Birthday Cards - from Kids and Pirates

My birthday is rapidly approaching, just days away.  I've never been one to celebrate biggly but friends got together this past week to bless me with their company - along with Bumpy cake and a few gifts. My favorite quads were there with cards made especially for me.  I have to share my favorite. This little 8 year old boy loves baseball and is into card collecting.  [I like to take a little credit for this!]  But more than that, he loves ME!

This was a good surprise indeed, and very clever.  He included a few picked from his collection and placed in a special pocket made within the card.

My many gifts included two hats - Tigers and Astros:

and a couple of good books:

I'm looking forward to Macho Row in particular.  1993 was the year I fell in love with the game for good, thanks to this team!  It didn't hurt that Darren Daulton was a prominent feature behind the plate. 

Yesterday, the postman delivered another package which nearly blew me away, literally.  During my temporary trade ban, incoming packages have been few.  This has allowed much needed time to organize my cards.  I still can't say how many dupes I have or what cards are needed for sets but all my thousands of cards are officially sorted by either player, set or binder mini-collections.   

In April, Matt found himself at Target, staring down new GQ blaster boxes.  He wasted zero time picking the right box, something I can't pull off.  After reading his post, and hearing elsewhere these retail blasters were loaded, I tried my luck.  Failing miserably, I then purchased two hobby boxes and failed again.  Matt had that old blaster magic.  From the same box, he pulled an auto and a 1/1 - both Tigers.  YNWV???   Why in West Virginia?   Hello Topps - over here!  Michigan!

Matt held onto these cards until this past week.  He did not know my birthday was only days away. He does know that I'll do my very best to put a great package together for him as soon as I am able. So imagine my surprise upon opening a package from this man:

The very cards he pulled in April!  Jaw-dropping!  How he felt I deserved these beauties I will never know.  I am humbled and nearly hysterical!  Numbered out of 35, an auto from the 2016 ROY Michael Fulmer...AND  a 1/1???  J.D. Martinez is becoming one of the hottest players in the game.  I've collected his cards for five years now.  This is beyond wild!  A true beauty!

We all know Matt!  And if you don't, you'd best get yourself acquainted with him!  He is generous and doesn't give a second thought to sending the rare pull to a trade pal. 

What more can I say?  Thank you Matt!

Ecstatic!! Estate Sale Thievery

Last weekend, I went with a friend to check out a local estate sale.  She had word that thousands of sports cards were up for the picking.  The sale began on Friday so we could only hope there'd be a good find or two that Saturday morning.   

We were first in line at the door. Looking at the ridiculously overpriced items outside - a rusty, dented wheelbarrow for $35  [it did have a new tire] -  our prospects weren't promising. I had an idea there would be a LOT of junk.

And I was mostly correct.  The photos above are from the broker web site.  The tables were heavily picked over and looked nothing like these pictures.  The main table full of single cards was completely disarrayed with cards scattered and mixed into a biggly pile.

I found a box of 1992 Bowman marked complete set  but knew the odds were high with a $3 price tag.  The dealer said all prices were half off which made this box $1.50 and worth my time.  I found many of my favorite players and a Trevor Hoffman RC but no other RC gems. 

I picked up a sealed 2001 Bowman set marked $6.  This meant $3 so it went into my pile, knowing there'd be a relic and auto inside plus mint rookie cards!

An opened tin of 2005 Baseball Heroes marked $8. What could possibly be inside?  It was opened.

I love these cards, having often wondered about the release format and why I never saw any boxes available.  Now I know!  With eight cards per tin, it means there should be four more.

Ok, this is going well.  I get to look over the contents before deciding to pay the $4 price.  When do you ever get a chance to open the pack first???   What is card number eight???  BOOM!!!

FOUR DOLLARS FOR THIS TIN??   Into my pile it went.  There were also a few nicer cards 50% off tagged price.  What do we have here?  A Lou Brock auto for $3.  Duke Snider auto $8.  Bob Gibson auto $2. 

At this point I'm beginning to feel a bit guilty.  These people obviously know nothing about the cards they're selling.  Someone has trusted this company to sell their prized possessions and get them the best possible price.  I can see this isn't happening, not in the collectibles area of the basement anyway.

Time to check out the table of singles.  All unmarked cards were a $1 and unmarked autos $2 - and let me be clear, nothing on the table was marked.

We know this guy, and the card - known for chipping on the backside. No chipping, a gorgeous specimen - $1.

2007 Topps Co-Signers /100  Troy Tulowitzki    It may be a somewhat ugly card but for $2,  I found it quite appealing!

1954 Bowman George Kell.................. $1.

This is just too much!   I knew if I didn't buy these cards, someone else would.  At this point, I'm talking quietly with my friend about the situation.  Part of me wanted to say,  FELLAS!  You are giving these cards away!  Are you nuts????

I took one more dig into the table and picked up a card I knew did not belong there.  I looked at the sign again  - it did say that all unsigned and unmarked cards were a dollar.   This just can't be.   I took the card to the broker and pointed out that although unsigned, it wasn't a regular card.  How much do you want for this one?  He looked it over and said - $2.  Poker-faced, I replied thank you and added it to my stack.

Yes, I paid twice the asking price of $1.  Who does that?  Please, charge me more.  I did  - to alleviate any remaining thoughts of guilt.  I needed to know I'd made an honest purchase.  From his rookie year,  2001 Absolute Memorabilia Albert Pujols /200.  A gorgeous card for $2.  Although worth only what someone would pay, BV is $100-200.  

I rarely have this type of luck.  I picked up a few other cards CHEAP but these were the gems.  I'm still shaking my head over the deals.  The Yogi alone was enough to make me do a happy dance.  I was afraid if I didn't get out of there quickly,  a pole dance would be in order!

The Great Covfefe - a conclusion

Thank you for making my 100th post celebration a winner!  This is such a fun place to hang out with the guys!  Although only posting weekly right now, I am reading my favorite blogs daily.

I also discovered  I'm a twit after all - a baby twit - still learning the ropes so please forgive any embarrassing mishaps.  They are bound to happen with me in control.  I'm already following many of you.  I had no idea how much jollification I'd find with a baseball themed feed at my fingertips!

There were 36 commenters with 24 of those entering the melee by tweeting or posting a link to Cracked Bat.   A few of you do crack me up on a regular basis.  Jedi Jeff left a string of insults but did not enter the drawing.  I was rather disappointed by this, wanting to see him come in first place.

Without an further delay, let me offer you this random photo:

I need that card for my Gracie collection, but that's not why you're here right now. You wanna know who came in LAST place!  Last Place is finally a good thing.  Here it is..........

TIM!!!!!  The guy who blogs about his cardboard sniffing habit!!  Congratulations!  I'll have the box on its way to you in a couple of days.  Thanks to everyone who participated!  I hope you stick around.  I have some Estate card STEALS to share with you later in the week.  I almost feel guilty about the prices paid for some nice gems. 

As I'm writing this post, Baseball Card Breakdown is one [thousand] up-ing me with a grand display, a fancy pants giveaway, making me feel like a cheapskate offering up only a 400 count box. Go over there and enter defgav's contest.  Tell him I sent ya!