Nick's Book Nook and Card Shop

I hardly know where to begin with this particular share. If I were to save the best for last, you would skip right to the bottom of this post. I'm not catering to you.  And who has the final say of what's best?  Me. I'm the decider.

Nick (do not ask 'Nick, who?' ) sent an oversized package my way mid-February. This package could not have been more well-timed. A month later, Nick was laid-off from his job. Sometimes you ask for something so off the wall, well, there's just no way your wish will be fulfilled.  Did you ask Nick who? Nick might as well be Santa Claus.

He packed in the usual assortment of cardboard surprises which he has such a knack for doing.
How about a 75 Kaline? Check.

1971 O-Pee-Chee? Of course.

One card needed to finish your 2018 Fire set? No problem ma'am.

Pristine 2001 Topps Reserve in their refractory finest? Have two:

Magazine oddball - required.

       

 1993 UD Glowing Darren Daulton.  Happy to oblige!

A case of the 'no baseball blues'? Please, take one Champ Summers.

Crazy enough to build 2003 Topps Retired from one card? Here's your second. You're gonna need the help.

One scoop or two? Please, have four.

Holy smokes! It was a difficult narrowing down the scans to share only a handful of the 100 or so cards Nick sent.  [Are you still asking, 'Nick who'?]  I could ramble on at length about each card here but decided to save it for this lot. If there were 'best' cards in this package, lordy it must be these.  1961 Nu-Card Scoops should be found at the top of my vintage oddball want-list. Scoops are a delightful addition to the Tiger collection. I love the news headline design. Throughout all of my card show binges, I've only ever found one Nu-Scoop card, Mickey Cochrane card 419. This set would look fantastic in a binder. I have five cards. Anyone care to send the rest?

GO FUND ME

As much as I love this 80 card set, it isn't in the boo-jay - that's French for budget.  Perhaps when I have a few hundred to splurge, I can find a clean and complete set. Scoops are numbered 401-480. My best guess is numbering continued from previous sets although I've found only one: 1960 Nu-Card Highlights. However, it's numbered 1-72. If any of you have more info than this, please share in the comments.

IMAGE COURTESY OF TCDB

If you are still asking Nick who then I must ask you- have you been social-distancing on another planet?  He began blogging at the end of 2011. Dime Boxes should be on your required reading list.    

And if Nick's taking any suggestions, this post's title is a big ole hint!!! I'll join you Nick, and run the cafe. Nick may be laid off but when he's not, he's working for my favorite bookstore chain, Half Price Books. Books, records, magazines, games and some collectibles - I've never walked out of one empty handed. I was a regular customer - every weekend - at the flagship store in Dallas Tx. It's H-U-G-E! Before vinyl became a 'thing' again these past few years, I was quietly stocking up. I had no trouble finding most 60s & 70s albums in like new/nearly new condition for $5.99 or less. I'm talkin' Beatles for cheap!

I'm also a book junkie: history, memoirs, biographies, positive thinking...and baseball. All hold treasured space on my bookshelves. Nick asked if there were any books I might be looking for.  I mentioned one that had been on my Amazon list for a long time. A book out of print since 1991, originally published in 1973. There was no way he'd find a nearly new copy, ever.  A worn copy maybe, eventually.

Nick's reply?  This book came in just this past week!!  He happens to manage the sports section of the store.  I could not believe this good luck.  The hardbacks are simply unaffordable and a high quality paperback can run $30+ on the secondary market.  Beggars shouldn't be choosy but I am when it comes to books.  My own paperbacks are in like new condition: no tears, bends, and no broken spines, even after several readings! How is it that this 30 year old copy could meet my criteria?

The authors Boyd and Harris both worked for a bookstore. A customer inquired regarding books about baseball cards but these were yet to be written. They took it upon themselves to pen one.  After going through their childhood collection of cards from the 50s and 60s, the men chose an eclectic group of players as fodder for their prose. Most of the players represented are the lesser knowns, the fellas you always manage to pull from a wax pack four or five times - in four or five trips to the drugstore.

It was a fun read. I forced myself to put it down overnight and finish the second day. Not wanting to break the spine, I wasn't able to scan any of the contents to share.  Please accept my apologies for the phone pics.  Here's a peek into the thoughts of two collector pals in 1973:

At least Rip has some 'best' years.

The umpire heckled him.

What a juvenile prank.

What's up, Albie?

Know any good kneck kneck jokes?

Someday there will be nostalgia for the 70s, indeed.

Nick, I hardly know how to thank you. The cards were fantastic, with many new additions to the stash. The book however, was over the top. It will be treasured for many years to come.

I consider myself fortunate to have fallen in with our blogging community. My collection has grown immensely due to the generosities of bloggers like Nick.  With the extra hours afforded during the MI Stay At Home Order, I've had the opportunity to assess my collection. My next post will be an update on the new direction my cardboard hoarding has taken. What's old is new, so it seems. Until then, be well.

And for Pete's sake, read Nick's blog!

Spotlight On ...

Over the course of  eight months, Johnny has made several appearances in my mailbox.  Not literally of course.  He is one of the more prolific traders around.  Most of us have been recipients of big fat mailers and boxes full of our favorite teams and players.  I had three trade packages from him ready to share and just when I thought I was done - along came yet another package.  Here's a few cards from the most recent package:

That is one shiny lot of refractors!  All but two were needed for a team set.  The pennant was a great accent to this picture and made me smile when I found it tucked in a toploader.

Love these 87 Coke cards.  I have a few of these packs still sealed and tried opening one but it didn't go so well.  I will eventually have the whole set with the help of trade partners. I should put a list together.

John included three post-card size team sets:

1988 Kroger

1989 Marathon Gas

1990 Kroger

 A little bit of Leaf Preferred and Pinnacle Zenith

New Heritage

2005 Topps 205 - like these a lot!

 A smattering of Tiger greatness in Fan Favorites design.

    

   A very cool schedule!  I can't say old since there's only ten years difference between it and me!

Thank you John!  If you are new to the blogs, be sure to check out two of his regular features:

Shadow Shots and Wacky Wednesdays.  Both are favorites of mine.

And new or not, you are welcome to join now in another giveaway from the disCard pile! We'll let this one run through Wednesday night, 8pm EST.  That gives me time to have it on the way to our winner before the holiday weekend!  Open to all 50 US States, with  previous winners excluded. Your part?  Comment on this post and ask to be entered.  One catch... your comment must be different than other comments.  For example, I'm in can only be used once. Count me in and please count me in would be considered the same as would I'm down or put me down.  The point is to be original. I'll randomize the list four times and post the winner on Thursday evening.  Oh, and the winner will be the fourth name on the list.  Your prize will be a three to four hundred count box.  The cards are random - a mix from 90s to now.  There may be an older card or two but junk wax is not part of this deal.  The 80s find their way into nearly everything - a bit like cockroaches.

Have fun with your comments - and thank you for reading!!!

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!

 

Snake Charmer

There's a snake in my boot!!  I've always wanted to say that.  Thanks to Daniel and his card shop,  snakes are no longer a problem!  I packed them all in a box and shipped them first class to his door!  In exchange for the reptilian cardboard,  he sent Tigers:

Armando is a First Day Issue, 2008 Stadium Club.

 

Prince in his too-large bubble helmet on 2013 Topps Update Gold  0097/2013

 

Carlos Pena - 2003 Upper Deck Classic Portraits.  I recall watching him in the minors.  He was playing first and flirting with girls on the first row.  I was a few rows back and delighted when he made an error.

Josh Rainwater - 2003 Bowman Draft Pick   I'm a black border fan despite the problems dark borders create.   Josh never made it out of the minors.  Card back says he aspires to control his own likeness in a baseball video game someday.  Perhaps the focus should've been on his pitching and making the bigs first.

 2012 Topps Career Day and Mound Dominance
 2015 Topps Highlights  2012 Topps Then & Now

 I realize I'm a bit late to the show - 10 years or so - but what was the consensus on white Topps Chrome from 2004?  These are my first.  The cardboard appears to be high quality, no curling or bowing but the Topps design certainly does nothing for me.



          2003 Upper Deck Game Face  and 40-Man....over 2200 pointless pieces of cardboard.



                                   2003 Upper Deck Vintage - yep...going back to their roots

2004 Donruss Leather and Lumber.  I want  to like this design.  It just isn't there.  The love must have been with the inserts and razzle dazzle relics.  I have to be in love with the base card to commit.

2005 Diamond Kings - well we've come along way from subset to inserts.  Too big for our pants, we have to be our own card issue.  And that is just what you have dear Diamond Kings...issues.  On the left we have a strikingly handsome Pudge Rodriguez, aura surrounds him.  Running low on paint or out of time, Mr. Gibson isn't treated with the same fanfare. Different artists you say?  Different pay scale I say. No aura for Gibby, he gets shadow puppets.

I wasn't around for 2007 Topps Chrome either but have heard all  about it. Senseless colors in each corner.   Had Topps used team colors we could have avoided the bitterness that erupts each time 2007 Topps is uttered.  It looks a bit more alluring against the white background, as shown on the Pudge refractor below.

2003  Fleer Rookies and Greats insert The Naturals  and  2010 Topps 206 featuring Mr. Tiger.

     1998 Leaf Rookies and Stars Homerun Derby  1055/2500 - one time a low numbered insert.

                   2009 Bowman Chrome refractor 123/150 -  one time a low numbered parallel.

 Wow Daniel!  I feel soooooooo much better now. Thanks for letting me take it out on the cards!  I really do like these  - I just enjoy sarcasm more!  Great trade and I hope to do it again!  I'm keeping all the Diamondbacks for you, boxed with a tight lid!

If you haven't read  It's Like Having My Own Card Shop then get over there!  Daniel is a snake charmer and will trade for yours!