Christmas Cards

For Christmas, my wife and kids got me a few packs of cards. 1 pack of 2010 Topps 206 and 2 packs of 2010 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects. Each pack had a decent Rookie Card in it. Here are the highlights.

2010 Topps 206 Buster Posey RC

2010 Topps 206 Carlos Gonzalez Old Mill Mini

2010 Topps 206 Johnny Bench

2010 Bowman Chrome Austin Jackson RC

2010 Bowman Chrome Josh Thole RC



TTM Success: Kevin Gross

I sent Kevin Gross a TTM Autograph request back in early to mid November. I got it back on November 30th. Somehow I forgot about it until recently coming accross the envelope on my computer desk. Kevin signed 2 cards for me. Thanks Mr. Gross!

1993 Score Season Highlight of Kevin Gross - Card commemorates Kevin's No-Hitter in 1992.

1992 Topps Kevin Gross

2 cards - 11 Bats

Mark, of the blog Mark's Ephemera, sent me a couple of cards for my Multiple Bat Collection. I owe Mark big time! I am checking your want lists to see how I can repay you. Thanks Mark!

1990 Swell Baseball Greats Monte Irvin - Irvin is holding 4 bats.

1963 Fleer Johnny Mize - My first pre-1981 Fleer card! Johnny is holding what appears to me to be 7 bats!

Secret Santa

I wanted to participate in the 2009 Baseball Bloggers Secret Santa, but didn't. So when I saw that Sarah over at A Rookie (baseball) Card Collector was hosting it again this year, I signed up. I had a lot of fun picking out gifts for my person and I got an awesome card and a D-Backs Christmas ornament as my gift. My digital camera broke a few days ago, so you'll have to take my word on the ornament, but here is the card that I got. Thanks Santa!

2008 UD SPX Superstar Signatures BRANDON WEBB Auto

Trade with Night Owl

I sent Night Owl some Dodgers and a couple of packs of Club Penguin cards that Topps had sent me after I complained about being shorted some cards out of a box of 2009 Updates and Highlights. Night Owl enjoyed the Dodgers cards and his daughter enjoyed the Club Penguin cards. In return, Night Owl sent me some D-Backs, so I guess in the end, everyone was a winner! Here are a few of the cards that Night Owl sent. Thanks Greg!

A trio of Dan Haren cards. 2010 Opening Day, 2010 Bowman, and 2009 Topps Chrome.

2006 Allen & Ginter cards of former D-Backs Chad Tracy, Orlando Hudson, Orlando Hernandez, and Shawn Green - I wasn't collecting in 2006, so I appreciate cards from that year and even more so the Allen & Ginter.

2010 Topps Chrome Cole Gillespie Orange Refractor - Gillespie made his debut in April and then got some more playing time down the stretch. It will be interesting to see how much, if any playing time he gets in 2011 since he will have to share time with Xavier Nady and Gerardo Para.

1991 Donruss Brady Anderson Multiple Bat card - I have a couple of these already, but it's one of my favorite multiple bat cards and it's nice to know that people out there remember what I collect and send it along with D-Backs cards.

Brandon Webb is a Texas Ranger (if he passes the physical)

Brandon Webb has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Texas Rangers. Webb, arguably one of the best pitchers in all of baseball from 2005 - 2008, has not pitched in a regular season game since April 6, 2009. Webb went 70-37 with a 3.23 ERA during that 3 year stretch and won the 2006 National League Cy Young Award. Webb injured his shoulder on Opening Day of 2009 and has not been able to pitch in the big leagues since, although he is expected to be ready to pitch in Spring Training.

As a Diamondbacks and a Webb fan, I really wanted the D-Backs to resign Webb and hoped that he would be able to pitch at the same level as before. However, I understand both sides in this situation. The D-Backs have paid Webb $15 million over the past two seasons and have got nothing out of it and would be understandably cautious about signing him for another year when his future is uncertain. Webb on the other hand, I'm sure feels like he can be as successful as he was before and wants to be valued and have an opportunity to win. I'm sad to see Webb go, but I wish him the best. I'm not sure what this will do to my Webb collection. I'll have to wait and see.

Trade with Derek

Derek, a reader of my blog, contacted me a few weeks ago and then sent me some cards. He can expect some Braves cards shortly. Here are a few of the cards that Derek sent. Thanks Derek!

2002 UD Vintage Diamondbacks Team Checklist - This was my favorite card! It's fun to rember a time when the Diamondbacks were winning!

1999 Topps Randy Johnson

2004 Ultra Curt Schilling

2000 Topps League Leader Hits Luis Gonzalez - Derek Jeter is on the back, having led the American League in hits that year with 219.

2000 UD Victory Steve Finely

2010 Topps Update Chris Young All-Star - Young was the D-Back only representative in the 2010 All-Star game.

2010 Topps Update Sam Demel RC

2010 Topps Update Aaron Heilman

2010 Topps Update Adam LaRoche

1992 Ultra Pat Listach RC - for my RC's of Rookie of the Year winners collection

1996 UD Collectors Choice Award Winner Marty Cordova - this would make for a great TTM autograph