BIRTHDAY BOOLSHEET BLASTER: PART 13 - FIFTY CENT REJECTS D

THE NEXT BATCH OF FIFTY CENT REJECT CARDS FEATURES NAMES STARTING WITH D AND THERE WAS A JOHNNY DAMON BLOODBATH IN THE FIFTY CENT BOX

THERE WERE WELL OVER A DOZEN DAMONS WHICH SEEMS LIKE A LOT BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PLAYER IN THE BOX THAT BLOWS JOHNNY OUT OF THE WATER. JUST WAIT TILL WE REACH THE H'S. THIS IS STILL A WHO'S WHO OF ODDBALL 00S CARDS FROM THE PRETTY NICE (TRIPLE THREADS, FINEST, 1996 UPPER DECK) TO THE HIDEOUS (PLAY BALL, UD ARTIFACTS, THAT BOWMAN HERITAGE DISASTER). THERE WAS EVEN ONE CARD I NEEDED!

HERE'S A 2007 FLEER TRADITION CARD I INEXPLICABLY HAVE A WANTLIST FOR AND I NEED A JOHNNY. DO I REALLY THOUGH? DO I NEED A JOHNNY DAMON UPPER DECK ERA FLEER TRADITION CARD FOR A SET I WILL NEVER EVER COMPLETE? EH, IT'S ON THE WANTLIST I GUESS

HERE'S A BETTER JOHNNY CARD. A 1996 SPORTFLIX UC3 CARD. GET IT?? YOU SEE THREE??? MOAR PUNS ON CARDS, PLEASE! THIS IS NICE. I PREFER KANSAS CITY ROYALS JOHNNY DAMON TO COMPLAINING HE WAS ARRESTED FOR A DWI BECAUSE HE'S A TRUMP SUPPORTER JOHNNY DAMON

THERE WAS ALSO A HEALTHY PILE OF SHAWON DUNSTON CARDS BUT IT WAS HALF THE NUMBER OF DAMON CARDS AND THEY WERE ALL JUNK WAX-ERA BASE CARDS. EXCEPT THIS FINEST CARD, FINEST IS NEVER JUNK. THIS CARD HAS GONE A LITTLE GREEN BUT YOU DON'T NOTICE AS MUCH WHEN THE BORDER'S GREEN TOO

90S INSERT CARD ALERT!!! HERE'S A 1997 UPPER DECK ROCK SOLID FOUNDATION INSERT OF CARLOS DELGADO WHO WAS ON A TON OF 90S INSERTS. THIS IS A VERY NICE LOOKING SET WITH THE HOLOFOIL AND BLACK MARBLE BORDER AND IS ONE OF THE MORE COMMON INSERTS FROM 1997 SO THEY'RE NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND. CARLOS ALSO HAD A COUPLE TRIPLE THREADS CARDS IN THE BOX, I SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH OF THE SET I HAVE ONCE I'M DONE SORTING THESE OUT

THIS LEN DYKSTRA ROOKIE IS A CARD I ACTUALLY NEED, I HAVE 86 DONRUSS IN A BINDER AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS REALLY FUNNY TO SEE THIS CARD MIXED IN WITH ABOUT TEN 2020 DONRUSS RETRO 86 CARDS OF LENNY

BUCKY FUCKIN DENT ON TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CARD WITH THE SAME DAMN PHOTO. THEY'RE FIVE YEARS APART THOUGH AND THE 2016 ARCHIVES CARD IS ZOOMED IN SO THAT MAKES IT OK, RIGHT? NEW BUCKY CARD INCOMING IN 2026

GOOD: A TOMMY DAVIS 2001 SP LEGENDARY CUTS CARD I DIDN'T HAVE. EVEN BETTER: IT WASN'T IN THE PILE OF LEGENDARY CUTS I PICKED UP FROM THE CARD SHOW!

HERE'S A NEW SHINY CARD OF DANNY DUFFY FROM THE 2017 REHASH OF THE 87 TOPPS SET. I CARE NOT FOR THESE BUT I APPRECIATE THE SHINY

RICK DEMPSEY WAS NOT A PLAYER I EXPECTED IN THIS PILE BUT IT'S COOL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN INSERT ATT FIRST BUT I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A 2005 DONRUSS SIGNATURE BASE CARD? I WAS UNAWARE THAT 2005 DONRUSS SIGNATURE EXISTED UNTIL NOW. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY PANINI DESIGN YEARS BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY SHOWED UP. ESPECIALLY THE MINIMALIST BACK WITH TWO TEAM LOGOS AND NOT MUCH ELSE. IT'S SORT OF UNCANNY

ROB DIBBLE MAKES AN APPEARANCE ON DONRUSS' VERSION OF A LEGENDS SET, 2005 DONRUSS GREATS. I DON'T KNOW WHY I NEVER GOT INTO THESE WHEN I WENT ALL GOOFY OVER ARCHIVES, UD LEGENDS AND FLEER GREATS. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE BABY BLUE AND SEPIA (??) DESIGN, MAYBE BECAUSE DONRUSS DROPPED DEAD SHORTLY AFTER THIS SET WAS RELEASED

HOORAY! A 2013 1972 MINI CARD! I COLLECT THESE! I'VE COLLECTED ABOUT FOUR OF THE RA DICKEY CARDS ALREADY BUT I LIKE FINDING THESE ANYWAY. DICKEY IS ONE OF A LONG LINE OF VET PITCHERS THE BRAVES PICKED UP OUTTA NOWHERE FOR A SEASON OR TWO. I REALLY HOPE CHRIS SALE THROWS 190 INNINGS LIKE RA DID  

THE LAST CARD OF THE D'S IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WHOLE BOX. IN 1997 TOPPS INSERTED INTER-LEAGUE MATCHUP CARDS ON DOUBLE-SIDED FINEST STYLE STOCK WITH PEEL-OFF PRETECTORS AND EVERYTHING. THEY LOOK REALLY GREAT EVEN WITH THAT UGLY BAR OF LEGALESE AND COPYRIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM. THIS ONE HAS BRAVES LEGEND BRIAN JORDAN ON THE FRONT. GUESS WHO'S ON THE BACK?

THAT'S RIGHT, WE'VE GONE FULL CIRCLE WITH YET ANOTHER JOHNNY DAMON CARD. I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THIS IS A BRIAN JORDAN CARD HOWEVER. I NEED TO FIND A FINAL HOME FOR THIS CARD SO I CAN PERFORM THE RARE DOUPLE-PEEL MANUVER. FREE YOUR FINEST, FOLKS!

ONLINE MEGA BOX - PART 14

BACK TO THE NONSENSE. NONE OF THESE CARDS HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON EXCEPT THE GROUP OF FOUR INSERTS. I GUESS THEY ARE ALL MADE OF PAPER. THAT'S SOMETHING IN COMMON

1988 FLEER ALL-STAR TEAM ERIC DAVIS INSERT

 CATEGORY - INSERT

I THINK I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY BUT I DO NOT PASS UP EARLY FLEER INSERTS, ESPECIALLY ERIC DAVIS

1982 TOPPS MANU TUIASOSOPO

 CATEGORY - WANTLIST

40 YEARS LATER I HAVE STILL NOT COMPLETED A SINGLE TOPPS FOOTBALL SET. I NEED TO COMPLETE ONE OF THEM THIS YEAR, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHICH ONE YET. JUST GOTTA PICK ONE AND ATTACK IT LIKE I DO WITH THE BASEBALL SETS BECAUSE THE STRATEGY OF WAIT FOR CARDS I NEED TO FALL INTO MY LAP AIN'T WORKING. MANU'S THE POPS OF NEW BRAVES THIRD BASE COACH MATT TUIASOSOPO AND I THINK THAT'S NEAT

1998 PINNACLE MINT ANDY PETTITTE

 CATEGORY - SHINY

EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF THESE MINT CARDS ON THE SITE I SNAP IT UP BEFORE I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. I SHOULD MAYBE GET A WANTLIST TOGETHER??? PETTITTE SHOULD BE A HALL OF FAMER BY NOW BUT HE'S GOT THE ONE THING WRONG WITH HIM THAT ALLOWS VOTERS TO DISREGARD HIM. NOW THAT THE BALLOT IS STARTING TO GET BLOATED AGAIN IT'LL BE A WHILE FOR OL ANDY

1992 PINNACLE TEAM 2000 ERIC KARROS, ROBIN VENTURA, GREGG JEFFERIES, TOMMY GREENE

 CATEGORY - INSERT, WANTLIST

ONE SUMMER IN 1992 I TOOK A PAYCHECK FROM STOCKING SHELVES AT WINN-DIXIE AND WALKED ACROSS THE STREET AND BOUGHT A JUMBO BOX OF 92 PINNACLE FROM THE MOM AND POP SUPERMARKET WHO WERE SELLIGN HOBBY BOXES FOR SOME REASON FOR SIXTY-FIVE BUCKS. I HAD PLANNED TO SELL IT AT SOME POINT BUT ENDED UP RIPPING IT ON WINTER BREAK INSTEAD. THUSLY I GOT A LARGE PILE OF THESE TEAM 2000 INSERTS AND NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A BASE SET. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE 90S INSERT SETS I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLETE FOR THE NOSTALGIA VALUE. SPEAKING OF TEAM 2000, HOW DID THESE PLAYERS FARE THAT YEAR?

ERIC KARROS STARTED HIS DECLINE BUT WAS STILL A LEAGUE AVERAGE HITTER WHO BOPPED 31 DINGERS. ERIC HAD A PRETTY GOOD RUN FROM 1995-2000 THOUGH

ROBIN VENTURA HAD MOVED ON TO THE METS AND WAS ALSO PRETTY AVERAGE BUT HAD ONE WHOLE WAR IN VALUE OVER ERIC THANKS TO PLAYING A TOUGHER POSITION. HE WENT TO THE WORLD SERIES TOO!

GREGG JEFFERIES WAS FINISHING UP HIS CAREER AS A UTILITY GUY OFF THE BENCH IN DETROIT. HE HAD POSITIVE WAR WHICH IS ALL YOU REALLY WANT FROM THAT ROLE

TOMMY GREENE WAS WELL INTO RETIREMENT DUE TO A BUM SHOULDER BUT HE PITCHED A NO HITTER AND STARTED THE PENNANT CLINCHING GAME FOR THE PHILS IN 1993 SO YA GOTTA GIVE HIM HIS PROPS

THREE OUT OF FOUR WERE PLAYING IN 2000! THAT AIN'T BAD PROGNOSTICATION FROM PINNACLE

2006-07 FLEER ULTRA ED BELFOUR

 CATEGORY - PLAYER COLLECTION

THE BELFOUR COLLECTION INCREASES BY EXACTLY ONE. THIS WAS FROM UPPER DECK'S FLEER NOT FLEER FLEER BUT IT'S STILL A PRETTY NICE LOOKING CARD. I DON'T LIKE THE TEAM BUT THAT PANTHERS LOGO IS AMAZING

2021 BOWMAN JUAN SOTO

 CATEGORY - SUPERSTAR

I WILL ALWAYS PICK UP JUAN SOTO CARDS FOR CHEAPS. WELL, ALMOST ALWAYS. I'VE BEEN SLOW ON THE PICKUP EVER SINCE HE BECAME A YANKEE AND HAVE LOST A FEW ON THE SITE. I STILL LIKE THE WASHINGTON SOTOS

1992 O-PEE-CHEE BIP ROBERTS

 CATEGORY - OH NOEZ

PART OF ME WANTS TO PUT ALL MY BIPS IN A BINDER AND GET TOGETHER A HAVE LIST SO I KNOW WHAT ALL I'VE GOT. ANOTHER PART OF ME WANTS TO NEVER EVER DO THIS AND JUST ACCEPT THE BLESSINGS OF BIPPAGE AS THEY ENTER MY LIFE. I THINK I'LL EMBRACE THE CHAOS

1988 PACIFIC LEGENDS SAM JETHROE

 CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I AM ONE CARD AWAY FROM FINISHING 1988 PACIFIC LEGENDS SERIES 1 BUT SERIES 2 NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. SAM JETHROE GETS ME A LITTLE CLOSER BUT I WOULD HAVE GOT THIS CARD EITHER WAY. JET IS ALWAYS A NICE FIND FOR THE BRAVES COLLECTON

2024 WEEK IN REVIEW - WEEK 3

 I HAVE BASICALLY SPENT THIS ENTIRE WEEK WORKING AND FREEZING SO THOUGHT I MIGHT NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SHOW OFF BUT THANKFULLY I TOOK PICTURES AND SCREENSHOTS OF THE STUFF I DID DO SO THE WEEK IN REVIEW STREAK IS NOW UP TO THREE. TWO MORE THAN I EXPECTED, HONESTLY. THE HIBERNATION INSTINCT IS STRONG THOUGH, I'M STILL TRYING TO PROCRASTINATE WRITING THIS. I'VE WASHED TWO LOADS OF DISHES AND COOKED DINNER SO FAR TO AVOID TYPING BUT A TOO-LATE-IN-THE-DAY CUP OF COFFEE HAS ME HITTING THE KEYBOARD NOW. THAT AND SOMETHING EVEN MORE URGENT I'M PROCRASTINATING FROM DOING. LET'S START WITH A PILE OF CRAP

COLLECTING STUFF I DID THIS WEEK

I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ORGANIZING DONE BUT THE MAIN ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS DRAGGING A BUNCH OF UPPER DECK STUFF TO MY DESK TO SORT. MY FINALIZED COLLECTING GOALS ARE STILL A DREAM BUT IT ISS SLOWLY COMING INTO FOCUS DAY BY DAY. I MIGHT HAVE IT ALL WRITTEN DOWN BY DECEMBER, WHICH MIGHT BE THE PROPER WAY TO DO SUCH THINGS. ABOVE ARE SOME SETS I MADE SOME WANTLISTS FOR BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO ADD SOME TO MY COLLECTION AND MAYBE EVEN COMPLETE THE SET ONE OF THESE DECADES! HERE'S A LIST OF 'EM:

1995, 1997 SP

1996-1999 SPX

1997 UD3

1999 UD POWERDECK

1999-2000 IONIX

2002 A PIECE OF HISTORY

1995 SP I WAS ALREADY WORKING ON BUT I FORGOT HOW INCREDIBLY SHINY THE 1997 SET WAS AND I HAD MANAGED TO ACCUMULATE A BUNCH OF IT, INCLUDING THE SHORT PRINTED HIDECKI IRABU ROOKIE. JUST LOOKA T THAT BIG SEXY CARD, ETCHED FOIL AND A HOLOFIL BORDER, YOWZA. SPX SPEAKS FOR ITSELF BUT I FINALLY GOT ALL THE ONES I HAVE IN ONE PLACE. I'VE ALWAYS PREFERRED 1998 UD3 TO THE 1997 VERSION BUT I HAD A REALIZATION: 1998 UD3 HAS A FRACTURED BASE SET WITH CARDS IN VARIOUS LEVELS OF SCARCITY THAT'S ALMOST 300 CARDS IN SIZE. 1997 UD3 IS 60 CARDS WITH NO FUSS. I HAVE A CHANCE IN HELL OF COMPLETING THAT SET! IONIX IS A CHROME-LIKE SET WITH SOME FUN DESIGNS, POWERDECK IS POWERDECK, AND 2002 PIECE OF HISTORY IS A COOL LEGENDSISH SET THAT IS SLIGHTLY SPOILED WITH SOME UNNECESSARY SHORTPRINTS BUT I LIKE IT. NONE OF THESE CARDS ARE TERRIBLY COMMON BUT IF I FIND SOME IN MY TRAVELS I CAN MAKE SURE I'M NOT SPENDING MY MONEY ON DOUBLES NOW

I ALSO GOT MY UPPER DECK INSERT CARDS SOMEWHAT ORGANIZED. THEY'VE BEEN A MESS FOR A WHILE AS SOME CARDS WERE IN AN INSERT BOX, AND OTHERS WERE WITH THE SET, AND OTHERS WERE HIDING IN RANDOM PLACES. I'VE AVOIDED DOING THIS FOR SO LONG BECAUSE AFTER 1993, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS I DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHICH INSERT IS FROM WHICH YEAR AND SINCE A LOT OF THE MID 90S-EARLY 00S SETS HAVE A COPYRIGHT DATE OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR FOR SERIES ONE IT'S A REAL PAIN. THIS ARRAY OF PILES WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SORTED BY YEAR BUT HOO BOY DID I BUNGLE IT ON MOST OF THE STACKS. A LOT OF THOSE AREN'T EVEN FROM FLAGSHIP SETS. ASIDE FROM MOSTLY GETTING THINGS WHERE THEY BELONG I ALSO GOT ALL MY UPPER DECK E-CARD CODE CARDS IN ONE PLACE. THESE WERE CONTEST CARDS WHERE YOU COULD ENTER A CODE INTO A WEBSITE AND WIN ACTUAL CARDS, A DECADE BEFORE TOPPS DID IT. THERE'S THIRTY-THREE CARDS TOTAL BETWEEN TWO FLAGSHIP SETS AND AN ODDBALL CALLED EVOLUTION AND I KINDA WANT TO CHASE THEM ALL SINCE I HAVE A GOOD HEAD START ALREADY

WHILE SORTING THE IONIX, I FOUND THIS GEM:

THIS CARD IS A REAL MESS BUT THAT'S ON PURPOSE. UPPER DECK WAS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF INTERNET 1337 5P33K WITH THIS SHOCKWAVE SET. THE WHOLE BRAND WAS VERY COMPUTERY WITH SOME WILD DESIGNS AND PIXELY COMPUTER GRAPHIC ART. THERE'S A SLIGHT PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE AS THERE'S A HOLOFOIL TEXTURED OVERLAY ON TOP OF THE CARD THAT OUTLINED THE PLAYER PICTURE BUT THIS ONE GOT A LITTLE JACKED UP. YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER OF THE HOLOFOIL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE CORNER OF THE CARD IN BETWEEN DELGADO'S SHOES. HERE'S A LITTLE BETTER LOOK AT THE TEXTURE

YOU CAN NOT OLY SEE THE TEXTURE ON THE CARD IS RIGHT ON TOP OF CARLOS, BUT THE PLAYER OUTLINE APPEARS TO BE FOR A HORIZONTAL DESIGN. THE HORIZONTAL INSERT IN 2000 IONIX IS CALLED ATOMIC AND IF WE LOOK AT THE BACK...

HERE'S A NICE RIDICULOUSLY MISCUT BACK OF TONY GWYNN'S ATOMIC INSERT. I THINK THAT IS ALSO THE OUTLINE OF TONY ON THE FRONT, HERE'S A PIC SWIPED FROM EBAY, DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. IT LOOKS LIKE A CARLOS DELAGO SHOCKWAVE CARD GOT INTO A TELEPORTER WITH A TONY GWYNN ATOMIC CARD AND GOT BRUNDLEFLYED. CARDS LIKE THIS REALLY GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST HOW INTRICATE THE PRODUCTION OF THESE WILD LOOKING CARDS REALLY IS

MOVIES

ONLY WATCHED ONE MOVIE THIS WEEK FOR REASONS I'LL EXPLAIN SOON

#7 COMIC BOOK CONFIDENTIAL
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR A WHILE AND A COPY POPPED UP ON YOUTUBE. THIS IS A DOCUMENTARY THAT DISCUSSES THE HISTORY OF COMICS FROM THE '30S TO THE '80S THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH THE ORIGINAL CREATORS. FROM WILLIAM GAINES AND STAN LEE TO FRANK MILLER AND CHARLES BURNS. THE DOCUMENTARY SKEWS TOWARD THE INDEPENDENT AND UNDERGROUND COMICS BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF THE ALL TIME GREATS OF THE MEDIUM THIS IS A FANTASTIC WATCH

THE REASON WHY MOVIES GOT PUT TO THE BACK BURNER THIS WEEK IS BECAUSE THE AGDQ SPEED RUNNING MARATHON WAS LAST WEEK AND I ENDED UP WATCHIGN A LOT OF THAT INSTEAD. I FLAKED AND FORGOT IT WAS STARTING LAST SUNDAY OR I WOULD HAVE POSTED IT IN LAST WEEK'S ROUNDUP. A TON OF GAMES ARE SPEEDRUN FOR CHARITY TWICE A YEAR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING SOME OF MAY FAVORITE GAMES RUN WAY TOO FAST. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH SPEEDRUNNING, HERE'S A VIDEO OF THIS YEARS LEGEND OF ZELDA RUN WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN A LITTLE OVER A HALF HOUR

THEIR TWITCH CHANNEL HOSTS SPEEDRUNS ALL YEAR LONG IF YOU IND YOU ENJOY THIS SORT OF THING. I MISSED HALF THE MARATHON SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF RUNS TO CATCH UP ON

BOOKS

YESTERDAY WAS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER'S ANNUAL BOOK SWAP AND I GOT A BUNCH OF GOODIES. TWENTY ONE BOOKS FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT READING ONCE I HAVE TIME! (SPOILER: I WILL NEVER HAVE TIME) I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS NOW WITH MY DAUGHTER AND WE MANAGED TO GET SOME STUFF WE WANTED AND GET THIRTY UNWANTED BOOKS OUT OF THE HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF WHAT I GOT, WITH A LOCAL BASEBALL BOOK, A HORROR COMEDY AND MYSTERY NOVEL. I ALSO MADE A FEW RECORD SWAPS. I HAD A LOT OF FUN WRITING UP THE SWAP POSTS LAST YEAR AND I'LL START SHOWING THE NEW TRADES OFF IN A WEEK OR TWO

PODCASTY STUFF

I MEANT TO SHOW OFF THE POSCASTS I LIKE BUT I KEEP WRITING ABOUT OLD TIME RADIO INSTEAD. THIS BOX SET OF SYDNEY GREENSTREET'S VERSION OF NERO WOLFE JUMPED UP AT ME BECAUSE I WAS HOPING TO FIND SOME OF THE ACTUAL BOOKS AT THE SWAP. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO GET THIS AS IT CAUGHT MY EYE RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW AND A FEW MINUTES LATER THE AUDIO BOOK SECTION WAS PICKED CLEAN.NERO WOLFE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DETECTIVES AND I ENJOY THE BOOKS AND THE A&E TV SERIES. SYDNEY GREENSTREET IS A REAL CHARACTER TOO, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HIS INTERPRETATION OF THE FAT DETECTIVE. A TON OF THESE OLD RADIO PLAYS ARE ON ARCHIVE DOT ORG AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO GREENSTREET'S VERSION, MAVOR MOORE'S VERSION, WHATEVER THIS VERSION IS (MAYBE IT'S GREENSTREET'S? THE DESCRIPTION ISN'T CLEAR) AND WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THEM ALL YOU CAN LISTEN TO A PODCAST WITH COMMENTARY ON THE EPISODES. HA HA! I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT BACK TO PODCASTS AFTER ALL! THE GREAT DETECTIVES OF OLD TIME RADIO WITH ADAM GRAHAM IS A PODCAST I LEARNED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AGO AND IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE - OH DEAR - THAT'S A LOT OF EPISODES TO CATCH UP ON. MAYBE I'LL JUST START WITH NERO FIRST

OK YOU READ THROUGH ALL THAT, TIME FOR YOUR REWARD

THE BEST CARD I BOUGHT THIS WEEK

THE ONLY CARDS I BOUGHT THIS WEEK WERE ON BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA. I GAVE COMC A REST AND IT WAS TOO COLD TO GO OUTSIDE. I MANAGED TO KEEP IT UNDER FORTY CARDS THIS WEEK TOO ALTHOUGH IT WAS HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE FOR THE POST. I GOT A VERY NICE WILLIAM ANDREWS 1983 TOPPS STICKER, THE JOHN SMOLTZ SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (R.I.P.) CARD WHERE HIS DAD'S PLAYING THE ACCORDIAN AND A CHRIS CHELIOS POST CEREAL CARD THAT I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. THESE ARE ALL GREAT CANDIDATES BUT YOU KNOW HOW I CAN'T RESIST THE SHINY

I HAVE TO GO WITH THE 2021 TOPPS CHROME PRISMIC POWER CARD OF FREDDIE FREEMAN. I'VE SEEN THESE BEFORE AND THEY ARE VERY PRETTY BUT I NEVER PICKED ONE UP. I'LL TAKE A GOOD LOOKING FREDDIE INSERT CARD (IN A BRAVES UNI) ANY DAY

HERE'S THE TOTALS FOR THE WEEK:

WANTLIST CARDS - 7
BRAVES/HAWKS/ETC. - 6 
SHIIINY - 5
INSERTS - 11
STARS/PLAYER COLLECTION - 5
CHRONICLES - 2
NON SPORT - 1
CHUCK MCELROY - 1

OH NO! I FINISHED THE POST! NOW I HAVE TO DO THAT THING I WAS PROCRASTINATING ABOUT. UNTIL NEXT WEEK, KEEP HAVING FUN OUT THERE

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!

ONLINE MEGA BOX - PART 13

 TODAY WE HAVE TWELVE CARDS FROM THE SAME SET. THE SAME SHINY HOLOGRAMMY SET. THE SET I ATE TOO MUCH FOOD TRYING TO COLLECT BACK IN THE 90S. THE BEAUTIFUL 1996 DENNY'S HOLOGRAM SET FROM PINNACLE

CATEGORY - HOLOGRAMS

I GOT THESE AT A WEIRD TIME IN MY BASEBALLCARDSTORE DOT CA BINGING. I REFUSED TO BUY LESS THAN 40 CARDS AT A TIME SO I HUNTED THROUGH ALL THE OLD LISTINGS LOOKING FOR COOL SHIT AND HAD A GIGANTIC BACKLOG OF BOOKMARKED CARDS. I HAD A 'TOP 40' BOOKMARK FOLDER OF THE BEST STUFF AND WHEN A NEW BATCH OF CARDS WAS POSTED, I'D PICK OUT THE STUFF I WANTED, OPENED UP THE TOP 40 FOLDER AND FILLED UP THE ORDER WITH THAT STUFF. THIS WAS A GIGANTIC PAIN FOR EVERYONE, AS I MISSED OUT ON A LOT OF CARDS THAT WERE BOUGHT OUT FROM MY CART AND STEVE AND NANCY HAD TO DIG UP ALL THESE WEIRD CARDS I FOUND. WHEN I SAW THERE WERE SOME DENNY'S CARDS ON THE SITE, I FIRST HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE ONES I ALREADY HAD WERE SO I DIDN'T BUY ANY DUPLICATES. THAT DIDN'T MATTER FOR THE FIRST BATCH OF FOUR I GOT THOUGH

1996 DENNY'S HOLOGRAMS BATCH 1:

IVAN RODRIGUEZ, BARRY LARKIN, JEFF BAGWELL, ALBERT BELLE

I DID MY BEST TO PHOTOGRAPH THESE THINGS BUT THESE HOLOGRAMS ARE GIF LENGTH IN SIZE AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET AN ANGLE WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING SOMETIMES. ESPECIALLY SO ON THIS CARD WHERE A RUNNER IS PLOWING INTO PUDGE AT THE PLATE. IT LOOKS AMAZING IN PERSON BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD EVEN GET A DECENT VIDEO OF IT AS IT'S REALLY TRICKY TO SEE. I DID MY BEST TO GET A GOOD RAINBOW IN THE PHOTO THOUGH

LARKIN SHOWED UP BETTER IN THE PHOTO BUT ON THE CARD HE IS ABSOLUTELY WRECKING THAT PITCH. THE LAUNCH ANGLE IS AMAZING. THIS CARD IS ALMOST THIRTY YEARS OLD BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON A 2024 CARD

BAGWELL ALSO HAS A REALLY NICE CUT ON HIS CARD BUT YOU ONLY SEE THE BALL FOR LIKE TWO FRAMES AS HE COMPLETELY MASHES IT. I'M NOT KIDDING, THERE IS A LOT OF MOTION ON THESE CARDS. YOU CAN EVEN SEE SOME DUDE WALKING DOWN HIS ROW IN THE STANDS

ALBERT BELLE ALSO A BIG CUT ON HIS CARD ALTHOUGH IT'S AN ODD ANGLE AND A LITTLE HARD TO SEE IF HE HIT IT OR NOT. WAIT, NUMBER 11? IS THAT CHARLIE O'BRIEN BEHIND THE PLATE? THIS IS A WORLD SERIES AT BAT! THIS CARD SHOWS ALBERT'S HOME RUN AGAINST GREG MADDUX IN THE 1995 WORLD SERIES!

I SHOULDN'T BE THIS HAPPY TO FIND A CARD WITH THIS PLAY BUT SCREW IT, WE WON. THREE HALL OF FAMERS AND THE 90S DICK ALLEN WERE NO BRAINERS BUT I HAD TO CHECK MY CARDS BEFORE DECIDING TO PICK UP THE REST. LUCKILY THE ONLY DUPLICATE WAS LARKIN AND I FOUND EIGHT OTHERS I NEEDED

1996 DENNY'S HOLOGRAMS BATCH 2:

HIDEO NOMO, TIM SALMON, JAY BUHNER, CECIL FIELDER

A LOT OF YOU ARE FURIOUS RIGHT NOW THAT NOMO WASN'T AN AUTOMATIC AND HONESTLY I AGREE WITH YOU. THIS CARD IS NUTS, THERE'S A FULL PITCH HERE AND IT'S A NASTY ONE. YOU'D SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON PITCHING NINJA NOWADAYS BUT IN THE 90S YOU'D NEED THIS CARD OR HAVE TO WAIT FOR SPORTSCENTER

TIM SALMON GETS A SWING CARD AND I'M PRETTY CERTAIN HE WAS LATE ON THIS PITCH. YOU CAN SEE THE SMEAR OF THE BALL ON MOST OF THESE CARDS AND TIM IS NOWHERE CLOSE WHEN THE SMEAR SHOWS UP HERE. SALMON WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL INTHE EARLY 90S - HE GOT HIS OWN FLEER INSERT SET FOR PETE'S SAKE - AND THEN GOT COMPLETELY OVERSHADOWED BY ALL THE DINGERS GETTING MASHED BY THE END OF THE DECADE

I'M PRETTY SURE BUHNER DESTROYED THIS BALL. THE LITTLE SMEAR OF THE BALL DISAPPEARED INSTANTLY AND THE CATCHER'S GLOVE DOES A LITTLE DROOP AT THE END. THAT CATCHER KNEW WHERE THAT BALL WENT AND IT WASN'T HIS GLOVE.I'M ALSO SUPRISED BUHNER WASN'T AN AUTOMATIC GET CONSIDERING I'M OBSESSED WITH JERRY STILLER'S RANTINGS ON SEINFELD

YOU CAN VERY CLEARLY SEE THE PITCH COMING IN ON THIS CARD UNTIL IT TURNS INTO A SPLAT GOING STRAIGHT UP OFF CECIL'S BAT. THIS IS NOT A GREAT PHOTO BUT THAT SMEAR ON TOP OF FIELDER'S HEAD? THAT'S THE BALL. WHILE I NEEDED EIGHT CARDS I ONLY BOUGHT THE FOUR ON THIS BATCH AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY?? IT SEEMS A LITTLE INSANE TO ME NOW THAT I LEFT THE OTHERS FOR LATER BUT I GUESS IT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME. I CAME TO MY SENSES AND PICKED UP THE REST A FEW DAYS LATER

1996 DENNY'S HOLOGRAMS BATCH 3:

MOISES ALOU, KEVIN SEITZER, JASON ISRINGHAUSEN, DANTE BICHETTE

MOISES ALOU GETS A FIELDING PLAY LIKE IVAN AND IT'S WILD. ALOU DIVES FOR THE BALL, MAKES AND AMAZING CATCH AND HITS THE GROUND TOWARDS THE END OF THE HOLOGRAM SO IT STARTS TO SMEAR AND KINDA LOOKS LIKE MOISES EXPLODES. I CAN'T TELL IF IT'S HILARIOUS OR HORRIFYING

BRAVES HITTING COACH ALSO GETS TO OBLITERATE A BALL INTO A HOLOGRAPHIC SMEAR. I FEEL A LITTLE BAD FOR SALMON NOW AS HE'S THE ONLY ONE SO FAR WHOSE CARD DIDN'T GET THAT TELLTALE STREAK OFF THE BAT. THERE'S A GIGANTIC MODELL'S AD BEHIND HOME PLATE AND IT MAKES THIS LOOK LIKE A MINOR LEAGUE STADIUM. ANYONE KNOW WHAT STADIUM THAT IS? CLEVELAND? NEW YORK?

THE SECOND PITCHER IN THE PILE, JASON'S PITCH IS MUCH WORSE THAN NOMO'S. YOU DON'T EVEN GET TO SEE THE BALL COME OUT OF HIS HAND! ISRINGHAUSEN WAS DONE DIRTY HERE

AND FINALLY WE GET DANTE BICHETTE DOING TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE THINGS TO A BASEBALL AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE STREAK IN THIS PHOTO AS IT FLIES AWAY. THE BUNTING IN THE BACKGROUND MADE ME WORRIED THIS WAS ANOTHER PLAYOFF HOME RUN BUT NO! THIS IS NOT ANOTHER DINGER OFF MADDUX THIS TIME. BUT WHY THAT BUNTING THO? THIS ISN'T A PLAYOFF HOME RUN, THIS IS A 14TH INNING OPENING DAY WALK OFF AGAINST THE METS!!

HELL YEAH! GOTTA LOVE THE DINGERS. I'M STARTING TO THINK SALMON REALLY DID CRUSH HIS PITCH, THESE CLIPS ARE TOO GOOD FOR PINNACLE TO THROW TIM UNDER THE BUS LIKE THAT. ALL YOU SABR GUYS OUT THERE FEEL FREE TO RESEARCH THE CLIPS ON THE REST OF THESE CARDS, AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL OF YOU PICKING UP ONE OF THESE CARDS IF YOU CAN FIND THEM. THEY ARE REALLY DANG COOL