Featured Breaks
Topps Archives break [2004 x2 and 2005 x1 for $10] - I was looking for something to bust and grabbed these randomly because Willie Mays is pictured in the 2004 set and Mike Piece of Schmidt pictured in the 2005 set.

Pack One - 2004
Monte Irvin [1953 Topps design] - Hall of Famer
Buck O'Neil [1962 Topps design] - R.I.P. Buck
Kelly Gruber [1992 Topps design] - I've pulled this particular card before. I remember being able to recite his career year stats of 1990 because they impressed me as a budding baseball fan: .274, 31, 118
Devon White [1993 Topps design] - why did I have to pull this card?
Darrell Evans [1974 Topps design] - looking very hungover in this picture.
Tim Raines [1982 Topps design] - looking very confident in this picture.

I like retro themed sets [whether they feature active or retired players] featuring recycled designs from years past.

Pack Two - 2004
Cesar Geronimo [1976 Topps design] - actually a bit before my time, so I can't common on how much a scrub pull his original Topps card was back in the day.
Jack Morris [1984 Topps design] - 1984 World Series champ
Len Dykstra [1986 Topps design] - some would say he was a true fan favorite.
Duke Snider [1956 Topps design] - nice card of the Dodger legend.
Fay Vincent [1989 Topps design] - he personalized and signed a similar card through the mail.
Tom Brunansky [1987 Topps design] - I don't care about regional issues, maybe a team-issued retro set featuring retired players like Gruber, White, Evans and Brunansky, but the last time their cards from a Topps product should be issued was when they retired as Major League players. You can put those types of players into all sorts of retro, tribute or other such products, just not in this type of product. Cards of these players were considered commons drecks and I think it is redundant to pull cards of these guys again. I don't care if you are using a 'new' file photo you've dug out from the archives, it just isn't right.

Pack three - 2005
Ozzie Smith [1979 Topps design]
Joe Morgan [1975 Topps design]
Joe Pepitone [1964 Topps design]
Steve Carlton [1974 Topps design]
Yogi Berra [1973 Topps Design]
Ernie Banks [1954 Topps Design]

Five of the six players in this pack are Hall of Famers, which is great.

Featured Breaks

2007 Topps Update [x3 for either $5 or $6 at a local show] hobby packs - yeah, it's cheap stuff people and there is just nothing to talk about here, unless you want to talk shop about the hard to pull gimmick cards featuring Joba Chamberlain's reversed image, Tacoby Ellsbury and a rodent that has apparently seen more air time than some of the New York Yankees' finest players.

Random thoughts
1.) Topps' printing process seems harried - for whatever reason, I like the idea of busting a few packs of Topps product, when it is relatively new. Unfortunately you get frustrated when you are pulling cards 'fresh out of the pack' with corners nicked up showing white and various imperfections all over [front and back]. I know the cards are glossy and black bordered, but I guess these are cards to 'flip' instead of put in a showcase somewhere.
2.) Photography - the images are sometimes obscured by the black borders. My big complaint is flipping through a pack of Topps base cards and the images seem to be all over the place: pitchers pitching, hitters hitting, catchers squatting, fielders fielding, guys picking their butts, etc. It would never occur to the people who actually selected the photos to pick out something out of the ordinary - at least not for the base Topps set. Topps Stadium Club had better photos, capturing your imagination. It was continued two or three years ago however.
3.) Filler cards and inserts - I'd rather have cards of obscure young players and obscure players who've been released five times, only to get a cup of coffee in the Major Leagues this past season, INSTEAD OF ALL-STAR CARDS OR GENERATION NOW INSERTS OR BASICALLY ANY CARD I CAN PULL SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Pack One
Travis Metcalf - true rookie card, I think?
Andy Sonnanstine - had some 2006 cards out, still my first card of his.
Francisco Rosario - qualifies as an update card; card has a right to be included in the product otherwise, whether or not it matters anyway.
Jeff Salazar - qualifies as an update card
Lee Gronkiewicz - true rookie card
Guillermo Rodriguez - true rookie card
Kason Gabbard - red back; qualifies as an update card
David Murphy - red back; qualifies as an update card, though he seems to have been squeezed into a number of update sets.
Classic Combo subset card of Khalil Greene and Mike Fontenot - I hate subsets like these, where it doesn't really reflect something updated, but more of a filler.
Freddy Sanchez - all-star subset card; otherwise a filler

Pack Two
Jeff Baker
Esteban German
Eulogio De La Cruz - he had true rookie cards out in 2005
Brian Burress - didn't he have a previous 2007 Topps card out already updated?
Marlon Anderson - qualifies as an update, but also as a guy whose cards I'd never want to see again.
Claudio Vargas - red back
Ken Griffey Jr. - all-star subset card; otherwise a filler.
Curtis Granderson - Generation Now subset; not a bad looking card.
Trevor Hoffman - season highlights subset [500th save] card
David Wright - all-star subset card

Pack Three
Edgar Gonzalez
Michael Barrett - qualifies as an update card
Tony Pena - not junior or senior; an unrelated one pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ironically, he was formerly known as Adriano Rosario, who I thought was traded or just released because they found out he was older than they thought. I thought he was the guy I pulled earlier, pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays [Francisco Rosario].
Homer Bailey - qualifies as a card with no status [because his rookie cards came out in 2004], but whom I consider a 'name pull' out of the pack because he was considered a top prospect at the beginning of the 2007 season.

What does one do with the Justin Uptons, Cameron Maybins, Phil Hughes, Kurt Suzuki, Hunter Pence, Ryan Braun cards if they are worthless - yet they had their moments in 2007 as first-year Major League players. Unlike in years past, with the MLBPA rookie card rules, this product is more of an update set for the Major Leagues and there are no first-year rookie cards of guys essentially still playing in the minor leagues.

Macay McBride - qualifies as an update card
David Ortiz - red back; all-star subset card
Yovani Gallardo - red back; put him on the list of guys to be excited about pulling, if the card had actual status because they had no cards printed before this year.
Jose Molina - gold insert serial numbered 1153/2007
Scott Linebrink - the Molina and Linebrink cards makes you realize at times, you are just collecting pictures of adult men, instead of athletes.
Takashi Saito - all-star subset card.

Featured Mail Day
2007 Goudey Hanley Ramirez auto [$10.99 BIN plus $2.50 s/h on Ebay] - I was looking for a certified autograph of this Florida Marlins' young star [for my Rookie of the Year collection] I like the on-card autograph on a retro themed card. While the card is odd-sized, it only makes it more unique and doesn't detract from the overall attractiveness of the card. The card features a clean autograph from Ramirez and is hard signed, which seems to be a term used a little bit more these days [I think the term originates from hockey card collectors] to describe an autograph signed on the card [as opposed to a sticker, label, et al].

Cameron Maybin autograph baseball with MLB and Locker Room Memorabilia certification [$37.07 plus $7.00 s/h plus $3.06 CA tax on Ebay]- my snipe with less than 20 seconds left won this auction. On Ebay, I've seen Jay Bruce and Colby Rasmus single-signed baseballs I want for my collection now.

I didn't think I'd get impulsive with picking up a Maybin baseball yet and $50 is a lot of money to spend for a player who has barely made an impact in the Major Leagues.

Still, talented young prospects and guys still needing to prove themselves are tantalizing. It isn't an investment, you are just picking something up for your collection - but you are banking on Maybin becoming a superstar and telling others you got on the bandwagon before they did, with a single-signed baseball to show off. Probably one of thousands he will sign if he fulfills some sort of promise as a top prospect.

Featured Mail Day
2007 Topps Turkey Red Hideki Okajima cabinet box topper [$0.99 plus $4.00 s/h on Ebay] - I placed a bid on this and let it ride through the end, not knowing if I'd win the auction or not. There is something unique about the oversized cards mimicking the regular base cards, especially if they are larger than 5x7s. I've decided to try to collect the particular box toppers I can get signed randomly in-person or through the mail. This was the second one I received in the mail after paying about $7 shipped for a Troy Tulowitzki.

2005 Bowman Sterling Chris Nelson auto/jersey [$2.99 BIN plus $2.50 s/h on Ebay]- I was digging around when I saw this card. I don't really like picking up random cards because I have a bad habit of losing track of them. I put the BIN because I thought it was reasonable enough for a certified autograph/jersey combo card of a player from the suddenly successful Colorado Rockies organization. It isn't a rookie-year card, but it is a certified autograph that will likely pre-date comparable MLBPA rookie logo inserts by a few years.

Featured Mail Day

A six-count lot of various cards picked up from the same seller on Ebay [$12.14 total plus $3.50 s/h on Ebay] - I was doing a random search on 'Matt Sweeney' of the Angels and found a 2007 Tristar Elegance certified autograph for $1.99. I checked out the seller's Ebay listings and found some more cheap cards: 2005 Prime Patches Hank Blalock jumbo jersey card [$2.29], 2007 Tristar Elegance Matt Antonelli certified autograph [$1.99], 2007 Tristar Elegance Chris Marrero certified autograph [$2.29], 2007 Tristar Elegance Brandon Wood jersey card [$1.99] and 2007 Upper Deck SPX Brian Giles Winning Materials jersey [$1.99].



The autograph/GU are low-end, but for less than a pack of 2007 Tristar Elegance minor league baseball cards - I got three certified autograph cards from the product [Sweeney, Antonelli and Marrero] and one game-used/worn jersey card [Wood]. I also got a couple of other GU cards [Blalock - hoping to get it signed randomly in-person or in the mail] and Giles [he probably got off the juice, but it is a patch card anyway].

A baseball card collecting lifer - I'm just a baseball card collecting lifer, a guy hitting close to that halfway point, but still bent on building the best collection from a perspective of a 12 or 13 year old. Sometimes it isn't about the player pictured on the cards anymore, because I'm not 12 years old and can't relate to multimillionaire professionals as I did if I was an adolescent. Still I wouldn't be collecting baseball cards if it wasn't for the players. Obviously there is still a draw to the sport of baseball as a fan and card collecting as an obsessive-compulsive hobby that I can probably explain, but probably do not understand at times [anymore].

It preoccupies my time when I don't want to deal with the real world.

Today, you have a list of bloggers sharing their own esoteric takes on what the cards mean to them - it makes me feel great because when you find others out there like you. It is uncanny how you can read their stuff and relate.

Featured Rock-Stars [Matt Holliday and Seth Smith]

So after many years of being a pretender and essentially being a non-factor in the National League West - the 2007 Colorado Rockies forced themselves into the playoffs and found themselves sweeping through the division and championship series to reach the World Series.

I can't say I'm a fan or a guy hopping on the bandwagon, but their run was something to watch as far as different players contributing [Kazuo Matsui, probably most of the team at different points in the last two months] and a guy being hyped up [Troy Tulowitzki] as the guy who has arrived to be the next 'superstar' shortstop in baseball.

1.) 2005 Topps Allen and Ginter Matt Holliday mini card - he probably should be the MVP of the regular season, considering he played like a captain all-season long [sorry Todd Helton] and is now the face of the franchise. He took the NLCS MVP trophy home and 2007 is about a World Series win from the best run Holliday will probably have in his professional playing career [as an individual player and as part of a team]. I have a handful of Holliday cards, including two cheap 1999 Topps Stadium Club rookie cards and maybe a couple of through the mail autographs. I scanned the A&G mini just because it was one of those oddball sized cards 'sticking out.'

2.) 2003 Upper Deck National Pride Seth Smith jersey card and 2004 Bowman Draft Seth Smith rookie card - I pulled a jersey card of some guy named 'Seth Smith' from a 2003 Upper Deck pack that was packaged with four other packs in a blister at Toys R' Us [sale for $2.99]. I didn't really know what to do with the card or knew much about the player. Fast forward to 'actober' and Smith was another one of these Rockies players who came through [not in the clutch, because 'clutch' apparently is an outdated term] at the right moment, when his 2-run bloop double was the key hit in the Rockies' National League pennant clinching 6-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Featured Mail Day

2003 Upper Deck Prospects Premier Daric Barton auto #P25 [$36.65 plus $5 s/h off Ebay] - it is always great to hop on some young rookie's bandwagon, even though you plod along in the desert before you finally would pick up a guy's key first-year certified autograph card. This guy plays for a division rival in the American League West, but has local county roots [Orange County California].

1.) I've seen him hit a few times [spring training on TV/some video clips posted online] - while he seems like a roly-poly type, like many lefty hitters, he has a sweet swing [particularly when he drives the ball]. The 22-year old hit .347 with a .429 on-base/.639 slugging percentage in 72 at-bats in his 18 game cup of coffee with the Oakland Athletics this past season.

2.) I think he could be Nick Johnson and/or Mark Grace type - hopefully not injury prone like Johnson. With Barton's ability as a pure hitter otherwise, do the high average, slick-hitting thing with more pop than Grace.

3.) Ultimately, he could be a notch below, what Jason Giambi was in his Oakland [juiced up] prime - a guy who will hit for a high average, including 25-30 home runs a year, have a great eye at the plate and drive in a bunch of runs.

4.) Speaking of rookies, top prospects and speculating on young players - who doesn't want to collect some key cards of young hotshots who actually make good on their early promise? It is harder to get on the bandwagon game however, when you can't buy a decent card for under $40 it would seem [that is decent, not the best card].

5.) What happens when it doesn't really matter? I think you have to make decisions based on conservative projections - I pick up cards not to flip, but to put in my personal collection. It might be all fun when you pick up a card, but know when to dump it if the player starts to fizzle quicker than anticipated. How good is a particular guy supposed to be? Hall of Fame good or merely a guy that is in the Hall of Very Good. Just in five years, will you be happy with this particular purchase, if it is obvious Barton is going to be overshadowed by better players? How are you going to flip the card, if it isn't a 'PC' quality single anymore?

6.) Take note a sample list of the who's who of players were considered top prospects or future stars but disappointed over the past 10 years - who are the 'who's next' prospects and the 'who's now' prospects who are having banner rookie seasons that are going to disappoint?

A.) Sean Burroughs
B.) Pat Burrell
C.) Rick Ankiel
D.) Jack Cust
E.) Ben Grieve
F.) Travis Lee
G.) Nick Johnson
H.) Alex Escobar
I.) Ruben Mateo
J.) Drew Henson
K.) J.D. Drew
L.) Jose Cruz Jr.
M.) Kerry Wood
N.) Ricky Ledee
O.) Ruben Rivera
P.) Austin Kearns
Q.) Eric Chavez
R.) Ryan Anderson
S.) Xavier Nady
T.) Eric Munson

Featured Mail Day

2007 SP Rookie Edition Ryan Braun auto #153 [$40.00 BIN plus $6 s/h off Ebay] - first it was Hunter Pence burning through the National League, then it was Braun showing some prodigious hitting skills and through the last week or so, it has been the Colorado Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki getting the pub from a lot of the mainstream baseball media.

1.) I was nervous about getting the card since I sent payment for it on 9/24/07 - instead of immdiately after I hit the BIN on 9/15. It came rather promptly in my opinion however.

2.) It is a personal collection card I guess - I like the 'old school' design and was looking to get a key autograph insert from the product. I'd rather pay $46 for a single than $55 for an unopened box of SP Rookie Edition, where I only have a chance of pulling a Braun, Pence, Tim Lincecum, et al.

3.) The question is - will this be my worst purchase since I picked up a 2000 SPX Winning Materials Troy Glaus for about the same price in 2000? His true rookie cards from 2005 are more valuable and while his 2005 Bowman Draft Chrome autograph has skyrocketed in value, I didn't get into the bandwagon then. I could have at least picked up his 2005 Sterling autograph, since it was initially cheaper. I also remember a local promoter doing a signing with this Braun and leftovers of signed 8x10s of Braun [pictured in his Miami Hurricanes gear] for about $4-$5.

Hopefully Braun can avoid the sophomore slump and even if he doesn't win the National League Rookie of the Year, can build upon the numbers he has posted this past season.

Card show trip

I always feel handcuffed because I don't want to spend $$$, but just come away with something decent for about $20-$40. I end up hitting the common bins, maybe picking up a pack or two and probably spending more time twiddling my thumbs than making something happen [to improve my collection].

$2 for 40 commons - 23 random 2007 Topps Allen and Ginter base cards, four random Manny Ramirez cards, two Jonathan Papelbon cards, five 2007 Fleer Ultra [Joe Mauer, Robinson Cano, Adam Dunn, Dan Haren and Vicente Padilla], a 1993 Flair Barry Larkin [Barry Bonds cameo], a 2003 SPX Tim Salmon, a 2007 Fleer Shane Victorino and three random 1982 Topps cards featuring then Angels [Geoff Zahn, Andy Hassler and 'Disco' Dan Ford].

$5 for 20 assorted cards at another guy's booth - didn't think I'd find 20 cards out of his random $0.25 bin, but ended up with the following:

2006 Bowman Draft Chrome - Wade LeBlanc, John Shelby [x3], Chris Davis [x3], Brett Sinkbeil, George Kontos [x2], David Huff [x2], Jermaine Mitchell [x2], Cyle Hankerd, Tyler Robertson [x2] and Ryan Morris.

2006 Bowman Draft - Chris Davis

2007 Bowman prospects chrome - Ronnie Prettyman

Also spent $12 on an official MLB baseball - figure to pick one up now, in case I can get it signed later.

Featured Breaks

Two packs of 2007 Topps Turkey Red retail [$2.99 each at Target] - Vladimir Guerrero base card, Phil Hughes Turkey Red Ad back variation and A-Rod home run #302 insert card. As a collector who tries to get cards signed randomly either in-person or through the mail, I can't keep up with these nice looking, arty, retro cards.

1.) You don't want to plunk down $4-$5 a pack for these cards - you are competing with collectors who build these sets. You don't collect these sets for how they look in binders, unsigned. You don't want to pay $25-$40 on Ebay for a hand collated set of cards at one time either, if it means having to add another base card set [usually not the short prints] to your stash just for 'autograph endeavors.'

2.) The 'white whales' add up - as far as players have retired, moved on [figuratively, literally, etc] and are basically tough to get an autograph from in-person and don't usually sign in the mail. If you had a chance to actually see Ichiro, Dice-K, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, et al and they are going to sign for you - I'm not going to have them sign a card, no matter how great it looks. Some guys like my favorite pictured does not even bother to acknowledge you. You basically have to shoot for the subjects within the sets that you have a realistic chance of actually getting an autograph from.

3.) The Turkey Red oversized box toppers - maybe the ones to focus on, if you want something unique to get signed, without having to focus on the entire regular card set.

4.) I guess, it would just be a matter of - trying to get the cards you do have signed and sticking them together, so at least you have a 'representive' sampling of cards you can show off.

A Random Card Surprise

My brother's long time friend [Chris] left me about 5,000 assorted trading cards. Going through them through the past week took me back to moments when I would jump at any opportunity to look through cards from neighborhood acquaintances when I was a kid.

1.) The 5,000 card box [?] looked like it was from a late night shopping TV network - a somewhat 'organized' set of assorted, overproduced cards, mostly the 1990s. There were so many cards to go around during the decade, from sport [basketball, baseball, football, hockey] to nonsports cards [some artist cards], but just not enough of the 'good stuff' still having collecting value today [which probably would mean a few specific baseball cards from the decade]. The baseball cards I found in the box otherwise sucked [brands and player wise] and there were no real 'finds' as far as any cards that booked over a half a nickel each.

2.) There was a binder with mostly 1989, 1990 and 1991 Upper Deck - I was hoping for a 1989 Junior rookie card and I would have busted out a grin if I found one, but there was just commons and some 'minor stars.'

3.) It is kind of sad - my brother's friend said I could keep them all or just throw them away if I didn't want any of them. You want to sort the cards out for various purposes and to be done with them and it is mostly cards I should discard. Back in 1992 or 1993, the cards in the box would have still been crap. Still, in some revisionist sort of manner, maybe my brother's friend was just throwing it all away, giving it up and it got me just a little sentimental, knowing I haven't let go of this hobby of collecting cards.

4.) On the other hand - it doesn't seem like a box that was handed down from one generation or another. I think what I really would have wanted, is if the box contained actual cards having some value and being dumped to me for free. Who cares about being sentimental, when you are living the dream you've envisioned since you were knowledgeable enough to distinguish what cards were good and what cards were not. I think what my brother's friend did was save me from buying a random Tristar Hidden Treasures packs [if that was what I was thinking] or take a stab at possibly another random box of cards [if made available for sale at some show somewhere]. I've got my fill of cards worth 1/2 of a nickel and I don't need to fulfill those hunger pangs with regards to getting some overproduced cards printed 15-20 years ago.

Featured Breaks

Due to logistics out of my control I couldn't quite make it out to a bi-weekly cardshow - I had wanted to see what the 2007 Upper Deck SP Rookie Edition looked like in-hand. I've seen the cards on Ebay and I like seeing 2007 rookies like Tim Lincecum, Ryan Braun, Hunter Pence, Phil Hughes, Alex Gordon, Troy Tulowitzki, Brandon Wood, Hideki Okajima, Dice-K, Akinori Iwamura, et al pictured on cards [true rookie cards or not] that were printed to look like they were from 1993, 1995 and 1996 SP products.

Two packs of 2007 Goudey retail [$2.99 each] - I wanted to get a feel for how these cards looked and I pulled about eight green backs, seven red backs and one Brooks Robinson Heads Up subset card. I like the rendering of the cards, the 'oddball' size that apparently mimics the originals - but for myself, it comes to the same old story of being as a collector who likes to randomly get stuff [mostly cards] in-person at the stadium. You have to really pick and choose which cards you want signed and extra cards of the same veteran MLB players only add to the confusion, particularly if the players don't even sign all that often: Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Craig Biggio, Joe Crede, ICHIRO, Kenji Joh-mama, Greg Maddux and Gary Matthews Jr. [Angels].

Speaking as Angels' fan, Matthews Jr. has made occasional highlight reel grabs and has stabilized centerfield for the Angels [for the most part]. At the plate, he has shown he can hit for power, run, drive in runs, leadoff and also be capable of hitting in the middle of the order.

While his numbers have dragged along through the second half of the year, he seems to be a player [when healthy] that is capable of doing something good in any given at-bat.

Unfortunately the Angels are still $10 million for a guy who can't crack 20 home runs and .260? Who does Matthews Jr. think he is, Andruw Jones? There have also been HGH allegations during the spring that he is apparently being made even more accountable for [since Troy Glaus and Rick Ankiel's names have come out for alleged steroid/HGH usage].

My philosophical take - I think the buybacks are the most 'attractive' common pulls out there besides the [most likely 'hard to pull'] autograph cards from sporting icons like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. The buybacks seemed to be seeded in a realistic manner, making them relatively more common and easier to find [right now]. I think I'll go to Ebay to see if I can pick at least one card up for a price of a blaster box of Goudey.

Two packs of 2007 Bowman Chrome retail [$2.99 each] - I don't like these packs because they come with only three cards in them. If you are grabbing two packs from a retail store like Target, then you probably a long way from a hit, as far as an autograph is concerned. Cards pulled include: Brett Myers, Paul LoDuca, John Smoltz, Mitch Maier [rookie logo card, which means 95 percent of the time, he has probably had a rookie card release from a previous year], Whitt Robbins [first-year prospect card] and Jeff Locke [first-year prospect card].

Anatomy of a Fan Favorite: Reggie Willits

1.) Has to be middle-America to represent what the average baseball fan appreciates on a day-to-day basis.

2.) Has to be unique - for a time, Willits had a batting cage in his bedroom.

3.) Can't be a 6'3'' and 240 pounds - must be a runty guy.

4.) Must exude some confidence, despite apparent lack of stature.

5.) Must remind fans of the old school player, doing the little things to win and earn his keep on a Major League roster.

There has been backlash over the last several years with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's 'Latinofication' of its nucleus of players, with names like Vladimir Guerrero, Orlando Cabrera, Bartolo Colon littering the roster [as key free agent signings] as opposed to guys like Tim Salmon, Troy Glaus, Darin Erstad and David Eckstein [essentially home grown].

Local fans in the 'OC' eat up stories of a 'unique' guy like Willits, since he has the complexion and the game they can identify with now. If you are an Angels' fan that goes to the game, more likely than not, the shirt you'll see that 'chic' fan wearing is that of Willits' and not of Guerrero, Cabrera, Matthews or Anderson.

Coming into the 2007 season, Willits may have been considered as the fourth or fifth outfield option if he made the team. Given an opportunity to play early in the Major Leagues, Willits has not given the Angels an opportunity to doubt his ability as a catalyst in their lineup.

In 290 at-bats so far, Willits has an impressive .402 on-base percentage with 49 walks against 53 strikeouts. He has stolen 22 bags while being caught six times. He has collected 88 hits, including 14 doubles and scored 50 times.

Right now, the 26-year old Angels' rookie star has provided the team with a sparkplug, obviously reminiscent of recent former Angels like Erstad and Eckstein.

The card pictured is his 2006 Upper Deck Update rookie card. His first professional card seems to be his 2003 Upper Deck Prospects Premiere XRC, a card produced months after he was drafted.

I remember picking up the 2003 Upper Deck PP XRC for $0.50. I didn't think much of it then and I thought Willits was going to be a player that isn't likely going to stick in the Major Leagues for a prolonged period of time. With his start so far, is it too late to be a frontrunner and get on the bandwagon?

Featured Breaks

2007 Topps [x3 @$1.99 each] retail

I've been looking forward to breaking some 2007 Topps - I thought I was just being a baseball card nerd but through the week the product has blown up because of a Derek Jeter card that was photoshopped with images of Mickey Mantle and George W. Bush. I was just planning to pick it up because it is 'new.'

I guess it is how it goes and I see how it works - where someone like me is looking to see what the newest cards of a flagship product look like, but now the interest is heightened just a bit more, because there is some gimmick to be supposedly had. So if I can't quite avoid picking up some packs here and there, if for a number of reasons, base brand Topps just doesn't [usually matter].

I finally got three 12-card packs at Target [$1.99 each] from a fresh, sealed box - I was hoping [now] to get one of those Jeter cards, which may or may not have long-term value, but did not. I pulled a black and white Mickey Mantle insert card #'d MM 57 on the back.

The back bordered base cards look pretty sharp.

Five reasons base brand Topps may still matter:
1.) Old faces, new places - in the last several years perhaps, Topps has really been proficient in airbrushing new uniforms for players who signed or got traded to new teams over the off-season. It is unique, if silly to pull a 2007 Topps Barry Zito in game action, wearing San Francisco Giants threads already. There are less instances, where you are pulling cards of old faces still pictured with their old teams, even though players pictured with Photoshop threads haven't played one regular season game with their new clubs.

2.) Topps is a rite of passage - it is the most accessible brand of baseball cards and you always want to see the latest version of the release, even if you've had enough of it in about two months. It is part of tradition, a product that signals that baseball is back in play.

3.) Comprehensive player checklist - there are likely more opportunities to pull common cards featuring players you can get random autographs from either in-person or through the mail.

4.) Good and plenty - packs typically contain 12 cards per pack.

5.) Cheap - packs are $2 each

Five reasons base brand Topps don't matter:
1.) With many other baseball card products - you know it is just 'base brand' Topps here and you can get it all year long.

2.) It is or will be available everywhere and in nearly every form - blasters, factory sets, Walmart, Target, gas station, special team set blisters, rack packs, plastic wrapped 'window' packs, et al.

3.) Redundant players - you don't need to add one more card of typically mediocre MLB veterans to your commons collection.

4.) Photos are never as sharp - quality of the base cards are fine, but there is are no photos with 'personality.' It is mostly hitters hitting, pitchers pitching, fielders fielding kind of a mentality.

5.) No 'special cards' to chase, especially in retail - most of the cards you'll need will likely be coming out of nickel bins. There are other ways to get the base cards, if it is all that you are looking for.

Featured Breaks
From a card show

Can anyone justify spending $40-$50 on a pack of trading cards that probably features no more than four cards?

Waited all afternoon until we got home for me to open my pack of 2006 Bowman Sterling [$45] that I picked up from the card show.

I figure that one way of looking at it is that I'm going to get at least two autographs per pack and one relic. That is almost like pulls from a full box, except you don't get any extra cards.

It took about a minute to open, though it was only a pack and not a box.

1.) Sean Watson auto - looks like a reliever
2.) Pedro Beato auto - saw this pulled online on youtube.com; he has potential though he is a pitcher and he likely has to clear so many hurdles to be somewhat decent.
3.) Josh Johnson (RC) - I was thinking about writing an autograph request to him in the spring; his true rookie card was in 2002 Bowman Draft.
4.) Barry Bonds bat - I was hoping for an autograph, but wasn't going to get one. He has lots of game used cards out and he isn't liked at all. Still, he is a Topps exclusive and this wouldn't be a bad pull, if there was more to the pack.

It was a so-so pack - though it is kind of painful to say that when you spent $45 on it.

2005 Topps Updates and Highlights [x4 @$1.25 each] - cheap break, looking for a Ryan Zimmerman base rookie card.

Jered Weaver - rookie card
Chris Young [Arizona] - rookie card?
John Mayberry Jr. - rookie card
Barry Bonds [x2] - two of his home run cards

Featured Breaks
From a card show

Can anyone justify spending more than $40-$50 on a box of trading cards that probably features no more than 60 cards? You can turn a $90 box of cards into $15 in about 20 minutes.

I do realize that modern [as in the last five years or so] 'baseball card' collecting is designed for people with discretional spending money and a desire to gamble. I'm not one of those collectors, but I was going to slurge on a box of cards.

I was going to get 2006 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Update [$85], since the quad jersey/patch cards look pretty good, where there is one 'notable' patch piece running across the four square frames. There are also two autographs per box.

Being the indecisive collector, I also saw a hobby box of Bowman Draft and Prospects [$63] and was contemplating getting it instead since Bowman Draft and Prospects is one of those boxes that goes up in value [though I'm going to bust any box I purchase]. Will you be able to get one for $63 in three months?

While it isn't as 'sexy' as the other new products and as the MLBPA has altered the rookie-card rules, BDP still features first year cards from select 2006 draft picks with opportunities to pull versions that are signed.

I ultimately went with the BDP since it was cheaper, but perhaps, I can get lucky with some loose packs [if I was going to spend up to $85 anyway].

I don't know if you get the instant gratification with BDP because it features players that may never reach the Major Leagues, but you hope you pull something for later. I'm going to admit that I have no idea and don't really care who the other guys are in BDP, unless they are one of the higher profile prospects [Evan Longoria- who I curiously feel is the next Phil Nevin...].

Still, with Sweet Spot Update, you already know you are going to pull a Sweet Spot certified autograph insert card of a 2006 MLB rookie, that is a long reliever and had his rookie card in 2003. Maybe your second autograph will yield a Sweet Spot 'table'[mimicking a bat barrel] certified autograph card of another 2006 MLB rookie, maybe a 27-year old backup outfielder.

Your quad material card will be all jersey and of some Cuban player who will defect when he is 33 or 34.

My Bowman Draft and Prospect Pulls
Just listing the pulls that I care about as opposed to listing everything under the sun.

Chad Huffman autograph refractor [serial #'d 322/500]

Brian Bannister x-fractor [serial #'d 213/299] - print line across the surface, though it isn't a first year card.

Refractors - Carlos Villanueva and Adam Davis.

Randomness - my Futures Game jersey card was Kurt Suzuki [CSUF], the one guy I may have been looking for, though the card may only be worth $2. pulled a base, chrome and gold insert of Kyle Drabek...pulled a gold insert of Billy Rowell...pulled a base chrome rookie card of Mike Napoli...pulled a base of Hank Conger.

The condition of these cards seemed rough - there are occasional minor nicks, dings and scratches that probably knocks the cards' overall condition. It perhaps takes away from the collectibility of the product. I also wish there was one more certified autograph hit per each box.

Overall, it isn't really the cards that are hot, but the potential for future value that drive this product. It is like being attracted to someone because they belong in a certain clique.

I also bought four packs of 2006 SP Authentic [$4 each] - $4 a pack isn't that bad, but this is where I waste money, trying to get one of those By the Letter certified autograph inserts, which look pretty damn nice from loose packs.

After the damage was done, I did pull one lame auto [Chris Denorfia]. I also pulled a Heroes insert card of Ken Griffey Jr./Andruw Jones [SPAH-43].

Featured Target Breaks
In Orange County California

Anaheim Hills [12/20/06]
2006 Bowman Draft [$2.99 each] - I grabbed a random pack.

Daniel Garcia refractor - eighth round draft pick from a So. Cal high school

Garden Grove [12/11/06]
2006 Bowman Draft [$2.99 each] - I grabbed three random packs to get my fix, though I ended up not getting anything out of it.

Mike Napoli rookie card - hopefully I can get these inked.
Mike Rouse - I pulled one last week and I thought, this card is already
Jason Place chrome

Anaheim by Disneyland [12/8/06]
2006 Bowman Draft blaster break [x1 @$19.99] - not great at all with no autograph or game used card.

David Pauley - refractor; common
Jermaine Mitchell chrome - Mitchell is apparently a darkhorse prospect in the Oakland organization.

Jason Windsor and the 'New' 2006 Rookie Card Rules

$5 and change special at the bi-weekly card show - not much here except a couple of baseball card packs of the low-end variety, eight nine-pocket sheets [$1.00] and an 800-count box [$0.50].

2006 Upper Deck Update [$2.00 each x2] - pulled the one base card I was looking for, essentially a 'bastard' non-rookie prospect card of Jason Windsor with the 2006 rookie card logo. Windsor led the 2004 Cal State Fullerton baseball team to the College World Series title in 2004 and hope to get it signed at the Titans' alumni game in 2007, since I go to school there.

This is one of his few Major League cards so far, though his true rookie cards [and variations] are autographed and found in 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Edition and 2004 Upper Deck SP Top Prospects.

I suppose in an ideal collecting world, companies would have to wait until the player makes his Major League debut to get a Major League issue card. I think that is what the new rookie card logo is about [along with generating 'interest' in current year baseball card product is case the rookie year class is a strong one], but there are too many players that overlap, meaning that they've already had cards in Major League sets issued in previous years.

Slapping a rookie card logo on a 2006 Ryan Zimmerman or 2006 Hanley Ramirez, 2006 Justin Verlander card or any player with cards in the Major League sets [no matter what their status was when the cards were produced] in previous years is silly. No matter how the price guides like Beckett or Tuff Stuff is complying with adding extra meaning to cards [of Zimmerman, Ramirez or Verlander for example] with the rookie card logo, they are still not the rookie cards I've come to know prior to 2006.

If a the rookie card logo is affixed onto a card, I'd like the card to be considered a true rookie card, the first card from the set.

Unfortunately [or maybe not], I think Topps can still get away with putting fresh new professional players in their Bowman sets.

I think the problem is that you can include Major League players in Bowman Draft - so the cards of players just draft would be essentially rookie cards [unless of course, they are inserted].

I remember that Topps issued draft sets in 1994 [Stadium Club] and they didn't really generate much interest, because they were considered a specialty set, without any other players.

If the powers that be made Bowman Draft without the Prospects, cards produced during the Major League debut of a player [or whenever he is eligible to be put in a set] would have that much more value.

Featured Pickup
In an assorted box of random cards at the bi-weekly show, I picked up a 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter Josh Gibson base card [$0.50] - out of all the cards, this was the one I ended up. In baseball lore, Gibson is a pretty historical figure and for two quarters, this card featuring this Gibson means something - it really does.

Featured Pickup
Though worthless, I found a 1990 Upper Deck Ben McDonald error/variation card [and the corrected version] in a commons bin. I think the story is that McDonald was supposed to be part of the 'star rookies' subset.

Instead, Upper Deck had put the Baltimore Orioles logo on a number of McDonald cards, not the 'star rookies' logo.

McDonald was one of the hot rookies back in the day and I think it would have been easy for any companies to overlook a 'printing mistake,' capitalizing not only on McDonald's status, but also on the 'error craze' through the 1980s, particularly when Fleer received so much attention with the 1989 Bill Ripken FF card.

Target Breaks

Stopped by Target yesterday night to see if they had any 2006 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects.

I think it is natural habit to look for some new product, featuring cards of players in their professional playing infancy, just t get some new baseball cards in my collection.

I think Topps is the only company that still can put recent draft picks and other minor league prospects into new baseball card product.

2006 BDP was on the card shelves. I hoped that they were fresh boxes that haven't been tampered with.

When someone tampers with a blaster box, it is usually consists of buying a blaster, gutting the contents of the original product, filling it with junk cards, resealing the package only to return it to the store.

2006 Bowman Draft Picks and Prospects blaster breaks [x2 @$19.99 each] - seven packs plus one bonus pack in each blaster box.

Box One - notables
Micah Owings Signs of the Future auto card - a card from dreaded autograph insert set

Davis Romero Futures Game jersey card - a relief scrub

Colton Willems refractor - the Washington Nationals No. 1 draft choice in 2006, whatever that really means

Hank Conger gold filler insert - it isn't the ideal Conger card from the set, but it is my first card of the LA Angels' No. 1 draft choice in 2006.

Box Two - notables
Mike Napoli refractor - don't know if this is a true rookie parallel or not.

Boof Bonser xfractor - serial #'d 157/299; I don't think this is a true rookie parallel.

Tyler Colvin base chrome - he was a surprising No. 13 overall pick in the 2006 MLB Amateur free agent draft. I could have gotten his autograph in-person if I wanted to when he and his Clemson baseball team were playing in the 2006 College World Series.

Nathan Culp white - serial #'d 117/225 - I remember him pitching for Missouri in the 2006 Super Regionals.

Nick Adenhart Futures Game jersey card - another card for the Angels' collection.

Mail Day
A 1980 Topps Nolan Ryan [$9.95 BIN plus $3.50 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox on Friday. This was a card that an adolescent friend once had, purchased for about $30 ungraded during Ryan's later 'prime years' with the Texas Rangers back in the early '90s.

I've bought a few graded cards casually and I guess I'm not familiar with the imperfections that are figured into a particular card grade. I assume that buying a card PSA graded '8' would at least have good centering on the front [and the back]. The the graphics on the back of the card seems to be too off-centered to be really visually attractive.

2006 Topps Factory set
Though they have not piqued my interest in recent years because inside they usually contain the base brand cards you see everywhere, but Topps always comes out with their special factory sets. What makes these unique is merely the full-color packaging [available in several variations] and typically a sampling from an exclusive bonus set [typically of the rookies/prospect/draft picks variety].

For the first time, I picked up a 2006 Topps factory set at Target [$59.99] - I've never bought a Topps factory set before and had to impulsively get this year's set because of the 'Target bonus,' which is a Mickey Mantle worn relic card [featuring his 1952 Topps card]. The caveat is that the swatch used to make the card wasn't taken from an official MLB game worn uniform, cap, pants or bat that Mantle used.

Instead what Topps apparently did was cut up clothing that Mantle apparently wore off the field.

I don't really think it is a great way to have a 'worn relic card' of Mantle, but at least you get a full factory set of 2006 Topps [which usually retails for about $50], along with the Mantle for only about $10 more.

Who is to say that these cards will be hard to find or be particularly valuable - but it is 'Mantle' and it is 'worn.'

Featured Pickup
I picked this card up about several weeks ago for about $0.35.

I thought Matthews had a pretty good season with one great catch. Unfortunately the Angels will expecting this guy to hold down centerfield in Anaheim for the next five seasons at a rate of $10 million a year.

I don't like this signing because it seems like a desperate stab to sign a guy who for a while was the epitome of a journeyman. You hope for a lot of things to happen, that Matthews is a late bloomer.

The reality is that Matthews may not be anything more than what he has shown over the course of his career, besides his career year this past season.

Cory Lidle RIP 1972-2006

Featured Pickups
I'm always looking to pick something nice and cheap at the card show, just so I can say I walked away with something decent [if only a $5-$10 card] besides the common cards I usually pick up for random autograph signings.

I looked through a $10 arrangement of cards and Tim Salmon patch/bat card [from 2004 Donruss Throwback Threads] caught my eye immediately. My mind raced, deciding whether I would be willing to pay $10 for a card of a minor-star at best. He's a freaking Angels' legend, you dolt! atch/bat combo serial numbered 16/25. The patch on the card isn't that big [because of the window], but it is distinct. The card is numbered 16/25 and was labeled 'prime' meaning that it was more than just a single swatched jersey/bat card variation.

I came back, flipped through the arrangement of cards again and finally picked the card up. $10 isn't a bad price for a 'semi-premium' card of a franchise star, even though it has been a decade or so, since he has been talked about in mainstream collecting circles. Still, I consider it a card you pick up for your personal collection that isn't going to make or break any collecting budget, unless of course you can get it for something like $6.27 shipped on Ebay [just being facetious there].

In the $10 arrangement, I didn't see much, but some real random cards that piqued my interest for whatever reason: a 2005 Fleer Sweet Sigs Vernon Wells, a random Allan Houston [NBA] patch card that was really nice and had eye-appeal, a random Jason Kidd autograph card [you can get his certified autograph cards for $10?] and an 2005 Donruss Timelines Andruw Jones patch card.

Another Salmon card I found was a 1995 Donruss Studio Gold insert. The faux credit card design gives it a certain aesthetic appeal, though the card is only worth what I paid for it, which is about a dime. I picked it up with a Barry Larkin from the same set for a quarter.

Scanned to show the image of the card, not the particular condition or actual size.

Mail Day
About a month ago, I bought a Kendry Morales autographed baseball blind [without an Ebay image] from Mr. Mem on EBay [$15.00 plus $5.00 s/h]. I paid for the item about two weeks ago and it arrived in the mail yesterday [8/24/06].

I figured it would be okay, since it was stated in the title that it came from a Just Minors product. Basically it is a 'low-end,' certified memorabilia item. It was also noted in the auction description that it came with the Just Minors COA and a hologram affixed.

My official line is that it is only worth what I paid for it, though I'm betting on Morales' potential to be a very good Major League player. With his potential, I was looking to get him on a single-signed baseball and I think I paid a reasonable price.



I open up the UPS Priority service box, my item was shipped in and see a nice Just Minors box. A COA was stuffed inside, along with the Morales baseball wrapped in tissue. The only thing I was worried about is whether or not Just Minors would be using a 'cheap, synthetic' baseball, an official minor-league baseball or some other 'junk' baseball.

I checked on the Just Minors website and it said that they'd used official Major League Baseballs for their signings:

All autographed baseballs are official Rawlings Major League Baseballs or:
FG - Indicates Futures Game Baseballs (individually serial-numbered to 120)
W.S. - Indicates World Series Baseball
A.S. - Indicates All Star Game Baseball
N.L. - Indicates National League Baseball



I examine the ball [still wrapped in tissue] just for a little bit and see the Major League Baseball logo. The hologram is there as well and the autograph looks clean, though Morales' autograph looks like chicken scratch.



I also got a 2006 Topps Allen and Ginter Vladimir Guerrero bat card [$3.00 plus $2.00 s/h on Ebay]. I don't want to care for common bat/jersey cards, though the novelty makes it okay sometimes. On the other hand, the bat used could be a Vladimir Guerrero store-model bat, used by Topps' employees at the park, which would defeat the purpose of having a game-used bat card featuring a favorite player.

Some loose pack breaks
Picked three hobby packs of 2006 Topps Allen and Ginter [$3.75 each/three for $11] at a show last Saturday and two more retail packs at Target [$2.99 each] to see what the buzz was all about. The only card I got of note from the hobby packs was a Ryan Langerhans short print [#151] and a Ervin Santana [#51].

The cards themselves are nice looking, though my five pack pick up seemed more like wanting to drink water because I was thirsty, but only getting a few random drops.

Regional collecting
I'm supposed to be a California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels' fan, but I've missed out on picking up some key cards of young players that have come up from the minor leagues and have helped the Angels' chances to stay afloat in the pennant race this season.

Maybe I've been lazy and ambivalent over baseball card collecting in general, but I still collect and read enough message boards featuring baseball cards, the Angels and prospects in general. I'm no stranger to websites like futureangels.com and baseballamerica.com.

I've got an account on Ebay, so I should have already had particular cards of particular players [from my team] in-hand before all the hype takes place. I kind of feel left out of the picture, though I probably had my reasons for my 'no-action' as far as not picking these guys' cards up.

Still, I have nothing to show for guys like a Jered Weaver [2003 USA auto issues and 2005 BDP auto varieties], Howie Kendrick [various 2004 rookie cards/parallels issued by Topps] and Joe Saunders [2002 Upper Deck PP auto and 2002 Bowman Draft auto varieties].


Now, is it worth my time going through the reasons or am I just SOL?
1.) I'm an uber cheap collector and perhaps the initial prices for some of the cards was already at relatively high levels. I realize that I'm not into flipping cards for a profit. Rather than follow the herd, I'm more apt to be conservative and want something for my personal collection. I have recently speculated on a couple cards [2005 Bowman Draft Chrome Ryan Zimmerman refractor autograph/2005 Upper Deck Signature Edition Kendry Morales update autograph], but didn't want to worry whether or not Weaver will turn out to be the next Mike Witt or Jeff Weaver, as I see myself looking for more position players.

2.) There is a competition factor among the die-hard team collectors and I don't want to feel like I'm some kind of poseur by jumping into the fray.

3.) I don't want to admit I missed the boat, but best time to pick up cards of these guys is definitely not now. I do realize that what comes up, must come down eventually.

4.) I'm more of an autograph collector [in-person/through the mail], than a card collector. I'd rather get Weaver and Kendrick's random signed autographs, than get their rookie cards/rookie year parallels. If I think they are good enough, then I try and get them on an official Major League baseball and I'm happy with that.

5.) Still, maybe I don't show enough confidence in your team's top prospects, both long-term and in the short-term run. I didn't care to realize the potential of a guy like Weaver, who was in some circles, pimped as the next Mark Prior. Maybe I just didn't see guys like Weaver or Kendrick coming up until some time next year.

In 2006, it seemed like a whole roster of first year players have come up and made immediate impacts. Weaver, Kendrick and Saunders are just three of those guys that have already impressed.

6.) Kendrick projects more as a guy who is a good all-around player, with the potential to win batting titles. Does anyone see him putting up Alfonso Soriano numbers? Maybe he is another Ray Durham or someone who puts up all-star numbers, but not superstar numbers.

7.) Saunders probably should have been my guy for much of the last two years. While I look for PC cards, he was injured and there were downpoints when his cards were dirt cheap. Unfortunately, it isn't like I've sought out his cards out at a show. He maybe the guy among the three who becomes decent, but is generally unspectacular over the course of his career.

Now, I think I'm going to be a little more proactive in seeking out rookie cards/rookie year issues of any Angels' prospect who may give the parent club its next productive player.

Baseball card collecting is not a warm-weather hobby
Who wants to be thumbing and sorting through cards, when it is so nice and sunny outside? Pity the fool who would rather be inside playing with his cards or has no other 'default' choice, other than to flip through his brick of useless commons.

I can't come up with a collecting theme that compels me to be focused [with time, effort and $$$]. All my cards and other stuff are 'housed' in my room and it is hard to be enthused with anything when your abode is a furnace for much of the late afternoon.

Mail Day
I got a 1965 Topps Clay Carroll rookie card/Phil Niekro [PSA graded 7] in the mail today.

I casually looked the card up in an ancient [circa 1996] Mo Vaughn Beckett magazine [that I have for reference] and I was dismayed that it was actually Niekro's second year card. I was bummed because I was thinking that this card was going to start my 'vintage' rookie card collection.

I think the fact that it isn't Niekro's actual rookie card shows how impulse bidding [on Ebay] bite you in the butt, especially when you don't do simple research such as checking whether or not a player has had a previous card issued - when you are .

It took me about two weeks to send finally payment about a week ago for the card [$26 plus $4 s/h] and while there is buyer's remorse, I think it is a nice looking card that is going to stay in my personal collection.

The National
Baseball card collecting runs hot and cold because everything seems like the same old cardboard, but the upcoming National in Anaheim gives me an opportunity to see why [or why I’m not collecting].

I want to go to the National and milk the $99/$100 pass for all that it is worth. I have philosophical problems with it though that didn't stop me from purchasing a pass. It is going to be my third National - all have been in Anaheim.

1.) The promos are likely going to be mass produced cards that you are going to put away in junk boxes. I don’t think any of the card companies participating in the National is really willing to put value in their [VIP package] promos by producing high-end versions [ particularly with autographs and/or GU materials]. You take what you can get, but you don’t want to be stuck with crap.

2.) Tiered VIP Packages – you aren’t really guaranteed to get one star, superstar, legend or icon in the $99 package. I don't even know if I'm getting the same one because I purchased my $99 VIP package from the official National website as opposed to Tristar. You get a bunch of loosely termed semistars from the Dodgers and the Angels, with perhaps some other guests, blah, blah, blah - seems like the same names a local promoter [naxcom.com] has been trotting out for the last six years to their autograph shows.

3.) Unless you are willing to pay $$$ - Tristar Productions or a company like Upper Deck is not likely to give you opportunities for casual meet and greets with a star, superstar, legend or icon at the National.

4.) The autograph guest lists has its share of heavy hitters, but any particular sports guy [for example: Magic Johnson, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana] has already done every imaginable show. Those are among the cream of the crop of athletes and there is just seems less elite sports icons [maybe Jim Brown perhaps] you really would pay for, while Johnson, Rice and Montana continue to pimp themselves down to Bob Feller levels [autographs signed, certainly not in fees].

5.) Tristar is known for locking down youngsters to sign autographs at their shows around the country. Where are the local rookies like Russ Martin, Andre Ethier, Mike Napoli or maybe a young, rising star like Ervin Santana? All I see is Matt Kemp and he was already sent down two weeks ago.

Hot
1.) Albert Pujols
2.) David Wright
3.) Jon Papelbon
4.) Justin Verlander
5.) Scott Kazmir
6.) Prince Fielder
7.) Hanley Ramirez
8.) Vernon Wells
9.) Alex Rios
10.) Russ Martin
11.) Andre Ethier
12.) Jim Thome

Not
1.) Jose Reyes
2.) Dallas McPherson
3.) Greg Maddux
4.) Felix Hernandez
5.) Alex Rodriguez
6.) Barry Bonds
7.) Delmon Young
8.) Randy Johnson
9.) Kerry Wood
10.) Mark Prior

Steady
1.) Alfonso Soriano
2.) Ichiro
3.) Derek Jeter
4.) Manny Ramirez
5.) Pedro Martinez
6.) Miguel Cabrera
7.) Michael Young
8.) Ryan Zimmerman

Mail Day
A 1989 Donruss Baseball's Best Ken Griffey Jr. [$9.95 BIN plus $3.95 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox on Monday. This was a card that a childhood friend once had, but never had in my grasp. The rookie year card from a 'boxed set' represents a 'modern-era flashback' card for me.

Still, I'm disappointed - check out the centering on the back of the card. It doesn't seem that visually attractive, especially considering the fact that the card is given a 'BGS 9' grade.

Also arriving in the box on Monday was a 2005 Bowman Heritage Cesar Carrillo box topper variation [$1 plus $1 s/h off Ebay]. I was going to get the card signed at a card show last Saturday, but it didn't arrive in time. I ended up not going to the show, where 2005 top amateur draft prospects Carrillo, Ricky Romero and Ryan Braun were scheduled to sign for free.

Mail Day
A 2005 Topps Chrome Update Trevor Bell autograph [$5.99 BIN plus $2.25 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox on Thursday. This card wasn't a bargain and he is a pitcher as opposed to a hitter, but I figure to pick this card up of Bell's status as the top draft pick of the Angels in 2005.

FYI: He is also Bozo the Clown's grandson - that has to count for something.

Mail Day
A 2003 Fleer Showcase Sweet Stitches Barry Bonds jersey card [$5.50 plus $2.00 s/h on Ebay] arrived today. It was more of an impulsive pick-up and another Bonds material card [x3] to 'denote' three [2002, 2003 and 2004] of his seven MVP seasons.

Also, a 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Chuck Knoblauch autograph [$4.99 BIN plus $2.00 s/h on Ebay] made its way onto my mailbox. I was looking for an Knoblauch autograph, since I sold the autographed card that was signed through a mail request back in the late '90s.

That autograph was on the card [a 1991 Upper Deck], this autograph is certified and on a holographic sticker affixed onto a card.

It ends up being another addition [or upgrade] to my award winners collection - 1991 American League Rookie of the Year style.

Mail Days
A 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot B.J. Upton autograph card [$7.99 plus $2.50 s/h on Ebay] arrived today while a 2005 Bowman Draft set [$12.00 BIN plus $3.00 s/h on Ebay] and a 2005 Topps Update Chris Young [not the 2005 Futures Game subset] gold card numbered to 2005 [$2.99 plus $1.50 s/h off Ebay] arrived on Thursday.

I remember last month, wanting to spend so much time later into the night, the early next morning [1/10/06] just looking for another certified Upton autograph that I had purchased. I ended up finding it in a random bubble mailer that I use for storing various cards.

I think he is going to be a star though and I wanted a Sweet Spot Signatures autograph insert of Upton. Unfortunately, the card I received was crammed into a semi-rigid card holder and it has a nicked corner with a little paper loss. I'm not sending this back to UD - I lost a 2004 Sweet Spot Signatures autograph insert of Delmon Young because I felt I needed to send it back to Upper Deck because it was damaged a little bit. So far, I have not received it back...

The image of the Upton is from the Ebay auction I won.

Picking up the 2005 Bowman Draft set ended up to be pretty good - shipping was only the price of a single card [$3] as opposed $5 or more [and the actual amount the set was shipped for was $5.33].

It came with a 2005 Bowman Draft AFLAC redemption and the seller also included bonus fillers cards consisting of 2005 Bowman Draft gold. Out of the blue, I was possibly looking for Andrew McCutchen, D.J. Houlton, Cesar Ramos and Travis Buck cards and all four were among the bonus filler cards...

Picking up a card of Young was pretty expensive [close to $5 shipped], but I think his Topps Update card was a rookie card and a rookie-year card [confused?] may be a 'prudent, low-end' purchase for the near future [if he develops into a star].