A Bunch More Trade Bait!

Here are a bunch more of 2014 Topps, comment or email me about trading!

 Mariano Rivera cards are both on hold; Trout still available

Trade Bait!

I'm trying to get some new stuff up for trade, and here's a start! Leave a comment (or shoot me an email) if you're interested in any of these 2014 Topps.

Floating Heads and License Plates: Cards from Royals and Randoms!

Josh over at Royals and Randoms recently had some 2013 Topps trade bait up for grabs, and along with the couple of cards I requested, he sent a boatload of PC needs my way. Check them out!

What a way to start. A Matt Moore floating head for my Moore PC? Fantastic!

I'm learning quickly that the 2012 Triple Play puzzle piece cards, like the Halladay on the bottom here, are going to be the hardest finds. I'd really rather not buy a box if I don't have to, so if you have any of these off my wantlist, let me know! Maybe I can finish this set before the next presidential election.

Some Dale Murphy additions, including a neat oddball Rite Aid card. Any grammar police out there, please tell me: is the apostrophe in MVP's used correctly?

 I've had a couple of people ask me about whether I like Dale Murphy Phillies stuff. I have mixed feelings on them: I don't necessarily "like" them, but that doesn't mean that I won't take them.

Some Chili! Davis is still working as the Oakland A's hitting coach, and is trying to help Cuban OF Yoenis Cespedes this spring training.

I thought this Pinnacle write-up on Davis was pretty interesting...who know Chili Davis was the X-factor for Minnesota? I'll consider it catharsis that I, a Braves fan, collect the supposed player that propelled the Twins to beat my team back in 1991.

Josh also sent me some David Eckstein PC needs - these from his time with the Anaheim Angels.

And another floating head!

This Chipper Jones card reminds me of license plates that I've seen for bicycles - it's about the same size.

These were the two cards that I actually requested from Josh - everything else you've seen was what he generously threw in!

Here's a Chipper floating head...and shoulders.

Finally, a Chipper Jones painting on a modern-day Diamond King. Unlike earlier DK cards illustrated by Dick Perez, this was done by artist David Kramer, who still actively paints today. I wonder how much these baseball cards helped his portfolio...

Thanks so much to Josh for the cards!

Ben Bernanke Gets His Own Baseball Cards!

According to Slate, the former Fed Chairman (and Nationals fan) got himself on a baseball card, which noted his love of Hot Pockets, among other things. Note the 2013 Topps-style design:



Check the link out for more information: http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/02/03/photos_ben_bernanke_baseball_cards.html

Pack Break: 2000-2001 Topps Basketball Series 2 Hobby

Note: This post is one I am cross-posting on A Pack To be Named Later - give that blog a look when you get a chance!

Hi all. Here we have a pack I won on Listia, 2000-2001 Topps Basketball. As I am not a basketball card collector and only the most casual of NBA fans, this should be interesting. I do have a mild rooting interest as a Bulls fan, but when a Heat fan friend of mine said something about Derrick Rose being re-injured (in November), I was not aware. So this pack will be interesting. I recognize Shaq - wasn't he the conductor for the Boston Pops at one time?

The back of the pack: odds of pulling any sort of auto/game used are about 1 in 400 for an auto or 1 in 500 for game-used. (Remember that.) Here we go.

Card #220 Cedric Ceballos. The Hawaiian-born Ceballos is wearing that #23, which would be worn by Michael Jordan the next year for the Washington Wizards.

Card #171 Jamal Mashburn. "Monster Mash" going up for a dunk! I really love the 90s-era Hornets - Muggsy Bogues and all that. I will be hanging on to this card, but the rest are up for grabs.

Card #208 Damon Stoudamire. Stoudamire, like Muggsy Bogues, was on the short side, 5'10" to be exact. He's now an assistant coach for the Arizona Wildcats, who are doing pretty well this season.

Here's the back of that card. Full stats and a nice-sized write-up, but the type is a little cramped. I like the design okay though.

Card #193 Allan Houston. Still with the New York Knicks as an assistant GM, Houston's career was derailed by a knee injury just a few years after this card was made.

Card #260 Avery Johnson. Another 5'10" guy, Johnson hit the game-winning shot for the Spurs in the 1999 NBA Finals and went on to coach the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2005, where they lost to the Heat. Back before the Heat had Lebron and Chris Bosh, that is.

These Second Coming cards round out the 295-card base set. This one is #288, Lamar Odom and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Based on the fact that in 2013, Odom was still getting dropped in Eminem songs and Abdur-Rahim was being named GM of some NBA D-League team, Shareef was probably not exactly the second coming of Lamar Odom.

Card #289 Tim Duncan/Alonzo Mourning. Two actual stars!

"Tim should eventually match Mourning's five NBA All-Star Invitations." Well, how about 14? Also, I'm going to have to use the word "out-quick" today.

Card #287 Darius Miles/Kevin Garnett. I didn't know much anything about Darius Miles until reading this article, but apparently "With Darius Miles on the roster, the LA Clippers were one of the coolest teams in the NBA." However, this conclusion just brought me down: "Darius Miles was a troubled young man blessed with an incredible physical prowess. He was a player whose basketball career could have been something special." *Tear*

Last base card. Card #286 Steve Francis/Gary Payton. I like the Sonics logo, but I really have nothing else to say about this card.

Now we get to the good stuff. Remember, this was a hobby pack. So according to the back of the pack, overall odds for pulling an auto/game-used were something like 1 in 400, right? So here's what I found:

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We beat the odds! Unfortunately, check out that tiny print on the bottom of the card. Over a decade expired! Ugh...this is the kind of experience that inspires Bad Luck Brian memes.

Yeah, it sucks. Oh well.

Also, this card was hanging out in the back, minding its own business. Since when has Topps had "Trading Centers"?

Triple the Exclamation Points = MAXIMUM EXCITEMENT! It is funny to ponder that blogs like this have pretty much filled this void: I've traded cards, built sets, and met other collectors through blogging. As they say, the internet made it possible.

That's it! If you need/want any of these cards (except the Mashburn), ask away in the comments or send me an email! Thanks all!