Brad Hand
Collecting Game-used: Up close & personal with J.T. Realmuto
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This ball was almost a bit of déjà vu ... and I didn't even notice it at first.
My latest ball in this Collecting Game-used series is one that I picked up just like others in this series -- a blind grab bag buy of sorts just picking by date -- with the same teams involved and with All-Star power attached.
While last month's piece was a little more in-depth in terms of how long the ball survived in the majors -- two batters -- this one is more traditional but from the guy who followed them in the Braves lineup. That was something I didn't even realize until I sat down to put this one together. Landing all of the baseballs used in an inning is probably an impossibility unless it's all one ball or if you're at a game and can pick them up in-person, but this was a fun discovery with good names attached.
And yet baseball trivia here all that is moot compared to the play that Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto probably remembered after the game.
Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.
Collecting Game-used: Landing a full count plus some ...
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Two big names, one cool surprise.
My latest ball in this Collecting Game-used series is one that has two solid names attached to it -- Atlanta Braves 1B Matt Olson and former Braves SS Dansby Swanson from a game last season -- and it's got something else as part of its usage that I have not yet seen while tracking down and documenting a few dozen or so game-used balls.
The surprise? This one was used for an entire at-bat for one of them -- a full-count walk even -- after contact from the other giving it a life that's beyond many baseballs where they are used for a pitch or two and often for merely just one batter. Atop that, it's got some impressive discoloration from bat contact and even more impressive scuffing from ground contact that's just not as common as you might think with a lot of big-league baseballs that are prepped for play (so they're dirty enough to grip) but taken out if damage gets to be too much. (Sometimes you might get one ... but not often both.)
Keep reading to see the details this time ... and the ball in action.
Buzz 8 in 8: Busting 2020 Topps Heritage MLB cards (Hour 1)
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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 8 in 8 -- a series of a eight breaks of wax boxes and wax packs in as many hours today. We'll post one every hour ... this is Hour 1.
The box: 2020 Topps Heritage baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com
First Buzz preview, SPs & checklist: Click hereWhat's inside this one? Keep reading ...
3 Item(s)