127 posts ago, I had no idea that I'd still be around. But it's been a year, and we're still alive, so I guess that's victory number one.
In my twelve months of blogging, I've posted 127 times, have 13,865 views, 16 followers, and 482 comments. Not too shabby by my standards.
I never thought I'd still be posting on the blog a whole year after starting it up, but boy, am I glad I'm still here. Card-blogging has been a very pleasant hobby thus far, and I'm looking forward to year two!
This first year has been eventful for me. I've made a few trades, sent out a few PWEs, received a few, won a couple contests, had computer problems, made excuses about them, and figured out how to fix them for good. I've also written some extremely corny posts in the process.
Hopefully year two will have some better posts. I know that my collection is very small compared to y'all, and it won't help that I probably won't be buying up as many cards this year, due to life; there are some foreseeable events in the near future that will be taking up a lot of what would usually be my card money (there'll be a post on one of those events in a few weeks).
Also, rather than over 120 posts, I think I'll lower my standard a little bit this year. Things will be getting busier, and I want to take more time to write quality posts (takes a short time to scoff at myself, like that'll ever happen). Twice a week is still over 100, so I'll shoot for somewhere around 70-100.
When I first started up the card blog, I knew very little about cards in general. I was just a guy who liked collecting them (especially the shiny ones) and trading. Then, after making a joke on my old blog, I started Don Cardwell with no idea of what I was doing. I also had some inspiration from The Diamond King and The Lost Collector, who I had read before starting my blog. I had actually emailed AJ of The Lost Collector when I first started Don Cardwell, and he sent me a really nice welcome email.
I wasn't planning to keep my blog around for too long (if I were, I would've given it a better name). But the day I made my first post, I got a comment and a follower. And then a torrent more came. And then I decided to stay (to make the story brief) Thank you to all who took the time to read and comment on my blog.
Thank you also to those who made trades with me. I don't usually trade by mail, but I've made a few since starting the blog, and expect to continue making them. I've also received some generous gifts, as well as trades that have seemed like generous gifts. The card-blogging community is a great one, I've learned. Y'all are so generous.
Anyway, I'm keeping Don Cardwell around until I can't anymore. And hopefully that doesn't happen for a while. Of course, with fewer cards coming in in 2025, I'll have to improvise a little bit, but it can be done. Once more, thank y'all for the support and generosity over year one, and I'm looking forward to year two!
THE CONTEST
Alright, now for the fun part. I've got a few cards to be given away as a prize to one winner. It's probably not the greatest of giveaways, but all things in time.
Firstly, this contest is open to anybody who wants to comment on this post. It doesn't matter even if this is the first post of mine you've ever read. I'm not discounting you for waiting a year to read my blog :)
Secondly, you have to comment. After all, how else will I be able to tell that you've entered? And also, you have to comment by noon (central time) on Sunday the 26th if you'd like to enter (I will not post again until then).
Thirdly, in your comment I would like to know a favorite sports memory of yours. It could be anything -- from a great hot dog you had at Wrigley Field, to the time when you coughed up your popcorn laughing at the demise of your rival team, to the time you met your wife in the stands of a Brewers game (I haven't the slightest idea if that happened, but what the heck?). This is not obligatory, but I would be interested anyway.
And finally, using the Whimsical Spinny Wheel (as provided by Wheel of Names), the winner will be decided, him being the one whose name is chosen thrice.
And now, I shall show off all the junk-- I mean, prizes, of course, to be dumped (awarded) upon the winner of this contest.
Well, that about wraps up all I intended to cover today. Thanks for everything in year one, and here's to year two! And of course, have a great rest of the week, and....
Congrats on the One Year Anniversary, I've enjoyed following you. Keep up the great work. As far as a nice memory: I caught a Tim Salmon foul ball once and was able to later have him sign it. He's one of my favorite players.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary! My favorite sports memory was attending the final A's game at the Oakland Coliseum with my brother... the same brother who took me to games back in the 70's and 80's.
ReplyDeleteCongrats. You have had a busy year. Those are good readership numbers! Keep going friend. Favorite sports memory - going to the 1990 Memorial Cup tournament and being part of the Eric Lindros madness.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary! It’s truly amazing you’ve already been on here for 1 whole year! I hope your blog continues to flourish in year 2. Best of luck. As for the contest my favorite sports moment occurred in 2020 when the Dallas Cowboys were facing off with the Atlanta Falcons down 37-39 and proceeded to recover an on-side kick now known as the water melon kick because of how it spun and had never been seen before. Then the cowboys proceeded to win that game 40-39 on a walk-off field goal with their odds of winning being less than 0.5% before the “water melon miracle.”
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention all the blogging friends I've made in the process...y'all are the best!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogvesrary!
ReplyDeleteI remember how excited I was as a u year old as my Uncle Bob held my had as we walked up the tunnels of old Tiger Stadium and saw that beautiful green baseball field for the very first time...I miss that grand Ole Lady!
Happy Blogversary!
ReplyDeleteFavorite moment was Joe Carter's World Series ending home run - as a young Hays fan, didn't get better than that!
Congrats on making through your first year! I'm looking forward to reading many more posts in the future! One of my favorite sports memory came about 12 years ago during a game in Baltimore. For context, I am a Red Sox fan while my wife is a Yankees fan. Both of us were dressed in our teams' respective gear, while both of our young daughters were dressed in Orioles clothing. (The key to a successful marriage is compromise after all!) I'll never forget walking through the stadium and seeing all the funny looks people were giving us. One person even exclaimed "How does that even happen?" I don't remember much from the game itself, but I'll never forget that day!
ReplyDeleteFirst congrats on the blogaversary! Second, skip my name for the contest. My fondest baseball memory comes from my childhood and my little league team getting to play on the field at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta before a Braves game. I hit the left field wall on the fly. That was so amazing for a little leaguer, then again the wall was only 265 ft away from home plate, still yet the crowd cheers made me feel like I just hit a home run. That same event also had me nearly get plopped on the noggin for not paying attention in the outfield. Good memories for sure.
ReplyDeleteFinally, I wish many many more years for blogging as the days go by the numbers grow. Remember you have to keep enjoying it (posting), never pressure yourself or it then becomes work. Have fun with it, try this try that whatever it takes just enjoy the process.
Thanks for the tips. You're right -- what's the point of writing the blog if you don't enjoy it? I'll remember that as the time goes by.
DeleteWow, it's been a year already? Happy year down, you're now one of the veterans.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite memories happened 5 years ago. At a banquet I introduced former Tigers catcher Johnny Wockenfuss to former Mets manager and player Bobby Valentine. I collected both guys' cards as a kid. I've had lots of baseball memories but I don't think I can top that.
Happy 1 year as for my memories of sports is being able to recall lots of facts in baseball that most people think of me as a walking talking baseball encyclopedia
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ReplyDeleteMy best sports memory is either when my Little League all-star team won the Jim Sundberg memorial tournament, (my picture is of me holding the trophy) then winning district 7, or when I went 2-2 with a homerun, and 4 RBI, and then got hit in the butt my third time up.
ReplyDeleteHappy one year blogaversary! Great reading. My favorite was going to a Minnesota North Stars hockey game and having access to the player tunnel after the game and getting some autographs. Good times!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That's a lot of posts over the year! Explains why my queue of unread blog posts keeps growing despite my best efforts.
ReplyDeleteThis proud dad has recent favourite memories of one kid scoring his first goal and the other starting as goalie and standing on his head to make a ton of spectacular saves. House league, nothing too serious, lol
Happy blogoversary and congrats! I'm really impressed with how you've stuck with blogging.
ReplyDeleteA favorite sports memory: Hitting a grand slam in little league when the opposing team intentionally walked the batter before to pitch to me.
WOW. I did not expect this many comments. Thanks for the support y'all. It's you who have kept me going and made the hobby such a fun experience.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated anniversary. That was a quick year!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it definitely felt fast for me too. But it was memorable, to say the least
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