Recent Pick Ups

I still get a kick out of collecting rookie cards.But why?What's the psychology behind It?I could tell you why I did It as a kid.In price guides ,rookie cards were always worth the most.So naturally,rookie cards were what I looked forward to pulling when opening packs upon packs of 1989 Topps. I couldn't get enough of those Future Stars cards.Even though  I sometimes hoped my  more prominent rookie cards  would accrue value over time,I lived In the present ,concentrating more on what kinds of immediate returns I could get via trades with friends and other collectors.

As I got older I became more of a prospector.I'd pick up lesser valued rookies In hopes of them making an impact In the majors.That only worked once for me.I picked up a 1990 Topps Major League Debut Sammy Sosa card for  fifty cents ,years before the home-run barrages.Note to self-Find my 1990 Topps Major League Debut  Sammy Sosa card.I'm sure It's still floating around somewhere In my dilapidated collection.

Today ,the RC  Is still my favorite kind of card to collect.That's a good thing  seeing as how Topps has decided to slap the RC logo on EVERYTHING!It's whatever ,I guess. I don't prospect anymore.I'm kind of a front runner waiting to see If a player develops into something good  his first couple of MLB seasons before  snatching up their rookie cards.My most recent pick ups will attest to that.

I'm way late to the Ohtani party.That's cool,though,because showing up to the party late means smaller crowds and less raucous. Juuust how I like it ;)

What Is It with Philly and their influx of stud first baseman?I knew Hoskins would be something special  early In his career.Ironically ,I have him paired up with division rival and newly acquired Met Marcus Stroman. 

Recent Pick Ups

I know.It's way too early.With my luck he'll go 0 for the rest of the season and these cards won't be worth the paper they're printed on.That said,right now their Is very little not to like about the Mets young utility man turned everyday player  Jeff McNeil.Or should I refer to  him as "The Squirrel" ,his newly appointed nickname.Which is probably the only thing I hate about McNeil these days.The kid can hit.He proved It towards the end of  last season and It's carried over into spring training and this  season.There was a point  this year where he got a little homer happy but he's gone back to slashing and hitting line drives which Is really his bread and butter.He was  a .300 plus hitter pretty much his entire career In the minors.I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do throughout the course of a whole season In the majors.

Next we have a PSA 8 1986 Fleer  Update Canseco. I would have preferred an 86 Donruss graded but for now this will do.It's certainly In better shape than the current 86 Fleer Update Canseco I have now,so It's an upgrade.

And last but not least,an impulse buy. I've taken a liking to PSA 8 cards. They are super cheap and  In great condition. I think I paid like 3 bucks for this Gonzalez ,and why not?The guy was a stud and I thought it'd be cool to have something graded. HOF?Maybe not but It could be close.

2,591 Hits

354 Homeruns

.283 Average

.360 OBP

5X All Star

Does Gonzalez make the hall?Sound off In the comment section. I mean, your at my pub .What better place to chop It up  about baseball :)

   

Singles Only

I'll be making this a recurring post,showing you recent singles acquired via eBay or  purchased packs.I'll start this off with a couple new d'Arnaud's and a Juan Lagares.If you haven't gotten the chance to watch this kid (Lagares) play CF ,do yourself a favor and put It on your "to do" list.He's a combination of Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones with the glove,and his hitting Is slowly starting to come around.

The Den Dekker I pulled from a  2014 Topps pack .He's another nice little glove out there In center.And he's got a really cool name.

This Guerrero Is  another  pack pulled card and from my understanding,the Dodgers are pretty high on this guy.At 28 years of age,Alex's years are numbered In the Majors although he may be able to contribute some ,come the 2015 season.

Michael Wacha Is a beast,and I must say that It felt good to pull a Topps Future Stars card again after what,25 years?I feel like his last name should be inside of  a comic book action bubble.  

This one came from eBay.Jose Abreu will be another guy who's cards I will be looking out for ,actively.