2023 COMC BINGE - PART 5 SOME SEVENTY-ONES

AS I MENTIONED IN THE RAMBLING PREAMBLE TO THIS SERIES, THE LAST COUPLE CARDS I PICKED UP IN THE FIRST MORNING BATCH OF THE BINGE WERE THINGS I WASN'T PLANNING ON LOOKING FOR WHEN I STARTED. THAT ROTTEN PETE ROSE CARD WAS TORMENTING ME ALL DAY AND BY THE TIME I HAD DECIDED TO BITE THE BULLET AND BUY IT FOR FOUR BUCKS TO COMPLETE THE SET, THAT CARD WAS GONE. GRRR! I'M NOT PAYING $4.50! I SWITCHED GEARS IN A RAGE AND STARTED SEARCHING THE 1971 CARDS INSTEAD. EVERYONE LOVES 1971 CARDS! that's why they're so expensive

1971 TOPPS STEVE CARLTON

SINCE I'M NOW GETTING VERY CLOSE ON COMPLETING ALL THE SINGLE SERIES SETS FROM 1974 ONWARDS I'M STARTING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LOOKING AT FINISHING UP JUST ONE SERIES OUT OF ALL THE MOSTLY IMPOSSIBLE SETS 1973 AND BEFORE. REAL TALK HERE, I'M NEVER COMPLETING ANY OF THOSE SETS WITH MY CURRENT COLLECTING BUDGET. HOWEVER, FINISHING UP THE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE FIRST OR SECOND SERIES ON SOME OF THESE SETS? THAT'S VERY DOABLE. THE REASON I PICKED 1971 TOPPS IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE I ONLY NEEDED TWO MEASLY CARDS TO FINISH SERIES ONE. LEFTY HERE WAS ONE OF THOSE CARDS. THIS ACTUAL HALL OF FAMER ONLY COST A BUCK THIRTY, OVER THREE DOLLARS LESS THAN THE HATED ROSE! MY PLAN TO SPITE A PIECE OF CARDBOARD WAS TO BUY SOME BETTER CARDS AT A LOWER PRICE AND I WAS OFF TO A GOOD START

CARLTON WAS A FAVORITE AS A KID AS I HAVE FAMILY IN PENNSYLVANIA AND STEVE WAS EXTREMELY IN THE MIX FOR SETTING THE ALL-TIME STRIKEOUT RECORD AT THE TIME. AS SUCH, IT'S STILL VERY DISCONCERTING TO SEE STEVE IN A CARDINALS UNIFORM.  WHITE SOX? HELL YEAH. TWINS? ALL RIGHT. CLEVELAND? SURE. GIANTS? WHY NOT. CARDINALS? WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT, I'M SCARED. I NEVER HAD ANY OF HIS ST. LOUIS CARDS WHEN I WAS A KID, THOSE THINGS WERE EXPENSIVE! I HAVE MADE UP FOR LOST TIME SINCE THEN AND I THINK I HAVE THEM ALL FROM THE SEVENTIES AT LEAST NOW. I MIGHT BE MISSING HIS 1970 CARD BUT I KNOW I HAVE THE LEAGUE LEADERS CARD

COMPLETE PAGE! BILL LEE AND SOME LEADERS CARDS, AWW YEAH. SO NOW I JUST NEED CARD NUMBER 100 TO FINISH OFF THE FIRST SERIES, I WONDER WHO THAT IS. OH SON OF A- 

NEW PLAN. PICK UP A LEGENDARY HALL OF FAMER WHO IS WONDERFUL AND COMPLETELY NOT ANNOYING. I GOT MORE ACTION THAN MY MAN JOHN WOO AND I GOT MAD HITS LIKE I WAS

1971 TOPPS ROD CAREW 

OK SO IT'S BEAT ALL TO HELL. THE CORNERS ARE BAD. THERE'S A COUPLE CREASES. SOMEBODY TAPED THE TOP FOR GOD KNOWS WHAT REASON. WHO CARES, I FRIGGIN LOVE IT. THIS CARD RULES. AND IT WAS A BUCK SEVENTY! AAAAHAHAHHAA I GOT TWO OBJECTIVELY BETTER CARDS THAN THE HATED ROSE FOR TWO-THIRDS THE COST! A WINNER IS ME!

I BECAME A FAN OF CAREW AFTER GETTING THAT AMAZING 1983 TOPPS CARD IN A PACK AND WHILE I WAS USED TO HIM IN AN ANGELS UNI I WAS NOT UNFAMILIAR WITH HIS TWINS YEARS. ROD'S SEVENTIES CARDS WERE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CARLTON'S AND BESIDES, THOSE KMART MVP CARDS WERE EVERYWHERE SO I'D SEEN HIS 1977 CARD MAYBE A DOZEN TIMES BEFORE I PULLED AN ANGELS CARD. ROD CAREW CARDS ARE JUST FUN, THERE'S NO DREAD OR OBLIGATION TO THEM AND I ABSOLUTELY MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. GOTTA START YOUR CARD BINGES OFF RIGHT!

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER COMPLETED PAGE. I'M VERY CLOSE ON THE SECOND SERIES OF 1971 TOPPS AS WELL. WITH CAREW I ONLY NEED FOUR CARDS NOW: GAYLORD PERRY, TOM SEAVER, LARRY BOWA WITH THE COVETED ROOKIE CUP AND JOHNNY BENCH. A LOT OF THE USUAL SUSPECTS THERE WHEN YOU'RE FINISHING UP A SET. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL PROBABLY STILL COMPLETE SERIES TWO BEFORE SERIES ONE. MAYBE SERIES THREE AND FOUR TOO AND I NEED LIKE 20 CARDS EACH FOR THOSE LOL

DUCK YOU SUCKER

SO THAT TIME WHEN I WENT TO THE SECOND ANTIQUE MALL AND GOT A BUNCH OF CARDS IN A LEOPARD PRINT BAG I SPIED THIS IN THE PARKING LOT:

A WHOLE OTHER CARD SHOP IN THE SAME SHOPPING CENTER! THIS PICTURE BURNED UP THE LAST OF MY PHONE'S POWER SO NO PICS FROM THE ANTIQUE MALL BUT THANKS TO THIS PHOTO TO REMIND ME I KNEW TO GO BACK AND CHECK OUT THE STORE AT A LATER DATE. UNLIKE MY MAIN LCS, THIS ONE IS OPEN ON SUNDAYS WHEN I CAN ACTUALLY GO. THE PLACE IS HUGE, HAS A TON OF CASES FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH GRADED SLABS AND A GIGANTIC AMOUNT OF VERY EXPENSIVE MEMORABILIA. IT'S ALSO GOT A BUNCH OF WAX I CAN'T AFFORD AND A WHOLE WALL FULL OF EVERY KIND OF SUPPLY THAT I USUALLY TRY TO FIND CHEAPER SECONDHAND. IT WAS VERY INTIMIDATING AND I FELT LIKE I MIGHT GET KICKED OUT AT ANY MOMENT FOR BEING POVERTY. UNTIL!!! WAY IN THE BACK CORNER I FOUND A TABLE FULL OF BOXES OF NOT-SLABBED CARDS THAT WERE MORE IN MY PRICE RANGE! AND A FEW BOXES OF ODDBALL STUFF TOO! I SPENT A GOOD HOUR DIGGING FOR GOODIES AND FOUND A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEAT STUFF

2001 NBA ALL STAR GAME 2001 VINCE CARTER

THIS WAS THE ONLY STANDARD SIZED BASKETBALL CARD I PICKED UP THIS TIME. THERE WERE TOO MANY GOOD BASEBALL CARDS IN THE DOLLAR BOXES AND HOOPS GOT SQUEEZED OUT. THIS ONE CAUGHT MY EYE THOUGH, MAINLY BECAUSE I HAD NO FRIGGIN IDEA WHAT THE HELL IT WAS. FLEER INSERTS I AM FAMILIAR WITH, ONES WITH THE WHITE HOUSE ON THEM? NUMBERED ONE OF THREE?? NOPE, DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. VINCE CARTER IS THE BEST AND WE'D ALL BE BETTER OFF WITH HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE SO I WAS COMPELLED TO PICK THIS UP. MAINLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT I MAY NEVER SEE IT AGAIN IF I DIDN'T

TURNS OUT THIS IS PART OF A THREE CARD CROSS-BRAND INSERT SET HONORING THE 2001 ALL STAR GAME IN DC. IT'S KINDA FUNNY HOW EACH BRAND'S CONTRIBUTION IS CAPTURES THEIR VIBE. FLEER GOES WILD WITH THE DESIGN AND COMES UP WITH SOMETHIGN MEMORABLE AND A LITTLE BIT GOOFY. TOPPS LEANS HEAVILY INTO THEIR VINTAGE CARD HISTORY. UPPER DECK'S DESIGN IS FLASHY BUT ULTIMATELY INSUBSTANTIAL. EVERYONE WHO CLICKED ON THAT LINK AND TOOK A PEEK AT THE DESIGNS: QUICK, TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT THE UPPER DECK DESIGN WAS AND THEN CHECK BACK TO SEE IF YOU WERE RIGHT. I HAVE TO ADMIT THOUGH, THAT SHAQ CARD IN THE 1971-72 TOPPS BASKETBALL DESIGN LOOKS AWESOME AND I WANT IT

2000 BOWMAN'S BEST FRANCHISE 2000 SCOTT ROLEN

THIS CARD SHOWS YOU THE INFERNAL POWER THAT THE SHINY HAS OVER ME. I HATE BOWMAN AND THIS CARD DESIGN IS OBJECTIVELY HIDEOUS, YET DIE CUT CORNERS AND HOLOFRACTOR SHINIES DAZZLED ME SO MUCH I HAD TO GET IT. THERE IS NO COLOR INK ON THIS CARD! IT'S BLACK AND WHITE FRONT AND BACK! THERE'S AN INTERESTING DESIGN EMBOSSED ON THE THING BUT THERE'S NO INK AND YOU CAN BARELY READ THE TEXT. BUT GODDAMN IT'S SO SHINY! IT'S HYPNOTISING! IT'S SCOTT ROLEN THOUGH AND I'M SO HAPPY HE MADE THE HALL I'M HAPPY TO FIND A 90'S INSERT FOR HIM EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEAUTIFULLY HIDEOUS

LOL LOOK AT THIS MESS, IT'S SO UGLY. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING

1992 FLEER ROOKIE SENSATIONS JEFF BAGWELL

OMG THESE CARDS WERE SO INCREDIBLY FLAMING HOT BACK IN 1992. THESE CARDS WERE ONLY FOUND IN JUMBO PACKS AT A RATE OF ONE IN FOUR PACKS AND PEOPLE WENT BERZERK OVER THEM. MAN, THESE WERE SO EXPENSIVE BACK IN THE DAY. FRANK THOMAS WAS BY FAR THE BEST CARD IN THE SET, AND PHIL PLANTIER THE FUNNIEST, BUT JEFF BAGWELL IS A GOOD #2 CARD IN THE SET. UNLESS YOU PREFER IVAN RODRIGUEZ. STILL THE BRONZE WINNER IN A SUPER COOL HISTORIC INSERT SET IS A NO BRAINER PICK UP OUT OF A DOLLAR BOX, EVEN IF MOST OF THE REST OF THE CARDS CAN BE GOTTEN FOR WELL UNDER THAT PRICE

THESE ARE REALLY REALLY NICE LOOKING CARDS WHEN YOU GET THEM IN HAND. SUCH A SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE DESIGN. AND A NICE PHOTO SELECTION OTHER THAN A COUPLE CLUNKERS (I'M LOOKING AT YOU, MARK WOHLERS). I'M PRETTY SURE I HAVE ALL THE BIG NAMES IN THIS SET NOW, PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT WORKING ON THESE FLEER INSERT SETS

1996 TOPPS LASER BARRY BONDS

1996 TOPPS LASER IS A BEAUTIFUL DISASTER OF A SET. IT'S COMPLETELY UNNECCESSARY, LOOKS CHEESY AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STORE ESPECIALLY THE ONES WITH JAGGED BORDERS. OF COURSE I FRIGGIN LOVE IT. I BOUGHT AS MANY AS I COULD FIND BACK IN 1996, WHICH WASN'T MUCH AND I STILL LOVE FINDING THEM TODAY. THEY ARE HARDER TO FIND THAN YOU MIGHT THINK, AS PEOPLE TEND TO SNAP THEM UP QUICKLY JUST FOR THE NOVELTY. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO FIND ONE AT ALL LET ALONE A BARRY BONDS. I DON'T NEED TO HARP ON THE FACT THAT PEOPLE DISRESPECTING BONDS KEEPS GETTING ME COOL CARDS CHEAP, BUT IT DOES AND I'M GLAD SO KEEP DISRESPECTING

THE THING ABOUT TOPPS LASER IS THAT YOU ONLY REALLY NEED FOUR CARDS FROM THE SET. ONE BLACK BORDER BATTER CARD, ONE GOLD FOIL BORDER FIELDING CARD, ONE OF THESE RED BORDER RUNNER CARDS AND A PITCHER'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT IN A PENNY SLEEVE FLAMING FIREBALL CARD. ONCE YOU'VE SEEN ONE OF THE LASER DESIGNS, HAVING TWENTY FIVE MORE CARDS JUST LIKE IT HAS EXTREMELY DIMINISHING RETURNS. INSTEAD OF A COMPLETE SET YOU'D PROBABLY BE BETTER OFF WITH A PAGE OF ONE CARD OF EACH DESIGN FROM EACH SERIES OF YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS AND ONE OF THE COOL LASER CUT INSERT CARDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE. I BET YOU COULD GO ON COMC AND COMPLETE THIS FOR MAYBE 10-15 BUCKS AS LONG AS YOU AVOIDED THE SUPERSTARS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY COLLECT

1992 UPPER DECK HOMERUN HEROES BARRY BONDS

MOAR BONDSES. ONE OF MY RECENT OBSESSIONS IS FINISHING OFF ALL THE JUNK WAX UPPER DECK INSERT CARDS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE SCARCE SETS PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM ARE PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP. THIS 1992 SET UPGRADED THE SILVER SLUGGER BATS FROM 1991 TO GOLD HOMER BATS. IN 1993, THE BATS BECAME EMBOSSED! THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING CARD WITH BONDS TAKING A MIGHTY CUT IN FRONT OF SOME BUNTING. I WONDER IF THIS IS OPENING DAY BUNTING OR PAYOFF BUNTING?

THERE WERE A TON OF THESE IN THE DOLLAR BOXES AND THE BONDS WAS SHOWING AS A NEED ON MY WANTLIST SO THIS IS THE ONE I WENT HOME WITH. SADLY, MY WANTLISTS WERE BUNK AND I ALREADY HAD A TON OF THEM ALREADY INCLUDING THIS ONE. I LAMENT GETTING A DOUBLE WHEN I WAS ALREADY IN A MONEY SQUEEZE AND MAKING SOME HARD PASSES ON SOME COOL CARDS BUT IT'S BARRY BONDS. IF THE UNIVERSE IS FOING TO FORCE ME TO BECOME A BONDS COLLECTOR WHO AM I TO ARGUE

1992 UPPER DECK BASEBALL HEROES THE BIG RED MACHINE

I COLLECTED THE HELL OUT OF UPPER DECK BASEBALL HEROES BACK IN THE DAY BUT WHEN THEY SPRUNG THIS DUAL HEROES SET IN THE 1992 UPDATE SERIES I WAS TERRIBLY OFFENDED. HOW DARE UPPER DECK FOIST HEROES THAT COULDN'T EVEN FILL OUT A WHOLE INSERT SET BY THEMSELVES UPON US? YOU GO FROM TED WILLIAMS TO A TAG TEAM? HARRUMPH! THIS IS AN UTTERLY RIDICULOUS THOUGHT PROCESS BUT I WAS A REAL DUMBASS IN 1992. NOW I AM WAY BEHIND ON THIS SET BUT THANKFULLY THEY ARE NOT TERRIBLY HARD TO FIND THANKS TO THOSE PRINTING PRESSES RUNNING OVERTIME BACK THEN. THE VERNON WELLS ART CHECKLIST CARD IS A NICE PICKUP EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT COLLECITNG THE SET

I STILL FEEL LIKE JOHNNY BENCH COULD HAVE HELD DOWN AN ENTIRE BASEBALL HEORES BY HIMSELF THOUGH

1971 TOPPS JOSE AZCUE

THERE WERE A LOT OF 70S CARDS IN THE DOLLAR BOX. I SCROUNGED THROUGH THE LARGE PILE OF 1972 CARDS AND DISCOVERED I HAD THEM ALL ALREADY. BUT! THERE WERE 71S IN THERE ALSO AND THEY HAD HIGH NUMBERS!!! I SNAGGED THREE I NEEDED. NONE WERE SHORT PRINTED BUT STILL, YOU DON'T STICK YOUR NODE UP AT HIGH NUMBERS IN BARGAIN BOXES. THIS IS JOSE'S LAST TOPPS CARD WHICH IS A SHAME AS WE WERE DENIED A 72 BREWERS CARD OF HIM

1971 TOPPS MOE DRABOWSKY

MOE DRABOWSKY IS A GREAT NAME. THIS CARD IS BEAT TO HELL BUT IT'S AUTOGRAPHED ON THE BACK SO THAT MAKES IT BETTER THAN MINT. MOE DID GET A 1972 CARD, BUT LIKE JOSE, NO CARD FOR THE TEAM HE FINISHED HIS CAREER WITH, BUT @WTHBALLS FIXED THAT A WHILE BACK

1971 TOPPS ROYALS TEAM

HIGH NUMBERED TEAM CARDS ARE SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS, THIS HERE IS ALMOST A MIRACLE OF A CARD. IT'S KINDA WILD THE ROYALS HAD ONLY EXISTED TWO YEARS WHEN THIS CARD CAME OUT. EQUALLY WILD THEY HAD THREE MANAGERS IN THOSE TWO SEASONS. I REALLY HAVE TO GO OUT OF MY WAY TO FIND TRULY VINTAGE STUFF I CAN AFFORD NOWADAYS SO THREE HIGH NUMBERS IN THE DOLLAR BOX IS KINDA AMAZING

1971 TOPPS SCRATCH OFF TOM SEAVER

THIS IS THE ONLY CARD I PICKED UP THAT WASN'T FROM A DOLLAR BOX. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COMPLETE A VINTAGE INSERT SET - ANY VINTAGE INSERT SET - FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AND HAVE BEEN FAILING SPECTACULARLY. WHY DIDN'T I PICK UP ALL THESE CARDS 10-20 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE GARBAGE NO ONE WANTED. OH THE REGRETS. THE TWO SETS I'M CLOSEST TO ARE THE COMIC BOOKLET CARDS FROM 1970 AND THE SCRATCH OFF GAME CARDS FROM 1970-71. THE COMIC BOOKLETS ARE KINDA HARD TO FIND BUT WEIRDLY CHEAP WHEN YOU DO. THE SCRATCH OFFS ARE SUPER EASY TO FIND, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT WHICH YEAR IT'S FROM. THE CARDS FROM BOTH YEARS ARE MOSTLY IDENTICAL EXCEPT THE ONES FROM 1970 HAVE A WHITE INTERIOR AND THE 71S ARE RED. THIS TOM SEAVER CARD WAS INSIDE THE VINTAGE NON-GRADED CASE AND HAD A SUPER CHEAP PRICE TAG ON IT. I HAD A FEELING I KNEW WHY IT WAS SUPER CHEAP BUT GOT IT ANYWAY AND WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THE MOMENT IT WAS PULLED FROM THE CASE

SO THIS IS TECHNICALLY HALF OF A 1971 TOM SEAVER SCRATCH-OFF INSERT CARD. THE OTHER HALF HAS A BUNCH MORE SCRATCH OFF SQUARES, GAME RULES, AND A SCOREBOARD WHERE YOU CAN RECORD THE RUNS SCORED BY YOUR INVISIBLE SCRATCHOFF PLAYERS. THE CARD WAS DESIGNED TO BE RIPPED IN HALF SO THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, SOMEONE ALSO TRIED TO SCRATCH OFF A COUPLE SQUARES AT SOME POINT AND DISCOVERED THAT THESE SCRATCHY SQUARES HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE. I TRIED DOING THIS MYSELF ON ONE OF MY CARDS BACK IN THE 80S AND GOT THE SAME RESULTS OF COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE CARD. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF THE BELIEF THAT A COMPLETELY TRASHED VINTAGE CARD IS STILL A VINTAGE CARD SO HALF A TOM IS ACCEPTABLE. THIS ALSO SOLVES A DILEMMA SINCE MY NATE COLBERT CARD IS ALSO MISSING A BACK SO I CAN HOLD OFF ON UPGRADING THAT SINCE I'VE ACCEPTED ANOTHER RIPPED CARD INTO THE BINDER

I GOT A FEW OTHER ODDBALLS ON THIS TRIP, BUT I'M SAVING THOSE FOR ANOTHER TIME. I'VE ALREADY BEEN BACK A COUPLE TIMES TO PICK UP STUFF I'VE LEFT BEHIND SO I CAN CONFIRM IT'S A REALLY GOOD STORE. YOU CAN CHECK OUT THEIR WEB STORE AND GET A GOOD IDEA OF ALL THE STUFF IN THIS PLACE AND MAYBE GET AN IDEA OF HOW INTIMIDATED I WAS WITH MY WELL-UNDER-TWENTY-DOLLARS BUDGET. I GOT SEVERAL MORE POSTS TO SHOW OFF FROM HERE SO SETTLE IN AND ENJOY MY CHEAPNESS

SURPRISES IN THE 1971 BOX

I HAVE A ROUTINE AT MY LOCAL CARD SHOP. COME IN THE STORE. SAY HI TO THE OWNER. DIG THRU THE 50 CENT BRAVES CARDS. CHECK OUT THE BASEBALL DIME BOX. REPEAT FOR BASKETBALL, SOCCER AND NON-SPORTS. LOOK AT THE CASES. STUMBLE AROUND FOR A BIT LOOKING FOR ANY NEW BOXES OR BINDERS THAT CAME IN. COMPLETELY FORGET TO BUY ANY SUPPLIES. IF I HAVEN'T SPENT ALL MY MONEY AND/OR GOTTEN TOO HUNGRY FOR LUNCH TO SCREW AROUND ANYMORE I'LL TRY TO LOOK AT THE VINTAGE BOXES FOR SOME CHEAP THRILLS. ON ONE SUCH TRIP THIS SUMMER I ASKED FOR THE 1971 BOX. I'M NOT SURE WHY AS THE SETS I'M TRYING TO FOCUS ON AT THE MOMENT ARE 1976 AND 1972 TOPPS. I'M GLAD I DID TRY MY LUCK WITH THE 1971 BOX THOUGH, AS MY LUCK WAS GREAT

THERE WERE, IN FACT, 1971 TOPPS BASE CARDS IN THE 1971 BOX. THIS WAS EXPECTED. I PICKED OUT A FEW I NEEDED OFF THE WANTLIST. THIS CARD WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, I FRIGGIN LOVE THIS CARD TO DEATH AND AM STARTING TO HOARD THEM A BIT. BY A BIT, I MEAN I HAVE MAYBE FOUR OF THEM TOTAL BUT IF I SEE ONE IN A QUARTER BIN IT'S MINE, NO COOKIE FOR YOU. THE REST OF THE CARDS IN THE POST ARE ACTUAL CARDS OFF THE WANTLIST, BUT AS USUAL I HAD TO PICK THE STRANGE ONES

EXPOS IN 3-D. POOR JIM GOSGER LOOKS EXTRA SINISTER IN THIS PICTURE AND THE CRAZY REGISTRATION IS NOT HELPING. THAT EXPOS LOGO LOOKS TRIPPY AS HELL. THEY DON'T MAKE CARDS LIKE THEY USED TO

I COULD STARE AT THIS DAVE MCNALLY CARD ALL DAY LONG, IT'S HYPNOTIZING. WHY IS DAVE LOOMING? WHAT'S HE STARING AT? WHY IS THE ENTIRE BACKGROUND A LONE FLAGPOLE? THAT BLACK BORDER JUST ACCENTUATES THE WEIRD VIBES ON THIS CARD, I LOVE IT

JERRY JOHNSON LOOKS LIKE THAT HANDSOME SQUIDWARD MEME AND IT CRACKS ME UP EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT. I'M GIGGLING LIKE AN IDIOT AS I TYPE. IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT AND ENJOY YOUR SANITY. BUT IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW

IT'S GOOD TO FIND OLD TEAM CARDS BECAUSE IN ANY SET BUILD THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE GODDAMN TEAM CARD THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE AND WHEN IT FINALLY DOES TURN UP IT COSTS LIKE FIVE BUCKS. OR FIFTY IF THE SET IS OLD ENOUGH. THIS SEMI-HIGH NUMBERED PADRES CARD WAS CHEAP AS DIRT BECAUSE IT HAS A BIG NOTCH GOUGED OUT OF THE TOP. I'LL TAKE IT!

ALONG WITH THE THE BASE CARDS, THE BOX HAD SOME SCRATCH OFF INSERTS. TOPPS GOT LAZY AS HELL AND PUT IN THE EXACT SAME SCRATCH-OFF INSERTS IN 1970 AND 1971 PACKS. SAME PLAYERS AND EVERYTHING, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE COLOR OF THE SCRATCH-OFF BOARD. THIS SORT OF WORKS FOR ME BECAUSE I AM BUILDING A SET OF THEM BUT AM MIXING AND MATCHING THE 70S AND 71S

THE BACK OF THE CARD HAS INSTRUCTIONS AND A SCOREBOARD. MOST OF THE CARDS I SEE HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED BUT I HARDLY EVER SEE THE SCOREBOARD FILLED IN

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A SCRATCHED OFF INSIDE OF A RED 1971 VARIATION. THE 1970S ARE WHITE INSIDE. IT'S COOL TO SEE ALL THE OPTIONS YOU COULD HAVE SCRATCHED OFF BACK IN THE DAY. ONLY TWO DINGERS ON THE WHOLE CARD, THEY'D NEED AT LEAST EIGHT TODAY WITH THIRTY STRIKEOUTS

ONE OF MY 2022 COLLECTING GOALS WAS TO COMPLETE A VINTAGE TOPPS INSERT SET FROM THE 60S OR 70S, A GOAL I FAILED MISERABLY. I REALLY SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO DO THIS TEN OR TWENTY YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE ALL DIRT CHEAP BECAUSE THE STARS HAVE GOTTEN SUPER SPENDY LATELY IF YOU CAN EVEN FIND THEM. I KNOCKED THREE OFF MY LIST AND AM DOWN TO ONLY NEEDING FOUR TO FINISH, FIVE IF I UPGRADE MY NATE COLBERT CARD WHICH IS CURRENTLY RIPPED IN HALF AND MISSING THE BACK

THIS WAS THE REAL SUPRISE IN THE BOX. A BIG PILE OF 1971 FLEER LAUGHLIN WORLD SERIES CARDS. FLEER PUT THESE OUT IN 1970 AND 1971 WITH DIFFERENT ILLUSTRATIONS. YOU CAN TELL THE TWO APART BECAUSE THE 1971S HAVE THE MLB LOGO ON THEM. THIS IS ANOTHER ODDBALL SET I'M TRYING TO FRANKENSTEIN INTO COMPLETION AND I KNOCKED OUT A HUGE CHUNK RAIDING THESE BOXES THIS YEAR. FIRST ONE IS THE THE 1929 CARD WHERE A'S PITCHER EHMKE STRUCK OUT A BUNCHA LOTTA CUBS

NEXT UP IS 1937 WITH AN ILLUSTRATION OF TONY LAZZERI LOOKING VERY SHY. ANOTHER BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 70 AND 71 SETS IS THERE ARE MORE ACTUAL PLAYERS IN THE 1971 SET INSTEAD OF GENERIC SCENES. THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE AND YOU'LL SEE PLAYERS IN THE 1970 SET, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE IN 71 AND YOU'LL SEE SOME DIFFERENT PLAYERS EACH YEAR SOMETIMES. THE 1937 CARD SHOWED CARL HUBBELL IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S SET

HERE'S ANOTHER DAMN YANKEE WIN. I PREFER THE 1970 VERSION WITH KING KONG KELLER

THAT'S BETTER, LET ANOTHER TEAM WIN FOR ONCE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE A DUKE SNIDER BROOKLYN DODGER CARD WITH A 35 CENT PRICE TAG ON IT. SURE IT'S FROM FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER THE DODGERS MOVED TO LA, BUT 35 CENTS SEEMS A LITTLE DISRESPECTFUL

THIS CARD BUGS ME. NOT THAT I DISLIKE MOOSE SKOWRON, HEAVENS NO. WHAT BUGS ME IS THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF BILL MAZEROSKI ON THE FRONT OR BACK OF EITHER THE 1970 OR 1971 VERSION OF THIS CARD. THEY JUST MENTION A LEAD OFF HOMER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH DECIDING IT. THEN AGAIN ANY DISCUSSION OF THE 1960 WORLD SERIES TODAY BEGINS AND ENDS WITH MAZ SO IT'S GOOD BOBBY RICHARDSON GOT SOME RECOGNITION

LASTLY WE HAVE TWINS VS. DODGERS. LAUGHLIN COULD NOT RESIST DRAWING TWINS ON BOTH CARDS EVEN THOUGH THEY LOST AND WHO CAN BLAME HIM

AFTER ALL THAT THERE WAS ONE LAST SUPER MEGA SURPRISE IN THE BOX

1971 KELLOGG'S TONY HORTON. TONY HAD A SADLY SHORT CAREER THAT ENDED PREMATURELY AND FOR SOME REASON NEVER APPEARED ON A TOPPS CARD. AS A RESULT THIS KELLOGG'S CARD IS THE MOST MAINSTREAM RELEASE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND FROM HIS PLAYING DAYS. I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE SCARCITY OF HIS CARDS FOR A WHILE AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND KELLOGG'S CARDS AT ALL IN THE VINTAGE BOX, LET ALONE ONE I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR

IT'S GOT A LITTLE GOOP GROWING ON IT BUT THAT JUST GIVES THE CARD THAT MUCH MORE PERSONALITY. ALL THESE CARDS TOGETHER COST LESS THAN MOST OF THE NEW PACKS THEY HAVE AT THE SHOP. I TRIED CHECKING THE OTHER 70S VINTAGE BOXES TO SEE IF I COULD SCORE MORE KELLOGG'S BUT NONE OF THEM HAD THE BOUNTY OF ODDBALLS THAT I FOUND HERE. IT PAYS TO DIG SOMETIMES, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

The best card I pulled in 2013

This isn't quite as awesome as SUPER CAT from 2012 but it's pretty nice. On October 28th, I went to Wal-Mart to buy something or other and ended up snagging a couple of packs of 2013 Topps Update. Inside was this:

Very nice! But redemption. Who knew when it would arrive? Who know if I would get that card at all? All redemption card stories online are nothing but tales of sorrow and woe, how could I avoid this miserable fate? I entered the code in the Topps redemption thingy and hoped for the best. Last Saturday this arrived:

Tom Glavine mini autograph card numbered 3/10. I never seem to have problems with redemptions. The only time in the past 10 years I didn't get what I was supposed to get (a Jesse Ventura relic) I got something equally cool (an Erik Estrada relic). I guess if I have to complain then, um... the edges are a little chippy? I guess? Like every other card with black borders? But honestly, who cares. It's an on-card autograph of a Hall of Famer that I'm never going to sell and will rot in my collection until my heirs dump all my cards on Craigslist when I croak. 

This is a hella nice looking card, too bad there's only 10 of them. Tom's not in the mini base set, so take a good long look, this is the only one you're likely to see. I like that career stat line on the back, and also the authenticity legalese that is cleverly integrated in the '71 design. Can you find it kids? The only thing that could make this card better is one of those old hologram stickers that Topps used to plaster on their autograph and relic cards 10 years ago.

So a pretty good pull for 2013 considering my pack buying habits dropped drastically last year. Will I find anything this good in a pack in 2014? Will I even buy any packs in 2014? We got 11 and a half months to find out.

Six Years

...I've been doing this. I don't know if I'll make seven. I don't know if I'll get out of bed tomorrow. Honestly this has been a wasted year and I've been some combination of wiped out, sick and depressed for the past four months now. I got a whole big box of cards to scan and post and I JUST DON WANNA DO IT. Maybe the new year will rejuvenate me, maybe it won't. Whatever the case I want to finish just one friggin thing this year if at all possible. Here's the last five cards I got from the May vintage show and never posted. Maybe the last cards from the last show I go to. Pissiness aside, here ya go.

Have a 1949 Bowman Jeff Heath card. Anything before 1950 is relatively difficult to find and this fills out one of the many holes in my vintage Braves team binder. I love the red and blue colors on this card but what is up with the smirk on this dude's face? It looks like he's getting a beej while posing for the photo or something.

1962 Topps Gaylord (snicker) Perry rookie card. While everyone's all in a tizzy about how every single born after this card was printed was a bunch of juiced up cheaters, Mr. Lord took used some different juice to get into the hall. *ptui* This HOF rookie cost me all of five bucks.

First draft of this was deleted for being over the top. The card speaks for itself. There's a reason this is my second-favorite card from the Mars Attacks set.

1971 Thurman Munson! One of the most iconic cards of all time! A card that intimidated me for years and prevented me from collecting the '71 Topps set! Got it for less than a blaster. Haven't bought much vintage since. Still afraid of iconic cards I can get for like, ten bucks online if I just put some effort into it. This is how far I've fallen collecting wise.

The big mamma jamma. Phil Niekro Rookie. And Phil Roof. Fun story: one of the first cards I ever owned was a 1971 Phil Roof that was way miscut that I got out of a junk box when I was about 8 or 9 for a penny. This is the last card I picked out from my last card show. Might be some symmetry there. Maybe not. It's the rookie card of my favorite player when I was a kid so if I do end up riding off into the sunset I'm at least ending on a high note.

Here's to 2013, it can't possibly suck as bad as 2012!