Here’s a look at important dates in baseball.

March 2: Mandatory reporting date for Spring Training.

March 2-11: Teams may renew contracts of unsigned players.

March 19: Last day to place a player on unconditional release waivers and pay 30 days termination pay instead of 45 days.

April 2: Last day to request unconditional release waivers on a player without having to pay his full 2012 salary.

April 4: Opening Day, St. Louis at Miami. Active rosters reduced to 25 players.

June 4: Amateur draft.

July 10: All-Star game, Kansas City.

July 12-18: Deadline for amateur draft.

July 22: Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies.

July 31: Last day to trade a player without securing waivers.

Sept. 1: Active rosters expand to 40 players.

Until then, see ya at the park.

Here’s a run down of the new baseball cards that are coming out this baseball season courtesy of Sports Collectors Digest.

February 2012

Feb. 22: Playoff Contenders Baseball.

March 2012

Mar. 5: Topps Opening Day Baseball.
Mar. 12: Topps Heritage.
Mar. 15: Prime Cuts Baseball.
Mar. 28: Topps Pro Debut Baseball.

April 2012

Apr. 16: Gypsy Queen.

May 2012

May 7: Bowman Baseball.
May 21: Topps Archive Baseball.

June 2012

June 14: Topps Baseball Series 2.
June 18: Topps Tier One Baseball.

Until then, see ya at the park!

Check out my new baseball card collecting blog The Card Life I will also continue to update this blog with the latest baseball stuff.

Below is my entry introducing my new blog:

About a year ago I got back in the game of collecting baseball cards.

Why? Because it is fun.

I don’t buy the complete sets and put them away in the closet, but build sets, buy odd-ball cards and years that I totally missed out (1987-present). I also will buy 5,000 plus random cards at a clip, sort them out and send TTM’s to players. That makes it much more fun.

My other blog, Dugout Diary over at MLB.com, is successful and this is just an extension to that. I love the game. I love writing about it. I love collecting it. I love watching it.

So enjoy the ride as I will try to make this as successful as Dugout Diary.

Until then, see ya at Spring Training.

I’m a big fan of the Topps 2011 Diamond Giveaway. This card is my favorite of the Yankees celebrating.