Ryan Zimmerman Times Two

I picked up a couple of Ryan Zimmerman cards on Listia recently.  I paid a total of 12 credits for both.  The first card is a 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom base card.  It has a cool bar code on it for some reason.  I like the parallel cards with the perforated edge.  The second card is a 2013 Topps base card.  You don’t hear as much about Zimmerman these days as in prior years.  Although he has been betrayed by injuries in the past, he is putting up a decent year so far. 

More Opening Day Fun

I purchased another 2013 Topps Opening Day card.  This card features Mark Buehrle.  I picked it up on eBay for 6 cents.  It is essentially the same card that is in the base set.  Buehrle has been a quality pitcher for quite some time.  However, this year has been horrible.  He was part of the salary dump from Miami to Toronto.  The Blue Jays have also been disappointing.  So much for winning the AL East. 

Name That Mariner

I bought a pair of 2013 Topps Opening Day cards of Kyle Seager on eBay for 11 cents shipped.  I have not bought any packs or blaster of this year’s Opening Day product.  I only have a few cards from this year’s set which I have purchased individually.  To my surprise, Seager is actually the starting 3rd baseman for the Mariners.  The Mariners don’t get much coverage and deservedly so.  On many teams, Seager is probably a bench player.  Also, if Seager is a starter, then how the heck does Jesus Montero get sent to the minors?  Never mind. 

Another Dontrelle Willis Card

I picked up this 2007 Goudey Green Back Card of Dontrelle Willis on eBay for 6 cents shipped.  Willis is one of those players that I have unintentionally collected over the past few years.  I never set out to collect his cards.  I sort of just wound up with a bunch of them over time.  Willis had a pretty decent career until he forgot how to pitch.  Willis is now with the independent Long Island Ducks.  Their roster is like a garbage list of washed up big leaguers.  I fear this may be the end of the end for this former 20 game winner. 

Opening Day + Retro Uniforms

I won this 2013 Topps Opening Day card of Mark Trumbo on Listia for just 12 credits.  That’s a pretty good deal.  I paid the equivalent of 3 or 4 cents for this card.  Trumbo is a decent power hitter.  I think of him as a poor man's Mike Trout.  He probably does not get the coverage that he deserves since he plays on the west coast though.  By the way, how about some bonus points for the throwback uniform. 

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. 

Random Athletics Cards

I won a lot of Oakland Athletics baseball cards on Listia recently.  All four cards cost a total of 29 credits.  The cards include a 2008 UD First Edition of Joe Blanton, 2009 Upper Deck of Andrew Brown, 2012 Bowman of Jemile Weeks, and 2012 Topps Update of Brandon Inge.  I bought this lot for the Weeks card.  It was my first Jemile Weeks card.  I have a few cards of Rickie Weeks so now the family is complete.

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. 

Back When Tex Was a Ranger

I snagged this 2005 ESPN card of Mark Teixiera on Listia for just 8 credits.  I don’t know how ESPN got into the card business, but they got out of it pretty quickly.  Upper Deck produced these cards, but the ESPN logo is a lot bigger than the Upper Deck logo.  Teixiera is currently a Yankee but was a Ranger back in 2005.  That was before he became a very rich man.  Tex is currently on the shelf with an injury for the Yankees.  The Yankees miss him, but Lyle Overbay has been a decent replacement. 

TTM Autograph Requests Have Been Neglected

It's true.  I have been delinquent in my TTM requests.  In fact, I haven't sent a request out in over a year.  I just realized that today.  My last request was to Denard Span in April 2012.  I haven't gotten that back yet.  I sent it to the Twins so I guess I won't hold my breath.  This week will be the week that I resume my TTM mailings.  I don't have all those 2013 Topps duplicates for nothing.  Any suggestions?