Card of the Day - 2013 Topps Museum : Clayton Kershaw Base Frame Autograph Black Parallel (5/5)

Very surprised I landed this but at the same time I am a tad worried about what grade it will receive from BGS when I submit it considering the low cost to acquire this card.

This is the 2nd of 2 cards I picked up using the funds from the sales of the cards I did not like the results from in my recent BGS batch. I am also on the look out for Kershaw autographs and metal frame ones are on top of the list. I already have the Gold frame from the 2015 set and roughly remember what that cost was. It was already in a BGS 9.5 case so there is a premium attached to that card. This one though popped up one morning when I was just doing one of my random searches and it was being sold by a well know eBay seller but their asking price seemed very low to me. I took a chance though knowing the seller and hoping I just landed a deal if this card indeed earns a 9.5 from Beckett. At worst it is a great card to have in my collection but man do I want this badly to gem.

Cinco

of

Cinco

Thank you for reading and have a blessed day.

-Penguin

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Matt Kemp Commemorative Silver Slugger Trophy Insert

Ever since I picked up my first manufactured relic card I have looked for more. I love the weight and thickness of these cards. It was now time to find another one depicting my favorite player Matt Kemp and I finally locked into one and acquired it.

I haven't seen many copies of this particular card on the bay and the ones that have the sellers have been asking at least $13 for it. To me that was too much to pay for so I just kept it on the back burner till one showed up at a more reasonable price. It finally did as I picked this beauty up for a little more than a couple pack of cards. Card arrived a week or so later after payment was sent and now sits in a nice thick plastic case. Now onto the Koufax coin card which is a bit pricey.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Paco Rodriguez Chasing History Autograph Insert

In the "it's about time" category I finally get to show off some cards that have been in the Topps redemption pipeline for a long time. I checked the Topps redemption website early last week and noticed that I was finally going to acquire four autographs that I have been waiting for. This Paco one for example has been on my wait list for close to 7 months as seen from this original post of when I acquired the redemption card. Well for today and the next 3 days I will show the four cards I received from least to best in my opinion.

Paco has had an up and down year so far. When on the major league club he has struggled (but to be fair everyone in the bullpen has) and that doesn't count his time in AAA when he was sent down for a bench player.

I have a few more Paco autograph cards due to me from Topps and they will be of the more desirable on card versions. I knew this was going to be a sticker but when I purchased the card for a measly $3 I didn't care. With all the other Paco cards coming in I might just throw this one in as the autograph card for my contest. Either way for the cost of the card I didn't mind the 7 month wait.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Jackie Robinson Commemorative MVP Relic Insert

Had my eye on getting my hands on another manufactured relic card of Jackie and just had to find the right auction at the right price to pull the trigger.

This one caught my eye as it had a nice little metal medallion on the card. I could have paid a couple dollars cheaper for a "silk/fabric" card but I still prefer the these award reprint cards over those. I had a little bidding war on the bay for this card but when all was said it done it still only cost me a little more than a pack of Bowman Chrome cards. Reasonable deal for a great Dodger.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps Update : Clayton Kershaw 2008 Rookie Commemorative Patch Card

Another Clayton card has been added to the collection.

Since my reentry to the hobby has and only will consist of cards produced from 2013 and forward other than autograph cards, I have never been in the market for Clayton's rookie card from 2008 ( other than the Bowman Chrome Refractor I already own ). Well Topps came out with its yearly update set and within it they have included an insert set of "patch/material" cards of popular players from their rookie years. There a few Dodgers within the set and Clayton is the first one I have been able to get my hands on.

Its only been a short 5 years since the original card that this card is based on but Clayton looks so much younger than how he looks now and he is still only 25 years old. Many more dominant years ahead I hope for our young ace. When I won this card on eBay there was no price guide to assist me on what I think I should pay for it. Considering it was Clayton and the seller had a minimal asking price of just $4 I picked it up as I ended up being the only bidder when the auction ended.

Card(s) of the Day - 2013 Topps Chrome : Adrian Gonzalez Base Purple Refractor Parallel and 2013 Topps : "Signing" SP Variant and 2013 Finest : Matt Kemp 1993 Retro Insert

Decided to circle back to previous sets that I moved on from a couple months ago and I found 2 bargains and also another card from a retro set that I love.

The prices on the secondary market for Topps Chrome and Topps have stabilized enough for me to venture back in and see what I could find. Picked up a variant and SP of A-Gon that slipped through my hands when they were first released. The purple refractor has a book value of $6 which I would never pay but the 99 cents which I did was a steal. The seller had the variant SP from the Topps set that depicts Adrian signing autographs. This is part of a variation subset of multiple players with this Adrian version being my first acquisition from said set. Need the Kershaw one next. Book value is $12 but was able to pick up for less than 50% at just $5. To put the cherry on top the seller also had the Kemp 1993 Finest retro card for only $1.80. Another Kemp added to the collection.

A small haul but a good one value wise.

Card(s) of the Day - 2013 Topps : Full Dodgers Team Set From Retail Factory Box

Day 2 and entry 2 of my Christmas gift from the wife.

Yesterday as seen HERE the main prize for me was the Ryu photo variation that is only found in the retail factory set. The rest of the non-Dodgers will be used for trade to bring in more Dodgers. One way or another the wife is going to be getting me Dodger stuff whether its direct or I have to hustle for it.
= )

Anyways, instead of me hunting for the individual cards of all the Dodgers I was able just to pull them out of the box and be done with looking for them on the bay. Though I have some of them already its always nice to have dups to be used for trades, contests, etc. Though there is nothing specifically "special" about the cards I wanted them all. So everyone into the pool.

Dee, Andre and Kid K

Joe " I cant believe his was a Dodger " Blanton, LL Kershaw and Jansen

Paco, Get well soon Chad and underrated Choate

Nice guy Chris, Why are you still here Josh and Mickey Mouse Adrian

2014 Comeback Player of the Year Kemp, Thank God you retired Lilly and the bane of our bullpen League

Nice blurry Pic Matthew. WTF ??

Harriston, HanRam and Part time wrestler Greinke

Ellis, Cruz and Crawford

Card(s) of the Day - 2013 Topps : Hyun-Jin Ryu Base and Retail Factory Set Only Variation

The first of two Christmas gift posts.

The wife tries her hardest and succeeds on not buying anything Dodger related. In her words, I'm not contributing to that team. Ha Ha. But she will buy stuff that is baseball related and if it so happens to include Dodgers then it is what it is. This Christmas she figured since I reentered the baseball card hobby she wanted to buy me something in that form. She knew I liked the Topps and Bowman brand and she happened to see the 2013 Topps Factory Retail set at Target. See how that works? It includes Dodgers but it is not a Dodger centered set/gift. Again, ha ha. Anyways, the real bonus of the set is that it included a pack of 5 variations of 5 different players with one of them being Dodger Hyun-Jin Ryu. Woo Hoo.

I already have the regular card found in packs but now having it's twin I feel that it is complete. Still working on the other variation ( sunglasses ) found in packs though.

Left is the "regular" version while the right is the retail exclusive.

The regular is up for trade or I might do a contest on it. 

Trade with Fellow Blogger : Chavez Ravining ( Trade Number 1 )

Finally completed a trade with Alex from Chavez Ravining . He loves to run contests which I have not been fortunate enough to win yet but I am holding out hope for one that ends this Thursday. So I wanted to jump in and do my own contest and he happened to win my 2nd one as seen HERE . He is trying to complete a rainbow set of the Dodgers from this year's Topps Chrome set and I saw that he needed a purple Kemp which I had one to spare so I approached him on a trade and sent him the card with his contest winnings. I had nothing specific that I wanted back so I just informed him what I collected and send whatever which he did. I had zero 2013 Topps cards so everything he sent was useful.

An intense looking Zack, Crawford and a great picture of a bat flipping Hanley

Great start but that wasn't all

Another rookie card of Ryu, sure hands Ellis and thankfully long gone Cruz

Six down and then Alex tops it off with some Chrome

Mmm.. Chrome. I know I need the Topps Chrome ( 2 silver ones ) but I think I might have the Hanley which is fine as if I do I will pay it forward somehow.

Nine cards in total. A great package to get prior to Christmas. Thank you again to Alex and watch both our blogs for contests and insight. Trade two is in the process and should be up within the week.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Paco Rodriguez Chasing History Insert Autograph . . . Redemption Card

For someone that hates redemptions I seem to be really doing my best in acquiring more and more of them. This is my fourth one in the past few months but this was bought due to it being a deal in comparison to the other option.

I wanted another Paco autograph and saw that he had an entry in this year's series two from Topps. I have seem them pop up on eBay and selling for over $5 as I have lost on a few of those auctions. Didn't feel that this autograph warranted that much but always kept an eye out for a bargain. Well this card came up but it is a redemption of the same card that was inserted into packs. Guess Topps couldn't get all of them out in time for the release.

I guess people didn't want to wait for their card when they could get the actual card from other sellers at a faster pace. I am in no hurry to get the card and with the auction nearing it's end there was no action on it so I put my bid in and won the "card" for a total of just $3. Granted that is only $2 or so less than the other auctions that I lost out on but that is $2 I can use on another card. So that is now four redeemed cards I am waiting for. I am a patient man so it's all good.

Paco . . . Redeemed and waiting.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : A.J. Elilis Spring Fever Insert Autograph ( 66 / 155 )

Scouring eBay and figuring out that I didn't have any A.J. cards in my collection. I had to fix that. Looking around I found out that there just isn't many certified autograph cards of his out there. That is to be expected as outside of Los Angeles he just isn't that big of a deal but fans of the Dodgers know that he is integral to the team's success due to him handling the pitching staff on a daily basis while supplying a decent bat.

It came down to two cards that I saw that would be acceptable to acquire with this one being my first choice. I just happened to want this one more as it is from this year and it is predominately blue in nature (though it is a "refractor" of sorts so turning makes it change colors as seen below) which we all know I love in cards. With this being limited to only 155 copies there weren't many up for grab on eBay so when this one popped up I kept my fingers crossed that I could get it at a reasonable price. I ended up winning it at probably a little more than I should have paid for it but for a lucky $7.07 I didn't think too much of it and welcomed A.J. into my autograph collection.

Numbered A.J. 66 of 155

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Steve Garvey Million Dollar Chase Insert Autograph ( 9 / 268 )

Mr. Clean finally has a home in my collection. I haven't acquired any autograph cards of Steve since my reentry to the hobby but I finally got my hands on one and according to the eBay auction it's only obtainable through some online contest.

Trying to find a card of Steve that I could get and came across this one which caught my eye due to the die cut of the card. Reading further into the description in the auction the seller states it's only available through an online game that requires you to have a streak of some sort. When I get a moment I will have to look into this. I haven't heard about it prior to this auction. The amount of numbered cards of Steve is even odd as it's a total of 268. I can't think of any relevance to Steve that number holds.

The seller had the auction starting at $9.99 and most of the cards that I have seen close of Steve have been going higher than that so I knew I would be in a small bidding war most likely. There was a lot of nickel and diming on the auction until it sat at $15+ with a little more than a minute left. In went my bid and I won the card for a couple cents over $18. At the time I didn't know if that was a good monetary buy but since then I have seen a few different auctions of the same card close over $30. Got my first Garvey autograph card and it looks like it was a great bargain to boot.

Mr. Clean and number 9 of 268.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Adrian Gonzalez Commemorative Patch

A break from acquiring autograph cards and came across this entry in this year's Topps set. Adrian only played a handful of games for the Dodgers last year but enough to warrant a 50th anniversary patch card. I wouldn't normally go out of my way to acquire a patch card unless it was of a hall of famer or of Kemp and/or Kershaw but I couldn't pass this one up at the low price.

Didn't expect to even bid on this card let alone win it but that I did. I put in my low bid just to see what would happen and I won the card for a mere $2 delivered to my doorstop. I didn't even look up the value of it until after I received the card. Beckett says $12 for this dandy little card. Not a bad return investment for what I put into it. Maybe I'll be around for the 100th anniversary cards.

Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Sandy Koufax Manufactured "Silk" Rookie Reprint

There is never anything wrong with acquiring Koufax cards and this one is no different other than the way it was made and looks.

This card is part of the rookie commemorative card insert set in this year's Topps set. Though it was a Dodger and Koufax the card was not a top priority on acquiring but if the right price came around I would not stop from buying it. The card is not made like typical cards as it is a reprint picture of his 1955 rookie card on some silk like fabric on a thick plastic bordered card. Tad odd looking but unique and cool in it's own right.

Again book has this card's value at a high of $25 and I was never going to spend that much for it so it came down to finding that low ball auction I could jump on. I bid on a few auctions and never got close to winning as each one went for double digits. Finally found this auction ending on a Friday night which I think helps as people usually are not looking at that time and I ended up winning it for a mere $8. A nice pick up at a low amount of a Dodger great.

Card(s) of the Day - 2013 Topps : Johnny Podres Chasing History Autograph Plus Two Bonus Cards

So another slow spot at work so I went onto eBay. Wanted to look for some old school Dodger autographs and I am always looking for Brooklyn players. I scored on both fronts on this purchase. A seller had this Johnny autographed card up and had an option for best offer. Submitted an offer of $6 and the seller accepted it. Old timer Dodger while wearing the classic Brooklyn uniform and autographed on card. Can't beat that.

1955 Game 7 Winner Johnny Podres

But I guess I did just a tad. Looked at what else he had for sale and he had these two Kemp and Duke Snider mini Gypsy Queen cards from this year's set at a buck a piece. I do not know much about these except that they depict two great Dodger center fielders. Couldn't pass it up so I pick up both of them. $8 total for the three.



Card of the Day - 2013 Topps : Dee Gordon Autograph

Dee has never been my favorite player but I have met him before and he has always been nice to me and fellow autograph hounds. He has great speed but til he can figure a way to get on base on a consistent basis it will be always be neutralized.

Just cruising on eBay one day and just looking for Dodger autographs from this year's set and I saw this one from the base Topps set going for a meager $5 on a buy it now option. It's an autograph. It's a Dodger. It's mine now. Saw that this copy is normally selling for close to $6 so while not the best of bargains it is a new autograph I get to put into my set for the price of a foot long.

Not numbered but his days on the Dodger's roster might be.