A free Robinson Cano autograph...

Today I get my mail and inside was a big envelope from Topps.  I was like oh maybe it's a blogger playing a practical joke since I haven't bought anything recently, or won any auctions that would come in the mail (especially from Topps).  So I opened it with the excitement and anticipation of a kid on Christmas morning, and holy smokes it's an on card Robinson Cano autograph...  Instant smile (despite wanting to kick him).  

So then I am sitting at the kitchen table staring into space wondering where the hell this came from and wondered how the cardboard Gods knew they needed to intervene in my disinterest in cards.  This went on for a few minutes until I realized I didn't look at the paper that was wrapped around the card.  I  opened it up and realized it was a redemption...   Which I apparently redeemed at some point.  I have literally no idea what I paid for this or when I redeemed it so it was basically like getting a free gift in the mail.  I vaguely remember buying it months and months ago.

eBay doesn't go back far enough for me to find the auction and Topps only shows shipping dates so whatever, it was free as far as I'm concerned.  My last purchase on eBay in January was a Callahan auto, and before that I made 3 purchases according to my feedback. One in August, September, and October so maybe it was one of those.  I should buy redemption cards more often so that when they arrive months later it's a fun surprise.

Anyone else ever redeem a card and forget about it or am I the only crazy person that's done this?

P.S. I went to label this post "Marie is crazy" and it was already an option... That made me laugh.

Do players change their autograph this dramatically?

Players change their autographs over time. As they sign more and more autographs every day - some for fans, some for money - they find ways to make their autograph easier to write thousands of times. Other parts of their autograph merge with other letters and a new creation is born.

There is a clear transformation in Derek Jeter autographs.

Here is a 1994 Derek Jeter auto when he was just a little boy thinking of making it big.

It's very big and loopy. Sort of like the little whipper snapper was thrilled to get his name on baseball cards.

Here is his auto from 1998, his third full season in the league.

The loops are a little smaller and it doesn't seem as refined as the first autograph. Jeter's autograph stayed mostly within this frame, but has changed slightly over the years.

This is from 2010.

Now his signature looks like a roller coaster ride with all the loops.

This isn't the purpose of the post though. This was an example to show the transformation of someone's signature over the course of 16 years.

On eBay, I found this Kevin Kouzmanoff in-person autograph auction.

This is the first time I have ever seen his full name autographed on anything. Players will changed their in-person or TTM signatures from what they do on authentic pieces to curb resales of their items. But I have never seen his autograph look this way.

It's interesting that the auction states if you get this autograph authenticated by a third party and it's not real, you will get a refund. But who is going to spend the money to get something authenticated when then authentication would cost more than the card.

Then, I found another in-person autograph by Kouz on a bat. This auction even states, check his signature on eBay and bid with confidence. Only, this is just one of two autos I have seen like this and both come with COAs I would wipe my you-know-what with.

Here is Kouz's autograph on his first card from 2004. Notice he just writes 'Kouz' on it, which I happen to like better.

Then, in his rookie year of 2007, he signed a ton of autographs for card companies. I probably have over 100 autos of his because he is one of the filler guys in products.

And now this from supposedly this year's spring training.

Who thinks this is actually his signature?

Who needs the National...

Who needs the National when you can get great deals on eBay on the cards you want? Not me. I have been scouring the listings carefully to find cards that I need of Robbie Cano. A couple of the cards that I found have come in today and I must say that the scan doesn't do the Tribute card justice. It really is sweet in person. These are the two cards I got...

2010 Topps Tribute Robinson Cano /50

2007 Bowman's Best Robinson Cano Blue /99
I am waiting on one last card to come in the mail and I am hoping to see it when I get back from the National.

If you aren't going to the National, think about allllllll the money you saved, and buy yourself something nice on eBay. (No one said I would give good advice on here.)

My first 2010 Topps Tribute card

While I didn't open any packs, I spent less than half the cost of a pack to get a card I really love. Granted I am not a fan of sticker auto's but this one is just nice because it blends in a little better than most and it has 2.5 stripes. Signature is borderline acceptable but the price was the kicker.

Love it. Robbie Cano, don't ya know?!



I would love to see Robbie win the MVP even if it means I can't afford his cards anymore. He is playing so great this season and it's fun to watch.

Strasburg 1/1 auto found - Good time for a contest

Look what happens when I'm away all day.

The 2010 Bowman Stephen Strasburg red 1/1 auto was pulled from a jumbo box. So, where is it?

eBay sillies! Click here for the auction link.

The card is listed as $50,000 buy it now or best offer. Sheesh!

Let's have a contest. You're allowed one guess, take a gander at where the card is going to end. Whoever gets closest gets six Topps Million codes that I pulled out of a hobby box of Series 2 a few days ago.

I will take guess as long as the card is up for auction.

A page from my binder

I decided to scan a page from my binder for fun, and because I realized I am still missing one (friggin) card from the 2007 SP Rookie Edition set of Adam Lind. I need to find the autographed version of card #220, or perhaps YOU have it and want to trade it to me.... (Nod your head yes if you have it.)

I will need to rearrange the page and the one before it to make room, but I'd be more than happy to do so. The more I look at my Lind collection the more I like having most of his auto's in my binder as opposed to in snap cases like most other auto's I have. It is more fun to flip through when there are "spicy" cards (as Sooz calls them) mixed in.

An O-Pee-Chee Auto - Kouz style

Apparently, the odds of getting an O-Pee-Chee autograph aren't that great. But that never stopped me from getting the card I want.

I picked up this Kevin Kouzmanoff OPC auto for $1 (I think $4 shipped) and it actually is one of my favorite autos of his.



The card isn't too flashy and it's plain without being boring. The yellow border gives it just a little style and you can tell it's different than the base cards because it's glossy. The colors are actually so ugly that I like it.

Maybe I'm looking a little too much into the card, but it's one of my new favorite Kouz cards.

2008 UD Masterpieces Box 4

The saga continues... Box 4 and no Albert Pujols card. Big surprise, right?

At any rate, I'm not sure how I feel right now about opening any more of these alone. I am mad that I still have no Pujols card, and I feel terrible smashing the rest of these by myself just to try and find one. I also would feel terrible just smashing the rest of the case for the obvious reason of that we are partners on this stuff. Though I am pretty sure Sooz would rather have the money than listen to me deliberate opening vs. not opening.

To check out all the cards in our store, click here.

Now that I am done complaining and ranting, here are the highlights of box 4:
-Stroke of Genius Kelly Johnson Autograph


-Captured on Canvas Game Used Jersey card of Matt Cain


-Green Bordered Stan Musial serial numbered 47/75


-Red Bordered Ryan Howard


-Black Bordered Felix Hernandez


-Black Bordered Tim Lincecum


-Black Bordered Russell Martin



There were also 4 Yankee Stadium Legacy cards as usual. All of these cards with the exception of the YSL and Russell Martin are for sale in our eBay store.

Just so you all know, most of our prices include the option to make an offer, and we ship up to 20 cards for only $3.00. (Shameless store plug)

Perhaps tomorrow will be another break... or you will all wait about a week for the rest, lol. (I'm not sure which one I am cheering for honestly.)

2007 Topps Moments & Milestones Break

Yes, I was sucked in to all the hype of this product. Normally I am very cautious about spending $9.99 for a pack of baseball cards, much less buying a box for $150 retail. I did buy quite a few packs over a couple of weeks, and picked up one auto card from the single packs, being Miguel Montero. Not as exciting as I had hoped for ten bucks, but such is life.

After buying more single packs than I care to admit I went on an eBay hunt for a decent discounted box. I found one for $102 plus $7.95 shipping. What a deal! In this box I pulled an Andrew Miller RC AU, and Martin Prado AU. There were no 1/1's or Printing Plates, which was disappointing.

A week later while searching eBay, I saw an auction for 2 boxes of Moments & Milestones at a Buy-It-Now price of $209.95 and $10.00 shipping. Yahoo!! $105 a box is the steal of the century. The first box I pulled another Andrew Miller RC AU (very odd to get two I thought), Jonny Gomes AU, and a Billy Wagner 1/1 Red Saves card. The second box I pulled an Adam Lind RC AU, and a Mike Napoli AU. Again, no 1/1's or Printing Plates. I did get 3 black Pujols and 3 regular ones, which made me happy. 6 Pujols in the final box was more than I pulled in the first 2 together of him.

While I don't feel like I will make my money back selling the cards I don't collect, I am hopeful I will come across someone who might trade me for some Albert Pujols cards, or Robinson Cano cards. If you are one of those people please get in touch with me by all means.

2005 Topps Turkey Red Box Break

Once upon a time I bought a hobby box of 2005 Topps Turkey Red. By once upon a time, I mean I bought the box 2 years ago on eBay for a great deal.

I tend to be a squirrel of sorts, so it took me two years to break it. Let me remind those of you who do the same thing, if you have them from 2005, OPEN THEM! The reason I say this is, the autograph redemptions will expire around Ausust 2007 and you will no longer be able to redeem these. Thanks to Sooz, I made it in time and thank goodness.

In this hobby box, I received a Mariano Rivera autograph redemption card. I very rarely, if ever, pull a great auto card. Now, don't feel bad for me because I don't buy expensive boxes so it's my own fault. At any rate, I sent in the card and within 2 weeks I had my Rivera autographed card. Also in this box I got a Red game used Jersey Card of Alex Rodriguez which made it that much sweeter.

I think at the time I paid $58 for the box, and it was well worth it from those two cards and it was loaded with Yankees base cards, as well as a couple of SP's.

Now the question is..... Do I send out the auto card to get it graded?