New Blog Alert and A Mini Contest...You could win free cards from me!

I just noticed a new blog and it's run by Brian (greatest name ever!).  It's called Highly Subjective and Completely Arbitrary (also a great name).

Go check it out and follow him. Welcome him to the community.  And follow him.

Follow him.

Everyone that follows him by Tuesday morning will go into a randomizer for a free 2015 Topps rack pack.  From me.  Just leave a comment here after you've followed him so I'll know.

Just do it.

Go...follow him.

I just want to give him a boost.  Good luck and thanks.

Wasting away

I'm bored and wasting the latter stages of my Saturday at Jiffy Lube getting the oil changed and state inspection for my car. I was scrolling through my phone pics and found the results of an insane Topps Tek purchase I made. We'll just consider this a teaser.

Enjoy the Super Big Game that I can't mention by name without getting an injunction notice from the No Fun League.

USA! USA! USA!

I've fallen head over heels in serious like with anything and everything related to Team USA.  Over the years, I've enjoyed watching the Olympics, both Summer and Winter.  I just didn't really give Team USA much thought outside of Olympic years.

Well, guess what.  Team USA athletes are training, sweating, bleeding and busting their humps around the clock, week in and week out, somewhere in the world, at a variety of sports, every single day of the year.  I'm not just talking about track or basketball or hockey or gymnastics.  I'm talking about skeleton, bobsled, luge, curling and don't forget about a whole bunch of paralympic sports as well.  I love it all and my oldest son who did collect USA baseball stuff has given way to my youngest son who likes the Olympic sports.  I've pretty much devoted my first Twitter account, @bsnider_22 to all things Team USA.  If that's not your cup of tea, it won't offend me if you're following that one and switch over to my more baseball centric @patpdude account.

I've debated starting a blog that focuses on Team USA, but I barely have time to post here, so I don't want to short-change either thing.  Soooo, you might see a Team USA post here from time to time.

Even Wallet Elvis loves Team USA.  I have the pic to prove it.

Wallet Elvis helped me open a couple of packages that came in the mail today.

Here we have Cody Buckel, a Rangers prospect who appeared in the 2009 USA Baseball set.  I love that it's an on-card auto.

Elana Meyers is one of the great Team USA members to follow on Twitter.  She is very responsive and loves her fans.  She is currently sliding as part of a four man (yes, I said man) crew.  She won bronze in 2010 and silver in 2014 so she will be gunning for gold in 2018.

I need to check to see how many of the autos we've picked up from the 2014 set, but the latest is this Torin Yater-Wallace auto.  Torin has won gold twice in the X-Games.  He will be one to watch in 2018.

This is a silver auto of Jazmine Fenlator, #8/30.  Jazmine was one of three pilots for the Women's Bobsled in Sochi and has great potential for success in the 2018 Games.  She's also on Twitter and is a good follow.

I've picked up a bunch of other Team USA cards and am always looking for more so let me know if you have any for trade.

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For--Contest Winner Announced

How did you like that title?

I was going to go with "The Moment You've All Been Waiting All Year For Because There Aren't Any New Cards Out Yet--Contest Winner Announced Before You All Unfollow Me and Never Enter Another Contest On the Interwebs Again!"

I thought that would be a little much so I edited it.  You're welcome.

Wallet Elvis got tired of typing all the entries in for Random.org.  55 people had a total of 476 entries.  25 of those people answered all eleven questions so they earned two bonus entries for a total of 13 each.

I randomized the list 3 times and...

Richard Nebe Jr. is the winner of the 2015 Topps Blaster!  Congrats Richard.

Thanks so much to everyone for participating.

2015 Topps Blaster Contest Update--Speak now or forever hold your peace

I've tallied all the comments for the 2015 Topps Blaster contest.  I know, it took awhile.  I'm in the middle of an office renovation and it's been hectic.  That's my problem, not yours so we'll just skip it.

Here is a look at the spreadsheet showing all the comments for each question.  It's alphabetical so please let me know if it looks like I missed any of your entries.  I double and triple checked, but I don't want to short anyone an entry, especially if it means you get the bonus entries for responding to all the questions.  Check your name on the list and get back to me.  The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Respondent	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Bonus
Adam Kaningher	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Al Kawamoto	x										x
Alex Markle	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
arpsmith	x		x	x	x	x	x				x
Billy Kingsley											x
Brady Umfleet								x
Bru											x
Caitlin Jennings	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x	x
Commishbob	x				x			x	x	x	x
Dan	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Daniel Wilson	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
defgav	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Dion's IP Autos only	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
GCRL	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Greg Zakwin	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Hackenbush	x	x	x	x	x	x
hiflew	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
irondeqouit36	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
J. Meeks	x	x		x			x		x		x
JediJeff						x		x
Jeff Laws	x		x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
John Hazen										x
Jordan	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Josh D.	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x		x
Jupiterhill	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Kevin Papoy	x		x	x	x		x	x	x	x
Laurens					x
Lonestarr	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Marcus	x	x	x	x	x		x	x	x	x
Mark Hoyle	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Matthew Scott	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Mets Cardboard	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Nachos Grande	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Need more Cardboard											x
Nick	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Night Owl	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
P-Town Tom	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
RAZ	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Red Cardboard	x
Richard Nebe Jr.	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Robert	x
Rosenort	x		x	x
Ryan G	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Spankee	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Stealing Home	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Superduperman99	x	x						x		x	x
The Angels in Order	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
The Dutch Card Guy	x		x		x		x	x	x		x
The Junior Junkie	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
The Lost Collector	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Tony L.	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
Wilson	x							x	x		x
Zippy Zappy			x	x	x	x	x	x		x
zman40	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

I can Plank, can you?

Sometimes, a package of cards will show up that just knocks you off your feet.  Maybe it's a boatload of vintage, maybe it's a ton of cards off your wantlists.  Or maybe, just maybe, it's a bunch of hits you weren't expecting.

Enter Bob Walk the Plank, better known as Matthew Scott.

Let's just get down to the pics so I can get on with thanking Mr. Scott.

Go mini or go home I always say.  Or never say.  Whatever.  The first hit up is a 2013 Topps Mini Elvis Andrus jersey.  I know it's just a white swatch and I know we're all over the "hits", but dammit, I'm a team collector, more than a little OCD and a completist.  I need them all!  Next to Elvis, who is definitely related to Wallet Elvis, is a 2007 Fleer Swing Kings Mark Teixeira jersey card.  Mark is one of the players that makes me rue the day I became a team collector, but that's a different post. One you'll be seeing soon.

The next row has my favorite All-Time Ranger, Michael Young.  Michael appears courtesy of the Greatness that is 2007 Masterpieces.  Next to Michael is former Ranger slugger and World Series goat, Nelson Cruz.  Nelson signed this lovely 2011 Allen and Ginter mini in blue.  That's swell.

Our last pairing of the evening is former Ranger Ian Kinsler in spectacular F/X glory and the amazingly low numbered, 20/25, Mitch Moreland Tier 1 auto.  That is awesome!!!

Mark, thanks so much for the unexpected goodies.  I don't know that I can repay that yet, but I'll be looking for you!

Catchin' up with Wallet Elvis

For those of you not following the adventures of Wallet Elvis on Twitter @patpdude, I thought I'd give you a little update on what you've missed the past few days.

Saturday, we went to see American Sniper.  I've heard some detractors talk about Chris Kyle, saying he lied about some things after he was out of the Navy.  It all boils down to that guy was a bad ass American hero who prevented a lot of our boys from getting killed or wounded.  It was a great movie and don't tell anyone, but I snuck Elvis in without a ticket of his own.

Later we bought some gas and we are both really digging these prices.

Sunday, Elvis and I stocked up on goodies for the Cowboys-Packers playoff game.

After the game, I caught Elvis in the office tearing up Packers cards.  He was really pissed about that reversed call.  I mean really pissed.

Elvis was so pissed, he conned me into buying a football repack to find more Packers cards to tear up. Imagine his fury when we didn't find a single Packers card in the box.  I had to leave him alone for a while to cool off.

Earlier this week, Elvis found my stash of mailing envelopes.  These are all the ones I've received that are waiting to be recycled with outbound cards.

Finally, on Wednesday Elvis and I had a lunch meeting high above Dallas.  69 floors high to be exact.  The crazy thing is that I worked on this building back in the summer of 1984 with my dad.  He was in construction for over 45 years and it was two weeks of unloading and hanging sheetrock that led me to the understanding that I was not following in his footsteps.

Elvis is itching (that sounds gross) to get out and have some more adventures.  Check back to see what he does next.

I should have some follow up posts regarding the recent contest I held starting next week and I'll announce a winner on Friday.  Have a great weekend!