Midland Rockhounds September 16, 2009 Scorecard

With final installment of 2009 Midland Rockhounds scorecard programs. This is final home game I attended that season. Didn't get go to their South Division Championship games which they won the series 3-1 advancing to Texas League Championship against Northwest Arkansas. This is game 2 of the series. Scores of north and south division series between both teams as well regular season standings of first and second half of the season.

Same roster they had from last month.

Chris Carter no longer at the team as he got called up to Sacramento. Kyle Middleton rejoin the team. Mickey Storey joined the team. He played all four levels in the minors that season. Played two seasons in the majors before spending remaining three years of his playing in the minors and independents. Currently a manager for Round Rock Express leading the team to PCL championship but got swept in the series against Sacramento River Cats.

Rockhounds won 7-6 to tie the series 1-1. They would win two straight to the take Texas League crown in 2009.

Had a time going through scorecard programs remembering the players, coaches, and managers who played in Texas League. The researching of the who's who and where they go afterwards. Some went on to the majors while others stayed in the minors, independents, or overseas. Few went on to coaching. Former Rockhound Raul Padron is one of them. He had the vital hit in game 4 of Texas League championship giving the team a clinching championship win. Today he's part of Amarillo Sod Poodles coaching stuff. Things came full circle for Padron as last night Sod Poodles won 2019 Texas League championship thanks to Taylor Trammell grand slam. Padron became a Texas League championship winner both a player and a coach. You never know who might wind up where but the memories of watching them play and move up will stay fresh in a fan's mind.

Hockey Card Stories 2

After reading the first book (you can it buy here) and I wanted more. What book can talk about stories of the player's hockey cards and be rolling in laughter of Steve Larmar and Steve Ludzik photo mix up or poor Bryan Maxwell had three cards but only one of them has his mug? Ken Reid delivers another with Hockey Card Stories 2 with forewords from Penguins All-Star Sidney Crosby and Upper Deck's Chris Carlin.

Released last year I finally got my hands on a copy. When the first five words of the first chapter starts out, "I hate that friggin card" I knew I was in for good read. You got some excellent behind the scene stories featuring Terry Toporowski Ultimate Draft Pick card (spoiler: it's not him), Rick Vaive extra hair airbrush, Olaf Kolzig hot dog pic, Dino Ciccarelli feeding a rhino to name a few.

Cam Russell was originally about his 1990 Score card til Russell showed his minor league card and it became a story about it.

Who doesn't love uncorrected error cards? When I look at the ones Reid mentioned I wonder how they made it to print like a slapping a Canucks player on Joel Otto's Calgary Flames card. Interesting note Joel Otto DOES SIGN that card.

There's a story behind the poses, airbrushes, styles back in the day, and rookie cards with a few getting at least one official NHL card with most remembering where and when it was taken. Another thing Reid would make note is the equipment the player's use from helmet to stick as reminiscence to his past playing days

It's a must read for any sport card collector even if you are not a fan of hockey.

The Day After

It's all over national news now. A guy randomly shot and killed 7 people and injuring 21 in Odessa, TX. I was at work the news broke. I live about 15-20 minute drive where it occurred. It was so much crazy stuff happening. People are edge and giving whatever word of "updates" circulating around. What was circulating around was a shooting at Home Depot/Music City Mall and there was word two shooters, one in a gold Toyota and the other hijacked a postal truck and was on the way to Midland. Every business around Loop 250 in Midland shutdown for safety concerns. Then it ended in Odessa on the highway that is across from Cinergy (Dave and Busters or Main Event like place). Turns out it was one guy doing the random shooting and attempted to breakthrough a road block that was set up.

What was setup to be a Labor Day weekend turned tragic around here. The week long Permian Basin Fair opened up Friday night. Yesterday afternoon everything just stopped. It was very surreal day and more soul searching around Midland-Odessa area on this random senseless act. I drive on 191 get to Odessa. Going be eerily rough for a while when I drive past Cynergy to Loop 338.

Prayers goes to everyone affected and let the cities heal.

Midland Rockhounds August 19, 2019 Scorecard

Battle of cross division leaders as Midland Rockhounds take on Northwest Arkansas Naturals. This was last regular season game I attended that year.

I noticed they listed Mitch Moreland as Mitchell. Looking top 10 batters and pitchers half of them made it to the majors. It wasn't Drew Locke, Chad Tracy or Trevor Reckling.

Rockhounds final 20 games of the regular season starts with NO days off. It's the playoff spot grind for them. Graham "G" Godfrey and Blake Johnson starts the game.

What's changed from the last visit? Kyle Farnsworth on the team for rehab assignment. Jeff Bianch, David Lough, and Jarrod Dyson on the team as they would go on play in the majors. Dyson still playing to this day as he's with Diamondbacks. He was part of Royals World Series run in 2014 and 2015. Did you know he was drafted in 50th round? He worked hard get to the Show.

Almost same team. Mike Benacka called up to AAA Sacramento. Rocky Roquet and Angel Garcia off the DL.

Rockhounds shutout Naturals 8-0. Frisco won so 'Hounds are still 3 games up on 'Riders

Reuse, Recycle

My brother was going to comic con in Lubbock with appearance of former WWE wrestler Lita. I was pulling out two of her cards for him to get signed when I notice this.

This is from 2016 Topps WWE Heritage set. The second card I pull of her from 2017 Women set and its.....

the same picture from 2016 set except cropped and bit zoomed. Another case of Topps reusing and recycling a picture for a set. My brother did get the cards signed and it looks like this

She used silver for one and black for the other. Another autograph to my collection.

Midland Rockhounds August 5 2009 Scorecard

It was almost a month til I made to another Rockhounds game that season. Stretch run for Rockhounds as they battle for Texas League playoff spot that year. This is first of last three regular season homestand games. Chris Carter on the cover as he lead the league in homeruns and was second in RBIs to Drew Locke.

On top of the division going a game ahead of Frisco Roughriders

Important series against Frisco. They won the previous night to get top spot in south division. Kyle Middleton goes against Omar Poveda on the mound

Near identical team from last visit (see here) with few new additions of Steve Murphy, John Bannister, Zach Phillips, and Corey Young. Phillips made it to the majors playing 27 games in four season bouncing between majors and Triple A. Bannister got released days later after the series only to be claimed by Royals and stuck on Double-A Northwest Arkansas for remainder of the season. He spent 2010 playing in Golden League final season which happen to be his final year of playing.

Kyle Middleton, Travis Banwart, Tyson Ross, Jermile Weeks, and Shane Peterson are now on the team. Middleton and Banwart peaked in AAA. Banwart spent 6 years in Triple A along trips in independent ball and overseas. Still playing to this day for Fubon Guardians of Chinese Pro Baseball League. Ty Ross (as I call him) still currently playing but is shut down this season for ulnar nerve issues. J-Weeks played 6 seasons in the majors last playing in 2017. Primetime Peterson joined the team when A's traded Matt Holliday for him, Brett Wallace, and Clayton Mortensen at trade deadline. He played 125 games in three seasons and still playing to this day for Dodgers Triple-A team Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Rockhounds lost a tough one to Roughriders 8-7. Both tied on top of south division going to August 6 game.

New York New York

It's been a week since I got back from a trip to New York City. I was up there with my parents for a week. First time any of us gone. Different experience after living in Texas all my life. Didn't bother with rental car and used the subway station get through places. The few times we got in a vehicle when a family friend picked us up on Saturday. During the week we took overhead bus tour around parts of the city and cruise tour going through Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, Governor Island, and three bridges connecting to NYC from Brooklyn. Saw the 9-11 Memorial and the new World Trade Center built around. Various places we gone to is the heavily crowded Times Square, Rockefeller Center (NBC Studios, Nintendo NY, and re-opened FAO Schwartz), Chinatown, Little Italy, Empire State Building, online retailer BH Photo store, NBA Store (overpriced and disappointing), Dylan's Candy Shop, and shops around Flushing. Funny thing while on overhead tour bus it stopped in front of Trump International Hotel and Tower that everyone got out their cameras and start taking photos. Ventured to Coney Island getting on one ride and saw the original Nathan's Hot Dog stand. Raided Brooklyn Cyclones team shop plunking down money on team sets (they didn't have this year's out at time), shirts, and various items. Went to Mets game on Saturday (Hawaiian Shirt Night and unadvertised pride night) to near sellout loud crowd beating Nationals 4-3 which included two homeruns from Juan Soto, back-to-back shots from J.D. Davis and Wilson Ramos and Luis Guillimore first career homerun. Found out going from Queens/Flushing/Corona to Brooklyn takes about hour and half on subway. Good thing family friend took us in their vehicle to Brooklyn that Saturday. Going from Queens to NYC takes about half hour at most while riding on the 7. It was fun trip. Would like go back again soon and go through places and museums I miss like Yankees Stadium as the team were on the road that time. Must go and experience NYC at least once in your life.