Happy New Year !!

Quick post to wish everyone a happy New Year and a great 2016. I hope we can have another cool collecting year with lots of trades, interesting box breaks and, most of all, a lot of fun !!

In a few hours it will be 2016 here in the Netherlands, assuming the Blogger scheduler works smoothly, and after 6 or 9 more hours you will be joining me as well into 2016 ! Let's make it a good one !!

As every post needs a card, here's a cool Kershaw Prizm !!

Happy New Year !!!

My first Maddux !

Chasing every Glavine card in existince increases the likelyhood that one comes across a card that also includes Maddux (and/or Smoltz of course). The problem is that when Maddux is included on the card it tends to drive up the price. Luckily the card below has a print run to 50, making it not that scarse and with several one eBay at the same time the price was pretty attractive. So there it is, my first Maddux auto, with a Glavine and Thomas on the side from the Class of 2014 !!

Enjoy the last days of a great 2015 !!

Back with some Canvas !

Quick post today as I finally have some spare time in between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Life has been hectic but despite that, new cards have still been coming in regularly ! Here's one that came in recently, a first for me as it is a Canvas Collection card from this year's Museum Collection. The card is signed on the back, not by Tom himself but by the artist.

Any of you have these Canvas Collection cards ?

2011 Gypsy Queen !

As some of you might know I have been trying to complete the 2011 Gypsy Queen Auto & Relic set for several years now, a slow and gradual adventure. I have not been able to add much since the summer but recently saw one great card appear and was able to score it for my collection. Here it is, my latest 2011 GQ auto, Ryan Sandberg !!

Love the card (although the auto looks a bit messy!). Still a couple to go, and likely a few more years, but we are gradually getting there !! Here's my current collection. The ones I still need are obviously missing !

Thanks for visiting my blog today !

Quick post during busy times !

Wow, it feels like a long time I have published my last post. Work, Study, Family, Sports, all caused my life to be swamped and caused my absence from my blog. I still have an exam to make next week and just started in my new role at work so the busy times are not over yet. At the same time, if a Topps envelop drops on my doormat I need to share it with the world and my friends in the blogosphere of course !!!

So here it is, my latest Rizzo addition. After the recent deals the Cubs look even better now and should be again fun to watch the upcoming season !! Here's Rizzo together with Baez from this year's Museum Collection. Topps delivers again when it comes to Redemptions !!

 
Next up a cool Kershaw card I was able to pick-up on eBay. Although the Kershaw collection has taken a back seat given the high prices for his cards I am happy I am able to pick up a nice card now and then !!

 
Thanks for visiting my blog today ! Enjoy the Christmas holidays everyone !!

Visit to a LCS in Tokyo !!

Thanks to some good tips from Ryan and Zippy Zappy I was on a mission to visit at least one LCS in Tokyo during my visit last week. I found one on the web at only 10 minutes from my hotel in Shinjuku called Mint Shinjuku !

The shop had a wide variety of cards including a lot of soccer cards, NFL, local Japanese Baseball cards as well as MLB cards. With little expectation I started looking around for some new Glavine cards. Well, who would have thought I would actually find a low-numbered Glavine, a 2007 Finest card numbered to only 25 !! I also found a cool 2002 Fleer Showcase card !

Although they did not have that much for my collection I did find two more baseball cards. First up, a Greg Halman auto. As some of you might remember, Greg played for the Mariners until he was murdered during a trip to his family in the Netherlands, ending not only his MLB career but more importantly his life at a way too young age....

I also found myself a cool Rizzo card from this year's Topps TeK !

Besides some baseball cards they also had some lose packs of Star Wars for sale. Although I normally not collect any of these I though it would be fun to open some packs. Here's what I got !

First up, Han Solo !!! and Luke Skywalker !!!

More cool cars with Luke and his Father !!

Lastly, a silky Star Wars card !!

These Star Wars cards bring back memories so pretty cool to open a few packs of these. All in all a fun visit to one of Tokyo's many card shops !!

Thanks for visiting my blog today !

Tokyo dome !!

As some of you read in my earlier post, I had to visit Tokyo for work last week. Luckily I had some time to myself on Saterday before flying back to Europe on Sunday. Browsing the internet I noticed that the finals of the World Championship Baseball was actually held on that day in Tokyo, talk about coincidence !!

Of course I couldn't let this opportunity pass by so bought a ticket online. The following ticket arrived at my doorstep just before my trip.

To me this could be a big fraud or a valid ticket as I had no clue what the ticket said. Even the start time of the game was confusing with times 11:00, 13:00 and 19:00 being mentioned. Asking for some advice during my trip in Tokyo even my Japanese colleagues were not entirely clear so I decided to show up at 11:00 and see what would happen. Apparently I had bough a ticket that both gave me the right to attend the bronze medal match (Japan vs Mexico) and the final later that day (Korea vs USA). It was clear this was going to be a long day !!

Before I moved into the stadium, this was the view outside, a large fairy wheel and a rollercoaster ! But anyways, no time for that, it was time to see Japan play first !

I had fairly good seats and had a good view of the field. Below just before the matched commenced !

The first match actually was pretty boring. After the 2nd inning Japan was already leading with 8-0 with Mexico already at there 3rd pitcher. With still a long day ahead, given that the final only started at 19:00, I decided to leave the stadium after the 4th inning and check out the surrounding, visit a LCS (more on that in a next post!!), have dinner etc. only to return at 19:00 for the final ! Below, the bases are loaded just before a 2 base, 2RBI hit by Japan.

At 19:00 I re-entered the stadium to see the USA team play Korea. Well, this matched turned out the same as the earlier match as after the 3rd inning or so Korea was already leading by 7 or so. Both matches had clear winners and never really became exciting. Nevertheless, Tokyo Dome and the surroundings were are great experience so happy to have been there !!

Be on the look out for my next post with my loot from a LCS visit in Toyko !!

Our first Win at Premier 12 !! Going to Tokyo !!

Of course the World Series are over but of course that does not mean we have a World Champion yet (bring on the comments !). The World Championship has only just started in Taiwan with the finals being planned in Tokyo next week. The Netherlands, or Kingdom of the Netherlands as we seem to officially call ourselves in these baseball tournaments, won the first game 2 days ago beating Chinese Taipai by 7 to 4. This without key players like Gregorius, Profar, Schoop, Simmons, Bogaerts but with Andruw Jones. Would be great to see all these players play together at some point.

A few years ago we actually became World Champions so who knows what can happen this time around. Even better news is that I am visiting Tokyo for work next week and was able to be there on Saturday. The best news is that I got tickets to the final that day !!!! Let's hope the Kingdom of the Netherlands reaches the final and I can be part of history !

Anyways, before we get carried away here let's wait and see what happens in the coming days.

Any of you following the Premier 12 ? Any tips for good LCS in Tokyo ?

As every post needs a card, here's a Dutchie !!

Another UK Package !!

Yesterday I received a surprise package from the UK, a surprise package from Matthew !! Matthew and I have traded once before and although he doesn't have a blog he does take part in a UK baseball card Facebook page. With me being old-fashion and not having Facebook, I am not sharing in that fun I am afraid. Nevertheless, sending packages back and forth is always fun and appreciated !!

The yellow envelop was full of cool Gypsy Queen cards !! Let's start with some minis !! I love minis and trying to complete the minis set so these are very helpful !! Matthew send me a big pile of at least 30 minis, here are a few !

Matthew send me some more minis, 2015 inserts and 2015 GQ !!

In addition the a big bunch of GQ inserts Matthew also send me some very cool Joe DiMaggio cards. Awesome cards from 2009 UD SPx Baseball, all numbered to 425 so I guess that's the print run on these. Very nice cards so might decide to chase this insert set !!

All in all Matthew send me an awesome package so thanks so much Matthew, a return package will be on its way in the coming weeks !!

Cubs !

When I wrote this post the Mets are still hanging in there being 2-1 behind. Hopefully when this post is published, they are still going, making this an exciting World Series!

I really enjoyed watching the Cubs this regular season as well as the post season, ignoring the Mets sweep of course. All of it was fun to watch. To celebrate a cool Cubs season, with more to come next year I hope, I was able to add a cool Rizzo card to my collection with Lester and Baez as a bonus !!

You guys enjoyed the Cubs as well this season ?

Konami anyone ?

I recently noticed a cool card on eBay and given it's a Glavine card I had to chase it of course. It's a 2006 or 2005 Konami card. Browsing through my Glavine beckett list I was not able to track it down on that on, making this even a more interesting one ! I only know Konami from MSX videogames from when I was a kid. Meet my first Konami card !

Do you guys own any Konami cards ? Any more detail one these ?

Redemption package !

I have been swamped with work, family and life so blog postings have been pretty slow in recent months. Trying to get some in here and there. Today a quick one as I received another redemption this week !! A 2015 Topps Museum Collection Smotlz & Glavine card !!

Hope to be back soon, thanks for visiting my blog today !

Trains & Locomotives !!

I have no clue why but I really like old trains & locomotives. A year or so ago I find a mini set from the UK from the 1930ties and was able to get my hands on one of these mini sets. A month or so ago I discovered that Topps apparently also has used the theme in the past, in 1955 to be exact. Topps issued a set or insert set called Trains & Sails. Topps even re-issued these in 2013 as an insert set. A few weeks ago I was able to get my hands on a few of both the original 1955 set as well as the 2013 re-issued ones. Here they are !

First up, the "Rocket" from the mid-3ties and the "999" from 1893 !!

Next up, the Electric Locomitive build by GE and the 1880 Wootten Camelback Locomotive !

As said, Topps re-issued (at least part) of the set in 2013. Here's the "999" again !

Any of you know about any other Train or Locomotive sets ? If you have any for trade do let me know !!

Another Trade witha 2 by 3 Hero !

Jeff at 2 by 3 Heroes is one of my longstanding and regular trading partners. I send him a, hopefully, nice package a while back and a cool return package arrived on my doorstep last week. The theme of this package was "Minis" !!! I love minis and trying to complete the A&G and GQ mini sets from all years so can always use some minis !! Here's the first bunch !!

That wasn't all, Jeff send me more minis !!!!

Besides these awesome minis Jeff also send me a couple of pitcher cards including a cool Sabathia !

Two Verlanders were also included (although no Kate was included, guess Jeff kept her for himself!)

All in all a cool package again, thanks a bunch Jeff, really appreciate it !!!

Kershaw & Rizzo !!

I am really enjoying the play-offs this year ! Cool games, lots of stuff going on and the Cubs doing well and bringing some excitement ! This does, however, mean that one of my key players I collect is out. Despite a solid appearance of Kershaw, the Dodgers are out, kicked out by the Mets. So my latest Kershaw card might be the last we see of Clayton this year !! At least it's an awesome card and also numbered to only 25 !

On the flip side, the Cubs are on a roll !! A great and fun team to watch with lots of passion and a good shot of winning this year. Rizzo is playing his part with a few play-off homers already. I hope he can go all the way with the Cubs this year !! Here is my latest Rizzo card, a A&G silk one !!

You all enjoying the play-offs ? Thanks for visiting my blog today !

Let's RIP it !!!

Last week I showed you a RIP card, a Rizzo RIP card, an unripped RIP card !! The only proper thing to do with a RIP card, in my book, would be to RIP it !! Of course this is what will happen tonight ! As a reminder, here is the Rizzo RIP card I got through a recent trade with Matt.

As you can see, a beautiful card in an unripped state !!!

Well, it looks different now as it has been ripped !! Last year I actually pulled a mini-RIP card in which a 1/1 mini was hidden. Let's see what this year has in store for me ! Here it is, the hidden treasure......































........wait for it .................................

Boom ! or actually...what a bust....after last year's big hit this year ends pretty disappointing. In the end a pretty expensive ripped Rizzo card for my Rizzo collection (and a likely big relief for Matt not having Ripped this one himself !!). The extended mini is for trade of course !

Anyways, I am counting on better luck next year !

A huge trade, part 2 !!

A few days ago I showed you the first part of one of my largest trades in my collecting history, a trade with Matt at Bubba's Bangin' Batch of Baseball Bits. Today it's time for part 2 !! As said the best was still to come.

First up, an Allen & Ginter John "Mule" Miles auto card. I love the look and feel of this card.  Wikipedia gives the following background on John:

John "Mule" Miles (August 11, 1922 – May 24, 2013) played with the Chicago American Giants of the Negro League from 1946-1949.^[2] Nicknamed the "Mule" by his manager Candy Jim Taylor after hitting two home runs in one ball game. Taylor commented that Miles "hit like a mule kicks". Miles is legendary for hitting 11 home runs in 11 straight games. John Miles played alongside baseball stars Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and Monte Irvin. 

He performed at Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds, Comiskey Park, and Griffith Stadium among others. Miles was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame in Dallas, Texas on November 4, 2000. He was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame at the Alamo Dome on February 7, 2003. Mr. Miles is an original Tuskegee Airman Member of the San Antonio Chapter at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

On June 5, 2008, Miles and 29 other former living Negro League players were "drafted" by each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in a recognition of the on-field achievements and historical relevance of 30 mostly forgotten Negro League stars. He was picked by the Seattle Mariners.

That's it for Wiki class today ! Meet my latest cool Allen & Ginter card !!

Next-up, the card that starting all of this !! Yes, a 2015 Allen & Ginter RIP card !!!! A Anthony Rizzo RIP card !!!!! UNripped !!!!

Numbered to only 25 it is a awesome addition to my Rizzo collection !

Although this means the end of a great trade it does not mean the end of the problem....because what do we do.......do we rip it or not !!!! Last year was easy, I didn't collect the player on the card so than we simply RIP !! but this is Rizzo, can we hurt Rizzo ??!?!

What do you guys think, to RIP or not to RIP ?

A huge trade !!

I don't do "huge" trades very often but a recent deal clearly can be classified as huge !! It was a trade with Matt at Bubba's Bangin' Batch of Baseball Bits (not sure how long it took him to come up with that blog name!).

I noticed a great card of one of my PC guys on his blog and it all starting rolling from there ! Before we knew it we had a huge trade going on with some great cards going to Matt (probably my best pull ever!) but also several piles of great cards moving into my direction. Can't show them all in one posts but let's make a start !!

The trade included a few hundred minis going my way...yes you read that correctly....a few hundred !!! Given that I am trying to complete all the Allen & Ginter and Gypsy Queen mini sets this was really awesome. First up, a couple of the hundred minis that came my way !!

More minis, this time mini inserts !!!

Love the mini inserts, especially Bird of Prey !

Matt send me loads of Flagship inserts as well, here's Cut to the Chase with Kiner and Fielder !

Awesome insert alerts: The Elites !!

More awesome inserts, here are some "The Greats".

Matt also had a bunch of box toppers for me, here's one...David Wright !!

That's it for the first post with the best still to come !! So stay tuned for the 2nd post on this trade soon !! Thanks Matt for an awesome trade !