Happy New Year, Folks

Well, my friends, 2012 will be over in mere hours, but that gives me time for one more post before the ball drops on Dick Clark, again. First of all, I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and have a wonderful New Year. The real reason for this post is to show off the last cards I received in a what has been a great 2012 card-wise for me. These cards came to me via my Secret Santa from the Crackin' Wax Holiday Gift Exchange. Let me say, without hesitation, that this was the best Secret Santa gift that I've ever received.

Santa sent me this awesome '08 SP Legendary Cuts Dan Uggla Auto, via St. Paul, MN. Dan definitely doesn't have the nicest signature I've ever seen but will always look good in my collection, unless he ever becomes a Yankee of course, but I digress.

Last, but surely not least, Santa also packed in this great '03 Fleer Double Play Flip Card Game Used Gold. Thanks to Santa, this card has been knocked off my Top 5 Most Wanted List. What makes this one special, though, is that it is numbered out of 100, hence "Gold" in the name.

Yeah, yeah. Insert dirty joke here, but that just adds to the cool, manliness of the card. So thank you, Santa, whoever you are! If you have more awesome cards and generosity to spare, we should definitely get in touch. Happy New Year, everyone! Stay safe and remember. Don't drink and blog. If you do, use Spell Check.

An Early Christmas Post

Well, everyone. I hope you are done/finishing your Christmas shopping. Everyone will be getting together with their families over the next week or so and spending some quality time with relatives, some of who you won't see until next Thanksgiving. Regardless, being around my family makes me thankful for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon me. This year, I added a few more things to be thankful for. Besides my awesome family, friends and girlfriend, I have gotten a better job with better pay closer to home. I've made some great new friends from work. Lastly, starting this blog has introduced me to some great people in the blogosphere who share in my love of 2 x 3 rectangles of cardboard blazoned with some of the best, worst, and mediocre players in Major League Baseball.

From the humble beginnings of this blog to where it is now, I could not be more happy. I have been allowed the great pleasure of meeting (through email, obviously) some great people. And with this post I'd like to thank you all for all the trades I've been able to make and for participating in the two group break here at the Home of the Toddfather. Thank you Chris from Nachos Grande for my first trade. Thank you Julie from Funner Here for my smallest trade, as in the # of cards. Thank you to Scott from Scott Crawford on Cards for by far the largest trade. Thank you to Doug from Sports Cards from the Dollar Store for catching on to one of my lesser known loves "Wrasslin'". Thanks to Ryan from O No!!! Another Orioles Blog for the invites to his group breaks. Thanks to Speigel from Nomo's Sushi Platter and Adam from ARPSmith's Sportscard Obsession for opening a trade line to the West Coast. Thanks to the Dutch Card Guy for my first international trade. Thank you Mark from This Way to the Clubhouse for the all the awesome trades he has sent my way. And most importantly thank you to everyone who have read, glanced at, or just accidentally clicked on my blog.

I hope you all have safe travels wherever you make be going, spend some well-needed time with your loved ones, and have the merriest of Christmases.

Going Back to the Archive

It seems as though that is what Topps is doing in 2013. I'm sure most of you have saw it on Beckett, Cardboard Connections, or somewhere else. At first read, I'm intrigued by the base set. This time around Topps is reportedly using 1972, 1982, 1985, and 1990. Although all the reviews are not that great because of the use of the '90 set, but being a child of the '90s, I'm in love. Just imagine pulling this from a pack.

Yeah, now you're in love. Just admit it. Anyway, I read further and became quite turned off my the inserts. I'm really not digging any of them. I definitely don't like the idea of using the different sports designs in a baseball set. Maybe in a multi-sport set like Classic, but not in 2013 Topps Archives baseball set. What football-loving adult would want to see Jerry Rice on a 1990 Topps baseball? Not many. Nor do I want to see Andrew McCutchen on a 1965 football "tall-boy" or the '72-'73 basketball design.

C'mon, Topps. Let's keep our sports separate. You've all but made it impossible for other card companies to survive making baseball cards (Panini is doing a pretty good job, though). Now you want to combine all the sports? No, thank you. So, I will be purchasing the 2013 Topps Archive, but all the inserts I get, save my player and team collections, will be up for trade. For me to change my mind, these inserts are going to have to absolutely blow my mind. What do you guys think?

The Finale...

Apparently, my Blogger iPad app did not want to post yesterdays break results last night, so I had to upload this afternoon. Sorry about that guys. This is it. The last day of the Christmas Break. I want to go ahead and thank you all for participating in my second break, and hopefully, you will consider joining the next one, which will probably not be until February. If this is your first interaction with me, please make sure I have your address. I will attempt to have all the packages out by the middle of next week, so everyone should have them before or right after Christmas. To quote a famous commercial, "Here we go."

Manny being Manny.

Pack 61
Jorge Posada - Yankees
Manny Ramirez - Red Sox
Roy Oswalt - Astros
Eric Gagne - Dodgers
Todd Helton - Rockies
Mike Lowell - Marlins

An underrated '90s Brave.

Pack 62
Nomar Garciaparra - Red Sox
Dmitri Young - Tigers
Renyel Pinto First Class - Cubs
Troy Glaus - Angels
Vernon Wells - Blue Jays
Ryan Klesko - Padres

Man, he was a master
of his craft.

Pack 63
Gary Sheffield - Yankees
Milton Bradley - Indians
Greg Maddux Silver - Cubs
Austin Kearns - Reds
Barry Zito - A's
Bret Boone - Mariners

A goatee-less King Albert.

Pack 64
Brandon Webb - Diamondbacks
Sean Burroughs - Padres
Ben Sheets - Brewers
Albert Pujols - Cardinals
Derek Jeter - Yankees
Torii Hunter - Twins

Big Unit, intimidating as ever.

Pack 65
Rocco Baldelli - Rays
Reggie Sanders - Cardinals
Randy Johnson - Diamondbacks
Carlos Delgado - Blue Jays
Mike Piazza - Mets
Kerry Wood - Cubs

I like the HRD picture.

Pack 66
Jason Giambi - Yankees
Eric Chavez - A's
Adam Dunn - Reds
Magglio Ordonez - White Sox
Jose Vidro - Expos
Mark Prior - Cubs

Probably the last time
you'll ever see Jerome
on my blog again.

Pack 67
Phil Nevin - Padres
Bartolo Colon - Angels
Jerome Williams Silver - Giants
Jerome Williams - Giants
Greg Maddux - Cubs
Mike Sweeney - Royals

Never the same after
that fateful HRD.

Pack 68
Johan Santana - Twins
Edgar Martinez - Mariners
Chad Bentz - Expos
Curt Schilling - Red Sox
Bobby Abreu - Phillies
Kevin Brown - Yankees

Miggy Jack

Pack 69
Vladimir Guerrero - Angels
Mark Mulder - A's
Larry Walker - Rockies
Miguel Tejada - Orioles
Lance Berkman - Astros
Roger Clemens - Astros

Bags looks good in gold.

Pack 70
Jacque Jones - Twins
Jim Thome - Phillies
Jeff Bagwell Gold - Astros
Mark Teixeira - Rangers
Angel Berroa - Royals
Alfonso Soriano - Rangers

Where's the beer
and chicken?

Pack 71
Javier Vazquez - Yankees
Josh Beckett - Marlins
Edgar Renteria - Cardinals
Orlando Cabrera - Expos
Sammy Sosa - Cubs
Jose Reyes - Mets

The biggest hit of the break.

Pack 72
Hideo Nomo - Dodgers
Brian Giles - Padres
Brent Mayne Auto - Diamondbacks
Andruw Jones - Braves
Carlos Lee - White Sox
Scott Rolen - Cardinals



There we have it. The auto from the pack was literally in the last pack opened. Congrats, Jason, on the only auto in the break. Thanks again everybody.

Drum Roll Please...

Ready for some Pro Sigs? Me too, so let's started.

The Cy Young winner
we all know and love.

Pack 49
Bartolo Colon - Angels
Johan Santana - Twins
Edgar Martinez - Mariners
Angel Berroa - Royals
Alfonso Soriano - Rangers
Orlando Cabrera - Expos

Big Bad Vlad

Pack 50
Vladimir Guerrero - Angels
Mark Mulder - A's
Tim Hamulack First Class- Red Sox
Sammy Sosa - Cubs
Jose Reyes - Mets
Andruw Jones - Braves

This man is nothing but
raw strength.

Pack 51
Larry Walker - Rockies
Jacque Jones - Twins
Jim Thome - Phillies
Carlos Lee - White Sox
Scott Rolen - Cardinals
Eric Gagne - Dodgers

The Namesake!

Pack 52
Javier Vazquez - Yankees
Josh Beckett - Marlins
Edgar Renteria - Cardinals
Todd Helton - Rockies
Mike Lowell - Marlins
Troy Glaus - Angels

One of the A's Big Three

Pack 53
Frank Thomas - White Sox
Jim Edmonds - Cardinals
Shawn Green - Dodgers
Richie Sexson - Diamondbacks
Tim Hudson - A's
Ichiro - Mariners

2001 WS Hero

Pack 54
Preston Wilson - Rockies
Dontrelle Willis - Marlins
Garret Anderson - Angels
Luis Gonzalez - Diamondbacks
Geoff Jenkins - Brewers
Shannon Stewart - Twins

What's up, Doc?

Pack 55
Roy Halladay - Blue Jays
Alex Rodriguez - Yankees
Rafael Palmeiro - Orioles
Hank Blalock - Rangers
Carlos Beltran - Royals
Jeff Bagwell - Astros

Piazza's definitely not
remembered for much of this.

Pack 56
Pedro Martinez - Red Sox
Jeff Kent - Astros
Scott Proctor First Class - Yankees
Carlos Delgado - Blue Jays
Mike Piazza - Mets
Kerry Wood - Cubs

Underrated!!!

Pack 57
CC Sabathia - Indians
Chipper Jones - Braves
Mike Mussina - Yankees
Magglio Ordonez - White Sox
Jose Vidro - Expos
Mark Prior - Cubs

Mad Dog

Pack 58
Ivan Rodriguez - Tigers
Rocco Baldelli - Rays
Reggie Sanders - Cardinals
Jerome Williams - Giants
Greg Maddux - Cubs
Mike Sweeney - Royals

Really nice silver parallel.

Pack 59
Randy Johnson - Diamondbacks
Jason Giambi - Yankees
Mike Sweeney Silver - Royals
Curt Schilling - Red Sox
Kevin Brown - Yankees
Miguel Tejada - Orioles

Tex before his trip
to the Dark Side.

Pack 60
Eric Chavez - A's
Adam Dunn - Reds
Phil Nevin - Padres
Lance Berkman - Astros
Roger Clemens - Astros
Mark Teixeira - Rangers






One word describes these cards to me. That word...AWESOME!!! A minor hit with the Sweeney Silver, but to me all these cards are hits. A small base set allow for great stars. A great looking card. A special place in the "extended base set" for rookie cards and autographs. You can't go wrong with these cards, and they're much better than the Rookie Debut. That's for sure. Come back tomorrow for some more Pro Sigs goodness.

Back to the Break

Hola, compadres. Time to finish cracking into these '02 UD Rookie Debuts. Maybe a better go of it today.

What ever happened
to this kid?

Pack 37
Julio Mateo RC (Victory) - Mariners
Brett Myers (Victory) - Phillies
Bartolo Colon (Ovation) - Expos
Andy Van Hekken (Honor Roll) - Tigers
Jayson Durocher (Honor Roll) - Brewers

Professional in every
sense of the word.

Pack 38
Rodrigo Rosario RC (Victory) - Astros
Matt Clement (Victory) - Cubs
Miguel Tejada (Ovation) - A's
Barry Wesson (Honor Roll) - Angels
Scott Rolen (Honor Roll) - Cardinals

It's sad when Mench is
the best card in the pack.

Pack 39
Scott Wiggins RC (Victory) - Blue Jays
Kevin Mench (Victory) - Rangers
Ben Diggins (Ovation) - Brewers
Mike Smith (Honor Roll) - Blue Jays
Hansel Izquierdo (Honor Roll) - Marlins

Decent pull with Nieves.

Pack 40
Kirk Saarloos RC (Victory) - Astros
Justin Wayne (Victory) - Marlins
Wil Nieves (Ovation World Premiere #ed 1311/2002) - Padres
Lance Berkman (Honor Roll) - Astros
Shane Nance (Honor Roll) - Brewers

Pirates-great

Pack 41
Jeremy Hill RC (Victory) - Royals
Josh Fogg (Victory) - Pirates
Andres Torres (Ovation) - Tigers
Freddy Sanchez (Honor Roll) - Red Sox
Geronimo Gil (Honor Roll) - Orioles

Fro-less Coco

Pack 42
Jorge Sosa RC (Victory) - Rays
Coco Crisp (Victory) - Indians
Alfonso Soriano (Ovation) - Yankees
Jose Rodriguez (Honor Roll) - Cardinals
Jason Beverlin (Honor Roll) - Indians

Decent career in the pen.

Pack 43
Chris Snelling RC (Victory) - Mariners
Eric Hinske (Victory) - Blue Jays
Lance Carter (Ovation World Premiere #ed 929/2002) - Rays
Jorge Padilla (Honor Roll) - Phillies
Howie Clark (Honor Roll) - Orioles

Floyd was featured in a
video game called
Backyard Baseball in 2003.

Pack 44
Josh Hancock RC (Victory) - Red Sox
Peter Munro (Victory) - Astros
Cliff Floyd (Ovation) - Red Sox
Austin Kearns (Honor Roll) - Reds
Julius Mateo (Honor Roll) - Padres

Two words...
big disappointment!

Pack 45
Howie Clark RC (Victory) - Orioles
Brandon Larson (Victory) - Reds
Eric Chavez (Ovation) - A's
Travis Hughes (Honor Roll) - Rangers
Mark Prior (Honor Roll) - Cubs

Pre-reverse evolution

Pack 46
Jaime Cerda RC (Victory) - Mets
Ben Diggins (Victory) - Brewers
Jayson Werth (Ovation) - Blue Jays
Tim Kalita (Honor Roll) - Tigers
Satoru Komiyama (Honor Roll) - Mets

Almost as bad as
Saltalamacchia.

Pack 47
Eric Junge RC (Victory) - Phillies
Scott Rolen (Victory) - Cardinals
Austin Kearns (Ovatioin) - Reds
Orlando Hudson (Honor Roll) - Blue Jays
Jason Simontacchi (Honor Roll) - Cardinals

Yet another rough pack.

Pack 48
John Ennis RC (Victory) - Braves
George Lombard (Victory) - Tigers
Brett Myers (Ovation) - Phillies
Jason Davis (Honor Roll) - Indians
Sean Burroughs (Honor Roll) - Padres






I would like to take this opportunity to apologized to all involved in this group break. I obviously made a horrible mistake picking this box for the break. I hope you can all forgive me. Shew...Glad I got that off my chest. Anyway, seeing the O-Dogg in several of these packs made me think...How on Earth did he get his own puzzle in the 2012 Triple Play set. Hudson hasn't be relevant since like 2006 or something like that.

Two teams, the D-Backs and White Sox did not score this round. Never fear, though. Unclaimed cards from this go around will be distributed appropriately. Now it is time to get excited. Tomorrow starts the final box, 2004 UD ProSigs. Looking forward to see what is in store.

What a Load of Bichette

It's been awhile since I've featured some great trades I've complete lately with other blogosphere residence, so I thought I'd take a little time away from the Christmas Break posts to show you the awesome trades I've made in the past week or so. First off, I got a nice group of Mets greats and others for my main man Mark over at This Way to the Clubhouse. You know, Piazza, Clark, Ho-Jo. The works. As always, Mark came through with so awesome array of cards right up my alley. Here's the highlights.

Holy Bichette, Batman. That's a lot of Bichette. The jokes could just keep going and going and going. Bichette, one of the original Black Street Bombers, was selected by the Rox in the 1993 expansion draft from the Brewers. Fyi, Bichette finished second in the NL MVP vote in 1995 to Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. Along with the Bichettes, Mark sent a from 2012 Topps Online Exclusive Minis, a handful of other former Rockies and a 2011 Lineage Diamond Parallel Freddie Freeman RC. Awesome as always, Mark.

Next, I couldn't help myself when Ryan at "O" No!!! Another Orioles Blog had a trade bait clearance "trade-off."

I don't have player collections for any of these guys (Dye, Hosmer, Moustakas, Kendall). Just a soft spot in my baseball-loving heart for guys that play the game hard. And that's what each have proven to me. A really nice haul from my friend, Ryan.

Recently, I got in touch with a really nice lady named Julie from the blog Funner Here. I not sure how I figured it out, but Julie is a Roy Halladay junkie. (If you don't sense the sarcasm, check her blog). So I sent her a trio of Halladays from this beauty.

2004 Donruss Leather & Lumber numbered 98/250. Beautiful purple swatch. What's up with the orange tinted shades, Todd? Must be a tip-of-the-cap to our Alma mater, which finally has a head coach, just saying. Great card from Ms. Julie.

Last but not least, Rhubard_Runner at e rayhahn rayhahn got in touch with me about three weeks ago and got the wheels turning for a Twins for Rockies swap. Check it.

It was hard for me to believe I hadn't acquired that Helton Split Screen with Ben Grieve. Thankfully, David had it, and now it belongs to me.

Overall, all four trades where amazing. New cards everywhere. If you've not made a trade with any of these four bloggers, you're missing out. Go check them out and tell them Tim sent you...I've always wanted to say that.

The '02 UD Rookie Debut Portion of the Christmas Break

Ok, guys. So, after a little research, it looks like the UD Rookie Debut carries three UD brands in some sort of short print/series extending way. The brands: Victory, Honor Roll, and Ovation. Alrighty then. Let's see what we can find.

Pena after a great start to
his career in OAK.

Pack 25
Jorge Padilla RC (Victory) - Phillies
Abraham Nunez (Victory) - Marlins
Carlos Pena (Ovation) - Tigers
Reed Johnson (Honor Roll) - Blue Jays
Kirk Saarloos (Honor Roll) - Astros

Jayson actually played
behind the plate for the
Tennessee Smokies.

Pack 26
Aaron Guiel RC (Victory) - Royals
Jayson Werth (Victory) - Blue Jays
Orlando Hudson (Ovation) - Blue Jays
Brian Tallet (Honor Roll) - Indians
Hee Seop Choi (Honor Roll) - Cubs

Looking good in Purple.

Pack 27
Franklyn German RC (Victory) - Tigers
Mark Bellhorn (Victory) - Cubs
Jay Payton (Ovation) - Rockies
Carlos Pena (Honor Roll) - Tigers
Mike Crudale (Honor Roll) - Cardinals

A young D-Ross.

Pack 28
Ken Huckaby RC (Victory) - Blue Jays
Jeff Weaver (Victory) - Yankees
Eric Hinske (Ovation) - Blue Jays
Trey Hodges (Honor Roll) - Braves
David Ross (Honor Roll) - Dodgers

The only "big" RC today.

Pack 29
Kaz Ishii RC (Victory) - Dodgers
Karim Garcia (Victory) - Indians
Hee Seop Choi (Ovation) - Cubs
Eric Junge (Honor Roll) - Phillies
Raul Mondesi (Honor Roll) - Yankees

First Alou relic I've ever
seen in person.

Pack 30
Jeriome Robertson RC (Ovation) - Astros
Tony Alvarez (Victory) - Pirates
Josh Bard (Ovation World Premiere #1910/2002) - Indians
Moises Alou (Rookie Debut Solid Contact GU Bat) - Cubs
Marlon Byrd (Honor Roll) - Phillies
Jaime Cerda (Honor Roll) - Mets

A man of many different
uniforms.

Pack 31
Nate Field RC (Victory) - Royals
Andy Van Hekken (Victory) - Tigers
Kenny Lofton (Ovation) - Giants
Eric Good (Honor Roll) - Expos
Aaron Guiel (Honor Roll) - Royals

.183 career ML hitter

Pack 32
Eric Good RC (Victory) - Expos
Carlos Pena (Victory) - Tigers
Mark Prior (Ovation) - Cubs
Kevin Cash (Honor Roll) - Blue Jays
Jeriome Robertson (Honor Roll) - Astros

#ed RC > Alfonzo Soriano

Pack 33
Josh Bard RC (Victory) - Indians
Kenny Lofton (Victory) - Giants
Travis Driskill (Ovation World Premiere #265/2002) - Orioles
Eric Eckenstahler (Honor Roll) - Tigers
Alfonso Soriano (Honor Roll) - Yankees

Hinske in one word...
BEAST!

Pack 34
Mike Coolbaugh RC (Victory) - Cardinals
Jim Rushford (Victory) - Brewers
Scott Rolen (Ovation) - Cardinals
Eric Hinske (Honor Roll) - Blue Jays
Lance Carter (Honor Roll) - Rays

Very reliable for the Cards
down the '02 stretch.

Pack 35
Earl Snyder RC (Victory) - Indians
Chuck Finley (Victory) - Cardinals
Torii Hunter (Ovation) - Twins
Brandon Puffer (Honor Roll) - Astros
Adam Dunn (Honor Roll) - Reds

Really nice middle reliever
for the Brew Crew in '02

Pack 36
Ryan Bukvich RC (Victory) - Royals
Marcus Thames (Victory) - Yankees
Jason Durocher (Ovation Standing Ovation World Premiere #13/50) - Brewers
Ray Durham (Honor Roll) - A's
Nate Field (Honor Roll) - Royals







Wow! Three days and four Eric Good Expos RCs. They must have expected him to be Stephen Strasburg before Stephen Strasburg was Stephen Strasburg...Or something like that. Really nice looking Alou bat card, and I'm digging the Ovations. We'll be finishing the Rookie Debut tomorrow.