Top 6 Topps Digital Holiday Cards 2025 (SWCT, Bunt, Marvel Collect)

Topps Digital has always created Holiday season cards much to my pleasure, but this year they seem quite exceptional.  So, a present from me to you to celebrate the Christmas holiday, here are my Top 6 holiday cards.  Like all other digital card top 5 collections, these are cards that I actually own in my digital collection.  This time I am also including the back art.  Let me know if you like seeing the back art too!

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

6. Captain America  Holiday Heroes,  Series 1 - Happy Holidays - Blue,  Uncommon Card Count 15,481

Who would like a Holiday Greeting from Captain America?  Definitely me!  This card is as classic as they come, almost Currier and Ives classic.  

5. Tarik Skubal  Santa Archives,  Series 1 - Holiday Relic - Rare 

This is a fun card, and it doesn't hurt that the subject here is the 2025 AL Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.  There is lots to love about this card, but the relic patch of the Santa hat is pretty spot on, well played.  And seeing the fierce pitcher in a Santa hat is rather enjoyable as well.  

4.  Rogue and Gambit  Holiday Collection '25,  Series 1 - Base - Snow - Uncommon  Card Count 18,958

Adorable isn't usually the word I associate with the X-Men especially when it comes to these two fierce warriors and cursed lovers, but this card is about as cute as can be.  These two making a Wolverine Snowman is pretty funny.  Rogue appears to be having a good time while Gambit (Remy) has an ornery look on his face.  

3.  Jace Jung  Topps Holiday '25,  Series 1 - Green Signature - Super Rare  

This is a great card build.  I enjoy the holiday boarder with garland on one side and snow flakes on the other.  The team logo on the bottom left, team name in block letters going up the left side of the card along with the baseball diamond with the player's position highlighted.  Then it is a rookie card signature card and from a Detroit Tigers player to boot!  

2.  Zorii Bliss  Holiday Season 2025,  Season 20 - Characters - Uncommon  

Yep, the last two cards in this Top 6 are Star Wars cards.  Choosing the top 2 cards from Star Wars Card Trader (SWCT) wasn't intentional, it is just the way it worked out, and I believe you will see why. 

This Zorii Bliss card (and all the cards of this set) are stunning to look at.  Not because of bright pictures or action filled images, but the art is unique.  I love the sketch style art with the subtle holiday themed snowflakes in the background of the image.  This may end up on my top insert card list for SWCT.  

1. Grogu & The Mandalorian  12 Days of Topps - 2025, 12 Days of Topps - Uncommon 

This is about as Christmas and cute as they come.  We have seen images of Mando flying with Grogu in his satchel which is cute in and of iteself as Grogu's ears are flopping in the wind.  The Mandalorian with his Santa hat on while carrying a bag of presents over his shoulder and Grogu in the front just says Star Wars Galaxy holiday season.  This card won't show up on my top inserts list, but it is #1 on my Holiday list.  

Fantasy Football: The Coca Cola Kids Football Club Playoffs

Fantasy Football Playoffs start this week.  The Coca Cola Kids Football Club finished the regular season on a three game win streak after Joe Burrow returned from the IL, but it wasn't enough to make the playoff bracket as the Kids ended with an 6-8 record finishing in 8th place in the We Are United Fantasy Football League.  So the Kids open the Consolation Quarterfinals with a Bye Week.  Not exactly how you want to start the playoffs after coming off of a three game win streak.  

Nevertheless, here is the playoff roster of the Coca Cola Kids: 

Consolation Playoffs: 

Week 1: Bye week

Week 2:  Coca Cola Kids (6-8) vs. LukeIAmYourFather (5-9)

QB: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay

WR: Courtland Sutton, Denver

WR: Jauan Jennings, San Francisco

RB: Derrick Henry, Baltimore

RB: Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburg

TE: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas

W/R/T: Rome Odunze, Chicago

Q/W/R/T: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati

K: Jason Myers, Seattle

DEF: Los Angeles Chargers

Bench: 

WR: Troy Franklin, Denver

QB: Geno Smith, Las Vegas

QB: Cam Ward, Tennessee

WR: Kayshon Boutte, New England

RB: Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta

RB: Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville

IR: Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

Check in each week of the playoffs to see the results for the Coca Cola Kids.  

Want to look back on the season?  

Weeks 1-8

Weeks 9-14

Fantasy Football: Kamino Clone Kids Playoffs

The Fantasy Football Playoffs are here and the Clone Kids should be happy...but they aren't.  Two weeks ago, the Kids were flying high in first place of the division and the league.  After losing two straight weeks, they now sit in 2nd place in the Light Side Division and 4th in the league.  

Time to wrap the sore joints, tie up the pads, and strap on the helmets as we head into the first week of the playoffs against the 5th place team in the league and division foe, Pabu Porgs.  The Kids split the season with the Porgs winning one early and losing in Week 13.  It should be a good game for the first round of the playoffs, but the tension is high to prove the good season wasn't a fluke.  

Playoffs: 

Round 1: Clone Kids (8-6) vs. Pabu Porgs (8-6) 177.66 - 160.33 "Kids Top The Porgs with Receivers Going  Deep" 

Round 2: Clone Kids (9-6) vs. Naboo Gungans (10-5) 

The Kids bring three of the top 5 Wide Receivers in the NFL into the playoffs.  Here is the playoff roster for the Kamino Clone Kids: 

QB: Dak Prescott, Dallas

RB: Chase Brown, Cincinnati

RB: Jaylen Warren, Pittsburg

WR: George Pickens, Dallas

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit

TE: Jake Ferguson, Dallas

W/R/T: J. Smith-Njigba, Seattle

W/R/T: Darius Slayton, New York Giants

W/R/T: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis

DL: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas

LB: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay

DB: Jordan Battle, Cincinnati 

Bench: 

QB: Sam Darnold, Seattle

QB: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville

RB: Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles, Chargers

WR: Keon Coleman, Buffalo

TE: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburg

DL: Jonathon Cooper, Denver

DB: Budda Baker, Arizona

Want to check out the season for the Kamino Clone Kids? 

Weeks 1-8

Weeks 9-14

Top 5 Star Wars Card Trader Base Cards 2025

Rounding out the Top 5 base card series (last week Marvel, two weeks ago Bunt), I bring you my top 5 Star Wars Card Trader (SWCT) base cards.  I "hoard" way to many category of cards in SWCT like animated cards, droid cards, vehicle cards, and Grogu.  I haven't counted, but it is probably in the ball park of 21 or so cards that I don't workbench.  

I mention all of this because my list actually comes from all cards not just the hoarded ones listed above.  Anyway, here we go!  My top 5 base cards of 2025: 

5.  Grogu - 2025 Base, Series 2 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count: 100

It is no secret that I absolutely adore Grogu, so sorry, not sorry, he will probably always be on a SWCT card list.  I do love the sweet action shot of him raising his arms up for someone to pick him up.  

4.  Black One - 2025 Base, Series 3 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 40

While the X-Wing may not be my top star ship in Star Wars, the have always looked super cool and battle ready.  They had to be cool, because Lucas wanted something to be fast, real fast like his car racing in Petaluma, CA.  No one flies an X-wing like Poe Dameron.  Gutsy, non-standard, daring, you name it, he tried it.  I can hear you all say, he is better than Luke?  I didn't say he was better, I said, "no one flies and X-wing like Poe."  We see the potential right here! 

3.  AT-ST - 2025 Base, Series 3 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 38

Classic!  My mind flashes back to 1983 with this card image from The Return of the Jedi.  I remember thinking it was so cool to see those little walkers we got snippets of on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.  Here we see that they aren't only used in tundra invasions, but in all relevant moments of power.  Actually, I just thought it was cool to see one so close up and in a forest.  It wasn't until years later that I realized they transported Luke to Vader in an AT-AT.  So cool! 

2.  Millennium Falcon - 2025 Base, Series 1 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 226

I have a three-way tie for my favorite ship in Star Wars.  Why a three way tie you ask?  It depends on what day and what I've most recently watched whether I say The Ghost, The Razor Crest, or the Millennium Falcon.  Since this card has the ship that has been #1 for the longest and it has a sweet explosion behind it, I go with the Millennium Falcon as my #2 card for 2025.  Tell me it doesn't look awesome!  

1.  Darth Vader - 2025 Base, Series 2 - Tier 1 - White  Card Count 89

I bet you thought my #1 base card for 2025 would be a ship.  You bet wrong.  I had to go with the greatest villain of all-time, Darth Vader.  I had three base card choices for Vader, but I could not deny how impressive, most impressive this card from the Obi-Wan Kenobi series looks.  Clean, shiny armor and dark imposing eyes.  The shattered glass behind him just screams power from this imposing character.  We can feel the power of the Dark Side coming through.  

I hope you have had a chance to take a look at all three Top 5 Base Card posts, Topps Bunt and Marvel Collect.  Let me know what your favorite base cards of 2025 are especially if they are from the Disney or WWE sets.  

Stay tuned in just a few weeks, I will share my favorite "insert" cards of 2025 for each of the three platforms I collect.  May the Force Be With You

Top 5 Marvel Collect Base Cards of 2025

Two weeks ago, I shared my Topps Bunt Top 5 Base Cards of 2025.  This week, I am sharing my Top 5 Marvel Collect Base Card of the year.  If you remember from my July post of my top base cards from 2025 so far, two of the Marvel Collect base cards I highlighted there will show up here.  Don't remember reading that? Check it out here 

Throughout the year, I "hoard" my favorite base cards.  I quote hoard because I don't go after trades to fill the hoard, but I don't workshop them, so they will always stay at the top of the collection when I look the collection by quantity of cards.  

There are 16 cards I found interesting enough not to workshop away and let them move to the top of the base collection.  Here are my favorite 5 of those 16 and I will leave a list of the characters portrayed of to fill out the remaining 16.  

5. Hawkeye, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 107

I like how this shows a superhero in a common location, a theme park.  It is a setting to which we can all relate.  The fun spirit is what I like about this card. 

4. Kate Bishop, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 107

Let's stay with Bishop's world and take a look at the card highlighting Kate Bishop.  Where, Hawkeye's card is fun and relatable, Kate's card is dramatic and filled with movement.  She looks powerful and invincible taking aim with her bow and arrow standing in a field of flying arrows coming right at her.  This is a card that will stick with me for quite some time.  

3. Spider-Man, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 88 

You know this character's card will likely show up in a top 5 for me either in base card collections or in "insert" card collections, probably both.  There is a reason a character in comics becomes a favorite, and for me it is the look, the power, the personality.  For Spider-Man, it is all of those, but the look is why he always shows up on my lists.  Here he is, swinging through the New York night sky with webs all around him and Spidey in some contortion of swing.  The best...well, almost the best this year!

2.  Magik, Series 1, White, Tier 1 - Card Count 100

This card depicts power in full display.  From the pages of the X-Men, Magik holds her soul sword into the ground with the power of light pouring out and the souls of her sword writhing and screaming to get out of the ground.  So much of Magik and her power is on display here.  

1.  X-23, Series 1 - White, Tier 1 Card - Count 99

The theme of this list seems to be power on display, but my favorite part of it is they are all women with power.  X-23 displays it in the most unique and artistic ways.  It is in a point of view from above and her hair is flowing out wildly from her as she crouches flexing her muscles and blades.  This card is perfect!  

It wasn't hard for me to find my top cards when the set was released, but narrowing it down to five was a bit of a challenge.  So, I want to give all 16 of the cards I have been hoarding a shout out.  Here is the remainder of the list:  

Thor

Wolverine

Spider-naut (I discuss in the July post linked earlier)

Spider-Girl

Polaris (beautiful card that uses shading so well)

Emma Frost

Captain America

Elektra

Spider-Gwen

Psylocke

Miles Morales

Top 5 2025 Bunt Base Cards

The Major League Baseball season has come to a close which means we are in the final quarter of 2025.  It is time for my annual series of Top Base Cards from Bunt, Marvel Collect, and Star Wars Card Trader.  This week I will cover 5 of my favorite Bunt base cards. 

In December and January, we will take a look at the insert cards of Common, Uncommon, Rare, Super Rare and Epic rarities.  I do not get Legendary cards in my collection.  But today, we focus on what makes a card set special...it is the base cards.  

With no further delay, here are my Top 5 Bunt Base Cards in no particular order: 

5.  Gunner Henderson 2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

Anyone who has read my past assessments of digital baseball cards knows I love cards that show action.  Action makes this card of Gunner Henderson a top card of the 2025 Base Set. 

4.  Josh Winckowski  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

This card really catches the moment.  In this case, an intense moment of Josh Winckowski looking in for the sign for his catcher.  This is a great card to play "What Happens Next."  

3.  Julio Rodriguez  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

A good base card catches the personality of a player as in this card of Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners.  Cards like this really make the game and players likeable.  

2. Alexis Diaz  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

That wind-up!  What a leg kick from Alexis Diaz!  This is what a baseball card is all about that action moment that shows us the moment something great is about to happen.  That moment when the baseball is about to be up in play.  Magnificent! 

1.  Lawrence Butler  2025 Bunt Base - Series 1

The cool factor.  Lawrence Butler looks super cool in his wrap-around mirror glasses.  By the way, there is no sarcasm in that statement.  He does look really cool in this card (even with his neon green and pink mittens).  Look at the full seats in the background.  This is a great card.  It caught my eye from the release of the set.  

Veteran's Day

This is just a little note to honor our veterans.  There are only a few people in my family who have served in the US Military.  My brother-in-law (husband of my wife's sister) served in Germany for the US Navy.  My dad served in the US Army during the Korean War.  My wife's grandfather served in the Pacific theater in World War II for the US Navy.  And the man for whom I am named, Tom, served in the US Army during World War I.  I have many friends who serve and have served in the Army, National Guard, Air Force, and more. 

I am usually a stickler about Veteran's Day is for living veterans, and Memorial Day is for those who have fallen or passed.  What I think doesn't matter, we honor all.  We live in a country where we can read what we want, say what we want, share what we want all because of our service men and women.  They protected and continue to protect this union of 50 states.  I am grateful for that.  Republicans, Democrats, Independents, undecided, in-between and upside down, it shouldn't matter, because as Americans we have the right to believe what we believe.  

To our soldiers, pilots, captains, Marines, high ranking officers, medics, logistical staff, office staff, communication officers and all that are involved in keeping our land, air, space, International interests, cyberworld, space and water safe.  Thank you and Happy Veteran's Day. 

The Flat Soda Bombers Basketball Club Fantasy Basketball (updated 12/29/25)

I needed another fantasy sports team like I need a sharp rock in my shoe when running a marathon, but here I am taking the reigns of a new Fantasy Basketball franchise in the newly formed league, The Library.  Allow me to introduce the newest franchise of mine from the sport of NBA basketball: Flat Soda Bombers

Yep, you might think does this have anything to do with my library?  You bet!  This league is made up from employees in the library including myself, Benjamin the library clerk, Heidi and Ryan (league commish) from the IT department, Dan and son Mason (English Dept), Nate (World Languages), Brian (Social Studies) and someone who I think is Ryan's friend.  

Confession: since the Jordan era, I can probably name about as many players as I have fingers and toes.  I can pronounce even fewer of them, and that last item (about names), only shows my own cultural ignorance.  I have really come to lean on saying, "that guy from Milwaukee."   Anyhow, we did a live draft and I actually drafted this team shown below.  I feel like it is a good collection of players, but the first week didn't go so well.  The Bombers dropped the first week to a team named by my youngest daughter (14 yrs) for Heidi a self proclaimed team owner who only joined because we couldn't find anyone else to even the league out and has no idea who she drafted.  Yeah, the Flat Soda Bombers lost to them.  That feels real good.  Oh, their name you ask?  67 Dino Nuggets (of course!).   Anyone who has a teen in the house or works in a middle or high school can appreciate that name.  Well, here is the Flat Soda Bombers.  

Week 1: Flat Soda Bombers vs. 67 Dino Nuggets 5-8-1"Flat Soda is a Good Description of Week 1" (5th in League) 

Week 2: Flat Soda Bombers (5-8-1) vs. Forum Blue and Gold ( 9-4-1)  3-10  "The Bombers Forgot the Season Started"  (6th in League) 

Week 3: Flat Soda Bombers (8-18-2) vs. Mello Ballerz (6-21-1)  8-5  "Bombers Win Battle of the Bottom"  (6th in League)

Week 4:  Flat Soda Bombers (16-23-3)  vs. Less than Lucky (10-30-2)  2-11 "Bombers Banged Up...But is that the Excuse?"  (7th in League)

Week 5: Flat Soda Bombers (18-34-4) vs. D's Dominate Dunkers (34-21-1)  2-11 "Flat Soda Bombers = Embarrassing"  

Week 6: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Ryan's Gametime Nachos 2-12  "Bombers Consistent with Three Weeks Scoring only 2 Points: Well, That's Something"  (7th in League)

Week 7: Flat Soda Bombers (22-57-5) vs. Siddy's Neat Team (53-30-1) 5-9 "Bombers Take a 9-4 Lead into Sunday and Go, well, Flat" 

Week 8: Flat Soda Bombers (27-66-5) vs. 67 Dino Nuggets (69-27-2)  5-9  "Bombers Still Looking to Take Control"  (7th in League)

Week 9: Flat Soda Bombers (32-75-5) vs. Forum Blue and Gold (57-49-6) 2-12 "Bomber's Coach says, "Something Just Isn't Clicking"  

Week 10: Flat Soda Bombers vs. Mello Ballerz  2-10  "Bomber's Team Captain says, We Are Still Playing Basketball"  

Week 11: Flat Soda Bombers (36-97-7) vs. Less Than Lucky (40-93-7) 

Here is the line-up and roster of the Flat Soda Bombers (updated 12/1/25): 

PG:  De'Aaron Fox (Spurs)

SG: Zach LaVine (Kings)

G:  Devin Vassell (Spurs)

SF: Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers)

PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)

F: Anthony Davis (Mavericks)

C: Nikola Vucevic (Bulls)

C: Myles Turner (Bucks)

UTIL: Zion Williamson (Pelicans)

UTIL: Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves)

Bench: 

PG/SG: Dyson Daniels (Hawks)

PG/SG: Ausar Thompson (Pistons)

PG/SG: Coby White (Bulls)

IR:  Ja Morant (Grizzlies)

Dropped: 

Jalen Suggs (Magic) 

Cam Thomas (Nets)

Tari Eason (Rockets)

Keon Ellis (Kings)

Jalen Green (Suns)

Brandon Miller (Hornets)

Okay basketball fans, the Flat Soda Bombers could use some advice.  Who do I pick up and who do I drop.  Leave a comment and help the Flat Soda Bombers get a little fizz going.  

This post will update each week until further notice. 

Fantasy Football: Kamino Clone Kids Weeks 9-14 (updated 12/9/25)

Captain Rex by maharlika
Deviant Art 25

The Kamino Clone Kids have had a  surprisingly good first half of the season!  They have had some QB problems the last couple weeks as Baker Mayfield has been struggling to command the team.  Wide Receivers have been the commanders of the Kamino Clone Kids with George Pickens, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and J. Smith-Nijgba leading the way.  Tight ends Tyler Warren (IND) and Jake Ferguson (DAL) have contributed well in the first 8 weeks as well.  Running backs Chase Brown (CIN) and Jaylen Warren (PIT) are holding their own.  

The front office picked up Trevor Lawrence to cover Mayfield's bye week, but they may stick with him if Mayfield doesn't right the ship.  Kids coaches also hope that Jonathon Cooper (DEN), Edgerrin Cooper (GB) and Budda Baker (ARI) can step it up to score extra points on defense.  

Week 9:  Kamino Clone Kids vs. Lothal Starbirds  175.70 - 127.65 "Kids Get Back to the Win Column" (2nd Light Side Div. 2nd in League)

Week 10: Kamino Clone Kids (6-3) vs. Pabu Porgs (4-5)  131.60 - 144.12  "Kids Disappointing Turnout versus the Porgs" 

Week 11:  Kamino Clone Kids (6-4) vs. Khofar Nights (6-4) 159.30 - 158.00  "Kids Survive the Night in Week 11" (1st Light Side Div. 1st in League)  

Week 12: Kamino Clone Kids (7-4) vs. Mustafar Moof (5-6) 232.90 - 137.39 "108 Points from WR Carries the Kids" 1st Light Side Div. 1st in League)

Week 13:  Kamino Clone Kids (8-4) vs. Naboo Gungans (7-5)  175.76 - 229.25 "Clones Routed by the Gungans"

Week 14: Kamino Clone Kids (8-5) vs. Crait Vulptex (4-9) 

Weeks 1-8 recap

Here is the current Kids lineup and roster: 

QB: Baker Mayfield (TB)

RB: Chase Brown (CIN)

RB: Jaylen Warren (PIT)

WR: George Pickens (DAL)

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)

TE: Tyler Warren (IND)

W/R/T: J. Smith-Nijgba (SEA)

W/R/T: Jake Ferguson (DAL)

W/R/T: Cooper Kupp (SEA)

DL: Jonathon Cooper (DEN)

LB: Edgerrin Cooper (GB)

DB: Budda Baker (ARI

Bench: 

QB: Trevor Lawrence (JAX)

RB: Isaiah Davis (NYJ)

WR: Keon Coleman (BUF)

WR: Calvin Ridley (TEN)

TE: Jonnu Smith (PIT)

DB: Jordan Battle (CIN)

DL: Maxx Crosby (LV)

LB: Fred Warner (SF) IR

QB: Joe Burrow (CIN) IR

Fantasy Football: The Coca Cola Kids Football Club Weeks 9-14 (updated 12/9/25)

Let's just say, this isn't a season to remember.  Unless, you like to remember horrible starts to the season.  The Kids come into Week 9 2-6, 9th place in a ten team league.  There is no consistency this season, for example, Baker Mayfield is hitting a groove then in weeks 7 and 8 he completely collapses.  Oh, there is also the matter of losing top QB, Joe Burrow, after week 2 of the season.  Every position has been disappointing, wide receivers Sutton (Den) and Jennings (SF) have yet to show up, running backs Stevenson (NE) and Henry (Bal), tight end Bowers (LV) has been out for a few weeks.  Well, the record speaks for itself.  

Let's see if this team can turn it around in the second half of the season. 

Week 9: Coca Cola Kids vs. Crimson Queen  168.46 - 188.36 "Kids Misery Continues" 

Week 10: Coca Cola Kids (2-7-0) vs. Foot Wedge Mafia (7-2-0) 151.12 - 147.43 "Mayfield and LA Defense Carry the Kids to a Win" 

Week 11: Coca Cola Kids vs. Roll Tide  150.55 - 205.21 "Kids Can't Keep Up with the Tide"  (9th in League) 

Week 12: Coca Cola Kids (3-8-0) vs. Ritz Boyz Blitz (1-10-0)  137.14 - 130.03  "Solid Running Back Work Keeps Kids Ahead of the Blitz" (9th in League)

Week 13: Coca Cola Kids (4-8-0) vs. LukeIAmYourFather (5-7-0)  188.04 - 165.13  "Kids QB's Back to Full Health to win Week 13"  

Week 14: Coca Cola Kids (5-8-0) vs. Peoria Powells (6-7-0)  162.64 - 103.18 "Kids End Season on a Three Game Win Streak: Head to Consolation Bracket" 

First Week of Playoffs - Link Here

Starting Line-up:  

QB: B. Mayfield TB

WR:C. Sutton DEN

WR: R. Odunze CHI

RB:  R. Stevenson NE

RB: D. Henry BAL

TE: B. Bowers LV

W/R/TE J. Dobbins DEN

Q/W/R/TE:  C.Ward TEN

K: M. Prater BUF

DEF: Los Angeles Chargers

Bench: 

WR: J. Jennings NYG

QB: G. Smith LV

TE: C Otton TB

WR: M. Golden

TE: M. Mayer LV

WR: G. Wilson NYJ

RB: K  Gainwell PIT

QB: J. Burrow CIN IR

The Kids front office is open to suggestions. Leave a comment if someone on the bench should be starting   or if there is a sleeper out there who I should pick up!  

A Sunday Morning Reflection

Bull Durham 1988
Annie Savoy and Crash Davis

I woke up on Sunday, November 2 thinking about baseball.  The 2025 World Series had wrapped up the night before less than 12 hours ago.  I can't think of any other team (maybe Milwaukee or St. Louis) who I wanted more to NOT win than the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Here we are, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the World Series Champs and not just the WS Champs but back to back WS champs.  Congrats to them and their fans.  I firmly believe that to win the World Series back-to-back is more difficult than any of the major U.S. team sports (NBA, NFL, NHL).  

When I think of baseball on a Sunday morning, I can't help but think about the Church of Baseball.  This is not my creation, the Church of Baseball.  It comes from perhaps the best baseball film of all time, Bull Durham. 

I believe in the Church of Baseball.  I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones.  And the only church that truly feeds the soul, day-in and day-out, is the Church of Baseball. 

         -Annie Savoy 

I woke up thinking about baseball and what a memorable season this has been for me.  It was an amazing first half of the season with the Cubs and Tigers leading the way in first place in their respective divisions.  Both teams giving us a peek at the future as both teams showed a youth movement as young players became team leaders.  Pete Crow Armstrong, Michael Busch, Matt Shaw, Cade Horton led by veterans Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker, James Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Seiya Suzuki were impactful players for the Cubs.  Colt Keith, Trey Sweeney, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, Dillion Dingler, Casey Mize, Will Vest, Tarik  Skubal all emerged as players who make an impact for the Detroit Tigers.  While both teams struggled in the second half of the season, both went on to make the playoffs and both advanced to the NLDS and the ALDS.  I believe happy days are ahead. 

My thoughts returned to the World Series and what an amazing series it turned out to be.  Let's review: 

• Each team gets a win in games 1 and 2.
• An 18 inning Monday night game that the Dodgers win to go 2-1 in the series.
• The Blue Jays come back with two wins to make the series 3-2. 
• The Dodgers win in Toronto in Game Six to tie it up 3-3. 
• Game 7...let's recap
• Shohei Ohtani is the starting pitcher and bats leadoff for the Dodgers.
• Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer is the oldest (41 yrs) starting pitcher in WS game seven.
• Blue Jays objected to the more than 3 minutes Ohtani took between innings to start the inning.  
• Benches cleared in a shoving match situation after Gimenez is hit by pitch, the second time the Dodgers pitchers plunked him this World Series.  
• Light hitting Miguel Rojas ties the game for the Dodgers in the ninth with the  Blue Jays two outs from a World Series title. 
• Extra innings!  
• The Dodgers never led the game until the 11th inning.  
• Previous night's Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto closes out the game

No wonder my mind was still buzzing with baseball when I woke up Sunday morning.  An amazing  baseball season replayed itself in my mind filling my soul with the Church of Baseball.  

They Love Their Jobs

I work late, but this story isn't about me.  You just need to know that to understand how I stumbled upon this moment.  Working at a school, most of the day is spent working with students and staff.  It is busy.  There is a lot to do, and it is pretty easy to become focused on oneself.  It isn't egotistical, it is just the nature of working in a school.  You focus on your kids, your space and your work.  

I host after school clubs, and I coach the speech team.  These activities find me leaving 2-3 hours after most others.  There is a new crew of workers who show up after the students, faculty, staff, and most if not all of administration are gone, the custodial staff.  The unsung heroes who put in the work to make sure the classrooms, hallways, and bathrooms are clean when everyone comes in the next day to mess it all up.  Most don't know the names or faces of those who sweep the floors, wipe off the desks, and clean the drinking fountains.  

I do, and I feel lucky for that.  I see them almost every day as they walk through the library to punch in to work.  They roll their cleaning carts to the different parts of the school to do their work.  Since I am there until 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening and sometime return later at night for one thing or another, I see this custodial staff doing what they do, and they do it really well.  I have taken time to visit with most of them over the years. I get to know them. They are really neat people.  They like to tease and give me a hard time about being there so late as much as I like to get to know them.  Never have I heard one of them complain about the work.  Never do they complain about the hours or the pay.  They work hard, seem happy to be there, and they take pride in their work.  

This is a lot of build up to what I witnessed recently that just brought a smile to my face and made me realize the happiness one can get from working with great people.  I was on my way out at about 5:30.  I hadn't seen as many of the men and women who normally pass through with their carts, but I didn't really think much about it.  I figured that I just missed them.  As I left the library into the hall, I heard their voices in jovial talk and laughter which is not all that uncommon actually.  They had all congregated in the foods lab where they normally eat dinner or take breaks.  As I was walking down the hall toward the foods lab, the owner of the cleaning company came out of the lab and said hi as she always does, but she had a bit of a hop in her step.  We smiled and passed, but I saw the reason for the extra energy.  As I walked past the lab, I saw that she had brought a catered dinner in for her employees.  

They were laughing, razzing one another, eating like kings and queens (fried chicken, green beans, and other dinner treats) and loving life at work.  I walked past and smiled to see them happy as I continued down the hallway loving that I witnessed this moment.  I couldn't help but sense the camaraderie that they have built working hard and breaking bread with one another as they have for years.  But tonight it was special.  They count on one another.  They back each other up.  They are the best darn crew who keep our school looking great.  

Tomorrow, take a look at the people with whom you work.  Think about the good times and the difficult times.  Think about the times you all had someone's back when things weren't great for them.  Think about the meals you have shared with those people.  Yeah, they are co-workers but aren't they just a bit more than that?  Don't they help you love your job just a little more?  

Dream Season Part 2

The ALCS and the NLCS are underway.  After storybook seasons, neither of my teams are in the championship series.  As you may have discovered in a post from earlier this baseball season, Dream Season, I am a lifetime fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers.  

After amazing first half of the season records for both teams, both the Tigers and Cubs stumbled into the playoffs.  The Tigers' fate came down to the last day of the regular season to confirm their playoff birth.  It was a nerve wracking finish to the regular season, but both teams made it to the Wildcard series.  The Tigers moved past the Cleveland Guardians 2 games to one, as the Cubs did the same to the San Diego Padres.  

Then, in the Division Series, the Tigers would  face the Seattle Mariners, and the Cubs went head to head with division rivals and the hottest team in baseball with the best regular season record, Milwaukee Brewers.  The Cubs scored in the first inning of each game (except game 5), but struggled to put runs on the board.  The Brewers took the first two games but the Cubs came back to take games 3 and 4.  The Cubs dropped Game 5 with a score 3-1.  It was the same result for the Tigers, but it went down quite a bit more suspenseful.  The Mariners and the Tigers each took one of each of the first two games.  Then, power surged for each team as the Mariners won 8-4 in game three, and the Tigers tied it all up 2-2 with a 9-3 win in game four.  Then came game 5.  The game sat at a score of 2 to2 as the 9th inning came to a close.  The game went past midnight in the central time zone as the home team, Mariners, scored in the 15th inning on a walk-off single.  

It is hard to see both of my teams lose in the playoffs in back-to-back nights, but in reflection, it was a great season.  I have never been so proud to be a Cubs and Tigers fan as this year with their dominant first half of the season.  It was fun to entertain the question from friends, "who do you cheer for if they both get to the World Series?"  It was nice to dream about that, but I will have to continue my wait. 

Regardless of the struggles and frustrations of the last couple months and the team power outage of both teams' bats, it has been fun.  You might even say it was almost a Dream Season.  

Reading/Viewing Stats Quarters 1-3 of 2025

The third quarter of 2025 has flown by for me.  A quick rundown: RPG Summer Camp, Gen Con, School Starting, marching band dad (pit crew and trailer driver), tennis dad, college student dad, and all the things that I normally am, librarian, husband, podcast co-host, etc.  Time moves right on by.  

Even with all of that, I still find time to enrich my life with content like reading, listening, and watching.  I have added a (+) note next to categories so we can see what I added this quarter.  Not so much this year in quarter 3.  I also wanted to note that it is pretty cool to include in my book reading a book published by a student who was a Dungeon Master in my game club and a student I coached in speech team.  Her book, Meirlich and Oga's Children's Home (pictured), is definitely worth checking out!    So, here are my 2025 quarters 1-3 stats: 

Movies Watched: 16 +5

Rewatch: 8

First Time: 8

In Theater: 4

T.V. Shows Streamed: 94 +1

First Time: 78

Rewatch: 14

Podcast Episodes: 30 +2

Time Listened: 1742

Books Read: 12 +4

Fiction 8

Nonfiction 4

Pages Read: 3,033

Audiobooks: 0

Fiction:

Nonfiction:

Books Abandoned:

Fiction 2

nonfiction 0

Pages Read:

Short Stories Read: 0

Fiction:

Nonficiton:

Comic Books Read: 153 +27

Print: 65

Digital: 88

Book Titles:  

Void Rivals: Vol. 1 More than Meets the Eye by Robert Kirkman Art by Lorenzo de Felicia (Graphic Novel)

The Salt Thief: Ghandi's Heroic March to Freedom by Neil Bascomb

The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfred Lupano and Leonard Chemineau, art by Christopher Bouchard (Graphic Novel)

Phandel we and Below: The Shattered Obelisk 

The Davenports (abandoned)

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetya

Dungeons and Dragons: Worlds and Realms by Adam Lee

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Meirlich and Oga's Children's Home by Annabelle Hiel

Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole

Operatic by Kyo Maclear art by Byron Eggenschwiler (Graphic Novel)

X-Men: Bizarre Love Triangle by Peter Milligan Art Salvador Larroca

Starfinder: Era of the Eclipse by Tim Pratt

Movies Watched:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Wicked

Captain America: Brave New World (Theater)

Inside Out  2

Rogue One

Star Wars: A New Hope (theater)

Elemental 

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Thunderbolts (theater)

Hamilton

Avengers: Infinity War

Superman (theater)

Ferris Buehler's Day Off

Back to the Future

 

T.V. Series Watched: 

Skeleton Crew

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 

Music By John Williams

Andor season 1

Fur Babies

Disney Treasure

Light and Magic season 1

Andor Season 2

Star Wars Rebels

Dance Moms Season 2

Dead to Me season 1

Dead to Me season 2

Dead to Me season 3

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld

Pepsi, Where's my Jet?

Podcasts:

Rebel Base card Podcast (3)

60 Songs that Explain the 90's (2)

The Colbycast (4)

Teachers in the Dungeon (1)

Lost Ballparks (13)

Classic Baseball Radio (5)

Coffee with Kenobi (2)

MLB Team's Games listened: (min 5 innings)

Chicago Cubs (30)

Detroit Tigers (24)

San Francisco Giants (5)

Seattle Mariners (4)

New York Yankees (2)

Texas Rangers (2)

New York Mets (2) 

Kansas City Royals

Washington Nationals

Pittsburg Pirates (2)

San Diego Padres 

Miami Marlins

Milwaukee Brewers 

Boston Red Sox (2)

Philadelphia Phillies 

New York Mets

Tampa Bay Rays

Second Quarter 2025 Post

First Quarter 2025 Post

2024 Final Stats