BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 31: MY LIMITS

MORE BLACK FRIDAY BINGING. THIS IS THE SECOND CARD PUT IN MY CART AND HITS THE CATEGORY OF 'SNAGGING COOL STUFF I LEFT BEHIND THE YEAR BEFORE' I'D BEEN LOOKING FOR ONE OF THESE FOR A WHILE

1964 BUBBLES OUTER LIMITS - MARTIAN TORTURE

THERE'S A LOT OF 'WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS HORRIBLE TIHNG' QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CARD SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND KNOCK THOSE OUT. DAFUQ IS BUBBLES? BUBBLES IS TOPPS' ALTER EGO THAT THEY USED TO RELEASE GRUESOME CARD SETS FOR THE KIDDOS SO THEY WOULDN'T TAINT THE TOPPS BRAND. AWFUL TERRIBLE STUFF LIKE MARS ATTACKS, YOU'LL DIE LAUGHING, AND ELVIS. WHATFOR IS A OUTER LIMITS? OUTER LIMITS WAS AN INFLUENTIAL HORROR/SCI-FI ANTHOLOGY SERIES FROM THE SIXTIES. WHILE IT HAD A LOT OF TWILIGHT-ZONE STYLE PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR AND TWISTS, IT ALSO FEATURED LOTS OF CRAZY LOOKING ALIENS AND MONSTERS PERFECT FOR A TRASHY TRADING CARD SET. WHY IN THE HELL DID YOU BUY A TRADING CARD OF A MARTIAN DOMINATRIX? BECAUSE IT WAS THE CHEAPEST OUTER LIMITS CARD I HAD EVER SEEN

THIS IS A TOUGH SET. THE OUTER LIMITS WASN'T THE MOST POPULAR SHOW, THE BLACK BORDERS ARE CONDITION SENSITIVE, AND A BUNCH ARE SHORT PRINTED. IT'S A WILD LOOKING SET THOUGH, THE MONSTERS ARE LOW BUDGET BUT VERY CREATIVE AND WELL CRAFTED AND TOPPS' COLORIZING THE BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES MAKES THEM LOOK EVEN MORE UNCANNY. A LOCAL ANTIQUE MALL HAD THE 'YOU ARE IN MY POWER' CARD AND I COVETED IT GREATLY BUT THE SELLER WANTED NINE BUCKS FOR IT SO I NEVER GOT IT. YOU COULD BUY THREE VINTAGE HELMAR COAT OF ARMS CARDS AT THE SAME BOOTH FOR THE SAME PRICE! THEN THE ANTIQUE MALL WAS TORN DOWN TO BUILD CONDOS AND I LOST IT FOREVER. I HAVE A SMALL TYPE CARD COLLECTION OF VINTAGE MONSTER MOVIE CARDS AND I REALLY WANTED TO ADD AN OUTER LIMITS CARD. I ALMOST BOUGHT A CANADIAN VERSION OF THE CARD WITH TINY BUGS WITH HUMAN FACES ON THEM IN 2021 BUT DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER FOR SOME REASON. THAT CARD WAS LONG GONE BY 2022 BUT THE OLD 'SEARCH BY LOWEST PRICE' TRICK FOUND THIS ONE FOR 67 CENTS SO I GRABBED IT BEFORE ANOTHER CHEAPSKATE COULD

THE WEIRD THING ABOUT THIS SET IS WHILE TOPPS GOT THE LICENSE TO MAKE CARDS OF THE MONSTERS FROM THE SHOW, THEY DID NOT GET THE RIGHTS TO USE THE STORY. SO TOPPS HAD TO MAKE UP SOME BULLSHIT TO GO ALONG WITH THE GRODY MONSTER PHOTOS. TOPPS GOT EXTRA GRUESOME ON THIS STORY, WHERE THE KING OF MARS CAPTURES AND TORTURES THE FIRST EARTHLING ON MARS TO DISCOVER THE SECRET OF SPACE TRAVEL. SPOILER ALERT: HE KILLS THE SPACEMAN ON THE NEXT CARD! NO HAPPY ENDINGS, ONLY BRAVE SACRIFICES. THE ACTUAL SHOW THIS CARD IS BASED ON IS THE TENTH EPISODE OF THE FIRST SEASON: NIGHTMARE. EARTH IS AT WAR WITH THE PLANET EBON AND HUMAN PRISONERS OF WAR ARE INTERROGATED BY THE EBONITES. YES, THERE IS SOME TORTURE INVOLVED BUT THE STORY HAS A GIGANTIC TWIST WORTHY OF THE BEST TWILIGHT ZONE EPISODES. IT'S GOT A GREAT CAST INCLUDING A BABY MARTIN SHEEN. FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A VERY ODD ROOKIE CARD FOR MARTY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE ACTOR IN THIS SCENE IS ACTUALLY JAMES SHIGETA, WHO YOU MIGHT KNOW AS TAKAGI FROM DIE HARD. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST EPISODES OF THE OUTER LIMITS AND I STUMBLED UPON THIS AWESOME DEEP DIVE BLOG POST ON THE SHOW INCLUDING SOME COOL MERCH AND COPIES OF THE CARDS FROM THIS EPISODE THAT IS WELL WORTH A CLICK

I GOT MY OUTER LIMITS TYPE CARD BUT NOW THAT I HAVE IT IN HAND... I DON'T REALLY LIKE IT? I DON'T MIND THAT IT'S BEAT TO HELL BUT THE PICTURE OF THE MONSTER ISN'T GREAT AND THE WHOLE TORTURE THING IS KINDA GROSS THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT. I SHOULD HAVE PONIED UP FOR ONE OF THE CLOSE UP PORTRAITS OF ONE OF THE MONSTERS INSTEAD. THE SEA BEAST IS ESPECIALLY FUN AND GOOFY. OH WELL, LESSON LEARNED. DON'T BE A CHEAPASS. A TYPE CARD IS A TYPE CARD THOUGH AND I CAN ALWAYS GO FOR AN UPGRADE  

RECORD SWAP - PART 4: TAKIN A CHANCE

ANOTHER RECORD FOR A SUNDAY MORNING, LET'S SHOW OFF ANOTHER SWAP

RECORD GIVEN: 101 STRINGS - AWARD HITS FROM BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD

THIS IS SUCH A GENERIC LOOKING 'PUT A PRETTY GIRL ON THE COVER TO SELL SOME PREFAB EASY LISTENING SCHLOCK' COVER THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS A 101 STRINGS RECORD. NOT THAT 101 STRINGS DOESN'T EMBRACE IT'S PREFAB EASY LISTENING SCHLOCKNESS BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOES, BUT THEIR BRANDING NORMALLY EMPHASIZES THE STRINGS PART WITH THE SAME PICTURE OF THE ORCHESTRA IN THE MUSIKHALLE HAMBURG ON A BUNCH OF THEIR ALBUMS. THEY WEREN'T ABOVE PUTTING PRETTY GIRLS ON THE ALBUM COVERS THOUGH, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD MOVE PRODUCT BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY CLICK WITH ME THAT THIS WAS THE CLOUD LOGO ORCHESTRA UNTIL AFTER THE RECORD WAS GONE

I NEVER ONCE LISTENED TO THIS ALBUM AND DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT TO, BUT HERE'S A SAMPLE IF YOU'RE CURIOUS. THE MASTERMIND OF THIS MUSIC SELLING SCHEME WAS PRODUCER DAVE MILLER WHOSE OTHER CLAIM TO FAME WAS PRODUCING EARLY BILL HALEY AND THE COMETS RECORDS. INSTEAD OF TRACKING DOWN SOME SLUDGY STRINGS ON YOUTUBE, LISTEN TO THIS A HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC IN 500 SONGS EPISODE THAT HAS SOME JUICY DIRT ON DAVE'S EARLY DAYS. YOU CAN THANK ME LATER AFTER YOU'VE BINGED THE WHOLE PODCAST. THE BACK OF THE RECORD IS PRETTY INGENIOUS IN ITS EFFICIENCY. GIGANTIC TITLE, TRACK LISTING, A PARAGRAPH ON HOW THE INSTRUMENTS IN THE ORCHESTRA COST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS!!!1 AND THEN A HELPFUL SELECTION OF OTHER 101 STRINGS ALBUMS YOU CAN PLUNK A BUCK NINETY-EIGHT ON. THERE WAS NO RECORD SLEEVE ON THIS ONE BUT IF FORCED AT GUNPOINT TO PLAY THE 'PICK THE ALBUM YOU WANT' GAME I GUESS I COULD GO FOR THE HENRY MANCINI DISK

I GOTTA SAY I REALLY LIKE THAT LOGOTYPE FOR ALSHIRE RECORDS. IT'S WAY COOLER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE TO SELL LOW BUDGET EASY LISTENING SCHLOCK. THE 101 STRINGS LOGO IS THE EXACT AMOUNT OF COOL FOR SELLING LOW BUDGET EASY LISTENING SCHLOCK. I WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD WEAR A ⓣ𐊖ꞪᛁᴙŤ WITH THAT LOGO ON IT BUT I DON'T WANT EVEN MORE SPAM FLOODING MY COMMENTS. BUT I TOTALLY WOULD, THAT AND THE CHARLTON COMICS LOGO

RECORD GOT: RICK WAKEMAN - THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII

AFTER THE HAPPY LADY WITH MY BARRY WHITE RECORD WAS FINISHED, I GOT TO CHECK OUT THE ROCK/POP CRATE AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST THERE'S WASN'T MUCH LEFT BY THE TIME I GOT THERE BUT THIS THING POPPED UP AND IMMIDIATELY CAUGHT MY EYE. I AM A BIG FAN OF YES AND ANNOYED MY PARENTS WITH MANY LISTENINGS OF FRAGILE WHEN I WAS A KID. THE COVER IS PRETTY STRIKING WITH THE MUSICAL STAVES ON THE BORDER AND RICK HANGIN OUT WITH HANK AND HIS GIRLS. I HAD NEVER EVER HEARD OF THIS RECORD BEFORE BUT RICK'S KEYBOARDS ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE BITS ON YES RECORDS SO I TOOK A CHANCE AND GRABBED IT

THE BACK COVER IS AMAZING, YOU GET LITTLE BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE WIVES SO YOU CAN GET TO KNOW THEM WHILE SMOKING A BOWL AND LISTENING TO PROG-ROCK INTERPRETATIONS OF THEIR LIVES. I AM ALSO AMUSED THAT THE WIVES' TRACKS ARE NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. ANNE BOLEYN JUST FIT BETTER ON SIDE TWO

THE GATEFOLD IS PRETTY COOL WITH A GIGANTIC PHOTO OF WAKEMAN SURROUNDED BY KEYBOARDS USED ON THE ALBUM AND THERE'S STILL A SYNTH, A HARPSICHORD AND AN ORGAN USED THAT AREN'T IN THE PIC. FOUR MEMBERS OF YES ALSO APPEAR ON THE ALBUM. RICK LEAVES US A LITTLE NOTE EXPLAINING THAT THE ALBUM IS BASED ON HIS INTERPRETATION OF THE MUSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WIVES AND APOLOGISES IF THEY ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH THEIR PERSONAL HISTORY. I RESPECT THAT, THIS IS HIS ALBUM OF QUEEN THEMES AND HE SHALL STAY TRUE TO HIS VISION

THE RECORD SLEEVE IS DIE-CUT WITH THE A&M P.O.BOX IN A FANCY FONT AT THE BOTTOM. VERY CLASSY

NOT MY FAVORITE A&M LABEL TO BE HONEST. ORANGY BROWN DOESN'T LOOK THAT GREAT. THE DISCO ERA LABEL WITH THE HUGE A M OR THE 80S VERSION WITH LITTLE ABSTRACT DISCS THROUGH THE MIDDLE LOOK MUCH NICER. OH WELL. IT KINDA FITS IN WITH THE COLOR PALLETTE OF THE ALBUM COVER AT LEAST

OK SO HOW IS THE ACTUAL MUSIC? PRETTY DAMN GOOD! I LIKE THE OPENER CATHERINE OF ARAGON AND CLOSER CATHERINE PARR THE BEST, STRAIGHT UP PROG ROCK WITH KICKASS DRUMMING AND LOTS OF GREAT KEYBOARDS. ANNE OF CLEVES IS A REALLY COOL JAM SESSION AND THERE'S SOME GREAT PIANO ON CATHERINE HOWARD THAT REMINDS ME A LITTLE OF BILLY JOEL FOR SOME REASON I CAN'T FIGURE OUT. THERE'S A BIT OF A LULL IN THE MIDDLE WITH THE JANE SEYMOUR CHURCH ORGAN AND THE NOODLING ON ANNE BOLEYN BUT THE CLOSING TRACK WILL DEFINITELY WAKE YOU UP

SO A TRADE FOR SOME JUNK I'M NOT INTERESTED IN OTHER THAN THE BACKSTORY FOR SOME PROG ROCK GOODNESS. WHATEVER WILL THE FINAL TRADE BRING?

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 30: ALL-TIMER

TIME TO SHOW OFF MY BLACK FRIDAY 2022 BINGE. IN PREVIOUS YEARS I SET MY LIMIT AT THE PRICE OF A BLASTER. LUCKILY FOR ME, BLASTERS GOT SUPER EXPENSIVE DURING THE LOCKDOWN. THIS PLUS THE CREDIT I GOT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S PURCHASES MEANT I HAD TWICE AS MUCH TO SPEND AS THE YEAR BEFORE. MY PLAN GOING IN WAS TO WORK ON SOME SETS, GET THE REQUISITE PLAYER COLLECTION PICKUPS, SNAG SOME COOL THINGS I HAD TO PASS UP THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THEN GO BARGAIN HUNTING. I HAVE TO SAY THE PLAN WAS SUCCESSFUL, EVERYTHING I GOT HIT ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES. WHILE THE 'FINISH SETS' GOAL COULD HAVE GONE A LITTLE BETTER I WAS DEFINITELY WILDLY SUCCESSFUL AT EVERYTHING ELSE. IT WAS ALSO A QUANTITY OVER QUALITY SHOPPING SPREE. I GOT FORTY-TWO POSTS FOR FIFTY-NINE CARDS QUEUED UP FOR YOU, WITH ANY LUCK I'LL HAVE THEM ALL UP BEFORE THANKSGIVING. LET'S BEGIN WITH THE FIRST CARD I PUT IN MY CART

1976 TOPPS TED WILLIAMS ALL-TIME ALL-STARS

1976 TOPPS WAS ONE OF MY VERY FIRST FAVORITE SETS. I LOVED THE COLORFUL BORDERS AND THE LITTLE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE POSITIONS. THE BACKS WERE GREAT TOO WITH THE BAT ON THE SIDE AND CARD NUMBER IN A BASEBALL. NOT QUITE AS FUN AS THE SCOREBOARD MOTIF IN '77 OR THE GAME IN '78 BUT THE FRONTS MADE UP FOR IT. PLUS IN THE EARLY 80S, IT WAS STILL PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP. THE ALL-TIME ALL-STARS SUBSET WAS ANOTHER FUN THING ABOUT THE SET, HALL OF FAME PLAYERS ON NEW CARDS, WHAT A CONCEPT. THEY WERE PRETTY EASY TO GET TOO, OTHER THAN TED AND THE BABE. YOU CAN PROBABLY STILL FIND COCHRANE AND GROVE IN SOME COMMONS BOXES NOWADAYS. I PICKED UP MOST OF THEM PRETTY QUICKLY BUT THE WILLIAMS ELUDED ME FOR A LONG TIME. MOSTLY BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS MISSING ONE OF THE ALL-STARS BUT FORGOT WHICH ONE. PRETTY SURE I GOT CONFUSED AND BOUGHT AN EXTRA GEHRIG OR COBB ONE TIME. AT THE TIME I NEEDED SIX CARDS TO COMPLETE THE '76 SET AND THEY WERE THE FIRST THING I LOOKED FOR WHEN I STARTED MY SEARCH. THIS TED WAS SUPER CHEAP DUE TO THE MUSHY CORNER AND '205' WRITTEN ON THE BACK SO I GRABBED IT RIGHT AWAY

HOWEVER, THIS WAS THE ONLY 1976 I PICKED UP DESPITE BEING IN FULL 'I'M GONNA COMPLETE THIS SET' MODE. PETE ROSE AND HANK AARON WERE PRICY AND WOULD HAVE BLOWN THE BUDGET SO I UNDERSTAND NOT GETTING THOSE. JIM RICE WAS THREE BUCKS AND CHANGE, MORE EXPENSIVE  THAN MOST EVERYTHING ELSE I GOT BUT NOT ALL THAT BAD. I HAVE NO EXCUSES FOR NOT PICKING UP CATFISH HUNTER OR THE CHECKLIST THOUGH, BOTH WERE A BUCK OR LESS EACH AND WERE OPEN IN TABS FOR A VERY LONG TIME BEFORE I FINALLY PASSED. I GUESS I DECIDED SINCE I WASN'T COMPLETING THE SET RIGHT AWAY I'D JUST LEAVE THEM FOR ANOTHER DAY? A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING, BUT SETS WERE COMPLETED AND KNOCKING OFF TED IS A GOOD STEP TOWARD KNOCKING THIS ONE OUT

QUARTER BOX CHRONICLES - PART 2

THE SECOND OF THREE POSTS WHERE I SHOW OFF THE CHRONICLES SHINIES I GOT FROM THE QUARTER BOX. SOME OF THESE DESIGNS I GOT MORE THAN ONE CARD FOR! ALSO APPARENTLY PANINI BASEBALL IS DEAD NOW. LONG LIVE BASKETBALL CHRONICLES

REMINDER ON THE GIMMICK FOR THESE POSTS. FOR EACH DESIGN I WILL ANSWER THESE THREE QUESTIONS: 

• 1) HAVE I EVER HEARD OF THIS PRODUCT?
• 2) WHAT ORIGINAL SET IS THIS RIPPING OFF?
• 3) IS THIS DESIGN WORTH A DAMN OR NOT?

XR DESIGN

1) I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT AN XR IS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SPORTS CAR MODEL OR A BRAND OF RAZORS WITH 12 BLADES PER CARTRIDGE

2) IT'S GOTTA BE BASED ON SOMETHING BUT IT JUST LOOKS LIKE GENERIC PANINI TO ME. THOSE CONE LOOKING THINGS IN THE BACKGROUND LOOK A LITTLE LIKE SEARCHLIGHTS AT A MOVIE PREMIERE, MAYBE THAT'S IT, IT'S THE EXTREMELY R-RATED TRADING CARD FOR ALL YOU GRINDHOUSE LOVERS OUT THERE

3) IT AIN'T GREAT. WITHOUT THE HOLOFOIL DAZZLING YOUR EYES WITH THE SHINY IT WOULD JUST BE A BIG MESS LIKE THAT PINNACLE CARD FROM THE LAST POST

I GOT CURIOUS AND LOOKED UP PANINI XR AND I STILL DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT IS. HIGH END FOOTBALL ROOKIE LOTTERY PACK MAYBE? IT'S WAY OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE AT ANY RATE. IT KINDA REMINDS ME OF OLD UPPER DECK SPX CARDS THAT HAD A BIG X IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESIGN SO YOU KNOW IT'S COOL. A HA-SEONG KIM ROOKIE CARD IS DEFINITELY COOL, HE'S KICKING ASS FOR THE PADRES. THIS ENTIRE POST SOMEHOW ENDED UP BEING ALL ROOKIES, I'M NOT SURE HOW I PULLED THAT OFF

BLACK DESIGN

1) YEP, PANINI BLACK IS ONE OF THOSE SUPER HIGH END TWO CARDS PER PACK FOR EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS PRODUCTS I COMPLETELY IGNORE

2) THERE'S PLENTY OF CARDS WITH TWO PHOTOS ON THE FRONT AND EVEN A FEW LIKE 1994 FLAIR OR EVEN 1954 TOPPS WHERE THE SECOND PHOTO ISN'T TINY BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A CARD LIKE THIS WHERE ONE SIDE IS A FRONT PHOTO AND THE OTHER SHOWS OFF THE BUTT. I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE CARDS SHOW OFF DAT ASS BUT THAT'S A HELL OF AN INNOVATION  FROM PANINI IF SO

3) IT'S PROBABLY MY GOTHY SIDE SPEAKING HERE, BUT I'VE ALWAYS KINDA LIKED PANINI BLACK. NOT ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY TRY TO COLLECT THE CARDS BUT I'M GLAD IT EXISTS

I'M JUST GONNA BE HONEST WITH YA, I AM NOT A PROSPECT GUY, I DON'T FOLLOW THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CLOSELY, AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT MOST OF THE GUYS IN THIS POST. THIS WRITEUP ON THE BACK TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS DOESN'T HELP ME MUCH EITHER. LOOKS LIKE MONTE HARRISON HAS BOUNCED AROUND THE LEAGUE A BIT AND IS CURRENTLY BACK WITH THE BREWERS AFTER ORIGINALLY BEING PART OF THE CHRISTIAN YELICH TRADE

GOLD STANDARD DESIGN

1) ARGH ANOTHER THICK SHINY HIGH-END LOOKING CARD. HOW MANY $500 A BOX PRODUCTS CAN ONE COMPANY MAKE

2) THIS LOOKS LIKE THE ELITE DESIGN FROM THE LAST POST KNOCKED UP THE LEGACY DESIGN AND THEY HAD A VERY CONFUSED LITTLE LOVE CHILD

3) THIS SHIT LOOKS LIKE ALL THE OTHER SHIT. ANGLES. ANGLES EVERYWHERE! I KNOW YOU'RE ALL WONDERING HOW I COULD LOVE CHRONICLES SO MUCH WHEN I AM COMPLAINING THAT SO MANY DESIGNS LOOK THE SAME BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND I DO APPRECIATE THE VARIETY OF THE CARDS EVEN IF A LOT OF THEM BLUR TOGETHER. PLUS THE SHEER GRIP HOLOFOIL HAS UPON MY SOUL CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED

ANOTHER YERMIN ROOKIE CARD HERE, AT THE MOMENT I'M WRITING THIS HE WASN'T SIGNED BY ANY TEAM YET. THIS POST PROBABLY WON'T BE OUT FOR A MONTH THOUGH SO I STILL HAVE HOPE THAT HE'LL CATCH ON WITH SOME TEAM THAT NEEDS SOME CATCHING IN SPRING TRAINING

CLEAR VISION DESIGN

1) THIS IS A TOPPS TEK RIPOFF IF I EVER DID SEE ONE. HOWEVER TOPPS TEK RIPPED OFF THE INNOVATION OF A HUNDRED DIFFERENT ACETATE INSERT SETS THAT CAME BEFORE IT, SO THERE'S NO SHAME HERE

2) LIKE I SAID, IT'S PANINI TEK. I DUNNO IF THERE'S A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PATTERN DESIGNS BUT LET'S HOPE THERE IS NOT

3) THE SHITTIEST ACETATE CARD IS BETTER THAN 99% OF EVERYTHING ELSE EVER PRINTED, SO YAH I LIKE

THE BACK IS A TRAVESTY THOUGH. IF PANINI LEFT OUT EVEN ONE WORD OF THE PALTRY AMOUNT OF TEXT ON THE BACK THEY MIGHT'VE BEEN SUED. I IGNORE THE DIAMONDBACKS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PERDOMO. LOOKS LIKE HE'S A GOOD DEFENSIVE SHORTSTOP FIGHTING FOR A SPOT WITH NICK AHMED ON ONE SIDE AND HOT PROSPECT JORDAN LAWLAR ON THE OTHER

TITANIUM DESIGN

1) HOLY SHIT, THIS IS AN OLD PACIFIC PRODUCT! FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY ONLY, SLIGHTLY HIGHER-END BRAND, NEVER REALLY ESTABLISHED IT'S GIMMICK. I LOVE SEEING ANY OLD PACIFIC REFERENCE THOUGH 

2) THIS LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE OLD PACIFIC SETS SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S BASED ON, IF ANYTHING

3) IT'S THICK AND SHINY AND HAS SOME FOIL ON IT AND I'M GOING TO FORGET ABOUT IT THE MOMENT THE TAB IS CLOSED BUT IT'S FUN TO LOOK AT FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. IT ACTUALLY DOES THE X DESIGN WAY BETTER THAN XR DOES

WAS PANINI FORBIDDEN TO DIFFERENTIATE LEAGUES? I GUESSED THIS IS A YANKEES PLAYER THROUGH JERSEY COLOR CONTEXT CLUES BUT THE LACK OF INFORMATION ON THIS CARD IS FRISTRATING. DEIVI HAS ONLY PITCHED 8 GAMES FOR THE YANKEES BUT HE'S YOUNG, HE'S A STARTER AND EVERY TEAM NEEDS AS MANY OF THEM AS THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON

OH LOOK OUR FIRST DOUBLE. I MEAN VALUE ADDED RED PARALLEL. THERE'S NUMBERS ON THIS CARD!

TITAN DESIGN

1) I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS AND IT APPEARS TO BE EXCLUSIVE TO CHRONICLES. MAYBE THIS IS AN ACTUAL INSERT SET AND NOT JUST THE 'ALL THE BRANDS ARE INSERTS' TYPE OF THING

2) I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. BLACK & WHITE PHOTO WITH A PURPLISH BACKGROUND? MAYBE A WEIRD OLD SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

3) I APPROVE OF ANYTHING THAT JUST GOES FOR IT AND TRIES SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM EVERYTHING ELSE OUT THERE. ALSO THE COOL COLOR PALETTE PLEASES MY PEEPERS

I TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER TITAN RELEASES AND APPARENTLY IT'S BASED ON THE ACTUAL MOON OF SATURN??? I DEFINITELY APPROVE OF SPACE-BASED TRADING CARDS AND I NEED TO TRACK DOWN THE ACUÑA FROM THIS SET NOW. THIS IS MY FIRST JO ADELL ROOKIE CARD, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT HE'S ALREADY BEEN LAPPED BY ABOUT SIX OTHER 'CAN'T-MISS' PROSPECTS SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE CARES ABOUT POOR JO ANYMORE

THE SECOND TITAN CARD IS THE ROOKIE CARD OF TAYLOR TRAMMELL WHO LIKE ADELL HAS HAD A ROUGH TIME OF IT IN THE BIGS. HE ALSO APPARENTLY GOT HURT IN SPRING TRAINING WHICH SUCKS. TRAMMELL WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN KENNESAW SO I'M ROOTING FOR A BOUNCEBACK SEASON FOR HIM. IT'S A GOOD THING I DIDN'T GET A THIRD CARD FROM THIS SET OR I'D BE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO THINK I COULD MAYBE TRY TO BUILD IT

THESE CARDS KIND OF REMIND ME OF THAT CHRONICLES BASKETBALL DRAFT PICKS PACK I GOT A WHILE BACK. I DON'T KNOW WHO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE BUT IT'S FUN TO FIND OUT. IT'S LIKE FORGETTING THE NIGHT OF YOUR FANTASY DRAFT AND FINDING OUT WHAT PLAYERS GOT AUTOPICKED FOR YOU. SIX MORE SETS TO GO, INCLUDING THE BEST OF THE BUNCH

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 29: COFFEE

SINCE PART 28 WAS POSTED BACK WITH THE CHRISTMAS POSTS, WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF THE 2021 COMC BLACK FRIDAY BINGE! I CAN FINALLY START POSTING CARDS I'VE BOUGHT FROM THEM IN THE PAST YEAR! I SAVED THE BIGGEST CARD FOR LAST

1892 K5 ARBUCKLE BROS. COFFEE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES - GEORGIA

Y'ALL ALREADY KNOW I LIKE 19TH CENTURY TRADING CARDS. I ALSO LIKE CARDS OF FLAGS AND STATES AND COUNTRIES AND SUCH. I REALLY LIKE FINDING CARDS AND ITEMS FOR MY HOME STATE OF GEORGIA. I GOT LUCKY HERE AND HIT THE TRIFECTA FOR NOT A LOT OF MONEY THANKS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CARD CRUMBLING TO DUST. HERE'S A PIC OF A SLIGHTLY LESS MANGLED CARD. I'VE GOT WORSE LOOKING CARDS, THE MAIN IMAGE IS PRETTY MUCH ALL THERE. I'M NEVER TAKING IT OUT OF THE HOLDER EVER AGAIN THOUGH. ACCORDING TO THE BACK, THE CARD ILLUSTRATES GEN. JAMES OGLETHORPE LANDING ON THE COAST, JOHN WESLEY PREACHING IN SAVANNAH AND GENERAL SHERMAN WRECKING SOME SHIT AS HE MARCHES TO THE SEA. INTERESTING HOW THERE'S A COASTAL FOCUS ON THE CARD AS SAVANNAH WAS STILL THE BIG CITY IN GEORGIA IN THE 19TH CENTURY

THE BACK OF THE CARD HAS A BIG COFFEE AD ON THE LEFT AND A HEAVILY TRUNCATED HISTORY OF GEORGIA ON THE RIGHT. INERESTING BITS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE INCLUDE THE SPANISH HISTORY IN THE STATE WITH HERNANDO DE SOTO'S EXPEDITION, THE PHRASE "WHERE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SHOULD BE ACCORDED (EXCEPT TO CATHOLICS)", AND THAT AWKWARD JUMP FROM "THE PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY TOOK PLACE IN 1750" TO "THE CHIEF EVENTS OF THE SECESSION WAR".  I'M NOT EVEN TRYING TO DUNK ON THE TEXT, THERE'S PLENTY OF MEDIA OUTLETS WHO WOULD ABSOLUTELY PRINT "WE WILL NEVER SUPPORT ANY COMMENTARY ROOTED IN DISCRIMINATION OR HATE (EXCEPT TO TRANS)" RIGHT NOW. EVERY ERA HAS THEIR BLIND SPOTS AND OVERT SHITTYNESS AND THE STUFF LEFT OUT OF THIS TEXT IS AS ENLIGHTENING AS WHAT GOT PUT IN. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 1830S FOR EXAMPLE. OR 1877. I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN THE STUFF THAT WAS WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF THE CARD. THE OLDER THE CARD IS THE MORE I LOVE IT IF SOMEONE PUT THEIR MARK ON IT. SADLY SOMEONE TRIED TO ERASE IT AT SOME POINT AND IT LOOKS LIKE CURSIVE BUT I CAN'T REALLY TELL WHAT IT'S SAYING

THIS CARD ADDS TO MY SMALL COLLECTION OF VINTAGE HISTORICAL TRADE CARDS. I ALREADY HAVE A CARD OF HONDURAS FROM THE DUKE'S RULERS, FLAGS AND COATS OF ARMS N126-1 SET AND FLORIDA FROM DUKE'S GOVERNORS, ARMS, ETC. N133-2 SET. THE FLORIDA CARD IS EXTRA COOL AS THAT SET'S CARDS HAVE A MAP ON THE BACK. I FRIGGIN LOVE OLD MAPS AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT ARBUCKLE HAS A SECOND U.S. STATES AND TERRITORIES SET THAT HAS MAPS ON THE FRONT. A LOT OF THESE CARDS LOOK FRIGGIN GORGEOUS AND I'LL BE LOOKING TO ADD TO MY STATES AND COUNTRIES COLLECTION IN THE FUTURE

2023 TOPPS HANGER PACK

I FINALLY FOUND A FUCKIN PACK OF TOPPS AT TARGET! I EVEN HAD MONEY IN MY POCKET AT THE TIME!! HELL TO THE FUCKIN YEAH!!! NO RACK PACKS, SADLY, BUT THIS SUCKER WAS TWELVE BUCKS, WHICH WAS FIVE LESS THAN THE HOBBY PACKS I BOUGHT AND I GET ELEVEN MOAR CARDS. I'VE GOT 67 MORE CHANCES TO GET THAT MONEY MIKE ROOKIE CARD

HERE'S THE BIG FAT PACK OF GOODNESS INSIDE. GOT A RAYS CARD ON TOP, THAT'S A GOOD OMEN. I'M NOT TAKING PICTURES OF 67 CARDS SO I'M GOING TO COPY NIGHT OWL'S HANGER PACK POST FORMAT AND JUST LIST EVERYTHING OFF AND SHOW OFF PICS OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. THE INSERTS ARE IN THE MIDDLE SO I TOOK THE BOTTOM PILE OF BASE CARDS AND MOVED THEM TO THE FRONT. SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST. LET'S FUKKIN GOOOOOOOOO

267 DEAN KREMER

206 GUNNAR HENDERSON RC

100 PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT

42 FRANCHY CORDERO

FIRST FOUR CARDS WERE DOUBLES. THUS IS THE WAY OF PACK RIPPING. ORIOLE ROOKIE CARD AND GOLDSCHMIDT AIN'T BAD DOUBLES THO. THE FIRST CARD I NEEDED IS:

330 JULIO RODRIGUEZ

A VERY GOOD CARD INDEED! I LIKE HOW THE POSITION BUMP MAKES A LITTLE TABLE FOR THE ROOKIE CUP

113 STAR POWER CHECKLIST

THIS IS MY FIRST CHECKLIST CARD AND I LIKE THE DECISION TO PUT THE MLB LOGO ON THESE. COMBO CARDS ARE LOOKING GOOD

247 GAVIN LUX

180 DOMINIC LEONE

274 MATT DUFFY

295 BRYSON STOTT

THE FIRST FUTURE STARS CARD OF '23. IT LOOKS A LITTLE AWKWARD WITH ALL THE OTHER STUFF GOING ON IN THE DESIGN BUT I ENJOY THE CHEESINESS 

241 AMERICAN LEAGUE RBI LEADERS

YEP, I STILL WANT TO PULL OUT THE SCISSORS AND MAKE SOME MINIS. I HAVE HIT A RUN OF HORIZONTAL CARDS SO WE ARE OFFICIALLY ON A MONEY MIKE WATCH

326 WALK-OFF WATERFALL CHECKLIST

190 BRO TIME CHECKLIST

UH OH WHAT'S THIS

190 MICHAEL HARRIS II RC

I NEVER PULLED AN OZZIE ALBIES TOPPS ROOKIE OUT OF A PACK. 

I NEVER PULLED A RONALD ACUÑA TOPPS ROOKIE OUT OF A PACK. 

I NEVER PULLED AN AUSTIN RILEY TOPPS ROOKIE OUT OF A PACK. 

I NEVER PULLED A SPENCER STRIDER TOPPS ROOKIE OUT OF A PACK.

BUT GODDAMNIT, I JUST PULLED A MICHAEL HARRIS TOPPS ROOKIE OUT OF A PACK. I CAN QUIT OPENING SERIES ONE PACKS NOW. I PROBABLY WON'T BUT I CAN

194 JOSH STAUMONT

220 CHICAGO CUBS

292 TEXAS RANGERS

TEAM CARDS ALSO LOOK NICE. EVERYTHING LOOKS NICE. THIS WHOSE SET LOOKS NICE. NICE NICE NICE. GOD IT FEELS SO GOOD TO REALLY LIKE A TOPPS SET AGAIN

113 STAR POWER CHECKLIST

I FULLY EXPECTED DOUBLES, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I'M GETTING 1991 UPPER DECK FLASHBACKS. AT LEAST IT'S A DODGER, DODGERS ARE EASY TO GET RID OF

174 CELEBRATION IN SEATTLE CHECKLIST

I WOULDA TOOK A PIC IF ID'A KNOWN THIS WAS A STEALTH J-ROD CARD

70 DARIN RUF

LAST OF THE HORIZONTAL CARDS. MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS CARD IS THE GLOVE PEEKING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER

260 MATT CHAPMAN

157 CHRISTIAN VAZQUEZ

252 AUSTIN MEADOWS

136 DYLAN BUNDY

203 GARY SANCHEZ

201 TREVOR LARNACH

DON'T THINK I DON'T APPRECIATE THIS BIG RUN OF NON-DUPLICATES, BECAUSE I DO. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT MY NEXT PACK WILL HAVE A RUN AS LONG AS THIS

26 TRENT GRISHAM

I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF CAMO ANYTHING BUT I LIKE THIS CARD. TRENT LOOKS LIKE HE'S HAVING A GOOD DAY

25 BYRON BUXTON

ANOTHER GOOD LOOKING CARD. MAN, I HOPE BUXTON PLAYS AN ENTIRE SEASON THIS YEAR, THAT WOULD BE SO FUN

256 JOSE RAMIREZ

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS MY FIRST GUARDIANS CARD OR NOT BUT I'M LOVING THAT LOGO. SO COOL. ALSO FUN WITH NUMBERS: CARDS 26, 25 AND 256 ALL IN A ROW

78 SONNY GRAY

36 BRANDON LOWE

287 BRENDAN ROGERS

244 CESAR HERNANDEZ

51 CHAS MCCORMICK

WE NEED A CARD OF MCCORMICK'S CATCH IN THE WORLD SERIES. AND NOT AN SSP GOLD MIRROR WHATSIT, A REAL DAMN CARD

117 EMMANUEL CHASE

280 JULIO URIAS

144 MARCO GONZALES

195 GEORGE KIRBY

45 GERRIT COLE 

225 CORBIN BURNES

104 KESTON HUIRA

SO HAPPY THE BREWERS GLOVE LOGO IS ALL OVER THIS CARD. I WANT A TEAM SET

149 JOSIAH GRAY

53 DYLAN CEASE

AMERICAN LEAGUE SPENCER STRIDER, SWEET

236 SHANE MCLANAHAN

232 IAN HAPP

13 GIOVANNY GALLEGOS

163 MIGUEL VARGAS RC

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THERE BEING TOO MANY ROOKIE CARDS IN THIS SET, THIS IS ONLY MY THIRD OF THE PACK. OF COURSE, ONE OF THOSE ROOKIES WAS LITERALLY THE CARD I WANTED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD, BUT STILL. WHAR'S THE ROOKS

265 ANTHONY SANTANDER

207 PAUL SEWARD

129 NOLAN JONES RC

83 TYLOR MEGILL

31 RILEY GREENE RC

OK, HERE'S TWO MORE ROOKIES. IT PAYS TO COMPLAIN

309 SEAN MURPHY

AFTER 34 STRAIGHT NON-DOUBLES THIS PACK REALIZED IT WAS A PACK OF RETAIL TOPPS AND MADE UP FOR LOST TIME. I DO NOT MIND GETTING A SECOND MURPHY THOUGH AS IT WILL BE THE FIRST OF HOPEFULLY MANY IN THE BRAVES BOX

238 LIOVER PEGUERO RC

268 YASMANI GRANDAL

227 YANDY DIAZ

DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE. THE ANALYTIC FOLKS CALL THIS 'REGRESSION TO THE MEAN'

216 NEXT GENERATION CHECKLIST

THE LAST NON-DOUBLE IN THE PACK. THIS ONE IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE FOIL STAMPING GLITCHED OUT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT BEHIND THE FOIL IS A WHITE TOPPS LOGO. I WONDER IF ANYONE'S FOUND ONE COMPLETELY MISSING THE FOIL YET

146 ALEX VERDUGO

79 TYLER O'NEILL

275 VAUGHN GRISSOM RC

DOUBLES ARE AWESOME. MORE DOUBLES PLEASE. FOR REAL THOUGH, THE FACT I GOT THE TWO BIG BRAVES ROOKIES ALREADY JUST MAKES ME WANT TO BUY MORE PACKS. I'LL HAPPILY TAKE MORE DOUBLES OF THESE GUYS. NO MATTER WHAT, UNLESS I LUCK OUT AND GET SOME KIND OF BEEG MOJO HIT, I WILL NOT GET A BETTER PACK THAN THIS ONE. TIME FOR THE INSERTS

114 IAN ANDERSON SHINY FOILY

I'VE NEVER BEEN A BIG FAN OF THESE PARALLELS BUT NOW THAT GOLD FOILS ARE HARD AS SHIT TO GET I'LL TAKE WHAT I CAN GET. I HAVE TO ADMIT THE CARD LOOKS REALLY SLICK. IT'S ALSO AS BEAT UP AS IAN IN HIS FIRST SPRING TRAINING OUTING WITH JANKY CORNERS AND A BIG ROLLER MARK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CARD. IT'S A BRAVE THO, AIN'T GONNA COMPLAIN ABOUT A BRAVES CARD

SMLB-20 JUAN SOTO STARS OF MLB

THESE THINGS ARE RETAIL EXCLUSIVE INSERTS AND WHILE I CAN'T FIND IT IN EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE ODDS ON THE BACK THERE APPEAR TO BE FOUR IN EVERY HANGER PACK ALONG WITH ONE 1988 CARD AND TWO OTHER RANDOM INSERTS. THAT'S WHAT NIGHT OWL GOT IN HIS, AND IT'S WHAT I GOT IN MINE. THESE ARE ALL VERY SHINY, HAVE A DAMN GOOD CHECKLIST AND THERE'S A GIGANTIC JEWEL IN THE BACKGROUND. I'VE SEEN WORSE RETAIL EXCLUSIVE SETS AND IT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO COMPLETE IF THEY'RE PUTTING SO MANY IN EACH PACK

SMLB-26 RILEY GREENE RC STARS OF MLB

RC LOGOS DO NOT BELONG ON INSERTS. I GOT HIS BASE ROOKIE IN THIS PACK SO MAYBE I SHOULD FIGURE OUT WHO THIS GUY IS AND WHY HE'S ON THE SHINY JEWEL CARD INSTEAD OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. HMM. 22 YEARS OLD, FIFTH OVERALL PICK, DECENT ROOKIE YEAR, PLAYS FOR THE TIGERS SO SHOULD GET PLENTY OF AT-BATS. SOMEONE TO KEEP AN EYE ON FOR SURE

SMLB-10 JAZZ CHISHOLM JR. STARS OF MLB

THE MARLINS ARE THE BIGGEST PISSANT TEAM IN THE LEAGUE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND I GENERALLY HATE THEM, BUT JAZZ CHISHOLM IS AWESOME AND I LOVE HIM AND HATE THAT THE MARLINS ARE THROWING HIM OUT IN CENTER FIELD AFTER AN INJURY. JAZZ RULES SO HE WILL KICK ASS BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT DUMBASS FRANCHISE JERKING HIM AROUND. I DOUBT I HAVE MANY CHISHOLM CARDS SO I AM VERY HAPPY TO GET A SHINY ONE

SMLB-3 RONALD ACUÑA JR. STARS OF MLB

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

ANY ACUÑA INSERT IS A HIT AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I'M SURE THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE ONLY DOLLAR CARDS IN THE ACUÑA BOX AT THE LCS IN A FEW MONTHS BUT I CON'T CARE, I HAVE ONE NOW. BETWEEN THIS AND THE ROOKIES I WAS ALREADY FLYING HIGH AND THEN THIS HAPPENED

T88-63 OZZIE ALBIES 1988 TOPPS

I DIED. YOU DON'T GET TWO BRAVES ROOKIES AND A SHINY PARALLEL AND A RONALD INSERT AND A 1988 TOPPS OZZIE ALBIES CARD IN THE SAME DAMN PACK. I DROPPED DEAD AND MY BRAIN RELEASED THE REST OF THE HAPPY CHEMICALS AND I'M HALLUCINATING THIS WHOLE PACK AS A LAST JOYFUL MOMENT BEFORE I DROP OFF INTO OBLIVION. HAS TO BE. I DON'T OPEN PACKS LIKE THIS. AT ANY RATE, MY GHOST CAN APPARENTLY STILL TYPE UP BLOG POSTS SO NOT MUCH IS GOING TO CHANGE AROUND HERE. I HAVEN'T COMPARED THIS TO AN ACTUAL 1988 TOPPS CARD BECAUSE THIS ONE IS PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY FUCKING PERFECT. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, PERFECT. GODDAMN OZZIE 88, HOLY SHIT FUCK YES. 

DID I MENTION I LIKE 2023 TOPPS YET

22GH-4 MOOKIE BETTS 2022 GREATEST HITS

LAST CARD IN THE PACK IS A SHINY MOOKIE. THIS IS YET ANOTHER INSERT CARD PRINTED ON HOLO FOILBOARD AND IT DOESN'T REALLY WORK THAT WELL WITH THIS DESIGN AS ABOUT HALF THE CARD IS MATTED OFF AND YOU DON'T REALLY GET THE FULL RAINBOW EFFECT. IT'S STILL A PRETTY COOL DESIGN WITH SOME EFFORT PUT INTO IT AND I'M GLAD IT'S A NEW TO ME INSERT. RIGHT NOW OF THE INSERTS I'VE PULLED MY RANKINGS ARE:

WORST: ONE-TWO PUNCH

5TH: HOME RUN CHALLENGE

4TH: 2022 GREATEST HITS

3RD: STARS OF THE MLB

2ND: 1988 TOPPS

1ST: ALL ACES

NOW I JUST NEED TO FIND A FEW OF THE ONES I DON'T HAVE IN SOME QUARTER BOXES

AND THAT'S MY FIRST HANGER PACK IN A LONG TIME. GOTTA SAY IT WAS AN UNMITIGATED SUCCESS. AS I SAID BEFORE I DID NOT FIND ANY 2023 RACK PACKS (ALTHOUGH THEY DID HAVE SOME 2022 SERIES TWO PACKS) BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN I DID NOT BUY A RACK PACK. BUT THAT'S A POST FOR ANOTHER TIME