Wednesday, June 27, 2012

July Affordable Group Break - Sign Ups Open!

For July's Affordable Group Break I've chosen two boxes this time around - one of which I've been itching to feature.

1998 Upper Deck Retro (Hobby)
- 24 packs, 6 cards per pack
INSERTS:
- Big Boppers (#d to 500)
- Groovy Kind of Glove (1:7)
- New Frontier (#d to 1000)
- Quantum Leap (#d to 50)
- Sign of the Times (1:36)
- Time Capsule (1:2)

 2001 Fleer Futures (Hobby)
- 28 packs, 8 cards per pack
INSERTS:
- Bases Loaded (1:134)
- Bats to the Future (1:28)
- Bats to the Future Bats (1:114)
- Black Gold (#d to 499)
- Characteristics (1:9)
- Hot Commodities (1:14)
- September Call-Ups Memorabilia

After crunching the numbers it comes out to $10 per slot.  14 slots available.  Pick a team and have the 2nd team randomized.  The faster you pay the sooner I can place the order and get to ripping packs.  If for some reason we can't get 14 people to join in on the fun then I'll refund everyone's money.

To claim a slot(s) please:
  • 1) Leave a comment letting me know your team of choice (or teams if claiming multiple slots)
  • 2) PayPal your payment via gift to:  cardboardcollections at yahoo.com
  • 3) E-mail me (same address as payment) your screen name, full name, address and the team(s) claimed
01) Atlanta Braves (Cardboard Collections) (PAID)
02) New York Mets (BA Benny) (PAID)
03) New York Yankees (BA Benny) (PAID)
04) Baltimore Orioles (Kyle4KC) (PAID)
05) Cleveland Indians (Jason) (PAID)
06) Philadelphia Phillies (Dawgbones) (PAID)
07) Chicago White Sox (Stealing Home) (PAID)
08) Los Angeles Dodgers (Spiegel83) (PAID)
09) St. Louis Cardinals (madding) (PAID)
10) Seattle Mariners (FanofReds) (PAID)
11) Cincinnati Reds (FanofReds) (PAID)
12) Texas Rangers (Play at the Plate)
13) Toronto Blue Jays (d a V e) (PAID)
14) Milwaukee Brewers (cynicalbuddha) (PAID)
15) San Francisco Giants (Kyle4KC) (PAID)

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The best manu-patch?

I don't buy a lot of blasters.  There.  I said it.

When Series 2 of 2012 Topps was released and I saw the checklist on the side I was tempted.  I caved and bought one (which I already shared the contents of), but I resisted to buy more.  It was hard as I really wanted the John Smoltz card that appeared on the Historical Stitches checklist.

Patience isn't always something I'm known for.  I'm trying to improve upon that, but it's hard.  Why do I have to suffer from that "gotta have it now" mentality?  I'm glad though that I did wait as I ended up landing the card via eBay for around 4 bucks.

2012 Topps Historical Stitches

I was reminded when I pulled the Nolan Ryan Historical Stitches card out of my blaster and again today when this card arrived in the mail at just how beautiful these are.

I'm not a hater of manu-patch cards.  Some of them I rather like.  However I do see how some collector's don't care for these.  I have to say though the Historical Stitches cards are rather nice.  They are quickly becoming my favorite manu-patch card.  I'd love to collect the set, but I'm already chasing more things than I have the time and resources for.

So my question to you (you are still reading aren't you?) is what is your opinion of these Stitches cards?  What is your favorite manu-patch card?  Your least favorite?

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Sunday Verse

Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Jesus never said the walk would be easy and I'm reminded of that every single day.  Have a great Sunday everyone!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Before I'm "out for the weekend"...

...I wanted to share my recent acquisition courtesy of Yardsellr.com.  While the site has been hit and miss (mostly miss) I have found a few cards here and there worthy of purchase.  Last week while listing some stuff to sell there a Dan Uggla RC caught my eye.

2006 Topps '52 Dan Uggla auto
2006 Topps '52 Dan Uggla RC auto



At first I didn't even notice that the card was autographed...on card none the less!  I had some of those goofy Photon$ that Yardsellr as well as other sellers can give you so the card cost me about $5...including shipping!  Not too shabby.

I'm off to the big local HeroesCon for the rest of the week.  This means my posts here will slow down for a few days, but (I hope) posts will pick up over at my other blog, Random Toy Reviews.  So if you're into the whole superhero thing check it out as I plan to post pics from the show as well as my comic and toy haul(s).

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Birthday wishes from my little girl

Today marks the day that I'm officially old.  Well at least that is what my family is telling me.  Right before I walked out the door for work on my 35th birthday my little girl stopped me w/ a card in hand.  She was smiling ear to ear and couldn't wait for me to open the card.  She was so impatient she took the card out of the envelope and handed it to me.


I was a little bummed about having to work all day, but at least I walked out that door with a smile on my face.  Thanks Livi!

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sunday Verse - Father's Day Edition

Proverbs 23:24

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

It's been almost 15 years this month since I lost my father to cancer.  Every April 1st (his birthday) and the month of June I'm reminded how much I miss him.  I was born on Father's Day so my birthday is always right around that special day.  

Now that I have a family of my own I'm anxious to pass along all the great things my dad taught me to my little girls.  I hope everyone out there has a great Father's Day!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Blaster Break - 2012 Topps Series 2

Call me cheap, but it's not often that I buy blasters anymore.  I guess it's parting w/ a 20 spot that is hard to do.  I much rather grab a few loose packs or the occasional rack pack here and there.

I started to build the 2012 set so I might as well at least work on Series 2.  That said these blaster boxes from Target & Walmart have 2 packs of nothing but parallels.  As a set builder I hate these.  As a PC collector I like them.  I think I'd rather chase those parallels of the players I want rather than sacrifice 2 packs of cards.

Oh well.  I grabbed one blaster from Walmart to give it a try...hoping to pull the John Smoltz Historical Stitches patch card.


Pack 1:
#528 Bryan Petersen
#406 Juan Rivera
#437 Yoshinori Tateyama
#575 Garrett Richards
#ACA-19 Robinson Cano - A Cut Above
#MD-5 Dennis Eckersley - Mount Dominance
#598 Reid Brignac
#478 Rajai Davis

Pack 2:
#623 Clint Barmes
#612 Carlos Beltran
#464 Joe Savery
#480 J.J. Putz - Gold parallel
Golden Giveaway code
#643 Chris Young
#628 Sean Rodriguez
#501 Matt Capps

Pack 3:
#386 Ryan Zimmerman
#622 Daniel Hudson
#393 Manny Ramirez
#CD-22 Mickey Mantle - Career Day
#TM-62 Tim Lincecum - 1987 Mini
#608 Paul Goldschmidt
#605 Jason Bartlett
#430 Felix Hernanez

Pack 4:
#523 Jim Johnson
#582 Shin-Soo Choo
#362 Dayan Viciedo
#396 Yoenis Cespedes
#GM-39 Willie Mays - Golden Moments
#4801 J.J. Putz
#533 Ian Stewart
#444 Rafael Betancourt

Pack 5:
#564 Jose Valverde
#421 Heath Bell
#389 Alexi Casilla
#657 Dave Sappelt
#GS-35 Chipper Jones - Gold Standard
#429 Michael Bourn
#486 Jerry Sands
#521 Ruben Tejada

Pack 6:
#449 Shane Victorino
#369 Huston Street
#616 Tyler Pastornicky
#429 Michael Bourn - Gold parallel
#GF-37 Jordan Walden - Gold Futures
#565 Dan Uggla
#627 Justin Smoak
#462 Brett Lawrie

Pack 7:
#481 Matt Harrison
#650 Prince Fielder
#423 Colby Rasmus
#AGA-25 Troy Tulowitzki - A Cut Above
#TM-52 Miguel Cabrera - 1987 Mini
Topps Bunt card
#399 Brian McCann
#649 Brandon Crawford
#354 Jeremy Hellickson

Pack 8:
#355 Mark Buehrle
#442 Johnny Giavotella
#427 Rafael Dolis
#GM-30 Mark Teixeira - Golden Moments
Golden Giveaway card
#368 Carl Crawford
#503 Tyler Clippard
#609 Lorenzo Cain

Walmart Pack 1:
#636 Chris Heisey
#576 Jonathan Herrera
#554 Raul Ibanez
#341 Edwin Encarnacion - Gold parallel
Golden Giveaway code
#354 Jeremy Hellickson
#503 Tyler Clippard
#609 Lorenzo Cain

Walmart Pack 2:
#421 Heath Bell
#389 Alexi Casilla
#621 Scott Hairston
#ACA-10 Miguel Cabrera - A Cut Above
#TM-64 Jose Reyes - 1987 Mini
#368 Carl Crawford
#539 Andrew Bailey
#453 Garrett Jones

Patch Pack:
#HS-NR Nolan Ryan - Historical Stitches













Tuesday, June 12, 2012

More Tim Hudson cloth & ink

Not really new acquisition as much as newly scanned.  Still working on scanning all of the inserts, relics and autograph cards for the various players listed in the sidebar to the right.  It's work, but it should be nice once I'm done...
2008 Topps Moments & Milestones auto
2008 Topps Moments & Milestones
2012 Topps Tribute auto #44/99
2012 Topps Tribute #44/99
2012 Topps Archives Relic
2012 Topps Archives






Sunday, June 10, 2012

Sunday Verse

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

...another nugget of wisdom I need to remember and practice.  Have a great Sunday everyone!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Young Gun & Ink

The Braves young pitcher Randall Delgado had himself one of the best games in his early career on Wednesday.  The announcers said that one of the keys to the game was that Randall would need to "follow the leader", referencing Tim Hudson's complete game shut out the day before.  Randall didn't quite go the distance, but he did pitch a marvelous game.

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Randall Delgado auto
2012 Topps Gypsy Queen
Congrats kid.  I hope you continue to pitch that good for the rest of the season.  I can't live through another September collapse!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Joe Montana was a quarterback, you idiot!

So I might have added another player to my PC list of current players...currently the back up shortstop of the Atlanta Braves - Jack Wilson.

2005 Fleer Ultra Season Crowns auto #135/199
2005 Fleer Ultra Season Crowns #135/199
After watching him play for several months now and looking at a few of his cards such as the awesome auto above I kept thinking where I have I seen this guy before?  Then it hit me.  The Adam Sandler movie, Waterboy. 


Look at the Paco on the right.  Doesn't he favor Jack?!  Is that mean of me to make that comparison?

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

@brentandbecca

I'm sure most bloggers are familiar w/ Brent Williams aka @brentandbecca.  Just today I was reading an article on The Cardboard Connection about his thoughts on 2012 Topps Archives and it got me thinking.

How many of you have thought about doing what Brent does?  Obviously opening 15-40 cases of product to re-sell is a lot of work.  Would that much work sour what is a fun hobby for you?

One of the reasons I started hosting group breaks some time ago was to open a lot of packs.  There is just something about opening a pack of cards that is so much fun.  The mystery and intrigue may only last for a 30 seconds or whatever when you end up staring at a bunch of commons...but most of would agree we all like to rip packs regardless of the end result.

I know for myself I've thought about buying several boxes or a case of cards before to open and re-sell.  Heck, when I was in college I interviewed the owner of a local hobby store for my small business management course.  I've always thought about owning my own collectibles store.  I'm more than just trading cards.  Toys, video games, music, movies, comics...you name and I've probably collected it at one point or another. 

While I've had big dreams when it comes to making it a reality I get cold feet.  I'm not made of money.  In fact my wife and I struggle at times just to make ends meet.  There has been many of times I've walked into my "man cave" and looked for something to sell.  It's not that we live over our means, it just means we've fallen on hard times (employment issues, health insurance issues, medical bills, etc.).  Thankfully I was raised in a way where I can prioritize things and realize that these material things are second nature to the health and well being of my family.  Oops, sorry to get off topic there a little.  I think the only thing I've done to make some of my dreams a reality was to open an eBay store a few years back to sell a lot of extra G.I. Joe and Transformers toys and parts.  I experimented w/ trading cards in the store, but I didn't have an outlet to advertise if you will what I had.

I've never been willing to take that financial risk to do what he does.  Perhaps if I had more to "risk" I'd give it a try.

Speaking of family that is another part of Brent's story that I find compelling.  Not only is he married, but he is also a father.  Somehow he manages (or at least seems to) opening all of those cases/boxes/packs and his family.  I'm impressed.  Let's face it.  Baseball cards can be lots of work.  Think about all of the collating, scanning, listing items on eBay or wherever and the process of mailing everything you sell.  One of the reasons I'm taking June off from my group break hosting duties is to take breather from all of this.  It's fun, but in large volumes I can only imagine at how much work he does.  Sounds like again his family is behind him and helps him w/ these various processes.

We all collect for different reasons.  Not all of us get the same satisfaction from the same thing when it comes to the hobby of trading cards.  If money wasn't an issue nor was the time it takes to do what Brent does...would you be a master case breaker and re-seller?

Given the chance I've love to take a stab at it.  Perhaps one day (when things improve for me & my family) I'd be willing to go out on a limb and try...in a smaller capacity of course!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

2012 Topps Chrome boxes ordered - still 3 slots left!

Thank you to everyone that has signed up for my x3 2012 Topps Chrome group break coming up in August.  Everyone paid super quick giving me the money needed (along w/ a little of my own cash) to place the order this past Friday.  What that means is we got in before the prices will inevitably creep higher.  All is not lost yet.  There are still 3 slots left so if you are interested don't delay, sign up today.  Remember each 2 team slot only costs $17!  Look for the link to the original post in the upper right corner.

Sunday Verse

Romans 15:5-6

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a great day everyone!