I Went in a Card Store

A month or so ago I did something I hadn't done in several years. I went in a card shop. While on vacation I called over to a local card shop, not something I can normally do at home, to see if they had any of the newly released Stadium Club packs. They had some but said it wouldn't last long so I went over to pick some up. I was excited to open some packs but I was also excited about the prospects of picking up some single cards to add to my collection. 

Turns out I got there just in time. I was able to grab the last three packs of Stadium Club. They had some other products but nothing that seemed in line with what I was willing to pay. With just three hobby packs I think I did pretty well.

Pulled my first Benintendi of 2021 which falls into the Greenville Drive collection. That's one I won't have to put on the want list. It is weird to see him in a Royals uniform. Another former Drive player switched teams this week (Chavis to the Pirates) and while I am glad to continue to cheer for collect them after they've switched teams, it's really satisfying to see them perform well on the Red Sox. Benintendi hit just .183 in July after coming back from injury. Hoping he can turn it around for the last part of the year.

I hadn't seen the Puckett card posted anywhere yet and it may have been my favorite from my three packs. The colors look great on this one. 

And I've mentioned on pack breaks from previous years how I appreciate shots at this angle. Hoping Sale comes back strong- his rehab starts have been pretty solid.

Speaking of switching teams, Manny Machado used to be a guy I sought cards of. I still own a good stack of cards from his time with the Orioles. Since then though it's been tough for me to cheer for him, and I no longer seek out his cards. 

With Turner on the move to LA, the rich get richer. What a luxury to add a player of Turner's caliber at a position where Corey Seager is already playing.

Schwarber seems like a good fit for the Red Sox, and can't have too much quality depth, but starting pitching seems like the real weakness for this team. 

While I'm no Yankees fan, this is a pretty cool shot.

This was another of my favorite base cards I opened. Love the dirt spraying up from the slide.

Harper I'm happy to send to another collector. Never been a fan, as to be expected with him being a rival to the Braves at both of his major league stops in his career.

The Cal is a keeper out of the three packs. Love the design, love the 90s, love Cal. It's a keeper for sure.

Two Phillies inserts in the same box, I'm not enthused. Cutch is 34 now and I forget that he won an MVP award in 2013.

I've been pulling Dodger cards like crazy recently. Nothing mind blowing but solid cards nonetheless. As always the Chrome card didn't scan great, but I can assure you this card looks great in hand.

Was this a Braves rivals box? Kilome is in AAA Syracuse. Tough signature to read but I was still pleased to pull an autograph out of three packs. I figured someone would have opened packs until they pulled all the autos, but I opened one out of the last three packs in the box.

This Devers rookie card from Topps Gallery was in the display case at the front of the store. It was a little more than I could have probably found on eBay, but it was right there in front of me, I didn't have to wait for it to be shipped to me, and most of all, I want to support the local card shop when I can, even on a small purchase like this one.

While I picked up the Devers rookie at the store, this Topps Heritage relic from 2020 I spotted in the store, and it was priced significantly more than I could pick it up online. I would have liked to buy it in store, but when it's more than double the price there, I couldn't justify it. I do love the design and colors on this Devers relic, the 2nd in my collection.

I would have liked to dig through boxes for more cards for my collection, and I did browse a little bit, but I ran out of time. Next time I'm in town I'll be sure to spot back by, though. Just the act of going into a local card store and seeing packs on a shelf in person was therapeutic. Looking forward to the next time! 

Sob Rock and Cards

I'm a man with more than one hobby, one of which is listening to music, attempting to learn guitar, and collecting vinyl records. One of the best guitar players out there, John Mayer, released a new album recently, and it was one I knew I would end up picking up. I like the 80s vibe and comedy in the marketing around this release. 

How does this record relate to a card blog, you ask? Well, what came to mind from listening to 'Sob Rock' while going through cards over the weekend was all the negativity around the hobby. 

Prices too high, can't find cards, the bubble's bursting, it's such a bummer. 

Ebay fees too high, buyer returned my item, grading takes too long, what's going on this Summer? 

Look at the lyrics and listen to I Guess I Just Feel Like while you're scrolling through hobby twitter and you might get what I'm talking about.

Well I'm here to tell you that the low-end collector over here is looking at the hobby in a different light, a New Light, even. 

While I'm enjoying the guitar riffs, the 80s sounds on the keys, the can't get it out of my head tune in 'New Light' and the retro look of this John Mayer album, I’m looking at everything that’s great about the hobby.

1) The blogging community is not going away. My involvement often comes in waves, but quality content from the baseball card blogging community is always there, and it’s awesome to see the friendships and support among collectors in this space.

2) I'm finding packs and boxes again, even if it's not in stores. I've been able to snag a few blasters recently from Target (box breaks to come) at normal prices, and while on vacation I even ventured to a local card shop that had some Stadium Club hobby packs in stock. 

This seems like an excellent progression for everyone, and especially the lower end collectors out there.

3) A few examples of cards I'm enjoying picking up these days:

Cards of my favorite players in sweet insert sets like this one, a Betts Warp Speed insert from 2019 Stadium Club. The good thing about returning to the hobby after a few years away is there's plenty of great stuff to see for the first time. And better yet, I picked this one up for a dollar. 

Cards of my favorite players on classic card designs. I never get tired of these types of cards. While we see them fairly often in flagship Topps, Archives and Heritage, I'm always happy to see current cards on iconic designs like this one.

What are your favorite things about the hobby? What keeps you collecting (and blogging)? 

Also, do you have other hobbies besides cards? I want to hear about them!

First Card in 2021 is Unleashed

It's been awhile, baseball card blog community. Almost two years, and the sports card landscape has changed tremendously. For most of the two years it's been very difficult to find packs and boxes to open at the usual spots. Only now are they starting to pop up online and in person again. But as I always mention after a long time away, I'm never really out of the hobby. Inevitably I'll see a card I like, or watch a piece of a game (stringing together 3 consecutive hours to watch a full ballgame is tough these days), and it will lead to me browsing ebay looking for a particular card. 

When it comes to baseball, I of course prefer to see logos on the cards I pick up, but it doesn't stop me from collecting Panini cards as well. And some of the insert sets coming from some of the Panini brands are too good to pass up. I of course would love a Downtown insert of Mookie Betts, but can't justify spending on one of those. But I came across the Unleashed insert set from Donruss, and what do you know, my favorite Red Sox player and first time All-Star Rafael Devers appears in the set, and it's affordable to the lower-end collector like me.

And next thing you know, boom. First card purchase of 2021.

This is the Vector version of the card, unnumbered but that's ok with me. It's awesome- a bear, a lion, a snake, this is a card that my 4 year old son (who is enjoying cards with me now), can get behind too!

After buying this card, I decided if I was going to re-enter baseball card land in this crazy time in the hobby, I really had to narrow my focus. I'll always enjoy opening the occasional blaster or a few packs of the latest product showing up in retail stores, but as far as who I'm chasing, I'm going after cards in the following categories:

1) Greenville Drive former players (Class A Affiliate of the Red Sox), from last 8 years or so, including player collections of Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers, and Michael Chavis. For the former Drive players, I'm mostly after base and inserts.

2) Freddie Freeman player collection

I'll also occasionally add to Cal Ripken Jr, Ryan Klesko, and Nick Markakis player collections.

I'm trying to get a specific want list together, mostly for my own benefit so that I know what I'm looking for when I'm browsing my usual card sites. 

Glad to be a part of the baseball card blogging community, however sporadic my posting habits. 

Question for you all out there- What's your favorite lower-end insert set? Year doesn't matter. 

2015 Greenville Drive Team Set

Since moving to the upstate of South Carolina from Charlotte about three years ago, I've really enjoyed following the local minor league team, Greenville of the South Atlantic League. Last year's squad was filled with prospects, some of which are now with other organizations due to trades. I picked up a team set later in the 2015 season. Not sure any future single-A squad will have this many highly regarded prospects at one time again. Andrew Benintendi didn't get a card but played in 19 games for Greenville at the end of last season, and he's a top 10 prospect in all of baseball.

It's possible some of these guys may have been traded near the trade deadline since this post was written.

We'll start with the most notable, Yoan Moncada. He started off slow for Greenville but finished nicely and is having a great season, now in Double A Portland. He's listed as the #2 prospect in all of baseball on mlb.com. He's apparently learning third base which makes sense given Dustin Pedroia is locked in at second for the near future.

Chavis has power but has struggled to get on base, particularly during last season. He's doing better his second season in Greenville. The 2014 first round pick is still a top 10 Red Sox prospect.

Devers had a great season for Greenville in 2015 and has come on recently for single A Salem. He's got power and is still just 19 years old. He's the Red Sox third prospect behind Moncada and Benintendi.

Dubon was my personal favorite from last year's squad. He's a top 10 Red Sox prospect as well who plays middle infield positions. Great contact hitter and has speed. Could be a great utility guy down the road and is having a great season, now with double A Portland.

Guerra was traded to the Padres along with Manuel Margot for Craig Kimbrel. Guerra was listed as a top 100 prospect going into the season but has fallen off that list as he has struggled at the plate in 2016. He's still just 20 years old, though.

Michael Kopech recently hit 105 mph on his fastball. He's another first round pick from 2014 who's pitched well for single A Salem.

Longhi wasn't drafted as early as some of these other guys and doesn't have the hype around him, but he's had a great minor league career thus far. The card names him an outfielder, but he played first base for the Drive last season. 

You might have seen Aaron Wilkerson's name recently when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the trade for Aaron Hill. He's pitched well at each level of the minors for the Red Sox since he was signed from independent league ball in 2004. 

And what can you say, Reedy Rip'It is an awesome mascot. Reedy is named after the Reedy River that runs through downtown Greenville.

While the 2016 Drive don't match up prospect-wise with last year's squad, it's exciting to see top picks and international prospects come through on their way up the minor league ladder.

Minor League Stack

I'm in on following the Braves and Red Sox minor league systems this year. The Braves because the season is already probably lost and the Red Sox because I'll be seeing the single-A Greenville Drive a handful of times this season. I also want to check on some of the guys the Braves traded most of their talent for.

And if I'm going to follow their seasons by tracking boxscores, might as well pick up some cardboard. Plus, this gives me another reason to pick up more Heritage and one of my favorite sets each year, Topps Heritage Minors. I love the team names, the logos, the mascots, everything about the minor leagues, really.

Manuel Margot is a Drive alum who's now in the Padres minor league system playing for the AAA El Paso Chihuahuas. He stole 39 bases last year splitting time between High-A Salem and AA Portland. The Red Sox traded Margot and another former Greenville Drive player Javier Guerra to get Craig Kimbrel. Margot and Guerra are listed as the top two prospects in the Padres organization per MLB.com. Really like the colors in the Margot card.

The other two on this line are Braves minor leaguers. The Braves picked up Toussaint from the Diamondbacks last summer. He is struggling so far with single A Rome but it's early.

Sean Newcomb is with AA Mississippi and has given up 4 runs in 15 innings so far and was rated the #67 prospect in baseball by MLB.com.

The Braves minor league system is loaded with young pitching talent. Hopefully a few of them have strong careers with the big league club, or they can create a balanced squad by making some moves. They seem to be set at shortstop with two top prospects there as well.

Chavis was a first round pick of the Red Sox in 2014 and is repeating at single A Greenville this year. He has good power but struggled to maintain a good average last season. He's off to a much better start this year.

Devers is one of the top prospects in baseball with High-A Salem. He is just 19 after driving in 70 runs last season for Greenville in the middle of a loaded Drive lineup.

Kopech definitely has talent but between a suspension and breaking his hand in a fight at the beginning of this year is having a hard time staying on the field. Kopech is also just 19 and was another Red Sox first round pick from 2014. He's got some growing up to do, it seems.

Sam Travis has hit for a high average at every level in the minors, and started 2016 with AAA Pawtucket. He's once again off to a great start at .327 through 13 games. It would not surprise me to see Travis have a long major league career as a starting first baseman for the Red Sox or elsewhere. This is the first card I've picked up of Travis.

Chavis I already talked about above. Glad to see him off to a good start. If it continues he'll be on his way to High-A Salem.

Was glad to pick up this Donruss insert of Devers. Yoan Moncada may be the more hyped Red Sox prospect, but I expect Devers to have a solid career himself.

Anybody else keeping up with their team's prospects this year? Anyone under the radar we should be on the lookout for?

Drive Me to the Ballpark

While opening day in the majors is a big deal, for sure, I'm even more excited with the start of minor league baseball, the Greenville Drive, in particular. The Drive, of the South Atlantic League, are the low A affiliates of the Red Sox. Since I moved to the Greenville area I've found myself following the Red Sox system pretty closely, including the major league team. While I've been an Orioles and Braves fan most of my life, I've become a fan of certain Red Sox players as well as they've moved through the minor league system.

The Drive are supposed to have a good group this year if you follow what the experts are saying. Several of the Red Sox top prospects play for the Drive, and one more, Yoan Moncada, should be joining the team in the early part of the season. He could be the best of the group.

Two of the top prospects on the team were picked in the first round of the 2014 draft. Third-baseman Michael Chavis, pick 26, is 9th on SoxProspects.com's list, while right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech, the 33rd pick, is 10th. Rafael Devers, another third-baseman and other best hitting prospect for the Drive, is 5th on the list. Devers and Chavis have been alternating between playing 3B and DH so they both get some work in the field. Nick Longhi is off to a great start to the season, as well, a 30th round selection in 2013.

April 9th couldn't get here soon enough. The Drive started off the season at home against the Augusta Greenjackets, affiliates of the Giants.

Rafael Devers started off the scoring with a sac-fly in the 3rd, while Chavis homered in the 7th. And then in the bottom of the 9th inning he broke a 2-2 tie and smacked a double off the mini-Green Monster to win the game for the Drive 3-2. Chavis has struggled a bit since that game, as he's batting just 5-30 on the season, but if I had to bet I'd say he's going to have a good career.

Recently I've picked up some cards of new Drive players and ones from last year's team.

The first is Michael Kopech's Bowman Draft card from 2014. He's off to a great start with a 1-1 records, 1.98 era and 11 strikeouts to just 2 walks in Greenville. Trey Ball was picked 7th overall by the Red Sox in 2013. After spending 2014 in Greenville he's moved up to A-Advanced Salem this year. So far he's had one great start, one ok start, and one poor start after a strong second half in 2014.

Here's the first card I've added of Michael Chavis. As mentioned above, I think this is a guy to keep an eye on as he progresses through the minor leagues.

Great way to start the season. Glad you're back, baseball.