I never dyed my hair

    Howdy folks!

    It's been over a month, so I figured it's probably time to post again. 

    This card is from good ol' Diamond Jesters. I had forgotten about it until it showed up about a week ago. This is the perfect card to write a short post on and get back to the blog.

    A few things about this card strike me. Firstly, Riley without a beard is downright strange. Reminds me of that 2014 Topps Charlie Blackmon card (shaking my head so hard right now).

    I love how the card says Official Trading Card of Baseball Fans Everywhere. I didn't know Leaf had it in them to make the 'Official' trading card. 

    The red is really jumping out, but kinda in a good way. I don't know what it is, but the strange color combination of red and green seems to work well with the card (and it's not even Holiday).

    Would you believe that all Matt was asking for was a card older than this one??? 

    I made a deal with myself last season that if Riley Greene bats .320 with 40 homers, I would dye my hair greene (it's a long story for those who don't know it). Unfortunately, he never did it. But I'm keeping the deal up indefinitely. Wouldn't greene hair be so nice on the blog?

    Thanks for stopping by, have a great rest of the week, and happy collecting!

My First Blogoversary!

    127 posts ago, I had no idea that I'd still be around. But it's been a year, and we're still alive, so I guess that's victory number one.

    In my twelve months of blogging, I've posted 127 times, have 13,865 views, 16 followers, and 482 comments. Not too shabby by my standards.

    I never thought I'd still be posting on the blog a whole year after starting it up, but boy, am I glad I'm still here. Card-blogging has been a very pleasant hobby thus far, and I'm looking forward to year two!

    This first year has been eventful for me. I've made a few trades, sent out a few PWEs, received a few, won a couple contests, had computer problems, made excuses about them, and figured out how to fix them for good. I've also written some extremely corny posts in the process.

    Hopefully year two will have some better posts. I know that my collection is very small compared to y'all, and it won't help that I probably won't be buying up as many cards this year, due to life; there are some foreseeable events in the near future that will be taking up a lot of what would usually be my card money (there'll be a post on one of those events in a few weeks). 

    Also, rather than over 120 posts, I think I'll lower my standard a little bit this year. Things will be getting busier, and I want to take more time to write quality posts (takes a short time to scoff at myself, like that'll ever happen). Twice a week is still over 100, so I'll shoot for somewhere around 70-100.

    When I first started up the card blog, I knew very little about cards in general. I was just a guy who liked collecting them (especially the shiny ones) and trading. Then, after making a joke on my old blog, I started Don Cardwell with no idea of what I was doing. I also had some inspiration from The Diamond King and The Lost Collector, who I had read before starting my blog. I had actually emailed AJ of The Lost Collector when I first started Don Cardwell, and he sent me a really nice welcome email.

    I wasn't planning to keep my blog around for too long (if I were, I would've given it a better name). But the day I made my first post, I got a comment and a follower. And then a torrent more came. And then I decided to stay (to make the story brief)  Thank you to all who took the time to read and comment on my blog. 

    Thank you also to those who made trades with me. I don't usually trade by mail, but I've made a few since starting the blog, and expect to continue making them. I've also received some generous gifts, as well as trades that have seemed like generous gifts. The card-blogging community is a great one, I've learned. Y'all are so generous.

    Anyway, I'm keeping Don Cardwell around until I can't anymore. And hopefully that doesn't happen for a while. Of course, with fewer cards coming in in 2025, I'll have to improvise a little bit, but it can be done. Once more, thank y'all for the support and generosity over year one, and I'm looking forward to year two!

    

THE CONTEST

    Alright, now for the fun part. I've got a few cards to be given away as a prize to one winner. It's probably not the greatest of giveaways, but all things in time.

    Firstly, this contest is open to anybody who wants to comment on this post. It doesn't matter even if this is the first post of mine you've ever read. I'm not discounting you for waiting a year to read my blog :)

    Secondly, you have to comment. After all, how else will I be able to tell that you've entered? And also, you have to comment by noon (central time) on Sunday the 26th if you'd like to enter (I will not post again until then).

    Thirdly, in your comment I would like to know a favorite sports memory of yours. It could be anything -- from a great hot dog you had at Wrigley Field, to the time when you coughed up your popcorn laughing at the demise of your rival team, to the time you met your wife in the stands of a Brewers game (I haven't the slightest idea if that happened, but what the heck?). This is not obligatory, but I would be interested anyway.

    And finally, using the Whimsical Spinny Wheel (as provided by Wheel of Names), the winner will be decided, him being the one whose name is chosen thrice.

    And now, I shall show off all the junk-- I mean, prizes, of course, to be dumped (awarded) upon the winner of this contest. 

Two lovely 2024 Topps Chrome Cosmic cards of players on my rival team...

A couple other miscellaneous chrome cards (2024 Bowman 1st & 2023 Topps Anniversary)...

A couple autos of former Rangers prospects (pardon the blurs: they are Anderson Tejeda and A.J. Alexy)...

A few beautiful 2022 Panini Mosaic cards...

And finally....

An un-opened pack of 2024 Topps Update

    And of course, all penny sleeves and top loaders are part of the prize.

    Well, that about wraps up all I intended to cover today. Thanks for everything in year one, and here's to year two! And of course, have a great rest of the week, and....

Happy Collecting!!!

Although I didn't coin the term (who was the first card-blogger to use that?)...

There's Nothing Like In-Person Trading

      Personally, as a card collector one of my favorite things to do is trade cards, usually helping to build up two collections  Also, whenever my friend John (Adventures of a Baseball Card Collector) pays a visit, my collection gets smaller (but better, so don't you worry). This past Saturday I spent some time trading with him, and acquired a rather interesting bunch of cards. 

    It's been my procrastinated goal for a while now to start collecting a few hockey cards, and John helped me take my first eight baby steps into a minor collection. I only intend to collect a few hundred hockey cards, but I tend to veer off my collective plan more often than not. These few cards made for a nice little start, as I'm really into the designs of the cards. These include 2016-2017 Upper Deck Artifacts, 2016-2017 Upper Deck Series 2, 2013-2014 Upper Deck Series 2, and of course, the 2013-2014 Panini Prizm. The only guy I previously knew in this small pile is Noah Hanfin, who I briefly had on my fantasy hockey team a few weeks ago. I hope my local card shop can aid me in my hockey card endeavors. I'll need to take a look next time I'm over there.

   

   I traded for this card purely because of the hilarious pink jersey. Laga played parts of nine seasons in the majors (1982-1990),  with the Cardinals, Tigers and Giants. In 188 games, the first baseman batted .199 with 16 home runs.

    These two cards came in the same trade, which also included the next card. I added another un-owned Ripken to my personal collection in the form of Studio '91, which I think was a decent design. The addition of the Craig Kimbrel was nice too. He looks so young in the picture! 2014 Topps Upper Class is a design that I really like. The red and gold mix really well with this card. The corners are a little roughed up on the card, as well as a small crease on the upper right side, but it didn't take much to get the card, so I don't mind. I hope Craig Kimbrel can clean things up in 2025, but he'll be 37 and coming off his worst season (5.33 ERA), so he may be done as a closer in the majors.

    This was the card I was seeking pretty much from minute one.  I have a soft spot for catchers, and the card looked so good, so it became the top priority in terms of trading. Christopher Wallace was drafted in the 16th round of the 2010 June Amateur Draft. Expecting to get drafted later, this pleasantly surprised him. Wallace played 5 seasons in the minors with the Astros and Indians, including 52 games and parts of three seasons in AAA. Across his minor league career, Wallace batted .270/.341/.445 with 39 home runs and 185 RBI in 315 games. 2015 was his last year of professional baseball, which he spent in the Atlantic League. Wallace batted .257 with 17 home runs in 129 games before calling it quits. 

    And my trading ends with a non-sports card. I was about through with the trades before this one caught my eye. This is card one of the five-card 2005 King Kong - Kong Flocked insert set (thanks for the clarification TCDB). The fur on Kong is....actually furry, which is a nice addition to an already awesome card. I've never seen the movie -- I like to stick to the original Godzilla films with the rubber suits and all that good stuff.

    That was already a great day of trading in my book, but then John dropped a half-dozen vintage Topps on me for no return. It made for a nice little surprise.

    It doesn't matter who the player (or usually even the set) is, I'll always like some vintage baseball cards. Though these cards aren't exactly in the best condition, I still enjoy them. Besides, they were free. The top four are all 1959 Topps, and the bottom two are '61 and '69.

    So ends the acquisitions from John's last visit. I really like getting the oppurtunity to trade cards in-person with people. It's nice to see what the fellow collector has brought along with him, and offers the oppurtunity to trade for cards I otherwise wouldn't -- like the King Kong card. It adds some fun into the day whenever John comes over.

    Thanks for the cards John!  And thank y'all for spending time at Don Cardwell. I hope you enjoyed, have a great start to the week, and happy collecting!

Another Trade With Matt

    Another trade was made between me and Matt of Diamond Jesters. I gave him a 1966 Topps card (Don Pavletich), and got this:

1967 Topps #227

    I am unsure what the popular opinion of the '67 Topps design is, but I like it. It's easy to tell what position Mr. Lindblad is, and what team he plays for. There aren't really any special characteristics on the front of the card (although I see the facsimile autograph, which are always interesting), but it leaves enough room for a picture in which you can make out who your player is without squinting to see his face.

    Paul Lindblad pitched 14 seasons in the majors from 1965-1978, including four with the Rangers. Most of his career was pitched as a reliever, though he was a starting pitcher in the minors. In 1963 while in Single-A, Lindblad in 14 starts and 97 innings accumulated a 10-2 record and 1.58 ERA. The southpaw ended his big-league career with a record of 68-63, 64 saves, and a 3.29 ERA in 1213 2/3 innings pitched (655 games, 32 starts). He was also an incredible fielder, setting a record by not making an error for nine years ad 385 games. I learned from the back of the card that Mr. Lindblad's hobby was mechanical drawing, and that he was named MVP of the Ban Johnson League in 1962. Paul Lindblad died on New Year's Day, 2006, at the age of 64. 

    All in all, I would say that Paul Lindblad had a successful career. It had its highs and lows, but he finished with a solid statline. Thanks for another trade Matt! They are all well-appreciated. Y'all have a great rest of the week and a great weekend, and happy collecting!

Cards From Matt

     About a week ago I received some cards from Matt of Diamond Jesters. I must thank him for his generosity. I received six cards from him (though one of them I got for a brother, so have only five with me), and this marks the second such trade I've made with him.

    Favorite card in this trade: I really like all the cards, but I think I have to go with the Toys 'R' Us John Olerud. Brian Johnson gets the silver.

    I like the way the camera picked up the shine on the Shawn Green card too.

    Thanks again for the trade Matt! The cards are always appreciated. 

    

    Have a great week, happy collecting, and good luck to your postseason team (though can we please not have a Yankees/Dodgers World Series?) 

The Results of my First Trade by Mail and Some Other Stuff

    I just finished my first trade-by-mail on February 24th (today). This trade occurred with my friend over at Johnny's Trading Spot. I traded him a Braves triple card from 2022 (not sure what it's actually called), and got this guy:

    Evan Carter is one of my favorite players, so it was nice to cross him off my Want List. And an autograph too!  You may have seen this exact card on his post for Texas Rangers trade night.

    In addition to the trade, John also sent me a welcome package to welcome me to the card-blogging universe. It was very generous gift that also came today.

    I really like these 2023 Topps Heritage cards. I especially like the photo taken for the Nathan Eovaldi card.

    John also gave me this 2022 Topps Heritage Kole Calhoun card.

    These Chrome 2023 cards are so cool.

    Ah yes, the wonderful Rangers middle infield captured in the glory of Topps Stadium Club. I really like the picture they got for the Seager card.

    And we see another Stadium Club Marcus Semien.

    Again, two more really good snapshots for the Topps Stadium Club.

    A good way to finish with a card of Jacob deGrom, my favorite pitcher. I think it's evident that my favorite team is the Rangers.

    So, thank you John for all the neat cards. And thanks for the trade and the Evan Carter auto. It was quite the gift, and like I said in my second post, Don Cardwell is here to stay.