Alex Ochoa, 1994 Bowman #367

When Foil Goes Wrong: Check out the gruesome severed ear resting on Alex Ochoa's right shoulder. Bowman, my boy, you done goofed.

Chris Hoiles, 1994 Bowman #131

With Christmas just three weeks away, it's easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle. Buying gifts, cleaning and decorating the house, attending parties, making travel plans...you might feel like the holiday season ambushed you. But I think we should all take a moment to stop, breathe deeply, and pay attention to the smaller details in life. For instance, take this Chris Hoiles card. The two things that jump out at me are as follows:

1) Chris has his last name printed in black marker on the strap of his batting glove. You see this a lot on cards - player names, nicknames, or initials scrawled on a piece of equipment. It makes sense; with 25 guys in the clubhouse, and six months of in-season travel, you don't want to get caps and gloves mixed up. There's still something endearing about the haphazard and informal personalization, though.

2) Not only does Hoiles have the Orioles' 1993 All-Star Game host patch on the left sleeve of his jersey, but All-Star is the brand of his chest protector. That's a nice bit of synchronicity.

Scott Klingenbeck, 1994 Bowman #86

Tonight's question: Just what in the sam hell is Scott Klingenbeck looking at? Because it sure isn't the camera.

Manny Alexander, 1994 Bowman #215

Manny's coming!

No, no THAT Manny. Sorry, that was mean, but I've already used the only Manny Machado card in my collection. It's shameful that I've been caught short-handed on the day the O's top position prospect and 2010 first-round draft pick makes his big league debut, but this really was an ambush. The kid just turned 20 a month ago and I'm too burned out on the current-day Bowman and Topp$ cards to have amassed a stockpile of Mannybilia. So if you haven't gouged your eyes out due to the Manny Alexander ambush, remember this: after he left rookie-level Bluefield, the putative heir apparent to Cal Ripken, Jr. never had an OPS above .651 in the O's farm system. As one of the youngest players in AA, Machado just put up a .789 OPS with Bowie. I still feel like he's being rushed to the big leagues, but he doesn't have to be great right away. He just has to slide over to third base and be better than Wilson Betemit and Robert Andino. That's not a very tall order, you know. So bring on the Manny Machado Era, in a matter of speaking.