Chasing a minor leaguer

Ever since Kevin Kouzmanoff was sent down to the minors, I find it a little difficult to want to chase his cards. I have bought some here and there because they are cheaper - not that they were expensive before.

I know card companies need checklists ahead of time and we always wonder why someone is left off, but here is a case where a player, who many thought would stay with the club despite struggling, is in a set.  Kouzmanoff was included in 2011 Allen and Ginter.

A short-print, no less.

I got the base card, a mini or two floating around.

But what am I supposed to do about this? The wood card.

I don't even remember what I paid for one of the 1/1 wood cards last year - for some reason he had two - but I remember it being expensive. And, oh yeah, the card isn't even wood.

Kouz is still my boy. I love that he's doing well in the minors and hopefully a team that is in need of a third baseman will trade for him soon. But how much money do I want to shell out for a minor leaguer who is not a prospect?

Want to crack the Ginter code?

Seems as though this year, there 2011 Allen and Ginter code cards are parallels. Thus making it more difficult for people to track down all the cards needed to crack the code.

This is far better than last year's debacle when collectors had to send an email to get a coded message. For the few that actually did this, it was pure accident. That shouldn't be the way to solve the code.

This auction is trying to get all of your hard-earned money to crack the code.

It's parallel of one of the cards in the penultimate set with a coded message on the back.

But as the seller says, don't message him for a scan of the back. Only the winner will see it.

How much do you really think someone is going to pay for that card? Is it really worth that much money?

Anyway, Ginter is out. Check out more on the product from the last post.

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

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.