Nerdin' it up! At the Moeller Card Show!

I love going, but nothing makes me feel nerdier than going to a baseball card show. I get over it pretty quickly, though.

So, this fall's Moeller Sports Card and Memorabilia Show featured two Baseball Hall of Famers and San Francisco Giants - Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda, as well as former Red, Eddie Milner. Of course, I snagged autographs from all three. Juan Marichal, "The Dominican Dandy" was especially pleasant. It was nice to meet the guy - he's one of games greatest pitchers.

Gettin' some sigs is always fun, but it's a card show, folks. So, after drooling over Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig cards, I got my vintage fix by picking up my first Big Klu card - the 1955 Topps featured above. Not looking to break the bank, I snagged this beat-up Klu on the cheap-cheap. Also picked up a few other Reds oldies - 1960 Topps Fred Hutchinson (right), 1955 Bowman Wally Post, 1955 Bowman Howie Judson, 1965 Topps John Tsitouris and a 1972 Topps Traded Joe Morgan. The Morgan card was actually the last '72 Topps I needed to complete my Reds set from that year - and a tough card to find. Niiiiiiiice.

I picked some other stuff here and there, mostly cards to get signed at Redsfest and a few new Joey Votto cards. Overall, I had a groovy time flippin' through bins of cards, laughing at over-priced autograph and memorabilia cards and avoiding buying any junk wax from the '80s... so hard to resist!

Oh, Eddie Millner? Oh yeah, he's doing well. He's livin' in the ATL and giving private baseball lessons. That sounds like the life to me!

Happy Thanksgiving

A big Happy Thanksgiving from the homies here at OMGreds! We hope that you're spending time with your loved ones and not reading this blog. We have a lot to be thankful this year - mostly our fans. All nine of you. It's been a great year and we will do our best to continue bringing our "AA" game throughout the off-season, spring training and most of the regular season.

We're going to be heading to the Moeller High School Sports Card and Memorabilia Show this weekend. We need to say hi to our good buddy Eddie Milner, as he's making an appearance at the show. Make sure you get the OMGscoop from us on the Twitters. Should be rad.

Ready for Redsfest?

We're stoked for Redsfest here at the OMGreds office complex. We've got our vintage cards ready for the autograph lines. We're planning strategies. We're doing stretches. We're saving our pennies and planning on spending it all in one place. Our grandmothers would NOT approve.

Old Reds, new cards

Over at one of our favorite blogs, The Writer's Journey, is embarking on a series of posts combining your favorite Reds of the past with the 2009 Topps baseball card design. JT just started today with a card for Big Red Machinist Cesar Geronimo - a solid way to start. We'll be checking in everyday to see who the next Red to be immortalized will be, you should too. There will be 30 in total, so it will be a good ride.

OMG

The Reds just got hammered tonight. Glad I wasn't watching the game.

So, let's move on with the help of this awesome Joey Votto baseball card and forget it ever happened.

1869 Card now up for auction

Bernice Gallego's old ass Red Stockings baseball card is finally up for auction. If you have the means, get your bid in now over at ye ol' Memory Lane Inc. Or... just snipe it on February 10. Sniping would be your best bet, we think. Good luck either way.

Item description from Memory Lane, Inc.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN CARDS EVER PRODUCED

The card was issued in 1869 and is one of the first Baseball Cards issued and also the beginning of Baseball as we know it today. The card itself was issued in multiple sizes as well as different backs. This card is the large version and most desirable and is 1 of 4 graded authentic by PSA. The card has special historical importance as it features Baseballs First Major League Team, the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings led by Hall of Famers Harry and George Wright as well as having the advertising Peck & Snyder logo on the back, who were a leading sports retailer at that time. This card has all of the players listed on the front with a red Peck & Snyder logo on the back. Condition of this incredible find is as follows: The card is centered nicely with upper right and lower right creases. Pin hole in the top middle, with normal brown toning across the card. A small white paper loss mark on the front middle players arm. The red writing is clear as well as the players on the front, which is very Rare as the other examples known to exist are slightly fuzzy. The back of the card has the same normal brown toning with no other issues. This examples condition is one of the best known to exist. "This card is extremely important because many hobbyists consider it to be one of the very first baseball cards ever produced. In addition, the sepia image featured on the front of the card captures the game of baseball in its infancy," said Joe Orlando, President of PSA. Keep in mind this card is 140 years old, which is the same decade Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated and 4 years after the Civil War ended as well as 16 years prior to the first Gas powered vehicle and the birth of Babe Ruth. An Historical Piece of Baseball Memorabilia is up for Auction.

'Baseball Card Granny' on Leno tonight

Folks, this is what you've all be waiting for. Bernice "Baseball Card Granny" Gallego, who is in the possession of the world's oldest baseball card, will appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno - TONIGHT. Set you DVRs to: STUN. Oh, Wanda Sykes and Buckcherry will be on as well. I'm not which I am most excited about. WA-WHA.

Leno was unable to get George Clooney on the show, unfortunately.

Wow, that's OLD!

Here's a pretty funny story from the Hartford Courant about Bernice Gallego, an old lady who along with her husband own an antiques store. Among the piles of junk, they discovered a Peck & Snyder baseball card of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, circa 1870.

She's not a baseball fan, but thought since the card was old, she could sell it on eBay for a few bucks. Initially, she listed it for $10, but later took it down when she realized it might be worth slightly more than that. While the value hasn’t been determined yet, some are saying it could go for as much as six figures.

Dear diary, Jackpot!

The article goes on to say that while Bernice was trying to figure out the value of the card, she put it in a sandwich bag and tacked it to her laundry room wall for safekeeping, evidently to keep it away from her pets who would have eaten it.

Now, if you'll please excuse me, I’m off to an old lady's garage sale to try to find stuff to sell on eBay for a massive profit.

Redsfest: FIN

Once again, the Reds put on a fantastic convention. It gets better every year and it's obvious that it's a point of pride with the Reds' staff and management. How awesome is it that our little small-market team can put on one of the best off-season fan conventions? There are some folks out there that are a tab bit jealous...

A few points of interest from my standpoint:

- The autograph opportunities are just awesome. For someone that appreciates players past, present and future, there are tons of opportunities for everyone. Getting an auto from Clay "The Hawk" Carroll is pretty exciting... just as getting one from young star Johnny Cueto or up-and-comers like Todd Frazier or Matt Maloney. For me, it's all good. I did focus my time at Redsfest on autos and ended up scoring 21 on baseball cards and a handful more on my Redsfest pass. What can I say, I'm a nerd. My favorite? Reds Outfielder Jerry Lynch on a 1960 Topps. (Right: Click for larger view) Lines for guys like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Edison Volquez and Johnny Cueto were insane and I didn't try for any of them, except Cueto.

- The Reds Hall of Fame area had a great set-up of exhibits with old uniforms, spikes, etc. Of course seeing the World Series trophies is always a highlight.

- I love it that the entire convention center is covered in RED. You walk out and your eyeballs need to adjust to seeing the rest of the color spectrum. Immersive - love it.

- All the kids stuff looked awesome. The Reds Heads club area is pretty cool. Batting cages, speed pitch, whiffle ball, etc... all great stuff. If I were 9 years old it might have just been too much... okay, not really... just awesome.

- Free stuff all over the place. The Reds were handing out Redsfest exclusive Topps trading cards that you could put in a little fold-out binder they provided at the Information Booth. Nice little cards to get signed, actually. The set included Bruce, Phillips, Harang, Dickerson, Arroyo, Keppinger, Freel and Votto. I ended up missing out on Bruce and Phillips just because I didn't pass by the desks handing those out. Anyone have any for trade?? Other free stuff included the gift bag to the first 10,000 folks through the gate with a Reds stocking cap AND a coupon for free chips and guac from Chipotle - hellz to the yeah. I think the Louisville Slugger Factory in Louisville was giving out free tickets for it's tour as well. I've been, and it's a good time. Apparently, the factory tour is new and improved? Cool.

- I love diggin' around the collectables area. I got a few cards for some of the Reds minor leagers I wanted to get signed. Overpaid, but that's what you get a things like this. I love all the old dusty Reds promotion stuff people have for sale. I ended up getting a couple of buttons the Reds gave out in 1989. I actually had the John Franco on when I was a kid - I went to the game. But, I lost the button ages ago. Got that one back, along with a Sabo, Larkin and and coupons for a FREE 32oz Pepsi when I order an large or medium pizza at regular price at Pizza Hut. Dine-in or carry out... oh... it expired on September 4, 1989. Oh well.

- So, at one point on Saturday, the Main Stage had the "Reds Idol Karaoke Contest". For the most part, it was a snoozer... but a good idea. THEN... this little chunky kid got up on stage and dropped some Journey and brought the house down. I don't care much for Journey, but Cincinnati loves themselves some Steve Perry power ballads and this kids got some serious love. It was something to see/hear. I give it up for that little guy.

That's all I have for now... might be more later... Check out the photo blog for a look into my experience at Redsfest.

Coming very soon: Bobblehead predictions! Dates have been announce by the Reds for FOUR bobblehead dates, including a bobblehead to be voted on at Reds.com. Good move, Reds!!

Billy Ripken speaks!

Oh, this is great. Remember this card when you were a kid? Well, Billy Ripken is finally speaking about the inccident and how it happened. Read the story over at CNBC.

Now I had to write something on the bat. At Memorial Stadium, the bat room was not too close to the clubhouse, so I wanted to write something that I could find immediately if I looked up and it was 4:44 and I had to get out there on the field a minute later and not be late. There were five big grocery carts full of bats in there and if I wrote my number 3, it could be too confusing. So I wrote 'F--k' Face on it.

Srsly, Reds fans are the best

Since the beginning of OMGreds I've struck up a few friendships with fellow baseball bloggers - Reds fans, card collectors, etc. It's been fun, educational and sometimes rewarding. The folks that are apart of the this community can be EXTREMELY generous and that was evident to me tonight when I checked my mailbox. Joe from Cincy Reds Cards sent me a mind-blowing box of Reds cards out of the blue. Seriously, there must be 300 some cards in the box he sent - see the photo on the right. 2/3 of the cards were of our main man, Barry Larkin. Going through all the loot was like Christmas morning when you're 5-years-old. Flat out glorious. Eric Davis, Johnny Bench, Adam Dunn, Junior, Brandon Phillips... the list goes on. The kicker? Two autographed cards from none other than Mr. Larkin (see above and Johnny Cueto. WHAT? WHAT? That's some serious loot right there.

Joe and I have swapped a few emails this year and quite a few blog comments as well. He's out in Salt Lake City, so he's a long-distance Reds fan. It's good to see the love for the Reds across the country. The thing about Joe is that he lost his entire card card collection - and probably a lot his belongings in an apartment fire over the summer. The blogging community came together and sent him LOADS of Reds cards to cheer him up a bit. OMGreds sent a little package as well... but nothing compared to what he just sent me.

Now, the other half of Cincy Reds Cards, Brad has been awesome to me as well - hooking me up with a handful of Joey Votto, Reds and Bengals cards. I was probably doing him a favor taking those Bengals cards! Just sayin'... the fellas at Cincy Reds Cards are the best. Check out their blog. They haven't updated in a bit... but what is there if flat out hilarious.

So, I just want to say thanks to Joe and Brad and tell everyone how truly awesome Reds fans are.

PS... you all see the rumors about Larkin's return to the Reds?

Happy Thanksgiving

A big Happy Thanksgiving from the homies here at OMGreds! We hope that you're spending time with your loved ones and not reading this blog. We have a lot to be thankful this year - mostly our fans. All seven of you. It's been a great year and we will do our best to continue bringing our "AA" game throughout the off-season, spring training and most of the regular season.

So, if you are reading this... just a reminder that we'll be roaming around the Moeller Thanksgiving Spectacular Fantastic tomorrow and Saturday. Dave "The Cobra" Parker is signing tomorrow and we'll be there with bells on. A huge slew of current and former Reds will be signing the rest of the weekend. So, check out the photo blog for all the action.

Still Scary

Mr. Cueto, your autograph still scares me.

Reds Rally Game: Near EPIC WIN!!1!

Finally, I won the damn Reds Rally game today. Everyone else in the ballpark did too. It must have been all that faith from Faith Day going around. So, no big prize for me, though. The 25 items they give away for the game were long gone by time BP hit the three-run jack to help me complete a row. So, I'm prizeless, but I feel good about winning. I really do.

It was a good day at the ballpark. Not only did I win the Rally Game, I also got my photo with Rosie and the Reds routed the Pouljos Nine. I had not been to a game in three weeks, and a lot has happened since then. Most notably: lots of losing. Seeing a big win was a treat. Oh - I also saw that big EE is getting some dental work. Lookin' good!

In the past, we've mentioned the baseball card deal they have at GABP - buy four packs of baseball cards and get two free Reds tickets. If you buy four now, there are actually three games you can choose from: September 2-4. That's a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday is a Business Man's special, of course. So, just a heads up on that deal. When I did the deal a few weeks ago we got decent seats in the View Level.

Baseball cards and baseball games

There's a new ticket deal at GABP these days - buy 4 packs of baseball cards at the Majestic Reds Team Shop and get two free tickets to a future Reds game. I was there yesterday and decided to check it out. Here's the run-down:

- Must purchase 4 packs of baseball cards. They are more expensive at the ballpark - Topps 2008 Series 2: At store: $1.99. At Team Shop: $4.00. So, about $2 more. I did see Upper Deck 2008 Series 1 for $3 a pack.

- The tickets are for a pre-determined game. If you buy 4 packs right now, you get a pair of tickets to the Tuesday, July 22nd game against the Padres. It would have been sweet if it were any game, or if you had a choice, but not bad. Pre-determined tickets will be available for the next home stand according the to the cashier I spoke with. So, it looks like the promotion will be going on for at least a few weeks. I'm not sure when it ends.

- Even though the packs are more expensive ($4 vs. $2) you come out ahead for sure. 4 packs will run you $16 at the Team Shop if you go with the Topps, $12 with Upper Deck. The tickets you receive are View Level which would cost you $28 for the pair. That's $28 if buy at the ballpark - more if you buy online at a kiosk since fees are tacked on.

So, it's a great deal AND you get some baseball cards out of the whole thing. It pretty much hits on all cylinders for me.

Speaking of baseball card deals... I saw in the Target circular that select Topps packs are 3 for $4. Not bad! I have not been there to see which packs fall under that, but the photo in the circular was of a Topps 2008 Series 2 pack - normally $1.99 a pack.

Also... how about those Reds? 4 in a row! It's nice to see. Congrats to Edison Volquez for getting the All-Star nod. And, even through he really didn't deserve it for his season so far, I'm a bit bummed the Junior didn't get the nod.

Dynamic Duo

I was at Target last night and decided to pick up a few packs of baseball cards. I'm not THAT into baseball cards any more, but it's fun to grab a few packs once in a blue moon and rip 'em open. One of the pack's I bought was a Topps 2007 Rookies - 1952 Edition. These cards designs are based on the old '52 Topps series. I'm a sucker for the old designs and almost anything from the '50s is totally money. The Josh Hamilton Homer Bailey duo card came in the one pack I bought. Awesome! Now, picking this card up last year would have been awesome, but I still love it. It was hard to see Hamilton traded and Bailey has been having his troubles in spring training this year. I wish Hamilton good luck with the Rangers. Our Savior, Homer, will be a great one soon... Reds fans just have to hold tight for a while.

I was reading the back of the packaging for that pack of cards and I thought it was funny that there was this disclaimer:

"Topps does not, in any manner, make any representations as to whether its cards will attain any future value"

How long have they been putting that on there?