Because it was a Nickel - Part 7

Nickel-Box, Day 7!!  If you have no idea what this is all about, go here for the original post.

28 days of Nickle-Box!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 7:

3 Canadian Murphy's!!  85 Leaf, 84 Topps and 84 Topps All Star

Why I bought Them:  They were each nickels!  Murphy has always intrigued me.  I met him once as a teenager, and he was huge!  I really remember his size!  Also, the Leaf and O-Pee-Chee brands are really cool.  How about the French on that All-Star card???  And they were each a nickel!!

Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Draft Sniping!

I recently participated in a card draft over at Thorzul'z!  I love card drafts!!  I wish I had more money for card drafts, especially drafts that are truly worth the money, like this one!

I got some nice cards, some for me, some for others.  Below are some of those I am keeping.  I'm not showing the ones I'm sending out because some of those are already flying across the country to various bloggers.

The Gibson was my 1st Round pick.  I love the look of the card and didn't have any Gibby relics.  I also like the look of the Edgar Martinez and Lance Berkman.  Sooooo shiny on the Berkman!  The Grace, Raines, Morris and Griffey Sr. don't grab me quite as much, but I like all of them as players, so relics of them made sense.

My 2nd Round pick was very much a reach, as I may have been able to get it much later!

But I couldn't not grab this McGwire!  It's a harder to find insert, a die-cut and of course, it fits right into my SCAM project.  Also, Super Cardinals Collector Madding was in the draft, so I knew I would need to grab McGwire early.  In fact, I think I lost out to him on another McGwire I overlooked. 

Madding!!!!!!

Thanks to Thorzul for an awesome draft!!

Because it was a Nickel - Part 6

Nickel-Box, Day 6!!  If you have no idea what this is all about, go here for the original post.

28 days of Nickle-Box!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 6:

2002 Topps Chrome Traded Drew Henson.

Why I bought it:  It was a nickel!  Also because this guy is going to be the next 2 sport superstar!  Quarterback and Third Baseman.  This card will probably be worth $100 soon!  That's 200,000% over what I paid for it!!  Whoa!!  Back to 2013, sorry...  Actually I just liked this card for the nostalgia factor.  And it was a nickel!!


Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Because it was a Nickel - Part 5

Nickel-Box, Day 5!!  If you have no idea what this is all about, go here for the original post.

28 days of Nickle-Box!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 5:

Yesterday was lefty Mashers, today is Lefty himself!  1987 Topps Collectors Series.

Why I bought it:  It was a nickel!  Well, I think I'd seen this set before, but not a lot.  Lefty is really near the end here and it shows.  But the design and picture fits for an 'end of the line' type card.  Simple, strait forward and honest.  I like it!  And it was a nickel!!

I grabbed about 5 cards from this set, Lefty was just my favorite.  Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Because it was a Nickel - Part 4

Nickel-Box, Day 4!!  If you have no idea what this is all about, go here for the original post.

28 days of Nickle-Box!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 4:

A couple of Green Lefty Mashers!  2013 Topps Emerald Parallels of Joey Votto and Anthony Rizzo.

Why I bought it:  They were each a nickel!  Again, mostly just because they are shiny.  Actually, for gaudy monstrosities, these are pretty good looking in person.  And the subjects are interesting too.  I think Votto is one of the top 3 hitters in the game right now and Rizzo made the Cubs think he's good enough to sign long term for 41 million.  And they were each a nickel!!


Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Because it was a Nickel - Part 3

Nickel-Box, Day 3!!  If you have no idea what this is all about, go here for the original post.

I've decided that I will share one card a day from the box until the next card show!!  That's 28 days of Nickle-Box!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 3:

2012 Topps Archives Brian Wilson Gold Foil Parallel
Why I bought it:  It was a nickel!  Actually, mostly just because it's shiny.  I'm like a raccoon that way.  If I saw a shiny baseball card in a raccoon trap, I'd put my hand in there.  And when I lost that hand, I'd probably go right back in with the other one.  I like shiny, especially when...   it was a nickel!!

Come to think of it, Brian Wilson kind of looks like a raccoon!


Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Much appreciated PWE - Bo Knows!

Bo from Baseball Cards Come to Life slapped me down with a nice PWE full of bad, evil steroid users for the SCAM Project!  Bo definitely knows what I want!!  Bo sent Cansecos from 94 and 99, Palmieros from 94 and 01, a Sosa from 99 and McGwire, also from 99.

My favorite, by a long shot, is the 1994 Canseco in the upper right.  Go ahead, take a closer look.  Jose looks so glum.  Maybe his favorite bat (Old Bessie) isn't doing its job and its getting him down.  And what's with the wood shavings all over the dugout floor?  It looks like Jose needed to shave Bessie's handle down.  What a weird pic!

Thanks a bunch Bo!

Because it was a Nickel - Part 2

Nickel-Box, Day 2!!  If you have no idea what this is all about, go here for the original post.

I've decided that I will share one card a day from the box until the next card show!!  That's 28 days of Nickle-Box!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 2:

1982 Topps Johnny Bench In Action

Why I bought it:  It was a nickel!  And it's a 30 year old card of a HOFer, maybe the best catcher ever!  And it's in nice shape!  And it was a nickel!!

I bought 3 of this exact card.  Why do I need three of this exact card?  I didn't, I already had a copy.  But for 15 cents, I went a little nuts.

Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Because it was a Nickel - Part 1

OK, so at yesterday's card show, I found not a quarter box, not a dime box, but a nickel box!!  Nicklebox.  Kind of like a cross between Nickleback and Candlebox.

OK, that's a weird combination.  The nickelbox at the card show was MUCH better!!

There were serial numbered, oddball refractors and more.  I scanned a bunch of them and decided that I will share one card a day from the box until the next card show!!  That's 28 days of NickleBox!!  None of these cards are really anything I need for my collection, so if anyone is interested in any of them, hit me up for a spot in my PWE project!  Here is day 1:

2013 Topps Heritage R.A. Dickey Chrome #d /999!

Why I bought it:  It was a nickel!  And it's serial numbered.  And I really like 64 topps.  And it has a cool finish.  And it was a nickel!!

This was actually one of several Chrome numbered from this set I grabbed.  I'm pretty happy about that.

Stay tuned for the rest of the series!!

Roiders Base!

Reader Scott recently sent me a package with 3 of the Topps base cards I need for the SCAM Project!

1993 Bonds and McGwire and 1994 Clemens.  Scott said he didn't need anything in return, but I think he will definitely get something!

Things have slowed on the SCAM Project recently, but I expect big things soon.  If you have cards that can help and want to trade, let me know!

Thanks Scott!

Showcase Showdown

Tim AKA the Big Kahuna from Enough Already recently had a 'Showcase Showdown' contest which I was fortunate enough to win!  I must have got exactly a dollar on my spins, because the prize was way over the top!!

First up was the Die Cuts

I really like these, but I'm a sucker for a good die cut.  However, I hope Topps doesn't keep them going too much.  Overproduction kills the cool factor.  It took years for people to get back in to die cuts after the 90's mass die cut fiasco, let's not do that again!

Next up are 4, yes 4! autos!  My favorite is the Jarrod Parker, not only because he has a chance to be pretty good, but because I like the color!  My high school colors were green and gold, so I am partial I guess.

Last but not least, we have a nice hodge podge. The Luck is in a wrapper, I am not sure exactly what it is from, but hey, Andrew Luck rc!  The Matthews is my 1st Framed Gold parallel and the other three are just plain sweet.

A great win for me and my collection!!  Thanks a ton Tim!

Update and a question...

Hey!!  PWE Update!!  If you have requested a PWE in my free PWE offering, they all should have gone out as of today!  Here are the Zip codes that went out today:

11563
62863
43204
60586

If you are NOT one of the zip codes above AND have NOT received your PWE, let me know so I can make it right.

And it is definitely NOT too late to request one (or even another, though those will take a little longer!)

Now, the question:

Are there any Frank Thomas Collectors out there???  I have a decent number of Frank's I'd like to get rid of.  Nothing awesome, no hits or anything, but there are a good number of oddballs, some inserts and stuff.  I think I can handle more than one of you too, so even if someone has commented or e-mailed me, if you are interested, please let me know!!

It seems like I came across a blog with a list of all their Frank Thomas'.  That would be ideal, so I can just send the ones you need, but don't let it stop you if you don't have one.

Here is a pic of the Frank's I need to get rid of!!  A good bit of duplicates and junk, but still, I should be able to help someone out.  I hope!

$1600 On the Bay - Bat Around!

There's a new Bloggers Bat Around going on!  This one was started over at Drop the Gloves, a mostly hockey blog.  Well, I'm not much of a hockey guy, but it is a good blog and I'm always up for a Bat Around!  The topic this time is what would you buy today if you had $1600 to spend on Ebay?

Here's my answer, in the order that blogger.com chose to upload my pictures:

1965 Topps Steve Carlton RC - $239.00

 I had this card as a kid, but it was stolen.  I miss it.  I want it back.

1970 Topps Thurman Munson RC - 42.50

 I love his more iconic 1972 card, but I still need the RC... total so far - $281.50

2002 All Time DK Set - $84.95

 I have a loooong way to go on all the cool Diamond Kings insert sets from the early 2000's.  Better get started while I have this $$!  Total so far - $366.45

Mark McGwire 93 Finest Refractor - $100.00

 Nuff said.  Total so far - $466.45

McGwire/Sosa Ultimate Patches - $70.00

 Another McGwire.  Hmm.  Great patches, and a time I remember fondly.  I don't care if they are scum!!  Plus, this would be the perfect capper to my SCAM Project!!  Total so far - $536.45

1969 Topps Decals Mickey Mantle - 19.99

 So cool, and cheap!!  Total so far - $556.44

1984 Fleer Update Dwight Gooden - $20.00

 This set is one of the few that you have to pay book value no matter what.  I wanted this card since I was a kid.  Total so far - $576.44

1967 Topps Rod Carew RC - $185.00

 Here's a biggie for me. This is the only Carew from his playing days that I don't have.  It's a high number and tough to find.  Not the most appealing to the eye though...Total so far - $761.44

1973 Topps Mike Schmidt RC - $100.00

 Another that isn't the prettiest card, but I gotta get it someday!!  It's cheap because it's not mint.  See next card for more of that!  Total so far - $861.44

1954 Topps Hank Aaron RC - $599.99

 This was the first card on my list.  I'd love to get any copy of this, no matter how hammered.  It's my white whale.  I've seen better condition for less money in the past, but this was the best deal on the bay today.  Total so far - $1461.43

1968 Topps Reds lot, Bench RC - $40.00

 More beat up vintage.  Bench RC, woohoo!!  Total so far - $1501.43

1992 Bowman Mike Piazza RC - $15

 I had 2 copies of this card, but sent them to Dodgers bloggers who wanted them more than I did.  Well, now I want it back!!  total so far - 1516.43

2001 Donruss Diamond Kings Inserts set - $65.00

These are #'d /2500 each.  I want them.  Badly!!

So I totaled out at 1581.43.  In a 'real life' situation, I'd spend more carefully, but this was a fun exercise!  What would you buy???????

Recent SCAM additions

Hey!  Real life has kept me from posting for a while, so this is a catch up post.  I got SCAM packages from three awesome bloggers!

First up is Tom from Angels In Order.  In addition to the roiders, he sent some fun 90's inserts!

This is just a sampling of what he sent, but the Puckett is awesome, I always like stickers(!) and the shiny on the other two makes me all warm and fuzzy.

Here are nine of the excellent selection of Bad Boys from Tom!

I think my favorite might be the Giambi.  So cheesy, but nostalgic for his A's days too.

Next up is a package from Shane at Shoebox Legends.  Tons of great cards, here's what fit on my scanner...

Great Bonds!!  That's what I'm talkin about!!  Perfect SCAM Project fodder.  Thanks Shane!

 The last package came courtesy of 2 PWE's from Oscar over at All Trade Bait All The Time!

Booya!  Excellent stuff, I especially like the Palmiero, about to harm a baseball with potentially juiced, extreme prejudice!

Oscar also must have poked around on my wantlists and seen that I like unique cards of 'Oil Can' Boyd.   This one is a beaut!  The glasses are simply awesome and the embroidered name...  this card makes me happy!!

Thanks a ton guys!!

GCRL used the USPS, but no PWE

Got a package from GCRL!  I knew it was related to the Steroids Project, but had no idea of the specifics. It was definitely too large to fit in a PWE!

One of the main parts of the Project is to get a complete Topps Base run for each of the 8 different players in the project.  Well... before the package, I had 39 different Topps Base in the project.  (there are 152 total)  I now have 67.  Awesome, just awesome!  Thanks a bunch, Jim!

I was so excited that I sorted and put them all away without even scanning them.  I feel bad that you don't get to see a graphic representation of the bounty.  Oh wait, I did scan one!  In and amongst the base cards, Jim hid a little... hit!  A jersey card of suspected Steroids User, and Project Participant, Roger Clemens!!

Here it is and thanks a bunch to GRCL!  I'm working on your return package now.

A Junkie Package

I recently sent a few Griffey's to T.J. from The Junior Junkie.  He responded with a major Roid Rage Package for my SCAM Project!  When I say Roid Rage, I mean that the package was seriously pumped up!  It was bursting at the seams like Arnold Schwarzenegger's arms!  Seriously, there were probably 4 inches of cards stacked up, and all of them roiders.  Thanks a ton T.J.!

Here are a few of my favorites from the package:

Very diverse!  T.J. covered all 8 of the players in my project.  I'll be updating the individual pages to reflect what I have in the next couple of days.  I had not seen the Gold Leaf Stars set (Canseco) before, and the Record Setters set from 1987 really takes me back to my childhood.

There was also a bit of humor in the package, T.J. showed off his artistic side on these two Canseco's.  The art is on the plastic, not the card, like a true collector.

Bad Jose!

He also must have perused my wantlists, because he threw in this auto of Jose Uribe, R.I.P.

No, I'm not a Uribe collector, but I do collect auto's of deceased players.  Uribe not only died young, in a car crash at 47, but his wife died in childbirth at 27.  Rough life.

Sorry to end the post on a low note, but it was a great package anyway.  Thanks T.J., I will have more Griffeys eventually!

OK, bring it on!

I have 2 projects going on right now that I need help with:

1. Weekly PWE Sendout Project
2. The Steroids Project, aka the SCAM Project

Project 1 - Weekly PWE Sendout Project

The last 2 weeks I have sent out a single PWE Bomb to a fellow blogger.  But that's not enough, obviously!  What I want to do is this:  Every week, I will send out at least one, hopefully more, PWE Bombs.  Sounds easy, but I have one problem.  I need addresses!

So here is what I need from you all!  Send me your address if you want to be Bombed.  Send them to kmattson2002 at yahoo dot com  If you want, include some types of cards you would like to be bombed with.   Vintage, certain sets, a favorite team, players, other types of cards, whatever.  Don't expect awesome, high dollar cards, but free cards, even cheapo ones are always cool, right??  Think dime box stuff here mostly.  And I have a card show this weekend, so if I hear from you before that, the dime boxes just might pay off for you!

Project 2 - The Steroids Project, aka the SCAM Project

 Now that I have set up pages for each player in the SCAM Project and a Main Page that links to each of them, its time to kick this project into a higher gear!

First, a big thanks to those who have already contacted me with offers.  I appreciate it and keep 'em coming!  And for the rest of you,  bring the offers on!  I need tons of your unwanted cards of these 8 cheating scoundrels!  Obviously, I want relics/autos of these guys, but I also need a ton of Topps base and cool inserts.  Take a look at what I have/need for each of them here.  Turn your hated cardboard of the steroids era into cards you actually want!  If I don't have anything you want now, I can probably find something, just let me know!

SCAMming!

Brad From Brads Blog recently offered to start me off on the right foot with my Steroids Project!  Here are 2 Clemens and a McGwire!

And the main reason for the package, this b-e-a-utiful Raffy Palmiero bat card!  It is numbered /50 and while it looks good in the scan, it looks even better in person.  Thanks a ton Brad!  This is Palmeiro Relic #1 in the project.

In the spirit of cheating (though not steroids) Brad included several cards from the recent Pete Rose set.  I had not received any of these before and I think I like them.  They have some good photography, less traditional baseball card photography, but nice.  Here are a few.

And lastly, he threw in some vintage and a couple of 72 minis.  Great package Brad, and my revenge will be in the mail soon!