It came!

After some snafu with processing my card got fixed, my new favorite item in my Ryan Eases collection showed up today! Every now and then the minor league teams will auction off their theme night jerseys for charity, and the Chattanooga Lookouts recently paired with the Hydrocephalus Association for their rescheduled Star Wars night(originally scheduled May 4th, held June 24th). So when their jerseys for that night hit MiLB Auctions, I knew I had to have his jersey from this event. Someone had a bid in, but never re-bid and for the low price of 120$, this was shipped to my house! Check it out! :). Now just to get it framed!

#chattanooga-lookouts, #hydrocephalus-associations, #ryan-eades, #star-wars

2017 Topps Stadium Club Twins Checklist

10 Danny Santana
11 Harmon Killebrew
28 Joe Mauer
61 Rod Carew
100 Brian Dozier
146 Byron Buxton
220 Jose Berrios
222 Miguel Sano
237 Ervin Santana
282 Max Kepler
300 Eddie Rosario

Base Chrome Variation
SCC-55 Miguel Sano

Base Chrome Variation Auto
Miguel Sano

 

For the full checklist with other teams, check here.

#2017-topps-stadium-club, #checklist, #twins

Reduce, Re-use, recycle.

When we were growing up in the early 90s, there was a huge push in our generation to clean up litter, trash, pollution, and to reduce, re-use, and recycle what we could when we could. While we don’t help those efforts as much as we should, this is one such instance that both helps keep the landfills empty, and keeps our card collection in order.

Around this time a year or two ago, we found an excellent re-purposed wine box that perfectly fit magnetic touched/snap down cards. Unfortunately it was just a bit too small to fit top-loaded cards, and it quickly filled up with Twins relics(we keep the autos/IP autos in separate binders). Well, we just struck gold again, this time with a tequila brand decorated box! The best part is that this didn’t break the bank either three whole George Washingtons! 

It did need some work however, as a few of the back screws weren’t attached anymore – something I fixed with a few extra computer screws I had laying around. Once those were installed, the box shut and opened properly. :).

Once a home to a tequila bottle, now it holds all of my Twins relics, a few printing plates, and all of ticket stubs. I think Captain Planet would be proud. Anyone else use re-purposed items with their collection?

#storage, #twins

Top Ten Cards I Just Re-found…

Lemme explain.

Our Twins binders and card boxes are usually out so we can sort, add new pickups, etc. Meanwhile, the majority of our sets we’ve worked on in the past are usually in single row boxes and stored in the closet. That may have to change however, as I found several cards that shouldn’t be hidden or relegated to the minor leagues of storage anymore. :).

Honorable Mentions:
Eric Thames – 2011 Topps Update US288, 2011 Bowman Chrome 87, 2011 Bowman Chrome 87 Refractor.
Trevor Story – 2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects BDPP84.
Joc Pederson – 2012 Bowman Prospects BP104
Jackie Bradley Jr. – 2012 Bowman Prospects BP66/2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects BCP66.

Onto the fun stuff.

#10 – Xander Bogaerts – 2012 Bowman Prospects BP105, 2012 Bowman Chrome Prospects BCP105.
#9 – George Springer – 2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects BDPP81, 2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Chrome BDPP81.
#8 – Jacob deGrom – 2014 Bowman Prospects BP73(2).
#7 – Yu Darvish – 2012 Bowman 209(2), 2012 Topps Archives 119, 2012 Panini Prizm 151.
#6 – Yoenis Cespedes – 2012 Panini Prizm 159(2), 2012 Panini Prizm Rookie Relevance RR3.

#5 – Anthony Rizzo.

2011 Topps Update #US55.

Not quite with the Padres anymore. Wonder if Ivan would want this? :D.

#4 – Bryce Harper.

2012 Bowman Prospects BP10, 2012 Panini Prizm USA7.

The Bowman card is nice, but that Panini background is perfect. We love it when they mix Team USA and the other World Baseball Classic/international tournaments with their country flags. We even liked the Bowman state flag parallels they did based on the player’s state birthplace. Anything that’s different than just a colored border parallel is a plus.

#3 – Jose Altuve.

2011 Topps Update #US132.

How Many Altuves is this worth?

#2 – Paul Goldschmidt.

2011 Bowman Draft Picks & Prospects Chrome #108, 2011 Topps Update #US47.

We knew that we had one of his rookie printing plates, but forgot that we had these rookies. Win.

#1 – Mike Trout.

Who else? You probably were expecting this to appear after the previous 2011 Topps Update appearances, and you’d be right. We broke nearly two cases of 2011 Topps Update, because at the time we were both working and money wasn’t as big of an issue. WITHOUT even knowing that the seven Trout rookies we would pull would be worth so much, so quick. A shame we didn’t pull any of the parallels. :(. But then again, we got a Harmon Killebrew rookie out of one of them, so we shouldn’t complain. :D.

#anthony-rizzo, #bryce-harper, #eric-thames, #george-springer, #jackie-bradley, #jacob-degrom, #jose-altuve, #mike-trout, #paul-goldschmidt, #trevor-story, #xander-bogaerts, #yoenis-cespedes, #yu-darvish

The attention span of a …

Maybe it’s social media’s availability, maybe it’s lack of self-control, but my attention spans seem to get shorter every year. While creating a catalog of all my Twins relic/autographs for insurance purposes – and to double-check against while at the National – I got distracted by the draft again.

Baseball-Reference is both a blessing and a curse. Everything you could ever want to know is available with a quick search – in this case whether anybody had been drafted out of my home town in Minnesota, or my high schools in Louisiana/Ohio. (For the curious – no.) However, in doing so I checked in on one of my main player super collections – Ryan Eades.

While I knew he was being tested as a reliever for the first time with the Twins this year, I didn’t know they’d briefly moved him up to AAA Rochester. He seemed to succeed with them, so I’m not sure why prior to his 7 day DL stint(6/10) he was sent back down to AA Chattanooga. I’m not the biggest follower of our minor league system though, despite following all of their accounts on twitter. Maybe Rochester needed a spot starter – someone injured?

With Minnesota’s lack of pitching depth, I’d love to see #37 in Mini-sodas. Sporting a much improved WHIP, and ERA in two games(#SmallSampleSizes) with Rochester. I’m lovin’ that K/9, SO/W, and ERA – albeit over 8 IP. If he’ll step it up with Rochester, he could be an option to be a fill-in 4-5th starter with Minnesota come the end of the year. Here’s to hoping – I need new cards to #Collect of his, and a MLB debut would fulfill that!

#baseball-reference, #ryan-eades

Panini Father’s Day

We’re preparing for our trip the National this year and decided to get more supplies to bring with us. A trade box, some penny sleeves, and four magnetic holders of a few different sizes later… we decided to break a box for the Panini Father’s Day promo packs. When it came to deciding what to break it came down to 2017 Donruss, 2017 Diamond Kings, or 2015 Contenders(baseball). We’re nearing a complete set of Donruss, and lawdy knows we have enough Diamond Kings(not that we won’t be breaking a box or three at the National…).

Forever ago we broke a retail box of this and ended up with a red foil SP(#/d 200 or less) of Jorge Mateo. The speedy Yankees prospect is highly rated on Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB.com’s prospect watch lists. The 2017 Florida State League All-Star has hit .255/.330/.397, with 69 doubles, 21 homers, and 205 SB(!) in six seasons since being signed as a 17 year old in 2012. Not too shabby of a prospect.

From this box however, here’s the highlights:

Stephen Piscotty, Alex Bregman(USA), Alex Bregman, Carso Fulmer
Dansby Swanson, Dansby Swanson(USA), Trea Turner(USA), Robert Refsnyder, and Andrew Benintendi.

I believe these are considered the base set. Had I not seen the rest of the set I would’ve believed these were more inserts… I pulled a few guys that y’all might’ve heard of, prior to their MLB debuts. The foil on these are hard to make out, so I’ve typed the player’s names below each photo.

Dansby Swanson, Aaron Judge, Stephen Piscotty, Michael Conforto, Kyle Schwarber,
Carson Fulmer, Alex Bregman, Andrew Benintendi, Trea Turner and Robert Refsnyder.

I understand the criticism that Panini can’t use MLB logos or team names, however I think this is a great compromise as MLB doesn’t have any rights to NCAA licenses.

Carson Fulmer, Luis Severino, Yoan Moncada, Carson Fulmer,
Dansby Swanson 2x, Andrew Benintendi, Alex Bregman.

A few more inserts to tease before I show off the autos from the box.  These School Colors inserts and the Old School Colors probably could’ve been condensed, but what do I know?

On the far right, there’s a cracked ice #/99 Kevin Newman, a shortstop with the Pirates, currently playing with their AA affiliate the Altoona Curve. Heetz. My second Josh Naylor auto with the previous from Leaf Draft – Naylor’s with the Padres Single-A affiliate the Lake Elsinore Storm. “Donald” DeWees is in the Royals system with their AA affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Jorge Mateo again! This time not a SP. Mateo’s in the Yankees chain with the A(Adv) chain Tampa Yankees. Jahmai Jones was drafted by the Angels and is playing for their A(full) affiliate Burlington Bees. However, the two best cards we pulled were Carson Fulmer and Ryan Howard. :).

Not that Ryan Howard, this one’s with the Single-A San Jose Giants in the… Giants chain! #/d 1/15! Carson Fulmer made his MLB debut last year and was promptly rocked to the tune of a 8.49 ERA in 8 relief appearances(11.2 IP). Used solely as a starter in the minors, Carson’s put up a slightly better 4.24 ERA but he’s struck out 176 batters in 193.1 IP! This one’s also #/d 1/15!

Dustin Pedroia #/95/99, Jake Arrieta #/110/190, Miguel Cabrera #/12/149, Eric Hosmer #/619/999.

We were a little short for the Panini packs, so we broke 5 Donruss packs to finish off an open box, and pulled four #/d cards, and a Dansby Swanson The Rookies. Sure, it’s no Brian Dozier, but I’ll take trade bait leading into the National. :D. As for our father’s day cards, we pulled two #/99 NBA cards of players I forget. :(.

Happy Father’s day to all the fathers out their whether child or beast, and we hope the socks are comfy. Lol.

#2015-panini-contenders, #2017-donruss, #carson-fulmer, #donald-dewees, #dustin-pedroia, #eric-hosmer, #fathers-day, #jahmai-jones, #jake-arrieta, #jorge-mateo, #josh-naylor, #kevin-newman, #miguel-cabrera, #ryan-howard

Trade considerations…

Would you trade for a player worth 5.3 WAR over three seasons if it meant you got rid of a career .167/.239/.262 hitter who to that point had 5 hits in 31 at-bats with your team? With 12 strikeouts? Even if they hit a home run and drove in two? I don’t know about you, but I’d make that trade every day. Mind you hind sight is everything, but I’d willingly take this trade every time – sometimes a change of place is all that’s needed.

In trading former 1969 1st round draft pick(7th) Paul Powell at the end of the 1971 season to the Dodgers for Bobby Darwin, the Twins traded nearly equal players. However, Darwin turned his career around after the trade while Powell remained stagnant. Darwin had made a few poor appearances in the major leagues, but had turned it around in the 1970/1971 minor league seasons.

Prior to the trade, both players were about even in the minor league ranks as you can see with a slight edge to the older Bobby Darwin(28 to 23). Darwin’s 17 games with the Dodgers in 1969/1971, and Powell’s 20 games with the Twins in 1971 not withstanding. However after the trade? As you’ll see, Darwin stuck around the major leagues, while Powell hung up his cleats in 1975 appearing in only 10 games for the Dodgers. Darwin was traded in the middle of 1975(the Twins receiving John Briggs), and retired with the Cubs in 1977. I’m not a OOTP or Baseball Mogul player, but I’d make this trade every day. :).

#1971, #apba, #baseball-mogul, #bobby-darwin, #dodgers, #ootp, #paul-powell, #twins