National recap: the hits

Thanks for coming back. Yesterday I talked about the amazing vintage I scored at the National this past Saturday. Today, let's look at the hits. Besides the vintage and about 40 set builders, the rest of my purchases were a couple serialed cards, a box of Panini Golden Age and then the giveaways for said box, and one giveaway from Topps. I think, considering, I did okay. Well, you be the judge.

For starters, Topps gave away National exclusives for ripping packs at their booth. There were 8 total cards, and I only cared about one. So three packs of series 2 netted me that card.

It's the Thomas you see on the right. On the left, that's a Beckham card, refractor #130/199. For those that have been a while here, it's the same card as the auto I wanted, mentioned in this post.

Hi - remember me?

Don't even fricking start with me, Vicki. Anyway, the refractor was the cost of a paper Washington.

I like unique cards, and have wanted to pick up one of these stamp cards from Leaf for a while. Swatch of Fisk along with a nice 3 cent stamp. I paid 5 bucks for this. It came in a nice, heavy screw down holder. So really, I paid just 3 Washington's for a Fisk relic.

I mentioned I bought one box for $60. With Panini, if you ripped the box at their booth, you received 4 exclusive packs - two cards in each. Here are the only two local boys I pulled. No complaints.

I pulled a serieled EJ Manuel, whomever he is. Plus that douche Kapernick. Is it just me, or is his whole "bicep kissing" a full on jag move? Where's Butkus or Ditka when you need them? End your love affair with your arms real quick, buddy. I did get one hit in my redemption packs.

Piece of a glove from some 3rd round draft pick. Basically, if it's football, I am open to trade it away. You know how to find me. 

Last to feature is the box of Golden Age. I really like this product. Yes, it is basically A&G without the logos for the ball players. However, the card stock is nice and the selection of personnel is sweet. Jockeys, movie stars, TV stars, golfers...heck - I pulled a Buckwheat rookie card.

I say, ol' chap...that is quite the prodigious acquisition. 

You get 3 hits in the box - two autographs and one relic. So for three Hamiltons, I ended up with...

A Bill Terry bat. NY Giants Hall of Famer.

Steve Stone autograph. On card - very nice. And the hit of the day:

BOOM! And I am sorry, Tiger readers - this card is not available for trade.

Alright - two posts down. Tomorrow, I ramble about the sights. I have a picture or two to share.

National recap: the vintage

I did the National on Saturday. First time ever at the yearly event. To sum it up with one word:

Overwhelming

I would sum it up with two words, but I don't want to use that kind of language on the blog.

They really made a lot of changes since the last Club Penguin update.

My wife was generous to let me have a day at the event on my lonesome. I appreciate it, as I was so taken aback I spent a lot of it just roaming and trying to take it all in. As opposed to the 70 table card show I frequent, this was easier 6 times larger, with a wider variety to see and buy. It was almost a mini Hall of Fame (more about that in a later post). I had a decent cash flow to spend, and spend it I did. Though, again - overwhelmed - so I probably missed a ton of great stuff. Since I have an idea what to expect, I will be ready for 2014 in Cleveland. Or 2015 back here. 

Anyway, I thought I would share my spoils over a few posts, starting with vintage. For those seeking vintage, oh baby the National is for you. I think that was what threw me the most - seeing all the cards I really only read about. Sure, I didn't get to handle them (and at times, was so blown away I forgot to take pictures of them), but to actually see one just inches from my face made the event fun. Plenty of cheap vintage was available for my budget, however.

I made the most quantity of purchase (except for '13 set builders) from one vendor. Like these two Mazeroski's. Except for that blemish/burn mark at the bottom of the '59, it looks fresh out of a pack. These two cards only set me back 2 bucks.

Same vendor had this '61 Kubek for my double play binder. This was also in the dollar box.

Again with the vendor, though I moved out of the dollar box. They had a few cards from this 1959 Ted Williams set. While this is not showing the turn at two, I am putting it in my double play binder because of the mention of DPs at the bottom. Well loved with all the creases. Cost - $1.50.

This vendor's discount vintage box was just amazing. They actually had a Mantle in there. I forget the year, but it we really beat up, torn in half and taped together. I couldn't drop the money they were asking for that card. However, I couldn't pass up these three 51 Bowmans. The Trucks is trimmed at the top for some reason, but perfect otherwise. Lollar has some rounded corners and fading on the front. The Wertz has a crease in the middle and some paper loss. Yet, when you consider the three cost me $5.50, I was happy to own them.

Last card from this vendor. I was shocked to pull this out of the discount box. Who finds a 1934 Goudey in a discount box? Yes, condition is poor. It's not a White Sox and it is a common from the set. It also set me back a meer five bucks, so all that doesn't matter.

The last vintage came from two different vendors. I figured I should be able to knock the last few cards of the Pierce Project. I needed 4 - now I need two.

1954 Bowman. Amazing condition and only five bucks. I almost pulled the trigger on eBay for one in slightly poorer condition and at a higher price. Glad I held out.

1960 Topps All Star. This is a high number, so to get this card, looking pack fresh, for $8 was worth the price. All that leaves me to finish Billy's card collection is a couple Red Man. Soon.....

So there's one recap. Tomorrow, let's talk current cards, including the only box I ripped.

Throwback Thursdays - 08.01.2013

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Adam Wainwright - 2011 Topps factory set - St. Louis Cardinals

The end of an era.

What do they say? "Life ebbs and flows like the waters of the ocean"? "The meaning of life is that it stops"? "It is not the length of life; it is the depth of life"? "Between birth and death, life happens in the blink of an eye"?

Life is like a box of chinchillas. Or something like that - I forget what Momma said.

For the past few days, I have been busy in my back yard tending to this:

That would be what is left of our pool. Best guess: there was some major wind activity the night before that tossed around the patio furniture. I picked it up, but it must have weakened it enough as it burst about 18 hours later. 30k+ of water rushed out. Bet it looked AWESOME! But that pool has been up for a good 12 years. However, the only one that still used it much was my wife (and the dog). The kids are all grown and don't swim anymore. 

On the positive side, home owners covered the replacement of it, so win win! Anyway, I need to get this post back to cards, so how about a quick posting of a PWE I received from Roy at Plain Gray Swatch. He joined up with Club PWE. Roy was kind enough to send something back, though I certainly do not expect it. If you join Club PWE, I will send you stuff and you never have to send me anything back. If you want to - awesome. You're sweet.

Like my favorite ribbon candy, honey.

What did Roy send back? How about...

Prospects.

Colored parallels.

And more. Topps really should have put this with a complete home uniform instead of the alts. 

Anyway, thanks Roy. And goodbye, Jacuzzi brand pool. I will never forget your coolness, your waves, your noodle fights, and your hard to manage pH levels.

LET'S DO THIS!!!

There's been quite a lot of incoming cardboard here at Plaza 2x3 Heroes. Been doing a lot of sorting and organizing. The binders getting the most activity have been the double play and the bunting binders. Not to say that throwbacks have been ignored. When I organize the DP binder, I try to put the players together, as well as the similar cards together. For example, three years of Ian Desmond are all in a row, and on another page, I have the gold of Mike Availes 2012 Topps right next to the orange refrector from Chrome.

Well, in organizing, I noticed I have the base, red and blue of Gordon Beckham's 2013 Topps.

I decided I am going for the rainbow. That's where you all come in - to save me from COMC or eBay. I will need to fill the remaining slots (and a 2nd page) with the following:

gold
purple (Toys R Us)
emerald
black
cammo
pink
silver slate blue (wrapper redemption)

And if possible:
printing plate (just one will do)
platinum

In one sense, I am lucky - Gordon is not in the Opening Day set, so that takes 3 cards off the list (base, blue and purple). If you have any of rest I need, please email me and let's make this happen.

Messy

Everytime I think I am close to having my desk back, someone has to go and send me some cards. What is with you people? Are you all on something?

Can you share, dude? Far out.

In all fun, nothing is better then walking in the door and seeing an envelope or two sitting on the table for me. Keep them coming! Got a couple I want to share. First is JD from Buckstore Cards. The guy loves him some repack, which gives him +15 manna in my book. Plus he likes hockey - 3% chance to deflect attack when struck. So a nice envelope filled with Blackhawks greeted me.

My daughter was fond of the middle card. Ahhh - 17 and hormones. 

Interesting choice by In The Game for a prospect card. I guess that's how you get around the lack of a NHL license. Matt Ellison was a bust as a Hawk, but a fantastic bust. See - he was part of the trade that brought Patrick Sharp to Chicago. Some nice Lysiak vintage at the bottom. 

Hoss and Bolly. I hate to see Bolland go, but his best years may be behind him with his recent rash of injuries. 

Ahhhh - good memories. Winning it all in 2010 was such a great time here in Chicago. It seems like forever since we hoisted the hardware. Oh wait - it was just 33 days ago!!! Thanks for the collection addition, JD.

Pat at Hot Corner hit me up again with a PWE. Since the last one was "interesting", let's see round two. Six cards in the envelope, so let's count them down.

Three Stadium Club bunting. I wonder if Espy on the end has ever considered suing EPSN?

Another bunter, but not Stadium Club. However, a really sweet throwback from that set.

Really?

Throwback Thursdays - 07.25.2013

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Alexie Ramirez - 2009 Topps Unique - Chicago White Sox