Top 10 by Price

I decided to see if my old accounts at Zistle and The Trading Card Database were still alive and after some work from my memory I could manage to log in.

I must say that I added these cards wayyyyyyy back I don't remember when. So I might have to go and re-do all my listings. Which, for a listing-maniac is like Christmas.

One thing I like at The Trading Card Database is the all the top 10s they provide, based on your added cards.

So, based upon the cards I have registered this is my situation:

Only registering around 4,5K cards the values of my collection goes like 2K dollars. Not bad!

So lets see my top 10.

So my card ranking #1 is this beauty commemorative patch from 2009 Topps Update Series.

I like these cards. I have a couple of them, the commemorative patches. But I always thought people used to dislike them because they were things manufactured and not true relics, like pieces of real cloth or bats. Maybe it's because I don't have much cards and tend to appreciate this little things more. They are all kinda important to me, to make me closer to the game.

Notice that the patch is a Reds patch (yeah!) but Tom is wearing a Mets uniform (buhhhhh).

And then my #2 card is also an other commemorative patch from the same set.

I also have a Roy Campanella patch but it does not make the top10.

And the final podium place, ranking #3 (two times) is Altuve RC.

And it seems I even have, at least, two of them. I think after Astros win this is normal to happen, getting a RC card like this to get a better price value.

But this card is one of those that I like besides all those facts. It's mainly because no matter how many times I see it, I have to double-take it in order to see the 3 people in it!

Getting on to #5 I have the Tris Speaker SP, from 2009 Topps (what a year!)

On #6 is one of the many Stephen Strasburg RC variation

I still cannot see him as such a star...but ok.

Now the first Yankee in the house is #7

Well...technically Alex Rodrigues RC card is not a Yankee card, but I take what I get!

And this is one of my favourite Upper Deck sets. It has such good photos!

#8 is the one and only Mickey Mouse! And now in truly Yankees mode!

Ok..this is a cute card.

And also at #8 it's Cal Ripken

You see...Mickey Mouse and Cal Ripken tied.

And I must say that this insert set is one of the ugliest... I can see it working with a relic, but this way, it's just a waste of card space..

And closing top 10 we have two giants

Again Ripken with a Yankee, but not Mickey Mouse. This time around is the insert Timeless Talents with The Captain Jeter.

That's a nice top10 by price. Lets see how it changes when I add more cards.

Simple piece of wood

This piece of wood may have come from one of the chairs in Topps HQ.

But sure it looks good on the card.

World Series card

I was hopping for them to win the WS because of this.

Since I got this card I paid a bit more attention to Royals.


That's the magic of collecting cards. You got to notice teams and players that makes you change the perception of the game and their players.

Hit? It's a relic for what it is

A few time ago I bought one of those repack boxes and this one stated that, besides the 10 factory sealed packs I'd get as well 2 authentic jersey cards!

I like repack boxes specially because I still have yet to get tire of getting wax packs and stuff like that.

I'm still many cards away to get worried that these repack boxes only bring me more dups.

So that is all that matter, really, getting packs of sets I'd probably never heard before or that I've heard but didn't managed to get cards of them.

That Turkey Red pack was enough for me to buy this box.

More than the 'relic' cards.

But! If they were coming my way I was not the one to let them outside my door.

So, while I still have to process those packs and so I already can show you what 'relics' I got.

Looking at the box I thought, I'd like to get that Jeter card.

Did I?...

Two envelops were inside the box...can you feel the suspense!?

And YES!

I didn't get the Derek Jeter card that was on the box cover but I still got a Jeter jersey card!

But then I look again to the repack box again an to the card and I finally noticed that it's not a relic card by itself.

The Jeter card is framed in a bigger cardboard and the jersey patch too.

If there was doubtfulness around relic cards having this one in my hand makes it even more...

But at least the Jeter card is cool and I didn't have it.

Lets see what it's on the back.

Ohhhh it has instructions to let us set the card as a true frame.

And look closely...What is written?

Jersey from card manufacturer or secondary market!?

MUAHAHAH

From one of your old shirts that is!

But if I was laughing already with the Jeter 'relic' card I opened the second envelop and saw this.

Sammy Sosa card.

Ohhhhhh wait!

Sammy Sosa e-Card with the code already scratched!

Can you get more 'relic' than this!?

The back states the same instructions to get the frame working on the stand and again where the jersey patch might have come...

But look again, closely to the magnificent of this card.

First the scratched e-Card code...

...and then the jersey patch.

These two are my most precious 'relic cards' in my whole-right-now-and-future-to-come-collection!

Unless I get an other of these repack boxes.

Two relics bonus

I buy stuff and the seller present me with some bonus. Here's two relic cards he got me.

I've searched for it and found products from 2004 and 2005.

That was a great product that I'd like to buy some packs. Haven't found them yet.

The seller already presented me in the past with other Cracker Jack relic card, a Teixeira bat card. This time around is a Posada jersey.

If it is grey that it's from the away uniform. I'd love to have a jersey card with a pinstripe patch.

And I miss Posada. I love seeing Cervelli catching but Posada was a true Yankee.

And speaking of Teixeira...The other card is a Teixeira T60 jersey card. A away jersey patch again.

I've looked it up and found there are two. One form Series 1 and other from Series 2.

I must say I like this one better.

I put relic cards on binders. I only have two binders pages with relic cards so you see that's not my goal in the hobby, but don't they look awesome!?

2008 Upper Deck Artifacts - A Piece of History (they say...) II

So lets see the so called hits I got in the box.

And I got a (base) numbered Timeless Moments insert card of Chipper Jones.

Since he was the main star retiring last year is just great to get his card.

The thing about this kind of cards (the same happens with Topps) is that the middle spot, right where is the '3B' looks really designed to show a bat or jersey patch.

I usually look to the numbering to see if I can spot some kind of 'algorithm' to it.

And this card is a great example.

The card number is 244 and the total number of cards available are 699.

So we have an even number to start (2xx and 6xx) and then two equal numbers (x44 and x99),

Should the card number end in two equal odd numbers and the card would be awesome!

(Yep, I'm that geek!)

And the assured hit in the box is a (base) Stadium Scene jersey patch of Jim Thome.

I know that this patch might have come from the dusting fabric from the Upper Deck offices.

But is not that that makes me grit my teeth.

Is the fact that the jersey patch is a different colour from the one in the photo.

Make it the same uniform colour in the photo and I might think it is really from the pictured uniform.


I got happy with the 'hits'. And I think I might go and spend some money on comc.com to finish the set.

More packs on the mail

Besides the packs I got as a birthday present from my parents, I also got more packs as a birthday present from me to myself.

I like to spoil my inner child.

These are the result: 7 '89 Topps packs plus 8 '88 Fleer packs.

Wax is just great!

I'll just hope the gum did not destroy the top card.

And since these junk wax came from one of my favourite eBay sellers he got me an extra.

Jorge Posada Topps Cracker Jack jersey relic!

I miss Posada.

eBay shopping can drive a woman crazy!

Womens are known to like shopping...a lot.

And are known for shopping a lot and spending a lot of money.

I'm no different and I do the same for cards as I do for cloths.

So can you help me giving me the men inside view!?

I'm torn between buying some specific cards or buying packs.

The packs are 2003 Upper Deck MVP hobby packs. Each pack brings 8 cards. And each costs 2.20€.

The main thing about them are the fact they are hobby packs and I can get something 'different'.

And other fact is that surprise thing that comes along opening packs.

The specific cards have 2 players cards I collect (Teixeira and Markakis) and other stuff:

• 1 Mark Teixeira 2011 Topps Tier One  (numbered)

• 1 Nick Markakis 2008 Sweet Spot Swatches Game Used Baseball Card

• 1 Mickey Mantle 2012 Topps Gold Standard
• 1 Brandon Webb 2010 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Relic (jersey)
• 1 Paul Molitor 2011 Topps Triple Threads Emerald (numbered)
• 4 Cal Ripken Jr. cards
• 3 Upper Deck Piece of History numbered cards

What would you do? Have fun opening some packs which are hobby and expect to get something cool, or play safe and invest in some specific cards to add to personal collection?

Relic hits

I'm new to this sports trading cards thing and all this relic and super-hyper-mega cards, like the numbered auto plus relic cards is a bit lunatic.

Panini stickers are all the same. So when I get a base card, the most common one I'm that happy!

But then I see all these special cards people get all the time and show on Twitter that makes me think I really live too far away from this world.
I like relic cards and I do have a couple of them and for sure I look for them in every pack I buy but I never get sooooooo lucky like those collectors. But probably is just because I cannot buy boxes and packs like them.

All these Bowman madness  of super cards I don't get it. If people only care about relic super 1/1 cards why produce other kinds?
The exclusiveness Topps got from MLB is a sign of this. More inflation cards. People only caring about super relic cards and the other base products loosing their quality because Topps only care about the premium products where they can get more $$$.

None the less here is one of my relic cards, a Bobby Abreu 2004 All-Star game used jersey. (I believe in them saying is an authentic one ;))