Interleague trade

Interleague play has existed in MLB since 1997. So prior to '97, if you were to look at your favorite team's records against other clubs, all you will see are teams that may or may not have a DH on the roster. But everything changed on June 12, 1997 when the Rangers and the Giants played a regular season game that counted in the standings.

My White Sox have an all time interleague record of 163-120, However, the team they have faced the least from the National League are the Mets. Only seven games against them, with a 4-3 record. There are no games scheduled between the two clubs in 2015, so who knows when we'll be visiting Shea Citi or when the Mets will bus into Comiskey US Cellular.

Fortunately, Keith from Home Run Apple makes plenty of visits to my part of the world. Another blogger that is in the "oh, here's a bunch of cards for you" trade cycle that I have, Keith recently dropped a fine group of cards on me.

Man - the Cubs had ugly road uniforms in the late 90's. I was shocked when they honored them last year with these as part of the throwbacks remembering Weeghman Wrigley. That was a bad design. But a nice bunting card, for sure. Rienzo - we had high hopes for him, and now Miami can have those hopes. I think he'll do ok if he gets his control in order.

MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Pauly goes into the Pauly binder. Jake goes into the mini binder. It's organization great?

Lots of A&G in the envelope from Keith. I don't have a lot of A&G in my White Sox monster box, so these (along with others) packed in a couple of the years. I know '09 in not a popular year, having to come right after the great '08 design, but it's a style that is growing on me.

Keith was wise to drop 2 of the Konerkos in the package, so this is a fine dupe, since it goes right to the Pauly binder with the others shown. While the design is total crap, that Prizm is not too bad a card.

Thanks for the cards, Keith. Maybe 2016 will see us visit a borough other than the Bronx.

I thought I went in to hang up my clean shirts

For starters - if you haven't sent me a link to your want lists as I asked yesterday, what are you waiting for? Go back in time a leave me a comment, would ya!

Now, I know who I am. I have been pretty secure in who I am, what I am, what I like and what I don't like. I'm a guy, I've always been a guy, I like sports, girls, cards and Star Wars, and I don't like brussel sprouts, cheap beer, the Cubs or the Red Wings. But sometimes, someone sends you something that questions everything you thought you knew. And that someone is Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown. If you don't visit his blog, shame on you. He makes totally cool custom cards that glow in the dark (I happen to have one, and I hope it won't be my last), and he does a great job showing of cards as they are meant to be seen. See - me, and damn near everyone else, just scans them. Flat and boring. Gavin will take the time to animate the cards, and give more appreciation to them. And one would think that would be how he would question me: why don't I put more effort into my blog. But no, it was far deeper.

A package he sent me started with a card he posted on his blog.

A gorgeous auto from one of the pitching heroes of the Sox run to the title in 2005. I never think to seek out one of his cards, as much as I would like one. So it was nice to see this, inquire, and have Gavin send it along. And that wasn't all from Gavin.

A nice amount of Sox team sets, plus all these for my player collections. Love that Rowand 1st Bowman card. And it continued...

More Sox needs. Contreras never had a pitcher's build, but that guy could throw. That no-logo Donruss on the left is more tolerable than the no-logo on the right. But still there was more...

Gavin sprinkled in a couple custom cards. I should start doing this with the ton of 88-89 Topps I pull At least make them far more interesting to send out.

Shiny, silvery cards. Now - I should properly take 20 pictures of each card, animate them up and show you that Buehrle in all it's multi color glory, but I don't feel like it. And I think I know why. It's less my laziness and more this...

That's how are the cards were packaged - inside a bag for a girl. Does Gavin know something I don't, or I have intentional suppressed? Do I really have no idea who I am and what I like. Maybe, just maybe I desire a player collection of Dan Cleary.

Nah - no frigging way that last part is true. Thanks for the cards, Gavin. I think I still owe you, right? I'm so lost...

Road trip, U.P. edition

My daughter moved many miles north to attend school in the upper peninsula of Michigan. She's been gone now about a month. There was some work needed on her car, some items forgotten, as well as the general "my wife misses her baby" feeling, so we trekked the 7+ hours to visit. For a Chicago guy like me, a ride to the banks of Lake Superior is a dangerous drive.

It was so dangerous that the Crips and Bloods were seen singing "Kumbaya" together.

Along the way are three sites that can be seen from the expressway. In Milwaukee, Miller Park is about 2.5 miles west of I-94. Now, that would matter more if the Brewers were still in the AL, but interleague makes them hated enough. Bradley Center is just a half mile west of the highway, so the hated Bucks as well as the AHL Admirals play in that place. But the worst location is where Hwy 43 merges with Rt 41. At least for a Bears fan. That puts me in dreaded Packer territory. We were running late on the way up, so my wife and I saw Lambeau but had to keep going. However, on the way home, I told my wife we had to stop by and pay proper respect to the hallowed home of Lombardi and Starr. Hornung, Favre and White.

Yeah....that might be a stumbling block in future trades. Fortunately, I pulled off this trade with Fuji before I posted this picture. Fuji's blog was one of the first I came across and is always a great read. I love his questions at the end that invoke future conversations. I have been trying to find something to trade with Fuji a long time, but nothing ever prompted me to reach out. Finally, it was just an email comment we had where I mentioned we had never traded before and we need to make it right, courtesy of red Chipz I had pulled of an Athletic. It was also nice to drop a lot of my oddball Sharks, A's and Padres relics on someone because they needed a better home than a box in my closet. If what Fuji sent back is standard for his part of the country, I'm moving. 

Couple nice autos to start with. Anderson never panned out into the CF he was supposed to be. I hope Floyd comes back from his Tommy John. It was sad to see him go.

Valdez never amounted into much, but an interesting fact: he is the last person to play an inning at third base in MLB who was left handed. Tekotte is in the minors for the D-backs.

Nice Beckham Gineter relic and a sweet Semien RC Chrome. I hope his 2014 was not a fluke.

Fuji also hit my Hawks wants, as in "you got Blackhawks cards? I want them". Zhamnov was ok, but could have had a better career. Cleary sucked with the Hawks, so we send him to Edmonton, who dealt him over to Detroit and he becomes a pain in our butts. Moreau - good speed but horrible stick handling. Deadmarsh.....was never a Blackhawk. He is pictured here as a Portland Blackhawk, which has no connection to Chicago. The team is usually confused as a farm club to Chicago, but they only happen to look like them because the first sweaters worn were used uniforms purchased from Chicago. Still, I'll take a nice Deadmarsh auto any day - 2 time Cup winner.

Two nice Hawks relics too. Remember that Cleary trade I mentioned above? Mironov was who we got from Edmonton. We got the short end of the stick. Daze should have been a star, but too many injuries ended his career early. The highlight of the package though....

It's about dang time I got a Fuji custom. However, I am thinking that Lambeau photo will not get me his card from Series 2. Thanks for the trade, Fuji!

See you in 4 years

So Germany hoisted the World Cup trophy this year. BTW - side note - it needs a cool name like the previous Jules Rimet trophy. Anyway, that makes for another tournament down and off to Russia in 2018. Let's hope they get things in order before the start compared to their bad showing for the Olympics.

Luckily, Wes from JayBarkerFan's Junk had another of his famous "I got a ton of really cool stuff, you should take some of it" deals going on. Calling it the World Cup of Trading, I was able to be the first commenter and jumped on a great card he was offering. I sent him a couple football swatch cards and a bunch of Braves. I ended up in the group of death, though, and didn't make it out of group play.

That's ok, because the best part is getting cards from Wes. Yesterday, he commented he is looking for a new bombing target, and part of me feels excited, and the other part is scared if I become his focus. Until he makes up his mind, let's see what we traded in this WC.

This is the card that started it. Having choice over all 32 offerings, it was too difficult to pass on an autograph of one of the all time greats. There are some players you need an autograph from, no matter who you cheer for. Gibson is easily on that list.

Wes always has a stash of White Sox. I think he has a stash of everything. Love that Pinnacle - the scan does no justice to it.

More ChiSox. I had zero of those cracked ice or whatever they call that parallel for Bowman. Nice to add a great player like Paulie.

That's not just Ron Kittle. That is OVERSIZED Ron Kittle. No one would wear those glasses nowadays.

Wes tossed in a nice bonus auto of Erik Johnson from Tier 1. Johnson needs to get his ERA down or consider becoming a relief pitcher. Love adding this card to my collection, though.

Thanks Wes. Maybe we do this World Cup of Trading more often? Maybe Shakira will do the theme song?

Hello stranger.

When I jumped into the blogging world of card collectors, my eyes were opened to new things I had never experienced before. I started looking at all my cards differently and deciding to collect in a far different manner. I learned about player collections, oddballs and the greatness of a penny, nickel, dime and quarter box at card shows. I found a way to let go of cards I wasn't too attached to because someone else would really like it, and send me back something I would really like. I learned about dropping cards on people just because it was fun. And I found out about box/case breaks.

Getting in on group breaks have been one of the more fun things to be a part of. It's a great way to get more of what I really want at a cost that fits my needs. My favorite breaker was Sam at The Daily Dimwit. Sam's a rare breed, being an Astro fan. You don't find too many of them. Sam and I have a kinship in the sense that we have each watched our beloved teams get royally screwed my Topps in recent releases, giving a card to some AA Yankee prospect over a proven daily player on either of our teams. Sam got a bit disenfranchised with it all and took a little break.  Luckily, the love of the hobby brought him back, and Sam is a great read and an even better trader.

Sam and I are each working on the 2013 Panini Golden Age set. So we were able to help each other out with some commons. Rice and Bigfoot are the last two base cards I needed for the set.

He also hooked me up with about 3 dozen minis towards the set. Oh, Jane Russell......

Thanks a bunch, Sam. Now, how about getting back into some group breaks?

It's good I didn't have to wait 365 days.

Six days.

144 hours.

8640 minutes.

For those of us that are not rooting for a team playing in October, that is all the time we have left for the 2013 season. For some, like the Rangers, Yankees or Nationals, they wish the season had another week or so left. For others, like the Astros, Marlins or my Sox, it cannot end soon enough. 2013 is a season I want to forget. Come February, though, we all we be ready for the 2014 season with high hopes.

P-town Tom knows this all too well. Hell - he even named his blog over the motto of the Chicago Cubs - Waiting 'til Next Year. Normally, I would rip on the north side counterparts to my Sox here, but I know when I have no leg to stand on. But crappy teams aside, as a fan, Tom knows how to send a trade package. 

MIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIISSSSS!!!! Tom was able to knock a total of 9 from my needs list for Kimball (not pictured: the Big Hurt). Still need a far amount to go, so dig through your boxes.

Oh boy. MIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSS!!! Tom also had a far amount of '13 Topps minis he needed to unload. Why sure I will take them. But that is not the last of the unloading. Tom asked if he could dump some ChiSox my way. The dumping included....

Unknown Sox.

Shiny Sox (love that Crede).

Oddball Sox. Thigpen with a beard? I don't remember that! That is my 2nd Laser cut card.

Then the package got amazing with stuff like....

Topps HD. I have never had one of these in my hands. Now I have two. The scans do them no justice. But the amazing didn't stop there. How about these cards, which started the trade emails.

Tom also got these with the 2013 Topps mini break he was in. My 2nd pink min, 12/25, and a nice swatch of Danks. Normally, that would be the end of the post. Best for last, right? Believe or not, there was a card in the package that I think trumps these two.

1962 Exhibits. I have seen these on eBay in my Pierce searches but never really spent the time to determine just what they are. When I pulled this out, it gave me the incentive to learn more about them. Basically, they are post card sized cards produced by Chicago based Exhibit Supply Company. The cards were purchased from vending machines. Just read this and learn more. Here's what I know - I need the Exhibits of Billy Pierce more than ever. 

Thanks a ton for the amazing trade, Tom. Until next year, when I can make fun of the Cubs again.

Catching up before I head out.

Pack wars tonight at my LCS. My wife is coming along, partially cuz of the free food (I hope it's good), but mostly because she gets nothing but joy watching grown man act like fools and spend lots of money.

And to think she almost married this.

The first package I need to get up comes from Julie at Funner Here. Jules is the Halladay stalker, with a side of Cliff Lee. I drop dang near everything I pull with Roy on it to her about once a month. She sent back a nice assortment of cards that she said she owed me, and didn't want to transport here for the National.

Quick side note: Julie, nor any of you, ever "owe me" anything. If we work out a large trade, it just the trade cards. If I send you a PWE, it's cuz I want to send a PWE. If you want to send something back, that is your choice. However, I would send you a hundred PWEs and not think once about sending #101 if you never sent anything back. PWEs are great fun to get in the mail. Join my Club PWE if you haven't, ok?

Alright, back to the goodies. How about some set fillers?

2013 GQ insert (sorry Gary, my OCD puts you on your head) and a nice SP for my Heritage set. How about some Sale's?

I bought 2 packs of 2013 Bowman - I'm done with that, so it was nice to get a couple White Sox Bowmans from Julie. I also never pulled the Sale from last year's crappy (IMO) Heritage set. How about some serials?

Now that is how you ship a Museum card - no creases! And that Buehrle Chrome has the worst Chrome curve I have ever seen. It's a nice low number though - #19/199. How about some oddballs?

I am not sure if it is a running joke with Julie, but this is the 2nd time she has included cards that don't match anything. I am certain she mistook the Chacin as a White Sox. And the Bradley? Well.... The best part - I love these cards. I think I will start a "why did I get this in a trade" binder for stuff like this. :) And lastly, how about some awesomeness?

That would be Reed rookie auto #2 in my collection. YES!!! He, and Begley. are the lone highlights of this horrible season. And the sparkle Dunn is quite sparkley. Thanks again, Julie. See you in 2 weeks!

Now yesterday, I posted my Bip'ing from Pat at Hot Corner Cards. Pat commented there were more in the envelope, which is true. I always planned to show the other three cards - you just have to highlight a Bip'ng when it happens.

Two new additions to the DP binder, and a nice Topps 2012 insert I had yet to pull or receive. So thanks as always, Pat. See all the love in the PWE? Even with the Bip'ing, it ruled!

Trade #22: kind of an ironic number

Here's a hopefully quick post on a pretty quick trade. Adam, the World Series Champions Giants fan who runs ARPSmith's Sportscard Obsession, posted about a jumbo box break of Topps update. Lot of stuff for trade, but nothing that showed my boys. At the bottom, though, he commented that his only relic hit was of a Red and he would have preferred one of his beloved Giants swatches from the All Star game. Conveniently, about two hours prior, I had pulled a Sandoval relic card he sought. Easiest trade ever. After the standard emails, I pulled a few extra cards and got ready to pack it up. Good timing by Adam, though, in taking a day or so to get me his mailing address. I picked up a couple rack packs and damned if I didn't pull a Matt Cain relic for him as well. So the two relics, and a few Giants cards are off to Adam. Just received his package, and those two AS relics transformed into...

YUMMY! My only relic at this point of Thome is as a Phillie. No offense, Julie, but it sucks (in a sense). Now I have a Sox Thome, and the card looks better in hand than from the scan. Check out the pinstripe peeking out on the Quentin.

Thanks Adam. Pretty cool how a couple emails magically change relics from blue to white/gray.

Breaking the mailman's back - Trade #12

Quite the mail day here at 2x3 headquarters. With my trade activity, and a bit of buying on eBay, I am usually getting 1 to 2 packages a week. Not too shabby. Always open to find stuff that thrills me, then instantly goes into my personal collection. Today, the mailbox was stuffed with 4 packages. Four in one day. And oh, what packages they are. We have a trade that traveled many a mile to get in that mailbox out front. We have card pulls from a 3 box opening that are plenty sweet. And then two low cost eBay wins that were just too good to pass up.

So, you ask, are you going to show us already, or will you ramble on and on about the fate of the dinosaurs being linked to the invention of Quisp cereal? While that would make for fascinating discussion, I'll stick with the scans this time.

Let's take a look at yours and mine favorite European collector, Dutch Card Guy. I had read his site a few times, and how I never looked at his wants list stuns me. But I did, and while my package is still in transit, his came and baby, what an envelope. For starters, let's count 79 2012 GQ base. DCG didn't hit that list, he wrestled it to the ground in a choke hold and made it cry for it's mommy. You can see what's left after the wonderful carnage if you view my wants up top. Couple dozen to go - search your doubles and let's fill this for me, shall we?

That is a mighty nice Dye swatch, #187/199. Always like a Thome. And Sale has a chance to really make it in the bigs, so a rookie card will fit in well with my Sox collection.

Here's a great 3 from the champs of 2005. Crede (there will be a Crede project in the near future), Podzilla, (and the missus), and Iguchi. I really like the Podsednik card. Yet another card I never knew existed. DCG also dropped a few more of the Bowmans, a nice Justin Greene Bowman chrome, two 86 Fleer in their softball unis and a couple others. I good century total of cards. Thanks much, DCG. You really want to help Dutch fill his want lists, so go check them out.

Tomorrow, we'll look at the box break haul.

New section - trade bait

Since I see plenty of other folks waving around their wares like they just don't care (oh, they care), I figured I best jump on that wagon. New page available at the top showing relics that are up for the picking. If you see something you like, find my email at the top of the page and we'll start a dialog. I am more than confident we'll reach an agreement. And no - I will not take your kids in trade. And not your wife either, unless you are Ryan Reynolds and you are offering your recent ex-wife. She would be worth 2 relics.....maybe three. I am still working out the conversion chart on that.