BREAKDOWN OF THE FLEA MARKET JUNK BOX PART 1

IT'S TIME TO SHOW OFF THE JUNK BOX CARDS I GOT FIVE MONTHS AGO AT THE FLEA MARKET. I TRIED TO DO THIS ALL IN ONE POST BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY GOOD WAY TO SPLIT UP THE SECTIONS OTHER THAN DO ONE POST A DAY FOR A WEEK BUT THERE WAS JUST OO MUCH CRAP IN THE BOX AND I HAD TO SPLIT IT UP. GONNA JUMP RIGHT IN AND DO A DEEP DIVE ON THE BOX ITSELF, WHICH IS HONESTLY THE BEST PART

THE BOX ITSELF IS A MEGACARDS STORAGE BOX FROM THE LATE 80S. IT IS WELL LOVED AS YOU CAN SEE. AMONG THE SCRIBBLES ON THE CARD IS A MICHE MARTE AUTOGRAPH, SOME MATCH THAT DOESN'T ADD UP, AN A CARVED INTO THE CARDBOARD, A COUPLE SQUIGGLES AND 'NEEDS PRICED'. YOU'LL SEE SOON THAT IT WAS PRICED. I LOVE THESE KINDS OF ODDBALL HOBBY ITEMS FROM THE GOOD OL' DAYS WHEN KIDS WANTED A FUN BOX WITH A BASEBALL DESIGN RATHER THAN A PELICAN CASE TO STORE ALL THEIR SLABS

THE SIDE SHOWS A BONUS FLEER ACTION SERIES STICKER. ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME IS HOW SLOPPY THE PRINTING LOOKS ON THIS BOX. I DUG UP AN EBAY AUCTION FOR SOME LESS MANGLED 800 COUNT BOXES AND THE PRINTING DOESN'T LOOK AS BLOTCHY ON THAT ONE

THE BOTTOM GIVES US ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION ALONG WITH A BONUS SQUIGGLE. MEGACARDS, INC. ST. LOUIS, MO 63146 MADE IN USA ITEM#00400. PLUS A LITTLE WHITE BOXREADY TO HOLD A PRICE TAG OR STORE STAMP

THE SIDES OF THE BOX HAVE THIS BASEBALL MOTIF THAT LOOKS ESPECIALLY BLOTCHY LIKE IT WAS PRINTED WITH A STAMP. THIS SITE HAS BONUS PAPER LOSS AND SOME GUNK THAT I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO CLEAN OFF. 

LIKE, FOR REAL, THESE BLUE BASEBALL SEAMS LOOK LIKE THEY WERE HAND STAMPED WITH A RUBBER STAMP WITH TOO MUCH INK ON THE PAD. I'M NOT COMPLAINING, I LOVE THE DIY LOOK BUT I'M WONDERING HOW THE HECK THIS WAS PRINTED NOW. THERE'S NO WAY MEGACARDS HAD SOME KID IN A WAREHOUSE INDIVIDUALLY STAMPING SEAMS ON EVERY BOX IN THE LATE 80S, COULD THEY?  IT LOOKS COOL AND VERY UNIQUE BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT JUNKWAX ERA SWEATSHOPS NOW

AND FINALLY WE GET A PEEK INSIDE THE BOX. OLD TIMERS FOR ONLY .25c EACH. PERSONALLY ENDORSED BY TEDWILLIAMS. THERE ACTUALLY WAS A TED WILLIAMS CARD IN THE BOX BUT SADLY THERE WERE NO TED WILLIAMS CARDS.  THE STATED PRICE ON THIS BOX WAS FIFTEEN BUCKS BUT I GOT IT CHEAPER THAN THAT WITH ALL THE OTHER CRAP I GOT ALONG WITH IT. IN THE PREVIOUS POST I WONDERED IF I WOULD HAE BEEN BETTER OFF BUYING THE INDIVIDUAL CARDS FOR TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A POP AND I'LL BE TRACKING THE 'VALUE' OF THE CARDS IN THESE POSTS. SPOILER WARNING: I DID PRETTY WELL FOR MYSELF

THE FIRST BIG PILE IN THE BOX WAS A BUNCH OF PACIFIC NOLAN RYAN CARDS. I RECENTLY BOUGHT THE SECOND SERIES SET BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A TON FROM THE FIRST. UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE FIRST SERIES CARDS HAD SOME WATER DAMAGE. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I CARE NOT A WHIT ABOUT CARD DAMAGE OR NOLAN RYAN SO IT'S ALL GOOD. IN THE SPIRIT OF MY PREVIOUS POST, HERE'S THE TOP FIVE RYAN CARDS I GOT IN THIS MESS:

#5 RYAN & TANANA

FRANK TANANA IS A HELL OF A PITCHER THAT NO ONE REMEMBERS. PITCHED A TON OF INNINGS, RACKED UP A TON OF STRIKEOUTS BUT WASN'T AN ACE AND PLAYED FOR CALIFORNIA, TEXAS AND DETROIT. I'M NOT SAYING BURN DOWN COOPERSTOWN CUZ HE AIN'T IN, BUT IF THE VETERAN'S COMMITTEE WENT A LITTLE FUNNY IN THE HEAD AND ELECTED HIM I'D BE COOL WITH IT

#4 5000 STRIKEOUTS A STANDING OVATION

5000 STRIKEOUTS IS A LOT OF STRIKEOUTS, JUST A REALLY STUPID AMOUNT OF STRIKEOUTS. GOTTA TIP YER CAP

#3 NOLAN AND DAN SMITH RANGERS #1 DRAFT PICK

I APPRECIATE PACIFIC TRYING TO SNEAK A 'ROOKIE' CARD INTO THEIR NOLAN RYAN SET. THAT'S SOME REAL CHUTZPAH FOR A COMPANY DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET A PROPER MLB LICENSE. DAN DID MAKE THE BIGS WITH THE RANGERS AND HAS AN EXTREMELY UNDERRATED 1992 BOWMAN CARD

#2 OLDEST TO THROW A NO-HITTER

IN THE PREVIOUS POST I LAMENTED THE LACK OF THESE 'NUDE DESCENDING A STAIRCASE' STYLE MULTI-PICTURE PHOTOS IN TODAY'S HOBBY AND THEN I FRIGGIN SAW ONE ON A NEW CARD AND NOW THAT I'M WRITING THIS I'VE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN WHAT CARD IT WAS AND IF I TAKE THE TIME TO TRY TO FIND IT THIS POST WILL NEVER GET WRITTEN SO JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT AND KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

#1 THE GENTLEMAN RANCHER

HORSIE! I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY BUT HORSIE HORSIE HORSIE. WHERE'S THE PACIFIC HORSIE SET

WHILE I DIDN'T NEED ANY OF THE SERIES TWO CARDS, I DEFINITELY NEED ALL THE DOGGO CARDS

THERE WERE ALSO TWO OF THE THIRD SERIES TEXAS EXPRESS CARDS IN THE BOX. WHILE I DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HAVE ANY OF THE LOOSE CARDS I DO HAVE A FEW UNOPENED PACKS OF THE THINGS LYING AROUND. THERE ARE ONLY THIRTY CARDS IN THE SET BUT NOW THAT I KNOW THAT THEY PUT THE 27 LOGO ON ALL 250 CARDS IN THE SET I HAVE NO INTEREST IN RIPPING THEM TO TRY TO BUILD THE HIGH NUMBERS SO THESE WILL HAVE TO DO UNTIL I FIND MORE IN A FUTURE CRAP BOX

FINAL STATS FOR THE NOLAN CARDS IN THE BOX:

TOTAL CARDS - 68

NEEDED - 26 (INCLUDING MOST OF THE DAMAGED ONES)

DUPLICATES - 42

CURRENT VALUE OF INDIVIDUAL QUARTER CARDS: $6.50

THE NEXT PILE OF JUNK IN THE BOX WAS THESE 1992 STUDIO CARDS. I HAVE ENTIRELY TOO MANY OF THESE ALREADY AND STILL DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE SET. SADLY THE TWO CARDS I NEED WERE NOT IN HERE

THERE WAS A NICE GEORGE BRETT CARD THOUGH. I'VE ALREADY TRACKED DOWN THE TWO CARDS I NEED ONLINE, I JUST NEED TO GET AROUND TO BUYING THEM

FINAL STATS FOR THE STUDIO CARDS IN THE BOX:

TOTAL CARDS - 21, ALL DUPES

CURRENT VALUE OF INDIVIDUAL QUARTER CARDS: $6.50

NEXT UP IS A NEAR SET OF 1985 TOPPS WOOLWORTH ALL-TIME RECORD HOLDERS. THERE WERE SOME STAR STARS IN THIS BUNCH: TED WILLIAMS, ERNIE BANKS, NOLAN AGAIN, MUSIAL, MATHEWSON, SOME REALLY GOOD STUFF. I'M NOT SHOWING OFF ANY OF THAT THOUGH, I'M POSTING THE INTERESTING ONES

JOHNNY FREDERICK LOOKING LIKE A REFUGEE FROM THE CONLIN COLLECTION. SO WHAT'D HE DO? 

JOHNNY BOPPED 6 PINCH HIT DINGERS IN 1932 WHICH WAS THE RECORD UNTIL FELLOW DODGER DAVE HANSEN BROKE IT WITH 7 IN 2000. JOHNNY HAD A NICE LITTLE CAREER WITH THE DODGERS BUT PLAYED MOST OF HIS CAREER IN THE PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

JIM GENTILE LOOKING LIKE A REFUGEE FROM THE PACIFIC LEGENDS SET. SO WHAT'D HE DO? 

JIM HIT 5 GRAND SLAMS IN 1961, A RECORD UNTIL DON MATTINGLY HIT 6 IN 1987. DON FELT SO BAD HE NEVER HIT ANOTHER ONE. POOR JIM DECIDED TO HAVE A CAREER YEAR THE SAME TIME MARIS AND MANTLE DECIDED TO LOSE THEIR MINDS

CLIFF JOHNSON LOOKING LIKE A REFUGEE FROM UHHH 1985 TOPPS? SO WHAT'D HE DO? 

OH WOW, CLIFF DID A LOT. CLIFF SET THE RECORD FOR MOST PINCH HOMERS IN 1984 AND GOT A RECORD BREAKER CARD IN 85 TOPPS. MATT STAIRS EVENTUALLY BROKE THE RECORD WITH 23. CLIFF IS STILL HOLDS THE RECORD FOR MOST HOME RUNS IN AN INNING AND IS TIED WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE HELL A LONG HIT IS AND I DUNNO WHO HOLDS THAT RECORD NOW

EARL WEBB LOOKING LIKE A CHAMP. SO WHAT'D HE DO? 

67 DOUBLES IN A SEASON! THAT'S A LOTTA DOUBLES. NO REALLY, THAT'S A LOTTA DOUBLES, AIN'T NOBODY BEAT EARL'S RECORD EVEN WITH MANFRED'S JUICEBALL. TOLDJA EARL LOOKED LIKE A CHAMP

RUDY YORK, HE LIVED UP THE ROAD FROM ME IN CARTERSVILLE! BEFORE I WAS BORN, BUT HE DID. SO WHAT'D HE DO? 

HE HIT A WHOLE LOTTA BUNCHA DINGERS IS WHAT HE DID. 18 HOME RUNS IN A MONTH IS LUDICROUS, BUT THAT WAS BROKEN BY SAMMY SOSA IN 1998. HE STILL HAS THE RECORDS FOR MOST GRAND SLAMS IN A MONTH AND A GAME AS MANY HAVE TIED HIM BUT NO ONE HAS BEATEN HIM 

FINAL STATS FOR THE WOOLWORTH CARDS IN THE BOX:

TOTAL CARDS - 38

NEEDED - 21

DUPLICATES - 17

CURRENT VALUE OF INDIVIDUAL QUARTER CARDS: $11.75

I DIDN'T QUITE GET THE COMPLETE SET WHEN COMBINING WITH THE ONES I ALREADY HAD. I'M MISSING THREE: MICKEY, WILLIE AND HANK. THANKFULLY THOSE WILL BE EXTREMELY EASY TO FIND

THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY, NEXT TIME WE'LL DIVE DEEP INTO THE TOP LEGENDS SETS FROM THE LATE 80S-EARLY 90S

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 53: IT ME

AFTER STUMBLING UPON THE GREATEST CARD I MAY EVER FIND I REALISED THERE WAS NO WAY TO TOP IT AND JUST STARTED FUCKING AROUND. WITH ALL PRESSURE ON ME TO FIND A WINNER GONE I GOT TO RELAX AND LET MY MOUSE TAKE ME TO WONDEROUS PLACES. THIS IS BUT THE FIRST OF MANY AMAZING FINDS I FELL BASS ACKWARDS INTO WHILE IN MY PEACEFUL ZEN STATE

1965 FLEER WEIRD-OHS DAVEY THE PSYCHO CYCLIST

READING OLD MAD MAGAZINES I SWIPED FROM MY UNCLE AT WAY TOO YOUNG OF AN AGE INFLUENCED ME GREATLY FOR GOOD OR ILL. MIXED IN WITH THE MADS WERE A FEW ISSUES OF CAR TOONS AND CYCLE TOONS AS MY UNCLE WAS A GEAR HEAD. I NEVER GOT THAT INTO THE MOTOR VEHICLES BUT I WAS INTRODUCED TO WILD LOOKING FUNNY CARS AND HOT RODS A COUPLE DECADES AFTER THEY HAD GONE OUT OF STYLE. SINCE I WAS ALSO A STRANGE MONSTER KID I WAS ATTRACTED TO THE ED ROTH STYLE CREATURES DRIVING FUNNY CARS ARTWORK, INCLUDING THE WEIRD-OHS MODEL KITS. I NEVER SAW ONE OF THOSE MODELS WHEN I WAS A KID BUT I ENJOYED THEM FROM AFAR THROUGH OLD ADS. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND IN MY RANDOM COMC SEARCHING THAT FLEER PRODUCED A SET OF WEIRD-OHS TRADING CARDS, ALTHOUGH I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AS FLEER WAS A LITTLE DESPERATE TO MAKE ANY KIND OF CARDS BACK THEN. I DISCOVERED ONE OF THE WEIRD-OHS SHARED A NAME WITH ME AND I WAS COMPELLED TO PICK IT UP FOR MY MONSTER CARD COLLECTION EVEN THOUGH IT COST AN ASTRONOMICAL BUCK AND FIFTY-ONE CENTS, MORE THAN THE PAST THREE CARDS COMBINED. I REALLY AM A BIG CHEAPSKATE, AREN'T I 

 

"A HIGHWAY TERROR - WRECKER OF THE BEAUTIFUL, WHO HATES TO SEE THINGS GO WELL AND SEES TO IT THAT THEY DON'T" A VERY RELATABLE BIO FOR OUR DAVEY. THE WEIRD-OHS WERE DESIGNED BY ILLUSTRATOR BILL CAMPBELL, WHO HAS INFLUENCED MY OWN ART SENSIBILITIES QUITE A BIT. IN HIGH SCHOOL I MAKE AN ART PROJECT OUT OF CLAY THAT WAS A GOOFY GREEN MONSTER RIDING A SKATEBOARD THAT CRIBBED HEAVILY ON THESE MODEL DESIGNS. I DON'T KNOW IF BILL IS A LONG LOST RELATIVE BUT HE LIVED RIGHT UP THE STREET FROM ME IN PAULDING COUNTY WHICH IS COOL. I'M FINDING A LOT OF GEORGIA NATIVES RESEARCHING THESE POSTS. ANOTHER THING I WAS UNAWARE OF IS THAT WEIRD-OHS GOT THEIR OWN CARTOON IN THE LATE NINETIES. I HAD TO CHECK OUT AN EPISODE AND WHILE I CAN'T REALLY SAY THAT IT'S GOOD IT'S NOW OLD ENOUGH THAT THE CLUNKY CGI CLAYMATION ART STYLE IS KIND OF CHARMING PLUS IT HAS SOME REALLY GOOD VOICE ACTING. THERE'S A FEW VHS-RIPPED EPISODES ON YOUTUBE TO CHECK OUT, HERE'S ONE WHERE PORTIA (VOICED BY TABATHA ST.GERMAIN!) WORKS OUT HER UNREQUITED LOVE FOR DAVEY IF YOU GOT TEN MINUTES YOU NEVER WANT TO HAVE BACK

ANOTHER GREAT THING ABOUT THIS CARD OTHER THAN THE ART IS IT'S PURE FLEERNESS. IT'S ON THAT GREAT FLEER WHITE CARDSTOCK WITH A VERY SIMPLE TWO COLOR BACK. AND LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT CARD NUMBER! I'LL STILL BE ABLE TO READ THAT YEARS FROM NOW WHEN MY EYESIGHT DEGENERATES TO DR. CYCLOPS LEVELS OF BLINDNESS. OLD FLEER CARDS MAKE ME VERY HAPPY AND THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE. PLUS, I'VE BEEN COVETING A VINTAGE FLEER BASKETBALL CARD FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THANKS TO THE HAPPY LITTLE DUDE ON THE BACK I HAVE ONE NOW! KINDA. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WEIRD-OH MODELS, HERE'S A GREAT POST INCLUDING PICS OF DAVEY'S MODEL KIT. NOW THAT I KNOW THESE THINGS ARE STILL BEING MADE I WANT TO FIND A HOBBY SHOP AND PICK UP A MONSTER MODEL I'LL PROCRASTINATE BUILDING

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 52: KITTY!!! PART 2

MY FAVORITE CARD THAT I PICKED UP IN THIS BUNCH BY FAR AND PROBABLY A TOP TEN CARD IN MY COLLECTION NOW. NOT EVEN KIDDING

1920S CLUB MEMBER/CASKET/CRITIC TOBACCO ORIGINAL PHOTOS OF ANIMALS AND SCENES LADY CARDSHARPER

KITTY! IT'S A KITTY. FROM A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. A SHAGGY BLACK KITTY. PERCHED ON A LITTLE TABLE IN FRONT OF A BRICK WALL. OR A BACKDROP PAINTED LIKE A BRICK WALL. A KITTY CARD! A KITTY NAMED LADY CARDSHARPER. A KITTY WHOSE NAME HAS CARD IN IT. SHE IS BASICALLY THE BLOG MASCOT NOW. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT A CARDSHARPER IS IT'S A SPELLING VARIATION ON CARD SHARK AKA SOMEONE WHO MAKES A LOT OF MONEY CHEATING AT CARDS THROUGH USE OF DECEPTIVE PRACTICES. THIS ACTUALLY SOUNDS A LOT LIKE SOME OF THE ONLINE TRADING CARD SELLERS ON TWITTER OR THAT APP THAT EVERYONE POSTS SALES SCREENSHOTS FROM ON TWITTER. WHILE THOSE PEOPLE MAY BE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS CARDSHARPERS, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT LADY CARDSHARPER WOULD NEVER REFUND YOUR ANGELS BREAK FEE AFTER PULLING A TROUT/OHTANI DUAL AUTORELIC ON STREAM. SHE WOULD NEVER. SHE WOULD ABSOLUTELY THROW OUT FIVE ACES AFTER YOU WENT ALL-IN ON A STRAIGHT FLUSH AND LOOK YOU STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND PURR WHILE TAKING THE POT

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THIS CARD SET IS AND I'M NOT GOING TO PRETEND LIKE I DO, SO INSTEAD I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I DO KNOW. IT'S AN BRITISH ISSUE AS YOU CAN TELL FROM THE PRICING ON THE BACK AND FROM THE MANUFACTURER BEING BASED IN MANCHESTER. THIS DID NOT PREVENT ME FROM TRYING TO FIND THE SET IN MY COPY OF AMERICAN TOBACCO CARDS BY ROGERT FORBES AND TERRENCE MITCHELL. QUALITY CIGARETTES IS COMPLETELY UNGOOGLEABLE NOW THAT THE SEARCH ENGINE IS AI WORD SALAD BULLSHIT. CLUB MEMBER, CASKET AND CRITIC FINDS A FEW EBAY LISTINGS OF THE CARDS IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEARCH AT THE RIGHT TIME WHEN ONE IS UP FOR AUCTION. IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE THREE C'S BRAND ALSO HAS AN ANCIENT DIRT BIKE TRADING CARD SET TO ITS NAME

CAN I JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO DERAIL THE WHOLE POST AND SAY THAT "CASKET" IS A FUCKING AMAZING NAME FOR A CIGARETTE BRAND. "ONE PACK OF SMOKES, SHOPKEEP" "WHAT BRAND, SIR?" "THE ONE I'LL BE INSIDE VERY SOON, MY GOOD MAN" I BET IF YOU REVIVED THAT BRAND TODAY AND MARKETED IT WITH SOME GOTHY COFFIN SHIT YOU WOULDN'T SELL A LOT OF CIGARETTES BUT YOU'D HAVE A VERY LOYAL BATCH OF CUSTOMERS, FOR AS LONG AS YOU COULD KEEP THEM. BACK TO THE POST

SEARCHING THE PROPRIETER JOSEPH A PATTREIOUEX GETS EVEN MORE HITS. THE BIGGUN IS A SPORTING EVENT AND STARS SET FEATURING A REALLY NICE JOE LOUIS CARD. THERE'S ALSO A REALLY NEAT AIRPLANE-THEMED SET UNDER THE SENIOR SERVICE BRAND. THAT DISCOVERY LED ME TO FIND THAT SENIOR SERVICE CARDS HAD A COOL ALBUM WITH CUT OUTS ON THE PAGES SO YOU COULD SEE THE TEXT ON THE BACK, WHICH IS A FANTASTIC IDEA. THIS LINK TO THE UK TOBACCO BRANDS LIBRARY TELLS US THAT J.A.'S COMPANY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1861, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE £9.95 TO FIND OUT ANYTHING MORE. OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T FIND ANY INFO ON THIS SET OTHER THAN EBAY LISTINGS AND OTHER COMC CARDS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO LINK TO ON HER BECAUSE I KINDA WANT TO BUY ANOTHER ONE OF THEM. OUR LADY IS CARD NUMBER 356 SO IT'S LIKELY THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER KITTIES OUT THERE WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED. THIS TO ME IS THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS HOBBY, GOING OUT THERE AND FINDING SOMETHING COMPLETELY BONKERS THAT YOU NEVER EVEN KNEW EXISTED THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST MOST PERFECTEST THING EVER

ALL HAIL LADY CARDSHARPER

HE DRAWS BASEBALL CARDS

HOOOO-WEEE, GOT A BIG PILE OF CARDS FROM MARK, AKA IDRAWBASEBALLCARDS AKA STATS ON THE BACK AND INCLUDED IN THE PILE WAS A WHOLE SET OF ART CARDS

AN 80S RETROSPECTIVE WITH A CARD DESIGN FROM EVERY YEAR OF THE DECADE. THIS IS FANTASTIC AND I SHALL NOW POST THE SET WITH MY OWN PARTICULAR BRAND OF QUIPPY COMMENTARY. YOU'LL SEE THE OTHER CARDS IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN I GET AROUND TO POSTING IT. IF YOU'D LIKE YOUR OWN SET TO COMMENT UPON, YOU CAN GET IT HERE SUPER CHEAP

MAYBE THE GREATEST CHECKLIST CARD IN HISTORY. THE BEAUTIFUL MUG OF KENT TEKULVE AND A FANTASTIC CARD LIST. ROWLAND! MOOKIE! RICKEY RICKEY RICKEY!!! I THINK THIS SET WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR ME. THERE'S SOME MYSTERIES IN HERE TOO, WHO IS THE GREATEST PITCHER? WHAT IF DONRUSS GOT GRIFFEY? GREAT SCOTT! IS THERE A CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CARD IN THIS SET? STAY TUNED AND FIND OUT

THE BACKS OF THE CARDS LOOK LIKE THIS. VERY PRE-WAR DESIGN HERE (PRE WORLD WAR ONE THAT IS), VERY SIMPLE AND ELEGANT. SWIRLY RIBBONS ARE HARD TO DRAW, I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL. AS YOU CAN SEE I WAS BLESSED WITH THE FIRST OF FIFTY SETS, I CAN MAKE SOME BIG COIN ON EBAY WITH THIS BUT I'LL NEVER DO IT

MARK OBVIOUSLY WATCHED THE GREAT DORKTOWN SERIES ON DAVE STIEB, HE EVEN HAS A CAMEO OF THE VILLAIN JACK MORRIS IN THE STANDS. I HIGHTLY RECOMMEND WATCHING THAT SERIES EVEN THOUGH IT'S LIKE FOUR HOURS LONG, ALL OF THE SECRET BASE DEEP DIVE VIDEOS ARE GREAT BUT THIS ONE IS EXCEPTIONAL. YOU'LL BE DRIVING UP TO COOPERSTOWN WITH A PITCHFORK AND VALUE PACK OF TORCHES BEFORE YOU'RE EVEN DONE WITH PART THREE. THE 1980 CARD OF DAVE IS A GREAT ONE, VERY GOOD CHOICE

BRAVES LEGEND ROWLAND OFFICE FROM HIS 1981 FLEER CARD. IT PAINS ME TO SAY AS A BRAVES FAN THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ROWLAND'S MOST ICONIC CARD AND THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST LOOKING VERSION OF IT. YOU NEED FOURTEEN UNIQUE ROWLAND OFFICE CARDS TO BREAK INTO THE TOP TEN COLLECTORS ON TCDB AND I'M WONDERING IF I'VE ACCUMULATED THAT MANY ON ACCIDENT NOW

1982 GIVES US A DONRUSS MOOKIE WITH BONUS INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE. THIS CARD MEANS A LOT TO ME. I LOVE MOOKIE, I LOVE 1982 DONRUSS AND I LOVE DINOSAURS. IN A WEIRD COINCIDENCE, THIS IS MY CURRENT FANTASY BASEBALL NAME:

IF I BELIEVE IN MOOKIE, THEN SOMEWHERE, MOOKIE MUST BE BELIEVING IN ME. AND IF HE BELIEVES IN ME, THEN I CAN BELIEVE IN ME. THEN I CAN FINISH WRITING THE DOZENS OF POSTS IN MY DRAFT FOLDER

OR MAYBE I'M A DINOSAUR? NOT SURE HOW THAT WORKS

1983 BRINGS US FULL SURREALISM AS FRANK VIOLA TURNS INTO HIS NAMESAKE. I FORGOT FRANK WON 24 GAMES AND A CY YOUNG AWARD IN 88 AND WAS REWARDED BY GETTING TRADED TO THE METS. THAT'S A TERRIBLE FATE FOR SWEET MUSIC BUT IT MIGHT'VE HELPED THE TWINS WIN ANOTHER WORLD SERIES. AGAINST US 😡

1984 TOPPS RICKEY MADE WITH LINES! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS STYLE OF ART IS CALLED. IT'S ABSTRACT BUT NOT REALLY DE STIJL ABSTRACT AND 'LINE ART' DOESN'T QUITE CUT IT EITHER. WHATEVER IT IS IT'S AMAZING AND IT'S PROBABLY MY FAVORITE IN THE BUNCH

MIKE SCOTT IS ANOTHER 80S PITCHER THAT EVERYONE HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT HOW GOOD THEY WERE. 86 WINS, OVER A THOUSAND STRIKEOUTS AND AN ERA UNDER 3.00 FROM 1985 TO 1989.  AND DON'T FORGET THE CY YOUNG WIN. THIS IS THE CARD I THINK OF WHEN I HEAR THE NAME MIKE SCOTT, ODDLY ENOUGH. IT'S MORE ICONIC THAN I THOUGHT

WOOOO! A BARVE! I FRIGGIN LOVE 1986 TOPPS AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT DALE MADE THE CUT AMONG ALL THE EXCELLENT CARDS IN THAT SET. THE HAND DRAWN TEAM LETTERING LOOKS AMAZING I WANT AN ENTIRE SET WITH THAT LETTERING. NO PLAYERS, JUST LETTERING

1987 TOPPS IS OVERRATED! YOU SCREAM INTO THE VOID AND THEN THE VOID REMINDS YOU THAT THE 1987 TOPPS BO JACKSON EXISTS AND YOU HAVE TO RETHINK YOUR LIFE CHOICES. IT IS KINDA OVERRATED BUT THERE CERTAINLY ARE QUITE A FEW HELLA GOOD CARDS IN THERE. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN MAKE THE BO JACKSON CARD BETTER IS A FUTURE STARS RAINBOW AND THE COOL BO ROYALS LOGO

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION: WHAT IF DONRUSS HAD JUMPED THE GUN AND PUT GRIFFEY JR IN THEIR 1988 SET? IT WOULD BE A PRETTY BOLD CHOICE SINCE HE HAD ONLY PLAYED IN BELLINGHAM IN 1987. IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE CAUSED THE HOBBY FREAKOUTS THAT HAPPENED IN 1989 SINCE GRIFFEY ONLY GOT TO DOUBLE-A IN 1988. BUT IT WOULD HAVE REALLY STUCK IT TO UPPER DECK WHICH MIGHT'VE TORN APART THE FABRIC OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE, SO I APPROVE. I LIKE 1988 DONRUSS' FUNKY BORDERS, THIS IS A GOOD LOOKIN CARD

LAST CARD IS THE 1989 TOPPS FRED HALL OF FAMER MCGRIFF WITH ANOTHER CAMEO APPEARANCE IN THE STANDS OF MCGRUFF THE CRIME DOG. I'M STILL OVER THE MOON THAT FRED FINALLY GOT INTO THE HALL AND I'M VERY HAPPY HE MADE THE 80'S CUT. 1989 TOPPS HAS GROWN ON ME OVER THE YEARS, PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE'S NO ICONIC GRIFFEY OR NAUGHTY WORDS TO CAUSE IT TO GET OVEREXPOSED. YES I KNOW JUNIOR'S IN THE TRADED SET, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME SOME INFLUENCER POSTED A GRADED ONE OF THOSE ON THE SOCIAL MEDIAS

WHAT A LOVELY SET, IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO DIGGING THROUGH ALL MY JUNK WAX DOUBLES LOOKING FOR TREASURES. SADLY DUE TO SLOTH AND PROCRASTINATION I HAVE BURNED THROUGH MY TWO WEEK POST BUFFER AND I NEED TO WRITE MOAR POSTS INSTEAD. THE ACTUAL CARDS CARDS FROM MARK WILL BE UP SOONER OR LATER AND MIGHT BE SEVERAL POSTS SINCE HE SENT ME A TON OF EM. IN THE MEANTIME YOU CAN LISTEN TO MARK'S PODCAST OR GO BUY YOUR OWN COOL ART SETS

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 51: FINEST

I HAVE A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH FINEST. I HATE THAT IT'S SO EXPENSIVE AND HARD TO FIND BUT I LOVE THE WONKY DESIGNS THEY TRY AND FAIL TO PULL OFF. HERE'S A CARD FROM A SET THAT WAS WILDLY UNPOPULAR WHEN IT CAME OUT BUT I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. FROM THE GOOFY RETRO DESIGN TO THE FACT THAT IT IS CHEAP AS HELL NOW

2021 TOPPS FINEST DOMINIQUE WILKINS

THIS SET WAS SO FUN WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED THAT TOPPS WAS BACK IN THE BASKETBALL GAME AND THEN WHEN IT WAS RELEASED IT WAS A BUNCH OF OLDER DUDES IN STREET CLOTHES, SUITS AND THE OCCASIONAL FUR COAT AND ALL THE NOOBS WHO JUMPED ON FLIPPING CARDS DURING THE LOCKDOWN WERE ALL HORRIBLY ANGRY AND CONFUSED. OH MAN, DID THIS SET GET SOME HATE ON THE INTERWEBS. THE HATERS CAN CRY FOREVER, THIS SET IS AMAZING. 1) IT'S ON FINEST CHROMY STOCK 2) IT'S GOT A COOL FAKE 90S VAPORWAVE DESIGN THAT GOES EXTREMELY WELL WITH THE FINEST CHROMY STOCK 3) IT'S BASICALLY A 1991 STUDIO SET FOR BASKETBALL. AND OH MY GOD, THE CHECKLIST IS INSANE. EVERY STAR, KINDA STAR, AND GUY WHO WAS HYPED ENOUGH TO GET INTO A BUNCH OF INSERTS SETS IN THE NINETIES AND EARLY 00S WHO IS NOT CONTRACTUALLY FORBIDDEN FROM BEING IN THIS SET IS IN THIS SET. IN RETROSPECT I SHOULD HAVE ALSO PICKED UP THE VINCE CARTER AND DIKEMBE CARDS BUT I SETTLED ON GETTING THE PLAYER WHO HAS HIS OWN BINDER ON MY BOOKSHELF

DOMINIQUE PRETTY MUCH IS THE HAWKS IDENTITY AT THIS POINT. HE'S THE BEST PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY UNTIL TRAE CATCHES UP. HE'S BOB RATHBURN'S WINGMAN ON THE HAWKS TV BROADCASTS. IT IS ILLEGAL TO PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE OF NBA DUNKS WITHOUT SHOWING OFF A TOMAHAWK. HE'S LITERALLY THE HUMAN HIGHLIGHT FILM. IF YOU SAY 'NAME A HAWKS PLAYER' TO A RANDO ON THE STREET MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK YOU MEAN THE SEAHAWKS OR BLACKHAWKS ARE GONNA SAY NIQUE. A GREAT CARD FOR A GREAT PLAYER. I HAVE MY WILKINS BINDER ORGANIZED BY TEAM. THERE'S BULLDOGS CARDS IN THE FRONT, A WHOLE BUNCH OF HAWKS CARDS IN THE MIDDLE AND SOME USA BASKETBALL, CLIPPERS, CELTICS AND SPURS CARDS AT THE END. I STILL HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ORLANDO MAGIC DOMINIQUE CARD AND I DOUBT IT EXISTS AT THIS POINT UNLESS IT'S SOME ODDBALL AUTOGRAPH IN A RECENT PANINI SET. NOW I HAVE NIQUE IN HIS BROADCASTER UNIFORM, A NICE CAP TO A NICE BINDER

MOAR MANDATORY RONALD AND TRAE

I POSTED TODAY'S COMC PICKUP OUT OF ORDER SO INSTEAD LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A RONALD AND TRAE PAIR I GOT AT THE LCS A LOOOONG TIME AGO AND STUMBLED UPON WHILE SORTING

2019 FINEST RONALD ACUÑA JR.

HOLY FRIJOLES THIS IS A GOOD LOOKING CARD. THE TEAM COLORS POP, THERE'S A GOOD LOOKING PHOTO AND THE SWOOSHY ELEMENTS OF THE DESIGN FIT PERFECTLY WITH RONALD'S SWING. IT'S SO GORGEOUS I FORSOOK MY USUAL DOLLAR LIMIT AND PAID A BUCK TWENTY-FIVE FOR THIS ONE. WHICH IS HONESTLY A BARGAIN, I REMEMBER WHEN EVERY BASE ACUÑA CARD WAS FIVE BUCKS AT THE CARD SHOWS. DON'T EVEN ASK ABOUT A ROOKIE CARD, HOO DOGGIE. NOW THAT THERE ARE A HALF YEARS WORTH OF RONALD CARDS OUT THERE THINGS HAVE CALMED DOWN A BIT. BUT NOT MUCH ESPECIALLY WITH THE YEAR HE'S HAVING

FINEST FRUSTRATES ME BECAUSE I LOVE THE WACKY DESIGNS BUT IT'S KINDA SCARCE AND PACKS ARE HORRIFICALLY EXPENSIVE AND THERE AREN'T A LOT OF CHEAP SINGLES FLOATING AROUND. THIS ONE'S AN EXTRA GOOD VERSION OF FINEST, IT HIT NUMBER 5 ON NIGHT OWL'S RANKINGS. I'VE BEEN TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF CUTTING BACK ON A LOT OF MY LESS-ESSENTIAL COLLECTIONS BY PUTTING TOGETHER A BINDER WITH A PAGE WORTH OF BASE CARDS PER SET FOR EACH BRAND. I SHOULD START WITH FINEST, A PAGE WITH THIS CARD SURROUNDED BY A CARD FROM THE ORIOLES, A'S, PIRATES AND ROCKIES FOR THE FULL TEAM COLOR RAINBOW WOULD LOOK FANTASTIC

2021-22 PANINI CHRONICLES XR TRAE YOUNG

BACK WHEN I WAS REVIEWING CHRONICLES DESIGNS I SAID I HAD NO IDEA WHAT AN XR WAS, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A FIB BECAUSE I ALREADY HAD THIS XR CARD OF TRAE. IN MY DEFENSE, I DID NOT SEE THIS AS AN XR CARD BUT AS A 'COOL SHINY TRAE' CARD. IT REALLY DOES REMIND ME OF NEWFANGLED SPX CARDS THOUGH, AND THAT'S NOT A BAD THING. THIS ONE LOOKS A LOT BETTER THAN THE BASEBALL VERSION ALTHOUGH THE RED TEAM COLOR SPLASH IS DOING A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING. I ALSO LIKE THE RAYS RADIATING FROM TRAE AS IF HE IS A HOLY RELIC, WHICH HE IS. PATRON SAINT OF LOGO THREES

THE BACK OF THE CARD LOOKS BETTER THAN USUAL FOR PANINI, THOSE EXTRA SPLASHES OF RED AROUND THE TEXT HELPS A LOT. ANYTHING TO COVER UP ALL THAT DREARY GRAY. THE CARD NUMBER SHOCKED ME THOUGH, HOW IS A CHRONICLES SUBSET A 400 CARD SET??? TURNS OUT PANINI DOES THIS SET CHECKLIST DIFFERENTLY FROM THE BASEBALL VERSION AND KEEPS SEQUENTIALLY NUMBERING THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT SUBSETS MAKING A GIGANTIC 725 CARD BASE SET. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE WHO WOULD EVER BUILD THE THING BUT IT'S NICE THAT IS AN OPTION. THE HAWKS' SEASON IS OVER BUT THE CRAZY OFFSEASON HAS JUST BEGUN. TRADE FANTASIES ARE RUNNING WILD ON TWITTER AND IT'S NICE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FRANCHISES OUT THERE THAT ARE JUST AS DYSFUNCTIONAL AS THE HAWKS THAT ARE STARTING TO PANIC LIKE THE MAVS, GRIZZLIES AND BUCKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO TRAE PLAYING WITH LUKA, JA AND GIANNIS ONCE THE DUST SETTLES FROM ALL THE OFFSEASON TRADES. HOPEFULLY FOR THE HAWKS 😬