Topps Gold and Television: Opiate of the Masses...#5

#5 of my top 5 Topps Gold parallel cards

Does anyone out there watch "Gold Rush: Alaska"? I mean, why is this show so watchable? do we feel like we could be there if we had the time?...that we could do better? I can't do anything but wince in pain as they prat-fall through their profane campaign for riches, nay substinance.

I wish them the best...but I can't look away...

Porcupine Creek has turned into a (sorry) "Set-Back Mountain"

Peterson

Congratulations, Mr. 600!

This is a very happy (and no doubt significantly relieved) man.

There are very few things that I like better than Milwaukee Brewers Celebrations. I love this team.

Painting commisioned for Trevor by Doug Melvin and awarded to him and his kin post-game.

It was a great day when I heard that we had signed Trevor Hoffman, the living-legend/saves leader, who reinvented himself early in his career with San Diego. We have been honored to watch his finale and possible epilougue in Milwaukee. I know that Trevor feels the same way. If you lived in Milwaukee and spent time at the park you'd know what I know. The Brewers are all Zen. They are all heart. They are all winners. (except in the books, we have a ways to go "by the numbers")

Thanks to Wednesday's Frosty Mug from the folks over at over at Brew Crew Ball for the photos.

It Really Took Us This Long?: Supe's On No Longer.

"No soup for you"...there we go, that is how outdated this guy's skills were when they reached the Brewers staff way too many questionable starts ago.

NLCS MVP? not here in Milwaukee...It is regrettable that you had to be a part of the destruction that was (and is still) the hangover from CC's millions and the utter collapse of the Brewers pitching staff since that glorious week in 08, but you suck ass. I never wanted you on my team. I thought you were a waste of money from the start and your contract from 07 is one of the symptoms of a diseased pitching strategy being executed by what can only be referred to as a group pf chimpanzees in a room with some VCRs and blank contracts.

Eric Arnett, I need you to straighten out that Sig, and get to to floodplain to join the Crew for a playoff run next year.

You are being made fools of by the REDS...what does that say to you?

2010 Bowman:When Worlds Collide

Bought a few Jumbos of 2010 Bowman, I had some luck. no golden ticket here, and I did NOT pay 20bucks for these jumbos, that would be stupid no matter who is in the set. I have seen the jumbo boxes going for well over 200 on eBay alone. I don't even want to check any of the retailers. The Shop I got them from was only opening one hobby and one jumbo box for pack sales. All of the other boxes were now sealed $100 and $220 lottery tickets for people with more money than brains.

I am pumped that the lame blue parallel that I got was of a Brewer, and that I got all the big guys, except for Harper (but Cardboard Problem has more on that). I got a great looking Blue refractor, Dustin Ackley chrome, and a peculiarly poular ($20+) Jose Iglesias auto.
The auto pull is tight. It's nice to be happy with a pull from any of several teams, a nice thing about moving every 3.4 years.

I will not have to buy any more of this product, and will hope to trade for the base I want. Then I got the "sorta flashback to fleerUltra" inserts of two of the biggest stories in baseball including the kid who will be pitching for the geographically closest baseball team to my heart. (to say nothing of my growing enthusiasm for the team) Oh, and a cubs guy. do not want.

that title is extremely dramatic. Save for the design, which I love because I am a simpleton when it comes to cards, 2010 Bowman has caused just such drama. It is all alot of us have to write about. I am still wishing someone else would help me out with HertChrome, but now this set of "epic" proportions is upon us. It is nice to see people and writers lose feathers over this one, and the stir has gone nationwide and mainstream and all that.

CardWeblogger Fact # 342: Non-refractor chrome cards scan like crap. Refractor chrome cards look gorgeous.

Best improvement: silver signature overlay (so sick, but I bet I'll get sick of it) worst "improvement": continuing the "base rookie auto"...that is some bullshit. I just want a real Heyward RC in chrome dammit. (and still making those "gold" cards in every pack...that is just plain stupid)

Verdict:
Still beats the shit out of everything 2010 Topps has to offer save for TMCG.
If you have 2010 topps needs, I am your man, I am keeping about zero of those cards. (not ONE made it into my top 100 best-looking cards. The auto above is automatically in my top 60 or so favorite autos and that Cody wheeler easily cracked the top 40 best-looking chrome cards.

GALLERY: Brewers Autographs

Casual Fingers:Sticker Master

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

For Your Consideration: Mat Gamel's Rainbow of Style

We'll start with the ugly ones... I would like you all to take a look at all of the 2008/9 topps sticker autos, and notice the sheer variegated nature of it. I liken Mat's signatures for topps and Upper Deck to date to Darwin's finches. Each one's existence a sum of gradual adaptation and evolution over time. The only thing wrong with this theory is that these stickers were most likely procured all at the same time or in several seperate sessions, nonetheless, you find me sigs that vary like this (seriously, if anyone out there knows of a great signature, please leave a comment).

This one flows, which asks relaxed? in a hurry? or sloppy drunk? no. but there are others...........(I have to say upon further inspection, this might be his best...but there are so many to choose from. How could someone like me decide which Mat Gamel AUTO I will actually pay for.

Super tight flow, Mat. I totally see the "M" in there...

On to TTT. ok, I bought one single, and it is not Mat Gamel. It's Justin Masterson, but that's another post. Observe as Mat's signature transforms and contorts in a vain attempt at escaping the cruel holographic hell in which they are captured (a la zod).....

.....and then gives up and seems to return to a more "natural shape". At least it doesn't look like he signed it while on a treadmill like we will see below.

Below is probably my favorite overall, but the whole Parabell look is so 1261. Notice that in this example, the loop around the "M" is clear and round and equidistant from the "M" shape. The "T" to the right of center sealed a sweet deal with the Brewers.

Here, things get kind of hectic. I am not sure how this is the same guy as the one who signed those stickers. This one has my vote for being purchased. The boy's a flat-brim. I can't lose. This is the first time we see the "triple feature" in Mat's sig. the first to the left is the loop around the M, then the G and L curves follow. They are really more scratches than curves here.

Here he went with the "less is more" technique. fail. I have seen a few of these with better autos, but the picture and design are a turn off.

Hands down winner of best card, although I was never a huge fan of the whole "floating head" trend, wasn't it Pete Rose who had a floating head RC. Plus this is ON-CARD. It could have been placed better, but the full M, triple feature, and beautifully horizontal line catch my eye again and again. Which one of you doesn't want to collect things that catch their eye no matter how many times you look at it? I had to close out with at least one photo of Mat after the call-up and hair cut. Too bad it's wasted on this garbage dump of a card.

You are the best mat. get to MKE soon as possible. (and bring up your strikeout-to-walk ratio for us)

Brewers: Paul Molitor

Paul's the kind of guy that signs his name enough that even he can't read it. It's on card. It's Molly, but I hate the "jetes pop-up at the bottom. That is whay I have no interest in 2008 Goudey, Sport Royalty exempt, the authenticity ruined the remake(?).

Casual Fingers #3: on the ball.

I know someone whose signature does not suffer from being written on a curved surface. I am not looking at you Mr. Sizemore.

The hot new stuff...

These patches are (not mine) insane, as most would put it. fricking stickers and all, I would love to have bought the right-half of the "2" from CCs brewers jersey, but darn it if the thing didn't sell yesteraday for over 100.00. no auto, just patch. Good to see demand is strong...I think.

Before they go to eBay...

I Love Paul, except for all that Twins unpleasantness. On-card auto...my favorite right? alas, this is not one of Mollie's best scripts, and I need a little cash so I plan on Upgrading at a later date. Plus that whole "Jetes says" thing, authentic though it may be, is distracting and annoying.

Simply one of the best Simple Signatures I own. Great lines, reminds me of one of my dad's old ad-men buddies.

Wish I didn't have to give this one up. I am a huge sucker for Bowman Sterling and got this for a song. ("...unfortunately that song was "White Christmas" and I lost millions".)

Oh, also I wish I cared at all about basketball anymore.

Killer AUTO, with consistent line thickness and great use of space on the sticker*. I have seen a few more legible Yount autos, but they are hard to come by on cards.

It always feels odd to have to sell out of one of your personal collections, but when you have one great signature of one of your favorite players AND a mortgage, you gotta count yourself lucky.