TTM Success - Franklin Gutierrez

This TTM success from Franklin Gutierrez turned out nicely on some cards that I had been holding for a while.  The above 2011 Topps Chrome orange refractor was a card that I definitely was going to send out, and I am glad that it came back signed.

I was also able to get a 2003 Topps, 2011 Bowman Chrome refractor and a 2010 Topps 206 gold parallel signed by Gutierrez.

Gutierrez (b. 1983) played in the majors from 2005 to 2013 and 2015 to 2017 for the Indians, Mariners and Dodgers.  He had 778 hits, 97 home runs and a .257 batting average.  He won a Gold Glove Award in 2010.

I mailed to Gutierrez on August 19 and got the cards back on February 14, for a 179-day TAT.

TTM Success - Scott Cousins

These two Scott Cousins cards came back looking really nice when I sent them TTM to him a few months ago.  This 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition turned out really well.  I like these cards, and have been able to get a few signed.

I opened very little 2011 Topps Chrome, and still only have just a few cards from that set.  This one came out of the ton of card boxes that I got from my LCS when it closed.  The card turned out great, and I am glad I was able to find it before I sent.

Cousins (b. 1985) played in the majors from 2010 to 2013 for the Marlins and Angels.  He had 32 hits, 2 home runs and a .179 batting average.

I mailed to Cousins on January 28 and got the cards back on February 16, for a 19-day TAT.

In Person Care Package From Andrew

While I was at the National, I was able to save on shipping and distribute some cards to my friends Max and Andrew.  Andrew gave me a team bag full of cards that he had picked up in the months leading up to the National.  In the bag were cards that were just as nice, or better, than anything I found for my PCs at the show,

This 2011 Topps Chrome Atomic or Prism refractor of Zach Britton is numbered 10/225.  The scan really picked up on the prism effect, which looks really cool.  I thought the atomic refractors were numbered to 10 or 5, so this may have another name.  Still, the card is awesome.

I didn't have this 2014 Donruss Chris Davis relic in my collection yet, so it was really nice to pull it out of the team bag.  The scan did really well on this card, so that's cool.  Davis seems to be heating up again.  I'm hoping he can end the season with more than 40 homers and more than 100 RBI.  It is well within reach, so that would be cool.  It would be even better if the Orioles would come off of some money and sign the man.

I'm always a fan of Panini Immaculate, and this card is no exception.  Numbered 77/99, it looks really sharp.  I like the almost acetate feel to the face of the card, almost like it is layered.  It looks really great in person.

This 2/10 Immaculate of Davis is another really nice card that Andrew gave me.  This one is just as thick as the previous relic card, and looks really nice.  It doesn't have the same acetate feel, this is typical cardboard, but still a great card.  Panini really does do a good job on their products.

Andrew felt bad that I completed a trade with another guy on Instagram, only to receive a damaged card.  So, he took it upon himself to send me a better version, and here it is.  I can't explain it, but I really like Sonny Gray.  I would like him even more if Billy Beane would trade him to the Orioles.  He just might be the Ace that they need for a long time.  I doubt that happens, but you never know.  Still, Gray is a stud, and I have a pretty decent collection growing.

Adding to that is this awesome 2015 Finest Gray auto.  I have a few Gray autos now, but this Finest ranks near the top.  The auto is on-card, and looks really good.

Thanks so much for the cards, Andrew!

Instagram Trade With Zach - Chrome Goodness

I completed a deal recently with a guy named Zach from Instagram after I sent him a 2008 Topps Stadium Club Clayton Kershaw RC.  In return, I received this 2014 Bowman Chrome Chris Davis purple refractor that I needed for my PC.  I'm surprised it took me this long to land a purple refractor because it looks awesome.  The card is numbered 91/150.

While I love the purple refractor Davis, I think one of the extras that Zach sent may have outdone the key trade piece.  Holy crap, look at this scan.  It almost looks like stained glass.  What a beautiful card.  I had no idea, when I laid it on top of my scanner, that this 2011 Topps atomic refractor of Adam Jones would turn out like this.  Man, that is a really cool card.  It also helps me to remember just how good the 2011 Topps design was.

Since the time of our trade, I have chatted with Zach quite a bit.  He seems like a really good person, and is a lot of fun to chat with.  I was really glad that we met through the trade, and I know we will trade again.  I wanted to make sure he had a positive experience in our deal, so I sent him a few extra rookie cards to help his collection.  From what Zach says, he really enjoyed everything, and that's what makes it all worthwhile.

Surprise Package From Joey

One of the people I talk with the most from Instagram, and for good reason, is my friend, Joey.  It helps that he is a fellow North Carolinian, but we have been talking for quite some time now.  Joey is a Red Sox fan who also is building a couple vintage sets.  I've helped him along the way with his 1980 set, and we had a huge trade brewing for a nice vintage card.  That trade fell through due to a third party not coming through on their end, so Joey and I went back to the drawing board on our trade in order to still try to swing a deal.

He is one of the most knowledgeable kids in the Instagram trading community, and has backed me up since day one.  I really appreciated seeing a package from him in my mailbox the other day.  I was even happier when I opened it and found what he sent.  The above 2011 Topps Chrome Zach Britton RC auto is just an awesome card.  I had a couple people on Instagram message me with the same card, but I could never work out a deal.  Those guys wanted an arm and a leg for theirs, while Joey was kind enough to just include it in a surprise deal.  This is what sets him apart from some of the other folks on there.

But wait, there's more!  Joey included this awesome Manny Machado gold parallel RC that I didn't have in my collection.  The card is numbered 944/2013 and Joey was nice enough to send it along in a magnetic case.

Finally, among the cards he sent was this 2011 Topps 60 GU Jersey card of Adam Jones.  I also didn't have this one in my collection, but Joey took care of that.

I really appreciate all of the stuff, Joey, and keep an eye on your mailbox, because I just sent out my own package for you.  I guess it defeats the "surprise" part of it, but there are a few surprises in there. Thanks again for the awesome cards!

Some Markakis Pickups From the National

I STILL have a ton of stuff from the National that I haven't yet shown off, so I figured, why not keep showing it.  So, I got a lot of Orioles cards because the show was in Baltimore and they are playing well this year.  I probably paid a bit of a premium on them, but that's ok.

I got this Markakis 2003 Upper Deck rookie card out of a dollar box (I think).  I was surprised that I didn't yet own this card, so I was glad to add it to my collection cheaply

Tis 2007 Turkey Red black chrome refractor was really nice.  The vendor was the same one who wanted a bit too much for his cards, and I think he quoted $15 on this.  Yeesh.  I really don't think it is worth that much, but like I said a couple posts ago, the stack of cards I got was worth $40.

I got this 2011 Topps Chrome Sepia parallel from Ryan the night before we left for the show.  I didn't know they existed, so I was glad to add it.  He hooked me up with it in exchange for a bunch of A&G's that he needed for his sets.

I hope to get around to showing off the Cal Ripken cards that I picked up next.  We'll see.  I hope you guys are enjoying my posts.  I have noticed a declining trend as far as page views go.  I think it might be because school is back in session.  I might have to buy some more stuff to show off to get my views back up.  If there is anything you guys want me to discuss specifically, let me know; or if there are some old blog features you'd like for me to bring back, I'm listening.

Trade With Johnny

I recently completed a trade with Johnny from I Collect Stuff 2.  I sent him some Braves cards (Chris also sent him a Dale Murphy hologram).  He hooked Chris up with this really awesome 2007 Bowman Chrome Tim Lincecum.  I'm certain that we didn't have this already, so it was an awesome trade for Chris.

I also got an assortment of Orioles cards, one of which is the below Nick Markakis 2011 Topps Chrome.  I remember thinking when I pulled the Markakis base card out of 2011 Topps, that it would look awesome as a chrome.  I was right!

Thanks for the trade Johnny.  I'll keep a lookout for some more stuff for you!

Some Card Shop Packs

I hope you all like the new blog design, I thought it was a good time for a change since I have had the old design up for over 2 years (I think).  There is a lot less going on in the background, which keeps the focus on the actual posts themselves.  Also, the header picture was taken by me in Cooperstown, at Doubleday Field.  I thought it would tie in well with my pursuit of Hall of Fame signed baseballs.

I picked up some packs as we passed by the card shop the other day while out shopping.  I had gone to Staples to pick up some sheet protectors and a small binder.  I am going to keep all of my COAs and LOAs in one place, instead of filed away in various manila envelopes, folders and my 1920s Phillie Blunts cigar box (a remaining relic from my great-grandfather, jeez, I should post that sometime...)

Anyway, we bought several packs of Topps Lineage, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Platinum, Draft Picks and Prospect and Topps Chrome.  The above Jameson Taillon is one of the highlights of the Bowman Chrome.

I pulled this Jonathan Schoop (pronounced SCOPE, apparently) out of the Bowman Platinum.  He is fast becoming one of the Orioles' best prospects, behind Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado.  I hope he lives up to the billing, because the Orioles haven't produced a legit position player from their system since Nick Markakis (not a knock on my favorite, Nolan Reimold, at all. I'm hoping he busts out this year and stays in the majors.  No one is pulling harder for Nolan than I am).

This Topps Chrome Heritage insert came out of the Topps Chrome pack that I bought.  I really missed the boat on Heritage.  I only busted one box of it.  I would have done more, but money was tight at that time and now the boxes are pretty much gone.  Oh well.  I like this card of Thome, whose career is winding down.  He should be a lock for the Hall of Fame.  I think so, at least.  Who knows these days.  I do wish he would have signed my baseball for me in 2010 when I was mere feet away from him.  I might try him TTM once Spring Training gets closer.

I really like this Topps Lineage '75 mini of George Sisler.  I don't have near enough Browns cards or memorabilia.  I might need to add some to my wishlist for the coming year.  Sisler was a really good ballplayer.  He doesn't get much recognition these days, since there were some bigger names playing when he was active, but until broken by Ichiro, Sisler's single season hits record stood for 80 years.

Finally, I pulled this relic out of Topps American Pie.  Since my wife was with me, she and I both picked up a couple packs of American Pie.  She is a big movie buff, so I thought she would get a kick out of the cards.  They were ok.  Kind of like Upper Deck's 'Piece of History' from a few years ago.  I'm not sure if I'll get any more packs of them, though.  As for the Valderrama relic?  Well, I'm definitely not a fan of That 70s Show, I always found it to be dumb (just my opinion).  Also, I'm really glad it wasn't Ashton Kutcher.  Because, well, he is probably my least favorite actor.  Ever.  Valderrama, he's ok, I guess.  I can probably sell it at a card show, which works out for me, at least I'll get a couple bucks out of it; or I can trade it, if any of you are interested.  I'll add it to my for sale/trade page.

By the way, please do check out that page.  I plan on adding some stuff to it to make it easier for people to see what I have that is available at the right price and/or offer.