Update Chrome - The Easy Way

I see you blogosphere, I watched with awe as you all opened box after box of the shiny fancy Topps Update Holiday Boxes with the 2 exclusive Chrome Update packs. But I couldn't do it, I even went to Target and had one in my hands but settled for a rack pack of Update instead. I went the 2015 route and went to eBay and for $4 total I got both Braves base cards from the set.

Shelby Miller - he of terrible luck and many trade rumors. The Royals haven't even been Champs for a month and the Braves have traded 2 starters from last years lineup. Shelby and Julio Teheran are apparently being discussed with the Cubs in regards to a young bat hopefully that means Soler or Baez if the right package can be put together. We'll see the Braves new regime sure loves making trades.

Speaking of trades Folty here was just acquired last offseason for Evan Gattis.Hopefully this kid can harness his easy 96mph fastball and be the next deGrom or Synndegard.

Picked up this one /499 for $3 of the Braves 2015 2nd round pick.

Love how American this card is of 2015 1st round pick and high school teammates with Lucas Herbert. Pretty crazy...

Here's a link to the article with a quote from the story.

''
The Braves did indeed pull the trigger on drafting both Herbert and Allard, an effective pitcher-catcher combo and among the more sought-after high school prospects for their positions in this year’s draft. Both players had commitments to UCLA but eagerly await their chance to sign their big league contracts once they graduate.

''

What have I done!? This huge card is awesome if you don't have any of these new fangled giant cards I don't know what to tell you other than that needs to change.

Sorry have to make it Extra Large because it's another huge card, I grabbed these 2 together for $6 both #/99.

My first new hockey cards of the year. hopefully they have some UD S1 at the card show tomorrow. Not a huge fan of the huge borders in this set but hey it's new Lightning cards.

My first 2015 Valor cards, these are pretty good looking like the mysterious tree thing in the background and as always i'm a sucker for filtered/arty cards. 

My first framed rookie from '15 GK

I pulled a pretty awesome framed card in my GK pack but it got shipped off last week. Party on Wayne....

Chopped Up: Brick O' Cards

Steve over at The Card Chop told me he had some Braves to send me when he got back from vacation. A couple weeks later this showed up in my mailbox:

There were definitely cards in here for my collection, a ton of Braves I didn't have. 

I have mentioned on this blog before that I don't have very many cards from before I was born (1988) and posted about the few recent vintage purchases I have made to start collecting older cards.  Steve jump started that big time as seen above in the main picture. 

1960 Carl Willey. I had one '60 Topps so this doubled my collection. The 1958 Rookie of the Year

My first '61 Topps - Mr. Nottebart would go on to pitch to a 3.65 ERA over a 9 year career including a stop as a Houston Colt .45. Speaking of which I need to get some of  those old .45's cards

Another first - '64 Felipe in excellent condition I'll add

1971 Batting Leaders, gotta love the black borders.

Batting Average  s c a p y 1. Carty (ATL) .366 2. Torre (STL) .325 3. Sanguillen (PIT) .325 4. Williams (CHC) .322 5. Parker (LAD) .319 6. Gaston (SDP) .318 7. Perez (CIN) .317 8. Clemente (PIT) **.352 9. Rose (CIN) .316 10. Tolan (CIN) .316

On-Base%  s c a p y 1. Carty (ATL) .454 2. McCovey (SFG) .444 3. Dietz (SFG) .426 4. Carbo (CIN) **.454 5. Hickman (CHC) .419 6. Perez (CIN) .401 7. Grabarkewitz (LAD) .399 8. Torre (STL) .398 9. Staub (MON) .394 10. Wynn (HOU) .394

Slugging %  s c a p y 1. McCovey (SFG) .612 2. Perez (CIN) .589 3. Bench (CIN) .587 4. Williams (CHC) .586 5. Carty (ATL) .584 6. Hickman (CHC) .582 7. Aaron (ATL) .574 8. Allen (STL) .560 9. Cepeda (ATL) .543 10. Gaston (SDP) .543

Have a year Rico (stats from baseball-reference.com)

Yes those are '75 Topps minis you see in the big picture up top. These are awesome, crazy colors and the great Braves throwbacks in old Fulton County Stadium, well at least the Robinson is. 

Another mini this one featuring a Hall of Famer.

I've mentioned Topps overuse of the gray Niekro before but this one seems appropriate.

Steve sent plenty of newer cards as well but there's so many good one i'm going to split it up by era. Thanks so much Steve enjoy your summer hiatus I will be working on a return package for you.