Thursday, March 28, 2024

Opening Day 2024

 Let the games begin!

To celebrate the Cubs 149th Opening Day, I've got the Cubs all time opening day lineup. The lineup features a majority of the players from the '60's and later. That seems odd to me, considering the long history of the Cubs. In fact, of the entire lineup, I have seen all but three.

Next to the Cubs all-time opening day leader, I have the Cub who makes the start today.

The cards that I'm using are the most recent ones I have for each player.  Some players have no Cubs cards, so I will use my homemade cards for them,

 

Pitcher: Fergie Jenkins, 7 Opening Day starts.
Justin Steele is making his first Opening Day start

  

Catcher: Gabby Hartnett, 12 starts
Yan Gomes is makes his second opening day start 

 

First Base (since 1900): Charlie Grimm and Mark Grace, 12 starts
Michael Busch makes his Cubs debut as the starting first baseman.

 

Second Base: Ryne Sandberg, 13 starts
Nico Hoerner makes his second start at second baseman.

 

Shortstop: Shawon Dunston, 11 starts
Dansby Swanson is making his second start as the Cubs opening day shortstop.

 

Third Base: Ron Santo, 13 starts
Nick Madrigal is making his first Opening Day start at third base.

  

Left Field: Billy Williams, 10 starts
Ian Happ starts in left field for the third time.


Center Field (since 1900): Andy Pafko, 7 starts
Cody Bellinger is in center for the second time.

 

Right Field: Sammy Sosa, 12 starts
Seiya Suzuki will make his second start as the right fielder.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

The 2024 Chicago Cubs

 The season begins tomorrow with the Cubs taking on the Rangers in Texas.  They've finalized the roster for the opener, so I've got a 2024 Topps card for each of the 26 players.  

Only seven of the 26 have a card in series one, meaning I had to make cards for 19.  When I pick pictures, as much as possible I like to stay away from the standard choice of a position player hitting and a pitcher throwing.  I'm tired of all the hitting and pitching cards.

 

Catchers -  The Cubs are carrying two catchers, veteran Yan Gomes and rookie Miguel Amaya.


 

 

 

Infielders - The starting infield is, from third to first, Christopher Morel, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch.  That is very solid up the middle and pretty shaky at the corners.  The backups are Garrett Cooper, Miles Mastrobuoni, and Nick Madrigal.


 

 

Outfielders - Pretty decent here, with Happ, Bellinger, and Suzuki starting and Tauchman in reserve.

 

 

Starting Pitchers -  This should be interesting as only Hendricks and Steele have big league starting experience of more than a year.

 

 

 

 

Bullpen - The bullpen always seems to be a crap shoot.  Hopefully the dice they rolled hit big.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Green Green and Yellow Red

 In this post and this one from 2018 I looked at the different color combinations on 1975 Topps Cubs cards.  There was a tie for the most common one, with green/green and yellow/red having four cards each.  

Do you suppose that this year's Heritage will do the same thing and overload on these two combinations?





To give you and idea as to what they may look like, I made one of each.  Next to each is the original 1975 card that I used for inspiration.

 

Both pitchers are looking of in the distance.

 

I couldn't find Suzuki in the same post as Morales, so I settled for a posed shot of his swing.

Monday, March 25, 2024

One For Two With My Gamble

  

I was one for two with my gamble.  I picked up these two autograph cards, anticipating that the two players would become rule followers for my autograph collection.

Jordan Wicks will be part of the starting rotation once the season starts.  As soon as he throws his first pitch in his first game his autograph will follow my rules.

Not as fortunate, Daniel Palencia was sent to AAA Iowa to start the 2024 season.  I did read several complimentary things about him, so hopefully he'll get called up sometime during the year.  If not, I spent five bucks for nothing.