Two More Cards to the Collection

Here's the two latest additions to the collection:


2007 UD Masterpieces "Captured on Canvas" - A nice, canvas-like card stock with a black frame border, silver lettering, and a jersey piece with a centered pinstripe. I like this card. From eBay.



2008 Spectrum Swatches (92/99) - Another one for the bad shipping files. Sent in an envelope in a transparent plastic clamshell case. Opened the envelope, the case was shattered. Little plastic shards everywhere. At first glance, nothing wrong...wrong. A scratch on the front of the card to the right of the swatch (you can see it in the scan, look to the right and slightly up from the right corner of the diamond). Unfortunate. Oh well, I won't return the card...I like this card. Look at it. Great design. I'll find a mint version somewhere. From eBay.

That brings the collection to 7 cards. Amazingly, 2 of 7 involved in bad shipping stories. Is this the way it's going to be, people???

What's the deal, cheapskate eBay shippers?!!

Ok, this is the second occurrence in a week of a very specific problem with eBay, so I will address it here. When you are shipping something through the mail where the content is fragile and susceptible to damage, why would you mail it in a common envelope? The reason why cards should be sent in bubble or padding-wrapped mailers is that there are significant bumps on route through the postal delivery system that a single top-loader will not protect against...when I ship out cards, I use bubble envelopes and sandwich the top-loader between card stock or two empty top-loaders...for a card that I'm sending to someone else.

Here's two examples of cards that I received from auctions I won off eBay. One card has been returned and hopefully I'll get a refund. The other card was only a dollar and it doesn't seem worth it.

First, an 2007 SPx Winning Materials jersey card that I got in the mail. It was sent in a penny sleeve, top-loader, folded into a piece of paper (the invoice) and mailed in a common white envelope.

Unfortunately, you can't see much due to my scanner (my digital camera having died doesn't help in producing much photographic evidence. However, the close-up on the right shows damage on the right side of the card. More importantly, coming out of the top and bottom of the X are creases. My first suspicion was that this is an impact damage...maybe someone's heavy book landing on the woefully unprotected envelope. However, and this is purely speculation, is it possible that this is a sign of tampering? If anyone knows anything about this type of damage, maybe you could fill me in. However, without any other evidence, my guess is that something landed on the right side of the card, causing it to bend and crease...which is a shame, because now the card is worthless.

The other card was an even greater loss. I don't want to speak ill of the seller/shipper because the guy is being great about making this right, but I think it is instructional as to why proper shipping is crucial in this hobby. When I opened the envelope (which had a blackish outline of the edges of the top-loader on the back of the envelope exterior), to the right is what I saw.

The top of the card, a great 2007 Artifacts quad jersey that is limited to 50, was pressed against the tape. Not only did the adhesive remove some of the top of the card's printing, but it also caused a pressure indention.

Even worse, the card was damaged, as the scan to the left clearly shows (left and right of the top two jersey pieces).

The worst part of this situation is that the card is a very nice card, especially for a player collector. Unfortunately, it is now damaged and pretty much worthless.

Seriously, sellers, these cards are getting banged up. If you are charging $3 to $3.50 for shipping and handling, please use a protected envelope. I use them, even at the cost of making a few bucks. It is a shame for these cards to get damaged.

Meet the newest member of the collection

I got some new cards, bringing the game-used/autograph collection of Hanley Ramirez total to four (4). That's right, double down, baby...it's so money.


So, here they are:

2007 Fleer Ultra Dual Materials G/U (149/160) - from eBay (99 cents)

2007 Upper Deck Elements Clear-Cut Elements G/U Auto (165/314) - from eBay ($10.51)



Add them to the 2006 Topps Co-Signers and 2007 Topps Co-Signers Rising Star cards.

Too bad I haven't gotten a trade, but that's the beauty of eBay, right?

Time to Bring Out a Big Gun

OK...maybe none of the previous offerings were really enticing, so here's one:



2007 Fleer Ultra Autographed Ryan Braun Lucky 13 rookie card (limited to 23/499)
Look at this card. Rookie of the Year. Currently mashing for the underachieving Milwaukee Brewers. Low/High Beckett value of $60/$100. This is a great card, nice tight autograph on a holographic sticker. You're gonna love this card!

Make me a Hanley trade offer!!!

Update on Hanley Collection

Alright, so I haven't successfully completed (or initiated) a trade...but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy on eBay. I've got some Hanley game-used coming in. Scans when I get them.

Question: does anyone do any trading at hobby shops?

Awesome Pulls (grumble, grumble)

There are some stories about awesome pulls from box breaks that warm the heart. I remember reading in a Beckett a while back detailing the reward based fun for a son and his dad, getting blasters from Wal Mart and hitting a great autographed card. It reminded me of the times, as a kid, getting a retail box of 1990 Donruss or 1988 Topps because of the straight A's on a report card, and getting stoked just looking at the cards of my favorite players (oh, one the best was the 1991 Upper Deck Alan Trammell). Thus, when I hear about someone getting a great hit in some of the cheaper product busts or some long suffering hobbiest getting a lifetime pull, I feel the happiness they must of felt...my heart grows at least three sizes.

Of course, there are other stories where I get a bit more hesitant to share in the joy. In fact, the inner curmudgeon bubbles up a bit. Here's the story from Beckett online.

So, this guy walks into a hobby shop and opens boxes three consecutive nights. Sounds devoted. Fun. Wait, so he starts with Luxury Box, which was probably around $70. Not bad...totally do-able. Then he hits on a 2003 box of Upper Deck Golf, which sounds a bit expensive. OK, then he comes in the next night and busts 15 assorted boxes like UD Premier (~$500). The next night, he comes in and busts UD Black plus 10 boxes.

That's got to be some huge amount of money outlay, three nights in a row. That's a bender on a huge scale, and by busting some of the highest end product, he's kind of hedged his bets to get the big hits. Does this really need to be celebrated?

It isn't like he came into the store and got something awesome...no he binged into some great breaks. It is like playing poker...if you have a marathon 48 hour session, you may see straight flushes, you may get those probability busting quads topping aces full, but it is because you played a whole bunch of hands. Why doesn't Beckett write about the same kind of guy, opening up a great many boxes, and getting all the guaranteed hits as things like a quad materials autograph Richie Sexson or a fan favorite A.C. Green but not hitting something ridiculous like the Octograph.

I know, this is crying over spilled milk, and I know that it doesn't increase your chances by purchasing bulk, but there just something about the tone of this story that irks me. I guess I'm just jealous that the guy has thousands to just binge on random boxes. Whatever.

Hanley to buy 2000 1932 Babe Ruth Cards

So, this website isn't a fan page...but here's a cheer for Hanley Ramirez hitting the jackpot.

6 years, 70 million dollars.

Great job, dude.

So, why Hanley and not Miggy?

The message to all the youngster...fundamentals. Are you a hard hitting player who can't field your position? Get ready to be shipped off as trade bait from the stingy Marlins group. Can you do it offensively AND defensively? Get ready to get paid.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8123220/Report:-Ramirez-to-get-richest-Marlins-contract