The Man With the Golden Age

In 1955, Frank Sinatra starred in the classic drama, The Man with the Golden Arm. Frank portrays a drug addict who gets clean while in prison. Once released, he struggles to stay clean. The actual drug is apparently never identified in the movie but it's believed to be heroin. I'm a fairly straight-laced gal. I've never been interested in drugs of any kind and can't begin to imagine the struggles of the drug addict.

Not you, Cowboy

If it is one, my addiction is that to which many collectors can relate. Cardboard. As some addicts say, I can quit any time.  Yeah, sure I can. Covid-umpteenth has made it much easier to say no to the new stuff but I do miss the smell of Panini Prizm.  So maybe I'm getting my new card high one piece at a time?  I won't say, but eBay is such a pusher. Still, there are other ways to get my fix. Sometimes it takes a blog pal; the man with Golden Age.

Tip Top - Bread For Energy.  Personally, I like to spend mine.

2013 Panini Golden Age. I miss this product! Golden Age managed to tickle that space in my brain dedicated to the 60s and 70s.  Goldy also included those old dead guy ballplayers I've oft mentioned. So who was it out there that sought to fill a void in my collection? Who knew I needed these cards, and quickly?  Jon Pennysleeves. He went right down my list, crossing off card after card, after card, so on and so forth, ad infinitum. Well, maybe not endlessly but as much as the mailer would allow which was 55 cards plus an oversized hero.

DeLong - for the good old days

Playing Cards - care to join me in a game of Solitaire?

All that remains is the faces and the names, of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

What a sweet fix! Every one of these cards was on my wantlist. Jon made a huge dent in this set. Those remaining are:

I've been chasing the inserts but in my heart of hearts, I know the base cards are in my future. I've decided to dedicate a binder to Golden Age. Oh yes. And where does this slippery slope lead - 2012 or 2014, the only other years for G.A.?  Is it possible for one to fall down both sides of said slope?

Even with all these ageless beauties, Jon knew it wasn't enough. So into the mailer went Bazookas.

2017 ARCHIVES  '59 Bazookas, obtained in the Covid 19 era 2020

SIX CARDS TO GO

He topped it off with confetti!!

2011 Topps Kimball Champions minis

Kimballs don't appear to be overly popular but I've loved these since I spied them at a 2015 card show. Yep, that's right. Fours years after release. I didn't return to collecting until 2012. At that time, I was asking - who is Mike Trout?  Holy moly, Jon! You are a crazy man. And for that, I am thankful!

Still a chunk left...

Let's switch gears a moment, for an announcement. It's time to follow-up on our first election battle between candidates 87 Sportflics Team Preview Set and 88 Topps Glossy Send-Ins. Of the 34 total votes, two were foreign interference, one for each candidate. I love this twist! With voting this close, it is possible our northern neighbors could actually sway an election! In this case however, the outcome would have been the same: 18 for Sportflics and 16 for Glossy.  Topps fared well and could be seen again at a later date.  Sportflics goes into the ballot box! Every voter has been recorded, along with their selection. Another opportunity is coming soon.

Sportsflics tells the Real One to stick it.

Jon's generosity is well-known. There were a lot of smiles in that mailer including an Exhibits box topper featuring 60s/70s hero, Evel Knievel. He was a crazy stunt biker who wasn't always successful. Knievel's history of crashes is the stuff of legend.  Evel's image in his red, white and blue suit with cape are burned into my memory. The jump that made him famous and nearly killed him, was over the fountains of Caesar's Palace in 1967. This card was a BIG want; a timeless image. Until I have a Golden Age binder, this will fit perfectly into the pop culture collection. Thank you, Jon!

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