Wanna Read Something That Will Piss You Off???

I just found this. I can't sleep, and somehow I came across this. 

http://amateurhotpackhunter.blogspot.com/2014/09/why-i-pack-search-why-ill-have-to-stop_15.html?m=1

A f*cking pack searcher who flaunts it as if it's no big deal. This garbage infuriated me as I read it. 

Maybe it's the hour, maybe I'm just a halfwit. I don't have anything else to say about this crap. 

I Shouldn't eBay Late At Night

As many posts as I have seen about it, you would think that I would have known better: never get on eBay late at night. Bad things happen.

Okay, so maybe this isn't so bad. But when you see it, you will think: "What the..."

So, let's take a look:

Yeah, you see that correctly. A PSA 8 Elvis Andrus mini from 2008 Allen and Ginter.

Just to go ahead and get it out of the way, I don't know why in the hell I bought it.

I wish I could claim that it was late at night and I had been drinking. Sadly, I can't blame this card on the booze. Some of my relationships, however, are a different story. But this about a PSA 8 Elvis mini, not a long-legged red head I met at the Blue Light (FYI - red heads are my bug zapper).

I saw PSA and 99 cents, and I jumped. I simply can't resist.

But I bought some other stuff, too. 

The 2014 Topps yellow retail parallel for my growing Martin Perez PC. 

The 2013 Heritage Matty H. chrome parallel.

You see, both of these fit in my collection. Not really sure where to put the Andrus. 

Oh well, I'll chalk it up to a bad decision. Certainly had plenty of those in my life, so this one will fit right in.

Keith Hits A Home Run (Apple)!

Sometimes, my attempts at humor fail miserable, much like the title of this post. Keith, I apologize. But I had to do it!

Keith, of the Home Run Apple blog, sent a bubble mailer my way last week. I wasn't really expecting anything, since the USPS ruined our last trade.

This package knocked it out of the park.

First, there was a huge stack of 2014 Allen & Ginter that I needed for my set. I haven't touched this needs list in ages, so this is a much-welcomed addition.

Next, a couple Ranger Bowman Rookies! I didn't have these, either.

Keith also included a Mark Lowe mini printing plate from 2013 Topps. I'll take a plate any time I can get one!

But here were my favorite cards:

A Mike Olt retail auto from 2012 Bowman...

A Jairo Beras auto from '13 Bowman Chrome...

And a Kevin Matthews auto from 2011 Bowman Chrome!

Keith, I can't thank you enough for knocking these cards off my lists for me! I'm looking for cards to send back your way, my friend!

I Started Yet Another New Project

Since I've been buying less boxed wax recently, I've been spending my lack of card money elsewhere. I'm pretty sure that my new projects, the T206 Auto Project and the Martin Perez PC, are direct results of this.

So I decided to add yet another project.

It's no secret that I have a few real loves in the collecting game, most notably parallels and slabbed cards. Earlier this week, I happened to stumble across an eBay seller who has a ton of slabs, many of which sell for $3.99. I sorted through all of them, and that's what gave me the idea for the new project:

Rangers PSA Rookies!

That's right, my new goal is to get every Ranger rookie slabbed, hopefully at PSA 9 or better.

I snagged a couple from that buyer. Here they are:

Here's the Darvish base from 2012 Series 2. There are a few variations of this card, so I'm trying to figure out if I want to stick to base or what the plan is.

This is the Pete O'Brien from 1983 Topps Traded. It doesn't have the rookie seal on it (none of the older cards do). He also has a "rookie" card in '84 Topps.

For those that have been collecting longer than I, a question for you. When did Topps start using the "RC" logo? How do you determine which card is the true rookie card prior to this logo?

I appreciate your help! I mean that - I have learned so much from reading all of your posts, and I appreciate everyone's willingness to help other collectors rather than mocking them (me, specifically!).

There you have it. I hope to have more to come soon!

COMC Record...Part 4 (Finally)

See Parts 1, 2 and 3 to catch up.

This final segment will introduce you to the COMC purchases for the Matty H. PC.

We start with this "knothole gang" card from 2003 Bowman Heritage. Absolutely hideous.

2003 also gave me the Bowman Draft Chrome (top) and base (bottom). I like the simplicity, but it looks like Harrison signed his name twice for the facsimile bit. Thoughts?

Speaking of Bowman Draft, here's the 2008 refractor (finally rocking the Rangers red and blue).

This is the 2008 Topps Heritage rookie card.

Retail parallels from 2013 Series 2! Target red (above) and Walmart blue (below).

And more parallels! From 2013 Bowman Chrome, the blue refractor (above) and orange refractor (below), numbered to 25!

Again, apologies for the lack of commentary. Still finals week, and I am ridiculously tired. I was working in my office until almost 5 am this morning, and I've been working on a policy final for the past couple hours.

I hope everyone is well!

COMC Record...Part 3

In case you missed Part 1 and Part 2, click on the links to recap.

Today, let's take a look at the additions to the Rusty Greer PC.

First up, the auto from 2014 Panini Prizm. Even though it's autographed, it's pretty damn boring. But hey, it's Rusty Greer.

This one hails from 1996 Leaf Limited. That holofoil paper never scans well with my scanner, and it's a damn shame. This is a beautiful card.

1996 Score. If ever there were a card that represented the 90's (in terms of lack of imagination and print overruns), its this one.

This is from 2000 Skybox Dominion. Skybox should have stuck with basketball cards...they were awesome.

200 Upper Deck MVP. Really nothing exciting.

Now these two, these two are beauties. 1997 Pinnacle Totally Certified Platinum Blue and Red. Totally! I was certain I was going to take the film off, but I am certain that it will stay on.

Then we get the triumvirate from 2000 Pacific Prism. From top to bottom: base, pebbly dots and silver sheen.

Lastly, we have 2000 Flair Showcase Row 0, numbered 402 of 2000. I still remember when 2000 was considered low numbering!

That's it. Sorry for the lack of commentary. It's almost 6:30 and I have been up right at 24 hours. I'm about to walk out the door to go proctor an exam.

Ah, the joys of grad school.

My New COMC Record...Part Deux

Yesterday I wrote about my new COMC record, specifically the Martin Perez PC addition.

Well, it's late at night and I can't sleep (I'm going to see Age of Ultron in the morning, so I a tad over-excited). So let me fill in another gap on the COMC spending spree.

This post is about three cards. But all three are additions to my 2010 T206 American Caramel Auto Project.

First up is the Milton Bradley auto. He has a bad reputation (and rightfully so), but he was an All Star his one year in Texas. I liked him as a player, but his off-field behavior shortened his career.

Chris Getz. I remember the name, and I knew he played for the Royals. That's pretty much all i knew about him, though.

Lastly, Vin Mazzaro. That's the extent of my knowledge of him.

There you have it, an extremely brief post. It's the best I can do right now.