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.

Cheap Topps Heritage

I won a Listia auction for this 2013 Topps Heritage of Logan Forsythe recently.  Forsythe is sort of a spare part for the Rays these days.  However, I like Topps Heritage, so I pulled the trigger.  Also, most importantly, the card only cost me 4 credits.  That's a rounding error.  That being said, how hard is it to put a baseball card in a penny sleeve before putting it in a plain white envelope?  I'm not complaining.  I am just making a public service announcement. 

2014 Topps Chrome: Now with Bonus Pack

I recently purchased 3 packs of 2014 Topps Chrome which happened to come with the bonus 3 card pack of Orange Refractors. The Orange Refractors turned out to be the best cards of these packs. Without further ado, here are the spoils.

Pack 1

CC Sabathia

Tommy Medica (Xfractor)

Marcus Stroman

Mark Trumbo

Pack 2

Giancarlo Stanton

Francisco Liriano

Joey Votto (Refractor)

Yangervis Solarte

Pack 3

Curtis Granderson

Brandon Moss (Refractor)

Tommy Medica (again)

Robinson Cano

Orange Pack

Justin Verlander

Stephen Strasburg

Kolten Wong

Who Is This Guy?

I bought this 2012 Bowman Draft Picks card of Matt Olson for less than a dime on eBay.  I'm always prone to picking up single cards from Bowman, since packs go for such exorbitant prices.  Olson was drafted in 2012 and has played as high as Single A in the Athletics organization.  Yet, he has a Bowman baseball card.  Go figure.  Check out the background of the photo, though.  I believe those might be Mets colors on those players.  Anyone have a different opinion?

Random 2011 Topps

I picked up this 2011 Topps base card of Tim Collins on Listia for 23 credits.  This card is from Series 2.  I don't have much Series 2 from 2011, so I pulled the trigger.  Collins has been a reliever for the Royals for the past few seasons.  2011 counts as a rookie card.  Note the logo on the card.  Also, check out that cool leg kick. 

Trade With Bo

Not so recently, I completed a trade with Bo from Baseball Cards Come to Life.  I sent over some of my extra junk wax and miscellaneous cardboard.  In exchange, I received some nifty Twins and Yankees cards.  In the picture, are two cards from 1996 Fleer Ultra – Chuck Knoblauch and Brad Radke.  The Radke card is a rookie.  I also received a National Pastime card of Hideki Matsui.  The last card pictured is a 2007 Allen & Ginter rookie of Kei Igawa.  In 2007, there were tons of Kei Igawa rookie cards.  In the end, Igawa was way overhyped.  It was a nice haul of cards though.  Thanks for a great trade Bo!

Listia Mailbag: Jeromy Burnitz

I recently picked up this game used jersey card of Jeremy Burnitz on Listia for just 673 credits.  I was one of only 2 bidders, so I guess there wasn't much interest.  The card is from 2002 Upper Deck MVP.  It features a plain white jersey swatch.  The card itself is also plain.  There is no color other than black, white, and gray.  Burnitz was in his second stint with the Mets in 2002.  The Mets promptly traded him to the Dodgers for minor leaguers the next year. 

TTM Mailbag: Jason Grilli

I sent out a TTM autograph request to Jason Grilli during 2014 Spring Training.  I received this 2013 Topps card returned signed in blue Sharpie in 237 days.  I got this card back a couple of months ago and forgot to post it.  The card looks great.  The Pirates gave Grilli to the Angels in exchange for walking disaster Ernesto Frieri before the trade deadline.  Apparently, Grilli took his mail with him to the west coast.   I'm very happy to get this card back.