My First Cutch Relic

I've been wanting to get a Andrew McCutchen relic for a while.  A few weeks back, I was able to find one that is decent priced.

8/99

I really like this card.  It's a sharp looking card, as Topps Tribute usually are, and a black jersey piece for the relic.  Definitely a solid first Cutch relic for my collection.

on-card auto
145/299

I was also able to pick up this GI Jones on-card auto for a few bucks from the same seller.  Jones was very frustrating at times, but he did give us some thrills and for how cheaply the Pirates picked him up for, I'll take definitely take it.  He was always a nice guy anytime I met him at various event and the girls certainly don't mind looking at him! Hope he has another resurgence in Miami!

MJ Collection - SP Top Prospects

This Michael Jordan card is from the SP Top Prospects collection.

I've always been a fan of the SP series.  There is just something about them that I like!

Mattingly's 6 Grand Slams

Over Don Mattingly's career, he hit a total of six grand slams.

All six of those slams came during the 1987 season.

Griffey in 23 Karat Gold

While I was perusing on eBay for some combined shipping, I came upon this item.

I've never seen or heard about this card before.  I wasn't sure how I felt about it initially, but now that I have it and looking at it, it's pretty cool!  Plus, it's of Jr so how could I not be a fan?? 

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - The Future

Here is card #10 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set.  

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - '94 Autumn

Here is card #9 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set.  

Torre's Double Play Feat

During his 1975 season, Joe Torre became the first in major league history to ground into four double plays in one game. All four came after Felix Millan singles.

After the game, Torre commented, "I would like to thank Felix Millan for making all of this possible."

The Good Ole Sweatball

Here is something to think about...

A pitcher is not allowed to spit on the ball for obvious reasons, but how many times have you seen a pitcher get a new ball from the ump, take his glove off, get all the sweat off his forearms, and rub down the ball?  I understand pitchers wanting to rub down the ball, but how are they allowed to take the sweat off their arms and rub that onto the ball?  You're not allowed to spit on the ball so to me, you shouldn't be allowed to put your sweat on the ball either.

If anyone has some input to this, feel free to comment; I'd love to hear your thoughts!  My only guess is that the umps believe that the sweat will evaporate before the pitcher throws that next pitch sorta to the affect a pitcher can lick his fingers as long as he doesn't go straight to the ball afterwards.

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - First Homer

Here is card #8 of Upper Deck's mini-set for Michael Jordan.  

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - '94 Season

Here is card #7 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set.

  

Foxx as a Pitcher

During Jimmie Foxx's 1945 season with the Phillies, he made nine appearances on the mound going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA over 22.2 innings pitched.

New Favorite Auto??

I recently posted a pretty sweet looking Adam Jones' autographed card that I picked up via eBay and teased that an even sweeter one was being shipped. Well, without further ado, here it is!

on-card auto
40/40

I love the picture!  Adam Jones in a home run trot blowing a bubble! Awesome!! The coloring in the background is perfect for the Orioles as well!  Great design! To make it even better, it's an on-card auto and numbered 40 of 40!

 

I was also able to pick up this Jones' relic for cheap from the same seller. 

Another eBay Mail Day

Last week, I had some time to kill so I was on eBay Mobile seeing if I could get lucky and find a David Price relic and/or autograph.  Here is what I came up with...

Price 24/36

I really like the larger Triple Threads jersey relics.  They are bigger than your standard jersey relic, but do not take up the entire card.  Plus, I like the Triple Threads line in general.  This Price card (24/36) set me back $6, but it was one of the better buys I could find.  

Surprisingly, the Rays did not deal Price this offseason, but still having him makes their starting rotation that much stronger. You have a young trio of Cobb, Archer, and Moore plus Price....good luck matching up with that over a seven game series!

The other two cards, Adrian Beltre jersey relic and Andrew Jones jersey relic, only cost $2 each so well worth the combined shipping!

eBay Mail Day

During my recent time on eBay, I was looking for some relics and/or autos of Sonny Gray and Wandy Rodriguez.  I found a seller who had a bunch of cards fairly priced as Buy It Now/Best Offer and had some cards I was interested in.  Naturally, I went with the Best Offer route and got a buck or two knocked off each card.  Here is what I got... 

Sonny Gray - what a name!  I, along with both of my fantasy teams, hopes he has a big year and continues to develop!

Bucco fans, myself included, are hoping that Wandy can bounce back from injuries and have a quality 2014 campaign.

Both of these cards were only $2 each.  

Fisk 58/225

The Matthew Purke card is pretty cool with the American flag in the background and at $1.50, I had to buy it.

A Carlton Fisk jersey relic for $3, I'll take it!

Nice Schilling relic with the purple stripe, especially for only $3.

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - '94 Spring

Here is card #6 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set.  

MJ Collection - Upper Deck - Overall Skills

Here is card #5 from the '95 Upper Deck mini-set.  

40 Year Anniversary of Aaron's Record Tying Homer

Forty years ago today, Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth for the most all-time home runs with his 714th home run.

Griffey's First At Bat

25 years ago today, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a double in his first major league at bat!

Griffey was my favorite player growing up and is still one of my all-time favorites.  I wish I would have been older so I would have been able to see and appreciate him more.

First Adam Jones Autograph

I've been an Adam Jones fan for a while and while on my eBay run, I found a couple Adam Jones autos and relics for decent prices.  This is the first one to arrive.

16/99

I think this is a good looking card, but the second Adam Jones' auto I bought is even better! Hope it comes in soon so I can show it off!

Book Review: The Card

I just recently finished "The Card: Collectors, Con Men, and the True Story of History's Most Desired Baseball Card" and definitely enjoyed it.  I knew some of the story behind the T206 Honus Wagner, but there was a LOT that I didn't know.  It gave a great background on The Card - all of the owners of The Card, Honus Wagner, the controversy behind the T206 Wagner card, and some history behind the card industry.  I would definitely recommend it to the avid or novice collector or anyone who knows anything about the famous card!



eBay Mail Day - 4 of 4

My final post of my eBay mail day is featuring some autos of my hometown team, Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Jose Tabata has been up and down.  With the development of Marte and hopefully, the continued development of Polanco makes Tabata expendable.

Joel Hanrahan got his career turned around into a big time closer while with the Buccos.  Neal Huntington and company did a great job identifying Hanrahan, trading for him, and getting him on track.  Unfortunately, Huntington also identified when it was time to sell high.  I hope he gets healthy and gets back to the top.

Here are a pair of autographs from the Pittsburgh Kid, Neil Walker.  The Gypsy Queen is an on-card auto while the Topps Golden Moment is not.  

Refractor - 168/500

A pair of Bowman Chrome autographs of one of the Pirates top young catchers, Wyatt Mathisen.  His name screams Texas kid and I love it! I hope he develops into the catcher the Pirates identified in the draft.  

COMC Feb Order - 6 of 9

For my sixth installment of my February COMC order, I am featuring two all time Yankee greats.  I'm not a Yankees fan by any stretch of the means, but always respected and enjoyed watching these two play the game!

cool Ring Master card
Triple Threads is 24/125

really like the white Gypsy Queen card
the Topps All-Time Saves Leader card is pretty neat

can't disagree that Jeter was Pennant Driven

some shiny cards!

real nice photo on the Topps

I like the look of the Skybox card

My buddies and I are planning a road trip to NYC to see Jeter play in his final season.  We are trying for the Red Sox series at the end of June.  Needless to say, I'm really hoping that trips comes together!