Going out and coming in

Of the many joys in collecting, I love making space in my dupe box. Anytime I can find a want list with cards I can fill, it brings me happiness on two levels. The first is that I will make space for organizing, cuz invariably I'm going to have duplicates. Second is that my dupes will magically transform into stuff I want.

Sooooo tell me what you want - what you really really want.

Did you not get my order of protection, Posh?

Anyway, two trade packages in a couple days showed up, and boy oh boy did they have wonder. First in the mailbox was Jeff. We have traded before, and for some reason he still isn't blogging. Jeff - just do it, alright? Jeff is a Cubs collector and filled my request by dropping his Cubs wants list to my email, along with the offer of a card I would be glad to receive. Heck - I would be glad to get a 91 Donruss of a White Sox if I didn't have one.

How about 3 I didn't have? Jeff sent those along with a few more White Sox cards. However, none of them were the card he originally referenced. No - the specific card was this gem.

Why sure - I would LOVE that card! Jeff left the card a surprise in his emails, so this was an awesome unveiling in the envelope. Jeff - the return package will be on its way later tonight.

The other envelope in my mailbox came from Tim at the awesome Home of the Toddfather. Someone with want lists that include Rockies - heck yeah! I was able to clear out some 2013 Topps as well as a few older sets, plus a good dip into a few player collections. In return, Tim dropped 3 team bags stuffed with ChiSox. His note said "hope you can use some". Boy, can I!

Minis, micros and stickers! I know I had a half dozen of the Cracker Jack Jacksons, but all disappeared. This is the first time I have ever seen the 82 Topps stickers at the bottom. In with these cards were a few 2011 A&Gs off my needs list. I still have so much to do with The Big Sort, and Tim just added to my challenge. That is not a complaint but a statement of joy, cuz now I have to sort cards like these.

For his few productive years in Chicago, I don't have many Magglio cards. I also have every version of that Konerko Upper Deck X - except this die cut gold. Now I have all the versions. Thanks Tim.

Two low number serials in the Thomas and the Konerko. And I don't remember who recently showed a card similar to that Black Jack Confex card (Nick?), but boy I liked it. Now I have one. 

Thanks again to Jeff and Tim. Do you have wants? So do I - let's help each other get what we want.

I'll tell you what you want, what you really really want.

Really, Baby? Really?

O' Canada

I've received a couple great trade packages here at the 2x3 home office, but in with those mails was another addition to the Pierce Project. I'll get to the trades tomorrow. The newest addition is another of the "cards that would not be required to fill the set, but would pick up at the right price" purchase from eBay - only $3 for this one.

1962 Post Canadian. The other Post in the Pierce Project is the US version. So, let's put the two cards side by side, compare and score.

Colors - US. Even though the Pierce image is a bit blurry from misprinting, the colors on the US are more vibrant and the brighter blue stands out better, especially as a border around the stats.

Image - Canada. I prefer the pulled back image on the Canadian version. Pinstripes, glove, stadium background - very nice très agréable.

Write up - US. To handle the dual language card, Canada had to shorten the bio far too much. Also, is "lefty" some curse word up north? What's with the quotes?

Stats - Canada. It was almost a push, but I am enjoying the dual language in this area of the card. Notice they don't play games, but have parties. Canada +5.

Layout. US, but barely. I like that Pierce's image bleeds to the edge on the US version, yet the placement of the Post logo doesn't work. It's forced in that corner. Canada has a far better card number location, but because of the dual language, the Post logo rides too low. Plus the Canadian version has the white border on the image. If the logo was better, or they had an image bleeding to the edge like the US card, the neighbors to the North would have had this round.

So in the end, the stats don't lie, with the US version beating the Canadian version 3 points to 2.

Throwback Thursday - 04.25.2013

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Lucas Harrell - 2012 Topps - Houston Astros

Four dimes, a nickel and a penny

46 cents. That's what a stamp runs nowadays. Put one on an envelope and you can usually send 6-7 cards in the mail. I love them. Jaybarkerfan has been making magic with them all year. Others are picking up on them. And how great can a PWE be?

Dustin, from the awesomely named Coot Veal and the Vealtones, dropped that on me because "it was too good a deal to pass up". Not sure how much "too good" would be, but I know Dustin paid less than 2 quarters sending it to me. He got a amazing price on the amount of joy I had opening it up. Thanks a ton, Dustin!

And then there were six.

Another day, another eBay. Technically, two eBay wins that I haven't shown. Total for these two cards: under a rack pack of 2013 Gypsy Queen.

First is a card that was not on the project. It does fit into the criteria of a card released during his playing days, so I really should add all the Post releases. However, I made the executive decision that they would qualify only if I got a good deal. Two bucks. That's a good deal. Little stain from tape, but otherwise this card is in amazing shape.

This 1959 All Star selection card proved to be a problem. I guess it's a high enough number card that finding this in decent shape at a reasonable price was a challenge. I could have easily scored a card that spent it's life in the spokes of a StingRay for a couple bucks. Otherwise, they were graded going for twenty plus. This card has amazing corners and just the centering issues - about $7 shipped.

I have a line on the remaining cards. I may have this project complete before the All Star break.

The Big Sort: an update

So as I starting talking about a month or so ago, I am working on sorting the volume of White Sox cards I have received in trades (by request) to determine what I have and need with regards to team sets. Currently, I am sorted through the 90's, for the most part. And I add "the most part" only because I found yet another stash of Sox in a box. But not too many 90's, more 00's.

Yet still, I need to get them together. Also, it doesn't help the organizing when I receive yet more White Sox in envelopes. That is not a complaint, mind you, but a simple statement. I quick glance at the last couple of packages not only brings a smile to my face to have received them, but also because I am fairly certain they will not duplicate cards in my Big Sort pile. Plus, there were some mighty fine cards received.

So why do I lead of with as far away from a White Sox player as possible? Now, it's not to gain favor with Night Owl, Plaschke, GCRL and the host of other Dodger bloggers out there. Should I have needed to have them like me, I have other ways. No - Mr. Billingsley completes 2013 Topps Series one. That little card came from Richard at Dawgbones. Rich jumped on my mini extras for his set building, and we worked out a nice little trade. I was able to work through my dupe box and help with a bunch of team sets. In return, he dropped on my some 2011 A&G, a few Kimballs and a nice assortment of White Sox.

Those Stadium Club most have about 30 coats of gloss on them. But all cards I don't have. And the highlight of the envelope.

Love him or hate him, Ozzie did get me to see a World Series champ before I died. Plain white, but plain awesome and a great add to my binder. Check Rich out and work out a trade - easiest thing you will do all week.

A couple days after Richard's envelope arrived, the Night Owl dropped another PWE on me. Seems to be a Pony Express trail between NY and IL with the small mailings we make back and forth. Greg matched up the Ozzie with this card.

While N.O. may not like relic cards, I love getting one, and a card with a Thome is a bonus. For those that know the Owl, what would be an envelope without one of these.

 

That's right - REEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDD LEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEER VVVVVAARRRRIIIIAAAAAAAATTTTTTIIIIIIIOOOONNNNNNNNNNNT! Of course, I mean the 75 mini. I own two - both supplied by Greg. And yes - he added the red back variation card.

Thanks as usual, Night Owl.

calcetines de color blanco

While my White Sox have done anything but disappoint so far this season, there are still a bunch of reasons I am glad I support the White Sox over the Red Sox. A big recent reason? When you prefer your hoses to be pale instead of crimson, you don't get upset when you pull something like this:

Target $13 repack box. Thank you Goudey.

Throwback Thursday - 04.18.2013

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Estaban Loaiza - 2004 Fleer Platinum - Chicago White Sox

Jackie at Wrigley - color video

That is just plain beautiful.

So, what have I learned?

For you readers that haven't traded much, allow me to give you some knowledge prior to you starting any trades with one of the many bloggers out there.

1) cards from Holland look just like cards from the USA. Go figure. Whether it be 2008 A&G.

2011 A&G...

Or 2011 Kimball or A&G minis...

Thanks Jeroen from Dutch Card Guy.

2) Some people have interesting ways to package cards.

Yes, that is a team bag and a hard card holder taped to a piece of cardboard that was pulled from a padded envelope. I guess you don't want to move around a couple dozen '13 Heritage and this beauty.

Numbered 2/50. Thanks Mark from This Way to the Clubhouse.

3) If you aren't prepared, don't make a request for free cards.

That's a stack of about 200 (maybe more). With gems in the stack like these 3....

...and so many more. Thanks Tom from Junior Junkie.

4) When you post about stuff you receive, make up some lame reason to post stuff like this...

Are you actually reading this text?

 Trading. The more you know....

Throwback Thursday - 04.11.2013

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Alan Trannell 1997 Pinnacle - Detroit Stars

The road more traveled.

Every once in a while, you hear a story in sports, or in business, or politics - wherever - that talks about the incredible odds someone had to go through to get where they are. The hard life in the inner city from a broken home of a parent that died young, raised by an aunt that worked 14 jobs to pack the paper sack of the lunch carried over a 10 mile trek to school in a rough neighborhood.

Sometimes, a trade package goes through the same journey. We'll get to that one in a bit. But first, a little look see at a bunch of card I received from Nate at Uncle Doc's Card Closet. If you aren't already following, get over to his site and enjoy/salivate over his storage area for cards. Nate put a call out for mid '90 Donruss. I remembered a fair amount of them when I did my team sort months back, so I dug through all the teams and pulled everything I could find. In return, Nate beat on my A&G needs. Here's just a couple of the many I received.

Trading can be weird. My total of that great '08 Thome card numbered zilch until a month ago. First I got the black bordered mini from the Night Owl a couple weeks back. Now I have the base. Nate also hit my 2011 needs. Here's my want list pre-trade:

And post:

Pretty much halved both my 2008 and 2011 needs. Thanks a ton, Nate. Keep posting your needs cuz I got a lot of cards I could send.

So, the well traveled cards? It all started with a comment about a Kate Upton card.

Oh hi - I'm not interrupting, am I?

From there, Dennis from Too Many Verlanders and I struck up a conversation. Dennis inquired about a 6 swatch Red Wings card in my trade bait and we were off. He offered to help with a couple player collections in return for that card, and whom am I to turn that down. Funny thing on the way to 2x3 Heroes Ground Zero - Dennis sent the package to ANOTHER Jeff he was working on a trade with. The other Jeff, being cool (all us Jeffs are way cool), forwarded the cards to me, and they arrived today. And worth the wait this envelope was. Let's start with the Big Hurt.

I have to break Nick's heart with another autograph card, but the nice part is I have none of these, so they are all welcome additions. Moving to the best team in the NHL...

BOOM! My 2nd Roenick TTM auto. Just like the Thome above, I had zero Roenick autos, and now I have two received in the past 4 weeks. This card was the surprise, which makes me glad I surprised Dennis with a non-posted Red Wing jersey card. Ok - so the help to my player collections started with a few additions to my Petrick section.

The relics complete my first player trifecta with auto, rookie and relic cards. That micro card is just that - micro. Glad to add more Ben's to my collection. Ben had a birthday the other day and is still doing well with his DBS. Lastly, Dennis completed the flawless floor routine with these two gems.

OH YEAH! Mark two more off the Pierce Project with a '63 Series Foes and a '59 Ace Hurlers. Both are in beautiful condition - way nicer than I would have picked up.  I swear that Ace Hurlers is right out of a pack. Thanks again Dennis. If you want to road trip another envelope of similar contents, you have my permission.

Repack Wars: IAOFSWMRFTP!*

*I am out of Star Wars movie references for these posts.

So we have Topps Flagship, Heritage and Gypsy Queen available for purchase. I have flagship set complete but for one card (on it's way), Heritage a work in progress (that I am completing via trades), and GQ which I have a set on it's way (via a case break). So really, I won't be making any more card purchases until Allen & Ginter is released.

He also says he wants to start a player collection of Bip Roberts.

So let's rip 20 packs out of a Walmart repack box. Twenty of the best cards - one per pack.

Let's get the crap out of the way. 2009 Upper Deck Documentary. What a boring set and a pack to match. A decent shot here of knuckler Wakefield with his pitch about to be released. 

 

Every repack has my hated 09 OPC. Besides the crappy design, this was a semi decent pack. But I am going to bypass the Brewer stadium card and a Braun insert to choose this card of Pedroia. So close to great framing, but close enough for the win.

The first of 3 packs of Upper Deck X. From a 2008 version, we go with the Yankee Legacy card. Yeah, the pack was that bad. Then again, can't go wrong with a shot of Whitey Ford.

Pack two is from 2009. It was a tough call, but I am picking this die cut Konerko.....over the regular cut Konerko. Yup - got them both in the pack, one right after the other. 

And another pack of 2009. A lot of red in this pack, and I think that influenced why I picked this blue and orange of Porcello. Rookie card helped, too. 

2008 UD Timeline is a standard in repack boxes. And since I picked another Yankee Legacy card from this pack, that speaks for the design a lot. How often do you see a mostly clean cut Munson, though?

The other pack of Timeline didn't have a Yankee Legacy card, so a bit of debate and I picked this gold Niemann. 

2010 Topps Update. While I got a Million Card giveway card (I bet it was a Mantle!), we have a throwback uniform. It was a no brainer. 

2007 Fleer Ultra. Usually you get some great photos in Fleer. Yeah, the beauty was there, but boring beauty for sure. High cuffs wins in an unexciting pack.

Another 2010 Topps - series one this time. The pack was okay, but it's hard to choose one piece of cardboard over one that pictures Frank Robinson with his MVP award. 

Remember 2008 Upper Deck? This pack had more interesting images than the pack of Fleer. While there is a card of Ichiro honoring his 1000th hit, and a Diamond Debut of Matsui, there is something about the red glove and the hint of the red front number on this card of Saito that caught my eye.

Fast forward 2 years to Upper Deck's last baseball release in 2010. Not a way to leave the baseball card industry with these dreadful cards. Price's Baseball Heroes insert is winner by default. 

Third pack of 2010 Topps - update. Double play card. No explanation needed. Moving on.

 

2011 Topps series one. Did Topps used a red filter on this card? Doesn't Jay's uniform look pink?

2011 Topps Heritage. If not for this refractor of Marson # to 562, I would have gone with a checklist. 

Last pack of 2010 Topps - series one. Gold Laroche, CYMTO of Orlando Cepeda, but how about this snowcone card of Cody Ross? Nice photo. 

 

2009 Topps Heritage high number pack. First timer in a repack box. I remember why I bought just one pack of  '09s Heritage offering. These are so hideous. I was putting the stick of gum on the scanner, and then decided to go with this chrome.

 

2011 Bowman Platinum. A pack of nobodys. Default choice is the x-refractor of Keon Broxton. 

Another first timer in the repack boxes with Topps 2009 Ticket to Stardom. Why did they put a photo of Chipper's kid on his card? Seriously - what year is that photo from?

2009 Upper Deck Icons comes through again. This is the 3rd relic I have pulled out of an Icon pack found in a repack box. Decent pull too. What's with the mesh hat, Bruce? Funny - the other two cards in this pack were Dice-K and Verlander.

Another Repack Wars in the books. The Sutter saved what was a very bad box up to that point.

HA! I just realized I gave Sutter the "save" for the box. Unintended joke FTW!