A Nice Surprise

A special Christmas gift arrived yesterday.  It is the 14th autographed 1961 Fleer card I've added to my collection. And, it is a doozy. However, since I just published a post on the tenth card yesterday, I still have several posts to go before I get to show it.  This post is not going to move that ball forward.

Friday, as I was helping my wife get ready to host her bunco group,  I wandered out to the mailbox to pick up what was likely bills and junk mail. I was surprised to find a bubble mailer with a return address in Watertown, NY.  It was, of course, from Night Owl.  Before running into town on another last minute shopping run, I quickly opened it up to see what was inside.

There was a small stack of cards, accompanied by a note reading "I don't know if you need any of these, but they seem to be about your speed."  There are two implied questions in the note:  Do you need these? Do you want these?  The answers were "mostly yes" and "definitely yes."

Of the 20 cars in the package, I already had two: a 1991 Conlon and a 1993 Ted Williams.  Beyond that, I needed, and wanted, all the cards.   There were three mid-1990s Upper Deck cards: a 1996 Jackie Robinson and 1994 All Time Heroes cards of Manny Mota and and Bill Mazeroski.

 The All-Time Heroes is a nice set that I would like to build some day.  Alas, unopened boxes are selling for $120 right now, so that is something that will need to wait.

The star of the show, so to speak, was 15 cards from the 1990 Swell set. 

As an aside: is it just me, or is seeing Johnny Podres as a Padre disconcerting?  Not because of the awkward alliteration, but I just always think of him as one of Roger Kahn's Boys of Summer.

Anyways, this is a set I have always liked. I actually have two cards from this set already, both autographed: Johnny Vander Meer and Enos Slaughter. I've always wanted to put it together, but with too many other open books in my collecting, it has never risen above the level of passing thought.  But now that I have over 12% of the entire 135 card set, I guess I am officially collecting it.

Thanks, NO!

What I am listening to: Better Bad Idea by Sunny Sweeney

Card Show Haul - Modern Cards

I didn't make huge progress on the various modern sets I am working on, but I did take a small chunk out of the remaining cards (all inserts) that I need to complete my 1994 Ted Williams set.

This card is the last card I needed to complete the 500 home run club insert set.

The next three cards didn't complete the Locklear Collection insert set, but it did leave me with only one to go.  I like this insert set real well. It is the nicest "painted" card set I have ever seen.  A lot of people like the Donruss Diamond Kings cards. I didn't, but I can't see how anyone could disagree that these are better looking.

This card is part of the 17 card Milestones insert subset.  It is, believe it or not, the first card from this insert set that I have.  I should have looked at the odds of getting these various inserts when I busted the box a while back. I have to assume these are the inserted at the longest odds.

With these five cards, I am down to 21 needed to complete the set; all but 5 of which are from the Milestones insert set.

I also picked up a few other modern cards that caught my fancy.

I really don't have much need for contemporary sets. With limited funds,  they just get in the way of my vintage sets.  But, if there was a current set I would collect, it would be 2015 Stadium Club. I really like this image.  The first African American to play for the Chicago Cubs getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from our first African American President.  What is not to like about it?

 This card, a Bowman reprint card of Warren Spahn, plays to my love of black and white photography. Although, I have to admit that Spahnie looks kinda creepy in the picture.

Last, but not least, a single from a set I will likely put together: Swell Baseball Greats. Actually, this set is the second of three Swell sets issued between 1989 and 1991, comprising of 420 cards total.

So, that is pretty much it for the modern cards I got at the show. And that is also it for this post.  I'll move on to the vintage in the next post.

What I am listening to: I Wanna Be Rich by Jenny Kerr

Favorite Cards of 2012 #9 - An Unexpected Find

Many of you have professed your undying love for discount boxes. And, I have to say, I get it. The act of looking through a box with no goals in mind other than to find something (anything) that appeals to you can be a lot of fun. There is one dealer at the OKC shows that specializes in discount boxes. His dime boxes are just generally base cards thrown into 3200 count boxes without any protection and, from being carried back and forth to show after show, seem a little worse for wear. So, I generally avoid those boxes.

But his quarter, dollar, five and ten dollar box cards are better protected and easier to sort through and I usually do so for some time at each show. I will occasionally find things I need, like a 2004 Fleer Greats insert or the 2009 Obak mini I showed the other day. Other times, look for trade bait and have, on several occasions, looked at y'alls on line want lists on my phone to check if you need the card I am holding. Lastly, I will occasionally find things that just appeal to me, like an Upper Deck Sweet Spot Satchel Paige I found a year or more ago. This is an example of one of the latter cards.

I found this in a $10 box. Now, you might make the case that it isn't worth $10. I don't know what Beckett would think of this and, frankly, I don't care. It is a nice looking autographed card of a Hall of Famer. I have come back to this card several times since I found it and that is what makes it worth the money to me. I have several of Slaughter's playing days cards, but I think this is my favorite.

June Card Show Haul - Miscellaneous

I wasn't going to blog this week, but it is first thing in the morning. I am nursing a tasty cup of coffee and am not really wanting to ponder the day ahead. So, I am going to knock this one out and put a bow on the June 9 card show. This isn't going to be one of my better pieces. But, if you want something Pulitzer worthy get yer ass out here and help me load hay. When ever you start to wonder about your sanity because you collect 2.5" by 3.5" pieces of cardboard, just remind yourself that not only do I buy the same pieces of cardboard, I also drop a couple G each year on dried up grass clippings. You should instantly feel better about yourself.

Your welcome.

One of my goals was to peruse the vintage dollar boxes.  The one dealer, who had a huge box of late 50s early 60s for a dollar each at the April show didn't have it with him this time.  So, I went through Roger Nuefeldt's discount box (which is usually $2/$3/$4 cards), as well some boxes of Big Red Sports Cards, who has dime/quarter/dollar/ five dollar boxes.  I came back with a small set of super sweet cards.

1953 Clem Labine. I don't have many cards from 1952 through 1954.   After having recently read Roger Kahn's "The Boys of Summer" I don't have as visceral a reaction to Dodgers of the Brooklyn variety.

Poor cropping job. Sue me. I can't figure out my feelings for Billy Martin.  I loved him as a kid because he was the fiery manager of my beloved Yankees.  But, by most accounts, he was also a miserable SOB. I suppose a few years of therapy might help me sort it all out.  However, in the mean time, I added another 1956 card to my collection.

And another.  The recently departed Moose Skowron.

Oisk.  This one was actually sent off to Chris Potter Sports last weekend to be autographed.  but more on that later.

I am not sure why Laird is labelled as an outfielder. He is mainly a third baseman.  Typical Topps quality control, I guess.

2011 Topps Marquee Jackie Robinson. I just like it.  The full bleed cards are pretty cool.

1990 Swell Enos Slaughter autographed.  This is my favorite card of the whole show.  It set me back a tenner, but I think it was well worth it.  A signed card of a Hall of Famer.  Does it get any better than that?  No, I tell you, it does not.

So that is it for the June card show.  I've got a couple other posts in the pre-planning phase. But, the next few weeks may be a little lean.