Jeff Burton cover up

Ah, Listia, where others will buy your junk cards for credits and then you can use credits to buy their junk cards.

What? Relic cards of a car cover are not junk cards.  Well, maybe they are.

2004 Press Pass Eclipse - Under Cover Driver Gold
Jeff Burton (card # UCD 15) #/325

But you'll have to admit owning a card with small swatches of a firesuit, shoes, and gloves is pretty cool, right?

No?  It isn't? 

2009 Press Pass Legends Prominent Pieces
Jeff Burton (card # PP-JB) #/50

They're numbered.  Still no?  Crud.

At least I posted in June.

Joe Morgan Jersey Card

It has been quite some time since I've added to my really cheap (under $5) Hall of Fame relic / auto cards.  I found this one on Listia.  I was the winner for just 3,363 credits.  When I check my Listia credit conversion chart that's about 20 NASCAR cards of Joe Nemechek, Kyle Petty, and Jeff Burton.  I didn't need them, but this one I'll take.

Now, when I hear the name "Joe Morgan" I think of Cincinnati.  Did you know that he got his start with Houston and played with that club for ten years compared with only eight in Cincy?  Two with San Francisco, and a season each with Philadelphia and Oakland.

This butt-ugly card celebrates one of his years with the Giants.

2002 Topps American Pie
Through the Years Relic
Joe Morgan (card # TTY-JM)

Joe was a two time MVP, a ten time All-Star, a five time Golden Glover, and a one time Silver Slugger.  Not too shabby.  I'll keep the card.

What's with that number (4149891) on the holo-foil sticker on the back?  Is that an inventory number for Topps?

Ralph Kiner Bat Card

or

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Missing Letter

It was both a sad and happy day in Idaville. It seems that Mark had won a Hall of Fame Relic Card in an ebay auction but there was something wrong.

Mark called the famous boy detective, Encyclopedia Brown.

"What seems to be the problem?" Encyclopedia asked, when they met for peanuts and crackerjack.

"Well, I received the package a few weeks ago. The price was right and the shipping was good."

"What were they?"

"$2.00 for the card and $3.25 for the shipping."

"That's over your usual threshold, isn't it?"

"Yes," said Mark. "But it is Ralph Kiner. From Pittsburgh."

"And the Cubs and the Indians. You know, although he played in the outfield for the majority of his career he also played the number 3 position for almost 60 games in 1951."

The kid knew his stuff.

"He also lead the National League in Home Runs for his first seven seasons. And he retired over 50 years ago."

Mark nodded.

"So, what's the problem?"

Mark slipped the card out of the bubble wrapper and showed it to Encyclopedia.

The young lad took card from the toploader and examined it. "It is a nice example of a 2001 Donruss Classics, Legendary Lumber." He turned it over. "LL17. A nice card. So, what is the problem? You still haven't told me."

"Look at the front again. The jersey. It says 'PRATES'."

Encyclopedia turned it over once again. He hadn't noticed it before. The second letter of the team was missing. He thought who could have done this. There was only one person that would even consider being this cruel.

"Mark, I'll be back. I think I know who did, but I don't know if I can get the letter back."

Mark watched Encyclopedia walk towards his friend Sally. They put their heads together and spoke in hushed tones.

Soon, Bugs Meany came by. He was tossing a baseball up in the air, oblivious to what was about to happen.

"Bugs. Over here."

Bugs looked up, startled that Sally would call to him. He crossed the street.

Encyclopedia wasted no time. "Bugs, did you take the I from Mark's Ralph Kiner card?"

"I, uh, well, I, uh... Yes, I did. How did you know?"

"Why I know that you're the leader of the Tigers gang, named after the Detroit team. Ralph Kiner did not play against them until 1955 when he was with Cleveland. It could only be your dislike of anyone who played on a team that beat them in the standings. The Indians finished in second place, while the Tigers were in fifth that year."

Bugs nodded.

"And, it is well known that Mark collects Hall of Fame relic cards. I think that you watched ebay listings, saw that he won the Kiner card and hung out at the post office, waiting for it to arrive. Then, you conned the post master into giving you the package. You ran home and photoshopped the letter out, just to spite him. Is that about right?"

Bugs nodded again. He knew that he'd been caught. "It is just, well, Detroit. We can't catch a break. Look at us now."

"Detroit is leading the AL Central by 12 and a half games, Bugs."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Well, back in 1955 we couldn't catch a break. That's why I did it."

Encyclopedia turned to Mark. "I don't think that Bugs can undo what he did."

"I don't think that I want him to. I like the card as it is."

Bugs tossed the ball in the air again, and wandered away. Encyclopedia was glad that he was able to solve another case. Sally wondered if Encyclopedia would ever kiss her. Later that evening she would find out.

The day was success after all.

NOTE: This post was originally written on September 19, 2009.  In light of Ralph Kiner's passing I'm reposting it.

A few Listia pick ups

I won a few auctions over at Listia.

I probably got too attached to the Chipper relic card.  I purchased it for 3,807 credit.  But I had them sitting in my account and what a better thing to purchase?  Well, vintage, for sure.

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter
Mini Relic
Chipper Jones (card # AGR-CJ)

Another seller had this nice League Leaders card.  For a mere 40 credits it was mine.  I'm starting to like Kershaw more and really starting to appreciate Cueto, although I can't get passed his 'signature' from a few years back.  Dickey's always been a favorite to watch.  Yes, I'm a bit of a homer here.

2013 Topps
Blue Parallel
NL ERA Leaders (card # 81 )

I picked up a few other things, but they haven't yet arrived.  No, I haven't purchased a JB card in over two months.  Night Owl, you're safe.  For a while.

Tools of the Trade

This set confuses me to no end.  I've picked up a few Hershisers from it (Jumbo Swatch and Blue).  There's still the Black and the Red standard versions to obtain.  I've seen autograph cards of other players, but not so much Orel.

2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia
Dual Swatch
Orel Hershiser (card # TT-159) #/55

This came from ebay and put me back a little over ten bucks.  But it was ten ebay bucks.  Free to me.

This is my first "patch" card of Orel.  I've got some jersey cards, but not one with lettering or numbers.  It is thick.  It can't fit in a binder page.  I'll have to take it to the card shop tomorrow to find a case.

Another month and then local college baseball starts here.  I'm planning on attending the University of Tennessee Volunteers host the Purdue Boilermakers in mid February.  Yes, it will be cool.  But it will also be baseball.

Eddie Mathews Bat Card

Some time back I won this card on ebay. I don't have the exact price, but it did fall under the $5 self imposed price limit. That includes shipping as well.

2008 Donruss Playoff Prime Cuts
Eddie Mathews (card #27, numbered 09/99)

Eddie Mathews played for 17 seasons. Most of them were with the Milwaukee Braves where he covered third base. On occasion he was known to play the outfield and sometimes first base.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1978 on his fifth ballot. In nine seasons he was an All-Star, playing in 12 All-Star games. He led the National League in Home Runs in 1953 (47) and 1959 (46).

He didn't win any Gold Glove or Silver Slugger awards. Twice he came in second in the MVP voting. He did win a World Series rings with Milwaukee in 1957 and Detroit in 1968. His lifetime Batting Average was .271 with 512 Home Runs.

He was a three time Brave. The Boston Braves signed him as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season and played for them professionally in 1952. The he played for the Milwaukee Braves and followed the team to Atlanta.

Did Eddie Mathews have a Hall of Fame career? It might be hard to justify to some people, but he's in and I have one of his cards with a slice of his bat.

My sakes, what ghastly cards!

This is what the Night Owl's grandmother would say about these two 2010 Panini Century Collection Souvenir Stamps cards.  A bit of jersey.  A bit of late 1970s.  A bit of postage.

I found these on ebay.  I couldn't pass them up for the price.  99 cents each.  Combining shipping got them to my mailbox for just under $5.

Panini didn't have a license with MLB, so they couldn't use MLB images or team names.  Because of this card I now know that Orel played for some National League team in Los Angeles.  If I could just find the name of that team I could catch up on my sleep.

2010 Panini Century Collection
Souvenir Stamps Materials Pro Ball
Orel Hershiser (card # 2) #'d/100

I don't know who was Orel's girlfriend in high school, but I'm guessing a pretty penny that Panini payed her handsomely for their prom picture.

2010 Panini Century Collection
Souvenir Stamps Materials Centennial
Orel Hershiser (card # 2) #'d/50

One of the frustrating parts about our hobby is the lack of quality checklists.  And the lack of quality cards, but I digress.  I scoured the web trying to find a checklist for this set so I could see what these abominations were.  The usual haunts didn't list this card.  Then I tried the manufacturer's site.  PaniniAmerica.net has a checklist.  What a mess.  How many inserts and subsets can one set have?

Here are the Orels in that set:
Common: card # 36
Materials Jerseys: card # 36 (#/50)
Materials Jerseys Prime Signatures: card #36 (#/50)
Materials Jerseys Signatures: card #36 (#/50)
Post Marks Silver Signatures: card #36 (#/25)
Post Marks Gold Signatures: card #36 (#/10)
Post Marks Platinum Signatures: card #36 (#/1)
Souvenir Stamps Materials Pro Ball: card #2 (#/100)
Souvenir Stamps Signature Materials Pro Ball: card #2 (#/5)
Souvenir Stamps Signature Prime Materials Pro Ball: card #2 (#/10)
Souvenir Stamps Materials Centennial: card #2 (#/50)
Souvenir Stamps Signature Materials Centennial: card #2 (#/5)
Souvenir Stamps Signature Prime Materials Centennial: card #2 (#/5)

Another reason that I think any card should have the year issued, manufacturer, set, subset or insert set, and card number clearly labeled on the card itself.  Clearly labeled.  Good thing that there's not refractors, xfractors, liquorfractors, ponyfractors, whathaveyoufractors in this set.  Chrome, too.

Actually, I do like the stamps. At the post office a few weeks back I saw a teaser that they would be issuing some baseball related stamps this year.  Can you wait until July?

Hall of Fame Relic Card - Orlando Cepeda

2003 Topps ARTifact, Orlando Cepeda (card # AR-OC)

Cepeda, a seven time All-Star, was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1958. It wasn't until 1967 that he won the NL MVP. In 1967 he led the NL in two categories: RBI - 111 and HBP - 12. He spent eight full seasons in San Francisco before being traded to St. Louis for Ray Sadecki. Then a series of trades, releases, and signings with Atlanta, Oakland, Boston, and Kansas City. He played three games with the Athletics.  He went 0-3.  There's a career stop over to be proud of.  He was part of the 1967 World Champions team but batted rather anemically, just .103 for the series.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1999.

I won this on ebay for $1.41, plus $2.50 shipping. Under my $5.00 self imposed limit.  That was over two years ago.  I don't know why I'm just now blogging about this.  Perhaps because I haven't been showing too many cards recently.

Hall of Fame Relic Card - Tom Seaver

A few weeks ago I posted about a Frank Robinson relic card. Now it is time for the second card I purchased from that ebay seller.

2004 Topps Tribute HOF, Tribute Relics

Tom Seaver (card # TR-TS)

Rookie of the year in 1967.  Three time Cy Young Award winner. 12 All-Star games.  He led the National League in Wins in three different decades (1969, 1975, 1981).  There are many more categories that he excelled in, but you can look them up yourself.

He won game 4 of the 1969 World Series as part of the New York Mets.  And I've got a a relic card of his.  For $4.57.

Trade with Peterson

I know that the Night Owl declared February for being the month to show trade posts without abandon. Too bad. This one completed in March so I'm going to show it in March.

Peterson, of the blog, Sign here...and here, and I traded some cards.  Not many, but enough to make it count.  I sent him some shiny chromy cards that were on his wantlist and he sent me this fantastic Catfish Hunter relic card.

Yes, it is a plain white uniform card.  And given recent shenanigans I don't even know that it was one that Catfish wore.  I know that Mr. McWilliam says that it is, but my faith in him has slipped the last few years.

But I like it.  I associate the one time perfect game hurler with the Athletics, but I'll take a Yankees' pants part.  I'm really not that picky.

2005  Sweet Spot Classic, Classic Materials
Catfish Hunter (card # CM-CH)

In previous posts about my HoF relic/auto collection I give a summary of the player's accomplishments.  I'll let you look them up yourself.  See, here's a link.  That page on baseball-reference.com is sponsored by athomeatfenway.com.  Which I read as "Atho Meat Fenway".  What a strange name.

Thanks, Peterson, for the trade.  I'm a happy man.

Trade with Rickey Henderson Collectibles

Sometime back I contacted Brad at Rickey Henderson Collectibles about a possible trade. I offered up a Starting Line Up figure, with cards.  Maybe some other cards, too.  I really don't remember.  I was looking for a Rickey relic.  Brad said that he was sure that he had some dupes and would get them out to me.  The Rickey relic and some other cards arrived a few weeks ago.  Let's see what he sent.

A few Hershiser cards that I wanted.  Some collectors only want their player wearing the uniform of a specific team.  Orel played with the Dodgers, the Mets, the Indians, the Giants and back to the Dodgers.  I'll take any of them.

1996 Score
Orel Hershiser (card # 96)

The following Donruss card, also from 1996, appears to be the same photo as the Score card.  Probably the same game and same photographer, but look at the writing on the ball.  Different position.  But I'm amazed at the consistency of Orel's pitching form.

1996 Donruss
Orel Hershiser (card #149)

I like the clean look of the back of the Donruss cards.  You can actually read the stats.  Speaking of clean, I have to clean my scanner glass.

1997 Donruss
Orel Hershiser (card #266)

And now the Rickey relic.  A very thick card with a nice slice of Rickey bat.  What?  Rickey played for Seattle?  When?  2000.  Who else did he play for?  Oakland.  Yeah, I know that.  New York.  Both teams.  San Diego?  Really?  Toronto?  Boston?  The Dodgers of Los Angeles?  Yep.  Yep.  Yep.  Anaheim?  Yep.  Back to Oakland?  Really?  Yep, a few times.

2001 Pacific Private Stock, Game Gear
Rickey Henderson (card # 158)

Brad also sent along another Hershiser and some Diamondback cards for my dad.

Thanks, Brad.

Hall of Fame Relic Card - Frank Robinson

Late last year I dove back into the ebay pool.

If you're new to this blog, here's the skinny.  I like relic cards of Hall of Famers.  But cheap relic cards.  My limit is $5.00 per card.  Delivered.  I've started a small collection of them. 

I found a seller that had quite a few available.  I put in a few bids and ended up with two cards for $9.14.  That's $4.57 each.  I hit my mark.

The first of these cards is a 2004 Topps Tribute HOF, Tribute Relics, Frank Robinson uniform.

2004 Topps Tribute HOF, Tribute Relics
Frank Robinson (card # TR-FR)

Frank entered the majors in 1956, with the Cincinnati Reds where he took home the Rookie of the Year award.  He spent ten years there, mostly in the outfield, but standing at one of the corners on occasion.

While playing for the Reds he was involved eight All-Star games, took home a Gold Glove award and was selected as the MVP in 1961.

The 1966 season brought him to the east coast where he continued making his legacy.  1966 was a banner year, one in which he led in many statistical categories and claimed his second MVP trophy.  Oh, he also was the AL Triple Crown winner.  And the World Series MVP.  Yes, it was a good year for him.  While at Baltimore he was involved with five All-Star games.

In 1972 he changed scenery again, this time to the Dodgers of Los Angeles.  But just for one year.  Nothing spectacular there, but I'm guessing that his west coast presence set up the trade to the California Angels.

He did a bit better for the Angels in almost two full seasons, getting another All-Star game nod.

Then it was off to Cleveland for the final two-plus seasons, mostly as a Designated Hitter.

After Frank put the bat and glove away he took up managing.  He was the Manager of the Year in 1989, back with the Orioles.  He also managed the Indians, Giants, Expos, and Nationals.  Of the 17 seasons* that he managed, he had only seven non-losing seasons.  And three of those were with the Expos/Nationals.

* Not all seasons were full seasons.  More info can be found on his managerial page at Baseball-Reference.com.

Overall, a good, full life in baseball.

Winnings from Play at the Plate

Brian, over at the wonderful blog, Play at the Plate, won this year's edition of Gint-A-Cuffs.  For winning, he received a hobby box of 2010 A&G, courtesy of Topps.

Being the kind soul that he is, he offered the hits from the box to the participants of GAC2.  Although I wasn't a contestant in that fiasco, I did invest myself in it as commissioner.  I grabbed the Nationals in Brian's hits giveaway.

Lady Luck was with me.  An Adam Dunn relic card was pulled.

And just today, Washington offered Dunn arbitration.  He wants a four year deal.  They don't want to give it to him.  This might be one of the last Dunn relic cards with him wearing the scripty W.

The border card is rather garish for my tastes, but it works.  There's enough plastic on this thing to cover all of my Thanksgiving leftovers, but Topps still found a way to let the wood of the bat poke through.  I like that. 

So, Brian, thank you for the card.  Let's see what Gint-A-Cuffs III holds in store.

Contest Winnings - Beardy

Many moons ago, Beardy attended the National.  That was back when he was yet unmarried and the Orioles played baseball.  He had some contest where if you guessed which holes he filled in his Orioles wantlist you could win some cards that he picked up from his Super Sweet VIP package swag.

I made a calculated guess and bingo!  I won.  I selected the Jimenez and Romo relic cards.

I liked the Jimenez card because I had him on my fantasy team.  He had a very good season, including pitching the first no-hitter for the Rockies' franchise.  He blew up in a few games, but the strength of his pitching took me to the championship game in my baseball fantasy league. Thanks, Ubaldo.

2010 Topps, Series 2, Peak Performance, Ubaldo Jimenez (#PPR UJ) 

Then comes Mr. "Ow.  My shoulder" Romo.  I've never been connected to Tony Romo.  Whenever I hear his name I think of an Italian restaurant.  The overall design of  Sunday's Best is good.  Panini could have done a better job with this relic card, though.  The big space beneath the fabric?  I bet there is an autograph version of this card and that is where he'd put his John Hancock.

2010 Panini Classics, Sunday's Best, Tony Romo (#6), #/299

At least the Romo jersey was "cut from an Authentic Jersey personally worn by Tony Romo in an official NFL Game."  The Jimenez "relic contained in this card does not come from any specific game, event or season."  My guess is that Topps went down to Benjamin Harrison Middle School and asked the soccer coach for some uniforms after the season ended and slipped him a twenty.

And Panini could have done better.  The same photo on the back as on the front?  Couldn't find another one?

So, thanks Beardy, for the wonderful cards.  Even if it is two months late.

Somthing Mojo This Way Comes

Some time back, The Mojo Hand was a bit ticked off at Topps. So, he held a contest. Yeah, I don't get it either, but I won.

2008 Upper Deck SPX, Winning Materials, Vladimir Guerrero (card #WM-VG, #ed 9/15)

Vlad started out with Montreal and stayed with them for eight seasons. Then he moved to the Anaheim area for six seasons. He's now in Texas. He's been on nine All-Star teams, won seven Silver Slugger awards and was voted the AL MVP in 2004. In 2002 he was one HR short of being a 40-40 man. That was the closest that Montreal ever got to this milestone.

Thanks, Mojo, for your generosity. Did Clay ever get back to you?

Prizes From Last Month

I won a contest from the guys over at Community Gum.

Okay, I'm a slacker. It has been over a month since I won and I'm just now posting about it. I'm such a slacker that I stole the image from Community Gum's site.

They bought a boatload of junk wax and invited readers to guess how many Andre Dawson cards would be in the haul. I guessed 5. I was correct, sir.

The guys over there got my cards out the door right quick.

Now, I'm wondering if I add them to my cheapo HoF cards. They aren't player relics, but it would fill two spots that I'm trying to fill. At this point I'm going to declare them HoF relic cards and go on with my life.

Cards from Mar(c)k

So, there's this collector down in Florida. He goes by the name of The Collective Troll. His real name is Marck. That can't be a real name. Note the superfluous C.

Anyhow, I tracked down and sent him some Topps Giants cards so that I could enter his Packs Gone Wild wax bust-a-thon. Then I won some random drawing contest.

Last week he sent me my package. The contest winning was this Steve Garvey bat card. I like the spirograph/money look of the Sweet Spot Classic.

The Claude Raymond was part of my claiming the Expos/Nationals as my team of pull. I don't think that this card was recently pulled from a wax pack. Note the big hunk of tape.

The signed Marilyn Jones card must have been thrown in for pity. What with me not having a C in my name. I'm not sure what series that card is from. Larry Fritsch Cards did three series with an update. I'm assuming that it is from Series 1.

2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classics, Game Used Bats, Steve Garvey (card # B-SG)

1971 Topps, Claude Raymond (card #536)

1995 Larry Fritsch, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Marilyn Jones (card #96)

Thanks, Troll. I've got a post brewing with the other Expos/Nats cards you sent. Wait for it. Wait for it.