The jury duty blues

With Christmas just a day away, I can't help but look back at how 2013 treated me.

All in all, I'd say it was a darn fine year on a personal level. I kept up my 4.0 GPA in college while also finally landing myself a job.

And, as it happens, 2013 was the year I was introduced to jury duty.

If you've never had to do that, consider yourself lucky. Although I did manage to get through about half of Cardboard Gods in probably my third or fourth re-reading of that fantastic book, sitting around for eight hours isn't something I want to do again. (Thankfully, I didn't get picked to be on the jury.)

If there was a light at the end of the tunnel, though, it was the fact a budding package of cardboard was waiting for me when I got home that night.

The joyous assortment came from Mark, diehard Pirates fan and author of the terrific blog "Battlin' Bucs". Perhaps the greatest part of this mailer was the fact that I didn't even know it was coming. It was a complete and utter surprise.

Mark proved he can knock out mini-collection needs as good as any other, as evidenced by this fantastic "play at the plate" shot of Angel legend Garret Anderson.

I especially like the Budweiser ad in the backdrop.

Take a gander at these two Canadian mini-collection hits.

If there's one thing I'd like to see in baseball during the coming years, it's a team in Montreal. I still think the game could benefit from moving a team like the Rays or Marlins up there.

I've always been a big Expos fan, and I'm especially fond of the Olympic Stadium background on Cliff Floyd's tremendous "bat barrel" shot there.

As I've always said, mini-collection subjects can come from the fronts or backs of cardboard.

Sure, the fronts are preferred, given that I store cardboard face-first in my binders.

Don't underestimate the power of card backs, though. I've seen many tremendous shots on the flip sides of cardboard. Often times, they're even better than the front.

That's certainly true with that great "interview" photo on the back of George Bell's 1991 UD issue.

Mark sent along quite a few new Vlads for my collection, but these were my two favorites.

I believe that's only the second or third "autograph" issue I own of Guerrero. And, although it took until the second glance to notice it, I'm left wondering why Vlad is wearing #76 on his 2003 Bowman Heritage issue.

That's the kind of number a rookie would get in Spring Training.

It doesn't seem right for a perennial All-Star like Vlad.

Also among the player collection adds were these two.

The view of the Wrigley Field bleachers on the Williams is quite nifty.

Mark graciously decided to send along a nice stack of other recent Cubs as well.

I would call the Cubbies a "rival" to Mark's beloved Pirates, but it's going to be at least a few years until the hometowners can even think about competing with the Bucs. Until then, I'm going to have to get used to repeated drubbings by the upstart Pirates.

I try to not throw around the word "unique" too much, but I can't think of a better term to describe this interesting Aramis Ramirez issue.

I'm not sure about you, but I think he got around the tag.

Randall Simon wasn't a Cub for very long, but I sure remember his tenure on the North Side well.

The Pirates dealt him to Chicago late in the 2003 season. It wasn't long after Simon was at the center of one of the silliest controversies in sports history. Like it or not, he'll forever be known for that infamous moment.

Once again, I found myself playing the number game with Aramis Ramirez. A quick Baseball Reference search shows that he wore #16 throughout his career. According to them, he never donned a number ending in "5" for the Cubbies.

It's not a "player swap" error, either, as that's clearly Ramirez's name on the back of his jersey. What gives?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Yes, Jeff Parrett.

The fact that there was a big leaguer named Stubby Clapp is hilarious.

Here's another beauty from Stadium Club's early run.

I get the feeling that I haven't even scratched the surface with great Stadium Club shots like these.

This, though, was probably the greatest card Mark sent along.

The fact that it pictures one of his precious Pirates is fitting.

I've long been a fan of the "Grips" subset featured in 1992 Pinnacle. I'm sure at least one other blogger is as well.

Here, former Pirate pitcher Randy Tomlin is showing off his Vulcan change.

Wait a minute.

Vulcan change?

Did Pinnacle just make that up? There can't actually be a pitch called the Vulcan change. Can there?

According to the back of this card, there is. Pinnacle likens the grip to the famous Vulcan sign on Star Trek. I guess I can see that, but still...

A Vulcan change?

That must've been one hell of a pitch.

Mr. Tomlin and his sci-fi grip certainly managed to put a smile on my face. As did all the other terrific cards Mark sent along.

I sure needed it after a day at jury duty.

MLB Showdown and me

Stupid Blogger deleted everything I'd written earlier tonight with this post.

I hope you read it then, because I have no way to repost the original material.

Just so you're not completely shut out here, I held a little impromptu MLB Showdown tournament tonight. I thought I'd update this hopelessly lost post with how these guys fared.

Harmon Killebrew is relegated to pinch-hit duties and didn't see action in the tournament.

The fact that a guy like him rides the bench should tell you how much of an MLB Showdown collection I've amassed over the years.

Gerald Laird was on the championship-winning squad.

He smacked a couple of hits over his three games. He also allowed just one stolen base during the tournament. To Lou Brock.

I guess he can be forgiven for that.

Craig Wilson was his usual mashing self, lacing two doubles and a few singles in two games before his squad was eliminated in the semifinals.

He drove in three during a 10-1 rout in the first round.

Rheal Cormier saw just 2/3 of an inning, allowing one hit and no runs.

His team was eliminated in the first round.

Arthur Rhodes pitched one scoreless inning in a first-round loss.

Kevin Gregg fared the worst out of this post's MLB Showdown subjects.

He gave up three runs in his two innings, picking up the loss in his team's contest.

Travis Harper, meanwhile, put out his team's fire by pitching 1 2/3 innings of perfect baseball.

Tim Spooneybarger pitched in two of his team's three games, allowing two hits and no runs in the process.

His squad lost in the championship to Gerald Laird and his upstart lineup.

The title of this card pretty much sums up my mood right now, thanks to stupid Blogger.

I'm glad this post triggered a bit of a personal MLB Showdown revival, though.

Into the Sunset, Pt. 23: Steve Garvey (Happy birthday, Steve Garvey!)

Today is Steve Garvey's 65th birthday.

No, I doubt I would've known that had it not been for a reminder from buddy Jim (a.k.a. GCRL) on his blog "Garvey Cey Russell Lopes".

And, yes, the only reason I happen to be specifically writing this post today is because there's an outside chance I could get an authentic '52 Topps card out of it, thanks to a generous contest held by Mr. GCRL.

Still, this is a "sunset" post that is long overdue. After all, Steve Garvey was an important part of my upbringing, even though he retired a good five years before I was even born.

As I've mentioned before, my grandma moved to San Diego in the early '80s. Once there, she quickly became a huge fan of both the Padres and Steve Garvey.

She acquired a good deal of Garvey memorabilia over the years, some of which she eventually passed down to me. The '71 Topps rookie card of his you see above was one of those pieces.

I'm not sure exactly when my grandma gave it to me, but I know it was one of the first big vintage singles I ever owned. 

It will forever be my favorite Steve Garvey card.

One of the stops my guide failed to make on the "grand tour" of my room was here.

This is a nifty Garvey-centric framed piece that I've had for seemingly forever. Like the '71 Topps rookie, this was also passed down to me from my grandma.

Included are not one, but two Garvey autographs, one of which comes a neat '84 Ralston Purina oddball. Also seen is an '82 Donruss single. I've since acquired a second copy of that one for my Dodgers binder.

However, I still haven't managed to track down an alternate copy of Garvey's 1972 Topps high-number. Part of me is tempted to crack it out of the frame and replace it with a different single so I can display it in my binder.

Deep down, though, I know that it's much better off in this beautiful tribute to Mr. Garvey.

When you get down to his "sunset" cards, though, Steve Garvey was an interesting case.

His final season came in 1987. The first baseman would play in just 27 games that year, hitting a woeful .211 with just one homer and nine RBIs.

Not many of Garvey's cards include those rather dubious numbers on the back. That's because the vast majority of his "sunset" cards were issued in 1987.

For the record, I don't count "Limited Edition" cards towards these posts, but this one was simply too cool not to show. In a time where home plate celebration shots were rare in this hobby, this one likely features the aftermath from one of the 21 homers the former Padre hit in '86.

Also, that's a young John Kruk appearing to slap Garvey on the behind.

What makes this card so puzzling...

...is the fact that it's a thousand times better than Garvey's official "sunset" card from Fleer.

Here, he's seen awkwardly stretching in the on-deck circle, complete with a rather unsightly expression on his face.

I enjoy '87 Fleer quite a bit, but this isn't one of the set's high points.

Not surprisingly, it brings up the rear in this "sunset" countdown.

I'm not a big fan of '87 Donruss.

Not much about this set stands out in any way. The design and the photography are both perfectly average. That said, this is a perfectly acceptable in-action shot of Garvey at the plate.

I've seen worse in the "sunset" department.

To me, Topps was easily the king in 1987.

The famous wood-grain borders were a major part of the childhoods of many collectors at the time, some of which are still in the hobby today. Me, I'm a fan of the design based on aesthetics alone.

When I think of 1987 Topps, this is one of the first cards that comes to mind. This is another one that I've had for as long as I can remember, as the dinged corners might indicate.

Yes, it's another slightly odd photo, as Garvey seems to be partaking in some kind of pregame stretch. I've always found it to have a rather fashion model-esque vibe to it, which I guess fits perfectly into the type of person he was.

Had Fleer, Donruss, and Score been the only sets on the market at the time, there would've been a rather gaping hole in Steve Garvey's cardboard farewell.

Luckily, Score came on board in 1988 to produce a true final chapter to the man's career.

I still think Score's debut checklist was the best one they ever produced. One of the many pluses to the set was the fact that it features the only true Steve Garvey "sunset" card.

All of the other major card companies chose to overlook his brief 27-game stint in 1987. But not Score.

While the dismal final year stats might be a bit painful to look at, they need to be included to constitute an official "sunset" issue.

As a result, Score was the only company to feature Garvey's complete career numbers on the back. I can't thank them enough for that.

In fact, I don't think it's too farfetched to say that this remains the single greatest card Score ever produced.

It's definitely one of the better "sunset" issues in existence.

So, happy birthday, Mr. Garvey.

You'll forever be an important part of my collection.

1,000

This is quickly becoming a month of milestones on this blog.

Exactly two weeks after I celebrated my two-year blogosphere anniversary, I'm proud to say that I've reached yet another hallowed mark around here.

This is my 1,000th post here on "Dime Boxes".

Now, in all honesty, my next thousand will probably take much, much longer than these first thousand. I blogged at a torrid pace in my early days, consistent posting three (if not four) times a day. I'm still not sure how I did it, but that's the reason I was able to hit the 1,000 mark so quickly.

Either way, though, I'm ecstatic to have hit the hallowed blogging milestone. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to write ten posts for this blog in the beginning, much less a freaking thousand.

So, a tip of the cap from both myself and Eddie Gaedel (who retired with a 1.000 OBP) goes out to you, fellow readers. I couldn't have hit this mark without your support.

I just wish there was some way I could express my thanks to all of you.

Wait a minute.

There is.

If you're reading this, you're in on a little secret.

THIS IS A CONTEST POST!

I haven't held a contest in far too long around here, so this was long overdue.

All you have to do to gain entry into this concert is simply leave a comment below. I don't care what it is. It could be a single letter, a list of some random topic, literally anything and you're in.

You don't have to be a follower of this blog. You don't have to "pimp" the contest on your blog. A comment will more than suffice.

But, Nick, what about the prize?

Glad you asked. It'll be similar to my past contest giveaways. In keeping with the theme of this blog, I'll send along a few fun, random goodies reminiscent of what you might find in a dime box. I'll also do my best to include an assortment of your favorite player(s) and/or team(s).

However, should you win this contest, you'll also receive a budding stack of vintage. What you see above is only part of the vintage prize pack.

Entry into this contest will close on December 31st, at 11:59 PM. I'll put everyone's name into a randomizer at that point and see who the lucky winner is.

I'll probably announce it on January 1st. That way, we can ring in the new year with a happy contest winner.

So, once again, thanks for reading these first thousand posts.

I'm hoping my next thousand will be even better.

Top ten of 2013

Tonight, we continue the end-of-year round of countdowns on this blog.

Earlier this week, I provided my rankings of the sets released during the course of 2013. 

We'll be narrowing the focus a little more this evening. Much like I did last year, I'll be counting down the ten best cards 2013 had to offer.

There were a ton of terrific singles released this year. Narrowing the list down to just ten proved to be a much more difficult task than I'd originally thought.

Before we start, though, I should note the Beatles card you see above, one that was a part of this year's Heritage "News Flashbacks" insert series.

I've decided to nominate it as more of an "honorable mention" on this list, since trying to compare baseball and non-baseball subjects side by side is a nearly impossible task. 

I can't justifiably rank a card of my co-favorte band (with the Ramones) amongst baseball players. It's apples and oranges, basically. But just know that the "Fabs" made for one of the better singles of the year. (Even with the sans-George photo.)

So, without further ado, here are my ten favorite cards from 2013.

#10 -- 2013 Topps Update #US-250 Yasiel Puig RC

If there was a single face for MLB's 2013 season, it had to be Yasiel Puig.

"Puig-mania" seemed to take the baseball world by storm ever since his debut in early June. Not long thereafter, the dynamic outfielder almost singlehandedly managed to turn the Dodgers into a pennant contender after a slow start.

While I get why Puig might irritate some of the baseball "purists" out there, I'm a huge fan of his. I look forward to seeing him in that Dodger outfield for years down the road.

Yes, Topps granting Puig three spots in their Update checklist was massive overkill on their part. But, while the other two may have been filler, there's little doubt that they did a terrific job with his actual rookie card.

To me, the pure enthusiasm seen in this shot pretty much sums up what "Puig-mania" was all about.

#9 -- 2013 Topps #643 Matt Garza

Matt Garza was good for two things in 2013.

For one thing, I think the Cubs got a fantastic haul for him at the trade deadline last year. I'm especially fond of third base prospect Mike Olt, one of the players the North Siders landed in return for the hurler. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I think the move will pay off in the long run.

Secondly, Garza was responsible for one of the better cards of the year with this spectacular Series 2 issue. It proved to be the best pull of a hanger box my dad generously bought me, one that proved to be amongst my better breaks of 2013.

For better or worse, the Cubs just don't wear throwbacks too often.

When one pops up on cardboard, it's bound to get my undivided attention.

#8 -- 2013 Topps Heritage #393 Pat Neshek

This was one of the bigger surprises of the year.

On the surface, nothing about this particular card stands out in any way. To some, it's your standard Heritage mugshot of some middle reliever.

To me, though, Pat Neshek is far from just "some pitcher". He's a fellow card collector. He's one of us.

Unfortunately, he and his wife had to suffer through an unspeakable tragedy during the A's magnificent playoff run in 2012.

After not receiving little attention around the hobby during the last few years, I was shocked to see Neshek's name pop up in this year's Heritage checklist. Heritage is usually reserved for stars and position players, not middle relievers.

I'm not sure if it was Topps's way of honoring Mr. Neshek or if it was just pure coincidence, but it was nice to see the sidewinding reliever in a big checklist for once.

He ended up having a more action-filled spot in the Update checklist, but it's Pat Neshek's Heritage issue that will always stand out to me.

#7 -- 2013 Topps #316 Josh Reddick

I knew Josh Reddick would be in the "Card of the Year" running since day one.

I was lucky enough to pull this one from my initial 2013 Topps breaks way back in January. It was right after I found out that Reddick and I shared a February 19th birthday.

While the A's outfielder had a bit of a down year in 2013, he sure received one legendary card in this year's Flagship checklist. I'm sure you've already seen this tremendous grab around the blogs at some point.

Was it the best "at the wall" shot 2013 had to offer, though?

#6 -- 2013 Topps #330 Ryan Raburn

Nope.

To me, Ryan Raburn just edges out Mr. Reddick in that department.

This was one of the first 2013 cards I saw, as Topps released it as one of their preview images in the days leading up to Flagship's release. From that point on, I was determined to land myself a copy.

Thankfully, I didn't have to wait long. I managed to pull one from those aforementioned Flagship breaks in January. The shockingly consistent looks on the fans behind the Tiger outfielder makes this one of the best "at the wall" shots ever produced.

In case you were wondering, this outstanding photo comes from a Tigers-Pirates contest on June 24th, 2012. Raburn managed to snag this eighth inning fly ball off the bat of Josh Harrison.

At card #330, this magnificent piece capped off the Series 1 checklist.

Quite a way to end it, Topps.

#5 -- 2013 Topps Heritage #274 Justin Morneau

I'm going to be honest with you.

I can't figure out exactly why I love this card so much. While I've long been a Justin Morneau fan, he's never been among the top tier of my player collections or anything.

So, then, what's the deal?

I just don't know. I think some of it has to do with the fact that this shot reminds me of an authentic 1964 Topps card for some reason, more so than any other 2013 Heritage issue did.

The stadium backdrop is nice, too. That sure looks like a spring training facility to me (as opposed to Target Field), but I could be wrong.

Simply put, I simply can't put my finger on why Morneau snuck his way into my top ten of the year, much less into the #5 slot.

That's part of the beauty of baseball cards, though.

Not everything needs an explanation.

#4 -- 2013 Topps Archives Wrigley Field Collection

Okay, so I'm kind of cheating here.

When Topps announced its plans to give away cards at a few select Cubs home games this year, I was ecstatic. For a card collector like myself, it was a must-have set.

Four different 20-card Archives sets were given away at four games at Wrigley in 2013. I knew coming away with all four would be nearly impossible, given the prices Cubs tickets can command at times.

In the end, I managed to get two of the four sets. My dad battled some pretty bad weather to get his hands on the first one for me.

Thankfully, we were able to nab the second one while taking in a beautiful day at Wrigley in July. (Not surprisingly, the Cubs lost to the Pirates that afternoon.)

Topps managed to incorporate quite a few of their past designs in this set. It impressed me a whole lot more than their standard Archives release did, I'll tell you that.

Plus, with the likes of Glenn Beckert, Steve Stone, and Mark Grace, the set included a few names you don't see too often in this hobby.

I hope other stadiums get on the bandwagon with promotions like these next year.

It's a good way to put butts in the seats.

#3 -- 2013 Panini Golden Age #s 145-150 Bad News Bears

Yes, I'm cheating again.

Any one of these Bad News Bears singles could've landed a spot on this list. But I just couldn't separate any from the herd.

So, as a result, I decided to make all of them a part of this countdown.

Included in Panini Golden Age's Bad News Bears collection is pitcher Amanda Wurlitzer, outfielder Ahmad Abdul-Rahim, outfielder Kelly Leak, infielder Toby Whitewood, pitcher/utility man Rudy "The Hit By Pitch Machine" Stein, and catcher Mike Engelberg.

I've said on record that Panini's decision to include these in their Golden Age checklist was the single greatest innovation any card company had in 2013. After all, The Bad News Bears is easily one of the greatest baseball movies ever made.

I can only hope Panini brings these back next year.

#2 -- 2013 Topps #76 Brandon Inge

Only now am I realizing that Brandon Inge is the third Oakland A to make this countdown.

I guess the franchise just had a knack for cardboard this year.

Like aforementioned Athletic Josh Reddick (who makes a cameo on this card), Brandon Inge didn't have a great year in 2013. After a bit of a surge with the 2012 A's, the third baseman hit just .181 in 50 games with the Pirates this year before being released in August.

While he would receive a card in Update, it's Inge's standard Flagship issue that grabbed most of the headlines around collecting circles.

Since I'm all for goofy shots on cardboard, it's only natural that this card would rank so highly on this list. It's almost like a throwback to the fun-filled photography of the mid '90s.

While a few of his apathetic A's teammates look on, Inge is seen here playfully scrapping with what looks to be an Oakland coach. Shots like these are usually relegated to dreaded short-prints or super-short-prints these days.

In any other year, Inge may well have won the top slot on a list like this.

But not in 2013.

#1 -- 2013 Topps #253 Adam Greenberg RC

I've been hailing this one as the "Card of the Year" from the very beginning.

Ever since I pulled it from a fateful Series 1 blaster back in January, I knew it would reappear at the top of this list come December.

Here we are. And here it is.

In case you forgot, Adam Greenberg suffered a horrific beaning in his very first big league at-bat with the Cubs in 2005. For a long time, it looked like it would be the only shot he'd get at the big time.

But, thanks to a nationwide campaign, Greenberg was able to sign a one-day contract with the Marlins last year. On October 2nd, 2012, he made his long-awaited return to the big leagues. He'd strike out in a pinch-hit appearance against R.A. Dickey, but that didn't matter much.

The fact that he was able to return at all made for one of the best feel-good stories I've ever witnessed.

Topps did their part in honoring Greenberg as well, granting him a slot in their Flagship checklist this year.

I tip my cap to you, Topps.

Adam Greenberg is my pick for 2013's "Card of the Year". Like I said, it was never really a contest in my mind.

I doubt we'll ever see another card quite like it.

Back to the good ol' days

I don't know if I've been in the blogosphere long enough to reminisce about the "good ol' days" of blogging.

If anything, my tenure around here has gotten more and more fun with each passing hour. I'm sure a lot of other bloggers would say the same.

I guess if I had to choose, the one thing I miss about my earlier days around here is the glorious advent of "blogger boxes".

For reasons I can't quite explain, box after box of cardboard goodness seemed to arrive on my doorstep with each passing day earlier on in my blogging tenure. In the span of about a month or two, I received a good half-dozen or so of these things.

The mysterious fad seemed to die out in the blink of an eye. Though it did allow me to get caught up on my sorting, I missed digging through all that cardboard. I still certainly receive an ample amount of trade packages these days, but the whole box thing is a rare find in the current blogging universe.

Perhaps a "blogger box" comeback is on the horizon, though. After all, I did recently receive a flat-rate box of cardboard goodness from T.J., a blogger buddy and author of the terrific blog "The Junior Junkie". He owns, of course, the largest Ken Griffey Jr. collection I've ever seen.

Like so many of my other longtime trading partners, T.J. has a fantastic grip on what I collect. In fact, this is the second straight "Junior Junkie" trade post that features an "autograph" shot of Lee Smith as an Angel.

Coincidence?

I think not.

Also included in T.J.'s massive box o' cardboard were a few catcher-themed mini-collection hits.

I collect Geovany Soto, so adding a new rookie of his to my binders would've been a success regardless. The neat "bat barrel" shot is a pure bonus.

The LaValliere "play at the plate" is yet another sparkling example of Stadium Club's terrific photography.

Besides, it's hard not to like any card with bunting in the background.

Above are a couple new hits to my "behind the camera" and "interview" themes.

Given the rather serious poses he strikes on his other cards, it's good to see that "Smoke" had a softer side.

Oscar Munoz was a former pitcher in the Twins organization, so that indeed makes this a coveted "pitcher at the plate" shot.

In reality, though, this card raises more questions than it answers.

First off, where the heck was this photo taken? Where's home plate? What stadium is that?

And, as perhaps the most pressing question of them all, why is there a baseball wedged inside the mask of that poor catcher behind Mr. Munoz?

See, it's crazy cards like these that keep me infatuated with this hobby day after day.

Contrary to what you might believe, I'm not all about mini-collections.

I'm more than open to receiving fun, random cardboard. If a card manages to put a smile on my face, that's a definite success in my book.

Both of these pieces managed to do just that.

The shot that Donruss used for Devon White's spot in their '93 checklist sure looked familiar to me. That's because it appears to be taken a few frames before the photo Topps used on White's '92 issue.

Hey, Hershiser! You already have the title of "Nerdiest Man of Cardboard".

You don't have to keep proving yourself.

Part of what makes this hobby so fun to me is the fact that you can notice new things about a given card each time you look at it.

I didn't notice just how many donuts and other on-deck paraphernalia Carlos Baerga was utilizing until about my second or third viewing of that particular card. And it took a few looks to catch that red whiffle ball-like bat Mr. Dykstra is holding there.

This is why I find myself going back through my collection on a regular basis.

One of the things I enjoy about getting cards from T.J. is the fact that I have literally no idea what is going to be inside.

This particular box included everything from Buckwheat to Harry Wright.

The player collection adds were aplenty in this glorious box of cardboard.

This insert is a treasured new piece for my Ichiro collection, one that has to be nearing the 500-card mark by now.

Still, it's oddly-designed cards like these that have me questioning the sanity of card companies in the late '90s and early 2000's.

T.J. knows about my fascination with Hall of Famers, something that was apparent in his latest gift.

I may just have to specifically go out and build that "Famous Quotes" insert series one of these days.

That Weaver is an absolute beauty.

Also among the HOF goodies were a couple of the greatest backstops to ever play this game.

The Fisk is a short-print from this year's A&G checklist, while the Gibson is a well-designed insert from Fleer Tradition's early days.

I find it interesting that Fleer claimed that the legendary Josh Gibson smacked 962 homers during his career. From what I've heard, most experts put his tater totals near the 800 mark. I've never caught wind of a specific number like 962.

If there is such a thing in this hobby, that insert is a definite conversation starter.

I feel odd showing cards from such high-end products on this blog.

While sets like Topps Pristine and Topps Tribute may be well out of my price range, there's no denying that they're both home to some beautiful designs.

Mine may be a low-end collection, but I'm proud to add these two to my binders.

The whole "cracked ice" thing seems to be a growing fad in today's hobby.

And I don't have a single, solitary problem with that.

These two "red crystal" beauties (each numbered to 399 copies) hail from last year's Panini Cooperstown release.

If card companies want to print more cards like these in the future, they can be my guest.

Much to my delight, T.J. decided to throw a few minis into this already spectacular box of cardboard.

Hall of Famer minis are often the best kinds.

These, though, were a couple of the biggest surprises from this box.

I've completed my short-term goal of landing the entire six-card Bad News Bears base set from this year's Golden Age checklist.

With these minis of Engelberg and Toby, I'm starting to consider chasing down the bite-sized variations of the six Bears.

It'd certainly be a fun project.

Of all the great cards T.J. sent, I think this was the card that piqued my interest the most.

While I've long had a much better-conditioned copy of Hoyt Wilhelm's 1959 Topps issue in my collection, I can't help but be partial to such a well-loved piece of cardboard past.

As you might be able to tell from the creases, Hoyt here can be easily folded into thirds. It's probably the result of some kid of the '50s or '60s walking around with this card in his or her pocket for days on end.

There's writing on it, and one of its corners was lopped off at some point in its life. I can't help but think that Hoyt was part of a few flipping contests in his day.

These are the types of cards that I've learned to appreciate over the years.

Sure, mint or near-mint copies are good to have, I doubt they've had more fun than cards like these.

If baseball cards could talk, I'm sure Hoyt here would have quite a story to tell us.

After all that, I think you can see why I miss the whole box fad. Just look at all that great cardboard.

The thought and care that goes into one of these "blogger boxes" is pretty much exclusive to the great people of the blogosphere.

That's a fact.