Looky Here: What Does One Beard Give To Another

From the cracked screw-down to the fuzzy corner, I am in love with this copy of this card. I never did own one. The closest I got was the factory set black box version. I hated it. I yoinked the griffey and traded the near-set for the 90score set. It has been a long wait, but it was all worth it. Not only is it an error, a Ripken, an O...but it has a nasty word on it. And it's mine.
I mean, if this doesn't get shown to all my non-card interested friends who are my age, they get weak. no one doesn't remember this in the back of their 12-year-old mind.
I got a few other cards in the pack and will show those later, when I figure out my new scanner.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to go fire on some protesters real quick.
(not supposed to be funny)

more love.
Peterson

1979 Topps: Who Do I Look Like?

Please tell me you don't need a hint...

That is correct Beard and SewingMachineGuy...

Principal Ed Rooney.

your prize is a warm gummy bear.

Ones that Speak to Me: Jordan Schafer

With the advent of 2010 MLB action, there will be a few people watching out for this year's version of Jordan Schafer. Some lanky kid to come in hot and make you think twice about prospect lists enough to earn an A&G SP status. This kid was named 2009 starting centerfielder without ever playing a game past AA. He kills his first at-bat against a hot Brett Myers for HR and people want to know what's good. unfortunately, for those who did some research, he had recently served a 50-day suspension without ever testing positive OR being caught purchasing or possessing HGH. So that was a wash, I guess? either way, he couldn't sustain any power or plate discipline in 09 and was optioned to AAA Former Richmond Braves (we was robbed), and I would have been all over that park-aquired auto. (I have the last foul ball hit by the Braves at the Diamond, and still can't figure out who I want to sign it.)
I am freaking crazy about this kid's sig, and believe that I have reason to be. To my knowledge, he is the first baseball player to sign his name with 3 1/2 letters punctuated by two horizontal lines. Jordan's auto is incredibly consistent, and I am still looking for the right card for me. I do not like the design of either of the two 2009 flagships, and with both of those auto editions being on-card, i am having dif. (difficulties) My want for this autograph on a well-concieved design is literally unparallelled.

Ones That Speak to Me: 2005 UD Trilogy Rickie Weeks

So I got this off dweebay some time back and I wanted to share because it will be going into the Primary Box (the box into which my "better to look at in holders", Top 30 or so cards, Top 30 or so autos, Top 20 or so RCs and my top 20 GU are kept). Though the brewers do have their own Primary box and binders, this one is hot.

This is a freaky version even for "Weaks". (I just did that didn't I?....I feel awful. I have never been anything but supportive of this man. I want the very best for him(and JJ for what it's worth). I saw him hit his first homer...i feel awful))

He dots his "i" with an attachment, probably from general fatigue from the amount of stickers he signed for (the former?) Upper Deck Company. The large R as his first stroke is wider and more scroilled than some, also indicating the previous suspicion. Great new sharpie tho.
15/15 feels nice and lucky in gold.

The layout of the Trilogy Signatures (monochromatic background, matched highlights and delineations...really lent itself in a way to Metallic parallels, being that upper deck had learned to harness the "power of foil", and sometimes, leave it at home.
It is in exceptional condition given the fluff some of the Trilogy corners have undoubtedly turned to, and the sticker is near-invisible.
I have been mad about this design since I saw it. (If you have any, share it)

By the time I was buying wax again, even nice stuff, this stuff was long gone. and if not it was through the roof.
The seller was awesome and threw in a couple other nice cards including a Weeks Gold 2007 Topps. Total paid with shipping: 6.99
I have always wanted to drop that "deal" price on a post Auto-matic style

peterson

Inscriptions: Felix A. "The Cat" Jones

Felix "The Cat" A. Jones II

this guy is helping keep me half-way honest for today in the waxaholic pick'em. I hope alot of other dopes picked the raging pussies. I love the fact that Felix has chosen to buck the popular "junior" moniker for the rather romanesque numeral "II". The lower "ultimate" version (I Heart the "") is on card and includes the "nickname" "the Cat". I am a huge fan of this card, about as much as I am NOT a fan of the cowbouys.

Felix's signature was consistently the best looking and most well crafted of his rookie class. Despite some seriously misguided play-calling in the recent past, Upper Deck saw their way clear to create these two fine cards of a hard working playoff starter.

gonna have to look at some other people's picks to see how bad I'm doin so far...

Cheers,

peterson

One of my favorites (apparently)

This one is mine and not for trade, no one can have it. I have had the most rediculous success in the past year with the few blasters I have bought. went 5/5 2009 A&G with 3 jerseys (Chutley, J-rol and JJhardly) one bat (ZIM) and an auto (mad dog moto-crosser whatever sold it two days later) I bought one box of MAYO because it looked infinitely better than last year and I am a total sucker for the soft white card stock. Granted Mr Collie's picture is not exactly what I would prefer for a professional football player, it being a less-than-non-action shot. Dude is stretching...c'mon. Again, the card stock, trapped mini and sublime borders save the card and keep it in my Prime Auto box, and make me want to share it with you.
As has been beaten to death, the sticker auto was a downer, but with such a clean, feel-good card and an optimistic signature of a very good(not great) rookie receiver. I honestly still don't understand how this kid got no votes for ROY.
Overall, my expectations for blasters were so low in the past, this was weird. I only had a very few dollars lately to "play" with, and Topps decided to renew my faith in "small time" buying...

EDIT: I just took another look over my picks for the contest over at waxaholic and it appears that I think that the Indianapolis Colts are going to win the superbowl. Good for them. (my picks are shyte, from the looks of the pool of applicants, I didn't drink enought that night.

Gentlemen: Gale Sayers

I like, not love, the card design, but the signature stands alone in the light. I haven't seen any instances where Gale created a much different insignia. I love the unintentional way that both initials look like numbers (9, 2 backwards). I am like deleriously hungry, and may or may not be hallucinating. This also looks like it was a signature style that Gale picked up around 8th grade, when he had to start writing essays more. We all know an essay won't get graded without writing your name on it (I teach 18yr olds who still have a problem remembering. some of them must be stoned right?) Damn sticker auto, at least it doesn't cut the y off......wait I just wandered out of the light!
love,
Peterson

Another Time and Place...

This one's called "El Viejo". It belongs on a stained document signed by someone who knows where the "Pecos" is. and where to find the gold. in the desert. I want it.

Packers: For the Record

For the record (of 11-5, hopefully), these are a few of my favorite Packers AUtos in my personal collection. I got the Jones RC for about .99 plus shipping (Topps really put out some "brand new" crap in 07...) The Brandon Jackson Pull-out was one of about 9 pulls I got out of a Gridiron Gear hobby box the same year. (as I will get to, many of these "hits" were created using event-worn materials: see below) I dig the pull-out as it is the only one I own and it is a packer RB (whom is currently back on thin ice, direct from the deep-freeze of my unacceptance). He better have another good game backing up Mr. Grant...If anyone has a good looking Ryan Grant Auto I will shower you with shortprints.
The last two I bought seperately on eBay (the only place I've bought singles up til now)
The Driver is from SP rookie threads, one of my favorite Football sets from that year, mostly attributed to the cardstock, and with a healthy dose of my ignoring the "event-used memorabilia" that is found in here. that stuff is bulls***. He put the jersey on, maybe...maybe for a photo, and then took it off to sign more stickers and topps cards. I think the ends do not at all justify the means at that price point. make a cheap, jersey-packed product for the masses, and use these jerseys. Don't use this kind of trickery to prop up other failing releases.
The Matt Flynn is just a great looking card that hides the sticker fairly well with the fancy filigreed victorian eye-candy. (I love Olg English/Colonial done well on a card in the right theme. This does not include 2007 Artifacts patches).
GoPackers
peterson

Ones That Speak To Me: Greg Halman

The cut off scan does not do this card justice. Greg used almost the exact middle 2/4 of the box, didn't cross over his own line once, and appears to have spelled "Halman" with an uppercase cursive "G"...nope look to the right...BIG H. Greg just lays this one out in the middle of a spate of fresh-sharpie greatness. He is also the #1 Mariner's prospect for '10 (get used to it) and I could not pass up an auto, refractor, and photo of this card for a whopping $7 last spring. A classic Sky-shot with the right proportions.

I am an amateur photographer, and I have studied proportions and their role in human perception. That being said, it still boggles me how some cards not like this get printed.

Still looking for some traders out there. Check your emails or email me...Haven't traded in years, and am really sick of eBay. I am tired of selling away "valuable" cards and keeping base collecting dust. TONS of tradebait up for grabs, I am very eager to downsize with new family forming(albeit slowly) and I am mad generous. just email me your interest and I will check your wantlist. my wantlist is real broad, and since autos can get pricey, I am also very interested in fair-good-VG vintage cards of any team or player. I have TONS of 07 and 09 A&G,06-08 Topps heritage, 07 Goudey doubles, and bits of every other set released between 2005-2007.

Thank you and good day,

Peterson

peterson238@yahoo.com

Ones that speak to me: Tommy Hanson

Tommy's signature looks like a fastball. with this photo, its even speedy in the right direction. This type of signature indicates possible hyperactivity and the ablitity to make the ball move exactly where you want it to. Sometimes. I like this guy, saw him pitch last year and thought he had kind of a Derrick Turnbow like body-throw/almost sidearm delivery. That's what she said.

Ones That Speak to Me: Star Wars edition

Ok, so here's where we weed out another demographic sliver of any possible readers by eshewing in the "Star Wars connection" on Sign Here. It is, simply put, my favorite movie ever.
I have had thoughts of creating a second blog dedicated to only Star Wars ephemera, periphera if you will. What caught my eye was the rise of the use of the Star Wars theme in the already-burst bubble of "streetwear/skatewear" and the present brand wars being fought to catch not the average sneaker wearing citizen's eye...but the collectors. Ecco, Nike SB, Supra, The Hundreds, 10 Deep etc. have all dipped into the Star Wars marketing universe to get people to stand in line in the cold to get their hands on this "gear". Most know that this itself is a mere sliver of the larger entity. The autograph that I display here is only one of the many items that fit into the "living market" for Star Wars themed goods that lives like a mile-wide fungus just beneath the common soil.
Do you want to know more? (a la Starship Troopers)
well, It makes no sense to continue here. I will lay a link when the page is ready.

This card was a dream-come-true to me when I found it in a binder of non-sports autos at a card shop i used to frequent. Not only did I know who Biggs Darklighter was (Luke's good buddy back on Tatooine), but I could have the first non-sports or music autograph in my collection. It had to be this one. It is exquisitely pleasing to me, despite the sticker. The guy with more beard than teeth got my money again at the "local card shop" I say local because it was relatively convenient if I wanted fresh wax when I had the money to buy it. I would pay about 10-15 bucks more on a hobby box than I would have on eBay, and about that much more than my two favorite online retailers, Dave and Adam's Card World (http://www.dacardworld.com/) and Blowout cards (http://www.blowoutcards.com/). I am a creature of habit and was also once burdened by the monkey of instant gratification. I got a couple of Donruss "hot boxes" and three red refractor RC AUTOs among other conquests, but spent alot of money there. Wish I had some of it back, but the story of cards I have won and lost and why I do not have money for hobby wax anymore are both stories for posts with a few less words.
That being said, If you teach in a public school, may the force be with you.
love,
Peterson

Ones That Speak to Me: Victor Martinez

When I first discovered Victor Martinez's AUTO, needless to say, I was impressed. It had all of my favorite qualities...Repetition, legibility, and the most powerful in this instance; Controlled Chaos. I had to have one to look at often.

I was literally hunting the right rendition of his auto since 2005. In 06 I got a co-signers of Victor and Ryan Garko for a song, but I got sick of the shiny stickers and Garko's lackluster development, and sold it.

I promised myself the "Right" one at a later date. It would be on-card, clear and LARGE. I wanted to be able to see every letter. With this one I got the bonus of it being on what I would call a great card design with a great photo of one hell of a good hitting catcher. All of these things contribute to one of the most favored cards in my collection. Victor rarely leaves anything on the diamond (to borrow a football analogy) and puts the same care into every signature of his that I have ever seen.

Evolution = change/time

I would like this to be a blog that makes people get up in the morning, drink coffee and change their lives, but it is not. I just post scans and pictures of Autographs and then either provide somekind of commentary on the design, signature, significance or the always popular, nothin'. Auto-matic for the People has it down for formatting the exhibition of auto cards, and I try not to bite others' steez.
From now until I make another shift due to pressures unknown, I will be organizing photos and scans in my "blogger" file in "recurring themes". some of the themes I have "brainworked" to date:
The Joy of Symmetry/Repetition
self-explanatory...

Controlled Chaos
What moves the pen...the mind or the hand?

Gentlemen
Percieved anachronisms

Then and Now
Classic, and with a market this big, how could I not?

Craftsmen
Taking Pride in your signature is a sign of confidence (or arrogance).

BIG TIME
Gotta be makin' a statement there pal.

Really!
That's how you're going to be immortalized?

Ones that speak to me.
I can have reasons or not have reasons all day long...

By My Hand
Autographs that I attained myself one way or another.

I think that this will at least give this blog some kind of structure. I jumped in with nothing but passion and basic computer skills. I think evident from all December posts. Also I love the feel of a subset. The categories mentioned above remind me of subsets that I might actually like to see exist.
others for consideration pending storage folder initiation:
Doh!
Cut and Run
Just a bit outside...
Fake as s***.

suggestions and submissions are, as always, welcome.

Peterson

I bought this one off of eBay several years ago...I had to have it. Gary's signature has an incredible right-focus that leaves that stylish tail and arc on the LEFT hand side. Everything about this auto says unique. It is on-card, a refractor, and an oddly sublime chrome design. If anyone has any of these sigs, let me know I would love to build this set. y'know, for gazing...

Again we see a Shut-Down pitcher with a very open, spacially consistent, readable signature. Eck had me goin' as a little guy pulling for him, Dave Stewart, and the rest of that 'pen to end the Dodgers hopes for good. This, of course, is not what happened. We have tons fo pics to prove it.

This card is a stunner. (I can still see the sticker) Layout and Patch-card construction quality are on show here.

Ones That Speak To Me: Cal Ripken Jr. (two dots)

I love this particular rendition of Cal's AUTO. Full C, full R and both dots. I entered into a group break over at Oldschoolbreaks,( http://oldschoolbreaks.wordpress.com/), and I am really pulling for any auto from this era. Donruss, historically has been my least favorite production company (save for 85)but spent some time and consideration in the early 00s, making some exceptionally pleasing on-card autos...but I probably don't need to tell you that. I have none. I want one. Done.

If you are reading this and have not gotten out in the snow yet, get out there!

This is what we are missing with dudes like Chris Johnson signing stickers a 1000 at a time.
I LOVE this set. I have a George Scott, and had a Roy White (sold) wish I could get a box of this for christmas. I have a Spahn AUTO, but the rest of these are pure aesthetic joy to me.

Presidential Cut AUTOs and preferences.

Cut this or keep it? (sweet spot doesn't actually have to make that choice...cheap-manufactured-fading-sig-crap)

Nice set-up Razor (who are you guys? Not as sharp as their name sounds) Centering of cut autos can be tough, I am sure, but I hate it when they stray "outside of the box."

The only other Razor card I have is a Matt Weiters Auto that I got for about 6bucks. It's ugly as hell, but I am on a budget. And I wanted his 'graph real bad.

Amazing card. Window is just the right size and the simple, sensitive greeting and signature are perfectly centered (I really appreciate that)
A couple thousand bucks stop here.

A General, a gentleman, a President.
The Man's man. Solid signature, pretty excellent cut and great exhibit by the design.

No comment. I liked the Chevy Chase version better...("I was told there would be no math...")

Elegant, understated, illegible.

Spectacular design. I will call it "American Presidential excess on parade" I would covet this one, even if it isn't a "major" war president. Plus he was in "All in the Family wasn't he?" (No)

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Design takes away the possibility of awe-inspiring, musketpowder smelling history-in-hand experience. "This is co-signers...I hate that set".

We see alot more "cut autographs" in the current hobby. We are also, among those seeing a lot of presidential signatures. I would be literally honored to pull a presidential signature, with a couple of exceptions. Dwight D. Eisenhower is NOT one of them. Just pulling one of these is history at the smithsonian level. one might call it "epic". (not me)

what do you think of the varying quality of presentation of presidential cut signatures?

Oh, and none of these are mine.