Package from Baseball Card Breakdown

A while back, I had sent Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown a few cards that he needed for the 1982 Topps set. I didn't expect anything in return for such a small mailing, but he came through above and beyond yesterday when a nice bubble mailer showed up in my mailbox full of Rays cards and other goodies.

 First up are a ton of Rays cards. I have a number of Rays cards from purchasing packs and singles over the years, and I am happy to say that not only did I get many cards from sets I had never had before (like '13 Pinnacle and some of the Topps non-flagship sets), but I also got a crapload of cards that I actually need. There might be 1 or 2 that are dupes, if that. I would also like to mention that Gavin included a few refractors and autographed cards. What a guy!

 Next up are some nice cards of guys in my Favorite Player Collection. I got a '99 Pacific Prism Rolando Arrojo, an '08 Bowman Chrome Justin Ruggiano, and a '10 Topps Opening Day Blue Ben Zobrist. On the right is an '81 Donruss custom of Mike Reinbach that Gavin made. Having a blog dedicated almost entirely to customs, I am happy to have a custom that someone else made in my collection.

Finally, on the back of the note Gavin added with the cards was this '90 Fleer inspired Cody Bellinger/Aaron Judge custom. I think I am going to cut this one out and add it to my Dodgers binder.

Speaking of binders, I have been going through the 3 boxes of cards I purchased a week or so ago in hopes of putting all of those cards, as well as my other loose cards, in binders. I am almost halfway done (finishing up the Giants and Expos/Nationals in the NL) with sorting the cards, and then on to the arduous project of putting them in binders. It has taken a while, but has been fun getting to sort them after work each day. I think I will be able to put a big dent in them next Tuesday (or whichever day they give me off at work besides Sunday. We have a new manager at work, and in spite of a few hiccups, I think it is a good thing).
My '98 Topps custom set is coming along. Still muddling through the Twins, and making progress. There is still a chance at finishing it before the end of the year, but it will depend on how I do with these cards getting organized.
Thanks for the nice cards Gavin, and thank you for checking out my latest post.
-Jeremy

Trade and a 2019 Topps Rob Manfred custom

About 2 weeks ago, Greg from Night Owl Cards did a post about how he was receiving a good number of 2018 Stadium Club cards. Some of the cards came from Peter of Baseball Every Night, who was offering up cards of teams he didn't need from the set. Peter had an Anthony Banda Rays card, which was also a red parallel, and I emailed him, and about a week later, not only did I get the sweet Banda card, but also a few other Rays cards. 

I was especially happy about the John Jaso rainbow, which will be added to his page in the Favorite Player Collection binder. Thanks again, Peter, for the sweet Rays cards. I have some cards for you in the mail that I hope you will enjoy.

So in my last post, I commented on how I thought Topps dropped the ball on putting out images for the 2019 set so late and that I didn't think they would have them out for awhile. Well, hours after I posted, they unveiled the 2019 Topps design. I should've played the lotto that day. While I think the design is a whole lot better than 2016, a good deal better than 2017, and slightly better than 2018, I still don't know what they are trying to do with the newer designs. I know many guys who make custom cards that could do a better job than what the guys at Topps are doing. To me, the design looks less like the 1982 set, and more like the 1999 Fleer Sports Illustrated set and the 1968 Topps set had a baby. Compare the 2019 design with the '99 Fleer SI set, and then the '68 set, and you'll see what I mean.

The nameplate from the '99 Fleer SI set, and the burlap-ish element from the '68 are what really stood out to me.

With all that being said, I decided to try and make a custom card out of the 2019 design and try to see how high up it would get in the google search results with the images of 2019 Topps being just days old. Here is my 2019 Topps Rob Manfred custom.

I chose him since the checklists aren't even out yet, knowing that Topps hasn't made a card of the commish in the flagship set since 1990. I may try to make a custom of Alex Cora or perhaps some Red Sox or Yankee coaches, but I will probably wait until more of the card images really come out, and I will definitely crank it into gear once the checklists come out and (hopefully) the 2019 cards on the custom card designer on Topps.com. 

I am working the next 2 days, but that means I will have all of Monday off to do customs (I think I will work on the 1998 set, and perhaps the 1978 Topps checklist, and Monday I may have time to do a few more, but will probably spend most of the day mowing the lawn (is it fall yet?). I may not get the '98 set done by the end of the year, but I think it will be darn close.

Thanks for checking out my latest post.

-Jeremy