Christmas Gift From Tim

I got a package in the mail a couple weeks ago from my friend and fellow blogger, Tim (from the blog - I Love The Smell of Cardboard in the Morning).  In it was a bunch of Orioles cards that I needed for various PCs.  The above Chris Davis from 2015 Topps Archives is definitely one I needed and it numbered 2/50.

I really like this Darren O'Day gold from 201 Update.  This might be one of my favorite shots on an Oriole card in all of the products that came out of 2015.  O'Day was an unlikely All Star, as closers are typically the only relievers chosen for the game.  The fact that it shows all of the Oriole All Stars from 2015 is really cool, too.

Finally, Tim included a card that I needed for the 2013 Topps Emerald set.  I haven't been picking up any of these lately, so it was nice to be able to knock something off of my list.

Thank you so much for the package, Tim!  I hope to see you at this weekend's card show in Raleigh!

A Surprise Package From Matthew

Recently, I got a nice package from young Matthew, a friend of mine who I have been helping along in the hobby.  He has a blog that he has just now started back up, Matthew's Card Collection, he's working on adding more content, but I believe he is 11, and has school and sports taking up his time as well.

I consider Matthew a friend, but he is also a really good friend to my son, Chris.  Matthew sends Chris random cards as surprises fairly frequently and they talk on Skype together every now and then.  If I have made Matthew feel welcome in the card community, he has returned the favor with Chris.  Chris has a couple cards set aside for Matthew that I will send him shortly, once I finalize my next package for him.

So, if you haven't checked out Matthew's blog, please do.  We need more and more young folks getting involved in the hobby so that the future of the hobby is secure, which I think it is.

Thanks for the cards, Matthew!

Instagram Trade With Sam

This trade was several months in the making.  I had pulled a bunch of Ian Kinsler and Mariners cards for a kid named Sam and set them aside.  I has initially hoped that Sam would complete the trade right away, but he didn't have what he felt was enough to offer, so the deal was shelved for a while.  Sam got back up with me recently, and luckily, I had the pile of cards still set aside for him.

I got the above Camo parallel Darren O'Day, which is numbered 39/99, a bunch of Orioles cards and a 2013 Topps Emerald parallel for my set in exchange for the cards I had for him and a few extras I threw in as well.

Sam, feeling bad that it took so long to complete the deal, threw in a few other cards for me (like this Bob Feller manufactured patch) and some for my son, Chris.

Sam might be only 13, but he is a really good guy and a great trader.  I am glad he was able to complete this deal and I have already sent him a second package and am at work on a third.  Thanks for the trade, Sam, I really appreciate it.

Another Trade With Michael

One of the many perks of having this blog is that it has helped me make some friends among fellow collectors.  One person I have met recently is a guy named Michael, whom I traded with at Fan Fest in January.  Michael had his eyes on some of the signed post cards as well as a few game used baseballs I picked up while at Fan Fest.  In return for some of the post cards, Michael sent me the above Dontrelle Willis signed baseball.  I had a chance to get Willis a couple years ago off of Ebay for $0.99, but I drug my feet and missed out.  Dang.  Oh well, I have him now.  I was always a fan of Willis and I hate to see that his career has been derailed like it has.

Another ball I got from Michael was this Mark Reynolds signed ball.  I hate that Reynolds left the O's to sign with Cleveland, but I feel like losing his 200+ strikeouts paired with a returning Nolan Reimold makes his loss not as bad.  Especially if Nolan can hit the 30+ homers and drive in 100 like I feel he  is capable; All while batting 50-60 points higher than Reynolds.  Anyway, I still like Reynolds and am happy to add his auto to my collection.

Michael also threw in some signed tickets that he had, the above Darren O'Day and the below Johnny Damon.  O'Day is probably my favorite reliever on the O's right now, and Damon, well, he is just a great player, even though he isn't an Oriole.

Thanks for the trade, Michael!  I am amazed at the awesome O's stuff you have and I hope we can match up again on a trade!

Fan Fest Trade with Blog Reader Michael

I got a message a few weeks leading up to Fan Fest from a young man named Michael who is as big an Orioles fan as I am.  For someone as young as he is, he sure has a sweet collection of Orioles autos, all sweet spotted on OMLB baseballs.  We were able to agree to a trade (which is actually really tough, because, being such a big fan, it is hard for me to part with anything truly of value) which would send me a signed Darren O'Day baseball in exchange for two autograph vouchers.  I figured that would work out just fine, so he sent me the below baseball.  He also sent me a picture of the above Miguel Gonzalez signed mini bat, so I bought that off of him for $20.  Again, not a bad deal.

Michael and I met up at Fan Fest and exchanged our goods.  I really like both items and it was nice to be able to meet another die hard O's fan.  I especially wanted an O'Day signed ball, since he was lights out in the bullpen and (whats tougher than lights out?  Insert that term here) in the playoffs against the Yankees.  I'm hoping for another great season from O'Day this year.

Michael's a good guy who reads the blogs, but has yet to start one of his own.  Maybe he will, so we can all see some of the awesome stuff he has in his collection.  Thanks for the trade Michael, let's do it again soon!