Bonus babies collection - a visual guide

I grabbed 18 'bonus babies' cards for my mini-collection sampler - bonus babies which are probably referred to as 'cameo' cards, pictures a star player on a common player's card.

I like stumbling upon them because it's like an easter egg most collectors wouldn't pay attention to while flipping through loose cardboard - for a player to count as a 'star' cameo, an all-star appearance is considered as well as whether a player has had some name recognition through points of his MLB career.

Probably the most difficult aspect collecting these cards besides finding them in the first place are the inconclusive images - who is exactly pictured on the background of certain players' cards when the focus is on the player who is listed on the card?

Most of the time the obscured player in the background is who I assume it is - but when the image is blurred, there is some doubt at times.

What I’ve tried to do in 2016 - my PCs

At the start of the year, I had a set of collecting goals I never got to posting - maybe it's a little too long-winded to try and go over what I did and didn't do, so I'm just going to summarize some of the things I've tried to prop up as far my own collecting projects.

Collecting is always a thing, but for much of the year, things were kind of meh and I was just muddling along - I think it's fine to leave some interests / projects alone ‘as is,’ even for a prolonged period of time, with the idea that I’m coming back to them at some point.

I needed to focus inward, in putting away things I’ve picked up, so I can transition towards another year of collecting - as much as I would worry about feeding the best, I’ve tried to ‘reset things’ to straighten out some of the interests, so my intentions are a little clearer with what I want to as well as dealing with the state of interests that may have gotten away from me.

1.) Personal collection project - I get the idea of having a PC to showcase a select number of showcase cards from my entire collection.

As is, I’ve left my PC cards ‘as is,’ through 2016 and after watching a YouTube video or two in November [basically another collector's 'top' collection] - did my interest in revamping my PC really pick up.

I've already added a few stand alone cards over the past couple of years to kind of rework what my collection of my best cards look like - I can't compete with the guys hoarding super premium cards, so instead I've set out to add PC cards that are old school, like your basic rookie cards from the at least 20 years ago and older, including the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1, a 1992 Bowman Mariano Rivera #302 and a 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly #248.

I had created a Google Sheets file for my four PCs I've established [Top 30 PC, Top 30 alternate PC, a Top 50 common PC and a Top 50 fun PC] and tried to re-jigger the listings around - adding cards as well as weeding out ones I felt were outdated.

I went on some ‘supply runs’ to my LCS, to buy up some new holders - to give me peace of mind that I’m cycling in some newer individual card holders as opposed to using dingy, old toploaders from 2000.

I’ve really been in a daze as far as having regional collection of PC cards and to just see what I maybe able to cobble together, I decided to add a regional component [#’s 31-50] to my Top 50 common PC - to make things easier as far as filling out my Top 50 common PC with no pressure in making a separate 'Top 30' list for just the team I'm collecting.

I’ve listed out miscellaneous Angels cards and while I feel the content falls a bit short, especially with regards to everyone's favorite Angel in the outfield, it’s the cards I’ve picked up - so I need to see if there is something to build on, so there maybe a foundation to funnel better cards, better players where I could eventually branch out into some sort of ‘stand alone’ regional PC.

I think I can add a few of the Angels certified autographs I’ve picked up - that I will double count towards my PC and my all-time Angels collection.

My wallet card - Joe checking out the Charlie Foxtrot

I spent just several days in Arizona when pitcher and catchers reported for spring training and was able to get just a couple of things signed at Dodgers camp - by manager Don Mattingly and Yasiel Puig.

2015 Topps Target $9.99 hanger box break

With the multicolored borders, I think this year's flagship Topps cards are a little more playful, so they may appeal to kids more - as opposed to a set of cards that is dissected by older, more serious card connoisseurs.

I've had no problems with Topps card designs from the last five years - though I think the designs have been a little too conservative and bland.

#197 Glen Perkins
#289 Matt Joyce
#255 James Russell
#166 Jenrry Mejia
#134 Brett Lawrie
#344 Manny Parra
#279 Coco Crisp
#1 Derek Jeter
#122 Corey Kluber
#269 Jordy Mercer
#10 Cole Hamels
#136 Manny Machado
#126 Detroit Tigers team card
#283 Chris Johnson
#123 Ben Revere
#190 Zach Britton
#288 Chris Parmelee
#50 Yu Darvish
#111 Trevor Bauer
#312 Kyle Lobstein - Rainbow Foil parallel
#A-18 Ted Williams - Archetypes insert
#H-4 Bob Feller - Highlight of the Year insert
#JR-10 Jackie Robinson - The Jackie Robinson Story insert
#R-7 Ryan Ludwick - Robbed in Left insert
Babe Ruth's Call Your Shot Game card - $0.50 off coupon
#I-15 Willie Stargell / Andrew McCutchen - Inspired Play insert

#FP-06 Agnes McKee - First Pitch insert
#337 Jedd Gyorko
#224 Bryan Mitchell
#179 Jason Vargas
#145 Jesse Hahn
#95 Junior Lake
#236 Zack Wheeler
#249 Jose Reyes
#157 Ubaldo Jimenez
#41 Chris Colabello
#324 Chris Archer
#202 Mike Minor
#185 Ricky Nolasco
#230 Jean Segura
#195 Garrett Richards
#284 Brandon League
#159 Brandon Crawford
#333 Billy Hamilton
#302 Martin Prado
#178 Christian Yelich
#52 Fernando Rodney
#37 Arismendy Alcantara
#169 Adam Jones
#127 Justin Morneau / Josh Harrison / Andrew McCutchen - National League Batting Average Leaders

#285 Nelson Cruz / Chris Carter / Mike Trout - American League Home Run Leaders
#163 Chase Utley
#265 Arizona Diamondbacks team card
#320 Shin-Soo Choo
#70 Charlie Furbush
#239 Jose Iglesias
#245 Tyler Colvin
#294 Aaron Sanchez
#281 Elvis Andrus
#14 Kendall Graveman
#235 Jeremy Guthrie
#309 Maikel Franco
#110 Tony Sipp
#66 Vance Worley
#310 Jake Lamb
#78 Yordano Ventura
#253 Gregory Polanco
#209 Daniel Corcino
#307 Mark Teixeira
#6 Jayson Werth
#FHR-06 Bryce Harper - First Home Run insert

#FHR-28 Don Mattingly - First Home Run insert; while it may not be possible to find suitable [to put on a baseball card] images from a MLB player's first home run, the picture of Mattingly could be from any point in the 1980's.

2013 Topps Series I blaster recap

I've read complaints about not being able to pull any game-used / autograph cards out of 2013 Topps blasters - but with the potential for pack searchers to pull their chicanery, hits shouldn't be the important thing to come out of any retail break.

Commemorative Patch pack
#RCP-16 Don Mattingly - there is a chance I might not pull one, but the commemorative rookie card patch relics make picking up 2013 Topps Series I blasters appealing.

Pack one
#240 J.J. Putz
#214 Curtis Granderson
#88 Jamie Carroll
#CH-39 Jim Thome - Chasing History insert
#213 Alex Rodriguez - Walmart Blue parallel
#75 Barry Zito - Walmart Blue parallel
#235 Jake Westbrook
#314 A.J. Ellis

Pack two
#8 Ryan Braun
#37 Max Scherzer
#10 Adam Jones
#270 Manny Machado
Million Dollar Chase code card
#68 Colby Rasmus - Walmart Blue parallel
#201 Jonny Venters - Walmart Blue parallel
#419 Brian Bogusevic

Pack three
#20 Kevin Youkilis
#225 Will Venable
#CTC-20 Roberto Clemente - Cut to the Chase die-cut insert
#TM-49 Matt Kemp - 1972 Topps Mini insert
#302 Aaron Hill - Walmart Blue parallel
#200 Scott Downs - Walmart Blue parallel
#165 Ramon Hernandez

Pack four
#15 Dustin Pedroia
#331 Jose Reyes
#40 Chien-Ming Wang
#CD-19 Yu Darvish - Chasing the Dream insert
#191 Chris Capuano - Walmart Blue parallel
#227 Jose Altuve - Walmart Blue parallel
#251 Sean Marshall
#299 Darwin Barney

Pack five
#105 Freddie Freeman
#16 Andre Ethier
#119 Chris Davis
#330 Ryan Raburn - the blonde bonus babee...awesome outfield action card.
#CH-15 Willie McCovey - Chasing History insert
#70 Todd Frazier - Walmart Blue parallel
#126 Dan Uggla - Walmart Blue parallel
#167 Luke Hochevar

Pack six
#52 C.C. Sabathia
#81 Clayton Kershaw, R.A. Dickey and Johnny Cueto - 2012 NL ERA Leaders
#266 Albert Pujols
#192 Javier Lopez - Emerald parallel
#36 Jered Weaver - Walmart Blue parallel
#123 Jemile Weeks - Walmart Blue parallel
#212 Eric Chavez
#188 Brian Fuentes

Pack seven
#137 Edinson Volquez
#269 St. Louis Cardinals - 2012 NLDS Game 5
#304 Kyle Drabek
#TM-9 Adam Jones - 1972 Topps Mini insert
#80 Ryan Zimmerman - Walmart Blue parallel
#11 Yu Darvish - Walmart Blue parallel
#262 Kevin Correia
#190 Daniel Descalso

Pack eight
#34 Felix Hernandez
#29 Adrian Beltre
#83 Darin Ruf
#CC-8 C.C. Sabathia - Calling Card insert
Million Dollar Chase code card
#55 Tim Lincecum - Walmart Blue parallel
#33 Cliff Lee - Walmart Blue parallel
#162 Kyle Seager

Pack nine
#233 Edwin Jackson
#112 Mark Reynolds
#290 Tom Layne
#CH-32 Brian Wilson - Chasing History insert
#147 Ivan Nova - Walmart Blue parallel
#320 Michael Young - Walmart Blue parallel
#292 Matt Thornton
#51 Jonathan Broxton

Pack 10
#47 Howie Kendrick
#72 Gerardo Parra
#23 Jemile Weeks
#CD-9 Devin Mesoraco - Chasing the Dream insert
#281 David Hernandez - Walmart Blue parallel
#134 Jake Arrieta - Walmart Blue parallel
#226 Derek Lowe
#146 Kyle McClellan

2012 Topps Series I blaster recap

I picked a blaster of 2012 Topps Series I from Target though I keep saying to myself - 'even though I've 'sworn off' eBay during the last several months, I can probably pick up different assortments of 2012 Topps cards [complete sets, complete insert sets, team sets, lots, etc] for about the same price as this lone blaster.'

Commemorative Patch pack
#HS-DM Don Mattingly

Pack one
#141 Brandon Belt
#195 Ben Zobrist
#GM-26 Paul O'Neill - Golden Moments insert
#GF-20 Mike Moustakas - Gold Futures insert
#175 Jared Hughes
#80 David Price
#255 Scott Rolen
#243 Justin De Fratus

Pack two
#174 Yadier Molina
#18 Jose Altuve
#GG-13 Willie Mays - Golden Greats insert
#98 Domonic Brown
#213 Alex Avila
#244 Sergio Santos
#109 Mariano Rivera - All-Time Saves Leader
#156 2011 NL Wins Leaders - featuring Ian Kennedy / Clayton Kershaw and Roy Halladay

Pack three
#7 Mickey Mantle
#84 Brian Matusz
#111 Kevin Slowey
#TM-37 C.C. Sabathia -1987 Topps mini insert
#GGC-5 Matt Kemp - Golden Giveaway code card / unlocked a Roy Halladay virtual coin
#42 Drew Pomeranz
#199 Adam Dunn
#113 Craig Kimbrell - checklist

Pack four
#38 Felipe Paulino
#25 Neil Walker
#296 Brayan Pena - Golden Moments parallel
#TT-15 Bob Gibson / Roy Halladay - Timeless Talents insert
#221 Luke Gregerson
#12 Wilson Ramos
#269 Jason Vargas
#128 Lucas Duda

Pack five
#236 Jose Tabata
#CW-5 Jay Bruce - Classic Walkoffs insert
#GM-10 Prince Fielder - Golden Moments insert
#205 Justin Masterson
#56 Geovany Soto
#143 George Kottaras
#231 Dexter Fowler
#170 Jacoby Ellsbury

Pack six
#256 Mat Latos
#145 Billy Butler
#116 A.J. Pierzynski
#GG-5 Lou Gehrig - Golden Greats insert
#GS-9 Willie McCovey - Gold Standard insert
#24 Ike Davis
#104 Brett Anderson
#53 St. Louis Cardinals - 2011 World Series Game #7 featuring Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman

Pack seven
#200 Miguel Cabrera
#246 Bud Norris
#TM-23 Dustin Pedroia - 1987 Topps mini insert
#GF-10 Craig Kimbrel - Gold Futures insert
#222 Chris Coghlan
#110 Mark Teixeira
#48 Wade Davis
#91 Active AL Home Run Leaders - featuring A-Rod, Jim Thome and Jason Giambi

Pack eight
#85 Jason Heyward
#144 Marlon Byrd
#31 Brent Morel - Golden Moments parallel
#50 Adrian Gonzalez
#318 Erik Bedard
#68 Jason Hammel
#29 Active NL Wins Leaders - featuring Livan Hernandez, Roy Oswalt and Randy Wolf
#90 Adron Chambers

Pack nine
#163 Justin Turner
#307 Vance Worley
#203 Jeff Niemann
#GM-3 Derek Jeter - Golden Moments insert
#192 Active NL Home Run Leaders - featuring Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols and Andruw Jones
#282 Ryan Raburn
#105 Paul Konerko
#292 Ben Revere

Pack 10
#140 Troy Tulowitzki
#GG-55 Hank Aaron - Golden Greats insert
#GGC-6 Albert Pujols - Golden Giveaway code card / unlocked a Stan Musial virtual coin
#108 Albert Pujols
#237 Russell Martin
#40 Tom Milone
#23 Cory Luebke
#208 Mike Leake

Featured pickup: 2008 Upper Deck Ballpark Idols Quad Swatch Memorabilia card #237

Don Mattingly - October 4, 2005
3-for-6 RBI with a walk in Game 2 of the 1995 ALDS

Derek Jeter - September 21, 2008
0-for-5 - despite going hitless in the last game at Yankee Stadium, he is the all-time hit leader, surpassing Lou Gehrig.

Manny Ramirez - July 6, 2008
0-for-1 - struck out by Mariano Rivera on three straight pitches in what may have been the deciding game for Boston Red Sox management and their players to come together and say 'we have to trade Manny now.'

David Ortiz - August 24, 2008
0-for-2 with two walks

This was an appropriate card to note the last game played at Yankee Stadium Sunday night - I dug around to look for the featured players' last appearance at Yankee Stadium and to see how they did.

I don't know if the price I paid for the card was a good deal or not - but my standard saying is it is worth the price is what I paid for it, no more and maybe less. My cap is probably $10 on picking-up any 'midlevel' or strictly 'low-end' singles.

I'll look for a 'topper' to my collection - like a card or something once in a while when I have the chance and when I feel like I'm not breaking the bank.

The card is probably more common than I can imagine [it is listed as part of the base set and not an insert] - but features jersey pieces [game-used cards are oversaturated to the point of pissing off collectors looking for something worth more] from Don Mattingly [pinstripe], Derek Jeter [pinstripe], Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

I wanted to find an 'acceptable' player combination featuring Jeter and figured two of the most prominent players [Manny and Big Papi] from the No. 1 rivals would be suitable - I don't see where Mattingly immediately fits in and can see where someone who played in the last five years being a more ideal subject for the quad card.

On the other hand, Donnie Baseball kept the Yankees relevant - through a World Series dry spell in the 1980s and is considered a franchise legend, probably more beloved [particularly by New York Yankees' fans] than many Hall of Famers enshrined in Cooperstown.