It Can't Wait Til Next Year

So as I was saying, I got two huge packages Saturday after returning from a foray into town, which I will document tomorrow. The second of the packages came from Tom over at Waiting Til Next Year. Tom sent me a huge stack of the 2012 Triple Play I needed. Did I mention it was a huge stack? So huge, in fact, that I only picked out the non-puzzle cards to scan.

Not only did Tom send the Triple Play. He has now put my just two cards away on another set I've been trying to finish for years. It's easy to find the factory complete sets of these 1986 Fleer Baseball's Best Sluggers/Pitchers. It's nice to get a set down to the nitty gritty.

My first trade with Tom...Well, I'd consider it a success. Thanks for the great trade, Tom. If you haven't talked with Tom, just click on over there. You won't regret it. Trust me.

Ryan Offered Me a Pitch

I'm rolling in the cards today, my friends. Two trade packages and some purchases for my Saturday escapades. Let's start with my trade with Ryan at Ryan's Pitch. I contacts Ryan about trading his 2012 Update extras for my 2012 Series 1 and 2 extras and inserts. Reviewing the goodies in 3...2...1...

Some of the nicer non-All-Star/Home Run Derby cards in the stack. Love the pic of Maicer hurdling Jonny Gomes, who ironically is another card Ryan sent.

Then, there are the ASG and HRD cards. As you may have notice in a previous post, I'm a big Mark Trumbo fan. I love the power. I love the willingness to play other positions to help his team and get in the lineup. That's something you just don't see everyday. Take Ian Kinsler, for example. No shot-taking here. I like Kinsler, but if he didn't want to play first, he should have just came out and told the brass no to begin with. Regardless, Trumbo is a prime member of the Home of the Toddfather.

Finally, Ryan had these sweet 2011 Allen & Ginter Relics at his disposal. Both of which I did not own...until now. Ryan came through big time for me with some great cards to help me toward completing two different sets. Thanks Ryan!!! Already looking forward to the next trade.

I Guess It's My Turn

As I've watched everyone around the blogosphere breaking it there hobby and blaster boxes of the new flagship, I have to admit a bit of jealousy. Never fear, payday is here. I actually had enough disposable income from this paycheck, after stupid bills, that I was able to go to Wally World and pick up a hanger box and two packs. Why the choices? I couldn't tell you because I was just so happy to have them. Let me show you.

Let's start off with four of the biggest names I pulled. Darvish, Trout and Braun are all obvious choice here. I picked the Sale because of the uniform. The White Sox '72 duds are awesome in my humble opinion. I could have shown the Jeter close-up card. I'd rather gag myself first.

Next, some of the best photos in my group. Let's go in order:

Dustin Ackley - It is rare to find a card showing the ball connecting or about to connect with the bat.

Tyler Clippard - Peek-a-Boo

Luke Hochevar - Suppose to be the pitching savior as a #1 pick out of, guess where, Tennessee. Now he just wears the awesome powder blue Royals jersey.

Cameron Maybin - Apparently, I like all throwback unis no matter how hideous

Darwin Barney - Barney and the fans synchronized in arm raising

Daniel Descalso - DD showing off his Derek Jeter impersonation

John Jay - Beautiful timing by the photographer

David DeJesus - Watch out for that...ivy?

Rajai Davis - Great shot of the sheer jubilation of a walk-off win. 

Not much in the way of Rockies. I did get the base and gold parallel of Ramon Hernandez which is pretty sweet. Gonna need another CarGo for the binder, too.

Retail giving you the blues? Totally. I like the blues, but they are up for trade, except for the sliding McCann. That one's a keeper. Not often you catch McCann sliding.

This Chasing History insert is really cool in person. Probably gonna have to try to finish that one.

The one Emerald parallel I get, and it's Jose Contreras? Really? Needless to say. He is on the trading block. Preferably for a Emerald of one off my PC lists.

At first glance, I not a huge fan of this card. Not sure if I'm going to work on this insert set or not. I'll have to get a few more in packs to see. I'll get back to you on that.

So there you have it. The highlights of my first foray into 2013 Topps. Need/want the blues, emerald,
Johan Santana #89 or Rajai Davis #311, just let a brother know. You feel me?

Too much? Ok, my bad.

New Additions to the Cardboard Family

My friends, I've had some time to think about how I'm going to reshape my collection. As you've seen, I've been posting sets to try to liquidate my cards to just those of sets near completion or those I like. I've been examining these sets closely and found there are some players with which I just can't dare to part not named Helton, Uggla or Freeman.

My solution.

Binders!!!


I have created two binders for just my smaller player collections. One for my Rox and another for everyone else. I even made cool cover pages. (Yes, I'm a dweeb.)

Sweet, huh?

Finally, I believe I'll be adding a third binder of cards I deem as "cool". What does it take to be "cool"-worthy? Good question, but when I see it I'll know. This idea is still in the works, though.

In the meantime, I've posted these cover pages to my PC's page. If you've got some cool stuff of any of these guys, hit me up. Just because their in a binder right now doesn't mean they can't graduate to their own box someday.

2005 Fleer Patchwork Gold

It's been awhile since I've feature some cards for trade, but don't worry these have promise...I think. Let me start by saying I love the mid-2000s Fleer sets (excluding some base). 2005 Patchwork was not different. While I don't own many, they will stay at the Home of the Toddfather, for now at least.

Never fear, though, because I have the Gold parallel to the Patchwork set. I acquire these beauties via eBay in a lot that featured, you guessed it, the Toddfather himself. Not a bad selection at all, which helped me pull the trigger on these sooner rather than later.

In the interest of fairness, I will also show you the backs to show what they are numbered.

Here's what I've got:

13 Jose Vidro (49/99)

38 Pedro Martinez (39/99)

93 Eddie Murray (92/99)

Finally the Rock Has Come Back...

Now that I have your attention, I am not talking about the newly-crowned WWE Champion, The People's Champion, The Most Electrifying Man in Entertainment, The Rock. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Instead, I'm talking about the Rock pictured below. The Stolen Base Machine, Rock Raines.

You're think one of two things at this point. 1) This is going to be one of those Raines for Hall of Fame spills, or 2) Did Rock ever play for the Rockies? The answer is no...to both. Raines is gracing this blog as my first Listia win. I've read a bunch of things everyone has written about Listia, so I thought I'd jump in. Rock was joined by a few of his acquaintances from the 1995 Topps Embossed set. Take a look.

 Honestly, they are not in the best shape, but that's ok. This set is sweet nonetheless. And it was free shipping! I love free! Just saying. Not bad for a first win.

Oh, and that People's Champion card is totally mine. If you SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLL...what the Tim...is cookin'.

An Update on Update

Only about two weeks ago, I posted my 2012 Update wants. To be honest, I just forgot. I forgot to put them up to get the help from you guys and myself. Apparently, I thought I'd already completed the set.

Well, it goes to show that if I would have put it up sooner I would probably already have it complete. My friend, Mark over at This Way to the Clubhouse, knocked out a significant amount with just one email. Here are just a few of the great cards send my way by Mr. K. (Hey, I just rhymed...and not I'll write a Kenny Chesney song.)

Some rookies. Some All-Stars. And the only player in MLB that reminds me of Michael Jackson without looking like him. (See Yankees Deion Sanders.) That man would be...Fernando Abad. "I'm Bad. I'm Bad. Come on." HE HE!!!

Ahhh. I feel better now.

Anyway...as always, Mark came through in the clutch. Great cards to help my slowly dwindling needs. Don't worry, though. Mark will be receiving a lovely array of PC and Met material in return. Just haven't made it to the mailbox yet.

Thanks, Mark.