Spiegel Takes Home The Lifetime Acheivement Award..

For trades with me.

I know I've traded with him more than anyone, in fact I've lost count on how many we've done.  However many it's been, I hope they keep coming because they are always top shelf.

Spiegel's been a little AWOL from his blog though lately, so I hope once summer gets here life gives him a little breathing room and we can get back some of that laid back California-Spiegel vibe that is lacking amongst the card blogs right now.  We need you Spiegel, more than ever.


This was the card that started the trade:

I've written about Christian Colon several times.  He's at AAA now, but he made a lasting impression on the Doon family when he was here with the AA Naturals last year.  Anyway, I was glad to get this on card auto.  I'm hoping he gets a shot at the Royals soon.   I'm hoping Rob Neyer is wrong:

Having seen Christian Colon play about seven innings at shortstop, I think one CAN use the eye test. You know, when it's this obvious.
— robneyer (@robneyer) March 16, 2013

I didn't have warm and fuzzies about Neyer's implication, but since I'm dense I decided to ask him to clarify, a small part of me hoping that he would say something like, "Obvious that he belongs in the Show and he's going to be a star!"

@napkindoon Not good enough to play shortstop unless there's an emergency.
— robneyer (@robneyer) March 16, 2013

Yikes.  Well, nobody knows everything, so I'm still hoping Colon finds success in the bigs someday soon, and at a minimum at least be the next Derek Jeter.

Speaking of Jeter, Spiegel included a few Jeter's in our trade if I may be so bold as to awkwardly shift back to our trade:

 And last but not least, two of my All Time Favorite Hogs:

 That Prizm McFadden is perhaps the greatest football card of all time.

Thanks again for the great trade Spiegel!  Look forward to another one soon!

Cleve's Auction Night: Wrapping Up My Gift Certificate With a Bang

It occurs to me that I may have not mentioned that my main Christmas present from the lovely wife was a huge gift certificate to Cleve's.  I have utilized it almost weekly from January until this week, and am claiming the gift as the best present ever from the lovely wife.  Well, of course my two kids are the best gifts she ever gave me.  Of course.  Of course.  And her hand in marriage was right up there in the rankings.  And her friendship, love and companionship lo these many years, sure, it goes without saying those are great too. 

Still, this Cleve's gift certificate was tha shiz-nit, and as all good things must end, I finally reached that end today.   But I'm happy to report I made the most out of the final 8 bucks and change. 

Let's start with this:

A wax box of 1990 Topps.  I'll have more on this box later, but I basically got this for 90% off sticker price.  I know 1990 Topps is nothing special, but it will serve two purposes for me:

1. My kids have taken to opening packs lately, and this is a cheap wait to satisfy them and not worry about what they do with the contents.
2. As some of you who have recently traded with me know, I've taken to adding packs to trade packets.  Seems like a fun bonus to send out.

I was pleasantly surprised to see I had also won a miscellaneous lot of cards for $5.  It had some great stuff:

I've wanted a Clemens Topps rookie for my sampler album, and can now check that off.

Not one, but two Fernando Valenzuela/ Mike Scioscia rookies.  One's going in my sampler album, the other is on it's way to my man Spiegel (good thing I procrastinated on getting your trade package out, huh Mike?).

I don't know what this is about, but these Bump Wills were in the lot. 

Three more solid sampler album additions. 

Two 1981 Fleer Rickey Hendersons. 

Finally, a trio of Kellogg's 3-D cards.  I have a soft spot for this kind of stuff, although the Garvey is also on it's way to Spiegel-land.

Grades:

1990 Topps Wax Box $2  A  : The box is a bit nasty (more on that later), but we're still talking $.06 a pack here.

Misc Card Lot $5 :  A+   The Clemens rookie is almost worth it alone, but add in all the others- all strong cards- and this is one of my best gets yet!

Black Friday COMC Spoils Part 6: Deckle Post Pressure Cooker

I was already feeling a little bit of pressure toward writing this post to begin with.  I mean, it's the freaking 6th post in a row in which I've blathered on about my COMC Black Friday purchases.  Black Friday was sooooo November.  But I've got a lot of cool cards to cover and must press on.    I already had every intention of making this post about Deckle Edge cards from 2012 Topps Archives fascinating, provocative and relevant to today's cultural climate.   Here are the cards I'm talking about:

Very cool insert set I must say.  Here is the completed set, all nice and crooked in the sheets because they don't really fit:

I could just let these cards speak for themselves, and leave it at that.

But then my man Spiegel had to go and nominate me as the greatest blogger of all time and now I have to live up to the hype and find a way to entertain you people yet again.

Don't know what  I'm talking about?  Well, you should, so go over to Jaybarkerfan's Junk blog and check out the nominations post for the 2nd Annual Blog of the Year contest that Wes is graciously coordinating.  

Perhaps Spiegel's nomination didn't specifically call my blog the "greatest of all time" but that's how it's being referred to around this household.  I assume I will receive some sort of plaque or citation for being nominated?  I've sent the press release to the local media, but they all seem to be focused on the Razorback Head Coach search (thanks for the mess and the stealing of my ink Bobby Petrino).

What I'm getting at is I'm not sure what to do with this post, so give me some time to stew over it and I'll get back to you.

Spiegeling with the Stars

Spiegel from the awesome blog Nomo’s Sushi Platter has become to trading with me what Alec Baldwin is to hosting Saturday Night Live:  a frequent guest who never disappoints.

I just wrapped up my third (or was if fourth?) trade with Spiegel.  He posted his end of the deal on a cool video post on his blog here.    I love video posts.  I would love to do my own.  But alas, I dare not unveil the shroud of secrecy that must not speak it’s name for, I Napkin Doon, shall forsooth not seek ye… something… under a cloak of secrecy…  um…  perpitude, or something.

Sorry, lost my train of thought.    Anyway, I got a thick stack of superstars from Mr. Spiegel and I’m giddy about it:

The Fleer Ultra Kinsler is sharp.  I may have to look into building that set.  

Since he’s a Razorback, I’ll root for Cliff Lee no matter where he plays.  But it still hurts a little not seeing him in a Ranger uni.

 How about that Jeter Gallery card?  Very nice.

Fill those Halladay and Ichiro pages Spiegel, fill them full my man..

Spiegel, once again, you are an awesome trade partner!

More Delicious Spiegel Stew

I don't know why, but that title sounds dirty.  It's not like I wrote "Spiegel Spew" though.  Anyway, I really enjoy my trades with Spiegel from the always entertaining blog: Nomo's Sushi Platter.  He always sends good stuff, and this trade was no different:

The Jeter numbered Chrome card was the top card of the pile- what a way to start!  There some other nice cards of non-Rangers I collect.  The Fleer Mini card of Piazza is cool, and something I've never seen before.

I didn't have the 85 Gwynn card, so this filled a big hole in my Gwynn binder.  I actually had one of these unlocked on the Topps Diamond Giveaway program, but traded it, among other cards for a Di-cut diamond card.  Spiegel also sent a couple of 2011 Pujols cards- Topps base and Lineage.  Whoop whoop!!

Last but certainly not least, here were the assorted Rangers in the package.  The chrome Michael Young cards are slick, and I really like the two Kinsler cards as well.  I've had a bit of a man crush on Kinsler lately.

What a super trade package.  I actually don't even remember what I sent for my end of the deal, so this is like a free lot of cards!  Thanks for the trade Spiegel, and get back to blogging soon!

I Want My Spiegel!!

I used to work in a bookstore, and we sold a German newspaper called "Der Spiegel."  This was before the internet, and so imported papers like this were in demand with a small segment of customers.   We would receive this paper on a limited basis from our newspaper supplier for various reasons.  The point is, we wouldn't always receive Der Spiegel with our weekly shipments.  This was not a big deal to 99.99% of our customers.  There was one exception.  We had one customer that was very put out when he didn't get his Der Spiegel.  I never actually saw this guy, but for some reason, I seemed to always be the poor bastard that answered the phone when he called to complain.  I won't bore you with the whole rant, but every time he called he gave the same speech about us letting him down and not understanding the laws of supply and demand.  What I distinctly remember is that he would always end is phone call by yelling "I want my Der Spiegel!" and slamming the phone down.
I always think about this when I see anything from the blog "Nomo's Sushi Platter" by a dude named Spiegel.
I also think about cool trades.  I recently completed my second trade with Spiegel, and received my end of the trade yesterday.  I sent about 20 cards to him, and he sent a lot more than that to me, with a note saying he hoped what he sent was enough.  I wonder what he thought I was sending?  Speigel, it was more than enough, and I will send you some cards to make up the difference.  Here is what my man Spiegel sent:

 Lots of great Rangers cards!  Love the Andrus Gypsy Queen, and the Cruz Topps Chrome is really cool!

 I don't know why my scanner sometimes chooses to auto crop, and some times not.  But this Ichiro Wall Climber card is really sweet!

 D-Mac!  All time great Razorback!

Speigel also sent a very nice assortment of stars I collect, including some cool cards of the newest 3,000 hit club member, Derek Jeter.

Check out Spiegel's blog if you haven't already.  He's a different kind of cat, and I am amused with his take on things.

Thanks Spiegel, I will catch up with you on the trade soon!