A New Eye on the Hobby

SET me up #collect

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:21:28 -0500

So recently fellow tweeter: @iamjoecollector impressively completed the 2008 UD Masterpieces blue border set #’d to 125.

(Seen here: http://www.iamjoecollector.com/?p=2505)

He then followed it up with the question… What is the most difficult set you’ve had to complete?

I don’t really have an answer for that. I’m about 2 cards away from completing the Topps Chrome Rookie Auto set. It was fun, but not necessarily difficult. I’ve built a bunch of base sets and a couple of Topps sub sets, but not a long term challenge.

Well I’ve been looking for a new project and I figured you all could help me decide. That’s right. I’d like all of your help in choosing my next mission. So which of the following should I go for:

1) #28, has for some reason always been my favorite #. So how about every #28 Topps base card of all time. Starting with Flagship and then who knows?

2) Allen and Ginter Complete Yankees MINI Team sets, including black border and A&G Back

3) 1979 Topps set. The seems a little boring, but it’s the year I was born, and I don’t think I own more than 3 cards from this set. So it would really be starting from scratch.

Tweet me your suggestion. I’ll keep you all updated on the progress.

Thanks in advance,

Nick

Doctor Doctor, Gimme the news. I got a bad case of Bowman Chrome...

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:05:53 -0400

Doctor Doctor, Gimme the news. I got a bad case of Bowman Chrome 2010

I MUST BREAK YOU: 2010 Topps Update Jumbo Box

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:10:18 -0400

So I was very pleased with my 2010 Jumbo box until I tried inputting my Topps Million Card Giveaway Codes, only to find that all 10 of them were Invalid! So I dug through the dumpster here at work and got all of my wrappers out, let the headache of replacing these codes begin. Anyway here are the hits:

A "Why we #Collect" Moment

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:38:32 -0400

As I sit here, a 31 year old man watching game 4 of the ALCS, I’m starting to notice the cynic I’ve become. I question replays of Home Runs, the necessity of Pitch counts and other things i would have never thought about as a kid. I even found myself saying to my wife, “These guys must be Chilly”. ICKKK, What happened to me?

This same annoying maturity has followed me into the collecting world as well. I find myself sometimes only caring about the “Big Pull”. Did I really get the intended value in that pack? Box? Case?

But every once in a while you have that moment, the moments that tosses all that cynical Bullshit aside….. I had that moment at a card show on Sunday.

My story is the same as everyone else’s. I collected junk in the 80’s, stopped early 90’s, came back a few years ago when I saw the Evolution. However, since I’ve been back I’ve only had a few nostalgic moments. The following one took my breath away.

So I’m at a card show, scoping out the overpriced new stuff, and tons of vintage. Same old cardshow crap. Then I see a guy in the back corner with a less than elaborate set up. He’s got about 15 boxes full of singles in toploaders with no pricing. The deal is, he gives you a bin and you load it up… The besst part: everything on the table is a Quarter!….Woo Hoo.

For $20.00 I go nuts I’m pulling up old Mattingly’s, random Mariano Rivera’s. Basically alot of the stuff I missed in 15 Year Gap I didn’t collect. I’m loading the bin like Supermarket Sweep, and that’s when I saw it.

A 1986 Rickey Henderson SPORTSFLICS triple action card!

Ok, ok This may not mean anything to any of you, and I know there was a big build up, but you don’t understand I have a pretty sweet Rickey PC and I don’t have this card. Not only that, I forgot these cards even existed! And there it was, in all it’s holographic glory, staring right back at me for the 1st time in 2 decades…for 2 bits! (Is 2 bits a Quarter? I hope so for the story’s sake). I Immediately was taken back to when I was 7 years old in my buddy’s basement, where my best friends tormenting older brother recently acquired this card and wouldn’t trade it to me no matter what I offered (which along with cards included 5 free bike washes). That Prick. Anyway, this was a real life moment, a moment I had forgotten but one that hit me right in the face like I got run-over by a Delorean.

You’re probably saying to yourself, “What kind of collector is this? He didn’t know about Sportsflics”, and You’d be right. It’s just one of those things that slipped away. But I got it back now, the moment…the memory…and more importantly, the card. All for just a Quarter.

If and readers/followers/twitterers have a similar story, please feel free to share it. I’d love to hear it.

Thanks for reading,

Nick

OK Collectors, I need your help.

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:28:26 -0400

So I recently pulled this,

What I consider to be a great auto. It has all the components (In my opinion) of a great card. It’s a Dual Auto. A Yankee. A Living legend/Hall-of-Famer. And both Autos are On-Card. My Problem is the small Gash on the bottom left corner. I find that your eye is drawn right to it in person. Naturally this defect was not done by me, It came fresh out of the pack like that. Here’s my question. I like you have done many exchanges before, but nothing of this personal caliber, meaning, I would really like this exact card or something close to it in return but I fear that I’ll just end up with another non-Yankee of non-HOF’er dual. Maybe I’m overreacting and it’s not really that bad of a defect…….

So to send or not to send? That is the question. Your help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Nick

I MUST BREAK YOU: 2010 DEEE Edition

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:17:50 -0400

So I just stopped by my favorite hobby shop to bust some 2010 Donruss Elite Extra Edition and I was very satisfied with my box. I pulled 7 autos (6+1 redemption), a Pam Anderson, and 23 Die-cut SP’s #’d to 200. I usually bust a box a year of this product and am Happy with the results. Enjoy the photos!

By Request: Here’s a long vid of some cards I have...

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:30:57 -0400

By Request: Here’s a long vid of some cards I have available for Trade for those who were asking. Thanks for looking.

TTT (2) Box break LIVE @dcssportscards #collect

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:52:38 -0400

TTT (2) Box break LIVE @dcssportscards #collect

I MUST BREAK YOU: Topps 206 Box Break

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:16:57 -0400

I MUST BREAK YOU: Topps 206 Box Break

2010 WWE box break recap: So I collect baseball cards, with the...

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:45:23 -0400

2010 WWE box break recap:

So I collect baseball cards, with the emphasis on Baseball. But a recent trip to my local hobby shop sparked some memories of when I used to be a huge wrestling fan. My fave set was always the 1988 classic set. This years cards looked nice, so I broke. The pic is of the hits. Keep in mind this product has slot of cool inserts that I didn’t post. I probably won do anything with the rest of what I opened. Let me know if you’re interested in them and we’ll work something out.

2010 Obak Box Break #2. Huge hit! #Collect

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:46:54 -0400

2010 Obak Box Break #2. Huge hit! #Collect

Busted 2 Boxes of OBAK. Here’s the 1st one.

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:35:25 -0400

Busted 2 Boxes of OBAK. Here’s the 1st one.

How Twitter has helped my collecting

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:18:00 -0400

Before my recent Fourier into twitter I was, well a dumb collector. For the past 2 years I’ve been overpaying for singles, lots, and supplies on Ebay. The truth is, our hobby is not popular enough to have advertisements thrown in your face the way other things are. For example, if music is your thing I think anyone that has touched a computer can tell you at least 3 sites to find songs. Try to find a pack of mini top-loaders and you might be searching for a while.

This is where Twitter excells. Not only can you get answers instantly, but sometimes just following the right people can point you in the right direction.

In the past 2 weeks I have used Sportlots.com to complete my 2010 A&G Set, 2010 Bowman chrome Prospects, and every (that’s right EVERY) topps 2010 insert set. The best part is that it cost me a fraction of what it was costing me buying singles on Ebay. (Yes, I’ve bought many singles off Ebay. I’m embarrassed by this.)

Just this weekend I ordered 52 Mark Teixeira cards that I don’t own from Checkoutmycards.com, the cost: $52. The cards ranged from $.18 to $6.00. in comparison I bought a 30 card lot off of Tex cards off Ebay last year for $35 plus astronomical shipping only to receive a ton of dupes. Not pictured of course.

Just last week I asked my followers for some good sites for TTM addresses. I got 5 different sites recommended to me within 3 minutes.

The point is, I did not know of these sites and may not have, had it not been for one guy I’m following telling another guy I’m following “Try Sportlots”. The tweet wasn’t meant for me, but I tried and I succeeded.

So thank you Twitter and thank you followers. Hopefully I can repay you in the future.

A pretty sweet box of 2010 Topps Tribute

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:27:08 -0400

A pretty sweet box of 2010 Topps Tribute

My Submission in the $10 Challenge @Chrisolds2009 $...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:52:37 -0400

My Submission in the $10 Challenge @Chrisolds2009 $ @cardboardicons

Sweet Lou, Say it ain’t so: This Yankee fan was fortunate...

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:55:00 -0400

The Argument

Tossed

Sweet Lou, Say it ain’t so:

This Yankee fan was fortunate enough to see a Cubs game on a beautiful mid-week afternoon a few years ago. It was the only time I’ve been in the same park as Lou Pinella. Not only was I lucky enough to see the man coach, i was lucky enough to see a famous Sweet Lou outburst on the First Base UMP. Then he got tossed.

IT WAS AWESOME.

My Afternoon with Rickey My first hero growing up was Rickey...

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:47:00 -0400

Rickey and Nicky

Rickey sees his place for the 1st time

My Afternoon with Rickey

My first hero growing up was Rickey Henderson. After his 2 Homeruns in Sundays Celebrity game, I figured i’d write about the day I met the man.

My Fiance (The saint that she is) went up to Cooperstown last year for his induction. It was a dream weekend. The streets were lined with legends. I mew Yogi and Killebrew in my 1st 5 minutes there. So we watched the induction on Saturday, went do dinner and back to the hotel early. I wanted to be rested because I had a ticket to get a ball signed by the day old Hall-of-Famer. It was time for Rickey to meet Nicky.

And he did, we met, and he signed a ball for me. I was 1st in line so I’m pretty sure I own the 1st ball he ever signed with “H.O.F. 09” on it. But that’s still not the greatest part of my trip.

About an hour before the signing we went to the Great Hall. It was all roped off and an usher was telling everyone the Main hall was closed for the next hour, dissapointed I turned to leave when the usher whispered ‘Stick around for 5 minutes” So I did, and what a pay off. I was one of about 10 people to see Rickey and his family as they saw his Mounted Hall Of Fame Plaque for the 1st time. His mother was crying, his kids were elated, and Rickey (Dress angelic in white) stood there “Humbled”

I’m a very fortunate person. 1, for being there for that moment and 2, for having a fiance willing to hang with me for the whole thing.

Nice Dingers Rickey

RIP Bob Shepard

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:25:06 -0400

RIP Bob Shepard:

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of a Yankee legend. “The Voice” was a big part of my fond memories of the old house. Mr. Shepard you will be missed. Please click the link for tribute video.

Just hot through a “woo hoo the weekends here” box...

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:06:18 -0400

Just hot through a “woo hoo the weekends here” box of Ginter.

Here are the hits.

My favorite card of all time: I figured I’d start off my...

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:47:39 -0400

My favorite card of all time:

I figured I’d start off my new blog by showing you all my fave card of all time. I pulled this for the 1st time when I was 7. I still have it even though it’s beat to hell. The one seen here was pulled recently during a nostalgic box of 86’ fleer.

I was so young when I 1st saw it, I think I asked the hobby shop owner if “he really played” with that mit…. To which I was promptly laughed out of the store.

What’s your favorite sentimental card? Post em if you have time. I’d love to see