Mail Day Part 2- The sequel

I got this super awesome card today (Happy New Year to me). My first Jackie Robinson:I still have quite a few Heavy Hitters left for my 1955 set including Koufax RC, Clemente RC, Mays, Berra, Rizzuto, Killebrew RC, and Hank Aaron... I'll get em though!!!

Mail Day!!!

Woo hoo! I got one of my ebay wins today- 1955 Topps #31, Warren Spahn!!! Check it out! I have 2 more HOFers coming in the next few days... I'll post em when I get em.

2008 Topps Stadium Club

When I first saw the 2008 Topps Stadium Club at the shop, I wasn't too impressed. I was a fan of Stadium Club way back when, but nowadays, there is so much on the market (and I really think Allen and Ginter is the best thing out there) that I didn't really give TSC a thought. After I was told about Target's little pricing error, I picked up a few blasters, compared cards with P.A. from 'Player to be Named Later' and realized- TSC has some awesome photography! I opened a pack of the $25.00 stuff at the shop, and pulled a 3 piece/ auto Pujols (which will be scanned later on). I also love the Brian Roberts which has him bowling over someone! As Christopher would say- GO ROBERTS. I scanned a few cards- I really like the manny Ramirez and the almost panoramic quality of the photo and the Joba where he looks like a linebacker. I also pulled this Masterson auto yesterday.

Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone! I got one 'vintage' card for Christmas, but its SWEET...

I hope everyone else is doing well. Pete and P.A., I have some news I will pass along to you guys at the shop on Saturday if you come by... Have a good one!!

I want this so BAD!!

This card would be the gem of my collection...... someone buy it for me for Christmas ;)

(not so) new stuff

Went to Batter's Box (a card shop in Greenville, NC) and found 3 cards for my 1970 set. 2 unmarked higher numbered checklists and this Reggie Jackson. I thought I grabbed the Jackson while i was at the card show, but I must have put it back. Oh well, I have it now, not too bad of shape either. The guy was pretty nice in the store and gave me all the cards for 1/2 off. Its too bad he sold all of his vintage stuff a few months before i visited his shop.

Favorite card in my collection...???

Hmmm... I do wonder what my favorite card in my collection is... thats an easy one actually, because its the first one i show anyone that comes to the house and gives a crap about my cards:

My 1957 Topps Brooks Robinson Rookie Card. I got it pretty cheap off of ebay (I guess because it was off centered, I didn't care). It is by far my most favorite card.

Honorable mention would have to go to:

My awesome 1970 Topps Nolan Ryan- I wasn't even taking building this set seriously until i saw this card listed on Ebay for around $40.00. I ended up getting it for $61.00 (after Mallory convinced me to bid on it). Now I am getting closer to finishing the 70 set... AWESOME!

Best pull ever...

I had a kid come in the shop on Sat and ask me a good question... What IS the best card I have ever pulled? There are so many ways you can look at it (actual dollar value, sentimental value, etc...)

Is it the Gold Derek Jeter with Bush and Mantle that I was able to sell on Ebay for $265.00?

Is it the 1995 Leaf Statistical Standouts Cal Ripken, Jr. that my mom and I had busted packs for and I finally got it when she bought 2 packs and let me choose which I was going to open?

Is it the 4 pc jersey Cal Ripken SPX #'ed 8/25?

Is it the 2007 Topps Update Joba Reverse Negative?

The answer I gave the kid was kind of a mixed answer, i cited the Gold Jeter and the 4 pc Cal card... The most shocking pull was definitely the Gold Jeter. I pulled it in front of Babe at a trade night at the shop, after telling her 'Watch, the gold Jeter is in this pack...' I called it.

The most gratifying was pulling the Statistical Standout Ripken so long ago, because when i pulled it, Mom and I were collecting together and we were both looking for that card. It was listed at book value at the time $175.00. It definitely isn't worth that much now.

If you take into account that the definition of 'best pull' could be from a pack or box, basically, if you buy an assortment of cards and don't have a clue what is included, then my final answer to 'What is my best pull ever?' would have to be this:

I bought a 'shoebox of old baseball cards' (actual ebay title, no picture) for $20.00. The item description stated that 'for bid is a shoebox of old baseball cards from 1959 to 1984.' There were actually cards from 1957 to 1984, and at the time I was working on the 1984 topps set. I was able to knock a few hundred cards off my list for that set. BUT the best part of that shoebox was that 3 cards into it, i found this awesome 1960 Topps Stan Musial. There is a bit of a water stain on the back, but if you know me well enough, i'm not too big a stickler for condition as long as the card pleases me. So, long story short, I wuld have to say: 1960 Topps Stan Musial, bv ~$100.00.

So guys, what is your 'best pull?' Keep in mind it has to have been received via an assortment of cards, from a pack or from a box. And why is this your best pull? Don't worry, i'll inquire about your 'favorite card' later on... send me some comments!!

Card Shop today

Yes I will be at the card shop today, but probably a little more stressed than usual as I couldn't get a babysitter today. I will have my 3 year old son with me... exciting. He says he is going to be a good boy so he can look through Blake's box of cars... Wish me luck!

So A-Rod doesn't want to play for team USA...

All i have to say is:

Here is a guy who SHOULD play for team USA...

Card Show

I went to the card show at Metrolina Expo today in Charlotte with my son Christopher and my brothers John (31) and Andy (13). I allowed myself a budget of $200.00 that I have saved up frown working weekends at the card shop. This did not include the cost of admission, etc which was only $5.00 for myself and John. Kids 15 and under got in free.

I went hoping I could find a good partial set, wax box or commons of some of the sets I am trying to build. I was able to find 30+ 1970 Topps cards for my set which has been ongoing. The highlight of this would probably be the Harmon Killebrew. I already had the Nolan Ryan and Hank Aaron to name a few.

I was able to find the 1960 Topps Brooks Robinson I have been trying to find for some time now. It isn't in the greatest of shape, but I got it for $15.00 and I am completely satisfied.

I found 5 1955 topps to add to that set which I am not really taking too seriously (I will probably never be able to afford the Koufax or Clemente RCs). I paid probably $20.00 total for the 6 cards.

I got 2 1952 Topps cards (I have never had any of these). BV for them was $40.00 and $60.00 respectively and they both are in pretty good shape.

I got both of these for $15.00 total from a guy I bought a big stack of 1970 Topps. Also, from him, i got the big prize of the show....



I got my first Mickey Mantle card. This bad boy books for $600.00 (obviously that is for NM condition). I added this to my pile of 1970's and the 2 1952's; The guy quoted me $80.00 for it, I couldn't pass it up.




Finally, I got some random cards as well, about 6 1983 Topps and a Bill Ripken 'Rick Face' from Lee, a customer who shops in the shop regularly and I got 2 David Price Tristar Prospects Plus cards and a 2007 Evan Longoria Bowman. These 3 were $2.00 a piece.

To keep Andy from complaining, I gave him $5.00 so he could add 2 cards to his 'Dirty Name Hall of Fame.' He got a 1957 Topps Dick Groat and a 2007 Topps Rookie 52 Tim Lincecum. He's 13 and has a warped sense of humor.

To keep Christopher happy, I bought him a Lightning McQueen car (for peeing in the big boy potty at the show) and an E.T. stuffed animal. $9.00 total.

John sold some of his football cards for $40.00 and bought a Manny Ramirex Gold RC and a Mike Piazza 1992 Bowman RC.


All total, I exceeded my budget by $20.00, but I was very satisfied and got some stuff jknocked out of my 1970 set (esp high numbers). On the way out, I ran into Pete and his girlfriend Kim (fellow bloggers WOO HOO).

I was a little disappointed that not a whole lot of people were there, but given these economic times, you can kinda see that coming. Hopefuly this won't discourage people from having shows as it was a really nice way for my brothers, son and I to spend some time together.

the holidays

Hi guys. The shop will be open on Saturday and I will be there. I don't plan on taking any Saturdays off anytime soon, so you guys should see me regularly. I also plan on taking some of my savings and spending a little at the card show. I am hoping to find a few things that would be a little harder for me to find. We'll see. How was everyone's thanksgiving? I cooked the bird for the first time and it turned out awesome. I took some tips from a friend at work and it turned out great. Now we have a bunch of leftovers, woo hoo!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving guys. I'll be crazy busy, like this past week. Posts will be few and far between, but I do plan to blog about the Charlotte card show on Sunday...

friday night

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, I was out of town for work. It was nice to get home friday and find a box waiting on me... It wasn't cards, but it definitely was something i was waiting for since I was 14 or 15... Chinese Democracy by Guns N Roses. I pre ordered the CD from Best Buy for myself and my brother Andy. I was amazed that there was an actual CD in the case and that it would play in the player. They have pulled back this album so many times, i figured the CD would be blank at the last minute or something. It does exist and is actually very good. Christopher and I listened to the whole thing last night. He stood in front of the player and danced the whole time. A nice way to spend a friday night.

Upper Deck Redemption

During a 'pack opening party' with Babe-O-Licious, I pulled a redemption card: DANIEL ALFREDSSON05/06 NHL SP GAME USED AUTHENTIC FABRICS AUTO// CD# AAF-DA # TO 75... When I went to redeem it, it said that the card was not produced, please call for a replacement. So, I am, currently on hold. Maybe they will let me swap it out for a sweet baseball card instead since I only included the Hockey cards because Mallory (my wife) is a hockey fan... I'll let you guys know what they let me swap out.

beginning part 2

As I said before, I build sets of Topps cards. I am also a HUGE Orioles fan. I started liking the Orioles since MLB Baseball for NES came out. My older brothers would always get the A's (they were roided out even then) and I would always pick the O's because they had NEON Orange uniforms. Good times. My favorite Oriole is Cal Ripken, but I also am fond of Brooks Robinson, Al Bumbry, Boog Powell, Jim Palmer, Harold Baines, Brady Anderson, Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis. When i post again, i will begin scanning and posting cards that I have on here... can't wait can ya?

in the beginning...

In the beginning, I collected Cal Ripken and only Cal Ripken... now i have branched out.... I am 28 years old and began collecting baseball cards in 1989 when I received a stack of 1989 topps from that scholastic book order thing for elementary school... That was the beginning and I haven't looked back. Well, maybe I have, considering I concentrate primarily on building vintage Topps sets. That is not the extent of my collection, however, as I LOVE (and am not afraid to admit it) Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis. I love the Orioles, they have let me down my whole life, but thats what sports is all about... For Pete, I plan on writing a blog about why I hate the Yankees, but that is for a later date... I have built A LOT of older Topps sets. As it stands, I have constructed: 1951 red back, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2006 Allen & Ginter, 2007 Allen & Ginter, 2008 Allen & Ginter, 1990 Donruss, 1991 Topps Traded. Pretty sweet huh? I am currently working on 1955 (I'm dreaming if think I'm getting the Koufax or Clemente RCs any time soon), 1970 (I already have the Ryan, Aaron, and the Munson RC), 1983 (almost done baby), and 2001 (I already have the Ichiro RC). Wifey pooo is home, so I'll continue this later.

Card Blog 1st entry....

Woo Hoo. I finally got the guts to 'blog' about cards on something other than my myspace. Thanks for talking me into it P.A. Hope i don't disappoint. Right now, I don't have a specific plan as to what exactly I plan on blogging about. First things first, lets put a plug in for the card shop i help out at: All About Sports located at 397 Jonestown Rd., Winston-Salem, NC. I plan on, at some point, taking 'special orsers for the shop through here and maybe expanding our reach a little bit... We're not all that sophisticated yet though, so we'll see how that goes. I also plan on putting up some pics etc of awesome cards I have come across. Everyone knows which i will start with. If you don't know, how about sending me some comments trying to guess?