Theme Week: Better Know a Blogger (Drew from Drewscards)

We are almost done with the Better Know a Blogger series.  I haven't actually gone back to count how many entries we ended up with but I do know that it's a lot!  That said, if anyone else out there would still like to participate, shoot me an email!  Now, without any further delay let's get to today's guest!

1. Your name (or alias):  drew
2. Your blog website:  drewscards
3. What kind of collector do you consider yourself (team collector, player collector, set collector, etc.). Why do you collect that way?

I see myself as a player collector above anything else. I’m a Yankees fan, and I’m always more than happy to expand on that specific team, but I’m also a fan of baseball as a whole. I enjoy collecting players because it’s much easier to track, and I’m more likely to spend money on a player I like than say, Alex Rodriguez or something.

4. In your opinion, what could the major card companies (Topps, Panini, etc.) do to make your style of collecting better for you?

One of my biggest problems with the major companies, particularly Topps, is their Quality Control and Redemption problems. I’ve had numerous bad experiences redeeming cards through Topps, and I think if they stop making a certain card, you should be given a card of a player or team you collect of equal value. Because let’s remember, redemption cards are not handed out for free, we should receive some compensation at least.

5. What is your favorite part of your collection?  This could be one specific item, or a binder of cards, etc.

My dad and I call my room “The Shrine” because its filled with memorabilia everywhere you look. I’ve spent a lot of time and money adding cool pieces to my collection (or at least, things I find cool), and I love to show it off when I have guests over. My two favorite pieces are my Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio dual signed photo and the Mickey Mantle 16x20 project I’ve been working on lately; in which I’ve added over 50 signatures to a photo of Mickey Mantle, all Yankees players past and present.

6. Most of us have a favorite song that we like for no good reason – heck, it might even be embarrassing.  Do you have a favorite baseball card that might fit that bill?  

When I was in Little League, I would order the baseball cards of my player picture every year, and then I’d sign them all (you know, in case I ever get famous haha). It’s hilarious looking back on those nowadays, and seeing how much my signature has changed over time!

7. If you were forced to part with your entire collection except for one card, which card would you keep?

Probably my 2008 UD Masterpieces Derek Jeter relic autograph. Jeter has always been my favorite player, and I’ve cherished that card since the second I got it as a birthday present.

8. Many of the blogs (including my own at times) seem to decry Topps’ lack of vision and creativity.  Can you think of something creative that could be done for an upcoming card set?  

I know a few products have done this in the past, but how cool would it be if we had less relic cards and more redemptions for full pieces of memorabilia? This would make not only relic cards more enjoyable but offer a chance at something extremely rare and special to own, even if it’s a Stephen Drew jersey from a random Thursday night in May, I’d take that over a relic card of his any day. Maybe I’m just really into the memorabilia aspect, or maybe I’m on to something. We’ll see I guess.

9. What is your profession?  How did you end up there?  If you are in school, what do you plan to major in and/or what job do you hope to get after graduating?  

I’m actually a freshman in college at the moment, and I completed my first semester of work about an hour ago! I wasn’t the biggest fan of my current school, so I decided to transfer to Marist College in Dutchess County, NY next semester, so I’ll be starting over pretty early in the college experience. I plan on majoring in their Communications program with a concentration in Sports Communication, so hopefully I’ll be spending the rest of my life never shutting up about sports or working in video editing or something of that sort. I don’t have anything overly specific in mind just yet.

10. What is your favorite place that you’ve ever visited?  Why?  

I have a bit of a home away from home in upstate New York that I love more than any other place, but one place in particular I visited recently that stood out was San Francisco. My family and I took a vacation out west this past summer, and I couldn’t believe how different the lifestyle was in California in comparison to New York. The people are so much nicer.

11. Many of us have favorite foods or customs that are somewhat local to where we live.  Do you have any such things that you particularly love?  A website link to specific products would be spectacular.  

This is probably pretty cliché but anyone that comes to New York has to try the pizza, especially in the city. Chicago may have us beat with deep dish (although I haven’t tried it just yet), but pizza has tasted much better in New York to me than any other state I’ve visited before. 

12. Do you have any other hobbies besides card collecting?  

I actually starting collecting vinyl records this past year, and have built that into yet another expensive obsession of mine. I have a local record store I go to frequently and the sound quality of the records is so much better than anything else in the world. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sitting back and sorting cards while playing a favorite album of mine. I also am the Commissioner of a fantasy baseball league I started 5 years ago and a football league that all started 2 years ago. Music and baseball take up a majority of my free time, though.

13. Tell me something interesting about yourself (that we haven’t covered in the first twelve questions).

I’ve been blogging since I was 12 years old, and through the hobby I’ve made so many friends and memories that have been invaluable in my life. William (from foul bunt) and I have known each other since my first year on Blogger and we’ve taken a trip to Cooperstown together! It’s been an absolute pleasure sharing my collection and views with everyone for such a while, and it really proves that you can make best friends any way imaginable with an open mind.

As always, a big thank you to our latest volunteer!  I enjoyed reading Drew's answers quite a bit - it's refreshing to have some "young blood" in the hobby!  I think it's especially great that Drew has a friend in William and that those two have been blogging together for quite a few years!  From the sounds of it, I imagine Drew's father had some sort of serious impact on Drew's love of the hobby.  I can only wonder if new fathers (and mothers) today will impart the same love of baseball cards and memorabilia that the previous generation did.  Heck, I know my love of baseball cards is 100% because of my father!

When I was putting together Drew's interview, I visited his blog and happened to see his post showing off some of his signed baseballs.  I have to admit, I'm not much of a memorabilia guy but even I can appreciate his collection!  Maybe someday I'll be able to at least track down a baseball signed by Barry Larkin...or even a baseball card signed by Larkin.  Can you believe I don't actually own a Larkin autograph?!

Stay tuned for more Better Know a Blogger posts - there are only a few left (though if you want to participate and still haven't contacted me, shoot me an email and I'll get you a copy of the questionnaire)!