Frank Thomas ’17 Topps Luminaries Redemption Card Received

In the middle of November, I opened a box of 2017 Topps Luminaries Baseball.  Waiting inside was a redemption for a Frank Thomas Autographed Letter Book Card #’ed 1/1.  As soon as it was pulled, I redeemed it.

At 5:01 a.m. on 12/28/17 I received an e-mail from Topps informing me that my card had been shipped.  According to the tracking number it was scheduled to be delivered the same day.  By lunch time it had arrived.

This card kicks butt.  Booklet, on-card autograph, and game-worn jersey letter patch.  It didn’t really matter to me which letter they used, but I’m glad Topps chose the “T”.

When it comes to redemption cards, you never truly know how long it will take to get your card.  Everyone’s experience can differ.  Personally, I’ve never had to wait that long with Topps products.  Historically they’ve been fast and efficient for me.  The Topps website easily lets me track my redemption cards, while I find their communication skills flawless.  No problems at all.

Leaf Redemption Mailday

In July I opened a box of 2017 Leaf Babe Ruth Immortal Collection.  One of my “hits” was a redemption card for a Babe Ruth Game-Used Boston Bat Relic #’ed 1/1.  This card was redeemed on 7/24/17 and it arrived on 8/3/17.  Now that is the type of turnaround time all redemption cards should have.  Leaf isn’t known for issuing many redemption cards.  Until now, I had never redeemed anything from them.

According to Leaf, redemption cards were made for a few cards after they realized some of them got damaged during the manufacturing process.  It was easier to issue a redemption rather than hold up the entire product until they printed new cards to replace the damaged ones.  Only a handful of redemption cards from this product have surfaced.  A couple have sold for big money ranging anywhere from $700 and up.  Those people drastically overpaid thinking that the redeemed card would be something vastly different compared to the other 1/1 bat relics that made it into the product.  Cards like the one I received are worth about $200 to $300.  The unknown picture and what the bat piece would look like could’ve driven collectors to pay that much for those redemption cards as well.  I don’t think many will pay those prices anymore.  If you didn’t pull the cut signature, bat barrel, or bat knob, a bat relic #’ed 1/1 is the next best thing.

Harry Kalas Sportkings Cut Signature Mailday

Some collectors add new cards to their collection every single day.  For many, the bubble mailers just don’t seem to stop.  I’m very picky about what I collect.  The Steelers, Eagles, Penn State, and the Phillies are the main teams that I follow.  I probably follow the Phillies more than anything.  Years ago I was looking for someone from the Phillies to collect, but I didn’t want it to be too easy.  Players for the most part have tons of cards.  Broadcasters on the other hand do not.  So I settled on former Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.  Good old HK only has a handful of cards, and none of them are simple to find.

One of the last things I do at the end of the day is an eBay search for “Harry Kalas”.  Most of the time what pops up doesn’t grab my interest.  Mainly because I either already have it or its junk.  My search last weekend turned up a card I’ve been looking for since 2012.  It was the Harry Kalas 2012 Sportkings Series E Top 50 Broadcasters Cut Signature #’ed 1/1.  The seller was from Massachusetts, and they accepted my first offer.  It was up for sale for less than a day.  The card has arrived, and has been added to my collection.  I believe this is the only cut signature of Harry Kalas to feature a picture of him.

This was the first Harry Kalas card I’ve added to my collection since last summer.  Its not something I get to do very often.  Other cards of his I’m looking for include:

• Mike Schmidt/Harry Kalas 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game – Announcing Greats Dual Auto #’ed/25
• Harry Kalas 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Signatures Black Stitch Auto #’ed 1/1
• Harry Kalas 2012 Sportkings Premium Back Redemption Sketch #’ed 1/1
• Harry Kalas 2015 Topps Five Star Cut Signature #’ed 1/1

Art For Yinz Mailday!

On Christmas Eve I received a package in the mail from artist Tempy Moore of Art For Yinz.  Inside was this Barry Bonds 1/1 sketch card.  I would personally like to thank her for sending this over.  It is going to remain in my personal collection forever.

Tempy Moore is one of the best modern day artists known for her extremely realistic self portraits.  She has been taking on personal commissions from athletes since 2008, and has even painted at a black-tie reception for business and political leaders at the Empire State Building in New York City.  You’ve probably seen her work included in 2012 Leaf Best Of Baseball and TCSP products.

If you would like to contact Tempy Moore about a project be sure to e-mail her at: tempy@artforyinz.com  Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.  Don’t forget to visit her store too.

Here are just some of her other pieces she has worked on:

Pocket-Sized Mailday

Collectibles are collectible today because at one time they weren’t thought to be collectible.  I’ll give you a few seconds for all that to sink in.

I just wanted to show off some gifts I recently received from a very dedicated reader of Sports Card Info.  This reader was going through their inventory and came across some interesting items they thought would fit well into my collection.  Boy were they right!

What they found were six pocket schedules from the Philadelphia Phillies AA minor league team the Reading Phillies.  The schedules range from 1967 to 1974.  Early pocket schedules like this aren’t the easiest things to find.  Upon further research, I found out that 1967 was the first year the Reading Phillies were even around.  Reading has had a baseball team since 1858, but 1967 was the first year they were associated with the Phillies.

Schedules like this were most likely thrown out back then.  They surely weren’t held on to like the schedules are today.  Not only did these schedules survive, but they’re in excellent condition too.  What a cool find!  Thanks!

 

Michael Sam Mail Call

Look what the mail man dropped off today.  Its my Michael Sam 2014 Press Pass Blue Ink Auto #’ed/50.  While supplies last Press Pass will send these out to collectors who mail in the UPC code off their box of 2014 Press Pass Football.  I’m not sure how they determine who gets one numbered to 10, 50, 99, or just the base.  It could be random or perhaps the earlier people to send in their code might get a lower numbered card.  I sent mine in about a week after the product was released.  It sure didn’t take long to arrive.

A “Whiz Kids” Thank You

April 9, 2013

Dear Mr. Chrisman,

It has come to my attention that “we the collective mind” at the blog: ENOUGH ALREADY seem to have won quite a few of your contests.  We are very thankful for what we have won in the past and present and it has come to be that we wanted to present to you a little “thank you” for the blog and the contests.

Being that you are a Phillies fan we found it to be only fitting that we would like to present to you an autograph of one of the infamous Philly “Whiz Kids” Andrew Seminick.  It was recently pulled from a History of Baseball Leaf Cut Signatures.  The autograph is absolutely beautiful and I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks again!

Tim Hertzog

http://annoyanceatitsfinest.blogspot.com

This afternoon I received the above letter and card as a thank you for all the contests and content I’ve been posting here on Sports Card Info over the last 5+ years.  Thank you very much!  This card will stay in my personal collection forever.

Redemption Mailday – Tony Perez ’12 Playoff Prime Cuts Significant Signatures

Happy New Year!!!  If you recall, a few weeks ago I broke and reviewed a box of 2012 Playoff Prime Cuts Baseball.  One of the “hits” I pulled was a redemption for a Tony Perez Significant Signatures autograph #’ed/25.  Just out of pure curiosity I redeemed it to see how long it would take to receive.  Yesterday in the mail it arrived.  It was redeemed on 12/8/12 and came on 12/31/12.  Not bad at all.  That has to be the fastest redemption ever fulfilled for me.  I don’t have a lot of luck when it comes to redemption cards.  Usually they take forever and sometimes you get sent a replacement.  This was a good experience.

Cooperstown Baseball Mailday!

This past week I took a business trip for my job, that is why all you’ve been seeing is “Card of the Day” posts.  Today that’s going to change!  Yesterday in the mail I received one of my newest purchases for my Phillies/Harry Kalas collection.  This HK card comes from 2012 Panini Cooperstown Baseball.  It may very well be just a base card, but I needed it.  I wish the Voices of Summer cards had parallels, but they don’t.  I guess I can be glad that HK has a new card at all since he doesn’t have that many.  I really like this product even though it’s non-licensed.  Teaming up with the Baseball Hall of Fame was a nice approach.  The back has a nicely detailed bio about HK too.  Here is what it has to say:

“OUTTA HERE!”

Kalas won the hearts of Philadelphia baseball fans with his easygoing style, his mellow, baritone voice and his deep devotion to the team.  His signature home run call – “Swing… and a long drive… this ball is outta here!”- was as familiar as cheesesteaks and the Liberty Bell in the City of Brotherly Love.  “Harry the K” called the first game at Veterans Stadium in 1971, the first game at the new park in 2004 and three World Series (1983, 1993, 2008).  He was also the voice of NFL Films.

New Addition To The Kalas Collection

This afternoon I received my Harry Kalas replica memorial statue that was a stadium giveaway last Thursday night from the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.  It sure looks nice on my shelf.  Anyone pull the Kalas cut signature yet found in Sportkings Series E?  I need it!

Holding this thing makes me feel like I won an Oscar.