Random Card Show Purchases

Getting really great participation for my ongoing contest. It runs through Sparky Lyle's birthday; 7/22, so plenty more time to get entries in. I've added a few more cards to the prize package, so be sure to click here to see the new cards and get an entry in.

I went to a card show a few ago and my goal going into the show was to purchase one of the 4 remaining Hank Aaron cards I need for my Topps playing career run. I was able to do that.

I also picked up a couple of random cards at the show. These are players that I don't actively collect and sets that I'm not going after. But I still bought them. I bought them because I liked the card and I felt the price was right. Let me know what you think.

First up is this 2000 Upper Deck Game Jersey card of Troy Glaus. It came in the screw down. I don't still just have these laying around.

This is from back when jersey and other relic cards were fairly new and they were tough to pull from packs. The Troy Glaus card was available in both Series 1 and Series 2. For Series 1 it was available in Hobby products at a rate of 1:288 packs. This card could also be pulled from Series 2 packs of either Hobby or Retail with odds at 1:287 packs. There are 19 different players that have a Game Jersey card in Series 2, so assuming they all have the same amount of cards, that puts the odds of any one player at 1:5,453 packs. 

I have no idea how to determine what Series this particular card came from. Looking at the October 2000 Beckett, it lists both versions of the card with the Series 1 card booking at a high of $60 and the Series 2 card booking at $50.

I paid $2 for this card. Again, I like the card for a couple of reasons. I had an Angles hat from around this time period that had the wing on the A. Not sure where I got it from, but I liked it. Glaus was a good player who was pretty much at his peak when this card was issued, He was an All-Star in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005), won the Silver Slugger award in 2000 and 2001 and led the AL in homers in 2000. In 2002 he would lead the Angels to a World Series victory and was name World Series MVP.

The other random card I grabbed at the card show was from the same dealer. It is a 2003 UD Play Ball Game Used Memorabilia Signature card of Lance Berkman. It's numbered 01/50. You can see the yellowed edges of the top loader. It's probably been in there a while. This card was in a half price bin, so instead of $20, I paid $10 for it. 

Berkman is not a player I actively collect, but he had a nice career. The bulk of his career was spent with the Astros and was a part of the Killer B's along with Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. Berkman, a 6 time all-star would appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first and only time in 2019 as he would garner just 1.2% of the vote and fall off the ballot. Do I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame? No, but it does seem like he should have gotten more consideration. Take a look at his career accolades.

The switch hitting Berkman hit 366 home runs had 1,234 RBI and batted .293 over his career that spanned from 1999 - 2013. He finished in the top 7 in NL MVP voting 6 times. That tells you how good of a player he was during his prime. He had injuries that hurt him as he got older and cut his career 95 hits short of 200 and 34 home runs shy of 400, which would have certainly helped his HOF cause. 

But let's take a look at how he ranked among hitters during the time in which he played; specifically the decade of the 2000's.

Those are pretty impressive numbers and rankings for that decade. Again, I don't think he is a Hall of Famer, but he had a great career.

So why did I buy the card. It's a relatively early game-used card with an autograph (a great looking autograph, if you ask me) and is numbered to just 50. It's numbered 01/50 at that. I realize that has no real significance, but I still think it's cool that it is number 01/50.

Alright, so do you ever buy random cards, just because? Did any of you ever pull cards like this back in 2000 - 2003 time period? Should Lance Berkman be in the Hall of Fame?

The Worst of the Best

In the last two weeks I've picked up a a few packs of 2018 Topps Series II. On two occasions I've bought 3 packs from a card shop (two different card shops). Each time I've gotten a "hit", although the "hits" haven't been all that great.

First up is this red relic card numbered to 25 which, if I'm reading the odds correctly, are a 1:5,232. The problem is that it's of Sonny Gray, who is having a terrible year. To make matters worse, the one color patch fills 99.9% of the space and you can barely even tell it's a patch.

In my second purchase of three packs I defied the odds once again and pulled a 1983 Topps Baseball auto at the odds of 1:1,233 packs. Another nice pull, but I've never hear of Tomas Nido. After a little research I see that Nido made his major league debut earlier this year, so we'll see how it goes.

Don't get me wrong, it was fun to pull some hits out of a couple random packs, but for me the experience of pulling them is worth more than the cards will probably ever be.

How about you, what's your worst, best pull?

Why Topps? Why?

I picked up this 2018 Topps Postseason Performance Autograph Relic of Paul Goldschmidt on eBay recently. I bought it knowing that the "game-used memorabilia item is not from the 2017 postseason". I also bought it knowing that the autograph is on a sticker.

Just because I bought it knowing its flaws, doesn't mean that I like it. I've seen multiple Postseason Performance Relic cards and Postseason Performance Autograph Relic cards of Paul Goldschmidt and almost all of them have a purple pinstripe through the jersey, so I picked this one specifically because it didn't have a pinstripe and so I can pretend that the jersey matches the jersey in the picture.

But why should I have to pretend? I get that postseason jerseys are probably hard to come by, by why make the set if you can't get them. How about using baseballs or a base, something that they could actually get and it would be from the postseason?

I paid decent money for this card, but had it featured a ball or base from the postseason I would certainly have paid double. If it contained a piece of jersey or bat that was used in the postseason I would have paid triple or more. I know some people might not think that Topps cares much about the after market price I'm willing to pay, but I think they have to care about that because it would help determine the price they could charge for boxes.

What are your thoughts on cards like this?

Strata

Someone on one of the baseball card Facebook groups that I'm in posted this 2015 Strata Paul Goldschmidt auto for a decent price and I jumped on it. Turns out the guy lives about 15 miles away and we frequent the same LCS, so we arranged to meet there instead of him shipping the card.

I love the fact that these cards have the MLB authentication sticker on them and you can tell which game the jersey was from. I wish they would do this with all of their relic cards. I know it won't happen, but a guy can dream.

This was my first Strata Paul Goldschmidt card and so after scanning the card I had to file it away and create a divider titled "Strata". It got me thinking, what does Strata mean?

So I looked it up.

So strata is the plural of stratum. So I looked up stratum.

Okay. So "a layer of material....often one of a number of parallel layers one upon another". That makes sense based on how these cards are constructed. 

TTM Thursday

I haven't sent out many ttm requests recently, so I haven't gotten many back recently. I did send out a one recently to Dave Dravecky and got it back earlier this week.

Dave had a great career and is an even better person. Very happy to add these to my collection!

TTM Tuesday: Peyton Manning

I don't always send NFL ttms, but when I do it's to a Manning.

Not sure how long this request was out, but it was a while. I got it back from his Foundation with a small donation.

This is my second time getting Peyton back ttm. I've also gotten returns from Archie and Eli.

TTM Tuesday (Manning, but which one?)

Only one TTM autograph this past week. It's a good one though.

Eli Manning.

This card came from a dime box at my LCS and I sent it out on 1/26 and got it back on 3/10.

Trade with The Home Run Apple

Keith, of the blog The Home Run Apple, reached out to me about a month ago and offered up some cards for trade. I really wanted one of the cards, and you'll see why in a little bit, but I didn't have anything I felt I could offer in return, since Keith isn't the only Mets fan in the blogosphere and I'd already traded away most of my Mets hits. I told him I'd keep looking and see what I could find.

A little over a week ago I was cleaning up some cards in my den and found a couple of Mets cards that I had forgotten about. We arranged a trade and I got his package yesterday. Thanks Keith!

So without further adieu. Here's the card that I really wanted. It's a 2009 Topps T-206 mini printing plate of Brandon Webb! This is my first printing plate of Webb since I started collecting him later in his career. I came across a Brandon Webb Super Collector a while back, so if you're interested you can check out his site. He has 27 Webb 1 of 1's!

Keith added two Brandon McCarthy Panini Prizm autos, one from 2013 and one from 2014. McCarthy was terrible with the D-Backs, but since he was traded to the Yankees he has been doing a lot better. 

Here are the other cards that Keith threw in. Thanks again Keith!

eBay Pick-Up: 2013 Triple Threads Wade Miley Auto

I picked this 2013 Triple Threads Wade Miley card up off eBay recently for $8.50 shipped. It's numbered 08/18. I really like the card, but it could be even better if the picture matched the jersey swatch and if the autograph was on card.

Time to cross something off my Wish List

I picked up this 2001 Donruss Studio Private Signings Curt Schilling 5x7 Auto off eBay about a week ago. A Schilling Auto is one of the things on my Wish List, so I can now cross it off.

New Years Stocking Loot: Part 2

In an effort to help Santa fill my stocking on New Years morning, I made a few eBay purchases that are arrived last week. This is the second card that came. I got this in an effort of completing the Dan Wilson Trifecta (RC, Auto, Relic). It's a 1997 Donruss Signature Series Auto. Again, my name is Daniel Wilson, so one of my 2012 Card Collecting goals is to get a trifecta of me, I mean, Dan Wilson the baseball player.

eBay Pick-Up: 2010 Topps Triple Threads Chris Young Auto 37/99

I picked up this 2010 Topps Triple Threads Chris Young Auto 37/99 on eBay recently. The card features two orange jersey pieces and one bat piece along with Young's autograph. The back of the card does not mention the jersey, bat, or auto at all, which makes me wonder if the material and wood pieces are actually game used relics. In November I picked up a 2009 Topps Triple Threads card of Justin Upton that featured an orange jersey piece as well and I just can't think of the D-Backs ever having worn an orange jersey. It's possible that it's from an All-Star event or some minor league jersey, but it would be nice if Topps would let us know. Anyways, here's the Chris Young card.

eBay Pick-Up: Justin Upton Triple Threads Auto

I have been getting some great cards on eBay recently. Here is a 2009 Topps Triple Threads Rising Stars Justin Upton Auto numbered 90/99. The card features 2 bat pieces behind the "#1" and the "CK" and an orange jersey piece behind the "PI". I'm not sure when Upton has ever worn an orange jersey. I'm thinking it must have been from a 2009 All Star weekend event, but I'm not sure. The card looks great though and it is my first J-Up auto, so I'm really excited.

I was actually trying to get the version that is numbered to 50, but lost out at, literally, the last second of the eBay auction. It went for $19.01, plus shipping. After missing out on that one, I did a quick search and found this one. I has about three days left. The starting bid was something like $44.95, but it had a best offer option. I put in a best offer bid of $15 and put in a little note stating that the one numbered to 50 had just sold for $19 and I included the item number. I was still a little surprized that my offer was accepted since the starting bid was so high. Shipping was $2, so I got it shipped for $17.

NL Cy Young Award Winner Auto

I picked up this 2009 Toops 206 Clayton Kershaw auto from my local card shop today. I was looking at his certified autographed cards on eBay recently and I think that I should be able to flip this card for a little profit. I like the blue border, since he is a Dodger, and the fact that is it an on-card auto is also nice. I checked on eBay when I got home and I don't think this particular auto listed at all, so I will get it listed tomorrow and see if I can make enough to cover the two other cards that I bought for my kids today at the card shop.

More on the Mantle Autograph

I bought this Mickey Mantle autograph from a card shop back in 1999 or 2000. The card shop had recently purchased a large collection from someone and this was part of it. It came with a Certificate of Authenticity (which I haven't been able to find since we moved back in July) and a picture of the guy with Mickey Mantle at a card show. The card can be seen on the table in front of Mantle. So while it appears that some of these cards were autographed by Mantle and sold by Upper Deck, I don't think that this one was. It appears that it was bought unsigned and that Mantle signed it at a card show.

I recently notice a serial number and stamp on the back of the card. It card be seen on the bottom left hand corner. I can't make out any of the writing in the circle. I'm assuming this is from the company that provided the certificate of authenticity. Is anyone out there familiar with this stamp/company? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mickey Mantle Autograph - Real or Fake?

Take a look at the card above and give me your honest opinion of whether or not you think the autograph is real or fake. The card itself was produced by Upper Deck in 1994 and measures 3.5" x 5". 

I've had this card for over 10 years and have always wondered whether or not it's legit. Not because I don't trust where I got it from, but because of the huge number of Mantle forgeries out there. I'd like to get everyone's opinion and then I'll provide a little more information about where I got it from. Thanks!

Fred Lynn (In Person Auto)

I got this 8x10 autographed by Fred Lynn at the MLB FanFest during All-Star weekend. He asked if I had brought this photo with me because he had heard that it was no longer available at FanFest. I told him that I had gotten it at FanFest and that maybe I had gotten the last one. He was really nice and obliged when I asked him to add his Rookie of the Year and MVP year to the photo.

Orlando Cepeda (In Person Auto)

I got this 8x10 autographed by Orlando Cepeda at this years All-Star FanFest. Cepeda had an impressive career. This 11 time All-Star won the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year award and the 1967 NL MVP award. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1999.

Rollie Fingers (In Person Auto)

I was able to get this 8x10 signed by Rollie Fingers at FanFest. He asked me where I got the photo from. I told him I had gotten it there at FanFest. I then asked him if he would draw in his mustache, but he replied "I don't draw mustaches." He did add "HOF 92" though.

Tom Candiotti: In Person Autographs

Sports 620 KTAR, the local sports radio station in the Phoenix, Arizona area sponsered an event today that showcased former Major League Baseball knuckleballer and current Arizona Diamondbacks color analyst, Tom Candiotti.

Tom Candiotti pitched majors from 1983 -1984 with the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent 1985 in the minor leagues before returning to the majors in 1986 with the Cleveland Indians. He pitched for the Indians from 1986 to 1991. He split the 1991 season between the Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays. he spent 1992 -1997 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, He spent 1998 and part of the 1999 season with the Oakland A's before returning to the Cleveland Indians where he pitched in 7 games during the 1999 season and then retired from baseball. In 16 seasons Tom used his trademark pitch, the knuckball, to accumulate 151 wins, a 3.73 ERA and 1735 strikeouts.

I took my two boys out to meet Mr. Candiotti. Tom was great and very personable. He even taught my boys how to throw a knuckleball (see the picture below). I brought 9 cards for him to sign and a few doubles for him to keep, which he accepted graciously. After signing my cards he signed a ball for my boys. Check out his signature. It's one of the best I have ever seen! They had ballons for the kids and a place for them to practice their throwing. My boys had a great time! Thanks to Mr. Candiotti and KTAR for setting up such a great event! If you are in the Phoenix area, they are having similar events with Mr. Candiotti each of the next two Saturdays. For more details you can check out the event page on found here.