Ebay Pickup - 2014 Topps Mini Nolan Reimold Pink Parallel

I picked up this really awesome 2014 Topps Mini Nolan Reimold pink parallel off of Ebay recently when I got a payment in from my buddy Michael for a ball I got him at Fan Fest.  I went through my "haves" spreadsheet with Andrew and we settled on some nice PC cards that I needed to add for respective rainbows.

I need to get a box or two of 2014 Mini, since they are so cheap.  I really need to hit up some more Davis parallels, especially since I have the platinum parallel.

I really like the pink parallels.  This one really stands out.  The card is numbered 4/25.

Amazing Deal With Michael - Chris Davis Laundry Tag Card

You guys have heard me talk about my great friend, Michael, quite a bit on here.  He and I completed a massive trade the other day when he put this amazing Chris Davis 2014 Panini National Treasures laundry tag card.  This card is just awesome.  I mean, really awesome.

Michael valued it so ridiculously cheap, I had to jump on it. I traded him a few signed baseballs and some signed post cards for it and a bunch of relics and autos that I'm going to use to refill my trade bait section.

I think Michael has realized that I'm terrible at the upkeep on that page, so he assisted me in getting some new stuff to populate it.  I really appreciated how he looked out for me on this card, and the other stuff he sent me.  He could have commanded a premium on the Davis tag card, but instead, valued it at cost.  He has always done right by me, and I won't forget it.  This Davis card is now a key centerpiece in my collection, and actually, I think it will take a place in my China cabinet, next to my Jimmie Foxx booket card.

Thank you so much for the deal, Michael!  I really appreciate it, and I will break the rest of the stuff up into additional posts, to be blogged in the future.  In the meantime, please head over to Michael's blog and give it a read.  He has been posting more and more lately, and has actually conducted quite a few interviews recently.  You can access his blog here.

Vintage Pickups From Bryce

I got a Kik message the other day from my buddy, Bryce, showing me this sweet Carlos Gomez patch card that he was hoping to be able to pick up.  Bryce was a little worried, though, that he wouldn't be able to raise enough funds fast enough, before someone else jumped on the card.

I had a little money in my PayPal, so I was willing to help him out.  While looking on his page, I noticed that he had a few vintage cards that I really liked, so, instead of contributing a little bit toward his cause, I ended up putting him over the top of what he needed.

The above Roberto Clemente was the card that was the key to the deal, for me.  I knew I had my '64 Mantle coming in, so I figured if I could get this one as well, I would be well on my way with the '64 set, whenever I decided to start it.

The card is in great shape, regardless of the bad centering.  The corners are sharp, and there are no creases.  Bryce was really reluctant to let it go, but he knew I would give the card a good home.

I have picked up a few '61 Topps cards here and there, the Ernie Banks being a key one, so I was happy to see that Bryce had this Mathews available.  The '61 set is another of those early 60s sets that I want to get moving on, but will have to wait until I get some others completed.

Here is yet another set that I already have a good head start on, being that I have the Ernie Banks and Sandy Koufax in my possession.  This Killebrew second year card has soft corners, but is otherwise in pretty decent shape.  1956 Topps has grown on me, and I wouldn't be surprised if I get the urge to start building this one if I can get some others out of the way.

I was really happy with the deal with Bryce.  He has quickly become one of the people I talk to the most from Instagram.  He wrote me a really nice, long note that he included with the deal, and you all know that the notes are my favorite part of any package.

Thanks for the deal, Bryce!  I hope you enjoy your Carlos Gomez patch card as much as I enjoy these sweet vintage cards!

Instagram Pickup - Josh Donaldson Tristar Auto

I completed a trade recently on Instagram that landed me this 2007 Tristar Prospects Plus Josh Donaldson auto.  The trade was completed over a month ago, but I'm just getting around to posting about it because I have a ton of stuff sitting here, waiting to be blogged.

The trade was this card for a 2014 Topps Chrome George Springer sepia parallel.  While it took the kid a little longer than I would have liked to ship me this card, it got here, and was in great shape.  I think he just forgot to send on time, which I can't blame him; sometimes life gets in the way.

Donaldson isn't a PC of mine, and while I respected him as a member of the A's, I know I will like him less now that he is a Blue Jay.  He is a really good player, though, and I got this card with the sole intention of adding a few good player autos to my collection.  Not necessarily guys that I PC, but ones who I think are pretty good, and will be fun to find when I thumb through my boxes.

I've had a few folks already ask me if I would trade the card, but I'm not really inclined to do so, for the reasons stated above.  In the vein of why I got this card, I actually have been in the process of picking up a few others for that same purpose.  Just relics and/or autos of guys who I feel are pretty good players.

Instagram Trade With Zach - Chrome Goodness

I completed a deal recently with a guy named Zach from Instagram after I sent him a 2008 Topps Stadium Club Clayton Kershaw RC.  In return, I received this 2014 Bowman Chrome Chris Davis purple refractor that I needed for my PC.  I'm surprised it took me this long to land a purple refractor because it looks awesome.  The card is numbered 91/150.

While I love the purple refractor Davis, I think one of the extras that Zach sent may have outdone the key trade piece.  Holy crap, look at this scan.  It almost looks like stained glass.  What a beautiful card.  I had no idea, when I laid it on top of my scanner, that this 2011 Topps atomic refractor of Adam Jones would turn out like this.  Man, that is a really cool card.  It also helps me to remember just how good the 2011 Topps design was.

Since the time of our trade, I have chatted with Zach quite a bit.  He seems like a really good person, and is a lot of fun to chat with.  I was really glad that we met through the trade, and I know we will trade again.  I wanted to make sure he had a positive experience in our deal, so I sent him a few extra rookie cards to help his collection.  From what Zach says, he really enjoyed everything, and that's what makes it all worthwhile.

How Mike Trout Became My New Best Friend

I busted my requisite three jumbo boxes of 2015 Topps Series 1 when they came out.  I had planned on doing a breakdown of what I pulled, but chaos ensued after I revealed my hits on Instagram.  My biggest hit was the above Mike Trout auto.  While I have been an outspoken critic of Trout (not because I don't believe he is a GOOD player, I believe he hasn't shown anything about walking on water just yet), I was really glad to pull the card.  I recognize the fact that Trout is a good player, who has the potential to be a great player, but come on, a .288 batting average isn't exactly setting the world on fire.  Anyway, I had planned to keep it, until my friend, Blaine commented after I posted that he would make me a good offer on the card.  He didn't disappoint.

Blaine offered me, not one, but two Mickey Mantles in exchange for the Trout auto.  Two Mantles.  I didn't even let him get out the "T" in flight (Jay Mohr joke) before I said DEAL!  I wasn't going to pass up a deal for two Mantles, and I really was glad that one of them was the 1964. I haven't even begun to start the 1964 set, but this will be a nice start to the set, once I do get moving on it.

Why, hello there, old friend!  Blaine is the guy I traded my 1962 Mantle to, in exchange for some cash, a 1960 Koufax and some other stuff.  I didn't want to give it up at the time, but Blaine doesn't mess around when it comes to deals, so I accepted.  Anyway, I was happy that Blaine included it in the deal, as well.  I didn't want to give the card up, and now, it's back home where it belongs!  I do believe that this is the very first time in all of my years of collecting that I have traded away and then traded for the same card.  This time, the card is on lockdown!

So, I am really glad I pulled the Trout auto.  My thinking is, Trout is a good player, but he could get hurt tomorrow.  Mantle will always be Mantle, so doing this deal, for me, was a no brainer.  I also appreciate Blaine in that he is an amazing person to work with, and he doesn't fool around with deals.  He makes a great offer right off the bat, and we were able to come to terms really fast.  I really think the Trout was up for less than 5 minutes before the deal was agreed upon.  That's pretty awesome!

Instagram Trade With Trevor - Cal Ripken Coin and More

I completed another trade with my buddy, Trevor when he sent me this Cal Ripken painted Silver Eagle and some other cards for my collection.  He had been offering me this Cal coin for some time, and I was happy to get it from him.

Trevor took a bunch of Reds off of my hands, and now gets most, if not all, of the ones I come across.  That makes it really easy for me when it comes to searching boxes.

This red hot foil Oscar Taveras card was something else that Trevor added, and I was glad to add it to my collection.  While I don't agree with his decision making that cost him his life, he was still someone's son, brother and friend.  His life ending so soon was a true tragedy, but hopefully there is a silver lining to it.  Maybe if one of the kids who looked up to Taveras will learn from the mistake that he made, and refrain from drinking and driving.

The card really pops, and it serves as a fitting tribute to a young player who is gone too soon.

Thanks for the deal, Trevor!  I really appreciate the deal, and I know we will do more in the future!