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 1: PATRICK'S MAGICAL QUARTER BOX

 

DON'T LOOK AT THE PICTURE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS

2023 HAS BEEN A PRETTY FANTASTIC YEAR FOR ME AS FAR AS PICKING UP CARDS IS CONCERNED, I'VE GOTTEN A WHOLE BUNCH OF COOL SHIT. I'VE GOT LIKE EIGHT DIFFERENT PLACES TO FIND CARDS NOW WHICH IS NINE MORE THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SO I FEEL PRETTY FORTUNATE IN THAT AREA. ONE THING THAT AVOIDED ME HOWEVER WAS A CARD SHOW. THERE ARE USUALLY AT LEAST TWO SHOWS A MONTH WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE OF ME (ALBEIT A COUPLE HOURS DRIVING IN SOME CASES) BUT HAVING THE COMBINATION OF BOTH TIME AND MONEY ELUDED ME FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SOME OF THIS WAS MY FAULT AS THE DOZENS OF ONLINE DIME BOX AND JUNK BOX POSTS CAN ATTEST TO, BUT REGARDLESS IT WAS WELL OVER A YEAR SINCE I GOT TO A SHOW. A LITTLE BIRTHDAY MONEY AND A FREE SUNDAY MORNING CORRECTED THAT AND AS YOU CAN SEE ABOVE (SPOILERS!!) I DID PRETTY WELL FOR MYSELF. SINCE THE COMC POSTS WON'T BE BACK UNTIL JANUARY AT THE EARLIEST LET'S USE FRIDAYS TO SHOW OFF ALL THIS STUFF. CARD PRICES RANGED FROM A MAX OF $2.50 TO TEN BUCKS DIVIDED BY HOWEVER MANY CARDS ARE IN THAT BOX UP THERE

WE'LL START WITH THE LITTLE PILE ON THE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE ROW. THESE CAME FROM PATRICK'S MAGICAL QUARTER BOX. I'VE BEEN SCROUNGING THOSE BOXES FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND I ALWAYS FIND SOME NEAT SURPRISES IN THERE. THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST TWO OTHER QUARTER BOX POSTS ON THIS BLOG COURTESY OF THESE BOXES BUT I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO SEARCH FOR THEM AT THE MOMENT. PATRICK WASN'T MY FIRST STOP AT THE SHOW, THAT WAS THE VINTAGE TABLE RIGHT AT THE FRONT WITH ALL THE COOL CHEAP OLD STUFF. WELL, COOL OLD STUFF AT LEAST. I HAD A MILD STICKER SHOCK WHEN I FIRST STOPPED THERE AS A LOT OF THE HIGHER CALIBER VINTAGE HAD GONE WAY UP IN PRICE. I LOOKED FOR A COUPLE CARDS I WAS TARGETING, SAW DOUBLE DIGIT PRICES AND MY GAME PLAN WAS OUT THE WINDOW. THE REALLY CHEAP BOXES WERE BEING DOMINATED BY AN OLDER DUDE WITH A WELL WORN NOTEBOOK FULL OF WANTLISTS. I KNEW A FELLOW COLLECTOR FREAK WHEN I SAW ONE AND RESPECTED HIS SPACE AND LEFT HIM BE AS I STARTED TO CIRCLE THE ROOM. I FOUND A DOLLAR BOX OF NOLAN RYAN CARDS, SLABS, A CASE FULL OF STUFF WITH NO PRICES, SLABS WITH NO PRICES, MORE SLABS. A CASE WITH PRICES I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON, SLABS, SLABS AND THOSE WONDERFUL QUARTER BOXES. I KNOW MY PLACE IN THE ECOSYSTEM, I SETTLED DOWN AND FOUND THREE BUCKS WORTH OF CARDS AT FIVE FOR A DOLLAR. HERE WE GO:

2012 PRISM ADRIAN BELTRE BRILLIANCE INSERT

ADRIAN BELTRE IS A LOW-KEY PLAYER COLLECTION FOR ME AND HE BETTER FUCKING GET ELECTED TO THE HALL OF FAME OR I AM GOING TO BE EXCEEDINGLY PISSY ABOUT IT. I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN PULLING A BELTRE DODGERS ROOKIE YEAR INSERT WAS ALMOST INEVITABLE. YOU NEVER GOT ANYONE GOOD LIKE JD DREW OR RICK ANKIEL OR JOSE CRUZ JR, NOPE, ALWAYS ADRIAN BELTRE. NOW THOSE BELTRE CARDS GO FOR BIG BUCKS! WELL, MAYBE A BUCK. OR TWO. I WASN'T ABOUT TO PASS UP ON A NICE SHINY CHROMEY PRIZM INSERT OF ADRIAN OUT OF THE QUARTER BOX

1998 SKYBOX DUGOUT AXCESS RANDY JOHNSON DISWASHERS INSERT

DUGOUT AXCESS WAS ONE OF THE WEIRDER RELEASES OF THE 90S. THE CARDS WERE PRINTED ON THIN PLASTICKY STOCK AND WERE FILLED WITH REALLY AWKWARD SLANG TO BE HIP WITH THE KIDS. THE DISHWASHERS INSERT FEATURED PITCHERS WHO WERE GOOD AT CLEANING THE PLATE, SO TO SPEAK, AND FEATURES A WHO'S WHO OF STAR PITCHERS OF THE LATE 90S. WHY ALL THESE PITCHERS WERE PUT ON THE MOON, I HAVE NO IDEA. RANDY JOHNSON CARDS ARE ALWAYS INEXPLICABLY CHEAP AND I WILL NOT PASS ONE UP FOR A QUARTER, EVEN IF HE HAS BEEN EXILED TO THE MOON 

1998 PINNACLE JEFF BAGWELL HIT IT HERE INSERT

BAGWELL IS ALSO IN THAT GROUP OF DISRESPECTED HALL OF FAMERS THAT ARE ALWAYS CHEAP. I REMEMBER HOW HOT THE CHASE WAS FOR HIS ROOKIES IN 1991 SO I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR HIS CARDS. THIS PINNACLE INSERT IS EXCEEDINGLY SHINY WITH ETCHED FOIL CARD STOCK. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!

SERIAL NUMBERING! KINDA. THERE'S A SERIAL NUMBER BUT NO /OUT OF NUMBER. THERE'S FIVE DIGITS SO THERE'S AT LEAST 10,000 OF THESE THINGS BUT THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 99,999. TWENTY THOUSAND IS THE ACCEPTED NUMBER PRINTED 

1992 O-PEE-CHEE RICKEY HENDERSON

I HAVE BEEN OBSESSIVELY PICKING UP ANY NOVEL RICKEY CARD I SEE FOR A WHILE NOW AND O-PEE-CHEE IS DEFINITELY A NEGLECTED SIDE OF MY COLLECTION. IF THIS CARD HAS ALREADY POPPED UP IN ONE OF THE BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA POSTS YELL AT ME IN THE COMMENTS. I REALLY NEED TO GET MY ACT TOGETHER AND START CATALOGUING THE MAJOR PLAYER COLLECTIONS IN TCDB BEFORE I START BUYING THE SAME CARD TEN TIMES LIKE I REGULARLY DO WITH BRAVES CARDS

1995 STUDIO JEFF BAGWELL AND MIKE PIAZZA PLATINUM PARALLELS

1995 STUDIO IS ONE OF THE WEIRDEST SETS EVER MADE. THE BASE SET IS KINDA AWFUL, NO ONE ASKED FOR A PLAIN PAPER CARD THAT LOOKS LIKE A CREDIT CARD. THE GOLD AND PLATINUM PARALELLS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE FANTASTIC. THEY ARE NOT EASY TO FIND EITHER I'VE ONLY ACCUMULATED A SMALL HANDFUL OF GOLDS AND THESE ARE MY FIRST TWO PLATINUMS. PIAZZA AND BAGS ARE A GOOD START AND AT 25 CARDS IN THE SET I'M ALREADY TEMPTED TO START LOOKING FOR MORE

2000 PACIFIC PRIVATE STOCK ALEX RODRIGUEZ PS-2000 MINI

MINIS! A-ROD IS IN THAT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TIER OF DIRT CHEAP 90S STARS. THE NOT-IN-THE-HALL-BUT-SHOULDA-BEEN-YEARS-AGO-BUT-WON'T-IN-MY-LIFETIME TIER. I DON'T CARE, I'LL TAKE THE CHEAP CARDS, ESPECIALLY THE GOOD ONES IN A MARINERS UNIFORM. PACIFIC PIONEERED THE T-206 STYLE MINI CARDS YEARS BEFORE TOPPS206 AND GINTER AND QYPSY GUEEN DID IN THE 00S. THE PRIVATE STOCK PACKS KNEW WHAT WE REALLY WANTED AS WELL AND INSERTED TWO MINIS PER PACK. I PASS UP A LOT OF GINTER AND OTHERWISE MINI CARDS IN THESE BOXES UNLESS I KNOW FOR SURE I NEED THEM BUT PACIFIC QUARTER BOX MINIS GO HOME WITH ME EVERY TIME

1987 TOPPS CECIL COOPER BOX BOTTOM CARD

SPEAKING OF MINIS, 87 TOPPS PUT THE BOX CARDS ON THE SIDE FOR SOME REASON SO THESE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1975 MINI SIZE. I FOOLISHLY PUT THESE CARDS ON THE BACK BURNER FOR YEARS WHEN I COULD HAVE PICKED THEM UP FOR NOTHING AND NOW IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND THEM. COOP IS UNDERRATED AND THIS CARD CELEBRATES HIS 2000TH CAREER HIT

1991 7-11 DWIGHT GOODEN SUPERSTAR ACTION COIN

THERE ARE ALWAYS SEVERAL OF THESE IN THE QUARTER BOX AND I'VE PROBABLY BOUGHT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE BEFORE BUT C'MON, HOW TO YOU PASS ON A DOC GOODEN 7-11 SCORE SPORTFLICS STYLE PROTO-POG

1976 SHAKEY'S PIZZA BASEBALL'S HALL OF FAME RABBIT MARANVILLE

I HAD HEARD OF THE SHAKEY'S PIZZA HALL OF FAME SET BEFORE BUT I NEVER ACTUALLY SAW ANY. THERE WERE A COUPLE DOZEN IN THE BOX AND I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME DECIDING WHICH OF THE D-LIST PLAYERS AND EXECUTIVES TO PICK UP FOR A TYPE CARD WHEN RABBIT POPPED UP AND MADE THE DECISION EASY. I HAD NO IDEA THESE THINGS WERE FROM 1976, I THOUGHT THEY WERE LATE 80S MAYBE EARLY 90S. I MIGHTA BOUGHT MORE HAD I KNOWN BUT I ENDED UP NEEDING EVERY LAST PENNY SO MAYBE THAT'S FOR THE BEST

LOOK AT THIS FANTASTIC BACK WITH THE PIZZA SIGN ON IT. HOW IN THE WORLD DID A PIZZA JOINT IN SEATTLE PULL OFF A WHOLE-ASS BASEBALL CARD SET

1983 CRAMER BASEBALL LEGENDS KIKI CUYLER

SPEAKING OF ANCIENT LEGENDS SETS THAT HAVE ELUDED ME, I AM SORT OF COLLECTING THE CRAMER LEGENDS SET BUT THIS HERE IS THE FIRST CARD FROM THE 1983 4TH SERIES I'VE FOUND. JUST THE OPPOSITE OF THE SHAKEY'S CARDS, THESE SEEM TO ME LIKE THEY SHOULD BE MUCH OLDER THAN THEY ARE. IT'S GONNA BE A LONG LONG WHILE BEFORE THIS SET IS FINISHED BUT I ONLY HAVE 110 MORE TO GO

1987 RALSTON PURINA FERNANDO VALENZUELA

HERE'S A SET I ACTUALLY GOT A FEW CARDS FROM WHEN I WAS A KID. THESE RALSTON PURINA CARDS WERE INSERTED IN BOXES OF COOKIE CRISP CEREAL. I KNOW I GOT A FEW PACKS WHEN I WAS A KID BUT I'M STILL MISSING MOST OF THE 15 CARD SET. I'M NOT SURE IF I LOST THE CARDS OR MAYBE GOT A LITTLE EXCITED WHEN EATING THE CEREAL AND SCARFED THE CARDS DOWN AS WELL. I REMEMBER FOR SURE THAT ALL THE ONES I GOT WERE AS WEIRDLY CUT AS THIS ONE. THIS WAS MAYBE THE MOST LOW BUDGET LOOKING ODDBALL SET OF THE 80S, A REAL STEP DOWN FROM THEIR MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOKING SET IN 1984 WITH THE TOPPS BRANDING

1982 DONRUSS HAROLD BAINES

THERE ARE ALWAYS A TON OF EARLY 80S STAR CARDS IN THE MAGICAL QUARTER BOX AND TODAY WAS NO EXCEPTION. SADLY I'VE BEEN DOING SO WELL ADDING TO SETS LATELY THAT THE ONLY CARD I ACTUALLY NEEDED WAS THIS 82 DONRUSS HAROLD BAINES. OH WAIT, HALL OF FAMER HAROLD BAINES. YESSSS HOW DELICIOUS THAT SOUNDS. THIS IS A NICE LOOKING CARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PUTTING IT INTO THE BINDER

1977 TOPPS JOE TORRE

ALONG WITH THE 80S STARS, THERE'S ALSO  USUALLY A NICE LITTLE HANDFUL OF 70S CARDS IN THE BOX. SOMETIMES EVEN 60S OR EVEN 50S CARDS, BUT I DIDN'T FIND ANY I NEEDED THIS TIME. THIS JOE TORRE CARD WAS A NEED THOUGH AND IT'S A HELLUVA PICKUP FOR A QUARTER. I AM NOW ALMOST COMPLETELY DONE WITH MY 1976 TOPPS SET AND I'M TRYING TO DECIDE ON WHICH 70S SET TO ATTACK WITH FULL FORCE IN 2024. THE OBVIOUS CHOICE IS 1975, BUT I HAVE PICKED UP OVER A DOZEN 1977S BY COMPLETE ACCIDENT IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS SO THE UNIVERSE MAY BE PUSHING ME IN THAT DIRECTION. LOOKING OVER MY WANTLIST, I SEE THAT I NEED THE GARY CARTER ROOKIE FOR 1975, SO THAT MAY CAUSE ME SOME PROBLEMS. OH WAIT, I NEED THE GODDAMN PETE ROSE FOR 1975 BUT I ALREADY HAVE IT FOR 1977! THAT SETTLES IT, 2024 IS THE YEAR OF 1977 FOR ME. WATCH ME FIND A BOX FULL OF 75S THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY

1976 BOBBY BONDS RECORD BREAKER AND FRIENDS

MISCUT CARDS ARE HOTTER THAN ANY MANUPATCH OR RELIC CARD RIGHT NOW AND I MADE A VERY HIGH PITCHED SQUEEING SOUND WHEN I SAW THIS BEAUTY. I ALREADY HAVE A COUPLE OF THESE BOBBY BONDS 30-30 RECORD BREAKER CARDS BUT I DON'T HAVE ONE WITH CAMEOS FROM LARRY ANDERSON AND KEN CROSBY. ALL THIS HERE COST LESS THAN THAT PACK OF TOPPS UPDATE I SHOWED OFF A WHILE BACK. PLUS I GOT ONE MORE CARD! THIS WAS A GREAT START BUT THE NEXT TABLE I HIT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW. IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOUR POSTS TO SHOW OFF ALL THAT STUFF SO SETTLE IN, WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE UNTIL JANUARY

QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK #8

 HERE IS THE FINALE OF MY QUARTER BOX PICKUPS UNLESS I GO THROUGH WITH MY THREAT TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP AND DO ANOTHER RAID ON THE BOX. I THINK I MIGHT NEED TO LET IT SIT A WHILE AND RECHARGE. MAYBE I'LL MAKE IT TO CARD SHOW AND HIT THE REALLY GOOD QUARTER BOXES INSTEAD

2022 TOPPS RANDY AROZARENA STARS OF MLB INSERT

THESE STARS OF MLB INSERTS ARE PRACTICALLY COMMONS NOW SINCE THEY WERE INSERTED INTO PRETTY MUCH EVERY PACK. I'M NOT ESPECIALLY MAD ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD PLAYERS IN THERE. RANDY IS A ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, ALL-STAR AND PLAYOFF HERO AND THIS IS A PRETTY NICE LOOKING CARD

2022 DONRUSS SANDY ALCANTARA ORANGE BORDER PARALLEL

THERE ARE SO MANY FLAVORS OF DONRUSS PARALLELS I CAN'T KEEP TRACK OF THEM ALL. THIS IS A RETAIL EXCLUSIVE? MAYBE? IT'S SHINY AND ORANGE. SANDY HANDILY WON THE CY YOUNG AWARD LAST YEAR AND PRETTY MUCH WRECKED MY BRAVES. HE'S NOT PITCHING QUITE AS WELL BUT AT LEAST HE'S NOT HAVING THE INJURY-FILLED YEAR RUNNER UP MAX FRIED IS HAVING. I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THIS UNIFORM HE'S WEARING. MIAMI'S CITY CONNECT UNIFORMS DO HAVE A RED JERSEY BUT THE CAP IS TEAL. I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT PANINI JUST WENT OVERBOARD WITH THE PHOTOSHOPPING AND DIDN'T ACTUALLY USE AN OLD PHOTO OF HIM WITH THE CARDINALS. THAT IS ONE BIG DOWNSIDE OF THE BOOTLEG PANINI CARDS, NO WEIRD ALTERNATE UNIS ALLOWED

2022 DONRUSS TREA TURNER THE HIT LIST INSERT

OH YEAH AN ACTUAL DONRUSS INSERT INSTEAD OF JUST PARALLELS. THIS ONE IS SHINY AS HELL TOO, 3-D TEXT, FIREWORK PATTERNS AND RAINBOW FOIL EVERYWHERE. SO DAZZLING. TREA (I'VE TRIED TO CALL HIM TRAE TWICE SO FAR BUT I'VE THANKFULLY CAUGHT MYSELF) IS HAVING AN OFF YEAR BY HIS STANDARDS BUT HE IS ALSO A CERTIFIED BRAVES KILLER AND THOSE TWO SERIES AGAINST PHILLY IN SEPTEMBER ARE LOOMING. HE COULD VERY EASILY HAVE HIS WORST SEASON IN NINE YEARS AND STILL RUIN US IN SIX GAMES 

2021 MOSAIC IVAN RODRIGUEZ BLUE AND RED PRIZM SQUARES EVERYWHERE NIGHTMARE PARALLEL

LAST CARD IS THE SHINYPRIZM PUDGE. SO FAR MY HYPOTHESIS OF 'PANINI CATCHER CARDS LOOK FANTASTIC' IS HOLDING UP. ADMITTEDLY THE TEXAS COLORS ON THIS PARALLEL IS DOING A LOT OF THE WORK. I HAVE A FEELING THAT IF IVAN WAS IN HIS MARLINS DUDS THIS CARD MIGHT NOT HAVE WORKED AS WELL. TIGERS WOULD BE OK THOUGH, HALF THE CARDS ON PANINI PRODUCT LOOK LIKE THE TIGERS. I LOVE THESE KIND OF CARDS WHERE IT DOESN'T REALLY FIT THE KIND OF STUFF I COLLECT BUT IT'S SO CHEAP AND COOL LOOKING IT DOESN'T MATTER

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW BUT IF/WHEN I HIT ANOTHER QUARTER BOX YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE MORE OF THIS SINCE THESE WERE THE EASIEST AND QUICKEST POSTS I'VE WRITTEN IN YEARS

QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK 7

 WHEN DIGGING THROUGH BOXES OF CARDS I DON'T NEED I TRY TO LIMIT MYSELF TO ONLY GETTING FIVE BUCKS WORTH BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS. I COULDN'T EVEN STOP AT SIX THIS TIME. AND - SPOILER ALERT - THIS AIN'T THE LAST QUARTER BOX POST FOR THIS BATCH. BEFORE THESE ALL GO UP ON THE BLOG I MIGHT EVEN GO BACK TO THE SHOP FOR SECONDS. I LEFT QUITE A FEW CARDS BEHIND AND PROBABLY SKIPPED OVER A FEW MORE GOOD ONES IN MY HASTE

2022 DONRUSS WILLIE STARGELL STARS BORDER PARALLEL

THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE PICKUP FROM THE BOX BINGE. POPS ON THE 88 DONRUSS DESIGN WITH STARS ON THE BORDER. FANTASTIC. SOMETHING'S UP WITH THIS PARALLEL BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER 1988 RETRO CARDS HAVE GLOSSY BACKS AND THIS ONE IS MATTE. I REFUSE TO LOOK UP ALL THE PARALLELS FOR THIS SET SO I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT'S A SUPER SCARCE SHORT PRINT VARIATION. ALSO: THE PANINIZATION OF WILLIE'S UNIFORM TO TURN ALL THE YELLOW STRIPES SOLID BLACK IS RIDICULOUS AND I LOVE IT. THIS ISN'T THE ONLY STARGELL CARD THEY'VE DONE IT TO EITHER. PANINI TURNING POPS INTO A REFEREE

2022 DONRUSS BROOKS ROBINSON RED BORDER PARALLEL

IT'S KINDA RIDICULOUS I GOT THE JOHNNY BENCH CARD WITH ORANGE BORDERS AND THE BROOKS ROBINSON CARD WITH RED BORDERS. THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD SIDE BY SIDE THOUGH, MAYBE DONRUSS KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SPEAKING OF DONRUSS HAVE I POSTED MY 2023 RACK PACK YET? IF NOT, YELL AT ME. I GOT THAT THING JUST AFTER FATHER'S DAY AND AM BEING SLOW ABOUT POSTING. THERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF IN THERE

2022 TOPPS INCEPTION JESSE WINKER

IT MAKES ME SOOOO HAPPY TO FIND A BASE CARD FROM A HIGH-END PRODUCT THAT COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR A SINGLE LOUSY PACK IN A CHEAPSKATE POVERTY BOX. IT'S NOT EVEN A GOOD LOOKING CARD! IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE EXACTO KNIFED JESSE OUT OF HIS QYPSY GUEEN CARD AND PLOPPED HIM ONTO SOME GEOMETRIC SHAPES AN AI GENERATED. IT'S ON SUPER THICK CARD STOCK TOO, THEY WASTED THAT GOOD CARDBOARD ON THIS MESS LOL. I GOT A FEW OF THESE IN A BOX ALREADY, MAYBE SOON I'LL HAVE ENOUGH TO COMPLETE A PAGE IN A FUTURE CHAOS BINDER

2021 OPTIC MIKE YASTRZEMSKI MYTHICAL

I LOVE THIS DUMB SET AND HAVE SINCE I FOUND THE RONALD ACUÑA VERSION AND INSTA-BOUGHT IT. THE GENERIC MYSTICAL 'WE WANTED A TAROT CARD MOTIF BUT TOPPS BEAT US TO IT' DESIGN APPEALS TO ME GREATLY. MOONS, ARROWS AND SPIROGRAPH DESIGNS, JUST WONDERFUL. MIKE YASTRZEMSKI CARDS ARE FUN TOO

QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK 6

 REALIZING NOW JUST HOW MUCH OF THIS QUARTER BOX BINGE IS OF SHINY SUPERSTAR PARALLELS. A GOOD QUARTER (heh) OF THE CARDS SO FAR AND THERE'S A BUNCH MORE TO COME. THREE MORE JUST IN THIS POST! DON'T WORRY I THROW Y'ALL A KNUCKLEBALL AT THE END

2022 DONRUSS IVAN RODRIGUEZ PINK PARALLEL

SO MANY PARALLELS. THE PHOTO LOOKS A BIT ORANGE BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT THIS CARD IS EXTREMELY PINK IN PERSON. I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS ABOUT PARALLELS OR 1988 DONRUSS OR EVEN THE COLOR PINK, THIS CARD LOOKS GREAT. LOVE FINDING NEW PUDGE CARDS

2022 PRIZM MOOKIE BETTS PRIZM

LOVE MOOKIE ALTHOUGH THE TEAMS HE PLAYED FOR AREN'T MY FAVORITE. THE PRIZMS LOOK REALLY NICE AND I'M GLAD MY PHOTOS OF THEM ARE LOOKING GOOD TODAY FOR SOME REASON. EVERY ONE LOOKS LIKE A RAVE'S GOING ON. THE BACK OF THE CARD SAYS TIER II, NO CLUE WHAT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MEAN. REMINDS ME OF THOSE ODDBALL TIERED SETS IN THE 90S LIKE FINEST AND FLAIR SHOWCASE

2022 DONRUSS JOHNNY BENCH ORANGE PARALLEL

MOARER LEGENDS CARDS FROM PANINI, THEY SHOULD JUST DO THIS FULL TIME NOW. MAKING A HYPOTHESIS THAT PANINI DOES GOOD CATCHER CARDS. BETWEEN THIS, THE PUDGE AND THAT COCHRANE CARD FROM A FEW POSTS AGO, ALL THE LOGOLESS CATCHERS LOOK GREAT. GOING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PANINI CATCHER CARDS NOW TO TEST THIS. BENCH WOULD LOOK EVEN BETTER WITHOUT THE ORANGE BORDERS I THINK BUT I'LL TAKE A SHINY

2022 TOPPS JAZZ CHISHOLM FLASHIEST FEET INSERT

THIS IS A WILD ONE. THE BORDERS ARE WILD, THE TEXT IS WILD, THE CONCEPT IS WILD. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THIS WAS NOT AN OPENING DAY INSERT. HOW DID THIS MAKE FLAGSHIP? I LIKE JAZZ, HE'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW MARLINS PLAYERS THAT DO NOT ANNOY ME. I HAVE HARDLY ANY OF HIS CARDS SO NICE TO FIND SUCH A UNIQUE ONE. I NEED TO GO SEE IF RONALD HAS ONE OF THESE CARDS, SURELY THEY PUT HIM IN THIS SET

QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK 5

 HOKEY SMOKES, THIS BATCH ACTUALLY HAS A CARD I NEED FOR A COLLECTION. HOW'D THAT HAPPEN

2022 TOPPS JASON HEYWARD BLUE PARALLEL

YESSSSS JASON HEYWARD CARD I DON'T HAVE. I GET TO ADD A NEW ONE TO TCDB AND SLOWLY CLAW MY WAY UP THE RANKINGS. I NEED TO ADD A FEW MORE PLAYER COLLECTIONS ON THERE SO I HAVE MORE CHANCES TO GET A CHEAP THRILL FROM MAKING NUMBER GO UP WHILE HUNTING THROUGH JUNK BOXES. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT FLAVOR OF PARALLEL THIS IS. THERE'S NO SERIAL NUMBER AND I'M GUESSING IT'S FROM SOME KIND OF RETAIL PRODUCT. MAYBE WAL-MART? I'LL FIND OUT FOR SURE WHEN I GET AROUND TO LOGGING IT I GUESS

2021 CHRONICLES CRUSADE JUAN SOTO

YET ANOTHER JUAN SOTO CHRONICLES CARD FROM THE QUARTER BOX. I'M HAPPY TO FIND CRUSADE CARDS OF RANDOM ROOKIES WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN OPTIONED OUT TO THE MINORS, LET ALONE SOTO. I WONDER HOW MANY MORE I NEED TO GET THE FULL JUAN SOTO COLLECTION FROM 2021 CHRONICLES. I PROBABLY HAVE ALL THE REALLY GOOD ONES NOW AT LEAST. 

2021 CHROME 1952 TOPPS REHASH THINGY EDDIE MATHEWS

NOT PASSING UP ON A CHEAP EDDIE MATHEWS CARD. I AM SICK OF THE 1952 DESIGN BUT IT LOOKS GOOD. I LIKE THE BLOCK M LOGO TALTHOUGH THE TM IS ANNOYING. THE CARD NUMBER ON THIS THING IS 654!! HOW BIG IS THIS DAMN THING?  ARE THEY CARRYING OVER THE NUMBERING FROM PREVIOUS 52 REHASH SETS LIKE THEY DID WITH TURKEY RED? THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR A CHROME SET TO PUSH SEVEN HUNDRED CARDS, NO WONDER THESE THINGS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE NOW. THAT'S TOO MANY CARDS. THERE ARE TOO MANY CARDS

2021 TOPPS FIRE BRYCE HARPER  FIRED UP

THIS CARD IS UGLY BUT I WILL TAKE ALL THE BRYCE HARPER INSERTS PLEASE. THERE'S LIKE, SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CARD FROM THE TEXT TO THE GHOST LEGS TO THE YELLOW. SO MUCH YELLOW. IT'S SO INCREDIBLY UGLY IT SORT OF WORKS. THE YELLOW TURNS GOLD IF YOU LOOK AT IT THE RIGHT WAY AND BRYCE'S EXPRESSION SAYS "DAMN THIS CARD IS UGLY BUT IT'S KINDA COOL THO" THE ARTIST'S LOGO IS ON THE BACK BUT I'M NOT MENTIONING THEM BECAUSE I DON'T NEED SOME INFLUENCER FINDING THIS POST AND HASSLING ME ABOUT CALLING THE UGLY CARD UGLY. I BOUGHT IT DIDN'T I, LEAVE ME ALONE

QUARTER BOX CRAP - BUCK 4

SHINIES ABOUND IN THIS BATCH OF QUARTER CARDS. I SEE A BOX OF CARDS AND IMMEDIATELY TURN INTO A MAGPIE

2011 OPENING DAY CC SABATHIA OPENING DAY STARS

OPENING DAY INSERTS ARE AWESOME, JUST A SHAME ABOUT THE BASE CARDS. 3-D CARDS RULE AND CC JIGGLES ABOUT ON THIS ONE. MOST OF MY INSERT CARDS AREN'T REALLY PROPERLY SORTED AND OPENING DAY IS ESPECIALLY DISHEVELED. I NEED TO FIX THAT IF I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS TYPE CARD COLLECTING THING

2021 MOSAIC BERT BLYLEVEN VINTAGE

I FOUND THIS EXACT CARD IN A DOLLAR BOX RECENTLY AND WAS SORELY TEMPTED EVEN THOUGH I'M A LITTLE MEH ABOUT OL BERT. I WAS NOT PASSING IT UP FOR A QUARTER. THE LITTLE STAINED GLASS SPARKLEYS LOOK GREAT IN PERSON AND I BET IT REALLY POPS ON A PRIZMFRACTOR CARD

2021 CHROME RANDY JOHNSON PLATINUM PLAYERS

I'VE BEEN WANTING ONE OF THESE DIE CUT INSERTS SINCE I SAW IT ON THE SALE SHEET. I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM THAT CHROME UPDATE RETAIL SET, SINCE THAT ONE SEEMS TO HAVE ALL REFRACTOR INSERTS. ALSO WONDERING IF THE HOBBY HATES RANDY JOHNSON BECAUSE I KEEP FINDING GREAT LOOKING CARDS OF HIM SUPER CHEAP

2022 MOSAIC TREA TURNER PRIZM

AS A BRAVES FAN, TREA TURNER HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS PAIN IN MY ASS FOR YEARS AS HE OWNED US IN WASHINGTON AND AGAIN IN LOS ANGELES AND NOW HE'S ON THE DAMN PHILLIES. SUPERSTAR SHINIES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND I CAN ALSO THROW HIM INTO A PACKAGE FOR A DODGER FAN NEXT TIME HE GOES 4 FOR 5 WITH 6 RBI AGAINST THE BRAVES