The Mighty Quinn

I'm blessed with great trading pals and don't always feel deserving of the awesomeness that arrives in mailers and boxes.  Does this mean I feel deserving at times??  Why certainly, at least around the holidays.  

Quinn has been sending packages with great regularity, easily identified among other items in the mailbox.  They've been covered in small 'fatheads' and glow star stickers but on this occasion, the mailer was plain. The contents held another package containing a unique box topper, truly one of the highlights of this trade. 

Underneath was yet another box which at first glance I thought might be a happy meal.

No - it's taffy!  Except it wasn't taffy.  {Where do you find these boxes Quinn?} Right on top were a couple of graded 90s Pudge:

Along with a couple of homemade fat packs hitting up my player collections.  Here's a sampling of these paper goods:

Two of my favorite Yankees.

Altuve, Posey and Scherzer.  

Cards with interchangeable player heads!  Finally, something new and refreshing from Topps!  I gave Marichal a little makeover.

I'm among the crowd happy for Ivan's election to the Hall and was fortunate to attend many of his games in Arlington.   I find it somewhat odd that he and my all time favorite catcher Daulton, both won their only rings with the Marlins.  Obviously Pudge had the better career.  He is currently the all time leader in putouts as a catcher. 

Quinn included Topps Tek for Pudge, Miggy and Fulmer.   These are super cards to find within a trade.  I'll never purchase them. Lots on ebay aren't cheap either.  It takes special kind of insanity to assemble this set with its variations from hell-o!   Fess up  - how many of you are that crazy?

Fulmer in high-numbered black attire.

As much as I liked GQ base this year, the green parallels are even sweeter.  Old Ty is numbered/99

Q has taken to finding new Piazzas for my growing hoard.  I do have a couple of these.  The 93 Ultra will move to my catcher collection.  93 Donruss starts my new mini-collection of floating bats.  I can't resist this urge any longer.  There is something magical within a photo that captures a bat suspended mid-air. 

In all, there were 25 different Piazzas.  I mentioned the box-topper only to save it for last.  This card is gorgeous and all mine! 

1997 Score Reserve Collection #501 Mike Piazza GY Artist Proof

I had a good time going through this package.  Every time I see Quinn in the return address, my thoughts always go to the classic Manfred Mann recording of the Bob Dylan song...

 

                                              

HOT DOG ENCOUNTER: an alien weiner

It came from outer space.  Many were surprised it came at all. But not me. I knew it was coming and would be here very soon.  No flying saucer.  No drone.  The small creature arrived, wrapped securely in a brown mailer.  Transported safely to my mailbox by an unsuspecting postal truck.  How could it be that I was the chosen one?  What made me worthy to host this being from Planet Schnitzel.

 

He wasn't the first.  There were many others - thousands -  who had joined our citizens. One was a Doug Fister.  He'd had a tough 2015, going 5 and 7 with a 4.19 ERA.  It showed too.  Traveling since 2011, Doug's name had all but faded from glory.

The temperamental one among the group was called David Wells.  He was once their leader but had great difficulties  keeping order within the tribe.

 

 

Recently promoted to the rank of HOF, Piazza would soon be their new captain.  He was a natural leader and veteran warrior. 

 

 

His first officer was young Posey, a rising star in their army.  This Posey possessed all the skills necessary to negotiate peace with the Earthlings should hostilities arise.

 

 

This group of travelers were seemingly more advanced than the earthlings who surrounded them. Blues and reds, no matter what colors bordered their faces - all were equal.  Some had no borders at all, reflecting the openness of this alien society. 

 

 

 

One called Cobb, lived in an emerald pool of crystal shard. His beauty was of such greatness that he withheld his reflection to protect the eyes of the beings on his host planet.

 

 

The newest member of the alien tribe was Altuve. He shone with promise, bedecked in colors of our planet's Sun, also the colors of Schnitzel's greatest resource - mustard.  The ruler of Planet Schnitzel chose this newcomer to make special contact with our world. 

 

 

They brought bats and balls, bases and gloves.  And they played.  For us.  In time, their magnificent leader would follow, eventually becoming a presence at every game played.

 

 It was my duty to protect the Schnitzel King. He'd been a visitor to other galaxies, each time narrowly avoiding death. The King was a beautiful thing, wrapped in a bun so soft, befit for royalty.  Wearing golden mustard jewels, smelling of sweet relish, the King was a divine being. 

 

I left him for only a moment, returning too late. What I found disgusted me.  My friends laughing and handling the alien King so carelessly.  My heart broke as the first bite was taken. Shazbot, I yelled at the nimnuls, The mustard!  Don't get mustard on the carpet!!! as it dripped slowly to the floor. What was I to do?  The King was gone.  

 

Could I tell his followers the truth?  Will the bright yellow stain ever come out of the carpet?  Will Xavier Higgins ever forgive me for this wretched story?

 

 

Xavier contacted me for a trade back in early November.  An incredible array of cards arrived the first week of December: an electric foil and purple refractor Altuve, early  Cabrera 02 Stadium Club and so many others.  What could possibly top these cards?  THE HOT DOG ENCOUNTER!  What a riot!  Thanks for parting with this gem, Xavier!

 

Xavier doesn't blog - yet anyway.  He is a marvelous communicator.  If he reaches out to you, trade with him!