Putting the band back together

It happened again.

I fell victim to yet another "impulse buy" last week.

On the surface, it seems like this has been happening to me more frequently as of late. I keep seeing cards I really want.

If I see a "cool" card I like on the blogs or a different website that I don't yet own, I can usually shrug it off.

I say, "Sure, I'd love to get that card one day, but I can live without it for now."

Good thing. If I felt that I had to have every single interesting baseball card, I don't think I'd be able to sleep at night.

I'd probably be broke, too.

On the other hand, an "impulse buy" is something that nags at me. Something that all of a sudden makes my collection seem a bit lacking.

Something that I absolutely must have.

Luckily, most of my "impulse buys" have only set me back about a buck or less, with shipping. Well, except for that twenty-dollar one. (Although it was definitely worth every penny.)

In that way, these latest ones were more of the same. Altogether, the trio of cards I purchased cost about a buck. (The shipping set me back another couple dollars, though.)

As I've mentioned before on this blog, some of my collection has to do with various "themes". Cards of pitchers hitting, "sunset" cards, etc.

Along those lines, you could say my latest "impulse buys" were a "themed" purchase.

Cards of ballplayers playing musical instruments.

Given my obsession with music, it's only natural that I'd want these.

Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot out there. From what I know, the trio I purchased are the only ones in existence.

This outstanding V.J. Lovero insert of the "Big Unit" is one that I'm sure a lot of collectors have seen before. It had been on my "Dime Box Dozen" list for a while, but I just couldn't wait to have it in my hands.

So I bought one.

Judging from where the hi-hat is positioned on his drum kit, it appears that he was a lefty off the baseball field as well.

I can't imagine what Randy Johnson's favorite band would be.

Van Halen?

Nirvana?

Rush?

I'm not sure.

However, it's probably safe to say that the "Big Unit" wasn't the type of guy who listened to classical music.

I have mixed emotions about this one.

Not about the card itself, of course. For those who don't know, former Yankee outfielder Bernie Williams is an accomplished guitarist, having recorded two albums and appearing on a few more.

I think most of us can agree that this is a tremendous piece of cardboard, especially with the awesome Yankee Stadium backdrop.

Nope, those "mixed emotions" are more personal in nature.

About three years ago, I was digging through a dime box at a local card show. Of course, I was in the process of finding a ton of "gems" at the time.

Then this one popped out. A true "gem" in every sense of the word. Before that day, I'd never seen it.

And I put it back.

Yes, that's right. I put it back.

After all, I didn't collect Bernie Williams.

If it's possible to have non-buyer's remorse, that's what I've been going through ever since then.

Sometimes, the name isn't the most important part of the card. I've come to realize that recently. A little too late to "score" this one for a dime, though.

Don't get me wrong. I'm ecstatic to have "reclaimed" it for my collection, even if it did cost about ten times more than a dime in the end.

Whether I like it or not, the moment I actually returned this one to that dime box will always nag me. I bet it's sitting in some old, dirty garage right now.

I'm sure most of us have looked back on a situation and said, "What was I thinking?"

That was my moment.

I'll just say it off the bat.

I've never heard of Roy Lee Jackson.

When it comes to this card, though, that's well beside the point.

In fact, this one may be the best of the bunch. The frontman of the baseball card "band", if you will.

Until a couple weeks ago, I'd never known of this card's existence. I'm a little surprised by that.

How could such greatness fly under my radar all this time?

Frankly, I'd love to see more ballplayers sing at games these days. They can't possibly be any worse than most of the "musicians" teams have recruited in the last few years.

Evidently, Mr. Jackson was quite the vocalist. At least, I'd have to imagine he was, considering Fleer chose to use this shot for the front of his card.

Originally, I thought Jackson was certainly in the process of singing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the time this photo was taken. However, given the Canadian residence of the Blue Jays, there's probably a decent chance he's performing a rendition of "O Canada".

Now, all I have to do is find a card of a bass player.

Hear that, Topps? I've got a new project for you in 2013.

For three bucks, I managed to put most of a cardboard band together. It's almost like I was on a mission from God.

Now all they need is a name.