First, we have a 2007 Upper Deck Legendary Materials Cuts card (19/99) of 6 time All Star Harold Baines. 
Next is a 2009 Upper Deck Dual Swatch (60/75) of 2008 All Star Joakim "The Mexicutioner" Soria. 
A 2006 Bowman Heritage Pieces of Greatness (uncorrected error) Card of 8-time All Star Vladimir Guerrero. 
A 1999 Topps Chrome Traded (PSA 9 MINT) card (#T46) of 2009 All Star Carlos Pena.
A 2008 Allen & Ginter Jersey Card of 3 time All Star Carl Crawford.
A 2009 Upper Deck Game Used Patch (12/25) of 6-time All Star Roy Halladay.
A 2009 Topps Patch Card of 14-time All Star Reggie Jackson.
A 2006 Upper Deck Epic Materials (101/155) of 3-time All Star Robin Yount.
A 2008 Upper Deck Timeless Moments card of 2-time All Star Prince Fielder.
A 2009 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Card of 2-time All Star Kevin Youkilis.
A 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts (94/99) Je rsey Card of 15-time All Star Tony Gwynn.And last, but not really least, a two for one deal...
A 2008 Upper Deck Spectrum Dual Swatch (21/99) card featuring both 2-time All Star Prince Fielder and 2-time All Star Ryan Braun.Now, I realize that I didn’t cover every team here, but I think that I threw in enough Hall of Famers to make everyone happy. If you insist, when you select, write in Pujols, A-Rod, Chipper or David Ortiz and you will receive a random memorabilia card of my choice featuring that player.
Okay, the rules. First, you must follow this blog to play. Second, you can only enter via the comments on this thread of this blog. Any entry received after midnight on Sunday July 19, 2009 (the date of the next Bradentucky Bombers bout) will be voided. You can win one or two of the cards listed above. To win one, simply comment with your name, your favorite team or player, the state or country that you live in and which one card you would like. To win two cards, do everything listed above, plus select a second card, plus vote for your choice for MVP and Cy Young for this year (thus far) in both the American and National Leagues. That easy. I will post the first comment with a sample of how to do this. My entry will be voided because I am not a follower of this blog. I, along with witnesses and a camera, will pull the winner’s name from a hat (containing all the entries) early next week. I will then post the winners first name and the card they picked and contact them for their address to send them their card. Sorry there are few options for West Coast fans, I have zero luck in pulling Dodgers or Giants cards ever. I checked at my local card shop today and no dice. Sorry. Okay, good luck!
Four quick end notes...First, every card here (other than the PSA) is pack fresh and stored in a one-screw down Ultra Pro holder and covered in a team set bag. Second, was Robin Yount only an All Star three times? I might be misreading my encyclopedia because that just doesn't sound correct. Third, the remaining cards not won will be added to a few others for another contest in August, unless an interested party wants to trade me for Rays memorabila cards. Fourth, uh...can't remember what I was going to say, umm...thanks for reading? Oh wait, the cards available are the actual ones pictured and when available, the serial numbers are listed. Okay, going to watch the AAA All Star game. Go Rays! Troll out. Oh, as an added bonus...The first person who points out the uncorrected error on the Vlad card can pick THREE cards! Oh, and the same cards can be picked by multiple people since this contest only has one winner... Remember that if you choose Cy Young and MVP, you can pick 2 cards, if not, you only pick one card. Thanks for reading!
I’m sitting around at home waiting for Esther Gin to get home from Derby practice so we can go for a sushi date before I go into work. I’ve been toying with a post about the new All Stars added to the team. I really like the excitement of all those who get added as guys who already received the honor get nicked up and can’t play in the game. Today, Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia announced that he would not attend, therefore freeing up a roster spot. Dustin is going to go home and be with his wife for the birth of their child, so hats off to him for that. AL manager Joe Maddon had a number of quality replacements available. I thought that the easy choice would be Ian Kinsler of the Rangers, who plays the same position as Pedroia, but he went the direction that NL manager Charlie Manuel went. Manuel picked his own player, outfielder Jayson Werth to replace the injured Carlos Beltran. This made Werth the 3rd Phillies outfielder on the team. This had happened before, back in 1972 when Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Al Oliver all made the squad for the NL. Its odd to me to compare Werth and Victorino to Clemente and Stargell, but whatever…
Aside from Kinsler, some other potential picks included Angels outfielder Juan Rivera, his teammate Chone Figgins, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, Mariners surprise slugger Russ Branyon, Blue Jays Scott Rolen and Adam Lind as well as Tampa Rays like Jeff Nieman, BJ Upton, JP Howell and Carlos Pena. Maddon picked his Gold Glove first baseman to fill the spot. Pena is leading the American League with 24 home runs, he is tenth in RBIs and among the league lead in runs, walks and slugging percentage. The Rays PR department had a big push for Carlos Pena with their “Vote For Los” campaign with all Trop employees wearing shirts with that message. He joins Texas slugger Nelson Cruz, who has had a Pena like career so far, who was added to the team earlier this week. Carlos Pena will participate in the home run contest. I wonder if that was one of the factors in his selection. The National League team added a few non-Phillies as well. All Time saves king and current Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman will make his 7th All Star trip and Pirates hard luck ace Zach Duke and his 8-8 record were also added.
The Rays are battling the Athletics at Tropicana Field as we speak (er type) and they are still tied up at zero in the 2nd. The first inning ended with Ben Zobrist, making the start in right field today, gunning down a runner at the plate on a perfect throw after Matt Holliday flied out deep for what looked like a sacrifice fly.
Batting second, the left fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, a two-time All Star and 4-time AL stolen base leader…
Batting third, the 1st baseman for the Minnesota Twins, a two-time All Star, two-time Silver Slugger and the AL’s MVP in 2006…
The clean-up hitter is the Los Angeles Angels centerfielder, an 8-time Gold Glove and two-time All Star…
Batting fifth today is The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman, an All Star last year and also the American League’s Rookie of the Year…
Batting 6th is the Minnesota Twins catcher, a 2-time All Star and two-time batting champion, currently chasing .400…
Batting 7th, from the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers, a 4-time All Star and last season’s AL home run leader…
Batting in the #8 spot is the Toronto Blue Jays second baseman, currently 4th in the AL in home runs, making his first All Troll or All Star appearance…
Your #9 hitter today is the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, another infielder having a breakout season and making his first appearance on an ALL team…
Your starting pitcher today comes to you from the Kansas City Royals; he was the AL Pitcher of the Month in April, also making his first ALL Star/Troll appearance…
That is the starting line-up for the 2009 American League “All Troll Team”.
