Cards From Mr. Scott

I meant to post this hours ago, but today has been pretty terrible so far, and I'm just getting around to it now. It all started this morning, at 6:07, when I woke up late for work. I was supposed to be in at 6. As I finally arrived at the office, 45 minutes late, without a shower, I witnessed a hate crime on my way in the door, as someone had defaced the sushi bar next door, and left some not so nice racial epithets scribbled on the front door. As if that wasn't bad enough, it's been insanely busy since I got here, and all I can think about is how much I'd rather be at Orioles Fan-Fest today, instead of being stuck at work. Saturday is typically the slowest day here, so typically that is when I catch up on posting. Not today. Not at all. At least not until just now.

In retrospect, that might not be such a bad thing, especially since Mr. Scott of Mr. Scott's Baseball Cards, sent me a couple of cards of a player who until a few hours ago was only a former Oriole. What was old is new again, and Miguel "B-12" Tejada is once again back in Charm City. This morning the Orioles and Tejada reached an agreement on a one-year deal, and he will most likely play 3rd base this time around.

The only Yankees fan I like is the one who is currently sending me O's cards. This rule currently applies to Mr. Scott, and Mr. Scott only. I am only capable of setting aside my hatred on an individual case-by-case basis.

2005 Leaf Certified Materials Miguel Tejada "Certified Skills" relic

Well isn't this card fancy. While I do not like Tejada, I am sort of happy to see him back in town, especially so because he's only here on a one year deal, and most likely won't be a payroll crusher. We do need someone to play third base, and Tejada, even at his worst still puts up decent numbers. After the season Melvin Mora had, I doubt the bar is set very high to begin with.

2008 Topps Lou Montanez "Red Hot Rookie" refractor

What a great looking card! Nice action shot, loads of shine, and a ton of color. Too bad Topps took the cheap way out in '09 and didn't make the rookie redemption cards with refractor technology. It still took them like 8 months to produce them....

2007 Bowman Chrome Miguel Tejada xfractor

It's still so busy here at work that I won't have time to write up a witty little editorial for each card.

2006 Bowman Chrome Brian Roberts xfractor

Do you think the Freemasons invented xfractors? Look at the angles.

1996 Flair Cal Ripken Jr. Promo

I wasn't collecting in '96, but the sheer beauty of these cards must have blown people's minds back then.

2008 Topps Finest Erik Bedard blue refractor

There has been some buzz about this guy possibly coming back to Baltimore as well.

2008 Topps Finest Erik Bedard green refractor

I'd be ok with it if he was willing to pitch more than 5 innings an outing, and could stay healthy for an entire season. Oh, and he has to be nice to the media as well. I work with a guy who used to be a cameraman for the O's broadcast network, and he has quite a few stories of nasty run-ins with Bedard the recluse.

2002 Topps Archives Frank Robinson refractor reprints

I've always been bothered by the fact that he is clearly wearing a Reds uniform in this photo. It bothers me so much that I don't own the original yet. Some things never change.

Thanks for the great cards Mr. Scott. Expect a return package chock full o' evil pinstripers some time next week.

To any O's fans out there who made it to FanFest, please post some pics or something. I'm literally green with envy right now.

Facing the Music

Thanks to all the talk of me being a coward for not taking my bipping like "a man", I decided it was time to open the mysterious and suspicious package sent to me by GCRL. Since he has already revealed that my suspicions were correct about this package, me opening it is the equivalent of throwing yourself on a live grenade. The combat analogy brings up a good point in my defense against those branding me as "not a man". If this were 1968, and trading was 'Nam, and bipping season were the Tet Offensive, am I really a coward for not walking head-on into an ambush?

All of that is null and void now that the package has been opened. I've got to admit, GCRL would have gotten me good, as this package was filled with multiple smug Oriole faces who seem to mock me even more than the limerick Jim customarily tucked safely into my stack of duplicates.

First up is the cover boy himself, Mark Williamson. This is THE card that tipped me off about this package's possible contents. Who sends a 1989 Topps card of Mark Williamson, and tries to pass it off as legitimate trade bait? GCRL was kind enough to send 7 of them my way.

His perfectly trimmed soup strainer and refusal to make eye contact subtly ask "Do you think he knows what's coming?"

Then came "the note". Hmmm... blame Thorzul.... What's that there in the limerick? Hickey? No thanks, I'll pass GCRL. Hickeys are sooooo middle school (no offense Drew).


Oh! THAT Hickey.... from 1990 Upper Deck... times 12!

Staring at me mockingly, as if he knows that I know what's coming. As if to say "He'd better know now".

Just when I thought the worst was behind me, GCRL struck back with 4 1987 Topps Mike Young cards. Even though this was the weakest bip in terms of card quantity, seeing Mike Young's mug times 4 was definitely a self-confidence blow. It was almost as if I were Deebo, and he was standing over me shouting after Craig knocked me the bip out.

Be on the lookout ladies! There is a straight player in the house. Mike's expression closes out the conversation nicely, and to me this clearly says "He knows now". I've been bipped by a mutha-bippin' hustler!

Luckily for me, GCRl was kind enough to actually send some cards of merit to ease the pain of his bipping. This post is already long enough, so I'll just show you a few.

1983 Donruss Bruce Sutter Diamond King

A splendid card of one of the finest bearded wonders in the moden history of Major League Baseball. Looks like it's officially time to start a "beard binder".

1970 O-Pee-Chee Boog Powell Sporting News All-Star

The front of this card is pretty cool, but the back is way better. I think this is the famous uncorrected Boog Powell error card featuring an illustration of Andy Rooney on the back.

Nabisco Team Nabisco All-Stars Brooks Robinson

Does anyone know what year these are from? From reading the back, it looks like these were possibly inserted into boxes of Triscuit crackers, so they can't be that old.

2006 Bazooka Brian Roberts Fielding Basics relic

Along with Mike Mussina, I've officially started a Brian Roberts player collection as well. People send me a ton of his cards, so at this point, it seems like a no-brainer to welcome him into the collective fold. Since Roberts & Tejada were all the O's had in the mid-2000's, they each have a ton of Oriole cards. Yesterday I heard a rumor that the O's are considering bringing Tejada back as a third baseman. Even though he's a dirty cheater, if his contract is easy to handle. it might not be a bad move.

So there you have it. I took my medicine like a big boy, and was bipped for all the world to see. Even if I did see it coming, GCRL too the time to assemble these cards, and paid to ship it to Baltimore. The least I could do was open, and post it.

Be on the lookout for "Beardy Gets Bipped" part 2, brought to you by Matt, from Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius.

Trade With Cardboard Icons

This is not the first time I've traded with Ben, from Cardboard Icons, and I certainly hope it's not the last. Ben is a very generous trader, and always sends a ton of cards. This round arrived in a 400-count box that was almost packed full. Here are a few personal favorites:

1993 Pinnacle Cal Ripken Jr.

Classic Cal at his best. He has one of the most fun stances to emulate, but it can get a little rough on the knees. I don't know for sure, but I think the knee-bending was how he kept such great timing at the plate. Sort of like Strawberry's high leg lift. Skip all the way to the last 25 seconds or so of THIS video if you don't know which stance(s) to which I am referring.

1993 Pinnacle Hometown Heroes Cal Ripken Jr.

Another solid Ripken card from back in the day.

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes Frank Robinson black parallel

Doesn't matter how many times I look at this card, it's still one ofmy favorites from '08. Don't think I had this parallel version yet.

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes Frank Robinson

See, there it is again. What did I tell you? This card is fantastic.

2005 Bowman Heritage Brian Roberts "Pieces of Greatness" bat relic

This is one of the largest pieces of bat I've ever seen in a card that isn't considered a "jumbo" relic. It could just be an illusion, caused by the curved window edges. Regardless, I really dig the design of this card. It reminds me of the Jetsons for some reason, but I can't quite place it.

2009 Topps Series 2 David Hernandez silk #'d /50

Call me crazy, but I like silk cards. They're totally manufactured cheese, but at least this cheddar is based on baseball cards from days gone by.

Thanks a lot for the great cards Ben! Yours are on the way, so enjoy. On an unrelated note, the 2009 Gummies are heating up and a lot of the polls are REALLY close, including the Best New Card Blog. If you haven't done so already I encourage you to go forth, and make your voice heard! Click HERE to access the polls, and remember, a vote for beardy is a vote for freedom!

Most Awesome Trade From Joe V

Last week I previewed a monster trade with reader Joe V. If you recall, Joe sent me a humongous stack of quality Orioles, and a few other cards, along with a sealed retail box of 2008 Topps Chrome Football. The box break is going to have to wait for another day (it'll be soon, I promise), but in the meantime, here are some of the great cards Joe sent me in exchange for the Chase Utley Sweet Spot autograph from my 2006 Sweet Spot break a few weeks back. I have to admit I was hesitant to give the Utley up, but Joe made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

There are so many cards here it would take me all day to write a blurb on each one. I am going to give it my best shot, so strap on your seat belts, and behold the bounty a Chase Utley autograph can garner.

2009 Allen & Ginter's Creatures of Myth, Legend & Terror - Hydra

I think this leaves me only needing 2 more cards for a complete Creatures set. I'd love to wrap this up by New Year's, so please check my want list, and contact me if you've got either of the final cards I need. It will be worth your while, trust me.

2009 Goudey Nick Markakis green mini

Not sure what the green means, but one (this one) would guess that it's a short printed parallel of some sort. I didn't have it before, so it's another new one for the Markakis collection. Sweet!

1997 UD³ Cal Ripken Jr. ProMotion

This card is pretty cool. I don't have many of these cards, so it's nice to get another one, and a Ripken no less. The late 90's were full of awesome looking cards, or so it seems.

2009 Topps Frank Robinson Legends of the Game

Somehow no one had traded me this card yet. What's wrong with you people?

2009 Sweet Spot Adam Jones

The legend of Adam Jones is growing about as fast as my collection of his cards. Not exactly the most flattering picture, and blowing bubbles while running the bases seems like a choking hazard. Does baseball need a choking hazard warning label?

2007 Upper Deck Spectrum Cal Ripken Road to the Hall

'07 Spectrum was a whole lot nicer than '09 Spectrum. Mark it.

2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic Nick Markakis By The Letter autograph

Jackpot! Manu-patch or no, this is one sweet looking card, and it's already catapulted itself to the top 3 Markakis autographs in my entire collection.

2009 Allen & Ginter's Burke Kenny relic

The nona-fecta is officially complete! If anyone knows where I could locate a printing plate, or wood mini, please let me know. At this point, I might as well go for it all. No guts, no glory.

I am officially out of things to say about the cards below. They are all parallels, and almost all needed. Parallels aren't the kind of cards you seek out and purchase on eBay because it's not worth paying the shipping most of the time. I love getting them in trades though, and Joe came through in a major way with quite a few for me.

2008 Topps Chrome Adam Jones x-fractor

2008 Topps Chrome Brian Roberts refractor

2009 Topps Finest Brian Roberts green refractor #'d /99

2008 Topps Stadium Club Brian Roberts photographers proof #'d /99

2009 Upper Deck Spectrum Nick Markakis red parallel

2009 Upper Deck Spectrum Nick Markakis green parallel

2009 Upper Deck A Piece of History Nick Markakis green parallel

2009 Upper Deck P.O.H. Nick Markakis Stadium Scenes red parallel #'d /75

2009 Upper Deck Spectrum Brian Roberts black parallel #'d /50

2007 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Brian Roberts jersey relic

Some damage around the jersey window. Typical Upper Deck.

2009 Upper Deck Spectrum Brian Roberts red parallel

2008 Upper Deck Spectrum Brian Roberts red parallel

2008 Topps Chrome Ray Lewis copper refractor

2008 Topps Chrome Joe Flacco refractor

Big win last night dude. EPIC!

So there you have it, and that's not even everything Joe sent me. It's amazing what you can get for a Chase Utley autograph. Thanks a lot for the great trade Joe, and I hope you enjoy your cards as much as I am enjoying mine.

Oh, I almost forgot, Joe sent me a sealed 24-pack retail box of 2008 Topps Chrome Football as well. It was pretty fun to bust, and the results will be posted later this week. I don't really collect anything Football outside of the Ravens and Dwayne Bowe, so all cards will be for trade.

Wowee Zowee!

All of this arrived today from a single reader interested in making a trade. There are some seriously classy cards here, including two that I've been on the hunt for since August. I'll scan the highlights later, and show them off properly.

The highlights can be found in the top left corner.

As if that wasn't enough, I also received this. I've said this before, but the generosity of my fellow collectors sometimes leaves me speechless, and this is no exception. Granted, I am trading away a nice card, but to get this much back in return makes me feel better about parting with it.

2008 Topps Chrome retail box

Scans and the usual attempt at humorous banter will probably be up tomorrow, along with an announcement regarding prizes for the Ho Ho Holiday custom card contest. Even though no one commented on the contest post, I feel fairly confident there will be a plethora of entries. Hopefully the usual suspects decide to participate.


Oh yeah, and the title of this post is also a kickass Pavement album.