2019 trade package #8: Bob Walk the Plank

I'm back for a second day in a row thanks to the small size (but huge impact) of today's envelope.  Semi-retired blogger and ever-awesome trader Matt of Bob Walk the Plank (@walktheplank82 if you're not following him for some reason) let me know to expect a couple low-numbered non-autos in my mailbox before long.

I'll let you all decide if he delivered:

WHOA.

What he said.  That is a nice pair of high-end National Treasures Tigers relics right there representing guys responsible for over 120 bWAR, two MVPs (Cabrera with the Tigers), and three Cy Youngs (one with Detroit).

Miggy's card is from the 2018 product's Greatness Memorabilia Prime set, and let me tell you, does it ever live up to its name.  Numbered to just 10 copies, it comes with an interesting two-color swatch that increases in height as you go from right to left, to the point that the jersey seems to be busting out of the window when you get to the biggest piece.  It's definitely up there with the one I showed off yesterday.

Meanwhile, Scherzer's card is slightly higher numbered--to 15--but is still top notch thanks to a larger swatch that includes a nice chunk of three-colored patch.  Hailing from 2017, this one could be found in the Colossal Stat Relics Prime set, and again I think Panini used a relic that earns the "colossal" and "prime" titles.  Of course this one is highlighting his obscene 21-3 record from 2013, earning a career high in wins en route to the first of his three Cys, not to mention All-Star appearance number one of six (and counting).  I'm still glad to be getting cards of Max as he was great during his time in Motown, so I'm gratified that Panini made a card of him with the Tigers as recently as 2017.

Matt, thanks again for these two amazing new pieces!  I'm happy to continue our annual back-and-forth even if it's decreased a bit in frequency.  There's no way that'll stop me from picking up new Pirates and Mountaineers for you--even NSFW stuff of Pittsburgh heartthrob Bob Walk.

2015 eBay purchase: the Mechanical Man cuts right to the chase

I've got some stuff from the show I went to this past weekend to show off, but I'm lazy and I've been wanting to show off what's in today's post for a bit anyway.  Ordinarily I'd post these over on TMM but I'd rather a larger audience get to see these, plus they fit in with this blog's theme anyway.  Also, I hadn't posted over here yet this year!

As I said in a couple posts late last year, the certainty of my budget at that point meant I could swing for the fences a bit as 2015 came to a close.  That resulted in beautiful auto pickups of Lou Whitaker and Greg Maddux, but as 2016 neared I still had a pretty nice amount available should I decide to spend it.  I wasn't just gonna throw away money for no reason, though--what I found would have to justify the cost.

And then I found the perfect way to close out my purchases for the year:  this pair of gorgeous cut autos for under $100 together from one seller:

Charlie Gehringer 2005 SP Legendary Cuts Autograph Cuts auto (#76/97)

Charlie Gehringer 2006 SP Legendary Cuts Legendary Signature Cuts auto (#67/76)

Gehringer joins Bill Freehan as part of a small club of players I collect that played for Michigan and the Tigers, and his cards are easily some of the highest-end in my entire collection.  As you can see he has a top-notch signature (they don't make 'em like they used to!), and these cuts done in ballpoint and sharpie really pop.  As with my first Gehringer cut (I now have three!) I was adamant that I wanted something that included some sort of photo, not just one of those lower-end framed index card types.  These two are exactly in my wheelhouse and they're the type of cut that usually gets listed for closer to the amount I paid for both, if not more, so $95 was nothing if not a steal.

We're just a day away from MLB's Hall of Fame class of 2016 announcement, and I'm sure to be celebrating in honor of one of my other PC guys, which will tie in nicely with my show haul, so keep an eye out for that tomorrow!