BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 26: DEL PART 2

♪ I WONDER 𝅘𝅥𝅮

𝅘𝅥𝅮 I WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH WOONDER 𝅘𝅥𝅯

♪ WHY 𝅘𝅥𝅮

𝅘𝅥𝅯 WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY ♪ 

I DON'T JUST BUY UP ALL THE 1972 TOPPS CARDS I NEED TO FINISH UP THE SET INSTEAD OF BUYING ALL THIS RANDOM BULLSHIT EVERY TIME WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME

1972 TOPPS DEL RICE

THE TWO VINTAGE TOPPS SETS I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE MOST THE LAST FEW YEARS ARE 1976 AND 1972. I'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES ON 1976 AND AM DOWN TO A HANDFUL OF CARDS. IF I LIVE TO BE 500 YEARS OLD I WILL STILL BE PICKING OFF HIGH NUMBERS FROM 1972. BUT! IT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T STILL TRY. I CHIPPED OFF ONE MORE CARD FROM THE SET THIS TIME WITH THIS HIGH NUMBER OF DEL RICE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE OR IF IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT BUT HIGH NUMBERED CARDS FROM THE 700S SEEM WAY MORE SCARCE THAN THE ONES FROM THE 600S. IT'S PROBABLY NONSENSE, BUT I STILL FEEL GOOD GETTING THOSE REALLY HIGH HIGH HIGH NUMBERS. THIS ONE AT CARD 718 IS JUST A HIGH HIGH NUMBER, NOT HIGH HIGH HIGH. YOU GOTTA BE SOMETHING LIKE 750SOMETHING TO BE HIGH HIGH HIGH. IT'S STILL ONE MORE OFF MY LIST THO

DEL WAS THE BACKUP TO MY LAST DEL, AND PLAYED ON THE MILWAUKEE WORLD SERIES TEAMS IN 1957 AND 1958. DEL WAS BOB BUHL'S PERSONAL CATCHER AND BOB HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH RICE BEHIND THE PLATE. AS MENTIONED IN THE CARTOON, DEL WAS THE FIRST EVER CALIFORNIA ANGELS PLAYER AND LATER GOT TO BE MANAGER FOR EXACTLY ONE YEAR. THIS IS DEL'S LAST MAINSTREAM RELEASE CARD, BUT HE HAS A BUNCH OF TCMA AND REPRINT CARDS OUT THERE

RECORD SWAP - PART 3: MASSIVE UPGRADE

MOAR RECORDS FOR A SLEEPY SUNDAY. LET'S GOOOO

RECORD GIVEN: ROY CLARK - COME LIVE WITH ME

I AM NOT A COUNTRY MUSIC KIND OF GUY. SOME OF IT IS REALLY GOOD AND THERE'S A LOT I DON'T MIND LISTENING TO, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY MY SCENE. MT GRANDFATHER LIKED IT THO AND WATCHED HEE-HAW A LOT SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ROY CLARK. THIS RECORD WAS RESCUED FROM THE FREE BIN AT SECOND AND CHARLES LAST YEAR. NORMALLY WHEN I PICK UP A NEW RECORD I LISTEN TO IT ONLINE BUT WITH THIS ONE I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT. I GOTTA SAY I LIKE THE COVER THOUGH, EARLY 70'S CHEESE IS VERY COMFORTING TO ME

IT'S NOT A JAZZ RECORD NOVEL, BUT I APPRECIATE THE  LINER NOTES ON THE BACK PROVIDING SOME CONTEXT HERE. I NOW KNOW THE HIT SINGLE IS THE TITLE TRACK AND CAME OBLIQUELY FROM HEE-HAW. STILL NOT GONNA LISTEN TO IT, BUT CONTEXT IS NICE. WHILE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN, WHO KNOWS, IT MIGHT BE QUALITY TO SOMEONE, IT DID HAVE A NUMBER ONE COUNTRY HIT ON IT AFTER ALL

HOORAY! WE GET TO PLAY THE 'WHICH RECORD ON THE ALBUM SLEEVE WOULD I BUY' GAME AGAIN! ALTHOUGH THIS ONE HAS MORE OF A 'WHICH ONE WOULD I TAKE AT GUNPOINT' FEEL TO IT AS I DO NOT KNOW OR CARE ABOUT 70'S COUNTRY AT ALL. I THINK MY CHOICE WOULD BE JOE STAMPLEY'S IF YOU TOUCH ME (YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE ME) BECAUSE I COULD SEE THAT FITTING IN ON ONE OF THOSE LISTS OF TERRIBLE AND/OR BIZARRE ALBUM COVERS WE USED TO SEE A TON OF BACK IN 2003. THE COMPTON BROTHERS' MURDER STARES ARE A CLOSE SECOND THOUGH

AGAIN WE HAVE A BUNCH OF RECORDS THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD AND DON'T REALLY WANT TO, BUT I SAW HANK THOMPSON'S (NOT THE NEW YORK GIANTS PLAYER) NEXT TIME I FALL IN LOVE (I WON'T) AND GIGGLED LIKE AN IMBICILE FOR LIKE FIVE MINUTES SO I GOTTA GO WITH THAT ONE JUST FOR THE COMEDY

NEVER HEARD OF DOT RECORDS. OR THE FAMOUS MUSIC CORPORATION FOR THAT MATTER. THE LOGO IS BOLD BUT NOT REALLY MEMORABLE. NOT SURE WHY ALL THE PICTURES OF THE SIDE 2 LABELS ARE COMING OUT BLURRY, BUT THIS RECORD IS GONE AND THERE WILL BE NO RETAKES

RECORD GOT: STAN GETZ & JOAO GILBERTO - GETZ/GILBERTO

ACTUAL JAZZ ALBUMS (NOT THE MUSAK PAUL MAURIAT VARIETY) ARE SOMEWHAT RARE IN THRIFT SHOP CRATE DIGGING NOWADAYS AND THIS ONE HAD ME SHOOK WHEN I FOUND IT MIXED AMONGST THE EASY LISTENING DRIVEL. ALTHOUGH... THIS KINDA IS EASY LISTENING AS WE ALL THINK OF IT NOWADAYS AS THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA IS SO GODDAMN ICONIC IT'S BASICALLY A MEME AT THIS POINT. IT'S SO MELLOW IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE FUNNIEST BITS IN THE BLUES BROTHERS. SHIT DON'T GET ICONIC FOR NO REASON THOUGH AND THIS ALBUM IS BASICALLY WHY BOSSA NOVA IS STILL A THING. THE WHOLE ALBUM IS GREAT WITH VERY CHILL GUITAR AND VOCALS FROM JOAO GILBERTO AND AMAZING SAX LICKS FROM STAN GETZ. WHEN I TALK ABOUT SUNDAY MORNING RECORDS, I MEAN THIS. CHECK OUT SÓ DANÇO SAMBA FOR A NON-IPANEMA TASTE OF THIS ALBUM

THE ALBUM COVER IS PRETTY DANG ICONIC TOO WITH A STRIKING ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST PAINTING BY OLGA ALBIZU SURROUNDED BY BLACK. THE 1971 TOPPS OF ALBUM COVERS. EAT YOUR HEART OUT METALLICA 

IT'S GOT COOL STUFF INSIDE THE GATEFOLD TOO. THERE'S A NICE BIG PHOTO OF GILBERTO, GETZ AND PIANIST ANTÔNIO CARLOS JOBIM, WHO WROTE A BUNCH OF THE SONGS ON THE ALBUM. IT ALSO HAS THE REQUISITE JAZZ NOVEL LINER NOTES WITH COMMENTS FROM BOTH GETZ AND GILBERTO. MY FAVORITE BIT IS THAT PRODUCER CREED TAYLOR PUT HIS SIGNATURE ON THE ALBUM, THIS REALLY IS 1971 TOPPS, FACSIMILE AUTOGRAPH AND ALL. BUT IT GETS EVEN BETTER! CHECK OUT THE ALBUM SLEEVE

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE COOLEST WAY TO SHOW OFF A LABEL'S OTHER RECORDS THAT I'VE EVER SEEN. A RECORD-SIZED CIRCLE OF PHOTOS OF THE ARTISTS WITH THE ALBUMS UNDERNEATH IN A HEXAGON. THIS LOOKS SO DAMN GOOD. I PASSED UP COUNT BASIE ON THE PREVIOUS SLEEVE, I'M NOT PASSING HIM UP HERE, GIMME THAT BEST OF ALBUM

LOOK AT ELLA FITZGERALD'S ALBUMS THREATENING TO KNOCK THE VERVE LOGO OFF CENTER. I'LL TAKE THE ALBUM WITH ELLA AND DUKE ELLINGTON PLEASE

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS VERVE RECORDS T  LABEL LOGO. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE T STANDS FOR BUT IT LOOKS COOL. I'D ABSOLUTELY WEAR THIS ON A T-SHIRT LIKE A BIG RECORD NERD. I'VE GOT A FRANK ZAPPA RECORD WITH THIS LABEL SOMEWHERE AND YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE A COMPANY THAT WOULD RELEASE BOTH ZAPPA AND THIS

SPOILER: THIS IS MY FAVORITE RECORD OUT OF THE ONES I PICKED UP. THERE'S STILL TWO MORE TO SHOW OFF THOUGH. ARE THEY QUALITY OR DID I HAVE TO PICK OUT WHAT I COULD FROM THE DREGS?

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 25: Ö

GOTTA PICK UP A CARD OF MY FAVORITE FOOTBALL PLAYER ON MY ONLINE BUYING BINGES

2020 GOODWIN CHAMPIONS MESUT ÖZIL RED PARALLEL OR SOMETHING

I USED TO LOVE GOODWIN CHAMPIONS BUT THEN THE CLEARANCE BLASTERS DRIED UP AND THEN THE PILES OF BASE CARDS IN THE DIME BOXES DRIED UP AND THEN I JUST STOPPED SEEING ANY OF IT AT ALL EVER. BUT IT STILL COMES OUT EVERY YEAR THOUGH? SOMEHOW?? ANY CHANCE OF MY BUILDING A SET OF IT EXCEPT MAYBE THE FIRST ONE IS LONG LONG GONE BUT I STILL LIKE FINDING RANDOM BASE CARDS HERE AND THERE. THE LAST ONES I PICKED UP AT AN ACTUAL SHOP WERE A COUPLE OF STEPHEN ROOT AND A LION. NOT A SPECIFIC LION, MORE LIKE THE CONCEPT OF LION. ANOTHER REASON I'M NOT COLLECTING THESE SETS ANYMORE IS BECAUSE BOTH STEPHEN AND THE KITTY BOTH HAD THREE DIFFERENT CARDS IN THE SET. NOT A VARIATION, THREE DIFFERENT CARDS*. AS DOES EVERYONE. IT'S BASICALLY THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF THE SAME FIFTY PLAYERS, ONE LIKE THIS IN PORTRAIT, ONE IN LANDSCAPE, AND ONE WITH BLACK COLOR SPLASHED BORDERS THAT I ASSUME IS SHORT PRINTED BECAUSE WHY WOULDN'T THE COOL CARDS BE SHORT PRINTED. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN, CLICK ON THAT TCDB LINK ABOVE AND THEN CLICK ON INSERTS AND RELATED SETS. THERE ARE EIGHTY-SIX DIFFERENT INSERT/PARALLEL/WHATNOT SETS TO COLLECT. MOST ARE COLOR SWAPS BUT STILL. AFTER DIGGING THROUGH THAT LIST IT APPEARS THIS CARD IS EPACK WEEKLY VARIATIONS - RED FLAVOR. I'M NOT UPDATING THE TITLE BECAUSE IT'S FUNNIER THAT WAY

I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT EVER DO ANY OF THE EPACK STUFF SO I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS BUT IT APPEARS LIKE THIS STUFF IS FULFILLED THROUGH COMC IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY GET A REAL CARD MIXED UP AMONG YOUR JAYPEGS YOU CAN PAY TO HAVE IT SENT TO YOU. ONE OF MY STRATEGIES WHEN BUYING ON COMC IS TO CHOOSE SORT BY LOWEST PRICE AND THEN JUST CLICK ON EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY I CAN THINK OF AND SEE WHAT POPS UP. THIS WORKS SURPRISINGLY WELL! I QUICKLY NOTICED A LOT OF UPPER DECK STUFF CLUTTERING UP THE FIRST PAGE OF A LOT OF THESE SEARCHES. ALL KINDS OF STUFF, I FOUND GOODWINS, FLEER METAL DRAFT BASKETBALL, JAMES BOND VILLAINS AND DINOSAURS AMONG OTHER THINGS. I DIDN'T EVEN CHECK HOCKEY BUT SINCE THAT'S UD'S BREAD AND BUTTER NOW I'M SURE LISTINGS ARE STUFFED WITH THEM TOO. AT CHEAP CHEAP PRICES! I SAW SOME AS LOW AS 27 CENTS WHICH PROBABLY LEAVES THE SELLER WITH LIKE A 2 CENTS PROFIT AFTER FEES. THIS ONE WASN'T FOUND THROUGH MY CHEAP BASTARD TECHNIQUE THOUGH, I REALIZED WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF CARDS AVAILABLE COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER ÖZILS OUT THERE

ANYWAY, MESUT IS MY FAVORITE FOOTBALL PLAYER AND HE'S GREAT AND I LIKED THIS CARD BECAUSE THE BORDER IS ARSENAL COLORS AND IT WAS LIKE THIRTY-THREE CENTS. PLUS I GOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NEWFANGLED TRADING CARDS GET OFF MY LAWN  DAGNABBIT FOR TWO PARAGRAPHS WHICH ONLY ADDS TO THE FUN FACTOR. YOU'LL SEE ÖZIL AGAIN IN ABOUT THIRTY OR FORTY POSTS OR SO

*ALTHOUGH, YES THERE ARE VARIATIONS** BECAUSE OF COURSE THERE ARE VARIATIONS, WHY WOULDN'T THERE BE

**FEATURING THE 2011 DESIGN TO RUB IT IN YOUR FACE THAT THIS USED TO BE A DECENT SET

FIFTY CENT GIFT CARD BINGE - PART 2: EVERYONE ELSE

MOARER FIFTY CENT CARDS WHICH ENDED UP BEING FORTY CENT CARDS BECAUSE I BOUGHT A TON OF EM. NEXT TIME I COULD CONCIEVABLY GET THIRTY-FIVE CENT CARDS IF I BUY SEVERAL TONS. THERE'S MORE THAN ONE PLAYER THIS TIME, SO STRAP YOURSELVES IN

2022 TOPPS FIRE OZZIE ALBIES

RONALD ACUÑA IS MY #1 BRAVES PLAYER BUT HE DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THE 50 CENT BOX EVER UNLESS IT'S ON A MULTI-PLAYER CARD SO OZZIE IS ALWAYS MY FIRST DIG IN THE BRAVES BOX. 90% OF THE NEW CARDS SEEM TO BE FLAGSHIP OR BOWMAN OR MAYBE HERITAGE SO WHEN SOMETHING BRIGHT AND FLASHY SHOWS UP I TAKE NOTICE. I AM NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF TOPPS FIRE BUT IN SMALL DOSES LIKE A SINGLE OZZIE ALBIES CARD I ENJOY IT

THE BACK IS PATHETIC THOUGH, THIS IS PANINI LEVELS OF PHONING IT IN. JUST REALIZED THESE ARE ATLANTA HAWKS COLORS, NO WONDER I LIKE THIS CARD

2020 PANINI CHRONICLES CERTIFIED AUSTIN RILEY

RONALD AND OZZIE ARE #1 AND #1a AND AUSTIN IS LOCKED DOWN AS MY #2 BRAVE FAVE. THE LAST TIME I HIT A 3 FOR $5 BOX THOSE WERE THE THREE PLAYERS I CHOSE. IT'S NICE WHEN YOU COLLECT PLAYERS WHO ARE SIGNED THRU MOST OF THE DECADE. NEXT THREE ARE PROBABLY MONEY MIKE, SPENCER STRIDER AND VAUGHN GRISSOM BUT I NEED THEM TO GET A FEW MORE CARDS UNDER THEIR BELT BEFORE I'M GOING TO SEE THEM IN THE FIFTY CENT BOX. THIS CARD IS SHINY AS HELL SO OF COURSE IT DAZZLED ME INTO TAKING IT HOME

I'VE BEEN TRAINED TO EXPECT ANY PANINI BASEBALL PRODUCT I RUN ACROSS NOWADAYS IS FROM CHRONICLES AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT. THIS IS FINE WITH ME AS I LIKE THE PRODUCT AND ENJOY GETTING MY HANDS ON SOME OF THE WEIRDER SETS. IS PANINI STILL MAKING BASEBALL AFTER THE SHAKEUP? I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT 2023 CARDS AND I'D BE SAD IF FANATICS MURDERED CHRONICLES. I STILL HOLD A MASSIVE GRUDGE ABOUT NEVER GETTING MY 2010 GOUDEY AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ADD THIS TO MY LIST OF GRIEVANCES

1997 FLEER ULTRA JAMAL ANDERSON TALENT SHOW

IF I SEE A SHINY INSERT CARD FROM THE 90S I GOTTA BUY IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS. THIS IS FROM THE FIRST SERIES OF 97 ULTRA AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE HARDER TO GET INSERTS BUT IT TURNS OUT IT'S JUST 1:4 PACKS. I BET IF I DUG IN MY FALCONS BOXES I'D FIND I HAVE ONE OR TWO OF THESE ALREADY. I LOVE THE SHINY THO

90'F FLEER INSERT BACKS ARE SO COMFORTING TO ME. BIG PHOTO, BOX O TEXT, CARD NUMBER IN AN AWKWARD PLACE. SO ICONIC

HERE COMES A WHOLE MESS OF PLAYER COLLECTION STUFF. I GOT THESE WHEN I WAS PUTTING STUFF INTO TCDB AND I REALLY WANTED TO RISE UP THOSE RANKINGS

2009 PANINI AL HORFORD

I THINK THIS WAS PANINI'S FIRST BASKETBALL SET AFTER GETTING THE EXCLUSIVE. I BOUGHT TWO PACKS AND THEN MORE OF LESS IGNORED PANINI HOOPS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I LOST TOPPS BASKETBALL FOR THIS?? I TOLD YA, I HOLD GRUDGES

2009 PANINI THREADS AL HORFORD

THREADS IS ONE OF THOSE SETS THAT IS COMPLETELY OFF MY RADAR BUT ADDS SOME SPICE WHEN YOU'RE PLAYER COLLECTING. THE DESIGN KINDA SUCKS BUT SEEING THE THUNDERSTICKS IN THE BACKGROUND GIVE ME A LITTLE NOSTALGIC SMILE. THOSE THINGS HAE BEEN BANNED FROM EVERY ARENA BY NOW, RIGHT

2008-09 SP ROOKIE THREADS AL HORFORD

ONE OF UPPER DECK'S LAST BASKETBALL HURRAHS AND IT'S UGLY AS SIN. I'M SURE THE PATCH CARDS ARE PRETTY THO

2012-13 SELECT AL HORFORD

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT PANINI UNDERSTOOD THAT PINNACLE SELECT WAS THE RED-HEADED STEPCHILD OF PINNACLE SO IT MADE SELECT THE RED-HEADED STEPCHILD OF PRISM. DOES ANYONE COLLECT THIS OR IS IT JUST ANOTHER PRODUCT TO CRAP OUT? IT SURE IS SHINY, HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY MY HAND SELFIE HERE

2008-09 UPPER DECK MVP AL HORFORD VICTORY INSERT

 

THIS ONE CONFUSED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I FOUND IT, I HAD NO IDEA UPPER DECK PUT OUT A VICTORY SET AFTER ABOUT 2001. TURNS OUT THEY DIDN'T, THIS IS AN INSERT SET IN MVP (WHICH I ALSO DIDN'T REALIZE IS STILL A THING). TO FURTHER CAUSE CONFUSION, THE HOBBY VERSION IS CALLED ULTIMATE VICTORY AND IS ON SHINY STOCK. I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF VICTORY AND CONCIDER THE MONEY I SPENT ON IT BACK IN THE DAY WASTED BUT THIS CARD GAVE ME THE NICE FEELS OF SIMPLER DAYS GONE BY WHEN YOU COULD BUY A WHOLE-ASS PACK OF CARDS FOR A BUCK

2015 PRIZM AL HORFORD ALL-STAR TEAM

THIS ONE MADE ME HAPPY. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS AN INSERT BUT THIS IS PART OF THE BASE SET. BASE SET ALL-STARS WITH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DESIGN IS COOL AND OLD-SCHOOL. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE COLORED LAZER BEAMS IN THE BORDER, GREAT LOOKING DESIGN HERE. I'M A FAN OF PRIZM WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE I LOATHE CHROME. I GUESS IT'S BECAUSE IT IS IT'S OWN THING AND NOT JUST A REHASH OF ANOTHER SET. I HATE OPTIC TOO, SO THAT MAKES SENSE

2020 PANINI CONTENDERS DRAFT PICKS AL HORFORD PARALLEL?

I'M NOT A BIG COLLEGE BASKETBALL GUY, THERE'S TOO MUCH PLAYER CHURN FOR ME TO KEEP UP WITH AND MY TEAM SUCKS ASS ANYWAYS. BUT I DO LIKE SEEING MY GUYS IN THEIR COLLEGE UNIS. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT AL PLAYED FOR MY SCHOOL'S BIGGEST RIVAL BUT HE'S NOT IN A FOOTBALL UNIFORM SO IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S UP WITH THIS CARD, IT'S ON FOIL BOARD AND HAS HOLOFOIL STAMPING. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT 'TICKET' VARIATIONS IN THIS SET BUT IS CAMPUS TICKET THE PARALLEL? OR IS THE HOLOFOIL A PARALLEL FOR THE CAMPUS TICKET VARIATION? IT'S HELLA COOL LOOKING EITHER WAY, I REALLY LIKE THE PHOTO WITH THE ARENA ROOF IN THE BACKGROUND

THESE CARDS GOT ME UP TO 88 DIFFERENT AL HORFORD CARDS WHICH HAS ME CLINGING TO THE #10 SPOT ON THE HORFORD RANKINGS BY MY FINGERNAILS. ENTERING IN CARDS FOR AL IS AN ENORMOUS PAIN IN THE ASS SINCE EVERY CARD HAS A HUNDRED PARALLELS TO SCROLL THROUGH. VERY UNLIKE THE CARD LIST FOR THIS NEXT GUY:

2021 PLAYOFF JESSIE TUGGLE

TCDB IS FANTASTIC FOR COLLECTING PLAYERS WHO PLAYED IN THE 20TH CENTURY. JESSIE HAS 266 CARDS LISTED AND THERE ARE A FEW PARALLELS AND A COUPLE VARIATIONS BUT NOTHING LIKE HORFORD WHO PROBABLY HAS WAY OVER 266 CARDS FOR SOME YEARS. HE ONLY HAD 240 UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN PANINI STARTED ADDING HIM AS AN AUTOGRAPH IN SOME RECENT SETS. AUTOGRAPHS WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COLORED PARALLELS. TO MY DELIGHT, I FOUND THERE WAS AN ACTUAL BASE CARD IN 2021 PLAYOFF! I DIDN'T KNOW PLAYOFF EVEN STILL EXISTED! I CHECKED THE FALCONS BOX (WHICH IS WHERE I FOUND THE JAMAL ANDERSON INSERT) LOOKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS DUMB CARD AND I HIT THE JACKPOT. IT'S A DIRT COMMON AND IS PROBABLY IN A TOM OF DIME BOXES AND LOTS OF BULK CRAP HEADING TO THE SHREDDER BUT SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR ONE RANDOM CARD IN THE SEA OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY FINDING IT IS AKIN TO A MIRACLE THESE DAYS. OF COURSE THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN PARALLELS TO THIS CARD INCLUDING A ONE OF ONE AND A COUPLE AUTOGRAPHS BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE AS OF THIS POSTING I AM THE NUMBER ONE TUGGLE COLLECTOR IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE

THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING ABOUT COLLECTING TUGGLE IS IF YOU CHUCK ALL THE SERIAL NUMBERS AND PARALLELS AND AUTOGRAPHS AND NONSENSE OUT THE WINDOW THERE'S WAY LESS THAN 200 DIFFERENT CARDS OUT THERE TO COLLECT SO ALREADY I'M OVER HALFWAY THERE. AND A LOT OF THE STUFF I'M MISSING IS SIMPLE BASE CARDS LIKE BOWMAN AND WHATNOT. IT'S GREAT! I CAN PROBABLY HIT 150 PRETTY EASILY AND CHEAPLY IF I CAN STAY FOCUSED FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ALL PICK A RANDOM FAVORITE PLAYER WHO RETIRED BEFORE 2000 OR SO TO COLLECT, IT'S GREAT FUN AND WON'T BREAK YOUR BRAIN

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 24: MISSING

BACK TO SOME SET BUILDING STUFF. BUT THIS IS A CARD FROM A SET I'VE ALREADY COMPLETED!

1974 TOPPS JESUS ALOU NO POSITION ERROR

1974 TOPPS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SETS AND THE OLDEST TOPPS SET THAT I'VE COMPLETED. BUT SETS ARE NEVER REALLY COMPLETE, THERE'S ALSO THE TRADED SET. I COMPLETED THAT ONE BEFORE THE ACTUAL SET. BUT THERE'S ALSO THE CHECKLIST INSERTS. COMPLETED THAT TOO. AHA, BUT VARIATIONS! 1974 HAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS VARIATION SETS OUT THERE WITH THE SAN DIEGO/WASHINGTON CARDS. THAT ONE IS NOT YET COMPLETE, BUT I'M ONLY MISSING THE MCCOVEY WHICH IS EASY ENOUGH TO FIND. HOW ABOUT ERRORS? AHA! I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ERROR CARDS! MAINLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THERE EVEN WERE ANY ERROR CARDS UNTIL I STARTED LOOKING INTO THE VARIATION CARDS TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T MISSING ANY OTHER WASHINGTONS. I FIRST STARTED COLLECTING DURING A BIG ERROR CARD BOOM YOU'D THINK I WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS THING SOMEWHERE BUT NOPE. TOPPS FORGOT THE POSITION ON THE CARD AND THEN SNUCK IT BACK IN AT SOME POINT. O-PEE-CHEE WASN'T SO LUCKY, ALL THEIR JESUS ALOU CARDS HAVE NO POSITION. FROM THE MOMENT I LEARNED ABOUT THE CARD I DESPERATELY WANTED IT AND THEN FOUND IT WAS QUITE REASONABLY PRICED WHEN I CHECKED COMC

AT THE TIME I COMPLETED THE SET (WITH A JOHNNY OATES CARD I HAD ALREADY POACHED FOR MY TEAM SET IF I REMEMBERED CORRECTLY) I WAS DOWN TO JUST FIVE CARDS TO COMPLETE THE FULL MASTER SET OF 1974 TOPPS. THE ALOU ERROR, THE OTHER ERROR CARD OF BOB 'APODACO', THE MCCOVEY WASHINGTON AND THE TWO DAVE FREISLEBEN ROOKIE OUTFIELD CARDS WITH THE LARGE AND SMALL SAN DIEGO TEXT. THE APODACO I PICKED UP VERY QUICKLY ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE WHERE, PERHAPS A CARD SHOW. WITH THE ALOU, I'M NOW DOWN TO JUST THE THREE CARDS TO COMPLETE THE 1974 TOPPS MASTER SET. THE MCCOVEY WASHINGTON NAT'L CARD WHICH YOU CAN FIND EVERYWHERE AND IS SOMEWHAT AFFORDABLE AND THE DAMN FREISLEBEN ROOKIES WHICH ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AND COST A LUDICROUS AMOUNT IF YOU DO TRACK ONE DOWN. AND SINCE THE FREISLEBEN IS A VARIATION ACCORDING TO MY DUMBASS COLLECTOR'S BRAIN TECHNICALLY THE SET ISN'T EVEN COMPLETE WITHOUT ONE OF THE SAN DIEGOS. ARGH WHY DO WE DO THIS TO OURSELVES. LIKE I SAID, SETS ARE NEVER REALLY COMPLETE

RECORD SWAP - PART 2: THE ONE I'M PRETTY OK WITH

SUNDAY MORINGS ARE FOR RECORDS SO HERE'S A COUPLE MORE FROM MY BOOK SWAP TRADES

RECORD GIVEN: BARRY WHITE - JUST ANOTHER WAY TO SAY I LOVE YOU

I DON'T REMEMBER IF I ORIGINALLY GOT THIS ONE AT THE FLEA MARKET OR A PREVIOUS BOOK SWAP OR SOMEPLACE ELSE BUT I DO REMEMBER I GOT IT CHEAP, LISTENED TO IT ONCE AND THEN NEVER PICKED IT UP AGAIN. LIKE THE SPRINGSTEEN DISK THIS WAS A 'PUT IN SOME QUALITY FOR GOOD KARMA' TRADE. IT'S BARRY WHITE SO IT'S GOOD BUT IT WAS GATHERING DUST HERE AND I HOPED IT MIGHT GO TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD APPRECIATE IT MORE

THE COVER'S OK, EXTRA SWEATY BARRY ON THE FRONT, BLACK & WHITE BARRY ON THE BACK. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING WITH THIS ALBUM. ONE OF THE REASONS I DIDN'T HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH GIVING THIS ONE UP IS THAT ANY QUALITY MUSIC CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND ONLINE NOWADAYS. UNFORTUNATELY NOW THAT I'M TYPING THIS OUT IT APPEARS THE FULL ALBUM IS NOT ON YOUTUBE. WHOOPS 

THE VINYL SLEEVE IS VERY ELEGANT, A SIMPLE LIGHT BLUE WITH THE 20TH CENTURY RECORDS LOGO IN THE MIDDLE

LABEL IS NICE AND SIMPLE TOO, BIG LOGO AND A TRACK LISTING ON TOP OF A PASTEL SUNSET LOOKING BACKGROUND. LOOKS GOOD, QUALITY STUFF HERE

THE SECOND RECORD I PICKED OUT OF THE BINS TRADED A SEXY MUSIC ALBUM FOR A SEXY ALBUM COVER

RECORD GOT: PAUL MAURIAT AND HIS ORCHESTRA - MAURIAT MAGIC

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHEESECAKE ALBUM COVERS IN MY DAY BUT THIS IS THE CHEESECAKIEST. I 100% DID NOT KNOW WHO EVEN MADE THIS ALBUM UNTIL I GOT HOME AND LOOKED IT UP. WHO THE HECK IS IT ANYWAY?

MAURIAT MAGIC. THE INSIDE GATEFOLD DOESN'T TELL US MUCH BUT THE DESIGN HERE IS EYE POPPING. GOING TO ADMIT I WAS VERY WTF IS THIS WHEN I FIRST SAW THE COVER BUT THIS GENIE LAMP ARTWORK KINDA WON ME OVER TO THE VIBE OF THIS RECORD

PAUL MAURIAT AND HIS ORCHESTRA. YOU'RE PROBABLY STILL ASKING WHO THE HELL IS THAT, AND I GET IT. BUT IF YOU'RE A GEEZER LIKE ME, YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD THIS GUY'S STUFF BEFORE AS HE HAD A NUMBER ONE HIT IN 1968 WITH LOVE IS BLUE. EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER PURPOSEFULLY LISTENED TO THAT SONG EVEN ONCE IN YOUR LIFE YOU SURE AS HELL HAVE HEARD TWO SECONDS OF IT ON THIS COMMERCIAL THAT PLAYED SEVERAL BILLION TIMES IN THE 90S. MAURIAT PUT OUT A LUDICROUS NUMBER OF ALBUMS IN HIS DAY AND LOVE IS BLUE IS NOT ON THIS ONE, BUT PONTIEO IS A FUCKIN BANGER AND MAKES THIS PICKUP WORTH IT TO ME

THE RECORD SLEEVE IS BORING BUT AT LEAST IT HAS ONE

BUT WAIT

BONUS RECORD SLEEVE!!! FROM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COMPANY! THIS IS MY FAVORITE KIND OF RECORD SLEEVE, ONE WHERE THEY ARE HAWKING THEIR OTHER ALBUMS THAT YOU COULD BE LISTENING TO INSTEAD OF THE TRASHY ONE YOU ALREADY BOUGHT. AND A FUN TIME CAPSULE OF OLD FORGOTTEN RECORDS. I LIKE TO PLAY A GAME WHEN I SEE THIS AND DECIDE WHAT ALBUM I'D LIKE TO PICK UP OUT OF THE LIST. RAY CHARLES DOMINATES THIS SIDE OF THE SLEEVE AND I HAVE TO GO WITH THE GENIUS HITS THE ROAD

THE OTHER SIDE HAS A LOT MORE VARIETY. THE COUNT BASIE DISK IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT MY EYE BUT IF I HAD TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE I CAN'T PASS UP B.B.KING'S LIVE AT THE REGAL

VERY SIMPLE BLACK RECORD LABEL WITH THE PHILIPS LOGO, A RAINBOW STRIP, AND A TRACK LISTING. IT LOOKS NICE, I LIKE IT

SO BY ANY MEASUREMENT, THIS SWAP IS OBJECTIVELY A DOWNGRADE. THIS RECORD WILL PROBABLY NEVER GET PLAYED AS I'VE ALREADY LISTENED TO IT ONLINE, AND WILL ONLY SERVE TO ONE DAY EMBARASS WHICHEVER MEMBER OF MY FAMILY ENDS UP GOING THROUGH MY CRAP WHEN I DROP DEAD. BUT WHILE I WAS DIGGING IN THE EASY LISTENING GARBAGE CRATE FOR JUNK LIKE THIS, A LADY LOOKING THROUGH THE GOOD BOX CAME ACROSS THE ONE I GAVE AWAY AND LOUDLY EXCLAIMED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER 'HOLY CRAP BARRY WHITE!!!" SO AT THE VERY LEAST GOOD KARMA WAS GOT AND THAT LADY LEFT THE SWAP HAPPY WITH A NEW TREASURE. WE HAVE THREE ALBUMS TO GO SO WE'LL SEE SOOM HOW THAT KARMA ULTIMATELY WORKED OUT FOR ME SOON

FIRST TOPPS PACK SINCE MAYBE 2019

I HAVEN'T OPENED A NEW PACK OF TOPPS FLAGSHIP SINCE AT LEAST 2019 BUT I REALLY REALLY LIKE THE 2023 DESIGN SO I SAVED A GIFT CARD I GOT AT CHRISTMAS SPECIFICALLY TO GET SOME BLASTERS OR SOMETHING. I ENDED UP NEAR THE LCS THIS WEEK SO INSTEAD OF DRIVING AROUND TO EVERY TARGET AND WAL-MART WITHIN 50 MILES I SIMPLY PICKED UP FOUR HOBBY PACKS INSTEAD. WITH THE RETAIL PRICE INCREASES IT ENDED UP COSTING ABOUT AS MUCH AS A HANGER BOX EVEN WITH THE MASSIVE DAY OR RELEASE MARKUP AND HOBBY PACK GAMBLING IS MORE LIKE BUYING A POWERBALL TICKET AS COMPARED TO THE RETAIL SCRATCH-OFFS. ALL I REALLY WANT IS A MONEY MIKE OR VAUGHN GRISSOM ROOKIE, HERE'S THE FIRST PACK AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REST

OFFICIAL FIRST CARD OF 2023 IS THE BRAVES' NEW CATCHER! THAT'S A GREAT START. MY PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING FIRST CARD OUT OF THE PACK IS RIPPING AND CHOOSING THE ONE CLOSEST TO THE FRONT, UNLESS YOU SEE THE BACK OF THE CARD, THEN GOING TO THE ONE ON THE BACK. IN ALL OF THESE PACKS BOTH THE FRONT AND THE BACK SHOWED THE BACK OF THE CARD STRAIGHT OUT OF THE PACK. I TOOK THE FIVE BACKWARDS CARD FROM THE FRONT AND PUT THEM IN THE BACK AND SEAN WAS RIGHT THERE LOOKING AT ME. TOPPS ALWAYS GOTTA MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT BUT IT WORKED OUT GREAT IN THIS CASE

THE FIRST QUESTION EVERYONE HAS THE MOMENT THE NEXT YEAR'S DESIGN IS TEASED IS 'WHAT DOES THE BACK LOOK LIKE'. OR MORE FREQUENTLY AS WE ALL GET OLDER, 'CAN I READ THE GODDAMN CARD NUMBER THIS YEAR'. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT YES, THIS YEAR WE CAN ACTUALLY READ THE GODDAMN CARD NUMBER. THIS SET IS NOW FIRMLY IN MY TOP FIVE TOPPS DESIGNS OF ALL TIME LIST. I AM CERTAIN THAT EVERYTHING WILL GO TO SHIT ON THE UPDATE SET, BUT IF WE GET A MIRACLE AND FANATICS DUMPS THE UH- PREFIX AND JUST CONTINUES THE NUMBERING 661-990 THIS WILL BE THE BEST DESIGN OF ALL TIME. NO ARGUMENTS, THE BESTEST EVER

NOW AFTER THE INITIAL EXCITEMENT, HERE'S THE REST OF THE CARDS. I DON'T KNOW WHO ANYONE IS ANYMORE SINCE I QUIT RIPPING TONS OF PACKS, QUIT PLAYING IN A FANTASY LEAGUE, AND ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO ONE TEAM. THIS GUY'S A ROOKIE WHICH MEANS THIS CARD WILL BE IN UNPRICED BOXES FOR 8 YEARS AND THEN THROWN INTO A BULK COMMONS BOX. OR THE TRASH

EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS ON THIS DESIGN BUT I LOVE THE LITTLE FLOATING HEAD ON TOP OF A CHEESY TV GRAPHIC MOTIF THING GOING ON. I DON'T MIND THE ANGLES AND LITTLE STARS AND ODD GRAY BAR AT THE BOTTOM FOR NO REASON. IT LOOKS FILE AND I REALLY ENJOY OPENING A PACK AND SEEING A BUNCH OF LITTLE DUDES LOOKING OUT AT ME. MY FAVORITE CARDS ARE PORTRAITS AND SINCE WE ARE IN THE ERA OF ALMOST EVERY CARD HAVING A GENERIC ACTION PHOTO I'LL TAKE MY PORTRAITS WHERE I CAN. SPEAKING OF ACTION PHOTOS, THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ONE IN THIS PACK. CATCHER THROWING IN FULL GEAR WITH A JACKIE ROBINSON TRIBUTE TAKING UP EVERY BIT OF THE FRAME. LOOKS GREAT

THE RAYS LOGO FITS ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY ON THIS DESIGN, IT REALLY LOOKS GOOD. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO YANDY DIAZ IS, BUT IT'S NOT A ROOKIE CARD AND HE PLAYS FOR THE RAYS SO I'M GUESSING HE VERY QUIETLY GOT 2-3 WAR LAST YEAR. DANG, 3.5 WAR? YEP, THAT'S THE RAYS

YAY, 88 TOPPS INSERT. BOOO METS. YAAY, I DON'T HAVE MANY PETE ALONSO CARDS. BOOOOOOO METS. THESE LOOK NICE. THANK GOD IT'S NOT 1987. THERE WAS ONE INSERT PER PACK IN THE ONES I GOT AND THE INSERTS ARE PRETTY FEAST OR FAMINE. AND THERE'S A HUNDRED IN THIS SET ALONE SO FORGET TRYING TO BUILD IT. TOPPS HAS BEEN DOING THIS RECYCLING THING FOR A WHILE NOW, MAYBE THERE'S A NEW FRANKENSET IDEA HERE 🤔

TEAM CARD FOR ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE TEAMS. TEAM PHOTOS ARE USUALLY PRETTY GOOD, A NICE WAY TO BREAK UP THE MONOTONY

SPLOOSH! SEE, THE PROLES CAN HAVE A FEW FUN PHOTOS AS A TREAT. THE REST OF YOU START RIPPING CASES FOR SSP GOLD CARDS. COUNTING THIS AS AN OHTANI CARD. TROUT'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THAT MESS AS WELL

FIRST BRAVES CARD OF 2023. I SAW THIS AND THE DESIGN MADE ME MAKE A DOUBLETAKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS AN 80-81 TOPPS BASKETBALL HOMAGE FOR A SEC AND REALLY WANTED TO SEPARATE THE PANELS. IT LOOKS A LITTLE ODD BUT I LIKE IT AND IF I GET DOUBLES I MIGHT GRAB SOME SCISSORS AND GET ME A KYLE WRIGHT MINI CARD

IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, HORIZONTAL CARDS HAVE LOOKED FAIRLY AWKWARD BUT I REALLY LIKE HOW THIS YEAR'S TURNED OUT. IT ESPECIALLY LOOKS GOOD IF THE PHOTO IS CHOSEN WELL LIKE ON THIS CARD. MICHAEL HARRIS II'S ROOKIE CARD IS HORIZONTAL SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HORIZONTAL RUNS IN PACKS NOW. THIS WAS TECHNICALLY THE CARD ON THE BACK OF THE PACK

SUPERSTAR CARD THAT IS NO LONGER A STAR BECAUSE OF SHENANIGANS. I'M NOT FINDING IT IN THE DIME BOX SO I'M GLAD TO HAVE IT HERE

ROOOOOKIE CARD. LOOKIT THAT BIG GRIN, YOU'RE NOT GETTING THAT IN ANY OTHER TOPPS SET FROM THE PAST 20 YEARS. WELL, IT MIGHT SHOW UP IN HERITAGE. ACTUALLY THEY WILL PROBABLY USE THAT EXACT PHOTO IN HERITAGE

AND LOOK AT THIS HAPPY GUY! THIS IS A TOP TIER SET. I'M OPENING MORE PACKS, I'M GETTING A BINDER. LOVE THIS DAMN SET. AS MUCH AS THE RAYS LOGO WORKS ON THIS DESIGN, THE BOSTON LOGO DOES NOT. THIS ALSO MAKES ME HAPPY

LITERALLY EVERY PLAYER CARD IN THIS PACK HAS HAD A SHARP PHOTO OF THE PLAYER IN FRONT OF AN OUT OF FOCUS BACKGROUND, YET THIS IS THE CARD WHERE MY BRAIN CALLS BULLSHIT. I'M NOT A PHOTOGRAPHY GUY BUT THIS REALLY LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY PLOPPED A PHOTO OF TOMMY ON TOP OF A FAKE BACKGROUND. THEY'VE DONE LOTS OF PHOTOSHOPPING ON RECENT BASE PHOTOS AND HALF OF HERITAGE SHOTS ARE IN FRONT OF A GREEN SCREEN SO SHENANIGANS IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY. OF COURSE IN FIVE YEARS ALL CARD PHOTOS WILL PROBABLY BE AI GENERATED SO I SHOULD REALLY COUNT MY BLESSINGS. NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO UNSEE THIS ANY TIME SOON THO

THREE ROOKIES IN THE PACK, NONE ARE BRAVES. BOOOOOO. I REMEMBER BRETT BATY BEING A PAIN IN THE ASS DURING BRAVES-METS SERIES LAST YEAR. WHO WON THE DIVISION THO EH

I'M NOT SHOWING OFF EVERY CARD BUT HERE'S SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM TEH OTHER THREE PACKS:

NOT A BIG FAN OF THE HOME RUN CHALLENGE GIMMICK. DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY, DON'T LIKE SCRATCHING CODES OFF CARDS. WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A DIFFERENT INSERT TBH BUT THEM'S THE BREAKS

VAUGHN GRISSOM GREAT VICTORY

STILL GOTTA CHASE MONEY MIKE, BUT I GOT TO SEE VAUGHN WRECK SOME SHIT AT A ROME BRAVES GAME LAST YEAR AND HE'S THE REAL DEAL. REALLY ROOTING FOR HIM TO PULL OFF BEING THE DANSBY REPLACER

LOOKED SIDEWAYS AT THIS INSERT SET ON THE SELL SHEET THINKING IT WAS A 90S-ERA PACIFIC RIPOFF BUT THESE THINGS LOOK FUCKING FANTASTIC IN PERSON. HOLOFOIL, CRAZY DESIGN, ROUNDED CORNERS, I REALLY REALLY LIKE AND WILL GRAB WHEN I SEE IN QUARTER BOXES

NICE LOOKING PURPLE BACK TOO

THESE TWO WERE BOTH IN THE LAST PACK AND AFTER PICKING UP ALMOST NOTHING BUT DIRT COMMON FLAGSHIP CARDS OUT OF RANDOM JUNK BOXES THE PAST TWO YEARS HITTING SOME SUPERDUPERSTARS OUT OF A PACK FELT GREAT

ANOTHER BRAVES CARD IN THE LAST PACK. THE BRAVES LOGO LOOKS GOOD ON THE DESIGN, MAKING THIS TEAM SET COLLECTOR VERY HAPPY. IAN'S FIGHTING FOR A ROTATION SPOT THIS SPRING BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES WITH STARTING ROTATIONS THESE DAYS AND HE'LL STILL MOST LIKELY START 20+ GAMES THIS YEAR

THE LAST INSERT WAS A REAL LET DOWN. IF I HAD PULLED ONE OF THE THREE BRAVES CARDS IN THIS SET I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENTLY BUT JUST DO NOT LIKE THIS ONE AT ALL. OH WELL, THAT'S HOW IT GOES WHEN BUYING LOTTERY TICKETS. 

OVERALL I'M VERY HAPPY GETTING TO RIP SOME PACKS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FORVEVER ALTHOUGH I WILL LIKELY BE BUYING RETAIL FAT PACKS FROM NOW ON TO GET MORE BANG FOR MY BUCK IF I CAN EVEN FIND THEM. IT'S NICE TO HAVE A TOPPS DESIGN THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD AGAIN