Halladay's no-hitter a moment that will last forever

It’s been 48 hours since I witnessed the greatest game I’ve ever been to and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

I have been to spectacular games. I was at the Aaron Boone game. I saw a scoreless game go to 15 innings. I watched Roger Clemens get his 300th career win. I saw my favorite team win the World Series - more than once.

But watching Roy Halladay throw a no-hitter was bigger than them all.

Normally, throughout a baseball game I’m busy writing copy. I have to work on notes and sidebars, typing up blogs and tweets. By the seventh inning, my typing had mostly stopped (though I’m sure there were some tweets).

I had to stop because my hands were shaking. My heart sped up and by the ninth inning, I could fell my heartbeat in every part of my body right down to my toes.
I’ve seen so many special games, but knew I was witnessing something amazing the more Halladay pitched.

On the last at-bat, when Brandon Philips hit a small dribbler in front of the plate, I’m pretty sure my heart completely stopped. This was the toughest play any fielder had to make the entire game.

The ball was tipped off Phillips’ bat and hit the bat again as he got out of the batter’s box. There is no out here because intent has to be established for the batter to be called out.

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz dropped to his knees to field the ball and my hands jumped to my mouth. I was holding my breath.

Ruiz threw the ball to first and Ryan Howard squeezed it tight.

The capacity crowd erupted and I slumped back into my chair.

Wow.

The first no-hitter I have ever seen and I got to do it with about 47,000 other people. And it was just the second one in postseason history.

Two days later, the Phillies were still talking about it, but how can you not?
I’m still thinking about it.

The interesting thing about Halladay is his work ethic. Many people would relive the accomplishment even if it’s just in private. However, I feel like when Halladay says he’s just focused on the postseason right now, he means it. He turned down Letterman, the Today Show and CNN on Thursday because he didn’t want the no-hitter to distract from what he and his teammates are trying to do. Plus, it was his son’s birthday.

After his 1:15 p.m. press conference on Friday, which was over an hour earlier than when the press conferences start, Halladay took to the field to start his daily routine. At that time of day, more than five hours before the start of Game 2, the only other people on the field were the grounds crew.

Halladay works harder than any pitcher I’ve ever seen, which made Wednesday a treat, but not a surprise.

Halladay is one of the best pitchers to ever play and I was lucky enough to witness the second-best game he ever pitched.

I love baseball.

Roy Halladay pitches a perfect game

This is season for perfect games and no hitters.

First Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez threw a no-hitter, then Oakland's Dallas Braden threw a perfect game just 20 days ago.

Philadelphia's Roy Halladay is the next to join the club as one of the best pitchers in the game today threw a perfect game against the Florida Marlins tonight in a 1-0 win.

"I was just following Chooch (Carlos Ruiz)," Halladay said in his post-game interview on the local television station.

Having covered this team this season, Halladay was probably telling the truth. Halladay is one of the most prepared baseball players in the game. He doesn't take the other four days while he is resting lightly. Halladay studies his next opponent and is very vocal during pitchers' meetings.

Here are some of Halladay's chase cards:
1. 1997 Bowman Chrome RC

2. 1997 Bowman Certified autos (black, blue and gold)

3. 2007 Upper Deck Goudey Sport Royalty auto

4. 1995 Signature Rookies Tetrad set

What is the best Halladay card you have in your collection?

KMart bargain blasters

Who doesn't like a bargain? Even if it means buying something for the price you were willing to pay when it first came out, like 2009 UD Spectrum blasters.... For $19.99 originally, you got a whole 4 packs and guaranteed a jersey card. I think I purchased one loose retail pack of this and that was it when it came out. I saw the bargain blasters and figured I can flip the game used cards,and maybe get something cool... maybe.

While the base cards are nothing special, I did get my one memorabilia card per box (*on average). I told some of the tweeters, twitter'ers, whatever that I would post the loot. So I shall keep my word, and if anyone wants to trade for either of the game used cards, let me know.


Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnon.... Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnon...

Look who it is!!!! If only I collected him.
The Halladay game used is pretty cool. I still don't understand what Upper Deck was smoking when they put FOUR packs into a box and decided it was worth $19.99 plus tax.

A benefit to Topps on Twitter

Topps recently started using its Twitter account for more than just relaying information. For someone, who is into social media this is a great idea because no one wants an account that simply links to their work.

Yesterday, we posted about the Roy Halladay-Steve Carlton tribute card. Marie sent the link to the Topps twitter account and this was their response.

Ugh, we're aware. It was a timing issue: we made the card before we knew what his number was going to be. Still, not good.

It was certainly nice to get a response back, BUT that comment does not fly with me. The rumors of the Halladay to Phillies trade heated up the week of Dec. 14. That was when the talks about the blockbuster trade involving Cliff Lee made its way into the mainstream press.

On Dec. 17, I posted this picture to my Twitter account.

Yeah, that's Roy Halladay's jersey. Once he had his news conference it became pretty well known what number he was going to wear because everyone knew 32 was not available since it was retired by the Phillies.

Topps Opening Day was released mid-February.

When was the card made then? Last summer during the trade deadline? If so, that just seems like a huge waste of money.

Sorry, Topps. I am not buying, we didn't know line.

I'm in a business where I need to get things right. It's my job to get things right and if I don't, I lose credibility. If I keep making mistakes, I then lose my job.

What's wrong with this picture? - More fun with photoshop

I get that Photoshopping is kind of difficult. I'm not particularly good at it.

BUT when you're job is to photoshop things, you probably should get a couple of things right AND be a baseball fans especially if you're photoshopping baseball cards.

Just saying.

Here's a hint.

P.S. - Even though I look terrible in this picture, that's me with the glasses on in the corner. I wasn't  on the schedule to work that day, so I'm rather dressed downfor the occasion.

Look for these error cardson eBay.

A link to the Cliff Lee post on photoshop errors.