Patience is key

For the last year or so, I've seen this card in my Ty Hensley saved eBay search.

I set my mark of $7 (plus shipping). I decided I would not pay above that. For months upon months, the listing fluctuated between $9.99, 12.99, and 14.99. Each time I offered $7. Each time the seller tried to get a little more out of me. I balked.

Maybe I was being cheap for a card I wanted. But also if it's listed that long...and only one person is inquiring...maybe it's listed too high.

Finally I wore him down. Maybe? He did accept $7, literally after almost a year my first offer. Maybe I could have gotten it for less. I don't know. But at this point rare autographs and 1/1s are the only Ty Hensley's I don't have, and they don't come up often, so I think it felt it was an ok price since I only buy one every couple of months.

Regardless, I like it. It'll look nice in my collection.

Not neglecting Ty

In my chase for 1,000 unique Tinos, picking up old basketball rookie cards, and trading for Gleyber Torres cards on TCDB, it may seem like I've neglected my Ty Hensley collection.

Wrong!

I still actively search and seek out new Hensley cards I need. There just aren't a ton of them out there, so I do get excited when one pops up.

Recently a 2012 Bowman Sterling magenta plate popped up on eBay. It was a 7-day auction, so I waited anxiously and bid toward the end. Of course, I was the only buyer, but you never know.

The fact that it is autographed makes it even cooler to me.

This is my 123rd Hensley card, and ninth printing plate. If you ever see one out in the wild, let me know!

A unicorn is spotted in Michigan

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Ty Hensley was no longer on the roster of the Evansville Otters. There was a press release over the winter that stated he was returning this year, so I was concerned he was once again injured.

A few weeks went by, and it finally popped up in my newsfeed that Ty had signed on with a new independent league team, this time the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore Professional Baseball League.

I was unaware that Utica, NY had a professional baseball team, as that was the only Utica I know. A quick browse of their website shows that I'm incorrect, as this team is based in Utica, MICHIGAN, just outside of Detroit.

Here's Ty in his new duds, courtesy of the Unicorns' website:

Pretty cool logo. Fairly Rumble Ponies-esque.

I wish Ty nothing but the best this year, and hopefully he has a successful season. I'll be sending some cards his way to Utica to distribute to his new teammates and local fans, although I think with independent ball it's quite hit or miss as to whether or not mail is actually delivered to players. Hopefully he gets it!

So far this season, Ty has appeared in four games, with a save and 16 Ks in 10 IP. Nice numbers there! Maybe he'll dominate out of the pen and an organization will give him another shot!

Just yesterday, my 116th different Hensley arrived, yet another 1/1. This is a 2012 Leaf Memories yellow plate, with a sticker autograph obviously attached.

Good luck, Ty!

3 of 4 Accounted For

A couple of weeks ago, I snagged my newest Ty Hensley 1/1. This particular printing plate was the black one from 2012 Bowman Draft, the year he was drafted.

As luck would have it, my pal Drew of Drew's Hot Corner said he was going to be parting with a few Hensleys, and offered a very fair price on the following:

The cyan plate! So in a matter of a couple weeks, I went to owning zero to owning 50% of the four printing plates from 2012 Bowman Draft.

And I know where the magenta one is. It's still with Drew!

He has it signed and wasn't ready to part with it yet, which is totally cool. I like knowing where it is in the world, and I'm sure if Drew ever decides to move it, he'll give me first dibs.

I'll be keeping my eye out for the yellow one. It would be really cool to know where all four are! Do any of you own all four versions of a plate?

In addition to the cyan plate, this Red Ice from the same set was part of the deal. It's numbered 01/25. I didn't have this one, so I was happy to track this one down.

Drew, thanks for the deal!

Long wait on the plate

I recently added a third Ty Hensley 1/1 to my collection, this time a 2012 Leaf Memories black printing plate. It's my second overall printing plate of Hensley. It's getting harder and harder to find Hensley's I don't have, so I try and pounce when new ones come up, as long as they are reasonably priced.

However, this one had a long trip to get to me. I purchased it on Jan 20. The seller promptly shipped it, and then it stalled for over 2 weeks at a sorting facility. No tracking updated. Nothing. Just sat there, day by day.

The seller and I both found this unusual, and he was nice enough to issue a refund.

Guess what happened the next day? Yep. The card shows up in my mailbox. I reached out to the seller and gave him a refund of his refund...er, just paid him again since it did arrive, and he deserved the money fair and square. It's not his fault it sat in a sorting facility in Michigan.

So it took a while, but Ty Hensley #68 has arrived. I wonder when he'll be included in another set? Hopefully he is healthy this year and is able to pitch all season. He'd at least make a minor league team set, I would hope.

A new Pineda 1/1 has a home

A few weeks ago, I got an email titled "Pineda PC."

It was from Jeff of 2x3 Heroes. He pulled a Big Mike framed printing plate from Allen & Ginter, and immediately set it aside for me.

I know that Jeff could have probably got back half of what he spent on the box if he listed it on eBay. Instead, he instantly set it aside for me and then said "I'm sure you'll send something back that's fair."

What an awesome gesture, and it really put the pressure on me to prove him right. I'm just about finished putting together a White Sox package for Jeff that I really hope he finds to be suitable. I actually had a lot of fun putting it together, so I hope it he enjoys it.

This is my second Pineda 1/1, and man do I appreciate this gesture. After I added one to my collection last year, I figured I was done, but this one just fell onto my lap, and I'm really thankful.

Jeff, thanks for this, and I hope you enjoy the White Sox headed your way.

Contest loot from Bob Walk The Plank

A few weeks back, I was fortunate enough to be one of the winners in a contest held by Matt over at Bob Walk The Plank. The prizes were fantastic! Matt took the time to tailor each prize package to the four winners, which he really didn't need to do.

However, his attention to detail and really shopping for cards that each person would like shows what kind of guy Matt is. I was thrilled with my winnings, and I really appreciate each of them.

Matt sent me five cards, all of of which I needed and more importantly, all of which I love.

The first is a Ty Hensley auto. Hensley cards don't grow on trees, so I'm going to guess that Matt went out of his way to find this one. It's an auto #'d to just 10, and is a really stunning card.

Next, my first Jeter home uniform relic. I did a post a few weeks ago about having three Jeter relics - one away gray swatch, and two of bases. I didn't have a home jersey/pinstripe, so this instantly becomes my favorite.

1/1 of mojo!!! And not just a nobody, but Mr. Brett Gardner. I love this because it shows how Gardner would look as a righty. The fun of printing plates!

This John Wetteland auto is a beauty! I didn't have a Wetteland auto in my collection. In  fact, I was telling Matt that just a few days before this came, I was checking to see if Wetteland was coaching anywhere so I could shoot him a TTM request. I love this set too!

 

Finally, a Tino that is new to my collection and needed!

Matt, this package rocked. Thank you so much!

Thoughts on printing plates?

I really don’t have many 1/1 cards in my collection. I like them, but it’s hard for me to justify sometimes spending significant money on a 1 of 1 card when I can buy so many cards for the same price. I think I have about four or five total.

However, deals do pop up and sometimes you need to splurge. This is the case with this sweet Manny Banuelos card. It’s a 2012 Bowman’s Best Yellow Printing Plate 1/1. I put in a fairly low bid and won it.  Maybe Manny will tear it up this year and earn a call-up, and I can flip it for a lot more than I paid for it.

Printing plates are weird. I love the 1/1 angle, and to know this card was instrumental in making all of the others. On the other hand, they really aren’t much to look at, and are usually scoffed up quite a bit. I guess that’s part of the allure. One other thing I love: Manny is a lefty, so you get the reverse angle of how he would look as a righty here. I always get a kick out of that.

What’s your take on printing plates? Love 'em? Like 'em? Hate 'em?

A Bill Buckner bat from Jaybarkerfan

Recently, Wes at Jaybarkerfan’s Junk posted a few cards. You could claim one, and send Wes any vintage card in return. There was a Bill Buckner bat relic that caught my eye. Now, I’m obviously no Red Sox fan, I despise them, which is partly why I wanted this Buckner.

I’d be glad to trade it away, but it is cool to have this little piece of history.

Wes also decided to go above and beyond as he always does. He sent me this sweet 2007 Upper Deck 1/1 printing plate that was not part of the deal. It’s my third Yankees printing plate, the first featuring a major leaguer (or someone who has spent time in the majors I should say). Chase Wright is most likely best known for letting up four straight homers to the Red Sox a few years ago. However, still a great card and I’ll never decline a 1/1.

 Wes, thanks as always!

My first (and second) printing plate 1/1's!

I’ve wanted a 1/1 Yankees card for quite some time. Of course I’ll never pull one in a pack, so I keep my eye out from time to time. Problem is, most Yankees 1/1’s go for a pretty good chunk of change. On eBay, I found a listing titled “2011 NY Yankees Prospects Printing Plates 1/1 Lot of 2.” Hmmm. I clicked on it and saw two printing plates from 2011 Topps Pro Debut. One was of one of my favorite prospects – Gary Sanchez. Had the seller listed his name in the title, he would have made more money. The second card was Tyler Austin, another promising prospect.

 I bid $13 and won the auction, receiving both printing plates. I was thrilled to get one, and now I have two, including Gary Sanchez. Some other printing plates of his have gone for around $50, and a few are listed on eBay for over $100. I think I got a good deal!