A Unique card

Everyone knows relic cards have become extremely common these days. I remember when they first came out as a kid and there was only 3 cards in the subset. I would eventually like to acquire all 3 (Rey Ordonez, Tony Gwynn and Ken Griffey Jr) but it hasn't been high on my collecting priority list yet. I'm typing this all by memory so please correct me if my checklist or facts are off. The odds were high to hit such a cool card (an actual piece of jersey!) Now-a-days we just kinda hope its real and not some knock off jersey in the card. I tend to believe that at least a player worn it, not necessarily the one on the card though. Topps has tried to add some transparency with Strata since there are authentication stickers on the cards and you can look them up. Seems like a good idea. A bit of a rant there but hey it's a blog!

This is the point of this post.. a card with turf on it! It says on the back of the card the turf is actually from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

Found it one of those random relic bins at a card show.

I was always a fan of McNabb being an Eagles fan. He got an unfair shake in the beginning since everyone in the city wanted Ricky Williams #2 overall and not McNabb (Edgerrin James was actually the first RB taken in that draft). He had a borderline hall of fame career and was super nice to everyone when we got his autograph in August. Definitely a cool card!

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Currently watching the World Series

I'm currently watching the world series. I am happy with the matchup (since the Phillies missed the playoffs) I lived in Chicago for 2 years so I've been to quite a few Cubs games. Never been to Cleveland but don't hold any ill will towards them. Kinda hoping for a epic game 7 because no matter what a ridiculously long streak is over! Kluber does look good tonight so far.

Don't think I own any high end Indians or Cubs cards, so Charlie Brown it is. Everyones favorite lovable cartoon character. This card was given out in the all star game fanfest as a wrapper redemption in 2014. Not terribly valuable but not something you see too often. (only 8 currently on ebay!)

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Ever been here?

My wife picked out this card at the recent card show we went too. She likes to collect eclectic cards. She has the Poley Walnuts card from 2008 (we're still looking for the Skip Schumaker squirrel card for a reasonable price or trade).

This card is pretty cool..

It's the Blarney Castle in Ireland. One of the main tourist attractions I think. If you go to the top (up a rather neat spiral stone staircase) you can lean over the side while some dude holds your legs and kiss the wall upside down. I partook in that. Not a whole lot of real castles in America so its' real neat to see the history in other countries. I highly recommend going to Ireland if you have the chance. Lots to see and do.

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One card mailday (Big card Pirates fans)

I recently went to a card show (didn't have a huge budget since I spent all of my money at the National). Picked up some Phillies cards from the 60s and some small odds and ends but nothing major. I did get one card graded though and just received it back from Beckett. I don't often grade cards but I figured for protection and if I ever decide to sell it there won't be any qualms about condition.

Very happy with the encasement and the grade..

None other then one of the Pirates top prospects Austin Meadows...

 

Numbered 4 out of 5. This was pulled by my wife and I at the Topps booth at the National. Very fortunate to hit such a nice auto considering we only opened 7 promotional packs. (Also hit an auto or a Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo)  I'm a novice at grading so I literally did nothing to the card stuck it in a card saver and let Beckett do the rest. This kid should be high on the prospect list at the beginning of next year. 

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The futures auto

The Phillies pitching staff is quite young. With Jack Eichel (he looked solid this year) and Aaron Nola (really good first 2 months, followed by a bit of a slump and then injury).

I saw the design for this year's archives and had to pick up an auto.

I really like the 1985 Topps Design. Such a good year. A nice on card auto of a budding star.

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Ryan Howard era is over

I was not able to make it to the very last game due to the holiday season, but that's ok. I went to the 2nd to the last game with my wife and we witnessed his last home run as a Phillies player. That was a real nice moment. Seems like a lot of fans showed up for the very last game which was pretty classy to give him a nice send off. He will definitely be put on the Phillies Wall of Fame, I will have to keep an eye on the announcement to see when that will be. (I forget how many years they wait to induct players)

These are my 4 Ryan Howard Superfractors! Four of my favorite pieces of the PC. Hard to find of course and can be hard to acquire depending on the circumstances (had to trade a real nice Ichiro card for one of them). Three of them of course completed my rainbows of Topps Chrome. Good times!

Not sure how I'll feel if/when I see him in a different uniform. I know he doesn't want to retire right now and will try and give himself another shot to play. Can't blame a guy for wanting to keep playing MLB. Hope it works out for him on a personal level.

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