2016 trade package #1: New Year's Cards From the Dollar Store

It's fitting that my very first trade package of the year (which arrived last Saturday) comes from Doug of Sports Cards From the Dollar Store since he remains my most prolific trade partner--this is my 18th trade post from him on this blog alone in the three-plus years we've been swapping cards.

Everyone's favorite Canadian always finds great stuff to send me, and here's what made it across the border in a bubble envelope this time:

Anibal is back for his fifth season in Motown as a stalwart of a rotation that's seen a pretty good amount of turnover the last few seasons.  I hadn't realized until I looked over on B-R that he's only 36-29 in 87 starts over those four seasons, but his ERA has been solid and he's been let down by the bullpen at times, so maybe we'll see some improvement in his numbers (and health!) this season.

He comes to us today in the form of this Purple Refractor from 2015 Bowman Chrome (#d 165/250).  Purple is just about the worst color Topps has used, but there's still no such thing as a bad Refractor in my opinion!

That's it for the baseball content, but here's some obligatory hockey cards:

As I'm writing this post Detroit has completed its pre-All-Star break schedule and sits in second place of the Atlantic Division in the East, which makes me feel pretty good about keeping the postseason streak alive.  Of the guys represented above, Datsyuk, Kronwall, and Zetterberg are currently with the team and are among the Wings' leaders in points (with Hank at the top of the heap).  Interestingly enough, Detroit enjoys the talents of a pair of Wolverines in Luke Glendening and star rookie (and team goal-scoring leader) Dylan Larkin.  Datsyuk and Zetterberg continue to hum along reliably, though, so this is a nice bunch of Red Wings cardboard!

Please make sure to head over to TMM this evening for the rest of this two-part trade package as that post includes football and--surprise!--more hockey!

Thanks for a fun first trade package of the year, Doug, and hopefully I'll have some stuff heading your way within a few weeks!