Custom autograph from Chris at Nachos Grande

I have a backlog of completed trades scattered on my desk that I need to get to, but lately, it feels like I just don't have the time. I had mentioned previously that I've begun working on some new sets, the first of which being the 2013 Gypsy Queen Minis. It's always tough to start working on a set a year after the fact as most people have moved on to the current year issues. However, thanks to the magic of trade lists, I was able to see that Chris at Nachos Grande had 3 of the minis I was still looking for. Chris and I had previously helped each other out, so I knew that we would be able to quickly come to an agreement. The PWE arrived this past week and so did the minis.

Being able to knock off a big name like Machado is always a relief, though sometimes it feels like the common players are the hardest ones to find.  I'm down to 19 minis for the set now as I slowly chip away.

Chris added a few surprise cards in the PWE, all being custom Ginter cards including an autograph of Mr. Nachos Grande himself!

I know I should be more thrilled with being able to mark off a few set needs, but I can't help but admire that custom autograph card. Totally awesome and definitely my favorite card in the package. At a card show, I once joked to a dealer that there should be autographed cards made of every person in the world. That would be something to collect. Thanks much Chris. At the end of the day, cards should be enjoyed and your custom autograph card really put a smile on my face.

2nd trade with Ryan at "O" No!!! Another Orioles Blog

Since the cards from my wantlists are getting harder to find, it was time to start working on some new uncompleted sets. The first of these was the '13 Topps Gypsy Queen Minis. In terms of trades, I will always first seek out those who've I've already dealt with in the past. I was able to go back to the well with Ryan at "O" No!!! Another Orioles Blog a week or so ago and knock off two from my wantlist.

Apparently there are SP minis in this set as well, which I will have to do some research on. In addition to the Freeman and Votto, I also picked up three additional cards from Ryan.

I really like the look of these Bowman Chrome Blue Wave Refractors. Lucas Sims isn't a local guy, but he is a top prospect with the Braves. It will be interesting to see how his career goes.

I'm not too familiar with Nolan Sanburn, but he's currently listed on the A's Stockton roster. I hope to get the card signed when the Ports visit Southern California later this year. The Brandon Belt Bowman International is for my Giants buddy.

Thanks Ryan for another trade. Keep those wantlists and tradelists updated and I'm sure we'll trade again.

Last pack - '13/14 Panini Basketball

Opening up the last Panini basketball pack from the previous post while watching the Angels/Rangers game. Here are the goods:

#68 Tiago Splitter
#88 Tony Parker
#8 Tony Allen

#67 Goran Dragic All-Panini insert
#199 Phil Pressey
#182 Ricky Ledo
#145 Tyler Hansbrough
#103 Thomas Robinson

More of the same in terms of the base cards, but I like the shiny look of the Dragic insert card. As a whole though, basketball cards just don't appeal to me. While this set is ideal for a completist, there are just too many players that I've never heard of. Maybe if I were watching the NBA playoffs instead of a regular season baseball game, I might feel differently . 

March Madness winnings - '13/14 Panini Basketball

Topically, this post is about a month late, but at work today, the manager finally handed out the prizes for our Final Four basketball pool. Each employee who drew a Final Four team received a bag of goodies, among the items, a pack a '13/14 Panini Basketball cards. Given that no one at work has interest in trading cards, I was the true winner as I ended up with the cards. One of the packs was already opened, so I will only list the packs I did open.

Pack 1

#2 Brook Lopez
#58 Wesley Matthews
#78 Jeff Green
#14 LaMarcus Aldridge



#192 Shane Larkin - son of Reds HOFer Barry!
#6 Kyrie Irving Knight School insert
#150 Greg Monroe
#154 Brandon Knight

Pack 2

#12 Serge Ibaka
#90 Paul Millsap
#62 Monta Ellis
#37 Mario Chalmers

 

#16 Jeremy Lin Preparation insert - could it have been only a few years ago that Lin-sanity swept the nation? Now Lin is coming off the bench for the Rockets.
#197 Allen Crabbe
#132 Marc Gasol
#148 Gerald Green

These cards are pretty "eh" in the sense that the photos pretty much all look like the Larkin card above. Some variety would've been welcome. The most interesting card from the two packs was the Lin which is horizontal and thematically at least, matches the look on his face. I have one more pack left which I will save for the weekend. As 99% of the cards I get are singles at card shows, I should probably string out the packs when I get them.  

Taking the Plunge with Matt at Bob Walk the Plank

I had recently begun working on a new set, the  '13 Topps Gypsy Queen Minis, and much to my luck, a great new blogger named Matt at Bob Walk the Plank had recently opened up a box. I took the plunge and made contact with Matt asking if he might possibly have any of my wants. Matt graciously sent back 7 of my remaining set needs.

As I'm working on the set, any missing card is nice to get, but it's always great to add a new Mike Trout and Babe Ruth card to the collection, not to mention Mariano Rivera.

Matt was kind enough to also offer up a Garrett Richards Gypsy Queen autograph. Anyone who watched the Sunday night Angels game against the Yankees knows that Richards has some nasty stuff.

As a surprise, Matt also added this Flair autograph of Casey Kotchman. Kotchman was having his best season for the Angels in 2008 when he was traded to the Braves at the deadline for Mark Teixeira. When Tex signed with the Yankees that offseason, the Angels netted the Yankees first round pick as compensation which as most people know turned out to be... Mike Trout. Yeah, I think that turned out ok in the end for the Angels.

Thanks again to Matt for the set help and extra goodies.

2000 Peoria Chiefs

As I have previously mentioned, I like to collect the local kids from Southern California. In the 1998 MLB Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Tim Lemon in the second round out of La Mirada High. The previous fall, I had covered Lemon's exploits on the gridiron and that spring, I watched the toolsy Lemon on the baseball diamond. I figured he would be a cool player to track, follow, and collect. After a couple of years in Short Season ball, Lemon moved up to Low-A Peoria in 2000. (Lemon would play 7 years in the minors never getting out of High-A, and was even converted to a pitcher in 2004)

The Chiefs offered an internet broadcast of their games that season, and I remember listening to many a game in the afternoon. What I remember most about those games was a totally unknown hitter on the Chiefs by the name of Albert Pujols. I had never heard of him before which wasn't surprising since he didn't appear in the minors in 1999. Heck, in looking at the 2000 Baseball America Almanac, he is listed as Jose Pujols.

Pujols seemed to have an exceptional batting eye and had a knack for driving in runs, a sign of what was to come. He was promoted to High-A before the year was over and went on to win the Rookie of the Year with the Cardinals the following year. The rest, as they say, is history, or historic in Pujols' case. Congratulations Albert on hitting your 500th homerun tonight; I'll always remember those humble beginnings with the Peoria Chiefs.

 

1993 Upper Deck Mike Perez - Huh?

Over the weekend, I got my hands on a couple of 5,000 ct. boxes of 90's cards. Sure, these cards were mass produced, but they now make for great IP autograph opportunities. Plus, I never really appreciated the photography and the cards themselves back in the day.  

While sifting through the 1993 Upper Deck, one particular card struck me, #204 Mike Perez. On the surface, he is signing a baseball card, a common theme for Upper Deck that year. But if you look closer at the card, the image on the card is of the actual baseball card itself. WEIRD. And this was done in the early 90s, where the only photoshopping I thought existed was shabby ballcaps on players who changed teams. Anyways, the name Mike Perez had never meant much to me, and though the card is nothing more than a common in terms of value, in terms of uniqueness, it is definitely one of a kind.