Player Collection Status

So, my recent new addition to my Paul Blair PC had me wondering how my collection looked in the larger scheme of things.  So, starting with the Trading Card Database, I decided to start to compile a list of cards and cross reference it against my collection. With the advent of unlicensed products, high quality custom cards, serialized parallels, a whole bunch of early 21st century Topps cards that look identical but are from different sets, and a set of similarly identical 1970s team post cards , it is really hard to come up with a comprehensive list. 

I am still working through it and trying to get my haves and wants buttoned down.  But, I am pretty close and, as of this moment, I have 123 unique Paul Blair cards in my collection and have constructed a want list of 58 cards.  Honestly though, I am not sure it is a real want list as there are several categories on there that I am ambivalent about:

1. Stamped Buybacks - 9
2. Cut Signatures - 7
3. 1 of 1s - 8

I am not necessarily ambivalent about 1 of 1s, but as a practical matter, I am unlikely to ever acquire any of them. So, I don't really count them.  I have actually seen one on eBay. But, it was a Four Barrel bat card from 2006 Upper Deck Epic where the 4 subjects where Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson, Chris Chambliss, and Paul Blair.  The seller wanted $5,000.  Nah, man.  That ain't happening.

Also,  have two team issued post cards that I haven't yet been able to figure out what year they are from. So, taking these four categories out, I get down to 31 cards on my want list.  As I have worked through this process, I spot checked eBay to see what is available and I've been able to add a few more cards cheaply.

I had been aware of the MCI (remember them?) Ambassadors of Baseball sets from 1992 to 1994.  But, I hadn't done a great deal of research and was blissfully unaware of the 1995 set. MCI, an erstwhile telecom company that became part of Verizon in 2006, issued these sets in conjunction with a tour of overseas military bases by retired baseball players. Paul Blair was the only player to appear in all 4 sets.

I swear I had this card. I've been overlooking it on eBay for years. Guess why.

That is why. Multiple, virtually indistinguishable cards issued during a short period of time using the image from Blair's half of the rookie card he shared with Davey Johnson in the 1965 Topps set.  I can only imagine how hard it must be for collectors like Night Owl when there are probably dozens of cards using the same image for all-time greats like Jackie Robinson.

I'll probably end up publishing my want list in the next few days, though I don't expect much luck in finding these needs that way. But, we'll see.

What I am listening to: Lady Labyrinth by Ludovico Einaudi