Random 2017 Topps Archives '1992' finds

I visited a card shop to see if I could sample some packs of 2017 product - with individual packs [2017 Topps Allen and Ginter, 2017 Donruss Optic] reaching $5 however, I opted to buy some supplies [penny sleeves, magnetics and other holders] and loose cards from the quarter bin instead.

Even if I've forgotten specific, sentimental memories about 1992 and collecting - looking back, that year was really where I might have hit my collecting prime, where I was interested in all sorts of cards, trading with a friend or two, looking up cards in monthly price guides, et al.

George Brett #254 - I don't actively collect basic star cards, though I grabbed this one to add a current year retro card to my miscellaneous collection of Brett cards.

T.J. Rivera #257 - The New York Mets aren't going anywhere, but Rivera has stuck around as a 28-year old rookie infielder who has show he can hit in the big leagues.

On this card, Rivera looks like a middle aged guy who paid $4,895 to go to Mets fantasy camp - having the time of his life, sliding into a base in an old-school Mets uniform.

Rob Zastryzny #261 - I try to grab rookie logo cards of seemingly less heralded rookies when I can find them, just to kind of see if I can have one more card of a fringe big league player.

Randy Johnson #265 - I like the horizontal image picturing a languid Johnson in an Montreal Expos uniform.

David Robertson #282 - I grabbed this card for the mid 1980s style retro uniform Robertson is wearing.

As much as I try to be a mini-collection 'hawk,' where there is no chance this card isn't going to be a part of my stash of card shop finds to take home - this might as well be a card I may not care to find again, if I didn't pick it up the first time I saw it.

Paul Goldschmidt #287 - I picked this up to show my love, 'nickel-and-dime' style, to the first baseman who has been under the radar for years and having an MVP caliber year for a contending Arizona Diamondbacks team.

2015 Topps Heritage hanger box recap II

I bought this earlier in the year and finally ripped it open - hoping to see some sort of big hit pull or redemption for one

I was in a bored stupor going through these 35 cards - as is, I probably could have left this unopened for a bit longer.

#366 Alex Cobb
#26 Ryan Zimmerman
#306 Rafael Ynoa / Jackson Williams
#411 Ryne Sandberg
#362 Carlos Beltran
#246 Kyle Gibson
#312 Jon Singleton
#278 Mike Morse
#174 Neftali Feliz
#67 Dilson Herrera / Erik Goeddel
#410 Rajai Davis
#158 Trevor Cahill
#135 Conor Gillaspie
#160 Michael Pineda
#467 Paul Goldschmidt - SP
#NAP-18 Troy Tulowitzki - New Age Performers insert
#TN-1 Harmon Killebrew / Nelson Cruz - Then and Now insert
#THC-34 Todd Frazier - Holofoil parallel
#THC-437 Josh Hamilton - Holofoil parallel
#THC-462 Felix Hernandez - Holofoil parallel
#THC-60 Matt Holliday - Holofoil parallel
#THC-477 Ian Desmond - Holofoil parallel
#280 Howie Kendrick
#359 Steve Cishek
#138 Tony Gwynn Jr.
#125 Jon Jay
#389 Shin-Soo Choo
#217 Giancarlo Stanton / Anthony Rizzo / Lucas Duda - National League Home Run Leaders
#262 Huston Street
#140 Aroldis Chapman
#78 Joe Panik
#39 Marcus Stroman
#132 Travis Ishikawa
#194 Nationals 1st Place NL East Division
#341 Terry Collins

Ranking the 30 MLB teams on my watch - Arizona Diamondbacks #17 of 30

The Diamondbacks faded in the second half of the season even with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt emerging as an All-Star talent - I see how the team is built on scrappiness, toughness and playing the game the Kirk Gibson way, but it's hard to see how they are going to win with C-level talent.

Maybe the team is tweaked and better players and/or coaches are added, but no matter how they improve on paper - it maybe a daunting challenge to compete against the big money Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

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.

Featured autograph - Paul Goldschmidt

I picked this 2012 Topps Allen and Ginter's autograph card of Paul Goldschmidt as an impulsive purchase from a card shop for $10 - he is having a good sophomore season and I've never gotten his autograph in-person.