2017 Gypsy Queen First Look

Every year I have a small dread that Topps will discontinue the Gypsy Queen line, there is no reason for this, just a little voice in my head that likes to torment me with worse-case scenarios. My fear can be eased for another year as details of 2017 Gypsy Queen are out. First impressions, not good. It looks like it is not finished, I really don't the look of the faded photo, as opposed to the framed style of every other year of GQ. The Gypsy Queen logo is also nothing like previous years. Honestly, I don't mind the bottom half of the card, but the top half is a disaster.

A Catching up on 2016 Trade

A nice little zistle trade knocking off some 2016 Rockies needs, chipping away at the Archives team set, I have said it before, I am not really high in the 1953 design, we have seen it before through Heritage, but I do like the 1979 design. The Blackmon made the want-list for the beard close-up if nothing else.

Zistle PWE Trade

I nice little trade from zistle showing a little more diversity from what I am usually looking for. Of course there would be Gypsy Queen though, another short print down from the 2015 set, a card with a good photo, kind of a rarity for 2015 GQ.

Check out my Cards from COMC

COMC package day is always one of favorite days, I usually only make an order every 4 months or so, and not only do I get the COMC cards I picked up, I also get my "Shipping to Canada is Crazy" Mailbox cards, including, yes, another 2013 Ramon Hernandez, the last non-printing plate needed, the mini black numbered to #5.

Jose Fernandez

There was a post sitting here ready to go, but it seems wrong to put it up right now. We awoke to the news that 24 year old Jose Fernandez died in a boating accident. I don't follow the Marlins, but I was a fan of his, he had fun playing the game and was always a treat to watch. My thoughts are with the family, Marlins players and fans. Even for people that had no connection other than baseball it is hard, and it doesn't go away soon. Take it from someone, who started this fall Sunday like so many, by putting on a old #36 Sean Taylor jersey to watch the Redskins game.

1996 Sp Box Break Summary

I have to say, this was a pretty outstanding box. Out of my 30 packs I hit the above Cal Ripken (1:45 packs) a die cut Special FX (1:75 packs) and a die cut Marquee Matchups (1:61). There no way I am doing the math to figure the odds of getting all three in a single box. As far as the set build, I got 167 out of 188 with 57 doubles (including a couple triples). Collation was weird as I got a ton of White Sox, Red Sox and almost no A's, Rockies and Marlins.

1996 Upper Deck SP Trade / Wantlist

Want List

Main Set: 87, 89, 100, 122, 125, 127, 131, 135, 139

Trade List

Main Set: 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 32, 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 61, 62, 67, 73, 79, 82, 90, 111, 118, 129, 130 ,133, 134, 136, 140, 141, 145, 146, 153, 160, 163, 168, 172, 174, 176, 179, 186, 187, 188

Special FX: 13, 14, 23, 25, 28, 32

Marquee Matchups: 2, 4, 8, 13, 15, 19

Special FX Die-Cut: Roger Clemens

Marquee Matchups Die-Cut: Jeff Bagwell

Cal Ripken Collection: 20

Last Updated: Feb 16, 2017

Bowman Black Collection NFL - Jordan Reed

Might as well post a Redskins card on the Sunday of Dallas week. I seems like the Bowman Black Collection auto's have been retired in Baseball, but I managed to find one to add to the collection. This one comes from 2013 Bowman football and is numbered to 10. Jordan Reed is one of the better tight ends in league when healthy with 11 TD's and 952 yards in only 14 games last year.

Minor League Mailday

It's always interesting to try a new source for cards, after having the above Chris Iannetta high on my want-list for a while I decided to try out www.gosportscards.com, a site specializing in minor league singles to knock off the last Iannetta minor league card I needed. The cards came in standard bubble mailer, but inside each card was inside a penny sleeve that was inside a Card Saver II that was inside of a team bag. I am always happy to get something from someone who obviously cares about packing. It's just one order by I cannot recommend this site enough.

1996 SP Base Highlights

Continuing on with the 1996 SP box break, highlighting some of the more interesting base cards. A nice double exposure card of Ken Caminiti, this was something that Upper Deck did quite a bit of and something you don't really see anymore.