2014 trade package #26: Baseball Card Breakin' it down Gibby-style

A couple weeks ago I received my first trade package from Gavin at Baseball Card Breakdown.  It was a total surprise and featured an Earl Weaver autograph I expressed interest in during one of his contests.  After he so generously sent that my way I inquired about another card he had from the same set, sent him a vintage Clemente from COMC and some other stuff, and the next thing I knew that very card was in my mailbox.  Here's what he sent:

Jack Morris and Kirk Gibson 2004 Topps Retired Signature

First up is a pair of base cards from the 2004 Retired Signature set which, as I've noted, looks great in its combination of the 2004 flagship design and some cool vintage photos.  Take a good look at the Morris because it might just be the only time you ever see him smile!

I'm even more excited about the Gibson because that'll find a home in his PC, which I'm still working on scanning.  And speaking of Gibby, here's the card I mentioned I really wanted:

Kirk Gibson 2004 Topps Retired Signature auto

From the same gorgeous set as the Weaver from last time it's a stunning auto of the 1984 and '88 World Champion.  I hadn't seen many of these available on the internets at all, so landing my third Gibson auto in a trade like this was a major win for me; also, I'm pretty sure Gavin was happy with his end, which is the way trades are supposed to work, so we've got that goin' for us.  Anyway, I'm pretty sure I like just about everything this card has to offer:  purdy black border, sharp signature in blue ink, uncirculated-ness...oh yeah, and the awesome photo from earlier.

This card now has a happy home in my collection of Gibson stuff and Tigers, and I can't thank Gavin enough for a great second trade package!  Readers, please head over to Baseball Card Breakdown for some great blogging, especially when it comes to Refraction Action!

Take the A-Tram!

I haven't made a ton of purchase over on Blowout this year, but I did recently pick up some cards I'm pretty excited about from a seller there, and I'm showing off one of them today.

I noticed a guy with a sale thread and he had a number of cards I was interested in.  For most of them the price just wasn't right, but I scored a pair I really wanted for $20 delivered.  One is a Chris Getz you'll see over on the sister blog soon, and the other one is this, which I think will make some of my fellow Tigers fans drool:

Alan Trammell 2004 Topps Retired Signature auto

Wow.  Just wow.  I don't know what it is about the Retired Signature autos I like so much.  That they're encased an "uncirculated" is a bit of a gimmick, but nothing that's really ever swayed me either way.  So I have to assume it's something about the design.  Seeing some of my older favorites on a modern Chrome-style design to go along with a sweet signature does have its perks, and I really like how Topps went with black borders for this set.  Black is a color that just doesn't work with base cards because it makes it so much easier to spot defects, but on a chrome card it can actually enhance things.

So here you have it, my seventh Trammell hit and third autograph, which is easily my favorite and will be very difficult to top, though that's a challenge I'm definitely up to!  I hope to add more high quality Tram autos like this, not to mention other Tigers mainstays, so I'll be on the lookout for more like this soon.