World Series Bound

 Hello friends!

Last night the Toronto Blue Jays did something they haven't done since 1993: Advance to the World Series. 

The Series starts Friday in Toronto and from what I'm hearing, there's quite the price gouge going on. 

A lot has changed in the 32 years between World Series Appearances by the Jays. 

The team was sold to Rogers Communications. In 1993, you'd find maybe 80 games televised. Most of them on TSN, but also on CBC or CTV. Now unless it's a streaming exclusive, all games are on Sportsnet. 

So many players and personnel have come and gone.. 1993 had the wonderful Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth on radio. Now, I couldn't even tell you who broadcasts the radio side. 

TV was another matter altogether. With three networks sharing rights, you had multiple teams. One of them, oddly enough was Buck Martinez and Dan Shulman. 

Now, it's Dan and Buck with Joe Siddall or Dan's son subbing in the odd time. 

The Stadium has changed. The former SkyDome (though people still call it that) is now the Rogers Centre. 

Here's what it looked like early in its lifespan and now. 

Now.. 

There have been 88 players who batted in a Dodgers and a Blue Jays uniform.

53 have pitched in both. 

Some of the names you may know: 

Others who I'm not going to hunt for cards of include Ron Fairly, David Wells, Max Scherzer, Brandon Morrow, John Axford, Alfredo Griffin, Tom Candiotti, Tom Hutton, Jeff Kent, Fred McGriff, Hun Jim Ryu, Devon White, Jim Gott, Mark Guthrie, Bill Singer, Dave Stewart, and Pat Venditte. 

Now.. Obviously, I want the Jays to win. This may be the only series other than the Jays/Yankees series I'd be upset if the Jays lose. 

The Series starts Friday... WORLD SERIES, HERE WE COME.. 

Game 7

 Hello friends!

Tonight is game 7 of the ALCS. The Jays are 0-1 historically in Game 7s.. The only other time the Jays played in a Game 7 was the 1985 ALCS. They had a 3-1 lead going into game 5.. And lost games 5, 6, and 7.

Tonight, it's Shane "Don't call me Justin" Bieber vs George Kirby. The winning team faces the Dodgers. 

Now, here's where I'll probably shock or make you wonder if I'm a doppleganger.. 

While I want the Jays to win. They are my team obviously, I wouldn't be upset with the Mariners winning. They are an interesting team. What I do know is I'd like whoever makes it from the 1977 expansion series to beat the Dodgers in the World Series.

Blue Jays Win

 Hello Friends!

So last night the Blue Jays beat the Yankees in the ALDS to advance to the ALCS. This was after having a not so great game in Game 3 and a bullpen game for Game 4. 

There were many that were convinced the Yankees would end up winning the series. That the first two games were flukes. It's typical to be overlooked by Yankee and, sometimes, Red Sox fans.. I'm curious if anyone else is underestimating the Jays... 

Now, the Jays wait to see who they'll face. It could be the Tigers or the Mariners. 

If it's the Tigers, it's a renewal of the rivalry the teams had in the 80s. From the time the Jays became good until the Tigers aged out, the East had the Jays and Tigers as a heated rivalry. 

1987 the Jays lead the division until the final week. In that week, Tony Fernandez broke his elbow in a game against the Tigers. The Jays lost out the season.. 

1984, the Tigers got off to that huge lead. 1985 the Jays won the division. 

Overall, from 1977 to 2025, the Jays are 251-215 against the Tigers. 

The other option is the Mariners. 

The expansion cousins of the Jays, though there were puppeteers trying to finesse the Jays to be given to Washington instead. The whole idea of appeasing the politicians to keep them from looking into baseball's antitrust exemption. 

Seattle, of course, got the Mariners after the Seattle Pilots were so poorly financed they were bought and moved to Milwaukee after one season. It didn't help they were also playing in a horrid stadium (kind of like what the Jays played in originally) But they were given a promise of an expansion team if they got a stadium built, mainly to appease the Washington State politicians blustering about the antitrust exemption.. 

Unlike the Jays, the Mariners took a long time to find success on the field. While they're still waiting for their first World Series appearance, it's nice to see them winning more games than they're losing lately. 

Now, head to head, the Jays are 228-209 against the Mariners, but the Mariners hold a 2-0 record in the playoffs against Toronto. 

Either way, the matchups can be interesting. Either way I'm saying "GO JAYS!"

Card Show Virginity Lost

 Hello friends!

Today, as the title suggests, was my first card show ever attending. It was the first show the organizer put on in the area. They normally do them in Ajax, but heard Peterborough was an untapped market, so they decided to run one today.. 

As you can see, they're planning another one next month. From what I'm gathering, they want to do a couple test shows to gauge interest on whether or not they continue. 

I wanted to take a pic inside the hall, but I didn't really want to because I didn't want to get anybody too clearly on camera. It's a conference room in the same building as one of the arenas in town. It used to be known as the Evinrude Centre, but is now Healthy Planet Arena. 

I have to say, for someone with anxiety issues and general people issues, it wasn't too bad.. I was able to focus enough to not get overwhelmed. I did describe it as a mix of people and chaos.. One vendor I told that to liked that description.. 

So I guess you'd like to see what I picked up, eh? 

First on my show list are two sets. 1991 Gold Leaf Rookies and the 1985 Blue Jays team set. I got them both for $20 total. They were half off the sticker price. 

I got this at another table. The first table I went to, actually.. I picked out a stack of 30 cards. They were $1 each or 7 for $10, I think. I got the stack for $30.. Now looking at this Hill card, I'm wondering if I stumbled on an autographed card that cost me less than a buck? 

The actual cards have no sigs, so.... 

Another vendor I bought from had some vintage (including 60s-80s OPC... I hope he's back in November. I'd like to see what he has there)

I already have the Parrish Topps but it helps to the Million Expos.. As did a few pickups I had here. 

One the Wallach Collector will never have.. *manaical laugh* 

I'm not really actively collecting the DKs, but I couldn't really pass up early 80s DKs. They're purty.... 

I didn't know this one existed so when I saw it I pounced.

A guy who never panned out. 

Again, I'm not actively collecting these, but I just liked the look of it. Who knows. This and the other DKs I picked up might end up finding homes elsewhere.. 

I didn't know I had this one already but Million Expos!

Something I've never seen before. These are panels of three stickers that came from Hostess chips in 1990. I must find the rest now.. 

Matt Brash. These are the first two cards of his that I've actually catalogued as having, so.. 

I know I got the panel, but when I saw the individual for a buck, why not?

Lots of Can-Con here.. Myles Naylor is the latest of the Naylor brothers to be drafted. Josh on the Mariners, Bo on the Guardians, and Myles in the A's system. Now if only they all played the same position.. 

I knew for a fact I didn't have that yellow Clement.. 

A couple Vlads to end it off.. 

So overall, the experience was interesting. I did spend the entire amount I allotted myself, though it will end up biting me in the ass later this month when it comes to groceries and other incidentals.. 

(My imposed limit was $60, which included the $5 entry fee)