Sizemore Auto

I've been away too long. Partly too busy, partly uninspired. Do you guys get like that? You probably have time to post something but for some reason it seems like such a daunting task? That's how I've been feeling lately.

But alas, the life of an important blogger such as myself, knows no repose.

So I was sitting here, bummed out because my Tribe is, once again, getting mauled by the Rangers (I have no idea why the Rangers are so far down in the predictions of all of the experts and prognosticator types. They're going to score around 2,000 runs this season. Kinsler himself might score 350. They even have some 20 year old dude named Elvis. I'm telling you, they will not be denied.) and trying to think of something to post.

Well, I did get a card in the mail today. So here it is:



A Grady Sizemore signed 2003 Just Minors. I got it off the Bay for around $5. I know there's a decent enough chance that the guy who sold it is also the guy who signed it, but it looks like a Sizemore auto and it was only $5, so what could it hurt?

Actually, it was sent from Arizona where the Tribe had spring training so I'll bet that some old guy pushed his way past a bunch of kids to get to Grady in order to make some money on Ebay. This makes me kind of sad. Oh well, it won't be the last time that happens, and I have (what I believe to be) a new Grady auto.

Like I said, I got it today and was pretty happy about it. But, what I really wanted to post about was the exchange that the card prompted between me and my lovely wife, Katie. I've posted some of our conversations before because I get a big kick out of my wife and when it comes to these cardboard rectangles we are rarely on the same page. So I'll transcribe that brief conversation in another episode of what I'll dub:

Mike and Katie - Masters of Communication

Mike (M) - Hey, look what I got in the mail! (obviously excited) It's a signed Sizemore card.

Katie (K) - Wow, that's pretty nice (obviously underwhelmed but trying to be supportive of her husband whwith whom she is stuck). How come he's not wearing an Indians uniform?

M - It's from after he was drafted and in the minors.

K - What team is it?

M - The Expos. I'm not sure who this minor league team is.

K - Why does it say "of"?

M - huh?

K - of

M - of what?

K - of. It says of.

M - of what?

K - of

M - huh?

K - of (points to the "OF" at the right of Sizemore)

M - You mean Outfield?

K - Oh! Hahahahahaha.

M - Hahahahahaha.

And....scene.

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. Good times.

Fun With Blasters!

Lazy sunday afternoon.

My son stopped demanding my attention for a short time this afternoon which allowed me to spend some time organizing my collection. For me this exercise is never ending (and for some reason extremely enjoyable. I think I like the organizing as much as I like opening new stuff. Yes, I'm a weirdo.).

I decided to spend a little of my time opening a Stadium Club blaster that had been staring me down for about 6 weeks. The advantage of the frequent emergency runs to target is that I can pick up some baseball cards on each trip. I've just made a promise to myself that I won't get too far ahead of myself and open cards faster than I can organize them.

I got a few blasters of the Stadium Club and opened one a while back. Usually I'd rather get a hobby box of a product like this, but at the ridiculous price of $200-225, blasters it was.

Well, it finally paid off in my first pull of an auto in ANY blaster that I can think of. I've got to tell you, it's a pretty cool feeling when you pull an auto that you aren't "guaranteed".

Here it is. Blake DeWitt in all his glory. My first retail auto. He has a nice sig too. You can almost read what it says. Most sigs now-a-days are just squiggles. Granted, it isn't a Jackie Kennedy Onassis hair card, but it will do for me.



I couldn't be happier. OK, that isn't true. I'd be happier if it was Sizemore, but I'm sure not complaining. As I said a few posts ago "What a Happy Day!"

2008 Donruss Threads Break

I had recently put a self imposed moratorium on opening any new baseball cards until I got my current collection organized and cataloged. I still was buying stuff to open, I just wasn’t opening any of it. Well, I’m glad to say that I now have everything organized and am free to bust all the wax my little old heart (pending the approval of my wife and wallet) desires.

Two of the boxes that I had been waiting to open were 2008 Donruss Threads. I was in on the Group Break on SCU and was inspired to get a few boxes of my own. Those of you who saw that break or, God forbid, were involved probably think I’m out of my mind. Well, I can’t argue with that. That break was brutal. Messed up cards. Doubles. Shorted hits. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about those boxes at all.

But I did like the looks of the cards. Also, I figured that there must be bizarro boxes out there that are the opposite of what we got. Mainly I wanted to see if I could add to the amount of Johnny Pesky cards I got from that break, which was 4. I’m crappin’ you negative. I got 4 Johnny Pesky base cards in that 2 box SCU break. My motto (one of then anyway) is “You can never have enough 2008 Donruss Threads Johnny Pesky Base cards.” I’ve lived it for my entire life and it has served me well.

This is box 1. Let’s see how I did. There are 4 hits in each box (on average)

SUCCESS!!!! Johnny Freakin’ Pesky. Man, It’s like those guys over at Donruss are packing boxes just for me. That’s number 5 and counting.

Harmon Killebrew – I wanted to include a few scans of some base cards before I got to the auto’s and the inserts. I figured we could do a lot worse than the Fat Kid, am I right?

Nick Weglarz – I wanted to get someone from the Tribe in there. How a kid who hasn’t managed to rise above Single A ball in 4 years gets a card in this set is beyond me.

Kirk Gibson – College Greats. Did you know that Gibson went to Michigan State? I didn’t. Says here that he was an All-American in football too. How the hell didn’t I know this?

Mike Schmidt 11/50 – This is some sort of refractor or something. It’s definitely shinier than the regular base cards. And, it’s numbered to 50, so it’s got that going for it. Which is nice.

Juan Silverio – 188/250 – This is a green refractor, or something. They probably call it emerald to try to make it sound more special. I have no idea who this guy is.

Jess Todd – Diamond Kings 071/250 – This is a pretty sweet Diamond Kings 1/1. Don’t think it’s a 1/1? Check the rules smart ass.

Man, Jess sure is throwing the hell out of that thing, isn’t he?

Hit #1

Omar Poveda Auto 628/999 – The card I’ve been waiting my whole life for. And to think I was worried about how to pay for Grady’s college! Problem solved.

Hit #2

Jack Egbert Auto 001/999 – OK, this time it’s for real. An actual 1/1. Seriously, check the rules. I didn’t make ‘em. (too many times with the same joke?) I’m glad I got this auto. I just get a good feeling about this kid, like he might be the next Scott Elarton or something. Besides, how do you not like a dude named Egbert?

Hit #3

Ryan Patterson Auto 518.750 – Why is this one numbered to 750 instead of 999 you ask? Good question.

I don’t know

Lets take a break before we reveal the last hit to pay homage to Hammerin’ Hank.

Hank Aaron Baseball Americana 395/500 – Cool card. I’d still rather have one of his regular cards from when he was playing but I’ll take it. This is the first time I’ve ever pulled an Aaron card from a pack. I’ve got to say, it was a pretty sweet feeling.

OK back to the hits: Hit #4

Madison Bumgarner Diamond Kings Jersey 112/125 – I think this is probably supposed to be the best hit. I like the patch and it’s numbered pretty low. When I pulled it I tried to think of how I remembered this kid. Then it hit me. That’s the dude who’s dad tried to reach through the computer and slap Mario. That was pretty funny. I am happy to see that Mario hasn’t shamed Madison into changing his pitching motion.

The Coop Da Grass! HIT #5 Holy Schnikees!

Don Mattingly Jersey 042/150

How about that Kids? After 3 “hits” of players I’ve never heard of and 1 “hit “ of a player I only know because his dad is a little to touchy, I get and extra hit, AND IT”S DON FREAKIN’ MATTINGLY! Coolest Mattingly card I’ve ever pulled from a pack.

Box stats

Base cards: 99/100

Doubles: 10

Autos: 3

Jerseys: 2

Numbered: 9

College Greats: 2 (Gibson, Larkin)

Century Legends: 1 (Duke Snider)

Century Stars: 1 (Carlton)

Diamond Kings: 3 (Drew Stubbs, Todd, Bumgarner)

No other inserts or parallels pulled

Final Thoughts:

Not too bad I guess. I had fun opening them. And I got the whole base set. The only one missing out of this box was Cartlon Fisk and I already had that from the SCU break. I don’t know what the hell to do with my other box now. It really isn’t worth opening for the hits and I already have the base set.

I should show some initiation and sell it or something, but I’m way too lazy. I’ll end up busting it eventually. Hey, I can think of a lot worse ways to spend a few hours on a weekend.