A Pair of A&G Blasters

Several months back, my girlfriend and I were apartment hunting and found ourselves in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. We were a bit early for an apartment viewing, so we decided to take a stroll around the area to get a better sense of what the new neighborhood might be like. We passed by several pizza shops (all claiming "The Best Slice in NY"), a Dunkin', and far too many empty storefronts. 

We were about to turn around and head back for our appointment, when I happened to read the sign in front of an absurdly large collection of buildings: "EBBETS FIELD."

Wait a minute. Ebbets Field?!? Of course, I know the Dodgers spent the first half of their existence in Brooklyn, but I never thought about where in Brooklyn they used to play. 

We didn't end up taking that apartment, instead opting for a much spacier place in Kensington, but it was certainly quite the find on that pleasant Sunday evening. 

As was the above Pee Wee Reese card that slid out of a pack of A&G a couple of weeks back. I didn't look at the A&G checklist (and still haven't) before picking up a pair of blasters at Target, so it was cool to add another Pee Wee to my Dodgers Legends binder. 

Speaking of legends, The Left Arm of God. Koufax is probably in most Topps releases nowadays, and though the photos sometimes get repetitive, I won't ever compain about adding more Koufax to my collection. Plus, is there a better combination of colors on these cards than red, white, and Dodger blue? I don't think so. 

My girlfriend and I ended up doing a "blaster box war," if you will, taking turns opening packs one by one and comparing cards to see who had the better box. She has very little baseball knowledge and resists my attempts to convert her into a Dodgers fan--she's from just outside of Cleveland and roots for the Indians--so there were many discussions to be had about the who pulled better players, celebs, and eggs. Of course, she ended up pulling the doozy of a card above--a Casey Stangel Brooklyn-back mini #'d 16/25--surpassing my blaster by far. Not bad. This went to eBay shortly after pulling it, and it just about paid for the blaster it came from.

The real draw of Allen and Ginter for me this year is the Mares and Stallions set. The checklist contains only 15 cards, but I'm making a concerted effort to track them all down as quickly as possible. The "Horse in the Race" 25-card mini set from '17 A&G still haunts me--I only have 2 of the 25 cards. 

I think I've mentioned this before, but my girlfriend is a life-long equestrian (hence the horse card collection I'm working on), so chasing these cards together has been quite fun. Though Topps found a way to mess that up. I'll let her explain...

"I was so excited to have found a few horse cards in the packs I opened, but as soon as I saw the Appaloosa card, my excitement dwindled. The Appaloosa is a breed characterized by its spotted coat. While the card above does show a bicolored coat, it is most certainly a paint (or at least pinto)--it's cowlike markings are nothing like those that characterize an Appaloosa. Appaloosas come in a variety of patterns, but to see a bit of the spectrum of an Appaloosa coat, take a look at the images below:

from https://www.saddleupcolorado.net/blog/appaloosa-horses/

from http://www.appaloosamuseum.org/

That said, it was still great to see a few horse cards, the incorrect picture notwithstanding."

Yep, so a bit of a disappointment when all is said and done, but it's still nice to move closer to the complete set. 

The fun didn't stop with the Mares and Stallions, however. In an attempt to match the other blaster, I pulled a pretty cool relic of Yadier Molina. I'm not at all a Cardinals fan (I dislike their devil magic), but there are enough Cardinals bloggers out there that this should have no difficulty finding a new home. 

All in all, we had a great time breaking open some boxes and ripping packs. I've always enjoyed doing this solo, but it's great to have someone to crack some packs with, and even more fun to chase a set together. 

Opening Up Some 2019 Allen & Ginter

Allen and Ginter is one of my favorite releases of the year. It often takes a lot of slack for the inclusion of non-sports-related cards, but I find that quite fun. There aren't any other sets that combine baseball, canines, trains, flowers, horses, and lost languages. And that's just the 2019 release alone. I doubt those reading a baseball card blog (or running their own) are one-hobby types of folks--I'm certain our interests stretch far and wide beyond baseball--so seeing subsets of things like The History of Flight, subjects that likely don't get any representation anywhere else on cardboard, has the potential to be quite fun. 

Of course, baseball is still the primary draw for me. The design and photography in this year's set is the sharpest it's been in years. I feel Topps got out of its own way this year and opted for a minimul design, similar to the 2010 set. The "framed" sets of the last few years tended to feel closed off and the cards blended too closely together, creating a sort of indistinguisable set of cards. Each of these cards from 2019, however, seems to have its own personality, with the design tying the cards together. 

That said, I'm intrigued by the the background imagery used in the Piazza, Pollock, and Buehler cards above. It seems to be of an old-timey, fictional stadium (a pretty cool touch), though considering the backdrop in all three cards is nearly identical, I wonder if it was used too much throughout the set. Regardless, I'm happy to add a new Buehler to the PC. 

Along with those Dodgers base cards above, I also managed to land a pretty cool Kershaw insert. This cancer isn't into astrology, zodiacs, or star signs, but it's still a pretty cool lense from which to approach a card set. I mean, where else would you find a comparsion likening Kershaw to an "enchanting fish"?

I ended up purchasing three hanging value packs, another cheaper value pack, and a single pack, and I managed to pull the relic below, but it was the two cards from the 15-card Mares and Stallions subset that I was most excited about. As I described in this post several months ago, I decided to start a mini-collection of horse cards. That post featured two minis from the Horse in the Race miniset from 2017 A&G, and until I pulled the two cards above, they were the only cards in that mini-collection. Not a bad day when a couple of packs doubles your PC. 

I'm hunting the cards from this Mares and Stallions set, so please let me know if you have any dupes. You can find my want list here. I'd love to take them off your hands. 

Finally, here is that relic I alluded to above. I don't watch a ton of television, and I certainly never watch American Pickers, so this card didn't do much for me. Still, it's never a bad thing to pull a relic. It's another card to add to the trade bait, for those interested. 

Overall, A&G has definitely been one of my favorite products of the year (as it always is). I got a nice start on that Mares and Stallions set, though I'll still have to chase that elusive Jeopardy James autograph....

2015 Topps Is Here, Am I Late To The Party?

Well, it's that time of the year again. 2015 Flagship is out, and if you are lucky a Target near you has it. Dikran and I picked up a pair of blasters earlier this week, so let's take a look. 

Eww. This was my first card of 2015. (Hint: It's a sign of things to come...for me at least)

The box may have started with a Giant, but I was lucky enough to pull a pair of Dodgers a couple packs later. Overall, I enjoy the look of the set. I'm digging the colorful borders, especially considering we get the team color treatment. So much beautiful blue. 

Let's take a look at another shade of blue: Rangers blue. I pulled this sweet card just moments after Dikran pulled it from his blaster. Typically I'm not upset with a pair of cards for my PC, but the collation on these cards was horrific. Two blasters comes to around 200 cards and they yielded 26 dupes. Not Topps' best day. 

I did, however, enjoy the return of the team card. They've been absent the past few years, but they are back in 2015 and I'm digging the look. This happens to be one of those rainbow foil variations (another great idea). It's currently set aside to go to Bob Walk The Plank, but I have an inkling to keep it for myself. 

On second thought, I'll just keep this one. It features three players (Denard Span, a former Dodger, and a future Dodger) and, it is destined for my Harper binder. 

Inserts are pretty dull (again), but I did manage to nab a Harper from one of my packs. Dull or not, I'll take any cards from my PC guys. 

Now here are some decent looking inserts. They're not the greatest looking cards you'll ever find, but the idea is pretty cool. I'm always down to add new Robinson cards to the collection, so I'm excited to go after this subset. 

I'm getting pretty tired of these to be honest. They just seem too cramped. Also, it would have nice to see a different A-Gon photo considering we see the same one on his base card. But hey, a new Kershaw!

Other than that gold foil Pirates card, this was the only other parallel in either blaster box. I'm digging the look of these parallels so far, so I'd like to get my hands on some Dodgers. This is headed to Tony L. 

That was pretty much all of the excitement as far as the base cards go. Each blaster did promise a relic though, so let's take a look.

Dikran managed to pull that aptly colored Goldschmidt, whereas I pulled that awkward Cespedes card. Topps must have produced these a while back because Cespedes has now been on two different teams since he was last on the A's. But, I guess these are commemorating the player's first homer, so it make a bit of sense. 

Both of these are on eBay for the time being. I'd typically trade these away, but the good ol' bank account could use a gift right about now. 

Overall, I liked the set. Definitely the best of the past ten years or so. The design is great. The inserts are dull. Collation is still a problem. Lack of Dodgers always stinks. Excited to see what parallels look like, especially when Chrome comes out.The good definitely outweighed the bad, and I am excited to get my hands on more. Especially the last Matt Kemp card as a Dodger. 

Wes' World Cup of Trading Leads To A Sweet New Addition

I have heard a ton of good things about Wes from Jaybarkerfan's Junk. So when he decided to host the World Cup of Trading, I knew I had to get involved. I claimed the Hanley Ramirez relic which was in a group with another pair of relics, and a #'d Desmond Clark card.

Unfortunately I procrastinated in putting together a package for Wes. By the time I did, I realized I had very little cards to send him. I did get most of the Braves I had set aside for him, but I definitely owe him a future package of goodies. Needless to say, I don't think I have any chance to win this contest.

Here is that Hanley I claimed. I enjoy the relic, but the design of the card leaves me puzzled. Whats up with those lines going through Hanley's hands? I feel it would look much better without all of the curved lines. .

I talked about how I have stopped "collecting" Hanley in my last post. However, I will still continue to pick up affordable relics and autos of him when I come across them.

Wes also threw in this sweet auto of some hockey guy. My hockey knowledge is seriously lacking. Maybe I will get into it a little more next season. It's not like the Lakers are going to be world-eaters. 

Thanks again for the cards Wes! Hopefully my lackluster trade package won't make me look too bad. 

I Walked the Plank

I recently completed my first trade with Matt of the fabulous Bob Walk the Plank.  Matt emailed me a few weeks ago and we quickly put together a deal. My haul was much greater than what I sent his way, so I will be sure to pay it back with our next trade. 

I'll go ahead and start with my favorite card from the deal. Coming from 2009 Topps Unique Baseball, this sweet Chad Billingsley auto is an awesome addition to my CBills PC. Billingsley has long been a favorite of mine, so I try to pick up his cards on the cheap whenever possible. I have had a post about Bills in the works for quite some time now, but maybe this will encourage me to get a move on it. 

While we are on the topic of autos, let's take a look at the one of the most recently released cards. Nolasco was featured on this odd looking card back in 2014 Topps Series One. Nolasco is no longer pitching for the Dodgers, making the move to Minnesota over the winter. He has not had much success up there, but he was a pivotal piece during the Dodgers postseason run last year. 

We'll move on to a pair of contrasting Kaz Ishii relics. The top one is pretty standard for mid-2000's relic cards; it features a basic design and a plain grey swatch. However, the bottom relic is a little bit off to me. This card was released in 2002, the same year Ishii came over from Japan. Perhaps the American flag in the back is only weird to me, but it probably wasn't the most thought out design by Fleer that year. 

Matt was also kind enough to send along this shiny #'d card of Dodgers broadcaster, Nomar Garciaparra. I do like me some shiny, but I also have a bit of a problem with this card. The insert set is called "Future Stars", yet Upper Deck decided to include a 34 year old Nomar. It's not a big deal to me, honestly, but I do wonder about these things from time to time. 

Matt also sent over a fantastic Eric Gagne relic, but it appears I either deleted the scan, or forgot to scan it completely. Either way, it was much appreciated. 

Thanks again for the trade Matt. I hope to do it again sometime soon. 

A Couple of Relics, One Auto, and Some Spectacular Base Cards

I recently completed my first trade with Dustin of Cool Veal and the Vealtones. Dustin is synonymous with trade bait, at least that is what his blog is filled with. Make sure you head over and see what he has to offer. 

His trade bait posts made this trade happen, as I saw a card I was interested in and contacted him about it. We discussed a few more cards, and a deal was made. 

And here is the card that sparked my interest. AJ Vanegas was the Dodgers 11th round pick (339th overall) out of Stanford this year. He projects to be a reliever, and should have a quick path to the majors. 

Turns out I missed an even better card in the same trade bait post. However, Dustin was quick to offer this card up to me. Hand numbered to just 99, this is my first autograph of the eventual Dodger (hopefully). 

The Vanegas cards weren't the only hits of the trade though. Dustin sent along this sweet relic of former Dodger, Shawn Green. I really miss those Dodger away uniforms from the mid 2000's. 

I love hits, but sometimes I love base cards even more. Case in point: this fantastic shot of Pee Wee Reese. It's not often I see Reese on cardboard, but Topps really hit it out of the park with this one. On top of a solid card design, we see Pee Wee making a helluva throw in what looks like a double play. Though the player sliding looks like he is also wearing a Brooklyn uniform. If the awesome shot wasn't good enough, it appears Jackie Robinson makes a cameo. Which makes me wonder: what other cards does Robinson make a cameo appearance in?

Since we are on the topic of Hall of Famers, let's talk some more about Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider. This may actually be the cardboard debut of The Duke, but I could be wrong. *EDIT: It's not* These cards come from 1989 Bowman, a set I couldn't care less about. I'm not a big fan of the oversized Bowman cards from that time, but I am happy to make an exception for two of the greatest players to don a Dodgers uni. 

Which brings us to possibly the best player to ever wear a Dodgers uni, Sandy Koufax. Dustin was nice enough to send over this card of the best lefty to play the game. I had yet to see this image of Koufax on cardboard, but he looks to be tossing in the bullpen prior to a game. I, for one, would love to see some bullpen shots on modern cards, but I'm not holding my breath. 

Clayton Kershaw is often compared to Koufax, if only because he pitches with his left arm. You can't deny his greatness however, as he is having one of the most dominant seasons by a pitcher in recent memory. I'm glad Dustin was able to find a Kershaw I needed. 

We finish of this trade post with an appearance from Scott Van Slyke. Van Slyke, the Dodgers 5th outfielder, debuted on cardboard with a wonderful shot of him spinning a batting helmet on his fingers. However, his epic beard was not yet in development. He has, however, worked on his signature a bit. 

The package was filled with a bunch of other goodies, so my thanks goes out to Dustin. Hope we can deal again soon!

Kershaw, Some Other Guys, and The Final Box Break Announcement

I was perusing the bay for an A&G relic of my favorite left-hander when I came across a lot of A&G relics. The highlight was Clayton Kershaw of course, and there were a few other names mixed in. Considering the Kershaw relic alone was selling around the 6 to 10 dollar range, I decided to put in a lowball bid on the lot in hopes I would win. 

Turns out my lowball bid won, and I walked away with seven new relics for about 11 bucks shipped. 

But wait, some of these relics could be yours! Just be sure to read to the bottom.

This was what I was aiming for, but I was luckily able to add some more pieces for pretty much the same price as this card alone. It may be a boring grey swatch, but one day those boring grey swatches will add up and I will stitch my own game-worn jersey. 

This was the other big name in the lot. Tulo was on pace for a monster season, but injuries prevailed once again. Tulo was the front runner for the MVP for a while, but his injury opened the door for Kershaw to take home the award. It is doubtful the voters will vote for a pitcher, even someone as deserving as Kershaw, but I can dream. 

Edwin Encarnacion isn't necessarily a big name, but he is still solid player. Power from the right side is becoming harder and harder to find, and Encarnacion is one of only a few righty power hitters. Too bad it is a boring white swatch. 

I was also able to grab a Matt Adams bat relic. With the amount of Cardinal fans out there, this shouldn't be hard to move.

These on the other hand......sheesh. I would honestly open a pack of 1987 Fleer, than pull on of these things. They have no resale value, and nobody seems to be interested in acquiring them. Anybody want them?

I also picked up a Ryan Braun mini framed relic in the deal, but that is already packaged up for Tony over at Off Hiatus Baseball Cards. 

In the end I got a fantastic deal, but the two duds kind of made me depressed. I'm really hoping Topps doesn't sell out to another dumb blogging website next year. 

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In related news, lets talk about the Topps Chrome Box Break I hope to hold here in a couple of weeks. 

I still have 5 spots to fill to get this thing off and running. I will be busting 4 hobby boxes of 2014 Topps Chrome.  The price is $25.00 and that includes shipping. You get one team of your choice, and a random team after the break is filled up. Pretty simple. 

BONUS: If you sign up for one of the remaining slots, you will get your choice of any of the relics (except Kershaw) above. If you sign up for more than one spot, you will get to choose one of the relics above AND any card from my Trade Bait page. I will ship these with your cards from the break.

Here is what is left. Please be sure to comment if you are interested. 

1. DBacks
2. Braves
3. Orioles
4. Red Sox - (Caitlin)
5.Cubs - (Brady Umfleet)
6. White Sox - (Dodger Penguin)
7. Reds
8. Indians
9. Rockies
10. Tigers
11. Astros - (Kyle B.)
12. Royals
13. Angels - (Gavin)
14. Dodgers - (Alex)
15. Marlins
16. Brewers - (Tony L.)
17. Twins
18. Mets - (Justin L.) 
19. Yankees - (Dodger Penguin)
20. A's
21. Phillies 
22. Pirates - (Matt S.)
23. Padres
24. Giants - (Adam S.)
25. Mariners - (T.J. Villarrubia Jr.) 
26. Cardinals - (Brady Umfleet) 
27. Rays
28. Rangers - (Judson)
29. Blue Jays - (Caitlin)
30. Nats

Adrian Beltre is in a Position of Power

It has been a long week. I have worked everyday since last Saturday, and I worked 8 straight days before that day off. I had to wake up early this morning to get to the orientation for my new job as a tutor at my college. After 4 hours of fun there, I headed back to work and I am now trying to finish out the day. I get tomorrow off, which I feel is well-deserved. 

But we are here to discuss cards. If you have seen any of my last few posts, then you know that Dikran bought me a few cards for my birthday which I am just getting around to posting. I will show off the final card of his gifting spree today, then we will head back to non-Beltre posts tomorrow. Or maybe Sunday. Whenever I get around to it. 

Before I begin talking about this beautiful card, let me say how difficult it is to write about cards when you don't have them in hand. I think I will write posts about cards while I am at home, rather than scanning them and writing posts later. At least when I will be away from home for an extended period of time. 

But back to the card. Like I mentioned above, this card is gorgeous. It arrived inside the protective case provided by Topps, which I opted to leave it in. Therefore, the scan came out less than stellar. Blurry photo and all, you can still see that it is a beautiful looking card. #'d 3/15, the only thing that would have made this card better was a colored patch, rather than the boring white swatch. 

Becuase of the barrage of gifts Dikran sent my way, my Adrian Beltre PC has now taken off with more additions to come. I probably have more Autos/Relics/#'d cards of Beltre, than I do of anybody else (except Matt Kemp). 

Once again, thanks for the card, Dikran. I hope to see some more posts on your blog soon.

Matt Kemp was a Rookie Sensation + New Trade Bait

I recently completed a trade with Kyle of Beware the Hockey Card Closet. He had some Chavez Code points remaining and decided to cash them in. 

In return for some cards I sent his way, Kyle sent me this sweet rookie card of Matty Ice. It is a new addition to my Matt Kemp PC, which now sits at 166 cards. That sounds pretty good, but hopefully I can reach 200 by the end of the year. 

Kyle and I actually swapped some hits. He took a few of my relic, #'d, and auto cards and I received a few back to reload on my trade bait. Included was this relic of ex-Dodger, Brad Penny. Penny pitched pretty well for the Dodger  for a few years ago, but I never really became a big fan of his. I know it's a Dodger, but it is headed to my trade bait.

I decided not to scan every card that Kyle sent my way, primarily to force you to check out my Trade Bait page. I did decide to scan this card though, mainly because I forgot that Soriano ever played for the Rangers. This probably would have been quite the hot ticket item ten years ago, but not so much anymore. 

Thanks again for the awesome cards Kyle!