Felix Navidad!

First off, a little background history. I work for an elevator company in Seattle. My company installed the elevators and escalators at Safeco Field. At the time, I worked in Sales and one of my accounts just happened to be the one and only Safeco Field. Being a baseball fan, it was fun to have this account. However, it didn't lead to any super great, behind the scenes privileges like I had secretly hoped. You obviously want to watch yourself with a big client like this and trying to get special favors and such can be a huge no no!

One small bonus I got out of managing the account though was that we were on their Christmas list. The Engineering Department would send out a Christmas card each year. After the card displays were taken down from our office lobby, I would grab the Mariners card for my personal collection. Each year, there would be a different baseball related theme, often featuring one or more players. Not quite like a baseball card, it was close enough to gain entrance into my collection.

Sadly, we lost the account to a competitor several years ago and even more sad for me on a personal note, we dropped off their Christmas list. I contacted the Engineering Department a year or two ago, just checking in on them to see how they were doing and asked if by chance, we could be added back on to the list. I know, I was really pushing it asking for such a favor, but I thought...what the heck. Why not try? Maybe it was a one time deal, maybe not, but in 2010 we received a card from the team! Hopefully we will one day earn back the business and service the stadium once more. Until then, I'll have to settle for the Seahawks Practice Facility in Renton.

I don't know how many of these cards go out each year, or how many are saved for that matter. Perhaps there are some better ones that are signed by players and/or staff, maybe unused cards are shipped off to possible resurface years later. Who knows? What I do know is that they certainly make a unique item in a fan's collection though.

Presenting the 2010 Seattle Mariners Christmas card (and hopes that a 2011 card will soon grace my office lobby!)...featuring 2010 AL CY Young winner Felix Hernandez!