Starting Lineup Stories: The Griffey that Got Away...but really didn't!

I was with a buddy of mine helping go door to door and hang Easter bags in a local neighborhood. When we were done, his dad took us to Wal Mart just to check the local SLU's. We both collected and knew that the 2000 series had come out so we wanted to see if there was any there. I got to the aisle first and shouted in delight what I found...

Sweeeeeeeeeeeet......but it instantly turned bittersweet as I had known I had forgotten my wallet and had no way to buy the piece!! The excitement of finding the Lineup got the best of me. Now if I was the scheming type, I'd a hid it in a different department, rushed home, and had my parents take me back to Wal Mart ASAP. Alas, I couldn't do it, and when my buddy came to see what I was excited about, I showed him what I had found and give him dibs on it. I figured I'd find it sooner or later. I did go back to grab the Vladimir Guerrero that was there, but it wasn't the same a mere consolation prize, as Griffey was my favorite player and had I just brought my money with me, the Griffey would be mine. My friend is a huge Dallas Mavs fan and there was one piece on my wall that he'd been eying for years.... this one

This was pre Dirk days, so naturally Michael Finley was his favorite player in the league at the time and this was his rookie piece. So a couple days later after the Wal Mart let down he came over and asked me if I wanted to make a trade. The Finley for the Griffey. I was hesitant at first, I didn't like trading pieces away unless I had a double, and I knew it would be hard for me to find another Finley, but this was Ken Griffey Jr, and that pose, and I couldn't say no to Griff!! So we made the trade and both got what we really wanted. We both still have the figures from that trade made more than a decade ago. I was never mad at my friend, I would've done the exact same thing, it was my fault I didn't have the funds and knowing he was a fellow collector I wasn't going to deprive him of getting a Griffey SLU. I'm just glad at the end we both ended up happy and the Griffey went to its rightful owner!!

Damn I'm Gonna MIss These Cards! Week of May 14th-20th

You know the drill, check out my auctions here

My Auctions

Game Used Greatness Pages Are Now Officially Open!

I decided to make a page for each sport that I have Game Used items for and I just got all the pics of my stuff finished today. Check em out and see what Game Used I have for each sport!

Damn I'm Gonna Miss These Cards!! Week of May 7th-May13th

Here are this week's notable cards that I have decided to part ways with in my quest for my ultimate holy grail. As always jump to this link if you would like to see all the cards I have for auction that end tomorrow night

My Auctions

03-04 Ultimate Collection Dual Game Used Uniform Bill Russell

Here's the first notable card, a dual game used memorabilia card from the legendary Bill Russell. 

01-02 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Game Jersey Michael Jordan

Ah memories. My first Michael Jordan Game Used Jersey card. When this card  came out back in 2002, I thought there would be no way I'd ever afford it. I did, and it became the first game used MJ Jersey card in my collection. I never thought I'd ever own a jersey card of the greatest basketball player that ever lived and for a good long while this was my most favorite card of my collection.

2003 Ultimate Collection Dual Patches Gold Albert Pujols/Scott Rolen

This card made the honorable mention for my top 100 countdown and how couldn't it? It's a gorgeous dual multi-colored patch card numbered to 35 featuring arguably the best modern day player in the game today.

03-04 Skybox Autographics Rookies Affirmed Dual Patch Tracy McGrady/Carmelo Anthony

I remember being in awe of this card when I first saw it. It's not a card that comes up much as it's numbered to 50. Both patches are multi-colored and it's from Melo's rookie year.

09-10 UD Artifacts Tundra Tandems Mario Lemieux/Sidney Crosby Dual Game Used Patch

I really love this dual patch card but since Hockey is not one of the sports I follow, it must go. It's for the greater good

 

 02-03 MVP Materials Michael Jordan Game Used Warm Ups

This was my first Basketball Game Used Card of MJ as it featured a swatch of Washington Wizards used warm ups.

1997 Pinnacle Inscriptions Jerry Rice Autograph

The only reason I'm selling an autograph of the greatest receiver of all time, is because I have two other autographs of him (one on a mini helmet with Joe Montana, and one in person on my Hall of Fame Football). Card looks a lot better than the scans shows.

Game Used Greatness: John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins All Star Rookie Challenge Memorabilia

Today I got my John Wall Used Warm Up Pants and DeMarcus Cousins Used Shooting Shirt from the 2012 All Star Rookie Challenge Game. I won these off Meigrey's auctions. Here are the pics!

Sports Cards and Memories Presents: My History With Starting Lineups; Part IV: Corinthian Headliners

During my Starting Lineup Craze, there was a different kind of Sports Figurine Collectible that complimented my SLU's. In 1996 Corinthian came up with their Headliners Sports Figure line. I guess Starting Lineup fever caught up with me, because I instantly started collecting these as well. They were relatively smaller and cheaper than SLU counterparts and unique as well, as they were't toys like SLU's were. They were reminiscent of bobbleheads as the figures sported big heads in proportion to their bodies (thus the name "Headliners"). Corinthian initially had licenses for Football (their inaugural release) Basketball and Baseball and also an NHLPA license. They eventually obtained an NHL License as well. They fairly popular, probably because of their price point as well. I was instantly hooked and now, not only was I looking down toy aisles for SLU's but Headliners as well.  Corinthian would create different series including their Headliners X-L series, Throwback Football series, College Football and Basketball series, 4 packs, and more. By 1999 though, the Headliners series had basically worn out their welcome and I believe 2000 was their last release (I remember there being a Griffey Reds Headliner that was a limited edition, I don't remember anything else after 2000). They had a brief but successful run, and they were a huge part of my Sports Figure Craze. I had a lot (probabaly a 100 or more) at one time. Today, I only kept my Cowboys, Penny Hardaways, and  Griffey X-L figures. It was definitely something different, and the market at the time could definitely afford to have something a little different in the hobby. Here are some pics of various Headliners.

Damn I'm Gonna Miss These Cards: Week of April 30-May6th

I've decided to make this a weekly installment, as each week I will showcase some of my more notable cards that are off to the auction block. This week, the majority of the cards of Carmelo rookies. Again  feel free to check out my auctions that end Sunday night to see if anything interests you. Here's the link

This Week's Auctions

Here's this weeks notable cards

Carmelo Anthony Rookie Cards

When 03-04 rolled around, I definitely bought as much product as I could and also chased rookies of Melo, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and of course LeBron. I accumulated quite a few Carmelo rookie issues, and this week you'll see quite a few of them up for auction. These three sets boast such an awesome design, I've always been a big fan of all 3 sets. It'll be a shame they'll no longer be a part of my collection.

2000 SPX Winning Materials Alex Rodriguez

Any time I see older memorabilia cards, I have that much more appreciation for them. They were harder to find and they actually meant something when you pulled them. I remember cards like this easily going for $100 or over when they first game out. Now, they are a dime a dozen, but nothing will ever beat the early era game used cards of the late 90's early 2000's.

03-04 Topps Pristine Uncirculated Refractor Carmelo Anthony

A nice rookie issue parallel card of Melo

2003 Topps Gallery Sam Crawford Game Used Bat

I also had an Eddie Collins Game Used Bat card from the same set, but I pulled it cause someone offered me $60 for it. Not bad for a card I paid 5 bucks for. The Crawford, like the Collins, is interesting to me, cause I don't think there are too many game used cards of either Hall of Famer.

Carmelo Anthony Dual Rookie Jersey Cards

I vividly remember buying the T-Mac Melo Dual Jersey and thinking how cool it was to own a dual jersey card of the future of the league. The Wade-Melo is pretty cool too and it's not a card you see pop up that often, then there's the Ultimate Collection Dual Jersey, which is one of Melo's nicer higher end rookie memorabilia cards.

2002 Fleer Fall Classics Rival Factions Jackie Robinson Game Used Pants (w/Joe Morgan)

Getting rid of Jackie Robinson memorabilia is definitely a tough pill to swallow, especially an early issue memorabilia card like this one.

03-04 Bowman Rookies and Stars Signs of the Future Carmelo Anthony Autograph

The 1st autograph I bought of the 03-04 rookie class was this beauty. This is a slick looking card with a large on card Melo rookie graph. Way better than cut windows and stickers.