oddballs and more hammers

Anytime I go through cards, the first thing after bubbles are the oddballs.  I have more fun looking at the backgrounds of cards, the backs and poses more than the stats or accolades.

I've always wondered what Ayala was doing in 1994.  Now I know.  He was ahead of his time.

I hope the players are having picnics with their families.  It sure looks like Jeter is eating a hot dog.

Kranepool's got a better caterer, lobster.

I got a special issue of Beckett with Art cards.

Background cars.

Fun in the minor leagues.  I'll miss my Mud Hens this summer.

No Mize, Manning or Skubal.  We were projected to have the best Minor league rotation in baseball.

Hooter's is known for their chicken wing,  Sure.

imitation is the best form of flattery, go U.L.

Was Mouton imitating Eddie Gaedel .

Is this a version of the hidden ball trick.

Fair or Foul.

Will football and baseball compete for awhile in the fall?

More hammers.

Relax

Baseball will be back.

Hammer and donuts

When I added a Conine Hammer card to my last post it led to me going down a "Donut Hole".

I'm not the first person to use this picture in a post.  "Playing with my Cards" had a post back in 2013 with this image of Fielder.

Connie it seems started with a donut in this 1994 card

There have been many early cards with batters holding multiple bats to warm up.

So far, this is the earliest card I can find with a donut.

1972 Braves postcard.

Almost every year from 1973 through 2011 have at least one donut card.

This 1977 Dave Parker was the first card I could find with a double donut.

There has been a few different variations on the "Hammer".

1992 Hal Morris uses a little of everything.

Donuts have run the gamut.  From Rookie cards -

through Last "sunset" cards.

Variations.

Senior League

Pitchers

Putters

Lots of pictures of bats wrapped in tape for batting practice.

More double donuts

My favorite picture combines donuts and bubbles.

The donut evolved into sleeves that are being used in our present.

Here comes the Hammer.

J.D. Hammer

three hammers and nails

I Miss Baseball

As I was going through my cards again, some of the cards were telling me a story.  Someday might there not be any more umps.

No more "high fives"

Interactions with the fans.

Empty stadiums

What about the players with no one to play catch.

Are they getting frustrated?

I hope they all remember this is still a game and have fun.

PS

These last pictures are for Greg at Night Owl.

Batting Donuts and these other items no longer in use.

I actually have a mini collection with about 10 sledgehammers.