Robert Feeds My Habit

I have mentioned before how online traders tend to use numerous sites to feed their habit.  Last week I discovered that Robert from $30 a Week Habit was also a member of TCDB.  We were able to put together a small trade that sent a few Blue Jays his way in return for 2 Cardinals and a Pirate.

I usually do not trade for Pirates, but I am planning a trip to Indianapolis in a few weeks to watch their Triple A team and do some autographing.  Holmes has already been promoted to the Pirates, so this card may sit in my box for a while.

 Now this is more like it.  A nice 2016 insert of Wainwright.  It was good to see him have a quality start yesterday after his first outing stunk.  I will continue to root for him to do well, but the Cardinals may be better off with Jack Flaherty in the starting rotation.

Martinez also had a nice start this week.  This 2017 GQ purple parallel is numbered to 250.

Thanks for the trade Robert, and good luck getting all your Blue Jays sorted and logged. 

Got My First Taste of Queen

Most of my trades these days come through the Trading Card Database (TCDB) website, but I still check in on a few other places.  The Bench was the first online trading community I joined back in 2003.  It was my favorite site for a long time until a few years ago when the member base shifted from collectors to more prospectors/investors.  I still visit the site daily, but am lucky to make 1 or 2 trades there a month.  I was able to swing a deal with member pac_rat_76 last week that brought my first 2018 Gypsy Queen cards.

It was nice to get 5 of the 9 Cardinals base cards in the set.  To my knowledge there are not SPs, just some photo or logo variations.  I like the design this year, although it is not much different from last year. 

There were a few other inserts in the package like these 2017 Foil cards.  It was great to see Martinez have a strong game last night after his dud on opening day.  Now if he could only be that dominant on a more consistent basis he would be a true ace.

I have never completed any of the Stadium Club Triumvirate sets.  This one is from 2016.  I am not expected much from Wainwright in today's home opener in St. Louis.  He may have rushed back from a hamstring injury in order to make this start. 

My son is scheduled to have a baseball tournament this weekend, but mother nature may say otherwise.  Friday night and Sunday forecasts both show a chance of show.  I would much rather have the 2016 Topps Holiday type than the real thing.

Trading With Berton for His Doubles

One of my frequent trading partners on TCDB is Bertons doubles/Berton Russell.  He uses two different ids because of his large collection.  One is his wantlist, the other his trade list.  He is a set collector with over 83,000 cards on his wantlist.  He breaks a decent amount of boxes, so I always go to him when newer products come out.

Mr. Russell opened some 2018 Donruss recently and must have pulled quite a few duplicate Cardinals.  He put a nice dent in my team set.  Both the Molina and Ozuna cards are the so called short print variations.  Judging by the quantity of the cards, Panini has a much different definition of a short print than Topps does.

These are my first 2015 Panini Contenders cards.  These may not seem like Cardinals cards, but the back shows what team drafted them, so I consider them part of my team collection.       

Hit the Century Mark

Happy Easter everyone!  Hope the bunny left you something nice.  I usually do not post on Sundays, but have a little of down time in between family dinners to share my 100th trade package on TCDB.  It arrived yesterday from member mheilenman.  This was my third trade with him since the beginning of February. 

These are the last non SP cards I needed from 2018 Heritage.  Now I need to track down the 4 SP Cardinals.  Nice to see DeJong hit 2 home runs today to help the Cardinals win a game. 

These are my first 2017 Topps Gallery Canvas cards.  I have not kept up with how all the former Cardinals are doing so far this year, but did hear Grichuk hit a home run yesterday.  I would bet he has a handful of strikeouts also.

Nice Stack of Heritage

Another trade envelope arrived yesterday from TCDB member La Loosh.  This is my second trade with him in the last few months.  The first time I sent him a big stack of 2005 Donruss in exchange for a handful of Cardinals.  He said he would repay the favor in a future trade, which he did with this one.  I only had a few 2002 Fleer Tradition cards for him, but he sent a nice stack of mostly 2018 Cardinals my way.

The only card not from 2018 was this 2016 Topps Bunt Program insert of Adam Wainwright.  He is going to miss 2 or 3 starts because he strained a hamstring while running sprints.  If I was a 35+ year old starting pitcher with an injury history I do not think I would be running a lot of sprints.

These 2 are my first 2018 Donruss cards.  Although there are some shortprints and variations in the team set, it should not be to hard to finish.  I always think about the Andy Van Slyke rookie card when I see the 1984 design.

I was able to knock out a big chunk of the 2018 Heritage team set including cards of 2 former outfielders along with 2 current starters.

This is my first Ozuna card in a Cardinals uniform.  I have seen worse airbrush jobs.

In my opinion these 3 cards show the past, present, and future aces of the Cardinals starting pitchers, although Martinez did not pitch like one yesterday.  Weaver may have some competition when Alex Reyes returns.

I would not count out Flaherty as a possible ace.  He may not throw as hard as some of the others starters, but still can touch 95 and throws 5 different pitches.  He is taking Wainwright's spot in the rotation for now. 

Not A Good Start

Well the Cardinals laid a big egg today in their first game against the Mets.  Carlos Martinez was anything but the ace Cardinals fans want him to be.  He did not make it out of the 5th inning, giving up 6 walks and 5 runs.  The bullpen followed his lead with another 3 walks and 4 runs.  Mets pitchers on the other hand only walked 1 and stuck out 15 batters.  The only bright spots were Yadier Molina and Jose Martinez who each hit a home run and drove in 2.

It was nice to come home after work and find a trade package to brighten my spirits.  This one came from TCDB member brianscards.

I was surprised Topps did not bring back the First Pitch insert in 2018.  It was a nice change of pace from some of the inserts.  Maybe next year they can bring it back with autographed versions.

I do like the 2017 base cards without borders, but it does make it more difficult to spot the Gold parallels.  Voit will start the year in Triple A Memphis waiting for Matt Carpenter or Jose Martinez to pull something.  Wong started today and struck out twice in his 3 at bats.  Some people believe he will break out and have an All Star season.  I am not so sure he is that level.  I would be happy with an everyday guy who hits .280-.290 with 25 stolen bases that also plays good defense.

 The back of the Martinez 1983 insert mentions his first start from last year where he struck out 10 with no walks.  What a difference a year makes.  Weaver will get his first start on Sunday.  I have hopes he can have a 15 win season if he stays healthy.   

Has it Been Almost 3 Weeks?

I knew it had been a little while since I completed a trade on TCDB, but did not realize it was almost 3 weeks.  That is surprising considering the number of new releases that came out in March.  I should have a steady flow of mail coming in the next few days.  The first of which arrived yesterday from member irish77.

Always fun to get stickers in a trade package.  This Ozzie is from the 1983 Fleer Star Stickers set.

I did not scan the front of the 1991 Topps Ken Hill and Milt  Thompson cards because everyone has seen a ton of those over the years.  Instead I will show the back of these 2 to point out the dark logo variation compared to the other Thompson card.  I did not know these even existed until a few months ago. 

Being a big minor league guy, you would think I would have some Razor cards in my collection, but these 2 2008 cards are my first.  Wallace has a place in Cardinals history as being a part of the Matt Holliday trade.  To my knowledge Vazquez never got above Double A and has been bouncing around Independent ball.

My first taste of 2018 Heritage brought these 2 cards.  I do not think of yellow as being a primary color of cards, but it is not too bad.  The team name would look better in red, but I understand Topps wanting to follow the 1969 design.