MERRY CARDMAS BONUS: BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 28: GILBERT PART 2

HOORAY! CHRISTMAS HAS COME! OR MAYBE IT HASN'T, I'M WRITING THIS OVER A WEEK BEFOREHAND. PERHAPS THE GRINCH HAS SNATCHED IT AWAY. PERHAPS YOU ARE THE GRINCH AND HAS DONE THE SNATCHING! SNATCHED OR NO, I HOPE YOU ENJOY CHRISTMAS OR THE LACK OF IT. AS A SPECIAL TREAT FOR YOU HERE IS ONE MORE POST FOR CARDMAS: A BLACK FRIDAY 2021 PICKUP THAT IS BEING POSTED WAY OUT OF ORDER. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT GILBERT PART 1 IS YET! THAT'S A FUN ONE BUT NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS THIS

FEEL FREE TO READ THIS POST IN GILBERT'S VOICE

IN EVERY COMC ORDER I SPLURGE ON ONE CARD AND SPEND SOMETHING LIKE A FIVER ON ONE CARD SO THERE'S SOMETHING NICE IN BETWEEN ALL THE JUNK I FOUND FOR THIRTY-THREE CENTS. THE FIRST TIME I DROPPED A FIVER IT WAS A JASON HEYWARD TOPPS GOLD NUMBERED PARALLEL, THIS YEAR IT WAS A CARD FROM 1941. THAT JIM BOUTON CARD FROM A FEW POSTS AGO WAS A HIGH ROLLER PICKUP FROM COMC, I SPENT SIX WHOLE DOLLARS ON THAT ONE. IN 2021 I ACTUALLY GOT TWO SPENDY CARDS, THIS ONE HERE AN ANOTHER YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE IN JANUARY. I HAVE BEEN A HUGE FAN OF GILBERT GOTTFRIED FOR DECADES. I ALWAYS LOVED HIS CRAZY VOICE AND LIKED CATCHING HIM DO HIS SCHTICK ON USA UP ALL NIGHT OR SOME RANDOM SMALL PART IN A TV SHOW EVERY SO OFTEN. MY COLLEGE FRIENDS COULDN'T STAND LISTENING TO HIM BUT THEY ALL SURE LOVED HIM IN ALADDIN.  HE SHOWED UP IN TONS OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS IN THE 90S: REN & STIMPY, DUCKMAN, THE WEIRD AL SHOW, DR. KATZ. HE DID VOICE WORK ON EVERYTHING INCLUDING MY KIDS' SHOWS LIKE CYBERCHASE. MOTHERFUCKER WAS EVERYWHERE. HOLLYWOOD SQUARES. THE ARISTOCRATS. THE AFLAC DUCK. THE APPRENTICE. GILBERT WAS EVERYWHERE AND HE WAS ALWAYS FUNNY. THEN HE DID THE FUNNIEST PODCAST EVER. I HAD ALREADY PICKED UP A DONRUSS AMERICANA BASE CARD AND WANTED A RELIC OR AUTO TO GO WITH IT AND FOUND THIS COOL SWATCH FROM AMERICAN PICE WITH HALF A DOZEN COLORS ON IT. IS IT A TIE? UNDERWEAR? WHO KNOWS, GILBERT WORE WHATEVER IT WAS AND THAT WAS ENOUGH

AND THEN OUTTA NOWHERE GILBERT DIED THIS YEAR. THIS HIT ME HARD AT A TIME WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MENTAL ENERGY TO DEAL WITH STUFF. SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT ME A LOT OF JOY WAS SUDDENLY GONE AND A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY. I FEEL A LITTLE BAD BRINGING EVERYTHING DOWN ON CHRISTMAS BUT IT'S BEEN A FUCKED UP YEAR - HALF A DOZEN YEARS, REALLY - AND THE FACT THAT I SURVIVED THIS ONE AT ALL HAS ME A LITTLE INTROSPECTIVE AT THE END OF IT. SHIT SUCKS BUT I'M STILL HERE AND I GOT LIKE 500 AMAZING COLOSSAL PODCAST EPISODES TO RE-LISTEN TO AND A COOL CARD OF I DUNNO A HANDKERCHIEF OR SOMETHING TO REMEMBER GILBERT BY. IF YOU NEVER LISTENED TO AN EPISODE OF THE PODCAST I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ONE OF HIS CHRISTMAS EPISODES WITH MARIO CANTONE, THEY ARE ALL HILARIOUS. I ALSO AM FOND OF THE TRAINWRECK MARTY ALLEN EPISODE, AND ALSO BOB EINSTEIN, BILLY WEST, BILL MACY, DICK CAVETT, HELL JUST CHECK OUT WHATEVER ENCORE SHOW THEY ARE RUNNING THIS WEEK, THEY'RE ALL PRETTY GOOD. HERE'S TO YOU GILBERT, THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS 

NOW THE TREE HAS A STAR AND YOU KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO LEAVE SNOOPY OUT OF THE FESTIVITIES. MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE FILLED WITH ORANGE WEDGES AND CHICKENS AND GLASS COFFEE TABLES. WAIT, NO. MAYBE STAY AWAY FROM ALL THAT. JUST HAVE A NICE DAY AND PERHAPS WATCH THE MR MAGOO CHRISTMAS CAROL INSTEAD. GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE! WITH RAZZLEBERRY DRESSING

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 12

CHRISTMAS EVE!!! TIME TO RELAX, MAYBE WATCH SOME FOOTBALL, DOWN SOME BREWSKIS AND WORK A FULL SHIFT IF YOU'RE ME BECAUSE MY SCHEDULE IS WEIRD. TODAY'S CARD IS ONE OF THE MOST CHERISHED IN MY COLLECTION AND UNLIKE THE REST, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE HOW I GOT THE THING. I VERY MUCH DOUBT I PULLED IT OUT OF A PACK BUT I CAN'T RECALL BUYING IT AT A SHOP OR FLEA MARKET EITHER AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I GOT IT ONLINE. MAYBE IT JUST APPEARED ONE DAY LIKE A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE? LET'S BE FESTIVE AND GO WITH THAT. BEHOLD, MY MIRACLE RELIC

MINNIE MINOSO IS FINALLY IN THE HALL OF FAME WHICH IS A WONDERFUL RELIEF. BUCK O'NEIL TOO! I'M GOING TO DIE MAD ABOUT DOZENS OF OTHER HALL OF FAME SNUBS BUT YOU ENJOY THE WINS WHEN YOU CAN. I LEARNED ABOUT MINOSO FAIRLY LATE, FOR A LONG TIME HE WAS THE GUY WITH THE RECORD BREAKER CARD IN 1977 TOPPS THAT SOMEHOW ALSO HAD A CARD IN 1953 TOPPS.  THE MORE YOU LOOK AT HIS BASEBALL RECORD THE MORE AMAZING IT GETS AND IT'S A BLACK MARK ON THE HALL INDUCTION PROCESS THAT HE WASN'T HONORED WHEN HE WAS ALIVE

CLEVELAND JERSEY ON A CHICAGO CARD. WHO CARES, IT'S AN OLD SWATCH AND MINNIE IS MR. WHITE SOX. THE EARLY 00S WERE A GOLDEN AGE FOR VINTAGE RELIC CARDS AND I SNAPPED UP AS MANY AS I COULD IN MY BUDGET WHICH WAS SURPRISINGLY MORE THAN YOU'D EXPECT. ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME WAS THE HEATHERED LOOK ON A LOT OF VINTAGE AWAY JERSEY MATERIAL. YOU DON'T REALLY NOTICE IT IN OLD PHOTOS OF PLAYERS IN THEIR AWAY JERSEYS BUT IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY IT'S THERE. YOU DON'T SEE THAT KIND OF THING IN UNIFORMS AFTER THE 80S, IT REALLY MAKES THESE OLDER SWATCHES UNIQUE

I KNEW THAT NOT EVERY HEAD WAS GOING TO FIT PERFECTLY BUT CHARLIE BROWN'S HEAD IS EXTRA DIFFICULT. BEING A LITTLE OFF IS VERY ON BRAND FOR CHARLIE AND IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE, NO ONE CARES. WE'RE ALL READY TO SETTLE OUR BRAINS FOR A LONG WINTER'S NAP

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

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 10

LAST ONE OF THESE THAT WAS PULLED BY ME OUT OF A PACK OF CARDS. AND IT'S A REALLY RIDICULOUS ONE TOO

I MISS PACIFIC CARDS. THEY WERE HANDS DOWN THE MOST CONSISTENTLY WEIRD TRADING CARD COMPANY AROUND. SURE THEY HAD ONE OR TWO MILDY NORMAL LOOKING PRODUCTS LIKE THE FLAGSHIP SET AND MAYBE PARAMOUNT BUT THEY ALWAYS SWUNG FOR THE FENCES WITH THE DESIGNS ON THEIR ODDBALL SETS. A LOT OF TIMES THEY STRUCK OUT, BUT 2000 VANGUARD WAS ONE OF THEIR BEST. BASE CARDS WERE THESE THICK PLASTIC THINGS WITH A SOLID BRIGHTLY COLORED BACKGROUND WITH A HOLOFOIL HALO AROUND THE PLAYER PHOTO. YOU HAVE TO SEE THEM IN HAND TO GET THE FULL EFFECT BUT THEY REALLY DO LOOK GREAT. 

I BOUGHT QUITE A FEW PACKS OF BASEBALL FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY THAT YEAR* AND ENJOYED THEM GREATLY. THIS WAS A PREMIUM PRODUCT SO PACKS ONLY HAD FOUR CARDS  IN THEM. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I FOUND A PACK OF VANGUARD AT TARGET THAT WAS THE SIZE OF A BRICK. THICK PACK = MOAR CARDS SO OF COURSE I BOUGHT IT**. I OPENED IT UP AND THERE WASN'T MOARER CARDS, THERE WAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CARDS AND A CRAZY THICK CARD OF FUTURE HALL OF FAMER CRIS CARTER WITH A LARGE CHUNK OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE PART OF A UNIFORM NUMBER. WITH BONUS SERIAL NUMBER #1/25 HAND WRITTEN WITH A SILVER PAINT PEN THAT WAS RUNNING OUT OF PAINT. IT WAS THE YEAR 2000 SO RELIC CARDS WERE STILL RARE BUT NOT UNHEARD OF AT THAT TIME SO I WAS COOL AND COLLECTED WHEN I SAW IT, RIGHT. NOPE. MY EYEBALLS BUGGED OUT AND I WENT HUBBA HUBBA AWOOOOOGA NYONG NYONG NYONG BBBBLBLBLBLBLBLBLBLBLBBLBLB

THEN I TURNED THE MOTHERFUCKER OVER AND IT'S GODDAMN RANDY MOSS WITH AN EVEN NICER PATCH SWATCH. TWO HALL OF FAMERS ON THE SAME CARD THAT'S AS THICK AS A PULP NOVEL AND HAS TWO GIGANTIC PORT HOLES STUFFED WITH JERSEY BITS. IT'S A HELLA NICE CARD AND IF DIDN'T LOVE BASEBALL WAAAY MORE THAN FOOTBALL MIGHT'VE BEATEN OUT ICHIRO FOR MY 'NICEST PATCH CARD' AWARD. 2000 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR PACIFIC AND IT'S A DAMN SHAME EVERYTHING CAME CRASHING DOWN AFTER THEY LOST THEIR BASEBALL LICENSE THE NEXT YEAR. I HAVE TWO MORE RELIC CARDS FROM 2000 PACIFIC OF KURT WARNER AND GREG MADDUX AND THE ONLY REASON THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT IS BECAUSE I FOUND ALL THE OTHER CARDS IN THE POST BEFORE I GOT TO THEM. STILL, THIS CARD REPRESENTS THAT PACIFIC QUALITY WELL

YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TICKLED I WAS THAT THE TWINS WERE WEARING PURPLE

*POSSIBLE FRANKENSET CANDIDATE?

**BOOOO PACK SEARCHERS, HISSS BAH FOR SHAME. YEAH, YEAH,  WHATEVER. IF YOU CAN STRAIGHT UP LOOK AT A PACK AND SEE IT'S THREE TIMES FATTER THAN THE REST OF 'EM YOU'RE GONNA PICK THAT ONE. IT'S SIMPLE HUNTER GATHERER INSTINCT. THAT'S NOT EVEN PACK SEARCHING*** THAT'S PACK LOOKING

***ALSO, I AM ON RECORD AS BEING 100% SUPPORTIVE OF PACK SEARCHING IN RETAIL. TARGET AND WAL-MART CARD AISLES ARE A HELLSCAPE AT THE BEST OF TIMES I RESPECT THE HUSTLE FOR COLLECTORS JUST TRYING TO GET SOMETHING NICE. IF YOU'RE A FLIPPER THOUGH AND CLEAR OUT EVERY STORE WITHIN A 50 MILE RADIUS LIKE A SWARM OF LOCUSTS AND GET IN FIGHTS WITH THE OTHER LOCUSTS OVER POKEMON CARDS AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE BEING NO ALLEN & GINTER PACKS IN STORES SINCE 2019 THEN SEE THE FIRST SENTENCE IN ** AND I HOPE EVERYTHING YOU BUY IS ALREADY OPENED AND STUFFED WITH CRUMMY BOWMAN BASE CARDS**** WITH NOT EVEN A SINGLE BIP ROBERTS IN SIGHT*****

****AND NOT EVEN PLAIN OLD VETERAN BASE CARDS, CAREFULLY CHOSEN NON-FIRST BOWMAN CARD PROSPECTS CARDS EXCLUSIVELY OF PLAYERS WHO NEVER GOT PAST DOUBLE-A. THAT SPEW OUT BY THE THOUSANDS LIKE IT'S THE BLASTER VERSION OF A CLOWN CAR OR A VERY STRANGE TARDIS

*****WHAT AM I SAYING, EVERYONE DESERVES THE BLESSING OF BIP ROBERTS DURING THE JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME. OH WHY OH WHY DO I TALK POLITICS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, IT NEVER ENDS WELL. JUST SKIP ALL THESE FOOTNOTES

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 9

SO FAR WE'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY HARD HITTING RELICS, SOME STUFF YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PAY SOME DECENT COIN TO PICK UP. TODAY'S IS JUST ONE I REALLY LOVE EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN PROBABLY PICK ONE UP PRETTY CHEAP

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY BUT WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT THERE WERE GAME USED CAP CARDS I ABOUT LOST MY MIND. THERE WERE ALREADY GAME USED UNIFORM CARDS APLENTY BY 2003 (AND PROBABLY SOME PREVIOUS CAP CARDS IF I'M BEING HONEST) BUT WHEN I FIRSTSAW THESE THINGS I WILL NOT LIE, I COVETED. PART OF IT WAS JUST THE DESIGN OF THE CARDS. BRIGHT, BRIGHT COLORS, DISEMBODIED FLOATY HEADS AND TRICKY DIE-CUTS ARE THREE THINGS I WHOLEHEARTEDLY LOVE ON CARDS AND THIS SET HIT THE TRIFECTA. I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP THE VINNY CASTILLA CARD PRETTY QUICKLY AFTER BUT THIS WAS THE CARD I REALLY REALLY WANTED AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE AND I PROBABLY PAID TOO MUCH BUT I GOT IT. SOMETHING ABOUT THIS CARD ACTIUVATES THE HAPPY CHEMICALS IN MY BRAIN, EVEN NOW I'VE JUST BEEN STARING AT THE CARD FOR LIKE FIFTEEN MIUTES INSTEAD OF WRITING THE POST. THE RED AND BLUE JUST LOOKS SO GOOD! I ALSO LOVE THE NAME OF THE SET 'MEN WITH HATS'. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? IT IS A SAFETY DANCE REFERENCE TWENTY YEARS LATER? IT'S SO GOOFY. LOOKING ALL THIS STUFF UP I'M NOW FINDING AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE IS ALSO A TIM HUDSON CARD IN THE SET. IT LOOKS GOOD WITH THE SAME RED BORDER AND ANDRUW HERE BUT MAN, IF IT HAD A GREEN BORDER FOR THAT A'S CAP IT WOULD BE AN ALL TIME GREAT

UPPER DECK VINTAGE IS A WILD BRAND, REALIZING A RETRO CRAZE WAS UPON THE HOBBY UD JUST STRAIGHT UP YOINKED SOME CLASSIC TOPPS DESIGNS. THE BEST PART IS THEY PICKED THREE FANTASTIC DESIGNS TO STEAL, 1963, 1965 AND 1971. THEY DID IT IN FOOTBALL TOO WITH THE 1971 FOOTBALL DESIGN AND WITH SEVERAL DESIGNS IN HOCKEY. Y NO HOOPS UD?? I REMEMBER TOPPS GOT MAD AS HELL TOO, THEY WERE NOT AMUSED BY UPPER DECK COPYING THEIR HOMEWORK SO WELL. FLEER DID THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME BUT THEIR RIPOFFS LOOKED KINDA CHEESY. BY 2004 UPPER DECK BACKED OFF AND STARTED STEALING VINTAGE ODDBALL DESIGNS. THEY ALSO ADDED A BUNCH OF SHORT PRINTS AND INSANITY AND THERE WAS NO UPPER DECK VINTAGE IN 2005. IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED THOUGH!

SPEAKING OF DISEMBODIED FLOATY HEADS, I HAVE BEEN PLACING THESE ON THE SCREENSHOT MOSTLY BASED ON HOW WELL THEY FIT THE PICTURE NOT BY HOW WELL THE PERSONALITY LINES UP WITH THE CHARACTER. DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO HARD OR YOU'LL GET THE IMAGE OF SHAQ HITTING ON ANDRUW JONES WHILE HE PLAYS BEETHOVEN ON A TOY PIANO STUCK IN YOUR HEAD AND NOBODY NEEDS THAT

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 8

WE'RE OVER THE HUMP AND CAREENING WILDLY TOWARDS CHRISTMAS NOW. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT IT'LL BE ALL OVER AND WE'LL ALL WONDER WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED. WE'RE NOT THERE YET THOUGH SO TAKE A BIG SNORT OF EGG NOG AND ENJOY THE RIDE WHILE YOU CAN

BASKETBALL IS VERY EASILY THE #2 SPORT I COLLECT BY A LARGE MARGIN. NOT SO MUCH IN THE SIZE OF THE COLLECTION BUT THE AFFECTION I HAVE FOR MY BASKETBALL CARDS IS WAAAAAY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT VINTAGE BASEBALL. EVEN SO, BASKETBALL AUTOGRAPHS AND RELICS ARE NOT SOMETHING I HAVE A LOT OF IN MY COLLECTION. IT MIGHT BE THAT I RIPPED LESS PACKS DURING PEAK RELIC YEARS, IT MIGHT BE THAT BASKETBALL RELICS ARE JUST GENERALLY MORE SCARCE AND NOT OFTEN FOUND IN BARGAIN BINS BUT I DON'T HAVE A TON OF THEM AND THE ONES I DO ARE OFTEN EXTREMELY RANDOM FRINGEY TYPE PLAYERS. WHICH MAKES IT SO WEIRD THAT I HAVE TWO RELIC CARDS OF SHAQUILLE O'NEAL FROM 2002-03 TOPPS, ONE FROM  FLAGSHIP AND ONE FROM CHROME AND BOTH WERE PULLED FROM PACKS

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE SHAQ, HE'S MY AGE, WAS DRAFTED WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND WAS THE FIRST GIGANTIC SUPERSTAR CAREER I REALLY GOT TO WATCH FROM BEGINNING TO END. THESE SHAQ ATTACK RELICS WERE FOUND IN BOTH TOPPS AND CHROME AND WERE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME OTHER THAN HOW REFLECTIVE THEY WERE. SOMEHOW I PULLED BOTH THE TOPPS AND CHROME VERSION FROM PACKS I GOT AT THE SAME TARGET. I DON'T EVEN USUALLY BUY PACKS OF CHROME, I JUST PICKED SOME UP THAT DAY FOR WHATEVER REASON. THE GIMMICK OF THIS SET IS THAT THE FRONT LISTS FIVE BIG MOMENTS IN SHAQ'S CAREER AND THEN HAS A LITTLE JERSEY SWATCH SHAPED LIKE THE STATE WHERE IT OCCURRED. THE TOPPS CARD HAS A TINY YELLOW SWATCH IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THIS ONE IS A PURPLE CALIFORNIA. I CHOSE THIS ONE TO SHOW OFF BECAUSE THE 2002 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS IS ONE OF THE MOST INFAMOUS SCREWJOBS IN NBA, NO - SPORTS HISTORY. SACRAMENTO SHOULD HAVE WON THAT SERIES BUT THE REFS COMPLETELY TOOK IT AWAY FROM THEM WITH ALLEGATIONS THAT THE REFS FIXED GAME 6. THE LAKERS WON THE SERIES AND THEN THEIR THRID STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (AND THIRD STRAIGHT FINALS MVP FOR O'NEAL) AND THE KINGS' FRANCHISE FELL INTO ACTUAL HELL AFTER THAT. IT'S KINDA WILD OWNING A TRADING CARD WITH A RELIC FROM A JERSEY THAT WAS WORN BY A FINALS MVP AND IS ALSO COMMEMORATING AN ACTUAL SCANDAL

I STILL LOVE YOU SHAQ, DON'T LET CHARLES BULLY YOU TOO MUCH

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 7

 STARTING TO REALIZE I HAVE HAD AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF GOOD LUCK RIPPING PACKS WITH SOME OF THESE CARDS EVEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT I USED TO RIP WAY TOO MANY PACKS. WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF CARDMAS NOW, WITH MAYBE THE BEST CARD OF THE BUNCH

2005 UPPER DECK ALL-STAR CLASSICS WAS KIND OF THE POINT WHERE SPECIAL THEME SETS STARTED GETTING SERIOUSLY PLAYED OUT. A RETAIL ONLY 100 CARD SET OF PLAYERS WHO WERE IN ALL STAR GAMES? I GUESS? WITH TOO MANY INSERTS AND OF COURSE THERE WAS A PARALLEL AND THERE WERE NO ROOKIES. THIS SET WAS NOT POPULAR AT ALL BUT I STILL BOUGHT A BUNCH OF THEM AND THAT WAS BEFORE A TON OF PACKS WENT INTO THE  $1.49 CLEARANCE BOX AND I BOUGHT A BUNCH MORE. THE LAST TWENTY-FIVE CARDS OR SO WERE ALL HALL OF FAMERS AND I'M AN IDIOT FOR LEGENDS SETS SO I HAD TO BUY SOME. I WAS HAPPY WHEN I SAW ONE OF THE PACKS HAD A RELIC CARD IN IT. I WAS EVEN HAPPIER TO SEE IT WAS ICHIRO. I ALMOST CRAPPED MYSELF WHEN I SAW THAT PATCH

I'VE GOT A FEW PATCH CARDS BUT MOST OF THEM ARE BIG CHUNKS OF A NUMBER OR LETTER. A COUPLE ARE JUST ALL ONE SOLID PATCH COLOR WITH NO STITCHES OR NOTHIN. THIS IS NOT THAT, THERE'S LIKE FIVE DIFFERENT COLOR THREAD ON THE THING AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE THE LOGO. THESE SORT OF CARDS ARE USUALLY OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE AND EVEN THEN THERE'S THAT RISK THAT A REALLY COOL LOOKING PATCH MIGHT BE SOMEONE'S ART PROJECT. PULLING SOMETHING LIKE THIS OF AN INNER CIRCLE HALL OF FAMER OUT OF A PACK IS PRETTY SPECIAL

MURRY CRISMIS HOME STRETCH WOOOOOO LET'S GO

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 6

CRAP

I SHOULDA USED THIS CARD FOR FIVE GOOOOOLD RINGS

MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR SURE

I WAS COMPLETELY GAGA OVER THE LORD OF THE RINGS MOVIES WHEN THEY CAME OUT. SAW THEM ALL IN THE MOVIE THEATER AND SAW ALL THREE IN ONE SITTING WHEN RETURN OF THE KING WAS RELEASED AND BOUGHT THE EXTENDED EDITION DVDS WITH ALL THE ADDED BULLSHIT SO THEY ALL TOOK FIFTEEN HOURS TO WATCH AND THEY WERE THE BEST THINGS EVER. THEN THE HOBBIT CAME OUT AND IT WAS LIKE, OH. THEN THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG CAME OUT AND IT WAS LIKE, YEAH OK, DRAGON. THEN THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES CAME OUT AND I NEVER GAVE A SHIT ABOUT A HOBBIT EVER AGAIN. NO BOOKS, NO RADIO PLAYS, NO COMICS, NO MANGA ADAPTATIONS, NO BAKSHI CARTOONS, NO TV SERIES, NO TIJUANA BIBLES, NO MORE MIDDLE EARTH. IT'S HONESTLY SHOCKING JUST HOW COMPLETELY THAT MOVIE RUNINED IT FOR ME. AND IT'S NOT EVEN THE WORST MOVIE EVER, BILLY CONNOLLY ON A WARPIG WAS PRETTY COOL ACTUALLY

BUT IN THE 00S, I WAS STILL GOOFY FOR GOLLUM AND BOUGHT UP A TON OF LORD OF THE RINGS TOPPS CARDS. I MANAGED TO ACCUMULATE A SMALL PILE OF THE RELIC CARDS, GANDALF, ARWEN, AND A HANDFUL OF OTHERS. THE ONLY HOBBIT I'M MISSING IS MERRY. ANYONE HAVE AN EXTRA MERRY FOR A PIPPIN? MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHARACTER IS SMEAGOL, BUT HE DIDN'T EXACTLY HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD EVEN BE MADE INTO RELICS. OF THE ONES I HAVE GANDALF HAS TO BE MY FAVORITE SINCE IAN MCKELLAN IS A BAD ASS. GANDALF, MAGNETO, RICHARD III AND JAMES WHALE IS A PRETTY DAMN GOOD ACTING ROLE MOUNT RUSHMORE. OF THE RELICS I DON'T HAVE I MOST COVET THE BRAD DOURIF WORMTONGUE VELVET UNDERFROCK. BRAD'S BEEN IN A HUNDRED MOVIES I LOVE. I'D TRADE MY EXTRA FRODO FOR THAT ONE

THE GIGANTIC BEARD KINDA WORKS ON SALLY DON'T YOU THINK

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 5

FIIIIIIVE GOOOOOOLDEN RIIIIIINGS

JIM ONLY WON ONE RING BUT WHOS' COUNTING

THIS IS THE FIRST CARD IN THE LAUNDRY LIST THAT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY PULL FROM A PACK. I AM NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHERE I GOT IT, BUT I KNOW IT WASN'T FROM A PACK OF SWEET SPOT. I PICKED UP A COPY OF BALL FOUR AS AN IMPRESSIONABLE TEEN AT THE GOODWILL BOOK SALE AT NORTHLAKE MALL IN THE 80S AND REACHED ENLIGHTENMENT VERY SOON AFTER. I'VE READ IT MANY TIMES SINCE THEN AND I GET A LITTLE SAD WHEN JIM GETS TRADED TO HOUSTON EVERY TIME. BOUTON HAS A TON OF AUTOGRAPH CARDS BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THIS IS HIS ONLY JERSEY CARD. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME EVEN FINDING THIS ONE ONLINE HOW SCARCE ARE THESE THINGS

WHY IN THE HECK IS PINKIE PIE IN THE TOPLOADER WITH BOUTON? THIS IS NOT A BIT, I PULLED THE CARD OUT OF MY RELIC BOX AND GOT HORSIED. I OFTEN SLIP AN EXTRA CARD INTO SUPER THICK RELIC TOPLOADERS TO KEEP THE CARD FROM SLIDING OUT BUT THIS IS AN ODD CHOICE EVEN FOR ME

THE NAME OF THIS RELIC SET IS PINSTRIPES, TO GO ALONG WITH A SHORT PRINTED YANKEES SUBSET. THE VAST MAJORITY OF JIM'S TRADING CARDS HAVE IN IN A YANKEES UNI, BUT THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF PILOTS CARDS. HOW COOL WOULD IT BE IF JIM HAD A PILOTS RELIC CARD? I'VE WISHED FOR A LICENSED BOUTON CARD IN A BRAVES UNIFORM FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW, BUT IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A HOUSTON ASTROS BOUTON CARD EITHER. THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S EVEN CLOSE. IT SHOULD BE A LAW THAT EVERY TEAM A PLAYER IS WITH GETS AT LEAST ONE CARD WHERE THEY ARE WEARING THAT UNIFORM. BILLIONS OF DIFFERENT CARDS ARE PRINTED EVERY YEAR, WE CAN GET ONE JIM BOUTON CARD IN A 'STROS UNI. GET ON IT, FANATICS

THE CROWD IS STARTING TO FILL IN, IT'S REALLY GETTING FESTIVE UP IN HERE

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 4

FROM AN ALL-TIME GREAT TO AN ALL-TIME GREAT, HERE'S DAY FOUR

IN THE EARLY 00S I WAS OBSESSED WITH LEGENDS SETS. TOPPS ARCHIVES, UPPER DECK LEGENDS, FLEER GREATS. I MOSTLY COLLECTED BASEBALL, BUT PICKED UP A FEW FOOTBALL BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY PACKS HERE AND THERE AS WELL. A PACK OF 2004 FLEER GREATS FOOTBALL HIT GOLD FOR ME WITH THIS WALTER PAYTON GAME-WORN JERSEY CARD. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHO GREW UP IN THE 80S, I GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE SUPERBOWL SHUFFLE HYPE AND BECAME A FAN OF WALTER. I COVETED THAT 1976 ROOKIE CARD BUT NEVER FOUND ONE IN MY PRICE RANGE. NOWADAYS IT'S WAAAAAAY OUT OF MY RANGE, IT'S HARD TO EVEN FIND ONE THAT ISN'T GRADED. THANKFULLY REPRINT CARDS EXIST AND MY LUCK WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO STUMBLE ACROSS THE LAUNDRY 

IT'S A PRETTY ELEGANT DESIGN FOR A JERSEY CARD, ALTHOUGH THAT SEEMED TO BE THE THEME OF THIS PARTICULAR FLEER GREATS SET. I'M ALSO SURPRISED THERE'S SO MUCH UNUSED REAL ESTATE ON THE BACK OF THE CARD, YOU DON'T USUALLY SEE A QUARTER OF THE CARD LEFT BLANK LIKE THIS. THAT BLACK STRIPE ISN'T EVEN WHERE THE SERIAL NUMBER GOES, IT'S USUALLY TO THE RIGHT OF THAT JUNK UNDER THE SIGNATURE. I'M JUST NOTICING NOW THAT THE PHONE SCAN WENT A LITTLE OFF IN THAT SPOT. WHOOPS. ANOTHER WHOOPS IS ON THE FRONT, I'VE NEVER QUITE SEEN AN OFF-CENTER RELIC WINDOW BEFORE. I'M SURE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME BUT THIS DESIGN REALLY HIGHLIGHTS HOW MUCH THEY MISSED ON THAT WINDOW. I WONDER IF GRADING COMPANIES WOULD DING THE GRADE FOR THAT?

ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOME SWEETNESS AT CHRISTMAS

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 3

HERE WE GO, NO SMALL TALK, JUST POSTS. MY FAVORITE RELIC CARDS ARE NON-SPORTS RELIC CARDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I PULL A SWEET ONE OUT OF A DOLLAR TREE PACK

A FEW YEARS AGO BACK WHEN DOLLAR TREE STILL SOLD TRADING CARDS THE ONES NEAR ME GOT A GIGANTIC PILE OF PANINI NON-SPORTS CARDS. THE PACKS THEY HAD WERE 2015 AMERICANA AND A BEACH BOYS SET. THESE WERE NOT SKIMPY DOLLAR TREE PACKS WITH FOUR BASE CARDS IN THEM EITHER, THEY WERE FULL SIZED HOBBY PACKS. I CARE ABOUT THE BEACH BOYS ABOUT AS MUCH AS I CARE ABOUT HALLMARK HOLIDAY SPECIALS WHICH IS NOTHING. SOME MAY FIND THIS BLASPHEMOUS, AND I ACCEPT THAT. THE BAND DOES NOTHING FOR ME. A CELEBRITY SET WITH LAURA DERN AND ROGER MOORE AND BELA LUGOSI INSERTS IN IT? YEAH, THAT'S MY JAM. I BOUGHT AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF DOLLAR PACKS AND STILL NEVER COMPLETED THE SET. BUT I PULLED A RELIC CARD OF BETTE FRICKIN' DAVIS WITH A LOVELY BLUE SWATCH OF A DRESS THAT PROBABLY SHE WORE SOMETIME SOMEWHERE MAYBE

PULLING A RELIC CARD OF ONE OF THE BEST ACTORS IN THE HISTORY OF EVER FROM A PACK FROM DOLLAR TREE IS ABSURD. EVEN THOUGH I AM A TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES JUNKIE I'M ASHAMED TO SAY I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY OF BETTE'S FLICKS OTHER THAN HER CRAZY OLD LADY ROLES LIKE WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE, HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE AND RETURN FROM WITCH MOUNTAIN. I AM A BAD FILM NERD, I SHOULD AT LEAST CHECK OUT NOW, VOYAGER SINCE IT HAS CLAUDE RAINS IN IT. OR HER OSCAR WINNING FILM JEZABEL WHERE SHE CAUSES A GIGANTIC SCANDAL FOR WEARING A RED DRESS. NO, SERIOUSLY. THE HAYES CODE DID SOME WEIRD THINGS TO FILM. ALTHOUGH THE GUARANTEE FROM PANINI ON THE BACK IS WORRYINGLY VAGUE IT'S STILL SOMEWHAT ODD THAT I MIGHT BE HOLDING A PIECE OF BETTE DAVIS' DRESS. THAT'S BASICALLY THE GOLDEN AGE FILM EQUIVALENT OF A LOU GEHRIG JERSEY SWATCH. I WONDER IF GREER GARSON HAS ANY RELIC CARDS? HOLY CRAP SHE DOES

SURELY BETTE DAVIS HAS NATURALLY CURLY HAIR

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 2

ALL RIGHTY HERE ARE TWELVE OF MY FAVORITE RELIC CARDS WITH JERSEY SWATCHES FRESH FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. I PROBABLY ALREADY POSTED ABOUT SOME OF THEM PREVIOUSLY BUT THAT WAS YEARS AGO, YOU CAN DEAL WITH SOME DUPLICATES. ALL NEW PHOTOS AT LEAST, I TRIED THAT PHONE SCAN APP AGAIN AND... I STILL DON'T LIKE HOW UNCANNY THE PICS LOOK BUT THEY TURNED OUT GOOD ENOUGH TO CONVINCE ME TO NOT DRAG OUT THE ANCIENT SCANNER. TODAY'S CARD IS A WEIRD ONE

BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON. EARLY ON IN THE HISTORY OF RELIC CARDS MANUFACTURERS WISED UP AND REALIZED ALL THE SCRAPS FROM THE JERSEY THAT WERE DIFFICULT TO USE COULD BE MADE INTO PREMIUM CARDS. THUS BEGAN AN ESCALATION OF RELICRY THAT ULITMATELY RESULTED IN THE TRADITIONAL PLAIN WHITE SWATCH GETTING RELEGATED TO THE BARGAIN BINS. STILL, IT'S FUN TO PULL ONE OF THESE WEIRDO RELICS, BE IT A PATCH OR LAUNDRY TAG OR CLEATS OR THE HUMBLE BUTTON (BUT NOT CORK, THAT TURNS OUT POORLY FOR EVERYONE) FROM A PACK AT LEAST ONCE. I GOT THIS ONE OUT OF A PACK OF 2005 DONRUSS CHAMPIONS, A NOTORIOUS RELIC DUMP PRODUCT THAT DONRUSS PUT OUT AFTER THEY LOST THEIR BASEBALL LICENSE TO GET AS MUCH OF THEIR LEFTOVER RELICS OUT THE DOOR BEFORE THE PARTY WAS OVER. IT WAS A HIDEOUS OVER PRICED SET DESIGNED SOLELY FOR THE RELIC CARDS AND I WISH I HAD BOUGHT MORE BECAUSE THE SMALL NUMBER OF PACKS I DID GET HAD COOL STUFF LIKE THIS IN IT

GONNA BE UP FRONT WITH EVERYONE, WHEN I WAS A KID I LOATHED TOMMY LASORDA. HE WAS A STUPID HOLLYWOOD SHOWBOAT WHO DID TOO MANY COMMERCIALS AND HIS LOUSY STINKING DODGERS KICKED MY BRAVES' ASS EVERY YEAR BUT ONE. HIS 1954 TOPPS CARD WAS TOO DAMN EXPENSIVE. WHEN HE MANAGED THE ALL-STAR GAME HE DIDN'T LET PHIL NIEKRO PITCH AND HE GOT IN A FIGHT WITH THE PHILLIE PHANATIC AND WHO IS HE KIDDING WITH THAT SLIM-FAST. SUCH A BIG JERK. MY FEELINGS TOWARD TOMMY SOFTENED AS I GOT OLDER. THE BRAVES WINNING A TON AND THE WHOLE MIKE PIAZZA STORY HELPED. PLUS MY ITALIAN GRANDFATHER LIKED ANYONE ITALIAN SO IT WAS HARD TO STAY MAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE MOVED OUT OF THE NL WEST.  HE MORPHED FROM PAIN IN THE ASS WHO BEAT UP MY TEAM EVERY YEAR TO CUDDLY OLD BASEBALL GRAMPA IN THE SPACE OF A DECADE. I LOVE RELIC CARDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE GAME BEFORE RELIC CARDS REALLY EXPLODED AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE ONE FOR LASORDA. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE VALUE OF THIS THING IS AS I HARDLY EVER SEE ANY BUTTON CARDS FOR SALE BUT I MIGHT THINK ABOUT TRADING IT FOR THE '54

CAN YOU EVEN SEE THE ORNAMENTS ON THE TREE? I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED THIS OUT BETTER

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CARDMAS: LAUNDRY EDITION - DAY 1

 OH BOB IT'S TIME FOR CARDMAS AGAIN AND I'M NOT READY AT ALL. USUALLY I START PREPARING POSTS ONCE THORZUL KICKS OFF HIS CARDVENT CALENDAR BUT THIS YEAR I WAS ON A ROLL WRITING UP ACTUAL POSTS SO I PROCRASTINATED AND NOW IT'S HERE AND I GOT NOTHIN. PLUS I HAVE TO DO A LOT OF STUFF TODAY! GO TO THE GYM, WASH DISHES, DO THE LAUNDRY

WAIT 

LAUNDRY

IT'S SO CRAZY IT JUST MIGHT WORK

ALL RIGHTY FOLKS, LET'S KICK OFF THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES WITH SOME OLD DIRTY LAUNDRY

THIS HERE IS A 1996-97 UPPER DECK HOCKEY GAME JERSEY CARD OF MARK MESSIER. THE BACK BOASTS IT IS ONE OF THE FIRST-EVER GAME WORN JERSEY CARDS FROM UPPER DECK AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE WAS THE FIRST-EVER JERSEY CARD OF ANY TYPE THAT I PULLED OUT OF A PACK. I GRABBED SOME PACKS AT TARGET ONE DAY, DISCOVERED THAT THE ONE THIS WAS IN WAS LUMPY AND OPENED IT UP TO FIND THIS. I'VE PULLED A STUPID AMOUNT OF RELIC CARDS FROM PACKS SINCE THEN BUT YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO PULL YOUR FIRST BEEG MOJO HITTTZZ AND MINE WAS AN INNER CIRCLE HOCKEY HALL OF FAMER WITH A PRETTY BLUE SWATCH

OBVIOUSLY WHEN I PULLED THIS CARD I WAS FREAKED OUT AND HAD LITTLE SPINNING DOLLAR SIGNS IN MY EYEBALLS. I TRIED TO SELL IT AT A HOCKEY MEMORABILIA STORE IN THE MALL, BUT THE BOOK VALUE AT THE TIME WAS $160 AND I WANTED EVERY PENNY AND THE BUYER WOULDN'T GO THAT HIGH SO I KEPT IT. THIS ARTICLE FROM PUCK JUNK A WHILE AGO SHOWS OFF HOW THE BOOK VALUE HAS CHANGED THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT THE THING IS NO MATTER WHAT BECKETT SAYS I STILL HAVE THE CARD AND IT'S STILL GONNA BE PRICEY IF I TRY TO MOVE IT. BESIDES I WOULD HAVE JUST SPENT THE MONEY ON CRAPPY NEW CARDS BACK THEN ANYWAY OR WORSE, BOUGHT SOME PACKS. THIS WAY I GET TO SHOW IT OFF AND AND ENJOY THE FACT THAT NOT ALL MY CARDS ARE JUNKY BASE CARDS. ALSO, I HAVE ABSOULUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THE SECOND JERSEY CARD I PULLED WAS SO THIS POST WOULD BE MUCH HARDER TO WRITE

NO TREES HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES YET THIS YEAR, ONLY SOCIETY, SO LET'S LIVE IN THE PAST WITH THE NOSTALGIA BAIT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT KID IN THE BACK THOUGH. AND I AM NEVER GOING TO FIT ALL THE ORNAMENTS ON THAT SHITASS LITTLE TREE CHARLIE GOT. OH WELL, CHRISTMAS ISN'T ABOUT ALL THAT, IT'S ABOUT SHEPHERDS BEING SORE AFRAID OR SOMETHING. I'LL FIGURE IT ALL OUT LATER TIME FOR THE JINGLE BELLS AND THE HO HO HO AND THE MISTLETOE AND PRESENTS FOR PRETTY GIRLS

Setsmas All Year Round - Day 8: Junk Food

True facts: One of the first trading cards I ever had if not THE first card* was a 1978 Burger King card acquired in Toronto on a family trip. That card was of a Tiger and is long gone like my memories of that trip. If it even happened, I don't really know for sure because I was 5 and I can't even remember what I ate for lunch yesterday let alone confirm crap that happened almost 40 years ago. I do know I have this '78 Yankees BK team set because I found the scans in my draft folder. I thought I had posted it already but I forgot. I also forgot who sent me this many years ago, sorry and thanks. Man, it's a drag getting old.  

Yeah I know. Yankees. Everyone hates the Yankees. Well I liked, like and will always like the Yankees. Up to the moment Don Mattingly retired at least. All subsequent Yankees teams suck and can go chew on tinfoil. Not crazy about Burger King either, The grease makes me feel oogy and screws up all the numbers in my blood tests. Oh boy did I like their onion rings when I was a kid though. Man, it's a drag getting old.  

This set is cardboard onion rings. Mmmmmmmmmm.

*The official 'first card' is now a 1980 Topps Mike Schmidt. It can be seen in my first post. My goodness that was over a decade ago. Man, it's a drag getting old.  

SETSMAS ALL YEAR ROUND - Day 7: Happy Twin Peaks Day

I'm gonna post all these scans if it kills me.

Hi there! On February 24th a hundred years ago Special Agent Dale Cooper did A Thing and we got a couple dozen episodes of weird-ass soap opera horror television, a weirder-ass movie and yet another remake/reboot/sequel of  25 year old property (pending). If you wanted to watch the series starting on this fateful day, you're outta luck because I procrastinated and didn't post this till way late. You still got time to read along with Ball Four though. Here's the box set produced by Star Pics in 1991 to cash in on Peaker Mania. Between the bizarre log bordered front design and the incredibly busy backs that look like they were created in Word Perfect 5.1 for Windows, this might be the most early-90s trading card set ever. Look for the bonus autograph card at the end!

 WARRIORS... COME OUT AND PLAAAAAAAAAYYYYY

I'm 97.8% sure I also have the Miguel Ferrer (RIP) autograph from this set but I can't find it anywhere which means it will literally leap out of a box and smack me in the eye the moment I click on 'Publish'.

I'll try to post another set before May but first I'm going to have some damn fine coffee and a big slice of cherry pie.

HEY GUYS THAT WAS A REFERENCE DIDJA GET IT EH WELL DIDJA