A Few Goodies from the Local Card Shop

I didn't realize until recently that there was a card shop around where I lived, although it doesn't carry any wax, just singles and supplies. Still, it was nice to browse through some cards that weren't mine (I've seen them a few thousand times) and I found some nice cards in a 25 cent box. I'll probably head back there sometime again to find cards for trades (haven't done that in a while). Here's what I got yesterday for a quarter a pop:

2008 Topps Heritage Stan Musial Flashbacks: I'm not a Cardinals fan but I've always felt myself drawn to Stan "the Man" Musial. Someday I like to get an autograph of him; you know, when I have money and all.

2006 Upper Deck Special FX Albert Pujols Player Highlights: Not even a Cubs' fan could say no to a shiny Pujols for a quarter. Come to think of it, shiny Pujols sounds kind of dirty--I'll try to avoid that word combination moving forward.

2006 Fleer Josh Johnson RC: Josh Johnson was the anchor of my fantasy team's pitching staff last year and thus gained a special place in my heart. The kid's got a bright future.

2006 Topps Chrome Ben Zobrist RC #173/599: I thought this was just a base chrome rookie of Zorilla but when I flipped it over I saw the serial number and realized that it must have been one of the box topper rookies. I'll never complain about paying a quarter for a nice rookie of my favorite Ray, even though he's not quite playing like himself yet. But hey, it could be worse. He could be playing for the Mariners...

Well, nothing too exciting but I think I picked up some nice cards for the price of a gumball. It's nice to know someone else likes baseball cards where I live; I feel so alone sometimes. Thanks for looking and have a stellar weekend!

Tracking Down Zorilla: My Favorite Ben Zobrists

Besides Ken Griffey Jr, my favorite current baseball player is easily Tampa Bay's superlative shortstop/second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist, due in no small part to the fact that he carried my fantasy team to a third place finish. The "Zorilla" had a breakout season at the plate, hitting .297 with 27 HR's, 91 RBI's and 17 SB's. His versatility makes him invaluable to the Rays, and his keen batting eye led to a robust .405 OBP. There's nothing this scat cat can't do, and hopefully card manufacturers will recognize this and start featuring him in some more of their products. He doesn't have that many cards to date, but here are my favorites so far:

2007 Topps Triple Threads Bat/Auto #55/99: This card, just like Zobrist, is a dual threat, combining both game-used bat pieces and an autograph. This is my first card from Triple Threads, and while I am impressed with this particular card, I don't think I could ever stomach buying a whole box of it. Still, a cool early issue of this budding superstar.

2008 Topps Updates and Highlights Black Parallel #57/57: I've never pulled a black parallel from a pack, but I was more than happy to pick this up for a song on eBay, especially considering it was numbered #57/57 (A true one-of-one! Please know I am being sarcastic). I like the black border but it has some issues with chipping and certainly wouldn't grade out very well.

2007 Topps Chrome Red Refractor #9/99: You can never go wrong with refractor technology, especially when combined with a low serial number. I wasn't aware that there were red refractors in 2007 Topps Chrome...they definitely look better in this year's set (which for some strange reason, Zobrist wasn't a part of).

2008 Topps Heritage Black Chrome Refractor #3/59: This is probably my favorite Zobrist to date, as it combines a vintage card with modern technology. This card is the most I have spent on a Zobrist ($15), more than twice what I paid for the Triple Threads, which is a real testament to collectors love for Heritage. Who can blame them, it's a beauty?

Well, those are my favorites so far, hopefully 2010 will bring a bevy of new Zobrists to collect.

Card of the Week: 2008 Topps Heritage Ben Zobrist Chrome Refractor #49/559

I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for a good story, and Tampa Bay's Ben Zobrist is just that. A relatively unknown player coming into the season, Zobrist shocked the baseball world by making the All-Star team in his first season as a full-time player. The one-time utility player took over at second base when Akinori Iwamura went down with an injury and hasn't looked back since. The sweet swinging switch hitter is currently sitting on a line of .289-19 HR-60 RBI-14 SB-.405 OBP and is a major reason why my fantasy baseball team is still in contention after the loss of Jose Reyes (may he and the Mets rest in peace). Still only 28, Zobrist should have many productive seasons ahead of him and will likely be one of my biggest collecting targets moving forward. He's fun to watch, can play anywhere on the field and seems like a genuinely nice guy. What's not to like?

The card itself is a real beauty. I have been a fan of Topps Heritage since its inception in 2001 and the set continues to please set-collectors and old-school fans alike. This particular Zobrist comes from the Topps Heritage Update set and is based on the classic design of 1959 Topps. I love the retro design of these cards, but I also like that Topps incorporates elements of current cards. Most people would think that adding modern technology to a timeless treasure like '59 Topps would screw it up, but au contraire mon frere! This chrome-refractory piece of Zobrist goodness would attract crows from miles away, but otherwise doesn't deviate away from the look and feel of a 50-year-old set. It's the best of today combined with a piece of baseball card history...and it just so happens to be my new favorite Ben Zobrist.

Comments? Concerns? Questions? What do you think of Topps Heritage Chrome and Chrome Refractors? Love 'em of hate 'em? Is Zobrist the greatest thing since chocolate oranges?