Timely redemption arrival

I was worried they wouldn't come, but finally my 2019 Bowman 1989 Buyback autographs of Tino Martinez have arrived!

I started seeing others in the set pop up on eBay, and admittedly got nervous Topps wasn't going to track Tino down to sign his batch. But then I got an out-of-the-blue email from Topps saying that my cards had shipped!

In all, I received both autographs that I was supposed to. The first redemption was one I pulled on my own, while the second was a gift from Collecting Cutch:

I was surprised to see these were #d to 50, since that wasn't apparent from the redemption card. I was also surprised that I didn't receive sequentially numbered cards. Were they pulled at different times to ship? Randomly? Maybe the cards were never in numerical 1-50 order to start with.

Secretly, I was hoping for #24/50, but it wasn't meant to be. I did some digging to see if I could find any significance in #s 9 or 49 as it related to Tino's career. I was able to find a good nugget for each number:

9 - The number of post-season HRs Tino hit.

49 - The number of RBIs Tino had in 2005, his final season.

The cards used in the buyback autos are a little worn. I wonder how Topps sources buyback cards? Do they have a warehouse of old cards? Do they strike up a deal with COMC for the original cards they need? Does an intern scour ebay/sportlots/etc for the designated number of copies? Maybe Sooz knows!

Regardless, I'm happy to get these. A replacement autograph really would have stunk.

Another redemption replacement success

Over the past few years, I've had a few Ty Hensley redemptions that I've known aren't going to get fulfilled. Given Hensley has barely pitched over the last several seasons, I've realized that his outstanding redemptions are not a priority for Topps. I get it.

Previously, I requested a replacement for a Hensley autograph, and ended up with a Kyle Schwarber autograph as a replacement. Not bad. (Read about that here)

In September of 2016, I requested another replacement. The card I wanted was a 2014 Bowman Red Ice Autograph of Ty Hensley. It definitely would have been one of my best Hensley cards. However, there was no movement on it. I was always surprised by this because Ty was so accessible, but alas, nothing.

I decided that I wanted to decide my own fate instead of the redemption expiring and receiving a random card, so I decided to request a substitute. It was hard to do, but figured if it ever was fulfilled, I could buy it on eBay from someone else who waited it out. So I went online, selected "request substitute", and waited. And waited. And waited.

I called customer service several times, and the best answer I got was that I submitted it online and that takes longer than had I done it over the phone, which was weird. When is that ever the case? But after over a year, there was still zero movement.

Finally, last month I called again and spoke to Andy in customer service. He agreed it had been too long, and agreed to help fast track it. He even asked the team I collected, and said he had to assess the value, but would get back to me later that day. He was very helpful.

True to his word, I received an email from Andy late that day, offering the following replacement.

I jumped at it. While Hensley is an important part of my collection, I felt I wasn't going to do better than an on-card autograph of a 23-year-old pitcher on the Yankees who just finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting.

Andy also threw in two bonus autographs, and while I didn't need them, I appreciated the gesture. Andy went above and beyond, and I hope Topps realizes he helped me more in one day than several of previous reps did in one year.

I'd say that this was definitely a success, and while I still wish I had the Hensley, I think I made out just fine.

Instant winners

When I was a kid, I had a knack for pulling instant win redemption cards from packs. These weren’t autograph redemptions, rather granted you access to special cards or sets that could not be pulled from packs.

The first ones I remember well were the original 1994 Collector’s Choice You Crash the Game scratch-offs. I won at least three different times, which needed me this fantastic set of Home Run Derby Holograms:

Such a great looking set! And it also paved the way for You Crash the Game taking on a different form over the next few years. When a player accomplished a certain feat, one could send in that card for another prize, usually a set or a single card of that player. My favorites were from 1995.

As an avid basketball collector back then, I repeatedly pulled instant winners as well.

In 1994-95 Collector’s Choice, I pulled an instant winner for a Draft Lottery set, featuring some of the time’s biggest rookies. I can’t find the odds, but they fell either 1:36 or 1:144 (I know, quite the discrepancy). 

Just a season later, I had a very big instant winter pull, snagging one that fell 1:720 packs and landed me a Player’s Club Platinum Debut/Traded set. I pulled it at the local card shop, Ed's House of Cards. For the most part, the names were pretty lackluster, except for this guy, who made his NBA return that season: 

Zo was in it as well, after his trade to Miami. Love seeing Big Country Reeves trying to defend him.

Admittedly, I’ve never pulled a redemption from a current pack, but back then it was pretty fun pulling an instant winner redemption and anxiously awaiting for exclusive cards to come back in the mail.

A Redemption replacement success

Over the past few years, I've been waiting on two Ty Hensley redemption autographs. I'm unsure why the cards were never signed. He's always been pretty accessible. I'm guessing that since he isn't a big-time prospect, Topps hasn't been trying too hard. Bigger fish to fry.

After seeing some successful redemption replacement stories, I figured I'd request substitutes since it didn't seem like my autos were going to get filled. I could always buy them on eBay if they did start hitting the market, so I figured I'd go for it since both cards were fairly rare.

The two outstanding redemptions are a 2013 Bowman Sterling Dual Auto (with Mark Montgomery), and a 2014 Bowman Red Ice Auto.

So I made the decision in September to request replacement. So far, I've only received one, as the Red Ice Auto replacement is still outstanding.

What did I receive for the Bowman Sterling Auto?

Boom. Not bad! Not bad at all. This Bowman Sterling Kyle Schwarber auto sells on eBay in the $30-$50 range, although I haven't formally decided what to do with it yet. Perhaps I sell and use the funds toward my Jeter auto. Or maybe I hang onto it a little longer and hope Schwarber becomes a HR champ (for the Yankees).

Topps also sent a "sorry it took so long" gift, as they've done to others:

I'm curious to see what the Bowman Red Ice Auto fetches me, but am also prepared to be disappointed. Hopefully it will at least be a Yankee.

See you never, Redemption

Back in the spring, I redeemed this on Topps' super modern looking redemption website:

Now, I already have a Ty Hensley 2014 Bowman Red Ice Auto redemption that is outstanding with Topps and has been for over a year. Not happening, I know. The Hensley/Montgomery is from 2013 Bowman Sterling.

So my chances are slim, right?

But here's the thing. The card exists in Bowman Platinum! It's been on ebay! Look:

So where is the Bowman Sterling one if Platinum exists? Did Topps run out of stickers? The set seems to be all stickers, so what gives?

Topps doesn't have answers and keeps offering me a replacement. Nope, sorry, guys. Give me my card.

Wish me luck!

I don't have any redemption horror stories. I've only entered one other redemption in my life back in 2012, and received the card in a satisfactory amount of time from Topps.

Ty is an awesome signer, so I don't foresee any issues. Still, it's always nerve-wracking knowing some of the horror stories out there. Still, this Tweet has to count for something, right?

 

Wish me luck!

Banuelos Auto Redemption

I got a nice little bonus from my company before Christmas, and while I put most of it away to save money for the baby, I did treat myself to a couple of eBay puchases. The first is my first ever redemption card. I’m now due to receive a 2011 Manny Banuelos autograph from 2011 Bowman Sterling. These look great, and I can’t wait to add this card to my Banuelos collection. I have already redeemed it on Topps’ site, and I’m due to receive this card in April they say. While that’s a bummer, I anxiously await it.