Orange you glad you use TCDB?

The TCDB trades have been rolling in, as many other forms of trading and acquiring new cards dry up. I don't post all of my swaps here, but one of my recents was a fun one.

I rarely add or peruse the basketball section of the site, but from time to time I do add a few cards of Syracuse Orange basketball cards just to keep my want a bit diverse. Luckily, it worked out in my favor for a trade with jrad1973, as I sent him a few Astros for the following cards.

While I absolutely hate baseball mascot cards (looking at you, Opening Day), I thought a card of Otto the Orange was cool to have. Typically Syracuse has four students play Otto each year, and during football they alternate each quarter. One of the best mascots in college sports!

A couple of Syracuse one-and-dones! The Carmelo is cool, especially with Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery in the back. Feels like a big event game!

It wasn't just Syracuse cards! Three Yankees were included in the package, as well. I don't hate Contenders baseball. I have no idea when or they were released. Retail blasters, I guess? But I would have never come across them if not for TCDB.

Pretty cool what resorting to TCDB can net you, especially for unwanted Astros cards!

The rest of the Bru-haha

A few days ago I showed off a Tino Martinez A&G mini that Bru sent in a "fancy little holder."

That card was actually a throw-in within a TCDB trade we made. TCDB is a great place to trade if you're into that sort of thing.

Bru is always down to take Astros off my hand, and thank god. That team really is hated. The Yanks just took two of the three from them, which I appreciate. But losing the last game, one pitched by Gerrit Cole, and letting that little shell of himself turd Altuve beat them with a homer leaves a sour taste despite winning the series.

The two actual cards in the trade were those two unlicensed beauties. The Cole is very cool and colorful, while the Torres has a nice, embossed glove in the background. His glove work has actually been very good the last few weeks at short. Now if he could remember how to hit for power.

Now for a few of the extras. I almost missed that this is an Artist's Proof. I can effectively say I've never opened a pack of Gallery, so I always appreciate when I get some in a trade.

Giancarlo Stanton is the hottest hitter on the planet right now, which means I refuse to check Twitter because I know the Tweet that "he's experiencing soreness" or "he's being sent for an MRI" is coming. It's sad, but you have to know it's coming. I am a big fan of his, I hate the unnecessary expectations, and he seems like a good dude. I'd love for him to stay on the field and have a massive season.

I do appreciate this relic, with a nice pinstripe.

Topps Stickers have been pretty nice lately. I have no desire to have an album and put the stickers inside. But treating them as cards, they are nice looking, albeit flimsy.

Lastly, I'm not quite sure where this comes from, and my Google search is coming too empty, but it looks like a custom set from GOAT cards using the Rookies app card templates. The Ruth artwork is pretty cool, although I hope used with permission. The painting is a neat balance of realism with almost of hint of cartoon in Ruth's face. The card is glossy as well, which was never an option when I previously used the Rookies app. Perhaps this person printed these himself.

Bru also threw in some nice Heritage cards from the last two years.

Good trade. I've already got a stack of Astros building up for you, Bru.

Year 2

This is a straight up filler post, but trying to clean out my scanned folder just a touch. 

I'm really looking forward to a second - and full - season of Gerrit Cole in Pinstripes. He was excellent last year, and it's been a long time since the Yankees had a pitcher who I considered it "can't miss" TV. 

It would be cool to see him win a Cy Young, although I'm not optimistic that'll happen. Too much has to go right. However, if healthy he'll be in the thick of it.

My Cole collection is small, but growing. I'm not going after his cards with any sort of dedication, other than mostly adding his Yankees base cards on TCDB and trading for them when the opportunity arrives. I still do want his 2021 Topps photo variation, shown from above.

One admittedly weird card I did buy was a relic from 2020 Diamind Kings. While he's listed as playing for New York, the relics are obviously from his previous stops. I am uncertain if they are actually from the Pirates as Astros, as both of those clubs use these colors in some fashion.

It's a bit of a odd relic, with the swatch windows in the four corners of the frame. I bought it some time ago, so I must've gotten a good deal or won an auction with a low bid.

Regardless, it's a Gerrit Cole card. And a nice reminder that he's a Yankee...even if this card doesn't scream it.

206 from TCDB

Mini cards don't appeal to me. But recently I did a small PWE trade on TCDB to pick up a few from the online exclusive Topps 206 set.

It's not to say the cards aren't good looking. These are fairly attractive. Classic design. Vibrant colors in the backgrounds. The Cole looks awesome with the "flames" back there. However, they are just not a preference as a type of card I like. But I still always want my guys, like Tino from A&G.

Despite not liking them, it's always worth adding to my wantlist on the site to give more options for trading. I have a pretty small wantlist, so anything I can do to help increase the chances of being a trade match. I add any Gleyber Torres card I don't have to my list of wants, as I've found his cards a lot easier to get because of his down year, as well as not quite being the flavor of the week while people chase Luis Robert and other youngsters. And Cole is Cole, and I wanted to gobble up any of his cards this past year.

I know there are mixed feelings about online exclusives because they just enable more flipping and hoarding and bots to take all the cards. I actually like them for the purpose that they should serve - offering some sets as a one-off versus a normal release year after year. Topps 206 would fall in that realm for me. Some current sets, like Gypsy Queen, could as well. A set like that would be much more tolerable popping up online than as a regular release. 

It would make them more desirable too. I don't want to see Topps 206 every year. But every few years? Sure.

It all seems a bit moot since cards don't sit on retail shelves anymore, so almost everything has turned into an online exclusive if you want to open something. But if things were semi-normal, I think offering these types of sets online as opposed to retail makes a lot of sense.

A few TCDB trades

I haven't had much going on lately on the the TCDB. It's mostly my fault, as I have't added anything new for trade. Without buying new cards, there's not much trade bait to add, so no one gets pinged or notified when I add new cards for trade that match their wantlists.

I did strike up two trades last week to try and get something going.

The first was with Ed from BOCards. I sent Ed a few Orioles from 2020 Topps and 2020 Big League, and got these to cards in return. This is my 1,029th Tino.

I never see Topps Heritage Minors in the wild, so I was able to snag six of them from 2020 for a few cards from CardsInTheBasement. He's working on Heritage sets, so I helped him with a few 2020 needs.

I have a big stack of cards to add to the site, so hopefully I can get a few more trades like this going. If you're on the site, feel free to add me. My username is thelostcollector.

The Finer Things Club

One of my favorite episode of the office is when Pam, Toby, and Oscar form "The Finer Things Club" to discuss a book they are reading. The club becomes the envy to many in the office, with Andy and Jim trying to join, while others disrupt the civilized conversation.

At one point, I'd say Topps Finest was the most exclusive club Topps ran. But now, not so much. Finest usually comes out each year without much fanfare. I guess it's old news now. I don't think I've ever even opened a pack, let alone seen one in real life. It's probably online exclusive now by now, or something. I don't know.

But TCDB has been a great resource to pick up some Finest singles. It really is a great place to trade, if that's your sort of thing.

The first single I received was this DJ LeMahieu. The design is familiar, as it's the famous 1993 Finest All-Star. I can't not think of Don Mattingly when I see this. This card was from the Finest Flashbacks set, which was an exclusive box Topps sold online, with a limit per customer. The re-sale value of the boxes was very high, I believe. In fact, I have one of the Ben Baller Chrome boxes coming this weekend, and I plan to never open it. So if you're looking for one, Ive got a deal for you...

Here is what the 2020 Finest base set looks like. This is your run-of-the-mill Finest set, unrelated to the Flashbacks set. It's fine. Very Finest. If you told me this was 2017 Finest, I would have believed you. They all blend together a bit now...as do A&G...as do Stadium Club...as do Donruss...as do Gypsy Queen.

These also made their way to me via TCDB.

I still like Finest. But it definitely doesn't reek of being the most exclusive offering anymore. Maybe that'll change again one day.

Cole Train picking up steam

So far, Gerrit Cole has been as advertised.

He's been a but homer-prone, but on the whole, has been excellent. He does what he's supposed to each time out there, and I look forward to his starts. The Yankees scheduled has worked out in a way, between weather delays and Covid postponements, where it seems like he takes the ball every other game.

I love his competitiveness and drive each time he's out there, as well. He's a beast.

Adding Gerrit Cole cards to my TCDB has helped open up a few trades, too. I don't plan on collecting Cole hardcore or anything. But adding some of his new cards to my waitlist helps me make some smaller swaps.

The last two Coles to come in via TCDB all came on nice, simple swaps.

I traded a few 2020 Topps Chrome base cards for this guy, from 2020 Donruss Optic. Nice shot of Cole from spring training. And look, he does have a logo on his hat...from New Era!

The next is a photo-shopped Cole from 2020 Topps Series 2 - honoring whatever set was 35 years ago. Super easy trade for five 2020 Bowman commons.

This last Cole wasn't from TCDB, but was more of an impulse buy the day after the MLB season started. It's my first - and only - 2020 Topps NOW card. I can't believe how many of these I bought a few years ago. But alas, they've lost their luster with me a bit. Still, I wanted muy first card of Cole that wasn't photoshopped or from Spring Training.

I'm sure I'll continue to pick up Cole cards, as it makes me a more agreeable traders on TCBD, a great place to trade.

Whatcha Doon these days?

I feel like the only thing Quarantine is missing is a return from Napkin Doon. We can all dream, right? Napkin Doon has not blogged since March 4, 2014. But I can assure you he's still an active collector, building up a very impressive Topps Project 2020 run. You should all encourage him to stop being so selfish and sell his cards and take his family on a cross-country road trip.

The king of the Doon-boggles sent me a really nice package recently. Knowing I am a "card crafter", he's been setting aside boxes from blasters for me to make coasters out of. Admittedly, I need to a do a better job with my coasters using cardboard. They cardboard cracks and looks a little weird. There must be a better way. Here's an example of some I've made in the past:

Doon sent a whole bunch of blasters, showing that he's been actively collecting and even Zion hunting.

Very cool! And not the easiest thing to ship.

He also included a team bag of Yankees, including an awesome Gleyber Torres Finest. I never get Finest in trade packages, so I was pretty pumped!

He added to why Gerrit Cole collection as well. Can this guy finally take the mound, please?

A couple more fun Yanks from products of yesteryear! Flair, Heritage, and Gallery?! That's the good stuff.

Thanks, Doon. Feel free to fire up the blog any day now.

Waiting on Cole

I miss a lot about the baseball season right now. I know there are bigger things at play, but it's ok to miss things we like.

I'd like to see what Gleyber Torres would have done in the first month of his age-23 season, and first as a full-time short stop. Would he have been on a tear at the plate? Struggled defensively? Would he already have 20 HRs against the Orioles?

How would DJ LeMahieu be doing? Hitting .330 again in a contract year?

Would Miguel Andujar be back to hitting bombs?

Would Giancarlo Stanton be ready to go? How would Aaron Judge's broken rib have been healing?

Would Clarke Schmidt be close to the Majors?

But I think what I feel most disappointed to be missing is Gerrit Cole's start to the season. This is his age-29 season. The Yankees are paying him $36M this year for that season. He is in his prime. While I expect him to be elite for several more years, he's still in his 20s. I want to see Cole pitch for the Yankees in his 20s.

I've gotten a few Cole cards, but recently splurged on this autograph. A fellow Twitterer was selling a few cards, and this was one. It seemed like a good time to add an autograph of his, while most weren't thinking of baseball.

I still think I'll see Gerrit Cole pitch as a 29-year-old. I just hope it's soon.

Not a Cole collector, but I want his cards

I don't anticipate becoming a Gerrit Cole collector over the next 9 years. I anticipate accumulating many of his cards the way I did a guy like CC Sabathia or Masahiro Tanaka. But I don't plan on making him a focus of mine.

That doesn't mean I won't stray here and there. In fact, I made a purchase this past week to pick up his 2013 Topps Update RC. I probably had it at one time or another, but sent it away in a batch of Pirates cards. It felt like a smart thing to own, even if he's in the wrong uniform.

Now on to the photoshopped right uniform cards. Both of these came in over the last two days via various TCDB trades.

This is my first look at Gypsy Queen, a set I like but don't love. Similar to Donruss and Ginter, all of the GQ designs are now blending together for me.

I was surprised to see Cole's Opening Day card is different than his flagship SP. I wonder if his real Topps base card will look like this, or if it'll be a shot from spring training. Time will tell...maybe.

I'm sure when all is said and done 9 years from now, I'll be sitting on a few hundred Cole cards. I hope some of them have his signature on them. But at worst, one for sure will have the little "RC" logo on it, and that's a great start.

Gerrit Cole pick-up

Picking up a Gerrit Cole card is a little bittersweet for me. Back in 2008, the Yanks made Cole their first round draft choice out of high school. Although he had a strong commitment to UCLA, all indications were that Cole would sign if shown the money, something the Yanks intended to do. However, he did a 180 and chose to attend UCLA. It's hard to be mad at a kid for deciding to go to school, but it just shows how hard it is to rely on teenagers and taking their word.

Cole has been very good at UCLA, and projects to be one of the top two picks in this June's draft. I'm nearly certain he'd be in the bigs with the Yanks had he signed back in 2008, and I anticipate him in a big league unform quite soon, maybe even as a September call up.

I found an auction for these two Bowman Platinum cards, so I grabbed them. Hopefully they'll spike in value in a few weeks if he is indeed drafted #1. One is a purple Refractor, one is a regular Refractor #'d to 999.