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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Random Roberts Card - Because I'm Bored
This was the first printing plate. I got it off of Ebay for $50. Not too bad. Now I have quite a few (lost count really). I think I have 3 or 4 Roberts plates. I like printing plates, I think they are pretty cool, and are difficult to pull. I have pulled 2 that I know of, one in 2006 Flair Showcase, and 2007 Topps Flagship.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
What I got for Christmas
1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken. I have been wanting this card for forever. I finally have it. Of course, if you follow my blog, it shouldn't take you long to figure out who got it... my MOM!!! She knows exactly what to get me.
I had a really great Christmas, and ended up with a lot of cool stuff. I'm really happy about it. I hope you all had good ones as well!!!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
...so this is Christmas
Oh man, that's my favorite Christmas song. Classic... Except that Yoko Ono can be heard. Uggh. Anyway, in this season of giving, I thought it'd be cool to recall some of the best Christmases that I have been a part of. Too bad I can't discern the years... That's asking a bit much.
Ask me, or any of my brothers, the best Christmas we call can remember is the year when we woke up, walked into the living room and each of us has a brand new bike. We rode bikes up and down the road all day that day. Mom still has pictures of us as we came into the room and caught the initial looks on our faces.
The Christmas gift I got the most use out of (and still do to this day) was the year my grandfather got all of us foot lockers. My mom took the foot lockers and personalized them for each of us. I now use mine to hold my sports magazines, pictures, etc. It usually stays locked, unless some unsuspecting friend comes over and shows a shred of interest in my sports memorabilia collection.
One of my favorite gifts that wasn't really a gift was the year (maybe 4 or 5 years ago) when my mom gave me a box of stuff I had done in elementary school that she had found while she was cleaning the attic. I went through the box and found a letter my great-grandmother had written me when I was in second grade. She has been gone for 18 years now. My mother-in-law took the letter and framed it for me, so it is something really cool that was on the wall in the house. When we get in another house, I definitely look forward to hanging it back up again.
Last year, my mom gave me her entire Cal Ripken baseball card collection which she had housed in my great-grandfather's tin cigar boxes from the 1920's. My dad wasn't too happy that my mom had 'stolen' the cigar boxes from him, but he knew I'd take care of them, haha.
My FAVORITE part of Christmas is the giving part. I'd much rather give a great present to someone and get a genuine response instead of receiving something.
I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas. Specifically, Max, P. A., Pete, Jim; I will see you guys very soon. Having you guys come and see me means a lot to me. I won't be at the shop the day after Christmas, but I intend on resuming my time there uninterrupted on January 2.
Max, I miss you man, its time we busted some boxes... Like SOON. P. A. and Pete, I'm ready to start some friendly baseball debates!
Jim, I got my 84's ready for you man.
Everyone who reads my blog, I really appreciate it. Continue to come back anytime. I'm glad you enjoy.
Thanks guys!!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Box Break Results: 2009 Topps Heritage High Numbers
I ended up being pretty disappointed in the results.I got a Brooks card. Woo Hoo! Too bad he shares the card with David Wright. Mr. Un-Clutch himself. Yuck.
Wow. Just wow. A Milton Bradley Auto. Well, at least it wasn't a Mark Prior or a Sammy Sosa.
Awesome, A Koji Jersey. Now, that's pretty nice! I was pretty surprised when I pulled this. Not bad, not bad.
My LONE Orioles RC. (I don't count the Koji). I was hoping for Reimold or Bergesen. Oh well, Hernandez will do.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Mail Day: Feivel Goes West
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Day 2 of the Card Show
Saturday, December 19, 2009
SET COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1955 Topps!!!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Mail Day: Jason Lives
I got a sweet package in the mail yesterday from Chris over at On Card Autos
He is still pretty stoked about the Nomars I sent him. They were pretty sweet, I do admit, b ut I was definitely pleasantly surprised at the amount of cards I got in return. I have scanned a few of them and they are featured below:
First, this Starquest NICK THE STICK!!! A very pretty card. I enjoy it highly.
Hey look, an Orioles minor leaguer that we will be hearing about once Brandon Snyder and Josh Bell get called up, Xavie Avery. I believe he was taken the same year as Wieters, but I could be mistaken. It has been a while, but from what I understand, he is going to be quite good.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Mail Day: Citizens on Patrol
As some (one) of you might have noticed, it has been a little bit since my last 'real' post. I took a much needed break, after scanning and listing so many cards on my Zistle accont. Also, recuperating from finalizing the sale of my house has taken a minute as well.
I also had the unfortunate pleasre of not being able to work the shop for the past 2 Saturdays due to work with my 'career job.' I plan on being back this coming Saturday and I also plan on heading to the Raleigh Card show on Sunday. I should have plenty to blog about up until and after Christmas!
Anywhooo, here is what came in the mail YESTERDAY. My first 2009 Topps Red Hot Rookie. Chris Coghlan. The NL Rookie of the Year. Pretty sweet. Sucks I didn't pull any O's, but thats ok, I intend on owning the Nolan Reimold. I like these cards, what do you guys think??
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A few things
I'll have some card posts later on in the week.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Today's mail
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Updating Zistle
Ahhh, a 2000 Frederick keys Brian Roberts minor league card. Got this really cheap off ebay too. I like it since I get to watch the Keys a lot when they come and play Kinston, or if Im back in Winston and see them there.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Today's Mail
Marichal was a heck of a pitcher. This card puts me just one step closer to completing my set. Woo hoo!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Today's Random Ripken Part 2 - The Sequel
Way back when, you could get a pack of cards for say, 99 cents. In this pack you got either a 50-year old piece of gum, a puzzle piece or a team sticker, depending on your brand of choice. You were lucky to get any kind of insert. Maybe a 'gold parallel' or Diamond King.
I remember pulling the above 1992 Cal Ripken Donruss Diamond King. I wish I had an amazing story to go with it. I do not. However, after 17 years, this card is still beautiful and I kind of wish sometimes we could go back to a more simplistic approach to inserts.
The 1992 Diamond King subset was definitely groundbreaking. It may very well have started the 'insert craze' of the early to mid 90s... The Dick Perez paintings were vastly different from the previous year's offerings.
With all the retro-themed sets going around now, I wouldn't mind a higher end product sporting nothing but these painting like cards... moreso than the Goodwins and Allen & Ginters. You guys see where I'm coming from, right? These cards were and are amazing. I love this one. What do you think??
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Trade from Chris at oncardautos
So, thanks a lot Chris. I hope we can do more of these in the future.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Bustin' Oldies
Max and I have this dream, well we have a few of them when it comes to cards, but one of the biggest is that at some point in our lives we hope that one or both of us has enough money to be able to get a box of '52 Topps and bust it, haha.
I was always told 'itll be worth more if you open it.' This thing has always bothered me. I am a firm believer that the packs were meant to be opened, so, if I were given a box of 'vintage' cards, HELL YES I would open them, haha.
Knowing my luck (and ask Pete), I would open the box and get every conceiveable Yankee card there is (except for the Mantle, lol). Knowing Max's luck, he would bust a box of 1952 Topps and STILL pull a David Wright card.
So, now I present the question to you... if someone presented you with a box of vintage packs, would YOU open them? Also, which set would you prefer? yes my choice would be a box of '52s, but I would love to bust a box of 54's and see 'fresh from the pack' 54's with the vivid colors and such.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Today's Random Ripken
Sunday, November 29, 2009
T-206 box busting results
I really like the design of these cards. I am a big fan of the retro themed sets. They may be getting a bit overplayed, but I think, in moderaton, they can succeed.
I was a bit disappointed when I looked up what kind of hits were available in this stuff. I did see that a good many of Orioles were in it, so I went ahead and took the plunge. I was not disappointed.
The 90s weren't all bad...
The 'overproduction' era was when I was full-force into cards. My mom would take me to the card shop (which is now where I help out at on Saturdays, although it is under different management) and drop a good bit of money on cards. My mom was and is pretty cool with all of our interests. She 'got it'. She would bust packs with me, she going for Don Mattingly and Mike Piazza, with me going for Cal Ripken.
We had read in Beckett in 1995 that there was this Cal Ripken Statistical Standout insert going somewhere around $75.00 (book value). WOW, $75.00 for a card is a lot for a 14 year-old. Mom and I would bust packs of 1995 Leaf trying to get the Ripken. I opened a pack one week and pulled the Matt Williams Statistical Standout and was mad cause it wasn't Cal (I just remembered that while typing this).
One week, Mom and I went to the shop, like normal, and got a good-size stack of packs to bust when we came upon the 95 Leaf. She said that because they were higher priced cards (like $4.00 a pack, I think), I could pick only one for myself and one for her. So, we got 2 packs. We would purchase the packs of cards and go out to the parking lot and open the cards in her car. I handed her her pack of Leaf and she opened it, and didn't get anything special. I opened mine and a few cards down I happened upon this: I cheered and showed it to her.... Yeah, I won't repeat what she called me, haha. Can't say it was the first time I heard my mom cuss, but it definitely sticks out in my mind. I still laugh about it to this day. I was remarking to a friend yesterday that busting packs isn't near as fun unless you have someone busting them with you, and its even better if they are as interested in the cards as you are. So, thanks Mom for taking an interest in cards so long ago.
Going through all my Cal's and listing them on Zistle was a tedious task, but it was a lot of fun. I found some old card designs that I had long forgotten, and given enough time, I plan on blogging them and sharing them with you. We'll see how do with that, lol.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
I am thankful for:
I am thankful for:
- A loving wife who 'allows' me to do the things I do. Without her... hmmm... we won't go there haha.
- My son Chris, who, is probably one of the most unique people I have ever encountered. He is a wonderful kid and I hope he stays with the same personality because he is definitely an adventure.
- Some awesome parents and family. They have shaped me into what I am today. Good or bad, hahaha.
- I am thankful for Pete, P.A. and Kim who make my time at the card bearable. These 3 are probably some of the nicest people I've ever met and I am very glad for them.
- I am thankful that Blake lets me do what I do at the card shop. It definitely is worth the 3 hour drive, even though I may not show it sometimes.
- For the amazing opportunity my job has given me, to be able to move to a new area, work with some great people and start some things over.
- For FINALLY selling my house. FINALLY.
- For the Baltimore Orioles
- For being able to meet and actually speak to Brooks Robinson this year. That was a huge highlight of my life, and I was able to share it with my brother Andy. I was also able to leave someone a voicemail 'Im done dude, Im done...' Haha.
- Being able to watch a baseball game in Kinston with a very good friend. We spent the game talking baseball and scouting. That was a great time.
- Beer.
- Being able to speak to Brandon Waring, Bryce Harper and other prospects this year.
- For everyone who reads this blog. Thank you all, I wouldn't be doing this if no one else was interested. Thanks guys, it means a lot to me.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Nice pull... that I forgot to blog about before.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Yeah, ok...
I'm liking the UD Goodwin's from this year... They would have been better without all the basketball cards. Seriously, is basketball really relevant outside of middle school? I mean, I understand NCAA basketball, but NBA? Really? Whatever. Maybe that's why I write a BASEBALL CARD blog, haha.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Boredom leads to:
I also went through my 'Random Orioles Box.' It kind of made me sad because this 5,000 count box is full of mostly 'could have beens', 'never was's' and 'Who's?'. For example, I found cards of supposed Oriole prospects: Curtis Goodwin, Jeff Manto, Mike Paradis, Ben McDonald, Keith Reid, Adam Loewen, Sherman Obando and Jorge Julio.
I found cards of players the Os signed waaaay past their prime: Dwight Evans, Fred Lynn, Bobby Bonilla, Javy Lopez and Marty Cordova.
I also saw some groan enducing players as well: Glenn Davis, Curt Schilling, Albert Belle, Miguel Tejada, Will Clark, Sammy Sosa and Sidney Ponson.
Finally, I did see a few who made me smile: Bill Ripken, BJ Surhoff, Brady Anderson and Chris Hoiles.
The Orioles have had some good players in their past, and they have had some that make you think 'Why God, why???' Why oh why did they trade for Sammy Sosa? Why did they trade away Curt Schilling and Steve Finley for Glenn Davis? Gaaaah.
I just hope some of the newer Os (Roberts, Markakis, Wieters, Reimold, Matusz, Tillman, etc) have great and successful careers, so in a few years my Os box will be more like a treasure chest instead of a house of horrors.
NICK THE STICK Jersey!
Friday, November 20, 2009
A couple great cards
Ah, Ron Santo. I really like the jersey swatch here. Nice colors. Santo was a damn fine ballplayer. He is also fun to listen to on the Cubs broadcasts as he lives and dies by each and every event in the game. Its nice to hear that kind of passion from a team's announcer and not have to sit through a bunch of awful catchphrases.
I don't think I can stand any more 'Tex Messages,' 'Abombs from Arod,' 'Cano Doncha Know,' Yeah I hope John Sterling can go back to calling tractor pulls. He is awful. Whenever the Orioles play the Yankees, I make sure I am listening to the Os announcers, or I just don't listen because the Yankees announcers SUCK!
Two words: VIN SCULLY!!!!! He is how a game should be called. Or Bob Uecker.
Whew, got a little off topic right there. Have a good night guys. I got one more card scanned that I want to blog this weekend. Will get to it tomorrow night or Sunday morning.