Acetate Appreciation: 2004 Playoff Contenders - Rookie Round Up

About as far from football season as you can get, but I had to show this card off. I didn't even know this card existed until I saw it on comc, and a quick quick to the back view confirmed it was an acetate card of Sean Taylor, who is still the last player I would call my favorite Redskin.

Not the best use of the acetate format as the back is just a mirror of the front, but a clear card, numbered to 375 from Taylor's rookie season still wearing #36. This one ranks pretty high up in the collection.

More Recent Pickups

Another show-off/empty the scan folder post. Starting things off is a part of a project that I have been working on for quite a while, getting a bat relic of the top home run hitting catchers. Lance Parrish sits 6th on that list with 299 homers as a catcher (324 overall) and this is his only bat relic I know of, so it nice to cross this one off the list.

Just Couldn't Resist

Sometimes a card doesn't fit into your collection, but it's so good that you make a place for it. This is one of those cards. A 1983 minor league card of a young, 6'3" 185 pound outfielder named Jose Canseco. This skinny 19 year old would go on to become one of the games biggest stars in the late 80' and early 90's. Then would write a pretty major book on steroid use in baseball, and from there would become just a general b-list celebrity weirdo doing weirdo things for money. I am not sure why I like this card so much, it might be the not-so-green grass that give it the perfect minor league feel, or the sweet yellow and green jersey, or it might be that in some different world, this young ball player doesn't turn into a guy that shoots his finger off and try and box the kid from the Partridge Family.

Brendan Rodgers - Bowman Black Collection

I don't keep track of such things, but this might be the new "most-expensive-single-card" in my collection. This, along with the previously posted Bobby Orr auto, is from some custom graphic design funds. As with all Bowman Black Collection cards (with the exception of the not-at-all-black Kyle Freeland), this is a beauty to have in hand. To be honest, I feel kind of silly spending money on a card of a 19 year old kid with 37 games of pro experience, at least he is a hitter in the Rockies system and not a pitcher.

A catching up on 2015 Trade

With the 2016 products already on the market, this nice little trade knocked off some 2015 base cards of the want-list before the new season starts. My first Tulo with the Blue Jays card. A quick Getty search confirms by first thought that this photo is taken after he hit a home run in his Blue Jays debut against the Phillies. Still weird to see him not in a Rockies uniform, and even weirder that he is still sour enough to rip his old organization.

My First "Too Many" Trade

A long overdue post with a trade from Too Many Manningham/Verlanders, he already posted his side here and here and I am finally getting around to posted what came my way. The coolest card is above, a Topps Stars 'n Steel of Dante Bichette, I have never seen these before, really cool card printed on metal stock. 

Gypsy Queen Needs from Zistle

A quick little zistle trade chipping away at 2015 Gypsy Queen. This trade check two short prints off the list, I absolutely love that Johnny Bench, I almost always want in-game actiony photos, but there is something about the laid back feel of this card I love.

First Taste of 2016 Topps

This post started out much longer, but there is really nothing new here, just some of my thoughts on 2016 Flagship, so I cut it down to the basics. My first and so-far only 2016 Rockies card, Chad Bettis. After going through the blaster I really like the design, I like the lack of a defined border, I like the hat logo instead of the primary team logo (CR vs. mountains for the Rockies). I like the foggy corners.

Casper the Friendly One-Card-Mailday

If you followed my Justcommons posts, there was mention of the one card that I actually wanted and was out of stock. This is the card. Nolan Arenado 2010 Topps Pro Debut with the Casper Ghosts. When I think of the Casper Ghosts, I think of the glow in the dark hats more than the prospects that went through. Sadly the awesomely named Casper Ghosts moved to Grand Junction in 2012 and become the boringly named Grand Junction Rockies.

Just Commons, The Rest and Some Thoughts

After showing off the catchers portion of my first JustCommons order, here is the rest. The Weiss above is by far the best looking card so it gets top spot. The one card I really wanted was in my cart, but I was informed after my order was processed that it was out of stock. I was refunded the amount for this card, and a few others they didn't have, but if I wish I had known that before my order was finalized. I found the cart system the used to be really lacking, leading me order cards they didn't have in stock and ordering 2 of a couple cards that I only needed one of.