Top Puls of 2019: #2

Card: 2018 Topps WWE Legends #A-DB Daniel Bryan AUTO (036/199)

From: Hobby Box

Why I Like It:
Bryan had a great 2019, holding the title at the most important part of the WWE calendar, the stretch from the Royal Rumble to WrestleMania.  And let's talk about that belt!  The moment that stands out in my mind is Bryan chanting "Fickle!" at the crowd, going true eco-warrior heel.  He was getting so much heat that his "Yes!" chant all but disappeared during his five-month reign.  This card is nice and clean, and the autograph is on-card.  Not an amazingly valuable card, but one I'm happy to display in my collection.

$10 Scumbucket Grab Bag 4.12

Added to the bucket:
1988 Topps 1987 All-Star #2 Don Mattingly and #20 Gary Carter

 If you're like me, you have a mish-mash of these Topps All-Star cards from different years and nothing even approaching a complete set.  Take these off my hands and lose them almost immediately.  No worries, you will find them in five years when looking for something else.  Ten bucks takes the whole lot below.

THE PILE
2005 Prime Patches Jason Jennings Jersey/Glove/Shoe Relic (149/150)

2014 Topps Craig Kimbrel Orange Parallel (186/199)

2014 Topps Trevor Plouffe Pink Parallel (11/50) 

 

1997 Donruss Chipper Jones Rocket Launchers (0330/5000)

2001 Pacific Peter Warrick Impact Zone 

 

2015 Topps Update Series Brett Gardner Sabermetric Stats Variation

2002 Fleer Tradition Plays of the Week Magglio Ordonez

1976 Topps Kurt Bevacqua Bubble Gum Blowing Champ
  

2002 Fleer Tradition Jose Vidro Glossy Parallel (067/200)
   
1993 Topps Chipper Jones Top Prospect
s  
1988 Topps Tom Glavine

Top Pulls of 2019: #3

Two-tie, all-tie!
(Anyone else familiar with that expression?  My dad used to say it all the time.  Drop a comment if you can relate.)
We have two cards coming at the third slot this year.

Card: 2018 Topps NXT #A-BY Bayley AUTO Silver Parallel (25/25)

2018 Topps NXT #A-VD Velveteen Dream AUTO Bronze Parallel (82/99)

From: Hobby Box
Why I Like Them:
2019 was kind to both of these performers.  Dream dominated the first half of the year in NXT.  I got to see him wrestle Adam Cole in a small venue in Milwaukee, and he lit the place up.  Bayley had the stronger second half of the year after making a major heel turn.  Her signature is quite a bit better than Velveteen's, but his minimalist sig's placement kind of makes a dong.  "Sidepipe," as my cousin Marc would call it.  Either way, I'm happy to have these cards, both of which were pulled from the same box.  Bayley's is a bit better because of the lower print run, but both are awesome.  I'm not happy with the configuration of 2019 Topps NXT.  The price is cut in half compared to previous years, but there are only two autos per box now, as opposed to ten before.  I would recommend jumping on 2018 NXT boxes, as they're sort of drying up a little.

Top Pulls of 2019: #4

Card: 2019 Topps Update Series #US52 Keston Hiura Rookie Debut Gold Parallel (1595/2019)

 From: Hobby Box

Why I Like It:
Hiura, God willing, is going to be a big part of the Milwaukee Brewers' success for the next 5-10 years.  Yo-yo-ing him back and forth between the minors and majors was a bit of a mistake.  Picking up a game here or there in some of the spring and early summer games could have changed the face of the playoffs, especially considering the Brew Crew finished only two games out of first in the NL Central.  This probably isn't headed for Trout levels of value, but a smart collector might want to try to load up on this and Hiura's other cards in this set.

Top Pulls of 2019: #5

I'm just about at the point where I can copy and paste the intro paragraph for this feature from last year's.  Once again, the majority of my card dollar went toward wrestling cards, set building, and after that, going to my first National.  The highlight of my collecting year was probably finishing my 1971-72 Topps basketball set.  The low point was finding out I no longer had access to THORZUL WILL RULE.  Following the death of one blog, another emerged, along with the opportunity to write some new history.  Barring any huge surprises between now and midnight, I am done opening packs of cards for the year, so it's time to show off the best cards I pulled in 2019.

Card: 2019 Topps Opening Day #ODA-FL Francisco Lindor Opening Day AUTO

 From: Hobby Box

Why I Like It: Aside from the comedy club poster design, it's just nice to get a hit when one is not guaranteed.  Lindor seems like a good dude, and to be at 28.6 WAR after four-and-a-half years in baseball is pretty outstanding.  I'll be keeping an eye on Lindor this season, as Cleveland hopefully proves 2019 was just a one-year aberration with the Twins coming in first in the AL Central.
 

2019 Card-vent Calendar: December 24

December 24, 2019:
1994 TCM Associates Santa Around the World Milk and Cookies Santa

I hope everyone got a nice visit from the big guy.  Wishing you and yours all the best this Christmas, and a prosperous 2020.

$10 Scumbucket Grab Bag 4.11

1988 Topps Tom Glavine

 Remember when card companies used to release their base sets for the next year in December?  Step back in time and claim this Glavine rookie (along with everything else below) on Christmas Eve.


THE PILE
2005 Prime Patches Jason Jennings Jersey/Glove/Shoe Relic (149/150)

2014 Topps Craig Kimbrel Orange Parallel (186/199)

2014 Topps Trevor Plouffe Pink Parallel (11/50) 

 

1997 Donruss Chipper Jones Rocket Launchers (0330/5000)

2001 Pacific Peter Warrick Impact Zone 

 

2015 Topps Update Series Brett Gardner Sabermetric Stats Variation

2002 Fleer Tradition Plays of the Week Magglio Ordonez

1976 Topps Kurt Bevacqua Bubble Gum Blowing Champ
  

2002 Fleer Tradition Jose Vidro Glossy Parallel (067/200)
   
1993 Topps Chipper Jones Top Prospect
s