Summer Lingers On

Hey Everybody!  Where you been???  Me?  Oh, just clinging to summer.  Until I share trade packages received in August and September, summer lingers on.  Yes. I have the power to stop winter, should I choose!   Packages are scanned, ready for public viewing but what's more important - to share your generosity? or  to enjoy eighty degree days during a Michigan January?   I can show off these cards this Spring!  [Note, I did NOT say it was 80 degrees IN Michigan.]

Some fun things happened over the summer.  For instance, I now have a personalized car tag:

Isn't that a sweet plate?  Unfortunately, it's not mine.  No, someone beat me to it.  Perhaps the owner's a crazy cat lady? Hard to guess by the riff-raff that unloaded from this van.  With my first tag choice taken, I had to go with the second:

I'm a gal who loves her cars!  The Baja is the only foreign model I've ever owned.  As a rule, I'm a Mopar woman with an affection for Mustangs.  Go figure.

Goodbye Tall Man

This summer, I said goodbye to the Gibraltar Trade Center.  No sooner had I discovered the monthly card show, the doors were locked one last time.  During this final visit, I picked up  a few hundred cards, mostly for trading.  $14 for these fun items:

A friend and I made the hour trip over to the Taylor Town Center in September to see Tiger great Willie Horton.   He is slowing down these days but Willie's smile is vibrant and voice strong.  He still has a nice handshake too:

Willie's sweet signature!

I also put together another contest box for an October giveaway but never found the time to tease you with it.  Thanksgiving came and went.  Before I knew it, Christmas was here.  Now it's 2018.  Is this box still relevant?  These cards are all dupes from my collection or cards previously traded; sad and neglected.   Wanna peek?

Who feels sorry for these cards? The old deckles have some wear and tear.  (So do I at nearly the same age!)   

I have another 4000 count box ready for the Salvation Army.  I donate cards regularly, packing the boxes with rookies, stars and minimal dupes, with this odd fantasy that someone is just waiting for my cards to show up on the shelves.  At the Army's $6 - $10 pricing, these boxes are a steal.   Yes, I do have card fantasies.  

You'll be seeing a few posts on the changing direction of my collection.  I have begun player elimination rounds: dupes, deletes or scaling back of certain player collections.  Most cards will be base or low-end inserts.  Perhaps you'll want some of these??  

In Michigan, summers will always be too short.  I've lived in OK and TX, where summer stretched on for weeks.  I'm learning to embrace every moment here, each time that glorious ball of orange rises into the sky.  

A recent morning commute

The PWE: Lessons in proper usage

I have mixed feelings regarding the plain white envelope.  It's a perfect mode of transportation for bill payment or an old fashioned HWL (hand written letter.) I've received a few eBay wins in PWE form.  One could expect a single card to arrive safely. But five cards?   Unsleeved cards in taped-down top-loaders = one PWE??  Yes shipping was free. The seller had great feedback too.

I worked for the USPS for 15 years. I understand automation. Stamping hand cancel on an envelope has been pretty ineffective for 30 years or more now.  A possible exception would be to use the service window at the post office.  But once the letter is added to the mail flow, machines do the sorting. I don't blame the postal service.  I fault the packaging.  From the many blogs I read here regularly, PWEs are quite efficient for trading with minimal mishap. Fortunately the cards arrived at their new home, happy the journey was over. 

TWO Top loaders in ONE flimsy envelope

May I present... five 2006 Fleer Greats of the Game:

                                                    Murcer, one the few Yanks I've admired.

                                                                       This bird has flown  

   

                                                       Berra - also known for his catch phrases

                                                             Horton: recently non-deceased

                                        

     Freehan's Law: Never beat yourself

These cards have green borders.  The scanner wasn't feeling well and chose them and this moment to express ...BLECH!  Yogi front and Murcer back suffered some tape damage. SUPER pet peeve!  Please tape a soft-sleeve over the loader.  It's not rocket science. Tape is sticky because it's TAPE!  

Any words of advice out there from PWE experts?  The USPS sincerely regrets any damages.

First Completed Trade

This is exciting for me!  I get such a kick outta sharing cards.  Recently I've taken to giving away handfuls of extras to young collectors.  (Well, they collect now anyway.) At four and six years of age, it's hard to have extra pocket money.  When they're ten, I doubt the hobby will be any more affordable for them.   But I digress...

The blogosphere's beloved Night Owl  (humble Dodgers fan and conveyer of  much wisdom) sent a sweet little package this past week.  I was fortunate to receive this gift before he began his traditional August hiatus.   Not always knowing what he wants or sometimes needs, Greg relies on his blog network to aid in set completion.  Earlier this Summer, I sent a care package to Greg. We are all busy people.  Taking time for a stranger speaks volumes, to me anyway.  Thanks N.O.!!!

In sharing these little prizes with you, please note I am new with this whole scanning thing.  I'm giving it a try in lieu of photos, as a time saver.  (At least it was suppose to save time.  Not working out that way.)

   

You may have already determined I'm a Tigers fan. If not, please take a moment to view this blog's background design.  I'll wait...

I do not live in Michigan - yet.  I was a local Rangers' fan for many years. Not a club with deep roots, I held on hoping to watch the team make history.  Year after year, one poor decision after another - Arod? - I allowed my loyalty to drift and became a player collector.  When Ivan left the club, I kept up  with him.  To see him in a Tiger uniform is more than sweet!  Pudge may have been 'roid tainted (hopefully by association only) but he still had one of the greatest arms  ever found on a backstop!  What Rangers fan didn't love seeing him make an out with a throw to the base, or a hard tag at the plate?  Ivan is still one of my faves.  I did not have any of the six cards shown.

Greg Maddux is the first pitcher I ever followed.  Thanks to TBS, I was able to watch a few games a week.  The 90's Braves had a phenomenal pitching staff. Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux were hard to beat, as long as the bats were producing.  Many a fan spent 7-9 frustrated innings waiting for the tie-breaking run to cross the plate for a Braves win. I did not have any cards showing Maddux in Dodger blue, nor did I have Tuiasosopo and Monroe.  Monroe was a fan friendly fellow. He signed a ball for me back in his AAA days.

 Dean looking sharp in Tiger duds.

I remember Dean from his days with the OKC 89ers.  He was plagued with injuries throughout his 14 year career. Not the best defensively, Dean had some pop in his bat and a .251 career average.  He's the assistant coach at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee according to the always reliable Wikipedia. This card is a nice addition to my Tigers collection.

 



 

I quit collecting when these two young men came onto the scene - most unfortunately, as their nicer RCs are a bit pricey.  Victor's most collectable issue is from 2001 Donruss Class of 2001 and numbered of 625. I must have picked up a pack of these because I have the Hafner RC.  I wish I'd had the opportunity to watch Martinez behind the plate but happy enough to see him as DH.  Cabrera - wow he looks all grown up!  Was he even 16 in that Marlin uniform?  I hope he has a few good years left in him, contract aside.  I'm paying attention now. Miggy is a great hitter.  His career average is currently around .320.   Both cards were needed.

 

 

I can add absolutely zero to all already written regarding this incredibly courageous  man's story. 

Love these cards - and also needed both! 


"I collect Workman's Comp."              "I'm on TV!"









This photo was not trimmed, nor is the card missing 3/4 of its borders.  The little Canon scanner that could, made the decision repeatedly shave off the edges of this card. Scanning 101 - course not completed.  Dave is a familiar face.  Les Cain is collecting $111 monthly from the Tigers for the remainder of his life.  I hope this amount has been adjusted for inflation, but likely not. I hope Les has had a good life.  I couldn't find information on any other career changes. Great card and a fave from the batch - needed.

 

The two remaining cards from N.O. were also needed and more than welcomed into my collection. While all have been great additions, these are by far the sweetest!

 

The three fine gentlemen pictured here were playing World Series ball when I was toddling around the house. As I get to know my Tigers, these fellows are becoming new favorites.

• Horton: .273 career avg;  325 hr;   1163 rbi.  
• Cash:     .271 career avg;  377 hr;   1103 rbi    
• Kaline:  .297 career avg;  299 hr;   1583 rbi

Classic baseball cards!  What a fun first trade!  Who's next? 

Night Owl -a good sport!