Trading With Blog Reader Dana - 2013 Topps Chrome Manny Machado RC Auto

I got an email from someone who has read my blog for a long time, Dana.  She used to frequent the card shop I helped out at and follows me on Facebook as well.  When she emailed me, I was happily surprised that the had contacted me to do a trade.  Braves stuff for Orioles stuff with the centerpiece being the above 2013 Topps Chrome Manny Machado RC Autograph.

I sent Dana a multitude of Braves stuff, including a SP and a relic from 2014 Topps, among other things. She sent a huge stack of recent Orioles stuff, way too much to justice with in one post.  So, I will break it up among many posts.

I thought the other day that I really needed to get something cooking as far as trades go, and lo and behold, a huge package from Dana and also several other trades came rolling in all at once.  I'm going to make time for each and every one, so if you sent me something, don't worry, it'll get posted.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.  I also want to take Fuji's idea and do a posting showing my top 5 Hall of Fame baseballs.  I haven't thought enough about it, but I will get one moving shortly.

So, that being said, please enjoy the Manny RC Auto that Dana sent me and stay tuned over the next couple days and see what else was in her padded mailer!

Thanks so much, Dana!

Hall of Fame Baseball #100 - Mickey Mantle

The quest began in January of 2010 when I posted here that I wanted to branch out into memorabilia.  It was a discussion with my good friend, P. A. at the card shop on a Saturday that getting some signed baseballs by Hall of Famers wouldn't be too difficult a task.  I began with three baseballs, the Cal Ripken that my mom gave me in 1992; a Jim Palmer given to me for my 19th birthday in 1999 by my old boss, Todd and a Brooks Robinson given to me by Mom a few years later at Christmas.  The first baseball in my quest (4th overall) arrived on January 14, 2010 (A ball signed by Stan Musial, which you can see here).  Four years and 96 baseballs later, we now have number 100, Mickey Mantle.

This has been an exhaustive quest.  I have obtained several baseballs through the mail, at card shows, over Ebay, through auction houses, antique shops, two trades, birthday and Christmas presents from my mom and great friend, Drew and a couple in person autographs.  I haven't spent near what one might think on these 100 baseballs. I've watched sales and auctions like a hawk.  I've learned a thing or two about autograph authentication along the way, of course.

The Mantle ball came about, like I said last night, through my friend Conrad from the antique shop (Chic Antiques) in Columbia, SC.  He did shows with a good friend of mine in the 1980s and early 1990s where they would meet Hall of Famers in person, one of which was Mantle, himself.  Conrad wanted to help me with my quest, so he gave me a deal I couldn't refuse on both the Koufax ball and this Mantle.

As you can see, the signature is amazing.  Words can't describe, so I'll just let you take a look at the picture and see for yourself.

Now what do I do?  I've reached a plateau, 100 signed baseballs and I've nearly run out of room in my China cabinet.  This ball and several others won't even be able to be displayed since they are in a safe location, not in my house.  Do I keep moving forward and knock more players off the list (and go for Jimmie Foxx, ultimately)?  Do I rest on my laurels and admire the fact that I reached #100?  I don't really know at this moment.  I'm inclined to continue on, maybe try to reach 150 or more.  If I do, I need to devise an alternate means of display.  Also,I know I have to replace at least one ball (Niekro) because of fading.  I also need to re-assess my choice of pens/balls for TTM and IP autographing as well to eliminate the fading issue (which I think I have solved).

So, we'll see what the future holds.  If I were to guess today, at this moment, I'd be willing to say Hell Yeah, keep em coming, but I do have some things to think about.

Mickey Mantle (b. 1931 - d. 1995) played in the Majors from 1951 to 1968, all for the Yankees.  He had 2,415 hits, 536 home runs and a batting average of .298.  Mantle was a 16-time All Star, 3-time AL MVP (1956, 1957 and 1962) and the 1956 AL Batting Champion (.353 average).  He won the World Series with the Yankees 7 times (1951, 52, 53, 56, 58, 61 and 62) and made 12 trips to the World Series all together.

He was a 4-time AL Home Run champion (1955, 1956, 1958 and 1960) and hit 50 or more home runs twice (1956 and 1961). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974 (his first ballot) when he was named to 88.2% of the ballot.

So, there you have it.  I am celebrating a huge milestone in my collection.  I wanted #100 to be special and I couldn't honestly think of getting anyone other than Mantle at #100 (unless a Jimmie Foxx fell into my lap).  I'd like to thank everyone who helped me get to this point, namely Mom, my wife, P. A., Drew and Conrad.

Hall of Fame Signed Baseball - Sandy Koufax

Well, as you may be able to tell, I now have Hall of Fame signed baseball #99 in my possession as the above ball signed by Sandy Koufax.  What does that mean?  Well, if Koufax is #99 and not #100, then #100 must be epic, right?  You are correct.  I got both in one purchase a couple weeks ago, and they finally have arrived.  I'll spend tonight talking about Koufax and will follow up tomorrow on the #100 ball.

I got the balls from Conrad, the proprietor of Chic Antiques in Columbia, SC.  I've supported his store for some time now, especially since I learned that he was close friends with someone I was close friends with.  It's a small world (after all).  So, when I emailed Conrad to see if he could help me with my project, he came back with several options for #100.  A couple guys I had, so he had it narrowed it down to two.  I decided that since he gave me such a good price on each, I would go ahead and buy them both, hence the dual purchase.  Not bad, plus I bought "local", even though Columbia isn't exactly local to me, I bought them from a small business, local to my brother.  Close enough.  Anyway, I'm really glad to have helped Conrad out as he definitely helped me out.  If you are ever in Columbia, please check out Conrad's shop, located on Huger St.  Tell him I sent you!

Sandy Koufax (b. 1935) played in the majors from 1955 to 1966 for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.  He had a career record of 165-87 with 2,396 strikeouts and a 2,76 ERA.  He was the Cy Young Award winner 3 times (1963, 1965 and 1966), the NL MVP in 1963 and won 20+ games 3 times in his career.

He won the World Series with the Dodgers in 1959, 1963 and 1965 and was on the 1955 team that won it all as well, but he didn't pitch in the post season.  His career post season record was 4-3 with a 0.95 ERA and 61 strikeouts.  Interestlingly enough, his final game pitched was in the 1966 World Series, a loss in Game 2 against a 19-year old rookie and an upstart team.  The rookie?  Jim Palmer and the team was the Orioles.  The O's would go on to sweep the heavily favored Dodgers in 4 games and Koufax would retire after the Series.

Koufax is my 99th Hall of Fame signed baseball in my collection.  I now have Koufax's rookie card (1955 Topps); his final regular Topps issue (1966 Topps) and a signed baseball).  Stay tuned to see who made the cut as #100.

A Surprise Package From Andrew

I got a really nice package (along with a nice note) in the mail the other day from my very good friend, Andrew.  I haven't been able to talk to him much recently because we both have been really busy, but he is still one of the people that I talk to the most, especially about baseball and cards.

We've been friends now for two years and I'm really glad that Weston introduced us.  Andrew and I send packages back and forth to each other now without even expecting anything in return from the other.  It's a really good setup.

In that vein, he pulled the above 2013 Topps Update Chris Davis gold parallel and immediately put it aside for me.  I made a trade the other day for a rookie card of Yadier Molina, not because I wanted it, but because I knew he needed it.  The wheels keep on turning.

Thanks so much for the package Andrew.  You'll be getting another from me before you know it!

My Second Instagram Trade

I completed my second Instagram trade this evening when I came home to a package from my new friend, James.  He was actually the first person to initiate a trade with me, other than the kid who scammed me, but weather and shipping issues delayed his package.  It finally got here, through no fault of James, who was on top of the shipping.  James kept me in the loop on what was going on and I really appreciated the care he took to make sure I knew he was a legit trader.

I sent him a huge stack of Todd Helton cards for a low price in addition with some card supplies.  In turn, James paid me for the supplies and sent me several Orioles including the above Cal Ripken, which I'm pretty sure I don't have as well as the below Jimmie Foxx cards.

This card above is the 2009 Topps T206 Foxx, which, surprisingly, I didn't have. It will look awesome in my Foxx PC.

This is a 2011 Topps DeLong reprint, which looks really great.

I'm really glad that I met with James and pulled off a trade.  We have been chatting quite a bit about baseball and cards in general, which all of you know I really enjoy.  I hope he and I can do more trades in the future.

COMC Pickup - 2003 UD Sweet Spot Classic Bob Feller

One of the few things I miss since Upper Deck has left the baseball card market was their Sweet Spot Classic series.  Between that and Legendary Cuts, those were the best yearly offerings that UD had going, in my opinion.  I really like the photography used for the cards for each, and the hits (when not a redemption) were pretty great.

So, when I saw this 2003 UD Sweet Spot Classic Bob Feller that I needed for my collection on COMC, I snatched it up.  The coloring is great.  I don't know what it is about a sepia photo or card, but I really enjoy it.  Feller looks like he is ready to mow someone down with that 100+ mph fastball. I wish I could hop in the DeLorean and go back to his hey day and watch him throw.

That's the funny thing, if I had a time machine, I wouldn't be using it to better mankind, I would be in one of those old straw hats, sitting in old baseball stadiums, perfectly content.  If only that were possible...

COMC Pickup - 2013 Bowman Sterling Hunter Harvey Autograph

For a whopping price of $4.25, I was able to pick up this 2013 Bowman Sterling Hunter Harvey autograph off of COMC.  Not bad, if you ask me.  Harvey will likely start the season at Single A Frederick this year, so it is a possibility that I will be able to see him play.  I definitely hope to catch plenty of MiLB games this year, like most years.

The Orioles farm system is much better than it has been in recent memory, so any of their minor league games should be entertaining.  Harvey has a long road to the majors, but the O's can now take their time with him since they signed Ubaldo Jimenez to a long term deal and they have Gausman and Bundy waiting in the wings.  I hope they don't rush Harvey at all, because we all know what happened to Arrieta, Britton, Loewen and others who were rushed.