2023 CARD SHOW - PART 8 GRAND FINALE AT THE VINTAGE TABLE

I LEFT THE BOARDROOM WITH SEVEN BUCKS IN MY POCKET AND MADE A BEELINE TOWARDS THE VINTAGE GUY AT THE FRONT WHO GAVE ME STICKER SHOCK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. I KNEW THERE WERE SOME CHEAPSKATE BOXES I COULD RAID UNLESS THAT DUDE WAS STILL HOGGING THEM. I GOT TO THE TABLE AND... YES! I COULD HOG THE BOXES NOW! I POKED AT THE TOPPS BASE SETS FOR A MINUTE BUT THEN SAID FORGET THAT MESS AND ATTACKED THE ODDBALLS INSTEAD. THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARD I BOUGHT AT THE SHOW: 

THREE WHOLE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS JUST BECAUSE IT HAS A GIANT BABE RUTH HEAD BUSTING OUT THROUGH THE OUTFIELD GRASS. WORTH EVERY PENNY. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A FRANKENSET COMBINING THE 1970 AND 1971 SETS FOR A WHILE NOW AND I PUT A REAL HURTIN' ON MY NEEDS THIS TRIP. IN GENERAL I AM PICKING UP THE FIRST ONE I FIND BUT I CHOSE THE 1970 VERSION OF THE 1923 SEASON SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BABE

KELLOGGS ARE ALWAYS A MUST AT THIS TABLE AND I GOT AN EXTREMELY CRACKED 1972 BILLY WILLIAMS FOR ONLY FIFTY CENTS. AND WHEN I MEAN CRACKED, I MEAN IT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY LIFT THE PLASTIC OFF BILLY'S FACE AND MAKE THE CARD LOOK LIKE A 1973 KELLOGG'S. CRACKS ARE JUST AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD WITH KELLOGG COLLECTING AND IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A CRACKED CARD IT MAY AS WELL BE A CATASTROPHIC CRACK. THIS CARD LOOKS WORSE IN PERSON BUT I DO NOT CARE. A COUPLE YEARS AGO I HAD ZERO 1972 KELLOGGS CARDS AND NOW I HAVE SEVERAL. HOORAY FOR CRACKS!!!

USUALLY THE CARDS IN THESE BOXES ARE ALL IN PENNY SLEEVES WITH A PRICE WRITTEN ON IT IN SHARPIE. THIS TIME THERE WAS A BIG PILE OF 1980 KELLOGG'S IN DECENT SHAPE IN A TEAM BAG FOR FIFTY CENTS EACH. EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS SOME JABRONI, THEN EDDIE MURRAY POPPED UP. I WAS NOT PASSING ON EDS. I NEED ALMOST EVERY 1980 KELLOGG'S CARD SO IF THEY ARE STILL THERE NEXT TIME MAYBE I WILL TRY THE 'HOW MUCH FOR ALL THE THINGS' STRATEGY. IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK, THIS GUY WRITES "FIRM" ON HALF HIS PRICES BUT YOU NEVER KNOW!

ALONG WITH THE RUTH I PICKED UP FOUR MORE LAUGHLIN WORLD SERIES CARDS. THIS ONE FROM 1970 ALSO HAS A RUTH CAMEO BUT SINCE THE PLAYER SHOWN IS PAUL WANER IT ONLY COST A QUARTER. THIS IS A DARK SUBJECT FOR A WHIMSICAL BASEBALL CARD. PIRATE POISON? OK PAUL AND LLOYD WANER WERE NICKNAMED BIG POISON AND LITTLE POISON BUT THAT DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE SKULL AND CROSSBONES WITH A BASEBALL CAP. THEN AGAIN THE POISON VIALS LOOK A LITTLE LIKE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS WHICH MAKES THINGS A TAD MORE WHIMSICAL I GUESS

THE 1933 WORLD SERIES IS REPRESENTED BY THIS BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND CUT 1971 CARD WITH CARL HUBBELL TWIRLING A GOOSE EGG. WEIRDLY CUT BASE CARDS ARE HARD ENOUGH TO FIND NOWADAYS, FINDING A MISCUT ODDBALL IS A MIRACLE. I'M SURE MOST OF YOU OUT THERE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 1970 AND 1971 SETS BUT THE EASIEST WAY TO TELL THEM APART IS: 1970 CARDS HAVE THE YEAR INSIDE A BASEBALL, 1971 HAS THE YEAR IN A SQUARE WITH THE MLB LOGO. I KNOW MY SEVEN REGULARS ALREADY KNOW THIS BUT MAYBE A HISTORIAN FINDS THIS POST IN 2537 AND LEARNS SOMETHING. IT COULD HAPPEN!

ANOTHER 1971 CARD WITH SOME UNFORTUNATE SUBJECT MATTER. LAUGHLIN DID A PARODY SET IN 1975 CALLED BATTY BASEBALL SO WE'LL JUST REFER TO THIS CARD AS THE SERIES BETWEEN THE ENGINES AND THE BRIEFS. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THIS CARD ALREADY BUT IT'S NOT IN MY FLEER VINTAGE BINDER SO IF I DO I HAVE TWO NOW I GUESS

LAST ONE IS A 1970 CARD FEATURING GIL MCDOUGALD BEING THE CABOOSE ON A CONGA LINE. THESE WERE ALL A QUARTER EACH AND ALONG WITH THE RUTH THIS KNOCKS THE FRANKENSET DOWN TO EIGHT CARDS NOT COUNTING THE EXTREMELY SHORT PRINTED 1970S CARDS. I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN THOSE CARDS BEFORE THOUGH AND THE ONES ONLINE COST LIKE A HUNDRED BUCKS SO I MIGHT JUST FORGET THOSE EXIST. MAYBE THEY'RE EASIER TO FIND ON THE BACK OF A STICKER? FOR THOSE OF YOU FURIOUS I AM MIXING AND MATCHING BETWEEN THE TWO SETS REST ASSURED THAT ONCE I FINISH THE FRANKENSET I'LL LIKELY GO HUNT DOWN THE REST OF THEM AS WELL

AFTER THE KELLOGG'S AND LAUGHLINS I TRIED VERY HARD TO FIND SOME 1960S OR 70S INSERT CARDS LIKE SOME DECKLE EDGE OR GAME CARDS BUT I COMPLETELY STRUCK OUT. I SWITCHED GEARS AND HIT THE HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL BOX INSTEAD.

I HAVE HARDLY ANY HOCKEY CARDS OLDER THAN ABOUT 1972 OR SO IF I FIND ANY FROM THE 60S CHEAP I TRY TO GRAB EM. THIS CARD IS FROM THE 1968-69 SET. ALL YOU HORIZONTAL CARD AFICIONADOS GET A LOAD OF THIS DESIGN. A TINY PHOTO CRAMMED OVER TO THE SIDE WITH A MONOCHROME GENERIC HOCKEY ILLUSTRATION IN THE BACKGROUND. IT'S SO BIZARRE IT'S ALMOST GENIUS. IT WOULD BE ALMOST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS BEFORE DONRUSS WOULD USE THIS SAME DESIGN STRATEGY TO  LEAVE OPEN A WIDE OPEN SPACE FOR A RELIC OR AUTOGRAPH. SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT THIS DESIGN, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE QUITE LIKE IT

ONE YEAR LATER THEY WENT THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND SWITCHED TO AN EXTREMELY BLAND DESIGN FOR THE 1969-70 SET. BIG PICTURE, BOLD TEXT, HOCKEY STICK. DONE. IT'S A LITTLE ODD I GOT RANGERS FOR BOTH SETS BUT THERE WERE ONLY TWELVE TEAMS AT THE TIME. THESE DIDN'T ACTUALLY ADD TO MY 60S TOPPS HOCKEY COLLECTION AS THEY BOTH ENDED UP BEING O-PEE-CHEE CARDS. I HAVE EVEN LESS OF THEM SO IT'S ALL GOOD

ALONG WITH THE OLD CARDS I ALSO LOOKED FOR SOME WANTLIST CARDS. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WANTLISTS FOR HOCKEY BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE 1974-75 TOPPS SET FOR OVER A DECADE NOW. I HAVEN'T FOUND A CARD I NEEDED IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS, BUT I GOT THE WANTLIST, I'M WORKING ON IT. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW CARDS FROM THE SET IN THE BOX BUT JEAN PRONOVOST WAS THE ONLY ONE I NEEDED. ONE'S BETTER THAN NONE! JEAN PLAYED FOR THE ATLANTA FLAMES LATER IN HIS CAREER BUT HE'S WITH THE PENGUINS HERE. THAT CHUBBY PENGUIN LOGO IS THE BEST, THE LOGOS ON THESE CARDS IS A BIG REASON WHY I LOVE IT SO MUCH

I ALSO FOUND A TONY ESPOSITO CARD FROM THE 1981-82 SET I NEEDED. WITH THIS ONE I AM ONLY MISSING TWO CARDS FROM THE BASE SET! UNFORTUNATELY HOCKEY DID THE SAME THING AS BASKETBALL AND ADDED ADDITIONAL HIGH NUMBER CARDS FOR EACH CONFERENCE TO BLOAT THINGS OUT. STILL! I ONLY NEED RAY BOURQUE AND THE JARI KURRI ROOKIE NOW. GRETZKY? GOT. LAFLEUR? GOT. BOSSY? GOT. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A SHORT SET, COMPLETING ANY SET FROM THE 80S IS AN ACHIEVEMENT

I DIDN'T GO SET BUILDING WITH THE BASKETBALL BECAUSE 1) I DON'T KNOW WHAT SET I'M WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT AND 2) THERE WERE HARDLY ANY BASKETBALL CARDS ANYWAY. IN THOSE SITUATIONS I LOOK FOR OLD AND COOL. THIS 1971-72 CARD IS THE DEFINITION OF COOL. THAT FUNKY TEAM NAME RULES, THE SHOCKING PICK BACKGROUND IS DAZZLING, THE RED AICHES IN HAPPY HAIRSTON PLEASES MY EYES AND HAIRSTON IS INDEED VERY HAPPY ON THIS CARD. WHO CARES IF IT'S DINGED UP AND CREASED, THIS CARD IS GREAT

THE LAST CARD OF THE SHOW IS WENDELL HERE FROM THE 1973-74 SET. I HAD A HARD TIME PICKING THIS ONE BUT THE KENTUCKY COLONELS ARE MY FAVORITE ABA TEAM SO THIS ONE GOT CHOSEN. ALL THESE HOCKEY AND HOOPS CARDS WERE A QUARTER EACH AND I DID INDEED MANAGE TO SPEND ALL SEVEN BUCKS AND LEAVE THE SHOW FLAT BROKE

\AND WE'RE DONE! I REALLY WANT TO GO BACK AND RAID THIS TABLE AGAIN AS SOON AS I CAN. UP NEXT: IT'S TIME FOR THE 2023 COMC BLACK FRIDAY BINGE EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

2023 CARD SHOW - PART 7 THE BOARDROOM EXILES

THE CARD SHOW HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS. FIRST THEY STARTED CRAMMING DEALERS INTO THE HALL OUTSIDE THE MAIN ROOM AND NOW THEY'VE EXPANDED TO A WHOLE NEW ROOM. DOWN THE HALL ON THE RIGHT IS THE BOARDROOM AND THERE WERE FOUR MORE DEALERS THERE PEDDLING THEIR WARES. THREE SOLD SLABS AND INDUSTRIAL CONTAINERS FULL OF SLABS. BUT THE FOURTH GUY WAS ANOTHER COLLECTOR!!!

THERE WAS A ROW OF DOLLAR BOXES, A BUNCH OF VINTAGE SETS, A DISPLAY FULL OF VINTAGE CARDS, A BOX OF OLD MAGAZINES, SOME HAND MADE GRAB BAGS, A COUPLE GIANT CARDBOARD BOXES FULL OF VINTAGE COMMONS THAT COST WAY TOO MUCH AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ODDBALL SPORTS RELATED TCHOTCHKES. THIS WAS FUKKIN GREAT! I WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMED AND STARTED DIGGING IN THE DOLLAR BOXES AFTER BEING TEMPTED BY SOME STICKER ALBUMS IN THE BOX OF MAGAZINES. I PROBABLY  COULD HAVE DROPPED THE REST OF MY CASH HERE BUT I WAS STARTING TO WEAR DOWN AND CHOSE A FEW SELECT GOODIES FOUND IN SOME LIMITED DIGGING

I POKED AROUND THE NEWER CARDS IN THE DOLAR BOX BUT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING RIGHT AWAY AND WAS NOT IN THE MOOD TO LOOK AT EVERY CARD AT THIS POIONT IN MY CARD SHOW JOURNEY. I'M NOT A SPRING CHICKEN ANYMORE AND CAN'T HANDLE DIGGING THROUGH BOXES UNTIL SECURITY ESCORTS ME FROM THE BUILDING. THERE WAS A SMALL BUT VIBRANT VINTAGE SECTION IN THE BOX SO I LOOKED THROUGH THAT INSTEAD. THIS 1982 KELLOGG'S CARD OF ROD CAREW JUMPED OUT AT ME AND SMACKED ME AROUND UNTIL I AGREED TO TAKE HIM HOME. HOW COULD I ARGUE WITH ROD? 

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS 1966 COOKIE ROJAS CARD. I ENJOY VINTAGE CARDS WHERE THE PORTRAIT TAKES UP THE ENTIRE CARD AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THAT PHENOMENON.  IT MIGHT BE THE PERFECT CARD. COOKIE IS BEAMING WITH A HUGE SMILE ON HIS FACE. HIS HAT IS ENORMOUS. HIS GLASSES ARE THE HEIGHT OF MID SIXTIES FASHION. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH THE CLEAREST BLUE SKY. IN THE BACKGROUND IS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BATTLE SCARRED WASTELAND. GRAY AND BURNED AND LIFELESS, POSSIBLY SCOURED BY A NUCLEAR BLAST. THE EXTREME HEAT EMINATING FROM THE DEVASTATED GROUND CAUSE THE REMAINING STRUCTURES TO SHIMMER EERILY. IT MIGHT EVEN SIMPLY BE A MIRAGE. THIS CARD, TO ME, IS AN ARTISTIC MASTERPIECE. BOTH AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AND SURREAL. EVEN THE TEAM AND PLAYER NAME BAR COLORS MATCH THE SCENE'S PALETTE. THE RED MIRRORS THE PHILLIES HAT, THE GRAY THE SCORCHED EARTH. WHILE INTELLECTUALLY MY BRAIN KNOWS THAT BACKGROUND IS JUST AN EXTREMELY OUT OF FOCUS SPRING TRAINING OUTFIELD WALL, MY EYES CAN ONLY SEE A GHOSTLY HELLSCAPE. PART OF MY SCHTICK IS TO ENGAGE IN HYPERBOLE ABOUT HOW AWESOME A BUNCH OF JUNKY OLD BASE CARDS ARE, BUT I AM NOT KIDDING THIS TIME. I ADORE THIS CARD. I'VE ALSO BEGUN HOARDING IT A BIT, THIS IS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH COPY I'VE BOUGHT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND I'M NOT GOING TO STOP. I MAY NOT BECOME THE NEW 1964 FLOOD GUY BUT DAMN I LOVE THIS CARD

WHEN I FIRST HIT THE DOLLAR BOXES I RANDOMLY LOOKED AT THE VINTAGE FOOTBALL CARDS. NO REAL REASON, I SAW VINTAGE AND WENT FOR IT. THE SELLER HAD A KEEN EYE AND WAS READY TO UPSELL, HE PULLED OUT A BOX OF 70S FOOTBALL COMMONS AND OFFERED THEM THREE FOR A BUCK. WORKING ON FOOTBALL SETS WERE THE LAST POSSIBLE THING ON MY AGENDA BUT I HAD ALREADY REBUFFED A COUPLE OFFERS OF A VINTAGE BINDER AND A LARGE BOX OF 60S AND 70S CARDS FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS EACH. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HIM I ONLY HAD ABOUT 15 BUCKS ON ME AND WAS HONESTLY JUST THANKFUL TO SEE SOMETHING IN MY PRICE RANGE. I'M NOT REALLY CLOSE ON COMPLETING ANY 70S SETS BUT I LOVE 1972 FOOTBALL SO I GRABBED ANY I FOUND THAT I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE. THIS RECEIVING LEADERS CARD IS PRETTY WILD, THE TOP TWO RECEIVERS BY CATCHES ARE TIGHT ENDS AND BOB TUCKER LED THE LEAGUE WITH 59. TO SEE HOW THE NFL HAS CHANGED, THE LEADER IN 2023 WAS CEEDEE LAMB WITH 135 CATCHES AND BOB'S 59 WOULD BE GOOD FOR 57TH PLACE

HERE'S A COUPLE OF DEFENSIVE BACKS TO COVER THOSE RECEIVERS. CHARLIE WEST WENT TO A COUPLE SUPER BOWLS WITH THE VIKINGS BUT LEROY KEYES HAS THAT COOL BEANIE. THE 1972 TOPPS FOOTBALL SET IS RATHER UNIQUE. THE DESIGN SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE AT FIRST. SOLID COLOR FRAME AROUND A BIG PICTURE WITH A BOLD TEAM NAME ON TOP AND THE PLAYER NAME AND POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PHOTO IN RED. PRETTY STANDARD! NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY HERE. BUT THIS SET HAS A SECRET

HORIZONTAL CARDS. WE'RE ALL USED TO THERE BEING A FEW HORIZONTAL CARDS IN A BASE SET THANKS TO RECENT TOPPS BASE SETS. BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THE 1972 TOPPS FOOTBALL SET WORKS. IF THE TEAM NAME IS SIX OR MORE LETTERS LONG, ALL THE CARDS FOR THAT TEAM ARE VERTICAL. FIVE LETTERS OR LESS, THEY ARE ALL HORIZONTAL. GO CHECK OUT THE SET ON TCDB AND SEE GOT YOURSELF. I FRIGGIN LOVE THESE HORIZONTAL CARDS WITH THE CHONY LETTERS FOR THE TEAM NAME AND IT'S SO WILD TO ME THAT TOPPS CHOSE THIS DESIGN SOLUTION. I WONDER IF TOPPS WANTED TO MAKE A VERTICAL SET AND THE SHORT TEAM NAMES WERE TOO STRETCHED OR A HORIZONTAL SET AND THE LONG TEAM NAMES WERE TOO SQUISHED. 1972 TOPPS IS ALSO BIZZARE AS IT RELEASED A SUPER SCARCE THIRD SERIES THAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. NO 1972 TOPPS TOMMY NOBIS FOR ME. I DO NOW HAVE A WILLIE ELLISON AND DAVE WILCOX THOUGH, BOTH FRESH OFF A PRO BOWL APPEARANCE IN 1971

I NEEDED A SIXTH CARD BUT RAN OUT OF 1972S SO I CHOSE THIS 1975 ALL PRO CORNERBACKS CARD FEATURING NATE WRIGHT AND HALL OF FAMER EMMITT THOMAS. EMMITT IS ALSO THE GUY WHO BECAME THE INTERIM HEAD COACH OF THE FALCONS WHEN BOBBY PETRINO FLAKED OUT AND QUIT TO TAKE THE ARKANSAS JOB. SO MANY DUMB THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO THAT FRANCHISE, I'M SO HAPPY I'M A LIFELONG STEELERS FAN AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE

THIS MESS IS THE BEST PHOTO I COULD GET OF THE HANDMADE GRAB BAGS THE GUY WAS SELLING. I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE BEFORE I OPENED THEM ALL AND IT WAS HARD GETTING AN ANGLE THAT SHOWED OFF THE LABEL AND DIDN'T JUST LOOK LIKE A FAT ENVELOPE. THERE WAS A MONSTER BOX OF THESE THINGS FULL OF BASEBALL, FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL PACKS. EACH PACK HAD TWENTY FIVE CARDS AND THERE WERE FOLDERS WITH A FEW PLASTIC SHEETS FILLED WITH THE KIND OF CARDS THAT COULD BE FOUND INSIDE. THE BASEBALL PACKS WERE MOSTLY FILLED WITH LATE 90S AND 00S CARDS WITH SOME INSERTS AND STARS MIXED IN. I HAD TONS OF CARDS FROM THESE SETS SO WASN'T REALLY INTERESTED. THE BASKETBALL PACKS HOWEVER WERE MOSTLY FILLED WITH LATE 90S AND 00S CARDS WITH SOME INSERTS AND STARS MIXED IN. I HAVE HARDY ANY CARDS FROM THESE SETS SO I WAS SUPER INTERESTED. AND PICKED OUT THREE PACKS. I OPENED UP ONE AT THE TABLE AND IT WAS FANTASTIC. I KINDA WANTED TO JUST SPEND THE REST OF MY MONEY ON MORE PACKS RIGHT THEN AND THERE BUT I STILL HAD THE VINTAGE TABLE TO HIT AND WAS ABLE TO RESTRAIN MYSELF. IT'S A GOOD THING I DID BECAUSE THE OTHER TWO PACKS WERE NOT AS FANTASTIC. THEY WERE GOOD, DONT GET ME WRONG, BUT IF I HAD BOUGHT SEVEN MORE PACKS OF THAT INSTEAD OF WHAT I ENDED UP GETTING THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MANY REGRETS. I AM GOING TO SAVE THE FANTASTIC PACK TO MAYBE POST ON A RAINY DAY SO INSTEAD HERE ARE THE TOP FIVE CARDS FROM EACH OF THE OTHER GRAB BAGS

2004-05 TOPPS FINEST ANTONIO MCDYESS

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS FINEST DESIGN AND WAS REALLY STOKED TO PULL THIS CARD. THIS IS A REALLY NICE DESIGN WITH ETCHING AND A TEXTURED BACKGROUND. I'M A LITTLE OBSESSED WITH FINEST RIGHT NOW TO THE POINT WHERE I'M PICKING UP WRESTLING AND SOCCER FINEST CARDS JUST TO HAS THEM. MCDYESS WAS A REALLY GOOD PLAYER AND WAS ON ALL-ROOKIE AND ALL-PRO TEAMS BEFORE WRECKING HIS KNEE. EVEN AFTER THE INJURY HE STILL MANAGED TO PLAY A THOUSAND GAMES IN THE NBA

1994-95 FLEER ANFERNEE HARDAWAY PRO-VISIONS INSERT

SPEAKING OF KNEE INJURIES, PENNY WAS SO DAMN GOOD BEFORE HE GOT HURT. THESE PRO-VISIONS CARDS ARE ALSO SO DAMN GOOD. ACTUAL MAGIC AND PENNIES IN FRONT OF A CRAZY DOCTOR STRANGE STYLE BACKGROUND. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW GOOD WE HAD IT IN THE EARLY 90S

1994-95 SKYBOX SERIES TWO GLENN ROBINSON RC PERFORATED CARD FROM PROMO SHEET

BIG DOG WASN'T MILWAUKEES SAVIOR BUT HE STILL HAD A PRETTY GOOD CAREER. THIS IS ONE OF HIS WEIRDER ROOKIE CARDS AS IT WAS ON A SIX-CARD PERFORATED PROMO SHEET THAT SOMEONE DECIDED TO DISMANTLE. I WONDER IF THE REST OF THE CARDS WERE IN THE OTHER PACKS

1998-99 METAL UNIVERSE REGGIE MILLER

FLEER METAL CARDS ARE ALWAYS A DELIGHT AND REGGIE IS A GREAT CARD TO GET. I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH SOME BENCHWARMER, I DIDN'T EXPECT A HALL OF FAMER! REGGIE IS TORMENTING THE KNICKS ON THIS CARD, SOMETHING HE DID OFTEN THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER

1997 PRESS PASS JACQUE VAUGHN NETBURNERS PROMO CARD

PRESS PASS ALWAYS HAD SOME WILD DIE CUT INSERT CARDS IN THE LATE 90S AND THIS NETBURNERS CARD IS NO EXCEPTION. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROMO CARD, THERE'S A TON OF EXTREMELY TINY TEXT ON THE BACK SHOWING OFF ALL THE FRAFT PUCKS AND HOT INSERTS YOU CAN FIND IN 1997 PRESS PASS. REAL AUTOGRAPHS! REAL LIMITED PRODUCTION! REAL GAMEACTION! ONLY THE TOP PLAYERS. TIM DUNCAN, CHAUNCEY BILLIPS AND TRACY MCGRADY WERE IN THERE SO THEY WEREN'T LYING. JACQUE VAUGHN MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A TOP TOP PLAYER BUT HE WAS IN THE LEAGUE FOR 12 YEARS AND IS NOW BROOKLYN'S HEAD COACH SO THAT'S TOPS TO ME

2004-05 TOPPS TOTAL TRACY MCGRADY

YEP, TOTAL WAS A BASKETBALL PRODUCT TOO FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THERE'S NO FUN GAME ON THE BACK BUT IT EXISTS. T-MAC IS A NICE CARD TO HAVE IF YOU'RE GONNA GET ONE

2004-05 TOPPS STEPHON MARBURY

00S TOPPS BASKETBALL BASE CARDS ARE STOOPID HARD TO FIND AND EVERY DAY I CURSE PAST ME FOR NOT BUYING AS MANY PACKS AS I COULD FIND. OR MAYBE I DID BUY AS MANY PACKS AS I COULD FIND?? EITHER WAY I DON'T HAVE A LOT AND I WANT ALL THE SETS WHICH IS A PROBLEM. I REJOICE WHEN I FIND EVEN ONE BASE CARD, EXPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A STAR CARD AND INDUBITABLY WHEN IT'S A DING DANG CARD I NEED. THIS STEPHON CARD IS PRETTY COOL REGARDLESS OF ALL THAT . IT'S RARE WHEN THE SHOES ARE FRONT AND SENTER ON A CARD LIKE THIS

1999-00 BOWMAN'S BEST ANTAWN JAMISON BEST PERFORMERS INSERT

THIS DESIGN IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING, I WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED WHEN I FIGURED OUT IT WAS AN INSERT CARD. IMAGINE A WHOLE SET WITH THIS DESIGN! MAYBE FANATICS CAN RESURRECT IT WHEN THEY GOBBLE UP THE REST OF THE LICENSES FROM PANINI. ANTAWN JAMISON WAS A DANG GOOD PLAYER WHO JOINED THE ATLANTA HAWKS ONE-DAY LEGEND CLUB IN 2014 WHEN THE CLIPPERS TRADED HIM TO ATLANTA WHO IMEDIATELY WAIVED HIM

1993-94 SKYBOX ALONZO MOURNING AND SHAQUILLE O'NEAL SHOWDOWN SERIES INSERT

YEAH! SHAQ INSERT! WITH ZO! I BOUGHT THIS EXACT CARD LIKE SIX MONTHS AGO LOL. IT'S STILL COOL AS HELL, THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE 1993 THAN THIS CARD

2001-02 TOPPS HERITAGE EDDIE JONES BLAST FROM THE PAST INSERT

YEAAAH MOAR INSERTS! I REALLY LIKED BASKETBALL HERITAGE AND BOUGHT AS MUCH AS I COULD BUT NO ONE ELSE LIKED IT SO IT DIES AS A BRAND PRETTY QUICKLY. NO BIG WONDER WHY WITH INSERTS LIKE THIS. EARLY 00S BASKETBALL COLLECTORS LIKED CURRENT PLAYERS AND JORDAN, AND WEREN'T TERRIBLY INSTERESTED IN HIPPIE 60S BULLSHIT. IT'S A SHAME BUT THEY DID DO SETS IN THE 1971-72 AND 72-73 DESIGNS WHICH WERE PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE 70S ANYWAY. EDDIE JONES WAS A DAMN GOOD PLAYER BUT JUST LIKE PENNY, STEPHON AND ANTAWN NO ONE CARES ANYMORE

JUST LIKE REAL PACKS, THESE WERE FUN TO OPEN AND HAD A BUNCH OF STUFF I DIDN'T REALLY NEED INSIDE. BUT FUN IS FUN AND FUN I HAD. I TOOK MY STUFF AND EXISTED THE BOARDROOM TO WRAP UP THE SHOW AT THE VINTAGE TABLE WHILE THE SLABBERS LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS A WEIRDO. THEY WERE RIGHT, OF COURSE

UP NEXT: THE GRAND FINALE AT THE GOOD VINTAGE TABLE

2023 CARD SHOW - PART 6 THE SAD REMAINS OF THE GLORIOUS QUARTER BOXES

I LEFT THE COLLECTOR'S TABLE WITH A BAG FULL OF GOODIES AND ABOUT TWENTY BUCKS IN MY POCKET AND HEADED TOWARD THE BACK OF THE ROOM. OCCASIONALLY THERE'S A GOOD DEALER AT ONE OF THESE TABLES BUT RECENTLY IT'S BEEN THE GUY WITH SEVENTEEN TABLES OF THREE DOLLAR BOXES ON THE LEFT AND THE ANGRY VINTAGE DEALER ON THE RIGHT. I USUALLY IGNORE THESE GUYS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, THREE DOLLAR BOX GUY JUST HAS TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH, I'D BE THERE FOR A MONTH TRYING TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHIGN TO FIND THE ONE HIDDEN GEM. VINTAGE GUY HAS NO PRICES ON ANYTHING AND I'VE ALREADY SEEN HIM BE RUDE TO CUSTOMERS SO I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT MESS. HOWEVER IN THE VERY BACK BRENDA USUALLY SETS UP WITH TONS OF QUARTER, DIME AND EVEN NICKEL BOXES. THIS IS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE STOP AT THE CARD SHOW

SADLY THIS TIME THERE WERE A LOT LESS BOXES ON THE TABLE AND MOST OF THEM WERE WRESTLING CARDS OR PHOTOS AND MEMORABILIA. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE JUST RUN OUT OF QUARTER BOXES OR THEY GOT BOUGHT OUT BEFORE I GOT THERE OR WHAT BUT SEARCHING THROUGH A DOZEN QUARTER BOXES WASN'T IN THE CARDS FOR ME TODAY. THERE WERE A FEW DOLLAR BOXES FILLED WITH DECENT STUFF AND ONE QUARTER BOX THAT WAS MOSTLY FILLED WITH EARLY 80S TOPPS THAT WERE SELLING SIX FOR A DOLLAR. EVEN THOUGH ONLY ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE BOX WAS NOT THE 80'S TOPPS THAT WAS STILL ENOUGH FOR ME TO FIND SOME GOODIES. BEHOLD MY TREASURES: 

1970 TOPPS IN THE QUARTER BOX IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL. THERE WASN'T MUCH 70'S STUFF IN THERE BUT I DID FIND A COUPLE I COULD USE. THIS VIC DAVALILLO LOOKS GREAT WITH THE BATTING CAGE AND RANDOM DUDE WANDERING AROUND IN THE BACKGROUND

RON PERRANOSKI'S CARD IS MUCH LESS INTERESTING AS HE IS BEING PHOTOGRAPHED A MILE FROM HOME PLATE IN THE OUTFIELD. 1970 TOPPS IS NOT A SET I'M FOCUSING ON AT ALL BUT YOU BET I'LL PICK EM UP CHEAP

1977 TOPPS IS A SET I'M FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW BUT IT WASN'T WHEN I WAS AT THE CARD SHOW BECAUSE I WAS STILL LOOKING FOR THE ACCURSED 1976 ROSE. IF MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT, I STILL NEED SIXTY-NINE CARDS TO COMPLETE THIS SET (nice) BUT IT'S MOSTLY COMMONS AND THE ONLY CARD I NEED THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE PRICEY IS JOHNNY BENCH. BUYING BENCH CARDS IS ALWAYS A DELIGHT SO I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT IT. I DOUBT I COMPLETE THIS SET THIS YEAR BUT I BET I CAN KNOCK A TON OFF THAT LIST

THERE WAS A LITTLE PILE OF 1985 FLEER IN THE BOX AND I MANAGED TO FIND FIVE I DIDN'T HAVE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE REST OF THIS SET BEING AS COLOR COORDINATED AS THESE FOUR BUT I GOTTA SAY IT LOOKS PRETTY GREAT. SPEAKING OF SET COMPLETING, I REALLY GOTTA FINISH OFF A FLEER SET THIS YEAR. i NEED ONE CARD FOR 1981 AND THREE FOR 1984

STEVE JELTZ ROOKIE CARD! FOR A GREATER APPRECIATION OF HOW GOOD THIS IS WATCH THIS VIDEO

PETE ROSE CARD OUT OF MY DAMN HAIR, GOTTA LOVE IT. THIS CARD CONFUSED ME AT FIRST BECAUSE 1) I DIDN'T RECALL ANY OTHER 1986 FLEER SPECIAL SUPER STAR CARDS WITH THIS SHINY GOLD BORDER AND 2) HOW MANY BASEBALL CARDS FEATURE A LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE PLATE. SUCH A WEIRD CARD

WOOOOOOO! OLD FLEER INSERTS!!! I LOVE THEM, EVEN PETES. THE 1986 FUTURE HALL OF FAMER SET WAS EXTREMELY ACCURATE WITH THIS ONE EXCEPTION

THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT FROM THE SET IN THE BOX AND I GOT THEM BOTH BECAUSE I FORGOT I HAD A WANTLIST FOR FLEER INSERTS ON MY PHONE. GOOD NEWS: I DID NEED THE ROSE BECAUSE OF COURSE I DID. BETTER NEWS: I ALREADY HAD ROD CAREW BUT NOW I HAVE TWO ROD CAREWS

I NEED SO MANY 1984 DONRUSS CARDS THAT I HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT GETING ONE I NEED EVEN IF THERE'S A BIG RIP IN THE TOP OF THE CARD.THIS IS THE LAST CARD OUT OF THE BOX THAT I ACTUALLY NEEDED OFF A WANTLIST, THE REST ARE ALL THINGS I JUST COULDN'T LEAVE BEHIND

REGGIE JACKSON SUPER VET! I ALWAYS SEE OAKLAND TO CALIFORNIA AS REGGIE'S ALPHA TO OMEGA BUT IT'S REALLY KANSAS CITY TO OAKLAND. THIS WAS TOO GOOD TO LEAVE IN A BOX WITH 1985 TOPPS

I ALSO REFUSED TO LEAVE BEHIND SCHMIDT EVEN THOUGH MY WANTLIST SAID I DIDN'T NEED IT. I EVEN TRIED TO PUT IT IN THE BINDER, BUT MIKE WAS ALREADY THERE. YOU CAN'T TAKE CHANCES LIKE THAT, WANTLISTS CAN BE WRONG

I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE WANTLIST, THIS CARD SLAPS. OF ALL THE 1984-85 SET I REGRET MISSING OUT ON BECAUSE I WAS DISTRACTED BY OTHER COLLECTIONS IN THE MID-80S THIS ONE IS THE MOST PAINFUL REGRET. I LOVE THIS DESIGN SO MUCH

BY FAR THE WEIRDEST THING I FOUND AT THE ENTIRE CARD SHOW WAS THIS 1974 ALL-STAR CARD OF FISK AND BENCH IN ALARGE, VERY OLD PENNY SLEEVE. THE CARD WAS BEAT ALL TO SHIT BUT IT STILL SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN A QUARTER BOX. THAT'S NOT THE STRANGE PART. THAT'S THE CARD THAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SLEEVE

A 1986 BIG LEAGE CHEW HANK AARON HOME RUN LEGENDS CARD, ALSO BEAT ALL TO HELL. THESE CARDS ARE USUALLY A BIT DINGED UP BECAUSE THEY WERE INSERTED LOOSE INSIDE A BAG WITH A WAS OF BUBBLE GUM BUT THIS ONE GOT SOME EXTRA ADDED BEATING. WHY WAS AN AARON ODDBALL CARD PUT IN AN SLEEVE WITH A 1974 ALL-STAR CARD? WHY WERE THEY BOTH IN A QUARTER BOX? YOU GO TO CARD SHOWS LOOKING FOR UNEXPECTED TREASURE AND THIS IS ABOUT AS UNEXPECTED AS YOU CAN GET

LAST CARD I PICKED UP OUT OF THE BOS WAS THIS 1998 CIRCA THUNDER BOSS INSERT OF TRAVIS LEE. THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY CARD IN THE BOX MADE AFTER ABOUT 1997 AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT GOT IN THERE. THERE'S A REALLY GOOD CHANCE I ALREADY HAVE THIS ONE BUT I CAN'T PASS UP A 90S INSERT THIS WILD LOOKING AND EMBOSSED EVEN AND STILL SLEEP AT NIGHT

I REALLY TRIED TO FIND SOME STUFF OUT OF THE DOLLAR BOX SO I COULD GIVE BRENDA MORE THAN THREE BUCKS FOR EIGHTEEN CARDS BUT I HAD ALL THE VINTAGE ALREADY AND I WASN'T INTERESTED IN THE MORE RECENT CARDS. I WENT TO PAY BUT SHE INSISTED THAT THERE WASN'T THREE DOLLARS WORTH OF CARDS IN THE PILE I HAD AND ONLY CHARGED TWO. BEWILDERED, I ARGUED A BIT BUT EVENTUALLY JUST GAVE HER THE TWO BUCKS. SEE WHY THIS IS MY FAVORITE SELLER?? I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL BE BACK TO THE NEXT SHOW BUT I HOPE SHE'S THERE WITH A FRESH BATCH OF BOXES SO I CAN GIVE HER MORE MONEY. AND FORGET MY USUAL TRIP AROUND THE REST OF THE SHOW, I'M GOING THERE FIRST

UP NEXT: A WHOLE NEW AREA FULL OF ALL NEW DEALERS!

2023 CARD SHOW - PART 5 THE DEALER WHO COLLECTS - ODDBALL JACKPOT

REMEMBER A COUPLE POSTS AGO WHEN I MENTIONED THAT THE DUDE WAS SELLING CARDS FROM RANDOM SETS GROUPED UP IN TEAM BAGS? WELL THESE WERE THE THREE MOST RANDOM SETS OUT OF THE BUNCH:

LEFT TO RIGHT: 1973 FLEER PATCHES BASEBALL'S WILDEST DAYS AND PLAYS, 1972 FLEER PATCHES FAMOUS FEATS, AND 1975 FLEER PATCHES PIONEERS OF BASEBALL. THESE CARDS WERE INSERTS IN FLEER PATCHES PACKS AS A BONUS TO STABLIZE THE PACKS FROM FLOPPING AROUND TOO MUCH. EARLY LAST YEAR I MADE IT A GOAL TO GET A TYPE CARD FROM EACH SET I COULD FIND AND NOW HERE WAS A TREASURE TROVE OF 1970'S FLEER. THE WILDEST DAYS AND PIONEERS CARDS WERE FIFTY CENTS APIECE WHILE THE FAMOUS FEATS WERE CONFUSED WITH THE 1980 REPRINT SET AND WERE A QUARTER. THE FAMOUS FEATS PILE WAS WAY THINNER THAN THE OTHER TWO SO I'M GUESSING THE GUY WHO RAIDED THE ARCHIVES BOX BEFORE ME HIT THOSE PRETTY HARD AS WELL. I SWITCHED GEARS REAL QUICK WHEN I SAW THESE AND WENT FROM "HOW MUCH FOR ONE ROW" TO HOW MUCH FOR ALL OF EM. AND ALL OF EM I GOT. WHEN I FINALLY WALKED AWAY FROM THE TABLE I HAD ALL THREE OF THESE PACKS IN MY BAG ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE AFTER HANDING THE GUY THIRTY BUCKS. THAT'S $7.50 PER POST, ABOUT THE PRICE OF ONE OF THOSE CHRONICLES PACKS I KEEP POSTING. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE CARDS

1972 FLEER PATCHES LAUGHLIN BASEBALL'S FAMOUS FEATS

THESE SHOULD BE FAMILIAR TO A LOT OF YOU ALREADY FROM THE 1980 REPRINT SET OR THE BACKS OF 1980 AND 1986 FLEER STICKERS. THIS WALTER JOHNSON CARD IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LAUGHLIN'S GENIUS, HE EXPRESSED SO MUCH HERE IN A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF LINES. THIS ONE WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE ON THE BACK OF THE STICKERS. THERE WERE EIGHT CARDS FROM THE 40 CARD SET IN THE TEAM BAG WHICH IS NOT A BAD STARTER PACK 

ONE THING ABOUT THE STICKER BACKS IS THAT THEY ONLY REPRINTED 22 OUT OF THE 40 CARDS IN THE SET. SOMEHOW LOU GEHRIG MISSED THE CUT WHICH SEEMS INCREDIBLE. HOW DID RED ROLFE AND JOE OESCHGER BEAT OUT THE THE IRON HORSE?? I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A LICENSING THING SO LAUGHLIN COULD HAVE SOME GOOD PLAYERS TO HIMSELF IN HIS 1980 SECOND SERIES BUT THOSE HAVE DIFFERENT ARTWORK. IN ANY CASE, THIS IS THE ONLY VERSION OF LOU'S FAMOUS FEATS CARD I CAN FIND. THE CARD'S A LITTLE BEAT UP BUT THIS DRAWING OF GEHRIG MASHING SALAMIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE FAMOUS FEATS

XX IS ANOTHER FAVORITE FROM THE STICKERS. I FEEL LIKE I PULLED AT LEAST FIVE OF THESE FROM PACKS AND I WAS NEVER DISAPPOINTED. SINCE THESE CARDS' PURPOSE IN LIFE WAS TO KEEP THE PACKS FROM BEING FLOPPY AND MAYBE PROTECT THE PATCHES FROM THE GUM YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF DINGS AND SPLOTCHES ON THESE CARDS. JIMMY GOT IT ESPECIALLY BAD WITH A VERY NOTICABLE GLOP STAIN DOWN BY HIS SHOE AND SOME UNIDENTIFIED SCHMUTZ IN THE BACK. IT'S ALL JUST ADDED VALUE, BABY

THE BACKS OF THE CARDS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE 1970 LAUGHLIN WORLD SERIES CARDS WITH THIS BLUE TEXT. I HAD A LITTLE CONFUSION TRYING TO SORT OUT WHEN THESE CARDS WERE RELEASED AS TCDB HAS IT AS AN INSERT IN THE 1973 PATCHES SET BUT THE BACK HAS A 1972 COPYRIGHT DATE. I PULLED OUT THE BOB LEMKE STANDARD CATALOG AND HE SAYS 1972 SO I'M STICKING WITH 1972. I FORCED MYSELF TO ONLY SHOW THREE CARDS FROM EACH SET SO THIS POST WOULDN'T TAKE EIGHT HOURS TO WRITE BUT I CHEATED AND ADDED A FOURTH PIC FOR THE BACKS. GOTTA SHOW OFF BIG ED DELAHANTY'S MISHAP AT NIAGRA FALLS

1973 FLEER PATCHES LAUGHLIN BASEBALL'S WILDEST DAYS AND PLAYS

ONCE AGAIN, TCDB SAYS 1974 WHEN LEMKE SAYS 1973 FOR THE DATE. LEMKE MATCHES THE COPYRIGHT SO UNLESS A FLEER HISTORIAN TELLS ME DIFFERENT I'M SIDING WITH LEMKE. THERE WERE 32 CARDS IN THE TEAM BAG AND I GOT 27 OUT OF THE 42 CARDS IN THE SET. YET, I GOT NO DOUBLES. I'LL EXPLAIN THAT LATER. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT DECIDING WHICH THREE CARDS TO SHOW OFF AND I'M ALREADY REGRETTING NOT CHOOSING THE EDDIE GAEDEL CARD EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN ALSO SEE IT UP AT THE TOP OF THE POST. GABBY STREET CATCHING A BALL CHUCKED OFF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT WAS NOT A DIFFUCULT CHOICE. THAT STORY IS RIDICULOUS AND THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING PICTURE

THIS CARD MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD WHEN I SAW IT. THANKFULLY THE SINGING UMP IS LORD BILL BYRON AND NOT JOE WEST. UMPIRE CARDS ARE FAIRLY SCARCE (FOR GOOD REASON) AND THIS IS PROBABLY A TOP 10 UMP CARD OF ALL TIME. IF YOU THINK UMPSHOWS ARE BAD NOW YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN. BILL USED TO SING DITTIES AT PLAYERS WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT HIS CALLS SUCH AS 🎵 "YOU'LL HAVE TO LEARN BEFORE YOU'RE OLDER, YOU CAN'T HIT THE BALL WITH THE BAT ON YOUR SHOULDER" 🎵 CHECK THE LETTERING IN THE WORD STRIKE, THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF THERE

THE WORLD NEEDS MORE BASEBRAWL CARDS. THIS ONE COMMEMORATES THE 1912 OPENER IN BROOKLYN WHERE EIGHT THOUSAND FANS TOO MANY CROWDED WASHINGTON PARK FOR THE OPENER BETWEEN THE DODGERS AND GIANTS. FIGHTS BROKE OUT, FANS FLOODED THE OUTFIELD AND THE GAME WAS A MESS, EVENTUALLY BEING CALLED IN THE SIXTH INNING WITH A GIANTS VICTORY 18-3. LAUGHLIN ILLUSTRATES HOW THE PLAYERS TRIED IN VAIN TO PUSH BACK THE FANS OFF THE FIELD WITH THEIR BATS ON THE CARD. NOTE ALSO THE ORANGE PIECE OF TRASH FLYING WITH A VERY SUBTLE ORANGE G. I LOVE THESE LITTLE DETAILS

I CHOSE THIS BACK BECAUSE FIVE HOMERS IN AN INNING IS FRANKLY ABSURD AND EVERYONE SHOULD READ ABOUT THAT AND IT ALSO EXPLAINS THE REASON WHY I ENDED UP WITH FIVE DUPLICATES AND NO DOUBLES. APPARENTLY THERE ARE DIFFERENT CARD STOCK VARIATIONS IN THIS SET. IN TOTAL I GOT 24 GRAY BACKS AND EIGHT WHITE BACKS. I REALLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT A MASTER VARIATION SET SO I'M GOING TO FEIGN POOR EYESIGHT WHILE LOOKING AT THE BACKS. THIS SET IS SO FUN IT'S A REAL TEMPTATION TO TRY TO COMPLETE IT NOW THAT I HAVE SO MANY CARDS

1975 FLEER PATCHES PIONEERS OF BASEBALL

AFTER ONE MORE LAUGHLIN SET IN 1974, FLEER SWITCHED GEARS IN 1975 WITH THIS SET OF PRE-WAR STARS. AND BY PRE-WAR I MEAN WORLD WAR ONE. ONLY NINE OUT OF THE TWENTY-EIGHT PLAYERS IN THE SET WERE ACTIVE AFTER 1918. THIS WAS THE FIRST OF THE STABILIZER INSERTS I WAS FAMILIAR WITH AS I REMEMBER SEEING THEM AS A KID AND WONDERING WHAT THESE WEIRD OLD CARDS WERE. THE CARDS WERE TOO BIG TO BE BASEBALL CARDS SO I FILED THEM AWAY WITH THE ODDBALL TCMA CARDS AND EXHIBITS REPRINTS I PICKED UP IN COLLECTOR'S KITS. BY THE TIME I FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY WERE THEY WERE HARD TO FIND AND I ONLY HAD ONE IN MY COLLECTION BEFORE THIS WINDFALL. THERE WERE TEN CARDS IN THE TEAM BAG AND I GOT NINE I NEEDED WITH A HAL CHASE DUPLICATE. ONE DUPE OUT OF FIFTY CARDS (VARIATIONS NOTWITHSTANDING) IS PRETTY DANG GOOD! SPEAKING OF GOOD, WILL ANY PITCHER EVER REACH EVEN HALF OF CY'S WIN TOTAL EVER AGAIN? I KNOW VERLANDER REACHED IT BUT WHO DOES IT AFTER HIM? SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

THE REALLY NICE THING ABOUT THIS PILE OF CARDS IS IT CONTAINED THE TWO MOST EXPENSIVE CARDS FROM THE SET IN CY YOUNG AND TY COBB. COBB IS A JERKASS THOUGH SO I'M SHOWING OFF NAP LAJOIE INSTEAD. LAJOIE ISN'T JUST THE GUY GOUDEY PRINTED UP SOME CARDS FOR AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN THEY GOT CAUGHT DOING THE SHENANIGANS WITH THEIR 1933 RELEASE, THE DUDE TORE UP THE LEAGUE A THOUSAND YEARS AGO AND ENDED UP WITH OVER 3000 HITS AND 380 STEALS. IN 1901 HE HIT .426! THAT'S ABSURD! EVEN MORE ABSURD A HUNDRED YEARS LATER BARRY BONDS DEMOLISHED NAP'S .463 .643 1.106 OBP/SLG/OPS LINE WITH .515 .863 1.379 EVEN THOUGH HIS BATTING AVERAGE WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED POINTS LESS. EVEN MORE MORE ABSURD IS BARRY ISN'T I-

NO- THIS IS A HAPPY POST. I'LL SAVE DISCOURSE FOR LATER

IT WAS A TOUGH CHOICE FOR THE LAST PHOTO BETWEEN HOME RUN BAKER AND THREE FINGER BROWN. IN THE END, BAKER DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ALL THAT MANY HOME RUNS AND BROWN DID, IN FACT, HAVE THREE FINGERS. PLUS THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LOVE FOR MORDECAIS

THIS IS STILL TECHNICALLY A LAUGHLIN SET AS THAT FAMILIAR LOOKING HEADER IS ON THE TOP OF EVERY CARD BACK. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO GET A MIKE KELLY CARD AS HE IS THE BEST OF THE 19TH CENTURY BRAVES/RED STOCKING/BEANEATER/WHATEVER CARDS. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE BACK KELLY PLAYED FOR WHOEVER WOULD GIVE HIM THE MOST MONEY BUT THE PHOTO ON THE FRONT HAS HIM IN A BOSTON UNI SO I GET TO CLAIM HIM FOR THE BRAVOS. OR STOCKOS. BEANOS? WHATEVER. THESE CARDS FIT GREAT INTO 6-POCKET PAGES AND I'M CURRENTLY EVICTING AN OLD PARKHURST TALLBOYS RETRO SET TO HOLD ALL THESE THINGS. THIS WAS ONE OF MY TOP THREE FINDS OF 2023 AND EVEN WITH ALL THESE CARDS MY TYPE SET GOAL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO AS I HAVE NOT TRACKED DOWN ONE OF THE 1974 LAUGHLIN BASEBALL FIRST CARDS AND THERE ARE ALSO FOUR YEARS OF BASEBALL QUIZ CARDS AND AN OBSCURE SET OF BASEBALL STADIUMS FROM 1968 INSERTED INTO PATCH PACKS THAT AREN'T EVEN IN LEMKE'S CATALOG. THOSE ARE FINDS FOR ANOTHER DAY

UP NEXT: IT'S QUARTER BOX TIME!!!!!