CRACK, HABITS AND THE BUCKSTORE

A cheap crack habit? Nah. Not sure what the price for crack is these days but I'm certain it won't be found for a dollar anywhere. What you will find here are some excellent trade packages received over the past several months.

Dollar Store Doug sent packages in  November and as recently as June. I've found sending heavy duty PWEs over the Canadian border works well.  If it were only that easy to send cards overseas to France!   Doug, be watching your mail receptacle! Here are a few of my faves:

Party animal!

Do you like your Fu-Te-Ni's dirty?

When he's hot...he's hot. When he's not...he can't be traded.

Kivett is riveting in blue! Nice card and auto!

From 2014 Panini, the top card is extra extra extra extra thick - a short printed giveaway on Canada's Boxing holi-Day which falls on Dec 26th each year.  To say I know for certain what is celebrated on Boxing Day would be untrue. My internet pursuit revealed a couple of possibilities which may have both been true once or still are...  A: in the 17th and 18th centuries, wealthy employers gave boxed gifts to their employees on the day following Christmas. Boxes sometimes contained bonuses or leftovers.  Perhaps this tradition has morphed into B: after Christmas sales. 

Doug was thoughtful to send a couple of packages my way, knowing how slow I am on returns to Canada.  Checkout his blog! He's the king of repack breaks!

Brewer's blogger and  Alaska's own Collector's Crack also sent a couple of packages over the past few months. Mark picked out a great assortment of paper to send: autos, wild colors, old dead guys, a little Pacifico.

1993 Pacific

Cobb - my number one Dead Guy PC

Lots of Fire and Ice here (ice cold Miggy)

I won't apologize for giving Miggy flack. He's brought a lot of trouble on himself with poor decisions outside the game. Players are human and subject to the same challenges and temptations as any of us. Fortunately we don't share the same spotlight. If you want the big bucks, then perhaps you make better choices. Scrutiny is part of the game. Miggy appears to be on a rapid decline. I hope the past two years are exceptions. If 2019 shows no improvement, Miggy should man up  and walk away from his contract. 

01 Fleer Platinum/201    (2012 Ginter codes mini loaded!)   01 Donruss Class of 2001/1875

2013 Topps Silver Slate Blue Wrapper Redemption - a beauty!

14 Ginter Avila; 15 Chrome Moya; 16 Inception Ziomek

A nice finish with autos and colorful Elite.  Dominators are BOSS!

Mark, I can't top this package. I have a little something headed your way soon which includes a pack-pulled card from my own collection as a thank you! 

Judson talks Rangers at My Cardboard Habit. I've been dumping my Rangers on him for awhile now.  It felt great to empty out some old Ranger PCs that mean little to me anymore.  Frank Catalanotto, Mike Lamb, Hank Blalock, Ruben Mateo, Carlos Pena...the list is long but I sent those boys back to Texas! In return, he sent a fat mailer with a 100 or so cards.

2017 Ginter Box Topps - gorgeous!

2017 GQ Tigers

2017 Chrome Pink Refractor

I haven't been big on Ginter, picking up a few players here and there. 2017 wasn't much different but there was one insert set that got my attention with a good player selection and colorful design. Judson knocked quite a few off my want list.

2017 What A Day set builders

He included a few Castellanos goodies:

 I've accepted the fact that I'll be slow to share until more time is available. Short of winning the lotto or finding a new job, it ain't a happenin' soon. So thank you guys! You make me feel special!

I'll be completely away beginning Wednesday for possibly two weeks, or more.  I have a small surgery scheduled which will make typing a challenge. Good thing I'm a righty since my left arm will be recovering from ulnar compression depression. The funny bone isn't.  Not a bone and not humorous - no joke. 

Chopped, Nicked and Cynical

I've determined being one step ahead of the trade mail will not happen.  This is in no way, a complaint! Just yesterday, I received two more incredible packages: Off Hiatus Tony and Subjectively Arbitrary Brian.  Thank so much guys!  You do  know it will be the end of Summer before these are shared, right??

 

Mark  aka Cynical Buddha of Collector's Crack sent a great batch of cards in exchange for a big helping of 2015 Topps Update.  I was elated to see those cards out the door and on their way north - to Alaska.  It was a more than generous exchange because he included shiny cards, an auto and a low numbered Joc Pederson.  All for Update???  Let's Make a Deal!!

 

 

Another reminder from Verlander that Spring Training is upon us! 

 

 

2015 Topps Foil

 

 

Eulogio 'Frankie' de la Cruz, 31 years old and done. The card is better-looking than his short MLB pitching career numbers of  0-0 and 8.16 era and 11.57era with the Mud Hens. 

 

Have a Coke and a smile, along with a couple of great cards from 1981 Topps!

 

 

2015 Topps refractor of my favorite new catcher, James McCann.  I'm hoping big things for this young man. He appears to call a good game and hits the ball!

 

And finally, this gem of a card from Panini's 2015 Black Friday giveaway.  Thick and numbered 18/50,  Joc Pederson.  Super nice card to own!!

 

 

Mark, thank you - not just for these cards but for taking Update off my hands.  Oh I have more to ditch on some needy collector.  Just ask for it.  Please - ask.


Another fun blogger, Steve from the Card Chop, sent a another great mix :
 

 Special A&G minis with Jackson's reverse featuring an A&G back

 

 

old school Topps logos.  lovin' the throwback Stars uniform!

 

 

 

Verlanders, featuring 2008 Upper Deck.  The headline celebrates his no-hitter against the Brewers on June 12, 2007.

 

 2002 Topps Gallery - great design

 

The Gallery set is one I've paid little attention to.  I need to look over the checklist to see what I've missed.  A very clean design!

2009 Upper Deck 20th Anniversary Retrospective

 

2008 Stadium Club, showing off Comerica Park

The Great Ty Cobb

Steve included great vintage too, featuring Topps from 1969, 1961 and 1971.  Steve, thank you!  Thanks for your patience too!  I've been a bit overwhelmed but no less than appreciative!!


Do we have time for one more??  Why yes, we do.  Nick from the Dimebox took a little time to put together another fun package.  These always include the odd and a vintage card or two plus cards for my PCs. 

2015 Topps foil, base and gold

Shiny goods included a sweet holo-foiled Fielder from 94 Upper Deck Home Run Allstars.

 

The late Berra. 

 

 



 

 

I love adding these sets from Front Row featuring the All Time Greats. This 1995 issue pays tribute to HOFer George Kell: 19 years, 2054 hits, .305 average.

 

Nick hit a PC with Altuve.  Altuve loves the game and it shows with every play and at bat. I hope he's in the game for years to come.  I'd love to see Altuve stay with the Astros for the better part, if not all, of his career.  Odds of course are it won't happen. The Franchise Flashback features him in a Houston Eagles uniform, a Negro Leagues team in 1949/50.  Just an awesome and colorful card! I believe Nick pulled the patch card.  Thanks for thinking of me!  A great card to add!

 

 

 

This package from Nick would not be complete without a food issue and some vintage.  1981 Drake Bakeries Steve Kemp and Topps 1964 Lumpe and 1965 Lolich.  The 65 design is a hard one to beat.

 

 

Three great trade packages!  I highly recommend trading with these fellows!  Take a moment to check out their blogs.  Forthcoming on this blog will be a small box break for the newly formed Super Traders Group.  I'm honored to be included among them. I can't do high end cards but perhaps something from the early to mid-90s would be fun, like 91 Topps or Donruss.  Ok, that's a joke.  Just calm down everyone.  I'm not THAT cheap!