Lily Jeswald Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Lily Jeswald is passionate about stopping the diabetes stigma, a talented singer, and the current Miss Commonwealth. I was thrilled that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Lily Jeswald visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Commonwealth crown?
After all the hugs, photos and my mom running onstage WHILE I was being crowned, I threw off my gown and headed straight to the Cheesecake Factory with my mom, Kim and my boyfriend, Jake. During the Fettuccine Alfredo and Chocolate Cake, I discovered our waitress was actually related to Miss Massachusetts, Lynsdsey Littlefield! So funny how worlds collide. 

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Commonwealth competition that will help when you compete for Miss Massachusetts? 
I learned how important it is to be my true, genuine self.

Through all the stress of competing, it's hard not to belittle yourself for not being like the girls around you. I am so grateful that as I've grown up, I've been able to hold my own, while still keeping my bubbly personality. 

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Commonwealth?
As Miss Commonwealth, my number one goal is to give back to my community. When I was younger, I studied at the Burtwood School of Performing Arts in Middleboro, where many of the Miss America Organization girls studied public speaking, and so as you can imagine, my dream was always to be one of the girls with the 'sparkly hats'. Once I started competing in the Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen program, I realized being a titleholder meant a lot more than wearing gowns and singing onstage. It required the women who competed to be well-rounded, well spoken members of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who continuously gave back to their community. I am so excited to get started - next week I will be singing the national anthem at the Veteran's Day event in Middleboro, MA to kickoff my start of appearances as Miss Commonwealth.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Type 1 Diabetes and Me: Generation Z”?

I live my social impact initiative. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of four, and now seventeen years later, I wear both an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. As a child, there were not many kids like me, so I sought out to find them. Did you know there's over 600,000 people right now in Massachusetts alone who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes? This is an underrepresented group, and as Miss Commonwealth my goal is to be their representative at Miss Massachusetts. I like to say the phrase "Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there". With all chronic illnesses there are two immediate reactions: "Can I catch it?" or "You poor thing". I'm here to stop the stigma and to show children and adults alike that people with T1D can be successful in whatever they wish to do, despite their medical condition.

As a talented singer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?
I was a shy kid, but I always loved singing. My pure love for

Photo by Peter Camyre

Disney movies kickstarted my love of musical theatre. The most thrilling experience of performing onstage is the fact that it is always different. I have performed both onstage and on film, and nothing is more nerve wracking than the idea that something could go wrong - at any time. There will never be this exact show again. People will sing the same lyrics all over the world - but no one will tell the story the same way again. 

How would you finish the sentence, “I get great satisfaction when ___”?
I get great satisfaction when I... eat ice cream? Just kidding. (Not really :) ). I think the most satisfying piece of my education so far has been directing and teaching. I am a current double major in both theatre and english at Dean College in Franklin, MA. Seeing one of my students or performers have a breakthrough is the best moment for me. When a student works hard week after week after week and one day - it just 'clicks'. That makes the hours of teaching worthwhile. 

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

I am the biggest Disney nerd around. I would love to think that Cinderella's castle is my second home! I would have to swap places with Ariel from The Little Mermaid. My childhood dream of being a singing mermaid would finally come true - and having Flounder as my sidekick would be the icing on top of the cake.

If you had an extra ticket to a Red Sox game, who would you take with you? Why?
I have never been to a Red Sox game - so I'd have to take my brother Ricky with me to show me the ropes. He is the sports sibling - I'm the musical sibling. 

Is there a feature or activity at a Red Sox game that you’d especially like to experience?
I want to throw the first pitch as Miss Commonwealth! I would LOVE to sing the national anthem at a Red Sox game and start the game off - I did sing at New York Fashion Week last year - so I'm fully qualified! :) 

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Yup. Most definitely qualified!

As always, I want to thank Lily for visiting with us, and for sending along the fantastic pictures to go with the interview.

I encourage you to follow Lily on her title's Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as her personal Facebook and Instagram, and the Facebook and Instagram accounts for her social impact. So many ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss Massachusetts title. It would be wonderful to have another Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Lily, and good luck!

2021 Bowman Blaster!

I got a package from Target! That's always the best feeling. Well, the best feeling since they stopped selling cards in-store. It was obviously more fun to see them sitting on the shelf since you could, you know, just buy them and open them. Now you have to buy them...wait forever...then open. Oh well. I was able to sang a few blasters unexpectedly not long ago, and they finally arrived. Let's see how the first one went.

Let's get to it!

Here's what the box looks like.

As promised, there were six packs in the box.

The problem with Bowman is that many of the players in the set are years away from the majors, so you tend to get lots of cards of guys you've never heard of. Which might be why they were available for me to purchase...just a bit harder to flip. But, that's not the case when you get one of the Red Sox top prospects who is banging at the door to the major leagues. I've definitely heard of this guy.

Another guy I've heard of. One of the pieces, although a replacement part, that came back in the Mookie Betts deal...Downs is easy to remember with a first name like that. Soon he'll be the best Jeter to ever play at Fenway.

Of course, the other problem with Bowman is that the design isn't very creative. It never is. Not sure why. Does Topps assume the people buying the cards are hard-core investors who aren't buying cards they like the look of? It's not like people are buying these cards because they happen to like the set. They're buying them for the rookie hits. Probably before even bothering to look at the cards themselves.

Also got this numbered parallel of a Phillies top pick. See? Can't flip this. Gonna have to sit on it to see if he's everything the Phillies hope he is.

Overall, not a bad box. A couple Red Sox prospects, and someone to watch.

How did you box go?

1975 Topps Page by Page: Page 59 (523-531)

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 59?

Red Sox Cards on the Page  

0. Once again.

Cards that make the 1975 Topps set cool 

Team cards are cool. Players from the 1975 World Series are cool...and a whole team in this case. All-Star cards are cool, especially with that fun logo. Cards of young Hall of Famers are cool. While I'm not sure either Gaylord Perry or Sparky Anderson would qualify as "young" in 1975, they did have pretty long chunks of their careers after that. 

My favorite card on the page 

Have to go with Gaylord Perry. Nice posed action shot tightly cropped to show off the fun uniform. The all-star logo, and a Hall of Famer. Hard to beat that.

What would your answers to those last two categories be?

Harley Tilque Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Harley Tilque is passionate about early action to fight cancer, a talented dancer, and the current Miss Metrolina's Outstanding Teen. I was excited that she wanted to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.
 
So, let's see what happens when Harley Tilque visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Metrolina’s Outstanding Teen crown?

Well of course no celebration is complete without a dinner and dessert.  So I went to Applebee’s with some of my friends and family! It was such a fun night and we were there celebrating until the restaurant closed.

How did you select your social impact initiative dealing with Ovarian Cancer Awareness?

In 2012 my grandmother was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.  She was only given 2 month to live. However, she was offered the opportunity to become part of a research study and was given 5 more years with us.

After we lost her unexpectedly (she was cancer free when she

passed), I decided to change my platform to T.E.A.L. -Take Early Action & Live. I wanted to continue what she had started and honor her as well.

After a lot of research I learned that the symptoms of this disease are very vague and only 15% get diagnosed in the early stages. I also learned that it also does not get the funding it deserves because there is no screening test to detect this “silent killer”, the nickname for ovarian cancer. Over the past 3 years I have been developing my platform, I have raised over $4,000 towards research, have helped to spread

the word about the symptoms

and hopefully will be able to help families across the country.

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss Metrolina’s Outstanding Teen?

Only time will tell but I hope to become the next Miss North Carolina Outstanding Teen! My committee has helped me prepare for this pageant for almost 2 years and I am ready to show everyone all the hard work i’ve put in.

You recently had the opportunity to compete in the Summit cheer competition. What was that experience like?

IT WAS A DREAM! Being new to the cheer community it was honestly overwhelming. Summit is like the super bowl for cheerleaders and if you are lucky enough to win, you get a personalized ring! My team had worked so hard the entire season and we were so proud of the performance we left on the mat. All the support from the team and parents was so electric to be around and we even got to go to Animal Kingdom and MGM Hollywood Studios.

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

For sure Venellope Von Schweetz from Wreck-It-Ralph. Not only does she get to race go-karts made from Candy but she has an amazing best friend like Ralph to always hang with. I would love to be in her place and live in Candy Land, sounds like heaven to me.

If you had an extra ticket to a Charlotte Knights game, who would you take with you? Why?

Thomas Rhett! I am a huuuugee country fan and especially of

Thomas Rhett. I not only love to follow his new songs but all the new updates with his life and family. He is definitely a role model I look up to for advice and would give anything to sit down and watch some baseball with him.

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

I think it’s be really cool to throw the first pitch at a game. Even as a competitive dancer and cheerleader, coordination isn’t always my friend so I’m not sure how far the ball will go but I am always open to trying new things.

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I agree, that would be a fun experience!

As always, I want to thank Harley for visiting with us, and for sending along the fantastic pictures to go with the interview.

I encourage you to follow Harley on her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck when she competes for the Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!
 
Thanks again Harley, and good luck!

A Swing and a Trade Post

A few months ago I got a note from Swing and a Pop-Up saying he had some Red Sox dupes that I could probably use more than he could. I'm always willing to get new Red Sox cards, so I graciously accepted and a swap was made. I couldn't believe the generous pile that arrived at my door! Let's check out just some of the highlights.

The "Trading Places" card is funny to me. I don't remember that subset being all inclusive. So, the fact that they decided to make a card celebrating Mark Loretta changing teams seems like an interesting choice. The UD Masterpieces is another oddity. The whole idea of the set, I thought, was to make the cards look like classical paintings. The added inset seems out of place, even if I understand that they wanted to show off the ankle.

Jay Payton looks scared, to me.

Rickey Henderson was 43 years old with the Red Sox in 2002. He only saw limited action, but I remember being blown away by how he terrorized pitchers on the base paths. When he was on first, you could just feel the game change. I can't even imagine what that would have been like in his prime when he was stealing 100 bases a year. He should have been MVP every year. Sort of like Pedro. Always fun to get a card of his I don't have.

Nomar too. I know he has a TON of cards out there, but I have a ton of Nomar and Pedro cards in my collection so it always surprises me to find ones I don't have.

Look! Two more! I don't know if I've ever seen 2001 Opening Day before. That logo isn't exactly subtle.

More Nomars!

These are the Opening Days I'm used to seeing. The small logo making them basic duplicates of the base Topps sets. Can you even tell which one of the four isn't Opening Day?

Papi was supposed to be a utility guy and ended up a legend. Ball was supposed to be a legend...but wasn't.

A picture of Will Middlebrooks diving on a 2013 card. That, of course, reminds me of the terrible interference call on Will during the 2013 World Series. I don't like being reminded of that.

What did I JUST say?

That's better. Hard to remember a more dominant pitching performance than Beckett during the 2007 postseason. (Well, other than Pedro during every stretch of his career.) 

Always enjoyed the Bowman Platinum brand, even when it features Ryan Kalish.

A couple more Sox stars.

Love that Lester card.

And, of course, the Pedro card.

Not sure if there was a more overrated player during his tenure. For some reason Boston fans prefer dirt to talent. I may never understand that.

This set basically escaped me. So glad to be able to add some to the binder.

Way back to the early years of Topps Gold.

Even a little earlier.

Lots of pitchers. Some good, some not so good.

So, there are the highlights of an incredible shipment. I can't thank SAAP enough for sending them along.

Hopefully more Red Sox swings lead to line drives.