I Named My Band Aid: 2004 Leaf Limited Monikers Paul "Dukie" Lo Duca

Frankly, I adore the simplicity of this card and the inclusion of a relic in the classic "Jersey number window treatment". but "Dukie 16" sounds more like a teenage WOW player or a Preakness winner than a player's "moniker". The straight-up lettering shows you that "dukie 16" is not real thrilled with having to write a nickname that he almost assuredly did not assign to himself, as the good ones never are, on 1000 or so stickers for Leaf.
I would get bored to Dukie.
plus the scan looks like a 10yr old wrote on their bandaid and stuck it on a GU card...

If The Sticker Fits...:What If It Doesn't?

I hate to criticise, or do I?

Card auction found here

This is a pretty unique version of the Exquisite Rookie Signatures line (that we all knew was a mildly veiled ploy to have us expect the greatness of exquisite, and with a killer crop of rookies! Right?...no.) This shyte was just as expensive as the real when it came out, and there are wayyy too many problems with the set that are starting to show their faces as I carefully choose which card I would like to own.

This set brought us some amazing collectibles that are pieces unto themselves, but when it comes to stickers and thier "wonderful" curves...shit goes wrong...
Could you honestly say that the card above would not be 1000% times more intrinsically/aesthetically valuable if the sticker were not involved?

Granted, I have a long-standing problem with sticker autos, and I am not alone. This one didn't even have a chance...look at where it is placed. It interferes with so many components of the card's oeverall design, it cannot be...but it is. It was the only place the doltish final artists gave it to go. This card was meant for an autograph, act like it.

I would potentially spend a good amount of (really fkking) hard-earned money to add this part of one of the decade's most exciting participants, had his simple auto been allowed to be graced on the card DESIGNED for it. Maybe Upper Deck was getting lazy and complacent in their later years, but this is a common sense/simple design issue.
I miss Upper Deck so much.

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

Duelling Autos: Cal And Jetes

This here's a peach all-right. I got a tops card you'll see soon that I wish was done up like this...

Sucker Punch II:D-R-C Joke's on Me.

This kid (with a lot of help from A-Rodg) suckerpunched this PACKER fan.

feelin kinda ill...need yardage transplant...What is it with the first play of the game today?

[EDIT: feeling better at the half, two score game that I still think we can win.]

Sucker Punch: Ray Rice

I'm not much for the Ravens, or the Pats for that matter, but that was one of the very best suckerpunches I have ever seen in playoff football. Imean, Ray's not even that fast...pats got played on the first play. guh. suckerpunch.

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.

Really?!: Tristar Signa Cuts

Your bad #1
the name of your product is Signa Cuts, only one of which is a word. weak. Just because you don't have a liscence doesn't mean you can treat us like were too young to have ours. This is not a "cut" in ANY WAY(see #3)
Your bad #2
Do I really have to say anything about the fact that the only thing I know about this guy from the card (without a computer) is that he won the heisman trophy in '69...(supposedly, I am still at a lack of proof) not what he looks like, who he played for, or even that you were ever in his presence(see #3)? (answer: no, idiot)
Your bad #3
you put a goddam sticker in the middle of a field of white with some vaguely "woody" (or realtree as we call it round thsese parts) borders and make people take it out of a box for you and covet it for you?...after you have already taken some of their hard earned money? you know what? F**k you. yeah f**k you and the sticker you wrote in on.

I can't even read the signature for chrissakes.
cool visuals to follow soon.

Peterson

More is Less: Playoff Contenders

I will only leave this card at the top of my blog for the next 10 minutes. that is how ugly it is. I had a headache after seeing my JV Team take conditioning BP today (after finding out head coach is in a sling for the next 6 weeks), and this is a test of my will. That's it I'm posting. Damn, I looked again.
Donruss, more is less.

Best unliscenced, sticker-auto I have seen to date. (is that the bat-symbol in the "E" of Americana? sorry that just caught my eye. I found a fair amount of images of the checklist of this subset while floating in the reatail world. There are two different coices for photo. "The player" or the "Hall of Famer"The photo of a young Johnny is so much nicer than some of the other double-chin, unavoidable, over-the-hill look from the night they were inducted into the hall, all stubble and rolls. I would certainly like to be remembered with a smart-looking photo of me taken during my playing days, not bloated at the podium. I didn't even have the heart to put up the "Hall of Famer" images. My Cal never looked like Dr. Evil and never will.

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

Craftsmen:Brian Bixler, The Brian Bannister of 2009

Even the shortest, most truncated versions are near masterpieces, and fit in many of my "recurring themes" categories. The UDX is the most detailed and has a perfectly executed "B repeat". The Sterling version has a very tag-like feel to it, as the bend of the second "B" is irregular snd possibly accidental. At the very least, his consistency is nothing less than admirable.

Really!: Vernand Morency

When you lament owning, purchasing or pulling a Chris Johnson "CJ" Auto, take heart in the fact that at least he is one of the best players in the game, if not for just right now.

Then there's this guy...This could have been a great looking refractor auto from finest but what looks like someone dropped a pen on a Topps certified busy-bulls*** hologram sticker. looks like somebody was late for a mandatory meeting...yeah right.

I saw this card a while ago, and it has eaten at me ever since.

Professional sports players' ignorance of the fan's role is only surpassed by the fans' ignorance of their own.

Top "Nickname to AUTO Ratio" -Frank Thomas

Ratio Nickname/Autograph: 92/84

Nickname? Stamp! Autograph? St-Stamp! (signhere approved beer commercial reference)

Thomas has an extremely consistent auto with great pseudo-symmetry and an added "35" jersey # for your enjoyment.

Although the "big hurt" often referred to his triceps muscle in the later years, Frank Thomas is part of an elite group of four players (including Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams) to have at least a .300 batting average, 500 home runs, 1,500 RBI, 1,000 runs and 1,500 walks in a career.

This set of stats is truly painful for opposing pitchers to think about.

He was one of the only "hyped" rookies to come up in my first go-round with the world of card collecting from 86-93 that actually had a very productive career (fruitful sounds too weak for this guy, I mean he used to swing a piece of rusty rebar in the on-deck circle).

Jeff Conine says what?

-Peterson

By My Hand: 2006 Yunel Escobar

YUNEL ESCOBAR

Atlana Braves

2006 Bowman "Signs of the Future" sticker* autograph

Here we go, I am going to start it off simple so as not to set your expectations too high. The first "AUTO" signature I present to you is the first one I ever pulled from a pack. Having attained several random musicians' signed setlists, this was a new beginning to my interest in signatures.

Combine the 10-year-old-hand-sized pieces of cardboard that I loved when I was 10 and upgrade them with the ACTUAL signature of the player pictured? Pure marketing Genius.

"In America, we are all consumers, we just have so many options for what to consume."

feel guily or don't, that's on you. I have had a hard time cutting back on card-purchases, and am enjoying doing more with what I have...hence the blog.

I had some cash, and no GF so I got in to the game and bought a ton of hobby wax my first couple years. I am still not sure if that was a thoroughly bad, or collosally(sp) bad idea.

It was like when Nike introduced a skateboarding line of shoes with myriad styles and color combos and produced them in limited quantities, only to create one of the strongest secondary markets I've seen. (along with, incidentally my favorite money maker/taker, Baseball Cards.)

(The kicker about the kicks is that you don't wear baseball cards...think about it)

Yunel Escobar was breaking all sorts of Richmond Braves records just down the street from me in Richmond when I pulled the card. It wasn't until the next time I rolled in to the Diamond after the 5th with a pants-full of beers that I realized that this dude was worth a damn at baseball. OK pull, but the story and g'nnections make it special.

This is not, by any stretch one of my favorite autographs inside the hidden parameters of what goes in the blog, but rather a cop out on choosing a favorite, or explaining my reasoning behind good autos and good auto cards. sue me. (shit, don't do that.)

oh...we have so much to discuss...see you soon.

Peterson







*I f..king hate sticker autos, but I have alot. may that be your introduction to my fleeting hypocrisy.