Baseball Stuff I Got For Christmas

All throughout the year my wife insists that it's going to be a small Christmas. "Let's keep it simple, the kids don't need anything, we don't really need anything. We have debt to pay off."

I always heed her wisdom.

Then a couple weeks before Christmas she goes into flat-out gang-buster spend mode.

And I laugh and love her for it.

Aside from all the "necessities" like clothes and socks, and a couple other items like tools and such, here's the baseball stuff she got for me, most of which were stocking stuffers:

Once They Were Angels - Robert Goldman 2006
One of several books I've wanted for a long time. An Angels history book with interviews with some of the most well-known Angels.
Dig that old-time Nolan Ryan picture.

Odd Man Out - Matt McCarthy 2009
Angels minor leaguer tell-all, supposedly. I'll take this one with a grain of salt. I know that many of the "facts" in this book have been challenged and many disproved or shown to be exagerated. But it's a must for the Angels library.

Always An Angel - Tim Salmon 2010
How can an Angels collector not have a book by Tim Salmon. Now I do. This book has had a reserved space next to my Nolan Ryan books for the last year.
My two most favotorite Angels.

My wife also gave me an Amazon gift card in my stocking. There are several other books I've had on my want list for a while. Time to see if I can get some crossed off.

Next up- baseball cards. 

Two packs of 2011 Bowman Platinum and 2 packs of Bowman Chrome.
Nice cards but not a single Angel.

Blaster of 2011 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects.  Nice cards but not a single Angel in the box.  Hmmm.

She did well though.  I was Toppsed-out so I put "No Topps, Bowman OK" on my Christmas list.

Be looking for a trade bait post coming soon.

Two books of stamps for my TTM autograph requests.

Mike Napoli Rangers jersey t-shirt.  Yes I actually asked for this.  I go to a lot of Ranger games, and only wear my Angels gear when the Angels are in town.  So I combined the 2 - Nap will always be an Angel in my heart.

Baseball Activity Book - goes immediately to my toilet reading rack.

Here's a puzzle for you all before this little book gets Red Flagged!