Housekeeping.

I hope that everyone had a enjoyable Christmas and was able to celebrate it in the manner that you enjoy most.

Due to family engagements, I will most likely be unable to post until January 1st. I had thought that I might be able to post a few times before then but it is not looking like that will be possible. Thanks to everyone for all their comments, feedback, and support through the past year. I am looking forward to another year of Rangers cards and good conversation.

Pondering Christmas.

Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Amid all the wrappings and trappings of our modern-day Christmas each of us should remember to do as Mary. Keep in mind and ponder the greatest gift that mankind has ever received, reconciliation with God. Merry Christmas.

Show me the money!

Apparently Christmas came early for Mark Teixeira, seen here on card number 527 of the 2004 Topps set. MLB.com is reporting that he and the Yankees have agreed to an eight year deal worth buku bucks. This puts Tex in New York for the foreseeable future and enhances the Steinbrenner family's reputation as big spenders.

Hopefully things work out for Mark. He is now playing for what he really wants, money. Lots of it. Oh, and he might be playing for a winner as well.

It will be interesting now to see where the remaining free agents sign. Now that Teixeira is off the table, expect to see the teams in the market get more aggressive.

Book 1, Page 22.

Well, another bright and cheery Monday. Where I am we have snow on the ground and it is about 10 degrees right now. Hope that everyone is ready, or close to ready, for Christmas.

Ok, on to the Pudge cards. Today's page has these for us:
1994 Ultra #132
1994 Ultra Award Winners #1
1994 Upper Deck #245
1994 Upper Deck Electric Diamond #245
Empty pocket
1995 Bazooka #16
1995 Bowman #344
1995 Bowman's Best #X1
Empty pocket

I like Upper Deck's picture on these cards but the back photo shows Ivan without a shirt and kind of creeps me out. The empty pockets are waiting on the 1994-95 Pro Mags #135 and the 1995 Bowman's Best Refractor #X1.

In other news, I have decided to occasionally post wantlists from Rangers team sets I am working on. My first list will be from the MLB Showdown run. I would like to finish up these sets and retire my search for Rangers Showdown cards. Here is what I need at this point:
2000 MLB Showdown 1st Edition
441 Ivan Rodriguez SP FOIL

2000 MLB Showdown Pennant Run 1st Ed
140 Tom Evans
142 Ruben Mateo FOIL

2001 MLB Showdown
433 Luis Alicea
434 Frank Catalanotto
444 Ivan Rodriguez FOIL

2001 Showdown Pennant Run
39 Alex Rodriguez FOIL

2002 Showdown Trading Deadline
82 Juan Gonzalez FOIL

2003 MLB Showdown
292 Rafael Palmeiro FOIL
294 Alex Rodriguez FOIL (might be interested in getting two copies of this)

2003 MLB Showdown Pennant Run
96 Hank Blalock FOIL
114 Ivan Rodriguez SS FOIL (interested in getting two or three copies of this)

2003 MLB Showdown
57 Ugueth Urbina

2004 MLB Showdown
333 Alex Rodriguez FOIL (might be interested in getting two copies of this)

2004 MLB Showdown Pennant Run
70 Alfonso Soriano AS FOIL (might be interested in getting two copies of this)

2005 Showdown
331 Francisco Cordero

If you happen to have any of these and are willing to part with them please let me know what you are looking for in return. I would love to be able to work out a trade.

Dock Ellis, 1945 - 2008.

According to MLB.com, Dock Ellis passed away yesterday as the result of liver failure. He was 63.

Ellis, seen here on card number 691 of the 1979 Topps set, was a successful pitcher with the Pirates and Yankees before coming to Texas via Oakland. In Texas his record would be 20-21 in two partial, and one full seasons.

Perhaps better known for being something of a loose cannon, Dock was an admitted illicit drug abuser. He hurled a no hitter for the Pirates in 1970 and later claimed to have been under the influence of LSD at the time.

After retirement Ellis settled down some. Recently he was working with the California Department of Corrections to assist inmates in returning to society.

Hanging my hat.

Not a card today. In keeping with the time of year this is an ornament hanging on my family's Christmas tree.

This was given to me in October for my birthday. My wife and kids gave me three different Rangers ornaments and I can't remember who gave which. What is unusual about this one is the weight. To look at it one would never guess how heavy it is but it must be about the heaviest ornament on the tree.

1997 Donruss Signature Series - Kevin Brown.

Today's card is from the 1997 Donruss Signature Series. It is unnumbered and features Kevin Brown and his autograph.

While it might seem a bit strange to see an American League pitcher batting it helps to know that this is not the pitching Kevin Brown who played for Texas. This Kevin was a catcher who lasted just two seasons and seven games with the Rangers before being traded. Why he was deemed worthy to feature on a certified autograph card is beyond me.

In other news, I recently received an email from Chris at Topps Heritage Cards. He had added a link to here on his blog and asked if I would mind doing the same. After perusing his site I found it to be a wealth of information on Topps Heritage cards. If you are a set collector chasing this set you need to pay a visit to Topps Heritage Cards.