COMC Show & Tell - Player Collection Buybacks

Most of my baseball player collections are guys whose cards are nothing but "commons," and the guys didn't have long careers.  One of the benefits is that it's not necessarily difficult attempting to put together a complete run of their cards.  One of the cons is that since they weren't stars, they aren't showing up in any current sets.

Enter the Topps buybacks.

Some guys, like Steve Kline, I haven't seen buybacks for.  However, I've seen a few for Chris Enochs, Russ Davis and Darrell Whitmore.  Many people dislike the buybacks, and particularly last year's "Rediscover Topps," but for guys like me, it's a rare opportunity to add something new to old player collections.

One problem is that there was no checklist released by Topps, that I know of.  Davis was in Topps sets for the better part of a decade and there may be buybacks for some seasons and not others.  That's not even taking into account the different stamp colors.  UGH!

I recently discovered that Trading Card Database has the sets in the system, and as users report cards, they are added.  It will never be a complete checklist, but it's better than nothing.  It's also nice since that's where I'm cataloging my collection and I'll be able to get these in.

Thanks to COMC, I was able to add three on my last shipment.

2017 Bowman - Bowman Buybacks Bronze #204 Chris Enochs 

2017 Bowman - Bowman Buybacks Bronze #204 Chris Enochs (back) 

 I found two copies of this card and happily picked up both of them for a combined $1.85.

2017 Bowman - Bowman Buybacks Silver #342 Russ Davis   

2017 Bowman - Bowman Buybacks Silver #342 Russ Davis (back)

It took $2.25 to get this one, but compared to prices on eBay it seemed like a steal, considering shipping.

2017 Topps - Rediscover Topps Stamped Buybacks Blue #193 Russ Davis 

2017 Topps - Rediscover Topps Stamped Buybacks Blue #193 Russ Davis (back)

This is my favorite card of the bunch.  I don't recall thinking that much about the 1997 Topps design in 1997.  Fast forward twenty-one years and I really like it.  Also, the blue foil stamping blends into the card well.  I really dig that.

This one set me back $1.99.  I wouldn't pay that much for any random buyback, but I think it was also a steal at that price to add to my Russ Davis collection.

Shane, of Shoebox Legends, is the one that turned me on to buybacks in general with his Frankenset posts.  I also realize that many collectors aren't fans of the buybacks.  What I'm curious to know is aimed at player collectors.  Do you look for these to add to your player collection(s) and what is your thought process on that?  Please comment below with your thoughts.  I'd love to read them!

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.  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!

PWE from The Angels, In Order

A few months ago, the fiance had me sign up for something with USPS that sends me a daily email with scans of (some) of the incoming mail.  It's usually only envelopes, so most card deliveries are surprises when I get home.  While that surprise is good, I learned that knowing something is coming is equally as exciting when you don't know the contents. 

This week I saw a PWE scan of an envelope that was traveling a short distance.  Tom of The Angels, In Order, only lives ten or so miles from me.  There was a lot of goodness in that envelope!

Most of the cards were of a man that I'm hoping will be announced as a new Hall of Famer just hours after I post this...

WOW!  Some of my favorite sets!  Well, kind of.  1987 was the first year I collected sports cards and I put together multiple Topps and Donruss sets.  Those two will always be among my favorite sets ever.  I don't care about overproduction and all that.  It's nostalgia and memories of an innocent time in life.  What's better is that I've never owned an O-Pee-Chee or Leaf copy that I recall.  WAHOO!

The 1988 Score set is another favorite of mine that was represented in the envelope.  My LCS has boxes of these, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.  I never built the set as a kid, but I plan to remedy that.  I'm always fond of Kay-Bee cards.  I loved the box sets.  Many have mentioned the small of opening Topps wax packs because of the gum.  Kay-Bee cards also had their own discernible smell.  As a kid of the late 1980s and early 1990s, I can't help but love the Classic "Saved By The Bell" design.

Despite the horrible design and so many off centered cards, 1986 Topps will always hold a special place in my heart.  It was the first set I ever owned.  A hand-collated set of these was given to me by my uncle for Christmas in 1986.  Sadly the set was lost in a house fire.  I've hand-collated another set and even went the extra mile to find and purchase the same album that my original set was in. 

Dale Murphy never played for the Phillies.  You will never convince me of that. 

RUSS DAVIS!

I mentioned my fondness for 1987 Topps above.  Because of it, I'm also working to complete sets from recent years with the design.  I needed two of the three of these for my set.  Love the throwback Phillies uniform. 

Thanks so much for the cards, Tom.  You made me smile and take a trip down memory lane. 

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.  Happy collecting!

PWE Surprise from The Lost Collector

I came home Thursday to find a PWE on the table with a return address that I recognized, but couldn't place in my head.  Inside I was thrilled to find four Russ Davis cards from AJ, of The Lost Collector blog.  Thank you so much, AJ!

I'm now at almost 70% complete on the Russ Davis collection.  I am probably already there, with some of the oddballs and randoms that aren't listed on Trading Card Database.  WINNING!

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 less than a year.  FREE CARDS!  If you're on Twitter, please give me a follow.  Happy collecting!

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. 

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!

One More Sportlots Post

It appears I counted incorrectly or just did something else stupid.  I finished up my Sportlots posts yesterday, but there was one envelope left with three Russ Davis cards.

1996 Flair #159 Russ Davis

1996 Summit Foil #30 Russ Davis

2002 Topps #206 Russ Davis

The stat line for the Russ Davis collection after this addition is at 213/309/68.9%.  This is of all cards, including 1/1s, in the Sports Card Forum Database.

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!

Sportlots Mail - #11 of 11

Another one bites the dust! I've had the refractor for 20 years, but not the base.  Until now.

1996 Finest #295 Russ Davis

Updated stat line for the Russ Davis collection after this addition is at 210/309/67.9%.  This is of all cards, including 1/1s, in the Sports Card Forum Database.

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!

Sportlots Mail - #10 of 11

This PWE had just one card, and one that wasn't on COMC.  The total with shipping was $1.18, but it was also the only one on Sportlots at the time.  Reading other blogs has lead me to believe that it's sometimes tough to find these old Pacific parallels, so I wasn't waiting.

2000 Pacific Ruby #391 Russ Davis

Stat line for the Russ Davis collection after this addition is at 209/309/67.6%.  This is of all cards, including 1/1s, in the Sports Card Forum Database.

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!

Sportlots Mail - #9 of 11

I definitely like when I can find multiple cards from the same seller on Sportlots.  After I put all the Russ Davis cards I needed into my basket, I was at a shipping threshold where I could buy a few more cards and not pay any extra shipping.  I took advantage of that and picked up some cards for the player collections I haven't started scanning and cataloging yet.  Who knows how many doubles I end up with.

2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors #241 Russ Davis

2001 Topps Chrome Retrofractors #241 Russ Davis

1997 Leaf Fractal Matrix Die Cuts #162 Russ Davis

1997 Score Reserve Collection #437 Russ Davis

 Not sure how exactly I made this mistake, but I already had this card.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

1998 Donruss Preferred #129 Russ Davis

1999 SkyBox Thunder Rant #238 Russ Davis

2000 Upper Deck MVP Silver Script #91 Russ Davis

It was awesome to pick up seven Russ Davis cards from one seller.  Unfortunately, only five are going into the collection.  I mentioned above that I bought a card I already had.  The MVP Silver Script has red marker or something on it.  The seller has refunded the money for it already, at least.

After the five additions to my collection, the Davis stat line is 208/309/67.3%.  I'm now over two-thirds complete.  This is of all cards, including 1/1s, in the Sports Card Forum Database.

2001 MLB Showdown Unlimited #268 Steve Kline

2001 Upper Deck Victory #320 Steve Kline

1997 Collector's Choice #315 Steve Kline

When I get to the point that I'm scanning and cataloging Steve Kline cards, I will write a "why I collect."  With these three cards, there's one I definitely have (but I knew that when I made the purchase), one I probably have and one I might have.  We shall see.

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!

Sportlots Mail #8 of 11

It doesn't seem that a card /1000 should really be that hard to find.  However, I found this on Sportlots and it was the first time I'd come across it.  I'm sure there have been some on eBay over time, but not when I was looking.  I was thrilled to pay just a buck for it, but the $3 shipping for ONE CARD irked me.  I would have gladly chanced it in a PWE for a buck.

1994 Signature Rookies Hottest Prospects Signatures #S2 Russ Davis

1994 Signature Rookies Hottest Prospects Signatures #S2 Russ Davis (back)

This addition raises the Russ Davis line to 203/309/65.7%.

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!

Sportlots Mail - #6 of 11

Here we have another Russ Davis cards that I was able to get from Sportlots, with the shipping cost, for less than COMC.  I am always in "buyer" mode on COMC, so currently I can pick this card up for $0.74.  However, when I go to ship, I will have to pay another quarter in shipping.  From Sportlots, I picked this up for $0.18 + $0.75 shipping.  The other bonus is that I might not ship from COMC for another month or so, but already have this card in-hand.

1998 Score Seattle Mariners #12 Russ Davis

1998 Score Seattle Mariners #12 Russ Davis

This addition raises the Russ Davis line to 202/309/65.4%.  One more card and I'll be at two-thirds complete!

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!

Sportlots Mail - #5 of 11

Most of the Russ Davis cards I need from his early career are minor league issues.  They weren't easy to come by in the pre-internet days but most can be found now.  It's just a matter of if you are willing to pay what someone is asking.

There has been a copy of this card on COMC for quite awhile.  The asking price is $2.95 so I moved on.  This copy from Sportlots was $0.30 + $1 shipping.

1993 Columbus Clippers Team Issue #3 Russ Davis

1993 Columbus Clippers Team Issue #3 Russ Davis (back)

This addition raises the Russ Davis line to 201/309/65%.  Just two more cards and I will be at two-thirds complete!

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!

Sportlots Mail - #4 of 11

The moment that I opened this particular PWE, I was mad at myself.  I knew the card looked familiar and I figured I ordered the wrong card.  Once I sat down to research and write my post, I realized that I DID actually order the base card.  The seller sent the gold parallel, which I already have.  I've filed on the site to get a refund and we will see how it goes.

I figure I may as well still show off the card!

1996 Flair Gold #159 Russ Davis

The card that I need for the collection is the base card.  It has a silver background instead of the gold one that this particular card has.

1996 Flair Gold #159 Russ Davis (back)

I'm only showing the back for one reason.  I want to mention that Fleer did a fantastic job with the designs and photos on the back of their Flair brands.  I understand that most nobody cares about card backs, including the manufacturers.  That makes me appreciate the Flair backs that much more.

Unfortunately, this is a post that doesn't add to the Russ Davis numbers.  The collection remains at 200/309/64.7% of cards listed in the Sports Card Forum database.

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!

Sportlots Mail - #3 of 11

I've posted two packages from one Sportlots purchase so far.  On to number three.  This one is a little different in that it's not just cards for the Russ Davis collection.  It's a little bit of a mixed bag. 

1998 Topps Minted In Cooperstown #202 Russ Davis

1998 Pacific Online Red #682 Russ Davis

1999 Upper Deck Victory #379 Russ Davis

These three cards now have me at 200 unique Russ Davis cards that are listed in the Sports Card Forum database.  The line now sits at 200/309/64.7%.

2015 Topps Heritage #344 Jedd Gyorko

2014 Allen and Ginter #12 Jedd Gyorko

While I don't believe I had the Allen & Ginter, I believe I have ten or so copies of the Heritage card.  Last time I tried to find them I couldn't, so for $.0.18 I picked this up "just in case." These two were the last two in the cart that I grabbed.  They weren't going to cost me any extra shipping, so why not?

All of the Blackhawks cards below had been in my cart on Sportlots for months and I'd just never completed the transaction.  Picking up the Davis and Gyroko cards from the seller was just an added bonus for me.

2013-14 Score Alternate Back #108 Brandon Bollig

I both love and hate that Score put these cards into their product.  They look like any other card, but it's the backs that make them different.  The card below is the back scan.  However, the normal base card backs were printed in black.

What I dislike about them isn't their scarcity, it's that likely people don't know about them.  I was never able to acquire a copy of this for my Andrew Shaw PC.  I never even saw one.  There are probably a handful sitting in some kids' box of cards and he has no idea how much I'd give to snag the Shaw copy.  UGH!

2013-14 Score Alternate Back #108 Brandon Bollig

2013-14 Score Red #102 Dave Bolland

2013-14 Score Red #101 Niklas Hjalmarsson

2013-14 Score Red #100 Viktor Stalberg

2013-14 Panini Prizm Red Prizms #122 Jonathan Toews

2013-14 Panini Prizm Red Prizms #126 Corey Crawford

2013-14 Panini Prizm Red Prizms #127 Patrick Sharp

2013-14 Panini Prizm Red Prizms #128 Brent Seabrook

2013-14 Panini Prizm Red Pulsar Prizms #124 Duncan Keith

I planned to get away from modern, but I've gravitated back on a few things.  Something I really enjoy are Blackhawks cards with black or red borders.  I know I'm not alone and that many collectors enjoy parallels with their teams' colors.  I'm not sure how active I will be in searching for them but at some point I will try and get some of them up on my want lists.  

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!