I spent five days at the National Sports Collectors Convention ... it felt like more.
However, I really had a great time and that was a representation of the people there. The people were great. I met many fellow bloggers for the first time and saw some familiar faces.
While I was there, I also did some articles for Beckett. Here are the links:
Tebow Spotlight Shines Brightly on Palm Beach Autographs (link)
Can the National be more like the San Diego Comic-Con? (link)
Fewer Card Brands Seen on Dealers' Shelves at the NSCC (link)
Stephen Strasburg Topps Heritage Card Creates National Frenzy (link)
Thanks for checking them out. I hope you guys enjoyed the articles. Feel free to leave comments, also on ways to improve the National. I would love to hear them.
Showing posts with label Beckett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beckett. Show all posts
August 9, 2010
August 7, 2010
Guest article on Beckett
I did a guest article on Beckett this weekend from the National. There were be some more.
The first article is on Stephen Strasburg and the frenzy of his Heritage redemption card (link).
The first article is on Stephen Strasburg and the frenzy of his Heritage redemption card (link).
January 29, 2010
January 11, 2010
2010 National Chicle rages on
The preview images to 2010 National Chicle have gained plenty of attention across the blogosphere. Multiple sites have given their opinion and not all for the best. The set has even inspired a contest over at Stale Gum to create the best parody card, which I'm sure will attract great entries.
The images were first released on Beckett's blog on Friday. Last night, Beckett baseball editor Chris Olds posted reaction from the artists in the set who created the cards in question. Here's a link to the post.
Please read it. I'm serious. Pretty please. For me? :)
Now, that we are all caught up, first, I want to commend Olds for doing a good job with this story. From a journalistic standpoint, I appreciate the way he has kept on top of it and didn't just let it die with the attention this set has received. He gave it a spin that not many others, including myself, would have gotten.
Paul Lempa is the artist who created the Babe Ruth card depicted in an Atlanta Braves uniform. While I still don't like the card, I certainly appreciate the artist more. His response to Beckett was mature and classy.
I love that quote because that's what being an artist is about. Whether people love your work or hate it, you just want to be talked about. This work is subjective and certainly there are people who enjoyed the Ruth card. I love that Lempa didn't blast the people who didn't like the card.
This is someone who understands the difficult life of an artist.
However, the same couldn't be said for one of the other artists who had a hand in the set.
Personally, what I think 'sucks' is categorizing a group of people that you have never met and assuming the worst because they did not appreciate your work. We're not dark, but shining, happy people who love baseball cards.
While these artists have different perspectives because they may not be collectors, they are creating cards for an opinionated and passionate group. There is no way anyone who paints, writes or does anything creatively could not expect different opinions.
I understand this concept and I know how tough it is to put yourself out there on a daily basis. It's not easy, but that's the life you choose.
There are certain topics I write about and know without a doubt someone is going to call or email me because they did not like a quote or my depiction. And, all I can say to them is I did my best. I understand your concerns and hope in the future to alleviate them, but this is how I see it.
Like Lempa, I would rather someone want to talk about my writing rather than not read it at all.
It's a tricky business and you need thick skin.
If you're creating a card that thousands, potentially even millions worldwide, are going to possibly own, you have to think there are going to be negative comments. It's not from a dark place, but rather a passionate one that I will not relinquish anytime soon.
The images were first released on Beckett's blog on Friday. Last night, Beckett baseball editor Chris Olds posted reaction from the artists in the set who created the cards in question. Here's a link to the post.
Please read it. I'm serious. Pretty please. For me? :)
Now, that we are all caught up, first, I want to commend Olds for doing a good job with this story. From a journalistic standpoint, I appreciate the way he has kept on top of it and didn't just let it die with the attention this set has received. He gave it a spin that not many others, including myself, would have gotten.
Paul Lempa is the artist who created the Babe Ruth card depicted in an Atlanta Braves uniform. While I still don't like the card, I certainly appreciate the artist more. His response to Beckett was mature and classy.
“I am flattered that my artwork could cause such an uproar," he told Beckett. "I would rather my paintings be discussed and deliberated, than skipped over, that’s for sure.”
I love that quote because that's what being an artist is about. Whether people love your work or hate it, you just want to be talked about. This work is subjective and certainly there are people who enjoyed the Ruth card. I love that Lempa didn't blast the people who didn't like the card.
This is someone who understands the difficult life of an artist.
However, the same couldn't be said for one of the other artists who had a hand in the set.
Monty Sheldon, whose work is widely acclaimed and who is one artist that Lempa and others acknowledge as influential to them in the sports realm, also made cards for the set.
“It really sucks to hear all of the negative things being said when I know all too well the time spent in creating the art pieces,” Sheldon said via email. “I think some people just think and speak from a dark place all of the time and have no clue as to how they sound to the majority of folks.”
Personally, what I think 'sucks' is categorizing a group of people that you have never met and assuming the worst because they did not appreciate your work. We're not dark, but shining, happy people who love baseball cards.
While these artists have different perspectives because they may not be collectors, they are creating cards for an opinionated and passionate group. There is no way anyone who paints, writes or does anything creatively could not expect different opinions.
I understand this concept and I know how tough it is to put yourself out there on a daily basis. It's not easy, but that's the life you choose.
There are certain topics I write about and know without a doubt someone is going to call or email me because they did not like a quote or my depiction. And, all I can say to them is I did my best. I understand your concerns and hope in the future to alleviate them, but this is how I see it.
Like Lempa, I would rather someone want to talk about my writing rather than not read it at all.
It's a tricky business and you need thick skin.
If you're creating a card that thousands, potentially even millions worldwide, are going to possibly own, you have to think there are going to be negative comments. It's not from a dark place, but rather a passionate one that I will not relinquish anytime soon.
September 16, 2009
CONTEST!!! Picture Game
Hi Haters. I know you are all going to get your boxers in a bunch when I saw that I scanned this from (gasp!) Beckett, but this is probably the only thing I can take for what it's worth. I like reading the previews, I enjoy flipping through it, and most of all I only bought it because Albert is on the cover. There is a short article on his chances of winning the triple crown, and I will read anything about him really. So if you don't want to play, you don't have to.
Here is a fun little game. Since I know pretty much all of you don't read or buy Beckett I am going to offer a prize for the first person to get at least 6 correct answers. The prize will be a game used card from my pc (Yankees are not an option here) or you can have an A-Rod hater t-shirt.
Here is a fun little game. Since I know pretty much all of you don't read or buy Beckett I am going to offer a prize for the first person to get at least 6 correct answers. The prize will be a game used card from my pc (Yankees are not an option here) or you can have an A-Rod hater t-shirt.
There is no time for the end of the contest, it will be the first person with the correct 6 guesses. Good luck, and stay tuned for the results of my free OPC hobby box from Upper Deck.
March 26, 2009
I need your help...
I got an e-mail today from Beckett (I hear those snarls and grumbles) saying that my graded cards (I hear it again) have been shipped. The cards I sent were a 2001 Bowman Pujols RC, and a 2001 Topps Gallery Pujols RC. Now here is my dilemma. If I click on the order number to see where they are, it will tell me what they got graded... I want to be surprised when they get here and open the box, but at the same time I sent them off in January and I have been dying over here. Granted I chose the cheapest service because I wasn't going to pay more to get them graded than I paid for the cards in the first place.
Do I look? Do I wait? I don't even know how long the shipping will take.
In the words of the great Spongebob Squarepants, "Barnacles!!!"
Do I look? Do I wait? I don't even know how long the shipping will take.
In the words of the great Spongebob Squarepants, "Barnacles!!!"
January 14, 2009
What Do We Have Graded?
Beckett (snarl) will be at the card show we are going to on Friday, and I am thinking about grading my Pujols rookie. And if the mail turns up another Pujols card before that, maybe 2. Is this worth it? I mean I am wondering if it ends up like an 8 or something, am I gonna be disappointed? I don't know.
We both have plenty of cards we could have graded, but how do you decide which ones? I don't want to just send things out to see what they end up being, or just to say I have a graded so and so. What about Jay Bruce or Joey Votto? (Just the first 2 rookies to come to mind.)
Basically, I am curious about what criteria everyone uses to determine whether or not something is worth grading.
We both have plenty of cards we could have graded, but how do you decide which ones? I don't want to just send things out to see what they end up being, or just to say I have a graded so and so. What about Jay Bruce or Joey Votto? (Just the first 2 rookies to come to mind.)
Basically, I am curious about what criteria everyone uses to determine whether or not something is worth grading.
December 15, 2008
Piles and Piles of Cards
Am I the only person that is constantly opening packs, blasters, boxes, etc. and just piles them up and swears they will get logged in and put away later and never does? I am trying very hard to sort my desk out, and it is just not going well. I want to open more blasters but I am out of room.
I just logged the Pujols cards that have been sitting here, and I am now up to 354. Hardly seems like much in comparison to how many cards are out there of him. I have most of his 2008 cards, and 2007. What I am really interested in trading for are his earlier cards, not just rookies.
I logged in the YSL cards that were here bringing that total to 638 for now... I found a seller on Beckett with a great deal of them for 90 cents, so I bought every one that I didn't have, which was roughly 30 cards.
Cleaning this up is like a never ending project. I'm not really sure if I want to log in the cards I don't want for the sake of knowing what I have available for trades, or just label the boxes and look when asked.
Any suggestions on how to organize the trade pile? (Please say it will be fast.)
I just logged the Pujols cards that have been sitting here, and I am now up to 354. Hardly seems like much in comparison to how many cards are out there of him. I have most of his 2008 cards, and 2007. What I am really interested in trading for are his earlier cards, not just rookies.
I logged in the YSL cards that were here bringing that total to 638 for now... I found a seller on Beckett with a great deal of them for 90 cents, so I bought every one that I didn't have, which was roughly 30 cards.
Cleaning this up is like a never ending project. I'm not really sure if I want to log in the cards I don't want for the sake of knowing what I have available for trades, or just label the boxes and look when asked.
Any suggestions on how to organize the trade pile? (Please say it will be fast.)
November 25, 2008
Guy Completes YSL Set
I stumbled upon this on Beckett.com and sadly, it maddened me instead of being happy for the guy. It's ok, I will finish it someday. Here is the article from Beckett for all to snarl at with me:
Collector Completes Upper Deck Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection
By Chris Olds
11/21/2008 2:28:22 PM
Tommy Baxter, a 36-year-old precast concrete specialist from Little Rock, Ark., has accomplished something no one else in the world has been able to do: put together Upper Deck’s gigantic, 6,661-card Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection.
Baxter, an avid Cubs fan, is the first collector to piece together Upper Deck’s enormous insert set, which pays tribute to every single Yankees home game ever played at the historic venue since its doors opened on April 18, 1923.
“I’ve put together plenty of Upper Deck sets in the past, so I figured this was just one more to complete,” said Baxter, whose 11-year-old daughter, Madeleine, helped him sort the thousands of cards. “I really didn’t take it seriously at first, but once I got through that first series of inserts, I knew I had to finish it.”
That first series appeared in Upper Deck’s 2008 Series One Baseball set, which released on Feb. 5. That’s when Baxter got started. The cards were found one in every four packs. Within two weeks he had collected 200 of the YSL cards; he only had 6,461 to go.
Nine more Upper Deck baseball products were released during 2008 that each contained various YSL cards from the overall set. Baxter’s feat, therefore, is a study in patience and persistence. It was also an expensive pursuit for the single parent of one.
“I would estimate I spent a little more than $15,000 putting this set together,” said Baxter, who mentioned he finished the set the night before Halloween. “I remember it was a Thursday, since those were the days we’d collate the cards. Madeleine would go through and sort the cards every week. That night we knew we had this thing licked.”
It would have been sooner, but despite his best efforts with buying and trading the cards with collectors from as far away as Taiwan, there was one single card that kept eluding him: No. 4,272.
“It had Ron Guidry on the front. I couldn’t find that card anywhere. Nobody had it,” Baxter said.
He was recording each of the YSL cards online at Upper Deck’s ownthelegacy site. He was watching his numbers climb almost every day, but No. 4,272 was nowhere to be found. In the final week of October, though, he received the card from collectors in New Jersey and Florida.
“I couldn’t find that card for seven months and then I got four of them within the same week,” he said.
Once he had the complete set in hand, he quickly packaged up his work and shipped it off to Upper Deck headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., for verification. Today Upper Deck staffers Chris Carlin, Terry Melia and Carrie Peterson certified the contents of Baxter’s shipment.
“All the cards are in,” said Carlin, Upper Deck’s hobby marketing manager. “Tommy’s accomplishment is incredible. He’s the first person to complete the set, so we’re ecstatic and very happy for Tommy and Madeleine.”
Baxter’s prize for completing the entire set of insert cards is multi-tiered. He and his daughter will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City in the spring at which time they will take in a Yankees game at the new venue and meet Yankees captain Derek Jeter. In addition, since 2008 marked the final MLB season in the old stadium, Baxter will receive 81 additional YSL cards chronicling the last campaign which brings the grand total of games played (and cards produced) to 6,742. And, of course, he will get all of his cards back to display proudly at home.
“You know, I was never really been a big Yankees fan, but I did always admire Don Mattingly,” Baxter said. “I liked his work ethic and I guess I always had a penchant for guys who could hit over .300 every year.”
Upper Deck still has four openings left for any other collectors who are able to piece together the entire Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection. The word is there are a few people who are just single digits away.
Collector Completes Upper Deck Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection
By Chris Olds
11/21/2008 2:28:22 PM
Tommy Baxter, a 36-year-old precast concrete specialist from Little Rock, Ark., has accomplished something no one else in the world has been able to do: put together Upper Deck’s gigantic, 6,661-card Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection.
Baxter, an avid Cubs fan, is the first collector to piece together Upper Deck’s enormous insert set, which pays tribute to every single Yankees home game ever played at the historic venue since its doors opened on April 18, 1923.
“I’ve put together plenty of Upper Deck sets in the past, so I figured this was just one more to complete,” said Baxter, whose 11-year-old daughter, Madeleine, helped him sort the thousands of cards. “I really didn’t take it seriously at first, but once I got through that first series of inserts, I knew I had to finish it.”
That first series appeared in Upper Deck’s 2008 Series One Baseball set, which released on Feb. 5. That’s when Baxter got started. The cards were found one in every four packs. Within two weeks he had collected 200 of the YSL cards; he only had 6,461 to go.
Nine more Upper Deck baseball products were released during 2008 that each contained various YSL cards from the overall set. Baxter’s feat, therefore, is a study in patience and persistence. It was also an expensive pursuit for the single parent of one.
“I would estimate I spent a little more than $15,000 putting this set together,” said Baxter, who mentioned he finished the set the night before Halloween. “I remember it was a Thursday, since those were the days we’d collate the cards. Madeleine would go through and sort the cards every week. That night we knew we had this thing licked.”
It would have been sooner, but despite his best efforts with buying and trading the cards with collectors from as far away as Taiwan, there was one single card that kept eluding him: No. 4,272.
“It had Ron Guidry on the front. I couldn’t find that card anywhere. Nobody had it,” Baxter said.
He was recording each of the YSL cards online at Upper Deck’s ownthelegacy site. He was watching his numbers climb almost every day, but No. 4,272 was nowhere to be found. In the final week of October, though, he received the card from collectors in New Jersey and Florida.
“I couldn’t find that card for seven months and then I got four of them within the same week,” he said.
Once he had the complete set in hand, he quickly packaged up his work and shipped it off to Upper Deck headquarters in Carlsbad, Calif., for verification. Today Upper Deck staffers Chris Carlin, Terry Melia and Carrie Peterson certified the contents of Baxter’s shipment.
“All the cards are in,” said Carlin, Upper Deck’s hobby marketing manager. “Tommy’s accomplishment is incredible. He’s the first person to complete the set, so we’re ecstatic and very happy for Tommy and Madeleine.”
Baxter’s prize for completing the entire set of insert cards is multi-tiered. He and his daughter will receive an all-expense-paid trip to New York City in the spring at which time they will take in a Yankees game at the new venue and meet Yankees captain Derek Jeter. In addition, since 2008 marked the final MLB season in the old stadium, Baxter will receive 81 additional YSL cards chronicling the last campaign which brings the grand total of games played (and cards produced) to 6,742. And, of course, he will get all of his cards back to display proudly at home.
“You know, I was never really been a big Yankees fan, but I did always admire Don Mattingly,” Baxter said. “I liked his work ethic and I guess I always had a penchant for guys who could hit over .300 every year.”
Upper Deck still has four openings left for any other collectors who are able to piece together the entire Yankee Stadium Legacy Collection. The word is there are a few people who are just single digits away.
November 14, 2008
The Barack Obama Inaugural Edition
Beckett released information today stating that Topps will be releasing a 90 card set chronicling Barack Obama's historical campaign and election to the White House. The cards are set to release before the Inauguration in January and will have a price of $1.99 per pack.
Do I believe they will end up costing a heck of alot more than $1.99 a pack? "You betchya".
Do I believe they will end up costing a heck of alot more than $1.99 a pack? "You betchya".
November 6, 2008
Yankee Stadium Legacy
Drum roll please...... We got 64 total Yankee Stadium Legacy cards in the case. 1 double, 2 Jeters (for Sooz), and 61 for me! That was exciting. What I will say was very annoying as always was trying to log all of them into Beckett last night. Maybe it's me, maybe it's my connection but their server is super slow most of the time I am on there. I will say this, the new way of logging the cards in is great if they are all from the same set, it should make things much quicker this way. However, when the server/site freezes every third or fourth card it begins to get frustrating. I know it's a free service and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
I'm done ranting now. So with the addition of 61 new cards, my new total is...... 501! Which is awesome to have surpassed 500, but still is just 501/6661. (Snarl)
What I was thinking last night while cursing at Beckett is how the heck to get the rest of these. I knew it was going to take a while to do, but with them only being produced for one year, it makes me wonder how the price of the individual cards will run in the upcoming months, or perhaps (and I hope) people will no longer care because they are last years news.
If anyone has some to get rid of and wants to trade for some stuff, by all means drop me a line. I'm willing to trade most players for the Yankee Stadium Legacy cards.
I'm done ranting now. So with the addition of 61 new cards, my new total is...... 501! Which is awesome to have surpassed 500, but still is just 501/6661. (Snarl)
What I was thinking last night while cursing at Beckett is how the heck to get the rest of these. I knew it was going to take a while to do, but with them only being produced for one year, it makes me wonder how the price of the individual cards will run in the upcoming months, or perhaps (and I hope) people will no longer care because they are last years news.
If anyone has some to get rid of and wants to trade for some stuff, by all means drop me a line. I'm willing to trade most players for the Yankee Stadium Legacy cards.
June 9, 2008
2008 Upper Deck Goudey Preview
Here is a copy of the preview article printed and run on Beckett.com:
UD Previews 2008 Goudey Sport Royalty Autos
Jun 9 2008 3:48PM
Upper Deck created a monster last season with the debut of the Sport Royalty Autographs set within 2007 Goudey.
To no surprise, the company is bringing the landmark set back again in 2008 with $4.99 eight-card packs set to release in mid July.
Once again this season, the Sport Royalty Autographs will be on-card. Unlike last season, they'll be found in-pack, as opposed to last year's box-toppers, and will be seeded at two to three per case instead of the previously announced one per case.
Until mid July, this sneak peek will have to do:
Another sneak peek for all you loyal readers.... We have pre-ordered a case of the 2008 Upper Deck Goudey and are eagerly awaiting breaking it and posting the results.
UD Previews 2008 Goudey Sport Royalty Autos
Jun 9 2008 3:48PM
Upper Deck created a monster last season with the debut of the Sport Royalty Autographs set within 2007 Goudey.
To no surprise, the company is bringing the landmark set back again in 2008 with $4.99 eight-card packs set to release in mid July.
Once again this season, the Sport Royalty Autographs will be on-card. Unlike last season, they'll be found in-pack, as opposed to last year's box-toppers, and will be seeded at two to three per case instead of the previously announced one per case.
Until mid July, this sneak peek will have to do:
Another sneak peek for all you loyal readers.... We have pre-ordered a case of the 2008 Upper Deck Goudey and are eagerly awaiting breaking it and posting the results.
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