Cards From my Pals at Pal's... Whatever...
One nice thing about my return to Minnesota is the close proximity of an actual Brick & Mortar card shop...
After losing Mike's Sports Cards (in Englewood) to economic induced closure in 2013, I had to make a pilgrimage across Denver to Mike's (Stadium) Sports Cards in Aurora, for in person team set filling.
(Unless I wanted to shop at Unfriedly's Dickish Collectables, but that's an entirely different story...)
Now that I'm back here, I live reasonably nearby to Pal's Sports Cards in Andover. Being less than five miles away, I can stop in whenever I have the wax itch to scratch...
Pal's was a scheduled destination visit during my past Minnesota vacations. Each time I came back to town, I set aside an hour our two for quarter-box mining. (No dime boxes here, but I wont argue with quarter boxes filled with quality...)
Anything not sleeved was priced at 25 cents, anything in a sleeve (or top loader) was priced accordingly. For a decent price, you could find some great stuff to fill the gaps in any team collection.
Pal's keeps individual boxes of team sorted singles, so I can easily find all those bargain Rockies cards I'm looking for... Pal's still even keeps a small box dedicated to Montreal Expos singles, instead of just mixing them in with new Washington Nationals cards. That box may not have much in it, but I completely appreciate them keeping it!
There are also plenty of boxes of recent singles ripped from recent wax to pick from. So if you want to screw over another current set builder by taking all of one teams cards, you certainly can!
Obviously, this being Minnesota and all, Pal's has a great inventory of Twins cards (as they should) and it's nice to find some cards I've wanted , or that I didn't know I wanted, without having to make a big deal about it...
I made my first non-vacationing visit to Pal's a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have a whole lot of time that afternoon to really dig through all Pal's singles, so I grabbed the following 26 cards, paid a respectable price for them and headed on my way.
Cards that crop out the background from an image are very hit and miss with me. Some of them are very nice looking (with several examples coming later in this Whatever) and some of them are just this... A big mess of shapes and ugly colors... Fleer was really good (bad) with that in their dying days as a card manufacturer.
Some dings at the top and water damage in the corner make the "investment" value nil, but it's a great photo from a set I love. For 25 cents, you can do much worse. And I'm still not sure if I have this card already or not... At some point I will put together that long desired want-list...
After the 2008 season, Matt Holliday decided that he wanted way more money than the Rockies were offering to sign a long term deal. He was quickly traded to the Oakland Athletics for Street, washed-out starter Greg Smith and longtime -and still- current Rockies outfielder, Carlos Gonzalez. Street was an effective closer for the Rockies for a few seasons, before moving on to San Diego, then the Angels. I'd still say Colorado won this trade handily...
Holliday? He ended up signing a long term contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, for actually a little less than Colorado offered. After spending the 2017 season in New York with the Yankees, Holliday didn't retire for the 2018 season, instead doing radio for MLB. Yesterday, he signed a minor league deal with the Rockies, and may rejoin the team after rosters expand in September, if both parties agree to it.
A purposely purchased duplicate... Not only Santana appears on the card, but so does PED taking shortstop Jorge Polanco, a bat and helmet rack, even electrical outlets! Even though Santana didn't pan out for the Twins (nor the Braves), this is still a great card for 25 cents!
Now I can pair this with a previously purchased Mauer to complete the 2009 O Pee Chee Preview Twins team set!
Both Morneau and Mauer's Preview cards have much better photos than appeared in the regular 2009 O Pee Chee set... Which is still a favorite of mine, despite having never completed it... Make that wantlist!
Pretty sure I had this, but I wasn't certain. Still a nice shot from Target Field's inaugural season. Note the patch on Pavano's right sleeve, but don't get distracted by his porn star mustache...
When the Rockies took Freeland in the first round of the 2014 draft, I was skeptical on the pick... I felt they should have taken one of the bigger names still on the table, instead of the guy politely described as a good control, soft tossing lefty-starter. Despite being local, I thought the Rockies aimed a little low...
Well, I was wrong! In his first season and a half in the major leagues, Freeland has become a very good pitcher for Colorado, even succeeding in the harsh atmosphere of Coors Field. I knew he would be special after watching him nearly throw the first Rockies no-hitter at Coors in 2017. If the stars align, Freeland and Jon Gray could give Colorado the foundation for a strong pitching staff in the near future!
I was watching the 2015 Major League Draft on Draft Day on the MLB Network. Colorado had the 3rd overall pick in 2015, and Rogers was the player I wanted to see going to the Rockies at that high slot.
And during his time in the Rockies' system, Rogers has not disappointed! Though this card, with it's Topps-ified Rockies uniform (likely painted on to cover up his AA Hartford Yard Goats' digs) resembles kids pajamas to me a whole lot more than the Rockies...
Tantalizing and seemingly snake-bit talent is now finding himself blocked for Major League playing time, after battling injuries for years. Now back in the minors, I hope to see him get a shot and run with it soon...
Also, big props to Gracie for leaving a white car hair on the scanner that I'm way too lazy to Photoshop out, or even rescan...
I was really happy when the Rockies re-signed Blackmon to a contract that gives him a good chance to finish his career in Colorado. Then I was bummed because I'll no longer get to see the antics of Chuck Nazty on a day to day basis, since I don't get to watch Rockies games every day anymore.
One of the games more hilarious players, Blackmon shined in front of a national audience during the All Star Game this year. Wearing a mic in center field, during the top of the sixth, he nailed a running commentary with sharp dry wit, while the National League pitcher labored on the mound. He made a lot more fans that night...
Now this card I like! Take note bankrupt company of Fleer some five years too late... This is how you crop the photo from the photo for a designed background. Then make it sparkle!
I've been a huge fan of the Donruss The Rookies "The Rookies" logo, since it's debut in 1986. This is a very attractive (unlicensed) card. However, the 308 Career Strikeouts foil stamp is misleading. Those are minor league numbers. But Whatever. I like this card.
I loved this card in it's less glitzy base 2014 Topps form, so this was a welcome addition to the binder. It's too bad for Pinto's sake that he was so horrible on defense, his relative power could've made him a multi-year starter on those catching-poor Twins teams of this era. Had he been even close to league average at catching, framing or throwing from his needed position...
Looking at this card made me think back to cards of the post-strike era, and how there seems to be a noticeably lesser supply of them on the secondary market. Not the overproduced common level inserts, or the uber-rare high dollar autographed chase cards.. But the mid-tier, rare -but quirky- inserts of the day. It may be that I'm not searching the secondary market as well for them, but you (obviously) see junk wax era cards everywhere, but the slow but painful death era, that the hobby went through from 1997 through 2005, are under-represented at stores and in the hobby in general.
Really thought the Twins had something when they picked Stewart out of a Texas High School, 4th overall in 2013. Now dropped from the 40 Man roster, Stewart passed through waivers unclaimed after last season, and remained with the Twins organization. There's still a shot of him reaching the Majors, as he's made it up to AAA Rochester, but he will never be the dominant ace we all hoped he was on draft night...
The key return in the 2015 Troy Tulowitzki trade... Hoffman went to Toronto in the same 2014 draft, also in the first round, just a few picks after the Rockies took Kyle Freeland. I was actually hoping that Colorado would have drafted Hoffman over Freeland, going into that day. Just over a year later, the Rockies had both pitchers.
I was so disgruntled with 2016 Topps Series 1 that I didn't buy hardly any of Series 2. So I'd actually never seen this Milone card before I bought it. Well, it's easily one of the best base cards in the set! The cameos by several Twins fielders and the hand operated Fenway Park scoreboard backdrop make this card a work of art.
Another classic late 1980's retail boxed set single! Great photo of Blyleven from the Twins past Spring Training home at Tinker Field in Orlando, Florida. I'd forgotten how decent the cheesy the Twins uniforms actually were in 1986.
Circa was a fun but ADD card set. Loud and flashy colors saturated all the base cards, but some of the inserts were really fun. The green turfy-looking background is actually felt. Which looks like Astroturf when scanned!
This afternoon, I connected the TV to the phone and mobile hot-spotted enough pieces of internets to watch the Rockies complete their 3 game sweep of the Oakland Athletics at Coors. While I didn't get to see the current National League Home Run leader add to his total today, he did make a couple of great defensive plays at third.
And just like Blackmon hitting doubles in the gap, then tongue-in-cheeking his accomplishment during the post-game interview, that's what I loved about Rockies games over the past few years...
The back of this card mentions how in July 1981, Hrbek invited some of his Class A Visalia teammates over to his apartment for spaghetti and beers, while watching the 1981 All Star Game. Whoever wrote the card back, continues the set-up with, "Who would have expected that one year later, Hrbek would be in Montreal, as a member of the American League All Star Team!"
The fact that Topps did NOT make a Colon Twins card in 2017 Topps Update will always bother me. They could have easily cut back on a few Judgeses and Bellingerses to honor a multiple time All Star and former Cy Young Award Winner, who signed with a new team in mid-season!
Not following the efforts of Panini all that closely these days, I didn't know this card existed. But at least it does exist! I wont even hold it's unlicensedness against it...
After losing Mike's Sports Cards (in Englewood) to economic induced closure in 2013, I had to make a pilgrimage across Denver to Mike's (Stadium) Sports Cards in Aurora, for in person team set filling.
(Unless I wanted to shop at Unfriedly's Dickish Collectables, but that's an entirely different story...)
Now that I'm back here, I live reasonably nearby to Pal's Sports Cards in Andover. Being less than five miles away, I can stop in whenever I have the wax itch to scratch...
Pal's was a scheduled destination visit during my past Minnesota vacations. Each time I came back to town, I set aside an hour our two for quarter-box mining. (No dime boxes here, but I wont argue with quarter boxes filled with quality...)
Anything not sleeved was priced at 25 cents, anything in a sleeve (or top loader) was priced accordingly. For a decent price, you could find some great stuff to fill the gaps in any team collection.
(Some cards from a 2016 visit...)
Pal's keeps individual boxes of team sorted singles, so I can easily find all those bargain Rockies cards I'm looking for... Pal's still even keeps a small box dedicated to Montreal Expos singles, instead of just mixing them in with new Washington Nationals cards. That box may not have much in it, but I completely appreciate them keeping it!
There are also plenty of boxes of recent singles ripped from recent wax to pick from. So if you want to screw over another current set builder by taking all of one teams cards, you certainly can!
Obviously, this being Minnesota and all, Pal's has a great inventory of Twins cards (as they should) and it's nice to find some cards I've wanted , or that I didn't know I wanted, without having to make a big deal about it...
Or buy them online, which is SO MUCH LESS FUN...
I made my first non-vacationing visit to Pal's a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have a whole lot of time that afternoon to really dig through all Pal's singles, so I grabbed the following 26 cards, paid a respectable price for them and headed on my way.
Whatever!
So here are the Top 26 Cards Picked Up at Pal's Sports Cards A Few Days Ago!
#26 - Shannon Stewart - 2004 Fleer Genuine
#25 - Ray Corbin - 1973 Topps
Some dings at the top and water damage in the corner make the "investment" value nil, but it's a great photo from a set I love. For 25 cents, you can do much worse. And I'm still not sure if I have this card already or not... At some point I will put together that long desired want-list...
#24 - Huston Street - 2009 Topps Heritage Chrome
(Actual card is nowhere near this linty...)
After the 2008 season, Matt Holliday decided that he wanted way more money than the Rockies were offering to sign a long term deal. He was quickly traded to the Oakland Athletics for Street, washed-out starter Greg Smith and longtime -and still- current Rockies outfielder, Carlos Gonzalez. Street was an effective closer for the Rockies for a few seasons, before moving on to San Diego, then the Angels. I'd still say Colorado won this trade handily...
Holliday? He ended up signing a long term contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, for actually a little less than Colorado offered. After spending the 2017 season in New York with the Yankees, Holliday didn't retire for the 2018 season, instead doing radio for MLB. Yesterday, he signed a minor league deal with the Rockies, and may rejoin the team after rosters expand in September, if both parties agree to it.
Just found that interesting!
#23 - Danny Santana - 2017 Stadium Club
A purposely purchased duplicate... Not only Santana appears on the card, but so does PED taking shortstop Jorge Polanco, a bat and helmet rack, even electrical outlets! Even though Santana didn't pan out for the Twins (nor the Braves), this is still a great card for 25 cents!
#22 - Justin Morneau - 2009 O Pee Chee Preview
Now I can pair this with a previously purchased Mauer to complete the 2009 O Pee Chee Preview Twins team set!
Both Morneau and Mauer's Preview cards have much better photos than appeared in the regular 2009 O Pee Chee set... Which is still a favorite of mine, despite having never completed it... Make that wantlist!
#21 - Carl Pavano - 2011 Topps
Pretty sure I had this, but I wasn't certain. Still a nice shot from Target Field's inaugural season. Note the patch on Pavano's right sleeve, but don't get distracted by his porn star mustache...
#20 - Kyle Freeland - 2017 Topps Chrome
When the Rockies took Freeland in the first round of the 2014 draft, I was skeptical on the pick... I felt they should have taken one of the bigger names still on the table, instead of the guy politely described as a good control, soft tossing lefty-starter. Despite being local, I thought the Rockies aimed a little low...
Well, I was wrong! In his first season and a half in the major leagues, Freeland has become a very good pitcher for Colorado, even succeeding in the harsh atmosphere of Coors Field. I knew he would be special after watching him nearly throw the first Rockies no-hitter at Coors in 2017. If the stars align, Freeland and Jon Gray could give Colorado the foundation for a strong pitching staff in the near future!
Can't believe I just thought that...
#19 - Brendan Rodgers - 2015 Bowman Draft Draft Night (Draft Draft Draft...)
#18 - Brendan Rodgers - 2017 Bowman's Best
And during his time in the Rockies' system, Rogers has not disappointed! Though this card, with it's Topps-ified Rockies uniform (likely painted on to cover up his AA Hartford Yard Goats' digs) resembles kids pajamas to me a whole lot more than the Rockies...
#17 - David Dahl - 2017 Bowman's Best
Tantalizing and seemingly snake-bit talent is now finding himself blocked for Major League playing time, after battling injuries for years. Now back in the minors, I hope to see him get a shot and run with it soon...
#16 - Charlie Blackmon - 2017 Bowman's Best
(May as well knock off the rest of this set while I'm at it...)
Also, big props to Gracie for leaving a white car hair on the scanner that I'm way too lazy to Photoshop out, or even rescan...
I was really happy when the Rockies re-signed Blackmon to a contract that gives him a good chance to finish his career in Colorado. Then I was bummed because I'll no longer get to see the antics of Chuck Nazty on a day to day basis, since I don't get to watch Rockies games every day anymore.
One of the games more hilarious players, Blackmon shined in front of a national audience during the All Star Game this year. Wearing a mic in center field, during the top of the sixth, he nailed a running commentary with sharp dry wit, while the National League pitcher labored on the mound. He made a lot more fans that night...
#15 - Brad Hawpe - 2010 Finest Refractor
Now this card I like! Take note bankrupt company of Fleer some five years too late... This is how you crop the photo from the photo for a designed background. Then make it sparkle!
#14 - Chad Bettis - 2014 Donruss Inserty-Insert of Sorts
I've been a huge fan of the Donruss The Rookies "The Rookies" logo, since it's debut in 1986. This is a very attractive (unlicensed) card. However, the 308 Career Strikeouts foil stamp is misleading. Those are minor league numbers. But Whatever. I like this card.
#13 - Josmil Pinto - 2014 Topps Chrome
I loved this card in it's less glitzy base 2014 Topps form, so this was a welcome addition to the binder. It's too bad for Pinto's sake that he was so horrible on defense, his relative power could've made him a multi-year starter on those catching-poor Twins teams of this era. Had he been even close to league average at catching, framing or throwing from his needed position...
#12 - Pedro Martinez - 1997 Leaf Fractal Materials Axis Die-Cut 100's Box
Serial numbered 186/500, for those of you keeping score at home...
This is a very nice card, with an almost synthetic cloth texture covering it.
Looking at this card made me think back to cards of the post-strike era, and how there seems to be a noticeably lesser supply of them on the secondary market. Not the overproduced common level inserts, or the uber-rare high dollar autographed chase cards.. But the mid-tier, rare -but quirky- inserts of the day. It may be that I'm not searching the secondary market as well for them, but you (obviously) see junk wax era cards everywhere, but the slow but painful death era, that the hobby went through from 1997 through 2005, are under-represented at stores and in the hobby in general.
Like they'd all already found their "forever home"...
I may expand on this later...
But Whatever...
#11 - Troy Tulowitzki - 2014 Topps Chrome Refractor
50 cents?!
Not even a second thought...
#10 - Carlos Gonzalez - 2014 Stadium Club Luminous
Oddly enough, this is the first Stadium Club card I own from the 2014 return of Stadium Club.
#9 - Will Hurt - 2012 Bowman Chrome Draft
Oh come on! This sounds like a player I'd create in MLB The Show...
#8 - Kohl Stewart - 2016 Bowman Chrome Orangeyfractor
#7 - Jeff Hoffman - 2018 Topps 1983 35th Anniversary Gold Autograph w/Cheese
Serial number: 39/50! Hooray!
Only Freeland is having a much better start to his career...
#6 - Tommy Milone - 2016 Topps
I was so disgruntled with 2016 Topps Series 1 that I didn't buy hardly any of Series 2. So I'd actually never seen this Milone card before I bought it. Well, it's easily one of the best base cards in the set! The cameos by several Twins fielders and the hand operated Fenway Park scoreboard backdrop make this card a work of art.
#5 - Bert Blyleven - 1987 Fleer Award Winners
Another classic late 1980's retail boxed set single! Great photo of Blyleven from the Twins past Spring Training home at Tinker Field in Orlando, Florida. I'd forgotten how decent the cheesy the Twins uniforms actually were in 1986.
#4 - Vladimir Guerrero - 1997 Circa Fast Track
Circa was a fun but ADD card set. Loud and flashy colors saturated all the base cards, but some of the inserts were really fun. The green turfy-looking background is actually felt. Which looks like Astroturf when scanned!
Congrats on the Hall of Fame today Vald...
I miss the Expos...
#3 - Nolan Arenado - 2018 Topps Finest Purplefractor
Serial numbered 76/250... Collect a set!
This afternoon, I connected the TV to the phone and mobile hot-spotted enough pieces of internets to watch the Rockies complete their 3 game sweep of the Oakland Athletics at Coors. While I didn't get to see the current National League Home Run leader add to his total today, he did make a couple of great defensive plays at third.
And just like Blackmon hitting doubles in the gap, then tongue-in-cheeking his accomplishment during the post-game interview, that's what I loved about Rockies games over the past few years...
I really miss Coors Field...
#2 - Kent Hrbek - 1983 Kellogg's
The back of this card mentions how in July 1981, Hrbek invited some of his Class A Visalia teammates over to his apartment for spaghetti and beers, while watching the 1981 All Star Game. Whoever wrote the card back, continues the set-up with, "Who would have expected that one year later, Hrbek would be in Montreal, as a member of the American League All Star Team!"
While I knew that part, I had no idea about the beer and spaghetti...
Thanks Kellogg's!
But the number one card I acquired from my Pal's at Pal's...
#1 - Bartolo Colon - 2017 Donruss Chronicles
The fact that Topps did NOT make a Colon Twins card in 2017 Topps Update will always bother me. They could have easily cut back on a few Judgeses and Bellingerses to honor a multiple time All Star and former Cy Young Award Winner, who signed with a new team in mid-season!
And I don't consider anything from Topps Now as any sort of equivalent...
Not following the efforts of Panini all that closely these days, I didn't know this card existed. But at least it does exist! I wont even hold it's unlicensedness against it...
That's all I've got time for now!
Awwwww.... Colorado...
Whatever...
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