Three random Angels cards

2012 Topps Alberto Callaspo #189 - Golden moments parallel

I'll pick up whatever Angels inserts that catch my eye - though I'm not one to maintain wantlists for specific base / insert cards.

2012 Bowman Jered Weaver #200 - X-Fractor parallel

2013 Bowman Platinum Jered Weaver #3 - Ruby parallel

Topps Golden Giveaway - Rod Carew

My activity on the 2012 Topps Golden Giveaway contest site was sparse since it was harder to redeem actual cards from the code cards inserted in last year's Topps product - I turned a Rickey Henderson pull into a die-cut of Rod Carew and finally had the lone card sent to me for the $2.92 Topps requires for s/h.

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.

My 2012 baseball card collecting goals reviewed

My goals usually get derailed because it's a made up list of random things that sounds good at the beginning of the year - but ends up being a tedious to do list that doesn't hold up, becoming esoteric, redundant and maybe impractical.

This post is basically a review of the one I had at the beginning of this year - to see whether or not I was satisfied with what I did.

I realized I'd misnumbered my first list and skipped a goal - I added #5 about graded cards that was on the original draft I'd written up for myself.

1.) Doing something with my favorite players collection - basically count up and listing all the cards I have for particular players in a database and for this year picking up five to 15 'interesting' cards for my Top 10 favorites as well as 10 other players I'm interested in on a 'rotating' basis.

I don't think working on my favorite players lists have been a priority when it comes to actually picking up player specific singles or accounting for anything I may have already - updated 12/30/12

2.) Personal collection cards - I'd like to be able to count out a Top 30 list, tally up another 25-30 'alternative' PC cards and create a binder of PC cards for more sentimental purposes.

I got kind of started working on my PC at the beginning of the year but have to figure out a way to put my cards together in one physical place as opposed to a couple or more assorted boxes - updated 12/30/12

3.) Regional focus - establishing a Top 30 personal collection of cards, building an 'A-Z' singles collection [interesting cards of various players] and maintaining an Angels 'shoebox collection' under team boxes [featuring more rank-and-file cards / inserts].

I'm still kind of out of focus with these goals and it's killing me I may have no clue to organize my Angels cards - updated 12/30/12

4.) A-Z singles stored in top loaders - I want to store various singles in top loaders in a box, list in a database and file away by player in 'ABC' order and maybe by card type i.e. basic rookie cards, parallels and certified autograph cards.

I'm still kind of out of focus with these goals and it's killing me that my collection of A-Z singles is completely jumbled up - updated 12/30/12

5.) 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...it is what it is...make note of any PC type cards but don't want to physically separate any slabs.

I'm still kind of out of focus with this goal because all I have are low quality graded cards I don't want to go through - updated 12/30/12

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

I may have about 150-200 total cards for 2012 with some 'old school' or 'vintage' pick-ups, but nothing close to 500 cards overall and nowhere close to 250 'old school' or 'vintage' cards - updated 12/30/12

7.) Pick up 15-20 first-year autograph cards and 10-15 first-year Angel autograph cards.

Doesn't seem realistic to go after prospect cards that are already signed when I'm going for many of the players in-person - updated 12/30/12

8.) Pick up a 'PC' rookie card or two - something like a PSA graded 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson RC or a PSA graded 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn RC and so forth.

Not happening anytime soon just because I feel like I don't have to pick up any particular cards at the moment just to store away in a box - updated 12/30/12

9.) Bust about three to five 'full' boxes every three months - I want to bust boxes on a somewhat regular basis, but the cards I will need are probably base cards, more common parallels. I'll try to see if I can bust mostly current-year product with a mix of some 'oddball' stuff that maybe fun if now relatively worthless.

I made the card shop I go to happy [though not quite rich] by busting the following:

1.) 2011 Donruss Elite Extra Edition $120
2.) 2012 Bowman jumbo $140
3.) 2012 Topps Heritage Minors $70
4.) 2012 Bowman Draft $70
5.) 2012 Bowman Draft $70
6.) 2012 Bowman Draft $70

Still, I was no prolific box buster where I'm ripping up three or four boxes of a product or a case many times during a year, so I couldn't get into busting something on a somewhat regular basis - updated 12/30/2012

10.) Finish my Topps team runs [except for any expansion teams that may apply, a 1978-current year card for each of the 30 MLB teams] and my Topps sampler runs [a card from 1978-current year] - I'd like to get these out of the way sooner than never as sort of 'side projects' I work on when I stumble upon appropriate year Topps cards.

I'm working on my 'runs' at a snail's pace when I don't have access to cards that I need and don't want to dig for particular cards during a card shop or card show trip - updated 12/30/12

11.) Pick up 10-15 blasters and/or various retail offerings and maybe 20-25 assorted retail / hobby packs - I don't really pull anything of significance but the hunger to bust something never ceases.

I feel like I don't want to pay $20 for a retail blaster all too often [no real chance at nice hits and too little cards per box] and after the novelty of a new release wears off, I can live without a Target or Walmart trip ending without cards - updated 12/30/12

12.) Do 10-15 impulsive card related things - point being is to have some fun.

1.) Build up a pack surplus to bust at different times of the year - MY PLANNED PACK ATTACKS NEVER QUITE HAPPENED BECAUSE WHAT IS OUT THERE THAT IS UNIQUE - updated 12/30/12.
2.) Bust my COMC cherry - DONE though I have one more card left to be shipped and I never bothered to pick up anymore cards - updated 12/30/12.
3.) Add one or two graded Angels rookie cards - franchise legends, doesn't have to be a Hall of Famer, but more of the vintage pre 1973 variety - NOTHING IS HAPPENING WITH THIS AT THE MOMENT - updated 12/30/12.
4.) Add three vintage Angels Topps graded cards [1961-1980] - a sampler run of sorts - NOTHING IS HAPPENING WITH THIS AT THE MOMENT - updated 12/30/12.
5.) Bust an assorted number of random packs from the 1980s from BB Card Exchange - NOTHING IS HAPPENING WITH THIS AT THE MOMENT - updated 12/30/12.
6.) Pick up two or three minor league sets - I ACTUALLY PICKED UP SEVEN OR EIGHT SETS FOR A ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE TRIP - updated 12/30/12.
7.) Bust some 'oddball,' 'forgotten' wax such as 1986 Donruss box, 1986 Fleer, 1989 Upper Deck - MAYBE TIED TO #1 and #5, I DON'T FEEL THE SAME WAY UNLESS I KNEW THERE WERE BETTER CARDS TO UNEARTH OTHER THAN WHAT IS OUT THERE ALREADY - updated 12/30/12.

2012 Topps Opening Day blaster recap

Pack one
#123 Ryan Roberts
#120 Matt Garza
#FS-3 Adrian Gonzalez - Fantasy Squad insert

#ODS-13 Justin Upton - Opening Day Stars insert; I like the 3D effect, though it's something Topps has revived from the dead and played with in other insert sets.
#172 Dustin Pedroia
#64 Dan Haren
#62 Ervin Santana

Pack two
#179 Zack Greinke
#161 Hunter Pence
#98 Ben Zobrist
#ES-7 Justin Verlander - Elite Skills Player insert
#84 Dan Uggla
#80 Joe Mauer
#69 Tim Lincecum

Pack three
#104 Alexei Ogando
#146 Ian Desmond
#135 Josh Reddick
#SC-17 Adam Jones - Superstar Celebrations insert
#70 Madison Bumgarner
#60 Adam Wainwright
#NNO Carlos Lee - kind of weird, but after Googling info about the card, I find it's a common misprint.

Pack four
#176 Geovany Soto
#110 Scott Rolen
#164 Nyjer Morgan

#M-2 Baltimore Orioles - Mascot insert
#85 Mike Trout
#169 Ian Kinsler
#31 Evan Longoria
2012 Sticker Collection info card

Pack five
#139 Trevor Cahill
#43 Angel Pagan
#49 Melky Cabrera
#FS-4 Robinson Cano - Fantasy Squad insert
#66 Adam Jones
#91 Jayson Werth
#212 Daniel Hudson

Pack six
#180 Ted Lilly
#182 Seth Smith
#42 Mark Reynolds
#SC-15 Miguel Cabrera - Superstar Celebrations insert
#50 Ichiro
#47 Nick Swisher
#215 Colby Lewis

Pack seven
#140 Erick Aybar
#22 Aroldis Chapman
#177 Jhonny Peralta

#M-25 Junction Jack - mascot insert
#128 Lance Berkman
#201 Jose Reyes
#77 Jimmy Rollins

Pack eight
#208 James Loney
#187 David Wright
#29 Mike Napoli
#FS-2 Miguel Cabrera - Fantasy Squad insert
#126 Danny Valencia
#87 Ryan Howard
#76 Gio Gonzalez

Pack nine
#56 Vance Worley
#8 Jordan Zimmermann
#160 Carlos Ruiz
#ES-6 Andrew McCutchen - Elite Skills Player insert
#192 James Shields
#144 Andrew McCutchen
#16 Torii Hunter
2012 Sticker Collection info card

Pack 10
#112 Dee Gordon
#40 Domonic Brown
#138 Russell Martin
#SC-16 Nelson Cruz - Superstar Celebrations insert
#44 Jay Bruce
#54 Asdrubal Cabrera
#145 C.C. Sabathia

Pack 11
#105 Curtis Granderson
#59 Alcides Escobar
#55 Miguel Cabrera
#179 Zack Greinke - blue parallel serial #'d 1920/2012

#M-1 Bernie Brewer - mascot insert
#165 Yovani Gallardo
#39 Michael Cuddyer

2012 Topps Series II 72-card Walmart recap

This was one of two Christmas gifts from my brother - the other was a 2012 Topps Opening Day blaster box.

#488 Nick Swisher
#398 Buster Posey
#415 Rafael Furcal
#519 Gio Gonzalez
#476 Ramon Hernandez
#557 Zack Cozart
#452 Robert Andino
#624 Gerardo Parra
#588 Mark Ellis
#413 Frank Francisco
#396 Yoenis Cespedes
#616 Tyler Pastornicky
#657 Dave Sappelt
#423 Colby Rasmus
#427 Rafael Dolis
Topps Pennant Florida Marlins info card
#561 Freddy Sanchez
#377 Brandon Inge
#454 Michael Cuddyer
#498 Joey Votto
#524 Martin Prado
#381 David DeJesus
#493 Ryan Madson
#428 Jordan Schafer
#438 Juan Uribe
#572 Hiroki Kuroda
#394 Bryan LaHair
#516 Charlie Morton
#591 Aubrey Huff
#347 Craig Gentry
#397 Hector Noesi
#656 Carlos Santana
#546 Matt Thornton
#625 Tommy Hunter
#515 Willie Bloomquist
#373 Carlos Gonzalez
#425 Carlos Zambrano
#349 Tim Lincecum
#417 Carlos Pena
#509 Travis Snider
#348 Alfonso Soriano
#405 Nathan Eovaldi
#353 John Mayberry
#660 Yu Darvish
#379 Sergio Romo
#391 Rod Barajas
#584 Daric Barton
#445 Ramon Santiago
#646 Francisco Cervelli
#459 Eric Surkamp
#602 Alejandro De Aza - Golden Moments parallel
#ACA-14 Willie Mays - A Cut Above insert
#GM-19 Craig Kimbrel - Golden Moments insert
#CD-24 Troy Tulowitzki - Career Day insert
#TM-59 Cliff Lee - 1987 Topps Mini insert
#GGC-19 Derek Jeter - Golden Giveaway code card; unlocked a random coin and another free code, which unlocked another useless coin.
#511 Ervin Santana
#483 Alex Gordon
#339 Clayton Richard
#617 Jimmy Rollins
#633 Chris Narverson
#526 Casper Wells
#632 Joe Nathan
#593 Marco Scutaro
#520 Ryan Adams
#430 Felix Hernandez
#410 Jeff Locke

#460 Thomas Field
#390 Taylor Green
#338 Jose Constanza
#604 Juan Abreu
#396 Yoenis Cespedes - blue parallel
#657 Dave Sappelt - blue parallel

Autograph request through the mail received: Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt - the Arizona Diamondbacks slugger signed two cards in black Sharpie; I don't do as much mailings TTM, so I have to find the exact details, but I probably sent this during the latter part of the 2012 MLB season and was received last week.

2012 Topps Chrome value pack recap

2012 Topps Chrome Value Pack [$9.49 each a Target] - not that I don't spend money on a blaster box or value pack, but I try to stay away from any retail much of the time I go into a Target or Walmart.

The worst part of this break was pulling three scrubs out of the pack of orange refractors - only to pull regular Chrome cards of the three same scubs.

Top section

Exclusive parallel pack
#194 Wily Peralta
#11 Ian Kennedy
#54 Ike Davis

Pack one
#9 Brian McCann
#57 Nelson Cruz
#194 Wily Peralta
#11 Ian Kennedy

Bottom section

Pack two
#118 Ryan Zimmerman
#8 C.J. Wilson
#54 Ike Davis
#90 Evan Longoria

Pack three
#99 Jemile Weeks
#6 Jon Lester
#130 Miguel Cabrera - refractor
#170 Jesus Montero - surface ding

Autograph request through the mail received: Jordan Zimmermann

Jordan Zimmermann c/o Washington Nationals - maybe an unheralded pitcher in a starting rotation that maybe the best in the National League in 2012, Zimmerman signed my 2011 Topps Allen and Ginter card in blue Sharpie and didn't return the other card I sent; this request took about a month.

2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's value pack recap

2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's Value Pack [$9.49 each at a Walmart]

Top section

Gold bordered mini parallel pack
#227 Michael Young
#213 Joe Nathan
#172 Chris Perez

First pack
#203 Ian Kinsler
#193 Jackie Joyner-Kersee
#235 Victor Martinez
#NNO Bruce Klugman - Murder in Willow Cove
#222 Yovani Gallardo - mini
#WIN 62 Jered Weaver - What's in a Name? insert

Bottom section

First pack
#97 Max Scherzer
#145 Drew Storen
#36 Kirk Herbstreit
#HTP 14 The Emancipation Proclamation - Historical Turning Points insert
#120 Mariano Rivera - mini
#WIN 47 Jacoby Ellsbury - What's in a Name? insert
Murder in Willow Cove - info card

Second pack
#263 Jason Motte
#137 George Brett
#AGR-CP Carlos Pena - framed relic card
#ML-17 Duke of Marlborough - World's Greatest Military Leaders mini
#305 Wilin Rosario - SP

2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's jumbo pack recap

2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's Jumbo Pack [$5.19 each at a Target] - I could probably pick up a hand collated set on Ebay, but I haven't gone into the site in a while since I don't use Paypal.

I might have to use primitive and more expensive ways of gathering 2012 Allen and Ginter's base cards for my in-person autograph endeavors - which is through loose pack purchases and maybe digging around quarter boxes.

Top section
#52 Cameron Maybin
#196 Lou Gehrig
#20 Miguel Montero
#160 Shane Victorino
#240 Steve Lombardozzi - mini
#WIN 37 Jason Heyward - What's in a Name? insert

Bottom section
#249 Phil Hughes
#239 Liam Hendriks
#241 Andrew Bailey
#304 Kyle Farnsworth - SP
#GS-13 Gray Whale - Giants of the Deep mini
#WT-B7 Chrysler Building - World's Tallest Buildings insert

2012 Topps Series II 72-card retail hanger box recap

I impulsively picked one up from Target after being inspired by this post on another card blog - the one per box Golden Giveaway code yielded a Rickey Henderson die-cut card, which was a nice surprise.

Featured autograph - Mike Trout

Mike Trout 1/2 - I was able to get his autograph in-person recently and even though he was on the phone talking with someone, he saw my 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen and said, "that's a nice card, I haven't seen that one before."

2012 Bowman hobby three pack recap

2012 Bowman three pack break [$3.25 each from a card shop] - I was fortunate to pull a Blue parallel of Albert Pujols since he is one of 'my guys.'

Pack one
#160 R.A. Dickey
#175 Starlin Castro
#5 Brennan Boesch
#BCP 68 Jeff Malm - Chrome
#BCP 12 Rafael Ortega - Chrome
#9 Cole Hamels - Gold parallel
#BP 63 Todd McInnis
#BP 1 Justin Nicolino
#164 Max Scherzer
#81 Eric Hosmer

Pack two
#207 Adron Chambers
#102 Clay Buchholz
#BCP 62 Kes Carter - Chrome
#BCP 41 Zach Walters - Chrome
#167 Asdrubal Cabrera - Gold parallel
#49 Albert Pujols - Blue parallel serial #'d 251/500
#BP 81 Taylor Whitenton
#BP 55 Jose Vinicio
#202 Tyler Pastornicky
#3 Jered Weaver

Pack three
#138 Heath Bell
#197 Michael Fiers
#BCP 37 Michael Crouse - Chrome
#35 Aroldis Chapman - Gold parallel
#BB 23 Josh Hamilton - Bowman's Best insert
#BP 98 Greg Bird
#BP 84 Bryan Brickhouse
#BP 50 Jose Valverde
#41 B.J. Upton
#169 Stephen Strasburg

Featured autograph - Mark Trumbo

I would have never guessed Mark Trumbo would have better numbers than teammate Albert Pujols at this point of the season - Angels fans love this guy and in just his second full MLB season, he's producing just right at his prime.

2012 Bowman retail three pack blister recap

2012 Bowman three pack blister [$9.49 each at a Target] - the white borders in this year's Bowman base set make the set look a little less claustrophobic.

The metronomic black borders that was a trademark of Bowman had gotten stale and it's nice to change things up this year - even it's just the borders of the base cards.

Purple border pack
#BP 73 Will Swanner
#BP 107 Joe Ross
#BP 1 Justin Nicolino

Pack one
#8 Paul goldschmidt
#113 Yovani Gallardo
#160 R.A. Dickey
#BCP 31 Nick Maronde - Chrome
#BCP 89 Austin Hedges - Chrome
#145 Brandon Phillips - Gold parallel
#BP 79 Josh Bell
#BP 36 Michael Brady
#33 Chris Young
#176 Ichiro

Pack two
#175 Starlin Castro
#5 Brennan Boesch
#BCP 94 Charlie Tilson - Chrome
#BCP 104 Joc Pederson - Chrome
#172 Bud Norris - Gold parallel
#98 Nyjer Morgan - International parallel
#BP 78 Nick Castellanos
#BP 43 Rookie Davis
#23 Colby Rasmus
#28 Mat Latos

Pack three - first pack I actually opened and looking at the last card to start off the pack, it looked like I got a base Yu Darvish.

#106 Pedro Alvarez
#167 Asdrubal Cabrera
#BCP 17 Tyler Austin - Chrome
#BCP 9 Eddie Rosario - Chrome
#71 Hanley Ramirez - Gold parallel
#BP 24 J.R. Graham
#BP 89 Austin Hedges
#121 Neftali Feliz
#133 Gio Gonzalez
#209 Yu Darvish

Featured autograph - Donn Roach

My friend had a couple more cards [he always has a 'couple more cards' of minor league guys he needs to get signed] from the stash he gets from his card pimp overseas - so when we went to a minor league game in the California League last weekend, I got Roach to sign my friend's cards.

I would have never known this recently traded Angel farmhand [probably going from Inland Empire to Lake Elsinore] played junior college baseball with some guy named Harper in Nevada a couple of years ago - even though it says on the write-up on the back of the card I got signed.

Featured autograph - Wei-Yin Chen

Baltimore Orioles rookie Wei-Yin Chen signed this baseball a couple of weeks ago - I didn't really know much about him, except he's a Taiwanese import who played in Japan to start his professional baseball career.

Who knows how he'll hold up but he's been impressive for the upstart Orioles so far in 2012 - I wanted his autograph on the sweet spot but he signed it on a panel and I realized that maybe the way he has signed baseballs in his life as a ballplayer.

If he decides or is taught to sign with a more traditional Western style autograph - maybe he'll be able to sign on the sweet spot like how collectors of single-signed baseballs likes them.

2012 Angels Fan Fest - the no performance enhancing acquaintances experience

I wasn't expecting to get every current Angels player autograph, but 2012 Angels Fan Fest seemed like a disappointment because not every current player actually made an appearance to sign autographs - assuming I have something to get signed in the first place, the experience to watch paint dry in line before getting a couple of random autographs wasn't too bad for $5, but even guys Jered Weaver, Torii Hunter, Mark Trumbo didn't sign.

Anyways, there maybe other ways to get current Angels autographs over the course of the season, even Albert Pujols- some opportunities may cost more than $5, most opportunities come by going to a game or waiting hours before [or after] and it is what it is when the Angels put on an event like the Fan Fest for the general public.

My game plan was to try and get a couple of current Angels players, though with the way things are set up, the public isn't told which specific players is going to signing at any particular table - I was hoping to run into a 'decent' Angels player regardless of when I finally got up to the tent / table were players [two at a table] signed.

Maybe two hours and 30 minutes later, I got my first two autographs - I was among the last several people to get an autograph of a couple of Angels relievers.

Jordan Walden (1) - I threw my card out past the lady ahead of me in line [there was literally a few minutes left and it seemed like she wasn't paying attention] and Walden signed my card, though he used his own black Sharpie and the autograph streaked.

I didn't prep the 2011 Topps Chrome Orange parallel card down and took a chance it would be signed cleanly - it wasn't clean, though I'll probably keep it instead of trying to remove the autograph.

Scott Downs (1) - seems like an approachable guy who you can say a little something to and he'd respond back.

I asked security if there was only going to be one session of current Angels signing - the guy said it would be, but then Angels alumni would be signing through the next section.

Got back in a line and maybe having some the retired Angels players sign saved the event from being completely useless - there was Clyde Wright, Mike Witt, Chuck Finley, Jim Abbott and Garret Anderson signing.

I was in the line where Jim Abbott ended up, but jumped over to the line for GA - who was a notorious 'non signer' when he was an active player with the Angels in his prime.

I got several GA cards from a trade a few days ago - he also threw out the first pitch [to the Angels equipment manager who won the Baseball I.Q. game show on MLB Network] before Friday's game.

With the cards I traded for staring me in the face and him being at the stadium recently - maybe it a clue I'd better bring a few of those cards as well as dig out my unsigned 2008 Topps Allen and Ginter 'setter' in case he shows up.

Anderson (1) - had him sign my 2008 Topps Allen and Ginter.

I guess it's not really sad, but it seemed like just several years ago where he was an active player - now GA's hair has some gray and nearly 40 years old, he's trotted out as an Angels retired alumni.

Witt (1) - there was only a couple of minutes left before the alumni were going to be herded from the tables to conclude the signings.

The cute handler standing next to Witt got the word from her boss and was really watching the clock tick down - it came down to the wire, but I was able to get my 1991 Toppps Stadium Club Charter Members dual card completed.

I wanted the card signed since Mark Langston just signed it on Friday [a card another collector helped me get signed] - I figured to get it done now or else I may have to wait a while for the next time Witt makes an appearance.

Dangling in the wind was my 1985 Topps Super card I bought for a quarter at a card shop - like the Anderson cards, it kind of stared back at me the night before as I'm putting my binders / cards together.

I thought it wouldn't hurt to bring it to Angels Fan Fest - just so if Witt showed up, I'd actually get it signed.

I didn't know what I was going to do, but on foot I sort of followed the golf carts transporting the five alumni and maybe some Angels handlers / employees on foot - it looked like they were heading back to the team offices.

When I got towards the offices, I saw Witt was actually leaving - I lumbered towards Witt getting into his SUV.

Witt (1) - he signed my 1985 Topps Super and he casually points out, "aren't you causing that alarm to go off?"

I must have tripped the alarm of the vehicle I bumped against as I'm getting Witt to sign - I thank him as I try to back away and collect my thoughts.

I didn't have a ticket to Sunday's game but was planning on sticking around to see if I can get postgame autographs from the Angels - my friend was going to do the same thing and said he was pooped out to do anything [like go to Lake Elsinore as he had originally planned] but sleep in his car [for at least a couple of hours].

I was hanging out in the back for about an hour after the game - Pujols didn't sign, though Angels manager Mike Scioscia signed a handful through the fence before he had to go. It wasn't worth trying to wade into the clustermuck of people trying to hand stuff through the Angels' parking structure just to get a Scioscia scribble.

Kevin Jepsen (1) - I thought it could have been C.J. Wilson or Downs who relented to stop and sign until I saw an autograph Jepsen signed for a boy.

Autograph requests through the mail received: Adam Jones

Adam Jones c/o Baltimore Orioles [spring training] - I sent an autograph request to the Orioles' centerfielder on 2/25 and got a SASE back with one card signed in blue ink on 4/7/12.

The other card I sent wasn't returned [an 2011 Donruss Elite Extra Edition].

I only sent 10 spring training requests in 2012 and the only other response was on 3/8/12 - when I got a 'return to sender' for a request I sent to Detroit Tigers prospect Jacob Turner.