Thursday, December 31, 2009

Guilty Pleasures

I think Upper Deck X is one of the worse products ever.  But I love the Xponential cards.  They look like something produced in the 90s.  I fnd myself wanting to buy packs of these things just to get the inserts.  And I don't even collect inserts.  UDX has 4 levels of Xponential cards that are inserted one per pack.  I swiped these images from Zistle because I am to lazy to scan the cards.



Here is  list of the 08 Xponential cards I still need.

X-DO David Ortiz
X-JB Josh Beckett
X-JP Jonathan Papelbon

X2-BE Josh Beckett
X2-DO David Ortiz
X2-JP Jonathan Papelbon
X2-MA Manny Ramirez

X3-JB Josh Beckett
X3-MR Manny Ramirez

X4-DO David Ortiz

Oh, and if anyone is collecting the base set of these or the die cut set please let me know because I have quite a few from chasing inserts.

Contest Time

No not here. Over at Grand CardsGo check it out.

Monday, December 28, 2009

My Favorite Christmas Present This Year.

My favorite Christmas present came in the mail the day after Christmas.  It was a surprise package from another Red Sox collecting blogger Gordon.  I traded/bought cards from Gordon in the past and new he was generous but I was shocked to receive this from him in the mail. 



A 1968 Yastrzemski - Never did I expect for someone to just give me this card.

Thank you so much Gordon. 

If anyone out there has some Red Sox to trade I recommened trading with Gordon.  It may be hard to find cards he needs though because his collection is a reported 20,000 Red Sox deep.  You can find his want lists here, here, here, and here.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Christmas Haul

I had a few presents under the tree this year.  I opeaned new fishing waders, boots, a book, and lures before I got to a package with cards in it.  One basaball card present was better than lasts years ballcard haul of zero cards. Honestly I figured I had some kind of cards coming because I was banned from MyEbay for a week so that I couldn't see what was being bidded on.  Here is what I got:

1981 Kellogs Carl Yastrzemski
Usually when I mention cards in any way my wife rolls her eyes, says she really doesn't care and goes about some other kind of business.  Somewhere along the way though she must have listened to what I said because Kellogg's cards are some of my absolute favorites.    Yaz wasn't the only one I got either.




I actually got the entire team set.  A five card team set with Yaz, Lynn, and Rice is pretty good.  Tony Perez was no slouch either.  So thanks to one package from my wife I have my first completed Kellogg's team set.

6 in 30 + Inexplicable + Boxing Day = a 3 in one post

Dinged Corners asked what the most inexplicable thing you collect is.  They also started the 6 in 30 binder test months ago.  Since the most inexplicable thing I collect is boxing cards I thought it fit real well to post this on Boxing Day.  That also makes this my most economical post ever.

It was easy picking some cool old cards because they were in the front of my boxing album.  I'm scanning both sides for two reasons.  One because the newly updated blogger uploads so much faster and two because I doubt allot of people have seen the front of these cards not to mention the back.

1938 Churchman's #12 Jack Dempsey  - Why I chose it?  First of all it is over 70 years old.  Secondly Dempsey was such a larger than life guy back in his time.  To top it all off my great grandfather used to talk about listening to his fights on the radio.  Just imagine following sports with nothing but radio and newspaper, boy are we spoiled.




1948 Leaf #101 John L Sullivan  - This was my first vintage boxing card.  It isn't in very good shape, even has a hole in it but you never forget your first.  Sullivan fought in the first (gloved) boxing championship fight.  He lost to a guy named Corbett (who I named my son after).  Check out this link to the famous Fight One More Round Quote by Corbett.  Years ago there used to be a boxing channel on RCA Satellite and it had the old man (Mickey) that was Rocky's trainer reading this quote.  That gravelly voice made it sound so awesome.  If someone finds it on Youtube please let me know. 



1951 Ringside #29 Sandy Sadler - I don't know anything about Sadler except for what is says on the back of his card.  I just think it is a cool old design and it is the only 51 Ringside I own.  I also think the back has the best design of any on this whole post.


2006 Allen & Ginter #346 Bob Fitzsimmons - Some people out there may have actually seen this one before.  Probably allot even own it.  I chose it because it is the newest boxing card I have.  It is also the only A & G boxing card I own.  I don't own an original one or any of the other new ones.  That is right I still need to pick up a Frazier Tyson and Ali. 
HINT...HINT...


1991 Ringlords #31 Julio Cesar Chavez - Because Chavez was such a warrior I chose this card.  He won his first 100 fights.  The back is a typical 90s style back just like any old baseballcard.


1991 Kayo #168 Aturo Gatti - I was actually going for a Roy Jones Jr card but was running out of time, paniced and chose this one instead.  Gatti was the most exciting boxer EVER!!  If you ever  see a Gatti fight scheduled on Classic Sports watch it; you won't be disappointed.



For everybody that says how ugly the Rookie Card logo is look at this monstrosity that is a rookie card label. I do however like how the K in Kayo is a little tiny Kangaroo.


Happy Boxing Day To All.

Friday, December 25, 2009

A Red Sox Christmas



Christmas at Fenway




Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Fenway
Not a creature was stirring, but perhaps Jason Bay
The red socks were hung by the Monster seats with care
In hopes that John Henry soon would be there






The Pink Hats were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Jacoby danced in their heads
And Heidi in her 'kerchief and TC in his cap
Had just settled in for a long winter's nap
When out on Landsdowne there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the press box to see what was the matter
Away to second, Ellsbury went in a flash
We're hoping that he and Cameron won't clash


The moon on the breast of the new hockey rink
Gave a luster of mid-day to old Charlie Zink
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Theo the GM, bringing good cheer




More rapid than Yankees, his prospects they came
He whistled and shouted and called them by name
"Now , Kelly! Now, Reddick! Now Kalish and Tazawa!
On Rizzo! On Gibson! On Fuentes and Pichardo!
To the right field porch and the top of The Wall
You won't dash away to Hoyer, never at all."











Back to the playoffs, the players they flew
With Lester and Beckett and John Lackey, too
And then in a twinkling, I heard in the foyer
The prancing and pawing of Dustin Pedroia









As I drew in my head, and as turning around
Down the chimney Big Papi came with a bound
He was dressed in Ed Hardy, from his head to his foot
His records now tarnished by New York Times charges
A bundle of bats he had thrown in his pack
And promised his production soon would be back















Tito's eyes -- how they twinkled. Youk's beard, kind of scary
Drew's shoulder was sore, but Lowell was ready
Pap's droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
The beards on their chins trimmed up by L'Monstro













The stump of a butt, Rem Dawg once held in his teeth
The smoke it encircled his head like a wreath
He quit, and here's hoping that still is the truth
Because, Jerry, we want you back in the booth









Dice-K was chubby and plump and was never himself
But be thankful at least that he's not Kei Igawa
A wink of Wake's eye and a twist of his wrist
Soon gave us to know we had nothing to dread









'Tek spoke not a word, but went straight to work
Helping Victor Martinez, 'cause he's not a jerk
Marco Scutaro was there, decked out in holly
Shortstop this season won't be so sorry







Bard sprang to the mound, his fastball did whistle
And away went the Sox, on a World Series mission
I heard Castiglione exclaim, as the ball flew out of sight
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!



Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Package 3 from GSNHOF

This is post #3 from my trades with GSNHOF.  I'm only scanning a couple cards but I really got way more than these.  These were just my favorites.



1997 Topps Finest #202 Mo Vaughn - Refractor

This Mo Vaughn may not look like much in the scan but it is a refractor.  If someone out ther knows how to scan a refractor so that its refractorness shows please let me know.  Yes that is a new word refractorness. 

I wish I knew why Topps ever bothered with that protective coating.  It isn't a protective coating it is part of the card.  Seriously does anyone ever peal them off.  I think I only have one Finest card that is pealed.  I was at a card shop one time and a kid brought in a Kevin Garnett Finest RC to sell but it was pealed.  The shop owner said he couldn't buy it because it wasn't mint.  He said he wouln't even give $5 for it.  I said I for $5 I would buy it and I did. 



1991 Upper Deck - Baseball Heroes #30 Ted Williams

Anytime I get a Willims card in a trade I have to post it. 

This one is commerating his 1942 Tripple Crown.  He put up a .356avg, 36hr, and 136rbi season.  Even though he won the Tripple Crown he was beaten in the MVP voting by Joe Gordon of the Yankees. 

What a shame, to get the Triple Crown but not win the MVP.  Something is seriously wrong there.  Gordon didn't have a bad season .322/18/103 but it doesn't even compare...









1997 Pinnacle EPIX - Downtown Debut #E5 Nomar Garciaparra

This card is ten kinds of awesome shiney.  It is even brighter than the refractor above.   Not only is it shiney it has kind of a starburst effect that really pops.  Man I miss 90s inserts.

On the back it tells about how his first hit in the majors was a home run.  Here's to hopeing our new SS can go yard a few times.









Thanks for all the cards Tim.  I have a growing stack of cards for you.  When it is shipping ready I'll send it your way.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A Differnt kind of Christmas poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Now I know everyone thinks this has nothing to do with basaball cards, but it does.  See my mom sent this to me in a chain letter.  I NEVER forward chain letters, EVER. Maybe that is why I'm not very lucky.  I was however quite impressed with the poem so I posted it here in hopes that the bad luck from not forwarding the e-mail will not get me. I need all the luck I can get when opeaning the packs of card I get for Christmas. 

See it did have to do with baseball cards.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Trade Off (y)

Once again I made a trade with another Red Sox collector.  This time it was Offy's Sports.  I sent him some of my dupes and got some of his in return.  I sure got some cool oddball stuff in this trade. 




This is the coolest looking card I got.  I love 90s cards and SPX were always some of the best.




This Schilling was one of the cards that got our trade stared.  He offered it up as bait along with a bunch of other stuff and I bit.  I now have an 07 and an 08 A&G Shilling Jersey.  I need to take the time to look and see if Topps made a 09 A&G jersey.




Since he is a Evans super collector he had some extra odd ball Evans to send my way.  These Kay Bee toys cards came right after I received some Toys R Us cards in another trade.



What we have here are some stickey Deweys.  Really they are all stickers.  I wish I knew where to find a sticker checklist.  Anyone out there know where???



These are from another oddball set I had never seen.  It is hard to tell from the scan but these are extra big bookmark cards.  The Dawson is actually the back of the card.  NOw if I can just figure out how to store them...

Thanks for the great trade Michael.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Trade with GSNHOF Package 2

This is the second package I received from GSNHOF.  I received it just days after the first package. 

On a side note get over to GSNHOF and vote on sports best (or most unfortunate) names.

First up is a Bobby Doer Goudey Mini.  I love Mini cards.  I'm chasing the Goudey mini team sets from 08 and 09 but they are coming together rather slowly.  Just receiving one of them in a trade is a big deal.


This Mike Greewell Toys R Us card was the first Toys R Us card I had ever seen.  It was followed by 3 more differnt one in teh package.  I love getting oddball cards in trade.



Kellogg's cards are some of my very favorites.  I love the 3D cards and wish they would bring them back.  It would make me eat more cereal if it still came with cards.




04 Chrome Wakefield - I chose this card to scan because I was glad that he got resigned and also because I don't really have very many 04 Topps Red Sox.  Something about the design steared me away from buying any and now there is a big hole in my Topps collection. 



Well one more package from GSNHOF down and one more to go.  I still got to scan the cards though so there will probably be a few posts between now and then.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Troll Break

The CollectiveTroll is having a group break and he isn't asking for money.  All he wants is cards in trade that match his criteria.  Right now Phillies, Cubs, Twins, Royals and Angels are still open.  I know that are a bunch of bloggers out there that collect those teams so send him a message and them send him some cards to claim your team.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Say it ain't so Drew

Drew Brees what happened?  After such a great season he has two fumbles and an interception in the first week of the fantasy playoffs.  I was so sure I was going to win the whole thing too.  Hopefully the rest of my team can pick me up this week and my opponent has a few players that put up stinker scores.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Trader Wanted To Take This Off My Hands

I bought a few packs of UDX, for my two sons at Dollar Tree, as presents for Christmas.  It wouldn't be Christmas without packs in your stocking.  The thing is I accidently bought an odd number of packs.  So rather than give son one more than the other I decided to open one.  Boy was I suprised at what was in it. 



















(I was to lazy to scan the card so I swiped it off of an ebay auction)

I never expected an autographed card at Dollar Tree.

I don't know what to think exactly it kinda sucks that now one of them won't get the thrill of getting thier first autograph in a pack but at the same time one won't be disapointed that the other got it and they didn't.  Plus I now have an auto to trade for a Red Sox.  So if any Ranger fan (or anyone else for that matter) has a Red Sox auto to trade for it please e-mail me.

And for the record, I suck at spelling and now that Blogger took away the spell check button everyone out there can see... 

But I do like the strikethrough button...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Trades with GSNHOF

I have recently made some trades with GSNHOF. That stands for Great Sports Name Hall of Fame.  Not only does he collect Red Sox and people with odd names but he has been willing to take some of my 90s football cards off of my hands in trade for Red Sox. 

This is the first of two packages from him.

Honestly I don't remember Don as a Red Sox manager.  I was a kid when he was manager and kids don't pay attention to managers.  I remember him as a coach for a few other teams but what really comes to mind when I think of Zimmer is Pedro throwing him to the ground. 




The Spaceman.  One more card off of my 75 Topps Team Set taken care off.






I really like these T205 cards.  I really like the mini version but the only one I have is a Beckett.  (or maybe it is a Wakefield can't remember...)  If I only had enough extra cash to tackle the 2009 T206 team set.   Maybe some will come for Christmas.




When I planned on writing this I had only received two packages from him since I posted last.  But since then I have received a 3rd package.  (that still needs scanned and everything)  These 3 packages ontop of the packages I have received in the past from him makes him my most frequant trading partner.  Oddly enough my two most frequant trading partners are both Red Sox collectors.  That works out okay though since I seem to aquire lots of doubles.  My doublr box has went from 2 columns of a monster box to about 3/4 of a column.  I'll post the other 2 packages in upcoming days.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Contest at Condition Poor

Everybody go check out the cool handmade card that got autographed and is now being given away By Condition Poor.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Where I Have Been And How I Post

I haven't posted in a really long time. I know excuses are like ...... everybody has one, but I really have a good one. See I don't have high speed Internet and every time I try to upload a picture to blogger it times out. So the way I always post is to save pictures to a usb drive, take it to work, upload the picture, and then go home and write the post. That worked great for a long time until my work firewall got in the way. For some reason I could only look at blogger in HTML view which means there was no Upload Picture button. Finally things are back to normal and I can upload pictures again. So without further adu...

Goose Joak cards

Billy just signed with the Braves. I had hoped the rumors were true and Papelbon might get traded and we would resign Wagner. Why you say?? Well I think Papelbon is a great closer but I also think he is right on the edge all of the time. One of these days he is going to fall off and we will be without a closer. Plus I really like Wagner. He was real nice when I saw him in Chicago this year. Oh yeah, and he signs a great autograph.

Bowden is someone we may get to see more of this year. He seams like he has a lot of potential. But he may be trade bait for a Really Great pitcher (Roy) or a big bat (Gonzalez)

Mark Kotsay was a signing I never figured out. To me it was one of Theo's mistakes this year.

I heard this guys name a handful of times on tv but I still can't pronounce it. The first minor leaguer to be signed out from under Japanese baseball. I don't figure it will be the last either. He has some serious upside too.
This almost wraps up the Goose Joak cards for me. I still haven't made one for about 3 minor leaguers that I can't find a picture of in a Red Sox uniform. That and LaRoach. Can't find a LaRoach Red Sox picture. If anyone out there can find one please let me know.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Infield

Two post in one week! Blogger may melt down due to this flurry of activity from me. But I am starved for Red Sox now that the season is over. From reading other blogs I seem to be just the opposite of everyone else because I tend to buy more cards after the season is over than during it. I have to get a Sox fix somehow…

On to the infield off-season projections/want list:

Catcher – It is a no brainer who is going to catch next year. Martinez will catch almost every game and rightfully so. The big question here is Varitek. His contract has a two-way option. The team can option him back for a year at 5 Million or he can option himself back at 3 million. I can’t see any way that Theo takes him back at 5 Million. I really don’t see Tek getting 3 million anywhere else so I think it will boil down to how much he wants to play. Take the 3 million to sit on the bench or sign for less to start somewhere else. Personally I hope he retires and they put him in as the bullpen coach.

1st Base – Our first baseman is awesome, great hitter and Gold Glover. I really expected a MVP type of season out of him this year. Unless the Sox trade for Adrian Gonzalez I see him staying at first and moving to 3rd when Lowell needs a break. Why mess with a good thing.

2nd – Pedrioa didn’t have the MVP season of a year ago but no complaints about him either. He is defiantly on of the elite 2nd baseman in baseball.

Shortstop – No matter what we do I am betting that Theo gets it wrong. I would be happy to stick with Alex Gonzalez. He has a great glove and actually hit pretty good this year. I have absolutely no faith in Jed Lowrie. He doesn’t seem durable enough to last a whole season. He looks like a backup to me. There are some Free Agent and trade options out there. Tejada is available. He may be a little pricey but he can hit better than any other free agent SS. Would he take a pay cut to make a run at a title?? If Seattle doesn’t pick up his option I wouldn’t mind seeing Jack Wilson here either. He has sick defense. I’m not into fielding stats but just from watching him I know he is a bad ass in the field. Then there is a rumor that we may get Hanley Ramirez back in a trade. I would love it but it won’t happen.

3rd – I really like Lowell. He is an old school, down and dirty player. Problem is he isn’t only old school he is old. (for a ballplayer) A-Rod had the same injury that Lowell had and he only took off the beginning of the season and never had another problem. Mike limped around on it all year and took tons of days off. This is another glaring hole with not much out there to fill it. Maybe Youkilis should move over from 1st and we just replace the first baseman. Because outside of Blalock and Tejada…

Next up will be the pitching staff.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The End

Well this is it.



The end of the season for the Sox.



I figure a few people opened this expecting the end of the blog. I'm not quiting I just don't usually have enough ambition to post anything. OK, back to the Sox...



Only way the season could have ended in more disappointment is if we wouldn't have made the playoffs at all. I never would have guessed that we would get swept by the Angels. One good thing about the Red Sox is that I know there is no such thing as rebuilding, only reloading. So lets take a look at what bullets need replaced. Most would start with the infield but our most glaring question mark is in the outfield so I am starting there:



Left Fielder - This is the most obvious question this off-season, will Theo resign Bay? He seems to fit in great and put up a great OPS but had a sub par avg for an outfielder on this team. There are a few free agents out there that may be just as good a fit. The most obvious one is Abreau. I wouldn't mind seeing him in LF for a few years. He has a great bat moderate speed and although is fielding is less than stellar it isn't really that bad. Holliday is another option. I'm not sure who is better though Bay or Holliday, almost a toss up to me. But Holliday is represented by Boras so... The dark horses could be Matsui or Vlad. Both are horrific outfielders but could cover the ground in front of the monster no problem. One last option, how about Damon? He isn't the player he once was but he isn't bad either. His girly arm wouldn't be so obvious in our left field either.

Center field - Jacoby isn't going anywhere.

Right field - Has there ever been a more boring player in baseball than JD? He does get on base though. I don't think he is worth that huge contract but he is what he is. He does have a great arm though.

Backups - I don't want Baldelli. Why have a backup that can't ever play? I doubt Gathright stays around either. I like his speed (I bet he is faster than Jacoby) but the guy can't hit, period.

That is it for now. I'll knock out the infield sometime before spring training. Yes it is that hard to make myself post something now-a-days...

Saturday, October 10, 2009

A Giant Trade

The playoffs are not going very well, so I am rewinding to a month ago when the Red Sox could score more than one run in two games. That is right it is overdue trade post time.

Over a month ago I made a trade with A Giant Blog. I sent him some 1960 Topps Giants and he sent me some much needed 1961 Topps.

I like the 1961 Topps but I don't. I like the design, white border yellow highlighted red letters, and the colored team name background. (although I don't understand the color selection) I like all that stuff but the posed pictures,not so much. It is kind of letdown after what I consider the best Topps design of all time. Regardless of all that I have to have them all and there are getting close to 50 years old. I'm always happy to get 50 year old cards.

See these team name backgrounds make sense, red for Red Sox. The green above - no sense at all. This isn't all that I got in the trade, I also got a handful of newer stuff.

Thanks for the trade...