An Old Pack Of Sox

If you've read my blog recently, you'll know I got a great package of goodies from Chis at Nachos Grande. Among the contents was this Red Sox Fan Pack from Upper Deck:

What a great idea - it's like a team specific repack! I decided to open the pack and show off the contents. All of the cards came from sets released in 2007 and 2008, but there were many different sets included. Rather than show off all 25 cards, I'll highlight a card from each of the 6 sets that were represented.

2007 Upper Deck (Series 1 and 2)

#66 David Ortiz
#69 Dustin Pedroia
#73 Curt Schilling
#74 Jonathan Papelbon
#76 Jon Lester
#573 Josh Beckett
#575 Hideki Okajima (RC)
#582 Jason Varitek
#584 Kevin Youkilis
#585 Coco Crisp

2007 Upper Deck Artifacts

#77 Daisuke Matsuzaka (RC)

2007 SP Legendary Cuts

#7 Cy Young
#9 Wade Boggs
#10 Carlton Fisk
#11 Joe Cronin

2007 UD Future Stars

#12 Manny Ramirez

2007 UD Masterpieces

#5 Carlton Fisk
#25 Carl Yastrzemski
#59 Bobby Doerr
#90 Curt Schilling

2008 Upper Deck (Series 1)

#221 Tim Wakefield
#222 Daisuke Matsuzaka
#223 Julian Tavarez
#228 Mike Lowell
#229 Manny Ramirez

Fantastic cards all around. These came from the time I wasn't actively collecting, so most of them are new to me. The SP Legendary Cuts cards are amazing and definitely my favorite, although the Masterpieces are a close second. This pack showcased why Upper Deck is suck a game-changer in the industry. MLB is doing the card industry a disservice keeping licensing away from them. At least hockey collectors can still benefit. Maybe someday...

Thanks again Chris! You're awesome!

2017 Year In Review

Since 2018 is upon us, I thought I'd take a look at my blog and collection. While other bloggers have written about yearly goals, this post serves as more as a benchmark for me, since this blog is so new.

2017 Highlights

• Obviously, the biggest thing to happen here on the Diamond Jesters blog in 2017 was the creation of the blog itself! After months of being a lurker on other collecting blogs, I finally took the leap and started up one of my own. It's been a fun and rewarding experience, and I can't wait to see what I come up with during the new year!
• One of the big pluses to joining the blogging community has been joining an incredible community of people. I'm reminded almost daily how friendly, supportive, and generous my fellow collectors have been, and the wealth of knowledge freely shared is mind boggling. I'm glad to be a small part of this.
• From a collection standpoint, I've slowly worked my way back in after a long hiatus. As such, this year saw some firsts for me - my first baseball card relic, my first graded card, and my first TTM autograph success! Lots of good stuff!

2017 Diamond Jesters Blog Stats

Number of posts: 140 (Not bad for my first year, especially since I didn't post anything for almost the first 4 months!)
Month with the most posts: 32 posts in May (This is when the 30 Day Challenge was in full swing, and I made a point to post almost every day!)
Top 5 viewed posts: (Oddly, all these posts are from December. I guess it's reflective of my blog becoming more well known..)

1. Single Elimination Challenge - The Finals! (193 page views)
2. SEC - Semifinals Match Up #1 (150 page views)
3. The Best Free Stuff Is The Stuff You Stole (146 page views)
4. Secret Santa Revealed! (137 page views)
5. Instantly Iconic (133 page views)

Most commented post: Single Elimination Challenge - The Finals! - 12 comments (I pimped this on the TCDB forums, so I'm happy with the results!)
Most commented post (Non-SEC post): Secret Santa Revealed! - 11 comments (9 if you eliminate my own comments!)
Followers: 28 (Thanks to each and every one of you!)

My Collection

(Stats courtesy of the Trading Card Database)

Total number of cards: 35,428 (Unofficial - still cataloging my collection)
Cards from 2017 sets: 576 (Lower than I expected - a bland base set will do that I guess)
Red Sox cards: 2510 (Almost a thousand more than any other team!)
Autographed cards: 11 (4 new this year: Junior Guerra, Josh Sale, Luis Tiant, Christian Yelich)

Thanks Tyler!

Graded cards: 1 (New: David Wright)

Thanks Paul!

Relic cards: 5 (4 new: Ellis Burks, Dan Uggla, Eric Chavez, John Lckey)

Thanks Brian!

Repack Haiku #32 (Bill Caudill)

He stares intently

Reads the signs from his catcher

Begins his windup

1982 Donruss #426 Bill Caudill

And The SEC Winner Is...

First things first - Happy New Year! May you complete all your collecting goals for 2018!

*****

When I initially came up with the idea of taking all the cards I picked from last spring's 30 Day Challenge and pitting them against each other in a bracket format, I didn't know what kind of reception it would get. My blog was new, and the number of visitors was minuscule. There was a point early on when I wondered what I would do if no one voted. That fear never came into play thanks to all of you. The challenge evolved from the early rounds where 1 vote chose the winner, to the final vote, where I had a record number of votes. You shared your insights into your decision making, and made my humble little blog a better place because of it. So again, I thank you!

*****

Without further ado, may I present the people's champion...

It's good to be king!

 There was a point where I thought Tiant had a chance, but this card was pretty much the favorite from the very beginning. My only regret about this card winning is that this was one of the few cards from the 30 Day Challenge that I had to cheat with because I didn't own a viable card for that particular day. Still, it was amazing to discover that playable record/card exists, and hopefully someday I'll be able to find one. Ernie Banks is a worthy champion!

Thank you one last time to everyone that voted. A special thanks to Kin who voted every week, and was kind enough to even plug my little competition. I had fun doing this, and I hope you enjoyed it as well!

Nachos Seasonings

The year is almost over! Have you voted in the Single Elimination Challenge Finals yet? Why not? Vote now!

*****

Chris from the blog Nachos Grande  decided to embrace the holiday spirit full tilt and be generous to his readers. He called it his Season of Giving, and basically he sent cards of a favorite team to whoever wanted them. How could I say no to that?

I was expecting a small package, but what I got was a small box - crammed with over 250+ Red Sox cards. It was a thing of beauty. There's just too much to all post here, so I'll showcase some highlights.

2011 Topps Allen & Ginter - Relics #AGR-JLA John Lackey

The top card was this cool mini relic card of former Championship starter John Lackey. This becomes my first official Red Sox relic! Awesome!

The rest of the box contained an assortment of cards from the late 80's through the current year. Lots of good stuff!

1986 Topps - Glossy All-Stars #9 Carlton Fisk

Chris did sneak in a non-Red Sox card in the pile. True, his Sox may be white here, but it's hard to complain about an all-time great like Fisk! I've always had a fondness for the Glossy All-Stars inserts too.

2007 Topps #578 Dustin Pedroia

Maybe someone smarter than me can explain this, but I really don't understand why this isn't considered his Topps rookie card. It's his first appearance in the base set, and the base set immediately following his debut. It's even the year he won Rookie of the Year. Was the Topps 52 set really enough to be a deal breaker?

Upper Deck Baseball Card Fan Pack

This is cool. I have never seen this before. All the thrills and mystery of opening a pack, with practically no potential for disappointment! I think opening the pack will be the subject of another blog post...

2008 Upper Deck #229 Manny Ramierez

Chris, if ever there was a card to represent your generosity during your Season of Giving, this would be it! You really hit it out off the park here! Thank you very much!

Repack Haiku #31 (Luis Gonzalez)

Both black and shiny

Never seen this set before

All time D-back great

2004 Leaf Certified Cuts #13 Luis Gonzalez

Spoils of Victory, The Sequel

 First things first - have you voted yet for the Single Elimination Challenge Finals? What are you waiting for? It's a great match-up and you help decide who wins!

**********

I've blogged once before about the fantasy baseball league I won against fellow members of the TCDB. Earlier this month, I received another prize package from TCDB member boots1893 (aka Adam from the blog Addiction As Therapy). He sent along a nice card of current Red Sox superstar Mookie Betts:

2016 Gypsy Queen - Mini Gold #158 Mookie Betts

Thanks Adam!

TTM Success!

Last March, I decided to do something different with the first pack of Topps base I opened. I didn't keep any of the cards. Instead, I sent each one off to the player with the hope to be autographed. I got one quick return that month (Brewers pitcher Junior Guerra) and a Return to Sender in April (Orioles infielder Johnny Giovotella). That was it. The season came and went, and to be honest I figured I wouldn't be getting anything else back.

Tuesday night, a white envelope with my handwriting was waiting for me. The return stamp hailed from Santa Clarita, CA - a Dodgers or Angels player perhaps? I couldn't recall what players I had sent to, or what team they played for. (I did recall about 1/4 of the cards featured players who were on new teams than what their 2017 card depicted, making this recollection exercise even more pointless.)

I opened it up, and there it was, a beautifully autographed card of one of baseball's young stars:

Yelich has been in the news lately, as one of the few notable players the Miami Jeters Marlins haven't traded (yet!). At 26 years old, with a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger already on his resume, he would be on any teams wish list.

Wherever he ends up, I wish him success!

Repack Haiku #30 (Mel Stottlemyre Jr)

Only pitched one year

Injuries cut short career

Now Mariners coach

1991 Score #361 Mel Stottlemyre Jr (RP)

Single Elimination Challenge - The Finals!

Extra! Final Match Up Set!

This is it - the last match-up of my Single Elimination Challenge! After over 6 months of voting, you good readers have determined the final two cards. There were many great cards contending, but in the end we have a pair of 1960's vintage! Because this is the finals, and because it just happens to fall at this particular point on the calendar (Sorry, I won't be posting on Christmas!), voting for this match-up will last 2 weeks.  I'll announce the winner in the beginning of the new year.

1962 Auravision Records Ernie Banks	VS	1968 Topps #532 Luis Tiant

Ernie Banks
Bracket Round: defeated Tim Wallach (4-1)
Sweet 16 Round: defeated Ozzie Guillen (3-0)
Quarterfinals: defeated "Cool Papa" Bell (5-1)
Semifinals: defeated Al Schacht (4-3)
Quotable Ernie Banks:

Luis Tiant
Bracket Round: defeated Mariano Rivera (1-0)
Sweet 16 Round: defeated Randy Johnson (2-2 tiebreaker)
Quarterfinal Round: defeated Amos Otis (6-1)
Semifinals: defeated Rickey Henderson (4-3)
Quotable Luis Tiant:

The final vote is now in your hands. Comment below and let me know who should win. I'll also accept votes from the TCDB thread for this match-up. Only one can claim the title! Who will it be?

Payday Pack - Taking In Some Fine Art

For this week's Payday Pack, I decided to join in and open up some of the new Topps Gallery. My initial impression: I think this is one of the nicer looking sets Topps has put out this year. I like the paintings paired with a simple border design. Rather than show the whole pack, here are my 3 favorites:

3rd Place

2017 Topps Gallery - Blue #53 Kenta Maeda

I'm not a huge fan of all the parallels that come in each set nowadays, it's just too much. However, I can't argue with this crisp blue border. The fact the team colors match the border make this even better!

2nd Place

2017 Topps Gallery - Hall of Fame Gallery #HOF-14 Dave Winfield

I'm just going to come out and say it - I love this insert set! This is a beautifully done set and I would seriously consider attempting to complete it. I almost want Topps to produce a giant set like this featuring every Hall of Famer.

1st Place

2017 Topps Gallery - Hall of Fame Gallery Green - #HOF-21 Rod Carew

One of the earliest book reports I remember reading in grade school was a biography of Rod Carew.
Again, another well done use of a parallel - the green just makes this card pop!


Contestants Not Appearing On Stage:
#99 Randal Grichuck
#69 Blake Snell
#51 Javier Baez
#112 Keon Broxton
#18 Addison Russell
#24 Charlie Blackmon (Canvas)
#56 Hunter Renfroe RC (Canvas)
#64 German Marquez RC
#135 Kyle Schwarber

Instantly Iconic

There are cards in the collecting world that most collectors consider iconic - the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle or the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr, for example. With the news this week that the Veteran's Committee has elected Jack Morris and Alan Trammell to the Hall of Fame, it made me wonder. Is it time to add this card to upper echelons of note-worthy cards?

1978 Topps #707 Rookie Shortstops

Trammell's official induction this summer will make this card the rookie card for not one, but TWO Hall of Famers! That is unprecedented in the history of baseball cards, possibly in all of sports cards. (I don't collect other sports, so maybe someone can confirm this or offer another instance?)

This card was the subject of one of my very first blog posts, and as I stated then, I always though Trammell was worthy of the Hall. (Morris, to be honest, I was on the bubble about...) I was very happy to see the Veteran's Committee elect two players, which in itself was shocking after a track record of electing hardly anyone. They still deserve criticism for denying Marvin Miller, but hopefully these two players will open the door to other deserving candidates in the future.

Repack Haiku #29 (Mike LaValliere)

Bet he never dreamed

He'd be a fan favorite

Spanky the Pirate

1986 Fleer Update #U-65 Mike LaValliere (XRC)

Secret Santa Revealed!

Matt from the blog Bob Walk The Plank held a Secret Santa exchange with his fellow bloggers, and I jumped at the chance to join in. Last week I received my mystery gift.

My Secret Santa was none other than Tyler from Rekindling The Cardboard Flame, and I must have been a good little blogger this year because Santa came through in a big way!

Nothing like opening up a Christmas package and finding lots and lots of Red Sox cards!

Love those Card History inserts!

Including a complete Series 1 team set of 2008 Topps, which is awesome because I wasn't collecting when these came out!

Ooohhh! Pedroia ASR and ROY!

The big gift, however....

An autographed card of Luis Tiant! If I ever get a proper man-cave set up, this will look nice to the ball I have signed by him. (He's even signing a ball on the card!)

Thanks again Tyler! Merry Christmas to all!

SEC - Semifinals Match Up #2

Extra! Ernie earns the win!

The first card in our finals is set! Honestly, a part of me is sad that Schacht's smiling glare couldn't pull out the win, but Banks has been steamrolling through and has to be considered the favorite to win it all. Still, the Challenge continues, and Banks awaits his final opponent!

1980 Topps #482 Rickey Henderson (RC)	VS	1968 Topps #532 Luis Tiant

Rickey Henderson
Bracket Round: defeated Lee Evans (1-0)
Sweet 16 Round: defeated Paul Molitor (3-2) 
Quarterfinal Round: defeated Andrew McCutchen (5-4)
Recommended Reading: "Off Base: Confessions Of A Thief"

Luis Tiant
Bracket Round: defeated Mariano Rivera (1-0)
Sweet 16 Round: defeated Randy Johnson (2-2 tiebreaker)
Quarterfinal Round: defeated Amos Otis (6-1)
Recommended Reading: "El Tiante: The Luis Tiant Story"

The voting booths are open! Comment below to cast your vote! (You can also vote on this TCDB thread!) Who's your pick?

My Favorite Card Of 2017

P-Town Tom from the blog Waiting 'Til Next Year is having a contest asking his fellow bloggers to post their favorite card of 2017.

This is an easy one. There was one card this year that has put a big smile on my face every time I see it. To me, it represents everything good about baseball:

2017 Stadium Club #77 Rick Porcello

It's great, I absolutely love it. Hanley Ramierez photo-bombing a photo shoot, and the 3 pitchers just can't keep a straight face. I can't either. Sadly, I don't own this card...yet. It's still accepted under the rules of the contest, but let's showcase my favorite from my collection:

2017 Topps Archives - 1960 Rookie Star #RS-3 Andrew Benintendi (RC)

What makes this card so great is how well it parallels another iconic card. Back in 1960, there was another rookie star who played in front of the Green Monster at Fenway:

1960 Topps #148 Carl Yastrzemski (RC)

Alright, so Yaz started out at 2nd Base - we all know where he ended up! Still, the Benintendi is a great throwback card, and I was very excited to pull this insert in the only pack of Archives I was able to find in stores this year.

What's your favorite card from this year?

Repack Haiku #28 (Dan Plesac)

Plesac's rookie card

Was thirty-one years ago

Got new card this year

1987 Topps #279 Dan Plesac (RC)

He really hasn't aged much, has he?

2017 Topps - MLB Network #MLBN-10 Dan Plesac

SEC - Semifinals Match Up #1

"El Tiante" scores record 6 votes!

Our field of four is set! We kick December off with a truly heavyweight bout. Both of these cards have used their oddball charm to win over voters time and again. Both are great men who excelled at putting smiles on faces.

1962 Auravision Records Ernie Banks	VS	1987 Conlon World Wide Sports Series 2 #9 Al Schacht

Ernie Banks
Bracket Round: defeated Tim Wallach (4-1)
Sweet 16 Round: defeated Ozzie Guillen (3-0)
Quarterfinals: defeated "Cool Papa" Bell (5-1)
Recommended Reading: "Mr. Cub"

Al Schacht
Bracket Round: defeated William O'Leary (1-1 Tie Breaker)
Sweet 16 Round: defeated the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox (3-1)
Quarterfinals: defeated Gil McDougald (4-2)
Recommended Reading: "G I Had Fun"

Comment below to vote! You can also visit the Trading Card Database and vote on the thread for this post!

The Best Free Stuff Is The Stuff You Stole

I'll admit it. I'm a thief. At least I have a thief's mentality when I play certain games, like the one Matt Prigge from Summer of '74 recently had. Matt gave away some cool stuff from his basement, and gave players an opportunity to pick a random prize, or steal an already revealed prize from another contestant. My wife's family plays this same game during Christmas, and it's always a lot of fun. My plan is always the same - hope I get a number in the later half of the game, so there's enough revealed prizes to potentially steal something good.

When my turn came up, I stole a very nice autographed photo of James Lofton. I'm not a football collector, but Lofton was a Buffalo Bill during their glory years, and you can never go wrong with a Hall of Fame player's autograph.

However, when the dust settled and everyone had picked, there was one unclaimed prize. Matt offered it up to anyone who wanted to swap out, and to be honest, it would have been my top choice to steal if it had been revealed at an earlier time. I took Matt up on his offer and gave up my autographed photo.

In addition to my Griffey plaque (which will eventually house one of his rookie cards), Matt was generous to send along a bunch of Red Sox cards as well.

I didn't have a huge desire to collect this year's update set, so it's great that Matt sent me a good number of Red Sox inserts from that set. The Heroes of Autumn set is particularly nice.

I'm now missing just one card from that 1992 Upper Deck Ted Williams set (not including the autograph of course!)

Thanks for having such a fun game Matt, and thanks again for the prize package!

Are you reading Matt's Summer of '74 blog? You should!