2023 CARD SHOW - PART 8 GRAND FINALE AT THE VINTAGE TABLE

I LEFT THE BOARDROOM WITH SEVEN BUCKS IN MY POCKET AND MADE A BEELINE TOWARDS THE VINTAGE GUY AT THE FRONT WHO GAVE ME STICKER SHOCK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. I KNEW THERE WERE SOME CHEAPSKATE BOXES I COULD RAID UNLESS THAT DUDE WAS STILL HOGGING THEM. I GOT TO THE TABLE AND... YES! I COULD HOG THE BOXES NOW! I POKED AT THE TOPPS BASE SETS FOR A MINUTE BUT THEN SAID FORGET THAT MESS AND ATTACKED THE ODDBALLS INSTEAD. THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARD I BOUGHT AT THE SHOW: 

THREE WHOLE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS JUST BECAUSE IT HAS A GIANT BABE RUTH HEAD BUSTING OUT THROUGH THE OUTFIELD GRASS. WORTH EVERY PENNY. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A FRANKENSET COMBINING THE 1970 AND 1971 SETS FOR A WHILE NOW AND I PUT A REAL HURTIN' ON MY NEEDS THIS TRIP. IN GENERAL I AM PICKING UP THE FIRST ONE I FIND BUT I CHOSE THE 1970 VERSION OF THE 1923 SEASON SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BABE

KELLOGGS ARE ALWAYS A MUST AT THIS TABLE AND I GOT AN EXTREMELY CRACKED 1972 BILLY WILLIAMS FOR ONLY FIFTY CENTS. AND WHEN I MEAN CRACKED, I MEAN IT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY LIFT THE PLASTIC OFF BILLY'S FACE AND MAKE THE CARD LOOK LIKE A 1973 KELLOGG'S. CRACKS ARE JUST AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD WITH KELLOGG COLLECTING AND IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A CRACKED CARD IT MAY AS WELL BE A CATASTROPHIC CRACK. THIS CARD LOOKS WORSE IN PERSON BUT I DO NOT CARE. A COUPLE YEARS AGO I HAD ZERO 1972 KELLOGGS CARDS AND NOW I HAVE SEVERAL. HOORAY FOR CRACKS!!!

USUALLY THE CARDS IN THESE BOXES ARE ALL IN PENNY SLEEVES WITH A PRICE WRITTEN ON IT IN SHARPIE. THIS TIME THERE WAS A BIG PILE OF 1980 KELLOGG'S IN DECENT SHAPE IN A TEAM BAG FOR FIFTY CENTS EACH. EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS SOME JABRONI, THEN EDDIE MURRAY POPPED UP. I WAS NOT PASSING ON EDS. I NEED ALMOST EVERY 1980 KELLOGG'S CARD SO IF THEY ARE STILL THERE NEXT TIME MAYBE I WILL TRY THE 'HOW MUCH FOR ALL THE THINGS' STRATEGY. IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK, THIS GUY WRITES "FIRM" ON HALF HIS PRICES BUT YOU NEVER KNOW!

ALONG WITH THE RUTH I PICKED UP FOUR MORE LAUGHLIN WORLD SERIES CARDS. THIS ONE FROM 1970 ALSO HAS A RUTH CAMEO BUT SINCE THE PLAYER SHOWN IS PAUL WANER IT ONLY COST A QUARTER. THIS IS A DARK SUBJECT FOR A WHIMSICAL BASEBALL CARD. PIRATE POISON? OK PAUL AND LLOYD WANER WERE NICKNAMED BIG POISON AND LITTLE POISON BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE SKULL AND CROSSBONES WITH A BASEBALL CAP. THEN AGAIN THE POISON VIALS LOOK A LITTLE LIKE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS WHICH MAKES THINGS A TAD MORE WHIMSICAL I GUESS

THE 1933 WORLD SERIES IS REPRESENTED BY THIS BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND CUT 1971 CARD WITH CARL HUBBELL TWIRLING A GOOSE EGG. WEIRDLY CUT BASE CARDS ARE HARD ENOUGH TO FIND NOWADAYS, FINDING A MISCUT ODDBALL IS A MIRACLE. I'M SURE MOST OF YOU OUT THERE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 1970 AND 1971 SETS BUT THE EASIEST WAY TO TELL THEM APART IS: 1970 CARDS HAVE THE YEAR INSIDE A BASEBALL, 1971 HAS THE YEAR IN A SQUARE WITH THE MLB LOGO. I KNOW MY SEVEN REGULARS ALREADY KNOW THIS BUT MAYBE A HISTORIAN FINDS THIS POST IN 2537 AND LEARNS SOMETHING. IT COULD HAPPEN!

ANOTHER 1971 CARD WITH SOME UNFORTUNATE SUBJECT MATTER. LAUGHLIN DID A PARODY SET IN 1975 CALLED BATTY BASEBALL SO WE'LL JUST REFER TO THIS CARD AS THE SERIES BETWEEN THE ENGINES AND THE BRIEFS. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY BUT IT'S NOT IN MY FLEER VINTAGE BINDER SO IF I DO I HAVE TWO NOW I GUESS

LAST ONE IS A 1970 CARD FEATURING GIL MCDOUGALD BEING THE CABOOSE ON A CONGA LINE. THESE WERE ALL A QUARTER EACH AND ALONG WITH THE RUTH THIS KNOCKS THE FRANKENSET DOWN TO EIGHT CARDS NOT COUNTING THE EXTREMELY SHORT PRINTED 1970S CARDS. I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN THOSE CARDS BEFORE THOUGH AND THE ONES ONLINE COST LIKE A HUNDRED BUCKS SO I MIGHT JUST FORGET THOSE EXIST. MAYBE THEY'RE EASIER TO FIND ON THE BACK OF A STICKER? FOR THOSE OF YOU FURIOUS I AM MIXING AND MATCHING BETWEEN THE TWO SETS REST ASSURED THAT ONCE I FINISH THE FRANKENSET I'LL LIKELY GO HUNT DOWN THE REST OF THEM AS WELL

AFTER THE KELLOGG'S AND LAUGHLINS I TRIED VERY HARD TO FIND SOME 1960S OR 70S INSERT CARDS LIKE SOME DECKLE EDGE OR GAME CARDS BUT I COMPLETELY STRUCK OUT. I SWITCHED GEARS AND HIT THE HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL BOX INSTEAD.

I HAVE HARDLY ANY HOCKEY CARDS OLDER THAN ABOUT 1972 OR SO IF I FIND ANY FROM THE 60S CHEAP I TRY TO GRAB EM. THIS CARD IS FROM THE 1968-69 SET. ALL YOU HORIZONTAL CARD AFICIONADOS GET A LOAD OF THIS DESIGN. A TINY PHOTO CRAMMED OVER TO THE SIDE WITH A MONOCHROME GENERIC HOCKEY ILLUSTRATION IN THE BACKGROUND. IT'S SO BIZARRE IT'S ALMOST GENIUS. IT WOULD BE ALMOST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS BEFORE DONRUSS WOULD USE THIS SAME DESIGN STRATEGY TO  LEAVE OPEN A WIDE OPEN SPACE FOR A RELIC OR AUTOGRAPH. SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT THIS DESIGN, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE QUITE LIKE IT

ONE YEAR LATER THEY WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND SWITCHED TO AN EXTREMELY BLAND DESIGN FOR THE 1969-70 SET. BIG PICTURE, BOLD TEXT, HOCKEY STICK. DONE. IT'S A LITTLE ODD I GOT RANGERS FOR BOTH SETS BUT THERE WERE ONLY TWELVE TEAMS AT THE TIME. THESE DIDN'T ACTUALLY ADD TO MY 60S TOPPS HOCKEY COLLECTION AS THEY BOTH ENDED UP BEING O-PEE-CHEE CARDS. I HAVE EVEN LESS OF THEM SO IT'S ALL GOOD

ALONG WITH THE OLD CARDS I ALSO LOOKED FOR SOME WANTLIST CARDS. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WANTLISTS FOR HOCKEY BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE 1974-75 TOPPS SET FOR OVER A DECADE NOW. I HAVEN'T FOUND A CARD I NEEDED IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS, BUT I GOT THE WANTLIST, I'M WORKING ON IT. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW CARDS FROM THE SET IN THE BOX BUT JEAN PRONOVOST WAS THE ONLY ONE I NEEDED. ONE'S BETTER THAN NONE! JEAN PLAYED FOR THE ATLANTA FLAMES LATER IN HIS CAREER BUT HE'S WITH THE PENGUINS HERE. THAT CHUBBY PENGUIN LOGO IS THE BEST, THE LOGOS ON THESE CARDS IS A BIG REASON WHY I LOVE IT SO MUCH

I ALSO FOUND A TONY ESPOSITO CARD FROM THE 1981-82 SET I NEEDED. WITH THIS ONE I AM ONLY MISSING TWO CARDS FROM THE BASE SET! UNFORTUNATELY HOCKEY DID THE SAME THING AS BASKETBALL AND ADDED ADDITIONAL HIGH NUMBER CARDS FOR EACH CONFERENCE TO BLOAT THINGS OUT. STILL! I ONLY NEED RAY BOURQUE AND THE JARI KURRI ROOKIE NOW. GRETZKY? GOT. LAFLEUR? GOT. BOSSY? GOT. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A SHORT SET, COMPLETING ANY SET FROM THE 80S IS AN ACHIEVEMENT

I DIDN'T GO SET BUILDING WITH THE BASKETBALL BECAUSE 1) I DON'T KNOW WHAT SET I'M WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT AND 2) THERE WERE HARDLY ANY BASKETBALL CARDS ANYWAY. IN THOSE SITUATIONS I LOOK FOR OLD AND COOL. THIS 1971-72 CARD IS THE DEFINITION OF COOL. THAT FUNKY TEAM NAME RULES, THE SHOCKING PICK BACKGROUND IS DAZZLING, THE RED AICHES IN HAPPY HAIRSTON PLEASES MY EYES AND HAIRSTON IS INDEED VERY HAPPY ON THIS CARD. WHO CARES IF IT'S DINGED UP AND CREASED, THIS CARD IS GREAT

THE LAST CARD OF THE SHOW IS WENDELL HERE FROM THE 1973-74 SET. I HAD A HARD TIME PICKING THIS ONE BUT THE KENTUCKY COLONELS ARE MY FAVORITE ABA TEAM SO THIS ONE GOT CHOSEN. ALL THESE HOCKEY AND HOOPS CARDS WERE A QUARTER EACH AND I DID INDEED MANAGE TO SPEND ALL SEVEN BUCKS AND LEAVE THE SHOW FLAT BROKE

\AND WE'RE DONE! I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK AND RAID THIS TABLE AGAIN AS SOON AS I CAN. UP NEXT: IT'S TIME FOR THE 2023 COMC BLACK FRIDAY BINGE EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

ONLINE MEGA BOX - PART 15

I'VE STARTED ORGANIZING THESE CARDS INTO SEMI-COHERENT GROUPS FOR THE NEWEST SHIPMENT AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HECK I WAS THINKING WITH SOME OF THESE POSTS NOW. BOTH THE POSTS AND THE CARDS

1991 ENOR PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME FRANCO HARRIS

 CATEGORY - IT'S JUST COOL, OK

I AM LESS INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL LEGENDS SETS THAN I AM IN THE BASEBALL VERSION. THIS CARD LOOKS GREAT THOUGH WITH FRANCO TRUCKIN OVER A BUNCH OF VIKINGS. I GOT A BUNCH OF FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CARDS SOMETIME IN THE LATE 80S AND THEY WERE KIND OF BORING BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS ONE BEFORE AND THEY ARE A BIG IMPROVEMENT

THE BACKS ARE PRETTY COOL TOO. STEELER COLORS, A NICE SUMMARY WRITEUP AND A PHOTO OF THE ACTUAL HALL OF FAME ORANGE JUICER BUILDING

2021 POKEMON SOMETHING OR OTHER SAWSBUCK

 CATEGORY - I DUNNO ABOUT THIS ONE

I DON'T COLLECT POKEMON CARDS AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY LIKE THIS POKEMON. IT'S JUST A REINDEER. REINDEERS ARE NOT MAGICAL MONSTERS, THEY'RE JUST ANIMALS. IT WAS A RARE CARD THOUGH AND I CAN'T PASS UP RARE CCG CARDS. IT'S A DISEASE

2021 PANINI CHRONICLES CRUSADE COREY RAY AND TREVOR ROGERS

 CATEGORY - CHRONICLES

WOOO CHRONISCLES! AND CRUSADE CARDS AT THAT! NEITHER OF THESE GUYS ARE ENDING UP ON A HALL OF FAME BALLOT OR MAYBE EVEN A ROSTER NEXT YEAR BUT I JUST LIKE TO HAS THE CARDS

2022 PANINI CHRONICLES CRUSADE KEVIN SMITH

 CATEGORY - CHRONICLES

ANOTHE CRUSADE CARD! MAN I WISH THERE WAS MORE COLOR ON THESE THINGS

2022 TOPPS JASON HEYWARD

 CATEGORY - J-HEY

TCDB NUMBER GO UP. I HAVEN'T ENTERED ANY NEW CARDS ON THERE IN MONTHS SO I HAVE NOT SEEN NUMBER LATELY. I'M PROBABLY IN 47TH PLACE NOW

1991 TOPPS GLOSSY ROOKIES STEVE AVERY, TRAVIS FRYMAN, JOHN BURKETT

 CATEGORY - INSERT

THERE WERE A BUNCH OF THESE GLOSSY ROOKIE CARDS ON THE SITE BUT I ONLY PICKED UP THESE THREE OF GUYS WHO ACTUALLY HAD A DECENT CAREER. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS BUT I GO GAGA OVER THE ALL-STAR GLOSSIES BUT AM MEH ABOUT THE ROOKIES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE PROBABLY A BIT SCARCER. AVERY WAS A NO BRAINER BUT FRYMAN AND BURKETT WERE ALL STARS SO THEY GOT ADDED TO THE PILE. THERE WERE A BUNCH OF OTHERS AVAILABLE BUT I WAITED LONG ENOUGH ON THEN THAT THEY GOT SNAPPED UP BY OTHER PEOPLE WHICH WAS KINDA A RELIEF AFTER A WHILE

2019 DONRUSS OPTIC MIKE FOLTYNEWICZ PRIZM

 CATEGORY - SHINY

FOLTY'S BEST KNOWN MOMENT AS A BRAVE ISN'T... GREAT. BUT IT'S A SHINY GOOD LOOKING CARD AND IT CAN GO IN THE BRAVES BOX WITH THE REST OF THE FORGOTTEN SHINY CARDS OF GUYS LIKE WILSON BETEMIT, DENNY NEAGLE AND ADAM LAROCHE. TWO THINGS I NOTICED ON THE ENLARGED PICTURE ON MY SCREEN: THE GHOSTLY DONRUSS LOGO IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER AND THE Z THAT APPEARS TO HAVE GOTTEN CHOPPED OFF AT THE END

2022 BOWMAN FREDDIE FREEMAN

 CATEGORY -  BRAVES

I'M NOT GOING TO GO OUT OF MY WAY TO PICK UP FREDDIE FREEMAN CARDS ANY MORE BUT IF THEY FALL IN MY LAP, THAT'S FINE. NO L.A. CARDS THOUGH - SEND THEM TO A DODGER COLLECTOR

2012 PANINI AMERICANA HEROES AND LEGENDS BOB BEAMON

 CATEGORY - JUST LOOK AT IT

AMERICANA HEROES AND LEGENDS IS ANOTHER SET THAT MISSED ME WHEN IT RELEASED. I FOUND A LIST OF CARDS FROM THE SET FOR SALE ON THE SITE SO I CHECKED OUT THE GALLERY ON TCDB AND FOUND A CHECKLIST OF PRESIDENTS, OLYMPIANS AND ASTRONAUTS. I COULD SEE WHY I SKIPPED THIS ONE BACK IN THE DAY. THEN I SAW THIS CARD. ADD TO CART

UP NEXT - SOME STUFF. WE'RE IN A BIT OF A LULL BEFORE THE CRAZY STUFF POPS UP AGAIN

CARD ONE ULTIMATE SUPER JUMBO PACK - MIXED SPORT EDITION

 TAKING A BREAK FROM MY WEEK IN REVIEW POSTS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING VERY INTERESTING TO REVIEW FROM LAST WEEK. I BARELY LEFT THE HOUSE, I BOUGHT NO CARDS OTHER THAN ON BASEBALLCARDSSTORE DOT CA, I DID NOTHING FUN OTHER THAN LISTEN TO YOUTUBE CRAP WHILE PLAYING STARDEW VALLEY AND MY MAIN BASEBALL CARD ACTIVITY WAS CLEANING UP BOXES AND GETTING ORGANIZED. WHILE GETTING ORGANIZED IS THE ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT CARD THING I CAN POSSIBLY DO, SHOWING OFF A PICTURE OF A JUMBLED PILE OF RANDOM BOXES AND THEN ANOTHER PICTURE OF A PILE OF SLIGHTLY MORE ORGANIZED BOXES DOES NOT MAKE FOR THRILLING READING. INSTEAD I'M GOING TO SHOW OFF THIS PACK OF CRAP I FOUND WHILE CLEANING UP 

THIS IS A CARDS ONE ULTIMATE SUPER JUMBO PACK MIXED SPORT EDITION I GOT FROM DOLLAR TREE WHAT SEEMS LIKE DECADES AGO. THIRTY CARDS OF THE MOST RANDOM STUFF IMAGINABLE FOR ONE MEASLY DOLLAR. THERE USED TO BE BOXES AND BOXES OF THIS STUFF EVERYWHERE. MAN, WE HAD IT SOO GOOD. I BOUGHT A COUPLE DOZEN OF THESE THINGS ONE TIME AND PUT THEM AWAY AND FORGOT ABOUT THEM. THIS ONE ESCAPED THE BOX THAT WAS ITS HOME AND ENDED UP ON THE FLOOR WHICH IS WHERE I FOUND IT. IT'S SUNDAY AND I DON'T WANT TO DO WORK SO INSTEAD I'M LIVE BLOGGING A PACK I GOT MAYBE WHEN OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT? LET US LOOK AT THIS RELIC FROM THE GOOD OLD DAYS

TOP CARD IS A 1989 DONRUSS BOB BROWER. ONE THING I LOVED ABOUT THESE PACKS IS THAT YOU'D THINK CARD ONE WOULD PUT THE BEST CARD ON TOP TO ENTICE THE PURCHASER, BUT NAH. WHATEVER OLD CRAP ENDED UP ON TOP WAS ON TOP. I NEED FIVE CARDS FOR THIS SET AND BOB AIN'T ONE OF THEM. THIS ONE GOES IN THE DISCARD PILE

SECOND CARD IN THE PACK IS AN ACTUAL HALL OF FAMER! ON A DECENT JUNK-WAX ADJACENT CARD AT THAT! I CAN NEVER REMEMBER IF THIS IS FROM A REAL SP SET OR WAS AN INSERT IN FLAGSHIP PACKS BUT WHO CARES. WE'RE BATTING .500 SO FAR

HERE'S WHY THIS IS THE MIXED SPORT EDITION, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL, OH MY! THE ERIC RILEY ROOKIE IS FROM THE 93-94 HOOPS SECOND SERIES SET. I HAVE MAYBE 10 CARDS FROM THAT SET SO WE HAVE OUR FIRST WANTLIST NEED! THAT'S A CRAP PACK HOME RUN! THE 1989 TOPPS JIM HARBAUGH ROOKIE IS FROM THE TRADED SET. I HAVE A TON OF CARDS FROM THAT SET BECAUSE THEY END UP IN EVERY REPACK FROM PEOPLE BREAKING THE SET TO YOINK THE SANDERS AND AIKMAN ROOKIES. HARBAUGH'S LIKE A TOP FIVE ROOKIE IN THE SET! THESE ARE KEEPERS, THE BATTING AVERAGE IS UP TO .750

BIPPED! THIS PACK'S ON A HOT STREAK. BATTING .800

ANOTHER HALL OF FAMER WITH 1989 UPPER DECK ECK. I ALREADY HAVE THIS ONE BUT IT'S STILL A HIT. WE'RE BATTING .833 BUT BEWARE OF SMALL SAMPLE SIZES

BACK TO MIXED SPORT. WILD CARD BASKETBALL DRAFT PICKS ARE WAY DOWN TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF MY COLLECTING WISHES BUT PETE MYERS ACTUALLY HAD A NICE LITTLE CAREER. THOSE EARLY 90S BASKETBALL DRAFT PICK SETS WERE PACKED WITH PLAYERS WHO NEVER PLAYED A GAME PROFESSIONALLY SO IT'S NICE TO GET A DECENT PLAYER. I'M ALSO NOT TERRIBLY INTERESTED IN JUNKWAX FOOTBALL SETS BUT I HAVE WARM FEELINGS TOWARD 1990 PRO SET AND DONALD IGWEBUIKE IS ALWAYS A GOD PICKUP. I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE GIVE THESE CARDS HITS BUT THE IGWEBUIKE IS AT LEAST A PRODUCTIVE OUT. .625

1990 DONRUSS = STRIKEOUT WITH RUNNERS IN SCORING POSITION. AVERAGE DROPS TO .555

GRAND SLAM!!! 1996-97 EX-2000 EDDIE JONES CARD IN A DOLLAR PACK. WHAT A WORLD WE ONCE LIVED IN. THIS RIGHT  HERE IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GET MY STUFF CLEANED UP. THERE'S PROBABLY A T-206 HIDING IN ONE OF THESE DOLLAR TREE PACKS .600

LARRY NANCE IS A VERY UNDERRATED STAR OF THE 80S, PLAYING FOR CLEVELAND WILL DO THAT TO YA. 1994-95 IS A NICE FLEER SET BUT I BOUGHT A STOOPID AMOUNT OF SERIES ONE AND ALREADY HAVE LARRY. I KINDA WANT TO SCORE THIS AS A WALK BUT I'M NOT CALCULATING OBP ON THE FLY. GROUND OUT TO SECOND, ADVANCING THE RUNNER .545

THE JUNKIEST OF THE JUNK WAX. DARRELL EVANS IS A GREAT PLAYER BUT THE CARD IS DAMAGED SO I CAN CALL IT AN OUT WITHOUT GUILT .461

THE FIRST HOCKEY CARD OF THE PACK SHOWS UP. IF I AM REMEMBERING CORRECTLY THESE PACKS USUALLY HAD OVER 60% BASEBALL, OVER 30% BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL AND WHATEVER WAS LEFT WAS FILLED UP WITH HOCKEY AND SOCCER. THE INAUGURAL ISSUE FOR UPPER DECK HOCKEY WAS A GOOD LOOKING ONE. I REALLY LIKE THE MARBLED BORDERS WITH TEAM COLORS. A TOPPS GOLD CARD IS ALSO A NICE FIND, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S HAWK LEGEND SNOOP GRAHAM. NEITHER OF THESE CAN BE CONCIDERED ESSENTIAL IN ANY WAY BUT I'LL GIVE THEM ONE HIT, YOU PICK WHICH CARD GOT IT. .467

A PAIR OF 1992 FLEER ULTRA CARDS AND SOME 89 JUNK I REFUSED TO TAKE A PHOTO OF ON ITS OWN ARE UP NEXT. THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I NEED THE TWO ULTRA CARDS AS AN UPGRADE ON MY WATERLOGGED ONES AT THE VERY LEAST BUT IT'S JUNK BY ANY STANDARD. .411

ACTION PACKED! OF A GEORGIA BULLDOGS LEGEND!! HELL YEAH. I'VE GOT A SNAP CASE FULL OF GEORGIA PLAYERS I FOUND WHILE CLEANING UP AND THIS IS GOING RIGHT IN IT. .444

I FEEL BAD ABOUT GIVING THIS GROUP AN OH-FOR-THREE BUT IT'S ALL JUNK WAX. I HAVE COMPLETED THE 87 DONRUSS AND 89 FLEER SETS AND AS STATED BEFORE, 89 DONRUSS IS DOWN TO FIVE CARDS AND JESSE NOT ONE. THIS HERE IS WHY I USED THE BASEBALL ANALOGY ON A MIXED SPORTS PACK. BASEBALL AT-BATS CAN BE A LOT OF FUN BUT THEY AIN'T ALL GOING TO BE HITS .380

1990 PRO SET HALL OF FAMER? HIT. .409

AND THE DREAM OF HITTING .400 DIES A HORRIBLE DEATH. THE OFFICIAL SCORER IS THINKING ABOUT TAKING AWAY A HIT OR TWO AS WELL. .375

WE WRAP UP THE BASKETBALL CARDS WITH A 1995-96 ULTRA CARD OF ROBERT PACK AND A TED WILLIAMS BASKETBALL DRAFT PICK OF BRIAN REESE. THE ULTRA CARD IS VERY NICE BUT THERE IS A BIG OLD DONK ON THE CORNER. BRIAN REESE IS ONE OF THOSE DRAFT PICK PLAYERS WHO DID NOT MAKE THE NBA, BUT HE WON A TITLE WITH NORTH CAROLINA, PLAYED IN A BUNCH OF FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES AND IS NOW COACHING IN COLLEGE AT MONMOUTH. PRETTY COOL! I'M ALSO JUST NOW NOTICING THAT THE TED WILLIAMS BASKETBALL CARDS HAVE CLASSIC BRANDING ON THE BACK. THIS IS A 1994-95 SET SO I'M NOT CERTAIN IF CLASSIC BOUGHT THE TED WILLIAMS BRAND AFTER IT FOLDED OR IF TED WILLIAMS DID I LICENSE DEAL WITH CLASSIC SO IT COULD DO A LAST-GASP DRAFT PICK SET. EARLY 90S CARD BRANDS WERE WILD, YO. THE AVERAGE IS STILL DROPPING THOUGH. .346

HERE'S A CARD FROM LEAF'S LAST GASP IN 1998, AT LEAST UNTIL THEY WERE BROUGHT BACK FROM THE DEAD THREE YEARS LATER. THIS IS A CLASSY LOOKING SET AND IF I NEED THIS CARD IT'S A MASSIVE HIT. [OPENS WANTLIST] WELP, STRUCK OUT. .333

THE LAST FOOTBALL CARD IS A 1996 SCORE BOARD CARD OF TONY MARTIN. THIS WAS AN INTERSTING SET, LIKE THE 1996 FLEER SET IT WAS ON MATTE CARDBOARD FOR EASY AUTOGRAPHING. MAYBE TOO EASY, THIS STUFF FEELS LIKE BLOTTER PAPER. I BOUGHT A LOT OF IT IN THE DAY BECAUSE THERE WERE VINTAGE CARDS INSERTED INTO PACKS. I REMEMBER GETTING A COUPLE 1984 DAN MARINO IN ACTION CARDS WHICH ARE ACTUALLY SOME PRETTY GOOD HITS NOWADAYS! I ALREADY HAVE THREE OR FOUR OF THIS TONY MARTIN CARD AS I PULLED THEM OUT WHEN HE WAS TRADED TO ATLANTA. .321

THE LAST FOUR CARDS BRING US UP TO 32 FOR THE PACK! IT DOESN'T DO MUCH FOR THE BATTING AVERAGE THOUGH. 1991 UPPER DECK IS COMPLETE AND THUS, I DON'T EVEN SEE THEM AS EXISTING ANYMORE. 1993 UPPER DECK IS TOO PRETTY TO IGNORE AND JIM ABBOTT IS A GREAT PULL EVEN IN CHECKLIST FORM. HOWEVER DOUBLES ARE NEVER APPRECIATED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TWO STUCK TOGETHER AND NOW THERE IS THAT UBIQUITOUS UPPER DECK SNOW ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CARDS. I LIKE 1986 TOPPS SO MUCH GOT TWO COMPLETE SETS ALREADY AND I MIGHT BUILD A THIRD. DUANE WALKER'S A HIT, AND WE DON'T END THE PACK OH-FOR-TEN. FINAL BATTING AVERAGE: .312

PRESENT ME THANKS PAST ME FOR PICKING UP A FUN PACK TO RE-OPEN TODAY SO I HAVE SOMETHING GOOD TO POST. I'LL TRY TO DO SOMETHING INTERESTING BESIDES WORK AND CLEAN THIS WEEK SO I HAVE SOMETHING GOOD FOR NEXT WEEK'S ROUNDUP. AND IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE BASEBALLCARDSSTORE DOT CA RECAPS YOU'LL BE IN FOR A TREAT, I'VE PICKED UP SOME DOOZIES RECENTLY

2023 CARD SHOW - PART 7 THE BOARDROOM EXILES

THE CARD SHOW HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS. FIRST THEY STARTED CRAMMING DEALERS INTO THE HALL OUTSIDE THE MAIN ROOM AND NOW THEY'VE EXPANDED TO A WHOLE NEW ROOM. DOWN THE HALL ON THE RIGHT IS THE BOARDROOM AND THERE WERE FOUR MORE DEALERS THERE PEDDLING THEIR WARES. THREE SOLD SLABS AND INDUSTRIAL CONTAINERS FULL OF SLABS. BUT THE FOURTH GUY WAS ANOTHER COLLECTOR!!!

THERE WAS A ROW OF DOLLAR BOXES, A BUNCH OF VINTAGE SETS, A DISPLAY FULL OF VINTAGE CARDS, A BOX OF OLD MAGAZINES, SOME HAND MADE GRAB BAGS, A COUPLE GIANT CARDBOARD BOXES FULL OF VINTAGE COMMONS THAT COST WAY TOO MUCH AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ODDBALL SPORTS RELATED TCHOTCHKES. THIS WAS FUKKIN GREAT! I WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMED AND STARTED DIGGING IN THE DOLLAR BOXES AFTER BEING TEMPTED BY SOME STICKER ALBUMS IN THE BOX OF MAGAZINES. I PROBABLY  COULD HAVE DROPPED THE REST OF MY CASH HERE BUT I WAS STARTING TO WEAR DOWN AND CHOSE A FEW SELECT GOODIES FOUND IN SOME LIMITED DIGGING

I POKED AROUND THE NEWER CARDS IN THE DOLAR BOX BUT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING RIGHT AWAY AND WAS NOT IN THE MOOD TO LOOK AT EVERY CARD AT THIS POIONT IN MY CARD SHOW JOURNEY. I'M NOT A SPRING CHICKEN ANYMORE AND CAN'T HANDLE DIGGING THROUGH BOXES UNTIL SECURITY ESCORTS ME FROM THE BUILDING. THERE WAS A SMALL BUT VIBRANT VINTAGE SECTION IN THE BOX SO I LOOKED THROUGH THAT INSTEAD. THIS 1982 KELLOGG'S CARD OF ROD CAREW JUMPED OUT AT ME AND SMACKED ME AROUND UNTIL I AGREED TO TAKE HIM HOME. HOW COULD I ARGUE WITH ROD? 

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS 1966 COOKIE ROJAS CARD. I ENJOY VINTAGE CARDS WHERE THE PORTRAIT TAKES UP THE ENTIRE CARD AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THAT PHENOMENON.  IT MIGHT BE THE PERFECT CARD. COOKIE IS BEAMING WITH A HUGE SMILE ON HIS FACE. HIS HAT IS ENORMOUS. HIS GLASSES ARE THE HEIGHT OF MID SIXTIES FASHION. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH THE CLEAREST BLUE SKY. IN THE BACKGROUND IS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BATTLE SCARRED WASTELAND. GRAY AND BURNED AND LIFELESS, POSSIBLY SCOURED BY A NUCLEAR BLAST. THE EXTREME HEAT EMINATING FROM THE DEVASTATED GROUND CAUSE THE REMAINING STRUCTURES TO SHIMMER EERILY. IT MIGHT EVEN SIMPLY BE A MIRAGE. THIS CARD, TO ME, IS AN ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE. BOTH AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AND SURREAL. EVEN THE TEAM AND PLAYER NAME BAR COLORS MATCH THE SCENE'S PALETTE. THE RED MIRRORS THE PHILLIES HAT, THE GRAY THE SCORCHED EARTH. WHILE INTELLECTUALLY MY BRAIN KNOWS THAT BACKGROUND IS JUST AN EXTREMELY OUT OF FOCUS SPRING TRAINING OUTFIELD WALL, MY EYES CAN ONLY SEE A GHOSTLY HELLSCAPE. PART OF MY SCHTICK IS TO ENGAGE IN HYPERBOLE ABOUT HOW AWESOME A BUNCH OF JUNKY OLD BASE CARDS ARE, BUT I AM NOT KIDDING THIS TIME. I ADORE THIS CARD. I'VE ALSO BEGUN HOARDING IT A BIT, THIS IS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH COPY I'VE BOUGHT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND I'M NOT GOING TO STOP. I MAY NOT BECOME THE NEW 1964 FLOOD GUY BUT DAMN I LOVE THIS CARD

WHEN I FIRST HIT THE DOLLAR BOXES I RANDOMLY LOOKED AT THE VINTAGE FOOTBALL CARDS. NO REAL REASON, I SAW VINTAGE AND WENT FOR IT. THE SELLER HAD A KEEN EYE AND WAS READY TO UPSELL, HE PULLED OUT A BOX OF 70S FOOTBALL COMMONS AND OFFERED THEM THREE FOR A BUCK. WORKING ON FOOTBALL SETS WERE THE LAST POSSIBLE THING ON MY AGENDA BUT I HAD ALREADY REBUFFED A COUPLE OFFERS OF A VINTAGE BINDER AND A LARGE BOX OF 60S AND 70S CARDS FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS EACH. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HIM I ONLY HAD ABOUT 15 BUCKS ON ME AND WAS HONESTLY JUST THANKFUL TO SEE SOMETHING IN MY PRICE RANGE. I'M NOT REALLY CLOSE ON COMPLETING ANY 70S SETS BUT I LOVE 1972 FOOTBALL SO I GRABBED ANY I FOUND THAT I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE. THIS RECEIVING LEADERS CARD IS PRETTY WILD, THE TOP TWO RECEIVERS BY CATCHES ARE TIGHT ENDS AND BOB TUCKER LED THE LEAGUE WITH 59. TO SEE HOW THE NFL HAS CHANGED, THE LEADER IN 2023 WAS CEEDEE LAMB WITH 135 CATCHES AND BOB'S 59 WOULD BE GOOD FOR 57TH PLACE

HERE'S A COUPLE OF DEFENSIVE BACKS TO COVER THOSE RECEIVERS. CHARLIE WEST WENT TO A COUPLE SUPER BOWLS WITH THE VIKINGS BUT LEROY KEYES HAS THAT COOL BEANIE. THE 1972 TOPPS FOOTBALL SET IS RATHER UNIQUE. THE DESIGN SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE AT FIRST. SOLID COLOR FRAME AROUND A BIG PICTURE WITH A BOLD TEAM NAME ON TOP AND THE PLAYER NAME AND POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PHOTO IN RED. PRETTY STANDARD! NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HERE. BUT THIS SET HAS A SECRET

HORIZONTAL CARDS. WE'RE ALL USED TO THERE BEING A FEW HORIZONTAL CARDS IN A BASE SET THANKS TO RECENT TOPPS BASE SETS. BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THE 1972 TOPPS FOOTBALL SET WORKS. IF THE TEAM NAME IS SIX OR MORE LETTERS LONG, ALL THE CARDS FOR THAT TEAM ARE VERTICAL. FIVE LETTERS OR LESS, THEY ARE ALL HORIZONTAL. GO CHECK OUT THE SET ON TCDB AND SEE GOT YOURSELF. I FRIGGIN LOVE THESE HORIZONTAL CARDS WITH THE CHONY LETTERS FOR THE TEAM NAME AND IT'S SO WILD TO ME THAT TOPPS CHOSE THIS DESIGN SOLUTION. I WONDER IF TOPPS WANTED TO MAKE A VERTICAL SET AND THE SHORT TEAM NAMES WERE TOO STRETCHED OR A HORIZONTAL SET AND THE LONG TEAM NAMES WERE TOO SQUISHED. 1972 TOPPS IS ALSO BIZZARE AS IT RELEASED A SUPER SCARCE THIRD SERIES THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. NO 1972 TOPPS TOMMY NOBIS FOR ME. I DO NOW HAVE A WILLIE ELLISON AND DAVE WILCOX THOUGH, BOTH FRESH OFF A PRO BOWL APPEARANCE IN 1971

I NEEDED A SIXTH CARD BUT RAN OUT OF 1972S SO I CHOSE THIS 1975 ALL PRO CORNERBACKS CARD FEATURING NATE WRIGHT AND HALL OF FAMER EMMITT THOMAS. EMMITT IS ALSO THE GUY WHO BECAME THE INTERIM HEAD COACH OF THE FALCONS WHEN BOBBY PETRINO FLAKED OUT AND QUIT TO TAKE THE ARKANSAS JOB. SO MANY DUMB THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO THAT FRANCHISE, I'M SO HAPPY I'M A LIFELONG STEELERS FAN AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE

THIS MESS IS THE BEST PHOTO I COULD GET OF THE HANDMADE GRAB BAGS THE GUY WAS SELLING. I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE BEFORE I OPENED THEM ALL AND IT WAS HARD GETTING AN ANGLE THAT SHOWED OFF THE LABEL AND DIDN'T JUST LOOK LIKE A FAT ENVELOPE. THERE WAS A MONSTER BOX OF THESE THINGS FULL OF BASEBALL, FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PACKS. EACH PACK HAD TWENTY FIVE CARDS AND THERE WERE FOLDERS WITH A FEW PLASTIC SHEETS FILLED WITH THE KIND OF CARDS THAT COULD BE FOUND INSIDE. THE BASEBALL PACKS WERE MOSTLY FILLED WITH LATE 90S AND 00S CARDS WITH SOME INSERTS AND STARS MIXED IN. I HAD TONS OF CARDS FROM THESE SETS SO WASN'T REALLY INTERESTED. THE BASKETBALL PACKS HOWEVER WERE MOSTLY FILLED WITH LATE 90S AND 00S CARDS WITH SOME INSERTS AND STARS MIXED IN. I HAVE HARDY ANY CARDS FROM THESE SETS SO I WAS SUPER INTERESTED. AND PICKED OUT THREE PACKS. I OPENED UP ONE AT THE TABLE AND IT WAS FANTASTIC. I KINDA WANTED TO JUST SPEND THE REST OF MY MONEY ON MORE PACKS RIGHT THEN AND THERE BUT I STILL HAD THE VINTAGE TABLE TO HIT AND WAS ABLE TO RESTRAIN MYSELF. IT'S A GOOD THING I DID BECAUSE THE OTHER TWO PACKS WERE NOT AS FANTASTIC. THEY WERE GOOD, DONT GET ME WRONG, BUT IF I HAD BOUGHT SEVEN MORE PACKS OF THAT INSTEAD OF WHAT I ENDED UP GETTING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MANY REGRETS. I AM GOING TO SAVE THE FANTASTIC PACK TO MAYBE POST ON A RAINY DAY SO INSTEAD HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE CARDS FROM EACH OF THE OTHER GRAB BAGS

2004-05 TOPPS FINEST ANTONIO MCDYESS

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS FINEST DESIGN AND WAS REALLY STOKED TO PULL THIS CARD. THIS IS A REALLY NICE DESIGN WITH ETCHING AND A TEXTURED BACKGROUND. I'M A LITTLE OBSESSED WITH FINEST RIGHT NOW TO THE POINT WHERE I'M PICKING UP WRESTLING AND SOCCER FINEST CARDS JUST TO HAS THEM. MCDYESS WAS A REALLY GOOD PLAYER AND WAS ON ALL-ROOKIE AND ALL-PRO TEAMS BEFORE WRECKING HIS KNEE. EVEN AFTER THE INJURY HE STILL MANAGED TO PLAY A THOUSAND GAMES IN THE NBA

1994-95 FLEER ANFERNEE HARDAWAY PRO-VISIONS INSERT

SPEAKING OF KNEE INJURIES, PENNY WAS SO DAMN GOOD BEFORE HE GOT HURT. THESE PRO-VISIONS CARDS ARE ALSO SO DAMN GOOD. ACTUAL MAGIC AND PENNIES IN FRONT OF A CRAZY DOCTOR STRANGE STYLE BACKGROUND. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW GOOD WE HAD IT IN THE EARLY 90S

1994-95 SKYBOX SERIES TWO GLENN ROBINSON RC PERFORATED CARD FROM PROMO SHEET

BIG DOG WASN'T MILWAUKEES SAVIOR BUT HE STILL HAD A PRETTY GOOD CAREER. THIS IS ONE OF HIS WEIRDER ROOKIE CARDS AS IT WAS ON A SIX-CARD PERFORATED PROMO SHEET THAT SOMEONE DECIDED TO DISMANTLE. I WONDER IF THE REST OF THE CARDS WERE IN THE OTHER PACKS

1998-99 METAL UNIVERSE REGGIE MILLER

FLEER METAL CARDS ARE ALWAYS A DELIGHT AND REGGIE IS A GREAT CARD TO GET. I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH SOME BENCHWARMER, I DIDN'T EXPECT A HALL OF FAMER! REGGIE IS TORMENTING THE KNICKS ON THIS CARD, SOMETHING HE DID OFTEN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER

1997 PRESS PASS JACQUE VAUGHN NETBURNERS PROMO CARD

PRESS PASS ALWAYS HAD SOME WILD DIE CUT INSERT CARDS IN THE LATE 90S AND THIS NETBURNERS CARD IS NO EXCEPTION. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROMO CARD, THERE'S A TON OF EXTREMELY TINY TEXT ON THE BACK SHOWING OFF ALL THE FRAFT PUCKS AND HOT INSERTS YOU CAN FIND IN 1997 PRESS PASS. REAL AUTOGRAPHS! REAL LIMITED PRODUCTION! REAL GAMEACTION! ONLY THE TOP PLAYERS. TIM DUNCAN, CHAUNCEY BILLIPS AND TRACY MCGRADY WERE IN THERE SO THEY WEREN'T LYING. JACQUE VAUGHN MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A TOP TOP PLAYER BUT HE WAS IN THE LEAGUE FOR 12 YEARS AND IS NOW BROOKLYN'S HEAD COACH SO THAT'S TOPS TO ME

2004-05 TOPPS TOTAL TRACY MCGRADY

YEP, TOTAL WAS A BASKETBALL PRODUCT TOO FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THERE'S NO FUN GAME ON THE BACK BUT IT EXISTS. T-MAC IS A NICE CARD TO HAVE IF YOU'RE GONNA GET ONE

2004-05 TOPPS STEPHON MARBURY

00S TOPPS BASKETBALL BASE CARDS ARE STOOPID HARD TO FIND AND EVERY DAY I CURSE PAST ME FOR NOT BUYING AS MANY PACKS AS I COULD FIND. OR MAYBE I DID BUY AS MANY PACKS AS I COULD FIND?? EITHER WAY I DON'T HAVE A LOT AND I WANT ALL THE SETS WHICH IS A PROBLEM. I REJOICE WHEN I FIND EVEN ONE BASE CARD, EXPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A STAR CARD AND INDUBITABLY WHEN IT'S A DING DANG CARD I NEED. THIS STEPHON CARD IS PRETTY COOL REGARDLESS OF ALL THAT . IT'S RARE WHEN THE SHOES ARE FRONT AND SENTER ON A CARD LIKE THIS

1999-00 BOWMAN'S BEST ANTAWN JAMISON BEST PERFORMERS INSERT

THIS DESIGN IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING, I WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED WHEN I FIGURED OUT IT WAS AN INSERT CARD. IMAGINE A WHOLE SET WITH THIS DESIGN! MAYBE FANATICS CAN RESURRECT IT WHEN THEY GOBBLE UP THE REST OF THE LICENSES FROM PANINI. ANTAWN JAMISON WAS A DANG GOOD PLAYER WHO JOINED THE ATLANTA HAWKS ONE-DAY LEGEND CLUB IN 2014 WHEN THE CLIPPERS TRADED HIM TO ATLANTA WHO IMEDIATELY WAIVED HIM

1993-94 SKYBOX ALONZO MOURNING AND SHAQUILLE O'NEAL SHOWDOWN SERIES INSERT

YEAH! SHAQ INSERT! WITH ZO! I BOUGHT THIS EXACT CARD LIKE SIX MONTHS AGO LOL. IT'S STILL COOL AS HELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE 1993 THAN THIS CARD

2001-02 TOPPS HERITAGE EDDIE JONES BLAST FROM THE PAST INSERT

YEAAAH MOAR INSERTS! I REALLY LIKED BASKETBALL HERITAGE AND BOUGHT AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT NO ONE ELSE LIKED IT SO IT DIES AS A BRAND PRETTY QUICKLY. NO BIG WONDER WHY WITH INSERTS LIKE THIS. EARLY 00S BASKETBALL COLLECTORS LIKED CURRENT PLAYERS AND JORDAN, AND WEREN'T TERRIBLY INSTERESTED IN HIPPIE 60S BULLSHIT. IT'S A SHAME BUT THEY DID DO SETS IN THE 1971-72 AND 72-73 DESIGNS WHICH WERE PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE 70S ANYWAY. EDDIE JONES WAS A DAMN GOOD PLAYER BUT JUST LIKE PENNY, STEPHON AND ANTAWN NO ONE CARES ANYMORE

JUST LIKE REAL PACKS, THESE WERE FUN TO OPEN AND HAD A BUNCH OF STUFF I DIDN'T REALLY NEED INSIDE. BUT FUN IS FUN AND FUN I HAD. I TOOK MY STUFF AND EXISTED THE BOARDROOM TO WRAP UP THE SHOW AT THE VINTAGE TABLE WHILE THE SLABBERS LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS A WEIRDO. THEY WERE RIGHT, OF COURSE

UP NEXT: THE GRAND FINALE AT THE GOOD VINTAGE TABLE