More 2013 Topps - a couple of manufactured relics and a random Daniel Descalso base card

I wasn't going to be caught up in the new release hype of Topps' flagship brand but after browsing through eBay - the manufactured patch card set featuring Topps first cards / rookie cards of various star players caught my eye.

I ended up picking up two blaster boxes in addition to the 72-card hanger box I purchased at Walmart and pulled a Ryne Sandberg 1983 commemorative rookie patch relic in my first box - I've never pulled a Topps framed silk insert and while reprint cards have been sort of redundant, it's kind of neat to see various Topps first cards / rookie cards this way, from Willie Mays' first Topps card in 1952 to Yu Darvish's 2012 Topps rookie card.

Topps is definitely preying on collectors' nostalgia once again by using cards from previous years' Topps releases to come up with this 25-card insert set - however, the novelty of such inserts however is appealing, so I'll probably be caught up looking to pick up one or two more Topps Series I blasters than I already have.

In my second blaster box, I pulled a commemorative patch relic of Stephen Strasburg - not all blaster boxes will contain a rookie patch relic and while I'd rather have a rookie patch relic, this card features a nice, manufactured patch of the Washington Nationals' logo alongside a mugshot of the franchise's ace pitcher.

This Topps card [#190] is my early favorite of 2013 - it looks like Descalso's about to dunk [or in reality, caught in the air for a moment as he's trying to throw someone out of at first base].

2013 Topps Series I 72-card Walmart recap

I get bored seeing cards from Topps' current year flagship product a couple of months after they are released for public consumption - at the same time however, I can't really stay away from seeing the same cards look like in-hand when they first hit the shelves for the first time.

#274 Miguel Montero
#223 Yonder Alonso
#158 Chad Billingsley
#63 Justin Masterson
#150 John Danks

#143 Jim Johnson
#131 Ian Kennedy
#293 Jeff Karstens
#117 Aubrey Huff
#325 Kevin Millwood
#230 David Robertson
#306 Jerry Hairston Jr.
#104 Jed Lowrie

#317 Baltimore Orioles - 2012 AL Wild Card
#82 Jason Vargas
#103 Evan Longoria
#310 Edwin Encarnacion
#179 Detroit Tigers - 2012 ALCS Game 4
#35 Justin Verlander
#246 Ryan Braun, Giancarlo Stanton and Jay Bruce - 2012 National League Home Run Leaders

#64 Will Middlebrooks - gold parallel serial #'d 0585/2013

#310 Edwin Encarnacion - Emerald parallel

#CH-46 Hanley Ramirez - Chasing History insert
#CD-7 Jesus Montero - Chasing the Dream insert

#TM-49 Matt Kemp - 1972 Topps Mini insert
Million Dollar Chase code card
#68 Colby Rasmus
#201 Jonny Venters
#302 Aaron Hill
#200 Scott Downs
#191 Chris Capuano
#98 Gaby Sanchez
#174 Jason Grilli
#321 Allen Craig
#132 Ryan Vogelsong
#77 Dustin Moseley
#74 Kenley Jansen
#203 Wilson Ramos
#86 Henry Rodriguez
#305 Shelby Miller
#187 Nick Maronde
#111 Casey Kelly
#3 Hunter Pence
#50 Adam Wainwright
#1 Bryce Harper
#313 Maicer Izturis
#279 Vicente Padilla
#168 Kyle Farnsworth
#211 Jarrod Parker
#184 Geovany Soto
#30 Neftali Feliz
#121 Delmon Young
#194 Miguel Cabrera, Josh Hamilton and Edwin Encarnacion - 2012 American League Runs Batted in Leaders
#12 A.J. Pierzynski
#185 Rob Scahill - Walmart blue parallel
#271 Jeurys Familia - Walmart blue parallel
#278 Christian Garcia - Walmart blue parallel

#224 Jon Jay - Walmart blue parallel
#65 J.P. Howell - Walmart blue parallel
#22 Clayton Kershaw
#213 Alex Rodriguez
#75 Barry Zito
#178 Justin Maxwell
#242 Matt Kemp
#21 Lucas Duda
#87 Mike Olt
#296 Didi Gregorius
#78 Dylan Bundy

#CH-12 Evan Longoria - Chasing History insert; these last four Chasing History inserts maybe parallels since they have a foil finish and sort of a bronze / gold finish as opposed to the earlier Ramirez Chasing History insert I pulled, which had a silver finish.
#CH-1 Roy Halladay - Chasing History insert

#CH-46 Hanley Ramirez - Chasing History insert
#CH-21 Frank Robinson - Chasing History insert

Just a guy rummaging through some boxes

This 1960 Topps beater of Bill Fischer was a buck - the rest of the cards were a quarter each, though I do wonder why I picked up at least a couple of them impusively when after the fact, I realized I'd made a mistake as far as identifying the right guys on the right old school / vintage cards.

?

?

2012 Panini Elite Extra Edition pack breaks

I don't think I'd jump in and buy a hobby box like I did in 2012 - but these just came out and I picked up four packs [$5.75 each] to see what the cards looked like.

Pack one
#18 Patrick Wisdom
#75 Nick Kingham

#7 Steve Bean, Jake Thompson and Spencer Edwards - Building Blocks insert

#121 Barrett Barnes - Aspirations die-cut parallel serial #'d 184/200
#25 Sam Selman

Pack two
#32 Avery Romero
#89 J.T. Chargois

#156 Jeremy Baltz - autograph serial #'d 451/799; never heard of him but the autograph looks like it's on card, so that is a nice touch.
#5 Max Fried - Yearbook insert
#82 Alexis Rivera

Pack three
#63 Lex Rutledge
#21 Robert Refsnyder
#54 Corey Black
#12 Chris Stratton

#69 Felipe Perez

Pack four
#61 Cory Jones
#19 Eddie Butler
#10 Isaak Gutierrez - Team USA 15U National Team autograph serial #'d 37/99
#38 Brett Mooneyham
#95 Will Clinard
#53 Chris Serritella

R.I.P. Stan Musial and Earl Weaver

Two notable passings this weekend were Hall of Famers Musial and Weaver - I was vaguely aware of Stan the Man's heroics as a player and his status as a Hall of Fame legend.

While not having the opportunity to see him play first-hand, the two things I heard about him - was that he was always a classy player and someone who was actually sort of underrated for the prolific numbers he put up during his playing career.

I picked up a 2007 Topps Triple Threads card of Musial back in 2007 for a little more than $30 - thinking it was a nice card from a premium trading card product.

I'd also purchased an Upper Deck Authenticated signed baseball and was able to send him a couple of cards in the early 2000's - which he signed through the mail for a few dollars each instead of getting back my cards unsigned with a card [presumably pre-signed] he sent back to respond to 'TTM requests.'

As far as Weaver was concerned, an actual memory I remember when he was signing autographs at the 2010 All-Star Fan Fest in Anaheim - I saw him being driven around in a golf cart and for whatever reason I wasn't intent on getting his autograph at all; I think for a time he still signed through the mail for a $20 donation to a charity and if I didn't get him then, so be it since he didn't seem too hard to get.

Gizoogle it

I only found this Web site translator through a random post on the Blowout Cards forums, but even I had some chuckles after running my blog through it - it might more than a little juvenile but I'll never read anything written online the same ever again.

2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's complete set

After trying to put together a partial set through quarter boxes in 2012 - I broke down to pick up a full set with short prints [1-350] for about the price of two blaster boxes.

Even though I'm now stuck with a bunch of doubles - having the full base set in-hand gives me peace of mind as far as cards to try and get inked up.

Realistically, I might get something like 100/350 cards signed in the first couple of years - then the progress dwindles; for some players I've seemingly had an entire run of Ginter [2006-2012] cards without getting a lone one signed and I haven't really even paid attention much to the 'other' subjects.

I guess my rule of thumb for getting autograph sets isn't to aim for completion but to get as many of the cards signed - so I have one main set to focus on instead of random cards, and then have a 'snapshot' of signed cards so I have some feeling of accomplishment.

At times I wish I could take a set of unsigned cards and put them in a binder for display purposes - however, these cards are going through my 'chop shop' where I separate the revelant cards [active baseball subjects] from the cards I don't particularly need or can't use during a particular MLB season [non-sport or other sport subjects, any retired baseball players who are deceased or any retired living baseball players charge at least $50 or more to sign].

Mail day - 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson #482

I've wanted to beef up my personal collection and while it isn't flashy, autographed or serial #'d like some modern card from the last 10 years - an old-school rookie card of a Hall of Famer starts the year right and maybe a nostalgic reminder of a 'hot card' when I first collected baseball cards over 20 years ago.

Congrats Craig Biggio - my thoughts on the Hall

With 68 percent of the vote in 2013 - you are probably getting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 or 2015 at the latest.

The fact no one is getting into the Hall of Fame this year except these dead guys and/or ones honored as writers and broadcasters is disappointing but not surprising - the writers have finally taken a stand [at least for one year] and have refused [at least for one year] to let numbers [boo hoo stats guys] bully their judgement of guys who played in the Steroid Era.

It doesn't mean guys like Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens won't eventually enshrined - but they aren't sailing in with the stats alone and even the guys fans / writers assume have done things the right way might be scrutinized because of the era they played in.

I think it's even sadder for guys like Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa - those two schmucks look like they'll never get any serious consideration despite 3,000 hits / 569 home runs for Palmeroids and 609 home runs for Sosa.

It might be unfair to the standouts of the mid 1990's through mid 2000's - but as much as I enjoyed watching Bonds personally and recognized others' excellence [even through suspected PEDs], it doesn't pain me to make any those guys wait.

My 2012 autograph collecting goals reviewed

I tried to do a recap my 2012 autograph collecting goals so I'd have some closure over what I posted at the beginning of 2012 - sometimes it is weird to think my 'leisure time' is spent scheming to get scribbles of mostly baseball subjects during seemingly random times, but for better or worse, I look forward to each year because it is kind of like hunting or fishing trips where I'm looking to rack up some 'achievements.'

1.) Players to get on baseballs - Sandy Koufax, Carlos Gonzalez, Mark McGwire, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Kemp, Roy Halladay, Omar Vizquel, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Holliday, Felix Hernandez, Nolan Ryan, Miguel Cabrera, Andrew McCutchen, Prince Fielder [specialty baseball], Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Elvis Andrus, Tim Lincecum [specialty baseball] and Yu Darvish.

This was my wishlist of guys I want to get on single signed baseballs and I was able to pick up C. Gonzalez and Cabrera in 2012 - updated 1/8/13.

2.) Get about 15-20 in-person fu oh-yeahs! - these are basically 'achievements' depending on the subject [in most cases], the item signed, the quality of the autograph and the story behind getting the autograph.

I got about 29 'oh yeahs' that vary in quality, with some highlights including Domingo Ayala, Albert Pujols, Jose Bautista, David Price, Jim Thome, Miguel Cabrera and Josh Hamilton - updated 1/8/13.

3.) 2012 'autograph set' goals - get close to the number as possible.

2001 Fleer Tradition - 2/50 cards
2001 Upper Deck Minor League Centennial - 0/25 cards
2004 Bowman Draft - 6/25 cards
2004 Upper Deck USA 25th - 2/25 cards
2004 Topps Cracker Jack - 3/25 cards
2005 Bowman Draft - 5/25 cards
2005-2006 Topps Turkey Red - 7/30 cards
2006 Topps Allen and Ginter - 2/50 cards
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter - 12/50 cards
2008 Topps Allen and Ginter - 7/50 cards
2009 Topps Allen and Ginter - 13/50 cards
2010 Topps Allen and Ginter - 16/70 cards
2011 Topps Allen and Ginter - 40/70 cards
2011 Topps Heritage Minors - 44/50 cards
2012 Topps Allen and Ginter - 16/25 cards
2012 Topps Heritage Minors - 38/25 cards

My goal isn't completion but to have a snapshot of signed cards from the same set so there is sort of a theme - I probably need to scale down the number of cards I'm aiming to get signed from now 11-12 year old [!] sets and will probably purchase some signed cards to fill out what I have.

As the years have passed, I'm not sure if I can realistic have more cards from particular sets inked up and I'm not willing to spend any sort of fee to get particular cards signed unless it's $5-$10 - updated 1/8/13

4.) Hammer out detailed checklists of my autograph cards sets - to find out what I have signed, what I still need to get signed, what may need an 'upgrade' and unsigned cards I maybe missing.

2001 Fleer Tradition - done
2001 Upper Deck Minor League Centennial - done
2004 Bowman Draft
2004 Topps Cracker Jack
2004 Upper Deck USA 25th Anniversary
2005 Bowman Draft
2005/2006 Topps Turkey Red
2006 Topps Allen and Ginter
2007 Topps Allen and Ginter
2008 Topps Allen and Ginter
2009 Topps Allen and Ginter
2010 Topps Allen and Ginter
2011 Topps Allen and Ginter

This project is up in the air just because I'm curious where I really am but don't want to go through the work to find out - updated 1/8/13.

5.) Be able to cross off three or four subjects from my so-called list of top players - I want to get...Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, Miguel Cabrera and Yu Darvish.

I got Pujols [a couple of random set cards] and Cabrera [single signed baseball], though I've never seen Cano sign, Rivera got hurt and was out for the year and Darvish was tough otherwise - updated 1/8/13.

6.) Angels autograph collection - make it a point to count out at least 100 different autographs and be able to add at least 15-20 new autographs.

I count any active / retired players' autographs I've gotten in-person / through the mail or purchased within a current year who have played for the Angels or are currently on the team - I didn't get that many new guys.

Kurt Stillwell - April 2012
Bobby Valentine - August 2012
Kole Calhoun - September 2012
Bobby Jones - September 2012
John Hester - October 2012
Bobby Cassevah - October 2012

For active player autographs already in my collection but not accounted for - the ones that count for a current year's total are autographs of Angels minor leaguers who make their MLB debut with the Angels within the same year and opposing players' autographs who become Angels.

Chris Iannetta - April 6, 2012
Albert Pujols - April 6, 2012
LaTroy Hawkins - April 7, 2012
Jason Isringhausen - April 7, 2012
C.J. Wilson - April 9, 2012
David Carpenter - April 13, 2012
Ernesto Frieri - May 5, 2012
Brad Mills - July 8, 2012
Jean Segura - July 24, 2012
Zack Greinke - July 29, 2012
Nick Maronde - September 2, 2012
Andrew Taylor - September 27, 2012

Accounting for the number [at least 100...] is up in the air just because I'm curious where I really am but don't want to go through the work to find out - updated 1/8/13.

7.) Get at least 200 autograph subjects [mainly baseball] for the first-time split between the Major Leagues, the minors and everything in-between; from the beginning of the year to the end - jot down the names down as achievements.

A.) I don't count subjects who I may have gotten in the mail first - I do count getting subjects for the first time, if the only autographs I've gotten were purchased [either certified or not].
B.) Notable non-players working around Major League Baseball count - media, broadcasters, umpires, journalists, bloggers, public address announcers, personalities, etc.
C.) Amateur players count - players in high school / college.
D.) Any subjects unrelated to baseball now count - such as athletes from other pro sports, celebrities, etc.

My count is about 307 and it helps to hound the Cal League in-between MLB hounding as well as the Arizona Fall League towards the latter part of the year - updated 1/8/13.

8.) See at least six baseball teams I didn't see in 2011 - Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs in addition to other teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers I might normally want to see.

With the Angels having Albert Pujols presumably in the lineup for most of their home schedule - it maybe a better choice to watch the Angels in-person instead of go to San Diego for autographs, if their games are played at the same day/time.

Cost and a lack of a wingman to go with sort of derailed my efforts to see more teams, especially in SD - updated 1/8/13.

9.) Go find and be at 10-15 events, such as a organized public appearances/paid autograph signings/book signings/et al - hopefully there are three or four opportunities I can mark down as far as non-baseball events.

A non-baseball [other sport athlete/non-sport] subject would probably be a bigger score - depending on who it is than a star baseball player I've gotten multiple times.

I feel like public signings are a hassle when free [too many vultures, too many restrictions and not autographs signed for everybody] and I also don't want to pay for anyone [maybe Matt Kemp, Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw] I've gotten for free before - updated 1/8/13.

10.) Take at least 20 photo ops with various players - see if I can print out the images and get them signed.

I only got pictures with Gerrit Cole, Yasiel Puig [didn't come out well because it was at night] and Torii Hunter - updated 1/8/13.

11.) Be able to pick up around 60 different images between Photofile images/Future Star photos and other images - to get them inked up.

I think I may have picked up 30-40 photos in 2012, though with a handful of 'leftovers,' where I didn't get the photos signed depending on the player - updated 1/8/13.

12.) Send at least 100 requests through the mail and re-establish a way to get something in the mailbox on a somewhat regular basis - send requests to five or six players who sign through the mail, but charge a small fee otherwise like Phil Niekro, Dave Parker, et al.

I might have sent 20-25 out [if that many] at the most and it's a little cumbersome for me to consistently put together requests when I do have in-person opportunities to get stuff signed - updated 1/8/13.

13.) Be able to account for all autograph outings and total number of autographs collected - jot down exact time an autograph was signed by somebody [I maybe sort of kidding or I may not], types of cards signed and be able to total up autographs for the day, month and the year

I think I was successful, though actually physically putting the cards away has been a chronic problem - updated 1/8/13.

14.) Take photographic evidence of all the signed baseballs I have - list the baseballs in a database as best as I can.

I want to be able to have an idea of what a signed ball I have in my collection looked like at one point to compare to the actual signed ball at a later date, though I'm not sure if I'm up to this project - updated 1/8/13.

15.) Create an archive of autographs received over the last three or four years from spring training, regular season and the Arizona Fall League - it isn't rocket science to create 'scrapbooks,' to show what I got, minus the set cards I separate and maybe some of the 'better' autographs I've gotten on cards. I should have an idea of when I got a set of autographs and no cards should be missing otherwise.

Maybe an unclear goal, but I am trying to dump all the loose autograph cards I've gotten [mostly between the late 2000s through 2010] in a box to serve as a morgue with cards from 2011-present stored in plastic sheets - updated 1/8/13.

2013 trading card collecting goals

At the end of the year - I want to feel like I was able to own some of these goals.

1.) Reboot my Angels collection

A.) I'd like to put together a list of Top 30 PC cards in my Angels collection - by the end of the year, I want a collection of cards to showcase.

B.) I'd like to pick up a regional PC card per month - of course, I want something modern, blinged out and featuring Mike Trout, Albert Pujols or Josh Hamilton, but I'm also not looking to bust a budget.

C.) Account for an A-Z singles collection [inserts and other cards] of Angels by player - list in a database and have a physical place to store the cards in.

D.) Account for an insert collection of Angels - basically list cards in a database and be able to put away in binders.

E.) Account for loose Angels cards - whether they go into binder star boxes / A-Z archives / A-Z archives of Angels players whose autographs I still need / team box; team binders.

2.) Personal collection cards - I've got to focus inward sort of the 'upkeep' in making sure things are relevant.

A.) Maybe find a better physical place to store my various PC collections.

B.) Continue to add to my various PC collections - of course, I want something modern, blinged out, but also I'm not looking to bust a budget.
My Top 30 PC cards should feature my most prominent 'value' cards – I want to say this collection will be the easiest to sell off even though the values may fluctuate over time.

My Top 30 alternate PC cards – maybe a collection of cards that maybe an extension of my Top 30 PC.

My Top 50 common PC cards – is a collection consisting more of 'rank and file' keepers with some 'gems' I may have not ranked among the first two collections listed.

Top 50 fun PC – maybe the idea of a 'fun' PC becomes a little absurd when the state of my 'serious' PC collections are just a little thin all around.

3.) Pick up six PC cards for 2013

A.) Supposed players of interest:

1.) Tim Salmon
2.) Vladimir Guerrero
3.) Jim Edmonds
4.) Cal Ripken Jr.
5.) Albert Pujols
6.) Ken Griffey Jr.
7.) Alex Rodriguez
8.) Derek Jeter
9.) Kobe Bryant - still want a certified autograph
10.) Torii Hunter

Rotating interests - these are the 'other' players I'll be looking for first besides my Top 10.

Mike Trout
Ichiro
Ryan Zimmerman
Jered Weaver

B.) Supposed rookie cards of interest:

1.) 1960 Topps Carl Yastrzemski PSA graded RC
2.) 1960 Topps Willie McCovey PSA graded RC
3.) 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan PSA graded RC
4.) 1967 Topps Rod Carew PSA graded RC
5.) 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson PSA graded RC
6.) 1975 Topps George Brett PSA graded RC
7.) 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson PSA graded RC
8.) 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr. PSA graded
9.) 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn PSA graded RC
10.) 1984 Topps John Elway PSA graded RC
11.) 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. PSA graded RC
12.) 1985 Donruss/Fleer Roger Clemens PSA graded RC
13.) 1994 Fleer Alex Rodriguez PSA graded RC
14.) 1957 Topps Frank Robinson RC

4.) Reboot my A-Z singles collection

A.) Comb through the boxes to see if there is anything there and what I can weed out - such as rookie cards, certified autograph cards and other inserts that are 'dated.'

B.) I want to store various singles in top loaders in a box, list in a database and file away - organized mostly by player in 'ABC' order and then by card type i.e. basic rookie cards, parallels and certified autograph cards.

* Any card I picked up as a single and paid over $10 for
* Any certified autograph cards
* Rookie cards and rookie year parallels - I want to put together a 'default collection' but find the MLBPA Rookie Logo cards to be junky, so I don't know if I really count most as good enough to be 'A-Z singles' worthy cards.
* Any notable parallels / inserts - numbered, autographed, game-used material / patch cards
* Notable oddballs like promos, minor league cards, et al

C.) I'd like to be able to pick up 20-25 assorted singles - such as rookie cards, certified autograph cards and other inserts that maybe interesting. Are there any certified autographs I need as far as an impulse pick up?

D.) Pick up 15-20 first-year autograph cards - it doesn't seem realistic to go after prospect cards that are already signed when I'm eventually going to go for the players in-person.

5.) Projects - look for other neglected things to pick up after when I may not just care at times.

A.) Finish my Topps team runs and my Topps sampler runs up to 2013 - I'd like to get these out of the way sooner than never. MAKE A 'PROPER' CHECKLIST!

B.) Transactions set - make one for 2013 in-season and 2013-2014 offseason.

C.) Underrated Idols / Superstar Talents / Through the Fire mini sets

D.) Collecting topics cards - add about 500 different ones with 250 either old-school [pre-1980] and/or vintage [pre-1973] cards.

E.) Organize my graded cards - it's harder to weed out any cards that are 'dated,' when the cards make up a chunk of my graded colllection...make note of any PC type cards but I don't want to physically separate any slabs. LIST IN A DATABASE AND PUT AWAY.

6.) Hoarding cards through various ways - I'd like to have an idea that I can go through enough cards in a particular year, so I can find common cards autographed, find common cards for various projects and also be able to have some pulls to talk about.

A.) Pick up six to 10 assorted hand collated sets instead of a blaster or hobby box if I want the product's cards to be autographed - 2012 Panini USA, 2012 Donruss EEE, 2013 Bowman Prospects, 2013 Bowman Chrome, 2013 Bowman Draft, et al.

B.) Busting blasters or retail seems inevitable when product first comes out - but then I feel like I don't want to pay $20 for a retail blaster with relatively few cards or $60-$70 for a hobby box, just to basically get cards a guy spending $15-$20 would be able to get.

If I end up busting a blaster or hobby box - I definitely will wait to get a HC set first, then make a decision whether or not a blaster or hobby box is worth picking up.

C.) I'd like to bust five to 10 'guilt free' hobby boxes - try not to buy into hype when boxes first come out but be ready to pick up boxes for random hits.

D.) Pick up eight to 10 minor league sets - I'm not going crazy over them, but I find cards of players of note and then hope to use any leftovers as card depth.

E.) Build up a pack surplus to bust at different times of the year - as an in-person autograph collector, I can't hold onto an unopened pack when there might be a card inside I can try and get autographed.

Cardboard curiosity - Max Fried

I picked up a 2012 Leaf Memories [#539] card of the No. 7 overall choice in 2012 by the San Diego Padres - if you squint hard enough, maybe you can see Fried as being comparable to Los Angeles Dodgers star lefty Clayton Kershaw.

I've avoided Leaf branded products of recent lineage, but after getting this lone Fried card in-hand - I must say the card seems like reasonable facsimile of the 'classic' 1990 design and I kind of like it.

Maybe the font is off, but the card stock has the same feel and the grey tinted back looks like the originals - if only there was a more reasonable way of getting a bunch of these cards at once, I'd be chasing after other prospects with these Leaf Memories cards.

Even though they may not be the main 'hits,' it looks like various singles of prospects go for $3-$20 on eBay - kind of inflated pricing because the cards come from a high end product and are numbered to /99 so people are trying to sell them as limited parallels.