Before Opening Day #MOD-I Ichiro - Miami Marlins

As we say good-bye to Ichiro the player, say hello to Ichiro's Before Opening Day card.

Player: Ichiro (Baseball Reference) (Wikipedia)

Card Number: BOD-I (Trading Card Database)

Team: Miami Marlins

Division: National League East

Position: OF

Jersey Number: 51

JUPITER, FL - MARCH 26: Ichiro Suzuki #51 of the Miami Marlins walks to the dugout prior to the spring training game against the St Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium on March 26, 2017 in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals defeated the Marlins 3-0. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Photo Date: March 26, 2017

Photographer: Joel Auerbach
New Team/Photoshopped?: No

League: Grapefruit League

Before Opening Day #BOD-MK Mikie Mahtook

It looks like I'm a few days late on this one as the Tigers have sent Mikie Mahtook down to AAA after some early season struggles.

Player: Mikie Mahtook (Baseball Reference) (Wikipedia)

Card Number: BOD-MK (Trading Card Database)

Team: Detroit Tigers

Division: American League Central

Position: OF

Jersey Number: 8

LAKELAND, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Mikie Mahtook #15 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during Spring Training workouts at the TigerTown complex on February 15, 2017 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Photo Date: February 15, 2017

Photographer: Mark Cunningham (Instagram)
New Team/Photoshopped?: No

League: Grapefruit League

Before Opening Day #BOD-MB Mookie Betts - Boston Red Sox

We're on to the weekend insert portion of the blog! As I mentioned in the Welcome post, I'm going to do some inserts on Fridays and Saturday throughout the year. I didn't really think about some of the card data that I'm collecting changing for some of the insert sets, so I took yesterday to look through them and see if there was a uniform way to track across all inserts.

Actually, each set is different enough that I will end of up collecting data for each set separately. Some things will correlate (team & source photo information for example) while others will not (demographics and opponent information doesn't really apply to Before Opening Day, Mascots or Teams Traditions and Celebrations). With less to track, I'll throw in a little more commentary where I see fit.

Before Opening Day is probably my favorite insert set this year. There are some unique candid photos with players in Spring Training uniforms or workout clothes you don't really see.

Player: Mookie Betts (Baseball Reference) (Wikipedia)

Card Number: BOD-MB (Trading Card Database)

Team: Boston Red Sox

Division: American League East

Position: OF

Jersey Number: 50
RC/Future Stars/Topps Rookie Cup: No

FT. MYERS, FL - MARCH 8: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox plays ping pong in the clubhouse before a team workout on March 8, 2017 at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida . (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Photo Date: March 8, 2017

Photographer: Billie Weiss (Twitter) (Instagram) (Personal Website)
New Team/Photoshopped?: Sweatshirt logo is photshopped out.

League: Grapefruit League

The backs are nice and clean. The Grapefruit League teams in Florida have trees on the back (and front) with blue at the top, while the Cactus League teams in Arizona get a cactus and are red. Nice little touch of detail there.

Tomorrow's post will feature my first statistical post. Once that one is up, I'll randomize off the base set(s) among whoever has followed the blog to that point. I am giving away one full base set for every five followers. We are already at two but let's do some more! Also, remember to go back to the Welcome post and claim a team for a Master team set giveaway if you haven't.