Christmas Care Package From Daytons Cards

I just met Dayton over at Daytons Cards on Instagram a few months ago.  I found him some coaches for the minor league teams that he sees, and figured that would be all we interacted until the start of the season.  Dayton surprised me, though, with a Christmas care package that had a few autos in it, and the above 2013 Topps gold parallel of Wei-Yin Chen.  It has been a while since a Chen card appeared on the blog.

I liked the autos that Dayton sent along.  Even though I already had Rich Bordi in my album, I will put this one in there as well, since he gifted it to me.

I thought I already had the 2013 Miguel Gonzalez, but I guess I didn't, which was a nice surprise.  I also did a double take, because I thought the 2011 was Miguel, as well, but it was horrible Orioles relieved, Mike Gonzalez.  I shudder at the memories of him closing games.  Still, I needed the card, and I am happy to have it, no matter how bad Mike Gonzalez was.

Thank you so much for the care package, Dayton!

Christmas Gift From Anthony

I received a belated Christmas gift from my friend, Anthony, when a package containing this interesting Chris Davis patch came in last week.

This is a Hits Memorabilia card from 2016 that has a pretty sweet patch.  I saw some of their cards on Ebay recently (and I think this card was one of them), and wasn't sure what to make of them.  Anthony included a note with the card saying he probably would never buy this product on his own, but since he saw the Davis patch, he got it for me.  I've got to say, it is a pretty quality card.  The patch is great, and the card looks professionally made.  I visited their website, www.hitsmemorabilia.com and checked it out.  It looks pretty decent.  Maybe they are a new, up and coming card company?  I'm not sure, but they aren't licensed by MLB or the MLBPA.  Still, I really like the card, and appreciate Anthony picking it up for me.

Anthony also added to my Miguel Gonzalez IP auto collection that Max started at Sox Fest in Chicago.  Anthony was there, as well, and picked this up for me while Max was getting the other cards signed.

Thank you so much for the Christmas gift, Anthony!

Sox Fest Autos ad More From Max

My buddy Max recently went to the annual Fan Fest for the Chicago White Sox and picked up a bunch of autos for me.  We were operating under our normal agreement: I would search for cards that Max needed (mostly past players who would be there) and he would send me a few cards back signed for my trouble.  Max nailed it, as usual with a nice return from quite a few players.

I was really glad to see these Miguel Gonzalez cards come back.  The 2013 Topps Wal Mart blue at the top would have been fine by itself, but Max went for a mini rainbow here with the 2014 cards.  There are red hot foil, Target red and Wal Mart blue cards from 2014.  I thought this was a really cool touch from Max that he didn't have to do.  I sent him a ton of Miggy cards, though, so he had a lot to choose from.

Here are some of the other guys that Max was able to get.  I know I sent him the Willie Harris 2008 Upper Deck.  I may have also sent him the 2014 Bowman Tyler Danish.  I know I failed to find him extra Eric Soderholm cards, since I had gotten him TTM and sent out my extras to a few kids as TTM starter packs.  I also don't think I sent him the 81 Fleer Ed Farmer.  Still, I'm glad to add these cards to my album.

Max also used this opportunity to close a few minor deals.  He sent me a 2009 Topps card signed by Skip Schumacher in exchange for a 2009 Topps Geovany Soto that I had.  I went ahead and swapped those out in my album, so I didn't have the Schumacher to show.  I also sent him a 1988 Topps Traded Vance Law that I recently got TTM for this 1989 Topps.  Since the 88 Traded wasn't a true Topps base, I was completely fine with swapping it out for the 89.

Max also included a few Orioles cards.  Most notably, Max filled a team bag full of 1981 Fleer Orioles.  There are a few duplicates in the bag, so a few may be sent out as TTMs shortly.

He also included these two 2016 Topps Update Matt Wieters cards.  Funny how his appearance changed so dramatically between the two cards (spoiler alert, that isn't Wieters in the top card).

So, thank you so much, as always, Max!  I loved the package!

Instagram Trade With Shawn - 2014 Topps Target Red Orioles

I completed another trade with Shawn from Instagram, part of the Shawn, Sean and Alex trio of Cubs fans that I have been conversing with on there lately.  This time around, I sent Shawn some Cubs cards in exchange for three 2014 Topps Target red parallel Orioles: Adam Jones (above), Miguel Gonzalez and Brian Matusz.

Shawn is really easy to trade with and I have sent him a couple care packages in return and also a Levon Washington autograph that I got for a steal on Ebay.

The triumvirate of Shawn, Sean and Alex are all really good guys and I plan on trading with each of them again in the future.  I know this because I have piles building up for each of them that I plan on sending, once I feel that they are big enough to send out.

I've really enjoyed the interactions I've had with folks on Instagram.  It has opened up a whole new forum for trading, and I feel like, for the most part, I've had a positive experience.  There are a couple kids on there who need to be taught some manners, but mostly, they are all good folks.  These three guys are definitely some of the better ones I've met.

Trading With Ken Again

I completed another trade with Ken over at "Ken's Daily Fix" when I sent him a few Indians cards and the 2013 Topps Blue Sparkle parallel Jason Kipnis that I got from my 2013 Topps Wrapper Redemption packs.  Ken, in turn, sent me a ton of 2013 Topps Emerald parallels (my needs list is now up to date) and almost all of the Orioles from 2013 Topps Heritage.

Ken sent me 4 of the Heritage Nolan Reimolds from this year.  4 of them!  Woo Hoo!  I need to see if Nolan would sign one TTM for me, or I can just take one to Baltimore during my next trip and try to have him sign it there.  I bet they look good signed in blue Sharpie.  Just saying.  I was really happy to get the Reimold from Heritage already.  I need to see about getting any parallels of his from this set, if there are any.

 

I finally have a baseball card of Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez.  Gonzalez had a good season for the O's last year and held his own in a playoff start against the Yankees in the ALDS.  I really hope Gonzalez can continue the success he had last year and win about 15-18 games for the O's.

Thanks again for the trade, Ken.  I hope everyone takes a look at his blog!

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!

2013 Orioles Fan Fest Autos - Miguel Gonzalez

Before last season, if you would have old me that Miguel Gonzalez would finish the season with a 9-4 record and a 3.25 ERA, I would have asked you "Who?"  Yet, Gonzalez did just that.  He had a great season and was clutch in some big games, most notably against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS, when he allowed one run over 7 innings.  The O's ended up losing that game when the diabolical Raul Ibanez homered twice against the might bullpen of the O's.

A close friend of the late Nick Adenhart, Gonzalez was given a glove used by Adenhart, which Gonzalez used this season.  Gonzalez had been a farm hand for the Angels and Red Sox, but had been plagued by injury and inconsistency.  He wasn't even a part of the Orioles' system until early March and did not receive an invitation to the Major League spring training.  Gonzalez started the year at AAA Norfolk and awaited his turn.  He got a break when he was called up and pitched effectively, first out of the bullpen and then as part of the rotation.

I'm hoping that Gonzalez is effective for a full season and can win maybe 14-15 games.  I think it is within the realm of possibility of he can stay healthy.  Gonzalez turned down  chance to pitch for Team Mexico in the WBC so he could get some reast and prepare for the 2013 season.

Oriole Magic - Orioles Clinch a Spot in the Playoffs

For the first time since 1997, the Baltimore Orioles will be playing baseball after the regular season ends.

In 1997, the Orioles led the division wire to wire; I was a senior in high school.  I was able to follow the season every morning by discussing the previous night's game with an art teacher at my school.  She wasn't my art teacher, but she shared a classroom with us and her planning period was during my class.  She actually gave me a team photo of the 1997 Orioles when it was sent to her by the Baltimore Sun.  I still have that photo.

That year was long before blogs and social media permeated our lives and culture, so this year, I have been able to follow and discuss each and every game, mainly by following Roch Kubatko's blog on MASNSports.com.  This year was also the first year that I have been a subscriber to Dish Network.  I canned my cable company in favor of Dish because, well, my cable company refused to carry MASN.  I told my wife before spring training started that we were getting Dish for the sole purpose of being able to watch O's games.  I think I have either watched on TV or listened on XM, probably 90% of O's games this year.  I think the ones I have missed were a couple west coast games, or daytime games while I was at work.

I could not have predicted that this year's Orioles would make the playoffs.  They have used 52 different players this year.  Seemingly, a shuttle was running from Camden Yards to Harbor Park (Norfolk's stadium) to the doctor's office.  Yet, they remain tied with the Yankees for the AL East lead with 3 games to go.  It isn't out of the realm of possibility that the Orioles could surpass the Yankees.  It will be tough for the O's to win their upcoming series with the Rays, but the last time they played each other, the Orioles swept them.  So, it could happen.

This year has been so improbable.  Seeing Chris Davis slam 31 home runs AND record a win as a pitcher while striking out Adrian Gonzalez.  Or Manny Machado starting at third base after beginning the year at AA Bowie.  Or how about Dylan Bundy starting the season at Low A Delmarva and now residing in the bullpen.  Oh yeah, you can't forget the mysterious appearance of Miguel Gonzalez, an oft injured pitcher who was released by the Red Sox organization only to be discovered in the Mexican League by the Orioles scouts and signed to a minor league deal.

I don't know what the Orioles will be up to next week, but my hope is that they will be working their way deep into the playoffs.  In years past, it would be really easy to count them out, but this year, they have scratched and clawed their way through the season and now, they, as much as any of the other 9 teams, have a decent shot of heading to the World Series.

Oriole Magic, feel it happen.