Bryce Harpukkah: Day One, Tigers Vintage

I scored a Bryce Harper International card a while back in a retail pack of 2011 Bowman, and I was thrilled. Not because I give a crap about Bryce Harper, but because I missed out on Stras-Fever. I put the card right up on the ol' Bay of e and sold it for $35. Now, that's not much of a haul for most of you bloggers, but that's a big budget for me. I gave myself the joyous task of spending that $35 as soon as possible, and I thought I'd post what kind of jolly tidings old St. Harper could bring me.

Oops. Strike that. This is Harpukkah. Napkin Doon owns the rights to the Brycemas holiday, and I credit him with the inspiration for this post and the string that will follow. Thanks for the idea, Nap. We still have a trade to get going soon.

So, there's eight days of Hannukah, and thusly eight days of Bryce Harpukkah. That's about what it took me to spend my sales. Well, let's say I spent my Harpukkah cash in eight days. That just makes this whole thing tidier.

I think we'll start off the first day of Hannukah with some vintage:

1954 Bowman Fred Hatfield. I snagged this one off eBay for less than the price of a stamp. Sometimes I feel kind of guilty when I win these auctions, when the seller actually loses money. Well, OK, I don't feel that guilty. This card has a crease right through the middle and some serious damage in the top left corner, but you get what you pay for. How's that Harper trade looking so far? Kind of dreary? Fear not. We have many cards to come.

And what's so wrong with this one? It's vintage Bowman; it's a Tigers card. All seems right with the world so far. And Fred "Scrap Iron" Hatfield led the league in being hit by a pitch in four seasons. I guess that's why he became scrap.

Here's something a bit more Bryce-worthy:

1950 Bowman: Walter "Hoot" Evers. This is just a fantastic looking card. It has everything I love about these vintage Bowman cards and more. While many of the pictures are posed portraits, this artwork looks inspired by a semi-action shot, Hoot taking practice swings on deck. Hoot cards only go up to 1954, so there aren't a ton of them, and I'm glad to own this one. It's a little roughed up, but in pretty great shape overall for a little over $2 shipped.

That does it for day one. Much more to come with Harpukkah in October.

Trade Time: BA Benny Never Disappoints

I'd recently finished my first trade with BA Benny, when he commented on some of my trade bait, and, thus, another great trade was born. I thought he would have been tapped out of cards off my want lists after our last trade, but he had more to send.

First off, some 2007 Bowman Heritage cards off my set want lists:

No signatures here, which makes them short prints. For a while I was considering just finishing the set without these, but with BA Benny's help, I'm one step closer to finishing the whole set including the short prints.

Next up, he sent these:

I'm always happy to add another Inge rookie to the collection, and I didn't have this Don Kelly rookie. Leyland said a few nights ago that Donnie will never win a batting title, never win a gold glove (ouch), but he's a crucial part of the success of the Tigers. He's been great this year. And some nice shiny Miggy cards here for the player collection.

The hits:

In our last trade, he sent me some Bonderman game-used cards and now here are more. Where the hell did he get all these Bondermans? Jeremy hasn't pitched this season, since the Tigers decided to take a different direction with their pitching staff. And now that they've added Fister I couldn't be happier with how strong our rotation looks. Still, I hope Bonderman gets picked up next year. I couldn't believe no one picked him up as a free agent. Even if Bonderman is taking up quilting and taxidermy hobbies while watching the Tigers on TV this year, I'm still glad to pick up a few more of his cards.

The best part of our trade was this card:

A great-looking game-used card, because it's Pudge's game-used swatch. The expression on his face is priceless. He looks disappointed or maybe concerned. It's a face made just after a long fly hit at the foul pole. Upon which side will the ball plunk?

Thanks for another great trade, man. Check out BA Benny's blog and send him some Mets or American flags. We miss your posts, man, and hope to see you writing again soon.

Trade Fodder and New and Improved Want Lists

I've made some changes to the want lists, making them a bit easier to search with links to my set and player collections, rather than one unruly list. Check it out and see for yourself, and let me know if my simplifying has only made things more complicated.

I thought I'd celebrate the new want lists by posting some trade bait.

Joe Koshansky: 2008 Finest Blue Refractor, numbered to 399

Jamie D'Antonia: 2008 Bowman Draft Prospects Jersey

Keith Hernandez: 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites Refractor, numbered to 299

Vladimir Guerrero: 2005 Topps Heritage Chrome, numbered to 1956

Gaby Sanchez: 2011 Topps 60 Auto

Johnny Bench: 1974 and 1975 Kellog's, of the well-loved variety

Scott Podsednik: 2006 Bowman Heritage Pieces of Greatness, game-used bat

Gary Sheffield: 2002 UD Authentics Stars of '89 Jersey

Bruce Sutter: UD Legendary Icons Jersey

If you see anything you like, make me an offer. Leave a comment or send me an email.