TTM Success - Chance Sisco

A friend of mine from Instagram held a private signing with former Oriole, Chance Sisco recently.  I had some Sisco cards left over from when I saw him last season with Lancaster.  I also raided my old Sisco PC for some other nice cards, like the above mini gold shimmer from 2015 Bowman Chrome.

I also got a 2017 Bowman, 2013 Bowman Chrome black shimmer, 2018 Topps and 2018 Donruss Optic pink parallel signed through the event.

Sisco (b. 1995) played in the majors from 2017 to 2021 for the Orioles and Mets.  He had 102 hits, 16 home runs and a .197 batting average. Sisco signed with the Cardinals this off-season.

I mailed to the signing on November 14 and got the cards back on December 26 for a 42-day TAT.  I paid a fee of $5/card.

Spring Training Returns From Drake

My friend, Drake, may appreciate how I have my autograph albums set up almost as much as I do.  I enjoy the variety of each page and how so many different cards from different sets populate the albums.  Drake has helped me get cards signed for a few years now, and he really came through during this year's Spring Training.

He even mentioned to Maikol Escotto (above) how the card he was signing would end up as the cover photo of a future blog post (even though I don't blog by request).  I honored Drake's wishes and put this card first as part of a deal we made while he was assembling the return package.

Drake helped me clear a lot of room in my prospects boxes by taking the cards he took for Spring Training.  He also helped get a bunch of cards out of the box of shame, which clears room for some missed opportunities from this season.

I was really happy to add the 2022 Panini Capstone Pablo Lopez (top right) to the album.  Those cards look really nice, and look even better signed.

I was really happy with the 2022 Topps Cosmic Chrome Griffin Jax that Drake got done for me.  That was a cool box that I ordered off of Topps.com, and this is the first from that set that I have been able to get signed.

Drake got Joey Gallo to sign (top left), but Gallo switched markers on him.  I don't care, though, he gets added to the album anyway.  The 2014 Bowman Byron Buxton turned out nicely, as well.

Several Bowman Draft highlight this page, as well as a 2017 Topps Heritage Minors Chance Sisco.  I missed Sisco a few times, but was finally able to get this card out of my boxes.

Drake added a couple extras of his own, like the 2019 Topps Heritage Minors Brock Deatherage blue parallel and the 2014 Leaf Perfect Game Andrew Cabezas.  He also tossed in the 2022 Panini Prizm Curtis Terry, which was nice, since Terry is a former Wood Duck.

There is a 2001 Topps Rocco Baldelli that Drake got done for me, as well as a 2020 Topps Big League orange parallel of Chance Sisco that I really wanted to get signed.  Drake read my mind, and got that one taken care of for me.  He also provided me with several project cards with multiple players to try to get signed.  Thanks buddy!

I was surprised to see this 2021 Topps Heritage Minors Austin Martin stickers insert get signed.  I'm sure it was tough to add it to his page, but it is cool to add one of these to my album.  Martin was tough last season when I went to Wichita, so for Drake to get two cards done for me out of my box of shame, I was really happy.

Finally, Drake added this 1989 Donruss signed by David Cone that Drake traded for.  He had a friend get Cone at Royals opening day (I think), and it is something really awesome to add to the album.

Thank you for all of your hard work, Drake!

Some Autos From Cal

I got a package from my friend, Cal, last year, and haven't gotten around to scanning the cards until now.  He sent me a stack of Orioles cards that cleaned him out officially, and also the above custom auto of Virgil Trucks.  This is a print of his 1951 Bowman and it looks nice.

Cal also sent back a card that he had gotten signed for me by either Austin Hays or Chance Sisco.  I think I had gotten one of them and Cal finished the card... or Cal got both.  I can't remember.

Thanks for the cards, Cal!  Sorry it took me so long to post them!

Christmas Gift From Cal

Continuing my effort to catch up on posts, here is what my good friend, Cal, sent me for Christmas.  He really surprised me by sending a huge stack of cards, including some really nice relics and autos.  The above Panini Spectrum Chris Davis is something I hadn't seen before, and looks really cool in my collection.

This Diamond Kings Chance Sisco dual relic auto was really cool as well.

As was this Austin Hays jumbo relic auto.  Cal really hooked me up, to which I am grateful.

Thanks so much, Cal!

Christmas Gift From Anthony

As I got more TTM successes in after the holidays, I fell behind again in getting some Christmas gifts posted.  I want to try to get them all posted on here, but a few have already been put up or away, so I don't know if posts will happen.  I have thanked everyone that has sent something, which was the most important part.

I got a nice gift in from my good friend, Anthony, who had told me ahead of time that his package would be delayed, since he was off at college.  We haven't been able to talk as much as we used to, since he is busy with school and having joined a fraternity.  Still, Anthony is a a close friend, and an amazing guy.

The graded Yusniel Diaz was really sweet, and so was this Chance Sisco crazy patch card that he found!

Thanks so much, Anthony!  Sorry it took me so long to get these posted, but here they are!

National Gift From Noah

I'm just about done with all of my pickups from the National.  Of the things I have left to show, one is this awesome Bowman auto of Chance Sisco that my friend Noah gave me when we met up.

The card looks amazing anf is numbered 74/99.

Sisco hasn't had the best of years, so here's hoping he can bounce back and do better next season.  I think he was a bit rushed.

Thanks so much for the card, Noah!  I love it!

Christmas Gift From Anthony - Chris Davis Relic Auto and More

My good friend, Anthony, hooked me up with some nice Chris Davis cards, and other Orioles.  Anthony and I have been friends for several years now, but this past year, we have gotten even closer.  I was finally able to meet him in person when he, Kevin, Max and I all went to the Cubs vs. White Sox game at Wrigley Field.  I was honored to hook Anthony up with the extra ticket that we had.  I'm so happy that I was able to include him, as I could tell that the experience really meant a lot to him.  He also hit it off really well with Kevin, so that helped everyone mesh as a group and enjoy our time at the game.

I really love the Chris Davis dual relic/auto from 2016 Panini Diamond Kings that Anthony gave me.  These are really nice cards.  I hope Panini keeps up the Diamond Kings concept, as I really enjoy the painted canvas feel that the cards have.

I had a couple of these Chris Davis 2015 Topps First Home Run coin cards, bur I still wnjoy them and was glad to add another.

Anthony also included these four Orioles cards.  I have already added the green Chance Sisco and the Mancini to my box of Orioles that I will take with me to Orioles Fan Fest in a couple weeks.  They will give me some nice options for autographs, depending on who I end up getting vouchers for.

Thank you so much for the Christmas gift, Anthony!  I love the cards, and you know they will have a great home in my collection.

Orioles Prospect Pickups From The National

As the Orioles crap the bed on this season, now is as good a time as any to look toward the future.  While I was at the National, I utilized the bargain boxes to add some O's "prospects" to my collection.  The above DJ Stewart jumbo relic/auto cost me less than $5.00, but is a pretty cool card.  Stewart hasn't really lived up to his "first round draft pick" billing, but since his promotion from Low A Delmarva to High A Frederick, Stewart's batting average has picked up by 42 points from .230 to .272.  He had 4 homers at Delmarva this year, coupled with another 4 at Frederick.  He should develop more power, but that remains to be seen.  So far, Stewart appears to be far away from reaching the Majors, but one can still hope.  The kid is only 22, so hopefully he can continue to improve.

This Chance Sisco was a dine box find.  Sisco might be the top Orioles prospect, and may see playing time in the majors next year.  He is only 22, but holds a .322 career average over 4 minor league seasons.  The Orioles desperately need a high average player who can get on base.  Compared to the dismal .230 average that Matt Wieters is showing this season, Sisco may be an upgrade over the former phenom.  Sisco isn't regarded as a plus defender, but Wieters seems to have regressed defensively somewhat, and has always been suspect as his game-calling.  I look forward to seeing what Sisco can do, but I doubt he gets a call up in September.  We may have to wait to see how he performs in Spring Training 2017.  By then, Wieters may likely be gone.

24 year-old Drew Dosch is batting .256 with an OBP of .306 at AA Bowie this season.  He has 7 homers and has struck out 87 times.  He was a 7th round pick in 2013 and hopefully will continue to move up in the O's system.  He's a third baseman who has Manny Machado to look up at in the depth chart for a couple more seasons before Manny leaves via free agency.  I got this card for less than $5 out of a bargain box.  This 2015 Bowman Chrome blue refractor auto is numbered 28/150.

I was excited to find this Cole Billingsley auto in a bargain box for $3.00.  He is currently at Short Season (A) Aberdeen and is batting .283 with 3 homers over the course of 46 games.  Not bad for his first season of pro ball.  I look forward to following Billingsley's career as he rises through the ranks.  Hopefully he will make the majors, which would be really cool for a kid featured on a 2010 Bowman card at the age of 16.

Finally, we have a 2016 Bowman Inception Trey Mancini auto that I picked up for less than $15.  I love these cards.  My buddy Robert busted two cases of Inception and actually pulled this same card.  I wanted to get it from him, but he sold it before I had a chance to make an offer.  Oh well.  This card is not numbered,  but the auto is on-card.

Mancini sports a .306 average across 4 minor league seasons.  He was promoted to AAA Norfolk, a notoriously unfriendly park for hitters' stats, but has batted a respectable .279 with 13 home runs over 118 games.  Mancini stands a chance to be called up when rosters expand on September 1.  If anything, he must be added to the Orioles 40-man roster this off season, or they risk exposing him to the Rule V Draft (where any team can draft him for the price of $50,000, but must keep him on their 25-man roster, or offer him back to the O's for $25,000).  It is a no-brainer that Mancini is added to the 40-man no later than the off season.

More Pickups From the Card Show

I got a bunch of deals while at the show this past weekend, and added a few nice cards to my collection.

I got the above 1975 Topps Mini Brooks Robinson for my PC.  Thing is, I thought I had this already, but I can't seem to find it.  So, for $5, I grabbed this one while walking around Sunday at the show.

Right after I picked up the Brooks, I kept walking and checked out another table nearby.  I saw that he had this Chance Sisco gold mini shimmer from 2015 Bowman.  This one is numbered 20/50 and looks really cool.  The vendor really needed to put his glasses on, though, because he kept telling me it was Christian Walker on the card.  I didn't want to be rude, but I did correct him, because I felt like he was about to charge extra because it was Walker.  I ended up getting this for $5, though.

The vendor next to me had a nice box of recent stuff and parallels that I went through a little later when I was bored.  I found a few cards for friends of mine, and this Adam Jones for myself.  I had been tipped off by my friend, Tim.  This Adam Jones black refractor from 2014 chrome is numbered 80/100.

Finally, I got this card from Tim, himself.  He had gone through a dime box and rescued this purple JJ Hardy for me.  It is numbered 55/250.

I feel like I did really well at this past show.  I sold a decent amount of stuff, and have enough to carry over to the one day Easter show, if I'm able to attend that one.  I also bought some nice stuff, but didn't break the bank.  I wish I could say that for every show that I go to, though.

Care Package From Caleb

Back before I left for the National, I got a care package in the mail from my buddy, Caleb.  I sent him a bunch of Braves stuff and a relic from a Braves minor league team.  In return, he sent me this Bowman Sterling Chance Sisco auto and the below 2014 Bowman Chrome refractor auto of Jonathan Schoop.

With Matt Wieters leaving via free agency this off season, the Orioles will have to make do with Caleb Joseph and most likely Steve Clevenger until Sisco is ready for the majors.  Sisco is probably the best prospect that the O's have now, since Kevin Gausman is in the majors and Dylan Bundy has been hurt so much.

I really want to get to a minor league game to see Sisco play next season.  I missed out this year.

This Schoop auto is numbered 250/500.  It is a really nice-looking card.  I have quite a bit of Schoop autos and relics now, and it looks like he might just become one of my main PC targets once Chris Davis leaves Baltimore behind.  Schoop is a really good player.  I just wish he would stop attending the Adam Jones school of hitting.  He swings at so many down and away pitches, it looks like a carbon copy of a Jones at bat.

Anyway, thanks for the cards, Caleb!!

Picking Up Prospects From Frankie

I completed a trade recently with Frankie from the wonderful blog "My Life In The Sports Card Hobby" when I sent him a couple relic cards of Hall of Famers in exchange for some nice Bowman Chrome prospect cards.

One of the keys to the trade was this 2014 Bowman Chrome Shimmer refractor of Clint Frazier.  I've been kind of following Frazier a bit since he was drafted.  I have a couple of his cards, and am looking to get one of his autos at some point.  He's a really good player, and I think he will be really good for the Indians when he finally makes the big leagues.  This shimmer refractor is numbered 3/25 and will be put up.  I really enjoyed the different types of refractors that were offered in Bowman Chrome last year.  I hope they continue with this, because they were really cool-looking.

Another piece in the deal was this black wave refractor of the Orioles' first pick in the 2015 draft, Brian Gonzalez.  The O's didn't have a pick in the first two rounds during that draft, since they had signed Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz that previous offseason.  I think they would like to have a do-over when they signed Jimenez, but Cruz was a really good pickup.  Gonzalez has been pretty good, so far, for the Orioles.  He went 0-1 with a 1.34 ERA over 10 games between the GCL Orioles and short season Aberdeen.  This season, he has started 3 games for Low A Delmarva and has gone 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA.

Frankie threw in a ton of extras in the deal.  This gold refractor from 2014 Finest is numbered 50/50 and looks really sharp.  Jones has started the season on a tear, and I hope he can keep it up.

Currently batting .167 for the Frederick Keys is Orioles catching prospect, Chance Sisco.  He had a stellar season last year when he batted .340 for Delmarva.  His average is really low right now, but that is only over the course of 5 games (2 for 12).  I think he will get on track and will continue to show why he is one of the Orioles top prospects.  This mini blue refractor from 2013 Bowman Chrome is numbered 65/99.

Another highly-thought-of catching prospect in the Orioles system is Jonah Heim.  I really like him because his grandmother follows me on Twitter and Heim follows me on Instagram.  It doesn't take much to make me happy.  Seriously, though, Heim is well regarded in the Orioles system.  He was a 4th round pick in the 2013 draft out of high school.  He is only 19 (with a birthday in June) and has hit for a low average so far in his Minor League career (.204 over 83 games).  With him being so young, I look for Heim's bat to catch up; he actually is hitting .278 for Delmarva so far this season. This green refractor is numbered 65/75.

Frankie really hooked me up in this deal.  He is a really great guy, and I hope you all get the chance to read and comment on his blog.  Thanks for the trade, Frankie!  I'll keep looking for cool stuff for you so we can work on our next deal.

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

COMC Pickup - 2013 Bowman Sterling Chance Sisco Auto

Here is another of the cards that I picked up off of COMC recently.  I got this 2013 Bowman Sterling green parallel auto of Chance Sisco for $6.75 worth of store credit.  Not too bad, since I saw Sterling base autos of Sisco going for $5.00 at the last card show I went to.  I remembered lamenting the fact that I passed on grabbing one of them, but luckily, I got this one,  This card looks so much better than the base ones anyway.

Sisco is having some kind of season this year.  Tonight, he went 3 for 4 with a homer for Delmarva.  On the season, he is batting .338 with 143 hits (113 games) and 5 home runs.  Wow.  That is really good.  I would love it if the Orioles had a few high average hitters on the team.  You know, guys you could count on to hit .320 or .330 perennially.  I guess, in these days, that is really hard to come by.  Well, Sisco is doing well in the lower levels of the minors.  He should be headed to Frederick, next season.  Let's hope he can sustain this success, but I have to keep reminding myself that he is only 19.

Great Cards From Weston

I got a package from my buddy Weston a while ago that had a bunch of great Orioles cards.  The best ones were of Orioles prospect, Chance Sisco.  Sisco is having some kind of year this year, batting .344 at the moment for low A Delmarva.  He has 104 hits and 4 homers in 80 games.

These Sisco cards are really awesome.  I regret not buying his Bowman Sterling auto at the card show when I had a chance.  He is having a great year and looks like he will be moving up in the O's system pretty quickly.

Surprisingly, I didn't have this 2008 Topps Chroms X-fractor of Nick Markakis that Weston sent.  I was really happy to get it.

Finally, Weston sent me a few 2013 Topps emerald parallels for my set.  I still am working on this set, and it was so cool of Weston to send me a few.

Thanks for the cards, Weston!  I really appreciate it.