World Series - Game 2 - Cubs Even It Up

You didn't think this was going to be easy did you? Unlike the Tribe's ALDS and ALCS opponents, the Cubs were not content to roll over and answered back in game 2 of the World Series, running out 5-1 winners to even the series at one apiece.

Chicago's Jake Arrieta, the 2015 NL Cy Young winner, brought his best stuff to Progressive Field and carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning. The Tribe offense just couldn't get to grips with Arrieta and could never dig themselves out of an early hole. It was a cold night for the Tribe bats and for the fans in attendance. Jason Kipnis was the one to end Arrieta's flirtation with history, hitting a double with one out in the 6th and eventually scoring on a wild pitch.

Trevor Bauer started for the Indians and wasn't very good but wasn't awful either, allowing 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 earned runs in 3.2 innings. He got dinged up early, when Anthony Rizzo doubled to score Kris Bryant in the top of the 1st, and looked to have recovered until he got tagged again in the 3rd, by a Kyle Schwarber single that scored Rizzo. I was hoping he could hold out for longer to save the bullpen but it never materialized. A combination of Zach McAllister, Bryan Shaw, Danny Salazar, Jeff Manship, Dan Otero and Mike Clevinger put in relief appearances but could not stop the bleeding. It was nice to see Salazar back on the mound, even if he did walks 2 guys, but he didn't allow any runs and seemed to have his velocity back which is a huge positive.

This loss was the first time Terry Francona had been on the wrong side of the score in a World Series game. He was 9-0 up until last night, an incredible record. However, it's not over yet and the Indians now travel to Wrigley Field for game 3 on Friday, where Josh Tomlin will face off against Kyle Hendricks.

Baseball Cards: Retro Legend Additions

It's been a while since I posted any cards here at England Tribe (nearly two years actually). I recently picked up a few nice looking ones and thought I'd share them. They're nothing too special, but I think they look good.

Up first are two Jackie Robinson cards. Before you get too excited, no that is not an original 1952 Jackie Robinson on the left. I'm not that lucky, or rich. Instead, it's a 2001 Topps Through The Years #5 reprint of the 1952 Robinson. It has a nice shiny Topps 50 Years Anniversary badge on it, on his bat. I really like this card, and it's from a really iconic set too. 

The card on the right is a 2010 Topps 206 #25 Jackie Robinson. I love the design of the Topps 206 cards, with their faded cigarette card look. The picture of Jackie is really nice too, and I've not seen many cards of him without a hat on. 

Jackie is right up there with my favorite players of all time, maybe even number one on the list. I wrote my dissertation at university on the man, spending an entire year researching and writing about his exploits on and off the field. The guy is the definition of the word legend. Somehow these are the first two cards I own of him. They definitely won't be the last.

Here we have a 2006 Topps Rookie of the Week Card Shop Promotion (Base) #7 of Pirates Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. It's a similar design to his 1955 rookie card, the Topps #164 from that year, but Topps have changed the photos from the original (here is what his rookie card looks like). I think it's pretty nice and for $0.55 I thought why the hell not.

Clemente sits next to Robinson on my shelf of baseball legends, the greatest Latin player in history. He's a total boss in my book and he has some of the nicest cards around too. I'll be looking at getting many more of them.

More Roberto Clemente's up next. Here we have, from left to right:

1998 Topps Roberto Clemente Reprint #7. It's a reprint of the 1961 Topps Clemente #388, and is a damn fine card. In the top left-hand corner, you can see a small bronze Clemente 25th Anniversary badge which I love. I don't know if you can make it out from the photo, but it has 1972-1997 on the bottom and in the center is Clemente tipping his cap. It's a really nice card I had to grab, for just $1.85. A near-mint version of the 1961 original goes for nearly a grand. I'm happy with my 1998 reprint thanks.

In the middle is a 1998 Topps Roberto Clemente Reprint Finest #9. What makes it "finest" you ask? It's a shiny chrome card, and it's all the better for it. I really nice reprint of the 1963 Topps Clemente #540, it cost me $2.65, the second most expensive card in my haul. The 1963 original in mint condition goes for over $2,200. Yeah, my reprint doesn't seem so pricey anymore. I'm fine parting with $2.65 for this excellent card.

Last but not least is a 2012 Topps Archives Reprint Insert #440. It's another reprint (sensing a theme now are we?), this time from the 1964 Topps set, one of my favorite card sets in Topps history. These cards look so good and I made sure to get a Clemente. Just $0.95, not bad value for under a dollar.

Something a little more recent now. Here is a 2014 Topps Heritage #250.1 base card of the reigning AL MVP, Mike Trout. It's hard not to be a Mike Trout fan. Following on from what I was saying about my love for the 1964 Topps set, in 2013 I pulled a Trout shortprint from a pack of 2013 Topps Heritage. I couldn't believe my luck because, A) I don't really buy packs and B) I got a Trout card in my first pack, just as he was blowing up after his sensational rookie year. Since then I've always wanted to get more Trout cards and couldn't pass up this 2014 Heritage card. It's such a nice design and the photo is awesome too. It cost me $1.45, which isn't bad for a card from the year he won his first MVP.

This one I didn't purchase with all the others but it came recently so I thought I'd include it. Here we have a 2015 Topps Series 2 #616 Kris Bryant rookie card. I quite often buy team sets of Indians cards from a UK seller on eBay and decided to get the Cubs Series 2 set essentially for the above card alone. Bryant has been everything we expected in the majors this year and to own his rookie card is great. I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to get this one, especially if he goes on to become something special. If you had the chance to get a Mickey Mantle rookie card back in the day, you would right? Which leads me onto...

OHMYGOD IS THAT A 1952 TOPPS MICKEY MANTLE ROOKIE CARD?! No, no it isn't. I told you already, I'm loving these reprints. The card on the right you mistakenly thought was the infamous 52 Mantle (admit it) is actually a 1996 Topps Mickey Mantle Commemorative Reprint #2. I will never, ever be able to own a real 1952 Mantle rookie so to own this beautiful replica will just have to do. It really is a very nice card and I can see why people go crazy over the original. Mine has that golden badge in the top left corner, commemorating Mickey's life (1931-1995). I'm a big fan of these little holofoil badges, as they're a really nice addition to what was already a very iconic card, arguably the most iconic card of them all. It set me back a whopping $2.75, the most expensive card from this bunch. A mint condition of the 1952 original is going for over $650,000. $2.75 doesn't feel so bad now.

The card on the left is another Mantle, a 1996 Topps Mickey Mantle Commemorative Reprint Finest #13. Again with the "finest." Yeah, these chrome cards are just too nice. This one even comes with a Topps protection coating on the top, hence the black writing sprawled across it. It's a reprint of the 1963 Topps Mickey Mantle #200. It cost just $1.40, a bargain, so I snapped it up. There are 19 of these 1996 commemorative Mantles and I already have 2 of them. I'm tempted to see if I can get the whole set. As long as they're not more than $3...

That's it for this haul from the fine folks at COMC. This is the third time I've ordered from them and I will definitely be returning for more. I have my eyes on a Ken Griffey Jr. card or two and of course I'd like some Indians players too. Watch this space.