TTM Success - Michael Cuddyer

This is one of those TTM successes that really makes you enjoy the hobby.  Michael Cuddyer, early in his career, received some advice for Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.  Killebrew taught him the value of having a good signature, and it really shows here.  Add in the fact that I got a nice auto on a 2013 Topps Update emerald parallel, and you have a really nice addition to the album.

Cuddyer (b. 1979) played in the majors from 2001 to 2015 for the Twins, Rockies and Mets.  He had 1,522 hits, 197 home runs and a .277 batting average.  He was the NL Batting Champion in 2013 when he batted .330 with the Rockies.  That season he had his best finish in the MVP voting at 20th.  He was an All Star in 2011 and 2013, and won the Silver Slugger award in 2013.  He appeared in 7 playoff series with the Twins, but didn't reach a World Series until 2015 with the Mets (his final season) where he lost to the Royals.

I mailed to Cuddyer on October 13 and got the card back on March 2, for a 140-day TAT.

2013 Topps Emerald Stack From Ryan

I was surprised to get a package in the mail from my good friend, Ryan.  I counted 50 cards for my set, which really helps make a dent!  I want to finish this thing out one day, and I believe that I can.  I was able to be patient and finish the Brooks Robinson letter patch set, so I know anything is possible in cards.  Except for rainbows.  Rainbows are impossible.

Thank you so much for the huge stack of cards, Ryan!  I really appreciate it!

The Green Camaro Rides Again

I got a one-card care package from my friend, Jeff, who goes by the name @green68camaro on Instagram.  He had found this 2013 Topps emerald parallel that I needed for my set.  I haven't forgotten the set, I just haven't done a whole lot with it lately.  I still have a log way to go on it, but I'll hit it on sportlots sometime soon and chip away.

Thank you so much for the card, Jeff, I really appreciate it!

Set Needs Care Package From JediJeff

I got a surprise email the other day from fellow blogger, JediJeff.  He informed me that he had a few cards I needed for some sets, and that he wanted to send them my way.  This was really awesome of him, and like I said, totally unexpected.

Jeff included two cards I needed for my 2015 Stadium Club set, one of which is this angry-looking Albert Belle.  I wouldn't go trick-or-treating at his house (look the story up), but man he could hit a baseball a long way.

Jeff also included 6 2013 Topps emerald parallels for that set.  I have added a couple here and there, but am still at a really slow pace on this set.  I need to knock a bunch out via a big sportlots purchase, but I just haven't gotten around to it.  Maybe sometime soon, I will hit this set a lot harder than I have been.

Thank you so much for the care package, Jeff!  I really appreciate it!  Give his blog a follow, if you don't already.  You can check it out here.

In Person Care Package From Tim

At this past weekend's card show in Raleigh, I met another fellow blogger in person.  Tim, from the blog "I Love The Smell of Cardboard in The Morning" was kind enough to hang out with me for a while, and even delivered a care package to me.

In the package was a bunch of Orioles cards and three 2013 Topps Emerald Parallels that I needed for my set.  No, I haven't forgotten this set, I just have been wrapped up with other sets, so this one has gone on the shelf for now.  I do intend to pick up any loose ones I see at the National.  I'm not sure if I will see any there, but I will be looking.

Tim joins the list of folks who have been able to locate Cal cards that I need for my very huge PC.  This is a major feat, finding cards I need, as I have nothing posted showing what I have.  That would take forever.  Anyway, Tim came through and added three new Cals to the PC.

Thanks so much for coming by, and even more for the care package.  It was really nice to meet Tim, and I hope any other bloggers in the general vicinity of Raleigh, NC will come and see me at the next show in September.

Instagram Trade With Michael M.

I did a trade a while back with a kid from Instagram named Michael; he is a friend of a kid named Adam that I have traded with periodically.  Michael was really easy to trade with.  He sent me two emerald parallels for my set and a few other odds and ends.

I haven't heard from Michael since the trade.  I hope he continues with the hobby, since he was so easy to deal with.  I've noticed that some kids get into really hardcore, then it dies out quickly.  Oh well.

It was nice to add a couple more emeralds to the set.  This one is kind of floundering, but I am able to knock some stuff off here and there.

Huge Trade With Brian

I completed a trade with my friend, Brian, of the blog - Base Set Calling, recently when he bought a partial set of 2014 Topps Series 2 and several parallels.  As part of the deal, he sent me 49 cards I needed for my 2013 Topps Emerald set.

I was so happy to knock these off of my list (which has been updated).  I don't know if I will ever finish the set, but I'm going to keep trying.  Never give up!

Thanks for the deal, Brian!  I know we will do more soon, especially when 2015 Series 1 comes out!

Instagram Trade WIth Ben K.

I've met so many people on Instagram since I started trading cards on there about a year ago.  Some of them have been one and done trades, and some have bloomed into lasting friendships.  Some of the people I have met have been awesomely polite while others have been downright rude.  In all, though, I'd say about 95% of the people I have met on there have been really great.  One of the new ones I've met over the last few weeks is a really nice guy named Ben from Indiana.  He and his best friend buy and sell used sports equipment, mainly gloves.  They also collect cards, one (Ben) collects Cubs and his friend (Jake) collects White Sox.

I completed a trade with Ben by sending him a few Cubs cards and in return he sent me several Orioles as well as some Emerald parallels that I needed for my set.

Ben and I have already completed another trade for some great stuff that he should be shipping today, I think.  I lose track, I really need to write stuff down.

Thanks for the easy trade, Ben.  I hope yours and Jake's collections keep growing!

Instagram Trade With Scott - Major Set Needs

I completed a trade with my new friend, Scott F., when I sent him a nice Madison Bumgarner auto from Tristar Prospects Plus in exchange for 31 Topps Chrome cards I needed for my set and also 5 2013 Topps emerald parallels for that set.

The 2014 Chromes made a huge dent in what I needed in order to complete my set.  I'd like to get that one complete pretty soon as well.

Completing the 2013 emerald set is another matter in itself.  This one has slowed down quite a bit.  I need to find some dealers at shows who have these available, but I haven't been all that aggressive in looking.  I'll get it done sometime, though.  When I do, I fully intend on putting these in an album, as opposed to how I normally store my sets, in long boxes.

Scott also sent some nice parallels and a couple autos, one of which will be sent to a friend of mine soon.  The other cards he sent, I'll put them aside and show them in a later post.

Thanks for the trade, Scott!

Instagram Trade With Adam - 2013 Topps Manny Machado Emerald Parallel

I completed a trade last week with a guy named Adam on Instagram when I sent him a Matt Davidson auto out of 2014 Chrome in exchange for this 2013 Topps Manny Machado emerald parallel.  I've been trying to get the Manny for a while now for both my PC and my emerald set, and I was finally able to match up with someone who had one.

I am still working on the emerald set, even though things have slowed on it quite a bit.  I knew the Manny would be tough to find, so I'm glad I was able to get it out of the way.  I'll probably start chipping away at the set on Sportlots now, since fewer and fewer people are going to have them laying around.

Trade With Roger of Sports Card Mask-A-Rade

I completed a trade with Roger of the blog Sports Card Mask-A-Rade when I sent him my Mike Olt Museum Collection auto and some Museum Collection base cards for two 1969 Topps cards I needed for my set, which included the above Tony Oliva All Star.

I got 19 emerald parallels that I needed for that set.  I'm really glad to get these because this set has really slowed down.  I want to move it along before we get too far removed from the 2013 set.  I really don't want it lasting as long as my 2009 Brooks Robinson pursuit has gone.

Roger also included 3 2013 Topps Chrome cards for that set as well, so that one is winding down and should be completed very soon.

Thanks for the trade, Roger.  I hope you all will check out his blog and hit him up for some trade action!

Set Needs in the Mail From the Junior Junkie

I got a nice surprise package not too long ago from TJ, the Junior Junkie that had a good bit of set needs that he had seen on my wishlist.

In the package were 1 - 1959 Topps card; 3 - 1969 Topps cards and 4 - 2013 Topps Emerald parallels.

It was really awesome of TJ to randomly hook me up.  I have a stack of Griffeys that I will be sending his way shortly.

Thanks so much for the cards, I really appreciate it!

Trade With Max of Starting Nine

I completed a trade with Max over at "Starting Nine" recently when I sent him a Collin Cowgill auto in exchange for some O's stuff and a stack of 16 2013 Topps Emeral parallels for my set.

I really like the above Adam Jones green parallel from 2013 Bowman Chrome.  I'm not too sure green and orange go together, unless you are a Miami Hurricanes fan like my older brother.  Still, it is a really sharp looking card, which I enjoy.

Finally, one of the emeralds I needed was this Zach Britton.  I hope to complete the emerald set sometime soon and this trade stack definitely puts a sizable dent in it.

Thanks for the trade Max, let's do it again!

A Just Because Package From Ryan

I got a nice package from Ryan recently that had a ton of Orioles and other PC needs in it.  Ryan always hooks me up with nice O's stuff, even though he has the 2013 Topps Factory Set Orange parallel of Nolan Reimold that I need.  Not that I'm bitter or anything, lol.  Ryan did, however, send me 20...  Yeah, 20 of the above 2005 Bowman Chrome Nolan Reimold RC.  20 of them.  That's a bunch.  I'm cool with it though, I'll keep every one of them!

I really liked this 2012 Gypsy Queen framed parallel (copper?) of Brooks Robinson.  I didn't have it yet, so that made it even better.

Finally, Ryan included 5 emerald parallels that I needed for the set.  I really need to get on these.  I haven't added too many lately.  These 5 will help, but I need to get off my butt and make some more trades happen.  Of course, I could buy some, too, but that would take the fun out of the hunt.  I have gotten most of the ones I have completely out of trades.

So, thanks for the stuff, Ryan!  I really appreciate it.  I'll be seeing you soon for Fan Fest, that's for sure!

Ebay Pickup - 2013 Topps Emerald Nolan Reimold

I made yet another addition to my Nolan Reimold PC today when I received the above 2013 Topps Emerald parallel in the mail.  Funny thing is, I needed this for my Nolan PC and I need to get another for my 2013 Emerald set that I am still working on.

The 2013 Emerald set is coming along slowly, but it is coming along at least.  My Reimold PC is pretty impressive, but I would love to be able to add some of the elusive 1/1s like the 2010 Platinum that I heard was in a shop outside of Charlotte, only to find out later that it had sold.  Blehhh!!!

Anyway, I'm still looking for parallels of all years that Nolan has a Topps card and it is a lot of fun when one comes along that I need.  I will be updating the wishlist to reflect some of the more recent PC needs.  Keep a lookout!

2013 Topps Emerald Parallel Pursuit and More

Since the Orioles played a day game today and it is storming outside now, I had some time to do some updating to the blog.  I added my needs from 2013 Topps Series 2 Emerald Parallel and I also added a list of autos that I had available for trade.  So, head over to my wishlist and trade pages and see what all I have available and what I am looking for.

I wanted to post the above Dan Straily emerald parallel since I received it in a trade a few weeks ago from Nachos Grande in exchange for a Team USA Barry Larkin.  I'm glad folks are still trying to help me make this set a reality.  We'll see how it goes.

Anyway, my trade post from the other day was so successful, I decided to try to see what I could get out of the other autos I had in my 'sale' box.  So, please take a look and let me know if any of those are to your liking.  ESPECIALLY, if you have a Hall of Fame signed baseball you would like to trade.  That would be REALLY nice!

Even More Mail From Judson

Judson was nice enough to send me a huge stack of 2913 Topps Emerald recently (of which I needed many).  I have slowed down on working on this set.  I really need to pick it up.  I have to organize and catalog the Series 2 Emeralds that I need for my set, so that folks can pull them off of my wishlist.

Check out Judson's blog, My Cardboard Habit, for a good read written by a Rangers fan.  He has been busting Allen & Ginter right now, so definitely check that out.

My wishlist will be updated for my Series One emerald needs and I hope to get my Series Two stuff organized by Sunday evening.  We'll see.  Please be sure to check it out, nonetheless.

A Package From Andrew

I got a nice package in the mail from my good friend, Andrew, over at Andrew's Baseball Cards.  He sent me some Tim Lincecum cards for my son as well as some Orioles for me.  He also included the above Jaime Garcia Emerald for my set that I am trying to complete.

I don't know how I missed this Adam Jones from Opening Day.  It's a pretty cool card; with the pie face and all.  I remember when the pie face cards were the SP theme.  I think that was 2010?  I remember I had the Ike Davis.  I'm glad I sold that one when I did.

So, thanks for the package, Andrew!  You'll have some Cardinals headed your way pretty soon, so keep a look out.

Trade With Blog Reader - Jeff

I completed a trade recently with blog reader, Jeff, when I sent him several 1987 Topps cards that he needed for his set.  In return, he sent me 4 2013 Topps Emerald parallels that I needed for my set.  I chose to show off the above Jose Altuve because of the awesome Astros jersey that he is seen wearing.

I still need a ton of 2013 Topps Emerald parallels for my set.  I need too many Series 2's to list, so if you have any, I'll take them.  My Series 1 needs are on my Wishlist, so please check it out and send me some more!  I really want to complete this set.  I feel like I'm doing well, I still have yet to buy what I need, so I think getting as far as I have by trading says a lot.

Thanks for the trade, Jeff.  Let's do it again!

A Nice PWE From Night Owl

I got a nice envelope in the mail the other day from fellow blogger Night Owl that contained 5 more 2013 Topps Emerald parallels that I needed for my set.  His PWE put me at a total of 146 cards, so out of the 330 needed to complete the set, I am now just over 44% complete.  Woo Hoo!  Until Series 2 comes along, then I will need to get all of those, too.  But, I digress.

Thanks for the cards, Night Owl!  He also sent me a great 2013 Topps Gold parallel Robert Andino.  I kind of miss him on this year's club.  Flaherty definitely isn't getting the job done at 2nd base.  Of course, had Roberts not gotten hurt, it would be a moot point.  Oh well.