Instagram Purchase From Kyle - 2011 Gypsy Queen Brooks Robinson Auto

This card is actually the first thing I bought with my Abreu money, but it happened to get covered by some other recent purchases.  Luckily, I have time this extended weekend to catch up somewhat on blog posts, so I was able to push this forward.

Kyle was the first person I completed a successful trade with on Instagram.  I had been scammed by some punk kid and was going to stop trading on there before I even got started.  I gave the venue another chance and met Kyle (we traded for that Triple Threads Brooks Robinson).  We chat often and he is one of my favorite people on Instagram.  He is the guy who got me to stick around, and I'm really glad because I have gotten some awesome stuff off of there.

This card is an on-card auto and looks really sharp!  I was glad I could get it from Kyle, since I had been watching it for a long time.

As a throw-in, Kyle added this IP autograph of Mike Yastrzemski, an Orioles prospect and the grandson of Hall of Famer, Carl Yastrzemski.  I got to see Mike play for Vanderbilt last year while I was visiting my brother, Adam in South Carolina.  That was a Vandy vs Gamecocks game that Adam took us to, and we had an awesome time.  Little did I know that Yastrzemski would become an Oriole.

Thanks so much, Kyle.  You're a great guy and I'm glad I stuck around, thank you!

More Mail From Ryan - Orioles Cards

Did I mention how awesome Ryan was?  You know, the awesome dude from "O No Another Orioles Blog?"  He's a hell of a guy.  He sent me a good bit of Orioles cards that I didn't already have in my collection.

This 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen Nick Markakis auto is awesome!  It is an on card auto and looks great in person.  I was so amazed that I got it (even though he told me a while ago that he was going to send it to me).

Hey, look!  A Cal Ripken card that I didn't already have.  NICE!  I really like this one.  I don't know how those got by me.  I believe this is a 2010 Topps Wal Mart Exclusive Chrome Ripken.  Very nice indeed.

Here is a Cal that I don't think I had already, but I'm not sure.  It is a 1996 Leaf Limited Ripken.  It scanned really well and looks very sharp.

Here is a 2011 Topps Marquee Eddie Murray.  I don't have very many Orioles from this set at all.  Ryan also sent a Jim Palmer from that set.  I need to go ahead and get the Brooks and Cal cards also.

Finally, here is a 2011 Topps Lineage Brooks Robinson standup.  I really like this card, simply because of the bold colors and how they pop off of the computer screen.  Very awesome card.  I need to get to the card shop and get a bunch of top loaders and penny sleeves so I can add all of these (and a huge stack I've been amassing lately) to my PCs.

Thanks so much for the cards, Ryan.  Again, you're an awesome dude, and I really appreciate it!!!

Trade with The Brooklyn Met

 I completed a trade recently with 'The Brooklyn Met' who writes Clear Cut Cards.  I sent him some Cubs and Mets from 2011 Topps Update Series in exchange for some Orioles and a few assorted Mike Piazzas.

The above Piazza comes from 1995 Topps and is a pretty cool shot.  It looks like it came from spring training, based on the activity going on behind Piazza.  I like the clouds forming behind him.

 Here is a 1995 Upper Deck Piazza.  I like the shot of the catcher's mask.  I've always thought catcher's mask shots were pretty cool.  Another good one being Ramon Hernandez out of 2009 Topps.

 Here is a 1995 Topps card showing the 1994 All Star shortstops, Cal Ripken and... Wil Cordero?  Where was Ozzie Smith?  I would have never guessed Cordero as starting shortstop on any All Star team, but 1994 was the year in which the Expos were very good and just might have won a World Series, had that pesky work stoppage not happened....

Among all the Orioles stuff was this awesomely blue Gypsy Queen of Brian Matusz.  I think the card scans very well and looks pretty sharp.  I sure hope Matusz has a bounce back year for the Orioles next year.  We'll see. 

So, thanks for the trade, Jason.  I'll be sure to put more Cubs and Mets aside for you in the future so we can do this again.

That being said, I don't think I trade enough.  If anyone out there wants to try a trade, let me know.  Shoot me an email of the team(s) you like and I'll send you something in exchange for some Orioles or other players that I like.  I definitely need to get more mail in my mailbox.

Mail From Blog Reader Ryan

I've gotten several emails recently from blog reader Ryan.  Mostly about TTM ideas, and card searching in general.  I was able to hook him up with a 2011 Topps card that he needed for his set.  In return, Ryan sent me some really cool cards.  Here are some of the highlights:

 I'm really liking this Brian Roberts 2011 Gypsy Queen Black Mini.  Gypsy Queen was bashed by a lot of people, I thought it was pretty good.  It was almost impossible for me to get my hands on any packs; I think I opened two packs...

I'm really digging these green borders.  I doubt that is the official title of them, probably called emerald or something like that.  They look good regardless of what Topps decided to call them.  I still don't have very many Frank Robinson cards, when compared to cards of Brooks or Cal, so I think I need to get right on changing that...

Finally, how can you go wrong with Masterpieces.  I still love this set after al these years.  Maybe I'll build it at some point.  Maybe...

Anyway, thanks Ryan for the cool stuff.  You can email me with questions anytime, I'll be more than happy to answer them!

Mail From Dustin

I completed a trade recently with Dustin from No Relics Pulled. He's a pretty cool dude who really wanted a Johnny Damon auto, so I found one at the last card show.

I was able to land this sweet Ripken relic from Gypsy Queen. I think this card looks great. I only opened 2 packs of Gypsy Queen this year. I liked the set, but it was waaay too expensive for what I pulled (not much, apparently).

I also got another Bowman Sterling Nolan Reimold Auto/RC. I already had one, but I couldn't pass this up. It is one of the most beautiful cards that I have seen and when Dustin said he would trade it, I had to jump all over it.Thanks a lot Dustin. Everyone should head over to his blog and give him a read. He definitely would appreciate more followers and more trade opportunities. You can read his blog here.

Thoughts on 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen

The scans kind of suck, because the cards kept sliding on the glass, but here we go with 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen. I picked up 2 packs from ym local card shop at $7.50 a pack (!!!!!!). I got some decent pulls, as far as players go. The above Frank Robinson was my lone Oriole. A pretty cool shot of him, nonetheless.


This Babe Ruth was pretty sweet. Especially since it depicts him in a Red Sox jersey.

I was also happy to see Jimmie Foxx in my pack. I don't have very many Foxx cards, so it is always cool to see him pop up.

I know a couple Yankee fans who would be happy to have this Reggie Jackson. I have already promised it to my good buddy Drew. The card looks pretty good, though, so I'm sure he will be happy with it.



Finally, I pulled this George Sisler mini numbered 9/10. I don't know if it is a parallel based on other minis, but seeing that it was a 9/10 was pretty cool. Since the Browns were the team that became the Orioles, and Sisler is probably the greatest Browns player there was, it is kind of cool to have the card.

Overall, I'm a little underwhelmed with Gypsy Queen, especially since the pack price was so high. It would have been cool to get a relic or auto, but knowing my luck, I'd pull Mark Prior. Blehh. Overall, the design is ok. I feel like the market is flooded with vintage sets. I think it is about time to put the re-issue concept to bed for a while.