Latest Gwynn additions

Between recent COMC pick-ups, the monthly Urbandale Card Show, and the generosity of other card collectors, I've managed to steadily increase my Tony Gwynn collection, little by little. However, with more than 10,000 Gwynn cards out on the market (some of those being way out of my price range) I've only made a miniscule dent in collecting Mr. Padre.

 

Of course, it's a never-ending battle. Even though he retired in 2001, every year there's more and more Tony Gwynn cards inserted into every set. For example, in 2017 alone (at least to date), another 51 Gwynn cards have been released into the market.  

 

 

However, I'm happy enough to start out with these 2003 Diamond Kings DK Evolution (#DK21); 2001 Upper Deck Vintage Glory Days (#G5), 2012 Panini Cooperstown Crystal Collection (#110), S/N 119/299; 1994 Pinnacle Run Creators (#RC35); 2000 Revolution On Deck (#17); and a 2000 Upper Deck HoloGrFx Future Fame (#FF4).

 

 

2015 Topps Museum Collection Copper (#70); 2013 Panini Cooperstown Colgan's Chips (#58); 2005 Leather and Lumber Lumber/Leather (#31); 2000 Stadium Club Capture the Action (#CA19); 1999 Upper Deck Ovation Curtain Calls #(R16); and a 2001 Donruss Class of 2001 Dominators (#DM24).

 

There's certain Tony Gwynn cards you figure you already have in your collection, such as most of the food issues, or Topps. However, believer it or not, these cards were missing from my collection until now - a 1989 Topps Cap'n Crunch (#5); 1993 Upper Deck Diamond Gallery (#17); 2005 Diamond Kings Heritage Collection (#HC25); 1994 Donruss Special Edition (#10); 1988 Topps Tiffany (#360); and a 1993 Topps Tiffany AS (#403). Of course, Tiffany cards fit into a whole different category, but I was more than happy to fit this pair into my Gwynn collection.

 

1996 Team Out (#36); 1996 Classic 7/11 Phone Cards (#12): 2013 Hometown Heroes City Hall Black (#12); 2013 Hometown Heroes City Hall Gold (#12); 2014 Topps Triple Threads Emerald (#97); and a 2014 Topps Triple Threads Amethyst (#97). I've always felt phone cards were interesting collectibles and this 7/11-Classic one was a card I couldn't pass up, as were the two Triple Thread cards.

And let's not forget this 1994 Sucker Saver (#10). While it was produced by MSA, nowhere on the card does it say, "Sucker Saver." It actually has an Innovative Confections logo on the front and back It's one of those many Gwynn cards you're not even aware are out there.

So, there you have the latest additions to my ever-growing Gwynn collection, which has now grown to 882 cards.

Padres Camo Memorabilia

I love watching Padres home games on Sunday afternoons. Proudly calling themselves the "Team of the Military," San Diego was one of the first teams to actively celebrate the military, actually inviting service members of the Marine Corps (a given, with the Recruit Depot just up the Pacific Coast Highway), as well as the Navy and Coast Guard to these games.

 

In 2000, the Padres began wearing Vietnam-era "Jungle" camouflage uniforms as part of Military Appreciation Day, and eventually, as part of thise Sunday home games celebrating the military. In 2006, they switched over to the "Desert Camouflage Uniform," and from 2011-2017, they began wearing "Marine Digital" uniforms sporting the camouflage pattern of the Marine Corps combat uniforms.

 

This year, it was the Navy's turn for recognition, as they switched over to that service's blue camo pattern. However, it seems its only worn on the Sundays they host Navy personnel at the game.

 

A few years back, my wife (God Bless her) got me a San Diego Padres Marine Corps camo jersey with my nickname ("McDuff") and number "36" on it. She also had the Tony Gwynn memorial black patch sewn onto it, following his death, in 2014. This year, she got me the Navy blue jersey, which is now part of the half dozen Padres jerseys in my closet.

 

While I haven't seen any memorabilia cards with the Navy blue jerseys yet, I have managed to find a few pieces of cardboard with nice-sized Marine Corps camo swatches on them.

 

For its 2016 release, Topps Triple Threads made a well-appreciated run with Padres military camo swatches. Recent COMC purchases have included this Wil Myers Topps Triple Threads Unity Jumbo Relics (#UJRMWR) (S/N 21/36) and Tyson Ross Topps Triple Threads Unity Jumbo Relics Emerald (#UJRTYR) (S/N 05/18).

Myers also rocks a smaller version of the camo in my collection, with this 2017 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Relics (CCRWM) card.  One of the earliest Marine Corps camo cards I've been able to find is this 2014 Jesse Hahn Panini National Treasures (163) (S/N 96/99).

 

The biggest swatch of all, comes from the 2016 Travis Jankowski Immaculate Collection Immaculate Jumbo Materials (#42) (S/N 20/99). Jankowski has recently come off the Disabled List and is ready to begin a rehab stint in the minors. I hope we'll see him soon in a Padres unfiorm again, but I'm not sure where the center fielder would fit in the outfield right now.

 

I have another 2016 James Shield Topps Triple Threads Unity Auto Jumbo Relics - Silver card I've purchased (but not yet shipped), along with a couple of others on my COMC watch list, as well. I've also been occasionally checking E-Bay, but so far, this is as good as it gets.

So I won a Nascar tire. Now What?

Two years ago, during the Iowa Wild hockey season, I signed up for a drawing from Freedom Tire at one of the games. Actually, I thought I was signing up for the opportunity to win a set of four new tires, which I actually could have used for my RAV-4.

 

As the 2nd period intermission ended, they announced my name as the winner of the Freedom Tire drawing. With a big smile on my face, I ran back up to the concourse for what I thought would be a gift certificate for a new set of rubber.

 

In reality, what I actually won was a NASCAR tire from an actual NASCAR race.

 

According to the Freedom Tires rep, the tire belonged to Regan Smith, who drove the #78 Furniture Row Racing/Farm American Chevrolet at the 12th Annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Geico 400, held Sept. 16, 2012 at Chicagoland Speedway. While Smith started 7th, he finished 34th, completing 176 laps before blowing his engine.

 

The tire markings show this tire belonged to team R78 (right-side tire, Car #78) and was supposed to go onto the right rear as part of his sixth tire change (RR-6), but it wasn't used due to the blown engine. Although it's a "slick," or smooth tire, it even has divots molded into it, which are used to measure tread depth

 

So, it's a brand-new tire, which was to have been used during the 2012 Geico race. The guy from Freedom Tire was pretty excited that an actual servicemember won the tire, especially since it had the "Support our Troops" logo on it. Apparently, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, honored and supported the U.S. Armed Forces that year with the launch of its “Goodyear Gives Back” campaign,  designed to generate support for the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

 

Race fans could visit the Goodyear Gives Back website and bid on authentic, race-used Goodyear NASCAR and NHRA tires autographed by drivers who used them in races, as well as other unique items including authentic motorsports experiences and memorabilia, with all proceeds going directly to Support Our Troops.

 

Needless to say, I had some interesting looks from fellow Wild fans as I left the game with this tire tucked under my arm.

 

Now comes the tricky part - What does one do with a full-sized NASCAR tire?

 

I could probably make a table out of it, maybe two, if I cut it in half. It's too big to use as a tire swing, and it's too nice (not to mention, big) to waste for a planter. I suppose I could put it on my Rav-4, but I'd need at least three more to go all the way around.

 

Since wining it, it's been sitting in my garage collecting dust. If anyone can come up with a good idea on what to do with it, please let me know.

A COMC autograph collection

As many of you know, I've been getting a plethora of free cards from the COMC website by helping with their daily Inventory Challenge. You get 100 points for every 50 cards you identify correctly and every 1,000 points earned is worth $1 of store credit.

 

Its taken me quite a while, but I've now accumulated 906,480 points, good for 37th place on the Overall Leaderboard. My goal is to hit the million mark and get the red "C" Badge. According to my Dashboard stats, I've now purchased a total of 764 cards from this fun site.

 

For my July shipment, I opted for a mixture of on-card and sticker signatures of my beloved San Diego Padres, as well as a few colorful and different cards for my Friar collection.

 

 

I'll begin with these autographs - a 2004 Bowman's Best Tim Stauffer Autograph RC (#TJS); 2009 Sweet Spot Autograph RC, S/N 477/699 (#109); 2000 Crown Royale Sweet Spot Signatures Ben Davis (#23); 2015 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Cory Spangenberg (#ARCS); 2010 Bowman Chrome Prospects Refractors Autograph James Darnell, S/N 475/500 (#PCP115B); and a 2017 Bowman Prospect Autographs Dinelson Lamet (#PADL).

 

Lamet's an interesting 25-year old Dominican international free agent RHP, After starting the season at El Paso, he's now 4-4, with a 5.02 ERA, 68 strikeouts, 20 walks and unfortunately, given up 11 home runs. He did, however, beat the NY Mets in his MLB debut on May 25, with 8 Ks, 2 BB, and an earned run in 5 innings pitch. He was 12-10 with a 3.00 ERA at El Paso last season.





2005 Skybox Autographics Future Signs Autograph Blue Akinori Otsuka (Print Run of 639) (#AO); 2007 Bowman Heritage Signs of Greatness Mike Thompson (#MT); 2009 Upper Deck Signature Stars Autograph RC (#181); 2001 Bowman's Best Autographs Sean Burroughs (#BBASB); 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects Autograph Jared Wells (#BC230); and a 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospect Autographs Edwin Moreno (#BCAPEM).

 

Otsuka, who's one of my favorite Padres players, was hired this year as the bullpen coach for AAA El Paso. His son, Tora, a 5-9, 175 pound OF/2B, recently committed to the University of San Diego Toreros. He's a 2017 graduate of Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego.

 

I'll continue with these 2012 SP Signature Kyle Blanks (#SD6); 2011 ITG Heroes and Prospects heroes Jerseys Silver Dave Winfield (Print run to 150) (#17); 2016 Panini National Treasures Alex Dickerson Jersey Autograph RC, S/N 39/99 (#157); 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Donavan Tate Autograph, S/N 172/999 (#52); and a pair of 2011 Playoff Contenders Draft Ticket Autographs, one of Burch Smith (#DT4), the other Kevin Quackenbush (#DT85).

I just had to pick up some old School Padres, as well, including these 1999 Topps Traded Autographs Junior Herndon (#T42); 1997 Donruss Signature Autographs Rafael Medina (Print Run to 3,900), S/N (#71); 1998 Donruss Signature Autographs Millennium, S/N 209/900 (#26); 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Andy Ashby (Print Run of 3,500) (#10); 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Scott Sanders Silver (Print Run of 1,000) (#202); and a 1996 Leaf Signature Autographs Mark Newfield (Print Run of 3,500) (#168).

You know I couldn't have a COMC shipment without at least one Tony Gwynn card. This 1990 All-American Baseball Team (#14) perfectly fills that need. Here's a 2011 Topps Attax Foil Swinging Friar (#228); 2017 Topps Heritage Ryan Schimpf RC (#24); 2015 Panini Prizm Prizms Tie Dyed Cory Spangenberg, S/N 49/50 (#187); 2015 Topps Heritage Wil Myers Foil, S/N112/999 (#621); and a 2013 Topps Mini Pink Cameron Maybin, S/N 23/25 (#324).

 

You have to love that Swinging Friar. Schimpf is another one of those interesting players. At 29 years of age, he's getting to be a bit long in the tooth. Originally drafted out of LSU (where he was a 2009 College World Series Champion) in the fifth round of the 2009 draft by Toronto, he was picked up by the Padres in 2015 as a free agent. he made the Padres' 2017 opening day roster as a third baseman, However, with Schimpf, it's either feast or famine - he hit three homers in consecutive games last April, but was also in top 10 in strikeout rate, walk rate and fly-ball rate. He was sent back down to El Paso in early June..

 

If you like bright colors, you can't go wrong with these 2014 Bowman Yellow Cards of Ian Kennedy, S/N 59/99 (#7); Andrew Cashner, S/N 06/99 (#182); Chase Headley, S/N 72/99 (#54); 2014 Topps Yellow Will Venable (#64); 2015 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors (#132); and a 2014 Bowman Chrome Prospects Series 2 Pink Wave Refractors Jose Urena, S/N 59/65 (#BCP45).

 

How about a few Dave Winfield cards? Winfield, drafted by the Padres in 1973, was one of five players to be drafted by three different professional sports (In Winfield's case, it was four - the Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA), and Minnesota Vikings (NFL), after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1973.

Here's his 2002 American Pie Sluggers Gold (#11) and Blue (#11); 2015 Topps Triple Threads Amethyst, S/N 198/354 (#42); a pair of 2005 Upper Deck Fame, one green, S/N 164/200 (#15), the other a base card, S/N 352/560 (#15). I also grabbed a 2016 Bowman Chrome Draft MLB Draft History Ozzie Smith (#MLBDOS).

1973 Deans Photo Service Photos

Being a photographer, I appreciate a well-framed, crisp, concise photo as much as anyone. Posed shots are fine, but it's the in-your-face action shots that I find are the most fun to shoot. That's why I enjoy bringing my camera (and telephoto lenses) to sporting events such as baseball games and auto races.

For example, here's a few photos I shot over the past few years, while attending games at Sec Taylor Stadium here in Des Moines during Iowa Cubs games.

Recently, I managed to combine my love of photography with E-Bay to obtain yet another unique San Diego Padres collectible.

In 1973, Dean's Photo Service put their talents to good use, producing a 31-photo set of the San Diego Padres.

The actual set consists of 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 black-and-white photos, with posed player portraits hemmed within a white border. They also included a team and sponsor logo at the bottom of the front of the photos. These blank-backed photos were given away by the Padres in five, six-card groups at various home games throughout the 1973 season.

One cool thing about this set, but sad to say it wasn't incuded in the batch I received, is a rookie-year photo of Dave Winfield. Unfortunately, I didn't get the Randy Jones photo either.

The actual photos included within the 31-photo set of 1973, are (listed alphabetically):
1 Steve Arlin
2 Mike Caldwell
3 Dave Campbell
4 Nate Colbert
5 Mike Corkins
6 Pat Corrales
7 Jim Davenport
8 Dave Garcia
9 Clarence Gaston
10 Bill Greif
11 John Grubb
12 Enzo Hernandez
13 Randy Jones
14 Fred Kendall
15 Clay Kirby
16 Leron Lee
17 Dave Marshall
18 Don Mason
19 Jerry Morales
20 Ivan Murrell
21 Fred Norman
22 Johnny Podres
23 Dave Roberts
24 Vicente Romo
25 Gary Ross
26 Bob Skinner
27 Derrel Thomas
28 Rich Troedson
29 Whiley Westlemann
30 Dave Winfield
31 Don Zimmer

 

The photos I was able to obtain include Ivan Murrell and Nate Colbert.

 

Fred Norman and John Grubb.

 

Clay Kirby and Bill Grief.

 

Gary Ross and Rich Troedson.

 

Fred Kendall and Don Mason.

Mike Corkins and Vincente Romo.

 

Coaches Bob Skinner and Dave Garcia.

Jerry Morales and Leron Lee.

 

Derrel Thomas and Manager Don Zimmer.

 

Dean's Photo Services ended up producing four different photo sets. Besides their 1973 release, they offered a photo set in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

February COMC Haul

While I haven't been checking out the blogging biosphere tooo much lately, I've at least continued to help COMC with their inventory efforts. February produced my latest batch of cards resulting from that assistance.

According to COMC's statistics, I've thus far accumulated 685,965 points, good for about $685 ($1 COMC cash for every 1,000 points) which I've since converted into 624 cards purchased to date. I'm actually in 47th place on the all-time leaderboard for their inventory challenge.

As for my February order, my selection of more than 50 cards was all over the board. They ranged from San Diego Padres and Tony Gwynn cards, to Packers, Wild, autographs, and political pieces of printed cardboard.

I'll begin my February COMC package with scans of my most favorite Padre of all, Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn.

It's possible to say I found a few Tony Gwynns aplenty, beginning with retro cards relating to his college days as a San Diego State Aztec (I'll be getting back to this Aztec theme later). The three SDSU cards include his 2009 Press Pass Fusion (#3), 2014 Upper Deck 25th Anniversary Silver (#37) and 2015 Panini Contenders (#91). I also picked up his 2015 Donruss Tony Gwynn Tribute (#5), the only card of this mini-set I didn't have yet, as well as a 1998 Leaf (#166), and a 2003 Topps Retired Signature (#30).

I also updated my Padres player collection with the addition of a 2016 Donruss Optic Travis Jankowski RC (#57), 2004 Absolute Memorabilia Akinori Otsuka RC (#211) S/N 346/1000, 2016 Topps Heritage Chrome Alexei Ramirez (#THC606) S/N 978/999, 2016 Bowman Prospects Yellow Ruddy Giron (#BP20), 2007 Artifacts Divisional Artifacts Trevor Hoffman jersey (#HO) S/N 23/199, 2009 Sweet Spot Everth Cabrera Autograph RC (#109) S/N 251/699, 2014 Elite Turn of the Century Autographs Reymond Fuentes (#85), and a 2007 Sweet Spot Kevin Cameron Autograph RC (#129).

Otsuka, a pitcher who I enjoyed watching pitch and who toiled from the San Diego bullpen from 2004-05, now serves as their Triple-A bullpen coach at El Paso. As for the Cameron Sweet Spot helmet card,  I just felt it was especially sweet.

Since we're now in our fourth year as Iowa Wild hockey ticketholders, we're seeing more and more of our players moving up to (and sticking with) the Minnesota Wild. So, I decided to go off onto another collective bent and start collecting autographs and rookie cards of those players we've seen skating here at Wells Fargo Arena. I already have autographed sticks and programs these players have autographed over the years during team autograph sessions, but I felt having certified autos and nice RCs of these players would be a nice touch, too.

 

 

So, the only stipulation to this new Iowa Wild collection is the fact each player must have played at Iowa, since it stands to reason we would of seen him continue his Wild career through Minnesota's AHL affiliated. 

 

So, what better place to begin, than with a 2011-12 Panini Contenders NHL Ink Brett Bulmer (#24), 2012-13 Fleer Retro Autographics  1996-97 (96JF), 2002-03 BAP Signature Series RC (#187), 2011-12 Dominion Carson McMillan RC (#121) S/N 062/199, 2013-14 Panini National Treasures Retro Phenoms Autographs Tyler Cuma (Wolf Logo) (#RPTC1), and a 2012-13 Certified Signatures Cody Almond (#37).

My autographed goalie trifecta displaya 2013-14 Dominion Private Signings Darcy Kuemper (#PSUE) S/N 144/199, 2013-14 Score Hot Rookie Signatures Johan Gustafsson (#748), 2007-08 Be a Player Signatures Josh Harding (#SHA), 2015-16 Upper Deck Premier Christopher Bertschy RC(#60) S/N 183/399), 2016-17 Upper Deck MVP Green Script Mike Reilly RC (#276), 2016 Upper Deck MVP Mike Reilly RC (#276), and a 2016-17 O-Pee-Chee Retro Mike Reilly (#551)

When it comes to the rookie cards for these lads, you can't beat these 2015-16 Upper Deck Michael Keranen RC (#466), 2012-13 Upper Deck Warren Peters RC (#230), 2012-13 Upper Deck Tyler Cuma RC (#228), 2012-13 Certified Jason Zucker RC (#144) S/N 396/999, 2013-14 SPx Mathew Dumba RC (#139), 2011-12 Panini Contenders Carson McMillan RC (#172) S/N 747/999, and a 2014-15 Spx Christian Folin RC (#129).

During my last shipment, I picked up a few Green Bay Packers autographed cards. Now I'm not too sure if I want to really attempt to collect all the Packers autos.

In any case, I did pick up a few nice ones with a 2009 SP Authentic Quinn Johnson RC (#324) S/N 766/999, 2006 Sweet Spot Signatures Ingle Martin (#IM), 2005 Ultimate Collection Terrence Murphy RC (#209) S/N 26/225, and a 2013 Momentum Rookie Signatures Johnathan Franklin RC (#212) S/N 329/399. Like Cameron's Sweet Spot San Diego Padres helmet auto, I really like that Inge Martin Packer helmet auto. It's just too bad he couldn't of done a lot more during his brief stint as a Packer.

 

I also added a few RC to the collection, both for tradebait, and for a few team-collecting friends. They include these 2015-16 Upper Deck Young Guns of Nick Shore RC (#216), Nickolay Goldobin RC (#453), and Frank Vatrano RC (#455), 2015-16 O-Pee-Chee Update Artemi Panarin RC (#U45) and Max Domi RC (#U35). And then there's a trio of football cards, with a 2015 Topps T.J. Yeldon (#430A), 2015 Prestige Ameer Abdullah RC (#203B), and a 2015 Topps Nelson Agholor RC (#146A).

 

 And finally, remember how I began this blog with the Tony Gwynn San Diego State baseball cards? I'll now conclude it with this 2011 Sweet Spot Rookie Signatures Vincent Brown (#RVSB), S/N141/599. And again, like the Padres helmet and Packers' helmet auto, I really do like this San Diego state helmet auto. Considering I almost went to San Diego State during the time we lived here, the Aztecs are one of the teams I actually follow on college football Saturdays. Rocky Long has done one heck of a job with this team.

2010 Topps 206 minis from the dime box

In my last post, I was talking about the single row box of cards of 2010 Topps 206 cards I found during the September Urbandale American Legion card show. These cards, going for a dime apiece,  didn't look as if anyone had dug through it yet.

 

Besides a bunch of Topps 206 SP cards, I was also able to find a whole mess of minis, including a pair of serial-numbered ones, all for one shiny dime each.

Of the 2010 Topps 206 Minis I dug out of the dime box, there were a total of 36 cards, consisting of mini cards of Cycle (2), Polar Bear (3), American Caramel (9), Old Mill (2), and Piedmont (10).

The two mini Cycle cards were both serial numbered, which included a Martin Prado (S/N 23/99) (#43) and a Roy Oswalt (S/N 50/99) (#118). The two Old Mill minis included Gil Meche (#180) and Scott Kazmir (#149). The three Polar Bear minis include Freddy Sanchez (#117); Prince Fielder (#125); and Ryan Ludwick (#150).

 

Of the nine Piedmont mini cards, I found Daniel McCutchenn (#261); Christy Mathewson (#99); Felix Hernandez (#53); Jeff Francoeur (#235); Cristian Guzman (#67); Rick Ankiel (249); Cliff Lee (#152); Jason Kubel (#21); and Joe Mauer (#218).

Among the 10 American Caramels card, I found Justin Verlander (#58); Clay Buchholz (#76); Justin Upton (#33); Yadier Molina (#115); Chris Carpenter (#86); Alex Gordon (#202); Brett Anderson (#146); Luke Hochevar (#70); and Robinson Cano (#273).

I'm not entirely sure why I picked up these 2010 Topps 206 Historical Events minis, but I figured, for a dime each, I could probably find someone who would actually be interested in them. This is actually a 20-card set, so I managed to pick up half the set, which included: Joan of Arc Beatified (#HE5); Francis' Louis Bleriot makes 1st Airplane Flight Across English Channel (#HE7); First Short Flight in a Plane With a Jet Engine (#HE20); 1st Junior High School in U.S. Opens (Columbus, Ohio) (#HE10); Chicago's Comiskey Park open, St. Louis Browns Beat White Sox, 2-0 (#HE16); 1st Radio Contest Held (Philadelphia) (#HE13); Earth Passes Through Tail of Comet Halley (#HE15); The Boy Scouts of America is Incorporated by William D. Boyce (#HE12); British Miners Strike For 8-Hour Working Day (#HE11); and 1st Movie Stunt: Man Jumps Into Hudson River From a Burning Balloon (#HE18).

Actually,  this turned out to be a rather bittersweet find. It turns out someone was selling these, and a few other cards for, Chuck's Sports Cards Plus. According to the guy who was selling the cards for Chuck, said that Chuck was shutting down his Des Moines shop. 

 

Back in April, someone broke into Chuck's Store at 5 a.m., prying open the front door and making off with about 200 cards worth more than $100,000. Apparently, the crook knew where the vintage cards were and that's what he concentrated on. Someone saw him breaking in and called the cops, but he was long gone by the time law enforcement arrived.

 

If that's the case, it's truly sad indeed, as that will leave Des Moines with just one or card shops and the monthly Urbandale card show.

Dime Box 2010 Topps 206 SP cards

While I was shopping at the September Urbandale American Legion card show, I came across a dealer who had 10 huge, 5,000-count boxes full of baseball and football cards for 10 cents each. After digging around, I also found a single row box of 2010 Topps 206 cards. What was especially interesting was the fact this box didn't look as if anyone had dug through it yet, and yes, all the cards in this box were 10 cents apiece as well.

Unfortunately, I struck out on finding any Padres in this box, what did make this a fantastic find, however, was the fact there was a boatload of Topps 206 short-printed SP cards in the box, including a whole mess of minis.

For those not aware of the 206 SP cards, the backs are unnumbered, and were only distributed one in every four packs. This Tim Lincecum Bronze (#255) and Lincecum SP (#333) card demonstrate the difference in the SP cards, which only have the player's name, team name and "American League," or "National League."

As for the card fronts, as shown by the Lincecum Bronze and Lincecum SP, the SP cards are also unique in that they feature artwork of the players with their hats on. 

Of the 50 SP cards in this set, I managed to find 16 different cards, including a Jason Bay (#319), Shin-Soo Choo (#309), Rajai Davis (#327), Stephen Drew (#342), Neftali Feliz (#339), Roy Halladay (#304), Austin Jackson (#338), and Ubaldo Jiminez (#322)

I then found these Stephen Strassburg (#331), Stan Musial (#343), Brian McCann (#303), Joe Mauer (#316), Mickey Mantle (#340), Cliff Lee (#308), Evan Longoria (#310), and Matt Kemp (#318) SPs in the box. Needless to say, I was more than a little surprised to find the Mantle card in the box.

I was able to pick up a few more interesting cards, including this Bronze Allen Craig (#203), Ian Desmond RC, (#171), Jason Heyward RC (#60), Derek Jeter (#162), Bronze Derek Jeter (#162), and an Austin Jackson RC (166)

And then there were these rookie cards for Mike Leake (#17), Tommy Manzella (#295), Daniel McCutchen (#261), Buster Posey (#193), Stephen Strasburg (#55), and Drew Stubbs (#179). If I remember right, Strasburg had just been called up to the Nationals, so I believe this may have been one of his first rookie cards.

If mini cards are your things, check out my next post, when I'll show the awesome mini cards I found from the same dime box from the Urbandale American Legion card show.

September Urbndale Card Show haul

Since it's been awhile since I've been posting again, I figured now would be a good time to showcase my purchases from the September Urbandale American Legion card show. I wasn't able to attend the October show due to drill weekend, but I did attend the November show, which I'll detail some of those goodies later.

The December show, held on Sunday, Dec. 18, was a whole different story. With blowing snow and temperatures in the sub-zero range (including a -31 degree windchill at 8 a.m. that morning), I figured a) the vendors may be a little thin that day, (especially those coming from longer distances) and b) it was too damn cold to go anywhere. We threw a few logs on the fireplace and stayed home all day.

You just have to love Iowa sometimes. Especially when you have friends who still live in San Diego call you up, reminding you about how gorgeous the weather is out there.

I'll start out with a 2015 Topps Pro Debut Pennant Patches Matt Wisler (#PP-MW), 2012 Bowman Sterling Prospects Autographs Travis Jankowski (#BSAP-TJ), 2016 Donruss Ted Giannoulas (#151), 2016 Donruss Optic The Famous San Diego Chicken/Ted Giannoulas (#165), and a couple of 2016 Wacky Packages MLB Padres Deep Friar (#35) and Padres Head Shavers (#36).

I'm not a huge fan of manufactured patches, but how can you not like El Paso's Chihuahua with an attitude. When it comes to the San Diego Chicken, we talk to him every time he's in Des Moines at an Iowa Cubs game and I have almost every Chicken card made (now that sounds like a good idea for a blog column). However, Donruss has released a large amount of serial numbered, memorabilia and certified autograph cards of the Chicken this baseball season. These two cards should at least help get me started on getting back in the Chicken groove again.

Of course, I had to get me some Gwynns. 2015 Panini Contenders Old School Colors (#14), 2003 Diamond Kings (169), 2015 Panini National Convention VIP Party (#59), 2014 Topps Allan and Ginter (#223), 2011 Topps Kimball Champions (#KC59), 2013 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions (#101), 2000 MLB Showdown Unlimited Foil (#359), and a 2013 Topps Allen and Ginter Across the Years (#ATY-TG).

Since we do live in Des Moines, which is home to the Triple A Chicago Cubs affiliate, I have do collect a few Iowa Cubs cards. The only stipulation is, however, they have to be wearing an Iowa Cub uniform. The following cards fit that criteria to a "T" - a 2010 Topps Pro Debut David Cales (#302), 1999 SP Top Prospects Kyle Farnsworth (#46), 1996 Best Autographs Brooks Kieschnick (#36), 1998 SP Top Prospects T10 Kerry Wood (#4), and a 1994 Action Packed Ozzie Timmons (#40).

Here's a couple more Padres cards, as well as a pair of MLB showdown strategy cards I picked up. The Padres cards include a 2016 Topps Archives '69 Topps Super Tyson Ross (#69TSTR) and a 2016 Diamond Kings Framed Colin Rea (#156). The MLB Showdown Strategy card is courtesy of the 2001 MLB Showdown Pennant Run Strategy Mike Piazza/Go Up Hacking (#S6).

I used to actually play in an MLB Showdown league at a local card shop. One season, we each bought a booster box and three packs. They were all opened and then we drafted the players like a normal team. My first pick was a foil Randy Johnson, who was the ace of my staff that year. I think I actually finished fourth out of nine teams that season. This was one of, if not the best, strategy cards in the game. I still have most of my cards in the hope that I can someday find someone to play again.

For that matter, I still have a bunch of MLB Sportsclix figures from Wizards of the Coasts. We used to play in a league at another neighboring card store here in Des Moines and I was actually a referee for Wizards of the Coast for this game. That's another game I'd still love to play again.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

And of course, I had to pick up a few hockey cards. I found these 2015-16 Upper Deck UD Portraits of Dylan Larkin (P95), Artemi Panarin (P110), Jack Eichel (P61), and Connor McDavid (P100) for a buck apiece. While these may not be their rookie cards, they are affordable cardboard for the quality of players.