New PC Addition

It has been a while since I added anything new to my Paul Blair player collection.  If my blogging history can be believed, it has been over a year.  The last entry of an addition to this PC was November 27, 2018.  My blogging has been sporadic since then, so there may have others, but I don't think so.

Anyways, here is a new one:

Most hobbyists will recognize this as a (somewhat stained) 1966 Topps card.  The keen-eyed observer will recognize that this card isn't stained so much as printed on lower quality stock and is actually a Topps Venezuelan.

I recently won a lot of six 1966 Venezuelans on eBay. I only really wanted this one, but decided to add two others to my miscellaneous vintage binder.  I have already found a home for the remaining three.  This is my third Venezuelan card in my Blair PC.  I also have a 1967 Topps and a 1972 Photostamp.  I haven't fully researched it yet, but I am only aware of two other Blair Venezuelans: 1968 Topps and 1972 Winter League.

This is the 117th unique card in my Blair PC.  The Trading Card Database has 176 cards listed for Blair.  I am about to start working my way through that list and reconcile against my collection to make sure I have a good (though likely not comprehensive) list of wants. I hope it won't take too long. But, spring is sprung around here and the outdoor farm project season is ramping up.  So we'll see how it goes.

What I am listening to: Grey in L.A. by Loudon Wainwright III

Favorite Cards of 2013 - Part 2

8. 2001 Topps Archive Paul Blair Autograph

This card is always coming up on EBay, but it took me over two years to actually get one. Why? Because I thought I already had it.  Paul Blair shared a rookie card with Dave Johnson.  However, when Topps decided to issue sets devoted to past players, this card made several appearances. Indeed, I currently have 5 different versions of this card from Topps Archive, Team Topps Legends, and the Topps Shoebox collection.  Once I figured out I didn't actually have this card, I snapped up the first one to be had at a fair price.

 7. 1963 Fleer Roberto Clemente

If I had to choose one player that I could see play if I could, it would be Roberto Clemente. I would want this card even if  I wasn't building the 1963 Fleer set.  Indeed, someday I would like to have all of Clemente's playing days cards.


6. 1967 Topps Venezuelan Paul Blair

This particular card is not in the greatest of shape, but it is a Venezuelan.  They come available so rarely, and at such high prices, that I never realistically expected to own one. 


5. 1963 Fleer Dick Howser

This card filled two needs for me.  At the time I got it, I still needed Howser to complete my '63 Fleer set.  That I found such a nice version that was also autographed made it special. This is the second autographed card of a deceased player I acquired as part of that particular quest.  Out of 66 cards in that set, 19 are of deceased players.  This will obviously limit how many '63 Fleer I will ever get autographed.

What I am listening to:  Born to Lose by Social Distortion (Note: NSFW language.  Also, not the best quality, but the video was taken at CBGB.)

Buena!

Sometimes things just fall into your lap.

I am sure you are wondering what is so great about this.  It is a 1967 Paul Blair. Surely I already have one in my player collection? Indeed I do.  But, this isn't any ordinary 1967 Paul Blair.

That is right!  A 1967 Topps Venezuelan! I never thought I would own one, but this came up on EBay at a reasonable price and I had to jump on it. Sure it is has some worn corners and a crease, but it was in the affordable range for me, so I got it. Decent versions of this card in the can go for $100 to $200 range.  Indeed, there is a PSA 2 3 version on EBay with a BIN price of $99.99.  I got this version, which was actually PSA 2 (Good), for less than a third of that.  It will set back my quest to complete the 1973 set a few weeks, but it is well worth it!