Trade with the Collective Troll

I got this package about a week ago and am now just getting around to posting it. This one comes to me from the Collective Troll. He is a big Brian Roberts fan and also a huge Tampa Bay Rays Fan. I am only going to post my most favorite cards out of the package. There were so many great cards that I had a really hard time picking just these few.

2008 Upper Deck Piece of History Nick Markakis. This is a nice night action shot that even the Night Owl could enjoy. It's a classic shot of the New Orioles Clubhouse leader Nick Markakis sending a homerun towards the bullpen area of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

2009 Topps Chrome X-Fractor Brian Roberts. Another shiny Brian Roberts to add to my collection!

2008 Topps Allen & Ginter Bat Relic Brian Roberts. The Troll really out did himself sending me this beauty. This is my first Brian Roberts GU bat card. Though I'm not a huge A&G fan, I really do enjoy this card!

A Big thanks to the Troll for a great trade package!

My first rainbow

I have been working on this since Bowman first went live in early May. I have seen several other people completing rainbows so I decided to try one. I picked Caleb Joseph for a few reasons. 1. He's an Oriole, DUH!!! 2. He's an Orioles Top Prospect. 3. Caleb's cards are going to be a little more affordable than the Strasburgs, Ackleys and Tates in the release. I might have overpaid on some of the cards but I had a lot of fun completing this "set". I don't know if I will ever see the 1/1 base Red parallel or the 1/1 Superfractor. I'm also not sure I will break the bank trying to get them either. Out of all of these I think I am most fond of the Orange Refractor. It just matches the color scheme of the O's uniforms.

TTM Success!

I've been wanting to share this TTM success for a while now but I am just getting around to it. Back in early May I sent out 7 autograph request to the Orioles. I sent a card in each pack along with 2 identical custom postcards (one for the player to keep and one to sign and send back.) As of today, Jeremy Guthrie is the only player to return the SASE. I got excited when I pulled this envelope out of the mailbox and couldn't wait to open it. I was a tad bit disappointed that my custom didn't get returned but he did sign the card. It has been my experience over the past 2 seasons that the Orioles as a whole are not especially good at returning my autograph requests. Maybe I am doing something wrong? If any of you more accomplished autograph collectors have some pointers for me I would really like to hear it. I might try a little later in the season to try and get some of the other guys on the team.

By the Box: 2010 Topps Series 2 Orioles pt.2

Here are the remaining O's I pulled from my 2010 Topps series 2 Jumbo box. These last 2 galleries don't include the Shortprint variation Eddie Murray card I got out of the box.

By the Box: 2010 Topps Series 2 Orioles pt.1

I am really late posting this but here is part one of the Orioles I pulled from my 2010 Topps Series 2 Jumbo Box:

A set 17 years in the making.

I FINALLY completed my 1993 Donruss Baseball set. Card #428 Jeff Bagwell is the capstone for the set. Dustin included it in his trade package that I posted about yesterday. I remember purchasing these cards at the drug store in my small hometown 1 pack at a time. I remember pulling a Robin Yount Diamond Kings insert and being so happy I ran around the house like a kid hopped up on candy( I probably was for that matter). I also remember a teenager behind the counter saying that he used to collect baseball cards when he was my age but now he saves his money to buy ice cream. It's funny how cards bring memories long forgotten back into your conscience. Does anybody have any great stories to tell along these lines?

Team Set Complete: 1983 Fleer

I am not going to waste this opportunity to picture 2 of Baltimore's Hall of Famers:

1983 Fleer #67 Eddie Murray, #69 Jim Palmer. I couldn't choose between the two cards to feature as the capstone for my 1983 Fleer Orioles team set, so I chose them both. This was a banner year in Baltimore because they won the World Series as everyone knows. Since the Series wrapped up approximately 6 weeks before I was born, I have never seen the O's play in the Fall Classic. Maybe sometime in the next 70 years or so they will make it back.....

Team Set Complete: 1990 Donruss

Here is the capstone card for my 1990 Donruss Orioles team set:

Card #32 Larry (Ben) Benjamin McDonald Rated Rookie. I'll bet you didn't know his first name was Larry. Heck, I didn't even know that! I know, I know, useless trivia... Gotta have something to talk about when your team is 30 games under .500 with a record of 18-48.

Trade with reader Dustin

I recently got a 'hole heaping package of cards from one of my blog readers, Dustin. There were so many awesome cards, it was hard to pick a few out to showcase here on the blog. Here are a few of the gems he sent:

1994 Score Brady Anderson. Card companies loved this guy. He always seemed to be doing something on the ball field interesting and photographers were right there to snap pics of him doing them.

2002 Topps Total Brian Roberts. I'm convinced that the O's are probably not going to see this guy back on the diamond this year. As the O's season was lost way back during the second week in April, it is no rush for him to rush a return and hurt himself even worse. I wish he would go ahead and have back surgery and get ready for next season.

1975 Topps Dave McNally. This is a groovy card from a groovy set from a groovy era. No cards scream retro more than 1975 Topps. Since I am featuring this card, I noticed that I have not featured many cards from my vintage O's Collection here on my blog. Maybe I can come up with an idea to showcase some of them.

A big thanks to Dustin again for the wonderful trade package. Go O's!

Team Set Complete: 1994 Collector's Choice

This is the "capstone" card on my 1994 Collector's Choice Orioles Team set:

I always enjoyed Collector's Choice even though it was geared towards kids (I was 10 years old in 1994 when the inaugural issue released). Now after all these years, I have completed the entire 21 card team set!

MOJO

This will be a short story/post. Today I was feeling ill from a cold I've acquired the last few days. Its in the mid 90's outside and I'm getting sick after not being sick the entire winter and spring. I called in to work. Around midday I drug myself to the nearest Target for contact solution, Sudafed, and cough drops. I see 4 lonely packs of 2010 Bowman in the card section. I couldn't resist the urge. Here is what pops out of the 3rd pack:

Not the finest Strasburg I've seen but definitely a good hit. Notice the chipping on the bottom and it is off center from bottom to top and right to left.

It gets better though. Out of the 4th pack pops this card:

Wow, this definitely made me feel a little better than death warmed over but my head still feels like a balloon. So after a little nap and an Orioles loss, I've managed to slither to the computer to ask for the Blog-o-sphere's help. What should I do with this card? I'm on the fence to sell it or keep it. Advice please!

EDIT: I just read Nite Owl's post from earlier today. Seems like he pulled the same card today. Congrats Nite Owl!

Trade with blog reader Steve

This one is going to be short but sweet. I've been really busy lately. Lets get to the cards.

1994 Upper Deck Collector's Choice Brady Anderson. I really liked Collector's Choice when it first came out. I remember going to the brand spanking new "Made in USA (America, Fuck yeah!)" Wal-Mart and picking up packs with Ken Griffey Jr and Nolan Ryan on the front. I also fondly remember winning packs of these at the carnival as prizes in the shooting gallery.

1997 Pinnacle Rafael Palmeiro. I vaguely remember picking up some packs from the brand spanking new Target of these. I think at this time was when a childhood friend of mine dabbled in the hobby with me and we traded some cards. I wonder what cards he has stashed away these days?

1997 Upper Deck Collector's Choice BJ Surhoff. I might have already alluded to this subject but I really think that BJ would make a great manager of a team. I really respected him as a player and I just really believe his demeanor would make him a great leader of a team someday.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks Steve for the great cards. GO O's!

Results from the Group Break hosted by Nachos Grande!

To say that I enjoyed this group break would be an understatement. Even though I have nothing to compare it to, this break was still a blast! Chris really has a knack for pulling Orioles cards from packs and I am thankful for that. I really feel like I cleaned up with all the great cards I got. Here is just a small sample of the O's he pulled for the break:

2005 Upper Deck All-Stars Classic Cal Ripken. This is another new Cal that I'll be adding to my 5 inch binder. It's really hard to say Cal Ripken Jr. and not follow it up with "All-Star" and "Classic".

1995 Stadium Club Ben McDonald. I'm not sure Ben McDonald was known as a particularly intense player during his career or not. The expression that he wears in this photo is so intense that it makes the inside brim of his hat burn bright orange.

1995 Stadium Club Clearcuts Rafael Palmeiro. Now, this is a sweet card. Not only because it is a box hit that I was lucky enough to get, but because you can see through it. It's hard to tell from the scan but it is. This card kinda has that Chrome Refractor look to it. That would make this card the Granddaddy of Chromes because the inaugural Topps Chrome set didn't release until 1996.

Thanks to Chris again for having the box break and I look forward to you having another.

Trade with Chris from Nachos Grande

Here is another trade with a fellow blogger that I have been wanting to post for a while. Chris over at Nachos Grande is a Reds fan. His team gives me some hope that my Orioles will someday soon be a surprisingly good team. Chris hosted a Group Break that I really cleaned up on. I will post that as soon as I get some time. Here are the cards from our trade agreement:

2009 Goudey Cal Ripken. I really don't need to explain why I want to show a Ripken. I have so many of them and every time I get a new one I haven't seen before, I get pretty excited.

2009 Topps Heritage Brad Bergesen. I really hope Brad gets it turned around soon. I really do want him to succeed. I have fond memories of watching him at OPACY dominating the White Sox in his MLB Debut.

2008 Stadium Club Brian Roberts. I'm not really sure what is going on in this action shot but it makes me miss Stadium Club. I really wish Topps would bring this back Stadium Club. I think they could make it work with full bleed cards to pick up right where Upper Deck left off. I really like the minimalist look of Stadium Club cards. Let the pictures tell the stories, Topps!

A big thanks to Chris for the awesome trade. I also enjoyed his box break too. He really knows how to pick'em. Until next time, Go O's.

Trade with Ted from Crinkly Wrappers

I have been slacking on my blogging lately with life being busy and my baseball team's season getting into full swing. I have had time to complete a few trades however. Here is one of them. This one comes from Ted who just started his blog, Crinkly Wrappers. Welcome to the Blog-o-sphere Ted! Anyway, here are some of the Orioles Gems he sent me:

1972 Topps John "Boog" Powell. When I opened the trade package, Boog was the first card staring back at me with his big boyish grin. I love this card. I met Boog at the O's Fanfest this past winter and got and 8x10 signed. Maybe one day I can show that off.

1990 Score Curt Schilling. A lot of people forget that "Mr. Bloody Sock" started his career with the O's. He is surely a lesson to the O's front office not to trade away young pitching for older sluggers on the downside of their careers.

2006 "Fleer Ultra" Miguel Tejada. This Fleer card is from when Upper Deck took over the Fleer name and produced cards. I miss Fleer. and Upper Deck. and Donruss. Stupid Monopoly. BTW, Tejada is starting to heat up at the plate!

Thanks again to Ted for the great trade package! Go and give him some support on his new blog.

It's Opening Day

Well, sort of. Today is Opening Day for the 2010 Richmond Tigers. I play on an adult league team affilliated with the NABA. We are on the road today playing an interleague game against Northern Virginia team. Today, my team along with the other 8 teams in the league has a chance to win the league championship. Heck, even on opening day the Orioles had a chance to win the World Series!

Question of the Day

While opening my Jumbo packs of 2010 Topps series 2, I found a good number of the Topps 2020 inserts (10 to be exact, 1 per pack). I do like the look of these hologram cards and plus they are something different that we haven't seen in a while from a mainstream release (that I can think of). Now the premise for the set is that these are a "sneak peak" at how cards are going to be in the year 2020. It features young players that could conceivably be big stars that year. I started to wonder who out of these players on the checklist would be the biggest star. Who do you think could be the best in 10 years and why?

Ryan Braun, Gordon Beckham, Andre Ethier, David Price, Justin Upton, Hunter Pence, Ryan Howard, Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Evan Longoria, Joe Mauer, Chris Coghlan, Andrew McCutchen, Ubaldo Jimenez, Pablo Sandoval, David Wright, Tommy Hanson, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Matt Kemp.

Personally I think that Evan Longoria will be the biggest star out of this bunch of players. To me at least it seems like he has all the tools for long term success in the major leagues. There are a lot of budding stars in this grouping so it's hard to pick just one. Other guys I would consider off this list would be Tommy Hanson and Andre Ethier (the kid can just straight up hit). I am dying to know what other people think.

Recent Hits

Let's get to it. These first three came from my 2010 Topps Series 2 Jumbo box:

Victor Martinez 4th of July Manufactured Hat Relic #d 12/99. Since these Manufactured relics have been around for a while, I still don't know what to think of them. I don't know whether I like 'em or not. The thing about this relic is that Victor was not playing with the Rex Sox last year on the 4th of July. In my opinion, you should have been playing on the team that the relic is of to qualify for this set. I just don't know if anybody at Topps actually has any common sense when it comes to baseball...Moving on,

Kosuke Fukudome Peak Perfomances Game Used "something". It doesn't say what this boring piece of gray uniform is. It could be pants, jersey, socks, sliding shorts....Who Knows?

Chris Volstad Peak Performances Autograph. I've heard of this guy before. Now I'm just thrilled to have his autograph.

Carlos Guillen Upper Deck X Memorabilia Card. I got this out a blaster I got on sale at Wal Mart today. I don't really know what to say about this card right now.

All of these are for trade if anybody is interested. I also have a Dustin Pedroia Manufactured Hat Logo from 2010 Topps for trade too. I wonder why I got Red Sox Relics in both my Jumbo Boxes?

Recent eBay Purchase!

If you are an Orioles fan (all 10 of us) you don't need me to tell you how awesome this card is. For the rest of the normal baseball fans. I will do my best to explain. Most baseball fans know that the picture on the left is Cal Ripken Jr. , The Ironman, Mr 19 time All-Star, 1982 Rookie of the Year, 1983 and 1991 AL MVP, 2 time Gold Glover and above all, Humanitarian. I could go on to bore you with the laundry list of Cal's accolades but I will spare you all, for now.

Also pictured on the card is Nick Markakis, the only (healthy) star the O's have right now. Curiously, Nick has never appeared in the All Star Game, or won a gold glove. I can sort of understand why he doesn't make the All Star game because he plays in the same league and division and the red sox and yankees. All those guys have to do is fall out of bed in the morning and their fans think they deserve to be and All Star and start stuffing the ballot box with as many votes as they are allowed. Now why he hasn't won a gold glove is a little perplexing to me. Runners on base are scared to death to run on him, so I guess that keeps him outfield assist numbers down. He rarely makes a mistake in right field, but then again he plays the same position as Ichiro. But what I don't get is why last season another O, Adam Jones won the Gold Glove. He doesn't do anything that Nick doesn't. If anything Adam plays too shallow and gets burned way too many times.

It may be hard to believe but this is my first Game Used Jersey card of both players. In all my years of Cal Ripken collecting, I haven't picked up a single one. I guess the best way to start is to get a dual of both of my favorites!

Triumphant Return(s)

I haven't posted in a week or so. I'm still kind of reeling from the recent happenings in my life and haven't really had any great ideas for posts lately. I got my box of 2010 Topps series 2 jumbos last week and I have been slowly opening the box at about a pack a day pace to "savor" that new card smell. I'm going to kick off my "comeback" with something that kind of shocked me a little bit to say the least:

2010 Topps #559 Eddie Murray variation! I am pretty excited to pull such a sweet card being an *Ahem* *lowers voice* Orioles fan. I have featured Eddie here before, just not on quite a rare card. I love the old school O's Logo and the horizontal orientation of the card. It all just works well with the 2010 Topps design of which I am a fan of. I have had some decent success pulling these variations from Topps packs. From 2009 Updates and Highlights I got both Reggie Jackson variations (A's and Angels) and from 2010 Topps series 1 I got Stan "the Man" Musial and Roger Maris. Now if somebody had the 2009 Cal Ripken Variation they'd be willing to trade......