Why Strasburg collectors should be wary

Remember when Joba Chamberlain was good, or at least was supposed to be good. Joba came up to the Yankees in 2007 and struck out 34 guys in 24 relief appearances. He was the Yankees (supplemental) first round draft pick in 2006.

The 24-year-old was rocketed through the minors. In 2007, his hype was at an all-time high.

His 2007 Bowman Chrome autograph initially sold for $5,000. Stephen Strasburg blew that out of the water, but those chasing Strasburg’s cards could learn a lesson from Mr. Chamberlain.

The superfractor would likely not sell for the same type of money now. In fact, most of 2007 autos can be had for under $100 - often times close to $20.

He couldn’t be had for that kind of money three years ago. Then, it was considered a steal.

That’s not to say his cards won’t ever be worth more money again. Chamberlain is still a work in progress for New York and could eventually become the Yankees closer when Mariano Rivera retires. However, relievers are never worth as much as money as closers in the secondary market.

This year Chamberlain isn’t doing great. Entering Thursday, he’s 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA, 32 strikeouts, eight walks in 28 1/3 innings.

Can Joba ever make it back?

Photos from Trenton Thunder

I went to a Trenton Thunder game last night for Joba Chamberlain bobblehead night. Because I was asked several times yesterday when I said I was going to the game, yes, I went by myself. I enjoy baseball and have no problem sitting there, keeping score and just enjoying the night.

I also wanted the bobblehead.

These were the only people writing down the lineup.

Taking one for the team

Ever wonder what's in a hot pack on eBay? I may be one of the few and buying one of these packs is also giving the pack searchers fodder for continuing to do so.

However, I just wanted to see. I just wanted to take a shot.

I bought a 'hot pack' of SP Authentic on eBay a few weeks ago. There are five cards in the pack. I actually liked the base cards I got.

I got two Yankees, a soon-to-be Yankee and NiCole Hamels (not scanned).The auto is not really that exciting. Josh Anderson of the Tigers, except he got traded to the Royals last season. He batted .240 last year in 118 games with a home run and 25 RBIs. He also had 25 stolen bases.

That'll teach me to buy hot packs off eBay.

Delivery Time: Trade with Nachos Grande (mmmm... nachos)

Nachos Grande (fanofreds.blogspot.com) had his own clunkers deal. He got rid of a few cards he had no need for while I did the same with cardboard that was just sitting in a box.

Card for Clunkers was a great deal.

I sent him two cards he was missing from the 2009 Topps Heritage set.

In turn, I received a Joba Chamberlain gold 2009 Topps /2009.

A Phil Hughes 2008 Topps Chrome xfractor

and other assorted Yankees

Have I mentioned how much I love nachos?

2009 Goudey blaster

I went to Target today to get a Brita pitcher since I am trying to stop using plastic water bottles, and stop drinking diet soda (might not happen right away). My last stop was my "office" as I call it since I spend so much time in that aisle thinking. I discovered they had 2 2009 Goudey blasters. Since my mom picked the last one I got, I had her pick this one as well. I figured maybe she will pick another good blaster since I usually get air when I pick them.

Here is how it went down:



Pack 1

Jason Varitek (of course, it had to start out with one of "them")
Brian Roberts
Melvin Mora
Sport Royalty Adrian Peterson

Troy (I don't autograph TTM cards for Lucy) Tulowitzki
Alcides Escobar
Felix Hernandez
Brad Penny

Pack 2

Nick Markakis

Carlos Guillen
James Parr
Dan Haren
Bob Gibson
Kevin Slowey
J.J. Hardy
Shairon Martis

Pack 3

Brandon Webb
Vladimir Guerrero
Rich Harden
4-in 1 Goudey Hamilton, Morneau, Fielder, Howard

Josh Hamilton (he's ready for his journey to Canada to see his friend Trish)
Cole Hamels (Hey Sooooooz)
Scott Kazmir
Ichiro

Pack 4

Ken Griffey Jr.
Curt Schilling (I mean really, how on Earth is he in this set?)
Carlos Lee
Garret Anderson
4-in 1 Goudey Matsuzaka, Beckett, Masterson, Papelbon (4 times the hatred!)

UD Retrospective Wayne Gretzky
Carlos Gonzalez
Ryan Doumit (Jeff will give you a good home)

Pack 5

Kerry Wood
Jed Lowrie (snarl)
David Ortiz (double snarl. Ron will love you all)
Goudey Mini Cole Hamels (I like the mini cards, though the sit oddly in my binder)

Bobby Crosby
Jose Reyes
Miguel Montero
Roy Halladay (Hey Duane!)

Pack 6 (nice)

Dexter Fowler
Dan Uggla
Dave Concepcion
Goudey Mini John Lackey

Goudey Heads Up Lance Berkman

Joba Chamberlain (not trading or giving away until I have a double)

Conor Gillaspie
Pat (the bat) Burrell

Pack 7 (The Yankee pack)


Clayton Kershaw
Mark Teixeira
Carlos Zambrano
Shane Victorino
Phil Coke
Joe Nathan
Cristian Guzman
Sparky Lyle

Pack 8 (mini mojo!!)

Jeff Baisley
Kirk Gibson
Lance Berkman
Jason Bay (snarl)
Goudey Mini black border C.C. Sabathia serial numbered 04/21

Goudey 4-in 1 Chamberlain, Harden, Verlander, Lincecum (one of my favorites in the box, also not for trade)

Garrett Atkins
Jay Bruce

This was definitely a fun blaster. The only problem I noticed with the cards (aside from the crude drawings or whatever they are) is that the first card in each pack had minor damage to the upper left of the card. There looks like s slight indentation on each of the first cards. I don't mind the drawing or design, I expected it to be a little worse from seeing them on other blogs and eBay. They are by far worse looking than last years. I would have liked them more if they used the player depictions from last year on this years design.

Even though there was no Pujols or Jeter card in the box, I did get 2 Joba cards and a few other Yankees so I'm pretty happy. I also drank a glass of my filtered water while typing this (win win). There are a great number of these that will end up in my binders, which I will probably work on at some point tonight or tomorrow along with putting my Heritage in binders.

P.S. If anyone opened some Goudey and got and Pujols cards, let me know.

Is it a problem when...

you are folding your clean laundry and notice that you had washed the following items:

(All Yankees team shirts)
- #51 Williams
- #25 Teixeira
- #62 Chamberlain
- #2 Jeter
- #46 Pettitte

- Card Bandits t-shirt
- Gym shorts

I also forgot Ryan Braun who is in the hamper, I'm wearing an Albert Pujols t-shirt, and that's not even all of 'em.

Maybe I like baseball too much... or maybe I just collect t-shirts...

I Never Met a Red Sox Fan I Liked...

until about a week ago, at least. I met "Section 36" through a trade proposition e-mail in which he scanned a bunch of cards that he thought I might want, including some Yankee Stadium Legacy cards. He was interested in Red Sox cards, which is great because all I would use them for otherwise is kindling for Sooz's Chipper fires.

Here is what I escaped with from Section 36, this doesn't include my favorite card that I somehow forgot to scan. My favorite from this trade was a 2003 Bowman Heritage First Year Robinson Cano card that I have wanted for quite some time. I put him in my binder already and I am too lazy to take him out and scan him. Sorry.








With all the Red Sox cards I have laying around, and Section 36 not liking the Yankees I think him and I might get along famously well.

2008 Sweet Spot Hobby Box Break #2

Long story short, I somehow acquired a second box. With the exception of the card that made the whole thing worth it 10 times over, tell me if this box break looks familiar.

Pack One:

- Derek Jeter (yay)
- Jose Reyes
- Russell Martin (yay)
- Sweet Swatch Memorabilia Ron Guidry

- Aaron Rowand
- Scott Rolen
- Joba Chamberlain (yay)
- YSL Ron Guidry

(Nice pack for a Yankee fan that's for sure.)

Pack Two:

- Manny Ramirez
- Alex Rodriguez (yay)
- Troy Tulowitzki (yay)
- Sweet Swatch Triple Memorabilia Pedro Martinez/Trevor Hoffman/Randy Johnson

- B.J. Upton
- Felix Hernandez
- Justin Verlander
- YSL Dave Winfield

Pack Three:

- Trevor Hoffman
- David Wright
- Jonathan Papelbon
- Sweet Swatch Dual Memorabilia Travis Hafner & Justin Morneau (yes, no joke. at least Morneau's swatch is an away jersey in this one... snarl)
- Aaron Harang
- Vernon Wells
- Dontrelle Willis
- YSL David Wells

Pack Four:

- Jonathan Papelbon (x2)
- Roy Oswalt
- Chase Utley
- Sweet Swatch Memorabilia Miguel Cabrera (yes, really. only difference is the material texture.)

- Derek Jeter (x2)(yay for Sooz)
- Johan Santana
- Rich Harden
- YSL Tommy John

Pack Five a.k.a. The Mother Pack:

- Jose Reyes (x2)
- Russell Martin (x2)
- Chipper Jones
- Sweet Spot Signatures Bat KEN GRIFFEY JR. 190/230 (holy schnikeys!!)

- Albert Pujols
- Torii Hunter
- Dan Uggla
- YSL Don Mattingly

Pack Six this was Tin Pack:

- Jeff Francoeur
- Nick Markakis
- Brandon Webb
- Sweet Swatch Memorabilia Felix Hernandez (uh huh... at least it's gray? wtf)

- Carlos Beltran
- Ichiro
- Michael Young
- YSL Willie Randolph

Yes, please tell me how I rarely purchase or obtain something this pricey and for once end up with 2 boxes that have virtually all the same cards? Not to mention I only got one autograph card. I'm not being greedy here, but I mean really I could have done without one of the THREE I already had, and got one autograph. But then again, it probably would have been a Brian Bixler autograph.

I did purchase them from the same store, but shouldn't there have been some variety to the case they were in? I am not even going to bother writing to Upper Deck because I am pretty sure I am going to get absolutely no where with that complaint.

At any rate, how about the Griffey Jr. card?!! I am super happy about that one and plan to hold onto it for a while, or until someone comments that they have a nice Pujols Sweet Spot auto to trade me for it... Overall, if we forget that I already had 3 of the GU cards, I did get 5 players that I collect, 6 if you count the Pujols that I now have 3 of.

If anyone has a Phil Hughes from this set please send it my way and I'll get you something you need.