Card Show Recap? Part 1

So what do you do when a fellow collector gives you the beat down in a spirited battle of packwars? (His side vs. my side) Well, if you're Ty from over at League Leader in Italics, apparently, you buy him more cards! I mentioned yesterday that I had a pretty busy weekend and didn't get a chance to go to the big local card show. But Ty did and he took my want list and gave it a beat down of its own.

We were talking about the show on Friday at work and I mentioned I probably wouldn't make it. He asked for my Want List, but I figured he might find a handful of cards. After all, most of my Want List is made up of commons to finish off sets. I didn't expect him to dig through boxes for me.

But I guess Ty was looking for some of the same sets as I was because when I came into work on Monday, this stack was on my desk:

As I flipped through the stack, I realized my list was basically done! Now I have to find more Wants!!! I didn't have time to scan them all in yet, but here a few camera phone shots of the breakdowns.

Last 7 from 2013 Topps Series 1

2007 Topps replacements for damaged factory set cards

A good chunk of 2012 Bowman and Bowman Prospects

Last 9 cards from 2012 Archives (base only, still need some SPs)

The remainder of the 2012 Topps Series 2 I needed

A bunch of 2012 Gypsy Queen needs!

There were easily 100 cards in the stack. It probably would have cost me $20-25 with shipping from COMC or Sportlots. But I've been assured that these were dimebox or less and that he didn't spend too much time or money because he got most of them from the same guy who was pretty organized.

I'm pulling my Want Lists tabs from publication until I can reassess what I actually need. Some of these sets are now done but I think there are still some that need a couple.

Ty also managed to pick up a few Cubs cards for me but I'm going to save them for tomorrow. Thanks Ty!

Trade with My Cardboard Mistress

A few weeks ago, Adam (aka Spankee) over at My Cardboard Mistress posted about breaking a hobby box of 2010 Upper Deck. Coincidentally, I had picked up a few dozen packs as my free gift from Dave and Adam's Card World when I made large purchases for my group box breaks. I asked him to contact me when he was done sorting through his dupes and needs and a trade was born.

His package arrived over the weekend and mine is on its way to him right now. Adam took good care of my Want Lists from a couple of different 2012 sets. What I am about to show doesn't do the package justice but these are among my favorites.

A handful of Gypsy Queen (remember that set?) The reason I'm showing the Ryne Sandberg should be obvious but why Storen, Ackley and Beltre? The other 6-7 cards were all National League Central rivals. What are the odds of that? So they get the nod.

There were two cards from Archives so I figured I'd show them both even if one is on the Brewers. I'm down to my final 9 from the base set so if you think you can help, let me know!

Between Bowman and 1st Bowman Cards, there were easily 50+ in the package. That made a huuuuge dent in my Want List. Featured above is former Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly and former Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs pitcher (where Ryne Sandberg was his manager) Vance Worley. Kind of a big stretch to tie it in but hey, he's got a cool name too.

A couple of Carolina League veterans. Ian Gac is shown with the Braves although he did not play for the Lynchburg Hillcats. In fact, he was a member of the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox affiliate), won the Carolina League MVP award in 2011 but was released? Matt Purke and Zach Walters have both played for my local team, the Potomac Nationals. 

And finally a couple of Cubs prospects. I don't know much about these guys yet but I wish them the best. Dillon Maples recently started playing for the AZL Cubs and has only pitched 2.2 innings in 2 appearances so far. Richard Jones is playing for the Daytona Cubs and has played in 59 games this season.

Thanks for the trade Adam! 

Mailday Sunday? - Trades

I was going to save this post for the normally scheduled Mailday Monday but I decided to bump it up a day. Why? I got a couple of sweet Father's Day gifts that I'm going to setup and show off tomorrow.

First up was a third package from Marcus over at All the Way to the Backstop. He has been very good about filling in some gaps in my Archives and Bowman sets. And he always throws in a few extra Cubs. Love it! Here's a couple of pictures to show it off:

Starlin Castro (for set)

My favorite bonus old school Cubs card

Willie Mays SP

Archives Needs

Bowman Needs

Next came a package from Robert over a $30 a Week Habit. Robert was one of the first, if not the first to follow my blog. I'm not sure how he found it but I'm glad he did. After the Archives group break, I had Blue Jays cards that nobody had claimed. I offered them up to Robert as the only Blue Jays collector I'd run across. It didn't really matter what I got in return so I threw out my standard line about set needs and/or unwanted Cubs cards. He responded with both! Thanks Robert!

Gypsy Queen Set Needs

More Gypsy Queen Set Needs

Even More Gypsy Queen Set Needs!

Starlin Castro Parallel

Matt Garza Mini Sepia Parallel #73/99

2012 Topps Archives Case Break Box 03

High Numbered Short Prints (1:4 packs):

Vida Blue (A's), Dave Righetti (Yankees), Terry Pendleton (Braves)

John Olerud (Blue Jays), George Bell (Blue Jays), Oscar Gamble (Yankees)

Deckled Edge (1:12 packs)

Gold Parallel (1:12 packs)

Roberto Clemente (Pirates), Mike Napoli (Rangers)

Paul Goldschmidt (D-Backs), Johnny Cueto (Reds)

1977 Topps Cloth (1:6 packs)

Eric Hosmer (Royals), George Brett (Royals)

Reggie Jackson (Yankees), Roy Halladay (Phillies)

1968 Topps 3D (1:8 packs)

1967 Topps Stickers (1:8 packs)

Robinson Cano (Yankeess), Matt Kemp (Dodgers), CC Sabathia (Yankees)

Mark Teixeira, (Yankees), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Roy Halladay (Phillies)

Reprints (1:4 packs)

Jim Palmer (Orioles), Harmon Killebrew, Ralph Kiner (Pirates)

Gary Carter (Expos), Fergie Jenkins (Cubs), Jim Hunter (A's)

Bonus Jersey Card

Autographs (2 per box)

Yovani Gallardo (Brewers)

Bobby Grich (Angels), Mike Scott (Astros)

Mailday Monday - Dimwit & Kelleher

First of all I want to thank Sam over at The Daily Dimwit. We completed a trade this week in a Gypsy Queen exchange so when he received my package he plugged this here blog to send a bunch of new readers my way. So welcome to everybody who discovered my little slice of the interwebs over the weekend! Updated daily at Noon, EST.

So the mail this week brought Dimwit's package. There were a few Cubs for me and a couple of Nats card for my sons. So many different parallels in GQ but knocked out a few for each team set. Always excited to add some new Ryne Sandberg cards. The first card is numbered to 599 and the second is a mini Straight Cut parallel. Now that I have one for the Sandberg collection, still need one of each for the team set.

Couple more Cubs inserts. Ernie Banks regular mini. Starlin Castro Sliding Stars mini.

I don't see a defensive player but Castro doesn't look very confident in his slide.

I normally wouldn't include Nats cards on the blog but since they came as part of this great trade, I'll show them. First, a trio of Ryan Zimmerman minis. A regular mini, a Straight Cut mini and a photo variation:

Three more minis, a Gypsy Queen back Ian Desmond, black Ian Desmond and a black Michael Morse:

Thanks again Sam!

Also in the mail this week was my return package I had sent out to ethannoah over at SCN. He had offered some help with getting Yankee autographs when they visited his hometown Royals. Probably because of their popularity, but Yankees are notoriously tough signers. Don't panic, I didn't want any actual current Yankee players, but rather some former Cubs players and current Yankees coaches. I sent ATCRCS cards for Joe Giradi (manager), Mike Harkey (bullpen coach) and Mick Kelleher (1st base coach) as well as a couple of Topps issues for Harkey and Kelleher.

True to reputation, Ethan didn't have much luck with the Yankees but he did manage to get two Topps cards signed by Kelleher. He wouldn't sign the ATCRCS card, presumably because it is unlicensed. I had run into this excuse myself with a minor leaguer but I won't give up!

He signed a 1980 and 1981 Topps cards and added his #20, which he wore during his time with the Cubs, to the signature.

Thanks Ethan!

Today's ATCRCS card of the day: George Altman

Trade List Thursday

I had to pick up a few things at Wal-Mart the other night so I did my obligatory glance at the card section. I noticed they had some Bowman blasters out so I picked up one of those. And once I saw a single lonely Gypsy Queen box left, I went all in on that one too.

The GQ wasn't a horrible decision because I did fill a couple holes in my set, added a few things to the trade list and pulled an autograph of Randall Delgado (available, see photo below). Probably didn't get $20 in card value even with the autograph but I've learned to chalk up opening the packs as $5-10 in entertainment value as well. At least that's what I tell myself.

On to Bowman. When it comes to card design, I'm a big fan of less is more so I'm not afraid to say I like the base and gold cards. I've never been a fan of chrome cards and the blaster box featured 2 per pack so I ended up with a dozen or so. Highlights for me were a Paul Hoilman 1st Bowman Chrome Card, a Starlin Castro Gold parallel card and a Kolten Wong autograph (available, see photo below). I also pulled a Bryce Harper Chrome and Ian Desmond Gold parallel but my older son swiped those before I could scan them. Overall, two blasters, two autographs, not too shabby.

Autographs, both available for trade:

Kolten Wong (Cardinals, sticker) Randall Delgado (Braves, on card)

Miscellaneous inserts from Bowman, gold parallels and Bowman's Best

I didn't scan any of the chrome except for the Hoilman because they don't show up anyway but I did add what I have to my Trade List. Check the tab above.

I don't think I'll pursue any more Bowman except for Cubs (for me) and Nationals (my sons) team sets so let me know if you're looking for any base cards too.

Today's ATCRCS card of the day over on Facebook: Lloyd McClendon