Christmas Cards for Christmas Morning!

You know there's a baseball twist, right??

Time and English are pretty fun to fool around with, because if you stand on one leg, squint an eye just so, flap your right arm while your left scrunches an earlobe (yours or otherwise) … well … you can sort of make either one of them seem like it’s doing something interesting.

For instance, isn’t it cool how Christmas decided to show up this year on Sunday morning, just in time for our weekly get-together?

And it’s pretty rad how there have been a bunch of baseball cards issued over the years that directly celebrate Christmas.

So, I’ll take advantage of these cosmic fortunes to 1) wish you a Merry Christmas (even if that’s not really your bag) and 2) shower you with some baseball-flavored Christmas cards.

Here goes …

North-Pole

Bill North ran so fast that he could make it around wind-whipped Bay Area diamonds before any bodyparts even got numb.

Dick Pole’s parents either had a superb collective sense of humor, or none whatsoever.

Both men benefitted from a visit to the Topps Art Department.

Together, they form a Voltron North-Pole for our Christmas pleasure. Read all about it.

The Holly & The Ivie

As the classic Christmas song goes …

The Holly and the Ivie,
When they are both full grown,
Of all cards that are in the commons bin,
These are the ones to own.

Or something.

You can read all about these guys, and these cards, right here.

Rudolph: “They think I’m cute!”

How many times have YOU watched Rudolph?

For me, I’d have to say it’s right up there with how many 1981 Topps Steve McCatty cards I pulled from wax packs.

But, hey, when you find a good thing, you tend to go back to it … right?

Just ask Topps, who found a shot of Don Rudolph that they really, really, really liked.

They must have thought he was cute.

Frost-y Mornings

He may look like Jayson Stark in the center of this 1979 Topps Angels Prospects card, but the truth is, Dave Frost is representing — he’s the only Frost to ever play Major League Baseball (though not the only Frosty).

And, as it turns out, he still had a few miles to go before he slept.

Read more about Jack Dave right here.

Father Christmas Himself

Similarly, he may look like Eli Manning in disguise there on his blue-bordered Buffalo Bisons card, but Steve Christmas is actually, well, Steve Christmas.

He has a pretty good baseball story if you want to look it up sometime, even though his major league tenure lasted just 24 games.

He’s also a dad.

Which makes him our Father Christmas. Boo-ya.

—

Thanks for indulging my Christmas cheese, and I hope you enjoyed the silliness just a little.

And, if not, well, there’s always next year. You know, in, like, a week.

See you then!

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays Happy New Year Adios Bon Voyage Buenas Noches

—Adam