No, I Have Not Abandoned This Collection

It is just kind of hard to find cards I need these days.  I never really went nuts for the Archives Signatures cards, and I don't know why.  Maybe it's the cases, or the fact that everyone selling them was over-pricing them.  The second one probably.  But there will be a few posts in the coming days, because I managed to find a few cards I needed.

Up first:

This is the 1998 Topps Gallery Gallery Proofs card.  It is serial-numbered to 125.  I had to double-check on it when I saw it pop up on COMC to make sure I did not already own it.  There is not a lot of difference, except some minor coloring, card stock, black and white back and the serial numbering.  So, finally, a new Alomar to my collection.  As I said, check back in the next couple days for more.

Topps Tek Diffractor Pattern 6

This is my fifth Topps Tek Diffractor.  A member of a forum initially emailed me to check to see if I had any Tek doubles he needed and then the tables turned and he offered me a Diffractor.  Very nice price too.

Another Buyback

One of the reasons I have not gone absolutely crazy over these buybacks is that people are asking quite a bit for them.  I do not feel it is reasonable or necessary to spend more than $10.00 on most of these.  I get why people are asking so much for them.  They are a one-card-per-box item and it is completely reasonable to expect to get your money's worth for buying a box.  It just does not work out that way in real life.  Well, I finally found one for a reasonable price and I jumped all over it.  This card looks a lot better in person.  It is just my second of the 2017 buybacks and I honestly do not expect to get a ton more of these.  Maybe if they are of the lesser teams (I would love to find the 2005 Topps Total Rangers card for instance).  And if I can find them cheap, I will keep going.

My 1,100th Alomar Card

This card was weirdly hard to find.  Despite being just a normal insert card, I have never even seen this card, or even a scan of this card before receiving it in the mail today.  I happened to check Sportlots for the first time in a long time for something other than Tek cards and there it was.  I jumped on it, especially because it was #14 on my Top 15 Most Wanted List.

2005 UD ALL STAR CLASSICS MVP.  This card celebrates Alomar winning the 1997 All Star Game MVP, one of his biggest career accomplishments.  I have been annoyed at the number of recent Topps issues that celebrate All Star Game MVPs that always miss Alomar.  This was one hell of a trophy.

My First 2017 Archives Buyback

I was a little slow to this release.  Mostly because the cards were not appreciably different than what Topps did just the year before.  In fact, this very card was a buyback in 2016 as well, but it was serial-numbered to 2.  I do not think I will be going crazy for all of these once again, unless the price is decent.  I do like adding cards from the teams other than the Indians, so that will likely be the first goal.  I really want the 2005 Topps Total card autographed as Alomar is in a Rangers uniform in that one.

Tek Pattern 13

One of these days, I will have this set complete.  I have just six more to find.  A forum member was gracious enough to send me this one for free.  84 down, 6 to go. 

2003 Upper Deck 40 Man Rainbow

I have been away for awhile and have not added many cards to my player collection.  This was the only one during my absence from blogging, but it is a pretty decent, rare one.

I really do not know why these are "rainbow" parallels.  It is more of a silver sheen.  But these were pretty rare cards, serial-numbered to just 40.  It is nice to add this to my collection, crossing off a rare White Sox card for my collection.

I have not been keeping up with the Alomar collection much.  I will work on that a little. 

I Love Oddballs

I happened to check Ebay recently and saw someone selling some random singles from a Padres giveaway set honoring Jack McKeon, aka "Trader Jack".  These cards featured some of the better players that McKeon has traded away as manager and general manager of the Padres.  One of those trades involved sending young star catcher Sandy Alomar Jr., and two other players to the Indians for Joe Carter.  And this is that card.  I love seeing new oddball cards, particularly when they benefit my collection.

Another Buyback?

Well if it is a White Sox buyback, I am there.  This is the Silver Rediscover Topps buyback of the 2006 Topps Update and Highlights card.   It is my first White Sox buyback card and is the last card issued of Alomar during his playing career.  It was a little pricey, but I had to add it.

Caught Up: 2016 Archives Fan Favorites Autograph

I am now caught up.  This is last year's Archives Fan Favorites Autograph.  I already had the blue and red parallels.  For some reason it took until now to get the base version.  Fan Favorites was one of my favorite sets.  I would love for Topps to bring it back, but will settle for the Autographs for now.  It is fitting that Topps used the 1990 design for Alomar as it was his Rookie of the Year season, his most famous season.  His 1997 season was better, but 1990 put him on the map.