Blogger Secret Santa From Angus

I got a nice package for Christmas as part of the blogger Secret Santa from Angus of "Dawg Day Cards."  He hooked me up with some really cool Orioles rarities.  In the box were O Pee Chee cards ranging as far back as 1970.  That was really cool!  The above Cal Ripken was one of a few that I didn't have in my collection.

These cards, you will see again!  I plan on sending these out as TTMs very soon.  I hope the players will sign the O Pee Chees as well as the regular Topps and not think I am trying to get extras of the same card.  It's worth a shot, though!

Thank you so much for the Christmas care package, Angus!

My Second Secret Santa

I joined in two Secret Santas this year and the second one was just as nice as the first.  This one was featured on Weston's blog, Fantastic Catch.  I was paired up with Daniel from the blog "It's Like Having My Own Card Shop."  I sent Daniel a couple Brandon Webb cards (a relic and an auto) and he sent me an assortment of Nolan Reimold cards to help with my wishlist and a little something extra (see below).  I had already purchased the above Wal Mart blue parallel from COMC recently, and subsequently buried it under a bunch of mail and other posts.  That's not to say I won't enjoy both of them.  I just regret that I spent the store credit on it.

I'm not going to hide the fact that the highlight (for me) was the above factory set orange parallel.  I have been searching for this card for some time now and have always come up empty handed.  Add on the fact that my good friend Ryan owned a copy before me and let it be known, well, I really wanted one.  I finally have it.  This card is numbered 141/230.

Also, I finally was able to add the Toys R Us purple parallel.  By my unofficial count, I still need quite a few of Nolan's 2013 offerings in order to complete my rainbow.  If only I could land a platinum parallel, I would have an actual chance at completing one.  Oh, if only.

Among the other cards Daniel knocked off of my wishlist was the above 2009 Topps Heritage high numbered chrome rookie card of Nolan.  This one is numbered 928/1,960.  He also included the 2009 Bowman chrome refractor, but Weston had already sent me one for Christmas (so now I have 2).

The surpsise Daniel sent was this 2012 Bowman Sterling Kevin Gausman auto that I had completely forgotten that I had on my wishlist.  The Bowman Sterling autos are not numbered.

Thanks for the package, Daniel and thank you Weston for hosting the Secret Santa.  I fully intend on signing up for some of these this year.

My First of Two Secret Santas

I signed up for two Secret Santas this year, the first time I have done so through the blogs.  The first one I have received is from the blog "Crackin Wax."  Topher, from that blog, did his Secret Santa through the Elfster app.  It made it pretty easy to organize the endeavor and track when your items were on their way.  In my package, I received a stack of 2013 Topps Orioles cards (I believe it is pretty much the team set) along with a few items that I scanned for the blog.  I got this really cool mini pennant of the O's that I will hang in the man cave with my other O's pennants.

I got this 2011 Topps manufactured patch of Brian Roberts, which I didn't have in my Roberts PC.  Coincidentally, this card and another that I received in a later Christmas present will be the last Roberts cards that I will add to that PC.  Since he was traitorous and joined the Yankees, I will be suspending my Roberts PC searching until a later date (probably when he retires).  We'll see.  Nonetheless, I do appreciate the Roberts pickups this Secret Santa and the friend who (Weston) sent a Roberts in the Christmas package.

Finally, I got a 1969 Topps for my set that I'm working on.  I had hoped I'd have chipped away more of the set than I have but I've been busy working on other things.  I'm glad this secret Santa took the time to look at my needs list and knocked a '69 off.

So, thanks Secret Santa, whomever you are!  Also, thanks 'Topher for organizing the Secret Santa.  I'll definitely sign up again next year!