Tuesday, December 31, 2024

2024 trade package #26: Bob Walk the Plank



As Christmas approached, my longtime collecting buddy Matt, formerly of Bob Walk the Plank and now found mostly on Twitter let me know to expect a package in time for the holiday. Sure enough, one arrived with a note that said the package contained a couple big "booms" and a couple smaller ones as well. I knew I'd be in for a treat since Matt's one of the few current/former bloggers I deal with that doesn't mind going into the higher-end side of things. I'm happy to be able to do so with someone like him since we're so similar in what we collect (an MLB team and a college program too).

He most definitely delivered on the words in his note as you can see by the goods:
Ok, a Triple Threads Miggy /99, that's a very nice start. It's a Gold parallel from the 2018 set and a quality insert of the future HOFer. He's joined by former teammate Justin Verlander--whom some of you know I collect--on his 2005 Topps Update card that celebrated the also-future HOFer starting for the US in the Futures Game that happened to be hosted at his home park that year when he was just 22. Though it's not a RC as that could be found in that year's flagship product, it's still a very, very good pre-rookie year card of one of my top PC guys. Strong start maintained!

And now here's where it gets even better! Big boom #1 is a new autograph of Barry Larkin for my collection, and a card I'd be excited about for that fact alone. But better yet, he's pictured playing for Michigan! My ninth autograph of the HOF Reds SS who played his college ball in Ann Arbor hails from 2015 Panini National Treasures Collegiate and is numbered /99. It pairs up nicely with the Silver version (#d /25) that I nabbed almost nine years ago now, and becomes a top-ten piece in a PC that's grown to almost 1000 cards. Big boom indeed!

Not a Larkin fan or maybe you just don't care that much for college cards? Well then you may enjoy tonight's other massive shot off the bow, especially if you've been a Tigers fan for as long as I have. Sure, I already owned a relic card of Cecil Fielder thanks to Adam of My Cardboard Mistress, and I'd even been gifted an autograph by Doug of Sports Cards From the Dollar Store. But until now I couldn't claim to be the owner of an autographed relic of Big Daddy. Matt said, "Problem solved!" What you see above is a signature/jersey card numbered /50 found in '24 Topps' Major League Material set. The white jersey swatch is accompanied by Fielder's extremely cool signature, and I now have a new favorite card of the Tigers fan favorite. BOOM!

As if all of that wasn't enough, he even balanced out the envelope a bit with a few football cards. QB Tom Brady appears courtesy of 2003 Fleer Authentix (and its ticket motif) and 2005 Prestige, which is one of the product's nicer designs. To cap things off he threw in another signal-caller, blog favorite Chad Henne, as seen on his 2008 Topps Rookie Progression RC while wearing Michigan's iconic uniform.

Matt, thanks again for the big and little "booms" here and for keeping up your end of our quality trading for so long. I count myself to be lucky to be part of such a partnership for as long as we both enjoy it, and I don't see that stopping in 2025. On that note, I wish your Pirates and Mountaineers success in the new year, and plenty of big hits for your collection!

Just one trade recap remains for a post-Christmas surprise envelope, and I'll have that up before the night is over.

2 comments:

  1. Love the Larkin auto in Maize and Blue. I need to find one.

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  2. Whoa... Matt sent some heavy hitters here. Great way to end the year with a handful of little "booms". Happy New Year Dennis!

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