Trade with Thoughts and Sox and other tidbits

Being a die hard Red Sox fan, one might think it would be hard trading with other Sox card collectors, but I find it pretty easy. I try to keep my Red Sox collection narrowed down to my All-Time Roster collection and then collect cards from my favorite Sox over the years. Guys like Rice, Mo Vaughn, Nomaaaah, Pedro, Varitek, Youk, Lester, and Buchholz. I don't need to have all of them, but pick up some here and there when I can.

Plain and simple, there is just too much out there and so I have an abundance of Red Sox cards that sit and collect dust. So when Adam from Thoughts and Sox emailed about trading, it was an easy match. Adam has an extensive list of Sox needs so I was able to hit across a wide variety of sets along with a number of other Sox oddball items not on his lists. I think close to 500+ cards when his way. After receiving the package below, and telling him how happy I was with the contents, he said he felt it wasn't enough. I told him not to worry and that making a dent into what I collect far out weighed what I traded away.

So with that, onto the package.

First up, some vintage 1971 Topps Red Sox!! Rico, Boomer, and Reggie. These three cards will be showcased again for a blog series that will roll out as we get closer to the start of the season. Three sharp looking cards of some Sox greats of the seventies.

While on the Red Sox theme, next up are four cards off my All-Time Sox roster collection.

How about some letterpatch and jersey relic Red Sox.

Adam also hit on my Heritage set needs knocking off another '60 and three cards off my '61 set.

Next up we minis, with a bunch of 2008 Allen & Ginters ...

Some 2010 Ginters ...

Ginter insert sets ... really love the flag series cards ...

And finally, some 2009 Topps T206s to boot!

So there you have it, a trade that worked out great for both Red Sox collectors and crossed off many numbers off of each others wantlists. Thank you again Adam and go Sox!!!!

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I also received a trade with reader Matt, but accidentally deleted my pics. I'll be sure to retake and post tomorrow.

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I also received my collection from the Topps Million Card Giveaway. I had been wondering what condition these would be, and was rather pleasantly surprised. All of the vintage '60s had nice, strong color and decent corners. Only two, a '68 and '69 had really soft corners. The various 70's cards were all strong Ex-Mt to Nr-Mt. I'll try to showcase a few of these in the next day or two.

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Gregory over at, Plaschke, The Sweater Is Argyle, nabbed the Utley patch card. Some 2010 Allen Ginters and insert set cards are heading to the east coast in exchange.

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And lastly, the Tooth Fairy brought me a little surprise. I had won last week a 2010 Allen & Ginter Creatures of Legend, Myth, and Joy and when I opened the envelope, these fell out.

Four minis that I didn't have for my T206 Frankenstein set and a bunch of T206 base cards, one of which a SP NNO variation Brian McCann. If anyone is collecting this set, or wants to trade for one of these, drop me a comment or email.

One Last Hurrah

So while I wait for my delivery from the Topps Million Card Giveaway, I was left with three cards in my collection: 1979 Marty Pattin, 1980 Doug Capilla, and a 1991 Terry Kennedy. I hadn't done anything in over a week with these cards nor did I get any offers. So I said to myself, lets see if I can't add three more guys from my no hitters need list in one day.

Within about and hour and a half, the last three cards were gone and three new ones had arrived.

The first was Pattin for a 1987 Joe Cowley who threw a no-hitter on September 19, 1986 against the eventual AL West Champions, the California Angels. For nine innings, the right-handed Cowley had fought against two foes: the Angels and himself. He won, 7-1, but not without first allowing seven walks and yielding a sixth-inning sacrifice fly that brought in the Angel run. That no hitter and win, was the last of his career. The following year near the end of spring training, Joe was traded to the Phillies for Gary Redus. He would pitch in 5 games, losing 4 while carrying a 15+ earn run average.

Next up was Capilla for a 1982 Charlie Lea. Lea would toss his feat against the San Francisco Giants in the second game of a double-header. The Giants won the opener, 5-1. In the second game, Lea struck out a career high of eight batters and walked four. He became the first Expo to pitch a no-hitter since Bill Stoneman did it against the Mets on October 2, 1972. Stoneman achieved the team's first no-hitter, also against the Mets, in 1969. Charlie would go one to have a couple of decent years with the Expos with an all-star appearance in 1984.

Last up was trying to rid myself of Terry Kennedy. I think I crafted no more than a dozen trade offers in a span of 10 minutes before I got an acceptance. Kennedy for a 1998 Kevin Brown. Pitching for the Marlins, Brown hurled a 9-0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants, on June 10, 1997. Brown hit just one batter (in the eighth inning with two outs) and did not walk anyone... On July 16 of that same season, Brown hurled a one-hitter against the Dodgers.

So with that, I now find myself looking at a $4.00 delivery charge for three commons that probably are worth the price of ONE stamp.  Anyone have these out there that wants to trade or would you just bite the bullet and enjoy one last hurrah with one pretty fun redemption program?