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.

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

Ecstatic!! Estate Sale Thievery

Last weekend, I went with a friend to check out a local estate sale.  She had word that thousands of sports cards were up for the picking.  The sale began on Friday so we could only hope there'd be a good find or two that Saturday morning.   

We were first in line at the door. Looking at the ridiculously overpriced items outside - a rusty, dented wheelbarrow for $35  [it did have a new tire] -  our prospects weren't promising. I had an idea there would be a LOT of junk.

And I was mostly correct.  The photos above are from the broker web site.  The tables were heavily picked over and looked nothing like these pictures.  The main table full of single cards was completely disarrayed with cards scattered and mixed into a biggly pile.

I found a box of 1992 Bowman marked complete set  but knew the odds were high with a $3 price tag.  The dealer said all prices were half off which made this box $1.50 and worth my time.  I found many of my favorite players and a Trevor Hoffman RC but no other RC gems. 

I picked up a sealed 2001 Bowman set marked $6.  This meant $3 so it went into my pile, knowing there'd be a relic and auto inside plus mint rookie cards!

An opened tin of 2005 Baseball Heroes marked $8. What could possibly be inside?  It was opened.

I love these cards, having often wondered about the release format and why I never saw any boxes available.  Now I know!  With eight cards per tin, it means there should be four more.

Ok, this is going well.  I get to look over the contents before deciding to pay the $4 price.  When do you ever get a chance to open the pack first???   What is card number eight???  BOOM!!!

FOUR DOLLARS FOR THIS TIN??   Into my pile it went.  There were also a few nicer cards 50% off tagged price.  What do we have here?  A Lou Brock auto for $3.  Duke Snider auto $8.  Bob Gibson auto $2. 

At this point I'm beginning to feel a bit guilty.  These people obviously know nothing about the cards they're selling.  Someone has trusted this company to sell their prized possessions and get them the best possible price.  I can see this isn't happening, not in the collectibles area of the basement anyway.

Time to check out the table of singles.  All unmarked cards were a $1 and unmarked autos $2 - and let me be clear, nothing on the table was marked.

We know this guy, and the card - known for chipping on the backside. No chipping, a gorgeous specimen - $1.

2007 Topps Co-Signers /100  Troy Tulowitzki    It may be a somewhat ugly card but for $2,  I found it quite appealing!

1954 Bowman George Kell.................. $1.

This is just too much!   I knew if I didn't buy these cards, someone else would.  At this point, I'm talking quietly with my friend about the situation.  Part of me wanted to say,  FELLAS!  You are giving these cards away!  Are you nuts????

I took one more dig into the table and picked up a card I knew did not belong there.  I looked at the sign again  - it did say that all unsigned and unmarked cards were a dollar.   This just can't be.   I took the card to the broker and pointed out that although unsigned, it wasn't a regular card.  How much do you want for this one?  He looked it over and said - $2.  Poker-faced, I replied thank you and added it to my stack.

Yes, I paid twice the asking price of $1.  Who does that?  Please, charge me more.  I did  - to alleviate any remaining thoughts of guilt.  I needed to know I'd made an honest purchase.  From his rookie year,  2001 Absolute Memorabilia Albert Pujols /200.  A gorgeous card for $2.  Although worth only what someone would pay, BV is $100-200.  

I rarely have this type of luck.  I picked up a few other cards CHEAP but these were the gems.  I'm still shaking my head over the deals.  The Yogi alone was enough to make me do a happy dance.  I was afraid if I didn't get out of there quickly,  a pole dance would be in order!

Chopped, Nicked and Cynical

I've determined being one step ahead of the trade mail will not happen.  This is in no way, a complaint! Just yesterday, I received two more incredible packages: Off Hiatus Tony and Subjectively Arbitrary Brian.  Thank so much guys!  You do  know it will be the end of Summer before these are shared, right??

 

Mark  aka Cynical Buddha of Collector's Crack sent a great batch of cards in exchange for a big helping of 2015 Topps Update.  I was elated to see those cards out the door and on their way north - to Alaska.  It was a more than generous exchange because he included shiny cards, an auto and a low numbered Joc Pederson.  All for Update???  Let's Make a Deal!!

 

 

Another reminder from Verlander that Spring Training is upon us! 

 

 

2015 Topps Foil

 

 

Eulogio 'Frankie' de la Cruz, 31 years old and done. The card is better-looking than his short MLB pitching career numbers of  0-0 and 8.16 era and 11.57era with the Mud Hens. 

 

Have a Coke and a smile, along with a couple of great cards from 1981 Topps!

 

 

2015 Topps refractor of my favorite new catcher, James McCann.  I'm hoping big things for this young man. He appears to call a good game and hits the ball!

 

And finally, this gem of a card from Panini's 2015 Black Friday giveaway.  Thick and numbered 18/50,  Joc Pederson.  Super nice card to own!!

 

 

Mark, thank you - not just for these cards but for taking Update off my hands.  Oh I have more to ditch on some needy collector.  Just ask for it.  Please - ask.


Another fun blogger, Steve from the Card Chop, sent a another great mix :
 

 Special A&G minis with Jackson's reverse featuring an A&G back

 

 

old school Topps logos.  lovin' the throwback Stars uniform!

 

 

 

Verlanders, featuring 2008 Upper Deck.  The headline celebrates his no-hitter against the Brewers on June 12, 2007.

 

 2002 Topps Gallery - great design

 

The Gallery set is one I've paid little attention to.  I need to look over the checklist to see what I've missed.  A very clean design!

2009 Upper Deck 20th Anniversary Retrospective

 

2008 Stadium Club, showing off Comerica Park

The Great Ty Cobb

Steve included great vintage too, featuring Topps from 1969, 1961 and 1971.  Steve, thank you!  Thanks for your patience too!  I've been a bit overwhelmed but no less than appreciative!!


Do we have time for one more??  Why yes, we do.  Nick from the Dimebox took a little time to put together another fun package.  These always include the odd and a vintage card or two plus cards for my PCs. 

2015 Topps foil, base and gold

Shiny goods included a sweet holo-foiled Fielder from 94 Upper Deck Home Run Allstars.

 

The late Berra. 

 

 



 

 

I love adding these sets from Front Row featuring the All Time Greats. This 1995 issue pays tribute to HOFer George Kell: 19 years, 2054 hits, .305 average.

 

Nick hit a PC with Altuve.  Altuve loves the game and it shows with every play and at bat. I hope he's in the game for years to come.  I'd love to see Altuve stay with the Astros for the better part, if not all, of his career.  Odds of course are it won't happen. The Franchise Flashback features him in a Houston Eagles uniform, a Negro Leagues team in 1949/50.  Just an awesome and colorful card! I believe Nick pulled the patch card.  Thanks for thinking of me!  A great card to add!

 

 

 

This package from Nick would not be complete without a food issue and some vintage.  1981 Drake Bakeries Steve Kemp and Topps 1964 Lumpe and 1965 Lolich.  The 65 design is a hard one to beat.

 

 

Three great trade packages!  I highly recommend trading with these fellows!  Take a moment to check out their blogs.  Forthcoming on this blog will be a small box break for the newly formed Super Traders Group.  I'm honored to be included among them. I can't do high end cards but perhaps something from the early to mid-90s would be fun, like 91 Topps or Donruss.  Ok, that's a joke.  Just calm down everyone.  I'm not THAT cheap!