Chopped, Nicked and Cynical

I've determined being one step ahead of the trade mail will not happen.  This is in no way, a complaint! Just yesterday, I received two more incredible packages: Off Hiatus Tony and Subjectively Arbitrary Brian.  Thank so much guys!  You do  know it will be the end of Summer before these are shared, right??

 

Mark  aka Cynical Buddha of Collector's Crack sent a great batch of cards in exchange for a big helping of 2015 Topps Update.  I was elated to see those cards out the door and on their way north - to Alaska.  It was a more than generous exchange because he included shiny cards, an auto and a low numbered Joc Pederson.  All for Update???  Let's Make a Deal!!

 

 

Another reminder from Verlander that Spring Training is upon us! 

 

 

2015 Topps Foil

 

 

Eulogio 'Frankie' de la Cruz, 31 years old and done. The card is better-looking than his short MLB pitching career numbers of  0-0 and 8.16 era and 11.57era with the Mud Hens. 

 

Have a Coke and a smile, along with a couple of great cards from 1981 Topps!

 

 

2015 Topps refractor of my favorite new catcher, James McCann.  I'm hoping big things for this young man. He appears to call a good game and hits the ball!

 

And finally, this gem of a card from Panini's 2015 Black Friday giveaway.  Thick and numbered 18/50,  Joc Pederson.  Super nice card to own!!

 

 

Mark, thank you - not just for these cards but for taking Update off my hands.  Oh I have more to ditch on some needy collector.  Just ask for it.  Please - ask.


Another fun blogger, Steve from the Card Chop, sent a another great mix :
 

 Special A&G minis with Jackson's reverse featuring an A&G back

 

 

old school Topps logos.  lovin' the throwback Stars uniform!

 

 

 

Verlanders, featuring 2008 Upper Deck.  The headline celebrates his no-hitter against the Brewers on June 12, 2007.

 

 2002 Topps Gallery - great design

 

The Gallery set is one I've paid little attention to.  I need to look over the checklist to see what I've missed.  A very clean design!

2009 Upper Deck 20th Anniversary Retrospective

 

2008 Stadium Club, showing off Comerica Park

The Great Ty Cobb

Steve included great vintage too, featuring Topps from 1969, 1961 and 1971.  Steve, thank you!  Thanks for your patience too!  I've been a bit overwhelmed but no less than appreciative!!


Do we have time for one more??  Why yes, we do.  Nick from the Dimebox took a little time to put together another fun package.  These always include the odd and a vintage card or two plus cards for my PCs. 

2015 Topps foil, base and gold

Shiny goods included a sweet holo-foiled Fielder from 94 Upper Deck Home Run Allstars.

 

The late Berra. 

 

 



 

 

I love adding these sets from Front Row featuring the All Time Greats. This 1995 issue pays tribute to HOFer George Kell: 19 years, 2054 hits, .305 average.

 

Nick hit a PC with Altuve.  Altuve loves the game and it shows with every play and at bat. I hope he's in the game for years to come.  I'd love to see Altuve stay with the Astros for the better part, if not all, of his career.  Odds of course are it won't happen. The Franchise Flashback features him in a Houston Eagles uniform, a Negro Leagues team in 1949/50.  Just an awesome and colorful card! I believe Nick pulled the patch card.  Thanks for thinking of me!  A great card to add!

 

 

 

This package from Nick would not be complete without a food issue and some vintage.  1981 Drake Bakeries Steve Kemp and Topps 1964 Lumpe and 1965 Lolich.  The 65 design is a hard one to beat.

 

 

Three great trade packages!  I highly recommend trading with these fellows!  Take a moment to check out their blogs.  Forthcoming on this blog will be a small box break for the newly formed Super Traders Group.  I'm honored to be included among them. I can't do high end cards but perhaps something from the early to mid-90s would be fun, like 91 Topps or Donruss.  Ok, that's a joke.  Just calm down everyone.  I'm not THAT cheap!

It's Always Something (or No Trades Left Behind - Second Edition)

 Something is always coming between us. Recently, it was work.  The big tax 9/15 deadline. How can our relationship flourish if we don't communicate, if I am not fully present on this page - and yours?  There is progress to note: packages are hitting the mail box!  Yes, it really did happen! Three out in the past week!  Naturally, only after packing and sealing these up did I find the cards I've been searching for - for over two weeks - in the last place I looked.  You may ask - why would she keep looking for them afterwards???  Because I am cracked! 

The last time we met here I shared a few overdue trades.  Well, guess what?  More overdue sharing! Our first featured guest is the ambulance chasing Tony, Off Hiatus. A little harsh you say? Hush. Who asked you. < --- No question mark.

                                                            A complete set of 77 Topps

                                                      COOL 1987 LEAF (Canadian Donruss...)

A lot of minis from 86 Fleer along with a 2012 GQ mini for size comparison:

Kelloggs cards are always welcome here.

2013 Topps Cut to the Chase inserts have been some of the prettiest I've seen in a very long time - likely since the 90s.  Beauties!

The Mark Grace and Alan Trammell below are the two cards that began this trade with Tony.  He received a few packages from back home full of magazines, books and memorabilia long forgotten. Mom did NOT throw them out!  One of these items was a Sports Collectors Digest from 1990 with these cards inside:

I love oddball issues and welcome these to my collection of special cards.  Oddball = special = me.  I am especially odd.

Tony was one of my first trading partners.  He has been more than thoughtful, dropping all of these great cards in the mail as a kind of house-warming gift.  He sent many more than shown here.  It was a wonderful surprise!  Thanks Tony!

Nick, our friend from the world of Dimeboxes sent a fat package too!  Here's a sampling of the awesomeness contained within:

Similar to 1987 Donruss in all but color. 1987 Donruss Opening Day cards have a maroon border instead of black. I didn't have any of these cards! Willie Hernandez spoke from within his papered borders asking to be scanned alongside these unique collectibles for he too, is special.  Willie is cut from an 86 wax box!

Nick remembered my love for the old guys and included vintage and unique cardboard:

Top: 1956 Topps, 1981 Galasso   Bottom: 1985 Woolworth's Topps, 1988 Sporting News

2012 Cooperstown Ballparks- love it!  I'm assembling this insert set so this is greatly appreciated! and I can't say no to a 75 mini!  Shown below is the backside of Brad Ausmus (stop it) aka a colorful 2000 Ultra reverse... Also a Sleeth making an appearance on an auto 2004 Topps Chrome. His signature is a bit hard to make out, just below his elbow.  1994 Collector's Choice Kirk Gibson and Chad Kreuter.  I had hundreds of 94 CC years ago.  I was a card snob and gave them away.  Now I love the design.  What an idiot! 

The back of Gibby's CC.  Such a playful side of Kirk here, rarely seen on the field.  For those wanting the full reveal, Brad's Ultra front side is shown for your viewing pleasure.

Nick, thanks for these sweet selections from your dime boxes!  It was a fun package!!!

Readers, if you've stuck with me this far, you deserve a chance to win a tacky prize! 

1992 Score Rising Stars.  Still sealed, plastic is slightly yellowed.  A lovely edition to your collection of worthless cards from the 90s!  It is a bit unique actually.  I don't own any of these cards. None in my collections anywhere.  If you win and decide to bust and share, I'd love to have the Tigers.   Comment and mention you'd like a chance in the Randomizer.  Three times around and a winner will be chosen! We'll do it Saturday the 3rd, sometime later in the afternoon. 

 Giveaways will continue here at Cracked Bat.  You'll never know what's next unless you check in!  

Have a super week!



My Last Blast in OKC - or how I was Jinxed

The past two weeks have been a blur.  I've been packing, while accumulating more items cards to pack.  Somewhere along the way I have to stop shopping...right?  My last day at the office was Friday, May 15th.  I headed right to OKC to spend a few days with my Sis and some good friends before my move to the Big Mitten.  Sis and I caught an OKC Dodgers/Iowa Cubs game on Saturday. OKC won 1-0 in the 9th.   The Dodger affiliation is new this year. I don't care for the team name though.  Aren't minor league teams supposed to have fun names? Redhawks??  89ers?   The park now known as Chickasaw  Bricktown Ballpark, is still beautiful.  Ads covering the upper decks force fans to pay for the higher priced seats around the field.  Crowds fill the little park in Bricktown anyway. 



The Commerce Comet

Little General

Approaching storms kept attendance light that night

 

Ballpark necessities: kids meal bucket, THE helmet and adult beverage

On Monday, I spent several hours in The Old Ballpark, the LCS in South OKC.  Dime boxes galore!  From 11-5, I went through 4000 count boxes - box after box, fourteen in all! 

Baseball - orange tagged

I pulled 1500 cards we couldn't live without.  We  being me and you!  I won't say what the total cost was because the owner gave me an incredible discount.  Let's just say if you were to guess a nickel per card, you'd be on the high side. I found short prints, inserts, a few good rookies and Fergie Jenkins.

While texting my friend The Ump, with pictures of the many stacks of old timers, I messaged that Fergie Jenkins was in here. She replied to go ahead and get him too, get them all.   No - HE  is in HERE !   NO WAY she text back.  There I was surrounded by thousands of cards and not a single one Jenkins. No unsigned baseballs for sale, nothing.  I had nothing for him to sign. How could this be????  And why did this man wander into a card shop in South OKC?   My super-spy listening skills revealed to me he knew one of the customers also in the shop at the time.  This big time Cubbie fan just named his newborn Jenkins.  Fergie came out to meet his namesake on the way to the airport, headed for home in Arizona.

I worked up enough courage to approach the Hall of Famer for a short conversation and picture.  Not the best photo but an excellent reminder of my good fortune.  I've had an incredible run of the stuff lately!

Jenks - HOF 1991

 Fergie looked great, not any bit of 72. He chatted with the owner a bit about Ernie Banks and NL rules for pitchers batting.  He's all for it, of course.  It was a memorable afternoon for me.  I'm rarely in the right place at the right time. 

All this Cubbie talk brings the opportunity to share a recent trade package from P-Town Tom, our friend at Waiting til Next Year.  He sent over a stack of 2013 Hometown Heroes.



2002 Topps Total

2001 Topps

2014 Panini Classics

2015 Donruss  Altuve 81 - larger than life

Tom, thanks for completing my set!  I do love my Tigers but Altuve is right up there with them!  He is my favorite, current playing non-Tiger!

As I mentioned, Friday was my last day in the Dallas office.  I've made a lot of friends and worked with - and for - so many good people. Leaving them has not been an easy decision. The office threw me a surprise farewell party on Wednesday.  Josiah, World's Greatest Office Assistant is also a talented pencil artist.  He spent 30 hours on a drawing specifically for me which he and many of my co-workers signed.  

Tip of the Cap

Josiah's work is so good it doesn't appear authentic!  (He's shown me a few of his sports drawings in various stages of completion, some taking 200 hours or more!)  Ian Kinsler is in fine detail, stadium lights reflected in his helmet. A true labor of friendship. 

Within the next two weeks, I'll be moving into my new home.  I'll comment and post when I can but will be without internet beginning May 28 through at least June 4th.  Thanks for sticking with me through this transition.  I truly appreciate you, my blogger friends!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!