Season Of Giving Contest Winnings from @HoardingCards

If you're not reading Jason's (@HoardingCards on Twitter) blog Hoarding Cardboard you're missing out.  Throughout December he gave away plenty of cards.  All you had to do was comment on a post, then he used a randomizer to select the winner. 

I was fortunate enough to win on a few different days.  I had some sent to other collectors.  Eventually, I just had him send the last group to me and I will pass them on to others in time. 

Thanks for the card, Jason! 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Giveaway Mail from @ExamineBaseball

Yesterday I received a PWE from Nick (@examinebaseball on Twitter) of the Baseball Happenings site.  All I had to do was follow, which I have for years, and RT.  Thanks, Nick! 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

2018 Twitter Trade #1 - @stephler4

A few weeks back, Steph posted on Twitter that he was looking (and he still is) Ryan Spooner cards.  I had a numbered patch card from 2017-18 Artifacts that he needed.  I checked his eBay items for sale and found a card that fit into my collection, but it wasn't going to be able to be a one-for-one trade.  We agreed to an amount of Paypal for me to send.  I did and cards began moving. 

My card arrived in the mail today! 

I want any red-bordered Blackhawks cards that I didn't have.  I did not have this one, the 2014-15 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Red Rookie Signature.  It's numbered 24/50. 

When Teravainen was traded I got rid of most of his cards.  I kept his Draft Day Marks autograph because it was the best auto that I had and I wanted to keep one.  That one may go for more and be lower numbered, but this one is an upgrade in my book.  Thanks, Steph! 


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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Rangers from ARPSmith's Sportscard Obsession

Less than a week ago, Adam of ARPSmith's Sportscard Obsession posted that he needed some sorting space and would send team lots to collectors that claimed a particular team.  There are no strings attached, but of course I will send him some cards back.  The only problem is that he sent WAY more than I ever expected and I'm going to need to pick up some cards for him! 

I got back to my desk yesterday after a couple of meetings and there was a HEAVY priority mail box on my desk.  I had no idea what it was, even after looking at the address.  As soon as I pulled the first team bag out, I realized what all was in the box.  WOW!

That pic doesn't do the cards justice.  Here's another pic that shows how tall the stacks are. 

The cards range from the late 1970s through last season.  Just about every notable Ranger of the last 30 years was in there.  Some of the names were Nolan Ryan, Alex Rodriguez, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark Texiera, Will Clark, Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish.  Not all the cards were mainstream, there were plenty of oddballs in there.  I had no idea what to expect, but I definitely didn't expect this! 

I will have a first package out for you soon, Adam.  Then, I will have to find some more things and get out a second one.  I might not be at a card show for a few months, though.  Thank you! 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

2018 Trading Card Database Trade #2 - dcdeacon

Thanks to the match alerts, I found this user that had a few 2017-18 Upper Deck cards that I needed for my set and also needed some of my doubles.  I told him I would do it as a PWE trade if he was interested and he was good with that. 

I'm going to be smarter with my trades going forward.  It makes no sense to spend $3 to send out a trade when the cards that I'm getting back I wouldn't pay $3 for at a card show.  I see a lot of the PWE trades in 2018. 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

2018 Trading Card Database Trade #1 - parsley24

This trade isn't random.  Even though it was set up through Trading Card Database, it was a trade with a co-worker.  I actually got him to sign up for TCDB and it's been good for him.  He's made a lot of trades and is making great progress on his 2017 Heritage and 1969 Topps sets.  He's been on the site since early October and as of this writing, has 46 feedback comments, all positive.

We'd already traded a couple of times and I just had one card that he needed.  I gave him that and cash, and the pic below is what I received back.

• A huge stack of 2016-17 Upper Deck Series 1.  I had both base sets completed and had probably 2/3 of the Young Guns before selling off the set.  I was trying to come up with the final amount of cash I needed to buy an engagement ring and sold it all off.  It's one of the biggest regrets I've had in my 30 years in the hobby.  I'm back to square one working on the set. 
• He had two of the Young Guns - Trevor Carrick and the checklist with Auston Matthews.  
• Also some 2016-17 UD Canvas cards.  I love these cards and plan to try and build some of the old sets.  I'll probably never complete them because of the Young Guns, but it's at least something to work on. 
• A handful of 2017-18 base and UD Canvas for my sets.  Also, he had the Andrew Shaw jersey card.  I'm not actively searching for Shaw cards anymore but when I can come into them, I snag them.  

If you're on Trading Card Database, take a look and see if there's a trade to be made with Steven.  I can vouch for him and he's one of the guys in the hobby truly for fun.  

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Preserve The Hobby Podcast #1

Sunday evening I joined my friend Jason to record the first Preserve The Hobby Podcast.

We talked about wrestling trading cards and the Aaron Judge - Topps - BGS triangle. 

You can listen here.  This is the best way that I can figure out to listen at this point. 

Cartas Coleccionables de Coqueta - 2017 Goodwin Champions Canine Companions #CC53

Even before we lost Coqueta, I knew that I wanted this card.  The night after she passed, I looked on eBay, made and offer and it was accepted.  I may have overpaid, but I'm not going to stress that.  I'm just happy to have the card. 

While the image may resemble Coqueta, I believe it to be a different type of Mastiff.  It's listed as a "Working Mastiff" and Coqueta was an English Mastiff. 

Since this is (probably) the most recent mastiff trading card, I feel that the appropriate Coqueta picture is the last, and obviously most recent, one that I have of her.  It was taken about an hour before she received her wings. 

Bringing Lola into our family has really helped us.  The last week has been a lot better.  I still miss you terribly, my angel. 

Pack Break: 2017 Topps Heritage Minors

I picked up a couple of packs yesterday at the local card shop.  If you follow A Pack To Be Named Later, I posted the "better" pack on there a few minutes ago.  My knowledge of current players and prospects is limited.  I admit, I haven't heard of one player from the pack below.  I had heard of three or four in the other. 

If you're interested in trading for any of them, they'll be in my Trading Card Database inventory before you even read this. 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Show Spoils

I wasn't going to make the hour drive to today's "local" card show.  At dinner with friends last night, my friend asked about if I was going to any shows soon.  I mentioned today's show and he said he wanted to go and would drive, so I figured 'what the hell?'  He isn't a collector but did collect a little as a kid and after chatting a few weeks ago, he was all about it.  It seems like he bought more cards for someone else than himself, but he did pick up a few Cowboys cards.  I don't know that he's a collector, but he wants to go to more shows.  We shall see...

If you saw my 2018 collecting goals, my big one was to spend less money this year.  Most of the way through January, I've done well.  I spend some money today, but nothing was more than $2.  A lot of it was stuff to list on Trading Card Database and/or trade with other bloggers.  I didn't spend too much on myself, which was a win in itself.  It's also easy to do when it's mostly the same sellers that you've seen a dozen times and you aren't into the newest products. 

All of these were out of a dime box.  I hadn't seen that seller before but this was all that I picked up.  I feel that my BWTP Secret Santa gift I gave was weak compared to some others, so I'm hoping that he needs a few of these.   Now that I look at it, most aren't Ginter.  Maybe not.  BOOOOOOOOO!!!

The cards in the next three pics were all a quarter.  It was a different seller that I hadn't seen before, so I was willing to spend time digging through the boxes. 

The cards above will go into my Trading Card Database inventory to trade.  The Bo Jackson Rated Rookie is all mine!  It should have been in the picture below with the other cards I'm keeping. 

I was excited when I saw the first buyback card.  I was hoping there's be many more, but four 1970s buybacks for a buck makes me happy! 

As I was about to leave the show, I saw a 1955 Bowman football card on the top of a dollar box.  I've been acquiring cards from this set over the last couple of years.  I went through the entire four-row box and pulled all 14 cards from the set that I came across.  I know there were some multiples but I wasn't concerned.  I also picked up a couple of Charley Conerly cards.  For whatever reason, I pick up cheap copies of cards of the former Marlboro Man. 

As soon as I finish this post, I'm going to start sheeting up the 1955 Bowman cards.  I officially consider myself working on the set.  I stopped at my LCS on the way home and bought the sheets to make it official. 

Each of these was $2 and all but one if for me.  I'm thrilled with all of them!  I really don't want to pick up any more cards of former Mountaineers in their NFL uniforms, but that Owen Schmitt card is really sweet looking with the green bored.  This picture does it no justice.  I couldn't pass up a Dwight Gooden jersey card with a pinstripe.  I have a handful of the "Piece of the Game" bat cards and like the 1955 Bowmans, was "acquiring" them while not really working on the set.  A few more of these and I'll be working on the set.  I would have purchased as many as he had at $2 a pop.

There you have it, the cards I picked up today.  I truly didn't think I'd buy anything, but I'm really happy with what I got and for how little I got it for. 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Cartas Coleccionables de Coqueta - 1880 Goodwin & Company

Two weeks.

It feels like an eternity, but at the same time I remember it like it was last night.

It was obvious that something wasn't right.  Mama couldn't get you to get up that morning to go eat and potty.  I couldn't either.  When I got home, Dylan told me that you hadn't moved all day.  Finally, you got up for me and went outside.  You didn't eat or use the bathroom though.  You just laid in the yard.  For hours I tried to get you to come in but you wouldn't, even though it was pretty cold outside.

When mama got home, she made a call and confirmed what I kinda knew.  I could see in your eyes that you weren't all there.  We were able to move you enough to get that blanket under you.  It took all three of us to get you inside.  We weren't a little bundle of joy and you weren't still 150 pounds like a couple of years ago, but you were still our big ol' lady.

You hung on.  You let us bring you inside.  You hung on long enough to see mama get that ring on her finger.  You hung on through one last Christmas for us.  I choose to believe that you knew.  You knew what would be easiest on us.  You knew that we knew it was time, even though it seemingly came out of nowhere.  We wanted you to go own your own and at home with us.

We sat there with you in the floor for over an hour, wanting you to know just how much we loved you.  We told you that it was okay go.  You'd given us all that you had and it was more than we could have asked for.  Mama said you wouldn't go as long as we were there with you.  Our friends came over.  I turned off the overhead light and the Christmas lights on and stepped into the other room for just a couple of minutes to chat with the friends.  When I came back, you'd received your wings.

I've been fortunate.  It'll be 40 in a little more than a year and I haven't lost anyone close to me.  I've lost two grandmothers but I didn't see them every day.  Missing you is a different kind of hurt.  Until I moved to Texas and in with you, mama and Dylan, I'd been alone my entire adult life.  I had an instant family and it was a darn good one.  There's still a hole and I feel like there always will be. 

Since you left, I've changed.  I've been asking myself what I'm doing with my life.  Certain things aren't as important as they were.  I don't get worked up over small stuff.  I've changed for the better, even though I miss you. 

It's weird.  I lost it when they came to get you.  Then I was good for a week, until mama and I came to bring you home with us.  This last week has been rough though, and I don't know why. 

I wasn't here, but I even know the story behind how your name became Coqueta.  Loosely translated, it means "flirty girl" and it was what one of the housekeepers called you every day as a pup.  It stuck.  I'm happy that it did.  Since the lady spoke very little English and your name was of Spanish descent, I decided to use the Spanish in my titles

I can't remember why or how I decided to search for a mastiff trading card a couple of months ago, but I'm happy that I did.  At the time you received your wings, I had just one card.  Since you left, it's become a collection.  The one I already had is the oldest trading card that I own and will always hold a place in my heart. 

Other than you having a bit of gray on your muzzle the last couple of years, you looked just like that.  I can't say that about some other mastiff cards. 

Since I'm posting the oldest card it seems appropriate to share the oldest picture that mama could find of you.  I didn't know you at that size and wonder if this is photoshopped somehow! 

Just know that even though we adopted Lola on Saturday, she's not a replacement for you.  For one, you are irreplaceable.  Also, that wouldn't be fair to any other pup.  Mama was having some anxiety about nobody here to protect and/or warn us and wasn't sleeping well.  I choose to believe that you understand and want this for us.  We both needed a puppygirl to love, but it's a different love than we have for you. 

Lola

There are more cards and there will be more posts.  There will never be another you.  Please know that.

Like I told you every morning before I left for work, "daddy loves you and will see you soon." 


(Apologies if you see any spelling errors or sentences that don't make sense.  I couldn't bring myself to proofread this.)

Joining JBF

While our blogging friend Wes isn't as active on his blog, he's still on Twitter.  The evening of the second, I saw him tweet that he was working to lose weight this year.  I know that it's easier to do when you have accountability, so I told him that I'd join him on his journey.  I'm getting married next January, so I need to get going myself. 

It's been a trying couple of weeks to begin the year between being sick, and losing our puppygirl on the third.  Last weekend we rearranged our living room to get rid of the "hole" where Coqueta would lay.  This weekend we adopted a sweet terrier this weekend and things are slowly getting back to "normal."  Hopefully next week I can get started with DDP Yoga and begin shedding some pounds.  

Even though I haven't put in the work yet, I have been weighing myself.  I'm going to be posting progress on the blog, because it provides me the accountability that I need.  

My initial weight, taken on the second.

My weight last Monday:

And my weight today...

If anyone else wants to join in, feel free!  

Have a great night and happy collecting! 

Box Break & Review - 2017-18 Parkhurst Hockey #5

I should have had this post up much sooner, but it is what it is.  I opened the fifth (and final) 2017-18 Parkhurst blaster I bought.  

In all five blasters, the stated odds have come out of the packs.  There was only one difference between this blaster and the first four.  In this blaster I only received two of the Parkhurst International cards (all others had three) and I pulled two "Blow The Horn" inserts after pulling just one in the previous blasters.  

Once again, the base card collation was good.  I did not receive any duplicates in the box.  The best news is that I got 34 of the 35 cards that I needed to complete my set.  The only card I need is #288 Alex DeBrincat.  I have a copy of it, but it's for my collection as opposed to my set.  I'll get one, somehow.  

I know that I have plenty of cards that Coast to Posts needs to finish his set and I'm hoping he pulled a spare DeBrincat that he can spare.  I've seen a few more blasters available in the last week, but I don't really want to buy more blasters to try and hit one card.  I do still need a lot of inserts, though.  

I have a post planned for tomorrow that isn't card-related, but I hope the card blogging community will have some interest in.  I've also started a new non-sports collection and should begin those posts in the next week.  I probably won't be posting daily anymore, but I will still post.  I'll also be reading and sharing others' posts on Twitter!  

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Hello, Secret Santa!

I know, I'm very late getting this post up.  To AJ (The Lost Collector), who was my BWTP Secret Santa, I apologize.  I had this sent to my work address and I was out for almost two weeks around Christmas.  Also, I've been sick for more than two weeks.  Then to top it off, eight nights ago our sweet puppygirl Coqueta received her angel wings.  It's not just a lack of motivation to write, I also haven't opened my laptop in almost a week.  It's been a trying few weeks. 

I'm back with a few posts to write, but AJ certainly deserves to have this post written first. 

WAHOO!  Four presents to open! 

Package number one contained a pack of 2017 Topps Update.  I am not going to show what was inside here.  You'll have to check A Pack To Be Named Later in the upcoming days.  AJ probably didn't know it, but he also gave me the gift of a second blog post from his gift. 

RUSS DAVID GOODIES!  In his note, AJ mentioned that he hoped I needed some of the Davis cards.  I was sitting at 70.5% complete, so the odds weren't in his favor.  He did very well!  I needed three of the six cards!  The 1999 Fleer Tradition Warning Track, 1997 Fleer Tradition Tiffany and the 1997 Ultra Gold Medallion cards are all new to my Russ Davis collection.  Of the ones that I had, he was really close of the Leaf Die-Cut.  A few months ago I needed it.  SO CLOSE!  I did have the Donruss autograph, but what player collector doesn't want more autographs?

VINTAGE MOUNTAINEER!  While I did have a copy of this card already, I'm thrilled to have another.  I can't get enough copies of vintage Mountaineer cards.  Hell, there's a Bruce Bosley card that I have about ten copies of.  I don't pass them up, I give them a great home.

LOW NUMBERED RUSS DAVID GOODIES!  The 1997 Rave Circa Rave card is numbered 80/150.  I do have a couple of copies of it, but I keep multiples of low numbered inserts and it's going nowhere.  The 2000 MVP Gold Script is numbered 20/50 and is one that I needed!  WAHOO! 

Thanks so much, AJ!  I am absolutely thrilled.  Adding four more cards to the Russ Davis collection is awesome!  You outdid yourself, my friend! 

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!

Box Break & Review - 2017-18 Parkhurst Hockey #4

It may be a new year, but I'm continuing with the 2017-18 Parkhurst Hockey blasters.  After the third blaster I was 87.3% of the complete set.  Will I finish it with this blaster?  I'm thinking no, but we shall see.

Base Cards - 108 cards (36% of the complete set) with no duplicates.  This is what I've seen with all four blasters other than the one pack that contained two inserts.  There haven't been doubles in any blasters.

Black Parallel (1:12 packs) - 1 - #13 Jakob Chychrun

2017-18 Parkhurst - Black #13 Jakob Chychrun 

Red Parallel (1:3 packs) - 4 - #27 Sam Reinhart, #113 Alec Martinez, #246 Blake Wheeler, #300 Checklist (Auston Matthews)

2017-18 Parkhurst - Red #27 Sam Reinhart 

2017-18 Parkhurst - Red #113 Alec Martinez

2017-18 Parkhurst - Red #246 Blake Wheeler

2017-18 Parkhurst - Red #300 Checklist / Auston Matthews

International (1:5 packs) - 3 - #PI-8 Alex Ovechkin, #PI-11 Henrik Lundqvist, #PI-23 Nino Niederreiter

2017-18 Parkhurst - International #PI-8 Alex Ovechkin

2017-18 Parkhurst - International #PI-11 Henrik Zetterberg

2017-18 Parkhurst - International #PI-23 Nino Niederreiter

Prominent Prospects (1:12 packs) - 1 - #PP-16 Nico Hischier

2017-18 Parkhurst - Prominent Prospects #PP-16 Nico Hischier 

Blow The Horn - 1:10 packs - 1 - #BH-6 Auston Matthews

2017-18 Parkhurst - Blow the Horn #BH-6 Auston Matthews

East Vs. West (East 1:13 packs, West 1:13 packs) - 2 - #E-4 Erik Karlsson, #W-4 P.K. Subban

2017-18 Parkhurst - East vs. West #E-4 Erik Karlsson 

2017-18 Parkhurst - East vs. West #W-4 P.K. Subban 

Everything was in line again in this blaster.  As for my set completion, this is where collation frustration kicks in.  Before this blaster, I needed 38 cards to complete the set.  That's over 10% of the cards.  In this blaster, I got THREE cards that I needed.  That is it.  105 of 108 base cards in the box were multiples.

I don't have the answer and it's not my job to.  However, this is pretty ridiculous, to be honest.  It's another reason that I see set collectors becoming more and more frustrated with companies.  This gives me little confidence that I will complete the set with the cards in the final blaster.  That means I will have spent $100 and still not completed the set.  To be honest, it seems like a valid reason for why set building has all but died.  What are your thoughts?  Feel free to leave comments below.  

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 $150 in a year (including $15 back on one Black Friday purchase last week).  FREE CARDS!

If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  You can also find me on Trading Card Database.  I love trading cards, when it makes sense.  Happy collecting!