Foo Baseball Cards Celebrate America’s Pastime (NAPSA)—Whether you’re a fan of Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken Jr. or Ken Griffey Jr., chances are you remember open- ing your first pack of baseball cards. Collecting and trading baseball cards has been part of our nation’s pastime for over a century. While the thrill of opening a pack of cards has stayed the same, many fans will tell you that modern capabilities make baseball cards the coolest pieces of “art” money can buy. Now, baseball fans, young and old, can pay homage to baseball cards when Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) present National Baseball Card Day. With the support of card companies Topps and Upper Deck, card collectors can celebrate the thrill of baseball card collecting as of March 29, 2008, when they can receive free packs of 2008 trading cards at participating hobby shops and Toys “R” Us stores. National Baseball Card Day promises to bring together generations of fans as they build new memories, interact with collectors in their area and find fun and unique ways to connect with their favorite players. In an effort to help kids and other fans make the most out of their collections, MLB, MLBPA, Topps and Upper Deck offer tips to get started: Collect your favorite players! e Start a team collection with the players on your favorite teams. Set aside the starters and place them in the batting order while you watch the game. Trade with your friends to swap doubles and find cards that fit with your uniquecollection. ey t a JETER SHORTSTOP YANKEES Baseball cards are a beloved part of the national pastime. Collect cards by type of photograph, such as a “perfect swing,” or those that share yourfirst or last name. Show them off! People excited about the season’s new card series from Topps and Upper Deck can get things started on National Baseball Card Day. Select retailers, from Toys “R” Us to your local hobby shop, will give away exclusive National Base- ball Card Day packs featuring some of today’s brightest superstars. So who knows, when you open your free pack of cards you might just find Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Ken Griffey Jr., David Wright or Albert Pujols, as well as a mix of other current standouts andrisingstars. To find out more information about National Baseball Card Day, visit www.mlb.com. To find participating stores in the area, visit www.topps.com or www. upperdeck.com.
