Two Unexpected Packages

Always nice to get some unexpected mail, nice to know folks are thinking of me. That's one of the reasons I'll be starting up BAGs again this summer (Blog Appreciation Gifts), to share some of the love and show my appreciation for fellow bloggers and their efforts.

First up was a nice bubble mailer from Dennis (Too Many Verlanders) which included (among other things) lots of Angels, Patriots, and baseball checklists!

And four Dollar Tree packs (That's what I call the 5-card packs) of 2023 Topps Update. But we'll get to those later.

Lots of Angels, most of which I needed.

Super nice relics...very generous. Look at that tri-color Patriots swatch.

Sorry for the bad photos.

Five more 1986 Leaf, putting me within 20 of the set.

I have a special binder for this kinda stuff, but it always leave me shaking my head why anyone would do this.

And the contents of the fun 5-pack rip.

All good stuff and some decent rookies.

Second package comes from Stuart (S.R.75)

Stuart came across some Angels he thought I could use, and yes I needed them all.

He also included an unopened pack of cards which resulted in this:

Solid pack with two Angels and a nice Joey Votto.

Thanks guys!

T.W.I.T.

 This Week In Trades

TCDB fowler279

I now have three (or four?) Project 2020 Nolan Ryan cards.

TCDB tomilesean

I typically prefer a PWE's worth of cards in a trade, but this was a nice enough card for a 1-for-1 swap.

TCDB brcdad

TCDB CardsInTheBasement

TCDB Geoff2568

Slowly pecking away at the 1997 FLeer Diamond Ink set. These arent as easy to come by as you'd think.

TCDB ThemightyOx

Brian also included his pretty cool calling card.

Recent Mail

Ran out of a bit of blogging steam there for a while, not that anyone needed to notice, there are so many great blogs to read. Here's some stuff that I've received recently, lots of good trades still flying back and forth.

TCDB MotownMike

TCDB Ymmat

SCN EllisShoe Return Fire

He sent these Angels autos in return for a signed 2005 Bowman Heritage he needed for his autograph set.

PIF from Fuji

Fuji was sharing some vintage he picked up but couldn't use from some good flea market purchases he made.

1961 Topps is a vintage set I'm working.

TCDB CH34

TCDB Jgamble

The top two cards were the trade target, the rest were thrown in. 

Thanks Jon!

TCDB RyanFrueh

TCDB Balzer

The minis are Tiffany, another Topps gimmick that has always irritated me.

TCDB robinsonj3360

TCDB MMehler30

I sure do like the Pink Parallels.

Michael used these 90-91 Pro Set Soccer cards as card protectors. I suppose I'll add them to my TCDB traders, although I have to assume no one will want them, which is probably why Michael used them as filler.

Knocking Down The Stack, Again

 Still scanning and posting the numerous trades and incoming mail from recent weeks.

Return fire from S.R.'75

I sent Stuart one or two Tim Salmon cards he needed to complete a set and he sent me some stuff as a thank-you.

Stuart sent me two of these promo sheets which is awesome because it was the last piece I needed for the complete 1983 Fleer set binder, and I also needed one for the Angels team set.

He also included a bunch of other Angels and Patriots.

TCDB trade with ravenfaith77

Jason posted in the forum that he was looking for trades to clean out his Overpower stock, so I took a bunch of his Silver Surfer off him.

TCDB trade with jdrew

I wanted the 1973 Mike Epstein because it also shows the Angels Ken Berry. It will go with the Angels team set.

Josh threw in these extra Joyner's, super cool.

TCDB trade with PaulGebauer

TCDB trade with BDillman

I really hate Topps Micro, but I have a Fregosi PC, so....

And why did I want that Red Sox card? Mike Napoli of course.

TCDB trade with Sportzcommish

Including 28-more "why-did-I-decide-to-do-this?" 1989 Pro Set.

Time Travel Trading with Diamond Jesters (Kep75)

Picked these three out during the last round.

I wanted the '72s for this reason:

Ads on the back!

I need to find a card with the Series 1&2 ad.

There are several cards with the Series 1&2 ad, most of which are of star players, or for some other reason have more of a premium on them, so they aren't cheap, but there is one with Leo Cardinas that might be more available without a bunch of cash. I'll have to keep an eye out.

Blog trade with Sportscards From The Dollar Store

Doug was posting about some packs he ripped, and I noticed a couple Trout wrappers I needed. I asked if the wrappers were still available, they were, so we turned it into a trade.

Doug included some great Angels and Patriots cards.

Knocking Down The Stack

 Typically I like to give the larger packages I receive from bloggers thier own posts, but I've been inundated with trades and packages that I need to clear up some space, so I'm combining you all.

This will be all over the place as you will see: Angels, checklists, headers, set needs, PC needs.

PIF from Johnnys Trading Spot

I was the recipient of one of Johnny's flat rate boxes stuffed with cards. On the right are about 110 Garret Anderson cards. Johnny must have closed down his G.A. PC or bought out a collector. In all there are about 250 Angels cards in those 2 stacks. It's going to take me an afternoon to input these all into TCDB. For now, I'll pick some out to highlight.

Josh Hamilton on the Angels. Oh what could have been if he wasn't so unhappy to be there.

I was a huge Todd Greene fan back in the day, even when he left the Angels. Glad to have this gold version of his Bowman card.

Tons of Montgomery Angels.

Always helpful when Johnny leaves a note, and glad he noted the glossy. About a year ago I went to check on my 1987 Fleer Angels and noticed several glossy in with the regulars. I had to go dig the replacement cards out of my dupes box.

I knew about the factory version of those Donruss cards but was avoiding them as part of the Angels team sets. Since Johnny gave me almost a complete set, I now have to go get the ones I'm missing to complete the Factory Set team sets. He gave me a bunch of '90 Donruss Factory cards as well.

This will be Adell's big year, I can feel it.

PIF from Night Owl

Greg saw I was collecting the 1983 Glossy's and sent a bunch.

Thats 21 of the cards that I needed. When I went to TCDB to input these I realized I needed a lot more than I thought. I still need 16 for the 40-card set.

TCDB trade with Johnsogr

Mostly hitting up Angels minor league team sets in this trade, and a few more for the 1992 Upper Deck Minors set.

TCDB trade with BaltOrioles

Team collectors got to have the full panel too, like this 1987 Key Foods with Wally Joyner.

The larger card is a 1985 Inteleisure Whoozit? trivia card. Pretty cool Jim Fregosi oddball.

Who can name the other photos on the card?

TCDB trade with bravefan1

Traded a bunch of Braves for a bunch of random Angels.

TCDB trade with kskillman42

That "D" is the last letter I needed to spell out "DIAMOND COLLECTION".

Ken threw in the 1970 Checklists and '89 UD stickers. Super nice.

TCDB trade with cardboardjones (The Card Chop)

Just the one cool National Baseball Card Day card in this trade.

Return Fire from GCRL (Cards As I See Them)

Interesting in that I had missed that Carew on my TCDB wantlist and just added it the night before this came in the mail. I thought the Woodruff was a mistake until I turned it over and saw the #444.

TCDB trade with Chemo

It was kinda hard to believe that I didn't already have this ProCards Tim Salmon, and I'm happy to get this sweet Studio header card.

TCDB trade with Yeahsox

The Ryan is the 5,000K's/King of Kings variation needed for the PC.

TCDB trade with hawkking

The red-bordered Legion Field checklist card is from the 1990 Pan Am Team USA set. Jim Abbott has a card in that set as well.

Thats all for now but there's another stack to get to scanning.