Christmas Cards, a Few Months Late

I seem to always be trying to catch up, so here's some cards that arrived sometime in December, from ATBATT's 3rd Annual Operation PWE. There's something about an envelope of mostly different players and sets that just brings joy to opening the mail.

1991 Topps #343 Jose Oquendo
1992 Pinnacle #381 Andres Galarraga
2015 Topps #220 Shelby Miller
2015 Topps #336 Matt Carpenter
2015 Topps - Archetypes #A-11 Mark McGwire
2016 Topps Heritage #89 Trevor Rosenthal

I'm bad at staying on top of acquiring the Cardinals inserts when new sets come out. That Mark McGwire is a card I definitely should have already had, but didn't. As always, I'm surprised when I don't already have junk-era cards I receive, because it seems like I have so many cards from those years. But both the Oquendo and Galarraga fill holes in my collection.

1988 Topps UK Minis #72 Ozzie Smith
2016 Topps #254 Matt Holliday

I like these UK Minis, and I actually have a couple copies of the Ozzie card now. All the more reason to chase down the Vince Coleman and Willie McGee cards from that set. Then there's Matt Holliday, who just won't seem right in a Yankees uniform this year.

Thanks to Stealing Home for the PWE!

eBay Wins #240

1989 Bowman is like that kid in middle school that hit a growth spurt and became awkwardly tall. Consequently, they don't quite fit into my normal card boxes, which frustrates me as an organizer. But I still collect them, because they were the first Bowman set after a long hiatus for the brand.

1989 Bowman
#13 Jim Traber
#23 Wes Gardner
#25 Bob Stanley
#33 Jim Rice
#36 Ellis Burks
#57 Jerry Reuss
#62 Carlton Fisk
#67 Dan Pasqua
#86 Brook Jacoby

Jerry Reuss had a ridiculously long career, the first three seaosns with St. Louis.

1989 Bowman
#92 Frank Tanana
#95 Steve Searcy
#99 Paul Gibson
#105 Alan Trammell
#113 Jeff Montgomery
#120 Kurt Stillwell
#138 Joey Meyer
#146 Rob Deer
#148 Jeff Reardon

1989 Bowman
#173 Jamie Quirk
#178 Steve Sax
#203 Scott Bankhead
#207 Mike Jackson
#218 Jeffrey Leonard
#219 Jay Buhner
#254 Tony Fernandez
#265 Paul Assenmacher
#276 Dale Murphy

Jamie Quirk played for the Cardinals in just one of his 18 seasons, 1983.

1989 Bowman
#300 Jose Rijo
#205 Rob Dibble
#315 Joel Youngblood
#322 Mike Scott
#345 Alfredo Griffin
#349 John Shelby
#350 Mike Marshall
#373 Wally Whitehurst
#374 Randy Myers

This is apparently the first Joel Youngblood card I've posted. He played for the Cardinals during the first part of the 1977 season, for 25 games, the least of the 5 teams he played for.

1989 Bowman
#380 Keith Miller
#383 Kevin Elster
#386 Mookie Wilson
#388 Kevin McReynolds
#393 Bruce Ruffin
#402 Mike Schmidt
#403 Tom Herr
#412 Scott Medvin
#426 Barry Bonds

Tom Herr is a member of the 1982 World Series team whose Autograph I don't have yet. I really need to track him down at a show some time.

1989 Bowman
#429 Todd Worrell
#438 Jose Oquendo
#446 Eric Show
#454 Sandy Alomar, Jr.
#455 Garry Templeton
#458 Roberto Alomar
#459 Carmelo Martinez
#463 Don Robinson

Garry Templeton was a Cardinal for several years before being traded to San Diego for Ozzie Smith. Both were shortstops, and both wore jersey #1 before and after the trade.

1989 Bowman
#482 Checklist 122-242
#483 Checklist 243-363
#484 Checklist 364-484
#261 Mel Stottlemyre
Reprints #1 Richie Ashburn
Reprints #8 Satchel Paige
Reprints #9 Jackie Robinson

As I've mentioned many times before, I'm a semi-distant cousin of Mel Stottlemyre and his two kids, Todd and Mel Jr. I never thought to look for a card featuring all three of them before, so I had no idea this existed, and now it's a pretty cool addition to my collection.

36 of these cards came out of packs I just opened, which means 3 cards have gum stains on the back. I'm never sure what to do with cards like that. I definitely don't want to accidentally send them to anyone in a negotiated trade, where they're expecting a specific card in a decent condition, so I don't want to just throw them into my collection. Yet I have no real way to mark cards in my collection that are less than stellar condition. I'll probably just put them in with the rest of the cards and hope it never comes up.

The packs were part of a lot where they worked out to be a penny per card, but that's if I count the packs as only having 12 cards. In fact, those reprint contest cards were a bonus insert in each pack, and look enough like cards rather than filler to me, so all 61 were a total of 58 cents.

eBay Bargain Tracker
Total Cards Bought	4286
Total Spent	$57.85
Per Card	1.35 cents
Change	-0.006 cents

Superbowl LI Projections Recap

Final result: New England 34, Atlanta 28

It wasn't exactly the dominating performance we expected, but New England won like I had them projected to for much of the season.

Above, I've graphed each team's chances week after week. I decided not to even try to make the colors good this year, though Atlanta and New England worked out alright. Usually I point out the most dire position of the season for the winner, but there really wasn't one for New England. They had a 4.18% chance after Week 1, and it just went up every week except for after their two losses. Now if we were looking at in-game stats, New England was as low as 0.5% on some of my favorite stats geeks' win probability charts, making their win considerably more outlandish than my puny graph would suggest.

I had New England as the AFC winner from Week 6 Monday onward, and also from Week 3 Thursday through Week 4 Thursday. Atlanta was a little behind Dallas in the NFC most of the way, until they made their way into the NFC title game.

The game had several historic numbers attached to it. It was the first to go overtime, which means we won't have to see that "No Superbowl has ever gone to overtime" graphic anymore. It blew away the point record for biggest comeback, previously 10, now 25, although the playoff record still stands at 28. And of course, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick each now have 5 Superbowl wins, a record for coaches and quarterbarcks.

First to 10% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 3, Thursday)
First to 20% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 8, Sunday)
First to 40% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 16, Saturday)

First to 45% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 17, Final)

First to 50% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Divisional Saturday)

First to 80% chance of Playoffs: New England (Week 3, Thursday)
First to 90% chance of Playoffs: Minnesota (Week 4, Final)
First to 99% chance of Playoffs: New England (Week 8, Sunday)
First to 99.9% chance of Playoffs: Dallas (Week 12, Thursday)
First to 99.999% chance of Playoffs: Dallas (Week 13, Thursday)
First to clinch Playoffs: Dallas (Week 13, Sunday)
First to clinch a First Round Bye: New England (Week 15, Sunday)
First to clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs: Dallas (Week 16, Saturday)

First team eliminated from winning a division: Cleveland, San Francisco (Week 11, Sunday)
First team eliminated from the playoffs: Cleveland (Week 11, Sunday)

[Week 1] San Francisco over Houston
[Week 2, Thursday] San Francisco over Houston
[Week 2, Sunday] Pittsburgh over Minnesota
[Week 2, Final] Philadelphia over Houston
[Week 3, Thursday] New England over Philadelphia
[Week 3, Sunday] Philadelphia over New England
[Week 3, Final] Philadelphia over New England
[Week 4, Thursday] Philadelphia over New England
[Week 4, Sunday] Philadelphia over Denver
[Week 4, Final] Minnesota over Denver
[Week 5, Thursday] Minnesota over Denver
[Week 5, Sunday] Minnesota over Pittsburgh
[Week 5, Final] Minnesota over Pittsburgh
[Week 6, Thursday] Minnesota over Pittsburgh
[Week 6, Sunday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 6, Final] New England over Minnesota
[Week 7, Thursday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 7, Sunday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 7, Final] New England over Minnesota
[Week 8, Thursday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 8, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 8, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 9, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 9, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 9, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 10, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 10, Sunday] Dallas over New England
[Week 10, Final] Dallas over New England
[Week 11, Thursday] Dallas over New England
[Week 11, Sunday] Dallas over New England
[Week 11, Final] Dallas over New England
[Week 12, Thursday] Dallas over New England
[Week 12, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 12, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 13, Thursday] Dallas over New England
[Week 13, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 13, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 14, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 14, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 14, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Saturday] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Saturday] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 17, Final] New England over Dallas
[Wildcard Saturday] New England over Dallas
[Wildcard Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Divisional Saturday] New England over Atlanta
[Divisional Sunday] New England over Atlanta
[Championship Sunday] New England over Atlanta

eBay Wins #239

It's back! My quest to buy a bunch of cheap cards for some unknown reason!

1989 Classic Light Blue #48 Andres Galarraga
1989 Classic Travel Orange #126 Tom Browning

I'm not totally sure of the official set names for these 1989 Classic sets, so I just went with what's in Zistle. It seems that the numbering continues from one to the other, so really we could probably just call them all "Classic". These are each the first cards I have from their respective sets.

eBay Bargain Tracker
Total Cards Bought	4225
Total Spent	$57.27
Per Card	1.356 cents
Change	0 cents

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XL

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XXXIX

40's a good round number to end on. Not that I had a choice. I made it all the way through!

2004 Topps #203 Bo Hart
2009 Topps - Ring of Honor #RH12 David Eckstein
2013 Panini Hometown Heroes #8 David Eckstein
2013 Panini Prizm Perennial Draft Picks #45 Mike O'Neill
2013 Topps Opening Day - Mascots #M-4 Fredbird
2013 Topps Pro Debut #128 Stephen Piscotty
2013 Topps Pro Debut #161 Mike O'Neill
2014 Topps Opening Day - Mascots #M-6 Fredbird

This aren't necessarily my favorite 8 cards in the prize package, but they're a good representation of what it had. Some guys I've bafflingly never posted before (Bo Hart), some sets I never had cards from (Panini Hometown Heroes, Panini Prism Perennial Draft Picks, and Topps Pro Debut), some draft picks that never quite made it (Mike O'Neill, who is now playing independent ball), some that did (Stephen Piscotty), and some fun cards (Fredbird).

I must say thanks once more to Cards on Cards for the Bowl Pick 'Em Contest each year. In case you've lost track, this came from 2015-2016's contest, not the 2016-2017 one in which I totally took a freefall in the last 5-6 games. I've got a whole bunch of other cards that have been piling up to post while I pushed myself to get through these, so I'll be happy to start knocking those out soon.

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XXXIX

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII

And now for a few oddballs.

1987 Fleer - Stickers Baltimore/Atlanta with Cardinals backing (x2)
1988 Fleer - Stickers Chicago White Sox/St. Louis with Busch Stadium
1991 Studio #133 Joe Carter
1992 Score #433 Cal Ripken, Jr.

There were actually two of the 1987 Fleer Stickers, so I decided to scan the back of one. There was only one 1988, but it looks pretty much like 1987 with a green background on the front. On the back you see Busch Stadium, which is now often called Busch Stadium II since the Cardinals are now in their third stadium by that name.

The Carter and Ripken cards were more packing material. Those are two pretty big stars to be throwaway cards, but there's a slight crease in them, and the sets are pretty common ones to begin with. Carter also played for Baltimore, so I might pass these two along to a friend of mine for his kid, so he can try to indoctrinate him into his Orioles fandom.

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XXXVIII

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII

Do you ever just feel too lazy to turn a horizontal card sideways?

1998 Topps Stadium Club #48 Delino DeShields
1998 Score Rookie/Traded #RT158 Delino DeShields
2004 Playoff Honors #180 Jim Edmonds
2004 UD Diamond Pro Sigs #87 Jim Edmonds
2008 Upper Deck Goudey #193 Troy Glaus
2009 Topps Allen and Ginter #193 Khalil Greene

Since I didn't really collect from about 2000 until late 2010, a lot of the specialty sets from that time seem very obscure to me. I'd never heard of Upper Deck's "Diamond Pro Sigs", for example. It looks like the base cards have signatures printed on in foil. The only other card from the Playoff Honors set I have is an Albert Pujols, which was also in this prize package.

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XXXVII

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI

The giant prize pile is down to a large handful...

1982 Fleer #123 Ken Oberkfell
1983 Fleer #17 Ken Oberkfell
1991 Donruss #43 Ray Lankford
1991 Donruss #143 Brett Butler
1994 Topps Stadium Club Draft Picks #30 Carl Dale
1994 Topps Stadium Club Draft Picks #55 Yates Hall
1995 Topps Stadium Club #424 Ray Lankford
1999 Topps Stadium Club #21 Darren Oliver
1990 Upper Deck - Team Hologram Cardinals

I always find it interesting to see what happpened with Cardinals draft picks I've never heard of.
Carl Dale was sent to Oakland as part of the deal acquire my cousin, Todd Stottlemyre, and eventually made it to MLB with Milwaukee in 1999 after rosters expanded. Yates Hall appears to have played his entire career in the Cardinals minor league system, and only played through 1998, when he was 25, but only rose to AA.

Brett Butler, I'm pretty sure, was another "packing material" card, protecting a stack by covering the end. But it's in good enough shape to throw into my 1991 Donruss box, along with the Ray Lankford. Also, I promise that hologram is of a 1990s Cardinals logo, though it's pretty hard to tell that from the scan.

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XXXVI

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV

The end is tantalizingly near. Is that even a sensible adverb in this situation?

1982 Kmart #12 Orlando Cepeda
1987 TCMA 1934 Cardinals #4 Ripper Collins
1990 Fleer - All Stars #5 Joe Magrane
1990 Pacific Legends #65 Orlando Cepeda
1992 Action Packed #22 Wally Moon
2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes #24 Frankie Frisch

Today I've got some old guys, and Joe Magrane, who's quite young relative to the rest, but with what I have left, he fit into this group. It's always nice to expand my collection to new players. I had no previous cards of Wally Moon (though I did meet him in person and get an autograph), Frankie Frisch, or Ripper Collins, and I had just 2 Orlando Cepeda cards, from 2010-2011 and picturing him as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Superbowl LI Projection, Championship Sunday

New England over Atlanta

Both favorites won on Sunday, neither of whom I was rooting for, and we've got a New England vs Atlanta Superbowl matchup. I've got New England as nearly 70% likely to win. FiveThirtyEight gives them 61%, and there's really no way to say which of us is more right. I guess if New England wins I'm more likely to be more right, and vice versa. The NFC is the designated home team this year, and will get their choice of jersey. The team in white has won 11 of the last 12 Superbowls, so I'd bet on them picking that for good luck, but I don't think that will be the difference maker.

So who am I rooting for?

New England at Atlanta:
I'm not really attached to either team, so I'll be rooting for myself to win the Collector's Crack contest. That will take a New England victory, and a total score of 50 points or less. I heard Vegas has the over/under at 59, so I might wind up the only one at my Superbowl party on the edge of my seat watching a 36-14 game late in the 4th quarter.

TEAM	Record	Strength	Div	Plyff	WC	Qtr	Semi	Champ
NE	14-2	0.845	++	++	++	++	++	69.96
ATL	11-5	0.701	++	++	++	++	++	30.04
DAL	13-3	0.722	++	++	++	-	-	-
KC	12-4	0.661	++	++	++	-	-	-
PIT	11-5	0.645	++	++	++	++	-	-
SEA	10-5-1	0.640	++	++	++	-	-	-
ARI	7-8-1	0.606	-	-	-	-	-	-
DEN	9-7	0.585	-	-	-	-	-	-
GB	10-6	0.580	++	++	++	++	-	-
PHI	7-9	0.577	-	-	-	-	-	-
NYG	11-5	0.565	-	++	-	-	-	-
OAK	12-4	0.558	-	++	-	-	-	-
BAL	8-8	0.549	-	-	-	-	-	-
MIN	8-8	0.547	-	-	-	-	-	-
BUF	7-9	0.540	-	-	-	-	-	-
IND	8-8	0.535	-	-	-	-	-	-
WAS	8-7-1	0.525	-	-	-	-	-	-
NO	7-9	0.524	-	-	-	-	-	-
CIN	6-9-1	0.523	-	-	-	-	-	-
TEN	9-7	0.506	-	-	-	-	-	-
SD	5-11	0.477	-	-	-	-	-	-
DET	9-7	0.475	-	++	-	-	-	-
TB	9-7	0.469	-	-	-	-	-	-
MIA	10-6	0.466	-	++	-	-	-	-
CAR	6-10	0.436	-	-	-	-	-	-
HOU	9-7	0.381	++	++	++	-	-	-
JAC	3-13	0.335	-	-	-	-	-	-
CHI	3-13	0.255	-	-	-	-	-	-
NYJ	5-11	0.234	-	-	-	-	-	-
SF	2-14	0.211	-	-	-	-	-	-
CLE	1-15	0.167	-	-	-	-	-	-
LA	4-12	0.156	-	-	-	-	-	-

First to 10% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 3, Thursday)
First to 20% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 8, Sunday)
First to 40% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 16, Saturday)

First to 45% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Week 17, Final)

First to 50% chance of Superbowl win: New England (Divisional Saturday)

First to 80% chance of Playoffs: New England (Week 3, Thursday)
First to 90% chance of Playoffs: Minnesota (Week 4, Final)
First to 99% chance of Playoffs: New England (Week 8, Sunday)
First to 99.9% chance of Playoffs: Dallas (Week 12, Thursday)
First to 99.999% chance of Playoffs: Dallas (Week 13, Thursday)
First to clinch Playoffs: Dallas (Week 13, Sunday)
First to clinch a First Round Bye: New England (Week 15, Sunday)
First to clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs: Dallas (Week 16, Saturday)

First team eliminated from winning a division: Cleveland, San Francisco (Week 11, Sunday)
First team eliminated from the playoffs: Cleveland (Week 11, Sunday)

[Week 1] San Francisco over Houston
[Week 2, Thursday] San Francisco over Houston
[Week 2, Sunday] Pittsburgh over Minnesota
[Week 2, Final] Philadelphia over Houston
[Week 3, Thursday] New England over Philadelphia
[Week 3, Sunday] Philadelphia over New England
[Week 3, Final] Philadelphia over New England
[Week 4, Thursday] Philadelphia over New England
[Week 4, Sunday] Philadelphia over Denver
[Week 4, Final] Minnesota over Denver
[Week 5, Thursday] Minnesota over Denver
[Week 5, Sunday] Minnesota over Pittsburgh
[Week 5, Final] Minnesota over Pittsburgh
[Week 6, Thursday] Minnesota over Pittsburgh
[Week 6, Sunday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 6, Final] New England over Minnesota
[Week 7, Thursday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 7, Sunday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 7, Final] New England over Minnesota
[Week 8, Thursday] New England over Minnesota
[Week 8, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 8, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 9, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 9, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 9, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 10, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 10, Sunday] Dallas over New England
[Week 10, Final] Dallas over New England
[Week 11, Thursday] Dallas over New England
[Week 11, Sunday] Dallas over New England
[Week 11, Final] Dallas over New England
[Week 12, Thursday] Dallas over New England
[Week 12, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 12, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 13, Thursday] Dallas over New England
[Week 13, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 13, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 14, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 14, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 14, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Saturday] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 15, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Thursday] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Saturday] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Week 16, Final] New England over Dallas
[Week 17, Final] New England over Dallas
[Wildcard Saturday] New England over Dallas
[Wildcard Sunday] New England over Dallas
[Divisional Saturday] New England over Atlanta
[Divisional Sunday] New England over Atlanta

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XXXV

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV

Let's sort some cards!

1998 Bowman's Best #146 Braden Looper
1998 Fleer Tradition #397 Kent Mercker
1998 Fleer Tradition #415 Braden Looper
1998 Fleer Tradition #541 Cliff Politte
1998 Topps #485 Braden Looper/Cliff Politte/Brian Rose
2009 Topps #612 Joel Pineiro

I've apparently never posted a Cliff Politte card, and now here I have 2. He only played one year with the Cardinals, and started just 8 games. I sometimes amaze myself at how much more time I must have had for baseball in those days. I could easily lose track of a guy like that now, but I can easily remember him on the team. Braden Looper is another one I remember from his first stint with the Cardinals, which was only 4 appearances. He came back after some time in Florida and New York, though.

1997 Topps #477 Braden Looper/John Patterson
2009 Upper Deck #880 Joel Pineiro
2014 Munnatawket Allen and Ginter #34 Matt Carpenter

That Matt Carpenter isn't just your average Allen and Ginter mini (which are also good cards, for the record). It's from a custom set made by a friend of Nachos Grande, in the 2008 Ginter style, but with an ad for Munnatawket bats on the reverse. I've seen these on a few blogs in the past, but usually as part of the full set. This set might be harder to chase than something from the 60s, so I'll probably just be content with my anachronistic Matt Carpenter card, appearing to feature him 3 years before his MLB debut and 1 year before he was drafted.

Bowl Pick 'Em Contest Winnings, Part XXXIV

College football will be here again before we know it IS HERE IS OVER, so I've got to get my prize from last season's Bowl Pick 'Em contest at Cards on Cards posted! My prize for a second place tie was a very generously sized box of cards, so I felt a bit overwhelmed even sorting through them. I finally sorted them out by player, and, as usual, I'll plan to post them all eventually, but I might quit halfway through, we'll see.

Part I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX
XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX
XXXI XXXII XXXIII

I'll never spend less than 5 minutes figuring out which subset a Bowman Draft card belongs to.

2007 Fleer Ultra #150 Chris Carpenter
2007 Topps Updates and Highlights #UH320 Troy Percival
2007 Upper Deck Artifacts #68 Chris Carpenter (x2)
2008 Topps Stadium Club #130 Brian Barton
2009 Bowman Draft - Prospects #BDPP4 Virgil Hill

At first I thought I already that Brian Barton card, but take a look at my other copy. One of those is a variation, and from reading BaseballCardPedia's page on 2008 Stadium Club, I believe it's the one in today's post.