Some Card Shop Purchases

Last week, I went to my LCS for a few supplies and went through some of the boxes of old cards.  In one of them, I picked up some cheap vintage for my son, Chris, and I also got some cards for a couple fellow bloggers.  I did manage to get one card out of the vintage for myself.  The above Joe Morgan 1985 Fleer jumped out at me because I completely forgot that Morgan played for the A's at the end of his career.  He looks so funny in that green and yellow jersey.

I've met Joe Morgan twice now and was impressed with him both times.  Because of that, I may start a PC of him pretty soon.  I'm seriously considering it.  As for the Fleer card itself, I really like it in its simplicity.  The early to mid 80's Fleer offerings were pretty basic, but don't mistake that for a lack of quality.  Some of those cards are pretty sharp-looking.  Case in point, above.

Here is a card of a guy who I have a PC of.  A very small PC, but a PC nonetheless.  Brandon Snyder is another player whom I've met a few times.  He is a really nice guy.  I was happy to see him get a ring for being on the 2013 Red Sox part of the season.  I'm assuming he's going to get a ring.  Anyway, he doesn't have too many cards so, I was happy to find one in a bargain bin that I didn't already own.

Here is another guy who I am considering starting a PC of.  I have heard quite a bit about Alex Murphy and so far, it has all been good.  He is a local product (local as in he is from Baltimore).  I love the 'Wave' refractors in Bowman Chrome.  I just learned that there are black, red and silver versions as well.  I'm smelling a rainbow.  I'd say I was tasting a rainbow but I don't have any skittles.

Finally, here is a 2013 Panini Prizm Kevin Gausman RC.  Gausman is someone I started a PC of last year and have been slowly adding to it ever since.  In a perfect world, Gausman starts the year in AAA Norfolk (meaning the O's signed a decent starting pitcher so Gausman isn't needed in the rotation at the beginning of the year).

So, there you have it, some PC stuff of guys not named Chris Davis.  I know one fellow blogger who will appreciate that.

Card Show Bob Feller Pickups

I had a couple issues scanning today, pretty much the same issues I always have when scanning - the scanner chops off edges of cards (above) and this time, it divided the below card into several files.  That's a new one for me.  I just have to get used to the scanner, that's all.

Anyway, I picked up two Bob Feller cards for my PC when I was at the December card show.  The above 2013 Triple Threads was $1.00.

This autographed mini photo was really cool.  I honestly thought it was an off-shade of yellow, until I took it out of it's very aged top loader.  I bought it off of an older fellow at the show who was selling his entire collection.  He couldn't recall how old the mini photo was or what it was even called.  It didn't matter to me, I bought it from him for $15.  I've seen plenty of Feller autos over the last few years to know its legit.

I would be interested in knowing about how old the photo was.  If I had to guess, I'd say it came from the early 50's or so.  Maybe an Indians promotional photo or something?  Who knows.

Some Recent Chris Davis Pickups

This post will serve two purposes for me.  One, it will catch me up on the Chris Davis cards I got recently via my LCS, COMC, Ebay and the December card show.  The other purpose is that this is a test of my new laptop and printer/scanner.  I finally was able to upgrade both of those devices this weekend and am really happy with the results so far.

The above card was found at my LCS in the dollar bin.  It is a 2008 Topps Heritage High Number rookie card.  It scanned really nicely, if I do say so myself.  I just can't believe this card sat in that dollar bin as long as it did.

Next up is the 2013 Topps Opening Day purple.  I had no idea these existed until a couple months ago when I saw one on Ebay for $20.00.  I'm glad I waited because I found this one for less than $5.  I just hope there aren't Target Red or Wal Mart Blue versions of these.

I found this 2006 Bowman gold Davis in a dime box at the December card show.  I got a bunch of Davis cards at the show, actually.  I know Scott is happy that I am combining all of them into one post, instead of breaking them out to multiple posts.

I liked that I found this 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Davis in another bargain box at the show.

Same with this 2009 Bowman Chrome Refractor.

This 2010 Topps Gold came from a COMC purchase (from September, I think).

Finally, here is a 2013 Bowman Gold Davis that I found at the show in one of the same dime boxes as before.  I feel like I did a really good job getting Davis cards for my PC there.

So, there you have it, you're all caught up for the time being on my Chris Davis PC.

Picking Up Some Set Needs

I'm still playing catch up between the card show I went to in December, a couple COMC purchases and on top of that, I made a couple Ebay purchases.  The above 1959 Topps Orioles team checklist came out of a bargain box at the December card show.  The back is un-marked, so even though it has a crease down the middle, it is still acceptable for my set.

I got this Mickey Mantle un-marked checklist off of Ebay last week.  I know it isn't the actual Mantle, but it is a Mantle nonetheless.  It looks really good, even tough it isn't very well centered.  The '69 checklists are very colorful.  I guess anything to take away from the fact that it is, you know, a checklist.

Mail From Judson - 2013 Topps Heritage '64 Mint Dylan Bundy

Sometimes folks email you with some really awesome trade proposals.  Judson, from the blog "My Cardboard Habit" messaged me recently saying  that a local card shop near him had a hand numbered Dylan Bundy card with a nickel in the card.  I told him I definitely would be interested and next thing I know, here's the card.  I had no idea that it was also graded (at a 9, by the way).

I've got some stuff in mind that will head towards Judson.  I'm still in awe over this card, it is pretty sweet.  Especially that it is hand numbered 1/15.  Not bad at all.

Thanks for the pending trade, Judson!  I really appreciate it!

Ebay Pickup - 2013 Leaf Trinity Hunter Harvey Patch

I made an Ebay purchase recently that landed me my first real 'sick' patch card.  I mean, I've pulled jumbo relics before and even patches, but I never owned anything as awesome as the patch card you see above.  The card is a 2013 Leaf Trinity Hunter Harvey patch/auto.  The card isn't numbered, but it really is awesome.  Harvey was the Orioles first round pick this year.  He is the son of former Major Leaguer Bryan Harvey and is from North Carolina.

I'm really excited about this card.  I wanted to show it off before today, but I had some pretty substantial stuff ahead of it.  Now, here it is and you all get to take a look.  I just hope this card doesn't end up like the Gem Mint 10 Bowman Chrome RC of Billy Rowell I picked up.  I've been trying to sell that thing for almost 2 years now.  Oh well, here's to hoping that Harvey doesn't follow in Rowell's footsteps and realizes his talent on the field.

Maddux + Thomas = 98

Today's election of Frank Thomas (above) and Greg Maddux (below) pushed my total of Hall of Fame baseballs up to 98.  I figured Maddux and Thomas would get in, and among the other guys eligible between Jack Morris and Jeff Bagwell, I thought that Morris had an outside chance.  Now, since Jack Morris didn't get in on his 15th try, he will have to wait until at least 2016 to have a shot.  This is when he will be first eligible for the Veterans Committee.

Maddux was named on all but 16 ballots.  I can't believe that 16 people who claim to be writers with a knowledge of baseball would leave someone like Maddux off of their ballot.  I won't go into a rant about idiots who have the honor of a vote, yet, leave their ballot blank because "no one should be unanimous" but if I had the honor of a vote, I definitely would use it.

That being said, it doesn't matter.  Maddux, Thomas and Glavine are in and join Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa on a very crowded 2014 induction class.  I would love to be there to hear the speeches, but I doubt I will be able to attend a second year in a row.

I'm really happy to now be able to say that these three guys that I watched growing up are Hall of Famers.  I believe that next year's class has the potential to be almost as big, with Biggio seemingly on his way to enshrinement and the additions of Randy Johnson, John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez to next year's ballot.  We'll see, though.