Mail Call - April 29 Edition

So, I've been pretty busy trying to finish my 1974 set. Having plumbed the depths of COMC, I shifted my focus to Sportlots, Sportsbuy and EBay. Over the last week, I have purchased enough 74s to be within 2 of completing the set, including all error cards and variations. I have received about half of the recent orders so far, but have been too wrapped up in other things to bore you with daily run-downs of the various arrivals. However today, in addition to a small lot I purchased on Sportlots, came a trade pack from Baseball Dad over at All Tribe Baseball. I feel it is important to pay notice to the generosity of the collectors I come into contact with. I wouldn't have probably made a post on just the 74s I have received. But, whenever someone sees fit to take the time to gather and ship me cards without money changing hands, well, that is worth taking the time to acknowledge. I had sent Dad some of the Topps Series 1 inserts he needed and I got some cards I needed including 4 Heritage and the very last card I needed to complete the 2011 Series 1:



In addition, he sent along some interesting Pirates cards:



1993 Topps BlackGold Andy Van Slyke. I've never seen a card from this set before. And, while I am not normally a fan of shiny, this card has a delightful design and I am going to try and research the set a bit more when I have some time.



I am not sure what to say about thus 2004 Donruss Studio Stars Jason Kendall. It is an odd card, but in a good way. I am not sure if I should hand it to the cashier the next time I try to cash a check at Target or if I should take it on my next business trip to see if it opens the door to my hotel room. In all seriousness, though, I do like this card. I just can't seem to articulate why. I've been thinking about why for a good 15 minutes and just cannot put words to it.

So, big thanks to Baseball Dad. I definitely feel like I came out on the better side of this trade.

Oh, and for you vintage fans, here is one of the numerous 74s that I have received in the last week. The Felipe Alou no position error card. I've had the regular card for several months now, but have been ignoring the errors and variations until recently.



Oh, if you are wondering what the remaining two cards are that I need to complete 1974, they are 599A, the San Diego version of the rookie pitcher card and 608A, another rookie pitcher card with Bob Apodaca's name misspelled as Apodaco.

Announcing His Presence With Authority

I pulled this card out of a pack of 2011 Topps today. It is 2010 AL Rookie of the Year, Neftali Feliz of the Texas Rangers.



I am posting this because, in 2009, I was in the stands for Feliz's AAA debut. It was April 10, 2009 and the Oklahoma Redhawks were hosting the Memphis Redbirds in the second game of the season opening series. Off the top of my head, I really don't remember much of the game, except that Feliz was throwing pitches that topped 100 MPH, which pretty much got the crowd buzzing. Looking at the box score for the game, I can see that Feliz was the starting pitcher for OKC. In four innings of work, Feliz struck out four, gave up 4 hits and 6 base on balls, but allowed no earned runs. I can't help but think that, it was something of a Nuke LaLoosh performance. Although, to his credit, he didn't hit Rowdy.

On a marginally related note, Rowdy is the Redhawk's mascot. Here is a picture I took of him signing autographs at a game on May 1, 2010 (click the image for a larger version.)

That game was also, believe it or not, Chewbacca Night. You read that right, Chewbacca Night at the Bricktown Ballpark. But, I will save that for another blog post in the next few days. Suffice it to say that I love minor league baseball.

Million Card Trade

As I may have mentioned, my return to collecting is relatively recent. I started, tenatively, back in mid-November. I was mainly collecting Paul Blair cards at first, but occasionally picked up one of those repackages of recent cards and, rarer still, some packs of current releases of cards. As such, I only ever had two of the Million Card Giveaway redemptions. My first redemption was for a decidely underwhelming 2004 Mike Remlinger:



My second redemption was a little more interesting: a 1958 Don Pendleton:



Now, I will grant Pendleton probably isn't up there on the list of highly collectible cards (particularly given that this card has been selling on EBay for less than a buck), but I am thrilled to have redeemed it. Pendleton's Major League career wasn't noteworthy, but he did play a season in the Negro Leagues, and did have a decent AAA career. So, I find myself liking the idea of possessing a card that was printed 7 years before I was born and that it is an (albeit) small link to some interesting history. I have pretty much decided to keep it. A sentimental decision, to be sure, but my decision nonetheless.

But, I find it hard to actually pull the trigger on delivery for this card. Why? I am ashamed to admit because I am getting a perverse charge in seeing what kind of trades people offer me for this card and an even more perverse pleasure out of declining the trades. I get am getting several offers a day, two of which are usually from the same guy. I haven't kept track, but I would bet I have gotten at least a half dozen trade offers from metstrader75, with each subsequent offer including an increasing number of cards. Now, I will grant he is,at least, offering name players (Ryan, Boggs, Mattingly), however, they are all from the period of 1987 to 1989. Which, I am led to understand is part of the period known as the Junk Wax era. His latest offer was for 11 cards, all junk wax. Naturally, I rejected it. I am just looking forward to have that 53 year old card in my possession and a stack of 20 year old crap just doesn't promise the same excitement.

I probably ought to just go ahead and request delivery and put the poor sonuvabitch out of his misery. But, I am morbidly curious if he is actually going to up his offer. I'll still turn it down, of course. Now, if he is interested in that Remlinger.............