New and Old PC Additions

 A few hobby things brewing here.  One I am really excited about, but probably won;t be able to share anything until this coming weekend, depending on the Post Office.  But in the mean time, I've added a couple cards to my Paul Blair player collection.

Wait. Don't I already have that card?  Yes, I do. I had three at one time, but traded one for the chicken bucket lid and a handful of team-issued postcards. So, this one brings me back up to three.  I've talked about this card before.  To recap, it was a limited edition Nabisco All-Star Legends card that was issued at regional in-person events and not through the mail like the more pervasive cards from this small set.  In 10 years, I have seen only 5 appear on eBay.  When the listing mentions the actual set name, the cards always sell for crazy dollars (the lowest I've seen is $68.)  

But, twice now it was buried in a larger lot of cards and the auction description made no mention of Nabisco.  Both times, I was able to pounce on the lot and win this card for a song.  This card above came in a lot with autographed cards of Brad Ausmus, Steve Avery, Harold Baines, Jesse Barfield, Jay Bell, Tom Brookens, and Earnest Byner.  The whole lot was mine for about $30.  I don't need any of the others, so claim 'em if you want 'em.

The second card is a custom card that draws it's inspiration from 1988 Donruss.

Other than the bare-bones back (I alliterate intensely) it is actually well done. I'm still not overly convinced about ACEO cards, but I am not deadset against them either.

Anyways, I've got a full day tomorrow and need to get my beauty sleep. So, I am going to end here and only mention vaguely that I am within striking distance of finishing one of my favorite projects that I've undertaken since I got back into the hobby.

What I am listening to:  Appalachian Nightmare by Justin Townes Earle

Denial Reversed

So, Fuji was right.  My package of Paul Blair autographs showed up about a week after they went missing. The package arrived with the words "Not This Address" written across the front.  Apparently, the career dropped it off at the wrong house. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. I live on Alameda Drive and just to the south is Alameda Street.  The two streets run sort of parallel, so I would guess a new or substitute career got confused.
 

This is card from a 1990 Pro-Card minor league. I think it is actually an attractive card.  I would say this is a set I might not mind building some day.  But, this was the real find:

As I mentioned, I have only seen this card come available twice in 4 years.  Once it sold for $68 and the other for $105.  To get this in a lot with 8 other cards for a total of $36 delivered has to be the coup of my time as a collector. I was a little nervous because it appeared that the end of his last name was smeared, but I am happy to report that, when you can look at it in hand, it is just his shoe.

There is precious little information about this card out there. According to the Standard Catalog, Nabisco issued two small sets of autographed cards through mail order: 6 cards in 1993 and 4 in 1994.  But, Blair does not appear in the official checklists for either set. 1993 included Brooks Robinson, Catfish Hunter, Don Drysdale, Ernie Banks, Phil Neikro, and Willie Stargell.  And 1994's checklist was Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson, and Duke Snider. It appears there was nine other cards unavailable through the mail that could be attained at local events.  This Blair card is one of those 9.

Coming up in the next couple weeks, I have about three posts in the works.  Two related to my project to get my 1963 Fleer set autographed and another about a surprise pickup from before Christmas.