Austin's 3 / 30 / 08 Box Score

Last nights season opener against the Braves in the new Nationals Park was great. Beautiful views. Great National Anthem, some chin music from the President and a bottom of the ninth win over a division opponent.

Great fielding. Austin Showed what it was like to challenge him. Nice catches. Always were the ball was. Laser accuracy with the cannon on his right shoulder.
So in honor of the first game in Nationals Park. Austin's first hit and RBI of the season and the Nationals first win of the season we have Austin's first MLB card.

1999 Bowman No. 200.

Austin against the Bravos:
1 for 3 0 Runs Scored 0 HR 1 RBI
Season Toatls : .333 / 0 / 0 / 1

Press Plate

2006 Topps Chrome
Yellow Press Plate
1 / 1

Not the best photo of Austin. But it is a press plate and therefore I had to buy it. Managed to pick it up for under fifteen dollars. Don't remember the exact amount.

Something I Found

I bought a ten $1 team bags in Reno on Saturday. They had the normal commons / 1 or 2 star mix. And then I saw this.

2002 Upper Deck 40 Man

This is the first time I have seen this card. And it is not too shabby. A decent photo of Austin. Interesting background. I liked doing this to my lawn back in Mississippi. It aggravated the poop out of the neighbors by showing them up. And I can hear Casey Kasem's voice announcing : And entering this weeks Top 40, the highest riser on the charts,. At number 28, Austin Kearns. The new kid drafted by his hometown Cincinnati Reds. This made me buy the whole team set of 2002 Upper Deck 40 Man. Not a bad looking set in my opinion.

Recent pick up No. 1

This is a treat for me to find.

2003 Ultimate Collection Autograph Butyback
2003 SP Authentic
5 / 9

This beauty was won on ebay about 3 weeks ago for eight dollars with the shipping. This was the first time I have seen any non-Donruss Buybacks for Austin. His signature looks good and fits the card well. You can tell he actually looks were to sign on cards instead of just signing away. Plus he has a good looking, non pretzel type auto.

I Bought A Buyback!

This is a 2003 UD Ultimate Collection
2003 Upper Deck 40 Man Buyback Autograph
29 / 33

These cards are bought off the secondary market and personally signed by the player. No sticker auto here. To me these are good ideas as the cards are hand signed and set collectors of 40 Man can add these without having to drop fifty dollars on a pack or waiting on a through the mail autos that may never come.

PRIME TIME!

For todays viewing pleasure we have:

2005 Prime Patches

Portraits Quad Jersey Prime 1/ 1 This beauty was picked up off of ebay around Christmas time last year. It has a swatch of each:

Top Left: Team Logo Patch
Bottom Left: Laundry Tag
Top Right: Name Plate Patch
Bottom Right: Number Patch

The number patch seems to have some dirt or maybe some blood discoloring it. This is the first time I have seen a dirty swatch of anything. Must have been one heck of a stain. I like this card because 1) It is a one of one and 2) It has so many different pieces of Austin's jersey. It's a cool feeling seeing the jersey he wore to dive and catch a scorcher off the bat of Craig Biggio to make him wait one more at bat 2 years latter for No. 3,000.

SWEEEEEEETTT!

I have obtained from the wilderness known as ebay, direct from a seller this awe inspiring card:



A 2007 Sweet Spot Signatures
Autographed Bat
No. 4 of 5 made

This is a way cool card. It is as thick as 3 of the eTopps fillers and the bat is inserted into the card itself. The gray around the wood is a shadow box type effect from wee the card edges do not meet the wood. The bat is curved and not flat like some I have seen. This is one of those cards that gives you bragging rights over other collectors.
Not that I have met any other Austin collectors. But I am looking.
While not a game used bat or having an action photo of Austin I can still see him slapping one off of Rich Hill to drive in Zimmerman with it.