Trade Post w/ Jason @ Hobbs' Knights

A big thank you goes out to Jason at Hobbs' Knights for sending me some great cards in a number of different sets that I am working on!

He was able to knock out a few more of my 2011 Topps needs including one of the great young players in our game, Starlin Castro.  Being a Cubs fan from the time that cable TV first came to our living room, I am hopeful that Castro will be the building block behind a Cubs resurrection rather than a trade piece to rebuild their depleted minor league system.  Jason aslo included some 1973 Topps on top of what we agreed to.  This has been a set that I recently started on and will be my first vintage set (when completed).

The 2009 Topps American Heritage set is one that I enjoy because of the historical topic.  Being a history teacher and a baseball fan, I have appreciated Topps trying to put both of my interests into a few sets over the years.  From Mr. Common Sense to Broadway Joe, I enjoy the backs of the cards as much as the fronts.  Does anyone recall what major court case Thurgood Marshall won prior to being named to the Supreme Court bench?  Hint:  It centers around a Kansas case.  Answer below.

Finally, some more of my 2011 Topps Heritage needs get erased with a couple of cards from players that I am currently watching as I type (although you are reading this a few days later!).  Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli are trying to get the Rangers into the World Series.  The score is 2-0 in the top of the 2nd of game 2.  And finally, for my good friend and diehard Twins fan Wayne.  I give you the Twin Terrors in most years, but probably more terrifying to Twins fans this year as both battled injuries throughout a long season.  At least they let my Royals get out of the cellar!

Trivia Answer......Brown v. Topeka Board of Education, 1954.

Care Package from Potch - I MUST KILL THE QUEEN!

I got a message the other day from Darren over at PotchWheelerCards stating that I would be receiving a little care package.  It was anything but little and fulfilled a number of my needs and gave me a number of Royals to add to the collection.

Ever since I saw Reggie Jackson in The Naked Gun:  From the Files of Police Squad!, I have equated Reggie's Angels days with that movie.  Darren sent me over the 1983 Topps All Start card of Jackson to fulfill one of my needs from the 1983 Topps set.  I am now down to 13 cards to finish it up.  Enjoy the clip below.

He also included some 2010 and 2011 Topps plus a whole pile of Royals including some of my favorites like Willie Wilson, Kevin Seitzer, Kevin Appier, and Bret Saberhagen.  Thanks again for the care package.  It was just what I needed.

Trade Post

I have been behind in my posting recently so I am working on getting caught up.  First off is a trade post with blog reader Steve.  This was our second trade and one in which I was able to fill quite a few of my needs from 2009, 2010, and 2011 Topps sets.

Included in the trade were a number of wants as well as some former and current Royals.  The first couple of scans are from players that have had some playoff implications this year.  The first is David Murphy of the Rangers.  The second is a former Brewer so you might say what does he have to do with this year's playoffs.  Lorenzo Cain was one piece of the trade that brought Zack Grienke to the Brewers from the Royals.  We know what Grienke has done for the Brewers this year, and we know where the Royals finished this year (NOT in last as usual though!).  Cain, however, did not see any time in Kansas City until the last week of the season.  However, he did put up some very good numbers this year in AAA Omaha - .312/.380/.497 - 16 HR - 81 RBI - 16 SB.  He will either be a piece of the Royals next year or may be used as trade bait for some starting pitching.

The other two may only be remembered by Royals fans and some my wonder why Ryan Braun is pictured on a Royals card....completely different Ryan Braun!  However, Emil Brown will resonate some feelings by Royals fans albeit ones that I hope are now in the past.  Emil was what Royals fan have been accustomed to, a average player brought in to fill gaps, on an otherwise terrible team.  A place for average free agents to go to resurrect their career before moving on.  I hope that is starting to change as the Royals minor league system has been built and we are now seeing the benefits of those high draft picks.

Royals - World Series Champions - 2014......let me dream!