Ebay Package from Japan

I never shy away from ordering from Japan, for some reason packages come faster and cheaper from across the ocean than from the States. The latest one started with the last 3 Rockies I needed to complete the 2013 Sega Card-Gen team set. The now former Rockie Micheal Cuddyer, along with a 7 star Carlos Gonzalez and one star Chris Nelson, who has bounced around the majors since leaving Colorado. With combined shipping being offered it was time to check for any other interesting goodies, and a couple were found.

First Trade Package of 2015

The first trade package of 2015 has arrived, as usual through www.zistle.com, with the usual mix of Rockies, catchers and assorted weirdness. Leading off with a card that fits the random weirdness is a 1992 Classic Draft of John Lynch, better known as a 9 time Pro-Bowl defensive back and Super Bowl XXXVII champion. Not only do we get a two sport cross-over player, but we get a pitcher at the plate card as well. Judging by the back of card, it was a good thing Lynch went with football as he is listed as having a 7.77 ERA over 20 innings.

2015 Topps - Just 5 Packs

I usually head to the LCS for supplies and end up with a few random packs, but this time packs were Topps (get it) on the list. People are probably bored of base cards so I will lead off with the hit, an Ian Kinsler Career High Relic, listed at 1:49 packs, I was pretty luck to pull this out of one of five.

Breaking the Seal on 2015 Topps

This weekend looks like the soonest that I will physically get my hands on any 2015 Topps, but I have started with a few saved searches and made one purchase so far. I really can't explain why I am drawn to more obscure players, but the only player I really wanted to collect out of 2015 Topps was Tommy Kahnle. When one of his acetate cards popped up with a reasonable "buy it now" price, I couldn't pass it up.

A Rule V pick-up from the Yankees, Kahnle stuck with the Rockies all season and lead the team with 68 2/3 innings out of the bull-pen, and had a 2.62 ERA from from April until the end of July before a few roughs outing and a trip to DL left him with a 4.19 mark on the year.

Bowman Black Collection - Daniel Winkler

Kind of a bitter-sweet card in Daniel Winkler, who started 2014 with Double-A Tulsa, and proceeded to go 5-2 with a 1.41 ERA over 12 starts, with a 9.1 SO/9 and 2.2 BB/9. The previous season Winkler was just as good with a 13-7 record, 2.98 ERA and 10 so/9 across two levels. Pretty exciting to a pitching starved franchise like the Rockies. Then he hurt his elbow, resulting in Tommy John surgery in June, and then in December was selected by the Braves in the Rule V draft. There is a chance he will be back with the Rockies if the Rule V thing doesn't work out, or maybe he will be a star with the Braves, hopefully he recovers and can continue his career no matter which organization it is with.

Cards from a younger me (pt3)

More cards liberated from my childhood and brought into my current collection. Being a good Canadian boy there is a ton of hockey that should be sorted out one day, but for now just a few gems made it.

1996-97 Collector's Edge Ice The Wall (pt2)

Jim Carey of the Portland Pirates - This was probably the biggest card at the time, Carey was coming off winning the 1995-96 Vezina trophy in his second NHL season, leading the league with 9 shutouts. His career would then take a quick downturn after being traded to the Bruins, sent to the minors, then signing with the Blues. Pretty surprising someone who was the best goalie in the NHL at age 21, would be out of professional hockey by age 24.

Dwayne Roloson of the Saint Johns Flames - The longest NHL career of the goalies in the set playing in 606 NHL games, Roloson had his best year in 2005-06 leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals, but then got hurt in game 1 and the Oilers eventually lost to the Hurricanes.

Les Kuntar of the Hershey Bears - The only player in this set I didn't recognize, Kuntar played 6 games form Montreal in 1993-94. His wiki page is only 3 sentences long, moving on.

Mike Dunham of the Albany River Rats - Dunham had a better career than I remember, he shared the Jennings trophy as a rookie in 1996-97 with Martin Brodeur, and went on to play in 394 NHL games spending time as the main goalie for both Nashville and the Rangers.

Eric Fichaud of the Worcester Icecats - I remember Fichaud being a bigtime prospect, but I could be mis-remembering or he seriously flamed out only playing in 75 NHL games over parts of 6 seasons.

Kevin Hodson of the Adirondack Red Wings - A young goalie buried behind Chris Osgood on the Red Wings Cup teams in 1997 and 1998. Finished his career with the Lightning playing in 71 career NHL games.

Cards from a younger me: Collector's Edge Ice The Wall (pt1)

Every time I go bad to visit my parents, I try and take some of the cards I have stored in the room I grew up in, this past visit I managed to find room for a few. One of the highlights was a complete set of Collector's Edge Ice "The Wall" inserts, featuring die-cut goalie masks from a minor league set of a long gone company. These are so great I felt I needed to post the whole 12 card set

#1 Ray LeBlanc of the Chicago Wolves - I don't even know were to start with LeBlanc, just check his hockey-reference page, multiple teams, multiple leagues, Winter Olympics, and 1 NHL game. A pro from 1986-2000, but he played in one NHL game, basically so the Blackhawks could protect Dominik Hasek, Jimmy Waite and Ed Belfour in the expansion draft. At least he won the game and was included in 1991-92 Parkhurst and 1992-93 score sets.

Bowman Black Collection - Ryan Casteel

Another Bowman Black Collection auto, this time we have Ryan Casteel from 2014 Bowman Chrome. A power hitting prospect who just finished a full season in Double-A, Casteel had been a full time catcher until 2014 when he started to split time at first and at DH. After playing mostly first in the Arizona Fall League this past season, it looks like he might be moving away from catching full-time, but he might not have the bat to stick at first base. 2015 will be a big year for Casteel to either earn a full time catching job or prove he can hit well enough to land a job manning first base.

Final Zistle Trade of 2014

Just getting around to posting the last Zistle trade of the year, staring off with my favorite card of the batch, a Jim Lachey from 1992 Wild Card. While not a member of the original Hogs Offensive Line, Lachey was one of the better lineman in the league when healthy, and looks like an honorary Hog in this photo.