Before I started this blog in November 2008, I had very few people I could trade cards with. I had Pete and P. A. at the card shop, and my older brother John on occasion. Other than that, it was really difficult for me to offload any cards or trade for ones I wanted to add. I was limited to Ebay and Sportlots, as far as buying is concerned, and also the shop, of course. Then, at P. A.'s and Pete's urging, the blog was started. Now, almost 7 years later, I have reached a milestone, my 2,000th post. I knew it was coming for some time now, and I wrestled with what I wanted the subject to cover. Did I want to do a contest? Did I want to do a retrospective? Did I want to change things up and do something completely different? It didn't take me long to decide that I wanted the theme of my 2,000th post to be what my blog usually covers: me talking about cards, preferably Orioles, and hopefully ones I obtained from a friend that I made while using the blog as a trading tool. I have made countless friends over the years on this blog, some have come and gone, others have been here since the beginning. I believe I have more "online" friends now, than I do physical ones, but I think that is just the state of how the world is today. I can say, though, that some of the closest friends I have were ones I made through this blog. Not to name them all, but ones who come to mind immediately are people like Drew, Andrew, Michael and of course, Max. Each of those four are guys I have had the privilege of meeting in person, and actually trading with in person as well. There are others, and of course ones that I feel like I have a close kinship with as well, but I can't take the time to name everyone, I would be here all day. Hopefully no one is offended that they were not mentioned.
Anyway, Max and I are such good friends now, we can get on Skype and sort boxes of "junk wax" and not say a whole lot, but know that each of us is just happy to be around the other. He has hooked me up with some amazing stuff in the short time that we have known each other. He also was an amazing host this summer when we were at The National. That being said, when his birthday package arrived yesterday, I was floored with how awesome the main card (and note) were.
The main portion of the gift was the above 2014 Leaf Q Pure autograph of Brooks Robinson. The card is amazing. I had seen them on Ebay, but didn't pull the trigger on getting one. I'm really glad Max picked this up, because it really will stand out in my Brooks PC. The scan doesn't even come close to doing it justice.
Not to take anything away from the rest of the package, which consisted of a bunch of Orioles and also Hall of Famers, but the Brooks card is just awesome. Max did add something else that has become a recurring theme of the packages that he has sent. He sent me an IP auto that he was able to pick up this season in the above 2012 Topps Finest Tsuyoshi Wada. Wada is a former Oriole who went on to play for the Cubs, and be pretty successful. He never actually threw a pitch for the O's, but he was someone I watched with great interest, hoping he would be healthy and make it. Instead, another international signing that the O's got at the same time, with less fanfare, did far better - Wei-Yin Chen. Chen is now set to become a free agent and leave the O's. Maybe one day, Wada can come back, but it is doubtful. He (and Chen also) does represent a change in the Orioles' philosophy in signing international talent, which has changed for the better.
So, thank you so much, Max, for this amazing birthday package. I appreciate your friendship, and know that we will keep this going for a long time. Additionally, I want to thank each and every person who has read this blog, anyone who has traded with me on here, Instagram, Facebook, Kik, Snapchat, etc etc etc. It really means a lot to me to be able to have a platform where I can share my thoughts and feelings on the O's and also on this hobby that I love. Thank you for 2,000 reasons to post, and here's to at least 2,000 more.
