Oh, What's a Mini?

Honestly, I've never heard this song by some reggae guys called "Goldy and Chronixx" before about three minutes ago.  But, can you really go wrong with a song called, "The Mini Song"?

Okay, don't listen to the song before you answer that.  It doesn't exactly get me fired up, except, perhaps, for showing a ton of girls in short skirts...

Fine, I'll admit it -- this is all just another bad introduction to highlight some cards I got in the mail on Monday from two of the most prolific, well-respected bloggers -- and deservedly so in both cases -- around.  And both of them sent me minis.

Starting with the newer minis, which came from Zippy Zappy at Cervin' Up Cards.

I want to start with a confession. When I first came across the Cervin' Up Cards blog, I knew ZZ would be a Yankee fan despite the fact that I had no idea who on God's Green Earth Francisco Cervelli was.  I have not followed the American League at all before this year -- thank you, Baseball Cards! -- and really haven't for quite some time.  I honestly thought that ZZ was actually an old-school Yankees fan and named his blog in honor of the semi-immortal (and still quite alive) Bob Cerv:

No matter.  Cervin' is still a daily read for me to follow ZZ's efforts at through-the-mail autographs, his dalliances with trips to the Staten Island Yankees stadium, and his occasional forays into Star Wars figures opening baseball card packs.  Since ZZ is a fan of the Yankees, though, he bit hook, line, and sinker for that Alex Rodriguez quad relic I got from Museum Collection a few weeks back.  In return, he sent me a bunch of cool, recent cards:

 

ZZ sent me a whole bunch of prospect love first and foremost, but he also added to my player collections for Braun, Hart, and Fielder.  I really like the Peralta with Brevard County -- he's quickly becoming a mainstay in the Brewers rotation.  Also, I'm hopeful that Hunter Morris will produce enough in a half-season or so in Triple-A (and stay healthy) so that the Brewers can jettison the skeletal remains of Lyle Overbay from the roster.

But I promised Minis:

ZZ delivered on that promise with the 2013 version of the Topps Minis.  I didn't have any minis from last year, so these were all greatly appreciated, as was the unlicensed Gallardo in a white pajama suit card from Season Ticket.

Thanks again, Zippy Zappy!  These are excellent, and you can send me Topps Minis -- even of recent vintage -- any time.

Now, the other minis I got were, indeed, the ones that get people very excited.  They were the 1975 variety, and they came to me in a PWE with a return address of Watertown, New York.

Yes, I got my first Night Owl mailer -- and it delivered far better than any mailman could:

I think that Purple Ryan Braun Heritage Refractor was what caused this envelope to come my way initially, but it would not be an envelope from Night Owl without those minis from 1975.  Those immediately went into my Brewers collection, except that the Charlie Moore found its way to my player collection for him.  Indeed, all of those cards -- even the Peter Gabriel Topps card with "Red Rain, Fallin' Down, Red Rain" of Scooter Gennett -- made their way into my collection accordingly.

Thank you, Night Owl, for the fantastic envelope.  Now I have to figure out what to get for the blogger who has everything!

Broken Record Day...eBay and trade...

It's not fair to my acquisitions today to say that it's just another day with a trade and an eBay purchase, but that's what came in the mail today.

First, the purchase.  I am hopeful that the Brewers have solidified their shortstop position by trading for Jean Segura.  Yes, he was an all-star last year, but his second trip through the league was not exactly a resounding success.  So, I'm concerned that I may be chasing cards for a guy that won't make it past year four with the Brewers.  That said, this 2014 Topps Tribute card -- signed on card -- is very pink.  And I really like it:

It is serial number 4 of 45, so at least there is some scarcity as well.  I got it for a decent price too.

The other envelope to find its way to me today came from Staten Island.  In response to my Turkey Red post, prolific trader Zippy Zappy of Cervin' Up Cards reached out to me and offered me a trade for a few of those cards.  Two of the items he offered to me were items that -- no surprise -- I had never heard of but about which ZZ is very knowledgeable and quick to explain: the Japanese Topps Sega Gen cards used to play a baseball video game in Japan.  I read up on them and, after some initial reticence which was satisfied and then some by the available resources on the internet, I agreed to the trade.

I'm very glad I did.  ZZ sent me two of those Sega cards -- Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun, both of which will find their ways into my newly being organized collections for each:

Despite appearances, the corners on these cards are intentionally rounded for inserting into the game console in the arcades.  And these cards are just cool.  Really cool.

But ZZ wasn't done there.  I also got a mid-1980s Topps Traded set surprise in the guise of later pitching coach Ray Burris:

Also making an appearance in his 2013 Topps camouflage bordered card numbered 72/99 is former Brewer and current Royal Norichika Aoki:

Nori is just happy to be shown where home plate is, I think.

Aoki was traded to Kansas City due to the late season emergence of another Brewers outfielder whose name reminded me of the 1980s movie Krush Groove -- of course, I'm talking about Khris Davis -- whose 2011 autographed Bowman caught the ferry off Staten Island:

All in all, I have to admit that I was blown away by the generosity shown once again by a fellow card blogger.  In my short time here as a blogger making trades, I am  overwhelmed consistently by the outpouring of fun, interesting cards in return for a few items that I have.  

I'm still feeling very disorganized and unorganized in my collecting at this point, and I don't know you guys well enough to know what to send to each of you.  I'm getting there, though.  I hope that you all continue offering me trades, and I'll do the same.  And, I am also starting to get a handle on things enough to see when people need what I have -- so I'm going to try to mail stuff out to people unsolicited as well. 

Thanks to all of you for a great first month back in card collecting -- here's to many more years of fun.