Long Overdue Thanks To My BB4L!

Dennis from Too Many Verlanders fame sent along a great package of cardboard and non-cardboard during the holidays. Yes, I'm slow and well behind on things but I wanted to properly thank him for the awesome stuff he sent along.

Brand new additions to my Kemp, Kershaw, and Martin PCs kick things off.

Another new Mattycakes, who is matched with Martin and PTSIA favorite Chad Billingsley as well as old friend Hiroki Kuroda. Four Angels' swatches are on the back, but I wasn't wasting my time scanning in Halos. The most notable would be Long Beach State Dirtbag Jered Weaver and former Dodger Howie Kendrick. It's numbered 154/200.

A sweet quad relic, numbered 22/50, popped out next. Most notable among the Ducks are Hampus Lindholm and Emerson Etem, whom I saw drafted in-person and used to collect heavily.

The final card I scanned in features Dodger and Bruin Chase Utley. It's a gold parallel numbered 0297/2016 out of 2016 Topps Series 1 and I love that Chase is ending his career where it could have begun had he signed rather than choosing the collegiate route.

Thanks BB4L!!

Trade With My Cardboard Mistress: 38 Big Allen & Ginter Needs Are No More!

I completed my eighth trade with Adam of My Cardboard Mistress fame. You can check out our first trade here, second here, third here, fourth here, fifth here, sixth here, and seventh here. Adam has been one of my favorite trading partners and one of the best I've ever dealt with, but shockingly it's been almost two years since we've swapped cardboard.

I decided to change that after realizing I had a nice stack of cards set aside for him. I contacted Adam looking to see if he had any of my remaining Ginter set needs and thankfully he had a bunch he was willing to send my way. Adam was able to knock off 38 cards from my '13-'14 lists, including 5 subsets.

The three cards scanned in also found their way to me. That Tulo boxloader is a thing of beauty. I remain perhaps the only Dodgers' fan that loved Chad Billingsley, and the Kuroda 10th Anniversary parallel is pretty nifty.

Adam also tossed in a cool Dodgers' Hot Wheels truck. Thanks amigo!

Trade With The Lost Collector: The Lost Collector Finds 8 New Russell Martins!

I completed my second trade with AJ from The Lost Collector. AJ had some Russell Martin as a Yankee cards lying around and I was the lucky recipient of his generosity. My Russ PC has now expanded by 8 and I couldn't be happier (almost 300 Martins....so close!).

This phenomenal Out of Bounds parallel from 2013 Topps is a Russ card I've desired and needed since I first knew it existed. Prices were too high out of the gate and it was one of those cards I figured I'd come across eventually, so I never made a real run at it. Thankfully, AJ came through in a big way!

It's a mini rainbow! This is Russ' base card from '13 Topps. Because Martin cards are always so fantastic it sort of seems like his regular base card and its Out of Bounds variation should both be SP masterpieces. I spy Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Hiroki Kuroda, and what I believe to be C.C. Sabathia's ears.

It's Chrome time! The Heritage Chrome -- and what an understated but great photo that is -- is numbered 439/562.

Thanks for the awesome trade AJ! I hope you enjoy the cards headed your way!

Trade With The Dutch Card Guy: The Sickest Kershaw, Joc Pederson's Auto, and I WANT YOUR GINTER.

I completed my first trade with Jeroen from The Dutch Card Guy. After winning a card in a contest he held, I took a look at his trade bait and a number of Dodger goodies jumped out at me. We worked out a great deal which allowed me to add these beauts to my collection.

Kid K! It may be hard to see, but this beautiful patch/triple bat Quad Relic from 2013 Topps Museum Collection is numbered 22/25. Yes, that would be 22 as in Clayton's uniform number. I would have wanted the card anyways because, well, look at it, but the numbering did make it a tad more appealing.

Joc! The above REF RC auto, numbered 002/500, is my first hit of the Dodgers' top outfield prospect. I still think there's a fairly good chance Pederson is dealt before ever playing in a major league game with the club, but no matter what transpires, I'm glad to finally own his John Hancock after a few failed eBay attempts.

A brand new Russell Martin is up next. It's so nice of Upper Deck to put "CATCHER" in bold print, as I never would have guessed from the picture alone.

A bunch of random Dodgers were included, and I scanned in my favorites. The Kirk Gibson is of course legendary and spectacular.

Finally, Jeroen also knocked off six Across The Years I needed for my 2013 Allen & Ginter quest. I would love to finish off all of my Ginter needs soon, so if anyone has what I need please let me know and we'll work out a trade.

Thanks for the fantastic trade amigo!

Gint-A-Cuffs V: The Results (Featuring MY BEST PULL EVER)

A big thanks once again to my parents for giving me the box for my birthday. It's my third time participating in Gint-A-Cuffs, but it certainly won't be my last. I prefer full-box recaps, so let's get to it.

I'll be putting together the Base Set, SPs included, as well as these inserts: Martial Mastery, Heavy Hangs The Head, Across The Years, Civilizations of Ages Past, One Little Corner, Curious Cases, Palaces & Strongholds, Peacemakers, Inquiring Minds, The First Americans, Famous Finds, and Codes, Ciphers, and Cryptographs.

What I need from 2013 Ginter can be found here.

Gint-A-Cuffs V is officially underway.

Boxtopper: WOW-21 Wonders of The World: Victoria Falls (+5 Wonders of the World)

Running Total: 5

Pack 1:

275 Josh Beckett (+1 FT)
10 Sandy Koufax (+1 FT)
213 Jim Bunning
263 Ralph Kiner
289 Edinson Volquez
OLC-NPT One Little Corner: Neptune (+3 One Little Corner)
267 Grand Central Terminal Mini
327 Yogi Berra SP (-1 Yankee, +2 SP = +1)
Ginter Promotional Colin In Time

Pack Total: 6
Running Total: 11

Pack 2:

117 Penny Marshall (+1 Penny Marshall)
RIP-104 Warren Spahn/Phil Niekro Double-RIP Card, #'d 01/10 (+35 Double RIP Card)
29 Jordan Zimmermann Mini
ATY-JHY Across The Years: Jason Heyward (+2 ATY, +2 OFP = +4)

I was absolutely set on selling it for the longest time after pulling it, but I eventually broke down and ripped both sides. Here's what I ended up with:

 

 

370 Jered Weaver EXT Mini (+10 Card in RIP, +5 EXT Mini = +15)
355 Justin Verlander EXT Mini (+10 Card in RIP, +5 EXT Mini = +15)

Pack Total: 70
Running Total: 81

Pack 3:

193 Josh Hamilton (+2 OFP)
73 Tim Hudson
166 Jim Johnson
40 Will Middlebrooks
233 Starlin Castro
MM-VK Martial Mastery: Vikings (+3 Martial Mastery)
279 Gio Gonzalez Mini A&G Back (+2 A&G Back Mini)
318 Eric Hosmer SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 9
Running Total: 90

Pack 4:

226 Willie Stargell
186 Andy Pettitte (-1 Yankee)
247 Ryan Howard (+2 OFP)
284 Will Clark
97 Tony Gwynn, Sr. (+2 OFP)
81 Al Kaline
334 Russell Martin SP Mini (+3 SP Mini)
ATY-MM Across The Years: Manny Machado (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 8
Running Total: 98

Pack 5:

156 Jurickson Profar RC
191 Bryce Harper (+2 OFP)
184 Mike Joy
212 Barry Melrose
175 Monty Hall
PS-LC Palaces & Strongholds: Leeds Castle (+3 Palaces & Strongholds)
HHH-QE Heavy Hangs The Head: Queen Elizabeth (+3 Heavy Hangs The Head)
309 Mat Latos SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 10
Running Total: 108

Pack 6:

122 Jay Bruce
22 Bob Feller
127 Doug Fister
178 Carlos Gonzalez
19 Bobby Doerr
290 Eddie Murray
279 Gio Gonzalez Mini
ATY-RS Across The Years: Ryne Sandberg (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 2
Running Total: 110

Pack 7:

174 Nate Eovaldi
196 Josh Willingham
75 Lou Gehrig (-1 Yankee)
53 Mark Teixeira (-1 Yankee)
137 Pedro Alvarez
CAP-OL Civilizations of Ages Past: Olmecs (+3 Civilizations of Ages Past)
116 Lindsey Vonn Mini Black-Border (+3 Black Border Mini)
304 Freddie Freeman SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 6
Running Total: 116

Pack 8:

243 Jason Dufner
219 Freddie Roach
68 Chrissy Teigen
299 Ryan Zimmerman
46 Colby Rasmus
18 Matt Harrison
57 Mike Olt RC Mini A&G Back (+2 A&G Back Mini)
ATY-TT Across The Years: Troy Tulowitzki (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 4
Running Total: 120

Pack 9:

171 Chad Billingsley (+1 FT)
138 Anibal Sanchez
92 Paco Rodriguez RC (+1 FT)
111 Corey Hart
110 Daniel Murphy
287 Bill Mazeroski
112 Ziggy Marley Mini
ATY-BRT Across The Years: Babe Ruth (-1 Yankee, +2 ATY = +1)

Pack Total: 3
Running Total: 123

Pack 10:

51 Jason Kipnis
1 Miguel Cabrera
155 Austin Jackson
214 Alexei Ramirez
188 Bill Buckner
OLC-MN One Little Corner: Moon (+3 One Little Corner)
HHH-AUG Heavy Hangs The Head: Augustus (+3 Heavy Hangs The Head)
347 Stephen Strasburg SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 8
Running Total: 131

Pack 11:

160 Brian McCann
182 Cody Ross
84 Jason Vargas
293 Jim Palmer
AGR-DA Dustin Ackley Jersey Relic (Blue Swatch) (+10 Relic Card)
45 Shawn Nadelen Mini
ATY-LG Across The Years: Lou Gehrig (-1 Yankee, +2 ATY = +1)

Pack Total: 11
Running Total: 142

Pack 12:

99 Barry Zito
269 Tom Seaver
280 Kendrys Morales
52 Scott Diamond
86 Warren Spahn
MM-AMZ Martial Mastery: Amazons (+3 Martial Mastery)
PM-BC Peacemakers: Bill Clinton (+3 Peacemakers)
341 Ozzie Smith SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 8
Running Total: 150

Pack 13:

115 Stan Musial
189 David Freese
6 Chanel Iman
100 Bill Walton
176 Abe Vigoda (+1 Vigoda)
112 Ziggy Marley
223 Matthew Berry Mini
ATY-SKX Across The Years: Sandy Koufax (+2 ATY, +1 FT = +3)

Pack Total: 4
Running Total: 154

Pack 14:

264 Adam Dunn
218 Zack Cozart
109 Asdrubal Cabrera
32 Aaron Hill
203 Adam Eaton
PS-NC Palaces & Strongholds: Neuschwanstein Castle (+3 Palaces & Strongholds)
277 Paul Goldschmidt Mini Black-Border (+3 Black Border Mini)
345 Melky Cabrera SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 8
Running Total: 162

Pack 15:

222 Andre Ethier (+1 FT)
273 Alcides Escobar
261 Dwight Gooden
134 Roy Halladay
142 Garrett Jones
241 Matt Cain
267 Grand Central Terminal Mini A&G Back (+2 A&G Back Mini)
ATY-JMT Across The Years: Jesus Montero (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 5
Running Total: 167

Pack 16:

85 Phil Heath
223 Matthew Berry
33 Nana Meriweather
27 Shelby Miller RC
298 Evan Longoria
CAP-MY Civilizations of Ages Past: Mayans (+3 Civilizations of Ages Past)
243 Jason Dufner Mini
332 Cole Hamels SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 5
Running Total: 172

Pack 17:

252 Catfish Hunter
143 Mike Schmidt
101 Yonder Alonso
80 Willie McCovey
AGR-AW Adam Wainwright Jersey Relic (White Swatch) (+10 Relic Card)
Bill Walton Mini No # (+2 Walton #100 Mini, +11 No # Mini = +13)
ATY-SP Across The Years: Salvador Perez (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 25
Running Total: 197

Pack 18:

180 Nik Wallenda
116 Lindsey Vonn
17 Roy Jones, Jr.
254 Lou Brock
23 Adrian Beltre
MM-AP Martial Mastery: Apache (+3 Martial Mastery)
42 Jackie Robinson Mini Black Border (+1 Mini FT, +3 Black Border Mini = +4)
333 John Kruk SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 9
Running Total: 206

Pack 19:

288 Chris Davis
239 Craig Kimbrel
129 Miguel Montero
253 Mark Trumbo
132 Ryne Sandberg
58 Shin-Soo Choo
223 Matthew Berry Mini A&G Back (+2 A&G Back Mini)
ATY-YD Across The Years: Yu Darvish (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 4
Running Total: 210

Pack 20:

173 Coco Crisp
28 Paul O'Neill (-1 Yankee)
121 Hiroki Kuroda (-1 Yankee)
126 Jon Niese
238 Ryan Braun
PS-SP Palaces & Strongholds: Summer Palace (+3 Palaces & Strongholds)
85 Phil Heath Mini
324 Justin Morneau SP (+2 SP)
Ginter Promotional Colin In Time

Pack Total: 3
Running Total: 213

Pack 21:

245 Mark Buehrle
154 Mike Morse
179 Bonnie Bernstein
300 Bud Selig (-1 Selig)
185 Guillaume Robert-Demolaize
152 Anthony Rendon RC
IM-HA Inquiring Minds: Hannah Arendt (+3 Inquiring Minds)
ATY-KGR Across The Years: Ken Griffey, Jr. (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 4
Running Total: 217

Pack 22:

240 Mike Leake
207 Troy Tulowitzki
144 Torii Hunter
181 Wade Boggs
54 B.J. Upton
CAP-SD Civilization of Ages Past: Shang Dynasty (+3 Civilizations of Ages Past)
333 John Kruk Mini SP (+3 SP Mini)
316 Hal Newhouser SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 8
Running Total: 225

Pack 23:

234 Death Valley
130 Pele (thicker card stock, blue tint, text on back)
279 Gio Gonzalez
24 Anthony Gose
190 David Murphy
OLC-SD One Little Corner: Scattered Disc (+3 One Little Corner)
243 Jason Dufner Mini A&G Back (+2 A&G Back Mini)
307 Darwin Barney SP (+2 SP)

Pack Total: 7
Running Total: 232

Pack 24:

258 Billy Williams
294 Johnny Cueto
107 Trevor Bauer (+2 OFP)
183 Ryan Ludwick
76 Jim Abbott
69 Jake Peavy
HHH-CLE Heavy Hangs The Head: Cleopatra (+3 Heavy Hangs The Head)
ATY-GG Across The Years: Gio Gonzalez (+2 ATY)

Pack Total: 7
Running Total: 239

All of the above yields: 239 points. This is easily the best I've done in my three years participating in Gint-A-Cuffs.

Final Score: 239 points

Kemp, Martin, Billingsley, Kuroda, and Two Dudes I Never Want To See Again: It's OK, When It's A Six-Way.

I have a soft spot in my collecting heart for cards which pair my favorite players together. If the price is right I have a hard time passing up cards that kill two or more birds with one cardboard stone.

Today's post features one such piece of cardboard I recently came to own. For under a dollar a swatch I landed a sweet Teammate Timelines Six Swatch Memorabilia hit from 2009 Upper Deck Ballpark Collection. Numbered 099/200, it's a most welcome addition to my Bison PC.

Three of my all-time favorite Blue Crew members in Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, and Chad Billingsley are joined by another really good and likable player in Hiroki Kuroda and two bums in Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones. Jones, while Hall of Fame-worthy in Atlanta, was never in-shape in L.A. and took playing time away from literally anyone else with a pulse. Pierre was never a guy I wanted to see play and though he seemed nice enough he was constantly demanding a trade once he got moved to his rightful spot on the pine.

Trade With Henchmeister's Junk Blog: Former Dodgers I Wish Had Never Been In Anything But Blue As 2011 Closes Up Shop.

On a side note, I've listed my first ever item on eBay. The auction ends early tomorrow morning....check it out, especially if you're a New York Giants fan! Anyhoo, I completed my second trade with Chris of Henchmeister's Junk Blog. I sent him a new Jacoby Ellsbury, a Black Diamond Pedroia, an early Papi, and some assorted BoSox. My favorites that I received in return are below.

A numbered Carlos Santana rookie card, 071/999. Oh, what could have been. An interesting write-up on the back must be noted, since it has very little to do with Carlos, compared to what it should say. Which is, you know, anything and everything concerning the player on the front, not two guys who played over one hundred years prior to the release of the card. I'm ranting.

A second-year LT. Future Hall of Famer and always a welcome sight around these here parts. Kudos to Fleer for a great action shot.

A mini Manny, of the Piedmont Back variety. Manny as a Dodger cards are always welcome in my collection, considering he was one of the greatest Dodgers to ever swing a piece of lumber. While I was in Vegas, a guy I was playing against in a poker tournament started talking to me about the Dodgers (I had my LA hat on). One of the many questions he asked was whether or not the club would bring back ManRam. I informed him that no, that would not be happening for a myriad of reasons.

This is an entirely sweet Big Jon card, with a great portrait of the fireballer. I've made it no secret that I'm a huge and unabashed Jonathan Broxton fan, and I wish him all the best in Kansas City. I firmly believe the Dodgers should have brought him back, as his velocity returned after his rehab stint earlier this year before he was shut down. There was very little risk in bringing back a guy who was one of the greatest relievers in franchise history. But no, wasting money on garbage like Adam Kennedy and John Grabow is a far better idea Ned Colletti.

Finally, a sick black-bordered OPC card of former Dodger Hiroki Kuroda. Again, I question the motives and intellect of one Ned Colletti. You choose Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano over Kuroda? Unless Hiroki said he wouldn't return, Colletti Fail© strikes again. And even if Kuroda chose to leave for good, Harang and Capuano on two-year deals? Sheesh. I wish I had stuck with baseball. Anyhoo, I know a certain someone who loves him some 2009 OPC, so he has probably seen and busted more of this product than most of us combined.

This trade post sort of morphed into a Fave Five post, now that I've re-read it. It also marks the end of 2011, a great year in terms of solidifying my collection, especially the main portion of it. Thanks to each and every one of you who I traded with, each person who held a contest, each blogger and blog post that made me think, smile, and laugh, and every single person who makes collecting the wonderfully exciting and joyous outlet it is, particularly during some frustrating and difficult non-card times this year. Our community is an extremely generous and amazing one, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. Here's to a fantastic 2012 in regards to both cards and life in general for everyone!

Thanks for the trade Chris!