TTM Success - Eduardo Rodriguez

My good friend, Gerard, and his brother have been setting up more private signings recently.  One of the ones that I was able to get a return from was former Oriole, Eduardo Rodriguez.  I had this 2014 Bowman Platinum green refractor in my Orioles box for a long time, and finally sent it out for signature.  When the cards came back, a lot of hate was thrown their way for the quality of the autograph that Rodriguez put on the card.  I thought a lot of that was unfounded, since the promoters can't control how a person signs their name.  It is Rodriguez's autograph, love it or hate it.  I, personally, am glad I have the signed cards to put in my album.  Other people can just choose not to engage in a Rodriguez signing; it's that simple.

I also got this 2022 Topps signed.  Ridriguez's signature does show up better on this card, but again, I didn't have an issue with it in the first place.

Rodriguez (b. 1993) has played in the majors since 2015 (missing the 2020 season with COVID and other health issues) for the Red Sox and Tigers.  He has a career record of 64-41 with 915 strike outs and a 4.19 ERA.  He won the World Series with the Red Sox in 2018.  He finished 6th in the AL Cy Young race in 2019.

I mailed to the signing on January 31 and got the cards back on March 11, for a 39-day TAT.

Care Package From James

I got a nice care package a few days ago from my buddy, James.  He was one of the first people I completed a trade with on Instagram, and has been a good friend ever since.  He surprised me with a couple nice cards that I needed for my collection.

First is this blue parallel of Orioles prospect Josh Hart from 2013 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects.  It is numbered 5/99 and turned out really nice when scanned.

The other card that James sent was this gold parallel of Kevin Gausman from 2014 Bowman Platinum.  The gold really pops once it has been scanned.  I was really happy with how this one turned out.

I haven't been able to talk to James as much lately as I would have liked, but he is busy with school and baseball.  I know we will continue to send care packages back and forth.  I was very happy to get this in the mail, and I plan on sending something his way soon.  Thanks James!

Instagram Mail From Sean

I got some mail from my friend, Sean, today and paired with the envelope I got from him last week, I ended up with some sweet stuff from a guy that I have traded with a bunch, so far.  He is set to received a graded gem mint 10 minor league card of Craig Kimbrel and in return, Sean sent me this SP of Dylan Bundy from 2014 Topps.

I like these Future Stars SPs and I didn't yet have the Bundy, so it was a fair trade for me.

In his prior package, Sean included the above 2013 Topps Tier One (on card) auto of Bundy.  Oh man, this card looks awesome in person.  I didn't realize it was on card until I looked at it when I was scanning it.  It looks so nice.

Finally, I got this red parallel of Manny Machado from 2014 Bowman Platinum.  The Platinums never disappoint and this red parallel looks really awesome.

Thanks for the trade(s), Sean!  I really appreciate it.  Your Kimbrel will be mailed tomorrow!

Two Trade Packages From Alex R.

Recently, I met a trio of guys from the Chicago area who I have been corresponding back and forth with on Instagram and various forms of messaging.  Sean, Shawn and Alex are their names.  Each a Cubs fan, but Alex is more of a Hanley Ramirez fan.  I sent Alex some cards recently as a hello and a welcome to the hobby and in return, I got two packages back from him.  There were a bunch of Orioles and a few Joe Morgans in the envelopes he sent me.  Funny thing, Alex found me a Cal that I didn't yet have in my collection.

What an underrated design 1986 Topps was.  This is actually a 2014 Archives, but the design is still really sharp, even after all these years.  This really might be one of the more forgotten sets of the 1980s, but it really is a good one.

Alex was also able to find a Chris Davis card that I didn't have yet in this 2014 Bowman Platinum sapphire parallel.  This is a really nice parallel.  I have a gold parallel coming, so I might try to get a few others, but I won't be taking a rainbow seriously or anything like that.

Finally, there was this 1991 Bowman Mike Mussina RC that Alex included.  I'm still a big Moose fan and I truly believe he will make it to the Hall of Fame.  Probably not anytime soon, but he will get in.  I also love the retro O's jersey from the early 90s that Moose has on.  I have the black version, Ripken of course.

Thanks for all of the cards, Alex!  I really appreciate it, and really, welcome to the hobby!

A Box Break Leads To A Trade

I joined a box break on Instagram some time ago (I was on vacation, actually) and the results finally were revealed last week.  I bought in for 3 slots at $4 each ($12 total) and ended up with the Cubs, Red Sox and of course, the Orioles.  The biggest thing about the break, though, was that I got the numbered to 10 parallel of Cubs prospect Javier Baez.

Now, I'm no prospector and when the facilitator of the break let me know I pulled it (thanks to him for being honest, too), he immediately asked if I'd trade it.  I told him I absolutely would, if he had some good vintage cards.

Well, he first showed me the above Catfish Hunter RC, which I was really close to calling it a deal at just that card.  However, I got a bunch more pictures on my messenger, and I wasn't about to turn them down.  In the end, I got the Hunter RC, the below Red Schoendienst from 1960, a 1959 Topps for my set (Joe Ginsberg), 1962 Juan Marichal, 1968 Phil Niekro, 1974 Reggie Jackson, 1968 Gaylord Perry, 1972 Willie Mays (in action), 1967 Boog Powell, 1965 Paul Richards and a 1971 Schoendienst.

So, by my count, I got 8 Hall of Famers (one of which was a RC), one set need, one Oriole legend (Powell) and a former Oriole manager.  The cards were in various stages of condition, with the Schoendienst being the worst of the lot, but I am so very satisfied with the trade.  I know that Baez card might be hot now, but these Hall of Famers will forever be Hall of Famers.

Finally, I did get some good Orioles, like this Chris Davis.  I also got the chrome parallel of Baez, so I still have a little trade bait left over!