Go Red! 2012 Topps Heritage Target Red Carl Crawford

February is American Heart Month. As a nod to the Go Red for Women activities going on this month to help raise awareness, I thought I'd contribute several "red" themed posts sprinkled throughout the month. Here's the first one.

Let's talk about this card...

Yup. We all remember this guy. I have yet to decide what actually went wrong with Crawford. Was it just the injuries dragging him to the point he couldn't recover? Was it being unable mentally to handle the pressures of the contract? Was it all of those? Whatever the reason, what looked like a slam dunk signing was completely the opposite. Most people were thrilled to ship Crawford off to LA to hit a reset button.

The card itself isn't much better that Crawford's performance. While I know it probably follows the "heritage" theme, the picture is uninspiring at best. And, oddly, all that red doesn't really work for me. Especially with the blue background on the smaller inset photo. All in all, nothing to get excited about with this card at all.

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If you are able, I highly recommend you support the American Heart Association's efforts with a donation. You can find the link here.

Support the efforts to Go Red for Women!

Allison Bryant Visits Section 36!

Section 36 had another visitor! Allison Bryant is passionate about promoting confidence, a talented clogger, and the current Miss Summerville. I was so excited that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more.

So, let's see what happens when Allison Bryant visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Summerville crown?

The first thing that I did was a happy dance for sure! Miss Summerville was the very first MAO prelim that I had ever competed in, so I didn't know what to expect going into it. I was honestly shocked to hear, “Your new Miss Summerville is Allison Bryant.” It took about 24 hours for it to sink in, but as soon as it did, I hit the ground running on this new adventure.

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

During my time as Miss Summerville, it is my goal not only to make a difference in my community but in South Carolina as well. Through my marketing strategy and determination, I plan to impact and empower young South Carolinians to rediscover their full potential, allowing them to “Rise and Shine.”

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

As a new candidate, I am very excited about the entire experience! When it becomes the time to compete, I have prepared in every way I can. I am already so proud of the growth that I have witnessed develop in myself. So, I would not say that I am nervous. I am genuinely looking forward to competing for the title of Miss South Carolina in June of this year!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Rise and Shine”?

As a high school graduate in 2020, I was part of the first class to experience life virtually and on lockdown. Through this experience, I realized the immense effect that the pandemic had on my peers and our youth. This is why I created “Rise and Shine” to bring awareness to this issue and promote confidence and self-esteem in the generation impacted by this pandemic.

As a talented clogger, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?

As a clogger who has danced for 13 years, I can truly say that I enjoy everything about performing on stage. Everything about the nervous jitters. The anxiousness of waiting for the music to start. When the sound of clogging taps and music are in sync. Most importantly, when the satisfaction of all of the hard work and dedication is enjoyed by the audience. 

You’re currently working towards your real estate license. What interests you the most about that field?

I grew up in a family of small business owners, which inspired me to do that as well. I had always loved looking through real estate brochures when I was younger, so when the pandemic hit, I started my licensure courses! Since I am starting my career at the age of 19, my goal is to fund my college education with the assistance of the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization and Miss America Organization. I also plan on pursuing my dream of opening a dance studio in the near future!

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

This is a tricky question for me, being that I love ALL things Disney, but I think I would have to choose Anna from Frozen. From running away from Marshmallow the Snow Monster to fulfilling her Queenly duties, there is no telling what Anna’s week might hold! I also think that Olaf and I would get along great!

If you had an extra ticket to a Charleston Riverdogs baseball game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would have to choose my Dad. My Dad is my sports watching

buddy. We watch anything from football to figure skating. I always grew up going to baseball games with my family, but I definitely could not go without him. Also, he’s a big Bill Murray fan, so if I got the chance to meet him before he did, I don't think I would ever live that down!

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

As much as I think throwing the first pitch would be AMAZING, the thing that I love most about going to a baseball game is the atmosphere. It truly is a whole different ball game when you experience it in person rather than watching it on TV. If you get the chance, definitely go and support your favorite team.

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There's nothing like being in the ballpark!

As usual, I want to thank Allison for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to go with the interview.

As Allison continues her time as Miss Summerville, I encourage you to check out her title's Instagram account. It's a great way to keep track of everything she has going on! 

I also want to wish Allison luck when she competes for Miss South Carolina! It would be fantastic to have the first Section 36 Forever wear that crown.

Thanks again Allison, and good luck!

Project 70 David Ortiz

I haven't purchased many of the made-to-order cards from the Topps website. They're not something I chase, mostly because I'm not sure what they "are". As something printed and distributed the way they are, I'm not sure they're "cards" as opposed to "pictures" or "novelty items". So it's not something I've been chasing. I don't buy the Topps NOW cars unless they feature a game I attended or a really special event...like a championship. I was tempted by the Topps 2020 set last year. But, the 20 cards size of the Ted Williams set was too daunting. Especially if I wouldn't love every design. With the Project 70, I had the same feelings. But, decided that if they did any Pedro Martinez cards, I'd grab those. 

I bet you've figured out by now that I got more than those. I ended up grabbing a couple Ortiz cards as well. Since we've been celebrating Ortiz lately, I thought it might be fun to take a look at those today.

Here we go!

1954 David Ortiz by Distortedd. This is a fun card. I'll admit, though, that the only reason I got it was that I got the Pedro by Distortedd and thought the pair would go well together. I was right.

2013 David Ortiz by Naturel. I had to get this one too. Not only was this one of David Ortiz's most iconic moments with the Sox (my guess it this is what his statue looks like someday), but I was at this game. So, I do try and pick up related items when they're available. One day the SSP version of his standard 2013 Topps card will also be available. Judging by the low 810 print run, I might be the only person who feels this way.

This one's not a Project 70. Obviously, but it was a Topps website purchase this year. And, it illustrates the point that I try to pick these up when I can. There's nothing special about this card. It's a standard picture in an overused design. But, it was something I just needed to have.

What about you? Do you jump to purchase any of the cards from the Topps made to order section?

2021 Topps Series Two Big Blaster Break!

It's time to open another one of these! Again, I'm guessing that these aren't called "big blasters" but I don't know what else to call them. So, that's what I'm going with. You know what the cards look like, but not what I got!

Let's see how it went!

There's the front of the box. Tatis sure looks happy.

Here's the top of the box, proving that this is the bigger blaster. A whole 256 cards! I also like the caveat that "packs with a special insert contain 9-14 cards". For one thing, that's quite a range. Second, they don't define what a "special insert" is. So, if you get a pack with out ten cards in it, Topps can say, "Um yeah...that Connor Wong card you got...that was a special insert."

As mentioned, sixteen packs.

Included in the packs was this great Michael Chavis card. He looks ready to take the next base if available.

Red Sox all-star Matt Barnes.

Rookie star Bobby Dalbec on the '83 Topps design. It's fun to be able to collect a rookie on different classic designs. 

Speaking of hotshot rookies, here's one on the more standard design.

Another Chavis! If I'm going to get shiny cards, couldn't they be of players still on the team?

Xander midair.

Another former Sox. At least this one is now a current Sox. 

Speaking of Dalbec on different designs, here's another one. At least it's a chance for some variety in the collection.

Vazquez looks ready to catch a runner napping. Wonder if it worked.

Everyone looks very excited on this card. I'm guessing the Red Sox won.

Eovaldi looking much more serious than the previous card.

Arroyo as well. I have to admit, I'm surprised they let the empty stands stay that way on these cards. Glad, but surprised.

for the 36th time, Topps, that's a laundry cart...not a shopping cart!

And, there it is. For 256 total cards, not exactly an impressive haul. But, that's a good chunk of Sox cards. So I guess I can't complain too much.

Have you ever opened one of these?

My Favorite Brady Games

What a week it's been for Boston legends. First, David Ortiz was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Now, Tom Brady officially announced his retirement from the TB Buccaneers. So, like I did for Ortiz, I thought it would be a good opportunity to recap my favorite Tom Brady games that I've attended.

Unfortunately, I never got to see Brady play for the Patriots live. But, I did get to see him live at Fenway three times as he celebrated Super Bowl championships. Since this is a Red Sox blog, that may even work out better anyway. So, which ones were they?

2002 Red Sox home opener. Boston was relatively new to the championship game. Or, at least, this generation was relatively new. It had been fifteen years between titles for the city. So, after the Patriots upset the Rams to win their first title, we weren't really sure what to expect. The Red Sox Opening Day ceremony was going on like any other, up to the anthem. The Red Sox draped a large American flag covering the green monster, in a pretty cool display. Then, suddenly, after the song, the Patriots emerged from underneath the flag to a loud ovation. Maybe others knew they'd be there, but it was a cool surprise for me. The players, including that new Brady guy, all threw out the first pitch to a collection of Red Sox players. It was a great moment, even if it felt a bit like the Red Sox were riding on the Patriots coattails.

2015 Red Sox home opener. By now, championships in Boston were old hat. Not only had the Patriots just won their fourth trophy, the Red Sox had three recent ones of their own, and the Bruins and Celtics even each had one. We knew how it worked by now. So it wasn't a question of if someone from the Patriots would throw out the first pitch. It was just a matter of which one. Or, ones. As it turns out, we hit the jackpot when it comes to star power. Robert Kraft, Jonathan Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady emerged from behind the flag this time. Are there four bigger pieces to the puzzle? Brady was wearing a t-shirt with a giant "5" on the front. We wondered what that meant. He had just won his fourth ring...was it a suggestion he was getting number 5 next? That was pretty optimistic of him. Geez. Of course, he would get number five in a couple years. And six a couple years after that. And seven a few years after that. Geez indeed. 

2017 Red Sox home opener. Like I said. Just a couple years later the Patriots would be back celebrating a ring. Who would we get this time? Well, the Patriots stepped it up a notch. This time they brought the star power, with Robert Kraft, Dion Lewis, James White, and Rob Gronkowski joining Tom Brady at the ceremony. But they also brought a skit! You may remember that Brady had his Super Bowl jersey stolen from the locker room and had just recently gotten it back. As he approached the infield he held that jersey up high to show the fans...only to have Gronk steal it and run away with it. Brady had to chase Gronk down to get it back. It was corny, but we didn't mind. It was fun and we all had a good laugh.

Which is the whole point. It's fun to have fun together. Especially once every team started winning, it was fun to have all these joint celebrations. They weren't riding coattails. They were celebrating each other as one big Boston sports family.

It was great to participate.

Thanks, Tom!