Odds and Ends

Odds and Ends will be for all of the new stuff I acquire that doesn’t get it’s own post.

2021 Topps Heritage Real Ones Autographs – Jose Abreu and Yermin Mercedes – I got these for a very good price, especially the Abreu. Real Ones autos are usually pretty pricey, so I was happy to get a pretty good deal.

   

Speaking of Mercedes, I also picked up a 2021 Topps Chrome Rookie Autographs Refractor, also for a very good price. For all I know, Yermin may never play in the majors again. But I’ll always love him for the joy he brought Sox fans in early 2021.

I wasn’t a big Nick Madrigal fan, but I was still very upset when he (and Codi Heuer) were traded for Craig Kimbrel. I thought that was too high a price even if we got good Kimbrel. Instead we got bad Kimbrel, which made the trade that much worse. I still pick up cool Madrigal autographs when I get the chance. And this 2021 Stadium Club Chrome Autograph is definitely cool.

You probably remember that I got a bunch of items signed by Luis Aparicio at a recent signing in Venezuela. Well, there was a round 2 of that signing. I was still broke from the first one, but I couldn’t resist getting this 2015 Stadium Club card done. I really love Stadium Club cards from the last 10 years or so.

I was able to pick up a few semi-tough autographs from some 70s Latin players. Acosta and Romo were from PastPros, and Torrealba was from a signing with Five Tool Signings.

       

I also picked up two Allen & Ginters I needed. I am still trying to get all White Sox A&G cards signed, though that is now an impossible project to complete. Both of these came from PastPros.

   

And finally, in addition to the cards of his that I got signed through a recent private signing, I also picked up this 2014 Topps Tier One Acclaimed Autographs Albert Belle card.

Albert Belle Private Signing

Over on SCN, Neal Tucker recently held a private signing with Albert Belle. Belle is one of those guys that, every time a signing comes along, I try to get at least a couple of things done. This time, I decided to start a couple of multi-player cards, and get a sweet refractor done.

The cards turned out pretty well, though I wish he had signed the Bonds card diagonally so his whole signature would have fit.

Getting Thomas to complete the Pacific card should be easy, but who knows if I’ll ever get Bonds to complete the Finest card. One can dream!

   

Albert Belle Private Signing

A rare Albert Belle private signing took place recently. Unfortunately, only cards, balls, 8x10s, and SIs were allowed, and no inscriptions were available. I picked out a nice card to get signed. I really want him on some premiums, but I’m still extremely happy to add another Belle card to the collection.

It looks kind of dark in the photo, but it looks amazing in person. I already have the Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura from this set signed, so I will probably try to knock out the remaining cards. There is a nice Magglio rookie in there, as well as Mike Cameron and Mike Caruso cards. Oddly enough, Caruso will likely be the hard one to get. The Thomas and Belle look really nice together.