TTM Success - Greg Dobbs

I got some nice cards back signd from Greg Dobbs recently.  The above 2008 Topps was a good choice, and turned out well.  This probably isn't Topps's best effort, but the design is clean, and I like how they did the team names in alternating bubbles at the top.  The border is pretty restrictive on the photo, though.

This is a 2013 Topps mini.  I like getting these signed and out of my box.  They were able to be had cheaply back then, and I bought a couple boxes to bust with my buddy, Andrew.  I got rid of most of the base cards, but still have a small handful in my 2013 Topps box.

I really like this 2011 Topps update of Dobbs.  For some reason, I have always liked the infield dirt shown on cards.  This one just looks cool, and looks even better now that it is signed.

Dobbs (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2004 to 2014 for the Mariners, Phillies, Marlins and Nationals.  He had 548 hits, 46 home runs and a .261 batting average.  He won the World Series with the Phillies in 2008.

I mailed to Dobbs on November 16 and got the cards back on December 7, for a 21-day TAT.

Another Couple of Signings From Max

My friend, Max, has been really active lately in player signings through a card shop near where he lives.  He has helped me get some really cool cards into my autograph album, but he also has helped even more by helping to clear room in my boxes.  He recently asked me to send him what I could find of Carlos Zambrano and Joe Crede for some recent signings.  I hooked him up with everything I could find, and once the signings were done, he cut me a deal on bringing a few back for my album.

The above 2013 Topps Tribute WBC has to be my favorite cards out of the bunch.  I found it after I sent him the initial package, so I had to drop it in a PWE to make sure it got to Max in time.

I added a couple Topps cards to the album, a 2012 (left) and a 2011 (right).  I always enjoy adding different Topps cards to the album.

2007 Goudey mini that I was able to find in my boxes.  The box these are in is usually at the bottom of my stack of boxes, so it can be arduous sometimes to get into it.  I was glad to be able to get several cards out of the box and off to Max.  One of these days, I'm just going to organize everything by year, regardless of card company, and then should be able to get into these a bit more often.

I have a small assortment of 2013 Topps minis left from a box that I took with me and busted at Andrew's house years ago.  I am always happy to get one of the remaining few left signed.  I have also been told by my brother that he doesn't like it when I post about a player, but don't include stats, so I will include Zambrano's, since I'm pretty sure I haven't yet.  I usually don't include the player bio/stats if I'm posting about trades and all, or if I have already done so through a previous post or TTM success.

Zambrano (b. 1981) played in the majors from 2001 to 2012 for the Cubs and Marlins.  He had a career record of 132-91 with 1,637 strike outs and a 3.66 ERA.  He was a 3-time All Star (2004, 2006, 2008) and a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2006, 2008, 2009).  His best Cy Young Award finish was 5th, which he did 3 times, as well (2004, 2006, 2007).

Max also took all the cards I could find of Joe Crede for a separate signing.  I especially liked the above 1999 Upper Deck SP Minors card, simply because it features Crede in a Winston-Salem Warthogs uniform.  The Warthogs were the previous iteration of Winston-Salem's High A team, following the Spirits and prior to the Dash.

I also got a 2000 Bowman, 2007 Topps, 2007 Bowman Chrome and 2007 Bowman signed by Crede from Max.

Crede (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2000 to 2009 for the White Sox and Twins.  He had 787 hits, 140 home runs and a .254 batting average.  He was an All Star in 2008, was a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2006 and won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005.

As always, thanks for the deals, and for helping me move some cards, Max!  I look forward to your next challenge in finding cards for signings.

Ebay Pickup - 2013 Topps Mini Chris Davis Plate

I picked up a nice addition to my Chris Davis PC when I got this 2013 Topps Mini Chris Davis printing plate.  I thought I had a couple of these already, but that was the regular sized printing plate.  I have two of those now.  I didn't realize until now that I didn't have many of the mini parallels, so once the smoke settles from Christmas, I will have to add some of them.

It's funny that Chris Davis's printing plates really don't cost all that much.  With him being as big a star as he has been for the O's, you would think someone other than me would be picking them up.  Oh well, that leaves more for me!

Instagram Trade With Mickey - 2013 Topps Mini Adam Jones Auto

I completed a trade recently on Instagram when I sent a Bowman Chrome auto and a color parallel to a kid named Mickey in exchange for this 2013 Topps mini Adam Jones auto.  I had traded with Mickey a long time ago, back when I first got on Instagram.  I can't remember what I sent him, though.  I also hooked him up with some 2010 Topps Chrome cards that he needed for his set, and for those, he sent me a David Price pink parallel from 2013 Topps Mini.

This is a really nice card, and for whatever reason, I didn't have one in my collection.  I don't know how I missed it, but no harm done, because Mickey helped me add it!

COMC Pickup - Nolan Reimold 2013 Topps Mini

I bought this 2013 Topps Mini Nolan Reimold before I got a package from Ryan recently that I believe had another in it.  Its ok though, you know, since Reimold is one of my favorite players.  I know Reimold's career has taken a hit lately with all of his injuries.  I'm still confident that he will turn in a productive career when it is all said and done, though.  Nolan is a great guy and has an awesome family.  I am hoping he is able to play for a long time to come, and with the Orioles.  We'll see if the O's tender him a contract, but I'm hoping they stick with him and give him a chance to show that he is finally healthy.  I feel like a healthy Reimold would be good for 25 homers, 85 RBIs and a .300+ batting average.

Ebay Pickup - 2013 Topps Mini Chris Davis Pink Parallel

Here is another card that I was able to pick up off of Ebay with the help of my good buddy, Andrew.  He must have been bored, but he was searching Chris Davis cards for me and came upon this Pink Mini parallel.  I got it for less than $10, actually, which is amazing since the card is numbered to 25.  The normal size Davis Pink is going for $19.99, buy it now.  I still need that one as well.

The AL MVP award will be announced soon and everyone is saying that Miguel Cabrera is going to win it.  I would like to think that Davis will give him a run for his money, even though the Orioles didn't make the playoffs.  Davis won 2/3 of the Triple Crown, which Cabrera won last year.  Most writers used the Triple Crown argument (which I agreed with) to trump the new-fangled sabermetric approach that had some folks drooling over Mike Trout last year.  Folks are still drooling over Trout.  He's a good ballplayer and all, but the Angels were not a really good team with him or without him this year.  I think Davis was a key component in the Orioles' season this year and stayed healthy (while Cabrera didn't, and tailed off in late August through September).  Anyway, this is really grasping at straws.  Cabrera is a hell of a player and if Davis finished second to him, then I'm ok with that.

Ebay Pickup - 2013 Topps Mini Pink Nolan Reimold

While I was hanging out this past weekend during the Cub Scout camp out, I decided to take a look around Ebay.  One of the first things I saw was the above 2013 Topps mini Nolan Reimold pink parallel.  I hadn't seen one before and with a print run of 25, I knew I might not see one again.  So, I jumped all over it and its price of $14.99 with free shipping.

The pink parallel, even though I've never been a huge fan of the color itself (I am however a fan of the Aerosmith song of the same name), I do enjoy how it looks on a card.  I have gotten several of Nolan's 2013 offerings, so this one helps me out with the rainbow project.  I did miss the 2013 Topps Mini blank back 1/1 that ended on Ebay today.  Dang.  I don't think I'll ever complete a rainbow, but it sure is fun trying.

By the way, this card is numbered 21/25, so I really did do well in getting it at the price I did.