When asked whether he preferred grass or Astroturf, Tug McGraw replied “I don’t know, I never smoked any Astroturf.” Happy 420 to those who celebrate.

In stock at the glove shop. Even the junior size!

In my recent Substack post on vintage baseball packaging, I failed to mention one of the most iconic of baseball boxes - the Wiffle Ball box.

Happy Birthday to 1971 World Series champion Steve Blass! Seen here jumping for joy with teammate Manny Sanguillen.

Between his recent power surge and his new beard and longer hair making him a Bradley Cooper doppelgänger, I think my wife may have found a new favorite Brave in Austin Riley.

Sometimes, I see this photo of Bob Dylan in a convenience store, checking out box scores, and I think to myself “Damn, I miss Baseball Weekly” 📸: Ken Regan

🎂🎉Wishing a Happy Birthday (and many more Stargell Stars) to baseball painter extraordinaire Graig Kreindler. 🎉🎂

🔥⚾️🎨 Incredible Ronald Acuña Jr. sidewalk chalk art, from 2023 Braves Fest. 🎨: Jessi Queen www.instagram.com/jessiqueenart/ #BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

#ThrowbackThursday to 1984. I’m going to watch the Braves pull out a close one over the Pirates and then stick around for Night Tracks hoping to see Van Halen’s “Jump”.

I’d like to remind everyone that Rachel Robinson is still alive 103 years old, and this day also belongs to her ❤️❤️

Just your yearly reminder that 1962 Topps Baseball Bucks are not legal tender to be used for tax payments.

Extremely cool. Kudos @baseball-reference.com!

My favorite comic books feature real superheroes. Today we celebrate Jackie Robinson Day.

Today on Beauty of a Game, I take a look at some vintage baseball package designs. Take a look and let me know which design’s your favorite. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/baseballs-...

Two for Tuesday - Two covers for The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. Do you prefer the memorabilia-filled room on the first edition cover, or the classically designed typography of the second edition cover? #Twosday #TwoForTuesday

Some graphics you can hear…

I can find beauty in a work of art, a photograph or a piece of ephemera. Is that weird? 🎨: Ryan Simpson 📸: Jason Hanna 🏷 : D&M Sporting Goods

On this day in 1993 the San Francisco Giants home opener was delayed 56 minutes when the Grateful Dead performed a blistering National Anthem > US Blues > Centerfield> Talkin’ Baseball Tease > Yankee Doodle Dandy Jam > National Anthem. 📸: Jay Blakesberg @jayblakesberg.bsky.social

#FlashbackFriday to that time I ran into Dick Drago at QT. I still have no idea how a 1979 Topps card ended up in a gas station brochure display in 2021, but it did put a smile on my face.

🔥⚾️🎨 As a brief follow up to my recent Substack post on multiple perspectives in sports photography, here are two perspectives on the same play - painted in two different styles, by the same artist, the ultra talented Noah Stokes. #BaseballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

At this point, can MLB just be honest and rename the City Connect uniforms to Money Grabs®?

🔥⚾️🎨 I love the way artist Chuck Styles brings a graffiti-like quality to this painting of Hank Aaron. Plus, he captured perhaps my favorite punctum. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/a-look-at-...

For #ThrowbackThursday, let’s go all the way back to 1970, when Lou Brock and Converse teamed up for one of the coolest sneaker ads of its time. Awhile back Lelands auctioned off a pair of the sneakers, along with the ad and an autographed copy of the accompanying baseball tips booklet.

Here are some of my “best” cards in my 1975 Topps set build. I’m really proud of them.

I have a complete set of 1973 Topps. End of story.

I love this card because it looks like six-year-old me left it in his pocket when he fell in a mud puddle.

In honor of #WellLovedWednesday, I’d like to present the Official Beauty of a Game Baseball Card Monster Box®. What well-loved beauties are you stashing inside? Show us your most treasured poor cards.

52 years ago today, the greatest quote in baseball history. "I never knew my mother could hug so tight." - Hank Aaron, after hitting home run # 715 to pass Babe Ruth for MLB’s Career Home Run Record.

“The Bad News Bears” hit theaters 50 years ago today.

In honor of its release 50 years ago today, and because it’s #TwoForTuesday, here’s a great shot of the two stars of The Bad News Bears, Walter Matthau as Coach Morris Buttermaker and Tatum O’Neal as pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer.

If, like me, you dig vintage baseball card back cartoons, you won’t want to miss Eric White’s latest fantastic article for Sports Collectors Daily. www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/who-drew-the...

Happy April 7th to those who celebrate the greatest day in baseball cinema! beautyofagame.substack.com/p/april-7th-...

😍😍😍

Wayland Moore was a longtime Graphics Director for the Atlanta Braves but his sports-themed illustration work went beyond baseball. Here’s his cover for the Atlanta Falcons 1970 Fact Book.

Born on this day in 1941 - artist David Edward Byrd, whose poster for the 1971 Broadway production of Follies served as the visual inspiration for the 1972 Topps Baseball set.

I love this shot of Hank Aaron batting. By taking the shot from a unique perspective, the photographer creates a far more interesting composition and draws the viewer’s eye in. It also doesn’t hurt that King Henry is wearing that beautiful 1973 Braves uniform.

Six years ago today, as the world was missing sports, the Tupelo Mississippi Daily Journal nailed April Fool's Day. Who's your favorite player on this list?

Two for Tuesday: Two Bruins Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Coach John Wooden, 1965 📸: Neil Leifer

I could never get my daughter interested in keeping score at a baseball game. But once she did keep score watching Tom & Jerry.

I’m certain I didn’t think of it a sports art as a 9-year-old, but poring over all those iconic Atari 2600 video cartridge boxes definitely left an impression on me. 🎨: these two beauties were done by noted illustrator Cliff Spohn

Cy Young, Hall of Fame pitcher and namesake of the award given annually to each league’s best pitcher, was born on this day in 1867. Here’s his T205 card, as painted by Scott Schulman of Reindeer Studios. beautyofagame.substack.com/p/artist-sco...

In his team debut, Dominic Smith hit a walk-off grand slam for the Braves last night, less than two weeks after losing his mother to cancer. Don’t tell me baseball has no drama. 📸: AP Photo/Colin Hubbard

As a young baseball card collector, I thought it was so cool that Fleer and Donruss had card sets numbered to 660 in honor of Willie Mays’ career home run total. And wondered why Topps didn’t number their set to 755 in honor of Hank Aaron’s record?

🔥🏀🎨 34 years ago today - Christian Laettner, The Shot. Artwork by Bart Forbes. #BasketballArt #SportsArt #SportsArtist

In 1954 illustrator Willard Mullin won the Reuben Award, given by The National Cartoonists Society to the Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. Based on these two awesome yearbook covers, I think he should have received some votes for NL MVP as well.

Here’s to Opening Day. Let Freedom Ring. And for what it’s worth, I think that’s the only sponsor logo that should be allowed on a baseball jersey.

Hanging in my office