Good bye, Farewell, So long

The faces, they are a changin'.

Rumour has it that the Braves have finallized a deal with Arizona to acquire left fielder, Justin Upton.

In exchange, Atlanta sends personal favourite Martin Prado...

young stud starter Randall Delgado....

and three prospects. Atlanta also receives 3rd baseman Chris Johnson in the deal.

I can't say as I'm thrilled with the deal. As a LF last year, Prado hit over .300 and was runner up for Gold Glove.
Upton hit .280 and was not in the running for Gold Glove.

Rumour has it that Atlanta was not going to pay Prado his 10-11 million asking price after this year. He makes 4 mil this year.

Upton makes 10 mil this year, and 14.5 mil for each of the next two seasons.

And we give up Delgado.

Now, I'll readily admit, these people are smarter than I am, but someone needs to explain this one to me.


In another deal I'm not too thrilled about that happened a month ago, the Braves swapped Tommy Hanson to the Angels for a reliever.

I'm not happy about it, but I do understand it. Injuries, $$$, too many starters, etc.... I get it. Even with these deals, the Braves still look to have the best pitching in the NL. And that bullpen is nasty good.

I'd show off cards of our new acquisitions, but I don't think I have any. None that I can find, anyway.

Cardboard Ketchup

Like everything else, I'm waaay behind in posting some trade/gift packages. Some have evn been put away already. Whoops. But, I'll rectify some of that today, and hit some more up tomorrow. I'm not the one who scans every card.... it would take forever, and you would fall asleep at the keyboard. So I'll hit the highlights and move on. A huge thank you to all who have sent me cards over the last month or so.... During my last contest, participants had the opportunity to send over some cards in an attempt to bribe me, win bonus points.
dawgbones sent over a small stack of baseball flavoured cards... topped with Mr Teheran and his cherry border. Is this one of those Target things I keep hearing about but have never seen until now?

Also included were a couple of cards off of my wantlists.... Chippah!

and a card of my Dirty Dozen most wanted list located off to the right. I'm glad someone reads that thing.... it's slowly diminishing. Time to replenish.

Casey from Drop the Gloves sent me a surprise hockey package, but tucked in the middle was this amazing card.

Chipper is so damn good, he can hit homeruns early in the morning, while facing the wrong way and standing in Section 17, Row 21 behind the dugout.
Yeah. He's that good.
The Angels in Order also sent over a 'potential start to a trade' package that had a card in it I've been passively chasing for over 20 years.

the no-numbered Joe Montana Heroes header card from the inaugural UD Football offering. I loved this set when it came out and bought a tonne of it. Now it's finally complete.

Of course very, very late in the year they came out with a high number series that had Joe Namath heroes cards......... Now I can begin to collect those. Anyone have any to spare?

all of the rest from Angels was hockey related, save for this odd shaped card. 1993 UD 600 Home Run Club.

How would you like to have those as your 3-4-5 hitters????? Of course, the Bambino would be peeved at not making his contract bonuses, having hit 60 home runs and only collecting 64 RBI's.

The last package I'll feature today from P.A.T.P. had a lot of fun items in it. Like stickers!

Everyone knows how I like stickers.
It also had blue bordered cards in it.
Active NL RBI leaders? Yeah, it's Chipper.

Active NL Home Run leaders? Yeah, it's Chipper. (The least Topps could do was put Andruw in a Bravos uni)

Speaking of home runs.... one of the most discussed photos from the 2012 Topps set, Huddy in his trot.....

and J-Hey in his, rounding third....

Craig has had enough of this home run talk. Strike three... game over.

Again, are these from Wally world? I know Topps does blue borders in it's Opening Day set... does the regular set do this, or do I have my first WalMart cards?

Let's end up with more fun.... mini's! Or as Owl says..... MINI'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's a new Topps rule that all Heyward cards must feauture that damn red jersey.

to end off, I go to my closer.

As Bill Paxton says..."Game over man! Game Over!

up tomorrow, a special Dodger edition.

At first I thought Epic Win....

My wife called me and excitedly told me the news. The Braves had made a trade for Jason Bourne. This was amazing news. The intangibles he brings to the team off the field would make up for any bad publicity that may come with him, not to mention visa issues just trying to get him across the border or through airport security.

 But alas, my ever helpful wife got the minute details slightly mixed up. we unfortunaltely did NOT acquire Jason Bourne. What we got was Michael Bourn. Slight difference.
Here, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence react to hearing they are no longer Astros.

 Good news, but for me sad news as well. We gave up three meh pitchers and one of my favourite Braves, center fielder Jordan Schafer. I really liked Jordan, even if his wrist is made out of rice crispies.

Yeah, I know, Michael Bourn is a gold glove all star center fielder who steals a lot of bases.

Reminds me of a trade we made a couple of years back. We acquired a gold glove winning all star center fielder who stole a lot of bases from Pittsburgh. His name is Nate McLouth. Michael Bourn's job is to do what Nate McLouth still has not done in three years.

I hope this one turns out differently.

Good luck Jordan, I'll miss you..... Welcome Michael Bourn. no pressure buddy.

Trade Night at the LCS - Freebie Edition.

This past Wednesday night was the monthly trade night at the card shop I go to. He had closed down his shop the week before, but it was only to move to a much larger location. Exciting news. So trade night was also opening night. I think it is safe to say that all went well. It's been awhile since I remember that many people still there at 9:30pm. It's been awhile since I've been there at 9:30pm.

Anyways, on with the cards. I got some freebies during the night. Remember Mike? The dude who pulled not one, not two, but three Bryce Harper autos? Well he gave me this sweet '77 Rob Belloir for my team set in progress.

He then proceeded to buy two 1982 Fleer cello packs and pull a Cal Ripken rookie card. A $6 Call Ripken rookie card.

I need mike to buy my lottery tickets. Or pick out my packs at least.

 Darren the owner handed me a few base cards for '08 Legendary Cuts, which included this sweet Dodger card.
Night Owl, if you need it for your PC, you get first dibs :)

I then got two more Braves from a guy whose name completely escapes me at the moment. I feel shame.

But not enough to not show off this sweet horizontal Chipper Jones. Love that swing.

 and my very first Fabulous Freddie Freeman card!!!

His walk up music needs to be Freebird. Just sayin'.

Generousness... a good start to the new year.

One thing you will not see here is the obligatory new year 'state of the blog' address, nor any resolutions, look backs, recollections, top 10 lists of 2010, or any other review type post. There are enough of those out there right now. Not to say that they aren't interesting, but I've never been one to follow the crowd. And I'm a wee lazy too... so when you combine those, you get what we have here. A post that barely even acknowledges that we are in a new year. Just another day. I remember the biggest pain in the butt of the new year was remembering to write the correct year on your cheques. But I don't think I've written a cheque in over 10 years. Do they still even have cheques? Whatever. I digress.

The title of this post in Generousness. I thought I made it up. It's a great word to describe most of the great bloggers out there. Turns out I didn't make it up. It's a word. Look it up. I did.

 Before xmas I posted about a package I received from Darkship aka Todd. He sent over one of the last two stickers I need for the 2010 Panini World Cup sticker book. Not being satisfied with just sending a sticker, Todd ran throughout his house, frantically looking for something else to send with it. He did. I can picture him doing it. Lord knows I've done it dozens of times. It's almost a dance.

A dance Todd does well. He sent over one of those fancy, only available in the U.S. Orange refractor thingies of Braves phenom Tommy Hanson. 

 and an auto of perhaps the greatest race car driver of all time, David Pearson.

A very cool on card auto of a former moon shine runner. What a country!

Thanks Todd!!! And let's have a great next 365.

Trade Night Success! and an update....

My 'local' card shop has a trade night every month. Nothing too special, just a bunch of guys getting together to generally belittle each other's choice in sports teams, with pizza and pack wars thrown in. Surprisingly, very little trading occurs. But a lot of wax gets busted.

This time, there was a lot of trading. Usually when someone comes up to me around here and says; 'You're that Braves fan, right?' It isn't a good thing. This time it turned out to be.

I was able to trade a couple of Martin Brodeur inserts for this baby....

 On card /99. Doesn't get much better than that. Thanks for the swap Mike.
I also traded for a bunch of hockey stuff, but you can see that on Just A Bit Offside when I get around to it. Maybe tonite. Maybe.

Also a small envelope from Darkship arrived. Todd had one of the last two stickers I needed for the 2010 Panini World Cup Sticker Book.

 Shiny!

Chris Harris had sent me two of the last four I needed....

So now I'm just down to #36. From what I hear, dayf has it on the way. I can't wait. I just might finish this sucker in 2010. Awesome.

Trading with a Yankees fan....

Okay, first off, I know I haven't been around.... it's World Cup time, and it's hotter than Hades around here. So I've been..... secluded you might say. Others might say I've been hiding in the cool basement refusing to come out. But who listens to "others"?

So to get back in the swing of things, I thought I might put up a trade post. Those of you who don't care, may leave now.... or continue staring at the latest World Cup girl, whichever. But I warn you.... this is no ordinary trade post. This is a weird one.... maybe you can help figure it out.

It's from Sooz. World renowned Yankee fan. But that's okay. We still like her. Well, most of us do.

A couple of weeks ago I had casually inquired (or maybe there was begging involved) about some Chippers she had, along with some 2010 Bowman Braves. Sooz, being the great trader she is, mentioned that she had some Topps Series 2 Braves that she would throw in too. Perfect. All that's left is the waiting. Well wait no more. The package is here. It arrived the day that I got off my butt and mailed her package. (oops. Sorry Suzy)

It starts off according to plan.... 2010 Bowman Braves....

Jair, who should have got the win against the Phillies last night after throwing a two hitter, but the Braves chose to win in extra time.

The best hitter in baseball, Mr All Star, Martin Prado

another All Star, the Old Man, Tim Hudson.

The injured one, who if he wants to go back to the All Star game, must go back to Pittsburgh.

A BMac! And it's Gold! meh..... nice pic though.

some ex-Yankee that we got for Javy.

and his gold version as well.

along with a Smoltz insert. Somebody, anybody... please swap him onto radio and bring Don Sutton back to TV. Thanks.

Now here is where the trade starts to sway.... instead of Topps Series 2, we get a dose of Topps Chicle.

The Future.

BMac - 5 All Star Games in four years of playing. Not bad.

Mr Lucky... or Mr Run Support.

Jair doing his best Tiger Woods smile.

Nate looking like one of those Asian blow up dolls.

Mr Murphy.

and another Mr Murphy.... holy crap.

Game Used Bat Baby! I love you Suzy! Nevermind what I say about the Yankees. They don't deserve you.

Okay, so maybe the Topps Series 2 is next? She just wanted to surprise me with the Murph?

No. Instead, I got these.

and these..

not a Brave in sight. Seriously though? Sometimes I just don't get women. Am I complaining though? Not a chance. These are pretty cool cards. And in case you didn't look to closely, there was this little number.

It is currently on ebay with a BIN of $100,000

Sooz has taken care of my retirement. Thanks Sooz!

btw, if you're interested in the Strasburg, after purchase, mention that you read this blog and I'll throw in free shipping....