Collectible Reviews

The first thing that strikes you about this figure of Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies is that he is playing first base. After all, we are talking about one of the slugging stars of the National League, who averages 36 home runs, 122 RBIs, and a .337 batting average over a 162-game season. But then because he plays half his games in Colorado's mile high stadium Helton gets less respect than if he was putting together these stats at sea level. In 2000 Helton lead the league with a .372 batting average, 216 hits, 59 doubles, 103 extra base hits, 405 total bases, and 147 RBIs, and only managed to finish 5th in the M.V.P. voting. At least Helton's salary is now in the 8 figure level.

This 6" MLB Series 9 Figure from McFarlane Toys shows Helton with his "Blue" Colorado Rockies home jersey with white pinstripe pants (the "blue" sure looks purple to me), getting read to receive a low throw at first place (it had better be a throw coming in low, because otherwise he is giving a lousy target, which is why the "educational value" of this figure has to be reduced). There is some limited articulation to the figure with the head and arms. With the McFarlane figures there is always some nice little detail and on this one it would have to be the batting glove stuffed into Helton's back pocket.

This figure is also available with the "Blue" Colorado Rockies jersey and gray pinstripe pants. The other figures in the MLB Series 9 are pitcher Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees, pitcher Dontrelle Willis of the World Champion Florida Marlins, shortstop Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox, right fielder Magglio Ordonez of the Chicago White Sox, and perennial Gold Glove winning Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves. For Rockies fans there is the Larry Walker figure from MLB Series 4 to track down, in which the "blue" jersey is described as being purple.

As I write this right-handed pitcher Curt Shilling is half of the potent one-two punch for the Arizona Diamondbacks, along with Randy Johnson. However, by the time you read this he will probably be a member of the Boston Red Sox, so if you want to preserve your memories of the 2001 World Champions with a nice set of ace bookend figures, you will want to track this particular McFarlane Major League Baseball Series version of Shilling. That is because McFarlane not only likes to do home and away uniform versions of their baseball figures but also like to update their uniforms (does anybody have a Red Sox version of Roger Clemens? I have the Yankee one. I missed out on the Blue Jays one).

As always, we find that McFarlane has paid great attention to the details. The best details on the Schilling figure are the determined set of the jaw and the hair on his forearms. I may have to revise my earlier opinion and conclude that this action figure is the MLB figure put out by McFarlane that has the most dirt on the jersey. Do not ask me how a pitcher gets both pants legs that dirty because all I can come up with is a really bad head first slide or block a base down on both knees, neither of which would be conducive to Schilling being able to end up back on the mound pitching. Speaking of the mound, the Schilling figure has another one of those slices of the mound that has the pitcher pitching down hill. McFarlane has a Luis Gonzales figure out there as well, so even after the big trade happens you can still have a pair of current Diamondback figures counting the Big Unit.

great figure of a great ballplayer and a all around nice guy

This is the second figure of Randy Johnson, the multi-Cy Young-winning pitcher of the Arizona Diamondbacks, following the earlier Seattle Mariner Version. The other big difference between the two is that the first one is the vertical Johnson and this one is the horizontal. Of course, if they do the Big Unit standing straight up and keep the body proportional to the other McFarlane MLB figures they are going to need a bigger blister pack, right? Even so, you can compare this figure to the rest of the McFarlane pitchers and you will notice that his front leg is a lot farther down the pitching mound than any other. Except for the Robert Alomar sliding figure or the one of Ichiro laying down a bunt, this figure of the 6' 10" Johnson might actually be the shortest McFarlane baseball figure when measured top to bottom.

The striped Diamond Backs uniform makes this a nice matched set with the Curt Schilling figure, the only problem being that by the end of the week Schilling is probably going to be traded, probably to Boston. Usually the best details on these McFarlane figures are the uniforms, but on this one pay attention to what is happening with the muscles on Johnson's pitching arm and his neck. That is pretty much how you should look if you are trying to throw a ball through a batter, let along past them. The other oddity for this figure is that his uniform is relatively dirt free, an element that the McFarlane people have been going overboard on lately. If you are a fan of the Diamondbacks in general, Johnson in particular, or like to collect sure bet future Hall of Famers, this is another first rate figure from McFarlane to add to your collection.

I was a bit surprised that this is the first figure of John Smoltz put out by McFarlane toys, because I was thinking that they had done a nice job of making him look like a relief pitcher than a starting pitcher by having him pitch from the stretch (I know, starting pitchers pitch from the stretch too, but it was an idea). Smoltz is part of the MLB Series 8 set, which has McFarlane scrambling in post production because of all the fun trades the Yankees made this winter. Ironically the set has Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano BEFORE the blockbuster trade, so they are both in the "wrong" uniforms for the 2004 season. This Smoltz figure comes in both the home White Braves Jersey and the road Gray Braves Jersey, so you have a choice (although I think clearly the white jersey is the way to go).

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, John Smoltz was part of the big three starting rotation for the Braves along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. In 1996 he went 24-8 with 276 strikeouts and a 2.94 E.R.A. Now Glavine is with the Mets, Maddux is back with the Cubs, and Smoltz is still with the Braves but now he is one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. After getting hurt and sitting out the entire 2000 season, Smoltz came back in the 21st century as a relief pitcher. In the last two years he saved 59 and 49 games respectively. Will he become the next Dennis Eckersley and have a hybrid career that gets him into the Hall of Fame? Stay tuned.

As always, the details are what are the most fun with this McFarlane sports figure (hard to call them action figures when they sit on their base and peer down as whatever batter figure you have standing waiting at home plate). With the Smoltz figure what I like is the way the top of his jersey is unbuttoned so it is hanging out a bit and showing more of his blue undershirt. I also like the way Smoltz has his mouth slightly open, as he usually does when he is in that position. The gloves on these figures in the field are always a treat as well. For those of us who remember how laughable sports figures were two decades ago when you could switch the heads because nobody looked like anybody, these are such a big improvement and now I am at the point where figures are "retired" as they end up with another team and no longer sit on top of the television. Of course, having the players who are on your favorite team wearing the right uniform is a big treat too.

I am not really sure about the value of McFaralane Toys introducing 3" scale figures based on their 6", although I suppose they allow you to have your favorite players on your desk at work and you can reenact Gulliver amongst the Lilliputians using them. In this particular set we have a miniature versions of the second Randy Johnson and the first Alfonso Soriano figures.

Johnson, the multi-Cy Young Award winning pitcher of the Arizona Diamondbacks, made headlines against this year when he became the oldest (and tallest) pitcher in baseball history to pitch a perfect game. Ironically this is a more horizontal figure of Johnson than you would get if the 6' 10" pitcher were standing straight up on the mound. However, if you compare this figure to the rest of the McFarlane pitchers and you will notice that his front leg is a lot farther down the pitching mound than any other.

Soriano, who saw his second figure as a New York Yankee come out after he had been traded to the Texas Rangers, is shown leaping up in the air to try and complete the double play with a throw to first. I have to admit I am less than thrilled by this pose, because it looks strange for Soriano to be suspend in the air by the little stand like this when there is no base runner underneath him (cf. the MLB Two-Pack figure of Nomar Garciaparra sliding into Derek Jeter)

McFarlane has released six sets of the 3" scale figures. In addition to this pair there is Jim Thome and Ichiro 2, Alex Rodriguez and Eric Gagne, Sama Sosa 2 and Chipper Jones, Barry Zito and Derek Jeter, and Mark Prior and Ivan Rodriguez. The idea here is to provide something for collectors who enjoy extreme detail in a small scale. They are also coming out with 12" figures of Nolan Ryan and Sammy Sosa around World Series time to market the other end of the spectrum as well. I am rather happy with my collection of 6" New York Yankees figures on top of my television set (it is a big television set).

What a great figure of this great player. will have more figures made of him

This is a great toy that is modeled after a great player, Mogilny. This toy makes boys understand how girls have so much fun with barbie. He can circle and do different body positions. It is a great toy for any young Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

Jack Osbourne is probably the least obtrusive member of his clan, barring sister Amie who doesn't appear in the TV show. As such, you'd kind of think his action figure would be boring. Well, the likeness isn't as good as those of his parent's figures, but the faux-hawk, specs and threads are a real good approximation of his TV appearance in the show's first season. He has the same huge feet as the rest of the family members, and the same limited articulation. Jack has 6 points: neck, shoulders, forearms, waist, and the neck is a swivel that allows you to tilt and turn. His glasses and neckchain are not removeable.

Jack comes with typical accessories: a squeeze-to-show-the-sick-come-out bulldog, a digital camcorder, and a "talking" base emblazoned with his name. The base plays one of three different quotes from Jack at the push of a button (all obscenities are bleeped), and batteries are included. Sold in a card-backed blister pack, this figure (like all the other Osbournes) is approximately 1:6 scale, solid in composition (no flimsy bits), and can stand easily without the base.

If you're a fan of the show and collect toys like me, these four figures are a terrific set, and Jack not the least.

I love this game!! It is very fun! I'm 9 and I love pokemon. My favorite pokemon is Ralts. This booster pack has 9 additional pokemon cards. It is a very good value for kids 8 and over. This is a very good deal.