They Pulled Me Back In...

Greetings fellow bloggers and collectors!

I'm fairly certain I haven't posted anything in years, nor have I really had any interest in baseball cards.  Ever since I finished nursing school about 4 years ago my baseball card collection more or less went on the back burner.  Until last week that is.

Last week I invited myself along on Sooz's trip to the National and left my paycheck in Chicago.  I bought all kinds of things, some things I didn't even know I wanted or needed.  Some things I just bought because well why not?  I have a cardboard problem after all.

I think a lot of my sudden come back has a lot to to with chasing big RC, Judge and Bellinger.  Ripping wax is more fun when there is someone good on your favorite team to pull.  I have never bought hobby boxes or blasters with the intention of making my money back because that will rarely ever happen plus I will never sell a Judge that I pull unless it's a low numbered auto that I can pay off my credit card with then I would consider it.

My Ryan McDonagh collection has been my focus the last 4 or so years and is pretty sweet and mainly missing 1/1's and base cards.  I don't chase 1/1's and I have no interest in buying base cards because they will always be available so I focus on auto's and game used cards.

I go through cycles of different addictions, cards, car parts and supplies, sneakers...  So for now it's baseball cards.

I am going to give writing a post a week a try.  I make no guarantees but I have just had an energy drink, a coffee and a pail of Starbucks Peach Citrus Tea so I may be up for days with lots to say.  I have some cool things I added to my PC to talk about, plus I fell off the wagon hard and landed in multiple Target's and my LCS this week.  Pretty sure the wagon is broken.

Happy New Year!

Well, it sure has been a while since we last posted something around here.

I can only speak for myself as for the reason we kind of fell off the map for a little while here. For me the lack of interesting products or any sort of variety of products, combined with the fact that I have no money to spend on any of it has helped to keep me from buying my usual random blasters that are "for the sake of the blog". I had been hoarding my money for Christmas gifts and things that were a higher priority. My computer had also been acting like a giant pain in the ass for weeks at a time. I had to get out the paddles and jump start it from the blue screen of death twice.

I did end up getting a new laptop so the internet access and blogging wouldn't be a problem anymore, however my printer/scanner decided it will not be compatible with new laptop. I expected nothing less than something to not cooperate, so no surprise there. I do have a review or two coming up that I need to put out there so you will be seeing my lovely commentary again very soon.

Despite the lack of blogging, I have still spoken to many of you either online or through text messages which has been great. I enjoy speaking to the friends I have made through the blog so that has helped keep me in the loop with things.

But for those of you who I have been out of touch with or have never met, the consensus on why many of you guys are not interested in cards or have blogged less and less has been a very consistent answer. "No money and/or no interest in the products coming out." While it is nice not to feel alone, I'm not sure all of us going through this at the same time is good. Good for our wallets, yes.... Good for Topps, not so much. Not sure there are many people right now who can drop $150 on a box of cards that contain only autographs of players who are around 1-3 years away from being in the majors. But, we will save that for my next post.

OK, I think I have jammed enough random information into this post for now.

I hope that everyone had a great holiday season with their family and friends, and I am looking forward to getting my cardboard on in 2012 (providing a find a way out of the funk). Cheers.

I'm an eskimo.

I think once you have no power in the cold weather for more than 5 days you are officially a member of some sort of eskimo club. Since the random snowstorm on Oct. 29th we have been without power in my neighborhood. They are supposed to have it back on tonight by 11pm, though yesterday they said it would be back on by noon yesterday....

They estimated that 90% of people would be back on today, and the rest by SUNDAY. There wasn't a single hotel available within about 30 miles of here that took pets so here I am. I can't leave my dog alone for a week and just come back to walk him and feed him, I think it's cruel.

The benefit of having no internet and no power? No eBay. I haven't bought a single thing in almost a week, my wallet is thrilled. I unplugged my tv so I could use my computer off the generator and pay some bills.

I learned not to take electricity for granted after not having power for 5 days during Irene, and this storm taught me to make reservations every time they predict a Nor' Easter this winter.

Discussion: Have parallels/inserts changed your habits?

I sort of got into a discussion about this issue on Twitter and it's something I have been thinking about more lately just based on what I look for on eBay and at shows. I have made it known that I love blue refractors, so I can't say that I think all parallels and inserts are a waste.

My collection in the last year or so has shifted focus and I may have mentioned that once before. I basically look for autograph versions of my players and then fill in the base and base variations later on. I never thought I would be "that" collector who only cared about autographs but I talked myself into thinking my logic is actually logical.

If I were to do my weekly (read: daily and sometimes hourly) searches on eBay for Robbie Cano cards there are always tons of parallels, serial numbered refractors, and game used non-sense cards. Try and find 2009 Triple Threads Cano autographs, I dare you. I have seen the White Whales and maybe a triple relic autograph from 2009 but that's about it. So keeping that in mind, why wouldn't I go after his low numbered autographs and just regular autographs when they will be either non-existent in a few weeks or months or I will end up priced out as a result of scarcity?

Recently I have picked up only autographs of Cano and haven't bothered with anything else. Part of me doesn't even care about the rest of the cards but then the other part of me sees my page of 2011 Topps Chrome missing a regular refractor, atomic refractor, gold refractor, red refractor.... and it makes me mad for three reasons. Reason #1 - Mad at myself just because I'm mad about not having them. Reason #2 - That I have OCD and feel the need to fill those gaps in one day even if it's not now. Reason #3 - I (sadly) like having a page of the same refractor (there, I said it).

Now I know some of you might be going, well it must be nice to spend all that money on autographs. No, not even close. If you priced all the refractors that I am missing from Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome if I were to just buy parallels it would probably afford me at least 2 Cano autographs maybe even 3 depending on what I went after. If I have $30 to spend on cards and there is an autograph I need in that ballpark vs. a bunch of parallels I am going for that autograph every time, no question.

Quick example, if you want to see how much a couple of parallels of Cano would add up to you can click and add them up.

2011 Finest gold refractor /50
2011 Finest red refractor /25
2011 Topps Chrome red refractor /25

Would it be nice to have those cards? It sure would. But it's always nicer to have a card like this instead.

I feel like I can save all the inserts and parallels I pull out of packs that I don't want to trade with other collectors for the ones I need rather than chasing those cards on eBay. I think this makes more sense anyway because it's not often that when we all rip wax that we pull the guys we collect in parallels. And if there are no trades on the cards I can always wait until I can get to a card show and rummage through bins for cards and buy a group of them for less than buying individual cards and paying for shipping online.

I would love to hear if your collecting habits have changed in terms of waiting on parallels and inserts and going after the autograph or game used cards first. Or do you go for the inserts/parallels first and take the quantity route for the bucks?

For the fan that has everything

It's almost October and that means Christmas is rapidly approaching. While I can't say I have given much thought to presents yet, I stumbled across something entertaining on eBay that would be great for a football fan/dog owner. How many of you are trying to think of something that has both things in common?

Now the only reason I even know this item exists is because I was doing a search for a something for my puppy and it was one of the items. I'm done laughing about it and wanted to share this item with all of you.

Please tell me you think it's awesome. I may even buy one for my dog.

Team Pocket Schedules

Clearly the jury is still out on whether or not I am a hoarder. I take things, buy things, collect things that are completely useless for the most part. The pocket schedules are just another one of these useless things that I feel the need to have.

The Yankees decided to be extra annoying this season and make not one version, but 8 different covers to the pocket schedules. I didn't see the C.C. Sabathia or Jorge Posada ones. Naturally, I had to have all 6 that they had out and had to take extras, you know... just in case someone else needed one...

Here is what they look like on the covers:



When I left the game on Friday night, I had a decent stack of these in my pocket. One set for me, one set for my buddy Flash, and a spare in case one set flew away, caught fire, was dropped in a puddle, lost or any other reason to steal free things from the Yankees.

Next game I will have to take some Jorge and Sabathia ones. I like stuff.

I also take one of these from every stadium I visit, and put them into a box of stuff to never be looked at again. It's like a free souvenir.

Anyone else do this? I really need someone to say yes here... *Crickets*

MLB meets WWE - Player Entrance Music

Ever wonder how your favorite player picks their walk up music when they come to the plate? I sure do. Yesterday Tulowitzki came out to Justin Bieber and I just sat here shaking my head. Last year or whenever that Miley Cyrus had her 5 minutes of fame, Nick Johnson came out to Party in the USA (for the 2 AB's of his season).

I'm sure the Tulo AB was just for kicks, but I remember him also coming out to Miley Cyrus last season. Any other player this year come out to something goofy that I missed and will make me laugh?

This all lead me to start thinking, what if when players came up to bat it was like WWE entrances? I think some players could pull it off and have fun with it and others would just look goofy. I also think it would be a fun thing for a minor league club to do as part of like a kids day at the park since it will never happen in the big leagues.

I decided that the one guy on the Yankees that could pull of a WWE theme entrance would definitely be Nick Swisher, without a doubt. The first song that came to mind that Swish would dance on out to would be....



Don't get me wrong, I don't think Swisher goes around acting like a ladies man. I just think he would do the most awesome job playing the part for this song and actually have fun and make everyone crack up.

Then there's old Jorge who would probably smash his bat if anyone thought he would do something so "un-Yankee" like. But, I think if Jeter and Mo went along with the idea he may cave.

Oh, I can't leave out A-Rod because I found the perfect song for him totally by accident.



OK, I'm done being goofy now. However, I do have somewhat of a similar post I want to put up at some point soon which involves Derek Jeter.

I would love to hear what players you would pair with what songs, even if they are just regular songs and not WWE themes. I think this is a post that we can all have a little fun with.

Mailday, Don't Ya Know?

I am writing this post in the hopes that someone or a few of you out there can tell me that I am not crazy. For Christmas my brother had gotten me an Albert Pujols McFarlane and I liked it a whole lot more than I thought I would once it was out of the package.

He sits atop my bookcase along with some signed balls, and a Jeter bobble head. But he looked so lonely the past few months, and I thought it was time he had someone to talk to when I'm not home. I know you all know that toys talk to each other when we aren't around. Sooo... I picked up a Robbie Cano, don't ya know?



It was almost as fun as getting baseball cards in the mail. And no, I am not going to start a collection of McFarlanes. I don't have any room to display a million of these things, however if they make a Russell Martin Yankees one... I will be buying that.

eTopps for Dummies

We have received a couple of requests on how eTopps works so I will give you the low down in case you are new to collecting or new to eTopps.

Each week eTopps releases a couple of cards, each serial numbered to a specific number but not all have the same print run. Each card also has a different price, while you may pay $4.50 for one guy, the other offered that week could be $8.00.

You can request as many as you would like, however that doesn't mean you will be allocated that many. Typically you will be lucky to get one card even if you get your order in exactly when they are available to order.

You get a notification the following week whether or not you were allocated a card from the previous week. ("To the victor go the spoils" will become your favorite saying.)

The cards you purchase are stored at eTopps until you request and pay for delivery of the cards. They can stay there as long as you like (at least I hope so because mine are all there).

You may also sell cards from your portfolio on eBay and just transfer the cards to another eTopps user once the transaction is complete.

That's pretty much the best I can do to explain eTopps briefly and easily. If I screwed it up, well.... you can read their website and figure the rest out.

Opening Week Lunacy

Yes, it is the best time of the year right now. Spring is here (I assume it feels like Spring somewhere, but it's not NY), and baseball starts this week. But for Yankees fans, this week sometimes includes finding out how much a game will cost you this season as opposed to last.

While my tickets did not increase last year, they did go up $3.00 this year to $15.00 per seat in the bleachers. While I am not complaining about that, when I looked into other stadiums bleacher seating, it made my tickets all the more reasonable.

However, today on Twitter I heard an insane tidbit of information. Apparently the parking at Yankee Stadium lots is now $35.00 per game, up from $23.00 per game last season. I might have driven to 2 games all of last season, but I don't remember driving to a single one to be honest. Ever since they have had access by train I have relied on that to save money on gas and parking.

I know that many of you guys have ticket plans to your favorite team, and even if you don't you have parked or know how much parking is where your team plays. Does $35.00 seem outrageous to you or is that about the going rate in your city?

I also went ahead and looked into who owns the parking garages around Yankee Stadium, and it's not the Yankees. They are owned and operated by Standard Parking which is "regulated" by New York City.

Let me know what you think. This has had me curious all day.

I had to edit this post, the tickets are now $15 per game.

Have you ever....

found a TV show that you loved and then you can't stop watching it?

I seem to have stumbled accidentally onto the series, Brothers & Sisters, because it was on repeats late night on Saturday or some night and I found myself liking it. Roughly a week later and I have blown through almost 4 seasons. I seriously did nothing on Spring Break but work out and watch it on Netflix.

Sometimes missing a show when it's been on for a while is a good thing because then you don't have to wait a week to see what happened, you can just click the next episode.

That being said, I am working on a few blog posts and have banned myself from Netflix at least until I scan a package that BASEBALL DAD sent me. It was freakin' awesome and deserves showing off. It had mojo and snacks.

So.... let me know what show you are hooked on, it will keep me checking my computer and blogging and off Netflix (perhaps).

Party time

I just got wind of a pretty sweet contest for a TON of FREE boxes of cards over at the blog, All About Cards. They have put together a nice mix of all sports to give away to anyone who follows them more or less.

If you want free stuff, go check it out and read the ways you can get an entry into the drawing. If you win all the loot, you probably won't mind being snowed it next time...

Sometimes I wonder why...

Did you ever look at your PC and wonder why you collect a certain player? Every time I look for something on eBay lately, I promise you it's never Adam Lind. It's not so much that I'm over collecting him (though I might be), but that the remaining cards I want of him are stupidly overpriced.

My buddy Dan from the card shop somehow ended up with two of Lind's 2010 Topps Updates & Highlights auto's and left one for me at the shop. I think he sympathizes with my stupidity in continuing this collection, and that is definitely because he also collects Lind. I bet if I asked him why he continues to do so, I'd be entertained by the answer at the very least.


I love the card, and the fact that I have super cool friends who like giving me presents because I'm super awesome.

So now I will share a few cards here that I really want, but for like 1/10th of the price. Honestly, I would LOVE to know how sellers can list Adam Lind autographs for more than $5.00 simply based on his performance last season (or lack thereof).

Adam Lind 2007 Chrome red refractor (I will give you that it is an auction, but come on.)

Adam Lind 2007 Chrome white refractor auto

Adam Lind 2010 Triple Threads auto /50

Adam Lind 2009 Icons auto /99

Adam Lind 2007 Bowman's Best /50 This card has been on eBay for over a year, the price has not budged in that year either...

This last one, I want someone to explain to me why this person bothered wasting their time scanning and listing the card.

Adam Lind 2007 Sweet Spot auto

And there have been two offers! That's might be even funnier than someone listing this card.

All I want for Christmas...

I can't believe Christmas is next week already. This year has gone by so fast that I can hardly believe it. I love this time of year for so many reasons, one being that Elf is on all the time and when it's not I can watch it on DVD.

Here's a clip of Buddy going to New York. Keep an eye out around 7:00 in when he goes into the department store. Hilarious.



Then there is all the yummy food... Perhaps subconsciously I have been working out extra hard the last 2 months so that I can inhale holiday food. I love Christmas cakes, cookies, and all of that good stuff. Ohh and mashed sweet potatoes that I will only share with Sooz on Christmas night.

But my top favorite part of Christmas aside from spending it with family (even if they are crazy sometimes...) is giving presents. I like seeing peoples' faces when they open their presents and are genuinely happy with what I picked out for them.

Since it's Friday and no one wants to be at work, let's have a little fun today. I know most of us don't get cards for Christmas from our families so if you could pick one product to get this year, what would it be? The other question is- If you could pick one thing (anything) to get me and Sooz what would it be?

I'll start it off. I would like a 2003 Heritage Cano RC AU. If I could buy Sooz anything (well, I bought her something it just isn't this) I would get her a 55" Samsung LED 1080p TV. It would be stupendous for watching sports.

We have an idea...

Actually, I kind of have an idea... It's more like I am bored and looking for something fun to do. I know with the holidays coming up many of us are going to be tight on money and really not spending any on ourselves. However, group breaks are a great way to scratch the itch, or give yourself a little present for being so generous. Since there is nothing new out in terms of baseball, would you guys be interested in breaking another sport? I am on a basketball kick which is why I am asking and being silly. While my interest in teams would be very limited, I would still want to do it or split the team I want with someone.

Let me know what you're thinking. Maybe a half case or a couple of boxes to break would be fun to cut costs and still have some fun.

If not, perhaps you guys can make some suggestions for upcoming baseball breaks that we should get pricing on (2011 Heritage will definitely be one).

Bowman Chrome and a video

So just an updated list of the teams that are taken:

Yankees
Cardinals
Blue Jays
Royals
Twins
Mariners
Tigers
Astros
Cubs
Padres
Reds
Braves
A's
Rays
Red Sox
Rangers
O's
Phillies

If the team is not listed and you would like it, please send payment to cardbandits AT gmail DOT com and I will add you to the list. I will do the break probably the night of the release, or the next day (pending we fill it).

Considering there is a Harper buyback auto in here that we could random off if it is pulled, that may entice more people to take a shot at it. We could random that off, or sell it.

Now, who wants to laugh? A friend of mine at school made me watch this today and it was kinda ridiculous. It's no Bert and Ernie, but it's funny.

This post is rated R

So sometimes in life we need a good laugh. There is no way you can not laugh at this clip, I just don't think it's possible. This is a clip of Bert and Ernie, dubbed over with the movie Casino. Obviously there is cursing and stuff, so children please don't click play (but... if you do, make sure your parents can't hear you listening).



Please say you laughed.

Gone Fishin'

This week the Yankees are home for 3 games and both Sooz and myself will be attending the games. This means we may be M.I.A. for a few days... I have midterms next week and Sooz is super busy this time of year.

I always wanted to hang a sign like that somewhere, don't ask me why.

I got a sweet bunch of cards in the mail the last few days that I picked up on eBay so hopefully I get a chance to show some of those off at some point.

We will try to tweet from the games and post a pic or two to entertain everyone because we know how much you all LOVE the Yankees.

Let's go Andy!

Warning: This is random

So I'm flipping around on the tv, and one of the movies on right now is Office Space. If you haven't seen this movie you are seriously missing out, especially if you work in a cubicle or for a real pain in the ass. This movie was made for every person who hates everything from their commute to the end of the day.

I can bet you can get a real cheap DVD of the movie on eBay that will make you happy forever and ever.

"I don't really like paying bills, so I don't think I'm gonna do that anymore."

I recommend the Collectors version with the mug and the flair, that's the one I have.

Uber Dork or Uber Cool

You be the judge of the situation.

Let's say Marie wanted a new pair of sneakers (which she always does). And let's say everything she liked they were out of in her size (also true right now). However, she stumbles upon something cool.... or dorky...

What would you think if I bought these sneakers? I would obviously have to sell or split the unwanted half of the auctions.

If I get them, it's only fair to force Suzy to wear these sneakers so she doesn't feel left out. I don't see her wearing them.

Leave your verdict.