Another 2011 Topps Chrome Refractor Added to the Collection

A few weeks ago this card appeared on eBay for way more than I was willing to pay. There was no "Best Offer" option on the card but I decided to add it to my watch list to see if it would eventually drop in price. A few days later the seller sent me an offer that knocked $25 dollars off but that was still more than I was willing to pay. Finally, last Friday, the seller dropped the price to $60 and I was happy to pay that price for one of the three refractors I'm missing from this project. I'm still waiting for it to arrive in the mail but, that said, I'm happy that this is finally in my collection. Now I just need to get the Purple and Gold refractors to wrap up this project.

2001 Fleer Legacy Sean Casey Autographed Hat

When I found out years ago that Fleer released a product in 2001 called  Fleer Legacy that came with an autographed fitted hat, I knew I had to track down one of these for my collection. There are two Reds players that are included in the checklist: Johnny Bench and Sean Casey. I already have a lot of Bench autographs in my collection so I decided to chase after the Mayor. I was finally able to track one down this week for a decent price and now I'm just waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I like the black hats the team used in the late 90s and I do wish the club would wear them every now and then. I think it'll complement my autographed Tony Perez hat nicely.

Making Progress of a Pre-War Set

I haven't spent much time the past few years trying to complete some of my older Reds team sets, mainly due to the price of the cards. I still prefer vintage over modern cards but when you're talking about shelling out a hundred dollars or more on a card that's not a hall of famer then it becomes a hard pill to swallow. I haven't been able to find a copy of a 1941 Play Ball Johnny Vander Meer for less than $100. Perhaps it's due to the fact that it's a high number card in a pre-war set or that it's his rookie card. I knew that out of the four Reds cards that comprise this set, Vander Meer would be the toughest to track down. Last week I stumbled across a listing on eBay for this copy that, I feel, is in decent shape for its age. No creasing on this card and it was for $50. I finally pulled the trigger and bought it today so now I just have to wait for it to show up within the next week to place it in the binder. I'm glad to finally have a card of the only player in major league history to throw back-to-back no hitters. I'm hopeful that by the end of the year I'll be able to add the Derringer and McCormick to my collection.