2022 National Paid Signer - Mariano Rivera

The big name that I signed up to meet at the National this year was former Yankees closer, Mariano Rivera.  I already had him on a ball (thanks to Mom), but I still wanted to meet him.  I remembered that I had this 2018 Topps Stadium Club, so I opted to get it signed and into my album.

The price point is crazy for a card, but I felt like this card was worth it.  This is an amazing shot of Rivera.  The only problem, now, is that he switched pens on me when he was signing and signed it in black Sharpie, even though I told the handler that I wanted blue.  It wasn't worth making a fuss over; the card still looks amazing.

Christmas Gift From Mom - Mariano Rivera Signed Baseball

Mom always enjoys finding me stuff for Christmas that will find its way to the blog, and this year was no different.  She did get me a trash bag full of about 100 pounds of antique baseball gloves, which were really cool.  She also knocked another huge name off of my Hall of Fame list with this signed baseball of Mariano Rivera.  I wanted to get in on a Rivera signing, but baseballs were super expensive, and the cards I would do would also cost me an arm and a leg, so I held off.  This ball is amazing, and has the HOF inscription and the 1st 100% vote inscription.  Pretty amazing!

Rivera (b. 1969) played in the majors from 1995 to 2013, for the Yankees.  The greatest closer of all time retired with a record 652 saves.  His 952 games finished and 205 ERA+ are also all-time records.  He had a won-loss record of 82-60 with a 2.21 ERA and 1,173 strike outs.

Rivera was a 13-time All Star (1997, 1999-2002, 2004-2006, 2008-2011 and 2013) and his best Cy Young and MVP finishes were 2nd (2005) and 9th (2004, 2005), respectively.

He won the World Series with the Yankees in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009.  He took home the 1999 World Series MVP and 2003 ALCS MVP honors.  His playoff record was 8-1, with 42 saves, 110 strike outs and a 0.70 ERA.  

Rivera was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2019 with 100% of the vote.  He is the only person ever elected to the Hall with 100%, and probably will be the only one, since there are idiots out there who like to make statements with their ballots; the handful of people who didn't vote for Hank Aaron, WIllie Mays, Ken Griffey, Jr., or Cal Ripken should never be allowed near another ballot.

Rivera is the 159th Hall of Famer in my collection.  Thanks Mom!  Merry Christmas, everyone!

Set Needs Care Package From JediJeff

I got a surprise email the other day from fellow blogger, JediJeff.  He informed me that he had a few cards I needed for some sets, and that he wanted to send them my way.  This was really awesome of him, and like I said, totally unexpected.

Jeff included two cards I needed for my 2015 Stadium Club set, one of which is this angry-looking Albert Belle.  I wouldn't go trick-or-treating at his house (look the story up), but man he could hit a baseball a long way.

Jeff also included 6 2013 Topps emerald parallels for that set.  I have added a couple here and there, but am still at a really slow pace on this set.  I need to knock a bunch out via a big sportlots purchase, but I just haven't gotten around to it.  Maybe sometime soon, I will hit this set a lot harder than I have been.

Thank you so much for the care package, Jeff!  I really appreciate it!  Give his blog a follow, if you don't already.  You can check it out here.

Hits From 2014 Topps Series One

Continuing on with my 2014 Topps posts, here are the biggest hits that I got from my break of three jumbo boxes.  I got three manufactured relics.  All of them were Red Sox.  Two of them were Ted Williams.  Not too bad.  I'm sure Scott will end up with some of them and I know my brother, John, will end up with at least one as well.

This Topps Black parallel was pretty sweet.  I'm no Yankee fan, but this card will definitely get top loaded and put in with my good cards.  This will likely end up being an iconic card for Mo, I believe.  Even with the product placement for Pepsi and Gatorade as well.

Finally, I had an epic pull in one of my boxes (I believe it was the second box).  I got a redemption for a Cal Ripken Trajectory autograph.  Pretty sweet, if you ask me.  I was kind of in shock when I pulled it.  I was beside Scott and on Skype with Andrew, so they got to see it get pulled also.

Ok, there you have it.  I got some good stuff from 2014 Topps.  I ended up with a few other autos (Wade Miley and Jason Kipnis) and some decet relics (Buster Posey, Rick Porcello and Andrelton Simmons).  I got a pink parallel (Wily Peralta) and another black parallel that I hope to post soon.  Overall, I was very satisfied with my purchase of three boxes of cards from my friend and supplier, Taylor Crane from CranesCards.