2024 ONLINE BLASTER - PART 12: 2000'S (MOSTLY) WANTLIST STUFF

NOT AS MUCH RECENT WANTLIST STUFF IN THIS SHIPMENT ALTHOUGH IF I GET INSPIRED BY THE END OF THE POST I MIGHT DIG SOME MORE OUT OF THE BOXES THAT HAVE ARRIVED SINCE THIS ONE AND TACK IT ON TO THE END OF THE POST. LET'S MAYBE WRITE THE POST FIRST BEFORE GETTING AMBITIOUS THOUGH

1999 UPPER DECK CENTURY LEGENDS ROGERS HORNSBY

CATEGORY - THESE ARE ALL WANTLIST CARDS I DON'T KNOW WHY I COPIED THE CATEGORY UNDER EVERY CARD

THIS IS TECHNICALLY A 90S CARD BUT IT FEELS MORE LIKE A SET FROM THE 2000S WHAT WITH THAT DECADE'S OBSESSION WITH LEGENDS SETS. THIS FITS MORE IN THIS POST ANYWAY, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO PAD IT OUT A LITTLE. THIS SET SEEMED TO KICK OFF THE LEGENDS SET CRAZE EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T EVEN THE FIRST LEGENDS SET FROM UPPER DECK. IT WAS A DAMN GOOD LEGENDS SET THROUGH WITH SPORTING NEWS BRANDING, TWO-TONE FOIL STAMPING AND TOP 50 LEGENDS AND CONTEMPORARIES SERIES WITH A FEW SUBSETS FOR GOOD MEASURE. THERE'S A FEW CARDS MISSING DUE TO LICENSING ISSUES WHICHIS A SHAME BECAUSE IT SCREWS UP THE DIVISIBLE BY NINE 135 CARD SET SIZE

2001 TOPPS LANCE BERKMAN

CATEGORY - STILL WANTLIST

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND CARDS FROM THIS SET THAT I ACTUALLY NEED OUT IN THE WILD AND IT'S NICE TO GET A SEMI-STAR LIKE BERKMAN. ACTUALLY IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY EASY TO FIND THEM IF I JUST BOUGHT THEM ONLINE FROM SPORTS LOTS OR COMC OR SOMETHING BUT WHAT'S THE FUN IN THAT. IF THE CARDS DON'T FIND ME, TO HELL WITH THEM

2001 TOPPS VLADIMIR GUERRERO A LOOK AHEAD

CATEGORY - WANTLIST, INSERT

I BOUGHT ENOUGH PACKS OF 2021 TOPPS THAT I ACCUMULATED ENOUGH INSERTS TO HAVE A REASONABLE CHANCE OF COMPLETING SOME OF THE SETS, BUT NOT ENOUGH SO THAT DOING SO WOULD NOE BE AN ENORMOUS PAIN IN THE ASS. ONCE I HAVE TIME AND POSTAGE MONEY PERHAPS I'LL JOIN THE CROWD TRADING ON TCDB AND FINISH OFF ONE OR TWO THAT WAY. UNTIL THEN, I'LL TAKE ALL THE HALL OF FAME FOILBOARD INSERTS I CAN GET. THIS SET IS A MONSTER WITH SEVEN HALL OF FAMERS, A-ROD, NOMAR AND RICK ANKIEL

2001 UPPER DECK RAFAEL FURCAL

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I AM SO CLOSE TO PULLING ALL THE BRAVES OUT OF MY UPPER DECK SETS AFTER 1993 AND DUMPING THEM ALL COMPLETELY OUT OF MY LIFE. THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY HOWEVER AND THIS CARD OF RAFFY LOOKS GREAT

2001 STUDIO FRANK THOMAS

CATEGORY - WANTLIST SUPERSTAR

I'M DEFINITELY NEVER COMPLETING THIS SET BUT A COUPLE BINDER SHEETS FILLED WITH STARS WOULD LOOK GREAT

2002 UPPER DECK PIECE OF HISTORY PEDRO MARTINEZ, NOMAR GARCIAPARRA

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

I LOVE THIS DUMB SET EVEN THOUGH IT'S GOT A RIDICULOUS DESIGN, IS 10% SHORT PRINTS AND HAS A BUNCH OF SERIAL NUMBERED CRUMMY PROSPECT CARDS. I DUNNO MAN, I'M A SUCKER FOR HORIZONTAL SETS I GUESS. THE INSERTS FROM THIS SET ALL LOOK PRETTY COOL THOUGH IN THE SAME UGLY WAY THESE LOOK. SEE FOR YOURSELF, INSERT CARDS HSOULD HAVE MORE LISTS

2003 LEAF JEFF BAWELL PASSING THROUGH TIME

CATEGORY - WANTLIST

21ST CENTURY LEAF IS ANOTHER THING WAAAAAAY DOWN ON MY PRIORITY LIST BUT THIS ONE IS COOL FOR THE BACK

HELL YEAH 1993 LEAF REPRINT. WITH A CARD NUMBER ON IT. AND A BUNCH OF LEGALESE. AND THE HOLOFOIL BITS SIMULATED IN INK. EVEN SO, IT STILL HITS THE COLLEGE DAYS COLLECTING NOSTALGIA PRETTY HARD 

2022 TOPPS CORBIN BURNES, TYLER STEPHENSON, JORGE ALFARO "GOLD" 

CATEGORY - NOT REALLY WANTLIST, BUT KINDA

A WHILE BACK I PUT TOGETHER A FRANKENSET OF THE TOPPS PARALLEL SERIAL NUMBERED TO THE YEAR OF RELEASE. I CAN NO LONGER CALL THEM GOLD PARALLELS BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS BRONZE AT BEST. I AM NOT EVEN CLOSE TO HALFWAY COMPLETING THE SET AND I HAD TO CONTINUE THE SET TO INCLUDE THE UPDATE SETS BECAUSE THOSE PARALLELS ARE WAY EASIER TO FIND THAN SERIES ONE OR TWO AND I KINDA WISH I COULD FIND SOMEONE TO JUST BUY THE WHOLE DAMN BINDER SO I COULD BUY CARDS I ACTUALLY WANT. NEVERTHELESS, I KEEP PICKING THESE UP WHEN I SEE THEM. I THINK THESE ARE MY FIRST 2002 PARALLELS AND HOO BOY THEY'RE UGLY 

THEM SERIAL NUMBERS ARE NICE THOUGH

UP NEXT: CHAOS I THINK. POSTING IN GENERAL HAS BECOME CHAOS, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT HAPPENS.

APRIL 2024 CARD SHOW PART 8: DIGGING IN BOXES ON MY WAY OUT THE DOOR

 LAST SHOW I FOUND A NEW SELLER TUCKED AWAY IN THE BACK BOARDROOM WHO HAD TONS OF CHEAP VINTAGE. THE BOARDROOM WAS CLOSED THIS TIME SO HE WAS STUCK OUT IN THE LOBBY. I PLANNED TO CHECK OUT THE LOBBY TABLES ON MY WAY OUT IF UI HAD ANY CASH LEFT FROM MY VINTAGE/DIMEBOX PLANS AND I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THIS SELLER WAS ONE OF THE EXILED. THERE WAS SOME DIFFERENT STUFF THIS TIME AS THE DOLLAR JUNK PACKS WERE NOW TWO DOLLARS, BUT IN CLEAR PACKS SO YOU COULD SEE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLE CARDS. THERE WAS ALSO A LINE OF NEW THREE FOR A DOLLAR BOXES AND YOU KNOW I HIT THOSE HARD. I PICKED UP FIVE BUCKS WORTH AND COULD HAVE EASILY SPENT A TWENTY AS THERE WERE A TON OF COOL INSERTS AND SUCH FROM THE 90S IN THE BOXES. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN FOCUS HOWEVER AND RAIDED THE VINTAGE INSTEAD

I FOUND ONE MORE 1975 TOPPS CARD TO GO ALONG WITH DICK POLE. I WAS A FAN OF THE BULL WHEN I WAS A KID AS HE PLAYED FOR TWO TEAMS I LIKED, THE PHILLIES AND THE WHITE SOX. HE ALSO HIT DINGERS, WHICH IS ALWAYS GOOD. I WISH I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH THIS PHOTO. IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE PLOPPED A HARDWARE STORE OUT IN RIGHT FIELD. I'M SURE SOME SABR MEMBER HAS WRITTEN TWO ARTICLES ABOUT THE TRUE VALUE AT THE PHILLIES SPRING TRAINING FACILITY BUT I'VE SQUINTED AT THE THING THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS FOR LONGER THAN I SHOULD'VE AND MY FEELBLE MIND STILL CAN'T COMPREHEND IT

ONCE AGAIN IT WAS WAY EASIER TO FIND 77S I NEEDED. PARTLY BECAUSE I NEED WAY MORE FROM THAT SET AND BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE COMMONS BECAUSE I REFUSED TO BUY THEM FOR A QUARTER EACH A DECADE AGO THINKING I COULD PICK THEM OUT OF DIME OR EVEN NICKEL BOXES. GOOD LORD I'M A DOPE. IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY LIST I WOULD'VE SWORN I HAD ALL THESE CARDS EXCEPT THE MEDICH. THE CARTOON FROM GEORGE'S 1981 TOPPS CARD IMPRINTED IN MY MIND AT A YOUNG AGE AND I KNOW WHEN I HAVE A DOC MEDICH CARD. THE BURLESON I COULD STILL SWEAR I HAVE A FEW COPIES OF SOMEWHERE, MY OLD BRAINS ARE GETTING MORE SCRAMBLED EVERY DAY. AFTER THESE PICKUPS I'M DOWN TO NEEDING 39 CARDS FOR 1975 AND 62 FOR 1977. I GOTTA HIT ANOTHER SHOW SOON TO GET DOWN TO UNDER A HUNDRED COMBINED

I HAD BASKETBALL ON THE BRAIN FROM THE LAST SET OF BOXES AND MADE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE SMALL BUT EXCELLENT PILE OF VINTAGE HOOPS CARDS. THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT 1971-72 CARD. DID YOU KNOW PITTSBURGH HAD A BASKETBALL TEAM? DID YOU KNOW THEY WERE CALLED THE CONDORS? NO ONE TALKS ABOUT HIM NOW BUT STEW JOHNSON IS A LEGEND. HE BROKE THE COLOR BARRIER AT MURRAY STATE AND RECENTLY GOT HIS NUMBER 40 RETIRED BY THE PROGRAM. HIS CAREER LINED UP PERFECTLY WITH THE EXISTENCE OF THE ABA AND HE PLAYED FOR TEN DIFFERNT TEAMS: THE KENTUCKY COLONELS, NEW JERSEY AMERICANS, HOUSTON MAVERICKS, PITTSBURGH PIPERS, PITTSBURGH CONDORS, CAROLINA COUGARS, SAN DIEGO CONQUISTADORS, MEMPHIS SOUNDS, SAN DIEGO SAILS AND SAN ANTONIO SPURS. HE ALSO PLAYED FOR THE BALTIMORE CLAWS BEFORE THEY FOLDED IN PRESEASON! SURE SOME OF THOSE WERE THE SAME FRANCHISE WITH BRANDING CHANGES BUT I DOUBT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO WORE ELEVEN DIFFERENT ABA JERSEYS. STEW WAS ALSO A THREE TIME ALL-STAR AND IS IN THE TOP TEN ALL TIME FOR MULTIPLE ABA STATS. BIG RESPECT TO STEW

LIKE STEW, BOB PLAYED HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN THE ABA. UNLIKE STEW HE WAS ON THE INDIANA PACERS THE WHOLE TIME EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE YEARS WITH THE DALLAS CHAPARRALS/SAN ANTONIO SPURS. BOB WON A COUPLE ABA TITLES WITH INDIANA AND WAS A FOUR TIME ALL STAR. I LEARNED ABOUT BOB FROM THE SUPER 70S SPORTS PODCAST AND I'D STILL LIKE TO TRACK DOWN HIS BOOK SOME DAY. WHILE I TECHNICALLY PREFER THIS 1972-73 CARD DESIGN OVER 71-72 YOU REALLY CAN'T GO WRONG WITH EITHER ONE

THIS CARD IS THE BEST HOOPS PICKUP OF THE DAY THOUGH AS IT'S A STEALTH JULIUS ERVING CARD. I JUST WISH HE HADN'T BEAT MY FAVORITE TEAM THE KENTUCKY COLONELS. THERE'S ALSO A GEORGE MCGINNIS CAMEO ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CARD. GEORGE NEVER GOT ON A SPALDING AD IN COMIC BOOKS BUT HE'S STILL A  HALL OF FAMER. OH WAIT, NEVER MIND, HE DID

I AM IN LOVE WITH EVERY CRAPPY MARKED UP SCRIBBLED ON VINTAGE CHECKLIST I CAN FIND NOWADAYS. THIS ISN'T EVEN THE BEST ONE I FOUND TODAY AND IT'S PRETTY GREAT. THIS KID MARKED OFF HIS CARDS WITH VERY NEAT X'S EXCEPT FOR THIS VERY CHECKLIST CARD WHERE HE SEEMED TO MOCK THE ABSURDITY OF IT ALL WITH A SMILE. I FEEL BAD THAT HE WAS MISSING DUKE SNIDER AND EARLY WYNN BUT HE DID HAVE MAZEROSKI, ORLANDO CEPEDA AND LUIS APARCIO SO IT'S NOT ALL BAD. 61 TOPPS PUT THE MOST RANDOM ACTION PLAYS POSSIBLE ON THEIR CHECKLISTS AND THIS ONE PARTICULARLY LOOKS LIKE AN ACCIDENTAL RENAISSANCE PAINTING. EVERYBODY INVOLVED IS DOING SOMETHING WEIRD IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY THAN EVERYONE ELSE. I ESPECIALLY ENJOY THE UMP'S "GET A LOAD OF THESE GUYS" BODY LANGUAGE 

THE BACK IS EXTRA GOOD AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THE KID HAD THE HANK AARON MVP CARD. TOPPS GOOFED THE NUMBERING ON THE MILWAUKEE BRAVES TEAM CARD AND THIS IS NOTED PROPERLY ON THE BACK. MOSTLY PROPERLY, THE CARD NUMBER IS CORRECT AND MILKWQUK TEQM IS CLOSE ENOUGH

IT HAD BEEN A VERY LONG TIME SINCE I HAD PICKED UP A 1963 TOPPS CARD WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES. THIS IS A NICE LOOKING MANAGER CARD OF BILLY HITCHCOCK WHO WOULD MANAGE THE BRAVES A FEW YEARS LATER IN ATLANTA. I ESPECIALLY LOVE THE 1963 MANAGER CARDS BECAUSE THEY  USE THE COOL OUTLINED LOGOS LAST SEEN IN THE 1960 TOPPS SET. LOOKIT THAT LITTLE BOID

I PICKED UP ALMOST A THIRD OF THE 1964 TOPPS SET CHEAP WHEN I WAS A KID BUT I DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAP COMMONS WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE SO I DON'T EVEN HAVE HALF THE SET NOW. MY CHANCE TO BUILD THE THING HAS PASSED BUT IT'S STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE 60S SETS SO I'LL HAPPILY TAKE WHAT I CAN GET. I FOUND A TRIO OF A ROOKIE CUP WINNER, A BRAVES LEGEND AND SOME GUY NAMED JIM

THE PETE WARD CARD ALSO HAS A SECRET AUTOGRAPH ON THE BACK! SOME CALL ME... TIM?

I'M PRETTY SURE I HAVE THIS 1966 CARD OF DENNIS MENKE IN MY TEAM SET BUT HOW COULD I PASS UP THAT FLAT TOP. THE 1966 SET MIGHT HAVE THE GREATEST PORTRAIT PHOTOS IN ANY TRADING CARD SET. BONUS FACT: MY GRANDFATHER CONSTANTLY CALLED MARK LEMKE DENNIS MENKE WHEN HE WAS WATCHING BRAVES BASEBALL IN THE 90S. I AM 100% CONVINCED HE DID IT ON PURPOSE TO BE FUNNY

THE LAST CARD OF THE BUNCH IS MAYBE THE BEST. AN EVEN MORE MARKED UP 1968 CHECKLIST WITH THE HEAD OF ORLANDO CEPEDA. NO NEAT X'S THIS TIME, EACH BOX IS AGRESSIVELY MARKED IN PENCIL, THEN PEN, THEN MOST OF THE NUMBERS ARE CROSSED OUT IN RED PEN FOR GOOD MEASURE. I THEORIZE THIS IS SOME SORT OF DOUBLES TRACKER OR WAY TO USE ONE CHECKLIST FOR MORE THAN ONE SET. OR MAYBE THE KID JUST HATED NUMBERS. GET THOSE DANG THINGS OUT OF HERE *SCRIBBLE SCRIBBLE*

I'M A LITTLE SAD I DON'T GET TO VICARIOUSLY ENJOY SOME KID HAVING ONE OF THE BIG '68 ROOKIES ON THIS CARD. I DO ENVY THOSE ALL-STARS,E SPECIALLY AARON. AFTER PICKING OUT FIFTEEN CARDS I STILL HAD A COUPLE BUCKS LEFT. AFTER PASSING ON THE JUNK PACKS AND NOT FINDING ANYTHING COMPELLING IN THE DOLLAR BOXES I FINALLY SETTLED ON A COUPLE 1987 FLEER BOX BOTTOMS WITH DALE MURPHY AND BOB HORNER. BUT I'VE ALREADY PUT THEM AWAY AND I CAN'T FIND THE DAMN PHOTOS ANYWHERE. IT WAS THESE TWO, IF I EVEN FIND THE THINGS I'LL DO ANOTHER POST

THUS ENDETH THE APRIL CARD SHOW. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW, MAYBE I'LL GO AND GET SOME MORE POSTS

APRIL 2024 CARD SHOW PART 7: VINTAGE TABLE SCROUNGING

THE NATIONAL IS THIS WEEK AND I'VE BEEN STARING AT MY COMC POSTS WITH NO WORDS COMING OUT FOR WEEKS SO THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BLOW THROUGH THE REST OF THE CARD SHOW PICKUPS FROM THREE MONTHS AGO. TODAY WE HAVE THE COOL VINTAGE TABLE THAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU ENTER THE SHOW. I USUALLY MAKE IT THE LAST STOP ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR SO I CAN FIND SOME COOL OLD STUFF AND GET RID OF WHATEVER CASH IS SOMEHOW LEFT IN MY POCKET. THIS TIME I HAD AN ACTUAL PLAN THOUGH. THE VINTAGE CARDS AT THIS TABLE ARE ALWAYS PRICED IN SHARPIE ON THE PENNY SLEEVE WITH ONE EXCEPTION: LOOSEY CARDS IN THE SET BOXES. THOSE ARE ALWAYS PRICED AT A QUARTER A POP. MY MISSION WAS TO ATTACK THE QUARTER LOOSEYS I NEEDED OUT OF THE BASEBALL SETS I WAS BUILDING AND THE BASKETBALL BOX. I DID VERY WELL FOR MYSELF

BUT FIRST, LET ME SHOW YOU MY DICK 

WHAT

IT'S JUST MY POLE

A BAD PICTURE OF THIS CARD IS BY FAR MY MOST POPULAR POST ON BLUESKY AND WHY NOT? IT'S A STONE COLD CLASSIC. MY NEBULOUS GOALS FOR 2024 INCLUDED COMPLETING 1975 TOPPS, OR MAYBE 1977 TOPPS. STILL NOT QUITE SURE. WELL, I'M PRETTY SURE I'M NOT COMPLETING EITHER ONE OF THEM THIS YEAR BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO WHITTLE DOWN MY LISTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THIS WAS THE ONLY LOOSE CARD I NEEDED FROM THE '75 BOX BUT WHAT A CARD. I ALMOST HOOTED AND HOLLERED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW WHEN I SAW IT. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS CARD ELUDED ME FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS BUT I TRACKED ONE DOWN! AND IF I SEE ANOTHER I'LL BUY IT AGAIN, SEE IF I DON'T

MY 1977 LIST IS SOMEHOW LARGER THAN MY 75 LIST SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING I FOUND TWICE AS MANY CARDS. TWO GOOD ONES TOO! A SUPER BEAT UP HALL OF FAMER AND A HALL OF FAME NAME. THERE ARE TONS MORE CARD FROM 75 AND 77 AT THAT TABLE SO NEXT TIME I WILL BE LOOKING FOR SUPER EXPENSIVE CARDS. SOME ARE THIRTY-FIVE CENTS! I WAS LASER FOCUSED ON THE QUARTER CARDS THOUGH SO I MOVED ON TO THE BASKETBALL BOX AND PROCEEDED TO CLEAN IT OUT

1971-72 TOPPS BASKETBALL IS THE OLDEST STANDARD SIZED BASKETBALL SET THAT IS EASY TO FIND. YES, THEY HAD A STANDARD SIZED SET IN 1957-58, BUT IF YOU FIND ANY OF THOSE IN A QUARTER BOX YOU NEED TO BUY THEM ALL IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A REALLY ATTRACTIVE DESIGN WITH THE CITY NAME IN FUNKY LETTERING AND A PHOTO ON TOP OF A SOLID COLOR BACKGROUND. TEAMS HAVE THEIR OWN COLOR COMBOS WHICH CAN HAVE THE SAME COLOR FOR THE CITY AND THE BACKGROUND LIKE WITH CLEVELAND'S GREEN HERE OR DIFFERENT COLORS AS WITH THE KNICKS' BLUE AND YELLOW. ALL EXCEPT FOR THE CINCINNATI ROYALS FOR SOME REASON WHO HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT BACKGROUND COLORS. IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE A REIMAGINING OF THE 1969 FOOTBALL SET. THESE TWO CARDS ARE BEAT TO HELL BUT THEY STILL LOOK GREAT

THESE TWO WEREN'T CREASED UP BUT THEY ARE OFF CENTER. THIS IS HONESTLY A BONUS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S POSSIBLE TO PLAY A GAME OF "WHO'S ON THE OTHER CARD" SINCE THE TEAM AND POSITION IS CUT OFF. HOWIE KOMIVES IS UNDERNEATH A HAWKS CARD! SINCE THE POSITION IS FORWARD-CENTER WE CAN CONFIRM THAT I HAVE A SLIVER OF JIM DAVIS' CARD. LEROY'S CARD PARTNER IS A PISTONS GUARD MEANING THAT HOWIE MIGHT BE THE ONE! SADLY I PUT THEM TOGETHER AND WHILE THE NAMES MATCH UP PRETTY WELL THE LEFT-RIGHT BORDERS DO NOT, SO THIS IS NOT THE OFF CENTER PARTNER. OTHER POSSIBILITIES ARE JIMMY WALKER AND DAVE BING

THE LAST OF THE 71-72S ARE A TRIO FROM BUFFALO WHO GOT THE PINK INK. IT WAS A ODD DAY FOR ME WHEN I LEARNED THERE WAS A SECOND BRAVES TEAM IN A DIFFERENT SPORT AND I'M STILL NOT QUITE SURE WHY YOUNGER ME DIDN'T FEEL COMPELLED TO COLLECT 'EM ALL OUT OF SPITE. TWO OF THESE GUYS DO HAVE AN ATLANTA CONNECTION AS BOB KAUFFMAN FINISHED HIS CAREER WITH THE HAWKS AND JERRY CHAMBERS IS ACTUALLY PICURED IN THE WEIRD BLUE AND GREEN PETE MARAVICH-ERA HAWKS UNI

HERE ARE SOME SLIGHTLY LESS BEAUTIFUL 1973-74 TOPPS BASKETBALL CARDS. REMEMBER THAT LOU HUDSON COMC POST WHERE I STATED THAT THIS WHOLE SET LOOKS LIKE A MUGSHOT GALLERY? CAN YOU SEE WHY I SAID THAT NOW? HOW IN THE HELL DID THE 70S NBA END UP THE INTERNATIONAL JUGGERNAUT IT IS TODAY?? LEBRON JAMES IS THE US FLAG BEARER AT THE OLYMPICS FFS. HOW DID WE GET FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL GYMS TO THAT???

EVEN WITH MUGSHOTS, ABA CARDS ARE ALWAYS AWESOME. THESE TWO TEAMS WERE BOTH COMPLETE DISASTERS. THE MEMPHIS TAMS BEGAN LIFE AS THE NEW ORLEANS BUCCANEERS BEFORE MOVING TO MEMPHIS AND BECOMING THE PROS. THE TEAM ALMOST FOLDED BUT WAS BOUGHT BY CHARLES FINLEY (YES, THE A'S CHARLIE FINLEY) WHO RENAMED THE TEAM TO THE TAMS WHICH WAS AN ACRONYM OF TENNESSEE-ARKANSAS-MISSISSIPPI. THE LEAGUE TOOK OVER THE TEAM TWO YEARS LATER AND IT SPENT ITS LAST SEASON AS THE SOUNDS, A NAME THAT WOULD BE LATER BE YOINKED BY NASHVILLE FOR THEIR MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. THE VIRGINIA SQUIRES STARTED OUT AS THE OAKLAND OAKS WHO ACTUALLY WON AN ABA CHAMPIONSHIP BUT DIDN'T DRAW CROWDS SO THEY MOVED TO WASHINGTON DC. THE BALTIMORE BULLETS WANTED TO MOVE TO WASHINGTON SO THE LEAGUE MADE THE TEAM RELOCATE TO NORFOLK AND BECOME THE VIRGINIA SQUIRES. THE SQUIRES HAD BOTH DR. J AND GEORGE GERVIN BUT THE TEAM WAS BROKE AND EVENTUALLY TRADED THEM BOTH FOR A PILE OF CASH. BOTH TEAMS FINALLY FLOPPED IN THE 1975-76 SEASON. MEMPHIS WAS SOLD TO OWNERS IN BALTIMORE WHO PLAYED THREE EXHIBITION GAMES AS THE BALTIMORE CLAWS BEFORE BEING DUMPED BY THE LEAGUE. THE SQUIRES MANAGED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SEASON BUT WERE CONTRACTED BY THE ABA A MONTH BEFORE THE MERGER. THE ABA WAS WILD AND EVERY CARD IS A TREASURE

HEY LOOK I GOT TWO BUCKS. THE 1975-76 IS ANOTHER GREAT ONE WITH A VERY SIMPLE DESIGN, A GOOD MIX OF MUGSHOTS AND DARK ACTION SHOTS AND THE LAST APPEARANCE OF ABA TEAMS. IT'S ALSO THE LARGEST VINTAGE BASKETBALL SET AT 330 CARDS SO IT'S A BEAST TO COLLECT. ONCE AGAIN EACH TEAM GETS THEIR OWN COLOR COMBO AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE HAWKS GET THAT SOOTHING BLUE-GREEN THEME THAT MANY ATLANTA BRAVES SETS GOT THROUGH THE YEARS

I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAD TWO BLAZERS CARD UNTIL AFTER I TOOK THE PICTURE SO THEY DIDN'T GET GROUPED TOGETHER LIKE THE BUCKS DID. YOU CAN SEE A NICE WAX STAIN ON THE FRONT OF JOHN JOHNSON'S CARD THANKS TO THE BLACK BACKGROUND. THERE'S ALSO ONE ON RON RILEY'S CARD BUT IT'S HARDER TO SEE. THAT CARD ALSO LOOKS LIKE IT GOT RUN OVER BY AN OFFICE CHAIR

A WHILE BACK THERE WAS A BIG BOX OF 1977-78 AND 1979-80 COMMONS AT THE SHOW AND I CHOSE TO BUY UP ALL THE 79-80S AND SAVE THE 77-78S FOR THE NEXT TIME AND I NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN. I REGRET THIS NOW AS THESE SEEM TO BE HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND FOR SOME REASON, I EVEN HAVE MORE OF THE 76-77 GIANT-SIZED CARDS. I FOUND A COUPLE AT LEAST

HERE'S ONE OF THOSE 1979-80S THAT I ALREADY HAVE BUT ARTIS GILMORE IS MY FAVORITE 70S PLAYER SO I'M NEVER GOING TO PASS HIM UP IN A QUARTER BOX. I THINK I MIGHT HAVE FOUR OF THESE CARDS NOW AND I'LL BUY IT AGAIN

I PASSED UP ON THIS ONE ON MY PREVIOUS CARD SHOW TRIP AND IT HAUNTED ME. THANKFULLY NO ONE ELSE COLLECTS CARDS THAT HAD A SHEET WITH WET INK PLOPPED ON TOP OF IT AND IT WAS STILL THERE. I'VE SOMEHOW ACCUMULATED A FEW OF THESE, SOME OF THEM ON PURPOSE

AFTER DOING SO WELL WITH THE BASKETBALL I CHECKED OUT THE FOOTBALL BOX IN HOPES OF KNOCKING SOME OFF THE WANTLIST. JOHN STALLWORTH IS A HELLUVA GOOD FIND FOR A 1982 SET I'M GETTING QUITE CLOSE TO COMPLETING

THE LAST TWO CARDS I PICKED UP WERE THESE TWO FROM 1981 TOPPS THAT I LATER FOUND I ALREADY HAD. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I SCREWED THAT UP BUT I THINK I MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT MY 1982 FOOTBALL NEEDS BY ACCIDENT. QUITE SILLY SINCE I HAD JUST PICKED OUT A CARD FROM THAT SET, I DESERVE THAT LOOK FROM RAYMOND. IT ALL WORKED OUT SINCE I ANDED UP PAYING FIVE BUCKS FOR EVERYTHING. HOORAY! THAT MEANS I HAD SOME MONEY LEFT, WHICH MEANS THERE'S ONE FINAL CARD SHOW POST TO COME. 

APRIL 2024 CARD SHOW PART 6: FINALLY WE'RE DONE WITH THE DIME BOX

HERE'S THE BITTERSWEET FINALE OF THE DIME BOX POSTS. DIME BOXES ARE GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND - ESPECIALLY WITH ANYTHING MORE THAN JUNKWAX BASE IN THEM - AND I'M PRETTY SAD TO SEE THE BEST DIME BOXES I'VE EVER SEEN GO AWAY. THIS FINAL POST HAS SOME GOOD STUFF TO SERVE AS A SENDOFF. GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE BRENDA, I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO SELL ALL THOSE CARDS AND DON'T HAVE TO LUG THEM TO A SHOW EVERY COUPLE WEEKS ANYMORE

I SAW A LARGE PILE OF 1990 TOPPS FOOTBALL IN THE BOX AND WAS ABLE TO PICK OUT TEN CARDS I NEEDED FOR THE SET. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE THEIR OWN POST UNTIL I REALIZED THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD RIFF ON 1990 FOOTBALL CARDS FOR MORE THAN A PARAGRAPH. THIS IS ONE OF THE WEIRDER DESIGNS IN TOPPS HISTORY AND NOT JUST FOR THE FOOTBALL WITH GREEN BACKGROUND THAT SHOWS UP ON EVERY CARD. THE TEAM COLOR BORDER IS NICE BUT WHAT'S UP WITH THE GREEN STRIPES AND BLUE STREAK? IT'S ALL VERY ABSTRACT AND REMINDS ME OF A PIET MONDRIAN PAINTING GONE WRONG. THE FOOTBALL AT LEAST IS EXPLAINED EASILY

TOPPS FOOTBALL PLAYER CARDS ARE NOT MANUFACTURED, SPONSORED OR AUTHORIZED BY ANY TEAM OR LEAGUE. THEY ALSO ONLY HAVE THE NFLPA LOGO ON THE BACK AND NO NFL LICENSE. I DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF THE LATE 80S NFL LICENSING BUT I DO KNOW THAT TOPPS SUDDENLY HAD SCORE, PRO SET, FLEER AND UPPER DECK AS FOOTBALL CARD RIVALS IN 1990 AND ALSO WENT WITHOUT THE OFFICIAL NFL PRODUCT DETAIL ON THE BACK IN '89 SO MY GUESS IS A TEAM LOGO WAS SUPPOSED TO GO IN THAT GREEN SQUARE BUT THE DETAILS WEREN'T WORKED OUT IN TIME. THAT DISCLAIMER ISN'T ON EVERY CARD PRINTED IN 1990 SO MAYBE THINGS GOT SORTED OUT AND IT WAS TAKEN OFF OR MAYBE THE NFL GAVE THEM A DIRTY LOOK AND IT WAS PUT ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUN. THAT'S FOR SOMEONE WITH RESEARCH SKILLS TO FIGURE OUT. TOPPS HAD THE LICENSE (AND LOGOS) BACK IN 1991 THANKFULLY

FINDING FLEER INSERTS I ACTUALLY NEED MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. THIS 93 ALL-STAR CARD FITS THAT DESCRIPTION. THIS ONE IS A TINY BIT OFF CENTER WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE NORM FOR A LOT OF THESE CARDS IN MY EXPERIENCE. INSERTS FROM BEFORE THE ONE-PER-PACK ERA STARTING IN 94 ARE A LITTLE TOUGHER TO FIND SO I CAN APPRECIATE IT EVEN OF IT'S A LIL JANKY. THIS WAS THE LAST CARD I PULLED ON MY FIRST RUN THROUGH THE BOX AND I FOUND A HAD EXACTLY FIFTY-ONE CARDS. DO I PUT A CARD BACK? DO I HAND OVER A FIVER AND ONE DIME? OR DO I PICK OUT NINE MORE CARDS AND MAKE IT AN EXEN SIX BUCKS? YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT

THERE WERE AT LEAST FIVE COPIES OF THIS ALTUVE CARD AMONG THE SWATHS OF BOWMAN IN THE BOX SO I PICKED OUT THE ONE WITH THE DINGEDIEST CORNER. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ANY BOWMAN BASE DESIGN IN THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. THIS ONE ESPECIALLY LOOKS LIKE AN AI WITH ANXIETY ISSUES BARFED THIS ONE OUT BUT I DO LIKE HOW THE BOWMAN LOGO LOOKS NOTARIZED

BOWMAN PLATINUM IS A USELESS SET BUT SHINY SCHERZER IS A KEEPER

ANOTHER RICK CAMP CARD I PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE BUT IT'S 84 DONRUSS. THIS SET HAS BEEN HYPED UP FOR SO LONG IT'S GOT MY MIND MESSED UP AND IT MAY AS WELL BE A PRE-WAR CARD. I BET I COULD FIND A COMPLETE SET OF THIS JUNK FOR LESS THAN A TOPPS FACTORY SET WOULD COST BUT I'LL NEVER DO IT. MAN I MISS THOSE MID 80S BRAVES CAPS. I HAD TWO OF THEM WHEN I WAS A KID AND BOTH WERE WORN UNTIL THEY DISINTIGRATED

I GUESSED I HAD THIS ONE ALREADY BUT PICKED IT UP BECAUSE WHY THE HELL WOULDN'T I? LEMMER AT THE BAT RACK, HELL YES. I JUST CHECKED THE BINDER AND... I DIDN'T HAVE IT?? FINDING A LEMKE CARD I NEED IN THE WILD HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT LATELY AND I ALMOST PASSED IT UP! THANK YOU FELIX JOSE INSERT 

GRISSOM IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BRAVES BUT I AM ALSO BUILDING THIS 1995 SP SET AFTER GETTING A LARGE PILE OF IT IN A CRAP BOX A WHILE BACK. I LOVE THAT SHINY BLUE BORDER

HERE'S A PAIR OF AVERYS, I WONDER HOW MANY POINTS THAT WOULD GET YOU IN A BALATRO RUN. I THINK I NEED BOTH OF THESE FOR SETS BUT THEN AGAIN THERE'S A DECENT CHANCE I ALREADY HAVE BOTH OF THEM IN AN UNSORTED BRAVES BOX. I LOVE THAT 95 LEAF SET SO MUCH

OH YEAH I DID BUY ONE MORE TOPPS HERITAGE CARD DIDN'T I. THIS WAS A BLIND BUY HOPING I COULD PUT IT IN MY BRAVES HERITAGE TEAM SET BINDER. DEAR READER, I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN THE BINDER. ANOTHER DOUBLE AVOIDED!

THIS IS THE LAST DIME CARD PICKED UP FROM MAYBE THE LAST DIME BOX EVER. I PASSED BY THIS ONE THREE TIMES COMPLETELY DISREGARDING THAT 1990 FLEER DESIGN. THEN IT CLICKED AND MY BRAIN TOLD ME TO 'HOLD UP, SOMETHING'S OFF ON THAT ONE'. INDEED MANY THINGS WERE OFF. THE EDGES WERE WONKY, THE CARD WASN'T AS BRIGHT AS NORMAL 90S FLEER CARDS AND THERE WAS A SUSPICIOUS DIAGONAL CREASE ON THE CORNER. IT WAS OBVIOUS WHEN I FINALLY PICKED IT UP

BOX BOTTOM CARD! ACTUAL BOX BOTTOMS ARE EASIER TO FIND THAN THE CUT VERSIONS RECENTLY. THIS WAS A VERY NICE FIND TO CLOSE OUT THESE DIME BOXES. I'M SURE I'LL STILL FIND SOME MORE DIME BOXES HERE AND THERE AT SHOWS BUT I'M GOING TO MISS THESE ONES