SUPERTRADERS: 2015 Bowman Chrome pack break

Has anyone noticed I seem to disappear for a bit in March, April, September and October?  Perhaps not, but I do tend to be away from the computer.  This is my busy season  at the office.  Right now, it's the time of year when nearly all of our clients file their extensions.  These clients tend to believe they are the only ones extending. They will also wait until the last possible moment to bring their tax info to the office, usually a week before the 15th of September or October.  Now, on with the important matters at hand...

 

I wanted to open a few packs of more recent product to share among the newly formed #supertraders group.  I haven't purchased Bowman Chrome since the 90s, back in my prospecting days.  It's a great hobby which allows for prospectors, vintage enthusiasts, team and player collectors.  I dropped by my LCS for Topps Spring Fling packs - a hideous design this year - and picked up a handful of packs from a freshly broken Chrome box.  Dave opened a new one at my request.  We have seven packs with four cards per pack.   With perfect collation, we'd all get at least one card. It's a Topps product. Need I say more?   Take a Heritage break - let's see how we did!

PACK ONE:

 Astro JD Davis;  Yank Andrew Miller;  Southsider Samardzija;  Pirate Alen Hanson, all base cards.

PACK TWO:

Bowman Scout Update insert refractor Ranger Nick Williams; Rockies Antonio Senzatela, Indian Bobby Bradley, Ranger Feliz.   Nothing to holler about.


 PACK THREE:

A Miggy for me;  Rocky Cargo; Dodger Grant Holmes; an auto RC of A's Kendall Graveman.  I'd keep this one for myself had I not promised these to the Supertrader team!  I like his name.  Nice pull for a seven pack pick from a full box.  Congrats Fuji!

 PACK FOUR:

Reds Michael Lorenzen rc; Oriole Chris Tillman; Jaybird Jeff Hoffman; Met Brandon Nimmo - all base cards.


PACK FIVE:

 Cubbie Stephen Bruno; Bowman Scout Update insert refractor Rocky Raimel Tapia;  Athletic Franklin Barreto;  Philly Cole Hamels.  Too much excitement for you?  Stop now.


 PACK SIX:

 Giant Daniel Carbonell; Cardinal Matt Adams;  gorgeous blue refractor parallel #/150 for Jeff - Southsider Tyler Danish; Dbacks David Freese.

We are down to the last pack...

 PACK SEVEN:

Met Syndergaard rc;  MARLIN Isael Soto auto - seriously? ; Nats Denard Span;  Cards Rowan Wick. Well don't that beat all? A Marlin? Soto does have a very neat signature.  I'm a bit surprised there is no one out there willing to admit being a Marlin fan.  They'd be instantly buried in cardboard.  Please, come forward dear friend.  We will not mock or embarrass you.  We need  you! 

 

Out of seven packs, we pulled two autos and a nice refractor/100. Nothing fancy but these are good cards to start the envelope stuffing.  We will have a box break in the near future.  My budget allows for older material, 1994-2008 - somewhere in there. I already picked up a box.  We'll be opening product from a company that's not around anymore, in any form that I am aware of.  I hope to begin next week, over a few days. 

 

Spring is here, bats are crackin' and Opening Day is upon us!  Speaking of Opening Day... who among you will be throwing money at Topps Opening Day this year?  Yeah, I probably will too.

 

SUPER TRADING MADNESS BEGINS and a book giveaway

Insanity has a face.  It's not the look of an axe wielding maniac or the Mad Hatter. 

It's this

Founding Father of Super Traders, Wes Moore is a silent warrior.  A bomber.  The victims are often intimidated into surrender.  Wes simply can't be outdone.  I already know this.  After receiving two packages from him on the same day, I sensed warning shots had been fired and threw in the white flag almost immediately via email, begging really.  Wes is known throughout bloggerland as the most generous of traders.  The cards below are only a small sampling.

In silver sharpie: #bombed

1987 Fleer sticker fun

LEAF: 1992 gold and 1988 Donrussy
 

Morris'd

    Trammelled, Fahey'd and Herndon'd.

95Pinnacle Artist Proofs and two shiny parallels from Score

More Tigers

and more Tigers featuring Kuenn with chaw-jaw

Here's an early chunky card #/700, a number once found rare. 2001 Playoff. 

Wes began the Supertrading initiative with a blast, breaking a box of 2013 Museum to share among the newly founded trading group.  Did I mention his generosity?  Many sweet cards were pulled.  I couldn't believe my eyes and ears when Wes pulled a Tiger hit.  I replayed this portion of the video a couple of times before grasping this card was really mine.

Doesn't get much better! 

 

Wes sent a package way back in May which I've yet to repay him for.  I had initially gathered a few cards for him when his collection went in a new direction.  I put these aside and have been searching for something else to thank him for his generosities.  Braves are a-gathering for you Wes.  Thanks much for your kindness and patience!  Check out his blog here!

 

I'd like to take a moment to re-introduce a friend of mine, once referred to as The Ump in a very early post.  Cheryl  is an avid baseball card collector but at this time, does not blog.  She does read many of the blogs found here in our special world.  The Ump has a creative streak with many of her Facebook posts shared at a high rate, and once interviewed Mark Fidrych for her high school paper.   I offered her an opportunity to post on this blog.  Cheryl will be featured on occasional Wednesdays known as UMP DAY.  Who knows?  Maybe she will one day take over  the blog world.  But for now, please welcome her to the blog-o-sphere and check out UMP DAYS, right here on Cracked Bat.

 

We've reached the giveaway portion of this post. Up for grabs is my personal copy of LONG SHOT - Mike Piazza.  Read once, from a smoke and pet hair free environment with absolutely NO mustard stains.  If you enjoy reading baseball history and biographies, or just a plain ole Dodgers fan perhaps you'll enjoy this book.  As a new member of the Hall, we know Piazza had an excellent career.  He has a few character flaws as well - who doesn't?  I enjoyed the book but my opinion of Piazza was unchanged in the end.  I still view him as pampered and whiny.  Despite this, he remains one of my favorite modern era players.

If you want a chance to own this book, comment below and mention so.  No international shipping, sorry BFE.  The list will be randomized five times with the fifth name our winner, in honor of Mike's five game appearances with the Florida Marlins.  Where are you Marlins' blogger??? WHERE???  The contest will close at 8pm Friday evening.

 

Good luck and thanks for reading!