Close Enough, Part 2

 For the few of you that have been long-term readers of my modest little blog, you may be wondering when I did "Close Enough, Part 1." I didn't, at least not so named.  The title refers to sets that are not complete but, due to the cost needed to complete them, will never be.  My first "close enough" set is my signed 1963 Fleer set, for which I have 65 of 66 cards, only lacking the Roberto Clemente (on an unrelated note I was recently offered an ugly but authenticated signed '63 Fleer Clemente. As you might expect there was a significant gap between what I could afford and what the seller wanted. I expected that outcome, so there is no disappointment here.)  65 is close enough for me.

I am on the verge of my second "close enough" set, though this one is a non-sports set.

I believe I have mentioned previously, I really love Star Trek and Deep Space 9 is my favorite series. Last year, I bought a hobby box of DS9: Memories of the Future.  Each box comes with one autographed card. My box contained Aron Eisenberg, who played the young Ferengi, Nog.  Some time subsequent, I got it in my mind to get the autographed card of Louise Fletcher, who played Kai Winn, a character I consider one of the all-time great TV villains. That got me on the quest to finish the 20 card autographed subset.  Over the last year, I've added them here and there.  The above two represent numbers 17 and 18.

Majel Barrett, of course, is Star Trek royalty having been married to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. She has also appeared in every series as the voice of the computer, but also making live action appearances occasionally.  Nana Visitor is one of the central characters in DS9 and, I am not ashamed to admit, my celebrity crush.

So, why close enough?  There are two cards left:  Terry Farrell (Jadzia Dax) and Rick Berman (series producer)  As it stands, the only Farrells currently available are overpriced.  But, they are plentiful enough that I will get one at my price point soon enough.  The Berman is another matter and is the reason I will stop at 19 out of 20. I have only ever seen 2 Bermans come up on eBay and both are fixed price listings with the BIN prices between $550 and $600. No thank you. Not for someone who didn't appear on screen.

As you might have surmised, I am home from the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association Academy and trade show. I had a great time and learned a lot.  I realize this is probably of interest to exactly none of you, but I am a giant nerd and have to show my absolute favorite exhibit.  Feel free to skip past it.

That is a Deere 904 large wheel loader posed as if it is loading rock into a Kleeman MR100 mobile crusher.  My company doesn't use Deere, opting instead for equivalent Caterpillar and Komatsu loaders.  But we do have Kleeman's at our two small quarries, though ours are the larger MR170s.  I've always been fascinated by how things get done.  After 10 years in the energy industry, moving over to mining has re-ignited my desire to learn.  Even though I could retire in 6 years, I cannot imagine not working as long as I get the opportunity to learn new industries.

What I am listening to: Mississippi Queen by Mountain.

The Longest Journey

 I am going to try and post more. Mainly out of a need to distract myself from...well...everything.  I am heading out on Monday to attend this year's National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association's AGG1 Academy and Trade Show (My wife always laughs when I say that and, honestly, I can't blame her)  So, I am going to try and knock out a quick post and work on my next in my hotel room at night as opposed to trying to match some of my co-workers ability to consume alcoholic beverages.

I started collecting in late 2010, by starting on my Paul Blair player collection. Early in 2011, I started building sets. The first vintage set I built was 1978 Topps followed closely by 1974.  Both were completed during the year.  At some point subsequent (I don't remember exactly when) I decided to complete the 1974 master set and I managed to mostly do so.  I finished the 44 card Traded set, the Washington Nat'l League variations, The Jesus Alou No Position, and Apodaco/Apodaca.  The one I never completed was card 599, which came in three variations: Washington, San Diego large print, and San Diego small print. I never got the latter of the three.  Occasionally, over the years, I would remember that was still out there and look to see if I could complete it.  Alas, that last variation was always selling for over $30.  Now, I can certainly afford it, but I always chafed at dropping that kind of coin on a common.  

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when I was talking to a friend that collects signed sets.  I am not sure how we got on 1974 Topps, but I mentioned that I was one card short of the master set.  He pulled out his duplicates and this is what he found:

Demonstrating generosity (a virtue seemingly in short supply these days) he sent it to me no strings attached. So, after 14 years, I have finally finished my 1974 master set.  And here are the three variations together.

Take care and stay safe.

What I am listening to: Slip Away by Clarence Carter

1961 Fleer Autograph Project - Part 47

How are you doing?  All things considered <looks around> I am doing fine. I am making an effort to post more. I figure if I can post one of these every two weeks, I'll be up to date a year from now.  It's plan. We are heading into a slong stretch of Hall of Fame players.  Of the 25 remaining subjects in this series, 20 are enshrined in Cooperstown.

Next up is a Hall of Famer, Hal Newhouser. He isn't a common name when talking about the great pitchers of the past, but he had a 6 year stretch between 1944 and 1949 when he was dominant.  

So, let's learn a little more about him:

1. He was born in 1921 to immigrant parents. His father was from Czechoslovakia and his mother from Austria.
2. As a child in The Depression, he helped his family survive by any means available to him, including gathering up discarded coal scraps at the coal yard to heat the family's home.
3. Elected to the Hall in 1992 by the Veteran's Committee after years of being overlooked, his main joy was the fact that his mother was alive to see it.
4. His induction was delayed due to his (undeserved) reputation as a Wartime Pitcher, ignoring that he continued to be an ace for 4 seasons after the war.
5. He had a (deserved) reputation for anger issues.
6. To be sure, his best years were 1944 (29-9, 2.22 ERA, 7.7 WAR) and 1945 (25-9, 1.81 ERA, 11.3 WAR) when he won back-to-back AL MVP awards.
7. However, a 26-9, 1.94 ERA, 9.7 WAR season followed in 1946, which warranted a 2nd place in MVP voting behind Ted Williams.
8. He was something of a pioneer. After a frustrating 1957 season (17-17, 2.87 ERA, 5.8 WAR) he spent time analysing his pitching by comparing film taken of his pitching in 1947 with his performances in prior seasons.
9. After his playing career, he was a Detroit area scout for several organizations.  His most notable signings were Milt Pappas and 1964 Cy Young winner Dean Chance.
10. His scouting career came to an end when he quit after his then employer, the Houston Astros, chose to ignore his advice to draft Derek Jeter as the first pick in the 1992 amateur draft. They chose instead to draft Phil Nevin.

What I am listening to:  The Joke by Brandi Carlile