2011 Allen and Ginter hits the Bay ... whaddya think?

It's been a several weeks since we've had a fun baseball product to break. I enjoyed Gypsy Queen, but I feel like there is too long of a wait until the next product to hit.

Allen and Ginter is hit or miss at retail stores this weekend, but some people have already gotten their hands on cards.

There are some very pretty baseball products

Mickey Mantle Rip card
Robinson Cano rip card

To slightly more obscure cards

Fabulous Face Flocculence? ... Least there is a baseball related one with Brian Wilson.
Flora of the world - Black-eyed Susan

To the non-baseball card we have all come to cherish
Timothy Shieff auto
Jack LaLanne film relic
Hope Solo autograph

Happy Birthday Sooz!

Today is Suzy's birthday, so everyone should mail her their Derek Jeter cards.

Just kidding.

Not really.

Derek Jeter thought he would give Suzy an early birthday present by hitting a homerun for his 3,000th career hit.


Oh, and someone else has a "package" for your birthday.



Happy Birthday best friend/partner in crime.

Sunday Question

As most of you already know Derek Jeter became the 28th man in the 3,000 hit club on Saturday July, 9, 2011. I think Elias stated that out of every man who has played in the big leagues, statistically only 0.163 % (or something like that) ever reached that milestone.

As hard as it is to get to 3,000 hits, it is certainly a reachable goal if you are consistent day in and day out and stay healthy.

This week's question is in regard to the 3,000 hit club. I'm curious as to who everyone thinks will realistically get into this elite club. You can view the list of active hits leaders in MLB here to see if you think one of these guys will get there. My personal guess is that A-Rod will be the next guy to get into the club, however I don't think it will have the same appeal to fans as Jeter doing it.

I was at the game to see Jeter do it and plan to post my journey with Jeter soon.

P.S. If anyone wants a commemorative Jeter shirt, hat, pin, sticker, tissue, earplug, etc. Modells and Sports Authority have a ton of stuff, however I didn't see anything in Target.

Mike Trout gets the call

The Trout household had an exciting early morning on Friday when their son called to tell them he headed to the Majors. For his family and Trout's fans, this was a day many have waited for, but thought wouldn't come just yet.

Trout is still 19 - he turns 20 in a month.

Analysts tried to predict when the Angels would start the clock on him. September was the earliest most saw him coming up to the Majors. But injuries seemingly forced the Angels to bring him up now, before the All-Star Break. (Editor's note: I'll have more of this story for my newspaper tonight)

Before his debut tonight, I thought it would be fun to look at some of Mike Trout's baseball cards out there.

These are all prospect and minor league cards. I bet his Rookie Card shows up in Topps Update ... or they wait until next year to include him as a Rookie Card to soak up in the hype.

2010 Topps Pro Debut

 2010 Bowman Platinum autograph

 2009 Bowman Chrome autograph

 2009 Bowman Sterling autograph

With two hits to go, a look at my favorite Derek Jeter autograph cards

We're getting closer and closer and the excitement building as Derek Jeter got another hit on Thursday night. That means he's just two shy of 3,000 hits, and he could conceivably do it in front of the home crowd this weekend.

Getting to this point is quite an accomplishment. So, I figured it was time to start looking at some of the best cards in my collection.

I have five autograph Derek Jeter cards. Here are three of the faves:

This first one was pulled in a case Marie and I broke of 2008 UD Masterpieces. Marie had the honor of actually pulling this card out of the pack. She rubbed his little jersey swatch and then slowly handed the card over to me.

On-card autographs are always great to look at. They add an appeal that no matter how aesthetically pleasing  a sticker is placed, it doesn't beat the on-card auto.

This was actually my first Jeter auto. Pretty pinstripe.

Marie bought this for me one for a Christmas (or a birthday). Coolest Jeter card I ever received as a present. It will always be special because obviously it was the first.

This card I pulled myself. I remember that fine morning tearing into a box of 2009 Upper Deck Sweet Spot. I wished and I hoped and I willed a Jeter auto to be inside.

Wheeeeeee!! There it was.

Funny thing about this card is that Marie got me the brown bat version for Christmas that year. So I have them both. But this card remains my only pack-pulled Jeter autograph that I got with my own grubby hands.

As we get closer to 3,000 hits, the next series will be my favorite Jeter and legendary Yankees game-used cards.

Stay tuned!

This year's Allen & Ginter non-baseball auto checklist

Allen and Ginter is coming! Allen and Ginter is coming!

To some people this might be one of the best things you have heard all summer. There are is a HUGGGE number of collectors that enjoy Allen & Ginter, especially because of the non-baseball-themed cards you can get in the set.

Here is the list of non-baseball autographs in the set.

- Aimee Mullins: Paralympic Champion / World Record Holder - It's a nice gesture. She had a medical condition where both of her legs were amputated. But how many people know who she is will collect this card?


- Ana Julaton: Women's Boxing Champion - As a woman (oh, you didn't know?) I'm a big fan of included empowered females in sets. As a sportswriter, I still have no idea who this is.


- Annika Sorenstam: Women's Golf Champion - I actually love this card.


- Cheryl Burke: two-Time Champion, Dancing with the Stars - This isn't even sports. This is when I have a big problem.


- Chrissie Wellington: Champion Triathlete and Iron Man World Record Holder - I actually love this card as well and hope to get one (or more) of these for my nieces who look up to Chrissie.


- Chuck Woolery: Game Show Host - Unless it comes with some sort of prize, please keep this card away from me. 


- Daniel Boulud: Award-Winning French Chef - Is he on the Food Network? Never heard of him.


- Diana Taurasi: Champion Women's Basketball Guard/Forward - Really, I don't collect WNBA cards.


- Dick Vitale: Basketball Broadcaster - This only works if there is a voice chip in the card.


- Evan Lysacek: Winter Games Men's Figure Skating Gold Medalist - Besides the fact that Lysacek dresses nicer than I do, the only reason I would want this card is because I have interviewed and written about him. I don't see how any regular card collectors are interested in this. 


- Geno Auriemma: Champion Women's College Basketball Coach - Not. A. Fan.


- Guy Fieri: Food Network TV Star & Host of Minute to Win It - Even. Less. Of. A. Fan.


- Heather Mitts: Champion Women's Soccer Defender - If it weren't for the World Cup (or Pat Burrell), I may never have heard of her.


- Hope Solo: Champion Women's Soccer Goalkeeper - A card I wouldn't throw away in the morning. 


- Jim Nantz: Sports Broadcaster -  I once used Jim Nantz in a video for grad school as representation of what is wrong with our country. 


- Jo Frost: Host of Supernanny - Is the auto signed in crayon?


- John McEnroe: Men's Tennis Champion - I don't hate this.


- Kristi Yamaguchi: Winter Games Figure Skating Gold Medalist - This is seriously dated. 


- Kyle Petty: NASCAR Driver - I'm going to go out on a limb and say NASCAR and baseball don't mix.


- Lou Holtz: Champion College Football Coach & Broadcaster - I don't hate college football, but c'mon on already. This is the worst guy to listen to. 


- Manny Pacquiao: World Champion Boxer - This is the best card in this set.


- Marc Forgione: Restauranteur & Winner of The Next Iron Chef - I don't care.

- Micky Ward: Champion Boxer & Subject of The Fighter - Another solid card. Who misses the good old days of boxing?


- Nancy Lopez: Women's Golf Champion - Way past her prime in a sport no one cares about. 


- Peter Gammons: Award-Winning Baseball Writer & Broadcaster - Does it come with a Red Sox insignia too? Although this is at least close to baseball. 


- Picabo Street: Winter Games Alpine Skiing Gold Medalist - I hope she kisses the card with ChapStick.

- Rudy Ruettiger: College Football Player & Inspirational Speaker - I would prefer Sean Astin as Rudy signing  my card.


- Sanya Richards: Summer Games Track & Field Gold Medalist - I can't even comment because I don't even know who this is.


- Stan Lee: Founder of Marvel Comics - One win for the nerds (I'm a nerd too).


- Sue Bird: Champion Women's Basketball Guard - Ah jeez. More WNBA. 


- Tim Howard: Champion Men's Soccer Goalkeeper - I know four people who want this card. Least that's four more than the Sue Bird card. 


- Timothy Shieff: Freerunning & Parkour Champion - This isn't really a sport is it?


- Eric Jackson: Freestyle Kayaking Champion - Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ....


- Jake LaMotta: Champion Boxer & Subject of Raging Bull - I only like the boxing cards in this set. 


- Wee Man: World's Smallest Stunt Man - Who?


- Mat Hoffman: Champion of BMX Biking and Extreme Sports - I'm glad he didn't injure himself long enough so that he could sign these cards.


- Matt Guy: 2011 ACO World Championships "King of Cornhole" Tournament Winner - What the hell is this?


- Dirk Hayhurst: Author of The Bullpen Gospels - ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? I love how they don't even give him credit as being a baseball player.


- Al Gore & Keith Olbermann - Now we got into the politics.


- Ron Turcotte: Champion Race Horse Jockey - Does anyone even know any jockeys' names? Where is my signed Barbaro card?


- Larry Holmes: Champion Boxer - Yay, boxing!


- Rafer Johnson: Champion Decathlete - Sigh.


- Shawn Michaels: Professional Wrestler - This is actually fun. 


- Angelo Dundee: Boxing Trainer and Cornerman - Yay, boxing! Oh I already said that.

Jeter just three shy of 3,000

New York Yankees fans seemed to be more interested in tonight's matchup for Derek Jeter than him getting hit No. 2,997 last night. That's because Jeff Niemann is on the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays. When Jeter needed three more hits to get the Yankees all-time hit record, Niemann was on the mound then too. 

Jeter got three hits in one game. 

It's possible it could happen tonight could get to that 3K mark. 

But as he gets closer, the cards in my collection are getting better and better. 

As we think about Jeter's future and how far his career has come, here are my favorite Jeter rookie and minor league cards. 

When I started collecting Jeter cards around 17 years old, I went after a lot of his rookie cards. But this one card kept alluding me no matter what. It didn't show up on eBay as often as the rest of his cards and at the time I didn't go to any card shows. 

His 1993 Stadium Club Murphy card actually came to me in a form of bipping by none other Chris from Stale Gum. He had a note with the card that said he picked this card up $6 at a card show. 

Six. Freaking. Dollars. 

You won't find this card for that price anywhere else. I am grateful Chris picked this card up for me and when I get all my cards again from my parents' house, I fully plan on filling in some of his want lists. 

When it comes to Jeter rookies, this is the card everyone strives to have. I know the scan isn't great and all of those scratches are actually on the case and not the card. I bought this card more than 10 years ago and have never once took it out of the holder it came in.

His 1993 SP rookies are tough cards because they don't hold up well. They have a lot of flaking and chipping around the edges from the way the card was designed.

My card isn't in stellar condition. I know it wouldn't grade 10 or 9.5, so I won't even bother. But I love having this card in collection regardless.

This card I just love because he's so little.  Look at that hair! Jeter looks like he's rocked a mullet in his teen years.

I'm excited for Jeter's 3,000th hit, if you haven't been able to tell by now. He's been my favorite player for 15 years. I've seen any of great places and feel like I've grown up with the guy. 

This is my way of celebrating the fun that he brought over the years. 

Boring Boring.....

Why are these cards soooooo boring?!



Lately I think it's been pretty obvious that I have had no interest in anything out. The lack of blogging kind of says it all. I have picked up a couple of cards and got some cards and things sent to me in the mail that I want to show later on but I don't see what the appeal of 2011 Goodwin Champions really is.

Blasters arrived at Target today and I picked one up just to read it and learned that you get a whole 4 cards per pack, 12 packs per box. "Hard signed" autographs are a possibility, and there is no guaranteed hit per box.

Why would I pay $20 for 36 unlicensed cards of players wearing a random outfit from when they went food shopping one day? I don't think I could find these less appealing.

Did anyone buy these? I posted the picture on Twitter last night and it seems like most people agreed with me on the lack of appeal. Let me know what you guys think. Anyone else out there as bored with cards right now as I am?

Just four more hits until Derek Jeter reaches 3,000

Derek Jeter's second-inning double in yesterday's game brought the New Yankees shortstop ever so close to the 3,000-hit club. It was actually a good hit too and not a weak grounder through the infield.

One of my favorite memorablia sets from the past was 2008 Upper Deck Premiere. There was something about this set that drew me in. I loved the design of the cards even when plain gray jerseys were used. Upper Deck did a great job making a high-end set that collectors wanted to get their hands on.

Here are two cards from this set in collection. 

I wish I had more. 

There are some really great UD Premier cards out there, the only problem is these tend to sell for well above what I want to pay. 

Even though these aren't in my collection, you should take a look at these anyway and drool with me.

A clean NYY jersey card. There are no stripes in this one, but it still looks good.

Just for fun we'll add a little stripe to it.

This one is probably my favorite. HIS WHOLE NAME SPELLED OUT

Jeter is back from the DL, and a hitting machine!

Derek Jeter is finally back from the disabled list. This made for a very quiet two weeks on the Jeter 3,000-hit watch front.

But ...

He's back. In his second game off the DL, Jeter notched two hits bringing his career hit total to 2,996.

However, this post is commemorating the first of those hits. When Jeter singled on a soft ground ball in the first inning of a 9-2 win over the Cleveland Indians, it reminded me - sort of - of my favorite Jeter die cuts in my collection.

Truth be told, I'm a sucker for die cuts. I love how the irregular shapes take away from the regular rectangle we're used to getting in packs.

Fleer seemed to be most active in the die-cut market. The next three cards are all from Fleer products, playing off the name of the set to create a unique design.

Although the next isn't technically a die-cut, I lumped it in with this group because it's just so different. The foul pole netting on the card is created to feel like real netting. This is a card from 1999 Revolution, a Pacific product.