December 1st Midlothian Card Show: Expect the Unexpected

Card shows are very plentiful around Richmond, Virginia right now and the region as a whole has one nearly every weekend of the year.  The only thing holding me back from going to every single one is life in general and of course the funds to do so.  I had planned on attending this particular show more as a collector instead of vendor, and because its the closest to my home (a 20ish minute drive).  I actually expected to find Orioles cards from recently released products like Stadium Club, Allen & Ginter, and Topps Update and maybe some Topps Chrome Update in the dimeboxes and bring home all the broken dreams and salty tears to my collection.  It didn't really work out that way.  

It really was a stretch to find cards that I wanted and only spent about $7.  That includes the package deals I bought for my nephew who was visiting from out of town came with me. I like Brenton Doyle since he's a localish kid from Warrenton Virginia where I spent time with my aunt and cousins when I was a kid (probably long before he was even born!).  He's underrated because he plays for the Rockies, so I was able to buy this card for a Quarter.

In the same box I was there was a pile of the Signature Rookies and Team Best autographs.  Ainsworth actually ended up playing for the Orioles for a bit in the mid 2000s. He was traded over in the Sidney Ponson deal from the Giants.  Vaughn Eshelman was drafted by the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft before he played in the majors for the O's.  He's pictured here on the AA Bowie Baysox. I recently learned that Vaughn passed away at the age of 49 in 2018 while I was sorting through some Orioles cards to send out TTM.  Couldn't resist picking up an auto of his for the collection knowing I'd never be able to meet him in person or write a TTM.  RIP Vaughn Eshelman.

I actually didn't have a ton of time to dig and dig like I normally do at shows.  I got a text from my good buddy Blake on Friday asking if I'd be able to help him man his table because his other planned help couldn't make it.  I was happy to help out since I was going to be around anyways.  It all worked out since there wasn't a lot I found to be to my liking (and in my price range).  A huge advantage to setting up with Blake is getting in early "to set up shop". He's a real hustler and had everything set up by the time I got there so that left for plenty time to shop the other vendor's wares.  One guy had a box of random mid 2000s cards including a ton of Bazooka base sets and minis.  This mini of Orlando Hudson fits into the binder collection of "Orioles Cameos".  Notice Brook Fordyce sliding in to second base.  

It appears to me that this play was from the day game at Camden Yards on August 24th, 2002.  Bottom of the 3rd inning Brook Fordyce reached base on Eric Hinske's 20th error of the season.  Next batter Mike Bordick grounded to shortstop Chris Woodward where they turned a 6-4-3 double play.  It will forever be immortalized here on this card.  The Orioles ended up losing this game 4-1.  It was rescheduled from the July 23rd rainout.  They ended up losing both ends of the doubleheader (they did a lot of losing in the 2000s), as a team struggling to find an identity after the retirement of Cal Ripken.  I have no recollection of this doubleheader because I was in my first week of my college as a Freshman at Radford University.  I only lasted one semester there, but everything has worked out fine for me and the Orioles are finally good again. **Playoffs not included**

Now concludes this episode of CSI: Baseball Reference. Hope you enjoyed this episode! 

Speaking of Playoffs, this Heston Kjerstad Chrome parallel card from Stadium Club is from the warm ups before game one or two of the 2023 ALDS. You can tell by the playoffs logo on his hat (under his sunglasses).  Its a happy coincidence that the O's embarrassed themselves (well, Bryan Baker and Jacob Webb did.  I'm not bitter or hold anything against those two bums) against Jack Leiter's Rangers.  Leiter wasn't on the team yet (still a minor leaguer at that point).  Hopefully both of these guys establish themselves in the majors this coming season and make this one dollar purchase totally worth it! Its crazy how Kjerstad was the only Orioles card I purchased for myself.

You just don't leave vintage cards in the quarter box.  It should be against the law.  I'm a goody-goody and I will gladly add this '71 Topps beauty to my collection.  I don't even like the Phillies.  For a combined buck, I got the Doyle, 2 autographs, and this card for a buck.  Hooray for collecting on a budget!

A while back I pared down my Ichiro collection. Recently, I've taken more of an interest in collecting Japanese major league players and created a binder in my collection just for them.  The early Bowman Heritage is not cut weird or anything, just a terrible scan job on my part.  Looking at the Topps insert it still boggles my mind and its incredible how good Ichiro was as a player.  10 SEASONS WITH OVER 200 HITS! There's no doubt in my mind that he already cleared his schedule is planning a trip to upper state New York this coming July. 

Like I mentioned before, I was happy to help out my friend Blake run his tables at the last minute.  It was unexpected but it all worked out.  As a token of his gratitude, he gifted me with this blue refractor auto of Jordan Westburg!  Westburg has become a quick favorite player of mine with his no-nonsense play, and meek shall inherit the earth demeanor.  He reminds me a lot of JJ Hardy!  Blake didn't have to hook me up like he did but that's the kind of guy he is! He was also very kind to my nephew which also makes me feel good because of the tough situations my family has gone through this year.  My nephew has taken a liking to football cards and sets up at his monthly card show in his local mall, selling off his extra cards.

I also ran into 2 different of my co-workers from the plant.  It was quite unexpected to see them there even though they were there with their kids and grandkids.  I don't know if they were more shocked I was there or it was the other way around.  We talk about over-the-counter pharmaceuticals and how bad the company treats us, not sports or Pokemon cards!

I also ran into another person I had just met about 2 weeks ago.  Our neighborhood restaurant recently hosted a standup comedy show from the local area that my wife and I attended.  It was a great to have a good time and laugh with friends from the neighborhood and even make some new friends thanks to my wife's social butterfly tendencies.  The first comic on the evening was set up at the show selling basketball cards.  Once again, at the standup show, you don't normally talk about sports cards so I had no idea he was into it or vice versa.   Small world it really is!

My nephew being the awesome kid he is, brought his uncle a hanger box of 2024 Topps Update.  The kid really knows how to pick baseball cards.  One box and BAM, rare Jackson Holliday insert.  I believe that the Stratospheric Stars are like 1 in 330-something hanger boxes.  Hangers are bangers! Totally unexpected!

Being the lucky pack ripper he is, he had recently opened his own Super box of 2024 Topps Update.  He pulled a small stack of Orioles cards as well as these two Hollidays.  He was kind enough to give them to me (don't worry, I hooked him up with some cards that he may show on his own blog).  The little lapel pin that comes in the super boxes was the Jackson Holliday one.  Friggin' Lucky Duck!  Whenever he is around, he'll be picking the packs or blasters for me since I never seem to pull Orioles cards at all... Mostly Dodgers and Reds.

Overall it was a great ending to Thanksgiving weekend.  Many unexpected things happened to me and my collection.  Once lesson I've learned this year is that you have to roll with the punches and expect the unexpected.

Trade with Jason of Joe Average Card Collector

I recently was able to swing a nice trade with Jason of Joe Average Card Collector.  He's somewhat new to the blogging world but he's been a collector for long time as far as I can tell.  At first I mixed him up with another blog called I Am Joe Collector.  Pardon me, I can be a little slow to figure things out the way things have been going around in my head lately.  Jason is on the ball and he already was able to post up his goodies from the trade and you can read about them right HERE.
Here's some of the nice collection pieces I was able to get:

When I started blogging I hardly knew anything about Mike Cuellar.  I used to think that Vintage cards were old and crusty and that they were prohibitively expensive.  I just avoided them like the plague because I thought they were poor quality and the photography was awful. Now after reading about vintage cards and knowing more about them, I feel the exact opposite way.  The perceived flaws now have become strengths in my eyes!  Take for example the Mike Cuellar card that will go into my One Card of every Oriole binder.  I love action on my cards but the posed shot and the simple color scheme made me chose this card to go into the binder as my favorite representation of Mike Cuellar.

Jason also sent me a nice stack of Cal Ripken cards I didn't have before.  While this foil board insert didn't scan for crap, it's still one of my favorites from the package.  BTW, this package takes me over 1200 different cards of Cal in my collection!

I had never heard of the commanders of the hill cards before.  I'm glad he sent it to me as it's a nice addition to my Mussina binder.

This card of Steady Eddie will go into my team set binders.  I think I need a couple more Orioles from the set to finish it off.  There's a ton of parallels but I think this is the base version.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'll close out the post with a refractor of the loveable drunkard Sir Sidney.  Oh how we were all fooled into thinking you were going to turn into an ace pitcher.  Instead you turned into an out of control idiot with pumpkin seeds for brains!  I kid, I kid!

Thanks Jason for the awesome trade!

Card Show Report: The Vintage

Continuing with my card show haul from last weekend, here's the vintage cards I picked up for my One Card of Every Oriole collection.  I started this collection for 3 reasons: 

1.) Obviously to collect a card of every Oriole to play in a game.  

2.) Not all of the players that suited up for the O's had and Orioles card issued.  The collection gives me the chance to broaden my horizons past just Orioles cards and collect cards of the players on other teams.

3.) It gives me a way to collect some awesome vintage cards even before the Orioles were the Orioles.

Both of these cards are from 1949 Bowman.
 The card on the left is Oriole #10 Dick Kokos.  He debuted in Charm City in the Orioles 1st game as a pinch hitter.
The card on the right is Oriole #28 Dave Koslo.  He's pictured here as a New York Giant.  Dave also pitched for the Orioles in 1954 but his debut came on May 6th.

Here's my 1951 Bowman Ted Gray.  Ted played with the Orioles towards the end of the 1955 season after he was released by the Yankees.  His stats were uninspiring with and 8.22 ERA in 9 games.  After he was released by the Orioles, he never played in the majors again.

Moving on to 1952 Bowman we have Walter "Hoot" Evers.  I love that his nickname is Hoot.  Players just don't get sweet nicknames like that anymore.  Hoot gained the nickname because of his love of a popular Film Cowboy named Richard "Hoot" Gibson who made about 75 short films when Walter was a boy.  Now you know!

I already had Mike Blyzka's card but I picked this one because it was Mike's only appearance as an Oriole on cardboard.  I really like the 1954 Topps set and I picked up both of these on the cheap.  I think one thing that jumps out at me from Ray Murray's card is the awesome Athletics logo.  A White Elephant!

Here we have two 1961 Topps cards of Topps All-Star Rookies Ron Hansen and Chuck Estrada.  I chose these cards for my binder since they were cost effective and they prominently displayed the Rookie Cup.  I didn't like the 1961 Topps set but it has grown on me as time has passed.

Card Show Report: The Big One

This past weekend was the Spring Card show that is put on by Collector's Showcase of America.  I hardly ever miss this show since it is THE biggest one in my area.  It's about 2 hours away from my house near Dulles Airport, that is located in Chantilly, VA.  I made the trip up there and I can't hide my excitement any longer from the blogging community.  Here's my favorite card from the whole show:

Trade with Ted of Crinkly Wrappers

Everybody that has traded with Ted from Crinkly Wrappers knows that he is one of the most generous bloggers around.  We just completed our umpteenth trade and he sent over some fantastic new cards for my collection.  Lets have a look:

It's not everyday you get a 1953 Topps card in the mail.  This card of Clint Courtney is going into my "One Card of Every Oriole" book.  I know this isn't an Orioles card.  Here's one of my rules for my binder: If the player played for both the Browns and Orioles, and had a card for both teams, I went with the Browns card.  I did this in an effort to collect some of the awesome pre-1954 cards like early '50s Bowmans.  This card is a great step in that direction!

I'm also collecting rookie cards of Orioles players even if they aren't wearing the Black and Orange jersey.  When Tony Muser was the manager of the Royals, I had no idea that he had once played for the Orioles back in the 70's.  My, how my baseball knowledge has increased.

This JJ Hardy card was a pleasant surprise.  I'm getting close to finishing the entire gold parallels team set from last year.  I only need a few more from Update Series.

I'm kind of torn between last year's wrapper redemption cards and this years.  Even though the '52 design has been overused, it still looks classy.  I might give the edge to this year's Gold Rush since it is a fresh design versus one that's been around for 60 years.

I'll close this trade post out with a Kimball mini of Luis Aparicio.  The Kimball Minis really grew on me last year.  I only need a few more Orioles to complete the team set of these too.

A big thanks to Ted for sending another awesome trade package.  You never disappoint, my friend!

Topps Diamond Giveaway: The Shipment

I've been pretty quiet this year about the Topps Diamond Giveaway.  While I thought that the idea was cool last year, I wasn't sure what to think of it this year with the addition of the rings, diamond diecuts, and diamond embedded cards.  I guess everything turned out ok for me last year as I got all my cards in decent shape except I had to wait longer for my 1972 Topps Jim Palmer.

Since I'm not planning on buying anymore 2011 Topps cards and I've entered all 37 of my code cards, I decided to get my cards shipped to me to avoid the last minute rush of collectors cashing out there portfolios.  Out of the 37 codes entered, I ended up with 8 cards being shipped to me. This was by design because the shipping charges are a little high so quality over quantity wins in my book this time. I traded away a lot of crap cards I had no interest in for cards that I really wanted.

The following cards are brought to you by the number 2 and the Baltimore Orioles:

2 horizontal Orioles cards that fill needs in my binders.  Topps didn't bother coloring Stone's A's uniform!

2 1967 Topps Orioles for the teams set.  Lau is 40 years ahead of his time with the douchey non-curved hat bill.

2 1969 Topps Orioles that I surprisingly hadn't found in any bargain bin before now.  Topps was lazy again with the photoshopping on Richert's jersey.  You can see the pinstripes and the end of the Senator's logo in the bottom right of the photo.

2 positions were played by Mark Reynolds this season: home run and strikeout. 3rd base and 1st base.  I have a soft spot for Reynolds since I own his 136th career homerun ball.

2 Diamond Diecuts that I was able to trade for:  I was offered Jones for the Ethier I redeemed and got Reynolds for the offer of Youkilis.  Do you think these were good trades or did I get fleeced?

Card Show Pickups: Vintage

During the weekend between my wedding and honeymoon, I was able to go to the CSA show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly Virginia.  I usually make it to each show that they have 3 times a year.  I always pick up some awesome cards and this time is no different.  Here's the vintage cards I picked up:

I spent a bulk of my time sifting through the vintage bargain boxes.  One dealer in particular had 3 or 4 3200 count boxes of vintage cards for a buck a piece.  This card above of Mike Cuellar is my favorite of his in an Oroioles uniform.

No the writing is not on the card.  It is actually left this card in the penny sleeve to show you the great deals I was able to pull at the show.  The expression on Harvey's face looks like the flash of the camera took him by surprise.

As I was working my way back from the 70's to 60's to 50's I noticed a good size chunk of 55 Bowmans in the boxes.  I double checked with the vendor and he confirmed they were a buck.  This cards are not it mint condition by any means but they are acceptable to me.

There were even a few 54 Bowmans in the box too!  I really lucked out that these cards were in the box.  The owner said he had just transferred them from the 2 dollar box earlier that morning.

I put a pretty sizable dent in my vintage wantlists at this show.  I'm glad I was able to do it at such an affordable price too!

Trade with Sean of Condition:Poor

Between the 2 natural disasters (earthquake, hurricane) in my area and untimely passing of Orioles great Mike Flanagan, I was able to complete a trade with Sean of the Condition:Poor blog.  Sean is a Mets fan so I sent him some extras I had sitting around.  He sent me some great cards to add to my collection.  Take a look:

Sean seems to center his collection around vintage cards and specifically Mets vintage.  I'm very glad that he had this prospects card of Ed Barnowski and Eddie Watt.  A lot of people really like the dual/triple/quad prospect and rookie cards.  I don't really care for them.  I like my rookie cards to be of just 1 player.

Here is a new Cal Card for my collection. This one is from 2007 Upper Deck, AKA the year UD went nuts with Cal themed inserts.  I really like the Ultra Iron Man set they did for "Fleer Ultra" because the pictures are all different.  From the few of these featuring the Iron Man and Iron Horse that I have, they all have the same pictures.  Maybe it's just a coincidence

I've recently taken a liking to on card Orioles Autographs.  Its just something about the cards actually being touched by the player that make them much cooler than the band-aid silver foil autograph stickers.  This is a first time autograph for me.  I don't know much about Eddie Watt but I like his signature because it's legible!  Most players these days don't take pride in penmanship.

Thanks Sean for the great cards you sent my way.  I hope you like your part of the trade!

Trade with David the Rhubarb Runner

David (AKA Rhubarb Runner) of the famed "e rayhahn, rayhahn" blog and I just recently completed a trade. I sent him a bunch of Twins he needed and he sent along some really nice Orioles in return. Lets get right into the goods:

By the way that Vladimir Guererro is swinging these days, its only appropriate that I get a card of another creaky kneed DH in Harold Baines. The only thing is that Harold actually could still hit for some decent power in his 3 stints with the Orioles. Meanwhile Vlad Guerrero seems to be done with his career on life support.
The runner of rhubarb found several cards from my set want lists. I am slowly buy surely knocking out cards from the Goudey sets and O-Pee-Chee. I thought this card of Jake Peavy is an interesting card showing him getting ready to round 3rd Base. Also I like the Santana card with the cityscape in the back. I really hope he can bounce back from injuries because I enjoyed watching him pitch.
Apparently either David has a great amount of Vintage cards laying around or he did some shopping for me at his LCS. I was able to add the Orioles Team card from 1973 Topps to my collection. I only need Dave McNally to finish out the team set.
I didn't used to like 1966 Topps that much but it has grown on me over time as much as any set has from yesteryear. I'm happy to add these two semi stars to my team set. I'm really getting close to completing some vintage team sets so I'm getting pretty excited about that.
And this wouldn't be a true post if I didn't show an obscure card of an obscure player for the O's. Looking over Juan's stats as an Oriole, they look pretty crappy. At least when we traded him to Cincinnati, we got BJ Ryan in return and he was good for us for a few years.

Thanks David for the nice trade. I look forward to trading with you again in the future.

Trade with Bob of '59 Topps Blog

Bob of the '59 Topps blog and I just completed an awesome trade. Awesome as in I don't think I have ever recieved such a great amount of collectables in one package. He really outdid himself when he sent my package. Lets get right into the good stuff.

Everybody has seen Starting Lineups before. I even have some myself but they are not in their original packaging anymore. I think I have the first year Cal Ripken at my father's house somewhere but I know for sure that his glove arm is broken off! I am very proud to have this one from 1990. I am thinking about starting a collection of just Cal SLUs. We'll see!

I have never seen one of these before. Heck I didn't even know they existed and was puzzled when pulling it out the box. Obviously its a stand up plaque with the Iron Man on it but it really is a cool collectable.

Here's the extent of my Cal Ripken sticker card collection. I didn't realize the one on the right was upside down until I had already binderized the trio. So laziness prevails and they will remain this way in this post. I hadn't really paid much attention to Odd ball Cal stuff in the past, but now I know that kind of stuff just doesn't exist anymore. It just makes them so much cooler.
I distinctly remember seeing this card at the show I went to a few weeks ago. I wanted to buy it but ran out of cash and couldn't get it. Two days later it shows up in my mailbox! Everything happens for a reason.
I believe this is my first Ron Hansen card. He was a good player for the Birds but had mixed success after he was traded from the Charm City.

And this is probably the favorite card of the trade. Im a big fan of 1960 Topps and I might build the set one day. For now this Brooksie with have to just fill a gaping hole in my O's team set.

I want to take this opportunity to than Bob for the awesome cards and collectables that he sent. Also, go check out his blog, its very well written and you'll be able to learn alot about 1959 Topps and the players in the set.

Trade with Ted of Crinkly Wrappers

Ted from Crinkly Wrappers and I just completed another trade. We've been pretty good trading partners even before he got his blog up and running. He contacted me about the Joe Morgan Legends shortprint that I pulled out of my series 2 hobby box and a new trade was born.

I already had this card but it is an upgrade of the rough conditioned one I had in my team set binder. I like the early action shot of Boog here calling for the pop up. I like these mid 70s action shots because you just don't see action shots like this nowadays.

Speaking of Team sets, Ted also sent me a full team set of 2005 Upper Deck Past Time Pennants. All 4 of these cards has great shots of the greats from the Orioles past. This was an interesting set that you could even get a real felt pennant out of your hobby box. Apparently the gimmick wasn't enough of a pull to warrant Upper Deck making a followup set in 2006.

Ted also offered up a near team set of this year's Pro Debut. I seem to dabble in prospecting so Pro Debut is right up my alley. I am a little confused as to why Topps is only putting out one series this year. I really like this shot of Manny Machado. It looks like it was taken a nanosecond before the picture on his '10 Bowman Draft Picks Prospect card.

Thanks to Ted for sending these nice cards my way. Good luck on your Vintage Legends personal Collection. I can't wait to see the finished results!