My desk drawer at work...

This is my middle desk drawer at work. It is basically filled with baseball cards and envelopes. My work has nothing to do with baseball cards, but I send a lot of packages and TTM requests from here, so the cards usually sit in that drawer until I move them. In case you are wondering, I don't use work's postage account or supplies for mailings. We have a post office across the street, so I'll prepare everything here and carry it across the street during lunch or on my way home.

It sort of funny. No one at work knows I have this blog. It's not a big deal, I'm not trying to be secretive. I just don't share some things outside the office and this is one of them. What about you guys? Any secrets like my baseball card drawer in my office desk?

Contest Shout Out: Shameless plug for Jaybarkerfan

Do me a favor and go check out the contest over at Jaybarkerfan's Junk. He is one of the most generous bloggers out there and truly deserves your readership. There are some nice prizes too! CLICK HERE to check it out, and don't forget to tell him that The Lost Collector sent you!

TTM Blast from the Past: Eddie Mathews

I'm running low on ideas for posts this week, so while thumbing through a few stacks of cards, I decided to scan a couple of TTM successes from back in the day. This is one of my coolest successes. I got this signed Eddie Mathews card back in 1999 or so. I won the card itself in an old fashioned AOL auction - the kind that the sellers would actually email and you'd send your bids back to them. Anyone ever participate in these? Anyhow, this card cost me a buck or two and the condition is slightly fair I'd say, namely because of the pencil mark on Mathews' head. I didn't care. I knew he was a generous TTM signer and I wanted to add the signature of a HOFer to my collection, so I promptly sent him the card

I've always liked 1967 Topps. I don't know why. It just feels so old and vintage to me. In fact, the 1967 Mantle is one of my most desired cards in the world. I might even decide to collect the set one day. I do wish I had the Mathews pictured him as a Brave and the card didn't say "Astros," as it just feels so wrong. However, I think he is wearing a Braves jersey in this one. At the time of this card, Mathews was at 493 HRs, so he still has 19 HRs left in him.

It's undoubtedly one of my favorite TTMs ever, and it's definitely a card I'll always hang on to.

A new Tino courtesty of Cards from the Quarry

A few weeks back our favorite Rockies collector, Johnny from Cards from The Quarry, reached out about having a Tino I would be interested in. He said he was going to post it to his blog and to keep a watch out. I was looking forward to seeing what it was!

Fast forward to this past Saturday, I got a package in the mail from Johnny. Hmmm, wasn't expecting anything. Lo and behold, he sent me the Tino he had emailed about. It's a beauty - a 2002 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity #'d 60/100! A Tino numbered this low is always a big hit in my book, and I didn't have this card, so it was an awesome gesture. Johnny also threw in three Yankees Heritage cards that I needed.

 Johnny, you'll have some Rockies coming your way soon. Thanks again!

Wanted: 2011 Topps Pro Debut Yankees

If anyone has unwanted Yankees from 2011 Topps Pro Debut, I'd love to swing a deal for them. Let me know - cards below have been added to my want list.

13 Gary Sanchez
25 Bryan Mitchell
38 Mason Williams
48 Garrison Lassiter
57 Tommy Kahnle
69 Conor Mullee
117 Tyler Austin
138 Brandon Laird
157 Nathan Aron
209 Jesus Montero
244 Austin Romine
272 Angelo Gumbs
289 Chase Whitley
330 JR Murphy

Congrats to the Mavs. Here is my Kidd auto.

As a way to pay homage to the NBA Champion Dallas Mavs, I wanted to share a Jason Kidd TTM auto I got a few years ago. I sent one of those cool flamey firey Hoops cards from when Kidd was a "Sizzlin' Soph" and he signed the card in silver sharpie. It looks awesome. I've always been a fan of Kidd and the way he plays, so this was a cool success.

It's amazing to see the Mavs win it all. When I was growing up, they were perennial bottom dwellers...Derek Harper, Jimmy Jackson, Mashburn, Tarpley. They always stunk. Somehow, I still remember them as this team, even though they've been good for the last decade. Hopefully, next year I'm writing a long-winded post about the Knicks winning it all. I can dream, right?

Harper Chrome Mojo via Mojo

A few weeks ago, the infamous guys over at The Mojo Beard held a contest and the prize was a 2011 Bowman Chrome Bryce Harper. Yes please. The contest consisted of an image of a stack of 2011 Heritage cards - all you had to do was guess how many cards were in the stack. First right answer won.

Using my superior problem solving and logic skills along with my fighter pilot vision, I submitted "24." I lied, it was all luck...24 hadn't been guessed yet and since Tino Martinez is my favorite player, I went with his Yankees jersey number. Lo and behold, 24 was the correct number! This was my first contest victory and it's a great prize, as we all know how sought after Mr. Harper's Bowman cards are. Thanks to the gang over at The Mojo Beard for the sweet card!