I Love the Smell of a Trading Post ... er, Spot?

Ahhhhhhhhh.  The sweet aroma of a freshly broken pack of cards.  It ranks right up there with the smell of a new book and freshly ground coffee.  I begin each morning with a fresh cup and a great book. Both are equally difficult to put down as I scoot out the door.  If I were to work  play with cards in the morning, unemployment would be a likely reality. 

Fortunately, this isn't MY problem.  Tim loves the smell of cardboard in the mornings, so much so that he named a blog after his habit, which in turn feeds mine. Don't let him tell you he's not addicted.  It's a little thing called denial. 

 

A great sticker and a MLB Showdown Steal.  Fister is new to me and the mini is not so small.  It only takes one card, no matter the size to send you spiraling into addiction.  Trust me on this.

Simon is gold and Farmer, a luscious purple which won't be shared by my scanner.  I love purple cards!  The other four fellas are all refractors.  If you ever had any doubt, confident men can wear pink  - and look good doing so!

Tim included a nice but unscannable auto, which isn't legible anyway - smnlhks - near as I can make it out.  The patch card is super nice.  I have mini Ginter relics but believe this is the first regulation size Ginter in my collection.

Tim closes out the team bagged boys with three fancy refractors from 2015 Topps Chrome.  Great, great stuff Tim and always appreciated!!!

Whoa there cowboy,  we aren't quite done here just a-yet.  Hitch yourself right up to the Trading Post and take a look at these little fancies from Johnny - Johnny's Trading Spot that is.

This tall boy is Mr. Bill Freehan and he has a story to tell.  In 1964, he became the first Tiger catcher to bat .300 in 29 years - from page 5.  Both of these are from 1970. That's a right good-looking Topps Super!

City Boys from 1994 Upper Deck All-Time Heroes

 

 

Bring on the appetizers Johnny! 1977 and 1978 Hostess, 1988 Chef Boyardee

 

 

There aren't many people who dislike pizza - unless it's from Domino's.  I enjoy thin crust pizza and think they get a bad rap.  Of course, I live in the country and can't be too choosy.  If they deliver to my place, there's a good chance I'll try it.  It's the cheese blend and spices that make me have the second and third piece.  It's not a slice really because the pizza is cut into squares.   How do I know when I've had my three slices with all the little squares??  When it's half is gone? 

 

Here's a 1988 Complete Team set from the pizza whose crust is often compared to cardboard.  I happen to LOVE cardboard!

 



Often simplicity equals beauty.  I find this most often true with any release by TCMA.  White borders, no logos or any distracting words/fonts.  Simple.  These are from 1978, from a set of 293 cards.  I'll pursue the entire set one day but happy for now to have these Tigers.

Johnny, thanks for a great batch of oddballs cards!  Love them all!

Thank you for reading.  I hope you haven't been waiting to find out just what does a trading spot smell like?   Perhaps we'll seek to answer this question, another time. Preferably on someone else's blog.

Packing It Up

The packing is growing old, and quickly.  All the books and most cards are packed.  It's the little stuff getting to me. My desire for organization will not allow for packing random items in the same box; e.g. waffle iron and used soap collection. But I must, to make best use of space in the moving truck aka U-Haul.  I need to be finished by the end of day Wednesday.  Thursday through Sunday are scheduled fun days: one last Ranger game, possibly Six Flags, a day spent at my beloved LCS - 28 miles away, one more visit to Half Price Books and meeting up with friends for a meal or two.  On Monday, the wheels roll north. 

 

As an excuse to put off packing a bit longer, I wanted to share some mail goodies from generous blogger pals.   Kaiser the Great from Orange and Black Wax did a bit of shopping and knocked a few items off  my want list.  It's really more of a need  list. But you understand this.

 

 



1985 Topps Father/Son subset card

1991 Topps

 

KTG sent a message that he had the Whitaker rc I needed to complete my 78 Topps team set.  I appreciate the time he took to choose a few cards to send along with it.  Kaiser has disappeared again.  He's been caught in an 80s time continuum but will hopefully return once the time machine spits him out.

 

Foul Bunt Orioles blogger William Regenthal surprised me with a nearly complete team set from 1987 Topps.  Added to the cards I already owned, I can cross this year off my needy little list.

 

 

He also tucked in four Gehrigs, all new to my collection.

 

                                    2010 Topps Vintage Legends             2011 Topps Lineage

                                   2010 Topps Vintage Legends                  2013 GQ

 

2011 Lineage was issued a couple of years before my return to collector's paradise. I looked up the set on Cardboard Connection for a little background. I will agree with the reviewer that these cards are comparable to a Topps flagship design.   Too bad Topps wasted a good idea on their only Lineage release. It's a Topps design I actually like.  Thanks William! I hope to return the kindness in the near future.

 

The last package I'll share tonight is from Tim, the Smelly Cardboard Guy.  Tim burst into the blogging world in December and has made friends quickly, trading like the Bull market!  He sent over a colorful lot of cards - which by the way, do not  stink. 

 

 

 My first 2015 Bowman Tigers, including a chrome Kubitza and mini- Farm's Finest Derek Hill.

 

Purple-licious Topps with purple foil Avila - Toys R Us perhaps? Victor appears courtesy 2015 Donruss.

2003 Bowman Chrome refractor Pena;  2011 Bowman's Best design Cabrera and a 2010 exfractoring Ordonez.  That one scanned pretty well!

 

1995 Bowman's Best Fryman w/guest Expo Michael Barrett.  2014 Topps Cabrera, hot-looking foil! 

 

 

 2011 Topps Blue Parallel Martinez;  2008 SP Authentic Matt Joyce; 1997 Score Sierra Private Stock parallel; 1994 O-Pee-Chee Fryman; 2001 Fleer Platinum Cruz 007/201.   Tim's doing a great job so far.  What's left?

 A 1983 Yankee yearbook TCMA insert, neatly separated from his paged companions!

 1968 Topps baseball game Al Kaline!  What a gem! A very cool surprise!

 

2012 and 2015 GQ framed Ripkens

 

 

One more card from Tim to share with you - 2003 Topps Bazooka Joe in his Tiger duds:

 



 

 

I got a kick out of this card because of a recent purchase made on a trip to OKC.  My Sis and I stopped into a vintage antique shop.  I caught this little guy smiling at me from across the room.  The price was right at only five dollars.  Joe was clean and in excellent shape.  

 

So far the neighbors aren't gossiping about my new and much younger roommate.  I'll say this, Joe is pretty worthless when it comes to helping me pack. When I begin to complain, he smiles that little smile - at least he did til I shoved him in a plastic bag and packed him up with the waffle iron and soap!

 

Tim, thanks much!  I'll work on a Yankee gathering for you soon!

 

 

Sniffing Out a Trade

Tim recently offered a bar of gold for trade on his sweet-smelling blog.   The golden Miguel Cabrera was impossible to ignore.  We'd recently completed our first trade which left me running low on Yanks.  Tim and I worked it out though.  My idea of Yankee leftovers was a fresh plate for Tim. I had cards he wanted!   Behold the 2015 Topps Golden Idol and offering highlights from  I Love the Smell of Cardboard in the Morning:

 

A great assortment of Tigers here.  I simply love cards with raised faux seams! 2009 Sweet Spot has a delightful texture; a design hit with me.  I can't stop touching these cards.  The 2013 Opening Day Ballpark Fun duo reflects the feeling of elation I receive from the game of baseball itself... and in collecting these little pictures of grown men.

More Cabrera and a sweet 75 Topps nod to the 68 World Series MVP pitchers.  I appreciate the Martinez 2012 Red Topps.  I'm looking for cards depicting Victor in catcher's gear.  Love the plate shot!

What?  You didn't know Babe was a Tiger?  I do collect a few Yanks, though admittedly most are deceased. A nice assortment of retired stars in this scan. Most unique? Old Virgil Fire Trucks.  His name alone is standout!  This treat is from TCMA; a 1983 Yankee Yearbook insert neatly cut and separated from its page mates.

 

Tim did NOT forget the distracting, shiny things!  A couple of minis snuck their way into the scan too.  Minis - not to be trusted.  I'm always suspicious of these small statured pieces of cardboard trying to prove they are equal to or better than, grown up cards.  Napoleon complex.

Chris and Juan are refracting and Fryman wants an appeal but the jury is undecided.  Nice on-card from The Nook, 2003 Bowman's Best.  Avisail Garcia RC in emerald garnish!  That's a beauty!  I'm collecting Castellanos pretty heavily.  He needs some patience at the plate, striking out too often. Nick is currently a favorite Tiger.  Any Tiger not found  on the DL tends to be a favorite right now.

Tim sent 50 cards for what was originally a one card trade.   Who can complain when this happens?  Looking forward to a third round!  Thanks much Tim!