On the Eve of 2021

Hail to thee, 2020. We've heard you loud and clear. I'm kicking your nefarious butt to the curb before this night is through. 

This year has left me relatively unscathed but I know this isn't true for everyone. I have good friends who've lost family members, and I lost an elderly friend myself three days before Christmas - all to covid.  Although I was laid off in April and May, my employer survived the auto shutdown and finished the year strong. My job is secure. I've certainly missed hanging with friends, especially over the holidays but do OK with 'me' time. Being alone is fairly easy for me though I couldn't do it long term. [I'm a hugger - people and  trees.] 

Even with the additional 'free time', I haven't added more posts here. No surprise as it's taken six years to hit #199 with this one. In all fairness to myself, I did manage 44 posts this year.  I also gave more of my hobby time to Pick Pockets. When I began the PP page more than a year ago, the intent was to spread a little hobby joy and perhaps spark a few trades. Who knew 2020 would be the sheet show it's been?  I've kept up with the page, hoping to make a difference in a few lives. In a year with no retail, perhaps pick pockets has allowed a few of you to build your own packs. 

        2020 gems courtesy of Doug, Buckstore Cards:

Your response to picking has been returned with kindness, with many sending cards from my three want-list tabs and mini-collections. The cards seen throughout this post are all from blogger pals, successfully adding to the joy in my own life. Thank you for this!

        From Chris the Collector - OPC and Sunoco Dutch with a fun Klesko:

I don't expect retail to come roaring back to our shelves anytime soon, if ever. Flippers found they could make some quick and easy money on our little blasters and hanger packs. The only Topps Chrome I ever pick up is through retail so I appreciate the Tigers from Doug, shown above. My collecting has moved towards my bat-themed mini-collections: floaters, racks and multiple bats. I'm also pursuing my own Stadium Club collection filled with favorites from 1991 through today. Cards I'm seeking can be found on my TCDB want list - link found at the top of this page right here.

        A cup of black coffee from Matt:

I've never listed goals here, hobby or otherwise. Goals cause me to look back over the full year and beat myself up for not accomplishing them. I prefer to note my achievements as the year moves along saying to myself "hey there, look what you did!"  

I do have an idea for the blog however, and would love some feedback from you. I'm an avid reader, mostly non-fiction: baseball, history and personal growth.  All are in excellent condition from a non-smoking home. With no room to keep all my beloved books, I've considered adding a book tab.  Books would be available to trade for x-# of cards on my wantlist. As a rule, I don't have the latest hot cards and players so perhaps a book would be considered in lieu of cards. Please share your thoughts in a comment.

        From Kerry Cards on Cards - 2020 Stadium Cub set help, Kaline SP and Pink Velocity Posey:

Check out the story behind this photo, featuring our own Nick Vossbrink

As for 2021, it deserves a chance. I tend to have an optimistic view of life but keep reality in my back pocket. I'm grounded. My hope for each of you is a year of kindness. Be kind to yourselves. Love yourselves. You are good people. If I didn't think so, we wouldn't be connected. May you and yours be healthy and blessed.  

Thank you for supporting this little blog!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hey Nineteen!

How is everyone doing? Michigan Covid-19 numbers are climbing the charts. I've been going into the office every day, even after our Governor signed the executive 'stay-at-home' order for non-essential employees.  It's taken my employer awhile but he found a way to keep us home. I was laid off this week, for at least the month of April.

2018-19 MVP

I've never drawn unemployment in my life but had no choice. Becoming unemployed actually took a bit of stress off me. One of my coworkers thinks it's ok to shop at Walmart, Target and Meijer because she is bored at home. I can't help but find that selfish, not only to her coworkers but to the grocery workers.  She's inviting trouble. Roulette anyone?

Pick Pockets have not been mailed but I hope to do so in a week or two.  I can't imagine being a window clerk at the post office right now. I'll do my part ordering stamps online. If I pay a little too much to mail these envelopes, so be it. The post office needs the revenue right now. 

My vivacious and outgoing personality aside, staying home will be easy for me. Music, reading, cards - all will be good company. I'm blessed with lots of outdoor space. The weather is warming up nicely. Perhaps I can actually get some sunshine on my shoulders, and a little work done.  I plan to do a lot of mini-set sorting too.  Many  of the cards I need will be added to the Send Help tab on this blog.

2018-2019 UD 

In addition to the PP page - so juvenile, like me -  I'll be adding a new trade tab, title to be named later. You'll find cards here specific to trading for cards on the Send Help tab. Each card will note how many of your cards are needed in order to trade for it. After sorting out my little sets, I'll list the missing cards. There should be much to choose from as my needs are numerous. Let's see if I can get this done in April. Any of you want to place bets on my success?

Sooner Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings /99

Sooner Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Perhaps. Perhaps I'll even manage a little extra blog time! My trade folder scans are quickly accumulating!  The cards featured today were received in February courtesy of  Sportscards from the Dollar Store.   Doug tucked in a couple of Sooners along with the Blackhawks shown. All are quite nice.

2018-19 Synergy  /749

My favorites in the batch though are these 2019-20 Artifacts. The etching in the foil corners is quite elegant:

 Good-looking cards here!  Thank you Doug, for thinking of me!

I hope all of you continue to be well, and remain safe from the virus. It must be a struggle for those accustomed to the hustle and bustle of life but there are positive aspects to be found in this trying time.  If you are able, try to focus on the good that can be done for others; either by staying home, or random acts of kindness when you find yourself in the midst of others. Even if it's letting someone go ahead of you in the line, or a kind word to the clerk at the store, these moments are appreciated.

We can't dance together, we can't talk at all - who knew?????  Steely Dan.

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. 

Boxes, Binders and Trades...

A new week!  One free of any tax deadlines!  I usually go into hiding during those last two weeks around the filing day.  Now I can press onward with purging and sorting, enjoying the hobby at least til Mid-August.   I took a break from unboxing to clean a little more from the study closet - broke the wrap on and dismantled a 2002 Topps Factory set, keeping maybe 50 cards.  The rest are up for adoption.  Cards like Griffey, Thomas and Bonds are still in the box.   

  [Well minus one.  It was lost in a fire.]

I also found a couple of Studio Boxes from the 90s.  The cards are probably stuck together by now but duty prevails.  I'll have these opened by the end of the week, hoping to pull a Heritage Collection insert or two.

94 Studio Heritage Collection

I came across a binder for 1998 Leaf Rookies and Stars.  I loved this release at the time for the full bleed shots and inserts.  While packing up for the Michigan move in 2015, I looked the binder over but wasn't ready to let go of it.  I had 195 cards all paged with slots empty, waiting for those that never made the binder.  I will never complete this set, one with too many sp rookie cards, mostly players with rather brief careers.  I sorted through these and chose ten cards to keep. That leaves a stack of cards for trading, possibly a few for the next discard giveaway which is just around the corner.

KEEPERS

KEEPERS

Binder Mates, say goodbye to Paulie and the boys.

I want to acknowledge more trades,  received only a few months ago. Only.   A.J of  The Lost Collector sent a nice lot of cards.  My favorite of the group is the Marquee Ty Cobb from 2011.  I like these cards and missed out on the release, a bit like a high end version of Stadium Club with four cards to a  box.  I'll take a Marquee in trade any day!

Douglas Corti - Sportscards from the Dollar Store sent a nice group of paper Tigers:

Douglas included a GQ relic and Bowman auto but I have to say, my favorites are the Sportsdisc and 1989 Schedule. Awesomeness right there!

Cards on Cards' Kerry Biggs sent a batch of 100 or so.  An assortment of Poseys,  Miggy refractor/99, GQ framed Tigers, and Heritage Rainbow Foil Kinsler were among the highlights. Hard to choose a favorite among these cards.

Thanks guys for the fantastic surprises.  Now that I'm sorting and arranging binders, these cards will be enjoyed all the more!   I have just a few more trades to share before lifting the ban. More discards will be given away.   Anyone out there collect back issues of Beckett???