Trading Places

I'm counting down the days.  Trading good Tex-Mex for Buddy's Pizza;  100+ degree days in July for a rare 90 degree day during summer; tornados for snow and the Texas Rangers for my Detroit Tigers -  I'm moving.  My Texas sunsets are numbered.  I've grown tired of the concrete and traffic, and have reached that time in life when a reassessment is necessary.  Over the last few years I've spent a good bit of vacation time in North Carolina and Michigan, knowing one would someday become home.  It's time to be closer to family, and settle in for the second half of a wonderful life.

 

The nice cards I received from Gavin during one of his Baseball Card Breakdowns  coincided with my thoughts of an early retirement - before turning gray-headed!

 

                                        2004 Topps Retired Signature

                                                                                  2001 Fleer Greats of the Game

 

 

These are attractive cards printed on shiny, heavy cardboard. The theme for 2001 Topps Archives was based on reprints of  many rookie cards  and last card appearances.  Topps went back to 1952 and stretched it out to the year 2000 for a 450 card set.  If I'd purchased these cards upon their initial release only to find reprints from the previous year...well it's just like Topps.  No surprise would be a surprise. 

 

My move isn't quite an early out.  I'm fortunate to work for an accounting firm with offices in nearly every state.  My employer is working on a transfer at this time.  I'll take a short leave of absence beginning May 15th to start the move process and settle into my new home. When I return to work during the first week of July, I'll be the rookie in a new office.

My singular complaint with this Archives edition is the tiny print on the reverse side.  Assembling this set could not have been an easy feat! The actual card number is in miniscule print on the copyright line. At my age, a larger font would've been appreciated.

 

Gavin included two cool cards from 1991 Orioles Crown, a 501 card series offered by Crown Gasoline and Coca Cola.  Smaller cards at 2 1/2 by 3 1/8 inches:

 

The dreaded part of any move is packing. Most all my cards have already made the move ahead of me.  I kept only the accumulation of cards set aside for my regular trade friends - once moved and unpacked, I hope to make new trade buddies too.  Of course I continue to shop, which only adds to the burden. Such a terrible burden...  

I came home from work recently to find a somewhat large box waiting for me.  Something else to move.  The return address revealed this to be from a trade partner...one of the  Boys of Summer.  Michael  Orange and Black Wax Kaiser began blogging during the 2014 season and mysteriously disappeared as soon as his team won the Series.  Back like Spring Training, Mike is stuck in the 80's.  Perhaps you can drop by his blog and call him back to reality.

Wow! Perfect!  I need the bubble-wrap right now!  All those bubbles to protect this fabulous original artwork by Kaiser the Great!  A very awesome sketch of Paws with Lou Seal, the Giants mascot. Lou Seal is a call back to the minor league San Francisco Seals, 1903-1957.  His head weighs 25 pounds!

 While the box wasn't 25 pounds, it wasn't feather weight either.  I dug a bit more and found this:

 Mike thought he'd collect bobbleheads but decided they take up a lot of space, are expensive and most likenesses aren't very good!  A probable Chinese Heritage Night giveaway, Paws did not defect his team.  I will proudly display this next to my only other bobbleheads: Rowdy Redhawk and the Grinch, both packed or a picture would be shared.

Gavin and Mike, thank you!  2001 Archives are great looking additions to my collection, and the Asian Tiger...he can be tamed.
 

Johnny's a Brave Trader

He is  pretty brave after all, trading with a cracked bat.  Johnny's Trading Spot sent a fat package of cards in mid-December.  I came home from holiday in January to a generous offering of Conlons and Tigers!  He sent a USPS priority box filled with a couple hundred sweet pieces of cardboard.  It was my first trade with John.  I'm so sorry it's taken so long to share some of these cards with all of you!

 

   I always enjoyed Pinnacle brand.  These 1992 Tigers look somewhat subdued next to  their hypnotic 1998 Fleer Skybox counterparts.

 

 

I have yet to learn the art of scanning foil cards in a way that reflects their often colorful designs.

Here's a snapshot of the Justin Thompson card which shows off a bit of the 3D design.



 

 

 

Studio became a regular addition to my collection beginning with the full bleed issue of 1993.  These cards are from 1992, and 1991 respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Topps Archives Doug Fister and Austin Jackson.  I am among the collectors who find Archives irritating and perhaps unnecessary especially with Heritage already regurgitating classic designs. The 1972 design is among my top Topps.  I truly appreciate trades that include my Tigers on these newer issues as I don't purchase more than a random pack or two.

 



 

2008 A&G  and 2012 GQ - also products which get no more than a blaster box of my collecting dollars.

 

 

I liked 1995 Topps overall.  Were we so far removed from this issue in 2001?  Really Topps?  An Archive? 

 

 

 

John included a rather large stack of Conlons which I'll share a little later on.  I was elated with the number of cards he sent.  I had a lot of fun going through these and could only share a small amount here. I appreciate the generosity!!!  If you haven't read Johnny's Trading Spot, do check out his blog.  He's a Braves fan and John Elway collector.

 

Thanks for your patience!  You helped complete several older team sets. I'm saving Braves for you, John.