Ok. It's technically July 5th by now, but I still want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Independence Day.
As a country, we are always split: Democrats vs Republicans, Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice, Gay vs Straight, Christian vs Non-Christian, etc.
July 4th is only of only a handful of days we Americans drop whatever its is that separates us and come together as one nation and celebrate the fact that we are free.
Sure, some of those freedoms come into question once and a while for different reasons, but the fact is that we have a choice. And that choice is made possible by those that keep us safe day in and day out.
If you or a loved one are a veteran or are currently serving, I would like to thank you from the depths of my heart for the sacrifices you have had to make to fight for the freedoms we have back home. If you know anyone who is/has bravely served our country, thank them. Don't let their sacrifices go unnoticed. Don't let them think they've laid their lives on the line for nothing.
As I stated Tuesday, I've splurged on two 2014 Series 2 blaster boxes from Wally World. And, well, it's time to set the inmates free.
Below are the inserts and parallels I have available. If you need some or all of them, leave a comment or drop me a line. If you know someone else who needs them, send them a link or something.
Most of you know I'm very easy to deal with, so don't be scared.
Just an FYI as well. I have quite a few extra base 2014 Donruss and only one Diamond King available. If you know what you need, send me a link or list. I'd be glad to look.
1989 Mini
#53 Jose Canseco
#91 Gerrit Cole
#97 Darryl Strawberry
Breakout Moments
#21 Shelby Miller
#24 Ken Griffey, Jr.
#25 Robin Yount
The Future Is Now
#38 Kolton Wong
#45 Taijuan Walker
#49 Jarrod Parker
#55 Dylan Bundy
#59 Kevin Gausman
Gold
#555 Adam Eaton (842/2014
Power Players (Unused)
#198 Matt Garza
Red Hot Foil
#348 Salvador Perez
Rookie Cup Commemorative Patch
#JV Joey Votto
Walmart Blue
#339 Cody Ross
#340 Casey McGehee
#351 Matt Garza
#353 A.J. Ramos
#367 Brian Wilson
#385 Josh Willingham
#405 Jason Kubel
#407 John Jaso
#436 Eric Young, Jr.
#438 Jake Arrieta
#442 Angel Pagan
#444 Robbie Grossman
#454 Brandon Beachy
#462 J.A. Happ
#463 Samuel Deduno
#483 Shane Robinson
#487 Jim Johnson
#494 Rob Wooten RC
#495 John Axford
#497 Fernando Rodney
#500 Robinson Cano
#504 Kelly Johnson
#505 Homer Bailey
#529 Jesus Montero
#530 Danny Salazar
#535 Juan Francisco
#538 Jon Jay
#542 Josh Zeid RC
#548 Jered Weaver
#549 Hank Conger
#574 Tyler Clippard
#581 Tony Cingrani
#585 Stephen Drew
#586 Luke Hochevar
#589 Chris Carter
#615 Drew Storen
#621 B.J. Upton
#653 Jose Iglesias
#660 Jose Fernandez
Let's take a little trip down memory lane, friends.
All the way back to 2003.
Most of us remember Topps from that year. Blue border, crisp pictures...and very few parallels.
Every one knew the standard base and gold parallel cards. A few knew of the black and home field advantage variations.
Not pictured: Black. Don't have it but would love it.
But that was it! No camo. No pink. No yellow, green, orange, red, purple.
Don't get me wrong. I love the camo. I like the idea of the pink. I even like the purple, especially for Rockies cards. But dang!!! Enough is enough.
Like the majority of us, though, I still want to complete the rainbow.
Now presenting...my 2014 Todd Helton rainbows in progress.
For the first time I can remember since probably 2005, the Toddfather has only had one card in the flagship. Thanks to his retirement in 2013, Topps threw him a bone, so to speak, and gave him two with one being his jersey number. Very cool. It just so happens I have "more of a rainbow" of that card than the retirement edition. Roll that beautiful bean...um...picture.
Not pictured: Base. Have it just no room in pic.
According to Beckett.com, I'm missing Clear, Green, Platinum, and the Printing Plates, which means I'm missing Green. While I'd love to land any of the others, realistically, I've got a better chance of being struck by a shooting star.
The retirement card, though...could use a little more work.
Not too shabby, but I lack Camo, Black, Clear, Platinum, Purple and the Printing Plates. I'd already have the Purple if Toys R Us packs weren't so darn expensive. Why pay $15 for a hanger box at TRU when you can spend $5 extra for a blaster at Walmart or Target? C'mon man! Still, the end is in sight.
Topps isn't the only company competing for rainbow bliss. With the release of Donruss, Panini is getting in the mix.
Although on a much smaller scale, you can see what's going on here...the base with multiple numbered parallels of which I'm missing one: Stat Line Season /22. Again, a little too far-fetched with my budget, but a guy can dream right.
In the scheme of things, I may only be missing a few realistic gets for my 2014 Todd Helton rainbow sets, but it sure feels like it's a long way to the top. (You see what I did there?)
I've recently moved in with a friend of mine and actually have some disposable income to "waste" on cards. So recently I invested some money in a few boxes via the Blowout Cards Memorial Weekend Sale and added a few PC cards thanks to eBay and Sportlots.
You know, I really don't get into the NNO Allen & Ginter Minis, but knowing what I paid for a 2011 Edinson Volquez, I got this Helton for a steal, especially since it goes straight to the PC.
Volquez = $5 at Flea Market
Helton = $3.99 on eBay
Gypsy Queen Minis and Mini Variations, on the other hand, are a weakness. I'm really drawn to them. Not enough to build the set, but just enough to collect my favorite players. The Goldschmidt is a variation, and as you can tell, I grabbed the Freeman and Cespedes variations as well.
Not pictured are some Red Sox I picked up for my little brother: David Ortiz variation, Dustin Pedroia variation and Xander Bogaerts RC.
Blowout Form = $11.90
I joined the Series 2 craze about two weeks ago with my first blaster box. Pretty good stuff but not great. Last week, I cracked and got a second blaster...and boy did I score! My second SP of the year. I've only pulled two in my life! It's Nolan Arenado to boot!!!
Blaster = $19.99
Outside of working on his 2014 Donruss and Topps Rainbows, I've not really added too much to my Todd Helton collection. I was able to pick up a few from Sportlots while adding to my 2013 PC Project (update to come soon). Two relatively low-numbered and a promo.
Sportlots = $3.00
Of course, I also have other player collections in which I can add awesome cards. Yoenis Cespedes and Evan Longoria are great examples. While I bought the Cespedes Heritage duo as singles, the Longoria couple appeared out of boxes. As I stated earlier, I partook in Blowout Cards Memorial Day Sale and busted a box of 2014 Donruss, which was probably the best box I've ever had the chance of opening. I was greatly surprised at pulling the Diamond Kings Silver Press Proof /199. The Saberstats insert appeared to me via the first of my Series 2 blaster.
Cespedes duo = $2.50
Donruss box = $57.00
Blaster = $19.99
I have been up to a lot more than this, but for now these cards a just a peek into the curious life of Tim Byrd. Ok. My life isn't very curious at all, but it sounded good!
Wow! Over four months of blogosphere inactivity here at the Home of the Toddfather. Where does the time go?
I hope everyone is doing well, as not only have I not posted in a very long time but have had very limited contact with my fellow bloggers. For that, I apologize. For not only to I consider you my fellow bloggers but as my friends as well. And one does not abandon one's friends.
Anyway, I'm going to try to work myself back into the swing of things in a different way than normal.
For those of you that don't know, I have other interests outside of card collecting. The biggest of those would be music, specifically 80's hair metal and country music among others. (Yeah, I know. Weird combo. At least it's not reggae and disco.) So my plan is to feature a band every week and use some of that bands song titles/lyrics as my post title and feature the video (if any is available) at the end of the post.
Posts will still be centered around cards for trade, box breaks, hits, PC additions, or whatever else comes to mind...only influenced by music.
In the inaugural week of "Music Induced Posting", the featured band is............AC/DC.
As I mentioned a couple days ago, the 2014 Donruss was not all I walked out of my LCS with on Wednesday. But instead of bragging about what I was able to add to my collection (yet), I thought I'd dedicate this post to what my brought back to my better half.
If you've not read before, I've been blessed with a girlfriend you not only encourages my hobby but embraces it. Like I, Ashley has developed her own collection of players she likes for one reason or the other, mostly her favorite Ohio State football players.
So every now and again, I feed her collection, which I was able to do in my latest trip to Knoxville. Take a glimpse at her newest additions.
If you've glanced at her page on the tab above, you'll see the name of Ashley's favorite athlete centered at the top of the page: James Laurinaitis.
Here we have Laurinaitis in "old school", as Ashley refers to it, and gold. It's hard to find James in this neck-of-the-woods, so I have to take what I can get or wait until another COMC Black Friday sale.
The only kind of cards Ashley prefers over the "older style" is shiny. (And what girl doesn't? Am I right fellas?) Anyway...
$1 per card. That's it. Fitzgerald Camo Refractor...$1. Beanie Wells Pink Refractor...$1. Santonio Holmes X-fractor and Black Refractor...$1 each.
And yes, I realized Fitzgerald is not a Buckeye alum. May I again refer you to Ashley's tab up to.
Speaking of non-OSU athletes, let's move to the greatest sport on earth, America's Pastime, and the man who can take credit for the heftiest portion of Ashley's collection...the "dreamy" Joe Mauer (Ashley's words, not mine).
I actually came out really good as far as the Mauers go. Finest X-fractor, Documentary Gold, Prizm Band of Brothers, and a 2014 Donruss I watched the store owner pull from the second pack ripped. Score!!! It all comes back to 2014 Donruss, apparently.
Needless to say, Ms. Ashley was very pleased with her haul from my trip to town. I couldn't just leave her out, right?
