What does "Top Loader" mean to you?

I mistakenly stirred the pot so to speak on Twitter a few days ago by posting this:

Now, when I receive a card I assume it will be top loaded and by "top loaded" I mean the card will be right side up with the sealed end of the loader at the bottom of the card. When I get cards I think they should be this way so I can put them into my collection without having to remove the card. Seemed like a silly post about typical ebay shipping shenanigans and a lot of collectors see it my way. BUT, I have discovered a population of collectors who ship the way I received this Yelich card believing if the card slips towards what should be painters tape it will not be hurt. And, of course, I had the thought and many others too; that this card is the upside-down printed variation. Ha, ha, ha. There was also the token "it was loaded in the top: top loader" joker too. Maybe its my own laziness but I prefer to receive cards upright in the loader. What do you think?

Some other recent ebay pickups:

I had seen this card before but had never noticed the baseball in it. How great is this image?! At 11 cents shipped, I couldn't help myself. 

Boesch will always be one of my favorite Tigers. 

Clearance 2017 Update Packs

A while back I struck out on 2017 Series 1 packs I picked up on clearance but this time I found two fat packs at Walmart for $3.49 each. I did well in both. Lots of great RC's (of course, it is Update) but both packs had short prints. A Trey Mancini Photo Variation RC SP and a Stanton Photo Variation. I can't wait to hopefully find 2018 Update clearance priced this year, if that happens.

TCDB Trades

I made some good trades this past week on Trading Card Database. I didn't take pics of the trade pages but here are some of the cards that came in:

Who knew a middle school level photoshop job on a baseball card would look so damn appealing.

Some are PC, some are trade bait. I was also able to flip the Kevin Brown patch card I got at the card show for $1 for a JV all star relic card. This trade started on Twitter with @dennisbaker and was completed on TCDB. 

Pistons Getting Some Traction

I don't think Stanley is going to make it to this appearance. Luckily I didn't trade the only Svi Mykhailiuk card I pulled this year:

I know I don't talk about the Pistons a lot on here but I like this move. I wish they would trade Andre Drummond too but since they moved Bullock I think we are stuck with Dre. I will say this; Blake Griffin is one of the hardest working players I have ever watched in the NBA and he gets barely any recognition and shit on by the refs every game. He gets beat down with uncalled fouls and then called for ghost reach ins at the other end nightly. Yet, he still keeps his head up and is a leader. The guy is amazing. 

Upcoming Shows

I was disappointed to finally be hit by the new shipping costs this week. $4.81 for a small bubble mailer to Washington. I cannot keep trading with prices like that. I guess I am going to save my very little money and take it to card shows. I don't know what I will do with all the trade bait I acquire throughout the year. I guess I will have to be very, very selective with my trades. I have already turned down more trades in 2019 than I did in ALL of 2018. No joke. Its painful to do so and probably making me lose some partners but I got a kid to feed man. Thanks USPS. I am hoping to hit at least one of these shows coming up.

I got Darrel on his RC a few months back. I just found a box bottom card of Evans I want to get signed. 

I already have Delvecchio's sig but I may get another. Pretty good price. Hanson is out of my price range for a Lion. Hopefully I can hit at least one of the days and maybe catch some of the other bloggers there. 

 

My First 1/1!

Behold; my upgrade from the Nick Castellanos Topps Living Set card. I was uncertain of the life of the Topps Living Set resell value bubble so I decided to sell my Castellanos card for $140. Next week it may be worth $1000 or $10. I was happy with what I got for it. I was able to buy a bike trailer for my son and this Casty 1/1.

Follow Me 

Former Detroit Tiger power hitter Brennan Boesch randomly started following me on instagram. My inner fan boy rejoiced. @ scribble4me is my insta and twitter.

I took this photo long ago of Brennan Boesch robbing a homerun.

Rooting for a White Sox Player

He had two games to hit a home run for me and of course hit one the day before I needed him. Anybody else playing this Home Run Challenge card game? I still have a Joey Gallo and a Logan Morrison to use.

Contest Time via Chronicles of Fuji

 http://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2018/04/enter-to-win.html

One of the blogs I visit most often that I would describe as one of the most well written and comprehensive blogs out there. You can always tell when somebody really sinks time and thought into their posts. Unlike my recent short, lazy postings. Check out the contest and enter. Winnings beyond your wildest fantasies await!

I Met Another Blogger

When I met Dennis from the blog Too Many Verlanders at the local card show he was holding what I thought was a bag of purchases he had made that day. Little did I know he had been lugging around a sack of goodness for me that would make Santa jealous. First, let it be known; if I send you a package without setting up a trade it does not need retaliation. I often send small packages to bloggers I enjoy just as another way to let them know they are appreciated. We need to support each other as we have all felt the blog-burnouts from time to time and I don't want to see anybody quit the game.
Anyway, to say Dennis "one upped" me would be an understatement. I usually don't remember what I send to people. Such is the case here but I hope it gave him close to as much joy as his bag of goodies gave me. Look at the haul I took home from the card show from what Dennis generously gave me:
(I apologize for the horrible scan job, I wanted to get a post up ASAP)

Growing up my brother and I worshiped Kenny Lofton. I have never had a Lofton auto ever. This thing is PC for life! Who was cooler than Kenny Lofton in the 90's?

I can still recall sitting on my parents' bed watching Kerry Wood throw his 20K game on WGN. This is my first Wood auto too!

Chris Shelton was a beast for like 3 weeks in 2006. I will never forget him or that season.

My first black jersey relic of JJ. So sweet!

A bunch of new Big Daddy cards for the PC.

Take a closer look at this gem!

I have had this 5x7 on my ebay watch list for months. Look at that, I didn't even have to pay shipping on it. Pretty stoked for this one.

That gold Inge card is so sweet I wish I could have it in poster size!

Look at all the Boesch RC's! I think I only had one of these. The teal is even numbered and the diamond anniversary is the best.

Two Grayson Greiner cards for the investment pile. Anytime I can get a Joba in the Old English D its a good day!

JJ's for days! All PC!

Dennis hit me from every collection angle with cards, oversized pieces and even figures! Check out this Megatron relic/card standee.

Two Fidrych cards I needed!

Casty on the board

These two cards together are awesome Both gold #'ed, sequential years, both homerun derby shots, and both PC all the way.

I've always said when somebody sends me Rey Ordonez cards they dug deep and deserve something nice in return for their efforts. Needed both of these for the PC as they are rare refractors.

Crazy Robbie Alomars. These aren't even all of them!

Salty is back with Detroit in a way. I am happy to see that and super happy to add these cards to the Salty book!

Scherzer cards by the pound including over a dozen of the SI for kids card bottom left. I have to believe those aren't all that easy to find.

8x10 of Tony the Tiger. Now do I get it signed? It looks nice the way it is and his auto's are a scribbled mess. Hmm.

Looky here. The black box version! I think I only need the white box and the scribbled version for the set!

Jim Thome SLU in his Indians gear! The only way I'd want it. So awesome. This guy will be staring at me next to my monitor for all my posts to come!

As you can see, Dennis is a crazy generous guy and one of the best bloggers around too. If you aren't following him yet, do it now : TOO MANY VERLANDERS or his other blog TOO MANY MANNINGHAMS for football stuff. Thank you very much Dennis, I hope this measly post illustrated how grateful I am for all the great stuff.