2024 WEEK IN REVIEW - THE REST OF FEBRUARY

 THIS WEEK MONTH HAS SUCKED AND I'M ALMOST A MONTH TWO MONTHS BEHIND NOW AND THESE POSTS GET INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT AS I PROCRASTINATE ON THEM SO WE'RE KNOCKING OUT THE REST OF FEBRUARY IN ONE SWELL FOOP AND I'LL GET TO MARCH HOPEFULLY BEFORE JUNE

COLLECTING STUFF I DONE DID

NOT MUCH! I SPENT A HOUR WRITING UP ALL THE STUFF I DID TO GET CARDS I NEEDED PUT AWAY ALL IN ONE BOX AND SHOWED OFF SOME COMPLETED PAGES BEFORE I REALIZED I HAD ALREADY POSTED THE SAME THING IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK(S) IN REVIEW. I'M SURE I DID SOMETHING, BOXES HAVE DEFINITELY MOVED QUITE A BOT IN THE PAST MONTH BUT NOTHING INTERESTING WITH FUN PICTURES. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH DIARY POSTS LIKE THIS WHEN YOU ARE PRONE TO HAVING STRUGGLE MONTHS

MOVIES I WATCHED LIKE SIX WEEKS AGO

I HAVEN'T BEEN WATCHING MANY MOVIES LATELY BECAUSE I'M WATCHING SOMETHING ELSE AT THE MOMENT BUT YOU'LL FIND OUT ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT POST. I GOT A COUPLE IN THOUGH

#24 IN A LONELY PLACE

WHEN I RUN ACROSS A HUMPHREY BOGART NOIR I HAVEN'T SEEN I GOTTA WATCH IT. BOGIE IS A DRUNK SCREENWRITER WHO IS ALSO A COLOSSAL PIECE OF SHIT THAT ENDS UP THE PRIME SUSPECT IN A MURDER CASE. HUMPHREY DOES HIMSELF NO FAVORS BY ACTING ERRATICALLY THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION. MEANWHILE GLORIA GRAHAME, BOGART'S NEIGHBOR AND ALIBI, INEXPLICABLY FALLS IN LOVE WITH HIM. WELL, PERHAPS NOT INEXPLICABLY. THE COMBINATION OF BOGIE'S CHARM AND PLOT NECESSITY IS A VERY STRONG ATTRACTOR. THIS MOVIE IS DARK AND DEPRESSING AND FUCKING FANTASTIC

#25 KILLERS FROM SPACE

THIS MOVIE IS NOT GOOD. ALIENS CRASH TO EARTH AND BRAINWASH PEOPLE SO THEY CAN VEEERRRRY SLOOOOOWWWLY TAKE OVER THE WORLD. A LOT OF NOTHING HAPPENS AND IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY UNWATCHABLE IF NOT FOR TWO THINGS: PETER GRAVES PETER GRAVING IT UP ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND THE ALIENS' LUDICROUS GOOGLY EYEBALLS. IT'S WORTH A WATCH JUST FOR THE GIGGLE FITS YOU'LL HAVE EVERY TIME EYEBALLS START FLOATING IN SPACE. I SAW THIS ONE ON BEWARE THEATER WHICH HAS A TON OF OLD MOVIES HOSTED BY ARACHNA OF THE SPIDER PEOPLE. IT'S GOOD CHEESY FUN

THE BEST CARD I BOUGHT THIS WEEK(S)

I HAVEN'T BOUGHT A PACK OF BASKETBALL CARDS IN OVER A YEAR SO I HAVE HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO PULL ANY KOBE BUFKIN CARDS. KOBE FINALLY GOT CALLED UP FROM THE G-LEAGUE AND PLAYED REALLY WELL UNTIL HE JOINED HALF THE TEAM ON THE INJURY LIST. RECENT BASKETBALL ROOKIE CARDS NOT NAMED VICTOR ARE SUPER CHEAP ON COMC AND I GOT THIS PRIZM CRACKED ICE RC BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOSTEST SHINY FOR THE LEASTEST BUCKS. I'M AT A CROSSROADS ON COMC NOW BECAUSE I HAVE EXACTLY ENOUGH IN THE ACCOUNT TO GET EVERYTHING SHIPPED WITHOUT ADDING MORE MONEY. I STILL HAVEN'T REQUESTED SHIPMENT OR ADDED MORE CARDS SO I MIGHT BE STUCK IN THIS PREDICAMENT FOR A WHILE

NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE BASEBALLCARDSTORE.CA RUNDOWN

WEEK 8 TOTALS BY CATEGORY:

WANTLIST CARDS FOR SETS: 7
BRAVES/HAWKS/DAWGS/ETC: 8
INSERT CARDS: 4
STAR/PC CARDS: 5
SHIIIIIINY CARDS: 4
ALLEN & GINTER: 3
ODDBALLS: 2
NON-SPORTS: 1
2024 TOPPS: 3

37 CARDS TOTAL THIS WEEK, I CALMED DOWN A BIT AFTER GETTING ALMOST 120 THE WEEK BEFORE. 

LOTS OF GOOD STUFF BUT THIS JEFF BAGWELL STUDIO INSERT IS PROBABLY THE BEST. A HALL OF FAME CARD WITH TEXTURED FOIL ON THE FRONT AND A SERIAL NUMBER ON THE BACK, EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT FROM AN 90'S INSERT

WEEK 9 TOTALS BY CATEGORY:

WANTLIST CARDS FOR SETS: 4
BRAVES/HAWKS/DAWGS/ETC: 3
INSERT CARDS: 10
STAR/PC CARDS: 4
ODDBALLS: 4
NON-SPORTS: 5
2024 TOPPS: 3

33 CARDS TOTAL. TIGHTENING MY BELT A BIT AS THE CHRISTMAS MONEY RAN OUT. MY PROCESS FOR PICKING UP CARDS ON THE SITE IS TO OPEN UP EVERYTHING THAT'S INTERESTING IN A NEW TAB, THEN PICK OUT THE BEST OF THE BUNCH. I END UP LEAVING BEHIND PROBABLY 50-75% OF THINGS THAT CATCH MY EYE ALTHOUGH SOME GET BOOKMARKED TO REVISIT AT A LATER DATE. HONESTLY THIS IS NOT ALL THAT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM HOW I ATTACK A DIME OR A QUARTER BOX

THIS WAS A REALLY TOUGH WEEK TO CHOOSE THE BEST CARD BUT I CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THIS 2000 PACIFIC CROWN COLLECTION LATINOS OF THE MAJOR LEAGUES INSERT OF JOSE CANSECO. PACIFIC WENT WILD WITH THE HOLOFOIL IN 2000 AS THERE ARE FIREWORKS DESIGNS AND THE NUMBER 2000 ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE SAME FOIL WAS USED ON 2000 PACIFIC REVOLUTION AS WELL IF I RECALL CORRECTLY. THESE INSERTS FELL TWO PER BOX SO THEY WEREN'T ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT TO PULL BUT PACIFIC CARDS IN GENERAL ARE SO HARD TO FIND THAT IT'S WONDERFUL TO GET ANY OF THEM

I ALSO RECEIVED ANOTHER PACKAGE OF THESE CARDS WHICH INCLUDED SOME CARDS I PICKED UP FROM WEEK 8! LET'S SHOW THEM OFF NOW INSTEAD OF IN NOVEMBER WHEN I CATCH UP ON ALL THESE POSTS

1999 TOPPS TEK JASON KENDALL, TRAVIS LEE, BEN GRIEVE

CATEGORY - WANTLIST, SHINY

TEK CARDS GO FAST ON THE SITE AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET THREE CARDS I DIDN'T HAVE PLUS ONE PATTERN I NEEDED. I'M GETTING CLOSE TO REACHING A POINT WHERE I SHOULD PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND PUT ALL THESE THINGS IN A BINDER BUT I'LL HAVE TO EVICT SOME OTHER SET TO RECLAIM THE PAGES IN ORDER TO DO SO. I LEFT BEHIND A COUPLE OF TEK CARDS THAT I ALREADY HAD TO IF YOU LOOK BACK AROUND THE M700S YOU MIGHT FIND ONE

1979 TOPPS DOCK ELLIS

CATEGORY - HELL YEAH

THIS CARD IS A BIT ICONIC TO ME THANKS TO GRITZ'S TWITTER ICON. I DON'T THINK ELON LETS YOU ON THE SITE ANYMORE WITHOUT PAYING HIM SO HERE'S A SCREENSHOT

I DON'T HAVE THIS IN MY BOX OF DOUBLES SO THIS WAS AN AUTOMATIC PICKUP

1977 TOPPS ROB ANDREWS

 CATEGORY - WANTLIST

THE FIRST 1977 TOPPS CARD I'VE PICKED UP THIS YEAR! I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PICK UP MY PACE IF I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO COMPLETE THIS SET IN 2024 BUT I'LL STILL CONSIDER IT A WIN IF I SIGNIFICANTLY CHOP DOWN THE WANT LIST ONCE I'M ABLE TO HIT THE LCS AND A CARD SHOW

1988 FLEER STICKERS WADE BOGGS

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

WHEN I MENTIONED I BOOKMARK A LOT OF CARDS, MOST ARE COMMONS FROM SET WANTLISTS THAT GET PUSHED ASIDE WHILE I GET DAZZLED BY INSERTS AND ODDBALLS. A HALL OF FAMER FROM AN ODDBALLISH SET DOES GET PUT IN THE CART FAIRLY REGULARLY. I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS STICKER BORDER DESIGN. COLORFUL STARS ON THE GRAYEST GRAY JUST LOOKS... ODD

1982 CRACKER JACK TONY OLIVA

CATEGORY - ODDBALL

I SAW THE FULL UNCUT PAGES OF THIS CRACKERJACK SET AT THE LCS WELL OVER A DECADE AGO BUT THEY WEREN'T PRICED AND I DIDN'T ASK HOW MUCH THEY WERE. THE NEXT TIME I WENT BACK THEY WERE GONE AND I HAD DEEP REGRETS. A HANDFUL OF CUT CARDS POPPED UP ON THE SITE AND I SNAGGED THIS ONE OF NEWLY MINTED HALL OF FAMER TONY OLIVA. THIS BORDER IS SO WILD, ELEMENTS FROM 1976, 1978 AND 1979 TOPPS COMBINED WITH ACTUAL CRACKER JACKS. I LOVE IT

1995 FLEER JOE MONTANA

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

ONE OF THE NON-PHOTOGENIC THINGS I DID LAST MONTH WAS GET A BUNCH OF WANTLISTS PUT TOGETHER INCLUDING A MASTER LIST OF 1995 FLEER. HOCKEY, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL. THERE ARE 1,600 1995 FLEER BASE CARDS AND I HAVE 1,263 OF THEM. THESE DESIGNS CAUSE MUCH EYE-BLEEDING AMONGST COLLECTORS BUT I LOVE THEM ALL. I HAVE A MUCH LOWER PERCENTAGE OF THE INSERTS BUT I'M FAIRLY CLOSE ON COMPLETING THE FULL HOCKEY AND FOOTBALL RUNS. I'M HONESTLY UNSURE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY FOOTBALL SET BECAUSE I HAVE A TON OF INSERTS BUT BARELY OVER HALF THE BASE SET. EITHER I MISPLACED A BOX SOMEWHERE OR I GOT SOME TERRIBLE COLLATION. JOE MONTANA WAS A PRETTY EASY PICKUP TOP ADD TO THE SET

BONUS PODCAST RECOMMENDATION

THE FIRST ONE OF THESE POSTS HAD BOOKS AND MUSIC AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF BUT LATELY IT'S BEEN CARDS AND MOVIES ONLY, SO HERE'S A NICE PODCAST I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO. BIG QUESTIONS WITH THE DEAD MILKMEN IS A MOSTLY WEEKLY PODCAST BY THE MEMBERS OF THE DEAD MILKMEN WITH OCCASIONAL BREAKS WHEN THEY TOUR OR ARE IN THE STUDIO MAKING NEW MUSIC. YES, THE 'PUNK ROCK GIRL' GUYS ARE STILL MAKING MUSIC. THE FORMAT IS EACH WEEK THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND ANSWER AN IMPORTANT QUESTION IN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR WAY. IT'S VERY FUNNY AND PRETTY INTERESTING WHEN THEY DIG INTO THE INS AND OUTS OF MUSIC MAKING. HERE'S A SAMPLE EPISODE WHICH MAY BE THE WORST OR POSSIBLY THE BEST EPISODE TO START OFF WITH. IT'S PRETTY FUNNY EITHER WAY. "THE GREATEST PUNK SONG IN THE HISTORY OF FOREVER"

I AGREE WITH DEAN, BY THE WAY. THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN ANOTHER SEMI-HIATUS PERIOD BUT THERE'S OVER 200 EPISODES TO WATCH/LISTEN TO AND CAN BE WATCHED IN ANY ORDER YOU PLEASE. GOOD STUFF IF YOU'RE A FAN OR JUST LIKE MUSIC

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 8: A PIECE OF CAKE

WE HAVE AN ODDBALL FOOD ISSUE SET COMPLETER TODAY. THE WHOLE SET IS WAITING FOR YOU SO LET'S GET GOING ALREADY

1982 DRAKE'S DAVE WINFIELD

DRAKES! THE FIRST ODDBALL I WAS ACQUAINTED WITH. THE 1981 VERSION, NOT THESE. I DON'T THINK EVER CAME ACROSS THESE WHEN I WAS A KID, AT LEAST I DON'T REMEMBER THE YELLOW BORDERED CARDS AS MUCH AT THOSE RED AND BLUE FRAMES FROM 1981. WHILE THIS SET MISSED ME IN MY YOUTH, I BOUGHT A BULK BOX FROM THE LCS (MAYBE THE FIRST TIME I DID SO, NOW THAT I THINK OF IT) THAT HAD A TON OF OLD ODDBALL SETS INCLUDING A BUNCH OF DRAKE'S. MOST WERE FROM 1981-84 AND I HAD CHIPPED AWAY ON THE WANTLISTS UNTIL DAVE HERE WAS THE SET CLOSER. THE 81 SET MEANS MORE TO ME BUT MY GOAL WAS TO COMPLETE AS MANY SETS IN THIS BINGE AS POSSIBLE SO I DID

I STILL FIND PLAIN OL' TOPPS BACKS ON RANDOM ODDBALL SETS TO BE INCREDIBLY CHARMING. I ALSO LIKE WHEN THE LAST CARD NEEDED FOR A SET IS A STAR. I STILL NEED GEORGE HENDRICK FOR THE 81 AND 83 SETS AND THERE AIN'T NO GEORGE HENDRICK BOX AT YOUR LOCAL SHOP UNLESS IT'S A SHOP IN ST. LOUIS THAT'S BEEN OPEN 40 YEARS. DAVE WINFIELD'S A STAR, HE'S IN THE STAR BOXES. THIS PARTICULAR CARD WASN'T AT MY LCS BUT I KNOW I'VE PICKED UP OTHER COOL WINFIELDS DIGGING THRU THE BOX. HERE'S THE WHOLE SHEBANG FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE, ENJOY THAT CLASSIC RED AND GREEN ON THE BORDERS TO DIFFERENTIATE THE LEAGUES

UP NEXT:: THE FIRST MINI CARD

BIRTHDAY BOOLSHEET BLASTAR - PART 19: 50 CENT REJECTS - J

 TIME FOR MORE ABANDONED CHEAP-BUT-NOT-QUITE-DIME-BOX-CHEAP CARDS. THIS TIME WE'VE GOT PLAYERS FROM THE J SECTION OF THE BOX. THERE WEREN'T AS MANY OF THESE AS I EXPECTED, NAMES STARTING WITH J ARE PRETTY COMMON

ONE OF THE REASONS I HAVE SO MUCH 1992 DONRUSS TRIPLE PLAY CARDS (BUT STILL NO COMPLETE SET, GRUMBLE GRUMBLE) IS BECAUSE THE JUMBO PACKS HAD ONE OF THESE DIAMOND KING SPINOFF CARDS PER PACK. THESE LOOKED REALLY GOOD IN 1992 AND WERE SUPER EASY TO GET AT ONE IN SIX PACKS FOR A SMALLISH TWELVE CARD SET. WALLY JOYNER WAS A FAVE OF MINE SINCE HE WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL NEAR WHERE I GREW UP AND EVENTUALLY PLAYED A SEASON AT FIRST BASE FOR THE BRAVES. I NEVER COMPLETED THE GALLERY OF STARS SET EITHER DESPITE ALL THOSE PACKS I RIPPED AND ALREADY HAVE TWO OR THREE WALLYS. THAT'S HOW JUNK BOXES WILL DO YOU SOMETIMES

DAVID JUSTICE CARDS GETTING PURGED BY A CARD SHOP IN ATLANTA IS A LITTLE ODD, BUT NOT WHEN HE'S IN A CLEVELAND UNIFORM. I REMEMBER LOOKING UP TRADE DETAILS ON A COMPUTER IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AT MY UNIVERSITY WHEN A BUDDY OF MINE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WHILE WE WERE DEALING WITH SOME SORT OF COLLEGE PAPERWORK. I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED TO USE THE COMPUTER BUT WE DIDN'T GET BUSTED AND I WAS SAD WHEN I FOUND OUT MARQUIS GRISSOM GOT TRADED TOO. I THINK I ACTUALLY NEEDED THIS CARD FOR MY LEAF SET WHICH MAKES UP FOR THE SAD MEMORIES

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS CARD WAS MIXED UP WITH THE REST OF THE PLAYERS WHOSE NAMES START WITH J? I GUESS IT WAS MIXED IN WITH THE RANDY JOHNSON CARDS BUT RANDY IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN ON THIS CARD. HE WAS WEARING A JACKET DURING THE CELEBRATION. MAYBE SOMEONE FIGURED THAT OUT AND GAVE IT THE BOOT. I DOUBT THERE'S A HUGE MARKET FOR A SUBSET CARD FROM THE UPDATE SERIES OF A COMPLETELY DEFUNCT RETRO-STYLE SET

AHH, HERE'S AN ACTUAL RANDY JOHNSON CARD. YOU ALL ARE CHASING HIS 1989 CARD WITH THE MARLBORO AD BUT HERE'S A CARD FROM 1983! DIDN'T KNOW RANDY WAS ORIGINALLY AN OUTFIELDER ADN ABOUT A FOOT SHORTER DIDJA. OK, SO IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RANDY JOHNSON BUT YOU ONLY NEED TO FOOL ONE COLLECTOR TO GET THAT SWEET, SWEET FIFTY CENTS

ADAM JONES OFFICIALLY RETIRED LAST YEAR WHICH MADE ME A FEEL A LITTLE SAD AND A LOT OLD. I LIKED SEEING HIM PLAY AND WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE PHOTO OF HIS INSANE CATCH IN THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC THAT LOOKED LIKE A RENAISSANCE PAINTING WITH ALL THE FANS IN THE BACKGROUND. THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING CARD BUT THE DESIGN REALLY HITS HOME JUST HOW MUCH HEAVY LIFTING THE RED STRIPES WERE DOING IN THE ORIGINAL 1985 DONRUSS DESIGN

GREGG JEFFERIES ROOKIE CUP!!! TOPPS WITH THE DEFINITIVE JEFFERIES ROOKIE CARD. TWO YEARS AFTER EVERY OTHER BRAND PUT HIM IN THEIR BASE SET. AND A YEAR AFTER TOPPS' OWN GREGG JEFFERIES FUTURE STARS CARD. NOT TO MENTION BOWMAN. STILL, ROOKIE CUPS ARE RAD. NOT FIFTY CENTS FOR A 1990 TOPPS CARD RAD BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOT INTO THE JUNK BOX

WHILE THERE WEREN'T MANY PLAYERS WHOSE NAMES START WITH J IN THIS PILE THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WAS A SMALL PILE OF CARDS. EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BLAZING SADDLES REFERENCE HOWARD JOHNSON WAS REPRESENTED QUITE WELL IN THE BOX. FROM TRASH (1987 TOPPS, 1991 FLEER) TO HIGH END CLASSY STUFF (STADIUM CLUB, LEAF, 1989 UPPER DECK) TO ODDBALL (1987 DONRUSS UHHH THE ROOKIES? OPENING DAY ROSTERS? WHICH IS THE BLUE BORDER ONE). DECENT STUFF. BUT THAT'S NOT THE BEST STUFF

DENNY'S HOLOGRAM FOR THE WIN! THIS ONE IS FROM THE INAUGURAL 1991 SET AND IS SO SHINY I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITHOUT AN UNINTENTIONAL HAND SELFIE. THESE EARLY HOLOGRAM CARDS ARE UNDERRATED IN MY OPINION AND I ENJOY PICKING THEM UP WHEN I CAN. I DIDN'T DISCOVER DENNY'S EVEN HAD A BASEBALL CARD PROMOTION UNTIL ABOUT 1995 SO THERE AREN'T MANY CARDS FROM THESE THESE EARLY SETS IN MY COLLECTION. LITTLE GEMS LIKE THESE ARE WHY I KEEP BUYING BOXES OF JUNK

2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 6: MOAR CHAOS

OOPS! TWO WEEK HIATUS DUE TO RUNNING OUT OF BUFFER DRAFT POSTS AND AN UNEXPECTED CASE THE OF BRAINSNAKES. I NEED A NICE, EASY CHAOS POST TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING GETS POSTED THIS WEEK. HOORAY! HERE'S THAT POST!

2019 TOPPS CHROME JOSH ROGERS AUTOGRAPH

CATEGORY - IT'S A FRIGGIN ON CARD AUTOGRAPH

CHROME ON CARD AUTOGRAPH ON THE FREE CARD SITE? YEP! THERE'S QUITE A FEW AUTOS ON THERE, MOST ARE UNCERTIFIED ON JUNKWAX CARDS OR FROM 90S DRAFT PICK SETS BUT THERE'S SOME NEWER ONES ON THERE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THERE'S A DOLLAR BOX OPTION. THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING SIGNATURE ON A GOOD LOOKING DESIGN SO I NABBED IT AS SOON AS I SAW IT. ROGERS IS CURRENTLY IN THE ROCKIES ORGANIZATION AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF HE'LL END UP ON THE OPENING DAY ROSTER. THE CARD IS PRETTY AS HELL THOUGH

1996 TOPPS JUAN GONZALEZ HOBBY MASTERS INSERT

CATEGORY - INSERT, SHINY

POOR TOPPS WAS LEFT AT THE STARTING GATE IN THE INSERTS BOOM OF THE EARLY 90S BUT THEY CAUGHT UP WITH SOME EXTRA SHINY NONSENSE AFTER '96. HOLOFOIL WITH CRAZY PATTERNS WAS TOPPS' M.O. IN THE LATE 90S AND YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE MORE EXAMPLES IN THIS POST. THESE HOBBY MASTERS CARDS LEFT A REAL IMPRESSION WHEN YOU PULLED ONE IN 1997. I WOULDN'T KNOW, I SOMEHOW DIDN'T RIP ANY TOPPS BASEBALL IN 1997 (PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS BUYING A TON OF THE STAR WARS CCG INSTEAD) AND THESE WERE ONLY FOUND IN HOBBY PACKS

SPORTKINGS VOL. 3 RICHARD PETTY, BLACK CAVIAR

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR, HORSIE

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY I'M DOING BUYING ALL THESE RICHARD PETTY CARDS SINCE I DON'T REALLY COLLECT RACING CARDS BUT C'MON, LOOK AT THISONE. IT'S FANTASTIC. I THINK I MIGHT FILL UP A PAGE FULL OF PETTYS FOR A CHAOS BINDER AND THEN CUT MYSELF OFF. UNTIL I FIND ANOTHER COOL LOOKING ONE

HORSIES I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING. GIMME HORSIE CARDS. I ALMOST BOUGHT THIS ONE TWICE BUT LUCKILY I HAD THIS DRAFT POST UP AND REMEMBERED I HAD IT. I DON'T KNOW WHO BLACK CAVIAR IS BUT I'M GUESSING THEY WON A RACE OR PERHAPS MULTIPLE RACES. DOESN'T MATTER, THEY'RE A GOOD HORSIE

2022 ALLEN & GINTER FRANKIE MONTAS, VICTOR ROBLES SPs

CATEGORY - ALLEN & GINTER

I LOVE ALLEN & GINTER AND HAVE THE COMPLETE SET RUN FROM 2006-2013 BUT SINCE I'VE STOPPED BEING ABLE TO BUY UP A BUNCH OF BLASTERS OF THE STUFF I'VE HAD A BIT OF A COLLECTING CRISIS. I CAN'T COMPLETE SETS ANYMORE (ESPECIALLY NOW THAT CHEAP BASE HAS DISAPPEARED FROM MY LOCAL DIME BOXES) BUT I STILL LOVE THE SET. RECENTLY I HAVE DECIDED THAT I DON'T NEED TO COMPLETE ALL THESE SETS FILLED WITH BORING ROOKIES AND DUBIOUS NON-SPORTS SUBJECTS AND CAN JUST BUILD UP A LITTLE PILE OF CARDS I ACTUALLY LIKE. I LIKE SHORT PRINTS. I ESPECIALLY LIKE ALLEN & GINTER SHORT PRINTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T COST A FEW BUCKS EACH LIKE HERITAGE SHORT PRINTS. OR A LOT OF BUCKS EACH LIKE TOPPS BASE SHORT PRINTS. REMEMBER ALL THOSE CHRONICLES POSTS? GET READY FOR A FEW ALLEN & GINTER POSTS LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE

2022 QYPSY GUEEN MOOKIE BETTS

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I GOT REAL MAD AT MOOKIE FOR TRYING TO STEAL RONALD'S MVP LAST YEAR BUT ALL IS FORGIVEN NOW. GYPSY QUEEN SEEMS TO BE A DEAD SET NOW BUT I LIKE THE DEBUT SET THAT WAS BASED ON THE 19TH CENTURY TOBACCO CARDS AND THE RECENT SETS THAT WENT ART DECO. THIS VAGUELY STEAMPUNK TICKET DISPENSER DESIGN IS ALSO A PRETTY NEAT ONE. IT'S UNIQUE AT LEAST! IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING THIS BRAND RAN ITS COURSE BEFORE WE STARTED GETTING CARDS BASED ON 40S AND 50S DESIGNS. I'M NOT READY FOR ANOTHER TIKI BAR THEMED SET

2000 TOPPS MIKE PIAZZA POWER PLAYERS INSERT

CATEGORY - INSERT

2000 WAS THE PINNACLE OF TOPPS' WILD HOLOFOIL INSERTS. THERE WERE FIVE DIFFERENT SHINY SETS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN SPEACIAL THEMED PATTERNS THAT ALL STARTED TO BLUR TOGETHER. AND THE OWN THE GAME INSERT HAD TWO DIFFERENT DESIGNS FOR SOME REASON! THEY'RE ALL VERY PRETTY BUT AS SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY SORTED ALL THEIR TOPPS INSERTS I GOTTA ADMIT THEY ALL MAKE YOUR EYES GO CROSSED AFTER A WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE GOES TO WHAT SET. WHEN YOU SEE ONE CARD BY ITSELF LIKE THIS ONE WHERE MIKE PIAZZA MUSHED A BASEBALL SO HARD IT CREATED RAINBOW SHOCKWAVES IT'S A VERY ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE

2000 TOPPS JEFF BAGWELL PERENNIAL ALL-STARS INSERT

CATEGORY - INSERT

SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THESE 2000 INSERTS? PERENNIAL ALL-STAR BAGWELL IS OBVIOUSLY SMACKING A BASEBALL SO HARD HE'S CAUSED THE SUN TO SUPERNOVA. IT LOOKS NOTHING LIKE PIAZZA'S SHOCKWAVE SPLAT. BUT GET A BIG MIXED UP PILE OF THESE THINGS IN YOUR HANDS AND IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THE HUMAN MIND TO COMPREHEND. TOPPS PIVOTED FULLY TOWARD THE RETRO REPRINTS AND RELIC CARDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND CUT WAY BACK ON THE HOLOFOIL. OWN THE GAME KEPT THE WILD PATTERNS GOING UNTIL THEY BECAUSE BORING FLAT HOLOFOIL IN 2007 BUT THESE 2000 INSERTS DESERVED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE HIGH WATER MARK. ONE DAY I'D LIKE TO COMPLETE ALL OF THESE AND PUT THEM IN A BINDER AND GAZE UPON THEM AND BE DAZZLED TO INSANITY

1992 ECLIPSE TRUE CRIME JACK THE RIPPER

CATEGORY - LEGEND, MONSTER

I HAVE A WEIRD RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUE CRIME, I'VE BEEN A BIT OBSESSED WITH IT SINCE I WAS A KID AND WATCHED TOO MANY SCARY DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT CRIME AT TOO YOUNG AN AGE. BUT UNLIKE HORROR MOVIES WHICH ARE ALL FAKE WHEN I CHECK OUT TRUE CRIME STUFF I EVENTUALLY REALIZE THEY ARE ABOUT REAL PEOPLE WHO HAD TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM AND IT MAKES ME SAD. I BOUGHT A FEW PACKS OF THIS STUFF AT THE FLEA MARKET AND WANTED TO BUILD IT UNTIL I READ THE BACKS AND REALIZED THAT HALF THE CARDS WERE PEOPLE WHO DID HORRIBLE THINGS TO PEOPLE AND THE OTHER HALF WERE THE PEOPLE WHO GOT HORRIBLED AND IT ONCE AGAIN BUMMED ME OUT. HOWEVER. JACK THE RIPPER IS A TRUE LEGEND. TONS OF MOVIES, BOOKS AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE GRAPHIC NOVELS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THIS GUY.  PLUS THE FIRST DOCUMENTARY ON SERIAL KILLERS THAT I WATCHED WHEN I WAS A KID THAT SCARED THE LIVING PISS OUT OF ME AND GOT ME ON THIS CRIME KICK IN THE FIRST PLACE PROMINENTLY FEATURED JACK'S DEEDS. YES, MR. THE RIPPER WAS AN ACTUAL PERSON WHO DID AWFUL THINGS TO REAL PEOPLE BUT THANKS TO INCOMPETENT COPS AND GREEDY JOURNALISTS HE BECAME ELEVATED TO A MYTICAL MONSTER. AND THAT'S WHY THIS CARD NOW LIVES IN MY MONSTER CARD BINDER. I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED ANY MORE CARS FROM THIS SET BUT THE ZODIAC KILLER WAS THE OTHER GUY FROM THAT DOCUMENTARY THAT SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME AND A LANA TURNER CARD WOULD BE REALLY COOL EVEN IF THE STORY BEHIND IT IS EXTREMELY NOT 

1998 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED BARRY LARKIN

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I JUST TYPED OUT LARRY BARKIN AND GIGGLED FOR A MINUTE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MY CURRENT STATE OF MIND. I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES ALREADY BUT WHAT THE HELL, LET'S SAY IT AGAIN. I REALLY LIKE THE FLEER SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CARDS AND I WILL NEVER EVER BUILD ANY OF THE SETS. I WILL ABSOLUTELY PICK OFF RANDOM STARS THAT LOOK GOOD THOUGH AND THIS LARKIN LOOKS GOOD. COLLECTING BY PURE VIBES IS NOT GREAT FOR ORGANIZATION BUT IT'S A HELLUVA LOT OF FUN

1996 SCOREBOARD ALL SPORT PPF VLADIMIR GUERRERO

CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

SCOREBOARD ALL-SPORT PPF WAS A PRETTY WILD MULTI-SPORT SET WITH A FANTASTIC CHECKLIST FULL OF STARS AND ROOKIES FROM ALL FOUR MAJOR SPORTS INCLUDING ONE OF KOBE BRYANT'S FIRST CARDS. THESE WERE DONE PANINI STYLE WITH MAJOR LEAGUE LOGOS AIRBRUSHED OUT OF THE STARS AND THE ROOKIES IN MINOR LEAGUE OR COLLEGE UNIS. I BOUGHT A FEW PACKS CHASING THE ONE 'VINTAGE' CARD PER BOX BUT ONLY GOT BASE AND A FEW (ADMITTEDLY NICE LOOKING) INSERT CARDS. THIS VLADDY IN AN ALBANY POLECATS UNIFORM REALLY GRABBED ME. MAYBE IT'S THOSE SILVER UNIFORM NUMBERS, MAYBE IT'S HOW HAPPY VLAD SEEMS TO ME, MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE PANINI'S AIRBRUSH ARTISTS PUT VLAD INTO A WHITE SOX UNIFORM. AT ANY RATE, IT HAD THOSE GOOD GOOD VIBES AND I PICKED IT UP. HOPEFULLY I DDON'T FIND IT AGAIN IF I EVER LOOK THROUGH MY MINOR LEAGUE BOX AGAIN LOL

2014 TOPPS HANK AARON UPPER CLASS INSERT

CATEGORY - BRAVES, INSERT

I STILL HAVEN'T GOT MY TOPPS INSERTS AFTER 2010 CATALOGUED YET SO THERE'S AN EXTREMELY HIGH CHANCE I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY. WHO CARES, AARON INSERT. YOU WOULDA BOUGHT IT HAD YOU GOT THERE FIRST, DON'T LIE

1998 SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS FRED MCGRIFF NAME PLATES SUBSET

CATEGORY - BRAVESISH, CRIME DOG

SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS IS AS WEIRD A SET AS IT IS TO SEE FRED IN A DEVIL RAYS UNIFORM. NICKNAME CARDS ARE COOL AND LICENSE PLATE CARDS ARE NEAT SO WHY THE HELL NOT? THIS IS ANOTHER CARD THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IS ALREADY IN A FLEER ODDBALL BOX AND ONCE AGAIN I WAS PREVENTED FROM BUYING IT TWICE BY THIS POST. STILL, IT'S GOT THEM GOOD GOOD VIBES EVEN IF THE GREEN AND PURPLE IS A BIT OF AN EYESORE

2022 BOWMAN U KELEE RINGO REFRACTOR

CATEGORY - GEORGIA BULLDOGS, LEGEND

AS A LONG SUFFERING GEORGIA SPORTS FAN THERE ARE FIVE MOMENTS OF JOY PERMANANTLY ETECHED IN MY BRAIN:

SID SLID
GRISSOM CATCHING THE FINAL OUT IN 1995
TRAE SHUSHING MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
JORGE SOLER MASHING A HOME RUN OVER THE TRAIN
KELEE RINGO'S INTERCEPTION

A SHINY BOWMAN U CARD OF THE GUY WHO MADE KIRBY SMART JUMP FOUR FEET IN THE AIR WAS A NO-BRAINER EVEN THOUGH IT'S PRINGLED LIKE A 2010 CHROME CARD AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTO. THE TOP LOADER IT'S IN NOW SOLVES THAT AND THE CARD LOOKS GREAT

UP NEXT: WHO KNOWS? PROBABLY MORE VIBES

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 7: GLORIOUS GLOSSIES

RACK PACK GLOSSY  ALL-STARS WERE THE FIRST REAL INSERT CARDS I PULLED FROM PACKS AND I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH THEM FOR A WHILE. I GUESS DONRUSS PUZZLE PIECES AND STICKER CARDS WERE TECHNICALLY THE VERY FIRST INSERTS I CAME ACROSS BUT THOSE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE INSERTS. THESE WERE THE FIRST CARDS I CAME ACROSS THAT HAD THAT SPECIAL SHINY FEEL.  I FOUND THE TOUGH 1991 MAIL-IN GLOSSY  ALL STAR SET AT AN ANTIQUE MALL LAST YEAR SO I AM NOW IN THE STRETCH RUN ON COMPLETING THE ENTIRE SERIES. HERE'S TWO MORE SETS CHECKED OFF THE LIST

1985 TOPPS CAL RIPKEN JR. GLOSSY ALL STAR

OLD FRIEND CAL RIPKEN JR. I ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT PETE ROSE AND NOLAN RYAN BEING THE LAST GUYS I NEED FOR EVERY SET BUT CAL HAS BEEN THE STRAGGLER IS A WHOLE BUNCHA SETS I'VE TRIED TO COMPLETE. I GUESS I DON'T MIND PICKING UP CALS BECAUSE 80S SUPERSTAR CARDS ARE WAY CHEAPER THAN 70S SUPERSTAR CARDS. PLUS I WOULDN'T GO AS FAR AS TO SAY HE SAVED BASEBALL IN 1995 BUT THAT STREAK CHASE SURE DID HELP A LOT

TWO SIMPLE COLORS. THESE BACKS ARE SO SIMPLE AND SO COMFORTING. I MISS HAVING A SIMPLE INSERT YOU COULD COUNT ON YEAR AFTER YEAR

I HAVE THESE SETS IN A BINDER AND PUT IN THE NEXT SET RIGHT AFTER THE PREVIOUS ONE SO I DON'T WASTE FIVE POCKETS PER SET SO YOU SEE CARD NUMBER ONE OF THE 1986 SET IN THE COMPLETED PAGE PIC. REGGIE IN THE CENTER SQUARE IS MY FAVORITE ON THIS PAGE BUT I APPRECIATE THE ALL-STAR CARD OF CHET LEMON WHO IS SUPER UNDERRATED. HIS STATS AREN'T FLASHY BUT HE WAS A GREAT HITTER IN AN ERA WHEN THOSE WERE SCARCE

1988 TOPPS DARRYL STRAWBERRY GLOSSY ALL-STAR

I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED THAT A DARRYL STRAWBERRY AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER IS THE SET CAPPER FOR THE 1988 GLOSSIES. I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF RACK PACKS IN 1988 BUT BACK THEN I BOUGHT PACKS ON VIBES, NOT SET BUILDING SO I NEVER PICKED UP THE STRAWMAN. IF I HOPPED IN THE TIME TRAVEL DEVICE AND WENT BACK TO MCCRORY'S TO BUY SOME PACKS YOU BET I WOULD BE LEAVING WITH 22 RACKS AND A COMPLETE SET, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT HOW I DID THINGS BACK THEN. THIS IS ASSUMING STRAWBERRY WAS EVEN AVAILABLE, PEOPLE SCOOPING UP ALL THE GOOD PACKS OUT OF RETAIL IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON

YEAH, THIS BACK IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RIPKEN BACK EXCEPT FOR SOME OF THE EXT BUT IT'S JUST SO PRETTY. I'D GET THIS AS A TATTOO IF I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT PLAYER TO GET

(IT'S REGGIE, I'D GET REGGIE)

ONCE AGAIN WE GET A MANAGER AND THIS COMPLETE PAGE'S UNDERRATED ALL-STAR IS JACK CLARK. ANOTHER GUY WHO PLAYED IN THE 70S WHO DIDN'T HAVE EYE-POPPING STATS OTHER THAN HIS 35 HOMER SEASON IN 87 BUT WAS WAY BETTER THAN WE REMEMBER. HERE'S A FUN GAME: RANK CHET LEMON, JACK CLARK AND DARRYL STRAWBERRY BY WAR AND THEN GO CHECK THEIR STATS AND SEE HOW YOU DID. 

I NOW AM DOWN TO NEEDING FIVE CARDS TO COMPLETE THE RUN AND THE ONLY HALL OF FAMER IS KIRBY PUCKETT. NO WAIT, TED SIMMONS IS IN THE HALL NOW TOO. TEDDY HIGUERA IS NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME, I'M SURE OF THAT. I COULD KNOCK THEM ALL OUT CHEAP ONLINE RIGHT NOW BUT I STILL HAVE A DREAM OF FINDING A RACK PACK WITH A CARD I NEED ON THE FRONT. YOU CAN'T GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!

2023 COMC BINGE - PART 6: FULL DECK

WE'RE ON THE SECOND BATCH OF COMC PICKUPS NOW WHERE WE HAVE STUFF I WANTED TO TARGET BUT WASN'T QUITE SOMETHING THAT I WAS GOING TO INSTA-BUY THE MOMENT THE SALE STARTED. THE FIRST HALF OF THIS BATCH WERE SET-COMPLETING CARDS FOR INSERTS AND SOME SMALLER ODDBALL SETS. TODAY'S CARD HAD ELUDED ME FOR THIRTY YEARS

1993 UPPER DECK CECIL FIELDER ON DECK

I'VE BEEN SLOWLY WORKING ON MY 1993 UPPER DECK INSERTS COLLECTION FOR A WHILE NOW AND HAD MANAGED TO COMPLETE FOUR OF THE SETS BY THE TIME OF THE SALE. I KNOCKED OUT THE THEN AND NOW SET LAST YEAR AND WAS FOCUSED ON ANOTHER WITH ONE CARD LEFT. THE ON DECK INSERT SET WAS FOUND ONE PER PACK IN SERIES TWO JUMBO PACKS. I RIPPED ENOUGH OF THAT STUFF TO GET A TON OF THESE CARDS AND THEY ARE STILL PRETTY EASY TO FIND SO I WAS ABLE TO PICK OUT ONES I NEEDED OUT OF QUARTER AND FIFTY CENT BOXES. THE CECIL FIELDER CARD DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYWHERE THOUGH. IT WASN'T IN CHEAPO BOXES AND THERE AREN'T MANY CECIL FIELDER SECTIONS IN STAR BOXES. I'M SURE THERE'S A BUNCH ON EBAY BUT I HAVEN'T USED THAT SITE IN FIFTEEN YEARS. COMC HAD ONE FOR FIFTY CENTS AND I NABBED IT

THE GIMMICK WITH THIS SET WAS THE PERSONAL QUESTIONS TO THE PLAYER ON THE BACK LIKE YOU'D SEE ON SETS LIKE STUDIO AND TRIPLE PLAY. CECIL'S ANSWERS ARE PRETTY GENERIC BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CONTROVERSY ON THE BACK OF THESE CARDS. THE GREATEST PERSONAL INFLUENCE ANSWER ON EVERY CARD IS FAMILY MEMBERS WITH PARENTS AND WIFE AS THE TOP TWO ANSWERS AND A MENTION OF A BROTHER AND GRANDMOTHER ON A COUPLE CARDS. CECIL IS ONE OF THE MOST RESERVED PLAYERS AS HIS ANSWERS ARE VERY SHORT AND TO THE POINT. ROGER CLEMENS, GRIFFEY JUNIOR AND CHIPPER JONES' ANSWERS FILLED UP THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE CARD. THERE'S NOT MUCH CONTRVERSIAL ON THE BACKS EITHER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALBERT BELLE SEEMINGLY WANTING TO PLAY ANY SPORT OTHER THAN BASEBALL, A PROTO-TEA PARTY RANT FROM ANDY VAN SLYKE AND JOSE CANSECO STATING THAT IF HE WASN'T PLAYING BASEBALL HE'D PROBABLY BE AN ALIEN. THAT'S HONESTLY SOME EXTREME SELF-AWARENESS FROM JOSE. I ONLY TOOK PICTURES OF THE FRONT BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO READ THE TEXT FROM MY SHAKYPHONE PICTURES SO CHECK OUT ALL THE ANSWERS ON TCDB. HERE'S MY COMPLETE SET WITH A COUPLE CAMEOS FROM HOMERUN HEROES