Mailday From Tim

A few weeks ago, I bought a few cards from one of the most reputable traders on Instagram, Tim.  I haven't made a deal with him in forever, but I have talked to him some, and his kids quite a bit.  His son Carson is someone I talk to quite a bit.  I'm always happy to chat with anyone from that family, they are all really friendly.

This graded 1974 Brooks Robinson is pretty cool.  It is a nice grade for a year of Topps that struggles with centering on cards.  Since Tim made me a really good deal on it, I figured I would go ahead and pick it up.  I have a few graded Brooks Robinson cards now, so this will go with those in my box.

I also got this nice 2013 Bowman purple parallel of Jonathan Schoop.  I haven't added a whole lot to the Schoop PC lately, so this is a good pickup.  Schoop is having a pretty good year so far, so I'm hoping I can add more in the future.

Thanks so much for the deal, Tim!  I really appreciate it.

Amazing Just Because Gift From Robert

When I talk to and trade with folks, I naturally try to be friendly and easy to get along with.  This usually results in making new friends, and building some pretty special relationships.  I have been trading with a guy named Robert, who goes by the name Huskys.Sportscards on Instagram for quite a while now.  He and I chat often and have become really close friends.  We were chatting a couple weeks ago when Robert told me that I should check my inbox on Instagram.  When I checked it, he had sent me a few pictures of cards.  I responded "those are nice."  He told me that he had some extra money in his Paypal and thought I deserved something nice.  It really blew me away.  So much so, and I'm not afraid to admit it, I teared up.  My being friendly with this guy had such an impact on him, he felt the need to pick this stuff up for me.  Believe me, it won't be forgotten.  Robert is such an amazing guy.

The above Nolan Reimold 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Picks Refractor is really cool.  It is graded at a 9.5.  I have a ton of the base chrome, but this graded refractor is so cool!

I didn't have this 2015 Panini National Treasures Chris Davis auto in my collection yet, but Robert took care of that!  This is numbered 2/25 and looks really nice in person.  It is actually die cut, but I couldn't get it to scan properly, so I had to add a backdrop.

I love these 2009 Sterling autos of Nolan.  I got one of the black parallels from my friend, Michael, for Christmas, but Robert found this one for me as well.  This one is numbered 1/25.

Finally, Robert included this 2009 Bowman Sterling for my collection.  I now have 7 of these, and I don't mind that at all.  This might be one of my favorite cards in my collection, design-wise.  I was happy to be able to get another, especially from such a good friend.

Thank you so much for the amazing cards, Robert!  You really didn't have to get me anything, but it is so appreciated.  Thanks, Buddy!

The Foulbunt Top Ten - No. 9

In collating the Top Ten cards in my collection, I noticed that a common theme existed, the Hall of Fame rookie card.  Of course, most players' rookie cards tend to be their most sought after, but also the Hall of Famers themselves tend to be more valuable as well.  Of course, not all rookie cards are from a player's first year, but it is their first official card.  When you pair a rookie card with a baseball legend, well, you end up with something really special.  That brings us to card number 9 in my Top Ten:

This is a 1933 Goudey Jimmie Foxx that I got in a deal on Instagram a while back.  The card is graded by SGC and is "Poor".  You can see that based on the severely rounded corners and the huge crease in the top right corner.  All grading issues aside, this is a Jimmie Foxx rookie card.  Let that sink in a bit.  Foxx is one of my PCs and one of my all-time favorite Hall of Famers.

The deal itself worried me some, since it seemed so too good to be true.  I got the card for $40 from a guy on Instagram that I hadn't dealt with before.  It turned out that I shouldn't have prejudged so easily, because he was 100% legit and sent the card really fast.  I haven't done any deals with him since then, but this had to have been one of my best deals on there.

Instagram Trade With Joey - 1960 Topps Willie McCovey RC

Again with a graded card!  Another Hall of Fame rookie card.  I've been on fire with successful trades lately.  I have been able to interact regularly with maybe 10 or so people from Instagram enough now that I consider them actual friends, much like the folks from the blogs that I call friends.  One of the guys I chat with who is high on the friend list is Joey.  Joey is a North Carolinian, like myself, and he is also a huge fan of vintage cards.

Joey is also a huge David Ortiz fan, so when I recently asked if anyone wanted me to look through my card boxes for them and he asked for Ortiz, I obliged him.  Most, if not all of my Red Sox stuff goes to either Scott or my brother, John, but I did have a few David Ortiz cards left.  I also had just recently picked up an Ortiz rookie, one where he is referred to as David Arias, that Joey really has his eye on.

So, he offered me this graded - 2 Willie McCovey RC for the Ortiz, which I thought was more than fair.  I also threw in the other Ortiz cards I had, which were ones Scott had told me before that he didn't want, so I didn't feel like I was cheating on him.

I'm really happy with this McCovey.  I know I have said that I don't really like graded cards, but this one is fine with me and it has a cool story to it.

Most importantly, I'm making some good friends in another nice card community.  I'm glad I am able to tie that into my blog, as well.  Here's to hoping that with all these young folks on Instagram, that one.) the card hobby is alive and well for a new generation and two.) I hope to see some of these young guys want to start blogs and keep this niche of the hobby going as well.  Here's to hoping!

Thanks for the trade, Joey!

Instagram Pickup - 1933 Goudey Jimmie Foxx RC

This card wasn't even on my Top 10 wishlist.  It wasn't on there because I thought it was so far out of reach at the moment, I would concentrate on more realistic goals.  Well, sometimes things just fall into your lap.

I was tagged on a photo on Instagram recently when someone asked what everyone thought the value of this card would be.  Someone commented that I might have an idea.  I gave the guy an honest answer, that it was probably worth around $100 in this condition based on recent Ebay sales. The guy had said he had it listed on Ebay for $40 and thought he had overpriced it.  I commented right away that if he wanted to sell it for $40, then I would be all over it.  Long story short, the card is now in my hands and I can thank Joe D. from Instagram for hooking me up with an amazing card for my Foxx PC.

I've never been a fan of graded cards at all, but this card, you'd have to buy it graded to be sure that it was legit.  I don't even care that the card is graded at a 1.  I'm just happy to own a Jimmie Foxx RC. A 1933 Goudey RC.  It's so awesome, I can't take it!

Birthday stuff!!!

Well, I got my scanner working with my laptop. I had to leave them alone in a room together and let them get acquainted, but they get along enough to get things done... haha. Although my birthday is today, my Mom gave me my presents early (on Saturday) because I wouldn't see her today. Here is what she gave me:
1965 Topps Brooks Robinson
1969 Topps Brooks Robinsonand, 1967 Topps Brooks Robinson, graded at 8.5. I now own all of Brooks' topps regular issue cards.

Thanks Mom! I'll be back with another posting shortly showing some more stuff that I got.