Thursday, March 30, 2017

Joe Sakic card #188 2016-17 BCB card #199

  • To all the other Joe Sakic collectors out there, eat your heart out.  I have a true 1/1 Sakic card in the 88-89 design courtesy of Gavin from the Baseball Card Breakdown blog.
  • Bio on the back:  "Sakic was named the WHL Most Valuable Player and Canadian Major Junior Player of the Year in 1987-88." 160 points and still drafted just 15th overall.  
  • Value?  Priceless.  You won't see this on ebay or COMC.   Period
- Robert

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Joe Sakic card #187 1996-97 Fleer NHL Picks Fabulous Fifty #41


  • Fleer did a nice job with this insert set.  They highlighted 50 of the game's stars, and Joe's bio on the back mentions his 51 goal season in 95-96
  • The black border was also a nice touch, as it complements the base set's white border.
  • Just 13 cards away from 200 for Joe.  I was hoping to hit that milestone this month, but just too many tired evenings kept me from making a push for that mark.  Will hit it for sure in April, along with Jim Thome who is only 14 cards from 200.
- Robert

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Andrew McCutchen card #43 2014 Allen & Ginter Pastimes Pastimes #PP-AM

  • I've always been a big fan of the larger A&G insert sets.  I really liked this insert when it first came out, but never got around to collecting it.  One day I'll have to remedy that.
  • Bunt?  What's that?  McCutchen hasn't had a sacrifice bunt since 2011.
  • 25 home runs this season gets Andrew to 200 for his career.  Not bad for a guy who isn't your prototypical power hitter.  
- Robert

Monday, March 27, 2017

Brett Lawrie card #50 2013 Gypsy Queen White Frame #243

  • Haven't met a blue/white/brown framed card from GQ that I didn't like.  Even though this isn't serial #'d like the others, it's still a great card in my eyes.
  • As far as I'm aware, Brett is still without a contract after being released by the White Sox on 3/3.  I'd like to see him get one more run as he's still young (27).
  • Copies of this card on COMC range from $1.24 to $1.75.  I think that those prices might have to come down a bit for them to sell.
  • Halfway to 100 with this post for Lawrie.  Will have to see if I wish to keep purchasing cards once I hit 100.
- Robert

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Joe Sakic card #186 1996-97 Fleer NHL Picks #2

  • Had a bit of a struggle finding the card # on the back.  Turns out it was in the upper right hand corner, in red on a dark gray border.  I'll be glad to get rid of this cataract next month and be able to see better...
  • Interesting that this set was skip-numbered, using only even numbers.  This means that Sakic's card was the first of this set.
  • The back of the card projected Joe's scoring totals to be 43-76-119.  His actual total in 96-97 was 22-52-74.  Joe also missed 15 games during the 96-97 season.  His playoff totals were more normal, putting up 25 points in 17 games.
- Robert

Joe Sakic card #185 1995-96 Topps Profiles #PF20


  • " We felt that the more time the puck was in his hands, the more dangerous he was."  High praise from Messier regarding Joe's ability to stick handle and dish the puck to teammates.
  • This was part of a 20 card insert set from 95-96 Topps, and all 20 players in the set were stars.  Interesting that there were as many defensemen in the set as there were goalies, with 3 apiece.  That era was certainly an offense dominant one for sure.
  • 6 copies of this card currently on COMC, ranging anywhere from 85 cents (not bad) to $2.75.  Beckett lists the high end of this card at $3.  Sounds about right for Sakic inserts from this era.
- Robert

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Jim Thome card #186 1999 Topps Stadium Club #120

  • Something totally different photo wise for Thome.  I love this shot.  The only thing I can't make up my mind about is whether this card should have been horizontal instead of vertical.
  • I didn't even notice until after I scanned and posted the card, there's a portion of a baseball where Thome's name is.  Smooth how Topps incorporated that.
  • The bottom line:  Over last five years, averages 38 HR & 106 RBI per 162 games.  Another great stat to show how big a part Jim was of the Indians in the mid 90's.
- Robert

Friday, March 24, 2017

Jim Thome card #185 1999 SP Authentic Home Run Chronicles #HR17

  • This is part of a 70 card insert set featuring memorable home runs from the '98 season.  Jim's is the opening day three run shot to walk off the Angels 8-5
  • As you may well imagine the set is dominated by McGwire and Sosa highlights, since '98 was the season of the race between the two sluggers.
  • Doesn't appear that I'll hit the 500 post mark this month as I had originally planned a few weeks back.   This is post #471, so hitting 500 in April will happen for sure, unless I fall off a cliff.
- Robert

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Joe Sakic card #184 1996-97 Upper Deck Super Star Showdown #SS16A

  • Chalk up another card that I was able to add to the Trading Card Database.  Kind of surprised that this card wasn't on there...
  • Haven't shown many die cut cards so far, so I was pleased at how well I was able to crop this scan.  I usually end up doing a butcher job on die cuts.
  • There are 60 cards in the Super Star Showdown insert set, 30 pairs of players.  Card #SS16B is another famous #19 from that era, Steve Yzerman.
  • The Sakic card is listed at $3, half of Yzerman's.  Only Lemieux and Gretzky are higher than $6, at $8 and $10 respectively.
- Robert

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Jim Thome card #184 1999 Skybox Thunder #269

  • Not sure what to make of this card.  The back, well it's just plain horrible in my opinion.  The front design is OK, save for the 4 photos at the top which really don't mean anything...
  • Career homer #184 was hit 8/7/99 off of Bobby Witt of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  It was a 2 run shot, and was part of a 4 RBI day as the Indians out slugged the Rays 15-10.
  • There are 2 copies of this card on COMC.  Both priced at $2.25.  For a base card?  huh?
- Robert

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Jim Thome card #183 1999 SP Authentic #28

  • Great looking photo on the front, Jim's name and other writing doesn't distract from the photo one bit.
  • Had a real hard time finding the card # on the back.  It is written in black lettering in the upper left corner of the photo on the reverse.   VERY VERY hard to see...
  • Bio on the back:  "on 6/25/98, Thome led the Indians to an 8-2 interleague victory over the Cardinals with two homers and 3 RBI.  It was the second multi-homer game within a week for the first baseman."  The other two HR game was 6 days earlier against the Yankees (yay!) and helped the Indians win that day as well, 7-4.
- Robert

Jim Thome card #182 1999 Topps #451

  • I could probably count on one hand the number of cards I've shown on this blog that feature more than one player.  Not a bad pair of first basemen to go with Thome here...
  • Interesting that McGwire (.299/70/147) and Galarraga (.305/44/121) weren't part of this card.  Yes, Olerud hit .354 and Martinez had 123 RBI's, but both didn't have the all around #'s that McGwire and Galarraga did.
  • Lists for relatively cheap on COMC at 65 cents (cheapest).  Chrome version?  74 cents.  Chrome refractor version?  $10.25.  Steep
- Robert

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Joe Sakic card #183 1996-97 Upper Deck #240

  • Fully expected when I pulled this card out of the binder that it was going to have some kind of funky insert # on it.  Boy was I surprised.
  • Player ID's:  Could be one of the easiest one's ever.  The Wings goalie is Chris Osgood.  Trying to check Joe is none other than Kris Draper.  
  • Best person in the background of the card, ever!  Check out on the right hand side of the card, 3rd row.  Guy sitting there with face painted and black and white wig!!  Awesome sauce.
 - Robert

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Joe Sakic card #182 1996-97 Fleer Metal Universe #38

  • The card scanned a lot less colorful than it is in hand.  It actually shows yellow with a pinkish purple in hand, and doesn't look bad even though the design is quite "artistic".
  • No bio on the back, just stats and personal information.  Looks almost computer generated.
  • Three copies of this card on COMC, listed between 97 cents and a dollar.  I would say that's about as accurate as you're going to get for a Joe Sakic common on COMC.
- Robert

Joe Sakic card #181 1996-97 Skybox Impact #28

  • If you're going to name a product "Impact", you'd hope it would have an impact.   I don't think this did.
  • Interesting, next time I find a gray swatch on a card, I'll think back to this card and wonder if it was from part of Joe's socks.  I don't remember there being gray on his socks in previous cards.
  • Still need to pick up 2 inserts from this set for the Sakic collection:  Versa Team #9 (could not find for sale) and Countdown to Impact #10 ($1.48 the cheapest on COMC).
- Robert

Monday, March 13, 2017

Andrew McCutchen card #42 2014 Topps Update '89 die cut mini #TM-AM

  • I wish that Topps had chosen a unique photo to go along with this mini set, instead of reusing the shot that was used for the Heritage photo.
  • It's been a while, but I was able to add this card to the Trading Card Database.   
  • This post for Andrew is #42, which matches the number of career triples he has coming into the 2017 season. 
  •  I will be curious to see how things shape up in 2017 for Andrew, as he has a team option on his contract for 2018 at $14.5 M.  Pirates don't normally like to give money away, but there's also a $1M buyout for 2018.  
- Robert

Andrew McCutchen card #41 2014 Topps Update #US-216

  • This card reminds me that I miss the dreadlocks that Cutch had.  I almost think that he was Samson last year, lost his hair and his bat....
  • Bio on the back:  Best first half stat:  .420 on base percentage.  That will help get you to an All-Star game for sure.
  • He's never had 196 hits in a season during his 7 year career, but that number will get him to 1500 career hits.  Would love to see it happen this year.
- Robert

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Jim Thome card #181 1999 Fleer Tradition Vintage '61 #45

  • Nice job by Fleer using the same photo as the base Tradition card while totally changing the rest to mimic their '61 set.
  • HR stat:  Don't throw anything fat to Jim on the first pitch, as 93 of his homers came on the first pitch.
  • Career home run #181 came in Fenway Park off of Boston's Pat Rapp.  It was a 2 run shot, and helped the Indians to a 7-5 victory.
- Robert

Jim Thome card #180 1999 Fleer Tradition #45

  • Fleer provides something different than the basic photos of Thome swinging a bat.  In the dugout drinking a bottle of water on a hot day provides a nice change from the norm.
  • Had to do a little digging, but I believe that the person in behind Jim is coach Jeff Newman, who wore #55 during the 1998 season.
  • Fleer in my opinion did it right with this card and its parallel (which I'll post later today).  The backs are different, and have different bios of Jim, making them unique.   Well done Fleer!
  • Bio on the back:  Jim was the first left handed hitter to hit 30+ HR for 3 straight seasons in Cleveland.
- Robert

Friday, March 10, 2017

Jim Thome card #179 1999 Ultra #95


  • In a cloud of dust:  One of the best, if not the best, card of Jim Thome so far.  Love that you can make out the individual grains of sand in the photo.   Even the grimace on Jim's face is amazing.  
  • Card detective:  Had to figure out who is tagging Jim out.  Looked up the DP combo for the Cubs in 1998, and right off the bat figured out that Jeff Blauser is the SS that's tagging Jim out.  Take one look at the link and you'll see why I was able to figure it out so easily.
  • Curiosity got the better of me...seeing Jim sliding into 2nd made me wonder just how many doubles he hit in his career.  Well, that number isn't as impressive as his HR total, as Jim only managed 451 2-baggers during his 22 year career.  
- Robert

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Andrew McCutchen card #40 2014 Topps Heritage #160

  • January 14th.   That was the last time I posted a card of McCutchen's on the blog.   A little overdue.
  • I have the '63 Heritage and '65 Heritage, but no '64.  I'm going to have to fix that sometime soon.
  • Bio on the back:  "Andrew was one of 30 nominees for the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award."  Andrew won the award in 2015.  One of the great things he did was supplying 200 Halloween costumes for sick children at UPMC hospital in Pittsburgh so they could go trick or treating.  I will certainly be disappointed if he doesn't spend his entire career as a Pirate.
- Robert

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Jim Thome card #178 1999 Upper Deck Retro #25

  • I thought it was more recent, but I did mention a couple of weeks ago on the blog about UD Ovation using Jim's jersey # as his card #.  Here we are again, as UD Retro has Jim's jersey number for his card number.  
  • One of the few cards that I can remember seeing Jim hat less.  He's always in the field or at the plate hitting.  
  • Bio on the back:  In '98, tied a Major League record with six homers in the Post Season including the third ever grand slam in the ALCS.  Jim's GS came in game 6 in the 5th inning off of David Cone, but wasn't enough as the Yankees won the game 9-5 to move on to the World Series.
- Robert

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Joe Sakic card #180 1996-97 Summit #1

  • 1st card of a Summit set, would that be called the Summit of the Summit?  
  • Like the idea of a net background, but the oval shaped border framing Joe just doesn't work for me.  For a premium set, it's just OK to me...
  • Like any Score product, there's multiple parallels.  Ice, Metal, Artists Proof and Premium Stock.  0 for 4 on owning them so far...
- Robert

Joe Sakic card #179 1996-97 Score #9

  • For the price point, Score usually did a pretty nice job with their sets.  Nothing fancy, but nothing simplistic as well.  
  • The 8 cards before him in the set?  Brodeur, Shanahan, R. Niedermayer, Friesen, Numminen, Mario Lemieux, Lindros and Kariya.   That's a pretty good first page if you finished the set and put it into a binder.
  • Card detective:  I'm pretty sure that the other player in the pic is from the Whalers, but only being able to see the #9 means it could be one of 3 players.  Kelly Chase wore 39, Brendan Shanahan wore 94 and Jeff O'Neill wore 92.  Close as I'm going to get I'm afraid...
- Robert

Monday, March 6, 2017

Jim Thome card #177 1999 Ultimate Victory #34

  • Scanned a lot better than I thought it would, still the borders wound up gray instead of silver.  
  • Warped:  Card is suffering from a bit of warping.  Nothing like 2010 Topps Chrome warping, but still a slight bend after all these years.
  • Just remembered that I wanted to hit 500 posts by the end of March.   This is post #460.   Looks as if some two a days are in order.
- Robert

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Joe Sakic card #178 1996-97 Pinnacle Premium Stock #201

  • A little bit of disorganization caused me to have this parallel separated from the base card, which I showed off last week.
  • The silver "base" with the pyramid is the only real difference in the two cards.  Nothing special really here.  The Rink Collection is the more dazzling parallel, and I still haven't spotted any Sakic's of that ilk that I want.  The only copy on COMC right now is priced at $2.74, which isn't bad.
  • Going a little off topic here, but I was happy to see that Joe didn't sell Duchene and Landeskog at the deadline.   Trades for players such as those two will be more profitable come draft weekend.
- Robert

Friday, March 3, 2017

Brett Lawrie card #49 2013 Topps Opening Day Play Hard #PH-5

  • Bye Bye Brett:  Brett was waived by the White Sox today, and it appears he'll be a free agent tomorrow.  Here's hoping he lands somewhere before too long.
  • I think Brett's going to be safe on this play, even though the catcher already has the ball in his glove.
  • 14 copies of this card currently on COMC, ranging anywhere from 70 cents to $1.25.  Reasonable I'd say...
- Robert

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Jim Thome card #176 1999 Upper Deck #84

  • Surprised when I saw the Colorado Rockies ASG logo on the front of the card that this didn't turn out to be some kind of parallel.  Nope...
  • Bio on the back:  "Thome's first home run of the 1998 season came at a very opportune time.  ...he came up with two men on and two out in the bottom of the 10th inning and delivered a game winning blast as the Indians beat the Angels 6-5."  That was career homer #134 and Troy Percival was the victim.
  • Career homer #176 wast hit July 4th, 1999 against the Kansas City Royals.  Kevin Appier gave up the long ball, and was part of a wild game which saw the Royals win 10-9.  Both teams scored 4 runs in the ninth.
- Robert

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Joe Sakic card #177 1996-97 Select Certified #16

  • Stats on the back:  No bio on the back of this card, just stats versus every team in the NHL.  The two that stand out are 13 points in 6 games vs. the Sharks, and 12 points in 5 games vs. Edmonton.  Joe had at least one point vs. every team, with the Flyers being the only team that Joe didn't record multiple points against.
  • Select Certified was a very small base set, only 120 cards and lists for $40.  The Sakic card lists at $1.50.  Tomas Holmstrom is still the most expensive RC at just $2.50.
  • Card detective:  Not as easy as you might think.  Though this is listed as a 96-97 release, the copyright on the card states 1997, so the photo could have been taken early on in the season.  If that's the case, then the player with the 'X' on his jersey appears to be Eric Lacroix, who wore #28 while with the Avs.  I'm more inclined to believe that it's Lacroix rather than Claude Lemieux, who wore #22.
- Robert