Random miscellaneous pick ups

While the bulk of my recent loose card purchases revolves around trying to fill rank-and-file holes between 1984 Donruss and 1990 Leaf for possible TTM requests - to change things up, I grabbed a few of the more quirky cards I've saved a picture / screenshot off in my camera roll and/or listed out on a cheat sheet.

I wouldn't normally buy a minor league team set card of a pitching coach - but the shopping cart caught my eye along with the billboard ad for an ancient cell phone from the late 1980s.

This is the post that inspired me to have this card on a list somewhere - H/T

This is the post that inspired me to have this card on a list somewhere - H/T

I haven't done anything with my Angels frankenset [see sidebar for details] but I like this card - I don't know if I can whittle down my 40-50 wants outright but I'll see if I can do something [or not].

It's early but India looks like a high flying big league rookie so far - strictly on the low end side of things, I picked up a pair of his first paper Bowman Draft cards from 2018.

Just as a change of pace, I can imagine collecting a retro, more high brow looking set like 2005-2006 Turkey Red - this Palmer might be sent out for a TTM request, but the background may just be too dark to make it a priority.

Glenallen Hill was one strong man

I picked up this Mlicki for the baserunner with a svelte, familiar body shape lurking in the background.

Card show trip - random stuff picked up

I know Mitch Williams as the crazy haired reliever for the Phillies who gave up Joe Carter's walk-off, series clinching home run in the 1993 World Series - he is also one of the MLB Network personalities I get to watch nearly every time I turn on the TV. However it is hard for me to believe [without actually looking it up] that 'Wild Thing' actually had a brief 20 game stint as an Angels reliever back in 1995.

Dennis Cook pitched for the World Series champion Angels in 2002, but I think he and Aaron Sele were the two 'notable' veteran pitchers not included in any of the postseason rosters - however Cook did win another World Series five years prior to 2002, with the Florida Marlins back in 1997.

I finally had a chance to go to the collectibles show held on a Wednesday and a Saturday after not being able to get a chance to do so in the past few months - despite the fact it is the only place to go and with the show having a reputation for having everything, I end up sort of buying only the most basic [unsigned 8x10 Photofiles, collecting supplies] of things, since I feel like it isn't always a good place to find just random baseball card stuff other bloggers might appreciate.

I think I spent about two hours at the show randomly walking up and down the aisles - I was bored and relented to pick up three cards from someone's dollar box, which was a pair of 2009 Upper Deck 1989 'buyback' cards featuring two former Angels with dubious ties with the organization and a 1996 Pinnacle Aficionado Chipper Jones Magic Numbers insert card with some kind of wood grain finish.

As far as I was concerned, the action for me was sparse - do I bother to mention I was about to leave the show and it occurred to me I probably need to buy some supplies if in case I don't make it back for another few months. In addition the $3 I'd already spent, I went ahead and spent $9.50 more on four ball cubes, about six packs of penny sleeves and a 3,200 card box to hold perhaps all the cards I'm using for in-person signings [or perhaps to hold all my collecting topics cards].

Card shop pick ups from the quarter bins

I picked up 10 common cards [of not so common players] for a quarter each plus tax - none of the cards make or break any collection, but nice to pick the particular cards up cheaply.

2009 Topps Heritage Erick Aybar #90 - finished eighth in the AL batting race this past season, should be Chone Figgins' replacement at the top of the Angels' lineup if he continues to refine his plate discipline.
2009 Topps Unique Red Chipper Jones #15 - serial #'d 0207/1199
2009 Topps Unique Zack Greinke #90
2009 Topps Unique Albert Pujols #100
2009 Topps Unique Red Kurt Suzuki #101 - serial #'d 0057/1199
2009 Topps Unique Ichiro #125
2009 Topps Unique Evan Longoria #145
2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic Evan Longoria #3
2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic Adrian Gonzalez #74 - perennially underrated.
2009 Upper Deck SP Authentic Everth Cabrera #146 - emerged as a star rookie shortstop for the San Diego Padres this past season.

Minor matters and picking up random cards

Sometimes you feel you are in your own world - I went to a sports card shop, looking for some minor league product.

You always have your usual Major League cards, but sometimes you are looking for something a little different - I was looking for the 'mass produced' cards by Tristar.

"It's not really [something that is] in demand," the man I spoke to said. "We only carry mainstream [product] like Topps and Upper Deck."

Well I guess I'd better stick with official MLB licensed and/or MLBPA licensed baseball cards - I usually try to get my rank-and-file cards autographed in-person and through the mail and perhaps if I'm looking to find a minor league card of a particular player [probably a young prospect], he probably has a first-year Bowman/Bowman Chrome card.

With the MLBPA rookie card rules - Topps and Upper Deck are probably printing cards of particular players as they make their MLB debuts.

Why bother with minor league cards?

At the shop, I found 20 random cards [$0.10 each] from the commons boxes - I'm not really enamored by cards right now, so they were not a priority.

I feel like more cards = more work I'm not willing to do when it comes to sorting - I don't care about my collecting topics as much at this point.

I did find several minor league cards- 2008 Just [unlicensed; meaning the cards can't display team logos, even of minor league teams] of Logan Morrison, Chris Davis, Bobby Parnell, Andrew McCutchen and Jordan Bachanov [Angels draft pick in 2007 who had Tommy John surgery].

2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes - these cards are styled after the Baseball Heroes inserts of the 1990s. Upper Deck has rolled out the Baseball Heroes graphics more than a few times.

#46 Corey Hart - a rising semistar who I probably had a chance to get, but didn't have any cards for during spring training.



#79 Alex Gordon - he hasn't made the leap from highly touted elite prospect to all-star performer [or better].
#168 Luke Scott

2008 Topps Baseball Series I and II - you need Topps, but there is an expectation these cards are very basic and boring.

#132 Ramon Vazquez - a decent utility guy

#428 Jair Jurrjens - was he really the Atlanta Braves No. 1 pitcher in 2008?
#487 Corey Patterson - breaking his bat

#489 Joakim Soria - I try pick-up cards of such players because you are more inclined to do your homework on new faces.
#607 Ryan Spilborghs - Spilborghs is making a nice attempt to grab the ball.
#618 Pat Neshek - didn't really need this one, but he is a fan favorite.
#644 Reggie Willits - a fan favorite even though he barely played in 2008.

2008 Upper Deck II - I like these cards, but they are very boring. There isn't anything grabbing at you.

#534 Reggie Willits
#645 Yuniesky Betancourt
#647 Ramon Vazquez

2008 Upper Deck A piece of History

#43 Hunter Pence
#68 Phil Hughes