Nick's Book Nook and Card Shop

I hardly know where to begin with this particular share. If I were to save the best for last, you would skip right to the bottom of this post. I'm not catering to you.  And who has the final say of what's best?  Me. I'm the decider.

Nick (do not ask 'Nick, who?' ) sent an oversized package my way mid-February. This package could not have been more well-timed. A month later, Nick was laid-off from his job. Sometimes you ask for something so off the wall, well, there's just no way your wish will be fulfilled.  Did you ask Nick who? Nick might as well be Santa Claus.

He packed in the usual assortment of cardboard surprises which he has such a knack for doing.
How about a 75 Kaline? Check.

1971 O-Pee-Chee? Of course.

One card needed to finish your 2018 Fire set? No problem ma'am.

Pristine 2001 Topps Reserve in their refractory finest? Have two:

Magazine oddball - required.

       

 1993 UD Glowing Darren Daulton.  Happy to oblige!

A case of the 'no baseball blues'? Please, take one Champ Summers.

Crazy enough to build 2003 Topps Retired from one card? Here's your second. You're gonna need the help.

One scoop or two? Please, have four.

Holy smokes! It was a difficult narrowing down the scans to share only a handful of the 100 or so cards Nick sent.  [Are you still asking, 'Nick who'?]  I could ramble on at length about each card here but decided to save it for this lot. If there were 'best' cards in this package, lordy it must be these.  1961 Nu-Card Scoops should be found at the top of my vintage oddball want-list. Scoops are a delightful addition to the Tiger collection. I love the news headline design. Throughout all of my card show binges, I've only ever found one Nu-Scoop card, Mickey Cochrane card 419. This set would look fantastic in a binder. I have five cards. Anyone care to send the rest?

GO FUND ME

As much as I love this 80 card set, it isn't in the boo-jay - that's French for budget.  Perhaps when I have a few hundred to splurge, I can find a clean and complete set. Scoops are numbered 401-480. My best guess is numbering continued from previous sets although I've found only one: 1960 Nu-Card Highlights. However, it's numbered 1-72. If any of you have more info than this, please share in the comments.

IMAGE COURTESY OF TCDB

If you are still asking Nick who then I must ask you- have you been social-distancing on another planet?  He began blogging at the end of 2011. Dime Boxes should be on your required reading list.    

And if Nick's taking any suggestions, this post's title is a big ole hint!!! I'll join you Nick, and run the cafe. Nick may be laid off but when he's not, he's working for my favorite bookstore chain, Half Price Books. Books, records, magazines, games and some collectibles - I've never walked out of one empty handed. I was a regular customer - every weekend - at the flagship store in Dallas Tx. It's H-U-G-E! Before vinyl became a 'thing' again these past few years, I was quietly stocking up. I had no trouble finding most 60s & 70s albums in like new/nearly new condition for $5.99 or less. I'm talkin' Beatles for cheap!

I'm also a book junkie: history, memoirs, biographies, positive thinking...and baseball. All hold treasured space on my bookshelves. Nick asked if there were any books I might be looking for.  I mentioned one that had been on my Amazon list for a long time. A book out of print since 1991, originally published in 1973. There was no way he'd find a nearly new copy, ever.  A worn copy maybe, eventually.

Nick's reply?  This book came in just this past week!!  He happens to manage the sports section of the store.  I could not believe this good luck.  The hardbacks are simply unaffordable and a high quality paperback can run $30+ on the secondary market.  Beggars shouldn't be choosy but I am when it comes to books.  My own paperbacks are in like new condition: no tears, bends, and no broken spines, even after several readings! How is it that this 30 year old copy could meet my criteria?

The authors Boyd and Harris both worked for a bookstore. A customer inquired regarding books about baseball cards but these were yet to be written. They took it upon themselves to pen one.  After going through their childhood collection of cards from the 50s and 60s, the men chose an eclectic group of players as fodder for their prose. Most of the players represented are the lesser knowns, the fellas you always manage to pull from a wax pack four or five times - in four or five trips to the drugstore.

It was a fun read. I forced myself to put it down overnight and finish the second day. Not wanting to break the spine, I wasn't able to scan any of the contents to share.  Please accept my apologies for the phone pics.  Here's a peek into the thoughts of two collector pals in 1973:

At least Rip has some 'best' years.

The umpire heckled him.

What a juvenile prank.

What's up, Albie?

Know any good kneck kneck jokes?

Someday there will be nostalgia for the 70s, indeed.

Nick, I hardly know how to thank you. The cards were fantastic, with many new additions to the stash. The book however, was over the top. It will be treasured for many years to come.

I consider myself fortunate to have fallen in with our blogging community. My collection has grown immensely due to the generosities of bloggers like Nick.  With the extra hours afforded during the MI Stay At Home Order, I've had the opportunity to assess my collection. My next post will be an update on the new direction my cardboard hoarding has taken. What's old is new, so it seems. Until then, be well.

And for Pete's sake, read Nick's blog!