2010 Topps Heritage Box

I usually don't buy boxes of new cards because they're usually a waste of money.  For $20, you get a bunch of 10 cent cards.  Today was no different.

I bought a box of 2010 Topps Heritage at Target today, hoping for that rare autograph.  Or even a game-used bat or jersey card.  But I didn't really get anything other than the 10 cent cards I should have known I'd get.

I got a few Twins cards, including Cuddyer, Liriano and Mauer.  Nothing rare or exciting.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Twins game.  They lost to Cleveland (yes, Cleveland) last night, but are ahead by a run in the second inning so far tonight.  Liriano will be on the mound so I'm hoping for a big win.

Another Fathead

I got my Mauer Fathead tonight and my wife helped me put it up. It's definitely a two person job. I put it on the wall adjacent to the Morneau Fathead behind the TV. I really like they way they look and they really grab your attention when you walk in the room.


I am losing valuable wall real estate though, and I'm not sure where I'm going to hang all my framed magazines and pictures. I'd also like to buy another couple display cases but I don't know where they'd go. I doubt I'll have any luck convincing my wife to let my collection out of the basement, so I'll have to get creative.

Joe Mauer Named AL Player of the Month for May

I went to the Twins/Indians game at the Dome on Thursday with some friends from work. It was a good time. Kubel hit two 3-run homers, Span had a homer, and Morneau had an upper deck blast which is by far the farthest I've seen someone hit the ball in person.

During the game, it was announced that Joe Mauer was named the AL Player of the month for May. Not surprising: he hit .414 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI. Joe had only 9 home runs all of last year. His career high was 13 back in 2006. He's added another one in June so far.

Joe was on the ticket I had to Thursday's game. I keep all my ticket stubs. I don't know why. I have the ticket stub to the game where Kubel hit for the cycle earlier this year. Maybe I'll have him sign it.

I have several Mauer autographs in my collection. I have gotten his autograph in person twice (on a baseball and on an 8x10), before he was really popular and before he started racking up the batting championships. Since then, I purchased a signed mini helmet from Iron Clad Authentics. They had a great sale and I bought one for my son for Christmas so I got one for myself as well.



I also tried getting him to sign some cards through the mail back in 2004. He didn't sign my cards, but returned a signed postcard with a note explaining he was too busy to sign all the mail he received.


We were also lucky enough to win a Joe Mauer signed bobblehead from a Hormel drawing at the grocery store a few years ago as well as a few others. I'll post about that tomorrow.

Anyone think Mauer can hit over .400 for the year? I doubt it, but if anyone can, I'd say it would be Joe.

Finished The Basement

No news today on returns or requests. I forgot to mention that yesterday I finally sent off my 1965 Topps to Yogi Berra. But, we did put the final coat of paint on the basement today, so soon we can get the furniture back in order. I still have to decide where things will go.

I was watching the prices of LCD TVs, waiting for the big "sales" for the Super Bowl. Since I've already been watching the prices, I'll have a pretty good idea of how good the deals are. Well, so far I've looked at Amazon and Best Buy, and the prices are higher than they were last week! Looks like rather than try to entice people to buy a new TV, they're assuming people will anyway and don't feel they need to motivate us.

I'll wait. Maybe the real deals will come after the Super Bowl is over and they try to get rid of the current models.

One autograph-related item of note: I signed my sons up for a Mauer Hitting Clinic next Sunday. It's a two hour clinic that Joe and his family (Jake, Billy and Stephanie) put on each year. The description said each participant will be able to get one autograph. Hopefully next week I'll have pictures of my sons and Joe Mauer.

We have gotten Joe's autograph a couple of times at Dick's Sporting Goods. One time, both he and Morneau were signing. This was in May of 2006, before they were the big names they are today. As I recall, the line wasn't really that long.