Cards from Everyone's Favorite Blog Turned Online Shop

Friday, 9 March 2012

I have often thought about what this blog could potentially lead to for me.  I am mainly hoping to improve my writing and research skills for a future as an author.  Whether or not that actually happens is still up in the air, but it is one of my major life goals.  I'm sure that some of my fellow bloggers share my goal, but others have different goals for their time and effort.  I am writing specifically about Andy and Jon, the two great guys behind Community Gum.  They have turned their really cool blog into an online card shop in case you hadn't heard, although they still maintain their writings as well.

What this is leading to is a purchase I made from the guys.  Well, actually it was two different purchases that were combined into one.  The first was the Rockies from a case break of 2011 Bowman Draft and the 2nd was Rockie parallels from a 2012 Topps case break.  Here is a little showing of what I got from Jon and Andy.

Here is the entire Rockies team set from 2011 Bowman Chrome Draft.  I am especially happy to get the Alan Johnson because it knocks another name off my One of Every Rockie collection.  He started one game last year and might never pitch another with Colorado because he is currently an unsigned free agent.  The other 4 guys all appear in 2011 Topps Update (Nicasio twice).  This disappoints me because this set's purpose (if there is one) should be to feature guys with less of major league track record.  For example, some of the Rockies September call ups like Tommy Field, Hector Gomez, and Jim Miller should have been in this set.  But I still got an Alan Johnson, so I guess all is not lost.

Here is the 4 card team set from 2011 Bowman Draft Prospects.  This set only features players drafted in 2011.  Anderson and Story were both first rounders, with Story being a sandwich first rounder received as compensation for the loss of Octavio Dotel.  That should be a good turnaround for the Rox, especially since Dotel was only in Denver for like 3 weeks.  Thomore was a 2nd round pick and Riggins was a 7th rounder.  I have no idea why there are facsimile signatures on two of these and not on the other two.  Is it Topps' sloppiness or is there a real reason behind it?

These are the parallels that I got.  The two Alex Whites are the base refractor and the gold refractor #'d to 50.  I didn't mention this earlier, but I am happy to see and actual Rockies card of Alex White rather than the crazy Rockies/Indians hybrid that was in Topps Update.  The Tyler Anderson is a base refractor as well.  I didn't scan the Chrome Draft Prospects team set, but on them the border was white rather than black.  Once again, I have no idea why.

The big hit (for the Rockies at least) that the guys pulled from the Bowman Draft case was this beauty.  It is a blue refractor autograph of Trevor Story #'d to 199.  I think Story could eventually develop into a pretty good (if not great) major leaguer, but I don't think it will be in Colorado.  Obviously he is blocked at shortstop by Troy Tulowitzki, but Colorado also has big time prospects at third base (Nolan Arenado) and second base (Josh Rutledge).  I could see Story bypassing Rutledge much easier that Arenado, but I foresee him being super prime trade bait instead.  I could see the Yankees wanting him to replace Derek Jeter in a couple of years.

Here are some of the gold sparkle "urine-fractors" that I got from the guys.  I still don't like that Chacin card.  The Pomeranz card is interesting to me and possibly some of my astute readers with a good memory.  The photo used on that card is the same that I used on my 2011 Quarry Card of Pomeranz except it is zoomed in a bit.  Take a look and compare and tell me which is the better card (unless you think Topps is better).

Yeah, Topps is probably better, but they do have 60 years of card-making and designing experience on me.

Here is a couple more from the golden set.  I like that Todd Helton is shown on the active leaders cards with the likes of Pujols and Chipper because he belongs in their tier.  Most people don't think of him on their level though which is just a shame. 

The star for the Rockies out of the 2012 Topps case is this black parallel of Troy Tulowitzki.  I got it for very good price because there was a slight nick on the left border of the card.  I SOOOOO don't care, especially for a card #'d to 61 of a star like Tulo.  That nick probably saved me quite a few dollars on buying this card and while it is slightly noticeable it doesn't take away from the card to me.

Andy was also kind enough to throw in some 1993 Stadium Club cards that I needed for my team set.  I am officially anointing him the King of Stadium Club among card bloggers.  The guy seriously love the full bleed sets.  I like them, but I also think a border is an important part of a card design.  Sure some are bad, but they give a little differentiation between different sets.  To me there just isn't enough difference between some of the Stadium Club (and Ultra and Upper Deck) sets.



Once again, thanks guys for giving me such a great price on these cards.  Don't forget to check out their site and get in on their case breaks.  You won't be sorry.

comments | | Read More...

Group Break Swag from Cardboard Collections

Friday, 10 February 2012

I got into the January February group break over at Cardboard Collections with my usual pick of the Rockies (yay) and my randomized pick of the Mariners (boo).  Colbey busted a 2012 Topps jumbo box and a 2009 Topps Ticket to Stardom hobby box.  Let's take a look at the highlights of my loot.

First up the entire team set from 2012 Topps Series 1 (excluding the Helton active leaders cards)

A trio of young pitchers that will hopefully be leading the Rockies throughout the 2010s.  The Nicasio and Brothers are kind of ordinary photos.  The Chacin is different, but in my opinion not good different.  Sure it gives you an in depth "in the game" sort of look, but the subject of the card takes up only 25% (if that) of the space available.  If this card was a portrait-style card I think it would be a little better, but probably not much.

Here we have three players that were on the 2011 Colorado roster and should be on the 2012 roster (well maybe not in Young's case).  These are probably my three favorite Rockies cards in the team set with the Young pacing a distant third.  I had high hopes for a great looking Eric Young card after having a fantastic 2010 Topps card and the BEST card in the 2011 Topps set, but for his high standards the card is rather pedestrian (but still not bad).  The Fowler is my favorite Rockies card, but more by default than anything.

Here is the Rockies trio of rookies that will hopefully be making some noise this year.  Rosario will probably begin the year either backing up Ramon Hernandez or in AAA.  Pacheco could also be backing up Hernandez or be the utility infielder or both.   Pomeranz will be battling for a position in the starting rotation with about 15 others.  My bet is he starts in the minors, but is up by May at the latest.

Here are four guys that are no longer Rockies.  I am happy that Topps let them have a final Rockies card rather than photoshopping.  Well, Hammel and Smith were traded too late, but Iannetta and Wigginton were moves made in early December and they could have been shopped.  Like I said I'm glad they weren't.  The Iannetta is an interesting card that could have been fantastic as a landscape card.  As a portrait card, too much of the story has been missed.

These are the two inserts I picked up.  Like everyone else, I love the 87 minis.  I just can't say enough good things about how these look.  The Timeless Talents is what it is.  The same thing as Legendary Lineage and Dynamic Duos...boring.

Speaking of Tulo, this is the only card I needed out of the Ticket to Stardom box.  If you look very closely you can see that this is a perforated parallel.  Man, I'm glad this set was a one and done.  Although it did get me something cool as you will soon see.

But before I show you the coolness I got, here are the Mariners highlights.  There wasn't much in the Mariners pile (I did get a Pineda and Ackley base but I don't care about either of them), but I did like this photo with the throwback M's uniform.  Does it make you old when you remember the original time period of a throwback uniform?

I did get both Pineda and Ackley in the Gold Futures insert set as well.  I don't like this set at all and not just because there aren't any Rockies in it.  But really couldn't they have put one of the above Rockies rookies in this set?  But I long ago realized Topps doesn't care about the Rockies.  But I digress. 

Here is my big totally unexpected hit of the break.

From the 2009 Ticket to Stardom box, I received a ticket/jersey relic of third baseman Yulieski Gourriel #'d 50/110.  You may be asking yourself 'Who?'  Don't feel bad I did the same thing, but Google helped me much like it might help you one day.  Gourriel is currently considered the best player remaining in Cuba now that Yoenis Cespedes is in America.  So maybe in a couple of years, there will be a bidding war for this guy and my card will be quite in demand.  Even if that is not the case, it is still a pretty cool card.

Thanks again Colbey for another great break.

comments | | Read More...

I Have Been a Bad Blogger...Here Is My Penance

Friday, 3 February 2012

I have had a sort of busy week so it has been several days since my last post, which I had hoped wouldn't happen for a little while.  But it happened, so I'll not dwell on it and move on to create fantastic reading material for my millions upon millions of readers (well 12 of you anyway).  This is just going to be a Larry King-style bullet point post.

1. The voting for the Rock Star left handed reliever is extremely close among all five nominees, closest so far.  If you haven't voted, please do so before voting ends on Saturday afternoon
2. I have gotten several trade packages in the mail in the last month or so and I would to thank them all collectively now.  This will be my final non-posted trade thank you, due to the next bullet.
3. I am scheduled to get my federal tax refund on Monday.  Within 24 hours of getting it, I will be buying a scanner.  Business is about to pick up.
4. Much like last year, I still don't have 2012 Topps available in my neck of the woods.  It is one of the main reasons I haven't posted.  I have been trying to keep a low profile to avoid seeing the entire set before I have it in hand.  That obviously failed, but I'll deal with it.  There have been worse tragedies in the world.
5. From the ones I have seen, the Rockies don't have a single great looking card in 2012 Topps Series 1.  I will get more in depth on this issue when I get my cards from Colbey's break in a week or so.
6. Reed Johnson (and the birds) is my very early nominee for card of the year.
7. Mail went out to several of you on Thursday.  Sorry for being a bit slow with return packages, but like I said earlier it's been a busy week.
8. Am I the only one that will NOT be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday?  Much like last year, I have no interest in either team and don't want to root for either team.  Can't they just both lose?
9. The commercial with the dogs barking the Star Wars theme sucks.  You can't really even hear the song that much and it is just annoying already.  And it hasn't even aired yet.

Okay not exactly Larry King-style because I stayed on point the whole time, but you get the gist.  Thanx for reading.

comments | | Read More...