THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 9

SO FAR WE'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY HARD HITTING RELICS, SOME STUFF YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY SOME DECENT COIN TO PICK UP. TODAY'S IS JUST ONE I REALLY LOVE EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN PROBABLY PICK ONE UP PRETTY CHEAP

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY BUT WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT THERE WERE GAME USED CAP CARDS I ABOUT LOST MY MIND. THERE WERE ALREADY GAME USED UNIFORM CARDS APLENTY BY 2003 (AND PROBABLY SOME PREVIOUS CAP CARDS IF I'M BEING HONEST) BUT WHEN I FIRSTSAW THESE THINGS I WILL NOT LIE, I COVETED. PART OF IT WAS JUST THE DESIGN OF THE CARDS. BRIGHT, BRIGHT COLORS, DISEMBODIED FLOATY HEADS AND TRICKY DIE-CUTS ARE THREE THINGS I WHOLEHEARTEDLY LOVE ON CARDS AND THIS SET HIT THE TRIFECTA. I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE VINNY CASTILLA CARD PRETTY QUICKLY AFTER BUT THIS WAS THE CARD I REALLY REALLY WANTED AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE AND I PROBABLY PAID TOO MUCH BUT I GOT IT. SOMETHING ABOUT THIS CARD ACTIUVATES THE HAPPY CHEMICALS IN MY BRAIN, EVEN NOW I'VE JUST BEEN STARING AT THE CARD FOR LIKE FIFTEEN MIUTES INSTEAD OF WRITING THE POST. THE RED AND BLUE JUST LOOKS SO GOOD! I ALSO LOVE THE NAME OF THE SET 'MEN WITH HATS'. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? IT IS A SAFETY DANCE REFERENCE TWENTY YEARS LATER? IT'S SO GOOFY. LOOKING ALL THIS STUFF UP I'M NOW FINDING AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE IS ALSO A TIM HUDSON CARD IN THE SET. IT LOOKS GOOD WITH THE SAME RED BORDER AND ANDRUW HERE BUT MAN, IF IT HAD A GREEN BORDER FOR THAT A'S CAP IT WOULD BE AN ALL TIME GREAT

UPPER DECK VINTAGE IS A WILD BRAND, REALIZING A RETRO CRAZE WAS UPON THE HOBBY UD JUST STRAIGHT UP YOINKED SOME CLASSIC TOPPS DESIGNS. THE BEST PART IS THEY PICKED THREE FANTASTIC DESIGNS TO STEAL, 1963, 1965 AND 1971. THEY DID IT IN FOOTBALL TOO WITH THE 1971 FOOTBALL DESIGN AND WITH SEVERAL DESIGNS IN HOCKEY. Y NO HOOPS UD?? I REMEMBER TOPPS GOT MAD AS HELL TOO, THEY WERE NOT AMUSED BY UPPER DECK COPYING THEIR HOMEWORK SO WELL. FLEER DID THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME BUT THEIR RIPOFFS LOOKED KINDA CHEESY. BY 2004 UPPER DECK BACKED OFF AND STARTED STEALING VINTAGE ODDBALL DESIGNS. THEY ALSO ADDED A BUNCH OF SHORT PRINTS AND INSANITY AND THERE WAS NO UPPER DECK VINTAGE IN 2005. IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED THOUGH!

SPEAKING OF DISEMBODIED FLOATY HEADS, I HAVE BEEN PLACING THESE ON THE SCREENSHOT MOSTLY BASED ON HOW WELL THEY FIT THE PICTURE NOT BY HOW WELL THE PERSONALITY LINES UP WITH THE CHARACTER. DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO HARD OR YOU'LL GET THE IMAGE OF SHAQ HITTING ON ANDRUW JONES WHILE HE PLAYS BEETHOVEN ON A TOY PIANO STUCK IN YOUR HEAD AND NOBODY NEEDS THAT

Scott Boras fields calls about Andruw

Apparently Scott Boras has had no less than eight teams contact him about Andruw Jones after being released from his contract with the Dodgers. I thought it was a load of bupkis since even the Braves are leery of bringing him back. Chipper Jones came right out and said that he's still swinging like a rusty gate for Pete's sake. However, the transscripts of the calls have been leaked to show that they are legit. See for yourself:

Frank Wren, Braves: Ok, when you're done screwing around trying to get another sucker to give Andruw a ridiculous contract, tell him that the team he wanted to be with all along will give him a minor league deal and a chance to make the roster in Spring Training.

Michael Hill, Marlins: Would you do a league minimum contract for Andruw? We'd be really interested in signing him at the minimum, that way we could trade Hermida and save $40,000. Please?

Jim Bowden: Nationals: We don't actually want to sign him or anything, but can you leak that we're interested? We're trying to get our name out in the media to create the illusion that we're, you know, relevant.

Brian Cashman, Yankees: If you even think about associating our good name with your client, you'll be sleeping in the Hudson tonight. Capiche?

Neal Huntington, Pirates: You know, after spending a decade and a half systematically dismantling the franchise, our front office thinks it's time to open up the checkbook. The Pirates really need a centerpiece player since we gave up Bay for magic beans. I'll just send you a blank check, mmmkay? Excuse me a moment - there's an angry mob at the door... BLEAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHH THE PAIN, THE PAIN... SHOULDN'T YOU PEOPLE BE WATCHING THE STEELERS

Walt Jocketty, Reds: Hello Scott? I was interested in signing your client, Hugh. You know, Hugh Jass? We'd like Hugh Jass to play outfield for us this year. Can you call Hugh Jass over to the phone? Just yell it right out and he'll come a-waddlin'. Hey Hugh!

Omar Minaya, Mets: He wants HOW much? Really? AAAAAAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA *gasp* HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!! Hold on, hold on... I gotta call Kenny Wiliams... Hey Ken! Guess how much Andruw wants? No, no, he wants a real contract!!! No, really!!! AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

Frank Wren, Braves: Ok, Scott? We just talked it over with Bobby and he wants to pencil him and his .500 OPS in the cleanup spot. Scratch the minor league deal, he can work Skip and Pete's barbecue stand this season and try to work his way back up to playing in Gwinnett.

Ned Colleti: YOU ARE A MONSTER. AN EVIL INHUMAN SOULLESS MONSTER. HOW CAN YOU WITH GOOD CONCIENCE FOIST THAT FAT TUB OF GOO ON UNSUSPECTING FRANCHISES. YOU... YOU... YOUUUUUUUU........ Oh, that reminds me, what would it take to get Gagne back in a Dodger uniform? We've got plenty of money that we won't give Manny for some reason, just tell me how much he wants. Thanks babe!

Surprise Package from Todd

I got a package out of nowhere in the mail yesterday from Royals fan Todd. Three cards were in the bubble mailer:

2008 Allen & Ginter Flag of Peru

I haven't got a flag card in a while, I now have 39 out of 50 in the set. It's a really nice set, but I can never seem to win any off eBay and it's impossible to find them in card shops.

2008 Allen & Ginter Jeff Francoeur Autograph

This is very cool as I'm trying to get all the Braves jerseys and relic cards for 2008 A&G. The only one I'm missing now is Mark Teixeira. That guy's always being difficult. It's not technically a Braves card, but I'm also trying to hunt down Casey Kotchman.

2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Andruw Jones Bat/Cap/Patch relic #10/15

This here is just nuts. This looks a lot better in person than in the scan. I need to find my screwdriver and scan it without the case. As far as relic cards go, this one is designed pretty well. Decent picture of Andruw and the relics fit in well. Lots of variety too, I don't think I had a Braves cap relic card before now.

Good stuff from Todd totally out of the blue. I'm going to be digging for Royals cards this weekend now. I think I have a Royals patch card somewhere...Thanks Todd!

Trade from Mike

I'm late on posting this trade, but Mike was late in sending it due to a brand new Wii Fit. That's cool, as I'm still trying to remember if I sent anything to him... That pile of Red Sox and Piazza cards is missing so I probably did. Anyway, I got the two cards I needed to complete my T205 set and a bunch of Braves. Since the cards were more or less organized by player, I'll post 'em by player.

Oddballs:

Did you know Bazooka Joe was a Brave? Well, he wasn't. It's all a cynical marketing scheme by Topps and their army of airbrushers. Everyone can tell that's an airbrushed Giants cap.

Also: 1 Avery, 1 Deion, 2 Loftons and a Sheffield bazooka mini card.

Four Chipper Jones:

It's hard to find a Chipper card I don't have that isn't a relic or auto or some pricey insert, but Mike found one here. This is from some weird Team Out! baseball card game. I remember seeing these at Target years ago but I never picked one up. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of gameplay on the card... Maybe it's momory for baseball fans.

Also: '97 Donruss VXP, '97 Fleer Million Dollar Moments, '98 Pinnacle Swing for the Fences.

Seven John Smoltz:

I like finding Starting Lineup cards loose because I never opened any of the ones I got, especially not the Braves. It looks like this card was from a Classic Doubles package from 2000 featuring Smoltz and Pedro Martinez.

Also: '93 Classic, '95 Ultra Gold Medallion, '97 Pinnacle Inside checklist, '97 Fleer Million Dollar Moments, '03 Fleer Focus, '03 Bazooka Comic

Two Dale Murphy:

I don't know what oddball set this is from, but it looks like a sticker and I keep trying to peel it. It's some kind of '86 Topps set but I'm too lazy to look it up in the SCD right now.

Also: '87 Boardwalk and Baseball

Four Fred McGriff:

There were too many good ones so I couldn't decide which one to post. We have here a 1996 Collector's Choice Crash the Game card that is wonderfully obnoxious, a 1995 Fred McGriff NAtional packtime card that probably deserves a post all it's own and a spectacular '95 Topps All Star card with the Big Hurt. Awesome stuff right there.

Also: '97 Pinnacle Swing for the Fences

Three Javy Lopez:

Javy Lopez. Durham Bulls. I bet he's wearing Annie's garter.

Also '92 Classic Best, '97 Pinnacle Swing for the Fences

Three Tom Glavine:

Tom Glavine is radioactive. Literally. That sucker glows in the dark! It kinda glows in the light too. Gotta love early '90s card design.

Also: '93 Classic, '94 Post

Four Dave Justice:

I have never seen one of these cards before. Not ever. And I've seen a lot of cards. It appears to be a Canadian version of the Post cereal cards. Probably inserted into Kraft Dinner or cases of LaBatt's. That's a typical Canadian breakfast, right?

Also: '93 Classic, '94 Post, '94 O-Pee-Chee offer card

Three Andruw Jones:

This is quite possibly the greenest card in existence.

Also: '97 Donruss VXP, '98 Donruss Playstation

Six Greg Maddux:

I've posted the VXP card/CD/thing before, but I don't think I've shown off the case for it. This is another card that really deserves its own dedicated post. I've seen a lot of these around lately, I'll bet another warehouse full just hit the market.

Also: '94 UD Fun Pack, '97 Pinnacle Inside checklist, '97 Donruss VXP, '03 Bazooka Comic, Team Out! baseball game card

Great group of stuff, as always. I'll leave you with this cartoon from the back of Greg's Fun Pack card that shows how I looked when cracking this package open:

Card Of the Week 6/16/08

2007 Upper Deck Premier was one of those high super premium megariffic elitist packs. They cost $300 a pop and were considered prime whale bait. Each seven card pack had one manufactured patch card, one memorabilia with three or four swatches, one patch card with two or three swatches, an autograph numbered to 99 or less, an autograph or printing plate, one rookie Card numbered to 199 or less and one foil numbered base card. I could have just linked to Joey's review but I really wanted to type all that out. The basic concept behind these packs is to a) provide more 'value' in a pack b) provide the experience of pulling all the 'hits' without all those messy base cards c) sucker high rollers into dropping several grand at a pop on baseball cards. Here's an example of one of the Triple Patch cards:

Ooooooooh... Preeeeeeetttty.....

That's a nice lookin' card right? Classy looking design with die cut foil showing off three different little patch bits. They even used three patch squares instead of one big piece of patch and made sure to misalign them in the cut outs so you could see the different pieces. Now that's a nice card. Numbered 63/97 too. Very appropriate since Andruw is hitting .062 with 97 strikeouts this year. This is a very rare card, right? Well, as rare as any of the other cards in the set since they're all inserted one a pack. There are just as many patch cards out there from this set as base cards. Makes ya wonder why they even had base cards if they were just one per pack. They're still base cards so no one's gonna pay that much for them unless someone lost their mind and tried to build a set. I can see some schmuck bidding up a Mark DeRosa card to a couple grand on eBay since it's the last one he needs for the set. My guess is that UD put in a base set at the last minute because $50 a card for a 6 card pack was just too much for even the high rollers to swallow, but $42.85 per card for a seven card pack was okey doakey. Added value, people, it's all about added value. Actually a box/pack is down to $210 each so it's $30 a card now. Patches are one of the better cards in the pack though, much better than a boring ol' base card or one of those fake manufactured patches. Patches are probably #3 on the hit hierarchy behind printing plates and really good autographs so they should be more expensive, right? How much did I pay for this beaut, anyway?


See for yourself, folks. Lord, I love a buyer's market. This week's Card of the Week: a sweet Andruw Jones triple patch card that depreciated faster than a 2006 Kia Rio driving off the lot.

Complete Player

Ah, the joys of late 90's inserts. Every insert had a gimmick! Nowadays they just throw a BS short print in the set or chop up a priceless artifact to embed in the cards. Back then each set needed about 6 different insert sets each with it's own raison d'être. Here's an insert from 1998 Score that caught my eye this weekend. Complete Players:

There were ten players in the set, all of whom were considered 'complete players'. Nevermind that Mark McGwire, one of the most one dimensional players in history, was in the set the cards focused on different aspects of their game. Andruw's attributes in 1998 were Approach, Hitting and On Base. Why fielding isn't one of his attributes, I really don't know. The backs of the cards mostly talk about his World Series homers and his quick rise to the majors.

That's right, cards. Each player got three cards each to make up a 30 card set. The design sort of reminds me of a space-age '88 Donruss with the blue and black borders overwhelmed by a ton of foil stamping. At a pull ratio of 1 in 23 packs, they were attainable but a challenge to complete an entire set. Complicating matters is that they are found with both gold and silver holofoil. I'm not sure what the difference between the two was, but I have the gold version here. Maybe Gold was hobby only?

There was a reason why each player got three cards each, that was the gimmick of the set. If you flip them over and put them together...

you got a complete player! Very ingenious! Can't you wait for the card companies to run out of ideas and start mining the late 90's for stuff to make their cards interesting?

Oh wait, nevermind...

Damn, I hate this....

This really, really, really sucks, but I know it's time to move on. It's not fun to see Schuerholtz on the nightly news acting like a cold hearted bitch (again) when cutting ties with someone like Andruw, but he's right on this one. 20 million a year is too much and someone out there will pay him. It still sucks though, and John better put that money towards a ground ball pitcher, because the outfield defense just took a big hit no matter who replaces Druw. Local reaction is mixed, but the naysayers are conveniently forgetting his defense. With the exception of TG, I've gotten over all the other stars who walked for more money so I guess I'll get over this. Andruw might actually look good in one of these now that I come to think of it. Good luck Andruw, we'll miss you.

Here's some of my favorite cards of Andruw.