Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Rays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tampa Bay Rays. Show all posts

Sunday, August 6, 2017

TTM Success - Aubrey Huff

I was really excited to get this TTM success back from former Oriole, Aubrey Huff.  Mainly because I knew he would be a tough sign, but also because I had a shot to get this 2005 UD Reflections back.  I sent two other cards, but Huff only signed one.  I was on the fence about wanting one of his Orioles cards back, but in the end, I am happy with this one.

Huff (b. 1976) played in the majors from 2000 to 2012 for the Devil Rays, Astros, Orioles, Tigers and Giants.  He had 1,699 hits, 242 home runs and a .278 batting average.  His best finish in the MVP voting was 7th in 2010 while he was with the Giants.  He was a Silver Slugger Award winner for the Orioles in 2008.  He won the World Series with the Giants in 2010 and 2012.

I mailed to Huff on February 13 and got the card back on July 22, for a 159-day TAT.

Monday, April 17, 2017

TTM Success - Bobby Seay

I found a really cool card while I was going through some boxes in the back on my LCS recently, which helped with this TTM success from Bobby Seay.  I had found the below card at the card show in February and after checking online, saw that he signed TTM.  I needed one more card so I would have a round number for $1.00 and picked it up.  Then, I found the above 1999 Topps Gold Label and decided to go ahead and send them on their way.
This is a 2001 Bowman Heritage, which looks really cool signed.  I wasn't collecting when these came out, but they are nice cards, even though the set they are based off of are pretty plain.  I'm talking about 1948 Bowman of course.

Seay (b. 1978) played in the majors in 2001 and 2003 to 2009 for the Devil Rays, Rockies and Tigers.  He had a record of 11-6 with s 4.16 ERA and 190 strike outs.

I mailed to Seay on March 20 and got the cards back on March 30, for a 10-day TAT.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Dilan Comes Through Again

I meant to post this yesterday, but I was out of the house from 6:15 AM to 1:15 AM, and when I got home, all I wanted to do was go to bed.  Also, these cards kind of got shifted around on my desk, so they ended up not being posted when I got them, so this is long overdue.

My friend, Dilan, has helped me out by doing some 50/50s at Durham Bulls games this past season.  I sent him a bunch of Bulls cards, and he got me a few signed back in June, but I told him to hold the rest until the end of the season.  You know, just in case he was able to get more.

So, he was able to get some more signed, and the top two are of a guy I have followed a little bit.  Richie Shaffer went to high school in Charlotte with my good friend, Corbin.  I have followed his career since he was drafted and am happy to see that he has made it to the majors.  I was also glad to be able to add a couple 2016 Topps and Bowman to my album.
Finally, Dilan hooked me up with this 2014 Topps Danny Farquhar.  Here is another guy who has been in the majors, but was at Durham at the time.

Dilam also sent me back the extra cards that he wasn't able to get signed.  I'm hoping I can get him some more stuff for next season, when rosters are announced.

Thanks, Dilan!

Friday, October 2, 2015

Instagram Trade With Trevor - 2011 Orioles-Rays Lineup Card

I completed a trade a while back with my buddy, Trevor where I sent him a few Reds autos and some Reds singles for this lineup card from the Rays-Orioles game from September 3, 2011.  The Orioles lost the game 6-3 due to poor starting pitching from Alfredo Simon.  Nick Markakis hit a 2-run homer that accounted for most of the scoring.

I think it is really cool that Trevor picked up the lineup card.  Even though it is from a game that the O's lost, it still is nice.  I almost forgot the Vlad Guerrero played for the Orioles.  Also, it is kind of weird to see JJ Hardy batting leadoff.  The bench and bullpen were also pretty barren.  I thought about it for a minute then realized that Chris Davis is missing from this lineup card.  He was traded to the Orioles at the trading deadline.  A simple search  brought up the Orioles transactions and I found that Davis was put on the DL with a right shoulder strain on August 16 of that year.  He would come off three days after this game (September 6).  The Orioles ended 2011 strong and caused the Red Sox to miss the playoffs.  The O's would go to the playoffs in two of the next four seasons.

Thanks for the deal, Trevor.  I love the lineup card!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Christmas Package From James

My "to be blogged" pile is pretty huge at the moment.  So much so, it is mid-January, and I still haven't shown off all of my Christmas gifts yet.  I'm getting there, but I don't want to dump them all into one post; I want to try to give each person/package their own post and truly do the gifts justice. It is never the quantity or "value" of the gifts you receive that is important, but the thought itself that should hold meaning.

That being said, the best part of this gift might not have been the awesome cards that I scanned, but the letter that was included along with them.  You see, my good friend, James, and I have been trading for a year now.  He was the second person I made a successful deal with on Instagram, and we have been good friends ever since.  Of all of the people on Instagram that I consider friends, James writes me the best notes and includes them in each package.  Sometimes, the notes are my favorite part of the deal.

Anyway, along with another great letter, James also included some really cool cards that I wasn't expecting.  The above Delmon Young card is a fine example.  Young forever endeared himself to O's fans on October 3 when he hit the three-run double to put the O's ahead of the Tigers in ALDS Game 2.  The fact that I was there makes it all that much more special.  So, James giving me this card and adding the facts about Young, I will slab this card in a mag and will never let it go from my collection.
Another card James sent was this on-card auto of Herm Starrette from 2014 Heritage.  It was really funny that he sent me this card, because I think it was offered to me by three different guys in trades, and I never took the bait.  I wanted the card, I just never felt like I had enough to offer for it.  Thankfully, my patience (and James's generosity) paid off, and I now own the card.

Thanks so much for the Christmas package, James.  I was really happy to open it, and I'm sorry it took me so long to post it.  I hope the post has done the gift justice, because I appreciate everything you do!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

My Thoughts on 2013 Panini Team USA

I went to the card shop recently and noticed some new stuff on the shelves in the form of 2013 Panini Team USA.  I bought something like 6 packs of them figuring that one of my good friends who loves Team USA would like them, even if I didn't.  Well, I was very pleased with Panini's offering this year (which seems to have become the norm).

They put in a good mix of past Team USA players in with some of today's prospects.  The above card of Richie Shaffer is significant because my good friend Corbin went to high school with Shaffer.  He is from Charlotte, NC and played at Clemson.  He was a first round pick (25th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 and is playing for the High A Port Charlotte Stone Crabs.

I definitely will be picking up some more Team USA packs.  I might go for the set at some point, we'll see.  I might trade some of the cards I pulled.  There was a Barry Larkin in there that might be sent away.  Some other veterans as well.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

I Believe in The Church of Baseball - My Trip To Durham Part 3

We were able to get some autographs after the game, which was a nice part of the day. I am usually pretty good about getting autos before the game, but I epic failed on that end. Oh well. Chris was able to con George Hendrick out of an official 'practice' ball haha, only after Chris told Hendrick that he would pull for the Rays over the Orioles... Something tells me that won't be the case once the season starts on Tuesday...
Here's the big auto we were able to get, Don Zimmer!! Pretty damn cool. I have added a bunch of older players' autos over the past few months.
Here is Chris posing with Zimmer. I thought for a split second that Zimmer had visions of Pedro Martinez in his head and that Chris would end up in a head lock...

Chris got Matt Gorgen's auto as well. Seems like a really nice guy. I think he is a reliever for the Rays. I need to check the roster...
We also got Ben Zobrist's autograph by the team bus. I am going to have to send that one to a friend of mine whom I owe for my Eddie Guerrero autograph he got me a few years ago...


Candlesticks Are Always a Nice Gift - My Trip to Durham Part 2

Everyone liking the Bull Durham lines? If you have not seen the movie, I highly recommend you rent it. Especially for the scene where they all congregate on the mound and discuss wedding presents... classic stuff.

Still doesn't beat Cerrano sacrificing a bucket of KFC Chicken in Major League, though... What is everyone's favorite baseball movie? Mine has to be either Major League, Bull Durham or For The Love of The Game... Here is Chris shaing hands with The Blue Monster. Pretty cool. I thought he may be a little afraid of the mascot, but he did fine. It does look like Chris has a death grip on that railing though.
Bulls players attend to a fallen comrade. The outfielder dove for the ball and crashed into the wall. He made the catch, though. I missed the actual dive, I was looking through m backpack for something... I forget what.

Here is Chris with his lunch... er... I mean his cotton candy. He is such a sneak, I told him no, he couldn't have any, so he goes with his puppy dog look to Max's girlfriend and she fell into his trap...
I will post one more entry concerning my trip later. We were able to get some SWEEET autos after the game. Leave me some comments and let me know what you think...


Thursday, March 25, 2010

Random Thoughts

- I bought tickets to the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Durham Bulls game for April 3. Hit the bull win a steak... I'm really excited about this. I'm going to try really hard to get a Longoria auto while I'm there.

- There is a 170-table card show in Raleigh that morning. I'm really excited about that too. I have saved up some money, so I should be able to get something good. We'll see. Not too sure what I will get... I'd love it if someone had the Brooks patches I'm looking for.

- I am still looking for people to claim some teams from my 2 big boxes. Only a couple teams have been claimed. Someone help me out by taking some of this stuff off my hands (did I mention it was FREE???).

- Brian Matusz has been a BEAST so far this spring. I am really hoping he has a good year. The Orioles beat the Skankees today 8-0, yeah I know it is only spring training, but Brad Bergesen looked great (he had been injured for a good bit of the spring). The Yankees had pretty much their whole opening day lineup out there today, so don't tell me the game didnt mean anything.

- Brian Roberts will play in his first game of the spring tomorrow. Whew. I was starting to worry. I am really hoping he hits 50 doubles again, but with the herniated disc in his neck... I'm a little anxious.

Hope everyone is doing well. Send me some comments, and some messages.