This week I noticed several postings about our good friends at Topps and their sorely lacking redemption program that is starting to cause some serious angst among some of you.

My personal thoughts on the deal is that redemptions are stupid and that nobody wants to eagerly open their "hit" pack to realize that there is nothing but a card inside that needs to be registered for the outside chance that some day might turn into a physical card for your collection. I know that I have several cards that, even though the Topps website say have been shipped, have not even come close to making it to my mailbox yet. Apparently it takes 6-8 weeks*. Then there is this little thing called the Ginter prize, but judging with what happened with the Cat Osterman autograph cards this week, it appears that Topps IS literally running door-to-door trying to get cards signed.

So, ironically this week I received a redemption card from Upper Deck...

This is a 2008 Sweet Spot came courtesy of a pack purchased a couple months back. For one, I kept forgetting that I had the redemption card because it was rather plain looking, but for the other, for some reason the Upper Deck website hates me and would not send me my log-in info.

I turned to my good buddy Joe to see if he could enter it for me. Sure enough he entered the card number and scheduled to have it sent to my house. You want to know how long it took? Less than two weeks. I was very impressed. I don't really know who this guy is, but he has a dope pair of shades and a nice auto.

Over the next several days I am going to have two recurring themes, Sweet Spot 2009 and Orioles. Stay tuned for more.

Into the Land of Make Believe

It's Thursday, and Thursdays are great for several reasons. For one, it is a non-school night. Well, technically since I am taking the class online, ANY night can be a non-school night, but since we always have a section of our paper due on Wednesday, I allow myself Thursday to unwind and absolutely not think about school.

Thursday also gives me a chance to wrastle with my kid, have a nice dinner, and watch some Greys Anatomy with the wife, who ultimately cries just about every episode. Say what you will about the show, but it can be pretty intense sometimes and this season has been very good.

I also get a chance to blog a bit more, as well as "play" with my baseball cards. I have not had any packs to open in many weeks and I have been tempted to buy a couple boxes of high numbers just to rips some wax. Then a thought came to me.

I know somebody who buys literally CASES of product and rips it and then repackages for sale on Ebay. I started to ponder a bit, so I decided to present this question to you all...

So IF you were not inhibited by needing to save money for...you know...life, and IF you could purchase a case (or two, or three) of any ONE product, what would it be, and why?

I'll start the game. I would probably purchase multiple cases of SP Legendary Cuts because I have never even sniffed a cut-auto in my life and would love to have my first, which would be possible as a case-hit. Plus I really do believe that the autograph and relic cards were really nice in the 2009 set as well. So yeah, A cut-auto, maybe a smattering of nice player autos and some old-timer relics....I would buy a case of this stuff.

State of the Blog Address

Hey Y'all,

No, I am not quitting blogging or collecting (I know that half the time thats what people expect when they see a title like this). I just felt it was time to blog SOMETHING to let you know that I am still out here. I know that I throw up a short blog with a few cards, but I will be the first to admit that the quality of material is sorely lacking because my mind is so scrambled focusing on school that I can't think of anything witty to say about my cards.

I am now about 65 pages into my final paper about Google, and have about 4 weeks left from finishing the paper, to creating a PowerPoint, to presenting my findings in front of an educational board (yikes). Really though, I think that part of it is mostly a ceremonial pat on the back and send me on my way. The whole thing is only about 20 minutes long. Then its PARTY TIME.

First stop, Hawaii. Depending on scheduling it may work out that we leave the next day after I give my presentation. I am nervous about Hawaii only that every time I have ever been mega-stressed and then suddenly let my guard down, thats when I get sick, so I gotta make sure that I don't feel too much relief after my presentation. Gotta stay nervous :)

Then what? WELL, there is this little game coming out next week called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that is going to take up a vast majority of my evenings, AND I will get a chance to do some more blogging as well as deciding what to collect next. I am actually having a good time scouring ebay for some nuggets, the thrill of the hunt. I have to say that Ebay has really opened my eyes to how lacking some of the autographs and hits are in these products that are currently out. Hint: SP Authentic, not a lot of star-power on those hits.

Jury is still out on high numbers, though I am flirting with the idea of getting a couple boxes for ol time rippin sake. I have a source that will help me fill in all the holes, so I am not concerned about getting all 220, but we'll see what I can muster. I guess if I want pre-sell price I better get shaking, there is good gum at stake.

Also, one more quick thing. I know that I have had some conversations with a few of you about some cards or relics I want to send your way...I am still going to give em to ya, but just hang tight for a little longer until I get through the muck.

If I could please ask one quick favor of all my readers whom I have traded with in the past...if you are still here and still reading, can you please shoot me an email with your mailing addresses attached? I have been trying forever to create an easy access spreadsheet that will help me get more envelopes in the mail more often. If you could also just include your collecting interests. Getting organized!

Have a great day! Don't let redemptions get ya down!

Turkey 9-spot

Between collecting random letter patches of phenoms and getting Google-lash, the Turkey Hunt continues, and I am happy to announce that I am nine cards closer to completing the (final?) 50 cards of the set. I still continue to love these cards...this version....I have seen the version for next year and am a little less than thrilled about the return of the brady bunch wooden wall frames with the munsters Turkey Red Logo. Here is what is new to the folder...

Mad Max and Roy Halladay...young school meets old school. I am pretty curious where Halladays image comes from, obviously spring training SOMEWHERE. I am fascinated with the Washington monument looking tower with the smattering of industrial buildings to the right...where the heck is this photo from?

A couple of Red Sox, Youk and Dice K. Dice-K is currently on Theo's short-leash and had better come into camp ready to go next year.

Class-act Brian Roberts and up-and-coming Alexei Ramirez.

Shin-Soo Choo with the funny tower in the background, and Yunel Escobar.

And ol Mr. Lackey. A guy I love to hate, just cuz he is so good at mowing down my Red Sox. Other than that he is a great talent.


I will update my needs list. Thanks to everybody for helping me inch closer to finishing up this set before I (barf) chase after Topps Heritage High numbers...which I am NOT thrilled about.

Surprise Package of Moonshine!

On a whim, I sent out some surpise packages over the last couple of weeks. I actually still have more to send, but I am dealing with a severe shortage of free time for about 5 more weeks, but keep your eyes peeled for some brown packages! I sent a package to Brian in Texas. Brian is big up on the Rangers, and I had a few in stock, so away they went. It was a nice surprise to see an envelope stuffed in my tiny mailbox this afternoon, and the contents were spectacular, so I thought I would share...

I think it is fantastic the response I have had to my SP Authentic woes. I am starting to receive some of these in the mail. These cards are really great looking, and then ones in this package are definitely top-notch, including the two Gallardo's above. The second card cracks me up because it draws the fact that Gallardo went winless in four starts BUT struck out 20 guys doing it. Kinda reminds me of those commercials with Prince Fielder and Dan Haren where a kid points out a bad stat about the guy, but makes up for it with a good stat. That is this card.

Best freakin Lincecum crazy pitching form card ever.

I guess if there were a man-crush (I hate that term, by the way) it would be for Tommy Hanson. Not only are these Hanson cards sweet, but that's one less Turkey Red on my needs list, so thank you!

Brian threw in a nice McCutchen chrome. Wonder where he will be in five years?


And here is the best of the rest. All great cards. Much appreciated for the surprise and the great phenom cards!

This Post Brought To You By The Letter "H"

H as in Ricky Romero, that is!

I have always wanted a letterman patch. After scouring the Bay for several days and watching a ton of Ricky Romero's go for upwards of 20 bones, I found this little guy unattended at 99 cents. I popped in $1.04 and went to take a nap and was shocked to wake up and see that the bid held up.

So I am now the proud owner of...the letter H?

There are several cool traits about this card. Firstly, the auto is Top notch, Ricky really puts some effort into his Herbie Hancock, so it looks stellar in silver ink. Also, this card offers WAY more swatch than most relic cards. Thirdly...it is SP Authentic, which if you have been following, I cannot buy single packs from Crankys shop because it is too easy to tell which have the hits in them! Well, I have to give him that one since this card is rather thick, but believe me, Upper Deck is no fool and will go to no ends to throw bucks pieces of cardboard in there to throw off searchers, so really, unless cranky really lets people manhandle the packs, I would say these hits are fairly safe.

I was a little disappointed that the back of the card did not reveal what exactly the H is part of. I know that Upper Deck will use nicknames, but I have no idea what his is. Also, whats up with the yellow patch? Odd, but original, and thats the kind of stuff that I want for Jacoby's "some day down the road box, so this is perfect. And a rookie signature to boot. A cool, cool card that I am very happy to have.