2018 trade package #7: I Feel Like a Collector Again

With my 2017 purchases good and done with a fork in them (thanks to a huge COMC finale over on TMM) I can finally get on with 2018 stuff.  But as I usually try to do, I'm putting trade packages higher up on the old list of priorities.  After all, I like to give credit to those of you who go to the effort of sending me cards!

So I've got a couple in hand, and I'll start with another fun PWE from Kin of I Feel Like a Collector Again.  I last put up a trade post from him on this here blog last September when he sent me a new Verlander mini for my PC, and now he's hit my mailbox for the first time this year with cards that hit multiple collections:

First up is a pair of early 90s base cards of PC guy Jim Abbott:  one from '92 Upper Deck and the other out of the debut of Fleer product Flair in '93.  UD called Jim the "Best left-handed pitcher" after his career best 1991 season, and that's before he managed to toss a no-hitter the same year the Flair card came out, with his pictured team the Yankees.

Kin then hit my Tigers collection with a future HOFer and a founding member.  Miguel Cabrera, who's on the hunt for a resurgent campaign after a lackluster 2017, pops up on a very nice looking 2014 Topps Chrome Update Black Refractor (#87/99).  The black border does a good job of highlighting the Refractorized photo of Miggy and former teammate Torii Hunter celebrating another long ball.  Cabrera did indeed reach 2000 hits in 2014, and hopefully he can pile up the 364 he needs for the iconic total of 3000 before he retires (not to mention 38 HR to join the 500 club).

Joining him is Ty Cobb from one of my top 10 favorite base sets, 2000 Upper Deck Legends.  The design is fantastic thanks to great photos, nice use of foil, and short blurbs on the front, something you don't see very often.  They also happen to have an excellent look on the back that includes complete career stats, something that's useful when you're talking about legends from before all of us were born.

Jumping back to modern day--if 25 years ago--and another '93 Flair base card of one of my PC guys who played college ball for Michigan, Barry Larkin.  Call this one a double-double because Larkin is turning two (or trying to prevent a stolen base) against a fellow Barry, Bonds.

Last up is a card that hits both my Tigers collection and a PC thanks to blog namesake guy Justin Verlander.  It's a 2015 Panini Prizm Prizms Blue parallel, and I was excited to find that that was the case by eventually noticing the serial numbering on the back:  66/75.  It's blue, it's numbered, and it's a new JV, and that's an A+ card in a PWE that definitely punched above its weight class!

And that's not all as Kin was nice enough to indulge a fellow college collector with some football cards as well.  Make sure to catch those over on TMM this evening.

Thanks again for thinking of me, Kin, and I'll continue trying to put together some stuff to send you in return!

2017 trade package #19: I Feel Like a Collector Again

You know, I was all set to post this trade package today anyway, but it just so happens that it's now even more appropriate given events that transpired late last night.

Kin of I Feel Like a Collector Again had sent me some Tigers back in May, and he followed those up with a nice little PWE in July, which I'm very efficiently posting today...in September.  Hey, I don't pretend not to be lazy!

Anyway, it's relevant that this one-card trade headed from Texas to Michigan.  And if you can't tell who it is by now, how's life under that rock where you've been hiding?

That's right, brand new Astro and still namesake of this here blog--I don't have any plans to change the name again--Justin Verlander made the reverse journey a couple months ago in the form of this Gold Border Mini from this year's A&G product.  Some times a little Verlander goes a long way--and hopefully that's the case for Houston in this year's playoffs!

Because I'm sure many of you will ask:  yes, I'm bummed to see my favorite Tiger of this generation, a guy that was with the team for 12.8 seasons, head off to greener pastures.  Along the way we enjoyed highlights such as

• World Series appearances in 2006 and 2012
• Two no-hitters (2007, Brewers; 2011, Blue Jays)
• The 2006 AL ROY award
• The 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP awards
• Six All-Star appearances
• 183 wins, almost 2400 strikeouts, and a bWAR of 54.4
• Lots of goodwill towards the city
• Getting engaged to Kate Upton

I'm certainly not the first blogger to see my favorite guy (and in some cases, blog namesake!) leave my favorite team, and like many of those others I won't stop collecting him or rooting for him (it's not like he went to the Yankees).  With the Tigers heading towards full-blown rebuild mode, I'm glad he'll head to a better chance at postseason success.  Plus, the haul the Tigers got for him is pretty interesting!

So thanks again for sending another Verlander my way, Kin--it's kind of a bittersweet day, but it's never a bad one when I can find JV in my mailbox.  It's not like I'll ever feel like I have too many!

2017 trade package #13: I Feel Like a Collector Again

This is already the second time I'm posting cards from Kin of I Feel Like a Collector Again since he hit me up with a PWE a couple months ago.  Kin collects an interesting mix of Blackhawks stars, WVU alumni, several different MLBers, racing, and more, so I wasn't surprised when he sent me a second envelope that hit three of my PCs along with some Tigers; variety is the spice of life!

Here's what he sent this time:

Barry Larkin 1998 Pinnacle Epix Season Orange

As the caption implies, this card is actually orange, but I love that it looks red in the scan since that would make it perfect (though the orange does look just fine).  Epix was a great looking insert back in the 90s so I love examples like this.  Having just recently spent time looking over Larkin cards during COMC's spring cleaning and been disappointed at above-reasonable prices I especially appreciate him sending this my way.  Any Larkins people send my way are great, and 90s inserts rule! (Tag deployed!)

Cal Ripken Jr. 1998 Circa Thunder Promo

Thunder is a product I never really got into because the design wasn't my cup of tea (though as I mentioned a while ago, I completed the '99 Skybox version after winning a free box from Beckett in my past collecting life as a subscriber).  That said, I do enjoy collecting promos and samples like this Ripken that advertises the 1998 Circa version of the product.

Though this isn't always the case, the regular issue is practically identical to the promo.  The production version has yellow "scribbles" along the front right side instead of blue, and the color used for the stats on the back was switched from black to white, but besides those minor points they're the same.  Those of you who collect promos are likely aware that initial mock-ups often feature completely different photos along with other design choices that may ultimately change.

Another cool promo for my Ripken collection!

Justin Verlander 2006 Topps Turkey Red (RC)

Justin Verlander 2015 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini No Card Number

The PC portion of this posts ends with a third Verlander card from Kin, who previously sent me a 2011 Chrome Purple Refractor of the namesake of the blog you're currently reading.   On the left is JV's issue from the base set version Topps made of Turkey Red, as opposed to the insert version that was used a couple times.  The pleasantly artsy card gets the "(RC)" notation because he actually appeared on rookie cards in 2005, but the rules of what actually makes a RC are weird.

Next to that is a Mini from A&G's product from two years ago, and this one happens to be a bit more special than it first appears.  I was aware that the backs could be different having collected some of these of other players, but I originally identified it as an A&G Back version until I found that it was missing the usual card number.  A bit of searching confirmed for me that it was the "No Card Number" version, though determining that would have been easier if these added "A&G Back" to the name.  Regardless, while these aren't numbered, they're limited to just 50 copies, meaning this is a very nice addition from Kin indeed!

And here's a page of the rest of the Tigers he included.  Catalanotto is one of those Tigers I hated to see the team trade away, especially since he was used to get Juan Gonzalez; I may write up a post about my favorite players to have been traded away soon!  I'm sure everyone still remembers Galarraga's "imperfect perfect game".  Garcia's finally showing the potential that earned him the nickname "Mini Miggy", unfortunately with the division rival Sox.  It was fun having Hunter in Detroit for a couple seasons, long enough for him to appear on this 2013 Triple Threads base.

Mahtook is one of just two current Tigers today, shown here with the team that drafted him #31 overall in 2011, the Rays.  He's joined by V-Mart on one of the scan's three Wal-Mart Blue parallels.  I just posted another card of excellent 80s catcher Lance Parrish in Thursday's post, and I'm 100% positive this Leaf issue is new to me.  Former awesome-then-unreliable closer (e.g. everyone the Tigers have put into the role) Jose Valverde closes things out (pun intended) with another Wal-Mart Blue.

Kin, thanks a ton for another fun envelope!  I'm happy to say that I'll soon be able to respond with a thank you package once I get things shipped from a couple sources, and I promise there'll be at least as much variety as you see here.

2017 trade package #8: I Feel Like a Collector Again

Time to get back to trade packages!  Including this post I currently have three to show off, though that could change quickly considering how generous and awesome many of you are.

So about a month ago I received my first envelope from Kin of the impeccably-named I Feel Like a Collector Again.  It was a three-card PWE that I'm looking at as a fun icebreaker that should lead to future trades, especially since his note mentioned he's got more to send me eventually.

Here's those three cards:

First up is a pair of 2017 Heritage base cards of DH Victor Martinez and reliever Alex Wilson, done up in the style of the Topps set from 1968, the same year as Detroit's second most recent World Series title.  Both of these guys factored in Detroit's win this afternoon over the Twins with V-Mart scoring a run on utility guy Andrew Romine's grand slam and Wilson earning a two-inning save.

Those guys were joined by another current Tiger familiar to anyone who can read the title of this here blog:

From 2011 Topps Chrome, this here is Justin Verlander's Purple Refractor (#271/499).  Kin's note mentions that he figured I already had this very card, but fortunately for me he was wrong!  Instead, it's my 237th different Verlander.  In terms of that year's rainbow I also own the base Chrome and Refractor from this set as well as the base cards from flagship and Opening Day.  It was nice to add some color to that bunch, not to mention a new Verlander in general.

Thanks again for kicking things off, Kin!  I'm looking forward to trading with you once I can pile up some stuff I know you'll like, but for now rest assured that I was glad to receive this Tigers trio, all of which were new to me!