teLEW

As a child, I was obsessed with baseball cards, to the point that I could look at a card, any brand, any year, and tell you exactly the year and the best cards in that set. Now I'm 39 years old and the obsession is even worse (or better, depending on how you look at it).  Working for Topps would be a dream job at this point. 

Things I collect:

• Darryl Strawberry Cards (Currently Ranked #7)
• Current and Past Year Topps Sets 1, 2 and Update base cards & certain inserts (priority to the 35th Anniversary Cards, Redux cards, Stars of MLB, All-Star Updates and Black Gold, but there are others that I like)
• Current and Past Year Topps Chrome and Update base cards & inserts (again, priority to 35 Anniversary & Redux cards)
• Other inserts and parallels that look cool.

Right now I’m mostly focusing on adding to my Darryl Strawberry Collection, but also looking to complete the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Topps Main Sets & Updates, as well as Chrome. 

My preference is to trade duplicates from 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 for cards that I need from those sets, but I’m willing to trade any number of them to get parallels and serial numbered cards. 

All cards in my collection are available in the right deal! Every day, I'm adding more cards to my For Sale List, most of which are in great condition.  Any cards you might be interest in, I'll check out before finalizing a deal.

I prefer sending cards through PWE, so that I can make more trades, but will send in a Bubble Mailer if there are more than 20 cards, or a higher value card that is being moved.

I check this site a lot, so send trade offers away!

 Below are a couple links that were shared to me when I first started trading a few years ago that I found very helpful: 

How to ship up to 4 cards PWE

How to ship 4-27 cards PWE

HOW I APPROACH TRADING:

• Please understand when trading with me with that value is in the eye of the beholder, not necessarily what eBay says.  I do, however, understand when buying or selling that some basis of value needs to be applied.
• My priority is growing the quantity of my collection, not necessarily the value of my collection.
• If I have something you want, and you have something I want, let’s make it work.
• I do my best to make trades even, but I don’t research the sale price of every card for every proposal I make.  Please don't get offended if I make an offer where the value is in my favor. I'm not trying to rip you off; I just want to make trade.
• My offers are always negotiable.  If you aren't happy with an offer, please counter before declining.
• If I decline a trade, I will always provide a reason.  Please, Please, Please offer me the same courtesy.  I really hate feeling like my offers are just ignored.
• If you decline a trade with a response of values are a little off, I probably won't offer again.  It's not how I look at trading.
• This is a hobby to me, not a business.  I'm not looking to make money and I know that my hobby will cost me money.  That said, I don’t understand the response it's not worth the postage.  If you aren't making a trade because of the cost of a stamp we are in this hobby for different reasons and probably won't make greatest trade partners.

TRANSACTING WITH ME:

• Packaging: I prefer PWE.  I package trades up 6 cards in semi-rigid holder(s) with first class stamp.  Over 6 cards will be shipped in 9 pocket pages with cereal box cardboard.  Anything over 27 cards will ship BMWT.  I try to review packaging expectations before proposing a trade, but if you are particular with packaging, please make me aware before we both accept a trade.  If your packaging expectation isn't stated in advance, I'm packing how I see fit.
• Shipping: I make regular trips to the post office and will attempt to mail things out the day after they are accepted.   I will only ship PWE internationally, not interested in filling out customs forms.
• Trading: I don't have any restrictions on trades.  No minimums or maximums on cards in or out.  I'll do big lots for small lots or small lots for big lots.  I'll trade between eras and between sports.  I'll do inserts for commons or commons for inserts.  I just want both sides to feel like they've improved their collection when our trade is done.
• Buying: I'm open to buying only add to my Ripken collection.
• Selling: Will sell anything on my trade list for a reasonable price.

COLLECTING INTERESTS:

Primary PC - Cal Ripken Jr. (TCDB #6): My primary collection; I've been a collector since I was a kid.  I'll trade for anything I don’t have regardless of whether it's on my want-list or not.  I will trade from this collection, so long as I have the same number or more cards coming in as I do going out.  I'm selective on what I'm willing to deal from this collection based on how difficult it would be to replace it.

• Always building the 2007 HOF insert sets:
  • Ultra Iron Man (complete)
  • SPx Iron Man (complete)
  • Upper Deck Commemorative (complete)
  • Upper Deck Ripken Chronicles (complete)
  • Upper Deck Road to the Hall (w/Gwynn) (complete)
  • Upper Deck Iron Men (w/Gehrig). (complete)
  • Spectrum Road to the Hall (74/100).

Secondary Orioles Collections:  I do cycle cards in and out of these collections, especially for current players.  If there is something you like here, message me and we may be able to work something out.  My want-list is small and I only collect base set and color variations, particularly orange or black parallels.  I am open to trading for stuff not on my want-list to facilitate a trade.  I do not chase inserts for this collection unless it’s an auto or relic card.

• Secondary PCs (all O's uniform only, except rookies): 
  • Brady Anderson
  • Gunnar Henderson
  • Jackson Holiday
  • Adam Jones
  • Manny Machado
  • Trey Mancini
  • Nick Markakis
  • Cedric Mullins
  • Eddie Murray
  • Mike Mussina
  • Jim Palmer
  • Boog Powell
  • Brian Roberts
  • Brooks Robinson
  • Frank Robinson
  • Grayson Rodriguez
  • Adley Rutschman
• Top 50 Players; ranked by W.A.R.: Rookie cards for the 50 players (49/50), only missing Hoyt Wilhelm.  Check out my list!
• Rookies:  Looking for major release, base set only, with RC/FS/FC/etc logo.
• Minor Leaguers: I tend to only keep one card per player.  So, these are not available, although I may be open to a deal involving the same player.

Baseball Stars & HOFers: Unless you’re offering a better/older card of the same player, these aren't available.  I'm always interested in acquiring a card of a great baseball player, whether or not they are on my want-list.  Condition (on vintage) outside of creases and rips doesn't matter to me.  I'm more interested in the historical than monetary value for this collection.

1992 Topps Baseball: It may be the epitome of junk era cards, but this was the set that got me into collecting.  I built the set as a kid and its one of only 2 complete sets I have. Collection includes:

• 1992 Topps (792 cards)
• 1992 Topps Traded (132 cards)
• 2012 Topps Archives (6 cards)
• 2013 Topps Archives (3 cards)
• 2017 Topps Archives (100 cards plus 6 SSP variations)
• 2021 Topps Update Redux (50 cards)
• 2022 Topps Archives (25 cards)
• 2022 Topps Archives MLD autographs (15 cards).

Football and Hockey:  Buffalo Bills, Washington Football, and Buffalo Sabres cards.  Feel free to offer me anything I don't have, particularly off-base cards.  No college jerseys.  If you want something from me and we don't have any matches, feel free to offer me stuff from these teams.

• Football and Hockey PCs:
  • Josh Allen (TCDB #24)
  • Sean Taylor (TCDB #6)
  • Chris Cooley (TCDB #4)
  • Paul Gaustad (just starting)

Non-sports: This collection is used to catalog my 90's Marvel sets.  None of this available.  If you are looking to trade and can't find matches, my kids are into Pokémon and I'll trade for insert cards (EX, GX, V, MAX, etc..) for them.

I get emails for all new messages so I will respond even if it appears that I haven't logged into the site in a while. I collect sets over players or teams, but I'm not actively looking for anything beyond the very few items on my official want list.

I'd consider trades for the players, teams, or random cards listed below if you don't have anything on my want list. I will also sell anything on my for sale/trade list in lieu of a trade. In fact, I'm actively looking to sell those cards so just ask if you see anything of interest.

Trade Principles: I'm not opposed to larger trades. In an effort to downsize, I'm open to trading many for few but probably not as open to the other way around. A trade must be worth the postage we both pay. When trading, I generally like to exchange similar types of cards - commons for commons, stars for stars, inserts for inserts, era for era, etc. Everything I'm interested in is '90s or later so I expect near-mint or better condition. You can expect that from me too unless otherwise noted. For small quantities, I will ship PWE unless requested to send differently. I try to add additional cardboard protection inside that PWE. For large quantities or high value, I'll ship in a bubble mailer with tracking. I'll share pictures of anything as requested. Communication and transparency from both parties during the transaction is key.

Players: Larry Johnson (Hornets), Michael Jordan (Bulls), Scottie Pippen (Bulls), Dennis Rodman (Bulls), Toni Kukoc (Bulls), Steve Kerr (Bulls), Anfernee Hardaway (Magic), Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash (Suns/Mavericks), David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning (Hornets), John Stockton, Grant Hill (Pistons), Glen Rice (Heat/Hornets), Damon Stoudamire (Raptors), Marcus Camby (Raptors), Michael Finley (Suns/Mavericks), Frank Thomas (White Sox), Mark Buehrle (White Sox), Paul Konerko (White Sox), Ray Durham (White Sox), Ryne Sandberg, Ken Griffey Jr. (Mariners), Greg Maddux (Braves), Roy Halladay

Teams: Chicago Bulls (Michael Jordan era through Derrick Rose era), Chicago White Sox ('90s or later)

Random: Cards with Michael Jordan on them that aren't his own (Jordan cameos) https://www.tcdb.com/List.cfm/lid/10873/Jordan-Cameos

Finally rid of the crutches and now just a cane, should be walking on my own soon.

Still a little slow in replying cause life is busy but always looking for another trade! 

Thank You to all that helped out with my 2021 and 2022 Bowman sets, I just put the last card in my binders and I always look forward to that feeling. Just finished 2022 and really appreciate all the help, only 1 Invicta left for 2023 Bowman...getting close and any help greatly appreciated! I hope to get this finished before 24 comes out. 

Any help on 21/22/23 Topps Chrome (and Sepias)/Chrome Update(and purples), 2021 Topps/Topps Update, 2021& 2022 Panini Chronicles Baseball would be greatly appreciated. 

Any help with 2020 Chronicles FB, 2020 Select FB would be great and hoping to fill any other holes in my binders. Always looking for Julio Rodriguez, and Darrell Taylor cards to keep those collections going and keep my #1 spot, and after losing a binder of about 200 Griffey cards I had collected as a kid will always look to trade for one that I don't have. 

Favorites:

Baseball: Ken Griffey Jr (in a Mariners jersey preferably), Julio Rodriguez (as of 6/9/22 I am #1 collector on the site), Randy Johnson, Kyle Lewis, Ronald Acuna Jr, Logan Gilbert, Cal Raleigh, Bryce Miller, Fernando Tatis Jr, Kyle Seager, Jarred Kelenic, but love all my Mariners!

Football: DK Metcalf, Darrell Taylor (as of 4/6/23 I am #1 collector on the site), Kam Chancellor, Justin Herbert, Tyler Lockett, but love all my Hawks!

If you have cards of these sets/players that I don't have assume they are on my wantlist. So close on the 2021 Bowman Baseball and 2020 Chronicles Football. Any help on these two sets is greatly appreciated and thank you to those that have helped out so far!

Baseball sets I am trying to fill first: 2022 Bowman (so close and any help with the top 100 would be appreciated), 2023 Bowman Lunar Glow Refractors (65 or so left), 2021/2022 Chronicles (excited to try and finish them) , 2021 Select, 2021 Diamond Kings, 2021 Stadium Club.

Football sets I am trying to fill first: 2020 Chronicles, 2020 Select, 2020 Optic, 2021 Absolute Retail, 2021 Prizm Draft Picks, 2021 Chronicles Draft Picks.

I collect mainly Baseball/Football but have a little Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer that I have opened up and added to this site for trade purposes.  

Slowly but surely I am getting my collection uploaded and at some point would love to trade all of my doubles for cards that fill my sets and help others do the same in the process.

Matt Williams (#1 TCDB)

Still in the long process of uploading my current collection of baseball cards.

New to the site since 1/25/23 after a 20-year break in collecting and have just completed 450 trades on 3/8/2024!

ALWAYS looking for 1998 Topps Tek Diffractors Patterns for card #44!

Most wanted items:

1987 The Bon Pocatello Giants Team Set

1990 Phoenix Baseball Magnetables #54 Matt Williams

1991 O-Pee-Chee - Pre-Production Sample Sheets #NNO