Showing off some card show stuff #2

To bide my time, I was rummaging through this couple’s table where the I'd overheard the husband say at previous shows he's looking get rid of his cards- the table might have some interesting loose singles to dig for and the person usually offers a discount if at least a couple of cards are purchased.

I might have finally bit on a $5 [off-grade, off-centered vintage card of an all-time fan favorite] but was just kind of idle and looking closer - realized the card has a crease down the middle where the eye appeal wasn't there.

I had second thoughts where I really wanted the card - but had to pivot towards finding others.

2005 Upper Deck Justin Verlander RC #430 [$5] - it depends on what I may actually find, but I maybe on the hunt for loose, low end rookies of star players with significant playing careers.

2003 Fleer E-X X-Tra Innings Ichiro 1 of 10XI [$5] - this might be a type of insert I might have pulled back in the day and say, ‘meh’ where it’s not really a hit in my book, especially out a $6 pack, but the die-cut design and the use of black color scheme makes this card stand out.

I was going to get those two [for $8], but just make it an even $10 - the seller had me grab a 2019 Topps Chrome 1984 Ichiro 84TC-14, which was fine by me.

Showing off some card show stuff #1

These were there results of pick ups from a couple of trips to a table with dollar boxes - last year, I picked up $20 worth of cards from the same table [different location at the show], but the last few times I was at this show towards the end of October, I didn't see the seller setup.

The lure was finding the occasional loose old-school [early 1980s and before] and vintage [1973 and before] cards - where the boxes ended up being sort of a treasure hunt for notable names on cards at least 40 years old.

I ended up spending $21 on the cards pictured above and while it's not high brow material - I can make believe my finds are better than picking up a $20 blaster or comparable to the results, of one of those specialty, collector repacks I've seen online.

I'd moved on in my day, but still trying to see if I can rummage around cards at various tables when I was ready to leave - I ended up back at the dollar boxes, wondering if I can fish out at least 4-5 other cards I might have overlooked.

I grabbed the Russell Martin pack pulled autograph because I remember him being among a core of rising stars for the Los Angeles Dodgers through the late 2000s - at some point, while still trying to get autographs in-person, I felt he had gotten stingier about signing, so this random card ends up being a winning find in my book after Martin's career was over and done with.

I don't ever need a Troy Glaus memorabilia card again but 20 years ago, he was the Angels' young superstar slugger - where for at least a couple of years, the sky was the limit.

I'm not sure if I've ever had a 1987 Fleer Bo Jackson RC, which may have actually been his most popular rookie issue at his peak - to the naked eye, maybe it's a little off-center, but clean enough for me to overlook anything else.

Maybe I wasn't finding anymore 'cool' old-school and vintage cards, but grabbed this Topps insert game card of Orlando Cepeda - thought it has creases running along the card, where I wasn't paying much attention.

Finally I grabbed a really shiny Topps Finest parallel of Trevor Hoffman from the late 1990s - he was a notable relief star through the time he played, but maybe only years after the fact he's gets into the Hall of Fame, might I consider the occasional card I find as a keeper.

2021 Topps Heritage Mike Trout puzzle

I've been on a 'run' to create binder pages for players in my decade stars collection - I only had five cards so far for a Mike Trout page and decided to rejigger the arrangement to display the 2021 Topps Heritage puzzle I was able to put together last year.

I like cards for the way they are, but once in a way to get into something a little more cutesy - where there are some fun and games involved.

I was lightly annoyed the In Action subset cards showing the front are not oriented the same way - what I'll end up doing is seeing if I can add more loose Trout cards to fill those 'odd' spots.

Some card show material to dwell on

Through last year, the promoters of the monthly show I attend have tried to branch out into a hotel venue - the first couple of 'new' shows were held at a hotel about 10-15 minutes away from my house compared to the 'flagship location' each month, which takes about 35-45 minutes through traffic.

However the promoters may have had to change things up to a different hotel location [same chain though] - not as close to my house but only really a couple of cities over. 

I ended going to the first hotel show of the year, which is just a little different than being in a gym - though it's still about finding that accessible table where I can dig around for some stuff rather than be idle.

I ended up at a table with a younger guy [maybe at least 25-30] who partners up with an older, guy whose booth at another card show was actually a go-to outlet for me through the late 2000s - I know it's the same person, but I don't know how he is still around and still looks virtually the same.

I was setting aside random dollar cards, because I saw a 2021 Bowman Blaze Jordan #BP71 and found at least four in the table's dollar bin - I'm not a serious prospector, but I've been really out of the loop the last couple of years.

I haven’t really harvested as many loose prospect cards of the younger guys where it's almost 'out of sight, out of mind' - until guys break through to the big leagues for the most part. 

I was going through a row of cards that had some rookie year Shohei Ohtanis and I found a 2018 Topps Gallery #116 and a 2018 Topps RC #700 for $10 each - there were other Ohtanis from Panini branded products, but I wanted to dig for some licensed singles.

I might have the Topps Ohtani since it’s fairly common, but if I didn’t, it might be worth picking up [along with the Topps Gallery] - where I’m would be trying to some squirrel away cheap rookie cards for my regional PC.  

I grabbed those cards and built up a miscellaneous stash of dollar cards - as long as I had a couple of Jordans in-hand, then I was good. 

I spent $15 on dollar cards [and a $3 Nolan Ryan insert], which were from the younger guy’s portion of the table - while the pair of Ohtani’s cost me $15 and were actually from the older guy’s boxes. 

The top row features 2019 Bowman Heritage, which I assume was an on-demand product that wasn't too popular - the second year cards of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto off the set are kind of 'oddballs' in my book.

Even though numbered prospect parallels are a dime a dozen it seems and end up cards no one really wants - I bit on cards of Triston McKenzie and Ethan Hankins because I don't know any better.

At least McKenzie has reached the big leagues with some promise - while Hankins is a Tommy John case who looks to be on a mound pitching in some games again.

The second row features some serial #'d Topps Heritage Chrome parallels - maybe the values don't reflect it at all, but for me, it maybe a case where contemporary cards [from the last 10-15 years] turn into old school material where enough time has passed to make them novelties depending on player and card type.

I might have left a Josh Hamilton behind and would have left the Felix Hernandez - the last part of big league career stalled, but King Felix was a pitching superstar at his peak and deserves some post career love.

The last row featured a 2021 Topps Archives 1989 Big Foil Ryan #89BF-6 - it might be a case where I'd be getting one card for $3 instead of three more random dollar cards, but I had to put a newer shiny card of an Angels legend in my pile.

I've lost track of the Topps Stadium Club releases since 2014 where they don't have that same impact for me - but any loose TSC cards I think I might not have are nice finds, like this 2019 Topps Stadium Club Jackie Robinson #70 where he is inking it up over the dugout.

Finally, I don't know if it's a personal vow or anything, but any loose Satchel Paige cards should be made keepers - like a 2021 Panini Diamond Kings Gallery of Stars insert #GS3.

2021 Topps Chrome Update Series mega box recap #2

Pack one

#USC85 Shane McClanahan - Rookie Debut

#USC19 Andrew Vaughn - Rookie Debut

#USC91 Adam Duvall - Purple parallel

#USC67 Zack Wheeler

Pack two

#USC66 Geraldo Perdomo RC

#USC61 Michael Taylor - Purple parallel

#CPDC-22 Robin Yount - Platinum Players insert

#USC93 Rougned Odor

Pack three

#USC7 Ka'ai Tom RC

#USC58 Jorge Mateo

#USC2 Jarred Kelenic - Rookie Debut; Purple parallel

#USC59 Brent Honeywell RC

Pack four

#USC63 Ke'Bryan Hayes - Rookie Debut

#USC81 Clarke Schmidt - Rookie Debut

#USC100 Nolan Arenado - Purple parallel

#USC79 Taylor Trammell RC

Pack five

#USC42 Jameson Taillon

#USC80 Gilberto Celestino - Purple parallel

#CUSA-PW Patrick Weigel - autograph

#USC12 Ha-Seong Kim - Rookie Debut

I'd rather get a 'hit' from a Topps branded product opposed to Panini, where it might be worth something if it's a decent player - however, I don't know if pulling a fringy big league reliever sticker dump auto from Topps is that much better than finding a 'Chase Antle' sticker dump auto from a Panini baseball product.

Pack six

#USC49 Hirokazu Sawamura RC

#USC14 Victor Gonzalez - Purple parallel

#BGC-8 Cody Bellinger - Topps Black Gold 

#USC76 Marcus Semien

Pack seven

#USC27 Akil Baddoo RC

#USC6 Kevin Pillar

#USC56 Huascar Ynoa - Purple parallel

#USC57 Lance Lynn

Pack eight

#USC99 Charlie Morton

#USC5 Garrett Whitlock - Purple parallel

#ASG-35 Nelson Cruz - 2021 MLB All-Stars insert

#USC62 Khalil Lee RC

Pack nine

#USC24 Mark Melancon

#USC74 Jonathan India RC

#USC26 Tyler Stephenson - Rookie Debut; Purple parallel

#USC70 Logan Gilbert RC

Pack 10

#USC71 Bryan Garcia RC

#USC64 Adolis Garcia

#USC15 Ryan Weathers - Rookie Debut; Purple parallel

#USC86 Joey Bart - Rookie Debut

2021 Topps Chrome Update Series mega box recap #1

Pack one

#USC99 Charlie Morton

#USC32 Tyson Miller - Purple parallel

#CPDC-49 Fernando Tatis Jr. - Platinum Players insert

#USC84 Vladimir Gutierrez RC

Pack two

#USC24 Mark Melancon

#USC79 Taylor Trammell - Purple parallel

#BGC-19 Clayton Kershaw - Topps Black Gold insert

#USC-21 Jake Odorizzi

Pack three

#USC74 Jonathan India RC

#USC71 Bryan Garcia RC

#USC67 Zack Wheeler - Purple parallel

#USC45 Blake Snell

Pack four

#USC64 Adolis Garcia

#USC93 Rougned Odor - Purple parallel

#ASG-31 Brandon Woodruff - 2021 MLB All-Stars insert

#USC-37 Yermin Mercedes RC

Pack five

#USC40 Jo Adell - Rookie Debut

#USC89 Sixto Sanchez - Rookie Debut

#USC76 Marcus Semien - Purple parallel

#USC75 Josh Reddick

Pack six

#USC8 Taylor Trammell - Rookie Debut

#USC25 Jake Cronenworth - Rookie Debut

#USC57 Lance Lynn - Purple parallel

#USC77 Nick Maton RC

Pack seven

#USC9 Dane Dunning RC

#USC62 Khalil Lee - Purple parallel

#CPDC-59 Juan Marichal - Platinum Players insert 

#USC39 Ryan Mountcastle - Rookie Debut

Pack eight

#USC68 Kohei Arihara RC

#USC70 Logan Gilbert - Purple parallel

#BGC-21 Ke'Bryan Hayes - Topps Black Gold insert

#USC54 Dylan Carlson - Rookie Debut

Pack nine

#USC44 Francisco Mejia

#USC3 Josh Bell

#USC86 Joey Bart - Rookie Debut; Purple parallel

#USC12 Ha-seong Kim - Rookie Debut

Pack 10

#USC94 Joc Pederson

#USC41 Estevan Florial - Rookie Debut; Purple parallel

#ASG-43 Chris Taylor - 2021 MLB All-Stars insert

#USC51 Cristian Pache - Rookie Debut

2021 Panini Mosaic mega box recap

Even with the lure of Shohei Ohtani on the packaging, a $34.99 price tag was a no go as far as an impulse purchase of a Panini Mosaic baseball blaster at Walmart - with a Target gift card handy, maybe I was looking to buy a mega box [$49.99], until settling for a couple of mega boxes of 2021 Topps Chrome Update.

As is, I am on the mailing list of an online retailer offering mega boxes for the same price as the blasters from Walmart - there was still some interest and while I've tried not to be a Panini baseball guy, I was looking for something different. 

I also got a 2021 Panini Chronicles mega box - which was priced a little less than they would outright from a big box store. 

Pack one - right side

#28 Rowdy Tellez

#83 Framber Valdez

#107 Carlos Correa

#165 Kyle Seager

#249 Luis Garcia

#289 Yermin Mercedes

#33 Josh Donaldson - Prizm parallel

#PD16 Nick Madrigal - Pro Debuts

Pack two - bonus Reactive Red parallels

#5 Roberto Alomar

#63 Isiah Kiner-Falefa

#21 Buster Posey

#168 Eugenio Suarez

#126 Max Scherzer

#183 Ryan Zimmerman

#283 Andrew Vaughn

#233 Jorge Mateo

Pack three

#85 Kenya Maeda

#43 Keston Hiura

#138 Gleyber Torres

#195 Trevor Story

#264 Ian Anderson

#215 Deivi Garcia

#V2 George Kell - Vintage insert

#ACE13 Aaron Nola - Aces insert

Pack four

#1 J.P. Crawford 

#153 Alex Bregman

#111 Will Smith

#258 Ha-Seong Kim

#209 Anderson Tejeda

#250 Jake Cronenworth

#198 Corey Seager - Silver Prizm parallel

#BF3 Marcelo Ozuna - Big Fly insert

Pack five 

#10 Albert Pujols

#68 David Fletcher

#134 Ramon Laureano

#191 Cavan Biggio

#149 Mike Soroka

#201 William Contreras

#ATG11 Alex Rodriguez - All-Time Greats

#PD8 Brailyn Marquez - Pro Debuts; Reactive Blue parallel 

Pack six - left side; bonus Reactive blue parallels

#91 Trent Grisham

#49 Starling Marte

#7 Andrew Benintendi

#194 Devin Williams

#152 Donovan Solano

#176 Jack Morris

#283 Andrew Vaughn

#249 Luis Garcia

Pack seven

#40 Aaron Nola

#97 Jacob deGrom

#123 Fernando Tatis Jr.

#180 Anthony Rizzo

#240 Tucker Davidson

#281 Jonathan India

#P10 Joey Votto - Producers insert; Mosaic Green parallel 

#P11 Billy Williams - Producers insert

Pack eight

#55 Hanser Alberto

#137 Salvador Perez

#194 Devin Williams

#152 Donovan Solano

#232 Mickey Moniak

#275 Nick Niedert

#56 Walker Buehler - Silver Prizm parallel 

#WT4 Nolan Arenado - Will to Win insert

Pack nine

#13 Kwang-Hyun Kim

#70 Trevor Bauer

#176 Jack Morris

#133 Dylan Bundy

#226 Brent Rooker

#271 Jahmai Jones

#SCR-CA Chase Antle - Scripts auto

#ACE7 Justin Verlander - Aces insert; Prizm Mosaic parallel 

Pack 10

#27 Early Wynn

#190 Cedric Mullins

#148 Adam Wainwright

#222 Dane Dunning

#ATG10 Larry Doby - All-Time Greats insert

#208 Evan White

#239 Keegan Akin - Prizm parallel

#V12 Bob Feller - Vitnage parallel 

I pulled no cards of the cover boy Ohtani but that's how it goes - I just had to shake my head at my guaranteed autograph hit, where I saw another copy pulled in another break and thought it would just be the worst that was my pull as well.   

I still don't get how a pitcher who has barely pitched in the past 3 years is my guaranteed autograph hit - I realize retail is a real crap shoot, but Panini should have done better besides inserting an autograph of an undrafted free agent who hasn't logged 1 inning in pro baseball. 

2021 Topps Heritage High blaster recap

It looks like my local Walmart has been getting cards once again with a dedicated display area - when I don't plan to go to a Walmart [but end up doing so] and/or I don't expect to see anything on the shelves, I'm more likely to stumble upon cards.

For the most part, it's still hit or miss, but I tend to believe baseball is actually the least collected sport for retail flippers - so if there ends up something left over on the shelves, it probably ends up being loose baseball product.

Pack one

#640 Jose Iglesias

#606 Joe Musgrove

#651 Dane Dunning RC

#591 JoJo Romero RC 

#511 Brent Rooker RC

#587 Gary Sanchez

#698 Greg Holland

#501 Francisco Lindor

#529 Michael Fulmer

Pack two

#579 Marcus Stroman

#566 Manny Machado

#504 Jorge Ona RC

#687 Albert Pujols - Chrome Red Border parallel serial #’d 148/372

#711 Andrew Knizer - SP

#537 Garrett Crochet RC

#638 Edwin Diaz

#609 Kohei Arihara RC

#684 Mitch Haniger

Pack three

#558 Ozzie Albies

#675 Nivaldo Rodriguez RC

#674 Patrick Weigel RC

#528 Eddie Alvarez RC

#546 Alex Kirilloff

#564 Hunter Harvey

#624 Andrew Vaughn RC

#605 Reynaldo Lopez

#589 Josh Palacios RC

Pack four

#503 Avisail Garcia

#597 Taylor Rogers 

#551 Sean Murphy

#690 Francisco Mejia

#RP-13 Bobby Dalbec - Rookie Performers insert

#660 Lorenzo Cain

#567 Willie Castro

#554 Paul De Jong

#693 Salvador Perez

Pack five

#695 Cole Tucker 

#639 Travis D’Arnaud

#630 Santiago Espinal RC

#555 Codi Heuer RC

#701 Zach Plesac - SP

#617 Mike Minor

#625 Jake Fraley

#655 Trey Mancini

#678 Taylor Trammell RC

Pack six

#523 Brent Honeywell Jr. RC

#610 Ashton Goudeau RC

#687 Albert Pujols

#547 Aristides Aquino

#532 D.J. Peters RC 

#572 Andrew Benintendi

#682 Geraldo Perdomo RC

#611 D.J. Stewart

#628 Kolten Wong

Pack seven

#657 Josh James

#560 Mike Ford

#677 Matt Carpenter

#604 Steven Matz

#577 Victor Gonzalez RC

#533 Adam Eaton

#607 Jameson Taillon

#629 Julian Merryweather RC

#510 Miles Mikolas

Pack eight

#658 Jose Marmolejos RC

#620 Jonah Heim RC

#601 Nico Goodrum

#AW-6 Kevin Cash - Award Winners insert; AL Manager of the Year

#710 David Dahl - SP

#562 Eddie Rosario

#688 Ryan Pressly

#600 Trevor Story

#514 Jose Urena