Not Your Average, Arbitrary Post

Arbitrary: random, erratic, unpredictable. Nothing average there. The same is true for the package I received in April from Brian, who claims to be highly subjective and completely arbitrary.    He's been a steady blogger for over five years. It's been awhile since we swapped cards. He made up for lost time quickly.  Not only cards but a couple of packs were included.

2000 UPPER DECK VICTORY:

BASE

INSERTS

2019-20 OPC GLOSSY

I'd forgotten how colorful the Victory release is. I don't recall ever buying a pack. OPC was my first hockey pack bust. I didn't land any Blackhawks but it was still fun.  Now comes the hard part.  Brian packed so much into his efforts, I don't know what to share.

A Topps Living Set online exclusive and 2019 Stadium Club Fulmer #d/25, both fairly rare cards. Rare is subjective in terms of hobby scarcity. I'd say yes, a 25 card print run is rare enough. The value = arbitrary.

2019 Stadium Club from my wantlist. Breathtaking beauties and quite possibly my favorite baseball cards in this post.

Altuves:

Springer:

Oh there's more. Tigers found their way into the envelope. They don't call me a cat lady for nuttin':

2012 TOPPS #/210 

SHINERS

1967 AND 1962 TOPPS

There have been more than a few Free Card Friday's on Brian's blog. I've missed out on many of these freebies in the community. The past weeks have been difficult for most of us. These giveaways bring good vibes and smiles to all their recipients. Among my choices were bat racks and mascots!

CHECK OUT FRANK'S PHONES

LOVE THIS GRACE!

Before you get your get your feathers ruffled, I don't believe the pope is mascot to the Catholic faith. I have great respect for the Roman Catholic church. Someone else had chosen this card right before my claims. I commented that I wanted to pick the pope. I do like this card. It will go nicely with my pitching nun.

My favorite card in the package from Brian isn't baseball but an older milk carton card. I could find nothing anywhere on this one; not TCDB, Beckett or the internet in general.

GOT ABE?

I wonder what Abe would say about the times we are living in right now. His record on race wasn't perfect but in his wisdom he knew this country would split if slavery continued. Here we are 150 plus years later. Slavery abolished, thank God, and finally desegregation.  But how far have we come? Why not attempt to understand the challenges blacks can often face? Their lives do matter. No one is saying all lives don't matter. Would any white person wish they'd been born black?  I think most of us would say "not me". This all hit home a few days ago, right here in small town Michigan, not Detroit, in my predominately white town with its perfect yards and touristy shops. There is a locally famous rock in a prominent location upon which folks leave greetings for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and sometimes memorials. Not this time:

ARTICLE LINK HERE

In 2020? We are coming out of a country-wide lock-down. Folks are hot and agitated but this is more than a skin-deep ugliness.  Absolutely unacceptable.  My friends, you know I don't get political. This blog is a happy place. This is the first time I've written more than a line or two about serious issues we face as a country and frankly as people. Where is empathy?

I can tell you my little town came together to repaint that rock. Groups of people have been standing with it all day long, in a show of solidarity with those who painted the original message. Volunteers are taking turns sitting with the rock all night too, to ensure the message remains unchanged.

Sorry for the rant. I felt the need to put my voice into the universe. Thanks for sticking with me, if you did.

PWE Mania

Fred Flintsone. Fred Astaire. Fred Mertz. Fred Lynn. Fred McGriff. Fred Grandy. Fred Rogers. That's a short list of some better known, fantastic Freds but they  haven't sent me any cards. Ever. There's a lesser known Fred out there, north of the border. Canada always felt so far away when I lived in Texas. Now I'm 45 minutes from the Bluewater Bridge and still haven't it made it across.

My old and awful commute was to Troy, lower left on map.

Fred and I have been trading for a couple of years now, maybe three? He's a quiet and humble fellow who's tutored me a bit in the Trading Card Database. Helped me complete my first transaction and shared come collection tips!  I think he's a swell fellow, more so than these Baseball Greats he sent for set help. That's saying a lot cuz I like these cards!

1990 SWELL BASEBALL GREATS

2011 KIMBALL CHAMPIONS

I discovered these little minis in 2015, at my last big card show in Texas before the move. I'm finally working to complete the set. I've added more cards towards a finish in the last month than in the past five years. Fred tucked in a new Daulton too! I miss #10. 

1995 COLLECTORS CHOICE

I took advantage of the virus vacation to spend some time organizing my collection. Oh how it needed some TLC!  I worked 10-15 hours a week at the office to keep in touch with our customers. I wouldn't want to give the impression I did nothing but sit for six weeks straight. I've been updating TCDB and my three blog tabs with chase cards. It's been a beautiful thing to see the postal jeep stop at my mailbox several times a week!

One of those envelopes was from Chris Nachos Grande. He is a Ginter man and had a few cards to spare towards my 2019 Ginter Greats set build.

Chris the Collector had a few Free Card Fridays. I miss out on most giveaways because well, I'm me. This particular Friday was an exclusive for commenting on his All Teams series. I picked a sweet 94 Flair Cam plus a few fun ones!  I love the 93 Donruss Molitor. It's a floating bat beauty!

I don't win contests either - still me. Reading the blogs one day during the shutdown, I learned AJ makes excellent use of wax pack wrappers. He displayed his handwork and offered a choice of bookmarks to a random winner. I never make the top ten. This was a first, at being first! Check the link for his handiwork. I went with the bright blue Fleer wrapper. It makes me happy inside!

Bump n Run Trevor picked my pockets recently so sent a few cards in return. I appreciate that! When picks become trades, it's a win-win!  Three Tigers and a 95 Cyberstat assist!

Here's another pick-to-trade from Sport Card Collector Matt. He lives on a dead end road but puts a lot of life in a plain white envelope -  a Tiger den!

Guillen/399

Pickers be crazy. Sometimes, they're Crazie.  I-E no Y, he's cray-cray Joe.  Donruss Greats, a Daulton and Blackhawks - all in return for some virtual dimeboxing. Duncan Keith is a Timmy Horton.

Sometimes collecting is all fun and games! Big fun games. I participated in Johnny's Friday night escapades recently. I came away with my first 1977 Sportscasters card, a Willie Mays!

All cards but the Mays are results of picking pockets. Thanks to all of you for the return packages and envelopes. The PP page will return soon. I'm taking the month of June off. The weather has warmed and yard work beckons. I'm also planning a big July 4th party. I've missed having one the last two years. We cookout, maybe have a bonfire but always, always have a 30-45 minutes fireworks display. It's buy one, get two free at Phantom Fireworks!

I spent an hour creating this display for a party a few years ago only to blow it all up later that evening.  I'll do it again this year.  Who's cray-cray now? Are you pointing a finger at me? The  youngest attendees are too old for chicken egg laying stunts and tanks. The pooping dog though, never gets old.

I've chosen the date to reveal the political drama referenced in my last couple of posts. Am I running for office? Not exactly. Am I buying your votes? Perhaps. Independence Day.  July 4th, in case there are any doubts.  As for my personal opinion of the current political landscape...did I mention a pooping dog?

FUJI: Man of the Cloth

I wanted to title this post Material Girl. Rather than making display of my airheaded self-centeredness, deemed it best to focus on Fuji's thoughtfulness. Fuji doesn't trade on a regular basis.  He sent a round of packages out in February to a LOT of folks. When you are the recipient of others' generosity, it's difficult not to reciprocate. If you are Fuji, it's impossible. [Not to say I was overly generous. There was no cash in the mailer I sent.]  Fuji does exchange cards but is more likely to do so PWE style. It's certainly become my way. Done right, PWEs are safe for card transport -  and affordable. I sent a stack of cards to Fuji with no obligation to return the favor. The note enclosed should have said as much. A self-confessed dimwit, I likely forgot the note entirely.

2002

Fuji filled the package with relics. A relic myself, I was drawn to this card, the second oldest in the group. I hadn't heard of Cleven so threw myself at a baseball reference site only to be foul-tipped to Wikipedia. This may be the most baseball I see all year. Wicker tells me Brent is now 36 years old. It seems this second-round Tiger pick never gave up on the game. While showing promise, Cleven bounced between MLB and the minors for several years. He became a Double-A and Independent League star.  Now a player/manager for the Cleburne Railroaders [Texas], he led them to 57-33 record in his first season in 2019. This is a fellow who loves the game. If I still lived in Texas, a trip for Cleburne baseball would be a must. I wish him great success!

2001

2016

2018

2019

2019

The package was all Tigers but for one, catcher JT Realmuto. This card was an extra nice touch. I don't pick up many of his cards and have no relics. I haven't been a fan of the Holiday issues. Topps continues to spit out products like a bird regurgitates to feed her babies. Reusing the same pictures, themes and tired old reprints, capitalizing on a collector's need to have it all.  We aren't all wired that way but I once was, back in the 90s.  I am so happy to be over that hump. I can't imagine having that need in today's hobby.  All that is to say, I really like the design on these two cards!  The swatch in the middle of the bow is admittedly clever. {I loathe you Topps. How you mock me.}

The remaining relic is from 2017 Holiday. Not certain but there may be a JV appearance in the dugout. My eyes fail me a bit. Recently I'm struggling to read white font on black backgrounds. Other colors against black are also troubling but white is the most difficult. The letters blur together no matter how much I enlarge the page. Some of my favorite blogs use these color combos which are sharp-looking. If  it seems I'm not reading or commenting on blogs with this formatting, please forgive me. I'm doing my best to be there. It is time for an eye appointment, once it's deemed safe to do so. Now back to the card...

I'm not extremely OCD but would've liked the material rotated slightly to the left so the fabric pattern flows with the design. I do like the little snag. Swatches with snags and dirt seem a touch more authentic. They probably keep a seam ripper and bucket of dirt in the production area to achieve this affect but I like to think it's player worn. The floating bat photo is divine! I collect bats racked, multiplied, cracked and broken but my favorites are those stilled in time. To count in my collection, 3/4 of the bat with barrel showing must be in the shot. This is a great example.

Have you read The Chronicles of Fuji?  Personal and thoughtfully written - and cards cards cards {and maybe a few legos.} He has an amazing collection of autos and relics. Drop by to see for yourself. Thank you Fuji!

A note to all: the primaries are coming!  I'll be posting soon on our upcoming election season.  Stay tuned! It's not politics as usual.

To close this post, I was torn between using a Madonna video for either Material Girl or Holiday. I chose neither and spared you all. You are welcome.

COLLECTING UPDATE: and then there were four

It's a small and temporary victory! For at least the next 30 minutes, my sets and player collections are fully organized. With a few clicks on the Trading Card database, I can see exactly which cards are needed to complete sets or compliment current PCs.

Throughout the course of updating and organizing, I've made decisions which affect many PCs I enjoy. With space a consideration, I determined which collections were completed.  Unless a card is specifically on my Send Help tab, I am no longer adding cards to the following collections:

JEFF BAGWELL
CRAIG BIGGIO
KEN CAMINITI
MARK GRACE
TONY GWYNN
JAVY LOPEZ
GREG MADDUX
PAUL MOLITOR
MIKE PIAZZA
IVAN RODRIGUEZ
CAL RIPKEN
RYNE SANDBERG
OMAR VIZQUEL
ROBIN YOUNT
and CATCHERS in general.

I value my trade pals and realize these changes may make trading more difficult. Blinds trades have always been fun. I've attempted to keep the blog tab lists clean and legible, and most importantly - organized! I've parted with a few players along the way to make space for those which give me the most joy.  Booted were McGwire, Arod, Gonzalez, Palmeiro, Sosa. Among the heavily trimmed were: Bagwell, Biggio, Gwynn, Ivan Rodriquez, Michael Young, Frank Catalanotto, Greg Maddux, Javy Lopez, Omar Vizquel and Eddie Gaedel.

And then there were four...

I am still actively collecting Altuve, Daulton and Cobb. The Astros scandal saddened me greatly. Altuve's passion for the game, and the joy he brings to it, are what drew me back into collecting. The decision to continue collecting his cards took some reflection on my part. This Spring Training interview with Correa was a determining factor.  I don't believe Correa was completely open in his remarks regarding the  2018 season but his commentary to Ken Rosenthal regarding Altuve at the 3 and 11 minute marks made an impression on me.

2019 Heritage SP

Cobb was a man completely opposite in temperament; a fierce competitor. He comes from the Deadball Era, my favorite in baseball history. Players from this period lived hard-scrabble lives. Rarely did the game pay them a living wage. It was small ball, as homers were a rare occurrence in those days, long ago.

1961 Golden Press - my oldest Cobb

Darren Daulton was my first baseball 'love'.  I became a Phillies fan in 93 and still have a soft spot for them. By the time I discovered Daulton, he'd already been in the game several years. He retired after the 97 season. A bit of a wild child, Dutch settled into a quiet life in his last few years. I 'm not ashamed to say, I cried when he passed from brain cancer in August 2017.

1994 Fleer All Star

All cards needed or wanted for these collections can be found in my collection listed in the Trading Card Database, linked here to each name:

  Jose Altuve
  Ty Cobb  {yes, please send that T206, no reprints...lol}
  Darren Daulton

I'm also continuing to add Buster Posey. Cards I'd like to have are being added to the Quad Squad tab above. As for my catchers-in-gear collection, only cards  from 1974 and older  are being added to the binder.  If there is an exceptional new card such as this, then yes, I would love to have it:

2020 Heritage - how could I not like this card?

And of course, I have a bat collection! I like them floating, broken, racked and cracked:

Did I mention cuddled?

I love the seemingly quieter moments of the game most. These cards give me an odd inner peace. In the topsy-turvy world of today, I can look at cards like these for hours. There may also be more bats...

I'm adding more vintage these days, and these are not necessarily expensive cards. Here are a few I've picked up.

1967

1954

I am by no means a condition snob. If I'm going to spend the money however, I want clean, uncreased copies. I chose a unique vintage set for assembly - 1961 Fleer. I love the RW&B with stars design. I'm halfway through the set. These are not mint but fairly well centered with bright coloring. My copy of Gehrig is as nice as those below. I wanted you to see it on its own but managed to delete the original version of the scan while separating from these fellows. They represent the overall condition of my set build.

1961 FLEER

As for my small Blackhawk hockey collection, it's approaching completion as well. I would enjoy adding some refractors, a colorful patch, OPC and pre-1980 cards. I do have a list of cards in mind HERE. I just don't have room for a large hockey collection. Thanks to the generosity of my trade pals, hockey flowed into my home like flood waters for awhile.

I am still collecting Tigers. You can find these needs on the Uncaged Tiger tab. This list will be a continuous work in progress, regularly updated.

If you managed to read this far down the page, you deserve heads up on an upcoming contest which will require your participation throughout the summer and early fall. Yes, I do know how to drag something out. I recently decided to add tickets to each of my Picker Pals envelopes for a drawing later in the year. Johnny's Trading Spot spoiled my idea by coming up with it on his own. The nerve. ;)  He'll be doing this with his Big Fun Friday games.  Please, join him.  What does this mean then, you ask.

Stay tuned. The primaries are coming....