I have 15 out of 24 - only 9 left!

I picked this card up this week on eBay for less than $4, including shipping. I can now cross Frank Robinson off my list for a bat card of every member of the 500 Home Run Club. I purchased another card this week that will bring me another card closer to completing my goal, but I'll save that for another post, after I actually have the card in hand. After I get that card I will only need 8 cards. I have been tracking bat cards of everyone remaining on my list. The Ruth card will probably be the mnost expensive, but I think McGwire will be right up there, just because he doesn't have many bat cards out there. All the other ones including Hank Aaron, Ted Williams, Harmon Killabrew, and Jimmie Foxx can be purchased for resonable prices. The others can be found for less than $5 each, it's just a matter of finding the right card.

Barry Bonds 762

Hank Aaron 755
Babe Ruth 714
Willie Mays 660
Ken Griffey Jr. 630
Sammy Sosa 609
Frank Robinson 586
Mark McGwire 583
Alex Rodriguez 583
Harmon Killebrew 573
Rafael Palmeiro 569
Jim Thome 564
Reggie Jackson 563
Mike Schmidt 548
Manny Ramirez 546
Mickey Mantle 536
Jimmie Foxx 534
Willie McCovey 521
Frank Thomas 521
Ted Williams 521
Ernie Banks 512
Mel Ott 511
Gary Sheffield 509
Eddie Murray 504

Box Break: 2010 Allen & Ginter Retail Blaster (Auto)

This past Thursday I purchased a retail blaster of 2010 Allen & Ginter plus an additional single pack at Target. I usually moan and complain about my box breaks. I vow never to buy a box again. However, I won't be doing that with this box, as I pulled an auto. Here are the highlights of the box.

Most of the base cards are posed shots. Here are a couple of examples.

ERIC YOUNG JR. - ROY HALLADAY

These are the only two "action" shots from the entire box.

NOLAN REIMOLD

JOSH JOHNSON

Here are the minis. The Billingsly and the X-ray are A&G backs.

Here are the shortprints. 7 in 9 packs is not too bad. 2 of the packs had 2 shortprints in them, which I thought was kinda odd.

Baseball Sketches - DEWAYNE WISE - A great card of a great play!

Autograph - REGIS PHILBIN - As soon as I opened the pack it was obvious that I had gotten either a relic or an auto because of the red frame. I just knew it was going to be an auto and was pleasently suprised to see that is was of Regis Philbin.

TTM Success: Duke Snider

I sent Duke Snider a few cards back on July 15th. I got them both back today, signed, just 13 days later. Mr. Snider was a great player and I am honored to have his autograph in my collection. Thanks Mr. Snider!

2004 Fleer Greats of the Game

2001 Fleer Greats of the Game

A couple of packs of 2010 Allen & Ginter

I finally broke down and purchased a couple of packs of 2010 Allen & Ginter today at Target. Here is a look at what I got in my two packs.

Pack 1

Aybar - Teixera - Morneau

Matsui

World's Wordsmiths mini - Shen Kuo

This Day in History - Butler

Pack 2

King Tut

Lee - Guillen

Barton

Allen & Ginter back mini - Duke

This Day in History - Lee

Trade with Crinkly Wrappers - 2010 Topps and D-Backs

Ted from the blog Crinkly Wrappers offered up some 2010 Topps cards for trade. I sent him my needs list for Series 2 and he responded big time by knocking off 50 cards that I needed. Now I only need 12 cards to finish Series 2. In our correspondence prior to the trade he asked if I needed any cards from Series 1. I told him that I wasn't going after that set because I had only bought a few packs here and there. To my surprise, Ted included 136 out of the 330 cards from Series 1, all in order. I went through the other cards that I had already from Series 1 and now I only need 108 cards to complete Series 1. Ted also included a few Diamondbacks cards. Here are a few of my favorite D-Backs, there were just too many Topps cards to scan. Ted, you went above and beyond man. Sorry for the delayed response. I've been trying to find cards to send you in return. I wasn't expecting all the extra cards. Expect a package or two from me in the next couple of days. Thanks Ted!

2010 Topps Opening Day EDWIN JACKSON

2010 Topps Opening Day JUSTIN UPTON and STEPHEN DREW

2010 Topps National Chicle CHRIS YOUNG and JUSTIN UPTON

2006 Justifiable MICAH OWINGS 

2009 Topps 206 Bronze STEPHEN DREW

TTM Success: Bobby Doerr & Dick Groat

It has been a while since I had any TTM success, but I am at least partly to blame. I have quite a few requests still out there, but I hadn't sent out any new requests in a while. Last Thursday, July 15th, I sent out 8 TTM autograph requests. Today, just 8 days later I received 2 back. I got 2 cards from Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr. He was nice enough to sign the two cards of his that I had recently pulled from a box of 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game. Mr. Doerr has signed for me before TTM and from what I understand, is always really quick. Thanks Mr. Doerr! I also received an autograph from Dick Groat. Mr. Groat added the inscription that I requested, "1960 N.L. MVP" on his 2000 Fleer Greats of the Game card. Thanks Mr. Groat!

Contest Winnings from Sports Card Kids

I read about Sports Card Kids on another blog about a month ago. I checked out the site and entered a few of the contests and won the two cards below. I have collected both football and basketball cards in the past, but am currently focusing on just baseball, but it's always fun to win something. If you have a moment, check out Sports Card Kids. They have some good cards at great prices and don't forget about the contests!

More recently I won this 2006 Fleer Great of the Game Ernie Banks insert from a contest at Sports Card Kids.

Contest over at Nr Mt

Nr Mt is combining two of my favorite things, baseball cards and The Price is Right, in a contest. Check out his blog and sign up.

500 Home Run Club Bat Card - Mickey Mantle

One of my 2010 Card Collecting goals is to get a bat card of every member of the 500 Home Run Club. I can now check Mickey Mantle off my list, as I got this recent eBay purchase in the mail today. The card is from the 2001 Upper Deck Hall of Famers Game Bat insert set. I love this set and I absolutly love this card. I love the photo, which I believe is commemorating Mickey's 1956 Triple Crown season, hence the crown and the 3 bats (you can see the begining of his .353 batting average on the top bat). Just a great card!

Here is my list. I now have 14 of 24. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Barry Bonds 762
Hank Aaron 755
Babe Ruth 714
Willie Mays 660
Ken Griffey Jr. 630
Sammy Sosa 609
Frank Robinson 586
Mark McGwire 583
Alex Rodriguez 583
Harmon Killebrew 573
Rafael Palmeiro 569
Jim Thome 564
Reggie Jackson 563
Mike Schmidt 548
Manny Ramirez 546
Mickey Mantle 536
Jimmie Foxx 534
Willie McCovey 521
Frank Thomas 521
Ted Williams 521
Ernie Banks 512
Mel Ott 511
Gary Sheffield 509
Eddie Murray 504

Negro League Baseball Stamps

I picked these stamps up the other day at the post office. The stamps commemorate the Negro Leagues and the "father" of the Negro Leagues, Andrew "Rube" Foster. Thought they would work out nicely for sending out TTM requests.

Duke Snider - Multiple Bat Card

In my goal to collect 50 cards of players holding multiple bats I have come across some great looking cards. This 1997 Kenner card of Duke Snider is no exception and is number 42 out of 50 in my quest. This card accompanied a Starting Lineup figure and showcases the Duke holding 12 bats!

eBay Pickup: no-hitter tickets

I picked up this pair of tickets from Edwin Jackson's no-hitter on eBay last week. I had been outbid on a couple others auctions, but won this pair for $1.35 + $4.90 shipping. I'm going to try to get Edwin to sign them sometime this season.

That looks like it hurts!

I was looking at some 2010 Topps cards the other day and came across a couple of cards that made me think, "That looks like it hurts!"

2010 Topps JORDAN SCHAFER - Look at his left foot. Maybe his foot came out of his shoe. I don't see any other explaination, because otherwise you would think his face would show some pain.

2010 Topps Scot Shields - His right arm is all twisted. Maybe it's just the camera angle, I don't know but it doesn't look like it would feel good to throw a pitch like that.

Boston Red Sox Fan Pack (Fenway Dirt)

I got a package in the mail yesterday from the Boston Red Sox. I had requested a fan pack via email a few weeks back. The Red Sox, specifically Phil Derrick (Fenway Embassador) sent a hand written note thanking me for being a fan. Also included was an application to join the Red Sox Kid Nation, a photo of Jonathan Papelbon, a Red Sox pocket schedule, a Red Sox Nation bracelet, and a little bag filled with Fenway Dirt. What an awesome fan pack! Thanks Red Sox!

All-Star Prediction

I predict a 5-3 NL victory tonight.

Is a Rod Carew autograph worth $65?

Rod Carew will be signing at a card show on September 25th. I would love to add a Carew autograph to my collection but the price for his autograph seems a little steep. $125 for bats and jerseys and $65 for everything else. The price includes 1 inscription, additional inscriptions are $20 each. If I get his autograph it would be on a ball and I would limit myself to 1 inscription, so it would cost me $65. Is a Rod Carew autograph worth $65? Don't get me wrong, Rod Carew won the Rookie of the Year award in 1967, AL MVP in 1977, was an 18 time All-Star, won 7 batting titles, is a member of the 3000 hit club and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. I get it, but $65 just seems like a lot to me. Maybe I am just cheap, I don't know. I'm still up in the air on whether or not I am going to get his autograph at the show or not. I can pick up plently of his certified autographed cards on eBay for a heck of a lot less than $65. What are your thoughts?

Congratulations Chris!

Chris Young is the lone Arizona Diamondback participating in the MLB All-Star game on Tuesday. C.Y. will also be participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday. Congratulations Chris on your first All-Star selection, and good luck!

2010 Topps Peak Performance CHRIS YOUNG Auto -This card commemorates Young hitting 3 home runs in a game on 9/6/09, so he definitly has the power to compete in the HR Derby!

Birthday Box Break: 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game

Yesterday was my birthday and so I had some spending money. I went to a card shop that I hadn't been to in years, The Batter's Box. I broke down and got a box instead of singles. I just felt like opening a box on my birthday. After opening it, I wish I would have added some singles to my personal collection. I got a box of 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game. 15 packs - 5 cards per pack. 2 Autographs and 2 game-used per box. An average of 1 insert per pack.

Pack #1 - The Pewter version is a parallel. I thought it was interesting that I got the Denny McLain base and pewter parallel in the same pack.

Pack #2 - George Foster bat card. Not great, but not bad.

Pack #3

Pack #4

Pack #5

Pack #6 - I really like the Nicknames insert set and might try to collect it.

Pack #7

Pack #8

Pack #9

Pack #10

Pack #11

Pack #12 - The Yount is a Copper Parallel numbered out of 299.

Pack #13 - Never heard of George 'Boomer' Scott before.

Pack #14

Pack #15