Through the Mail Success - Tedy Bruschi

Player Name: Tedy Bruschi
Player’s Current Team: New England Patriots

Player’s Current Address: One Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA 02035
Date Sent out: 10/8/08
Date Returned: 12/15/08 (68 days)
Why go after this autograph: This one is a sweet and meaningful autograph for me.  You see when I was a college aged chemgod, I went the the University of Arizona [...]

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So I decided to start this sleeper report mainly for fantasy players out there. Although a lot of the guys on my list are going to be sleepers to the general baseball fan, they may not be to your typical baseball card fan. So please hold your comments about prospects in an organization. [...]

Continue reading about Team by Team Sleeper Report - Atlanta Braves »

Player Name: Frank Thomas
Card Sets: 1990 Bowman, Leaf, Fleer Update, Score, and Topps
Card Numbers: 320, 300, U87, 663, and 414 respectively
Why are these cards must have?: How mad are you if you are a White Sox fan? You had Sosa and Thomas on the same team?  Even more rude is that for Sosa you got [...]

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Player Name: Sammy Sosa
Card Sets: 1990 Bowman, Leaf, Donruss, Fleer, Score, Topps and Upper Deck
Card Numbers: 312, 220, 489, 548, 558, 692, and 17 respectively
Why are these cards must have?: This is a hard one to do a review of.  I mean his numbers are astounding.  His demeanour is as good as it can get.  [...]

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This weekend was a dud and it looks like more of the same this week. Hopefully something will give in over the next few weeks. Once baseball gets back into the swing of things the free signings should increase. Here are this week’s free signings:
1/7/09

Scott Bradley - Hockey - 7pm - ? [...]

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Player Name: Omar Vizquel
Card Sets: 1989 Donruss Rookies, Fleer Update, Score Rookies, Topps Traded and Upper Deck
Card Numbers: 53, 62, 105T, 122T, and 787
Why are these cards must have?: When you think Omar Vizquel, what comes to mind? For me it was nothing much until I looked at his bio on baseball reference. Seven of [...]

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I am not only a big baseball card collector, but I also play fantasy baseball.  One of my secrets for fantasy baseball is after the studs have been taken in the first 3 rounds, to find and unearth the rough gems that are ready to be cut.  Last year I spoke in volume about Chase [...]

Continue reading about Team by Team Sleeper Report - Toronto Blue Jays »

Player Name: Steve Finley
Card Sets: 1989 Bowman, Donruss Rookies, Fleer Update, Score Rookies and Upper Deck
Card Numbers: 15, 47, 3, 95T, and 742
Why are these cards must have?: Steve is one of those guys that kind of sneaks up on you. He had a fairly interesting career, going from a mostly speedster to a home [...]

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Not much going on this weekend.  I hope we get some signings soon this one is pretty weak:
1/4/09

Jerry Korab - TBA - United Center, 1901 West Madison St, Chicago, Illinois (hockey)

That is it!  I guess now that football season is over and baseball season is still at least a month away.  Good luck with this [...]

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Player Name: Deion Sanders
Card Sets: 1989 Clasic Travel, Donruss Rookies, Fleer Update, and Topps Traded
Card Numbers: 200, 6, U53, and 110T
Why are these cards must have?: You don’t have to have amazing stats to be on this list, just look at Billy Ripken. He wasn’t a great hitter, but man could he steal bases. [...]

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My wife and I are big hockey fans. We have NHL Center Ice and watch nearly a game a night, if not more on some nights. I like to follow several teams, but one that I have really started to enjoy watching lately is the Chicago Blackhawks. Which is why both my wife [...]

Continue reading about Winter Classic? More Like Winter Dud! »

I am not only a big baseball card collector, but I also play fantasy baseball.  One of my secrets for fantasy baseball is after the studs have been taken in the first 3 rounds, to find and unearth the rough gems that are ready to be cut.  Last year I spoke in volume about Chase [...]

Continue reading about Team by Team Sleeper Report - Houston Astros »

Player Name: Billy Ripken
Card Sets: 1989 Fleer
Card Numbers: 616
Why are these cards must have?: How fitting is it that Billy’s card came up for review on New Year’s day, officially it can be said it’s the 20 year anniversary.  This would be the grand daddy of all error cards.  Sure there have been some “error” [...]

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I am not only a big baseball card collector, but I also play fantasy baseball.  One of my secrets for fantasy baseball is after the studs have been taken in the first 3 rounds, to find and unearth the rough gems that are ready to be cut.  Last year I spoke in volume about Chase [...]

Continue reading about Team by Team Sleeper Report - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim »

Player Name: Gary Sheffield
Card Sets: 1989 Donruss
Card Numbers: 635
Why are these cards must have?: I write this one through gritted teeth.  I have never been a fan of Schilling, but I am man enough to admit that he is one hell of a pitcher.  I don’t like whiners and throughout his entire career, except maybe [...]

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A new feature I wanted to try out is a team by team sleeper report.  I am not only a big baseball card collector, but I also play fantasy baseball.  One of my secrets for fantasy baseball is after the tuds have been taken in the first 3 rounds, to find and unearth the rough [...]

Continue reading about Team by Team Sleeper Report - Oakland A’s »

Player Name: Randy Johnson
Card Sets: 1989 Topps, Score ,Upper Deck, Fleer, Donruss, and Topps Traded
Card Numbers: 647, 645, 25, 381, 42, and 57T respectively
Why are these cards must have?: Randy was this tall lanky pitcher who had an absolute cannon for an arm, but had zero control. The Mariners desperately needed an arm that could [...]

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In case you have missed it or haven’t been to Ben Henry’s Baseball Card blog <link> in a while, he is shutting down shop as of 1/1/09. Ben has inspired many of us out there to write baseball and sports card blogs. If it wasn’t for Chris at Stale Gum, Mario from Wax [...]

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Player Name: Gary Sheffield
Card Sets: 1989 Topps, Score ,Upper Deck, Fleer, Donruss, and Bowman
Card Numbers: 343, 625, 13, 196, 31, and 142 respectively
Why are these cards must have?: I remember many years ago seeing that Topps brace face card and giggling.  Notice of all the rookie cards that’s the only one that showed his teeth.  [...]

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Sorry about this weekend’s listings, I was off celebrating the holidays with family. So instead we start off the week of the new year with some great signings! Also I am going to change the format to days of the week instead of sorted by sport. Since on my end it’s a bit easier, [...]

Continue reading about Free Autograph Signings - Week of 12/29/08 »

Player Name: Ken Griffey Jr.
Card Sets: Topps Traded, Score: Rookie/Traded ,Upper Deck, Fleer, Donruss, and Bowman
Card Numbers: 41T, 100T, 1, 32, 548, and 220 respectively
Why are these cards must have?: Griffey Jr. may very well go down as one of the greatest hitters of all time.  Sure he had his share of disappointing injuries and [...]

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Player: Robin Ventura
Set: 1988 Topps Traded
Card Number: 124T
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: Many are going fail to see why I put him on this list. Ventura might just be one of the better third basemen of the late 80s and most of the 90s.  Did you know he won 6 Gold Gloves, had [...]

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Player: Jay Buhner
Set: 1988 Topps Traded, Donruss, Score: Rookies
Card Number: 21T,545, and 95T respectively
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: As a Yankee fan in 1988 it was heartbreaking to watch Buhner who showed so much potential in that season and the previous one get traded for who. . . (OK Sienfeld fans, scream [...]

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Player Name: Harold Baines
Player’s Current Team: Retired (Chicago White Sox / Baltimore Orioles / Oakland / Texas /Cleveland)

Player’s Current Address: Po Box 10, Saint Michaels, MD, 21663
Date Sent out: 8/17/08
Date Returned: 12/22/08 (125 days)
Why go after this autograph: I’ve always been a big proponent of  Harold Baines.  I would like to see him in [...]

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Player: JimAbbott
Set: 1988 Topps Traded
Card Number: 1T
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: A few of you out there on Christmas day are wondering, why would I ever put Jim Abbott on this list? I’m doing because it’s real difficult to pitch in major league baseball with two hands, but Jim needed only one. [...]

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Player: Tino Martinez
Set: 1988 Topps Traded
Card Number: 66T
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: As a New York Yankees fan, it was hard for me to accept Tino as a Yankee as he was replacing a legend at first base in Don Mattingly. But in 1996 Tino came in and did just that, almost stat [...]

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Player Name: Curtis Granderson
Player’s Current Team:Detroit Tigers

Player’s Current Address: c/o Detroit Tigers
Date Sent out: 8/17/08
Date Returned: 9/25/08 (39 days)
Why go after this autograph: I had noticed in several forums that I visit that Curtis was real good about doing TTM’s. So I decided to give it a go, after all he was one [...]

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Player: John Smoltz
Set: 1988 Fleer Update
Card Number: 74
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: Now I am not a Detroit Tigers fan, but what in the world were they thinking giving up on him?  I mean the trade was him for Doyle Alexander.  In the end it was a short term good move since [...]

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Player Name: Anthony Carter
Player’s Current Team: Retired (Minnesota Vikings/Detroit Lions/Michigan Panthers)

Player’s Current Address: 4314 Danielson Dr, Lake Worth, Fl. 33467
Date Sent out: 9/17/08
Date Returned: 11/20/08 (63 days)
Why go after this autograph: I was a huge fan of the USFL in the mid 80s. Anthony Carter was one of the premier players in [...]

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Here is a look at this week’s free autograph signings for baseball, football and hockey.
Baseball
12/22/08

CC Sabathia - 4pm - 6pm - Toyota Vallejo, 1001 Admiral Callaghan Ln, Vallejo, California

Football
12/22/08

Buck Belue - 6pm - 7pm - Jillian’s: Discover Mills, Discover Mills, Atlanta, Georgia
Ovie Mughelli - 6pm - 7pm - Jillian’s: Discover Mills, Discover Mills, Atlanta, Georgia
Doug [...]

Continue reading about Free Autograph Signings - Week of 12/22/08 »

Player: Craig Biggio
Set: 1988 Fleer Update and Score: Rookies / Traded
Card Numbers: 89Uand 103T respectively
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: When I was a little chemgod I remember going to Shea Stadium and seeing the Mets play the Astros.  It was Biggio’s rookie year and here he was this scrawny catcher.  He [...]

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Player Name: Mark Grace
Player’s Current Team: Retired (Chicago Cubs /Arizona Diamondbacks)

Player’s Current Address: 5624 E Via Buena Vis, Paradise Valley, AZ, 85253
Date Sent out: 10/7/08
Date Returned: 12/1/08 (24 days)
Why go after this autograph: Here is another one I never thought that I would be getting back. Growing up I was always a [...]

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Player: Edgar Martinez
Set: 1988 Fleer and Donruss: The Rookies
Card Numbers: 378 and 36 respectively
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: An AL scout once said there is no way to prepare for Edgar Martinez.  He is one of the most advanced hitters he had ever seen.  Just when you have him figured out he [...]

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Handcollated first started talking about this in his blog (link).  The major problem with the Upper Deck Exclusive deal with the NHLPA and the NHL is the release of rookies.  I mean I have tons of other problems with the sets, but the truth is obtaining rookie cards is what is grinding my gears. Upper [...]

Continue reading about The Hockey Quandry - The Short Print Rookie Card »

Player: Al Leiter
Set: 1988 Topps, Fleer Update, Score Rookie, Donruss: the rookies and Donruss
Card Numbers: 18, 49U, 97T, 27 and 43 respectively
Why are These Cards a Must Have?: Well we go from one of my favorite moments in Yankee history to one of the worst.  The day that the Yankees traded Leiter was so [...]

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