Another happy trader in reader Matt ...

Been a crazy day at work so really haven't had a chance to post at all today.  Just wanted to thank reader Matt for the note he passed along:

Shane,
Got the package today.  Needless to say I am very happy!  Thanks for all the great cards and I'll keep checking your blog and your needs list.
-Matt

Matt had sent these cards about two weeks ago and going his way was a number of 2010 Allen and Ginter base cards, including several SPs and This Day in History Cards. I had picked these up at the local shop and maybe paid a buck for these if that. Matt also likes the Cubs and Pirates, so also tucked in a '70 Topps Hebner, a '76 SSPC Rick Monday, and some '78/79 OPC & Topps Cubs and Pirates cards. Thanks again Matt, I'm sure we'll trade again!

Trade with Plaschke Thy Sweater is Argyle

So Greg over at Plaschke Thy Sweater is Argyle hit me up in the comments field for the Trade Bait Utley patch from the 2011 Topps. While these retro logo patch cards are cool, I just have never been into collecting them. So instead of sitting in a box, I decided to throw it out as my first Trade Bait.

Taking a ride across country were some Ginter minis and a well-loved Reggie Smith.

First up, Reggie, pictured here as a Red Sox on his second year, 1968 Topps card. Greg, you were right, it's got a lot of character, but I like it. Wouldn't you like to be able to trace this card's path over the years. Think of how different life has changed in only 43 years. In 1973, Smith was limited to only 115 games, but still hit .303 with 21 home runs and 69 RBI and ended a streak of four straight years in which he had received votes in the MVP balloting.

Smith became expendable after the '73 season, as Boston had a slew of rookie outfielders coming up and needed starting pitching. Dwight Evans, Rick Miller, Fred Lynn, and Jim Rice had already reached the majors or were just on the cusp. Rise Wise and '75 World Series (game 6) hero Bernie Carbo came to Boston for Smith. It would mark the second time in 3 years that Wise had been traded.

For his 17-year career, Smith’s numbers were very impressive. He finished with a .287 batting average, 314 home runs, 1,092 RBI and 1,123 runs scored. Since retirement, Smith has served as a hitting coach. He was the hitting coach for Team USA at the 1988 Olympics and the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.

Next in the package were a handful of Allen & Ginter minis and mini inserts. It's nice to be able to add some National Animals as I only had a few in hand. With all the minis I have landed lately, I need more tobacco sized sheets in a big way. I currently have been using these 20 pocket sheets (not UltraPro) but don't like how the don't quite cover the whole card, but they'll do for now. I also realize that with my budget, collecting the entire run of mini sets is really not feasible right now, but want more minis than what the "Frankenstein set" would limit me to at a 350 card set.

Thanks for dropping me a line Greg, I'm sure we'll trade again. With my first Trade Bait being a success, I will definitely throw another up this week. Stay tuned.

Trade with Bound for Beantown ...

So Joe, a fellow Red Sox Nation member at Bound for Beantown dropped me a line not too long ago about doing a trade. Joe has recently got back into collecting and was eager to help me out on a number of fronts.

First up, three cards off my All-Time Red Sox Roster collection. Nick Green (kinda looks like Bradley Cooper), Paul Byrd, and Lars Anderson. Poor Lars finally got back on track last year only to now be block by Adrian Gonzalez. I don't see Lars reaching Boston again and think he'll be elsewhere come Spring Training's end.

Next up, some YYYYOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! Love this sweaty guy. Kevin has really turned himself into one of the game's top players. He was never your typical top prospect, toolsy guy. He came from University of Cincinnatti—not exactly a baseball powehouse—he's slow, and does not look the part of an athlete, but sure knows how to play the game. His swing was built for Fenway and have turned himself into a great fielder no matter which side of the corners he plays from. The "Greek God of Walks" looks good here in this batch of cards, including his 2003 Bowman rookie that I did not have.

In this batch, we have another rising Sox star in Clay Buchholz. A guy that other teams have coveted in trade talks over the years. Now along with Jon Lester, has given the Sox an excellent home-built, 1 and 1A top of the rotation for years to come. I didn't have too many of his cards, so this was a nice add, especially his All-Star jersey swatch.

 Next up, some more BoSox including a Lester I didn't have in the '10 Upper Deck.

Joe also sent along a bunch of retro minis too!!! First in the lot was three, numbered to 99, T206 Cycle cards.

More Topps T206s from 2009 and 2010. As we now know, T206 is dead and will not return this year.

Next up, some Allen & Ginter minis. I have received a number of these lately and need to update my Frankenstein set wants. When I was at my local shop on Friday, he told me that he has not received any info regarding an 2011 Ginter offering. I wonder if Topps will push this later this year. Above are batches from the 2008, 2009, and 2010 sets.

And finally, we close with more retro minis from 2009 UD's Goodwin Champions. Will be building this set—love the artwork too much to not build it. A nice mix of SPs and black borders.

So thanks Joe!!!  I need to put the final touches on your package and get that out to you this week. You definitely hit on all my likes with this trade.

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Coming up this week, I'll have my trade bait Utley patch recap coming on Monday, plus I'll show what I picked up at the local card store, will do another trade bait post, plus will show a card or two I designed for "Cards that Should Have Been." I won't be doing any TTM requests this Spring Training, but for those that do, good luck and this is the week to get those requests in the mail. The earlier the better as most teams don't really get their workout going till later this week.

Trades via reader Matt and The Call of Cardboard

First up today on the trading front is a package I received from reader Matt. Matt contacted about a couple of weeks ago saying he had found my blog and thought he could fill in a couple of needs for me. Going his way later this week on some 2010 Allen & Ginter base and This Day in History cards along with some older Pirates and Cubbies.

First up is a bunch of 2010 Allen & Ginter minis that will go towards my frankenstein set. I am really getting to the point that I might consider going for the mini sets for all the years or just collect any mini I can and if I get build a set. If not, I'll have a hell of a Allen & Ginter mini collection.

I just can't bring myself to boot out a mini Washington Monument card for player X (when player X is a superstar). That's what I love about this set—it's more than just baseball, it's history and little factoids. Having visited my brother in DC a couple years ago, he explained why the monument was two different shades of color. Turns out, they had to stop construction during the Civil War, and when they resumed, the materials were of slightly different tone.

Ok, back to modern day, some here are some nice minis including the X-ray and a Red Sox. 

Second group is some 2010 inserts that I needed for various sets. Thanks again Matt and I'll throw you a note letting you know when your package heads out. Hope we can do it again!

Second trade recap is from Chris over at The Call of Cardboard. This is my second trade with Chris, also a fellow Red Sox fan and collector. We seem to collect the same things, but manage to trade pretty easily. Going his way on some various 2010 Topps set and insert set needs, some 2009 Goudeys and a couple of Red Sox 70's oddball issues that I don't think he's ever seen before.

First up is a card I once pulled out of a pack in 2009 but traded it away, I think to Nachos Grande back in 2009. From Ginter's 2009 Creatures of Legend, Myth, and Terror, the Vampire. Love this series and wonder what Topps will bring to the table this year.

Next two shots are of some 2009 Goodwin Champion minis!!!!  Man, I love these cards!!!  Great color and a nice mix of action and posed artwork. I definitely need to make a list and hit that local card shop this weekend to tackle this mini set. The cards are plenty and cheap, cheap, cheap!!!! Thanks again Chris, I'm sure we'll be trading again soon!

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.