Spring Training TTM Success - Logan Schafer

This is actually my third success from Logan.  I got him to sign a custom index card for me at Spring Training in 2012 and I sent him a Bowman card in 2013 at Spring Training.  Well Topps finally put Logan on a Topps card in its Update Series last year and Logan was nice enough to sign two cards for me.  

TTM Stats
Date Sent 3/19/14
Date Recieved 4/4/14

Address used
Maryvale Park
3600 N 51st Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85031

The Standard Catalog

When I had to move out of the man cave there were a few things I kept close at hand and my 2010 edition of the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards was one of those things.

I actually picked this up back in 2009.  Just like new cars you can always get the next years version a little earlier.  I've found the Standard Catalog to be indispensable when looking up information on sets.  The printed portion of the Catalog weights in at 1560 pages and just under 5 pounds, but the book only covers issues up to 2000.  Included with the book was a CD-ROM which had an additional 8 years of issues on it. It's a gigantic pdf and is a little awkward to use on the disk, so years ago I ended up printing it all off.  Krause the publisher put out one more edition of this in 2011 and then a Vintage only book in 2013. I had thought about upgrading, but to be honest I don't use the book as a price guide, I use it for the volumes of information about each set and for the checklists and information on sets newer than 2008 is readily available online.

Still one of the best tools I have for my collection and I use it all the time for tidbits when posting on my Robin Yount and Rollie Fingers player blogs.

Anyone else love their catalog?  Anyone prefer the Beckett Almanac?

Contest Pimp - Big 44 Sports Cards

Contest pimp here.  Head on over to Big 44 Sports Cards for an easy contest for some kewl swag.

2014 Opening Day

To celebrate Opening Day, which depending on which Opening Day you choose could have been a couple weeks ago. Here at the Crack I celebrate the official opening day which is when everybody gets to play so that was yesterday.  Anywho like I was saying to celebrate Opening Day lets open a jumbo pack of Topps Opening Day.  

I won't bore you with all the base cards.  They look just like regular Topps, but with the snazzy Opening Day logo.  There are also guys not featured in Series 1 in this set.  Here is Robinson Cano in a Mariners uniform, mmm, you can taste the photoshop.

Is it sad that I like all the inserts in Opening Day 100% more than the best insert from Series 1?  And unlike Topps flagship there is only one parallel card, not counting the printing plates.  The shiny blues! You get one per Jumbo pack.

Of course one of the favorite inserts is the Mascot set.  I got Screech.

I also pulled this great Kershaw Breaking Out card.  Looks a lot like the Donruss Break Out Pitcher set, but cooler.  These have those early nineties Fleer Provisions feel and yes I'll be putting together this insert set.

The last insert I got in this set was this Fired Up insert.  Again why can't Topps put something this great in it's flagship product. I'm going to piece together this set too.

 Not too shabby.  I didn't pull any of the Opening Day Stars, Superstar Celebrate, or Between Innings inserts from this pack, but I've opened a few more and gotten a couple of each. Here are some examples.

There are also relic and autos, although there are only a couple big names in the checklist.

Panini Announces it's 3 bonus Donruss wrapper redemption Rated Rookie cards.

I just saw this over at the Knight's Lance. Panini has announced the three bonus Rated Rookie cards available when you mail in 36 wrappers. Not that it matters too much, but they didn't state which player would be on 201, 202, or 203, but here are the three bonus cards from Panini.

Scooter Gennett - First Spring Training TTM Success

I ended sending out 8 TTM's to the Brewers Spring Training facility in Maryvale, Arizona a few weeks ago.  A little late for Spring Training, but with the baby coming it was as soon as I could get some out.  I just got my first one back and it's one I'm really glad to get. Scooter is probably one of my favorite younger Brewers. Along with Logan Schafer and Khris Davis they were the bright spot in a pretty dismal season last year.  I got to meet Scooter back in 2012 at Spring Training and he was nice enough to sign a ball for me too.  And I was super excited to see Topps finally gave him his own flagship card in Series 1 and even more excited that he made the 25 man roster.  And to top that off Scooter is great about signing and since he's the first to get a card back to me I'm going to give him the spots on my Brewers TTM spot for 2014.  

Here are the stats

Date Sent 3/19/14

Date Recieved 3/28/14

Address Used

Maryvale Park 

3600 N 51st Ave

Phoenix, AZ 85031

New Topps Wall Art

I got an email from Topps today advertising their latest money grab, err, offering from their website.  I probably would have just deleted it had there not been a Robin Yount, Rollie Fingers, and Reggie Jackson offered in the mix and that got me interested.  Topps is offering these new For Mayor wall art cards. Based on the their 1967 test issue sticker set, there are 20 HOFers featured printed on 11 x 17 inch vintage card stock.  Each card is $49.99 a piece and are hand numbered to just 99.  Shipping up to Alaska is a joke, but it might be cheaper than $20 depending on where you live.  There is also the option of buying a complete set for $899.99, which is about a 10% discount. You also get a bonus print featuring one of players with an American Flag design numbered to just 10!

A little pricey for me, but if one of the players featured is one you collect this could be a nice oddball for your collection, and these would look really cool all framed up in your man or woman cave.

Topps has also only made these available till Opening Day so if you want one you better hurry.  You can check it all out here at Topps website.