You Have Been Served

When you receive mail from an attorney, generally the enclosed message is not friendly in nature.  You are being sued or perhaps, served an ugly notice.  Fortunately the two pieces of mail I received a couple weeks apart were nothing to send me into hiding.

Our favorite Off Hiatus attorney, Tony, took time to send a trade package and a #supertrader special, shortly afterwards.  What a haul of oddity!  Let's start with some familiar cards:

 

2014 Donruss looks pretty good in comparison to 2016!  I'll be sharing some of these via PYE soon so you can make your own judgments there.  2016 = ugly.  I actually like the 2014 design.  No doubt I needed some of these to complete my team set!

2012 Topps Minis: to have and to hold.  I do love the size of these cards which fit so nicely in my hand.  A clean design from Topps; something more rare with every passing year.

A dosing of Kaline on 93 Spectrum Diamond Club - cards which I've seen little of with these being a bit more rare since they are promotional copies.

2015 Panini Contenders with a Texas theme.  Some of you may be unaware that I moved from Dallas this past Summer.  I'm currently in the midst of severe Tex-Mex withdrawals. It's been a struggle to say the least.   GIMME SOME ENCHILADAS WITH REAL CHILI ON TOP!!!   Wow, that was an ugly moment. Thanks for listening.   These cards feature Dallas Baptist University and  TCU Horned Frog prospects.   I never formed an allegiance to any of the Texas colleges but would've chosen the Horned Frogs simply for the mascot.

Three familiar brands in Topps, Conlon and Pacific.  Top left, the Ty Cobb is one of four cards included with The 1988 Baseball Card Engagement Book by Michael Gershman.  The card's picture is from an oil painting which appeared in a 1948 edition of SPORT magazine. 

Fun oddball selections here with one featuring Rick Greene's badly deformed right hand. Cecil's the right man for the job when it comes to promoting Jimmy Dean.  I noticed a couple buttons were airbrushed right off his jersey but overall, I love these cards.  Food issues are some of my favorites. 

I believe most, if not all of the following cards are Dover reprints.  I am super grateful for these because I have a couple of Dover booklets with no intentions of tearing them apart.

Cracker Jack dreams!  Most of us will never own original copies of these cards.  Tony, it was more than cool of you to send these cards across the blog-o-sphere!  I know other collectors are enjoying them too!

To finish our show and tell, this last group of cards features HOFer Hal Newhouser on 1993 Front Row Premium.  Hal passed in 1998 which makes the auto a bit more rare.  We all know how autos are becoming a dime a dozen, many will never reach more than a few dollars in high book value - if you pay attention to price guides.  Whether this card has any particular value matters not to me.  The hobby is not flooded with Hal Newhouser autographs.  I enjoy the Front Row series of all HOF players but am partial to those Tigers. 

If you want an attorney who is on your side, Tony is the man.  I appreciate the effort that goes into putting a package like this together.  His posts are well-researched gems, usually set to music.  I thought briefly about pulling a like-themed post together for these cards but knew I couldn't pull it off Tony-style.

Thank you Tony for serving up a couple of fantastic packages!

Yogi Come Home

There is little I miss in Texas.  The local hobby dealers and monthly card shows would be exceptions - those and good Tex Mex, oh and possibly winter...   A regular stop was a monthly visit to a seller I'll call Robert.  We became friends.  He is old enough to be my father, and I guess in a sense, he was a bit of a parent figure to me.  I haven't had a relationship with my dad for the better part of my life.  

Robert was a great resource for older cards - true vintage. He hooked me up with a lot of mint Kelloggs too.  Oddballs for the Oddball, he would say. He rarely asked low book, and most often  much less.

These are just a few pieces of cardboard history I've picked up from him:

1941 Play Ball Soupy Campbell

 

1948 Swell



1967 Dexter Press

I paid less than $20 for all these beauties.

In the glass case was a card  I ogled on every visit.  I'd look it over and hand it back.  It wasn't in my budget at $125.   Robert offered a layaway plan to his best customers.  One day I bit and asked if he'd work with me on this particular card, just a couple of payments, that someday this card would be mine.   He pulled this sweet cardboard out, put it in my hand and asked if I'd give him $40 for it.  I said  $40.00???  Are you kidding me?  He said $40.  Don't go tellin' people I sell cards this cheap or I'll be out of business.



1951 Bowman

That's the day Yogi Berra came home with me.   Condition considered, true book value means little to me.  It wouldn't grade high.  No creasing, great color.  Yogi is  my favorite Yankee.  But more than this, I'll always remember Robert each time I enjoy this card.  I'll remember his crazy stories from youth.  Robert is a family man who never had any children.  He adores his wife, a woman who puts up with his immense love for baseball cards - and sometimes works shows with him.  I've spoken with Robert since moving to Michigan, and hope one day to drop in on him.  I miss Robert but Yogi reminds me often - it's not too far; it just seems like it is.

I've wanted to share this card on the blog for sometime.  Thank you to Tony, Off Hiatus for the opportunity.  He's having a little contest for  $10 shopping spree on the winner's behalf.  Enter to win by sharing your favorite card show find.  If it's a cheesy bobblehead you're looking for, you can enter to win that here.

It's Always Something (or No Trades Left Behind - Second Edition)

 Something is always coming between us. Recently, it was work.  The big tax 9/15 deadline. How can our relationship flourish if we don't communicate, if I am not fully present on this page - and yours?  There is progress to note: packages are hitting the mail box!  Yes, it really did happen! Three out in the past week!  Naturally, only after packing and sealing these up did I find the cards I've been searching for - for over two weeks - in the last place I looked.  You may ask - why would she keep looking for them afterwards???  Because I am cracked! 

The last time we met here I shared a few overdue trades.  Well, guess what?  More overdue sharing! Our first featured guest is the ambulance chasing Tony, Off Hiatus. A little harsh you say? Hush. Who asked you. < --- No question mark.

                                                            A complete set of 77 Topps

                                                      COOL 1987 LEAF (Canadian Donruss...)

A lot of minis from 86 Fleer along with a 2012 GQ mini for size comparison:

Kelloggs cards are always welcome here.

2013 Topps Cut to the Chase inserts have been some of the prettiest I've seen in a very long time - likely since the 90s.  Beauties!

The Mark Grace and Alan Trammell below are the two cards that began this trade with Tony.  He received a few packages from back home full of magazines, books and memorabilia long forgotten. Mom did NOT throw them out!  One of these items was a Sports Collectors Digest from 1990 with these cards inside:

I love oddball issues and welcome these to my collection of special cards.  Oddball = special = me.  I am especially odd.

Tony was one of my first trading partners.  He has been more than thoughtful, dropping all of these great cards in the mail as a kind of house-warming gift.  He sent many more than shown here.  It was a wonderful surprise!  Thanks Tony!

Nick, our friend from the world of Dimeboxes sent a fat package too!  Here's a sampling of the awesomeness contained within:

Similar to 1987 Donruss in all but color. 1987 Donruss Opening Day cards have a maroon border instead of black. I didn't have any of these cards! Willie Hernandez spoke from within his papered borders asking to be scanned alongside these unique collectibles for he too, is special.  Willie is cut from an 86 wax box!

Nick remembered my love for the old guys and included vintage and unique cardboard:

Top: 1956 Topps, 1981 Galasso   Bottom: 1985 Woolworth's Topps, 1988 Sporting News

2012 Cooperstown Ballparks- love it!  I'm assembling this insert set so this is greatly appreciated! and I can't say no to a 75 mini!  Shown below is the backside of Brad Ausmus (stop it) aka a colorful 2000 Ultra reverse... Also a Sleeth making an appearance on an auto 2004 Topps Chrome. His signature is a bit hard to make out, just below his elbow.  1994 Collector's Choice Kirk Gibson and Chad Kreuter.  I had hundreds of 94 CC years ago.  I was a card snob and gave them away.  Now I love the design.  What an idiot! 

The back of Gibby's CC.  Such a playful side of Kirk here, rarely seen on the field.  For those wanting the full reveal, Brad's Ultra front side is shown for your viewing pleasure.

Nick, thanks for these sweet selections from your dime boxes!  It was a fun package!!!

Readers, if you've stuck with me this far, you deserve a chance to win a tacky prize! 

1992 Score Rising Stars.  Still sealed, plastic is slightly yellowed.  A lovely edition to your collection of worthless cards from the 90s!  It is a bit unique actually.  I don't own any of these cards. None in my collections anywhere.  If you win and decide to bust and share, I'd love to have the Tigers.   Comment and mention you'd like a chance in the Randomizer.  Three times around and a winner will be chosen! We'll do it Saturday the 3rd, sometime later in the afternoon. 

 Giveaways will continue here at Cracked Bat.  You'll never know what's next unless you check in!  

Have a super week!



Breakfast of Champions

It's been reported many times over, that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  For many folks, this is likely true.  They rise, eat their Wheaties and go about their day.  I'm not usually hungry in the morning - drink my coffee, read awhile and out the door to conquer the world I go.

 

A package I received last month brought to mind yet another reason why I should've listened to my elders, "eat your breakfast."  Cereal.  Plain and simple, with or without milk. Renowned ROY Blogger Tony of Off Hiatus Baseball Cards sent a stack of cards with a note which reveals his sense of humor: I hope you don't mind the random stack of Kellogg's I've sent.  Oh Tony, what a knee-slapper!  Don't you ever do that again - ever  (I never said not one time.)

These fellas are from 1979, one of my fave K-3D designs with the bright yellow and blue combo. Skipping breakfast, going to high school I never saw their smiling faces staring back at me from my cereal bowl box.   It's a shame these days are gone, and not just because I want my youth back.  Young collectors will never know the joy of finding their favorite players' cards in food products, at gas stations, on advertising panels etc.  It's all about the big green $ now.

1982 brought another K-3D design to collectors. Still a good-looking set; blue background and white stars on slightly larger cardboard.  The bright yellow colors gone, not unlike my own cheerful disposition.  I would be graduating soon and not so excited to make the next move.

For their final release, 1983 Kellogg's returned to the smaller card and lost the color. Seems they'd lost all inspiration at this point. I know I had, but managed to pull it together, beginning my college days still unsure what to do or really, who to be. Years had to pass before I found it was ok to be ME. 

It's as if Tony knows me, that I like living in the past. He even included a fantastic oddball ticket to the 5th Annual Sports Collector's Convention in 1984.  I can't wait to go!  Maybe I can pick up some early Kellogg's cards while they're still cheap!  Today's prices on the early 1970s issues are jacked up!

Tony, thanks for another ride in the 70s time machine!  You're a great driver!

                                              70s heart-throb Scott Baio - or is it Lee Mazzilli?