Friday, March 28, 2014

Boring Week...Let's Randomize Teams!!!

This week has been painfully boring. I have had almost nothing to do with cards (except opening a few packs of Heritage and giving PATP grief about being a tease). Today, I am dying to write something for the blog.

So I decided to randomize teams for my 2014 Gypsy Queen break! Everyone is paid up with the exception of one person, who has already got in touch with me about it. Therefore, we are good to go.

I decided to randomize each list 17 times in homage to my guy Nelson Cruz, who will be bashing in Baltimore this year. It makes me sad to see him in a different uniform other than Rangers blue and white.

Anyway, here is the participant randomized list:


Followed by the randomized teams:


I'm at work and had to take a call about a well that we are selling, hence the three minute time difference. If anyone isn't okay with that...well, I'm sorry.

Now, as with my Allen & Ginter break last year, I'm okay with team trades. Just be sure to let me know what teams are going to who. Maybe there will be a prize for biggest trade! But don't ask me to trade - last time, I got stuck with the Twins and Marlins, I think, so I am going to stick with my first bout of good luck, the Cardinals.

If you have other questions, let me know, amigos!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Some Days Are Just Better Than Others

I started writing this yesterday, but work got in the way. I didn't get to finish, so when you see "yesterday," read "Sunday." Thanks!!!
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As I mentioned last night, I streamlined my collection. The Anthony Rendon collection is pretty much gone. However, it left me with a sizable chunk of change in my PayPal account. So, after covering my team for my GQ break, I decided to add some more cards to the Cruz collection.

After last night's Creighton loss to Baylor, I need some kind of therapy. I guess retail therapy will have to do.

First, I don't have any "silk" cards in my collection. To be honest, I think it's just another silly parallel put out by Topps to get people to buy more product in their never-ending search for a complete rainbow. Anyway, I found this one for a reasonable price:


This hails from the 2013 Flagship set and is numbered 30 of 50. Now I can say that I have one. Hooray.

Next up, one of the final pieces for my 2013 Topps Chrome Rainbow:


The atomic refractor, numbered 5 of 10. I forgot how much I enjoyed these cards. I'm not really sure why they are now called atomic refractors instead of cracked ice refractors, but no one really cares what I have to say. Now all I need is the pink refractor and the superfrcator (never going to happen). Brian of Play At The Plate fame has a pink refractor (I'm pretty sure, anyway), so you should go here and leave a comment pleading with him to sell it to me. I need it more than he does!

However, the big addition from the weekend knocks off one of my Top 5 Most Wanted...to be honest, I really didn't know if I would ever have a shot at this card, but here it is:


The 2013 Triple Threads Black White Whale! It has a beautiful four-color patch in the middle surrounded by two bat relics. How awesome is this card? It is nice...but a little rough around the edges. The back corners are a little soft, and the edges around the second "O" are rough. All that matters, though, is that this card now leaves me with only one plate needed!!!!

So that was my weekend. Like I said, everyone needs to visit PATP and let him know to sell me his pink Cruz refractor. And his 2013 Bowman Chrome Canary Yellow Refractor, as well!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Updates To My Nelson Cruz PC

I apologize for flooding your timelines tonight. I've been putting off a remodel of my Nelson Cruz PC for a while, and since the latest iPhone update decided to screw up my phone and require a backup restore, I had a few minutes on my hand.

You may have gathered form my posts over the last few months that I have been trying to figure out exactly what I want with my collection and how to become more efficient in my collecting activities. What all of that contemplation has done for me is to make me realize that I need to focus on one player. I love Bryce Harper, Joey Gallo and the others listed, but my primary collecting will be devoted to Nelson Cruz.

When I read Beckett, I find myself wishing I was a supercollector like some of the men and women they spotlight. I can't do that for five or six different players. I need to have only one - and that one for me is Nelson Cruz. Why Cruz? Simple. He was my favorite player when he was with the Rangers. The fact that his PED connection dropped the price of his cards didn't hurt either.

So, my main two goals now are to make significant progress on the 2013 Triple Threads Nelson Cruz Project and to get my hands on as many Cruz cards as I can. That doesn't mean that I am going to stop collecting my other players, merely that I will not be going after them with the same vigor as I do Cruz cards.

Soon, I will have a list with all of Cruz's cards posted so you will know exactly which cards I have and which cards I need. Take a look and send me any that you might have!

Nelson Cruz PC - 2005

2005

2005 Bowman Draft
2005 Bowman Heritage Mini
  

Nelson Cruz PC - 2006

2006
2006 Topps '52 Base Rookie
2006 Upper Deck Rookie
  

Nelson Cruz PC - 2007

2007

2007 Upper Deck Base



Nelson Cruz PC - 2010

2010

2010 Bowman Sterling Dual Relic Boxloader 132/199
2010 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini Framed Relic
2010 Topps 206 Mini
2010 Topps 206 Polar Bear Mini

Nelson Cruz PC - 2011

2011

2011 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini Framed Auto
2011 Topps Heritage
2011 Topps Kimball Champions Mini
2011 Topps Lineage Mini Relic
   

Nelson Cruz PC - 2012

2012

2012 Bowman Chrome
2012 Bowman Platinum Cutting Edge Superstars Insert
2012 Topps Gypsy Queen Framed Relic
2012 Topps Heritage Image Swap Variation
2012 Topps Series 1 Walmart Blue Parallel
2012 Topps Series 1 Gold Sparkle Parallel
2012 Topps Series 2 Gold Sparkle Parallel  
2012 Topps Gold Rush Redemption
2012 Triple Threads Emerald Parallel 56/250
2012 Triple Threads Sepia Parallel 203/625
2013 Topps Triple Threads Base
2012 Topps Triple Threads "Post Season HR Record" #'d 10/36

Nelson Cruz PC - 2013

2013


2013 Bowman Purple Ice Parallel 3/10
2013 Bowman Red Ice Parallel 17/25
2013 Bowman Silver Ice
2013 Bowman Chrome Black Refractor 11/15
2013 Bowman Chrome Orange Refractor 14/25
2013 Bowman Chrome Magenta Refractor 14/35
2013 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor 42/50
2013 Bowman Chrome Purple Refractor 19/199
2013 Bowman Chrome Blue Refractor 216/250 
2013 Bowman Chrome Retail Green Refractor
2013 Bowman Chrome Base Refractor
2013 Bowman Chrome
2013 Allen & Ginter Mini
2013 Allen & Ginter Mini No-Number Back
2013 Topps Allen & Ginter Mini Framed Relic
2013 Topps Archives DayGlo Parallel
2013 Topps Chrome Atomic Refractor 5/10
2013 Topps Chrome Camo Refractor 13/15
2013 Topps Chrome Red Refractor 19/25
2013 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor 29/50
2013 Topps Chrome Sepia Refractor 5/75
2013 Topps Chrome Black Refractor 68/100
2013 Topps Chrome Blue Refractor 128/199
2013 Topps Chrome Retail Purple Refractor
2013 Topps Chrome Retail Orange Refractor
2013 Topps Chrome Xfractor
2013 Topps Chrome Base Refractor
2013 Topps Chrome Base
2013 Gypsy Queen Auto
2013 Gypsy Queen Jumbo Relic 23/25
2013 Topps Heritage Black Parallel
2013 Topps Heritage Relic (Red Swatch)
2013 Topps Museum Collection Primary Pieces 4/25
2013 Topps Museum Collection Primary Pieces 39/75
2013 Topps Museum Collection Primary Pieces 62/99
2013 Topps Museum Collection Jumbo Lumber Relic 1/5
2013 Topps Tier One Crowd Pleaser Red Ink Parallel 2/25
2013 Topps Tribute WBC Edition Orange Auto #'d 20/35
2013 Topps Tribute WBC Edition Blue Auto #'d 45/50
2013 Topps Tribute WBC Edition Gold Auto #'d 4/15
2013 Topps Tribute WBC Edition Base Auto
2013 Topps Tribue WBC Edition Prime Patch 39/50
2013 Topps Triple Threads Jumbo Unity Relic Ruby Parallel 1/1  
2013 Topps Triple Threads Jumbo Unity Relic Emerald Parallel 16/18  
2013 Topps Triple Threads Jumbo Unity Relic Sepia Parallel 14/27
2013 Topps Triple Threads Jumbo Unity Relic Base 17/36
2013 Topps Triple Threads Boomstick Triple Relic Ruby Parallel 1/1
2013 Topps Triple Threads Boomstick Triple Relic Auto Black White Whale 1/1
2013 Topps Triple Threads Boomstick Triple Relic Auto Blue White Whale 1/1
2013 Topps Triple Threads Boomstick Triple Relic Auto Magenta White Whale 1/1
2013 Topps Triple Threads Gold Parallel Boomstick Triple Relic Auto 3/9
2013 Topps Triple Threads Boomstick Triple Relic Auto 9/18
2013 Topps Triple Threads NC-17 Triple Relic Gold Parallel 2/9
2013 Triple Threads Three-Player Triple Relic Ruby Parallel 1/1
2013 Triple Threads Three-Player Triple Relic Sapphire Parallel 2/3  
2013 Triple Threads Three-Player Triple Relic Emerald Parallel 12/18    
2013 Triple Threads Three-Player Triple Relic Base 10/36
2013 Topps Update Series Blue Sapphire Parallel 3/25
2013 Topps Update Series Pink Parallel /50
2013 Topps Series 2 Blue Sparkle
2013 Topps Series 2 Walmart Blue Variation
2013 Topps Series 2 Target Red Variation  
2013 Topps Series 2 Silk Collection 30/50
2013 Topps Update Series All Star Stitches Gold Parallel 43/50
2013 Topps Update Series All Star Stitches Orange Swatch
2013 Topps Update Series All Star Stitches Blue Swatch