2014 PANINI CLASSICS

Strangers in the night, exchanging cardboard.  I am trying so hard NOT to be a stranger around these parts.  I have trades to share but wanted to do a quick post to show you what I found in my little box of Classics!

Two mini-boxes - each with 12 eight card packs.  I found a deal steal on Ebay for a full sealed box for less than $100 shipped. I didn't ask questions, using BIN.  After the disappointing collation of Stadium Club, I was super-pleased to find ZERO duplicates in either mini-box! 

 

 I added a red box to the photo to highlight (locate) what you can't see...team city/state.  It's printed in white. To see it with the unclothed eye takes some doing.  This is one of my only two complaints regarding the card design.

 

 

 

 

Ok, already! Inserts, hits. Yeah I know what you want to see.  There are four basic inserts for this set, which came six each to the box.  Again - no dupes!  24 different cards! These are October Heroes, Homerun Heroes, Legendary Lumberjacks and Stars of Summer.

 

 

What I found most interesting was the logo design on Homerun Heroes.  Sure looks a bit like a certain soft drink company's trademark.  Surely Panini knows what they're doing.  I can't imagine anyone in their offices slapping foreheads with a what were we thinking when the process server knocks on the door.   

 

 

Parallels. The scan doesn't reveal how  attractive these cards are.  The refractive foil lettering and numbering shows well on the cardboard.

 

There are autographs of course.  This is my second complaint - stickers.  Sticker autos should be banned, outlawed, run out of town...etc.

 

 

I don't know much about this young man, but will hang on to this card for a while.  He must be a promising rookie. Insignificant Signatures...wonder why this idea hasn't taken hold?

 

MY NAME IS PABLO. WHAT'S YOURS?

This scan doesn't highlight the foil lettering but it's a good-looking card and the only one up for grabs!  Numbered 18/99

 

This card is one terrific pull!  Hank Greenberg is one of my faves and I'm also fond of Kiner:

 

 

It's a keeper, numbered 8/25.  Again the foil didn't scan well.  Truly gorgeous card! If that wasn't enough to make me do a little dance, this next card had me wa-hooing:

 

 

Legendary indeed! One of my earliest player collections, Frank Thomas.  While I don't keep all of his cards, I'm hanging on to this Sweet Hurt for now!

 

This was a fun box to rip. I picked up a singles lot on Ebay cheap, which finished out the set.  I'll be sharing my extras in upcoming mail outs. 

 

I hope everyone stateside had a good holiday.  I'm thankful for you my new friends,  all over this big blue marble.

                                                                                               



That 70's Hoyle

Mark Hoyle is a good friend to many card collecting bloggers.  He contributes through commentary and trades but is not yet, and may never be, a blogger.  Blogging takes time, and who ever has enough?  Even now, I'm three posts behind sharing all the superb cards recently received.  (I'm posting in order though, and you're next.)  

 

Mark sent nothing but Tigers!  How could he have known? There are no clues anywhere, on any of my posts or pages.

 

                                                             1974 Topps                              1973 Topps

       Mike Heath on a lemon-flavored 1990 Classic       Nokes 88 Fleer
                                                      93 Triple Play Tettleton             Hernandez, 89 (yawn) Fleer

I've been stuck in the 70s for a while now. I live in some weird time continuum, leaving the decade just long enough to work.  I can't wait to rush home through my beaded entryway and turn on the Bee Gees. Thank God for ME TV!  The Bionic Man, Emergency, Charlie's Angels.  There's always a good VHS movie at hand too!  Couldn't tell you how many times I've watched Jaws and Grease! The 70s were like any other decade with its own troubles - Vietnam, Watergate and ended as the Iranian Hostage Crisis began.  There were good times too! PONG video game thrilled us for hours on end. The first Star Trek Convention was held in NYC. The cost of a first-class stamp was 8 cents!

                                                           GLORIOUS!                 1972 TOPPS

In 1972, we lost Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Among the HOF inductees were Yogi Berra, Early Wynn, Sandy Koufax, Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard.  Hank Aaron became the first baseball player to sign for $200,000 a year.  Tigers shortstop Ed Brinkman played an errorless streak of 72 games with 331 total chances.  The Oakland As won the championship.

In 1972, I was an innocent 8 year old discovering music.  As I recall, my favorite song that year was Brand New Key by Melanie.  (I was eight!)  What I knew about baseball were the Reds and Pete Rose.  For some reason known only to God, I had a crush on Pete.  This was a good year in my young life.

                                                                    Billy, don't be a hero

Mark, thank you for the mini-trip.  I so appreciate these cards and love adding them to my collection!

Just in the Nick of Dime

A patient young man named Nick Dimeboxes sent a fun batch of cards to me, oh say 3-4 weeks ago.  Yep, I'm that far behind posting all the fantastic cards I've received from my new friends.  By the time I finish writing this cracked edition, these cards may well be vintage.  I'm already vintage, so for that matter I may well be dead.

Speaking of dead...

2011 Allen & Ginter minis sent a tingle down my spine. The Borden story is a familiar one. Bachelor's Grove Cemetery had me searching the net. Grove is an abandoned cemetery in Chicago's southwest suburbs. Burials date back to the 1840s, possibly earlier.  Chicago's organized crime families may have dumped victims there back in the 20s and 30s but this is unproven. Orbs, electronic voices, angels, monks and ghostly figures carrying infants during a full moon as well as a two-headed ghost have been seen. 

The Villisca Axe Murders remained unsolved. In June of 1912, six members of the affluent Moore family and two house guests were gruesomely murdered in Villisca, Iowa.  Six of the deceased were children.  Definitely uninviting...but you're welcome to spend the night (?)

                                                       

                                                              2014 Panini Golden Age

 

While we're on the topic of death and angels...Farrah Fawcett, icon of the 70s.   The 1970s are my decade.   I was quite saddened when she passed.  Her death was somewhat overshadowed by Michael Jackson's departure on the same day.  But on to happier things....

 

 

Happier?  We - lost - the - playoffs!  2012 Archives for Victor here. While I love having Archived cards, these are too difficult to identify by year without looking at the backs.  2012 Heritage (1963 Topps) is a good-looking card set.

 

 

 I like the 2010 T206 design. Good cardstock and nice finish on the card. Mr. Porcello is all sparkly and throwing hard for Topps 2011 Diamond Anniversary.  Ricky, what about us?   Eric Munson  2001 Pacific, the Tigers number one pick in the June 1999 draft.  Oopsie.

 

                                                                          2013 Gypsies

                                                     2014                                              2012

 

Of the three, I prefer the 2014 design.  Alex Avila is becoming one of my fave catchers too. I like the guy, couldn't tell you why just yet. 

                                                                             1973 TOPPS

                                     1997 FLEER contest entry                1979 TOPPS

Two 1973 Topps found an accepting home. These cards are only a few years younger than me.  They've kept their figure trim and complexion bright. A little wear around the edges with a couple of wrinkles, I can relate.   Parrish is looking a bit better, standing a little taller and sharp all around.  A few years does make a difference!  The Fleer was a multi-sport issue, 50 cards - one per pack. Cards 46-50 were extremely short-printed.  The first 45 cards in the set could be mailed in along with one of the sp cards to win a shopping spree from $100 - $1000 in their LCS.  The collector who found and redeemed all 50 cards would win a million in cash, payable over twenty years. Any winners out there?

 

 1972 Topps, a very favorite design year!  I hope I live long enough to see this issued in Heritage!  Miggy finds himself on a 2013 Archives edition.  Norm has a LOT of tar on that bat!  Did George see this card?

 

National Baseball Hall of Fame

                            

                                                              2013 PANINI COOPERSTOWN

Slap an old-timer on cardboard and a few of us are sure to buy it!  If the cards look nice,  we may even attempt a set assembly.  I'm putting the 2012 Cooperstown set together now.  I like the looks of it a bit better than 2013 but still eat these up!  I love the name framed with the Hall entry date.

2012 Panini Cooperstown

 

                                                 2013 PANINI HOMETOWN HEROES

 

 Many of us have shared our Panini opinions - missing logos etc.  This is a good example of a winning design!  I LOVE THESE!  The backs could use a little work but forgiveness comes easily with the bright yellow fronts, pennants, current and retired player selection.

 

Turn me over, please

 



 

2006 SP Legendary Cuts Greenberg.  This set rocks!  I've been picking up singles at my not-so-local CS. A great design showing off  Legendary Players from days of yore!   1987 Topps Tiny Trammell.   Avila stickin' it to ya on a 2012 Topps sticker, of course.  2013 Golden Age Bill Freehan.  This is the only Freehan card I've seen that gives me jeebies. He appears so deformed.  No neck, long jawed, with an unusually large arm and makeup.  Ty Cobb appearing on 2011 Topps Kimball Champions.  I haven't seen many of these cards or I'd have been scooping them up, keeping them all for myself.  Classy design!

 

I've enjoyed all of these cards!  An incredibly diverse selection, Nick has a knack for touching on all my interests.  My collector's craving these days is heavy on Ty Cobb.  This grouping will hold me over for a little while:

                                                          

                                                                TYRUS RAYMOND COBB

                                       2013 Allen & Ginter                     2014 Panini Golden Age

                                               2013 Turkey Red                   2003 Flair Greats

 

I stopped collecting just in time to miss out on  Flair Greats.  Another trip back in time is required.  Super nice card design! 

 

Nick, thank you again for such a fun package, and being patient for the time it took to get these shared.  I do enjoying showing off the cards I receive from my trading buddies!

 

I may be absent for a week at a time so please, don't write me off!  I'm not dead...yet.

 

                                                     BACHELOR'S GROVE CEMETERY

 

French Toast

Kevin Papoy sent a package of cardboard collectibles all the way from France (cuz well, he lives there.)  I looked up papoy after discovering his blog, The Card Papoy.  Apparently papoy  is a word that means toy, used by the minions in the movie Despicable Me.  (I'm obviously out of touch with the modern world, surprised by my ability to use today's technology.)  If there is a better definition, do share it with me!

I received a good number of cards not yet in my collection:
                                           
                                                                                 1996 Leaf

       96 SP              95 Upper Deck       93 Upper Deck

 

I enjoyed Leaf issues when I began collecting in 93. I would've preferred less border and more picture on the 96 cards but thought the backs were attractive. Simple stat lines, team logo, two pictures, player name and info without appearing overly cluttered.    96 SP was a nice-looking release though I would've left off the inset photo. Great bunting shot on this Trammel!    95 Upper Deck, simply and beautifully designed. One of my favorite Upper Deck releases.  Kirk is looking quite fit in this pic.  The blurred background appears to hide a limo and hearse, but I could be wrong.  The back of the 1993 Upper Deck card is clean. Good size pic, personal info and a few years of stats.

 

A couple of Hennemans from 94 Upper Deck. I never cared for the smaller photo on the card front but the overall photography is great. One of these is an Electric Diamond, an early 90s parallel.   Cecil looking a bit lost on this 94 Collector's Choice CL card. I like this pic.  Fryman calling his shot (a strike-out) on this UD, also from 95.

Andy Dirks, now a Blue Jay. I hope he has a chance for regular play as a Jay.  I'll certainly keep up with him but will miss his fan-friendly personality - 2013 Topps Emerald foil.  The back of the 93 Stadium Club Fryman reads ...Fryman is being talked about as the next major star - the next Cal Ripken, people are saying.  After a 13 year career:  .274,  223hr, 1022 rbi  in 1698 games.   Ripken gave us nearly 20 years with 3001 games played:  .276,  431 hr,  1695 rbi.    Beloved Sparky Anderson, one of only two managers (La Russa being the other) to win the World Series in both leagues. With the Tigers he held a W/L record 895/777.  Sparky is featured on a CL from 96 Upper Deck, another very attractive set.    Cecil is featured on a Silver Slugger insert from 91 UD and 2013 A&G, both great additions to the Fielder collection.

                                           1996 Stadium Club                        2010 Upper Deck

 

I believe these two attractive Stadium Clubs are the first Tigers I have from the 1996 issue.  All World Insert from UD of the new Venezuelan Mayor. 

Mike Piazza - a personal collection favorite.  Featured is the CL from 96 Score and a gorgeous die-cut, refractorish insert from 97 Upper Deck.  I've never seen this card. FANTASTIC addition to the Piazzas!

The first nine cards of 1997 Upper Deck featured the gifted and talented Jackie Robinson.  These are cards 6 and 7.  Le Frenchman Papoy is toying with me here.  Now I need (must have) the other seven cards. 

Kevin, thank you for the terrific assortment of cards!  I'm gradually updating my Collecting tab with items needed which includes cards from 2013 Topps Cut To the Chase insert series and 2014 Stadium Club base. 

I recently received my first official PWE.  Pat over at Hotcorner sent several great cards which I managed to mix into my collections without scanning.  I truly live up to the name Cracked Bat. Fat little packages also arrived, sent by Mark Hoyle (our community activist/non-blogger), Marcus Pond at Backstop,  Michael Kaiser's Orange and Black, and one just yesterday from Jared, the Masked One.  I'll share these soon, first up will be from Mr.Ten Cents, Nick.

Here's a toast to Kevin, living several thousand miles away and close as the send button. Thank you for your generosity!

Keep it Pink!