A gift from Rod

When I didn't get any cards in the mail Saturday, July 2nd, I figured I was in for a dry spell thanks to mail-less Sunday and then the Monday holiday. But no, local collector/blogger and fellow Padres fan Rod from Padrographs knocked on my door to surprise me (and my dog Annie who gave him many greeting licks) with an incredible bag full of cards n' such.

This mess of cards in the above photo is comprised entirely of Tony Gwynn cards! Several new to my collection in here, plus plenty of dupes to spread around.

Bunch o' Bips!

Some highlights from the many other miscellaneous Padres include this Alan Wiggins minor league card from the Hawaiian Islanders (always love old school minor league cards!), plus the Will Ferrell Padres card. I scored the Ferrell in a trade a while back, so this one could be available for trade if anyone needs it.

Some super premium cards of 90s SD sluggers.

Rod also hooked me up with some dupes from his project to get a signed Padres card of anyone who ever suited up for the Padres. I believe these are all customs save for the minor league Fritz. There were even a couple more that didn't make it in the photo because they were sticking behind other cards. Good stuff! Love the Horace Clarke.. with the name so nice he signed it twice.

In addition to those IP/TTM autos, Rod even had some certified autos to share with me. Very cool.

Changing course from all the Padres cards, here's a nice trio of additions to my Greatest Gavins minicollection.

Even a Gavin cup! That's a trading first for me, LOL.

Let's close out with this beauty. I've never owned a copy of Wade Boggs' iconic 1983 Topps rookie before, and I had been hankering for it so I added it to my Desperate Double Dozen a while ago. Rod graciously helped me check that one off the list.

Big thanks again, Rod! As always, just say the word if I can ever return the favor with any cards or customs/photoshop work for you.

2016 Stadium Club hobby box (with case hit!)

The other day my lovely wife randomly sent me a link for an eBay discount code that was expiring within the hour. I searched around for a wanted card or card lot over the minimum dollar amount so I could take advantage of it. At first I couldn't find anything good that fit in that price range, but then I searched for hobby boxes, and when 2016 SC popped up, that worked for me so I pulled the trigger. The coupon code brought my cost down to a tick below the trending price, so I was happy with that.

Let's check out what the box had in store for me...

Starting out with some inserts, I think this is the first time I'd ever been able to piece together a couple of those Triumvirate die-cuts, so that was kinda cool. I think the "Luminous" cards are supposed to only be one per box, so guess I got lucky pulling a second one.

I kept seeing the back of the inserts as I was opening the packs, seeing names like Trout and Kershaw and getting excited for a second thinking "Maybe this is one of my 2 promised autos!" But nope, I'd flip them over and realize they were just regular inserts.

Here're some base cards of current superstars.

And some of this year's hot rookies.

Here are the parallels I got. The Rondon is black, while the rest are gold. I was happy to pull the Giancarlo, though the rest are available for trade.

Here are some retired stars I grew up watching.

And some guys from before my time. Lou Brock tragically got boring cards most of his playing career, usually just standing around, so it's nice to see an exciting photo of him on a card for once.

A few more active guys I collect. Per usual, Stadium Club delivers with some great photos.

My autos didn't really knock my socks off, gotta say. Rob Refsnyder and Kevin Plawecki. I've already pulled autos of both these guys from Panini products within the past year, so I had some "Not him again?!" feelings. Both are decent young players (and hey New York teams so big fanbase) though definitely not among the better names on the auto checklist to hope for. As I pulled the second auto (Plawecki) from the dwindling packs, I began to worry the box was a bit of a bust for me (I know, I know.. Stadium Club isn't about the hits). But that feeling only lasted a brief moment because the very next card in that pack was this case hit:

Boom! Coverboy Carlos Correa Members Only parallel! Again, these Members Only parallels are one per case. To pull a big name such as the reigning AL ROY is quite lucky on my part. These aren't serial numbered unfortunately, but we're talking about a print run in single digits. If I wanted to sell it, it's reasonable to think I might be able to fully recoup the cost of the box with this one card, or at least get close. There don't seem to be any on eBay yet, either in current or completed listings, so it's hard to say. But I like the idea of having a good card of Correa, so I plan to hang onto it.

So yeah, thanks in large part to the Members Only hit, this turned out to be a pretty sweet box for me.
Thanks for stopping by and checking it out! I'll have plenty of base cards to trade for you guys working on the set.

P.S. Don't forget it's Pull Tab Awareness Week! I've got a little contest going n' everything, if you missed it yesterday.

Pull Tab Awareness Week 2016!

It's that time again... Pull Tab Awareness Week! It's the week when we collectors rally together to bring awareness to proper sportscard shipping best practices.

I've heard the argument "When you buy a card, you're not buying a toploader or other supplies, only the card." By that logic, you have dinner at a restaurant and expect them to dish out the food directly into your hands. No, of course it's expected that they'll provide a clean plate and any necessary utensils for your food. Buying a card online similarly should imply that the seller will provide adequate service when packaging and shipping the card.

It's one of the biggest plights for the sportscard collecting enthusiast of today:

Scotch tape.

Specifically, irresponsible usage of scotch tape to protect cards.

Don't get me wrong, tape is a must-have item for anyone who ever ships cards. A piece of tape over the opening of a top loader prevents the card from slipping out and potentially being damaged in shipment. At some point we've all been the victim of a negligent newb card seller who just throws a top-loader into a bubble mailer willy-nilly (or worse yet, a PWE) and you open to the horrific sight of the card poking out, with a dinged corner or two. A few cards secured between a couple pieces of protective cardboard by some tape is also a good way to keep them safe from the rigors of interstate travel.

But too often, the person mailing the cards doesn't take a moment to think about the recipient. I'm sure you've been in the frustrating situation many times: spending what seems like several minutes chipping away at a piece of tape with your fingernail, trying to free your newly obtained card(s). Such a pain! You could also use a knife or scissor blade to cut the tape, but you run the risk of slipping and cutting in too far, potentially damaging the card. And either way, if it's a top loader, now you've got a trashy-looking top loader with a cut-up piece of tape on it.. time to get your fingernails involved again. Depending on the tape, it could take just a moment, or it could be on there so badly (chipping off in tiny brittle bits, or not coming off at all) that the card holder is essentially ruined. Even in the best-case scenario, some Goo Gone is usually needed to remove the sticky tape residue.

This disheartening scene could easily be avoided!

All the sender needs to do is spend two seconds to fold over a tiny piece of tape, creating a handy pull-tab. This pull-tab makes it super easy for the recipient to grab hold of the tape and peel it off in one efficient motion. No dangerous blades or fingernail frustration needed!

CREATING A PULL-TAB

Step 1: Apply tape to one side.

Step 2: At the end of the remaining tape, fold over a piece about a centimeter long, with the sticky part being stuck against itself, creating a non-sticky pull-tab roughly the shape of a square.

Step 3: Apply the remaining tape to the other side.

Tips:

• You can also double up on the pull-tabs to make opening cards later even easier. Just follow the above process for each side of the tape you apply.

• It's also nice to write "pull" on either the tab itself or on the protective cardboard with an arrow pointing to the tab. This is helpful for individuals who might not immediately recognize the tab you've thoughtfully created for them.

Advanced Pro Tips:

• Blue painter's tape is the best tape to use! It costs a little more than regular clear scotch tape, but it comes off so easily and residue-free that your recipient will love you for it! (For you thrifty types out there, know that blue tape can be reused several times! If somebody sends you a card with some blue tape, put it aside to use again later with someone else.)
• To be a Super Awesome Card Sender, also put a little piece of paper over the top-loader opening, and tape it on (with pull-tabs, of course!) This will help prevent the rare but tragic occurrence of the card sticking to the tape. This is especially a good idea with old vintage cardboard (more liable to stick and be damaged than today's cards) or when using extra thick top-loaders, such as with relics or other fat cards.
• Tape can be avoided all together with the use of a team bag secured over a top-loader. Some people, like fellow blogger RAZ (check out his method here), go all out and use blue tape, a paper buffer, and a team bag. Bless these heroes!

A+++++ transaction!!! Would deal with again!

Warnings:

• Don't make the tab so big that there's not enough sticky part of the tape left to get a secure seal. You want at least a half-inch of sticky part remaining to ensure that the tape holds during transit. If you've got limited tape length to work with, it's better to have a "too small" pull-tab, than "too big". Even if it's too small, at least the recipient can have a good start for his fingernails.

• If you write "pull" to identify the tab, be sure to write gently. Writing too hard could damage the card.

USING A PULL-TAB

Step 1: Pull tab.

Step 2: There is no step 2; you're done, bro! Throw away the tape that easily came off, and enjoy your new card(s) and pristine top-loader!

It's just that easy! How has this not caught on? I'm still amazed at the lack of convenient pull-tabs. I've gotten several hundred shipments of cards from dudes on eBay, Listia, or other online trades & sales, and only maybe 5% of them had pull-tabs. Why?! It's so easy to do and so handy for the person getting the cards!

YOU CAN HELP

Please, everyone, spread the word. Mention Pull-Tab Awareness Week on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, and to your trade buddies, frequented sellers, whatever! Even just one retweet or a little "P.S. It's Pull-Tab Awareness Week. Please use pull tabs" at the bottom of your next blog or social media post! Let's get everyone on the pull-tab bandwagon and make all our lives just a bit better.

Even if it's not a big deal to you personally and you don't mind fighting with stubborn pieces of tape around your cards, chances are it bugs somebody you trade with. Be kind, make pull-tabs!

Yes, it's a "first world problem", but such a senseless thing that shouldn't even be an issue. Let's eradicate this and move forward as a species. It'll save people a lot of time.. and time is money.. money that could be used for feeding the homeless or medical treatment for children.

Here are some copy-and-paste-ready text and pictures for you to use on Twitter or wherever (feel free to create your own, too, of course):

It's Pull-Tab Awareness Week! When you use tape around sports cards, fold a piece near the end as a handy pull-tab. Please RT! #makepulltabs

Be Cool, make a Pull-Tab! Fold over the end of the tape when packaging your sportscards for shipping. #makepulltabs

We're here. We want pull-tabs. Get used to it. #makepulltabs Please RT! #collect

What do we want? Pull Tabs! When do we want it? When people send us cards! #makepulltabs #collect

Hey everybody, please make handy pull tabs by folding the tape ends when taping up cards to ship. Thanks! #makepulltabs

This year I'm again throwing in a little CONTEST aspect too! Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, forums, whatever. Mention the virtues of pull-tabs, or share one of the above pictures or text (or make your own), or share a link to this post.. whatever! Just make your voice heard against poorly packaged cards sometime this week! Then post a link to your proud stand against scotch-ternary in the comments of this post to enter. A lucky winner will get some free cards tailored to their particular collecting habits.
And included in the prize package will be this 2005 Topps Finest black refractor auto of Tab Perry (get it? Tab?!) #'d 4/99. Sweet card!

Tab Perry (his real name!) set numerous records as kick returner for UCLA. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2005 NFL Draft and finished the season with a franchise record 1,562 kickoff return yards, assisting the team to an 11-5 record and their first playoff appearance in over a decade. He later played for the Miami Dolphins before injuries derailed his promising NFL career.

Thanks for reading and thank you for your commitment to excellence in packaging sports cards!

catching a ballgame + 1997 Bowman hobby box

The Portland Pickles are a new collegiate woodbat baseball team, doing their best to fill the void in town since the AAA Portland Beavers moved away a few years ago. My wife and I hopped on the train yesterday afternoon and caught our first game of theirs.

We found a decent spot on the grass down the left field line. The home team got off to a rough start with the visiting Lodi Crushers scoring 3 in the 1st thanks to some sloppy defense, but the Pickles came back to tie it up, eventually taking the lead.

It was a pretty big turnout. In fact, I think it was a sellout and set their attendance record. A great day for baseball.

Selfie time!

Guy warming up in the bullpen.

It was my first live baseball game since catching a Hillsboro Hops game last year.

We ended up taking off in the 8th inning because we wanted to catch the train home (and it was that or wait a long time for the next one), plus neither of us brought a jacket and it was getting a little chilly by that point. The Pickles held on to win (link to recap), so that's nice.

I had printed up a few generic cards for autographs, but we didn't arrive early enough or stay late enough to score any signatures. Maybe next time.

So yeah, that was a fun evening at the ballpark. Would definitely go back again.


Switching gears... Here's another box I picked up cheap a couple months ago to have something around to rip on days I otherwise didn't get any new cards. Took me a while, but I finally got through it. Time for the highlights..

My Frank Thomas PC saw some additions thanks to the box. The American flags here help me meet the minimum requirements for a proper 4th of July blogpost. Happy Birthday, USA!

Some more inserts, with a Konerko and a couple Astros. These are available for trade, if anyone's interested.

Some base veteran cards of dudes I collect. Canseco looks kinda strange in his A's double-dip.

Here's a nice selection of "First Bowman Card" prospects. Forgot to include Halladay and Sean Casey in the photo. I think that's my first pack-pulled card of Guy From Granite John Barnes.. kinda cool, even if I did already pick it up from Just Commons a while back.

And a couple other prospect cards of guys I collect, Derrek Lee (from his brief Padres tenure) and Vladimir Guerrero. There were slight odds at pulling a Vlad auto from the box, though I wasn't so lucky. That guy was a beast in his prime.

Thanks for reading and hope you have/had an awesome 4th!

a hobby box of 2000 Topps Series 2

I picked up a cheap box of 2000 Topps Series 2 recently for something to rip. I wasn't collecting at the time, so I don't have that many cards from the set and have never ripped any previously.

These Hank Aaron reprint inserts might've been the highlights for me. The odds are 1:25 for a regular reprint, such as the 1969 here, and a tougher 1:100 for a Chrome reprint, such as the 1970.

There was a box topper of an oversized Bonds card, later to be joined by his normal-sized version.

Some decent inserts here.

John Franco hot box. I like that Gwynn.

Some base cards of dudes I collect.

On the left.. Now, was that the Angels' real uniform for a while, or was it a special Turn Ahead the Clock gimmick?

On the right is my toughest pull of the box. These MVP Promotion parallels are 1:520. Too bad Matt Clement isn't a big name (and the card is off center), but hey, at least it's a Padres card (If I was a team collector, this would be a great pull for me, but alas.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday weekend blaster in honor of America

I had my heart set on some 1997 Fleer Tiffany Redux (aka 2016 Stadium Club) this weekend, but there was none to be found at the grocery store. They had a few discounted blasters.. but none were baseball (Score something football, UD something hockey, maybe a NC basketball or something). Full price blasters included Gypsy Queen and Series 2.. pass. Hangers of Donruss and Bowman.. nah. A lone blaster of 2016 Archives got my attention, but I was strong and put it back and went and did my shopping. I already bought 2 hobby boxes of that product.. and the collation wasn't great (lotsa dupes). Then I came back a little later and gave the crumpled blaster another long look. Then I put it back and continued with my shopping list. They I came back a third time. My self-restraint finally wavered and I reluctantly threw it in my cart. I really wanted something to rip this weekend, damn it! So let's take a look at the highlights.

Inserts and a parallel. WhoTF is Tom Murphy? Wasn't he on MST3K? Love that show.

Every kid dreams of pulling a card of a film director. Topps with their finger on the pulse again. Of course the best Bull Durham inserts are auto-only/no base because that was a good idea! :P
Ron Blomberg is a cool figure (DHing Hebrew Hammer), though this is not one of the better FDP inserts to pull.

Somehow a couple Mothers Cookies cards got mixed in. Who am I to question? If I needed that McCutchen, it's a nice PC hit for me. Pollack available for trade.

Is Corey Seager still super hot? Can I sell this base card and recoup the cost of the blaster? Please?

Some other dudes I collect (many of which I've already pulled with my 2 hobby boxes). Looks like 1991 Topps design is the leader here. Zero SPs in the blaster: boo.

Yeah, the box was a bust but hey I still pulled a Griffey 1/1 auto in one of my boxes, so I feel like I'm playing with house money. Fingers crossed that redemption comes home successfully one of these days. But with my luck it won't and will be another horror story for the regret pile that is my life.

There you go. Love you. Stay safe. Happy 4th!
-Gav

jaybarkerfan trade? Oh, it's ON!!

This package from Wes showed up the other day, and while it wasn't an epic bomb like he sometimes unleashes, it still packed a solid punch.

A couple more letters! A skeleton and a lobsterman, sounds like a comic book villain team. I believe I'm now down to only needing a B and a K to have accomplished my goal of spelling out BASEBALL CARD BREAKDOWN in cards. So if you have a B or K card and want to be a hero, send it over!

A couple Gavin Floyd cards I didn't have. Very nice. Especially love the pretty 2010 purple refractor #/599.

The gavalcade continues with a couple nice Gavin Escobar cards.

Big thanks, Wes! Always a pleasure!

To check out what I sent him a while back (featuring some of my best custom work, I think), check out his post here.