Early Santa visit? Nope, but close....

I received an envelope in the post the other day. It's that time of year. Xmas cards from folks you haven't seen or talked to in way too long.
Only the card in this envelope wasn't the Xmas kind. Although it was from a friend I haven't talked to in the previously mentioned way too long.

Jim, from gcrl fame, and with a newish blog to give us his thoughts, ( click here  cards as i see them ) sent over this extremely shiny monstrosity.

Some sapphire parallel that is supposedly /250 but Topps was too lazy to number it.
It's nice when people remember you when they pull certain cards. This will go very nicely into my Adam binder.

Adam is retired now, so his card count in future year's offerings should fall slightly. Probably down to 0.

Thanks for the thought pal. I've got a little something for you once the holiday mail rush dies down. No way I'm going anywhere near a post office right now. Yikes.

Patience. 5 1/2 years worth of patience.

There comes a time in this hobby when most collectors realize that this isn't a race. There is absolutely no need to rush out and buy the latest and greatest the week after release.

 

It's a hard lesson to learn. Some of us never learn it. I feel that's a big reason why there is burnout and people drop the hobby after going all in for as long as they could.

 

I know it was a huge lesson for me. But I am a much happier collector now. And like all good things, they come to those who wait for them.

 

And wait.

 

Aaaaaaand wait.

 

5 1/2 years.

 

Cue the wavy picture and the dreamy music as we flashback to 2008.

 

There was a product called Upper Deck Premier. My guy Adam LaRoche had several cards in the set. And several parallel cards... all of them pretty. I wanted ALL THE LAROCHE CARDS!

 

The thing is, I acquired a lot of them too. Just because I had one /10, doesn't mean I didn't want 2 or 3 or 4 of them.

 

The same goes for /15 and /25. So you know that carried over to the ones /30.

 

Thirty! Easy! Might as well get them all!

 

I think I have 10 or so of the /30. I was buying them for fair prices. Between $7 and $15.

 

Then another one popped up on the 'bay. #28/30. It was beautiful. I wanted it.

 

No. I needed it.

 

Problem..... it had a Buy It Now of $25, with a Best Offer option. $25????? Is he insane?

 

So I buckled down and offered him half. More than I wanted seeing as it would also have $3.50 shipping.

 

He came back at $22. Ha! I declined.

 

A year goes buy and that card is still in my Watched Items.

 

I offer $10. Still plus $3.50 shipping.

 

He refuses.

 

A year goes by.

 

I offer him $9.

 

Nope.

 

Another year goes by.

 

My offer goes up to $10 again.

 

No dice.

 

So I give up. But I still watch MY card in my Watched Items. And it stays there... month after month. At $25, for another 2 1/2 years.

 

Then, in December of 2013.... the seller has a xmas sale or something.... and low and behold, my card is marked down to $12. Except now it's $5.50 shipping.

 

I send him an offer of $7.50 all in. I've been the only one wanting this card for over five years.

 

I think he finally gave in... he counters at $9.50 shipped.

 

BOOM!!!

 

Patience. A lesson well learned.

Now.......

Why the hell do I need so many copies of the same card????

Am I Crazy? Wait... Don't answer that.... - Adam LaRoche edition

I received an email from someone I've been trading with for a looooong time. He asked me since when did I collect Adam LaRoche cards?

Only since 2007 I replied. He had no idea. I suppose that's my fault. I don't go around trumpeting or renting out a skywriter.

 

But just in case anyone else who reads my drivel didn't know that.... Yes. I want ALL the Adam LaRoche cards.

 

Of course Topps found out and decided to have some fun with me.

 

I call it Parallel Hell.

 

Walk down the path with me, won't you?

 

2013 Base card. Nice. Simple.

 

 the Base Mini... okay. Sure...

 The ubiquitous Gold

 

and of course the gold mini...

 

and the Not found in packs, blue sparkle wrapper redemption....

 

Wal Mart demands they have an exclusive parallel...

and so does the U.S. Army apparently

the Aqua Man seaweed version...

 uh... Gay Pride Parade version?

Toys R Us wanted to get in on the act

and of course so did Target...

Topps also put out an African American parallel

 

the sad part is.... even with all of those, I still don't have them all!!! I know there is a Pink mini, a Grey/Graphite version, as well as an Orange factory set only parallel.... among others I'm sure.

 

Just when your head is spinning, Chrome comes out...

 

 

with their pretty Refractors...

 

 

and X-Fractors. (don't give them any ideas or they'll make the other 25 letters as well)

 

a 1800's Sepia parallel...

a Burgundy (NOT red!)

of course the NAACP is represented again...

a light blue that doesn't look blue version

one of my favourites... Orange!

and Grimace gets his own as well...

 along with Gold, Camo, Pink, yadda yadda yadda.....


my head hurts now... and I'm sure most of you are now asleep dreaming of rainbows. (except you, Mr Putin)

So if any of you didn't know, now you do. And if you have ANY Adam LaRoche cards, please drop me an email so we can swap.

Thanks.

The colour of the day..... is purple.

Today's post is brought to you by.... the colour purple. And the number 9.
For there are 9 different purple cards I want to show you. Everything made sense when you were a kid. I'm not sure what happens to change all that or why.

Here, we like it simple. Some might call me simple. I've been called worse. But I digress.

I came across an online seller who had a card I wanted. Before buying it, I looked to see what else he had. This is why this post has 9 cards, and not 1.

I, like a lot of you, have a weakness for Topps Chrome coloured parallels. Orange may be my favourite. But if you've been paying attention, you'll know that today, we're talking purple.

Craig Kimbrel. I also have the black version of this card. Still need blue, red, orange, etc... etc..

Brian McCann. This one scans really well.

Tommy Hanson. I miss Tommy. I wonder how's he doing on the left coast? A quick check shows he's leading the Angels in wins and ERA (for starters). Good for you Tommy!

 

Brian Snitker. No. Wait. Dan Uggla.

The entire Braves team. It should be Michael Bourn. Find Jason Heyward.... then look down.

Brandon Beachy. I hope he's back soon.... think how good the first place Braves would be with him back pitching. Woot!

Andrelton Simmons. He threw some guy out at first from the outfield grass while sitting on his butt last night. Awesome.

Tyler PastorIwontplayaslongasAndreltonishealthynicky

and the card that started all of this, my old pal and fave, Adam LaRoche.

Not too shabby for $7.50 shipped.

Now I just have to find the rest of the Braves team set in purple. And Orange. And red... blue... black...

latest addition to the family...

May I present to you a 2005 Donruss Diamond King Framed Signature Dual Bat somethingorother of Mr Adam LaRoche.
You see that shiny light electric blue there? If you remember your Donruss, you know what that means......

1/1 baby. I believe that's 12 in my LaRoche collection. Only one is a printing plate. An autographed 2008 UD Black black plate. No, I didn't stutter.

It's always fun adding a card to your favourite player collection, 1/1 or not....

I changed my mind...

Last night after the game I typed out a post. Not just any post, but a Collective Troll length post. It was eloquent and thought provoking a la Night Owl. But I couldn't hit "Publish". I just couldn't do it. It's now deleted.
Why, you ask? Well, it was a bit of a rant. Okay, it was a helluva rant. And I've done that too much lately. You all know how much I love hockey. I'm Canadian, it's part of my DNA. And it pains me to see how far the game has fallen. I was watching my Montreal Canadiens play Team NHL last night. It was horrible. For the third game in a row.
For those of you not watching at home, the american tv execs and the NHL has pre-detemined who will win the Cup. It's bad enough that american tv execs make the schedule, but when they start influencing games, it gets to be too much.
But I am not alone. The CBC started to question the leagues motives openly on air last night. TSN (our ESPN) did the same, calling out the NHL to respond. Even Don Cherry joined in, asking in his own stylish manner, "What the hell is going on?"
They are better at rooting out the bias then I will ever be.
I am just a fan, watching his game be ruined by an asshole in a suit who never played the game.



So, to brighten up my mood.... I went and got the mail, hoping that there was something in it to cheer me up. And now that the snowing has stopped (albeit briefly) it was a nice walk, although a bit brisk.

Success! An Adam LaRoche silver /25 signed ball.
It will go nicely next to his two friends I have waiting.

Very cool. Now that's better. Life is in the simple things kids.

Auto Mania

I just received a package from an ebay seller. I bought several cards from him/her. All "hits". Either jersey, or in most cases, autographs. You ever find a seller who has about 20 cards you're interested in, all ending around the same time, at the right price, and no one else is online? It's rare, but when it happens, it's glorious.

I'll show the first three today. Up first, a 2009 UD Ballpark Rookie Auto of Braves pitcher James Parr, 106/500. The cost? .99 cents. Good thing he's not Japanese.
Next we have an on card Goudey Graph. Sweet assed card if you ask me.... oh yeah, .99 cents for this one as well...

Finally (for this post) we have my boy. Mr Second Half himself. An auto jersey thank you very much.

yeah, it's a sticker auto, but what are ya gonna do? $2.50 brought Adam home.

Why do card shops and shows insist on charging $20, $30, $80! for these things? Do they not have the world wide web at home?

Maybe their mom is on dial up?

Whatever... enjoy, and I'll show off more later. Including a little story on "the curse"

Excuse to collect toys...

The start of a new season means the start of a new year of promotions. Among the riff raff scheduled to be given away at ballparks this year include snuggies, skateboards, foam fingers, action figures, grass seed (the lawn kind), garden gnomes and of course, everyone's favourites, bobbleheads.

I had to pick this Adam LaRoche one (limited to 8000!) up off of fleabay. I also have his from Danville. That was tough to track down.

Anyways... here's your schedule for bobblehead heaven.

April 16 Seattle - Ken Griffey Jr.
April 21 Anaheim - Erick Aybar
April 24 Texas - Elvis Andrus
April 24 San Francisco - Pablo Sandoval
May 7 Seattle - Ken Griffey Jr.
May 16 San Francisco - Willie Mays
June 13 San Francisco - Lucy (from Peanuts)
June 30 Baltimore - Matt Wieters
June 30 Anaheim - Joe Saunders
July 17 Cincinnati - Chris Sabo
July 30 St Louis - Vince Coleman
August 28 San Francisco - Joe DiMaggio (SF Seals)
August 29 Milwaukee - CC Sabathia

none as cool as the Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn from last season... but who can top that? BTW, I'm still wanting one of those if anyone has one available.

trade update

I know most of you tune in every morning to catch the latest update on "Since the Trades" located over on the right side of this ole blog. It's kinda like sitting down with the morning paper (do people still do that?)
Anyways. So far it's been a sham. Frenchy has been killing the ball. Church couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper bag.

But no more!

After last night, Dodger Killer Ryan Church has closed the gap.
3-5, 1 homer and 4 RBI's.
That pretty much doubled his Braves output in one game. My man LaRoche also took an 0-5 in that game, bringing him somewhat back to Earth.

I know you'll continue to tune in every morning for further updates.

How sweet it is.....

Braves win.
Adam 2-3 with a walk and scored the game winning run.

He's Baaaaaaaaacckkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kid with the sweet swing is back!
Smile baby!

WooHooo!!!!!!!!!

No problem

the other day I received a mailer from Marie, at A Cardboard Problem. She sent over a bunch of Braves. Some of which I immediately placed in their appropriate binders.
Yes. That's another way to say I can't remember every card she sent over. That's okay though. I'm sure she understands. She is a collector after all.

But I do remember three important things.
#1 Warren Spahn
#2 Adam LaRoche

#3 Chipper Jones

does anything else really matter?

Lesson learned. Spahn, LaRoche, and Chipper cards are always welcome here.

Thanks Marie.

Can you identify these?

I need a little bit of help identifying what subsets these are from. Now I know that these are from 2004 Diamond Kings. But as you may know, that set has quite a few parallel subsets.
I checked my handy dandy 2009 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards that I received for Christmas... but to no avail. I guess 1850 pages ain't what it used to be.

I'm guessing this is a Framed Black Auto #'d /5 But is that the correct name?

and this could be Framed Bronze Combo Bat/Bat #'d to /25, but according to the SCD, the combos did not come auto'd.

Now does anyone out there have (and it pains me to say it) a Beckett that they could look at to tell what these are?

Thanks.