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!

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!

Night Moves: Trade with Night Owl Cards

That’s Right
(I still collect Twins cards)

Very recently, Greg over at Night Owl Cards taunted me from across the internet with his two fancy black bordered Joe Mauer cards. He, knowing of my love and affection for baseball cards of the Minnesota Twins persuasion (especially those of one Joe Mauer), asked of only one small task. Upon completion, a trade was struck that would bring two Joe Mauer cards home to me, and would in return send off two new Dodgers cards to our Cardboard Crusader. Today, I received my package in quick fashion.

Ah, yes. Here you can see the contact half of the M’n'M boys striking a modified Mark McGwire pose backdropped by a bed sheet. I hadn’t noticed before just how large Joe’s nose is. Next features Joe in the classic "boy howdy!" leaning-on-a-bat pose. Greg, I love these cards. Absolutely love ‘em!

So here’s how this trade went down…

I SENT
09 UD O-PEE-CHEE Black Bordered Blake DeWitt
09 UD X James McDonald RC

I RECEIVED
09 UD O-PEE-CHEE Black Bordered Joe Mauer
09 A&G Black Bordered Mini Joe Mauer

OH! But that’s not all. That sneaky little nocturnal collector slipped another fine piece of Twins material that FAR exceeds anything that he got in return.

Are you freaking serious?! This is the coolest freebie I’ve ever gotten in EVER! Don’t you worry, though, Greg. I won’t be treating this as a freebie. I’ll get you back, sir. Oh, I’ll get you back! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

Which brings me to this… yeah, I know I’ve been going full bore on my 09 Allen & Ginter Project, but I’m a Twins collector first. I’ve been kind of slacking off on hunting down Twins cards, and I haven’t bought any Twins team sets on the bay in, like… ever. I figure it’s about time I update my Twins Priority List to see if maybe I can sneak a few cards out of you fine folks.

2009 Bowman Base: 228; Prospects: BP-98; Bowman Chrome Prospects: BCP-98
2009 Topps Series 1 Base: 43; Throwback (Target): 43
2009 Topps Attax Base: Brendan Harris, Carlos Gomez, Denard Span
2009 Topps Finest Base: 60
2009 Topps Heritage Base: 430, 432, 442, 450, 476, 495
2009 Upper Deck Icons Base: 57, 66
2009 Upper Deck Series 1 1975 O-Pee-Chee: OPC-28
2009 Upper Deck O-Pee-Chee Base: 95, 129, 153, 271, 328, 337, 350, 388, 411, 455, 458, 531, 535, 554
2009 Upper Deck X Base: 51, 52, 53
Current roster Minnesota Twins RC cert AUs
Johan Santana Minnesota Twins cert AUs
2007 SP Authentic Joe Mauer By The Letter Signatures "M" "A" "E" and "R"

If anyone is willing and able to help out, please give me a shout! You can either get in touch with me here or toss over an e-mail at topher {at} designyouridentity {dot} com.

THANK YOU!

2009 Upper Deck X: The 1 Pack Review!

X Marks The Spot
(…in which I question my hobby…)

Let me first start off by saying unequivocally that THIS IS NOT the worst product of the year. I know, right? Let me also follow up by saying that THIS IS NOT a good product. At all. Upper Deck’s release just prior to this so far, for me, anyway, still holds the crown of 2009’s Very Worst Cardboard Creation. Upper Deck X at least tries to be a little interesting. The fact remains, however, that I am still left with a feeling of emptiness. Is the emptiness caused by wondering if I could have gotten something better for the $2 I just spent on this pack? Is it caused by the overabundance of caramel corn that I indulged on at the movie last night? No, in fact, I know Xactly from where the emptiness stems. Yep. I just bought another pointless pack. I just wish that these secondary sets that fill up the shelves in between flagship and popular sets would at least have some point to them. I’m still trying to figure out why Icons was even a thought. And, really? The letter X is the reason this particular set is Xists? I would love to meet anyone that loves this set. I want to talk to someone that is Xcited about these cards. I want to be able to pick their brain. I want to know if I’m missing out on something–if I’m just not getting it.

Until then, however, I feel it my duty to give you fine readers a quick and early 1 Pack Review. Honestly, after this one pack alone, I highly doubt I’ll be buying any more. Unless, obviously, if they’re Twins related. That’s Xcusable.

BASE:

The design itself isn’t too bothersome… that is until you realize that the central theme to this entire set is a letter of the English alphabet. Thankfully we’ve got some facts on the backs of these cards. I know, no one reads the back, but, come on. A baseball card can’t be a baseball card without something fun to read on the back, right? Besides the letter "X."

A constant theme in baseball cards this year is how rediculously flimsy the card stock is. Sure, it’s a great way to save money for these companies, I’m sure. But I don’t even feel like I’m holding baseball cards with most of this year’s products. Upper Deck X almost seems to be the weakest of the batch to date–although I’m pretty sure they’re using the Xact same stock that they’ve used for most of their 2009 releases.

I will give Upper Deck credit for using crisp, clean, sharp, sensible action shots that fit the design. The colors are outstanding and brilliant, and all of the text is very readable. That’s really all I’ve got for a positive, though. If you like pretty pictures and readable text, then this is the set for you!

INSERTS:

It’s hard to tell by the scan here, but these Xponential cards are all foily and shiny and embossy. They do look decent, and inserts should stand out from their base card counterparts, so this set does the trick just fine. I just wish that this insert set had an obvious point to them.

And, of course, Upper Deck X wouldn’t be the same without their famous X Die Cut inserts. This is actually the first time I’ve ever had one of these in-hand. All the same, though, I just don’t find these kinds of die cuts to be all that interesting. Although, if you’re going to do a die cut for this set of cards, doing the smart thing is always the best idea. Die cutting any other shape around the "X" background would earn Upper Deck a few Xpletives.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
While opening this pack wasn’t necessarily Xcruciating, it also wasn’t Xhilarating, either. The price point of $2 for a retail pack of 6 cards seems fairly typical, so no real arguments can be made in that regard. Will I spend more money on this set? Likely not. I can’t imagine that I would even get many trades from this set. So, just sit back and relax, everyone. Save your cash. I’ve done the dirty work for you. Unless you loved last year’s Upper Deck X, I suggest that you save your money for something more worthwhile. If, however, you did enjoy last year’s effort, this go ’round is a bit of an improvement. While the cards do look very similar to last season’s, that should be Xpected. I mean, come on. It’s a baseball card honoring a letter. There’s not a whole lot you can really do with that. And now, I shall make my Xit.

Come on, like you didn’t see THAT coming.

2009 Upper Deck X: The Preview!

2009 Upper Deck X: The Preview!
(…someone decided to drop early…)

Sorry for the decidedly short and extraordinarily boring post, but I thought I’d share an image of the pack of X that I found last night shortly before taking my wife out to see Harry Potter in IMAX 3-D. Of course, I will expound further upon my findings after I’ve had my good night’s rest. For all of you night owls, though, soak in the image above and relish in the fact that I have taken one for the team. Until the 1 Pack Review, sweet dreams!