TTM Success - Andy Burns

During a pass through my older Bowman and prospects cards, I pulled a couple guys who I saw were signing TTM.  I was able to move a few cards out of the box, which is always a good thing.  Andy Burns was one of the guys I found.  I got a 2014 Bowman Chrome signed, and it turned out well.

I also got this 2013 Panini Prizm signed.  It was in another box that I used to use for rookie cards.  I stopped doing that around when I started graphing the Wood Ducks. 

Burns (b. 1990) played in the majors in 2016 and 2021 for the Blue Jays and Dodgers.  He had 3 hits, no home runs and a .176 batting average. 

I mailed to Burns on January 8 and got the cards back on February 3, for a 26-day TAT. 

Christmas Package From Weston

My buddy Weston sent me a Christmas package recently that had a bunch of Orioles cards in it.  The cards were great, but the thing about the package that stood out the most was the awesome purple bubble mailer that he sent it in.  I opened the package over Skype with a few of the guys that I chat with, and each of them wanted to be the one that bubble mailer was shipped to next.

You see, I recycle as much as I can.  Partly because I work in environmental consulting, but mainly because bubble mailers cost money, and I'm cheap.  So, why buy more when you can just re-use the ones sent to you.  I haven't bought bubble mailers in years, so this has been working out for me pretty well.  So, be on the lookout, who knows who the lucky person to get the purple mailer will be.

Anyway, Weston seems to be my hookup for Orioles prospects lately.  He sent me this great Panini Elite Extra Edition Jonah Heim card, which I really like.  Heim is one of three catchers the Orioles drafted in the 2013 draft, and all three are pretty good prospects.  The other two being Alex Murphy and Chance Sisco, of course.

Speaking of Sisco, Weston sent me this card as well.  It seems like I have gotten pretty much all of my Sisco cards (except for an auto I purchased off of COMC) from Weston.  He must have a lot of luck pulling Sisco's cards.

Thanks for the Christma gift, Weston!  I really appreciate the thought and I'm always glad for our chats.

Please check out Weston's blog: Fantastic Catch

A Trade With Alex

I found a new trade partner recently, well, he found me, actually, when Alex from the blog "Chavez Ravining" messaged me about a trade.  I sent Alex a bunch of 2013 Topps inserts and a whole lot of Dodgers.  In return, Alex sent me a HUGE stack of Orioles, a few of which I already had (but that's ok because I can use them anyway), but most of which were new to me.

The above 2013 Panini Prizm Cal Ripken was a card that I knew I needed.  I didn't even know that Cal was in that set.  Add this to the Cal PC!

Alex hooked me up on the Manny front.  All of the Manny Machado cards he sent me, I didn't yet have, so this trade stack was really a benefit.  Manny cards are becoming tough to find, so any that I can get my hands on make me happy.

Finally, Alex included the 2013 Topps Update Chris Davis Red Home Run Derby card.  I didn't have this one either, so it will help out my Davis PC.  I believe I have most of the versions of this card.  I know for sure I have the Camo, Chrome and a few others, but I'm not too sure what else.  I just feel like I have a bunch of the variations now.

So, thanks for the trade, Alex.  I already have another stack that I hope to send your way once I thaw out.

Some Card Shop Purchases

Last week, I went to my LCS for a few supplies and went through some of the boxes of old cards.  In one of them, I picked up some cheap vintage for my son, Chris, and I also got some cards for a couple fellow bloggers.  I did manage to get one card out of the vintage for myself.  The above Joe Morgan 1985 Fleer jumped out at me because I completely forgot that Morgan played for the A's at the end of his career.  He looks so funny in that green and yellow jersey.

I've met Joe Morgan twice now and was impressed with him both times.  Because of that, I may start a PC of him pretty soon.  I'm seriously considering it.  As for the Fleer card itself, I really like it in its simplicity.  The early to mid 80's Fleer offerings were pretty basic, but don't mistake that for a lack of quality.  Some of those cards are pretty sharp-looking.  Case in point, above.

Here is a card of a guy who I have a PC of.  A very small PC, but a PC nonetheless.  Brandon Snyder is another player whom I've met a few times.  He is a really nice guy.  I was happy to see him get a ring for being on the 2013 Red Sox part of the season.  I'm assuming he's going to get a ring.  Anyway, he doesn't have too many cards so, I was happy to find one in a bargain bin that I didn't already own.

Here is another guy who I am considering starting a PC of.  I have heard quite a bit about Alex Murphy and so far, it has all been good.  He is a local product (local as in he is from Baltimore).  I love the 'Wave' refractors in Bowman Chrome.  I just learned that there are black, red and silver versions as well.  I'm smelling a rainbow.  I'd say I was tasting a rainbow but I don't have any skittles.

Finally, here is a 2013 Panini Prizm Kevin Gausman RC.  Gausman is someone I started a PC of last year and have been slowly adding to it ever since.  In a perfect world, Gausman starts the year in AAA Norfolk (meaning the O's signed a decent starting pitcher so Gausman isn't needed in the rotation at the beginning of the year).

So, there you have it, some PC stuff of guys not named Chris Davis.  I know one fellow blogger who will appreciate that.

My Thoughts on 2013 Panini Prism

Last Saturday, I went to the LCS and saw that they had 2013 Panini Prism available for $6 a pack.  I figured it would be a good idea to check some out, so I got one pack.  I didn't pull anything monumental out of the pack, but I did get a Will Clark that I gave to my older brother who was in town visiting.  Clark was his favorite player, so I was happy to hook him up with something new.

I like the design.  Panini has done a pretty good job so far this year, even though they don't have the official license of MLB.  I'm thinking they and Topps can compete together and create a healthy marketplace for cards.  We'll see though.