Monday, August 31, 2009

Last Day of Gint-A-Cuffs

And as fall beings to usher summer out the door, the Gint-A-Cuffs contest comes to an end.

It looks like the leaderboard has only added one more box break in the past month, although I'm sure everyone who signed up is waiting until the last day to post their answer to Beardy's 347.

However, it should be noted he's already opted to give the prize to 2nd place, so all you need to do is break 333. I'm satisfied with my 6th place finish, but we'll see where I end up when the dust clears.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Operation Fig Tree: Have You Seen Kevin Slowey?

SHARPE'S MOST WANTED 2009 GOUDEY CARDS
#121 KEVIN SLOWEY





Well, it's down to three cards, and I'll just name drop everyone right here. Kevin Slowey, Bob Gibson, and Carlos Gonzalez. Those are my marks.

But here, I present to you Mr. Kevin Slowey. He of the underachieving Minnesota Twins. My current hometown team. I need him. Need him bad, and I know someone out there has him, because someone out there has had everyone else.

Kevin Youkilis, Roy Oswalt, and Phil Coke were found by my good friend Brian.
Matt Holiday came from Baseball Dad.
And Vlad Guerrero came over from JD's Wild Cardz.

Those were the first 5 of the 8 I need to complete my 2009 Goudey base set and I'm aiming to knock this out in the final days of summer.

I'm still looking to trade off a pile of A&G base cards, and I may be able to make some other creative offers. Please let me know if you've seen Mr. Slowey.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Belated Mail Day - Part 2: A Package From Baseball Dad

Really, honestly, you people are too kind. I mean that.

Especially you, Baseball Dad.

Although I consider the package I received late last week the first part of a "cards to be named later" trade, I was very heppy with what I found.

First of all, thank you for helping my narrow my 2009 Goudey base set search down to 5 cards by sending over Matt Holiday.



That alone would have me on the lookout for any cool Indians cards to send you way. However, your generosity didn't stop there. You sent along a stack of Brewers and Twins cards for me to pour over and enjoy. And I did.

I wanted to post my favorite from the stack.



It's a Cecil Cooper Purina card, licensed by Topps. It's a great photo of Coop, who was one of my favorite childhood Brewer heroes. The best part is I'll get to spend a little bit of today tracking down the origins of this set and maybe trying to find more.

Thank you also for the other Brewers and Twins cards that I'll certainly be able to use in trade with my good friends Cole and Alex. These kids enjoy getting adding to their Brewers and Twins binders and usually have some cards I need for sets to trade. It's a win-win situation.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Belated Mail Day - Part 1

Wow, I totally went off the radar last week. But I'm back, with a much overdue Mail Bag type post. I'm very much behind on posting what's come in the mail. Specifically, I owe Beardy an entire post about the A&G minis I received in trade from him a few weeks back (I know, I know, I'm a horrible person).

I also recieved a Bill Hall jersey swatch from a nice guy named Brian. I don't think he's got a blog out there, but if I'm wrong, Brian please correct me and I'll link you up. The Bill Hall package came on the day the Brewers designated him for assignment, and I'll likely remember that for a long time. I actually used the Hall card in trade for two Goudey cards I needed for the 2009 base set with my friend Brian. I'll have to post about that as well. I guess my to-do list is growing ever longer.

This post, however, is to document what my good friend Mike, over at JD's Wild Cardz sent over last week. These were in trade for a handful of 2009 Topps Heritage cards he needed for his Heritage Project (can you help?)

First is a mini from the 2007 Goudey set. This was a surprise in the package, and I was very happy to see Mr. Verlander, who is one of my favorite players and the ace of my fantasy team.



He also included a mini of Glen Perkins rookie card from that set. There was also a Matt Kemp 2009 Goudey mini included.

The next "card" is a fantastic addition to my collection. My very own Ginter Code advertisement complete with Mike's autograph. I'll just need Nick to autograph it for me as well when I send out his trade packaged this week. What's terrific about this is that I sent over the Ginter Ad cards to protect the other cards in hopes that Mike would take that as a sign . . . to sign. And he did. Thanks Mike - great signature too.



He also sent over a Joe Nathan 2009 Goudey base card for my friend Brian along with the Vlad base card and Brooks Robinson short print I needed. It looks like Operation Fig Tree is starting to bear fruit. Yup, I'll end it on that terrible pun.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

1963 Topps Thrift Store Find


On the way into the thrift store today, with my wife, I lamented how I left my phone at home and wouldn't have any other way to kill some time while she went through everything. Normally, I can find a way to entertain myself for about 10 mins, but then I quickly get bored of rummaging through stuff.

Not today, no sir. I found a box/bin full of random baseball cards that had been bundled up into some random plastic bags and stapled shut. As far as I could tell there was no rhyme or reason as to which cards went into each bag, or how many. This bag might have 15 cards and go for 69 cents. This one over here, thirty-ish cards, same price. Every once in a while I'd come across a Twins card on the front of the bag, this meant a nice little mark up for the thrift store. $1.69!

These bags were mostly filled with junk wax and I was mostly just organizing the cards bags by brand and year. I quickly started to realize that someone had dumped most/all of the 1986 Topps set there and that comprised the large majority of the cards. As far as I could tell, these 86 Topps were mostly packaged together. There were also some assorted Fleer, Donruss, Upper Deck, Score, Bowman, etc, etc. You get the picture.

As I was sorting through the cards, I saw 1990 Bowman Denny Martinez staring at me.



Nothing special, but I flipped the pack over and noticed a 1963 card of Bill Monbouquette. He aparently threw a no-hitter in 1962 against the Chicago White Sox. As far as I can tell, that doesn't look like much of an accomplishment. The only hitter I can identify is one of the worst HoF selections of all time, Luis Aparicio. No, really, if you were asked to go back through the HoF and take out anyone you don't think should really be in, his placque would be in the first wheelbarrow you towed out of that place.


But I digress. Bill Monbouquette. No-hitter. 1963 Topps card. Well as I open the pack, I'm very excited to see Mr. Monbouquette, but I'm actually greeted with Jim Owens. Who sports a pretty nice 60s haircut.



Turns out there were 7 cards from the 1963 set included in my little baggie of cards. All were misprinted with the incorrect players stats on the back. There were two team cards, as you can see.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Ed Brinkman #479 who appears on the back of the Ray Sedecki card, sounds like the name of an umpire that's around these days. Right?

Another note, the quality control in this set must have been dubious at best since you've got Barney Schultz position listed as "Pitcher" and everyone else (who's a pitcher) listed as "P".

Anywho, I have no idea if these cards have value and that's really not the point, the point was to pick up some interesting cards. Mission accomplished.

PS - Whoever wrote about 1993 Upper Deck on their blog recently, you're totally right, that 1993 design is great. I was blessed with a very nice Dickie Thon Brewers card from that set. I love that he sports the "IF" position. "IF" just about sums up everything about Thon's career. That is all. Enjoy your Sunday.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Operation Fig Tree: Have You Seen Roy Oswalt?

SHARPE'S MOST WANTED 2009 GOUDEY CARDS #80 ROY OSWALT





Thanks again to Baseball Dad for knocking the Holliday card off my list. He'll be receiving a card to be named later (possibly of the Indians variety) in exchange. I'm sure I can find something worthy.

I'd like to have ya'll take a look for Roy Oswalt for me. 2009 Goudey #80, in case you missed it. You name your "price" in trade.

OPERATION FIG TREE: HAVE YOU SEEN MATT HOLLIDAY?

SHARPE'S MOST WANTED 2009 GOUDEY CARDS #68 MATT HOLLIDAY




Alright, I've gotten the list down to 7 cards, but I next I need your help in locating Mr. Matt Holliday.

Matt has escaped me this year, but maybe you've got an extra you'd like to trade? If you can help, please leave a comment or send me an email.

A Sad, Sad Day

Looks like Topps has gotten exclusive rights to produce baseball cards for 2010.

I can't say I was particularly fond of the Upper Deck base product this year, but I've very much enjoyed collecting the Goudey set.

No matter what you are talking about, competition always benefits the consumer and when that's removed from the equation things tend to get stale. Just look at what exclusive rights have done to the sports gaming industry. Arguably the best baseball video game series (MVP Baseball) was killed in favor of the 2K series which has been horrible/unplayable for years. On the football side of things, Madden and NCAA football have gone completely stale in recent years thanks to the lack of competition.

I understand this is a business move and providing the license to the highest bidder probably equals bigger money for that sport, but it still makes me angry, and sad.

Thanks for the good times Upper Deck, especially the Summer of Goudey '09. Maybe now is a good time for me to try and collect the '89 set. I've been meaning to look into that for quite some time.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

7 Is The Magic Number



So here's the Operación Higuera update. The curious case of the missing Kevin Youlkilis has yet to be solved, but fellow bloggers have stepped forward to produce 2 of the other 9 cards I'm missing to bring the total down to 7.

Mike, from JD's Wild Cardz, is sending over both of these cards:



Vlad, The Impaler




And, a short print of Brooks Robinson that I need as well.

In exchange for these two cards, I'm sending Mike 4 Allen & Ginter cards he needs for his 2009 set.

I've also been informed by Steve at White Sox Cards that he's got #87 John Lackey waiting for me.



Thanks guys.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Good Ol Fashioned Pack Break - Part 2

It's time to take a look at the second half of the Series 2 Topps pack I started yesterday.



Derek Lowe pitching in front of a mostly empty stadium. Not entirely certain what the circumstances would around this . . . post rain delay?



Rookie Card of David Patton. Can't say I've ever heard of this kid, but congrats, I hope you surrender many a run to the Brewers over the coming years.



Lance Berkman has become one of my favorite players in MLB due to his consistency with the stick. I had a chance to own him for a very short time in fantasy baseball this year, but ended up dealing him at the deadline for a package containing the As young hurler, Brett Anderson.



Ah, Jason Kendall. I never thought you'd provide much offensive punch when we signed you, but you've now bottomed out with your .598 OPS. .598, yup. I'm sad, but your days as a regular should be over. I'm sure you call a great game, but I think there are probably about 100 other catchers out there that could call a great game and hit for more power and get on base at a decent rate.



Mark Beuhrle, he of the perfect game. I can't believe that no sooner did I trade for you in fantasy baseball did you rip off a string of something like 15 straight perfect innings. It's enough to get me to overlook that drubbing you took against the Yankees last time out.



Last but not least, hey, it's Ervin Santana.

Well that does it for the Topps Series 2 Pack Break. I'm about ready to call off the Youkilis search. It seems no one has his #25 Goudey base card laying around. Stay tuned for the next player on the list.

Monday, August 3, 2009

A Good Ol Fashioned Pack Break - Part 1

Hey, why not, since I'm still waiting for someone to come forth with that Youk card I need. Seriously, someone out there has it, I know it. And while I could buy it, I'd get many more utils out of trading someone for it. Really, I would. I promise. The summer of Goudey must end with a full set from blasters plus trades. It must. But for now - pack break.

I threw some cash down for a Series 2 Topps pack. While only card #192 elludes me from Series 1, I've only purchased a single blaster (more on that debacle sometime in the future) for Series 2. I may have gotten a little sidetracked with Gint-A-Cuffs (13 scores tallied).

First up, Travis Hafner.



I can't help but wonder if he hurt himself sliding. Sorry Pronk. Sweet photo, it's no Black Smoke though.

Next up, Mike Fontenot. I really hate the Cubs.



Meh, a manager card. I really don't get why these exist. If they didn't wear uniforms like the players, would they?



Card #4 in the pack is "Detroit Power Authority". Who did Carlos Guillen have to sleep with to appear in this card with Miggy? His best homerun total came in 2007, with 21. The only thing Carlos is an authority of these days is Bazooka Joe comics and sunflower seeds.



The next card is probably the best in the pack. I can't decide if I like the look or if it's super cheesey, but it definitely stands out. Dustin Pedroia WBC card. I didn't get any of these in my blaster, so it was cool to see something new.



And before we turn it over to the back six of the pack, we've got a Topps Town "card" featuring Ryan Braun. I still don't understand how these are considered "cards" worthy of counting in the pack. Lame.



Overall, I didn't get anything I couldn't live without in the first half of the pack, but the Detroit Power Authority card makes for great jokes so I'll consider it a fun card to pull.

Part 2 . . . sometime in the near future. While you're waiting, take a look for that Youkilis card.