eBay Mail Day - 3 of 4

For my third post of my eBay mail day, I am featuring an auto, a jersey relic, and a rookie card that is an auto and jersey relic!

Mesoraco - 88/199

I have family from Punxsutawny so it was only natural that I get a auto, jersey relic, rookie card of the former 1st Round Pick from Punxy! It's not an on-card auto, but I still love the card.  

The Jordan Zimmerman is an on-card auto.  

eBay Mail Day - 2 of 4

For this showcase of my eBay mail day, I am featuring the non-autos or non-relics that I bought.  

I'm looking forward for Taillon to make his MLB debut this year. With his bright talent, he looks to be another big league ace to be paired with Gerrit Cole.  Pirates' fans should be pumped!

I absolutely love the Topps Museum Canvas Collection! These are gorgeous cards!

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - Speed

Here is card #4 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set of Michael Jordan. 

eBay Mail Day - 1 of 4

As I had recently mentioned on my Twitter account, I have been on an eBay run lately.  My first big mail day has arrived!! It's too much excitement for me to put into one post though so here goes nothing.

I'll start with three autographs of the newest Pirate outfielder with a six-year extension, Starlin Marte.  I really enjoy watching Marte play and very happy he'll be patrolling PNC Park for the foreseeable future.

All three are on card autos
Topps Tribute - 4/99
Topps Tribute - 14/99

Since I have two of the Marte Topps Tribute /99 autographs, I may consider trading one of them.  Not 100% sure though.  If you are interested in possible trading for it, comment, email me, or hit me up on Twitter.  

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - Hitting

Here is card #3 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set of Michael Jordan.

Musial's Home vs Away Splits

During Stan Musial's career, he had 3,360 hits.  What's amazing is that he had 1,815 hits on the home, which means, he had 1,815 hits on the road as well.

COMC Feb Order - 5 of 9

I realize that I am a bit behind at this point in featuring my Feb COMC order, but between work and two seasons going on, free time is a premium!  

couple of die cut Bowmans
I was a big fan of the Metal Universe cards back in the day

some Josh Hamilton cards from various parts of his career
I really like the SP card

young Torii Hunter

two of my favorite cards that came in - Topps Tribute and the diving, green Topps

if the Marlins can build around Stanton and Hernandez, that'll be a heck of a duo

Book Review: Josh Hamilton - Beyond Belief

A few years back, I read Josh Hamilton: Beyond Belief and I would definitely recommend it! I knew Josh's back story from various articles that I had read, but this book goes into a lot of detail and is 100% from his perspective.  Throughout the entire book, it sounds as if Hamilton is sitting across the room from you narrating the entire thing.  

Even if you aren't a baseball fan, I would recommend reading this book.  It is an amazing story and you get a closer look into the daily battle and the stories of a recovering drug addict and alcoholic.  It shows how each day truly is a struggle for Josh and everyone else who is battling a similar fight against addiction.

Autographed Jersey - Neil Walker

This is my third and final (for now) autographed jersey and it's of the Pittsburgh Kid, Neil Walker.

This is still my only autograph of Walker.  I have just missed him multiple times either at charity events, before games, Piratefest, etc.  I have seen him in the community as he lives in Pine Richland and can be seen regularly out and about, but I do not believe in asking for people's autographs in that setting.

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - Fielding

Here is card #2 from the Upper Deck mini set. 

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - Throwing

Here is the Michael Jordan Throwing card from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set.

This is card #1 of the mini set. 

Bourn's Record Deal

Last off season, Michael Bourn signed a 4 year, $48 million contract with the Cleveland Indians.

This doesn't seem like a record breaking deal, but it is! It is the largest contract every signed by a position player who has never hit more than 10 home runs or exceeded a .400 slugging in a single season.

Mountain High Trade

This is the first trade of my new blog and it's with a familiar foe, the always friendly Johnny from Cards From The Quarry. I've made a trade or two with him in the past when I was writing my old blog.  It's been a few years, but he immediately remembered me as well as what I collected.

These four were the reason I contacted him about striking up a deal.

love the look of the Longoria and Griffey cards
pretty cool Jeter card as well
new Harper for the collection

He was nice enough to include some cards of my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Thanks Johnny! I'll get your package in the mail in the next week or so.

The Crown Jewel of My Baseball Collection

This is definitely the crown jewel of not only my Andrew McCutchen collection, but my memorabilia collection as well!

I bought this game used ball from the Hunt Auctions booth at Piratefest in December.  This is the first time that I've paid more than $50 for any type of memorabilia, but at $125, I could not resist!

My pipe dream is to get this ball autographed by Clayton Kershaw as well.  Regardless of how unlikely that may be, I am ecstatic to have this piece in my collection.  

Autographed Jerseys - Andrew McCutchen

This was my second autographed jersey and my first autographed of my favorite player, Andrew McCutchen.

This jersey was the alternate jersey for the Pittsburgh Pirates, often worn on Friday nights.  What you see on tv is what you get in real life; he is always smiling, having a good time, and enjoying life.  I've seen multiple times where Cutch will stop on his walk into the dugout after warm-ups to sign autographs for kids.  Many players do not do this and they do not need to, but it shows the appreciation he has for the fans.  It's great to see!  

MJ Collection - '95 Upper Deck

Here is MJ's 1995 Upper Deck card.  

I like this picture of MJ getting interviewed. It's something different than the usual hitting or fielding pictures.

The back of the card notes that Michael Jordan may be the most famous minor leaguer of all time and it's hard to dispute that!

Michael Jordan Collection

I have decided to collect a few baseball cards of Michael Jordan.  Why? Why not!  MJ retiring from basketball and picking up baseball was definitely a shocking event.  Although, his decision came after his father's death so many, myself included, believe that it played a role in the move to baseball.

I picked up twelve of MJ's baseball cards from COMC; ten of which are from a mini-set from Upper Deck.  I'm indifferent on the mini-set; it highlights various aspects of Jordan's short lived baseball career.  I've seen better, but I've seen much, much worse and it wasn't too expensive so I picked them up.

I'm always looking for more cards so if you have any that you'd like to trade, I'm all ears!

Hope you enjoy!

Babe Out Homers the AL

During the 1920 and 1927 seasons, Babe Ruth hit more home runs than any American League team.

Autographed Jerseys - Joel Hanrahan

This is the first jersey that I have been lucky enough to get autographed.

This jersey was the 2011 All-Star game and one of my favorite jerseys!  I think they look really sharp!  I got it autographed by Hanrahan, who was more than willing to sign my jersey and a baseball for me at a season ticket holders event at PNC Park.

COMC Feb Order - 4 of 9

For this COMC feature, I am featuring two all-time greats - Cal Ripken Jr and Tony Gwynn

absolutely love all four of these cars

love the UD Masterpiece cards

big fan of all four of these

couple of All-Star cards

Both of these players are two of my bigger player collections from non-current players.

COMC Feb Order - 3 of 9

For the third installment of my COMC February entry, I am featuring two of my favorite third basemen - Evan Longoria and Manny Machado.

a couple minor league cards
I'm a fan of the Topps Chase It Down cards
I'm usually not a fan of smaller cards, but I really like the Future of the Franchise card

this is the first Across the Years card I have
I love the Bowman Platinum Top Prospects cards

what can I say, I love the shiny!
I really like the good of the Making Their Mark card

My Machado collection is very fresh in the making, but these certainly help it!

three new rookie cards that I did not have until now

two numbered Triple Threads

big fan of the look of the Spring Fever cards
I haven't seen the 3D Topps Opening Day card

I am very, very pleased with these additions to my collection!!

Nah, I'll use this ball

Here is a head scratcher for you...

1. A pitcher always wants a new, clean ball to pitch with, but they always rub the ball down as soon as they get it.

Okay, I don't see a problem with point #1; the pitcher wants a new ball, but doesn't want all the shine and oils on it.

2. If a pitcher throws a ball in the dirt, it is immediately thrown out.  In fact, the ump doesn't even decide to keep or toss the ball out; it is automatically taken out of play (mainly to save time).

Okay, still no problem here.

3.  If a hitter hits a ground ball out, the ball gets thrown around the horn, and it goes back to the pitcher.  Many times, the pitcher will just use that ball.  Yes, sometimes they do request a new ball.

Now, this completely goes against #1 and #2.  The ball was hit by the bat; it rolled, skipped, etc through the infield grass and dirt.  Why doesn't the pitcher just automatically throw this ball out and demand a new one?  Is it superstition?  I mean, the ball did just get him an out.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Vizquel and the 3-0 Count

Over Omar Vizquel's twenty four year playing career, he had 12,013 plate appearances.  No doubt he had a very impressive career, but what may be most astounding is that did not put a single ball in play on a 3-0 count.

Book Review: A Lefty's Legacy

This is the second book that I read of Jane Leavy and I was a fan of this one as well.  

It was very interesting to read this book immediately after finishing Leavy's book on Mickey Mantle because it showed how different of people Mantle and Koufax were off the field.  As everyone else, I knew of Koufax's tremendous numbers on the field, but I didn't know much else about him; I certainly did not know about his younger years and his path to becoming one of the best lefties of all time.  This book gives you a fantastic look into his life, which most media members did not have access to.  I have much more respect for Koufax and have moved him up my list of athlete I wish I could have seen in their prime.  I would highly recommend this book.

Jordan Joins the Sox

Twenty years ago today, Michael Jordan made his debut with the Chicago White Sox.

We Are Family Project - Introduction

I was recently in "Half Priced Books" with a couple gift cards burning a hole in my wallet when I came upon this gem.

For only $20, it was a must buy!!  Each game comes on it's own DVD with the original broadcast.  I was not alive for the "We Are Family" World Series so needless to say, I am very, very excited to watch this....now just need to find some time!

While driving home, I was trying to remember how many 1979 Pirates' cards I own and I cannot recall too many so I decided to start up a new collecting project.  My goal for this project is to get a 1979 card of every player on the championship team.  I realize this may not be possible due to some players being rookies and whatnot so if that is the case, I will get a 1980 card of that player.

COMC Feb Order - 2 of 9

For my second COMC post, I'm showing the cards I picked up of two of the brightest young stars in the game....Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.  I thoroughly enjoy watching both of these guys play and look forward to for years to come!  Harper is a bit more brash and in your face, but it's refreshing to hear the media saying how a player needs to ease off the gas pedal.

these are some good looking cards!
USA! USA! USA!

gotta have the shiny and non shiny

pretty cool catch cards by Harper

My Trout and Harper collections are very new in the makings, but these definitely help the cause!