Dodger Blue !

Some are not a fan of Panini but I actually like them and believe they are making a great effort to compete, despite the lack of logo of course. National Treasurers is one of the cool sets they have been coming out with in the last 2 years. Recently I noticed a cool Dodgers card that would fit my Kershaw collection nicely. Given that a lof of people still don't want to pay up for Panini these cards actually are priced very reasonable. So meet my latest Kershaw card, together with Joc Pederson and Adrian Gonzalez !!

How do you guys feel about Panini ?

My first Glavine button !!

Years ago I pulled my first "button" card, a 2009 Chipper Jones "button" card, one I still own for when a cool trades calls for it. Last year, Panini issues, to my knowledge, the only button card on the Glavine checklist. Of course I obliged and chased it ! Luckily some week ago I was able to get my hands on one and here it is. This first Glavine Button card !!

What do you guys think about "button" cards, you own any ?

Here's Some World Series Winners !

Quick post with two "vintage" Yankee autos. Well to be honest, the autos are not old but ther players are !! Both were fairly cheap but I think it's awesome to get my hands on an auto by players from the 50ties (depsite not having seen them play :-)).

First up, Tony Kubek who played for the Yankees between 1957 and 1965 as the short-stop. I love the America's Pastime set that Panini did last year, although I would have prefered the absence of the sticker ! Tony was Rookie of the Year in 1957 and won 3 world series !

Next up, Don Larsen, a cool addition to my Pitchers PC !! Don played for a stream of different clubs in the 50ties and 60ties and played for the Yankees between 1955 and 1959, winning two world series and even becoming a world series MVP !!

That's it for today, hope to add some more oldies to my collection !!



Thanks for visiting my blog today !

Merry Christmas Everyone !

Quick post to wish you all a Merry Christmas ! Hope you all have a great time with your families the coming days. Also let me thank everyone for another great year in the blogosphere, you have all been great and I feel lucky to be in touch with all of you to share the hobby (and more!).

As every blog post needs a card (in my opinion) here's Tom being part of 2014 Panini !

Thanks everyone and enjoy the Christmas break !

A new Kershaw

I was so looking forward to Kershaw's dominance in the play-offs but he had a terrible inning in which he basically blew the game last night, completely unexpected and very disappointing. Let's hope these 2 new Kershaw cards can bring the old Kershaw back in the next game (hoping they get there of course !).

Here's Kershaw in Donruss, non-logo, gear !

I actually like these Donruss Elite cards and think Panini did a good job here so 2 nice additions to my Kershaw PC !!

Thanks for visiting my blog today !

Quick Update: 2011 GQ, Panini and Glavine !

Quick post today just before the last match against Brazil for the Dutch team this World Cup tournament. Would be nice to grab the bronze although only really 1st place counts. All in all up to now we did better than expected with a very young squad, in particular at the back. Still, it's disappointing not to be fighting for the gold tomorrow. Anyways, match starts in an hour so a quick post with 2 new cards !!

First-up, a cool Glavine auto, my 89th auto card in my Glavine PC and my 1259th unique Glavine card (so only 5000 to go :-)). It's a nice Panini Prizm card, yellow/gold variation numbered to only 10 ! 

Next card is my latest addition in my quest to complete the 2011 Gypsy Queen auto and relic set. Still loads to go but having a lot of fun with this one ! Here's Markakis !

That's it for today. From next week onwards expect more regular post once the World Cup is done ! I have boxes of both Series 2 and Ginter on the way so plenty to show soon !!

Panini finally delivers !!

After 2 years of waiting and basically having given up on the card a huge surprise arrived at my doorstep 2 days ago !! Here it is !! The long awaited 2001 Panini Playoff Contender Kershaw/Kemp dual auto card !!!!

Awesome addition to my Kershaw PC and a bonus Kemp to go with it !! Thanks Panini !!

You ever received a redemption from Panini yet ?

Opening a Pinnacle Box

I recently came across Pinaccle. Apparently, Panini decided to bring this brand to life and I decided to follow their lead and break one box. Are you curious yet...here we go !!

Each box has two "hits", here are mine, John Axford and Miguel Montero, not sure if I have seen them play, don't really know them...

The base cards are pretty plain, here's Kershaw and Rizzo !

Two more base cards, Rivera and Profar (playing for the Dutch team).

Let's have a look at some inserts, here's Kershaw again and Dickey !

Four more inserts ! These clear vision cards are cool. Slugfest and the Naturals aren't bad either !

I like the Swing for the Fences inserts as well, pretty cool cards !

Two more inserts to finish the box overview !

All in all I think Panini did a pretty good jump revamping Pinnacle ! Got a bunch of them available for trade !

Sandlot loot !!

Joe at the Sandlot has been one of my regular trading partners since I started collecting a few years ago. Whenever I have excess Piazza cards or Mets in general I know how to get rid of them ! Earlier this week a nice return package from the Sandlot arrived with some cool cards, thanks Joe ! Here they are !!

First up, new Panini cards !! Despite the missing logos I think Panini is doing a good job trying to get some new fresh cards into the market. One of the few negatives these days is still their lack of any response on my redemptions which have been sitting there for over a year now. Anyways, Joe send me a couple of cool Panini cards including the Captain !

Some more Paninis were included ! My favourite Yankees Catcher and Closer !

I was very happy that Joe included 4 Yankees Stadium Legacy cards, helping me in my quest to complete the set. I think I have a few hundred now so "only" 5,000 or so more to go :-)

Some Bowman Chrome was also included, meet Sabathia and newbie Tyler Austin !

Mantle was also present and a cool Canseco card. Really a nice shiny Fleer Showcase !

 Let's finish with two more pitchers, another Rivera and Clemens !

Thanks again Joe for a cool package of Yankees cards !!

Panini Golden Age

After the soccer cards and the Just Minors Mystery Baseball box the final box I picked-up was a 2013 Panini Golden Age, just out of curiosity. I still have mixed feelings about the set so let's have a look !

The good thing about the box is that it guarantees you two auto cards. I pulled a Carl Eller and a David Pollock. As a European guy I have never heard of both. I am also still waiting at my Kershaw/Kemp redemption from 2 years ago so I do not have high hopes of the Eller ever turning up on my doorstep.

Each box alsocontains two relic cards. I actually like the look and feel of these cards !

The base cards are oke-ish and the scans actually looks much better, or maybe it's because of Bo Derek and the Fonz. I still want to chase the Fonz auto in this set as he was one of the cool guys during my childhood, he didn't want to be the Fonz !

The box also includes minis, I love minis although in general I am a little in doubt on this set and its look and feel. Therefore, the likelyhood of me trying to complete this set are slim. I do like the Fonz mini !

All in all, Panini did not blew me away with this one and I was actually hoping for more of a Cooperstown look and feel.

Do you guys like this set. Anyone trying to complete it. Happy to trade some of it away !

National Treasures: Up and Coming Yankees

Panini launched its National Treasures set a few months back. Although it's Panini I do believe they decent job and the cards are actually quite nice. Still, consensus seem to dislike them and as a result I was able to pick up a few "new" Yankees on the cheap !! Here they are !

First up David Phelps, who made his Yankees debut slightly over a year ago . He has been mixed since then and has moved around from starting pitcher to bullpen and back. Hope he will do well in the coming years !

Next-up are two cool cards from Yankees "new" catcher Austin Romine !! He played a little in 2011 and only recently "rejoined" the Yankees after Cervelli got hurt. Hope he sticks around !

That's it for today. I like the National Treasures set and hope to pick-up some more ! What do you guys think ?

Triple Play Trade Bait !

For the fun of it I openend a box of Panini Triple Play a few months back and only just now really had the time to go through it. Although it's a fun set I will not trying to complete this one as I have to pick my battles !! This does mean that besides the few cards for my player collections I have a load of Triple Play Trade Bait. Therefore, if you need any 2012 Panini Triple Play cards to complete your set let me know and we can set something up !!

Here are a few for my own collection ! Meet Verlander, cardboard and sticker !!

Lincecum was also present and Verlander as a kid !!

One more Lincecum !

Lastly, some real bat feel !! No clue where it came from but fun anyways !!

In addition to the above I have a big pile of Triple Play cards so if you need any let me know !!