Listia Mailbag: Jose Reyes Silk Card

I picked up this 2013 Topps Update Silk Card of Jose Reyes on Listia for about 4800 credits.  I am a fan of silk cards even though they are kinda gimmicky.  However, I prefer the silk cards that look like the design from the given year.  Here, the Reyes card shows a rookie card from 2001. The card came with a small crease on the right side, which is visible in the photo.  Otherwise, it's a great looking card of a former Met.  

A Pair of Rays

Here’s a nifty little card from 2013 Topps Update that I picked up on eBay for a few cents.  It’s a dual card of Wil Myers and Evan Longoria.  I usually don’t like dual cards because I sort my cards by team.  Fortunately, the two are teammates.  I bought the card mostly for Wil Myers.  Myers is a highly touted prospect, and I have very few of his cards.  Myers was the key player in the trade that sent James Shields to the Royals.  It was probably a good trade for both teams.  The Royals make the World Series and the Rays have a potential star for year to come. 

Pack Break: 2012 Topps Update

I recently opened up a pack of 2012 Topps Update.  I remember when this was called Topps Traded and it only included players who were in their first years or traded to another team.  Now there are cards for participants in the Home Run Derby and All Star Game.  That seems unnecessary.  Anyway, here is the haul.

Ryan Ludwick
Joe Mather
Matt Lindstrom
Travis Snider
Jeremy Hafner
Melky Cabrera (Gold)
Yoenis Cespedes (Blockbusters)
Weird Royals Card
Michael Saunders
Jose Bautista

Joey Devine
Jeremy Hermida
RA Dickey

The question on the blue Royals card is what happened before George Brett homered in the first at bat of his 4 for 4 game in the 1985 ALCS.  Bueller?  Bueller?  The correct answer is that Willie Wilson was caught stealing.  But, we all knew that. 

Silk Cards: Update Edition

I picked up a pair of silk cards from 2013 Topps Update on Listia for about 1,000 credits each.  The cards feature the player’s rookie card rather than the base card from the 2013 set.  On the left is Tim Lincecum.  His rookie card is from 2007 Topps Update.  I bought a little bit of this product in search of Joba Chamberlain’s rookie.  I never got the Joba card and I never got a Lincecum card.  The card on the right is former Yankee Robinson Cano.  This was the card that I was really after.  It still feels like Cano is on the Yankees.  His presence would beat that of Martin Prado or Stephen Drew.  I never really bought any 2003 Topps.  It’s a decent design, but 2003 was a year that covered my collecting hiatus. 

K-Rod in Orange

I picked up a 2013 Topps Update card of Francisco Rodriguez in an Orioles uniform on eBay.  He is now with the Brewers and more importantly my fantasy team.  I actually picked him up as a free agent.  Now he has 17 saves.  I was actually offered David Price in trade for K-Rod.  Because I’m a saves whore, I declined. 

Pack Break: 2012 Topps Update

I opened up a pack of 2012 Topps Update that was laying around from a repack.  I did pretty good.  I received three inserts and parallels.  I was also happy to see the Dozier and Hefner cards.  Here are the proceeds. 

Scott Elbert
Chris Iannetta
Troy Patton
Jeremy Hefner
Christian Friedrich
Elian Herrera (Blue)
Brian Wilson (Gold) #1331/2012
Edgar Martinez (Golden Moments)
Brian Dozier
Tim Byrdak
Joe Wieland
Gio Gonzalez

Matt Cain Card or Checklist?

I picked up a lot of 5 2012 Topps Update cards of Matt Cain on eBay.  Somehow, I only paid 16 cents shipped for the entire lot.  This is a checklist card that features Cain’s perfect game.  I typically don’t like checklist cards.  Checklists have a segregated binder away from my “real” cards.  However, these cards are only half-checklists, so they will earn a spot in my Giants binder. 

Carlos Peguero Anyone?

I picked up this 2011 Topps Update card of Carlos Peguero on eBay.  Peguero has had brief stints in the big leagues with the Mariners.  He was drafted back in 2005 and isn’t getting any younger.  And his career batting average is .195.  The Long Island Ducks may come calling if things don’t turn around. 

eBay Mailbag: Lucas Luetge

I purchased a pair of 2012 Topps Update cards of Lucas Luetge on eBay for just 6 cents shipped.  I had never heard of him prior to this purchase, but I couldn’t pass up the price.  Apparently, Luetge, whose name I cannot pronounce, is a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.  2012 was his rookie season.  It was a so-so year.  But then again, the Mariners are usually a so-so team. 

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?

eBay Mailbag: 2010 Topps Update

My latest eBay purchase was a lot of 4 2010 Topps Update cards. I paid 11 cents shipped for all 4 cards. I received one card each of Brian Matusz, Logan Morrison, Travis Wood, and Jeffrey Marquez. All are considered rookie cards. I figured I could use some for autograph purposes. For the price, I can’t really go wrong. I generally pay 10 cents for commons at card shows. I got these cards for less than 3 cents per card.

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.

2010 Topps Update Silk: Mitch Maier

I recently purchased a 2010 Topps Update Silk card of Mitch Maier for $2.05 shipped from an eBay seller. A lot of unknowns get cards in the update set. Maier isn’t exactly unknown, but he does play in Kansas City. Maier has gotten some playing time in the outfield during the past two seasons. He hasn’t done anything spectacular though. The card is serial numbered 34/50. I think the best part of this card is the powder blue Royals jersey. I really like that color. I wish the backs were not blank, but it would probably be difficult to cram all of that statistical information into such a small area. I am happy with my purchase. I got this card for less than the price of an average pack.

I Miss Topps Traded

Happy New Year folks!! To celebrate 2010, I busted 2 packs of 2009 Topps Update. It seemed like the thing to do. I didn’t get anything spectacular but the highlights are below.

Personally, I think Topps Update is getting a bit redundant. What happened to the good ol’ days when it was called Topps Traded and the set only featured rookies and players traded during the season. Also, I’m absolutely sick of Toppstown cards. Also, I’m not a fan of these propaganda cards. Is Tim Lincecum fighting in a war or something? On the positive side, I have always been a fan of Topps Gold cards. Being numbered to /2009 only sweetens the deal. (I know, I’m a sucker)