Part 2 of the Chantilly Show Report (Baseball, Basketball and Football)

Continuing from my prior report of the Chantilly Show [Chantilly Show - Part 1], I was attending in part to pick up a few 78/79 Basketball cards (specifically George McGinnis and Darryl Dawkins) -

 After snagging these, I continued to flip through the 78/79 binder.  In my view, 70's basketball is a tremendous value (common/semi star cards can be easily had for 35 cents, and stars in most cases for a buck or two).

I decided to pick up a few Sixers (before they were Sixers) -

While the sharpness of the photography and the printing technology are not what they are today, the action depicted in these cards is incredible.  Moses Malone versus Wes Unseld while Elvin Hayes looks on - seriously!!??

 Seeing Unseld on the Moses card, I had to have Wes's card as well (and it is a classic).  I thought I would throw the Ice Man as well (since it was dirt cheap).

I finally pried myself away from this dealer's table and stumbled into another dealers dollar box, where there was an assortment of 70's football, baseball and basketball.   

First I scored a 1978 Topps card of the Polish Rifle and a 79 card of his favorite target.  

Next, I found a cool Stop and Go 3D card of Carmichael that I had never seen before - 

 Then I found some additional Luzinski cards  -

And some 76 league leader cards - 

Finally - I found what was my favorite purchase from the show - 

A card that features both Artis Glimore and Marvin "Bad News" Barnes on the same card.  It's hard to believe that they trailed Swen Nater (WHOOOOOO???) in rebounds - really...Swen Nater???  Ahhhh the ABA!!

Chantilly Show - Part 1 (Baseball)

I attended the Chantilly VA cardshow this past weekend.  For those not familiar with the show, it is generally held every October, April and July in suburban Washington, DC and features approximately 250 dealers and an "A" list of autograph guests.

After a disappointing turnout last October (probably due in part to the National being in Baltimore last August) the show in April was very heavily attended.  Like the April show, attendance on Saturday appeared robust.

I planned to pick up some supplies and to visit a dealer who always has binders of vintage cards from all 4 sports in decent condition for a reasonable price.  My goal for the show was to pick up a Luzinski rookie and a Ted Simmons rookie from the 71 Topps set.

Mission accomplished!

While browsing the 71 Topps binder, I decided to fill a few more Phillies needs - one guy almost always associated with the Phillies, and three guys typically not.

While still at this dealers table, I heard Steve Carlton's name announced at the autograph pavilion, so I pulled up a chair and started flipping through the 1974 binder.

I found a nice Carlton and a Dave Cash, and while I was flipping through, I found a nice Dave Parker rookie card - 

I picked up some basketball as well (which I will detail in a separate post), and as I was leaving, I looked down at a discount box in front of me and sitting on top (seemingly looking up at me) was a Mike Schmidt disc, which the dealer through in for free (seeing as Mike was looking up at me!). 

The show was a lot of fun...I'll post the remainder of my report later....

My Cardboard Mistress - Thanks for the Trade

I recently saw a post by Spankee at My Cardboard Mistress that contained a 2006 Fleer Ulta Jimmy Rollins that caught my eye.  I inquired if it was available and offered a handful of 2012 Topps Football that Spankee had on his want list.

It turns out that the card was already spoken for, but Spankee offered to send some of my 2012 A&G needs in exchange.  Well, he really outdid himself knocked seventy-five (75) cards off my list (including 25 minis).  Thanks for the lopsided trade - I will keep my eyes out for something you collect and return the favor.

We've all seen 2012 A&G ad nauseum,  so I will limit the scans to the two cards no one ever seems to get tired of featuring....

The Mataya is actually a replacement for my set - she was kind enough to return a TTM in record time...

As I have posted before, trades like this remind me of one of the coolest aspects of the "modern" hobby community - bloggers helping bloggers out with set needs and collecting focuses without reference to "book value" or similar nonsense.  

The Kindness of Bloggers - Redux (Too Many Verlanders and Jaybarkers Junk)

I am constantly amazed at the generousity and kindred spirits that exist in the trading card blogosphere (both in terms of what I read and what I have personally experienced on numerous occasions).  This is the type of trading (without any reference to "book value" or any concern from either party about getting something immediate in return) that makes the hobby (and particularly the hobby blogging community) so much fun. 

Dennis at Too Many Verlanders and Too Many Manninghams is a perfect example. 

A few months ago Dennis was giving away lots of cards broken up by teams - free for the asking and with no particular expectation of getting something in return.  All he asked was that you consider sending him some Detroit players in return. 

I requested the Eagles and Sixers and shortly thereafter I received stacks of both.  When I say stacks - I mean stacks  - literally hundreds of cards in all.  These were nice, premium cards of star players and players from my teams who I collect.  The package included McNabb, Westbrook, McCoy, Desean Jackson and T.O.  Needless to say, I was thrilled. 

Gratelful for Dennis's generousity, I soon sent him some Lions and Tigers I thought he might enjoy.  Shortly thereafter, when he commented on my post and expressed interest in Charles Woodson card I received through Panini's Black Friday promotion, I gladly sent that his way as well. 

Fastforward to today, when what should arrive but yet another package from Dennis with a note thanking me for the cards I sent him, and providing several stacks of Phillies and Eagles cards with a simple statement saying that he hoped this might spur some additonal future trading.  Rest assured - this cycle will continue once I have amassed an appropriate package of Detroit and Michigan related materials to send back.

A few highlights from the incredibly generous and unsolicited package are pictured below - thanks Dennis!   

This was definitely the highlight - Jeremy Maclin 2009 Triple Threads triple jersey card numbered 6 out of 20.  The scan does not do this card justice and it is sweet in hand.

I also really enjoyed the ticket stud relic card (numbered 64/110).  It is a cool concept and this is the only one I have in my collection.  I am a big Jimmy Rollins fan, so also really appreciated the card.

 Speaking of Rollins - how cool is this photo in front of the Warehouse wall in Baltimore - a really great shot.

A great action shot of Rollins in double play mode.

Dennis also sent a few Phillies from my youth - the great teams of the late 70's and early 80's.  Below are two members of the World series teams of 1980 and 1983.

My favorite Phillies player of all time - Michael Jack Schmidt.

and Manny Trillo - unheralded but key to the great Phillies teams.

The 1993 World Series team was also duly represented in the form of one of my favorite Phillies pitchers (after Lefty of course) -

As were the "dark ages" of Phillies phandom (1994-2005)....

Another blogger, who has sent me unsolicited Phillies is Jaybarkerfan at Jaybarkerfan's Junk.  In fact, he regularly sends random plain white envelopes to various bloggers with cards from their favorite teams.  I received one just before Christmas and another earlier this week.   I will send something back to you soon Jaybarkerfan - thanks!!

Jaybarkerfan's Junk also regularly hosts group drafts which are a lot of fun and a good way to acquire cards that you never would have otherwise.  Although I did not participate in his most recent draft, I have participated in several in the past and they are always fun. 

Below are scans of a few cards Jaybarkerfan included in his most recent delivery -

Thanks to both Jaybarkerfan and Too Many Verlanders for making this hobby what it is supposed to be - fun.

Cardboard Connection Radio - Thank You

For those of you that don't listen to Cardboard Connection Radio, you really are missing out on the best show in any media that focuses on trading cards.  It airs twice per week (Wednesday and Friday nights) and averages over an hour per episode.  The hosts have been doing the show for quite some time and are extremely knowledgeable and current with respect to the hobby.  Check them out live every Wednesday and  Friday night or do what I do and download the shows as podcasts and listen to them whenever (on the subway, in the car, etc.)   The guests are top notch and they host giveaways every week.

I was the beneficiary of a recent giveaway, which I wanted to show here and also wanted to extend my thanks to the good folks at Cardboard Connection Radio - keep up the great show!!

This is what I received in the mail -

First up - three autos - including one from Mo Cheeks - who I was a big fan of growing up in Philadelphia during's the Sixers glory years.  

Next up - a pair of Jersey cards (including one from Antonio Gates who has been on my Fantasy Football team more times than I care to remember).

And lastly - a couple of guys from the other side of PA - a very cool Honus Wagner Manupatch and a Big Ben Chrome rookie card. 

Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive these cards when the showed up in my mailbox, but I am even more thankful for the great show these guys put on twice per week.  

Target Super Value Box

I was at Target today and saw one of those value packs (10 packs for 11 bucks).  The two packs showing were an A&G pack and a Topps Chrome so I figured what the heck.

This is what the box contained:

Two packs of 2011 Topps Chrome and one pack of 2011 flagship plus 1 pack of 2009 upper deck. 

1 pack of 2012 Topps Opening Day, 1 pack of UD first edition and 1 pack of UD first edition update. 

2 packs of 1989 Donruss and 1 rack pack of 2011 A&G.  

The UD first edition cards are pretty nice (full bleed photography and one StarQuest insert card per pack).  My starquest cards were Griffey Jr. and Berkman.

The 1989 Donruss were (as you would expect) none too exciting; however, these packs always manage to yield a few cards that will make me smile:  

You can't go wrong with the Hawk, the Thrill and a young Craig Biggio (when he was a catcher!). 

Two cool inserts from the 2011 Flagship and nothing of note from 2012 opening day.

I've always been a fan of the diamond parallels and the caramel reprints are pretty cool too.  

The UD pack was pretty good - 

2 of the 4 base cards were Pujols and Johnson (as a Giant....)

And the inserts included this nifty Die Cut of Alex Rios and this shiny Joe Mauer

Speaking of shiny....

The Topps Chrome packs contained rookie cards of Conger and Hosmer and inserts of Kemp and Tulo.

Finally I got this Halladay insert and this A&G back from the Ginter back (plus a couple of cards I needed for my set).

All things considered...not a bad haul for 11 bucks. 

Panini Black Friday Packs - Encore

This is the last in a series of three posts regarding the Panini Black Friday promotion.  As I mentioned in the earlier posts, I am a big fan of the Panini promotional series.  This last series is perhaps my favorite - the black foilboard faux painted cards.  I enjoy these because they span all 4 sports and they have a distinctive look to them.

Because they are black foilboard they don't scan well, but they really look great in person.

 The photo choices are spot on - they really capture the intensity of the game.

Finally, some of the packs contain relic cards and autos as well.  I did not pull any autos, but I did receive a few jersey cards.

I think I pull Isaiah Pead in just about every product I open.  Maybe some day he will be the next Barry Sanders, but for now, I would be happy if just got a carry or two.

This years promo packs have, however, given up quite a few RGIII's - included this massive "event worn item" from the Rookie Premiere event!