2018 Elite Extra Edition and Catching Up

 I am already not posting as much as I would like on here. I am really active on Twitter but everybody on there is getting a bit "Catty" for my taste. Too much drama. So I am backing away from there for a while and hopefully throwing up some more blog posts.

2018 Panini Elite Extra Edition Retail (Blaster?)

I got thinking about the Stars and Stripes boxes I have found while grocery shopping this year and decided to take a look for one of those tonight. They are a pretty fun rip for $20 because of the great looking cards even though there may be 2 decent guys in the set. I could only find the Elite Extra Edition blaster at Walmart but grabbed it anyway.
The box is kind of silly for one single pack inside. It does boast 2 hits on average on the box though and there are a couple of Tigers prospects I have been chasing in the set. So here goes...

2 "Hits" on average. I was lucky enough to help that average. 

Never heard of him. Doesn't mean he's no good, I don't typically research other team's prospects. 

Another mystery ball player. 

I have heard of Akil Baddoo. I like the looks of these cards and /75 for a quad relic is cool!

Ah, my auto. Well...I think I kidded about an auto I got in Stars and Stripes from a child. This takes the cake.

These cards are really cool in hand. I hope I can find some Tigers players of this style. 

So, all in all about what I expected from the box. One pack for $20 is over pretty quick. I could have had a little more fun with a blaster of Topps Update but I wouldn't have seen any ink, relics or even numbered cards. The auto is a joke to be honest. Google the kid. You can't even find anything about him at all! I tried to find his age but was unsuccessful. If I had to guess he is maybe 14 years old. If anybody has some Tigers prospects they want to trade for some or all of these hit me up.

Ebay Bucks

Its that time of year again when some of us get to spend the pennies we earned spending dollars on ebay and the other half of the collectors out there ask "what the hell are ebay bucks?!" Here are some quick grabs with the $3ish I had to burn.

Kennard is fun to watch. I don't see him being HOF worthy or even ever making an allstar team but Detroit always has that one outside shooting white guy 6th man I like to root for (i.e. Jon Barry, Jonas Jerebko, Jud Beuchler...).

Recent Tiger acquisition I hope is at Tigerfest.

/99 and I paid 99 cents. Good deal. 

Are These Guys Going to be Something?

Is Jordan Montgomery going to turn into a big leaguer and eventually a star? This one is for you Lost Collector. The promise was there before the injuries. Some dudes come back from TJ surgery better than before. I just picked up this /50 auto card in a trade on TCDB so I hope he has a good 2019 if he plays this year. 

/250 scratches on top loader

Now how about Victor Robles? My theory is that if Harper is gone this guy gets some serious playing time and hits better than Soto. We shall see. I pulled this card out of a pack from my LCS. 

Tigerfest Prep

Tigerfest is in a couple weeks. I am getting ready as usual. If there are any newbies going this year; search Tigerfest on this blog to see how I prep and what to expect from years past. They are advertising Miguel Cabrera in attendance again this year. I am dubious but prepared. I have yet to find early entry tickets. It seems nobody has them. BUT there is one account on ebay selling multiples of them for $55 a piece. Are they real? Are the Tigers selling them on ebay instead of giving them out?!  If Miggy is really going to be there I need to find a set. 

Mike Trout Contest Winner and LOTS of Other Stuff

That Title Should Draw Some Interest, Eh? 

I won a contest on Instagram put on by Dre Day Cards account. I am very thankful to win this sweet piece. I do not dabble in much graded stuff for two reasons: 1.) The prices scare me off. Give me a raw RC for $10 over a graded 9.5 for $1200 any day. 2.) Like most collectors now, I started collecting in the 1980's as a kid. Most of my collection that made it to present day looks like I stored them in a rock tumbler. Instead of being mad at my younger self, I denounce grading. Basically because I am poor and once young and naive. So this card is a great addition for me! Please give @dredaycards on instagram a follow plus all the other social media sites.

Under the card is a sick Rawlings glove I found for Nolan at Goodwill for $1. It has Tony Gwynn inside!

Cards on Instagram and Other Venues

Cards on Instagram are plentiful as are the scammers. I have done business on Insta but choose very carefully who I deal with and often make potential partners angry. Anytime I see "I don't send first" or any kind of negative sounding crap on people's profiles I avoid that person all together. I have been ripped off on facebook, ebay, and email via this blog and now protect myself a little more. 99.9% of my trades now are on TCDB  as most of you know by now. Here is an example of a "bonus card" someone sent me in a recent trade:

When cards like this are the "bonus card" you know traders are legit on the site and happy doing business with you. Here is another transaction I received:

I gave up some big time cards (in my world) for these three, but come on; a Ted Williams relic!!!!!!!

Here is an example of an ebay transaction lately:

Sweet car, right? WRONG! The card itself would have been sweet except for the animal bite right in the top of it going through the card. The toploader doesn't have matching teeth marks so when the seller blamed USPS I had to laugh. Ebay downright sucks 50% of the time. I was given $1 off this card for the condition not being MINT as in the description. If only there was a card show every other day so I didn't need technology to scratch the itch.
Ebay is really only good to me for one thing: Breaks. It seems like break websites are expensive and I can find the best deals on ebay. Here are some recent break results:

Up and comer Tiggers

Available for trade

I entered two half case breaks. I do not know if the half cases were from the same origins. I bought Tigers in one and Tigers & Pirates in the other since Pirates went without a bid and I scooped it up for pennies with combined shipping.

Ebay is also good for finding specific cards at buy it now prices when sellers are trustworthy. Finally found a Clearly Authentic Niko I have been waiting for at a reasonable price:

I feel bad for whomever bought this box of Authentic for $40+ and had to sell it to me for $6.

Tigers Wrap Up the Season

I was very blessed this month. I was able to attend two Tiger games. My wife was offered some suite tickets from another doctor at work and we got to watch Christin Stewart blast his first 2 career home runs while stuffing our faces with all you can eat gourmet food.

Nolan, my dad and I were able to attend the last home game too, later that week. My brother and his family had tickets to that game and ended up in the next section from us so it was cool to enjoy the last game all together. Noles and me made the first game and last game together. He made it 2 innings on opening day and the whole game this last time. Maybe next year he'll watch some of it!

Last home game (top), opening day (bottom)

I'm a Baseball Card Creep

I love Panini's Stars and Stripes blasters for the sheer false excitement it gives you pulling 2-3 autos/relics per box. I say false because much like the card above, an auto from a 14 year old boy is not exactly something to get excited about. I feel like a creep collecting children's autos. Nonetheless, I like pulling ink scribbles and this box at least held a Royce Lewis jumbo relic and my first Casey Mize card.

CURRENT CONTEST!

Collector's Crack is the blog with the very best title picture at the top. Yeah, the one with the custom tobacco cards. That's the one. Go HERE for a sweet World Series prediction contest! My prediction is my dream scenario for the series; Astros/Brewers. Would be a fun series to watch.