1975 Topps Page by Page: Page 8 (64-72)

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 8?

Red Sox Cards on the Page:  0. Pitching another shutout.

Cards that make the 1975 Topps set cool: This page contains a couple "coolness factors"...team cards and old cards of veterans. The Royals team card is a fun throwback. And, a card of a young Charlie Hough? You mean he wasn't always 40 years old? And a very early Mike Schmidt? Young Hall of Famers are so much fun.

My favorite card on the page: Has to be the Mike Schmidt. While the card is nothing special, and the condition of this particular one isn't exactly mint, it's definitely the key card on the page. An early card of one of the best to play his position. A guy I only saw when he was ready to retire. Here he is with his whole career in front of him. Quite the card.

What would your answers to those last two categories be?

It's Not Hedwig, But It's an Owl Delivery

I received an unexpected package the other day, which is always fun. I had sent Night Owl some cards from his wantlist not too long ago, and he apparently saw fit to return the favor. It's the best kind of package when you don't know what to expect when you open it. I only assumed it would be quality, because a NO package always is.

He was even nice enough to warn me with a note that I might not need every card in the package. He was right, but every card was definitely appreciated. Want to see some of the best? Oh, good.

It's amazing because no matter how many packs of this I open, I never seem to pull the Red Sox coins. Thankfully I am now able to add this great Mookie.

Yeah, this is pretty cool. No idea who either of these guys is. But, it's my first 1969 Topps Red Sox. Yeah, I couldn't believe it either. Always glad to add great vintage to the binder.

See comment for Mookie. Lots of Yankees seem to come in my Holiday packs. Very few Red Sox.

A very pensive Chris Sale. Wonder what he's thinking about. Hopefully it's about how he's fully healthy and ready for the 2020 season.

It's hard to tell, but the Benintendi is some super special short print numbered /52. Actually, it's #32/52/ Tendi used to wear #16. 16 is half of 32. That's so wild!

A couple Mookie inserts I didn't have. I have no idea what set the shiny one came out of. A gold parallel version of the Chavis rookie is fun. He has a lot of rookie cards, as everyone does these days, so it's fun to keep finding new ones.

A little collection of everything. The Swihart Chrome rookie was probably a fairly hot item at one point. I will never figure out what happened to him, and how he so quickly fell out of favor with the Sox.

Eighties awesomeness! The picture on the Remy card is just classic. The 1982 Fleer team set is one I should try harder to finish. In the late eighties my LCS had wax packs for that set for sale. It was the first time I really bought into old wax looking for a hit. Bought quite a few, and never hit the Ripken. But, one of my earlier card related memories.

I can't thank Night Owl enough for this great package of cards. He really hit on the variety that makes it more awesome. 

Thanks Night Owl!

Alana Scheuerer Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has a new visitor! Alana Scheuerer is an advocate

for the arts, a talented dancer, and the current Miss St. Petersburg. I was excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So let's see what happens when Alana Scheuerer visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss St. Petersburg crown? 

After winning Miss St. Petersburg I thanked the Miss Largo Board for running such a smooth and professional competition and then went out for ice cream with my family and friends who came to support me.

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

When it comes to competitions, I’d say On Stage Question makes me most nervous. I’ve always been a competitive dancer but speaking on stage is something still new for me. 

Do you have a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss St. Petersburg?

My goal this year is to represent the Sunshine City in the best way I can. I’m trying to attend and facilitate as many community engagements with the arts as I can. One goal is to shed some light on St. Petersburg’s 11 museums, art district, and 500+ murals it is home to.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “TAP: Turn up Artistic Participation”?

With dwindling support for the arts in our school systems, my initiative turns attention to our community to engage with the arts. Dance has been my outlet for over 20 years. When I began college at Florida State University there was no outlet for me to continue tap dancing. I helped start up my University’s first tap team with over 40 members now, and it was from then I knew I wanted to focus on the importance arts bring to all ages. I feel that it is through these engagements that we better lean to come together towards a common goal.

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

When I am on stage dancing, I am happiest. My favorite feeling is when I can silence a room while tap dancing. While in a crowded auditorium, being able to hear a pin drop while performing my own rhythms and beats gives me such a feeling of power and confidence.          

What is your personal fitness routine?

I have to admit I am clueless if you bring me into a gym. Dance has always been my cardio and fitness. Recently, as I’ve been working on my MA in American Dance Studies, I have been studying Gyrotonic methods which is a movement method utilizing equipment to stimulate the nervous system and strengthen range of motion and efficiency through spinal movements.

This summer you were able to attend a Tigers minor league game with your Miss Florida sisters. What was that experience like?

The 2019 Miss Florida class couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful afternoon at Joker Marchant Stadium. Before the game our class met fans and signed autographs and after our Miss Florida, Taylor Tyson threw the first pitch, our class was introduced on field. We had a blast cheering on the Lakeland Flying Tigers with our families.

If you had an extra ticket to see the Red Sox play the Rays at Tropicana Field, who would you bring with you? Why?

Dorian Mirasola would definitely be first on my list. I grew up most of my life with a single mom until my senior year of high school. Dorian treats my younger brother and I as if we were his own and being that he was a strength and conditioning coach for the Angels, Mets, and Tigers, I couldn’t see myself choosing anyone else.

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

Miss St. Petersburg has been known to throw a first pitch at a Rays game before. I would certainly love the opportunity to continue the tradition as well as take a photo with Raymond.

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Both of those ideas would be a lot of fun!

As always, I want to thank Alana for doing this interview, and for sending along the great pictures to really improve the look of the post.

As Alana continues her time as Miss St. Petersburg, I encourage you to follow her on her official, and personal, Instagram accounts. They’re great ways to see what she’s up to during her time with the crown.

And, of course I want to wish Alayna luck when she competes for Miss Florida. That competition is turning into a Section 36 reunion, which is fantastic.

Thanks again Alana, and good luck!

1975 Topps Page by Page: Page 7 (55-63)

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 7?

Red Sox Cards on the Page: 1. This might not have been a card that Rick Wise would show off to all his friends. Did Topps only take one picture each year? 

Cards that make the 1975 Topps set cool: Two of the "cool" card categories show up on this page. I'm young enough to notice the card of Barry's father in the upper left corner. I also love the two early cards of hall of famers. "Early" may be pushing it with Jenkins. After all his career was half over, and his best years behind him by this point. But, it's much earlier than the '82 and '83 cards I was used to seeing him on. As for Dave Winfield? Tell me that second-year card isn't cool.

My favorite card on the page: I'm trying to decide if the Jenkins card is my favorite, or least favorite. The "modern collector" in my like the action pose that creates some visual interest. But, bot does it stick out like a thumb on the page of posed shots. At least the Chuck Taylor gives him a little bit of company, though. So, I'm going to go with the Jenkins.

What would your answers to those last two categories be?

Elizabeth Melachrinoudis Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has a new visitor! Elizabeth Melachrinoudis is a marrow registry advocate, a talented violinist, and the current Miss St. Lucie County. I was excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So let's see what happens when Elizabeth Melachrinoudis visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss St. Lucie County crown?

After every pageant, win or lose, I take my friends and family that were in the audience to Carrabba’s to thank them for being on this pageant journey with me. To celebrate this special win, I woke up the next day and got a bagel from my favorite place in St. Lucie County and then a cannoli from the famous St. Lucie Bakery. There is no better way to end a pageant weekend than with food

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

Talent is always the most nerve-wracking part of the competition for me. I was classically trained in violin between the ages of five and fifteen, but I took a break from playing for five years before I picked up the violin again to start competing in the Miss America Organization. I hope to be as exciting on the Miss Florida stage as Carolyn Brady, Miss Maine 2019, was when she played violin on the Miss America stage this year!

What has surprised you the most about your short time as Miss St. Lucie County?

I am blessed to have a teen queen as amazing as Miss St. Lucie County’s Outstanding Teen, Mallory! I had no idea when I was crowned that I would gain a sister in my teen queen. We have become so close in the three months that we have been crowned, and I cannot wait to watch her shine at Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Gift of Life”?

My social impact is so incredibly special to me, and it is absolutely my favorite thing to talk about. In the past five years I’ve lost both my parents to cancer, so I’m so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of creating a cancer-free world. I currently serve as a Campus Ambassador for Gift of Life Marrow Registry which means I have the responsibility of helping my fellow students at the University of South Florida register to potentially donate bone marrow to a person in need. Since August 2019 I have helped register over one hundred new donors to the marrow registry, and I am hoping to hit five hundred before Miss Florida the June!

As a talented violinist, how will you decide what piece to perform at Miss Florida?

I actually decided what piece I would perform the day after I

won my local because I was so excited! I am a huge Disney fan, so I plan to bring a little Disney magic to the Miss Florida stage.

What is your personal fitness routine?

As a student at the University of South Florida I have access to an amazing recreational center which has a variety of group fitness classes offered every week. I am a firm believer that exercise should be fun, so I like to switch up my routine by going to different classes every week. My favorite class by far is cycling, I always leave feeling so empowered!

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

I genuinely enjoy modeling because I have so much fun while I do it! Any time that I have the opportunity to work with a photographer who loves what they do and we are able to convey emotion through the photographs, it is the greatest feeling.

You were able to throw out the first pitch at a St Lucie Mets game. What was that experience like?

That day was so special because it was at the annual “Paint the Park Pink” night for Breast Cancer Awareness. I threw out the first pitch in honor of my mom who was fighting breast cancer, just a month before she passed away. It was one of the last big memories that I have with my mom, which makes the day that much more special. I remember being down on the field with her and talking about how the pitcher’s mound looks way closer to the catcher from the stands than it does on the field! Luckily, I made it to the catcher!

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

I have always wanted to catch a foul ball! I love watching the excitement on people’s faces when they catch one, and I’d love to experience that moment!

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I’ve never caught a ball during a game either. That would be so much fun.

As always, I want to thank Elizabeth for doing this interview, and for sending along the great pictures to make it look so much better.

As Elizabeth continues her time as Miss St. Lucie County, I encourage you to follow her on her official Facebook page and Instagram account. It’s a great way to see what she’s up to during her time with the crown.

You should also absolutely check out her Gift of Life donor circle where you can request a kit to see if you can be a marrow donor!

And, of course I want to wish Elizabeth luck when she competes for Miss Florida. She’d be the first visitor to take home that crown, which would be fantastic!

Thanks again Elizabeth, and good luck!