COLLECTING UPDATE: and then there were four

It's a small and temporary victory! For at least the next 30 minutes, my sets and player collections are fully organized. With a few clicks on the Trading Card database, I can see exactly which cards are needed to complete sets or compliment current PCs.

Throughout the course of updating and organizing, I've made decisions which affect many PCs I enjoy. With space a consideration, I determined which collections were completed.  Unless a card is specifically on my Send Help tab, I am no longer adding cards to the following collections:

JEFF BAGWELL
CRAIG BIGGIO
KEN CAMINITI
MARK GRACE
TONY GWYNN
JAVY LOPEZ
GREG MADDUX
PAUL MOLITOR
MIKE PIAZZA
IVAN RODRIGUEZ
CAL RIPKEN
RYNE SANDBERG
OMAR VIZQUEL
ROBIN YOUNT
and CATCHERS in general.

I value my trade pals and realize these changes may make trading more difficult. Blinds trades have always been fun. I've attempted to keep the blog tab lists clean and legible, and most importantly - organized! I've parted with a few players along the way to make space for those which give me the most joy.  Booted were McGwire, Arod, Gonzalez, Palmeiro, Sosa. Among the heavily trimmed were: Bagwell, Biggio, Gwynn, Ivan Rodriquez, Michael Young, Frank Catalanotto, Greg Maddux, Javy Lopez, Omar Vizquel and Eddie Gaedel.

And then there were four...

I am still actively collecting Altuve, Daulton and Cobb. The Astros scandal saddened me greatly. Altuve's passion for the game, and the joy he brings to it, are what drew me back into collecting. The decision to continue collecting his cards took some reflection on my part. This Spring Training interview with Correa was a determining factor.  I don't believe Correa was completely open in his remarks regarding the  2018 season but his commentary to Ken Rosenthal regarding Altuve at the 3 and 11 minute marks made an impression on me.

2019 Heritage SP

Cobb was a man completely opposite in temperament; a fierce competitor. He comes from the Deadball Era, my favorite in baseball history. Players from this period lived hard-scrabble lives. Rarely did the game pay them a living wage. It was small ball, as homers were a rare occurrence in those days, long ago.

1961 Golden Press - my oldest Cobb

Darren Daulton was my first baseball 'love'.  I became a Phillies fan in 93 and still have a soft spot for them. By the time I discovered Daulton, he'd already been in the game several years. He retired after the 97 season. A bit of a wild child, Dutch settled into a quiet life in his last few years. I 'm not ashamed to say, I cried when he passed from brain cancer in August 2017.

1994 Fleer All Star

All cards needed or wanted for these collections can be found in my collection listed in the Trading Card Database, linked here to each name:

  Jose Altuve
  Ty Cobb  {yes, please send that T206, no reprints...lol}
  Darren Daulton

I'm also continuing to add Buster Posey. Cards I'd like to have are being added to the Quad Squad tab above. As for my catchers-in-gear collection, only cards  from 1974 and older  are being added to the binder.  If there is an exceptional new card such as this, then yes, I would love to have it:

2020 Heritage - how could I not like this card?

And of course, I have a bat collection! I like them floating, broken, racked and cracked:

Did I mention cuddled?

I love the seemingly quieter moments of the game most. These cards give me an odd inner peace. In the topsy-turvy world of today, I can look at cards like these for hours. There may also be more bats...

I'm adding more vintage these days, and these are not necessarily expensive cards. Here are a few I've picked up.

1967

1954

I am by no means a condition snob. If I'm going to spend the money however, I want clean, uncreased copies. I chose a unique vintage set for assembly - 1961 Fleer. I love the RW&B with stars design. I'm halfway through the set. These are not mint but fairly well centered with bright coloring. My copy of Gehrig is as nice as those below. I wanted you to see it on its own but managed to delete the original version of the scan while separating from these fellows. They represent the overall condition of my set build.

1961 FLEER

As for my small Blackhawk hockey collection, it's approaching completion as well. I would enjoy adding some refractors, a colorful patch, OPC and pre-1980 cards. I do have a list of cards in mind HERE. I just don't have room for a large hockey collection. Thanks to the generosity of my trade pals, hockey flowed into my home like flood waters for awhile.

I am still collecting Tigers. You can find these needs on the Uncaged Tiger tab. This list will be a continuous work in progress, regularly updated.

If you managed to read this far down the page, you deserve heads up on an upcoming contest which will require your participation throughout the summer and early fall. Yes, I do know how to drag something out. I recently decided to add tickets to each of my Picker Pals envelopes for a drawing later in the year. Johnny's Trading Spot spoiled my idea by coming up with it on his own. The nerve. ;)  He'll be doing this with his Big Fun Friday games.  Please, join him.  What does this mean then, you ask.

Stay tuned. The primaries are coming....

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. 

SEASON OF CHANGE: a collection in motion

Since the beginning of March, I've missed a lot of good reading around the blogs. Hey - at least I'm consistent, always missing a month or so at a time. I've been working longer hours so the time spent staring at three screens all day has allowed me the opportunity to consider the direction of my collection. I knew change was coming last fall, after months of Judge hoopla. Here we are again in the midst of an Ohtani hootenanny.  I seem to recall, when leaving the hobby in 2001, it was Pujols. Some rookie is hyped nearly every year. Well no longer!  Not in my court and not on my island!

Judge not

Other than new Tigers and the occasional Posey, I collect Altuve. How many Altuves? All I can afford to get my grubby tiger paws on.. Other than base, endless parallels, autos and relics, 2018 Gypsy Queen has no Altuves.  2018 Bowman- no Altuves although Springer and Correa made the cut.  Altuve was only the  2017 AL MVP so of course, I understand the apparent slight. I've resigned to making lists of wanted cards from new product. This will save millions [if not hundreds...] down the road with continued assistance of trade pals! Will I sometimes buy packs or a blaster? Of course! I need cards for you too. Like most of us, I love the sound of ripping wrappers.

My focus of acquisition has been moving towards vintage and mini-collections. My favorite dead guy - sorry - DEADBALL player is Ty Cobb. In fact, the Deadball Era is my favorite period in baseball, period.  I like guys that hit and steal without the homer pomp and circumstance. Lotto aside, I'll never afford his most valuable cards. 1961 Fleer is as old as it gets for now.  At least it was released during his lifetime. Maybe. He passed in July of 61.

Altuve is also a hitter and thief. While he added some over-the-wall drama last year, he is a dependable man on the bases. And he smiles- most of the time! Bonus points. These two men could not be more different but bring me the most joy when looking over their cards.

When I joined the blog family nearly four years ago, I was clueless about mini-collections. I thought there were bascially five types of collectors: new, vintage, team, player and set.  You taught me collecting diversity!  I now have my own mini-collections which feature historical events and music beginning with the late 60s and throughout the 70s, fun player names and shots along with bats and catchers in older gear. I've learned it's ok to collect what I like!

I've had quite a bit of help over the past few months in all these areas.  As I've spent less on new, pals have been filling my set needs. Hitting up my player collections too.  Thank yous are overdue.

      COURTESY OF BUBBA'S BANGING BATCH OF BASEBALL BITS

      Bubba helped me out with an insert set from 2017 A&G.  I was drawn to the design.

      He included cards from 2017 X [SWEET] minis and foils. I appreciate the help! 

      Ginter got only pocket change from me last year.

Cards from the black X set are tremendous!

   What A Days are the first large insert set I've completed in years!  These were set needs:

       COURTESY OF SCRIBBLED INK

       Fellow Tigers collector Phil sent a couple hundred cards including set help and Tigers.

       He included a few for my player collections. 

Ken Caminiti and Darren Daulton - guys who broke my heart, leaving us too soon.

 
       COURTESY OF IT'S LIKE HAVING MY OWN CARDSHOP
       Daniel dropped a pwe on me recently - filled with catchers in old style gear! Righteous!
     

83 and 84 Donruss - two of their best efforts!

Thanks to Matt, Phil and Daniel!  More thank yous ahead! 

A couple of posts back, I mentioned an upcoming first edition of Dupe, Dump or Dwindle. The post has been ready to go for a couple months but the timing hasn't been right. It will be up this week. I hope these upcoming card blasts find their way into your collection! Time to make room for vintage and catchers!

Thanks for reading!

Fuji, Fuji, Fuji Do You Love Me?

Guess you could say that title is a bit forward.  Perhaps to say 'he likes me, he really likes me' is more appropriate.  Fuji is one of the good guys.  He's just a downright decent fella.  There are several of you out there and I'm most fortunate to be in your hobby circle - but this post is about Fuji.

Back in November, he sent a package that Jeter'd, Cobbed and Berra'd me in cards.  He threw in some Posey, Piazza and Gehrig, and a little Munson.

Great additions to the PCs!  My collection continues to be more catcher focused.  We'll forgive Jeter for not wearing the tools of ignorance.

I thought Yogi would live forever.  His Aflac appearances showed him sharp and full of vigor.  He is one of my all-time favorite baseball personalities.  I miss Yogi.  The 72 style mini is sweet!

Lou - one of heaven's great ballplayers - and another Yank!  

Tiger materials!!  So many little jersey swatches.    Maybe when I am old, I can stitch my swatch collection into a quilt.  Hmmm, better get started now. 

The great and oft misunderstood Ty Cobb.  He's one of my absolute favorites to collect.  I love this postal stamp!  

Munson, yet another Yankee great!  I don't like the Yankees.  Looking through my collection,  you'd never know this.

Fuji is a man of many talents.  Teacher, blogger, collector, trader - his blog is worth your time.  He contributes more than sports knowledge.  With each post, Fuji leaves you with a bit of himself.  I like you Fuji.  I really like you.

Cold Pizza

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone.  2018 is already judging me, wagging its crooked little finger  to remind me there are a lot of trades left from this summer to share.  Guess what 2018?  It's not even December.

This summer certainly brought a lot of new trade packages to my lil neck of the woods.  Who could expect any breakdown to be a good and happy thing?   If it's a Baseball Card Breakdown, it's bound to have a happy ending.   Gavin sent a such large stash of cards it made choosing which to share a difficult process. 

The first scan is all Gavin!  He creates some of the best well-loved cards you'll find out there.  Here are two famous big bats in original shiny and aged vintage versions.  I have a few of Gavin's cards now and really should keep them together.  Currently they live among the PCs. 

Lots of Kaline which makes this gal happy!  Again, not all are shown because Gavin's generosity makes scanning a cumbersome activity.

A couple of beauties:  2002 Archives Reserves is a set worth building - fan favorites, HOFers -  all refractors.   2015 Cooperstown Collection ETCHED #d/25!  GAVIN! Thank you!  Hard to believe Panini hasn't done another Cooperstown series.  These are the players I am drawn to and most willing to purchase.  When I buy a HOF/Fan Favorite set, I know what I'm getting.   No Henry Owens to be found in Cooperstown.

There was a nice stack of Piazzas too.  2005 UD Fabrics and 1998 Ultra.  I don't have many Piazza Marlins since Mike spent only eight days in their uniform.  Perhaps another reason his Marlins' cards are difficult to find...THE HOARDER.  For only $75,000 I could own cards which include thirteen 1/1s!  Gotta wonder what he'd take for best offer.  At least shipping is free!

The gem of the entire trade package though was nothing shiny and contained no relic.  Just a simple card from the pizza place I loved most as a child - Shakey's.   I turned this card over, saw the logo and practically leaped from my chair.  I could smell the pizza, hear the player piano while sitting at a long table with barrels for chairs.  The first pizza I can ever recall eating and loved til it closed. Shakey's went out of business while I was in high school.


Food issues are some of my favorites but this pizza card shot to the top of the  fave foodie chart! I've wanted any Shakey's cards for a long while but never found them in my price range and  never thought I'd find one in a trade package!!

CHECK OUT THOSE BEER PRICES!

1975 Shakey's Pizza

This card is so mint it could be a reprint.  If it were a reprint, I wouldn't care.  Ty Cobb is the number one player in my PC collections.  If I could collect only one HOFer, it would be Tyrus.  Long live the deadball era!!  Shouted perhaps a bit too late.  

Only a Cobb beer card could make this Shakey's Pizza Cobb any better and only Gavin could create such a beauty.

HINT HINT

Gavin, thank you!  It took so long to share, the pizza's now cold!  I assure you it's just as good as it was back in '75!

I offer a belated 'Blessed Thanksgiving' to all my blog and tweety buds!  Your presence makes this hobby all the more enjoyable.   If I weren't such a turkey, I would've offered thanks  a few days ago! Thanksgiving comes but once a year but gratitude is a daily practice!