Ding, Ding Round 2

Lucy at Dinged Corners also posted some questions to answer.

1-What is your favorite kind of dog?Great Dane.

I have never owned one yet but one day I'll become brave enough to invite a horse to live in my home.

2-Who is your favorite baseball player?Kevin Youkilis

No other player, plays with as much passion as Youk. He plays like the guy who wrote #5.

3-What is your favorite team? Red Sox

4-What is your favorite baseball movie?

There have been a ton of great baseball movies. Some notable ones that I can remember are Major League (I, II, and III), The Natural, Bull Duram, Field of Dreams, The Rookie, Sandlot, The Babe, Cobb and Eight Men Out along with a ton of others. But the absolute best baseball movie ever is For Love of the Game. Hands Down with none of the others even coming close. He throws a perfecto against the Yankees, how could anything beat that. Cobb would be my second favorite.

5-What is your favorite baseball book? Pete Rose: My Prison Without Bars

This book made me like Pete Rose even more.

6-What is your favorite card? My 55 Ted Williams

Ding, Ding, Round 1

The girls at Dinged Corners posted a list of questions for the blog world to answer.

I'm a little late in responding but here goes.

1-If I didn't collect baseball cards, I'd collect _________.

Comic Books

Actually I already collect comic books. I started out with a Captain America collection but then I had to get all of the Avengers also because Cap was in them. But then I had also get Iron Man because he was in Tales of Suspense with Cap and also in the Avengers. I know, I have a problem it is called an addictive personality. I think that all of us card collectors have it to some degree.

2-My baseball heroes include one you probably wouldn't know from my blog or comments, and that person is __________.

Cal Ripken

I actually used to collect his cards years ago. At the time I had a neighbor that also collected cards. He lost his collection when his house burned down and I gave him all of my Ripken cards.

3-Every New Years I resolve to __________ my collection.

Focus

I tend to branch out. It is that addictive personality thing again. When I got back into collecting I was only going to collect Vintage Topps Red Sox. Then I added Vintage Bowman Red Sox , then Modern Topps Red Sox and now any and all Red Sox.

4-If I could spend a day with one person from baseball history, it would be ________.

I am going to cheat here and change it to sports history.

Muhammad Ali

He was the greatest of all time; King of the World. The most famous man in the world. Even more famous then the President or the Pope. Not only was he the greatest athlete that ever lived he had more charisma than anyone in sports history.

I went to a Roy Jones fight years ago. I was standing in the crowd waiting for the undercard to start amongst 10-15 thousand people with all of the noise that a group of people that large makes. When suddenly, an erie silence settled across the crowd. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, I could feel the electricity in the room. The silence broke into historic yelling when everyone realized that Ali had entered the arena to watch see the fight. it was the most awesome thing I ever witnessed at a sporting event. And he was just there to watch.

I'll get to Round 2 Lucy's questions in a later post.

2008 Topps Chrome and Refractors Want List

I know, another begging post. But it is all I could come up with to post while I was away.

I'm not a chrome fan at all. To me it is a wast of product. It should just be a parallel. I have received so many in trade this year though that I almost have a team set. Even though they are Chrome they are still Sox.


2008 Topps Chrome
20 Mike Lowell
146 Curt Schilling
180 Hideki Okajima
235 Clay Buchholz

I even received a ton of Refractors in trade. So many that I had to post my want list.

2008 Topps Chrome Refractors
6 Daisuke Matsuzaka
20 Mike Lowell
30 Kevin Youkilis
60 Manny Ramirez
66 Dustin Pedroia
90 David Ortiz
235 Clay Buchholz

08 Topps + U&H Want List

I didn't buy any regular Topps this year so I need a whole bunch of them. This is the 08 Topps I need:

2008 Topps
20 Daisuke Matsuzaka
64 Mike Lowell
99 David Ortiz / Manny Ramirez
104 Kevin Youkilis
122 Jason Varitek
123 Terry Francona MG
174 Julian Tavarez200 Manny Ramirez
217 Josh Beckett229 Dustin Pedroia
232 Clay Buchholz (RC)
250 Jonathan Papelbon
258 Manny Ramirez / Kevin Youkilis
295 Tim Wakefield
360 David Ortiz
379 Hideki Okajima
386 Julio Lugo
550 Curt Schilling
555 Josh Beckett

This is the U&H I need:
2008 Topps Update U&H
47 Dustin PedroiaUH
86 David AardsmaUH
99 Ramirez/OrtizUH
150 Jon LesterUH
195 Chris CarterUH
216 Jason Bay

2008 A&G and Mini Want List

Next want list is 08 A&G. I only need 3 more for of th eregular ones.

2008 Topps A&G

I got them all now thanks to a trade that I will be posting shortly.

2008 Topps A&G Mini

55 Josh Beckett
105 Jonathan Papelbon
134 Jason Varitek
171 J.D. Drew
333 Coco Crisp
348 Justin Masterson
350 Kevin Youkilis Thank You Houston Astros Blog

2007 Masterpiece Want List

Yesterday I posted my 08 Masterpiece want list, today I'm listing my 07. Not only do I need these but the only bordered one I have Doerr

2007 UD Masterpieces
5 Carlton Fisk
14 David Ortiz
16 Roger Clemens
22 Babe Ruth
25 Carl Yastrzemski
27 Daisuke Matsuzaka RC
31 David Ortiz
59 Bobby Doerr

I didn't mention it yesterday but I also need all of the bordered ones except Varitek in 08.

2008 Masterpiece Want List

Instead of no posts of all during the holidays since I am away on vacation I am scheduling a handful of want lists throughout the holidays. I am hoping to return to an e-mail account full of trade offers. First up is 08 Masterpiece.

2008 Upper Deck Masterpiece
14 Daisuke Matsuzaka
16 Jonathan Papelbon
84 Jason Veritek

Let me know if you have any of these you would like to trade.

Paging Houston Card Collector

I have tried many times to contact Houston Card Collector but cannot seem to be able to leave a comment and can't find his e-mail. So in leu of a comment or e-mail I am going to page you. I have a bunch of Astros that I would like to trade if you are interested please drop me an e-mail.


On another note. The Hot Stove has been on set on low this year for Sox fans. The winter meetings have come and gone with no action from the Sox. Boston Dirt Dogs nailed this one in this picture of Theo.






The only rumor out there was the possible signing of Teixiera. Now that even looks like it isn't going to happen. Frankly I am not dissapointed at all that he won't sign with the Sox. Hey, he is a great player but he reminds me too much of JD Drew. Loads of talent and no passion.

I'm about to go on vacation so posts may be few and far between for the next week. When I get back I plan on offering up some Vintage stuff for trade.

Updated and Expanded Want List

I have updated and expanded my Modern Want List. You can click right here for the link or it is on the right side of my blog. I added a ton of sets that were not on there before.



2001 Topps Heritage
2002 Topps
2002 Topps Traded
2002 Topps Heritage
2003 Topps Traded
2003 Topps Heritage
2004 Topps Heritage
2004 Topps Traded
2005 Topps Heritage
2006 Allen & Ginter
2006 Topps Heritage
2006 Topps
2006 Topps U&H
2007 Allen & Ginter
2007 Topps Heritage
2007 Topps
2007 Topps Update
2007 Upper Deck Masterpiece
2008 Topps Chrome
2008 Topps
2008 Topps U&H
2008 Upper Deck
2008 Upper Deck Masterpiece


Let me know if you have anything that you would like to trade.

Blog Bat Around Round 2

The centerpiece of my collection?? The neat thing about this blog bat around is that it made me think. Is my centerpiece my most valuable stuff or the stuff I have with special meaning?

Could it be one of my 1500 different Dan Marino cards?

Collecting Dan Marino is what I did all through the 90s. Until I quit collecting cards in 1999 I would have put my Marino collection up against anyone esles for the title of best Marino collection.

My vintage Red Sox binder?

Since I got back into collecting this is where my heart really is. It is where I have spent the most time an money. So far I have 2 complete early team sets 1955 and 1959 a few that I am really close to completing (1953 Bowman Color 1 card short ,Mel Parnell, 1960 Topps 7 cards including that expensive Yaz RC)

My vintage boxing cards?

(if anyone knows what set the Marvin Hart came from please let me know because I forgot. All I remember is it is pre 1900)

I love the sport. I even gave my son a boxing name, Corbet Clay. Corbet for the first gloved heavyweight champ Jim Corbett and Clay obviously for the Greatest of all time Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali)It is a shame but boxing is on life support. People blame MMA but that isn't it, boxing has done it to itself.

Other Irreplaceable things??

Most of the things I put in this category are irreplaceable because I don't have enough money to replace them.

That is defiantly the case with the T206 Cy Young. This isn't a Cy Young Red Sox, but it is still a Cy fricking Young T206. It also has a story. Ever hear someone say not to tighten a screw down to much or the card will stick to the case? Well it is true. A guy offered the Cy Young to me for $100 because it was bonded to the case. I had remembered reading a looonnngggg time ago on the old Tuff Stuff Trade Forum (anybody remember that? it was in operation in the mid 90s. You posted what you had to trade and responded via e-mails I made LOTS of trades for Marino cards under the ID of AdamE or ABE i forget which) that you could unbond one by getting it hot and then sticking it in the freezer over and over again till it comes loose. It actually worked. The card didn't even loose any of it's color. I put it in a sleeve and then right back in the same screwdown.

The Williams cards I guess should be in my vintage Sox binder category but I don't have the guts to but them in pages instead of their hard cases. Unless I have a change of heart they are staying in this category in their toploaders inside of team bags forever.

Things with personal meaning??

If you read my blog in the last few months you already know the stories behind these images. The Walter Payton was my first ball card and watching a ball game with Preacher Roe and my little son was priceless.


I tried to decide which category was the most important to me but it is now deadline time (actually a little past) and I am still undecided. Right now I am leaning towards the Roe glove but an hour ago it was Vintage Red Sox. I've decided that my centerpiece is my collection as a whole. As a collector, father, and sports fan; each and every item in my collection has lead me to be the collector I am today.

Trade With The Newest Blogger Around

I had a post saved and ready to post about a trade with a non-blogger named EricS that was making trades for Yankees all over the web. Then I came across this post at Cards on Cards. So I had to rewrite half of the thing as a trade with the newest blog around, The Pettitte Pursuit. I had sent him a bunch of hated Yankee cards (the really hated ones too Jeter, Pettite, Rivera, Mussina...) (I actually admire Jeter, a great player and a seemingly all around good guy, but he tears the Sox up every time they play) (I wrote that small and light because I only grudgenly admit it) and he sent me some of my beloved Sox.



First off he sent me a whole bunch of current rookies



He sent 2 copies of each Masterson so I figured I would scan the backs also. I think Justin will be a front of the rotation guy pretty soon. I just hope it is with the Sox.

I though Chris did a decent job when they called upon him. He is a free agent right now. I wouldn't mind at all if he was resigned as a long releiver.

Hopefully the heir and stop to the revolving SS door. I really like the throwback SP design in these Timelines however it is the only version that I like. It made me look at all of my SP football rookies that are gathering dust. If I had enough time and patience I would work up a list of them all and post them in hopes that someone would trade something for them. As always I'm short on both.

Jonathan Van Every - He had his cup of tea, that is all I have to say on Van Every.

Some Ortiz Cards

The highlight here is definatly the Ortiz mini. I also needed both of the topps cards for my 08 Topps team set.

I hope everyone takes a minute or two to check out his blog. Thanks Eric.

LOOOONNNNGGG Overdue Post

Sorry for the lack of posts, Christmas and work have all of my time tied up right now. When I received a package from Dropped Third Strike I knew I had to set aside some blogging time. In other words it is 4:30AM and I am already awake. I sent him some Yankee cards and he responding by sending me a nice package of Red Sox. Eighty-Nine Red Sox to be exact. Amazingly enough I only had 5 of them!! I don't like to do it but to save some time I'm posting a bunch of cards on each scan.

Colors

These are the very first colored heroes cards I have seen other than on other peoples posts. They look great when you put them next to their base card and their black version.

Minis

I got a Red Back Mini Beckett Sport Royalty and really chipped away at my 08 A&G Mini checklist. Here is what I still need:

55 Beckett 105 Papelbon 134 Varitek 171 Drew 333 Crisp 348 Masterson 350 Youkilis.

Just Beautiful

The best of both worlds here. The best photos and the best paintings. I also threw in a Heritage and a Sportflix he sent into the scan. My favorite card Of everything is that black bordered Varitek. It may be my favorite card of the year.

Checklist Bashing

I needed all of these 08U&H. And I love that Gold Ultra Wakefield. Everybody bashes parallels but they always look good when you put them next to their originals. This one makes me want to pick up the rest of the Gold set from that year. I had just received the Youk SP in another trade so now I have one for my Youkilis collection along with my Team Set.

The Scans That Didn't Fit

These cards wouldn't fit in the other scans but I like them just as much. Upper Deck X really sucks but that Varitek Xponential is awesome.

I would like to thank Dropped Third Strike again for all the Red Sox.

Night Mail

I received a package from Night Owl Cards. He had some cards off of my want list and sent them my way.

My favorite player from my favorite set. Youkilis was the last SP I needed from the set.

We offered him arbitration. Will he accept??? I'm now down to 3 cards from the 08 A & G set. I still need Pedroia, Schilling and Bucholtz. Anyone out there have them to trade??

Night Owl even sent me some vintage.My first Heritage Insert cards.

With only 100 cards in the base set I have to be close to a complete team set with this one card.

An 08 Upper Deck Beckett. I will be adding some more sets to my want list in the near future and 08 Upper Deck is going to be one of the first.

Thank you Night Owl. I'm going to start building a stack of Dodgers to send your way.

Hall of Fame Bound

The report is Greg Maddux will announce his retirement Monday. I really thought he would stick it out a couple more years. I think he is still good enough to.

Best Bathroom Break Ever

I know what a $h!tty title but I guess I'm not feeling to imaginative right now. I was forced by my 4 year old to stop at an obscure convenience store in my hometown for a bathroom break. What a lucky stop it was because this particular convenience store has a baseball card display. My hometown source of cards just went from one (Wal Mart) to two. on top of that they had a pack of A&G. Unfortunately it was the last one but Wal Mart hasn't had one for months.
Adam Dunn - Where do you think Adam is going to land? My bet is he will be in Arizona come springtime.


Brian Roberts - The best player on the worst team.

Troy Glaus - I always pull Troy's cards. I have a ton of his Angel cards. One day I will find a Troy Glaus collector out there somewhere. (or maybe a team collector to unload them on)

Kevin Van Dam - I don't know anything about professional fisherman other than this picture is completely bogus. Every time they show one of these guys on Sportscenter they have more advertisements on their shirts than a NASCAR has decals.
Frank Thomas - Since it is a mini does that make it a little hurt?

Coco Crisp - Red Sox card = Good Pack. Not only is it a card I didn't have but it is a SP. Coco is now officially the first Red Sox I have a 06,07, and 08 A&G card of. Funny thing is I got all three of them within about 3 days of one another.

Jason Schmidt - Topps must have really had to stretch to find a player from every state. Sorry Dodger fans.

Man I love A&G cards. This is my favorite set. If I was a set collector this would be the one I would collect every year. This is the best bathroom stop I ever had to make. I know this post has a $h!tty title but I'm just not feeling to imaginative right now.