The "Holy %$^&!!" boxes, Pt. 2

I feel like I've been hit by a collecting tornado.

As I've already mentioned a few times before, I've been the victim of an absolute flurry of cardboard craziness during the course of this past month.

And it's all thanks to card shows, flea markets, and, of course, seemingly random boxes of cardboard.

Still, this is a tornado that that I'm happy to welcome into my home.

While I'll eventually get to what the rest of the boxes from my Mantle-rific "find of a lifetime" held, I'd like to focus on the second part of the "Holy %^&*!!" boxes I posted about a few days ago.

Again, a huge tip of the cap goes out to reader Mark from Michigan, the generous soul who granted me such an awesome gift a few weeks back.

On that note, let's delve into the second installment of this massive four-part trade post.

One does not simply have too much Stadium Club.

If I had to guess, I'd say I've only realized a small fraction of Stadium Club's greatness over the years. I'm sure the set includes a bunch of jaw-dropping gems that I haven't yet discovered.

Mark's boxes netted me my first look at both the spectacular Hudler and "Gonzo" pieces you see above.

So, if you're sitting on a big, unloved box of Stadium Club singles, my mailbox is always open.

The "Eck-face" lives!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

You really can find almost anything in these types of boxes.

I'd just like to take this moment to say that Jim DeShaies is one of the best broadcasters in the game today.

When I first heard he'd be replacing Bob Brenly in the Cubs' booth this offseason, I was a bit skeptical. I'd grown to like the "Len and Bob" team quite a bit over the past few years.

Still, while I certainly still miss Mr. Brenly's broadcasting, DeShaies has quickly proven to be an upgrade in the announcing department.

By chance, his '86 Fleer Update rookie card happened to pop out of one of Mark's boxes.

I may just have to make him a "binder guy" now.

For what it's worth, this post's "sleeve treatment" star is former Texas Ranger outfielder Donald Harris.

Harris was the fifth overall pick in the '89 draft, so I get the need for the sleeve. Still, he hit exactly .210 with two dingers in three big-league seasons with Texas.

And, no, I'd never heard of him before today.

Kent Tekulve and Jim Abbott are a couple of my favorite players to collect.

Surprisingly, both of these overproduction-era pieces were new to my binders. I own loads of '89 Score and '93 Bowman, yet neither of these had ever fallen into my grasp.

It's funny how that happens sometimes.

While the majority of Mark's boxes were comprised of '80s and early '90s issues, a few mid '90s gems fell out of this second box.

Although most collectors seem to have quite a bit of disdain for the era, I've always had a special relationship with mid '90s cardboard. After all, that's when I broke into the hobby.

Still, I'll be the first to admit that it was a wacky time for baseball cards.

Take a look at these if you don't believe me.

In my opinion, 1995 Score is a criminally underrated set.

Yes, I know I've attached that label to quite a few releases throughout the course of this blog's history. But I especially feel that way about '95 Score. (There's one on my "Dime Box Dozen" list as we speak.)

The dirt-themed borders certainly stand out, but not so much that they take over the entire card.

And, as has become painfully obvious to me over the past few months, the checklist features a wide amount of awesome photography.

See?

All in all, though, this was far and away my favorite card from "Box #2".

With his '87 Topps piece, I can now say that I own Bobby Grich's "sunset" issue. And, since he played in his last big-league games during the 1986 season, this card features his entire career stats on the back.

When it comes to "sunsets", that's always a gigantic plus.

As hard as it might be to believe, we're only through half of all the cardboard goodness from Mark.

Until then, though, I'm going to do my best to sweep up the remnants from this wild cardboard tornado.

It's sure going to take a while.