Thanks For Playing Cards

Everyone loves a contest/giveaway, or a gift, and I've had a nice share of them lately.

John sent these Angels over for playing in his Guess A Missing Halloween Birthday Player Contest.

My guess was Mike Napoli, which was easy because I had just done a Happy Birthday post for him on Halloween. But the only reason I remembered it was his birthday is because I was reminded when I saw it on TCDB earlier. Anyhow, Napoli was one of the correct answers, so I won a prize.

The Trout card is really nice.

Reminds me of a design from the 90's that I can't put my finger on right now.

The second contest was by The View From The Third Floor and was guessing the statistical leaders in the World Series. Freddie Freeman came out of nowhere and practically wiped out everyone's guesses. Fortunately, though, three of us (Diamond Jesters and Baseball Cards Come To Life) guessed Garret Cole for one of the categories and we won. We each got an envelope of sports cards. Here's a sampling of the dozen or so cards:

I don't think that I have any 1989 Star cards in my Angels binders. I'll have to go take a look and then check to see what Angels Minor League teams are available, if any.

Nice selection of Hall of Famers.

Always nice to win a prize package.

The third contest was a giveaway by Crocodile Sports Cards for his Third Anniversary. I won a box of baseball cards along with two other bloggers (Cards Over Coffee and The View From the Third Floor). 

Here are just some of the great cards out of the box including plenty of Angels.

Tons of vintage.

Even a relic.

And lots of sparkly.

It took me forever to finally see that oriole behind Ripken. I kept seeing it as an explosion.

Not really a contest, but more of a trade, I selected this card from Matt's Time Travel Trading:

I'm not ready to claim Dale Murphy as a PC just yet, but I do pick up a card of his here and there.

Matt threw these two cards in the envelope as well. Nice.

Another non-contest pickup is these Topps Stickers send by Randy (rhsahl) as a Christmas gift:

These are very welcomed as now I just need the Trout for the team set.

Thanks Randy!

And Merry Christmas to you all.

Lots of Trade Mail Coming In

 

Trade with borosny

Here is a sampling of the 23 cards Bo sent over.

I wanted a copy of each of the scratchers with Bonus Runs 1-5. Just lacking the 2-runs card now from 1983 Topps.

Several of the set needs I've been looking for. I'm close to finishing the DIAMOND COLLECTION set from 2004 Upper Deck First Pitch.

I'm not a "theme" collector, I needed this for the Joyner PC, but this is a playful card of Wally stretching with a kid.

TCDB trade with 14Fusionguy

Some of the cards Joe sent.

I keep thinking I'm done getting all the Patriots Team Action cards I need, but then more keep showing up in trades.

TCDB trade with sspeegle

Twenty-four more towards this set I decided to chase.

Trade with ILLRIMESAYA

And that's just the sparkly cards in the trade!

Trade with Easymony2X

I'm super-close on finishing this Return of Superman set.

2019 Topps - 150th Anniversary Commemorative Patches #AMP-AP

Just noticed Tim Salmon in four different uniforms.

Trade with myrke

Some more sparkly Angels.

These gold-chunks are cool but can be a hassle storing. They tear up 9-pocket pages pretty good.

Latest Vintage TTM Returns

The latest returns. And if anyone ever needs a mailing address, email me I'm happy to help out. I subscribe to SCN.

Signed the 70 Topps already signed by Wally Wolf.

Returned from his home in Coal City, IL in 13 days.

Greg is 78 years old.

Appeared in eight major league games, all with the California Angels in 1969.

Inducted into the Lewis University Hall of Fame.

Returned after 27 days from his home in Solano Beach, CA.

I wanted to get this '88 Topps Traded signed because I've been working on a signed set of these 1988 Team USA cards for a loooong time.

Returned in 46 days from his home in Lakewood, WA.

Wes is 90 years old.

He won two World Series titles (1973, 1974) as the A's pitching coach.

Jose returned these in 21 days from his home in Hialeah, FL.

He is 86 years old.

Played in the 1967 World Series.

He is the father of Danny Tartabull.

Junk Mall Junk Wax Wednesday

 

Pack of 12 cards with a chance to pull a 3-D Award Winner Hologram, SP1 Glasnost on Ice, or a Brett Hull Hockey Heroes/Autograph card.

The best base card to pull would probably be a Dominik Hasek RC.

A pretty cool Soviet Stars Rookie Card.

A checklist, but I only collect baseball.

There's a Hull, but it's not a special insert.

Two guys that played 16 and 21 NHL seasons, respectively.

Pretty impressive.

There're Trades to be Made

 On TCDB. Here are the latest.

Trade with mnorton082

This trade was already in process when Johnny sent me that same All-Etch card as part of a prize package. What are the chances? Still a cool card though.

Trade with b14rebel

I've never been a fan of Pro Line Portraits: guys in their workout clothes or street clothes. When you're a team collector though I guess you gotta. But that karate card...yeah, not my cup of tea.

Trade with Mjprigge

Matt sent over twelve 1989 Pro Set, and in return I sent a similar amount of 1993 Upper Deck Fun Pack.

Trade with Vvvergeer

Still pecking away at this Bear Fruit Snacks set that Vytas is collecting as well.

I like to show the older or cooler stamps that I get on PWEs because I used to collect. These booklet stamps are very reminiscent of those I remember from the 80's and 90's, except these are from 2006.

Trade with JaybirdOSU

2018 Topps Archives

This is cool because it's Nolan Ryan in a Rangers uniform at, I'm pretty sure, Anaheim Stadium.

As a Ranger he pitched at Anaheim five times, but this photo is probably from the 1989 All Star Game that was held there that year.

I'm glad that Topps is still making info cards. I love them.

I tend to forget about my Angels needs in the Pro Debut sets until someone offers them in a trade.

Trade with Genokz

Millville Meteor variation.

2022 Donruss, regular and photo variation.

Weird Vintage TTM Return

I sent two cards to Jim Golden on October 25th. According to SCN he's been a really good and reliable signer through the mail with an average turn-around time of about 14 days. Unfortunatley for me though, my envelope came back, unopened with "RTS Deceased 11/1" written on it and a Yellow USPS sticker stating the same.

But then the weirdness started. I began seeing others having success with him. Others who sent theirs AFTER I had gotten my RTS back. I watched the news for a while to see if there was anything about him passing away, or if anyone else on SCN got an RTS. Nothing. After about 5 other people got their cards back signed, I decided to try mailing again. Guess what happened?

And comparing it to his other autographs in the database, it's looks legit.

So, who wrote "RTS Deceased 11/1" on the envelope?

My guess is some postal worker who didn't bother to check.

Jim signed these cards from his home in Topeka, KS in 19 days.

He's 88 years old.

While still in the minors he was traded by the Phillies with Rip Repulski and Gene Snyder for Dodgers prospect Sparky Anderson.

Which Who Is it?

Who made who? Who made you?

Horton Hears A Who?

Who are you? Who, Who, Who, Who?

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Nope, it's a 1974 Who's Who in Baseball with Nolan Ryan on the cover.

I found this recently for a buck at my local Half Price Books. They had a small stack of them in the Clearance section, but this was the only one I was interested in because of Nolan Ryan.

It wasn't until I got home that I saw there were other player photos inside the front and back covers. The other photos seem to be of other leaders from that season. If I go back to HPB this week, I'll have to check the other copies to see if there are any other Angels inside of those.

Interesting that it cost a buck in 1974, and that's what I paid for it last week. A buck in 1974 is equivalent to $6.40 today.

The book is filled with all the players career statistics. The first section is hitters followed by the pitchers.

This is inside the back cover. I can see where if there are any Angels inside the other issues, I'd probably just tear that page out and toss the rest of the book. This book however I'll keep intact.

The '73 World Champions get the back cover.

Anyone else have any Who's Who in their collection?