Tino Tuesdays #16: 2004 Upper Deck #159

This is a card from a time when I was not collecting. In fact, it may be my only 2004 Upper Deck card of any kind, as I didn't recognize the set when this card was sent to me from Tony from A Common (Card) Man. I'm not as crazy about the design as I have been about some other UD cards, but I don't dislike it. I like how unobstructed the photo is. The design at the bottom of the card is something I can live without.

The photo itself is neat. Who doesn't want to be pictured after presumably hitting a HR? Unfortunately it's not something he did a whole lot in St. Louis, at least compared to their previous first baseman.

I like the backs of the card. The full career stats plus a short write up give the best of both worlds. There is a bit of dead space under the stats that should have been used for something. I like that Upper Deck chose a head shot for the back of the card as opposed to the photo from the front.

Uncommon (Card) contest winnings

A few weeks back, Tony from A Common (Card) Man held a contest. He pulled a black leather nameplate from a pack of 2011 Topps Update. All we had to do was guess who it was from the checklist. Well, no one guessed correctly, so then Tony random.org’d it off and somehow I came out on top. I never win these things, but I won two in one week. Weird! Anyways, I was pumped to win such an awesome card #’d to 99.

When the card arrived, I was surprised at how nice it was. The leather feels and smells real, and the black looks sharp. I have the Cano brown leather nameplate, and this will look great alongside it.

Tony and I had been working on a trade for this card, but he decided to include it in the prize as well. A Phil Rizzuto Liquorfractor. Scooter is one of my favorite Yanks of all, so this is a welcome treat.

That wasn’t the only Liquorfractor! This Cano is just amazing. He face is priceless. I now have this one and the regular Diamond shiny.

Oh, and Tony went above and beyond to find me a bunch of Tino’s I didn’t have! Always a welcome surprise! My favorite is the 1999 UD Choice Reserve that looks like an X-Fractor and is #'d 12/100. Of the eight Tino’s he sent, I didn’t have six! It’s amazing how many Tinos I still need, but this certainly helps.

Tony, thanks again for the great contest!

Trade Review: Milwaukee Southpaw

A few weeks back, Tony aka Milwaukee Southpaw from Common (Card) Man sent me some great Yankee cards. He had a few Tinos and other various Yanks for me. What I didn't expect was this AWESOME 2011 Heritage Chrome Refractor of Russell Martin - the scan does it zero justice. I think these cards look 1000 times better than the regular Heritage Chrome, and at least 1,000,000 times better than the Heritage base cards.

Here are the Tinos - I needed 'em!

And here are a bunch of other cool Yankee cards.

 Tony, thanks again for the trade!

Trade Review: Not so common cards from The Common (Card) Man

Tony from The Common Card Man and I agreed to a small trade last week. I had a Julio Borbon shiny that he needed for his 2011 Topps Diamond Anniversary set, and I agreed to send it to him for a few Yankees. Shocking, right?

It's pretty exciting getting a trade package and not knowing what's in it. Tony didn't disappoint at all. He sent me a sweet Jorge Posada 2010 Topps Refractor, as well as a 2010 Topps 206 Curtis Granderson. This is actually my first Granderson Yankee card! Rounding out the lot was 2010 Topps Heritage Hideki Matsui World Series Game #6 card. I love this card because I was at the game!

Tony, thanks for the great cards!