Night Owl Cards

(This month is National Blood Pressure Month. You don't know how appropriate that is. Time for Cardboard Appreciation. This is the 66th in a series): I will keep this short and sweet, because the card certainly doesn't. I ask you has there ever been a player card that featured a larger collection of letters than this one? To review: We have a BRAVES TOP PROSPECT , named WONDERFUL TERRIFIC MONDS , making a fake leaping catch in front of a wall display for the FRYE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER . That's a lot of the alphabet on one 2 1/2-by-3 1/2 card! (For people who don't know: Yes, that's his real name, and no, he didn't make the major leagues). (Also, the Frye Regional Medical Center is in Hickory, N.C.) (That's it. I have no more information for you).

I'm headed out to the old ballpark tonight. It's been awhile. I've mentioned before that I don't live close to a major league park. In fact, I don't live close to any ballpark that features professional baseball. In the past, that wouldn't stop me. I'd hop in a car and head to any number of parks within driving distance. But ever since my daughter became old enough to care about where she was going, that practice has stopped. I've mentioned before that my daughter isn't interested in baseball. She jokes around with me about how worthless it is, saying swimming or Hannah Montana or Boogie Superstar (if you have a daughter and a Wii, you know what I'm talking about) is vastly more important. And I won't force her to go to games if she's not interested. But now -- maybe it's her age, or I've finally worn her down -- she's looking forward to a ballgame. And I'm not going to stand around waiting for her to change her mind. So,...