Two Trades in One

I completed two trades recently, both of which landed me the above Chris Davis 2013 Topps Update Chrome.  I originally traded something that I can't remember to my buddy, Kalib (you know, from CUbs Cardboard) and he sent me the Davis in return.

Then, I completed a trade with a guy named Shant.  He needed some Chrome refractors and in return he sent me some Chrome base and the Davis (along with a few other O's cards).  The trade with Shant and the one from Alex really put a dent in my 2013 Chrome needs.

Thanks for the trades, guys.  I really appreciate it!

A Trade With Alex

I found a new trade partner recently, well, he found me, actually, when Alex from the blog "Chavez Ravining" messaged me about a trade.  I sent Alex a bunch of 2013 Topps inserts and a whole lot of Dodgers.  In return, Alex sent me a HUGE stack of Orioles, a few of which I already had (but that's ok because I can use them anyway), but most of which were new to me.

The above 2013 Panini Prizm Cal Ripken was a card that I knew I needed.  I didn't even know that Cal was in that set.  Add this to the Cal PC!

Alex hooked me up on the Manny front.  All of the Manny Machado cards he sent me, I didn't yet have, so this trade stack was really a benefit.  Manny cards are becoming tough to find, so any that I can get my hands on make me happy.

Finally, Alex included the 2013 Topps Update Chris Davis Red Home Run Derby card.  I didn't have this one either, so it will help out my Davis PC.  I believe I have most of the versions of this card.  I know for sure I have the Camo, Chrome and a few others, but I'm not too sure what else.  I just feel like I have a bunch of the variations now.

So, thanks for the trade, Alex.  I already have another stack that I hope to send your way once I thaw out.

Orioles Team Sets From TJ

I got a nice surprise email the other day from TJ (better known as the Junior Junkie) saying he had picked up some vintage Orioles team sets and he wanted to know if I was interested in them.  I sure was, so TJ dropped them in the mail for me.  Included in the package was what appeared to be Oriole team sets from 1980, 1983 and 1987 Topps.  I have to double check to see if they are full team sets, but I do know that the 1983 'set' is missing the Cal Ripken card.  I'm pretty sure I have an extra lying around somewhere.

I chose to show Mike Flanagan from each year because I don't feel like I feature him enough on my blog. The 1980 'set' consists of 24 Orioles.  There's the Flanagan, an Orioles team card showing the team photo and a smaller (really small) photo showing Earl Weaver.  Other cards that TJ sent include: Tippy Martinez, Benny Ayala, Steve Stone, Lee May, Terry Crowley, Pat Kelly, Benny Ayala, John Lowenstein, Gary Roenicke, Ken Singleton, Al Bumbry, Doug DeCinces, Mark Belanger, Billy Smith, Kiko Garcia, Rich Dauer, Rick Dempsey, Don Stanhouse, Dave Skaggs, Tim Stoddard, Sammy Stewart, Denny Martinez and Scott McGregor.

The 1980 Orioles went on to have a record of 100-62 and finished SECOND in the AL East (3 games behind the Yankees).  The team featured three Hall of Famers (Murray, Palmer and Weaver).  Steve Stone's 25-7 record paired with a 3.23 ERA would land him the AL Cy Young award.

TJ included 24 1983 Topps Orioles.  Other guys include: Eddie Murray, Rick Dempsey, Scott McGregor, Tippy Martinez, Earl Weaver, Joe Nolan, Sammy Stewart, Storm Davis, Denny Martinez, 1982 Orioles Batting/Pitching Leaders- Murray/Palmer (Also with a team checklist!!), Jim Dwyer, Lenn Sakata, Terry Crowley, Benny Ayala, Al Bumbry, John Lowenstein, Dan Ford, Gary Roenicke, Rich Dauer, Glenn Gulliver, Floyd Rayford, Tim Stoddard and Jim Palmer.  According to the team checklist card, yes, the Ripken is the only one I'm missing here.

The 1983 Orioles finished the season 98-64, first in the AL East.  They would go on to win the World Series, their final one so far.  Cal Ripken would take home the AL MVP award in '83, beating out teammate Eddie Murray, while Rick Dempsey would take the World Series MVP.  The team featured four Hall of Famers - Ripken, Murray, Palmer and Weaver.

Finally, the 1987 set TJ sent consisted of 28 cards.  Along with the above Flanny, TJ sent: Tippy Martinez, Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Rick Dempsey, Scott McGregor, Mike Boddicker, Earl Weaver (with team checklist on the back), Juan Beniquez, Orioles Leaders, Jackie Gutierrez, Juan Bonilla, Lee Lacy, Fred Lynn, Jim Dwyer, Mike Young, Jim Traber, John Shelby, Larry Sheets, Tom O'Malley, Nate Snell, Don Aase, John Stefero, Floyd Rayford, Rich Bordi, Brad Havens, Storm Davis and Ken Dixon.

The 1987 Orioles would go on to finish the season 67-95 (6th out of 7 in the AL East).  Earl Weaver had retired at the end of the 1986 season (but had a card in the '87 set) and was replaced by Cal Ripken, Sr.  The Orioles had two players who hit 30 or more homers that season - Eddie Murray (30) and Larry Sheets (31) with Cal hitting 27 and Fred Lynn hitting 23.  They had one batter finish with a +.300 batting average (Sheets with .316).  Bill Ripken would hit .308, but that was only over 58 games.

The Orioles pitching was pretty much horrendous that season, Mike Boddicker would end up leading the team with a 10-12 record and a 4.18 ERA.  Eric Bell (I've actually never heard of him) was second on the team with a 10-13 record.  His ERA, though, was 5.45.  Flanagan, at age 35, would go 3-6 with a 4.94 ERA.  They say the season is won and lost with pitching and it appears to me that Cal, Sr.'s hands were surely tied at the mound.  This team, although kind of terrible, still featured two eventual Hall of Famers (Murray and Ripken), two former MVPs (Ripken and Lynn), three former Rookies of the Year (Murray, Ripken, Lynn) and a former Cy Young Award winner (Flanny).

Thanks for the cards, TJ.  I might try to add some more Orioles team sets; maybe start a binder.  We'll see.

More PC Pickups from COMC

Finishing off a batch of COMC cards, here are a few PC needs that I picked up for myself.  First off is the 2013 Bowman Rookie Card blue chrome Stan Musial that I made mention of the other day.  It, like the Feller that I picked up, looks awesome.  I looked up the rest of the Blue Chrome rookies and these are really the only ones I would pursue.  I still need to pick up the Spahn at some point.  I did get the Ted Williams out of a pack and it is earmarked for Scott, while, I pulled two Joe Mauers that I need to send to a good home.  Of course, I need to remind myself where I sat them, first.

Here are a couple more of the 1980-83 Pacific Legends cards, this time Jimmie Foxx (of course) and a Musial.  I also bought a copy of the Musial for my good buddy, Andrew.

So, that wraps up a COMC package, but I have another one on the way.  I sold quite a few things recently, so I have used my store credit to add to my PCs.  Here's to hoping that the sales keep coming so I can continue to grab some cool stuff to show off.

Continuation of the Trade With Max

I completed a trade with Max of the blog "Starting Nine" back in November.  You can refresh your memory here.  He had some 2013 Topps Spring Fever cards earmarked for me, but at the time of our trade, he hadn't located them.  When he did, he sent them to my mailbox. I think I had this Machado already, but with the way his cards are shooting up, I don't mind another one.  I'll have to look in my Manny PC and see, but this one is nice to have, nonetheless.

I'm pretty sure I didn't have this Cal already.  So, it was nice to see it in my package.  Cal cards are still coming out every year, so it gives me opportunities to add to my PC and have a chance that I'll know whether or not I own the card.

So, thanks for the trade, Max.  I really appreciate it.  Let's do this again!

Bob Feller COMC Pickups

I spent a little bit of store credit recently on COMC and was able to add a few cards to my Bob Feller PC.  I got the above 1980-83 Pacific Legends Feller for under a dollar.  I hadn't heard of these cards before I was showing a Stan Musial to my good friend, Andrew.  He ended up not buying the Musial, but I liked the cards enough that I bought one for him and I got a couple for myself.  They look really good, in my opinion, and at a cheap price for Hall of Famers.

I also picked up this 2013 Bowman Blue Rookie Card refractor of Feller.  I thought this was really cool, especially since I am working on the 1948 Bowman set.  Having the original card makes this even cooler.  I also picked up the Musial, since it was a '48 Bowman as well.

I'll probably show the Musials I got at a later time, or I'll let Andrew show them on his blog, since I got him the same ones.  I really like both cards, though.  Really cool designs and not a lot of cost.

COMC Pickup - 2013 Bowman Chrome Black Wave Alex Murphy

Well, I guess I am officially doing a PC of Orioles 2013 draft pick, Alex Murphy.  I got this 2013 Bowman Chrome Black Wave version of his card off of COMC for about $3.  I'm really liking the 'wave' parallels.  I think they look really cool.  I'll be attempting to get the rainbow of these now, so I need the silver and red wave versions.  I know I've seen red wave cards of Murphy going for $25 on Ebay, so I think I'll wait a bit before I get one of those.  Probably after Fan Fest, I think.

I may also get a couple of the wave parallels of a few other Orioles as well.  I saw a Black Wave Manny Machado going for $12, so I'll probably jump on that as well.