New Adds To Marty Brodeur Collection

I recently made a few trades on Sports Card Forum for two Martin Brodeur cards to add to the growing PC. Didn't take much to add these beauties and I'm very happy to have them.

First up, is a In The Game game used Brodeur jersey card. It's my first In The Game game used card. In The Game is pretty hard to come by in the states, at least in NYC it is, so I have never busted this product. I could never understand why the cards come incased in the plastic loader. I'm gonna have to figure a way to store this in the box with the other Brodeurs.

Then I was able to trade for this 2010-11 SPx Winning Combos dual game used jersey card of Brodeur and Roberto Luongo. The card is not numbered, but it's still a pretty nice card. I had originally bid on this card on ebay and lost out at the last second, so to be able to trade for it was pretty cool.

As you can tell, I finally figured out how to use the focus on my Samsung Epic, so this pic is a lot clearer than the other. I might actually go back and re-shoot the pic of the ITG jersey card.

I have more Brodeurs coming in the upcoming days. If anyone has any Brodeurs they're looking to trade, drop me an email at yankeesjetsfan@gmail.com. Thanks.

Autographed Baseball:David Cone

I love to meet sports stars. I love it even more if it's a free signing. Such was the case 2 years ago when former Yankees pitcher, David Cone made an appearance at a Home Depot in the South Bronx, not too far away from Yankee Stadium.

I had got there a little later than I wanted to. Of course, I over slept, so I rushed out of my apt and took the 4 train to 149th St and walked to the new Gateway Mall that just opened up right off the Major Deegan Highway. When I got there, the line was already out the door and inot the parking lot. My heart dropped and I was cursing my sleeping habbits. I still decided to get to the back of the line and try my luck anyway. Lucky for me, the line was moving, even though David hadn't arrived just yet.

Once I was in the store, I could see they had a table set up right next to the entrance, which meant the line wasnt as long as I originally thought it would be. Coney arrived not too long after and began to greet the fans and sign. As I got closer, store employees were handing out free baseballs with the Home Depot logo on the. When I got mine, I saw that the rawhide was a synthetic material and a signature would not hold up well over time. Luckly, I bought a Yankee Stadium Commeritive baseball I wanted Cone to sign for the Yankee Signed Wall I want to have for the future mancave. I glanced up and noticed I was next.

When I got to Cone, he greeted me with a smile and shook my hand. Most athletes are not the most gracious at these store events, but David was an exception. He went out of his way to make small talk with me and laughed when I told him he was the only Met I ever liked. I asked if he would sign the ball with his perfect game inscription and was more than happy to do so and asked if I wanted the free ball signed as well. Sure, why not. My cousin is a huge Yankees fan and would love the auto, so I got him to sign the ball, which I took to Seattle later that year and gave to him. David took a quick pic with me using my blackberry and I left with my new addition to the Yankees PC.

Looking at the ball on the train ride home, I was quite pleased at how it came out. Cone has a great signature and fit the inscription on the ball perfectly. My heart dropped when I looked at the picture, however. The store employee didnt use the auto focus I asked her to use and the pic came out fuzzy. The morale of the story, never let a store employee take a picture for you.

TTM Success 3/8/2011-Mike Emrick

Yesterday, I got another TTM success back. This time, it was from New Jersey Devils announcer, Mike Emrick. "Doc", is also NBC's number one hockey announcer, working their national games as well as the Winter Classic and Stanley Cup Finals. He also works games for Versus.

Emrick has been the Devils announcer twice. He was their first announcer back in the 1982-83 season, leaving soon after and returning to New Jersey after the 92-93 season. He has been an announcer for Fox, ESPN, TNT, CBS, as well as the Flyers and has worked the Olympics. He has won the National Cable Ace Award, has won local Emmy's, the Lester Patrick Throphy and was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Forster Hewitt Memorial Award back in 2008.

"Doc" signed my two customs in 2 weeks time, sent care of the New Jersey Devils in Red ink. Very pleased with the success. Emrick is so good at what he does, that I can't watch a hockey game and enjoy it unless he's calling the game. That's as good as a complement I can give any announcer.

IP Autograph: Jesse Barfield

One of the things I'd like to start showing off in this blog are some of my autographs and tell the stories behind how I aquired them. I love autographs and one of my goals is to try and get as many autos of players who played for the Yankees, Devils, Knicks and Jets. One of the main requirements I do have is that the player must be pictured in the uniform of the team I collect. I do realize it might be hard to do that as the player might have played only a handful of games and not had a card made in that particular uni. Thankfully, I can find a pic on the internet, use photoshop and make a quick custom. Good way to build the collection.

Today, I have this auto from Jesse Barfield to show off. When Barfield came to the Yankees, his offensive skills were diminishing. His best season as a Yankee was in 1990 when, after being traded for Al Leiter (a trade that still doesn't sit well with me), hit 25 home runs.

To me, what defined his brief Yankee career (he retired in 1992), was a play he made against the Indians that summer. I was at the game, sitting on the 3rd base side when the Indians hitter, who's name escapes me, hit a screamer past a diving Mattingly toward rf, geting an easy double. The hitter, feeling a bit froggy decided to go for three, especially after seeing Barfield slip and fall on the grass. Barfield, from his knees, gunned the ball to 3rd and got the runner out by a mile. His bat might have slowed, but the arm still had a few bullets left.

I was able to get this card signed by Barfield outside Yankee Stadium in Sept of '90, I think. Could have been '91, not too sure. The card was given out by the Yankees in a set made by Score. Barfield was a real nice guy and still is. I recently saw him at a card show in Westchester. He was passing me by and I put up my hand and he gave me a high five. Still has some strength cause it hurt like hell as well.

Nice to see some players still appreciate their fans.

First Spring Training TTM Recieved

I finally got back a spring training ttm the other day and it was from Yankees center fielder, Curtis Granderson. I had originally sent him a 2010 Topps Heritage and a custom Yankee Stadium card and they were returned, unsigned. But he did send this card of his own, signed in black sharpie. After consulting with other ttm hounds on sportscardforum.com, it was deemed that this is a legit auto.

The total days it took to recieve back was 10 days. Thanks Curtis for allowing me to add your autograph to my growing Yankees autograph collection.

Post Number 100, A Ruthian Achievement

This post marks my 100th post here. It took me a bit longer than I thought it would, but nonetheless, here I am. I'd like to take this time to thank those who read, comment and follow this blog. As much as I enjoy blogging, its you guy who inspire me to continue with this blog through your own terrific blogs and encouraging comments. I have been blessed to have gotten some positive feedback from some very talented writers here and I can only hope that the next 100 posts here will keep you all coming back to read it.

So, for my 100th post, I wanted to share an autograph that is the centerpiece of my autograph collection. For this story, I have to take you back a few years to 2007. I went to the Westchester Card Show. I had gotten a pretty good return on my taxes and was looking to spend. I believe that day, Mike Myers (the pitcher, not the actor or serial killer) and Scott Proctor were signing. I needed both for my Yankee baseball collection, so I decided to get them. While perusing the tables, I noticed a dealer selling 2005 Upper Deck Baseball tins for 25.00 a piece. I bought two, hoping for some Yankee legends to add to the PC. I walked to the back of the line and waited for the signing to begin. While there, I decided to open the tins. Now, when I go to a card show and buy any boxes, I usually wait till I get home in case of a huge pull. I wouldn't want to lose it during the day.

I open the first tin and lo and behold, I get a Yogi Berra autographed card. Sweet! Always nice to get a Yogi auto. I also pulled a Brooks Robinson auto, which was weird as I thought it was one hit per tin. The second tin produced nothing. Nice Babe Ruth insert though, me being the insert loving SOB that I am. Oh well, I thought. I hit with two autos on the first tin, I guess I can't complain. I glanced over the cards from the second tin again, passing the Ruth insert again when it it me. Why is there a facsmile auto on it? I went back and looked closer at it and realized something. This was no insert. It dawned on me that I just hit the pull of a lifetime. A 1/1 Babe Ruth cut autograph. Normally, I like to think I do act with a bit of decorum, but I allowed myself a loud HOLY S#!t!!! People looked at me like I was a weirdo. Then someone glanced over my shoulder and yelled out "this guy just pulled a Ruth auto!" People on the line offered their congradulations and went about their business.

As side from letting a father and son look and hold the card, I jumped off the line and bought a magnetic protector and put the card away. This baby was going to be kept in the most prestine condition I could keep it in. As soon as I got home, I took a picture of it and put it away in the family safe deposit box where it still resides.

I have had offers for the card, but I declined all of them. Some of my friends have told me to sell as it would help me financially, but no. As a Yankee collector, I know I would never be able to afford another at a later date and plus my Yankees collection looks really awesome with it in there. I guess I would sell it later if I need the money for retirement or if I ever kids and need to put one through college. But if I had my choice, that baby will be buried with me.

So, for the curious, I show you, my prized possessionThis card rules all others that came before it. Long live the cut!

2010-11 SPx Winning Trios Devils Triple Jersey #'ed to 50

Been a while since I last posted. Been working extra hours and taking care of some personal stuff. A lot has happened since I last posted. Knicks getting Carmelo Anthony (Yey) and the baseball world losing Duke Snider (Boo). Heck, I only sent out 10 Spring Training autograph requests this year, down from the 20-30 I usually get out. It's March now and lately the only thing that's been on my mind is baseball and my beloved New York Yankees. That's why I'm showing off a hockey card.

Got this beauty in a trade on sportscardforum.com. It's a 2010-2011 SPx Winning Trios triple game used jersey card of Martin Brodeur, Patrik Elias and former Devils Captain Jamie Langenbrunner. The card is numbered to 50 and I'm pleased to be able to added to my Martin Brodeur PC.

I have a few other trades hopefully coming back soon. For my 100th post, I will show off my prized possession.