Opening Day…a couple of days late

Posted by cardboard hogs on April 5, 2017

The last few years i’ve taken the…sort of MLB opening day of Monday off. I already get Sundays off, so it’s not really necessary to take that day off. It’s Monday’s that i like to not be at work. Plus, who likes working on Monday’s. They tend to suck don’t they? Take ’em off i say. The only problem though was that i am drowning in a mess of a deadline at work…so that time could have been better spent working than watching baseball…but life goes on.

Normally, i take this time off to be with my kid, but he’s in school until 3pm and i saw that as a time in the day to open up some packs of cards from my local Target. Why Target and not my LCS…well, Brian was apparently out that day…he must have taken opening day off too.

I’m not typically a pack buyer or box buyer unless i plan on putting the set together, but i do like to pick up a pack or two of new releases. A couple reasons, it helps me replenish my team card lots as well as adds star cards to my personal collection…which unfortunately ends up living in a white box in my basement. Let’s take a look at what i picked up.

Just a couple of battery mates from the city by the bay. MadBum and Posey. Both of these cards are fantastic examples of how Panini should make cards with none…or at least very minimal photoshopping in order to get a proper non logo’d image. Plus some cool action photos

Next up is a couple of Longo cards that just so happened to be back to back in the fat pack of Donruss. Longoria was one of those guys that I had added to my PC a few years ago…but never really followed up on him. I kinda feel bad for the guy. He’s a great player on a mediocre team…they’re not bad, but playing in the AL East is tough…plus, not too much fan support in Tampa for their baseball team.

Cutch is a player that i’ve waffled on adding as a “guy i collect” but never seem to actually getting it done. Instead, i think i’ll just add this card to my non official collection of him…again, in the white basement box.

Ok, this guy. Mr. Sanchez will most likely be a “guy i collect”. I’m already building up a little stack of his cards so far…would like to get an autograph of his at some point this year. I’ve never been overly fond of catchers though…cept for Posada of course!

Last card from the Donruss pack was this shimmery bit of sexiness. A Madison Bumgarner ‘The Elite Series’ serial numbered card of 96/249. It was the only hit of the day for me…very nice though.

Next up was a few packs of Gypsy Queen. GQ is something that i get excited about each year, but never really seem to get that much in to the set. I saw a few samples on the other blogs and was quite impressed with the cards this year though. My trip to Target yielded single packs only. I had high hopes of getting a blaster, but that wasn’t in the cards for me…so i had marginal expectations for the packs i picked up and was definitely not let down…or lifted up? Pretty cool to get a couple Bronx Baby Bombers though.

Rizzo, because he’s a champion of the world with the Cubbies. Also, JaCoby Jones…not the receiver from Super Bowl fame, but JaCoby Jones that appears to be doing something that should not be done on a baseball card, but maybe i’m just a perv…

Trea Turner. I watched the Nets game Monday morning and couldn’t get over how smooth Trea seemed out at short. He’s quite the talent at such a young age and he rocks the 7 like he owns it. Can’t wait to see what kind of player he becomes.

When i first saw this card, i thought it was some kind of error card. NO WORDS! I’m rich!! Well actually it’s an introduction card from last season of a clean shaven Evan. Maybe he’s working to get back in my PC box.

Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus are buddies and should totally make a buddy cop movie.

A former Nat in a Sox Jersey. Not sure Adam Eaton was worth giving up on Giolito…but Rizzo is a better baseball GM than i am and so maybe i should just trust the process and see what Eaton can do this season.

Now, Topps Opening Day is not something i buy much of if at all. Just not really in to the cards. I wish they would do something different with the cards rather than just copy the base design…but, it’s a cool and inexpensive little set each year that i like to get a few packs from.

Last card of note is Turner again. A nice kitchen mitten action photo. That’s how i look chasing my kid when he takes the spatula from the kitchen when i’m making fried eggs on sundays.

So that wraps it up for me tonight. Deadline wraps up next week…not sure i’ma make it but there’s always another deadline…Oh yeah. One odd story. At the end of last year, i received an email which i initially though was just some spam email. Turns out it was legit. Someone from a book publisher had reached out to me as they came across an image from my blog a few years ago (2013 no less!). They wanted a copy of an image i did not produce, but scanned and wrote about…as we all do. The image they wanted was the one shown below. Adam Dunn’s 2013 Topps Series 2 card #647.

I was slightly confused because…it’s not an original image of mine, just a scanned one. I was concerned about sharing the image, but figured it wasn’t in my court…it was their book. Nevertheless, the book is out and i read through a couple pages and it’s quite a fascinating take on some of the biggest, recent trades and how each team benefited or not from the deals. Kind of excited to read a little more soon…plus an “image of mine” has been published…not really, but you know what i mean…

Today’s music video is brought to you by Evidence from Dilated Peoples. It’s a great one!!!

A Big ole’ box of Memories

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 4, 2017

I pre-ordered a jumbo box of ~~1987~~ 2017. This is the big 30th anniversary for a set that is seemingly very popular with a lot of people. Me though, i have a different memory of these vertically wood grained over produced cards.

I started collecting baseball cards in the fall of 1985.

I was 9 and had fallen in love with baseball and baseball cards.

I wanted to learn everything about baseball and own everything i could about baseball.

So, baseball cards met that need at the highest level for a young’n like me. There weren’t many opportunities to buy cards at that time due to scarcity at my local Stop n’ Go or 7-11, but also my lack of funds…I was 9. I did what i could back then. When the 1986 cards rolled out, i was able to complete a set via trades and multiple pack purchases. The way it was done in the old school days. I had a little more money and ’86 turned out to be a fun year, a year that i became addicted to these damn cardboard things.

That all changed in the winter of 1987.

The very first packs of cards i bought that year were in the Stop n’ Go down the street from my home. I was headed out to my very first camping trip for the local Boy Scouts troop…a trip that i wasn’t too excited about (maybe a story for later, but my BSA experience was very forgettable!). My mom pulled in to the parking lot and gave me some money to get a special snack and a juice…i bought a coke and two packs of cards. 1987 Topps. The cards had gum in them, so that’s kind ova snack, right? Fearing that i had betrayed my mom, i kept the cards tucked in my pocket to be opened later that weekend…during a camping trip. I made it successfully to the bus without anyone finding out about my card purchases and was able to procure a solo seat and open them on the ride to the camp site. I had 34 brand new cards in my hands…and two horrible pieces of gum. Little did i know that this was the start of an incredible amount of over-consumption of wood grained cardboard that i would later become overwhelmed with.

For me, this was my first understanding of over production of a product. I was buying packs everywhere. I was even able to buy a few boxes at our local Sams Wholesale Club…for about $18 each. Now, t’ve never been a collector for the investment purposes but i also don’t like to buy junk…well that year i must have spent about $100 on 1987 Topps. I was completely overwhelmed with them and grew to really dislike them…everything about them. So when the set gets a re-up, i don’t jump for joy. I’m old enough now and have some perspective to understand and appreciate the design, so maybe this year won’t be so bad.

I mean, they do actually look kind of nice and as others have mentioned, the wood grain is quite lighter than the original. The cards stock as i remember it is quite better as well, significantly better actually…as i look at these cards, i can see why they are adored by so many…i have baggage that i need to let go of i guess.

They are nice, very nice. Well done Topps. You did a great job with these re-issues. Tweaked some of the things that were of concern to me…thank you for listening 🙂 Some of you may have already seen the cards that i pulled as i thought it would be nice to pre-share over Twitter last night. Just in case though, here is my very first 2017 Topps card of the year!

Miami Marlins Giancarlo Stanton! Pretty sweet first card eh? Don’t think i know what my first card is for the past 30 years, but i would venture to say that none of them are as good as this one.

This was my first card pulled for a favorite team, the Nationals or Yankees…Bryce Harper is cool, i mean…he’s probably going to have a good season. Yeah, this card is fantastic for me not to mention that i got two in the box. One for my flagship set and one for my Bryce Harper PC. Collecting goals are being met.

This was my first Yankee, Nathan Eovaldi. It was immediately followed by Aaron Hicks, also a Yankee. Guess that duo was a nice little mini Yankee hot pack…or not…?

Topps is also continuing with the buyback program, but stamping them differently this year with a vertically embossed stamp along the right edge of the card that reads “REDISCOVER TOPPS’. Nothing spectacular, but i have to admit these cards are in great shape.

One of the many inserts that you get are the foil cards which are great looking cards, assuming you can see them. I passed up a couple of them and had to go through the stack again to make sure i pulled them all out and when i did…four of the five were team cards. Feel a little gipped here, but i guess it would have only been successful if one of them was a player or team i collect. The fifth was a Kurt Suzuki.

Topps is also continuing to do the first pitch cards…and i think they are running out of celebrities or there just aren’t enough celebrities to go around. Not trying to blast either of these two musical entertainers, but one of them is great and the other one is Mase. I’ve tried to associate the connection of the First Pitcher to the team they are pitching for. Mase, per wikipedia was born in Florida, but left with his mom for New York when he was three. I guess maybe he’s always been a fan of a Florida team? Ms. Jett is from Pennsylvania, so maybe she grew up watching Harry Caray and Steve Stone on WGN like me? I kid…Joan Jett was one of my favorite rockers in the early 80’s, mostly due to my mom liking her music with The Runaways. I like her biggest solo hit, a cover of ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll”

Speaking of hits, i have three of them…well, two and a half. I don’t consider redemptions hits until i have them in my hand. Here they are, in my current favorite order. When the redemption is in my hands, that will be without a doubt my favorite one…assuming of course it’s a Yankee card.

My timeline counter is starting on February 3rd, 2017. Let’s see how long this takes to hit my blog post. Ball is in your court Topps Corporation.

Clayton Kershaw Spring Training commemorative patch…it’s like a hard plastic’y metal’y thing’y numbered 38/50. Not gonna complain at all.

My favorite hit, currently, is this Addison Russell trip color patch…they snuck that white portion of the patch in there didn’t they? Numbered 19 of 25 is pretty good too. Kinda wish it was autographed, but i’m quite happy with this pull. Russell is a great young player and nice to add to my collection.

d’oh! I have a couple more cool cards to show off. Nothing spectacular, but wanted to share. First one is the Bryce Harper Then and Now…i always remember that moment when i almost pulled that card in a box. The guy next to me picked the box that had it and i picked the other one…such is my luck…i always get the other one..Harper looks like he’s aged 10 years since the Bowman card, beards man…they make you look old.

The other one is of the young Astros prospect, but aren’t they all? Teoscar Hernandez…feels like his name should be spelled T’Oscar…but that’s not my lane. I’m gonna stay out. This is one of those reverse negative cards that are not printing plates, but every time i see one that’s the first thing that crosses my mind…kinda wished it was yellow.

Well, that’s the haul from my one jumbo box that i purchase for each series. Hope you enjoyed. I will be posting the cards from the two silver packs that came with the box another day, so until then. Enjoy some random music that i was listening to while writing this letter to you.

A buncha PC randos…

Posted by cardboard hogs on January 31, 2017

I’m a bit of a scatter brain at times.

I love things. I ~~hate~~ dislike things.

I Get excited. I Get intimidated.

I’m motivated. I’m uninspired.

I’m focused. I’m distracted.

Lots of pendulum swings with my moods. In fact…just the time it took me to write the words above, i got up to mute the TV, select a song on my iTunes…didn’t see anything i wanted to listen to so i downloaded the new free copy of the OC album. Poured some water, sat down, got up to pour some whiskey, got some coke to add to the whiskey…and now i’m back ready to write something about my collecting hauls. The baseball and basketball PC that guys i collect…or do I…?

I’ve been a Bryce Harper collector for a while. He’s a fantastic player, intense and quite emotional. He also has some great hair, see! Theres something perversely magical about the combination of everything on this card. The wavy brushed back hair, close cropped beard, unbuttoned shirt, open mouthed gaze to right field…and the animal print border. This card has it all for the creepy collector…so i picked it up. Plus it’s numbered to 199, not 200.

Harper is a good player for me to collect, why you ask? Well, he’s a National at the moment and will be for another year at least. He heads in to arbitration after next season and has been fixated on a GIGANTIC contract…a YUUUGE ONE! Not too many teams can front the cash for a player like Harper, except maybe his favorite team as a child…the Yankees.

This would be awesome for me. Many times a player i like moves on to a team i can’t really get down with collecting…i’m looking at you Hanley Ramirez and Carl Crawford. So, it’s a win win. Assuming everything goes according to plan…which rarely happens if ever these days. So, keeping things in the proper perspective, i can see collecting this guy for a long time, no matter if he plays in DC or NYC.

Just hope if he ends up in the pinstripes, he can take the ups and downs of playing on a tremendously large stage…it can roughen the edges of the smoothest player.

Normally i love it when a guy stays on the same team his entire career, like Jeter and Ripken to name a few. One guy that i could see staying with his team for the duration of his career is this kid, Trea Turner. He’s a future superstar…with a ton of potential. I can’t help but thing of Jeter when i see him, slightly different type of player but I think he has that magical ability to be where the play is and can bring a ton of victories the next few years. I’m slowly working on his collection and this Gold Label is a nice base card pick up from the show.

Ok, enough about the Nats and baseball. How about some basketball…and a couple Spurs i picked up. I’m a streaky Spurs collector. I’ll go months between a Spurs purchase and then pick up a few cards to add to the collection. At the moment though, they are just dropped in a box marked “Spurs to be organized”. The odds are not favorable that that box gets organized in the current year, but at least they are together. Go Spurs Go!

The obvious guy for me to collect at the moment is Kawhi. If this guy wasn’t born to be a Spur, i don’t know what a Spur is. Tough, physical, durable, smart and doesn’t need to let you know everything about his personal life…i like that. The quiet modesty vs. the humble brag.

The problem with me and Spurs cards is that i tend to skip the basketball tables at the show…just walk right past those dudes. One of the guys works for COMC and is super cool, but his table is filled with basketball cards…and i don’t have that kind of time to sift through a ton of basketball cards. Not to mention i don’t know most of the guys. If they don’t play on the Blazer or Spurs…i don’t know them. Apparently Vince Carter is still dunking over dudes…who knew!

Every time i get one of these Red White Blue Prizm cards, i’m just gonna go ahead and post this image as well…because…well…it’s the exact same thing.

I couldn’t get some Leonard cards and not get one of this guys. The Saint, Timmy Duncan!

This card in person is crazy sparkly. It’s like a flat disco ball. It shimmers quite a bit. Plus you can really see the gray beard of a man young Duncan became. He does have skills.

I also picked up this card on a whim…was about to start buying up a bunch of Clemson Tigers at the show and slammed on the brakes, but not before i slipped this Hopkins card on my stack.

So, as i’ve been typing, i’ve been listening to the new OC album. I believe it came out today, maybe yesterday…doesn’t really matter. It’s a free download and it sounds pretty nice. I’ve been a fan of OC since i first heard Times Up! A great moment of lyrical supremacy and a very cool sample from Les DeMerle’s Jazz version of A Day in the Life which has been sampled many times in hiphop, but for my money, Times Up is the best use of the first portion of the cover…If you like the OC video below, maybe give the free download a chance…it’s not bad…and it’s free!!! Or listen to the Beatles A Day in the Life…it’s pretty fantastic as well.

Bowman and Snowman

Posted by cardboard hogs on January 10, 2017

So, it’s snowing again. This time though, it’s a little different. I have a feeling this one is gonna be a little more than what we’ve had recently. I left work today at 5pm when it started snowing and got home around 6pm…and it hasn’t stopped snowing. Really hate snow right now…but i’m going to make the most of it and act like a 9 year old boy tomorrow morning, assuming of course that my back will cooperate.

Luckily i have some scanned cards of this years Bowman Chrome. They were a bit of an impulse purchase from Brian at the ‘ol LCS down the street. But i truly enjoyed opening the mini boxes in the shop. I don’t typically do it that way because i’m shy. Normally i like to be in the safety of my humble abode. I thought this time though, opening the box in front of the watchful eyes of a man that opens a ton of boxes would lead to some great hits…in order to save us all some time, i’m just show you my hits.

…but first…Sooz had a card chat Tuesday discussing where (and why) people buy their cards. One of the questions “How much do you buy retail compared to hobby” was a great one for me because over the past couple of years my retail luck has been terrible…horrible actually. I rarely get a hit, not much to write about at least…no John Smotlz, you know. But my last retail stop at Target (before the holidays) i pulled this beauty! Aaron Northcraft 1st Bowman Autograph! On a Sticker!!! Yes, there is a bit of sarcasm there, but also, there isn’t sarcasm. Actually, this is one of the best “hits” i’ve ever received from a Target pack or box in a really long time. So, i’m not complaining. I’m just saying. The card is pretty sharp, the high leg kick. Intense look on the face and that sweet sweet beard. Just wish it wasn’t a sticker auto, but hey, it’s retail and i’m quite happy with this potential momentum shift of hits.

Lets get back on track now. I’m a man of order over chaos. Uniformity over randomness. Rigidity over flexibility…actually, that’s my dad, not me. I’m right in the middle of all those antonyms. That said, i am posting the cards in the order in which they were pulled so you can share in the moment that Brian and i had a few weeks ago.

First on card autograph is from Blake Snell. The young Rays pitching prospect has seen a few big league hitters in his 19 career games started and appears to have a somewhat bright future in the majors. Although not stellar, he has shown some early strikeout potential with 9.9 K/9 in his first year. No idea what his future holds, but if I start to hear his name mentioned more frequently next year, i’ll check him out.

Next card, another pitcher. Connor Sadzeck, pronounced \sad-ZECK\, not sad sack…which would describe the scribble autograph on his 1st Bowman card. If I was a future prospect i think i would spend some time working on my sig…but to be honest i don’t know how you write all those odd letters together. the D, Z and E alone are tricky. Connor is tall as hell, 6′ 7″ and was drafted in 2010 and then again in 2011. Doing some quick research on Lone Star Ball, he sounds like he may be someone to watch this season…so watch him, this season if you’re in to the Rangers.

Cornelius Randolph is the next player. He hits balls rather than tosses them. This card is a bit outdated at this point. He’s now a Washington National, which is cool because i like the Nationals. He’s also the first hitter from the group i’ve pulled. I don’t do much prospecting with baseball players, but when i do, i prefer hitters. Feel like they have a better option with succeeding. There’s no real basis with that theory, it’s just some illogical conclusion i’ve come up with through the years. Pitchers get injured too easily.

Back to the pitcher autographs. Victor Alcantara. A 23 year old prospect from the DR. Really excited about this autograph. I took a peek at his scouting report on Inside the Halos and he sounds like a true stud pitcher, possibly a bullpen guy, maybe a potential closer?

Last card, Willie Calhoun from the LA Dodgers. A second baseman ranked #11 in the Dodgers organization going in to last season and was part of the futures game as well. He looks to have some pop in his bat as he tagged 27 home runs last year, his OPS is a respectable .788 as well. Not sure if he has a chance to make the Dodgers roster this season, but i’ll keep an eye on him in Spring Training.

Thanks for reading!

Tonight I watched President Barack Obama’s farewell speech and there were moments that made me realize how proud i was to be in our country. It’s far from perfect and we have a lot of issues to deal with throughout the nation, but it’s a pretty great place to be if you ask me. I’m gonna enjoy a snow storm with my family tomorrow and cherish the moments with my beautiful wife and mischevious boy…if you have people you love and care about, you should let them know and give them a hug.

Clemson Tigers!

Posted by cardboard hogs on January 9, 2017

I was born in South Carolina. Conway Country, South Carolina, Myrtle Beach…Myrtle Beach Air Force Base to be exact. My parents were both in the Air Force when i was born and they were born in South Carolina as well. Both of my parents were born in South Carolina. My mom was born in Charleston and My dad’s family was from Spartanburg, SC. He was the son of a cotton factory worker that loved football, Clemson football. Football is huge in Texas and really all throughout the south. Every summer we would visit the Palmetto state, and when we went to Spartanburg we would go to the Beacon drive in. It’s a bit of a divey drive in greasy spoon kinda place, but damn that food is good! And the walls were always covered in Clemson newspaper clippings, Frank Howard and Danny Ford photos along Tiger memorabilia everywhere…not so much with the other school in the state, the Cocks, just mostly Clemson Tigers. So, as a young’n my college football team was chosen. The Clemson Tigers. A Tigers fan in the state of Texas, where i could have chosen the Longhorns or Aggies or Red Raiders or whatever…I stuck with my family on this one. Football hasn’t been too nice to me over the past few years. The ebbs and flow of a football season are quite emotional, far more than baseball, which i think is why i’m more drawn to the diamond than the gridiron. But tonight, my team won and it feels great!…and yes, i did order some Panini Clemson Tigers cards tonight.

Now to some baseball cards.

Wrapping up my box of Topps update with the hits. Like i said, nothing too major, but some cool decent stuff from the jumbo box.

Christian Vazquez – Boston Red Sox Scouting Report Certified Autograph

Stephen Strasburg – Washington Nationals All Star Game 2016 Event Worn Workout Jersey

Willie McCovey – San Francisco Giants 500 Home Run Club Capt. James Cook Stamp

My mind is a little distracted right now and i’m having a little difficulty writing and listening to ESPN, so i’m just going to let the images be. That Captain James Cook stamp got me doing some serious research though on global sailing, exploration and cartography. Maybe i can save some of my research for another (re)post.

Hope you guys have a great night! Here’s a cool song my wife introduced me to a couple of days ago…probably late on these guys, but love the song! Enjoy.

One more Chance!

Posted by cardboard hogs on January 4, 2017

I have a stack of cards in front of me that have a story that needs to be unearthed, something that can connect the pieces of card stock together in a nice little cycle of like kinda way. I just don’t know what that story is yet. I got foil cards. I got celebrity cards, I got guys with turkey necks and a guy that took a barbecue sauce bath, and some cards that are called Fire but look like Chihuly glass…guess it was fired glass…semantics i guess. Let’s start with the celebrity stock of First Pitches.

Two rappers, one is The Rapper…Chance that is. The other is Warren G. If you have been reading my words the past few years, you are fully aware of my affinity towards the rap music and culture. I’m pretty critical with my rap music though, almost a snob…yes, you should call it a snobbish attitude. I love lyrics and great storytelling. Guys…and Gals…that can paint a picture with their words in a seemingly quick or witty manner. The two guys above do that, although in all honesty, i can’t say i’m a fan of either. The reason for me? Their voice. Guru from Gangstarr had a song “Mostly the Voice” that clearly explained that its mostly the voice that we love or hate about a rapper. Now, he did go on to explain that the lyrics are critical as well, but in his opinion…it’s mostly the voice, and i agree with these two guys. Both Chance and Warren G have very distinctive sounds to them and are incredible story tellers. One of Warren G’s biggest hits was a terrific narrative of the wild life of an inner city Regulators, but the voice though…couldn’t handle it, plus it was the kind of laid back west coast music i wasn’t really in to back then. Now, Chance is one of those new rappers and i’m an old guy, so part of my distaste for his sound is that i’m not sure i truly get his metaphors. Seems like a great kid, positive kid trying to do some great things and share his stories…just not something i’m really in to yet. Possibly haven’t given it a good enough listen, I just struggle with him. Plus he’s in Kit Kat commercials and gettin’ down with so many different stars on my television set and internet machines. Seems like a lot of success came quick for him, too quick. I’m sure he’s been grinding at his craft for a while…but too much too soon for me to be a believer.

Speaking of quick success, Aubrey Plaza. Came on the scene out of nowhere with her popular character in the comedy series Park and Recreation (April Ludgate) who might have been the quintessential apathetic employee…that’s what the backside of this card said about her. Think that’s pretty appropriate. I had never heard of her until the Parks and Rec show that i watched for Nick Offermans’ character, Ron Swanson and the lovable Amy Poehler. I feel like Aubrey is one of those actors/actresses that doesn’t really ACT! but rather ends up playing the same person in each role that is really her in real life like Vince Vaughn or Michael Cera. She’s cute, awkwardly funny and somewhat edgy i guess. I must admit that her glove seems excessively large for her scale of human being. A smaller glove may have been in order for her big first pitch opportunity. Wonder if she could borrow another one?

Here are those Fire cards i was talking about earlier, not really sure how i feel about these inserts. Maybe if the card stock was thicker and possibly shinier, shiny is good sometimes, then i might be all in. I’m definitely all in for Griffey and McCutchen.

Griffey and Cutch appear to be in a flaming cauldron and trying to swing their way out to a burning hell. The Cutch card should be a Steelers card. Meanwhile the two Dodgers i pulled are emerging straight out of a pit of propane and butane, or more poeticly, emerging from the latest experimental Chihuly sculpture. Either way Maeda is feeling the effects of those flames coming in as hot as blue blazes!!! (my grandma would have been so proud of me for getting that one in, miss you Winn!)

We’re about to go from fire to foil, just like a night over the grill. (Really wished i pulled a Jason Grilli foil card, would have made that transition solid gold). I will settle for this quote though from the back of Pat Deans’ card “the cunning southpaw soaked up a barbecue sauce shower after beating Felix Hernandez for his first win”. So foil, grilling, BBQ sauce, Pat Dean:

You readers at home are just going to have to trust me in regards to the foil on these guys. It’s there, you can’t see, but trust me, it’s there.

The next card was a pretty cool pull, a Cubs team card black and white reverse negative SP card…wait, It’s a Jake Arrieta card…wait, it’s a Jake Arrieta no-hitter card…wait, it’s a damn checklist. Damn!!! It’s also a very demonic appearing David Ross.

Moving on to the next group of cards. Serial numbered foil cards with perforated screen print and a running 2016 Topps banner…these cards have it all…everything on one card. If it had a snowflake/snow flake (forgot to look that up today…) it would have been over the top though. The thing that struck me about this trifecta of National League East pitchers was their turkey neck poses. I wonder how many players get excited to see their cards in a pack and pull…

THIS!

OR THIS!

OR THIS…!!!

Actually, i can’t really see Bartolo Colon ever caring about his image on a card, seems too carefree for such frivolities. That glove…he should let Aubrey Plaza use that if she ever tosses out the first pitch for the Metropolitans.

I have a few more cards to post, the hits you know. Gotta wait for those tomorrow though. Kinda happy with the little success i had with those three cards…not a bad bunch. Nothing ground breaking, but nice no less.

Hope you guys have a great evening.

Here’s a video from one of the greatest storytellers in rap and a no doubt classic. From 1988!!!

Blogging by Hand.

Posted by cardboard hogs on April 4, 2016

Topps Series 1…in 2 parts

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 7, 2015

Once again i’m late to the party, but that’s cool. I’ve always lagged a little in life but always seem to finish ok. I like hanging in the background a bit to see what else is out there before i really develop my own opinions or thoughts on something. Especially baseball cards and extra especially the annual Topps flagship. As most of the other folks out there have noted, Topps really busted out some nice new graphical elements with this years set. The colored border with a gradient base and texturing is something that typically appears on higher end sets or short print inserts. Topps took the opportunity to add a much more visually appealing card this year…and finally got rid of the white border…the freakin’ boring white border is gone…for this year at least. The backs of the cards are fantastic and i’m in agreement with Night Owl on the left justified alignment of the player description text. The player stats and personal information both align, but the couple of sentences about the player are centered…so close! Graphically though, the card backs are wonderful and are the best i’ve seen in a while.

The first card of the year bit that Keith Olbermann is kinda cool. It’s something that i’m sure a lot of folks do, but they don’t have a sports show on ESPN so maybe it’s not very original, but it’s cool right? What was the first card of the year for the Cardboard Hogs?

In the past i’ve opened a pack or two and wrote a post about it, pack or two write post, pack or two write post, but like Topps I wanted to change it up a bit and break outta the box. So I’m gonna jump around and show some hits and show some base, and yes, I am all about that base. Another thing that i’m all about is jumping around and ANOTHER thing that i’m about is Derek Jeter and the card that every blogger has posted. It’s hard to not post this card though, right? It’s absolutely fantastic. The child like exuberance. Arms up in the air. Having just won another regular season game in a 20 year career and this is how Derek Jeter acts. It’s a brilliant card and deserves to be at the start of the set…although, doesn’t it seem that the #2 card would have been more appropriate?

Along with the Jeter card, the first pitch cards have been getting a ton of buzz. When i saw the list, i really wanted one of two cards. The Jack White and the Eddie Vedder. I’ve loved Pearl Jam since Ten. I was a closet PJ fan since i loved hip hop so much and my friends didn’t get the whole grunge thing…not me though. Eddie spoke to me.

Everyone remembers Jeremy from the first album, but Black

and Alive were the songs that hit home…like really hit home for me.

So pulling this card was fantastic and made the all the other First Pitch cards less significant. I didn’t get a Jack White, but got a couple other interesting cards that made me smile…but not like Eddie rocking’ the Ron Santo t-shirt.

So, there has been some debate about which card is the best card of the set. Some of the action photos this year are fantastic and show a lot of passion and grit like the Mike Trout card…which is beautiful and a terrific action shot with the infield dirt kicking up in Trouty’s face.

But I gotta go with the Michael Taylor fully stretched out to catch a ball that is super intent on getting a glove on. I love the tight crop on the card while managing to get the ball, glove and both feet in the shot, plus you get a nice perspective of his location on the field with the warning track just a few steps behind him.

Speaking of the Nat’s. The team cards are pretty dope again this year. I loved the team celebration cards, but think the cropping could be a little better on this one right, maybe just a little? I love to see the hands in the air like they just don’t…I think i care too much about cropping on cards…seems to be a recurring theme with most of my posts. But man, look at Werth’s hair…so fabulous.

This next card is fun on so many levels. The digiflauge. deGrom’s flowing locks. D’Arnauds’ blue and orange chest protector amongst the camp and the excitement of winning!

More to come tomorrow kids! Enjoy!

Natitude

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 3, 2015

I love the Yankees. People give me a hard time about it and when they don’t, they are utterly confused…why in the hell would a boy raised in Texas and who has never ever been to New York City be a Yankee fan.

Seriously?

Why?

The Yankees?

The Evil Empire!

Well, I don’t have a great reason why other than when I was a very easily influenced 9 year old boy my favorite player became a Yankee. He was an Athletic, and he became a Yankee. Being a 9 year old confused little child I decided I would follow my player to the team. Now, nearly 30 years later I am still a Yankee fan and love the history of the storied franchise. I’m gonna miss the hell out of Jeet as i do Mo, Posada, Pettitte, Mattingly…etc…Over the past couple of years though, i’ve developed quite an attraction for the Washington Nationals. Here’s my reasoning. As you can tell, i’m a Redskins fan and i do everything I can to listen to Sports Talk radio from DC, and as one would expect they talk DC sports. So, by default the past 6-8 years my affinity towards the Nationals has been building and building. So much so that i am working all angles to get the kid to become a Nats fan. They’re a lovable team, right? Scrappy, hard working. Dealt with tough losses in big games (looking at you Drew Storen…). Built a strong organization from the ground up, albeit from many poor seasons and in turn drafting well with their high picks (hard to miss on Harper and Strasburg though, eh?).

I’m kinda old school in that i love it when players stay with a team their entire career. I know this isn’t always the players fault, but i greatly appreciate it as a fan. I also appreciate an organization that can draft, develop and lock up their talent for years to come. You build a strong foundation with the kids in the minor leagues and infill with veteran leaders and role players as necessary. You don’t chuck millions after millions for guys past their prime. You take a chance on a kid that your program has developed and lock him up. Make it so he doesn’t even want to look at another club. Make him feel like he is a cornerstone to a strong future. Now this is in total contradiction to what the Yankees have historically done…although, you can very easily argue that their last mini dynasty was due in part to the development and infill mentality rather than poach and overpay mindset. So, i guess what i’m beating around the bush about here is that I will always love the Yankees, but i’m kinda diggin’ the Nats right now. I’m sort of a baseball polygamist.

Albeit one American League Team and one National League Team.

I bought baseball cards.

Remember that part where I talked about wanting a player to stay with one team for the duration of his career? Hanley is one of those guys that, well, he’s come full circle. Red Sox, Marlins, Dodger, Red Sox. Initially i was cool with the first Red Sox run because it was so insignificant in his career. In my eyes he was a Marlin. A Florida Marlin, not a freakin’ Miami Marlin. He was a wonderful player on my fantasy baseball team for a couple of seasons and won me a really nice chunk of change one season. I was cool when he became a Dodger. I kinda like the Dodgers. Great history. Iconic Jerseys and who doesn’t love Vin Scully?

Seriously.

Vin Scully!

But now that he’s a Red Sock again. I can’t do it. I can’t collect his cards and feel good about myself, the Yankee fan inside me can’t handle it. So, I’m only collecting him as a Marlin…Florida Marlin.

Now to the Nats portion of the program. Werth and Strasburg with some Game Worn Memorabilia on display below. Other than Mariano Rivera, I don’t typically collect pitchers. Too risky and their careers can be schizophrenic (is that not PC?). I’ve always steered clear of them, but Stras is pretty special I guess. So far he hasn’t lived up to the hype, but the hype was out of control that nobody ever could live up to that hype. He’s still be very solid and hasn’t been overly fragile, maybe sensitive, but not fragile. Now this Werth cat is something else. His hair is amazing. His beard is amazing, but the DUI isn’t really cool. Maybe hit up the Uber app next time for a $900 ride home. #justsayin

Speaking of wonderful pitchers. Jordan Zimmerman. He has become the most important Zimmerman on the team the past couple of years and luckily isn’t related to the crazy Zimmerman in south Florida. No, he’s a pitcher and a pitcher that will be an important piece to a potentially all time dominant starting rotation. I have his autograph on a sticker on a card that has no logos. I can imagine how annoying it would be to write Z I M M E R M A N every time you sign an autograph, but this is a little too much corner cutting for me. Although I do appreciate the left justified approach. Never know how long that squiggly line will need to extend at the end of Z I M M E R M A N.

HEY! I snuck in a Redskin card! But only because it reminded me of Rocket Pops.

This is a very patriotic, summer-y, popsicle-y card that I had to have. This is one of those parallel cards that makes the rainbow collector happy…i’m assuming?

It’s Art Monk and I love Art Monk.

2014 Topps S1 – Packs 7 and 8

Posted by cardboard hogs on February 27, 2014

Yeah, it’s been a while. I haven’t posted since the 10th. I was on such a roll too! Life.

I’m going to stick with the 2014 Topps Jumbo duo pack breakdown because I like order and crossing things of off lists. It’s a problem, but it’s my problem. I pray to whatever you choose to believe in that you have already seen these cards, so that none of them should be eye openers. My hope though is that i can knock it out of the park with my witty narrative…or not. You will be the judge of that.

I’m going to go ahead and start with the box autograph ‘hit’. Not because i’m super excited about it, but because if you are reading this, you probably pulled this auto as well. From what i’ve seen on the other blogs, this card is a popular pull from this years Topps. Way to diversify your packs Mr. Topps company. Andrew Lamb-oh everyone.

I did get a couple of Harper’s in one pack. My first look through the pack and i completely missed the Power Player logo on the lower right of the card. It’s a Harper parallel and an insert. Nice. Here’s hoping the Bryce kid tears it up this season and avoids walls.

Another nice little pull from these two packs was a Casey Janssen black border card. See! It has a black border!

Next up is a Derek Jeter All Rookie Cup team. It’s not the athletic supporter type of cup, which is probably best for us all considering how many gift baskets this guy has handed out. He is stellar in his accomplishments on and off the field. A legend.

Maddux Mini. Why is the border yellow? WHY!

A gimmicky base card from Topps that you have seen on every blog from everyone that has opened a Topps pack this year. I can’t wait to put this one in a 9 pocket sleeve in a binder and forget all about it. He’s catching a football. Maybe I should get out my Nolan Ryan slinging the pigskin card out and put them side by side.

I pulled two buy back cards and this one is a very Brave Ralph Garr, no relation to Terry Garr I imagine. Maybe thirds cousins?

Sean Doolittle closing it out with a very red and pubic-y beard and 90’s Oakley glasses and a t-shirt that has words on it. Great photo selection Topps. Great selection.

Two more packs to go with a nice thick card that will make some of you smile, and then it’s back to some good ole vintage Redskins…or maybe a few card show pickups from a future show.

Oh hey, i’ve gotten around to posting a few very random cards on ebay. Please take a look if you are interested in bidding on them. The cards that don’t sell will be available for trade, or will end up back on ebay.