2009 Topps Sampler

I picked up this lot of 9 cards from 2009 Topps on Listia for a little over a hundred credits.  I don't have any of these cards, but I particularly wanted the Ian Kinsler card, which is pictured dead center.  I don't have too many Kinsler cards.  The photo on this card actually shows Kinsler from behind as he rounds the base.  There aren't any big names here; just your average base cards.

Pack Break: 2009 Topps

I ripped open a pack of 2009 Topps recently.  I never bought a lot of this product, but I really like the design.  This was a decent pack.  The highlights of the pack include a Nolan Reimold rookie card (with corner ding), Ryan Langerhans Gold Card, and Mariano Rivera Toppstown card.  It’s always a good pack when Mo makes an appearance. 

Two Jersey Swatches for the Price of One

I picked up this nifty dual game-used jersey card on eBay for less than a buck.  The card features Chad Billingsley and Bronson Arroyo.  I’m not sure why these two were chosen to share the same card, but they were.  The card is from 2009 UD Ballpark Collection.  It is numbered 333/400.  Finding a card with these two subjects was probably a bigger deal back in 2009.  Arroyo pitches in Arizona these days, while Billingsley is trying to recover from Tommy John surgery. 

Pack Break: 2009 Topps Chrome

I found an errant pack of 2009 Topps Chrome and figured it would be a decent pack to open on a cold winter day.  This pack originally was purchased as part of a repack.  I only get 7 cards, so let’s make them count.

5 Brad Lidge – former excellent and terrible pitcher depending on the vintage
122 Carlos Lee – also a recent retiree
W42 Ruben Tejada (WBC) – Star in Panama, Role player in the states

11 Erick Aybar (XFractor) – Not a big name, but definitely the pull of the pack
143 Adrian Gonzalez - meh
1 Alex Rodriguez – great pull in 2009 and I’m still happy to get it
124 Joe Nathan – new Tigers closer and a local product

I have certainly opened worse packs than this.  I got a parallel, an insert, and an ARod card.  That’s a decent pack. 

Remember Carlos Zambrano?

I picked up this 2009 UD Spectrum card for just a few cents on eBay.  It’s a cool looking card of a guy whose stock has fallen sharply over the past few years.  Zambrano was most recently in the Phillies minor league system and is currently a free agent.  I didn’t even realize he was gone.  I would have to believe that some team will take a flyer on him this year. 

eBay Mailbag: Nick Swisher

I picked up a 2009 Upper Deck card of Nick Swisher for just a few cents on eBay.  The photo is a cool staged shot of Swisher that must have been taken right after he came to the Yankees.  I can’t help but to be a Nick Swisher fan despite the fact that he has left the Yankees.  He just always seemed like a cool guy. 

Upper Deck Icons Lot

I picked two cards on Listia from the 2009 Upper Deck Icons set.  These are just base cards of Nate McLouth and John Lackey.  I never bought any packs or boxes of these cards.  I only own a few base singles as a result of minor trades and purchases.  I have nothing against the set.  In fact, I rather enjoy the design and photos.  I think it was more of a value issue.  I could spend that money on other products. 

Where is Cristian Guzman?

I bought a 2009 Topps Game Used bat card of Cristian Guzman on Listia for just 499 credits.  I would prefer the jersey over the bat, but the price was right.  Guzman has not seen Major League action since 2010.  I don’t think he is retired.  He just doesn’t play baseball anymore. 

Shiny Chrome Cards

I picked up a pair of Topps Chrome cards on Listia recently.  I don’t invest much money in Topps Chrome and even less in Bowman Chrome.  The first card is a 2009 Jeff Samardzija.  The second card is a 2012 Jon Lester.  I like shiny cards but Chrome can be condition sensitive.  Also, they don't scan well.  Anyway, these two cards set me back a total of 24 credits, so I still haven’t invested much into my Topps Chrome collection. 

Another Injured Yankee

I bought this 2009 Upper Deck card of Kevin Youkilis for just 6 cents on eBay.  Youkilis is one of the many Yankee injuries right now.  The team has done a good job of fielding a competitive lineup though.  I don’t have any cards of Youkilis as a Yankee yet.  I will probably have to wait for Topps Update in the fall.  This will do for now, although I am not a big fan of the final Upper Deck years. 

I Have Not Thought About the Phillies Lately

I picked up this Phillies lot on eBay for just 18 cents with free shipping.  I forgot that the Phillies existed for a while.  I received two cards of Jayson Werth and one card of Chase Utley.  Plus, I got two bonus cards.  I know it's 1989 Topps.  But, it's unexpected cardboard which makes my day.  Of course, Werth is now with the Nationals.  The Werth cards are base cards from 2009 Topps and 2011 Topps.  The Utley card is from 2009 SP Authentic.  Utley is having an OK season after injuries last year.  Werth is suffering from his own injuries this year. 

O How I Miss O Pee Chee

I found a pair of 2009 O Pee Chee black bordered cards on eBay for 12 cents.  The only other black bordered card that I have from this set is Phil Coke.  I picked that card up at a card show for cents.  I have no idea why I remember that.  These two cards feature Anibal Sanchez and Carlos Villanueva.  Sanchez is currently starring for the Tigers.  Villanueva is actually starting for the Cubs.  I did not know that.  I would have guessed somewhere in the minors.  Anyway, I really enjoyed the short-lived return of O-Pee-Chee.  It was a really colorful card design.  It also lacked a glossy finish which is my mortal enemy. 

eBay Mailbag: Nick Markakis

I purchased this 2009 SP Authentic card of Nick Markakis on eBay for just 6 cents.  I am pretty sure that I already owned this card, but I pulled the trigger anyway.  For some reason, I feel like have more Markakis cards than I should.  His cards just seem to be everywhere. 

2009 Upper Deck: Kevin Jepsen

I purchased this 2009 Upper Deck rookie card of Kevin Jepsen for 6 cents on eBay.  I don't really care for the landscape photo.  I never know how to put these cards in my binder.  This was the last year of Upper Deck using team logos.  Jepsen is still a reliever for the Angels.  His numbers aren’t horrible either.  Who knew?  The west coast teams really don’t get the same coverage as the east coast teams due to the time difference. 

If Melvin Mora Falls in a Forest...

I purchased this 2009 Goudey game-used jersey card of Melvin Mora on Listia for 429 credits.  I couldn’t resist at this price.  Mora started out as a prospect for the Mets.  I am actually a former owner of his 1999 Fleer Update rookie card.  There is an obscure reference.  His best days were with the Orioles.  He last played for the D-Backs.  At the age of 40, his career is probably over.  He had a good run though. 

Listia Mailbag: Kevin Youkilis

My latest Listia purchase was a 2009 Upper Deck Starquest card of Kevin Youkilis.  I couldn’t resist buying this Red Sox card at only 8 credits.  It was a bit easier to make this purchase knowing that Youkilis is no longer on the Red Sox.  In fact, he is a free agent this offseason.  Last year, he managed only a .235 average with the Red Sox and White Sox.  That’s a disappointing performance in a free agency year. 

eBay Mailbag: 2009 Topps T-206

My latest eBay purchase was for three 2009 Topps T-206 cards of Luke Hochevar, Tim Hudson, and Kosuke Fukudome. I paid a grand total of 8 cents shipped. I really like the retro cards because there is no gloss on the surface of the card. The backgrounds leave a little to be desired, but the images of the players look really sharp. The set has all sorts of variation and parallels which is an added bonus. I have never actually purchased a box, pack, or even a single of this product. Maybe I will do so next year if the product still exists.

TTM Mailbag: Josh Hamilton

I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas. I will show off my Christmas swag in a future post. Josh Hamilton delivered an early Christmas present to my mailbox with a TTM return. I sent this request out during Spring Training, but Hamilton signed a bunch of cards during last offseason so I expected the wait. The finished product was well worth the wait. I received a 2009 Topps Update card signed in blue Sharpie. The card looks perfect. The card is undamaged and the signature looks flawless. I didn’t send out too many TTM requests this year, but this is my best return for 2010. Maybe my New Year’s resolution should be to send out more TTM requests.

East Coast National: Part Four

I picked up this card from a dealer on stage at the East Coast National in White Plains. The card was a 50% off bin. Even at 50%, everything in the bin was way overpriced except for the one card that I bought. It is a 2009 Allen & Ginter Game-Used Jersey Card of Dontrelle Willis. It was marked $2 and I bought it for $1. I think this is a pretty decent price even though Willis has basically fallen off the face of the earth. Willis is actually trying to come back as a member of the San Francisco Giants. Hopefully, Willis can be successful at the big league level once again.

2009 Topps Silk: Emilio Bonifacio

I purchased another 2009 Topps Silk card off of eBay. This one is an Emilio Bonifacio card #ed 25/50. I paid $2.49 including shipping which I think is pretty cheap. I know this isn't exactly a Albert Pujols card but still, it's a numbered Silk card for only a couple of bucks. Bonifacio is currently a speedster with the Marlins organization. He played a handful of big league games earlier in the year although he is currently with AAA New Orleans. I really like the design of the Topps Silk cards, but I don’t understand why the backs of these cards are blank. Oh well, they are still cool cards. I should start buying some 2010 Silk cards.