tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53423106630648005542024-03-24T13:24:27.936-05:00Dime Boxes -- The Low-End Baseball Card Collector's JourneyNickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.comBlogger2183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-56680279355471545882024-03-21T17:29:00.004-05:002024-03-21T17:29:46.767-05:00Is this real? (A card show report)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcfqYkRItijctQVqER7VyyQDPdXbc_J3EWjHB5DCfmfkpqCRl-fs4aS0E-NTBmGeJ2ZA7x3ikkY7Y7aUvOOXoYbmqUOl7quxtkA17YSliJ1uTdTLu-G1NwT1lKxeRcHTqiA6i1vrLgeuJHDj_rFJU69DIqKgwcs5G8TPqf6ztuVZPZnfjh50gEhwCrEo/s698/Scan_20240317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcfqYkRItijctQVqER7VyyQDPdXbc_J3EWjHB5DCfmfkpqCRl-fs4aS0E-NTBmGeJ2ZA7x3ikkY7Y7aUvOOXoYbmqUOl7quxtkA17YSliJ1uTdTLu-G1NwT1lKxeRcHTqiA6i1vrLgeuJHDj_rFJU69DIqKgwcs5G8TPqf6ztuVZPZnfjh50gEhwCrEo/w284-h400/Scan_20240317.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Walking through a card show can often feel like something out of a dream.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dad and I attended the big convention hall gathering in our neck of the woods last week, and walking through those aisles and aisles of cardboard gets to be downright hypnotic. It's literally wall-to-wall action of people selling, talking, and breathing the thing you love. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself to believe it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can say that I've had actual dreams about baseball cards before, and somehow none of them measure up to the actual <i>reality </i>of the things I continue to find at shows over the years. Take this '84 Fleer Update Dwight Gooden that I pulled out of a <i>50-cent bin(!) </i>near the end of the evening. </div><div><br /></div><div>This copy isn't perfect (note the crease near the bottom), but either way it's one of those cards I've always wanted yet long resigned myself to never owning because have you seen what it goes for? Yet there it was sitting there in a random stack of cards for two quarters. </div><div><br /></div><div>Surely this only happens in the REM stage.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5As36ktpuaK7ATRsXixJIlmkulpzNlYxoA8DAsyUojHm25ocLkAWyoKAysEOxgii80zQPOCFj7J688x27NHmjaJt6CQpGBaERXWorXNAU78PKivz1Ic9AhDQhGYXfOF4znkbDlhaAs-9uNwUNMEyfs_cDdRMaScZPbSlfAsB8lL9gmJfY5Gqrd-xby8/s1420/Scan_20240317%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5As36ktpuaK7ATRsXixJIlmkulpzNlYxoA8DAsyUojHm25ocLkAWyoKAysEOxgii80zQPOCFj7J688x27NHmjaJt6CQpGBaERXWorXNAU78PKivz1Ic9AhDQhGYXfOF4znkbDlhaAs-9uNwUNMEyfs_cDdRMaScZPbSlfAsB8lL9gmJfY5Gqrd-xby8/w286-h400/Scan_20240317%20(2).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My non-collector friends are always a bit shocked when I tell them I can buy baseball cards for a dime (<i>only ten cents? that's it?</i>) but again so much of our hobby exists in a </div><div><br /></div><div>I do tend to look for a lot of the same things in dime boxes - my oft-mentioned player- and mini-collection hits come to mind - but that never kills the euphoria of nabbing 'em.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Please forgive me for showing anything of Curt Schilling, but I'm flabbergasted I'd never seen that card - or the sweet Phils throwback - before.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20mK-nVUsTWNBX22MJxKhPlF9ktlB7OtcCa6tKGN7H0Q3wzioNhtmPg-tVGoun1p3d7sVbAi63yk087tSXVGtDq-0Nmg21Tu_mMoag2GOqwJ9C00R0-if05DTxNXmOQ455LnY7ip2J8vPj-iIc9-Gg5b-zipFYd9KTCHQUlOQLAEYpvYNP2HK8y8t8ls/s1389/Scan_20240317%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="993" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20mK-nVUsTWNBX22MJxKhPlF9ktlB7OtcCa6tKGN7H0Q3wzioNhtmPg-tVGoun1p3d7sVbAi63yk087tSXVGtDq-0Nmg21Tu_mMoag2GOqwJ9C00R0-if05DTxNXmOQ455LnY7ip2J8vPj-iIc9-Gg5b-zipFYd9KTCHQUlOQLAEYpvYNP2HK8y8t8ls/w286-h400/Scan_20240317%20(3).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I dare you to not be hypnotized by dime box shiny.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iM6mO_FpAC93GM6-4jAehylyr0VugXKPeBaaJZSe_YOdxrkPxxDW6u-yplxVxGma6mRuT_kC9_NL7v32aRJgBAnxul7K_msVRx36xXdaS7prUdpHumKQFWwgZqGT60ZQdAnlaHcjjTUfZ6v1QtYsj_tcnyyfixWStSrLQdFpALPXt2bSYfak0Q2JLn4/s1409/Scan_20240317%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iM6mO_FpAC93GM6-4jAehylyr0VugXKPeBaaJZSe_YOdxrkPxxDW6u-yplxVxGma6mRuT_kC9_NL7v32aRJgBAnxul7K_msVRx36xXdaS7prUdpHumKQFWwgZqGT60ZQdAnlaHcjjTUfZ6v1QtYsj_tcnyyfixWStSrLQdFpALPXt2bSYfak0Q2JLn4/w284-h400/Scan_20240317%20(4).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, while I might fall back on the same general themes in my card show travels, the sheer unpredictability of discount boxes is what keeps me coming back to them so often.</div><div><br /></div><div>I certainly didn't expect to find a nice little run of TCMA Japanese stuff in a dime box, and I'd never dream of unearthing a neat BBM card in a 50-cent bin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Couple that with a nice helping of playing cards (yes, those go in the binder like everything else) and Topps Tiffanys for a dime (does anyone remember Sarge with the Mariners?), and you have the of randomness of a card show in a nutshell.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi53MXYcDuZV5HP1ylwweEqqiG5j_97KJlDY7i7NmBB_Dk0jIyTrw21AYvqfeHhW3ltctrKfN8je9RLy686eEYQgmC2PqnXSr0ebJ8279CxqZOhrcaArP5G03m0gGtPiQg2tqp4NyWhdKjGLaC6kTdUcIjhaxgUgpmmFnaDR1j7jvYi8VESj2suR8yzSE/s1395/Scan_20240317%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1395" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi53MXYcDuZV5HP1ylwweEqqiG5j_97KJlDY7i7NmBB_Dk0jIyTrw21AYvqfeHhW3ltctrKfN8je9RLy686eEYQgmC2PqnXSr0ebJ8279CxqZOhrcaArP5G03m0gGtPiQg2tqp4NyWhdKjGLaC6kTdUcIjhaxgUgpmmFnaDR1j7jvYi8VESj2suR8yzSE/w286-h400/Scan_20240317%20(5).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More glorious oddballs from the discount bin archives.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lest you think the Americanization of Latin names ended with "Bob" Clemente in the '60s, meet one-time White Sox hero "Steve" (Esteban, actually) Loaiza. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgDEBGwicinT2R0sdfHaWNWgC2DGzwCOXnk2N9rmNX1NrbvZ924eMCbsrwkbRZUzCuaioETjdbFo2wmGoxuZ3EF67iTLddw5wxrT2tS7p7BruSMnQCCvdIF_5VEHIMO52EaChywLyL8TzHvCW-RopMJYH6XzmjbDsoJyePo1y0iSEnxmuccf4jGCeUOI/s1432/Scan_20240317%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1020" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgDEBGwicinT2R0sdfHaWNWgC2DGzwCOXnk2N9rmNX1NrbvZ924eMCbsrwkbRZUzCuaioETjdbFo2wmGoxuZ3EF67iTLddw5wxrT2tS7p7BruSMnQCCvdIF_5VEHIMO52EaChywLyL8TzHvCW-RopMJYH6XzmjbDsoJyePo1y0iSEnxmuccf4jGCeUOI/w285-h400/Scan_20240317%20(6).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The only thing I enjoy more than oddballs are oddballs I know absolutely nothing about.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1Eq7XLc4K1iKLk0QbYVlXqD5fVXtwTS9L9_wG_zOHI9cC34NaYdc1AmHUnzyFZ9bfeyBhc3PPvL8i5b4i3YRkGoMyQKHP2f7v76TrrKchd_Kbo7GHAnICB84Xqwl9F7KEnfb1YwgUcnmg5zyRKDjB67kut5hsQA_wieoRgLa4gSiBigCh3JPzKBxm8g/s1238/Scan_20240317%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="832" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1Eq7XLc4K1iKLk0QbYVlXqD5fVXtwTS9L9_wG_zOHI9cC34NaYdc1AmHUnzyFZ9bfeyBhc3PPvL8i5b4i3YRkGoMyQKHP2f7v76TrrKchd_Kbo7GHAnICB84Xqwl9F7KEnfb1YwgUcnmg5zyRKDjB67kut5hsQA_wieoRgLa4gSiBigCh3JPzKBxm8g/w269-h400/Scan_20240317%20(7).jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I probably overpaid a bit for this Indians stadium giveaway set at the very first table of the afternoon (a whole $20!), and I actually only needed four of the seven cards in said set.</div><div><br /></div><div>But at the end of the day I knew this was the kind of thing I'd never see again if I didn't snatch it up right then and there - plus how often do you see new cards of Ray Chapman and Addie Joss??</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qqZ0rPlZd1BT4Ps-QjZ50DBkJtyeSlRsD4aDw-G6heS3KoOXiF-xyXe8R81W-CROr-zjzCr7VlBbINSglX3LcjMw-YxbMf6teEQxQ9JHRwyfaor3hKFN_eZARWp70GKBpKXZcvuzWpcTUUcPJAbXS4hXYWGzV1zCYW5uIRHEhzj2A-b5J7flAWoRk4E/s1751/Scan_20240317%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1751" data-original-width="1163" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qqZ0rPlZd1BT4Ps-QjZ50DBkJtyeSlRsD4aDw-G6heS3KoOXiF-xyXe8R81W-CROr-zjzCr7VlBbINSglX3LcjMw-YxbMf6teEQxQ9JHRwyfaor3hKFN_eZARWp70GKBpKXZcvuzWpcTUUcPJAbXS4hXYWGzV1zCYW5uIRHEhzj2A-b5J7flAWoRk4E/w266-h400/Scan_20240317%20(8).jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was poking around a big box of A&G minis at one table when the vendor came over and kindly informed me <i>those are ten cents each.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Thus unleashed a minor form of madness (HAMBURGER MINI!) - but after I'd snapped out of that fugue I found that I'd amassed a hefty stack of about 50 minis that somehow only ran me five bucks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcF1v8lQxZXcmRc6Mvbbttap24XKqYhOBW-lmfZbI9DCiI9681xzjM7dsK4iJ__B1_m8m1AeEL_feo6AeTiACRYo3E1UC63fNUW4F3SuqJJa4APSFvZs8v3uKJKT11k8lkSHN3O3qF53Er3p0mpmBnyQ76LwcRZh9sJ9-ni-xuIcjdNi49pkwD6LUcrQ/s1000/Scan_20240317%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcF1v8lQxZXcmRc6Mvbbttap24XKqYhOBW-lmfZbI9DCiI9681xzjM7dsK4iJ__B1_m8m1AeEL_feo6AeTiACRYo3E1UC63fNUW4F3SuqJJa4APSFvZs8v3uKJKT11k8lkSHN3O3qF53Er3p0mpmBnyQ76LwcRZh9sJ9-ni-xuIcjdNi49pkwD6LUcrQ/w400-h280/Scan_20240317%20(9).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dollar boxes are usually a pass for me at shows, but one of the dime box vendors I encountered had a small dollar box off to the side, so I figured I'd poke through it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine my surprise when I found a nifty Ted Williams Ted Williams, and a Marlins card of Mike Piazza I needed!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJx3REH2mqEDNIq-sMIdnR76lyRtuBRkk1RFfBERYT0OQyK5hvc1rK7rUEZw12aqzoF27O4tLK4ZYelznETuLhI0KcgdyW_6SwYfxxFzvDX1kYucb0FpmSW7XZXmS6MVrUSaUzOetMQP1krEM1RJ8MayT6Pc58QlQvNmG8y8j6xRyQ21bF_Ezr1MZRAA/s1446/Scan_20240317%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1446" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJx3REH2mqEDNIq-sMIdnR76lyRtuBRkk1RFfBERYT0OQyK5hvc1rK7rUEZw12aqzoF27O4tLK4ZYelznETuLhI0KcgdyW_6SwYfxxFzvDX1kYucb0FpmSW7XZXmS6MVrUSaUzOetMQP1krEM1RJ8MayT6Pc58QlQvNmG8y8j6xRyQ21bF_Ezr1MZRAA/w400-h285/Scan_20240317%20(10).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few random horizontals here - I feel like not enough people know how cool that Topps Black & White set is.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaEVqO68hSoxek7IrDTlDQDOgXOmsA1qYkODbmOwHiBxIohBe2IPlpASdtQIxE37ubB8wr5thI9RSfMUwYZ_xTVTezd1mPjb38xuifKofYdBVUE-jxnkET7qLjS63Mj0C4TBMyO1etQFtZt3cBqlboVR_NslndZaTWygOI_sVEpHmW_9XRToVu0t_ETA/s1410/Scan_20240317%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaEVqO68hSoxek7IrDTlDQDOgXOmsA1qYkODbmOwHiBxIohBe2IPlpASdtQIxE37ubB8wr5thI9RSfMUwYZ_xTVTezd1mPjb38xuifKofYdBVUE-jxnkET7qLjS63Mj0C4TBMyO1etQFtZt3cBqlboVR_NslndZaTWygOI_sVEpHmW_9XRToVu0t_ETA/w285-h400/Scan_20240317%20(11).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Other neat randoms that didn't fit anywhere else in this post - always satisfying to find a photo variation like that Nola in a dime box!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOjZ6dpHL6m9RGa0JYb4V1dHAeT5nMeR5lG_upZzDHvRDhpK7QASBHj6ltX3QaK5nIXcE0cAhtDfg9i_szEqPi5IqSkXUcf0AExY306bIuh4YP88Ame4nFUyBj6r6QeF8cze66I9MmcXcuq4JuMWM_oydvyCUkQhvNTjPOLevYwxSLa-FjM0_imxTocc/s1440/Scan_20240317%20(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOjZ6dpHL6m9RGa0JYb4V1dHAeT5nMeR5lG_upZzDHvRDhpK7QASBHj6ltX3QaK5nIXcE0cAhtDfg9i_szEqPi5IqSkXUcf0AExY306bIuh4YP88Ame4nFUyBj6r6QeF8cze66I9MmcXcuq4JuMWM_oydvyCUkQhvNTjPOLevYwxSLa-FjM0_imxTocc/w285-h400/Scan_20240317%20(12).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I found a whole run of Platinum Anniversary cards in one guy's dime box, and I think it kinda gave me a new appreciation for the set - Melvin Mora is by no means high on my collecting radar, but it's cool to see someone like him get a card in a modern checklist.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dreams, like , go through stages, and unfortunately I have to cut this one a bit short...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Nsdswb8Aye7C5P3MriZ43-_ZbMm3T6cFDI73muc5nN1SLOSNLZX0IPkVpkoFwu7ySlSwZIUp1CCgxTrgCGfUYfDwC2nmuT8PtHlCffWDdgNw4FQF3sFdyhrKthF9d4wcUMVpAmLHOqLoAmTfQuy_rfNr3aMWlSh818qg4udlPQ5ApaDtz3ozqaUyulI/s726/Scan_20240317%20(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="726" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Nsdswb8Aye7C5P3MriZ43-_ZbMm3T6cFDI73muc5nN1SLOSNLZX0IPkVpkoFwu7ySlSwZIUp1CCgxTrgCGfUYfDwC2nmuT8PtHlCffWDdgNw4FQF3sFdyhrKthF9d4wcUMVpAmLHOqLoAmTfQuy_rfNr3aMWlSh818qg4udlPQ5ApaDtz3ozqaUyulI/w400-h286/Scan_20240317%20(13).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...because vintage awaits!</div><div><br /></div><div>The dime boxes and such were in fine form, but in the end I think it's obvious that vintage won the show this time around. A good example of this is the fact that in the madness of everything I picked up, I honestly kinda forgot I bought this '60 Willie Mays until I was going through my finds later that night.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like this is the kind of card that sums up my collection to a T: creased, battered, and generally worn, but still a big name that knocks you sideways with an affordable price tag (only $30!) to match.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZYn02t6kV9hENgOQcJ1f5ub5BF9BgPHSFRSnwtq-w6t62zY4O1zOuIsRHz5tztHsbu_Q0s24HuU-c2upzINVdMDNiRIdyhuqSLXy5w81ACIJShMIGiKR08qdAbEazEMRDnv-cw9er2WT7Z1FYatr-fawLEFvgq0s6RW90kTmAzRe6LVyCsvvhu-XgHI/s1456/Scan_20240317%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZYn02t6kV9hENgOQcJ1f5ub5BF9BgPHSFRSnwtq-w6t62zY4O1zOuIsRHz5tztHsbu_Q0s24HuU-c2upzINVdMDNiRIdyhuqSLXy5w81ACIJShMIGiKR08qdAbEazEMRDnv-cw9er2WT7Z1FYatr-fawLEFvgq0s6RW90kTmAzRe6LVyCsvvhu-XgHI/w281-h400/Scan_20240317%20(14).jpg" width="281" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, the vintage discount bins packed a whole lot of punches throughout the day - the Yost was a cool find because it's been a while since I'd added a '52 Topps to my binders.</div><div><br /></div><div>That '57 Kubek (from the icky "scarce" series) is akin to the '84 Fleer Gooden, in that it's a card I wanted but never planned on owning - that is, until an obviously un-mint copy popped up for $10 in the very first aisle.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvjrQy30z40UowvIW6qQkxVhQdX9bKaA-ldpFtiCZ1yFtYHtfcPCgybpZkKcxjEjoHIFt5rJlUedh72BgrV1mbGVf8u-bcAoqLQ_BiD_wLB8wWAmVGS3grHYwWsg5OpMxhF41oAwDeIkZUNTyvZ4pQNS09Ieb8bLwGxgmzI5Xg4dQBEJ1INNH317hyPE/s1406/Scan_20240317%20(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1003" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPvjrQy30z40UowvIW6qQkxVhQdX9bKaA-ldpFtiCZ1yFtYHtfcPCgybpZkKcxjEjoHIFt5rJlUedh72BgrV1mbGVf8u-bcAoqLQ_BiD_wLB8wWAmVGS3grHYwWsg5OpMxhF41oAwDeIkZUNTyvZ4pQNS09Ieb8bLwGxgmzI5Xg4dQBEJ1INNH317hyPE/w285-h400/Scan_20240317%20(15).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of my vintage finds tend to be on the pricier side (or, at least whatever qualifies as "pricey" for this cheapskate), but there's still fun to be had in the loose change department here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing in this scan set me back more than 50 cents - the Morales is another notch in my quest for all the '74 Topps "Washingtons" and that Barragon is just a fun a baseball card (love all the dents in the backstop). </div><div><br /></div><div>I've also been making a push to add more defunct team stuff to my binders, and I honestly had no idea future Met great Jerry Grote broke in with the Colt 45s.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnsQTV3vKK21FPp2yQ76-KVJuHM31XpFb3P2qKgSZajOJS4QFH0dsiDtKSufQM52ssK6v2Gz3PwKYiFOnFWVni8H7Uz5jGIQq4PbmAr9BPu-Nw9SzTCCuRjIchchG3YTKBctbcua84zyvD4yCSz4imdARTTrTNINBMjIMX93XwaZ1FS9yEhUTVhMpSaI/s1602/Scan_20240317%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnsQTV3vKK21FPp2yQ76-KVJuHM31XpFb3P2qKgSZajOJS4QFH0dsiDtKSufQM52ssK6v2Gz3PwKYiFOnFWVni8H7Uz5jGIQq4PbmAr9BPu-Nw9SzTCCuRjIchchG3YTKBctbcua84zyvD4yCSz4imdARTTrTNINBMjIMX93XwaZ1FS9yEhUTVhMpSaI/w378-h400/Scan_20240317%20(16).jpg" width="378" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have the slightest idea what these are - they're paper-thin and appear to be cut from a sheet of some kind - but I knew there was no way I was letting such a fun batch of Senators get by me at 50 cents a pop.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhISDXaux4AEF3rFsFfpPSkYwBW2nkSQbSPV5ITqushwqdA4ZG4TIHKKGDqfRkPIRNmskEJ48wHhWXdn0bn9qtSYleWmGpU2mzpm5dY4xq8ynHnlMQ6NZLeTJ5ex1ODqn3DhMesRD95xIR5X9Q1YdIL3W7VqU3Jl6cICzgjF2to4qXAPcQpFNpWmBjO4/s1463/Scan_20240317%20(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1054" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhISDXaux4AEF3rFsFfpPSkYwBW2nkSQbSPV5ITqushwqdA4ZG4TIHKKGDqfRkPIRNmskEJ48wHhWXdn0bn9qtSYleWmGpU2mzpm5dY4xq8ynHnlMQ6NZLeTJ5ex1ODqn3DhMesRD95xIR5X9Q1YdIL3W7VqU3Jl6cICzgjF2to4qXAPcQpFNpWmBjO4/w289-h400/Scan_20240317%20(17).jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>"Bill's Got It" is another excellent card I'd somehow never seen before, and '60s Fleer Greats remains a constant thrill for me because of how affordable they tend to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've scooped up most of the cheaper Nu-Scoops I need at this point, leaving me with the scarier bigger names to chase - that Gehrig was a whole $15, but that's actually not bad for the top-tier greats in this set.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrkfOOrYms9I6lik1OW8vdIy5UUOkTUgbw0ELU-foCga_BUxGKGG-NzeVeNsf1cJaDixWtj87_xN6J1gvbNp7VLFEjk_oz6De4OgldWFsgEU-5z7z2Gjjc1taM_BoE5pcGSfkJGkKOeYdE-CSfihR3g7LVz6bGBBmJm1Z2KYeQvtKLbT_dz_JIFmfCzI/s917/Scan_20240317%20(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="917" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrkfOOrYms9I6lik1OW8vdIy5UUOkTUgbw0ELU-foCga_BUxGKGG-NzeVeNsf1cJaDixWtj87_xN6J1gvbNp7VLFEjk_oz6De4OgldWFsgEU-5z7z2Gjjc1taM_BoE5pcGSfkJGkKOeYdE-CSfihR3g7LVz6bGBBmJm1Z2KYeQvtKLbT_dz_JIFmfCzI/w400-h326/Scan_20240317%20(18).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my favorite vendors at this show has a big box of "off-grade" vintage for 90 percent off their list price - talk about heaven!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not usually an avid buyer of early Bowman, but at $5 a piece I'd be insane to pass on these two Dime Box Favorites.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H_z3fzvAIvvEbtMteyvoslfDpAfR2_vIDgwBvi9lNKlZe5Yj3HwCHWlZCt9Hr1_ZAK7Vg4cYktHPmj-QEW-9yNeo1m7lG3Iis96b4cF7Cpg4cOBR7e9HmKyJvKGkSuEl7j8AKD4nQ-vDwHoy-10IzGiGhtq5rddhUN7F2GdqaeUAmDUJmXfpq8loxRQ/s1356/Scan_20240317%20(19).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1356" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1H_z3fzvAIvvEbtMteyvoslfDpAfR2_vIDgwBvi9lNKlZe5Yj3HwCHWlZCt9Hr1_ZAK7Vg4cYktHPmj-QEW-9yNeo1m7lG3Iis96b4cF7Cpg4cOBR7e9HmKyJvKGkSuEl7j8AKD4nQ-vDwHoy-10IzGiGhtq5rddhUN7F2GdqaeUAmDUJmXfpq8loxRQ/w400-h394/Scan_20240317%20(19).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I may love my modern minis, but they can't hold a candle to our bite-size vintage legends.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dad actually was the one who found that '69 Deckle Edge Jim Wynn, and I think he was a bit surprised about how quickly I threw it into my purchase pile. That one was short-printed for whatever reason & has been a thorn in my side for a good long while now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hostess and Kellogg's have long been the hallowed kings of vintage oddballs, but I've also been on a vintage Bazooka kick lately and couldn't believe my luck at finding that cool Colavito.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOS8szKOY0IpuudXOX70M1NaZCmpR6Sd6w6RUDtydxmZriollAB6hLwNQRS8WrnsP3RGewCyFZjkfaCN7wRbN0QCDD55TPuRmAIG2wlyv0oZir7LgY10vDrlZ1iGfvxu3zC2TO1XhNbWkparZb3hSHhg361Iqm7l0kDhVrYS-inok1QmgnouqOZ0F8rg/s960/Scan_20240317%20(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="960" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOS8szKOY0IpuudXOX70M1NaZCmpR6Sd6w6RUDtydxmZriollAB6hLwNQRS8WrnsP3RGewCyFZjkfaCN7wRbN0QCDD55TPuRmAIG2wlyv0oZir7LgY10vDrlZ1iGfvxu3zC2TO1XhNbWkparZb3hSHhg361Iqm7l0kDhVrYS-inok1QmgnouqOZ0F8rg/w400-h276/Scan_20240317%20(20).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Now we're getting into the real big stuff, the true <i>pinch-me</i> finds of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Never in a million years did I think I'd be the proud owner of a real Mel Ott card, but a blemish and a couple pinholes found one plop into my lap for a cool $25. That's the kind of thing that I never even think to because it seems so far out on the cardboard stratosphere.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also please join me in breathing a massive sigh of relief about <i>finally owning a '79 Hostess Ozzie Smith! </i>At a hefty $50, it wasn't exactly discount bin fodder - and about ten times more than I'd ever paid for anything Hostess. Still, it's a surprisingly tough card (there's a copy on COMC for $175) and one I don't think I'd actually seen in the wild before (the vendor I bought it from somehow had four copies!). </div><div><br /></div><div>And yet somehow everything I've shown so far takes a back seat to the big purchase of the day...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM2Oz4Ce1llpwX0Qd_QG166DcoVUBdTFcDO0YYzgFlHlAaXZSP42cm5SJhnQ5EiT_3ugjQdU4t8BE3Q8dMrymM66xw55wxNGp_83fzHUuPO_JDkE6q8mBaKEDiS4jrcaYu41_SfSYWOmImD4Ph2fedQ_NZho8RAf79FKFlXiuWnNalii9QcTT0U_kB08/s706/Scan_20240317%20(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM2Oz4Ce1llpwX0Qd_QG166DcoVUBdTFcDO0YYzgFlHlAaXZSP42cm5SJhnQ5EiT_3ugjQdU4t8BE3Q8dMrymM66xw55wxNGp_83fzHUuPO_JDkE6q8mBaKEDiS4jrcaYu41_SfSYWOmImD4Ph2fedQ_NZho8RAf79FKFlXiuWnNalii9QcTT0U_kB08/w283-h400/Scan_20240317%20(21).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><div>...because meet Mr. Mantle.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course I always <i>want</i> a new Mickey Mantle, but I never walk into a card show with the intent of buying one because the prices are always so massive. The $100 price tag on this '66 was obviously still a good chunk of change (and you can count the times I've paid three-figures for a card on one hand), but every vintage Mantle I've seen at a show is easily at least twice that. Even creased Mantles like this one are usually arm-and-a-leg territory.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hemmed and hawed a bit, but deep down I think I knew this Mantle was coming home with me all along because I knew I'd regret leaving it behind. And I have Dad to thank for this one, since his generous donation to the Dime Box Human Fund made it all possible. After all is said and done, I'm left asking myself the question that always seems to ring in my head after every card show.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Are you sure this isn't a dream?</i></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-22991964348087862932024-03-08T17:30:00.001-06:002024-03-08T17:30:00.137-06:00God save your mad parade (a guest post from Dad!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHIBAA3xsydtddv2elz4Sf9b92vSq4p3yThpviT3xakPcZ_eweEXPUxkTOpyyk5utXRWTg2qxDrRAKPyNS7DNp01nFEA3-C6Isfzt-X5TrSaC325h4VHC7uBNKhvu7FZ8zUN-oYQPcgm6tqDtzNJEjmPDSZ1SiqbNxMLiTM_XlY_RuQn3uv7QZvgIAX0/s1053/puzz663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1053" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHIBAA3xsydtddv2elz4Sf9b92vSq4p3yThpviT3xakPcZ_eweEXPUxkTOpyyk5utXRWTg2qxDrRAKPyNS7DNp01nFEA3-C6Isfzt-X5TrSaC325h4VHC7uBNKhvu7FZ8zUN-oYQPcgm6tqDtzNJEjmPDSZ1SiqbNxMLiTM_XlY_RuQn3uv7QZvgIAX0/w400-h281/puzz663.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>Nick's Dad here...</div><div><br /></div><div>Nick loves his "oddball" cards and I love seeing his posts here and going</div><div>through his cards, amazing the amount of cool stuff!</div><div><br /></div><div>I collected the '70s Kiss and Elvis cards, as well as vintage Beatles, Monkees, etc, that were in obtainable mass-produced retail packs, but I also really dig musical oddballs...the apple didn't fall far from the tree! </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some of my favorites...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj53ncyYmcX6ScWuMFK3znDo_1NvkSL1r7iTS29mHayq9nzJ8apXbFdqKwNDRKQqy4JW-ckYBdSR7jP4aqS_mS2nr4Hg8oGfxsxWvZDgqVwgxfFFop3pDnvs55wNkUi-jBlRd4EewblUqQJUfJ13GKzJqRxzWBDXqLE8XoOk1Z2YVBXjc-bojpiBaeAOI/s2511/Pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2511" data-original-width="1977" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj53ncyYmcX6ScWuMFK3znDo_1NvkSL1r7iTS29mHayq9nzJ8apXbFdqKwNDRKQqy4JW-ckYBdSR7jP4aqS_mS2nr4Hg8oGfxsxWvZDgqVwgxfFFop3pDnvs55wNkUi-jBlRd4EewblUqQJUfJ13GKzJqRxzWBDXqLE8XoOk1Z2YVBXjc-bojpiBaeAOI/w315-h400/Pic1.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>Amazingly, at one of Nick's old bookstore jobs, he grabbed me a bag of about 40 of these 1957 Hit Stars trading cards that they were THROWING AWAY! </div><div><br /></div><div>The set was about half movie and TV stars and half music...guess they figured they'd cash in on that new rock n roll "fad"!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmoatYrPhTnZ__giHXkVRZFazBQqNRd-RxvHKGYMXVKB-K05CZLGv3BSa0-xhkwhMyrU5QvTPfQnbjGyKpp9EDcwZxQp8tPDAdZWYMCZI7huRDydU26iV2QN9IGsNZQfBt9qYoZUNZ5ds2qRF1sBgm87c4NcpGkNKw_c_R9bei7D2_39ApHO61BR_eCw/s2581/Pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2581" data-original-width="2102" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmoatYrPhTnZ__giHXkVRZFazBQqNRd-RxvHKGYMXVKB-K05CZLGv3BSa0-xhkwhMyrU5QvTPfQnbjGyKpp9EDcwZxQp8tPDAdZWYMCZI7huRDydU26iV2QN9IGsNZQfBt9qYoZUNZ5ds2qRF1sBgm87c4NcpGkNKw_c_R9bei7D2_39ApHO61BR_eCw/w326-h400/Pic2.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Also going in the trash, Nick got me a bunch of these double-sided Supremes cards...I thought they'd be 60s-70s vintage but turns out they were produced by the Motown Corp. in 1986,and that IS odd!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8Py8wB2vyfvXESaDufRv8PZAl8cq6ni-ym37_8Ea-kSxOpmCbhwBb33g5rclVJY8IJCY37urR4-9FockLjlsLOSjCb4hoyl04jlKrFkg5lCY_y3FBL4MxF3zkP_202vzmDti94OlC3r5INoKbKGuDcp-RoR8ioQ2ZZrcmI1Jrk5qEbJ1e-Q0xkc2neQ/s2606/Pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2606" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8Py8wB2vyfvXESaDufRv8PZAl8cq6ni-ym37_8Ea-kSxOpmCbhwBb33g5rclVJY8IJCY37urR4-9FockLjlsLOSjCb4hoyl04jlKrFkg5lCY_y3FBL4MxF3zkP_202vzmDti94OlC3r5INoKbKGuDcp-RoR8ioQ2ZZrcmI1Jrk5qEbJ1e-Q0xkc2neQ/w400-h236/Pic3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>These 1974 minis were put out in the U.K. by Bassett & Co. which is a company who made all kinds of cards from way back, many of my Brit friends collected their football (soccer) and cricket cards...</div><div><br /></div><div>3 big faves here: Marc Bolan, Noddy Holder, and Roy Wood...</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbZhXtcpg0MuX_BJzObroaiY7c3faCG8I7FuSjDxW_PGGAZYG1c3embZdhYv056Evlc8B03-CbjmFSPvPW777aNTcuXk7BcaY58-4P1Roe0yvgS5-KbvFrhvzCcEZVVYl26ECvohNIO1ZSyXvVHzLZAs_WDoQj4px3o5xhes32q0a77yLPJKc1iGgh3w/s2667/Pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="1585" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbZhXtcpg0MuX_BJzObroaiY7c3faCG8I7FuSjDxW_PGGAZYG1c3embZdhYv056Evlc8B03-CbjmFSPvPW777aNTcuXk7BcaY58-4P1Roe0yvgS5-KbvFrhvzCcEZVVYl26ECvohNIO1ZSyXvVHzLZAs_WDoQj4px3o5xhes32q0a77yLPJKc1iGgh3w/w238-h400/Pic4.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>These next couple sets were made by the Dutch company Monty Gum 76-77...I LOVE ABBA but only have a few of these cards, they're usually in the 6-10 dollar range...</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl7f0ItlVYUpSu0KvOpkeiZ9hYWwHiCuSNneDQVvUTstvbXowrUwX1uIQzzkUXVSLcvD8DnogevJWnCi0GFXrX7xDGFXgEdm5kD5pmjUIhC0XmJof2VCUcBQImp361oGk5pNq17dofG2gZ80osc7QUs3Z9NpTiideDbyvs2ym7majOXNUsb8kSukypvg/s2472/Pick5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1803" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl7f0ItlVYUpSu0KvOpkeiZ9hYWwHiCuSNneDQVvUTstvbXowrUwX1uIQzzkUXVSLcvD8DnogevJWnCi0GFXrX7xDGFXgEdm5kD5pmjUIhC0XmJof2VCUcBQImp361oGk5pNq17dofG2gZ80osc7QUs3Z9NpTiideDbyvs2ym7majOXNUsb8kSukypvg/w291-h400/Pick5.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div><br /></div>...the "Punk" set is really cool with lots of cards I'd love to nab, but these are even scarcer and pricier, but if I had to pick 2 I'd pick the 2 I have!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OCCiEdkQi2i-13yurZu1UpROQBGQnl2DjAexti5QG91TVb6vld9IEKZKZJOvPSUE0wLM9skJ7DEIr_7a382P0gz_qwrr7N7vAPU0nXHdscAZ2f6775dXWb4A9rBoM84XpOGEr4l0vOxeW-7xwk3z4Fhb0oL0GyC6r0uSmU55RdiW7wG8wPDSR3LSBi0/s2853/Pic6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2514" data-original-width="2853" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OCCiEdkQi2i-13yurZu1UpROQBGQnl2DjAexti5QG91TVb6vld9IEKZKZJOvPSUE0wLM9skJ7DEIr_7a382P0gz_qwrr7N7vAPU0nXHdscAZ2f6775dXWb4A9rBoM84XpOGEr4l0vOxeW-7xwk3z4Fhb0oL0GyC6r0uSmU55RdiW7wG8wPDSR3LSBi0/w400-h353/Pic6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Nick was nuts about those cards in the SI For Kids magazine when he was</div><div>a boy, and has since showed me other "came with a magazine" cards...</div><div><br /></div><div>A Chicago legend, Jake Austen has been cranking out issues of his magazine Roctober for a loooong time, and an issue a few years ago contained these "Hall Of Dynamic Greatness" cards, from the well-known (Blondie) to the obscure but just as great (Jobriath!)...</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvxACnjhZ4brgjNfirGFLefcjfsXpWkSPsVGHK0WnWXrI-xrPS2SH4AlG4R0bHTAgv-T7QbaPf2ZxQFqTVpDsCOqOgWb9uYEWsbfLXOE0QwLTcgAzbKJ6JR5cNXtHiXzCXbNx1Czq_2Zw2uzCobY1TvBuKKcKtsuTBtFJC2wCKw2naIEfpb-vaaGkWNk/s2844/Pic7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="2844" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvxACnjhZ4brgjNfirGFLefcjfsXpWkSPsVGHK0WnWXrI-xrPS2SH4AlG4R0bHTAgv-T7QbaPf2ZxQFqTVpDsCOqOgWb9uYEWsbfLXOE0QwLTcgAzbKJ6JR5cNXtHiXzCXbNx1Czq_2Zw2uzCobY1TvBuKKcKtsuTBtFJC2wCKw2naIEfpb-vaaGkWNk/w400-h319/Pic7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I realize any card issued by Topps might not qualify as an "oddball", but</div><div>if any qualify it would be these cards issued for the 1994 revival of</div><div>"Damn Yankees" on Broadway...</div><div><br /></div><div>They were (as far as I know) only sold in a pack at the theatre...On my last trip to the Broadway Cares Flea Market in NYC, I finally found a set at a table for 20 dollars, and I immediately asked the vendor if the Jerry Lewis card was in there, since most sets I saw online his card was pulled to sell seperately...it wasn't in there, so the vendor says "how about five bucks?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Sold!! Found a reasonable Lewis card shortly thereafter to complete the set...</div><div><br /></div><div>Always fun to "guest post" and thanks for the opportunity, Nick!</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-66916445432941289742024-02-22T17:15:00.002-06:002024-02-22T17:25:30.092-06:00Let's make a deal (on COMC)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaBQOETy3KpRh-OH83D_JiUOM2SsJaxOZd3WNKcQWNyf0v2cCzrOWfck4otZUgXVrBSvv8r8x1QtZ4tTreVGb7FXPhse2lK-9SL0CbpAjsIRdyLwLyWS5-Zg9tDmpLxnOZw8RS5fscmuWWsKCX-X81YzwVlTZQFddDmAMtzrk9v25iCEh2AqqUFqXuF0/s701/Scan_20240112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaBQOETy3KpRh-OH83D_JiUOM2SsJaxOZd3WNKcQWNyf0v2cCzrOWfck4otZUgXVrBSvv8r8x1QtZ4tTreVGb7FXPhse2lK-9SL0CbpAjsIRdyLwLyWS5-Zg9tDmpLxnOZw8RS5fscmuWWsKCX-X81YzwVlTZQFddDmAMtzrk9v25iCEh2AqqUFqXuF0/w286-h400/Scan_20240112.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've grown a bit more comfortable with haggling over the years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I try not to take it to extremes - seeing people trying to negotiate over dime and quarter cards at shows drives me insane - but I like to think there's nothing wrong with trying to get a dealer to shave a few bucks off a card I otherwise might not touch. I give huge points to card sellers here, because I can't imagine the number of negotiations they have to deal with in a single day.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of the many reasons why I continue to use COMC for my card-addict activities - you can make offers, and from my experience, they're accepted more often than not. Couple that with their (relatively) recent Black Friday sale that arrived on my doorstep a few weeks ago, and you have potential a sea of good deals.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is heaven for me, since I am, admittedly, a collector forever in search of a deal. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIu6haetha3k6vI9blIsA_bulF0jszuKxI2XgLOpIBAVxJiqUSAwOihqFZCu0I_9U4j2IUOeNAYW9RnGolgarE9myKV8Pgo3PCisvFfY8cmGP69Nbbyp_XBM-Diaku32_VFWDxLToKYNkv16Gv7EM0Tinn577_S6VWB4vPM6_bNB1jFh1pmpCxv8mv5U/s944/Scan_20240112%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="944" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIu6haetha3k6vI9blIsA_bulF0jszuKxI2XgLOpIBAVxJiqUSAwOihqFZCu0I_9U4j2IUOeNAYW9RnGolgarE9myKV8Pgo3PCisvFfY8cmGP69Nbbyp_XBM-Diaku32_VFWDxLToKYNkv16Gv7EM0Tinn577_S6VWB4vPM6_bNB1jFh1pmpCxv8mv5U/w400-h295/Scan_20240112%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't have to make offers on any of the three gargantuan minor league cards I've showed already - Black Friday sellers marked them down to a price that was already in my wheelhouse.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've had my sights set on nabbing a minor league Willie McGee for a long time - a rare document of his zero-year tenure in the Yankees system - and the prices were so good that I grabbed a second one for good measure!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdM8qg1yBzcJtebEWR-SRCC8L7cW6gAWOjX4oGzBY5KLASfXggGnraHHp-DebikZqQ7F5eL-382n91dLZpdHJ1200jihT_fhuZEW9F5a3FDCPo7Yi2Zn-dJYz_BpOQYmOsdxTTUs1h-kdbj_-FaMcH0jOzs1LlaU535LfoSK16NttDRFPmuUJDFbpEds/s1435/Scan_20240112%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1022" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdM8qg1yBzcJtebEWR-SRCC8L7cW6gAWOjX4oGzBY5KLASfXggGnraHHp-DebikZqQ7F5eL-382n91dLZpdHJ1200jihT_fhuZEW9F5a3FDCPo7Yi2Zn-dJYz_BpOQYmOsdxTTUs1h-kdbj_-FaMcH0jOzs1LlaU535LfoSK16NttDRFPmuUJDFbpEds/w285-h400/Scan_20240112%20(3).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ainge and McGee were the unquestioned minor league kings of this order, but I managed to grab a few other familiar names and Obscure Dime Box Favorites on the cheap as well (pre-beard Brian Wilson!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOAfBvXxlKyz1JNu6jZZVECgOY9I8zxvts2_BlCTMzo0m9C6vhKgyqxao8ICtIKJ-7hr7Q5dewwa4ejaOjwg_Y9J9zS49NDoRXQ5CuJip2DeMPv96QHdt_R9X7ntI9H4wv6ixYyTx8xyvCljiHgPYrK-bVZPv00ApICRjbURIEwhU489VzugQ_tvg9Ks/s1420/Scan_20240112%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOAfBvXxlKyz1JNu6jZZVECgOY9I8zxvts2_BlCTMzo0m9C6vhKgyqxao8ICtIKJ-7hr7Q5dewwa4ejaOjwg_Y9J9zS49NDoRXQ5CuJip2DeMPv96QHdt_R9X7ntI9H4wv6ixYyTx8xyvCljiHgPYrK-bVZPv00ApICRjbURIEwhU489VzugQ_tvg9Ks/w283-h400/Scan_20240112%20(4).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still amazed at how cheap I can find Japanese cards on COMC - a new Ichiro manages to sneak into every order nowadays, and they're not as pricey as you might think (this one was about $5).</div><div><br /></div><div>I also still have a soft spot for the Japanese busts of my childhood like Kazuhisa Ishii, because they can't all be Ichiros and Ohtanis.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwFdqO6gjDLS19FkM3sBQ1EBKFdwu8EnQMQOuiIVqlh-Tr_e4-cl0MWMGkibnI7w7p0kyB15p5X2E-0k61oAkZbd1h4vM8-7hGoazcCXxMXOyipZrD1IXvo92UU6gzXjOx4ObhK7_jAsrdysBj5H9COL4fVqcq6YTfhM1sdaV1mAFYHiL9iWXZRiyUPU/s1403/Scan_20240112%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwFdqO6gjDLS19FkM3sBQ1EBKFdwu8EnQMQOuiIVqlh-Tr_e4-cl0MWMGkibnI7w7p0kyB15p5X2E-0k61oAkZbd1h4vM8-7hGoazcCXxMXOyipZrD1IXvo92UU6gzXjOx4ObhK7_jAsrdysBj5H9COL4fVqcq6YTfhM1sdaV1mAFYHiL9iWXZRiyUPU/w286-h400/Scan_20240112%20(5).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've managed to negotiate my way into scoring quite a few variations and generally fun oddballs on COMC, which is great because I always salivate over stuff like this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stadium Club variations are downright impossible to touch, but given that people don't go wild over Billy Hamilton cards these days (he'll always have a spot in my binders!), I was able to nab that one.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMO_QfjW1Vy8upoeaWrJq90q_9wEWJylJX8I67POlwldsiK6WBg8VRhuTK0AWk3hf2MhyR-vICjMYvVPJNgYrSskX-aPdPyPodi_OX1J9sRRvoKYRsOjRwhsSVu1qlp-2yeH4VUr5CqGVHdvtybVwBN9WCUm1pTtybsiSAZxtOR5oIRnzmS52ArYdA54/s1500/Scan_20240112%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMO_QfjW1Vy8upoeaWrJq90q_9wEWJylJX8I67POlwldsiK6WBg8VRhuTK0AWk3hf2MhyR-vICjMYvVPJNgYrSskX-aPdPyPodi_OX1J9sRRvoKYRsOjRwhsSVu1qlp-2yeH4VUr5CqGVHdvtybVwBN9WCUm1pTtybsiSAZxtOR5oIRnzmS52ArYdA54/w284-h400/Scan_20240112%20(6).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Gotta show the big player- and mini-collection hits - I don't make a habit of chasing parallels on COMC, but who among us can resist a shiny Hoyt for 80 cents?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-TsyErjgNCd-VIPDmQB6n1ryHP9rY3ucO8Cw89JXLZsbHCiPumWBVzTMdDoHCaKwVnwqtnqEOZGHT6XnNfw8thfPvz-18zgNkuvpocc-pjnDK_qUkyEckmmCFgZiRIMqIDTYyPNT_Fu5qEgJH1lEXx7s6dH8eo7EtHhwP6aTKG5PYrL3vuVZ6GSma4E/s1470/Scan_20240112%20(7).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="1073" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-TsyErjgNCd-VIPDmQB6n1ryHP9rY3ucO8Cw89JXLZsbHCiPumWBVzTMdDoHCaKwVnwqtnqEOZGHT6XnNfw8thfPvz-18zgNkuvpocc-pjnDK_qUkyEckmmCFgZiRIMqIDTYyPNT_Fu5qEgJH1lEXx7s6dH8eo7EtHhwP6aTKG5PYrL3vuVZ6GSma4E/w293-h400/Scan_20240112%20(7).jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few fun fan favorites here - been chasing that Madlock for a while because it's one of the extreme few cards you'll see that documents his brief Rangers tenure.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still not exactly sure what that Gates Brown is, and while it's not a particularly great baseball card, anything of Gates Brown I don't already have automatically goes in my cart.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7WY9sZPn49Wg3vgZ40oohQB_PZoID0_Cva6N9GtG2llHno-kddO4NTR89GECnjEGY2FC9vJ6H7SHLP3SdYjiOYXLzSmQfj0_jB4jZr4d38ZpGZfRxJAyie6-GPGNxA3zq9fRydEsTEYbn5_nMbWGeoILrX3mm2tbFHYQnbXBLSBA1E5XZjf06ANIEY4/s1279/Scan_20240112%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1279" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7WY9sZPn49Wg3vgZ40oohQB_PZoID0_Cva6N9GtG2llHno-kddO4NTR89GECnjEGY2FC9vJ6H7SHLP3SdYjiOYXLzSmQfj0_jB4jZr4d38ZpGZfRxJAyie6-GPGNxA3zq9fRydEsTEYbn5_nMbWGeoILrX3mm2tbFHYQnbXBLSBA1E5XZjf06ANIEY4/w400-h368/Scan_20240112%20(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Mini madness!</div><div><br /></div><div>(I thought I was bad with a pair of scissors until I saw that Milk Duds Cepeda.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJWzN-5kPds64d4yG1Q6I1qsGDozvivrGqzCJ00Nc4Og0bQ8Sre_EyFa8angPuAVu12MeRFRtsv50S3kpUbclItwmQTdgcGZGqAStSnORGOfrb4fjTVPT65f0OXG6GKzoHhua3MnCjUwk8Udv9eSb7V80L-mfaASPLBbLwkEMOmB79IJO8XyS3DIZUsU/s1431/Scan_20240112%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1431" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJWzN-5kPds64d4yG1Q6I1qsGDozvivrGqzCJ00Nc4Og0bQ8Sre_EyFa8angPuAVu12MeRFRtsv50S3kpUbclItwmQTdgcGZGqAStSnORGOfrb4fjTVPT65f0OXG6GKzoHhua3MnCjUwk8Udv9eSb7V80L-mfaASPLBbLwkEMOmB79IJO8XyS3DIZUsU/w400-h285/Scan_20240112%20(9).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A nice batch for the horizontal files here - I paid more for that Big Klu than I wanted, but a card like that is love at first sight & I couldn't bear the pain of not owning it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hCDvl4eNTgHKWjCEtGoLrmm86AxApsTSfAc26_5tiMqrXapnCo7-QkMNgrPzgKLrJt508mXAs8tIPVpOa0A3tZnxEmpqorFXojnITAZgfMpJIdR1KpBhIgJZQyr3qLD6p4RDcn7dJp6Yapjlq70nyTfvVXshEb5P72Sfh3GcYNS9KUmC9lVlBx7yWVo/s1403/Scan_20240112%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hCDvl4eNTgHKWjCEtGoLrmm86AxApsTSfAc26_5tiMqrXapnCo7-QkMNgrPzgKLrJt508mXAs8tIPVpOa0A3tZnxEmpqorFXojnITAZgfMpJIdR1KpBhIgJZQyr3qLD6p4RDcn7dJp6Yapjlq70nyTfvVXshEb5P72Sfh3GcYNS9KUmC9lVlBx7yWVo/w289-h400/Scan_20240112%20(10).jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Modern oddballs are cool, but they can't light a candle to the TCMA and Shakey's Pizza days of yore.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today in the too-frequent episode of Nick Doesn't Know Everything About Baseball Cards - I thought I had all the cards I needed from that '80s Cramer oddball set, only to find that not only was I missing Roger Maris...<i>I was missing Roger Maris on the A's!!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNqTktTgdydaEWhxJImS7YGbUgg-N6EkBHsLnYWa4YTOE5PACEqboAJRKaoCdwTtbBkhfYQ9Fau5IsQKAj51U-AeqISwN4eaaM1P5wlZwKBT-kwUkZ5rVAi9AvgpTQfTyEexvTJWOCedGLNToKJaBHF1-fS4lK5U5OunDXD503Hy5JovJC8THT-Tu1vc/s1416/Scan_20240112%20(11).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNqTktTgdydaEWhxJImS7YGbUgg-N6EkBHsLnYWa4YTOE5PACEqboAJRKaoCdwTtbBkhfYQ9Fau5IsQKAj51U-AeqISwN4eaaM1P5wlZwKBT-kwUkZ5rVAi9AvgpTQfTyEexvTJWOCedGLNToKJaBHF1-fS4lK5U5OunDXD503Hy5JovJC8THT-Tu1vc/w284-h400/Scan_20240112%20(11).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oddballs from my youth will always have a special place in my heart.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've documented my love for SI for Kids cards many times (I used to steal them from the magazines in my school library), and I always want Starting Lineup cards even though I've never cared a hoot for the actual figurines.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RYw9X7-VBvwRlyUJrqAWdIeX0PodUILHoipn3u-u-2pehm9rVTmLW8tGOPsh1_hf1ayV4r5R0uQLiGJBqC4yzBEM2oc0PHmUqVsQiat1VIGH9uS3axZIt4VPmll4HmJp7S4KUoafs3-eB3c7QXCu0HdZGAvRKIzLlqVB4SNc33v7o6-kS-q6f9uMGAc/s1462/Scan_20240112%20(12).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="1033" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RYw9X7-VBvwRlyUJrqAWdIeX0PodUILHoipn3u-u-2pehm9rVTmLW8tGOPsh1_hf1ayV4r5R0uQLiGJBqC4yzBEM2oc0PHmUqVsQiat1VIGH9uS3axZIt4VPmll4HmJp7S4KUoafs3-eB3c7QXCu0HdZGAvRKIzLlqVB4SNc33v7o6-kS-q6f9uMGAc/w283-h400/Scan_20240112%20(12).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>With my chase for all the '76 SSPCs I need more or less complete, my focus has turned to a few of the tougher SSPC offerings like these various '75s.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Brooks & Reggie have been thorns in my side for a while, always out there at just a hair over what I want to pay - but thankfully a particularly generous Black Friday price slash took care of that!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzevBlmi_2hILaHSHlounaff6CMdHaa-gFgy69FirSsN4VVTnK9G5icr_-BnjNOaGsGN2gGlVQ49jgrCZFLYBBYI_sn9FNU0Gl1PJwJTbJlA6DMurfbDrZ6Lsw86b8yqa-tGC47Q-9xTDM3hJqZJdFk7LBZiDNyphOpWf6JMDWXHXTtsGmyAsnPFu-0k/s715/Scan_20240112%20(13).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="715" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzevBlmi_2hILaHSHlounaff6CMdHaa-gFgy69FirSsN4VVTnK9G5icr_-BnjNOaGsGN2gGlVQ49jgrCZFLYBBYI_sn9FNU0Gl1PJwJTbJlA6DMurfbDrZ6Lsw86b8yqa-tGC47Q-9xTDM3hJqZJdFk7LBZiDNyphOpWf6JMDWXHXTtsGmyAsnPFu-0k/w400-h284/Scan_20240112%20(13).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Vintage is by far where most of my haggling takes place - which is how a few otherwise unattainable biggies came my way in this COMC order.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's taken me far too long to discover these '59 Topps "Baseball Thrills" can be had for largely affordable prices - Mr. Kaline is already one of the last few I needed (I'll get the Mantle one day!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSCBUjZI_v9KVAW7mbV0yU1ucUDevdcHwyDzIVjWWw8qyAYG-k0uYGOh5KVw3HkI8KiwfaX3xNXvHlqsvGlXVA0LGQiVWbuxOd4WpEwjxhHTCSg17MfnHb5foEkutBN7cCU3RTHg5yh9Z9LmXHNaaoUdMAQe5YNQQ1vhcmhTCaYo3B-3WJJF7a7SghDE/s1001/Scan_20240112%20(14).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1001" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSCBUjZI_v9KVAW7mbV0yU1ucUDevdcHwyDzIVjWWw8qyAYG-k0uYGOh5KVw3HkI8KiwfaX3xNXvHlqsvGlXVA0LGQiVWbuxOd4WpEwjxhHTCSg17MfnHb5foEkutBN7cCU3RTHg5yh9Z9LmXHNaaoUdMAQe5YNQQ1vhcmhTCaYo3B-3WJJF7a7SghDE/w400-h283/Scan_20240112%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A couple top-notch Dodgers here - I've been going through a minor obsession with those Bell Brand cards ever since procuring my first one at The National last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Podres is a just plain excellent card (dig the Schaefer ad!) from the scary '57 Topps scarce series - the $10 I paid for this one was a steal in my book.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK04RCHBY8PNt9KxFr1eYFmRwk7bb-o5ys1HYj6JV4iT8bm-ekQvLFj1EL7JJ6vjSjVZpsMs0Eb8O0l3vCYIXzWweqyK3ltS39BxBiOSI5Vi9RdhW1wAAb-YnC2o4qCy4zARpQdtge-56hzFL3_NEpeaR4RUu2N-fZDer8wyi4iaj_zNwJjHWjNcZYYkw/s1035/Scan_20240112%20(15).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1035" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK04RCHBY8PNt9KxFr1eYFmRwk7bb-o5ys1HYj6JV4iT8bm-ekQvLFj1EL7JJ6vjSjVZpsMs0Eb8O0l3vCYIXzWweqyK3ltS39BxBiOSI5Vi9RdhW1wAAb-YnC2o4qCy4zARpQdtge-56hzFL3_NEpeaR4RUu2N-fZDer8wyi4iaj_zNwJjHWjNcZYYkw/w400-h280/Scan_20240112%20(15).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Elroy Face is a guy I collect who makes me happy since his cards go for almost nothing, but he admittedly can't light a candle to his fellow '64 Bob Gibson, a "Keep Dreaming" suspect I finally netted with this order.</div><div><br /></div><div>Normally, something like that would receive top billing, but not this time because, my friends...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6pV9gUGWX-R-X1YMwEJ5OJkpX5OK72PR6Q5rV__zU0cwNqB504DSZcXKHUGLtL6hKNzNJZ_r0AJX3vSyp5L6BsBI1R1jzVU2iFdKWVbYHO5l_LYFWE9tOXShxoWdFbggMO14u66ojB2sZEg78WG0PxCae7Oz9-PrssQiV5IKfLcpiu-9ImWXEKJOa8Y/s705/Scan_20240112%20(16).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="506" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6pV9gUGWX-R-X1YMwEJ5OJkpX5OK72PR6Q5rV__zU0cwNqB504DSZcXKHUGLtL6hKNzNJZ_r0AJX3vSyp5L6BsBI1R1jzVU2iFdKWVbYHO5l_LYFWE9tOXShxoWdFbggMO14u66ojB2sZEg78WG0PxCae7Oz9-PrssQiV5IKfLcpiu-9ImWXEKJOa8Y/w288-h400/Scan_20240112%20(16).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div>...THE WHITE WHALE HAS BEEN SPEARED!</div><div><br /></div><div>Aside from the Roberto Clemente rookie I'll have to sell a kidney to afford, this '64 Pete Rose has been #1 on my most wanted list for a while now. I've searched for it in earnest at the last few shows I've attended, and the cheapest one I'd seen through all that time was $150 (most were north of $300). </div><div><br /></div><div>I noticed a copy (in not-at-all bad condition) sitting in the COMC archives for 100 bucks, a solid price on its own given the glass-case price tags I'd come across again and again. But with a little back-and-forth, I was able to knock the final price down to a mere $70 - still a nice chunk of change for this dime box collector (and by far the most I've spent on a single card on COMC), but a definite steal when you consider the immensity of the purchase.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, I try not to make a habit out of haggling with every single purchase I make, but in moderation I've learned that it often doesn't hurt to ask - it might even help land that white whale you've been chasing for the better part of your adult life.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-67119553375883586372024-02-16T17:30:00.001-06:002024-02-16T17:30:00.123-06:00Welcome to the dark side (a box of 2024 Topps)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg6dDajxWNtzx81Nj3I2YUtM1gltE3zIo1oS2O4kBgFIp89LGRsIF-HMmWQ6MsQtXNuHKbVoEWVpZaU97vZ3qP0bGkIItaxF8-c8R7Nx7CNjy3km5gBuhkG-A0UvG3aXff53ffI1jZV5F1uwsIqYTO725i9isui9Ye90Mr-DXaJ87eJzjc4teOX2ZV7Y/s700/Scan_20240215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg6dDajxWNtzx81Nj3I2YUtM1gltE3zIo1oS2O4kBgFIp89LGRsIF-HMmWQ6MsQtXNuHKbVoEWVpZaU97vZ3qP0bGkIItaxF8-c8R7Nx7CNjy3km5gBuhkG-A0UvG3aXff53ffI1jZV5F1uwsIqYTO725i9isui9Ye90Mr-DXaJ87eJzjc4teOX2ZV7Y/w400-h286/Scan_20240215.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Baseball cards have made me do weird things over the years.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's been many a Topps release day where I've traveled far and wide across suburbia, scouring the Targets and Wal-Marts for any trace of the new cards. I've been to parts of town I didn't know existed in search of these tiny pieces of cardboard. It gets to be an obsession that really brings out the darker side of my collecting personality.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't do the retail tour anymore - when did I have the time or energy? - but that doesn't mean the prospect of new cards doesn't still trigger the obsessive in me. One of the benefits of having a card shop open up down the block is knowing that the newest stuff will be there if I'm willing to plunk down a bit of cash for a box.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't plan on buying a whole box of 2024 Topps - I didn't <a href="https://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/2023/02/i-told-myself-i-wouldnt-do-this-or-box.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">last year</span></a>, either - but alas, here I am, getting ready to unleash the spoils of the box that I so ravenously tore into last night.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qOBUNIo6-gkG6BwFZF9zC5mgFpAjgVmbJS9u8CJ1Q3WulkkNM_664CmZvMtFCUFYr6K-ddxtU_BUklNHomDMANh4leHkXYboA2dsTKL1Kr5FwBwpqizEa8hn8XWT8Iy2iOiShALiENwzfjVYoabblTgb447Kh-YnG_WR0WWkePLIvA2um_K5F-Z8Ojg/s1413/Scan_20240215%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="1007" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qOBUNIo6-gkG6BwFZF9zC5mgFpAjgVmbJS9u8CJ1Q3WulkkNM_664CmZvMtFCUFYr6K-ddxtU_BUklNHomDMANh4leHkXYboA2dsTKL1Kr5FwBwpqizEa8hn8XWT8Iy2iOiShALiENwzfjVYoabblTgb447Kh-YnG_WR0WWkePLIvA2um_K5F-Z8Ojg/w285-h400/Scan_20240215%20(2).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'll join the chorus right away and say that 2024 Topps is <i>awesome </i>- there's just no better way to put it.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a colorful shot in the arm to a Flagship run that sorely needed it. I haven't necessarily disliked the designs over the last few years, but they're not wildly distinct and have already started to kinda bleed together in my head. The neon theme reminds me of a '50s diner in the wee hours of the morning, and the borders do actually glow a bit in-hand if you shine them up against a light.</div><div><br /></div><div>The player selection is the usual crop of stars, rookies (so...many...rookies), and other personal delights like Jose Quintana who for some reason got the shaft from Topps last year (best I can tell, his only 2023 card was a Heritage SP). And they all shine on a wonderful design.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's simply something we've never seen from Flagship before, and immediately goes right up there on the best Topps looks of my lifetime (easily my favorite one since 2015).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3Qlv8McdPb7VUzGJ3FlogabPnujiwAS5TT0y7k0qnhgEIeXR58SNkrMIEa9IRYJYF4iJCkENU8Yp1LE1XVeDqG8JjxVdqcY37SIoOie6g0S_0y6TbQvq6wk4zCiXbKl_cgcfbbNSubXnHHi9VXToPq5v39fId58Rteg2AEINiztKpinQLBaV7CL0keU/s706/Scan_20240215%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="706" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3Qlv8McdPb7VUzGJ3FlogabPnujiwAS5TT0y7k0qnhgEIeXR58SNkrMIEa9IRYJYF4iJCkENU8Yp1LE1XVeDqG8JjxVdqcY37SIoOie6g0S_0y6TbQvq6wk4zCiXbKl_cgcfbbNSubXnHHi9VXToPq5v39fId58Rteg2AEINiztKpinQLBaV7CL0keU/w400-h286/Scan_20240215%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The backs are different enough to warrant mention - I've accepted the fact that Topps has long been phoning these in, but the thicker bar between the team/stat lines is a good touch.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9uEfikHr1mOR5krAnyx81sVQm7z6kiESZShlMm9k92yJXp8y-gksMr8XCXR1XjQR0Arcs5jDB92pW6onyBQMZBqN-YmfHVBU69o2i57xensFdVEeqxdaFAOSKu0OIs6kNS42yU_Rcfo9pdVUcA0fqVdCPDHG5RYdJHWdmyCWL1Z1KBngA0yJomxx3f8/s1459/Scan_20240215%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9uEfikHr1mOR5krAnyx81sVQm7z6kiESZShlMm9k92yJXp8y-gksMr8XCXR1XjQR0Arcs5jDB92pW6onyBQMZBqN-YmfHVBU69o2i57xensFdVEeqxdaFAOSKu0OIs6kNS42yU_Rcfo9pdVUcA0fqVdCPDHG5RYdJHWdmyCWL1Z1KBngA0yJomxx3f8/w286-h400/Scan_20240215%20(4).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As usual, the inserts aren't anything to write home about - I forget what that Tatis insert set is called, but it's ghastly.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it looks like '89 is the retro insert honoree this year, not a horrible thing since Topps hasn't crammed that design down our collective throats yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic70d-q0gq7RiKN3WJIqWlY7FyRBCYb2WN7_XGdGX826WTJzR37WbviWZaqN4WjUuxdIxoZziwCurCA6tx3qT1e8oeYJrzxL4GwNgVAYdVWUxM0LxHD0kYpj4SgaDiMCkZmBcWWtzEAdXjXs4qH902PzCzAmBLYU-0dWWzfMu9__BlbZEbO-2pdEWlXZA/s1448/Scan_20240215%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1448" data-original-width="1032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic70d-q0gq7RiKN3WJIqWlY7FyRBCYb2WN7_XGdGX826WTJzR37WbviWZaqN4WjUuxdIxoZziwCurCA6tx3qT1e8oeYJrzxL4GwNgVAYdVWUxM0LxHD0kYpj4SgaDiMCkZmBcWWtzEAdXjXs4qH902PzCzAmBLYU-0dWWzfMu9__BlbZEbO-2pdEWlXZA/w285-h400/Scan_20240215%20(5).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The only thing better than a great design is a great photo on a great design.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Editor's note: Detmers and his stellar Angels throwback was the first card of 2024 to crack the Dime Box Frankenset!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6sPfAtm9kEVbxlV47i0VHMGh0DThWYCEQmqpfWdOpxVwjFkuiwO3my06Sr20J36bzPZdrPxdBFnazPer46x8L-UbReaKVeuVAaiw1CaLgBrvQixf-mT8-YUlF0VwNjbp2GRZws-Y6_Z2KJPko3F5lVCfQYa8hQg1MIY41M3pvQbkw6QuSFjevubY0PU/s2278/Scan_20240215%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2278" data-original-width="1634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6sPfAtm9kEVbxlV47i0VHMGh0DThWYCEQmqpfWdOpxVwjFkuiwO3my06Sr20J36bzPZdrPxdBFnazPer46x8L-UbReaKVeuVAaiw1CaLgBrvQixf-mT8-YUlF0VwNjbp2GRZws-Y6_Z2KJPko3F5lVCfQYa8hQg1MIY41M3pvQbkw6QuSFjevubY0PU/w288-h400/Scan_20240215%20(6).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Really the only bone I have to pick with this year's set is the proliferation of City Connect uniforms - seriously, it seemed like I pulled one or two of these things from every pack.</div><div><br /></div><div>Listen: I actually like the City Connect idea, and welcomed cards that featured them last year. They're not a universal win - the jerseys range from excellence (Marlins), to indifference (Rangers), to vehemence (Pirates) - but it was different enough to make me pay attention.</div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe this is a case of MLB taking this idea too far, but I kinda think the whole City Connect thing has run its course at this point. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZDUIJdC3LehfLTXjwE9vCDoWO0qaOMGHwRcS3aYfqzhyphenhyphen8wyPi2KfOd17VqV9VGlUI2sDehFJOPmiVwnZXerhSR8hI6vniKrHV6r_mAhJs9RmkfP2OFoWtuDiobpq5uMjFo0O84pQS3YAbKgBsXsR055hYi30-YFjvnoqWRdSVbiRj_CrEfjhfmRYdiQ/s1449/Scan_20240215%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1449" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZDUIJdC3LehfLTXjwE9vCDoWO0qaOMGHwRcS3aYfqzhyphenhyphen8wyPi2KfOd17VqV9VGlUI2sDehFJOPmiVwnZXerhSR8hI6vniKrHV6r_mAhJs9RmkfP2OFoWtuDiobpq5uMjFo0O84pQS3YAbKgBsXsR055hYi30-YFjvnoqWRdSVbiRj_CrEfjhfmRYdiQ/w400-h286/Scan_20240215%20(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It seems like the last few Topps designs have catered to horizontals, and 2024 is no exception (always nice to see personal favorite Anthony Rizzo get a great card).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMRn-BnUJs6N55TAozdwSPcNyiG4gjIa8xpT7SYBOpTB5YoCqgZ-tdn2MQFzgpZ452IUe9AaXf-bkozFym-K0-wieZID056yGe0-P-BFiag_fApE0QR-zal32fzu4wtFUTJgVMaNGkcq9-V5Z_lKps32EWGQdCZh7yrpTa2mjd6R5VsQgdinCLKTJD-s/s708/Scan_20240215%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="708" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMRn-BnUJs6N55TAozdwSPcNyiG4gjIa8xpT7SYBOpTB5YoCqgZ-tdn2MQFzgpZ452IUe9AaXf-bkozFym-K0-wieZID056yGe0-P-BFiag_fApE0QR-zal32fzu4wtFUTJgVMaNGkcq9-V5Z_lKps32EWGQdCZh7yrpTa2mjd6R5VsQgdinCLKTJD-s/w400-h285/Scan_20240215%20(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>All in all, I'm genuinely <i>excited </i>to see more of this design across Series 2 and Update, which hasn't happened in a while - a tip of the cap to Topps for a job well done.<div><br /></div><div>If any set could make me return to those odd days of dashing to three Targets and two Wal-Marts across the greater Chicago area, this is it.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-9168568599560925702024-02-02T17:30:00.001-06:002024-02-02T17:30:00.299-06:00Scammed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_azIG6bJ10TZvOKXYLQavoLP_CWAx3DPzD0l9t0F_lUrmEZgqGDjGpoGmaBQMffpgjwqnarUBPMdUDDE97Q-tExVAne3I5REC3ADNg5tdWQs57dwZDRsbIJgKscsOmaC3O4UG6lsXw9p6JbGekKSjM-iSYND_ENYcu5EKNS6TbNSoAExXGI33ixkwxXs/s699/Scan_20240201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_azIG6bJ10TZvOKXYLQavoLP_CWAx3DPzD0l9t0F_lUrmEZgqGDjGpoGmaBQMffpgjwqnarUBPMdUDDE97Q-tExVAne3I5REC3ADNg5tdWQs57dwZDRsbIJgKscsOmaC3O4UG6lsXw9p6JbGekKSjM-iSYND_ENYcu5EKNS6TbNSoAExXGI33ixkwxXs/w285-h400/Scan_20240201.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, it finally happened: I got scammed on a baseball card.</div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier this week, I thought I had a deal in place on Twitter to secure my '53 Topps Satchel(l) Paige dream card. But after a little back and forth with payments and such, things seemed a bit fishy, and I ultimately declined. Then another user stepped forward and said that <i>he </i>had a Paige for the same price. Things looked to be a bit more kosher this time, and we agreed on a deal. Or so I believed.</div><div><br /></div><div>To put it shortly, there was a chain of events (including said user blocking me) that made it clearly obvious I'd been taken. Admittedly, I wasn't the smartest buyer here - the way I paid left little recourse for getting my money back, and the alarm bells should've been clanging in my head. So now I'm out what is (or would have been) the most I've ever spent on a card by a good margin.</div><div><br /></div><div>Losing the money obviously sucks (and it was no small amount), but I think I'm just as frustrated by the humanity of it all. Call me naïve, but I always had it in my head that this world of scammers operated in a cardboard underbelly that would never affect <i>me. </i>I've dealt with so many sellers that have been nothing but excellent, so I suppose I took that trust into other darker places where I should've been more careful.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I suppose everyone gets scammed at some point in their life, and lo and behold, here came my turn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ0-ebF7DGTOCyxTjoZgdy0MtMxrShv0onBsriAtGZfKthgGmcy-WBSqSqbm6uNJhzsUxvTV0DQLJ7e9FAMmX8cuXM9Ca1wf5N3AQgcv60Ax1B0zMnR4tJQzjzxnldaOYLkO-x2F8cWIi-gd1IJq72pvNzFIHp4kOiB6-mAWeYGWuxGaPXY-hQKDCcsk/s1444/Scan_20240201%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1030" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ0-ebF7DGTOCyxTjoZgdy0MtMxrShv0onBsriAtGZfKthgGmcy-WBSqSqbm6uNJhzsUxvTV0DQLJ7e9FAMmX8cuXM9Ca1wf5N3AQgcv60Ax1B0zMnR4tJQzjzxnldaOYLkO-x2F8cWIi-gd1IJq72pvNzFIHp4kOiB6-mAWeYGWuxGaPXY-hQKDCcsk/w285-h400/Scan_20240201%20(3).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Still, I truly believe one of the joys of writing is being able to take a shitty situation and make something at least a little joyous out of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been trying to come up with a way to showcase some odds and ends I've picked up lately on the blog - granted, I wish it didn't take me getting fleeced to do it, but if nothing else it gives me a chance to honor those great sellers who had the decency to send me the cards I bought.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been using Sportlots at a record pace these days, so much so that I'm left to wonder why I hadn't made this place a bigger part of my card life a long time ago - it's gone a long way in fueling my recent kick of minor league issues of treasured binder guys.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAoB8nwTdWcLEHLYsJswnBS7r7XLXFaTs2IwMoLX-OD5shiAASqGhl9NArNTKfqiGPWKJv93tutLgLaxTH4z1O_7RBPmVZCrv3DTEQew81G85NEQYtALWkeR2B70JDXlGRihfT7xWEc2KJm1K3P8kt6InAL2eMqDkSDYw1R7quF-qApH7_R8V3_o-v0g/s1042/Scan_20240201%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1042" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAoB8nwTdWcLEHLYsJswnBS7r7XLXFaTs2IwMoLX-OD5shiAASqGhl9NArNTKfqiGPWKJv93tutLgLaxTH4z1O_7RBPmVZCrv3DTEQew81G85NEQYtALWkeR2B70JDXlGRihfT7xWEc2KJm1K3P8kt6InAL2eMqDkSDYw1R7quF-qApH7_R8V3_o-v0g/w400-h280/Scan_20240201%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I think part of why I never used Sportlots much before was that you buy from individual sellers rather than one central website - which can cause shipping prices to skyrocket.<div><br /></div><div>But lately I've taken that as more of a fun challenge - it's been a blast sifting through the inventories of certain sellers and seeing what I can find (while paying just the one shipping cost). It's the closest to a the thrill of a good card show discount box as you're gonna find on the internet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been after the Gulf Coast Dodgers Tiant for a while now, and by some miracle I found a seller who had one for 20 cents(!) - and as a bonus, he also had Tiant's 1993 ProCards issue that I didn't even know about (also for 20 cents!). </div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HitNLQMcvMCGptrNUPa4KbSyqJyPpjNRjBpfcuWuydCSoibIvn64LUsoVZWRwQhS5giWtObZpJ-jxRB_g8QMgdZYo0cjyQ_e3cmBVw_0didOnHkfV_Aa74tU5KqYTObePGDokGjfXBo3t0hbRaeMSDQgffcuk0lTkWfquktL36cfh4P0wYiXULCfr5A/s1480/Scan_20240201%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="1055" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HitNLQMcvMCGptrNUPa4KbSyqJyPpjNRjBpfcuWuydCSoibIvn64LUsoVZWRwQhS5giWtObZpJ-jxRB_g8QMgdZYo0cjyQ_e3cmBVw_0didOnHkfV_Aa74tU5KqYTObePGDokGjfXBo3t0hbRaeMSDQgffcuk0lTkWfquktL36cfh4P0wYiXULCfr5A/w285-h400/Scan_20240201%20(4).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One Sportlots seller had a wild inventory of oddballs I'd never seen before and/or wasn't likely to see again.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple good mid-aughts food issues with the Stieb (Sunkist) and Konerko (Frito-Lay), and the Vlad appears to be from some kind of board game that never took off - plus, dig Jim Abbott signing autographs!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTR4ArE-xKNXP8iwFUpj6FhyphenhyphenWpxEOSjcvxuwJyVMAgFKVfQ7cbrC36QhalgIlLKNU4iY3g74NF-H5D3nXqGbsB0opoYOsR3LuQs4JKXqyj3H08syLW1QdwDZP0aqXUlhQ2xnjSbPFjIrmFBxyt0j8n-el5rxK_47Jnj1gy4DsUnAGEzSB52u7BbZdJhg/s1038/Scan_20240201%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="721" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTR4ArE-xKNXP8iwFUpj6FhyphenhyphenWpxEOSjcvxuwJyVMAgFKVfQ7cbrC36QhalgIlLKNU4iY3g74NF-H5D3nXqGbsB0opoYOsR3LuQs4JKXqyj3H08syLW1QdwDZP0aqXUlhQ2xnjSbPFjIrmFBxyt0j8n-el5rxK_47Jnj1gy4DsUnAGEzSB52u7BbZdJhg/w278-h400/Scan_20240201%20(5).jpg" width="278" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another recent kick of mine is cards from the slew of short-lived early '90s card magazines like RBI Baseball.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've never seen a copy of the magazine itself - has anyone? - but I knew I needed that Tartabull the minute I laid eyes on it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg385QiWDgmEoO7UfTIR05I1vZoBYzPF0fzNjFbFXMa2Jk1ILhaidpN3kquyHH0bgSWiiiUDjmkYZAl0oTWUvFteS05RBnIffHq58zpFF6uAEi3vTSliFX5wBjrALCZ2Ha1Oj96TUbmGL-Xq6BalGASPxfdSSEz1yGTb1elksDGIBx0Es9TfqdVZrRlwNA/s1464/Scan_20240201%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1044" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg385QiWDgmEoO7UfTIR05I1vZoBYzPF0fzNjFbFXMa2Jk1ILhaidpN3kquyHH0bgSWiiiUDjmkYZAl0oTWUvFteS05RBnIffHq58zpFF6uAEi3vTSliFX5wBjrALCZ2Ha1Oj96TUbmGL-Xq6BalGASPxfdSSEz1yGTb1elksDGIBx0Es9TfqdVZrRlwNA/w285-h400/Scan_20240201%20(6).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I personally think Topps Holiday has ran its course - I haven't sought these out in years & am content to land handfuls a dime box way later.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, Topps always manages to sneak in a few cards that differ from the standard Flagship issues, which I of course desperately need - didn't think Lucas Giolito's dubious six-game tenure with the Angels would get documented on cardboard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYU4_Y_Ca1mN4eznharzSjbieyP_fP_ouKGGuidnjA4DvJBDNUfHtesxhwZcPW-_oXcrTAffCr5Hg7XghVzTtO0kMOk0KjGYaaJYutcisMyOn259Z8ffOAyi4Bty-qQaC1PC-rc29VbsEaLHWHR12LzxMhcyFLMKU0zUGlll5ulSla2KFI4F9hFOpsDU/s1017/Scan_20240201%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1017" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYU4_Y_Ca1mN4eznharzSjbieyP_fP_ouKGGuidnjA4DvJBDNUfHtesxhwZcPW-_oXcrTAffCr5Hg7XghVzTtO0kMOk0KjGYaaJYutcisMyOn259Z8ffOAyi4Bty-qQaC1PC-rc29VbsEaLHWHR12LzxMhcyFLMKU0zUGlll5ulSla2KFI4F9hFOpsDU/w400-h279/Scan_20240201%20(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't often use eBay for card purchases, but lately I've been forced to make a few exceptions to that rule.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I'm one of the suckers who bought the Topps Now Ohtani - I couldn't let the first Dodgers card of one of my favorite baseball dudes slip by! I also finally pulled the trigger on a different Topps Now card that's been torturing me for a while with that Brandon Phillips.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's the one and only card of Phillips's nine-game sunset stint with the Red Sox, and I'm glad I decided the time was nigh to buy it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x39MqYZj-SzWMT3JVTZc59Bb0WotWXlsPOOgSNtShMLomCARw8KEPD3LUSqkB1_Q5fiZx7gGUIc5n9sD2RV-3-kcquV9eJL2qjPit8XU76pq887h4GQXHR5wCdYNgDr5GGAeScujky77cWvnVcokCi_iEC2Olwc2mVKxREQWueaxtBJ3P6g7j31sBT4/s1462/Scan_20240201%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="1046" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x39MqYZj-SzWMT3JVTZc59Bb0WotWXlsPOOgSNtShMLomCARw8KEPD3LUSqkB1_Q5fiZx7gGUIc5n9sD2RV-3-kcquV9eJL2qjPit8XU76pq887h4GQXHR5wCdYNgDr5GGAeScujky77cWvnVcokCi_iEC2Olwc2mVKxREQWueaxtBJ3P6g7j31sBT4/w286-h400/Scan_20240201%20(8).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pretty sure I discovered these "Little Big Leaguers" cards through Fuji's blog a while back - apparently they were issued with a book in the early '90s.</div><div><br /></div><div>I found a generic listing for said book with the common "inserts may not be included" caveat - but either way it was cheap enough that I decided to give it a shot. And it's my pleasure to report that when the book arrived a few days later...<i>the cards were in there!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I spent the better part of that evening separating each card from its perforated sheet, which was a blast since there's nothing quite like discovering a new oddball set.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz_AHg8AR79RSF5XEoynmY0pOvLE2buTeGmEHLQkrvYrJ5gRaVQ_VSuXJfJ2FKxQJB2x2JWmdzdi9zYFV9OJ3DYCRYe0mOBsqo69uS_Z3aBWnKqwwYfxOEgbgqFaf4PlgIkKr1beN17BjapadirL7YD2Z65ZHgtJm96D5kenDjc_Z7fWd6x_KM3ub1xM/s1034/Scan_20240201%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1034" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz_AHg8AR79RSF5XEoynmY0pOvLE2buTeGmEHLQkrvYrJ5gRaVQ_VSuXJfJ2FKxQJB2x2JWmdzdi9zYFV9OJ3DYCRYe0mOBsqo69uS_Z3aBWnKqwwYfxOEgbgqFaf4PlgIkKr1beN17BjapadirL7YD2Z65ZHgtJm96D5kenDjc_Z7fWd6x_KM3ub1xM/w400-h281/Scan_20240201%20(9).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A couple more random eBay gets - the Fisk was one of the last handful of '78 SSPCs I needed (mostly down to the bigger names at this point).</div><div><br /></div><div>I overpaid for the Jenkins, but the seller kinda had me over a barrel since it was (at least at the time) the only copy of it I could find for sale on the whole wide internet - still, no price is too steep for a rare Phillies Fergie!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6y6fAdw4jVqcpdf6rtBG9S7yB7i32I4gy4pj4XeXyISraHHBdDsxnf597SFNru9mpWJJ6tKVdLp222cE7h0ySzKVEId7Hgssb7Ohsa0Tkuw6pisYgk8azZFUjnjmhen3OkV8tABWyTpA8niQ5E0VtHs6ydB4uj-56UcDd0D_ehVCiBUBIDnvbGF2od8/s696/Scan_20240201%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6y6fAdw4jVqcpdf6rtBG9S7yB7i32I4gy4pj4XeXyISraHHBdDsxnf597SFNru9mpWJJ6tKVdLp222cE7h0ySzKVEId7Hgssb7Ohsa0Tkuw6pisYgk8azZFUjnjmhen3OkV8tABWyTpA8niQ5E0VtHs6ydB4uj-56UcDd0D_ehVCiBUBIDnvbGF2od8/w286-h400/Scan_20240201%20(10).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Might as well close with another dream card - one that I <i>actually </i>received upon purchase this time - with this treasured minor league John Smoltz.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a glaring hole in my zero-year collection for a while now. Smoltz pitched in the Tigers' system for two years and was famously dealt to the Braves before ever reaching the bigs with Detroit. This is one of only two cards documenting the future HOFer's zero-year stint, and I can't tell you how satisfying it is to finally cross it off the list.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>But I'm still cursed with the mind of a collector, because even after getting scammed - and even with all the fantastic stuff I've shown here - <i>I'm left wanting a '53 Paige even more now!</i></div></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-11589057652673479942024-01-26T17:30:00.001-06:002024-01-26T17:30:00.137-06:00I've moved since you last saw me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqo3hZnA8gB3IrcA-Kz7NaXxooH7byKYW-E7Rc5Kd5NjkcMlL-nzX8cb_2wKz-lJaohRO535Es_E9dJaMTSUo7umxwReiwO6XdwLBEpB3tkP2BHO8xhAf45iDC4-tT8f2j2EhM9cnIAX5A9C-3JEPR-RX7LSkVIN6KZHfv5R0aKB7b9KL29GNTQYQ27k/s705/Scan_20240125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqo3hZnA8gB3IrcA-Kz7NaXxooH7byKYW-E7Rc5Kd5NjkcMlL-nzX8cb_2wKz-lJaohRO535Es_E9dJaMTSUo7umxwReiwO6XdwLBEpB3tkP2BHO8xhAf45iDC4-tT8f2j2EhM9cnIAX5A9C-3JEPR-RX7LSkVIN6KZHfv5R0aKB7b9KL29GNTQYQ27k/w284-h400/Scan_20240125.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I know the last thing I need is yet another cardboard obsession, but here I am about to post about a new one.</div><div><br /></div><div>It began rather morbidly, following the far-too-soon passing of knuckleball legend Tim Wakefield. I knew Wake had started his professional career as a position player, and had a few cards issued as such, but I thought they were unattainable. That is, until I checked Ebay and found a rather fairly-priced regional issue from Wakefield's minor-league days that listed him as a third baseman(!). </div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't hit <i>BUY IT NOW </i>fast enough, and before I knew it, an obsession was born.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnJzpnmRduefeucxuOjItTntE_8sjtev6Jwwn2O2gStEfsn1q_lxLErqEuN9UWs3IVRvQ15Z00q2HobRnxNtywkX4dqV3oz_5W0vceZsSshWBUSF0FfZttpnUxz9EsL23H7TZ0AkrrvMIwaRbD3OVEgkWdMF45YMjJiy4psmTpqs_WAB_jHEhLigK9e4/s712/Scan_20240125%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnJzpnmRduefeucxuOjItTntE_8sjtev6Jwwn2O2gStEfsn1q_lxLErqEuN9UWs3IVRvQ15Z00q2HobRnxNtywkX4dqV3oz_5W0vceZsSshWBUSF0FfZttpnUxz9EsL23H7TZ0AkrrvMIwaRbD3OVEgkWdMF45YMjJiy4psmTpqs_WAB_jHEhLigK9e4/w286-h400/Scan_20240125%20(2).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That set off a chain of events that led to me wanting to discover other notable names who made odd and/or forgotten position switches early in their careers - and specifically ones that were documented on cardboard.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like Wakefield, I knew dominant closer Troy Percival began his career as a position player, but I didn't know he had any cards issued as such until this obsession came about. Best I can tell, this is the one and only card of his lone season as a catcher in the Angels' system, and I was thrilled to snag a copy for a song recently.</div><div><br /></div><div>As is the case with most of the dudes you'll see here, Percival probably had the right idea in switching positions since he hit a whopping .203 in Low-A ball in 1990.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zbvfUI6YJe2tDIUtyKaXgwfbiQ60zZz5_vOtpJ0GvrWlQ-hTArcUdgbih6JESXLRmsUxvlDFwX9DTVCZ3clLVCzLV-EyGsmYUCdgRdnaadTCT6uyVLvlbpOdsTA7TbphM57n9bRMT7X-8IpiDJ1aw94wM_HI4hZkMjLeaKOrgMfialCpx7K9QZ_Ie6k/s707/Scan_20240125%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="492" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zbvfUI6YJe2tDIUtyKaXgwfbiQ60zZz5_vOtpJ0GvrWlQ-hTArcUdgbih6JESXLRmsUxvlDFwX9DTVCZ3clLVCzLV-EyGsmYUCdgRdnaadTCT6uyVLvlbpOdsTA7TbphM57n9bRMT7X-8IpiDJ1aw94wM_HI4hZkMjLeaKOrgMfialCpx7K9QZ_Ie6k/w279-h400/Scan_20240125%20(3).jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Guillermo Mota is a trademark Dime Box Favorite - but he's unlike Wakefield and Percival given that I had absolutely <i>no clue</i> he started his career as an infielder in the Mets organization.</div><div><br /></div><div>Switching positions isn't that uncommon of a tale - Kenley Jansen and Trevor Hoffman are a few others who come to mind that I don't yet own cards of as position players (though I have a bead on a minor-league Hoffman) - but seeing it on baseball cards kinda causes my brain to short out (in a good way!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbfVuhj6fFFhMYWWrIlm91wkqKOTEyj8JxDo9YYONEFK-GTppkr1lQU2GLavS7ufQi_euu9KnQTSVGwGIOdkDa9aKbvNoiDxPsPlHi387_txGmrZBAbq02Q8ZSPCcmC2UcClw6o4yFRpl5qYFj7kTGkOOOzKWzGNU9HbD2vuRAuCjlt5E6GBZPnWeKWM/s700/Scan_20240125%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbfVuhj6fFFhMYWWrIlm91wkqKOTEyj8JxDo9YYONEFK-GTppkr1lQU2GLavS7ufQi_euu9KnQTSVGwGIOdkDa9aKbvNoiDxPsPlHi387_txGmrZBAbq02Q8ZSPCcmC2UcClw6o4yFRpl5qYFj7kTGkOOOzKWzGNU9HbD2vuRAuCjlt5E6GBZPnWeKWM/w285-h400/Scan_20240125%20(4).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sean Doolittle is another collection favorite who made the switch - an injury caused him to try his hand at pitching after a few middling years as a position player in the A's system.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd say it worked out well for him, given that Doolittle just retired following a fine 11-year career as a dominant closer.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpXgGowQNmcVYGrC-R6ywF6jmopHaRNsefDl79MPrPWlbOfyVMS5yf3mrSgoNyJ0mZQE2-FEPN5GAloAMoUqFvs0Pfi51UfFUf5nWgQs_Sqizf1WCnrAXzRJ5XZ73laA739yc2_b-eLZuFA6zuZ9e32XGqUWWHJXbRug2_N6M0aInAARsRBC-DxrWWJw/s706/Scan_20240125%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpXgGowQNmcVYGrC-R6ywF6jmopHaRNsefDl79MPrPWlbOfyVMS5yf3mrSgoNyJ0mZQE2-FEPN5GAloAMoUqFvs0Pfi51UfFUf5nWgQs_Sqizf1WCnrAXzRJ5XZ73laA739yc2_b-eLZuFA6zuZ9e32XGqUWWHJXbRug2_N6M0aInAARsRBC-DxrWWJw/w285-h400/Scan_20240125%20(5).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But these shifts go farther than the position-player-to-pitcher phenomenon I've shown thus far.</div><div><br /></div><div>Catchers are known to switch positions at various points in their career - the body can only take so much wear and tear - but I'm particularly fascinated by the guys like Dale Murphy who gave up catching earlier rather than later.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've never seen a card that actually depicts Murphy as a catcher - he caught sparsely in his first few seasons with the Braves - but look closely and you'll find that weird "C-1B" designation on his early cards.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Tk4ZcAx_WZtEqiO7d5zEAW0KEwkPf73CaQ3mqQRTHYdEHo3Lc6CHR4pcdjWLnMc-DvMyt8UhF9ey036SZn5exOV1pTCqgzzZWuxCGzMbm1Ohu6vDrnEoDFqyqHDnGAjIZLvMl2zqBXlqn1CuLtUz_CNGITzHE-FpyuU0SqVEa8QzXeIzgMZyp9xRlUg/s695/Scan_20240125%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="493" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Tk4ZcAx_WZtEqiO7d5zEAW0KEwkPf73CaQ3mqQRTHYdEHo3Lc6CHR4pcdjWLnMc-DvMyt8UhF9ey036SZn5exOV1pTCqgzzZWuxCGzMbm1Ohu6vDrnEoDFqyqHDnGAjIZLvMl2zqBXlqn1CuLtUz_CNGITzHE-FpyuU0SqVEa8QzXeIzgMZyp9xRlUg/w284-h400/Scan_20240125%20(6).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Recent memory may recall that Bryce Harper was drafted as a catcher, though I think it was always a given that he'd find stardom elsewhere on the diamond.</div><div><br /></div><div>From what I understand, though, HOFer Jimmie Foxx was thought to be a legitimate catching prospect, so much so that his earlier cards show him in the tools of ignorance (this is obviously a reprint). A good amount of the earlier photos of Double-X on baseball cards show him as a backstop.</div><div><br /></div><div>Foxx was never a regular catcher, but he did catch more often than I knew before I wrote this post - he was appearing in a game or two at catcher as late as 1944.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTPiFvUoKF7gt9I2V2Sj7E47uZpNlq4Vneq7UEk-uUJ-AIlVNIg2dLfPcq89nNO-u5D3D-_y-i_2_L-HzYIWrbYYUoVzg_k0WJf6qLVecsMAFOfbU9sko3AUexlbQC7KnrP9JYd-xluymZ5w6yCiOBnBHvKHex8yXT5K6O4GfMcb7mvaBShAak0fcchw/s700/Scan_20240125%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTPiFvUoKF7gt9I2V2Sj7E47uZpNlq4Vneq7UEk-uUJ-AIlVNIg2dLfPcq89nNO-u5D3D-_y-i_2_L-HzYIWrbYYUoVzg_k0WJf6qLVecsMAFOfbU9sko3AUexlbQC7KnrP9JYd-xluymZ5w6yCiOBnBHvKHex8yXT5K6O4GfMcb7mvaBShAak0fcchw/w286-h400/Scan_20240125%20(7).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As I so often say, baseball cards are fun, but they can also be educational - I didn't know Stan Musial was signed as a pitcher until I unearthed this Pro Debut insert from a few years back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Musial had a few successes on the mound - he actually won 18 games in Class-D ball 1940, his final season as a pitcher - but he obviously never would've become the "Stan the Man" we know and love had he stayed on the bump.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKH8mvmf7uTMSLqN1MNIg4wzYdiUrSE4KRysJiu0RT3fPEcbaWKhyU4GuMAWBujwPG1_iwqSfFicoyBID7mTL8AGFjh0X3pK-GLqMmO4mqcVx5tV1bOWlORrifSVHb8Lpb7rnBP_gnMkV6aDDG6RTuxokstMKjv655OmPHc_dG2x58ZrO16jHxcomuS4/s717/Scan_20240125%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="507" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKH8mvmf7uTMSLqN1MNIg4wzYdiUrSE4KRysJiu0RT3fPEcbaWKhyU4GuMAWBujwPG1_iwqSfFicoyBID7mTL8AGFjh0X3pK-GLqMmO4mqcVx5tV1bOWlORrifSVHb8Lpb7rnBP_gnMkV6aDDG6RTuxokstMKjv655OmPHc_dG2x58ZrO16jHxcomuS4/w283-h400/Scan_20240125%20(8).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><div>Of course, no discussion of this ilk is complete without mentioning The Great Bambino, a guy who gave up a career as a world-class pitcher to become an equally world-class slugger.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love (and want) all Babe Ruth cards, but ones that show him during his earlier Red Sox pitching days are still ever-so extra special to me. They're a great reminder of how strange the trajectory of certain baseball careers can be. But Ruth is obviously the rarity in this field - most position switches, like the Wakefields and Percivals of the world, are born out of dubiousness or downright failure.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I guess if you're wrestling with the Mendoza Line in the low minors, perhaps your destiny lies elsewhere on the diamond.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-48377982036638150012024-01-12T17:47:00.002-06:002024-01-12T17:47:17.471-06:00I can't change how I collect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8xwNM750dH3N0_MDvy0zHZv41Txiq4te0M8Gu8_RZjWuJSgJGPDzty4o8qN4i_Uw_IoJ94QUzJqE5YLBRWjI70LqdkirRXxGvuftOgafeRBH50qzW2giNkVsJssnqCDwW1XFvet-0kVvJah150tPKw6TM8yfBhBcG-3nI2kNtwKlLcpHI_XgBFA5Ft4/s723/John%20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="723" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8xwNM750dH3N0_MDvy0zHZv41Txiq4te0M8Gu8_RZjWuJSgJGPDzty4o8qN4i_Uw_IoJ94QUzJqE5YLBRWjI70LqdkirRXxGvuftOgafeRBH50qzW2giNkVsJssnqCDwW1XFvet-0kVvJah150tPKw6TM8yfBhBcG-3nI2kNtwKlLcpHI_XgBFA5Ft4/w400-h213/John%20004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been collecting for so long now that I can't envision a life without it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm fascinated by the way my pre-teen self managed to come up with my fairly intricate binder system, a method that's remained largely unchanged as of now. But lately I'll admit that I've started running into a few roadblocks - some of said system simply isn't feasible anymore as I get on in years. </div><div><br /></div><div>The crazy way I sort my cards often means that it takes a <i>lot </i>of time to file them away, a lot of moving cards from one slot to another and such. For a while, that was okay - I was able to devote a sizeable chunk of my waking hours to my collection. </div><div><br /></div><div>Problem is, as I sit here typing these words at the age of 31 (going-on-32), I simply don't have the time and/or energy to do that anymore.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXrTcvm0pa4BZDpKrJkTP44l9eHaKMdMoVxlSW7FjYj1rTSoRBzfQ5GUWrG2VtYUHAVLDmW76-WUMudCEkTu9LOuciDiiqJsbSDo_zLuKVxBW6ZrhU9ljvuT2URLB_rWZFZUNHfsRuDrWByyqQsWpWexORFF1Ee0IYKmQDruttUtuzkT8FTpwAbB9q0s/s1444/John%20005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1031" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXrTcvm0pa4BZDpKrJkTP44l9eHaKMdMoVxlSW7FjYj1rTSoRBzfQ5GUWrG2VtYUHAVLDmW76-WUMudCEkTu9LOuciDiiqJsbSDo_zLuKVxBW6ZrhU9ljvuT2URLB_rWZFZUNHfsRuDrWByyqQsWpWexORFF1Ee0IYKmQDruttUtuzkT8FTpwAbB9q0s/w285-h400/John%20005.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The easiest (and perhaps most obvious) solution to this quandary is to simply <i>COLLECT FEWER CARDS </i>and not the 8,623 different players and themes I insist on chasing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But could I ever do that? <i>Of course not! </i>I admire those who can stop collecting one thing and seamlessly pivot to another. But it's just not me. I can turn the volume knobs of different things I collect up and down sometimes, but I can never completely shut them off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For what it's worth, I've devised a slight revision to my binder system that should cut my filing time down by a good margin and keep the collecting part of my brain balanced. In the meantime, I can take comfort in other collectors I know who are just as crazy (I mean, <i>widely curious</i>) as I am, like longtime friend of the blog John of <a href="https://johnnnystradingspot.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"Johnny's Trading Spot."</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">John is particularly good at shoveling heaps and heaps of cards onto people - what you'll see here come from a few different packages I'm woefully overdue in posting - and he knows I always want shiny Cubs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQBlJHKueZhhg9WlVkkGyhXcobHnJKbMi8pR3CEOU8DCIkO56NecSLun9kpcUef5-vs3yM2QOg2yPVYM5Y10qXdeFCHFASsfy782PLOk5-G2RX0lKD3L3Yf4LT330HkprmsEan3SJdDJvzb5QC7XBnbGCGOIiH1Gwk5ACZUbWm6LwwLFTfoSbQ2nhYaE/s759/John%20006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="623" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQBlJHKueZhhg9WlVkkGyhXcobHnJKbMi8pR3CEOU8DCIkO56NecSLun9kpcUef5-vs3yM2QOg2yPVYM5Y10qXdeFCHFASsfy782PLOk5-G2RX0lKD3L3Yf4LT330HkprmsEan3SJdDJvzb5QC7XBnbGCGOIiH1Gwk5ACZUbWm6LwwLFTfoSbQ2nhYaE/w329-h400/John%20006.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>John also produced a rare first for my collection - behold, the first of these curious '30s matchbooks I own!</div><div><br /></div><div>They're are a prime example of something I'm not really interested enough to chase down and buy, but was over the moon to see fall out of a trade package as a surprise.</div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjlqLmCCqLoHaPx1j8Zyx7VgK72waOekbTtuRyxaucFs0xZ0a7LOyq0IGkufvbM6bE71EF5Xv1fa7ErEfu2I0UvsopV85H9l_Vc5eys0xVkAXhTiZe8V2lxUNw9zA9yydpwC6lc1rxoDsjU130AdgLUUJVE7Ld6NpW2GktyCGaVEtVvMgQYeBOtF4-fo/s1418/John%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjlqLmCCqLoHaPx1j8Zyx7VgK72waOekbTtuRyxaucFs0xZ0a7LOyq0IGkufvbM6bE71EF5Xv1fa7ErEfu2I0UvsopV85H9l_Vc5eys0xVkAXhTiZe8V2lxUNw9zA9yydpwC6lc1rxoDsjU130AdgLUUJVE7Ld6NpW2GktyCGaVEtVvMgQYeBOtF4-fo/w285-h400/John%20007.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Nifty Cubs will always have a home with me.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been collecting for long enough now to grow nostalgic for players of my youth - that's the only explanation I have as to why I've been hoarding Mark Prior cards with more vigor lately.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgaUUmVBaO-XksYG-6opH3aiy1I8dIefPArjZOUdyP-SEb9WOZ7-DsZIV2p731eZLuN1zznHXYK6Q8xMrg5QGrMyTOeGJTkIAHrORy9SybxleIwBE1NFD1Cp5ta5Ct-UrU1RbFkZ3DzBXbmGq_5-5OBpo8O1IiBuzTpgNqP8FouzA34pmWjYVRSv5PE0/s1400/John%20008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="997" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgaUUmVBaO-XksYG-6opH3aiy1I8dIefPArjZOUdyP-SEb9WOZ7-DsZIV2p731eZLuN1zznHXYK6Q8xMrg5QGrMyTOeGJTkIAHrORy9SybxleIwBE1NFD1Cp5ta5Ct-UrU1RbFkZ3DzBXbmGq_5-5OBpo8O1IiBuzTpgNqP8FouzA34pmWjYVRSv5PE0/w285-h400/John%20008.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div>More local love here, including those cool Jason Kipnis & Billy Hamilton parallels - a couple Dime Box Favorites who gleefully became short-term Cubs.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG-FOS-5G2AwZzXjriEVHc0DkJjLLfIi977jkiq3BXw59CckO2v4zptYrW7gD7kty2yuVWAJBLswvCkuiquYKuL_xqRnNRcEhn97I3RWvVDTr758ab4nYS4fDuhsa1pRHm77ff_rtJrG1cFmPWOltN2e5myVlUXg8MpG78KDcQrc2SkQQBWeftbRGrmQ/s1034/John%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1034" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuG-FOS-5G2AwZzXjriEVHc0DkJjLLfIi977jkiq3BXw59CckO2v4zptYrW7gD7kty2yuVWAJBLswvCkuiquYKuL_xqRnNRcEhn97I3RWvVDTr758ab4nYS4fDuhsa1pRHm77ff_rtJrG1cFmPWOltN2e5myVlUXg8MpG78KDcQrc2SkQQBWeftbRGrmQ/w400-h280/John%20003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Cubs were the meat of John's mailings, but they weren't the whole feast.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple pitchers-at-the-plate came along for the ride - and while I don't specifically count flip-side hitting pitchers towards my mini-collection, I'll always take ones people happen to spot (especially of big names like Trevor Hoffman!). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-5l4lntHbpm-YsWSV3DDwPTI6XVKSn0syDKZ7gWp94nER_6BLgkzRvomS7kDi3zl3omJk8emeS69V9cq3_Fmlc0MyA5QwGiyGlImRNmTAKaYNUnC7T8YAEC_7Quf3w7mB4nQQUi4Bybk_d2ceXzh-L0py_NYcY-L_Ff8IVJhPyQAOhEc0FdV-UYBOgo/s1028/John%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1028" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-5l4lntHbpm-YsWSV3DDwPTI6XVKSn0syDKZ7gWp94nER_6BLgkzRvomS7kDi3zl3omJk8emeS69V9cq3_Fmlc0MyA5QwGiyGlImRNmTAKaYNUnC7T8YAEC_7Quf3w7mB4nQQUi4Bybk_d2ceXzh-L0py_NYcY-L_Ff8IVJhPyQAOhEc0FdV-UYBOgo/w400-h278/John%20002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I find it endearing that an oddball set documenting the hapless '62 Mets actually exists, and John sent along a few of those gems as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a couple cards from this set in my binders already (do nicknames get any better than "Vinegar Bend" Mizell?), but these two familiar names were new to me - nor did I know either of them were inaugural Mets.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvzSVZ01B4Uo_HwqJOiwtLFdbVxDmQugtIzmE5jX4SheG9NJ9NmX0mgu0JZRm-P71oCru9aN8XWHmOJ2UHX4ddWFmYwrbUxiW4Km94-_UfuUG0FjB74gyzMBZjfNOSNhiOmMgeZUC2fb9M0xrMsw5qGuXTWEderYYmAIQxXMG_HwA4zNHqsshhd9j_do/s709/John%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="709" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvzSVZ01B4Uo_HwqJOiwtLFdbVxDmQugtIzmE5jX4SheG9NJ9NmX0mgu0JZRm-P71oCru9aN8XWHmOJ2UHX4ddWFmYwrbUxiW4Km94-_UfuUG0FjB74gyzMBZjfNOSNhiOmMgeZUC2fb9M0xrMsw5qGuXTWEderYYmAIQxXMG_HwA4zNHqsshhd9j_do/w400-h284/John%20001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a card I never knew I needed - a '62 Mets team photo!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Come to think of it, this one's a prime example of why I can't collect any other way than I do right now. Team cards have never been a huge priority for me, nor does this one fit snugly into any of the nebulous players/themes/guidelines I collect. But did I get wide-eyed at the sight of it in a trade package? Of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end, even though the circumstances surrounding the collector might change, I truly believe that basic instinct to collect how and what we want never truly fades.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-3687454120493114432023-12-29T17:30:00.001-06:002023-12-29T17:30:00.156-06:00The best budget is no budget (a COMC order)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8OpAEn6aFuzTKg92TgUYmE3IPovMCiUQF1iP_ZYnSWpQSSJDv3Ii_jzbPL24iC6JNQILQOUNJ8MewrNlG2DrA77xJmK6VwE6ethvx4Jt-s9ao-63LZcvT-gdmNTaX52RxIclmKdiBO-g5kCb8JeAS2WskNLksN2W48UfbEtjsJ0YB4VBLqHnQhzQeWU/s1276/Scan_20231122%20(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="955" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8OpAEn6aFuzTKg92TgUYmE3IPovMCiUQF1iP_ZYnSWpQSSJDv3Ii_jzbPL24iC6JNQILQOUNJ8MewrNlG2DrA77xJmK6VwE6ethvx4Jt-s9ao-63LZcvT-gdmNTaX52RxIclmKdiBO-g5kCb8JeAS2WskNLksN2W48UfbEtjsJ0YB4VBLqHnQhzQeWU/w299-h400/Scan_20231122%20(21).jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've really never had a budget when it comes to baseball cards.</div><div><br /></div><div>Part of this is because I don't collect the seismic kind of stuff that requires a budget in fear of having to sell a kidney. But that's not to say I can't overspend on cards - lately I've been worried that I'm plopping a bit too much of my paychecks down on cardboard, in fact.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's easy to trick myself into thinking I'm a light spender since a lot of what I buy tends to fall into the "loose change" category. But a few Sportlots orders here, a couple infusions of cash into my COMC account there, and before you know it, there goes 50 bucks. It's not a good or bad thing, but sometimes I'm left looking at my bank account and wondering why there's not more money in there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think it's telling that I seem to post a COMC order every other month or so on here - and, you guessed it, here comes another one!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-NXb5HFjZsrooqbqu3FNxGiZCzcbI1e7JTMDZEv_zRnTkgA_ZjZMga3Gkjrpdef16VoB_OAFshBKCV4aKSMQFof7QhOAUhBcNzQC3ET7e1MoarcNCq521OwtZcFl3X3jBZlK2yh59TIt9EPVy769zCI3vNhvdAL-8VxszcXJMl545hliVIk8vpPU8L0/s2151/Scan_20231122%20(22).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="1534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-NXb5HFjZsrooqbqu3FNxGiZCzcbI1e7JTMDZEv_zRnTkgA_ZjZMga3Gkjrpdef16VoB_OAFshBKCV4aKSMQFof7QhOAUhBcNzQC3ET7e1MoarcNCq521OwtZcFl3X3jBZlK2yh59TIt9EPVy769zCI3vNhvdAL-8VxszcXJMl545hliVIk8vpPU8L0/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(22).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There's very little rhyme or reason to my COMC hauls - lots of times I'm as surprised as anyone else to see what I ended up finding.</div><div><br /></div><div>Can't really tell you how I stumbled upon these three Star Mattingly panels, and they're not anything I've specifically targeted in the past - but hey, for $1.50 a piece (50 cents a card!) you know I'm buying 'em.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Also, yes, I have since split these up into nine individual cards.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBtktH_H__iRcm7pjjtMQYpg87eQmrAh_JY3HTB32lRWruD06cqWuk09-0pDjF5Bs9HOrqohwtsLVun3VwxkmZeccC7q8d58mxd-HS1T3nJ2zLaEKa_lkTFx3GfFO1ql5rN6_9-jnowYzC2KzyKu-KNYJ4Iw6F9g2B_dBWzzMdbaRuTr5rqlIY6zcP9M/s1406/Scan_20231122%20(23).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBtktH_H__iRcm7pjjtMQYpg87eQmrAh_JY3HTB32lRWruD06cqWuk09-0pDjF5Bs9HOrqohwtsLVun3VwxkmZeccC7q8d58mxd-HS1T3nJ2zLaEKa_lkTFx3GfFO1ql5rN6_9-jnowYzC2KzyKu-KNYJ4Iw6F9g2B_dBWzzMdbaRuTr5rqlIY6zcP9M/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(23).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>COMC is a good place to find weird regional oddballs there's a 99 percent chance you won't see anywhere, ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those Spanish Kellogg's have been taunting me for a while - the cheapest ones always seem to be like $10 - but thankfully that Carew was around $4 and fit snugly into my (non-?)budget.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eySxgjL7HutZNT1MmBGcCprSZSqJ6gMA2cC_g8VHBtZJT7GxLnWSR0wVW7ihFYcvEbuVg0KE7G-_alz5rHHIVEHNsidP0W9M4uuB0-fBcxMwX00kFNr1Npo7cX7gOxDruXO8vcyKN2tUFD-4JzzIvzQOCdqF42L_zojBA2aJb57vB-R7GFAlbVZY8EQ/s1486/Scan_20231122%20(24).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1061" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eySxgjL7HutZNT1MmBGcCprSZSqJ6gMA2cC_g8VHBtZJT7GxLnWSR0wVW7ihFYcvEbuVg0KE7G-_alz5rHHIVEHNsidP0W9M4uuB0-fBcxMwX00kFNr1Npo7cX7gOxDruXO8vcyKN2tUFD-4JzzIvzQOCdqF42L_zojBA2aJb57vB-R7GFAlbVZY8EQ/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(24).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oddballs, as always, were the name of the game with this COMC order.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't remember ever buying equipment during my Little League days (I know at least a couple of my gloves were hand-me-downs) but I've been more inclined to beg my parents to get me a Louisville Slugger if a baseball card came with it!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41RrZsgTOpEYloVHzR-xpR2M_b_-mgCgjL-rpcWhPZYWL8wnWwDqrMA-SWPFn_ksUyoTFXh4zvt5W0EvPMoNhOxepY0Qg0l-oDD9WYi9mbe0ohPae8J7ZCKdmbL0hYE0LPtY7rElAfCxLoBABVAc_WhHX13blZeyiXsxuqnvc_icIBB8QTWBOm9DTXgM/s1435/Scan_20231122%20(25).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1019" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41RrZsgTOpEYloVHzR-xpR2M_b_-mgCgjL-rpcWhPZYWL8wnWwDqrMA-SWPFn_ksUyoTFXh4zvt5W0EvPMoNhOxepY0Qg0l-oDD9WYi9mbe0ohPae8J7ZCKdmbL0hYE0LPtY7rElAfCxLoBABVAc_WhHX13blZeyiXsxuqnvc_icIBB8QTWBOm9DTXgM/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(25).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Lately I've taken a page from the Sportlots handbook and started combing specific sellers' inventories for deals.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came across one person who was having a nice little blowout of their minor league inventory and, as a result, scored some cool pre-fame issues of a few guys you might recognize.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglN6G-A1VM8oGSpKHtJ8-hPNL_ipmH8XFwxXRK6nFQg6Fp1yvOcjkDoECHSimekfGx5-_1Y55IXXbTg4y3DUMyi8FasyzpXwhHNSVLBDUptLfIr97EJJi38fVoY7kAkewnymqN3y2J4NKSsM5WhZuK8ALskxXnKIw8iKj-jwT9YaWjxBG7RPyU6QgxwKc/s1409/Scan_20231122%20(26).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglN6G-A1VM8oGSpKHtJ8-hPNL_ipmH8XFwxXRK6nFQg6Fp1yvOcjkDoECHSimekfGx5-_1Y55IXXbTg4y3DUMyi8FasyzpXwhHNSVLBDUptLfIr97EJJi38fVoY7kAkewnymqN3y2J4NKSsM5WhZuK8ALskxXnKIw8iKj-jwT9YaWjxBG7RPyU6QgxwKc/w288-h400/Scan_20231122%20(26).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But I get just as much fun out of finding minor league treasures of Obscure Guys I Collect For Some Reason - only in a card collection can Mike Fontenot and Junior Spivey have as much pull as Shohei Ohtani or Mike Trout.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrdB2onhJUfmOQ4A55bMkl2j2RoS2sOi5cfZQJ8vo7t1X7F0_3hSsizMRyDi39y45L_0OGeOvnD6i1LmMHuN-xGk8Baoq2r8t3FZEnz0t3p8iESV5qU7-VM8H8sD15Zx0_c6Of7tfnY-3JmKro1CYwAaoSQMWQbDz290ae-jCZ6J93HxauR6UiSc_1Xs/s1449/Scan_20231122%20(27).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="1035" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrdB2onhJUfmOQ4A55bMkl2j2RoS2sOi5cfZQJ8vo7t1X7F0_3hSsizMRyDi39y45L_0OGeOvnD6i1LmMHuN-xGk8Baoq2r8t3FZEnz0t3p8iESV5qU7-VM8H8sD15Zx0_c6Of7tfnY-3JmKro1CYwAaoSQMWQbDz290ae-jCZ6J93HxauR6UiSc_1Xs/w286-h400/Scan_20231122%20(27).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A lot of minor league stuff is just plain <i>cool</i> - I didn't even know there was a card of Mark Prior's brief stay in the Red Sox system until this order.</div><div><br /></div><div>Couple that with a group of batboys who posed for a photo exactly how you'd expect a group of 12-year-olds to pose for a photo, and A CARD WITH A CAT CAMEO(!) - and you have a whole lot of fun on the farm.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-FcuNfuX3ltPbL_pGa6ObMMpaBqh2XztHsL1Y5n9T4yUpL5NfdGj34pMKtPTgY5lw0tNV13LM8kDi1Iaj_xtLvbMzR2O44ZjzVhEidf64df7DDCv8yUIpok07ukJZ4TpGnJGzcRUNjMxyatq2UEI1tAo28gBlRos7hnyy5Z9XZtzP0Ju4j59RGcO6es/s1407/Scan_20231122%20(28).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-FcuNfuX3ltPbL_pGa6ObMMpaBqh2XztHsL1Y5n9T4yUpL5NfdGj34pMKtPTgY5lw0tNV13LM8kDi1Iaj_xtLvbMzR2O44ZjzVhEidf64df7DDCv8yUIpok07ukJZ4TpGnJGzcRUNjMxyatq2UEI1tAo28gBlRos7hnyy5Z9XZtzP0Ju4j59RGcO6es/w286-h400/Scan_20231122%20(28).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few of my bigger player collections got a nice little boost with this order as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finally convinced myself to splurge on one of those "Gallery of Heroes" inserts I've been eyeing for far too long - spending $6 on a modern card is nearly unheard of here, but I'd say Vlad was worth it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaCcgaF8CH99VvUtKISE0HkFZYHbSZji8JMe8BtdFoOwDV67DQ9KRC3R3ztCs5e1DqTdvCNVIJf0T3wCEjlkp7AS_Q2n1Y5kKS3UeMhypA7E8iSPxkbNXiYJ3WuBXXDwJyuxt1HiL8x9Coq7duMwua19RPNOy1pTW2jAfVr5-dwaFsqO3YonhlnMwj2w/s1416/Scan_20231122%20(29).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="1011" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaCcgaF8CH99VvUtKISE0HkFZYHbSZji8JMe8BtdFoOwDV67DQ9KRC3R3ztCs5e1DqTdvCNVIJf0T3wCEjlkp7AS_Q2n1Y5kKS3UeMhypA7E8iSPxkbNXiYJ3WuBXXDwJyuxt1HiL8x9Coq7duMwua19RPNOy1pTW2jAfVr5-dwaFsqO3YonhlnMwj2w/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(29).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I supposed my budget would be in further shambles if I spent as much on packs as I used to. </div><div><br /></div><div>But why do that when you can snag tough photo-variation SPs and other online exclusives on COMC for the price of one of those packs with five Marlins in it?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1dkiqyp1HnbhLmXhB4KWPQ5KrxSZRUG7SQ6X3Lh2Igo0VRjYYZ-3sYZz7CMmSezcHT4h50H_lm9sJIbAFyH9FgIHC3J-mrclWNp53GF354qE1CmnHuYRPskuslmFUSgsoozDCimM4-U4tE-oUbqVebbxxq8P6uKHOkRsnAY6mEfrLrQZU5wBo0p30eE/s1409/Scan_20231122%20(30).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1dkiqyp1HnbhLmXhB4KWPQ5KrxSZRUG7SQ6X3Lh2Igo0VRjYYZ-3sYZz7CMmSezcHT4h50H_lm9sJIbAFyH9FgIHC3J-mrclWNp53GF354qE1CmnHuYRPskuslmFUSgsoozDCimM4-U4tE-oUbqVebbxxq8P6uKHOkRsnAY6mEfrLrQZU5wBo0p30eE/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(30).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm on a quest to own every Hank Aaron Brewers card in existence, and I got one tiny step closer with that Heritage insert from a few years back - and speaking of guys on weird teams, how about a rare Jim Kaat Yankees sighting?</div><div><br /></div><div>(It's also funny that exclusives I heard everyone raving about from this year's National are already showing up on COMC for almost nothing.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXcLqIRR7bL7SVMofurxz5ZhchhF1lRJbrqOQY81HYF_gnK5ruboRJhT77uDxpVhKF40SjJVXO4ja0tJlFn9PRS-xz6GlGdz-Vsnd_qpemLGLIu_o6fg7LKuLO8gw7XaB1AeiIq9P29-Zl0rVdSZdpC9wEE__uFziz_mA4v1eYsdQ1C5IdHGDw2y3MWw/s1614/Scan_20231122%20(31).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1614" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXcLqIRR7bL7SVMofurxz5ZhchhF1lRJbrqOQY81HYF_gnK5ruboRJhT77uDxpVhKF40SjJVXO4ja0tJlFn9PRS-xz6GlGdz-Vsnd_qpemLGLIu_o6fg7LKuLO8gw7XaB1AeiIq9P29-Zl0rVdSZdpC9wEE__uFziz_mA4v1eYsdQ1C5IdHGDw2y3MWw/w400-h323/Scan_20231122%20(31).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A particularly fun helping of minis this time around - including Jim Bunning's only Dodger card, a Felipe Alou Venezuelan sticker, and a neat Bazooka!</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, yes, that's a real 1950 Bowman Ralph Branca - vintage Bowman doesn't really do a whole lot for me, but when you throw one of a Dime Box favorite for a hair over $4, I'm helpless.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpSiiTDAFr2ZV3DcbMU_E9OLFfmes5yGyjEyMOD9xdfPh8O7LhwcZ0kqzXZImBUCT7rnlnuQj7GRf4wX1PPYS6yQUmRhzmRsDTaksL3DsDppjulkNSyxi22bqp-0JsJiEobK0z6afc2GAwdshIBafy57EjXugUtIF97DNyw19qDmVnuiyXNhKqiXNP8w/s971/Scan_20231122%20(32).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="971" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpSiiTDAFr2ZV3DcbMU_E9OLFfmes5yGyjEyMOD9xdfPh8O7LhwcZ0kqzXZImBUCT7rnlnuQj7GRf4wX1PPYS6yQUmRhzmRsDTaksL3DsDppjulkNSyxi22bqp-0JsJiEobK0z6afc2GAwdshIBafy57EjXugUtIF97DNyw19qDmVnuiyXNhKqiXNP8w/w400-h285/Scan_20231122%20(32).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Japanese cards are one of my most frequent searches on COMC, and I had the good fortune to stumble across a couple weirdly affordable BBM Nomos this time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjFB2yek-vJGh4OnHmmceeR7tQu9eHR3ruq-W4idWd7z7oiPohvNA6-iOc5UQTSlIYKMFaVium0qQ1tu_cbQtUfZh4hddjoN78aCNfnjtnL4qBoJY68ILJK0l7JhH1ledG1pWOc21xuarbT4b1EPfba5QR2Sl_XXOe9IOzV8zDKK4svihd3_OFFpBQJQ/s1498/Scan_20231122%20(33).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1071" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjFB2yek-vJGh4OnHmmceeR7tQu9eHR3ruq-W4idWd7z7oiPohvNA6-iOc5UQTSlIYKMFaVium0qQ1tu_cbQtUfZh4hddjoN78aCNfnjtnL4qBoJY68ILJK0l7JhH1ledG1pWOc21xuarbT4b1EPfba5QR2Sl_XXOe9IOzV8zDKK4svihd3_OFFpBQJQ/w286-h400/Scan_20231122%20(33).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>COMC is mostly a place for combing and scouring and clicking BUY NOW!, but it can also be a rabbit hole for discoveries. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's a good chance I would've gone the rest of my life not knowing this brilliant Father's Day Nationals set existed (stadium giveaway, I assume?) - but thanks to COMC, my collection is all the better for it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC741z2iC_xxloRQVq9bU5c6873KSwnXnmpMZl4LlvqqtdKTdTth0DeWCz72KlOY6xq_IYM2G1MRZAxn9ZLK_ZZuZIBknUl4N-Gojii9fNdUPiXyam3yfFRWiwHHBkunAsW_W9lwBGZ3tI-Etg4ER7G3k1lQrmXZideNzMpbRPMMvChJbWZ-nZatB4Fbs/s1457/Scan_20231122%20(34).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC741z2iC_xxloRQVq9bU5c6873KSwnXnmpMZl4LlvqqtdKTdTth0DeWCz72KlOY6xq_IYM2G1MRZAxn9ZLK_ZZuZIBknUl4N-Gojii9fNdUPiXyam3yfFRWiwHHBkunAsW_W9lwBGZ3tI-Etg4ER7G3k1lQrmXZideNzMpbRPMMvChJbWZ-nZatB4Fbs/w250-h400/Scan_20231122%20(34).jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A handful of not-your-standard-size baseball cards here, including a couple Permagraphics oddballs that I've never thought got nearly as much love as they should.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdmMTu8X2nKJQ6P99tp5bm6YmRHlsHZ_rT8ldDYkz8eRd_zaSrW-7DJ_AjvkhTUY2vWjkKqQNuYee98Q3s2L76I9DoIB3IWTIm_1tLBSlUDLmDqhkY1N_LXG9tzCKBn0z2uYCoqZu8r_mBv2OPZwe36Z_-Tf8CkJLfat0mJaT0NSw23_U3vVffI8KDVk/s1440/Scan_20231122%20(35).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdmMTu8X2nKJQ6P99tp5bm6YmRHlsHZ_rT8ldDYkz8eRd_zaSrW-7DJ_AjvkhTUY2vWjkKqQNuYee98Q3s2L76I9DoIB3IWTIm_1tLBSlUDLmDqhkY1N_LXG9tzCKBn0z2uYCoqZu8r_mBv2OPZwe36Z_-Tf8CkJLfat0mJaT0NSw23_U3vVffI8KDVk/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(35).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was the COMC order when I decided enough was enough and finally sprung for a '76 SSPC George Brett that's been a thorn in my side for quite a while now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Plus, Mr. Brett had a little company on the way to Dime Box HQ, including The Mick and a couple '78 SSPCs I still needed (not many White Sox Don Kessinger cards out there). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT_U1n5sUHkzEJ8xbGn3ELmOmw4xzNE7jOyL7Xv5sZgJurIlng6_OJZt-coVCAwMMSvN6qkX7hWAmfmk5UagCeTtphIbbZPCzNrUW5wO9KY-putKgayiwZJ4rflvW1Zc0oBdknoLAQH8NC2JlWKB_9vC8S9KToMp9fnqLHOmFF42n9CXgT4NWG0c6XBE/s1049/Scan_20231122%20(36).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="779" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT_U1n5sUHkzEJ8xbGn3ELmOmw4xzNE7jOyL7Xv5sZgJurIlng6_OJZt-coVCAwMMSvN6qkX7hWAmfmk5UagCeTtphIbbZPCzNrUW5wO9KY-putKgayiwZJ4rflvW1Zc0oBdknoLAQH8NC2JlWKB_9vC8S9KToMp9fnqLHOmFF42n9CXgT4NWG0c6XBE/w298-h400/Scan_20231122%20(36).jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Full disclosure: I was excited to snag a cheap '55 Bowman Sal Maglie, only to later run to my binders and discover, <i>wait, WHAT - I already have it?! </i>(Side note: anyone wanna give it a good home?)</div><div><br /></div><div>That Musial, on the other hand, was most assuredly not a dupe - those "Baseball Thrills" cards are excellent and cost less than Stan the Man's regular Topps cards will run you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7f0eILCUKZTzHMu0_adlDTtWuuQRkc-n4HoqSvMzmvb-yJCNfsAn8qSf2VsGcDoxCXxlY32cVB1JFvp8h8bHX4nP504ngVvFUk54PhBHJxU6Fy6z-vdTBJWt4Uk8wZhn6LK6UZ_07jLvdAoRnoJmgz7IBmNjx2iVlqpBTFYhG7bFMS8CgzFxmb2wFKc/s723/Scan_20231122%20(37).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7f0eILCUKZTzHMu0_adlDTtWuuQRkc-n4HoqSvMzmvb-yJCNfsAn8qSf2VsGcDoxCXxlY32cVB1JFvp8h8bHX4nP504ngVvFUk54PhBHJxU6Fy6z-vdTBJWt4Uk8wZhn6LK6UZ_07jLvdAoRnoJmgz7IBmNjx2iVlqpBTFYhG7bFMS8CgzFxmb2wFKc/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(37).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Still, the king of this COMC order was never in question: it's this scary '67 high-number of Rocky Colavito that looks like it went under a truck at some point.</div><div><br /></div><div>I may be more inclined to drop heavier amounts of money on cards nowadays, but my goal of finding an affordable '67 Colavito was fixed on a hope and a prayer. I regularly see copies priced for hundreds at card shows, and the cheapest one I'd ever come across before this was around $80. (You better believe '67 high-numbers are feared for a reason.)</div><div><br /></div><div>A copy like this - creased, mangled, and even with an updated "Dodgers" scrawled along the front by a young collector - was exactly what I'd always hoped to find. And for a mere $15, there it was waiting for me on COMC one miraculous evening. A prayer answered.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, it's hard to have a budget in this hobby when I'm bombarded with so many things I DEFINITELY, TOTALLY NEED RIGHT NOW!</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-15562590452378704622023-12-08T17:00:00.004-06:002023-12-11T20:42:02.665-06:00Twelve years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiPugd4LgoWlvGvSbCpqaUyvPiKPjshZJp9mDf6K13vRAhWrY5WclYyiTgVtjH37h4fb0V__MErFG8XpvkCHwkWxFZlNYnvu-a_B14RVbYUYHy-Ay392Ipx2W_pbb5unWYm5DuZFGZCB7V738-pRWEsiN_nCwzruZXFC1NZ6tOTDNG6Qn73_z6Fu3qy4/s668/Scan_20231208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="668" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiPugd4LgoWlvGvSbCpqaUyvPiKPjshZJp9mDf6K13vRAhWrY5WclYyiTgVtjH37h4fb0V__MErFG8XpvkCHwkWxFZlNYnvu-a_B14RVbYUYHy-Ay392Ipx2W_pbb5unWYm5DuZFGZCB7V738-pRWEsiN_nCwzruZXFC1NZ6tOTDNG6Qn73_z6Fu3qy4/w400-h306/Scan_20231208.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>"Dime Boxes" turned twelve yesterday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I admittedly don't post a whole lot these days, but that's not at all an indictment of my love of the blogosphere (more of me not having as much time/energy). This is still my favorite corner of the cardboard universe, and I'm forever grateful for the support so many of you have always showed to that teenager who started yammering on and on about how much he loved 1995 Fleer all those years ago (I STILL DO!). </div><div><br /></div><div>I've given away cards for my last few blog-versaries, and since I really can't think of a better way to thank all you fantastic readers, <i>I'm doing it again this year! </i>I've got 20 pages' worth of random goodies up for grabs here - all you have to do is comment with something along the lines of "Page 1 - #8 (Molina)" for any card(s) you'd like to claim. (Also, with deep apologies to my Canadian friends, I have to limit this to US readers only due to insane shipping rates.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Please feel free to grab as many cards as your conscience allows - all I ask is that all claimers <b style="font-style: italic;">please email your shipping address to me at nickpecucci AT gmail DOT com (even if we've traded before). </b>I'll do my best to update this post with cards that have already been claimed.</div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Once again, I shout a big, hearty THANK YOU to all the great readers out there - and now I'll shut up and present you with the spoils!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #1</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAup_1s6Rt5mauHy6VSHW6AZ_0rLMR5eyofQEN6OzCdeeyhS8WUJ1FRf3I6fhho9_DJek5hYXVaaP9-eriz-Gguu3wAGHlLzZXhhK8AjTL7jLxf6IrxtKsrqglm3XGzcuDmm94sxChZJK9INyPKsluYknrKKUyZ2vZv3kgsSoxkWT4CA_p13QjiezbY2A/s2274/Scan_20231208%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2274" data-original-width="1635" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAup_1s6Rt5mauHy6VSHW6AZ_0rLMR5eyofQEN6OzCdeeyhS8WUJ1FRf3I6fhho9_DJek5hYXVaaP9-eriz-Gguu3wAGHlLzZXhhK8AjTL7jLxf6IrxtKsrqglm3XGzcuDmm94sxChZJK9INyPKsluYknrKKUyZ2vZv3kgsSoxkWT4CA_p13QjiezbY2A/w461-h640/Scan_20231208%20(2).jpg" width="461" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strike>Page #2</strike></u></span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAmrIg9zlJEL1sfv1E2jJeoL_FN0c6YQD4-VTBK6cxI2p7jrH3IYP27KFoPEh6oqJaoBwsMq3gfWdlKrh4qtovw89jWPovwXIlnH7C5W07vXFsFLtlrSxdDyoKp1PIyQ97WAL3xzP8zYVbyUL9pfEbSIDeaeo3wdWZmtzKW2cofZ1JudFq_ueAGl1myE/s2282/Scan_20231208%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2282" data-original-width="1631" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAmrIg9zlJEL1sfv1E2jJeoL_FN0c6YQD4-VTBK6cxI2p7jrH3IYP27KFoPEh6oqJaoBwsMq3gfWdlKrh4qtovw89jWPovwXIlnH7C5W07vXFsFLtlrSxdDyoKp1PIyQ97WAL3xzP8zYVbyUL9pfEbSIDeaeo3wdWZmtzKW2cofZ1JudFq_ueAGl1myE/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(3).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>(Entire page has been claimed!)</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #3</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcfZCK2OdrsdcEFacvQ__eZwR49a2GWzBBkSl2OjnpRAxExAmTZteiIIVngqI09KGR0Kt1g-6nrifUgPNMhT7nSyY2e5maS6UmD48zshFUMN9FMNfVbH_NsNVOAGS_KHYvWmt-6Q1b2TPgUQzOBMJxRsyaG8GHKxOo2rC79ULsG3y40epj_J5OFUGnA4/s2270/Scan_20231208%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcfZCK2OdrsdcEFacvQ__eZwR49a2GWzBBkSl2OjnpRAxExAmTZteiIIVngqI09KGR0Kt1g-6nrifUgPNMhT7nSyY2e5maS6UmD48zshFUMN9FMNfVbH_NsNVOAGS_KHYvWmt-6Q1b2TPgUQzOBMJxRsyaG8GHKxOo2rC79ULsG3y40epj_J5OFUGnA4/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(4).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #4</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtQ4LmNQjrkOY0nlKem7zbEJZoA3A_tr3pYy09c4UM4GLX97Re3T6Foo9XrBSuS1HIFF7pWCevX4EVTDKj0dN1IR5kjpEr39C5Wfy1jOqN7XDk5cgLvAc2JpRVA9UaOShDSOPlhE_XVNePDS2iByzyLQBLWcq-4Rck-E28kgZJEArC0Wi_rRiV-w4TMA/s2263/Scan_20231208%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtQ4LmNQjrkOY0nlKem7zbEJZoA3A_tr3pYy09c4UM4GLX97Re3T6Foo9XrBSuS1HIFF7pWCevX4EVTDKj0dN1IR5kjpEr39C5Wfy1jOqN7XDk5cgLvAc2JpRVA9UaOShDSOPlhE_XVNePDS2iByzyLQBLWcq-4Rck-E28kgZJEArC0Wi_rRiV-w4TMA/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(5).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #5</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpeUjZMBsZqUatpOUlrtk0FWK-3pNLqInAa-yTEowH_Tcc64HlRjlNxP6ZCrsJPiKDo7xSHCUhXxjShs7fvfUTnMEU6kfmNahjJdVHbnyvexHX6ZjOOlWX9i86cMKLGxygLj1dTKJUbBeX3_XVJ1Sl5l6JYGwPMtgU4nRK98bLF3WK0VhgBC5CBnXjag/s2286/Scan_20231208%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2286" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpeUjZMBsZqUatpOUlrtk0FWK-3pNLqInAa-yTEowH_Tcc64HlRjlNxP6ZCrsJPiKDo7xSHCUhXxjShs7fvfUTnMEU6kfmNahjJdVHbnyvexHX6ZjOOlWX9i86cMKLGxygLj1dTKJUbBeX3_XVJ1Sl5l6JYGwPMtgU4nRK98bLF3WK0VhgBC5CBnXjag/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(6).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strike>Page #6</strike></u></span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PNw2PhmYcjDtyzoJMOqYGAnp01wdO3JTA5DIIAp8QLE8nV9FBP2pZMioYE3mnyvkmcj-C3IoJ2_J9KaOsjGCo4s_sXNv8vDTkgPyOI4lf9WtEgbn2YTpqZILpmH-9y8K-wBffSBZyc2DmpXm57R0hFgUV_PKlBAJ7GrZqBpTv-uNxXQ-o28EhA4RhaE/s2262/Scan_20231208%20(7).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2262" data-original-width="1615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PNw2PhmYcjDtyzoJMOqYGAnp01wdO3JTA5DIIAp8QLE8nV9FBP2pZMioYE3mnyvkmcj-C3IoJ2_J9KaOsjGCo4s_sXNv8vDTkgPyOI4lf9WtEgbn2YTpqZILpmH-9y8K-wBffSBZyc2DmpXm57R0hFgUV_PKlBAJ7GrZqBpTv-uNxXQ-o28EhA4RhaE/w456-h640/Scan_20231208%20(7).jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>(Entire page has been claimed!)</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #7</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_uYGXzatCefinnCerzI-lxdggwReaf3CsYkYs0D5HTrTxFqPg9P60DnI9x567xW_reoSvP92pvuyI0Zcunpe3gMAnVzkp2gXd9MUtXneP0SsgiUeShXPUmWmQfvXrch9UGkUd3Tm_n4DWzyqIsJbCS76LXazcJWp9IWHXa3yn_zf7f5f-dcvHPHSpF8/s2259/Scan_20231208%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2259" data-original-width="1623" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_uYGXzatCefinnCerzI-lxdggwReaf3CsYkYs0D5HTrTxFqPg9P60DnI9x567xW_reoSvP92pvuyI0Zcunpe3gMAnVzkp2gXd9MUtXneP0SsgiUeShXPUmWmQfvXrch9UGkUd3Tm_n4DWzyqIsJbCS76LXazcJWp9IWHXa3yn_zf7f5f-dcvHPHSpF8/w460-h640/Scan_20231208%20(8).jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #8</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXn8b8cpmYVU07Cjfwcc8uCJR_ZYinOR9HyYzG3LS8M18RL0xwtPCh-JTgrsXaVJ4t4-hOMG9NCuPH8oUVBNk3X5KkxkQzT0bYaEZeV_LfQzDLiOroaco4fAq7o9-wjjADq0uLS0We3jJmUOKzZ8HxVutKgY8jZqNqVr8UYJwsk1NPDwrUl45asX5wTg/s2259/Scan_20231208%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2259" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXn8b8cpmYVU07Cjfwcc8uCJR_ZYinOR9HyYzG3LS8M18RL0xwtPCh-JTgrsXaVJ4t4-hOMG9NCuPH8oUVBNk3X5KkxkQzT0bYaEZeV_LfQzDLiOroaco4fAq7o9-wjjADq0uLS0We3jJmUOKzZ8HxVutKgY8jZqNqVr8UYJwsk1NPDwrUl45asX5wTg/w460-h640/Scan_20231208%20(9).jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #9</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbZGQh4cy4gmuzr4JtJFxWMR9q3kxtR2Cgrn6z4sSsMm9pOOY8exu35ty-6BIREpN0auGRjExdKdz0DFMLi6rJzm0SOjr4vvOvYWGGDTXYasGM6yIblYe7m3A4J3nSyZkmkZR3x13o5ZtJIeNLSe_Az4q5yHsefyTYrF-Eo46it21kqNjYCaquSV1jnM/s2270/Scan_20231208%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbZGQh4cy4gmuzr4JtJFxWMR9q3kxtR2Cgrn6z4sSsMm9pOOY8exu35ty-6BIREpN0auGRjExdKdz0DFMLi6rJzm0SOjr4vvOvYWGGDTXYasGM6yIblYe7m3A4J3nSyZkmkZR3x13o5ZtJIeNLSe_Az4q5yHsefyTYrF-Eo46it21kqNjYCaquSV1jnM/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(10).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #10</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwYpvD-UyinH9KaL66QGlB27yI6W9GB4VGVQF25uRLT33zDaBKnpVvnW-hcECArTnEm9l66vC8kkz19MBVMLvF-QHvu4MOFN9ihlDZMR3jauf9G1IZ4ufXwm_PCe2W61m7FjgbGcEdbKoAgW0h71aRRBEmAyS9I2djjdwcw3xLr2ureDaehekoOqRHMI/s2255/Scan_20231208%20(11).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2255" data-original-width="1611" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwYpvD-UyinH9KaL66QGlB27yI6W9GB4VGVQF25uRLT33zDaBKnpVvnW-hcECArTnEm9l66vC8kkz19MBVMLvF-QHvu4MOFN9ihlDZMR3jauf9G1IZ4ufXwm_PCe2W61m7FjgbGcEdbKoAgW0h71aRRBEmAyS9I2djjdwcw3xLr2ureDaehekoOqRHMI/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(11).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strike>Page #11</strike></u></span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBTY9xgnENhrfHrpZ11NfpEwCNjAhfmoN_MJPdY1y32qr55aJqjePF0jg81IkuE9OYFNGxksxK_Uizp20WLQm2UskQJXu2xFeTGq7yarAlA7Kn7a63SEnR3V12KRwbL73ihOcPirSUOhmRp4E24S54vaiGIvZ2scMxVTYIg-e4U3b00xtvfQOUaLaT6Y/s2270/Scan_20231208%20(12).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBTY9xgnENhrfHrpZ11NfpEwCNjAhfmoN_MJPdY1y32qr55aJqjePF0jg81IkuE9OYFNGxksxK_Uizp20WLQm2UskQJXu2xFeTGq7yarAlA7Kn7a63SEnR3V12KRwbL73ihOcPirSUOhmRp4E24S54vaiGIvZ2scMxVTYIg-e4U3b00xtvfQOUaLaT6Y/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(12).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>(Entire page has been claimed!)</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #12</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLejhs9asdy2Y4-lS0SmOJuZy8N0i_FBsUVYp8xaFircc_xp2FB6VEmMPNtP41y-71yDxgx75pnhK5brpJhqiIg5e4S1UY5UUnnZAjx1Rjm9yYKXfJv7C36HoBmWSYLCAiFBRrxt-l9OwL9f4NicEW5W7Yl7875QzaFwNF8Dn-iiE59G8r0dEWL5xhA2s/s2278/Scan_20231208%20(13).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2278" data-original-width="1626" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLejhs9asdy2Y4-lS0SmOJuZy8N0i_FBsUVYp8xaFircc_xp2FB6VEmMPNtP41y-71yDxgx75pnhK5brpJhqiIg5e4S1UY5UUnnZAjx1Rjm9yYKXfJv7C36HoBmWSYLCAiFBRrxt-l9OwL9f4NicEW5W7Yl7875QzaFwNF8Dn-iiE59G8r0dEWL5xhA2s/w456-h640/Scan_20231208%20(13).jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 3, 4, 7, 8)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #13</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eVrsM3oMGrUFSW_0vOBbnjyvbinbkNkFlubbKFKB896W7zaeOv0SfBNZ0VWDoSirGXs0USjmty2cLSiVdTDTpHgQDp-H-hLzkFn87Jb4YZKmJnqvIG8QiB6eN6GqCrUC5h-F7_VQMQL3WklvwZ0j_klXB9vJxcubHD3AH1uPhQZs-0oA26aDHRD3O4c/s2270/Scan_20231208%20(14).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eVrsM3oMGrUFSW_0vOBbnjyvbinbkNkFlubbKFKB896W7zaeOv0SfBNZ0VWDoSirGXs0USjmty2cLSiVdTDTpHgQDp-H-hLzkFn87Jb4YZKmJnqvIG8QiB6eN6GqCrUC5h-F7_VQMQL3WklvwZ0j_klXB9vJxcubHD3AH1uPhQZs-0oA26aDHRD3O4c/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(14).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #14</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe-9RIMXj48yCuQr3znvXWP9SdLMMtRPB2tuE9h12FZTQJY8zSZGCQBAxF_GMTNZq3vgkwtqQBD9LXRVy3ZmTnz_nR5nUyM9yLRw6UP7vxh67vQuocYhaVSZYGG9ZXB9vhCOwOoA770WCIZLpKwQfMt5dt9zuDlzoJrjsvadAGKQUyp3ZGNtStKCOBb0/s2263/Scan_20231208%20(15).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe-9RIMXj48yCuQr3znvXWP9SdLMMtRPB2tuE9h12FZTQJY8zSZGCQBAxF_GMTNZq3vgkwtqQBD9LXRVy3ZmTnz_nR5nUyM9yLRw6UP7vxh67vQuocYhaVSZYGG9ZXB9vhCOwOoA770WCIZLpKwQfMt5dt9zuDlzoJrjsvadAGKQUyp3ZGNtStKCOBb0/w460-h640/Scan_20231208%20(15).jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #15</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xl723SuZV6w_OTwqw-qWEIijkUg4gor2CxLpGbwRnie5EuhZDsgMrYB64bj_no4X9of0ZgGbVDSb2x3QVl_ROQnEoT9sSmT90xnpoosS_cbsnwssFtHUTB162rw8FaMFiZFvQRnggGkq2wufndwVmYIgXipKHXt3kMv7cKCmvYziX-JGZHZCBiLtHtA/s2294/Scan_20231208%20(16).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2294" data-original-width="1646" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xl723SuZV6w_OTwqw-qWEIijkUg4gor2CxLpGbwRnie5EuhZDsgMrYB64bj_no4X9of0ZgGbVDSb2x3QVl_ROQnEoT9sSmT90xnpoosS_cbsnwssFtHUTB162rw8FaMFiZFvQRnggGkq2wufndwVmYIgXipKHXt3kMv7cKCmvYziX-JGZHZCBiLtHtA/w460-h640/Scan_20231208%20(16).jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strike>Page #16</strike></u></span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjfEKSRvEHljBsU6kqewOQNKIplK8VURMd6dkiYSyfazsMgYpD3Og-CqEa1WAe7BF4TNF224inrbCCUnwj_qLxMUGzrOMozkigbXYlwmJDdVqcfWa6O2wcm30r6WoJBSOqOcLQG0cTUUCksQMBZP8VNWBpzLAhR6PV92YRDZP-auJgYFHazGP_iEZhsQ/s2270/Scan_20231208%20(17).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="1631" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjfEKSRvEHljBsU6kqewOQNKIplK8VURMd6dkiYSyfazsMgYpD3Og-CqEa1WAe7BF4TNF224inrbCCUnwj_qLxMUGzrOMozkigbXYlwmJDdVqcfWa6O2wcm30r6WoJBSOqOcLQG0cTUUCksQMBZP8VNWBpzLAhR6PV92YRDZP-auJgYFHazGP_iEZhsQ/w460-h640/Scan_20231208%20(17).jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>(Entire page has been claimed!)</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #17</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwm3i2O48LsH2oFXzy-4f2DQG0g71fUKq0bOTqjb-GIB_wqSuHXEY9TEWoauPRMxN8zcfiJhowI45Ix4BLY9z2k_J3l14ROjyfi2fK0ApqCFPb8dY1xh_adH4Ck8kq45ow3j4lfpMsdoWpLRu3_7_18Lz5gYyhgKfMJQZXLK4oXJvbLak_sFqYYvwJCA/s2262/Scan_20231208%20(18).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2262" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwm3i2O48LsH2oFXzy-4f2DQG0g71fUKq0bOTqjb-GIB_wqSuHXEY9TEWoauPRMxN8zcfiJhowI45Ix4BLY9z2k_J3l14ROjyfi2fK0ApqCFPb8dY1xh_adH4Ck8kq45ow3j4lfpMsdoWpLRu3_7_18Lz5gYyhgKfMJQZXLK4oXJvbLak_sFqYYvwJCA/w460-h640/Scan_20231208%20(18).jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #18</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqDHv_au0n5oorLm99xn8NoxIia6OrSDoZRfNfPw79tnDk8lQlTBIaLWzwinOIACe6_E2qoeBB9_KpaukZ4l9WStyD4SixMHLpNvxHMbeIgnPhwVc741_mEO4pBa1qdf7vrT4qzQcTswV_6ywqSwb2zFXZD3NoO9TK6SmUk7LWyblXZartIMVXujuHsQ/s2266/Scan_20231208%20(19).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="1619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqDHv_au0n5oorLm99xn8NoxIia6OrSDoZRfNfPw79tnDk8lQlTBIaLWzwinOIACe6_E2qoeBB9_KpaukZ4l9WStyD4SixMHLpNvxHMbeIgnPhwVc741_mEO4pBa1qdf7vrT4qzQcTswV_6ywqSwb2zFXZD3NoO9TK6SmUk7LWyblXZartIMVXujuHsQ/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(19).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Page #19</span></u></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZh5HwGa4B_ETYKUH0sjPg-WL1yPzJSsGnVqkUj55DlZ_ARak-UYTjmQq4bxxhmvn8ntgltYzNoBLAFE6ZONd1vtEWpgnpRjVPN49rK60a_qlab3XGzZ3Gp4mXNijaoDUirdbq0ayMflq0ecMChSSiogNcFEJlg3fh_WASB4YbQ5SR1Ll39BXS9QRsAN0/s2263/Scan_20231208%20(20).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1635" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZh5HwGa4B_ETYKUH0sjPg-WL1yPzJSsGnVqkUj55DlZ_ARak-UYTjmQq4bxxhmvn8ntgltYzNoBLAFE6ZONd1vtEWpgnpRjVPN49rK60a_qlab3XGzZ3Gp4mXNijaoDUirdbq0ayMflq0ecMChSSiogNcFEJlg3fh_WASB4YbQ5SR1Ll39BXS9QRsAN0/w462-h640/Scan_20231208%20(20).jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>(Claimed: #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strike>Page #20</strike></u></span></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfZSegCiwY6PLfPUywOcbbyeZcxgJFNtHwc9TqxOad0efEIjhqTIgkkolv5t7GiG__YHs87nOmmITvDNtPoh6oCW00xRUUKp18FCuYIye4WmPSvT-jtiQMBuVEY4zevCNbBIGDZOr4OUoq3ZPuowmMHcWjMyWFC6Ks9SPqpv-MJ1KvMrGvQc8wqJ4OT4/s2274/Scan_20231208%20(21).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2274" data-original-width="1627" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfZSegCiwY6PLfPUywOcbbyeZcxgJFNtHwc9TqxOad0efEIjhqTIgkkolv5t7GiG__YHs87nOmmITvDNtPoh6oCW00xRUUKp18FCuYIye4WmPSvT-jtiQMBuVEY4zevCNbBIGDZOr4OUoq3ZPuowmMHcWjMyWFC6Ks9SPqpv-MJ1KvMrGvQc8wqJ4OT4/w458-h640/Scan_20231208%20(21).jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>(Entire page has been claimed!)</i></b></div><br /><div>Claim away!</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-7426788934049363522023-12-01T18:24:00.001-06:002023-12-01T18:24:09.885-06:00You won't see that again (a card show report)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lwtPLPlPvQuQ2i61WweWOukEYVqYNKJ-MKWXiHTst2TGkeqMtb5at74jM6d8MKLznDupNz9fW8x8tEUipJXcLHoiy8-CpE4Goml9TvAwRDLJRfMgZj4R2LKZEjMO_Y1IFKUJv_Ew9FIQyJLKQp-PG-iTqiodyWIxBvEcWa09m9kf0ENQV_R4n_RMW5o/s697/Scan_20231122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lwtPLPlPvQuQ2i61WweWOukEYVqYNKJ-MKWXiHTst2TGkeqMtb5at74jM6d8MKLznDupNz9fW8x8tEUipJXcLHoiy8-CpE4Goml9TvAwRDLJRfMgZj4R2LKZEjMO_Y1IFKUJv_Ew9FIQyJLKQp-PG-iTqiodyWIxBvEcWa09m9kf0ENQV_R4n_RMW5o/w285-h400/Scan_20231122.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two card shows are truly alike. </div><div><br /></div><div>I never leave a show thinking: <i>well, that wasn't much different than the last one. </i>Every show has its own rhythm, its own character. I'm reminded of this every time my dad and I hit the big semi-annual show here in the 'burbs, which we had the pleasure of attending yet again a couple weeks ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>Want a unique feat at a card show? Take the Lou Brock autograph I found <i>in a quarter box </i>this time around. It's obviously not a pristine example - it's faded to the point that I didn't even realize it was signed until I was sifting through my haul later that night - but to think I plundered something like this for a quarter is still mind-boggling to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can search the internet left and right, and you can scour the card show bargain bins across the globe, but I can't imagine you'll ever see a Lou Brock auto for a quarter ever again.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizd3lcHU1c7RCqWmV-9n9t16kDldIPBBkF-da4OGf9gEahyvsw2sFLAE3LzIVhbA1e7b74MQnyJLwFm4n7z3BBfbyrEHA9W17sNd6QDETN5gGrLpefJTfGnoJ_axfhYLqWah8zba7FBnsRVE2tDTOYB0nS8NJsFA4z6o5wTqnytlnAjYV99b4jdSaZjRc/s1411/Scan_20231122%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizd3lcHU1c7RCqWmV-9n9t16kDldIPBBkF-da4OGf9gEahyvsw2sFLAE3LzIVhbA1e7b74MQnyJLwFm4n7z3BBfbyrEHA9W17sNd6QDETN5gGrLpefJTfGnoJ_axfhYLqWah8zba7FBnsRVE2tDTOYB0nS8NJsFA4z6o5wTqnytlnAjYV99b4jdSaZjRc/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(2).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're lucky, there can be entire tables of stuff that are unlike the inventory you'll see anywhere else in the cardboard world.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Brock came from one of my more entertaining digs in recent memory, a guy whose boxes were stuffed with the entire spectrum of oddballs priced from a quarter on the low end to a dollar on the high. I spent more money and time here than at any other table at this show, and if you know how my mind works, I think you'll see why.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're talking oddballs like Drake's, Starting Lineups, and even a cluster of those weird late '90s samples that I love for some reason.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs2XnK__yfqiZ-RieXMNLfnzNhJCStjALw2UvcqGm637nSrBjXq8qXlOBcW3opzwq5QoXXFYpYObDWv91KNhJr3U0tma0if4h8YuMih4vod4OoK8F7Q5UPZp3xMUup6GYhz55qPl7XEHAUlgRzXKhz4MeyTYPMXTVbtCLVekrxYo9D1dAVI3dn6LHREU/s1404/Scan_20231122%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="997" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs2XnK__yfqiZ-RieXMNLfnzNhJCStjALw2UvcqGm637nSrBjXq8qXlOBcW3opzwq5QoXXFYpYObDWv91KNhJr3U0tma0if4h8YuMih4vod4OoK8F7Q5UPZp3xMUup6GYhz55qPl7XEHAUlgRzXKhz4MeyTYPMXTVbtCLVekrxYo9D1dAVI3dn6LHREU/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(3).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Broder oddballs seem to exist in a strange nebulous place in our universe - does anyone know how/where/when these were made, or exactly how they were distributed?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whatever the answer is, I just know that I buy Broders whenever and wherever I can, and the four you see here represent a teeny-tiny fraction of the sum total I found in this guy's quarter box - dig the rare Steve Carlton Giants sighting and a new Cal Ripkin (sic).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUAsCvCdsVI31-SESLHo7-gLTWSSmdeM2FfZRqqf-aygH3-aRraKDQQXJtJ8phklQI3g6eYt0p_EwB3hWqZXf3cLpKPmM_7LbwRSJgBrQRz6R0NkyB-PPMIuWpUMgbJgCbFIdyovISIE4RjkZZF4gSOAd9iVbj9s9X5GnywygIiwlqTBYFArOfNSIEX0/s1417/Scan_20231122%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUAsCvCdsVI31-SESLHo7-gLTWSSmdeM2FfZRqqf-aygH3-aRraKDQQXJtJ8phklQI3g6eYt0p_EwB3hWqZXf3cLpKPmM_7LbwRSJgBrQRz6R0NkyB-PPMIuWpUMgbJgCbFIdyovISIE4RjkZZF4gSOAd9iVbj9s9X5GnywygIiwlqTBYFArOfNSIEX0/w286-h400/Scan_20231122%20(4).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have a certain fondness in my heart for the scores of strange unlicensed oddballs that surfaced in the late '80s/early '90s, and I don't think I've ever seen a table take advantage of that fondness more than this one did.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Every time I think I have all the Eric Lindros baseball cards, a new one appears!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInioNc0c_w01M5LG-w1AFp3TPUJ_lffhaz6epaKV7v00mc77pvY7C0fzvxc-PlHAPXbibrl0PPfX7x0Uws-uKqnDRIjeHU2KQCTDUm-nFVtcy5YgpBose4lZgtpHk6-2YCZgTW7uo6rW5PHKq3tOmR4O3YtsamVqzYMK6vmKPcF86qnbtmjYsG91LqfQ/s1421/Scan_20231122%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInioNc0c_w01M5LG-w1AFp3TPUJ_lffhaz6epaKV7v00mc77pvY7C0fzvxc-PlHAPXbibrl0PPfX7x0Uws-uKqnDRIjeHU2KQCTDUm-nFVtcy5YgpBose4lZgtpHk6-2YCZgTW7uo6rW5PHKq3tOmR4O3YtsamVqzYMK6vmKPcF86qnbtmjYsG91LqfQ/w295-h400/Scan_20231122%20(5).jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have a good explanation as to why Star oddballs excite me so much...they just do.</div><div><br /></div><div>This vendor had a handful of complete Star sets in his dollar box, and slew of singles for a quarter - all of which were quickly snapped up by yours truly, of course.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ7l5JmvrqLpuiAKuZO7nWgk8Zfxr-ecklNLWVbeQ7clmn8Xh_soT46pUXcPECcxvwmQxoIrAQFSElUqUrIqESu78Uipe_pbhJEO6IG8QhIix8j2PoMT-6yMBcC7KVKBBtIx-aKq1FO-V_fVBbiOElpwLjVtxX1Qctk7PSE3A3h-Gh1UZFmWpMy3AsNs/s1412/Scan_20231122%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1001" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ7l5JmvrqLpuiAKuZO7nWgk8Zfxr-ecklNLWVbeQ7clmn8Xh_soT46pUXcPECcxvwmQxoIrAQFSElUqUrIqESu78Uipe_pbhJEO6IG8QhIix8j2PoMT-6yMBcC7KVKBBtIx-aKq1FO-V_fVBbiOElpwLjVtxX1Qctk7PSE3A3h-Gh1UZFmWpMy3AsNs/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(6).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More from the generic oddball world, including an Air Jordan sighting and Ryno with a rhino!</div><div><br /></div><div>I bought around 200 cards from this guy's inventory after the dust cleared, and I'll end it here by saying this is the kind of table I could've easily spent an entire post gabbing on and on about.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wAYKuk5BSITfnf_D_lIdd-V6Yu5BxNeB6vsUAjQrNCFYTz5gFxvwz5BiRExQNKnxpq_Fkdxk7MOlEheqlwX1u-_aWg13KIBfytGWqxesgmXsFGNmycj1sDxP3JOExftUbaXpErjIAipHfFnyNWxRmRhBhyCr2aGSa75aturZX0O2xCimmnzwgMi4o2s/s1403/Scan_20231122%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wAYKuk5BSITfnf_D_lIdd-V6Yu5BxNeB6vsUAjQrNCFYTz5gFxvwz5BiRExQNKnxpq_Fkdxk7MOlEheqlwX1u-_aWg13KIBfytGWqxesgmXsFGNmycj1sDxP3JOExftUbaXpErjIAipHfFnyNWxRmRhBhyCr2aGSa75aturZX0O2xCimmnzwgMi4o2s/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(7).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Finding dime boxes is no longer a certainty at shows - I spotted just a single one this time around.</div><div><br /></div><div>Granted, it was a pretty darn good one - I walked away with north of 300 cards in the end - but . I can't really complain much given the mass of other stuff I always seem to find, but it seems like dime boxes are beginning to fade into the background.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, I guess it makes me more thankful for the rare dime box that pops up in the wild these days - the era of Luis Robert madness seems so long ago now.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgmUBpqjulh6cxPP11xDeBrYLm8Jmc377_DQTRBlKS7FMZg_5MdmAxjBVYoiI75zeeLMOD-Jp1RZ0oSpsK3EAaSIdG-UvGWZwtev4Vn09jJe7VhK-WHbBd5f7mOnrbr8M9yvJBUyYVCcMXDeog8XPL8slh0HN_67rdih_-JBKoo7l9or78UhuonCt3fU/s1398/Scan_20231122%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="992" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgmUBpqjulh6cxPP11xDeBrYLm8Jmc377_DQTRBlKS7FMZg_5MdmAxjBVYoiI75zeeLMOD-Jp1RZ0oSpsK3EAaSIdG-UvGWZwtev4Vn09jJe7VhK-WHbBd5f7mOnrbr8M9yvJBUyYVCcMXDeog8XPL8slh0HN_67rdih_-JBKoo7l9or78UhuonCt3fU/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(8).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dime boxes or no dime boxes, I still managed to secure a nice handful of bigger player- and mini-collection hits.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Including a rare new addition to my joyfully obscure Casey Kotchman collection!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhVmegFAI9qda9qAkZoQILohgY37BsQ5P8UT6dmgNd45_FSNQuzJvDSzNVzeP1_cgGzKWA4KqAa4W0nG7TIEVy7vFec6rhV2mASg04HyHm5Vc08bxg5Z-X72yT2-CYbyzKvxRVDk_WNt5wfuhUCwbMFPGvalz5TKa4NOBxkh6KvNPFAewsP_ccqwbElE/s1475/Scan_20231122%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1045" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhVmegFAI9qda9qAkZoQILohgY37BsQ5P8UT6dmgNd45_FSNQuzJvDSzNVzeP1_cgGzKWA4KqAa4W0nG7TIEVy7vFec6rhV2mASg04HyHm5Vc08bxg5Z-X72yT2-CYbyzKvxRVDk_WNt5wfuhUCwbMFPGvalz5TKa4NOBxkh6KvNPFAewsP_ccqwbElE/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(9).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The usual gathering of obligatory discount-bin shiny.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYIxR0YIsXxW6P7OzqqkMyYdLNllGZIXcqbRFoeviv93HEkmDlXdhDFFtwlSGP9GAoh43yIp9m4nKhQwD5f-QBsXRg4os2IWPPnowueT1egssuDIN0ScGYY9tiQ3Shtz4WR2gKeLkFZY-IituH5pAIe4EAsUwzNgZiLUwM1nJHyPx1WcNwyGNCKIw9tU/s1438/Scan_20231122%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYIxR0YIsXxW6P7OzqqkMyYdLNllGZIXcqbRFoeviv93HEkmDlXdhDFFtwlSGP9GAoh43yIp9m4nKhQwD5f-QBsXRg4os2IWPPnowueT1egssuDIN0ScGYY9tiQ3Shtz4WR2gKeLkFZY-IituH5pAIe4EAsUwzNgZiLUwM1nJHyPx1WcNwyGNCKIw9tU/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(10).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This time in Cards I Shouldn't Be Finding For Loose Change: numbered shinies (including a rare 2011 Hope Diamond parallel for a dime!), Living Set cards, and A&G case hits(!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd3Sf0gKX2XZSXBF_PsMrXkjN1EPk-sXqES5ukvdhdtOEbRaHw3gBZqsYF5zlst2KAHGFh0_SvnflWJ-K3sL4xr_M7qMQN1Mq8Amggq-bjcanUHiBuAa74WzPrFaGZ7XOsuzfJmsFN7jHY1dbSmMgRgqm-EzuFAvenGn08_sQz4rMkHfzu2OcGQ7x4Dc/s1398/Scan_20231122%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="997" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd3Sf0gKX2XZSXBF_PsMrXkjN1EPk-sXqES5ukvdhdtOEbRaHw3gBZqsYF5zlst2KAHGFh0_SvnflWJ-K3sL4xr_M7qMQN1Mq8Amggq-bjcanUHiBuAa74WzPrFaGZ7XOsuzfJmsFN7jHY1dbSmMgRgqm-EzuFAvenGn08_sQz4rMkHfzu2OcGQ7x4Dc/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(11).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Card shows are all unique, and they always seem to balance themselves out - the relative lack of dime boxes this time was picked up by the absolutely massive amount of oddballs that fell into my lap.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Still have a hard time believing Advil once sponsored a set of baseball cards.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALk2tcqY9Jpd6AfNUohPnScB3Jag5wa7-bom3r4-pdy1Xnq3st_4f8QkXKda0iS1VbM4UVWJLeltlhPocZ2cazVjT8dixu70GmGIxiFtfzJmn6GgSXef37mQWx1K6NZOawwZRsbN8nf63pG5ZpF3thTzzkaZ532I_vT5J6UGqjliyHji4jTzC32PcGzA/s1403/Scan_20231122%20(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1017" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALk2tcqY9Jpd6AfNUohPnScB3Jag5wa7-bom3r4-pdy1Xnq3st_4f8QkXKda0iS1VbM4UVWJLeltlhPocZ2cazVjT8dixu70GmGIxiFtfzJmn6GgSXef37mQWx1K6NZOawwZRsbN8nf63pG5ZpF3thTzzkaZ532I_vT5J6UGqjliyHji4jTzC32PcGzA/w290-h400/Scan_20231122%20(12).jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Part of the beauty of oddballs is that they come in so many shapes and sizes - seems like an appropriate time of year to buy a Pacific Ornament insert, yes?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1WjQP3I2Wvtkwkg8N6vyBKuYTPHujp-SgvLr9I7OACPn_C43uFTXevwjilwUoJ4K0IuaN6M0YxudXDYMwtbe0KMkJ01c4dO1BcKsgsKcg7kML0CKtSfTHF8xzzqKMCRdowQIETEnqgE-drzPqixf5MFQ2TB_tD8DXyLI4jjfNadEowRNbQ2jItbAt3Q/s1433/Scan_20231122%20(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1433" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1WjQP3I2Wvtkwkg8N6vyBKuYTPHujp-SgvLr9I7OACPn_C43uFTXevwjilwUoJ4K0IuaN6M0YxudXDYMwtbe0KMkJ01c4dO1BcKsgsKcg7kML0CKtSfTHF8xzzqKMCRdowQIETEnqgE-drzPqixf5MFQ2TB_tD8DXyLI4jjfNadEowRNbQ2jItbAt3Q/w400-h286/Scan_20231122%20(13).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few horizontals for the road - Panini Select is incredibly dull, but on the flip side I guess I can't be too mad at any set that features a new Hoyt!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqVeOqvJtDc6Zth_2xk4RR-gLhPb_NkpWyqiDjMgwpxuw5T1LCdr_ZdZm7s-qeNucFwhTVeKGWN3Jz4g3ClicSfHtPRxjxP69HdkgFTJzlFatOWCgDNg9QFmLoxVH7AfedQv9RVnVZ1LVc9GfChucsqgSorR5d5YgSMrWL3UJYu97yqU50ibWRkrsXks/s989/Scan_20231122%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="989" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqVeOqvJtDc6Zth_2xk4RR-gLhPb_NkpWyqiDjMgwpxuw5T1LCdr_ZdZm7s-qeNucFwhTVeKGWN3Jz4g3ClicSfHtPRxjxP69HdkgFTJzlFatOWCgDNg9QFmLoxVH7AfedQv9RVnVZ1LVc9GfChucsqgSorR5d5YgSMrWL3UJYu97yqU50ibWRkrsXks/w400-h286/Scan_20231122%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I think more and more of my vintage buying lately has taken the theme of <i>better buy it now 'cause you'll never see it again.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>My hemming and having over bigger purchases (i.e., anything more than $5 because I'm cheap) is usually negated by the horrific thought of missing out on said purchase forever. I'll spend a little more on a card if it's something I might never hold in my hands again.</div><div><br /></div><div>I paid a whopping $20 a piece for these two, but they're each scarce Venezuelan issues that I don't think I'll be seeing again at anything near that price again in this lifetime.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjbfbxtFXstY2MqvPKqM0ia8DDmdSyA8Nz5X1ugsM7OacOlukFd-tFOGbDpwIWLWnrVdvZDXZ21m_JedRBL2VZsMkw9-4wIZhPjN3u3t4_bjlQB7Hcx0yHUMmWgrGVRClin3wEAQOu6x3-BtFC_EMtGXdMEgwPIHDtebFeyyKzvjGzzDaKGUvAcH1Sy0/s1397/Scan_20231122%20(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="993" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjbfbxtFXstY2MqvPKqM0ia8DDmdSyA8Nz5X1ugsM7OacOlukFd-tFOGbDpwIWLWnrVdvZDXZ21m_JedRBL2VZsMkw9-4wIZhPjN3u3t4_bjlQB7Hcx0yHUMmWgrGVRClin3wEAQOu6x3-BtFC_EMtGXdMEgwPIHDtebFeyyKzvjGzzDaKGUvAcH1Sy0/w284-h400/Scan_20231122%20(15).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm always good for a few Kellogg's pickups at each show, but I certainly didn't think I'd find one of the few remaining '78 SSPCs I need in a random 50-cent box!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also threw 50 cents at a custom-made '62 Maury Wills - actually just a photo of Wills glued onto a random '62 - presumably put together by a '60s kid who was aghast that Wills didn't have a regular Topps card yet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-U7BYqIKfjUwLdCrchZnHXZ9f4Ktp2M7erFCVOOgHQj9t-Mo8JPKDhTS5nTK6gu6TCOhbcQWhDTApMoCJzhsZcqeEoBdt9GFDqz2keN64a4DcBu_TE5oDMmCB6Vn7KQEgNd0dikbHp0zWNmTYgWbW8bdzPvDFkaY1RUXQp5TkBNgxvQzIZcdKZ1OtGk/s1407/Scan_20231122%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1004" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-U7BYqIKfjUwLdCrchZnHXZ9f4Ktp2M7erFCVOOgHQj9t-Mo8JPKDhTS5nTK6gu6TCOhbcQWhDTApMoCJzhsZcqeEoBdt9GFDqz2keN64a4DcBu_TE5oDMmCB6Vn7KQEgNd0dikbHp0zWNmTYgWbW8bdzPvDFkaY1RUXQp5TkBNgxvQzIZcdKZ1OtGk/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(16).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Nabbed a prime handful of new Nu-Scoops and '77 Cloth Stickers, two of my very favorite vintage oddball pursuits.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXY69TbSNovhVo8mbmaTJAdnux-i9f6LgQfxXIOFehZu1sI39Z_fD1k8ng_mFyQAlXi4SzaMJVFNrj-kzFEHhVv1J8SX-Gp4O96Ittm9NKACI4HSR6ve2nA_-_qJaz3EZC4mHkrK9rjBUUCFLvNtKa0QzD7iqdUJQ0lHbDvVxRCz1zyB1uoJNNegf7xY/s1495/Scan_20231122%20(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1044" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXY69TbSNovhVo8mbmaTJAdnux-i9f6LgQfxXIOFehZu1sI39Z_fD1k8ng_mFyQAlXi4SzaMJVFNrj-kzFEHhVv1J8SX-Gp4O96Ittm9NKACI4HSR6ve2nA_-_qJaz3EZC4mHkrK9rjBUUCFLvNtKa0QzD7iqdUJQ0lHbDvVxRCz1zyB1uoJNNegf7xY/w279-h400/Scan_20231122%20(17).jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Taking a break from the oddballs with some cold, hard Topps vintage here.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been after that '54 Joe Black for a while and I couldn't hand over my money fast enough when I saw a copy for ten bucks - couple that with a Maz high-number and a couple cool Whiteys and you have a fun trip through vintage heaven.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qYAsmUIqTTrA46JO2hBtb8p66lmO2xSNQbd7bu-tDenHzZ4XHX__uidzxQEczcLngg6ZH6MFrHcFZrXPKFvR_Q4sxQLbec_6azj5IqBlaR1ppxfwNwCIo6yNTHbOuRMhbRHYQEoq_MT2Fv5hzFoWNmHnZxW5WkWjVpslpOUZGjNt6ghZ5ZszJ69LWgA/s1165/Scan_20231122%20(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="680" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qYAsmUIqTTrA46JO2hBtb8p66lmO2xSNQbd7bu-tDenHzZ4XHX__uidzxQEczcLngg6ZH6MFrHcFZrXPKFvR_Q4sxQLbec_6azj5IqBlaR1ppxfwNwCIo6yNTHbOuRMhbRHYQEoq_MT2Fv5hzFoWNmHnZxW5WkWjVpslpOUZGjNt6ghZ5ZszJ69LWgA/w234-h400/Scan_20231122%20(18).jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know that I noticed how oddball-heavy my vintage buys were at this show until I started poring over the day's finds later on.</div><div><br /></div><div>To the chagrin of my wallet, vintage Bazookas have risen on my radar quite a bit lately - I forked over another $20 for a notably tough '68 Bazooka Rusty Staub that I knew I couldn't let go of once I asked to see it from a guy's glass case (he even threw in the decapitated Tony C for free!).</div><div><br /></div><div>That Santo is my first from the generic-but-still-cool 1969 Nabisco set, and Steal of the Day honors might go to that trimmed strip card I found for 50 cents which, if someone's handwriting on the back is to be believed, pictures Frank "Home Run" Baker(!!!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMNnWtsDwrpIXGgPBtBuc9SZtvdDI0ZJgwdzfbV31WWoEnKSBAMhCO78rkpnQT_YkIIoSxjmSBVssUjGBU70jrYuHmsE7SwHPJP8yuLGS4CzkiLltVAteDeaQWOvUZa1c9gXAJ7hBVPvhj2ySalpCDKmHWgqVJ10COwb2pIO9tYYWnQzojTvE-N0b9bQ/s1036/Scan_20231122%20(19).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1036" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMNnWtsDwrpIXGgPBtBuc9SZtvdDI0ZJgwdzfbV31WWoEnKSBAMhCO78rkpnQT_YkIIoSxjmSBVssUjGBU70jrYuHmsE7SwHPJP8yuLGS4CzkiLltVAteDeaQWOvUZa1c9gXAJ7hBVPvhj2ySalpCDKmHWgqVJ10COwb2pIO9tYYWnQzojTvE-N0b9bQ/w400-h280/Scan_20231122%20(19).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I like to believe I have a fairly extensive array of oddball knowledge stored in the 'ol brain box, but I'll be the first to admit that I get stumped fairly often at card shows.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd seen that Kaline before, but I never knew what the heck it was until I a dealer at the very first table of the day filled me in. Apparently those were advertised as <a href="https://collectauctions.net/lot-27897.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"bubblegumless cards"</span></a> in a 1968 Detroit newspaper with cut-out fronts and backs that kids were encouraged to glue to pieces of cardboard themselves. With a story like that, there was absolutely no way I was passing it up, and the dealer even knocked his $30 price tag down to 20 bucks for me!</div><div><br /></div><div>The Alou, on the other hand, had me completely stumped - it's actually a Bible-thumping American Tract Society card that I'll treasure as a prime example of how curious and far-reaching the world of oddballs can be (plus I go nuts over anything of the Alou Bros.).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SGnsf66BOu4uASO7jEhxKZ3wGe4bmKKwDvN8aQH_228CkLdzwgRgKYYc4blrs0DsGEEDO5jtSqorBoj-eIfmqKckvsl9B1XNpbCJEfbAvQbB7Agvs4EGxHKsnJk2i2jANxo8USXieXErw37j-Pru6kRoxOsN65VuLirxr7i7cQ_CqVFekdkOWwyFPwg/s714/Scan_20231122%20(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SGnsf66BOu4uASO7jEhxKZ3wGe4bmKKwDvN8aQH_228CkLdzwgRgKYYc4blrs0DsGEEDO5jtSqorBoj-eIfmqKckvsl9B1XNpbCJEfbAvQbB7Agvs4EGxHKsnJk2i2jANxo8USXieXErw37j-Pru6kRoxOsN65VuLirxr7i7cQ_CqVFekdkOWwyFPwg/w285-h400/Scan_20231122%20(20).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div>I may love oddballs, but at the end of the day my biggest purchase was this beautiful '64 Hank Aaron that I thought was a helluva a steal at $40.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll admit that in the moment, Hank felt like a consolation prize - like the National, I once again fell short in my quest to secure an affordable '64 Pete Rose that I'm starting to get obsessive about. But you'll be happy to know that I quickly came to my senses and told myself <i>GET REAL, NICK - HANK AARON IS **NEVER** A CONSOLATION PRIZE!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry, Hank - to think I ever doubted you, even for a moment, is a fine illustration of how insane card shows can be.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-11432879342410208142023-11-10T17:34:00.004-06:002023-11-10T17:34:47.761-06:00It ain't me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiYxFl8DEJ6STw5H1IFcIH5CHuZSn0elr_EPNkozL50Qe5Ru8ZfcScIVeLDvj49FjSTKvJe3NL914G_oCfg37Gt2TLSvca-k1I5pSgsOU6pjp4ZrlwkKPuqOPx6haJ2KpOm4RQSdIjmnm1tJH4S0Gt448mLN7NvHIqvV9WWT4uFu_gAGYvAsRJvNzYTQ/s702/Scan_20231110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiYxFl8DEJ6STw5H1IFcIH5CHuZSn0elr_EPNkozL50Qe5Ru8ZfcScIVeLDvj49FjSTKvJe3NL914G_oCfg37Gt2TLSvca-k1I5pSgsOU6pjp4ZrlwkKPuqOPx6haJ2KpOm4RQSdIjmnm1tJH4S0Gt448mLN7NvHIqvV9WWT4uFu_gAGYvAsRJvNzYTQ/w284-h400/Scan_20231110.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once a baseball card is released, it's out there forever - there's no taking it back. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the years, it's become obvious that card companies, like us humans, aren't perfect. Error cards are a fun little rabbit hole of this hobby, and the ones I find the most entertaining are the hallowed "player swaps" - i.e., cards that actually feature a different player than whoever was meant to be shown on said card. They range from understandable to bizarre, from laughable to morbid.</div><div><br /></div><div>You probably know about some of the famous ones already - like <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2019/04/17/50-years-ago-angels-batboy-leonard-garcia-appeared-on-a-topps-baseball-card-the-card-of-a-major-leaguer/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">the infamous '69 Topps batboy fiasco</span></a> or <a href="https://www.mlb.com/cut4/gary-pettis-1985-topps-card-origins-revealed-c289718392" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">the time Gary Pettis had his younger brother sit for a Topps photo</span></a> - but I thought I'd share some other snafus that don't often get a ton of airtime.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkZ7tgNHoX5jbyC3vRtoZnlkhk2aSvEOidsdWBXssT5OCs8uDQvNFQYN0adrxJ8wv0czT795lJZeZBFRO-wt91A1gmF3fhuig9DTT6bBeOIGwolfB8RrbGvUBZXnKHQmmEziWmBUBI40E3TIX7XL2jvbLBa9ZQeCddoT7AVDVsMLfI7NVZ_3eg86YofY/s708/Scan_20231110%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkZ7tgNHoX5jbyC3vRtoZnlkhk2aSvEOidsdWBXssT5OCs8uDQvNFQYN0adrxJ8wv0czT795lJZeZBFRO-wt91A1gmF3fhuig9DTT6bBeOIGwolfB8RrbGvUBZXnKHQmmEziWmBUBI40E3TIX7XL2jvbLBa9ZQeCddoT7AVDVsMLfI7NVZ_3eg86YofY/w290-h400/Scan_20231110%20(2).jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know when I first became aware player swaps existed, but I'm fairly certain this 2006 Bazooka screw-up was the first one I noticed all on my own.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been a Francisco Rodriguez fan for a long time now, and although I doubt I knew who was actually featured on this card at the time (it's Ervin Santana), I knew it wasn't my beloved K-Rod.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_19fajLu5-KURGK3Ex9gRCSMQt20PnEruB_KzR28bE3e5Ua01BuokUlu6oZGusVcN4042GUyAf0CLVyf_YaFV4JVfI8morXFhQdObfua4QLo2-B2ECINi4C8ekvfBCym3ZyXEiI_cyExUJaEIhOWrTBoVQkrN_jlAyE3hbzhUuCuS2_NWU6qP4IVZsM/s696/Scan_20231110%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_19fajLu5-KURGK3Ex9gRCSMQt20PnEruB_KzR28bE3e5Ua01BuokUlu6oZGusVcN4042GUyAf0CLVyf_YaFV4JVfI8morXFhQdObfua4QLo2-B2ECINi4C8ekvfBCym3ZyXEiI_cyExUJaEIhOWrTBoVQkrN_jlAyE3hbzhUuCuS2_NWU6qP4IVZsM/w285-h400/Scan_20231110%20(3).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose I can understand how a company could get a couple no-name dudes mixed up, but can someone please explain how Donruss managed to swap two aces and future HOFers?!</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1kX-E9sCwy6-Hh5XEl6c0XJeuV7tT1vlnb-SjOk9jYsd-tSLBGmSPyWZ5pKzsisRezvzGd4494YpTS-yE_SzV11ph3IFa-UcVGuPfhyphenhyphenLK0eTZ_wfwqCYagWUF__8RT46D_qiiPzFUkByDuGNztGcbIXCgjzhAc-8uh5PEumGzS5eRk27hJ6LuL5qkjQ/s698/Scan_20231110%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1kX-E9sCwy6-Hh5XEl6c0XJeuV7tT1vlnb-SjOk9jYsd-tSLBGmSPyWZ5pKzsisRezvzGd4494YpTS-yE_SzV11ph3IFa-UcVGuPfhyphenhyphenLK0eTZ_wfwqCYagWUF__8RT46D_qiiPzFUkByDuGNztGcbIXCgjzhAc-8uh5PEumGzS5eRk27hJ6LuL5qkjQ/w286-h400/Scan_20231110%20(4).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In today's technology-driven world, you'd think this kind of thing wouldn't happen anymore - and you'd be wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't say I noticed it when 2017 Topps was first released, but I remember people being quick to point out that fellow Met Eric Campbell is actually pictured on Lucas Duda's card that year.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WdIZ_eA3YnwFXIV_FOFtV2tkPHxHx289qzGG0iLRXZ8ClY-EIIvwzyypBJV_ESEjfmnHaFoN6jrJ4arDd69828c3ogV2SqyoYuErvHVMn5PV01VeZtDdwuu30UFVNO3RhfpA5zFD9xhUtRfyKZjuSMv8YFTvgT839x0u4bffr-wv_NxSewEhVfVfO3c/s996/Scan_20231110%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="996" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WdIZ_eA3YnwFXIV_FOFtV2tkPHxHx289qzGG0iLRXZ8ClY-EIIvwzyypBJV_ESEjfmnHaFoN6jrJ4arDd69828c3ogV2SqyoYuErvHVMn5PV01VeZtDdwuu30UFVNO3RhfpA5zFD9xhUtRfyKZjuSMv8YFTvgT839x0u4bffr-wv_NxSewEhVfVfO3c/w400-h280/Scan_20231110%20(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>From what I can gather, not many of these player swaps were ever corrected - they're just kinda left out there to forever float around the universe.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can see why. I'm sure it takes a lot of money and manpower to completely pull a card from the presses, not to mention create and print a new one to replace it. So I give Topps credit for taking the effort to correct a mix-up in their '88 Topps set where they actually used a picture of one-time prospect Chris George (who never played a major-league game) in place of the correctly-predicted "Future Star" Al Leiter. </div><div><br /></div><div>(There's also a corrected version of the aforementioned '90 Donruss Glavine/Smoltz that I don't own...yet.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8WmwTuhRli4TDwHhj-8UuKCTnmy7dLULJZY0k9oVi4AJ0NLfhlcn9IN6fBLWkdwQBur1lMecYdfWpG_C_n2bwLXwHMqhdE9VyNJwSsLs2LlPtqpdwpOV55CrtoE4Lz52TtDLHjQDDGXyrZ3qS3VCQ1hEA3o-tfUhPrHBjox1VWA3izmvJumAW5UBrYk/s707/Scan_20231110%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="707" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8WmwTuhRli4TDwHhj-8UuKCTnmy7dLULJZY0k9oVi4AJ0NLfhlcn9IN6fBLWkdwQBur1lMecYdfWpG_C_n2bwLXwHMqhdE9VyNJwSsLs2LlPtqpdwpOV55CrtoE4Lz52TtDLHjQDDGXyrZ3qS3VCQ1hEA3o-tfUhPrHBjox1VWA3izmvJumAW5UBrYk/w400-h286/Scan_20231110%20(6).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My mind was blown more recently than I'd care to admit when I found out that three dudes are featured on this fun '73 Topps card, and <i>none of them are Joe Rudi.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>It seems obvious now - that's Gene Tenace at center and I'm not sure who the other two A's are - but I guess that's a lesson for all of us to look more closely at our baseball cards.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cYobjPITAjYtSskvDrVMOkmZODIKmcWpubXbn_CWGCvObektF3gsKAYWTOsfFElPitKBnAAJaQd2wIq3gWa9G57nU7vSkFwkCxhyphenhyphencNsv63QmVPrQYk8MXFQq_TPsc5HMqzRn_fQLRAXsdZCpypUPyFwTW6NQihYSQrfCl_GN_TYBdKNMXNM2RVeKosw/s711/Scan_20231110%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="711" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cYobjPITAjYtSskvDrVMOkmZODIKmcWpubXbn_CWGCvObektF3gsKAYWTOsfFElPitKBnAAJaQd2wIq3gWa9G57nU7vSkFwkCxhyphenhyphencNsv63QmVPrQYk8MXFQq_TPsc5HMqzRn_fQLRAXsdZCpypUPyFwTW6NQihYSQrfCl_GN_TYBdKNMXNM2RVeKosw/w400-h286/Scan_20231110%20(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I find it incredible that a card company could manage to let a mixed-up Ernie Banks card go to press.</div><div><br /></div><div>Granted, I don't know who's actually pictured here, but a split-second look tells you it ain't Ernie.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuwDQPAfrTCeAr5_kiaE75K7-F_mFoXykgA-Z4dOfgNqXe_MliYIz-KSw3OhP_UJ7As-vTThwBNmldrG2kCDiWHfTlyTel4MbbZNEbXAShgNedX0kyB6ypEi3aLRSEcVryXuNKFg3cx4tSxztcA5FAgNzkEVYDKw8xRJKsZ_17z0WNe2hEVaad4bu3sY/s1011/Scan_20231110%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1011" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuwDQPAfrTCeAr5_kiaE75K7-F_mFoXykgA-Z4dOfgNqXe_MliYIz-KSw3OhP_UJ7As-vTThwBNmldrG2kCDiWHfTlyTel4MbbZNEbXAShgNedX0kyB6ypEi3aLRSEcVryXuNKFg3cx4tSxztcA5FAgNzkEVYDKw8xRJKsZ_17z0WNe2hEVaad4bu3sY/w400-h280/Scan_20231110%20(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There's a couple notable player swaps in '63 Topps, and better yet, they actually feature a pair of cardboard favorites in Ryne Duren and Ron Santo.</div><div><br /></div>(The fact that Topps seems to have gotten the inset photos right makes these even weirder.)<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKIMrI4dT9rPfEctX8Hn8KiMI04xxPlQc7HRQYRyJ64cVViROOV3yo0gGyn8stJVlpT8GvcaOIHCz-FtbJtyBfTfYIBMZ36c9cmMacACj46XtHyj4-BIvdgTXOtdPZLEtNIooOlIF3kVlWgITdNQbvGVZ5xKUhlAHdlyz6MJlAwBRFGeCpPCwJ1_IEiY/s724/Scan_20231110%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="516" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKIMrI4dT9rPfEctX8Hn8KiMI04xxPlQc7HRQYRyJ64cVViROOV3yo0gGyn8stJVlpT8GvcaOIHCz-FtbJtyBfTfYIBMZ36c9cmMacACj46XtHyj4-BIvdgTXOtdPZLEtNIooOlIF3kVlWgITdNQbvGVZ5xKUhlAHdlyz6MJlAwBRFGeCpPCwJ1_IEiY/w285-h400/Scan_20231110%20(9).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Aurelio Rodriguez and Gary Pettis get most of the headlines, but for my money they're not even close to being the most disastrous "player swap" in cardboard history.</div><div><br /></div><div>No, that dubious honor has to go to this '66 Topps Dick Ellsworth, a card that actually features Cub infielder Ken Hubbs (the fielding pose probably should've been a giveaway). What makes this card so strange is that <i>Hubbs died in a plane crash two years earlier. </i>I see no explanation of how something this egregious could've happened, but darn if it doesn't make for a fascinating tidbit of cardboard conversation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Card companies will forever be under the microscope, and I suppose I'm thankful my life isn't treated the same way - here's hoping a random blogger won't still be pointing out that stack of books I dropped at work 60 years from now.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-83316501674330722882023-10-27T17:30:00.006-05:002023-10-27T17:30:50.434-05:00Requiem for a baseball season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcnUa_Io-DdnlBeyq5VuU8DwMtehyphenhyphenGpQNk-IXWt9-W4W5OoHk9WbcJ0w4s7l4mIDaNNmll_tQ-A01UzpXkxYUm3CQDB1E_k2mKwasgrNePC5FLIfT0ZnI0V-kkOc0qgTJMjl8Jiclr0ECJj2PjLHbu6MR_YdYIWiP2n59B-7KyGQTtwg6jdW3uadEBhI/s699/gcrl%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcnUa_Io-DdnlBeyq5VuU8DwMtehyphenhyphenGpQNk-IXWt9-W4W5OoHk9WbcJ0w4s7l4mIDaNNmll_tQ-A01UzpXkxYUm3CQDB1E_k2mKwasgrNePC5FLIfT0ZnI0V-kkOc0qgTJMjl8Jiclr0ECJj2PjLHbu6MR_YdYIWiP2n59B-7KyGQTtwg6jdW3uadEBhI/w284-h400/gcrl%20001.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As the season comes to a close - featuring yet another World Series I can't bring myself to care much about - I'm left to grapple with the questions left by another year of baseball.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I'm not much of a morning person, I love having a consistent night shift at work - the main consequence, however, being that it doesn't leave much time for catching ballgames. I probably watched less baseball in 2023 than I have in any other year as a fan. I still keep up with the game (watching standings, checking leaderboards, etc.) but my actual viewing kinda went downhill this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Part of the beauty of baseball is its consistency - there's almost literally a game going on at any waking hour - but I wonder if this signals some kind of shift in me as a baseball fan. If I should be thankful for the rare Cubs game I get to watch rather than be woeful about all the ones I missed. I don't know.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which makes for a good transition into this Mookie Betts Topps Now card I graciously received from Jim (aka gcrl) of <a href="https://cardsasiseethem.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"cards as i see them"</span></a> fame - featuring a double dip Mookie turned as a shortstop(!) in one of the rare Cubs games I did actually manage to catch on TV!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmbrVczbAGwN12xG9K5I0urUcMwIDY7_uE4JVVdGK-2CT6QVvk367nvfg5zERk_4g7W3QRBVeM-D8zWMddGGckLPARFsqeCqbpYOIIYSoCax2nUBBGRdP6LOG8hHQeWDdpANOX78D_dff57cqmG-dIxd-zgmbcH5g5uFQ4QFTCWHd5dhemwPi-pI_-00/s1018/gcrl%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1018" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmbrVczbAGwN12xG9K5I0urUcMwIDY7_uE4JVVdGK-2CT6QVvk367nvfg5zERk_4g7W3QRBVeM-D8zWMddGGckLPARFsqeCqbpYOIIYSoCax2nUBBGRdP6LOG8hHQeWDdpANOX78D_dff57cqmG-dIxd-zgmbcH5g5uFQ4QFTCWHd5dhemwPi-pI_-00/w400-h278/gcrl%20002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The good thing about baseball cards, of course, is that it's a year-round hobby if you want it to be - no staring out the window waiting for spring.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cards occupy an even warmer place in my heart during the winter months, and while I don't trade nearly as often as I once did, it's always a treat when I see a hallowed envelope or package in my mailbox. </div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to becoming a steady supplier of Sonny Gray cards, Jim always seems to send me something I've never seen before - like that excellent Don Baylor from a (regional?) Twins World Series anniversary set.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBiAz_v5AetbfrHR9-g8woCM9ouJLZcok77cyj5AyVHoWtoijShyphenhyphengm8y9UV5g56AOvRkCSrq0ET8zRFogLgFNiY6ihB_CdYHsAkXOEi4WHXSlyfIzfOd_5N67-oYtwy0dKriuTrkWz3R1Qb9t50VBc0VKoPtG9XgxXW2E6zQhwEFKLHmxIrM8-k6MTrk/s1015/gcrl%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="702" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBiAz_v5AetbfrHR9-g8woCM9ouJLZcok77cyj5AyVHoWtoijShyphenhyphengm8y9UV5g56AOvRkCSrq0ET8zRFogLgFNiY6ihB_CdYHsAkXOEi4WHXSlyfIzfOd_5N67-oYtwy0dKriuTrkWz3R1Qb9t50VBc0VKoPtG9XgxXW2E6zQhwEFKLHmxIrM8-k6MTrk/w276-h400/gcrl%20003.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I can't for the life of me understand why companies make thick cards for no reason - that Giolito is <i>massive, </i>so big that it doesn't even fit into a regular nine-pocket page.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stadium Club Chrome probably doesn't need to exist, but it features a good amount of interesting shots that keeps it on my radar every year.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQDBP9yPMnU7f_BAKL-am-H-2mMG9jIWvBK1KjjqtooHeVIuKuByckvInJNwR9hFBGOIF_GDhnNiLUAhzVP-cQ3NCejCZfbWg2p8DsSe9FHYuYDQo3uuADv2aCFNmNfa9r2djO0QJD9lWaq3Qy-ol6T_rRSdKe9GBYnPVrDLHaAK2NQMcye20H9KMWvI/s1434/gcrl%20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1434" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQDBP9yPMnU7f_BAKL-am-H-2mMG9jIWvBK1KjjqtooHeVIuKuByckvInJNwR9hFBGOIF_GDhnNiLUAhzVP-cQ3NCejCZfbWg2p8DsSe9FHYuYDQo3uuADv2aCFNmNfa9r2djO0QJD9lWaq3Qy-ol6T_rRSdKe9GBYnPVrDLHaAK2NQMcye20H9KMWvI/w286-h400/gcrl%20004.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Jim's been sending me cards for a long time now, and always selects a first-rate mix of curious cardboard.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Pink refractors are cool, but they've got nothing on '90s Dufex!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3J9QD1F3NnAN9uSd04uj7U1pG26uO1y3Jfoh1A9aKON6TvE4cJWYmDKTd4LfwCDLoZ84tYRAEj3iIco7Tws2ASlHbpnEKoiF0SJxb-Ux1Sqdc8q2qm-7eRzVNfaluPql-Ck-QPvppHfbTVgbnD1aAPhyUbHanVBLAHK0-lU6jsbadLpYQcB0fg8SVug/s1398/gcrl%20005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="991" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3J9QD1F3NnAN9uSd04uj7U1pG26uO1y3Jfoh1A9aKON6TvE4cJWYmDKTd4LfwCDLoZ84tYRAEj3iIco7Tws2ASlHbpnEKoiF0SJxb-Ux1Sqdc8q2qm-7eRzVNfaluPql-Ck-QPvppHfbTVgbnD1aAPhyUbHanVBLAHK0-lU6jsbadLpYQcB0fg8SVug/w284-h400/gcrl%20005.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A more recent PWE from Jim saw yet another trademark stack of cards, including a rare Hoyt appearance in a modern set!</div><div><br /></div><div>Mike Sweeney doesn't get much airtime on this blog, which is weird since he's one of my bigger player collections - that neat UD Play Ball Promo reminds me I should talk about him more.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjz1v1Do35dBWvWJVCfOODmDnyOdhCitOWCHhbmKc9UMTuflMqL6pmcNMAMCLsxwI8Wz_oudTx61Ka9vJjpNwCyH9DwZdhG8uWjqiRhQCyRn9NwC6cw1WOfKrV4eSEVJu7sHw_WnaaOa1po7yj0RmNVebXlTWQ2kZpL-egsq3bNwy4FaL2tVh7o2Nttk/s1027/gcrl%20006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1027" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjz1v1Do35dBWvWJVCfOODmDnyOdhCitOWCHhbmKc9UMTuflMqL6pmcNMAMCLsxwI8Wz_oudTx61Ka9vJjpNwCyH9DwZdhG8uWjqiRhQCyRn9NwC6cw1WOfKrV4eSEVJu7sHw_WnaaOa1po7yj0RmNVebXlTWQ2kZpL-egsq3bNwy4FaL2tVh7o2Nttk/w400-h278/gcrl%20006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's always Sonny!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P05gXPhYRwwlIxOCDcUWSf_GFpA_yyGsO7Tb3UarVcYxQPIg1PO_mI4ACQOVklti-PlI9ye8N0akmrPFmNZzSR76awvO4w3E_tR7GZyW0ZxODH_YVHK_YfzvdklMwsJjn5RIEhYYFu4VkgRWyoC3YaioLlvLBPCWSMKQscpk38y5pqRrXUuopOki2fo/s711/gcrl%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="507" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7P05gXPhYRwwlIxOCDcUWSf_GFpA_yyGsO7Tb3UarVcYxQPIg1PO_mI4ACQOVklti-PlI9ye8N0akmrPFmNZzSR76awvO4w3E_tR7GZyW0ZxODH_YVHK_YfzvdklMwsJjn5RIEhYYFu4VkgRWyoC3YaioLlvLBPCWSMKQscpk38y5pqRrXUuopOki2fo/w285-h400/gcrl%20007.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div>Jim closed things out by sending along a treasured Dime Box Dozen need with Dave Parker here, a card I probably should've had a long time ago now (is '86 Donruss the most '80s design ever?).</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll still watch however much of the World Series I can - I suppose I'll root for the Diamondbacks since I still have a soft spot for the few expansion teams I've seen in my lifetime. At the end of the day, baseball is a passion for me, and while that passion shifts with age, nothing can make it go away.</div><div><br /></div><div>If nothing else, I'm just happy to have the day off work today, to be able to park squarely on my couch for Game 1 and scoop up the last few sweet bits of a baseball season that so quickly seemed to pass me by.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-5019497581726615602023-10-13T18:00:00.001-05:002023-10-13T18:00:49.795-05:00You can never have it all (a COMC order)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-51fMIowr91Gz4b_LSRWYGX06JrjmPmk_zstgKFaqvOVl1-n9SHW6yuKtrmesbYGt7rFyHLBNFEMWHA_i4Bh4dEGN32v1Sq37YRmhLD_7Ls3Reb4Ynw-9KRd97vpkHvLhAKc1eFNufiLmATMfL8ll_r2UP9b7b5rzCQEJmEW5qYWSbF_5L7fPhfAD1Y/s703/Scan_20231005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-51fMIowr91Gz4b_LSRWYGX06JrjmPmk_zstgKFaqvOVl1-n9SHW6yuKtrmesbYGt7rFyHLBNFEMWHA_i4Bh4dEGN32v1Sq37YRmhLD_7Ls3Reb4Ynw-9KRd97vpkHvLhAKc1eFNufiLmATMfL8ll_r2UP9b7b5rzCQEJmEW5qYWSbF_5L7fPhfAD1Y/w285-h400/Scan_20231005.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once in a while, I foolishly wonder if there can really be <i>that </i>many more cards I need floating out there in the universe.</div><div><br /></div><div>The plain fact is that I <i>do </i>have a lot of baseball cards - I'm at north of 90 binders(!) as we speak, not to mention the boxes of other frankenset/non-sport/miscellaneous stuff I've accumulated scattered around my room. To anyone not involved in the hobby, it'd appear that I am 1) insane, and 2) kinda close to having everything I want by now, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether I'm insane or not is up for debate (isn't collecting a minor form of insanity?) but as for the second concern, the answer should be obvious - <i>I've barely even scratched the surface of having all the cards I need!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxghqbL9s1wdwurKn9E0eruzi6fhskPkng0c1mO7dytFHr0LmFUbIkxvmL95fJ5Tn_u2Fh_55yZrBo_CF8kyYvhir2wb3Uofpr42xP2jcIqXw7xbszgpI5E7g8OSElHX5n4_pUoLjC0k-AQUC_TGfDkIpqJ6Ktp73qPE4SBdFarfDlOQaK5Cwa0eDJo4/s1401/Scan_20231005%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1002" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxghqbL9s1wdwurKn9E0eruzi6fhskPkng0c1mO7dytFHr0LmFUbIkxvmL95fJ5Tn_u2Fh_55yZrBo_CF8kyYvhir2wb3Uofpr42xP2jcIqXw7xbszgpI5E7g8OSElHX5n4_pUoLjC0k-AQUC_TGfDkIpqJ6Ktp73qPE4SBdFarfDlOQaK5Cwa0eDJo4/w286-h400/Scan_20231005%20(2).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I may take it to the extreme with my 924 different projects, but most card people seem to understand that there is <i>always </i>something else to collect, something that'll make us say <i>Ooh, I need that!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Perhaps nothing illustrates this better than the COMC orders I seem to regularly post around here, the most recent of which landed on my doorstep earlier this month. I admit that every time I click "send" on a large COMC pile, I have that weird thought of wondering how much is left on the site that I still need. (Spoiler: I've since bought so many more cards on there that I'm almost ready to have another order shipped to me.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Chasing minor league issues of guys I collect (Mookie Wilson!) is a task that itself could take a lifetime, but that's not even including the weirdly cool cards of people like Frank Verdi whom I've never heard of (could the photographer be any further away?).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KRw4eki07B2xxcQMk7CbO4Gv6G5ASKCzVpKgGnAwKMShHk5gjIHqAqIFYLHA6cd2OxLzMVvlb92RWaLMqLR7gOt2979lIC9_opIEoVT0tRRxEPTWUxPpBvp2bM8nSZyndEV-_qxkrvaniE5Y4Ih3_6pmOgSZu3tczf_thbABMq9EHhUaSKbz4YSL1ZY/s1406/Scan_20231005%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KRw4eki07B2xxcQMk7CbO4Gv6G5ASKCzVpKgGnAwKMShHk5gjIHqAqIFYLHA6cd2OxLzMVvlb92RWaLMqLR7gOt2979lIC9_opIEoVT0tRRxEPTWUxPpBvp2bM8nSZyndEV-_qxkrvaniE5Y4Ih3_6pmOgSZu3tczf_thbABMq9EHhUaSKbz4YSL1ZY/w285-h400/Scan_20231005%20(3).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While my mini-collections are fairly expansive at this point, I'm constantly finding new ones I need - including Topps Now exclusives and GQ variations that Topps prints just to annoy me.</div><div><br /></div><div>And while I'm proud of the numbers my bigger player collections have grown to, what I own is a small percentage of all the Konerkos and Gwynns out there (if I'm at 5 percent of either guy's total cards, I'd call it a win).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget6C9mFlbXTdysyA4PLJHaHF7-3B2OKcR7xvYp-aiXS5Reiuu6AqIHLn7QUIGt4MBZRaDVzPYF97G9maQPmbkJ3oz1hmRFWNVFsX26qLiEGcx9VSjYelPnwBrsMID1SK5ZgAJporemZ_z9ZZ4hFfHQtDi-1J3AyhWyd_DnhYNcg80mbzquSwjE6n-2nY/s1411/Scan_20231005%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1411" data-original-width="1011" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget6C9mFlbXTdysyA4PLJHaHF7-3B2OKcR7xvYp-aiXS5Reiuu6AqIHLn7QUIGt4MBZRaDVzPYF97G9maQPmbkJ3oz1hmRFWNVFsX26qLiEGcx9VSjYelPnwBrsMID1SK5ZgAJporemZ_z9ZZ4hFfHQtDi-1J3AyhWyd_DnhYNcg80mbzquSwjE6n-2nY/w286-h400/Scan_20231005%20(4).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And all this is to say nothing about oddballs - I try not to think about how many of these I'll never know about.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, I try to focus on the ones I'm somehow lucky enough to discover - like a weird McDonald's oddball of Dime Box favorite Karim Garcia, and my first Don Zimmer Rays card!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1DuHUKC2ocPMrJCaPzmyXQRM-0bfVoNzGW5zFIrOdKg9-ui95ZPQmyVreNec16csWdhYF8juA1kFrPSBAI8Cml641TPYeh3cXVebkVxKBkXWbi_qWL8-F-OT18KkcvHKwy3Gbmy63y8eP9KSpZU6eSfCY9GTuUNj_USh6qDCCq0Iy_0bcHYn6GTaUI4/s1431/Scan_20231005%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1431" data-original-width="1022" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1DuHUKC2ocPMrJCaPzmyXQRM-0bfVoNzGW5zFIrOdKg9-ui95ZPQmyVreNec16csWdhYF8juA1kFrPSBAI8Cml641TPYeh3cXVebkVxKBkXWbi_qWL8-F-OT18KkcvHKwy3Gbmy63y8eP9KSpZU6eSfCY9GTuUNj_USh6qDCCq0Iy_0bcHYn6GTaUI4/w286-h400/Scan_20231005%20(5).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A second Zimmer here with that tough (Senators!) Archives SP - I paid a touch over $5 for it, which is almost unheard of for a modern card around here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Food issues carry an extra special place in my heart, which made stuff like a Domino's Al Kaline and other odd McDonald's oddballs a prime part of this order.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnZRG4wnQ1O9bLsKEwwlQKAhJxVvR8Yh04yVpxf8f0WxOKblLQNyxUKu_ht9KrDy2UWe0zOl_e8WwWRmNDnsQPw9D8SX63CZSlCb4QcHJ2t1aNS4RdkJaP668G_tJ_aWYfbGcKHJX73ikNd3SDZ-PjykorIMmCf873Lc4opZRd7CCoL8pGDR5FvKisKU/s1019/Scan_20231005%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1019" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnZRG4wnQ1O9bLsKEwwlQKAhJxVvR8Yh04yVpxf8f0WxOKblLQNyxUKu_ht9KrDy2UWe0zOl_e8WwWRmNDnsQPw9D8SX63CZSlCb4QcHJ2t1aNS4RdkJaP668G_tJ_aWYfbGcKHJX73ikNd3SDZ-PjykorIMmCf873Lc4opZRd7CCoL8pGDR5FvKisKU/w400-h280/Scan_20231005%20(6).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>COMC always manages to suck me into the bottomless pit of Topps Throwback Thursday - I've bought so many of these over the years, and yet a big stack seems to wind up in every order.</div><div><br /></div><div>(How great is that Buck O'Neil?)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pzR-E1IOLnnuSk2sW5HMdBRMI2vQ9qfllHaKD36kQe_wby4Ta8kq8nEwmR-ee1G0zF5nPu6v022paQBu4ty-Ydj_Y3aIBbSKuEs5OOwKwl4o_3ZwMsxaOhs5pwZocPGr3sjRk7WNnzN8Qq20KYsyRuggtQiQ73WZpNDcGfietP1zFG0STMhd284cMfs/s1417/Scan_20231005%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1010" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pzR-E1IOLnnuSk2sW5HMdBRMI2vQ9qfllHaKD36kQe_wby4Ta8kq8nEwmR-ee1G0zF5nPu6v022paQBu4ty-Ydj_Y3aIBbSKuEs5OOwKwl4o_3ZwMsxaOhs5pwZocPGr3sjRk7WNnzN8Qq20KYsyRuggtQiQ73WZpNDcGfietP1zFG0STMhd284cMfs/w285-h400/Scan_20231005%20(7).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Other Topps online exclusives that have me wondering why there isn't more stuff like this in standard pack-issued sets.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seriously, I'd buy the daylights out of a Negro League set if I saw one at Target.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_doICj8FrrJ0_ziL_1XCDX1gVuHigfdfYNUUxC8lupysMkUHBI3JFv6ZN_LB-9ByChY55iC7fzVojLF5FJXEfPaOpYxNUEV-xDyCXtaDPApeTnd2ucR71ivwvxc_qGLNtHnNC76DBqAkQc2Jymz_Z-3ak7PwTCNvZAJp1ymG8Ov14Nf6wpLxVeHKVq8k/s2263/Scan_20231005%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1643" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_doICj8FrrJ0_ziL_1XCDX1gVuHigfdfYNUUxC8lupysMkUHBI3JFv6ZN_LB-9ByChY55iC7fzVojLF5FJXEfPaOpYxNUEV-xDyCXtaDPApeTnd2ucR71ivwvxc_qGLNtHnNC76DBqAkQc2Jymz_Z-3ak7PwTCNvZAJp1ymG8Ov14Nf6wpLxVeHKVq8k/w290-h400/Scan_20231005%20(8).jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've said it many times on the blog: magazine covers on baseball cards are an absolute godsend, and I want them all.</div><div><br /></div><div>Don't believe me?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJVE8N0avfiMrq2ml_C67H7rHAGt-h6bko_LDmoDoBT8ZU_wgcKpOfeGGPEDb5LgSqoFC5ltxgVX7l7SL4yr12t0pzANMjEo69z80srfPnMqojpqTCHbTzg_JJQZZypaBfnAEfpXlLCGV35OKJQoa6akq3us6o32QQRYtysvja8wNuy5i9jHBBFQAeOQ/s2263/Scan_20231005%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJVE8N0avfiMrq2ml_C67H7rHAGt-h6bko_LDmoDoBT8ZU_wgcKpOfeGGPEDb5LgSqoFC5ltxgVX7l7SL4yr12t0pzANMjEo69z80srfPnMqojpqTCHbTzg_JJQZZypaBfnAEfpXlLCGV35OKJQoa6akq3us6o32QQRYtysvja8wNuy5i9jHBBFQAeOQ/w290-h400/Scan_20231005%20(9).jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...still don't believe me?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1D-lVXfZ-LxNYxYrA142i1yyWkO3EK7KTuGj7RvHSJz-M2YZaGPzBD6Opd6DXn4QjcoI3Q2jzX-N1G9NuzIRQ7lwfQ42fhpSwoMnqir58UY7EfDLlqALk28edPPokMhyku0ASx2xmvoYXeqyJBJW34Oy08io9i8KTHW83QCzd4H0Gt_1DNvpkxKkpN0/s2251/Scan_20231005%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2251" data-original-width="1634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1D-lVXfZ-LxNYxYrA142i1yyWkO3EK7KTuGj7RvHSJz-M2YZaGPzBD6Opd6DXn4QjcoI3Q2jzX-N1G9NuzIRQ7lwfQ42fhpSwoMnqir58UY7EfDLlqALk28edPPokMhyku0ASx2xmvoYXeqyJBJW34Oy08io9i8KTHW83QCzd4H0Gt_1DNvpkxKkpN0/w290-h400/Scan_20231005%20(10).jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...how about now?</div><div><br /></div><div>I stumbled upon a seller unloading these Topps/Sports Illustrated mashups on the cheap (most of 'em were a buck a pop), and as you can see, I had myself a field day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_S48QKlpzyF6XHa2BHiGSzT-oB3t2aGBq0ZX-5K481u4RWpT_v0GaJ6yoNmaMOBZqCuImPmHcKVJAAQGVTNBuo4_nRkGCM0Fqc-WSWknnD8HdwTx2HSf9ne3zOxOoS5Sa4hu2l1ZRdOoEE1U-ITl_egHsKozWTWeznXsiduFcBRaEH6gPIFxitthwrs/s1313/Scan_20231005%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1313" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_S48QKlpzyF6XHa2BHiGSzT-oB3t2aGBq0ZX-5K481u4RWpT_v0GaJ6yoNmaMOBZqCuImPmHcKVJAAQGVTNBuo4_nRkGCM0Fqc-WSWknnD8HdwTx2HSf9ne3zOxOoS5Sa4hu2l1ZRdOoEE1U-ITl_egHsKozWTWeznXsiduFcBRaEH6gPIFxitthwrs/w400-h366/Scan_20231005%20(11).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Minis!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've always liked the Topps 206 brand, and while I hate that these are online-only the cards themselves are neat - can't resist a good Steve Carlton Cardinals sighting.</div><div><br /></div><div>(And another weird Don Zimmer!)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDDDS-HEkKa_s0ub44t7xG6yScs3pAAnWWn1QNnDyCf_aCaJ9xH89iZQNisVT-61OOQ56QE5BewzZhgo3xSHhnBJkpDGhYBIMu92DBBnucsAefr-XY8KCykZNJNe7d84zenMthrc3qpITyO7_bpXAruKIrP-s7H8zg5v0UcunKtXe_RT43XAtV2E8ukU/s1453/Scan_20231005%20(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="1046" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDDDS-HEkKa_s0ub44t7xG6yScs3pAAnWWn1QNnDyCf_aCaJ9xH89iZQNisVT-61OOQ56QE5BewzZhgo3xSHhnBJkpDGhYBIMu92DBBnucsAefr-XY8KCykZNJNe7d84zenMthrc3qpITyO7_bpXAruKIrP-s7H8zg5v0UcunKtXe_RT43XAtV2E8ukU/w288-h400/Scan_20231005%20(12).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I continue to be a sucker for cheap photo variations despite thinking said photo variations are wildly unnecessary. </div><div><br /></div><div>(RIP, Brooks.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis64hsrK2RcscE8HWkVCITXf9Fua_OJ0t66IixtvosrC0XLgVBLEOVzvQbrUqhPyuXd2xTv58dqYfYHqaw2Wu05QiJjDJMsnLJ-NVeYG65uL-8rJAyAeLbi9B9ty4ILPf8RYhK4BG6NZIet1Z9qqWbauciR_jOBj5fX4XaT8FEUI5wU0Cy0hIzydHCoUY/s1425/Scan_20231005%20(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis64hsrK2RcscE8HWkVCITXf9Fua_OJ0t66IixtvosrC0XLgVBLEOVzvQbrUqhPyuXd2xTv58dqYfYHqaw2Wu05QiJjDJMsnLJ-NVeYG65uL-8rJAyAeLbi9B9ty4ILPf8RYhK4BG6NZIet1Z9qqWbauciR_jOBj5fX4XaT8FEUI5wU0Cy0hIzydHCoUY/w288-h400/Scan_20231005%20(13).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Even if by some wild fantasy I was able to acquire every US-branded card I ever needed, that would leave the loads of foreign-issue stuff I'll probably never see.</div><div><br /></div><div>My love for BBM is well-documented, but I also discovered a fun mid '90s "Line Up" Venezuelan Winter League brand with this COMC order that I didn't know about (cool Ozzie Guillen double dip!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX761qbwjchi1mGDdRLeL_mUfkyrWnGcWGiKLxFerKiyy0dD5RvWJi0fDm2Pvm-v63o_6uD_rRbpsQ36YRYTZ9xwMP4I6d_Rxs0UzJ2QF7GkiFtS5IYqQNCEJe6-MMbG0PJx4UYDYAAqaPJA7WxL7p6AslU5wOm6F1aWE7BKn5irUR6DwrP5Ij3JlkU6U/s1426/Scan_20231005%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1426" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX761qbwjchi1mGDdRLeL_mUfkyrWnGcWGiKLxFerKiyy0dD5RvWJi0fDm2Pvm-v63o_6uD_rRbpsQ36YRYTZ9xwMP4I6d_Rxs0UzJ2QF7GkiFtS5IYqQNCEJe6-MMbG0PJx4UYDYAAqaPJA7WxL7p6AslU5wOm6F1aWE7BKn5irUR6DwrP5Ij3JlkU6U/w400-h285/Scan_20231005%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few neat horizontals here, including a rather intense Venezuelan double dip and my first-ever card featuring all three Alou brothers.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm by no means a Manny Ramirez collector, but that photo variation was too fun to pass up.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad8TYaYqXHgAlHVTyjximEI92mmKtwu-ou84JT5LkSTIq1-QJkvFNTwbrN3iTFI9-D8Qv7C7f_fdBZf8Rdaedg4wqapwaNdAKoKw_yO0y4KXmeKfNftapC3Fgk8-iM0MbepLRqXocIpkkOBWHa64Hfdirwumz9mLskEt2DYBVU9uuu9QtKtgz_Nlz8JA/s1440/Scan_20231005%20(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad8TYaYqXHgAlHVTyjximEI92mmKtwu-ou84JT5LkSTIq1-QJkvFNTwbrN3iTFI9-D8Qv7C7f_fdBZf8Rdaedg4wqapwaNdAKoKw_yO0y4KXmeKfNftapC3Fgk8-iM0MbepLRqXocIpkkOBWHa64Hfdirwumz9mLskEt2DYBVU9uuu9QtKtgz_Nlz8JA/w286-h400/Scan_20231005%20(15).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>SSPC only had one major release, and I don't even own all of those I need yet, which should tell you how far I am from conquering the entire baseball card universe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nolan Ryan and Pete Rose bring me a couple steps closer to finalizing my '76 SSPC wants, and I tracked down other offshoots with the '75 Gaylord Perry sample and a neat '78 SSPC Don Baylor. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVfsr2PWjGl1Y0qHWZKIsmYVvCxCYZcMxkOTLBalfgSJJ0nOQSCar_93M2mXMZiW7FR9IT3y8Hv7r6n6gWt1xnx0KL92giv0UsVVgaYMqVxS_6YJSjza2rVSCCexo3NuJtXQ_m0q1L6i3uI6OKh8eByXZfzEj8PQoDrKxYjYtKhUyuuuIxkfjUsA04RA/s994/Scan_20231005%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="994" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVfsr2PWjGl1Y0qHWZKIsmYVvCxCYZcMxkOTLBalfgSJJ0nOQSCar_93M2mXMZiW7FR9IT3y8Hv7r6n6gWt1xnx0KL92giv0UsVVgaYMqVxS_6YJSjza2rVSCCexo3NuJtXQ_m0q1L6i3uI6OKh8eByXZfzEj8PQoDrKxYjYtKhUyuuuIxkfjUsA04RA/w400-h284/Scan_20231005%20(16).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I acquired my first Dodger Bell Brand card at this year's National, and I liked it so much that I immediately wanted another one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, an affordable Frank Howard presented itself in the COMC archives one afternoon, and I managed to couple it with a weathered '69 OPC Hondo for a song ('69 OPCs seem harder to find for some reason).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws8cGsbLXBko2mQGBV8eIW2RQNroGCO8Tphe_HgUnJWtX4j3NmG09t3Wo_9TlU2ZF-_g1f2HXFiYlPQVR67KlLihQvzeIP3HsgJDx1Z-f9xUu_1CG0bz_mNNX9jyS1Ax6e1YbiLzYJgi1UIzo9HpRjF7OYrf_lCGeo527xrUcNzCEg3mK-N2vObg4LbY/s1004/Scan_20231005%20(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1004" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiws8cGsbLXBko2mQGBV8eIW2RQNroGCO8Tphe_HgUnJWtX4j3NmG09t3Wo_9TlU2ZF-_g1f2HXFiYlPQVR67KlLihQvzeIP3HsgJDx1Z-f9xUu_1CG0bz_mNNX9jyS1Ax6e1YbiLzYJgi1UIzo9HpRjF7OYrf_lCGeo527xrUcNzCEg3mK-N2vObg4LbY/w400-h280/Scan_20231005%20(17).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These are both bizarro-world cards from the '78 Burger King set and represented gaping holes in my binders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fergie was a "Keep Dreaming" need, and a particularly painful one given that the cheapest copy I could find online for a long time was over $20 - but out of the blue, a $4 copy popped up on COMC one day, and here we are.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7n8cnsAJqDGRjR6bvi0OxyrL1XoSbJLS6fUTRhjd-mHjSQIuGtKoPkzmX5QgvCoSYNZ04UO92mXq6qzlPTo49UZQj3v8nYGha7wpRH1QTAc2RgNspL9FGNrFl28CcyNt676h48Wc8iElE8496E-MCD_yE8_eYJrHM5mdPYI-S4gGJa7GI9J9nQv98wc/s699/Scan_20231005%20(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="699" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7n8cnsAJqDGRjR6bvi0OxyrL1XoSbJLS6fUTRhjd-mHjSQIuGtKoPkzmX5QgvCoSYNZ04UO92mXq6qzlPTo49UZQj3v8nYGha7wpRH1QTAc2RgNspL9FGNrFl28CcyNt676h48Wc8iElE8496E-MCD_yE8_eYJrHM5mdPYI-S4gGJa7GI9J9nQv98wc/w400-h288/Scan_20231005%20(18).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I have an unspoken agreement with myself to try and track down one "big" card with each passing COMC order, and this '60 Frank Robinson certainly fit the bill this time around.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like Fergie, this one had been on my "Keep Dreaming" list for a while. Thanks to a little paper residue on the back, I was able to nab this copy for a whopping $10. Another vintage Goliath slain!</div><div><br /></div><div>As I said earlier, I'm not even two weeks removed from the arrival of this order, and I'm almost ready to have another one sent to me. So, no - I don't think I have to worry about not having any cards to chase. </div><div><br /></div><div>Or maybe I'm just insane, I don't know.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-55880928472040148062023-09-29T18:13:00.001-05:002023-09-29T18:13:17.357-05:00Leader of the pack<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc_N4fE8iOzwkulXudcyAUIXxkj_iQ3iojyCj8Lsz1jLRXdWovCoFEveW9q2V1WYXCR7FzjBcQABLUXgYSEwYKagPPUkCiuP0dEe2g1LZU42IIcmrx54vAtqfiI21HOIvBx5cLXOamLQx1NqPV445QE8GhHwI2PhNM_axWL5NS9vvF_2PCtbUgSbbyFQ/s993/Scan_20230924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc_N4fE8iOzwkulXudcyAUIXxkj_iQ3iojyCj8Lsz1jLRXdWovCoFEveW9q2V1WYXCR7FzjBcQABLUXgYSEwYKagPPUkCiuP0dEe2g1LZU42IIcmrx54vAtqfiI21HOIvBx5cLXOamLQx1NqPV445QE8GhHwI2PhNM_axWL5NS9vvF_2PCtbUgSbbyFQ/w228-h400/Scan_20230924.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To my complete and utter surprise, I actually found a blaster of 2023 Allen & Ginter on the shelves of my (usually card-barren) local Target the other day.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel like I get a bit wistful every time A&G comes out now, and rue the plain fact that the brand is a shadow of what it once was. A&G was <i>the </i>set for a couple years there in the late-aughts, and a prime factor in helping me get back into baseball cards around 2006-07. I don't know that any set could ever continue to live up to such a treasured past over a decade later, but alas, A&G ain't what it used to be.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, I do still get that slight pang of anticipation whenever I hear A&G is out. As watered-down as it's become, I do still think it fills a niche in the hobby, which is more than I can say about the 238 other unnecessary sets that Topps seems to come out with each year.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, in honor of A&G's 18th(!!!) year on the shelves - and in tribute to the sheer shock of actually finding a blaster of it - I thought I'd show you each and every card that fell out of my blaster, along with a "Leader of the Pack" for each of the eight packs in there.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPdsN9_siAHTBTTc1x3T3ugYA9QKNSDLeqGyCKxn-VvgSwrrC8D2IFgUY7ErXGgh0YSiMk-90BzweHl3AyVxznonSD7oRc_6X3TPqvUwujHm8b3_FUOK00h-RZQRk_0W2aEgYGvv9w2tiz0hbzYXKkqELo2cH1p92Jit7ingBJXH2tU2TnDSo6t6qCwQ/s1518/Scan_20230924%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="1518" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPdsN9_siAHTBTTc1x3T3ugYA9QKNSDLeqGyCKxn-VvgSwrrC8D2IFgUY7ErXGgh0YSiMk-90BzweHl3AyVxznonSD7oRc_6X3TPqvUwujHm8b3_FUOK00h-RZQRk_0W2aEgYGvv9w2tiz0hbzYXKkqELo2cH1p92Jit7ingBJXH2tU2TnDSo6t6qCwQ/w400-h374/Scan_20230924%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><b>Pack 1:</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#207 Ari Chambers</b></div><div><b>#98 Byron Buxton</b></div><div><b>#84 Bobby Witt Jr.</b></div><div><b>#209 Casey Webb</b></div><div><b>#ROV-14 Ezequiel Tovar (Rookie Variation mini)</b></div><div><b>#TT-17 Condor, "TALON-ted"</b></div><div><br />Of course the first pack was pretty much a snoozer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not to sound like a broken record here, but the main downfall of A&G has been the complete lack of fun in the non-baseball subjects. Long gone are the days of Pluto and Revolving Doors - now we're forced to swallow any celebrities Topps could get a contract with (most of whom I've never heard of, including the two in this pack).</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that we've got that out of my system, time to pick a Leader of the Pack here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdsrcrzsxJHxjQ5vEvhQ6yRPbYxhwjt7zgXwmwDmar5Am5wDeu7m3Y9oDXoN_Np1mPa11Ww2bgkxJx2fbWTTS51FEmuxVnlpjLTWQRLH7Rc60JdF5DJkzECwRBxPH34Ns-01ZyTomr0NjLguW8qyQB3eZJebmMW9Bj0SpivMBl9vRwmBF0CrFI9osIBI/s707/Scan_20230924%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdsrcrzsxJHxjQ5vEvhQ6yRPbYxhwjt7zgXwmwDmar5Am5wDeu7m3Y9oDXoN_Np1mPa11Ww2bgkxJx2fbWTTS51FEmuxVnlpjLTWQRLH7Rc60JdF5DJkzECwRBxPH34Ns-01ZyTomr0NjLguW8qyQB3eZJebmMW9Bj0SpivMBl9vRwmBF0CrFI9osIBI/w286-h400/Scan_20230924%20(3).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Personal favorite has to be uber-phenom Bobby Witt Jr., who's already earned my devoted fandom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose now is a good time to mention that I actually really like how A&G looks this time around - it's never been a set whose design needs to be deconstructed year-in and year-out, but it's a good, clean look here in 2023.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNqzk1VaOY8FRZMin58r9tU-IUQsY0DRTXJNxXnoCMQeRmhWjfgbSPy6OhbGs4wVJd6DTCmPadeCSM4P-aHc8DCUd9D_EFP-Xl8Snwnfs18wtYMdcI_72pLgkSXw8Z4PB1UOI5hUnUe8UN7NBxxgL9vKDUPDOJS7vnoWU_WrlTLgRCoAaiquTQWZjKYs/s1508/Scan_20230924%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1508" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNqzk1VaOY8FRZMin58r9tU-IUQsY0DRTXJNxXnoCMQeRmhWjfgbSPy6OhbGs4wVJd6DTCmPadeCSM4P-aHc8DCUd9D_EFP-Xl8Snwnfs18wtYMdcI_72pLgkSXw8Z4PB1UOI5hUnUe8UN7NBxxgL9vKDUPDOJS7vnoWU_WrlTLgRCoAaiquTQWZjKYs/w400-h373/Scan_20230924%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pack 2:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#114 Yu Darvish</b></div><div><b>#150 Buster Posey</b></div><div><b>#37 Ronald Acuna Jr.</b></div><div><b>#400 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (SP)</b></div><div><b>#OI-21 Citizens Bank Park, "Only In..."</b></div><div><b>#SS-12 Francisco Rodriguez, "Spotless Spans"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>That's more like it - a pack where ALL SIX cards are needs!</div><div><br /></div><div>Another strike, however: Topps decided to screw with the checklist a la Big League where a bunch of guys have standard base cards AND higher-numbered SPs in the same base checklist. I still can't figure out why this is becoming a thing, but I've already used enough air time complaining about that, so we'll move on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, on a good note, I needed all six cards in this pack, and although the coolest card here is probably that Phillies Liberty Bell insert...</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjjXJF8IX9v5LKDpN9HL2G3MiRrHbqTzoqrX2rhWe-sKc3ge5SL0EEYUQVDb-WI9mwjLIqEL5mfucImiSzQVPWOIiO5fXn2HBncV73P7n8WwnoYmnUrg-TrFT4TscX_cuXFOohIyN73R8Z6AhF7gQjmlRO24YIC7pB_TKjSjj2DDVgtpsMeyLdE8_Zr8/s696/Scan_20230924%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjjXJF8IX9v5LKDpN9HL2G3MiRrHbqTzoqrX2rhWe-sKc3ge5SL0EEYUQVDb-WI9mwjLIqEL5mfucImiSzQVPWOIiO5fXn2HBncV73P7n8WwnoYmnUrg-TrFT4TscX_cuXFOohIyN73R8Z6AhF7gQjmlRO24YIC7pB_TKjSjj2DDVgtpsMeyLdE8_Zr8/w286-h400/Scan_20230924%20(5).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div>...my favorite is this K-Rod insert - a prime member of the fun Angels teams I followed as a kid, and a guy who hasn't had a card in a while.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvDb59Lq5gX0-kSx4fCm6GtsE4a4fju1j-ZwKpvWb923zO1pCTlKDrbza4p4MZhcnztllnQ6VYGxgP8E9lsuMhph_r-9bHmbUcNn_VBUP_RRUnO-FPDKa2pADzROGVopteiqwtDXZ7R9wGc6Bpn_9HWZYhoauokhCR_IRYuKabitNC0GmdzwvRquPwgA/s1537/Scan_20230924%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1537" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvDb59Lq5gX0-kSx4fCm6GtsE4a4fju1j-ZwKpvWb923zO1pCTlKDrbza4p4MZhcnztllnQ6VYGxgP8E9lsuMhph_r-9bHmbUcNn_VBUP_RRUnO-FPDKa2pADzROGVopteiqwtDXZ7R9wGc6Bpn_9HWZYhoauokhCR_IRYuKabitNC0GmdzwvRquPwgA/w400-h375/Scan_20230924%20(6).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>Pack 3:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#257 Kodai Senga</b></div><div><b>#49 Manny Machado</b></div><div><b>#262 Zion Clark</b></div><div><b>#104 Derek Jeter</b></div><div><b>#138 Rickey Henderson (mini)</b></div><div><b>#FITS-6 Surfing, "Fun in the Sun"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Not as thrilling of a pack this time around, but I'm excited to get a new Kodai Senga card - a guy who's having a great season that no one's talking about thanks to the Mets being a nightmare.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWZkpN6Fu3rXRguhHaJCFcvgRlKaATVHX2tKXfgjzeUvKcVDlwxdrDmuG2CoVvSOxCWZ-KD6HWMCy5YJlgLUJhAFfe8d0a0u_thoVfp7OLvqlOH2HK6v_zDoXHHxgo8tHo0YIhZJW01E2YdEzFaP3UhZjySQxP5FM_rXb3KbcJEvhotR7eFk1Qhkl95Q/s539/Scan_20230924%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWZkpN6Fu3rXRguhHaJCFcvgRlKaATVHX2tKXfgjzeUvKcVDlwxdrDmuG2CoVvSOxCWZ-KD6HWMCy5YJlgLUJhAFfe8d0a0u_thoVfp7OLvqlOH2HK6v_zDoXHHxgo8tHo0YIhZJW01E2YdEzFaP3UhZjySQxP5FM_rXb3KbcJEvhotR7eFk1Qhkl95Q/w219-h400/Scan_20230924%20(7).jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But still can't beat a mini Rickey!</div><div><br /></div><div>(Even with A&G's present shortcomings, I can honestly say that I've always loved the minis, and always will.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o0iRN8I1R-TMx1NTlvQsEUG-TM5L_wXiHaBAp3JwgelVSEJLgtdQWe1evWEWWjY1ost3xXp5ZehkKcy922bq0e6yi-TkD2NRwOaTL6WL9KBz-PEWAOf06zq5U-IAWnhzJ2xVvsGFE6Sn4qWdDtmIDzKvPWm-bLtzpvmSKol8mwjirRU4tpv7cipCk9w/s1532/Scan_20230924%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1532" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o0iRN8I1R-TMx1NTlvQsEUG-TM5L_wXiHaBAp3JwgelVSEJLgtdQWe1evWEWWjY1ost3xXp5ZehkKcy922bq0e6yi-TkD2NRwOaTL6WL9KBz-PEWAOf06zq5U-IAWnhzJ2xVvsGFE6Sn4qWdDtmIDzKvPWm-bLtzpvmSKol8mwjirRU4tpv7cipCk9w/w400-h373/Scan_20230924%20(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Pack 4:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#199 Taj Bradley</b></div><div><b>#45 Kyle Stowers</b></div><div><b>#258 Julio Urias</b></div><div><b>#358 Justin Verlander (SP)</b></div><div><b>#236 John DiMaggio (A&G back mini)</b></div><div><b>#SS-25 Reggie Jackson, "Spotless Spans"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Bad: another "celebrity" I've never heard of, a couple rookies I barely know, and a despicable human being I hope never pitches in the majors ever again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Good: in a few years time, I wonder if anyone'll remember Justin Verlander was on the Mets - it's already a prime Short Term Stop!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS61kabJsiLeTjO_5awMNqjze0O99EB6HIl3uxfqcN_hAq6hfN5hnAJDjYV5okcZWzYhMxRDz8wPRadLRv7ZIS6hwjT2rwmUb8LC3GwSyywnATpGWi4GyLOxfeRQfR5AyHPCX2qB2T2opHmlj7D0VsWfU-k697QE9EH_k1By_WIbv1i88gqzOnZ4f8KgM/s699/Scan_20230924%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS61kabJsiLeTjO_5awMNqjze0O99EB6HIl3uxfqcN_hAq6hfN5hnAJDjYV5okcZWzYhMxRDz8wPRadLRv7ZIS6hwjT2rwmUb8LC3GwSyywnATpGWi4GyLOxfeRQfR5AyHPCX2qB2T2opHmlj7D0VsWfU-k697QE9EH_k1By_WIbv1i88gqzOnZ4f8KgM/w288-h400/Scan_20230924%20(9).jpg" width="288" /></a></div></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Best: "Spotless Spans" Reggie - looks to be the newest in the long line of big star-studded A&G insert sets. </div><div><br /></div><div>(Also, I tried a Reggie Bar for the first time a couple weeks ago - it was...kinda gross.)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kLOuC4-W8eJMV_SyusMfY77IgsIjQhWYvA9hWXupVWFJ9Vk7l2qzBKUlBGUtcrA8gEaOq-vcSuG8VttVHJy0-T-da3rIaDgYb5NX8Y0f8O26TK9vl_QPNaR95PuttR9w1uX1ixk9828TE03fwb4Dc_B66l58fUkdIn6GG-k_WMM3AkdwPtCWADKPues/s1516/Scan_20230924%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1516" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kLOuC4-W8eJMV_SyusMfY77IgsIjQhWYvA9hWXupVWFJ9Vk7l2qzBKUlBGUtcrA8gEaOq-vcSuG8VttVHJy0-T-da3rIaDgYb5NX8Y0f8O26TK9vl_QPNaR95PuttR9w1uX1ixk9828TE03fwb4Dc_B66l58fUkdIn6GG-k_WMM3AkdwPtCWADKPues/w400-h375/Scan_20230924%20(10).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Pack 5:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#118 Logan O'Hoppe</b></div><div><b>#85 Babe Ruth</b></div><div><b>#MFR-CK Clayton Kershaw, mini relic</b></div><div><b>#62 Oneil Cruz (Black mini)</b></div><div><b>#MTYE-10 Bodhran, "Music to Your Ears"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Given that I don't really care about memorabilia stuff, I just feel shorted whenever I pull a jersey card because it usually means I get one fewer card in said pack.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRczectR_8mcLsVSAvKlHt3DwQglxcFZjEY7DnFVO_Zh0K_641Elo6zqg4wlWjfVqEfwCURtYQHrksLHhSr9bIc8iDufpc2DzKdRg43FPonfVlOcqP_4MLzKEJI9fdCfvjerboE8K87pxapCiiy-wqzNzWBdPGEi21Sm3HkN0-9dh1lokdg0jGuH-pF80/s723/Scan_20230924%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRczectR_8mcLsVSAvKlHt3DwQglxcFZjEY7DnFVO_Zh0K_641Elo6zqg4wlWjfVqEfwCURtYQHrksLHhSr9bIc8iDufpc2DzKdRg43FPonfVlOcqP_4MLzKEJI9fdCfvjerboE8K87pxapCiiy-wqzNzWBdPGEi21Sm3HkN0-9dh1lokdg0jGuH-pF80/w284-h400/Scan_20230924%20(11).jpg" width="284" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Still, even though it won't be staying with me at Dime Box HQ, it's hard to pick anything other than Kershaw as the best of this pack.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCwWZ3yRBwh5Vt7bDoiPKw3wwG-4u9MYYcOvOqVaAJh-dFkm9wX3FgHUl6ts_jVpu_7ACkJQ_zN1ngqRnG6eKfSh5NSsNAXNjdCYl-l9zsJUUAhqtk5XTENBRVQX5cbG9ERm8eTNfjFbBJTomOTR0Zb8pdeWNO6AZ36Nghyphenhyphen5hToNRrNyoqPTrWBZTt7U/s1523/Scan_20230924%20(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1523" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCwWZ3yRBwh5Vt7bDoiPKw3wwG-4u9MYYcOvOqVaAJh-dFkm9wX3FgHUl6ts_jVpu_7ACkJQ_zN1ngqRnG6eKfSh5NSsNAXNjdCYl-l9zsJUUAhqtk5XTENBRVQX5cbG9ERm8eTNfjFbBJTomOTR0Zb8pdeWNO6AZ36Nghyphenhyphen5hToNRrNyoqPTrWBZTt7U/w400-h370/Scan_20230924%20(12).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Pack 6:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#291 Seth Brown</b></div><div><b>#225 Adam Ray</b></div><div><b>#159 Austin Meadows</b></div><div><b>#368 Corbin Carroll (SP)</b></div><div><b>#334 Matt Holiday (mini SP)</b></div><div><b>#SS-33 Joey Votto, "Spotless Spans"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Very little to say about this pack...</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KEB47cbvdlcEvWY2hwkljWb-moeaERG6ezibt2I9qqRc-EAChn1KfIxfBiaAMi0p92prMBV4zs_Jq1_YFoBvLv07uFP1d5glXngHxyTAFzgIcXGzsHhPuYDGRUL3F_g8iVYOZTRRUSLBdPECyb60PBaxdvQVgATv6-6eVnYU3PFVn2w4t0OH6sbfPYw/s704/Scan_20230924%20(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="503" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KEB47cbvdlcEvWY2hwkljWb-moeaERG6ezibt2I9qqRc-EAChn1KfIxfBiaAMi0p92prMBV4zs_Jq1_YFoBvLv07uFP1d5glXngHxyTAFzgIcXGzsHhPuYDGRUL3F_g8iVYOZTRRUSLBdPECyb60PBaxdvQVgATv6-6eVnYU3PFVn2w4t0OH6sbfPYw/w286-h400/Scan_20230924%20(13).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div>...except that it's cool to get my first card of bigtime rookie Corbin Carroll.</div><div><br /></div><div>Topps probably wants me to be excited over the fact that I actually pulled the SP version, but all I can think of is still needing the regular base card...<br /><br /><br /><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrxTYBdCsAMCjMwuWLzgvhmvZIQa0PvOaBxyRcIr5j6rKiwcBkTRuUzDcRsHKLZ1IZbTmvuurbNsf9JCwIWEecazQkxqkc_9PJt5E3jOS87eJCgivGGzKrLnz1uzWB8c9EMvRXo7JbhxUwg6fVcIZBpIDDqASjdBezI2Qh0JcBWTaSTtZSOBVRi7aRRQ/s1542/Scan_20230924%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="1542" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrxTYBdCsAMCjMwuWLzgvhmvZIQa0PvOaBxyRcIr5j6rKiwcBkTRuUzDcRsHKLZ1IZbTmvuurbNsf9JCwIWEecazQkxqkc_9PJt5E3jOS87eJCgivGGzKrLnz1uzWB8c9EMvRXo7JbhxUwg6fVcIZBpIDDqASjdBezI2Qh0JcBWTaSTtZSOBVRi7aRRQ/w400-h371/Scan_20230924%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Pack 7:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#70 Joey Votto</b></div><div><b>#177 Starling Marte</b></div><div><b>#14 Cole Ragans</b></div><div><b>#227 Jon Berti</b></div><div><b>#MROD-1 20 Strikeout Game, "Rarest of the Diamond"</b></div><div><b>#TT-1 Osprey, "TALON-ted"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Not every non-sport A&G insert set is a winner for me - I don't care much about birding, and it seems like there's been an infinite number of animal inserts in the last few years of A&G.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuEksRHlnOZ42hOfo7rxX0yimRflaQU-JFxi6WU0wF6RT8FEQLIlR6yQ3i9zCoZzRN8iZUpKSe3nY8sHHU0jikV4PNnAuoybQIpdpX2xqfHpFL1Y921VmiG_16-WjcsOVcOcJ5f5d9WFRnAzMPqsBxbApMMR8hAxhrF3SJF7Vbm7IlZIBy6go81Cy69M/s545/Scan_20230924%20(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuEksRHlnOZ42hOfo7rxX0yimRflaQU-JFxi6WU0wF6RT8FEQLIlR6yQ3i9zCoZzRN8iZUpKSe3nY8sHHU0jikV4PNnAuoybQIpdpX2xqfHpFL1Y921VmiG_16-WjcsOVcOcJ5f5d9WFRnAzMPqsBxbApMMR8hAxhrF3SJF7Vbm7IlZIBy6go81Cy69M/w217-h400/Scan_20230924%20(15).jpg" width="217" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Another pretty dull pack was saved by this nifty (and, from the looks of it, kinda tough) mini insert documenting some of the game's rarest occurrences.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Also don't see umpire cards much these days!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdNeFohraymXTtK4Racwr6209ibOnDSEbY3kP_khTBUhNJ0YEfgShCjfPwkQlbE_cY-h7MFK028A9-WccU-0i6f6OmxwLUN1QAzcUFsPAdvVB5ifad7rh4y_BGcY0aOZJk3ieI5KdLRX2Qx9FSXz97Mpiv4mpA5iwmA6t-NEMF5wzCzhMT2W8kKI-HII/s1503/Scan_20230924%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1503" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdNeFohraymXTtK4Racwr6209ibOnDSEbY3kP_khTBUhNJ0YEfgShCjfPwkQlbE_cY-h7MFK028A9-WccU-0i6f6OmxwLUN1QAzcUFsPAdvVB5ifad7rh4y_BGcY0aOZJk3ieI5KdLRX2Qx9FSXz97Mpiv4mpA5iwmA6t-NEMF5wzCzhMT2W8kKI-HII/w400-h371/Scan_20230924%20(16).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Pack 8:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>#266 Nina O'Brien</b></div><div><b>#137 Zack Thompson</b></div><div><b>#53 Mike Trout</b></div><div><b>#378 David Ortiz (SP)</b></div><div><b>#7 Alex Rodriguez (A&G back mini)</b></div><div><b>#SS-28 Rickey Henderson, "Spotless Spans"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Final pack of the blaster provided a nice burst of star power (although why are we still putting Alex Rodriguez in modern sets?).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXBHpPOkxStPVaG4Wurr_VJOacTYB_4S-nTrJWDb8ND6IBlnOO0qyoqvQmDJjw36f96jSqx-N-KO7oSFk8RdrG61B0RoPwndU_6PdrykdTscwE5POp8JRUsw5OycZu9GCIKFmXmK7rNWY2py5O21dAqKd_9xWgnpuALXhb8AtZuFwDNjunh20Mc_DxBo/s707/Scan_20230924%20(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="503" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXBHpPOkxStPVaG4Wurr_VJOacTYB_4S-nTrJWDb8ND6IBlnOO0qyoqvQmDJjw36f96jSqx-N-KO7oSFk8RdrG61B0RoPwndU_6PdrykdTscwE5POp8JRUsw5OycZu9GCIKFmXmK7rNWY2py5O21dAqKd_9xWgnpuALXhb8AtZuFwDNjunh20Mc_DxBo/w285-h400/Scan_20230924%20(17).jpg" width="285" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Was tempted to tap Rickey as a repeat "Leader of the Pack," but I'll go with smiling Big Papi here (even if it's another SP...). </div><div><br /></div><div>I probably didn't pick the most exciting blaster off the shelf, and it's by no means a perfect set this time around, but in the end I'll always treasure that A&G is just good plain fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think the fact that it's still here 18 years later is a testament to that.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-86883313777604459472023-09-22T17:46:00.003-05:002023-09-22T17:46:32.219-05:00In praise of the mail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehJ8mPaFbzjDDSGVT6i22rrfz2dPqreUArtqrFpAnkg8eGYBDJkc6z8Hjk2SAu2pVpMMkHP2tlbrvSC5H5JOOO6IFtdj9Z37WjpJ3Y1rke-J-dEzlWEFZ0vOddcsxTX13zH-4MaySxCcUgHL0KINjYtOB5Z_JopcXtqGwzqQXSQlYH5-X7ZRq18zAUW4/s705/Kevin%20DK%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="705" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehJ8mPaFbzjDDSGVT6i22rrfz2dPqreUArtqrFpAnkg8eGYBDJkc6z8Hjk2SAu2pVpMMkHP2tlbrvSC5H5JOOO6IFtdj9Z37WjpJ3Y1rke-J-dEzlWEFZ0vOddcsxTX13zH-4MaySxCcUgHL0KINjYtOB5Z_JopcXtqGwzqQXSQlYH5-X7ZRq18zAUW4/w400-h283/Kevin%20DK%20002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I get worried that people my age are missing out on the joys of mail.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've loved getting mail for as long as I can remember - I wanted to be a mailman for a long time as a kid. There's something about that day-in, day-out routine of opening the mailbox, wondering if something, anything, is waiting for me in there (even third-class junk mail addressed to me is, in an odd way, a minor thrill).</div><div><br /></div><div>Between my forum days and my time here on the blogs, I've been sending cards through the mail for almost 20 years now, and I can't even begin to imagine how different my collection would look if the mail didn't exist. It still boggles my mind that you can jettison a nice chunk of baseball cards to someone across the country of for the cost of a single stamp (or a few bucks for a healthy-sized package).</div><div><br /></div><div>Though I'm not sending/receiving cards nearly as often as I used to these days, there have still been a few glorious surprises waiting for me in the mail lately, starting with this epic Babe Ruth SP I graciously received upon request from Kevin of <a href="https://thediamondking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"The Diamond King."</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt37keGsr4jRRAv-AtdkTbRMlkAz7jUEVhNGn4G42qfbdgu6yVzlkjiqMPyZEzNPK_b1tYBrHXf8Ek3VgD4ZM505RVnwQVLdcbooijpYyrQAIKm3hVsYL9Ai3Cc6Rt38w8bl39t2vtzG3e5LY3hKL7WAMOnm06cB_QOOb2h4qpCOXOwTly48ic5cSP4M/s767/Kevin%20DK%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="534" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt37keGsr4jRRAv-AtdkTbRMlkAz7jUEVhNGn4G42qfbdgu6yVzlkjiqMPyZEzNPK_b1tYBrHXf8Ek3VgD4ZM505RVnwQVLdcbooijpYyrQAIKm3hVsYL9Ai3Cc6Rt38w8bl39t2vtzG3e5LY3hKL7WAMOnm06cB_QOOb2h4qpCOXOwTly48ic5cSP4M/w279-h400/Kevin%20DK%20003.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kevin was nice enough to host a little giveaway on his blog recently, one that saw me claim this slaughtered Enos Slaughter that, at the very least, serves as a nice placeholder if/when I decide to splurge on a more intact copy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Either way, it's hard to beat a free '53!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl3JV3ruQw4-zQW3A-F84tjO8O5xPQE_dy1gi7t6ZX2MNXAhstAs4O3YLJ8PILH7ZmAWXieVf8CRajen7As6vcQOoic8EjD7k9H_8Ci1IVV_Yl3ytDcbxRSRju0gyz9BYsyMy66lZAE-_hL7i776mhDB3copiXKz3-t7xZMb_HRmdDuEFWSfZpi25dBk/s1014/Kevin%20DK%20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1014" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl3JV3ruQw4-zQW3A-F84tjO8O5xPQE_dy1gi7t6ZX2MNXAhstAs4O3YLJ8PILH7ZmAWXieVf8CRajen7As6vcQOoic8EjD7k9H_8Ci1IVV_Yl3ytDcbxRSRju0gyz9BYsyMy66lZAE-_hL7i776mhDB3copiXKz3-t7xZMb_HRmdDuEFWSfZpi25dBk/w400-h279/Kevin%20DK%20004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also grabbed these two from Kevin's giveaway - I had no idea there were "Topps Gold" parallels in Archives a couple years ago, and from the looks of it, they're kinda tough.</div><div><br /></div><div>That Rizzo is officially known as an "Aqua RayWave Refractor" from a superfluous set called Topps Chrome Sonic - and of course I had to have it, because that's how I react to shiny things.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kk51wXPshLTeMiJdDkYDcrq7B0NSpA-4GJdSyy_t73XtGjvXRvA07yVDwWFAnKh0x9tbCiv24xQgI-VBoILxkFZuU4LUoSYuKKkVRvGJps7yrzvj1DRKNfDRUTIKQxXpo414359AyXcPNQ-IBtoX8G-JxynFk7OSGBKu1yX4zQ1zNL1N0Wn7ycRINZE/s1521/Laurens%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1521" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kk51wXPshLTeMiJdDkYDcrq7B0NSpA-4GJdSyy_t73XtGjvXRvA07yVDwWFAnKh0x9tbCiv24xQgI-VBoILxkFZuU4LUoSYuKKkVRvGJps7yrzvj1DRKNfDRUTIKQxXpo414359AyXcPNQ-IBtoX8G-JxynFk7OSGBKu1yX4zQ1zNL1N0Wn7ycRINZE/w400-h279/Laurens%20001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Some of these smaller PWEs/packages have been sitting in my trade folder for a good long while now, and for that I apologize to the people who've sent them to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Laurens of <a href="https://cardsandgraphs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"Card Buzz"</span></a> surprised me with a couple tough numbered rookies for my collection of the late Ryan Freel - they're even treasured Short Term Stops to boot, as Freel played all of nine games with the Blue Jays.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtmbkmXWJJnIhYD5sM0m8bG0c-GT-jZEJRbgGw3fVb90usdbAzKwxllOwhtCRbC8kuoR6QpWGM0kFNnQJ_pxohFxUTx2_sg87oLVYWClF5Jm9GfwcP_9RrgvcjIqnJXVxsr6BYqv-sURglSgL2HYLXlnu6FvmdeZeW8H6SAOC55x3HnyxHS8auTRUfsg/s3437/Reader%20Mike%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3437" data-original-width="2475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtmbkmXWJJnIhYD5sM0m8bG0c-GT-jZEJRbgGw3fVb90usdbAzKwxllOwhtCRbC8kuoR6QpWGM0kFNnQJ_pxohFxUTx2_sg87oLVYWClF5Jm9GfwcP_9RrgvcjIqnJXVxsr6BYqv-sURglSgL2HYLXlnu6FvmdeZeW8H6SAOC55x3HnyxHS8auTRUfsg/w288-h400/Reader%20Mike%20002.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A reader named Michael W. has been periodically sending me cards for a while now, and he outdid himself by sending me a few <i>entire unopened oddball sets </i>this time around.</div><div><br /></div><div>I, like many others (I hope), can't resist a mediocre Tombstone Pizza from time to time - but I mostly associate them with the oddball set they produced in '94 that seems to show up in every single dime box I dig through. (Seems like lots of card collectors were consuming frozen pizzas that year.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Unbeknownst to me, however, there was also a <i>1995 </i>Tombstone set that I'd never seen before, and thanks to Michael, I had the whole thing in one fell swoop.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUOHWX9tHc7dWMLMujgqbqEwWj9tkrrtJK5v2kkiG122__IhVjaPSGodHg3HtHWrXJgzQIrhiWguDWUZtVg0_ubBe6ymcLk6WoktAlGtSM426Xxtlzw5ILC1mEsQPIzm7rGP32xo7T10Al8H1kDfkT5T1_w8ZPG2Cy7U97mAp6FIewtdD2OHxKWqjcc4/s2168/Reader%20Mike%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2168" data-original-width="1552" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUOHWX9tHc7dWMLMujgqbqEwWj9tkrrtJK5v2kkiG122__IhVjaPSGodHg3HtHWrXJgzQIrhiWguDWUZtVg0_ubBe6ymcLk6WoktAlGtSM426Xxtlzw5ILC1mEsQPIzm7rGP32xo7T10Al8H1kDfkT5T1_w8ZPG2Cy7U97mAp6FIewtdD2OHxKWqjcc4/w286-h400/Reader%20Mike%20003.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Michael also set a complete run of the aforementioned '94 Tombstones - I was surprised to find that I actually still needed a couple of those.</div><div><br /></div><div>Couple that with a sealed '93 Post oddball set, and you have one fun trip through an early '90s grocery aisle!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRcwMUOKSXVENDOPa1yfMqRdwoQbKh-gOGPLhPAi-vzgIaGUCXBdPikQBBvC8eLoDKBdtEUrmJj0sIDfTU0eEi7qEK_xPEIv0NJibls13WF9_R0wqM0tb1hsPnWV5feOC38ix3iktk6Dr8GmJAJm_c3mNo6-A4syphtCbXWoZvJvFq0j69t-__SOC4P8/s1055/Greg%209%20Pockets%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1055" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRcwMUOKSXVENDOPa1yfMqRdwoQbKh-gOGPLhPAi-vzgIaGUCXBdPikQBBvC8eLoDKBdtEUrmJj0sIDfTU0eEi7qEK_xPEIv0NJibls13WF9_R0wqM0tb1hsPnWV5feOC38ix3iktk6Dr8GmJAJm_c3mNo6-A4syphtCbXWoZvJvFq0j69t-__SOC4P8/w400-h286/Greg%209%20Pockets%20001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Gregory of <a href="https://ninepockets.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"Nine Pockets"</span></a> is one of the better custom enthusiasts the blogosphere has to offer, and he was nice enough to send me a copy of this up-and-coming trio whose Stonehenge was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4njOqDSzlwbII4bvOobVaeiWEiFY4O1hMEvIKZz0AkXTw3i-YrbWdTUtHN6tSAnCAMFOVh2zPUkgHdvahQ4iOfK9aadtXmZxBskoHz6YP-naylETmU2Xy8sD19F4oY7LK6KlYwDhD03Ued-VEQZUbQzwXS1QR89LYlyOv3Q9_rUo9gH5erC3jxqi4dx0/s1501/Jeremy%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1501" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4njOqDSzlwbII4bvOobVaeiWEiFY4O1hMEvIKZz0AkXTw3i-YrbWdTUtHN6tSAnCAMFOVh2zPUkgHdvahQ4iOfK9aadtXmZxBskoHz6YP-naylETmU2Xy8sD19F4oY7LK6KlYwDhD03Ued-VEQZUbQzwXS1QR89LYlyOv3Q9_rUo9gH5erC3jxqi4dx0/w400-h279/Jeremy%20001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I must've begrudgingly mentioned that I still collect of noted failed Cubs prospect Brett Jackson on the blog at some point, because these showed up in the mail from Jeremy of <a href="https://toppscardsthatneverwere.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"Topps Cards That Never Were"</span></a> shortly after.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's true: send me ALL your Brett Jackson cards (he said, wincing at the pain of the Cubs farm system circa-2010).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvxjbp14XKHhQDyB8tKWq2o2zupRYfl4Ux4dIE4EXWyCLzw6pUg9gzir84PsA8Acl8Jz1Jqsx-OXuLV4VjMK1t5fuFrGVfSROQNqDHTIxlqNT2cG9RvnMwghbmbRi7tULRCxWEauh44qdmy_kUv3QktiEvL4YlAT9e1BPNMou6NLk8H4KNic5RzKWulM/s1015/Jon%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1015" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvxjbp14XKHhQDyB8tKWq2o2zupRYfl4Ux4dIE4EXWyCLzw6pUg9gzir84PsA8Acl8Jz1Jqsx-OXuLV4VjMK1t5fuFrGVfSROQNqDHTIxlqNT2cG9RvnMwghbmbRi7tULRCxWEauh44qdmy_kUv3QktiEvL4YlAT9e1BPNMou6NLk8H4KNic5RzKWulM/w400-h279/Jon%20002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I selfishly took advantage of another "Free Stuff" blog giveaway hosted by longtime friend-of-the-blog Jon of <a href="https://pennysleevethoughts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"A Penny Sleeve for Your Thoughts"</span></a> (one of my favorite blog names ever!).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have no logical connection to throw between these two cards except for the fact that I needed both of them, which I suppose is the case for most scans on this blog (guess I'm trying to keep the memory of Carl Crawford's dubious Red Sox career alive).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxbvm-0pO-AOvQsDIriWmHTIR84uQM5UV82cV0h-cpOCSLKAGw-2oJwwkDJ-JXz3kFg4NDSlg80TW9kHAovy3o8T2JkCoLZ3Q3mkzCvqgaUD8Fw_LvbZlIYHOVsK_S_CZHxpS-Jd3skPPPHgj7C5UXDKs4Y5QB5AEbtFWTqIoLam0i86h4qWmIGzQS-4/s1129/Jon%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1129" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxbvm-0pO-AOvQsDIriWmHTIR84uQM5UV82cV0h-cpOCSLKAGw-2oJwwkDJ-JXz3kFg4NDSlg80TW9kHAovy3o8T2JkCoLZ3Q3mkzCvqgaUD8Fw_LvbZlIYHOVsK_S_CZHxpS-Jd3skPPPHgj7C5UXDKs4Y5QB5AEbtFWTqIoLam0i86h4qWmIGzQS-4/w400-h324/Jon%20003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know that I'd call myself a baseball card "expert," but I like to think I have a good understanding of the intricacies of the hobby.</div><div><br /></div><div>I say that while also admitting that I know almost nothing about these odd strip cards that were issued in the 1920s. I do have a few real ones in my collection, and I have a good amount of reprints thanks to these fun surprises from Jon.</div><div><br /></div><div>But ask me for specific info on what I have and I'm just gonna give you a blank stare.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzVv0ne3H_YJ-SlOvO-4B9AUgnU2_vxwDx0pntbuyQOFYvyHkLQmMeIjUAq-9c6Md7x-kY9r6IVoDSklaFp66jTL65melUsZuv7i2LsBkYELrCAOtlr_anrsEenhMvboOkplg1XMTN-UrP-nK5-8CnQdAn26cpJBZ4OKlMUCkXIKxMBOMAeZtkXwe5eg/s696/Jon%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzVv0ne3H_YJ-SlOvO-4B9AUgnU2_vxwDx0pntbuyQOFYvyHkLQmMeIjUAq-9c6Md7x-kY9r6IVoDSklaFp66jTL65melUsZuv7i2LsBkYELrCAOtlr_anrsEenhMvboOkplg1XMTN-UrP-nK5-8CnQdAn26cpJBZ4OKlMUCkXIKxMBOMAeZtkXwe5eg/w285-h400/Jon%20001.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div>Might as well close up shop for the day with a last hurrah from Jon, and the kind of card that's always a banner event here at Dime Box HQ - a new Ichiro!</div><div><br /></div><div>Just take a look at the cards in this post - or any of the stacks and stacks cards I've received over the years - and answer me this: how could I <i>NOT </i>be romantic about the mail?</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-44730179411043559822023-09-07T17:47:00.001-05:002023-09-07T17:47:35.688-05:00The ballad of Ted Simmons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQBWiExVzf4XQl6w2MksTg8owaVsmISAVFIAU9CH7Add_jaVyNUqMWR1wAW-dLTsXkVz8jcu-gQS3YEEpMh4G8AlntblTk6hHE56YC1iWWeoHzXZ8owT2l6Mz7Ev5q43mtH9NmVMc_Ocjwgnvrl9HQB_9y1SZ9Tu6GC8nS1s6SKqXCKL4PhRQuWGJSiw/s712/Scan_20230907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="508" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQBWiExVzf4XQl6w2MksTg8owaVsmISAVFIAU9CH7Add_jaVyNUqMWR1wAW-dLTsXkVz8jcu-gQS3YEEpMh4G8AlntblTk6hHE56YC1iWWeoHzXZ8owT2l6Mz7Ev5q43mtH9NmVMc_Ocjwgnvrl9HQB_9y1SZ9Tu6GC8nS1s6SKqXCKL4PhRQuWGJSiw/w285-h400/Scan_20230907.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Against my better judgement, I bought a $30 blaster(!) of 2022 (23?) Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary last week, and the easy highlight of the lot was this very Ted Simmons card.</div><div><br /></div><div>That may sound like a fit of buyer's remorse to many, but I mean it sincerely. I nearly went through the roof when Ted fell out of the pack because you can count the number of post-playing days Simmons cards I own on one hand (and I think all of those were Panini). It was a plain <i>fun </i>pull, much better than any other shiny bell and whistle that fell out of that blaster.</div><div><br /></div><div>It continues one of the rare trends that I've actually <i>liked </i>from Topps in recent years - sneaking dudes who've been largely abandoned by the hobby back into current products. Look, I want any and all cards of legends like Hank Aaron and Ted Williams, but even I get bored seeing them as the "retired guys" in every single set - give me more Ted Simmons!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm happy to report that Ted is the newest in what has become a fairly long line of Dime Box Favorites who've started getting some long-overdue pub on cards these days.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9o_PMW-W2tbzd4hihA88snS9ZXQnilT48g1QLzdTxll5VpKs4KNm5-QKHRmcVfHmOGzS9Yc7hFGNiRjeTjBHckBlCetdUFOT9maP6HJgy3GfeL1xxxCvmmGJkxVE1FXO3YBoWBwKO0EWR49NHGBoOb_Xzu9MYptr9WGWBOqWNZJ5ALXNl_5VNEvXgzY/s727/Scan_20230907%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9o_PMW-W2tbzd4hihA88snS9ZXQnilT48g1QLzdTxll5VpKs4KNm5-QKHRmcVfHmOGzS9Yc7hFGNiRjeTjBHckBlCetdUFOT9maP6HJgy3GfeL1xxxCvmmGJkxVE1FXO3YBoWBwKO0EWR49NHGBoOb_Xzu9MYptr9WGWBOqWNZJ5ALXNl_5VNEvXgzY/w286-h400/Scan_20230907%20(2).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For a long time, I would've used my hobby wish to get Topps to start making Dick Allen cards again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Turns out I didn't need a card-granting genie, because "Crash" has started popping up in quite a few sets these days, and all of this cards are just as wonderful as I dreamed they'd be.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wpCNe-E_rseIkwK3mBFw4aoO1YyvBBAhYcTVoZVn32_Q0vcAGFvx8b7zegI4HB1dxfzAUs7nO-c6-blEUJpugWNiVqhSvenlxQl9L1rn4uNc1rseUmJ01zdg4iitzar2R3PKFJUiT9iYdoltdnTovbTBFr2Qpvi9H3L_4icjVQBOxAJE5ilPTq4_Leg/s714/Scan_20230907%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wpCNe-E_rseIkwK3mBFw4aoO1YyvBBAhYcTVoZVn32_Q0vcAGFvx8b7zegI4HB1dxfzAUs7nO-c6-blEUJpugWNiVqhSvenlxQl9L1rn4uNc1rseUmJ01zdg4iitzar2R3PKFJUiT9iYdoltdnTovbTBFr2Qpvi9H3L_4icjVQBOxAJE5ilPTq4_Leg/w286-h400/Scan_20230907%20(3).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is on my Card of the Year short list as of this writing because it combines so many awesome into a single, glorious baseball card.</div><div><br /></div><div>First and foremost, we've seen woefully few Steve Garvey appearances in recent years - but it's also a hit for my Awards mini-collection, and provides a rare cardboard commissioner cameo!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tfyr8fejQPNIwN0lBrMdQxv1O3FxjO1S6OdmD2XFnav5xk-PF0JW20T8B2Yw-SzVimfGvGzoelYLNXHr0eR_d-YoRmiB22FLUNZ7hIJ27e512SlvxVtmaEF6CICptrkRo6fh3WSXHeATo85-hU7OJEcqkmnHcyNVGOtqxbpqjU_U1ZYI4Ict2GDuv3w/s708/Scan_20230907%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tfyr8fejQPNIwN0lBrMdQxv1O3FxjO1S6OdmD2XFnav5xk-PF0JW20T8B2Yw-SzVimfGvGzoelYLNXHr0eR_d-YoRmiB22FLUNZ7hIJ27e512SlvxVtmaEF6CICptrkRo6fh3WSXHeATo85-hU7OJEcqkmnHcyNVGOtqxbpqjU_U1ZYI4Ict2GDuv3w/w284-h400/Scan_20230907%20(4).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Lately Topps has even surprised me with a few of their retired-guy selections - I was shocked to see Gene Tenace pop up in last year's Platinum checklist, and much less a <i>Padres </i>Gene Tenace card.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know if such a list has ever been made, but this might be in the running for Most Unexpected Cards Ever.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnoJn5lFdCc8w2njLAEjjdz1Z9QRUUCLVbNt0HZPq7MGlP0UXXT_zwD2aBD97mZgLwwcFgLuzQhXxXk8v-vF9d9avy7BTqlkOkWTX1sQHMrbIGlPkpiswL-ZWHgFD2hEHCEbPoT7ohqACDvS1N23hg3YEisA8cpqSBcJ4DC2OB8q54Q52VBS4cqW7ffw/s709/Scan_20230907%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnoJn5lFdCc8w2njLAEjjdz1Z9QRUUCLVbNt0HZPq7MGlP0UXXT_zwD2aBD97mZgLwwcFgLuzQhXxXk8v-vF9d9avy7BTqlkOkWTX1sQHMrbIGlPkpiswL-ZWHgFD2hEHCEbPoT7ohqACDvS1N23hg3YEisA8cpqSBcJ4DC2OB8q54Q52VBS4cqW7ffw/w290-h400/Scan_20230907%20(5).jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Vida Blue has long been a favorite of mine, and I can't think of many guys who have as many consistently great cards as he does.</div><div><br /></div><div>Every Vida Blue card I own is a treasure, and it's been nice to have even more of them now that Topps has started giving him the cardboard love he deserves.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux1wnXkBd3hEeBWXaXVhdmzidi-X3KrGOL8FGGInIfW56jrhDzewiXfy5liHTgPztaXa1_UVjGdHjq9LNjuyfb3nvgycjX2kEPd5jPToTiHNBPCyMC2geS4JdYXoPsh60kOQIVn64Sn7dq5QoMcilvdzXiNCTcjkcutESWNVNCw2kqzQbrobL5JysVQw/s702/Scan_20230907%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux1wnXkBd3hEeBWXaXVhdmzidi-X3KrGOL8FGGInIfW56jrhDzewiXfy5liHTgPztaXa1_UVjGdHjq9LNjuyfb3nvgycjX2kEPd5jPToTiHNBPCyMC2geS4JdYXoPsh60kOQIVn64Sn7dq5QoMcilvdzXiNCTcjkcutESWNVNCw2kqzQbrobL5JysVQw/w288-h400/Scan_20230907%20(6).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Hometown bias speaking here, but Ron Santo doesn't have nearly as many cards out there as he should.</div><div><br /></div><div>(And yes, I'm still mad the HOF didn't put him in Cooperstown until the year <i>after </i>he died.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip3JnJdusVV2phvhVpGLN9NLr5_rk4bEYXAGBs29X3m31h-HbBBg865CmtAgIQAgxyYAuRjSYlorqysN3nD7KWmy_cHyp-YntLz3LmUMzSowAZj-iztt9cw7x9qAhANfEsOFSV4ZEi3w97TQTKA3VYQAiu_Vt47ZVPmfjAEGTp-vLAck8cUM15Xhi-ng/s708/Scan_20230907%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjip3JnJdusVV2phvhVpGLN9NLr5_rk4bEYXAGBs29X3m31h-HbBBg865CmtAgIQAgxyYAuRjSYlorqysN3nD7KWmy_cHyp-YntLz3LmUMzSowAZj-iztt9cw7x9qAhANfEsOFSV4ZEi3w97TQTKA3VYQAiu_Vt47ZVPmfjAEGTp-vLAck8cUM15Xhi-ng/w285-h400/Scan_20230907%20(7).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Normally, I don't like when guys I grew up watching show up as "old guys" in modern sets - I'm starting to feel old enough already! - but an exception to that rule is Tim Lincecum.</div><div><br /></div><div>He's easily one of my favorite ballplayers I've watched in my lifetime and has always been something like a cult hero to me (if a "cult hero" can be someone who won two Cy Young Awards). It still hurts that his career flamed out as fast as it did, and it never felt like he got quite the amount of fandom he deserved, but it's been nice to see him sneak back into the hobby these days.</div><div><br /></div>Part of the reason I want more Dick Allens, Vida Blues, etc. is that I see baseball cards as a kind of document for the history of baseball as we know it. Sure, legends like Mays and Ruth are at the top of that mountain, but other guys are down there helping to keep it standing. Guys like Ron Santo and Ted Simmons.<div><br /><div>So kudos to you, Topps - and I'll be looking for my Mark Fidrych cards come 2024.</div></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-14675325635654856972023-08-24T17:01:00.000-05:002023-08-24T17:01:41.129-05:00Collecting in my 30s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsp1ma6hYs-uPl70BiZy0cts0ZSQmS3NyORNssWcusmspWXAwV9Q2Ee51zWBprr_5V36RlqxPcByOZ9nc6nm-HR_N005YQT8bezJJVxesA5BsXsNzadx_vddrtSMLKyR9aW6xC7p5XXhV4g6s5E7YXrogRe9fWg4XgqZZx-xGWQd_KP8cxnhmy1oxS5U/s1050/Greg%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="741" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsp1ma6hYs-uPl70BiZy0cts0ZSQmS3NyORNssWcusmspWXAwV9Q2Ee51zWBprr_5V36RlqxPcByOZ9nc6nm-HR_N005YQT8bezJJVxesA5BsXsNzadx_vddrtSMLKyR9aW6xC7p5XXhV4g6s5E7YXrogRe9fWg4XgqZZx-xGWQd_KP8cxnhmy1oxS5U/w283-h400/Greg%20001.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm 31 years old as of this writing, which means that yours truly is coming up on 25 years of collecting (where does the time go?).</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't recall when I got my first pack of cards, but I'm pretty sure I was probably around six or seven. Unlike most collectors, I've never taken a break from hoarding cards since then - I collected all through my pre-teens and high school - and you better believe it's still going strong today. Collecting is still the most powerful addiction I've had the pleasure of coming across in my time on this earth.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that's not to say I haven't noticed a shift in my attitudes as I've gotten older, and specifically since I've edged into my early 30s. There was a time not that long ago where I could almost literally devote an entire day to organizing my cards, looking at my cards, blogging about my cards, etc. etc. I simply don't have the energy, time, or brain space to do that anymore (I haven't blogged in three weeks, ugh!). I got a little foggy after putting away cards for 45 minutes last night.</div><div><br /></div><div>Certain things that would've sounded weird to a younger version of my collecting self suddenly don't seem so far-fetched.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6tA8czSE3okyXbEqo3OlPSaZIohJhznGnHlP9aU72eugr_TzUbRJfRVMxbL6VXZwX8w7rMXPovJ7ZG8XQB20OqS1THDJ-GAmbWYMa8wKLPDhbB7sRzWN4if7BTsheGrLUzRNkLPWhlI9Xii95MwQ8ztHotZE_Aj7FlJ7by0mwY3SiLjncw78Us1VzaM/s1525/Greg%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1525" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6tA8czSE3okyXbEqo3OlPSaZIohJhznGnHlP9aU72eugr_TzUbRJfRVMxbL6VXZwX8w7rMXPovJ7ZG8XQB20OqS1THDJ-GAmbWYMa8wKLPDhbB7sRzWN4if7BTsheGrLUzRNkLPWhlI9Xii95MwQ8ztHotZE_Aj7FlJ7by0mwY3SiLjncw78Us1VzaM/w400-h280/Greg%20002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Case in point: upgrading!</div><div><br /></div><div>I <i>never </i>used to upgrade cards - why would I need another copy when I already have this one? It didn't matter if I came across a better-looking version later - the original was <i>my </i>copy, and that was that. But while I don't specifically seek out upgrades these days, I'm not altogether averse to the idea, and I've found myself doing it more than I ever thought I would.</div><div><br /></div><div>An excellent package I received from blogging extraordinaire Greg of <a href="http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"Night Owl Cards"</span></a> illustrates that. It's not every day someone sends you a surprise '67 Topps Joe Morgan - bad news was, I already had it. But the good news is - and don't tell this to my younger self - Greg actually upgraded my copy (on the right) which was woefully miscut.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think most of us would agree that my new properly-centered Morgan just <i>looks </i>better, and while I was by no means disappointed with my old copy it's a general upshoot for my collection.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fI7eStGOfoHQ9FXDl2BWlajxD0D-ElBgTynZSb2Z6vDGuPPoitajlvNpRRh1KnT2RDPxkh5SunaBnQLuMNUP0yFz0ukj3nf2Mn3vAIMNIhAgFUYF8-lcBB_alM32VUZ3yh4EuT_QyhPCGiexfdOO-0A4ZvkapyinVBEmVM32I_x8ocLRgEP_ClO83es/s2059/Greg%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2059" data-original-width="1336" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fI7eStGOfoHQ9FXDl2BWlajxD0D-ElBgTynZSb2Z6vDGuPPoitajlvNpRRh1KnT2RDPxkh5SunaBnQLuMNUP0yFz0ukj3nf2Mn3vAIMNIhAgFUYF8-lcBB_alM32VUZ3yh4EuT_QyhPCGiexfdOO-0A4ZvkapyinVBEmVM32I_x8ocLRgEP_ClO83es/w260-h400/Greg%20003.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But I'm still nowhere near picky about condition, and that's a good thing when it comes to Kellogg's cards because a good amount of the ones I have are cracked.</div><div><br /></div><div>I seem to mind the trademark Kellogg's Cracks less than just about every collector out there (makes them exponentially cheaper), but once again, I'm not averse to upgrading should the time come.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Perez & Fergie (my Perez had even <i>more </i>cracks!) were both better than the ones I currently had sitting in my binders, and the Sutter & Clark aren't upgrades because they're new to me, woo-hoo!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wdMIIZfFnoYRTZQss5N_GMvtgmNMmBMtjZSl6yINU8lRiDG8NeuNFLwwrD9zAqKrnKBzzlPQC5hfkHUkZBJxl_wcJkrykhdMYZRezfB2GtQ2Vdlr-xCdVJPLSyKBJzAUN-beuQNaTEvxDTlTr2bvdGaMvsjGdqy0uq3Pyue3YJ6Inn-5ngu_zbCRjEc/s2132/Greg%20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2132" data-original-width="1535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wdMIIZfFnoYRTZQss5N_GMvtgmNMmBMtjZSl6yINU8lRiDG8NeuNFLwwrD9zAqKrnKBzzlPQC5hfkHUkZBJxl_wcJkrykhdMYZRezfB2GtQ2Vdlr-xCdVJPLSyKBJzAUN-beuQNaTEvxDTlTr2bvdGaMvsjGdqy0uq3Pyue3YJ6Inn-5ngu_zbCRjEc/w288-h400/Greg%20004.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I, like Greg, am fascinated by the world of alternate-universe '77 OPCs where the cards are completely different than what appeared in '77 Topps.</div><div><br /></div><div>Greg dropped a few into this trade package, and while none of these four dudes are Binder Guys, they're worth keeping for curiosity's sake.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL57A7PbPJ1roqjzrZbYnbGcxLk9Q1z4T6MMppR4KN6b5e-bDLUIJ5rpce1q5UpRFl4Yq49urlf3_DzUn6pTc7pzq0elfwUdsu4K5dU8m_85GPEXzXmqC9yolSKPgtgYa3Z4-fxHBL_wE-3x_f_LB1qqTdb7dAR_vzQ3zu0wJFB9WK9YAYUtf74cFBNbo/s2110/Greg%20005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2110" data-original-width="1502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL57A7PbPJ1roqjzrZbYnbGcxLk9Q1z4T6MMppR4KN6b5e-bDLUIJ5rpce1q5UpRFl4Yq49urlf3_DzUn6pTc7pzq0elfwUdsu4K5dU8m_85GPEXzXmqC9yolSKPgtgYa3Z4-fxHBL_wE-3x_f_LB1qqTdb7dAR_vzQ3zu0wJFB9WK9YAYUtf74cFBNbo/w285-h400/Greg%20005.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Greg is a more focused collector than I could ever hope to be, but he's long been a pro at sprinkling some treasured randomness into his trade packages.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Send me all your Gabby Hartnett cards!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXlJDTFk-8q42Qm2Y4Zhm0PRuI-_bH92li4Cer3AQ51WIJRFT9PrDIiSvpKAIBk5jYu6WUA3eLHY75mmZ4_gEicTkX3thNTCyDE_XjTw0QmH9xci53lrhnkRBxhOESx4kCEGUVBBYgugFvr71jD6ajLKFWJ7nXUVp1iDjPVitHefO0VAV9a7cOdBue0s/s1508/Greg%20006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1508" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXlJDTFk-8q42Qm2Y4Zhm0PRuI-_bH92li4Cer3AQ51WIJRFT9PrDIiSvpKAIBk5jYu6WUA3eLHY75mmZ4_gEicTkX3thNTCyDE_XjTw0QmH9xci53lrhnkRBxhOESx4kCEGUVBBYgugFvr71jD6ajLKFWJ7nXUVp1iDjPVitHefO0VAV9a7cOdBue0s/w400-h281/Greg%20006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Snazzy Cubs parallels are always welcome here.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll forever have a soft spot for Turkey Red - I bought so, <i>so </i>many packs of it as a teenage collector - they're just neat old-timey cards and man do those black parallels pop.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcoNRDN5dw1aG752_g-sFRasmbwWKu95Tdd7DhPgWCgq_jO1eeSZz5MDRy0BXJhzXUnjMR5O2uWaGCMyMa9Pt3q7uZBzbytiq5Ikg4NB34jHBDUeDMQXPs4_jLildRQ-8uB6VqppGeIJmnSmso_Hc9C8GGxKsvtXKbaIVegoPmjPxCr7CYaO8Y8CBrcs/s1054/Greg%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcoNRDN5dw1aG752_g-sFRasmbwWKu95Tdd7DhPgWCgq_jO1eeSZz5MDRy0BXJhzXUnjMR5O2uWaGCMyMa9Pt3q7uZBzbytiq5Ikg4NB34jHBDUeDMQXPs4_jLildRQ-8uB6VqppGeIJmnSmso_Hc9C8GGxKsvtXKbaIVegoPmjPxCr7CYaO8Y8CBrcs/w284-h400/Greg%20007.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br /><div>Have refractors gotten a little out of hand these days? Yes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do I still want them? Also yes. This grand finale from Greg's wonderful trade package is liable to blind you - it's officially called (checks notes) a <i>Magenta Speckle Refractor </i>- but it's still a whopping addition to my binders, and a pretty good indicator that certain things haven't changed for me in this hobby, and never will. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved shiny baseball cards when I was eight, I loved them in high school, and of course I love them now!</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-90249159516992699532023-08-03T17:33:00.001-05:002023-08-03T17:33:55.883-05:00Consider the Kool-Aid (or, a day at The National)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70ioBcbcAIDJ-sLvzfUvR1Bx-nduWoT5icCykmiSddIi-LwDNHtuBOff1gui-9WBH9sqjeXoRbiMBgs-NdrFoXmC4vgG6RaYxpRxPGLgfFJEEkoBv5bWcfVBNSi2vIY1VzwDgOM4kbus73GeDz1A1CNxmSNrgeEzt_awDMay2wysO6aOHSoj_QMrjC60/s1096/Scan_20230727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="556" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70ioBcbcAIDJ-sLvzfUvR1Bx-nduWoT5icCykmiSddIi-LwDNHtuBOff1gui-9WBH9sqjeXoRbiMBgs-NdrFoXmC4vgG6RaYxpRxPGLgfFJEEkoBv5bWcfVBNSi2vIY1VzwDgOM4kbus73GeDz1A1CNxmSNrgeEzt_awDMay2wysO6aOHSoj_QMrjC60/w203-h400/Scan_20230727.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I never know quite what to say about The National.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I feel like I have enough material for a book about this thing. Then the next minute I find myself lost for words. Either way, I'll try to give a somewhat sane version of the day Dad and I spent at The National this year. For starters I'll echo a picture that may have already been painted if you followed the National talk this year - the air conditioning broke, and with temperatures nearing 100 degrees outside (coupled with an already, let's say, <i>unhygienic </i>card show crowd) you better believe the place was absolutely <i>sweltering. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>I pride myself on being able to cover a lot of ground at shows, but even I'll admit there's just no way someone could see the entirety of The National in one day. This year's show was the biggest yet. It seemed like I'd walk ten steps and end up in an entirely new room. While overwhelming at times, it wasn't really a bad thing - unlike past gatherings, I felt like the breaker-bro fraternities and general corporate madness was better confined into its own crannies and less apt to leak into my own world where I just want to be left alone to dig through this dime box, okay? </div><div><br /></div><div>This, in the end, is all I ask, and in a way it was the most endearing part of this year's National. I admittedly roll my eyes every time I see someone hauling around a magnetic case or livestreaming a box break or waving wads of $100 bills around (yes, I saw a lot of all these things). But as long I have room to do my thing away from all those people to do theirs, I'm happy. And I'm glad to report that there were a lot of dime boxes at The National, there were a lot of affordable gems, there was a lot of just plain weirdly <i>awesome</i> stuff that easily gets buried beneath the PSA 10 headlines. </div><div><br /></div><div>And I can't think of any better way to show that to you better than the card I bought of...<i>The Kool-Aid Man!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76uZUscg305YO2mt7OwbeuRc-KS2UEGVMvGPJUmYhAkpkVpzJWqw37Fcs-SVSuj55hhkW8RhEzXuHLvUzbF4JRWI43Ox_bJV1zsOI9MfA9sh9wQe4U2MxpeB0vXEWu8AsvHMVE_ZF34K8VnrHFquC8iBYfYtKJjDnbxK3FUOJ6YngX6woI6EH2jGV60w/s1687/Scan_20230727%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1687" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76uZUscg305YO2mt7OwbeuRc-KS2UEGVMvGPJUmYhAkpkVpzJWqw37Fcs-SVSuj55hhkW8RhEzXuHLvUzbF4JRWI43Ox_bJV1zsOI9MfA9sh9wQe4U2MxpeB0vXEWu8AsvHMVE_ZF34K8VnrHFquC8iBYfYtKJjDnbxK3FUOJ6YngX6woI6EH2jGV60w/w400-h315/Scan_20230727%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will admit that at times The National can feel like a cult, with all the conversations I heard seeming to follow a script and everyone pouring money into the same things (god the amount of tables with Nothing But Slabs!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This made me feel even more solidarity with the people I sat next to at dime boxes throughout the day. I'm not much for conversation or making card friends at a show (I can appreciate all the "Look who I met!" pictures I saw on Twitter, but I'm there for the cards) but it's endearing to know there's other people like me out there in a National world where I so often seem like the guppy in a pond of sharks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also glad there were dealers at this show who seemed to understand this as well, and carried the kind of quirky cardboard that makes The National the stuff of legend to me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See: cheap unopened oddball sets!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNmu3ys2vQAPA_Lu4pbI_o-6JZ62eBg5SwG_Wq8fzmO0PWdOrtQxrPbTONmSflPBWQqoCiASfDm7_XL7lHp7Xf7JrOHkIkCEvdJHgSVFUALth8aqAHOSCD7RYMQco8i92NrVyrAC4ZQ2fs6NcoD7xPmrIu-RGW2xq02ih-Ibun61srovNUQglZ5p7Prg/s1414/Scan_20230729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNmu3ys2vQAPA_Lu4pbI_o-6JZ62eBg5SwG_Wq8fzmO0PWdOrtQxrPbTONmSflPBWQqoCiASfDm7_XL7lHp7Xf7JrOHkIkCEvdJHgSVFUALth8aqAHOSCD7RYMQco8i92NrVyrAC4ZQ2fs6NcoD7xPmrIu-RGW2xq02ih-Ibun61srovNUQglZ5p7Prg/w286-h400/Scan_20230729.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There's The Kool-Aid Man himself free from the wrapper (<i>RELIEF PITCHER!</i>) as well as a couple stars from Kahn's Mets sets (good luck finding those way out here in Chicago ever again). <div><br /></div><div>Sadly, the Nomo is a prime example of a downside to the world of older packs - over time the wax can literally fuse itself to the front card (seriously, I can't get it off). </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GTrMxXksbSCeNRLxzuca-nd_ILWycPH2Vg5ZFxGGgeI_R_Ril3JrDq1qn5KwVgT47b8F8-73m0G4wpHor2ok4mXwiHxURg1YkyEUCfKEA5Hxt2jN8zQwpht_r3ftYZocfBLPMK_wY-YjQSOLZNi4leK8OBdFUBzqW8l6t1ulc2txwKkoETKE-Y5BrZA/s1403/Scan_20230729%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1403" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GTrMxXksbSCeNRLxzuca-nd_ILWycPH2Vg5ZFxGGgeI_R_Ril3JrDq1qn5KwVgT47b8F8-73m0G4wpHor2ok4mXwiHxURg1YkyEUCfKEA5Hxt2jN8zQwpht_r3ftYZocfBLPMK_wY-YjQSOLZNi4leK8OBdFUBzqW8l6t1ulc2txwKkoETKE-Y5BrZA/w400-h288/Scan_20230729%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm happy when I find a random Star oddball in a dime box every now and then - much less a sealed set of personal favorite Keith Hernandez! (Still not driving him to the airport.)</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm having trouble finding much info at all on those weird 3-D Mets cards, but I'm guessing they're a stadium giveaway of some kind & they have a very Sportflics feel to them (pictured are Lance Johnson and John Franco). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTPqy5_tRrR4NQxfw-c9qF69dxQ7hVUggxvnu9BXnZ1zDPlNfqaHromO4rFR4yAwSw1jMhpBkXxcRG_4RA0aXpQGyrNwF-CRuqS_ebg9xKnr-O6t76ScoUERh6b4kSMJzBRzt390Jd6gOVQykVhJZtMF-Ddmed4p8VPGKGPYDxuPbibbqbhjBuV5yFnA/s1197/Scan_20230729%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1197" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPTPqy5_tRrR4NQxfw-c9qF69dxQ7hVUggxvnu9BXnZ1zDPlNfqaHromO4rFR4yAwSw1jMhpBkXxcRG_4RA0aXpQGyrNwF-CRuqS_ebg9xKnr-O6t76ScoUERh6b4kSMJzBRzt390Jd6gOVQykVhJZtMF-Ddmed4p8VPGKGPYDxuPbibbqbhjBuV5yFnA/w400-h361/Scan_20230729%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was a bit scared when I first walked into The National on that Thursday morning - the general admission spot took you through a room where there was literally nothing but slabs, wax, and stuff generally in the hundreds of dollars (probably not by accident). </div><div><br /></div><div>But after penetrating the exterior a bit (forgive the war metaphor, for that's what The National can feel like at times) I stumbled into more than enough cheap madness to throw any worries I had out the window.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the first good tables I found was a guy selling cards at 25 cents each or 100/$15 - and with this many minis available, of course I found enough for the latter deal (including a new Dude!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV2W2ft4mrK5AwfbrxhW6zA2r_l7tKmwFhugqsh4KB4Sh8H40Ugcz25QpphYwt0K2It5BxbZNMCq0vO78RBh7e3faexJh2uEy_QywHlyo602UZBm-niEtMxpGv5XGFx4rJ5gkvaqQflKKdX0aSf_qR1_3NBaSImd2H--BrGr1U-8E_eWP9tIjfkl535w/s2259/Scan_20230729%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2259" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV2W2ft4mrK5AwfbrxhW6zA2r_l7tKmwFhugqsh4KB4Sh8H40Ugcz25QpphYwt0K2It5BxbZNMCq0vO78RBh7e3faexJh2uEy_QywHlyo602UZBm-niEtMxpGv5XGFx4rJ5gkvaqQflKKdX0aSf_qR1_3NBaSImd2H--BrGr1U-8E_eWP9tIjfkl535w/w293-h400/Scan_20230729%20(3).jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>At first glance, a lone 3200-count dime box I saw tucked into the corner of a dealer's table about halfway through the show didn't look like much of anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>A short while later, I'd pulled over <i>400</i> cards from that same dime box - all inserts from the last five years or so that wreaked absolute havoc on my want lists. Even the dealer seemed a bit confused about how I'd managed to find <i>that </i>many cards from a single, solitary box.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the kind of stuff you probably won't see anywhere but The National.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnAl7IaYDSZmeoR2aXduHJeQXMWqSLcLCsJkW_bkS9IrzYYJJQRiNhqBbBhWoezo9z16gqxKOBXtGl8arE7OjPfQTe6_3UK6HnBUKIY3QEnGJNfH6lntiDEKWoZs_WFKNJ0xwHNP7wudYnAsYBBwGD64DsegnrKJTMlZMIX64e283d0BcLsXE6M_HMQ0/s1454/Scan_20230729%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1042" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnAl7IaYDSZmeoR2aXduHJeQXMWqSLcLCsJkW_bkS9IrzYYJJQRiNhqBbBhWoezo9z16gqxKOBXtGl8arE7OjPfQTe6_3UK6HnBUKIY3QEnGJNfH6lntiDEKWoZs_WFKNJ0xwHNP7wudYnAsYBBwGD64DsegnrKJTMlZMIX64e283d0BcLsXE6M_HMQ0/w286-h400/Scan_20230729%20(5).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The National may be other-worldly at times, but in the end it's just another card show, and I'm still looking for the same mini- and player-collection hits there.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MKCHV8bL6T7mvLgGxWTANU2vNoo7CFMwco3eGJhSlzkS_biAK-6fQMhfa6_xk0JaQg2tbFbOIDm3nlifC0L8h8rysjxKXcBJ1YbgRjwixfewmYUg6NwqhSmj_YU-NkOAz2cFAwmthddujpptF9GQRIxRYZUIBbXSEICqOz4jOTHvsOy09fSy-qsSUDk/s1473/Scan_20230729%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MKCHV8bL6T7mvLgGxWTANU2vNoo7CFMwco3eGJhSlzkS_biAK-6fQMhfa6_xk0JaQg2tbFbOIDm3nlifC0L8h8rysjxKXcBJ1YbgRjwixfewmYUg6NwqhSmj_YU-NkOAz2cFAwmthddujpptF9GQRIxRYZUIBbXSEICqOz4jOTHvsOy09fSy-qsSUDk/w285-h400/Scan_20230729%20(6).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In case you thought The National didn't have any Dime Box Shiny.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Also love that I found a card from a past National in a 2023 National dime box with that Happ.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNC_fnXFaquEbdkKbP4ok60p-h9PSDCxBI7DmavHlgXAzW7_Ag77hTtLc_xlk06j4cFVNI3MD3AK-v88Ead56T_vcOyOyJmy2DiUhn97Ghr1Vlzfk6mpEmSt2iEgqrW_CWXVJWt0uGLtZf9TGI_AerAT1c7mAsMeINMdRVwXnK2OxbMebYUIY_g9_C0Y/s1445/Scan_20230729%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="1027" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNC_fnXFaquEbdkKbP4ok60p-h9PSDCxBI7DmavHlgXAzW7_Ag77hTtLc_xlk06j4cFVNI3MD3AK-v88Ead56T_vcOyOyJmy2DiUhn97Ghr1Vlzfk6mpEmSt2iEgqrW_CWXVJWt0uGLtZf9TGI_AerAT1c7mAsMeINMdRVwXnK2OxbMebYUIY_g9_C0Y/w284-h400/Scan_20230729%20(7).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As always, I revel in cheapie oddballs like Negro League stars and Bill Mazerowskis (sic). </div><div><br /></div><div>The Gibson was a rare Topps Tiffany dime box appearance - also, dunno if Tiffany is making a comeback, but I saw a lot of it behind glass cases at The National (I'll take the ten-cent ones, thank you).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlncVHl02QYn8nYtrjiXjXSfAS_yiV0Lyzz--6bcjFrR8wxnPc-wesV1yq1AmkV8yNwzB_JTdYjSutI6IfUwKeplgUdqqLXrhibgHIZwEVumUbDQ_BM1T863F-4utiyjgL6RTSyifFvuqr6LxU2qSe5spTIoaPQS9goy27bEmY3FBqC_QchHnVI22zeE/s1439/Scan_20230729%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1021" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlncVHl02QYn8nYtrjiXjXSfAS_yiV0Lyzz--6bcjFrR8wxnPc-wesV1yq1AmkV8yNwzB_JTdYjSutI6IfUwKeplgUdqqLXrhibgHIZwEVumUbDQ_BM1T863F-4utiyjgL6RTSyifFvuqr6LxU2qSe5spTIoaPQS9goy27bEmY3FBqC_QchHnVI22zeE/w284-h400/Scan_20230729%20(8).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Found a near-complete set of that Futures Game oddball set in a dime box, which was given out to attendees of the 2003 Futures Game in Chicago (talk about something I'll never see again). </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll always take BBM cards for a dime, and the Bryant and Griffey appear to be ads of some sort - my dad still thinks I'm crazy for considering ad cards to be tried-and-true binder-worthy cardboard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-c-5z0KMkKI1NNYeWyQ_LBfWHL4iDZEOulkBkIK_Hjo87GC6LtGOlIBZOGqm0jAgx5x7rgM-OyYhQBD9maAnv1YsjGLcBvP5jiNYkBQBXBFinUJvY9CIH7uoD4s7vDg6U0GNA0byLzzvlFa3pNMQgdUPTJEBwflOTW4I9mGCh_62-Kgn1PlhMzw4zdc/s952/Scan_20230729%20(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="952" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-c-5z0KMkKI1NNYeWyQ_LBfWHL4iDZEOulkBkIK_Hjo87GC6LtGOlIBZOGqm0jAgx5x7rgM-OyYhQBD9maAnv1YsjGLcBvP5jiNYkBQBXBFinUJvY9CIH7uoD4s7vDg6U0GNA0byLzzvlFa3pNMQgdUPTJEBwflOTW4I9mGCh_62-Kgn1PlhMzw4zdc/w400-h285/Scan_20230729%20(9).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But that's nothing compared to the look he gave me after I told him <i>clothing tags </i>were baseball cards!</div><div><br /></div><div>I paid 50 cents each for these, and please tell me I'm not crazy for doing that.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWhJSFu6LzWdt4jO9ueqELeRfFGbOYW3UOEdZHHFMGU5Kmvhtl5urkqqa-3KYFW-lqXtXEb5LzXIB_Zhub2Jlb9KYw1ZZTdxrNR3Wn-gq1R83JF7c4GsR5dTBF1WKcEd0hKe6d0-UpTyc4ZwjArXEhCbPiC3oz1jH6lFh4GuqyiypCfl17vcSDbfmUoc/s1428/Scan_20230729%20(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWhJSFu6LzWdt4jO9ueqELeRfFGbOYW3UOEdZHHFMGU5Kmvhtl5urkqqa-3KYFW-lqXtXEb5LzXIB_Zhub2Jlb9KYw1ZZTdxrNR3Wn-gq1R83JF7c4GsR5dTBF1WKcEd0hKe6d0-UpTyc4ZwjArXEhCbPiC3oz1jH6lFh4GuqyiypCfl17vcSDbfmUoc/w286-h400/Scan_20230729%20(10).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dime boxes are cool (Denny McLain!), funny (sour-mouth ump!), and sometimes educational (what the hell is <i>Topps Chrome Black?</i>).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDz8TBlLxQiD5vCTqIDAUGSzf9lzAqTrbd9x5BtLN1mIIKpVPRJ_H0nTSz_aVKameyZZqPrJ1xmI2-2OY2Mmuo_FK2Ye8u5IUvlLX3LhQQkwXa31Kp-hnyLtp8oTGBvdqHSqE8idgRQl7sAhO-Q77ZMBmPmJIBjcRWX7HN5p9SVf2jEjzPcfqMVo1r7Y/s1443/Scan_20230729%20(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1036" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDz8TBlLxQiD5vCTqIDAUGSzf9lzAqTrbd9x5BtLN1mIIKpVPRJ_H0nTSz_aVKameyZZqPrJ1xmI2-2OY2Mmuo_FK2Ye8u5IUvlLX3LhQQkwXa31Kp-hnyLtp8oTGBvdqHSqE8idgRQl7sAhO-Q77ZMBmPmJIBjcRWX7HN5p9SVf2jEjzPcfqMVo1r7Y/w288-h400/Scan_20230729%20(11).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I rarely have trouble finding good dime boxes around here, but there's a noticeable uptick to the quality of ones at The National - can't say I've found many numbered Vlads or Topps Now cards for a dime.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also absolutely staggered I found a new Phillies Ryno for ten cents, and that Ichiro was actually given away at some kind of Topps VIP party and goes for a healthy amount of change if I chose to sell it (not that I ever would, of course).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMDDg3VkCgU6Z5198HfVoEGyA-yzfzZ5dj0uarFWeFPWCLAfhM_MwdFpWbGew2L_lWPd6psxdCxJv8T1ftpL0NbEjDCcReM-yoLKaz6c-3un9UJf9QhXSVSifAQWidLbr6VnzIm_d4GC3VqZawEitb0kDBXiPOm8Pv-7aVkQUOBgnMYzlTUDThEud4To/s1427/Scan_20230729%20(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1427" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMDDg3VkCgU6Z5198HfVoEGyA-yzfzZ5dj0uarFWeFPWCLAfhM_MwdFpWbGew2L_lWPd6psxdCxJv8T1ftpL0NbEjDCcReM-yoLKaz6c-3un9UJf9QhXSVSifAQWidLbr6VnzIm_d4GC3VqZawEitb0kDBXiPOm8Pv-7aVkQUOBgnMYzlTUDThEud4To/w400-h285/Scan_20230729%20(12).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Horizontal heroes here (yes, phone cards are baseball cards, too!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYHzGIuReYsZ4tzOEIGMj5epbCDvmE-baJ0Vy75qefMRlouGqJdVVgeFRDspWBco8k2CYdPTnvf5Fhpjq-QAbj0wQV6f0FmOUIKO2XHE4ta5DrD7CHQZOo81NLHrHEmHZBevEaiY55EDWrozRK2JHQVe9pixB9e-jyhmFWPHvEUW7HOhL_u9tcbd3Vxg/s1477/Scan_20230729%20(13).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1055" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYHzGIuReYsZ4tzOEIGMj5epbCDvmE-baJ0Vy75qefMRlouGqJdVVgeFRDspWBco8k2CYdPTnvf5Fhpjq-QAbj0wQV6f0FmOUIKO2XHE4ta5DrD7CHQZOo81NLHrHEmHZBevEaiY55EDWrozRK2JHQVe9pixB9e-jyhmFWPHvEUW7HOhL_u9tcbd3Vxg/w286-h400/Scan_20230729%20(13).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Money and time restraints forced me to repeatedly do something I really, <i>really </i>hate doing at card shows - leave dime boxes unturned.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple dealers literally had dozens and dozens of dime boxes at their table, assortments that I easily could've spent the entire day going through without a second thought. In the end I had to make due with digging through a small fraction of their inventory, or completely skipping some dime box tables all together if the initial couple handfuls I pulled out didn't excite me. </div><div><br /></div><div>Pains me to do it, but after all was said and done I wanted to say I saw The National - not one-eighth of the National.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZRIJRPJza0tDi6s0vm0jZb90Jcr2OdwtlN3sdmiU97XDC8f5FkIkx13WZP8PpP1n4MlDSA1iiWVWw85GeGC8s4rAFjgW4uCJjKk7vYz6j_CobPB51UCZ63PhsMgF5ttnzsqGoPBgMHPdvQj5z1y-cmoG0i3SIB0Dcn5XaCdheqaXO5VvZ2VEyCWTHGg/s721/Scan_20230729%20(14).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="508" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZRIJRPJza0tDi6s0vm0jZb90Jcr2OdwtlN3sdmiU97XDC8f5FkIkx13WZP8PpP1n4MlDSA1iiWVWw85GeGC8s4rAFjgW4uCJjKk7vYz6j_CobPB51UCZ63PhsMgF5ttnzsqGoPBgMHPdvQj5z1y-cmoG0i3SIB0Dcn5XaCdheqaXO5VvZ2VEyCWTHGg/w281-h400/Scan_20230729%20(14).jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9f6o8I52vW_psXf6dYwJFV84MiThIkEvjF-mIjbObPYSSq7qRUWBQxuQGOljoxF3JoywrednO9jjUZiAKc6ef0Voexzntv-ksBJ4ut7frH8tPpY6jLtedact1VlSVmKM_yRg9jhmiRvhlLWiFS63c2XHHDpuYC1LUbnHV1n-_K9pWSzs7VK0aK9TckGo/s707/Scan_20230729%20(15).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="707" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9f6o8I52vW_psXf6dYwJFV84MiThIkEvjF-mIjbObPYSSq7qRUWBQxuQGOljoxF3JoywrednO9jjUZiAKc6ef0Voexzntv-ksBJ4ut7frH8tPpY6jLtedact1VlSVmKM_yRg9jhmiRvhlLWiFS63c2XHHDpuYC1LUbnHV1n-_K9pWSzs7VK0aK9TckGo/w400-h284/Scan_20230729%20(15).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Similarly, I have to cut the dime box real estate in this post short because I haven't even gotten to the vintage yet!</div><div><br /></div><div>In my last post, I made a little noise about wanting to add more Topps Venezuelans to my binders. I asked a couple vendors if they had any for sale - none did, but one near the end of the day told me a guy at the next table had just bought an entire collection of them. I asked this adjacent vendor if he'd be willing to sell any of his newly-acquired prizes even though he hadn't priced any of them yet (admissible in this case, since it sounded like he'd literally just bought them minutes before).</div><div><br /></div><div>He graciously let me rifle though the box he'd bought, and I asked how much he'd want for this '64 Zimmer - he said $20, I countered at $15, he said sure and just like that, there it was...<i>a new Venezuelan!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAsw0ZCMeSLp3x2QYfzJVGTUl3DHkdxa_V7bZALjnePRSWZ1Lij9A0UfxQrxcZBYHXaUPhrmxgA9yC5OnCaBZjM3GzLuUPxR72UdtN7f55aog0qqLyMBTHic3eQgvTk7s-eFGKbo6pq2VFx-DVlh87GqQIWzfEZFlowLAUvq_MKdCnx5H_NajOrChhfU/s1419/Scan_20230729%20(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1008" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAsw0ZCMeSLp3x2QYfzJVGTUl3DHkdxa_V7bZALjnePRSWZ1Lij9A0UfxQrxcZBYHXaUPhrmxgA9yC5OnCaBZjM3GzLuUPxR72UdtN7f55aog0qqLyMBTHic3eQgvTk7s-eFGKbo6pq2VFx-DVlh87GqQIWzfEZFlowLAUvq_MKdCnx5H_NajOrChhfU/w284-h400/Scan_20230729%20(16).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Modern or vintage doesn't really matter - I just want <i>oddballs!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I believe the Staub is my first '66 OPC, and I know the Podres is my first card from the obscure '61 Bell Brand Dodgers set. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAsgEt31EsNDc4we8hemJrMcYqi8kaokHiOUdhhUDAa5bgrqQn8TbhwQsWPB0IFVtvNDmUzVXxyVrb0R66m3OqyOKdpvh8_-W92lLad94_wDHpGhBhz0wmQ9qkFvt4t9PhYGp9JBC3KccA8RnkMYJYbl8rwrAeTy8xOcUhobo0XRbCzPhidSAynONgcg/s1733/Scan_20230729%20(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1733" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfAsgEt31EsNDc4we8hemJrMcYqi8kaokHiOUdhhUDAa5bgrqQn8TbhwQsWPB0IFVtvNDmUzVXxyVrb0R66m3OqyOKdpvh8_-W92lLad94_wDHpGhBhz0wmQ9qkFvt4t9PhYGp9JBC3KccA8RnkMYJYbl8rwrAeTy8xOcUhobo0XRbCzPhidSAynONgcg/w400-h299/Scan_20230729%20(17).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Tiny vintage rules!</div><div><br /></div><div>The Carty and McCovey were a mere two bucks each, which is noticeably less than I've ever seen Bazooka cards before. The Aparicio is another OPC (note the less-deckled edges), and I have no idea what the Torre is (anyone?), but I figured it was worth throwing a couple bucks at.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also I don't usually get excited over those late '60s/early '70s stamps, but when you put names like Bill Buckner and Dock Ellis out there for loose change, of course I want them!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTtiGS5bYjxaDaHVqzisfgn8pWOs9cHFyN_kW4gfF36O86sLYcbYbVmAVZPx_0-7uj6FZd2DajligizmINOxtoa3Qwxgri6ybMjWYTnOcoNh5lqZggxPv7WD2Uzde07cOJIyJMfYK7FdpAlOva-hHybAB6uiGOMnB-Rck8OrQIgLNjkX6bzqkf-dq9Co/s1380/Scan_20230729%20(18).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="916" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTtiGS5bYjxaDaHVqzisfgn8pWOs9cHFyN_kW4gfF36O86sLYcbYbVmAVZPx_0-7uj6FZd2DajligizmINOxtoa3Qwxgri6ybMjWYTnOcoNh5lqZggxPv7WD2Uzde07cOJIyJMfYK7FdpAlOva-hHybAB6uiGOMnB-Rck8OrQIgLNjkX6bzqkf-dq9Co/w265-h400/Scan_20230729%20(18).jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kellogg's seem to be going up in price ever so slightly at shows lately, but that didn't stop me from getting deals on these biggies (still can't believe that Mays was only $6). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9mU0h3HkASjFk9BGPrUBY97yaKlTC1UMiNPglDvgvPVGzX2PH9BHdQx528L19qmxR3FvkeSJz9XJ3IlIYluoq6Az28kZHYYC98GhYaTY5sq_UtRlTBp0ar1xgNw8m1vtGzT98lL5KLkOqfOnLxukPRO887GMlJJJN5INIXASp8s55fWn_CQsIF_cbQg/s1513/Scan_20230729%20(19).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1513" data-original-width="1033" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9mU0h3HkASjFk9BGPrUBY97yaKlTC1UMiNPglDvgvPVGzX2PH9BHdQx528L19qmxR3FvkeSJz9XJ3IlIYluoq6Az28kZHYYC98GhYaTY5sq_UtRlTBp0ar1xgNw8m1vtGzT98lL5KLkOqfOnLxukPRO887GMlJJJN5INIXASp8s55fWn_CQsIF_cbQg/w273-h400/Scan_20230729%20(19).jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the first vendors I saw was a guy who had what looked like an otherwise lackluster $2 box - at least until I noticed a few taller stacks poking from the back of one of the rows and found a whole stack of '53 Bowman Color(!!!).</div><div><br /></div><div>That box alone very nearly doubled my Bowman Color collection in one fell swoop (including my first real vintage Joe Garagiola!), and there were even a couple other goodies hidden in there - including a mysterious Lou Gehrig playing card and a new get for my <i>Am I Really Doing This? </i>quest to have all the '74 "Washington" variations. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUFYAApd6m4vV4KqlCGr_mx7GYf0RjogJspsUpCnB4JEEqF79iRNkAM5zhLI7PWkKTZ58fx7pBdnQ2KiV9epFuSRLQVNnaeNp4rObJ5Z7PTXoQ2ImzT2WZiwuAVtNnne2QxgvTwWJLcYDRKfr7ehLFhiEWiRaBWIBymZPUURgLxudXLUBKyJGN5UmT7g/s1493/Scan_20230729%20(20).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1493" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUFYAApd6m4vV4KqlCGr_mx7GYf0RjogJspsUpCnB4JEEqF79iRNkAM5zhLI7PWkKTZ58fx7pBdnQ2KiV9epFuSRLQVNnaeNp4rObJ5Z7PTXoQ2ImzT2WZiwuAVtNnne2QxgvTwWJLcYDRKfr7ehLFhiEWiRaBWIBymZPUURgLxudXLUBKyJGN5UmT7g/w400-h290/Scan_20230729%20(20).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Maris and Friend (my first '52 Topps St. Louis Brown!) came from that same $2 box, and the other two were cards I also coincidentally found for $2 at various tables later on.</div><div><br /></div><div>I never thought I'd have one of those black-and-white Laughlins, and if I did, I thought it'd cost me a hell of a lot more than two bucks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AeTguwMTwBhyVdBNfHXJclpexf34fH0XXLAeCrGeV-2iJ8jDwHVfSWTwueUAhIyH1Tm1qGmZMIWMeTTheuYv6zrbazyAVIFCq9HQK-0u-vI6qoMISgtrLBkP-kv7kK0JM80x5YT-4XXxmLzkHt7CRsualQnMgNyrUSivYAbNINpVgu_ZiNft-d5a5QY/s1398/Scan_20230729%20(21).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="991" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AeTguwMTwBhyVdBNfHXJclpexf34fH0XXLAeCrGeV-2iJ8jDwHVfSWTwueUAhIyH1Tm1qGmZMIWMeTTheuYv6zrbazyAVIFCq9HQK-0u-vI6qoMISgtrLBkP-kv7kK0JM80x5YT-4XXxmLzkHt7CRsualQnMgNyrUSivYAbNINpVgu_ZiNft-d5a5QY/w284-h400/Scan_20230729%20(21).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There's certainly a lot of drool-worthy vintage at The National, but I've never really understood the allure of going to card show to look at things.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't want to stare at cards in cases with my hands in my pockets. I wanna see the ones I can <i>buy! </i>It's true that you have to dig a little harder to find affordable vintage at The National, but it's there. Admittedly, I doubt many other people could stomach the, er, <i>off-condition</i> of that '59 Brooks Robinson, but when I saw it in the aforementioned $2 box I almost jumped in the air.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nabbed the Skowron & Elston Howard for a couple bucks each, and the Snider was a bit pricier (around $15, I think) but worth every penny since that's a tough high-number.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KnAnUpdZjFg0j8nZjd-XwamEDj3PBGL1Yoe99JtJSoltUt1pFyk-Ja-dKwTGM5fKOyadh3f2AujZBsRBZGo8MvbnmULkg1Ujbw2pFFrlxTQYlYiihtDEw8zaLuDoA6Uw0JqNiKbyJX8AJszeGUh8h22VtZxnEnTwoViAOf3E6jn4DejJqso2mv7pt_s/s1076/Scan_20230729%20(22).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="771" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KnAnUpdZjFg0j8nZjd-XwamEDj3PBGL1Yoe99JtJSoltUt1pFyk-Ja-dKwTGM5fKOyadh3f2AujZBsRBZGo8MvbnmULkg1Ujbw2pFFrlxTQYlYiihtDEw8zaLuDoA6Uw0JqNiKbyJX8AJszeGUh8h22VtZxnEnTwoViAOf3E6jn4DejJqso2mv7pt_s/w286-h400/Scan_20230729%20(22).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I spent more money at this year's National than I ever have at a show - while we're confessing such things I'll also admit that I actually ran out of cash at one point and had to run to an ATM (also a first).</div><div><br /></div><div>But when you throw this stellar double play combo at me for less than the cost of a blaster, what choice do I have?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEQ4Q1QVhj0lbTjKstXsSA1o5C6l4EXPohS0d0XVd9JBX0thnowU9PnxCHoKPXywft67eknvICju2d55uF8Szwi-Q2mNe9MHDXazBRBxTcUmjk5CNbcZag38R-4OsKoNoz9mwRGw8OpUlJhfa1Cua0rCaR0HmfPNc7Mc_TaG71J6posy6d_iA8ezMFZI/s1479/Scan_20230729%20(23).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEQ4Q1QVhj0lbTjKstXsSA1o5C6l4EXPohS0d0XVd9JBX0thnowU9PnxCHoKPXywft67eknvICju2d55uF8Szwi-Q2mNe9MHDXazBRBxTcUmjk5CNbcZag38R-4OsKoNoz9mwRGw8OpUlJhfa1Cua0rCaR0HmfPNc7Mc_TaG71J6posy6d_iA8ezMFZI/w284-h400/Scan_20230729%20(23).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of my goals of the day was to find a '53 Topps card of Dime Boxedonia favorite Bobo Newsom - but I knew it was bad news when a vendor pulled out a Beckett to price the first one I saw (why are we still doing this, people?!).</div><div><br /></div><div>I respectfully passed when he quoted me $25 - but the good thing about The National is that if you don't get a card at one table, you're bound to see it at another. Lo and behold, I saw Bobo again later in the day with a much saner $4 price tag. (Up yours, Beckett.)</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, don't adjust your monitor, the '63 Killebrew is a bit blurry - some spotty color separation is the reason I was able to get that scary SP/high-number combo for $20.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cCBLYwJks-kEMo5LDK2XKC7iBN0gwQQ3YkRhoI0Df7kS9xxmH_Jw6VuiqmSpe4rEH2BM_k5BQhrprULJukKR_5r2cZ3qj3p62tlukDh03C9NGfkC7gGLqaOqHK4XLxwOJKNYlAvA6V2TcCRHLvfK5xxMJ78QmWpVWuVmocusPttqAmv1jVt77uTXncE/s946/Scan_20230729%20(24).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="946" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cCBLYwJks-kEMo5LDK2XKC7iBN0gwQQ3YkRhoI0Df7kS9xxmH_Jw6VuiqmSpe4rEH2BM_k5BQhrprULJukKR_5r2cZ3qj3p62tlukDh03C9NGfkC7gGLqaOqHK4XLxwOJKNYlAvA6V2TcCRHLvfK5xxMJ78QmWpVWuVmocusPttqAmv1jVt77uTXncE/w400-h274/Scan_20230729%20(24).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I bought a Play Ball Red Ruffing for $15 because I knew there was a very small chance I'd see a Play Ball Red Ruffing for $15 ever again.</div><div><br /></div><div>And while I don't usually go too crazy about early '50s Bowman, I forked over $7 for the Kluszewski because there's something inherently funny about seeing Big Klu on such a tiny card.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ5aFuQFHj_a-8sjWSw8IM6uCKUeceVamB2vGUYVO9W9HIA7XkgCuOSyHSFtnbBOGnk4RFG_6OQWz9GtXASY4BASgZFobKb6vx9BOLKQwDS8_lvpMoPGoaUd5qFM4uBamj8kl1ZUMO9NBV5mgsNAr1HNT9HIULuW4M4IXp3QRF2xAHYj7C7eT6RGkpEA/s1024/Scan_20230729%20(25).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1024" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ5aFuQFHj_a-8sjWSw8IM6uCKUeceVamB2vGUYVO9W9HIA7XkgCuOSyHSFtnbBOGnk4RFG_6OQWz9GtXASY4BASgZFobKb6vx9BOLKQwDS8_lvpMoPGoaUd5qFM4uBamj8kl1ZUMO9NBV5mgsNAr1HNT9HIULuW4M4IXp3QRF2xAHYj7C7eT6RGkpEA/w400-h281/Scan_20230729%20(25).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For many, The National is about flexing your muscles and showing your "grails" or things of that ilk.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, I didn't really buy anything "big," at least not money-wise. At $25, that '64 Mays ended up being my most expensive purchase of the day. Clocking in just under that was the '70 Topps Willie I bought for $20 (yet another scary high-number, to continue that theme). </div><div><br /></div><div>Hey, give me your cheap beater vintage stars over exorbitant grail cards any day of the week.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXyIvl3CpflG6IS5Yb9YnDSWIYwfk8ta_mcKD6z0SZbFJ3DN20n1v1Pl5lSpKmlXDeS0t4cCOKDMS9js7nmoQ37ztj7b-qTauX3Oo4FYBYLkYzvP2yCTrucbFFn_UYMZUqeh6e63xCZsYnXxP8FkeALFgnm1XOih6A0JP7A8YX_XQT1ETT6V0Ygu6XIc/s701/Scan_20230729%20(26).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXyIvl3CpflG6IS5Yb9YnDSWIYwfk8ta_mcKD6z0SZbFJ3DN20n1v1Pl5lSpKmlXDeS0t4cCOKDMS9js7nmoQ37ztj7b-qTauX3Oo4FYBYLkYzvP2yCTrucbFFn_UYMZUqeh6e63xCZsYnXxP8FkeALFgnm1XOih6A0JP7A8YX_XQT1ETT6V0Ygu6XIc/w286-h400/Scan_20230729%20(26).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /></div><div>One of my pipe dreams had to remain exactly that - I was crossing my fingers in hopes of finding a somewhat affordable '64 Topps Pete Rose, but the cheapest one I saw was $150 (frown). </div><div><br /></div><div>The other card on my list was one that I thought would be easier to find than it actually was: a '62 Brooks Robinson. I asked about it at a few vintage-heavy tables throughout the day, only to be turned away empty-handed. Finally I spotted one at a table later in the afternoon for $20, fished the bill from my pocket, and there it was - The National wins!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, that's about it. Kind of a long post (thanks to those of you who've read this far!) but believe me when I say it's only a fraction of the overall sensory overload you're sure to find at The National. It can get crazy at times, and might give introverts like myself a slight headache...and it's something I wholeheartedly believe every collector should do once, if possible. It's revelatory.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can throw all kinds of words and phrases at you, but in the end I'll just say there's nothing quite like The National - just ask the Kool-Aid Man.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-77021681445785851872023-07-21T17:49:00.002-05:002023-07-21T17:49:30.099-05:00Viva Venezuela!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtubuWlWvrmkRtfMMEAt0CL5-Asq6SH5t9UDGiHke7NEo_N-2U8jNRgZS9jeHogFla573Test5N58p6KVvRAeo641h4i2iyngQcBDi-VWyfv8QNEfxEzS3DUoc6q360JE6_KBUlFBQ0vZ5jkKjR455NI_ucPvftWh4z_VMmiMZ0JOIoleTDyx1Csj4Byg/s717/Scan_20230721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="507" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtubuWlWvrmkRtfMMEAt0CL5-Asq6SH5t9UDGiHke7NEo_N-2U8jNRgZS9jeHogFla573Test5N58p6KVvRAeo641h4i2iyngQcBDi-VWyfv8QNEfxEzS3DUoc6q360JE6_KBUlFBQ0vZ5jkKjR455NI_ucPvftWh4z_VMmiMZ0JOIoleTDyx1Csj4Byg/w283-h400/Scan_20230721.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As collectors, I think we all have certain corners of the hobby that, for whatever reason, we've overlooked.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know that I've ever had a specific vision for this blog, but I suppose one thing I've tried to to is throw a floodlight on those hidden corners. But I'm happy to admit I have blind spots of my own. A lot of them. Case in point: I've been seeing a whole lot of Venezuelan card talk on Twitter lately, and <a href="https://njwv.wordpress.com/2023/07/17/high-numbers-etc/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">a post from fellow blogger Nick</span></a> really pushed me over the edge in asking myself <i>Why don't I have more of these?!?!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know that I've specifically chosen to ignore Venezuelan cards - I think a long time ago I told myself <i>Oh, those are too expensive </i>and just kinda banished them to the long list of things I can't afford. But Nick's post got me looking again, and while I didn't see any Topps Venezuelans that jumped out at me on eBay, they're nowhere near as pricey as I long thought they were.</div><div><br /></div><div>By accident, however, I did manage to secure a couple adjacent Venezuelan stickers in my long-overdue travels - including this excellent Jose Cardenal which is the best card I've bought in a while.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0y92u21XrBc1-0yiIxey8CqYti8D6Tdq_n87ip1vkPdYawhtY8ygu41j51ddq01DvDR3bYIPg7_Q7-h-fNYBtITAZtUtMrcRtC8vBCdiTBGwyngU2NME9OYeIgNPj0btg899Em0ysx4rD-oD1UZOkp94F5yyIF2QdyQIfYCYVcyNqEXoRQSHxnjkh18/s729/Scan_20230721%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="515" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0y92u21XrBc1-0yiIxey8CqYti8D6Tdq_n87ip1vkPdYawhtY8ygu41j51ddq01DvDR3bYIPg7_Q7-h-fNYBtITAZtUtMrcRtC8vBCdiTBGwyngU2NME9OYeIgNPj0btg899Em0ysx4rD-oD1UZOkp94F5yyIF2QdyQIfYCYVcyNqEXoRQSHxnjkh18/w283-h400/Scan_20230721%20(2).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also grabbed this Davey Lopes sticker from the same 1972-73 Venezuelan set, which is doubly interesting because it predates his Topps rookie card.</div><div><br /></div><div>I paid a shade under four bucks each for the pair - so maybe my younger self was right in thinking Venezuelans aren't cheap enough to buy in bulk, but they're definitely good for a special treat every now and then.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzsgsB5bp2qJrnMUl83S0OYz_nIZOR_l41LzuUdGjCPzN6BfADtDH_FOQEOJ6hkZxxzQCX8H_m54kJ7oSuMtcisppSQ3FvmDZFKopKIiy-Uq2NO-MXtx_nadU7_eGfi26jDP0vmQCO6kf9bLAgBBUOk03pMFzdEOLqhcI0A74EJIseIKzDGQepDcWcHY/s956/Scan_20230721%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="956" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzsgsB5bp2qJrnMUl83S0OYz_nIZOR_l41LzuUdGjCPzN6BfADtDH_FOQEOJ6hkZxxzQCX8H_m54kJ7oSuMtcisppSQ3FvmDZFKopKIiy-Uq2NO-MXtx_nadU7_eGfi26jDP0vmQCO6kf9bLAgBBUOk03pMFzdEOLqhcI0A74EJIseIKzDGQepDcWcHY/w400-h266/Scan_20230721%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Given those recent pickups, I figured was as good a time as ever to cobble my meager Venezuelan collection into a post.</div><div><br /></div><div>I somehow don't think I've ever shown the Fidrych on the blog before - it's probably the toughest part of my quest to own every darn version of that card (think I'm only missing the OPC at this point). I'll admit I didn't even know Venezuelans kept going into the '70s until I bought that one - nor did I know they stretch all the way back to the late '50s! (as I learned from Nick's post) - but it's a treasure to have in my binders.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Concepcion was my first Venezuelan card - found it for 50 cents at a show years ago - and I remember not knowing what the hell it was at the time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdF9KcJTEWMHi9ks_kEW0STVnBb9z7vtxodGgFjvzOQwmmJnBNz2QIgrW_AQvy1q-BsqOjJ98_AuvR_NgRVopMZsI4Q3NiksHqBRkqjj5EeyGFkkkQqWGEQfk_Crv7Lp6PqTWWxRJlwYXCiWyWwBlbFXgS-_IdFHQZ-mPUJw8wZRU0HapchjQNAdbajZQ/s976/Scan_20230721%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="976" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdF9KcJTEWMHi9ks_kEW0STVnBb9z7vtxodGgFjvzOQwmmJnBNz2QIgrW_AQvy1q-BsqOjJ98_AuvR_NgRVopMZsI4Q3NiksHqBRkqjj5EeyGFkkkQqWGEQfk_Crv7Lp6PqTWWxRJlwYXCiWyWwBlbFXgS-_IdFHQZ-mPUJw8wZRU0HapchjQNAdbajZQ/w400-h288/Scan_20230721%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Part of the allure of Venezuelans is that I don't know how any of them survived in the first place - I remember reading once that they were issued with glue to be pasted into an album.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not surprisingly, they're hard to find in good shape, and thanks to some subpar condition (to say the least) I got these from a card show bargain box for a buck a piece.</div><div><br /></div><div>And yes, that '67 Staub was physically torn in half and repaired at some point...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eHcF6bt6sWQXfWCZclcKkLYY1cICUvSNhMNNT6MWnaDVh24VIuXwk0dQezJvjlN_Z-UWOzD--k-KuiYFZu9fQinMyokI1tWTiMu35Yh96PVUFr6Gv62WEutTbW3CUsBQTC5s06v--NOLUx59eNN31OXQnVYnQLHvEuWrbuyTd87PNrrQxkaKl6YDVE8/s689/Scan_20230721%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="689" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eHcF6bt6sWQXfWCZclcKkLYY1cICUvSNhMNNT6MWnaDVh24VIuXwk0dQezJvjlN_Z-UWOzD--k-KuiYFZu9fQinMyokI1tWTiMu35Yh96PVUFr6Gv62WEutTbW3CUsBQTC5s06v--NOLUx59eNN31OXQnVYnQLHvEuWrbuyTd87PNrrQxkaKl6YDVE8/w400-h286/Scan_20230721%20(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...and somehow the back looks even worse than the front (not that I care a lick!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0ws-rKSsZVwIqQZ_ofp3hswDj935zjAWVX9bNX5yRskRZlg1ycdrK_ebQdeh7R1uzfmnCb54h-p-Iiasfp7ZdL0Fo-QfpjqngMU1yrekVkPyVfzniSIKLyzwJsAXFok7yHh6yY16wAotBExGdTNZXVUn562j1MT8OUIe4rlZ5gFjsAm2PzhUIUKRBb4/s705/Scan_20230721%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0ws-rKSsZVwIqQZ_ofp3hswDj935zjAWVX9bNX5yRskRZlg1ycdrK_ebQdeh7R1uzfmnCb54h-p-Iiasfp7ZdL0Fo-QfpjqngMU1yrekVkPyVfzniSIKLyzwJsAXFok7yHh6yY16wAotBExGdTNZXVUn562j1MT8OUIe4rlZ5gFjsAm2PzhUIUKRBb4/w285-h400/Scan_20230721%20(6).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My oldest Venezuelan is this '62 Jimmy Piersall that I bought on a lark for $10 at a card show a few years ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I grabbed it thinking more along the lines of <i>Well, here's something I'll never see again </i>more than any specific desire to own an older Topps Venezuelan.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQbHBXowEdk5uR9RPe6H3ag6puwumtU_RQwsd5wzKlefSGmRTfC3SLSBhticeSYMf6jaeB7K_kz4psFL7TnOqXVmUi_MnGwd-FhDhsJ_Z6QasPYNNcA_t0I6EjheofqbCCte_PsxPhYdl3o3JjhrZmGqHA3ZD_M2b1XdL3-J8VJ-XJM7N-tCv3PyBn3o/s695/Scan_20230721%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="695" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQbHBXowEdk5uR9RPe6H3ag6puwumtU_RQwsd5wzKlefSGmRTfC3SLSBhticeSYMf6jaeB7K_kz4psFL7TnOqXVmUi_MnGwd-FhDhsJ_Z6QasPYNNcA_t0I6EjheofqbCCte_PsxPhYdl3o3JjhrZmGqHA3ZD_M2b1XdL3-J8VJ-XJM7N-tCv3PyBn3o/w400-h288/Scan_20230721%20(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The front looks like your standard '62 Topps fare, but the back features exclusively Spanish text.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose this discovery came at a good time since I'm heading to The National in less than a week. I don't usually go into card shows with specific goals in mind, but now I'm thinking a few Venezuelans might be in the offing if the prices shake out.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the least I can do to offset a long history of ignoring our cool Venezuelan counterparts.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-79991130017707237832023-07-13T18:35:00.002-05:002023-07-13T18:35:16.246-05:00National bound<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsuOCl81e9pCHpirgyeP4tMbSjy9NPQ9lEsmMKbNPj74H01yR_zuKP__ZDWSN536VCR7x19jIyGpuEqmwF1AcD92kkHHDqvzITi9rLjJdr0WPF4VMgTebZcGD6TtElqX2OPLrItUgIdshyBOq_FIoHB7iOc3Err5NlWuj87Vh-pZTzVoXtplAMVO__mo/s1046/Reader%20Wes%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1046" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsuOCl81e9pCHpirgyeP4tMbSjy9NPQ9lEsmMKbNPj74H01yR_zuKP__ZDWSN536VCR7x19jIyGpuEqmwF1AcD92kkHHDqvzITi9rLjJdr0WPF4VMgTebZcGD6TtElqX2OPLrItUgIdshyBOq_FIoHB7iOc3Err5NlWuj87Vh-pZTzVoXtplAMVO__mo/w400-h286/Reader%20Wes%20001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week, after very little deliberation, I bought my tickets for The National.</div><div><br /></div><div>I live all of ten minutes from where the show happens, which I've always found extraordinary given that people come from all over the country for this thing. Since travel isn't a concern here, the only question that remained was if the money would shake out (small budgets usually die quickly there), and I'm happy to report it has. So I've marked my calendar: I'll be at The National with my dad exactly two weeks from today. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've talked about The National many times on this blog, and I don't mean to sound like a broken record about it - but I've long had mixed feelings about the thing, and I think what a lot of it boils down to is the fact that it just feels so darn <i>impersonal </i>to me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2tX21w06EzlN1pp5tKdQa40ywt2pRH0fNWYp9KGss1WojZHdlWA7HzP856dbNMqU4pYgO0L8pEjtExVkRQrOjOGV9Voo4k85mK4Rpf1KBN-kM8wOc3Jes5TeGtZYmgQXbZUQ18cvjPJ1p30UJMcQ2-Bc1PYpXAT4r3ewKTsqnLQ4JCVO1DoUhraay78/s2145/Reader%20Wes%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2tX21w06EzlN1pp5tKdQa40ywt2pRH0fNWYp9KGss1WojZHdlWA7HzP856dbNMqU4pYgO0L8pEjtExVkRQrOjOGV9Voo4k85mK4Rpf1KBN-kM8wOc3Jes5TeGtZYmgQXbZUQ18cvjPJ1p30UJMcQ2-Bc1PYpXAT4r3ewKTsqnLQ4JCVO1DoUhraay78/w285-h400/Reader%20Wes%20002.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's hard to argue that The National isn't the best show in the world, because it is - imagine a baseball card, and it's probably somewhere in those aisles.</div><div><br /></div><div>But yours truly, a dime box scavenger and generally cheap-o aficionado, really isn't the prime audience there. I'm not a very social person in the first place, and worse yet, The National amplifies (embraces?) all the breaker and bro-culture aspects of the hobby that turn me off even further. I've often felt like the cards are my comrades at The National, and not so much the people. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a shame because I know how good a lot of the people in this hobby can be - including a reader named Wes who's been periodically shoveling large quantities of cards on me for much of this blog's history, the latest instance of which saw a nice amount of legends along for the ride (send me all your Topps Tributes!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpITMvnq8bgO4pBhUUhc4txlbPHCjrY1teGmd83k10jonuyb-7kS0e4Kn7AfdS5bRmRURc5DbO4fMQQTAIn2F4mR5GGkTqXVyhlFMAIBP2myvIspSFZi_rhpXVyOzOBlMQ_810xJ7QGSETFks1QeM1DnKKL2sM6vqtkFNKYeOZTD6j_Zve_-5lVn1uqJw/s2141/Reader%20Wes%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2141" data-original-width="1524" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpITMvnq8bgO4pBhUUhc4txlbPHCjrY1teGmd83k10jonuyb-7kS0e4Kn7AfdS5bRmRURc5DbO4fMQQTAIn2F4mR5GGkTqXVyhlFMAIBP2myvIspSFZi_rhpXVyOzOBlMQ_810xJ7QGSETFks1QeM1DnKKL2sM6vqtkFNKYeOZTD6j_Zve_-5lVn1uqJw/w285-h400/Reader%20Wes%20003.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's still crazy knowing that people like Wes are specifically looking out for my crazy mini-collections - that's not the type of brotherhood you're likely to find at The National.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Dig the exceedingly rare Reliever at the Plate with that Rick White!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmkvlqimrVniBog811tj8m1KlztMomAyA-lrQl1UHPG8iXJvnJv9tN6FxHLrwz3PtUf80o0Zy6ffnJtumJ5fvoH7_6xaVTGpi5HvjZQXlw8D6_QH4chEaWnBj4J8adBvyPd6RtGVN2E022CU6MXYnxWCHwuFPOhyVqLWYgdzlBcVJMq7ZjZPimKU0s14/s911/Reader%20Wes%20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmkvlqimrVniBog811tj8m1KlztMomAyA-lrQl1UHPG8iXJvnJv9tN6FxHLrwz3PtUf80o0Zy6ffnJtumJ5fvoH7_6xaVTGpi5HvjZQXlw8D6_QH4chEaWnBj4J8adBvyPd6RtGVN2E022CU6MXYnxWCHwuFPOhyVqLWYgdzlBcVJMq7ZjZPimKU0s14/s320/Reader%20Wes%20004.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of which, here's a note I found inside one of the team bags Wes sent me - how cool!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpgZtfhJHrcT0YGyWbHEu3sVSx77SWS7Dgpf6raLL43O3FzIma19ipCuOX7-BFHBaJPuWswSt_9RzsNm7GE59gjLeBdciflQUWPKNvwhhhj4ZawGxapMEDc5sD4xe_3JkgtZFUfwDoGgIGriKjnkTU3Dyhc-iMj5sYvov_IxQvhSIOHKIr9IEq9qelMI/s2117/Reader%20Wes%20005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="1509" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpgZtfhJHrcT0YGyWbHEu3sVSx77SWS7Dgpf6raLL43O3FzIma19ipCuOX7-BFHBaJPuWswSt_9RzsNm7GE59gjLeBdciflQUWPKNvwhhhj4ZawGxapMEDc5sD4xe_3JkgtZFUfwDoGgIGriKjnkTU3Dyhc-iMj5sYvov_IxQvhSIOHKIr9IEq9qelMI/w285-h400/Reader%20Wes%20005.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Says a lot about Wes as a parent that his six-year-old son picked out such a killer cavalcade of stars, wouldn't you say?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ18nPGiTZrPqGdZ41VqlXmYKULlz6rFJ8HBHUTOMHVVkfPckwEjWYm7m8V60L4NG4FANxpgJt87zMdspMs9ozBaSzkOcm20A2Sgcj3TKkwdmjgsCgtk6u19mBlNLYP1MBnJJ-LaLdPWwWlMqsPD_BtS3uMk6wTw0X4gWN9NxSXQ7H89AWWigcEZsETc/s2263/Reader%20Wes%20006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2263" data-original-width="1598" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZ18nPGiTZrPqGdZ41VqlXmYKULlz6rFJ8HBHUTOMHVVkfPckwEjWYm7m8V60L4NG4FANxpgJt87zMdspMs9ozBaSzkOcm20A2Sgcj3TKkwdmjgsCgtk6u19mBlNLYP1MBnJJ-LaLdPWwWlMqsPD_BtS3uMk6wTw0X4gWN9NxSXQ7H89AWWigcEZsETc/w283-h400/Reader%20Wes%20006.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can usually still find good deals on vintage at The National (knock on wood), but it takes even more sifting through graded-and-generally-expensive stuff I can't afford and/or have no interest in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You don't see a lot of beaters at this show because that's not what most people are there for - I find a certain comfort in them, though, because can you imagine the inferno you'd face on Twitter nowadays if you scribbled on a '61 Harmon Killebrew?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU-e2M6oL9ILWA32rbPv_n_94PR4N0Hj460pQ9wWxjY0kCVYrzDhh2MzQsp6V23SqfNW3haFbH7g2z-tWD4PWbzFQBxBTuHLoAaE87_ZTQkQHA9ZA7XPCJ5ua5Xk017U71RH4YCRt4biKpQGy_V6j-L8ZRYVueOwpMShe_GYa71cOsNImf7YzO5D8FWM/s1503/Reader%20Wes%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1503" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU-e2M6oL9ILWA32rbPv_n_94PR4N0Hj460pQ9wWxjY0kCVYrzDhh2MzQsp6V23SqfNW3haFbH7g2z-tWD4PWbzFQBxBTuHLoAaE87_ZTQkQHA9ZA7XPCJ5ua5Xk017U71RH4YCRt4biKpQGy_V6j-L8ZRYVueOwpMShe_GYa71cOsNImf7YzO5D8FWM/w400-h280/Reader%20Wes%20007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Those star-studded beaters were all doubles for me, but Wes did send along a few new oldies for my binders.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've started picking up more and more of those vintage coach cards lately - Senators ones get extra points! - and while I don't specifically collect Kansas City A's stuff, they're novelties in my kind-of-but-not-really Defunct Teams catalog (see: Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, etc.).</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglOtnKpclwI_PG9hnv4yILP7O6ql1jRmhTfoE8W944eVit5HkdkMcvaFE3qYYQhjFjaxv34XzUMdtZD--TVOEV9e_lJAuJd2zjUdTho5YTdq0lmka2WG8USMeaJGnJ1aFhLB4Bn6eysYMh23GVqtQC1engNz3mk-AwpGh-H-5BJvB3rVXLGzlQhM_q08/s2099/Reader%20Wes%20008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2099" data-original-width="1487" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglOtnKpclwI_PG9hnv4yILP7O6ql1jRmhTfoE8W944eVit5HkdkMcvaFE3qYYQhjFjaxv34XzUMdtZD--TVOEV9e_lJAuJd2zjUdTho5YTdq0lmka2WG8USMeaJGnJ1aFhLB4Bn6eysYMh23GVqtQC1engNz3mk-AwpGh-H-5BJvB3rVXLGzlQhM_q08/w284-h400/Reader%20Wes%20008.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Most trade packages I receive these days have a good amount of Cubs content - I've somehow never seen that beautiful '94 Rick Wilkins before, and Lou Brock Cubs cards are glorious (albeit a bit painful).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_tOk0Pwj0GG2khv_5NtvuLLjKbPibOeASBkjHmg3wpABbKdhen2em7HlU4sUKVrj1SIrInvijh3fDw9ezblmpHJsR7shGq0Ie7LquqUUc-46wnJmRyIpaN4SCw9Uc5oQSoq0q-M9uYK_Rcqe2zM1osAOVUuUNQYmPSBUEORJop9qlJYPhAxT1_H-OkE/s2088/Reader%20Wes%20009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="1497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3_tOk0Pwj0GG2khv_5NtvuLLjKbPibOeASBkjHmg3wpABbKdhen2em7HlU4sUKVrj1SIrInvijh3fDw9ezblmpHJsR7shGq0Ie7LquqUUc-46wnJmRyIpaN4SCw9Uc5oQSoq0q-M9uYK_Rcqe2zM1osAOVUuUNQYmPSBUEORJop9qlJYPhAxT1_H-OkE/w286-h400/Reader%20Wes%20009.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Player collection hits are great, and ones that come from off-road brands like Pacific and Fleer Box Score are even better!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcrASihiQipsIxMEubrt8_YF_EiZcafG_x8CVWxc9nppuWR_D3fFZauX1ESeZhlEj0-8w40_NuWkFXVMrIeGPwJVMyLRHzHLYQ3tjr4uObqXUi85yX6Gli-YM8tKqvioZeIz-EUrWoexV5Rez8jfI3DQluisFNDLmuB2sGoTglt2mLOpP_Cm9kXxRNb4/s867/Reader%20Wes%20010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcrASihiQipsIxMEubrt8_YF_EiZcafG_x8CVWxc9nppuWR_D3fFZauX1ESeZhlEj0-8w40_NuWkFXVMrIeGPwJVMyLRHzHLYQ3tjr4uObqXUi85yX6Gli-YM8tKqvioZeIz-EUrWoexV5Rez8jfI3DQluisFNDLmuB2sGoTglt2mLOpP_Cm9kXxRNb4/w330-h400/Reader%20Wes%20010.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><br /><div>Make no mistake: I'm excited for The National, and hopefully the finds will carry the same quirky-but-cool vibes that Wes repeatedly seems to send to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>With any luck, maybe I'll bump into a few kindred spirits like myself who find joy in the oddities and that make this hobby the joy that it is - it'll make getting whacked in the knee by someone's black magnetic case for the 27th time more than worth it.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-44911699289589148072023-07-07T17:36:00.001-05:002023-07-07T17:36:01.195-05:00Try a little patience (on COMC)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AsMqbJu4_0htDGr2ZsjC6hTaucRctpaad2mmrzsnYouD5shdGoVsZd1dsZwX835uFhS5lKEOdv3JvNtqOGawF3D1hmG-QoLanbrxZCaex3ptJHjIa52beicPCbBj7nxtcc7aCgW39WmS-ZVY6BKXbVnq1A6PXV55A7wgGyFsL-X4T2QEZoKgqTYDbmo/s717/Scan_20230628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AsMqbJu4_0htDGr2ZsjC6hTaucRctpaad2mmrzsnYouD5shdGoVsZd1dsZwX835uFhS5lKEOdv3JvNtqOGawF3D1hmG-QoLanbrxZCaex3ptJHjIa52beicPCbBj7nxtcc7aCgW39WmS-ZVY6BKXbVnq1A6PXV55A7wgGyFsL-X4T2QEZoKgqTYDbmo/w286-h400/Scan_20230628.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A situation played out recently that, for a long time, would've been unheard of for my former collecting self.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came home from work one night a couple weeks ago to find that my recent COMC order had arrived(!). At almost any other point in my card-collecting life, I would've immediately ripped it open and reveled in the contents because....CARDS! But having a couple other things to take care of that evening, and just not generally being in a card-ish state of mind, I somehow willed myself to let the package sit there, knowing I probably wouldn't be able to offer it the same level of excitement and enjoyment such an event deserves.</div><div><br /></div><div>I actually didn't open it until the following night, a shade over 24 hours since I'd first seen it on my doorstep.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1--pyxaVzonPGxMmJtU2r6e9xg9WPfrmrWRDKFgn1ZJbJ8i_POkgcnpEIiKikjZ9dz6mV6i_zXY-qaPuEFOj23M2zSZxAh90LL_tgkH2sGuRn7Qxanm8ZRINh2wFJCH8gp9TCg5m-iOkT3eifYvCDvZaTdEqro6LsjxVubwrHvEBHxlLx6P9qpTQFfY/s1014/Scan_20230628%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1014" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1--pyxaVzonPGxMmJtU2r6e9xg9WPfrmrWRDKFgn1ZJbJ8i_POkgcnpEIiKikjZ9dz6mV6i_zXY-qaPuEFOj23M2zSZxAh90LL_tgkH2sGuRn7Qxanm8ZRINh2wFJCH8gp9TCg5m-iOkT3eifYvCDvZaTdEqro6LsjxVubwrHvEBHxlLx6P9qpTQFfY/w400-h280/Scan_20230628%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>This probably doesn't seem like much to a lot of people out there, and I'll admit this shouldn't be that great of an accomplishment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, I've long been an impatient collector - I need all those cards NOW!, and I need to sort them all NOW! - so letting a box I knew was filled with cardboard treasure sit unopened for an entire day is foreign to me. I suppose it's another small step in the journey to becoming what I hope is A More Patient Collector. </div><div><br /></div><div>But the lesson doesn't stop there. I used to think all Japanese Ichiro cards were unattainable and/or way out of my price range, but over the years I've found that, with a little patience, I'm able to find some on the cheap - which explains how I added not one, not two, but <i>three </i>new BBM Ichiros to my binders in this order!</div><div><br /></div></div><div>(The one on the left in this scan was all of $1.50, which seemed like a robbery that should've landed me in jail for the night.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI6FgC05Gm8eQMR6xHV_7OFKVdrY2Z9YIS42B-3uVK4colbjOxqe9wf0bZKiz8H5HKrDoK-H95IIcqrDOFpiwBbPsX7kvNthlkEigQ_Dwbhp5KL1uAEpHjwe4JxjOJXk3U0z0L5DrxQkJz8P9yCni5AUuDvdpYXk6_-A90EEc5Ju55d0YexmQAloCRvY/s1457/Scan_20230628%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1457" data-original-width="1034" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI6FgC05Gm8eQMR6xHV_7OFKVdrY2Z9YIS42B-3uVK4colbjOxqe9wf0bZKiz8H5HKrDoK-H95IIcqrDOFpiwBbPsX7kvNthlkEigQ_Dwbhp5KL1uAEpHjwe4JxjOJXk3U0z0L5DrxQkJz8P9yCni5AUuDvdpYXk6_-A90EEc5Ju55d0YexmQAloCRvY/w284-h400/Scan_20230628%20(3).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Japanese cards in general have been a testament to my patience lately - people routinely jack up the prices on these, but once in a while you'll find affordable ones pop up.</div><div><br /></div><div>Although Ichiro is forever the #1 Japanese Dude in my collection, it's always fun tracking down cards of other notable names from across the Pacific.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY59OIXAM9POZVNQ29nUu_JvU6LjOWD0IcTViEhTNy23olxqwUoOCjktaecbb0Hty0U2NLCfFzahu3C_qbeixvIarAcMV9nzaoDq50tdzFAzKew3t630yVZUVKI8SvRPWeCOR49uGwTrdVLqZi8o9x5FyqQRA5GLMyGlWkcXLhBQLHDbyda5zbYNSOWY/s1407/Scan_20230628%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="1001" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY59OIXAM9POZVNQ29nUu_JvU6LjOWD0IcTViEhTNy23olxqwUoOCjktaecbb0Hty0U2NLCfFzahu3C_qbeixvIarAcMV9nzaoDq50tdzFAzKew3t630yVZUVKI8SvRPWeCOR49uGwTrdVLqZi8o9x5FyqQRA5GLMyGlWkcXLhBQLHDbyda5zbYNSOWY/w285-h400/Scan_20230628%20(4).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>All the touchstones of my standard COMC browsing history were present in this order - including a fun mess of Throwback Thursdays.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu6UR7HL2FmxK7HOKUwqRiMXfhDcdES6eB5AdUq7ptm_Hl7qVUSReV_ayqyYiHZxOaD6YIjMEcY5hU_NqLxwJf9P5pmL2VPttBIe7RCz4hlSfZsmuAE5-RK_Vy1uKp8UXM_U2V3nDN_1SkU9vz-0P74N3Mu5Csw-2mhTv6iyOgukxtCfot2bhtfJ6twQ/s1397/Scan_20230628%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="993" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu6UR7HL2FmxK7HOKUwqRiMXfhDcdES6eB5AdUq7ptm_Hl7qVUSReV_ayqyYiHZxOaD6YIjMEcY5hU_NqLxwJf9P5pmL2VPttBIe7RCz4hlSfZsmuAE5-RK_Vy1uKp8UXM_U2V3nDN_1SkU9vz-0P74N3Mu5Csw-2mhTv6iyOgukxtCfot2bhtfJ6twQ/w284-h400/Scan_20230628%20(5).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Other online-exclusive stuff I'm content to scavenge off the scrap heap - I always wonder how big of a loss people are taking when I buy a Topps Now card for a dollar.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTgn1RybQZxJG7e7mKYF_QYOQWff8qCgUtkOScH59VD9Ro1JMGExoctPsYIUb5XsAYiykf10B3ztvOSgeFFtHlftKzd7C3sBsNkaDQzSkDlE7-JWfbYZGxFi07r_1Eyy963BB67JkMfYPtlk99f4aBYyqyzl0WzSEqWBqrbKDe5dOFvzdr3frmNMuPsc/s1489/Scan_20230628%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1055" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTgn1RybQZxJG7e7mKYF_QYOQWff8qCgUtkOScH59VD9Ro1JMGExoctPsYIUb5XsAYiykf10B3ztvOSgeFFtHlftKzd7C3sBsNkaDQzSkDlE7-JWfbYZGxFi07r_1Eyy963BB67JkMfYPtlk99f4aBYyqyzl0WzSEqWBqrbKDe5dOFvzdr3frmNMuPsc/w284-h400/Scan_20230628%20(6).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I don't even know about a set until I see the cards on COMC, which was the case with this online-only Topps "Rookie of the Year" offering that apparently came out last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>With names like Frank Howard and Dick Allen in the mix, this is a set after my own heart.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZgWNK7rhUgTdOz9MSgSx6YMr1q0GZSapFM63IsH_jh-CMgPs1C6QqALGp73afzkdy7PCXxtc_2sRr3ak9bDw6gHrzS6M-qrcSI2Cn6Y_LhIp6ho-H1c3j-FhY9-wQsJr-Uq_IuB6eaEaKe9XqW7k5vNIwW0MadKb7394MDaak9lYzGys0IJ4uArEiQQ/s1423/Scan_20230628%20(7).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1022" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZgWNK7rhUgTdOz9MSgSx6YMr1q0GZSapFM63IsH_jh-CMgPs1C6QqALGp73afzkdy7PCXxtc_2sRr3ak9bDw6gHrzS6M-qrcSI2Cn6Y_LhIp6ho-H1c3j-FhY9-wQsJr-Uq_IuB6eaEaKe9XqW7k5vNIwW0MadKb7394MDaak9lYzGys0IJ4uArEiQQ/w288-h400/Scan_20230628%20(7).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You can probably count the number of photo variations I've pulled from packs on one hand, but you'd never know it from the amount of 'em I've amassed on the cheap over the years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still wish Topps would just give us shots like Kris Bryant signing autographs or Randy Johnson at the plate in base sets without all the SP hullabaloo, but if they're a buck or two on COMC I guess I can't complain much.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq2tHxwzLHCyNTJq7Nl68Ck74gJS2H-6xNBOphwdp9M1OUozJxS5BM5rafJ44cPSMS3ibyHUo2PGGyhsljKIdBKATvgZCa9TUpud-xGtsAP_QdNrcFcKxx24wwypHV-u0eL6VEdqcRNVdrBpJi0fpOuIltkqjGzIug-6qiZ0yauX3R5oaJGsKbbQkghs/s1022/Scan_20230628%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="715" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlq2tHxwzLHCyNTJq7Nl68Ck74gJS2H-6xNBOphwdp9M1OUozJxS5BM5rafJ44cPSMS3ibyHUo2PGGyhsljKIdBKATvgZCa9TUpud-xGtsAP_QdNrcFcKxx24wwypHV-u0eL6VEdqcRNVdrBpJi0fpOuIltkqjGzIug-6qiZ0yauX3R5oaJGsKbbQkghs/w280-h400/Scan_20230628%20(8).jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More legend short-prints - spent a little more than usual on the Teddy Ballgame (all of $4.50!) but a small price to pay for the old-timey automobile.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0gxyk8JPqvP-6xlXz9e4q3Y3Mml02NKw2Hx7xzygso-jZEdu1txX0iiUmDudzSjY8TQDRhcoNg1fUkEeB_cjDXPtfnDmc9cIcEx-xyVJzEE4IitvaMpjYuE-vTaUD-SCalrqDjbnoIG7yoAAesV7YFem4iDhAn52929rm2rJCGNdwNSJQWbsCuI1X6o/s1447/Scan_20230628%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1032" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0gxyk8JPqvP-6xlXz9e4q3Y3Mml02NKw2Hx7xzygso-jZEdu1txX0iiUmDudzSjY8TQDRhcoNg1fUkEeB_cjDXPtfnDmc9cIcEx-xyVJzEE4IitvaMpjYuE-vTaUD-SCalrqDjbnoIG7yoAAesV7YFem4iDhAn52929rm2rJCGNdwNSJQWbsCuI1X6o/w285-h400/Scan_20230628%20(9).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the unintentional themes of this order was a healthy run of Minor League Cards of Obscure Guys I Collect.</div><div><br /></div><div>I stumbled upon one dealer in the midst of a fire sale of his minor-league inventory, and you know I'll fork over some loose change for oddballs of Dime Box Favorites like Bud Smith and Boof Bonser.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE7UzCDVehY-c1N9OzwScLKMXX0103pFAwgGFu40qU0c_DIq97OukskwZzEHeZLaurR8nufXAw-RtL2bQpyPFbifbmqFnyIRMuJTRx5c8OzSrcqofwqyef7ob9n13akZpLIKJC7-brLQETLS1k75GOM0umyuu4gwIJ8r3680O5LPycd8gNNXYflw3eRQ/s1504/Scan_20230628%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1504" data-original-width="1069" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQE7UzCDVehY-c1N9OzwScLKMXX0103pFAwgGFu40qU0c_DIq97OukskwZzEHeZLaurR8nufXAw-RtL2bQpyPFbifbmqFnyIRMuJTRx5c8OzSrcqofwqyef7ob9n13akZpLIKJC7-brLQETLS1k75GOM0umyuu4gwIJ8r3680O5LPycd8gNNXYflw3eRQ/w284-h400/Scan_20230628%20(10).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>More minor league obscurity, this time of the position player variety (cool Hershey's ad lurking on that LeCroy).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJUEvKnlIHJTskigHx_vC49_Vxv9Gb7CnwyLke2qfMvpBQ8SkhHI4JV0YH8kexSHvGDo-Rgn_qwXJl12QGfuTkuQQx3K5AALVjYUvRsqQdEeXRzIWWeMrqtaZYFeNjB-FioQYh7g3Xiw3OlifOiCFX_GPglyQpU3tTI6tAbdF-w9wovmNrjSIdYA9wGY/s994/Scan_20230628%20(11).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="994" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJUEvKnlIHJTskigHx_vC49_Vxv9Gb7CnwyLke2qfMvpBQ8SkhHI4JV0YH8kexSHvGDo-Rgn_qwXJl12QGfuTkuQQx3K5AALVjYUvRsqQdEeXRzIWWeMrqtaZYFeNjB-FioQYh7g3Xiw3OlifOiCFX_GPglyQpU3tTI6tAbdF-w9wovmNrjSIdYA9wGY/w400-h281/Scan_20230628%20(11).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The many varieties of minor league wheels.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt5gO7bnwLCKDFJWKAD3shH7D8859SWPKb_wqJrQrY_PncC9I7e-XEkrTcFtFKzbbb-oXxUirH_JtOWXrJrOORtdaqJQsQsCg6XcWt4jN2w854KOTRtQ1hNq-N3Qpymu02qGmErG5Vpkr1RX6i2-Nz4iodqzzrKaJr-fic-zugZ1YT-G4dTEVj2KKjcI/s1421/Scan_20230628%20(12).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="1018" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt5gO7bnwLCKDFJWKAD3shH7D8859SWPKb_wqJrQrY_PncC9I7e-XEkrTcFtFKzbbb-oXxUirH_JtOWXrJrOORtdaqJQsQsCg6XcWt4jN2w854KOTRtQ1hNq-N3Qpymu02qGmErG5Vpkr1RX6i2-Nz4iodqzzrKaJr-fic-zugZ1YT-G4dTEVj2KKjcI/w286-h400/Scan_20230628%20(12).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Between Clementes, "42" variations, and generally shiny stuff, I'm glad I waited to fully experience the joy of this COMC order.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Need more Fan Favorites refractors!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2QPPd-rx9rf3oZDs1KrP9xGYXqnFcnbYcNT9HfgBS9dr5kJeGkyfq5xeZTA59qKXuMWzsMgYiMmT1p10c-pochpOz7-TZ7tDrwxNTRxoxM-VCKrEuhDCfAawO2nk3OckkAuElaVOF-XM7MJ_C0dXaWPXvBD5i9EWgPsazUXoAwq9Pd33wI-8PWBgO-A/s1404/Scan_20230628%20(13).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="994" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2QPPd-rx9rf3oZDs1KrP9xGYXqnFcnbYcNT9HfgBS9dr5kJeGkyfq5xeZTA59qKXuMWzsMgYiMmT1p10c-pochpOz7-TZ7tDrwxNTRxoxM-VCKrEuhDCfAawO2nk3OckkAuElaVOF-XM7MJ_C0dXaWPXvBD5i9EWgPsazUXoAwq9Pd33wI-8PWBgO-A/w284-h400/Scan_20230628%20(13).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>TCMAs and stadium issues are two of my bigger recent obsessions - that's my first card of Mickey Vernon with the Pirates, and man does Steve Yeager look weird in a Mariners jersey.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R8FLdlGG2EaYUQr_5DiZYMYhnRr3hDC9nV6yE5AtGqZnv8AEAITlNx2KkHJXsgbrKyXqojOQxPjtZoi7QpofYtr137YLkpnKRMAqNOIwKEYtI3uQm-eR_3D4bKK9dQ_9BUjdY7Yk3Z8kuGaUvGbP2qhbFQDDqI4ODx_JvJUQqQTmuHAg1fLLvvkjhU8/s1382/Scan_20230628%20(14).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="1382" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_R8FLdlGG2EaYUQr_5DiZYMYhnRr3hDC9nV6yE5AtGqZnv8AEAITlNx2KkHJXsgbrKyXqojOQxPjtZoi7QpofYtr137YLkpnKRMAqNOIwKEYtI3uQm-eR_3D4bKK9dQ_9BUjdY7Yk3Z8kuGaUvGbP2qhbFQDDqI4ODx_JvJUQqQTmuHAg1fLLvvkjhU8/w400-h385/Scan_20230628%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A mass of minis and generally odd-shapes pieces of cardboard here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unnamed Cardinal is Paul "Daffy" Dean, and that Mickey Cochrane is the first card from the lesser-known '77 Shakey's Pizza set I've had the pleasure of welcoming into my binders.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XdPMjKV5ij6kS0YvNDqnaGGcMYltx_uhTSQPA75kdKsh4GcW-DYKqSuEOaSJ1AXf1MHC4_ZQfO2K3LnAh34REse1gqJ1nQXmi3jC32BVPHhQtckG7lVoGiS9MrKJwg5YjVaWp3v9PD5tZlLUvogm84SBt0SF0o7zBCqqDgqz91uam3XUvYI5K0hw9Ps/s1442/Scan_20230628%20(15).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1442" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XdPMjKV5ij6kS0YvNDqnaGGcMYltx_uhTSQPA75kdKsh4GcW-DYKqSuEOaSJ1AXf1MHC4_ZQfO2K3LnAh34REse1gqJ1nQXmi3jC32BVPHhQtckG7lVoGiS9MrKJwg5YjVaWp3v9PD5tZlLUvogm84SBt0SF0o7zBCqqDgqz91uam3XUvYI5K0hw9Ps/w400-h285/Scan_20230628%20(15).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Hard to beat a good horizontal card, wouldn't you say?</div><div><br /></div><div>That Fujimoto continues the string of firsts in this order since it's my first look at Topps's 2022 NPB set - moreover, it's just a wonderful baseball card.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCWrO805zl70U6povLAAJaJmpzbFL_fS51mqS4tje7wwt_KV-NP-AVtRkH6qEBEsTM-NPVwKqtyP5ATVbGe-c3CEPkV3xdiooog-3NzfRFZQYKn_E704-xLzDTiJDxwxVeNSvRzks_zDTEkvLYRhEZn31QjO4ZlEtKDONP6dpj7lLU3zwlCsR5K8FVBc/s1464/Scan_20230628%20(16).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1042" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCWrO805zl70U6povLAAJaJmpzbFL_fS51mqS4tje7wwt_KV-NP-AVtRkH6qEBEsTM-NPVwKqtyP5ATVbGe-c3CEPkV3xdiooog-3NzfRFZQYKn_E704-xLzDTiJDxwxVeNSvRzks_zDTEkvLYRhEZn31QjO4ZlEtKDONP6dpj7lLU3zwlCsR5K8FVBc/w285-h400/Scan_20230628%20(16).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few other random joys that didn't fit anywhere else in this post - including neat a Ray Schalk from the scarce '95 Conlon set, and a Billy Martin tribute card I'd never seen before.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUnfnPdZtBAdjV80DC2ejL9Lu1O0aaek84JW92IcxypUmeZVCbI_az2ycRVnylkMvGM73FvTyzpWBZEsXNoI-6HHOe-6AePm_BmKHL4mlICxojLNpZ7nHV-A2aN1twYSBCy4HMuhxBRQI2J7GwkImG6RHEV6drYVZILaeucXCBCMfZEy_bvizM-OdNY0/s1425/Scan_20230628%20(17).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1019" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUnfnPdZtBAdjV80DC2ejL9Lu1O0aaek84JW92IcxypUmeZVCbI_az2ycRVnylkMvGM73FvTyzpWBZEsXNoI-6HHOe-6AePm_BmKHL4mlICxojLNpZ7nHV-A2aN1twYSBCy4HMuhxBRQI2J7GwkImG6RHEV6drYVZILaeucXCBCMfZEy_bvizM-OdNY0/w286-h400/Scan_20230628%20(17).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>COMC remains a prime treasure trove of unclassifiable fun stuff like a rare card of Frank Robinson on the Indians and sweet Satchel Paige inserts I need.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcl7P23I8A_sx22hrkjSmbH5vN3_lYvReC4pf4pQgOzLfOoJM7WMI567X0nsIt1evv29vKXdA90NcFbCxLTbRPhDt7pEKQeEVh6IJE1gbRA-TWUIJset14i3rminxdktjKIQsvubsbqZLRve5vl_TAr9bjLKSlZQ_OaXyJImNGO8wvXfXk-O3E3sNpAI/s996/Scan_20230628%20(18).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="996" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcl7P23I8A_sx22hrkjSmbH5vN3_lYvReC4pf4pQgOzLfOoJM7WMI567X0nsIt1evv29vKXdA90NcFbCxLTbRPhDt7pEKQeEVh6IJE1gbRA-TWUIJset14i3rminxdktjKIQsvubsbqZLRve5vl_TAr9bjLKSlZQ_OaXyJImNGO8wvXfXk-O3E3sNpAI/w400-h280/Scan_20230628%20(18).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I seem to have a harder and harder time finding cheap vintage on COMC with each passing order, but I always try to sneak a few older goodies in here and there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have a good excuse for not owning that '58 Zimmer already - it's not a high-number or anything - but better late than never, and can't resist a good Nu-Scoop!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_33KsjKHb4ksn8QdcKPxDhmuFy3DE3z4_2OH6VSa_rv51BEjHe3HtO5nUrBvDiP05tEu3EGNM5lbzSGycZbvl2jxy1-J6Hwh2rOWmHy2nEm0wRxswLfTtljAQk1loK3VVqmDcDCZWkIbtpqFr0uw5OBelCwJCKW_MYYzP3hAXs-04tKhXYsCf0ETzS0/s1013/Scan_20230628%20(19).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1013" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_33KsjKHb4ksn8QdcKPxDhmuFy3DE3z4_2OH6VSa_rv51BEjHe3HtO5nUrBvDiP05tEu3EGNM5lbzSGycZbvl2jxy1-J6Hwh2rOWmHy2nEm0wRxswLfTtljAQk1loK3VVqmDcDCZWkIbtpqFr0uw5OBelCwJCKW_MYYzP3hAXs-04tKhXYsCf0ETzS0/w400-h280/Scan_20230628%20(19).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't plan to double dip on The Duke with this order, but by some coincidence I nabbed these within minutes of one another on a magical evening.</div><div><br /></div><div>That '63 high-number has been on my "Keep Dreaming" list for a while now - his first card with the Mets! - and I finally managed to find a copy at a reasonable price thanks to a little nibble on the top-left corner. Coupled with a worn (but nifty!) '57 Duke, these ran a bit less than the cost of a blaster together.</div><div><br /></div><div>For a long time, I thought the pinnacle of this order would be these dueling Dukes...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnpHZ0TveCiFY-uQ9pRAZ8IGpwvLq_2jNTV8iT8Aw4e2FWhSCyN_pAF80wLS74eBrinnt42nILtcaM49Q7gDYVyb3rPRooK5ou_ca-4X8fLP3DM2yEYR5yVOfqOXoy-qO_ifrFRjnC2MApbcuGJ_RI8saHyj-Og2PFNZtPX1Q8MPJ11ttCjb6OBLWRJQ/s714/Scan_20230628%20(20).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnpHZ0TveCiFY-uQ9pRAZ8IGpwvLq_2jNTV8iT8Aw4e2FWhSCyN_pAF80wLS74eBrinnt42nILtcaM49Q7gDYVyb3rPRooK5ou_ca-4X8fLP3DM2yEYR5yVOfqOXoy-qO_ifrFRjnC2MApbcuGJ_RI8saHyj-Og2PFNZtPX1Q8MPJ11ttCjb6OBLWRJQ/w286-h400/Scan_20230628%20(20).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...but that was before I stumbled upon a cheap '63 Ernie Banks!</div><div><br /></div><div>Somehow, this completes my '60s run of Mr. Cub's Topps cards, and I'm actually down to needing only three more Ernies to have the whole Topps set (admittedly, those three are the dreaded '54 rookie, '55 Topps & '57 Topps, no easy tasks). I paid $13 for this one, which is nothing considering I routinely see worn copies in the $50-60 range at shows around here. Once again, even the tiniest bit of patience pays off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Easier said than done sometimes, but sometimes a little restraint goes a long way in this hobby - only took about 25 years of collecting to figure that out.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-66200180957854678742023-06-22T17:37:00.003-05:002023-06-22T17:37:31.457-05:00Encapsulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEG0uHEYta8klvalf6ZRvTQUC83G_VA0GURR1JgBcp65H1djuZsnvr1d0o9KCZg_4PtwojCEjXLQLA16X3DN_0Ltwgcvsy2QFkxnJooFXQ4meR8vpQQlvHjU7fLvsqlaaY0YbPkYU6I7iEgaNmvstW4L8AfYgIVhsxk3jxUjljtho_IEWDPLd-ak0JDs/s1249/Xavier%20001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEG0uHEYta8klvalf6ZRvTQUC83G_VA0GURR1JgBcp65H1djuZsnvr1d0o9KCZg_4PtwojCEjXLQLA16X3DN_0Ltwgcvsy2QFkxnJooFXQ4meR8vpQQlvHjU7fLvsqlaaY0YbPkYU6I7iEgaNmvstW4L8AfYgIVhsxk3jxUjljtho_IEWDPLd-ak0JDs/w275-h400/Xavier%20001.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We live in an era of encapsulation.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you ask the masses, the current mode of "enjoying" a card is sealing it up in a case and never holding it again. I've mentioned this many times on the blog before - I don't mean to keep beating a dead horse here - but I just don't understand grading, and never will. The money & flipping part is one thing, but I hear about people grading their own stuff all the time - to which I say, why pay someone to tell you what you already have? And worse, keep you from ever touching it again?</div><div><br /></div><div>I move my cards within my binders a lot, and should probably do a little better job of preserving my cards than I do. I'm not endorsing a return to the time where we'd throw cardboard against brick walls and fold them into our pockets (though we could learn a lot from those days). But I've always needed to <i>touch </i>my cards to truly make them feel like they're mine. Without that, they're little more than images that exist in a world just beyond my reach.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is why I wasted no time in jailbreaking this encapsulated and "uncirculated" Sandy Alomar Jr. refractor I generously received from a reader named Xavier H. recently - to me, it seems like the only sane thing to do.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPm0UBrLOiekgavmO2E0hjAq-tuaVccBX4mJPsropbAKLKCcKnqzo8kFSNMQCJOjDU-ON6zGHul4DTlx68M5E5hqwzEj2Rq1hc4iX4g5bMuTx2thAjyS9jQ9n_E2O3E7m4SJ9tT8n00SgfQZ0fBl0EuvtZVin1uPurF-hsNu9WHdF0g-lg0JOmVT1Tndw/s2127/Xavier%20002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2127" data-original-width="1523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPm0UBrLOiekgavmO2E0hjAq-tuaVccBX4mJPsropbAKLKCcKnqzo8kFSNMQCJOjDU-ON6zGHul4DTlx68M5E5hqwzEj2Rq1hc4iX4g5bMuTx2thAjyS9jQ9n_E2O3E7m4SJ9tT8n00SgfQZ0fBl0EuvtZVin1uPurF-hsNu9WHdF0g-lg0JOmVT1Tndw/w286-h400/Xavier%20002.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You can tell Xavier has good taste in cards, because who else would send me a stack of UD 40-Man singles, knowing the joy I'd get out of them?</div><div><br /></div><div>This set is kind of the stepchild of Topps Total, but it was a bit more expensive and never really lasted in the way Total did - you've got a lot of star power in this scan, but 40-Man is great for those of us who want to see bench players and middle relievers more often.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyMDEMj7ng3q_IspSa3k2Vc97sgWMKdZeBKqvisaXbGl_fTJ9qCvxj6yavIEEVqT4f8kG_1iUjLIbCq1J9RuevOuu9VwKDjY-WFvtBHWqWd4ATFW0Li8uzZpuWvRZXG-i-Oaaz2EDixbPJH0C6ur6y0LDVkWNOvD6Cz6g70VVLP6e5Nq5pgqYJvOhMIU/s2108/Xavier%20003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2108" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyMDEMj7ng3q_IspSa3k2Vc97sgWMKdZeBKqvisaXbGl_fTJ9qCvxj6yavIEEVqT4f8kG_1iUjLIbCq1J9RuevOuu9VwKDjY-WFvtBHWqWd4ATFW0Li8uzZpuWvRZXG-i-Oaaz2EDixbPJH0C6ur6y0LDVkWNOvD6Cz6g70VVLP6e5Nq5pgqYJvOhMIU/w400-h285/Xavier%20003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I mean, has anyone ever graded an Upper Deck 40-Man card?</div><div><br /></div><div>(He asks, not really wanting to know the answer.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI8wPqLBpIkGPKl7nfoSYuhkehgjw7H90SJAsmmOuPQEEAt7KIzeHnDFSLXlN5zdEEGddvLVLDthr3CVxcfxH0gk0yN1WawtWDtpcFdIjppDuhP8a_MBUhFxmNFsZlT0cOlEGXDvb-uzF4zFDfqkpC0yTriNTa1XA5F58_F_PdKMYHm40YaOgnDm8ml4/s1438/Xavier%20004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1438" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI8wPqLBpIkGPKl7nfoSYuhkehgjw7H90SJAsmmOuPQEEAt7KIzeHnDFSLXlN5zdEEGddvLVLDthr3CVxcfxH0gk0yN1WawtWDtpcFdIjppDuhP8a_MBUhFxmNFsZlT0cOlEGXDvb-uzF4zFDfqkpC0yTriNTa1XA5F58_F_PdKMYHm40YaOgnDm8ml4/w400-h294/Xavier%20004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Me: I feel a little weird when someone sends me Dodger cards since I'm a long, <i>long </i>ways away from being the most prominent Dodger fan on the blogs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also me: Woo-hoo! Both guys I collect, and both needs!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBp0kOZQT08_57kD28rtn8G1v5kn0eDc_HYbvj4_mysPLjbjtnP-w0e-ehGNmGYEbwplWzVcmiraxySTg8mmUuJ6pY683rmSjLx3LzW0zQkOoltv-ZwCPTxN-pzx7-PwPlJgBO1tkFYl5fy55dFdMgXj6ZV0sRyCjOqMoDHpPpSjin7JppRKkA9YShBs/s2133/Xavier%20005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBp0kOZQT08_57kD28rtn8G1v5kn0eDc_HYbvj4_mysPLjbjtnP-w0e-ehGNmGYEbwplWzVcmiraxySTg8mmUuJ6pY683rmSjLx3LzW0zQkOoltv-ZwCPTxN-pzx7-PwPlJgBO1tkFYl5fy55dFdMgXj6ZV0sRyCjOqMoDHpPpSjin7JppRKkA9YShBs/w286-h400/Xavier%20005.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few of the other recent odds and ends Xavier sent along, including a new card for my growing Seiya Suzuki collection and a nifty skyline-themed Topps Chrome insert.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOOsUs7OY6xdIudFKGTccd26sASDOpqKmkwLI9eWY7oKD5RSziR2MN8B7Qg5EM6Gte2lJcJB-z0PF3GO6lcOeCAGS4nuWAxanHnapfWoTtWwDgAyDiymN28c_xJ7hAgFLuTiF5D6pKG4C4pdZtkcWXiMbWisVx2s9vrKKYIFkoaukMpaKJ5uyv7WYRos/s2110/Xavier%20006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="2110" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOOsUs7OY6xdIudFKGTccd26sASDOpqKmkwLI9eWY7oKD5RSziR2MN8B7Qg5EM6Gte2lJcJB-z0PF3GO6lcOeCAGS4nuWAxanHnapfWoTtWwDgAyDiymN28c_xJ7hAgFLuTiF5D6pKG4C4pdZtkcWXiMbWisVx2s9vrKKYIFkoaukMpaKJ5uyv7WYRos/w400-h286/Xavier%20006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I live in willful ignorance of those late '80s Topps Big sets - I know there's stuff in them I need, but the originals are both taller and longer than standard cards ('89 Bowmans are just taller) and thus don't fit in a nine-pocket page.</div><div><br /></div><div> If these Archives inserts are any indication, I like Topps Big a lot more when it's regular-sized and shiny (Nolan Ryan Mets sighting!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbUNiVHR096BJAbT6tdvYE41CeTebySO4oivnG7fwonE6Y_IVnrvpV40GFNlGfeM2httvLW14G9tCuo2uqznmYiTAfprOPcYBT8aMbvr4gRBDyjpYIW5zR0KudXqDaoeawlaMvXc_EFXDjXJiFMOTQCMsEgwaa90RvI7diwSDMDAvDejg8qx4FmG8xN0/s2116/Xavier%20007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2116" data-original-width="1510" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbUNiVHR096BJAbT6tdvYE41CeTebySO4oivnG7fwonE6Y_IVnrvpV40GFNlGfeM2httvLW14G9tCuo2uqznmYiTAfprOPcYBT8aMbvr4gRBDyjpYIW5zR0KudXqDaoeawlaMvXc_EFXDjXJiFMOTQCMsEgwaa90RvI7diwSDMDAvDejg8qx4FmG8xN0/w285-h400/Xavier%20007.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a few cards from fancier sets that you don't see in trade packages too often (and probably graded all time time) - Transparent Donruss is at least Kinda Interesting Donruss.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsOHSjSDr1c8RcIQ2jSedU0hQnS3mEbuD5w885qs6bN-8043C-JYieEcI7mFubD3f1D3taYOU672Mpy2Mrjm0fDXXi4glhfhqKXt6pOmMF3B3O6tzRd2869khMb_-L6Rv9mWEtKxQA5nJVkj460L-K9iIha6rWQIVFydeZCC4zP6jYVg7ztLGQcBP-JE/s1046/Xavier%20008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1046" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsOHSjSDr1c8RcIQ2jSedU0hQnS3mEbuD5w885qs6bN-8043C-JYieEcI7mFubD3f1D3taYOU672Mpy2Mrjm0fDXXi4glhfhqKXt6pOmMF3B3O6tzRd2869khMb_-L6Rv9mWEtKxQA5nJVkj460L-K9iIha6rWQIVFydeZCC4zP6jYVg7ztLGQcBP-JE/w400-h284/Xavier%20008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Xavier was also nice enough to send me my first jersey card of Tim Anderson, one of my favorite dudes in the game right now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not nuts about memorabilia-centric stuff - at this point I treat them like any other insert - but this was still fun to see fall out of a trade package. And yes, you know I had to run my thumb over the fabric the minute I saw it, because that, to me, is what collecting is all about. I'd never be able to do that if I just ran to get it graded, or put it in a one-touch, toploader, etc., etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cards, like humans, need to live their best lives - and if you ask me, they can't do that in a plastic shell.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-22540054949336013442023-06-08T17:16:00.001-05:002023-06-08T17:16:15.688-05:00Junk is junk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V2lvMNbpjRRBYXnjOUP_OIUXhBvQRhTdvNW4EaJIynFBd0yJ-Zvxp8AXmOYHVcvJD5V6PyiLTXsq2RutKjzr0IMpp8n0cS6P545i_iLKIIiQMe0PY_bgoGNI_cb7zko6vdGZnG6PAUBTXV2ctoqtvJ80863b3XBXAj8SIURuIwWTrnWQS7i8-FQR/s771/Scan_20230608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="513" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5V2lvMNbpjRRBYXnjOUP_OIUXhBvQRhTdvNW4EaJIynFBd0yJ-Zvxp8AXmOYHVcvJD5V6PyiLTXsq2RutKjzr0IMpp8n0cS6P545i_iLKIIiQMe0PY_bgoGNI_cb7zko6vdGZnG6PAUBTXV2ctoqtvJ80863b3XBXAj8SIURuIwWTrnWQS7i8-FQR/w266-h400/Scan_20230608.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a fraught relationship with the term <i>junk wax.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a time when I used it at will - heck, I named <a href="http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/p/the-gems-of-junk-wax.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">an entire theme on this blog</span></a> after it - and generally thought it was an apt name for a generally dark period of baseball cards. It's still in wide use - say "Junk Wax Era" to a collector, and chances are they'll know exactly what you're talking about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I don't say <i>junk wax </i>much anymore. For one thing, it unfairly banishes a span of time that actually had a lot of good stuff in it to cardboard purgatory. Perhaps more importantly, I don't think it's fair to the people who grew up collecting in those years. I certainly wouldn't like it if someone essentially called my cherished childhood memories of late '90s/early 2000s cards a steaming pile of trash (though I'm sure some already do). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still, like any era before or after it, "junk wax" had a fair amount of bad to go with the good - and for some reason the misanthrope in me wanted to take a brand-by-brand look at some of the worst designs of the era, the ones that perhaps rightfully belong in the junk heap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GL4-KzKvo4V6bWFrkRiknli9jTRCRWTtkJgyElT4zdvU5XF9DqKESCczQum1JbbS8PU2ixnXQtvZpf8ZKcoYOR5iyMieU9w0BlVG0HYhtprSXsUdf5_smM545HHUuFrjx50HXit_5WR8iwLlbCwtDYk1OZEjo8l42yXyGp7ZkRTCxiLymel3H0uj/s747/Scan_20230608%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GL4-KzKvo4V6bWFrkRiknli9jTRCRWTtkJgyElT4zdvU5XF9DqKESCczQum1JbbS8PU2ixnXQtvZpf8ZKcoYOR5iyMieU9w0BlVG0HYhtprSXsUdf5_smM545HHUuFrjx50HXit_5WR8iwLlbCwtDYk1OZEjo8l42yXyGp7ZkRTCxiLymel3H0uj/w265-h400/Scan_20230608%20(2).jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bowman - <i>1989</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Might as well address the elephant in the room right away - as I've mentioned many times before, 1989 Bowman might well be my least-favorite set in the history of baseball cards.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll just say this: when I hear the term "junk wax," I think of '89 Bowman.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRPjDO7LlIHeoj4TKInW5NpTi3y8kc1vKzM1x4NwqAAlTMwPhgThN0YA7nzHDvNv3rcJOUBAMTcyH9yL8BTgiWxBA8lzB8s6FaJ1ybWOqcnciHPJXawpLNFFtMRyb60AZjbLfco9eI9u0LyDicw8lmAAvoMs7I6vPAANzU7ZZKi9A5qtZ1rFDH2ka/s720/Scan_20230608%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRPjDO7LlIHeoj4TKInW5NpTi3y8kc1vKzM1x4NwqAAlTMwPhgThN0YA7nzHDvNv3rcJOUBAMTcyH9yL8BTgiWxBA8lzB8s6FaJ1ybWOqcnciHPJXawpLNFFtMRyb60AZjbLfco9eI9u0LyDicw8lmAAvoMs7I6vPAANzU7ZZKi9A5qtZ1rFDH2ka/w284-h400/Scan_20230608%20(3).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Donruss - <i>1988</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Going on the aggregate, Donruss might've had the roughest go of any brand of the "junk wax era" (which I personally define as 1987-1994). </div><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't a great time for Donruss - 1987, 1990 & 1991 were all in the running for this dubious honor, but in the end I have to go with '88 Donruss because man does this set suck. There's no interesting photography to speak of, and I always think of the <i>LUDICROUS SPEED!</i> scene in "Spaceballs" whenever I see those borders.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some overproduction-era sets have have grown on me with age - but '88 Donruss sure hasn't.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrJNxHcNcRfxZvClxuI_PWETLMnTOLxB4-6LsB3_vA-658HV8x06Grii5MqTgcQvTa73dfTi67F-XpGRg4ZKdjEWizMuKWCpoink2yA6hxsQrEbFo5A40922ed_PD9D1Z2oCCEJ5q71H9LBG2GwLIzn1CdjDxrGuCNnYfkTgfMhNmm8-4aKak_6Ab/s712/Scan_20230608%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="506" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrJNxHcNcRfxZvClxuI_PWETLMnTOLxB4-6LsB3_vA-658HV8x06Grii5MqTgcQvTa73dfTi67F-XpGRg4ZKdjEWizMuKWCpoink2yA6hxsQrEbFo5A40922ed_PD9D1Z2oCCEJ5q71H9LBG2GwLIzn1CdjDxrGuCNnYfkTgfMhNmm8-4aKak_6Ab/w284-h400/Scan_20230608%20(4).jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fleer - <i>1992</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>If 1989 Bowman didn't exist, there's a good chance '92 Fleer would be my personal Worst Set Ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's just nothing good to say about it. I'm not a fan of vertical font, and every card feels like it's being slowly crushed by one of the hilariously slow-moving doors you see in a bad James Bond ripoff. I think it's telling that you rarely hear anyone mention this set, and when you do, it's apathetic, at best.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't doubt that some of the cards in '92 Fleer <i>could've </i>been great, but then you see this odd design lop off half of Dennis Eckersley's arm, and there goes any chance of that.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvAUhE77eaFuwfp4PwRYJ7XLnybKSew9VVBZ8pr-nEHzEe4rDJ6u7x3CW1OAV3TtVWQIPWyLXHucMFoczk4E8JT7Sp3lfm8BmqD_mv49sIPJ83xZD7LXQOi8xN-5k1cTWM94likD9KFyF-lt004vV0hMBVj29fZNR_IelJKWKQKsV_-xbUWt32cQ4/s698/Scan_20230608%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvAUhE77eaFuwfp4PwRYJ7XLnybKSew9VVBZ8pr-nEHzEe4rDJ6u7x3CW1OAV3TtVWQIPWyLXHucMFoczk4E8JT7Sp3lfm8BmqD_mv49sIPJ83xZD7LXQOi8xN-5k1cTWM94likD9KFyF-lt004vV0hMBVj29fZNR_IelJKWKQKsV_-xbUWt32cQ4/w285-h400/Scan_20230608%20(5).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Score - <i>1992</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Even though the design is a bit more interesting, '92 Score suffers from the same '92 Fleer "closing doors" phenomenon that makes every card in the set feel claustrophobic (see: half of Garry Templeton's right arm floating in some kind of blueish void). </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a weird misstep in what was an otherwise solid era for Score - this is really the only one of their designs I'd classify as flat-out <i>bad.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYabdweiUSM0gSc1Qt9peAaNuBaDGiZwxbvTwwbJA6c0qrAjD1N0nauHoFRARW5NicMHcShDU3M78RyjEBX1HF9NSyKnxdbAcporTnwUR8M4nmCtDkCjJpWUWLoICwO67PVpTDxCrJ683f2pfNA5qpxmMBo6SArs5FpVdn_eJOd3Dh1weHjvbu73If/s724/Scan_20230608%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYabdweiUSM0gSc1Qt9peAaNuBaDGiZwxbvTwwbJA6c0qrAjD1N0nauHoFRARW5NicMHcShDU3M78RyjEBX1HF9NSyKnxdbAcporTnwUR8M4nmCtDkCjJpWUWLoICwO67PVpTDxCrJ683f2pfNA5qpxmMBo6SArs5FpVdn_eJOd3Dh1weHjvbu73If/w283-h400/Scan_20230608%20(6).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Topps - <i>1990</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>Topps probably had the best stretch of any set during the "junk wax" years - I'm a fan of the entire 1987-94 Topps run, and 1990 Topps has the unfortunate honor of being the one I like the least.</div><div><br /></div><div>The comic-book inspired borders are neat, but '90 Topps suffers from a common overproduction-era flaw, in that the photos are <i>dull </i>with a capital D. Ask me to name a specific guy's '90 Topps card, and there's a good chance I can't do it. I've always gotten the feeling that 98 percent of this set's manpower was used on the design, and the photos chosen as an afterthought.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sure, the sheer <i>look </i>1990 Topps is forever stuck in my memory, but somehow the cards themselves aren't.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_43LUmjl51NCOE8va5_ZInF_qE2x1VC3NGcNuXKCDY8bFqpDRV_TeFKfxF7ReZpIdSaMSbycrRSbs78lrUazIb0jPswciFpvwpN0WU6kKjIigkWoXrqi4o6sh2CiObRftBS842FdEehuo2IjNytEAW8IR4-VqDB4iA0uqJTMDhkdPVUig3DKZZpj/s727/Scan_20230608%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_43LUmjl51NCOE8va5_ZInF_qE2x1VC3NGcNuXKCDY8bFqpDRV_TeFKfxF7ReZpIdSaMSbycrRSbs78lrUazIb0jPswciFpvwpN0WU6kKjIigkWoXrqi4o6sh2CiObRftBS842FdEehuo2IjNytEAW8IR4-VqDB4iA0uqJTMDhkdPVUig3DKZZpj/w285-h400/Scan_20230608%20(7).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Upper Deck - <i>1994</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>You could make a case that 1994 Upper Deck is the most disappointing set in the history of baseball cards.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've never heard a bad word about '93 UD - it's gotta be the best set of the "junk wax era," and one of the all-time greats - and Upper Deck followed that up with...this. A weird double-image miasma that makes the horrendous choice of using gold foil on a black background (and not one, but <i>two </i>different vertical fonts!).</div><div><br /></div><div>Continuing the legacy of Fleer and Score, these cards also feel squished - was there some kind of weird closing-door kink in the early '90s? Unlike other sets, however, there's actually some interesting photography in this one if you can look past the claustrophobia. It's kind of the anti-1990 Topps, in that the photos are good, but the design is awful. And definitely a dud when compared to the greatness of '93 UD.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I think twice when the term <i>junk wax </i>pops into my head nowadays, which is probably a good thing - but every time I see a card from most of these sets, I can't help but wonder if there's something to that unfortunate label.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-52979139657177573382023-06-01T18:00:00.001-05:002023-06-01T18:00:03.702-05:00Fear and loathing in Topps Heritage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjNYpQAWBYwTXTb6IjTSOy3NCN-wgFshranfX6iChd3Hr5ToTo48AEiYw0A7qxPULG9Zz8JY2aBQm5GDvcEsB6T-Xvaiv5FEmkOmLvOLkBOAvrtn22oW5xEetWZHiVTNGd8ZK5CF7aMaHF_o6b44ouoeIVkVAz1qSlP-38wxiKFkAFOPG90Y8qhu9/s703/Scan_20230527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjNYpQAWBYwTXTb6IjTSOy3NCN-wgFshranfX6iChd3Hr5ToTo48AEiYw0A7qxPULG9Zz8JY2aBQm5GDvcEsB6T-Xvaiv5FEmkOmLvOLkBOAvrtn22oW5xEetWZHiVTNGd8ZK5CF7aMaHF_o6b44ouoeIVkVAz1qSlP-38wxiKFkAFOPG90Y8qhu9/w285-h400/Scan_20230527.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>By some minor miracle, I actually managed to find some 2023 Topps Heritage on a Target shelf last week.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was so surprised at the sight that I might've gone a little overboard - I bought five hanger boxes(!) - but still felt justified since this mid '70s period of Heritage is one I've been waiting for since I was a young fan of the brand. I seemed to be one of the few who enjoyed last year's '73 tribute, and I was eager to see what the '74 edition had in store, and share my findings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, as someone who didn't actually grow up with these '70s sets in real time, I always feel a little silly writing Heritage posts because I'm admittedly nowhere near the most qualified judge in the room.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhSu_S2dkJjny1GKnx8agJgba1peDVI8exIJcfFAqC-_lYnSs9zcOtyggyRX6JJAvhAKZiabv82o5A_AF3TAJ6lkRP767m4WYvQ1ewVGY8kg4_K6iTMyuRbJYQDZ-alc6fFxTtzj9k_ZP0MN_TN_X7owhuLGKUiGHxDbBmuiRtRjJ7t8OqiqubBM8/s1406/Scan_20230527%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1011" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhSu_S2dkJjny1GKnx8agJgba1peDVI8exIJcfFAqC-_lYnSs9zcOtyggyRX6JJAvhAKZiabv82o5A_AF3TAJ6lkRP767m4WYvQ1ewVGY8kg4_K6iTMyuRbJYQDZ-alc6fFxTtzj9k_ZP0MN_TN_X7owhuLGKUiGHxDbBmuiRtRjJ7t8OqiqubBM8/w288-h400/Scan_20230527%20(2).jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Still, whether you're 30 or 60 or 90 years old, there are some universal truths to Heritage - one being that these fake-background photos Topps keeps insisting on using in this set are weird and just not that interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Combine that with the inexplicably blank city name on Angels cards this year (see: Ohtani) and you have the usual flubs that Topps just can't seem to nail down.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HUR-bucy0tRSFVU-jwWI5jXFE_eRVMyrqHDngnH0-1-BJDNW_X-K0gFNRrA0gI_Ut4ubJ71KisscoEb4x-N9lbWrVpoe2qf_vIyVZ8Z7Dpcvf1fII0Jbr6crf3pTvnFTkDg6yAi6jTVzdcAQ1QzbVavkObbFDbo_xjq5k_MmYqtQvRZglOxC2G4n/s997/Scan_20230527%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3HUR-bucy0tRSFVU-jwWI5jXFE_eRVMyrqHDngnH0-1-BJDNW_X-K0gFNRrA0gI_Ut4ubJ71KisscoEb4x-N9lbWrVpoe2qf_vIyVZ8Z7Dpcvf1fII0Jbr6crf3pTvnFTkDg6yAi6jTVzdcAQ1QzbVavkObbFDbo_xjq5k_MmYqtQvRZglOxC2G4n/w280-h400/Scan_20230527%20(3).jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But that's not even what I hate most about 2023 Heritage.</div><div><br /></div><div>No, that dubious honor has to go to the fact that <i>all the Postseason and World Series highlight cards are short-prints this year. </i>I look forward to these highlights cards every single year, and to know I'll never see most of them - because we know how tough Heritage SPs tend to be - is a gut punch to this longtime Heritage devotee (though I did mercifully manage to pull a couple from my hanger boxes). </div><div><br /></div><div>If every other Heritage flaw is disappointing, then this one is just plain <i>aggravating. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ8LOWFTT35lpI5C0Z91_I0KzRnmOUSkBQduLw73dqMCLHFXPK5RWhRusjJeRrB2eFqCH5kPae5_QcGeZISGJHx1CGb0Wd8nQjw82GgCMxGKzp8_6DINB6OwMKOEBLoPILS6yiAcZT6P8IQbazLOmm3---whE0Lnwlzm9wXlN7viPdTfM9GLwT0Sq/s999/Scan_20230527%20(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="999" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJ8LOWFTT35lpI5C0Z91_I0KzRnmOUSkBQduLw73dqMCLHFXPK5RWhRusjJeRrB2eFqCH5kPae5_QcGeZISGJHx1CGb0Wd8nQjw82GgCMxGKzp8_6DINB6OwMKOEBLoPILS6yiAcZT6P8IQbazLOmm3---whE0Lnwlzm9wXlN7viPdTfM9GLwT0Sq/w400-h279/Scan_20230527%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But after hopping over the fence of negatives, I found that there's actually quite a bit I like about 2023 Heritage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Inserts are unnecessary for a supposed "throwback" brand, but I still kinda like them in Heritage - as per my annual tradition, I'll be attempting to complete the "News Flashbacks" set, and dig the Davey Lopes cameo on that Aaron!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQBs7cVObM0rMx9BbcJgNarD0BL1OKEY2c86ynZydPOq6MhISEwX_EjP_IXNhJUWXW0ORjGXr0TM0dxwXQXFc7pX0I5ob-pwa6Q895lvOViasP6gMYiYH4uFUiHMnYXNHXSs-B24yhD4dj1wULcYYwflmU1n78AX_gmNuiUOhOM2zTJerew8Zz4KK/s1441/Scan_20230527%20(6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1441" data-original-width="1030" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQBs7cVObM0rMx9BbcJgNarD0BL1OKEY2c86ynZydPOq6MhISEwX_EjP_IXNhJUWXW0ORjGXr0TM0dxwXQXFc7pX0I5ob-pwa6Q895lvOViasP6gMYiYH4uFUiHMnYXNHXSs-B24yhD4dj1wULcYYwflmU1n78AX_gmNuiUOhOM2zTJerew8Zz4KK/w286-h400/Scan_20230527%20(6).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe I'm being too lenient here, but in the end I feel like the good parts of this year's Heritage are terrific enough to make me give Topps a pass for the bad parts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Like they did last year, I think Topps nailed the action shots this time around with a fun (and, more importantly, varied) blend of pictures that ring true to actual '74s. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ADbDYHNyOd8V5HhmSz6OBhcBjI5SoANQ1D-g7kguZaeaOleeBoYo4k69pmQ9fyjmuvTFAi-NjaM-4WBOBWBXfqs5uzfU5fimGP5SJvSdEcoJpHCRbAz-cVjVJYTKh6n48PjQ8i4hbwpEgUqxnVoV0tCNRiofZNRmV08FMzeja5RNlm3eVyeHMIoq/s1415/Scan_20230527%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1014" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ADbDYHNyOd8V5HhmSz6OBhcBjI5SoANQ1D-g7kguZaeaOleeBoYo4k69pmQ9fyjmuvTFAi-NjaM-4WBOBWBXfqs5uzfU5fimGP5SJvSdEcoJpHCRbAz-cVjVJYTKh6n48PjQ8i4hbwpEgUqxnVoV0tCNRiofZNRmV08FMzeja5RNlm3eVyeHMIoq/w286-h400/Scan_20230527%20(5).jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div>The key to what makes the action cards so great this year is that <i>you can actually see the entire player </i>on most of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>At risk of sounding like a broken record, one of the problems I have with the modern hobby is that almost all the photos are zoomed-in and repetitious after a while, resulting in just plain unmemorable stuff. But a lot of what you'll find in 2023 Heritage is zoomed-out joy that matches the beauty of so much actual vintage.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's the main reason I think you can safely place this set into the <i>fun </i>category.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u1iS1HxZsHqfSawZ44jezzG1vHYu8TFx4TxD14nqlla8ZUC8_5J5NLL8Ii-UzKO9AhL0BXqGeXh2R8hk8dUd0E63M6oEnNlJ6M6iLfqOy7oBYKnawO-iziaUZVlWeMkRYT4nYYDZrCoaPnp7zJNmOK71h7pLSOlCSRmRZ0aii0gbJy6hrKhtYDzr/s1443/Scan_20230527%20(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1443" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u1iS1HxZsHqfSawZ44jezzG1vHYu8TFx4TxD14nqlla8ZUC8_5J5NLL8Ii-UzKO9AhL0BXqGeXh2R8hk8dUd0E63M6oEnNlJ6M6iLfqOy7oBYKnawO-iziaUZVlWeMkRYT4nYYDZrCoaPnp7zJNmOK71h7pLSOlCSRmRZ0aii0gbJy6hrKhtYDzr/w400-h285/Scan_20230527%20(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The horizontals in this year's Heritage are especially choice - that Jeremiah Estrada is glorious and might be my favorite of any of the cards I pulled (major <a href="https://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1974/Topps---Base/640/Milt-Pappas.jpg?id=c183511f-57cb-40ec-b647-706afcf664fc&size=zoom" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">'74 Milt Pappas</span></a> vibes!). </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvlilqsLftnfZMAiDCW-sHZ1UMA3kjBcE9alkVhahSPYV3LwJA1RagiSKyClr412ciIXZhXRVG-qtC3_qTB29gu-SLIBEFeFkULcsvwEhv9c7QPNdDqZaDLalTX4vqMNlD-xRm3CP9hJcH7KLmtfy8icxXbtpwgX1yXXKalVilNpvfZl2iPvTHy1Y/s699/Scan_20230527%20(8).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="498" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvlilqsLftnfZMAiDCW-sHZ1UMA3kjBcE9alkVhahSPYV3LwJA1RagiSKyClr412ciIXZhXRVG-qtC3_qTB29gu-SLIBEFeFkULcsvwEhv9c7QPNdDqZaDLalTX4vqMNlD-xRm3CP9hJcH7KLmtfy8icxXbtpwgX1yXXKalVilNpvfZl2iPvTHy1Y/w285-h400/Scan_20230527%20(8).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Here's a card that, theoretically, shouldn't work - it uses a photo taken from across the diamond, Witt's body weirdly contorted and his tongue is sticking out, and there's a headless umpire in the background.</div><div><br /></div><div>But damn if I don't absolutely <i>love </i>this thing (and not just because it also fits into my "42" mini-collection). It proves there's sometimes a backward beauty to baseball cards, in that the most off-kilter stuff tends to impress us. I point to the distant Bobby Witt Jr., the off-center Jeremiah Estrada, and so many other examples here for proof.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unlike a lot of what you'll find these days, 2023 Heritage understands that fun cards like these make a set of baseball cards a true <i>experience</i>, and not just a fistful of cardboard to be looked at.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5342310663064800554.post-79501927444717770462023-05-25T18:24:00.001-05:002023-05-25T18:24:16.039-05:00My memory isn't perfect (or, a trip to the flea market)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPJXcxv2vF88pTaL-uiQVu46erKx87PIqR_XQgn9sguX0vrmbP9h1yXrRR-rBkv0yNVEjXWe2gRWswyjSJTTpkQkB8QW4Xjz6IgaRwkwtrgwH6h79cuBm_sv7yLnqy5il4Wkld1AwS6yBkfVEhFpE_NJ6ze4pfbmQSgMYnVbayWoLiMC6tdIoWQvs/s750/Flea%20001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="750" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPJXcxv2vF88pTaL-uiQVu46erKx87PIqR_XQgn9sguX0vrmbP9h1yXrRR-rBkv0yNVEjXWe2gRWswyjSJTTpkQkB8QW4Xjz6IgaRwkwtrgwH6h79cuBm_sv7yLnqy5il4Wkld1AwS6yBkfVEhFpE_NJ6ze4pfbmQSgMYnVbayWoLiMC6tdIoWQvs/w400-h280/Flea%20001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes it floors me to know that I've been collecting baseball cards for over 20 years now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I can remember having one tiny blue binder of cards as a kid, flipping through it so often that I probably had everything inside memorized. I remember when card shows were new, and all the tables were thrilling. And I have fond memories of going to the flea market on Sunday mornings with my parents - which is fitting, since I made my first sojourn of the 2023 flea market season here as a 31-year-old adult (albeit still with my dad in tow!).</div><div><br /></div><div>Things are a bit different now. I have over 90 binders of cards at last count, and while card shows and flea markets are always exciting, they're by no means new. Card shows and flea markets alike, I know the vast majority of tables won't have anything for me - I can usually tell within ten seconds if I'm gonna find anything good or not. A fair amount of people have cards at my flea market, but very few are anything approaching reasonable - lots of poached retail blasters and/or 1990 Topps factory sets.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, I have a few regular flea market vendors who continue to set up year after year - I thought this Robin Roberts for $5 would be the headline of the day until I got home, flipped a binder to my pages of '56 Topps and saw...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlTkYGUc0rRjVcUH_IjUAGx6IbFsuVLkHU6zY_Q9-mEasLoUQ5XjSy_SxM78HSyxx88feLoZ1TYgOfT8PpiVFK5EZSrXMP0C8_Z6O7vMqQxaLx8jjQXnAbDteIy5VM-c47RXK-lByWazMs9qrDrAv9rQ3K06uK5fDlpetJwDFR9z3CWAUFomw2sTw/s1068/Flea%20002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="763" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlTkYGUc0rRjVcUH_IjUAGx6IbFsuVLkHU6zY_Q9-mEasLoUQ5XjSy_SxM78HSyxx88feLoZ1TYgOfT8PpiVFK5EZSrXMP0C8_Z6O7vMqQxaLx8jjQXnAbDteIy5VM-c47RXK-lByWazMs9qrDrAv9rQ3K06uK5fDlpetJwDFR9z3CWAUFomw2sTw/w286-h400/Flea%20002.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>...<i>dammit, </i>I already had it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fact that I could <i>forget </i>I had a '56 Robin Roberts speaks volumes about how far my collection has come. It also probably says something less flattering about the state of my baseball card memory. I could see accidentally buying a double from a random set like 2011 Bowman (which happens a lot, too) - but for something like this to happen is...telling.</div><div><br /></div><div>The '56 Roberts I already had (bottom) is a bit sharper than the one I bought, so if anyone wants the one from the flea market, just say the word - it could use a good home, and I don't need such glaring reminders of my memory loss just lying around here!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxbeQyO-tYViAABAASJgNHGJ-anSvcjH_Afx8fRFBOpUnDyhmxTWl5Wwm3yTI2zm1HmaQiMQawSzHz5pbE1oeQzDjQynH2WLa21XfgK_gMXt9pNW1KaksABeRPpNIizbRYof9yA3afDwfR-miFLsE72rVmU5nd4i3Od97uauGsVXzsbK6kafE1pwX/s997/Flea%20003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="997" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxbeQyO-tYViAABAASJgNHGJ-anSvcjH_Afx8fRFBOpUnDyhmxTWl5Wwm3yTI2zm1HmaQiMQawSzHz5pbE1oeQzDjQynH2WLa21XfgK_gMXt9pNW1KaksABeRPpNIizbRYof9yA3afDwfR-miFLsE72rVmU5nd4i3Od97uauGsVXzsbK6kafE1pwX/w400-h280/Flea%20003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, that same flea market vendor had a smaller box of $1 vintage that netted a few keepers - and no duplicates!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've taken to scooping up these older coaches cards on the cheap simply because they're fun, and sometimes educational - I had no idea Luke Appling was a Tigers coach in his later years.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QN7do2_PnIEnaRnyA43NjufqU1p9QiCKw5Vv-w8Y7gmiiUJidvl-gTc0HKNoq-veHa_dILiRHyzY_GShFlt319FiBKffT78QdRackpsowDSmP1fihvbQIjjMLBQfzfDqvoiEP17cA3RmaDWJzJz6N485HUxU2oDtYhHG9wwULOf3QnQXhwMo5Jyl/s1442/Flea%20004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1442" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QN7do2_PnIEnaRnyA43NjufqU1p9QiCKw5Vv-w8Y7gmiiUJidvl-gTc0HKNoq-veHa_dILiRHyzY_GShFlt319FiBKffT78QdRackpsowDSmP1fihvbQIjjMLBQfzfDqvoiEP17cA3RmaDWJzJz6N485HUxU2oDtYhHG9wwULOf3QnQXhwMo5Jyl/w400-h286/Flea%20004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This guy also sported a nice little dime box at his table that made for a nice payoff after wandering aisles full of power tools. </div><div><br /></div><div>Found a little more vintage in there - how have I never seen that '73 Gene Michael before?! - and a few modern goodies including a tough Griffey Heritage SP.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTTEBQQwNtBim3_P_OD4NyFSw8iNUjl688BRdaj4D07cb_T3UsQEB0XIf5Vu1VWmfjLTz5AaAs3dN0h0Y-2YLc4WnCjob3XzjbD4Yx0wOZbZZnbnZJ0yyIp8_SMyXvkl3rCsso8a7-BRIL4JfYaEWIFldYBxz5E2k5mfHn7TLHRdkf1RPlcYxGGLK/s1421/Flea%20005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1421" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTTEBQQwNtBim3_P_OD4NyFSw8iNUjl688BRdaj4D07cb_T3UsQEB0XIf5Vu1VWmfjLTz5AaAs3dN0h0Y-2YLc4WnCjob3XzjbD4Yx0wOZbZZnbnZJ0yyIp8_SMyXvkl3rCsso8a7-BRIL4JfYaEWIFldYBxz5E2k5mfHn7TLHRdkf1RPlcYxGGLK/w285-h400/Flea%20005.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The best dime boxes are often the ones with no rhyme or reason to them, and this one certainly checked that box.</div><div><br /></div><div>Carlos Delgado isn't anywhere near the top of my collecting hierarchy, but I'd be crazy to pass up his '92 Bowman rookie for a dime.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h9Kw3x_JfQuPV7WK_q4UyZHwqGbW3gQ1XtWy5FAW-rx3kAXFa8VlFwtdCSji4zRMFD7N-QGw9bGu2Hx_Jq5Yf0enRufkPiNEBPE-snVysoqw8QxhVa8omoDk9APsGF7ec2xhw1oW0IDXEDtvuv8GtsVHQ-3aqXR32oJiiziAobxlkwG4EBM2n4AS/s1468/Flea%20006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1468" data-original-width="1043" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h9Kw3x_JfQuPV7WK_q4UyZHwqGbW3gQ1XtWy5FAW-rx3kAXFa8VlFwtdCSji4zRMFD7N-QGw9bGu2Hx_Jq5Yf0enRufkPiNEBPE-snVysoqw8QxhVa8omoDk9APsGF7ec2xhw1oW0IDXEDtvuv8GtsVHQ-3aqXR32oJiiziAobxlkwG4EBM2n4AS/w284-h400/Flea%20006.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I always feel like I'm about to be drawn and quartered when I admit that, while I enjoy '83 Topps, I've never thought of it as a <i>great </i>set - it seems like I want to like it more than I actually do.</div><div><br /></div><div>But that didn't stop me from flipping through the <i>entire row of '83 Topps </i>I found in this dime box - found a few needs and generally fun cards (alas, I finally own the infamously-airbrushed John Denny!) although my opinion of this set remains the same (sorry).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry_oDfBfkUBGY3RM4DK6BdKi0mTeTYHKbI97knJcFKQlbIZd5qgIZAi57PBy56iPOM3t6s1A4Cz1fnD7aQrqDrPlya-sMjstT8obEg9q7tWsroyN7t-xR7XqhMsR-whzbLfAg3--3vgngELl1Ev8DT9zc5BY-rSyc0cmCEF7ztIWHjr1VenBwMnJ2/s1007/Flea%20007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1007" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry_oDfBfkUBGY3RM4DK6BdKi0mTeTYHKbI97knJcFKQlbIZd5qgIZAi57PBy56iPOM3t6s1A4Cz1fnD7aQrqDrPlya-sMjstT8obEg9q7tWsroyN7t-xR7XqhMsR-whzbLfAg3--3vgngELl1Ev8DT9zc5BY-rSyc0cmCEF7ztIWHjr1VenBwMnJ2/w400-h279/Flea%20007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These hallowed glass case purchases put a nice cap on my trip through this guy's table - the McGwire was $8, and the Posey $5, but he gave 'em both to me for ten bucks.</div><div><br /></div><div>I grabbed the McGwire purely out of a weird kind of backward nostalgia. I saw that card everywhere during my late '90s/early-2000s card-collecting youth, and I remember it regularly selling for well into the triple figures at the time. I always thought I'd stumble into a copy somewhere, but I never did - and it's not the kind of card I'm gonna pay the present $20ish price tag for since I'm by no means a McGwire fan.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I figured five bucks was a much easier pill to swallow - while I'm not the type of collector who believes that people <i>should </i>own any specific card, something about not having that one in my binders felt wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEGP4Ag-pb9pLTH2BKqaZWYcgAuYv1UmkjuVnk1gROIuIYSBOHVpz5syfdB14WwFGbZqtxSywLwxTSCZ-Bx_6ddO3zzqKfXi6nNzz7moUj4sNHa0IpmyKdfzV2aNc0BfE8jakGK6-rxVTgKbzmjHo0ay0sgccZRU8Fr6_CcSsL0Ja3Hz08DR1NzFp/s1452/Flea%20008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1039" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEGP4Ag-pb9pLTH2BKqaZWYcgAuYv1UmkjuVnk1gROIuIYSBOHVpz5syfdB14WwFGbZqtxSywLwxTSCZ-Bx_6ddO3zzqKfXi6nNzz7moUj4sNHa0IpmyKdfzV2aNc0BfE8jakGK6-rxVTgKbzmjHo0ay0sgccZRU8Fr6_CcSsL0Ja3Hz08DR1NzFp/w286-h400/Flea%20008.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My other regular vendors with the 50-cent binders was back in attendance as well - though my luck of finding <a href="http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-sense-of-normalcy-at-flea-market.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">photo variations and other generally overlooked rare stuff</span></a> didn't continue this time around.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nevertheless, those binders helped me cross off a few more recent needs this time around, and better yet, the guy let me have everything at 3/$1 instead of the usual 50-cent price tag.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQuy7RJr5Ig62G3ZFZBrgfqSZa2aw8HJFm4P68S50thE2fJ_1OYDZ3Vm1u3Q9LOl6lfyh7uRtTkYrmJ2gCjbXz5hyXR7Cj5SURNUAv2NLWxRryHb-u48h_jYlX3ckKoj4KF-FzHCfUSKtA2WqRCd8Fjqp0_ylU4hcXUPD2F00QeyGpIpBQkJk_oKG/s1422/Flea%20009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1017" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQuy7RJr5Ig62G3ZFZBrgfqSZa2aw8HJFm4P68S50thE2fJ_1OYDZ3Vm1u3Q9LOl6lfyh7uRtTkYrmJ2gCjbXz5hyXR7Cj5SURNUAv2NLWxRryHb-u48h_jYlX3ckKoj4KF-FzHCfUSKtA2WqRCd8Fjqp0_ylU4hcXUPD2F00QeyGpIpBQkJk_oKG/w286-h400/Flea%20009.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A few more legendary gems here - I kinda like those "70 Years of Topps" inserts because my brain can't quite process them a lot of the time (what's George Brett doing on the 2006 Topps design??).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05no8w9Mc2MJsSUSfe3Nof1MjtoA3sw1xbgmTvNPlljflHL3sid89qsZQwXGbz8xbj4GUs_l5NUx37Tys8i88ovODh0uokB6xrxcUp6nrodOHLsTECvUtMPMQagVMaQdIZpn4iEQfjoMdaAxmWrqJMuzXKQejrWEABQqHXi69O70v1_6qJYP8C_Jt/s1163/Flea%20010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="961" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05no8w9Mc2MJsSUSfe3Nof1MjtoA3sw1xbgmTvNPlljflHL3sid89qsZQwXGbz8xbj4GUs_l5NUx37Tys8i88ovODh0uokB6xrxcUp6nrodOHLsTECvUtMPMQagVMaQdIZpn4iEQfjoMdaAxmWrqJMuzXKQejrWEABQqHXi69O70v1_6qJYP8C_Jt/w330-h400/Flea%20010.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I can't say I rue the loss of UD Goudey too often, but I do miss these nifty legend SPs.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4xghs92Cvjfff8CFCoGRCzN6yVHVfbTYdC4Wp0wWJtTKCSo6_Dgm2odohhyVs1WTqMAer2Ab902RSHkhHbp1juD4eELGRRU2QJmZzdbtThw9YZOIsOHKU2XDp4I8q1B7PXY22bXQ8FxsrRGGDcgZLfBsNsgkwCxv6FpKeExd-zEPQSHMMTTLLx5T/s1415/Flea%20011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="1009" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4xghs92Cvjfff8CFCoGRCzN6yVHVfbTYdC4Wp0wWJtTKCSo6_Dgm2odohhyVs1WTqMAer2Ab902RSHkhHbp1juD4eELGRRU2QJmZzdbtThw9YZOIsOHKU2XDp4I8q1B7PXY22bXQ8FxsrRGGDcgZLfBsNsgkwCxv6FpKeExd-zEPQSHMMTTLLx5T/w285-h400/Flea%20011.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love the fact that I have regular vendors at the flea market who I can usually count on being there any week I have the time to go - but to me the sheer intrigue of finding someone new with good cards keeps me strolling the aisles with my fingers crossed.</div><div><br /></div><div>I made a brief stop at one table with some quarter vintage on display - nothing too exciting, although I'll certainly take old Senators and catching poses on the cheap any day of the week.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEolcUA66k6qxrg_6nqtsSiIteoMNAMedlsS0YJBSgGs1T_WAbfvqaiBS9eZeh8k1yNSVpNhuns3xMaU-kzSPQEn25R-qtCO1W1UwaJlpuUIg2I-CTp1N-4inwAIPfmzvQZHnVJ08kAmBYJLddpinMDGsLB2w40SNQ4njI1pRIc7xw-du0Rs3BNEUt/s1394/Flea%20012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="993" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEolcUA66k6qxrg_6nqtsSiIteoMNAMedlsS0YJBSgGs1T_WAbfvqaiBS9eZeh8k1yNSVpNhuns3xMaU-kzSPQEn25R-qtCO1W1UwaJlpuUIg2I-CTp1N-4inwAIPfmzvQZHnVJ08kAmBYJLddpinMDGsLB2w40SNQ4njI1pRIc7xw-du0Rs3BNEUt/w285-h400/Flea%20012.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was just about ready to give up hope of finding anything else noteworthy when I spotted someone with a couple boxes of cards at the tail end of the flea market.</div><div><br /></div><div>The boxes had a sign that said "WHOLE COLLECTION - $100" and made no mention of individual prices. This type of thing scares me because I've seen a lot of people over the years who refuse to sell in parts and only want the whole thing gone. Although the guy kept nudging me to buy the whole thing (not happening, dude), he did, to his credit, say he'd be willing to sell singles.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, I got a stack of about 100 cards for $15, which was a steal considering there were some tough team issues in there - which is heaven for this collector who's become borderline obsessed with weird team-issued stuff lately.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwylwzn_HvMxMpeGcQWb12FXli8BHdep99yODfHL8lFBJGb8QhB0incJoC5MvkdDUTxebO-sGGhM5oimraEZlzch8BMv3JNjcv6PYvXMxi_cKVXnM12sTWN1Fm0kqcsYpKAeVclGa-_tPKZBNn4H-KGDjuMtqgnyByE2tht0Ui_PdU8thkb81tF66b/s1408/Flea%20013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwylwzn_HvMxMpeGcQWb12FXli8BHdep99yODfHL8lFBJGb8QhB0incJoC5MvkdDUTxebO-sGGhM5oimraEZlzch8BMv3JNjcv6PYvXMxi_cKVXnM12sTWN1Fm0kqcsYpKAeVclGa-_tPKZBNn4H-KGDjuMtqgnyByE2tht0Ui_PdU8thkb81tF66b/w286-h400/Flea%20013.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This table was a small goldmine for mid-aughts cards that seemingly fell off the face of the earth - not nearly enough to make me think of shelling out $100 for (not that I had anything near that on me in the first place), but easily good enough to pick out a nice handful of singles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Names like Phil Rizzuto and Orel Hershiser are obviously a thrill, but that neat Heritage SP of Obscure Dime Box Favorite Joey Gathright brings me just as much joy.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGFCU20gi04AuT2cESL2Y_heCThYdTaPSr_PiR4NIGPx00TeoumXEoWU9pakvqYBowFl8Iy8C-xYBTrN4ok1X1mkx94ZZS9C51cm8gHQPHvX-HflaPxAobx3a5jaaviD4B7X9IZmohnz5W8xXJgRbjWimwJdzcVTaXId9lFxDbEHhmQovqq3MDYZI/s1446/Flea%20014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1446" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGFCU20gi04AuT2cESL2Y_heCThYdTaPSr_PiR4NIGPx00TeoumXEoWU9pakvqYBowFl8Iy8C-xYBTrN4ok1X1mkx94ZZS9C51cm8gHQPHvX-HflaPxAobx3a5jaaviD4B7X9IZmohnz5W8xXJgRbjWimwJdzcVTaXId9lFxDbEHhmQovqq3MDYZI/w400-h286/Flea%20014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>From what I could tell, this guy opened a few packs of a bunch of different 2000s products and just threw everything in a box, inserts and all - and left them there until I came around all these years later.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Bring back drivers' license cards!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslZCeQUj3ILvQx_JzXvvQzyYPhN220kTHMjubrTM6RxCk8iIOaBef3bZWfaxKSo9vmkMI9bmCRJJ6b8Pea_3OsDPAOQWa-JkMmYIhv1MppVO0rM702bEmkSoSlysCLtadCatKm_QIlr_VUUhzrpY_ojBv_brOAQhDas_2qqCvRGv_qhWRNqnPhdGD/s1438/Flea%20015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1023" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslZCeQUj3ILvQx_JzXvvQzyYPhN220kTHMjubrTM6RxCk8iIOaBef3bZWfaxKSo9vmkMI9bmCRJJ6b8Pea_3OsDPAOQWa-JkMmYIhv1MppVO0rM702bEmkSoSlysCLtadCatKm_QIlr_VUUhzrpY_ojBv_brOAQhDas_2qqCvRGv_qhWRNqnPhdGD/w285-h400/Flea%20015.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My heart skipped a beat when I saw these Topps Pristine singles in there - this is the dangerous intersection of a tough set that has a lot of guys I like.</div><div><br /></div><div>Goose Gossage with the A's, The Penguin in his college days, and even my first Negro Leagues card of Monte Irvin - does it get any better?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJvwTq4vWI-OGLEfhmbAhJ_N6TVsuvyrIMH2oUPMrMxlU_LUN6VRWKleTvISM6A88ufXKKolg5F0VuDq7IrC3nL3Sjl48PMXTK4qSkFqbBN9xgzy8ehLcnkEcbeYahxxqIt5SLM6ueQZd3kr_qS1xNZZTpf81g2N1WrRdkZ6IjIpeGqWuAyv1h5Dq/s705/Flea%20016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJvwTq4vWI-OGLEfhmbAhJ_N6TVsuvyrIMH2oUPMrMxlU_LUN6VRWKleTvISM6A88ufXKKolg5F0VuDq7IrC3nL3Sjl48PMXTK4qSkFqbBN9xgzy8ehLcnkEcbeYahxxqIt5SLM6ueQZd3kr_qS1xNZZTpf81g2N1WrRdkZ6IjIpeGqWuAyv1h5Dq/w285-h400/Flea%20016.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div>And in the never-ending saga of my memory playing tricks on me, I grabbed this '03 Retired Signature Greg Luzinski thinking I already had it, but could give it a nice home somewhere else in the blogosphere.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is, until I perused my Phillies binder and found that, <i>wait a minute</i>, I don't have this one at all! How could I <i>forget </i>I had a '56 Robin Roberts and <i>think I already had </i>this Luzinski at the same time? Is this what senility feels like?</div><div><br /></div><div>Either way, it's comforting to know the flea market hasn't lost any of its luster over the years - although hopefully I keep the duplicates to a minimum the next time around.</div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508921644099472101noreply@blogger.com11