Card of the Day: Takeo Spikes 1998 Bowman Chrome Refractor #4

State College Spikes vs. Mahoning Valley Scrappers – Wally Triplett Bobblehead Night

My second bobblehead night within a week! The other being the Harrisburg Senators vs. Altoona Curve.

On Friday, July 29th I saw another MLB Draft League game. This time the game took place in Happy Valley between the State College Spikes and Mahoning Valley Scrappers. The Spikes went on to win 6-3.

You know if I’m attending the game there must be a bobblehead giveaway. The first 1,000 fans through the gates received a talking bobblehead of Wally Triplett. Upon pushing the button on the bobblehead’s base the crowd cheers “We are… We are… We are… Thank you.”

Who is Wally Triplett? He was a halfback who played for Penn State in the 1940s. After college he went on to play for the Detroit Lions and Chicago Cardinals.

Wally Triplett’s career accomplishments:

• Back – 1948 Cotton Bowl – caught the game-tying TD pass – 2018 Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame Inductee
• 1949 Draft Choice – Detroit Lions – 1st black player drafted by an NFL team to play in the NFL
• Single-game Lions record – total kick return yards – 294 – (10/29/50)
• 1st NFL player drafted to serve in the Korean War
• 594th Field Artillery Battalion, United States Army

When it comes to cards of Wally Triplett he only has two – 1948 Topps Magic Photos #1R, and 1950 Bowman #109. The Bowman is considered to be his true rookie card.

Cheeseburger, fries, and cinnamon roasted cashews for dinner.

Beaver Stadium across the street

Spikes vs. Black Bears – Ki-Jana Carter Bobblehead Night & Autograph Signing

Last Sunday, the 2018 National Sports Collectors Convention came to an end.  But I’m still going.  This show must go on!!!

On Friday night I attended my fourth and final minor league game of the summer.  The game took place in State College, PA between the Spikes and the West Virginia Black Bears.  The Spikes went on to lose 3-2.  A local Shikellamy High School graduate, Nick Dunn, was recently drafted by the Cardinals and plays for the Spikes right now.  I got to see him score.  I suspect he’ll get his first cards in Bowman Draft later this year.

There were two reasons why I wanted to attend this game.  The main objective was to be one of the first 1,000 fans through the gate so I could obtain my Ki-Jana Carter bobblehead.  The former Penn State running back and 1994 All-American was also in attendance.  Before the game started he was down on the field giving interviews, throwing out the first pitch, and handing out additional bobbleheads to fans.  Shortly after the game began, the Spikes had a table setup for him down the first base line.  Once he started signing, the line moved fairly quickly.  I got him to autograph my Rawlings black/gold Penn State football.  Everyone was allowed (1) autograph and (1) photo.  This was the first time I had ever participated in an autograph signing during a baseball game.  It went very smoothly.

Ki-Jana Carter was the Round #1 Pick #1 in the 1995 NFL Draft.  He went on to play for the Bengals, Redskins, Packers, and Saints.  For the price of a ticket, I got a bobblehead, autograph, and photo.  Not too bad.

Penn State running back and 1994 All-American Ki-Jana Carter

Nookie Monster!

State College Spikes second baseman Nick Dunn

State College Spikes ’18 Topps Pro Debut Relic Contest Winner Announced

Congrats to Ryan Gluesing on being the lucky winner of the Zach Kirtley 2018 Topps Pro Debut Fragments of the Farm New York-Penn League Championship Banner From Medlar Field At Lubrano Park Relic.  Once Ryan Gluesing sends me his mailing address, I will ship this card ASAP.  Thanks!

State College Spikes vs. Mahoning Valley Scrappers – 8/9/15 – The Bus Bobblehead Night

A lot of fans came out to watch the State College Spikes take on the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Sunday night.  Good baseball wasn’t the only reason people came out though.  It was Jerome Bettis bobblehead night!!!  The first 1,000 fans through the gates received a commemorative Jerome Bettis Hall of Fame Gold Jacket bobblehead.  I think the coolest part of this specific bobblehead is that the platform he’s standing on is in the shape of a bus.  Jerome Bettis was once or still is involved with a company that owns different minor league baseball teams including the Spikes.  That’s why I think they did this.  Plus he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame over the weekend too and is a PA favorite.

The Spikes went on to win 4-1 over the Scrappers.  Instead of having chicken fingers and fries, I went for a cheeseburger this time.  I could smell them on the grill while waiting to get in.  Everything in the gift shop was 20% off as long as it had black and/or gold on it.  So I picked myself up a new “Fear The Dear” t-shirt.

LuCKy the Lion from Lion Country Kia.

Back-To-Back Bobblehead Nights Round Out Busy August

Well… my busy August has officially come to an end.  It all started exactly one month ago today while heading to Cleveland for the 2014 National.  Then it was on to Little League and ending this week with back-to-back bobblehead nights in State College and Williamsport.

Thursday night the State College Spikes gave out bobbleheads of Penn State’s new head coach James Franklin.  These were given to the first 1,000 fans through the gate.  I got there two hours before the gates opened.  So early I didn’t even have to pay for parking.  I wasn’t the first one in line though.  Two guys had been there since 10:30 a.m.  The gates opened at 6:00 p.m.  The Spikes won 1-0 over the Williamsport Crosscutters.

On Friday night the Williamsport Crosscutters gave out bobbleheads of Andrew McCutchen to the first 1,000 fans.  McCutchen played for the Crosscutters when they were affiliated with the Pirates.  The Crosscutters lost 7-1 against the Jammers.

State College Spikes vs. Brooklyn Cyclones – 7/14/12

Last night I watched the State College Spikes (Pirates) take on the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets).  The Spikes lost 6-3.  It was a pitching dual until the 6th inning when Brooklyn scored first.  The Pirates pitching prospect, Clay Holmes, pitched 5 scoreless innings.

19 year old Pirates pitching prospect Clay Holmes.  Holmes has cards found in 2011 Donruss Elite and 2012 Bowman Chrome.  His Superfractor recently sold for $200.00.

Samuel Gonzalez at the plate.

Allen Craig/Jason Motte dual bobblehead night.  These were given out to the first 1,000 fans.

It was also Star Wars night.

Card of the Day: Takeo Spikes 1998 Press Pass Auto

State College Spikes vs. Jamestown Jammers – 8/6/11

Despite it raining most of the day Saturday, the State College Spikes (Pirates) were able to take on the Jamestown Jammers (Marlins).  The Spikes lost 3-1.  I picked-up a few team sets, photos, and a really good hamburger.  Medlar Field is right next to Beaver Stadium and has a terrific scenic view.  The only thing that bugs me about this stadium are the bees.  I notice that they have a lot more than other places.

Carlos Mesa

Jamestown Jammers

Ike The Spike

Do These Cards Look Alike?

Yesturday afternoon while attending a State College Spikes game, I stopped by the gift shop to pick up a 2009 Team Set and pin like I usually do each year.  When I got home I started flipping through the Team Set and noticed that the design looks very much like the 1959 Topps baseball set.  When comparing the cards side by side, you can clearly see the similarities.

1959 Topps

2009 State College Spikes Team Set

I wonder if the manufacturer got permission from Topps to borrow their design?  Even if they didn’t, I wonder if Topps would take any action against them?  Its not like these team sets are being sold everywhere.  What am I talking about?  Card companies never take each other to court 🙂

Am I the only person who thinks these cards look alike?