CANADA CUSTOMS BLASTER - PART 1: VINTAGEY GOODNESS

FORGOING THE WEEK IN REVIEW POST AGAIN AS I WAS SICK AS A DOG MOST OF THE WEEK AND NO ONE NEEDS A POST LIKE 

BEST SLEEP I HAD THIS WEEK

IT WAS THE NIGHT I GOT DESPERATE AND TOOK A SHOT OF NYQUIL, BY THE WAY. NOT A WHOLE LOT HAPPENED. I SLEPT A LOT, READ A MYSTERY NOVEL, FARTED ABOUT MOSTLY. THOSE POSTS MIGHT END UP A BI-WEEKLY AFFAIR ANYWAY. HOWEVER! THIS IS IN SOME WAY A WEEK IN REVIEW POST AS ON TUESDAY DURING THE TWO-HOUR PERIOD WHERE I WAS ACTUALLY AWAKE THIS ARRIVED:

A BRAND NEW PACKAGE FROM BASEBALLCARDSTORE.CA WITH ALL THE STUFF I GOT FROM LATE NOVEMERISH TO THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. THE US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AGENCY KNEW MY PICKUPS WERE PRETTY AWESOME AND HAD THEMSELVES A PEEK AT THEM. THERE WERE EVEN A COUPLE CARDS I DIDN'T BUY SITTING ON TOP! I AM HORRIBLY BACKED UP ON DRAFT POSTS AND I HAVE DECREED TO MYSELF THAT I AM POSTING EVERY PACKAGE AS IT COMES IN SO THE ONLINE BLASTER CARDS FROM LAST YEAR ARE GOING TO BE POSTED ALONG WITH THE ONLINE BLASTER CARDDS FROM THIS YEAR CONCURRENTLY. THE MORE RECENT BLASTERS HAVE SOME WILD STUFF I WANT TO SHOW OFF BADLY ANYWAY. WHAT WILL THIS MEAN WHEN THE NEXT PACKAGE COMES IN AND I STILL HAVE 15 POSTS LEFT FOR THIS ONE? THAT'S FUTURE ME'S PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE SORTED THIS SUCKER INTO APPROPRIATELY THEMED POSTS. DON'T WORRY, THERE'S STILL QUITE A FEW CHAOS POSTS, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT FOCUSED YET. WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE GOOD GOOD STUFF

CATEGORY: VINTAGE WANTLIST

THIS IS EVERYTHING ON GOOD OL' FASHIONED CARDBOARD I PICKED UP FOR MY WANTLIST. THERE IS A LOT OF VINTAGE POSTED TO THE SITE AND IT KINDA KILLS ME NOT TO PICK IT ALL UP BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY COMPLETED EVERY TOPPS SET FROM THE 80S AND HALF FROM THE 70S. HOCKEY AND FOOTBALL SETS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED THOUGH. AND THE FIRST TWO CARDS HERE ARE ONES I DIDN'T EVEN BUY! I HAVE KEPT A SOMEWHAT DETAILED LIST OF CARDS I PICK UP EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY FOURTH 1993 TOPPS MADDUX/CLEMENS ALL STAR CARD AND THESE TWO AIN'T ON THAT LIST. A LITTLE BONUS FOR BEING A GOOD CUSTOMER PERHAPS? I APPRECIATE IT A LOT BECAUSE I LOVE THESE TWO SETS 

1985-86 TOPPS HOCKEY KEVIN DINEEN RC

EVER SINCE I DISCOVERED I HAD OVER 90% OF THE 85-86 TOPPS SET I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO FINISH THAT ONE UP. WELL, FINISH IT UP EXCEPT FOR THE MARIO LEMIEUX ROOKIE. I HAVE A REPRINT FOR THAT ONE. THE GRETZKY WON'T BE SUPER CHEAP BUT I HAVE ALREADY SCOPED OUT PRICES ON COMC AND MOST OF THE REST CAN BE HAD FOR UNDER A BUCK EACH. PLUS YOU NEVER KNOW, I MIGHT GET LUCKY AT A CARD SHOW WHERE A ROGUE HOCKEY SELLER SHOWS UP. DINEEN WAS A PRETTY DANG GOOD PLAYER AND ROOKIES ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE TOUGHER TO PICK UP. PLUS THAT WHALERS LOGO IS AWESOME AND LOOKS GREAT ON 80S PRINTING

1984-85 TOPPS HOCKEY DAVE ANDREYCHUK RC

ANOTHER ROOKIE CARD! OF A HALL OF FAMER!!THIS IS SUPER COOL AS I HONESTLY LIKE THE 84-85 DESIGN EVEN BETTER THAN 85-86. BUT I NEED 60 CARDS FOR 84-85 AND ONLY 20 FOR 85-86 AND I'M LAZY, LOL. HEY, HOCKEY CARDS AREN'T EXACLY COMMON IN GEORGIA! THIS SET REMINDS ME A LOT OF THE 1983 TOPPS SET AND I THINK IT'S KINDA NEAT THAT THE PORTRAIT ON THIS CARD IS THE SAME ONE USED ON HIS O-PEE-CHEE TEAM LEADER CARD

1984-85 TOPPS HOCKEY EDDIE MIO

EDDIE'S NOT A ROOKIE CARD BUT APPARENTLY IT'S A SHORT PRINT? I AM LEARNING EXACTLY NOW THAT THIS SET HAS SHORT PRINTS. OOF. GOALIE CARDS ARE GREAT AND THIS IS A GOOD LOOKING ONE. THE RED WINGS ARE KINDA SORTA MY NHL TEAM NOW SINCE MY HOMETOWN TEAMS KEEP RUNNING AWAY. NO REAL REASON OTHER THAN I LIKE THEIR LOGO AND ENJOYED PLAYING THE WINGS ON NHL 93 ON MY SUPER NINTENDO. SPEAKING OF RED WINGS THE YZERMAN ROOKIE IS ONE I STILL NEED FOR THIS SET, BUT I PICKED UP A REPRINT CARD OFF THE SITE A WEEK OR TWO AGO THAT MIGHT BE FILLING IN FOR THE TIME BEING

1984-85 TOPPS HOCKEY GLEN HANLON

ANOTHER SHORT PRINT? I HAD TO CHECK OUT THIS SHORT PRINT BUSINESS AND THERE'S 66 IN THE SET, PROBABLY DUE TO HOW THEY WERE LAID OUT ON THE PRINTING SHEETS. I ALREADY HAVE 40 OF THEM AND I'M HONESTLY FAR MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TWO GRETZKYS AND ROOKIES I NEED. HANLON HERE KNOCKS OFF ANOTHER GOALIE CARD. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HANDFUL OF HOCKEY SETS I KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR AND I'LL PICK AWAY AT IT SLOWLY BUT SURELY

1987-88 TOPPS HOCKEY BOB MURRAY

1987 TOPPS HOCKEY ALSO DOES THE WOOD GRAIN BORDER, KINDA. I LIKE THIS DESIGN FOR IT'S SIMPLICITY. HOCKEY STICK, HOCKEY PUCK AND A LITTLE COLORFUL CORNER FOR THE POSITION. VERY ELEGANT. I DON'T HAVE A TON OF CARDS FOR MOST TOPPS HOCKEY SETS SO HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO WANTLIST THEM YET. SO WHEN I SEE A VINTAGE CARD ON THE SITE LIKE THIS I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CARD NUMBER AND DIG THROUGH MY CARDS TO SEE IF I NEED IT. I NEED TO FIX THIS SOON BECAUSE IF I DO END UP AT THAT CARD SHOW WITH THE ROGUE HOCKEY DEALER AND DO NOT HAVE THEM I WILL LIKELY START CRYING RIGHT THEN AND THERE. IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY I FOCUS ON TOPPS AND NOT O-PEE-CHEE CARDS IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE HARDLY ANY O-PEE-CHEE CARDS LOL

1989-90 TOPPS HOCKEY JOHN VANBIESBROUCK

THIS IS THE FIRST HOCKEY SET WHERE I SAW A TON OF PACKS BEING SOLD EVERYWHERE. I DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE AND BUY ENOUGH TO GET CLOSE TO THE SET, BUT I HAVE A FEW AND I STILL SEE LOOSE PACKS HERE AND THERE. THIS IS A PRETTY WILD DESIGN FOR THE LATE 90S, I GUESS THE SIDE BORDERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SHIMMERY ICE OR SOMETHING? I GOT ANOTHER GOALIE HERE, I'VE BEEN A FAN OF THE BEEZ FOR A WHILE AND PICKED UP A LOT OF HIS PANTHERS CARDS IN THE 90S. I SHOULD REALLY PUT TOGETHER THIS WANTLIST, SURE IT HAS 198 CARDS INSTEAD OF 165, BUT THAT JUST MEANS IT HAS DOUBLE PRINTED CARDS INSTEAD OF SINGLE PRINTS

1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL KEN ANDERSON RECORD BREAKER

I HAVE DECIDED THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER I AM COMPLETING A 1980S FOOTBALL SET THIS YEAR SOMEHOW. THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO THIS GOAL IS SIMPLY DECIDING WHICH ONE. I NEED LESS THAN 20 CARDS FOR NO LESS THAN 4 SETS: 1983, 1985, 1986 AND 1988. 88 IS CLOSEST BUT I'M MISSING THE BO JACKSON ROOKIE, BUT NOT REALLY CARD THAT IS EXPENSIVE AS HELL AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND IN A STORE AT ANY PRICE. 1983 HAS SENTIMENTAL VALUE AS IT WAS THE FIRST FOOTBALL SET I REALLY TRIED TO BUILD. PLUS MARCUS ALLEN'S ROOKIE CARD IS WAY CHEAPER THAN BO'S. THE ACTUAL FIRST SET I COMPLETE WILL PROBABLY BE 1985 OR 1986 THOUGH AS I CAN PROBABLY PICK UP THE REST OF THOSE SETS FOR LESS THAN A PACK OF TOPPS. THE PLAN IS TO CHECK THE LOCAL CARD SHOPS AND A CARD SHOW FIRST TO SEE WHAT I CAN FIND AND THEN KNOCK OUT THE REST ONLINE. I PUT A HURTIN' ON 1983 HERE THOUGH INCLUDING THAT IMPORTANT CARD #1

1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL JETS TEAM LEADERS

A WEIRD QUIRK OF COLLECITNG THIS SET IS THAT EVEN THOUGH I OPENED A BUNCH OF PACKS BACK IN THE DAY A WHOLE BUNCH OF THE LAST CARDS I NEEDED WERE TEAM LEADER CARDS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY, THESE AREN'T EVEN CHECKLISTS THAT I MIGHT'VE WRECKED BACK THEN. MY BEST GUESS IS I JUST HAD WEIRD LUCK AND DIDN'T GET THEM OR USED THEM AS TEAM CARDS FOR SOME FORGOTTEN FOOTBALL GAME. ANOTHER BIT OF STRANGENESS ON THESE CARDS IS THAT DUE TO THE STRIKE THERE WERE ONLY 9 GAMES PLAYED IN 1982 SO THE LEADER TOTALS ARE PRETTY ANEMIC, EVEN FOR OLD-SCHOOL FOOTBALL. EVEN THE ROTTENEST TEAMS HAVE A PLAYER WHO GOT A THOUSAND YARDS SOMEWHERE

1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL STEELERS TEAM LEADERS

HELL YEAH STEELERS. ANY FRANCO HARRIS CARD IS AWESOME EVEN IF IT'S A TEAM CARD. I KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE THIS CARD AT ANY POIINT BECAUSE FRANCO WAS ONE OF THE FEW PLAYERS I KNEW ABOUT AS A KID AND I WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED IT

1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL CHARGERS TEAM LEADERS

CHUCK MUNCIE CARDS WITH THE BIG CHUNKY GLASSES ARE EXHIBIT A ON WHY 70S AND 80S FOOTBALL CARDS KICK ASS. I APPRECIATE WES CHANDLER GETTING A THOUSAND YARDS RECEIVING IN A STRIKE YEAR AS WELL. GOOD JOB, WES

1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL WILLIAM ANDERSON STICKER

I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMPLETE THE 80S FOOTBALL INSERT SETS BUT THESE 1983 STICKERS ARE KINDA TOUGH AND THE ONES I HAD WHEN I WAS A KID LOST THEIR STICKY AND THE BORDERS STARTED FALLING OFF. I'M PRETTY CERTAIN I HAVE THIS WILLIAM ANDREWS CARD ALREADY BUT THIS ONE STILL HAS ITS STICK SO I'M COOL WITH DOUBLES IF THAT'S THE CASE

1975 TOPPS TONY PEREZ

HA HA HA! I LULLED YOU INTO COMPLACENCY WITH A BUNCH OF HOCKEY AND FOOTBALL CARDS AND THEN DROPPED THE 1975 HALL OF FAMER CARD ON YA! THIS ISN'T EVEN THE FIRST 1975 HALL OF FAMER I'VE GOTTEN ON THE SITE! JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THOSE. THE MORE I INSIST I AM WORKING ON THE 1977 SET, THE MORE 1975 CARDS JUMP OUT AT ME. I SHOULD PROBABLY JUST ACCEPT I DON'T HAVE THE FOCUS TO COMPLETE EITHER SET THIS YEAR AND JUST TRY TO WHITTLE DOWN THE WANTLISTS FOR BOTH THE BEST I CAN. WHITTLE THE WANTLISTS AND COMPLETE THE PAGES

I COULDN'T DO A VINTAGE POST WITHOUT A COMPLETED PAGE, NOW COULD I. HOORAY! I'M NOW JUGGLING FOUR DIFFERENT WEEKLY SERIES! FIVE IF YOU INCLUDE THE WEEK IN REVIEW! NEXT WEEK IN PREVIEW: WRITING A LOTTA POSTS

2023 CARD SHOW - PART 6 THE SAD REMAINS OF THE GLORIOUS QUARTER BOXES

I LEFT THE COLLECTOR'S TABLE WITH A BAG FULL OF GOODIES AND ABOUT TWENTY BUCKS IN MY POCKET AND HEADED TOWARD THE BACK OF THE ROOM. OCCASIONALLY THERE'S A GOOD DEALER AT ONE OF THESE TABLES BUT RECENTLY IT'S BEEN THE GUY WITH SEVENTEEN TABLES OF THREE DOLLAR BOXES ON THE LEFT AND THE ANGRY VINTAGE DEALER ON THE RIGHT. I USUALLY IGNORE THESE GUYS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, THREE DOLLAR BOX GUY JUST HAS TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH, I'D BE THERE FOR A MONTH TRYING TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHIGN TO FIND THE ONE HIDDEN GEM. VINTAGE GUY HAS NO PRICES ON ANYTHING AND I'VE ALREADY SEEN HIM BE RUDE TO CUSTOMERS SO I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT MESS. HOWEVER IN THE VERY BACK BRENDA USUALLY SETS UP WITH TONS OF QUARTER, DIME AND EVEN NICKEL BOXES. THIS IS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE STOP AT THE CARD SHOW

SADLY THIS TIME THERE WERE A LOT LESS BOXES ON THE TABLE AND MOST OF THEM WERE WRESTLING CARDS OR PHOTOS AND MEMORABILIA. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE JUST RUN OUT OF QUARTER BOXES OR THEY GOT BOUGHT OUT BEFORE I GOT THERE OR WHAT BUT SEARCHING THROUGH A DOZEN QUARTER BOXES WASN'T IN THE CARDS FOR ME TODAY. THERE WERE A FEW DOLLAR BOXES FILLED WITH DECENT STUFF AND ONE QUARTER BOX THAT WAS MOSTLY FILLED WITH EARLY 80S TOPPS THAT WERE SELLING SIX FOR A DOLLAR. EVEN THOUGH ONLY ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE BOX WAS NOT THE 80'S TOPPS THAT WAS STILL ENOUGH FOR ME TO FIND SOME GOODIES. BEHOLD MY TREASURES: 

1970 TOPPS IN THE QUARTER BOX IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL. THERE WASN'T MUCH 70'S STUFF IN THERE BUT I DID FIND A COUPLE I COULD USE. THIS VIC DAVALILLO LOOKS GREAT WITH THE BATTING CAGE AND RANDOM DUDE WANDERING AROUND IN THE BACKGROUND

RON PERRANOSKI'S CARD IS MUCH LESS INTERESTING AS HE IS BEING PHOTOGRAPHED A MILE FROM HOME PLATE IN THE OUTFIELD. 1970 TOPPS IS NOT A SET I'M FOCUSING ON AT ALL BUT YOU BET I'LL PICK EM UP CHEAP

1977 TOPPS IS A SET I'M FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW BUT IT WASN'T WHEN I WAS AT THE CARD SHOW BECAUSE I WAS STILL LOOKING FOR THE ACCURSED 1976 ROSE. IF MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT, I STILL NEED SIXTY-NINE CARDS TO COMPLETE THIS SET (nice) BUT IT'S MOSTLY COMMONS AND THE ONLY CARD I NEED THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PRICEY IS JOHNNY BENCH. BUYING BENCH CARDS IS ALWAYS A DELIGHT SO I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT IT. I DOUBT I COMPLETE THIS SET THIS YEAR BUT I BET I CAN KNOCK A TON OFF THAT LIST

THERE WAS A LITTLE PILE OF 1985 FLEER IN THE BOX AND I MANAGED TO FIND FIVE I DIDN'T HAVE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE REST OF THIS SET BEING AS COLOR COORDINATED AS THESE FOUR BUT I GOTTA SAY IT LOOKS PRETTY GREAT. SPEAKING OF SET COMPLETING, I REALLY GOTTA FINISH OFF A FLEER SET THIS YEAR. i NEED ONE CARD FOR 1981 AND THREE FOR 1984

STEVE JELTZ ROOKIE CARD! FOR A GREATER APPRECIATION OF HOW GOOD THIS IS WATCH THIS VIDEO

PETE ROSE CARD OUT OF MY DAMN HAIR, GOTTA LOVE IT. THIS CARD CONFUSED ME AT FIRST BECAUSE 1) I DIDN'T RECALL ANY OTHER 1986 FLEER SPECIAL SUPER STAR CARDS WITH THIS SHINY GOLD BORDER AND 2) HOW MANY BASEBALL CARDS FEATURE A LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE PLATE. SUCH A WEIRD CARD

WOOOOOOO! OLD FLEER INSERTS!!! I LOVE THEM, EVEN PETES. THE 1986 FUTURE HALL OF FAMER SET WAS EXTREMELY ACCURATE WITH THIS ONE EXCEPTION

THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT FROM THE SET IN THE BOX AND I GOT THEM BOTH BECAUSE I FORGOT I HAD A WANTLIST FOR FLEER INSERTS ON MY PHONE. GOOD NEWS: I DID NEED THE ROSE BECAUSE OF COURSE I DID. BETTER NEWS: I ALREADY HAD ROD CAREW BUT NOW I HAVE TWO ROD CAREWS

I NEED SO MANY 1984 DONRUSS CARDS THAT I HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT GETING ONE I NEED EVEN IF THERE'S A BIG RIP IN THE TOP OF THE CARD.THIS IS THE LAST CARD OUT OF THE BOX THAT I ACTUALLY NEEDED OFF A WANTLIST, THE REST ARE ALL THINGS I JUST COULDN'T LEAVE BEHIND

REGGIE JACKSON SUPER VET! I ALWAYS SEE OAKLAND TO CALIFORNIA AS REGGIE'S ALPHA TO OMEGA BUT IT'S REALLY KANSAS CITY TO OAKLAND. THIS WAS TOO GOOD TO LEAVE IN A BOX WITH 1985 TOPPS

I ALSO REFUSED TO LEAVE BEHIND SCHMIDT EVEN THOUGH MY WANTLIST SAID I DIDN'T NEED IT. I EVEN TRIED TO PUT IT IN THE BINDER, BUT MIKE WAS ALREADY THERE. YOU CAN'T TAKE CHANCES LIKE THAT, WANTLISTS CAN BE WRONG

I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE WANTLIST, THIS CARD SLAPS. OF ALL THE 1984-85 SET I REGRET MISSING OUT ON BECAUSE I WAS DISTRACTED BY OTHER COLLECTIONS IN THE MID-80S THIS ONE IS THE MOST PAINFUL REGRET. I LOVE THIS DESIGN SO MUCH

BY FAR THE WEIRDEST THING I FOUND AT THE ENTIRE CARD SHOW WAS THIS 1974 ALL-STAR CARD OF FISK AND BENCH IN ALARGE, VERY OLD PENNY SLEEVE. THE CARD WAS BEAT ALL TO SHIT BUT IT STILL SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN A QUARTER BOX. THAT'S NOT THE STRANGE PART. THAT'S THE CARD THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SLEEVE

A 1986 BIG LEAGE CHEW HANK AARON HOME RUN LEGENDS CARD, ALSO BEAT ALL TO HELL. THESE CARDS ARE USUALLY A BIT DINGED UP BECAUSE THEY WERE INSERTED LOOSE INSIDE A BAG WITH A WAS OF BUBBLE GUM BUT THIS ONE GOT SOME EXTRA ADDED BEATING. WHY WAS AN AARON ODDBALL CARD PUT IN AN SLEEVE WITH A 1974 ALL-STAR CARD? WHY WERE THEY BOTH IN A QUARTER BOX? YOU GO TO CARD SHOWS LOOKING FOR UNEXPECTED TREASURE AND THIS IS ABOUT AS UNEXPECTED AS YOU CAN GET

LAST CARD I PICKED UP OUT OF THE BOS WAS THIS 1998 CIRCA THUNDER BOSS INSERT OF TRAVIS LEE. THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY CARD IN THE BOX MADE AFTER ABOUT 1997 AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT GOT IN THERE. THERE'S A REALLY GOOD CHANCE I ALREADY HAVE THIS ONE BUT I CAN'T PASS UP A 90S INSERT THIS WILD LOOKING AND EMBOSSED EVEN AND STILL SLEEP AT NIGHT

I REALLY TRIED TO FIND SOME STUFF OUT OF THE DOLLAR BOX SO I COULD GIVE BRENDA MORE THAN THREE BUCKS FOR EIGHTEEN CARDS BUT I HAD ALL THE VINTAGE ALREADY AND I WASN'T INTERESTED IN THE MORE RECENT CARDS. I WENT TO PAY BUT SHE INSISTED THAT THERE WASN'T THREE DOLLARS WORTH OF CARDS IN THE PILE I HAD AND ONLY CHARGED TWO. BEWILDERED, I ARGUED A BIT BUT EVENTUALLY JUST GAVE HER THE TWO BUCKS. SEE WHY THIS IS MY FAVORITE SELLER?? I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL BE BACK TO THE NEXT SHOW BUT I HOPE SHE'S THERE WITH A FRESH BATCH OF BOXES SO I CAN GIVE HER MORE MONEY. AND FORGET MY USUAL TRIP AROUND THE REST OF THE SHOW, I'M GOING THERE FIRST

UP NEXT: A WHOLE NEW AREA FULL OF ALL NEW DEALERS!

2023 CARD SHOW - PART 3: THE DEALER WHO COLLECTS - MISCELLANEOUS

THERE WERE OTHER CHEAPO CARDS IN THE BOX ALONG WITH THE ARCHIVES AND IT IS THE LAW THAT I HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE CARD IN ANY BOX WHERE I FIND ONE (1) COOL CARD. THERE WERE NOT ONLY RANDOM-ASS QUARTER CARDS BUT ALSO DOLLAR CARDS AND A FEW TEAM BAGS FULL OF STUFF FROM ASSORTED ODDBALL SETS. THIS LAST THING WILL BECOME VERY IMPORTANT LATER. I ADDED A FEW THINGS TO MY ARCHIVES PILE SHORTLY BEFORE THINGS WENT COMPLETELY OFF THE RAILS. LET'S START WITH THE EXPENSIVE CARDS THAT COST A WHOLE DOLLAR

IF YOU SEE A CARD FROM 1954 FOR A BUCK, YOU BUY IT NO QUESTIONS ASKED NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. IF IT'S A 1954 TOPPS SCOOP CARD OF THE FRIGGIN MOON YOU GRAB IT IMMEDIATELY. LONG TIME READERS KNOW I LOVE CARDS OF SPACE SO THIS FITS INTO THE COLLECTION VERY NICELY. THE SET FEATURES A TON OF HISTORICAL EVENTS INCLUDING QUITE A FEW THAT PRE-DATE AMERICA SO IT'S NEAT TO SEE A CARD LIKE THIS THAT CELEBRATES SOME REAL CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

THE BACKS ARE COOLER THAN THE FRONTS IN MY OPINION. THEY ALL HAVE A NEWSPAPER HEADLINE DESIGN AND THEY USE ACTUAL EXISTING  NEWSPAPER MASTHEADS. SOMETIMES THE CITY CORRELATES TO THE NEWS EVENT, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THE ATLANTA JOURNAL STORY IS FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' FIRST FLIGHT AND THE CONSTITUTION TELLS OF A FLOOD ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. I SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT TRACKING DOWN THOSE TWO CARDS ALONG WITH THE CARD DETAILING THE BRAVES' MOVE TO MILWAUKEE EVENTUALLY

THE DOLLAR BOX ALSO HAD ABOUT A DOZEN 2007 GOUDEY SHORT PRINTS WHICH MADE ME SUPER EXCITED. I HAVEN'T ADDED TO THAT SET IN YEARS AND WAS HOPEFUL TO FIND SOME NEW ADDITIONS TO THE BINDER. UNFORTUNATELY THIS MUSIAL WAS THE ONLY ONE I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE BUT I FOUND A SHORT PRINT MUSIAL FOR A BUCK WHICH IS PRETTY GREAT

THERE WERE SOME RANDO EIGHT FOR A BUCK CARDS ASIDE FROM THE ARCHIVES THAT WAS STUFFED WITH OLD TOPPS INSERTS AND LEGENDS SETS AND SUCH. THE ONLY THINGS I PICKED OUT WERE THESE HORRIBLY ANNOYING 2003 BLUE/RED BACK INSERTS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DISASTROUS INSERT SETS OF THE 00S. NOT ONLY DID TOPPS NOT INCLUDE CARD NUMBERS OF ANY KIND ON THE TWO SETS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF PLAYER OVERLAP BETWEEN SERIES ONE AND TWO. THE SET ISN'T EVEN 52 CARDS! IT'S 40 EACH SERIES! THE SET WAS COMPLETELY HALF-ASSED BUT I BOUGHT A TRUCKLOAD OF PACKS IN 03 SO I HAVE LIKE HALF THE SET ALREADY. HAD I NOT GOT MY TOPPS INSERT WANTLISTS SORTED THROUGH 2009 THESE WOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE BOX

THESE RED BACKS ARE FROM SERIES TWO. SERIOUSLY, WHY IS THERE NO CARD NUMBER ANYWHERE ON THE CARD? NOT ON THE FRONT, NOT ON THE BACK. THIS ISN'T EVEN THE STUPIDEST INSERT FROM 2003! THE RECORD BREAKERS SET DOES THAT STUPID INITIAL NUMBERING SYSTEM THAT WRECKED SO MANY SETS IN THE 00S

THESE CARDS ARE A WHO'S WHO OF DISREGARDED 00S STARS. J-ROLL HAS AN MVP AT LEAST. I GENERALLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL 51 SET (NOT SO MUCH THE RECENT REIMAGININGS) BUT THE ACTUAL GAME ASPECT OF THE CARDS SEEMS KIND OF AWFUL. HALF THE CARDS ARE BALLS OR STRIKES OR FOULS OR EVEN BALKS AND IT SEEMS LIKE A GAME WOULD TAKE FOREVER WITH ALL THE FULL COUNTS YOU'D END UP WITH AND YOU'D HAVE TO RESHUFFLE THE CARDS A HUNDRED TIMES TO GET THROUGH 9 INNINGS. NOT TO MENTION THE INEVITABILITY OF SOME ASSHOLE KID WITH TOO MUCH POCKET MONEY HOARDING ALL THE AL ZARILLA CARDS AND STASHING A COUPLE IN HIS SOCK TO THROW OUT AT OPPORTUNE TIMES. ANYWAY, WHY DO I COLLECT THIS STUFF

1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL INSERT STICKERS I KNOW WHY I COLLECT. I FRIGGIN LOVE 1983 TOPPS FOOTBALL. IT'S GOT A GREAT DESIGN AND HAD A COOL INSERT GIMMICK WITH THE STICKER CARDS. I BOUGHT A BUNCH OF PACKS IN THE DAY BUT A LOT OF THE STICKERS DETERIORATED AND THE BORDERS FELL OFF. THERE WAS A TEAM BAG FULL OF THEM FOR A QUARTER A POP AND I MANAGED TO FIND FIVE I NEEDED. JOE THEISMANN WAS A HUGE STAR IN THE 80S AND IS STILL A POPULAR ANNOUNCER BUT WHEN I HEAR ABOUT HIM TODAY IT'S USUALLY IN REFERENCE TO THAT LEG INJURY. LIFE AIN'T FAIR

THESE ARE SOME GREAT 80S FOOTBALL NAMES. THIS LITTLE PILE BROUGHT A WHOLE LOT OF NICE NOSTALGIA TO ME. THE DESIGN IS PRETTY AWESOME AS WELL. CAN YOU TELL I WAS RUNNING ON FUMES WHEN I WROTE THIS. IT'S BEEN A ROUGH YEAR

THERE'S NOT ONLY STICKERS, BUT PUZZLES! THERE WERE THREE DIFFERENT PUZZLES ON THE BACK WITH PICS FROM THE SUPER BOWL I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO A COMPLETE PUZZLE BUT A LOT OF THE CARDS HAVE THESE COMPLETED PUZZLE BACKS SINCE THE SET IS NOT DIVISIBLE BY NINE

THERE WERE ALSO A DECENT PILE OF 1991 ARCHIVES CARDS IN THE BOX. I'M FAIRLY CLOSE TO COMPLETING THAT SET SO THE ONLY ONE I NEEDED WAS THIS SATCHEL PAIGE CARD. I WOULDA BOUGHT IT ANYWAY OF COURSE BUT I DID JUST PROUDLY PUT IT INTO THE BINDER TO COMPLETE A PAGE JUST MOMENTS AGO. REMEMBER WHEN I SAID THE SELLER WAS CHATTING WITH ME ABOUT ARCHIVES SETS IN THE LAST POST? THAT WAS PLOTTING, THAT WAS SCHEMING. HE SAW A BIG FAT FISH IN FRONT OF HIM AND THAT FISH WAS ABOUT TO GET A HOOK. HE ASKED IF I WAS COLLECTING THE 91 ARCHIVES SET AND I REPLIED WITH A HELL YEAH. WOULD I LIKE SOME MORE 91 ARCHIVES? HE ASKED AND PULLED OUT A MONSTER BOX OF CARDS. A MONSTER BOX PRICED AT TWENTY-FIVE BUCKS (SOUND FAMILIAR?) THAT WAS FILLED WITH CARDS INCLUDING AN ENTIRE ROW OF ARCHIVES AND OTHER ASSORTED LEGENDS SETS 

OH NOEZ! YA BOY'S IN TROUBLE. WILL I ESCAPE THE LURE OF YET ANOTHER BOX FULL OF JUNK OR AM I WALKING OUT OF THE SHOW EARLY WITH A GIANT BOX-O-CRAP UNDER MY ARM? IF YOU READ THE FIRST POST YOU CAN PROBABLY FIGURE IT OUT, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T! YA GOTTA WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO FIND OUT

OH LAWD YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR 😱

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 11

HAPPY FESTIVUS EVERYONE!!!

HERE'S A RELIC CARD I DIDN'T PULL OUT OF A PACK BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER IN A PACK TO BEGIN WITH! THIS IS AN ENTIRELY PACKLESS RELIC, AND ONE OF THE RAREST THINGS IN MY ENTIRE COLLECTION: AN OFFICIAL BLOG-USED RELIC CARD

BACK IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF BLOGGING WE ALL SENT EACH OTHER RIDICULOUS HANDCRAFTED BITS OF CARD ART ON A REGULAR BASIS. I SENT OUT SEVERAL SKETCH CARDS AND RECIEVED A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT 'RELIC' CARDS INCLUDING: 

• OFFICIAL FRANK ZAPPA SQUISHED PENNY CARD
• OFFICIAL ANDRES GALARRAGA 87 TOPPS BIPPED CARD
• OFFICIAL PONY SKETCH CARDS
• OFFICIAL HAND FOLDED ORIGAMI CARD
• OFFICIAL FORMER EDITOR OF BECKETT CUT AUTO CARD
• AND MANY MANY CUSTOM CARDS

CARD ART IS A BIG THING NOWADAYS BUT US OLD-TIMERS WERE UP TO OUR OWN SHENANIGANS BACK IN THE DAY. I'VE GOT ALL MINE PUT ASIDE IN THEIR OWN CORNER OF A RELIC BOX AND LOOK OVER THEM FROM TIME TO TIME TO REMEMBER THE GOOD OL DAYS. THIS ONE HERE FROM STEVE AT WHITE SOX CARDS IS DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE 

AS YOU CAN SEE THIS IS ALSO AN AUTORELIC CARD. YOU CAN FIND THE CARD IMAGE IN THE BACKGROUND OF WHITE SOX CARDS AND AS STEVE'S TWITTER AVATAR. THIS CARD IS SUPER GREAT FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. 1983 TOPPS IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE DESIGNS AND THE FIRST SET I DESPERATELY TRIED TO COMPLETE. I ALSO LOVED THOSE WHITE SOX UNIFORMS AT THE TIME AND CHASED MANY RON KITTLE ROOKIES WITH HIM IN THAT UNI. THE RELIC IS THE REAL STAR OF THE SHOW. OFFICIAL BLOG-USED LED ZEPPELIN T-SHIRT! I HAD THREE LED ZEPPELIN T-SHIRTS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I COULD SEE THIS LITTLE PATCH POSSIBLY BEING A PART OF ALL THREE. I DON'T NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHICH SHIRT IT'S FROM BECAUSE I CAN TELL BY ALL THOSE CRACKS IN THE PRINTING THAT IS WAS WELL WORN AND MUCH LOVED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SWATCH COUNTS AS A PATCH BUT WHATEVER IT IS IT'S DEFINITELY THE COOLEST 

STEVE IS STILL BLOGGING JUST A BIT MORE SPORADICALLY JUST LIKE I'M DOING. HE'S GOT A FANTASTIC POST SHOWING OFF HIS 2022 TOPPS RAINBOW OF CESAR HERNANDEZ THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. GO CHECK IT OUT AND SAY HI! THANKS AGAIN FOR THE LAUNDRY STEVE, AND DON'T TAKE ME PUTTING YOU AS PIGPEN THE WRONG WAY, I JUST THOUGHT YOU'D ENJOY HANGING OUT NEXT TO WALTER

THE GANG'S ALMOST ALL HERE! THE TREE'S ALL FULL UP THOUGH WHATEVER SHALL I DO

Joy of a Completed Set - 1983 Topps Superman III

Happy Labor Day! Here is a post that requires very little labor for me. Well, it took a while to scan all the cards but I did that months ago so thanks, me from July!

Here's a complete set of 1983 Topps Superman III cards. I didn't see this movie when it came out but I remember the Mad Magazine spoof fondly. The set itself isn't really known much at all but if it was it would be for its Richard Pryor (probably) rookie card. I'm not sure which of the numerous cards featuring Richard is his official rookie card but I'm going to go with the one where he's wearing the big foam cowboy hat. If Donruss previously put out a set of Silver Streak or Stir Crazy cards that I didn't know about, please disregard the previous sentence.

I collected this set in a very non laborious way, by buying the complete set at a card show. You can hear all about it in the Trading Card Preservation Society podcast here. The seller also had a Superman II set but I didn't buy that one because I already have over half the set. Now I get to scrounge dusty boxes for a bunch of singles or better yet, buy overpriced wax packs! Hooray! This set did not come with the stickers, so I still have so chase down those if I want a Richard Pryor sticker. Which of course I do. Enjoy the set and as always with these types of card sets beware of spoilers!

Has anyone watched this movie since maybe 1985? Gotta be better than the new dark gritty murder Superman movies, right?