Baseball Cards

george asked:


 

The Baseball Swing

Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports. You have to hit a round ball with a round bat, squarely. And that round ball is often dancing, tailing into you, cutting away, curving, splitting, sinking, knuckling, or sliding. You have a split second to decide whether you should swing at it, take it, or get out of its way. So how do big-leaguers do it? How does Manny Ramirez make it look so easy? How does Ichiro collect 200-hit seasons as if they are baseball cards? How does Chase Utley consistently hit line drives you can hang your laundry on? They all have great swings.

 

The baseball swing is made up of a few key components.

 

Grip

The grip is important because it’s the only physical contact you make with the bat. Hold the bat in your fingertips, not your palms. When you hold the bat in your palms, you restrict your swing. When you hold your bat in your fingertips, you can swing freely and easily, with maximum range of motion.

 

Stance

When you step into the batter’s box, stand with your feet no more than shoulder width apart. Stay relaxed and bend your knees. Hold your hands in a comfortable position, right around shoulder height.

 

Stride

When the pitcher is about to deliver the ball, take a short, balanced stride, no more than 2-3 inches straight toward the pitcher. Some players, like David Wright, just pick up their front heel and put it back down. When you stride, it is important to keep your head level. If you don’t, the ball will appear to bounce up and down on its way to home plate, because that’s exactly what your eyes are doing.

 

Load

The load is the trigger of your swing. When you throw a punch, you don’t just move your fist forward, you coil it backward first. The same applies to the baseball swing. This coiling action serves two purposes:

 

· Generates power

· Helps you time the pitch

 

To load, make a slight movement, like picking up or dropping your hands, or coiling your front shoulder back. Avoid dramatic movements, like the sledgehammer waggle of Gary Sheffield. It works for him, but for most players, it can only slow the swing down.

 

Power Turn

Move the barrel of the bat directly to the ball. Don’t loop, or “uppercut,” and don’t cast the bat as if you were casting a fishing line. Lead with your hips, rotating them toward the pitcher. Keep your hands back until you finish your hip rotation. This will help you adjust to different kinds of pitches and different locations. Most of all, maintain your balance and keep your head level, and looking right at the ball, throughout the swing.

 

Follow Through

After contact, extend the bat toward the pitcher, then let the barrel swing around you naturally – it’s important to finish your swing.

 

Practice

Of course, practice makes perfect when it comes to baseball hitting. Hitting drills in baseball can help you master the swing. In addition, there are tools available to help you practice with a purpose.

 

One of the most important aspects of the swing is balance. Tools are available from companies like A-Game Technology (www.agametechnology.com) to help you maintain your balance. The Batter’s Edge training tool, for instance, teaches you to take a straight stride, stay balanced, and keep your head level. By standing on its narrow platform, you have to stay balanced. The Batter’s Edge is one of the most useful tools among baseball training equipment.

 

So, remember to stay balanced, keep your head level, move the barrel of the bat directly to the ball, and follow through. And most of all, practice. Before you know it, you’ll be taking your game to a new level.



Vincent

Kadence Buchanan asked:


Baseball cards have been an irreplaceable part of American culture for over a century. Giving collectors a chance to see the stats and pictures of their favorite players, baseball cards have come a long way in the past decade.

As some collectors grew weary of the traditional baseball card format, the card companies needed to find a niche that would help boost the excitement of their product. They found exactly that through the use of numerous advancements in the trading card field. Now that the baseball card companies see that their buyers like the thrill of chance when it comes to getting specialized rare cards, there are numerous sought-after types of cards available. For instance, one of the industry’s top companies, Topps, has found a host of ways to keep collectors interested. In their latest set of cards, they’ve offered up the opportunity to get cards that are signed by the players that they represent, giving you an exciting sense of possibility every time that you can open a pack. Also, they’ve begun to place actual pieces of game memorabilia within the cards. You may end up opening a pack and getting a piece of fabric directly from the jersey of one of your favorite players, or even a chip of their bat.

With all of these opportunities for hungry collectors, baseball cards are in more demand then ever. The specialized memorabilia cards feature extremely limited print runs, allowing for a high value to be assessed for the unique cards. Some of the more unique cards for the best players may fetch upwards of hundreds of dollars. And the game-used memorabilia cards don’t necessarily have to come from players that played the year the cards were printed – if you get lucky, you may find yourself with a piece of a bat used by Joe DiMaggio! That can add a very interesting prospect to sports card collecting – it’s almost like buying a lottery ticket! Sure, some of the cards may cost more by-the-pack, but it’s clearly worth it to have such an exciting chance to get close to your sports idols.



Shane

Kyle21 asked:


First off i have about 4,700 baseball cards total. All of these cards are from the years 1991 to 1993. I have about 1,000 Fleer 1992 series cards including 50 rookie cards. About 2,000 upper deck cards with approx. 50 rookie cards and 10 collector edition cards. And the rest of the cards are a mix of pinacale, studio, and topps series 91 92 cards.
Oh and if you have any cards that i should look for that may be valuable tell me!

Kelvin

Choro-Kun asked:


I’m becoming a fan of collecting baseball cards after seeing my uncles whole collection of them.

So i’ve decided to start collecting them myself.

So i need/want to know how i can/should start.

From what packs to buy or to who to look out for. What cards are special and what types of cards i should keep.

-Arigatou

Wendy

supity_dupity asked:


I have complete factory sets of Topps baseball cards from these years:

1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.

I also have a box full of team allstar cards from ‘87, and a box full of about 800 cards ranging from ‘82 all the way up to ‘96.

So I was wondering if anyone could help me get some prices on these/ individual collectible cards within the sets. Thanks!

Isiah

Eddie Delgado asked:


Baseball card memorabilia collecting is a hobby to many and has been a hobby of mine since childhood. Trading cards was a big pass time for my friends and I. Our game would consist of shuffling cards and then the one with the highest number would win. We were trading cards at the time without knowing the possible future value.

Today I am still an avid card collector and through the years I have built a very impressive collection. My prized possession is a 1909 E93 Honus Wagner, and any serious collector would know and treasure its value. Honus Wagner 1909 t206 sold for a record breaking 2.8 million Dubbed “The Holy Grail” or “Mona Lisa” of baseball cards. This card was once the top prize in a Wal-Mart contest and once owned by hockey player Wayne Gretzky.

Most vintage cards you see today are reproductions of the originals. However there are still few original cards in circulation. Cards like Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are among the few. These cards were collectibles even during the time these players were actively playing; this makes them more valuable today. Many of these cards show wear because the collectors of that time were children.

 Collecting baseball cards as a hobby is quite popular with many people. Today collectors are involved in online day trading which brings excitement and sometimes huge profits. More and more collectors are turning to online trading. The majority of card traders today do not have the means to deal with the Wagner and Ruth cards, but even cards of today can rise substantially in value.



Adrian

College Credit Builder asked:


Major League Baseball, through issuer Bank of America, has cast its giant footprint on the credit card industry.  Like many schools, airlines, and retail stores have done for decades, baseball teams are now being featured on consumer credit cards.  These credit cards, picturing the major league baseball team of choice on their face, are rapidly growing in popularity and proving to be a hit with baseball fans across the country.  

 

The Major League Baseball™ Extra Bases™ Credit Card from Bank of America boasts no annual fee and a 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on balance transfers and cash advance checks for the first 12 billing cycles.   As incentives to gain customer share in the extraordinarily competitive credit card market, the baseball credit card also offers an official MLB™ licensed jersey after the first qualifying transaction using the card.  In addition to the no annual fee and 0% introductory APR, the card offers a point based incentive system whereby card holders earn 1 point for every net retail dollar spent redeemable for MLB™ autographed memorabilia, coveted MLB™ life experiences, travel and cash rewards.

 

A review of the internet landscape makes clear that every major league baseball team can be represented on a credit card.  For example, www.mlbcreditcardoffers.com highlights the card, its features and allows consumers to apply.  Other websites like www.metscreditcard.com and numerous others in which you simple insert the [team name] followed by creditcard.com, like www.redsoxcreditcard.com for example, offer the same Major League Baseball™ Extra Bases™ Credit online application. 

 

Historically, baseball has given the public something to believe in and something to hope for, particularly in tough economic times.  With this credit card, consumers can be reminded of their favorite team every time they open their wallets.



Ashley

Glemy Arthur asked:


For all the video game consoles installed in American living rooms, nothing can replace a Dad and his boy in the front yard playing catch and no electronic beep carries the richness of a well-thrown ball smacking the leather of a catcher’s mitt.

Although psychologists wisely counsel that it is best to allow children to develop their own interests, there is nothing wrong with giving your son baseball-related gifts to introduce him to the sport and to kindle his interest. Most children realize quickly when an activity is important to their parents and will at least make an effort to become involved in it as well. (But remember — and this may hurt you to think about — if your son really does not develop a love of the game, don’t ruin it for the both of you by forcing it. Accept it and find something else the two of you can share.)

Some affordable baseball-related gifts that will appeal to your child include:

1. Baseball-themed clothing. Ball caps are a wardrobe standard with kids these days and are easily found at sporting goods stores. Get your boy a cap with the logo of your favorite team and use it as a pretext to start teaching him the logos of all the teams in the league and the names of their mascots. Make it a game. (T-shirts can serve the same purpose and if he gets really enthused, you can get him the whole uniform in his size.)

2. Collectibles. These items can include a pack of a baseball bats ,cards showing the players of a favored team, miniature baseball helmets, or the fun and popular bobble-head dolls of major baseball celebrities. These kinds of gifts are good because they can be stretched out over several birthdays and Christmases, building a complete collection for the child and creating the anticipation of receiving the next piece.

3. Memorabilia. Actual sports memorabilia is best reserved for older children who have already developed a keen interest in the game and an appreciation for its history. Many vintage baseball cards and signed game balls are quite expensive and require appropriate care. For the real enthusiast, however, they will become treasured personal items for years to come.

4. Tickets. Actually taking your son and perhaps one of his friends to a game creates an opportunity for a fun outing with “the guys.” The boys will enjoy the spectacle, watching the players and the crowd, and getting to eat food Mom wouldn’t let them have if she knew about it. (It’s also a great venue to start explaining the rules of the game in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.)

5. Baseball camp. Like memorabilia, this is a gift best reserved for a slightly older child with a well-developed interest in the game. These camps may be held locally and simply involve a number of hours during the day at a sports center or they may be “away” camps requiring the child to stay a number of days. Judge what your boy can best handle psychologically and don’t put him in a setting so far above his skills that he’ll feel unhappy and uncomfortable.

6. Equipment. In the final analysis, the best way to help a child cultivate an interest in baseball is to give him the tools of the trade. Start with the classics – Softball Bats, balls, and gloves. Yes, he’ll play with his friends, but you also want to be the one out there in the yard helping him develop his swing and his fast ball. There is no substitute for real play in learning to love a sport. (And remember, patience when he knocks that first ball through the kitchen window.)

Baseball is much more than a bat and ball sport pitting two teams of nine players against one another. In the American version, at least, it’s been around since 1838, and forms a vital element of the national fabric. When you hear the phrase “as American as baseball and apple pie,” it’s not an exaggeration. By choosing the right baseball gifts for your son, you can introduce him to this tradition, share it with him, and build great memories for you both to cherish.



Delaney

Jimmy Spier asked:


To fickle fans, one baseball collectible isn’t like another. There’s a big difference between owning a Mickey Mantle player’s card and one with Derek Jeter’s autograph on it.

Fans of the game aren’t the only ones amassing baseball collectibles - the practice has a wide audience because the memorabilia is also a good financial investment and treasure to be passed down to your heirs.

Don’t let price affect your decision to start accumulating baseball collectibles. You can start a collection for almost nothing and build it from there. You want to know the difference between the values of the various memorabilia so that you’ll know which items are worth your consideration.

When you start gathering your own baseball collectibles, such as baseball cards, you’ll find you can bulk up your collection with inserts, unopened packs, complete ready-made sets, and rookie cards.

When a player is a rookie, and then becomes a legend in the game, his rookie card is highly valuable. With today’s mass produced baseball collectibles a single player can have multiple rookie cards.

Inserts will be a great addition to any baseball collectible stash because they include autographs, snippets of kerseys or leather from the gloves, and all are limited in quantity. Getting an insert card is almost like taking a gamble - you never know whether or not your pack will have the wining ticket, but that doesn’t stop fans from trying!

If you can get your hands on unopened packs, then you’ll be glad to know the sheer mystery of the item adds value to your baseball collectibles, not to mention the chance of getting an insert card in your new pack. Unopened packs range from a mere dollar to thousands of dollars if you’re searching the market for a vintage pack to add to your baseball collectibles.

If you have the money and expertise to know a good deal when you see it, then you may want to find a complete ready-made set of cards for your baseball collectibles. It’s very difficult to find a complete set because there are so many cards being produced for each player and team that even seasoned pros have a hard time tracking down every single item needed to complete a set.

Still, with money and time on your side, this can be a fascinating hobby that provides the thrill of the find each and every time you’re able to get your hands on a unique baseball collectible that completes your own set of memorabilia.



Mia

HITMAN asked:


I would like to sell all of my old baseball cards. Is there a program or website I can use to create a list and estimated value of the cards I have? Any other ideas so I can get best value?

Kayden