The chronicles of Listia

I usually don't do this.

Tonight's post marks the third in a row on this blog where I'll be showing off some new cards. Most of the time, I like to space these things apart a little more.

I guess I've just been in a "show off" type of mood lately.

Nothing wrong with that.

Right?

Although I was a bit skeptical at first, I'm proud to say that I'm now pro-Listia.

It's been a hot topic in the blogosphere as of late. If you don't know what it is or how it works, I wrote about that in my first post about the site.

I've received over a thousand free credits for signing up and doing other various "activities" on Listia.

Initially, I started out on a bit of a cold streak. For whatever reason, I just couldn't win an auction to save my life.

That sure changed fast. I've won card after card in the last few weeks. And since every single auction I won offered free shipping, none of them cost me a cent.

Many of the cards you'll see on Listia are vastly overpriced. Still, with a little digging, you can find yourself some bargains.

You know me.

I'm always up for a little "digging".

Which is precisely how I managed to land the cards you'll see in this post.

In the Listia world, 300 credits is equal to one dollar. None of the cards you'll see here even cracked the 200-credit mark.

The above Ultra Jeromy Burnitz didn't even sniff that number.

I won it for a paltry 46 credits.

Not bad for such an awesome action shot.

Not bad at all.

For a while, I was thinking about starting a theme on this blog that showcased some of the more "obscure" guys I collect.

While I ultimately decided against that idea, I still like to dabble in a little of it from time to time.

So, your helping of "obscurity" for the day comes from longtime backup catcher Chris Widger, who played in just 21 games during his lone season with the Yankees in '02.

I'm not quite sure why I collect him. If I had to guess, I'd say that it had something to do with backing up A.J. Pierzynski with the hometown White Sox in 2005, the year they won it all.

This 2003 Topps Total silver parallel of his set me back just 60 credits. (Please, please, please bring Total back, Topps!)

Not surprisingly, I was the only one who bid on it.

See?

Collecting some of the more obscure players in the game has its benefits.

This is actually a card I've wanted for a while.

For whatever reason, I've had a tough time finding anything from Jay Johnstone's tenure with the Cubs. A few have popped up here and there, but I'm still missing quite a bit.

Up until last week, this batting cage shot of the "Moon Man" from arguably the best Topps set of the '80s had eluded me.

Thankfully, I outbid three other collectors and stole it for a mere 98 credits.

Now, if I could just find his '84 Fleer card, I'd be set.

I've had my eye on that one for years.

This is my latest Listia pickup, just arriving in the mail this afternoon.

Like I said in yesterday's post, I'm a hopeless sucker for any cards featuring Jim Abbott.

I know I'm not the only one, though.

This neat foil-based single from '92 Bowman cost just 100 credits. From what I know, it had to have been one of the first examples of a company utilizing foil on a baseball card.

Surprisingly, I was the only one to place a bid on it.

Hey, I'm not complaining.

I wish I could just find a big box of TCMA cards at a show one of these days.

I'd have a field day with that.

For now, though, I'll take 'em where I can. Unfortunately, they seem to be a tough draw, at least in my experience.

At 101 credits, the Alomar was one of my first Listia successes. I love those "old school" California Angels caps.

I grabbed the TCMA issue of "All Time A" and fellow "pisian" Sal Bando for a measly 100 credits.

Sadly, you don't see cards of these guys too often anymore. Especially with the domination of "names" like Mantle and Ripken in today's day in age.

That's what made these couple "victories" so special.

This is a historic piece of cardboard.

I managed to outlast six other hopeful bidders and score this one for just 112 credits. The fact that the auction didn't include a picture of the card probably helped with that.

The photo that Donruss used for this one reminds me of the Old Judge tobacco cards of the 19th century, where they'd actually hang baseballs from the ceiling to produce an "action shot" effect.

This one has that kind of feel to it.

On top of that, it's just the second card I own of "Yaz" that lists him solely as a DH. Usually, that's when you can tell a guy is nearing the point of hanging 'em up.

Which brings us to the next reason I love this card.

It's the last solo card Donruss would issue of Yastrzemski. He made a brief appearance in their '84 set, but he had to share the spotlight with fellow retiree Johnny Bench.

For that reason, I classify this one as Donruss' official "sunset" issue of the man they called "Yaz".

Certainly a special piece for my collection.

This one might just be my favorite of all the Listia pickups I've compiled.

Like the Johnstone, it's a card I've wanted for a long, long time.

Bo Jackson is the subject of quite a few "gems" of the overproduction era. This is definitely a contender for "top of the pops" in that department, showcasing his two-sport stardom of the late '80s and early '90s.

When I first bid on it, I wasn't all that hopeful. Surely a "sniper" would swoop in and steal such a fantastic card during the closing minutes of the auction.

To my utter surprise, I actually came out of it victorious. The snipers must've been off their game that day.

And that's how I knocked out a longtime hole in my collection for just 128 credits.

I can't thank you enough, Listia.

To date, this takes the honor of my most "expensive" Listia purchase.

For 184 credits, I managed to land this jaw-dropping Conlon Collection burgundy parallel of one of baseball's all-time greats.

In fact, "The Iron Horse" was just 22 years old when this picture was taken during his first full year in the bigs.

If there's one minor complaint I have with Listia, it's with a few of the sellers' shipping methods. Like a few other cards I've received, this one arrived in just a penny sleeve without any sort of protection around it.

While the others escaped without harm, this one wasn't as lucky. You can see a couple unsightly creases near the middle-right portion of this card.

With free shipping, though, I guess I shouldn't have too much to complain about. It's not like I'll lose sleep over it or anything.

Besides, it's not like this card is going anywhere.

Between "Moon Man", "Yaz", and "Bo", it's safe to say that Listia been unbelievably good to me so far.

The best part about it all?

None of them cost me a single, solitary penny.

In fact, I've still got over 200 "free" credits sitting in my account right now. I'm looking forward to seeing what else the site's cardboard depths have in store for me.

I'd definitely recommend giving Listia a shot if you haven't already. You just never know what you might find over there.

If my experience is any indication, you certainly won't regret it.