Million Card Giveaway |

Archive for Million Card Giveaway

Topps really hoodwinked collectors with the Million Card Giveaway

Posted in Newspaperman with tags baseball, Million Card Giveaway, Phil Rizzuto, Topps on May 31, 2011 by Cardboard Icons

It was billed as a

Million Card Giveaway. Th promotion seemed simple enough: Topps supposedly bought back the cards your mother threw away and stashed them until collectors unlocked the cards via their Web site and then asked for them to be shipped.

The condition of some of these cards have left some collectors less than satisfied. But what’s a bigger sin is that some collectors are not even receiving the cards they unlocked or traded for.

About a month ago I received my initial package from Topps and in my post I noted that one cards, probably the most valuable card, that I unlocked was not shipped. Instead, the shipping list stated that the card was back logged.

Initially, I was curious how a card was backlogged when the premise of the giveaway was the Topps had re-purchased these cards to giveaway. And then about a week ago I started receiving comments and messages regarding the same card I didn’t receive, the 1961 Topps Phil Rizzuto MVP card.

Collectors who contacted me stated that they received a single 1954 Topps common instead of their Rizzuto, no one seemed happy. And then on Tuesday I received my envelope from Topps. I filmed my opening of the envelope as you can see above and received the same thing — a 1954 Topps common. (sidenote: the video sucks because I accidentally covered the microphone while shooting with my iPhone.)

It’s ridiculous that Topps was unable to secure a card that as been out for five decades. And to think that collectors would be OK with a older common is a smack in the face. And to make matter worse MY 1954 Topps Frank House card is creased and looked like someone stepped on it. I’m not sure what condition others collectors have been receiving.

The end results of the MCG go to show that Topps cannot be trusted with its buy back program. Who knows how the current promotion — the Diamond Giveaway — will turn out. Maybe those who unlock real rings will get a nice vintage silver plastic ring with a spider on it instead of their newly created ring holding gemstone.

To be continued …

4 Comments »

Just when I thought it was over …

Posted in Newspaperman with tags Eddie Mathews, MCG, Million Card Giveaway, Phil Rizzuto on December 21, 2010 by Cardboard Icons

As the year comes to a close, so does the Topps Million Card Giveaway. It’s getting to the point where everyone seems to be scrambling to unload quantities for quality. No one is being fooled. Almost no one is biting at the offers of 45 cards from 1980 to present for even a common from 1960.

Personally, it had been weeks since I’d completed a trade on the site. For all intents and purposes, I figured I was done. Of the 37 cards in my portfolio, I’d probably take delivery of a dozen or so and then cut the others lose.

And then came Scooter.

Six months ago I traded my 1956 Topps Bob Friend card for a 1967 Topps Eddie Mathews. My reasoning: A good condition vintage card of a Hall of Famer was better than a vintage semi-star. As a side note, I was able to find a 1956 Topps Bob Friend at my Local Card Shop for like $3.

Since completing that trade, I’ve received numerous offers for my 1967 card featuring an aged and balding Eddie Mathews. None of them enticed me one bit. At least not until I received this offer on Tuesday night:

My Eddie Mathews for their 1961 Phil Rizzuto HI Series.

Was this a joke? Was this some odd reprint that was being offered to me?

Nope. It was a legit offer. And I held my breath as I quickly clicked “accept” for many times in the past I saw offers that intrigued me only to have the MCG site crap out before I could complete the deal.

As you can tell, the trade went through and in a nut shell I turned by 1956 Topps Bob Friend into a sweet 1961 Topps Phil Rizzuto. Holy Cow.

1 Comment »

I like cards and all ….

Posted in Newspaperman with tags baseball, baseball cards Topps, Million Card Giveaway on August 31, 2010 by Cardboard Icons

but quantity is almost never better than quantity. Check out this offer I got last night on the Topps Million Card Giveaway site for my 1953 Topps Bill Hunter rookie.

No need to guess what the other 93 cards that are being offered. Every single one is a common, made after 1993. No joke. Honestly, I didn’t know you could offer that many cards in any given trade.

Anyway, I’ve been lacking on the posts lately. Got some personal stuff to take care of. I’m actually downsizing yet again (second time in four months) leaving my collection in a state of flux. If so inclined, visit my eBay link on the side of the page here to see if you want anything. I’ve got more stuff to post, but the biggest problem if finding time.

My collection will go on. I’m still infatuated with rookie cards, but that appears to be the only thing I’ll be collecting from this point forward. I’ve already posted my Red Sox collection for sale.

1 Comment »

Trading vintage for modern on Topps MCG

Posted in Newspaperman with tags baseball, baseball cards, Hall of fame, Million Card Giveaway, Topps on August 25, 2010 by Cardboard Icons

Let me preface this by saying that I usually would not condone swapping a vintage card for a few modern ones through the Topps Million Card Giveaway site. But what was thrown at me on Tuesday afternoon was a deal I could not refuse.

In exchange for my 1969 Topps Tom Egan (a common), someone offered me seven cards: five from 1982, one from 1984 and one from 2000. Conventional wisdom would have made me click the “decline” button instantly. But the stuff that was thrown at me for this common from 1969 was enough to make me hit “Accept.”

The Egan card is a common from a year that was not so rare, especially given that I have access to all sorts of cards from that era at my local shop. Clearly the person who wanted it had some attachment to it. And honestly, that was the entire point of this giveaway/buy back program. I’m glad I helped someone fulfill their want.

For me, Egan was just another card in the stash, something that might lead to something better down the road. For me, that opportunity presented itself in these cards:

1982 Topps In Action Carlton Fisk.

What an amazing card. The photography alone sold me on this deal. Fisk was a beast behind the plate — and I only got to see him play for the last five years of his career. I imagine if I were a few years younger that Fisk might have been one of my favorite players of all time. I have a soft spot for catchers, not unlike hockey fans who adore goaltenders.

1982 Topps Relievers — Bruce Sutter/ Rollie Fingers

When I traded my 1987 Topps Bert Blyleven away, I was slightly saddened because I was parting ways with a digital copy of his awesome mustache. I can honestly say that the facial hair presented here is 10 times better. Sutter’s monster beard and Rollie’s waxed mustache are awesome on their own, and when presented together, it creates an epic card.

1982 Topps Goose Gossage

This card is just appealing to me. 1982 Topps is totally underrated in terms of design. Love the All-Star design. Only bad thing, is Goose is not sporting his mustache, would have been great considering the previous card.

1982 Topps Joe Niekro

Not the Hall of Fame Niekro, but a Niekro nonetheless. This card screams 80s to me: Astros “rainbow” uniform, quaffed hair, sweet 80s Topps card design.

1982 Topps Harold Baines

Second-year card of a really good designated hitter who is a borderline Hall of Fame candidate. Did you know he was about one year away from collecting his 3,000th hit when he retired in 2001? I didn’t realize he was only 134 shy of that historic mark. Oh, and Baines’ beard was awesome, too.

1984 Topps RBI Leaders f/ Reggie Jackson

C’mon, it’s Reggie Jackson. Definitely not one of his older cards, but this 1984 Topps card is cool nonetheless. Entering 1984, Jackson had 1,435 RBIs. He ended his career with 1,702, which has him 23rd on the All-Time list. Interesting note: Of his 21 seasons in the Big Leagues, Jackson only drove in 100 runs or more in a single season six times.

2000 Topps Fred McGriff

Definitely the throw away card of the bunch, but it is Fred McGriff and not Jeff Reboulet. Did you know that McGriff was drafted and signed by the New York Yankees in 1981? Cool factoid.