Contest-a-pa-looza Begins Now

I've been unpacking the cards over these last two weeks.  Such sweet reunion!  Thousands of cards - all belonging to me and you! Well mostly me.  I had no idea how many there would be to sort among my collections and/or blogging friends. During the few months before my move, I picked up cards in bulky lots and through many ebay wins. In all of the disarray, I've decided to part with a few items.  First up:



2000 Topps Complete Factory Set

This is a sealed factory set by Topps, currently valued around $40 with total value listed at over $200, according to our trusted friends at Bouquet.  They are such a hoot! The set design itself doesn't appeal to me but certainly someone out there likes it. You perhaps?  Topps is a well-known and much loved supplier of sports cards to thousands of collectors just like me and you!  Famous for their creative designs and renowned for customer service.  This set could be yours!

Yes, this is the first give away at Cracked Bat, long overdue.  Everyone loves a contest, right?  If I have any readers left, there might even be some competition.  Rules are simple, as they should be. Comment and tell me what you will do with the set should the Great Randomizer so choose you as recipient.  Will you put it away, sealed?  Sell it?  Gift it?  Break it open and share it among your blogging friends?  No wrong answers.  If you bust it to share, I ask only that you do not send any of these cards to me. I do not want them.   The contest is open to all of Cracked Bat's followers located in the USA, currently numbered at 27.  Kevin if you are interested, you are included.  ;)   I can't ship internationally without having completed trades with you, sorry Finland.  Simply too expensive. We need an end date for this first contest - how about Friday September 4, 8pm EST.  There that should do it.  If I've left out any important contest rules, please let me know.  HA. Wrong-o. I MAKE THE RULES.  I'll randomize names three times and announce a winner.

I love giving stuff away which is why I began trading.  I've been making stacks for a few of you who've patiently waited for a completed trade. My new post office will be thrilled with the business, beginning next week.  There will be more giveaways here, some seemingly small, or odd. But it's free stuff!  For instance, this little bear needed a home. He was the first thing to go:

Happy little bear, free after 20 years in a plastic tub.

Sweet little Bear has a new friend

New friend to Bear doesn't play nice.





I  look forward to posting here and won't use words such as regularly, weekly or often.   I misunderestimated  -such a great word-  my ability to snap back into routine after a big, big move.  Thanks for sticking around and let's start meeting here more often.  We'll have fun, I promise!

Knock Knock

Who's there?  Anyone at all? 

Nearly six weeks have passed without posting.  I've received email and trade packages during this time with little opportunity to enjoy them.  C-Bat email does not come to my phone so my replies have been somewhat delayed.  Though I've already reached out individually, thanks again to those of you who checked in on me from time to time.  The move itself was drama free.  New carpet was delayed until June 18th so I lived out of boxes for the first three weeks. I still have a garage full of boxes to be sorted and stored.  The important items are inside - vinyl, books and cards!

I was without internet for that time as well.  No cable providers - no Uverse, Comcast etc.  I have the fastest connection a Dish can offer on any given day.  Those with clouds or rain affect the speed , that being slow to non-exisitent.  I now drive an hour each way to the office...on days without snow.  Big change considering I've previously never driven more than 30 minutes one way, in horrible traffic. The low temp two nights ago was 47!   Pretty chilly for a summer morning.  Small inconveniences in comparison to the beautiful place I now call home!

 

I expect to renew the romance with my baseball cards over the next couple of weeks.  I have sooo many goodies to mail out but must first find them!  Also planning to have my first contest soon to celebrate Cracked Bat's blog-a-versary...which was last month.  I hope to do more trading since I have no real LCS!  It's nearly 25 miles to the closest shop and their reception was not the warmest.  It's difficult for an LCS to compete with the internet so one might think they'd appreciate a new customer.

 

Another happening - and I knew it was likely coming - a new Independent Baseball League is sprouting up in my own backyard!  If you build it, they will come - and here I am!!!  Jimmy John's Field in Utica, MI will host a new three team league beginning next June.  It will be round robin style play for the first year as more teams are formed.  The Independent League Fort Worth Cats were fun for years and gave us Max Scherzer.   Oh I still like Max, he's a good guy.  My heart is softening up a bit.  I enjoy supporting Independent Leaguers and put my name down for a 25 game package.  Unfortunately the FTW Cats folded last year for various reasons, lack of attendance was probably a factor.  I hope the United Shore Baseball League does well. 

 

Until I can scan and share the recent goodies I've received, here's a group of cards added to my collection a few months ago.  A great eBay BIN with an offer made and accepted:   

 

2012 Triple Threads

I'm beginning to make the rounds, reading up on your blogs!  Thanks for hanging around.  Your friendships are important and I've missed you guys!!!

Before I go, here's another gem found recently during a regular eBay search on Buck O'Neil.  I did NOT purchase this item.  Gotta love this seller...

Hey dude!  Trim those photos before posting them...and maybe those toenails while your at it!

Drew Had Too Many Cards - in February

Some time ago, ah-hem...February to be exact, Drew offered up stacks of cards to team collectors, free to a good home. He was making room for more of his Yanks.  I just realized I hadn't shared my favorites from the fat team bag he sent...in February. 

1980 Topps - a design which continues to grow on me.

1992 Topps Gold - Winner  

 

1992 Topps baseball packs contained a  Match-the-Stats  game card from which collectors saved the Runs.  Just $2.00 and 100 saved Runs sent to Topps granted a random 10 gold cards in return. The gold foil is little difficult to read and the only attractive feature of this design, imo.



                                              1992 Topps McDonalds       1993 Fleer Hostess

 

Two fantastical cards from the pre-airbrushing era - or so it appears! Though released the same year, the 92 McDonalds 44 card set bears little resemblance to the homely flagship cards.  Snazzy black border with same hard to discern gold foil.  Hostess issued a 32 card set in conjunction with a new snack cake - Hostess Baseballs.  Three cards were packaged with the frosted yellow cakes.  One thing's almost certain, the Fielders like their food!

 

courtesy of Google images

 

2010 Topps 206

 

                                                   2010 Topps Scher...ah what's his name

2008 Masterpieces Verlander

 

 

2012 Gypsy Queen Valverde mini and grown up Victor Martinez 

 

 

Here are my favorites - 1988 Pacific Legends! I'd like to assemble the entire set.  Simply designed and full of many retired greats.  Drew, thank you for sticking with me until I could remembered to share these cards.

 

 

 I'm packed up - no more cards to play with, to sort or mail.  Such an odd feeling not to have my cardboard friends stacked around me while writing.  This hobby table is kinda depressing now.  I was hoping to get packages from  Dimebox Nick and Mark Hoyle scanned but it just won't happen until sometime mid-June.  How's that for optimistic?  Drew waited 3 months. 

 

 

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!

 

 

My Last Blast in OKC - or how I was Jinxed

The past two weeks have been a blur.  I've been packing, while accumulating more items cards to pack.  Somewhere along the way I have to stop shopping...right?  My last day at the office was Friday, May 15th.  I headed right to OKC to spend a few days with my Sis and some good friends before my move to the Big Mitten.  Sis and I caught an OKC Dodgers/Iowa Cubs game on Saturday. OKC won 1-0 in the 9th.   The Dodger affiliation is new this year. I don't care for the team name though.  Aren't minor league teams supposed to have fun names? Redhawks??  89ers?   The park now known as Chickasaw  Bricktown Ballpark, is still beautiful.  Ads covering the upper decks force fans to pay for the higher priced seats around the field.  Crowds fill the little park in Bricktown anyway. 



The Commerce Comet

Little General

Approaching storms kept attendance light that night

 

Ballpark necessities: kids meal bucket, THE helmet and adult beverage

On Monday, I spent several hours in The Old Ballpark, the LCS in South OKC.  Dime boxes galore!  From 11-5, I went through 4000 count boxes - box after box, fourteen in all! 

Baseball - orange tagged

I pulled 1500 cards we couldn't live without.  We  being me and you!  I won't say what the total cost was because the owner gave me an incredible discount.  Let's just say if you were to guess a nickel per card, you'd be on the high side. I found short prints, inserts, a few good rookies and Fergie Jenkins.

While texting my friend The Ump, with pictures of the many stacks of old timers, I messaged that Fergie Jenkins was in here. She replied to go ahead and get him too, get them all.   No - HE  is in HERE !   NO WAY she text back.  There I was surrounded by thousands of cards and not a single one Jenkins. No unsigned baseballs for sale, nothing.  I had nothing for him to sign. How could this be????  And why did this man wander into a card shop in South OKC?   My super-spy listening skills revealed to me he knew one of the customers also in the shop at the time.  This big time Cubbie fan just named his newborn Jenkins.  Fergie came out to meet his namesake on the way to the airport, headed for home in Arizona.

I worked up enough courage to approach the Hall of Famer for a short conversation and picture.  Not the best photo but an excellent reminder of my good fortune.  I've had an incredible run of the stuff lately!

Jenks - HOF 1991

 Fergie looked great, not any bit of 72. He chatted with the owner a bit about Ernie Banks and NL rules for pitchers batting.  He's all for it, of course.  It was a memorable afternoon for me.  I'm rarely in the right place at the right time. 

All this Cubbie talk brings the opportunity to share a recent trade package from P-Town Tom, our friend at Waiting til Next Year.  He sent over a stack of 2013 Hometown Heroes.



2002 Topps Total

2001 Topps

2014 Panini Classics

2015 Donruss  Altuve 81 - larger than life

Tom, thanks for completing my set!  I do love my Tigers but Altuve is right up there with them!  He is my favorite, current playing non-Tiger!

As I mentioned, Friday was my last day in the Dallas office.  I've made a lot of friends and worked with - and for - so many good people. Leaving them has not been an easy decision. The office threw me a surprise farewell party on Wednesday.  Josiah, World's Greatest Office Assistant is also a talented pencil artist.  He spent 30 hours on a drawing specifically for me which he and many of my co-workers signed.  

Tip of the Cap

Josiah's work is so good it doesn't appear authentic!  (He's shown me a few of his sports drawings in various stages of completion, some taking 200 hours or more!)  Ian Kinsler is in fine detail, stadium lights reflected in his helmet. A true labor of friendship. 

Within the next two weeks, I'll be moving into my new home.  I'll comment and post when I can but will be without internet beginning May 28 through at least June 4th.  Thanks for sticking with me through this transition.  I truly appreciate you, my blogger friends!

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!