Christmas Gift From Cameron

I got an amazing Christmas package in the mail recently from my good buddy, Cameron.  He really blew me away with what he sent.  He is such a good guy, and didn't have to get me what he got, but it was very appreciated.

The above Matt Wieters three color patch from Panini Donruss is such an amazing card.  Wieters doesn't have much as far as relics and stuff, so this one is a nice addition to my collection.  It really was a surprise.

Cameron included this blue 2014 Bowman Chrome auto of Oscar Taveras as a throwback to our first deal.  We met during a trade for a Topps Hi Tek Taveras auto.  Since then, we have been really good friends.  This is a nice Taveras and it is numbered 9/150.

He included a nice auto of Hunter Harvey from 2014 Bowman Sterling.  I really like this card and I'm glad Cameron included it.  It looks really awesome.

I got this 2015 Topps Chrome Christian Walker from Cameron as well.  I have a couple of these, but am happy to add another one.

Cameron also included a few refractors like this Machado blue.  This card is numbered 18/250.  I don't think I had one of these yet, so I was glad to get this one.

Also, here is a purple refractor of Chris Tillman.  This is numbered 89/150.  I didn't have this one either.

Thank you so much for the Christmas package, Cameron.  The cards were amazing and I love them!

Trade With Michael - Relics and Autos

I worked out a deal with my friend, Michael, pretty quickly the other day and landed a few nice cards for my collection.  This triple relic Chris Tillman card is really cool.  It is numbered 36/99 and came out of 2010 Bowman.  Tillman has been rough this year, but that has kind of been the O's season.  Good at points, really rough at others.  Uggh.  Oh well.  At this point, I've accepted that Tillman is probably a #3 or #4 starter, but we have him as a #1, and that isn't going to cut it.  I wish he would turn it around and be the dominant pitcher I know he can be, but something just isn't right with him this year.

I picked this 2014 Panini Hall of Fame signed Bruce Sutter up from Michael in a mystery envelope for $5 that he was running.  I got the card to round out my purchase, and I was pretty ok with what I pulled.  It is a nice-looking card and is numbered 8/50, so that's not bad.

Finally, Michael threw in this nice 2004 UD Legendary Cuts relic card of Juan Marichal.  Michael knows how I like wool jersey cards, so it was cool that he remembered and added it to the package.

Thanks for the deal, Michael.

I'll probably be holding off on any more deals (aside from the cards I have coming in this week) until after the National at the end of the month.  I am selling at the Raleigh Card Show from July 24 to 26 to raise some more funds, then it is off to the National.  I have a few things I intend to pick up, so I need to save as much as I can.

Care Package From Freesecollector614

I got a really nice care package in the mail last week from a guy on Instagram that I have never traded with, but he has interacted on my posts for a long time.  He put a nice note in the package that said that he appreciated everything that I have done in the card community and wanted this Chris Tillman card to fit into my collection.

Boy, does it ever?  It is a 2014 Topps Mini black parallel numbered 5/5.  I didn't have any of these, yet and with it being a /5 parallel, I imagine it would have been really touch to find, had I been searching for it.

I really appreciated him thinking of me, and also the nice note.  I don't do what I do for any kind of attention, but it is kind of nice to be recognized from time to time.

Mailday From Ben

A while ago, I got a care package in the mail from my buddy, Ben.  In the package was a bunch of Orioles cards, many of which I needed in my collection.  The above 2012 Panini Cooperstown Induction Year card of Brooks Robinson is really nice, as it is made of a thin piece of wood.

I have the Walter Johnson version of this card, but definitely was pleased to have the Brooks added to my PC.  I knew it existed, but I hadn't gotten one until now.

Another nice card that Ben included was this 2014 Topps Chris Tillman pink parallel numbered 30/50.  I didn't have this one, either, and I don't have a whole lot of Tillman stuff.

I had sent Ben several Orioles rally towels from Fan Fest for him and his family, and apparently, they were a hit.  Ben is a really nice guy, and I'm glad we have connected over cards.  Thanks for the package, Ben!

Lots of Mail From Ryan Part One - Some Orioles IP Autos

Ryan from "O No Another Oriole Blog" is a heck of a guy.  He just purchased a new house (Congrats man!) and is purging some Orioles stuff and was kind enough to send some my way.  There was so much stuff that I had to break it up into multiple blog posts, so here we go.

This first post concerns some of the in person autos he sent my way.  The first of which is the below Oliver Drake signed baseball.  I believe I traded this ball to Ryan at Fan Fest this January for a Joe Mahoney signed ball.  I kind of regretted trading the ball away, but at the time my buddy Ryan needed it, so I wanted to make sure he was happy, first.  Little did I know that the ball would be back in my collection a few months later.

Drake is a mid-level prospect for the O's at the moment, but I'm hoping he can turn it up and get on their radar.  With Matusz's struggles, Tsuyoshi Wada's elbow issues, etc, The Orioles need more pitching depth in the minors.  If Drake can have a solid year at AA Bowie, he might work his way onto the 2013 roster.  Only time will tell.

Here is a signed 2010 Topps RC of Jake Arrieta.  Jake is off to a decent start to 2012, after having bone chips removed from his elbow.  Apparently he is pitching pain free for the first time since he played in college.  I expect a good year from Jake, if he can keep his ERA down.  I wouldn't be surprised if he wins 15 games this year.  We'll see!

Brad Bergesen is struggling at AAA Norfolk.  He can be a pretty effective pitcher if he can get his sinker going.  I definitely like Bergy and hope he turns it around and makes it back to the big club this year.

Of all the young pitchers that the Orioles have stockpiled thae second most disappointing (aside from Matusz) has to be Chris Tillman.  He is still 24, so there is time for him to get it together, but he really needs to get on the fast track.  Tillman has the stuff, but not the command.  He also might not have the mental makeup as of yet to be a major contributor to the rotation.  Here's to hoping he becomes what all the scouts and front office types saw in him.

Finally, the last IP auto Ryan sent was this Mike Bordick signed 2000 Upper Deck.  Bordick might be one of the most underrated shortstops ever.  Bordick, until this season, was the only major leaguer to hail from the State of Maine (from what I heard on a MASN broadcast).  He was a solid defensive shortstop who was brought into Baltimore to replace an aging Cal Ripken at shortstop when the Iron Man was moved to third base.  I met Bordick in Norfolk in 2010 and he was really nice.  He now does commentary on select Orioles' broadcasts on MASN.

Thanks so much for all of the awesome stuff, Ryan.  I don't think I will ever be able to repay you, but I'll definitely try.