Another Great Pacific Northwest Trade

If you haven't made a trade with Kerry from Cards on Cards yet--what are you waiting for? My neighbor to the south has provided me with many of my favorite Mariners and Griffey cards, and this trade package was no exception. This is what he sent in the latest installment:

2009 UD Spectrum Rick Ankiel: Yes I know there aren't that many UD Spectrum fans out there, but I'm a sucker for anything shiny. It's nice to see Ankiel get the chance to play for a contender in Atlanta--if he could top off his amazing transition with a World Series it would truly be story book quality.

1992 Arena Holograms Ken Griffey Jr.: Kerry sent me two of these, one opened and another unopened in the original pack. I'm not quite sure what ever happened to Arena Holograms, but anyone who makes Griffey cards is okay in my book.

2010 Topps Chicle Stan Musial: For the most part, Topps Chicle was an utter abomination--an affront to the beautiful world God created. But, a few cards did turn out well. This is one of them.

1997 Fleer Ultra Ken Griffey Jr.: The baseball card world is a lesser place without Fleer Ultra just as baseball is a lesser sport without Ken Griffey Jr. This card may make me cry.

2002 Upper Deck Game Swatches Edgar Martinez: It seems like Kerry is a magnet to Edgar jersey cards, because I think this is around the 3rd or 4th he's sent me (not that there's anything wrong with that). I wish I was a magnet to Albert Pujols or Matt Holliday cards so I could return the favor.


Thanks for the great cards Kerry! Good luck Ducks!

A Wild and Wacky Trade with Cards on Cards

I'm finally starting to get caught back up in the trade winds and one of my best trade partners of all-time, Cards on Cards, came through with another solid assortment of Griffey's and other goodies. Here's a gander at what Kerry sent my way:

1995 Leaf Limited Ken Griffey Jr: Did anyone else see that Ken Griffey Jr. Nike ad during the HR Derby? Nearly brought me to tears--and I only wish I was joking. Solid looking mid-90's card of the Kid in his prime. Goodbye baseball. Hello Cooperstown.

2007 UD First Edition Kevin Durant RC: With all the prima donnas in today's NBA (here's looking at you LeBron) it's refreshing to see a player like Kevin Durant who works hard and find's the spotlight for the right reasons. I was lucky to enough to see the Durantula play in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane and knew he would be a star--but never expected him to be so good so soon. Feel free to send any cards you pull of him my way.

2009 UD First Edition Ken Griffey Jr. Starquest: Yes it seems sacrilegious to see Griffey in a White Sox uniform, but I needed this card to fill out a page of the Kid playing for the North Siders. I still need one more, so a take a look on my Zistle page when I update it.

2007 Topps Finest Saer Sene RC Refractor Auto: I'm not quite sure what to make of this card. I was always a Sonics fan, and still feel drawn towards the Zombie Sonics, but Saer Sene isn't exactly a household name; in fact, he isn't even in the NBA anymore (shocker--a center drafted by Seattle that didn't pan out). Hopefully Kerry wasn't take a dig at me because his Trail Blazers are doing so good. Whatever the case, it's quite the unique collectible.

This One's For (From) the Birds: A Trade with Kerry from Cards on Cards

My Pacific Northwest trading partner, Kerry from Cards on Cards, sent a great package of Griffeys, Mariners, Rick Ankiels and Stan Musials my way recently. The weather has been fantastic here lately after a few weeks of grey skies and these cards made my good mood even better. Spring Training just has a way of making things right in the world. Here are a sampling of the cards I received:

1991 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr/Barry Bonds: This card has it all; garish yellow borders, a small-headed Barry Bonds, a stadium I don't recognize (Wrigley Field?) and of course, Ken Griffey Jr. It sure is strange how differently their careers turned out.

1990 Topps Toys "R" Us Ken Griffey Jr: Believe it or not I never once visited a Toys "R" Us during my childhood. This card helps ease the pain, at least a little.

2000 Fleer Tradition Rick Ankiel Who To Watch: Since the time he was a young pitcher Rick Ankiel has always been one of my favorite players. I believed he was too talented to be out of baseball after acquiring Steve Blass Disease (or Chuck Knoblauch Syndrome) and sure enough he fought his way back to the majors as a hitter. A truly incredible player...I hope he has a strong season with the Royals.

2007-08 Fleer Kevin Durant RC: This card is a bittersweet reminder of the one year that Kevin Durant spent in Seattle as a Supersonic. I had the privilege of watching him play in the NCAA Tournament as a freshman at Texas, and though I could tell he was talented, I didn't think he would be ticketed for NBA stardom so quickly. He also owns the best current nickname in sports---"The Durantula". Please come back to Seattle, please!

2004 Topps Edgar Martinez All-Star Jersey: I like All-Star jerseys because they are at least somewhat limited (600-700 swatches?) and are tied to a specific event. I always give the Edgars I get in trades to one of my twin brothers and he is really starting to accumulate a nice collection of Gars. Martinez looks like he just smelled a fart in the photo.

Thanks Kerry! As always, any Cardinals I pull are headed your way. Good luck to the Blazers!

Trade with Kerry from Cards on Cards

This is a long overdue trade post from a swap I completed weeks ago with Kerry from Cards on Cards. In my defense, I was trying to purchase a scanner so I could improve the quality of my posts, but had trouble finding a model priced right. Eventually I just caved and got an HP All-in-One, and these cards were the inaugural scans. Kerry lives in my neck of the woods (Pacific Northwest), but is a Cardinals fan, and I've got plenty to spare. In return for some St. Lunatics, Kerry sent over some Mariners, Griffeys and Roy Halladays. Here are some of my favorite from the trade:

2002 Upper Deck Jeff Cirillo Game Jersey #263/350: Despite having a successful career with the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers, Jeff Cirillo never cut it as a third baseman for the Mariners, failing miserably at the plate in his two seasons in Seattle. I still like the card though, because it came from a time when jerseys were still difficult to obtain, and it features a nice large swatch of jersey (even if it does have a Rockies' pinstripe).

2006 Topps Hit Parade Ken Griffey Jr: Kerry actually sent over two Griffeys from this insert set, this card in a grey reds jersey which showed Junior second on the active career HR's list, and another which showed the Kid second the active career RBI's list (both second to Bonds). I always liked these inserts and was a little disappointed that Topps discontinued them. Shiny Griffey always = success!

Ken Griffey Jr. San Bernardino Spirit Oddball Card: Kerry also sent over a bunch of unlicensed, oddball Griffeys from his early days with the Mariners, and in this case, the Spirit of San Bernardino. There was a glut of oddball Griffeys back in the early 1990s when his popularity was at its apex, and I always enjoy cards of him from his short stint in the minor leagues.

Thanks for all the great cards Kerry and sorry it took so long for me to get them up (and sorry about the NL Cy Young debacle). I will be sending some more Cardinals your way soon!

Movin' and a Shakin': Trades with Kerry from Cards on Cards and Brian from Texas

I just completed my 4th and 5th trades since starting First Day Issue and I have got to say, baseball card collecting has never been more fun for me. The town I live in is about an hour away from the nearest card shop (which is on the way to nowhere), so I have been limited to eBay and stores like Target, Shopko and Walmart during the course of my collecting career. Even worse than that though, is the fact I have never had anyone to share my love of the hobby with. Most of my friends growing up stopped collecting years ago and though I don't feel like an outsider at all, it has been nice to discover a group of people who have a similar love and passion for baseball cards. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by my blog and encouraged me (yes Nightowl, I'm looking at you) and to all those who have been willing to trade with me. What can I say, I'm finally having a good time!

Now on to the trades. The first group of cards came from Kerry who can be found at Cards on Cards (the man loves birds; he is both a Cardinals and Oregon Ducks fan). Kerry sent me a great assortment of M's and Griffeys, here are some of my favorites:

2008 Topps Finest Ichiro Black Refractor #81/99 (shiny Ichiro! Refractorized! Serially # to 99! Yes please!)

2007 UD Masterpieces Roy Halladay Captured on Canvas Jersey (I have a feeling Doc Halladay will 2-hit the Mariners tonight...but at least I like the guy)

2008 Topps Stadium Club Ken Griffey Jr. (No matter what uniform Junior wears, my love for him never wains...uh, I mean, I like how he plays the game.)

The second batch of Mariners, Griffeys, Ankiels, Halladays and Mauers came from Brian out of Texas. Brian is on the cusp of starting his own blog, let's keep prodding him until he does. Here's some of my favorites from Bry-Guy:

2001 SP Game Used Edition Edgar Martinez Jersey (If you're an M's fan it is impossible not to love this guy; a consumate professional with a knack for clutch hits. Future HOF??)

2001 SP Game Used Edition Rick Ankiel Jersey (A game-used card of my favorite pitcher turned hitter turned pitcher again if he keeps hitting .230. Great fielder though.)

1994 Collector's Choice Ken Griffey Jr. (Brian sent me about 10 Juniors I don't have, which is no easy task, and this was a runaway favorite. Great photo, almost Goodwin Champions-esque.)

Thanks to both Kerry and Brian for these great cards! I will be sending some Cardinals and Rangers out to both of you soon...stay tuned.