Care Package From Adam B.

A while back, I got a care package in from a guy I talk to on a regular basis, but haven't traded with in a while.  Adam is a guy I have traded with a couple times, but we chat more than anything.  When my cat, Jericho, passed away in August, Adam sent me this care package, along with a really nice note.  I was really happy to get the cards from him, but more than anything, the fact that he had thought of me was what really meant the most.

Adam hooked me up with a Cal Ripken card that I didn't have in my collection, this 2014 Topps Hi Tex numbered 56/99.  I liked these cards, but I wasn't going to pay the premium price that Topps was asking to bust a box of them.  Still, they look really cool, and the autos are very nice.

Adam also sent me this 2010 Allen & Ginter Adam Jones bat relic.  I always like these framed minis. It was really cool of Adam to send me these cards, and his thoughtfulness won't be forgotten.

Thanks so much, Adam!  This care package really meant a lot to me.

Trade With Noah - 2014 Topps Hi Tek Sonny Gray Auto

I completed a trade with my friend, Noah, a while back when I sent him a bunch of Tigers stuff in exchange for this Sonny Gray auto from 2014 Topps Hi Tek.  This is the third auto that I have gotten from that set, along with my Cespedes and Taveras.

The autographs on these acetate cards really look awesome.  They leek even better when slabbed in a magnetic case.  The green and yellow of Gray's jersey really stand out as well!  I just love these cards.

Thanks for the deal, Noah, I'm glad we were able to hammer it out!

Mailday From Bruce - Continuing To Rake In Awesome Autos and Relics

In what has been an increasing trend around here, I completed another huge deal that landed me quite a few nice cards.  I honestly don't remember what I sent Bruce, but I know a couple of the cards I sent him were a Gypsy Queen auto of Neil Walker and a Topps Chrome auto of Andrew Lambo.  This Dave Parker auto from 2014 Topps Five Star was the key to our deal.

This card is amazing (and really darn thick!).  I feel like I got a steal from Bruce, to be honest.  I like Parker and think he really should be in the Hall of Fame, especially since Jim Rice is in now.

Bruce had this 2014 Panini Immaculate Chris Davis relic posted on his Instagram for quite a while and had told several people that if it ever was for sale or trade, it would only be to me.  Well, I finally was able to pick it up.  The card is numbered 85/99.  I think that Panini did a fantastic job in 2014 with their products.  I know a lot of people don't like that they don't have logos on their stuff, but I, myself, don't feel like it takes too much away from the product.  My only issue is that a lot of their stuff, if it is a two-team market like New York or Chicago, they don't make it very clear which team the player plays on.

Bruce also included some items as throw ins that I could use as trade bait.  One such card was this 2011 Topps Marquee Hanley Ramirez jumbo relic.  There is a little damage on the back of the card, but I have a feeling that the Hanley fans that I know wont have an issue with it.  We'll see.

Uggh, Dustin Pedroia on my blog, where's the Lysol?  Bruce included several Spring Fever cards in the package.  Since the owner of my LCS gave me a complete set of these yesterday, I can trade the loose ones that I have.  I know some Red Sox fans who could be interested in this one as well.

There were a bunch of rookie and draft pick cards in the package as well.  Some of them I might be willing to trade, while others would probably be placed into my RC box and put up for a while.  I always enjoy going through the RC box and seeing who's cards I have that I didn't realize would be stars at the time (this helped me find 3 Mike Trout RCs that I forgot about - even though I still think he is overrated... :p).

Finally, I close with this 2014 Topps Hi Tek Sonny Gray.  Again, I really enjoy Hi Tek.  There is something about acetate cards that really appeals to me.  I have his auto coming in from this product, it should be here any day.  This will help with my fledgling Gray PC, which has grown quite a bit over the last few weeks.

The cool thing about all of these trades (with the exception of my deal with Michael) is that I have landed all of these awesome cards, yet I haven't spent a whole lot of money.  Now that my wife is back to work after her surgery, money isn't as tight, but during that time, I had been relatively quiet on Ebay.  Now that things are settling down, I can pick up a few more set needs on the 'Bay and continue to work out trades for other PC stuff.  The period of the last few months has been a lot of fun, the wheeling and dealing aspect of it.  I plan on working hard to keep up with my trade bait, and even trading for more.  I learned that I don't always have to trade for PC stuff.  Sometimes, trading for trade bait is even more fun.

Thanks for the deal, Bruce!  I really appreciate it, and you know I love the cards!

Instagram Trade With Cameron - 2014 Topps Hi Tek Oscar Taveras Auto

I completed another trade on Instagram with Cameron last week when I sent him a 2014 Bowman Sterling refractor and auto of Andrew Heaney (two cards).  In return, Cameron sent me this 2014 Topps Hi Tek Oscar Taveras auto.

I initially had a hard time settling on something in Cameron's collection that I wanted for the two Heaneys, but when he said that he would give the Taveras up, I jumped on it.  I had wanted a Taveras auto well before he died, and I fully intend on keeping it, since I don't believe in cashing in one one's demise.  I also really enjoy the Topps Hi Tek autos, so adding this was a no brainer.

Cameron also included a bunch of nice cards in the package he sent like a 2014 Topps Chrome RC of Taveras, a couple chrome Altuves and a chrome Jon Singleton RC.  I really enjoyed all of the extras he threw in as well.

Thanks for the deal, Cameron!

Awesome Autographs From Michael

I completed a trade with Michael the other day when I sent him a bunch of relics, autos and inserts from 2015 Topps in exchange for this 2014 Topps Supreme Sonny Gray auto and the below Yoenis Cespedes from 2014 Topps Hi Tek.

I guess I am going to be PCing Sonny Gray on a limited basis.  Mainly relics and autos for now, I think.  I do know the Topps Supreme card looks pretty awesome.  I might have to add some Orioles from that set, if some good ones are available.

I loved this Cespedes when Michael showed it to me.  The card is numbered 19/50.  It took me a while to figure out how to scan it outside of my normal way to scan.  If I do it my normal way, I have to put something behind it or the computer breaks the image up.  If I manually scan it, then it scans right, like shown above.  Anyway, I figured it out, and it scanned well.  I think the cards are so cool.  I need to get some Orioles of these as well.

Thanks so much for the deal, Michael!