Mega Mail Day: Part II

I Wanted To Share One Per Day
(…but it’s turning into one per week)

So, I’ve come to two very obvious conclusions about this blog and my current posting habits. Firstly, I’ve become WAY too busy to keep up with even the smallest most inane posts. I swear, this house is like having a child (not that I would know, but that’s how I would equate it–I mean, I seriously feel like I changed the house’s diaper last night). Secondly, all my posts have turned into lately are solely blaster reviews, mail day write-ups, and selfish shilling for more Allen & Ginter cards. I probably won’t stop giving those with whom I’ve traded their due props, and it’s highly unlikely that I’ll discontinue my hunt for more Ginter, and this blog would hardly serve its purpose without my own personal twist on card reviews. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if there was something more, oh, say, INTERESTING to read about here? That’s why I’ve come up with my personal promise to not only you, my fantibulous readers, but also to myself. If by the end of the year this blog is still as stale as last year’s wide open bag o’ Lays, I will gladly pull the plug. Let’s face it, there are TONS of baseball card related blogs out there the way it is. Who am I to think that anyone wants to hear what I say about this particular subject? Now, would people want to hear what my cats have to say about the hobby? I’d have to say, I would personally be interested. Of course, they aren’t allowed anywhere near my cards what with the odor and claw issues.

So, in keeping with not boring you fine folks to death week after week, I’m going to do what I shoulda did in the first place. I’m going to consolidate my Mega Mail Day into one post. I know, Betsy got her own post, so it’s not entirely fair to everyone else. For that I am sorry. Yay for Betsy though, yeah? Yay!!

PACKAGE #2

Things have been getting a bit more desperate here at Crackin Wax as far as the Allen & Ginter Project is concerned. I’ve had to start relying on eBay to tackle some of my wants and needs. This package is actually from four different auctions by the same seller. I didn’t spend more then a couple of bucks and ended up with these beauties.

These came from eBay seller ramden. The items were shipped securely and quickly, and at a reasonable rate. No doubt about it, positive feedback was left. I should do a little bit of research on this, but I wonder who the artists are who came up with the paintings/drawings used for these cards. Are they stock artwork, or did Topps hire some talented helping hands whose names do not end in Kong or Perez?

PACKAGE #3

Next up is yet another trade package from Chris over at Nachos Grande. While this trade wasn’t as hugegantic as those he and I have made in the past, this one was still very helpful indeed.

This gets me down to just TWO MORE National Pride cards left to finish that subset. I’m getting that real sense of wasted accomplishment now. Wasted because putting sets of cards together isn’t really contributing to anything but my own selfish and lame hobby habit, and accomplishment because I’ve never tackled a set before. And, really, what would a set be without yet another Yankee card? At least DJ is at the forefront instead of A-Fraud.

Oh! Annnnnd I got a bonus card from Chris, too!

I gotta be honest with ya. I’m not entirely sure what the significance of this bonus card is/was other than it was a freebie not included with the original trade deal. Is it a 1/1? A 1/10? A 1/100? A one-in-a-million? In any case, it was awful nice, pardner. Thanks!

PACKAGE #4

Yet another non-traded semi-surprise package from one or more of the girls at A Cardboard Problem (although I truly suspect it was all Marie). We’ve just been sorta tossing cards back and forth to each other without worrying about setting up any real trades. It’s kind of fun that way not always knowing what you’ll be getting.

Well, that certainly is a very green way to save some cash! And that bubble mailer? I can totally guess who, who, whose envelope that used to be!

I can always count on the ladies to tackle some items off of my Twins Want List. Plus, I got a Gomez A&G Back Mini as a surprise! Yay! Thank you so much, Marie (and even Sooz)!

PACKAGE #5

This last and very final package kinda cracks me up. It’s a big ol’ giant box from Nate over at Legal Arcade. It cracks me up because only six cards were sent in this mammoth box. It’s like that birthday gift you KNOW you’ve given someone at least once in your life.

And with this kindly National Pride card, I am now officially down to just ONE National Pride card needed to finish that set! Hooray!

Five more Code Cards to strike off of my list. This parallel set has been a bit tricky to track down. I’ve got a ways to go before this one gets finished up.

And, hey. What would a trade be without some needed Twins cards? One more card off of the ‘09 Upper Deck list, and that Nathan is my first 09 Topps Chrome Twins card of the year. Look at the torque on Nathan’s arm in that photo. That must have been one nasty breaking ball. Hopefully he didn’t give up back-to-back home runs in that photo session like he did last night. Thanks for the trade, Nate!

I suppose this means that I’d better update my…

2009 ALLEN & GINTER PROJECT LIST UPDATE

NEEDS:
Code: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 94, 100, 103, 110, 118, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 245, 254, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19

National Pride: NP60

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB10, HHB13, HHB15

National Heroes Minis: NH4, NH5, NH7, NH8, NH11, NH12, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP73

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5

National Heroes Minis: NH21, NH23, NH38

Cards in italics are pending current trades/purchases

If any of you would like to help out in finishing my ‘09 A&G set, please send me a line here, or you can always get in touch with me at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

THANK YOU!

Mega Mail Day: Part I

Sometimes I Love Saturdays
(…that’s right, I got these nearly one week ago. Deal.)

Seriously, this week has been hectic, and, dare I say, a touch crummy. I don’t just throw the word "crummy" around, either, so you KNOW it’s serious business. The best laid plans included one post per day each day this week. I was lucky to get even one done. Thankfully, I am afforded ample time to complete at least one more post for this week.

As I type this, there is a strange man upstairs attaching our new blinds to our freshly installed windows and freshly painted interior window frames. I can’t believe we’ve gone this entire time without blinds on our windows. Walking around the house au natural has indeed come at a premium. Well, and at a "heavy" price for the neighbors. Later in the day, another kindly gentleman will peruse the exterior portion of this once-foreclosed domicile in order to put in a bid to paint everything but the lawn. Basically.

Two hours of sleep the night before, waking up at 6:30am, then working from 11:30am straight until 10:00pm without break, then having to wake up at the buttcrack of dawn this morning sure has made me loopy. At least I’m only working a half-day today. Albeit the shift doesn’t start until 4:00pm and I’m sure to be there until between 10:00pm and 11:00pm, it certainly could be a heck of a lot worse.

Now that the incessant whining portion of the post has concluded, let’s move onto the happiness. Baseball cards! Yay!

This first post will be dedicated to reader, Betsy, who was in a great mood and was looking to clear out a little bit of personal inventory. That lead to my favorite: FREE CARDS!! She told me that no trade was necessary. Of course, I will be on the lookout for some basketball cards, worry you not!

She kindly sent along a couple of Crack the Code cards as well as a Hoaxes mini that I needed to get me just that much closer to seeing the end of this long Allen & Ginter Project journey.

Thank you very much, Betsy! I still have some digging around to do, but I’m pretty sure I still have those old B-Ball cards. They are definitely and without a doubt all yours once I find them!

2009 ALLEN & GINTER PROJECT LIST UPDATE

NEEDS:
Code: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 94, 100, 103, 110, 118, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 245, 254, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19, AGHS24

National Pride: NP60

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT7, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB10, HHB13, HHB15

National Heroes Minis: NH1, NH3, NH4, NH5, NH6, NH7, NH8, NH10, NH11, NH12, NH15, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH31, NH32, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP73

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5

Cards in italics are pending current trades/purchases

If any of you would like to help out in finishing my ‘09 A&G set, please give me a holler here, or if you like privacy, fire away a nice and sexy e-mail to me over at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

THANK YOU!

2009 Topps Chrome: The Review!

Ooh! Shiny!
(…didja miss me?)

Man, how long’s it been? Like… a week? Yeah, it’s been a crazy one. So crazy that when I found this blaster box last Tuesday, I still didn’t have time until today to say anything about it. Well, that’s how life goes, right? One day you’ve got a woodpecker drilling a hole into your soffit, the next day you’re "forced" to go buy a 42" 720p flat screen teevee. What’s a boy to do? I know! He can let a pen slip into the dryer! How fun!!

Aside from that, it’s cards as usual for this broke chap. I got a whole bunch of packages in the mail–all in the same day, too. I’ve been hunting cards down on eBay (something I’d rather not do). I’ve been binderizing, collating, sorting, logging, and phlogging. Actually, no, the other Chris has been doing the phlogging, not me. I’ve found a small bit of time for my hobby, but hardly any for the blog. Fear not, faithful followers! I’ve got a whole slew of teeny tiny posts for you to enjoy. Granted, they’re pretty much all dedicated to the aforementioned mega mail day, but I’ll keep it spicy.

PURCHASE TYPE: 1 Target Blaster ($19.99 – 32 Cards)

BASE

First of all, I have to apologize for wimping out and not spending the time to make these photos all fancy looking like I normally do, but these shiny cards just don’t scan too well. So, it’s photos for ye! Secondly, there really isn’t all that much to say about a product I’ve reviewed twice already, save for the additional layer of chrome-y coolness. I will say this, though. When I said that this design would look amazing in chrome, I was right. Although it suffers from the curling effect of the weighty top chrome layer, everything else about the near-perfect flagship design is accented greatly by the human bugzapper shininess. I’d love to spend a day in the printing plant that manufactures these to see exactly how this technology is implemented. Foil stamping is one thing. Xfractor-ing? A modern mystery, if you ask me. I’m as stumped as a felled tree! Hoo-haw!

REFRACTORS

I’m normally not a fan of parallels, but if you’re gonna do ‘em, you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ rainbow-y refractor. As if the chrome cards weren’t attractive enough, now you’ve gotta throw a cool layer of light reactive awesomeness in there. Every card looks better when refracted, even Nate McLouth! The Refractors are seeded 1:3 packs. They also come in a variety of colors–Blue (#/199), Gold (#/50), and Red (#/25). I only got the regular refractors. That sort of thing happens when buying retail.

XFRACTORS

I’ve never… NEVER… liked the XFractor parallels. I’ve never understood the point other than to give player and team collectors one more parallel to chase. However, this year there’s just something a bit cooler about the ol’ XFracs. It seems like the refractive areas react with a bit more strength, a bit more panache, a bit more umph if you will, than those in past Chrome-type releases. That’s not to say that I’m now a fan, but this year I’ll be happy to take every single Twins XFrac off of your hands! These also come seeded at 1:3 packs. Watch out for its mutant cousin, the Super-Fractor, a hobby exclusive 1 of 1 parallel. I’ve never seen one of these in person. Someone, please tell me… are they as gaudy as I think?

INSERTS – WBC

And the World Baseball Classic cards continue to flood Topps products like a much less appreciated version of Yankee Stadium Legacy. It’s too bad that these cards aren’t more popular. A lot of these guys will never have baseball cards in the states again. I got two in my blaster, and was quite surprised that I pulled an American.

INTERESTING TID-BITS:
Total Cards Pulled: 32 + 1 Checklist
Boston Red Sox: 3
Minnesota Twins: 0
Dupes: 2 (both of which are Parallel dupes)
RC: 7 (0 parallels)
Average Cost Per Card: $0.63

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Topps Chrome is one of the few sets that I look forward to every year, even with last year’s Wonder Bread set. I can’t help myself, I’m a sucker for shiny. Aren’t you? I think it was a smart idea to use new photography in last year’s chrome set, but this year it appears that Topps either couldn’t pony up the cash for new pix, didn’t have time to swap out photos in the existing flagship layouts, or got bit by the lazy bug. To me, not using unique photography to further separate itself from flagship as its own product is one of the few flaws in this set. Other than that, the design is, of course, aces, and they’re super uber duper shiny. How can you lose with that combination? YOU CAN’T, E. HONDA!

GOT TWINS?
As you can see, I pulled ZERO TWINS cards. I did receive one recently in a trade, but that still leaves about seven to go. All of the Chrome I’ve busted from this box is for trade. These are the base cards I’m after.

22, 27, 41, 78, 94, 189, WBC49
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Project: 8/17/09 Update

"S" Words
(…well, "S" Names, actually…)

The reality is that I received two bubblers in the mail today stuffed with 2009 Allen & Ginter Project needs from two different people whose names each begin with the letter "S." The hilarity of it is somehow it made me think of this classic SNL sketch.

The first trade comes from Crackin Wax reader, Sarah. It was just supposed to go down as a simple 1-for-1 trade. I’d send her one National Pride card that she needed, she’d send me one National Pride card that I needed. As you can see, however, she didn’t hold up her end of the deal.

She sent two more National Prides off of my list! Sneaky little devil. Factoring in current pending trades, this now leaves me with just one more National Pride card to chase!

I SENT:
2009 Allen & Ginter: NP22

I RECEIVED:
2009 Allen & Ginter: NP61, NP62, NP67

The next envelope was sent in from Shawn of Pack War. I got to knock off one more Code card, another National Pride (which I didn’t realize I already had), and a Creature mini.

And, guess what. All I had to give in return was… NOTHING. What? Exactly. You people are too freakin awesome. I’m getting all verklempt over here! Oh, and the best part? I got yet ANOTHER bonus…

A Twins card freebie for a die-hard Twins fan! Definitely can’t complain about that! Man, I forgot all about Crain and his ‘05/’06 Van Dyke.

I SENT
Nothing (Yet)

I RECEIVED
2009 Allen & Ginter:
CODE: 1
NATIONAL PRIDE: 73
CREATURE MINI: 15
2006 Upper Deck:
DIAMOND COLLECTION: DC-JC

Thanks for helping out a fellow collector, Shawn. I hope to be able to find some Griffey goodness for you!

And now, the obligatory update…

NEEDS:
Code: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 91, 94, 100, 103, 110, 113, 118, 121, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 193, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 245, 254, 256, 262, 268, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS12, AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19, AGHS24

National Pride: NP49, NP60, NP69, NP71, NP72

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT7, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT12, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB2, HHB9, HHB10, HHB13, HHB15, HHB16

National Heroes Minis: NH1, NH2, NH3, NH4, NH5, NH6, NH7, NH8, NH10, NH11, NH12, NH15, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH31, NH32, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP73

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5, HHB12

Cards in italics are pending trades

Only ONE MORE National Pride card to go!! Only 5 more Highlights Sketch cards and 6 more Hoaxes Minis left, too! I’m really feeling like this goal is attainable. I just need some more help. If any of you out there are willing and able to help out, please contact me here or e-mail me at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

Thanks again to Sarah and Shawn for the awesome cards, and thank you everyone here for your support!

2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Project: Trading with Rockhound

And There They Saw a Rock
(…it wasn’t a rock, it was a rock-hound-ster…)

Okay, so the title may be reaching a bit, but this is all I can think of when I see the name Rockhound. Sorry, buddy, but it’s true! I think his Fred Schneider could have been a little better, but I’ll forgive him… just this once.

This trade came, once again, via Pat Neshek’s message board. Anybody looking for a good place to set up some trades, get yourself known there and watch the cards flood in. Rockhound took out another good chunk of Code Cards for me, and got me a little bit closer to finishing up the National Pride subset.

The best part about this trade? I got 9 inserts for just one jersey relic card! I am still amazed at how generous the collecting community is.

I SENT
2009 Allen & Ginter:  AGR-CQ (Jersey)

I RECEIVED
2009 Allen & Ginter:
CODE: 84, 169, 221, 242, 267, 288
NATIONAL PRIDE: 50, 56, 73

That’s one more successful trade with a member of Pat Neshek’s Message Board in the books, and 9 more cards in the giant binder! Better get the Project List updated…

NEEDS:
Code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 52, 62, 63, 73, 77, 91, 94, 100, 103, 110, 113, 118, 121, 127, 129, 131, 134, 138, 141, 147, 150, 159, 166, 170, 175, 179, 180, 182, 184, 187, 193, 196, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 210, 215, 217, 222, 223, 229, 230, 233, 236, 245, 254, 256, 262, 268, 271, 274, 275, 281, 283, 286, 293, 296, 300

Baseball Heroes: AGHS12, AGHS14, AGHS15, AGHS16, AGHS19, AGHS24

National Pride: NP49, NP60, NP61, NP62, NP67, NP69, NP71, NP72

Creatures Minis: LMT3, LMT4, LMT5, LMT6, LMT7, LMT8, LMT9, LMT10, LMT11, LMT12, LMT15, LMT16, LMT17, LMT18, LMT19, LMT20

Hoaxes Minis: HHB2, HHB9, HHB10, HHB13, HHB15, HHB16

National Heroes Minis: NH1, NH2, NH3, NH4, NH5, NH6, NH7, NH8, NH10, NH11, NH12, NH15, NH16, NH20, NH24, NH25, NH26, NH29, NH30, NH31, NH32, NH33, NH34, NH35, NH36, NH40

Extinct Minis: EA1, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5

Future Inventions Minis: FI1, FI2, FI3, FI4, FI5

DOUBLES:
Base: 23, 34, 54, 84, 120, 188, 195, 206, 234, 240, 288

National Pride: NP8, NP11, NP12, NP14, NP15, NP16, NP17, NP18, NP19, NP20, NP21, NP22

Hoaxes Minis: HHB5, HHB12

Cards in italics are pending trades

I’m getting close to finishing out some of these subsets. Only 6 more Baseball Heroes sketch cards, 7 more National Prides, and 6 more Hoaxes Minis to go! Looks like the Code Cards and National Heroes are going to take a bit more work. I have still yet to get my hands on any Extinct Creatures or Future Inventions Minis. If anyone can help out, please either comment here or e-mail me at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

THANK YOU ALL!!