About

The Name: Corner of Ashburn and Yawkey

The name of this blog "Corner of Ashburn and Yawkey" references Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park and Yawkey Way, the former name of the street outside Fenway Park that is a game day gathering spot for Red Sox fans.  I came up with this name because I lived in Philadelphia until I was 38 and now I live in New England.

The purpose of this blog is to track and share my baseball and hockey collection as it grows.  I spent most of my childhood collecting baseball cards and memorabilia.  Now that I'm reestablishing myself in my new home somewhere in the southern regions of Red Sox Nation, I've gone back to my first hobby and passion.

Things you'll see on this site:
Through the Mail (TTM) autograph successes
Fan Pack returns
Custom card designs
Baseball and hockey card pack & box openings and collecting
Stadium & arena reviews
Card set reviews
Game Day Reports

Current Header:  2021 Newark vs Camden
Photo is from a Newark Bears vs Camden Riversharks game in Camden.
Patches: Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn, Roy Halladay, Tyler Skaggs, McCoy Stadium 50th, MLB 150th Anniversary, Black Lives Matter
Retired Numbers: 22 - Willie O'Ree

Previous Headers:

 

Baseball 2nd Half 2019
Photo is from a Newport Gulls vs New Bedford Bay Sox game.
Memorial patches (left to right): Tyler Skaggs, Harry Kalas, Roy Halladay, Richie Ashburn

The Author

Paul with his fiancee Amanda & their dog Ollie

My name is Paul Miles, I am a life long sports fan from the City of Champions, Philadelphia, PA.  I grew up as a Phillies, Flyers & Sixers fan, but baseball was always my first love.  In my late 20's I had an opportunity to pick up some part time jobs in sports, starting with day to day operations and marketing in semi-pro football and junior hockey and eventually making my way to the point of being an MMA matchmaker (and 1-time title sanctioning body).  I settled in to a part time career as an announcer and play by play man and have the honor of being one of the few people to do play by play for MMA at the original ECW Arena in South Philadelphia.  

I moved to New England in 2017 and found myself announcing car races and soccer (two disparate fan groups and announcing skill sets) and did that for two full seasons.

After moving to New England I reconnected with a lifelong friend, baseball cards.  I started backwards, by designing cards as a way to waste time while watching TV, and then finally started collecting real baseball cards shortly after that.  More recently, I started printing out my card designs and sending them people to get autographed.

My friends call me ESPN the Ocho, because I am the guy that will go to a middle school field in Providence to watch Gaelic Hurling, and I am a passionate fan of minor league baseball and hockey. 

 

In February 2020, two weeks before COVID-19 shut the whole cotdamn world down, I asked Amanda to marry me while we were in the Long Room at Trinity College Library.  She said "are you shitting me?".  

 Favorite Teams

Baseball

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox
AAA: Pawtucket Red Sox (RIP)
AA: Trenton Thunder
A: Wilmington Blue Rocks
A-: Connecticut Tigers (RIP)
IND: New Britain Bees, New Jersey Jackals, St. Paul Saints
COL: Wareham Gatemen, New Bedford Bay Sox (RIP), Worcester Bravehearts

Hockey
NHL: Philadelphia Flyers
AHL: Providence Bruins
ECHL: Worcester Railers HC
NWHL: Boston Pride
CHL: Ottawa 67s
COL: Providence Friars

Football
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles
CFL: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
AFL: Philadelphia Soul
NAL: Massachusetts Pirates

Defunct
AAF: Birmingham Steel, Orlando Apollos
FXFL: Boston Brawlers
NFL Europa: Scottish Claymores, Amsterdam Admirals
USFL: Philadelphia Stars, Boston Breakers
WFL: Philadelphia Bell

Rugby
International: Ireland RFU, South Africa Springboks
Pro14: Leinster RFC
MLR: New England Free Jacks

Other
Soccer: New England Revolution, Rhode Island Reds FC, Celtic FC, Shamrock Rovers FC