COMC Black Friday Parade: Torii Hunter

My COMC.com Black Friday posts got interrupted mid stream, so I'll quickly give my last two groups of purchases the attention they should have gotten two months ago.

I'm a Torii Hunter fan.  Not a SUPER fan, and I try not to pick up too many of him in that silly Angels jersey, but I like the guy and add cool cards of him when I see them.  I happen to find several on the COMC.com Black Friday sale for around a buck each:

COMC Black Friday Parade: Beltre Beltre Beltre!

Yesterday I showed off the Ranger cards I picked up on COMC's Black Friday sale.  Well of COURSE I bought some Adrian Beltre cards too!  Behold:

This is one of those Blue Sapphire rookie reprints found in Bowman 2013 products.  I paid like $.50 for it.  I think that's pretty incredible when you consider this particular card was inserted in boxes of Bowman Inception, which I think cost something like a kajillion $ a box.  So it wasn't cheap to get this card, even as a toss in to the rest of the product.   I know this isn't the card that collectors are buying the boxes for, but still.  Seems pretty amazing to get this card for nothing, but maybe I just don't get it. 

I think all of these cost around a buck each.  I'm building quite a nice Beltre relic collection.

Finally, a added this acetate card from 2013 Pinnacle.  It's a sweet card, and I would be all over this insert set if only the team logos were present.  Man, I wish they had a liscence!

COMC Black Friday Parade: Rangers Rangers Rangers!

Man, I had a lot of fun with the Black Friday sale on COMC.com.  I got some really great stuff and it didn't set me back all that much.

I had all kinds of sweet spots in my collection, with some of my favorites being the various Rangers I picked up :

This was by far the most expensive card I bought, and it actually wasn't that bad.  It's an incredibly beautiful card, and if Profar lives up to his potential, the cost will be well worth it.  Even if he flops, it's still a great looking card.

Here are some other great looking cards:

 I think my only regret is that I didn't pick up more Darvish cards.

 I also had my last dalliance with Ian:

Oh Ian, I miss you already.

Pie Face Funded: Kinslers and Beltres

I love waking up on days when I know I'm due a padded envelope of cards in the mail that day!  That was Saturday for me, as my "Pie Face" funded purchase from COMC.com came in.  I don't at all regret my decision to purchase a bunch of smaller value cards rather than one or two big vintage cards.   Besides, I'll be able to produce at least 5 or so blog posts over this shipment, starting with some great Ian Kinsler cards:

These two Bowman's Best rookies were the main highlights of the Kinsler portion of this purchase.  I don't have either of these, and therefore my Kinsler collection was not serious.  The Green version on the left is numbered to 899.   I apologize for the cruddy scans.  We bought a new scanner and I haven't played with the settings yet.  I was thrilled with the speed of the scans- but now I see what I get with that.  Guess I need to increase the resolution next time.

For good measure, I picked up chrome and gold versions of his Bowman rookie.  Didn't have them either.

Finally, I tossed in a pair of rad die cuts.  Yes I said "rad."  These cards are rad.  If these aren't rad, I don't know what rad is. 

I added a few cards of one of my other favorite Rangers, Adrian Beltre.  I was going to do a separate post on these, but since it's only four cards, I might as well add them in:

Beltre is frequently referred to in social media as "OS!" As in "Oh Shit!" which is something he is sometimes overheard yelling when a fellow Ranger hits a home run.  Or when he hits one  himself.    I think he's yelling "Oh Shit!" on this card.  This beautiful blue refractor numbered to 250, that is.

 He's saying it on this green parallel, too.  The green isn't numbered, but it's just as pretty as the blue. Have I mentioned I love Adrian Beltre? 

I now have 3 of these green parallel Finest cards.  They're numbered to 199.  So if my math is right,  that means I have about 20% this run in my possession.   

I only have 1 of these orange cards, numbered to 99.  I can't figure out about what percent that equals.  Probably like a dozen % or something like that.

Black Friday COMC Spoils Part 8: Beltre/Rangers Time

I'm really happy with the selection of Adrian Beltre cards I got dirt cheap at the COMC.com Black Friday sale.  The relics were mostly under $1.50 each, and the most was this one at around $4:

That's a ridiculously great deal for a beautiful Triple Threads card numbered to 27.

The others that were $1.50 or less:

While not a relic, this GQ Blue Bordered card is one of my favorites.  It's fantastic in hand.

 I also picked a few parallel mini runs:

I went from nada to semi-serious Adrian Beltre collection in the past year and a half.  I think I might be able to give him a dedicated album like I've done for Tony Gwynn and Michael Young.

Not for nothing, I picked up a couple of other Rangers cards too:

This Ian Kinsler Tier One was around a buck just like the Beltre above.  These are super nice cards, so I'm not sure why they were so cheap.

Black Friday COMC Spoils Part 7, sub part B: Completed Gypsy Queen Hallmark Heroes Sets

The other set I was able to knock out with the COMC Black Friday sale was the Gypsy Queen Legends set when I added this Lou Gerhig card:

These are pretty cards to look at, and now I can look at the whole set:

Black Friday COMC Spoils Part 7, sub part A: Completed Archives Cloth Set

So far I've been showing the cards that helped me make progress on sets I'm currently collecting.   I'm happy to say that I was also able to get a couple of onsies that completed two sets.

I only lacked this George Brett card from the cloth insert set from 2012 Archives.

I don't lack it anymore, but I do like it.  Say lack and like out loud and see for yourself how similar those words sound.  Say it with a of a blend of slight Texas/Arkansas accent and you'll know what I'm talking about.

The only thing I don't like about this set is the cards are "numbered" with letters, and to put them in order in the binder, I had to make sure my alphabet skills were on point.  Luckily, my three year old and I have been practicing the alphabet a lot lately and, not to brag, but I've pretty well got the whole thing memorized.  The key is to sing it to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." It's much easier to remember.  Here is the full set, in perfect alphabetical order by last name:

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.

Black Friday COMC Spoils Part 5: A Pair Of Fergies

As I've noted in my other COMC posts (and will note again in future ones), I picked up a little of everything from the COMC.com Black Friday sale.  What I didn't get a lot of was vintage cards.  I have such a great source of those at Cleve's, and I really prefer to see vintage cards in person before buying.


However, the prices on these Fergie Jenkins cards were too good to pass up:

These are wonderful additions to my Sampler Album, which is becoming a favorite project of mine as time goes by.

Black Friday COMC Spoils Part 4: Woo Pig Sooie!

I pretty well hit all of my hot collecting areas with the COMC.com Black Friday sale:  Sets on my master checklist, Rangers- and a bunch of Adrian Beltre.  Everything I bought had a place in my collection.  No shopping binge of mine would be complete without some Razorbacks, and I found some superb additions to my Razorbacks album at the sale, starting with this gem:

I don't know if Brett Eibner will ever make it to AA.  I hope so, since I would then be able to watch him in person here in NW Arkansas.  He's got some major tools, and Baseball America rated his as the best outfield arm KC's minor league system.  He's got lots of power too, but I guess he's having trouble being consistent and hasn't been able to get past A ball, which isn't a good sign for a college player going on his 3rd year in Pro Ball.

Nevertheless, this card is awesome to me- autographed (sticker but who cares) and showing Brett in his Razorback uni.  And it was only a buck.

Joe Adams is starting to make a little noise in the NFL.  This card was a little over a buck, which made me giddy.  We Hog fans will always remember Joe for the below play though- perhaps the greatest individual effort in Razorback football history:

 

Speaking of greatest and Razorback football.  Darren McFadden has to be the greatest football Hog ever.  I still haven't ponied up for a D-Mac auto, but this sweet Topps Inception card will do for now.

Finally, I added this mesmerizing Ryan Mallett card.  I hope this guy gets a chance to play someday.  I don't know why they keep giving that Brady character ahead of him the start each week.  What's he ever done?