Trade with Sluggo

I know what your all thinking, who the hell is Sluggo?  Well, he’s not a blogger.  I don’t think he’ll even see this post unless I stick it on his Facebook wall and even then I can’t guarantee he’ll see it.  Sluggo would be my cousin, or at least, my cousin’s nickname.  When I was growing up, Sluggo and I collected big time.  It was always our dream to start a card shop together.  That’s still a dream but it’ll probably stay a dream since card shops don’t fare to well anymore.

He still collects but mostly he sets up at card shows down in North Carolina.  Where apparently they have a few times a month, must be nice.  So he’s got some good cards.  I traded with him a few months ago just to get some trade bait for some fellow collector’s that I was trading with at the time.  After the trade, I sent a couple Dale Murphy rookies for his PC that I picked up cheap.  He called me, said he had a guy looking for refractors, and we started another trade.  I sent him all my football cards and what little refractor’s I had.  And he sent me a bunch of cards he’s been grabbing at shows for me.  He doesn’t use my have lists, he just grabs whatever oddball cards he can find.

These are some awesome cards.  Out of the huge stack he sent me, I had very few of them.  And now you see why.  He grabbed all kinds of stuff to send me.  Die Cuts, Framed, Foul Pole netting, and more.

All these are refractor type parallels.  Again, none that I had.  Truly a great lot of cards he sent me.

And these 3 awesome cards.  Love the shininess of the Finest Konerko.  The only card that I knew was coming was the Aparicio patch card.  I like them because they are different.  I certainly wouldn’t pay a fortune for them, but I do like them.  And believe it or not, I actually had the 1960 Topps Aparicio but that’s ok.  Because now I need 2 of all of his cards.  That’s right, I finally pulled the trigger on starting an Aparicio player collection.  I eluded to this earlier last week.  I have just really grown to appreciate Aparicio as a player.  What I noticed after I decided I might go for his cards for the PC was that when I got one, it got me more excited to see them then any other card so I knew I needed to start one.  I’ll try to get my have list up in the next few days.

So there you have it, even family member’s can trade.  Baseball Cards bringing family together.  Brings a tear to your eye.  And just in case he does read this, thanks Kevin!

Valentine’s Day

I tried to tell you how behind I was.  My wife picked up a few packs for me on Valentine’s day.  Nothing for my collections but here are the highlights of the packs.  All are available for trade.

I started pulling my Sox cards out of their binders to put them in set order.  I think I’ll do want lists for the base of the major brands instead of every Sox card.  I’ll still take every card, but my collection focus is going to change a bit to completing team sets.  Maybe eventually, I’ll even finish my want lists.

I logged into my Google Reader today to over 7000 posts.  Not all are sports related and some are pics and twitter feeds so some I can fly through.  But that will give you an idea how far behind I am.  I’ve noticed I missed a few contests and some other things (Barry Larkin card voting) so I’ve divided them into folders and all my card blogs are in one folder, and that was still over 500 posts.  But now I’m going to read all those before I do anything else.  I mean, you have to have priorities right.  So hopefully in a day or two, I’ll be caught up on all your blogs.  You probably haven’t missed me, but I’ll pretend you have if only to stroke my ego.  I did get through a couple of hundred while at work today (it was a little slow).  So either I need to read more, or all of you need to stop posting till I get caught up.  Yeah, I figured, I’ll start reading more.

Player Collection Spotlight–Paul Konerko

In this series, I randomly select a card from my player collections and show it off here. Being that it’s random, it could be a base, insert, parallel, auto, relic or any other kind of card I have. It could be from Paul Konerko, Tom Seaver, Billy Williams, Dave Dravecky and even Mike Hart or Peyton Manning. I will put a mark next to it on my PC list so it doesn’t get repeated.

2011 Topps Diamond Parallel – Paul Konerko

Ebay pick-ups

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been a little more regular on Ebay than usual and am trying to get cheap cards for my PC’s.  These cards are what I received in the mail this week.

• Chris Getz – 2007 Bowman Signs of the Future autograph ($2.00/shipped)
• Mark Buehrle – 2002 Upper Deck Vintage ($.15/shipped)

First off, a couple for my White Sox team collection.  There was a BIN of $3 on the Getz, which I probably would have paid being as he is a former Wolverine as well, but I went ahead and gave him an offer of $2 and he accepted.  I’m guessing, he didn’t get many page views on this card because he had “Chris Cetz” in the title and description and decided he might as well take the $2.  The Mark Buehrle I didn’t have and at a whopping $.15, I figured I couldn’t pass that up.  Think of it as a dime box pick-up with a nickel shipping.

• Billy Williams – 1988 Topps All-Star Commemorative Set ($.75/shipped)

I’m been trying to boost my Billy Williams collection, but being as I don’t generally pay over $.50 for inserts, it’s been rough scoring any cards for it.  This is actually the first insert I’ve even seen with less than $1 price tag and I used to have all these All-Star glossy sets so I went ahead and bought it anyways.

• Paul Konerko – 2012 Topps ‘87 mini ($.99 shipped)

Another insert I overpaid against my rules.  But I’ve been wanting this card for my Konerko collection.  Most of us love this set, so I’m sure you all understand.

• Tom Seaver – 2012 Topps Golden Greats ($.80/shipped)
• Tom Seaver – 2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes ($.20/shipped)
• Tom Seaver – 2012 Topps Golden Standard ($.55/shipped)
• Tom Seaver – 1986 True Value Super Stars ($.34/shipped)

I guess I was just trying to get all the 2012’s out of the way when they came out since I broke my rule a few times again, but not by much.  I’ve been bidding on some relics and auto’s but since I won’t break my rules on those, I haven’t won much.  Only 1 to date and that was yesterday so I won’t receive it till next week sometime.  I really like the True Value card just because I figure it to be a little harder to come by.  I didn’t think I would win in that cheap.  Guess I got lucky on that one.

Free cards!

I’ve spent the weekend getting all the cards I’ve received in the last month or so organized, logged in to my have lists, taken off my want lists, and am now trying to get some posts ready to go in the next few days.  Then sometime this week I’ll have to find the time to actually put them all away.  Which also explains why I’m so freaking far behind on reading your posts  I believe I’m probably almost a week behind on all my blogs.  Which isn’t too hard to do since I currently have 446 blogs subscribed to in my Google Reader.  Hopefully I can get caught up at work this week.

I was trying to add more blogs to my blog roll as there are a bunch I follow that I haven’t been able to add.  I got through about half of them, then the stupid blogger wouldn’t save anymore.  I click save, it say’s saving, but never goes away or save’s.  I guess I’ll try again sometime this week.  Sucks because I was on a roll getting them logged in.  I probably would have been done in another 10 or 15 minutes when it stopped.  Something like that always happens when I finally get time to do something.

Before I get into the free card, saw this on Twitter.  For those of you who don’t know who Oney Guillen is, it would Ozzie Guillen’s son.

And now that my title has gotten you all reading and looking for free cards.  I received a PWE in the mail about a week ago.  Now if you follow my Ebay habits, which I post on here, then you probably realize I get cards in PWE all the time.  So the envelope itself, wasn’t a surprise.  At least until I opened it and out fell this.

Apparently Ted at “Crinkly Wrappers” actually reads what I write, or at least he did once.  I had posted how much I liked this card, probably when I received the sparkly version of it.  Tom Seaver, who is a player collection, White Sox, which is my favorite team, and the old style uniforms that I like.  Ted and I have traded in the past.  But along with this card, came this note

I think we’ve probably all said it at one point or another, people in this great community of ours are just awesome.  Sorry, about tricking you into reading this post with my misleading title, but your life will be better having seen that card.  I did it for your own good.

Thanks Ted, it’ll look great right next to my sparkly copy.  Be sure to check out “Crinkly Wrappers"

Player Collection Spotlight–Tom Seaver

In this series, I randomly select a card from my player collections and show it off here. Being that it’s random, it could be a base, insert, parallel, auto, relic or any other kind of card I have. It could be from Paul Konerko, Tom Seaver, Billy Williams, Dave Dravecky and even Mike Hart or Peyton Manning. I will put a mark next to it on my PC list so it doesn’t get repeated.

1992 Pacific Tom Terrific – Tom Seaver

Contest Pimpage

Want a chance at a free card?  Did I mention it’s an auto/relic of Duke Snider numbered to only 10.  A great new blog over at “Cards Beyond Oceans”  To check out the contest, go here.  They have just announced a 2nd place of a Bryce Harper Bowman card.  Get over there now and start accumulating points.

Trade with the Dimwit

Before I get into the trade, I finally got my stuff scanned tonight.  Now it’s a matter of getting them typed up and ready to post.  But I can do that on the comfort of my couch, with my feet up.  ZZZZZZZZ

I made a trade with Sam a little while ago, I thought I had posted this already but the scan’s were still in my “scanned and waiting” folder so I went searching and sure enough, no post.  So here goes.

Sam contacted me with some Sox cards he had but I didn’t have much to send him.  So I told him to give me some time and I’d pick some up, which I did.  Shipped them off to him and here’s my return package, or at least the highlights.

Some Topps gold cards.  I don’t think I have very many of these.  I’ve always liked these parallels.  I hate parallels because it’s more cards to collect as a team collector, but I have to admit, I do like some of them.  I’ve always liked the gold, and I liked the original sparkly diamond ones, I didn’t care that they started going with cognac and whatever else they had.  The hope diamond ones look cool but the odds make them a lot harder to get.

Absolutely love these cards.  I believe I have the Michael Jordan white one but I know I don’t have the green framed.  And if you remember my photo cleansing posts, I was a big MJ fan.  Plus, the Big Hurt, one of the greatest Sox ever.  And I’ve grown quite a bit of fondness to Aparicio so to get a green framed, awesome.  I really do love the Masterpieces set.

I’m not positive what the Thomas blue card is but I believe I have the Tom Seaver one that I picked up at a card show awhile back.  I didn’t even know Rios had a Kimball card but I like it.  And you can never go wrong with vintage, even if it is a reprint of a vintage.

Tadahito was a huge part of our 2005 championship and it’s a great looking prospect card.  The Konerko goes into my player collection which I am always grateful to add to.  Plus it’s got a cool, shiny look to it.

And on top of all those great cards, he throws in these 3 relics.  A Paulie bat card, which I believe is my first bat card of his.  A Danks A&G, I like these framed mini relics.  Plus it has a jersey stripe to boot.  And I assume the Carlos Lee is a dupe for Sam since he’s an Astros fan.  Either way, it’s a great card.

Thanks for the great trade Sam, be sure to check out “The Daily Dimwit”, one of the best card blogs out there.

1973 Topps–Gura, Astros, Jackson, Splittorff

I’m collecting the 1973 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Larry Gura – Chicago Cubs – Card #501
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Crinkly Wrappers”)

• Card Facts – Houston Astros team card – Card #158
• Purchase Price – $.17 (Ebay lot 6/$1.04)

Creased and miscut, but works for me.  If I get too picky, I’ll replace it but for now it’s just fine.

• Card Facts – Grant Jackson – Baltimore Orioles – Card #396
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Royals and Randoms”)

• Card Facts – Paul Splittorff – Kansas City Royals – Card #48
• Purchase Price – $.17 (Ebay lot 6/$1.04)

• Cards posted in this set – 53
• Total price paid – $6.76
• Average price per card – $0.13
• Cards left to post – 631 (including NNO Checklists)
• Percentage posted – 53/684 (8% posted)
• Percentage completed – 93/684 (14% completed)

I’ve gotten some more 1973’s, hopefully this weekend I’ll get them added to the randomization.

1981 Topps–Petry, Smith, Evans, Stanley

I’m collecting the 1981 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Dan Petry – Detroit Tigers – Card #59
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

• Card Facts – Dave Smith – Houston Astros – Card #534
• Purchase Price – $.05 (Ebay lot 100/$4.99).

• Card Facts – Dwight Evans – Boston Red Sox – Card #275
• Purchase Price – $.05 (Ebay lot 100/$4.99).

I used to have a player collection of Dwight Evans.  Of course, I had about 100+ players I collected back then.

• Card Facts – Fred Stanley – New York Yankees – Card #281
• Purchase Price – $.05 (Ebay lot 100/$4.99).

This card doesn’t even vaguely look familiar.  I would assume I’ve seen it before but it doesn’t look familiar at all.

• Cards posted in this set – 58
• Total price paid – $2.09
• Average price per card – $0.04
• Cards left to post – 668
• Percentage posted – 58/726 (8% posted)
• Percentage completed – 483/726 (67% completed)

I got a few more 1981’s in a couple of trades.  Hopefully this weekend I’ll get them added to the randomization that I do for these cards to post.

Ebay pick-ups

I finished up the 80’s on my want lists last night.  I’m slowly getting there.  No full team sets yet, but I’m within a few cards on a couple.  After I get the lists done, I’ll make more of an effort to pick up those few cards and complete the team set.

I’ve been searching Ebay most days trying to pick up cheap Sox, Wolverines and player collection cards but these I’m showing I actually picked up probably a little over a month ago.  And no, I haven’t gotten around to scanning yet, these were scanned and waiting in my folder to post.  I’ve just been slacking.  I know, shocker right?

• Pedro Lopex – 2005 Bowman’s Best rookie autograph ($1.98)
• Matt Long – 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft Pick autograph ($1.22)
• Ruddy Yan – 2004 Leaf Certified Materials autograph ($1.98)
• Ruddy Yan – 2005 Gold Leaf Rookies autograph ($1.22)

I try not to spend more than $2 on a non-star auto or relic.  As you can tell, I accomplished that with all 4 of these.  They came from a couple different lots.  I’m getting better at remembering to check the seller’s other items when I win a card.  Both these lots came with other cards that I had picked up for Dennis.  One lot was 13 cards, all auto’s or relics, and I only paid $3 to ship them.  The price paid includes the shipping cost divided between how many cards in the lot.

• Jermaine Dye – 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter’s relic ($1.98)

This came in one of the lots that I mentioned above.  I will usually pay up to $3 for stars or players I like.  Both references are relevant with Dye to me but I still managed to keep it under $2 with the combined shipping.

I realized that I need to start keeping track of how many relics/autos I have in my PC’s.  I keep track of a total up above on the right, but I should keep a list for each player.  I think I have a couple of Dye relics.  I always liked him and I hate that he had to walk away.  I understand he had a bad year before he retired but with what he had accomplished with us, I think we could at least offered him a incentive based contract for a year and give him a chance to prove himself.  I’m glad he walked away on his terms though.  He was offered a contract with someone, that he turned down because he had said he wasn’t going to play for less than a certain price.  He didn’t get it, so he retired.

I’ve purchased some more cheap stuff, mostly base and oddball stuff.  But they would be in that stack to scan.  That stack seems to get bigger and bigger every day.  I don’t have to work this weekend, so hopefully I’ll get it done then.

1973 Topps–May, A’s, Bryant, Kingman

I’m collecting the 1973 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Carlos May – Chicago White Sox – Card #105
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Crinkly Wrappers”)

Ted sent this to me, I already had it in my White Sox collection so it worked out to put it towards the 1973 set.

• Card Facts – Oakland A’s team card – Card #500
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Royals and Randoms”)

There is enough players to fill a roster but for some reason it seems like only half a team compared to other team cards.

• Card Facts – Ron Bryant – San Francisco Giants – Card #298
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Crinkly Wrappers”)

• Card Facts – Dave Kingman – San Francisco Giants – Card #23
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Royals and Randoms”)

 

• Cards posted in this set – 49
• Total price paid – $6.49
• Average price per card – $0.13
• Cards left to post – 635 (including NNO Checklists)
• Percentage posted – 49/684 (7% posted)
• Percentage completed – 93/684 (14% completed)

1981 Topps–Zisk, Kemp, Foote, Geronimo

I’m collecting the 1981 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Richie Zisk – Texas Rangers – Card #517
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with Manupatches & Mustaches)

• Card Facts – Steve Kemp – Detroit Tigers – Card #593
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Manupatches & Mustaches”).

• Card Facts – Barry Foote – Chicago Cubs – Card #492
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

• Card Facts – Cesar Geronimo – Cincinnati Reds – Card #390
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

 

• Cards posted in this set – 54
• Total price paid – $1.94
• Average price per card – $0.04
• Cards left to post – 672
• Percentage posted – 54/726 (7% posted)
• Percentage completed – 483/726 (67% completed)

Player Collection Spotlight–Tom Seaver

In this series, I randomly select a card from my player collections and show it off here. Being that it’s random, it could be a base, insert, parallel, auto, relic or any other kind of card I have. It could be from Paul Konerko, Tom Seaver, Billy Williams, Dave Dravecky and even Mike Hart or Peyton Manning. I will put a mark next to it on my PC list so it doesn’t get repeated.

1992 Pacific Tom Terrific – Tom Seaver

Seems like I’ve been here before

Ever since I picked up all the vintage cards at the card show a few weeks ago.  I’ve been wanting to take all my cards out of their pages, and rearrange them.  Right now, they are in player order.  But wouldn’t all those vintage look good all together.  All the feelings of pulling them all out and putting them in a different order reminds me so much of my childhood.  I had a huge metal desk in my bedroom.  I had thousands upon thousands of cards.  I didn’t consider certain cards part of my collection, they were all part of my collection.  I wanted every one of them.  If I saw a card I didn’t have, I wanted it.  It didn’t matter if it was some nobody who I had never heard of, or a hall of famer, if I didn’t have it, I wanted it.  One week I would put them in player order.  The next week, team order, the next week, card manufacturing order.  It was endless.  I always had stacks of cards on that desk.  I’d stay up all hours of the night, sorting.  Now I’m getting the urge to do it again.  And probably again.  And probably once again.

Plus I’m getting close on a few teams sets and those would look cool together.  I’m still trying to copy over my set wants from teamsets4u.com so I don’t know how many I actually have.  I know I have the 2010 Topps and I’m only a card short on a few others on account that I always fill my player collections first.  So I’m missing a few Konerko cards for those team sets.

On another side note, I’ve ran a fantasy baseball league at work since 2003 but we lose people every year because, as you all know, baseball season’s are very long.  Most people don’t want to take the time to check their line-ups every day.  It’s a head to head league with 2 divisions, I’m down to 6 teams (plus 1 more to sign up) and I would like to have 10 or 12 teams.  There’s 6 scoring columns in each, offense and pitching.  Live online draft.  Unlimited free agents (with waivers) and trades.  It’s a “for fun” league, most of us are baseball enthusiasts.  If your interested, email me at jccsst1022 at gmail dot com.  By the way, it is free through yahoo, although if you would like, you can throw in $5 and best record at the end of the season wins most of the pot, 2nd place get their $5 back.  It’s not mandatory to get in on the money, not all of us do it.  But to be eligible for the prize, you have to pay the $5 before the season starts.  Like I said, let me know if your interested.  I’d just like to have some managers that will take the time to change their line-ups whenever possible.  So if you’ve never played and want to try, let me know (jccsst1022 at gmail dot com) and I’ll send you the sign up info.  We’ve already got 4 Cubs fans, 2 White Sox fans, and an Angels fan.  So as long as your not another Cubs fan, your welcome to join.  We’ve already met our quota of Cubs fans.  Just kidding of course, anybody is welcome.

I’ve got a few trade posts and ebay pick ups to scan.  Plus I also have some cards coming from my cousin in North Carolina that I have to pick up from my mom who was just down there visiting.  I know one card I’m looking forward to receiving and when I post it, it will come with an announcement of another player collection starting.

While I do own all these cards in the pictures.  I only posted them just so there was some cards to look at.  Oh, they all have something in common with my new player collection as well.  They are all from the team that my new PC is for.

Oh, and it isn’t any of the player’s pictured here.  I really debated on Southpaw above, no not really.  But if you’re a regular reader, you should know what’s coming.

Today’s 9–Mark Buehrle, page 2

I keep my White Sox collection by players last name. When that player reaches 9 cards (a page), they get a post in the Today’s 9 series. I just recently moved all my cards into alphabetical order so most of these posts are just catching up and making sure everybody get’s their due.

MARK BUEHRLE

Cards (L-R) – (top row) 2005 Leaf Limited #’d 697/699, 2005 Topps, 2005 Topps World Series

(middle row) 2005 Topps World Series (season highlights), 2005 Topps World Series (season highlights), 2005 Topps World series (postseason highlights)

(bottom row) 2005 Upper Deck First Pitch, 2006 Bowman, 2006 Fleer Ultra

Played with the Sox from 2000-2011

Has made 4 All-Star appearances over his career and has take home a gold glove in his last 3 seasons. Led the league in innings pitched in 2004 and 2005. Mark threw a no-hitter against the Rangers with one walk in 2007 and also threw only the 18th perfect game in MLB history in 2009 against the Rays.

Card back info –

“Buehrle was a major factor in the hot start by the White Sox in 2005.  He allowed two hits in eight scoreless innings against the Indians on Opening Day and set a personal best with 12 strikeouts in a complete game three-hitter vs. the Mariners on April 16.” – 2005 Leaf Limited

“It may not be a glamor stat like strikeouts or ERA, but SBA (stolen bases against) is one that helps Mark win an extra game here and there.  His ability to hold runners is so uncanny that, in 2003, no one even tried to steal against him until his 16th start.  Buehrle finished the year with only one swipe against him (by Boston’s Johnny Damon) in five tries.” – 2005 Topps

“Mark’s early-season near-infallibility helped establish the White Sox as a legitimate team-to-beat.  He allowed two hits on Opening Day, lost his next start, then won nine straight.  That earned him the nod to start the All-Star Game (which he won).  In the World Series Championship, the smooth southpaw earned a one-batter save in the 14-inning marathon that was Game 3.” – 2005 Topps World Series

“Chicago, IL – Not since the heyday of Greg Maddux has baseball seen such a quick-working, frequent-winning workhorse as Buehrle.  The stalwart southpaw bookended a couple of outings in Baltimore in May 2004 and August ‘05 by getting the White Sox into the seventh inning in 49 consecutive starts.  It was the longest such streak in the Major Leagues since Steve Carlton worked at least six frames 60 straight time more than 20 years ago.” – 2005 Topps (season highlights)

“Chicago, IL – Buehrle’s credentials to start the 2005 All-Star Game were impeccable: The White Sox ace hit the break with a 10-3 record and a 2.58 ERA, as well as recently snapped streaks of nine consecutive wins and 27 2/3 scoreless innings.  He worked two shut-out frames and picked up the victory – stretching the unbeaten streak for the American League to nine years.  It was Mark’s second All-Star Game appearance.” – 2005 Topps (season highlights)

“Buehrle quickly turned the tide of momentum in the ALCS with a masterful pitching outing that knotted the series with the Angels at one game apiece.  It was “classic Buehrle” – a 99-pitch/71-strike complete game in which he allowed only fave hits and no walks while inducing 14 ground ball outs.  He threw only eight pitches in the ninth, then watched as teammates scored moments later for a 2-1 win.” – 2005 Topps (postseason highlights)

“As consistent a winner as any left-hander in MLB over the past five seasons, Buehrle posted another rock-solid campaign for the White Sox in 2004.  The southpaw workhorse became the first Chicago lefty since Wilbur Wood to record four consecutive seasons of 14 or more wins.” – 2005 Upper Deck First Pitch

“Resume – Finished fifth in 2005 AL Cy Young award voting…Ranked third in AL with career-best 3.12 ERA…Has won at least 14 games in each of last five seasons.  Skills – Quick worker who throws strikes…Offsets well-spotted fastball with excellent change-up…Almost always goes deep into games…Sensational pickoff move.  Evolution – Buehrle’s “stuff” is not that impressive by MLB standards, but he learned to change speeds early on, transforming three pitches into the equivalent of nine.” – 2006 Bowman

“A workhorse on the hill for the World Series Champions, the White Sox, Buehrle won at least 14 games and logged over 200 inning for the fifth straight season.  The left-hander’s 10-1 record to begin the campaign earned him the starting nod in the All-Star Game, in which he struck out three and earned the win.” – 2006 Fleer Ultra

Cards in Sox uniform that I currently own – 70

Autos/Relics from player above that I currently own - 4

Mark was huge for us in 2005 and helped lead us to a World Series win.  Our pitching staff was outstanding and was the reason we made it to the World Series.  Mark is a picture of consistency, you can count on him for 200+ innings every year.  He was the only pitcher on the staff then that could hold runners on.  He has a great pick off move to 1st and I’ve seen him pick off quite a few runners in the games I’ve watched.

He has great accuracy and his walk to strike ratio shows that.  Because he’s not a strikeout pitcher, he relies on his defense.  And it’s a thing of beauty to watch that kind of pitcher.  Strikeouts are cool and dominating, but nothing tops team play, and that’s what you get when Buehrle is on the mound.

Stay tuned for Mark’s next page for his first relic card.

I made the news!

I know, I know.  I’ve disappeared again.  I suck.  Technically, I’ve probably had time to throw a post or 2 out there.  But I’ve been so busy that when I do get the time to post, I just want to sit and relax.  Saturday we had a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom.  Sunday, I took my son to church so he could earn a badge in cub scouts and also had another birthday party in the afternoon.  Girl Scouts on Monday. Tuesday we spent shopping for a new mattress and shoes for the kids.  Wednesday I chilled and just couldn’t get in the mood to do anything.  Thursday, my son and I toured the local news station with his cub scout troop.  Even made our way way on to the live broadcast.  See below.

That’s me to the right of the broadcaster (not the one in the ND jacket, bite your tongue) and my son is the head above his other shoulder.  It’s supposed to be a live shot of the news room.  Oops!    I took a picture of my TV, paused.  And I had to brighten it up so you could see the background, that’s why the newscaster is washed out.  And yes, the station’s call letter are WNDU.  Anybody care to guess what the NDU stands for?  You don’t want to know if you don’t.

Tonight, I have my niece and nephew over so I haven’t broken my cards out all night.  To make matter worse, they have posted Saturday and Sunday at work, which gives me the pleasure of working at least 12 days straight.  Blah!  So I’m not sure when I’ll get around to posting original content again.  I have all kinds of stuff to scan but I just can’t get in the mood to get off my couch.  Sorry!

I do have stuff like Today’s 9 and Player Collection Spotlight already saved up so I’ll throw some of those in there when I get the chance.  Maybe I’ll get around to scanning and getting something else up.  But I’m not making any promises.  Weeks like these leave me drained anymore.  I’m getting too old.

P.S. – I believe catcher’s and pitcher’s report on Monday.  Except the Mariners, I believe they are already together.  But about the time I start posting there will hopefully be some baseball on.

Player Collection Spotlight–Tom Seaver

In this series, I randomly select a card from my player collections and show it off here. Being that it’s random, it could be a base, insert, parallel, auto, relic or any other kind of card I have. It could be from Paul Konerko, Tom Seaver, Billy Williams, Dave Dravecky and even Mike Hart or Peyton Manning. I will put a mark next to it on my PC list so it doesn’t get repeated.

2011 Topps Update Diamond Parallel – Tom Seaver

1981 Topps–Christenson, Salazar, Keough, Parrott

I’m collecting the 1981 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Larry Christenson – Philadelphia Phillies – Card #346
• Purchase Price – $.05 (Ebay lot 100/$4.99)

For the record, I prefer these Phillies uniforms.  Not that I don’t like their current ones, just prefer these.  Maybe it just feels more old school.

• Card Facts – Luis Salazar – San Diego Padres – Card #309
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Manupatches & Mustaches”)

Speaking of old school uniforms.  No, I don’t really like these.  Can’t think of any Padres uniforms I like but there may be some out there.  Actually, I take that back, I like the camouflage ones.  So sue me.

• Card Facts – Matt Keough – Oakland A’s – Card #301
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

A rare action shot for the ‘81’s.  Nothing says 70’s like the A’s uniforms.

• Card Facts – Mike Parrott – Seattle Mariners – Card #187
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “JABO’s”)

Powder blues, oh yeah.  Love the old school Mariners logo on his shoulder.  Just watched the movie 50/50 and the main character had a Mariners hat with that logo and I even told my wife that I liked that logo.

• Cards posted in this set – 50
• Total price paid – $1.94
• Average price per card – $0.04
• Cards left to post – 676
• Percentage posted – 50/726 (7% posted)
• Percentage completed – 483/726 (67% completed)

Percentage posted up a percent.  Went to 4 cards per post so I’m not on these all year long.

1973 Topps–Holtzman, Barber, Murcer, Grote

I’m collecting the 1973 set, slowly but surely. This post is the latest in my quest for the completion.

• Card Facts – Ken Holtzman – Oakland A’s – Card #60
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Crinkly Wrappers”)

It’s funny how this set goes from some great action shots, to poised shots.  I’ve always had a soft spot for the A’s.  But I think it’s because I feel bad that they have to wear those colors together.

• Card Facts – Steve Barber – California Angels – Card #36
• Purchase Price – free (Trade with “Royals and Randoms”)

Now there’s an action shot.  Much better than the first card.  Although I’m not sure I like the shadow pic in the bottom corner.  His arm looks twice as long as it should be.  Either that, or he’s got something coming out of his leg.

• Card Facts – Bobby Murcer – New York Yankees – Card #240
• Purchase Price – $.11 (Ebay lot 40/$4.25)

I know this name.  Of course, he’s a Yankee so I probably heard it on ESPN back in 1973.

• Card Facts – Jerry Grote – New York Mets – Card #113
• Purchase Price – $.11 (Ebay lot 40/$4.25)

Well, at least his pose has to do with his position.

• Cards posted in this set – 45
• Total price paid – $6.49
• Average price per card – $0.14
• Cards left to post – 639 (including NNO Checklists)
• Percentage posted – 44/684 (6% posted)
• Percentage completed – 93/684 (14% completed)

Price per card went down a penny with the 2 trade cards and the lower cost ($.11/each) of the other 2.  I went with 4 cards and will from now on.  I’m not getting a huge amount of traffic from these posts anyways,  Not that I do them for the traffic, but that’s how it is.  The more I post at once, the quicker I’ll get these posted.  I enjoy going through each card one at a time but at over 600 cards, I don’t want to be doing this for over a year or more.  I won a 15 card lot on ebay pretty cheap.  I didn’t look to see if I had them all, but I figured I only have 14% so chances are I needed most if not all.