His swing, the crack, Refractors on the back

My first Topps NOW card of 2017 arrived, outside of the free Mike Trout everyone else got.

The front was pretty much what I expected:

Similar card stock and gloss as last year.

However, the back was quite a bit different than expected. It had a rainbow, refractor-like shine.

I certainly don't mind this, but not sure what the real point is. I don't really want the back of my card feeling more premium or fancier than the front. It certainly didn't delay printing time, as the card arrived quickly.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Refractor version of some Topps NOW cards, but perhaps that will come down the road for a special set or a feat. For example, it would be cool to have a Refractor shimmer on All-Star Game Topps NOW editions.

Only time will tell, but I like that Topps is experimenting a little more with these.

What time is it? Game time, woo!

Growing up, the Bulls were a big deal. I was a kid right in the middle of Jordan and Bulls domination. It was pretty awesome, even as a Knicks fan. Frustrating, yes. But awesome to look back on.

Everyone imitated the Bulls too. I remember that my All-Star Little League baseball team's chant at the beginning of the game was the same as MJs. Our coach would yell "What time is it?", and we'd respond "Game time, woo!"

Cheesy and hokey, sure. But we were 10 years old and it was cool to us.

I was reminded of that chant when I recently received this 2001 Fleer Gametime Game Time Lumbers bat relic. This is one of those ones I saw on eBay so much I figured I had it, only to discover that I didn't. It set me back a buck.

Woo, indeed.

When prospecting goes right

I am not a prospector in hopes of striking it rich when a guy makes it. I just enjoy picking up cards of Yankee prospects and watching them develop. I send TTM requests, and ultimately get a head start on a small player collection in the event they become a Major League regular with my team.

There are plenty of instances where it does not work out. I have a ton of cards of guys like Mason Williams and Eric Jagielo and Manny Banuelos. But when it does work out, it's pretty awesome to see. I felt that way all last summer with Gary Sanchez.

I had read somewhere that Aaron Judge Topps RCs from the 2017 flagship set were selling north of $5, so I got curious about the market value for some of my other Judge cards. I was floored when I did an eBay search for completed listings.

For example, his 2013 Bowman Chrome Refractor is selling for at least $50. This is the regular version, not autographed. I have at least two of them, as I won a 12-card Bowman lot of Judge for $2.99 in late 2013 that included a few Refractors, a few Chrome, and a few paper base. Even the Chrome are selling well, going in the $20 range.

And you bet I'm kicking myself for never picking up the Bowman auto, although I did use one of the cards in the lot above and got this:

In 2014, this Bowman Sterling auto was an eBay win for me at $2.25. The last three on eBay that I just view sold for $89.99, $107.50, and $111.50. Cripes.

The prices will come down as the season goes on, as this is a lightning-in-a-bottle type of moment. Still, I can certainly say I got in on the ground for, and in turn, am in possession of some extremely high demand cards right now.

Prospects will break your heart. But once in awhile, they'll also make you really glad you got in on the ground floor.

Photo engravings

One of the coolest of the 1,876,519 insert sets of the '90s comes from - shocker - Pacific. In 1998, their Invincible product had an insert set called Photo Engravings. The cards had a beautiful canvas-type feel to them. It also had a pretty awesome checklist:

1 Greg Maddux
2 Cal Ripken, Jr.
3 Nomar Garciaparra
4 Frank Thomas
5 Larry Walker
6 Mike Piazza
7 Hideo Nomo
8 Pedro Martinez
9 Derek Jeter
10 Tino Martinez
11 Mark McGwire
12 Tony Gwynn
13 Barry Bonds
14 Ken Griffey, Jr.
15 Alex Rodriguez
16 Ivan Rodriguez
17 Roger Clemens
18 Jose Cruz

These cards fell 1:37 packs. It was also a prime year for Tino being featured in insert sets, as he was fresh off of his 44-homer season.

Cards like this are why I miss the '90s, as I don't feel that any insert sets today have this sort of appeal. They all sort of look the same and run together.

Pacific was crazy and had some bizarre sets, but they also had quite few beautiful ones. This one certainly qualifies as one of those.

Judge puns are getting old, but I still love him

I won't lie. I love Aaron Judge, but the puns are a lot to deal with.

Still, it's been exciting watching him come into his own over the last month. But that's all it has been. One month. He could have an equally bad May. At some point he's going to level off. And that's not a knock on him. It's baseball, eh Suzyn? Regression to the norm.

Aside from the big homers on a nightly basis, what is impressing me most is how Judge has grown as a hitter. He struck out 42 times in 84 ABs last year. This year? 26 Ks in 83 ABs. Say what you want about his homers or if this is just a prolonged hot streak, but give him some credit for cutting back on a major negative in his game. He's laying off or fouling off tough pitches, as evident by his four foul balls on a 3-2 count last night before homering.

He's still on pace to strikeout over 120 times, which is a lot. But it's not nearly has bad as what had people worried after his cameo last year. If he's going to hit 30 homers, you can live with that as long as he's taking his walks and playing a good RF. He's doing both.

Those that closely follow the Yankees shouldn't be too surprised. Judge has struggled at each level, but has eventually overcome those struggles to bring his K% down. That's a sign of a guy who is more than just a power hitter. It's the sign of a good, smart hitter.

So stop judging him as just a masher, and all rise when he comes to bat.

Ok, I'm done.

Filling out the lineup card

I’ve always been a little bit of a hoarder when it comes to sports memorabilia. From an early age, I saved newspaper clippings, magazines, and ticket stubs. I’m not sure why. I just always liked photos I saw of sports displays – later known as man caves – and figured I’d have one someday. Which I still don’t.

One of the coolest, most unique items I have are a couple of minor league lineup cards from my time in high school. I was fortunate enough to play my high school games in a Double A ballpark, and once in a while one of the pro teams would leave behind something in the dugout, like a baseball from BP. However, on three occasions, I found the previous game’s lineup card pinned in the visitor’s dugout, which we chose as our home dugout each game so the late afternoon sun wouldn’t be in our eyes. Each time this happened, I snagged it and put it in my bag.

I’ll share each lineup card, as some certainly had some future Major Leaguers playing that day. Keep in mind, these are the lineups posted in the visiting team’s dugout. 

Lineup card one:

Norwich Navigators @ Binghamton Mets – April 15, 2001

Final Score: Navs won 5-2

Way back when, the Navigators were the Yankees Double A affiliate. I found it to be very cool that they used the big league stationary. To me, that’s a cool touch. When a player walks by and looks at the lineup, he should be reminded that he’s just two levels away from being a Yankee.

There are a few familiar members of the Yankees who suited up that day, notable their 4-5-6 hitters: Juan Rivera, Marcus Thames, and Andy Phillips. All played a decent amount of time in NY, although both Rivera and Thames really made their marks on other teams; Rivera with the Angels and Thames with the Tigers. Phillips played a bit for the Yankees in mid-2000s.

I also noticed 3B Andy Morales, who was a big Cuban signing, but never made it to the Majors. Mike Jerzembeck is a name I remember as well, and I have a few of his cards. He made a few appearances for the parent clube in 1998 – so hey, he was part of that amazing 125-win season. I hope he got a ring.

As for the Mets, I recognize a lot of the names since it was the hometown team growing up, but I can’t imagine many are household names. I think the biggest name on the lineup card is likely former reliever Heath Bell.

With a 9.5 WAR in the Majors, Juan Rivera was the best future Big Leaguer featured here, although one might argue Heath Bell had a better career as a three-time All-Star.

Lineup card two: 

Norwich Navigators @ Binghamton Mets – April 7, 2002

Final Score: Mets won 5-4

We have the same matchup, just one season later. As a senior, this was my final go-round of high school ball. By this time, scouts were flocking to the stands to see me. That is a lie. Although there were scouts from time-to-time to watch a few guys on my team. In one instance, there was a scout from the Twins watching my buddy pitch. I was playing third, and completely airmailed a throw to second on a double-play ball. There went my shot at getting drafted.

Anyways, the Yankees had a few more names I remember, although gone were the big boppers from the year before. I do remember Kevin Reese, Mike Vento, and catcher David Parrish, who was a former first round pick of the Yankees. On the hill that day was Brett Jodie, who made one start for the Yankees the year before.

On the Mets side, it looks like another uninspiring team in terms of future impact players. Aaron Heilman got the start, as he was the Mets prized first rounder out of Notre Dame the year before. It was a big deal that he started the year in Binghamton. It’s safe to say he never quite lived up to the expectations of someone drafted in the first round TWICE. I also recognize Prentice Redman and Esix Snead, both who made it to the Majors.

Unless I’m missing someone on the lineup card, Aaron Heilman was the most successful Big Leaguer with a 2.1 WAR.

Lineup card three: 

Portland Sea Dogs @ Binghtmaon Mets – 5/5/02

Final Score: Mets won 5-1

Ok, a different franchise! This time it’s the Portland Sea Dogs, then Double A affiliate of Marlins. Now they are home to the Red Sox Double A team. That’s too bad.

This game definitely featured the best opposing player. Checkout the 1B for Portland that day – 2000 #1 overall pick Adrian Gonzalez. I could be wrong, but I don’t see anyone else of note on the Sea Dogs roster. For the game, Gonzalez did go 0 for 4, but clearly is far and away the best player on any of the three lineup cards with a 43.7 career WAR. That is good, to say the least. Maybe he hasn’t been the most dominant 1^st overall pick, but he’s put together a very good career.

The Mets look similar to the last game, even with Heilman on the mound again. In fact, he threw 7 innings that day, allowing six hits and striking out 7 for his first win of the year.

So there you have it, three pretty cool pieces of my childhood that I was lucky enough to snag. I’m glad I’ve kept these over the years, as I love going back and looking at them. If you recognize any other names, please let me know!

It's just so...atomic!

I know Superfractors are one 1-of-1 and all the rage. I do. And I have one and can officially say they are great.

However, I have never seen an Atomic Refractor I didn't like. In my opinion, they are the best looking Refractors that Topps produces each year. The speckled nature of the card stock basically makes these cards dance when lights hit them.

I didn't even know 2013 Bowman Platinum had Atomic Refractors until this Ty Hensley showed up in my eBay saved search. I'm happy to say I won it for just $1 (+$3 shipping...of course). But I would have paid $4 for it with free shipping, so to me, it wasn't too bad at all for a new Hensley #'d just 2/5. And truthfully, the card is beautiful.

Additionally, I had been going back and forth with a different seller who has a 2012 Elite Extra Gold Status Hensley listed for $10. It's numbered 5/5, and I offered $5. He wouldn't come down off of $8. It's a rare card, sure. But it's only worth what someone will pay, and so far, no one is biting. I've been sending him side notes seeing if he'll accept my offer, yet he keeps saying he's got a lot of people watching it and he'll do just fine.

Well, he's already lowered the price to $9, and so far there is only one watcher, presumably me. I'll continue to watch it, but it's just funny I scored an Atomic Refractor #'d to 5 for less than $5, yet can't score an Elite Extra for under $8 (as of now).

I'm a little torn because I've never seen it and need it, but I just feel the price is a bit too steep as of now.