Sometimes I wish I was 10 years old again

[savafan]

There was a time when I'd find a couple quarters laying in the street, and I'd get on my bike and ride to the local Dairy Mart, walk up to the counter and ask for a wax pack of Topps. I'd slide my quarters across the counter, eager with anticipation, hoping that when I pulled open the glue on the back of the pack, that I'd find a hero inside.

The first thing I'd do was place that gum in my mouth. There was nothing in those days like a pink stick of gum that you could break. The initial reaction of that gum on my tastebuds was revulsion, but I continued chewing anyway, until I got it to a point where it was soft and gooey...the way gum should be. Ah, that gum...completely vile and utterly addictive at the same time.

I'd hurry through the cards, hoping for an Eric Davis, Jose Canseco, or a (yes) Jesse Barfield. I'd always cringe whenever I'd get a Pascual Perez. Something about him always scared me. I'd slide the cards into my pocket and get back on my bike and ride home.

While watching the games on TV with my dad, I'd set up my cards the same as that day's lineup, and dream about one day being on that diamond myself.

I'd study the stances and pitching deliveries pictured on the cards, so that when I got together with my friends to play ball at the park, I could imitate those heroes of mine.

I always ran all out, all the time in those days, because that's how my dad taught me. The Pete Rose way, he called it. Do everything like Pete, and you'll never be sorry.

I'd be upset when the Reds lost, but I'd always look forward to tomorrow, knowing that they'd get the Astros or Dodgers the next time. I didn't care about stats. Strikeouts didn't bother me. When I went to the ballpark to see a game, I just wanted to have the opportunity to see those men, the legends from my baseball cards, in person doing what I hoped to someday do myself.

Play a game just for the love of it.

Still, even as a 10 year old, I sat in the outfield at Riverfront and heckled a Pirates outfielder named Barry Bonds.

But sometimes...sometimes I wish I could be that 10 year old again.

[Johnny Footstool]

The first thing I'd do was place that gum in my mouth. There was nothing in those days like a pink stick of gum that you could break. The initial reaction of that gum on my tastebuds was revulsion, but I continued chewing anyway, until I got it to a point where it was soft and gooey...the way gum should be. Ah, that gum...completely vile and utterly addictive at the same time.

I bought a few boxes of late-80s/early 90s baseball cards last Christmas. My father in law wanted to chew the gum, so I gave him some. It disintegrated into small, sharp chunks, but would not congeal into a wad no matter how much he chewed it.

[SunDeck]

What was that white powder on the gum? Honestly, I think I only chewed two or three sticks despite buying around a thousand packs of cards between the ages of 8-12.

But I hear you, Sava- I miss those days. Your post brought the awful taste of that gum right back to me, but also the joyous feeling of opening a pack and finding a Joe, Pete, Johnny, Davey, or Tony.

[BuckWoody]

I wouldn't mind being 10 years old again if for no other reason than tonight's lineup would look something like this:

C Bench
1B Perez
2B Morgan
3B Rose
SS Concepcion
LF Foster
CF Geronimo
RF Griffey


Memories,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were......

[SunDeck]

Memories,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were......

Man, I so regret reading the whole post.

[RANDY IN INDY]

Being ten would mean this lineup for the Reds.

Rose LF
Tolan CF
Perez 1b
Bench C
May 1b
McRae/Carbo RF
Helms 2b
Concepcion/Chaney ss

[LINEDRIVER]

I began buying baseball cards when I was 9 yrs old in 1963. I really started getting into baseball card collecting in 1965. I rode my bike to the store on Ohio Avenue in Deer Park, a suburb of Cincinnati, to get my cards. The cards were 5 cents a pack with 5 cards in a pack with a stick of gum. I spent all of my allowance on baseball cards in those days until I became more interested in girls in the late 60's.
Those were great days and great memories. I'm glad I grew up in those good ole' days.

A 1965 Reds lineup would of looked like this:

LF) Tommy Harper
2B) Pete Rose
CF) Vada Pinson
RF) Frank Robinson
3B) Deron Johnson
1B) Gordy Coleman
C) Johnny Edwards
SS) Leo "Chico" Cardenas
P) Jim Maloney

[RANDY IN INDY]

Do you still have your cards, LINEDRIVER? I still have all of mine, and it is almost like being 10 again when I occasionally pull them out and look at them. My favorites are my 1969 Topps.

[Topcat]

Brings back memories and the sad unhealthy desire I had to get a Jay Johnstone card, and a Ray Fosse to lol.

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by SunDeck

What was that white powder on the gum? Honestly, I think I only chewed two or three sticks despite buying around a thousand packs of cards between the ages of 8-12.

Confectioners sugar.

I tried to get back into card collecting a few years ago but was disgusted by the "all about money" mentality. I already collected stamps and decided to collect baseball themed ones as side interest...I've never been happier with a hobby. It is absolutely unreal how many nations print baseball related stamps, and you can get them affordably and easily. Not to mention that almost all stamp collectors do it for fun rather than money.

[LINEDRIVER]

Originally Posted by RANDY IN CHAR NC

Do you still have your cards, LINEDRIVER? I still have all of mine, and it is almost like being 10 again when I occasionally pull them out and look at them. My favorites are my 1969 Topps.

I'm sorry to say that I dont have the cards. I'll always think that the '65 Topps were the greatest.

[PressBox]

Sava-

I think you and I must be close in age. My ten year old lineup looked something like this:

Kal Daniels
Chris Sabo
Barry Larkin
Eric Davis
Paul O'Neill
Nick Esasky
Bo Diaz
Ron Oester
Browning, Jackson, or Rijo on a good night

and Johnny Franco to close it out.

Or maybe Lark hit second and Sabo third? I'm sure Sabo didn't start the year hitting that high up in the order, and I'm sure someone on here can tell me for sure!

I loved that team. The year was 1988....I believe the Rijo/Parker trade was made right before or soon after the season began. Anyone know for sure? I could go pull out my card albums and find out for sure, but that would be a lot of trouble. :-)

[savafan]

Originally Posted by PressBox

Sava-

I think you and I must be close in age.

I loved that team. The year was 1988....

I've got you beat by a year. The 1987 Reds lineup was:

Kal Daniels
Barry Larkin
Dave Parker
Eric Davis
Buddy Bell
Bo Diaz
Terry Francona
Ron Oester

[Eric_Davis]

Originally Posted by SunDeck

What was that white powder on the gum?.

Chalk....actual chalk. It comes from Africa.

Wait...I'm thinking of the stuff that goes on the inside of gum wrappers.

[Eric_Davis]

Originally Posted by Herd Fan

Not to mention that almost all stamp collectors do it for fun rather than money.

They don't have a choice. There hasn't been any money in it in decades now. I love sending old stamps as regular postage now. You can buy them dollar for dollar at coin/stamp collecting stores.