Trade with Dutch Card Guy

It's a great time of year to be collecting cards. Shortly after a pair of new set releases, the first packs have been opened and Want Lists have been formed. Over the last few days I've been on the receiving end of a couple of different trade packages and today I have yet another!

This one crossed an ocean to get to me and Jeroen (AKA The Dutch Card Guy) made sure to fill the package to get his money's worth on shipping. 

The card that started the trade.

Aside from the Tony Campana, I totally skipped out on picking up the 2012 Topps Cubs Minis. Not on purpose though so these four will find a good home. I can't have too many Campanas!

Another set I missed out on (aside from a couple of non-Cubs in the repack boxes) was Topps 206. These make for a very nice set. I'm going to have to find a checklist and make sure I pick up the rest of the Cubs if there are any.

I was towards the tail end of my first foray into collecting baseball cards when Stadium Club first came out in the early 90's. I remember them being a pretty big deal with their fancy photography and borderless cards, probably Topps trying to compete with the newer, pricier company Upper Deck. I'm not sure they got this Mike Harkey card right though. Lot of dead space at the top and under his throwing arm, not to mention it is poorly cropped on both sides. I think I had a parallel version but not this one, so into the collection it goes.

This last Brooks Kieschnick card is one I don't think I've seen before. No logos are shown but I'd be willing to bet its an Orlando Cubs uniform. For as few games as Kieschnick played for the Cubs (64) I'm continually amazed each time I come across another card for him. I might be approaching a 1:1 card per game ratio! Slight exaggeration but not really... 

Thanks Jeroen!!

There was one more card that intrigued me from the package but I'm going to give it a separate post later this week.

Trade with The Dutch Card Guy

Right after my last box break, which Jeroen (The Dutch Card Guy) participated in, we worked out a deal that I would send a few extra Yankees to fill out the package for him and get a few Cubs cards sent my wayin return. Like yesterday's post, here are a few of my favorites.

Various rookies. As a Cubs fan, I remember every one of these guys, but I don't really expect anybody else too. None played the equivalent of a full season although a couple played multiple years with the Cubs. Still nice to add o the collection. As my header says, Once a Cub...Always a Cub.

Robin Jennings, Kevin Orie, Chad Meyers

Blaise Ilsley, Brooks Kieschnick

Also in the package were various inserts, including a jersey card, an autograph and several serial numbered cards. 

Aramis Ramirez Jersey (w/ pinstripe!)



Carlos Zambrano (#/250!)



Carlos Zambrano (#/599!)



Gold Micah Hoffpauir (#/2009!)



Cesar Izturis Autograph



I'm not sure why the Sutcliffe below is amusing. I've seen the card before. He's obviously on the mound at Wrigley (pinstriped uni, ivy in the background). Maybe its the hair? Not the style, it was the 80s afterall. I guess it just seems odd that he doesn't have a hat on?


The Red Baron!

This Kerry Wood is a card I don't recall seeing before. I've seen other Play Ball cards but for some reason, this one does not ring any bells.

Kerry Wood

I'm wouldn't call myself a Brain McRae fan but this might be my favorite card in the package. It's a 1996 Topps Laser. You can probably tell from the scan but if you can't, it is die cut on along the right side. Not just along the border like your typical die cut card but inside too. Pretty fancy stuff if I do say so myself.

This time period was the beginning of a lull for me in card collecting as there weren't too many Ryne Sandberg cards in the late 90s and I had other pursuits calling for my attention. A little research shows that there is indeed a Sandberg card in the set. Anybody have one (or any other Cubs from the set) they're willing to part with?

Thank again, Jeroen for the trade!