Celebrating the top posts over the years with this 1,000th post

Ever since the post counter showed 999 Total Posts I have been struggling to come up with something worthy of Post Number 1,000. Consequently, I haven't posted anything in a long time due to Post Number 1,000 staring me in the face and demanding a worthy tribute. I decided to run a list of the Top Ten Posts here at the All Things Michigan blog. This humble little blog started back on November 10, 2005 with a post about The Leetsville Shoe Tree. I started this blog as an attempt to help do what I could to promote the state of Michigan.

Mind you, this was before the bottom fell out of the Michigan (and subsequently national) economy. This was back before it was trendy to outwardly support Michigan and before a slew of pro-Michigan websites (which I think are great!) sprang up. You could say that I was promoting Michigan when promoting Michigan wasn't cool (to borrow a phrase from a country song).

Without further ado, here are the Top Ten Posts at All Things Michigan:

1. John Rich performs Shutting Detroit Down
2. Time lapse video of 2009 Chicago to Mackinac sailboat race
3. Is the Michigan State Fair the nation’s oldest?
4. The music behind the Pure Michigan ads
5. The German POW camps of Michigan during WWII
6. Top Ten Things to do in Michigan in the Fall
7. I give a standing ovation to Mitch Albom’s Sports Illustrated article
8. Stop in at Tony’s I-75 Restaurant
9. 1st Annual Mackinac Bridge Antique Tractor Crossing
10. Bear Cave in Buchanan

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Ty Cobb's 1911 baseball card

With the first spring training games starting this week I have had baseball fever in addition to my severe case of spring fever. I found this great 1911 Ty Cobb baseball card at the Library of Congress website. On the back of the card Ty Cobb is listed at Number 9 in the list of "Prominent Base Ball Players and Athletes." Fellow teammate "Wahoo Sam" Crawford was a few spots above Cobb at Number 5. You could trade in 10 coupons of Turkey Red Cigarettes or 25 coupons from Old Mill or Fez cigarettes to get any one of the 76 listed players cards. Unfortunately this offer expired on June 30, 1911 so if you have any Turkey Red, Old Mill or Fez cigarette coupons lying around you're out of luck ;).

The Voice of the Turtle - Ernie Harwell

When Ernie Harwell was still announcing games for the Detroit Tigers, the first radio broadcast of spring training would be cause for him to recite Song of Solomon 2:11-12 - The Voice of the Turtle. As a tribute to Ernie Harwell and the first radio broadcast of spring training today at 1pm I give you, The Voice of the Turtle.

For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

This wouldn't be complete without hearing the great Mr. Harwell recite it so give a quick listen to him -

I have found another reason to like Red Wings goalie, Chris Osgood

To raise money for the Detroit Red Wings foundation, goalie Chris Osgood, auctioned off the chance to skate with him on his homemade rink at his Plymouth home. David Dagenais placed the winning bid and gave it to his son, Drew, as a once in a lifetime Christmas present. Here's a quote from Chris Osgood when asked what he thought the kids would take away from the day at his rink -

“Maybe that I’m normal? Which I am,” Osgood joked. “Just fun. That’s what it was here. They wanted me to give them instruction and stuff, and I said, ‘You know what, we’re just going to play.’

Read the article on the fun day that Drew Dagenais and his friends had at Chris Osgood's backyard rink.

Other than the fact that he is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, here is one of the top reasons I like Chris Osgood:

Go to a Pistons game and help the Food Bank Council of Michigan

This Tuesday, March 2nd, the Detroit Pistons versus Boston Celtics represents the 3rd Annual Pistons Care Telethon benefiting the Food Bank Council of Michigan. Faithful readers of our blog and customers of Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC know that the Food Bank Council of Michigan's efforts are near and dear to our hearts. We donate 1% of each and every sale to the Food Bank Council. There are four ways you can support the Detroit Pistons in their efforts to raise funds for the Food Bank Council of Michigan -

1. Buy a 200-level ticket for $20 will provide 50 meals for Michigan families
2. Buy a 100-level ticket for $50 and provide 125 meals for Michigan families
3. Donate directly at www.fbcmich.org/pistonscare
4. Mail your donation with check payable to Food Bank Council of Michigan to: The Palace of Auburn Hills Attn: Accounting - 6 Championship Drive, Auburn HIlls, MI 48326

Lets see how much money can be raised to help feed Michigan families.