TTM Return From Dave Edwards

Another non-Angels player but a needed autograph for the 1983 Topps Master set. 

The 1981 will end up in the trade box.

1983 Topps #94

1981 Topps #386

Dave signed these two cards in 27 days, sent to his home in Houston, TX.

He declined answering any questions, which is fine.

One Page Of Jim Barr

This series will highlight "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former Angels and Patriots  players.

  Jim Barr RHP California Angels 1979-1980

Correspondence received July 6, 2005.

TTM Return From Dick Lange

Dick Lange signed and returned these cards sent his home in 10 days.

1974 Topps #429, 1976 Topps #176

I had gotten him in the past, probably longer than 10 years ago, and apparently didn't have these two cards at the time.

I think I had just an index card at the time.

Glad to add another autograph to the 1974 Topps Team Set.

Mr. Lange was also kind enough to answer a few questions:

Its always a thrill when these guys answer some questions.

TTM Return From Christian Friedrich

Returned in 351 days from 2016 Spring Training.

Too bad they both got blotted.

I sent these to Tempe Diablo Stadium last year when Christian was claimed by the Angels and invited to Angels Spring Training. The Angels subsequently reversed the waiver when they had concerns over his health. So, I'm pretty sure he never played for the Angels in Spring Training.

I'll hang on to these for a while, just in case he gets added to the All-Time Angels list at some point in the future.

Johnnys Trading Spot Trade Mail

I received a nice PWE from John containing a bunch of, what else, Angels cards.

2004 Donruss Team Heroes #441

Sometimes you can forget who played for your team.

I saw this Bartolo Colon card and thought, "Oh yeah, forgot he played for them".

And if I recall, I got another card of him early last year and thought the same thing.

Colon was an Angel from 2004-2007. He won 21 games for them in 2005.

So why don't I remember that.

Nice variety of cards.

1994 Donruss #83 Special Edition
Another gold foil edition done right.
I'm toying with doing a box break of 1994 Donruss Series 1.
I'm about 6 cards short of the team set and there's a lot of good Salmon's in there.

1988 Donruss Baseballs Best

I didn't care for the blue base set, but I dig this orange version.

Thank for the PWE John.

Its Amazing What You Can Find When You're Sorting

Take a look at these two cards:

1994 Topps Finest #157 J.T. Snow

I was going through the dupes box and pulled out the card on the right.

The card on the left was already in the 1994 Angels binder.

They look the same, I thought.

But I've learned to always check the backs of cards because you never know when there might be a subtle difference.

And those subtle differences are usually on the back.

Now, take a look at the backs:

And there it is.

Binder card has PREPRODUCTION in red across the back.

Okay, there's a surprise, didn't even know I had that.

But then I saw that the so-called dupe did not have that on the back.

Cool. A new card.

But then I saw, or DIDN'T see, some other things.

Dupe card.

Observe closely, there's going to be a test.

PREPRODUCTION card.

I underlined and circled all the differences in red.

Lots going on there.

So after some research I found out that there is 40-card set of these Pre-Production cards and they were issued randomly in packs of 1994 Topps Series 2 to premier the upcoming release of 1994 Finest.

The SCBC says these cards share the same format and card numbers as the regular issue Finest cards except for the "PREPRODUCTION" red stamp on the back.

Well, now we know that's not the only difference.

Back to your dupe boxes Team Collectors!

TTM Return From Dave Van Gorder

Another one down towards the 1983 Topps Autographed Set.

1983 Topps #322

1985 Donruss #384

1986 Topps #143

Everyone has their favorite set and 1983 Topps is mine.

Dave signed and returned these cards in 14 days from his home in Tucson, AZ.

TTM Return From Jim Maler

He never was an Angel but here's another to add to the Topps 1983 autographed set.

Jim signed and returned these in 10 days from his home in Hollywood, Florida.

Listian Patriots

Patriots are to be found on Listia.

Picked up this beautiful 2014 Bowman Chrome Topps Shelf Rookie TSR-JG.

Snagged 2 more towards the 1990 Pro Set team.

Sure I could probably pick up the whole set on ebay for a couple bucks, but how fun would that be?

And I picked up the following 1998 Fleer Ultra cards, in individual auctions, mostly running concurrently.

Individual auctions, running concurrently, for a bunch of related cards you want, is stressful.

But I think I may have come away with all the cards that were listed.

Gold Medallion done right.

Even though it didn't scan too well here, the gold really shines through in real life. I loved it when Ultra replaced the little round gold logo with the gold backgrounds, a much better differentiation.

Weird thing though, it looks like Bledsoe is about to sign that hat with a pencil, and is Chris Slade holding a baby?

Base cards.

Robert Edwards ran for 1,115 yards in his rookie season 1998, then destroyed his knee playing in an NFL sanctioned flag football game, barely avoiding having it amputated.

He made a brief comeback with the Dolphins in 2002, and played in Canada from 2005-2007.

I would have loved to see him destroy more defenses with the Patriots.

Very nice looking subset card featuring the Great Drew Bledsoe.

Now, where to get the rest of the team set...

Completed Angels Team Set - 1974 Topps

The Angels comprised 31 cards in the 660-card, numbered base set.

The Team Checklist card is unnumbered and was inserted into regular wax packs.

The Angels had no players in the Traded set.

AUTOGRAPHED: 17/32

FAVORITE CARD: Bill Singer in classic dorky pitching pose.

INTERESTING FACT: Charlie Sands had a fractured knee cap in 1969.

I Love The Smell Of Cardboard In The Morning Trade Mail

Regarding a handful of team bags full of cards, in a padded envelope, Tim hoped I could "find some cards I need". 

Boy did I.  

I also found cards I want, and cards I just altogether dig.

2003 Topps #41 Gold Parallel 0931/2003

2007 Bowman Sterling #BS-BW

1999 Pacific #7 Red

Came one-per pack.

1999 Fleer Ultra #36G Gold Medallion

Could have been centered better, but I love the gold background.

2016 Allen & Ginter #122 Mini Black

2016 Topps Spring Fever # SF-1

Tim Salmon selection

1997 Score #494 Goin Yard (center)

Can't identify this foil parallel, no Premium Stock stamp.

2003 Donruss Diamond Kings #155 Bronze Foil

One of the greatest card ideas ever: framing.

2015 Topps Heritage A Legend Begins #NR-2

I will definitely have to work on this Nolan Ryan subset.

2016 Topps Walmart Holiday Snowflake #HMW59 and HMW119

Snowflakes on baseball cards...ho-kay.

2000 Upper Deck Collection Sweepstakes Cards

Lou Gehrig 1927 Road Jersey

This is awesome because it's another variation that I didn't have.

My card is on the left, Tim sent me the card on the right.

The difference is that Tims card has a line on the back to enter your email address.

Mine doesn't have that.

Subtle variations, gotta look for those subtle variations.

Baseball Checklist Cards

Random sampling of a bunch of checklist cards included.

Hopefully I can complete a couple sets out of them.

Drew Bledsoe Rookies

Gotta list these, they are so cool, and I didn't have any of them yet.

1993 Classic Four Sport Acetates #6

1993 Playoff #295

1993 Upper Deck Rookie Exchange #RE2

1993 Classic Four Sport Tri-Card #TC2

1993 Classic Four Sport Power Pick PP8

Really great cards Tim, thank you.

Bob Lemke

Sad to hear of the passing of Bob Lemke, baseball card great, and founding editor of one of my favorite references The Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards.

Too Many Verlanders Trade Mail

Dennis had a Christmas Giveaway underway, ridding himself of some teams and specific lots of cards, so I took him up on Angels/Patriots and the lot for minor league/rookie cards.  

I got a very generous brick of stuff, in a BOX there were so many cards, so I'll hit the highlights.

2000 Skybox Dominion #70

In my opinion, by far, the ugliest uniform of any sport, ever, in the world.

That's what makes this card so awesome.

2006 Bowman Draft Picks #BDP3

Naps coming back to the neighborhood here in Texas.

At least that's the rumor I've heard.

Which gives me a reason to go watch them play.

1997 Pinnacle Mint #24 (Lower Right)

Went to the team binder and found that this is the only Pinnace Mint I have!

What a tragedy.

1999 SPx #12 (lower right)

Dennis must have had a Darin Erstad player collection at one time because there were a ton of Erstads in the box. And ALL good ones.

1997 Donruss VXP 1.0 #1 2001 Donruss Classics #34

Speaking of Erstad, I'm still trying to figure out how he ended up holding the bat that way in the card on the left, in his left hand on the follow through.

He's left-handed so his follow through should end up like the card on the right.

Weird.

I placed dibs on the rookie/minor league lot that was part of the giveaway.

Seriously a huge stack of great cards.

The Eckstein rookie will go somewhere in an Angels binder.

I may have to start a "Former Angels In Non-Angels Uniform Rookie Cards" binder.

Also the mix I came across the nice stack of newer Patriots cards.

I picked out my top nine in the bunch.

Mostly Brady of course.

AND as a bonus, there was a surprise unopened pack of cards!

Lets see what I pulled:

Ooh.

1. Can't go wrong with a Gretzky.

2. Bill Hall #180 is an SP

3. A surfer (I'm from So Cal.)

4. And a Mini Parallel Stephen Drew #120

Really good stuff, just in time for Christmas.
Thank you Dennis!