Just Between Friends

Packer/procrastinator = me.  Yes, I should be packing - don't judge.  I won't have internet as of May 28th so am making good use of the time now for reading and post preparation.  Two last packages were sent to my Dallas address and I want to share these before I'm off radar for a week to ten days. 

I truly enjoy the friendships found here in this special world. It means much that you've accepted me.  Women aren't always welcome in the card hobby, so I thank you!   Another blogger reached out to me recently, knowing I can't offer anything in return for awhile.  A gentle giant of a guy.  Why he is feared so, I don't understand.  He told me he was harmless.  I choose to trust his words.  Here are the cards he sent:

Harmless little stickers. Nothing offensive in these fun little collectibles. Although using tigers to express  ones tamer nature is well, different.

2014 Topps and parallels, nothing scary here.

 

 

Mr. Tiger himself, from one of my favorite sets: 2001 UD Decade 1970s.  Once moore, nothing frightening here. Should I be looking for a hidden message within this trade package? That's silly talk.

 



 

 A touch of the 80s  here.  I especially like the 86 LEAF Parrish!  I only have 86 Donruss Tigers.  1989 Sportflics, always a cool addition! All nice cards in this scan.

Very cool 99 Ultra Platinum Medallion 33/99 Brian Hunter! He stole  74 bases with the Tigers in 1997.  Brings to mind this well-known image:

 

This pic was borrowed from Nick's Dimebox blog.  Thanks Nick!   Masked men do have a mysterious quality about them - think Lone Ranger, not the fellow poking a gun into your ribs while politely asking for your wallet.

 

A sweet lot of premium cards!  2011 Triple Thread Cabrera #/625;  2008 SPX swatch Ordonez 53/99 and a slick 2015 Museum of some nameless pitcher now with the Nationals.

I have an odd French fry craving.  Skipping breakfast isn't good for you. Something tells me I'll be making a burger run later. Sorry for the distraction, not sure where it came from.  This last round of cards honors the decade 00.   2005 Fleer Patchworks Pudge - new for the pc!  2000 Stadium Club Easley, overall nice card design but names are tough to read on the Chrome version.  Fick Finest 2000 and two XX from 2008 Upper Deck X baseball, cuz that was a great idea.

What a fun surprise from my newest friend!  I hesitate to reveal his identity lest you judge him too harshly.  He extended a hand in friendship which I gladly accepted.  This guy seems genuine to me but perhaps you should decide for yourselves.

Mystery Blogger

Oh. Now I get the fry craving.  Those piercing and hypnotic eyes are to blame.  My refrigerator is empty of all but salad fixins and milk.  Time for a fish sandwich and those golden fries. 

Thank you Wes for the polite, friendly introduction!  First impressions are usually correct! I see blue skies and smooth sailing ahead!

Packing It Up

The packing is growing old, and quickly.  All the books and most cards are packed.  It's the little stuff getting to me. My desire for organization will not allow for packing random items in the same box; e.g. waffle iron and used soap collection. But I must, to make best use of space in the moving truck aka U-Haul.  I need to be finished by the end of day Wednesday.  Thursday through Sunday are scheduled fun days: one last Ranger game, possibly Six Flags, a day spent at my beloved LCS - 28 miles away, one more visit to Half Price Books and meeting up with friends for a meal or two.  On Monday, the wheels roll north. 

 

As an excuse to put off packing a bit longer, I wanted to share some mail goodies from generous blogger pals.   Kaiser the Great from Orange and Black Wax did a bit of shopping and knocked a few items off  my want list.  It's really more of a need  list. But you understand this.

 

 



1985 Topps Father/Son subset card

1991 Topps

 

KTG sent a message that he had the Whitaker rc I needed to complete my 78 Topps team set.  I appreciate the time he took to choose a few cards to send along with it.  Kaiser has disappeared again.  He's been caught in an 80s time continuum but will hopefully return once the time machine spits him out.

 

Foul Bunt Orioles blogger William Regenthal surprised me with a nearly complete team set from 1987 Topps.  Added to the cards I already owned, I can cross this year off my needy little list.

 

 

He also tucked in four Gehrigs, all new to my collection.

 

                                    2010 Topps Vintage Legends             2011 Topps Lineage

                                   2010 Topps Vintage Legends                  2013 GQ

 

2011 Lineage was issued a couple of years before my return to collector's paradise. I looked up the set on Cardboard Connection for a little background. I will agree with the reviewer that these cards are comparable to a Topps flagship design.   Too bad Topps wasted a good idea on their only Lineage release. It's a Topps design I actually like.  Thanks William! I hope to return the kindness in the near future.

 

The last package I'll share tonight is from Tim, the Smelly Cardboard Guy.  Tim burst into the blogging world in December and has made friends quickly, trading like the Bull market!  He sent over a colorful lot of cards - which by the way, do not  stink. 

 

 

 My first 2015 Bowman Tigers, including a chrome Kubitza and mini- Farm's Finest Derek Hill.

 

Purple-licious Topps with purple foil Avila - Toys R Us perhaps? Victor appears courtesy 2015 Donruss.

2003 Bowman Chrome refractor Pena;  2011 Bowman's Best design Cabrera and a 2010 exfractoring Ordonez.  That one scanned pretty well!

 

1995 Bowman's Best Fryman w/guest Expo Michael Barrett.  2014 Topps Cabrera, hot-looking foil! 

 

 

 2011 Topps Blue Parallel Martinez;  2008 SP Authentic Matt Joyce; 1997 Score Sierra Private Stock parallel; 1994 O-Pee-Chee Fryman; 2001 Fleer Platinum Cruz 007/201.   Tim's doing a great job so far.  What's left?

 A 1983 Yankee yearbook TCMA insert, neatly separated from his paged companions!

 1968 Topps baseball game Al Kaline!  What a gem! A very cool surprise!

 

2012 and 2015 GQ framed Ripkens

 

 

One more card from Tim to share with you - 2003 Topps Bazooka Joe in his Tiger duds:

 



 

 

I got a kick out of this card because of a recent purchase made on a trip to OKC.  My Sis and I stopped into a vintage antique shop.  I caught this little guy smiling at me from across the room.  The price was right at only five dollars.  Joe was clean and in excellent shape.  

 

So far the neighbors aren't gossiping about my new and much younger roommate.  I'll say this, Joe is pretty worthless when it comes to helping me pack. When I begin to complain, he smiles that little smile - at least he did til I shoved him in a plastic bag and packed him up with the waffle iron and soap!

 

Tim, thanks much!  I'll work on a Yankee gathering for you soon!

 

 

Trading Places

I'm counting down the days.  Trading good Tex-Mex for Buddy's Pizza;  100+ degree days in July for a rare 90 degree day during summer; tornados for snow and the Texas Rangers for my Detroit Tigers -  I'm moving.  My Texas sunsets are numbered.  I've grown tired of the concrete and traffic, and have reached that time in life when a reassessment is necessary.  Over the last few years I've spent a good bit of vacation time in North Carolina and Michigan, knowing one would someday become home.  It's time to be closer to family, and settle in for the second half of a wonderful life.

 

The nice cards I received from Gavin during one of his Baseball Card Breakdowns  coincided with my thoughts of an early retirement - before turning gray-headed!

 

                                        2004 Topps Retired Signature

                                                                                  2001 Fleer Greats of the Game

 

 

These are attractive cards printed on shiny, heavy cardboard. The theme for 2001 Topps Archives was based on reprints of  many rookie cards  and last card appearances.  Topps went back to 1952 and stretched it out to the year 2000 for a 450 card set.  If I'd purchased these cards upon their initial release only to find reprints from the previous year...well it's just like Topps.  No surprise would be a surprise. 

 

My move isn't quite an early out.  I'm fortunate to work for an accounting firm with offices in nearly every state.  My employer is working on a transfer at this time.  I'll take a short leave of absence beginning May 15th to start the move process and settle into my new home. When I return to work during the first week of July, I'll be the rookie in a new office.

My singular complaint with this Archives edition is the tiny print on the reverse side.  Assembling this set could not have been an easy feat! The actual card number is in miniscule print on the copyright line. At my age, a larger font would've been appreciated.

 

Gavin included two cool cards from 1991 Orioles Crown, a 501 card series offered by Crown Gasoline and Coca Cola.  Smaller cards at 2 1/2 by 3 1/8 inches:

 

The dreaded part of any move is packing. Most all my cards have already made the move ahead of me.  I kept only the accumulation of cards set aside for my regular trade friends - once moved and unpacked, I hope to make new trade buddies too.  Of course I continue to shop, which only adds to the burden. Such a terrible burden...  

I came home from work recently to find a somewhat large box waiting for me.  Something else to move.  The return address revealed this to be from a trade partner...one of the  Boys of Summer.  Michael  Orange and Black Wax Kaiser began blogging during the 2014 season and mysteriously disappeared as soon as his team won the Series.  Back like Spring Training, Mike is stuck in the 80's.  Perhaps you can drop by his blog and call him back to reality.

Wow! Perfect!  I need the bubble-wrap right now!  All those bubbles to protect this fabulous original artwork by Kaiser the Great!  A very awesome sketch of Paws with Lou Seal, the Giants mascot. Lou Seal is a call back to the minor league San Francisco Seals, 1903-1957.  His head weighs 25 pounds!

 While the box wasn't 25 pounds, it wasn't feather weight either.  I dug a bit more and found this:

 Mike thought he'd collect bobbleheads but decided they take up a lot of space, are expensive and most likenesses aren't very good!  A probable Chinese Heritage Night giveaway, Paws did not defect his team.  I will proudly display this next to my only other bobbleheads: Rowdy Redhawk and the Grinch, both packed or a picture would be shared.

Gavin and Mike, thank you!  2001 Archives are great looking additions to my collection, and the Asian Tiger...he can be tamed.