TTM Success - Justin Masterson

I added some really cool cards to my autograph album with this TTM success from Justin Masterson.  I had a ton of his cards in my box, and it was tough choosing what to send him.  The above 2014 Topps mini gold definitely had to be sent, and I love how it looks.  The card is numbered 18/63.

I had Masterson's 2006 Bowman Chrome card in my rookies box for a long time.  I was glad to get it out of there and signed.  Same with his 2008 Topps Heritage RC.

Finally, here are a couple Topps cards that came back, a 2012 Topps (top) and 2014 Topps green parallel (bottom).

Masterson (b. 1985) played in the majors from 2008 to 2015 for the Red Sox, Indians and Cardinals.  He had a career record of 64-74 with 1,004 strike outs and a 4.31 ERA.  He was an All Star in 2013.

I mailed to Masterson on October 22 and got the cards back on February 1, for a 102-day TAT.

Another Gift From Michael - 2014 Topps Mini Reimold Black Parallel

My friend, Michael, hooked me up again when he picked this Nolan Reimold 2014 Topps Mini black parallel up for me.  It had been offered to my by the same guy a couple times, but he always was catching me at a bad time.  I had been saving up for the National the first time, and the second time, I was trying to recover from the National.

It doesn't matter now, since Michael picked it up.  The card is really nice and is numbered 4/5.  I like these really low numbered cards, especially if I am able to get my hands on them.  I haven't pursued this rainbow too vigorously, since I have been concentrating on Davis, but any Reimold I can get is a good thing.

Thanks so much for not letting this card slip away from me, Michael!

Birthday Presents From Michael

Well, another birthday passed my by on Monday.  I celebrated the day by working, going to dinner with Mal and Chris, then lounging in the recliner to watch the Orioles beat the Red Sox.  It honestly was a rather mundane day.  However, the birthday presents have begun to roll in from some of my blogger and Instagram friends.  I had gotten early presents from my mom that I showed on here a few months ago (1954 Jackie Robinson and 1960 Mickey Mantle), and my wife bought me a jumbo box of 2015 Bowman Chrome.

The first gift package that I got was from my buddy, Michael.  He picked up the above Nolan Reimold broken SHATTERED bat that had been used on 2013 Opening Day.  Michael had to surgically repair the bat, as can be seen from the medical tape all along it.  Had he not done that, he would have had to ship it in a bag.

The bat is amazing.  I'm hoping Nolan is at Fan Fest (in December, what's up with that?), so I can get the bat signed.  It would look really cool.

Michael also had a surprise Ebay package sent my way that had this 2014 Topps Mini gold parallel for my Chris Davis rainbow.  The card is numbered 35/63.  I recently was looking at the rainbow and embarrassed myself when I realized that I have all of these color parallels, but I don't have the BASE CARD!  How did I manage that?

Anyway, I really appreciate the thoughtfulness that Michael showed in these gifts.  There is no way I can match it with his gift that I have for his birthday (Sept. 24), but I did get him something pretty cool.

Thanks so much Michael!

Working on a Rainbow

As I continue to work toward getting some kind of rainbow completed of one of my PC guys, I picked up a couple 2014 Topps Mini cards off of Ebay recently.  They were versions of card number 47; the Chris Davis checklist commemorating him hitting 30 homers and 90 RBI before the all star break.

I already had the base and platinum 1/1 versions of this card, so, when I found a printing plate and a pink numbered 9/25, I went ahead and grabbed them.  I was more worried that the printing plate would disappear on me, for obvious reasons, so I had a saved search going for that.  I immediately jumped on it when I saw it.

I was told that I have the gold on the way, from my friend, Michael.  The black parallel numbered to 5 will be a tough find.  I hope to get one of them soon, and I have another saved search to help me out.

I may also bust a box of 2014 Mini at some point.  They always seem to be affordable, and are a fun product to break.

Instagram Trade With Nick S. - Bobby Bundy Auto and More

It is often forgotten that there is another Bundy in the Orioles organization.  Dylan Bundy's older brother, Bobby, is also a pitcher in the O's minor leagues.  Drafted by the Orioles in the 8th round of the 2008 amateur draft, Bundy has slowly made his way up the ranks in the system.  He is currently at AA Bowie.  He has played in 8 games, pitching 15 innings this season.  Both Bundy's have been quite injury prone, and it seems that neither will be with the Orioles after this season.  That really is a shame, since Bobby's younger brother, Dylan, has been such a highly touted prospect.

I got this card, a 2015 Bowman auto, from my friend, Nick S. on Instagram.  Nick approached me and asked if I would be willing to take a deal for the card, and I accepted.

Nick was also nice enough to include a 2014 Topps Mini gold parallel of former Oriole, Nick Markakis in the deal.  This card is numbered 57/63.  I sure do miss Nick patrolling right field for the Orioles.  It really is a shame that he wasn't resigned this offseason, but the O's were worried about a neck condition that Markakis had.  The condition is, in fact, evident this season, as it has sapped him of his power.  He typically averages 16 home runs a season, but through 81 games this year, Markakis has none.  He is batting a nice .295 with 91 hits so far this year, but the power is gone from his game.  I fear that he is definitely on the decline.  That being said, I still respect Nick as a ballplayer, and miss him on my team.  He was great for the Orioles, and I know he is missed among O's fans.  Maybe one day, he will return to the organization.

Thanks for the deal, Nick, I appreciate it!

Care Package From Freesecollector614

I got a really nice care package in the mail last week from a guy on Instagram that I have never traded with, but he has interacted on my posts for a long time.  He put a nice note in the package that said that he appreciated everything that I have done in the card community and wanted this Chris Tillman card to fit into my collection.

Boy, does it ever?  It is a 2014 Topps Mini black parallel numbered 5/5.  I didn't have any of these, yet and with it being a /5 parallel, I imagine it would have been really touch to find, had I been searching for it.

I really appreciated him thinking of me, and also the nice note.  I don't do what I do for any kind of attention, but it is kind of nice to be recognized from time to time.

Recent Ebay Pickups

I did some buying on EBay recently and a few of the items have come in over the last few days.  Instead of burying them in my "to be blogged pile", I figured I would combine them and try to move a few things along.

The above 2014 Topps Mini printing plate of Chris Davis was on my watch list for a while, so I went ahead and picked it up for $16 shipped.  Not bad for a plate.  I wish it was the checklist version, though, since I have the platinum 1/1.  Oh well, I'm hoping I find it, or the platinum 1/1 of this card.

For a couple bucks, I grabbed this Irv Noren from 1959 Topps.  This is card #59 and was actually very hard to search for until I figured out who was actually on the card.  It's in great shape and will go nicely into my set.  I am under 100 cards remaining for this set, and I really would like to finish it off this year.

I bought this 1955 Bowman Chuck Bednarik football card with the hope of sending it to him for a TTM autograph, but he sent it back to me RTS.  Oh well, I went to the well too many times on him, since I was successful a few years ago.  He has been up and down health-wise lately, so that is more important.  I hope he is doing well, as he is 89 years old now.

Finally, I needed this 2014 Topps Stadium Club Chris Davis for my PC, so I got it when I bought a few of his other cards a while back.  It was at the bottom of my pile, so I was happy to go ahead and get it scanned and posted.  I love Stadium Club, and this card of Davis is a real nice one.  I just wish he would stop with the chewing tobacco.

Ebay Pickup - 2014 Topps Mini Nolan Reimold Pink Parallel

I picked up this really awesome 2014 Topps Mini Nolan Reimold pink parallel off of Ebay recently when I got a payment in from my buddy Michael for a ball I got him at Fan Fest.  I went through my "haves" spreadsheet with Andrew and we settled on some nice PC cards that I needed to add for respective rainbows.

I need to get a box or two of 2014 Mini, since they are so cheap.  I really need to hit up some more Davis parallels, especially since I have the platinum parallel.

I really like the pink parallels.  This one really stands out.  The card is numbered 4/25.

My First Chris Davis 1/1 Platinum Parallel

My main complaint when it has come to completing a rainbow of a player has always been that it is almost impossible to find a platinum 1/1 card.  I mean, it is so tough to find one, I have no platinum 1/1 parallels of any of my PC players.  I came really close with the 2010 Topps Nolan Reimold, but I missed it by a week.  That card was at a LCS near Charlotte for a while, with a $75.00 price tag, and when I finally got the guts to buy it, it had been purchased a week prior.

So, when I saw this 2014 Topps Mini Chris Davis platinum on Ebay last week, I jumped all over it.  I didn't really want to buy any cards at that time, since we have been monitoring our money very closely, but I knew I would regret it if I passed it up (as I had learned from one of my good friends, if you see a card that you think you'll never see again, you have to buy it).

I have no other versions of the 2014 Topps Mini Chris Davis, but I can assure you that I am on the lookout for a few, and once our money situation gets settled later this month, I'm pouncing on some of the parallels.  If I see one of the printing plates, I can go ahead and tell you, the credit card will be utilized just to make it happen!

So, I'm really happy that I was able to find this 1/1 Davis, and I thank Ebay for their saved search feature, which assures me that I won't miss some of this really hard to find stuff.

Christmas From Max - Chris Davis Game Used 2014 Topps Mini

One of the things I am most thankful for since I started trading on Instagram a year ago is the fact that I have met so many new friends while offloading a bunch of stuff.  One of the people I have met on there that I have formed a real great friendship with is my buddy, Max.  He's so young, but conducts himself as if he were 20 years older.  Max and I talk almost every day, and we can complete a trade really fast.

Max went above and beyond with what he sent me for Christmas.  I got a huge pile of Orioles cards that I need to go through and see if I need them for my PCs.  He also sent me a few vintage Hall of Famers that I will hoard til I start on those sets.

One of the biggest pieces that Max sent was this game used bat card of Chris Davis from 2014 Topps Mini.  I didn't have this card yet, and I was really happy when I saw it.  I can now add it to my spreadsheet!

I'm really grateful that Max thought of me when he was picking up Christmas gifts, because I know money is tight for him.  The thought is definitely what counts, and he scored big time!

Thanks so much Max, for the cards, and most of all, for your friendship.