2023 COMC BINGE - PART 23: BIG SCHMIDDTY

THE WRITER'S BLOCK IS REAL YO

THIS IS WHY I DUG IN THE DRAFT FOLDERS INSTEAD OF DOING SOME CHRISTMAS POSTS. I STILL DON'T WANNA WRITE ANYTHING SO HERE IS A POST WITH A MINIMAL OF WRITING AND A MAXIMAL OF CARDS

1983 DONRUSS ACTION ALL-STARS MIKE SCHMIDT

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE SETS SO OF COURSE IT WAS THE LAST CARD I NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE SET. I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF THESE PACKS BACK IN 83 AND THEY WERE WELL LOVED AS YOU CAN NOW SEE BY THE CORNERS. I ALMOST GAVE THEM ALL AWAY TO A COUSIN BUT AT THE LAST SECOND I COULDN'T DO IT, LEADING TO MY LIFE AS A CARD HOARDER. I PICKED UP A BUNCH LATER ON BUT NEVER QUITE TRACKED DOWN THE SCHMIDT. I EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO BUY A COMPLETE SET FOR FIVE BUCKS BUT I DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO FIND THAT DAMN SCHMIDT. YOU CAN FIND EVERYTHING ONLINE THOUGH SO WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR THE COMC BINGE I WENT FOR IT

AND THEN I BOUGHT OVER TWENTY PACKS OF THE STUFF AT A LOCAL CARD SHOP THIS SUMMER LOOKING TO BUILD A SECOND MORE MINTY SET. I STILL HAVEN'T PULLED ANOTHER SCHMIDT

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DESIGN IS ATTRACTIVE. THE BORDERS THAT GO VERY WELL WITH THE PHILLIES UNI AND THE GRAY BACKGROUND WITH THE TEAM NAME LOOK GREAT TOGETHER. I LOVE THE HUGE PORTRAIT AND THE ACTION SHOT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PASTED IN A SCRAPBOOK. EVEN THE BACKS ARE FANTASTIC, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THAT MANY STATS ON THE BACK OF A BASEBALL CARD? HIT BY PITCH! TOTAL BASES! FIELDING PERCENTAGE! YOU'D HAVE TO BUY AN ALMANAC TO GET ALL THOSE STATS IN 1983

I DIDN'T COMPLETE ALL THAT MANY SETS IN 2024 BUT I COMPLETED THIS ONE. ENJOY THE CARDS AS YOU RING OUT THE OLD YEAR OR RING IN THE NEW OR STUMBLE UPON THIS POST IN JULY

1953 Topps Smoky Burgess

I BLEW IT YESTERDAY AND I'M ABOUT TO FALL ASLEEP TODAY SO HERE'S A 1953 TOPPS CARD OF SMOKY BURGESS

FIREMAN! DAMN I LOVE THIS SET

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 22: OBLIGATORY RONALD & TRAE ROUND 2: T-MINUS TAROT

 MOAR COMC PICKUPS BECAUSE LONGER DRAFT POSTS ARE INTIMIDATING ME TODAY. HAVE SOME RONALD AND TRAE. THESE ARE TWO WEIRD ONES THAT REFLECT THINGS I LIKE

2021 TOPPS QYSPY GUEEN - TAROT OF THE DIAMOND RONALD ACUÑA JR

QYPSY GUEEN TRADED FORTUNE TELLER CARDS FOR TAROT CARDS IN SOME OF THEIR LATER SETS (HECK, THEY MIGHT'VE DONE BOTH, THAT BRAND IS ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF MY RADAR) AND WHILE I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY COOL, I DID NOT THINK THEM COOL ENOUGH TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO COLLECT THEM. UNTIL I FOUND A RONALD CARD FOR SIXTY-SIX CENTS, THAT IS. THE DESIGN IS... OK. IT FITS WELL WITH THE NEWER STYLE OF ART DECO GQ AND LOOKS GOOD ENOUGH. MOST OF THE CARDS ARE ONES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN AN ACTUAL TAROT DECK. THE THREE OF CUPS MEANS CELEBRATION, WHICH THE BRAVES CERTAINLY DID SOME OF IN 2021 

I LIKE THE BACK. INSERT BACKS ARE USUALLY GARBAGE ANYWAY SO JUST MAKE IT LOOK SOMEWHAT LIKE A FANCY PLAYING CARD AND CALL IT A DAY. TAROT CARDS HAVE HAD SOMEWHAT OF A RESURGENCE RECENTLY AND CAN BE FOUND IN A TON OF POPULAR CULTURE, INCLUDING ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMIC BOOKS AND VIDEO GAMES. EVERY BOOKSTORE NOWADAYS HAS A DISPLAY OF DECKS FOR TWENTY BUCKS A POP WHICH MAY PARTIALLY ACCOUNT FOR THEIR RENAISSANCE. HOORAY FOR MERCHANDIZING! TEN YEARS AGO I WOULD BE HOARDING THESE THINGS TRYING TO BUILD MY OWN TAROT DECK OUT OF THEM BUT I'M TOO OLD AND TOO BROKE TO BE TRACKING THEM DOWN ANYMORE

2022-23 PANINI DONRUSS OPTIC - T-MINUS 3, 2, 1 TRAE YOUNG

A T-MINUS INSERT WAS ONE OF THE TRAE CARDS IN A PREVIOUS RONALD AND TRAE POST. WHILE I PREFER THE OTHER ONE DUE TO THE ACTUAL SPACE SHUTTLE ON IT, THIS ONE IS REALLY NICE AS WELL. ALTHOUGH I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT TRAIL OF SMOKE THERE, THAT LAUNCH LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE GONEA LITTLE WONKY. NEVERTHELESS, SPACE TRAE RULES AND THE CARD WAS SUPER CHEAP

THE BACK EVEN HAS A BUNCH OF LIGHTS AND SWITCHES LIKE THE LAST ONE! THAT'S BOTH TRAES FROM THIS INSERT SERIES AS HE WASN'T IN THE 2019-20 AND 2020-21 SETS. IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE THE 2019-20 BACKS ARE CRAZY, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A WHOLE 50S SPACESHIP COCKPIT ON THERE. PANINI DIDN'T MAKE A T-MINUS 3, 2, 1 SET IN 23-24 SO I WILL HAVE TO BE CONTENT WITH THESE TWO EXAMPLES OF SPACE SHUTTLE THEMED TRAE YOUNG CARDS. I GOT ANOTHER PAIR OF TRAE AND RONALD IN THIS YEAR'S COMC BINGE SO YOU'VE GOT AT LEAST TWO MORE OF THESE POSTS COMING ASSUMING I EVER GET CAUGHT UP

BIGGUNS #4

I NEED ANOTHER EASY ONE FOR DRAFTSMAS SO HERE'S A LONG ABANDONED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN SERIES FOR 'BIGGUNS' AKA LARGE UNWEILDY SIZED CARDS THAT ARE COOL. I HAVE A FOLDER WITH LIKE A HUNDRED SCANS IN THERE OF THESE KIND OF CARDS BUT NEVER GOT AROUND TO POSTING THEM. HERE'S A NICE ONE

2018 GYPSY QUEEN GLASSWORKS JOSE ALTUVE

SOMEONE SENT ME THIS YEARS AGO AND I HAVE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN WHO IT WAS. I THANK THEE, UNKNOWN CARD SENDER, BECAUSE THIS CARD RULES. THE CORNERS ARE A LITTLE MOOSHED BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE THIS CARD IS SHINY AS HECK. IT REALLY DOES LOOKS KIND OF LIKE GLASS, IT'S SUPER THICK AND HAS A VERY SHINY, GLOSSY COATING OVER SOME EXTREMELY BRIGHT HOLOGRAPHIC FOIL. IT'S COMPLETELY DAZZLING AND THE SCAN CANNOT DO JUSTICE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST REALLY NICE JOSE ALTUVE CARDS I EVER GOT AND I THINK IT KICKED OFF ME ACTIVELY COLLECTING HIS CARDS. NORMALLY THESE KIND OF DESIGNS WHERE A THIRD OF THE CARD IS JUST WIDE OPEN SPACE FOR A LOGO OR A RELIC PIECE COMPLETELY TURN ME OFF BUT IN THIS CASE IT REALLY WORKS GREAT 

THE BACK IS LESS FANTASTIC. CAN'T COMPLAIN THOUGH, THE FRONT MAKES UP FOR IT AND INSERT BACKS USUALLY GET SHORT SHRIFT ANYWAY. IT'S A JUMBO SIZED BOX TOPPER, NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION TOTHE BACK ON THOSE. THESE AREN'T SUPER CHEAP BUT IF YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON ONE I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. EVEN IF YOU CAN'T FIND A TEAM OR PLAYER YOU LIKE IN YOUR PRICE RANGE, GO FOR A CHEAP JABRONI. YOU MIGHT FIND A NEW FAVORITE PLAYER

BOUNTIFUL TRIP TO THE LCS

TODAY'S TWEVE DAYS OF DRAFTSMAS RECOUNTS A TRIP TO THE LCS MANY MONTHS AGO. I CHOSE THIS POST BECAUSE I MIGHT END UP AT A CARD SHOW TODAY IF THE UNIVERSE COOPERATES. I DIDN'T GET MUCH BUT WHAT I GOT IS QUALITY. FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS OF QUALITY AT LEAST. THE BEST QUALITY IS THE QUALITY YOU FIND IN THE BARGAIN BOX BECAUSE THAT QUALITY IS CHEAP

I'VE BEEN A BIT OBSESSED WITH UPPER DECK SPX RECENTLY AND I LOVE FINDING SOME OUT IN THE WILD. EVEN IF IT IS A SCRATCHES UP CARD OF ONE OF MY NOT-SO-FAVORITE PLAYERS. THIS ONE'S A GOLD CARD AND NOT A BASE CARD AS WELL BUT I DOUBT IF MANY PEOPLE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO ANYMORE. THIS PICTURE IS UGLY, I CAN DO BETTER

THAT'S MUCH BETTER. REAL HOLOGRAPHIC SHINY RIGHT THERE

DID YOU KNOW MICKEY MANTLE HAD A BASEBALL HEROES INSERT SET? IT WAS IN THE 1994 SET AND HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DESIGN FROM ALL THE OTHER BASEBALL HEROES BUT HE DID. EARLY UPPER DECK INSERTS ARE ANOTHER OF THOSE THINGS THAT HOLDS MY ATTENTION IN THESE DAYS OF CARDBOARD EXCESS AND I WAS THRILLED TO FIND ONE IN THE BARGAIN BOX

I AM NOT AS OBSESSED WITH LEAF LIMITED AS I AM WITH SOME OTHER HIGH-END 90S CARDS BUT IT REALLY IS A DAMN GOOD LOOKING CARD. FOILBOARD WITH SHINY HOLOFOIL IS VERY LEAF RIGHT DOWN TO THE FOIL LOGO, BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE

SERIAL NUMBERS! HELL YEAH. JEFFREY HAMMONDS DIDN'T QUITE  REACH BONDS LEVELS OF STARDOM BUT HE DID PLAY UNTIL 2005. THIS INSERT MISSED ME FOR YEARS BUT ENDED UP IN THE BARGAIN BOX FOR FIFTY CENTS

THE LAST CARD FROM THE BARGAIN BIN WAS THIS 1986 FLEER ALL STAR OF DAN QUISENBERRY. OLD INSERTS JUST HIT DIFFERENT. IT'S GETTING HARD TO FIND THESE THINGS AND EVEN HARDER TO FIND ONE I ACTUALLY NEED. THIS ONE WAS LOOSE IN THE BOX SO I ENDED UP GETTING IT FOUR FOR A BUCK WITH THE NEXT THREE CARDS

THERE'S A COUPLE BOXES FILLED WITH RANDOM BRAVES, FALCONS, HAWKS AND A DEW OTHER ASSORTED ODDS AND ENDS THAT I LIKE TO GO THROUGH WHEN I VISIT THIS SHOP. I KNEW I HAD THIS HEYWARD ALREADY WHEN I SAW IT BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE TARGET EXCLUSIVE BOX OF TOPPS CHROME IN 2010 WITH THIS SET JUST SO I COULD GET MY HANDS ON THE HEYWARD. IT'S SHINY AND PRETTY THOUGH, WHY WOULDN'T I GET A SECOND ONE

SPEAKING OF CHROMEY STUFF I COULDN'T PASS ON THIS 1993 FINEST CARD OF OTIS NIXON. I DON'T HAVE A TON OF FINEST FROM 93 WHICH IS A SHAME SINCE ITS ONE OF THOSE ICONIC FIRST YEAR DESIGNS THAT ARE SO POPULAR TO REPRINT NOWADAYS. EARLY FINEST DESIGNS ARE SO WONDERFULLY STRANGE, IT'S HARD TO PASS THEM UP. THERE WAS ANOTHER FINEST CARD THAT CAUGHT MY EYE IN THE BOX

WHY YES THAT IS A REFRACTOR. I WAS AS SURPRISED AS YOU ARE. THESE THINGS ARE PRETTY SOUGHT AFTER AND THERE'S SUPPOSEDLY ONLY 241 COPIES OF EACH CARD SO IT WAS A BIT OF A SHOCK TO SEE ONE LOOSE IN A BOX OF RANDOM STUFF. MIKE STANTON (AT LEAST NOT THIS ONE) ISN'T REALLY THE KIND OF STAR PLAYER THAT WOULD CAUSE A LOT OF COMMOTION AMONG COLLECTORS BUT A 1993 REFRACTOR IS A 1993 REFRACTOR. I WAS HOPING I COULD GET IT FOR LIKE FIVE BUCKS BUT NAH, 4 FOR A BUCK. IT'S GOOD WHEN THE OWNER OF A SHOP RECOGNIZES YOU AS A REAL COLLECTOR SICKO

SPEAKING OF SICKOS, I LOOKED THROUGH A BINDER OF FALCONS CARDS AND FOUND SEVERAL PAGES OF JESSIE TUGGLE CARDS. WHY, *I* COLLECT JESSIE TUGGLE! I WAS THE #1 JESSIE TUGGLE COLLECTOR ON TCDB FOR A WHILE BUT I GOT PASSED. THIS IS HELPING ME REGAIN MY FOOTING AT LEAST. I WASN'T SURE WHICH ONES I NEEDED AS I FORGOT MY TCDB PASSWORD AND COULDN'T ACCESS IT ON MY PHONE SO I NABBED EVERY ODDBALL I COULD. NO-DISCLAIMER ROOKIES, ACTION PACKED, TOPPS HOLOPARALLEL, SCORE GOLD RUSH, COLOR FOIL IMPACT, FOUR DIFFERENT FLEER GAMEDAYS, A PLAYOFF UNSUNG HEROES INSERT AND ACTUAL FRIDGE MAGNETS. MAN I LOVE OLD ODDBALLS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE OF A PLAYER I COLLECT

MY LAST PICKUP WAS 15 PACKS OF 1983 DONRUSS ACTION ALL-STARS. THIS WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SETS WHEN I WAS A KID AND I COMPLETED IT WITH A COMC PICKUP I STILL NEED TO SHOW OFF. BUT I COULDN'T PASS UP THESE PACKS FOR A BUCK A POP! WHY SHOULDN'T I HAVE TWO SETS? I WENT THROUGH AND TRIED TO PICK AS MANY DIFFERENT PLAYERS ON THE FRONT AND BACK AS I COULD (EXCEPT FOR TWO RICKEYS, I LIKE RICKEY) AND PLANNED TO SEE IF I COULD BUILD A SET ONLY OUT OF PACKS. I DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE, BUT THAT'S OK BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO RIP THESE CARDS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE MICKEY MANTLE PUZZLE CARDS SO I COULD TRY TO COMPLET THAT SET. I ALSO DIDN'T COME CLOSE. I HAD FUN THOUGH!

All Star Ballot part 4b - More Outfielders

FOR TODAY'S TWELVE DAYS OF DRAFTSMAS HERE'S MY OLDEST DRAFT POST WITH PICS FROM ALL THE WAY BACK IN 2007. THIS WAS WAS ALREADY HALF WRITTEN AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I DROPPED THIS ONE SO HARD OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I DROP LOTS OF POST SERIES. THE CARDS ARE GREAT THO SO LET'S FINISH IT UP

Ok, ok. I know it's been weeks since the All Star Game, I just couldn't bring myself to continue on after that travesty of a game. Luckily I've been able to work through my pain using scientific statistical analysis. You see, if you take both Aaron Rowand and Albert Pujols' lifetime stats, and filter out all at bats to only focus on OPS with RISP in games at home on a Tuesday in the 7th inning or later with an annoying color analyst and at least 3 Fox stars in the crowd who don't want to be there, add that to expected win shares minus LOB% adjusted for the Ballpark Factor, then divide the whole shebang by the square root of VORP divided by PECOTA (no not Bill), you get conclusive mathematical proof that Tony LaRussa is a goddamn stupid idiot moron. See, it's always best to work through your emotions in a logical, rational fashion.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN 2007 TO PISS ME OFF SO MUCH. TONY LARUSSA IS STILL A GODDAMN STUPID IDIOT MORON THOUGH SO I HAD THAT RIGHT AT LEAST. I WAS WORRIED THAT LINK THERE WAS DEAD BUT BASEBALL-REFERENCE MIGHT BE THE LAST WEBISE ON THE INTERNET TO SURVIVE LINK ROT SO CLICK WITH CONFIDENCE

Here's the other three outfielders on my All Star Baseball Card ballot. They are well worth the wait.

NL Right Fielder: Roberto Clemente


If you know of a better Right Fielder, I'd like to know about it.

OK, HANK AARON. THIS CARD RULES THOUGH AND I CHEATED AND PUT HANK AT CENTER FIELD

AL Center Fielder: Rickey Henderson

I FRIGGIN LOVE 1983 TOPPS ALL STAR CARDS. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CARDS PERIOD, WHY THE HELL DIDN'T I POST THIS BACK IN THE DAY

NL Left Fielder: Dave Winfield

I REALLY LIKE CARDS WITH MASSIVE PORTRAITS TAKING UP THE WHOLE CARD AND WINFIELD IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS SO I GET WHY THIS CARD MADE THE CUT

Honorable Mentions:
1979 George Foster
1975 Jeff Burroughs
1982 Andre Dawson

I DIDN'T UPLOAD THE HONORABLE MENTIONS BUT I'MMA GANK THE PICS OFF THE INTERNETS AND PUT EM IN HERE ANYWAY

I DUNNO MAN, I LOVE WINFIELD BUT I THINK I MIGHTA FUCKED UP ON LEAVING ANDRE OUT

Up next: Starters, Closers and the DH. Hopefully up before the season's over, but don't hold your breath...

YEAH THESE AIN'T HAPPENING. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE WHAT CARDS I HAD PLANNED OUT FOR THOSE POSITIONS. FEEL FREE TO STEAL THIS IDEA FOR YOUR OWN BLOG AND SHOW OFF BETTER CARDS. MAYBE ONE OR TWO FROM THIS CENTURY EVEN

If you want to see the rest of my ballot, click on the links:
Managers & Catchers
Second Base & Shortstops
First and Third Base
Outfield part 1

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 21 THE FOURTH STOOGE

OH LOOK WHO'S BACK ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT ME! ALL RESTED UP AND LESS FRAZZLED ALL READY TO POST STUFF AGAIN. BUT WHAT TO POST? HOW TO RETURN FROM MONTHS OF INACTIVITY? HOW TO MAKE SURE I DON'T PROCRASTINATE SOME MORE AND JUST WATCH BOB ROSS VIDEOS UNTIL I PASS OUT?

A COUPLE DAYS AGO I HAD A REALLY GOOD IDEA FOR A TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS SERIES. I FIGURED OUT TWELVE WHOLE POSTS AND EVERYTHING. BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO ALL THE CRAP NEEDED TO WRITE ALL THE POSTS. TOO BAD. I COULD PROBABLY STILL DO IT SINCE THE TWELVE DAYS OF ACTUAL CHRISTMAS STARTS ON THE 25TH. BUT CHRISTMAS WILL TAKE FOREVER! I WANNA POST NOW!

THEN I REMEMBERED I HAVE DOZENS OF POST DRAFTS LINED UP THAT I ABANDONED MONTHS AGO WHEN I RAN OUTTA GAS. I CAN DO TWELVE SAYS OF DRAFTSMAS! I CAN START WITH THE COMC CARDS FROM LAST YEAR. I HAVE RECEIVED A WHOLE OTHER PACKAGE AND BINGED ONCE AGAIN THIS BLACK FRIDAY SO I BETTER GET POSTING. LET'S START WITH SOME STOOGES

2005 BREYGENT THE THREE STOOGES SCRAMBLED BRAINS

THERE'S A LOT MORE THREE STOOGES SETS OUT THERE THAN I EXPECTED. THE MOST FAMOUS ONE IS THE 1959 FLEER SET, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SECOND SET FROM FLEER IN 1966.  FTCC HAD THEIR OWN STOOGES REVIVAL IN THE 80S, DUOCARDS REPRESENTED THE JUNKWAX ERA OF NON-SPORT, RRPARKS HAS THE KICKSTARTER ERA COVERED, AND THEN THERE'S THIS BREYGENT SET FROM WHATEVER THE HELL PERIOD 2005 WAS. THIS SET IS COLORIZED BUT SO WAS THE '59 SET SO I CAN OVERLOOK IT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF BLACK AND WHITE CARDS TO CHOOSE FROM IF YOU PREFER. THE SET IS A NICE DIGESTIBLE 72 CARDS AND SHOWS OFF SOME OF THERE BEST STUFF FROM THE TED HEALY DAYS TO THEIR 60S MOVIES. THIS CARD SHOWS OFF THEIR SHEMP SHORT SCRAMBLED BRAINS. CHECK IT OUT

WHY SCRAMBLED BRAINS YOU ASK? WHY NO CURLY, YOU HATE CURLY?? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, YOU ASK. I DIDN'T GET THIS CARD FOR CURLY, I GOT IT FOR EMIL SITKA. HE'S DR. GEZUNDHEIT UP THERE WITH THE COKE BOTTLE CLASSES TRYING TO HYPNOTIZE SHEMP. I LOVE EMIL IN THE STOOGES SHORTS, HE ALWAYS GIVES 120% EVERY TIME. HE'S BEST KNOWN FOR THE 'HOLD HANDS YOU LOVEBIRDS' GAG FROM BRIDELESS GROOM. I WOULD'VE HAPPILY GOTTEN A CURLY CARD BUT EMIL'S FIRST SHORT WAS HALF WIT'S HOLIDAY WHICH WAS CURLY'S LAST. EMIL WASN'T ON THAT CARD SO THIS WILL HAVE TO DO. ALONG WITH HIS MANY APPEARANCES WITH THE STOOGES, HE WAS ALSO IN MANY TV SHOWS AND FILMS INCLUDING SAM RAIMI'S CRIMEWAVE. HE ALSO WON FIVE HUNDRED BUCKS ON LET'S MAKE A DEAL! EMIL MAKES ME HAPPY AND FINDING HIM ON A CARD MAKES ME HAPPY. EMIL SITKA UNSURPRISINGLY DOESN'T HAVE A TON OF TRADING CARDS BUT IF ANYONE CAN POINT ME TOWARDS A COPY OF THIS ONE FROM THE PHILLY NON-SPORT SHOW I'D BE GRATEFUL

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 20 FORRY 5000

IT'S SPOOKY SEASON! A GOOD TIME TO POST A CARD OF A SKEERY MONSTAR. I DIDN'T MEAN TO TAKE A TWO MONTH HIATUS SO I COULD POST A MONSTER ON HALLOWEEN BUT SOMETIMES THINGS WORK OUT THAT WAY

1963 ROSAN FAMOUS MONSTERS SERIES TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS UUUUGLY THING?! THIS IS A CARD FROM A SUPER LOW-RENT COMPANY CALLED ROSAN THAT PRODUCED A HANDFUL OF SETS IN THE EARLY 60S. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A WAR SET, A JFK CASH-IN SET AND FOUR MONSTER MOVIE SETS. THE ORANGE BORDER SET IS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND. A SECOND SET FROM 1963 DISTRIBUTED IN A GREEN FIRST SERIES AND PURPLE SECOND SERIES IS NOT QUITE AS EASY TO FIND. THEN THERE'S A THIRD, POSSIBLY TEST ISSUE, BLUE SET IS A BAD COPY OF A PREVIOUS NU-CARD SET. THESE SEEM TO BE A LOT HARDER TO FIND. THIS FORUM THREAD INDICATES THAT THE CARDS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH VENDING MACHINES, BUT THIS FAMOUS MONSTER SET WAS SOLD AS A SET IN THE BACK OF MONSTER MAGAZINES. I SEARCHED THROUGH A LOT OF THESE MAGAZINES BUT NEVER ACTUALLY FOUND THE AD. LUCKILY, THIS COLLECTION OF CARD IMAGES HAS ONE! 

OK COOL, THAT'S THAT WHAT THE CARD IS, BUT WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THIIIING ON THE CARD?!? SHE IS A TERROR! A TERROR FROM THE YEAR 5000. THIS IS A NICE GOOFY LITTLE MOVIE WHERE A COUPLE OF SCIENTISTS IN FLORIDA CREATE A TIME MACHINE THAT CAN TRANSPORT OBJECTS TO THE FUTURE AND THEN RECEIVE AN OBJECT FROM THE FUTURE BACK. BUT THE OBJECTS ARE RADIOACTIVE! AND THEN THEY RECEIVE A CAT! THEN THIS LITTLE LADY SHOWS UP AND SHENANIGANS ENSUE. IT AIN'T GREAT, AND IT'S KINDA GOOFY BUT THE VILLAIN IS A MUTANT LADY WEARING A BLACK SEQUINED CATSUIT AND WHO DOESN'T LIKE THAT. THERE WERE TWO CARDS FROM THIS SET THAT WERE CHEAP AS HELL DURING THE SALE AND I CHOSE THE ONE WITH A PHOTO OF A HALF-DEAD LADYMONSTER ON A HOSPITAL CART WITH HER BOOBIES IN FULL FOCUS BECAUSE OF COURSE I DID. THIS IS FROM A PROMO PHOTO AND IS NOT SEEN AT ANY TIME IN THE ACTUAL FILM. YOU CAN SEE THE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER VERSION OF THE MOVIE IF YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE

A COOL THING ABOUT THESE CARDS IS THE BACK IS NOT THE TYPICAL CORNY JOKE THAT IS THE STANDARD OF THESE OLD TIMEY MONSTER SETS BUT AN AUTHENTIC VINTAGE CRUMMY ADVERTISEMENT FOR PLASTIC JUNK! IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, IT WAS A MONSTER MAGAZINE CREATED BY FORRY ACKERMAN AND PUBLISHED BY WARREN MAGAZINE. IT'S A PRETTY FUN READ IF YOU LIKE CLASSIC HORROR, BUT THAT'S NOT THE IMPORTANT PART. LIKE ALL TRASHY PULP MAGAZINES FROM BACK THEN THE REALLY GOOD STUFF IS THE COOL ADVERTISEMENTS

THERE'S THAT AD FOR MONSTER RINGS! AND INVISIBLE INK! COWBOY MAGAZINES! UUUH - A FAKE DRUG NEEDLE? A PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE? CARNIVEROUS PLANTS! AN EGG INCUBATOR?? AN ACTUAL AIR FORCE SURPLUS PARACHUTE??? SO MUCH COOL STUFF! I WISH I COULD'VE FOUND A PAGE WITH THE MONSTER RINGS AND THE FREE LIVE MONKEY ADS. GUESS I'LL HAVE TO BUY MORE OF THESE CARDS AND GET A COMPLETE SET OF AD BACKS

AND HERE'S THE CARD IN THE MONSTER BINDER. NON-SPORTS CARDS ARE OFTEN IN LANDSCAPE SO I STARTED A PAGE FOR THOSE CARDS. ENJOY THE SPOOKIES THIS HALLOWEEN!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PLAYOFFS

IT'S PLAYOFFS TIME AGAIN EVEN THOUGH WE STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THEM YET. TIME TO FEEL UNIMAGINABLE STRESS AND AGONY IF YOUR TEAM IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN THE GRUELING MONTH LONG SADNESS TOURNAMENT. AND THIS YEAR THE STRESS IS ON TOP OF *WAVES ARMS AROUND WILDLY* EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON! HOORAY! 

LIKE LAST YEAR, HERE'S A POST RANKING THIS YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP HOPEFULS FROM THE ONE I'M ROOTING FOR MOST TO THE LEAST. WHY YES, I DO HATE YOUR TEAM! THE CARDS CHOSEN FOR EACH TEAM ARE THE SHINIEST, WILDEST LATE 90S CARDS I PICKED OUT OF AN OLD STARS BOX I WAS SORTING THROUGH RECENTLY. I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT MORE SORTING AND ORGANIZING THAN POSTING LATELY IF YOU CAN TELL. AS A BONUS I'LL TALK ABOUT THE CARDS A BIT ALONG WITH MY HATEFUL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TEAMS. LET'S START OFF WITH THE OBVIOUS

BRAVES

THAT THE BRAVES ARE EVEN STILL IN IT IS UTTERLY ABSURD. THEIR ACE WAS HURT AFTER ONE START, THEIR MVP WAS GONE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON AND HALF THE TEAM HAS SPENT TWO MONTHS ON THE IL. HOW HAS NO ONE PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY YET?!? NOBODY CAN HIT ANYMORE BUT THE PITCHING IS ELITE SO MAYBE THEY CAN WIN A BUNCH OF 1-0 GAMES. IF THE 2021 TEAM COULD DO IT, WHY NOT

GAWD THESE 1997 SPX CARDS ARE FUCKING BEAUTIFUL. I REGRET BUYING CRAP LIKE COLLECTOR'S CHOICE INSTEAD OF THESE NOW

BREWERS

HONESTLY I ADOPTED THE BREWERS AS MY ROOTING CHOICE MONTHS AGO WHEN THINGS WERE AT THEIR DISMALEST. THEY MIGHT STILL BE NUMBER ONE ON THIS LIST DEPENDING WHAT HAPPENS. I LIKE HOW THEY TRADED THEIR BEST CLOSER AND PITCHER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND STILL BEAT THE HELL OUT OF THE NL CENTRAL. I WILL ALWAYS ROOT FOR WILLIAM CONTRERAS, GO WILD BILL. AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL? BOB UECKER DESERVES A RING. SEEING HIM LIFT THE TROPHY WOULD MAKE UP FOR A LOT OF TERRIBLE BULLSHIT THIS YEAR

2001 ARCHIVES RESERVE IS WHAT EVERY CHROMIUM PRODUCT SHOULD BE: 100% REFRACTORS. IT REALLY IS A GREAT SET IF YOU CAN FIND IT

ASTROS

YES, YES. EVERYONE HATES THE ASTROS FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED SEVEN YEARS AGO. SOMETHING THAT NO OTHER TEAM HAS EVER DONE BEFORE OR SINCE. THEY ARE A BAD TEAM FOR BAD PEOPLE. LUCKILY ENOUGH I AM A BAD PEOPLE! AND I LOVE VILLAINS! AND JOSE ALTUVE WHO IS AWESOME AND COMPLETELY INNOCENT. YOU KNOW IT TO BE TRUE. EXTRA ADDED BONUS: JASON HEYWARD CAN GET HIS SECOND RING WITH THE STROS. THIS FACT HAD ME FLIPPING THE SECOND AND THIRD CHOICES ON THIS LIST RIGHT UP UNTIL POSTING

2000 PACIFIC INVICIBLE IS ONE OF THE MOST RIDICULOUS DESIGNS FROM AN ADMITTEDLY RIDICULOUS ERA. INVICIBLE WAS KNOWN FOR COMBINING PAPER AND PLASTIC ELEMENTS BUT THIS... THIS IS JUST WEIRD. WHAT EVEN IS THIS DESIGN?? MOSES ALOU PARTING THE WRIGLEY WALL? UTTERLY BIZARRE. IT CONFUSED ME SO MUCH I ONLY BOUGHT ONE PACK BACK IN THE DAY, A DECISION I NOW REGRET

GUARDIANS

THE GUARDIANS NOT ONLY HAVE THE LONGEST CHAMPIONSHIP DROUGHT BUT THE LAST TWO WORLD SERIES THEY WERE IN WERE FUCKING AGONIZING. THAT GIVES THEM A BIT OF AN UNDERDOG VIBE TO ME, PLUS THEY DESERVE SOME GOOD FORTUNE WHAT WITH THE OVERDUE BRANDING CHANGE. I ALSO WANT TO SEE JOSE RAMIREZ PLAY AS MUCH BASEBALL AS POSSIBLE. KEEP SLEEPING ON JOSE, I LOVE FINDING HIS CARDS DIRT CHEAP

GALLERY ISN'T TRADITIONALLY SHINY BUT THE 1996 VERSION WAS VERY INNOVATIVE FOR THE TIME WITH THE THICK STOCK AND PAINTERLY THEME. THE CANVAS BACKGROUND AND GILDED FRAME REALLY MAKES EDDIE LOOK LIKE HE'S HANGING IN A MUSEUM

ROYALS

IF YOUR TEAM HASN'T BEENIN THE PLAYOFFS FOR A DECADE I'LL LIKELY BE ROOTING FOR YOU. DOESN'T MEAN THEY'LL MAKE IT VERY FAR BUT IT'S STILL A GOOD STORY. BOBBY WITT JR. IS ALSO THE REAL DEAL. TIME TO SNAG SOME OF HIS CARDS NOW THAT EVERYONE IS OBSESSED WITH SHOHEI

MOAR COLLECTING REGRETS: WHEN I DID BUY PACKS OF HIGHER END STUFF IN THE 90S, IT WAS OF SHIT LIKE BOWMAN'S BEST. THE 1999 VERSION IS NOT GOOD. THE DESIGN HAS MORE YELLOW THAN 1991 FLEER AND THE ROOKIES ARE ALL SHORT PRINTED. BUT THE REFRACTORS REALLY POP. THIS PHOTO DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE

TIGERS

ANOTHER TEAM THAT BEEN TERRIBLE FOR FOREVER WHO INEXPLICABLY SNUCK INTO THE PLAYOFFS. THANKS TWINS! THEY'VE GOT A SOME GOOD YOUNG PLAYERS TOO, SKUBAL AND GREENE LOOK LEGIT. WILL THEY MAKE NOISE IN THE PLAYOFFS? PROBABLY NOT! BUT THIS SEASON HAS BEEN SO DAMN WEIRD ALREADY, WHY NOT?

CROWN ROYALE IS ALWAYS NICE, EVEN IF EVERY SET IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOIL. THEY'RE UNWIELDY AND AWKWARD TO STORE BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL

PHILLIES

YOU'D THINK I WOULD HATE THE PHILLIES SINCE THEY KNOCKED OFF THE BRAVES IN EXTRA PAINFUL FASHION TWO YEARS IN A ROW AND THEN STOLE THE DIVISION FROM US. YOU'D BE WRONG! I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY LOATHE THE PHILLIES AS I HAVE FAMILY FROM THERE AND THEY ARE HISTORICALLY SUCH A SHITTY-ASS FRANCHISE THAT WHEN SOMETHING NICE HAPPENS TO THEM IT'S HONESTLY TOO SURPRISING TO CAUSE BITTERNESS. AND I MEAN, IF HARPER GOES HIS WHOLE CAREER WITHOUT A RING WE'LL ALL BE KINDA DISAPPOINTED IF WE'RE BEING HONEST. WHY NOT THIS YEAR? BECAUSE NICE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN TO PHILADELPHIA TEAMS, THAT'S WHY

THIS IS NOT A SHINY CARD! WTF!!? THERE WERE NO SHINY PHILLIES IN THE CARDS I RESCUED FROM THE STAR BOXES EXCEPT A MIKE LIEBERTHAL MINOR LEAGUE INSERT THAT WASN'T VERY SHINY AT ALL AND ONE OF A PITCHER WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED. I'M NOT PUTTING HIS CARDS ON THIS BLOG IF I CAN HELP IT SO HERE'S THE MUCH LESS PROBLEMATIC PETE ROSE. I LOVE 1983 FLEER AND I REALLY LOVE CARDS WITH PLAYERS LEANING ON THAT OLD CIRCULAR NET THINGY. JUST THINK OF THIS AS A CARD OF THAT NET THINGY AND IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE

ORIOLES

ORIOLES DROPPED FOUR SPOTS FROM LAST YEAR AND WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER IF NOT FOR TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE NO LONGER THE NEW HOTNESS NOW THAT THE SCRAPPY ROYALS AND TIGERS HAVE STOLEN THE UNDERDOG ROLES. THEY ARE A LEGIT GOOD TEAM NOW! BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT THE YANKEES. KNOCK THEM OUT AND YOU'LL MOVE UP IN MY ESTIMATION

FLAIR/SHOWCASE/FLAIR SHOWCASE IS ONE OF THE WEIRDEST BRANDS OF THE 90S AND 2000S. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR THERE WAS A MAJOR DESIGN CHANGE OR NAME CHANGE OR BOTH UNTIL FLEER FINALLY WENT BELLY UP.  1999 FLAIR SHOWCASE EPITOMIZED THIS WITH EACH CARD HAVING NOT ONLY THREE DIFFERENT FRONT DESIGNS BUT THREE DIFFERENT BACK DESIGNS AS WELL, ALL IN DIFFERENT RARITIES. THIS CARD IS THE HARDEST (AND BEST LOOKING IN MY OPINION) TO FIND FRONT WITH THE EASIEST TO FIND BACK. THIS MEANS YOU CAN PROBABLY FIND ONE IN A DIME BOX IF YOU LOOK LONG ENOUGH. IT'S PRETTY THO

PADRES

THE PADRES ARE ANOTHER TEAM THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY HIGHER A YEAR OR TWO AGO BUT 1) I'VE GROWN WEARY OF THEIR ANTICS AND 2) IF THE BRAVES ACTUALLY DO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THEY ARE OUR FIRST ROUND OPPONENT. YU DARVISH IS COOL THOUGH 

THIRTY YEAR OLD 1994 PACIFIC PRISMS LOOK BETTER THAN ANY CARD THAT HAS COME OUT IN 2024. I'LL FIGHT ANYONE WHO DISAGREES. ASSUMING I CAN STOP STARING AT THIS CARD. OOOOOOHHHHH SHIIIIIIINY

DODGERS

DODGERS HAVE BEEN THE PRESUMPTIVE NL PENNANT WINNER EVERY YEAR FOR LIKE EIGHT OR NINE YEARS NOW. I DON'T ROOT FOR TEAMS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO WIN, THAT'S NOT MY STYLE. YES, IT WILL BE FUN TO SEE OHTANI IN THE PLAYOFFS, YES, MOOKIE AND FREDDIE ARE COOL. EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM IN THE WORLD SERIES. BUT I'M A GRUMPY JERK. THIS IS THE PLAYOFFS! NO FUN FOR ANYONE! ONLY PAIN

NOW THIS HERE IS WHAT INVINCIBLE IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE! A NICE CARD WITH A RIDICULOUS DESIGN WITH A LITTLE WINDOW WITH A PLASTIC PLAYER INSIDE. I DUNNO HOW PACIFIC WENT FROM THIS TO THAT WEIRD MESS IN JUST ONE YEAR. I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK THAT LIGHT SPOT ON RAUL'S EAR IS. IT'S NOT ON THE CARD AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT REFLECTION COULD HAVE CAUSED THAT. MAYBE THIS CARD IS HAUNTED

METS

I'M AS SURPISED AS YOU ARE! HOW THE HELL ARE THE DISGRACEFUL METS ONLY MY THIRD-MOST DISLIKED TEAM IN THIS COUNTDOWN? I GOT A LOT OF HATE IN ME I GUESS. I REALLY DON'T LIKE THEM AND IF THEY END UP KNOCKING US OUT - OR WORSE - ACTUALLY WINNING IT ALL THE CROWING I WILL HEAR FROM QUEENS WILL ECHO IN MY EARS IN HELL. THEY'RE STILL NOT AS BAD AS THESE NEXT TWO TEAMS I PROMISE

THIS IS A EVRY PACIFIC HEAVY POST BUT CAN YOU BLAME ME? LOOK AT ALL THE SHINY! PACIFIC REVOLUTION IS THE SHINIEST PRODUCT FROM THE SHINIEST COMPANY AND 2000 REVOLUTION IS THE KING OF ALL SHINY. THE GOLD FOIL IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE HOLOFOIL FIREWORKS AND THE YEAR 2000 EXPLODING EVERYWHERE. THE BRAND NAME IS EVEN EMBOSSED INTO THE SIDE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALL THIS SET NEEDS IS TO BE DIE CUT TO BECOME A BLACK HOLE OF SHINY

DIAMONDBACKS

I'M COMPLETELY SICK OF ARIZONA IN GENERAL. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY, LOOK AT MY PREVIOUS PLAYOFF POST I LINKED UP THERE. PLUS THEY WENT TO THE WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. BLECCH. AND LOST TO THE RANGERS! DOUBLE BLECCH. ANY OLD TEAM COULD'VE DONE THAT! I'M GRUMPY NOW. GRRRRR 

HERE'S A SHORT PRINTED FINEST ROOKIE CARD OF A PLAYER WHO NEVER PLAYED A SINGLE INNING IN THE BIGS. AND NOT EVEN A SERIAL NUMBERED ROOKIE CARD! IT'S A PROMO! THIS CARD IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

YANKEES

I CARE SO LITTLE ABOUT THE YANKEES THAT THE CARD WON'T CENTER AND I CAN'T EVEN BE BOTHERED ABOUT IT. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BOLD THE NAME, WHAT'S THE USE. PHOOEY ON THE YANKEES. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE SNAKES WERE DEAD LAST ON LAST YEARS LIST AND THEN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THE YANKEES MISSED THE PLAYOFFS  IN 2023 AND WAS SOO HAPPY AND THEN REALIZED THAT THEY WERE IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR AND I WAS SAD AGAIN. BARF! BLECCCH! PTUI! THE ONLY POSITIVE OUTCOME TO THEM WINNING THE WORLD SERIES IS IF SOTO COLLECTS HIS RING AND THEN BOLTS FOR ANOTHER TEAM

YANKEES SUCK BUT DUFEX IS THE BEST. HOORAY FOR 1996 PINNACLE.

SO THERE YOU GO! I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE BRAVES WHATSOEVER SINCE THEY CAN'T SCORE MORE THAN THREE RUNS A GAME SO MY DREAM WORLD SERIES MATCHUP IS:

BREWERS VS. ASTROS

WINNER GETS TO BE IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. I CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS SO THE ACTUAL RESULT WILL BE THE YANKEES DANCING ALL OVER THE METS' FACES. ONWARD TO HELL! PLAY BALL!!!!1

BLOGGER SOMEHOW PASTED IN THIS PICTURE OF BURGERPANTS FROM UNDERTALE THAT I USED IN A BLUESKY POST SO FUCK IT, IT'S STAYING IN. I'M FEELING KINDA BURGERPANTSY AT THE MOMENT ANYWAY