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.

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April Group Break Results from Community Gum

Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Site
Community Gum

Boxes Broken
2000 Fleer Mystique
2001 Fleer Platinum
2002 Fleer Authentix
2003 Fleer Avant
2003 Fleer Splendid Splinters
2004 Fleer Classic Clippings
2005 Fleer Showcase

After two weeks worth of my own group break, is there a better way to get back to normal functioning than showing off my results from someone else's group break?  Well sure there probably is, but I like this.  Jon from Community Gum ran an all Fleer community break a few weeks back and I of course grabbed my Rox.  I didn't get any huge scores from this break (well except for a trade with Jon), but I did get a bunch of great cards from a time I did not collect.  After seeing all of the great products available, I am glad I missed the late 90s/early 2000s because I would have gone broke buying many of these sets...for the most part they look great.  Let's check them out.

2000 Fleer Mystique

First off I have to say I love the back of this card much more than the front.  The hypnotic background really makes the card.  The front is kind of cool also, but looks about the same as a lot of other sets.   I picked up the Ben Petrick IPO which was a mystery card covered in some weird foil out of one of the packs.  After removing all the gunk, it revealed this short print rookie card #'d to 999.  A nice idea for a rookie subset.


2001 Fleer Platinum

This was my best box in terms of numbers in the break.  I got nice chunk (12) out the team set.  The front is an homage to 1981 Fleer and the back pays tribute to 1987 Fleer, both with small alterations.  The bar graphs on the back don't really do anything for me, but they are different so no complaints.  The Todd Helton All Star is a short print and I picked up the rookies card because the Marlins went unpurchased in the break.  I know that Craig House didn't do much in the majors, I wonder how that kid on the Marlins did.

2002 Fleer Authentix

Here is the offering from Authentix, a ticket-based idea for a set.  I don't really like this set that much, it's just too blah.  The front is okay and the ticket numbers indicate uniform number, card number, and home runs (I believe).  The back is just way too bland.  A nice idea, but poor design.

2003 Fleer Avant

Here is the Fleer Avant offering, another box in which I did pretty good.  I got the entire team set (3) along with the black and white parallel of Larry Walker #'d to 199.  This is the type of set that makes me hope that Fleer could make a comeback (and not the 2006-07 Upper Deck Fleer, real Fleer).  The front uses "space age" technology that looks really good.  The back suffers from an identity crisis, not knowing if it is a horizontal or vertical design.  The congratulations on the bottom of the simple base card is kind of weird also.  Basically it says good job for having the ability to open the pack you just purchased.  I still think this is the best design of all of these sets.

2003 Fleer Splendid Splinters

Here we have a set where the back clearly outshines the front.  The front isn't horrible with the crossed bats and framed design, but the back is just sweet looking.  No wasted space, the font on the player name, the diamond behind the vital stats, and all the split stats.  I don't even mind that there is not a picture on the back (actually I prefer card backs without a picture).  Good looking set all around.

2004 Fleer Classic Clippings

This is one of the more boring sets I have seen.  There is a bit of info on the front, but it still seems like there is WAY too much blank space.  The backs are a little more interesting, featuring a box score from a particularly good game for a player that season.  All in all a rather forgettable set though.

2005 Fleer Showcase

Well, I got shutout on the last box.  It happens and I will have to track down a Rockie from this set to eventually show off here.

The side trade loot

This is a side trade put together by Jon and myself during the break.  I sent him around 40 cards of his players (mostly Tony Gwynn) for this gimmicky beauty of Carlos Gonzalez from 2011 Topps.  This is one of the Sparkle variations (right below the R on the uniform).  Honestly I don't care for the gimmicky crap that Topps puts out most of the time and this is no exception.  However, I am a complete team collector and luckily Colorado is ignored by Topps most of the time.  I couldn't imagine trying to get all the Yankees from these gimmicks.

I didn't do as great as most participants on this break, (just about everyone got at least one hit).  But I still got a couple of #'d cards and filled some of the team sets that I hadn't even begun to start.  Overall it was a very fun break and I will be happy to join another from Jon.

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Quick Group Break Plug x 3

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

I'm sure you all have seen these plugs on several sites, but mine is the first (that I have seen) to plug all 3 of them together.

Cardboard Collections - Colbey is at it again.  This he is doing some 1994 Fleer and 1994 Score series 2 along with several bonus packs for the low price of $7 a team.  There are a few good teams remaining like the Red Sox, Tigers, and Twins.  My teams are the Rockies and the Blue Jays (Delgado RC, Olerud ProVisions...eh I took a shot).

Thorzul will Rule - Thorzul is busting a 2005 Donruss Throwback Threads hobby box and a 2008 UD Ultimate Collection hobby box.  Two teams (1 chosen, 1 random) for $20.  I think it might be full now though.  Surprisingly, the Dodgers went unbought maybe I will get them randomly and replenish my trade stock.  My teams are the Rockies and the Marlins (maybe I can trade them for prospects). 

Community Gum - Jon at Community Gum is apparently a former stockholder of Fleer, because he is busting 7!! different Fleer products ranging from 2000-2005.  One team will cost you $28 (and a couple cheaper with extra discounts available).  I got the Rockies only in this one and this one I will be okay with just base cards (not turning down hits though) because it is the weak years of my team collection.

Check them out and tell them the Quarry sent you.

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