Ranger Tribute Parallels

I wrote about some base 2012 Topps Tribute cards I picked up the other day.  I liked them so much I wanted to get a few more.  I got these two from the same seller, so with the discounted shipping, the overall cost was just a few bucks per card.  I like them, but not considerably better than the base (although the black is pretty sharp):

Starting Lineup Saturdays: Devaluation Works In My Favor

Every once in a while, Cleve will have Starting Lineups come through his auctions.  I’m not really interested in expanding my SLU collection, but if I see something cheap, I’ll probably try to get it.  Case in point, several months ago, I got this Pete Rose SLU from one of his auctions for $2 on a write in bid.  I didn’t expect to get it.  It was the only thing I got for that particular auction, and since it wasn’t a baseball card, I never wrote a “Cleve” post about it.  

When these figures first came out, I would have had to pay $5 or $6 bucks for this, or much more on the secondary market.   Pete Rose doesn’t do anything for me, but I never got around to getting this one in 1988, so I went ahead and bid on it.  

Cleve's Auction Night: I Have Something You Don't Have..

Once again, work travel blocked me from attending Cleve's auction this past Tuesday.  Once again, I placed several write in bids.  Unlike the last auction, I managed to win a few things this time.  One of wins was something I was shocked to get with a low write in bid considering it's age, uniqueness and what I presume to be scarcity.

Here are the spoils:

First was this 1970 Topps "Supers" Bob Gibson.  I don't know a whole lot about this set.  I've seen plenty of the 1964 Topps Giant Cards around, but hadn't ever heard of the 1970 "Supers Set."  I like this quite a lot though, and may pick a few more since they seem to be pretty affordable.

I put in a $2 bid on this 1978 Topps Dave Concepcion and that was enough to win.  I have no real interest in this other than the fact that I don't have any cards graded by SCG.    The slabs from SCG are very nice, and makes this ho hum card look and feel more expensive. Plus the grade is a 96 which is near perfect.

Finally, I previously had posted about a 1950 Callahan I bought online.  Last week at Cleve's one of the auction items was an original box that had contained a complete set.  I thought it was very interesting, and with my recent discovery of the Callahan cards, I wanted this empty box if I could get it cheap.  I put in a bid for $4 and that was all it took:

I only see a couple of these on eBay right now, and they are selling for way more than $4.  I'm not sure if I want to unfold the box and make it flat for storage in a binder, or leave it as a 3D box (it's not glued and breaks down and re-boxes very easily).  Either way, this an awesome addition to my collection!

Grades:

Bob Gibson Topps Supers:  $3 B+:  It has a crease in the bottom, but it's still a nifty card of a HOF pitcher.

SCG 1978 Dave Concepcion  $2  B+:  A nice card of a multiple All Star that I picked up with couch change.

1950 Callahan Box $4 A+:   A great, historical oddball item that I may not see available again.  Big win for me!

This Post Cost Me $.98

Having something to blog about was the only reason I bought this pack of 2012 Stickers.  I haven't yet seen any posts about the 2012 stickers yet, so I thought I would do my good deed of the day and show anyone who was curious what they looked like.

When I first saw the package I was pretty excited thinking there was a new mini set out from Topps I was unaware of, similar to the mini sets back in the late 80's.  But it turned out to be stickers.  I didn't see any albums, but I assume these are available now too.  Here were my 8 cards:

 I like the mascot stickers, and Josh Hamiltons are always welcome.  I'll give these to my kids, and see what interesting things they wind up stuck to here in a few days.

2012 Topps Tribute

Topps Tribute is a set that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in the blogging community.  I'm sure many out there are like me and just can't bring themselves to gamble on a getting a big hit at such a high cost.  For sets like this (see Topps Sterling 2009) I'm actually a bigger fan of the base cards than the hits or parallels anyway.  So I'll save my money and pick up a few of my favorite player's base cards, which can be had at a tremendous value when you consider the up front cost of busting a box.  Here is a handful I received this week:

Let me break out the obligatory "scans don't do these cards justice" refrain.  Scans don't do these cards justice.  They are very bright and shiny and remind me a lot of the wonderful Flair sets in the late 90s. Yes they also remind me of the Topps Tribute sets from the past two years as well.  I won't be chasing this set, but these are very pretty cards and would look great as a complete set in pages.

T206 Tuesdays: T as in Terrifying

It’s been a long time since I’ve bought a vintage T206 card.  I have about a half dozen now.    I’m pretty selective in which ones I chase because I like to have T206 cards that have a story behind them.  The last card I bought was of Lena Blackburne.   His contribution to the game is felt in every single pitch thrown in every single Major League Baseball game.  

The other day I was reading my Bill James baseball abstract, looking for potential T206 subjects, and came across a mention of Larry McLean.   McLean was noted in the abstract because he was the largest player in the 1910's at 6'5" 289 lbs.  He also had a bad disposition when he'd been drinking.  Further research revealed that he was shot and killed in a bar by a bartender acting in self defense as McLean climbed the bar and attacked him. 

 Out of curiosity, I searched eBay for T206 cards of Mclean.   I found one with a reasonable price and went after and won it.  It came in the mail last week:

 McLean beckons you closer...

Other than the dot on the front, this card is in magnificent shape.  Of the few T206 cards I own, this is by far the best condition of any.  

However, as nice a card as it is, this picture, along with the story of McLean scares and intimidates me a little.  I wonder what this guy was like when he was alive.  And there is something strangely familiar with this picture.  What does it remind me of?  Oh yeah, this:

I will show this card off proudly during the day, but at night it’s getting tucked safely away.  Where it can’t get me. 

This card is definitely a great steak.

Topps Heritage Opens Old Wounds

Like many of you, I have tested out Topps Heritage recently.    Unlike many of you, I burst into tears when I opened one of the packs in the blaster I bought.

I totally forgot that Heritage runs these World Series cards.  What a painful reminder of that horrible turn of events.  Sure, this is a card of game two, which the Rangers won, but all I can remember about that World Series is the disastrous game 6.   In fact, when I first saw this card, I thought it was referring to Feliz coming in with the lead in game 6 and blowing it.  Now THAT would have been mean.  

From a marketing standpoint, wouldn’t it have made more sense to feature the ALCS instead of the World Series?  Isn't the ALCS a bigger deal than the World Series?  I know it was in 2011 anyway.  Wouldn't we all have enjoyed that?  Or maybe a great Rangers Moments from 2011 set?  Topps really blew it on this one.

It kind of ruined the whole box for me, and I have no interest in building this set.  But here are some other cards I got in my blaster.  Nothing really great:

 The Adam Jones is a Chrome refractor which is fine I guess, and the McCutchen mini sticker is ok.  

What a downer.  I guess I’m not over last season yet.  At least the new season is almost upon us and a new opportunity will arise.  I think the Rangers have a realistic shot of going 162-0 this year, barring any bad luck.  Let’s say 152-10 just to be safe.

If anyone is building Heritage, I’ve got some for trade.  Other than the Cliff Lee and Ian Kinsler cards, everything is available.  Especially the cruel World Series card.

NW Arkansas Naturals Fan Fest

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals held their first ever “Fan Fest” a few weeks ago, and I had been looking forward to it for weeks.  As has been the case in many places of the country, we’ve had unseasonably warm temperatures over the past several weeks.  It was expected to keep up that weekend, and a nice warm day at the ballpark, even in March was enough to get my baseball fever thermometer percolating.    The Fan Fest activities included a bouncy house for the kids, tours of the facility, including the luxury boxes, press box, dugout and clubhouse, free hot dogs and discounts on merchandise.    Please, allow me to show you some nice pictures.  Click here.

Yeah, I have to send you to Crinkly Wrappers for an overview of a Minor League Fan Fest, because my day at the park went down the crapper about the minute we arrived.

To begin, the temperature dropped considerably that Saturday, and the wind picked up.  Cool temperatures and wind are not a good combination on an open air, shaded concourse like at the Naturals beautiful park.    It’s great in July.  It sucks in March.  So the 6 year old and the 2 year old were not comfortable from the get go, and even though she didn’t complain, I’m sure the lovely wife was not thrilled with the weather either. 

Undeterred, I thought  I would let the kids get in the bouncy house and let them jump around and warm up.  Unfortunately, already in the bouncy house ahead of them was a wild pack of older animal-children that were completely out of control.  The 2 year old watched them thrash around and wanted no part of joining them, and although the 6 year old made a game effort to get in there, it was not a lot of fun for him and he got out pretty quickly.

So we decided to take the tour.  This was what I was most looking forward to anyway.  We saw David Glass’s luxury suite that was being remodeled and had no furniture or carpet and was basically an empty room overlooking the ballpark.  I didn’t really see a point in taking a picture, and the children immediately started getting bored.

Then we went to the press box.  I have to say, this was pretty inspiring to me.  Is there any chance they would let a blogger come and write about the game from the press box?  How awesome would that be?  I’m going to look into it and see if I can get up there for a game sometime this year. 

I guess the kids didn’t share my enthusiasm for this part of the tour, because they went from bored to downright miserable.    The 2 year old wanted to grab anything that was remotely in her reach, and the 6 year old decided this was a good time to start scaling Mt. Daddy.    That's why I don't have pictures.  As aggravated as I was getting, they weren’t  being bad, they were just being kids.  Kids with ants in their pants.  Kids who couldn’t possibly be interested in luxury suites or press boxes.    As much as I wanted to see the locker room and the dugout, I didn’t want to deal with what I knew would  soon escalate into whining and complaining.     So our tour ended abruptly and we headed home.   Maybe next year.

Check Out My Stanky Pie!

I sniped a couple of nice vintage cards off eBay really cheaply while I was traveling last week.  They were waiting on me when I got home.

This is my second Eddie Stanky card.  It was only few of bucks, and I really like these old Bowmans.    $2.25 shipped for a 1950 card of a pretty well known player/manager?  Sa-weeet.

This is my first 1950 Callahan card.  Pie Traynor was a HOFer so this was another  great pick up for only $3.25 shipped.  I like these Callahan cards.  They are small sized cards, and the illustrations are done with some kind of “dot” process, and are not standard sketches.   You can see the craft of the card better in the scan. 

 

You can also read the back better in the scan.  For a small card, that type is microscopic.  Either that or I'm getting old.

Big Fun Game Final Pick!

daddyohoho puts an end to the game and takes prize #4

Roberto Alomar Triple Threads relic #d to 36

Thanks for playing everyone and please send me your address!  Even if you've already sent it before, please send again so I can avoid digging through old emails.

Big Fun Game Steal

High Five Man, formerly known as piratesfan, steals the Allen and Ginter relics from daddyohoho. 

daddyohoho can steal anything but the 1955 Topps cards or the Ginter relics that were stolen from him.  Or he can take prize # 4.

Big Fun Game Pick #9

Martyn gets us near the finish line by picking #9

UD exquisite lot of 2 #d to 75

Piratesfan731 can now steal anything but the 1955 Topps cards or can pick prize #4

Big Fun Game Pick #8

Who's your daddyohoho keeps the momentum going and picks prize #6:

Lot of 4 2010 Allen and Ginter Relics, including Josh Hamilton

Martyn is up next and can steal anything but the 1955 Topps cards or can pick from the remaining 2 unknown prizes:

1) Gypsy Queen Green Border lot- Ryan
2) misc relic cards- Eric L
3) Eric Hosmer Chrome- Potch
4) Jose Reyes Sterling- Hackenbush
5) Sweet Spot Patch Card- Lost Collector, stolen from Hackenbush
6) 1955 Topps Graded- dawgbones- stolen from Lost Collector and Hackenbush- (Now Frozen)
7) misc relic cards- arpsmith
8) Allen & Ginter Relic Lot- daddyohoho
9) Martyn- ?


  Remaining prize numbers:  4 or 9

Big Fun Game Pick #7

arpsmith is tempted to get some green Gypsy Queen but takes his chances with prize #3

Two more misc relics:  Game Face Gear Lance Berkman, and UD Timeline Andre Ethier

daddyohoho is next and can steal anything but the 1955 Topps or can pick from the remaining unclaimed prizes:


1) Gypsy Queen Green Border lot- Ryan
2) misc relic cards- Eric L
3) Eric Hosmer Chrome- Potch
4) Jose Reyes Sterling- Hackenbush
5) Sweet Spot Patch Card- Lost Collector, stolen from Hackenbush
6) 1955 Topps Graded- dawgbones- stolen from Lost Collector and Hackenbush- (Now Frozen)
7) misc relic cards- arpsmith
8) daddyohoho- ?


  Remaining prize numbers:  4,6,9

Big Fun Game Steal and Re-Pick

The 1955 Topps cards are now frozen as dawgbones steals them from the Lost Collector.  He really "lost" that prize! Get it? Get it?  His name is Lost Collector and I said he "lost" the prize.   Ohhhhhh man, what fun.

Lost Collector takes another stab and picks prize #2:

Sweet Spot Classic Manu-Patch Enos Slaughter #d to 300

arpsmith is next and can steal anything but the 1955 Topps cards, or can pick from the remaining unknown prizes:

1) Gypsy Queen Green Border lot- Ryan
2) misc relic cards- Eric L
3) Eric Hosmer Chrome- Potch
4) Jose Reyes Sterling- Hackenbush
5) Sweet Spot Patch Card- Lost Collector, stolen from Hackenbush
6) 1955 Topps Graded- dawgbones- stolen from Lost Collector and Hackenbush- (Now Frozen)
7) arpsmith:  ?

 Remaining prize numbers:  3,4,6,9

Big Fun Game Re-Pick

Hackenbush must be hacked about the Lost Collector stealing his 1955 Topps cards.  He takes another shot with prize # 5

2009 Topps Sterling Jose Reyes #d to 50

dawgbones is up next and can steal anything that has been revealed or take a remaining hidden prize:

1) Gypsy Queen Green Border lot- Ryan
2) misc relic cards- Eric L
3) Eric Hosmer Chrome- Potch
4) Jose Reyes Sterling- Hackenbush
5) 1955 Topps Graded- Lost Collector, stolen from Hackenbush
6) dawgbones:  ?


Remaining prize numbers:  2,3,4,6,9

Big Fun Game Steal Attempt

The Lost Collector thinks he stole the 1955 cards from Hackenbush but instead....

CONGRATULATIONS!

You've unlocked an official Napkin Doon virtual coin.  You only need to unlock 60 more coins and send me $8.99 for shipping and I will send you an autographed Napkin Doon table napkin.

Ok, ok you can have the 1955s.  Pick again Hackenbush.

Big Fun Game Pick #4

Hackenbush selects prize #10

Pair of graded 1955 Topps cards.

The Lost Collector is up next.

Big Fun Game Pick #3

Potch selects prize #8

2011 Topps Chrome Eric Hosmer.

Hackenbush is next and can steal any prize or choose from the remaining unknown prizes.

1) Gypsy Queen Green Border lot- Ryan
2) misc relic cards- Eric L
3) Eric Hosmer Chrome- Potch

Remaining prize numbers:  2,3,4,5,6,9,10

Big Fun Game Pick Number 2

Eric L declines to steal and picks prize #1:

Two misc relic cards:  Jeff Kent SPX #d to 375, and a Darin Erstad Topps Pristine Bomb Squad.

Potch is next and can steal either of the first 2 prizes or can pick from the remaining doors:

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 ,9 ,10

Big Fun Game Pick Number 1

With the first pick, Ryan selects Prize # 7:

Lot of 6 2010 Gypsy Queen Green Border Parallels.

Eric L is up next and can steal or pick another prize.

Big Fun Game Participant List!

Finally released from the clutches of real life, I'm back and ready to take on my second year of un-remarkable blogging about baseball cards or other random topics that I will arbitrarily pull out of thin air!  As promised, today we are kicking off my 4th Big Fun Game as a show of appreciation for you folks making my first year in the baseball card blogging world a total blast!

Without further delay, here are the participants:

1) Ryan
2) Eric L
3) Potch
4) Hackenbush
5) Lost Collector
6) dawgbones
7) arpsmith
8) daddyohoho
9) Martyn
10) piratesfan731

All I can tell you is that this is not rigged.  Yes, piratesfan731 has said some very nice things and been a good friend of the blog.  Yes, the 10th spot is pretty much the best spot.  I PROMISE I only used the randomizer once.  When I saw he was the 10th pick, I immediately thought folks might find that a little sketchy.  I actually debated doing the randomizer again, but that just would not have been appropriate.  It is what it is.

Ryan, you have the first pick, and need to pick a number between 1 and 10.  Once Ryan makes his pick, I will reveal the card and Eric L will have the next pick.  He can either pick a remaining prize, or he can steal Ryan's pick.  If he steals Ryan's pick, Ryan will pick again, but can't re-steal Eric L's prize.  Once he picks, then it will be Potch's pick and Potch can either steal Ryan's or Eric's prize or can pick something else.  You get the idea.  Once an item is stolen for the second time, it is frozen.

Have fun everyone!

Starting Lineup Sundays

Before I started this silly little blog a year ago I spent a fair amount of time deciding if I had enough topics to write about to keep my blog churning.  I didn’t want to write a handful of posts and then run out of things to talk about and fade away.   I knew I had a couple of safety nets to fall back on if I got desperate for material.  One was eTopps, and the other was my Starting Lineup Collection.  eTopps was a great material source because they had new card offerings almost every week.  I’ve also managed to find enough other things to talk about that I was able to keep my Starting Lineups on the bench.

    

However, with eTopps basically shutting down and becoming a non-source of material for me it might be time to call on my SLUs.  And why not?  These things are so cool.  I don’t understand why there isn’t a greater demand for them anymore.  That used to not be the case.  In fact, there used to be conventions centered on Starting Lineup figures.   

They’ve been out of production for years now, and replaced by the larger, more detailed McFarlane figures.  I find the SLUs a far superior collectible.  Maybe it’s because they are similar in size and function to the Star Wars figures that shaped my childhood.   Anyway, my SLUs are all in boxes at the moment.  I tried to get the lovely wife to let me “wallpaper” one of our bedroom walls with the ones I kept in the blister packs, but shockingly she didn’t go for it.  I guess pictures of our children and paintings are OK, but beautiful blister packs of toy baseball players don’t meet some arbitrary standard of taste.   Oh well, she can’t stop me from showing them off on my blog:

 Daarryyyllll...... Daaarrryyyllll..... Daaaaarryyyylllll...

This was the first figure I bought.  The first issue of Starting Lineups came out in 1988 and was mostly regionally distributed.  Some players had a national distribution, and luckily for me I was able to find all of the Mets that were made in 1988 (I can't find my the Howard Johnson, but I have it somewhere).  That was my team back then.    

I had no interest in keeping these in the blister pack, and wanted to display them out of the package in my room.  I had about 20 of these things lined up along my dresser.    I also had a huge cardboard stand up movie poster of “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3” in my room as well.  Man, I was a loser.