Cool Cards From Mr. Habit (update)

Update: This full post, I noticed an hour after posting, was cut at the end, thus not revealing the trump card. I'm reposting.

One of my favorite regular trading partners is a fine gent with whom I really don't even work out trades - Robert of $30 a Week Habit.

We just hold cards back for one another and send them after awhile. This time, we happened to do that about the same day - in fact I believe we did it the exact same day.

I'm sorry, but this card is just stellar in every way. You cannot argue.

Robert came out on the short end of our latest exchange. I hope to make that up to him one of these times.

He sent the above Gypsy Queen bronze paper - perhaps my favorite insert set ever. I've been working harder lately to gather the bronze (and green) GQ paper frames and really should come up with a list of needs. If you have any available, please let me know.

Robert hit needs across several other areas - Reds, Tigers, Cubs - fun parallels, etc. and a SUH-WEET surprise I'll save for the end.

Here's the parade of fun.

Yes, Robert sent along the immediately above beauty from the Topps Chrome 2011 set that I'm closing in on. Awesome! What a great surprise to an already surprising package of cards.

Thanks again Robert!

Meanwhile, if anyone has Topps Chrome 2011 or needs some, check out the link and send me a note.

Trade Post and Home Stretch For Chrome

Just two posts ago I reflected on my first year as a card blogger and how I handled my collecting during that year - which officially ends in February. While I'm not giving up entirely on the new (I still get a kick out of opening packs and I want to collect Heritage 2012) I talked about my shift to vintage after going hog wild on new in 2011.

Topps Chrome is one of the new releases I enjoyed a lot in 2011. I originally began the set by chasing favorite players and players on favorite teams, but eventually I found that I was well on my way to collecting this set - especially since I'm not worries about completing all of the various parallels.

My goal was to complete the base set and pick up the parallels of my favorite players.

Reader Brad, currently residing in my old Northside Chicago stomping grounds, just helped me significantly with this quest. His generosity in our newly completed trade also has me adding another mini-goal to this set: Complete the Vintage Chrome insert collection.

In full, Brad sent me more than five dozen Topps Chrome cards, including a nice stack of the Vintage Chrome.  I'm not going to show any specific VC cards that Brad sent, rather I'll show three dupes that I've had for trade.

Below is my full list of wants and cards available for trade. Let me know if you see a match. Also, if you missed my A&G post from last week and need or have available various cards from the set, take a look. Finally, send me a note if you need some 2011 Lineage. I need to update that list today or tomorrow but I have some cards (and need a few).




Thanks again, Brad, for all of the help!

Now, my Topps Chrome 2011 needs/available list.

Base Cards Needed 

58, 100, 108, 112, 122, 128, 146, 149, 161, 173, 174, 176, 190, 191, 199, 220

Base Cards Available
2, 10, 12, 16, 19, 21, 21, 23, 30, 36, 37, 39, 39, 40, 40, 43, 44, 45, 50, 53, 56, 64, 69, 85, 93, 94, 97, 113, 113, 123, 123, 130, 134, 135, 136, 138, 143, 147, 147, 155, 155, 155, 167, 167, 168, 182, 184, 196, 197, 212

Refractors Needed
Reds, Tigers, Starlin Castro, Prince Fielder, Lance Berkman, Eric Hosmer, Jeremy Hellickson

Refractors Available
15, 42, 43, 45, 103, 125, 146, 172, 187, 194, 199

Atomic Refractors Needed
Reds, Tigers, Starlin Castro, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman, Eric Hosmer, Jeremy Hellickson

Atomic Refractors Available 
79, 119, 131, 144, 165, 215

Purple Refractors Needed
Reds, Tigers, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman, Eric Hosmer, Felix Hernandez, Jeremy Hellickson

Purple Refractors Available
45, 117

Orange Refractors Needed
Reds, Tigers, Starlin Castro, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Lance Berkman, Eric Hosmer, Jeremy Hellicksson

Orange Refractors Available
18, 27, 32, 36, 42, 45, 52, 57, 58, 84, 113, 123, 134, 136, 142, 147, 148, 152, 161, 165, 166, 177, 180

Vintage Chrome Needed
VC2-VC8, VC10, VC13, VC16, VC19-21, VC26, VC30-31, VC33, VC36, VC38, VC42-44, VC46-47, VC50

Vintage Chrome Available
VC14, VC17, VC25, VC34, VC49

Reader Brad of Chicago sent me this lovely purple refractor of my favorite Cub. Love it!

Topps Chrome Wants A Home

While I might be a bit late to the party, my inability to steer clear of 2011 baseball cards has continued with the purchase of many packs of the no-longer-latest shiny. I loved it so much I had to go back for more.

Yes, it was a moral imperative.

Honestly, I wasn't sure whether I'd like the product - it basically being the same "look" as the base product. But the feel is top notch, and I'm sure glad I missed the curly-cue problem of last year.

I have a slew of cards available to trade (see below). I also have several cards I need for the set (also listed below). In general, I'd love to deal refractor-for-refractor, orange-for-orange (or purple or whatevs). Obviously I won't sneeze at offers for your sepias and and other rareties!

Not listed below, I'd like to get various parallels of certain players - Reds and Tigers but also favorites such as Starlin Castro, Ryan Braun and Lance Berkman. 

Base Needs:
2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 20, 22, 24, 26, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 47, 53, 54, 55, 61, 63, 66, 67, 69, 72, 73, 75, 83, 85, 92, 93, 94, 98, 99, 100, 106, 108, 109, 114, 116, 117, 118, 122, 124, 125, 127, 128, 132, 133, 135, 139, 141, 149, 150, 152, 162, 164, 170, 171, 173, 174, 178, 179, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 201, 207, 208, 209, 210, 216, 218, 220

Available:
15 (refractor)
21
27 (orange)
30
32 (orange)
36 (orange)
36
39 (x2)
42 (refractor)
44
45
45 (orange)
50
52 (orange)
57 (orange)
59 (orange)
64
79 (atomic)
84 (orange)
103 (refractor)
112 (refractor)
113 (orange)
113
118 (purple #to 499)
119
123 (orange)
123
130
130 (orange)
136 (orange)
136
138
147 (orange)
147 (x2)
148 (orange)
155
161 (orange)
165 (orange)
167
168
176 (orange)
182
196
198 (atomic)
212
215

Ah, thanks for reminding me, Kevin. I really dig the Vintage Chrome cards like the one pictured here. However, I don't dig this particular one so he's up for trade too. I'm also looking to deal: Teixeira, Sabathia and Adrian Gonzalez.

Again, seeking Reds, Tigers or Starlin Castro, Braun or Berkman.