August 19, 2023, Graphing of Revolution at Rockers

Yesterday, Chris and I met up with my friend, Tyler, and the three of us graphed York Revolution at High Point Rockers.  I had wanted to get back to High Point since my two cards of Daikan Yoh (aka Dai-Kang Yang) came in.  The above 2013 Topps Tribute WBC card turned out amazingly.  It should have; I spent a good bit on the card.

I had also picked up this awesome Japanese card of Yoh.  This also looks awesome.

I had a bunch of cards pulled for High Point, so I graphed them by the dugout pregame.  I got most of the guys I needed, so we graphed by our seats at the York dugout post game.  I only needed a few York guys, so I finished off who I could outsode post game, then went over to the High Point side and finished off everyone I could over there.  I finally was able to get Cam Bedrosian when he was one of the last guys out of the clubhouse.  I was really happy to get the above 2014 Topps Update red foil card signed.

I picked uo a team set for High Point before the end of the game, and was able to get a few guys on that.  I also got a 2011 Bowman Chrome Taylor Guerreiri and some 2018/2019 Shed Long cards out of the boxes.

I didn't sweat too hard over trying to get the team set guys done. I just got who I saw.  I probably will try to finish some of those guys off if they come back next season.  The set was cheap enough; I'm just happy with what I got. 

Between Chris, Tyler and I, all of the Frank Viola cards I had pulled over the course of the last two seasons have been signed.  I'll have to do a deep dive through some of my boxes if I want to find more cards of him.

These two might be my favorite Viola cards that I added to the album.

There weren't a whole lot of York guys with cards, but I was still able to get a few things done. I did miss Richard Urena, so that was disappointing. 

Tyler gave me a 2020 Bowman Drew Mendoza, since I couldn't find any in my Bowman box.  I also had the above Nellie Rodriguez sitting on my desk for quite a long time.  It is now resting in the album, finally out of the way.

In all, I got the following autographs: Cam Bedrosian x 4, Ryan Dull x 2, Albert Gonzalez x 1, Taylor Guerreri x 2, Shed Long Jr × 7, Frank Viola x 21, Dai Kang Yang x 2, Joe Johnson x 1, Trent Giambrone x 2, Drew Mendoza x 1 and Nellie Rodriguez x 2 (45 total autographs). 

Another Couple of Signings From Max

My friend, Max, has been really active lately in player signings through a card shop near where he lives.  He has helped me get some really cool cards into my autograph album, but he also has helped even more by helping to clear room in my boxes.  He recently asked me to send him what I could find of Carlos Zambrano and Joe Crede for some recent signings.  I hooked him up with everything I could find, and once the signings were done, he cut me a deal on bringing a few back for my album.

The above 2013 Topps Tribute WBC has to be my favorite cards out of the bunch.  I found it after I sent him the initial package, so I had to drop it in a PWE to make sure it got to Max in time.

I added a couple Topps cards to the album, a 2012 (left) and a 2011 (right).  I always enjoy adding different Topps cards to the album.

2007 Goudey mini that I was able to find in my boxes.  The box these are in is usually at the bottom of my stack of boxes, so it can be arduous sometimes to get into it.  I was glad to be able to get several cards out of the box and off to Max.  One of these days, I'm just going to organize everything by year, regardless of card company, and then should be able to get into these a bit more often.

I have a small assortment of 2013 Topps minis left from a box that I took with me and busted at Andrew's house years ago.  I am always happy to get one of the remaining few left signed.  I have also been told by my brother that he doesn't like it when I post about a player, but don't include stats, so I will include Zambrano's, since I'm pretty sure I haven't yet.  I usually don't include the player bio/stats if I'm posting about trades and all, or if I have already done so through a previous post or TTM success.

Zambrano (b. 1981) played in the majors from 2001 to 2012 for the Cubs and Marlins.  He had a career record of 132-91 with 1,637 strike outs and a 3.66 ERA.  He was a 3-time All Star (2004, 2006, 2008) and a 3-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2006, 2008, 2009).  His best Cy Young Award finish was 5th, which he did 3 times, as well (2004, 2006, 2007).

Max also took all the cards I could find of Joe Crede for a separate signing.  I especially liked the above 1999 Upper Deck SP Minors card, simply because it features Crede in a Winston-Salem Warthogs uniform.  The Warthogs were the previous iteration of Winston-Salem's High A team, following the Spirits and prior to the Dash.

I also got a 2000 Bowman, 2007 Topps, 2007 Bowman Chrome and 2007 Bowman signed by Crede from Max.

Crede (b. 1978) played in the majors from 2000 to 2009 for the White Sox and Twins.  He had 787 hits, 140 home runs and a .254 batting average.  He was an All Star in 2008, was a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2006 and won the World Series with the White Sox in 2005.

As always, thanks for the deals, and for helping me move some cards, Max!  I look forward to your next challenge in finding cards for signings.

Holiday Gift From Scott

I got a really nice holiday package from my good friend, Scott not too long ago.  I feel bad that it has taken me this long to blog about it.  I have a ton of Christmas stuff piled up to talk about, so I should be good on blog posts for the time being.

Scott got me a few really nice cards as my gift.  The above Jonathan Schoop looks really great in person.  It is numbered 17/35 and is from 2013 Topps Tribute.  This is a really nice card, and I didn't have it in my collection yet.

Scott added this 2015 First Home Run coin card of Brooks Robinson that he has been sitting on for a little while.  He had originally wanted to trade it, but we never were able to match up.  I needed this for my Brooks PC, so I'm happy he ultimately added it.

Finally, Scott threw this Alfredo Marte 2013 Chrome Blue Refractor auto in as a kind of joke, since Marte was invited to Orioles spring training.  This is a really nice card.  I used to have one of these.  I have a sneaking suspicion that this used to be the one I had, but I haven't confirmed it with Scott.

Thanks for the awesome holiday package, Scott!  I loved everything that was in it!

Instagram Pickup - 2013 Topps Tribute Jimmie Foxx Relic

I got a deal on Instagram when I guy named Grant posted this 2013 Topps Tribute Jimmie Foxx bat relic card for sale a few days ago.  I saw it, and that it was numbered to 10, so I immediately told the guy that I was interested, but I needed to wait a couple days because I had bought a few other cards over that weekend.  He was nice enough to hold it for me, and notified me at the time I asked him to, and the card became mine!

Having it in hand is a lot better than looking at it on a tiny phone screen.  The card is flawless and came shipped inside a screwdown case.  I don't normally care for screwdowns, but in this case, it will keep the card in the same condition and will be harder for me to take it out and hold it.  I'm really bad about that.

I don't have a lot of Foxx relics, so adding this one was nice.  Each one I have is an amazing card, and my Foxx PC is pretty decent.  My dream is still to own a Foxx auto (on a ball).  Maybe I should start a crowdfunding campaign to get one, haha!

A Surprise Package From Kyle

I've been trading on Instagram for quite a while now and I always go back to the first successful transaction I completed on there as a template for how I believe things should be conducted.  I bought a card off of Kyle, who has become a very good friend of mine, in an amazingly quick and easy deal.  Since then, I talk to Kyle on a regular basis and he is very much one of my favorite people I have dealt with on Instagram.

I got a surprise bubble mailer from Kyle yesterday that contained the above Adam Jones 2013 Topps Tribute auto.  The card is beautiful.  I was so surprised that Kyle sent it to me and am appreciative beyond words.

Not only did Kyle send the Jones, but he also sent me a Hunter Harvey autograph that he got in person at a Delmarva Shorebirds game with his best friend, Jordan.  I had initially bought one of the IP autos Jordan got, but Kyle sent this one as well.

Kyle is a great guy. who also posts on Youtube as MrPhilliesphan04.  If you are active on Youtube, you definitely should subscribe to him.  He's a big Phillies and Roy Halladay fan.

Thanks so much for the package, Kyle, I really appreciate it!

Instagram Pickup - 2013 Topps Tribute Jimmie Foxx

I got a nice piece for my Jimmie Foxx PC the other day when I got this 2013 Topps Tribute relic card from a guy named Austin off of Instagram.  Austin has quite a few good items, so I was glad to see that the Foxx was available for sale or trade and at a reasonable price.

It got here really fast.  All I need now is to get a nice magnetic case for it instead of the top loader it's in right now.

These Triple Threads cards are really nice.  This one is numbered 16/18; the emerald version of the card.

Thanks for the deal, Austin!

My Christmas Present From Scott - 2013 Topps Tribute Manny Machado Relic

Only a few tables into the card show (and before I got my ball, Foxx pin or Virgil Trucks card), Scott and I saw the above 2013 Topps Tribute Manny Machado relic.  The vendor quoted a very reasonable price on it and I told Scott that I liked the card.  He asked me if I liked it enough to be my Christmas present from him and I said, sure.

That escalated quickly!  We walked away from maybe the third of fourth table at the show with my Christmas present already.  This was our sign that this was going to be a very productive card show.  I'm seeing it now that we really made out like bandits because I had to decide what I wanted to write about tonight and thought to myself a couple times "Oh I forgot that I got that card!" or "Oh man, I got a deal on these..."

This Manny Machado relic is a sweet card.  It looks like it is from a Futures Game jersey.  I know it isn't from the All Star Game jersey from this year, that'd be too soon.  The blue on those jerseys was darker than this as well.  The card is numbered 92/99.

Thanks for the Christmas present, Scott!  I really appreciate it!