7. Roger Clemens (MVP, CYA)

8. Dennis Eckersley (HOF)

9. Tom Glavine (HOF)

10. Ken Griffey Jr (HOF, All-Century Team)

11. Vladimir Guerrero (HOF)

12. Bryce Harper (ROY, MVP)

13. Rickey Henderson (HOF)

14. Derek Jeter (HOF)

15. Randy Johnson (HOF)

16. Chipper Jones (HOF)

17. Greg Maddux (HOF)

18. Edgar Martinez (HOF)

19. Pedro Martinez (HOF)

20. Mike Mussina (HOF)

21. Dustin Pedroia (ROY, MVP)

22. Mike Piazza (HOF)

23. Kirby Puckett (HOF)

24. Albert Pujols (MVP)

25. Jim Rice (HOF)

26. Cal Ripken (HOF)

27. Mariano Rivera (HOF)

28. Alex Rodriguez (MVP)

29. Ivan Rodriguez (HOF)

30. John Smoltz (HOF)

31. Ichiro Suzuki (ROY, MVP)

32. Frank Thomas (HOF)

33. Jim Thome (HOF)

34. Mike Trout (MVP)

35. Mo Vaughn (MVP)

36. Larry Walker (HOF)

Who’s on your list?

1975 Topps Page by Page: Page 9 (73-81)

I'm sure that you all remember that I finally completed my 1975 Topps set. 

Now that it's done I thought it would be fun to look through the set and talk about it. Going page by page seemed like a good way to go about it. Hopefully you find it interesting to read what I have to say.

How about we continue with page 9?

Red Sox Cards on the Page:  1. And what a Red Sox card it is! A fabulous card of the hero of the 1975 World Series.

Cards that make the 1975 Topps set cool: Young Hall of Famers! Of course, you have Fisk from his Red Sox days as a young all-star. You also have Ted Simmons, a much more recent addition to the cool card ranks.

My favorite card on the page: Yeah. It's the Fisk. Really, it's everything that excited me about the set in the first place. A great design, including the all-star star in the corner. A Red Sox hero from before I was really old enough to know it. A participant in that great World Series, and a young card of a baseball legend. It's really fantastic.

What would your answers to those last two categories be?

Megan Stier Visits Section 36!

Photo by Dorthy Shi

Section 36 has another visitor! Megan Stier is a brain injury awareness advocate, a talented singer, and the current Miss Broadway. Yeah, that means she’s a Yankees fan. I was still thrilled she was willing to talk with us and discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let’s see what happens when Megan Stier visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Broadway crown?

With Chipotle! I was so nervous all day that I hardly ate so after crowning all I wanted was Chipotle. I also called my family and friends who have supported me through the Miss America Organization to let them know I had won and to thank them for helping me get to that point!

What part of the upcoming Miss New York competition are you most nervous about?

RED CARPET! I am the clumsiest person and I know its just a matter of time before I faceplant in a formal gown. (Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen this year)

If you could play any role in any Broadway show, which would you pick? Why?

Glinda in Wicked. I have always said I want to “travel by bubble” just like she does. Her character was originated by Kristen Chenowith who I admire in both her personal and professional life. In fact, my Talent song was the one she used to do when she competed in the Miss America Organization.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Brain Injury Awareness and Education”?

When I was in high school I suffered from a traumatic brain injury and I found that the hardest part wasn’t the pain, memory loss or speech differences that happened because of my injury. The hardest part was trying to go back to school and finding that there was very little knowledge and information available for my teachers and administrators on how to properly work with students with brain injury. Now I work to inform our schools about the needs and expectations of students returning to school post brain injury. My hope is to fully create a program for students to reintegrate back into their schools and communities seamlessly post injury.

As a talented singer, what is your favorite part about performing on stage?

The audience. If its 10 people or 10,000 people I love to perform for them. In the Miss America program we have 90 seconds to entertain, so that is exactly what I try to do. Having the ability to create a world, mood, scenario or story with my voice and acting is so exciting and truly rewarding when the audience enjoys it as well.

What is your personal fitness routine?

I love crossfit and kickboxing. Each of these sports allow me to set personal fitness goals as I continue to learn and grow with them. Crossfit is a high intensity program mixed with cardio and heavy weights to get a full body workout and kickboxing is the cardio session you didn’t know you needed!

As a Yankees fan, who is your favorite Red Sox player? Why?

 I can’t pick a Red Sox player. No way. Not gonna happen!

What is your favorite Aaron Judge memory?

A couple years after I moved to the city, my dad came to visit and we went to a Yankees game. (Now you have to understand this is a big deal for my dad who counts down the days until spring training each year on February 12th) It was a last minute decision and he had not packed his Yankee gear. So he went to the closest thrift store and found a Judge jersey to wear to the game. (So maybe not an exact Aaron Judge memory or play he did but it was a fantastic day regardless)

Is there a feature or activity at Yankee Stadium that you’d especially like to experience?

One of my life goals is to sing the national anthem at Yankee Stadium. Im hoping to make that dream a reality in the near future!

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That would be a lot of fun!

As usual, I want to thank Megan for visiting and for sending along the pictures that accompany the interview. They always make posts so much more fun!

As Megan continues her time as Miss Broadway, I encourage you to check out her official instagram account. It’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss out on everything she’ll have goin on.

And, of course, I want to wish Megan luck when she competes for the Miss New York crown. It would be great to have a Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Megan, and good luck!

The First Sale of the Year!

It's late January. The Holidays are over. You're starting to think about Spring Training. Thinking about warmer weather. Thinking about...your wardrobe.

It's lacking, isn't it? It could use some fresh threads to really start the season off right. Like the wonderful gear from Section 36! Well, today's the perfect day to think that because it's all on SALE!

That's right! Today through Sunday, the Section 36 store will be on sale! Don't miss this opportunity! 

So, head over right now and select something that you like. But, don't delay. Remember, the sale only runs through Sunday! 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! Not only would it be a great way to show the world your amazing outfit, but if you have a business or cause that needs promotion, it's an easy way to get a mention on Section 36!

Like Sabrina did!

This Tank Top is on Sale!

Or like Lauren did!

This Tank Top is on Sale!

Like Bridget did! (With some help from K. Garcia Productions)

This sweatshirt is on sale!

Or, like Bernadette did to show off how amazing this tank top looks on her.

This tank is on sale!

Or Phil did

This tank is also on sale!

Or Holly did with her cozy new hoodie.

This hoodie is on sale!

Or Nicolette did with her great t-shirt!

This t-shirt is on sale!

Or like Allison did!

This t-shirt is on sale!

Or, like Sierra did!

This t-shirt is on sale!

But, first you need to buy something you like. There's a lot to choose from. There are even a couple new designs to choose from!

What will you get?

Happy Twelfth Anniversary To Me!

I know that I hardly ever remember to post on my blog's Anniversary. I don't know what it is, but with all the

excitement of the new year, it always slips my mind. But this year I did remember. So, here’s to 12 years writing this blog! 

It all started with this very first post.

It's always so amazing to look back at that and think about how it all started. What was I getting myself into? Clearly I had no idea. 

It's nice to see that I've stayed pretty true to those first goals. I don't do true game recaps. I leave those to others who can do it better. Really, I don’t do much breaking news, if any. That constant motion of a story doesn’t particularly work for me. I only brings my thoughts and views on various topics whenever I get the chance.

And look at little old innocent me asking readers to send in pictures. How cute. Of course, I never imagined that people would actually do it. I certainly never dreamed they be sending in pics wearing my gear!

It's also amazing to think how much the blog has grown since then. It's added a Twitter account. And Facebook. Instagram. Even Snapchat.

But, that's not all.

It has expanded (ever so slightly) to other sports as well, with separate blogs about the Bruins, Celtics, and Patriots. It makes Section 36 a presence in all of Boston sports. There's even a blog, Twitter, and Facebook that groups all those together.

But that’s still not all. 

Anyone who's paying attention knows that Section 36 has enjoyed posting interviews. Those have been with people including player wives and NE Patriots Cheerleaders. By far, however, the largest group is with pageant titleholders. I have had the privilege of conducting interviews and talking baseball with more than 100 titleholders, covering nineteen (so far) states. Most from within the Miss America Organization, but a couple Miss USA and Miss Earth contestants have been featured. I never dreamed that would happen, and couldn't be more excited about it. With so many visitors,  the pageantry focus has expanded to have a blog, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook account of their own.

And even that’s not all. 

If pageants were a surprising development, Music was shocking. Another “accidental” expansion. A few of the titleholders interviewed here also happened to be musicians. As a way to provide more publicity for them, Section 36 Music was born. Boy has that latest addition to the Section 36 Suite blown up. It has taken on a life of its own, interviewing and promoting local female artists from the New England area. It has been so much fun interacting with these talented women, having interviewed more than ten of them. Eight in the last two months. I love using the power of Section 36 to shine I light on these deserving women. Of course, there's also a music twitter, instagram, and facebook.

The blog has discussed Red Sox cards as well. Which is why there's a whole "cardboard" section on the blogroll showing off all the wonderful card bloggers out there. That wasn’t exactly a goal when this started, but I’m glad it came along. I have really enjoyed all the blogger interaction with all the other card collectors.

But the focus has always (hopefully) remained on the Red Sox. I can't wait to see where their 2020 season leads me. And I can't wait to see how many of you follow me along the way.

For all of you who have played a part in the first twelve years of this blog, I thank you. I couldn't have done it without you.

Here's to the next twelve!

Sabrina Ponte Revisits Section 36!

Section 36 has another revisitor! You may remember Sabrina Ponte from her previous visit while she held the Miss Cranberry Country crown. This time she visits as Miss Music Row within the Miss Tennessee organization. I’m excited to be able to catch up on what she’s been up to since the last visit. She also represents the first visitor from the state of Tennessee, which is so fantastic. I’m glad we were able to visit again.

So, let’s see what happens when Sabrina Ponte visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Music Row crown?
I knew that I would be celebrating all year so I did not make plans to do anything special. For me celebrating is getting to see my sister crowns win following weeks, reaching a new personal goal in my workouts, getting to see progress with my social initiative, making appearance, meeting my sponsors, etc. So I wanted to rest up and be ready to conquer the week because I was so excited.

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time with the title?

Photo by Byra Chelansley

SO many goals I would love to accomplish. Growing the Miss America brand for one, and getting to know the organization and its partners as best I can in the state of Tennessee. I also have a list of organizations in the health field I would like to link with to advance my social initiative and serve.

Do you think your previous experience as a titleholder in Massachusetts will help you when you compete for Miss Tennessee?

100% My experience in Massachusetts has been invaluable. I discovered my love for pageants in Massachusetts and with winning their biggest Miss America local of Miss Boston, I have worked extremely closely with the city which has helped me develop into a better communicator, advocate, and people person!

How did you select your social impact initiative?

I have struggled to say the least when it comes to health.

Photo by
Blades Photography

One thing I dealt/deal with is RSD, more commonly known as chronic regional pain syndrome, which I still currently have and suffered from a lot more strongly growing up. My most life changing injury though happened right before I graduated high school. I was stopped in my vehicle and hit by an oncoming car; my recovery is still ongoing. 

With the issues I have faced I have met a lot of doctors, tried a lot of treatments, and persevered  to follow my dreams even when I was told they would not be possible. I refused to give up hope and started looking to the holistic side of things where, from my research, I realized how much lifestyle in general plays a role in disease prevention. Now would a different lifestyle have changed my injuries and diagnosis? No. But can it change other peoples? Absolutely! THAT is why I wanted to create my social initiative to focus on disease prevention. Fit and Full isn't just about exercising and eating healthy. It is about the holistic approach to disease prevention and healthy healing. I want the focus to be on how we can prevent medical issues, not just how to treat them with medications. Food is medicine and prevention is key! There is also always something in this topic that can relate to people. Are you interested in the environmental factors affecting people's health like water or air quality? The food we are eating? The amount of time people are active per day? The pharmaceutical industry? There's always a way to start the conversation about how we can experience a healthier life!

As an accomplished singer, how do/did you select the song you’ll sing at Miss Tennessee?

My song for Miss Tennessee is in the works and a surprise

but I am SO excited for you to hear it!

What is your personal fitness routine?

My body with my injuries can give me a hard time sometimes but that does not discourage me. There is no one way to workout or exercise, if you can move then we can make a plan for you! I recently have been focusing a lot on mobility and muscle strengthening so I do not have improper muscle compensation. I LOVE cardio, dance, and barre but have been incorporating more weights than usual. Since I have moved to Nashville, though, hiking is my new favorite form of exercise!

You’ve had the opportunity to do quite a bit of modeling. What do you like about being in front of the camera?

I have! This weekend I will be at the Country Cares Seminar in Memphis on the Red Carpet interviewing artists. I have always felt “myself” in front of the camera. I am a very creative person but also very focused and modeling allows me to be in my own lane honed in on what I am doing and be creative. Whether it is interviewing, selling a product, or shoots just for me I love finding my angles and figuring out what is the best way we can get a shot! It's one of my favorite things.

Are you still able to follow the Red Sox while living in Nashville?

I am! Although rumor has it Nashville might be getting a MLB team which would be exciting !

If you were going to throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game, who would you want to be the catcher?

I have always been a Jason Varitek fan so that would be pretty cool to bring him back out! I think it's really cool when athletes play their whole career in the majors with one team.

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That would be a great choice!

As usual, I want to thank Sabrina for visiting. I was glad we were able to make it happen. I also want to thank her for letting me use the pictures that accompany the interview. They always make for a better post!

As Sabrina continues her time as Miss Music Row, I encourage you to check out her official and personal instagram accounts. It’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss out on everything she’ll have goin on.

And, of course, I want to wish Sabrina luck when she competes for the Miss Tennessee crown. How incredible would it be to have a Section 36 visitor wear that crown?

Thanks again Sabrina, and good luck!