On Nolan Reimold's Retirement

My post the other day about the recent Nolan Reimold pickups that came in was written the night before while I was hanging out at my parents' farm.  I had the post scheduled to post the next day for two reasons, one was because the internet connection out there sucked and the other was because I knew I would be spending most of the day driving home.  While I was driving home, my friend, Ryan, texted me and told me that Nolan had announced his retirement.

I had an idea it was coming, especially since Nolan wasn't picked up by any MLB organization this past offseason.  He was playing with the Long Island Ducks in the Independent League, and finally decided to call it a career.  His wife, Jenny, posted a really nice Facebook post saying that he's not completely done, but it taking some time off to be with his family for the summer and then weigh his options.

I'll always be a huge Nolan Reimold fan.  Every time I met him, he was super nice to me.  I hope that I am able to keep in touch with him in the future.  My ultimate hope, if his playing days are truly over, is that he remains in the O's system coaching one of the minor league teams.  I'm not sure if he wants to get into coaching, but I think he would be really good at it.

He got a lot of crap from some of the so-called Orioles fans.  Those folks seem to forget how Nolan gave it his all on the field, and even broke his neck diving for a foul ball for the team.  He was a fun player to watch, and I will definitely miss seeing him play.

At one point, Nolan read this blog.  If he still does, I would hope he sees this and knows that there are true Oriole fans out there who will always look back on his career fondly and will remember his contributions to the team.

Enjoy your time with your family, Nolan, you have earned it.  I hope I can see you again, someday!

TTM Success - Nolan Reimold

I couldn't leave my guy, Nolan, out of my TTM obsession.  I really had to send him something to sign and add it to the album and roster of TTM successes, even though I have been sent signed cards from him before,  When this Topps Now card of Nolan came out for July 24, I made sure to let his wife, Jenny, know that they were available.  Unfortunately, she was busy that day and forgot to pick a few up.  No problem, though, because I bought the package of five.  I told her that I had ordered them and intended to send her one, and she said that if I sent an additional one, she would have Nolan sign it for me.

So, I sent the two cards out at the beginning of August, only to find out that they were lost by USPS.  I didn't realize they were lost until January, so I went on Ebay and bought two more and sent those out.  Thankfully, the second package got to the Reimold house safely, and Nolan sent me this one back signed in silver Sharpie.  Now, this card can be placed among all of my other TTM and IP autos.

Nolan isn't signed for this season, yet, but I believe he will be soon.  He has a huge family, so he has a lot of commitments going on right now, anyway, but I'm sure he feels great and wants to continue his career.  It is unfortunate that his Orioles career is likely over for now, but you never know, he could be back at some point.  He is very popular in the Orioles organization, so maybe some day he will be a coach for them, if that is a path he wants to take.  My hope is that is a long way away and that he gets a deal to play in the majors for 2017.

Normally, for my TTM successes, I post a player's career stats, and for Nolan I will, but I fully expect the stats to be incomplete, as I believe he has several more years left in the tank.  Go get em, Nolan!!

Reimold (b. 1983) has played in the majors since 2009 for the Orioles, Blue Jays and Diamondbacks.  He has 339 hits, 56 home runs and a .246 batting average.  His career was derailed when he broke a bone in his neck while diving into the stands to catch a ball in 2012.  I've met Nolan on several occasions and he has always been awesome to me.  Although, I probably creeped him out pretty badly by inviting him to dinner with my friend, Ryan and I when the Bowie Baysox were in Richmond playing the Flying Squirrels.  I couldn't help it, I was pretty star struck and figured it would be a nice gesture.  Ryan told me later that it probably came off as a bit creepy, and I have felt embarrassed ever since.  We laugh about it now, though.  I meant what I said, I would buy him dinner sometime.

I met Nolan's wife, Jenny, through this blog because of a Bowie Baysox bobble head that I had picked up.  I traded it to Jenny for a pair of batting gloves that Nolan had been wearing during the final game of the 2011 season, when the Curse of Andino struck the Red Sox.  Ever since, I have corresponded with Jenny.  She has hooked my son and I up with some amazing stuff, and I am forever grateful for her generosity.  I hope Jenny knows how much I appreciate everything, even though I tell her thank you every chance that I get.

I sent the second package to Jenny on January 25 and got the card back on February 2, for an 8-day TAT.

Thanks again, Nolan and Jenny!

Nolan Gets a Topps Now Card

I had hoped that when the Topps Now concept was coming about, I would end up with a few from this season that showed my favorite players and some awesome moments for the Orioles.  Well, I got my wish when Nolan Reimold cranked a walkoff home run on July 24.  The O's were able to defeat the Indians, and Nolan was able to be the hero.

I ordered the 5-card deal when they were announced the next day, and promptly messaged Nolan's wife, Jenny, about them.  She had no idea that Topps was doing this, so I was glad to let her in on it.  Unfortunately, she was busy the day they were available and forgot about them.  Not to worry, though, I ordered the 5-pack for a reason.  I made sure to send her one, when they finally arrived (after I got home from the National).

Nolan has had a rough go as of late, but I'm thinking he will be able to turn it up for the stretch run.  He is still a very good player and one that I definitely would love to see in a big at bat during the playoffs.  He deserves it, after all that he has been through the last several years.

I (obviously) still keep in touch with Jenny.  She is always helping me out and is always adding to my Nolan PC.  She also still reads this blog, when she finds the time.  I will always appreciate the help she has given me, and I was more than happy to pick up one of the Topps Now cards for her.

A Surprise From Nolan and Jenny

I got a message the other day from Jenny Reimold.  I had sent her and her family some extra Nolan cards that I had, figuring she, or someone in the family would want some of them.  When I saw that she had messaged me, I figured it was about the cards.  I was surprised that it was actually her asking me some questions about my collection, and also what my son's name was.  She messaged me a little later and told me that she had sent Chris and I a little something.

Well, a package arrived today that contained the above pair of batting gloves, as well as a couple personalized, signed post cards.  The gloves are amazing.  I love the orange.  They are signed by Nolan as well.  Chris and I really love them.

The personalized post cards are awesome, too.  Chris loves getting mail, but gets upset sometimes that most of the packages that come are for me, since I purchase a lot of cards online, or I complete a bunch of trades.  Chris gets letters here and there, mostly from his grandparents, but he doesn't really trade all that much, and he has never been on Ebay.

He was really excited to get something signed to him in the mail today.  I think the world of Nolan and Jenny.  They both are such awesome people.  They're really down-to-earth, and relate-able.  I think Jenny and my mom would really get along, especially if the two of them started swapping "kid stories."

Thanks so much, Nolan and Jenny for the gloves and post cards.  Chris and I love them, and can't express our thanks enough.  I hope you guys have a great offseason, and Nolan can come back to the O's next year.

A Surprise Gift From Nolan and Jenny

I got a package in the mail today from Jenny Reimold, She had told me it was coming, but I was still surprised.  Jenny told me that because I have been so supportive of Nolan over the course of our friendship, she wanted to get me a little something as a thank you.  She had ordered 22 of these shirts for friends and family of her and Nolan's and singled out 3 fans that she had been interacting with that she wanted to give shirts to as well.  I made the cut!

Nolan has recently begun a rehab assignment at AA Bowie after missing most of the last two seasons recovering from 2 spinal fusion surgeries.  Nolan is sorely missed by many an Orioles fan and most of all, me.

While I appreciate Jenny sending me this shirt as a 'thank you', no thanks were necessary.  I consider myself very lucky that she and Nolan call me a friend.  They are awesome people and I sincerely appreciate being able to talk with them.  I know Nolan checks out my blog from time to time (Jenny checks it out all the time) and I have even gotten comments from Nolan's family members.

Thank you so much for the shirt, Jenny, I think it is awesome and I can't wait to put it on and celebrate the night Nolan comes back to the Orioles!

A Gift From Nolan and Jenny

I got a package in the mail from Nolan and Jenny Reimold yesterday that I was expecting, but I wasn't quite sure what would be inside.  Jenny mentioned to me the Nolan had some extra equipment that he was going to get rid of and she asked me if there was anything I would be interested in.

Naturally, I said yes, since Nolan is one of my favorite players.  Inside the box was a pair of game used cleats, which Nolan had signed, and also a signed batting glove.

The cleats are really awesome.  I've actually never seen any with the metal spikes, since the two years I played in little league, I only had the plastic cleats.  These were really awesome and I would really feel bad if I stepped on someone's hand or slid into someone's leg wearing these.  Ouch!

The cleats had a little bit of dirt and grass on them, so you can definitely tell that they have been used.  I took a look at Nolan's 2013 Topps card, since you can see his feet in the card, but these cleats did not match those in the photo.  That would have been cool, but since that picture was taken in 2012, I figure that was an old pair of cleats and I should be looking at his 2014 Topps card to see if I can see them there.  As you can see from the top photo, Nolan signed the cleats in silver sharpie.

Also included in the box was this batting glove, which Nolan had also signed.  I love the glove, so it definitely will get displayed with the 2011 gloves that Jenny and Nolan sent me in exchange for the Bowie bobblehead that I 'traded' to them that Thanksgiving.

I talked to Nolan at Fan Fest this year and thanked him for the gloves and now I will have to meet him at this year's Fan Fest and thank him again.  I've already messaged Jenny thanking her for her generosity, but it can't be said enough.  Thanks Nolan and Jenny!  I know they read my blog, and so does Nolan's brother.  I've built a pretty respectable Nolan collection, if I do say so myself.  I'll have to put a page together on here next to my Virgil Trucks collection page so everything can be seen in one place.  That will definitely be a good rainy day project.

Anyway, thanks for the awesome stuff guys, thanks for reading and here's to a healthy and MVP-caliber 2014 season!