Friday, November 11, 2016

To The Men and Women Who Serve in the United States Armed Forces 11-11-16

This was written six years ago, but the sentiments remain the same.


November 11, 1919: President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations." The original concept for the celebration was for the suspension of business for a two minute period beginning at 11 A.M., with the day also marked by parades and public meetings.

On June 1, 1954, President Eisenhower signs legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day. (from The History of Veterans Day)

To the Men and Women who serve in the US Armed Forces:

I will not pretend I know the infinite different reasons why you made the decision to join the US Military.

I can only imagine what your basic training was like (I'm not even sure the movies do any justice).

I will not pretend to know the feeling of being away from family, friends and all of the comforts of home, having been assigned to a foreign land, serving the interests of our country.

I will not say that I necessarily agree with ALL of the reasons why our country has gone to war.

I will not pretend to know what it is like out in the battlefields, not knowing if I was going to live to see another day.

But I will say this.

Thank you.

Thank you all for your service to our country.

Thank you for the sacrifices you made so that we can continue to live with the freedoms that we enjoy.

Your courage is nothing if not inspiring. Your stories become tales of legend that deserve to be told again and again.

For these, and countless other reasons, I give you my respect.

And I give you thanks.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

I Guess I Can No Longer Say This...

After seven years, an exclusive with another card company, and no Topps cards other than an eTopps card from 2009 or random cameos on other player's cards (like the 2012 Topps Padres Carlos Quentin card...retail team set only)...


Yes, ladies, and gentlemen, Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles now has an official, regular, eponymous, Topps card. Okay, it's part of the Update Series.

But isn't it about time??! Orioles fans can finally get a complete team set of their team.

On an unrelated note, I do have a few packs of 2016 Topps Update Series. I haven't opened them yet, but as soon as I do, pack break results will be forthcoming.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Thursday, November 3, 2016

And Just Like That...


The 2016 MLB season has now come to a close. And for the first time in my lifetime, I am happy with the end results.

Yes, I know that I've seen a World Series championship in Chicago before...and nothing against the White Sox, but I did not feel the enthusiasm. But last night, I went through the wringer regarding my emotions.
  • I was nervous at the start of the game
  • I was happy when Fowler hit the home run
  • I was cautiously optimistic when it was 5-1
  • I was in a state of worry when it was 5-3
  • I was relieved when it was 6-3
  • I totally lost it when it was 6-6
Yes. I actually went into my bedroom, layed in my bed face down, and just did not want to move. I thought at that point, it was over, and that all the Indians needed was a home run and it was "Celebration Cleveland." I did not even see the bottom of the ninth because I was numb.

My daughter came into my room and asked if I was all right. Of course I wasn't all right. I was a wreck.

She actually started screaming when the Cubs scored in the 10th. I had no idea that there was a rain delay and when I came out to the living room, I had thought that the Indians had a really long bottom of the ninth. The Cubs had the bases loaded when Montero got a hit to drive in an 8th run.

After the inning ended, I was breathing really heavily. Not necessarily hyperventilating, but close enough.

After Carl Edwards, Jr. got the first two outs, and then walked the next guy, and then Rajai Davis struck again, driving in the 7th run, I had almost collapsed.

Then when Mike Montgomery induced that final groundout (which, by the way, Bryant had slipped as he was making the throw) that I thought was going to go over Rizzo's head but he caught it.

Pure jubilation.

I dropped the remote control on the table and it slid into the fish tank. (Don't ask...now I need a new remote).

For the first time in 108 years, the Cubs are World Series Champions. My family was screaming. The Facebook Feed went nuts. The Twitter Feed went nuts. It was finally over. The jokes, the curses, the "Lovable Losers" nickname...all gone. The team had finally done it.

My wife wants a WS shirt for her birthday (which is tomorrow). I'm getting outfits for everyone.

And as soon as Topps comes out with the retail set celebrating the Cubs...guess who's getting one.

Congratulations to the Cleveland Indians organization. Your team was just as hungry. Your fans were just as enthusiastic. Your team was built to win, and had all the momentum on your side.

But more importantly...

Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs. Thank you for taking this Cubs fan, and generations of Cubs fans, on the ride of a lifetime.

I'm thinking of my grandmother right now. The lady that brought me to my first baseball game back in 1988 and introduced me to the game the year before. She would have loved this and I'm sure she's watching wherever she is.

World Series Champions. Has a nice ring to it. It'll definitely make watching those "Top 20" shows on the MLB network more bearable to watch during the offseason.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

As Today is November 2, 2016

November 2 is traditionally All Souls Day. It is the day where we celebrate the lives of family and friends who have passed away. Many will go to cemeteries and pray, some may even picnic on the grounds. It is not really a day of mourning, but a day of reflection. Remembering those who we strongly miss.

Personally, I would like to honor my grandparents, Felix Anama, Leonor Filoteo Anama, Gloria Y. Nichols, Ruben S. Menguito, Sgt. Clinton H. Nichols. As well as countless great aunts and uncles too numerous to list.

Today I want to remember the seven souls who died on January 8, 1993, at the Brown's Chicken in Palatine, Illinois: Michael C. Castro, Rico Solis, Thomas Mennes, Marcus Nellsen, Guadalupe Maldonado, Richard Ehlenfeldt, and Lynn Ehlenfeldt.

I would like to remember the people I've met over the years who left us too soon: Lynn Swoboda, Shannon McNamara, Linda Beyer, Gail Leff, Lois Winesburgh, Mary Jo Scanlan, Nancy Huber, Joseph Nasca, Antoinette Nasca, Dan Doles, Chris Stufflestreet, Thomas Scanlon, Darrin Steffey, Katie (Olin) Wood, Erin (Ryals) Semerad, Leonard "LJ" Marek, Rob Swanson.

On behalf of my wife, I would like to honor her grandparents, uncles, and especially, her mother (since I have not asked for my wife's permission to do so, I am not adding their names here).

Finally, I would like to take a moment to remember the families, the loved ones who were left behind.

Now that the personal side of the blog has been taken care of, I would also like to take time to remember 87 more people. Between 11/02/2015 and 11/01/2016, 87 people who can lay claim to playing major league baseball, 1 of whom had the honor of being a manager of a major league franchise (even for one game), passed away. Many lived long productive lives, even after their careers ended. Others, tragically, either passed away before their potential could be fully reached or before they could enjoy the fruits of their retirement.

Today, I take time out of my humble little baseball card blog to remember:

Eddie Milner
11/2/2015
Fred Besana
11/7/2015
Tommy Hanson
11/9/2015
George Genovese
11/15/2015
Carmen Castillo
11/15/2015
Jim Stump
11/19/2015
Kerry Dineen
11/21/2015
Ken Johnson
11/21/2015
Willie Royster
11/23/2015
Bobby Gene Smith
11/24/2015
Ramon de los Santos
11/29/2015
Bob Dustal
11/30/2015
Bob Martyn
12/2/2015
Gus Gil
12/8/2015
Jim McAnany
12/16/2015
Hal Brown
12/17/2015
Evelio Hernandez
12/19/2015
George Burpo
12/20/2015
Jim O'Toole
12/26/2015
Dave Henderson
12/27/2015
Ed Mayer
12/29/2015
Frank Malzone
12/29/2015
Jay Ritchie
1/5/2016
Lance Rautzhan
1/9/2016
Alton Brown
1/10/2016
Monte Irvin
1/11/2016
Luis Arroyo
1/13/2016
Frank Sullivan
1/19/2016
Walt Williams
1/23/2016
Clyde Mashore
1/24/2016
Ron Stillwell
1/25/2016
Virgil Jester
2/15/2016
Tony Phillips
2/17/2016
Brock Pemberton
2/17/2016
Jim Davenport
2/18/2016
Kevin Collins
2/20/2016
Bob Spicer
2/27/2016
Steve Kraly
3/7/2016
Bill Whitby
3/12/2016
Joe Garagiola
3/23/2016
Fred Richards
3/28/2016
Tom Butters
3/31/2016
Orlando Alvarez
3/31/2016
Mike Sandlock
4/4/2016
Ron Theobald
4/14/2016
Milt Pappas
4/19/2016
Harry Perkowski
4/20/2016
Joe Durham
4/28/2016
Gordie Sundin
5/2/2016
Charlie Beamon
5/3/2016
John Young
5/8/2016
Dick McAuliffe
5/13/2016
Sammy Ellis
5/13/2016
Ron Henry
5/14/2016
Ken Ramos
5/16/2016
Jim Ray Hart
5/19/2016
Lou Grasmick
5/26/2016
Lee Pfund
6/2/2016
Ruben Quevedo
6/7/2016
Chico Fernandez
6/11/2016
Phil Hennigan
6/17/2016
Joe Schaffernoth
6/18/2016
Jim Hickman
6/25/2016
Turk Lown
7/8/2016
Hal Hudson
7/8/2016
Mike Strahler
7/14/2016
Gordon Massa
7/16/2016
Steve Nagy
7/24/2016
Doug Griffin
7/28/2016
Jose Arcia
7/30/2016
Alan Brice
7/30/2016
Robert Ramsay
8/4/2016
Mike Brumley
8/8/2016
Choo Choo Coleman
8/15/2016
Steve Arlin
8/17/2016
Charlie Sands
8/22/2016
Bryan Clutterbuck
8/23/2016
Juan Bell
8/24/2016
Neil Berry
8/24/2016
Paul Dade
8/25/2016
Joe DeMaestri
8/26/2016
Steve Korcheck
8/26/2016
Don Minnick
9/2/2016
Carl Miles
9/9/2016
Dick Adams
9/14/2016
Jose Fernandez
9/25/2016
Gair Allie
10/4/2016

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama