Jolly 'ol Johnny Claus pays me a visit

Johnny of Johnny's Trading Spot might win the fictional award of blogger who sent me the most cards in 2017. It felt like I was regularly coming home to packages and found Johnny's name on the return address. He's always keeping a look out for cool Yankees for me.

John sent me one of his famous mailings a few weeks ago. Included in the most recent package was this cool mini pennant too.

My favorite card was quite easily this Yankees Postseason Celebrations card from 2017 Topps Update. It features the Yankees taking a victory lap after Game 6 of the 2009 World Series. I was at this game, so it holds a special memory for me. I was only a few rows up from left field, and I remember the victory lap well. I may send it off to Brian Cashman for a TTM signature.

I was really happy to see Ronald Torreyes get a Topps card this year. Right now he's probably penciled in as the Yankees starting 2B, but he's more valuable in a utility role. Still, he's a fun player and a guy you like having on your team.

It's funny how the hobby has cooled on these two guys since 2015. After Bird's 11 HRs in 46 games in 2015, his cards were very pricey. Then he missed all of 2016 and most of 2017. Still, his has a bright future and is a tremendous hitter when healthy, as we saw at the end of 2017 and during the Playoffs. I would love to see what we could do in 130-140 games.

Similarly, Luis Severino enjoyed a ton of success in 2015 as a 21-year-old, took a step back in 2016, then only finished 3rd in the Cy Young Voting as a old man 23-year-old. But he definitely does not generate the hobby buzz like he did in 2015. I guess it's because of Judge and Sanchez, but I find it surprising that his cards aren't gobbled up more than they are. It's good for me.

I was thrilled Johnny sent me this Jordan Montgomery RC. I know the Yankees are looking for another SP, but look what this guy did as a rookie: 9-7 record in 29 starts. 155 innings pitched. 3.88 ERA. 144 Ks. 24 years old. Throws with his left arm. I think a lot of teams would sign up for a 24-year-old southpaw with that sort of ability. He's not going to be a front of the rotation guy, but he can be super valuable and reliable in the back of the rotation.

A couple of shiny veterans! I love the beam of light coming from Betances' glove.

I hadn't seen this card but thought it was cool. PROtential. That's funny. Cool to see the old Thunder logo there too.

Johnny, thanks for all of the 2017 care packages, my friend. Happiest of holidays to you and your family!

A list of the top cards Night Owl sent me

Last week, Night Owl sent me a bubble mailer full of Yanks. It was most appreciated and unexpected, especially because I bashed the formation of lists on one of my posts around the New Year. Hey, countdown lists still aren't my personal preference, but if it results in free Yankees cards, I'll keep it to myself.

So to humor us both, here are the Top 9 cards Night Owl sent me, because Top 10 would be too cliche:

9. Brett Gardner 1987 Topps Mini

I'm pretty sure this is a night card. And a mini. Greg, are you slipping? Is this a dupe? Or do you hate the Yankees so much that you don't even care it's a night time mini card?

8. 2010 A&G Jorge Posada

This is one of my least favorite A&G sets. Sometime I should list my favorite to least favorite ones. Heh. Bad joke.

But truthfully, I didn't love the white border around these 2010 A&G's, and wish it was all one color. I like the red splash though. And the cool managerial pose.

7. 1981 Topps Ruppert Jones

Because Ruppert. And stirrups.

6. Andy Pettitte 2013 A&G

I didn't get too many Allen & Ginter's in 2013, but I don't mind these at all. I like them more in person than I thought I would. The border is a little overdone, but still feels pretty classy. The thin lines helps. I love the ecto-cooler green behind Pettitte. It's a great color.

5. Derek Jeter 2013 A&G Across the Years

This is a cool card. I like the shield, and love seeing Jeter spray a ball the other way. The back lists some cool fact for Jeter's birthday, like it was the first time the UPC code was scanned. No kidding.

Also born the same day: Abner Doubleday, Babe Herman, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Shannon Sharpe, Michael Vick, and Deron Williams. Cool. Seems like it would be a good concept for an Opening Day insert too.

4. Mike Wallace 1975 Topps Mini

I love 1975 minis. They are cool as hell. Greg is collecting the set, so I'm assuming this was a dupe. What is with Mike Wallace's hat? It looks like a cartoon hat, like the one the guy on the Big League Chew packet wears. Honestly, is it painted on a picture of Wallace?

Night Owl sent me Bobby Bonds from this set in the last package, so I'm hoping he'll eventually just send me the team set.

3. Jim Hunter 1979 Topps

What a great card. A few things stick out to me. I know 1979 wasn't THAT long ago, but the gloves look pretty similar to the way they do today. I would have expected them to look a little different. Not weird Phil Rizzuto giant Hamburger Helper hand gloves, but just a little less advanced.

Two, I realized this was probably taken at spring training, but I swear, that's an airport runway behind him. Spring Training complexes have come a lot farther than baseball mitts since 1979.

2. 1982 TCMA Yankees - Mantle, Berra, Ford, DiMaggio

I've really come to appreciate TCMA. I used to see them as "no man's land" cards...not quite vintage, but not new. But I like them more and more every time I receive them. The write-ups are always pretty good, and the designs are always simple yet elegant.

1. Thurman Munson 1977 Topps

Munson was a bad ass. Even when he smiles, he's still cooler than you. I actually didn't have this Munson, and now just need one or two more to complete my Topps set of him. Ever notice how similar this background color is to a 1952 Topps Mantle?

And that's the list. That wasn't so bad! Greg, thanks for the cards.

Happy Opening Day!

Mostly everyone has gotten to celebrate Opening Day so far. But not me. The Yanks open in Tampa in a dome, so they don't have the day off that a lot of teams have in case their first opening day is washed out. The Rays pose a major threat in the AL East, so it's time to jump right into the fire.

There aren't a ton of changes from last year's team. A few small pieces here there, including Raul Ibanez replacing Posada at DH. The rotation looks slightly different, with a new face in Hiroki Kuroda.

Here is the lineup that the Yanks will run out today:

 

New pick up - Brett Gardner Rookie

With no real concrete collecting goals as of late other than hoarding Yankee cards, I was mindlessly surfing eBay and came across a Brett Gardner rookie from Bowman. It ended up being a cheap pick-up, and I can't help but relate it to Gardner's career thus far. He was a 2005 third round draft pick after walking on to the baseball team at College of Charleston, climbing the org latter and eventually winning a place in the Yankee outfield. It's an aggressive outlook, but the past two years he's really been Carl Crawford-lite...or this year Carl Crawford heavy. He gets on base at high clip, sees a lot of pitches, and can swipe a bag. Not to mention he plays a great LF. While there are better all-around players in the bame, he fits the Yankees well and it's nice to have an effective young player making six figures to help offset the dudes making eight figures.

Trade Review: White Sox Cards

I reached out to Steve over at White Sox Cards about a possible trade. I had a few White Sox inserts that he didn't have, including a Magglio #'d/99 Pacific insert card. Steve sent me a couple of really nice Yankee cards in return.

Of those six cards, there were three 2011 Topps that I didn't have - a Topps Gold Brett Gardner #'d/2011, a Walmart Black Nick Swisher, and a Topps Lost Card 1954 Mantle. Steve also had a few cards from a set I had never heard of, 2007 Topps Moments & Milestones. He sent a Mantle #'d/150, ARod #'d/150, and a Matsui #'d/29. I had to do a little research on these cards, and I was pretty confused about the idea at first. Eventually it started to make sense...we'll use the ARod for example. The moment Topps is highlighting is his 110 runs during the 2005 season - so there are 110 versions of the card, each serially numbered to 150, which seems like a lot of cards. However, there are some stats, like Ichiro's 8 assists (only 8 versions of the card), which makes his cards that much rarer...or easier to collect I suppose since there are less versions. It's an interesting concept, albeit a bit confusing. Either way, it's cool to have a few Yankee cards numbered this low, especially Mantle. Outside of a Tino I have #'d to 25, the Matsui now becomes my second lowest #d card.

Steve, thanks for the trade! Hope the White Sox cards I sent you helped check a few cards off your want list.