TTM Success - Kyle Waldrop

I added a couple cool recent cards wih this success from Kyle Waldrop.  I had hoped to be able to add a Diamond Kings to my album, and this one is pretty nice.  I mean, I have some older Donruss Diamond Kings, but this is a Panini.  I like the oil painting feel to these, and the signature turned out pretty nice.

I also added a 2015 Pro Debut.  I really enjoy Pro Debut, especially 2015.  They are nice cards, and I am glad I was finally able to put one in the album.  I always feel like I miss out when searching through the ones that I have.

Waldrop (b. 1991) played in the majors in 2015 and 2016 for the Reds.  He had 5 hits, no home runs and a .217 batting average.  He was granted Free Agency in November 2017, and has yet to sign anywhere.

I mailed to Waldrop on February 15 and got the cards back on March 2, for a 15-day TAT.

Christmas Gift From Anthony - Chris Davis Relic Auto and More

My good friend, Anthony, hooked me up with some nice Chris Davis cards, and other Orioles.  Anthony and I have been friends for several years now, but this past year, we have gotten even closer.  I was finally able to meet him in person when he, Kevin, Max and I all went to the Cubs vs. White Sox game at Wrigley Field.  I was honored to hook Anthony up with the extra ticket that we had.  I'm so happy that I was able to include him, as I could tell that the experience really meant a lot to him.  He also hit it off really well with Kevin, so that helped everyone mesh as a group and enjoy our time at the game.

I really love the Chris Davis dual relic/auto from 2016 Panini Diamond Kings that Anthony gave me.  These are really nice cards.  I hope Panini keeps up the Diamond Kings concept, as I really enjoy the painted canvas feel that the cards have.

I had a couple of these Chris Davis 2015 Topps First Home Run coin cards, bur I still wnjoy them and was glad to add another.

Anthony also included these four Orioles cards.  I have already added the green Chance Sisco and the Mancini to my box of Orioles that I will take with me to Orioles Fan Fest in a couple weeks.  They will give me some nice options for autographs, depending on who I end up getting vouchers for.

Thank you so much for the Christmas gift, Anthony!  I love the cards, and you know they will have a great home in my collection.

A Care Package From Gerard

I got a care package in the mail from my good friend, Gerard a while back that included this IP auto of Robert Andino on a 2013 Topps.  I only had two or three signed 2013 Topps, so this one helped the binder.  Andino is back in the Orioles organization, but was recently popped with a ampetamine suspension.  It is really unfortunate, because I like Andino, and he was having a decent year at Norfolk.

Gerard also hooked me up with this nice Chris Davis from 2016 Panini Diamond Kings.  I don't think I had this card yet, so it will be a nice addition to the PC.

Thanks so much for the care package, Gerard!

Cristmas Gift From Gerard

Even though he is a huge Red Sox fan, I get along with my friend, Gerard, really well.  He's a great guy who I have talked to quite a bit.  He has won one of my Instagram contests and I have also sent him a TTM starter pack.  We got to talking after the TTM starter pack was sent, and I have helped him get started with that part of his collection.

He messaged me earlier this month saying that he was really excited about the Christmas package he was putting together for me, and he hoped I would like it.  Well, he nailed it.  I was really surprised that I didn't have the above Tristar Projections Chris Davis in my PC.  I mean, I was REALLY surprised.  So much so, I double and triple checked my Davis spreadsheet, and nope, it wasn't listed yet.  Wow.  Someone found something I didn't have yet!

I also didn't have this 2016 Heritage Manny Machado relic.  Gerard really did well with this package.  I can't say that enough.

Maybe it's just me, but this one is kind of an oddball.  Maybe I missed it, but I thought the mini relics in Allen & Ginter were all framed.  I'll have to ask Gerard about this one again.  It is really cool, regardless, and I know I didn't already have it.  I just thought they were all either framed, or regular sized cards.  I haven't busted much Ginter lately, so I probably just missed that they were doing unframed mini relics.  It helped me know that I didn't have the card already.

Finally, Gerard nailed it again with a Cal that I didn't have in my collection yet.  I've said it many times that it is really tough for me to pick up Cal stuff because I have no idea what I even have any more.  So, this red framed 2016 Panini Diamond Kings is definitely an awesome card.  It is numbered 78/99 as well.

All of the cards that Gerard sent (he send a stack of Orioles as well) were great and all, but the best part of the Christmas gift was the full page letter that he included in the package.  I really appreciated his kind words in the letter and can't thank him enough for his friendship over these last several months.  Gerard is a great guy, and I hope I can do many more trades with him.

Thank you so much for the package, buddy!  I love it!