Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2012 Bowman #1 Derek Jeter

If I never had to hear Derek Jeter's name again, my life would be even better.  Nonetheless, it was a dime, so I bought it.

2012 Bowman #1 Derek Jeter
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1994 Sportflics #95 Jay Bell

Sportflics rocked!  You can disagree.  You're allowed to be wrong.

1994 Sportflics #95 Jay Bell
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1987 Donruss Rookies #31 Fred McGriff

Fred McGriff is one of the two most under-rated players of the 1990s.  Jim Thome is another.

Please, tell me more about Mariano Rivera, Paul O'Neill and other Yankees from the 1990s. <eye roll>

1987 Donruss Rookies #31 Fred McGriff

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1991 Kellogg's 3D #1 Gaylord Perry


1991 Kellogg's 3D #1 Gaylord Perry


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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1987 Fleer Glossy #311 Andy Van Slyke

It's got a dinged corner, but it's the glossy version and it's on the way to Jason!

1987 Fleer Glossy #311 Andy Van Slyke
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Friday, May 26, 2017

Poor, Poor Pitiful Parkies

When I looked at the pic on this auction, I wasn't sure what exactly to expect.  I knew these cards would be in the worst condition of any 1960 Parkhurst Hawes Wax Indy cards that I had, but it was okay.  I paid less than $4 with shipping for the two of them.

One of the two cards was blank on the back but the coloring was different than the other.



It turns out that it's just half a card.  The back half of the card literally was split away from the front at some point.  What is left is so thin that I likely won't be able to get it into a semi-rigid, which is how I keep the cards in my vintage Indy collection.  It's different though.  Definitely different.



At least this card is complete!  For $2 apiece, I'm not complaining.  There's a reason that I got them this cheaply.

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!


Dime Box Buy - 1993 SP #191 Jose Canseco

It's to the point for me where card photographs are boring, in general.  I love that Upper Deck mixed it up and added this photograph into a set.

1993 SP #191 Jose Canseco

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1978 Topps #320 Fred Lynn

1978 Topps #320 Fred Lynn
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1995 Bowman's Best Refractors #B37 Scott Elarton

The scan doesn't show it, but it's a shiny refractor.  I pick all of those out of dime boxes.

1995 Bowman's Best Refractors #B37 Scott Elarton
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1988 Classic Blue #244 Jay Buhner

BONES!

1988 Classic Blue #244 Jay Buhner
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

30 Day Card Challenge - Day 11

Today's card is one of my favorites from the 1970s.



This is a bit of a "dead" era for the items I collect.  There aren't any IndyCar related items from the 70s.  There weren't many former Mountaineers in the NFL.  I thought about the cards that I might have and nothing stood out.  So, I've chosen a card that I once had, but don't anymore.

The 1971 Topps baseball set is one of my favorite designs ever.  As a teenager, I was actually able to put about a third of the set together.  Eventually I sold it off, which is one of the bigger regrets of my hobby history.  I'm no Yankees fan, but this was probably my favorite card from my favorite set of the 1970s, so it's today's winner.

1971 Topps Thurman Munson #5 (photo via COMC)
This is the one card that reminds me how significant the vintage card boom has become.  When I bought this, I recall that high Beckett value was $25.  It was one of the more valuable cards I had in my collection.  Today's high Beckett vaule, just 20 years later, is $125.  Perhaps I will have to add one of these back to my collection someday.

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Monday, May 22, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2007 Topps Chrome Refractors #36 Moises Alou

This one is headed to Jason!

2007 Topps Chrome Refractors #36 Moises Alou
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1975 Topps #57 Dave Johnson

If you've been reading my posts, you know how much I enjoy vintage in dime boxes.  I buy them all!

1975 Topps #57 Dave Johnson
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Gypsies & Mountaineers

I received an unexpected bubble mailer from Joey at the Dub Mentality blog this week.  It looks like he actually read my "TRADE ME YOUR 2017 GYPSY QUEEN!" post and I'm grateful for that.  He was just the second one that replied to it.


I still need to get everything in order and update my needs list.  I'm sure that I will need some of these!

Joey also included some Mountaineers!


I can't lie.  I'm always going to wonder what could have been with Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey.  I expected so much more from that team.  It hurts when your defense gives up 40 a game, though.

My favorite card from the envelope was one of a Mountaineer that I think many will forget in time.  Charles Sims was a grad transfer and played just one season as a Mountaineer.  He's not going to be at the top of any statistical lists, but he was a dynamic player and the most important piece of the offense in his one season in Morgantown.


Thank you for the goodies, Joey!  I promise to give them a good home.

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Two Card Shows, a Podcast and a Card

Today was a full day.  I hit up two card shows and made it home in time to see most of today's Indianapolis 500 qualifications.  It was a good day and I only bought one card.

I started out the day at the Beckett Media Card Show.  It was one of the FOUR card shows in the Fort Worth/Dallas area today.  I didn't count, but there were probably ten sellers, none of which I'd ever seen at any of our local shows.  I'm not complaining, as that means new product.  All the local shows are great, but it's the same sellers and same product in general.

The Beckett show was centered around on-site authentication from Beckett Authentication and on-site Beckett Grading service.  I met Marlin, who drove down from Kansas City to take advantage of the on-site services.  I've conversed with him online and he's also in the same Beckett Fantasy Baseball League that I'm in.  If you don't follow him on Twitter, click on his name above and give him a follow.  Marlin gave me a gift as a thank you for being the only team that he's beaten this season.

Thanks, SpartyHawk Cache!  
I sat down with Eric from Beckett radio and did an almost 30-minute segment with him.  We chatted about wrestling, ePack, collectors that complain about every and some other random topics.  It wasn't my first (or second) time on the show and I hope that it won't be my last.  The link is below for you to listen in.  You also should follow them on iTunes and listen to the weekly show, if I do say so myself.





I only made one purchase at the show and it wasn't a card.  I picked up the latest Beckett Vintage Collector.  It's my favorite magazine in the Beckett family.  There is some pricing in the magazine, but it's much heavier on articles, which I like.  I've learned about many sets that I knew little about since the first issue.


I stayed at the show MUCH later than I wanted to.  When I got to my car I took a look and found that Indianapolis 500 qualifications weren't going to begin (due to weather in Indianapolis) until 3 p.m.  I decided to stop off at the weekly card show at Duane's Sports Cards on the way back since it's close to home, and Roger Neufeldt was set up and selling.  I only picked myself up one card.  It wasn't from Roger, or vintage.  I paid only a buck for it, but I was thrilled to find it.  It's the kind of card that if it's on COMC, some douche canoe is going to want $25 for it.

1995 Upper Deck Electric Diamond Gold #390 Will Clark
I opened a bit of this product in 1995 and never got any of the golds.  I have one now!

If you're local, I recommend that you give this show a try, or a second one.  They've moved some things around and there is certainly from fresh product there and it looks a lot more full.  I know that I need to go back soon and start digging to work on others' want lists.  I may or may not have picked up a few cards today for others, but you'll never know.

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Dime Box Buy - 1988 Classic Blue #201 Eric Davis/Dale Murphy

Another one for the PC!

1988 Classic Blue #201 Eric Davis/Dale Murphy
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2014 Select Prizm #75 Rashad Jennings

Another shiny football cards that I rescued from a dime box.  I've already found him a new home.

2014 Select Prizm #75 Rashad Jennings
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, May 16, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2016 Unparalleled #163 Eli Apple

It was shiny, it was a dime, so I bought it.

2016 Unparalleled #163 Eli Apple
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!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1986 Kay-Bee #31 Darryl Strawberry

By the time you read this, Darryl should be into the hands of Peter from Baseball Every Night for his collection.  It's one he didn't have and I love helping out collectors!

1986 Kay-Bee #31 Darryl Strawberry
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!

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 2014 Gypsy Queen Mini #136(a) Willie Stargell

This is headed to the box o' traders.  If someone wants it, let me know!

2014 Gypsy Queen Mini #136(a) Willie Stargell
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, May 13, 2017

30 Day Card Challenge - Day 10

Day 10 is :one of your favorite cards from the 1960s."  This is my first post in which I don't own the card.  In this case, it's one of the cards at the top of my want list.


The 1962 Marhoefer set is the only one from the era that pictures drivers from the same era.  Other sets depict previous Indianapolis 500 winners.  A.J. Foyt is not only an open-wheel icon, but he is one of the best drivers in the history of auto racing.

1962 Marhoefer Indy #5 A.J.Foyt
I found a forum post where one vintage racing collector stated that he'd never seen one of these for sale other than in a completed set.  The picture above was taken from eBay, so there has been a single show up.  However, the $795 price was a bit out of my comfort zone.  If a copy of the Lloyd Ruby card ever surfaces, I hope that I can afford it.  It's the other card that I want from the set.  Someday.

LINK:  Marhoefer Indy (more than you really wanted to know)

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Dime Box Buy - 1991 Kellogg's 3D #5 Bob Gibson

1991 Kellogg's 3D #5 Bob Gibson
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, May 12, 2017

My Favorite Piece of Memorabilia

I'm a card guy.  Always have been and always will be.  I'm not much into memorabilia.  That means that it's not too tough to pick a favorite piece.

A few months ago, the wifey and I decided to take a walk through the "Antique Mall" that's less than a half mile from us.  We'd been there a few times and I'd never picked anything up.  Until that day.

I saw it.  I wanted it.  I did my due diligence and messaged the man that knows more about the Indianapolis 500 than anyone I know.  He verified that it looked legit, as much as one can from a few photos.  It left. with me.


It is a poly jacket (pretty much a windbreaker) that, hopefully, was Jim McElreath's.  I'm not going to give you a long biography of him.  He was born in Arlington, TX (where I live) and still lives here.  He was in the Indianapolis 500 15 times.  He never won, but he finished in the top ten four times.

I suspect the jacket is from the 1973 season.  I've not been able to find any images of him wearing it, but hope to come into one someday.

I was the first caller into The Talk of Gasoline Alley with Indianapolis Motor Speedway Track Historian Donald Davidson last night and asked him to profile McElreath.  He knows all these things off the top of his head.  You should give it a listen.


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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Dime Box Buy - 1983 O-Pee-Chee #350 Robin Yount

I was pretty surprised to find this one in a dime box.  Perhaps it's the poor centering.  I know there are some Brewers/Yount collectors in the blogosphere and if any of you need this for your collection, let me know.  It's available.

1983 O-Pee-Chee #350 Robin Yount
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, May 11, 2017

30 Day Card Challenge - Day 9

Today's card is "one of your favorite cards from the 1950s."



The 1930s and 1940s would be easy for me.  I've already used the 1955 Bowman Frank Gatski earlier in this series.  So I decided on a card from a set I'm passively working on.

1955 Topps All American #37 Jim Thorpe
I picked this card up raw from Indy Card Exchange four or five years ago.  After moving to Fort Worth, I submitted it for the BGS grading at a local show.  It is certainly one of the cornerstones of my collection.

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  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
30 Day Card Challenge - Day 8

Dime Box Buy - 1995 UC3 #132 Will Clark

Hello, Will Clark collection!

1995 UC3 #132 Will Clark

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!

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Twenty-Six Years and the Card is Mine

I've always wanted this card.  As a kid it was out of my price range.  As I got older, there were always other cards I spent my money on instead.  This card was always going to be there.  Now, it's here.  I just wish he was in a Braves uniform.  I need to pick up a Will Clark as well, but the asking prices on it are a bit more than I put into this one.

1991 Topps Desert Shield #545 Dale Murphy
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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Dime Box Buy - 1988 Classic Blue #209 Darryl Strawberry

Usually my dime box posts are random(ish).  However, today is my sister's birthday and Darryl Strawberry was her favorite baseball player when we were kids.

Happy xxth birthday, sis!

1988 Classic Blue #209 Darryl Strawberry
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, May 9, 2017

GQ in my Mailbox

I thought that when I posted TRADE ME YOUR 2017 GYPSY QUEEN!, I'd hear from more than just one blogger.  On the bright side, it turned out to be a trade that saw me receive more than 100 cards from Sport Card Collectors/Snagging Cardboard.  Now, to sort and update the need list.



Thanks for the trade!

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Dime Box Buy - 1987 Mother's Cookies Texas Rangers #26 Jeff Russell

I just wish I'd had this a year ago when he signed at a local card show.  I would have definitely had him sign this one.  Ah well, I think he signs through the mail.

1987 Mother's Cookies Texas Rangers #26 Jeff Russell
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!

Monday, May 8, 2017

Dime Box Buy - 1993 Post #29 John Kruk

I have been a John Kruk fan since I was a kid.  I grew up in West Virginia and there weren't many pro athletes (wait, he's NOT an athlete) from the state.  Also, my elementary school principal knew him and that was as close as this kid that loved baseball came to a pro ballplayer.

I don't collect his cards but as I type this, I realize that I do need to go pick up an autograph.

Kruk collector Peter from Baseball Every Night already has this card, but he's getting this one some time down the road.  That will be a much better home than here, or I'm sure he can find something to do with it.

1993 Post #29 John Kruk
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!

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Russ Davis cards from The Angels In Order

I definitely need to get back on the Russ Davis project.  I need to catalog what I have and create a want list of the ones I still need.

There are a couple of complications that frustrated me the last time that I worked on it.  For one, sometimes his first name is listed as "Russell" and other times as "Russ" in the Sports Card Forum inventory manager.  Also, on some of the early 1990s minor league sets, I can't tell if team sets and the sets that were released nationally are the same cards, based on looking at inventory on COMC and Sportlots.

I got frustrated and took a break.

This week I received an envelope from Tom of The Angels, In Order that contained some Davis cards!  WOOHOO!


I have to say, that Upper Deck set is one of my favorite designs ever.  It's too bad for Davis about those rosy cheeks in the picture!

Thank you, Tom.  Just so you know, I have another stack of cards to get out to you.  When I ship my next batch, they will be on the way.  I promise!

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.  Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about six months.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

Dime Box Buy - 1988 Classic Blue #215 Dale Murphy

Another one for MY collection from the dime box!  WOOHOO!

1988 Classic Blue #215 Dale Murphy

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, May 6, 2017

Top 10 Card of My Favorite Player (Andrew Shaw)

I'm not in it for the contest, but the "Collecting Cutch" blog is running one for showing off the top 10 cards of your player in your PC.  I've actually decided to change the focus of my personal collection and get rid of a lot of quantity.  #TheAndrewShawProject will soon cease to be.  Some of it will remain with me, but the plan is to go ahead and sell off most of it.  It'll be a bit bittersweet with all the money and time I've invested.  Heck, I've even been on Beckett Radio discussing it.

I haven't yet, though, and it's providing me what I feel will be a solid blog post.

#10

2014-15 Upper Deck MVP Gold Script #136 Andrew Shaw
Why would a parallel #d/100 make the list of a super collection?  These gold scripts were a retail only parallel.  Supposedly there were 100 of each made, but I haven't seen evidence to prove it.  If they do exist, where the heck are they?  I own more copies of the Super Script #d/25 than I've seen of the Gold Script.

I'm an analytical guy and because of that I can't figure out why secondary prices are so low on these, other than just no demand.  It makes me think that people aren't aware of how tough they are to come by.  Perhaps because it's from the most low-level of releases.

RELATED LINK:  Gold Script #Mailday for #TheAndrewShawProject – These are Tougher to find than you Think

#9
2012-13 SP Authentic Sign of the Times Duals #ST2KS Patrick Kane/Andrew Shaw B
Despite being a Blackhawks fan, I just don't care for Patrick Kane.  I can't get past his off-the-ice antics.  However, he was just this year voted one of the NHL's top 100 players of all time and he's on a dual signature with my favorite player.

Also, I acquired this card from Jim.  He was collecting Shaw as well but slowed down because of my super collection.  This was a card I needed at the time and he sold it to me at a great price.  I will say that I'm going to give Jim first shot at the items I want to move on.  If he wants them, I'd love to get them into the hands of a true fan.  

RELATED LINK:  Biggest #Mailday yet for #TheAndrewShawProject

#8
2013-14 SP Game Used 2013 Stanley Cup Finals Materials Net Skirt Autos #SCNSAAS Andrew Shaw
These cards are unnumbered, but they are pretty tough to come by.  My guesstimate is less than 15 or so.  I was smart enough to buy the redemption card for this instead of waiting until it was live.  It saved me a ton of money!  I have plenty of Andrew Shaw autographs.  What I love about this is that it's signed on a piece of the net skirt used in the Stanley Cup Finals won by the Blackhawks.

#7
2013-14 Upper Deck Trilogy Signature Pucks Retro Logo #SPAS Andrew Shaw
The reason these make the list is simply that I've acquired three of the thirteen copies.  I do play to move a couple of these and keep just one.

#6

2013-14 Rookie Anthology Luxury Suite #50 Andrew Shaw


One of my biggest gripes with Upper Deck is that other than his rookies from The Cup, he's not had any other memorabilia cards.  This is a guy that's had a 20-goal season, won two Stanley Cups and scored double digit goals in five of his six seasons.  He's also played for two of the teams that are very popular with card collectors.  They put a lot of the same common players in over and over but don't seem to mix in new players.

Luckily, Panini did end up producing one memorabilia card and I have 11 of the 199 copies.  What I love is that the copies have different designs, patterns and colors.  Panini's credibility on memorabilia used on cards has been shot with me, but all I can do is hope that these are somewhat legit.

#5
2011-12 The Cup Black Rookie Autographs Flag Tag #171 Andrew Shaw
This particular card was a tough one to come by, obviously, based on being numbered to five.  Not only that, but it's from The Cup.  If you don't know hockey, it's one of the highest-end products of the year.

I was contacted by a Sports Card Forum member that he has this card.  We weren't able to work something out and I just let it be.  It was probably a year later or so, we touched base again and were able to make it happen.

RELATED LINK:  A PC Addition a year in the making

#4
2012-13 Limited Back to the Future Autograph #18 Andrew Shaw / Jeremy Roenick
Jeremy Roenick was my favorite Blackhawks player as a kid.  Shaw was was my favorite as an adult.  It's like this card was made just for me.

The cards was an absolute white whale for me.  I couldn't find one for a couple of years and finally found one on Sportslots.  I knew nothing about the site at the time and was hesitant, thinking I might get ripped off.  My concerns were unfounded and I had it a few days later.

About a week later, another copy showed up on eBay.  I've seen another handful since.  Weird how these things work.

RELATED LINK:  It’s Raining in Texas and the White Whale has arrived

#3
2013-14 Dominion Engravatures 2013 Champions #21 Andrew Shaw

This is another hard-to-find card.  The added challenge is that once you find the one you need, it's EXPENSIVE!  Dependent of secondary factors, common players from the set can sometimes go for upwards of $200.  They supposedly contain an amount of legitimate silver but as stated above, Panini's credibility is shot with me.

Derek of OT Cards knew that I was a Shaw collector and when he came into this, he let me know he had it.  We worked out massive trade (probably my biggest online trade in both quantity and value) and I finally had it!

Another thing I love about it is the image of Shaw both hoisting the Cup and also bleeding from his stitches.  In the first period of the Cup-clinching game Shaw took a puck to the face but was stitched up and returned for the start of the second.  The stitches later for for $6500 in a charity auction.  I am/was a super collector, but did not place any bids.  That's a bit too yucky for my liking.

#2
2011-12 Upper Deck Canvas #C232 Autographed/Ceertified/Graded BGS 9.5
This particular "piece" was constructed by me and I am extremely proud of it.  It will always be a part of my collection.  I picked the raw card up off eBay.  I worked for Lids and Shaw signed at a store in the Chicago area one after, so I made the three-hour drive from Indianapolis to get it signed.  He also signed a few other items for me and was more than willing to chat.  He was a nice guy, at least to me!

A couple of years ago, JSA was certifying autographs at a local card show and I submitted the card.  I had no worries that it would pass, as I had it signed in person.  I was then able to submit it for BGS grading at another local show.  When I got it back, I was shocked that it came back a 9.5 because of the black borders.  It could have come back a 6 or 7 and it wouldn't have mattered.  This was for me.  I am a collector, not someone that says they are a collector but just rips and flips.  I don't like "losing" money, but the hobby isn't about money to me.  I have a piece that I put together and a great story and memories of it.

You would think that it would be tough to beat this card, but selecting favorite Andrew Shaw card is no challenge.  Like #2, this one is where it is because of the story.

2011-12 Upper Deck Canvas #C232 
Though I've only been writing this blog for a few months, I've actually mentioned this card before.  If you were reading then, I apologize in advance.  I'm going to copy and paste my prior words instead of typing it again.

"It doesn't matter what other card comes out, this one will always be my favorite, and one copy in particular.  The card is Shaw's first NHL card.  He doesn't have a Young Guns card, just this copy.  Before it was even released, I had all of his previously released juniors cards

The 2011-12 Canvas Young Guns were one per every other box.  With 20 Canvas Young Guns in the set, odds of hitting any particular one are 1:60 boxes.  I bought one box at a card show and joked to the seller "It would be awesome if I could get the Andrew Shaw canvas."

You know where this is going, right?

This was in the second pack I opened from the box.  I still remember it like it was yesterday.  It was the second pack down, front right stack.  Is it the biggest hit of my life?  No.  However, it IS the second most (after my 1989 Billy Ripken) favorite one of my life.  This copy of this card will always be the favorite in my Andrew Shaw collection. 

We can buy pretty much any card these days.  Opening a pack to find the one you want is even a better feeling.  It's a feeling that only a true COLLECTor understands."

By the way, I'm always looking to add more copies of this card!  Obviously it's staying in my collection.  I relive that moment I opened it every time I see this card.  Or every time I blog about it.

I hope you enjoyed the read and look forward to reading others' posts on their top ten.  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!