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Offseason acquisitions


There were so many comments on the last post about finding "hits" in retail packs/blasters that I thought I'd display another "retail" card, which came from a repack box bought at WalMart about two years ago.

It's not as exciting as the Podres auto, but it's still pretty good for a repack box, especially now that Chutley is a Series champion. I just wish it was an authentic Phillies jersey instead of an "Authentic All-Star Workout-Used Jersey." (That conjures up visions of bat boys digging through piles of used, sweaty workout clothes to give a soaked undershirt to Mr. Topps man. "Hey, Jimmy, I'll give you 10 bucks if you go fetch me Ryan Howard's sock.").

If you haven't read some of the comments on what collectors consider their best "hits" out of retail packs, take a look at the last post. There's some good stuff there. Feel free to add your own story, too.

I feel like such a shill for retail stores when I write posts like this, but, believe me, that's not my intent. My intent is simply to make people aware that there are "hits" to be had at retail outlets. Yes, your chances are vastly better buying hobby boxes. But a lot of people are forced, because of time, limited access, money or location, to build their collection through retail buys.

And then there are people like Jason of The Writer's Journey, who had my favorite comment when he said: "I'm not in it for the 'hits.'" Amen, brother Jason. Neither am I.

I like the autos, but I definitely know if all autos, GUs and assorted other "stadium seat/infield dirt" crap disappeared forever, I would buy the exact same number of cards I buy now. Probably more, because the cost of producing cards would go down.

Anyway, on to the point of the blog title, which is not to talk about the Dodgers' offseason acquisitions (the Dodgers signed Shawn Estes to a minor league deal Friday. Whoopee!). It's to talk about some more offseason CARD acquisitions.

First up is a Magglio Ordonez Upper Deck jersey card that I won in one of Matt F.'s many contests during his 50-post spree just over a week ago at Heartbreaking Cards. I wonder if Matt got this at a retail store. Hmmm.

Matt's "hit" cards always arrive in the mail in fancy screwdown cases. I'm going to have to take Ordonez out of the case and put something like a Ripken rookie in there. No offense, Maggie, but you're not Cal.

I received the Jackie Robinson Stadium Club card from Laurens at Card Buzz in a quick one-for-one swap (he got the Mickey Mantle SC card). The white line on the bottom of this card is annoying the heck out of me. I had hoped this was just a single-card glitch, but I received another Robinson card on Thursday in another trade (post upcoming on that), and the same white line was on that card. So, I fear it's on all of them. Bummer.

Still, any card of Jackie is a nice card. No autograph or jersey swatch required.

Comments

Dave said…
You're telling me that Shawn Estes is still an active player? Wow...
Sooz said…
Mine has the white line too.
dayf said…
My Jackies have the line as well.
deal said…
Yep I have only opened 4 packs of Stadium Club and 2 of them had the Jackie with the white line. Both backs had Honus Wagner and ERic Chavez - thus ended my meager interest in Stadium Club.