Finding another (Red Sox) friend on TCDB

I've come across - and traded with - a bunch of bloggers on TCDB. While my experience on the site has been overwhelmingly positive, it's still nice to know the person on the other end is a trusted friend.

In this deal, I didn't even know it was Matt of Diamond Jesters until I saw his shipping address and recognized the name. Oops! I shipped him off a few Red Sox for a single card:

I don't know why, but I like this Stanton next to the Marlins logo. I'm guessing it was from his return to Miami and his dugout press conference. I like the smile on his face. While Stanton has had a hard time staying on the field, all indications are that he's been very happy to be a Yankee, and has been a great teammate. He's always smiling, and this card captures that well.

Not wanting to send just one card, Matt also included a few HOFers for my son's binder:

That is probably the first Simmons I've set aside. I honestly had no idea who Ted Simmons despite all my years of collecting, but alas, I'll add him to the binder. 

There were a few others for the binder too!

Thanks, Matt! See you around on TCDB.

All hail hypnotoad

Matt over at Diamond Jesters recently held a contest as it related to a repack he bought. I was one of three winners, and my task was to pick a card from a list of names he sent.

After scanning the list, I settled on Hideki Irabu, figuring it would net me a Yankee. I was right, and a cool Pacific Prism one at that!

As is his custom, Matt also sent a haiku along:

I'll be honest. I've never seen an episode of Futurama, but I certainly can piece two and two together with the toad reference. And I did a little digging and found some clips of the Hypnotoad on YouTube:

There's also a 10 hour video of the Hypnotoad, but I'll spare you.

Here's the rest of the PWE, featuring some HOF cards I'll add to my son's collection, as well as some Yanks!

Thanks, Matt!

Travelin' through time

Many of us are familiar with the red paperclip story, but if not, check it out HERE. Essentially, a dude turned a red paperclip into a house through a series of trades.

Matt of Diamond Jesters is doing the same type of thing after offering up the contents of a pack of 2018 Topps Series One. I did this a little bit back in 2011 with the Topps Diamond Giveaway site. I tried taking a card I won and trading it for a card from the year before and so on. I think I successfully turned a common from the 1980s into one from the 1960s, but I don't remember at this point.

Anyhow, Matt has turned the single pack into 20 cards so far, with the oldest being a 1954 Bowman Jim Wilson.

In his latest swap, Matt got a few old basketball cards back. While I don't really collect basketball these days, I did a lot growing up. And I never once had a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar card.

So when I saw one from 1981-82 Topps, I thought it would be cool to have and place within my son's HOF binder.

In return, I sent Matt nine cards - a few newer and then some from the 1970s, hoping he can turn those into older or more attractive trade bait in his quest for the oldest card he can find.

Matt, it's been fun to watch. Keep it up!