Friday, January 25, 2013

Bowman Gold for a Dime

I recently purchased a 2008 Bowman Gold card of Hunter Pence on eBay for 10 cents.  The card was listed as a regular Bowman card rather than as a Gold card.  That might explain the price.  Pence has become a bit of a journeyman over the past couple of years.  He signed a new deal with the Giants, so maybe he has found a new home. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Art of Closing

I recently picked up this lot of Addison Reed cards on eBay for only 6 cents with free shipping.  The lot included 4 2012 Bowman cards and 1 2012 Bowman Chrome card.  I am not an Addison Reed or White Sox fan but the price is certainly right.  Reed is the closer for the White Sox, or at least he was last year.  Closing pitchers tend to change frequently on many teams.  I have a soft spot for closers.  I think that is because I use so many of them on my fantasy teams.  A pitcher can go from worthless to fantasy gold just by moving from the 8th inning to the 9th inning.  And I am usually desperate enough to chase these pitchers. 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Miguel Tejada is Back

I bought a lot of three Miguel Tejada jersey cards on Listia for 1,512 credits.  I really only wanted the 2007 SPx and the 2008 SP Legendary Cuts.  The 2002 Leaf was kind of a throw in.  Tejada used to be a pretty big star.  His best days were with the Oakland Athletics.  It was downhill from there.  His was cut by the Orioles at the beginning of 2012.  I would have thought that his career was over, but he just signed a minor league deal with the Royals of all teams.  He most likely used steroids for parts of his career.  That would probably explain the productive years followed by a sudden decline in performance. 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Shiny Dime Cards

I snagged a 2010 Bowman Platinum rookie card of Wade Davis for the princely sum of 10 cents on eBay.  The card is quite shiny and impressive looking.  I like Bowman Platinum.  I’m not sure that I like Davis going to Kansas City.  I have already discussed my disdain for Ervin Santana.  The Royals have a habit of hiring overpaid pitchers.  Davis is supposed to be a starter but time will tell. 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Ervin Santana ... Ugh

I snagged a 2004 Bowman’s Best autographed rookie card of Ervin Santana on Listia.  The cost was 1,121 credits.  That’s not too bad for a certified autograph and a rookie card all in one.  I made this purchase despite the multiple occasions on which Santana disappointed my fantasy team this season.  He was so bad that I eventually cut him.  He was downright horrible.  Santana is now a Royal, so that should work out well.  Why did I buy this card again?

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Dontrelle Willis Goes Home Again

Dontrelle Willis just signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.  Willis was originally drafted by the Cubs.  I suppose he is technically coming out of retirement.  But, I have a bad feeling about this.  I doubt Willis will ever see another Major League inning.  My first thought upon hearing this news was of his 2002 Topps Chrome rookie card.  This is one of the few cards showing Willis in a Cubs uniform before being traded to the Marlins.  I tried to acquire this card multiple times on eBay back in the day with no success.  I still don’t own the card.  A check of eBay shows that you can’t give the card away nowadays.  A BGS 9.5 example drew no bids at $5.00.  Times have certainly changed. 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A Corey Patterson Sighting

I purchased this 2011 Topps Update card of Corey Patterson for 6 cents on eBay.  Patterson used to be the next big thing for the Chicago Cubs.  I actually own a rookie card graded by BGS.  Fortunately, I bought it after everyone realized that Patterson was not the next big thing.  After leaving the Cubs, Patterson became a journeyman for several teams.  He is still bouncing between AAA and the Majors.  Although he is in a Cardinals uniform on this card, he only played 44 games for the team.  Did I overpay or underpay?