TTM Success - Sammy Solis

Here is a nice TTM success that got a couple older cards out of my boxes.  Sammy Solis signed the above 2011 Bowman Platinum green chrome refractor in black Sharpie, and the card looks pretty great.  The auto doesn't show up too well on the scan, but it really does look cool.  The card is numbered 348/599.

I also sent this 2011 Bowman Chrome along, and it turned out nicely as well.

Solis (b. 1988) played in the majors from 2015 to 2018 for the Nationals.  He had a record of 5-7 with 136 strike outs and a 4.51 ERA.

I mailed to Solis on October 4 and got the cards back on March 11, for a 158-day TAT.

TTM Success - Corban Joseph

Here is a nice TTM success of a guy who sat in my box for a long time until I finally got around to mailing.  The above 2011 Bowman Platinum turned out fairly well, even though the marker started to fade.

I also got a 2008 Tristar Prospects Plus and a 2010 Topps Pro Debut signed.  Both look pretty cool.

Joseph (b. 1988) played in the majors in 2013 and from 2018 to 2019 for the Yankees, Orioles, Giants, A's and Pirates.  He had 15 hits, 1 home run and a .170 batting average.  He is the brother of former Oriole, Caleb Joseph.

I mailed to Joseph on February 1 and got the cards back on February 12, for an 11-day TAT.

TTM Success - Austin Hyatt

Lately, I have been pretty successful in finding working addresses for guys who signed a while back, but had been kind of dormant.  That had led me to pull a lot more different cards from my boxes and try to expand who I send to TTM.  I found this cool 2011 Bowman Platinum X Fractor and was able to get it signed TTM by Austin Hyatt.

Hyatt (b.1986) was a 15th round pick by the Phillies in the 2009 June Amateur Draft out of the University of Alabama.  He played in the minors from 2009 to 2012, all in the Phillies system, reaching AAA.  He had a record of 37-23 with 551 strike outs and a 3.79 ERA.

I mailed to Hyatt on February 2 and got the card back on February 10, for an 8-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jacob Goebbert

Here are two more nice cards I was able to get signed TTM.  These are signed by Jacob Goebbert.  The above 2011 Bowman Platinum x fractor is a really cool card, and it turned out well when it was signed.  I can't remember where I found it, but I was glad to get it signed.

I also got this 2011 Bowman Chrome signed.  Goebbert has a really cool signature, and he inscribed Bible verses.

Goebbert (b. 1987) played in the majors in 2014 for the Padres.  He had 22 hits, 1 home run and a .218 batting average.

I mailed to Goebbert on January 11 and got the cards back on January 25, for a 14-day TAT.

Jonathan Schoop Pickups From The National

A National Card Show wouldn't be complete without my picking up Jonathan Schoop cards dirt cheap.  I have continued to take advantage of him being grossly underrated, which is fine, since I can get some really nice stuff of his.

This year, I picked up some great parallels and a couple autos.  The above green refractor from 2015 Topps Chrome is numbered 7/99 and came out of a dollar box.  It was cheaper than a dollar because I got a bulk deal on it, so that made it even better.

This 2011 Bowman Platinum blue parallel was also in a dollar box.  Even worse, it was unsleeved, just floating around loose in the box.  It is numbered 9/199 and now resides in a penny sleeve and top loader.

This 2014 Bowman Chrome Mini blue parallel is numbered 112/250.  It was ALSO in a dollar box and was floating around loose.

I don't remember what I paid for this 2011 Leaf Valiant Schoop auto, but I believe it was in a $5.00 box.  Not too bad for a nice auto.  This is a cool-looking card that definitely looks better in person.  It didn't scan all that well.

Finally, here is a nice 2014 Tier One auto numbered 211/399 that was priced at $7.00, but I got cheaper since it, too, was part of a bulk deal.  I need to sit down and count how many Schoop autos I have.  I'm sure I have a bunch now.

Schoop is having a great season for the Orioles. batting .282 with 20 homers through 127 games.  He has been a solid piece for the Orioles and could very well top out at more than 30 home runs this year.  I believe Schoop will have a few big moments for the O's down the stretch.

Some Card Shop Packs

I hope you all like the new blog design, I thought it was a good time for a change since I have had the old design up for over 2 years (I think).  There is a lot less going on in the background, which keeps the focus on the actual posts themselves.  Also, the header picture was taken by me in Cooperstown, at Doubleday Field.  I thought it would tie in well with my pursuit of Hall of Fame signed baseballs.

I picked up some packs as we passed by the card shop the other day while out shopping.  I had gone to Staples to pick up some sheet protectors and a small binder.  I am going to keep all of my COAs and LOAs in one place, instead of filed away in various manila envelopes, folders and my 1920s Phillie Blunts cigar box (a remaining relic from my great-grandfather, jeez, I should post that sometime...)

Anyway, we bought several packs of Topps Lineage, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Platinum, Draft Picks and Prospect and Topps Chrome.  The above Jameson Taillon is one of the highlights of the Bowman Chrome.

I pulled this Jonathan Schoop (pronounced SCOPE, apparently) out of the Bowman Platinum.  He is fast becoming one of the Orioles' best prospects, behind Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado.  I hope he lives up to the billing, because the Orioles haven't produced a legit position player from their system since Nick Markakis (not a knock on my favorite, Nolan Reimold, at all. I'm hoping he busts out this year and stays in the majors.  No one is pulling harder for Nolan than I am).

This Topps Chrome Heritage insert came out of the Topps Chrome pack that I bought.  I really missed the boat on Heritage.  I only busted one box of it.  I would have done more, but money was tight at that time and now the boxes are pretty much gone.  Oh well.  I like this card of Thome, whose career is winding down.  He should be a lock for the Hall of Fame.  I think so, at least.  Who knows these days.  I do wish he would have signed my baseball for me in 2010 when I was mere feet away from him.  I might try him TTM once Spring Training gets closer.

I really like this Topps Lineage '75 mini of George Sisler.  I don't have near enough Browns cards or memorabilia.  I might need to add some to my wishlist for the coming year.  Sisler was a really good ballplayer.  He doesn't get much recognition these days, since there were some bigger names playing when he was active, but until broken by Ichiro, Sisler's single season hits record stood for 80 years.

Finally, I pulled this relic out of Topps American Pie.  Since my wife was with me, she and I both picked up a couple packs of American Pie.  She is a big movie buff, so I thought she would get a kick out of the cards.  They were ok.  Kind of like Upper Deck's 'Piece of History' from a few years ago.  I'm not sure if I'll get any more packs of them, though.  As for the Valderrama relic?  Well, I'm definitely not a fan of That 70s Show, I always found it to be dumb (just my opinion).  Also, I'm really glad it wasn't Ashton Kutcher.  Because, well, he is probably my least favorite actor.  Ever.  Valderrama, he's ok, I guess.  I can probably sell it at a card show, which works out for me, at least I'll get a couple bucks out of it; or I can trade it, if any of you are interested.  I'll add it to my for sale/trade page.

By the way, please do check out that page.  I plan on adding some stuff to it to make it easier for people to see what I have that is available at the right price and/or offer.

Last Post From The Card Shop Trip - Bowman Platinum

In my final bit from my trip to the card shop last week, Babe and I picked up some Bowman Platinum.  She pulled this really nice Billy Hamilton Superfractor (?).  I think the card looks really cool and it scanned pretty nice as well.

Also, in some personal news, I passed the second half of the ASBOG Exam (Geology licensing exam).  This means that I am now a licensed geologist.  This is a big deal, it is like the Bar exam, but for geologists.  I have been studying to pass this thing since I took my job in 2007.  I took the first half three times (passing it on the third try in May 2010) and took the second half three times.  Third time seems to be a charm.