Tigers Sweep Cards

The Tigers swept the Cardinals today winning 6-3. On Friday they won 14-4. That run total was higher than all runs combined during the World Series last Fall. Ugh! It just reminds me of how poorly they played when it counted most. But watch out! The Tigers will be back in 2007!

I went the game on Saturday night with Leah, Jenna, and my Dad. The Tigers led the whole way and held on for a 8-7 victory . The girls both brought baseballs to the game hoping to get autographs. Leah got her ball at the ALCS last year during batting practice and I gave Jenna one I got about ten years ago during batting practice at Tiger Stadium. They were patient and were rewarded with an autograph from Justin Verlander.

Zumaya and Ordonez....err....Leah and Jenna wait for autographs.

Future Cy Young Winner Justin Verlander.

Is Leah asking Grandpa for his autograph or showing him her autographed ball?

Two happy girls!

PS - Indy 500 Winner Prediction: Tony Kanaan

Jackie Robinson

Today America is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's Major League debut. Jackie broke the "color barrier" in 1947.

I first learned of Jackie Robinson when I was about 10 years old. Fortunately, my family inherited a pack rat gene, which means we still have many of the items from my father's childhood, including his baseball card collection. One of my favorite cards as a kid, and now, is this 1954 Topps Jackie Robinson card.

My friends and I knew Jackie was one of the best players. When I made a pile of "good guys", Jackie was always in the stack, along with Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. I would take the cards to school and look at them with my friends...and I am pretty sure Jackie hung in my 4th grade locker for awhile. Today's card collector's would probably cringe at the thought of cards being handled carelessly, but the benefit I had as a child learning about these great players was more important than the dollar value today (except the 1958 Topps Micky Mantle I pinned to my bulletin board...Doh!).

Jackie Robinson was an awesome baseball talent: 1947 Rookie of the Year, 1949 MVP hitting .342, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962. The Dodgers won the pennant in 6 of Jackie's 10 seasons. He was also a great guy off the field. As the back of his 1954 card describes, he was head of NBC's community activities. For more highlights, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame web site: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/

We Need More Global Warming!

How many times over the past few years have you read about common weather events blamed on global warming? You can't read a news report about a hurricane, tornado, flood or forest fire nowadays without global warming mentioned as a possible cause. Talk of global warming is everywhere.

Well, I am here to say we need MORE global warming. We are experiencing record April lows in the Midwest. Yesterday in Grand Rapids we received 7.0" of snow. It's too cold for kids to play outside and enjoy Spring. But much worse, many people in America are suffering devastating economic losses. Read about the pain below:

Irvin's latest damage assessment, based mostly on a county-by-county survey by agricultural Extension agents, shows the following losses:
-- North Georgia wine grapes, 100 percent
-- Blueberries, grown mostly in southeastern Georgia, 90 percent
-- Strawberries, grown mostly in southern Georgia, 90 percent
-- Pecans, grown mostly in southern Georgia, 70 to 80 percent
-- Peaches, 100 percent in north Georgia, 55 to 60 percent in middle Georgia, the state's largest growing area, and 75 percent in south Georgia.
http://www.cbs46.com/Global/story.asp?S=6362466

"I don't think there'll be a good peach out of South Carolina this year," said Raymond Cook, who grows 60 acres of peaches each season. "It's the worst I've ever seen."

South Carolina raised 100 million pounds of peaches last year, but when temperatures dipped into the 20s in 1996 the state produced just 6.6 million pounds, according to Rhonda Brandt, director of the federal agriculture department in South Carolina. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070410/ap_on_bi_ge/farm_scene_2

An unusually frosty Easter weekend will cost North Carolina at least $112 million in crop losses, according to early estimates released Thursday by the state Agriculture Department.
http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-838415.cfm

So during the next week when the inevitable reports come out that say things like "global warming scientists worried recent cold snap could change opinions" or "No time to abandon global warming fight" just remember a warmer April 2007 would have been a good thing for many people.

To learn more about alternative views on global warming, visit Craig James Blog: http://blogs.woodtv.com/?cat=11

Tigers 10, Blue Jays 9

I went to an exciting game yesterday with by brother-in-law Brian. It was a blowout that turned into a cliff hanger. In the 3rd inning Curtis Granderson hit a grand slam and the Tigers scored 4 more runs to lead 8-0. I took the picture below while commenting to Brian I was recording this "momentous occasion for history". Boom! A line shot to right center! Granderson touches 4!

Things got a little scary in the 8th. Magglio was putting on a clinic on how NOT to play right field. In his defense, it was 38 degrees and the wind was blowing 45 mph. Balls were blowing and dropping all around him. The Jays scored 7 runs. Vernon Wells was the tying run at third base when Troy Glaus hit a drive I thought was gone for sure. But Magglio zig-zagged after the ball and made a game saving grab. Todd Jones was called upon to pitch the 9th inning and closed the game. It will be a great season in Motown!