2010 Topps Reimold Rainbow

I didn't get any mail today.  Trades are drying up and I've been working 11 and 12-hour days.  I almost didn't post today for the first time since sometime in December or January.  I don't even remember the last day I took off from the blog.  I just wasn't feeling it today, until I realized that with company coming this weekend that I needed to clean my office/computer room.  Upon straightening up, I saw that I had my ebay stack of 2010 Topps Reimolds.  I lack only the 2010 Topps Black parallel (or printing plates, but I don't count those in these...) for a full 2010 Reimold Rainbow, but that seems to be par for the course for me on these.  One of these days, I'll buy all of the black parallels I need.

Yeah, so, I had no idea that Nolan doesn't have any 2010 Topps Chrome cards.  He has a Chrome Heritage, but that doesn't fit into the Reimold Rainbow.  Oh well.  Makes it a little easier to get all of his 2010 Topps variations.

I actually have 2 of his 2010 Topps Gold parallels.  One numbered 73/2010 and the other numbered 1616/2010.

I busted at least 6 jumbo boxes of 2010 Topps and had no clue that they had Copper parallels.  I found this one on Ebay and honestly figured that it was just a seller who wasn't smart enough to tell the difference between Gold and Copper.  I mean, we can't all have a base knowledge in metallurgy, can we?  I don't, I'm just saying...  Anyway, I got the card and it is Copper.  Numbered 18/399.

I like the factory set exclusive red parallels.  This one cost me a dollar and it numbered 5/299.  I just realized that I have some nice low serial numbers.  Pretty cool.

Finally, here is the Wal Mart Black Parallel.  This one isn't numbered.  No big deal.  Anyway, I need to work on the serial numbered Black Parallels for 2010, 2011 and 2012 for Reimold.  Of course, if he gets into 2012 Chrome, I will have a few more parallels to chase.  I'm hoping that is the case.

Trade With Johnny

I recently completed a trade with Johnny from I Collect Stuff 2.  I sent him some Braves cards (Chris also sent him a Dale Murphy hologram).  He hooked Chris up with this really awesome 2007 Bowman Chrome Tim Lincecum.  I'm certain that we didn't have this already, so it was an awesome trade for Chris.

I also got an assortment of Orioles cards, one of which is the below Nick Markakis 2011 Topps Chrome.  I remember thinking when I pulled the Markakis base card out of 2011 Topps, that it would look awesome as a chrome.  I was right!

Thanks for the trade Johnny.  I'll keep a lookout for some more stuff for you!

Breaking Away From Yard Work

52 bags of mulch (2 cu ft each), 70 pieces of brick edging and two days later, my yard looks so much better than it did Friday night.  I have company coming over next weekend for a little get together to finally celebrate my passing of the ASBOG Exam (this past November) and moving into the house (Last April).  In order to get ready for everything, I wanted to make sure our yard looked nice.  Now it does.  When I finished this evening, I decided to hop in the car and head to the Greenville card shop and get some packs.  My wife and son got a few as well.  I got: a pack of 2012 Donruss Elite Extra Edition, 2 packs of 2011 Bowman Chrome, a pack of 2011 Topps Finest, 2012 Playoff Contenders and 2011 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects.

 AWESOME.  Another Dylan Bundy.  I now have his base card and blue refractor auto.  I think he is the real deal.  He has done a good job in spring training so far.  Hopefully, he can parlay that into a successful minor league season for this year in hopes of cracking the majors next year.

I also got this C.J. Cron on card auto out of Playoff Contenders.  I like Playoff/Donruss' offerings.  I think they would be a formidable alternative to Topps (as long as Topps continues in baseball as well).

So, now that I have this post up, I can go collapse into a char and take the rest of the night off.  Done!

Some More Topps Diamond Giveaway Cards

I got my final package from Topps Diamond Giveaway the other day, which included the following vintage cards:

This really nice 1968 Topps Mike Cuellar.  Cuellar is probably the second or third greatest pitcher in Orioles' History.  I really love this card and was glad when I unlocked it.

I love the 1962 Topps set.  It's just something about that wood border that does it.  Others must like it, too, because it has been done three times (1955 Bowman, 1962 Topps and 1987 Topps).  I'm not counting the Topps Heritage from last year or the 1987 Topps minis from this year.

I like this 1977 Topps Tito Fuentes because it definitely speaks "70's".  With the awesomely ugly uniforms, of course.  Man, some of those uniforms from the 70's were a sight.

This really jacked up 1975 Topps Mike Tyson also came in my order.  I was going to use it as trade bait for some Cardinals fans I know, but I would feel terrible sending someone a card in this condition.  I'm not sure what I will do with it now.  If anyone wants it, comment me and let me know.  I definitely won't ask for anything in return.

Finally, what is quite possibly the most awesome name on a baseball card that I have seen.  I really hope the guy pronounced his name like I think it should be pronounced.  Mark LemonJello!  So amazingly awesome!  Top it off with the awesome 70's Astros jersey and this card is a keeper!

New Sets Started

After my success of finishing my 1970 set, I immediately got to working on compiling my lists of needs for the next two sets on my agenda - 1959 and 1969 Topps.  I was asked yesterday about what criteria I used in order to decide which set to pursue next and how many I liked to have going at one time.

Well, I had intended to start 1959 last year when I completed my 1955 Topps set, but I just had been too lazy to sort the ones out that I already had and map out my needs.  When i choose a set, I usually go by how many individual cards I have of each set to start off with.  I have amassed various amounts of each year of Topps there is.  Some years more than others, of course.  For example, I have a good many 1964 Topps, but very few 1953 Topps and even fewer 1952 Topps (yeah, I know, I can keep dreaming about that set).

I chose 1969 because I THOUGHT I had more singles of that set than I did of 1972.  I might have been mistaken, but oh well, it is official, I have started it.

As far as the number of sets I have going at once, well, I have had a bunch going for a while.  It's just that some move faster than others.  My 1948 Bowman set will take forever because the Yogi Berra I need is pretty dang expensive.  My 2010 Allen and Ginter set that I have been working on could take seconds to fill if I went on Sportlots, but I lost interest.  I'll get it eventually.

It was very convenient yesterday when I got my final 1970 Topps card in the mail, because I also got the final package from Topps' Diamond Giveaway.  In it, I had these two 1959 Topps and the two 1969 Topps below them.

 I didn't realize until last night when I was sorting the 1969 Topps that I didn't need the 1969 Jim Perry.  I could have traded it on Diamond Topps for something else.  Oh well.

 I did need this Tom Reynolds, though.  It came in pretty good shape, so it went right into my box.  I'm definitely not looking for super high grade when completing thses sets, because that would be really expensive for me, but I do want them to look nice.  I don't like huge creases, paper loss or writing on the cards.

I also updated my want list page.  Head over there and check it out!  I hope to start knocking numbers off of that list really soon.

Set Complete - 1970 Topps

FINALLY!  I have finally finished my 1970 Topps set after working on it for around 3 and a half years.  About time!

This set was pretty hard to complete.  The Nolan Ryan was the most expensive card in the set for me, followed by the Hank Aaron.  I did really well on the Thurman Munson RC, paying only $9.00 for it.  The completer card (final card I needed) for the set was the above Don Money, card number 645.

With this set now complete, I will now turn my attention to 1959 and 1969.  You will see those two sets added to my want list very soon.  Those sets should scan a lot better, especially the 1959s.  I'm really looking forward to adding some '59s for sure.

Some Cards From Schuyler

I met Schuyler (from the blog Schuyler's Stuff) through Drew.  They are very close friends.  Schuyler's parents run a bookstore in Millbrook, New York called Merritt Books; I actually picked up a few books from them around Christmas time.  One of which was a biography of Jimmie Foxx.  Since they are an independent bookstore, and a local business in that area, I plan on doing more of my book shopping through them, instead of big box stores or Amazon.  I feel like Schuyler is a really nice kid and I definitely want to give them a hand if I am able.  Schuyler is a big Yankee fan, like Drew, but since Drew gets most of my Yankee pulls (and Pete gets the rest), it is really hard coming up with something Schuyler would like. That is why i send him all of my Team USA cards.  I got a package from Schuyler today that consisted of a few Orioles cards that he has had for a long time as well as a 2010 Shea Stadium calendar that I promised to 'The Brooklyn Met.'  Here are a couple highlights:

Here is a 2004 Upper Deck Power Up Rafael Palmeiro.  Hmmm, his head got bigger.  Weird.

Here is a 2005 Upper Deck card of Sir Sidney Ponson.  Did you know that Sid is a knight in Aruba?  So, yeah, he is definitely referred to as Sir Sidney.

Finally, here is a 2006 Topps Opening Day Brian Roberts 'Funny Photos.'  I remember the days when Roberts was 'fast as fast could be...' but those days are long gone.  It is a shame that he has missed so much time lately.  I really hope that he can make it back and be healthy, after dealing with concussion issues for over a year.

Thanks so much for the cards, Schuyler.  I hope you all will pay his blog a visit and give him some followers.