Low End Freeman

When you have multiple hobbies as I do you have to be frugal at some point. Thankfully it's a little easier to be frugal with trading cards, especially if your patient and sometimes a little lucky. I can't say I won this lot of cards recently because I haven't bought much outside of some 2017 Topps, but none the less I scored this two card lot of Freddie Freeman relics for about $4 shipped. Needless to say I was very happy as Freeman is currently one of my favorite players to collect and watch play.

2016 Topps Tribute Diamond Cuts Relic #DC-FF (175/199)

I usually stay away from the higher end products for several reasons, so this relic from Topps Tribute is my first exposure to the brand. Decent cardstock, rainbow sheen to the card front a large piece of red jersey...I love it.

2015 Topps Gypsy Queen Relic #GQR-FF

I've been building the annual Gypsy Queen set since it first launched several years ago. I've had modest success at pulling relics from retail packs and blasters, but this Freeman relic has evaded my grasp until now. Nothing fancy, but some times that's OK.

A Dodger...on this blog?

The summer months should be about having fun, watching baseball and having time to enjoy my hobbies...but that isn't the case for me...at least that last part. Work has kept me so busy these last few months that it's been hard to escape from reality for a bit to enjoy any of my hobbies, let alone baseball cards. While I have been working in the background on a few sets and such, I haven't picked up many singles lately. One card I scored for a pretty good price (in my opinion) was this blue parallel of the Dodgers' Alex Wood from 2016 Topps Tribute.

This Charlotte kid misses the other Charlotte kid. I cringed when I heard the trade announcement that was shipping Alex out to the west coast. However now that Olivera has been traded and the Braves essentially have Matt Kemp in left field it lessens the pain...a little.

I have a few autos of Alex as a rookie and even though he has a simple autograph, he's one of those players that I will still buy cards of even though he's not an Atlanta Brave any longer. I liked the clean design of Tribute this year and finding the blue parallel of a Dodgers player just seemed to make sense for to pick up.

It's hard to keep up with a team on the other side of the country, but I know Alex has struggled some since being traded. I don't recall watching him pitch since he left, but I do hope he continues to show what he is capable of in the near future...even if it is with the Dodgers!