Christmas Gift From James

My buddy, James, sent me a nice Christmas package that had this Moose Skowron auto that I can add to my IP/TTM album.  James told me that he picked it up from his LCS for a good price.  The auto looks legit, so I'm fine with it not having a COA.  The card is a 1979 TCMA and is definitely one I would have sent TTM if Skowron were still alive.

Skowron (b. 1930 - d. 2012) played in the majors from 1954 to 1967 for the Yankees, Dodgers, Senators, White Sox and Angels.  He had 1,566 hits, 211 home runs and a .282 batting average.  He was a 6-time All Star and finished as high as 9th in the AL MVP voting (1960).  He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962.  He also won with the Dodgers in 1963.  He appeared in 8 World Series in his career.

James also sent me this nice Albert Almora relic from 2013 Panini Team USA.  Almora is a great up and coming ball player, and I am glad James thought to send me this card.

Thank you so much for the awesome gifts, James!  I really appreciate it!

Care Package From Garrett

I got a care package in the mail a few weeks ago from a new person I net on Instagram, a guy named Garrett.  He asked me for an Orioles rally towel, and I obliged him, since he asked nicely.  In return, he surprised me with this 2013 USA Baseball Kevin Gausman relic and a bunch of Orioles cards.

I wasn't expecting anything in return, and getting this package from Garrett was really nice.  I appreciated it, and I hope to do some trades with him in the future.

Gausman has looked a little sluggish so far this season, but I think he, much like the Orioles, will break out of it, and go on to have a strong season.  We will see, for sure.

Thanks Garrett!  I hope you all can check him out on Instagram, his screen name if card_collector02.

My Thoughts on 2013 Panini Team USA

I went to the card shop recently and noticed some new stuff on the shelves in the form of 2013 Panini Team USA.  I bought something like 6 packs of them figuring that one of my good friends who loves Team USA would like them, even if I didn't.  Well, I was very pleased with Panini's offering this year (which seems to have become the norm).

They put in a good mix of past Team USA players in with some of today's prospects.  The above card of Richie Shaffer is significant because my good friend Corbin went to high school with Shaffer.  He is from Charlotte, NC and played at Clemson.  He was a first round pick (25th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 and is playing for the High A Port Charlotte Stone Crabs.

I definitely will be picking up some more Team USA packs.  I might go for the set at some point, we'll see.  I might trade some of the cards I pulled.  There was a Barry Larkin in there that might be sent away.  Some other veterans as well.