Welcome to Motown, Ian Kinsler

Ian Kinsler is the newest Tiger from the trading of Prince Fielder to Texas. I like this trade overall.  It gives Detroit more flexibility on and off the field
And here is my Ian Kinsler rookie card. I was lucky enough to pull it out of a pack in 2005 while hoping to get other rookies that year. A loaded rookie class of Kinsler, Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman, Troy Tulowitzki, Jered Weaver, Jacoby Ellsbury, Andrew McCutchen, Matt Kemp, Jay Bruce and others.

2005 Bowman

Latest Dime Box pickups including an absolute steal

I went to the local card shop earlier this week and pick up some nice cards from the dime boxes. Plus one absolute steal. First some normal ones I am proud of:
rookie year card that chronicles of his amazing feats:

1986 Donruss Highlights

 Rookie card of the Tigers new hitting coach:

1986 Topps Traded

Big Unit's final year card with his complete stats on back:

2010 Topps

couple rookie cards. one of a current player and one of a former player

2010 Topps

1998 Fleer Tradition

I have always been a big fan of Mike Lowell, probably because he was good player and a cancer survivor.  Or maybe just because he was Boston's no nonsense alternative to the Yankees circus that is ARod.

And for my steal of the century. I picked this up for a dime. For me, he is the second best all around  catcher in MLB right now. My Buster Posey rookie card:

2010 Topps Allen & Ginter

If I Ran Topps.....

I am going to take a break from the regular scheduled program and discuss something that has been on my mind.  I think Topps does a great job with their base Topps set, but I would do a few things differently.  I am going to preface this by stating that along with a baseball card collector, I consider myself a bit of a historian also.  So my ideas lean towards the historical side of the game.

One thing that really annoys me with the hobby is pointless insert sets.  Some oddly shaped or high glossy/crazy designed set that the collector suppose to chase.  For example, the 2013 Topps Cut to the Chase set or the tons of 1990s inserts in various sets.  The only redeeming value of these sets is that it gives an excuse to put a superstar in a chase set.  I want inserts to be more collectible and historical/information based.  Let me explain...

Do you realize that for the 2012 baseball season, we witnessed a perfect game(Felix Hernandez), a 4 home run game(Josh Hamilton) and a Triple Crown winner(Miguel Cabrera).   Not sure if this all occurred before in one season.  Regardless, Topps did nothing to celebrate this.  Each has been done around a dozen times before.  How about a chase set for each feat that includes all the players who previously accomplished it.  I know the average collector will not be excited for inserts of Len Barker(perfect game) or Bob Horner(4 hr game), but then again, if a person want a collection of all the players who hit four home runs in a game, this would be cool way to get it.  Plus, for example, Indian fans would probably like another Len Barker or a Rocky Colavito card in their collection.
Want more star power?  How about a chase set features each of the All Star game starters designed after the glossy all stars sets of the 1980s.  It is an appealing way to get another card of Mike Trout or Miguel Cabrera.  Or how about a gold bordered parallel of the base card of each Gold Glove winner and silver for the Silver Sluggers.  Either could be a separate insert set or even a shortprint version of the regular issue.  The last two chase sets would be great if you would go for a master set.  One can go back and easily see who did well that season and  won awards.   Speaking of which, how about jersey or auto inserts of the award winners and/or record breakers?

The movie "42" was released in theaters with much fanfare and praise.  Yet Topps, nor any other company, did nothing to commemorate this.  How about a set that feature Jackie and his 1947 Brooklyn Dodger teammmates?  or a set that showcases other Negro League players who debuted in MLB soon after Robinson.  It would allow a new generation of baseball fans and collectors learn about some players of the past.
One final thing I would do differently is for the update set.  I enjoy getting the new rookies and players who changed teams during the season as a part of the update series, but the all star subset can be overabundant and bit annoying. I would make them more collectible.  Instead of a bio on the back, I would include the player's career All Star game stats including that year's results.

I know I am probably a minority with my ideas.  But for me at least, I think each Topps set would be more collectible and uniquely different each year instead of a having an eyesore of chase set that features the same dozen or so superstars each year.  What are your thoughts? Intersesting to see if other collectors side with me.

Trade with a fellow blogger

I recently pulled off my first ever trade with fellow baseball card collecting blogger. Shane over at Off The Wall . I shipped him some Red Sox and Allen and Ginter minis and got some Tigers in return.

Here is a couple cards that I received back. A rookie card of one time Tiger hitting coach, Toby Harrah. Not sure if he will return under new manager, Brad Ausmus.  I think he should get some consideration.  And this has been one of the worst baseball cards ever in term pictures.  Did they do a super closeup in order to hide the Washington Senators jersey(they moved to Texas during this offseason)?

1972 Topps

And the 1997 Fleer card of Alan Trammell.  This is his last year of cards as an active player. I am collecting some star players last year cards. Another blogger calls them sunset cards.  My criteria for these cards is that the back must show all their entire career stats on the back from the rookie year to their last game.  Some players do not have any because their final cards were made during the final year playing not the year after or the card itself doesn't show all their stats.  Here is the Trammell "sunset" card.

Some new Ebay purchases

Here is some cards I recently won on Ebay auctions:

Chico Carrasquel 1951 Bowman rookie.  The first ever Hispanic to make a start in the All Star game. Plus first in a long line of great Venezuelan shortstops in MLB history(could be an upcoming post).

my first rookie of Tigers second ace, Max Scherzer.  The favorite to win the AL Cy Young this year.

and Clayton Kershaw UD Timeline rookie and of course the NL favorite for the award.  I wanted this card of Kershaw because the back of the Timeline cards shows the picture of Dodger Stadium.  For me part of the enjoyment of collecting, is seeing some of baseball history on cards.  Currently, Dodger stadium is the second oldest NL park and many great moments have occurred there.
And I would love to attend a game there one day. Eat a Dodger dog, maybe run into current announcers Vin Scully or Fernando Valenzuela, owner Magic Johnson or season ticket holder Alyssa Milano.

latest pulls from packs

Sorry for not blogging of late. I am have been busy purchasing packs instead of writing lately. So, I am going to share some highlights of the cards I pulled from packs recently. Here is the some of the  rookie cards:

One of the top young superstars of the game. Not sure what I think of the Panini Hometown Heroes set. I bought 2 packs, not sure if I will purchase more.

Gold parallel rookie of one of the top rookies in National League

Topps Chrome rookie of one the St Louis Cardinals young guns and post season hero

Topps Update rookie of a young Cleveland Indian pitcher who has a bright future.

Topps Archives rookie of one time Tiger prospect. Will be interesting to see who will have the better MLB career among Tiger OF prospects. The one they traded away(Garcia) or the one that they kept (Nick Castellanos)

and an OPC rookie card from a repack package from Target. He is probably my favorite player currently on the Texas Rangers

There you go, some nice crop of young players in the game. I promise I will blog more. I have some posts in the hopper.  Made a trade with a fellow blogger, some Ebay purchases and one from Justcommons.com

New Tiger Acquisitions. A couple starters and a HOFer

Here is a few Detroit Tigers that I have acquired over the last week.  First, rookie cards of couple Tiger starting pitchers

2009 Topps Tribute

2005 Upper Deck Update

And I pulled out of a pack of 2013 Panini Cooperstown. Hall of Famer Harry Heilmann. This the matrix parallel numbered to 325. It is a pretty slick set. I like the line scores of games played by the hall of famers.