If It's Shiny, I'll Take It

I picked up a 2013 Topps Chrome card of Nick Franklin on Listia recently for 25 credits.  Why?  I cannot say.  It was shiny so I snagged it.  Also, I don't have much of the Topps Chrome product.  Franklin is shown as a Mariner on the card.  However, he was traded to the Rays last year in the David Price deal.  Franklin hasn't really impressed anyone in the bigs so far, but he is still young. 

TTM Mailbag: Tyson Ross

My first TTM autograph return of spring training came from Tyson Ross of the Padres.  Mr. Ross signed my 2014 Topps Update card in just 15 days.  The card came back in great condition with his signature in thin black Sharpie. 

Autographs By The Pair

I picked up a pair of certified autographed cards on Listia recently for 999 credits each.  The first is a Stadium Club card of Travis Denker.  I love Stadium Club cards from any year.  The photos are always great.  Denker was last seen playing for the Laredo Lemurs in the American Association.  But, he did get his cup of coffee at least.  The second card features Andy LaRoche.  LaRoche is still hanging out in the big leagues.  He used to be the next big thing for the Dodgers back in 2005.  But looking back, it was brother Adam who made a bigger impact in the majors.  LaRoche is currently with the White Sox organization.

Bern Baby Bern

I picked up a pair of early Bernie Williams cards on Listia for just 23 credits.  The cards are from 1992 Score and 1993 Topps.  These are second and third year cards respectively.  Bernie still looked like a dorky kid in these photos.  I'm fairly certain that I already own both cards, but you can't have too much Bernie.  And the price was right.

Cards from Drew

Thank you to Drew who sent me a bunch of cool Minnesota Twins cards. Here are a few of the highlights.

Three oddball cards of Kirby Puckett circa 1992 courtesy of McDonald's

 

My first 2015 Topps card

 

My first 1970 Topps card (I think)

 

And mini Delmon Young

A.J. Burnett: Part Two

OK, so here is my second A.J. Burnett purchase on Listia.  It's a 1999 Topps Chrome Traded rookie card graded PSA 9.  It only set me back 2,500 credits.  I have always had a soft spot in my heart for 1999 Topps Traded and its Chrome counterpart.  It had rookie cards of Adam Dunn, Carl Crawford, CC Sabathia, Josh Hamilton, Alfonso Soriano, and about a hundred guys who now work in a car wash.  I had bought individual cards from the set over the years, but never a card of Burnett.  I was also tempted  to buy the base set as it contained an autograph.  I never bought one though, fearing that I would pull a Mike Nannini autograph.  Anyway, I am pleased to add the Burnett card to the collection. 

A.J. Burnett: Part One

A.J. Burnett has been a rather respectable starting pitcher with many teams over the years.  He was garbage with the Yankees, but decent elsewhere.  I recently picked up 2 of his cards on Listia from different sellers.  The first is this Topps 206 game used jersey card.  That's a swatch of bright green jersey for those of you keeping track.  That's pretty unusual.  It made the card stand out to me.  And it only cost about 1,000 credits which is economical.  Stay tuned for the second Burnett card. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  Here's a gratuitous Bobby Valentine card from 1989 Topps and a link to his sports bar in Stamford, CT.

Stickers!!!!

I picked up a pair of 2013 Topps Sticker cards on eBay for less than a quarter.  Both cards are Giants: Sergio Romo and Matt Cain.  I have inadvertently been accumulating Cain's cards for quite some time, however I have very few of Romo.  I'm not a big fan of sticker cards, in general.  These cards remind me of the sticker cards found in the 1980's.  The stickers don't actually have a practical purpose.  But if we need them, they will be there. 

TTM Mailbag: Clayton Kershaw

After a long period of no returns, I finally received a TTM autograph in my mailbox this week.  It comes from Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers.  It was postmarked from Dallas, TX.  I originally sent it to Dodgers Spring Training in Arizona last March.  The return took 339 days, but was well worth it.  The card is a 2011 Topps base card and is signed beautifully in blue Sharpie.  I'm thrilled to get the card back.  I doubt many 3 time Cy Young Award winners would take the time to sign.  Very cool.