Jeremy's package

One of my (hopefully growing population of) readers, Jeremy, contacted me recently about a trade as he had some Topps Series 2 from my Want List and was looking for a lot of 2012 base, which I happen to have plenty of ! So we ironed out a quick trade and earlier this week a nice package arrived at my doorstep !

The first card was one of the Mound Dominance I was still missing: John Smoltz !

Mickey Mantle was also present ! and the minis I love, here's Weaver !!

I really like the A Cut Above inserts so receiving two new ones is great, in particular on of my favourite pitchers, Verlander !!

Jeremy also included a few 2012 Archives that I was still missing !

Lastly, the coolest thing in the packages I often receive are surprise Glavine cards. Jeremy also included a few that made my day !!! Here's two.

Thanks Jeremy for the cool package and looking forward to the next trade !

Mariano Rivera Gold Auto card !!!

I wish.............As you are probably well aware, yesterday was the last day that you could send in your Topps 2012 wrappers to participate in Topps Gold Rush Wrapper Redemption. Well, did I have some wrapper to send in !!! As I bought six boxes of Topps 2012, I had 216 wrappers to send in. At first I didn't think about participating as collectors outside of the US are not eligible to participate in whatever redemption program Topps comes up with (which I think is silly but that's the way it is).

Luckily Kyle at Juuust a bit outside was really great and offered to combine wrappers and send them in. Of course I happily accepted his offer and send him all my wrappers on the 14th of February (yes, Valentine's day but not meant as a romantic gesture Kyle....haha). I have send several packages to the US, most recently a trade package to Robert at $30 a week habit which usually arrive in a week or so. So I thought it was going to be all oke, already looking forward to a nice golden Mariano Rivera card or maybe another of the pitchers I collect.

However, earlier this week Kyle still hadn't received any wrappers. I know Kyle lives in Hoyt and I have no clue where that is but I assumed the mail man would know ! Sadly enough, yesterday came and no wrappers..... Luckily Kyle was able to send in his own on time.

So to morale of this story: if anybody collects (expired) wrappers let Kyle know, he will be receiving a bunch at some point I guess !!!

Clearly, life is a bit more difficult being an overseas collector but I have been positively surprised by the baseball card blogging community.....you guys have been great and Kyle's willingness to help me out was another great example of that !

Many thanks to you all and thanks for reading !!!

JABO's box break loot arrives !

I recently participated in Kyle's Topps 2012 box break at his Juuust a bit outside blog and it was again a lot of fun and well organised. As usual I picked the Yankees and the randomiser gave me the Marlins as well.

As you might recall I recently broke some boxes myself so I actually completed the base set already. Still the break give me one missing card, one of the great pitchers I collect: a CC Sabathia's mini !!  

Granderson's mini was also included, guess he just finished a nice slide...

2 more minis were pulled, both up for trade !

I like these Golden Greats cards, still needs some to complete my set so check out my want list !

3 nice Golden Standard cards ! Sadly enough the white spaces were not filled with an auto...

To conclude, a fun break and again a bit closer to completing the insert sets ! Thanks Kyle for doing the break, keep an eye on his JABO blog as I expect more breaks coming up in the next few months (no pressure Kyle !).

Silk Rivera Arrives !

When looking at my player collections I can honestly say I like collecting Mariano Rivera the most at the moment. As rumoured, 2012 is likely going to be his last season after a really great career with the Yankees. Therefore, when I saw his silk Topps 2012 card appearing on the bay I couldn't resist myself. The mailman delivered it this morning !

I like the look & feel of the Silk Collection (numbered to 50) ! Are you chasing these silk versions as well ?

Join My First Contest ! Topps Prime 9 Redemptions !

So I finally opened my 6 boxes of Topps 2012 yesterday and had a lot of fun. The best pulls will appear on here this weekend. As you might all be aware, Topps came up with, a supposedly fun, addition which is the Topps Prime 9 redemptions card program.

The details: “Beginning Feb. 13, collectors can take the redemptions that they find in packs of the 2012 Topps flagship set, arriving Wednesday, and exchange them for that week’s card. The redemptions note which week the card is good for. But that’s not all that can be gained out of this one. Collectors can also fill out a form on the backs of the cards for a chance to win a trip to this year’s MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby.”

The nine stars that one can redeem the cards (#1-9) for include Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Frank Robinson, Ernie Banks, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Willie Mays, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron ! Supposedly, the card that is been handed out in week 1 (beginning Feb. 13) is Frank Robinson.



While looking a lot a fun at first, reading the fine print made it clear that it was not for me. As you all may know by now, I live in Europe and non-US residents are excluded from the fun !! Therefore, my options were limited.

1) Find someone in the US who would be so nice enough to hand them in for me every week and send them back to Europe
2) Put them in an album and never look at them again
3) Use them to light a fire
4) Hold a fun Contest !!

While option 1 is doable I thought it was all too much hassle and I am actually only after the Yankees cards anyways. Option 2 is just plain boring while Option 3 is silly. That leaves me Option 4, hold a contest with the grand prize being these Redemption cards !

As I only recently launched this blog (my first post only appeared last Sunday), I can use all the promotion I can get. Therefore, you can win one of the redemption cards by simply

1)    adding my new blog to your blog roll on your own blog/site
2)    Leave a comment below indicating on which site you added my blog
3)    send me an e-mail at thedutchcardguy at gmail dot com with your blog and your mail address

Excluding the redemption for week 1 (which will not get to you in time) I have 10 redemption cards so the first 10 bloggers that add my blog to their blog roll will receive one free redemption card (the cards should be arriving in time to actually redeem the card at your LCS !).

Thanks for your support and let the contest begin !

Topps 2012 arrives across the Pond !

After reading and seeing everybody enjoy (or criticise!) the new Topps 2012 boxes I have been waiting and waiting for the mailman to ring and deliver the Topps 2012 boxes I pre-ordered a couple of weeks ago. In these instances Europe seems far, far away and it takes ages to get a package delivered from the US (or so it feels when you are looking forward to breaking some boxes). Finally, my wife called me at work today to tell me a package had arrived (complaining about the extra import charges of course!) so tonight is going to be a fun night. I am especially looking forward to the minis. Keep your eye out for a nice post on what I pull !

Now let’s break some boxes !