Seriously, what is going on over in the Topps shipping department??
It was bad enough a couple months ago when I went to request my Topps Million Card Giveaway cards and it came back with a $37(!!) shipping bill, forcing me to pick and choose which ones I wanted to get the shipping down to "only" $13. Today I went to redeem my free $10 gift certificate from the Diamond Dig at the Topps Online store. I decided to get the 27 card team set of my beloved Super Bowl Champs since that was also $10. However when going to check out I discovered they want me to pay TEN DOLLARS for shipping!!....
Ten dollars.
To ship a single blister pack.
Somehow I don't think I'll even bother using the gift code...
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Strat-O-Matic Game of the Week - Astros vs. Brewers
As I type this, the Brewers are about to take the field for the second game of their 3-game set against Houston. I played out tonight's matchup using the announced starting lineups for both teams.
But first, a quick recap of the first Strat-O-Matic matchup:
The first game of the week played out the Brewers/Reds Opening Day game, and for the most part my fantasy game was eerily similar to what really happened. Beyond some of the smaller details (Braun and Votto each homered in my game and in real life), the flow of the game was almost the same - the Brewers jumped out to an early lead, built on that lead, and the Reds rallied late. The difference of course was that in fantasy world the Reds had the tying run on base but came up short, whereas in real life a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th ruined my day. End result: Strat-O-Matic is 0-1 in predicting the outcome of the game.
For today, I can only hope that reality follows fantasy, because it was an awesome day for the Crew in Strat-O-Matic!
The Astros' Brett Myers mowed down the first 10 Brewer batters in order, but then the Brew Crew offense came back in a big way starting in the 4th inning. Carlos Gomez broke up the perfect game with a single and stole a base on a busted hit-and-run attempt by Ryan Braun. Prince followed with a 2-out RBI single. Then Casey McGehee blasted a 2-run homer, and the Brewers had a 3-0 lead.
In the 5th, Betancourt lead off with a double, followed by a single by Lucroy. An RBI groundout by Counsell and a sac fly from Gomez made the score 5-0 Brewers.
The Crew added another run in the 6th, and McGehee came up with a 2-run double in the 7th, bringing the score to 8-0 and the rout was on.
In the 8th Counsell reached on an error, and then singles by 5 of the next 6 Brewer batters brought the score to 12-0.
While all of this was going on, Shawn Marcum was absolutely stellar on the mound. Through the first 8 innings he allowed no runs and just 3 hits. Unfortunately a pair of singles to open the 9th put runners on the corners, and Carlos Lee's double-play groundball managed to break up the shutout. Final score: Brewers 12, Astros 1.
For the Astros it was 1 run on 5 hits, 1 error, 4 left on base. For the Brew Crew it was 12 runs on 15 hits, no errors, and 8 left on base. Winning pitcher was Shawn Marcum with the complete game, losing pitcher was Brett Myers. The star of the game was Casey McGehee, who went 4-5 with a HR, a double, 2 singles, and 4 RBIs.
And now as I wrap things up, Carlos Lee has already hit a 2-run homer in the first putting the real-life Brewers in a 2-0 hole. Grrrrr......
Go Brewers~!
But first, a quick recap of the first Strat-O-Matic matchup:
The first game of the week played out the Brewers/Reds Opening Day game, and for the most part my fantasy game was eerily similar to what really happened. Beyond some of the smaller details (Braun and Votto each homered in my game and in real life), the flow of the game was almost the same - the Brewers jumped out to an early lead, built on that lead, and the Reds rallied late. The difference of course was that in fantasy world the Reds had the tying run on base but came up short, whereas in real life a 3-run homer in the bottom of the 9th ruined my day. End result: Strat-O-Matic is 0-1 in predicting the outcome of the game.
For today, I can only hope that reality follows fantasy, because it was an awesome day for the Crew in Strat-O-Matic!
The Astros' Brett Myers mowed down the first 10 Brewer batters in order, but then the Brew Crew offense came back in a big way starting in the 4th inning. Carlos Gomez broke up the perfect game with a single and stole a base on a busted hit-and-run attempt by Ryan Braun. Prince followed with a 2-out RBI single. Then Casey McGehee blasted a 2-run homer, and the Brewers had a 3-0 lead.
In the 5th, Betancourt lead off with a double, followed by a single by Lucroy. An RBI groundout by Counsell and a sac fly from Gomez made the score 5-0 Brewers.
The Crew added another run in the 6th, and McGehee came up with a 2-run double in the 7th, bringing the score to 8-0 and the rout was on.
In the 8th Counsell reached on an error, and then singles by 5 of the next 6 Brewer batters brought the score to 12-0.
While all of this was going on, Shawn Marcum was absolutely stellar on the mound. Through the first 8 innings he allowed no runs and just 3 hits. Unfortunately a pair of singles to open the 9th put runners on the corners, and Carlos Lee's double-play groundball managed to break up the shutout. Final score: Brewers 12, Astros 1.
For the Astros it was 1 run on 5 hits, 1 error, 4 left on base. For the Brew Crew it was 12 runs on 15 hits, no errors, and 8 left on base. Winning pitcher was Shawn Marcum with the complete game, losing pitcher was Brett Myers. The star of the game was Casey McGehee, who went 4-5 with a HR, a double, 2 singles, and 4 RBIs.
And now as I wrap things up, Carlos Lee has already hit a 2-run homer in the first putting the real-life Brewers in a 2-0 hole. Grrrrr......
Go Brewers~!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Fun Oddball Find
I love finding oddball stuff like this. The 1987 Sportflics Baseball set for $5?? Sold!
The best part is all the little team logo cards - there are about 5-6 per team, and I loved getting to see all the old school logos from way back then. I'm actually kind of surprised these types of cards haven't made a comeback. I suppose the "20/20" Insert set in last year's Topps Series 2 was close.
The best part is all the little team logo cards - there are about 5-6 per team, and I loved getting to see all the old school logos from way back then. I'm actually kind of surprised these types of cards haven't made a comeback. I suppose the "20/20" Insert set in last year's Topps Series 2 was close.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
An eBay Dilemma....
The great thing about eBay is that it allows me to track down cards I want that I might not have been able to find otherwise.
The bad thing about eBay is that it allows me to track down rare and expensive cards I want that I might not have been able to find otherwise, and tempts me to buy them when I really shouldn't be spending a lot on cards.
I was bored yesterday and decided to kill some time surfing eBay for Griffey cards. I had no intent to actually buy anything since I'm kinda short on cash. So of course, one of the rare cards I've always wanted to buy if I got the chance pops up - at a price of $100 or "make and offer". It's one of my favorite Griffey cards, one that I have a goal to collect all of the parallel versions of, and this is the one that is serial numbered to just 10 copies. Outside of the 1-of-1 version (which may never be found) this is the rarest one there is, and I might not get another chance at it.
Decisions, decisions.......
The bad thing about eBay is that it allows me to track down rare and expensive cards I want that I might not have been able to find otherwise, and tempts me to buy them when I really shouldn't be spending a lot on cards.
I was bored yesterday and decided to kill some time surfing eBay for Griffey cards. I had no intent to actually buy anything since I'm kinda short on cash. So of course, one of the rare cards I've always wanted to buy if I got the chance pops up - at a price of $100 or "make and offer". It's one of my favorite Griffey cards, one that I have a goal to collect all of the parallel versions of, and this is the one that is serial numbered to just 10 copies. Outside of the 1-of-1 version (which may never be found) this is the rarest one there is, and I might not get another chance at it.
Decisions, decisions.......
Previous Trivia Question:
Carroll Hardy is the only player to ever do what?
Answer: He is the only player to ever pinch hit for Ted Williams.
Today's Trivia Question:
What is the official score recorded in the record books for a forfeited baseball game?
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
First Batch of Topps Wrapper Redemptions
I got my first batch of wrapper redemptions in the mail this week. Thanks a lot Topps...now I have 60 more Platinum Diamonds to collect!! :)
I especially like the CC card with him looking off into the distance. He'll always have a special place in my heart for that magical half season in a Brewers uniform in 2008.
Awesome.
Previous Trivia Question:
What dubious distinction is held by pitcher Ken Johnson?
Answer: He is the only player to ever throw a complete game no-hitter and lose, when his Houston Colt .45s fell to the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 on April 23, 1964. The winning run was scored in the top of the 9th inning by Pete Rose via an error, a groundout, and another error.
Today's Trivia Question:
Carroll Hardy is the only player to ever do what?
Friday, April 8, 2011
It Came From the Card Closet~!! - Part 2
My second in a series of posts on what I found while cleaning out my old closet full of baseball cards. :)
In one of the many, many piles of cards I found a whole cache of Younts all grouped together, and surprisingly (given how they were stored) they also are in excellent shape. For whatever reason most of them were 1980s Donruss, so let's take a trip through the decade!:
Previous Trivia Question:
In one of the many, many piles of cards I found a whole cache of Younts all grouped together, and surprisingly (given how they were stored) they also are in excellent shape. For whatever reason most of them were 1980s Donruss, so let's take a trip through the decade!:
Unfortunately, 1985 is the one year I didn't have in this stack.
I LOVE this painting of Yount. This is one of my new favorite cards of all time!
It was so cool finding these in the middle of a random stack of commons. I seem to recall deciding to gather up all of my Yount cards around the same time as I decided to start a Griffey collection. Obviously the Yount collection didn't quite get off the ground. Better late than never!
Previous Trivia Question:
I actually didn't know this until just yesterday when I went looking for Opening Day trivia, but my boy Ken Griffey Jr. is the co-record holder for most home runs on Opening Day with 8. What Hall of Fame outfielder is he tied with?
Answer: Frank Robinson also hit 8 homers on Opening Day
Today's Trivia Question:
What dubious distinction is held by pitcher Ken Johnson?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Trade with Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius
I recently completed another trade with Matt over at Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius. I sent him some Topps Kimball minis, and he helped me get a little closer to my Platinum Diamond goal:
That brings me to 93 out of 330 for the Series 1 Platinum Diamond set - it's definitely looking like a long-term proposition if I'm going to get them all. Thanks for the trade Matt!
Previous Trivia Question:
What Hall of Fame pitcher tossed the only Opening Day no-hitter in baseball history?
Answer: On Opening Day of the 1940 season, Cleveland's Bob Feller no-hit the Chicago White Sox.
Today's Trivia Question:
I actually didn't know this until just yesterday when I went looking for Opening Day trivia, but my boy Ken Griffey Jr. is the co-record holder for most home runs on Opening Day with 8. What Hall of Fame outfielder is he tied with?