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Saturday, July 25, 2020

Vrooom Vrooom to the Astrodome!

Get your motor running, head out on the highway. Astrodome our final destination. I took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. They tell me it's gone to the rats. The beloved landmark still stands, thanks to the Texas Historical Commission.  The Alamo and Astrodome are now equals. No chance of demolition or renovations without a THC permit. My memories of the Dome are greater than the those of Alamo. I paid a singular visit to each during my time in Texas. Which one sold 24 oz draft beers for two dollars? Yeah.

Let's catch a ride with Vrooomed of TCDB fame. The lack of a blog presence doesn't keep Dan from trading. He used my TCDB wantlist to fill some pockets in a couple of pages back in May. [Reminds me...the PP page will be live again in just a couple of days...wink.] Dan's a Phillie fanatic and Daulton collector. He sent a few for the Dutch binder:

Ultra, Score and Private Stock

He's a man of many stickers though I doubt we'd find any Fleer on his bumper. All of my Fleer sticker needs can be found on my TCDB list.


While I may be scaling back on new Hawk additions, there is always room for vintage. Like these 71/72 Topps beauties!



Pedal to the metal as we arrive at Marc's place, Remember the Astrodome. {Please use this new link to update your reading list if you've had trouble finding him.} Marc has a TCDB presence as well. He's been busy with life so his posts are infrequent but he is still collecting. He needs to pick it up a bit if he's ever going to catch up to my Altuves.


It's a friendly competition, as we continue to trade Altuves. He recently sent six for my PC:




Altuve was a hitter before the scandal and will continue to be. It may take a trade or contract with another team for him to find some redemption. Feel free to send your unwanted Altuves my way. Speaking of redemption - how about this one, also from my wantlist:



The Hurling Nun:


I love this Sister! From the mound!! Yes! That's for the folder of fun [P-Town], a favorite new card in my collection.

************

And now, it's time for another election round where you choose your next Cracked Bat Ballot Box Candidate! Before we hear what these hacks have to offer, a review of the rules is required.



CANDIDATE A: 1988 Score Young Superstars Series One and Two
80 cards of the glossy fare, vying hard for your vote today. What politician doesn't show his best face during the debates? Rhetorically speaking, of course. The list is actually long. Checklists for both series are found here and here. Score burst onto the scene in 1988 and wasted little time flooding the hobby with cards.

SERIES ONE


SERIES TWO

CANDIDATE B:  Three years of Topps League Leaders Minis. Complete sets of 1986  1987  1988.  These little cards have been appearing in trade packages for years, trying to influence your vote. 1986 and 1988 differ little on their fronts. 1987 is the same design wrapped in famous faux wood borders with slightly different font. I'm rather fond of the backs. These sets contain a nice assortment of stars and passing fan favorites - fellows who led the league one year and faded away just as quickly. Checklists are  1986  1987  1988.




Review the rules........and away we vote!


54 comments:

  1. Hmmm...two sets featuring lots of players we all have lots of cards of. I think I'll go with the Score just because the backs are interesting. Candidate A.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Candidates may not always be popular but they run anyway. Score thanks you for your vote.

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  2. Voting for Candidate A.

    #SizeMatters

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  3. Some more foreign interference here.. *tamper tamper* lol

    As much as I want to go with A because I can see Expos in there....
    I can't deny the power of the Astros uniformed Nolan Ryan...

    B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. exactly why I put Nolan on top of the stacks. your vote was influenced. lol!

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  4. A. I like the bigger better and the colors too

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  5. Glad you enjoy your cards! I enjoy the ones you have sent my way as well.
    As for the vote - I'll go with B. Much more Star power there.

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    Replies
    1. agree with the B but my vote doesn't count. 8^D

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  6. I agree that both Dan and Marc are awesome. Is it just me or does it sometimes seem like Dan (Vrooomed on TCDb) and Night Owl are the same person? (Except Night Owl's blog posts have fewer typos than Dan's forum posts, lol.)

    This Topps fanboy votes for B, even though I have none of these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your vote may net you all the minis above - good luck!

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  7. Steppenwolf! Born To Be Wild. "A" great band from many days ago. One of my favourites. Some of their song lyrics from then are applicable today. Thanks for letting me interfere. I am now going to You Tube and listen to some Steppenwolf.

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    1. 60s/70s my favorite blend! Thanks for the A-vote!

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  8. Got to go with candidate B. Those minis always escaped me during my childhood collecting days. And I like the design of the card backs (I wonder if some voters don't take card backs seriously enough - but it's important!)

    As for the rest of the post, using Fleer stickers as bumper stickers? Interesting...

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    Replies
    1. Door dings? Fleer sticker. And those mini backs are grand.

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  9. Great things come in small packages.

    My vote is for Candidate B.


    Play Ball!

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  10. Candidate A. I love the Young Superstars series.

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  11. I'll choose Candidate B for this one.

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  12. I've got both sets of sets (?) and I'm voting A because they're nicer cards.

    Pee Wee's Big Adventure has ruined a historical landmark for me, because just the mere mention sparks memories of Jan Hooks saying "There's no basement at the Alamo!"

    Fleer sticker wants, you say? (He says as he scurries off to the aforementioned wantlist... no promises, tho).

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    Replies
    1. Love PWBA! So many great sight gags. I'd forgotten all about the tour guide. Fun stuff!

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  13. Congratulations on being the #1 ranked Altuve collector on TCDB. That's a pretty cool honor. As for this poll, my vote goes to Candidate A.

    p.S. Received your care package. My plan is to open it up today. Thanks in advance.

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    1. In 2012, I wanted to own all the Altuves. I'll take what glory I can get. LOL. You are welcome.

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  14. A - Those high gloss cards from Score were so cool.
    Thanks for the video of Sister Mary Jo. She wore #60 on her back because that was the speed of her fastball. I love it!

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  15. I'll vote A, an underrated '80s oddball set.

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  16. "b". funny you should mention Fleer stickers. Just yesterday put a handful in a trade box. Guess I need to get them out of there.

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    Replies
    1. I don't need too many. My lists are on the TCDB. Puhlease don't bury me in stickers I can't use. :)

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  17. I'll go with A.
    My five year old had not had a haircut since before coronavirus hit. We finally gave him a buzz cut yesterday. Before that his hair looked exactly like Daulton's in that Private Stock card!

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  18. Gotta go with A. Don't think I've ever seen more than one or two of those at the same time. Never liked the mini leader thingys...

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  19. Replies
    1. Minis get the last vote - but will they win this round and join Sportflics in the ballot box??

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  20. Thanks all for your votes! Balloting closed.

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  21. This might come as a shock, but I'm going to cast a vote for A, because I *love* those score Young Superstar cards. Great backs, a little thicker, gloss coat, and just a nice design.

    I had several more Altuves in a pile for you, but when I checked your TCDB listings I had to whittle them down a bit! Holy smokes, you're way out in front of me now! I've got a pretty comfy lead on the next few guys, though. I'm okay with second place so long as someone who loves Altuve as much as I do – and I'm pretty sure you do – is in that top spot.

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    1. Altuve is my main current player PC. I had to make a tough decision this year since my income has changed. I continue to purchase Tuves but Springer, Bregman and retired Astros ingeneral are added by pack pull or via trades. I love the joy Altuve brings to the game. He has enormous talent! Was a hitter before 2017 and will continue to be. I'll have another candidate run in a week. Hope you stop by to vote! All winners are going to one fortunate recipient in November!

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  22. I vote B! And I always forget with so much tigery going on that you collect Altuve

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    1. I do love Tuve and those old Tigers in particular. Old = dead. LOL. Thanks for the vote. It missed counting this time but come back. Football coming up!

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  23. Congrats on being the #1 Jose Altuve collection on TCDB! I'm #1 for Aaron Sele.

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    1. Old Sox! Thank you! I watched Sele pitch for the Rangers. I think he was only with them a couple of good years with them. Fun to be number one!

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