Today I am Upset

I feel like the Mets just won the N.L. Championship Series.

Against the Reds.

In the Seventh Game.

Bottom of the Ninth.

Two outs.

Grand Slam by Pedro Martinez.

Then are swept by Tampa Bay in the World Series.

Going through cards to scan I came across this card:

2004 Leaf Certified Materials
No. 16 Austin Kearns
Mirror Red Autograph Parallel
Numbered 13 / 200

Not a bad card overall. An action photo on front of Austin slapping a double off of Glavine to drive in Griffey Jr. The design of the front is cool. Plenty of bling to shine in kids eyes to get them hooked on collecting. Two cards and I can make earrings for my special lady. As the card says Reds fans had optimism for Austin. Great makings as a hitter and proven fielder. But he is gone.
Here is what makes me (Cue Charlie Brown Do-Do-Doooo Music) sad.



Not sure what I am talking about? Here is a closer look.


The sticker is coming apart. It is flaking and breaking off. Why? This card has seen the light of only six or seven days. It's not as noticeable but it is breaking off just under the autograph. This has me dismayed. I have never cared if the autograph was on a card or sticker. It was an autograph. I have autographs on paper, balls, bats, helmets and jerseys. Who cares what it is on?

Now I do. There is no reason for this sticker to be breaking apart. Now I want to find another card to replace this one. Where? Looking closely at other stickers I have some things came to light. The ends are starting to pull up. Dust is collecting on edges of the clear stickers.

This is not happening on all stickers. There are stickers such as 2004 Skybox LE History of the Draft were the sticker is inside the card and not on the top. There are no problems with these stickers. No peeling. No dirt. No cracking. I would say it was just Leaf stickers but it is not. I found this on SP and other Upper Deck products. But not Topps products. I do not have as many Topps to compare with but those are holding up well.

So take a look at yours. Make sure down the road they are not breaking apart. I know I will be more careful in the future.

What Parallel is This?

Today we have a card from the Parallel King of baseball card companies. In 2005 Donruss produced Leaf Certified Materials. Not satisfied with 5 parallels per base card they upped the ante in this release with a base card and way too many parallels.

Mirror White Base, Auto, Fabric, Bat.
Mirror Red Base, Auto, Fabric, Bat, Fabric/Bat Dual.
Mirror Gold Base, Auto, Fabric, Bat.
Mirror Black Base, Auto, Fabric, Bat.
Mirror Blue Base Auto, Fabric, Bat

All of the cards have the same design and picture, just a different background color. Well today I present to you:
2005 Leaf Certified Materials
No. 12 Austin Kearns
Mirror Black Parallel Autograph
1/1

That's right! The only one made. I was lucky enough to win this card on ebay for $17 and shipping. I was glad to get it because it was the last card I needed from the autograph version to have one from each Mirror set. This is not a great card to scan but a nice card to see. The reflective surface holds up well and the design is not cluttered. For some reason I like when cards use lines and geometric shapes that blend well. Austin has a small signature overall and fits well on cards or stickers. The photo of Austin looks to be him getting ready to pounce on a line to right off the bat of Chipper. That was a sure out. Only right fielder better in the field is that Frenchy guy on the Braves. The cardboard junkie will be able to say more on that as I refuse to.