Contest Time !!

As announced a few blog posts before, it's time to have a contest !! I must admit, and am a little ashamed to admit, that this is only my first contest after almost 2 years of running this blog. That's why this is going to be a good one !!

For one, I would like to thank everyone for their support in the last 2 years, it has been a great ride and I am very thankful for all the people that were willing to trade with me and/or let me participate in the box breaks, despite the additional postage involved in such trades. I am really thankful for this !!

I am looking forward to many more great years of collecting & trading as the blogosphere makes collecting baseball cards so much more fun !!!

So to say "thanks" let's have a contest full of prices !! It will be a simple one with a bit of competition as that makes it more fun. I have 7 prizes, yes you read that right, 7 !! The rules of the games are simple. The one with the most points scored gets to pick first card, the one with the 2nd highest amount of points gets to pick 2nd. From cards 3 to 6, the randomizer will decide, i.e. 1 entry per point (excluding the people who already got prize number 1 or 2 of course) and the number 1 from the randomizer will get to pick 3rd, the number 2 4th etc (did I confuse everyone enough already ???). We go down to 6 cards and the card that is left will be randomized among the people that did not get their hands on a prize yet in this contest (here it will be one man one entry). So plenty of chance to win a cool card if you ask me !!

So how can you score points ? Glad you asked !

1. Leave a comment on this post to indicate you are participating and you already score 1 point !
2. Include me in your blog roll and indicate you have done so in your comment and you score another point !
3. Promote this contest on your blog for an additional 3 points, yes 3 points !! Also let me know in a comment to this post that you did so ! If I am not already following you in my blog roll I will add you right away as well !!

4. Oke, now some competition comes in !! Leave comments on my blog on any post from the last 2 years and score 1 point for every 3 comments you leave. I admit, not entirely original as other blogs have done this as well (most notably Brian at Play at the Plate!) but I rather "borrow" a good idea than to came up with a poor one myself ! Make sure the comments are (at least a bit) relevant to the post you are commenting on !

That's it. I will let the contest run for a week or so and will announce 1 day in advance when I am closing it.

So, it should be fun but is it worth it ? Well, you be the judge of that, here are the prizes !

First up, a 2012 Topps Tribute Tim Lincecum Relic card numbered to 99 !

Second card is a 2003 Fleer Flair Chipper Jones Relic card !! On its way to the HoF !

The third one is an autographed card from this 2013 Bowman Inception of Slade Heathcott, a prospect Yankees Outfielder. Yes, I collect Yankees cards but I picked up two by accident so this is your chance to own one as well !

Oke, let's throw in a printing plate, meet Dirk Nowitzki, former player of the Dallas Mavericks. Yes, it's basketball but someone might like this one !! I wouldn't be able to tell you from which set this one comes from I am afraid.

Another nice relic card from 2005 Leaf Certified Materials, David Cone in Mets uniform !

Here's another basketbal player, Sonny Weeks (Denver Nuggets) from the 2009 Topps Signature set.

Oke, you all ready for the last card ?!?! Meet future HoF, first ballot I am sure, Clayton Kershaw from the 2007 Bowman Sterling set, numbered to 199.

Oke, let the games begin !! Good luck everyone !!

Pulling a Chipper Jones Auto !

A while back, when I was visiting the US, I was able to get a box of 2008 Upper Deck Authentic, a set I really liked and am still trying to complete. I opened the box yesterday so let's have a quick peak what was in the box !

Let's do it differently this time and start with the big hit !! The box included a "by the letter" autographed card numbered to only 10 ! Furthermore, it's a HOF-to-be, it's Chipper Jones ! The auto is a bit difficult to see on the scan but it's there !

I pulled two more autos out of the box with the Hart one having a relic as well !

The base cards itself look pretty nice as well, I like'em ! Here's Jeter and Rivera !

Given that this is an Upper Deck box from 2008 I had the pleasure of receiving some more Yankee Stadium Legacy, a set I am foolish enough to try to complete (but I still have 5000 or so to go !!).

I also pulled a Glavine Authentic Achievement variation card !

All in all a fun box the break with some good trade bait or eBay loot !

More loot from the Dimwit !

Another envelop from Sam at the Daily Dimwit arrived on my doorstep last week, containing the loot from a recent box break Sam hosted. Sam's box breaks are always a lot of fun with interesting and original boxes of cards. This time was no different as he opened boxes of 2003 Topps T-205 Series 1, 2004 UD Diamond Collection Pro Sigs, 2003 UD Standing O and 2003 Playoff Portraits. As the Yankees were already taken (thanks to whoever came up with the concept of "time-difference" !!), I grabbed the Mariners and Braves. Here's what Sam send me !

First up, Playoff Portraits. They actually look pretty nice. Here's Ichiro and Chipper !

Next-up, more Ichiro, this time from the Topps 205 set

This set looks great and the best thing is, it contains minis, I like minis !!

In addition, this sets includes some small booklet type cards, again here are two with Ichiro

I promise, this was the last Ichiro ! Next up Standing "O", round cards ! Bernie Sheffield and Andruw Jones

Next up, Standing "O" base cards, ooops, I found another Ichiro (all for trade by the way) !!

Sam also threw in some extra cards including this great prime 9 set !!

Furthermore, Sam added another nice addition to my Mariano Rivera collection, while also adding a red UD Masterpiece card (#75), awesome, I love that set !!

All in all, another great break and some great extra cards that Sam threw in !! Sam many thanks for the break and looking forward to the next one !!

More JABO Group Break Loot !

I know this is already the third post in a short while concerning cards that Kyle at JABO was kind enough to send me, but my moto is "Every package deserves a post" !! A few weeks ago Kyle at Juuust a bit Outside (JABO) organized a fun group break, opening 2003 Topps Bazooka, 2008 UP SP Authentic, 2005 Topps Chrome and 2003 Fleer Flair. I was lucky enough to grab the Yankees, Mets and Braves. I liked the selection of boxes Kyle came up with, and I had a lucky break with some nice hits as well (at the end of this post!). Have a look at what Kyle send me !

First up, 2003 Topps Bazooka, a cool set I must say !

Roger Clemens and Bernie Williams in action...

The Soriano on the left is a much thicker card compared to the others, with a colored logo

Minis, yes Minis, the set contains Minis, I always like Minis !!!

Secondly, 2003 Fleer Flair, a set I like to be honest, although reviews I have seen have been mixed

A couple of Yankees including Jeter and Clemens...

 ...and a couple of Braves in the form of Maddux and Chipper Jones. I think I will try to complete this set, I like it !

Thirdly, 2008 UP SP Authentic, another nicely looking set I must admit

I really like these Marquee Matchups cards and it adds another card to my Glavine Collection !

The base cards are also nice, above David Wright and Jose Reyes, with the latter of course recently having moved to sunny Florida.

The great things about Upper Deck in 2008 was the insert series Yankee Stadium Legacy and luckily this break also had some in it. I decided the start collecting this set a while back and I need at least 5,000 (!!) more of this set so if you have any lying around let's set-up a trade !!

Last-up, before the hits, 2005 Topps Chrome. Some years of Topps Chrome I like and some years have something funny about them. The 2005 set looks a bit funny to me so I am not a big fan of it. Still, I will try to complete the Yankees team set of course !

Here two of the Mets that Kyle pulled for me, Reyes and Piazza (Joe let me know if you need this one!). Now lets move to the hits of the break !!

First up, an awesome Yankee Stadium Legacy Jersey card of Jason Giambi, with Pinestripe !!

Second hit was a Fleer Flair Power Tools card (#200) with Relics on both side !! Never seen a double-sided relic card before so for me a first !!

Lastly, a Chipper Jones Diamond Cuts Jersey card which I will add to my trade bait list !!

Kyle, an awesome break again so as always: Thank you very much !! Do check out Kyle's blog JABO for more fun Box Breaks !