I Feel Like A Collector Again: September 2017

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1988 Woolworth's Topps #6 Nolan Ryan

1988 Woolworth's Topps #6 Nolan Ryan

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

The Mountaineer Mine #3 - Owen Schmitt

WHO: Owen Schmitt

WHEN: 2005 - 2007

WHERE: From Fairfax, VA

WHY (this card): I don't like that it's a sticker auto. I debated between this card and one without an autograph, but I love that Topps used the 1951 Topps Magic design. Not only did they use a great design, they used it in a set picturing players in their college uniforms.

LINK:  WVU's Schmitt Is the Gift That Keeps on Hitting

LINK:  Former WVU Fullback Owen Schmitt to open Morgantown saloon

LINK:  No Flash, Just Smash From Eagles Fullback

How (he's remembered): Owen Schmitt is my favorite Mountaineer (from my adult years) that played on the offensive side of the ball. He was hard-nosed, but still ran the ball well when fortunate enough to have his number called.

The play I remember above all others was in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma (see below). It was that play that earned him the nickname "The Runaway Beer Truck." One of his cards is from this particular run and I almost chose it instead.

I don't believe it's my bias that makes me believe that he's one of the most beloved Mountaineers of all time. It probably doesn't hurt that he ended up falling in love with Morgantown and wound up there after his NFL playing days ended.

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

Friday, September 29, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1989 Kenner Starting Lineup One-on-One #3B Eric Davis

1989 Kenner Starting Lineup One-on-One #3B Eric Davis

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1987 Fleer Glossy #298 Clint Hurdle

1987 Fleer Glossy #298 Clint Hurdle

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1988 Classic Blue #237 Mike Dunne

1988 Classic Blue #237 Mike Dunne

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1987 Fleer Limited Edition #26 Don Mattingly

1987 Fleer Limited Edition #26 Don Mattingly

Monday, September 25, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 2000 Upper Deck Yankees Legends #3 Lou Gehrig

2000 Upper Deck Yankees Legends #3 Lou Gehrig

A Collector So Nice, He Sent Twice

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a lot of buybacks that a collector that follows me on Twitter sent. Shortly thereafter he contacted me asking if I wanted three more that he found. Of course I did! He also told me that he had some A&G buybacks and asked if I wanted them. I told him that I don't collect them but if he didn't have a use, I was sure I could find a good home for them. I certainly will!

He also took a list through my needs and sent 12 cards from the 2017 A&G set that I need!

He's been very generous to me. I guess there's a good reason he uses #collectlove on Twitter. Make sure if you're on there to give @SScards16 a follow! Thank you, again, for sharing the hobby love!

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

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 2016 Topps Pressed Into Service #PIS7 Josh Harrison

2016 Topps Pressed Into Service #PIS7 Josh Harrison

The Mountaineer Mine #2.2 - Major Harris

Yesterday I showed off the Major Harris card that goes into the Mountaineer Mine. He is one of the guys that I can't keep just one card of. Here are the others that I just couldn't part with.

1988 West Virginia Mountaineers #6 Major Harris

1990 JOGO #88 Major Harris

1990 JOGO #160 Major Harris

2011 Press Pass Legends - Saturday Signatures #SSMH Major Harris

2011 Press Pass Legends - Saturday Signatures Emerald #SSMH Major Harris

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1999 UD Ionix #22 Jim Thome

I hope that some day Jim Thome will be appreciated by baseball fans.

1999 UD Ionix #22 Jim Thome

The Mountaineer Mine #2 - Major Harris

2011 Press Pass Legends Saturday Signatures Platinum #SSMH Major Harris

WHO: Major Harris

WHEN: 1987 - 1989

WHERE: from Pittsburgh, PA

WHY (this card): The only thing that made me consider a different card was the lack of the flying WV on the helmet. It's blue, /25 and an on-card autograph. I wish I still had my autograph from when he and three others signed autographs at a Cub Scout banquet.

LINK: Major Harris: The Original Dual-Threat

LINK: College Hall of Fame: WVU's Harris was 'The Man' in the late '80s

LINK: A Storied History: 1988 WVU football team

HOW (is he remembered): If you were a kid in the state of West Virginia in the late 1980s, Major Harris was probably your favorite football player. He led the Mountaineers to an 11-0 record in 1988 and into the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. He was injured during the game and the Mountaineers lost 34-21.

Harris finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in both 1988 and 1989. He was named an All-American in 1989. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

I'll always remember Major for his performance against Penn State on October 29, 1988. It was my first football game and by many is considered one of the greatest games in West Virginia history. I remember it for how cold it was (the coldest I ever recall being) and "The Run" by Harris. WVU defeated Penn State 51-30. It is the only time that an opponent scored 50 points on a Joe Paterno Penn State team.

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

Friday, September 22, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1986 Topps Traded #28T Tim Conroy

Probably not one of my better dime box buys. I grabbed a bunch of 1986 Topps Traded one day.

1986 Topps Traded #28T Tim Conroy

So Close

Yesterday the Auston Matthews Canvas Young Guns that I submitted to BGS came back. While I'm thrilled it came back a 10, I can't help feeling just a little disappointed.

It came back three 10 subgrades and the fourth is a 9.5. Just one small, minor point away from the black label. Ah well. Now I just need to find a buyer.

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

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1994 Action Packed #14 Phil Nevin

It appeared for awhile that Phil Nevin would go down as another overall #1 pick bust, but he ultimately had a 12-year career. His power numbers started to soar in 1999 (*wink* *wink*) and in 2001 he bashed 41 homers for the Padres.

I took a look at his wikipedia page and found this interesting:

"The Houston Astros chose Nevin with the first overall pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft. Hal Newhouser, a scout for the Astros, had evaluated Derek Jeter extensively prior to the draft. Convinced that Jeter would anchor a winning team, Newhouser lobbied team management to select Jeter, and quit in protest over the Astros' decision to take Nevin instead."

Oops.

1994 Action Packed #14 Phil Nevin

The Lost Post

I picked this up a few weeks ago at a card show, but with maildays and other posts, it's fallen through the cracks. Plus, it was on the side table in the bedroom. If any cards go there, they tend to go AWOL.

I felt I was probably paying too much at $10 for this, but it is something different. You don't see them every day. Writing this post I decided to look on eBay and see what going rate is.

I learned that this isn't a normal rack pack. Those have 50 or so cards in them and look different. I found this ended listing that lists it as a "grocery rack pack" and sold for $55. It had a Joe Montana passing leaders card showing so I'm sure that bumped the price significantly. It still made me feel better at spending $10. This one doesn't have a star listed as showing and sold for $22. Yeah, I'm pleased.

This is the perfect example of why I don't understand collectors that prefer buying online to going to card shows. I know there aren't shows everywhere. I'm talking about ones that have the option of attending shows and choose not to. This isn't something I'd have ever searched for, so I'd never have it. Now, I do.

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

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 2001 Topps Chrome #603 Alex Escobar/Eric Valent/Brad Wilkerson

2001 Topps Chrome #603 Alex Escobar/Eric Valent/Brad Wilkerson

Bowman. Bronze. Buyback.

This is the first Russ Davis buyback that I've received in hand. I also have purchased the silver, but on COMC. It may be awhile before it's in-hand. The only other buybacks I'm sure are out there are silver and bronze copies of his 1999 Topps card. I feel there should be more. Hopefully some will surface.

2017 Bowman Bronze Buyback - 1993 Bowman #342 Russ Davis

Ar least now I have another "oddball" 1993 Bowman to pair with this one I bought a few years back.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 2004 Bowman Draft Gold #BDP64 Blake DeWitt

2004 Bowman Draft Gold #BDP64 Blake DeWitt

Monday, September 18, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1998 Topps Stars #78 Kerry Wood

1998 Topps Stars #78 Kerry Wood

Surprise Sanellas from Pre-War Cards

When I arrived home Wednesday, there was a surprise envelope from Anson of Pre-War Cards. Inside were four auto racing cards that I knew nothing about. They are from the 1932 Sanella and Astra Margarine sets.

I'm definitely going to do some more research in the future on the items pictured on these cards. The first two cards intrigue me the most, as they are early automobiles and I'm fascinated with the history of the Indianapolis 500. Were these two cards piloted by anyone that ran in the race? We shall see.

Thank you for the cards, Anson! You're a pretty good guy, for being a Pitt guy!

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

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Dime Box Buy: 1997 Bowman's Best #78 Hideo Nomo

1997 Bowman's Best #78 Hideo Nomo

Sweet Saturday

It was a four-front victory on Saturday for me.

Most importantly, WVU defeated Delaware State 59-16. While the score looks impressive, the opinion of many is WVU did not look impressive. This was the best tweet I have seen in awhile and I had to rip his idea off and post to Facebook myself.

For those not in the know, "Will" is stud quarterback Will Grier. The Mountaineers open Big 12 play on Saturday, sort of. They travel to Lawrence to play Kansas. The Jayhawks lost yesterday to Ohio (not Ohio State, Ohio) 42-30. It looks like an easy win, but as a Mountaineer I will never again completely dismiss Kansas (see: 11/16/2013).

Secondly, I went 4-1 in the five games I bet yesterday. My winners were Virginia Tech, Colorado State, SMU and Oklahoma State. None of these were big games, but that's not the point in betting. I gladly pick the low-hanging fruit. It was the second week in a row that I picked against Alabama covering. The lines were just SO high. It was also the second week in a row I won money betting ECU to not cover. That is just a bad, bad football team. I will keep an eye on ECU lines all season.

My lone loss lost on the final play of the game. I happily took Tennessee +4, as the Florida offense has looked abysmal season to date. I just felt that Tennessee would outscore the Gators, but they scored on the final play of the game and won 26-20.

Some lines I'm interested to see later today are Alabama/Vandy, Purdue/Michigan and WVU/Kansas.
Thirdly, I was home alone most of the day yesterday. I smoked ribs for dinner.

Tonight's dinner will be baked potatoes with shredded pork rib meat on top. Mmmmmmmmmmmeat!!!

Finally, the biggest win of the day. I couldn't sleep at all Wednesday night (into Thursday morning) and bid on some Sportlots auctions. Shortly thereafter, I had bidder's remorse.

If you're not familiar with Sportlots auctions, they don't run like eBay. They end once no bids have been placed for three days. This prevents sniping but sometimes the auctions can go on for well more than a week. I thought I'd be outbid on all the items, but yesterday was the third day and I was still the high bidder. I logged in hoping that I was outbid on at least a couple of them. I was outbid on EVERY SINGLE ONE!

Sometimes the biggest victories are the ones that you don't win. I can allocate that money much better. Have a great Sunday, everyone!

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

Too Many Manninghams Mystery Mailday

I have most of my purchased items (eBay, Twitter, Sports Card Direct, COMC) send to my office. Very few things come home. However, I came home to two unexpected packages on Wednesday. I saw the return address on one was from Dennis of Too Many Mannininghams and Too Many Verlanders. He'd emailed me a couple weeks prior asking if my 1991 Stadium Club need list was up to date. I told him that it was and forgot he's asked.

What was strange and provided the mystery was the shape of the package. It wasn't anything I expected. You'll see why at the end.

Dennis was kind enough to send me all cards I needed to finish off 1991 Stadium Club Series 2. I noticed that the Jeff Bagwell was in a topload separate from the others. It had completey escaped me that this was the Hall-of-Famer's rookie card and probably his best one. Thank you so much, Dennis!

He also included some Russ Davis cards. I will have to take a look and see which ones I need.

Now we're to what made the package an unexpected shape. I am absolutely thrilled that the set above was finished off and about more Russ Davis cards. However, these three Becketts from 1989 were the highlight of the package!

I probably had all three of these in 1989 (and for years), but no longer. I never threw the old ones away, but I never took them when I moved away from home. They were still in my childhood home when it burnt down three years ago. I'm thrilled (see what I did there?) to have these to add to my reference library. I'll take a deeper dive into them at some point down the road and write some posts. I can say that I spent about an hour of my Wednesday evening perusing them. One last thing...all are from 1989. Will Clark graced the cover three times in 11 months. Not too shabby!

Thank you for everything, Dennis! I promise to give them a fantastic 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 from purchases there. Between referrals and cash back, I've gotten over $100 in about seven months. FREE CARDS! If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow. Happy collecting!

2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Collegiate Patches Autographs #JG Jedd Gyorko

This card popped up in my saved searches a few weeks ago. I didn't immediately bid on it, but I watched it. I bid later and was fortunate to win it for the opening bid. It's my third copy of this card and the least I've paid for one of them. If you have a copy, I'm certainly interested!