I threw a costume party for my baseball cards

I've never been a big Halloween nut, but I decided to throw a costume party for my baseball cards this year.

Thankfully, a few big names decided to put in an appearance -- no one was sure why Lance Berkman dressed up in a giant sumo suit, or why Tim Lincecum came as Woody Allen, but they got the party started regardless.

A few guys stuck to the ballplayer theme -- Kevin Brown came as a fake old-timey dude in a fake old-timey uniform (hope that mustache isn't permanent marker!).

Trevor Hoffman dressed up as a catcher, for some reason.

Some guys, however, were just sick and tired of dressing up as ballplayers every day, and wanted to extend the olive branch to other sports.

Other greats, both past and present, tried to go with a couple leisurely costumes, but it just didn't work out.

Billy Wagner was a fireman, and apparently none too thrilled about it.

Tony Gwynn just sat at a desk lecturing everyone about past participles and gerunds.

Big Papi kept yelling YEAH BOYEEEE! all night.

Everyone thought Orel Hershiser was supposed to be Gilbert from Revenge of the Nerds, but turns out that wasn't a costume -- he didn't even know there was a party going on.

Then, of course, some dude in a vest showed up with an acoustic guitar -- he looked a lot like Jack McDowell -- guess there's one at every party...

Not sure if Big Mac was dressing up as Jake or Elwood Blues, but he seems more like a Jake to me, for some reason.

Groundskeeper Jose was popular.

But I think the simplest costume was the one that won everyone over -- while others spent a fortune on their Halloween garb, all Pat Neshek needed was the shades to become Lowell Palmer (of course), and he's never looked cooler.

So who won the Halloween costume contest? I'm not sure, but everyone said the party was a big hit, and word is they're already looking forward to having another one next year -- albeit without the dude with the acoustic guitar.

(A very happy early Halloween to you all!)