Hard to believe, but 50 years ago on April 7th, 1976, “The Bad News Bears” was released in theaters. I can remember seeing it in the theater, and the 10-year-old me has been a fan ever since. The Bad News Bears and its sequel, “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training,” are among the best films about baseball ever made. With its great characters and great dialogue (especially the original, unedited version), the film takes me on an emotional rollercoaster every time I watch it.

In 2013, Panini America released the first “Bad News Bears” trading cards, including autographs inside the 2013 Golden Age Baseball release. I have collected almost every card in the set, except for the Jackie Earl Haley (Kelly Leak) Auto Card and a few of the rarer 1 / 1 cards.

I remember a classmate of mine in 6th grade telling me that they knew somebody who knew Chris Barnes (Tanner Boyle), and they could introduce me to him. I was so excited, but alas it never happened (and I never found out if this was even true), but its still a memory I hold to)

I have posted in the past about looking for any contact information for him, as I would love to get his autograph, as he was not one of the 6 autographs in the Panini set

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary, it would be great if the team could reunite for a tour, or convention, like Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and Wil Wheaton are doing for ‘Stand By Me”

AverageAndy

#PEACE