Just a Regular Trade

It has been almost a month since I highlighted a TCDB trade that was not part of a 2 for Tuesday post.  I have been saving a few cards for that day, but I have also not had a lot of trades coming in.  The holidays will do that to my trading activity.  This trade package from member myrke arrived late Saturday evening along with my newest Ray Lankford card.  

Before this trade, I only had a Pujols card from the massive 2007 Topps Moments & Milestones set.  I now have 469 different Jim Edmonds cards in my Cardinals collection.  I thought I would have been over 500 by now.

Poor Luken Baker.  Due to his body type he is limited to first base or DH.  He had done nothing but hit at Triple A, but does not really have an opportunity for playing time unless someone gets injured.  

You would think a Cardinals fan like myself would not like blue parallels, but I do.  The sapphire cards are especially nice.

Bader is currently a free agent.  He will surely catch on as a fourth outfielder somewhere.  He plays great defense and still hits enough to deserve a roster spot.

After getting a rush of Topps gold parallels in December, this is my first of the month.  Weaver only played half a season in St. Louis, but he made it count by pitching in some big games during the 2006 playoffs.  His younger brother had a better career, but Jeff has a World Series ring.

   

TCDB 2 for Tuesday #104

The snow is finally starting to melt around here. Today's temperatures are close to 30 degrees, with plenty of sunshine. On Friday, it will be over 40 degrees, so anything left will be gone by the end of the day. Two weeks of driving on the snow and icy roads is enough for me. Thankfully, my mail lady is still delivering trade envelopes.   Today's first package came from member sporch10.

Only 3 cards in this one.  One Hall of Famer and another soon to be Hall of Famer.  Hard to pass up any Molina cards.

The second trade came from member jc645.

My 2024 A&G set just lacks the Lou Brock short print from being complete.  

I did complete my 2024 Topps Holiday team set with this Gray card.  The Helsley is a rainbow foil parallel.  I doubt Helsley will finish the 2025 season in St. Louis.  He should be a good deadline trade piece if he stays healthy.

It is looking more and more like Arenado may start the season in St. Louis.  I would not be opposed to him staying, although it would mean trading away others to cut payroll.

Ozzie completed my 2023 Panini Prizm team set.  Now to start the 2024 set.  

Only 2 more cards to finish the 24 card team set from 2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary.  It is nice to see players like Rolen and Edmonds back in a few seats.  They were a big part of the 2006 World Series team.    

 

2nd New Lankford of 2025

Mother Nature hit my area hard last week. Sunday brought 8 inches of snow and a thin layer of ice. Schools were out all week due to the poor roads. Friday brought another 5 inches of snow.  Saturday and yesterday saw some improvement with temps in the low 30s, but roads are still not great.  It will be Thursday or Friday before things get better.  

What does this have to do with baseball cards?  I have to give a major shout-out to my mail lady.  She did not miss a beat Monday-Wednesday.  Thursday was a federal holiday for President Carter, so there was no mail service.  She missed delivery on Friday but ran late on Saturday to catch up.  My mail usually gets delivered in between 11-12.  Saturday, she arrived at 7:30 in the evening.  I was thrilled because she left this in my mailbox:

This is my third version of the 2024 Panini Impeccable autograph.  The only one I need is the 1/1.  Maybe someday it will show up. 
        

National Bobblehead Day (A Day Late)

I mentioned in yesterday's post that it was National Bobblehead Day.  I am an avid collector, with over 100 of them in my collection.  All but five are of the Cardinals variety.  The others are the 1989 Illinois Flying Illini basketball team.  

I do not pursue everyone I see. I like to pick and choose the ones that look great or are of an older player I do not have.  Of course, I do have some favorites.  

These are the only 2 Lankford bobbleheads I know of.  The top one was given at Busch Stadium on August 28, 2018.  It required a special ticket.  I am unsure how many were given out, but they are hard to find now.  I traded for this one a few years ago.  The bottom one was given out at Springfield Lucky Horshoes game on July 23, 2023.  I way overpaid for this one.  It was advertised as being given out to the first 500 people.  With a limited quantity, I bought one a week after the game.  They are still available from the team's website for about half of what I paid.

My favorite non-Lankford bobblehead is the one given out at Busch Stadium on September 14, 2019.  Any time you can get two all-time greats on one bobblehead is a major win.  
  
        

TCDB 2 for Tuesday #103

I almost made a post today for National Bobblehead Day but realized that would not be right.  I will save that for tomorrow.  Of course, it will be a day late, but a 2 for Wednesday post does not sound right.  Getting today's recap started with a nice trade package from member AgsWin99.

My 2004 Topps Traded Chrome team set is now complete.  If you are like me, you have never heard of Benji DeQuin.  He is one of the many players who never reached the majors but does have a few cards.

I was thrilled to get a nice chunk of 2011 Topps Cognac Diamond Anniversary cards.  These are great-looking parallels from the Cardinals' last World Series title year.  

The second package came from member njavgjoe.  

This Cognac parallel is from the Update set.  Laird picked a good year for his only season in St. Louis.  He has a World Series ring to show for it.  

Tolan also earned a World Series ring with the Cardinals.  He was a reserve outfielder on the 1967 team.  Super Teams is a set I wish Topps would bring back.  It is fun looking back at the championship teams.

Finishing up today with a 1999 SP Top Prospect card.  DeWitt did pitch in a few games from 2000-2002.  The Cardinals traded him to Toronto in 1999 as part of the Pat Hentgen trade.  Far from a top prospect, but he did make it a lot farther than you and me.  

  

1st New Lankford of 2025

I am a few days late, but happy new year to everyone!  I can tell I am getting old, as I spent New Year's Eve at home and called it a night at 10:00.  Wild times for sure.  It is nice to ring in the new year with a new Ray Lankford card.  In this case it is really a sticker.

This is a 1992 Panini Sticker Canadian card.  Very similar to the regular version, but with the added French text on the front and back.  For added reference, the regular version is below

This sticker has been on my watchlist for awhile. I finally bought it with some Paypal credit.  Always nice to cross another oldie off the want list.  

  

TCDB 2 for Tuesday #102

I have been off work the last two days.  With the rainy weather outside, that leaves me no choice but to spend time in the card room.  I do not have many cards to scan or file away, but do have some trades to recap.  Always nice to say I am caught up.  Today's first trade package came from member bigblue88.

I like the 2020 Topps Sticker set.  They are full sized, cheap, and offer some nice cards of future HOF players like Pujols.

Arenado is still a Cardinal.  It sounds like teams are waiting to see where Alex Bregman lands before turning to him.  I highly doubt he a Cardinals by this time next month.

O'Neill cashed in early this offseason by signing with the Orioles.  He should fit in well with their young team as long as he can stay healthy.

The second trade package was courtesy of member Staff23.

My 2024 Stadium Club team set is now complete.  I need to concentrate on the red parallels next.

December has been a very good month for adding Topps Gold parallels.  I am making it a point to finish at least one team set in 2025.  2020 may be an option, as I just need five more from the 22 card set.

Last but not least is this not so rare 1994 Signature Rookie card limited to 45,000.  With such a limited print run, you can see why it took me 30 years to track a copy down.  

I wish everyone a happy and safe New Year.  May 2025 bring you many cardboard treasures.