The Red Sox Are Done!!!*

We're two months in to the 2025 MLB season, and the Boston Red Sox are in freefall. It seemed like only a couple weeks ago the Sox were in second place, ahead of the homeless Rays and underachieving Jays. After their fifth straight loss Boston is in fourth place, nine games back of the Yankees, and well below .500.

They're done. 

Almost. Maybe. 

I dunno, I haven't actually watched the Sox this year. I'm really not enthusiastic about baseball anymore. 

What is done, or nearly done, is my Boston Red Sox PC.

I counted all the spaces I had left in my Red Sox binders, jumped on Cardbarrel, and placed an order. Once it arrived, I would have no more room for Red Sox cards.

Except... three of the cards I ordered were out of stock and I was not informed ahead of the order's arrival. Also this Dustin Pedroia Finest single was supposed to be a base card. It's a refractor. Cool... right?

Nope! I have no room in my Boston box for any more inserts, parallels, or relics.
 

The box is literally bursting at the seams. I somehow shuffled some things around and squeezed the Pedroia in there. 

These are the last two open slots of all the binders on my Red Sox shelf. Once they're filled, I won't have to buy any more baseball cards*

*except vintage and maybe a Hall of Famer autograph. 

**I'll probably buy more anyway because the 2025 Topps Heritage set is really nice.

Thanks for reading!



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Cardbarrel Pros and Cons

It's the last weekend of the NFL season and I am hyped for some Packers playoff action (win or go home counts as a playoff game, right?) ... unfortunately I don't have any new football items for you. Or is that a good thing, since the card blogging community is one of the few places where the NFL isn't king?

I've got another non-baseball topic upcoming (what can i say? it's the middle of winter!) but before that I'll give the people what they want: Baseball cards. Nothing but baseball cards in this post, I promise.

On New Year's Day I placed an order at Cardbarrel for some set fillers and Boston binder fillers. I picked out some random goodies, too. Exceeded the budget just a bit, so this will be the last purchase I show off for a while.

First of all, the shipping time was lightning fast. Yes, I'm a state away from Cardbarrel HQ but Mehmet prepared this shipment on New Year's night, sent it out on January 2nd, and it was in my mailbox on the 4th. That cost me $3.95. COMC charges $4.99 for shipping and it takes a month or more to get your items. Dave and Adam's are also based in New York state. I get my orders from them in 2-3 days. Costs me $12.95. Minimum.

Another perk of purchasing on Cardbarrel - you can find lots and lots of quality cards under 20 cents each. Baseballcardstore might have them cheaper (depending on how their prices are structured at at any given moment) but it might be 6-8 weeks before your order arrives. Sportlots can have better bang for your buck - if you find a seller with low shipping prices and an inventory loaded with quality cards at 20 cents apiece.

Cardbarrel's prices are much more specific. 15 cent cards, 18 cent cards, 20 and 25... some cards that should be 15 cents are 50. That said, a majority of the cards in my latest order were two dimes or less each:

Every 1994 Ultra set filler I needed was under 20 cents except Paul O'Neill (20c), Omar Vizquel, and Deion Sanders (23 cents each).

I could have been one card closer to completion if I'd realized that the Eddie Guardado you see above was already stashed away in my All Time Teams binder. Instead of spending 18 cents on that, I could have purchased Paul Sorrento - who I didn't realize was missing because Jim Thome was squatting in slot #48.

Some stars and Hall of Famers for my 1996 Score set build. 40 cents for Mattingly, 16 cents for Clark. Didn't we establish that those guys are equal?

I upgraded an off-center Bernie Williams for two dimes (new card in center) but now I have to consider upgrading another - the Dante Bichette is dinged at the top.

These are the only two baseball sets I'm currently completing - and Cardbarrel only sells baseball cards. Which means I might not need to make another purchase from their site for quite a while. A double-bummer considering I'm just about two orders away from earning a $20 gift certificate.

The rest of my recent order featured almost enough Red Sox base cards to fill out every remaining space in my albums. I'm down to just six open pockets across six BoSox binders.

Some much-needed 1984 Donruss and 1992 Bowman Sox; I only had one Red Sox card in each set. I've heard that 1984 Donruss had a noticeably lower print run than most other '80s sets. Can anyone confirm that?

One more Sox card, a couple more '92 Bowman, and some Oakland A's. I've had a post idea in my head for a while where I discuss all of the 1956 Topps recreations in recent years, but it would require a lot of research. Maybe someday. [I will get to an Athletics post in the near future.]

Cardbarrel is not ideal for inserts and parallels; their stock is limited and their prices are often higher than COMC. There are some exceptions - such as this non-SN'd gold refractor of one-time All-Star and local legend Jeffrey Hammonds:

This cost just 80 cents - the most of any single card in this order - but its heavily curled. Not CB's fault.

What was the second most expensive card in this order? A 2005 Topps Heritage Manny Ramirez:

Indicated with a -minus here because it was not shipped. Was I informed of this? No. Was I reimbursed my 60 cents? Nope. And what would I do with 60 cents of store credit anyway - order three commons and pay $3.95 shipping? Nah.

Sigh... anyway, here's the rest of my order.

The cheapest 2011 Topps Chromes I could find, a Dick Mountain 2023 Update to replace the Chrome I sent to Dennis, and... Stephen Strasburg's sunset card?

Two Alan Trammell cards, including a 1982 Topps single for my All-Time Teams binder - replacing the "one and done" copy I sent to MoTown Cards so he could complete the set.

And finally, two Terry Francona cards including a 1986 Topps Traded single...

...which is poorly centered and a little rugged on the back. Almost looks like an O-Pee-Chee card. You're buying blind at Cardbarrel; there are no scans on the site. There's no perfect store I suppose. Each LCS and online shop has its pluses and its minuses.

Have you recently purchased anything from Cardbarrel? How was your experience? What's your favorite/least favorite online shop for sports cards?


Thanks for reading, and ....

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Boston Red Sox All-Time Team

The Collector's All-Time Teams series celebrates the opening weekend of the 2023 MLB season in the American League East. Let's take a trip to Fenway Park in historic Boston, Massachusetts for a look at the Red Sox' All-Time roster.

The Boston Red Sox last won a World Series in 2019. After breaking the "Curse of the Bambino" in 2004, the Sox won two more world titles in 2007 and 2013. Looks like they're due for another one soon..

Terry Francona takes over as team manager, allowing Joe Cronin to compete for a roster spot as a player.

Here's the starting lineup Cronin assembled:

Hmm. Tito might have to tinker with this. There's a lot more competition at shortstop and center field, including the former skipper of the Sox' All-Time team.

	Red Sox stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*N. Garciaparra	41.3	0.323	0.370	0.553	0.923	133
	Xander Bogaerts	35.2	0.292	0.356	0.458	0.814	117
	Joe Cronin	27.6	0.300	0.394	0.484	0.878	122
	*Fred Lynn	32.1	0.308	0.383	0.520	0.902	141
	Mookie Betts	42.2	0.301	0.374	0.519	0.893	134

Cronin might have a better shot with his secondary team; Boston's bench is loaded with options. Lynn and Betts are neck-and-neck, with Mookie closing the gap based on his defense. He doesn't qualify as a Dodger yet, and he'll have to win that reserve role from another star the Sox shipped out to Hollywood. 

	Red Sox stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Reggie Smith	34.2	0.281	0.354	0.471	0.826	129
	Mookie Betts	42.2	0.301	0.374	0.519	0.893	134

And he does. Mookie makes the team and earns a platoon split with Lynn in center field.

Jason Varitek, Mo Vaughn, and Jim Rice have locked in their roster spots. Big Mo is the only true first baseman on this roster (if you're wondering, Yaz is starting there.) Bobby Doerr will have to fend off Cronin and Bogaerts for the final middle infield spot.

	Red Sox stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Bobby Doerr	51.4	0.288	0.362	0.461	0.823	115
	Xander Bogaerts	35.2	0.292	0.356	0.458	0.814	117
	Joe Cronin	27.6	0.300	0.394	0.484	0.878	122

On one hand, Doerr is a Hall of Famer who would back up a not-quite HOFer slowed by injuries. On the other hand, Cronin is a Hall of Famer who would back up a not-quite HOFer slowed by injuries.

Bobby Doerr's superior defense and comparable offensive production hold off the challenge from Cronin, who will get another chance with the Washington/Minnesota franchise.

Francona has far fewer decisions to make with the pitching rotation. Boston boasts ten Cy Youngs at the top of the rotation - eleven if you include the man himself.

"El Tiante" appeared on The Collector's 100 Greatest Non-Hall of Famers list. Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield were in camp to compete for the fifth starter spot, but Smoky Joe Wood stays put.

Boston could use an upgrade in their bullpen. They could also use a lefty. Japanese stars Hideki Okajima and Junichi Tazawa have a chance to join their countryman Koji Uehara in the Red Sox 'pen.

Matt Barnes - who ends his Sox career third on the team's all-time list for appearances - was also in the mix.

	Red Sox stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP
	*Bob Stanley	132	3.64	118	1.47	1.364
	*Ellis Kinder	93	3.28	125	1.38	1.303
	Matt Barnes	47	4.07	112	2.78	1.341
	Junichi Tazawa	4	3.58	119	4.34	1.263
	Hideki Okajima	6	3.11	149	2.50	1.246

Another tough call for Terry here, but Stanley's 13 years of competent (or not) long relief isn't enough to stay on the roster. Okajima claims a short relief role, which means more innings for Campbell and Kinder.

Looking ahead, Rafael Devers' 10-year contract will keep him in Beantown long enough to earn an All-Time roster spot. It would be tough for him to supplant Wade Boggs, but he could push Bobby out the Doerr by the end of this decade.

TL; DR: Two changes from the original roster. Smith and Stanley out, Betts and Okajima in. 

Come back tomorrow for our next All-Time Team, the New York Yankees.


Thanks for reading!


 
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A Decade of Dime Boxes

Dime Box Nick recently celebrated his tenth anniversary of blogging about baseball cards with a ten-part giveaway of some fantastic baseball cards. I tried to claim only what I needed for a set or PC. 

My eyes lit up when I saw this 2013 Topps Update Christian Yelich RC among Nick's offerings. I was worried it was a Topps reprint/tribute/insert thing, but it's the real deal. With this key card out of the way I headed to COMC to purchase rookie cards of Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon. Now all I need is one Mike Trout and the Nolan Arenado RC to finish the Update set!

Most of my early claims were Brewers cards, but that's simply a coincidence. Axford and Lezcano join Grimm, Carty, Weaver, and Iwakuma as potential All-Time Teams upgrades. Hammonds is a local guy.

Finally I grabbed a pair of Sox here, with Hideo Nomo and Xander Bogaerts. I assure you the Bogey is in better shape than the scan would suggest.

Nick threw in some nice extras including a pack's worth of 2021 Topps Chrome. If I'd paid $5-10 for this pack I might be disappointed. But, since I haven't bought any new Topps packs since 2019 Update I'm very happy to add these to my collection - along with a pair of fantastic Stadium Club singles.

He also added some Red Sox odds and ends, including a Jim Rice glossy All-Star that just wouldn't stay still. For a second I thought Topps included Mike Greenwell in 2020 Heritage, or an Archives set I'd missed. Then I remembered those old Baseball Card Magazine cut-outs.

Some newer Sox here including a Mookie Betts Montgomery collection thing. I don't bother with Topps' On-Demand offerings, which is why this is my first such single. Happy to have this sharp looking card.

Some 2021 singles, and a note from Nick thanking me for celebrating his blog. Nick, thank you for the great cards - and for sharing your card show stories/collecting experiences with us over the years!

While I'm showing off some new arrivals, here's a small trade I made on TCDB. My 370th completed trade on the site was with Godzilla8you. I sent him two Red Sox dupes in exchange for four cards:

My favorite here is the Rob Dibble Fleer Update RC. He's joined by another Connecticut card and a 2019 Topps Update set filler. Once my COMC shipment arrives that set will be 100% complete.

 

Not pictured: a 1993 Upper Deck Dennis Eckersley set filler I no longer needed.

I'm trying to reach 400 trades on TCDB but I've run out of active users that have the singles I need to finish off my sets. And so I turned to Sportlots, rather than paying 50 cents each on COMC and having to wait two months for my cards.

My initial goal was to finish the 1991-92 Upper Deck basketball set. These three All-Stars clear my wantlist; once my stack of Michael Jordan cards arrive from Redmond I'll have this one finished, too.

I attempted to upgrade some 1986 and 1987 football singles for 18 cents each. Not a wise thing to do sight unseen but if I want to pay common prices it's the only way to go. The '87s were a definite improvement; the centering on '86 issues is so damn tricky.

The Sportlots seller I bought from (ceveritt) offered $1.50 shipping for up to 16 cards, so I added these eight Hoops Decade needs. The grand total was $4.31 after I deducted some spare change 'loot'. Artest was an upgrade and Celestand will need one; there's a long scratch along the bottom. I'm now at just under 63% completion of this set, with another one on the way via TCDB trade.


Also I got the job.

Thanks for reading!


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Christmas Sox

Thank you all for the well wishes, I'm feeling much better today.


I didn't get any new cards this Christmas (possibly because I was unable to visit my in-laws) but I did get some sports-related gifts: a Red Sox 2022 calendar, a Packers hat, and a Red Sox 2018 World Series champions hat from my wife - and a P.K. Subban Funko from my sister in law. It would have been nice to have a blaster or two to crack open while I was quarantined but it's okay. I honestly didn't like any of the low-end retail options anyhow (except Archives*).

The Mrs. and I gifted our girls a trip to Boston this spring. We probably won't get to see a Red Sox game even if the lockout ends in time, but I'm looking forward to it. Can't wait to tell my bosses I'll need another week off lol.

Though there were no blasters or fat packs under our tree that's not to say I didn't get any cards. Dennis delivered in the clutch with a bubble mailer full of Red Sox* (and a couple non-Sox) that arrived just as I was planning my previous post.



*this Big Papi Archives card was the only Sox single in my recent COMC order. I actually purchased more Yanks (2) than Red Sox!

Most of the cards from Dennis were mid-1990s issues - which means lots of Mo Vaughn:

Big Mo was a big reason the Red Sox reached the playoffs in 1995. He just beat out Albert Belle for AL MVP honors - but Belle's team swept Boston in the ALDS.

Mid '90s Finest! The '94 Refractor is fantastic. I have the complete set of 1999 and 2000 Finest, maybe I'll put together a career run of Mo Vaughn Finest cards? Mike Greenwell finished second to Jose Canseco in AL MVP voting in 1988. There's more cards of all three players in this stack.

There's Jose, along with some other 1996 Finest cards. I couldn't afford too many packs of those at the time but it was a thrill to pull a Silver or Gold SP. The Embossed parallels were neat, too. Donruss Press Proofs weren't quite as fun, and the die-cuts are a little odd. The Gold Press Proof has that dufex effect that Pinnacle used for the Museum Collection parallels, so I'm partial to that one.

Starting Lineup singles always bring back great memories. I loved that Talking Baseball game as a kid.

Some early career Nomar here, along with more Mike Greenwell and a Rusney Castillo relic.

One more Mo in this batch of 1996 Score brings my total to 135 total (129 different) which vaults him ahead of Roger Clemens and Robin Yount for fifth in my collection. I do have 139 total Clemens cards but only 126 unique singles.


Nearly every care package I receive from Dennis includes some Topps Pristine singles, and the tradition continues with this trio:

Hines Ward and Willis McGahee are from the 2003 Pristine set; Robinson is a numbered SP from the 2004 edition. Those low numbered rookie variations are preventing me from completing the 2003-04 Topps Pristine hockey set:

I was tempted to pick up some serial numbered short-prints during COMC's sale but in the end I settled on this 'base' Matthew Stajan RC, numbered to 1199. If I plan to complete the 'common' rookies portion of the set I'll only need two more: Dominic Moore (no problem) and Patrice Bergeron (gulp).

Dennis, thanks for the great Red Sox (and Pristine) cards!


I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and thanks for reading!




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Boog, Moon, Strong, and Associates

 

It's been a while since I've done a mailday post. TCDB trades have come in regularly but I haven't been scanning the cards before sorting them into my collection. I made sure to do so this time.. for the most part.

Michigan man and Justin Verlander fan Dennis is one of my most frequent trade partners here on the blogs - and possibly the most generous. He sent me a small flat rate mailer last week that briefly had me worried as it felt very full. Not to worry as Dennis didn't send me 200+ base cards.

Nothing but the hits, including these Red Sox relics and a Brandon Moss auto numbered to 199.

Even the Dustin Pedroia Stadium Club is a holofoil parallel. This worked out perfectly because my Red Sox binders are stuffed - and my bookshelf is stuffed full of binders!

The box was packed with supplies including top loaders, some penny sleeves, and a handful of uncirculated Topps Pristine cards. I've mentioned my affinity for these beauties a couple times on this blog:

*These didn't come from Dennis.

I'm always on the lookout for 2002 baseball and football singles and 2003-04 hockey RCs. Dennis handles the rest for me. He plucked these out of a 50 cent box at a card show and sent 'em my way:

These were all encased by Topps but the dealers scratched the heck out of them so I busted 'em out.

That Josh Howard refractor looked familiar to me... turns out I already had one!

How many of these are circulating in the Ann Arbor area?

 

Dennis, thanks so much for the Pristine singles, supplies, and the Sawx! Next time I'm at a card show (or shop..?) I'll be looking for something to send your way.

As for that Boog Powell card at the top of this post, it arrived in a Beckett Marketplace purchase from Birmingham Sportscards. It was one of three cards I selected to upgrade my All-Time Teams binder. Unfortunately the seller was "way behind" on filling orders and by the time he filled mine.. the other two were sold out. Hmm. :/

Everything else in the order was a football card, including this Ken Strong Classic Singles insert:

2008 Donruss Classics cards account for over 25% of all Ken Strong cards ever produced. I now have four different Strong singles.. but the photo is the same.

The rest of the cards were set fillers including these two rated Rookies from 2016 Donruss:

I'm one big ass ham away from finishing this 400-card set.

Rounding out the order we have a dozen singles from 2015 Panini Prizm:

The eleven base cards bring my total to 138 of 300. I added the Warren Moon blue prizm for my Oilers mini-collection. 

Here's a closer look at the blue Moon. I still love the look of color-matching refractors and prizms, even if they're no longer a focus of my collection. Which reminds me.. I've updated my wantlists. The first three tabs are at the top of the blog (I'll probably add hockey later.)


I'm planning a celebration of basketball around the start of the NBA Finals and I'll be hosting a PWE swap so prepare those unwanted hoops cards! This time I might go "rack pack" style and let participants pick their own return PWE based on the front-facing cards :D

Thanks for reading!



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