Not All is Doon and Gloom

After a long week, I came home Friday night to find a bubble mailer from the mysteriously named Napkin Doon waiting for me.  I am not sure why he sent me these, but I do appreciate it.  There was some nice cards included.

Let's look, shall we?

Ahh, the ubiquitous Mickey Mantle's that Topps sees fit to include in every set.  I am not a big fan of the way Topps manipulates the photos in Gypsy Queen.  By desaturating the color and adding grain, the subject's uniforms seem to look as if they had never been washed.  You can see what I mean in the Moonshots card.  The base card below it was much better done and is quite sharp looking.  If all of the images in GQ were like that Mantle I would be favorably inclined to build the set.

This, I believe is an 3D insert from last year's Archive set.  This is a really nice card.  Most of the 3D cards I am familiar with, when you tilt them back and forth, the entire image moves.  On this card, only the background does.  The image of Ruth stays static.  Very cool. So cool that this card will be placed in my MOJO!!1!11!1!! binder.  Speaking of my Mojo binder, the star of the package from Nap will also be assigned an honored place:

Well, it will be assigned an honored space if I can find a sheet it fits into.  This Jorge Posada jersey relic would go quite nicely next to a Mariano Rivera relic card I have, except that it is as thick as 6-8 standard cards. So, I am not exactly sure what I am going to do with it.  I really like that the fabric swatch actually includes a pinstripe.  Most jersey relics are single color and boring.  This is probably just about one of the nicest relic cards I have.

As many of you probably read Nap's blog, you know he has taken to sending out unopened packs and, sure enough, I got three!

I may just have to write about busting these open.

What I am listening to:  "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia

More Lost Cards

Recently, The Lost Collector and I completed a trade were I got some cards for my 1973 set and I sent a couple cards for the Hall of Fame binder he is putting together for his son.  I think that is a worthwhile project to support.  When I go to card shows, it seems most of the attendees are middle aged men, like myself.  Any project that works to increase interest in the hobby in a new generation is one I would like to contribute to.  That I was able to get some cards in return was a bonus, though completely unnecessary.  I was quite surprised to get another envelope from AJ today with two more cards for my 1973 set.
 

I still think it is unforgivable that the Veterans Committee didn't see fit to induct Santo into the Hall of Fame until after he died.  Speaking of which, I hope you already have a Santo in your son's binder, AJ. I'd hate to think you'd send this to me when it could been part of that project.

Anyways, this package made my Friday after a long-ass week at work.  I really appreciate it, AJ.
I'll keep my eye out for more HOF cards for your boy.

Coming up:  Another mailer out of the blue.

What I am listening to:  "Down with the Bass" by fIREHOSE

Joy of a Completed (Insert) Set - 2004 Fleer Greats

I was cleaning out my desk and came across a $25 gift card we got from the bank when we refinanced our mortgage late last year.  I probably should have used it for groceries or given it to my wife.  But, I bought cards.  Specifically, I used some of the money to complete two insert sets from 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game

This was the last card I needed for the 35 card Glory of Their Time insert.

And this was the last card I needed to complete the 10 card Battery Mates insert.

I am (sorta) closing in on completing the 2004 Greats set.  It depends on where I decide to call it complete.  At a minimum, I have 11 cards to go to finish the 29 card Forever insert set.  I could call it done there and be relatively happy.  There is also a 10 card Announcing Greats insert set, of which I don't have any.  I do see 6 of the 10 on EBay and I think I'll probably start picking them up, if the price is right.

The real question remains what to do about the Blue parallels (numbered to 500 for the first series and numbered to 75 for the second) and the autograph cards.  I actually have 31 blue parallels (out of 145) and 22 of the autographed cards (out of 109).  I am thinking at this point to not bother with the blue parallels, especially since they are fairly pricey given the low print run on the second series.  I am likely to occasionally pick up some of the autographed cards, but probably won't try and complete it. With names like Yogi Berra, Duke Snider, and Stan Musial, I don't harbor any illusions that I will ever be willing to plunk down the cash to make a run at it.

Coming up:  A couple of unsolicited trade packs arrive.

What I am listening to: "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" by Patty Loveless

The 1963 Fleer Auto Project - Part 18

As I mentioned the other day, I have a few 1963 Fleer baseball cards out for autograph. This one arrived back today:

This is the 18th autographed from this set that I have added to the binder.  I have two more out now and another 4 to mail out in the next few weeks.  I have yet to decide what to do about a fair number of autographed Fleers out on EBay.  The condition on many seems suspect, so for now, I intend to pass on them, unless the subject player is deceased, and focus on getting cards I already own signed. 

What I am listening to:  Can't Change Me by Lydia Loveless

Joy of a Completed Set - 2010 Obak

 I found the last card I needed to complete 2010 Obak as BIN on Ebay.

It was about $5 delivered, which seems high, but it was a short print.

And the last card I needed to complete the set.

It isn't a master set as I didn't even try to get all the variations. I did get all the variations that were based on a different picture on the front. But couldn't be bothered with the back-only variations.

At some point, I may chase the box topper cabinet cards, but they come up so rarely and at such a price ($10-$15 each, if memory serves) that I may just let them go.

Obak was a fun set to build and I will probably keep an eye on finishing 2009 and 2011 in the next year.

True fact:  Joe Tinker only played two games at Wrigley Field in his career. The Cubs started playing at Wrigley in 1916, the last year of Tinker's career.

Ups and Downs

Two packages arrived in the mail this week and they elicited different reactions from me.

This card is from a 2003 Heroes to Heroes tour sponsored by AT&T. It is larger than your typical sports card. Indeed, it doesn't even fit into an 8 pocket page designed for early Topps sets. I think I am going to need to find a 4 pocket page to hold this.  It is the 95th unique card in my Paul Blair collection and the 27th auto. I was pretty stoked to get this.

This card, on the other hand, disappointed me.  The card itself is in great condition.  The problem was that I had sent it in to MAB Celebrity Services for an autograph signing they were holding last weekend.  Unfortunately, Ralph Terry had to cancel his appearance, so I was not able to add it to my 1963 Fleer Autograph project.    They seemed to imply Terry may be at a signing they are having later this year, so I guess I may just try again if that happens.  As it is, I have another 63 Fleer that is out for a signing at this weekend's White Plains show, and another in the hands of a promoter for signing in April. So the project is still marching on, albeit slowly.

Trade with The Lost Collector

When I decided to forego collecting modern sets, I figured my trading days were over, since almost all of the trade activity in the card-o-sphere seems to revolve around recent card offerings.  I have to admit that, while my trading activity has dropped off, it hasn't died.  And that pleases me to no end.

Example: I recently concluded a trade with AJ from The Lost Collector. I sent him a couple cards for a binder of Hall of Fame players he is putting together for his son. And I got two cards I needed for my 1973 set.

I really like that Garr is smiling so broadly in his card, but I am a little blown away that card 54 is not marked off on the checklist.  Stop a minute and try and wrap your mind around that.

Great trade! Thank you, AJ.