John H. contacted me a couple weeks ago about trading some 2009 Topps cards.  We eventually agreed to a trade of inserts, since we are both working on completing the base sets.  He sent me a bunch of cards that will fit nicely in my collection.  Thanks John!

1. 2005 Topps Update Washington Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-BW Brad Wilkerson (2.00)
2. 2005 Topps Update Washington Nationals Inaugural Lineup #NI-NJ Nick Johnson (2.00)
3. 2008 Topps Year in Review #YR52 Felipe Lopez (0.75)
4. 2008 Topps Update #UH266 Rob Mackowiak (0.30)
5. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG9 Rogers Hornsby (1.25)
6. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG13 Jackie Robinson (2.00)
7. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG17 Ted Williams (5.00)
8. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG22 Thurman Munson (2.00)
9. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG24 Nolan Ryan (6.00)
10. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-FR Frank Robinson (0.75)
11. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-JS John Smoltz (2.00)
12. 2009 Topps Legends of the Game #LG-RY Robin Yount (2.00)
13. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH11 Ivan Rodriguez (1.50)
14. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH15 Don Zimmer (1.00)
15. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH17 Gary Sheffield (1.00)
16. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH21 Johnny Podres (1.00)
17. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH23 Mariano Rivera (2.50)
18. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH25 Lou Piniella (1.00)
19. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH29 Francisco Rodriguez (1.00)
20. 2009 Topps Ring of Honor #RH33 Brad Lidge (1.00)
21. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR22 Cliff Lee (1.00)
22. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR23 Garrett Atkins (1.00)
23. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR34 Kelly Johnson (1.00)
24. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR54 Alex Gordon (2.50)
25. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR59 Mel Ott (2.50)
26. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR70 Jon Lester (1.00)
27. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR78 Matt Cain (1.00)
28. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR80 Rogers Hornsby (1.50)
29. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR88 Michael Young (1.00)
30. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR89 Todd Helton (1.00)
31. 2009 Topps Turkey Red #TR100 Honus Wagner (2.50)
32. 2009 Topps WBC Stars #BCS17 Alex Rios (1.00)
33. 2009 Topps WBC Stars #BCS18 Luke Hughes (1.00)

Chris from On Card Autos contacted me a couple weeks ago and we arranged a Cubs-for-Nationals trade.  He sent me an impressive collection of over two hundred 2005-2009 Nationals cards (with a couple 2004 Expos thrown in for good measure).  Since I almost exclusively buy Topps flagship, I probably would have never seen any of these brands of cards if it weren’t for Chris.  Thanks Chris!

Now since there are quite a few cards here and I like to have my cards neatly organized in my database, I’m going to take my time integrating these cards into my collection.  What I’ve come up with is the “25 Years of Baseball Nationals Countdown to Opening Day”.  Each day from today until Nationals Opening Day on April 5, I’ll introduce some of the new Nationals cards I acquired from this trade.

With 58 days left ’til Nationals Opening Day, here’s the first selection of Nats:

2004 Ultra #250 Nick Johnson

2005 National Pastime #23 Brad Wilkerson

2006 SP Authentic #24 Austin Kearns

2007 UD Masterpieces #67 Ryan Zimmerman

2008 UD A Piece of History #150 Justin Maxwell (Rookie)

2009 Topps Allen and Ginter #174 John Lannan

I’ve just received a package from Stats on the Back, completing a trade for the Nick Evans Red Hot Rookies redemption card I received last week.  This is the first card trade I’ve done since, well, maybe 6th grade (for me, that was in the early 90’s).  Time and time again, I’m finding that card collectors these days are some of the most generous people around.

In exchange for the Nick Evans Red Hot Rookie, this is what Stats on the Back sent me:

1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire (USA) (Rookie)

And being a humble (and yes, we here in Washington are constantly humbled…) Nationals fan,

2008 Topps Retail Relics #RR-LM Blastings Thrillage (…I mean, Lastings Milledge)

2008 Topps Allen and Ginter #292 Elijah Dukes

2007 Topps Allen and Ginter #144 Manny Acta (Fired Manager)

2006 Topps Allen and Ginter #180 Jose Guillen

Thanks again Stats on the Back for for making my first trade a great experience.  I only wish I could find more from my collection to send you because you are too generous.  Maybe next trade…