2013 Topps Series 2 Needs

I'm a slow starter to the Series 2 game, friends, and have just now gotten just over half way done with the base.

The inserts...Hahahahaha!!! That's a whole other story.

As with Series 1, I will not be bothering with Chasing History and its many variations (unless its for one of my PCs). Nor will I attempt at the rest of the Cut to the Chase. I love the design, just not the price tag on them.

Finishing the '72 Minis and completing Making Their Mark and Chasing It Down are my goals. In case you are wondering, my needs are posted on my Wants page. I'll just save you the trip and post them here

Base
334, 337, 343, 345, 348, 352, 354, 355, 357, 362, 365, 366, 368, 373, 377, 381, 388, 394, 298, 401, 404, 405, 411, 414, 420, 426, 428, 435, 437, 439, 446, 447, 450, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 467, 468, 472, 473, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 485, 486, 491, 492, 498, 504, 506, 510, 512, 514, 516, 517, 519, 523, 529, 530, 534, 537, 538, 542, 543, 544, 551, 562, 563, 564, 567, 568, 570, 572, 573, 578, 580, 584, 588, 592, 593, 597, 599, 608, 609, 611, 613, 619, 623, 624, 625, 636, 638, 641, 646, 647, 648, 652, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658

'72 Minis
51, 54, 57, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 87, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100

Chasing It Down
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Making Their Mark
1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25

I'm also still missing some inserts from Series 1 and base and SPs from Archives. If you can help, shoot me an email or comment on this posted. I'd love to work up a deal.

Did You See That?

I don't care how old I get. I will always enjoy the Home Run Derby. Whether it's Big Mac crushing bombs over the Monster in '99, the terrible country-themed derby in '05 that screwed up Bobby Abreu's career, or Josh Hamilton's assault on Yankee Stadium, every derby is special in its own way. And this year is no different.

After 17 dingers to pace the first round, Yoenis Cespedes defeated the "phenom" Bryce Harper 9-8 in the finals of this year's Home Run Derby.

Even though Cespedes was my pick, that is not the only thing I liked about the this year's rendition.

1) Harper's hair

2) Cespedes' first round BOMBS

3) Michael Cuddyer repping the Rockies well

4) Harper's dad almost beaning Harper

5) Competitive balance of the participants

6) Surprise of how well Pedro Alvarez performed

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah...

Your 2013 Home Run Derby Champion!!! (And apparently WWE Champ after defeating John Cena at Money in the Bank.)

Going In to the All-Star Break

Hola, everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying this last day before the All-Star break watching games all day. With a 3-1 Rockies win over the Fighting Puigs, I am a happy camper.

Speaking of the newest superstar Cuban, is anyone else bothered by him? I know Bryce Harper and Mike Trout were shoved down our throats last year, but something really gets to me.

Anyway...before I share my recent pick-ups, I must say that I've been slacking as a blogger. Most of the time for no good reason. My laptop going down started all of this. This rest...well...pure laziness on the part of yours truly.

I do plan, however, to start posting more often. Or at least try to.

I have been active on CCW and SCF trying to make some trades, complete some sets and bolster my PCs. That's actually were I acquired all these awesome cards.

First, you will not believe how much I spend on this lot of cards...

2013 Bowman PC Needs

2013 Bowman Gold PC Needs

2013 Topps Parallel PC Needs

Random PC

 And a 2013 Heritage Cespedes SP

All these cards...FIVE BUCKS INCLUDING SHIPPING!!! Awesome, right! I can't even fill in the six remaining cards from Archives, let alone a couple of SP, for $5.

Next, some cards in a trade with Ty, on SCF.

2008 UD Documentary CarGo RCs

2012 Topps Chrome Orange PC

And Wilin and Troy

Every card = AWESOME ADDITIONS FOR TIM

While I've not been buying and trading as much as I would like, please know that I'm always seeking trades to better my collection and that of those I trade with. If you want to deal, please check my PC lists and want list, and I can do the same for you. Surely we can strike up a deal!

Recent Pick Ups...Again

Ok, so not the most creative post title. So sue me.

Anyway, I like to give props to fellow bloggers when awesome packages are sent my way. It's my way of showing my respect and thanking them for their gifts.

Don't get me wrong. Pretty much every blogger I know does the same. So I guess this is my way of saying this is one of those posts.

Let's start with my buddy, Marcus, over at All the Way to the Backstop. In return for almost all his '91 Fleer needs and some Friars, Marcus send these.

Two 2012 Archives SPs

Some PC additions.

Some Rockies.

 And what would a package be without some Mauers for Ms. Ashley.

A PWE trade with Tom from Waitin' Til Next Year produced this beauty.

Possibly my favorite Helton base card ever. Can't wait to pick up the other colors.

P.S. Still looking for all of them, friends.

Not sure if you caught one of the latest posts on This Way to the Clubhouse, but Mark discussed some Heritage cards he acquired from a card show. Two of which where Joe Mauer. Well, guess where one of them ended...

Where else but Ashley's ever-growing collection. Mark even through in the 2013 base. Now to my haul.

PC stuff. Love the Trumbo mini.

Rockies. Man Giambi looks old

And more Rox.

Out of the blue the other day, I received a package of 1992 Score needs. Who sent them you ask? That would be one of my readers, Tony. Tony and I have dealt once before, and the results were off the charts.

And by the looks of it he knocked it out of the park again with about 40 of these puppies (give-or-take 10).

Thanks also goes to Dustin from Coot Veal and the Vealtones. Dustin sent me a HUGE package of Rockies and want list items while my computer was on the fritz. I couldn't just leave them lying around waiting to scan. They were beckoning to be put in there places.

So thanks Marcus, Tom, Marcus, Tony and Dustin. Great stuff, friends.

Recent Pick-Ups

Time to show you guys what I've been up to lately on the card-buying/trading front and proudly display my newest additions.

Before revealing the first card, I'd like to thank Jason for bringing this card to my attention. Thankful because...

IT'S FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

This beautiful Helton came from the wrapper redemption from Archives, but honestly I could care less! I love this card. Thanks again, Jason, for introducing me to my little friend...

Next, a less heralded pick up from a GU/Auto/Patch draft done over at CCW. My first pick? Well, it was the only card that fit into one of my PCs.

A Freddy Sanchez rookie auto from Topps Finest. Not crazy about the design, but I can get over it. I'd really like to pick up a Sanchez GU bat card eventually, but I won't hold my breath.

Finally, a trade I made on CCW with one of my newest friends, Jerry. In return for a 2012 Topps Update Blockbuster Hat Patch King Albert, Jerry sent this...

If you've read my blog before, you know I hate the high-end set, mostly because I can afford them and partially because I think they drive up the price of the regular sets. Anyway, a numbered Trumbo jersey trumps a Pujols hat patch in my book anyday.

That wasn't all Jerry sent, though.

Trum-bomb rookies! My Trumbo collection is still in its infancy so these are a welcome sight to my binder.

This is not all the cardboard to make its way to the Byrd's Nest. There will be more to show next time.