TwinsJake / Topps Project 2020

A good majority of the card collecting community may be familiar with the handle TwinsJake. Many of you may have purchased a Topps Now card from him when he had a presence on eBay. Some of you may have purchased Topps Project 2020 cards from him earlier in the year? 

If you are familiar with TwinsJake, then you'll know of the associated "issues" with him. I don't want to put words in his mouth, but he basically admitted he bit off more than he could chew and fell massively behind. Toss in the destruction of his neighborhood post office in Minnesota due to riots months earlier and it appears some health issues and he fell further behind. 

People on Twitter were ready to grab their torches and pitchforks and storm the gates. Yes, the lnch mob was ready. I tried to remain neutral, even though I had several Project 2020 orders that just didn't seem to be moving. I understand that while someone's social media appearance may be just fine, you never know what is going on once you start to peel back that layer. I tried to keep my cool and at times would even defend TwinsJake online in places such as Twitter. 

In July I tried placing an order for some Braves Topps Now cards and after 4 unsuccessful orders I gave up. Later I noticed my PayPal account was hit for all 4 charges. I reached out both through TwinsJake's website as well as through Twitter and nothing. The radio silence went on for a few months. Shortly there after, out of the blue it seems, I was emailed some tracking numbers in early September. Yes! My orders were finally going to ship.

Then nothing. The tracking numbers showed zero movement. I messaged again through the website and Twitter and at first nothing. Then I got a reply. He offered to toss in some free stuff and I told him I just wanted those PayPal transactions refunded and wanted the cards I paid for. A few days later I got a new tracking number along with a picture of my outgoing package. Then I got a message from PayPal that refunds had been processed. Last week my order finally arrived.

While I still think these cards are beautiful, I'm done with Project 2020. I was excited earlier in the year for this project...as you can tell from my purchases, but through nobody's particular fault, I've moved on. I'm glad to finally have these in my hands, especially the Jackie Robinson cards (in retrospect, I just should have stuck with his cards and ignored everyone else).

Thank you TwinsJake for making at least my situation right. I still don't know what happened behind the scenes and I don't really care to know. As frustrating as things can be when communication slows down or drops between two parties, just remember that none of us have he shoe on the other foot...meaning we don't know what is going on in the life of the other party. More communication on the behalf of TwinsJake would have been nice, but I'm not going to criticize or judge. I'm thankful he finally responded to my messages and made things right. If you happen to be waiting on orders from him, continue to keep pushing with emails, Tweets and DMs and eventually he'll get back to you. I don't think for one second that he ever set out to swindle anyone. When he eluded to getting in over his head, I believe him. The early stages of Project 2020 were crazy. I'm glad I got off that rollercoaster.

Be good everyone...

A few more - 2002 Fleer Authentix Ripped Jersey

While I wait for 2013 Topps Series 2, Gypsy Queen, the Sticker Album and A&G to release, I'm taking the time to work on a few insert sets I've always been fond of.  I know the whole jersey/relic card thing has been beat worse than a back alley hooker, but in 2002 when Fleer introduced their new line of cards called Authentix I was hooked.  The base cards were different looking and the short printed rookies had mini "ticket stubs" embedded in the card as part of the design.  Brilliance I thought.  Then I saw the Ripped Jersey cards and I was in love.  There was just something about the horizontal design combined with the embedded fake ticket stub that I loved.  I also wasn't sick of jersey and bat cards in 2002.  I never gave putting the set together much of a serious thought, but lately it's been on my mind so I've sought out looking to fill the many holes in my set.

I ended up finding a few for a decent price, but why oh why do some sellers want to charge $3+ to ship one single card?!  Some of the lesser name players in the set can easily be found, but shipping usually kills it for me so I pass.  So for now I'll just show the deals that I did find...

I love the colorful ticket stub on the A-Rod card. I can't remember if this card is a SP or not, but it usually commands much more than I paid.

I believe the Bagwell is a SP as I don't see it listed for sale as often and I got into a mini bidding war for it.  Wonder if I was bidding against the Dimwit?





Normally if a Brave is in a set I'm building, then I'd want two - 1) for my Braves collection and 2) for the set.  In the case of Andruw, I'll just keep to this one card for the set.



It seemed as if most of the jersey pieces in this set were plain boring white, so it's nice to have a black piece to break up the white consistency.

This is actually quite a big set of cards, so if you have anything from it to trade or can find something for cheap at your LCS, please let me know.  You can find my want list for this set HERE.

Trade Bait - Mike Piazza & Frank Thomas

Surely I can find a Dodgers or Piazza collector that will want to take this card off my hand.  1998 Score Star Gazing #6.  Nice foil etched look.  Scan doesn't do this card proper justice.

 

1993 Leaf Frank Thomas Preparation #10 from Series 2.  Classic Big Hurt measuring up his opponent.  Any takers?

Catching up on some Thank Yous

These last few weeks have been a little hectic around the house and with work so to say I've fallen a little behind is an understatement.

I've worked out several trades, participated in a group break and was blessed w/ a free card from a fellow Braves blogger...but I haven't had the time to show my appreciation until now.

  

Braves blogger A Rookie (baseball) Card Collector posted the contents of a single pack of '12 Gypsy Queen some time ago and there was a mini of Frank Thomas.  I simply asked if it was available and she sent it to me free of charge.  Of course I've got a nice little Braves care package to send in return.  What I didn't know until the card arrived that it was a red back.  Nice.

 

Robert from $30 A Week Habit graciously sent me some cards from my '12 A&G & GQ want lists.  I'm particularly excited about the 2 People of the Bible minis.

Shane from Off the Wall and I completed a trade where I sent him a bunch of '12 A&G minis and he sent me several cards from my various want lists as well as a stack of Braves which I picked out a few to share.

I'm usually so busy hosting group breaks that it's rare that I get to participate in one, but recently Juuust a bit outside (JABO) was holding a break that I couldn't resist.  I didn't land anything earth shattering, but that's how the group break thing goes.  Though I did get a Spectrum card of Frenchy that I didn't have!

I was trying to work out a deal w/ ARPSmith's Sportscards Obsession for a Dan Uggla A&G relic he had by offering a Archives Fan Favorites auto of the "Kung Fu Panda", but he already had the card.  A few days later I got an e-mail asking for my address.  Now I owe him some extra Giants cards!  Thanks bud!

If by chance I left anyone out that I've dealt with recently it's not on purpose.  I'm so unorganized right now I may need to take some time off to get my crap in order after I'm done w/ these next two Affordable Group Breaks.

Speaking of the AGB, the Stadium Club boxes should be here today when I get home from work so I'll start ripping and scanning this evening as I watch WWE RAW.