2016 trade package #15: it's clear why I love trading with Bob Walk the Plank!

Yes I still exist, I've just been posting less frequently because [insert excuse here].  I really do have a good reason, though!  In preparation for another fun spring summer cleaning I'm doing a big reorg of my collection to once again clear out things I don't want so I can get them into your collections.  I'm still not quite sure when that'll be, but I'm shooting for the next couple weeks.

Anyway, I'm happy to report that I received a pair of new trade packages in rapid succession this week, and given my plans for this evening today is a perfect day to post one of them.  Here's another outstanding two-card package from Matt of Bob Walk the Plank.  (Incidentally, while I love receiving lots of cards in trades, sometimes it's a nice change of pace when I only have to scan, post, and discuss two!)

J.D. Martinez 2016 Topps Clear (#10/10)

First up is this outstanding Clear parallel of injured Tigers star J.D. Martinez, who wants to remind you to

You've all seen his bat--don't make him come after you with his BOOMSTICK.  Anyway, this is a totally fun and completely unexpected addition to one of my Tigers PCs, and it's especially apropos today as this evening I'm heading down to Comerica Park to watch the Tigers take on the Royals and (hopefully) get my hands on the night's giveaway:  a J.D. Martinez bobblehead!  We'll see if I can be one of the first 10,000 to enter the park tonight.

This is just my second example of one of Topps' nicer designs recently; I also have Wolverine (and former Royal) Chris Getz's version from 2014.  It's such a cool concept that I have a hard time believing Topps actually went ahead with it.  "What do you mean it's not just another different color?" was likely heard multiple times around the design table.  Multiple 90s and 2000s insert designs, such as 2000 Ultra's Swing Kings, proved that this look can be a winner when done right, and Topps done right here.  As rare as it is to say, I'm happy it's true, and I'm even happier that Matt tracked down this copy of one of the Tigers' brightest "Future Stars" [cue enormous eye-roll].  Like Topps, I don't have to go out on a huge limb here when I say that this is currently the gem of my J.D. collection.

The other card is of a player I usually associate with my Michigan PCs, but he has broad enough appeal that I thought I'd just stick with one trade post over here today:

Jim Abbott 2013 Gypsy Queen Autographs auto

Jim Abbott.  Jim Abbott?  Jim Abbott.

What a crime that show got cut down in its prime.  Anyway, file this card under "I don't have that already?  It looks so familiar!  Yeah, I have it.  I think.  Let me take a look.  Oh wait, I don't have it!"  Which means I'm happily adding my eighth autograph of the inspiring lefty.  I love shots like this that show some part of his unique pitching process, and the old California Angel uni/logos and look of determination on Jim's face combine to make this one a big winner.

Thanks for another outstanding pair, Matt!  I look forward to seeing your reaction to the latest bunch I sent you as we continue one of my favorite back-and-forth trade partnerships.

And go Tigers tonight!

Card show report: 11/27: a Michigan Man will buy Michigan cards

Previously:  a trade with Dustin (No Relics Pulled), some sweet vintage

Finishing off my pickups from Sunday's show, here's a look at two other purchases I made:

First off, I grabbed three cards from a guy who cut me a reasonable deal and also told me to be on the lookout for a Jim Abbott autographed baseball the next time I'm there.  The hits:

Mike Comrie 2003-2004 Upper Deck Rookie Update Top Draws auto

Not the only hockey auto I picked up on the day, this is my second of Comrie.  Mr. Hillary Duff inked a nice signature on this card, even if he didn't take advantage of ample space, and he thought to include his uniform number too.

Jim Abbott 1990 Topps in-person auto

For a couple bucks, I couldn't resist adding my first autograph, even if it's not certified, of the former one-armed standout.  Besides being an excellent pitcher, not to mention an inspiration, Abbott reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from the killed-far-too-soon-but-funnier-than-the-rest-of-the-crap-on-these-days Party Down (still available on Netflix Instant!):

Yes, Veronica Mars fans, that's Jason Dorhing, a.k.a. Logan Echolls, and one of many VM actors to cameo on this outstanding, hilarious show, including Kristin Bell herself.  Check it out!  Jim Abbott?  Jim Abbott!

Rick Leach 2004 TK Legacy auto

This card of a former Michigan dual-sport star allows for a great juxtaposition later, so keep an eye out for that.  Another $3 steal, at least in my book, Leach fits several of my PCs:  Michigan baseball, Michigan football and the Tigers, as he was Detroit's first-rounder in 1979.  Though he never lived up to that billing on the diamond, his baseball skills were probably on par with his football acumen, so you can't blame the guy for going that route, and to his credit, he didn't exactly go full Henson on us, plus he did beat Ohio State three times.  His dual-sport skills merit my picking up a football autograph of his before long as well.

My second purchase involved three more TK Legacy singles plus a couple packs.  Here's what the two 2004 TK Legacy III packs yielded:

These are the six base cards, and I didn't have anything of any of them, so they were cool pickups.  Of course, I bought the packs for the one-per-pack autos which were:

Erick Anderson and Marcus Ray, both new additions to the PC.  Anderson, the 1991 Butkus award-winner as best LB, played here from '88-'91 and went onto a brief NFL career.  Ray, a safety, played from '95-'98, including, of course, the '97 championship team.  He's since gone on to coaching at several levels and, as a Michigan Man, is sure to excel at whatever he goes on to do.

Those two packs were part of a package deal for two MORE TK Legacy singles:

Welcome to the football PC, Bill!  Yep, along with Leach, a football star who played baseball, here's Freehan, an eventual baseball star who also played football for the Wolverines in 1960, from the 2003 set.  I'd seen this one on COMC but could never get a good deal on it, so I pounced on it in this package deal, and now I have 59 different subjects among my 387 football PC cards, more than 250 of which are autographs.  Not a bad feat thanks to ANOTHER UM baseball/UM hockey/Detroit Tiger!

And then there's this bad boy from 2004, my favorite pickup of the show.  I briefly considered a couple other dual autos, but in the end this one won me over.  Hand-numbered 002/100, this card combines autographs from probably the two most important people in Michigan hockey history--legendary coach Red Berenson and goalie Marty Turco--two men who are responsible for Michigan's two most recent hockey championships.  If names like Bo, Woodson and Harmon are synonymous with college football's best historical program, these two are among the gods of college hockey's flagship school.

As you can see, despite there not being much of a mix of brands, I ended up with a nice assortment of Michigan sports hits this time instead of focusing exclusively on football, despite my desire to hit a nice round 400 before the end of the year.  Part of that was due to a dearth of stuff I needed, but fortunately I know where to look next time for some top-notch stuff like the Berenson/Turco.  You may just see stuff to that effect in just a few weeks, so stay tuned.