#M-3 Baltimore Orioles

Even though I eventually found a connection from Friday's card to Saturday’s, I’m going to consider the streak over anyway. Monday, the beginning of the traditional work week is natural starting point and with a fresh start, I thought I’d change things up a bit. As long as I can keep adding them to my collection, the next bunch of Mondays will be “Mascot Monday” and feature cards from 2014 Topps Opening Day's Mascot insert set. Since they share the same front design aside from the added Opening Day logo, I don’t think this is too much of a stretch to include them in my ultimate set.

#M-3 Baltimore Orioles

First impression of what’s going on: These cards have been debated pretty much since their inception and this card is a prime example. Some cards in the set actually have the name of the mascot, while others, like this one, just have the team name. Any fan of the team, and probably millions of others could tell you the name of the Baltimore Orioles is simply The Oriole Bird.

As for the picture, Mr. Bird is standing atop a dugout. He could be taunting an opposing player or just up to some general tomfoolery with a member of the Orioles or ballpark staff. One thing I do find amusing is all of the fans that have their phones/cameras pointed at the mascot’s backside. Maybe he had just turned around, or they were waiting for him to turn back around, but it’s still funny. Also of note, I don’t detect a single kid in that crowd. Aside from the luxury suites, these are the priciest seats in the ballpark so the kids have been priced out of front row shenanigans.

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 04: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs in the seventh inning of the game against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 4, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: The caption says this came during the 7^th inning stretch which likes prime mascot time. But there’s no mention of how the Orioles fared against the visiting Mariners so let’s check out the BOXSCORE.

So the Orioles took a 2-1 in the 6th but the a rally by the Mariners probably took some steam out of the crowd. Who to call to get a little home team advantage back on your side? Queue the mascot!

Unfortunately, the Orioles went 9 up, 9 down the rest of the game.

I do see a kid in the uncropped photo and looking back at the card, you can see half his torso on the left side of the card.

On to the back:

There’s no Rookie Fact on these as it has been replaced by the Identifying Feature.

Identifying Feature: Giant Orange Beak

Hatched in 1979, this will be the Oriole Bird’s 35^th year as the mascot although a cartoon head first appeared on the Orioles caps in 1966.

Image courtesy of Chris Creamer's Sportslogos.net

The writeup on the back is good for a chuckle and great for the kids with some fun facts and good breakdown of his antics.

Here's an interesting article about being the Bird. Don’t tell the kids!

And an indication of the state of today’s journalism, an article about a tweet about the Orioles mascot from the 1950’s.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #M-3

Player Name: Baltimore Orioles (The Oriole Bird)

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Mascot

Game Date: August 4, 2013

Opponent: Seattle Mariners

Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Division: American League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 3-2, Mariners over the Orioles

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: N/A

Bats/Throws: With both wings! (According to the website)

Birthdate: Hatched: 4/6/1979

Birthplace: Baltimore

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: G Fiume

Niche collections this card could fit into: High Socks/Stirrups, Mascots

My Grade: While fitting into a whole bunch of niches, this is a pretty good looking card. No missing appendages, although this is one of the few that could have been brought in a little tighter. Maybe crop him at the waist?

I’ll give this card an B+ as the only detractor for me is the lack of mascot name.

#47 Baseball Highlights - Chris Davis

There are three active players in Series One alone that were born on St. Patrick's day, but only one that I could tie to the last card I did (Paul Goldschmidt) to keep the streak alive.

#47 Baseball Highlights - Chris Davis

First impression of what’s going on: There are five cards in this sub-series of Baseball Highlights, all of which are are horizontally oriented.If not for the long caption telling us what the highlight was, there really isn't a need for this photo to be used horizontally. And I say that as an admitted fan of horizontal cards. It seems to match up with the theme of the card though, as it looks like Chris Davis has hit one of his pre-All-Star break home runs. There's just too much dead space on either side of him.

Baltimore Orioles' Chris Davis (19) hits a 2-run homer against the Colorado Rockies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Orioles won, 7-2. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun/MCT via Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: This is the first caption I've had so far that didn't give me the actual date of the game. Luckily, it was an interleague game against the Colorado Rockies and not a divisional matchup. With a score, that should make it easier to find which game of the series it was.

The Rockies came to town for a three game series from August 16th-18th. The 7-2 game was played on the 18th. Last time I checked, that was after the All-Star Break. So not only is the photo a bad selection for a horizontal card, it doesn't even depict any part of the highlight it is representing! Not good, Topps. Not good.

Let's take a look at the BOXSCORE anyway.

As we knew, the Orioles won 7-2, but let's see how Chris did. His two-run homer could have come in the third, seventh or eighth.

Not a bad day at the plate, but that's kind of expected when you put up season long numbers by the All-Star Break. In fact, I'm happy if any of the Cubs hit either of those marks by the end of a season.

Davis' home run came in the bottom of the 8th inning though and only added 2% to the Orioles win probability. Mainly because they were already at 97% with a 5-2 lead in the 8th.

We do get some eye black, something we haven't seen much of yet.

And Nike squeezes in yet another appearance with a swoosh on Davis' batting glove.

We also get to see a glimpse of the Earl Weaver tribute patch.

Baltimore Orioles legend, Earl Weaver passed away before the season started and the Orioles wore this patch on their sleeve throughout the season.

On to the back:

Well, there's not much to say about the back. There's no Rookie Fact to break down, or blurb or statistics. Chris Davis was left out of having a base card in Series One, but does appear on two League Leaders cards. I guess the back breakdown will be saved for a Series Two card later this year!

I will say, before I forget, that the small connection I made between this card and Paul Goldschmidt's is hidden here on the back.

See, there's Goldschmidt's card listed as part of the checklist. Small connection just to get Chris Davis posted on his birthday, but it's there! The other two players I mentioned at the very beginning of the post with birthdays today and in Series One are Milwaukee's Jean Segura (#215) and the Mets' Juan Lagares (#304)

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #47

Player Name: Baseball Highlights - Chris Davis

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: First Base

Game Date: August 18, 2013

Opponent: Colorado Rockies

Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Division: American League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 7-2, Orioles over the Rockies, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Birthdate: 3/17/1986

Birthplace: Texas

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: Baltimore Sun

Niche collections this card could fit into: Eye Black, Commemorative Patch, Free Advertising, Horiztonal, Checklist, Baseball Highlights, Partial Southpaw

My Grade: This is a card that for all intents and purposes I should like. It hits a bunch of niche collections, is horizontal, the highlight is impressive. The photo itself isn't bad, but its use here is puzzling. If Topps wanted a horizontally oriented subset, they should have selected a better photo. And one that actually happened during the time frame of the highlight. This one gets my first D. Too many niches to actually fail it. As I usually do for low graded cards, here are a few suitable alternatives.

Ok, maybe not this test shot from photo day, but I thought it was too glorious not to share.

Home opener grand slam celebration? That'll do.

This picture may be a little generic, but I think it represents both home runs and RBIs pretty well (the theme of the card) and is better suited for a horizontal card than the one Topps chose.

Better luck in Series 2 with your base card, Chris, and Happy Birthday!

#24 Manny Machado

#24 Manny Machado

First impression of what’s going on: Pretty standard third baseman shot, but again, the crop is a tad too tight. I think we still get the dirt on the jersey and expression on his face without sacrificing his elbow.

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 11: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles throws the ball to first base against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 11, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

The Reality of the Photo: It looks like Machado is charging a slow roller/bunt. The caption doesn’t give much detail so we’ll have to go to the BOXSCORE.

In the first inning, Machado fielded two ground balls. The first, going towards the shortstop is where I’m speculating his uniform got dirty. The third batter and final out of the inning was a ground ball to weak third base by Albert Pujols. That could be it.

In the 4^th, Machado fielded another ball to weak 3B, this time off the bat of Mark Trumbo.

Finally, in the 9^th, Mike Trout also had a ball to weak third base.

In my limited skills as a detective, I’m going to say this photo was taken during the first inning on the ball hit by Albert Pujols. If you look in the upper right hand corner of the photo there are a lot of empty seats behind Machado. It could very well be a snack run in the 4^th or people left during the 9^th, but I’m betting that people were still trickling into the game.

Machado does give Rawlings some love by displaying two logos prominently on his glove.

On to the back:

Rookie Fact: Manny was, on 8/10/2012, the franchise’s youngest player with a 2-HR game.

I didn’t fact check this but I did go to the BOXSCORE to see the game.

Batting .500 on the season after going 2-4. What was it his first game?

Close. He did it in just his second game! That’s pretty impressive.

Information I’ll be tracking:

Card Number: #24

Player Name: Manny Machado

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Third Base

Game Date: June 11, 2013

Opponent: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yard

Division: American League East

Home/Away: Home

Outcome of the game: 3-2, Orioles over the Angels, Win for the player depicted

Alternate/Throwback Jersey: No

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Birthdate: 7/6/1992

Birthplace: Florida

Cameos by: N/A

Photographer: G Fiume

Niche collections this card could fit into: Free Advertising, Future Stars, Dirty Jersey

My Grade: I did say it was a pretty standard third baseman shot, but the dirty jersey gives it a little extra something. At the same time, the orange blob in the upper right hand corner (a vendor’s shirt if you look at the photo) is not very attractive to the card.  The crop job doesn’t really help either. But I am a fan of the cartoon bird on the hat making a comeback. I’m going to say B- on this one.