You know, I forgot all about how I hated the current wild-card set-up last year. I complained last year that division winners shouldn't be involved in such chaos. I guess I still agree with that, but I didn't think of it once during this past week and that's even with my team involved in it.
I'm never going to get to Grandpa Simpson status at this rate.
But I like my postseason attitude this year. I don't feel like hiding behind the couch like I've felt for decades when the Dodgers are in the playoffs. We'll see how it goes when they're playing the Phillies in Philadelphia this weekend (most likely I'll just be pressing "mute" a lot).
Meanwhile, with four games on the docket tomorrow, I've got my current postseason tradition cued up and ready to go. This is where I pull out the oldest, newest and random-est card in my collection from the remaining playoff teams. This is the third time I've done this (well, fourth as I did it twice in 2023). Several teams keep repeating so the "oldest" part of this exercise has been modified for a few teams. Let's get to the matchups:
BLUE JAYS VS. YANKEES
Toronto Blue Jays
(Cards in my collection: 2,323. Overall rank: 25th)
Oldest card in my collection: Steve Hargan, 1977 Topps (I could have gone a couple different ways here, by picking a Hostess or OPC card instead. I don't know exactly which came out first. But I know I saw Topps first).
Newest card in my collection: Chris Bassitt, 2025 Heritage. (This is the absolute newest card in my collection at it's the latest short-print purchase by me. Just showed up yesterday).
Random card in my collection: Dave Stieb, 1982 Topps Stickers. (Does it count if it's a sticker? Does it count if it's a sticker that's been stuck? Of course).
New York Yankees
(Cards in my collection: 4,302. Overall rank: 2nd)
Second oldest card in my collection: Andy Carey, 1956 Topps (Going with second oldest because I covered the oldest last year).
Newest card in my collection: Will Warren, 2025 Topps Heritage (not a short-print, meaning it was one of the last base cards to show up).
Random card in my collection: Jim Leyritz, 1994 Score (The Yankees are the only team left in the postseason that I absolutely do not want to win the World Series -- pulling this guy just reinforces that thought).
Who I want to win: Blue Jays. They better have it in them!
MARINERS VS. TIGERS
Seattle Mariners
(Cards in my collection: 2,328. Overall rank: 24th -- I have five more Mariners cards than I do Blue Jays cards, interesting as they were expansion teammates).
Oldest card in my collection: Tommy Smith, 1977 Topps.
Newest card in my collection: Ichiro Suzuki, 2025 Topps Heritage Through The Years insert (A bit odd showing a retired player on the "newest" card, but I'm not going to correct TCDB, which is helping me with this exercise).
Random card in my collection: Jim Presley, 1987 Fleer (It won't be the only random '87 Fleer card to show up on this post).
Detroit Tigers
(Cards in my collection: 2,956. Overall rank: 14th)
Second oldest card in my collection: Al Kaline, 1956 Topps (I used Ray Boone in a previous postseason post, so now I get to show off one of the last cards I needed to finish this set!)
Newest card in my collection: Trey Sweeney, 2025 Topps (Another relatively new SP arrival. The former Dodger who never played for the Dodgers!)
Random card in my collection: Barbaro Garbey, 1985 Topps (My set blogs come in handy. I did enough photographing as it is).
Who I want to win: Per usual it's whoever has the best chance to beat the Yankees if it comes to that. But I'll be leaning toward the Mariners.
BREWERS VS. CUBS
Milwaukee Brewers
(Cards in my collection: 2,672. Overall rank: 21st)
Second oldest card in my collection: Dave Baldwin, 1971 Topps. (Again, the set blogs pay off. Here's a guy who actually commented on the post I wrote about him!)
Newest card in my collection: Sal Frelick, 2025 Topps Heritage (Yep, another SP).
Random card in my collection: Eric Lauer, 2023 Topps (Lauer is now on the Blue Jays. I guess that's at least one person who would be interested in a Blue Jays-Brewers World Series).
Chicago Cubs
(Cards in my collection: 3,110. Overall rank: 9th)
Oldest card in my collection: Bob Rush, 1950 Bowman (oldest card you'll see in this post, because I'm sticking with L.A. only for the Dodgers).
Newest card in my collection: Nick Madrigal, 2025 Topps Heritage (A regular base card, I still need three more SP Cubs).
Random card in my collection: Greg Maddux, 1987 Fleer (Well now, this is good news for the Cubs).
Who I want to win: Tough one. I'm not much of a fan of either team and haven't been for years. Slight edge to the Brewers).
DODGERS VS. PHILLIES
Los Angeles Dodgers
(Cards in my collection: 29,068. Overall rank: 1st)
Second oldest card in my collection: Charlie Neal, 1958 Topps. (The first Los Angeles Dodger to appear, according to card number, in the 1958 set).
Newest card in my collection: River Ryan, 2025 Topps, diamante parallel (I still don't know what diamante means. I've looked it up, a couple of times, and keep forgetting what it told me).
Random card in my collection: Dee Gordon, 2011 Topps Chrome X-refractor. (Nice card).
Philadelphia Phillies
(Cards in my collection: 3,240. Overall rank: 5th)
(Cards in my collection: 3,240. Overall rank: 5th)
Second oldest card in my collection: Mayo Smith, 1956 Topps (one of the goofier '56 Topps cards).
Newest card in my collection: Brandon Marsh, 2025 Topps Heritage (the only player that would fall under the "don't want him on my team" label because of what he does to his hair).
Random card in my collection: Mitch Williams, 1991 Topps Traded (Oof, not a good sign for the Phillies, but that's good for the Dodgers!)
Who I want to win: Dodgers, of course.
I don't think the Dodgers will get past the Phillies. But I also thought that about the Dodgers against the Padres last year, so we'll see.
Even without the Dodgers, ther are several World Series pairings I'd like to see here.
Happy rest of the postseason.
Comments
Diamante is really the Spanish word for "diamond", although apparently in English it can mean "decorated with artificial jewels". I just go with "diamond".
B. In AL, you and I are totally on the same page. As long as the Yankees aren't in the World Series, I'll be happy.
C. As for the NL, I hope whoever wins the Brewers/Cubs series ends up beating whoever wins the Dodgers/Phillies series.