Featured Breaks
From a card show

Can anyone justify spending more than $40-$50 on a box of trading cards that probably features no more than 60 cards? You can turn a $90 box of cards into $15 in about 20 minutes.

I do realize that modern [as in the last five years or so] 'baseball card' collecting is designed for people with discretional spending money and a desire to gamble. I'm not one of those collectors, but I was going to slurge on a box of cards.

I was going to get 2006 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Update [$85], since the quad jersey/patch cards look pretty good, where there is one 'notable' patch piece running across the four square frames. There are also two autographs per box.

Being the indecisive collector, I also saw a hobby box of Bowman Draft and Prospects [$63] and was contemplating getting it instead since Bowman Draft and Prospects is one of those boxes that goes up in value [though I'm going to bust any box I purchase]. Will you be able to get one for $63 in three months?

While it isn't as 'sexy' as the other new products and as the MLBPA has altered the rookie-card rules, BDP still features first year cards from select 2006 draft picks with opportunities to pull versions that are signed.

I ultimately went with the BDP since it was cheaper, but perhaps, I can get lucky with some loose packs [if I was going to spend up to $85 anyway].

I don't know if you get the instant gratification with BDP because it features players that may never reach the Major Leagues, but you hope you pull something for later. I'm going to admit that I have no idea and don't really care who the other guys are in BDP, unless they are one of the higher profile prospects [Evan Longoria- who I curiously feel is the next Phil Nevin...].

Still, with Sweet Spot Update, you already know you are going to pull a Sweet Spot certified autograph insert card of a 2006 MLB rookie, that is a long reliever and had his rookie card in 2003. Maybe your second autograph will yield a Sweet Spot 'table'[mimicking a bat barrel] certified autograph card of another 2006 MLB rookie, maybe a 27-year old backup outfielder.

Your quad material card will be all jersey and of some Cuban player who will defect when he is 33 or 34.

My Bowman Draft and Prospect Pulls
Just listing the pulls that I care about as opposed to listing everything under the sun.

Chad Huffman autograph refractor [serial #'d 322/500]

Brian Bannister x-fractor [serial #'d 213/299] - print line across the surface, though it isn't a first year card.

Refractors - Carlos Villanueva and Adam Davis.

Randomness - my Futures Game jersey card was Kurt Suzuki [CSUF], the one guy I may have been looking for, though the card may only be worth $2. pulled a base, chrome and gold insert of Kyle Drabek...pulled a gold insert of Billy Rowell...pulled a base chrome rookie card of Mike Napoli...pulled a base of Hank Conger.

The condition of these cards seemed rough - there are occasional minor nicks, dings and scratches that probably knocks the cards' overall condition. It perhaps takes away from the collectibility of the product. I also wish there was one more certified autograph hit per each box.

Overall, it isn't really the cards that are hot, but the potential for future value that drive this product. It is like being attracted to someone because they belong in a certain clique.

I also bought four packs of 2006 SP Authentic [$4 each] - $4 a pack isn't that bad, but this is where I waste money, trying to get one of those By the Letter certified autograph inserts, which look pretty damn nice from loose packs.

After the damage was done, I did pull one lame auto [Chris Denorfia]. I also pulled a Heroes insert card of Ken Griffey Jr./Andruw Jones [SPAH-43].

Featured Target Breaks
In Orange County California

Anaheim Hills [12/20/06]
2006 Bowman Draft [$2.99 each] - I grabbed a random pack.

Daniel Garcia refractor - eighth round draft pick from a So. Cal high school

Garden Grove [12/11/06]
2006 Bowman Draft [$2.99 each] - I grabbed three random packs to get my fix, though I ended up not getting anything out of it.

Mike Napoli rookie card - hopefully I can get these inked.
Mike Rouse - I pulled one last week and I thought, this card is already
Jason Place chrome

Anaheim by Disneyland [12/8/06]
2006 Bowman Draft blaster break [x1 @$19.99] - not great at all with no autograph or game used card.

David Pauley - refractor; common
Jermaine Mitchell chrome - Mitchell is apparently a darkhorse prospect in the Oakland organization.

Jason Windsor and the 'New' 2006 Rookie Card Rules

$5 and change special at the bi-weekly card show - not much here except a couple of baseball card packs of the low-end variety, eight nine-pocket sheets [$1.00] and an 800-count box [$0.50].

2006 Upper Deck Update [$2.00 each x2] - pulled the one base card I was looking for, essentially a 'bastard' non-rookie prospect card of Jason Windsor with the 2006 rookie card logo. Windsor led the 2004 Cal State Fullerton baseball team to the College World Series title in 2004 and hope to get it signed at the Titans' alumni game in 2007, since I go to school there.

This is one of his few Major League cards so far, though his true rookie cards [and variations] are autographed and found in 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Edition and 2004 Upper Deck SP Top Prospects.

I suppose in an ideal collecting world, companies would have to wait until the player makes his Major League debut to get a Major League issue card. I think that is what the new rookie card logo is about [along with generating 'interest' in current year baseball card product is case the rookie year class is a strong one], but there are too many players that overlap, meaning that they've already had cards in Major League sets issued in previous years.

Slapping a rookie card logo on a 2006 Ryan Zimmerman or 2006 Hanley Ramirez, 2006 Justin Verlander card or any player with cards in the Major League sets [no matter what their status was when the cards were produced] in previous years is silly. No matter how the price guides like Beckett or Tuff Stuff is complying with adding extra meaning to cards [of Zimmerman, Ramirez or Verlander for example] with the rookie card logo, they are still not the rookie cards I've come to know prior to 2006.

If a the rookie card logo is affixed onto a card, I'd like the card to be considered a true rookie card, the first card from the set.

Unfortunately [or maybe not], I think Topps can still get away with putting fresh new professional players in their Bowman sets.

I think the problem is that you can include Major League players in Bowman Draft - so the cards of players just draft would be essentially rookie cards [unless of course, they are inserted].

I remember that Topps issued draft sets in 1994 [Stadium Club] and they didn't really generate much interest, because they were considered a specialty set, without any other players.

If the powers that be made Bowman Draft without the Prospects, cards produced during the Major League debut of a player [or whenever he is eligible to be put in a set] would have that much more value.

Featured Pickup
In an assorted box of random cards at the bi-weekly show, I picked up a 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter Josh Gibson base card [$0.50] - out of all the cards, this was the one I ended up. In baseball lore, Gibson is a pretty historical figure and for two quarters, this card featuring this Gibson means something - it really does.

Featured Pickup
Though worthless, I found a 1990 Upper Deck Ben McDonald error/variation card [and the corrected version] in a commons bin. I think the story is that McDonald was supposed to be part of the 'star rookies' subset.

Instead, Upper Deck had put the Baltimore Orioles logo on a number of McDonald cards, not the 'star rookies' logo.

McDonald was one of the hot rookies back in the day and I think it would have been easy for any companies to overlook a 'printing mistake,' capitalizing not only on McDonald's status, but also on the 'error craze' through the 1980s, particularly when Fleer received so much attention with the 1989 Bill Ripken FF card.

Target Breaks

Stopped by Target yesterday night to see if they had any 2006 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects.

I think it is natural habit to look for some new product, featuring cards of players in their professional playing infancy, just t get some new baseball cards in my collection.

I think Topps is the only company that still can put recent draft picks and other minor league prospects into new baseball card product.

2006 BDP was on the card shelves. I hoped that they were fresh boxes that haven't been tampered with.

When someone tampers with a blaster box, it is usually consists of buying a blaster, gutting the contents of the original product, filling it with junk cards, resealing the package only to return it to the store.

2006 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects blaster breaks [x2 @$19.99 each] - seven packs plus one bonus pack in each blaster box.

Box One - notables
Micah Owings Signs of the Future auto card - a card from dreaded autograph insert set

Davis Romero Futures Game jersey card - a relief scrub

Colton Willems refractor - the Washington Nationals No. 1 draft choice in 2006, whatever that really means

Hank Conger gold filler insert - it isn't the ideal Conger card from the set, but it is my first card of the LA Angels' No. 1 draft choice in 2006.

Box Two - notables
Mike Napoli refractor - don't know if this is a true rookie parallel or not.

Boof Bonser xfractor - serial #'d 157/299; I don't think this is a true rookie parallel.

Tyler Colvin base chrome - he was a surprising No. 13 overall pick in the 2006 MLB Amateur free agent draft. I could have gotten his autograph in-person if I wanted to when he and his Clemson baseball team were playing in the 2006 College World Series.

Nathan Culp white - serial #'d 117/225 - I remember him pitching for Missouri in the 2006 Super Regionals.

Nick Adenhart Futures Game jersey card - another card for the Angels' collection.

Mail Day
A 1980 Topps Nolan Ryan [$9.95 BIN plus $3.50 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox on Friday. This was a card that an adolescent friend once had, purchased for about $30 ungraded during Ryan's later 'prime years' with the Texas Rangers back in the early '90s.

I've bought a few graded cards casually and I guess I'm not familiar with the imperfections that are figured into a particular card grade. I assume that buying a card PSA graded '8' would at least have good centering on the front [and the back]. The the graphics on the back of the card seems to be too off-centered to be really visually attractive.

2006 Topps Factory set
Though they have not piqued my interest in recent years because inside they usually contain the base brand cards you see everywhere, but Topps always comes out with their special factory sets. What makes these unique is merely the full-color packaging [available in several variations] and typically a sampling from an exclusive bonus set [typically of the rookies/prospect/draft picks variety].

For the first time, I picked up a 2006 Topps factory set at Target [$59.99] - I've never bought a Topps factory set before and had to impulsively get this year's set because of the 'Target bonus,' which is a Mickey Mantle worn relic card [featuring his 1952 Topps card]. The caveat is that the swatch used to make the card wasn't taken from an official MLB game worn uniform, cap, pants or bat that Mantle used.

Instead what Topps apparently did was cut up clothing that Mantle apparently wore off the field.

I don't really think it is a great way to have a 'worn relic card' of Mantle, but at least you get a full factory set of 2006 Topps [which usually retails for about $50], along with the Mantle for only about $10 more.

Who is to say that these cards will be hard to find or be particularly valuable - but it is 'Mantle' and it is 'worn.'

Featured Pickup
I picked this card up about several weeks ago for about $0.35.

I thought Matthews had a pretty good season with one great catch. Unfortunately the Angels will expecting this guy to hold down centerfield in Anaheim for the next five seasons at a rate of $10 million a year.

I don't like this signing because it seems like a desperate stab to sign a guy who for a while was the epitome of a journeyman. You hope for a lot of things to happen, that Matthews is a late bloomer.

The reality is that Matthews may not be anything more than what he has shown over the course of his career, besides his career year this past season.

Cory Lidle RIP 1972-2006

Featured Pickups
I'm always looking to pick something nice and cheap at the card show, just so I can say I walked away with something decent [if only a $5-$10 card] besides the common cards I usually pick up for random autograph signings.

I looked through a $10 arrangement of cards and Tim Salmon patch/bat card [from 2004 Donruss Throwback Threads] caught my eye immediately. My mind raced, deciding whether I would be willing to pay $10 for a card of a minor-star at best. He's a freaking Angels' legend, you dolt! atch/bat combo serial numbered 16/25. The patch on the card isn't that big [because of the window], but it is distinct. The card is numbered 16/25 and was labeled 'prime' meaning that it was more than just a single swatched jersey/bat card variation.

I came back, flipped through the arrangement of cards again and finally picked the card up. $10 isn't a bad price for a 'semi-premium' card of a franchise star, even though it has been a decade or so, since he has been talked about in mainstream collecting circles. Still, I consider it a card you pick up for your personal collection that isn't going to make or break any collecting budget, unless of course you can get it for something like $6.27 shipped on Ebay [just being facetious there].

In the $10 arrangement, I didn't see much, but some real random cards that piqued my interest for whatever reason: a 2005 Fleer Sweet Sigs Vernon Wells, a random Allan Houston [NBA] patch card that was really nice and had eye-appeal, a random Jason Kidd autograph card [you can get his certified autograph cards for $10?] and an 2005 Donruss Timelines Andruw Jones patch card.

Another Salmon card I found was a 1995 Donruss Studio Gold insert. The faux credit card design gives it a certain aesthetic appeal, though the card is only worth what I paid for it, which is about a dime. I picked it up with a Barry Larkin from the same set for a quarter.

Scanned to show the image of the card, not the particular condition or actual size.

Mail Day
About a month ago, I bought a Kendry Morales autographed baseball blind [without an Ebay image] from Mr. Mem on EBay [$15.00 plus $5.00 s/h]. I paid for the item about two weeks ago and it arrived in the mail yesterday [8/24/06].

I figured it would be okay, since it was stated in the title that it came from a Just Minors product. Basically it is a 'low-end,' certified memorabilia item. It was also noted in the auction description that it came with the Just Minors COA and a hologram affixed.

My official line is that it is only worth what I paid for it, though I'm betting on Morales' potential to be a very good Major League player. With his potential, I was looking to get him on a single-signed baseball and I think I paid a reasonable price.



I open up the UPS Priority service box, my item was shipped in and see a nice Just Minors box. A COA was stuffed inside, along with the Morales baseball wrapped in tissue. The only thing I was worried about is whether or not Just Minors would be using a 'cheap, synthetic' baseball, an official minor-league baseball or some other 'junk' baseball.

I checked on the Just Minors website and it said that they'd used official Major League Baseballs for their signings:

All autographed baseballs are official Rawlings Major League Baseballs or:
FG - Indicates Futures Game Baseballs (individually serial-numbered to 120)
W.S. - Indicates World Series Baseball
A.S. - Indicates All Star Game Baseball
N.L. - Indicates National League Baseball



I examine the ball [still wrapped in tissue] just for a little bit and see the Major League Baseball logo. The hologram is there as well and the autograph looks clean, though Morales' autograph looks like chicken scratch.



I also got a 2006 Topps Allen and Ginter Vladimir Guerrero bat card [$3.00 plus $2.00 s/h on Ebay]. I don't want to care for common bat/jersey cards, though the novelty makes it okay sometimes. On the other hand, the bat used could be a Vladimir Guerrero store-model bat, used by Topps' employees at the park, which would defeat the purpose of having a game-used bat card featuring a favorite player.

Some loose pack breaks
Picked three hobby packs of 2006 Topps Allen and Ginter [$3.75 each/three for $11] at a show last Saturday and two more retail packs at Target [$2.99 each] to see what the buzz was all about. The only card I got of note from the hobby packs was a Ryan Langerhans short print [#151] and a Ervin Santana [#51].

The cards themselves are nice looking, though my five pack pick up seemed more like wanting to drink water because I was thirsty, but only getting a few random drops.

Regional collecting
I'm supposed to be a California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels' fan, but I've missed out on picking up some key cards of young players that have come up from the minor leagues and have helped the Angels' chances to stay afloat in the pennant race this season.

Maybe I've been lazy and ambivalent over baseball card collecting in general, but I still collect and read enough message boards featuring baseball cards, the Angels and prospects in general. I'm no stranger to websites like futureangels.com and baseballamerica.com.

I've got an account on Ebay, so I should have already had particular cards of particular players [from my team] in-hand before all the hype takes place. I kind of feel left out of the picture, though I probably had my reasons for my 'no-action' as far as not picking these guys' cards up.

Still, I have nothing to show for guys like a Jered Weaver [2003 USA auto issues and 2005 BDP auto varieties], Howie Kendrick [various 2004 rookie cards/parallels issued by Topps] and Joe Saunders [2002 Upper Deck PP auto and 2002 Bowman Draft auto varieties].


Now, is it worth my time going through the reasons or am I just SOL?
1.) I'm an uber cheap collector and perhaps the initial prices for some of the cards was already at relatively high levels. I realize that I'm not into flipping cards for a profit. Rather than follow the herd, I'm more apt to be conservative and want something for my personal collection. I have recently speculated on a couple cards [2005 Bowman Draft Chrome Ryan Zimmerman refractor autograph/2005 Upper Deck Signature Edition Kendry Morales update autograph], but didn't want to worry whether or not Weaver will turn out to be the next Mike Witt or Jeff Weaver, as I see myself looking for more position players.

2.) There is a competition factor among the die-hard team collectors and I don't want to feel like I'm some kind of poseur by jumping into the fray.

3.) I don't want to admit I missed the boat, but best time to pick up cards of these guys is definitely not now. I do realize that what comes up, must come down eventually.

4.) I'm more of an autograph collector [in-person/through the mail], than a card collector. I'd rather get Weaver and Kendrick's random signed autographs, than get their rookie cards/rookie year parallels. If I think they are good enough, then I try and get them on an official Major League baseball and I'm happy with that.

5.) Still, maybe I don't show enough confidence in your team's top prospects, both long-term and in the short-term run. I didn't care to realize the potential of a guy like Weaver, who was in some circles, pimped as the next Mark Prior. Maybe I just didn't see guys like Weaver or Kendrick coming up until some time next year.

In 2006, it seemed like a whole roster of first year players have come up and made immediate impacts. Weaver, Kendrick and Saunders are just three of those guys that have already impressed.

6.) Kendrick projects more as a guy who is a good all-around player, with the potential to win batting titles. Does anyone see him putting up Alfonso Soriano numbers? Maybe he is another Ray Durham or someone who puts up all-star numbers, but not superstar numbers.

7.) Saunders probably should have been my guy for much of the last two years. While I look for PC cards, he was injured and there were downpoints when his cards were dirt cheap. Unfortunately, it isn't like I've sought out his cards out at a show. He maybe the guy among the three who becomes decent, but is generally unspectacular over the course of his career.

Now, I think I'm going to be a little more proactive in seeking out rookie cards/rookie year issues of any Angels' prospect who may give the parent club its next productive player.

Baseball card collecting is not a warm-weather hobby
Who wants to be thumbing and sorting through cards, when it is so nice and sunny outside? Pity the fool who would rather be inside playing with his cards or has no other 'default' choice, other than to flip through his brick of useless commons.

I can't come up with a collecting theme that compels me to be focused [with time, effort and $$$]. All my cards and other stuff are 'housed' in my room and it is hard to be enthused with anything when your abode is a furnace for much of the late afternoon.

Mail Day
I got a 1965 Topps Clay Carroll rookie card/Phil Niekro [PSA graded 7] in the mail today.

I casually looked the card up in an ancient [circa 1996] Mo Vaughn Beckett magazine [that I have for reference] and I was dismayed that it was actually Niekro's second year card. I was bummed because I was thinking that this card was going to start my 'vintage' rookie card collection.

I think the fact that it isn't Niekro's actual rookie card shows how impulse bidding [on Ebay] bite you in the butt, especially when you don't do simple research such as checking whether or not a player has had a previous card issued - when you are .

It took me about two weeks to send finally payment about a week ago for the card [$26 plus $4 s/h] and while there is buyer's remorse, I think it is a nice looking card that is going to stay in my personal collection.

The National
Baseball card collecting runs hot and cold because everything seems like the same old cardboard, but the upcoming National in Anaheim gives me an opportunity to see why [or why I’m not collecting].

I want to go to the National and milk the $99/$100 pass for all that it is worth. I have philosophical problems with it though that didn't stop me from purchasing a pass. It is going to be my third National - all have been in Anaheim.

1.) The promos are likely going to be mass produced cards that you are going to put away in junk boxes. I don’t think any of the card companies participating in the National is really willing to put value in their [VIP package] promos by producing high-end versions [ particularly with autographs and/or GU materials]. You take what you can get, but you don’t want to be stuck with crap.

2.) Tiered VIP Packages – you aren’t really guaranteed to get one star, superstar, legend or icon in the $99 package. I don't even know if I'm getting the same one because I purchased my $99 VIP package from the official National website as opposed to Tristar. You get a bunch of loosely termed semistars from the Dodgers and the Angels, with perhaps some other guests, blah, blah, blah - seems like the same names a local promoter [naxcom.com] has been trotting out for the last six years to their autograph shows.

3.) Unless you are willing to pay $$$ - Tristar Productions or a company like Upper Deck is not likely to give you opportunities for casual meet and greets with a star, superstar, legend or icon at the National.

4.) The autograph guest lists has its share of heavy hitters, but any particular sports guy [for example: Magic Johnson, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana] has already done every imaginable show. Those are among the cream of the crop of athletes and there is just seems less elite sports icons [maybe Jim Brown perhaps] you really would pay for, while Johnson, Rice and Montana continue to pimp themselves down to Bob Feller levels [autographs signed, certainly not in fees].

5.) Tristar is known for locking down youngsters to sign autographs at their shows around the country. Where are the local rookies like Russ Martin, Andre Ethier, Mike Napoli or maybe a young, rising star like Ervin Santana? All I see is Matt Kemp and he was already sent down two weeks ago.

Hot
1.) Albert Pujols
2.) David Wright
3.) Jon Papelbon
4.) Justin Verlander
5.) Scott Kazmir
6.) Prince Fielder
7.) Hanley Ramirez
8.) Vernon Wells
9.) Alex Rios
10.) Russ Martin
11.) Andre Ethier
12.) Jim Thome

Not
1.) Jose Reyes
2.) Dallas McPherson
3.) Greg Maddux
4.) Felix Hernandez
5.) Alex Rodriguez
6.) Barry Bonds
7.) Delmon Young
8.) Randy Johnson
9.) Kerry Wood
10.) Mark Prior

Steady
1.) Alfonso Soriano
2.) Ichiro
3.) Derek Jeter
4.) Manny Ramirez
5.) Pedro Martinez
6.) Miguel Cabrera
7.) Michael Young
8.) Ryan Zimmerman

Mail Day
A 1989 Donruss Baseball's Best Ken Griffey Jr. [$9.95 BIN plus $3.95 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox on Monday. This was a card that a childhood friend once had, but never had in my grasp. The rookie year card from a 'boxed set' represents a 'modern-era flashback' card for me.

Still, I'm disappointed - check out the centering on the back of the card. It doesn't seem that visually attractive, especially considering the fact that the card is given a 'BGS 9' grade.

Also arriving in the box on Monday was a 2005 Bowman Heritage Cesar Carrillo box topper variation [$1 plus $1 s/h off Ebay]. I was going to get the card signed at a card show last Saturday, but it didn't arrive in time. I ended up not going to the show, where 2005 top amateur draft prospects Carrillo, Ricky Romero and Ryan Braun were scheduled to sign for free.

Mail Day
A 2005 Topps Chrome Update Trevor Bell autograph [$5.99 BIN plus $2.25 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox on Thursday. This card wasn't a bargain and he is a pitcher as opposed to a hitter, but I figure to pick this card up of Bell's status as the top draft pick of the Angels in 2005.

FYI: He is also Bozo the Clown's grandson - that has to count for something.

Mail Day
A 2003 Fleer Showcase Sweet Stitches Barry Bonds jersey card [$5.50 plus $2.00 s/h on Ebay] arrived today. It was more of an impulsive pick-up and another Bonds material card [x3] to 'denote' three [2002, 2003 and 2004] of his seven MVP seasons.

Also, a 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Chuck Knoblauch autograph [$4.99 BIN plus $2.00 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox. I was looking for an Knoblauch autograph, since I sold the autographed card that was signed through a mail request back in the late '90s.

That autograph was on the card [a 1991 Upper Deck], this autograph is certified and on a holographic sticker affixed onto a card.

It ends up being another addition [or upgrade] to my award winners collection - 1991 American League Rookie of the Year style.

Mail Days
A 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot B.J. Upton autograph card [$7.99 plus $2.50 s/h on Ebay] arrived today while a 2005 Bowman Draft set [$12.00 BIN plus $3.00 s/h on Ebay] and a 2005 Topps Update Chris Young [not the 2005 Futures Game subset] gold card numbered to 2005 [$2.99 plus $1.50 s/h off Ebay] arrived on Thursday.

I remember last month, wanting to spend so much time later into the night, the early next morning [1/10/06] just looking for another certified Upton autograph that I had purchased. I ended up finding it in a random bubble mailer that I use for storing various cards.

I think he is going to be a star though and I wanted a Sweet Spot Signatures autograph insert of Upton. Unfortunately, the card I received was crammed into a semi-rigid card holder and it has a nicked corner with a little paper loss. I'm not sending this back to UD - I lost a 2004 Sweet Spot Signatures autograph insert of Delmon Young because I felt I needed to send it back to Upper Deck because it was damaged a little bit. So far, I have not received it back...

The image of the Upton is from the Ebay auction I won.

Picking up the 2005 Bowman Draft set ended up to be pretty good - shipping was only the price of a single card [$3] as opposed $5 or more [and the actual amount the set was shipped for was $5.33].

It came with a 2005 Bowman Draft AFLAC redemption and the seller also included bonus fillers cards consisting of 2005 Bowman Draft gold. Out of the blue, I was possibly looking for Andrew McCutchen, D.J. Houlton, Cesar Ramos and Travis Buck cards and all four were among the bonus filler cards...

Picking up a card of Young was pretty expensive [close to $5 shipped], but I think his Topps Update card was a rookie card and a rookie-year card [confused?] may be a 'prudent, low-end' purchase for the near future [if he develops into a star].

Mail Day
A 2004 Bowman Draft AFLAC redemption set came in the box today. I scanned the box for future reference [and because I was bored]. I'm thinking that I may try and get the cards signed one way or the other, since it is just a regular Bowman AFLAC set.

On the other hand, I may want to keep the set intact. It is my only AFLAC set and I did pay about $6 for the redemption card on Ebay - it isn't worth it for me to mail the cards out willy-nilly.

Note - I opened up the set and some of the cards [C.J. Henry, Andrew McCutchen] are definitely not mint. There are minor nicks and cuts that is especially noticeable with black bordered cards.

These cards are probably better off getting signed, just to salvage their 'collectibility' factor...

Mail Day Part II
A Hank Greenberg PSA/DNA slabbed Hall of Fame postcard [$99.99 plus $3.07 s/h and $2.20 'required' shipping insurance on Ebay] arrived in the box on Saturday.

One of my collection toppers that I figure to cross it off my list in the meantime, instead of waiting for a Satchel Paige PSA/DNA slabbed item or a Bill Russell certified autograph card to pop up on Ebay.

Mail Day Part I
A 2004 SP Top Prospects Mark Trumbo autographed rookie card [$17.50 plus $3.00 s/h on Ebay] arrived in the box on Saturday.

Trumbo maybe the next top prospect in the Angels' organization in the next couple of seasons.

While I wasn't particularly enamored by the card [not having it 'in-hand' before] and I don't think it was any bargain of sort - I felt compelled to pick it up for my personal collection because it is Trumbo's best rookie card [that isn't a rookie-year parallel].

The image is from the Ebay auction I won.

Mail Day
2005 Bowman Draft Chrome Ryan Zimmerman refractor autograph [$74.09 plus $2.50 s/h on Ebay] arrived in the box. It looks much better than his 2005 Upper Deck USA card, particularly the autograph [though maybe not so obvious, judging from this image - from the Ebay auction I won].

Zimmerman was on the fast track in 2005, hopefully he can establish himself as a star [hopefully in the mold of a David Wright or Scott Rolen].