Chris Davis Makes Baltimore Orioles History

During yesterdays game versus the Yankees Chris Davis made some Baltimore Orioles history. Davis who is having a fantastic season became the 1^st player in Orioles history to have ever hit for 40 home runs and 40 doubles in a season with his double in in Wednesdays 5-4 loss to the Yankees. That’s a pretty big accomplishment for a guy playing for an organization with the tradition and amount of great players the Orioles have had in their franchises history. I'm actually surprised that a guy like Eddie Murray has never done that but that just speaks to the season Davis is having this year, so congratulations Chris Davis!

David Ortiz Breaks Hits Record For Designated Hitters

Many greats have been DH's at one point like Frank Thomas, Gary Sheffield, Eddie Murray, Harold Baines, Edgar Martinez and even Bo Jackson. All of the aforementioned vastly talented players all knew how to swing a Louisville slugger but as of today no Major League Baseball player in the entire history has more hits from the designated hitter position than Redsox slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz. The Redsox star passed Harold Baines by hitting a double in the 2^nd inning vs the Mariners on Wendsday

  afternoon to ultimately collect his 1,689th hit and pass Baines for #1 on the DH all time hits list.

In 1973 the game of baseball and the way it was played changed forever when the Designated hitter rule was introduced in 1973. The rule clearly states that as the DH a player does not play the field or any type of defense on the diamond but rather just go up to hit a baseball and that’s it. The rule is used in the American League and the purpose it serves is basically to add an extra hitter to the bunch as opposed to the National League format of 8 position players who hit along with the pitcher.

Papi has had a storied career in Boston and a ton of big hits since he arrived. For the better part of his career he has spent his time just DHing and has done a great job over the years. When its all said and done he might go down as the greatest designated hitter to have ever played in the MLB......Congrats Papi!!!!

Five Random Cards #1

Recently I Got a PWE from my main man Kevin from “The Diamond King” as part of graduating from high school. I also completed a trade with my man Dustin from Cootveal and Vealtones so they're are cards all around my house. So I decided to start a new series of posts called “5 random cards” where I will randomly grab 5 cards and just put them in a blog post. So here we go.

Card #1 Score 1991 Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr. in 1991 was in the process of starting one of the greatest careers in baseball history in his 3^rd season in the show hit 327. banged out 22 home runs along with 100 RBI's. Griffey was on his way to becoming one of the most feared players in the game along with collecting his 2^nd gold glove and silver slugger awards in 1991.

Card #2 Topps Gold Label 1999 Cliff Floyd

Going to my 1^st Marlins game in the same year this card was manufactured I got a chance to see Cliff Floyd live in person and he was a big guy 6 foot 5 inches tall along with 220 pounds and a vicious left handed swing. Cliff never became the star that most people thought he had potential to be but still put together is fair share of nice seasons. Like in 2001 where he hit 317. along with 31 home runs and 103 RBI's earning the only All-Star appearance of his career.

Card #3 Fleer 1990 Eddie Murray

Eddie Murray had a long 21 year career many his best years with the Baltimore Orioles. People forget though he had some solid years in LA with the Dodgers. In 1990 the same year as this card Eddie hit 330. with 26 home runs and 95 RBI's which earned him a silver slugger that year. So remember Eddie as an Oriole but don't forget the Dodger version either he was pretty good.

Card #4 Topps 1994 Jeff Conine

In 1994 Jeff Conine had already earned the “Mr.Marlin” mantle and wore it proudly playing the game the right way. Conine was apart of both Marlins World Championship teams in 1997 and 2003 . In 1994 though he earned his 1^st of 2 all-star appearances and hit 319. that season which was the highest of any season in his career.

Card #5 Upperdeck SPX 2002 Juan Encarnacion

Not the best player on the 2003 world championship team but certainly an overlooked part of it. People like to focus on Miguel Cabrera, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and many others but Juan Encarnacion was a very valuable piece. In 2003 he had a career year when in 2003 hit 270. with 19 Home runs and 94 RBI's. He was also solid on defense with a perfect 1.000 in 156 games he played and didn't win the gold glove that year.

Day at the store

The Other day I was near my Local Card store (Hollywood Collectibles) been going there for years, the owners and employees have known me since the age of 8. After chatting it up and catching up with my main man Paul I headed straight for the nearest Dime box with to look for some Cards I usually get lucky at Hollywood Collectibles in terms of finding cards I just like and today was no different.

Card #1 I came across might be my favorite out of them all. Going through box I found this sweet Upperdeck SP Game Bat edition 2000 with the Legendary Tony Gywnn featured on the front. Gwynn was always a guy who in my opinion never got a lot of love when truthfully he probably had one of the most textbook swings in Major league history so pretty solid pick up there.

Card #2 I picked up featured one of my favorite Hall of Famers of All-Time in Baseball history. I'm Speaking about Eddie Murray of Course who I own a a throwback jersey of which I picked up at Camden Yards a few years ago. This a 1981 Topps cardboard which features the LA native in his prime with the Baltimore Orioles. This was one of the better finds of the Day.

Card #3 After digging and digging aimlessly through the barrage of cardboard I finally found this 2010 Topps Babe Ruth which was cool to me. Always been fan of the Babe on Card Board so anytime I Can scoop a Babe Ruth card I usually do it.

Card #4 I found because of my unconscious love for the game of basketball. After finding many old Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic Cards I Finally ran into this beautiful Fleer 1988 Patrick Ewing which capture Pat in his prime in the Blue and Orange. Of all of the 90's greats I feel sorry for not getting a Ring they're are few I feel more sorry for then Patrick Ewing He deserves one more do then most players.

So that recaps that days pickups at Hollywood Collectibles in a nutshell.