Counting The Days - Vol. III

Mail has been rather sparse the last while but there are a few packages that I am rushing home daily in hopes of being greeted by them at the door. Today was one of those days where there were 4 envelopes sitting on the kitchen table and they were that familiar yellow colour that collectors have grown to love.

Three of those envelopes helped knock off one of the counters on my sidebar over there to the right. Well done Topps!!!


Compared to the 2009 versions of the Red Hot Rookie cards released in Flagship Series 3/Updates & Highlights the 2010 version of these cards look much nicer. Unfortunately, if early reports are to be believed, Topps will not be doing RHR Redemption cards in 2011. Kind of disappointing but not a tragic loss.

Two of my redemptions were of the same player.......

RHR-1 Carlos Santana (C), Cleveland Indians

The third card I received today was of a Philly......

RHR-7 Domonic Brown (OF)

Like I said, the design of these cards are the best of the last two years, and seeing as I have only been back collecting for two years, I have a pretty narrow frame of reference. These cards are a nice addition to a product that is usually a forgotten issue by the time it rolls around As well, this is a case where redemptions work. It is a nice fun feeling as a collector to be able to wait and watch as the "mystery" is revealed as to who your card will be, plus, coming home to an envelope in the mail is never a bad thing. If these are truly gone for 2011 I will miss them for sure.

As for the fate of these three cards, if there are any Indians or Phillies collectors out there that have a Starlin Castro that needs a home in Canada I would love to hear from you.

Until the next time we can eliminate a counter from the blog I leave you with the theme song of this segment.

Play it Goldfinger..........





Cheers,

Counting The Days - Vol II

This past Tuesday there was a notification left on my door that there was a registered letter waiting for me at the postal outlet in the mall a stone's throw from my house. Usually the only thing I get sent registered mail are new credit cards and notifications from the Government that I am being audited.

Yes, I speak from experience on both!

Knowing that my credit card has another 18 months before expiration I assumed the worst. So much so that I put off retrieving the letter for a day. Imagine my surprise when the attendant gave me my package and it looked nothing like an official Revenue Canada notification of audit.

Once, again, I speak from experience.

Relief turned to anticipation when I saw the return address label.


Could it be?

Could Topps have finally seen their way to getting around to it?

A fulfillment sent via Registered Mail also threw me off a bit. BTW, Topps, you charged me a little over $15 for 22 MCG cards to be mailed to my home. I guess we can say we are square now.


Suffice it to say Topps came through with what has, to date, been my longest wait for a redemption to be sent. I am also giving you the grace of when the notification was delivered, not when I went to get it. Holding the record at 93 days, 12hours, 22 minutes and 41 seconds is Andrew Cashner and his Topps Finest Auto/Rookie.


I picked this redemption up off of eBay for a decent price and I am quite happy with everything about the card. The auto is on card, it is clean and I cannot find any hint of scratches or scuffs on the surface of the card. Very pleased indeed.

The smudges and spots are from my scanner, the POS3000

Thanks Topps!!!!

Now, what kind of collector would I be if I did not immediately try to find something wrong with my latest acquisition? Where would my self-respect be if I did not find something to make me look for another reason to buy another Andrew Cashner card?

It did not take me long.

As happy as I am with the card I could not help but wish that more time had been taken with the autograph itself. I know he had a tonne to sign and not exactly all the time in the world, my complaint is not really with him. The problem is totally me.

I tweeted about the signature on this card and how it is what I wish this card could have been. Also, it is what Topps used to advertise the card itself.


Now, that being said, I DO understand that this is simply a promotional image and in no way represents the final outcome. I get it. When I go in to Wendy's I do not expect my burger to look anywhere near the one that is on the menu, BUT, it would be nice, you know?

Anyway, I did do some searching and it looks like this auto does, in fact, exist. It is on a sticker, but it looks pretty darn close to what would be a very crisp, clean and prime auto of Andrew Cashner. His 2008 Bowman Sterling auto.

Image borrowed from mag227's photobucket

So, if you happen to have one of these lying around, gathering dust and want to send it off to a happy Canadian for something else that you would prefer to have, hit me up with an e-mail or a Tweet and we can work out a deal I am sure.

Congratulations, to Topps on attaining a rather dubious record here at the blog and now it is up to Upper Deck to see if they can catch them. Only 68 days to go.



Cheers,

Counting The Days - Vol I

Today I came home to an envelope from The Topps Company.

It was one of the redemptions I have been tracking on the sidebar.

It is not the one I was expecting to hit first.


A quick glance through the cards has me pleasantly surprised and extremely happy with this shipment from the Topps MCG.

The '71 cards especially.

Once I get them all scanned I will let you be the judge of what Topps charged me around $15 for.





Cheers,