Extra Innings by Joe Boesch

Being traded is like celebrating your 100th birthday. It might not be the happiest occasion in the world, but consider the alternative?   — Joe Garagiola — Joe Boesch

One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.   — Nolan Ryan — Joe Boesch

"Baseball is, was, and always will be the best game in the world to me."    — Babe Ruth — Joe Boesch

I got back in the game of collecting baseball cards.  Why? Because it is fun. I don't buy the complete sets and put them away in the closet, but build sets, buy odd-ball cards and years that I totally missed out (1987-present). I also will buy 5,000 plus random cards at a clip, sort them out and send TTM's to players. That makes it much more fun. They say collecting is for kids, so I guess I'm a big kid at heart. I love the game. I love writing about it. I love collecting it. I love watching it. Topps, which was bought by Fanatics, offers a wide range of cards including the Topps Now collection, which is my favorite.  So enjoy the ride of the MLB season and live it through baseball cards. Until then, see ya at the park! — Joe Boesch

If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game.  — Rickey Henderson — Joe Boesch

Baseball or Politics? That's the question I've been asked many times. As a young struggling sportswriter, I had the opportunity to cover some of the 1992 Presidential Election and the race to The White House. As a young reporter, and a young struggling writer, interviewing former Second Lady Marilyn Quayle was the chance of a lifetime. I, must say, it was quite amazing as her appearance, and my mug shot, appeared on almost every local and national television network. There's one thing that sticks out in my mind: "Never ask someone close to the President about his/her feelings and what he does?" I was an inexperienced writer and asked the former Second Lady something about President George H.W. Bush (the father) and her response was: "I don't speak for the President." So, all the talk about the Balanced Budget Amendment and slinging of mud, ended my political writing career. I decided to continue my focus on sports, especially baseball. But, I was mor...