Check Out My Success, Part IV: Colors Ca-lore...and an A&G

Welcome to another addition of my COMS series! Hope you've enjoyed so far. If you haven't, I'm sorry, I guess. Don't worry. There is only one more post in the series. Hold your applause, please.

Time to delve into the 2013 Topps parallels. No discrimination is this post as the only retail color not represented is everyone's favorite...Toys R Us Purple. Hate those things...

How about we start with these, huh?

Not sure who's with me on this one besides this guy, but I like the Walmart Blue on 2013 more so than 2012. Just looks more natural. Here we have a former active PC and one of my smaller PCs. I really like what Pacheco brings to the table for the Rocks and hope they can find a way to work his bat into the lineup. Second base, maybe?

Pacheco number two, followed by the Baby Bull. Not sure if you knew this, but Pacheco came up through the Rockies farm system as a catcher and is the third option behind Rosario and Torrealba last year.

 Wow. I literally just realized all of these inserts are Rockies. Hopefully, that's a good sign. Keeping score Jeff Probst's Survivor-style. That's one for Troy, two for Wilin, two for Dexter and Jordan in the lead with three.

What!?!?! A non-Rockie parallel? And a...non-parallel parallel??? This Trumbo is one of the few from Gold I actually have, with two incoming. As for the A&G Goldschimdt insert, well, it didn't fit in any other category. You win some. You lose some.

By the way, I like the Trumbo acquisition for the D'backs, not so much for the Rockies. Chase Field, and Coors at that, will be witness to many Trum-bombs in 2014 and for years to come.

Hope everyone has a great Friday night, and remember. I still need lots of help with my 2013 Player Collection project. Anything will be appreciated.

Check Out My Success, Part III: Chrome/Finest Congregation

Time to bust out the shiny stuff! Last year's bout with 2012 Topps Chrome reeled me into the shiny, reflectory goodness that Topps has to offer.

The 2013 design is growing on me, and the Chrome versions are helping that along.

Yes, it's almost 2014, and I'm still talking about 2013 design. Leave me alone.

No base. Only refractors this go around. Apparently, my scanner thinks these should be purple, especially the Cargo. I'm actually only missing #42 J.P. Arencibia refractor.

If you've been keeping track, I've inadvertently been doing a countdown of my favorite 2013 sets.

3. Pinnacle

2. Bowman Platinum

Now for number one...I freaking love Finest!!!!!!!!!!! 

Great design. Awesome photos. Base, Refractor and X-fractor are visibly different. (Sometimes I can't tell unless I read the back.)

Two Refractors: Freeman and Tulo

Two X-fractors: Freeman and Tulo

Oh and one base: Freeman. (Already had the Tulo.) Two more purples, an X-fractor and a Die Cut. Can't get much better than that...unless, I got all the cards I needed, of course. But I digress.

Half way home in this five-part COMC series of posts. Any favorites so far? No favorites yet? Me either. I love them all!!!

Have a great night, friends.

Check Out My Success, Part II: Panini Palooza

As I'm sure most would agree, Panini just misses the boat for me. Last year, Triple Play was a creative alternative to not being able to use MLB logos, but everything else just leaves me thinking, "Nah."

This year, Panini has really tried to step its game up. This time not just with Triple Play either. I love the throw back to Studio for the Father's Day promotion, Pinnacle, even the idea behind Hometown Heroes.

So I decided to give Panini another shot with my 2013 Player Collection binder. Wanna see?

The Prizm design is pretty similar 2012 but with better photography (personal opinion, of course). The Fowler is the only one I purchased because of the low price. CarGo, Hosmer and Longo all made it to the Byrd household for one reason...the colored jerseys. Gotta love the Rockies purple and the baby blue KC and Tampa support. Definitely winners in my book.

Although it's not the flashiest of set, Pinnacle is probably my third favorite set of 2013. It's the nostalgia, I guess. Takes me back to childhood in the mid-90s. So if you keeping track at home:

3. Pinnacle

2. Bowman Platinum

1. ???

Anyway, I even love the Tulo Prizm Fearless. Sweet idea and design. Maybe next year, Prizm will have a totally different design (we can only hope).  

Keep up the good work, Panini. Studio...Pinnacle...Next year, Score??? Please, oh please, oh please...

Have a great night!

Check Out My Success, Part I: Bowman Bonanza

Not another COMC Black Friday post?!?!

Yes, my friends. COMC has brought me out of my shell. Free shipping on my order, which is always above any kind of minimums? I will take that all day long. Especially once you see what has gotten me all giddy.

It's actually the first time I've order from COMC since last Black Friday. Shame on me!

Anyway...Check out my cards! (Ha! I made a funny. What? Overdone? My bad.)

"I'll have a Blue Christmas..." with these awesome Bowman Blues. Cheesy? Yes. Awesome. Heck yes!

I literally knocked out all of my Bowman Blue PC needs but two. I had none before my order. Even more awesome? Of course!

I would like to say that I was disheartened to know that the Rockies had traded away ol' Dexter Fowler for a couple Astro chumps. I wish Dexter the best and will have a proper sending away for him and Drew Pomeranz next week.

Back to your regularly scheduled post...

I'm not sure about the Bowman International/Hometown parallels, and honestly, I don't think I've met anyone that was ecstatic to pull one. I'd love to know where everyone stands on these.

Bowman Platinum is my second favorite set of the year, and the cracked ice Gold, Ruby and Sapphire are amazing. 

Only missing Paul Goldschmidt from the Gold set if anyone has an extra laying around. 

Goldy in Gold. Figures.

These Silver Ice and Orange parallels are extremely hard to come by for a good price, which for me is less than a dollar. (Yes, I'm cheap.) Don't forget that sweet-looking Trumbo Die Cut from Platinum.

We're off to a good start to my COMC Madness. Hope you decided to come back a see what else I was able to wrangle up.

Have a great night, everyone!!!

What I've Been Up To...

As you may (or may not) know, a while back I had a quandary of whether or not to separate any 2013 sets out of my Player Collections and start a binder just for them.

You see, this year I decided to go a different, and actually cheap route with my collecting. Unlike last year when I had my proverbial eggs in too many baskets (sets in this case), I have decided that outside of 2013 Series I and II I am collecting only certain players. The list of my needs can be found here.

So after reading the responses I got, I've decided to...START A NEW BINDER!

I am almost done fixing the pages and loading the cards. I'm still in search of an affordable 3 in. or bigger binder.

Anyway, to celebrate this new mini collection, let me show you the newest additions.

I own only a handful of 2013 A&G. Really like the design, but the only edition of A&G I've completed (2011) cost me an arm and leg to finish. I can deal with just a few, though.

I absolutely love this year's Chrome. The Purple Refractor is even better.

Noticing the Kimbel/Hosmer theme yet? In addition to them, you also see the newest member of my Rockies Player Collection, Gold Glove-winning third baseman Nolan Arenado. If Nolan's batting average can catch up to his Web Gems, my Rox should be sitting pretty on the left side of the infield for a while. As long as Tulo stays, that is.

Another Arenado and Jay, this time in the Chrome base joined by the 2013 Home Run Derby Champ.

Three Jays in a row, with two Fowlers and a Jay, the blue variety. For once, my scanner caught the absolute brilliance of the Bautista Platinum Gold. The Longo Sportsdisc is my second card from Panini's Hometown Heroes set. The first you ask? Homegrown Heroes Todd Helton, of course.

Have to show some Update love. These were actually my first chance to see this years rendition. Not too bad. Topps really stepped up its game with the Making Their Mark insert. By the way, I've not officially added El Oso Blanco to my player list. Just kinda starting a mini collection. Most of his stuff is out of my price range currently.

The Moose and Cargo are helping me close in on completing the Walmart Blue from Series I. Speaking of parallels, I hate Toys R Us Purple! That is all.

So, during my short absence, this is what I've been doing. Adding to my seemingly never-ending mini 2013 Player Collection. I will be posting pictures of my creation soon. In the meantime, I still need some help. Go to my PC tab up top or click here for the Google Doc containing my needs.

Have a great night everyone!!!

Can I Have Your Opinions, Please?

In addition to the continuing saga of my 2012 Topps Chrome Purple and 2013 Topps Series II and Insertst set completions, I have been working on the completion of a different kind of project.

You see, I have documented almost every card of every player that collect that came out in 2013, excluding SSP, Mid-High End, and low number parallels. Once a card is in-hand, it is marked off the list, and goes into my PC binder.

This is the first time I've tried anything of this sort since this is the first time I've collected more than two players, Todd Helton and Dan Uggla, in at least five or six years. So far so good...I guess.

Since this is a different type of project for me, I was thinking of separating the cardboard a little differently, except Helton and Uggla.

Here is my thought. I would like to make a binder strictly for the 2013 PC cards, placing them in the book by set and ordering the cards by which they appear in the set. Base, insert, parallel, etc. Each cardholder in the sheet would be labeled with you is supposed to be there.

I have already bounced the idea off of Ashley, and she doesn't see the point if I'll eventually put them back with the other cards for whichever player. I can see her side, but at the same time, it is some different I've tried this year and could be a cool project.

My question for you guys, then, is obvious. What do you think of my idea? I know the decision is mine in the end, but I'd like some thoughts from my blogger friends. Feel free to comment different ideas if you have any as well.

Have a great day, everyone!

The Purple Just Keeps Trickling In

Obviously, if you scroll down to the prior post, you'll see that I have turned my "Set Focus" to completing my 2012 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor set. And I'm inching ever closer to calling that set fin. 

I took a gigantic step forward with the Mike Trout. Now meet giant step two.

Yickety!!! (Or however he spells it.) I am so excited to mark Chipper off my list, and while it may not be Miguel Cabrera or Clayton Kershaw or BRYCE HARPER, it's a dang good place to start. 

Note: Did you know Chipper delete his Twitter account? He was getting pretty good at it. Also, don't ask Chipper for the truth (i.e. telling Braves' players they would lose to the Dodgers), or else you'll get it.

Anyway, not only was I able to secure a future Hall of Fame third basemen, I picked up some of the future "stars" of Major League Baseball. I use the word "stars" loosely (hence the quotation marks).

These three pitchers (Hendriks, Surkamp, Wada) combined for a 1-8 record with a 5.59 ERA in 2012. The funny part is that all those numbers were Hendriks'. Wada and Surkamp missed the 2012 season.

Adrian Cardenas was less than stellar as well batting .183 in 45 games with 6 2Bs and 2 RBI in 2012.

You maybe asking, "Why are you using 2012 numbers?" This are 2012 cards, duh.

Five steps closer! Five steps, five steps, five steps, five steps, five steps. Kudos to whoever gets that reference. Anyway, have a great night everyone!!!

One Down...One to Go

It's no secret that I've been working on completing the 2012 Topps Chrome Purple Refractor set for more than a year now. Thanks to new sets, newer Helton wants, and a growing player collection, I've put the set on the back burner for most of 2013. But I have a renewed outlook after seeing my want list drop below 40 cards.

One other reason for the slow down in my pursuit of this beautiful, purple pieces of cardboard is the players left to acquire!

Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols, Clayton Kershaw, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander. Not to mention the two biggest fish of the set, Bryce Harper and...

MIKE TROUT!!!

That's right, ladies and gents. I pulled off the upset of the week scoring this Trout off the 'Bay for less than I would have paid anywhere else (COMC and Sportlots, to name a couple).

Only $7 including shipping costs. Still more than I wanted to pay, but I expected nothing less of a Trout card.

Who's Next?!?!?!

I'm coming for you, Bryce Harper!!!

Have a great night, everyone!

Well Deserved Trade Post

It's been awhile since I've shown off some of the awesome cards I've gotten via trade from some great people...And it's high time I do something about it.

So I present to you...A TRADE POST!!!

Although I've only traded with my newest friend Brandon twice, we've had some great message exchanges and not to mention great package exchanges.

His latest bubble mailer included this awesome array of Player Collection cardboard!

Kimbrel, Tulo, Hosmer, Longo, and even a Freddy Sanchez! He knows me too well already.

That's was not all, though, friends. Brandon even sent me some 2012 Topps Chrome help, as well as this beautiful 2013 Topps Archive Larry Bowa SP. What an awesome haul, right?

The fun is just beginning with this trade post.

These next "cards", if you will, were sent by a man that I've trade with more over the past year than anybody in the blogosphere, except one person. And every time is just as good, if not better, than the last. That man is good ole Tom from Waiting 'til Next Year. Who knew a Cubs and Rockies fan could be such compatible card trading partners?

Recently, Tom post some Topps Chipz that he wanted to trade away. Being the opportunist I am, and possibly the only one dumb enough to care about Topps Chipz, I jumped on this...

Who doesn't love a smiling Cargo on a poker chip? Exactly!

Honestly, I'm not sure what draws me to these. It's almost like a moth to a bug zapper...or something like that. Anyway, Tom was also kind enough to send me some Rockies prospect cards.

Ok, I have a confession to make. I recognize one of the names, but only from a card I've gotten previously. I'm terrible with keeping up with prospects and rookies. Although, I did know of Nolan Arenado before the start of the regular season this year. That's a start, right?

Somebody??? Anyone??? Ok then. Ummm. Just kidding.

There you have it! Special thanks to Brandon and Tom. If you don't know these guys, please let me know, and I will give you their contact info (with their permission obviously...no autographs please). These guys are great traders, and you need to experience it as well!

Have a great night, everyone!

Belated Birthday Celebration

As you may recall (and if you don't just scroll down a bit), I told you the story of my journey of a "before my birthday" birthday present from Ashley. Well, that wasn't all of the baseball-related celebrating that occurred.

You see, the weekend following my birthday I talked my little brother into taking a road trip with me. Where to you ask? The place everyone goes for a nice roadie...Louisville, KY!

Ok. You right. No one goes there for a road trip. Unless, of course, there's a card show in town!

Unfortunately, Louisville was on a short list (Murfreesboro, TN and Hickory, NC) of locations having a card show within driving distance. And while it was not a crowded as I was told it should be, my trip was well worth it.

I prepared myself with the fact that there wouldn't be a lot of Todd Helton stuff lying around waiting for me to pounce and what was there was probably base of which a have quadruples. So needless to say, I was extremely happy to find these.

$2 apiece! A steal considering most of these go for over $5 on the Bay. These weren't the only awesome GU I walked away with, though.

The quad of Dontrelle, Uggla, Miggy and Han Ram is by far the steal of the lot. Numbered 10/25...with Miguel Cabrera on it...$5. Not to mention my favorite card of the day the Hosmer/Moustakas dual jersey from '11 Bowman Sterling...$7

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much for the "vintage" stuff, but for some reason unbeknownst to me I'm drawn to '77 Topps. Especially when some of them were just a quarter.

They may not be some of the biggest players from the set, but I'll take them!!!

Oh, I couldn't forget my Freddie Freeman collection either.

Too bad I was only able to find four...

I even brought Ashley back some cardboard.

Lauriniatis, Mauer and Ohio St. Yeah, I did good.

Last, but not least, some random PC needs.

Finally found a Dante Bichette, Jr. Got the '12 Topps Chrome Black Bautista for a mire dollar. Even grabbed a Dexter Fowler Auto, which is also my first letter relic, #ed 1/65!

Not too bad for a four hour drive! Have a great night everyone!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

You would think that by taking a week of vacation during the week of my birthday that I would be able to write a post about what I did, where I went, what I got, etc. Well, to be honest, last week was more of a work week than my regular work week.

I won't get into the detail as I would like to not relive some of them. Instead, I'll share with you what Ms. Ashley surprised me with for my big 2-7.

No, not a badly taken picture with some idiots thumb in the way. A trip to COORS FIELD!!!

You see, Ashley knew Todd Helton was retiring this season. Call it woman's intuition. Call it asking me a million times. Call it asking everyone she knows that likes baseball. Call it what you will, she still knew.

So not only did she swing plane tickets (her dad is a pilot) and a place to stay (her brother was stationed at Peterson AFB). She came up with tickets to not one, but two games during the last Dodgers series!!!

Walking into Coors Field, staring at the surroundings and seeing the players warm-up, gave me one thought, "This just feels right!" 

I've been to quite a few major league stadiums, Turner Field, Old Yankees Stadium, Camden Yards, just to name a few, but walking into Coors was just a different feeling.

Honestly, I've only been a hardcore Rockies fan since 2006, but fandom apparently has no bounds as far as seniority goes.

Hands down, this is one of, if not the, most awesome birthday gift I have ever received. Pretty sweet, right?

[Note: Very few pictures because I was really into the games. Also, couldn't get a decent shot of Helton. Dumb phone.]

This End Is Near

Before you say, "Oh, no! Tim's going to preach at about the zombie apocalypse," I assure you, friends, that is not the case.

The end I'm speaking of is that of the career of Todd Helton. I watched with much anticipation Wednesday night as MLB Network aired all of Helton's at bats. As soon as the left his bat in the second inning, I immediately rose from my seat and lifted my hands in the air to celebrate the last home run for Todd at Coors Field. Being my first real baseball hero to retire, I felt a huge comfort come over me knowing at least he wouldn't go 0-for in his last game.

The home run was fitting for a finale at home for Todd, the all-time Rockies leader in the category as well as a host of others. He is, personal opinion of course, the best Colorado Rockie in history. While this winter he proved he was capable of mistakes, one would be hard-pressed to argue all the great things Helton has done in the Denver area, as well as back "home" in Knoxville, TN.

Helton may be nearing the end of his career, but my collection of him is far from ending. Except is you consider my last purchase, which arrived today.

Yes, it is a 2013 Topps Gold...but this is no ordinary gold from Topps. Oh, no no, friends. BEHOLD!!!

It is the 2013 Topps MINI Gold. The last of its kind, literally. A very fitting card to receive as the very end of an amazing career.

Todd may be kept out of Cooperstown for playing at Coors, but he can always be found here at the Home of the Toddfather.

I'm On a Roll

Just call me butter, my friends. Or, I guess, toilet paper, which is my dad's normal response to that statement.

Yesterday, I highlighted my post with three of my newest Todd Helton purchases/trade arrivals. Well, the mail lady had something else for me today!!!

Heck yeah. Pink, camo, now silk! After this purchase, I think it's reasonable to say that I'm all in for 2013 Topps Todd Helton parallels/inserts/hits/whatever else. Next up, who knows, but it sure won't be the Silk...because I already have one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great day.

Look What I've Got...

Sometimes it's good being a fan of more than one team. Colorado has been out of it seemingly since the All-Star break, but the Braves have clinched their first NL East title since '05. See what I mean.

By the why, have you seen the YouTube video the Braves have concocted. Pretty funny, but not Super Bowl Shuffle-worthy.

Just because the Rockies are fighting the Padres for the cellar in the West, doesn't mean I've skimped on adding to my collection...especially of Mr. Helton.

I've not been on eBay very often, but I was ecstatic to get ahold of this.

Ye-yeah!!! Camo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It may not be a significant number, but the 85 does mean that I OWN ONE OF THEM!!!

Pink...Check. Camo...Check. Emerald...Check. Walmart Blue...Check. Excluding 1/1s and if my quackulations are correct, I'm missing Target Red, Toys R Us Purple, Black, Gold and Silver Slate. The Black and Silver Slate where in my grasp on eBay as well, but I wasn't paying more than $20 for the Silver and forgot all about the Black auction. Dang it!!!

Ready for another numbered beauty?

BOOM! Triple swatch from 2005 Absolute Memorabilia. Not a huge fan of the design but definitely love the swatches and...

18/25! Score.

I've been able to pick up some more odds-and-ends from the early 2000s because Lord knows there are enough of them. Anyway, among those I finally got my hands on one of the most elusive pieces of cardboard I've ever tried to pick up.

An '02 UD Diamond Connection quad bat! While it's not the Gold version or the one with the likes of Sosa, Griffey and A-Roid, this particular group of players has avoided me for some years now. Whether missing/losing an auction or being priced outside of my range, I've been unable to leverage one for myself. Now? Well, now, it's mine. Brian Giles, Preston Wilson and Shawn Green have never looked more inviting before.

One word for this group of cardboard, my friends...SCORE! Have a great night everybody.