2015 Topps Heritage (Minor League)

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why I continue to buy and collect the minor league products of the major companies.  Heritage ML, Pro Debut, Razor, Tri-Star Prospects Plus, Classic Best, Classic 4-sport (remember those?)...good lawd, if there is a minor league product out there, you can be damned sure that I'm gonna find it, buy it, and immediately regret it.

So, I went to the LCS for some rigid photo top loaders.  You see, I have been salvaging autographed books from some horrible places and then rescue the autographed pages from said books.  Before you can call me a blasphemer you should see this Rudy Giuliani that I found with mildew...yuck.  I am attempting to perform a service to the collecting community in my own way...saving autographs that would be tossed into landfills and the like.  So, anyway, I go to get my toploaders.  That was my goal, my mission.  The LCS owner got me sidetracked and I left with a box of 2015 Heritage ML. Dammit.

So, now that I own it and have opened it...I suppose it is my duty to tell you all about it.  First off, it's a minor league product so don't get too fucking excited.  Minor league stuff, even if that stud (Mike Trout, for instance) becomes a stud down the line, doesn't seem to hold the same value as the MLB stuff.  For example, I have a Pro Debut card signed by Mike Trout.  I do, and it's awesome.  But, is that card worth the same as a Bowman Chrome?  Fuck no.  It's minor league product...it tries to hold up to the big boys but just can't.

Ok.  So let's get down to the 2015 Topps Heritage ML.  The base set is 200 cards.  Great for set builders.  But...there's like a bunch of variants.  They are:  Blue, Gum Damage (WTF?), Orange, Black, and Printing Plates.  Also, there are 25 short-printed variations.  So, that 200 card base set could explode if you really got into it.  You can find the checklist HERE.

What about the hits.  Each hobby box (which retails for between $65 and $75 bucks) will have two autographs and one relic.  Which leads me down this side path...why the fuck are relic cards being made anymore?  Do people really still care?  So...two autographs.  Which are, as far as my research can figure, always stickers.  No on-card signatures.  That's bullshit, Topps.

I'd like to sit here and tell you that the set rocks, has tons of killer autographs, and hits galore.  But, I can't.  Because none of that is true.  I would never lie to you people.

The autographs are what's to be expected.  Young guys, no history in the majors, with promise.  So, you may not know if your hits are worth a damned thing for another three, four, or more years from now.  It's a waiting game.

There is one minor subset of 2015 Heritage ML that intrigues me.  It's the Looming Legacy mini-subset.  From the looks it has autos from the past minor league players that made it big time: John Smoltz, Nomar, Chipper Jones, Vlad Guerrero and others. Looks kind of cool.

2015 Topps Heritage Minor League.  That's all folks.  Stay away.

What did we hit?

Color variants:

• Foster Griffin, Jordan Betts, Grant Hockin - Blue
• Nick Kingham - Orange

Relic:

• Josh Bell - Black jersey

Autographs:

• Wes Parsons
• Joe Gatto

*A big thank you to Sports Collectors Daily for the info on this dud.

                       

Contributors Wanted

Can't Hit The Curve has done this before and have had no takers.  But, I shall not give up.

The blog is looking for a few contributors to give the blog a different voice other than mine. I do like my voice but...well, variety is the spice of life, right?

So, here's the rundown.

Let's start with the negatives:

1. Can't Hit The Curve is NOT monetized (yet).  Therefore, I can't offer writers anything in the form of cash money.  It sucks, I know.  But, if you are a part time writer that wants to get things of his/her chest, I can offer you that opportunity.
2. Can't Hit The Curve has a limited readership (for now).  However, new voices bring new readers and higher Google rankings and if you know anything about analytics...well, this is a good thing for future monetization.  

That's the negative side.   No cash is a biggie.

But, the positives are astounding!

1. Can't Hit The Curve is open to ANYTHING.  I mean anything.  As long as what you have to say is relevant to collecting and memorabilia and baseball...well, the gloves are off.  You can say whatever you want.  And if you use the word "fuck" like I do on occasion (often), that's okay!
2. You can be in on the ground floor.  Look, I want this blog to be a big one in the hobby.  Doing it alone...well, it's gonna stay about the same size.  That's just being honest.  But, new voices can bring a fresh vibe and the sky is the limit.  If money starts to be made off this venture...I take care of my peeps.
3. Creativity is welcomed.  From site design to topics to the color of socks I wear...you can have a say into what is created.  I'm open for all kinds of ideas.  For reals.
4. Submit as much or as little as you would like.  Bottom line is there is NO pressure.
5. There will be little in the way of editing on this side.  Unless what you write is totally jacked or was written after about 8 Natural Lights, I'm pretty hands off.  If you have images you want put up...okey dokey.  No worries.  
6. You can get some writing experience.  Believe it or not, I can write one hell of a reference letter.

There are more positives, I'm sure.  But...the way my elbow is resting on this table is telling me it's about time to wrap up.  Ouch.

What I'm looking for (this is simple):

1. You can write.  I'm not looking for a John Updike-talent writer (although that would be rad), just someone or someones who can string words together coherently.  Simple as that.
2. You know a bit about baseball, collecting, and memorabilia.  Experts?  Yeah, that'd be nice.  But, seriously just a regular old collector would do.
3. You're cool.  By that, I mean easy to get along with...at least through email.
4. You know social media a little.  It helps to be able to push this mofo on Twitter and the like, you know?  I do my best but that shit takes time.

That's it.  So, this is perfect for individuals who collect who got shit to say.  Students?  Sure, come on aboard.  Aspiring bloggers/writers?  Yeah, buddy.  Bored out-of-work welders with a slight limp and a speech impediment?  Hell Yeth.  Come on folks, take a shot. 

What's the worst thing that can happen?  

You might actually have a little fun doing it.