I need to acknowledge the generosity of a few friends on the boards

TNP777 · October 5, 2009 3:37PM

I've received several packages over the last few weeks, but I was waiting on the two that arrived today before I posted what was received.

I'll start the show off with this card from a guy who just isn't seen around here as often as I would like, but the Heritage guys know him very well. Over the last several years I've had the pleasure of forming a friendship with Jason (five7teen). We've traded RAOK (random acts of kindness) many times - Jason's always seem to show up at a time when I could really use a pick-me-up. In late August, this showed up - thank you again, Jason!

Next up are a couple of cards from a guy whose generosity has been a first-hand experience for many here. Nick (nam812) is another guy I initially got to know from the Heritage boards, and over the years has been patient and very helpful in answering seemingly endless questions about grading and other card knowledge. It was along this vein that the two cards in question come into play. Back in June I asked Nick about how best to cut cards from a sheet for submission, specifically the 1992 Topps Pre-Production 9-card sheets. At the time he hadn't heard much about them, but gave me some tips about how to cut them. I took them to a local friend who has a print shop and he cut them up for me, but I wasn't satisfied with the end result - told myself I'd pick up another sheet or so and have another try at cutting them better. In the meantime, Nick picked up a couple of them himself, had them graded, and did very well for himself with two of the other players on the sheet, specifically Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken Jr. Turns out he did pretty well with the Brett Butlers, too, although I had no clue about that at the time. Here's how I found out.

One day I'm trolling some of my saved searches, and I see a PSA 10 1992 Topps Pre-Production Sheet Hand Cut Brett Butler up for auction. It's a Pop 1 (no surprise there) - only problem is, the assclown that's auctioning it has put a $500 BIN/BO on it. Well @#$%, there's a card I'll never own, at least until I try submitting one of my own. I didn't even bother making an offer on it - the seller is obviously delusional, or greedy, or stupid, something. Fast forward a couple of weeks - I receive a package from Nick. I open it up and find this:

Well, obviously I'm stoked, and then I immediately have a few thoughts.
First reaction, "Cool, Nick did end up getting a Butler 10 from that Gold pre-production sheet. He totally suckered me with 'the Butler had surface indents.' "
Second reaction, "Wait a sec, this isn't the Gold Winner parallel."
Third reaction, "HA, I think this is the same card that dude on the Bay is asking $500 for! Guess he can kiss that pop 1 description goodbye!"
Fourth reaction, "Holy crap, it's not just the same kind of card, it's the same freakin' card!"

As it turned out, Nick suckered me good but not as good as he intended. If I had fully played into his hands, I would have made an offer, whereupon he would have promptly blocked me from making further bids or offers, which would have royally pissed me off!

Not only do I really appreciate the card, but I totally love the devious planning that went into the gift. If it had worked as planned, it would have been even better, at least from Nick's point of view.

At any rate, here's the first card's cool Golden brother - Nick sent it out and it arrived today. It has the distinction of already having a slot assigned in my master set - it's been missing since the registry was first created.

The last package from today contained the card pictured below. It came courtesy of Barry (yankeeno7) who recently held a contest that I had the dubious distinction of winning. Without going into details, just call me Crapstrodamus from here on out.

Thanks again, Jason, Nick and Barry for the RAOKs and contest winnings!

yf

Geordie