Another trade completed...

Here's another trade recap, this time from Madding over at Cards on Cards!

I sent some 2013 emerald parallels of our favorite team his way, and in appreciation he sent the cards in the picture above.
There were three different packs in the mailer, and a whole flock of Cardinals cards to add to the PC.
Here are some of my favorites...

 I like the "picture-in-picture-in-picture" of Perez. How'd they do it?

I'm always a fan of the dark-blue BP jerseys. I miss them. 

Is that a pitcher at bat? He's bunting? Sounds like a new section in the binder to me!

The "Runnin' Redbirds" card has been featured on Madding's blog. I've wanted it ever since I first saw it, and now I have a copy! HAHAHA!

Oh, and I really like the Busch Stadium card, I wish they'd do those more often. 

(Though with Topps' tendency to re-use pictures, we know how that'd turn out.)

 Another pitcher laying down the bunt?! Oh, the PC lords doth smile on this day!

Psychedelic McGwires will always be welcome in my collection!

This is my first (full-sized) LaRussa card. Looks like the start of a "manger" section of the binder!

The scratch-off reminds me of similar cards I'd find in my elementary school lunches.

Can't complain about die-cuts! Still, it makes me sad we won't see Crown Royale baseball for a while.

Pagnozzi was the catcher I remember most from my younger days, and this card is pretty neat. I gives some Busch II facts, and even recommends the best seat in the house!

A nice team picture to rounds out this presentation, I prefer the modern "action" team shots.

Especially since I think they could've cropped in on this one a little more...

This was a much-appreciated haul, and it'll keep me busy sorting for quite a while!

Thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin

Bring on (my) weekend!

I've mentioned my work rotation before (6 on, 2 off), and as it falls today is my Friday.
Thursdays is our dreaded meeting day, and today the meeting was about 10 minutes away from my LCS!
Naturally, I had to stop by...

I picked up a pack of Prizm, and managed to get a few cards for the PCs:

 

I'm not really sure if that's a Rangers picture of Clark, looks like MSU to me.

*Also, the catchers look a little better in this set due to less Photoshop use.  

I was informed that there was still an auto remaining in the box I pulled from, but I decided not to take the plunge.

I also picked up some numbered cards out of the shop's eBay store:

These are numbered out of 35, 25, and 25 respectively. 

I think these cards are neat, and I really like the Musial picture. 

I don't have it on any other cards in my collection.

I find that refreshing. 

Finally, we have a card I've had my eye on for a while. 

This one is a manu-patch from 2012 UD Football:

 

MSU really doesn't get a lot of love in football products, which is understandable...

When I found out about this card, I had to get it!

UD did a great job with these, adding dimension to the patch really makes it pop.

Overall, a good LCS visit. 

And the dreaded meeting wasn't that long. 

Well, for me anyway...

I hope y'all have a smooth Friday and an enjoyable weekend!

And as always, thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin

Updates

Hey folks!
Been a while hasn't it?
Sorry for being a little quiet on this front, but there hasn't really been a whole heck of a lot going on.

Well, collecting wise.

My off days were rearranged so I could be off work for my son's first birthday.
I usually use my off days for blog scans/outlines; so I've been a quiet watcher in the wings, driving up your view counts...

I do want to show off my....

HOLY CRAP! (Sorry, just saw a commercial for a Rocky Road Klondike Bar...)
Yes, that's the highlight of watching Burnett working on a shutout against the Cardinals. 

Sorry, my pickup from The Dimwit's case break:

Man, is that a lazy auto or what?

*Jay is the only Cardinal to have an auto in each GQ release

I seriously can't complain though. ELEVEN teams went hitless in our case. 

Topps seriously jacked up the collation in 2012 Gypsy Queen. 

Seriously, THREE bat barrels in a single case?

That's just sad. 

Not to mention duplicates in mini-boxes. 

Also, there were some things that disappointed me about this year's GQ. 

When I started really getting into collecting, GQ was the first set I sunk my teeth into; so it had a special place in my heart. 

Given market trends, next year will probably be a "low order" set that will turn into "high demand". (Similar to the 2011 release.)

That being said, I'm still working on completing a full master team set for the Cardinals.

Aside from the Freese (SSSSSSSSSSP) I've got the base set rounded out, and I'm now working on base minis. 

If you have any extras laying around, I'm looking for: 34,82,103,105,264,289,279,307,322,343

That updates my 2013 collecting goals to:

Complete 2013 Topps emerald team set

Complete 2013 Gypsy Queen base and mini team set

Thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested,

-Ruffin

*Oh thank goodness, Beltran just broke up the no-hitter!

Really? Where have these been?!

Well, Topps.
I want an answer.

WHAT THE HECK?
How long has Topps had these stickers?
Where are the Triple Threads?
Or the dual/triple autos in Gypsy Queen?
This is his first certified auto in SEVEN years!
And you make it a wrapper redemption?
When he's not in the base set?
This is ridiculous.

Granted, my Carpenter auto looks nicer on the whole, but I'm very disappointed in Topps for doing this.
A player of Carpenter's caliber deserves better treatment than this.

Carrying on with my unabashed interest,
-Ruffin

2013 GQ Blaster in "three" pictures...

Well, the Wal-Mart that is less than half a mile away from my apartment finally got some Gypsy Queen in.
Fortunately, I had just enough cash to pick up a blaster!

I had originally planned on posting this last night, but my Dad and I went to our first MSU baseball game in almost 17 years last night.
The Bulldogs came to town for a contest against the South Alabama Jaguars (former stomping grounds of David Freese, Adam Lind, and Louis Gonzalez among others), at their stadium (Eddie) Stanky Field. 

The Jags scored first, but thanks to a few errors, and a BALK, of all things, the Bulldogs soon had a 4-1 lead. 
State made a few errors of their own, and the game was tied 4-4 in the 7th.
The Bulldogs manged to score two more runs on a single by their first baseman, Wes Rhea. A save was recorded from sophmore Johnathan Holder (great last name for a closer, eh?) and the Bulldogs improved to 24-8 on the season.

Also brought my recent vintage acquisitions to show my dad, it's always nice to talk Cardinals baseball with him since he listened to a lot of games on the radio growing up.
A lot of vintage players that I can only read about he talks about like they just hit the field last night.
It's fun, and gives me even more motivation to track down some more vintage stuff!

Oh, this is a post about a GQ blaster, isn't it?
Sorry for the rambling, haha!
Without further ado...

Here are the minis:

A decent assortment of players, in my opinion...

Here are the inserts and SPs:

 

 Whoop! Cardinals SP!

Dealing Aces/No-Hitters really do have a nice template to their design. 

I'm not entirely sold on the yello card backs, though...

*The Ruiz "Collisions at the Plate" will be a nice addition to my 

"Cardinals Cameo" collection!

And finally, I got a hit!

 

Can't really complain on getting a 1:64 retail hit in 8 packs!

Overall, not a bad blaster. 

I have a few bucks left over from the game last night, so I may pick up a value pack or two today. 

Here is the base card breakdown:

Yankees, Diamondbacks-4

Cardinals, Braves, Twins, Rockies, Nationals, Mariners, Phillies-2

Athletics, BoSox, ChiSox, Reds, Dodgers, Padres, Rays-1

Well, that's all from me for now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin

Went for one card, left with sixty-three...

My LCS, has an eBay store.
I have a saved search for when they list any Cardinals stuff.
Sometimes, they don't put "Cardinals" in the item title.
That's why I have a saved search for the store in general.
So that I don't miss out on stuff like this:

2006 UD

*My first (and probably only) Yadier Molina auto!

I honestly can't say how happy I am to own this card. Yadi doesn't have a lot of certified autos, and I'm a big fan of the mask design. I'd still like to get one of his 2004 autos, or the 2006 Artifacts. That may have to wait a while though, seeing as his autos are climbing in value.

Seeing as I had a few hours to spare, I decided to dig through some of the boxes they had lying around. I was hoping to maybe find some vintage stuff since that part of my collection has been sparse. 

I can't say I was disappointed, first up was an entire 1979 Topps team set:

 

 

Oh, and a 1951 Red Munger thrown in for good measure. 

*And what is going on with Brock's helmet? You think someone would've said something...

Now, you might be thinking: "That's not 63 cards..."

Right you are! 

Here's some more of my vintage acquisitions:

 I really like that central column of Brock, Gibson, Torre...

Was really happy to come across the Cepeda and Carlton as well.

 Yeah, McCarver is releasing his death-grip on the mic at the end of this year...

He was still a Cardinal though, that's why he's here. 

*Oh, does anyone know what year that Del Rice is from?

Here are some nice multi-player cards. 
My favorites are the Brock/Flood, '68 NL Pitching Leaders, and '60 NL HR Leaders.
Can you blame me?

It's still not adding up, you say?

Well, I did pick up some numbered cards for the Cardinals PC...

Hornsby looks like a beast in that photo, he's ready to do some damage!

I'm also a big fan of the Edmonds in the center of the bottom row. 

I really like when there's a "game" element to baseball cards. 

And finally I picked up two numbered Palmeiros for my MSU PC...

*Palmeiro's legacy may not be the best, but he was a Bulldog. So he's in the binder.

Well, that's all 63 cards, hope you enjoyed them! (I know I did!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Opening Day, and I hope you made it through April Fool's Day unscathed!

Staying unabashed and interested, 

-Ruffin