mail call

i've received a couple of envelopes from longtime bloggers and trade partners recently. first, jon of penny sleeves fame reached out (again!) asking if i was in need of a particular card. this time, it was a signed card that carl erskine would send out to fans. i said yes, and soon this card was in my mailbox.

i told jon that i thought is was a different hue than the one that i already had, but it turned out i was confusing the ink color with the filter of the image. here's the one that oisk sent me back in 2009

the backs are the same as well. 

thanks jon - i am happy to have another example of this card in my collection, and please let me (and the rest of the blogging community) know if there is anything specific you are chasing these days.

the other envelope came from rod of padrographs, who seemingly continues to rip packs and then distribute the cards among his trading partners. he sent me some mega box mojo refractors of prospects inserts from 2023 bowman chrome.  

brooks lee

is a name i recognized, but yasser mercedes and hendry chivilli

are a couple that i haven't heard of.  it looks like mercedes is playing for the twins in fort myers, and chivilli has been converted from an infielder to a pitcher although he doesn't have any 2026 stats yet. they are 21 and 20, respectively, so perhaps they will advance to the show in the future.

the other card rod sent was a nice black & white parallel of luke keaschall's 2025 topps stadium club card

you can't contain the flow!

thanks jon and rod - the cards and thoughtfulness are much appreciated!