We are nearly 2/3 of the way through the set, I have started to send out the cards but have not gotten any back of yet.  The next prospect up in Bobby Borchering who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks right before AJ Pollack.  The Diamondbacks definitely got two powerhouse players that should be on their roster sooner rather than later.  Bobby is committed to play at the University of Florida this year, and the Gator Nation is very excited about him possibly being there.  My guess is that the money is going to be too good to pass up but he will be a late signee.

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If anyone has any ideas about a cool hockey card template, I am all ears.  Right now I’m very stuck as to where to go.  I was thinking an ice background but in the end I’m just stuck with a whole lot of nothing.  Free cards to anyone who comes up with a cool design.

This contest is going to be a nice one.  I got a stack of 1974 Topps Football cards.  The winner gets their team choice and two packs of bad wax.  Just list your favorite football team (make sure they were around in 1974) and what your favorite pre – 1987 football card set is as a comment.  Good luck everyone!

There are some interesting athletes signing this week, but not as many as I would expect going into the All Star week.  So if you know of any more, please leave it as a comment.  As always, please call ahead to confirm both the appearance and time of the signing listed below.  Also if you are looking for the MLB All Star Fan Fest schedule of signings please see <here>.

7/13/09

• Herschel Walker – football – 12pm – 2pm – Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Dr, Sandusky, Ohio

7/14/09

• Cris Cyborg – fighter – 2:30pm – ? – Madison Square Garden,New York, New York
• Gina Carano – fighter – 2:30pm – ? – Madison Square Garden,New York, New York
• Evan Brown – soccer – 6pm – 7pm – Qwest Field, 800 Occidental Ave South, Seattle, Washington

7/15/09

• Vince Carter – basketball – TBA – Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 105 East Orange Ave, Daytona Beach, Florida

7/16/09

• Randy Jones – baseball – 4pm – 6pm  – Soleil At K, 660 K St, San Diego, California
• Roddy White – football – 6:30pm – ? – ESPN Zone, 3030 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia

7/17/09

• Derrel Thomas – baseball – TBA – Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, California
• Randy Jones – baseball – 4pm – 6pm – Tilted Kilt, 310 10th Ave, San Diego, California
• Alex Brown – football – 4pm – 6pm – TCF Bank, 1440 W North Ave, Melrose Park, Illinois
• John Wokenfuss – baseball – TBA – Fifth Third Ballpark: Grand Rapids, 4500 West River Drive, Comstock Park, Michigan
• Rick Leach – baseball – 7pm – ? – SkyDome, 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Ontario
• Robin Cole – football – 11am – 3pm – Giant Eagle, 100 Sugar Run Rd, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

Not the best week  for free signings, but come back during the week to see the latest updates to this list.  If you do go to any of these or the Fanfest, please email me as I would like to get something signed.  Also if you go, take some pictures and email them to me and I will post them on the site.  If I missed any signings, please leave a comment.

A flame thrower from UNC.  His stock dropped quite a bit because of his play in the college playoffs.  He is a top 10 player and the Indians got a great deal in picking him up in the 15 slot.  He should be able to adjust to the pro game quickly and really the only thing he has to work on is his ability to go late in the season.

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If anyone has any ideas about a cool hockey card template, I am all ears.  Right now I’m very stuck as to where to go.  I was thinking an ice background but in the end I’m just stuck with a whole lot of nothing.  Free cards to anyone who comes up with a cool design.

One of the things I have been working on lately is coming up with fun templates for custom cards.  I really love the look of vintage designs.  One of my favorite card designs is the 1977 card.  Now when using Photoshop or GIMP, it’s easy to pull a picture off the web, crop out the player and put a new player in.  That’s been done, what I have been trying out is coming up with a modren twist to an old design.  Kind of like my version of the 1971 cards that I am using for the draft picks this year. So with an example of a 1977 card by my side, I decided to come up with a template, using former Cubs first round pick Josh Vitters as my guinea pig.  Here is what I came up with:

It’s a very simple design, but I really like the way it came out.  I am going to work on the future star pat a little more.  I am curious to find out what everyone things.  Leave a comment as to how you would tweek it.  Here is a very rough version of a 1979 remake: