KearnsKards

2008 Goudey

2009-03-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

2008 Goudey
No. 197 Austin Kearns

This is a great set for collectors. Great mix of old and new players and just enough of parallels for player collectors.
The design is eye catching on good stock. The cardboard has a firm feel but not rough like in the 70's. But most importantly the card lets us know our hero homered in wins against the Mets. Twice. Niceeeeeeeee.

A late Valentines post

2009-02-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

I Heart Kearns Kards.

A heart red
2003 Elite

Status Die Cut
No. 99 Austin Kearns
10 / 28

You gotta admit that the fact he clobbered the horsehide outta the park against the Big Unit and Smoltzie in 2002 is a good thing. Glad I read card backs or I might not have known about that.

2009-02-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

2003 Flair

Wave of the Future
WOFG-AK Austin Kearns
Patch Card
033 / 100

This is one of those patch cards you hope you pull. Three color patch with a bit of jersey and a stripe. This must have been worn in early 2002 when Austin came up.
Home jersey under the glorious patch at that.
Judging by the background picture containing a chain link fence I am going to hazard a guess that the picture was taken during Spring Training on a practice field. Not that it bothers me cause Austin is beating out a Cub Scrub on the mound.

Mini Card - Big Arm

2009-02-11T16:59:00.001-08:00

2005 Topps 205
120 Austin Kearns
Mini Bazooka Back and Mini Polar Bear Back

Like the rest of the baseball collecting world I have a soft spot for mini's. Topps really captures the look of tobacco era cards with this set. The size, art and backs work well in comparison to the original T-205 set.
There are a few different versions for each player. These are the two I have. These are the ones I am looking for:

205 Bazooka Red Numbered to 5
205 Brooklyn Numbered to 5
205 Drum
205 Soverein
205 Sovereign Green Ink
205 Sweet Corporal
205 Sweet Corporal Purple Ink

If you have any and they are not the center of your collecting world let me know. We can work something out. I have 3 firstborns if you need done of those.

Sample this

2009-02-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

I have a card type you may not be familiar with here:

2003 Donruss Elite
Back to Back Jacks
BB27 Adam Dunn / Austin Kearns
Dual Game Used Bat Card

I hear ya.
What's so great about this card?
Well, it's a SAMPLE card. Not the type found in sealed Tuff Stuff's ad Becketts in those days but the prototype sent by Donruss for approval from the MLBPA before full production could begin. Even though it does not say so on the card this is the only one in existence.
And as you can see Dunn is in the process of smashing a tater and Austin has just walloped one out o da park for a quadrangular trot.

Another Boring 1 of 1

2009-01-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

Yeah. I know. Ho Hum.

WHATZ EVUHZ!

Here we have a
2007 Sweet Spot
Sweet Spot Signatures
SS-AK
Black Bat Gold Ink
1 of 1

This card thick enough to choke a 500 lb guy at a fair is all mine!
Look at that beauty!
Small portrait of Austin.
His awesome signature.
The script 1 of 1. Not just a regular stamp 1/1/
Black bats are AWESOME.
Gold Ink is classy.

Nice card Joe. Nice card.

How thin is too thin?

2009-01-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

So I ask you -
How thin is too thin for a baseball card?

2002 Donruss Originals
Signature Marks
SM-48 043 / 200

This is a very nice card for me. I like the small use of photo. The large white space. Simple logo. Even the sticker is well placed. The back has a nice write up about our hero instead of just letting me know this is an authentic autograph.
But the card is a thin and bendable as a business card. Not a nice linen type one with raised letters but those 1,000 for $5.00 business cards. Why? Was money tight? Was this an early way to throw off pack searchers? Nice card. Just not nice stock.

Back from the DL

2009-01-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

After a long rehab my Kearns Kards
is back and ready to take the field.
There were times of wondering if this blog
would be able to swing some wood

2004 Leaf Limited
Monikers
Auto / Bat
15 / 15

Put on the ol leather

2007 Sweet Spot
Leather / Silver Signature
07 / 25

Button up

2004 Leaf Limited
Threads
Button 1 / 6

the jersey

2003 Leaf Limited
Moniker Emerald
Auto / Jersey
3 / 5

and just look like the star it is

2004 Playoff Absolute
Tools of the Trade
Black Spectrum Signature
1 / 1

Looks like Kearns Kards is back!
May not post everyday but will aim for 2 a week.

Austin's April 3 Box Score

2008-04-04T09:30:00.001-07:00

2002 Diamond Kings No. 92

A great game in the field with 3 catches and an assist. No errors. At the plate he was normal Kearns. Batting fifth in the lineup is giving Austin plenty of RBI opportunities. Batting behind Lastings, Zimmerman and Johnson make him a batter to watch this season. Man am I glad I have him on my fantasy teams.

April 3 vs. Phillies
1 for 4 at the plate 1 Run 1 Hit 1 RBI .250 AVG.

Austin for the Season
4 for 13 at the plate 2 Runs 4 Hits 0 HR 4 RBI .308 AVG.

Austin's April 2 Box Score

2008-04-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

2001 Topps Traded No. T185

Granted the above sweet swing did not come into play, but neither did anyone else's. Austin posted the ol goose egg line in the box score.

April 2, 2008 vs. Phillies
0 for 3 at the plate 0 Runs 0 Hits 0 HR 0 RBI .000 Avg

Season Totals
3 for 9 at the plate 2 Runs 4 Hits 0 HR 4 RBI .333 Avg

Austin's 0/31/08 Box Score

2008-04-01T12:34:00.001-07:00

1999 Bowman's Best No. 160

Austin against the Phillies
2/3 at the plate 1 Run Scored 0 HR 2 RBI .667 Avg.

Season Totals
3 / 6 at the plate 1 Run Scored 0 HR 3 RBI .500 Avg

Austin's 3 / 30 / 08 Box Score

2008-03-31T14:18:00.000-07:00

Last nights season opener against the Braves in the new Nationals Park was great. Beautiful views. Great National Anthem, some chin music from the President and a bottom of the ninth win over a division opponent.

Great fielding. Austin Showed what it was like to challenge him. Nice catches. Always were the ball was. Laser accuracy with the cannon on his right shoulder.
So in honor of the first game in Nationals Park. Austin's first hit and RBI of the season and the Nationals first win of the season we have Austin's first MLB card.

1999 Bowman No. 200.

Austin against the Bravos:
1 for 3 0 Runs Scored 0 HR 1 RBI
Season Toatls : .333 / 0 / 0 / 1

Press Plate

2008-03-24T09:24:00.001-07:00

2006 Topps Chrome
Yellow Press Plate
1 / 1

Not the best photo of Austin. But it is a press plate and therefore I had to buy it. Managed to pick it up for under fifteen dollars. Don't remember the exact amount.

Something I Found

2008-03-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

I bought a ten $1 team bags in Reno on Saturday. They had the normal commons / 1 or 2 star mix. And then I saw this.

2002 Upper Deck 40 Man

This is the first time I have seen this card. And it is not too shabby. A decent photo of Austin. Interesting background. I liked doing this to my lawn back in Mississippi. It aggravated the poop out of the neighbors by showing them up. And I can hear Casey Kasem's voice announcing : And entering this weeks Top 40, the highest riser on the charts,. At number 28, Austin Kearns. The new kid drafted by his hometown Cincinnati Reds. This made me buy the whole team set of 2002 Upper Deck 40 Man. Not a bad looking set in my opinion.

Recent pick up No. 1

2008-03-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

This is a treat for me to find.

2003 Ultimate Collection Autograph Butyback
2003 SP Authentic
5 / 9

This beauty was won on ebay about 3 weeks ago for eight dollars with the shipping. This was the first time I have seen any non-Donruss Buybacks for Austin. His signature looks good and fits the card well. You can tell he actually looks were to sign on cards instead of just signing away. Plus he has a good looking, non pretzel type auto.

I Bought A Buyback!

2008-03-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

This is a 2003 UD Ultimate Collection
2003 Upper Deck 40 Man Buyback Autograph
29 / 33

These cards are bought off the secondary market and personally signed by the player. No sticker auto here. To me these are good ideas as the cards are hand signed and set collectors of 40 Man can add these without having to drop fifty dollars on a pack or waiting on a through the mail autos that may never come.

PRIME TIME!

2008-03-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

For todays viewing pleasure we have:

2005 Prime Patches

Portraits Quad Jersey Prime 1/ 1 This beauty was picked up off of ebay around Christmas time last year. It has a swatch of each:

Top Left: Team Logo Patch
Bottom Left: Laundry Tag
Top Right: Name Plate Patch
Bottom Right: Number Patch

The number patch seems to have some dirt or maybe some blood discoloring it. This is the first time I have seen a dirty swatch of anything. Must have been one heck of a stain. I like this card because 1) It is a one of one and 2) It has so many different pieces of Austin's jersey. It's a cool feeling seeing the jersey he wore to dive and catch a scorcher off the bat of Craig Biggio to make him wait one more at bat 2 years latter for No. 3,000.

SWEEEEEEETTT!

2008-03-01T09:57:00.001-08:00

I have obtained from the wilderness known as ebay, direct from a seller this awe inspiring card:

A 2007 Sweet Spot Signatures
Autographed Bat
No. 4 of 5 made

This is a way cool card. It is as thick as 3 of the eTopps fillers and the bat is inserted into the card itself. The gray around the wood is a shadow box type effect from wee the card edges do not meet the wood. The bat is curved and not flat like some I have seen. This is one of those cards that gives you bragging rights over other collectors.
Not that I have met any other Austin collectors. But I am looking.
While not a game used bat or having an action photo of Austin I can still see him slapping one off of Rich Hill to drive in Zimmerman with it.

Finally Done

2008-02-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

This is the link

http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc257/oljoe73/Austin%20Kearns/

to all the Austin Kearns cards I have at the time. It took about 6 days to scan and then link into photobucket. As of today it is a total of 379 cards. Not bad in a year and a half.

So take a look at each card or just play the slideshow. Clicking on the card will bring up the serial number under it if you are Interested in that.

Junkie done got me high on Kearns

2008-02-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

That Cardboard Junkie is doing his best to get me high on baseball cards.
I say bring it on, man! Bring it on! Cause only one thing can happen when I get to jonesing for more Kearns Cards. And nothing is gonna get in my way.

Card one from my pusherman

A brilliant 2005 Topps Heritage
No. 207
Good ol Kearnsy making the running catch to rob Chipper of a dying quail for a single.

Card two takes the form of:
2003 Fleer Box Score
No. 82
I never noticed how natural it was for Austin the round the spots section instead of the bases.

Card three is comin atcha
2004 Leaf Second Edition
No. 122
Austin holding up on a wayyy inside curve against the Phillies.

Card four makes me blue
2003 Topps
No. 70
Austin singling up the middle past some scrub on the Cubs.
A SINGLE?
AGAINST THE CUBS?
COME ON!

Card five
2004 Fleer Tradition
No. 178
Look at Austin as he proves he is the best Right fielder in the National League by tracking down a Derrek Lee hit.

and finally,
A 2008 (Banned)
No. 169
Did some dude just ask Austin to write his digits on the ball or something? I have not seen a deer in the headlights look like that in a while. Since I hit a deer frozen by my headlights. Doing 80. In a semi. Found some fur in the grill but that was it.

How many parallels can I post?

2008-02-19T18:41:00.000-08:00

From 2004 Leaf Certified Materials we start out with a plain old base set card.

Silver. Shiny. Addictive.

I feel like a five year old counting bugs splatting on the windshield.
Just. Can't. Stop. Buying. Parallels.

The card that started it all:
2004 Leaf Certified Materials
No. 16 Austin Kearns

Mirror Black 1 / 1
Mirror Blue 10 / 50
Mirror Red 027 / 100

Mirror White 036 / 100
Mirror White Autograph 30 / 50

Mirror Gold Autograph 02 / 25

Mirror Blue Autograph 048 / 100

Mirror Red Autograph 013 / 200

Mirror Red Bat / Fabric 148 / 250

Mirror White Fabric 030 / 100

Mirror Red Fabric 051 / 150

Mirror Gold Fabric 14 / 25

Mirror Blue Fabric 060 / 100

Mirror White Bat 032 / 100

Mirror Red Bat 009 / 150

Mirror Gold Bat 12 / 25

And there you have it! And yet I do not have enough of these parallels. I feel the need to find the Mirror Gold base parallel and two Mirror Black Materials parallels. Talk about a lost cause 4 years after they come out. But I shall carry on with the same determination of a five year old on the way to Disney World counting bugs on the windshield. Just so Dad can travel in peace. For a while.

2008-02-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

These 3 little guys came in from a trade with the Cardboard Junkie. Ol Dayf wants Kearns on the Braves as much as we want him on the Reds. So what do we have today?

2007 Bowman Heritage
No. 137
A very nice card. Austin ready to slam one over Frenchy's head while Mulder shakes his head in disgust. The signature is a little larger than he normally signs. The old time photo look. Kind of like those memographs everyone smelled to get a slight buzz when you were handed a test in school.

Next we have
A 1999 Bowman Rookie! Austin in action! Ready to throw out the runner who dared try to go home in Rookie ball. The cannon unleashed like only Vlad can do.

And lastly
A 2004 Leaf Player's Collection Jersey. This is the one Jersey card I did not have from the set. I have the other parallels but never got this one. Talk about a sweet trade for some Braves scrubs.

Big Card. Little Photo

2008-01-31T19:08:00.000-08:00

Kinda like fat guy in a little coat. This card is well.....big in blank spot.
1999 SP Prospects
Chirography Autograph Insert
AK - Austin Kearns
A teeny little photo. A teeny little logo. A medium size signature. Then a overly large white area. Sure it is a minor league issue, but why no thought into the design? Upper Deck sure did have some bad ideas for insert sets around the turn of the century. This is just a poor layout idea. Austin's name is a quarter the size of the name of the insert set. What team is he playing for? I see Reds. But what affiliate? What level?
The back is not much better. Same size photo and name. Huge white area. Blah.

But it is mine!

White Sox trade for Kearns

2008-01-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

Steve at White Sox Cards included these two gems in a recent trade.

2004 Donruss Studio This is a nice card. The skyline of Cincinnati always makes me happy when I drive through. It is a good looking city at night. The muti colors and the eclectic skyline. It's not bland like coming into Denver or Chicago. Can't wait for my first game at Great American Ballpark this summer.

2007 Bowman
This card is not a great card. Why am I looking at the back of Austin? Why are there empty seats? Why the large name area and small name. No mention of the Nationals. Small signature in a large signing area. Just a poorly laid out card. But it is mine!

So Famous she is IN-FAMOUS

2008-01-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

Thank you Infamous Tatiana!

Last week I saw her pleading and groveling for new Derek Jeter and Hanley Ramirez cards. So I felt the need to be an enabler in this hobby of ours. I contacted her (so I thought) and proposed a trade (through Mario). Trade was accepted (with a Canseco thrown in). I got a few more cards than I thought I would. But this not an unhappy post. This is a post of rejoicing! Below is the part of the treasure trove of Reds and Austin Kearns cards I have received over the past three days.
Thursday brought me these from The Infamous (Mario) Tatiana:
2007 Goudey No. 131

2007 Bowman Chrome No. 43

Rookie Card Fever

2007-09-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

Today we visit
1999 Topps Traded Autograph No. T51

This card is a good card.
Austin has that look of uncertainty as if he were a verrrry late round pick like Mike Piazza. But he should not. He was a first rounder. The bright, suuny sky behind him. The green grass of the outfield. The cool sand of the warning track? Why is he facing the outfield wall instead of trying to hit it over?
The overall Topps design on this one is good, not great. A crisp clean posed photo. Fresh looking practice jersey and cap. No goofy grin. Minimal add ons on front. Easy to tell who the player is. Actual on card autograph. And thanks to Mr. Kearns, a good looking signature you can actually read. But why he never adds an s to the end I do not know.

Card 2

2007-09-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

USA! USA! USA!

Today's card is 2003 Upper Deck National Pride.
Card NP-AK w/ game worn jersey swatch from Team USA.

This card is part of an insert set in 2003 Upper Deck. The front lacks imagination and is a little plain.
Red faded to White to Blue? …Check
Clip art eagle in background? …Check
Bad font for insert name? …Check
Mediocre photo of Austin? …Check
Photo of Austin in Team USA uni? …Nope
Large swatch of jersey? …Check
Only difference between front and back is no jersey? …Check

Upper Deck really dropped the ball on this one. It looks like they gave it to a first week community college graphics student to design. I should know. I was one once.

What did Upper Deck mean when they say on back "We hope you enjoy this piece of baseball history as we at The Upper Deck Company continue to keep you as close as you can get."? They mention only that Austin was on Team USA. Nothing about when or what happened. No photo of him on Team USA. No Team USA stats. How is this getting me closer to the game?
And these guys were licensed by USA Basball to make this set. Couldn't find and intern to find some facts or photos?
I am not looking for full bio and careere stats. How about a Austin hit Game Winning Homer against Finland on 00 / 00 / 00.
Overall the design of the card is a diappointment but I am glad to have a peice of Team USA jersey on a card.

Card 1

2007-09-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Let's start off with a card I enjoy.
2003 Topps Autograph TA-AK
I am not sure if this is the 1st Series or 2nd Series auto card. But who cares? This card has greatness all over it.

Cool looking faded background? …Check
Silver Foil printing? …Check
On Card Auto? …Check
Clear, Crisp Auto? …Check
Classic pose? …Check
Goofy "I'm on a card and you're not" grin? …Check
Santa Claus stuffed pants on? …Check
Sunglasses on the wrong side of the hat brim? …Check
Hot dog neck rolls? …Check
Neil Chrisley 1958 Topps ears? …Check
Absoulutly nothing of intrest on the back? …Check

This card epitimizes what makes collecting Austin Kearns fun. He seems like a guy you would belly up to the bar with and debate if Tito Ortiz really was cheated in his first fight with Chuck Liddell. The answer is no, but he would say yes just to agravate you and flash that I'm on a card and you're not grin. And that's why I like the guy. He's my buddy Johnny. Only a pro ball player. How can you root against this card? Unless you're a Braves fan.

Kearns Kards welcomes you

2007-09-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is a site I have decided to start to let people who enjoy Austin Kearns see different cards. I have been working on the collection off and on for about 2 years now. As a Reds fan, I chose Kearns because of his potential and ease of obtainig his cards. It's even easier now that he is with the Nationals.