I hung In There, Then Caved, Then Ran far far Away: Signs of the Card Apocalypse

     I mentioned recently
(or relatively if you read here... My wife and I went diving for our honeymoon, worked my summer job and started back at a new school year at a new high school. I was a warrior, now I am a panther...I say downgrade, but I went from green and gold to Red, Blue and White...notice red and blue are the majority so slight upgrade there cuz i look dyna-mite in blue).
...how I had sworn off topps...then I saw ginter and caved. pulled three relics of beachy, McCann and zimmerman, J. (I checked for the 1/1...)
I did pick up an archer auto from the one blaster I got, and got Goldschmidt(love this guy) and Avisail (best rookie sig of 2013 by a mile, (shelby miller is considered 2010) as singles.
I have also mentioned here many times my LOVE for the little silver or gold serial #s that are actually attainable easily in retail or hobby. It was an overused gimmick, but the #s just spoke to me...Then they started stamping the golds. then there are the pinks and camos etc. whatever.
then I bought a box of topps football to break with a friend.
I found this:

 a really great looking, and well cut BLACK parallel of someone I didn't really know until we (PACKERS) played them week one. The foil is rainbow which is new, but then I turned it over and for a few hours thought it wasn't #d...I was PISSED.
Then I found this:

And I was sad.

I'll show off some newer pulls and hopefully get back to my "auto show" format someday. If anyone has a group break that is going down (especially older stuff) hit me up. I am interested.

love,
Peterson

Prospectus Undefinus: My Stash. Not "Lucrative", But Promising And Fun

COMC: Ch-Ch-Changes...

well?
for those of you that have a "collection" a forsale bin or whatever on Checkoutmycards, what is your impression of the recent Beckett team-up?
I am on my way to go check it out right now.
will report back with an edit to this piece.

peterson

Morning Question: Stop Letting This Happen To You, Creative Ones

...you ever think you "coin a phrase" or "pen/type a quote" that really strikes you, only for the wind of "someone thought of that already" to blow that sucker out of your mind as you move on about this informative life?
who can I call to patent this neat sentence I just created? Ha.
I am a poet. It is not common knowledge.
stupid fantastic internet.

I bought two discounted 2010 value boxes yesterday. Guess it takes time. There also was not a "tempting box" among them blasting on the shelves.

Peterson

Day One, No Topps....We'll See How Long This Lasts

I'm going out to buy 40-60 of retail today. If there is nothing there, I'll be by the LCS, but I never get out of there for less than 70. The main reason I don't visit any longer.

I really already want to bust like a case of 2013 topps chrome (I don't know a lot of us who don't)...will I make it?

Lets go over the products that I will still be seeking...as "alternatives"

Cooperstown (panini)- tried a box. Crazy drab. Got a few neat keepers like a couple of "famous baseballs" cards and a few of my favorite HOFs, but overall very, very BLAH. too many plaques and old players in suits.

Contenders(panini, again)-Hideous. Did not buy. Waaaay to many "accent lights" in the photos and strange softball jerseys.

Prizm(panini) hey there, sorry if you bought this. worst effort on the board. Thousands of sticker autos of like 12 players.

Golden Age- I got "lucky" with my box and got a very cool Mickey Lolich auto card with amazing design. Ther museum age Billy Martin I will try to trade for same card, dif. player. The "hit" designs are, indeed, golden. Did I need dupes of the three stooges? no. Did I need another Eisenhower card? yes. This one's not bad. I may try my chances with a hobby box if the price i right.

Leaf (panini)-Ultimate draft and other Baseball releases have been amazing( thank you again upper deck). but the singles are not cheap, and the whole "crusade" thing just turns me off so that's out. (Leave religion and a bloody era of ethnocentrism in the books, not behind ballplayers).

Rittenhouse Archives-Marvel releases are actually great for the money. so much to catch up on since I was never a "comic guy" ZERO BASEBALL PLAYERS. Doh.

Panini(panini)- Crap. I do dig the design of EEE this year, and have a small stash of 8auto prospects
 I've bought multiple Panini releases only to find that they have de-numbered alot of cards in old leaf/donruss sets resurrected (mostly football) Another major issue was the box of USA champions I bought. ALL of the STICKER auto hits were beat up! like "don't bother to try to sell" beat-up. like "I bought my 5yr-old nephew an expensive box of cards" beat up. Sent two emails, no reply. No patience for the phone.

wish me luck. I need it.
Peterson

It's That Time: How To Downsize Like A Man

WOW. I guess if I had to say anything, I would start with the fact that "that time has come to me like all 30+ collectors, whereupon my wife and I shall burden ourselves with tiny human life".
aka, time to ditch some cards.
I will list the huge base and insert lots here, and likely on Blowout forum (timelovesahero)
for dirt cheap/shipping only. I am a giver. A real caring nurturer. I want you to have the cards I don't want. First let's get to my plan for incoming cards:

first up:
Due to circumstances as of late, I am considering boycotting topps products altogether.
(when I say it like that, it feels like I'm saying "I'm quitting smoking" there's more to it than just not doing it.)


PROS:
1. They finally made a design in 2013 that I like more than 5/10 (museum collection/flagship tied with 7/10)
2....um
3............eeesh
nope, I got nothing, They've been more or less the same company for the last 15yrs. (I'll get to what changed below)

CONS:
1. Topps "customer service" is a joke (this cannot be understated) I am not the only one who agrees, and this is burning collectors everywhere. Redemptions, replacements, missing hits and damaged cards are causing headaches everywhere; and not just from the nit-picking heads who just want more/something different than they got in their box.

 We are consumers, not customers. Customers get consideration as a group of interested individuals, consumers get taken for granted and ignored unless they don't buy something.

You used to be able to get cards replaced, or even just call or email for info on products and promotions.
No longer is this an option. I personally have tested this to the tune of a total of 3.5 hours of phone (wait) time with the result of ZERO out of 5 calls answered. I have sent two emails...neither has returned.


2. Exclusive rights Topps has a stranglehold on MLB til 2020. A year I hardly thought I would actually see. shit. They are clearly on autopilot/upper deck ripoff mode.


3. Sticker autos in premium products. WHY? Luckily, I don't buy "high end" boxes, so this one hurts the least, but has a long a storied history on this blog as a "screw you, we have a freaking BINDER of those..." from Topps.


as for outgoing....I have so many that would net me money on ebay I don't even have the time to handle that. Any regulars, get at me with needs, we'll see what I can do.
I'm still working on a GCRL package that is so blue. Dodger Blue.



who wants mad base from2011- 2013 topps? series one and two, at least a three-row box full. I gotta get that out of my little house as the boxes are creeping on me since I haven't traded or donated in a while.
(whatever I cannot trade by the time I prep the house this fall, I donate all cards to million cards for kids and the JDRF as well as dropping some off at the children's hospital over at Bon Secours, where my mother met her tender end)


ta for now,
Peterson

All Business: Coming Back with A Bang

So this idea has been bouncing around in my head after the confluence of two major events in Baseball Card History....

So one is the one I learned about just before the other...
When I heard the rumor that 1952 Topps cards had been dumped in the river...
and the cold reality most of us lived through that was the period of excess production, and the burst of the "beckett bubble" that had us trading "Wall-Street" style at 1989 sleep-overs.

These two hit me like a shot. I normally donate my cards to hospitals, "Cards for Kids" (check them out) and my nephews.
That being said, I have always had the urge to simply destroy the cards I don't keep.
There are a lot of reasons for this, not the least of which is the fact that I have no regular trading partners (gcrl your pack is almost ready) and it's a pain in the ass with my schedule. I thought about bringing 3000 count boxes of base to my LCS but I get ripped off there willingly so my only go may be to ask for one or two of the beat-up, over-priced vintage in return.

destroy them. That's right. What other way is there to ensure the longevity of the rarity of your prized year 2000+ card but to destroy every copy you get your hands on except "yours"?

it's not a bright thought, and could be argued that it is a dark thought, but logic sometimes prevails...
you can't destroy gold...but cardboard is very water sensitive...

love,
peterson

Living up to Hype: Grand Opening

It has been a Grand Opening to the 2013 season. The young guys are firing on all cylinders. Stras, Yu, Harper...this has been very exciting. You cannot disagree. Yu on his best day or Verlander any day...tough choice today if you ask me.

Oh Thank Goodness: That Was A Long Winter.

one all-rookie yahoo fantasy team, a killer GQ group break coming up at the daily dimwit, the Richmond Squirrels open here this weekend. Now, if we weren't 2 weeks behind in temperature and greenery, then it's really be spring in Richmond.

I am currently in a transitional mode when it comes to the sport. I have a lot of cards to get rid of. I have a lot of cards to sell if the wife and I are going to go diving this summer.
I am weaning off the Brewers (I miss the community feel of that town and park. part of me is sad I did't stay longer) paying close attention to the Nats and O's to see what will happen in the region. My very first team and game and favorite player were ALL O's. It is hard to forget that, or the action-oriented crew at the current helm in B'more. The Nats are like a team (finally) that brings genuine fans and care and excitement to an area either maddened by the Caps or saddened by the dead-Skins (I know, we'll see, we'll see.) I also will never stop loving the SOx. too many favorite players/history up there to ever let go.

Yep. that's me.
Schitzo-Beisbol Mang.

and I'm tired so I'll tell you.
Matt Kemp is the 2012 MVP.
I never blew my horn too loud for "picking" brauny right after the draft and loading up on graded RC AUTOs, only to make several hundred dollars selling off my personal collection in 07-08. Now what? The feeling can't be shaken. eff you brauny. you shoulda stayed WAY away from that unless you really don't think your a good ballplayer at all.

LETS PLAY BALL!

Super Want: Birds Of A Feather

I've been chasing this...and the patch version and the Robinsons version...stalking....

Late Night: Way Off Topic

Organized dance that you have fallen victim to participation in within the last ten years (pride be damnded).
(in historic order)
1. the chicken Dance
2. The electric slide
3. The humpty Dance (uh...there are no sanctioned public moves for this so count you in.)
4. Souldja Boy Tell 'em (do yourself a favor and don't ask if you don't know)
5. The Cupid shuffle
6. Gangnam Style
7a. The Harlem Shake (have you been in a video)






for the record...m y number is 0. I disapprove.

2013 Topps Opening Day: The Time Has Come...

Well. This year, topps pulled something interesting in that I have found the 2013 Opening Day set is BETTER than the Flagship set. I wasn't sure how to feel after I ripped a rack pack for kicks and maybe a "variation" (read: Base Opening day card) and was kind of floored with the quality of the inserts, all of the attractiveness of the base-set photos and it felt distinctly like it was not geared to kids. This felt weird as it does seem there is a very significant shift happening in manufacturing and production by topps. I can't really put my finger on it, aside from obvious over-production and rising costs for something that should not rise in cost without the requisite rise in demand. fishy? not sure. for those of you reading this with plans of a future in the hobby, keep an eye out for a major scandal or two coming up. We are all fully due for one.

 finally, a REal blue parallel. None of this "light" "walmart" blue crap. Chrome date April 1, 2013 above the banner really making it a busy but exceptionally hot card in hand. #/2013

 the 3D inserts are different...not sure how, but when I pulled this one, It hit me that I was going to have to have more...like 3 $10 blasters more.

 Ballpark fun! for the kids! but here we have champagne-soaked champs and pie-faced rookies (machado and A.Jones  for the PC) but below is the real winner. This is a great photo, Matt has a taught, powerful auto alot like his swing. Kids in Bison jerseys just make me happy.

 The celebrations have improved the design of the card, and kept what I assume to be a favorite among some team/player collectors (more what I have available for YOU later)

 This one is cute. The one for Albert has the opposite photo of Al coming into the plate, with the fish greeting him. Very cute. yuk.

 PLAY HARD. this is one of the things about Baseball that does not change from little league to the bigs. Great insert set. Shot of Harper stealing home IS PLAY HARD. Buster is my favorite backstop since I don't know who...maybe 04-07veritek or The originlka pudge before him...I do love me some Yadier tho.

 I'll have to pull the trigger on an auto because the design suits me so damn well. I mean, I love it. Sticker or not. So fresh and So clean.

SO HERE'S WHAT I HAVE AVAILABLE FOR PLAYER/TEAM COLLECTORS:

BP Fun:
2-reddick
5-kemp
6-a jones

Superstar Celebrations:
sc-21 Posey
18-willingham
17-headley
12-morneau
10 mauer
8-R. Zimmerman
3-Pujols

PLAY HARD
21-freese
13-pujols
4-kinsler
22-goldschmidt
14-wright
18-ruiz

Last, but not least...the mascots:
*Wally The Green Monster
*The Swining Friar
*The Kansas City Royals (what?...it looks like a mutated lion/panther something)
*TC ( The Twins...Bear? again, What? I have not been privvy to too much info about mascots in the past)
*Chicago White Sox (Yellow no-name furball something something....)
*BERNIE BREWER- the only mascot of these I have met in person. He used to pound a mean pint with the crowd, but now he just slides down a slide...not the same. If you ever see a game at Miller park, Bernie's Dugout (where the keg used to be) is a kick-ass place to be for the money).

all are for trade
peterson238 yahoo.

Y'Know Folks: I Would Trade Most Of My Cards For The Following

     I have no reason for this just irking me now, but I do not own an auto of any of my "major major leaguers". I have no Cal to speak of, No Hank, no Nolan Ryan, not even a Frank robinson for gahds sake. These caliber cards would be cornerstones of my collection. I have Boss cards of all of these guys. I have a brooksie that was furnished in a long-ago trade with a dear friend, Beardy.
The main reason, I have found, is the over-powering urge, when purchasing cards, to go for quantity and chance over preference and expense. I don't get anything like that out of a blaster, and the upper deck issues are sky-high. It is high time that I put some effort into converting my collection. I will be ready to divest more than half of all of my cards before the summer is through. I will make sure that I let you all in on the set-buildng fodder I have (like heritage sets from 05-08, A&G unfinished sets, and a few completes that were prizes (like 07UD predictors purple and 2 and 14/16 2011 diamond factory sets). That kind of stuff.
thanks again for reading, and sent me an email if you ever see any trades that you are interested in. I send first cuz I don't give a singe care.

Peterson

Part Two: Trade 'Em If You Got 'Em

okay, so my rule of capitalizing every word of the title did't really make hay here, so off we go with some other cards that I figured someone might be looking for.

Trade Bait: Because My Readers Are More Important Than Money.

Here we go, What you guys don't want to trade for (remember I am not looking to "make out on a trade" or "get value" as that is how we do around here). See my updated sideroll for wants. I am a simple trader. Also Team needs aside form the next few posts will be handsomely hooked up as my knee is fuct again and I am moving in a year or so. Time to open the floodgates. More to come.

post a comment and email peterson238 at yahoo.

Leaf: I Loved You In 1990: You Want Me Back Don't You

Some of the "right up my alley" collection from Leaf recent. Ok, so the UD corpse takes another kick in the ribs by use of the "Ultimate" label, but who cares when Leaf is putting out products like the following gallery. With the white stock, clean chrome, nice tiny numbers (such a sucker for tiny numbers) and autos that really stand out and exist as the paramount feature of the autographed card as it should be.

 For this design, I think the numbers are an outstanding way to draw attention away from the lack of logo or team name. The player selection lends itself to this too, as these guys made the sight of this number in the zone of competition actually meant something.

 Due to the sweet sweet filigrie(sp don't care), the PWS (plain white swatch) does not offend. The choice for the picture is key. I found a Nolan Ryan that chose his induction into the HOF...old fat man. even he would hate it.

 navy numbers, pinstripes, 44...can you even tell it's not a yankees card?

 Just about perfect without a patch. I guess, upon further review, I could do without the "film reel" banner. I don't really get it.

 Freak! If you were born between 1970 and 1980, tell me you don't want this card.

simply epic. Ditch the sticker and this would dominate my football auto collection.

I got to get my hands on one of these. Off to bid.

Peterson

If You Gotta Cut, Cut Here Part II: Ahhh...That's Better

Good ol' Bobby Doer Comes through. It doesn't hurt that it appears to be inscribed by a well-seasoned, but not dull, sharpie on a very conducive surface like a program or an 8x10. You can't really even tell that Bobby's pants(?) are making a cameo. Dirt background....AAAHHHHHHH....so relieved.

2013 Topps; I Will Be Re-Dipping In This Pool (MINE)

 This should net me a few bucks. I do love the pink look, and with them being the (slightly) shorter-printed SPs, it's a decent addition to the Black #/XX. Minny Miggy...we'll see about that.

 I did nab Bundy, Miller and Olt Blues (along with Harper below) Would have Preferred a Profar.

 The emerald stuff is better than the gold and now I know I cannot go back.

I do dig Carlos alot for an Ohioan, and these cards are a really attractive alternative to the "chasing the whatever" 2004 Finest redux cards. (phew)

2013 Topps: A Break To Break The Hardest Breakers

So I was an upper deck man when they were around. Nowadays I have been riding the "show me what you got, Topps train that started in 2010. This is the first base release since then that has grabbed my interest. I haqve compiled a few images from ebay and other sites to show you the simple answer as to why I want to buy another hobby box ASAP. I don't think I've said that since 2006 BoChro. Anyway, on with the show. Your welcome Topps.

 I bid on this one but it got away. I love the use of silver and the "brushed" or "galvanized" look of the softened areas of chrome. It really adds a look of true distinction that I feel topps has previously really missed the mark on. (uhem 2008 clown show)

 The relics available are amazing, even in a world of relic-tired cynics like myself. Bob Clemente? Yes, please. All day long.

 Dedication to memorializing the Fall Classic have been strong with topps, but with mixed results. This year's look great. (Last year's were amazing with the leaves and what-not)

 I gotta let the rest speak for itself. Let's just say that I am excited for my Box break. The ossibilities are endless, but the break is limited. Stay tuned for my personal hits and a review of the "silver slate" cards when they arrive.

 upper deck did it.