2009 Topps - Jon Garland

Jon Garland signed this 2009 Topps card for us from a Spring Training TTM request. Jon was with the Mariners at that time but he opted out of his deal shortly after. The Rockies picked him up and he is currently part of their rotation.

Jon spent part of one season in Arizona.He started 27 games in 2009 and had an 8-11 record. Before the year was over, he was traded to the Dodgers.
 

Luis Aparicio Collection - 2007 UD SP Legendary Lineage

Today is Luis Aparico's 79th birthday. Happy birthday, Lil Luis!

I got this Legendary Lineage insert from the 2007 UD SP Legendary Cuts for just over a buck off a seller on eBay. I hadn't seen this design before and I really like it. The dark design goes well with the black and white photo. Being numbered to /500 doesn't hurt either.
 

Wade Miley Garden Gnome

The little dude and I went to the Diamondbacks game last night. We had a good time and brought home with a Wade Miley garden gnome.

# UH 205 - Octavio Dotel

Octavio Dotel signed his card from the 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights set for us. Dotel has the distinction of having played on 13 different teams during his career. That's more than any other player in the history of Major League Baseball.

# UH 205 - Octavio Dotel

Progress: 511/990
 

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2010 Allen & Ginter

I won a lot of 40 Daniel Hudson cards on eBay the other day. It had only had five different cards so there were tons of duplicates. I didn't have this 2010 Allen & Ginter card yet so it makes it's way into the player collection. 

# BOS13 - Hideki Okajima - Team Set

Former Boston Red Sox reliever, Hideki Okajima resurfaced this Spring over at the Oakland A's camp.

Okajima was really nice on the day we saw him. He signed a few cards for us including this one from the 2008 Topps Boston Red Sox 14 card team set.

# BOS13 - Hideki Okajima - Team Set

2012 Topps Chome Dynamic Diecuts - Justin Upton

I recently came discovered a new blog called The Prowling Cat. It's only a few months old but is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs. 

Zenus collects pocket schedules among other things. I sent him a 2013 Seattle Mariners Spring Training schedule and in return he sent me this 2012 Topps Chrome Dynamic Diecuts Justin Upton card.

Speaking of Justin Upton, dude's got 9 home runs in 17 games for the Braves.

2013 Topps Gypsy Queen - Diamondbacks

Brian from 30-Year Old Cardboard opened up a few packs of Gypsy Queen recently and sent over his extra Diamondbacks to us. This is awesome because I needed all of them.

The Tyler Skaggs and Aaron Hill base cards are cool but the mini Ian Kennedy and Miguel Montero are even better. My favorite is the Paul Goldschmidt white paper border parallel.

Thanks, Brian! 
 

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day White Border Parallel

Former Boston Red Sox reliever, Hideki Okajima resurfaced this Spring over at the Oakland A's camp.

Okajima was really nice on the day we saw him. He signed a few cards for us including this white border parallel from the 2008 Topps Opening Day set.

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day White Border Parallel

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day

Former Boston Red Sox reliever, Hideki Okajima resurfaced this Spring over at the Oakland A's camp. He didn't make the big club and is currently in Sacramento on the River Cats roster.

Okajima was really nice on the day we saw him. He signed a few cards for us including this one from the 2008 Topps Opening Day set.

# 174 - Hideki Okajima - Opening Day 
 

# 196 - Seth Smith - Opening Day

I've had this Seth Smith signed 2008 Topps Opening Day card for over 3 years and didn't even know it. 

While I was pulling cards for the players I expected to see during Spring Training this year I came across this one and noticed it was already autographed. I had sent it to the same guy in Colorado who helped me out with Ubaldo Jimenez during the 2009 season. I thought Ubaldo was the only player he was able to get for me but I was wrong. I just totally missed this Seth Smith. It's now taking it's proper place amongst our 08 Topps collection instead of mixed in with commons.

# 196 - Seth Smith - Opening Day 

# 7 - Mickey Mantle - Opening Day

I sent along Mickey's card from the 2008 Topps Opening Day set to David Mantle as well. David graciously signed it for our collection. Actually he signed it twice.

# 7 - Mickey Mantle - Opening Day 

# 7 - Mickey Mantle

Like most of the recent Topps sets, the 2008 Topps set included Mickey Mantle as card # 7. A fitting tribute to one of the most influential players of the last century.

I've kind of wondered what to do with this card for awhile now. Not too long ago I saw someone else get a TTM request back from one of Mickey's sons, David. David signed an Allen & Ginter card for the set they were working on. They shared the address so I went ahead and gave it a try.

A few weeks David returned my cards signed. He signed this one twice. Once on the front and once on the back. I'm guessing it's because the front is kind of dark and it's a little hard to see.

Thanks, David! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my request.

# 7 - Mickey Mantle

Progress: 510/990
 
     

1999 Topps Stadium Club - Andy Benes

Andy Benes had a long MLB career that started when he was drafted first overall by the Padres in 1988. He played on five teams including the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was our Opening Day starter for the first ever D-Backs game on 3/31/98. During his two years in Arizona he would win 27 games. Not bad for an expansion team.

Andy signed his 1999 Topps Stadium Club card for me from a TTM request earlier this year. 

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2013 Topps Rainbow

Behold my 2013 Topps Daniel Hudson rainbow in all it's glory! 

2012 Topps - Wade Miley

Yikes! It's been a few days since my last blog post. I've had a busy couple of days thanks to work and baseball. I've gotten a few trade packages the past week or so but haven't got a chance to scan anything. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up this weekend.

The Pirates are in town and I ended up going to two of the three games in the series. My son and I went to our first Diamondbacks game on Monday night. We had a good time but the D-Backs lost. Today one of my friends and I left work early and hit up the day game. I cashed in a ticket voucher I won at Fan Fest and scored two tickets that normally go for $100 each for free. We watched Wade Miley take care of business from fifth row dugout box seats. It was a good day.

Wade signed his 2012 Topps rookie card for me during Spring Training. A nice pickup from a 2012 National League All-Star. 

Luis Aparicio Collection - 1996 MCI Ambassadors Auto

From what I can gather the old phone company, MCI sponsored sending a group of former MLB players oversees to visit the U.S. troops.

I won this Luis Aparicio signed card from their 1996 set in a lot that also included Maury Wills, Amos Otis, Ken Brett, Jay Howell and Von Hayes. I got all of them for a good price. If anyone has any other information on them, I'd be curious to learn more. 

Luis Aparicio Collection - 1995 MCI Ambassadors Auto

I don't know a whole lot about this set. From what I can gather the old phone company, MCI sponsored sending a group of former MLB players oversees to visit the U.S. troops.

I won this Luis Aparicio signed card from their 1995 set in a lot that also included Tug McGraw, Vida Blue, and Bert Blyleven. I got all of them for a good price. If anyone has any other information on them, I'd be curious to learn more. 

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2012 Bowman Chrome X-Fractor

I didn't really go after any of the 2012 Bowman Chrome parallels for our Daniel Hudson collection. I grabbed this one off eBay for a buck shipped. I like X-Fractors. Probably not as much as a regular refractor but this one's nice. 

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2013 Topps Silver Slate Parallel

The final piece to my Daniel Hudson 2013 Topps rainbow has arrived! These Silver Slate parallels are nicer than I thought they would be. I was expecting a silver version of the standard gold border parallel. These are more like the Gypsy Queen framed paper borders. It's very well done and I'm glad to have it in my collection. I'm also glad to not have to chase these things any longer.

Daniel Hudson Collection - 2013 Topps Opening Day Blue Foil Parallel

My 2013 Topps Opening Day Blue Foil Parallel card of Daniel Hudson finally showed up yesterday. It only took ten days but sometimes that can feel like forever.

I really like these Opening Day parallels. They're similar to the emerald ones from the flagship but done better. The pictures seem to pop more with the blue than with the green. 

2011 Topps - Armando Galarraga

I only sent off a few TTM requests this Spring Training and got even fewer back.

Armando Galarraga came through and this signed 2011 Topps card showed up in our mailbox today.

Armando started 8 games for the Diamondbacks in 2011. His ERA was just a hair under 6 and he was sent down to Triple A Reno. He will always be best known for his near perfect game with the Tigers in 2010.