Sunday, April 30, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2010 Topps Chrome Purple Refractors #216 Drew Storen #d 240/599

2010 Topps Chrome Purple Refractors #216 Drew Storen #d 240/599
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Walking the Plank

Three consecutive hours of work meetings sucks.  There's no way to sugar coat it.  On the bright side, getting back to my desk to find a bubble mailer from Matt of Bob Walk the Plank makes it suck a bit less.  What goodies were inside?


The cards from the 2017 Topps 1987 Topps insert set.  The '87 Topps set was one of the first two (the other was '87 Donruss) that I put together.  The design will always be nostalgic to me.


The last two cards to complete my 1986 Topps set!  The set was the first cards that I ever had.  It was given to me for Christmas 1986 by my uncle.  More than 30 years later and I'm still collecting cardboard pictures!  Unfortunately, the set was still at my dad's when his house burnt down a few years ago.  I decided to hand collate a set for myself, with a little help from my friends.

2016 Immaculate Collection Immaculate Heroes Autographs Red #4 Will Clark
Last and certainly not least was this beauty.  When I first got into baseball, Dale Murphy was my favorite player.  I was also a big Will Clark fan and once Murph left Atlanta, "The Thrill" was my new favorite.  I have three certified Murphy autographs but had never picked up a Clark.  I now have one in my collection, thanks to Matt!  Thanks for the cards and don't worry, I already have a small stack ready to make it back to the hometown!

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!


Saturday, April 29, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2015 Allen and Ginter Mini A and G Back #15 Justin Verlander

Do you read a lot of the collecting blogs?  If so, you know where this one is going.

2015 Allen and Ginter Mini A and G Back #15 Justin Verlander
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Friday, April 28, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2015 Bowman Purple #136 R.J. Alvarez #d 148/250

For a dime?  Sure!

2015 Bowman Purple #136 R.J. Alvarez
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Where are all these cards coming from?

Seven days ago, I had seven cards from the 1911 Auto Drivers set.  In the last week, I've received nine more.  I love when I'm at work in the mornings and that ebay notification lights up my phone telling me that my item was delivered.  I know that somewhere between two and three that afternoon, it will be delivered to my desk.  Louis Wagner was the delivery yesterday.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #25 Louis Wagner

Louis Wagner competed just one in the Indianapolis 500, finishing 26th in the 1919 race.  He won the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup, as mentioned on the back of the card.  Wagner was also the winner of the inaugural United States and British Grand Prix races.

After this pickup, my base set stands at 13/25 cards.  My master set, with all back variations, is at 16/100.  You can see all of my cards from the set on my Collector Focus page.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1987 Donruss Opening Day Puzzle Roberto Clemente

I picked all five copies of this out of the dime box.

1987 Donruss Opening Day Puzzle Roberto Clemente
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2009 SP Authentic Gold #186 Grady Sizemore S#88/299

I was an Indians fan during Grady Sizemore's time in Cleveland.  I always thought he was overrated and struck out WAY too much.

2009 SP Authentic Gold #186 Grady Sizemore
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

The First T36 from Open Binders

A few weeks ago, I missed out on an eBay BIN for a T227 Ralph Mulford.  This takes a small amount of the sting off that.

Shortly after I purchased seven T36 cards from eBay, another one I needed popped up from my old friends at Open Binders.  They have had some of these in the past, but not since I've been collecting the cards.  I have picked up some of my 1960 Hawes Wax Indy cards from them and all transactions have been flawless.  Once I saw the eBay listing, I went to their site and bought the card there to save them the eBay fees.  I paced my order Thursday and it was delivered Monday.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #17 Ralph Mulford
Ralph Mulford competed ten times in the Indianapolis 500.  His best finish was second in the inaugural race in 1911.  There has been controversy over time that may have actually won the race, but Indianapolis Motor Speedway track historian Donald Davidson maintains there is no evidence to back that claim.  Mulford ran much faster throughout the race than winner Ray Harroun but blew out tires twice during the race, allowing Harroun to pass him.  Harroun knew that by running a slower race he could get better tire wear and that strategy helped him win the race.  Mulford won the 1911 Vanderbilt Cup race.

After this pickup, my base set stands at 12/25 cards.  My master set, with all back variations, is at 15/100.  You can see all of my cards from the set on my Collector Focus page.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Blue Refractors #BDP22 Sean Gallagher

Serial #d/199.  I don't leave serial numbered cards behind in dime boxes.  

2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Blue Refractors #BDP22 Sean Gallagher
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Monday, April 24, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1993 SP #274 Russ Davis

This one is actually for my collection.  I was shocked to find a few of these 1992 foils in a dime box and still in damn good shape.  My guess is that this part of the box was fresh.  We all know how condition sensitive they are.

1993 SP #274 Russ Davis 
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1996 Bowman #374 Vladimir Guerrero

I figure there are still enough Expos collectors out there that I'll be able to find Vladdy a happy home among friends.  He was one of my favorite players of his timeframe.

1996 Bowman #374 Vladimir Guerrero
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

30 Day Card Challenge - Day 8

Today's card is one that "reminds you of a family member."


Well, it's my blog and I'll cheat if I want to.  I had narrowed it down to two cards.  When I went to grab them for a pic, I decided to add a couple more.


I remember walking through the living room one evening in 1989 and my mama asking me if I'd heard about the card with the cuss word on it.  She'd seen it on the evening news.  Yup, ol' #616...the 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken.  

Not too long later, we were at a card show and she actually let me pick a couple of packs of Fleer.  The seller, who was also my local "card shop" owner (he actually owned a small grocery store) was selling packs that were from the early run.  I can't remember for sure, but he was probably asking $3 or $4 for a pack.  I was FLOORED that she let me buy these, considering she refused to buy me Upper Deck packs that were $1.

I picked up my packs and headed out to the lobby.  The show was in the Ramada Inn in my hometown and there were nice, comfy chairs outside.  In one of the packs resided that card that you see in the pic above.  There was an older guy that offered me $10 for the card, thinking that I didn't know what I had.  He's probably a retail pack searcher now.  What an asshole, trying to rip off a ten-year old kid.

The Rickey Henderson rookie is the first "big" card my parents bought me.  It was probably in 1989 or so.  I had only been collecting for a couple of years and they bought me a low grade copy.  As an adult now, I'd have done the same thing.  The card is probably a PSA 1.  It's worth way more sentimentally than the monetary value.

Those two cards are the two that I've probably had the longest.  Through the card purges and moving from Morgantown, WV to Pittsburgh to Indianapolis to Fort Worth, they've been the two that have been through it all with me.

The other two cards were given to my by my uncle when I graduated college in 2001.  The McGwire was obviously worth more then.  No idea on the Ripken because I don't care.  They will always be one of the cornerstones of my collection.  That uncle was the man that got me into collecting cards when he gave me a complete 1986 Topps set for Christmas.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Two Birds, One Stone (30 Day Card Challenge - Day 6)
30 Day Card Challenge - Day 7

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2010 Topps Chrome X-Fractors #180 Jason Donald

2010 Topps Chrome X-Fractors #180 Jason Donald
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Doubling Up!!!

The eBay saved search emails are great.  I wish they'd come shortly after something is listed since I've lost a few items before I even saw them.  I will take what I can get though.  Last Friday one came through and I was afraid it was already gone.  It wasn't and I was concerned even in the time to go through and use ebates it could get bought out from under me.  Thankfully it wasn't.

Through one eBay purchase, I was able to double my number of cards from the 1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers (aka T36) set.  Only one was a duplicate front, but it was a different back.  Also, I was able to pick this up at a price I am still thrilled about.  I didn't pay much more than the graded Ralph DePalma that I have.

My T36 posts on Bean's Ballcard Blog
My T36 posts on I Feel Like A Collector Again


What I found interesting is that all of these are Mecca backs.  The seller has one Hassan back that he listed separately (and I did not buy it).  He did tell me these all came from one collection that he purchased.  Very curious.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #3 Louis Chevrolet
Does that last name sound familiar?  The answer to your question is yes.  Louis Chevrolet co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Company just months after this card was produced.  He later ran in the Indianapolis 500 four times with a best finish of seventh in the 1919 race.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #8 Arthur Duray
Arthur Duray raced in the Indianapolis 500 once, finishing second in 1914.  He's probably best known for breaking the land speed record on three different occasions.
1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #10 Harry E. Grant
Looking through Wikipedia (always there, sometimes accurate), I believe this is Harry Fletcher Grant, despite the "E." initial on the card.  This Wikipedia entry does list him as winning the sixth Vanderbilt Cup race and that matches an article from vanderbiltcupraces.com.  Grant competed four times in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of seventh in 1914.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #11 Victor Hemery
Victor Hemery never competed in the Indianapolis 500.  He did win the second Vanderbilt Cup race in 1905.
1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #12 Camille Jenatzy
Camille Janatzy also never competed in the Indianapolis 500.  He was killed in a hunting accident just a couple of years after this card was produced. Janatzy broke the land speed record three times during his life.

1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #15 Fred Marriott 
The Fred Marriott Wikipedia page doesn't have much more info than can be found on the card back.  No Indianapolis 500.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
1911 American Tobacco Auto Drivers #16 Harry Mitchener
The interwebz has informed me that this card is of Harry MITCHENER, not Mitchner.  He has no Wikipedia page.  What I was able to find is that he won a 24-hour race at Point Breeze, PA with co-driver Ralph Mulford.

1907 Point Breeze 24 Hour Race

After this pickup, my base set stands at 11/25 cards.  My master set, with all back variations, is at 14/100.  You can see all of my cards from the set on my Collector Focus page.

If you shop online and haven't signed up and used ebates yet, you're missing out.  I also use it on eBay to get money back.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!




Friday, April 21, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1991 Leaf Gold Rookies #BC7 Mo Vaughn

With the abundance of Red Sox fans out there, I am sure that I can find this one a good home.

1991 Leaf Gold Rookies #BC7 Mo Vaughn
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

TRADE ME YOUR 2017 GYPSY QUEEN!

Okay, you don't HAVE to.  However, if you have some that you don't want or need that I do need, I'm interested.  I want to put the regular set (including SPs) together.

I don't have all of my baseball listed in my inventory, but all of my 2017 product is there.  If there's something that you want, let me know.  I'll send it to you and you send me back what you think is fair from the list o' needs.

I also have stuff not yet listed, so I can take a look if you have needs.  It may take me a few days to get through that, though.

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2014 Topps Update Red Hot Foil #US287 Mike Bolsinger

A mini-vacation meant a couple of days without posts.  I'm back.

I pick most of the shiny cards out of dime boxes.

2014 Topps Update Red Hot Foil #US287 Mike Bolsinger
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Monday, April 17, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1987 Donruss Opening Day #23 Mickey Tettleton

Go directly to the PC.  Do not pass go.  Do not collect $200.

1987 Donruss Opening Day #23 Mickey Tettleton
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

So GQ

On lunch Friday, I ran (okay, drove) to the Target that's a couple of minutes from my office.  Cards weren't the reason, but I knew I'd leave with some Gypsy Queen if they had any.

They had three blasters and a handful of the three-pack blisters.  Initially, I put two blasters into my basket and went shopping for my other items.  I pondered it over the whole time and put them back.  Instead, I grabbed two of the three-pack blisters.  I love the green parallels and that's what it came down to.  I also got the two free Opening Day packs with them.

I've decided that I want to do this set.  I like both the design and images better than Heritage.  I don't hate that there are less SPs in GQ.  Here's a look at the goods!

2017 Gypsy Queen #180 Tanner Roark

2017 Gypsy Queen #257 Addison Russell

2017 Gypsy Queen #247 Charlie Blackmon

2017 Gypsy Queen #81 Starling Marte

2017 Gypsy Queen #198 Noah Syndergaard

2017 Gypsy Queen #292 Ryan Zimmerman

2017 Gypsy Queen #127 Yoenis Cespedes

2017 Gypsy Queen #27 Roberto Osuna
Roberto Osuna is a duplicate and I don't even have too many of these.  Concerns me that I'm going to end up with more duplicates.
2017 Gypsy Queen #299 Orlando Arcia

2017 Gypsy Queen #245 DJ LeMahieu

2017 Gypsy Queen #107 Tim Anderson

2017 Gypsy Queen #33 Tom Murphy

2017 Gypsy Queen #56 Yasmani Grandal

2017 Gypsy Queen #2 Edwin Diaz

2017 Gypsy Queen #260 Trey Mancini
 The Trey Mancini is a double.  It is for trade.

2017 Gypsy Queen #194 Joey Votto
 Another double.  <sigh>

2017 Gypsy Queen #15 Danny Valencia

2017 Gypsy Queen #132 Teoscar Hernandez

2017 Gypsy Queen Green #124 Buster Posey

2017 Gypsy Queen Green #13 Taijuan Walker

2017 Gypsy Queen Green #75 Clayton Kershaw

2017 Gypsy Queen #215 Bruce Maxwell

2017 Gypsy Queen #66 Justin Upton

2017 Gypsy Queen #93 Ichiro

2017 Gypsy Queen Fortune Teller Mini #FTYG Yulieski Gurriel

2017 Gypsy Queen #148 Aledmys Diaz

2017 Gypsy Queen #30 Jonathan Schoop

2017 Gypsy Queen #94 Ryan Schimpf
 UGH!  Another duplicate!

2017 Gypsy Queen #55 Corey Dickerson

2017 Gypsy Queen Missing Blackplate #292 Ryan Zimmerman

2017 Gypsy Queen #41 A.J. Ramos

2017 Gypsy Queen #23 Blake Snell
 Duplicar.

2017 Gypsy Queen #249 Luke Weaver

2017 Gypsy Queen #183 George Springer

2017 Gypsy Queen #290 Yonder Alonso

2017 Gypsy Queen #21 Braden Shipley

2017 Gypsy Queen #84 Ender Inciarte

2017 Gypsy Queen #59 Kenley Jansen

2017 Gypsy Queen Green #163 Renato Nunez 
2017 Gypsy Queen Green #96 Daniel Murphy


2017 Gypsy Queen Green #7 Stephen Strasburg

2017 Topps Opening Day #152 Brandon Belt

2017 Topps Opening Day #127 Wil Myers

2017 Topps Opening Day #38 David Wright

2017 Topps Opening Day Superstar Celebrations #SC15 David Ortiz

2017 Topps Opening Day #129 Trea Turner

2017 Topps Opening Day #71 Jacob deGrom

2017 Topps Opening Day #61 Kenta Maeda

2017 Topps Opening Day #137 Jonathan Lucroy

2017 Topps Opening Day #137 Jonathan Lucroy

2017 Topps Opening Day Edition #101 Starling Marte

2017 Topps Opening Day #41 Jose Bautista

2017 Topps Opening Day #34 David Ortiz
Two David Ortiz cards.  I'd like to say "thankfully I won't have to hear about him anymore," but there's always someone else that will get shoved down our throats.  If this guy gets into the Hall of Fame, then Edgar Martinez needs to go in as well.  The "he was a DH" argument will then be invalid.
If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!