Chicago Sportsfest - 2008
June 9, 2008 at 1:58 pm | In Box Breaks, My Collection, My opinions | 1 CommentHello all. I was busy all weekend and haven’t had a chance to write until now. I spent all of last week getting excited about going to Chicago Sportsfest in Schaumburg. It’s a quick 20 minute drive from my house, and I haven’t been to a real big-time card show since April. I hate to say that I was less than impressed.
I left work at 5 on Friday psyched to add some new cards to my Dawson collection and hang out with my fellow collectors. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of either to be found. I got to the show around 5:30, and even though there were only 2 1/2 hours left in the show that night, I was still asked to pay the full $12 admission price. I was fine with that untill I got inside, and could see from the door that over half of the advertised 650+ tables were empty. I approached one of the show organizers about this, and was offered several reasons in explanation, most of which I actually believed. First, I was told that the Bears had suddenly decided to hold their fan expo the same weekend, so many vendors went there instead. Secondly, a lot of the out of town vendors decided not to make the trip because of ridiculous gas prices, especially in the Chicago area where we are rapidly approaching $4.50 a gallon. And thirdly, the most believable reason. The National Sports Collectors Convention is being held in Chicago this year, and it’s only 6 weeks away, so most people are waiting for the much bigger and more highly anticipated show.
Before I get labeled as being completely negative, I am glad I went. I found an amazing card for my collection, and some incredibly cheap wax. I only found 3 Andre Dawson cards at the entire show, and this was the only one not completely over-priced.
This is my first of what I hope are many. This is from the 2005 Leaf Century Collection, and there are several parallels of each player. It has an actual 34 cent Wrigley Field stamp embedded in the card, along with a jersey swatch, and an on-card autograph. It is serial #’d 6/34. This is only the second on-card auto in my collection. They seem to be really hard to find for Dawson. Anyway, I love this card, and this whole chase set, and as usual, I really hope DLP gets back into baseball!!
I also picked up some amazingly cheap wax, and struck out as usual. One of these days I’ll learn to stop buying wax, but I couldn’t pass up these prices! My first box was my 2nd tin ever of 2007 Sweet Spot Signatures. I couldn’t not buy a tin for $55, but as with the first tin, my pulls were less than stellar.
I still love Sweet Spot. They are gorgeous cards, and I’m sure I will open more, especially if I find them at this price. I just haven’t had the best luck so far.
I also picked up a box of 2005 Diamond KIngs. I love the design of this set, but I had never opened a box before. I found a box at the show for $47, and figured now was the time to open my first box. However, my usual luck continued.
My first hit was a Laynce NIx auto #’d to 100. This actually is a decent hit I suppose since your aren’t guaranteed an auto in the box. There are a ton of different autos that I have seen from this set, but the only guarantee on the box is 2 game used OR auto cards. So I guess I came out ahead in the game. It’s just that there isn’t much hobby love for Laynce. He’s not in Texas anymore, and he’s only played 29 games in the last 2 1/2 seasons for Milwaukee. But, he does have a very neat, unique auto, and he could be on the verge of a career resurgence as he hit 24 HRs in less than 400 at bats in AAA. So, who knows.
My second hit was a much better player, but still not much hobby love.
It’s a Tony Gwynn Heritage Collection bat #’d to 100. I really like the card, but aside from the fact that bat cards just don’t seem to be all that collectible, Gwynn himself doesn’t seem to get much love from collectors, despite racking up 3,141 career hits and a lifetime .338 batting average. He was a 15 time All-Star, a 5 time Gold Glove winner in right field, and a 7 time Silver Slugger. He also played all 20 seasons of his major league career in San Diego, and oh, by the way is a member of the Hall of Fame!! Yet, you can buy a sealed 2007 Topps Sterling Tony Gwynn box for about $120 on eBay, with the mystery pack! That’s a $250 wax box selling for $120 because it’s Tony Gwynn.
Anyway, like I said, I’m glad I went just for the Dawson auto/stamp. And I had a lot of fun opening some wax, especially at the prices paid. As usual, any of my non-Cubs cards are available for trade, including the one’s in this post. Just leave me a message in the about me section, or send me an e-mail.
The newest Chicago Cub phenom
June 5, 2008 at 4:33 pm | In My opinions | 2 CommentsWith their first pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, the Chicago Cubs have selected….Andrew Cashner. A 6′5″ right-handed pitcher from Texas Christian University. I have no idea who he is, but his draft info is pretty impressive, as you can see in this snippet from MiLB.com
“A move to a short-relief role has suited Cashner extremely well. As TCU’s closer, he’s been virtually unhittable, though he has struggled with his command. He’s had a big spike in velocity, up to the upper 90s to go along with a very good slider. College closers have become intriguing Draft picks over the past few years and Cashner has positioned himself to be one of the first taken.”
The most amazing thing to me is the fact that I cannot find 1 single baseball card adorned by Mr. Cashner. Hell, I had to search just find this picture.
If you’d like to see Andrew in action, take a look.
2008 Topps Series 2 - Update
May 31, 2008 at 10:39 am | In My opinions | 2 CommentsJust a quick aside to the post below. I actually contacted one of the human bags of excriment that is trying to sell the Fukudome/Japan card for $900 to just simply ask him wtf?? His response: “I got an offer of $300, but I’d sooner eat it for that.”.
Wow. So apparently this is what card collecting has come to in 2008. It’s a little bit funny. As I look around at all the other blogs that I read on a daily basis, I have yet to see 1 single review or box break for Topps 2. The boxes have been out for 3 days now. Doesn’t that seem a bit odd to you?? I might be headed back to opening more 2007 wax for a while.
2008 Topps Series 2 - The first Topps product this year I will not purchase
May 30, 2008 at 11:58 pm | In My opinions | 6 CommentsSo far this year, I have purchased at least 1 box, if not several, of every Topps product that has been released. As always, I got a call today from my local hobby shop to let me know that they received their case of Series 2 Jumbo boxes. I was all set to leave work and head over there, when I saw this all over eBay.
From what I have been able to gather so far, this is the only Kosuke Fukudome card in Topps Series 2. Despite the fact that the Topps Company official website has for months, and still to this very minute, lists card # 645 as being Fukudome, along with Gold, Black, and Platinum parallels, and Printing Plates.
Yet, what do we get?? A short printed, no number gimmick card of Kosuke in his WBC team Japan uniform. Oh, and by the way, one of them can be yours on eBay for anywhere from $300 to $900. Also, Sox fans, you’re in the same predicament if you want an Alexei Ramirez rookie card. He shows up in another no number gimmick in his Cuba uni.
So, what does all this bitching add up to?? Me not purchasing Topps Series 2, and many other base set collectors most likely doing exactly the same. It’s your frigging base product. Why can you not just make the base cards you say you’re going to make, and then put in your fruity gimmick short-printed inserts.
I can’t wait for someone to buy one of these things for $200-$300 only to find out a few weeks later that there are thousands of them out there after people open more wax. Giuliani anyone?? How much are 2007 Poley Walnuts or Jeter Mantle Bush cards selling for?? The last time I checked, $10 and $3 respectively.
Maybe one of these days, they’ll figure it out. Until then, I know where I can get an ACTUAL Cubs Fukudome rookie card.
2008 Bowman - The pull of my life(so far, I hope)
May 29, 2008 at 12:10 pm | In Box Breaks, My opinions | 5 CommentsHello all. Sorry I haven’t written in a few days. I’m a bit torn about the hobby right now. I haven’t opened any new wax since I bought my Bowman jumbo. I will still write about that at some point in the near future, I promise. But anyway, I did get a few new Dawson cards in the mail, which you can check out here.
Now I’m going to give you a little insight into the mind of a collecting addict. I haven’t opened any new boxes or packs in almost 2 weeks, which is quite a while for me. From February till now, I have opened an average of about 1 box per week. So, after almost 2 weeks, I was starting to get that itch. I’m sure some of you know what I’m talking about :)
On my way home from work yesterday, I drove right past the card shop, and then the rest of the way home I’m reasoning with my self in the car. “You don’t need to buy any more cards right now”. “But I haven’t busted any wax in almost 2 weeks”. “Yea, but you haven’t been very happy with most of this year’s releases anyway. Just concentrate on your Dawson collection”. “I could just buy a few packs though. What could it hurt?”. And so on, all the way home. I actually drove home, pulled into the garage and parked….and then the little collector in me won the argument. I got back in my car, drove back the shop, and after BSing with the owner for a little while, bought 7 randomly selected packs of 2008 Bowman at my slightly discounted rate of $2.75 a pack. And I’m so glad I did. Out of those 7 Hobby packs, I got more good “pulls” than I did out of my entire Jumbo HTA box.
Out of a measely 7 packs, I pulled a Michael Buschmann Gold refractor #’d to 50, a Daric Barton on-card rookie autograph, and this.
A 2008 Josh Vitters Bowman Chrome Prospect Gold Refractor Autograph #’d to 50!!! Needless to say, this is the best pull of my collecting life thus far. And as much as I hate to say it, it’s already sold. Yes, I know I’m a Cubs collector, and yes I’m in the hobby for the collecting aspect of it, but I got so much for this card, there was no way for me not to sell it. From what I’ve seen so far this year, there are maybe 1 or 2 BCP cards that actually gain value, however ridiculous the initial secondary market price is. Plus by selling this 1 card and working my eBay magic correctly, I should be able to pick up at least 10 really nice Andre Dawson cards that I have had my eye on for quite some time. Maybe even my White Whale .
If Vitters ends up become the next (insert superstar’s name here), then I may end up with a little bit of seller’s remorse. But, if he busts out or is just another average Major Leaguer, then I’ll be happy with my decision and my new Dawson’s.
But, I’d really like to know what you think. Did I do the right thing? Let me know.
eBay idiot or excusable inexperience? You be the judge
May 19, 2008 at 3:51 pm | In My opinions | 2 CommentsHello all. I was cruisin the Bay for Dawson’s today like I always do, and I had nothing better to write about, so I thought I’d toss this gem your way. From time to time, I like to post my eBay moron of the day. That listing you’ve all seen where someone is asking a retardedly exhorbitant amount of money for something you can pick up for 20 cents at Kmart, or from 300 other listings on eBay. This is the card.
If you don’t have one in your commons box, I’m sure you’ve seen dozens of them before. The listing doesn’t offer much of a description, but they do disclose the fact that it has a few creases, and they ship for only .99 cents. The opening bid is .01 cent, and overall, it’s probably one of the cheapest single cards you can buy on the Bay. Then there is the absolutely inexplicable Buy it Now price of 1 million dollars. No, that’s not a typo. That’s a 1 with 6 zeros, and no explanation whatsoever in the listing. Considering the fact that this seller has 27 feedback and is only selling 1 other baseball card at the moment, this is either a joke, or complete lack of experience selling cards. You sure as hell can’t accidentally type in $1,000,000. I don’t know. You decide for yourself. Meanwhile, this was my afternoon entertainment for the day.
Do you have an eBay nemesis??
May 17, 2008 at 2:23 pm | In My opinions | 4 CommentsThis may seem an odd question to some, but to those of you who do, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That one person who constantly outbids you with 8 seconds left in the auction, and you end up losing by 40 cents. Or maybe your opposition is that guy who can afford to ridiculously outbid you, paying $30-$40 over high book value just because he can. My nemesis will remain nameless in the sake of fair play, but I hate him nonetheless. Kinda silly isn’t it. He could be a perfectly nice guy, and they are just baseball cards after all. This was my most recent kick in the pants.
It just irks you though, doesn’t it? You think you’ve finally got that ever ellusive card that will complete part of your collection, and here’s comes captain moneybags swooping in with 3 seconds to go. I think that’s the worst part. Some guys now have it timed so well that you can’t even submit another bid.
I’ve actually thought about making contact with the bane of my collection, but I don’t think that would fly to well. Actually, I’d probably end up getting my account suspended. Plus, I’ve come to realize that if I had as much disposable income as him, I’d probably be that guy, to someone else.
So if you know what I’m talking about, or you feel how I feel, leave a comment or tell me your story.
2008 Bowman HTA Coming Soon
May 15, 2008 at 10:28 am | In Box Breaks, My opinions | No CommentsMy local shop has finally gotten in Jumbo HTA’s. So…by this afternoon I should have one of these
in my hot little hands. As much as I hate to say it, I’m actually growing kind of weary of my local hobby shop. The owner is a nice guy that I bs with every time I go in, but he has become increasingly lazy. This is the 3rd release in a row that he hasn’t gone to pick up until the day after it’s released. I may just be barking in the dark here, but when you’re an addict you gotta have your cards. Look for my break and review tomorrow!
The Topps Company gets one right
May 14, 2008 at 4:53 pm | In Box Breaks, My opinions | 3 CommentsYou know, sometimes it still pays to sit down and write an old fashioned letter. For the last few years, most people just fire off an angry e-mail, or call customer service and scream at some 20 year old who’s making 6 bucks an hour. I’ve done both. But this time I was so pissed off and disappointed with a product, that I sat down and wrote this letter. I mailed it to at least 8 different people at The Topps Company in New York and Pennsylvania, and to be honest, I never expected a response. I was wrong.
3 or 4 days after I mailed the letters, I got a call on my cell phone from Topps. They started off by telling me how sorry he was that I had a bad experience with one of their products, and then how much he wanted to make this right for me. He thanked me for taking the time to sit down and send a letter, and he assured me that his number one priority in his new position is to really crack down on production quality and overall customer satisfaction with their upcoming products.
Overall, I was pretty happy with the conversation, and more than anything else, happy with the fact that someone from the company actually took the time to read my letter and contact me to offer a response. But that’s not the end of the story. When I got home and picked up my mail yesterday, I found this.
A UPS package from The Topps Company corporate office in New York. And inside I found these.
2 boxes of 2008 Topps Finest. Talk about customer service!! They actually read my letter carefully enough to note that I really liked the box of Finest that I bought last month. So they sent me 2 boxes to make up for my bad Co-Signers experience. I was in shock! A big corporation actually got one right for once.
I opened both boxes last night and here are the pulls that I got. No Mantle cut autos or anything spectacular, but I did much better than the box that I bought.
The Reyes auto and the Gordon gold refractor were very nice to pull. I also got a ton of blue, green and black refractors. Also, being that I have now opened 3 boxes, I almost have a complete set! And I now have redemption cards 3, 4, and 8, so I feel like I have a pretty good shot at getting either Fukudome or Soto. I actually didn’t mind getting the Rip Girl auto either. Lots of people have been complaining about them, but it didn’t replace one of my regular autos. It just made a total of 4 autos in that box.
All in all, I have always loved the Finest product, and I was just really happy to see that the time and effort I took to voice my concerns was rewarded.
Kudos for The Topps Company ??
May 13, 2008 at 3:23 pm | In My opinions | No CommentsI know it doesn’t seem possible coming from me if you’ve read any of my previous posts. But I should have a package coming in the next couple of days from 1 Whitehall St in New York, and a very nice story to go along with it. Stay Tuned!!
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