Redemption package & a Bonus !!

So today I came home from a long day at work to find a nice FEDEX package !! A Fedex package for me usually means only one thing: a Topps Redemption !!

The last redemption I put into the system had already been months ago, if not longer so I was curious to see which card this might be. Opening up the envelop a Rizzo card surfaced !!

Wow, that one took a few years to arrive. This card is from the 2013 Archives set and is numbered to /25. Yes, you read that correctly, 2013 !! He probably signed hundreds and hundreds of cards in the years thereafter. Nevertheless, I am very happy this one arrived !!

But wait, that's not all ! A second card surfaced !! Unexpectedly !!

Yes, it's a Kyle Tucker card !! Who ??? Yes, that was my reaction also, never heard of ths guy I must admit, a Astros Outfielder. Anyways, I happily take it !! The card came with an apology from Topps for the long wait (since 2013) so I was positively surprised, thanks Topps !!

Of course the Kyle Tucker card is for trade (or sale) and let me know if you did know him already !

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Supersized Glavine & Die-Cut Rizzo

Hi everyone, quick post today with a few of my new additions. First up a cool die-cut Anthony Rizzo card that appeared on eBay a few months ago. I haven't checked yet from which set this one is coming from, might be Topps Update.

I was also able to pick up two larger size Glavine cards. Apparently, Topps sells these directly into the market and these are not from packs. They have variations numbered to 49 and to 10. The ones below are the the ones numbered to 49.

Not sure what to think about these. They look pretty cool given they are a much larger size, so something different. At the same time it feels a bit like another avenue for Topps to get my money and I now see them popping up constantly for most sets, which feels a bit like overkill again. But hey, as a Glavine supercollector what can I do :-)

What do you guys think about these ?

2 Double Rizzo !

I am really looking forward to Opening Day and will be rooting for Rizzo and the Cubs to take the final step this year and win the World Series. To open the season a style I added a cool Heritage "2 Double" card numbered to only 10. Here's Rizzo !!!!

This is really a big card, type of box topper ! Not sure what the "2 Double" means to be honest so I welcome any color on this !!

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 !!

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 ?

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 !

Rizzo: The Letter "R" !

Quick post today with my latest Rizzo card. Meet the letter R from Panini's Immaculate Collection. Four more letters to go, a huge quest given they are numbered to only 5 !

Anyone of you ever completed a players name with these types of cards ?

On my way to Florida ! Tips anyone ?

After being swamped at work in recent weeks and seriously neglecting my blog as well it will be time take a plane overseas and spend some time with the family in Orlando, Florida !! Really looking forward to visit the US and already picked one or two baseball games to see in Tampa !

Of course, a visit to a LCS should be included as well so if any of you know some good LCS places in Orlando region do let me know as I need to still my hunger !

Anyways, really looking forward to a break !

Given that every post needs a card here's my latest Rizzo card ! Cubs are doing pretty well these days !

Thanks for visiting my blog today !

Here come the Cubs !!

Looking at some of the Spring Training games and seeing some new talent coming through the Cubs look an exciting team this year and potentially for a few years to come ! For a few years now I have been collecting Rizzo cards and it seems he will continue to be a key parts of the Cubs going forward, despite all the new talent coming up. Here's Rizzo with some April Powers !! Let's hope he can display that this year as well !!

You all excited for the Cubs this year as well !?

Japanese anyone ??

A while back I came across a cool Rizzo card from Topps Supreme. I think this was the first Topps Supreme (early 2014) which was only released in Japan and/or Asia at that time before the launch of the more recent set in the US (4Q2014).

An awesome card, in my book, but I could use some help with the translation on the front !! Interestingly the back is all in English so the use of the Japanese language was sporadic. Also, note that it is my guestimate that it's Japanese, it might as well be another Asian language !

Thanks for your help or simply your visit to my blog today !

New Rizzo cards !!

Quick post today with two new Rizzo cards, one from COMC and one from eBay !

First-up my nicest Rizzo in my collection !! A awesome Museum Collection Booklet !! Now I just need to find a nice way to store them !

Second cards is a mini, not just a mini, a Gypsy Queen mini, autographed as well !!

Love these minis !!!

Thanks for visiting my blog today !!

More Gypsy Queen !!

I love Gypsy Queen and even participated in a group break (more on that later). I wasn't lucky enough to grab the "hits" of some of my PC guys so I chased eBay a bit in recent weeks and was able to find three great additions to my collections !! Here they are !!

First up, Rizzo with a cool on-card auto !! I love these types of cards !!

Next up some Glavine ! Let's start with a game-worn patch, if we can believe Topps of course !

Let's end this post with a mini ! I love minis and in combination with Glavine it's always a succes !!

That's it for today. If you have Gypsy Queen to trade do check out my Want List !!

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 !

Gold & Silver !

I really like the Tier One "On the Rise" auto cards, in particular the ones with the black background. The 2013 Tier One set had again a few of these in it and when  I noticed a few Rizzo's, with apparently little interest from other buyers, I scooped them up. Here they are, a Silver one, from the 2012 set, and a 1/1 Gold one from 2013 !!

Thanks for visiting my blog today !

COMC - A New Package !!

Every few months I feel the urge to pay a quick visit to COMC, my last visit a few weeks ago. This week a nice package from COMC arrived. So, Check Out My Cards !!

First-up, the best card of the pack, another Glavine auto card for my Glavine PC !! 2009 Sweet Spot Baseball !

I found some more Glavines !! Two 2005 Leaf Materials, gold and silver !

More Glavines and a cool Blyleven !

Here's Rizzo, a cool 2012 Turkey Red, my first one, still need to chase Kershaw, Rivera and Sabathia !

Lastly, the two final cards I needed from my 2012 Topps Mini set, finally another completed set !!

That's it, another fun package from COMC, looking forward to the next one !!

Trading with Brian !!

A while back, Brian at the blog Base Set Calling contacted me as he was interested in some gold and blue parallels. From there a trade was quickly born and a nice packages was waiting for me when I got back from my holiday !! Here's what Brian send me !!

To start, two of my favourite current players, a Rizzo Archives and a Kershaw gold parallel !!

Brian also included some minis !! These are from the Topps Sticker minis sets. Never owned any but now I do !! Meet Kershaw, Lincecum and Sabathia !!

Some more Topps Opening Day cards were included which was very welcome as I still need a few ! Also a cool Lincecum/Mays card from this year's Archives set.

A blue sparkle Verlander !!

More Opening Day cards, Ballpark Fun !!

These were just a few of the cards that Brian send me. Thanks very much Brian for a cool trade !!