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.

Old School From COMC

You've heard me sing the praises of checkoutmycards.com in the past, and I will spare you the plug this time. The cards should speak for themselves. Lately I've been looking to beef up the retired player team autograph collection, and will always pick up vintage cards for a good price, especially those of guys enshrined in Cooperstown.

1959 Topps Red Schoendienst

For $2? Are you kidding me? No. Brainer.

2004 Upper Deck Legends Eddie Watt "Timeless Teams" autograph

I detailed Eddie's career a bit in a post from earlier this week. It's cool to have his autograph, and it didn't cost me more than a couple of dollars. I really like this release, even if Upper Deck did just recycle the design for '08 Timeline, and it's a prime example of an autograph card done right. The signature is on card, and there isn't a ton of gaudy foilboard or shiny crap to distract from the excellent photo and clean autograph of Mr. Watt.

2004 Upper Deck Legends Boog Powell "Timeless Teams" autograph

Same set, better player. There was a giant hole in my autograph collection that has now been filled. Booger is a Baltimore legend, and anytime you can pick up an on-card auto of a former league MVP who also happens to play for your favorite team....

2001 Topps Archives Paul Blair Rookie Reprints refractor autograph

This is my second Paul Blair autograph. The other one is also a refractor, but is from 2003 Finest. Both of them cost me less than $2, and both of them are on-card. Can't beat that! I am DONE with sticker autographs, and the majority of them are being sold and/or traded from my collection.

Also picked up this beaut, which while not being vintage, or an auto, and despite containing Miguel Tejada, who is one of my least favorite O's of all time, is still a pretty sweet card.

2006 Topps Triple Threads Tejada/Murray/Robinson triple relic

Check out that 3-color Brooksie goodness! I've said it before, and I'll say it again... sticker autos do not belong in high-end products, and that's while Triple Threads autos suck. The relics however... are pretty nice, and this is a perfect example of that point.

Enjoy these posts while you can, cause you never know when they may be gone. Read whatever you would like into that extremely vague statement. Chances are it means nothing.... or everything. It's all subjective.

Some Cards From CheckOutMyCards

If you haven't checked out checkoutmycards.com as of yet, I suggest you finish reading this post, and then do so ASAP. The first few times I checked it out, it seemed like although there were some good deals to be had, a lot of the cards were still a little overpriced compared to what they sell for on eBay. There is a way around that however. Checkoutmycards has a best offer feature that I took full advantage of to score most of the cards below. You have to pre-load money onto your account (via paypal to be able to take advantage of the "make offer" feature, but in the end it is definitely worth it.

I was able to acquire all the cards you see below for a combined $30 shipped. If you notice that even after saying I wasn't going to be spending lots of money on cards anymore, I have been spending lots of money on cards. I worked 20 hours of overtime last week, and let's just say I decided to spend the money a little early.

2009 Allen & Ginter's Creatures of Myth, Legend & Terror Cyclops mini

Down to 3 on my want list. If you have any of the final 3, and are willing to trade, please contact me. Want list is HERE.

2006 Allen & Ginter's Brooks Robinson mini

Are there any modern cards more beautiful than Ginter minis?

2009 Upper Deck Ballpark Collection 6 Swatch Memorabilia Orioles/Red Sox

Markakis, Roberts & Jones on the back, Dice-K, Beckett & Youkilis on the front. I'm psyched to have a game used card featuring of the current Orioles I prominently collect.

2008 Upper Deck Masterpieces Brooks Robinson green framed parallel #'d /75

Another nice Brooksie

2008 Upper Deck Premier Stitchings Frank Robinson manu-patch #'d /35

Got a real good deal on this card. I had made the seller an offer 2 months ago, which he rejected. I made the same exact offer this time, and was surprised it was accepted. That is a really sweet Oriole patch, even if it is a manu-patch.

2001 Topps Archives Reserve 1962 Boog Powell refractor

I'm a sucker for refractor reprints, and this John Wesley Powell was a dollar. I don't even think I have any actual '62 Topps, but I have this refractor reprint of one, and that has to count for something.

2008 Topps Finest Ed Reed x-fractor #'d /25

My favorite Raven of all time. It looks like I am officially a football collector now. I probably won't bust football boxes the way I do baseball though. My wallet can barely afford to support my baseball habit as it is. Let's hope this guy has a big game tonight.


2006 Upper Deck Legendary Cuts Frank Robinson Legendary Materials bat

I may have missed out on any relic hits from I Am Joe Collector's group break, but that doesn't mean I have to go without one of these beautifully designed cards. Nice going on this one Upper Deck.

1969 Topps Boog Powell

Off-center, but with sharp corners.

2003 Topps Gallery Frank Robinson Artist's Proof refractor

This is a sweet card, and a nice elegant design.

2008 Triple Threads Frank Robinson sepia parallel #'d /150

I had a few cents to spend, and figured why not pick this one up too.


2008 Topps Heritage Brooks Robinson Stadium Seat Relic

I've now got a piece of Memorial Stadium, which is good, since they tore it down a few years ago.

Shipping was $6, so the grand total of all cards above was $24.00, and I didn't have to resort to eBay tactics. No card was more than $4.00, and the cheapest was the Brooks mini which ran me a whole quarter. I really like checkoutmycards, and have already made a few additional purchases that have yet to be shipped. I was able to purchase the last 7 '09 Ginter short prints needed to complete my base set for a measly $2.25, and picked up a '67 Topps Frank Robinson for $6.00, both of which are pretty good deals in my opinion.