Check Out My Cards From comc.com

(Please note that this is not a paid testimonial to Check Out My Cards' website...although if you guys do want to send a check my way, send me an e-mail.)

I knew it existed. I knew they had a lot of cards that I needed. Yet, I never had thought of actually buying from Check Out My Cards .com (or comc.com).

Maybe it was because I thought you had to be a member to buy cards from their site (you don't). Maybe it was because I thought you had to sell cards on the site to buy cards from their site (you don't). Whatever it was, I thought I wasn't able to purchase cards from comc.com.

So what made me decide to finally take the plunge? I had read somewhere (I don't know if it was on twitter, facebook, a message board, something) that they had just re-designed their site. So I was curious and looked. I'm sure there were massive changes to the website's design (at least the logo was different). But then I started looking at cards. Then, I became curious about some of the cards that I had on my want list and decided to look for them on the site. Lo and behold, there they were...and the prices were kind of reasonable. Oh, what's this, a cart? Why not. So I started placing cards I wanted into this virtual shopping cart.

After thirty minutes, I had 35 cards in my cart and the total price started to climb higher. I decided to stop there and "check out." They take PayPal? Great. And just like that, I became a customer of comc.com.

So what exactly did I buy?

Let's start with:

• Fifteen 2010 Target Red Backs (2) and Walmart Blue Backs (13)

• Six 2009 Topps Hobby Factory Exclusive Rookie Cards (the other four are now added onto the wantlist) that would have otherwise never see the light of day...EVER!!!

• The last five 2009 Topps MLB Legends SP cards. I now have all 61 SP'd cards from the 2009 set.

• Two 2009 Topps Target Exclusive Legends of the Game Cards (now just need one more...the Nolan Ryan #LLG25 to complete this entire series).

• Four 2012 Topps MLB SP cards. Just missing the DiMaggio, these are probably the only 2012 Topps SP cards I want...other than the Pujols and Reyes cards from Series 1 and the first seven Update Series SSP's.

• One 2011 Topps Sticker of Jacoby Ellsbury (need four more)

• One 2010 Topps SP Hank Greenberg #1b. I would have liked to buy more, but the price was getting too high. This was the last card I bought last week.

• I lied. I finally have my Balut card from 2012 Topps Allen & Ginter.

Great haul. It really made a dent in my wantlist. And now that I know I have other options, I think I'll start saving up for some other cards that have been taking up space on the sidebar. We'll see. To the fine people at COMC, thank you very much.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

2009 Topps Series 2 Legends of the Game Timeline

I don't have all the Target and Walmart exclusive cards yet (I still need tons, see my want list...I'd rather trade than buy at this point...any help please???), but I do have the complete series 2 set of Legends of the Game cards, so I can do a timeline based on them.

The difference between the 25 cards from series 1 and the 25 cards from series 2 is that while the S1 cards utilized Topps deal with CMG players (along with a few more recent legends like Ripken and Ryan), S2 cards featured 12 "Legendary players" and 13 active "legends" (active as of the end of the 2008 season). The timeline on the back of the 25 cards in the second series does not link to the series 1 list (it starts with Marichal in 1960 as you will soon see). And, if that doesn't make it more complicated, the numbering system does not continue from Series 1 (which ended at LG25), as the "card number" utilizes the player's initials after the "LG-." To bypass this little "problem," I placed each of the cards in the set in order by the year highlighted on each card (as you will soon see below).

Without further ado, here is the timeline that links the 25 cards from the 2009 Topps Legends of the Game series 2 set together (card "numbers" will be shown after the entry if it appeared on the card):

1960 - Juan Marichal MLB Debut (LG-JM)
1962 - Juan Marichal 1st MLB All-Star Game
1964 - Brooks Robinson AL MVP (LG-BR)
1966 - Frank Robinson Triple Crown (LG-FR)
1968 - Juan Marichal 26 Wins
1969 - Frank Robinson .300-30-100 (at this point, the timeline breaks here as the next card has a totally new entry)
1970 - Brooks Robinson World Series Champion
1971 - Frank Robinson MLB All-Star Game MVP
1972 - Steve Carlton NL Cy Young (LG-SC)
1973 - Jim Palmer AL Cy Young (LG-JP)
1974 - Robin Yount MLB Debut
1975 - Brooks Robinson 15th Gold Glove (at ths point, the timeline breaks again as the next card has a totally new entry)
1975 - Jim Palmer AL Cy Young
1976 - Jim Palmer AL Cy Young
1977 - Reggie Jackson World Series MVP (LG-RJ)
1978 - Reggie Jackson World Series Champion
1979 - Paul Molitor Breakout Year (LG-PM)
1980 - Reggie Jackson Silver Slugger
1980 - Mike Schmidt World Series Champion (LG-MS)
1981 - Tony Gwynn Drafted by Padres (LG-TG)
1982 - Steve Carlton 4th NL Cy Young
1982 - Robin Yount AL MVP (LG-RY)
1982 - Paul Molitor Leads Brewers to WS
1983 - Steve Carlton 300th Win
1984 - Ryne Sandberg NL MVP (LG-RS)
1985 - Wade Boggs 1st MLB All-Star Game (LG-WB)
1986 - Mike Schmidt 3rd NL MVP
1987 - Wade Boggs .363-24-89 (at this point, the timeline takes another break here as we now begin with the "active" legends)
1990 - Ryne Sandberg .306-40-10 (error, Ryno had 100 RBI's in 1990)
1990 - Greg Maddux 1st Gold Glove
1990 - Randy Johnson 1st No-Hitter (LG-RJO)
1991 - Tom Glavine 1st Cy Young (LG-TGL)
1991 - Ryne Sandberg 9th Gold Glove
1992 - Robin Yount 3000th Hit
1992 - Tom Glavine 2nd Straight ASG Start
1993 - Greg Maddux 1st ERA Title (LG-GM)
1993 - Frank Thomas AL MVP
1994 - Tony Gwynn .394 AVG
1994 - Frank Thomas AL MVP (LG-FT)
1995 - Chipper Jones 1st Full Season
1995 - Greg Maddux 4th NL Cy Young
1995 - Trevor Hoffman 1st of 13 30-SV Seasons (LG-TH)
1996 - John Smoltz Cy Young
1996 - Mariano Rivera World Series Champion
1998 - Vladimir Guerrero 1st Full Season (LG-VG)
1998 - Manny Ramirez Career High HR & RBI
1998 - Trevor Hoffman 53 Saves (at this point, the timeline breaks again as the next card has a totally new entry)
1999 - Tony Gwynn 3000th Hit
1999 - Chipper Jones NL MVP
1999 - Mariano Rivera World Series Champion (LG-MR)
2000 - Chipper Jones Silver Slugger (LG-CJ)
2001 - Ichiro Suzuki AL Rookie of the Year (LG-IS)
2001 - Albert Pujols NL Rookie of the Year
2001 - Randy Johnson World Series MVP (at this point, the timeline breaks again as the next card has a totally new entry)
2002 - Vladimir Guerrero 206 H, 40 SB
2002 - Randy Johnson 5th Cy Young
2002 - John Smoltz Saves Record (LG-JS)
2003 - Alex Rodriguez 300th HR
2003 - Albert Pujols Silver Slugger (at this point, the timeline breaks again as the next card has a totally new entry)
2004 - Ichiro Suzuki Hits Record
2004 - Vladimir Guerrero AL MVP
2004 - Manny Ramirez World Series MVP (LG-MRA)
2005 - Alex Rodriguez 400th HR
2005 - John Smoltz Postseason Wins Record (at this point, the timeline breaks again as the next card has a totally new entry)
2006 - Mariano Rivera 400th Save
2006 - Trevor Hoffman All-Time Saves Record
2006 - Albert Pujols Leads NL in HR & RBI (LG-AP)
2007 - Alex Rodriguez 500th HR (LG-AR)
2007 - Tom Glavine 300th Win
2008 - Manny Ramirez 500th HR

I didn't realize that there were so many breaks in the timeline. All together, there are 70 highlights within this timeline. It is a shame, though that the timeline couldn't be held together as there are a number of breaks (compared with the first timeline where it was almost fluid).

When I do get the remaining cards I need from the Walmart and Target sets, I will update the first timeline with the new highlights. And it's a safe bet that when the U & H set arrives that we'll do the same thing here. It was fun to go through almost 50 years of baseball history in 25 cards. Can't wait for U & H.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama

2009 Topps Series I Legends of the Game Timeline

I received the final three Target cards I needed (Ruth, Sisler, Munson) last night. That means I now have 45 of these Legends of the Game insert cards (25 cards from the regular set, 10 from the Walmart set, and 10 Target from the Target set). Going through them all, I have enough to present the timeline used for the 2009 Topps Series I Legends of the Game cards.

Here is the timeline, and where appropriate, the card number the information was gathered. Any card numbered LG# is from the regular insert set, LLP# is from the Walmart set, LLG# is from the Target set):

1871 - 1st Professional Baseball Game
1876 - National League Created
1890 - Cy Young MLB Debut (LG1)
1897 - Honus Wagner .338 in Rookie Year (LG2)
1901 - Cy Young Pitching Triple Crown
1901 - Christy Mathewson Wins 20 G as a Rookie
1905 - Christy Mathewson Pitching Triple Crown
1905 - Ty Cobb Doubles in First AB (LG4)
1907 - Walter Johnson 8/2 First Start (LG5)
1907 - Tris Speaker MLB Debut
1909 - Honus Wagner Wins 7th Batting Title (LLG4)
1910 - Cy Young 500th Win (LLP6)
1911 - Ty Cobb 1st MLB MVP (LLP5)
1912 - Tris Speaker Leads Boston to World Series Win (LG6)
1913 - Walter Johnson Pitching Triple Crown
1914 - Babe Ruth Wins MLB Debut (LG7)
1915 - George Sisler 4 Wins as LHP (LLG10)
1915 - Rogers Hornsby 1st Full Season
1920 - George Sisler Record 257 Hits (LG8)
1920 - Rogers Hornsby 1st Batting Title
1920 - Tris Speaker Manages Indians to World Series Win
1922 - George Sisler 41 Game Hitting Streak
1923 - Babe Ruth AL MVP (LLG3)
1924 - Rogers Hornsby Batted .424 (LG9)
1925 - Jimmie Foxx MLB Debut (LG10)
1925 - Lou Gehrig Becomes Full-Time Player (LLG5)
1926 - Mel Ott MLB Debut (LG12)
1926 - Walter Johnson 400th Win (LLP8)
1932 - Jimmie Foxx 58 HR
1934 - Lou Gehrig Wins Triple Crown (LG11)
1936 - Christy Mathewson 1st HOF Class (LG3)
1936 - Ty Cobb 1st HOF Class
1937 - Johnny Mize Bats Career High .364 (LG14)
1939 - Lou Gehrig Luckiest Man Speech
1939 - Ted Williams 31 HR 145 RBI (LG17)
1940 - Johnny Mize 425-Foot HR into Pacific
1941 - Pee Wee Reese 1st Full Season (LG15)
1941 - Ted Williams Batted .406 (LLP1)
1942 - Mel Ott 42 HR 151 RBI
1945 - Jimmy Foxx Retires (LLP10)
1947 - Jackie Robinson Breaks Color Barrier (LG13)
1947 - Mel Ott Retires
1948 - Babe Ruth Yankees Retire #3 (LLP3)
1949 - Jackie Robinson NL MVP (LLG2)
1949 - Pee Wee Reese Leads NL in Runs
1949 - Roy Campanella 1st-Time All-Star (LG16)
1951 - Mickey Mantle MLB Debut (LG20)
1953 - Roy Campanella Wins Second MVP (LLP4)
1955 - Pee Wee Reese Beats Yankees in World Series
1955 - Roberto Clemente Rookie Season (LG21)
1957 - Roger Maris First Game
1959 - Bob Gibson CG SHO as Rookie
1960 - Ted Williams Final Season (LLG1)
1961 - Carl Yastrzemski 21-Yeaer Old Rookie
1961 - Mickey Mantle 54 HR (LLG7)
1961 - Roger Maris Breaks HR Record (LG18)
1966 - Nolan Ryan 2nd Youngest Player in NL (LLG6 & LG24*)
1966 - Roberto Clemente NL MVP
1967 - Carl Yastrzemski AL MVP (LG23)
1968 - Bob Gibson NL MVP & Cy Young Winner (LG19)
1968 - Roger Maris Retires
1969 - Mickey Mantle Yankees Retire #7 (LLP7)
1970 - Thurman Munson AL Rookie of the Year (LG22)
1972 - Roy Campanella Dodgers Retire #39
1973 - Nolan Ryan K's 383 Batters
1973 - Roberto Clemente Inducted into HOF (LLP9)
1975 - Bob Gibson Retires (LLP2)
1976 - Thurman Munson Leads NYY to World Series (LLG8)
1979 - Thurman Munson NYY Captain Passes Away
1981 - Cal Ripken Jr. MLB Debut (LG25)
1983 - Carl Yastrzemski Last Game at Fenway
1993 - Nolan Ryan Retires
1995 - Cal Ripken Jr. Breaks Consecutive Games Streak (LLG9)
1997 - Jackie Robinson MLB Retires #42
2001 - Cal Ripken Jr. Retires

*Nolan Ryan's two cards both highlight the same event. Also, in the timelines on the cards, Maris card (LG18) has the entries of Clemente and Yastrzemski's MVPs, but no Ryan entry that was to go between them. On Yaz's card (LG23), Ryan's entry comes before Clemente's MVP win. On both of Ryan's cards (LLG6 & LG24), his entry is between Clemente and Yaz.

That's 75 historic events within 45 cards. Now I can only imagine that the inserts found in the Cereal sets (the gold and platinum refractors) as well as the numbered LotG cards (I think #'d to 599 for the "platinum" and #'d to 999 for the "gold") probably has the other highlights not featured within the cards I have on them. But other than the Ryan entries, I was impressed that Topps stuck to the timeline that they presented.

Now I can't wait for Series 2. And for the record, Series 2 of this insert set features fifteen more retired legends as well as ten active players who are deemed "Legends in the Making." Barring a change in checklists (as it is always subject to change), the 25 subjects to be featured in series 2 include:

• Juan Marichal
• Steve Carlton
• Tony Gwynn
• Reggie Jackson
• Brooks Robinson
• Frank Robinson
• Tom Glavine
• Mike Schmidt
• Greg Maddux
• Wade Boggs
• John Smoltz
• Ryne Sandberg
• Jim Palmer
• Robin Yount
• Paul Molitor
• Alex Rodriguez
• Mariano Rivera
• Albert Pujols
• Trevor Hoffman
• Vladimir Guerrero
• Chipper Jones
• Frank Thomas
• Randy Johnson
• Manny Ramirez
• Ichiro

Now I'm looking forward to Series 2. When I get all the cards from this set, I'll do the timeline again.

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama