I'm Baaaack!

Vacation was great!

Except for the stomach virus.

And my wife being sick the whole week.

But, hey, I wasn't at work so that's a plus. I busted a few packs of 2010 Heritage (ok, a few packs and TWO blasters) and I'll show the highlights soon. I redeemed a few more code cards from the highly addictive Topps MCG. I completed three trades of note on the site as well and that's going to be the focus of my return to the blogosphere. Yea, I said it, B.L.O.G.O.S.P.H.E.R.E.

First up, a couple of MCG trades I completed during the week.

I redeemed this card early on:

Someone really wanted/needed this 1966 Dick Stuart, because they offered me this for it:

I didn't think about that trade too long. A couple of days later, somebody came along who wanted the Marichal card and offered me this:

I've always liked Brooks Robinson so I took it and look forward to holding this 1973 edition in my hands....someday. I've already had a couple of offers for this one, but it's going to take a nice offer to pry this one away.

Another card I was fortunate enough to "unlock" early on was this one:

I didn't really have any intention of trading this 1954 Frank Baumholtz. It's not like Frank is a HOF'er, but it represented my first and only 1954 card, even if it is in some Topps storage facility. Well, someone offered me a 1958 and 1959 card for it. Before I even really had time to think about it, the offer was rescinded. No big deal I thought. Then the same person offered me this deal:

1971 Frank Tepedino

1969 Chuck Cottier

1959 Roy McMillan

1959 Tito Francona

I deliberated on it for awhile and then started talking myself into how great the '54 Baumholtz card was....that great old Cubbie logo and it was a '54 for goodness sakes! Well, like the child I am, I was unable to decide without a little help. I put out a couple of emails to people I trust in the vintage arena and with a slight clubbing (just kidding), I realized trading one vintage card of a guy I've never heard of for four vintage cards of guys I've never heard of was a good deal.

I put out about 40 or 50 trade offers of my own in the last couple of weeks and the biggest problem with it seems to be that people aren't checking their accounts. I'm sure many people have lives and can't check in frequently, but seeing that trade offer die on the vine is a little frustrating. That's why I made so many offers last week and will continue to do so. I don't think I'll be sending away for the cards I want until later.

How about you? Have you "ordered" your cards yet or are you waiting?