Watching COMC like a Hawk, I'm the Fool

Like a Hawk

Dennis is such a damn troublemaker, man. Back in December I was fine living my hobby life getting all my cards from TCDB, Ebay, Card Shows and the occasional retail luck. Then, he goes and forces me to get on COMC. Of course, innocent me, I get caught up in the great deals and drop a hundred bucks quickly and paid for the cheapest delivery. ORDER DATE: 03/12/2020 and they gave me the approximate date of 03/12/2021 as the shipment date and 03/18/2021 as the approximate delivery date. Back then the backups at COMC were just being whispered about and weren't that bad. People were still getting packages. I was fine with the March shipment because a few of the cards I picked out were for "investment" (for shame) and that would be perfect timing with Spring Training wrapping up. Well, as you can guess; 03/12 came and went and 03/18 came and went. Now I have no idea if I will get any cards ever. It looks as though my Twitter feed agrees that COMC is in rough shape. About a month or so ago I noticed the header on their website changed and said they needed to add 2 weeks onto shipments. I figured that meant new orders, alas, that is errbody. Also, all through January my virtuously innocent self bought a ton more cards from the site without knowing the pain to come. Now I have like 300+ cards I want in my inventory on the site but worry the site will die before I get the chance. And it is all Dennis's fault. Now he's talking up sportslots and some Canadian site. Like I would ever trust that guy again. 

Meanwhile, I am moving to a new house and will hopefully be moved in and relaxing by the time this post hits. Card room here I come! From then on I am hoping to start trading and blogging again regularly. 

Too Many Goodies from Dennis

Bloggers are a different breed. Seems lately I have my Tweeps I trade with on Twitter that are okay, my favorite Trading Card Database swappers I exchange cards and pleasantries with, and then there are the handful of Bloggers I call my friends. Bloggers share that passionate generosity where we feel  thrilling excitement for other people's reactions of what we send to them almost more than when we open cards for ourselves. Dennis from Too Many Verlanders is my closest blogger friend and the most generous person I swap cards with. This dude is always looking out for me in every box of cards he peeks through. He gets me JaCoby Jones and Nolan cards often. Very often. But, even more incredible is the deep cuts he hits into my PC. I can barely remember who I collect. I swear Dennis knows what I collect better than me. Check out this package I got from him pre-Xmas that my lazy ass is just now getting into posting.

JJ and Nolan Scribbles. 

Might have to ask Gibby to start taking my pics for me, jeesh.

How would he even think of me for that Salty? I love it!

Vizquel Blue Jays....mind blown.

Hockey too!

God, these pics are terrible. That Tony Phillips is a work of art. 

He even dipped into some hoops for me!

I couldn't even list and show all the cards he gave me. Last week I forced him to drive to me to meet up with Chuck (C2Cigars) from Trading Card Database. It was a good time but the show was crazy busy for the first time ever. Its always fun to catch up with people in person that you've only interacted with online. Chuck was great and even gave us some cards. I was at least able to give Dennis my less than stellar box of cards I am always building for him. Not being a college sports guy at all, I really owe him something big for his PC very soon. Dennis is the man. I would recommend becoming his friend. He sent out like two dozen packages just like this right before Christmas. Like a Blogger Santa. Santa Blogs? I donno. Thank you Dennis!

Blog CPR - A Tiger Blogger Trip for Tramm3ll

I am back.

I may have lost some or all of my 4ish followers in my long hiatus from blogging. Oh well, the content never screamed "come back soon" anyway. Two things have kept me from blogging; 1. Lack of time, and 2. Trading Card Database . I am addicted to TCDB! Somehow life has gotten too rigorous lately to drop any thoughts on our blessed hobby but hasn't kept it out of my mind in any way. My collecting habits are as hot and heavy as they have ever been. I have found time spent screwing around on TCDB has offered me incoming trade packages almost everyday and drooling for more. I am almost to 100 trades completed and started in April. I now average about 3-5 trades a week. From PWE singles to 100 card lots. It is amazing what people will give you for cards you don't care for. If you aren't on the site you are missing out! If you are, I am pjdionne12 on there. Hit me up. 

Tiger Bloggers Unite!

I owe this post and a rejuvenation in blogging motivation to Dennis from Too Many Verlanders. Like roids to A-Rods ass; Dennis's invite to a Tiger game is the shot in the arm I needed and has sparked renewed appreciation for the blogging community. He never gave up on me and my horrible availability and found a way to unite he, myself and all star blogger John from John's Big League Baseball Blog for a dangerously hot Tiger game. Not just any game; the retiring of Alan Trammell's #3 game! 

There was a ceremony before the game celebrating Tram's career and many special guests attended. Between the guest speakers, the video clips and Alan's reaction to the whole thing I had chills the whole time. I would have paid for the ticket just for that! The Tigers whiff on special events OFTEN. This time they hit it out of the park.

Check out the scrolling 3's. 

The game itself was decent. The Tigers lost of course but there were some really great plays and some dingers. 

Our view of a great Ronny Rodriguez catch. He played very well at short. I am probably the toughest judge of short stops due to being the greatest undiscovered defensive short stop of my generation. He replaced Iglesias well for the day. 

We even got on TV for two homers. Well, 2 of us did. Sorry Dennis!

Being the card bloggers we are, you know we swapped some cardboard in the humid sun. Dennis and I always have running boxes going for each other. John and I had the same idea to grab a couple cards for each other too. There's bloggers for you. All the more reason to get this blog moving again. The comaraderie is second to none. I get ripped off from the trash on social media and ebay often. I have yet to find a blogger who isn't crazy generous. Here are the cards I took home:

The above are gifts from John. He pulled cards from his album that he pulled straight from packs and probably hasn't touched since. See: generosity at its best. Blogging is where its at! Crazy great cards. As you can see I have a thing for hard throwing pitchers. The Gary Nolan is the highlight for me. I might have heard the name before but knew nothing about the guy. I collect guys named Nolan and it is rare for Nolan to be the last name, how cool. Most notably for Mr. Nolan he was third in 1967 ROY voting behind some guy named Tom Seaver. Also, he averaged a balk a year in his 10 year career. Look, once in a while I drop some knowledge in here. 

Dennis brought some heat in a team bag himself as if we needed anymore on this day. Here is what he dropped on me:

Both autos are 01/ pretty sweet! Also continues my reign as #1 JaCoby Jones collector on TCDB. 

Such a sweet insert set!

Boesch is a personal favorite. The sig on this card has a blemishy smear. It makes it so much cooler to me. I don't know why. I guess it moves it from another scribbled on card to a more personally touched item. 

Refractor!

I LOVE acetate see-thru cards. Wish I could get better pics of them. Sweet card in person.

Crushing my Rey collection.

Gorgeous card! Churchs chicken insert. I might slab it its so pretty.

Busting out some HOF power! I needed all but one of these. Can't get enough Thome cards.

El Tigres. Brandon Inge was at the game for the Trammell ceremony too! Wish there would have been a signing somewhere. The local sports radio station I despise was dumbfounded by the warm reception Inge got on this day. 97.1 pull your heads out of your asses. I see through all your gimmicks, manipulation and exploitation of the local fan base. Shame on you and your agenda.

First edition! Both were needs.

Big Daddy!

One of my favorite sets! I need both of these. I love serial numbered cards from the pre-"serial number everything" era we are in. 

Dennis always brings something not-flat. This time an amazing SLU of Jose Canseco....in Devil Rays uni! Its so amazing. 

Such a great card compared to some of the older bland cards they used to make. 

Soooooooooooooo cool. 

Thank you to Dennis for setting up this get together and all the great stuff! You are the man. Can't wait to do it again. Thank you to John for joining us and the terrific cards. It was a pleasure listening to your baseball intel! Next time you'll have to join us Julie, you were missed. 

The blog is back, baby. 

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.