Nats From 2015 Group Box Break Plus Bonus Strive Cards

This is an ancient post that has been sitting in my draft queue for several years. I was holding off on it because I wanted to post scans of the cards. Well in recent months I have been trying to declutter my apartment and trying to get my card collection in a better more organized state. That means that most of sections of cards from mail days have been moved around and are in some kind of pre-sort mode (or actually added to their respective places in the collection) and are not available to be scanned at publishing time. Plus I really need to declutter my draft queue. So there will be no card scans of this post. 

If this post were on my regular card blog it would be part of my upcoming Maildazed From The Pazt series. 

Monday 14 September 2015
I got a package of cards from 5TooSweet’s (Abel) TCC Baseball Group Box Break. [NOTE: Sadly Able passed away a few years back, I forget the cause may have been cancer] Anyway I bought my standard homie team Nationals and bought a bonus discount team Twins. It was mostly just my Nationals I might have asked not to send Twins base and they didn't get any hits. I’ll only mention a team if it is not a Nat card.

2015 Topps Baseball Chrome:
8 Denard Span
23 Stephen Strasburg
59 Kevin Kiermaier Rays (random)
81 Bryce Harper
98 Max Scherzer - minor refractor
99 Doug Fister
FUTURE STARS FSC-07 Michael Taylor

2015 Topps Stadium Club Baseball:
42 Jordan Zimmermann
137 Rondell White Expos
142 Anthony Rendon
202 Stephen Strasburg
222 Tanner Roark
251 Jayson Werth
296 Max Scherzer
CONTACT SHEET CS-22 Bryce Harper
LUMINOUS TRIUMVIRATE Die-Cut T-6A Bryce Harper

2015 Topps Allen & Ginter:
28 Jayson Werth
101 Stephen Strasburg
106 Yunel Escobar
235 Michael Taylor RC
266 Drew Storen
303 Denard Span
MINI: A World Beneath Our Feet Bug-8 Death’s Head Hawkmoth
STARTING POINTS: SP-97 Bryce Harper

BONUS CARDS:
Cards for my struggling goal “Strive For ‘65”* set build: 7 Cards
1965 Topps Baseball:
26 Bobby Knoop Angels
32 Herman Franks MGR Giants
48 Claude Raymond Houston Colt 45’s
53 Dick McAuliffe Tigers
72 Tony Gonzalez Phillies
96 Sonny Siebert Indians
97 Pedro Gonzalez Yankees

* I haven't mentioned these 1965 cards on my regular blog yet. Eventually I guess they will be when I have completed the album page they are stored in. I'm behind in doing that as well. I have an upcoming post on my regular card blog about being unorganized.

Nationals mentioned in this post:
Yunel Escobar
Doug Fister
Bryce Harper
Anthony Rendon
Tanner Roark
Max Scherzer
Denard Span
Stephen Strasburg
Drew Storen
Michael Taylor
Jayson Werth
Jordan Zimmermann

Juan Soto Home Run Derby 2022

This month's card celebrates one of the last highlights of Juan Soto's Nats career. His 2022 Home Run Derby Win. Juan is the second Nat to win this event. The previous Nat winner was Bryce Harper the 2018 Home Run Derby winner when Nationals Stadium was the host park. Looking back on my past posts I thought I had missed posting about that, however it was during a time when I was not tagging labels to my posts due to format changes that Blogger had made. I eventually figured out how to do labels for the new format/template. I thought I had the card even though I don't seem to have it on my TCDB collection list.

Here is Bryce's Home Run Derby Champ Card:

2018 Topps Now Baseball: 467 Bryce Harper Washington Nationals

2018 T-Mobile Home Run Derby Champion at Home Ballpark

Anyway here is the Juan Soto 2002 Topps Now card to celebrate his Home Run Derby Win.

2022 Topps Now Baseball: 567 Juan Soto Washington Nationals

2022 T-Mobile Home Run Derby Champion

A Trio Of Curly W Cards From A Sportlots Splurge (and Ebay).

 From Sportlots I recently went on a Strive For '65 Splurge and bought cards from other years including 2 Curly W cards in this post of 3 cards. The third card I got from Ebay I'll start with that one.

The first card is from Topps Now that I got from Ebay. It is 2022 Topps Now Baseball 73 Joan Adon First Career Win with 6.1 Scoreless Innings. Of course by the time I got this card Adon was Assigned to the Minors (Rochester Red Wings) the day before.

2022 Topps Now Baseball 72 Joan Adon WashingtonNationals

Next we have a card that finishes my 2022 Topps Baseball Series 1 Washington Nationals Team Set (minus the 2 Juan Soto photo variant SPs that I might never get) 2022 Topps Baseball 59 NL Batting Average Leaders: Trea Turner Dodgers, Juan Soto Nationals and Bryce Harper Phillies. 

2022 Topps Baseball 59 NL Batting Average Leaders:

Trea Turner Los Angeles Dodgers, Juan Soto Washington Nationals and Bryce Harper Philadelphia Phillies

Now on to the hunt for the Series 2 cards. I have recently gotten the Series 2 base team cards only need the Stephen Strasburg photo variant SP (in t-shirt). I am currently bidding in an Ebay auction for it, so far I'm the only bidder at the opening 99¢ bid. There is at least one other auction for another copy that started at the same price. UPDATE: The bidding on Strasburg t-shirt card is now up to 4 bids at $5.50. I'm still "Winning" it but it ends in 2 days Sunday 26 Jun at 1:46 pm PDT.

Finally we have a nice cool vintage piece. It is actually a sticker/decal not a card from 1961. This beauty is from the Team Logo Decals insert set from 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats Set. There is No Number it is The Washington Senators Logo. I might try finding the other teams from this insert set. I currently just have the Baltimore Orioles one on my TCDB wantlist.

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats Team Logo Decal Insert Set NNO Washington Senators

Harrisburg Senators 2012 Season Pocket Schedule

I wasn't sure if I had already blogged about this or not. I thought I had but apparently I have not. I also thought I was confusing it with another Pocket Schedule I have somewhere for I think for the Syracuse Chiefs (now the Mets) that has Bryce Harper on the cover. That one I think I have two copies of. This one for the 2012 Harrisburg Senators I thought had Bryce Harper on it. But the player on this one is wearing number 3 which during 2012 was Eury Perez at one time, however the player is not Eury it is Chris McConnell who wore number 3 for the Senators in the previous season 2011.

Actually that very well could be Bryce Harper (with his "4" hidden) he is batting lefty. One copy of this currently on Ebay is advertising it as Bryce. OK yeah it's Bryce Harper. So I might only have one of these schedules.

Anyway here is the 2012 pocket schedule for The Harrisburg Senators.

2012 Harrisburg Senators Season Schedule (Pocket Schedule)

NOTE: I started the draft for this post about 9:10 PM on Sunday 28 February and worked on the scans around 11:30 PM to about 12:10 AM Monday 01 March.

Throwback Threads: 50th Anniversary Style

THROWBACK THREADS

Franchise 50th Anniversary

I don't recall when this retro "throwback threads" trend of MLB teams wearing retro versions of vintage uniforms from the team's past began, but ever since the Montreal Expos moved to become my beloved Washington Nationals they haven't worn any Expos throwback uniforms... Until now. On Saturday 06 July 2019 The Washington Nationals are going to be wearing Montreal Expos Throwback Uniforms vs the Kansas City Royals who will also be wearing retro throwback uniforms. The Nats will specifically be wearing The Expos 1969 powder blue road unis. Huh? Road Jerseys at home? According to the Washington Post article it is because the road uniforms are more striking than the home whites. I am a little sad we won't see Bryce Harper in an Expos Uniform even though there are mockups of him in one on the internet.

So a card that was made almost 10 years ago showing Face of The Franchise Ryan Zimmerman in an Expos Uniform will turn from fantasy to reality. I just hope Ryan doesn't get back on the Injured List between now and then. The card is a 2010 Topps Chrome National Chicle card. Why they didn't have a regular version of this card I'll never know. I am bummed it is only in the Chrome version as I have a strong aversion to Chrome cards. Not as bad as my anti-relic cards stand but sometimes pretty darn close.

2010 Topps Chrome - National Chicle: CC49 

Ryan Zimmerman Nationals/Expos

553/999

So it took the 50th Anniversary of the Franchise for them to finally wear RexTros Uniforms. I plan on at least watching Saturday's game. At one point I thought about going to the park and getting a ticket. I'm not sure if the game is sold out or not. If I find the energy and a VHS tape I might record the thing. Not sure if I'll go that far or not.

Bryce Harper Gone: Eating Cheese Steaks

BRYCE HARPER SWEEPSTAKES

Photo of Bryce Harper as Phillie from Sports Illustrated dot com

And the Winner of the 2019 Bryce Harper Free Agent Sweepstakes is the ...Philadelphia Phillies! For only $330 Million over 13 years the biggest contract in MLB history and of all sports for that matter. No Opt-Out Option and a No Trade clause. He will finish out his career as a Phillie at age 39. So sadly for us Nationals fans that may mean if he does make the MLB Hall of Fame he would most likely go in as a Phillie since he would have been with them for almost twice as long as he was a Nat (13 years vs. 7)

I am very mixed on the news. As a fan of Hawper as a player I am glad he will still be playing, however he is playing for Philly which is a division rival. The closest division rival geographically.

Does the addition of Harper to Philly's line-up insure them championships? Maybe. It certainly puts them in the running to be contenders to be the National League East Division Champs. Some have said it practically insures them to get it, others say it doesn't guarantees but does increase the possibility. I agree it will help them in the long run to continue to be contenders. That is if Harper stays consistent and/or actually improves during his career. He is the all time leader in slugging percentage at their park.

I think I will get used to the situation. I won't like it but I will have to get used to it.

When I got a notice that there was a Topps Now card of Bryce in his new Phillies Uniform (The first official card of him in a Phillies Uni) I decided to jump at it. I ordered two copies of it today (Monday 04 Mar 2019) from the Ebay seller toppsnow for $5.99/each Free Shipping. I got a discount of 60¢ off so the total was $11.38 normally it would be $11.98 The estimated arrival date range is April 16-29 often times things will arrive a bit early. I hope so. Well since I was wondering what sort of Harper card I would show for this post I'll show the card images from the Ebay listing I am expecting to receive it from.

2019 Topps Now: ST-3 Bryce Harper Phillies

Related Articles:

BarStool Sports Shut Up About Bryce's Contract Nothing That Happens 13 Years From Now Matters Anyway

CBS Sports What Bryce Harper's Numbers Tell us About How He'll Perform at Phillies Citizens Bank Park

ESPN What Sealed Bryce Harper's Record Deal with the Phillies

Sports Illustrated Bryce Harper Finalizing $330 Million Deal With Phillies
Washington Times Bryce Harper And Scott Boras Twist Narrative
Washnigton Times (27 Sept 2018): Bryce Harper Had Keys To The City But Never Fully Opened The Door

Bryce Harper: Going, Going ...Not Yet Gone.

Image from ESPN article Choose Your Own Adventure, Bryce Harper Edition

The 2018 Season saw the end of Bryce Harper's initial contract and his opening for free agency. He  most likely will be sporting a different uniform for the 2019 season. At the time of this posting he has not signed with a team. Most sources have ruled out him sticking with the Nationals. Some signs point to his dream team Yankees, others the Rangers or even Phillies? OH Please NOT Philly. No division rivals. Teams that have been mentioned as considering a bid in the Harper Auction, or that sports columnists are dreaming about are: Cubs, Rangers, Reds, Phillies, Mets, Dodgers, Angels, and Yankees. With the Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees being most talked about, as well as division rivals Phillies and Mets.

As a big Nationals fan and a fan of Harper it is a big disappointment for me to see "Homerin' Harper" or "Hawper" go. I had hoped he would stick with the Nationals and spend his entire career here. No matter where he ends up I hope it isn't with a rival team to the Nats. Please NO Division Rivals. I repeat no division rivals. I would rather he sign a long term contract with an AL team and then near the end of his career switch to being the DH for that team.

So I guess I will just show some Harper Cards here: Note: For this quick and dirty post I'm just showing card fronts. I didn't scan the backs.

This card I got quite a while ago back on 12 May 2015 as a matter of fact (according to my semi-reliable mail day posts). I got it for $8 from Ebay Free Shipping one of those ACEO Artist Sketch cards. I think the seller was the artist himself Anthony Douglas it is serial numbered 9/25. I haven't scanned the back that has his artists signature in the center and the serial number in lower right corner. I thought I had already scanned and blogged about this card but I had not yet. It wasn't scanned on my 'puter. Perhaps someday I will blog about it here like I do on my Blogged But Not Blogged posts at my other blog.

Moving on to some other Harper cards. Some of these came from group breaks, purchases or trades from ages ago. Maybe I'll get around to posting about the individual mailings maybe not.

 Top Row: 2014 Topps Baseball: The Future is Now: FN-29

2013 Topps Archives Baseball: 100

2014 Topps Baseball: The Future is Now" FN-30

Bottom Row: 2015 Donruss Baseball: 176

2014 Donruss Baseball: 143

2014 Donruss Baseball: Press Proof Silver: 143 #038/199

Top Row: 2015 Gypsy Queen Baseball: Walk-Off Winners: GWO-15

2015 Topps Opening Day Baseball: Superstar Celebrations: SC-08

Same photo used for both cards

Bottom Row: 2013 Topps Update Baseball: Home Run Derby: US 180

2016 Topps Baseball: Series One: 100

New Kid on The Block: Juan Soto

Near the beginning of this season on 20 May 2018 the Nats welcomed New Kid on The Block...

...NO NO Not those guys.

This New Kid is named Juan... Juan Soto.

...NO NO Not HAN SOLO,

JUAN SOTO.

Ah that's better. Juan is only 19 and he has been doing some fantastic things for the Nats this season, and gaining on some of those records by teens. Bryce Harper should be shaking in his booties with some of the things Juan has done this year. He hit a 3 run homer during his first Major League at bat, on the very first pitch. He also hit a homer "before his debut" that is he homered in a game that was postponed from earlier in the season about 2 weeks before he was brought up in May.

 2018 Bowman Baseball: BP52 Juan Soto Washington Nationals

 2018 Bowman Chrome Baseball: BCP52 Juan Soto Washington Nationals

 2018 Topps Now Baseball: 235 Juan Soto Washington Nationals

Some Guy Named Harper. NO some other guy named Harper

Guess what? It's the end of the month you know what that means? Not so fast. OK so I was going to do another quick and dirty Senators Singles post but while looking for potential candidates found an interesting card and then another of the same guy so long story longer. I vaguely remember having one or two of these cards of this guy named Brandon Harper who is no relation to Bryce Harper, even though this guy has a little brother named Bryce. Bryce's older brother is Bryan Harper. Brandon played only 18 games for the Nationals in the bigs in 2006.

OK according to TCDB Brandon has 15 cards with 8 of them being minor league cards. I might have his 2006 Upper Deck (update?) card from some team trade or sales package but I'm not sure about that. Any how the cards of his that I am sure I have I'm showing here. I have at least two of his first card I'm showing (the regular 1952 Edition). A few weeks back I had to do a quick apartment cleaning/hoarding sweep for the annual insurance inspection. I gathered my unorganized piles of card packages and boxes condensed them and stacked them differently than they had been so now the unorganized groupings are even more unorganized. Hey now I have some of my dining room floor space back.

The Cards:

2006 Topps 1952 Edition 209

 

2006 Topps 1952 Edition Chrome TCRC53

#d 0877/1952

2007 Topps Heritage 403 (1958 Design)

Senators Singles: 2018 Topps Now Bryce Harper

2018 Topps Now: 86 Bryce Harper 

And once again I find myself at the end of a month having to make a quick and dirty post. This one is very quick and very dirty on the very last day of the month in the afternoon. Time is ticking.

OK so 16 April of this year 2018 was a Monday. The Nats would come from behind to beat the Mets in New York 8-6. They scored six of those runs in the 8th. The first run happened, However in the first inning. With 2 outs Bryce Harper swings on the first pitch. He smashes the ball to make a 406 foot homer, breaking his bat in the process. A rare occurrence as most often a broken bat results in an out. It was Harper's League Leading 8th Homer of the season.

Here be the card:

2018 Topps Now 86 Bryce Harper Broken Bat Home Run

Back To Back To Back To Back

Goodwin, Difo, Harper, Zimmerman WOW!

2017 Topps Now Online Card

What a Win what an accomplishment. On Thursday's 27 July 2017 home game vs the Milwaukee Brewers the Nats tied an MLB record which is also a team/franchise record. They smashed 4 back-to-back Homers, which technically is Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back. Making them the 8th team to have 4 consecutive HRs in an inning. Plus two batters later another Homer making it 5 HRs in one inning for a team record.

It all happened in the 3rd inning and all against Michael Blazek on his starting debut. Poor guy good thing it wasn't his Major League debut that was in Jun 2013 for the Cardinals. Having had some relief work under his belt he wasn't a totally newbie.

The Nats were leading 2-0 when starting pitcher Max Scherzer leads off the bottom half of the 3rd with a walk.

On 1-0 count Brian Goodwin knocks in a two run homer bringing in max to make it 4-0.

Next Wilmer Difo smacks in a homer on a 1-1 count 5-0.

he is followed by Bryce Harper on a full count it is now 6-0.

The Nats current Home Run King Ryan Zimmerman joins the back-to-back club on his first pitch to make it 7-0.

2011 Panini Limited Authentic Timber Lumberjacks 5 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals

Bat chip (sliver) SN# 134/299

Then Daniel Murphy... flies out ending the streaking homers to some light hearted booing from the home crowd.

Next batter Anthony Rendon launches a Homer on the 0-1 pitch and it is 8-0.

They went on to score a few more Homers breaking a team record of 8 HRs in a game. They won the game 15-2.

Oh and it was Max Scherzer's Birthday what a way to celebrate your 31st year.

The Topps Now card that I showed at the top of this post I didn't think about until checking Ebay on a previous Topps Now Card (one I have talked about before and mentioned below) I found the 4 consecutive HRs card for sale on Ebay for $5.99 free shipping. The seller (toppsnow) I think started with 10 available and I noticed 6 had sold within 24 hours so I thought I should grab it before it was gone at that price. The downside is I have to wait til they actually get the card from Topps. The small print says they buy the things during the initial Topps Now 24 hours. The cards usually arrive at the seller 2 weeks later and they ship the cards out the day they receive. So I won't see that card for a while. Ebay's estimated delivery says it ships from Sept 12 to 25. I ordered another Topps Now card from them Ryan Zimmerman's 235th career HR Franchise Record. Plus my shopping spree from two other sellers gets me the Trea Turner Cycle card (#83 the other card ODB-2 a seller has listed for $99 WTH?) and a Bryce Harper Solo homer and Grand Slam 4for4 card. Those two are expected at a quicker speed between 04 Aug and 09 Aug. Yeah yeah I know I've said horrible things about Topps Now mostly the digital online only ones. They often look very nice and the subjects will probably not get put on a card anyplace else, or at least not for sometime. I just have to be careful and make sure I'm getting a PHYSICAL copy, not a digital version.

Related Links:
WATCH: Nationals club four straight home runs against Brewers to make MLB history- CBS Sports

Washington Nationals hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers, and five in one inning - Federal Baseball

Record Power - Nats hit 5 HRs in 3rd, 4 in a row - MLB

The Nationals hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs - SBNation
Nationals slug four HRs in row, five in one inning to tie MLB record - Sporting News
Nationals hit 8 HRs to blast Brewers 15-2 - WTOP

Nationals mentioned in this post:
Wilmer Difo
Brian Goodwin
Bryce Harper
Anthony Rendon
Max Scherzer
Trea Turner
Ryan Zimmerman