The 1921 Exhibit cards were large photographic postcards dispensed from penny arcade vending machines made by Chicago’s Exhibit Supply Company. Featuring 64 players - including 20 Hall of Famers - the set represents one of the earliest standalone baseball card issues in the lull between the tobacco and gum eras and marks the beginning of the long-running Exhibit card line that remained part of the hobby for decades.

I picked up the Ruth a few years ago because I didn’t have any cards of the Babe at the time, and Exhibit cards seemed undervalued. Once I got that one though, I started looking into the rest of the set. It really is a striking issue, and some of the photos are absolutely gorgeous - to me they’re closer to photographic art than typical baseball cards.

I’m fortunate to already have most of the pricier cards, so now I’m thinking I might try to track down all of the Hall of Famers.

I can already hear my wife’s eye-roll: "Great… another set you want to complete."

Go USA, but also good luck to all 14 Royals playing in the WBC that kicks off later tonight!

I became a boxing fan as a teenager in the early ’80s during the Four Kings era and the rivalries between Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto “Hands of Stone” Durán, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler - champions whose legacies were forged largely by fighting each other.

Between 1980 and 1989 they delivered a run of high-stakes classics: Leonard-Durán I & II, Hagler-Hearns, Leonard-Hearns I & II, and Leonard-Hagler. Each matchup showcased contrasting styles - Durán’s ferocity, Leonard’s speed and charisma, Hearns’ power and reach, and Hagler’s relentless pressure and iron will.

What made the Four Kings special wasn’t just their talent, but their willingness to repeatedly face each other as well as other elite competition, while in their primes, with everything on the line. The result was a golden era defined by technical brilliance, genuine rivalries, and unforgettable drama - widely regarded as one of boxing’s greatest competitive cycles.

Since that era, boxing seems to have gradually diminished other than the occasional fight that captures mainstream interest. News this week that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are "retiring from retirement" to fight each other left me more bummed than excited. Maybe out of nostalgia they’ll rekindle some spark - and they’ll certainly make plenty of money - but for me, nothing beats rewatching those Four Kings bouts, when the fights felt like they truly mattered.

First and foremost: U! S! A!

With that out of the way...

Obviously Connor McDavid is one of the best hockey players in the world - if not the best. It's unfortunate that he'll have to wear the reputation of not being able to win "the big one" until he finally does, but that's the nature of sports.

Anyway, as a serious question(s): Where do you think he has his Conn Smythe award - do you think it's somewhere prominent, or is it hidden away because it's a painful reminder of not winning the Stanley Cup? Do you think he'll put his MVP of the Olympics award beside it?

I hope he eventually wins the Stanley Cup, but even if he doesn't I hope that as time passes he sees what an amazing accomplishment it is to win the awards that he has.

Happy 76th to one of my childhood heroes and recent best friend, Dr. J!