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!!!

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

NEW BATCH OF FIFTY CENT CARDS

WHEN I BOUGHT MY TOPPS HOBBY PACKS I ALSO PICKED UP FIVE BUCKS WORTH OF THE 50 CENT CARDS. WHILE I AM ENJOYING RIPPING THE OCCASIONAL PACK AGAIN, CHEAPO ODDBALLS ARE THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF MY COLLECTING NOW. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE GOLD I WAS ABLE TO MINE

THREE 1992 KELLOGG'S HALL OF FAMERS

LOVE FINDING CHEAP KELLOGG'S EVEN IF THEY ARE THE 90S VERSION. THREE HALL OF FAMERS TOO! I AM NOW VERY CLOSE TO COMPLETING THE 92 SET, I'M ONLY MISSING MADLOCK AND QUIZ. I'M FINDING THE 1991 SET TO BE MUCH MORE CHALLENGING, EVERY TIME I FIND ONE, IT'S STILL IN THE WRAPPER AND WHEN I LOOK IT UP ON THE CHECKLIST IT TURNS OUT I ALREADY HAVE IT. SPEAKING OF ALREADY HAVING IT, I PULLED OUT THE BINDER TO PUT THESE AWAY AND DISCOVERED JIM PALMER STARING BACK AT ME. I'M NOT MAD AT HAVING EXTRAS OF JIM THOUGH

1998 PINNACLE MINT RANDY JOHNSON WITH GOOBERED UP FOIL

LATE 90S ODDBALL ISSUES ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND NOW, AND GOOFED UP CARDS OF HALL OF FAMERS ARE INCREDIBLY SCARCE. PINNACLE MINT CARDS HAD TWO VARIATIONS: ONE WITH A FOIL STAMP IN THE MIDDLE AND ONE WITH THAT BIT PUNCHED OUT WITH A DIE CUT SO YOU COULD SQUEEZE IN A PLAYER COIN. THIS FOIL MISHAP IS EXTRA INTERESTING AS THERE'S A BLANK WHITE CIRCLE UNDERNEATH THE STAMPING. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S POSSIBLE BOTH FOIL STAMPED AND DIE CUT CARDS WERE PRINTED THE SAME AND JUST FED INTO DIFFERENT MACHINES. IF THEY HAD THOUGHT UP THIS IDEA A FEW YEARS EARLIER THEY COULD HAVE SOLD THE LEFTOVER DIE CUT TRASH AS POGS AND MADE A MINT

1985 DRAKE'S REGGIE JACKSON

LAST TIME I RAIDED THE FIFTY CENT BOXES I PICKED UP THE 1982, 1983, AND 1984 REGGIE DRAKE CARDS. I'M NOT SURE IF I JUST MISSED THIS ONE OR IF IT WAS NEW TO THE BOX, BUT I DIDN'T PASS IT UP THIS TIME. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO COMPLETE ALL THESE DRAKE'S SETS BUT IN 1986 THEY TRANSITIONED FROM THESE TOPPS WITH A DIFFERENT FRONT CARDS TO CARDS YOU HAVE TO CUT OFF THE BOX AND THEY SEEM TO BE MUCH HARDER TO FIND. I GUESS IN THE 80S NO ONE WAS THROWING AWAY TOPPS CARDS BUT THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS TOSSING A SNACK CAKE BOX

2018 HERITAGE HIGH NUMBER REGGIE JACKSON HIGHLIGHTS

I WAS COMPLETELY CHECKED OUT ON HERITAGE AFTER 2014 OR SO AND I THINK I SAW THESE JACKSON HIGHLIGHTS CARDS ONCE OR TWICE ONLINE AND THOUGHT 'COOL!' AND IMMEDIATELY FORGOT ABOUT THEM. I'M OK WITH THIS BECAUSE MY BRAIN GOT TO EXPLODE ALL OVER AGAIN ONCE I REDISCOVERED THIS CARD IN THE CHEAPO BOX. I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ANY OTHER CARDS OF REGGIE WITH A KANSAS CITY A'S LOGO ON THE UNIFORM SO THIS IS EXTRA COOL. LIKE THE 1993 UPPER DECK CLARK BAR SET, THIS ONE'S ONLY FIVE CARDS SO I THINK I NEED TO TRACK DOWN THE OTHER FOUR NOW

THREE UPPER DECK INSERTS OFF MY WANTLISTS

1992 HOMERUN HEROES MARK MCGWIRE

I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT COMPLETING INSERT SETS BUT I'VE BEEN PUTTING SOME EFFORT IN FINISHING UP MY 1993 UPPER DECK INSERTS LATELY. THE HOMERUN HEROES CARDS WERE INSERTED ONE PER SERIES ONE JUMBO PACK. THIS IS ONE OF THE NICER INSERT SETS OUT THERE WITH A VERY CLEAN DESIGN FEATURING AN EMBOSSED BASEBALL BAT THAT WORKS MUCH BETTER THAN IT SHOULD

1992 BASEBALL HEROES BENCH & MORGAN

I WAS CRAZY ABOUT THE UPPER DECK BASEBALL HEROES SERIES, ESPECIALLY THE HANK AND REGGIE SETS, BUT I FELT IT STARTED TO JUMP THE SHARK WHEN THEY SPLIT THIS ONE BETWEEN JOHNNY BENCH AND JOE MORGAN. AS A RESULT I STILL NEED A BUNCH OF THESE TO FINISH OUT MY BASEBALL HEROES RUN. SADLY I AM JUST FINDING OUT NOW THAT THERE WAS ONE LAST ONE-PER-BOX BASEBALL HEROES SET OF BABE RUTH FROM 1995 SERIES TWO THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE

1991 SILVER SLUGGER EDDIE MURRAY

ANOTHER ONE-PER JUMBO PACK INSERT. I GOT QUITE A FE OF THESE IN 1991 BUT AM STILL MISSING SOME. IT'S AN 18 CARD SET TO MATCH THE NUMBER OF SILVER SLUGGER WINNERS, SOMETHING MY INSERT BINDER APPRECIATES. EDDIE MURRAY CARDS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

2020 ARCHIVES FRED MCGRIFF

MY FIRST FRED MCGRIFF CARD AFTER HE WAS ELECTED TO TEH HALL OF FAME. I HAD TO GET THIS CARD WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE DESIGNS, IT'S FRIGGIN BEAUTIFUL. I DON'T EVEN MIND THE SKINNY LETTERING ON THE NAME OR THE GOOFY FAKE AUTOGRAPH ON THE BACK. EVERYTHING IS IS SO PERFECT RIGHT DOWN TO THE 1994 ALL STAR MVP CARTOON THAT THE FLAWS JUST ENHANCE THE ENJOYMENT

1994 MOUND MARVELS MIKE MUSSINA UNPEELED

ANOTHER ORIOLES CARD I LIKELY ALREADY HAVE, THIS WAS FOUND WHILE SCROUNGING THROUGH THE M'S LOOKING FOR THE 1992 KELLOGG'S BIL MADLOCK. I DIDN'T FIND IT BUT THIS WAS A NICE CONSOLATION PRIZE. I REMEMBER PULLING SOME OF THESE FROM PACKS IN 1994. PROTECTIVE FILM WAS A BRAND NEW THING AND DONRUSS DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT SO THEY SLAPPED THIS GIGANTIC WARNING LABEL TO REMOVE THE FILM SO PEOPLE WOULDN'T GET CONFUSED. IT WAS FUNNY AS HELL THEN AND IS STILL FUNNY TODAY. WHILE I HAVE NOT PEELED THIS CARD YET, I AM 90% CERTAIN I HAVE ANOTHER COPY OF THE MUSSINA MOUND MARVELS CARD SOMEWHERE AND YOU MAY REST ASSURED WHEN I FIND IT ONE OF THEM IS GONNA GET PEELED

TOP THIRTY CARDS FROM NIGHT OWL'S JUNK DUMP GIVEAWAY BOX - #20-11

ALL RIGHTY TIME FOR THE FORGOTTEN MIDDLE CHILDREN OF MY NIGHT OWL CARDS TOP THIRTY LIST WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED LIKE TWO MONTHS AGO BUT THEN STUFF HAPPENED AND IT WAS THE HOLIDAYS AND NOW NONE OF YOU EVEN REMEMBER THE OTHER CARDS BUT I'VE UPLOADED THE IMAGES AND I'M PROBABLY RUNNING OUT OF CLOUD SPACE SO I BETTER USE WHAT I HAVE AND CAN YOU TELL I DON'T KNOW HOW TO START THIS POST

#20 - 2014 WACKY PACKAGES THE VAMPIRE DAIRIES

I'LL NEVER SERIOUSLY COLLECT WACKY PACKAGES BUT I LOVE VAMPIRES AND THIS IS A FIRST-CLASS PUN. MOVE OVER, COUNT DUCKULA

#19 - 1978 KELLOGG'S GEORGE FOSTER

WHEN I REQUESTED A GIVEAWAY BOX, I KNEW GREG WASN'T GOING TO INCLUDE THE JUNKIEST OF THE JUNK, BUT I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT EXPECT VINTAGE KELLOGG'S CARDS OF MVP WINNERS EITHER. I HAD A VERY GOOD 2022 PICKING UP A TON OF OLD KELLOGG'S CARDS AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS TREND IN 2023

#18 - 1981 BASEBALL IMMORTALS BILL KLEM

THIS IS BEING POSTED EITHER RIGHT BEFORE OR RIGHT AFTER A HUGE POST ON BASEBALL IMMORTALS CARDS SO I'LL LET THAT POST EXPOUND UPON THE SET. LONG STORY SHORT I LOVE THIS SET AND I AM VERY BELATEDLY TRYING TO BUILD IT BECAUSE I WAS NEVER ABLE TO BUY THE FACTORY SET FROM A MAGAZINE AD WHEN I WAS A KID. ALSO, THIS PICTURE OF BILL KLEM IS FANTASTIC

#17 - 2021 ALLEN & GINTER JUAN SOTO

I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS MANY, MANY TIMES, BUT AFTER COMLETING THE ALLEN AND GINTER SET EVERY YEAR FOR LIKE A DECADE, I CAN BARELY SCRAPE TOGETHER ENOUGH TO FILL A PAGE NOWADAYS. THIS WAS ONE OF MY FIRST GINTER CARDS FROM 2021, AND ONE OF THE FEW JUAN SOTO CARDS I HAVE PERIOD SO IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THAT'S A PRETTY COOL LOGO ON THE CAP TOO 

#16 - 2011 TOPPS LINEAGE ANDRE DAWSON

LINEAGE REALLY PISSED ME OFF IN 2011 AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHY ANYMORE. I KNOW I SHOULD HOLD A GRUDGE BUT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO WITH GORGEOUS CARDS LIKE THIS. HAWK + EXPOS + ROOKIE CUP = 😍

#15 - 2022 TOPPS JONAH HEIM

IT TOOK UNTIL DECEMBER TO BREAK SINGLE DIGITS IN MY 2022 TOPPS FLAGSHIP COLLECTION BUT THAT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE I GOT PROBABLY THE BEST CARD IN THE SET RIGHT HERE

#14 - 2021 ALLEN & GINTER YOGI BERRA

MOARER 2021 ALLEN AND GINTER! AND I ACTUALLY COLLECT THIS PLAYER ON PURPOSE! VERY VERY NICE

*****BONUS*****

FOR SOME REASON I ACCIDENTALLY UPLOADED THE UNCROPPED SCAN OF THE PAST 9 CARDS SO YOU GET AN EXTRA BEHIND THE SCENE LOOK AT MY BLOGGERY PROCESS

#13 - 1970 TOPPS LUIS APARICIO

ALONG WITH THE FOSTER THIS CARD WAS THE HOLY SHIT MOMENT WHERE I TRULY UNDERSTOOD HOW DAMN GOOD THIS BOX WAS. VINTAGE HALL OF FAMERS ARE MOST DEFINITELY NOT JUNK. FOR SOME REASON THIS CARD SEEMS VERY ICONIC TO ME AND I'M NOT SURE WHY. I THINK IT JUST IMPRINTED ON ME AS A CHILD THAT THIS WAS A COOL CARD AND IT STUCK

#12 (TIE) - 2010 TOPPS EDDIE MATHEWS & CHIPPER JONES DIAMOND DUOS

#12 (TIE) - 2011 TOPPS JASON HEYWARD & FREDDIE FREEMAN DIAMOND DUOS

CHEATING, BUT HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN THESE TWO. I HAVE A GREAT NEED FOR AN UPDATED CARD WITH EDDIE, CHIPPER AND AUSTIN RILEY ON IT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE HEYWARD/FREEMAN CARD'S CONTIGUOUS BACKGROUND THAT LOOKS LIKE FREDDIE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM JASON IN TERROR. JASON JUST CAUGHT UP TO YOU IN L.A., BETTER KEEP RUNNING FREDDIE 

#11 - 2016 ALLEN & GINTER MOOSE MASCOTS IN THE WILD

MOOOOOOOOOOOOSE 

I HAD THIS CARD ALREADY BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE

THESE CARDS WERE SO GOOD, JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE TOP TEN COULD BE! IMAGINE HARD YOU SAW HOW LONG IT TOOK THIS POST TO COME OUT