2x3 Heroes Swag

So here is a small sample of what Jeff at  2x3 Heroes sent me.

Some set and Yankee team set material, and some Mo and Paul for their individual collections.

Thanks Jeff

Found in the couch cushions...

Well not really, I don't think this would have fared well in the couch.

I actually found this card in the space behind my desk.  Along with several penny sleeves, a mix cd, and other assorted items.

This is one of the many subset type cards that I collect.

Now, as you know, back in the day (late 70's), it was just Topps.  So, what was a collector to do once he finished the current year's set.  Why go back in time of course, collectively speaking.

I am slowly putting together all the World Series highlights cards back to 1960.
I picked this card up back in August at the East Coast National.  It will shortly find its way to the appropriate binder.

There is an interesting parallel going on in my collecting habits right now.  I haven't finished this year's flagship set yet, nor last year's, or the year's before.
But, I have started to go backwards and start putting together subsets, or Yankee team sets that have now caught my eye (Gallery, MVP Silver Signatures, to name two.)

So, check out my want lists, and see if you can help me go back and catch up with the past.


P.S. Thanks to Jeff over at 2x3 heroes, he sent me some hits to my lists (as I did to his) and pushed me to start blogging again.

Quick Hit

I'm sitting at the computer working on more trades and less blogging.  Although I don't know how I can do less than I'm already doing, when it struck me.

If I could trade stocks, the way I trade cards, I'd be a millionaire.

Not writing, but trading

Wow, I didn't realize it's been over 4 months since my last post.  If I'm going to do this blogging thing, I need to make an effort to post at least once a month.  I really respect those bloggers who post almost everyday, and even sometimes multiple times a day.  They are also the ones who keep my from writing.  I'm too busy reading their blogs.

And speaking of reading blogs, if you haven't visited Ross over at Design on Deck , what are you waiting for?  Ross has mad skills at card design, if fact he's created his own brand of cards, Spirit.  He puts some  most of what's coming out of Topps to shame.

So here's some cards I got in a trade with Nick over at Dime Boxes.

The majority of these cards will go into subset collections, All-Stars, League Leaders, and Rookie Cup.  In addition, that Rivera (which is an sp, btw) goes into my newest player collection.  I'm now collecting 5 players: Guidry, Nettles, Piniella, O'Neill, and Mo.  Check out my lists, I'm trying to trade for these as much as I can.

Quick Hit: Ichiro, the Cher/Madonna/Prince, well maybe not Prince, of Baseball

So I received a small stack of 2012 Topps the other day. It was a trade I did through "The Bench". (Great trading site btw).  I'm looking through the cards and this one jumps out at me.

I'm looking at the "name plate", for lack of a better term, and think, Oh look, an error, no last name.  So after a little research, I see that the 2012 Ichiro Topps out there, don't have a last name.   As I write this, I'm looking at his uniform, and the back says ICHIRO, shouldn't it say SUZUKI?  After all, it is his last name.

I guess the only other players that would qualify for this honor would have to be Superstars, say Pujols, Jeter.  But I've never really heard of anyone just using those players first name.

2013 Topps Toys R Us

Okay,

Been very remiss in posting.  I'm sure not too many people are shedding tears over it.

Anyway, as you all know the 2013's are out.  I stopped by TRU to see if they had any "special" cards as in years past.

So I see this

As you can see, the top right corner is the tease.  "3 Exclusive Inserts Inside, Complete The Entire Set".  So I'm hoping it will be something like the purple diamonds from two years ago.

Nope,

These again, ugh.  I call deceptive advertising.  These aren't inserts they're parallels, and there is no way on God's green earth that anyone will try and complete this set.  With only three in a pack and a pack price of $2.99, it's just not going to happen.

If anyone wants them, I'd be happy to trade them.

Beyond belief...

I know, I know.  I need to start posting again.

In the meantime, check out this auction...

Beyond belief # 1


Seriously?

This is insane

If you've checked out my want lists, you now that in addtion to the sets, Yankee team sets, and subsets that I collect, I also have player collections.  I'm working on a Guidry, Nettles, O'Neill, and Tino Martinez player collection.

Like most collectors, I have searches on Ebay that send me alerts every day. (Which sucks when I'm at work for 38 hours straight, nothing like coming home to 300+ e-mails).  Well this listing came up a while ago, I didn't bid on it, but I added it to my watch list to see where it would end.

1975 Topps Mini Graig Nettles


Is that insane or what?  I can't decide if this is a collector who is putting together a PSA 10 mini set, or a Nettles Super Collector.  I mean, it's a nice card but $610, crazy.

What Topps has made me do! Part 1

I think many of us have been lamenting Topps monopoly of the licensed trading card industry.  So I pose a question, how has it affected your collecting?

It's affected mine, by having me go backwards.  I know a fair amount of collectors love vintage.  For me, I like it, reason being, I'm too picky on condition.  So as much as I like vintage, I don't go out of my way to collect much of it.  I'm still working on several Yankee team sets in the 60's and now I've decided to go after these.

Yes, the (apparently) highly sought after Topps Rookie Cup cards.  I plan on going all the way back to the initial issue in 1960.  The cards look at little different in that first year.

As you see, as large portion of the card is devoted to the trophy and other information.  One thing I noticed when I started to checklist this set, is that for as many players that became stars, there are at least two others who were total busts. BTW, this McCovey card has a day to go on ebay and is priced at $132.50, yikes.

Here is another one that will set me back a few cents.

$61.00, with just under 4 hours to go, and lastly

 This one is going to be brutal.  We all know how chippy the 71's can be, and I need two, one for the cup set and one for my Yankee set.

I don't know why I never collected these as they were released.  Probably because I also put together the League Leader, Highlight, All-Star and Post Season subsets, and decided one more set was too much.

In  a future post, I'll discuss this subset a little more.  In the meantime, check my want lists from 1990 to 2012.  I still need a bunch of these.

Garden State Plaza Transformation

On of my previous posts mentioned the shopping malls in Paramus NJ.

CaptKirk42 mentioned that there is a mall near him that was once and open air mall and is now enclosed.

The Garden State Plaza was like that as well.  When my parents first moved to NJ in 1974, The Plaza, as it is affectionately known looked like this.

I'm not sure if it was this section, but there was a baseball card store that had space in this mall.  They originally started out in another mall (Bergen Mall) but out grew their space and relocated here.  I remember standing in line at this mall to get an autograph from Roy White.  That store still exists, it is now known as Buddy's Sport's Corner. It has moved several times and is now located in his 3rd Paramus Mall, Paramus Park.

Here's another exterior shot

You can tell these are pretty old, Bambergers changed their name to Macy's in 1986.  The company was actually owned by Macy's.  My impression is that Bambergers was a more suburban store.  Macy's was a  little more upscale and urbancentric.

Even to this day I remember this,

When Santa went up, you knew Christmas was close by.

Here is what the mall looks like now.

All enclosed and very upscale.

Now the interesting thing is that I hardly ever go to this mall.  It is now probably double or triple the size of the original open air mall.  For me, that's too big.  I can hardly remember where anything is and the parking is  a nightmare.  I stick to Paramus Park, it's smaller and has a more welcoming feel to it.

So, if you're ever in Bergen County, stop in one of these malls and look around.  If you let me know ahead of time, I might meet you there.

Who doesn't love Nachos Grande?

And by Nachos Grande, I mean both the delicious appetizer/meal, and Nachos Grande the blogger.

I just completed another trade with Chris and here is my take.

Now this is something you don't see everyday.  A bumper sticker, and a quite nice one at that.  Unfortunately, it will not fit on my motorcycle.  But I will try and find a place for it.

You see the url for Nacho's blog.  I don't know why, but I always think it says "fan of freds". Who exactly is this Fred guy and why is Nacho a fan of his?  Fred Flintstone, Fred Willard, that dorky kid Fred

from those lame Youtube videos?  I hope its not the last guy, I'd lose all respect for Chris.

In addition to the bumper sticker there were cards, a nice bunch of them.  Here are the highlights.

The blue CC is from 2011 Topps Wal-Mart hanger packs.  The red Teixeira is from the Target version, I really like both of them and I'm trying to obtain the rest of the Yankees.  The O'Neill is the shiny version to add to my O'Neill collection. The Diamond Duos is the last I need for that particular insert set.

Thanks Chris. If you haven't checked out his site, go take a look.  It will be worth your while.

Something I picked up at Sports Authority

Sports Authority sent me an e-mail with a 25% off coupon download for my birthday. Mighty nice of them.

So I went to one of the two stores that are close by.  If you don't know Paramus NJ, it has some of the bigger malls in NJ. The Garden State Plaza (I refuse to use the "Westfield" prefix), Paramus Park, Bergen Town Center, and The Fascist Center.  Whoops, meant The Fashion Center.

The other thing Paramus has is duplicate stores.  Just like you might have 2 Derek Jeter cards laying around.  Paramus has duplicate stores, two Modell's, two Sports Authority, two Toys r Us, two Best Buys, two Old Navy.  I'm sure  there are others, just can't think of any at the moment.  One of the reasons for this is that there are two major highways that intersect in Paramus.  Route 17 runs North/South, and Route 4 runs East/West.  The thinking behind the two stores, (all the ones I list have both a Route 17 and Route 4 store), is that most people travel only one of these two roads through Paramus.  If you don't have a "presence" on each road, you are most likely missing out on sales.  This doesn't hold true for me.  I live in the adjacent town and I can travel either road, depends on what store is closer to  home.

I used my 25% off to buy a blaster of 2012 Topps series 2.  I have only purchased blasters and a few looseys for this series, no hobby at all.  As I am only putting together one set, I'm trying to not buy so much.

But, something else caught my eye.  Just like it did at Toys r Us earlier this year.  Have a look

Once again, the bright yellow starburst in the upper left hand corner caught my eye.  Being the inquisitive type, I had to try a pack.  It didn't hurt that the cashier also took 25% off this pack.  The coupon was only supposed to be good for one purchase and I used it on the blaster first.

So lets see what these Yankee Legends look like...

What the?  A 1998 Jeter and a 1999 Posada.  Posada isn't exactly a legend, and we've seen these card before, or have we?  The cards appear a brighter than their originals. And the backs

Ahh Bach, I mean the backs.  My guess is, that there is one card for each of the 27 World Series Championships.  The 99 Posada is numbered YC25.  So 2000 is 26 and 2009 would be 27.
Fronts are glossy, backs are matte.  Another impossible subset to complete.  I'll keep my eyes out for this
on the bay, etc.  But I won't get my hopes up.  Oh, btw, the copyright on the back is 2010.  Anyone have any info on that, or is it another Topps screw up.

Lastly, look at the packs.

The packs are taped together, the Jeter and Posada were in between the packs.  Never seen that before.

Well, that's all I have for now.

Wow, two posts within a week.  I better go lay down.

Happy Birthday to Me and other thoughts

Look at this, another post in less than a week.  Stop the presses or the keystrokes or whatever.  Turned 48 today, I think that puts me in the "older" demographic when it comes to collecting.  Like my wife said this morning, it's only a number.  Yea, but a pretty big honkin number.  Anyway for my birthday, I got to help her mulch the flower beds. Whoopie!

I apologize in advance if this becomes stream of consciousness writing, I'm just having some difficulty putting some thoughts together.

I've been kind of indifferent lately when it comes to collecting.  For me, there is nothing current out there to collect right now.  I purchased as much series 1 and series 2 2012 Topps flagship as I intend to purchase.  Nothing else is peaking my interest.  Some of it is just out of my league price wise, and some of it has freakin short prints in it.  It's bad enough the flagship has sp's, I don't need or want to try to put together any more sets that have short prints.

So while I was being indifferent, I realized that I really like the way the new Topps Rookie Cup looks on the more recent issues.  In the past I had considered putting this subset together, but there were always several other sets to work on and this kind of fell by the wayside.  It should be noted that I have been putting together other subsets, League Leaders, World Series, Highlights, since I started collecting. (Shame on Topps, this year's Highlight cards just have a sentence on the front of the card stating what the Highlight was, and a checklist on the back.  I want a full write up, like years past).

I needed a checklist to start this project, but couldn't find one.  I'm sure there is one out there, if there isn't, I will post one ASAP.  I started my quest on the Wikipedia page, it needs some work, but I didn't realize that Topps had omitted the cups from 1979-1986.  There are also problems with the Roster list, some of the players listed, don't have the cup on their card, even though they should. Additionally, the list doesn't provide the card number, I hope to help with that.

The interesting thing about this set is looking back at previous winners.  I had to scratch my head at some of these players, I'd never even heard of a few of them.  Which is good because they won't cost more than a common.  The problem is with the NAME players. At least these cards aren't rookie cards, but some second year cards are pretty steep in price.   The 1971 Thurman Munson card books at $120, finding one in NrMt shape will probably be next to impossible, as well as expensive.  There are also second year cards of Willie McCovey, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and I think Tom Seaver.

I actually had a good time looking for these while I was at the ECN.  I'm planning on expanding my searches to shows slightly out of my immediate area.  I keep seeing the same people with the same cards.  Need to expand the search radius.

If you have any of these, please check my wantlists, I've got plenty of stuff to trade.

My most recent haul

Ok,

Haven't been keeping up with this as much as I would like.  Hope to change that, starting now.

So, like everyone else, I've been busy with vacation, work, kids, and cards/card projects.  But, I did manage to attend the East Coast National on August 19.  That was the last day of the show, and traditionally the day that I attend.  We left for vacation the next day (Wildwood Crest, NJ), and had great weather and a great time.

About the show:

1) Several dealers who I normally see there were AWOL.  Notably, Teddy from TNTcards, and 707 Collectibles.  Maybe due to the fact that "The National" was just a few weeks prior and a few hours down the road in Baltimore.

2) There was a dearth of recent unopened product.  I couldn't find one dealer selling 2011 Topps update boxes in any way shape or form.  This was one product I really need to get my hands on.  I haven't really started this set yet and I would like to.

3) Vintage galore.  There was a ton of vintage present.  Several dealers with binders of 1956 to about 1973 cards in various states of condition.  Also the requisite number of slabbed vintage.

4) Attendance.  Seemed about the same amount of people as I've seen in the past.  But I don't know how many were kicking tires or actually buying.

5) An occurrence.  Only one dealer was selling the 2012 Topps Mini boxes.  I went up to him, asked the price, knowing full well what the on-line price is.  His quote, $65.  Then the big sales pitch.  Darvish,  Strasburg, limited edition, graded, e-bay, money, money, money.  I said, I'd think about it and walked on.  About 2 hours later I was back at that table.  A dad and his sons were contemplating what boxes they should buy.  He asked about the 2012 Topps Minis.  Big sales pitch first, then the price $70 a box. WTF?  I started to quietly talk to the dad and gave him the 411 on the product.  He thanked me, rounded up his kids and off they went, no purchase.  I did buy a couple of packs from him as I felt a little guilty costing him a sale.  I did buy a pack of the 2012 Mini, just to see what they look like in person. Meh.  All those cards are on Listia at the moment.

Now some scans of what I purchased.

Do you see a pattern here?

 
and these

Mini madness, I think Night Owl would approve.

and these

Absolutely love the Guidry

and lastly

I'll have a follow up post for each of these lots.
Please come back and check them out.  Meanwhile, I'd be curious to hear every one's comments in regards to #5 above.  And remember, this is a family blog.

A trade with "Rhubarb-Runner"

Here are some cards I got in a trade with David aka Rhubarb Runner at  "é rayhahn, rayhahn".

A couple of nice additions to my Nettles, Guidry, and Tino collections.

Been really busy at work and on two card related projects and spending time with the kids on their summer vacation. Funny, it never seems to be a vacation for us adults.  Hope to find time to post more in the upcoming weeks.

The Generous Blogosphere

One of my previous posts centered on trading and how the process has change over the years.

From creating an ad in SCD to posting your want lists on-line.  Like the cigarette ad said
you've come a long way baby.

Something that I also noticed that's come a long way is collector generosity. Here's an example.  The Daily Dimwit and I were working on a trade of Gypsy Queens that we both needed.  Well, before we could complete the trade, he acquired the cards I was going to send him.  No big deal, it happens, especially if you are working on trades with a bunch of different people.  Trades start, stop, start again.  We all know how it works.

Anyway, Sam was nice enough to send me a card for my troubles.

And what a lovely card it is.  Again thank you Sam.

This is not the first time this has happened to me, but it is the most recent.  I myself am trying to be more generous, after all, they are only pieces of cardboard.

Who says Topps doesn't listen?

I got an e-mail from Topps this morning (as I'm sure many of you did) about this.

2012 Topps Mini Cards.

Holy Guacamole!  I didn't think I would be buying any more Topps this year (with the exception of Update), may have to rethink that strategy.

But upon further inspection, this product will only be available on-line, and at 661 cards, you need to buy 3 boxes (@ $50 + s&h), and get near perfect collation.  This may become a toss up.  Let someone else take the hit on the boxes and just buy the set and singles I need.

Your thoughts?

A Recent Trade

Here are a few pick-ups from a recent trade with Jim over at The Phillies Room.

I wasn't a big fan of the Turkey Red at first, but they have managed to grow on me.  I only need one more Pure Heat insert to complete that set, which completes my 2010 Upper Deck set.  Card 3 Arod.

I've got a 34 hour shift coming up tomorrow. Hope to have a new post next week.

Topps......Phoning it in (again)

Since Topps now has a monopoly on baseball cards, my collecting choices have really diminished.  I no longer have the opportunity to collect sets from Upper Deck, Fleer, and Donruss (listed in reverse order of their demise).

As it was, I was only collecting Topps flagship brand for the past several years.  I had given thought to collecting Heritage when it first came out, but the short prints killed that idea.  The same for Gypsy Queen, although I am putting together Yankee team sets from that and Opening Day (blue numbered version).  So what else could I collect?

I had been shying away from player collections due to the 1/1's etc.  But I started collections for Ron Guidry and Graig Nettles back in the late 70's (yes, I'm that old).  I kind of let them fall by the wayside, as my other collecting interests were keeping me busy.  But now that I'm down to one set a year, I've decided to re-ignite the player collections and add two additional players, Paul O'Neill and Tino Martinez.  Which leads me to the title of this post.

I've been buying some recent Paul O'Neill game used and autos.  I have an ebay search for his cards.  The other day I noticed something interesting.  Look,

2011 Tier one, now look

2011 Lineage 1975 mini, and once more

2011 Lineage regular issue.

While looking at my search results, I just happened to notice the similarities in these cards.  Upon closer inspection, it is the same picture, cropped differently for each card.  Now, I know some of the older collectors know of Topps chicanery.  But maybe some of the young ones don't.

So for you young'uns, look at this scan

These are the reprints that Topps issued several years ago.  Pretty obvious what's going on here, jumps right out at you. 1965 and 1968, 1966 and 1969.  It's kind of funny, because when I was putting this set together back in 199?, I thought I had 2 sets of the same cards.  Only when I placed the cards in the 9-pocket did I realize what was going on.

Monopoly in the 60's, monopoly now.  Phoning it in, it's easier than being creative.

Ebay pick up and a list

Found some time for another post.  Just wanted to show my latest ebay purchase, nothing fancy, but I really like it.

The scan doesn't really do this justice.  The frame is a really nice shade of blue and it also has almost a metallic sparkle to it.  I will try to collect the entire Yankee team set of these.

I only bought one pack of GQ last year. I would have considered putting the set together except for the dreaded SP's.  As soon as I read that the set had SP's, it was out of consideration.  I should really be thanking Topps for saving me so much money over the last several years.

When Heritage was first produced, I considered it, until....  The same with GQ last and this year.  I've also stopped putting sets together for my kids, same reason.

Anyway, I bought a blaster and all the cards listed are for trade, check my lists for wants.  Happy hunting!


Auto - DELGADO, R.  (BRAVES)

MINI: REGULAR - 45  113 231 305 315 346
           GYPSY -  104
            BLACK  - 279
            STRAIGHT CUT - 43 239

FUTURE STARS - CK  EH  JH

GLOVE STORIES - BR

HALLMARK HEROES - EB BG* LG*

MOONSHOTS - AP

SLIDING STARS - CG

REGULAR CARDS - 4  9  19  24  38  46  47  64  81  109
               137 143 172 176 186 187 188 195 197 198
200 206 224 228 229 238 238x2 249 252x2
263x2 265 280x2 286 288(CJ)

* - DINGED