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!

Knock Knock

Who's there?  Anyone at all? 

Nearly six weeks have passed without posting.  I've received email and trade packages during this time with little opportunity to enjoy them.  C-Bat email does not come to my phone so my replies have been somewhat delayed.  Though I've already reached out individually, thanks again to those of you who checked in on me from time to time.  The move itself was drama free.  New carpet was delayed until June 18th so I lived out of boxes for the first three weeks. I still have a garage full of boxes to be sorted and stored.  The important items are inside - vinyl, books and cards!

I was without internet for that time as well.  No cable providers - no Uverse, Comcast etc.  I have the fastest connection a Dish can offer on any given day.  Those with clouds or rain affect the speed , that being slow to non-exisitent.  I now drive an hour each way to the office...on days without snow.  Big change considering I've previously never driven more than 30 minutes one way, in horrible traffic. The low temp two nights ago was 47!   Pretty chilly for a summer morning.  Small inconveniences in comparison to the beautiful place I now call home!

 

I expect to renew the romance with my baseball cards over the next couple of weeks.  I have sooo many goodies to mail out but must first find them!  Also planning to have my first contest soon to celebrate Cracked Bat's blog-a-versary...which was last month.  I hope to do more trading since I have no real LCS!  It's nearly 25 miles to the closest shop and their reception was not the warmest.  It's difficult for an LCS to compete with the internet so one might think they'd appreciate a new customer.

 

Another happening - and I knew it was likely coming - a new Independent Baseball League is sprouting up in my own backyard!  If you build it, they will come - and here I am!!!  Jimmy John's Field in Utica, MI will host a new three team league beginning next June.  It will be round robin style play for the first year as more teams are formed.  The Independent League Fort Worth Cats were fun for years and gave us Max Scherzer.   Oh I still like Max, he's a good guy.  My heart is softening up a bit.  I enjoy supporting Independent Leaguers and put my name down for a 25 game package.  Unfortunately the FTW Cats folded last year for various reasons, lack of attendance was probably a factor.  I hope the United Shore Baseball League does well. 

 

Until I can scan and share the recent goodies I've received, here's a group of cards added to my collection a few months ago.  A great eBay BIN with an offer made and accepted:   

 

2012 Triple Threads

I'm beginning to make the rounds, reading up on your blogs!  Thanks for hanging around.  Your friendships are important and I've missed you guys!!!

Before I go, here's another gem found recently during a regular eBay search on Buck O'Neil.  I did NOT purchase this item.  Gotta love this seller...

Hey dude!  Trim those photos before posting them...and maybe those toenails while your at it!