BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 44: BLAST

 WITH A LIMITED BUDGET AND A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF INTERESTS IT'S VERY HARD TO GET MORE THAN ONE CARD PER COLLECTION. UNLESS YOU'RE MY FAVORITE PLAYER. HERE'S THE SECOND HEYWARD CARD OF THE BINGE AND WE'RE NOT DONE YET 

2014 TOPPS HIGH TEK JASON HEYWARD BLAST PATTERN

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE LATE 90S TOPPS TEK CARDS. I LOVE THE CLEAR STOCK, I LOVE THE CRAZY PATTERNS, I LOVE THE BRIGHT COLORS, I LOVE THE HOLOSHINY MADNESS. THE NEWFANGLED HIGH TEK CARDS? EH, THEY'RE AIIGHT. THEY HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS AS THE ORIGINALS BUT THEY JUST DON'T HIT AS HARD FOR SOME REASON. PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE AREN'T AS MANY PATTERNS AND THE ONES THEY DO HAVE AREN'T LABELED. THE ONLY REASON I KNOW THIS IS A BLAST PATTERN IS BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE COMC LISTING. WHILE I HAVE NO REAL INTEREST IN COLLECTING THE SET I HAVE NO PROBLEM PICKING UP HIGH TEK CARDS OUT OF DIME BOXES. THIS CARD OF HEYWARD WASN'T MUCH MORE THAN THAT, COSTING ME A WHOLE 34 CENTS

I AM HONESTLY NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE CRUMBLING COMET DESIGN ON THESE CARDS BUT THE WHOLE THING IS SO SHINY AND OVER THE TOP THAT I CAN'T NOT LIKE IT. THE BLAST PATTERN SEEMS TO GO WELL WITH IT LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD IS EXPLODING DUE TO JASON'S SWING. THERE ARE SIX DIFFERENT PATTERNS FOR EACH CARD, MUCH REDUCED FROM THE 90 DIFFERENT PATTERNS IN 1998. EACH PATTERN HAS ITS OWN INCREASING SCARCITY LEVEL, BLAST HERE IS LEVEL THREE WHICH IS HARDER TO FIND THAN SPIRAL AND GRID, BUT EASIER THAN MICROCHIP, ZIG-ZAG AND SHATTER. THEN THERE ARE ALL THE MULTI-COLLORED DIFFRACTOR PARALLELS FLOATING AROUND. DID I MENTION NONE OF THIS IS LABELED ON THE CARD EXCEPT FOR THE PARALLELS WITH SERIAL NUMBERS? IT'S A GIGANTIC CLUSTERFUCK BUT I KINDA WANT TO BUILD A FULL PAGE OF HEYWARDS WITH ALL DIFFERENT PATTERNS AND DIFFRACTOR COLORS AND HAVE ONE OF THE AUTOGRAPHS IN THE CENTER POCKET. IT'S AN INNCREDIBLY STUPID THING TO DO BUT HEY, I ALREADY HAVE TWO PATTERNS AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE

BOUGHT ANOTHER PACK OF CHRONICLES AT TARGET LIKE A DUMBASS - PART 2

WELCOME TO PART TWO OF THE CHRONICLES RACK PACK RIP. WE FINALLY GET SOME BASE CARDS BEFORE THE PACK TRANSITIONS TO THE SHINY STUFF. AS A REMINDER, HERE ARE THE THREE QUESTIONS FOR EACH DESIGN:

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?

CHRONICLES BASE WANDER FRANCO RC

1) THE WRAPPER TIPPED ME OFF TO THIS ONE

2) IT'S AN ORIGINAL DESIGN AND IS VERY CHRONICLES. IF FORCED TO COMPARE IT TO A PREVIOUS DESIGN I'D PROBABLY SAY UPPER DECK VICTORY FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

3) IT'S FINE. I LIKE THIS ONE BETTER THAN THE ONES FROM 2017-2019 THAT HAD A HEADLINE INCORPORATED INTO THE DESIGN

ANOTHER BIG-TIME ROOKIE CARD, AND THIS ONE MIGHT EVEN BE AN ACTUAL RC SINCE IT'S A BASE CARD AND NOT ONE OF THE 'INSERTS'. WANDER WAS HURT LAST YEAR BUT SEEMS TO BE HEALTHY SO FAR IN SPRING TRAINING. HEALTHY ENOUGH TO NOT BE AVAILABLE IN MY FANTASY LEAGUE AT LEAST

PANINI THREADS BOBBY WITT JR. RC

1) I'M FAMILIAR WITH THREADS FROM BACK IN THE DONRUSS DAYS AND THE PANINI PRODUCTS COULD USUALLY BE FOUND AT DOLLAR TREE BACK BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE

2) MOARER PANINI ANGLES BUT LET'S BE FAIR, THE DESIGN OF THIS PRODUCT WAS PRETTY FORGETTABLE EVEN BACK IN THE DONRUSS DAYS

3) NOT THE WORST OF THE GENERIC DESIGNS, YOU CAN SEE A DECENT CHUNK OF THE PHOTO AT LEAST

YET ANOTHER SUPER YOUNG BLUE-CHIP SHORTSTOP PROSPECT ROOKIE CARD. I AIN'T GONNA COMPLAIN. NOW THAT WE HAVE A BALANCED SCHEDULE AND SEE EVERY TEAM MAYBE I'LL ACTUALLY SEE SOME OF THESE AL GUYS PLAY

CHRONICLES BASE GIANCARLO STANTON

OH MY GAWD, AN ACTUAL VETERAN CARD! A PRETTY NICE ONE TOO, GIANCARLO'S A BEAST EVEN IF HE GOT A BIT UPSTAGED LAST YEAR BY JUDGE. NOT A BIG YANKEE FAN BUT IT IS NICE TO SEE PEOPLE DO WELL AFTER ESCAPING MIAMI. I WISH OZUNA WOULD TAKE AFTER GIANCARLO

ZENITH ANTHONY RIZZO

1) WOOOHOOOOO ZEEEENIIITTTTHHHH!!!1 HELL TO THE YEAHS

2) NOT DIRECTLY COPYING ANY OF THE 90S ZENITH DESIGNS AS FAR AS I KNOW BUT IT IS ON EXTRA SHINY SUPER THICK CARD STOCK AND WOULD FIT IN NICELY ON A PAGE OF ORIGINALS

3) GREAT GOOGELY MOOGELY THIS CARD LOOKS GOOD AND I LOVE THE ZZZZZZ PATTERN ON THE CARD

RIZZZZZZO IS A GOOD FIT FOR ZZZZZZEENITH. TWO STRAIGHT YANKEES BUT I DON'T EVEN MIND. NORMALLY I WOULD STILL BE CONFUSED RIZZO AIN'T A CUB BUT SOOZ ON TWITTER HAS BECOME A BIG RIZZO FAN SINCE HE BECAME A YANKEE SO NOW I START TO FORGET HE WAS EVEN ON THE CUBS. THERE ARE SADLY NO BRAVES ON THE ZENITH DESIGN, BUT HOY PARK DOES HAVE A ZENITH ROOKIE CARD AND HE'S NOW PLAYING FOR THE GWINNETT STRIPERS SO NOW I NEED TO TRACK THAT CARD DOWN SOMEHOW

CLEARLY DONRUSS JOSH LOWE RATED ROOKIE

1) WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE CLEAR VERSION OF DONRUSS BUT TOPPS FLAGSHIP DOES IT TOO, SO FAIR PLAY TO PANINI

2) LITERALLY THE 2022 DONRUSS DESIGN ON PLASTIC. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE PICTURE ON A BLACK BACKGROUND BUT TOO LATE NOW

3) THIS MIGHT BE A CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT, BUT I LIKE THE WEIRDASS 2022 DONRUSS DESIGN ALTHOUGH I THINK THE GOOFY 3D BORDERS POP BETTER ON THE REGULAR CARDS

THE BACK OF THE CARD IS A GIANT RATED ROOKIE LOGO WHICH HONESTLY IS FINE WITH ME. IF ANYTHING IT SHOULD BE MUCH BIGGER. JOSH LOWE IS THE FORTY-SEVENTH MIDDLE INFIELD ROOKIE CARD IN THIS PACK AND THERE ARE STILL MORE TO COME. JOSH WAS A FIRST ROUND PICK IN 2016 FROM A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL IN MARIETTA. HE DIDN'T HAVE A SUPER GREAT ROOKIE YEAR BUT IS STILL YOUNG AND HAS HAD A DECENT SPRING TRAINING. NOT DECENT ENOUGH FOR ME TO PICK HIM UP IN MY FANTASY DRAFT BUT NOW THAT I'VE PULLED HIS CARD HE'LL BE ON MY RADAR FOR WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS. YES, I DO BASE FANTASY BASEBALL DECISIONS AROUND PLAYERS I PULLED OUT OF PACKS, DOESN'T EVERYONE?

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 43: TEAM SET GET

WE'RE NOT DONE WITH TEAM SET BUILDING YET. I AM AT THAT POINT IN MY COLLECTING JOURNEY WHERE MOST OF THE CARDS LEFT FOR VINTAGE TEAM SETS ARE HALL OF FAMERS, HIGH NUMBERS, AND HALL OF FAMER HIGH NUMBERS. SINCE I BLEW MY BUDGET ON THE LAST CARD I HAD TO LOOK HARD TO FIND A SUPER CHEAP CARD TO KNOCK OUT A LINE ON MY WANTLIST. THANK GOODNESS FOR CARDS IN POOR CONDITION

1965 TOPPS FRANK BOLLING

ANOTHER FIFTY CENT PICKUP ADDS A CARD TO MY 1965 TEAM SET. THERE AREN'T MANY EASY PICKUPS ANYMORE FOR MY VINTAGE TEAM SET COLLECTION. AT THE TIME OF THIS PURCHASE I NEEDED TWENTY-FOUR CARDS TO COMPLETE MY 60S TOPPS TEAM SET RUN AND SEVEN ARE HANKS AND TWELVE ARE HIGH NUMBER CARDS. FRANK HERE WAS BY FAR THE CHEAPEST OPTION I FOUND. AND MAYBE THE CHEAPEST ONE I'LL EVER FIND AGAIN. THE THREE CARDS I STILL NEED FOR THE 60S SETS I'M MOST LIKELY TO FIND A BARGAIN ON ARE:

1961 BOB "HAWK" TAYLOR - THIS IS A WEIRD ONE, IT'S NOT A ROOKIE CARD BUT IT HAS A ROOKIE STAR LOGO ON IT SO IT DOESN'T GET ADDED TO CHEAPO BARGAIN BINS MUCH

1963 DENNIS MENKE - A SECOND YEAR CARD FOR DENNIS AND HIS FIRST SOLO CARD BUT, I MEAN, IT'S DENNIS MENKE. I WON'T FIND ONE FOR FIFTY CENTS BUT I CAN SURELY FIND A CHEAP ONE

1963 DEL CRANDALL - DEL'S AN ALL STAR AND HAS AN ARGUMENT FOR BEING THE BEST CATCHER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY BUT DOESN'T COMMAND STAR PRICES. THIS CARD IS FROM THE SEMI-HIGH SIXTH SERIES THAT IS ACTUALLY SCARCER THAN THE HIGH NUMBERS BUT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT FACT

ALL THE REST ARE AARON, ROOKIES, HIGH NUMBERS OR HIGH NUMBER ROOKIES 😭

OH, AND BILLY MARTIN. ONE OF THESE DAYS I JUST NEED TO BITE THE BULLET AND THROW A FEW BUCKS AT THAT CARD

FRANK CAME TO MILWAUKEE THROUGH A TRADE FOR BILL BRUTON AND WAS AN ALL-STAR IN 1961 AND 1962. HIS BROTHER MILT WAS A SHORTSTOP AND GOT TO PLAY A SEASON WITH HIS BROTHER WHEN HE WAS TRADED TO DETROIT IN 1958. FRANK HIT A GRAND SLAM OFF OF SANDY KOUFAX IN 1965 AND PLAYED ONE SEASON IN ATLANTA. THIS CARD IS BEAT ALL TO HELL BUT IT LOOKS MUCH BETTER IN THE BINDER THAN AN EMPTY POCKET. IF A NICER ONE COMES ALONG I'LL JUST SLIDE THIS ONE OVER TO THE 65 SET BINDER. WITH THIS CARD I'M DOWN TO ONLY NEEDING AN AARON CARD TO COMPLETE THE 1965 TEAM SET AND I ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THE MANY REPRINTS OF THAT ONE FILLING OUT THE PAGE. MY 1966 TEAM SET HAS A CHROME AARON IN IT AND IT LOOKS GREAT. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I CAN FILL OUT SO MANY POCKETS IN THE BINDER THIS WAY, I'LL NEVER FIND A CHEAP REPLACEMENT FOR A 1967 CHI CHI OLIVO 

ANTIQUE MALL ADVENTURES PART 2

HOLD ON TO YOUR BUTTS, IT'S ANOTHER ANTIQUE MALL POST WITH A BILLION PICTURES OF COOL JUNK! THIS TRIP WAS A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A HOLIDAY FEEL. BLOGGING IS SO MUCH MORE FUN WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO POST EVERYTHING INSTANTLY. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BOTHER LYING TO YOU AND ACTING LIKE EVERYTHING IS A BRAND NEW PICKUP. EVERY SINGLE POST I DO NOW IS ABOUT CRAP I'VE HAD FOR MONTHS. WANT TO SEE IT INSTANTLY? CONVINCE ME TO START A PATREON. OR ONLY FANS. TRY EXPLAINING TO YOUR WIFE THAT CHARGE ON YOUR CREDIT CARD IS TO SEE ALL THE RONALD ACUÑA BASE CARDS AN OLD GEEZER BUYS OUT OF THE DOLLAR BOX MONTHS BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE. I'D BE ABLE TO BUY MORE ACUÑA CARDS IF YOU DID SO GIVE IT A SHOT AT LEAST

ON THIS TRIP TO THE JUNK MUSEUM I MADE A BEELINE TO THE BOOTH THAT HAD THE CIGARETTE CARDS FROM LAST TIME. NO CARDS THIS TIME, BUT THEY HAD THIS REPLICA OF THE DRAGULA CAR FROM THE MUNSTERS FOR A HUNDRED FIFTY SMACKERS. WAY OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE, BUT THEY ALSO HAD SOME MODEL KITS FOR FIVE-TEN BUCKS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE ENOUGH TO REMEMBER BUT NOT ACTUALLY TAKE A PIC

SINCE IT WAS THE CHRISTMAS SEASON THEY ALSO HAD THIS WALL-O-VINTAGE STOCKING STUFFERS. MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE DOLLAR TREE BUT REASONABLY PRICED FOR IN-PACKAGE TOYS THAT ARE PROBABLY AS OLD AS I AM. THAT BARE SPOT ON THE LEFT HAD A VINTAGE PEANUTS TOY OF SNOOPY'S SISTER BELLE, BUT I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE AND WHEN I WENT BACK IT WAS ALREADY GONE. I REGRETTED NOT GRABBING THAT AT THE TIME AND MONTHS LATER I ALSO HAVE SOME REMORSE FOR NOT PICKING UP THE BAR BUG FAKE ICE CUBE

THERE ARE A FEW CASES UP IN THE FRONT WITH SUPER EXPENSIVE STUFF, INCLUDING A BUNCH OF SIGNED RECORDS. THIS SIGNED COPY OF CHUNGA'S REVENGE CAUGHT MY EYE. IT LOOKS LIKE FRANK IS SCREAMING AT HIS AUTOGRAPH BUT HE'S ACTUALLY YAWNING. THIS IS THE FIRST ALBUM WITH FLO AND EDDIE ON VOCALS AND FEATURES A LOT OF LYRICS THAT HAVE NOT AGED GRACEFULLY

AN ORIGINAL PRESS PHOTO WITH DESCRIPTION WAS AVAILABLE FOR TEN BUCKS. THE TEXT IS FAINT, BUT HERE'S BY BEST ATTEMPT AT A TRANSCRIPTION:

025.......NEW YORK BUREAU

SETTING 'EM UP

NEW YORK: JOE BLACK, FORMERLY WITH BROOKLYN,

DOES A FEW EXERCISES ON THE MOUND DURING

??? PITCHING IN THE NIGHT GAME AT EBBETS

FIELD JULY 18TH. AS A CINCINNATTI MOUNDSMAN,

BLACK MADE HIS FIRST START AGAINST THE DODGERS

A BIG ONE, BEATING THEM 9-5.

??? UNITED PRESS PHOTO, 7/18/55 (DS)

THIS ONE WAS REALLY TEMPTING BUT I DON'T NEED TO START COLLECTING VINTAGE PHOTOS 

THE FIRST CIGARETTE CARD OF THE VISIT WAS FOUND ON A TABLE FULL OF KNICK KNACKS. A FRAMED 1938 PLAYER'S CIGARETTE CARD OF GARY COOPER COULD BE YOURS FOR TWENTY BUCKS. NO PRICE ON THE VINTAGE PHOTO OF A CLOWN CHILD AS IT IS TRULY PRICELESS

MOARER PHOTOS! HERE'S A FRAMED SEPIA TONED TED WILLIAMS. THIS ONE WAS HIDING UNDER A TABLE AND ALSO HAS NO PRICE

I SAW THIS ARTSY GLASS OWL VASE AND GAVE A THOUGHT TO GREG AT NIGHT OWL CARDS. THIS WOULD GO WELL WITH HIS RON CEY LAMP

VINTAGE PENNANTS ARE ANOTHER THING I LIKE BUT ABSOLUTELY DO NOT NEED TO BE COLLECTING. THIS MILWAUKEE/ATLANTA UNFORTUNATE LOGO COMBO WAS ON SALE!

I ALWAYS HAVE TO SCROUNGE THROUGH THE BOX OF OVERPRICED TRADING CARDS STUCK TO INDEX CARDS. EVEN THOUGH I'D NEVER PAY THOSE PRICES FOR THEM, I'D JUST FEEL BAD IF I EVER PASSED THEM BY WITHOUT A LOOK. THIS VINTAGE OFF CENTER LEADERS CARD WITH THREE HALL OF FAMERS IS THE ONE THAT TEMPTS ME THE MOST 

INDEX CARD BOOTH ALSO HAD A WALL O' CASSETTE TAPES. LET'S PLAY A GAME. OPEN THIS PIC UP IN A NEW TAB AND FIND $20 WORTH OF TAPES YOU'D BUY. IF THE PRICE ISN'T VISIBLE, JUST CALL IT A FIVER

MY CHOICES:

$10 - THEN AND NOW, BEST OF THE MONKEES

$7 - EARTH, WIND AND FIRE - RAISE

$3 - THE PRETENDERS - LEARNING TO CRAWL

I GOT QUITE A FRIGHT WHEN I TURNED AROUND AND SAW THIS TABLE STARING AT ME ACCUSINGLY. LEAVE ME ALONE, TABLE, I DIDN'T PAINT YOU LIKE THAT

THIS HUMOR FOR ADULTS MAGAZINE CAUGHT MY EYE AND I FLIPPED THROUGH IT TO SEE JUST HOW ADULT THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE IN 1961

THEN I SAW THIS AND LAUGHED MY ASS OFF. GOOD OL' RAUNCHY SIXTIES COMICS NEVER DISAPPOINT

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WEIRDNESS YOU'LL FIND AT AN ANTIQUE MALL AND A PILE OF ANCIENT CHRISTMAS PARTY PHOTOS FROM A LARGE LOCAL COMPANY WAS DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING I EXPECTED

A NICE MATISSE PRINT WHERE THE PRICE WAS SLASHED IN HALF AND THEN FURTHER DISCOUNTED. FOUR OR FIVE MORE PRICE STICKERS AND I MIGHT HAVE TO GET IT

A CHEESE BOX OF VINTAGE CREEPY BABY PHOTOS. BIZARRE STUFF LIKE THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I KEEP VISITING THESE JUNK SHOPS

PURPLE MOOSE! THIS IS NOT A MATISSE BUT IS JUST AS GREAT

A FANCY FRAMED COLLECTION OF ATLANTA OLYMPIC PINS. PINS WERE SUCH A HUGE FAD DURING THE OLYMPICS, SUCH A PERFECT WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO SPEND FIVE BUCKS A POP ON AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF TRINKETS. YOU CAN GET THEM FOR ABOUT TWO BUCKS APIECE HERE AND GET THE FRAME THROWN IN FOR FREE

ONE THING I MISSED LAST TIME WAS A BOOTH OF COMIC BOOKS BECAUSE THERE WERE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THERE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GET CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THEM. THE BOOTH WAS EMPTY SO I GOT TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK THIS TIME. THEY HAD A BOX FULL OF COMIC BOOK COVER REPRINT POSTERS FOR EIGHT BUCKS APIECE AND I ENJOYED THIS HOUSE OF SECRETS COVER OF SWAMP THING'S FIRST APPEARANCE

THE ALSO HAD A PONY VILLAINS POSTER! I HAVE SEEN THESE SAME COMIC POSTERS AT SEVERAL LOCAL COMIC CONVENTIONS BEFORE BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE A LICENSED THING OR A HOMEBREW PRINTJOB

THEY ALSO HAD A BUNCH OF VINTAGE MOVIE LOBBY CARDS FOR SALE. MOST OF THE FILMS I HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE BUT THEY HAD THIS GREAT CARD FROM OTTO PREMINGER'S SKIDOO WITH CAROL CHANNING AS A PIRATE. THE MOVIE IS TERRIBLE BUT IT'S NOT GOOD-BAD, IT'S GREAT-BAD. JACKIE GLEASON ON ACID. CAROL CHANNING SEDUCING FRANKIE AVALON. GROUCHO MARX SMOKING POT TO HARRY NILSSON MUSIC. A BILLION CAMEOS INCLUDING MICKEY ROONEY, RICHARD KIEL, SLIM PICKINS, BURGESS MEREDITH, GEORGE RAFT, ARNOLD STANG, FRANK GORSHIN, CESAR ROMERO AND THE GREEN BAY PACKERS. I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS FILM ENOUGH AND I HOLD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY BRAIN DAMAGE INCURRED WHILE WATCHING IT

95% OF THE COMICS THERE ARE BORING OL' SUPERHERO STUFF BUT THEY DID HAVE ONE BOX FILLED WITH OLD MAGAZINES FROM THE 70S AND 80S. THIS ISSUE OF CREEPY WITH A COOL FRANK FRAZETTA COVER CAUGHT MY EYE. THIS ONE REPRINTS SOME CLASSIC STORIES FROM PREVIOUS ISSUE FROM GUYS LIKE BERNIE WRIGHTSON, NEIL ADAMS AND WALLY WOOD

ANOTHER COOL ONE IS THIS ISSUE OF EERIE WITH A DINOSAUR WHO HAS A TASTE FOR DRESSES ON THE COVER. THIS ONE REPRINTS SOME STORIES BY RICHARD CORBEN, WHICH IS ALWAYS A TREAT

THE MILLER GENUINE DRAFT SNOWGLOBE THING IS STILL THERE BUT THE SMALL VEHICLE THAT LIVED ON TOP OF IT HAS NOW SOLD. IT'S STILL FOUR HUNDRED BUCKS AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T SELL FOR A WHILE BECAUSE IT'S COMFORTING EVERYTIME I SEE IT

I HAD A BAD STREAK OF POORLY FOCUSED PICS AT THIS POINT BUT I HAVE TO SHOW OFF ONE OF THE ODDEST THINGS I'VE EVER FOUND IN MY TRAVELS. A FRAMED HISTORY OF ALL THE DOG SHOW AWARDS WON BY AN OLDE ENGLISH SHEEPDOG FIFTY YEARS AGO. I REALLY WISH THIS WASN'T SO BLURRY BUT I THINK YOU STILL GET THE POINT

TWO ATLANTA FADS IN ONE CONVENIENT PACKAGE. AN OLYMPIC-THEMED CABBAGE PATCH KIDS DOLL. UNLIKE THE PINS, I'M SURE SOMEBODY WILL BUY THIS

THE BINS OF JUNK WAX PACKS UNDERNEATH THE PLAYBOYS ARE STILL HERE BUT THEY WEREN'T ON SALE THIS TIME. THERE WAS A NEW ADDITION WITH SOME CLASSIC MINOR LEAGUE PACKS RECENTLY ADDED

YET ANOTHER BOX FILLED WITH A RANDOM ASSORTMENT OF OLD PHOTOS. A LOT OF THESE HAVE THE DECKLED EDGES COPIED BY TOPPS INSERT SETS IN THE 60S. I LOVE THIS PIC OF A COUPLE AND THEIR CAT

TUCKED AWAY IN A HIDDEN CORNER WAS A NICE SHELF FILLED WITH GRAPHIC NOVELS AND ART BOOKS. THERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF IN HERE, HARVEY PEKAR, JEFF SMITH AND SERGIO ARAGONES FOR STARTERS

HEY KIDS, COMICS! AND PLAYBOYS FOR WHEN YOU CAN REACH THAT HIGH. THIS IS A VERY ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF COMICS TOO, FROM JUGHEAD TO DEADPOOL

PLUS THERE'S SOME UNEXPECTED WATERCOLOR PINUP ART IN THE BOTTOM CORNER. THIS ISN'T A PRINT, THIS IS AN ORIGINAL. NO IDEA WHY IT'S IN A COMICS RACK

MORE RANDOM CARDS OUTTA NOWHERE! THIS IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE JUGHEAD/PLAYBOY RACK. NO IDEA IF IT IS FROM THE SAME SELLER. THIS IS A GREAT CARD WITH A HORRIFYING PRICE

YOU CAN ALSO GET AN AUTOGRAPHED ROOKIE CARD FOR HALF THE PRICE OF EMMITT. TECHNICALLY A ROOKIE CARD AT LEAST, SIMI HASN'T PLAYED ABOVE THE G-LEAGUE YET. THIS PRICE IS PRETTY COMPARABLE TO PRICES ON EBAY BUT YOU CAN GET THE SAME CARD ON COMC FOR ABOUT TWO BUCKS

THE BEST OF THE RANDOM LOOSEY TRADING CARDS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE PRICE BUT IF IT WAS UNDER FIVE BUCKS I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE IT RIGHT NOW

I HAVE COVETED A RALPH STEADMAN FLYING DOG BEER GLASS FOR A LONG TIME AND DEEPLY REGRET NOT BUYING A FOUR-PACK OF THEM AT GOODWILL A DECADE AGO. OF COURSE MY KIDS HAVE SMASHED SOMETHING LIKE 90% OF MY GLASSES OVER THE YEARS SO PERHAPS IT IS FOR THE BEST I PASSED THEM UP. THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING GLASS BUT I'M NOT PAYING TEN BUCKS FOR IT

NO ONE CAN CONVINCE ME THAT THIS SIGNED LOBBY CARD WAS NOT PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED BY TRIGGER. HE WAS THE SMARTEST HORSE IN THE MOVIES AFTER ALL

I WAS MILDLY OBSESSED WITH THIS ANCIENT STEELMAN PORTABLE RECORD PLAYER EVEN THOUGH IT ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT WORK AND I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. THE TIME CLOCK NEXT TO IT WAS IN WORKING CONDITION HOWEVER AND STARTLED ME WITH CLICKS AND BONGS MULTIPLE TIMES

ANOTHER COMPLETELY RANDOM ITEM FOUND WAS THIS 18TH HOLE FLAG FROM THE 1999 RYDER CUP. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS HELD IN A LOCAL COURSE BUT THE TOURNAMENT WAS HELD UP IN BOSTON. NO IDEA HOW THIS ENDED UP IN AN ANTIQUE MALL IN GEORGIA

VINTAGE BOARD GAMES ARE ALWAYS A FUN FIND, YOU CAN GET THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN AND THE BIONIC WOMAN GAMES FOR ONLY A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BONES. HASBRO SET THE AGE CUTOFF FOR BOTH GAMES AT 12, I'M NOT SURE WHY PUBERTY WOULD KILL OFF ALL INTEREST IN PLAYING SHITTY LICENCED BOARD GAMES

SOMETIMES YOU FIND A COOL PLEATHER COWBOY HAT AT THE ANTIQUE MALL AND YOU GOTTA TAKE A PICTURE FOR POSTERITY BECAUSE YOU COULD NEVER PULL OFF THAT LOOK

DESPITE NOT PLAYING I HAVE FOUND MYSELF FOLLOWING SOME COOL GUITAR ACCOUNTS ON TWITTER AND I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND A SQUIER STRAT HANGING OUT IN FRONT OF OUR OLD FRIEND THE ROOT BEER COOLER. I COULD NOT FIND A PRICE ON THIS THING ANYWHERE WHICH IS PROBABLY FOR THE BEST 

CARY GRANT AND BOB HOPE ARE AN ODD PAIR TO SHOEHORN TOGETHER ON A BUDGET DVD SET BUT THERE'S SOME GREAT MOVIES IN THIS COLLECTION. I WOULD'VE BOUGHT THIS BUT THERE WAS NO PRICE ON IT ANYWHERE AND I'M NOT DEALING WITH THE HASSLE OF TRYING TO ASK SOMEONE WHO WORKS THERE WHAT THE PRICE IS. I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE AND IT DID NOT END WELL FOR ANYONE. A SHAME, BUT PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THESE FILMS CAN BE FOUND ONLINE FOR FREE WITHOUT TOO MUCH HASSLE

ANOTHER 'I WILL NEVER EVER SEE THIS THING AGAIN IN MY LIFE' FIND IS THIS RANDY RAYDER IN OUTER SPACE RECORD AND COMIC BOOK COMBO

THE FUNNIEST THING I FOUND THOUGH IS THIS PLASTIC ABSTRACT  PROMOTIONAL ART SIGN FROM CITIZEN'S BANK AND TRUST OF WEST GEORGIA OF WHAT I AM GUESSING TO BE FREDERICK DOUGLASS WITH A PRICE STICKER PROCLAIMING IT TO BE 'GERRY GARCIA'. IF I HAD TWENTY BUCKS TO BURN I WOULDA GOT IT JUST FOR THE COMEDY

WE NOW OFFICIALLY REACH THE MUSICAL PORTION OF OUR FESTIVITIES AS I START TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE RECORD CRATES

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A CHEAP COPY OF PAUL MCCARTNEY II FOR YEARS NOW AND EVERY TIME I LOOK FIVE COPIES OF WINGS - VENUS AND MARS MAGICALLY APPEAR. IT'S REALLY GETTING FRUSTRATING

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING FUNK RECORD FROM 1977. IF YOU LIKE RECORDS AND SEE THIS OUT IN YOUR CRATE DIGGING PICK IT UP IMMEDIATELY. CHECK OUT THIS SONG IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME. THAT BASELINE AND GUITAR SOLO ARE HALL-OF-FAME QUALITY. I FOUND THIS FOR A BUCK AT THE FLEA MARKET YEARS AGO AND IT'S STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE RECORDS

SPEAKING OF HALL-OF-FAME QUALITY, THIS ALBUM COVER IS IT. I- I KINDA DIG THE GOSPEL DEBBY BOONE COVER TOO??

MAYBE MY FAVORITE MONKEES ALBUM. I PASSED IT UP BECAUSE I PICKED UP THE CD A LITTLE WHILE BACK BUT AT EIGHT BUCKS I'M WONDERING IF I MADE A MISTAKE. THIS POST HAS GOT ME LISTENING TO MUSIC INSTEAD OF THE BRAVES

MORE BOARD GAME GOODIES. WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO FIND A MINI FIGURE OF SMITHERS IN A MAID OUTFIT? ACTUALLY THAT MIGHT BE A BIG SELLER IF ONE OF THOSE HIGH-END ANIME FIGURE COMPANIES PICKED IT UP

OZZIE ALBIES AS LANDO BOBBLEHEAD IS ONE OF THOSE COOL AS HELL THINGS I JUST CANNOT JUSTIFY ADDING TO MY COLLECTION

THERE WERE WAY LESS RANDOM AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS THIS TIME. ALL THE ONES I POSTED LAST IME WERE GONE EXCEPT FOR JOHN SMOKES. I DID RUN ACROSS THIS KNUCKSIE BALL HOWEVER AND I'M VERY GLAD I PICKED UP MY SIGNED BALL A COUPLE DECADES AGO FOR A THIRD OF THE COST

THERE WERE A FEW DISHWASHER INDICATORS FOR SALE AND THIS ONE WAS BY FAR THE CLEVEREST OF THE BUNCH

THE SECOND BATCH OF RECORD CRATES HAD ONE OF THE FIRST ALBUMS I EVER BOUGHT IN IT. I WORE THIS CASSETTE OUT BACK IN 1982.

THEY DON'T MAKE RECORD COVERS LIKE THIS ANYMORE, SUCH WONDERFUL CHEESE

I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BAND OSIBISA BUT I SURE KNEW ABOUT ROGER DEAN AND I DID A TRIPLE TAKE WHEN I SAW THIS COVER. THE MUSIC IS AWESOME TOO, A REAL HIDDEN GEM HERE

MY OLD GOODWILL SALVAGE RECORD PLAYER IS ACTING UP AGAIN SO I'VE BEEN SADLY LOOKING AT NEW ONES OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE AGAIN. I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT WEIRD LITTLE ART PRINT IN THE BACKGROUND TOO

LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS VISIT WAS IN DECEMBER SO THERE WAS A BUNCH OF CHRISTMAS STUFF  EVERYWHERE. THIS ODDBALL VINTAGE TREE TOPPER GAVE ME A HARD HIT OF NOSTALGIA FOR SOME REASON

MISFITS SANTA MADE ME THINK OF GRITZ AND I HAD A GOOD SMILE

THIS GROUP OF RECORDS IS FROM A DIFFERENT SELLER THAN THE OTHER ONES AND THE PRICES REFLECT THIS. THERE'S SOME SERIOUSLY QUALITY STUFF HERE THOUGH

THIS IS ANOTHER FANTASTIC ALBUM AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INSTANT BUY FOR FIVE BUCKS. BUT THERE'S A SQUIGGLE IN FRONT OF THAT FIVE AND IS IT A ONE? IS IT AN EIGHT? IS IS AN EXTRA DOLLAR SIGN? I WAS TOO SCARED TO FIND OUT

FINISHING UP THE TOUR I FOUND THESE SOAP ROCKS WHICH ARE ROCKS THAT LOOK LIKE SOAP? OR MAYBE VICE VERSA? I'VE SEEN THESE AT SEVERAL PLACES NOW INCLUDING SECOND AND CHARLES SO I GUESS THEY'RE SOME NEW FAD. THEY LOOK PRETTY COOL THOUGH I HAVE TO ADMIT

THE LAST NEATO ITEM I PASSED BY ON THE WAY OUT WAS THIS MAP DESK THING. THIRTEEN YEAR OLD ME WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLEST THING EVER AND IT ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY THE TIME I WAS SIXTEEN. STILL SUPER COOL AND I CAN SIT AT IT WHILE SORTING CARDS AND GOOFING OFF IN MY DREAMS

WHILE I HAD A LOT OF FUN ON MY VISIT TO THE TRASH MUSEUM I DIDN'T FORGET TO STOP AT THE GIFT SHOP ON THE WAY OUT. HERE'S MY PICKUPS 

AN AMERICAN SPLENDOR ANTHOLOGY REPRINTING COMICS FROM 1986 TO 1991. AS THE STICKER HELPFULLY REMIDS US THESE COMICS ARE THE BASE FOR THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING PAUL GIAMATTI AND HOPE DAVIS. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS REPRINTED FOR THE MOVIE OR IF THE PUBLISHER HAD A BUNCH OF THE ORIGINALS FROM 1991 IN A WAREHOUSE AND JUST THREW SOME STICKERS ON THEM SO THEY'D SELL. I GOT IT FOR SIX BUCKS AND DON'T COLLECT FIRST EDITIONS SO I CAN GO AHEAD AND TRASH IT BY READING IT OVER AND OVER

IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH AMERICAN SPLENDOR COMICS, THIS SAMPLE ON THE BACK IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF THE WORK. SLIGHTLY SURREAL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SLICE OF LIFE VIGNETTES FROM THE WRITER HARVEY PEKAR'S LIFE. 'HORVEE' DOESN'T DRAW SO HE GOT A TON OF COMIC ARTISTS TO BRING HIS SCRIPTS TO LIFE INCLUDING R. CRUMB, DREW FRIEDMAN, SPAIN RODRIGUEZ, CHESTER BROWN, AND JIM WOODRING. HE EVEN GOT ALAN MOORE TO DO THE ART FOR ONE COMIC! HARVEY IS ALSO KNOWN FOR CAUSING A LOT OF TROUBLE ON THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW AND A FEW OF THOSE STORIES ARE REPRODUCED IN THIS ANTHOLOGY. I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF THE MORE RECENT AMERICAN SPENDOR COMICS SO WAS VERY EXCITED TO SNAG A BOOK OF ONE OF MY HEROES

I PASSED ON THE WARREN HORROR COMICS AT THE COMIC BOOTH BECAUSE I COULD NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THIS COPY OF LOVE AND ROCKETS #3. THIS IS A FIRST PRINTING FROM 1983 AS IT HAS THE CX COMICS EXPERIMENTAL LOGO INSTEAD OF THE FANTAGRAPHICS LOGO ON THE COVER. I FIRST GOT INTO COMICS IN THE LATE 80S WHEN MY LOCAL SHOP DUMPED ALL THEIR BLACK AND WHITE INDIE ISSUES INTO A QUARTER BARGAIN BIN. I PICKED UP A TON OF FANTAGRAPHICS COMICS CHEAP INCLUDING LOVE & ROCKETS 22 WHICH I ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT PREPARED FOR AS A DUMB TEENAGER. I'VE READ SOME OF THE ANTHOLOGIES BUT DON'T HAVE MANY COPIES OF THE ACTUAL COMICS, REPRINT OR OTHERWISE. THE PRICE TAG ON THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN I'D USUALLY SPEND ON A COMIC BUT WELL WORTH IT

LOVE AND ROCKETS IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE, IT'S WRITTEN BY BROTHERS JAIME, GILBERT AND MARIO HERNANDEZ. THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT STORYLINES GOING ON WITH ONE FOCUSED ON A FICTIONAL VILLAGE NAMED PALOMAR AND THE OTHER ON FRIENDS IN THE LOS ANGELES PUNK SCENE ALONG WITH SOME OCCASIONAL ONE-OFF STORIES. THERE'S A LOT OF MAGICAL REALISM AND SCI-FI AND GENERAL WEIRDNESS GOING ON AND IT'S PRETTY DAMN COOL. GILBERT DID THE FRONT COVER OF THIS ISSUE AND JAIME DID THE BACK. THEY'RE BOTH PRETTY SWEET BUT I REALLY LOVE THIS BACK COVER

FANTAGRAPHICS HAS REPRINTED A FEW ANTHOLOGIES OF LOVE AND ROCKETS AND YOU CAN USUALLY FIND AT LEAST ONE OF THEM AT THE LIBRARY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT THE SERIES. GILBERT DOES THE PALOMAR AND LUBA SERIES ABOUT THE RESIDENTS OF A CENTRAL AMERICAN TOWN. THIS ISSUE INCLUDES THE STORY HEARTBREAK SOUP WHICH FIRST INTRODUCES THE TOWN. JAIME DOES THE LOCAS STORIES FEATURING SUPERHEROES AND WRESTLERS AND PUNKS. I REALLY LIKE THESE ONES, ESPECIALLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAGGIE AND HOPEY. I THINK PART OF THE REASON I PREFER THE MAGGIE STORIES IS BECAUSE ONE OF GILBERT'S STORIES IN THAT ISSUE #22 I READ AS A KID HAS A REALLY SHOCKING SCENE THAT MESSED ME UP. I SHOULD PROBABLY FIND THAT ANTHOLOGY AND GET SOME CONTEXT ON IT ONE OF THESE DAYS. AT ANY RATE THIS IS A HELLA COOL COMIC THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ONE OF THE JEWELS IN MY COLLECTION

I ALSO PICKED UP ONE OF THOSE PACKS OF CLASSIC MINOR LEAGUE CARDS IN THE BLURRY PHOTO. I WAS A BIG FAN OF THIS SET BACK IN THE DAY AND THIS PACK WAS VISIBLY THICKER THAN THE REST. ALWAYS BUY A FAT PACK. WHAT'S INSIDE? THAT'S A SUBJECT FOR ANOTHER POST. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS TRIP BACK TO THE TRASH MUSEUM, MAYBE I'LL GO BACK AGAIN THIS SUMMER