Beastmode 1/1

The semester is finally dwindling down, leaving me with just two weeks left of class. So expect my posting to increase not only due to that, but because I have received a ton of cards from trades and eBay.

I was able to secure this on eBay for only a couple of bucks delivered. For a price that low, I couldn't pass up a 1/1 sketch card. The card is dated 7/31/14 and was drawn by someone named Qwasian.

It is my second Kemp 1/1 and my first custom 1/1 of Matty Ice. My Kemp PC is now up to 182 cards. I am pushing for 200 cards by the end of the year, but it will be close. I have a few more additions in hand, but we'll see.

Custom Winners: Cole, Miller, Torres

Week One Winners

I kind of threw this post together at the last second. The first week of customs was okay, but it could definitely use a few improvements. A good start would be for me remembering to update the polls. I am in the midst of writing a 3500-word essay, so I won't do a write up on each player or card, but you can expect that next week. 

New battle will appear tomorrow at 10am. Thanks again!

Fresh Ink From Matt Kemp

Thanks to eBay, I was able to pick up my 11th Matt Kemp autograph, this time for only $5.07 delivered.

This beauty matches its sister card I picked up a couple of weeks ago. However, this particular copy features the sweet auto of fellow outfielder Franklin Gutierrez. Suffice to say, Matt Kemp has definitely been the better player over the course of his career.

With this addition, my Mattycakes PC has jumped to 181 cards. Is 200 a possibility before the end of the year?

Battle of the Customs: Alex Torres

#15: Alex Torres - San Diego Padres

I've decided to take a different approach to the rest of the customs I post here. They will no longer be daily posts, more like 2-3 a week. Each card will have two versions. It is up to you to decide which one you like better. The polls will be posted in the sidebar on the right. At the end of the week, the winners will be revealed and the cards will receive their own post. Happy voting!

Poll closes on 11/21 at 11:59 pm. 

New battle will appear on Saturday at 10:00 am.

vs.

(Photo Credit: Not found)

(Photo Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

Clayton Kershaw: 2014 MVP and Cy Young Award Winner

If I was a great blogger, I would have posted this a few days ago when the wins were fresh. However, I am simply a good blogger, so this post comes to you a few days late. ;)

If you are daily readers of Dodger Penguin's (Matthew) blog, you'd know that we recently completed a trade, our fifth. This time around we did a 1-for-1 swap. I reluctantly traded away my 2014 Topps Chrome black refractor, which I highlighted here on the blog a few days ago, for the sweet Clayton Kershaw photo variation from 2014 Topps Flagship.

Losing the black refractor wasn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, and I have been meaning to add to my Kersh PC for quite some time. I ended up pulling the trigger and nabbed one of the sweetest cards from 2014. 

Thanks again for the swap, Matthew. I'm sure we'll do it again soon. 

Battle of the Customs: Andrew Miller

#14: Andrew Miller - Baltimore Orioles

I've decided to take a different approach to the rest of the customs I post here. They will no longer be daily posts, more like 2-3 a week. Each card will have two versions. It is up to you to decide which one you like better. The poll should automatically pop up on your screen. At the end of the week, the winners will be revealed and the cards will receive their own post. Happy voting!


Okay. Maybe this time I will remember to actually post a poll to my blog. Should work now.

Poll closes on 11/18 at 11:59 pm. 

New battle will appear on Wednesday at 10:00 am.

vs.

(Photo Credit: Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun)

(Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America )

Battle of the Customs: Gerrit Cole

#13: Gerrit Cole - Pittsburgh Pirates

I've decided to take a different approach to the rest of the customs I post here. They will no longer be daily posts, more like 2-3 a week. Each card will have two versions. It is up to you to decide which one you like better. The polls will be posted in the sidebar on the right. At the end of the week, the winners will be revealed and the cards will receive their own post. Happy voting!

Poll closes on 11/15 at 11:59 pm. 

New battle will appear on Sunday at 10:00 am.

vs.

(Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America)

(Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

A Cheap Card and Some Free Cards

I've been selling a few odds and ends on my eBay and have had some extra funds to use on cards because of it. I've been doing my best to limit my spending (only snagging really good deals) and I was able to do it again.

I picked up this sweet Adrian Beltre relic from 2014 Panini Immaculate for less than four bucks shipped. It is actually an acetate card, but it is not transparent. The acetate does give the card a unique look, however. This particular copy is #'d 66/99 and looks great in hand. I am now up to 109 unique Adrian Beltre cards and that number will only increase. 

But wait, there's more!

The seller decided to surround the card with a few "protection cards". Lucky for me, this was done with the recently released, Topps Stadium Club. I have been oogling these cards on the blogosphere for quite some time now, but I was finally able to take a look at some in person. They were all slightly dinged up, but that didn't bug me too much. 

And why should it? I got this card for free! If only I had the money to go out and buy a box. If anybody is looking for a spare Joe Mauer, Eddie Murray, Bob Feller, Miguel Cabrera, or Nolan Ryan Field Access card, let me know. They are dinged up, but they're free!

Matt Kemp is Chrome-atic

I have making smaller purchases lately, focusing primarily on my Matt Kemp PC. I was able to secure three new cards for my growing Kemp PC earlier this week, all from different sellers on eBay.

What a glorious sight. I have a slight affinity for these colorful refractors from Topps Chrome, and my itch for new cardboard got the best of me this time.

The orange and purple refractors are shiny, but they aren't numbered. The other black refractor, which looks pretty freaking sharp, is #'d 17/100.

But the fun doesn't stop there.

I also picked this bad boy up a few weeks ago. I completely forgot about it until I checked my scans folder, but here it is. It is #'d 64/75, and features the man who should have been awarded NL Comeback of the Year. (Awards are stupid). 

I spent around eight bucks for all the group of four cards as a whole. Not bad considering they came from four different sellers. Although it looks like I am going for the rainbow, I can assure I am not. Though it is fun, it isn't cheap. If anyone has any of the other refractors, please let me know. I would be more than happy to trade for them.  

Reinvigoration Part One: The Dodgers

I've been spending the past few days going through stacks and stacks of cards. I'm trying to tone down the collection and make some room, so I've been setting cards aside for a variety of people. 

Dimeboxes, Bob Walk the Plank, Plaschke, Johnny's Trading Spot, Tomahawk Empire, Andrew's Baseball Cards, A Swing and a Hit, Sportscards From The Dollar Store and others should be expecting cards from me pretty soon. I will also be getting out the rest of the contest winnings from my last contest soon as well. 

In the mean time, I will be "listing" cards on here that I am attempting to move. Feel free to comment if anything catches your eye. I am up for trading the cards, or in some cases, selling them. However, I will probably only sell the bigger lots of cards. More on that later. 

Matt Kemp Is Back

I picked up my 10th Matt Kemp auto last week for just a few measly bucks on the bay. I also picked up my first auto of Chris Iannetta, but that is not as important.

Kemp lived up the the lofty expectations I set for him this season, much to the excitement of myself and fellow Dodger fans. I fully expect him to be in a Dodger uniform next season, though with the new GM in town, you can never be too sure. 

I doubt I'll be able to secure another Kemp auto so cheap, but I will still be keeping my eye out for good deals.