3 Things I Wished They Did With Field Covers

Field covers have come of age in many ways, but there are still several things that I wish I could have changed about them. A few of my grudge are not general, but there are certainly a few that I believe are quite the standard in all products, no matter which manufacturer designs or produces them. I happen to be a sports fan and you would find me every weekend at the local grounds watching local teams compete or at my kid's softball coaching center All this sporting action that I witness has got a few pluses and a few minuses about it. First the plus - I get to enjoy a lot of sports. The bad things is that I notice a lot of things I wished I could have changed, and field covers happen to be one of them, pardon my nitpicking, but I really wish cover manufacturers (at least some of them if not all) took a lesson in product design and marketing!

Clearing Up the Confusion

The first change that I would love to see in the entire tarps and canvas industry is on the outlook. Every manufacturer and brand should come together and start an educational initiative that dispels the misconception among the people about materials used in manufacturing. Some factions of cover manufacturers and overzealous environmentalists have been pointing fingers at field covers and similar products, accusing them of harming the environment. Unless a thorough reply is not given, consumers will not be assured of the harmlessness of these products. Since there is nothing wrong going on, there is no reason for manufacturers to issue press releases or at least write posts on their company blog about their corporate responsibilities.

More Graphics, Better Colors

Agreed that field covers remain leveled with the ground and grounds men stomp on it all day, but that does not mean they cannot be attractive! I hate seeing covers in dreary shades of grey and beige. But thankfully, not all canvas manufacturers think alike. I saw some pretty impressive field covers the other day and kids softball meet. When I asked the coach, he named a local field cover maker, which was a good news given all the substandard products most were making. I also happen to subscribe to the notion that attractive things sell better and make give off a positive effect on all people around it, even if it be as invisible and flat as ground covers.

Self Cleaning Features

People have odd fantasies, I dream about owing a personal jet someday, while the head of facilities at my kid's school dreams of self cleaning field covers! Something that would clean itself up once its job is done, which leaves the grounds men with the only chore of spreading the cover out and then rolling it back. I told him, that science might someday grant his wishes, but for now he is stuck with inanimate field covers.

Things that attract me in field covers are- strength, graphics and colours. Can anyone provide athletic field covers, softball field covers and baseball field covers with all these features?

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10 Most Valuable Baseball Cards

Some of the most valuable and expensive baseball cards are also the rarest. Baseball cards value depends on such factors as their condition, rarity, demand, and when they were produced-those produced in pre 1970s are much more valuable than the ones from 1990s.

The vintage baseball rookie cards are some of the best sports cards, but finding these in near-perfect condition is extremely difficult.

Here's a list of top 10 baseball cards of all times:

(Note: For the sake of simplicity, each player has been represented by his most valuable card.)

1. Honus Wagner, 1909­-1911, T206

Value: $250,000-$400,000

Only a few hundred Wagner cards were produced, and presently just about 10 of them are in a decent condition. Reason for the low production is Wagner's possible aversion to cigarette smoking. He demanded that production of his cards be stopped. Forbes says that the last recorded auction price for a Wagner was $1.1 million in 2000.

2. Ty Cobb, 1911-1914,E145-1

Value: $3,600-$6,000

This card has been an elusive find to even the savviest collectors. It is for this reason that collectors are willing to pay a heavy price for this.

3. Joe Jackson, 1910­-1914,E145-1

Value: $5,000-$9,000

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson has been in the top 10 list for almost a decade. He is most famous for his role in the 1919 Chicago Black Sox scandal when his team tried to lose the World Series to the Cincinnati Red Legs for money.

4. Nap Lajoie,1933, Goudey Gum #106

Value: $20,000-$30,000

Originally, this card was not a part of the 1933 Goudey set, and only collectors who requested this card in writing got this card. Lajoie holds the American League record for batting average in a single season (.426 in 1901).

5. Babe Ruth

Value: $3,500-$5,000

Ruth is one of the most successful and popular baseball players of his time. Only a few examples of his card exist today.

6. Joe DiMaggio, 1938, Goudey Heads Up R323 #274

Value: $2,000-$3,500

The only player to have achieved 56 game hitting streaks, his record stands unbroken.

7. Leroy "Satchel" Paige, 1949, Leaf #8

Value: $3,500-$6,000

Only a single card was printed after Paige spent 22 years with the Negro Leagues.

8. Willie Mays, 1951, Bowman #305

Value: $2,000-$3,000

Mays' was an all time famous rookie card. He became the greatest all-around baseball player of all times.

9. Mickey Mantle, 1952, Topps #311

Value: $12,000-$18,000

This card brought collecting to fame in the 1980s.

10. Ted Williams, 1954 Bowman #66A

Value: $2,000-$3,500

Ted Williams originally signed only with Topps, so when a Williams Bowman card was produced, either Topps or Williams or both disengaged from production, making this card scarce.

Steven Davis is a web enthusiast and writes related to American sports. To know more about baseball cards values please visit beckett

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3 Tips on How to Safely Buy Baseball Tickets Online

The joy of watching America's favorite pastime can quickly be lost when you find that the baseball tickets to your favorite team have been sold out before you've even had the chance to get to the ticket counter. If you were really looking forward to seeing the game, then losing out because of time can be very frustrating. You may be wondering if purchasing tickets online would be a better way to do it. After all, if you purchase online, you can reserve your seat at any time and know that you have a seat for that game. Still, there are risks from buying tickets online that everyone should keep in mind. Here are some tips that can help you to reduce that risk:

Choose Legitimate Sites

There are many scams out there that will sell you bogus tickets from fake websites, so you want to verify that the site is legitimate first. Buy your tickets from the official agents for your team or a verified promoter to make sure that you are getting legitimate tickets. Buying from private parties or auction sites can be risky, and you may find that your tickets may never come.

Pay by Credit Card

Paying by credit card allows you to cancel the purchase if you don't receive your tickets within a certain time frame. Most credit card companies come with fraud protection so that you can cancel any purchases that are deemed illegitimate and have the charges reversed. Paying by cash can often lead to problems in trying to recoup your money lost. If you can find the seller at all, the chances of getting a refund are slim to none.

Make Sure Your Antivirus Software is Up to Date

In many cases, fraud can come from a third party that has been able to get access to your private information. Computer hacking is a huge problem these days and everyone should always make sure that their antivirus software is current and up to date. Hackers are changing their strategies on a regular basis, so having the most current antivirus software will be essential, as older software may not be able to keep up with the new strategies of the hackers.

If you're seriously looking to buy your baseball tickets online, just make sure that you take the needed care when you make your purchase; the joy that comes from America's favorite pastime can easily be lost if you find yourself a victim of fraud.

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