Xavier Nady 2001 Donruss Signature Proof #'d 12/25
Christmas Card :
Holiday Music :
(A Christmas carol / holiday song for each card.)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
This is the best-known holiday song that spells it "Xmas" in the official title, so it's an obvious choice for Xavier.
I'm temped to also link a Pete Yorn song, simply because I've always thought he and Xavier looked alike. --Oh hey, looks like Pete Yorn does have a Christmas song! Here it is:
Am I wrong, or are they separated at birth?
Wrapping Paper :
(This is the section where I wrap up the card itself: the design, the photo, etc.)
Sticker auto. Nady's signature looks like it reads something like "Xavie Clacly". My scanner didn't do a great job on the scan. His name is at the bottom, but doesn't show up well here.
Kind of a "bah humbug" card. Boring photo. Same boring photo recycled on the back.. Big pet peeve of mine is when a card uses a version of the front picture on the back. Get a different picture, lazy card company!
Naughty or Nice :
(This is the section where I check my list twice on the subject of the card.)
So yeah, this isn't the prettiest card ever, and the player is far from a household name, but it's on our list at a decent position thanks mainly due to my team allegiances. We've already seen another guy who went on to become a Padre (Jody Gerut).. and before it's over, we'll see another guy who also spent time in San Diego.. But this right here is currently the only Padres Christmas Card I own, so that's good enough to creep up a few places on the countdown.
I remember when Nady was hot property for the Friars, ranked as a Top 100 prospect by Baseball America for 3 straight years in the early 00s. And while he didn't quite flop as hard as someone like, say, Ruben Rivera or Melvin Nieves, he never quite lived up to expectations in 4 partial seasons in San Diego.
He has since bounced around with several other clubs, never really wowing anybody except maybe in 2008 when he hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBI split between the Pirates and Yankees, also playing excellent D in the outfield. This past year was the first season in a decade in which he didn't see any major league action, batting .296 down in AAA split between the Royals and Rockies organizations. He's currently a free agent, so we'll see where (if) he lands next year. As it stands, he's a lifetime .270 hitter with 101 round-trippers.
Yuletide Stat :
(Here's where I dig around for a Christmas-y stat.)
Yep, you read that right: Xavier's career high for homers is 25 in '08 (12 of which were when he was a Yankee). Coincidence? Not a chance. It's Nady's sly nod to Christmas cheer.
Spreading the Christmas Spirit :
(Here's where I photoshop the card to make it even more Christmas-y than it already is.)
When I can't think of anything cool to do with a card, I either add a snow effect or slap a santa hat on the guy. Went with the latter this time.
Singalong :
(Here's where we keep a running tab of the 12 Days of Christmas Cards so far... in song.)
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
Two thousand one Donruss Xavier Nady
Two thousand four Topps Retired Jim Piersall
Two thousand eleven Santonio Holmes Prime Signatures
And a Jody Gerut two thousand four Leaf
Happy Holidays, and see you tomorrow for the next Christmas Card!
Stocking Stuffer :
(A bit of bonus content)
My fiancée coincidentally was also inspired to get into "12 Days of Christmas"-themed fun, and has been gifting me with a fancy beer for the past few days: the Twelve Days of Beermas. I'm a lucky man. Below are the four I've gotten so far, each very nice.
Shouldn't you have 10 beers by now (1+2+3+4)?
ReplyDeleteI suppose that'd be one way to do it, but for the sake of my fiancée's wallet and my liver, this 1-a-day pace is good for me.
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