"Trade" with Fellow Blogger : Frankie of My Life in the Sports Card Hobby (2013 Topps Five Star Craig Biggio Base Autograph Rainbow Parallel BGS Graded Mint 9.0 and 2014 Topps Dynasty Craig Biggio 6/10)

After months of no trades with Frankie we completed another transaction just a couple weeks after the last trade. This one though is more of a sale if anything as I plan to trade one of the cards that I acquired from him. Frankie announced on Instagram that he was looking to move a couple of cards as he needed funds for a card he had recently purchased. For me it was time to bring an old friend back home.

Both cards are of Craig Biggio but this BGS Mint 9 from the 2013 Topps Five Star release was originally my card which I traded to Frankie when we did one of our bigger (card wise) trades. After that I ended up picking up another Biggio autograph for my collection as I wanted him represented in it. When Frankie said he was looking to move it I jumped at the opportunity to reacquire this card as I always did love it and hated to see it leave. I promptly sold the replacement one (sold more than I "paid" for it too) which I sent to Frankie for this transaction. Once again I have my preferred Biggio in my possession.

Love my minty nines

... but there's more. Frankie had only use for one Biggio in his collection as he had the one he really wanted so he was looking to part with this other one as well.

2014 Topps Dynasty

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Like Frankie did I really need 2 Biggios for my collection? No I do/did not but I took them off his hands as I had/have another trade lined up for this card. I am not the biggest fan of the 2014 release (I think the 2015 looks tons better) so I hold no special love for this card. If that other trade falls though (guy is wishy washy) I can always flip it on eBay to recoup my costs. Either way I am not worried as it will take care of itself.

Thanks again go out to Frankie for the cards and once again I look forward to our next trade/transaction.

Thank you for reading and have a blessed day.

-Penguin

Card of the Day - 2015 Topps Museum : Craig Biggio Archival Autograph (10/99)

Wasn't expecting to ever acquire another Biggio autograph but when I traded out my one copy I was immediately on the hunt for a replacement for my collection. While I love the Topps Five Star brand as that is the one I had I wanted to go in a different direction this time.

The Five Star one I had was a BGS mint 9 but I did a trade with Frankie who runs the My Life In The Sports Card Hobby blog weeks ago. I didn't want to part with it but to get something you need to give something so off went Biggio but before I even completed that trade I was already on eBay looking for another copy. I remembered that Craig had an autograph in this years Topps Museum brand so that is where my focus went. They are only numbered to 99 but there seemed to be a fair share of them to chose from so I put a few of them on my watch list. Book has this valued at a high of $40 and a low of $15. Most of the sales seemed to be closing over $20 so I decided that was going to be my cap. Lost out on a few but when this card's auction was ending there were 2 other within a minute of each other also about to end. I hitched my wagon to this one and hoped that the others would get the attention. Even with a last second bid by another buyer I ended up with the top bid for a click under my $20 cap. Not too shabby. Welcome back to the collection Mr. Biggio.

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Thank you for reading and have a blessed day.

-Penguin

BGS Submission Update Seven - 2013 Topps Five Star : Craig Biggio Base Autograph Rainbow Parallel (18/25) Now Graded and Slabbed a Mint 9.0

Original Submission Post
Beckett Book Value : $60

We are to the 7th post and thankfully to the last non gem mint return.

As seen in my original post I called it on this card but just a little too well. I stated that it will for sure earn two 9.5 sub grades which it did but nothing more with the other two sub grades coming back as 9's. With that the overall grade misses gem mint status by just half a point. So close.

Even with just a mint grade this is a great looking card and I am not that disappointed in this return. Anything less than a mint would make me shake my head but anytime you get a mint grade on cards this thick you should be happy. Gem mints are just cherries on top.

I look forward to watching Craig being named into the Hall of Fame next year as he is getting closer and closer each year and next years new crop of players shouldn't hinder him from earning that entry into the Hall.

A strong mint

Only .5 from gem mint

A 10 on autograph is always nice

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps Five Star : Craig Biggio Base Autograph Rainbow Parallel ( 18 / 25 )

Since I reentered the hobby early in 2013, Biggio was one of the autographs I really wanted to acquire for my collection. Prior to 2013 I had tried and tried to get a signed ball by Craig but I always came up short on the eBay auctions as the prices were never reasonable to me. It constantly sold for over $50. Well now that I went to almost strictly cards I had another chance to finally add Mr. Biggio to my autograph collection and finally I have.

Craig hasn't had that many autograph card releases and on card versions are even less so that made the hunt a tad harder. Well my second favorite brand, Five Star, included him in last year's release but to this day I was never able to secure one at a low price. Craig is going to be in the Hall of Fame next year and he played his whole career in Houston. I love when a top notch player plays his whole career on one team and to get 3000 plus hits is the cherry on top of his award laden resume. I assume all that worked against me as people wanted this card as well and I continuously got outbid on numerous auctions.

Guess there was a slow day on the bay as this card's high bid was in the low teens as the final day of the auction came around. Book value is $60 and I have seen it close at over $40. I didn't need the limited parallel as the base would have been fine but if I could get this one on a deal that would be great. Last minute bid and I was the winner with my exact bid that I put in which was more than 50% off of book. Card looked great on the computer screen but looked even better in person. I am debating on getting it graded as the only thing I see wrong is it has ever so slightly rounded corners. Probably earn a 9 on those but the other sub grades should come out gem mint along with the flawless autograph. We shall see but either way I am glad to finally add this card to my collection. 

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