Delivery Time! More of Gem Mint Trade than a Nearly Mint One

I'm slowly working my way through the trade envelopes that are currently sitting on my desk.  There's a really good chance this particular post won't show up on my blog until mid-week or so...but that's only because of all the group break stuff happening!

The latest envelope to be opened was from Greg over at Nearly Mint.  Greg and I have exchanged a few packages over the years, but the trade scales are definitely tipping in my favor after this one...after all, the entire package was sent to me for free!

Let's take a peak - and see what cards I no longer have to keep on my want list!   (And seriously, is there much better than being able to delete a bunch of cards off you want list?  I think not.)

2011 Topps Heritage:
6.  Brian Roberts
27.  Adam Kennedy
64.  Nick Markakis
65.  Robinson Cano
120.  Bronson Arroyo
127.  Pride of the A's

There's something about this card that I really, really like.  I don't know if it is the weird PhotoShop filter used, or all the glorious green, or what...heck, maybe it's the elephant on the far left sleeve of the mysterious player.  Whatever it is, it simply works for me.
137.  Babe and MGR. Huggins
147.  Joakim Soria
173.  Jhonny Peralta
189.  Heath Bell
218.  Buster Posey

It's another Monopoly top hat Rookie trophy card!  The photo kind of makes it look like Posey is hiding out in a crudely built bomb shelter (albeit a bomb shelter sponsored by New Era - the Official Cap of Major League Baseball).
225.  Adrian Beltre
232.  2010 World Series - Game 1
233.  2010 World Series - Game 2
241.  Josh Johnson
247.  Jonathan Lucroy
252.  James McDonald
255.  Edwin Jackson
287.  Neftali Feliz

Another trophy card, but at least Feliz got to be outside for his photo session.  
299.  Daniel Descalso
350.  Joey Votto
352.  Ricky Nolasco
359.  Carlos Zambrano
376.  Phil Hughes
383.  Daniel Hudson
411.  Michael Young
440.  Ricky Romero
466.  Miguel Cabrera

Both the Romero and the Cabrera are short prints - they are like pure gold to me seeing as that's mostly what I still need from the set...
BF-1.  Baseball Flashback - Mickey Mantle
BF-8.  Baseball Flashback - Warren Spahn
TN-9.  Then & Now - Warren Spahn & Roy Halladay

This card celebrates the league leaders in innings pitched.  In 2010, Roy Halladay pitched a seemingly impressive 250.2 innings.  For comparison, however, Warren Spahn pitched 314.1 innings back in 1962.  Even more interesting, the tenth person on the innings list (Juan Marichal) pitched 12.2 more innings in 1962 than league leader Halladay did last year!  

Greg also threw in another 2011 Topps Diamond parallel card - so he gets another entry in my upcoming contest!

Thanks for the great trade package Greg!  And, as always, if anyone else would like to trade - check out my want list and make an offer!