This week's mail

First of all, I would like to let everyone know that I am super busy with school, work, and life, so if you have tried to propose a trade via Zistle, I will try to look at it over Thanksgiving vacation.  Again, school impedes on my hobby.  

I got a couple of letters back this week.  This first one was from the AFL.  I noticed from some other bloggers that they also received mail back from Tyler Austin this week, as well.  I love how the signature looks on the Bowman Platinum cards.

Tyler Austin

Signed 1/1

Sent c/o Scottsdale Scorpions

33 days

The other letter I got back this week was a RTS from the Padres.  It was a request I had sent to Jason Marquis back in April 2013.  I had written this one off a while ago.  I guess the good thing about getting my letter back was my SASE!

Mega trade, part 3: Royals

The final installation of the mega trade is cards from the Royals.  I have thoroughly enjoyed spending a baseball post-season watching some playoff baseball live in person.  I was at Game 6 of the World Series, and it's something I'll never forget.  Everyone should have their favorite team go to the World Series in their lifetime.  Now, the Cubs need to get on it so I can go to Wrigley for a World Series!!!

I was able to add 26 cards to my Royals collection!

A few old George Brett cards

This will probably be the last we see Billy Butler in a Royals uniform.  He was made a free agent by the Royals over the weekend.  I have to give him props, he filled in for Hosmer during the summer and did just fine.  I remember thinking during that time about all the rumors that were going around about Billy being possibly being traded to Seattle during spring training and how I was so glad that didn't happen.  Billy Butler is a lot like Mike Sweeney.  He will always be a Royal.

This is from 2012 Topps; Cards Your Mom Threw Out.  If your Mom threw out this card back in the day, it was very costly for you!

A moose sighting

Probably my favorite Royals player (and the guy that buys everyone drinks at the bar), Eric Hosmer.  I picked up these sweet SPs of Hosmer in the 2012 set.

Mega trade, part 2: Cubbies

Here is part 2 of the mega trade.  I got a lot of Cubs to knock off of my Cubs collection list.  15 to be exact.  I also got some Cubs for my player collections.

Cubs collection:

Ryno:

Other Cubs player collection needs:

Tomorrow, part 3 of the mega trade contains cards of your 

2014 American League Champions, the Kansas City Royals!!!

Mega trade, part 1: player collection

I made a huge trade over on Zistle with a multiple times trade partner, hpennington22.  This trade was so big, I'm going to have to do multiple posts!  The first post will be player collection goodies, as well as additions to my other collections.

One of my favorite catchers, and two sweet additions to my Terry Steinbach collection:

I think these chips are neat!  I might collect them just so I can use them for blackjack!

Player collections:

A pair of 2014 Bowman to add to my set that I'm still working on completing:

Iowa Hawkeye Alumni:

Ole Miss baseball Alumni.  #HOTTY TODDY!

Creighton Bluejay Alumni:

Iowans in the MLB:

Tomorrow, part 2...Cubbies!!!

Spring training mail!

I was surprised to get this one back, being I send it in Spring Training.  Usually at this point in the year, I pretty much write off any Spring Training TTM's that I haven't gotten back yet.  This one is personalized!

Brian Dozier
Signed 1/2 (didn't return second card)
Sent c/o Minnesota Twins ST
243 days

Arizona Fall League mail

I sent out my usual 6 envelope to the Arizona Fall League this year.  I usually try to get one guy from every team.  I got two responses back this week!

Daniel Robertson is with the Oakland A's system.  He won AFL player of the week honors last week. He spend the 2014 season with Oakland's minor league team, the Stockton Ports.

Daniel Robertson
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Mesa Solar Sox
14 days

John Hicks is with the Mariners organization.  This is a UER on Topps part; I have read on message boards they improperly photo shopped him.  He spend some of last season with Tacoma, the Mariners AAA team.

John Hicks
Signed 1/1
Sent c/o Surprise Saguaros
17 days

Topps Football Valor

I will admit, I have been slacking on the blogging this month, but when the Royals make the run to the World Series, it makes you distracted (and a lot of late nights!).

I recently saw a post on Facebook from Topps about the release of their Valor set for football.  I really liked the look of these cards.  I don't really buy football cards, but when I was at the store today, I decided to try it out.  I really like them now that I have them in my hand.  I wish Topps would do this design for baseball!!

I  just bought a rack pack for about $5 that included 18 cards.  Here is what I got:

Chiefs!!!

#'d 222/399 (didn't scan well)

These cards look great.  I love seeing the Steve Young, Luke Kuechly, and the cards also have a nice rookie card logo on them, Stephen Morris (it didn't scan well).

Here is what else I got that I didn't scan:

Richard Sherman

Von Miller

Reggie Bush

DeAndre Hopkins

Dez Bryant

Joe Namath

Kendall Wright

Greg Robinson RC

Jace Amaro RC

Tom Savage RC

Ben Roethlisberger

Everything is available for trade through this blog or on Zistle except for the Chiefs.