[bengalsandreds]

So this is a fun thread to throw my hat back in the ring on... Its been a while, and I am s-l-o-w-l-y updating my org for trades (please be patient if you have already sent offers over the last 18 months or so!)

I go back to 2004 Diamond Kings... I loved the design and old-school player selection as well as the various levels of mem and auto variations. I did not have a lot of disposible income at the time, so I would buy a handful of packs every week with whatever I could spare. I hit quite a few nice cards too, so I was pretty happy. I had been having what I considered pretty good luck considering the small volume I had been purchasing, and after about 5-6 weeks, I had amassed several nice cards. The store owner had told me that he had seen several one-of-one's at that time and he felt strongly that there was one in the box on the counter. I opened 5 packs and nothing! I figured my luck had run out, and I was still way ahead overall. The owner asked if I could afford one more pack, and he would pick it out. Now this was the difference between having a burger and fries or ramen noodles for dinner, but he seemed so sure... I went for it, and pulled the ARod black framed, auto, dual mem, 1 of 1!!! Best bowl of ramen I ever ate.

Now what does that have to do with the best trade? I found out a few days later that one of the store "regulars" had pulled the exact same version of Don Mattingly - my primary pc to this day - and was willing to trade it straight up. While this was at the height of ARod's powers in Texas (which is where I was), this was a dream opportunity. I wasn't much for selling cards anyway, so I made the deal immediately. Value wise, he got the better end at the time, but this is still the center-piece of my pc, and in the end, cost me all of a burger and fries!!!

Good story. I loved 2004 diamond kings, but never pulled anything noteworthy.