Why?: Topps?

I am a fan of Nolans all around. but I noticed that there is a discrepancy in the topps 2010 lineup. (mark this among the myriad "problems" I have had with Topps Company this year(severley miscut refractors and base, scoliosis of the card etc. all of which will be sent back for replacement) but this is one that hits on multiple levels.
I collect the 2010 Heritage Chrome set (AS I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW WELL)
but I also collect Topps Rookie Cup cards...

There is an exceptionally attractive trophy on his base card...

There is no trophy on his Chrome Base card...

elvis andrus has a trophy on his chrome card.

WTF.

Topps, we need to get a drink and work some shit out.

She's Up: And The Swing...

5 views no watchers as of 12hrs of "airtime"...can't wait to see if someone takes the bait. I should put it up in the Unbeliev-a-pull thread...do you guys read the Freedom Cardboard forums? I check them to see scans of high-end box breaks. They say some of the funniest shit over there.

Interesting point of note: very into player-parallel setbuilding and "rainbows".

I'll save the effect these "rainbows" had on me when 2010 Chrome football came out when I unleash my CAVALCADE OF PLAYOFF PACKERS PARADE (coming soon)

Speaking of which:

Do you all have a forum you post in? (I do not...) Do you have one you check out for box breaks or scans of nice cards (I find these especially entertaining when you don't have the cash to break a box yourself....which is in principle, always, but I find a way).

Peterson

Your Reaction: Previous Post Title

well? It is fairly gangly but if you read the post further down, it might take root.

We, And I Got A Dog: God "A" to G.I. DNA: "ew..."

Her name is Lemon and she is an American Pit/undetermined terrier mix known as a "pocket Pit". She was rescued by Richmond Animal Control but her puppies were nowhere to be found. She was tied up on a concrete porch and they fixed her up enough for the Richmond SPCA (one of my favorite organizations ever) That is where I adopted her. She is a slim 36lbs, about 2yrs, and a definite sign of "Street Cred" to some in my 'hood but is as timid and sweet a beast as I have ever lived with.

EDIT [after reading comments]:
Tons of comments right away, so cool. The connection that rescues create with other humans-helping-animals is overwhelming. Wifey and I spent the first Sunday after getting her watching Pitbulls and Parolees for 6 hours straight. I have worked with both and am just all about what they do at Villalobos.
I am so proud to be a part of the Dog world. I have two SPCA cats who are my "housekeepers" if you will. Lemon is like a child, just a very...very well behaved child.

If You Want To Know What Makes Me Mad: Read This Article (which has nothing to do with sports)

JPMorgan Chase Over-charges and wrongfully forcloses on US Military Personnel homes.
I swear to God, no matter who sent them or where, when our 100% Volunteer military finally gets to spend time stateside after 3 tours and a Stop-Loss order good for another 3-5 yrs,
A good business should make sure that, at the very least YOU DON'T TAKE AWAY THEIR F88KING HOUSE.

Our free-market economy should not allow people to do a shitty job just because they can and no one stops them. I'm looking at you Bear Stearns, and the Fannies...this is some bullshit.

America, Please choose wisely with whom you do business...some people are just really not very good at their jobs.


I am a dude for the time,
and I support this message.
-Peterson

Whoops: Retail Blunder Hit (SP of an SP)

Got a Cheepo blaster of Topps Magic at Target a while back and opened it the other day. The cards are a little simple, as was the style of the time they are alluding to, and they look awesome with the very high contrast and high definition of the images. I have to admith though that all of this color enhancing that has been happening on the 2010 cards across the board is weirding me out a little. Kind of like how Playboy went from fuzzy lenses in the 60s and 70s to the air brush to the eventual and almighty digital "fix".

.... this little guy whacked me in the face from the last of the 8 packs. Montario Hardesty Chrome Refractor Auto #8/10

I went on a popular auction site to see if any were up for auction for me to watch...nothing.

Search: Hardesty-auto=ZIP.

Then I found a seller that had it for 179.99 B.I.N(OBO). Then the investigation began.

It turns out according to topps.com that Hardesty is in the first pool of ultra-SPd autos in the set. He has only 15 reported regular, non-refractor chrome AUTOs in the set.

then there are the 10 Refractor autos.

So I guess I would rather have the refractor with its killer little serial number. (I f%&$ing hate the printed on numbers...really, really bad.)

I am torn about this card though, Hardesty, I heard, got injured and will play next season.
...and might be good, making this a premium rookie auto to have come november/december OR I put it up on previously-mentioned auction site for 179.99 and see if anyone bites...hell McCluster sold for more than that just the other day...

we'll see

opinions, as always, are welcome in the comments.

enjoy the games

GO PACK!

fk yoo fau cun!!!!

All This HOF Talk: Common Thread of Jack Morris

I guess the nice part is that I agree with the two major sports talk radio stations as opposed to constantly feeling athlete-respect-misalignment. Now, I don't love the Deadskins, so that's just chatter, but they do have entertaining assholes on the team and running it, so I treat that more like a soap opera than anything.
When it came time for Nick Scaban and Wes MacElroy, Dan Patrick and the Danettes and the rest of the talking Headphones (heads doesn't fit, radio and all) to weigh in on the recent Hall of Fame nominees and eventual inductees, I heard one name more often than I thought I would (which obviously excludes good ol' Bert B.) and that name was Jack Morris.
I remember Jack being the 2007 Justing Verlander meets 2008 CCSabathia Just-give-me-the-damn-ball-and-let-me-do-my-job Playoff pitcher of the 80's and early 90's. I was living in CT and Jersey at the time and was sort of partial to the Yankees because that's where Dad and I went. He wasn't interested in the Mets, and it rubbed off. In my mind, since 1986, they may as well not exist except for my love of David Wright's sig.
Jack pitched some sick, stay-up-late, watch in the other room because your family is in the family room watching some crap movie- Playoff games for the Twins, Tigers and the Jays (and a lifetime BA of .000. Those were the days that I was more interested in what the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead and Phish were up to than rooting for a team or watching more than the occasional Yanks game or playoff appearance.
Jack Morris is a tall (6'3",220) hard-ass. So was my dad (6'5",250).
Jack had the edge with the moustache. He had a thick-as-a-thicket push-broom like Ned Flanders. My dad only rocked his solid brown 'stache for about 6mos. in the early 70's when my sister was born.
Memories..... (don't think of the song............gotcha)
Sometimes I think about the evolution of my collection from a monetary standpoint. I mean, wheo the fk doesn't remember what happened last time (and if you don't sorry, but your 80s and 90s cards are officially colorful cardboard again, NOT currency) So I like to spend and make money in my hobby. Should I be collecting all HOF inductees for perceived security for my "investment", or buy mindlessly because the card looks "aesthetically delightful". What I will likely do is continue to hover in between those two. Loving every card that comes my way.

Love peace and sleepless nights,
Peterson

Just Another Day That Will Live In Infamy: The Passing of Dick Winters

Stokes Young writes: Major Dick Winters passed away Jan. 2 in central Pennsylvania. If you've read Stephen Ambrose's book or watched the HBO miniseries, you'll likely already have mental pictures of Winters' acts of heroism during harsh fighting in Europe during the Second World War. This is what he looked like in 1945:

Duelling Autos: Gorgeous Card, Cooky Combo

Stan Lopata was once described, in his younger years with the Phillies by Dizzy Dean as "a man hittin' from an easy chair" and was eventually part of a trade that brough him to the "friendly" fans in Milwaukee and sent Gene Conley and others to the Phillies in 1959. Lopatta was confident that his bum knee wouldn't cause a problem behind the backstop in Milwaukee. Wrong. He wasn't used much and batted a well sub-Mendoza .104 in 48 ABs and was released in October.

I really dig this card, every one who reads here often knows that I love the myriad versions that Matt Gamel's Tron-like sig. but is this the most unlikely pairing I have ever seen? probably.

Am I sure I want ol stan rockin an M Braves hat...not really.

As always, if you know something I do not...share.

Peterson

2010 Bowman Platinum: I Like Very Much

I bought a couple of Blasters of Bowman Platinum from Target and came away with every rookie I wanted, most of the players on my list, and these two badboys. going for 40+ and 25+ respectively. Plus these are the only other autos of these guys except for the Bowman Chrome Autos. These are on-card, These are gorgeous, these are accessible, these are what Topps does right.

Peterson