Jump into the way back machine!

I picked up these cards as a gift from an excellent member (r2d2) on Freedom Card Board.  He had picked up team sets from some of Tampa’s minor league teams to get the cards of players he collectes, and then was left with a bunch of guys he doesn’t collect – including Josh Hamilton.

Its been a bounce back season in a lot of resepcts for Hamilton, I wish I could say the same for my collection.  One positive for me is that I like the looks of Hamilton’s cards in A&G – and he finally has a Ginter jersey card!  I am looking forward to picking those little guys up.  On the field, it has been exciting to watch Hamilton.  He seems to be well and truly back.  He was recently voted to the starting lineup for the 2010 All-Star Game – again.  He has declined to participate in the Home Run Derby, which I think is the right decision.  He doesn’t want to mess up his swing or throw things off for the second half of the season – a season in which the Rangers are gearing up for a potential playoff run.  And really – is there a chance that he can better his performance from his last appearance in the HR Derby?  I really don’t think so.

Hamilton’s appearance in the All-Star game will also give him a chance to do something that probably should have happened a few years ago – share the outfield with fellow 1999 draft pick Carl Crawford.  Hamilton and Crawford spent time together in a few minor league stops before Hamilton derailed his life.  They finally get the chance to play together in the majors.

2010 Upper Deck Tape Measure Shots

I really think there should be more fuss over this particular insert set.  These cards look awesome.  So clean, and to the best of my knowledge they are actually a little tiny bit original.  Sure, Upper Deck broke pretty much every legal and ethical rule available to them by putting out their baseball cards this year, but I haven’t seen a Topps card that I liked this much in a while.

National Chicle

This seems to be the hot product out right now.  It is getting a lot of favourable reviews.

I don’t think I am a fan.  Granted, this is simply from looking at online pics (the Hamilton singles I have picked up haven’t arrived yet), but it isn’t really working for me.  The picture on the Hamilton card looks nice, but for me this product doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor I was expecting.

I think Topps got lazy by using the same pictures from the base set on the relics.

Back on the baseball front, it appears Josh Hamilton’s power stroke might be returning a little bit.  He has three homers, but his RBIs are way down.  His average is OK, but hopefully he pulls things together again.

MLB Extra Innings

There is a bit of a long story that goes along with why I have the Extra Innings package this year, and I am going to share it with you, but the important part is – I get to watch Rangers games, even when they aren’t playing the Jays.  Hamilton stroked a double this afternoon against the Mariners, and he looks good out there.

As to why I have the Extra Innings package – here goes.  Around the start of the NHL and NFL regular seasons, I was pretty much confined to my desk because I was on a tight deadline to finish writing my PhD thesis.  So, I figured I would treat myself to the sports packages on my cable – I love watching a game while I write, because you can pretty much follow it without having to watch it all.  The deal with my cable provider is $26.99/month (for 12 months) for two of the sports packages (Center Ice, Sunday Ticket and Extra Innings) or $29.99/month (for 12 months) for all three.  For an extra $36 over a year, it seemed silly not to get all three, even though I was planning to be done writing my thesis long before baseball season started (I was done January 16, 2010).

And now it has all come together.

And in the time it took me to write this post, Hamilton got forced out at the plate.

Hamilton Gets a Hit!

That was a slow, painful start to the season for me and my fellow Josh Hamilton fans.  Josh got his first hit of the season (a double) last night against the Seattle Mariners.

Here’s hoping he is getting back in the groove.

2009 Ultimate Patch Josh Hamilton

I picked this one up in a deal on Freedom Card Board.  I think it pretty much speaks for itself.  Plus, I am drooling just a little bit.

2009 Topps 206 Hamilton Base

I picked this card, and a couple of the mini versions up in a quick trade that came my way via the blog world.  I am really not too sure what to think of this photo.  On one hand, I love it and on the other hand I think its stupid.

I think I would like it better if there weren’t so many parallel versions, especially minis.  Its actually very hard to make out any of the details on the mini versions.

2009 Topps Triple Threads All-Star Patch

I posted a little while back about my dilemma concerning having money to spend and not being able to decide.  Well, this card came along via BIN and it made up my mind.  Not only is it a low-numbered patch card – its from one of the defining moments of Hamilton’s career to date.  This probably isn’t the jersey that Hamilton was wearing when he was lighting it up in the Home Run Derby, but he was probably wearing it that day.

OK, that part sounded just a little bit creepy.  But – here it is.  My triple patch from Triple Threads /9.  I like it very much.

Triple Threads – Hammer

This isn’t my big pickup (hopefully that is in transit), but it was part of a purchase off CheckoutMyCards.com, which is a site I am growing to love more and more every time I visit.  I am considering getting a box of cards together to sell there.

My first purchase from 2009 Triple Threads is this jersey card, numbered 23/27.  Cool looking card, but I must say – they could have sharpened the die cuts they used for the ‘Hammer’ writing.  They look a little bit mangled.  Still, I picked this card up for $10, and I am happy to have it in my collection.

Also, for those of you who read or follow my hockey blog – Cards on Ice has a new home at www.hockeycardblog.com.

Remember my dilemma?

About having money and not knowing what to spend it on?

I solved it.  Showoff post coming as soon as the card gets here.