Two Prime 9 wins

Way back in February, Jeroen at The Dutch Card Guy offered a bribe to anyone who would add him to their blogroll. Since I was already following him in my rss reader, I figured it was just the boost I needed to motivate me to update my blogroll. I wound up with 2 Prime 9 redemption cards mailed all the way from The Netherlands.

2012 Topps - Prime 9 Redemption #1

2012 Topps - Prime 9 Redemption #2

9 days later, Sam at The Daily Dimwit slipped a stealth contest into his post, to see who was reading and who was just looking at the photos. I jumped in and won 5 (already redeemed) Prime 9 cards.

2012 Topps - Prime 9 #HRL-1 Hank Aaron

2012 Topps - Prime 9 #HRL-2 Babe Ruth

2012 Topps - Prime 9 #HRL-3 Willie Mays

2012 Topps - Prime 9 #HRL-4 Reggie Jackson

2012 Topps - Prime 9 #HRL-6 Mickey Mantle

There's a bit more of a story to this than just the cards though, which is partly of why this post got delayed. For some reason, I didn't check my mail on February 18th. I rarely let the mail sit in the mailbox overnight, but I think I was busy that day and just didn't think about it by the time I got home. Sunday afternoon I realized I forgot it, and checked, not thinking anything of it. Of course, the two redemption cards were in there. I opened it up, and looked at the dates to see when I could redeem. As you see in the scan, week 1 ended February 19th, but the caveat is that the only card shops in town that I knew redeemed these were both closed on Sundays.

My first thought was that I had wasted the card, but then I realized, surely the shop owners had a pile of these cards, and would probably redeem it a week late, even if maybe they couldn't send in the card for entry in the contest described on the back. The following Saturday, during Week 2 of the redemption, I went to One Million Baseball Cards, picked out a few of the slightly-overpriced singles from the 2011 Gypsy Queen box (i.e. sucking up with a purchase), and showed the cards to the gentleman working. He told me they didn't even have their cards in yet! He told me I could redeem them whenever they come in, regardless of the date, and then he offered to take my name down and call when they come in, but I told him not to sweat it and I'd just give him a ring in a week or two. He then asked if I had any of the 2011 Prime 9 cards, and I told him "a few, but not all", and he flipped this guy to me.

2011 Topps - Prime 9 #PNR5 Mike Schmidt

I thought that was pretty awesome of him, and that was one I didn't have. A few weeks later I went back and redeemed the cards for another copy of 1 and 2, so maybe I can trade those for a 5, 7, and/or 9 at some point. I found it interesting that Sam's shop had the cards far enough in advance that he was able to get his hands on 5 of the first 6 before the first redemption day, and mine didn't even have them two weeks in. It seems like something Topps should tighten up if they're really trying to encourage people to go to hobby shops over retail.

Thanks again to The Daily Dimwit and The Dutch Card Guy for the giveaways, it's always fun to get prizes in the mail.

Topps Prime 9; Week 9

I sure have dragged out a contest win for 2 stinkin cards over a ridiculously long time.

The Win - From September 8
Week 8 - From September 16

I've tried to space my posts out and the NFL projections and NCAA rankings have been taking up Sunday(ish) and Tuesday.  Anyway, enough about my first-world problems.  On to the card!

Sweet, Sandy Koufax.  I picked up this card last Saturday at the LCS, then helped a buddy move across town from about 2pm till 11pm, including a few U-Haul trips. I'll avoid the obvious joke about the juxtaposition of Koufax and me doing work on Saturday.

Due to a little time crunch I didn't return to One Million Baseball Cards as originally planned, but went to the more local shop that had been closed the previous Saturday.  This happens to be the same shop I first went to as a 10 year old kid in 1992, although it has moved locations.  I recall it being pretty organized before, even though it was stuffed with stacks and stacks of long card boxes.  I also went to the new location back in 1998.  I know this because I distinctly remember asking if they had any Nomar Garciaparra Diamond Ink Points.  Again, it was pretty well organized.

This time, however, I was almost uncomfortable shopping in the store because it was so cluttered.  I think there was an open hobby box of just about every product from the last 5 years sitting on the counters, some stacked on top of others.  There were stacks of singles sitting out, with no discernible price labels anywhere around.  The back of the store had some taken-apart shelving sitting in the middle of the walkway.  I think part of my discomfort was knowing I could easily knock over a stack of cards almost anywhere, bending them and feeling liable.  I was determined to buy something, though, as a thank you for the shop partaking in the Prime 9 promotion, so I grabbed a 300ct cardboard box for a huge outgoing trade, and a pack of 2011 Lineage.

I won't name the shop here since I don't want to give them bad press if anyone in the area does a Google search on the name, but I don't think I'll be returning there anytime soon, at least not to browse.  I suppose if I knew exactly what I wanted it'd do the job.

Man, that ended on a downer. I know! Play me out, keyboard cat!

Much...better?

Topps Prime 9; Week 8

As I showed last week, Matt F. at Heartbreaking Cards of Staggering Genius sent me 2 Topps Prime 9 Redemptions.  Week 8 was September 5-11, so I turned the first one into:

I wound up on a bit of a chase to get this card.  With Labor Day on the 5th, 2 nights of school a week, and no shops I can get to conveniently at my lunch break, I didn't even attempt to redeem this until Saturday.  My favorite shop wasn't participating, but no worries, another familiar one nearby was.  As I pulled up to the store, I saw a handwritten sign on the door: "Closed Sep. 10th for a Family Event".  I checked the hours on the door, and nothing was listed for Sunday.

That sent me home to search the internet and call around to find someone in the area who would redeem the card.  The first store I called answered the phone with a simple "Hello?", making me think I had reached a home by accident.  But no, his business phone skills were just a bit lacking.  He said his place wasn't participating, so I went to the next one on my list. One Million Baseball Cards was in fact participating, but they closed at 5pm and weren't open Sunday, so I had to hurry. The store was pretty cool, and had a great selection of all sports, and tons of baseball.  Unfortunately by the time I got there I was in a bit of a hurry, so didn't get to look around for too long.  I saw a huge box of Heritage and Gypsy Queen singles, so I think my wantlist and I will make the slightly longer trek out there this week as well - and build in some time to browse.