BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 15: JOSEF

HAVING KIND OF A SAD TYPING THIS OUT BECAUSE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CARD JOSEF MARTINEZ WAS A LIFE-LONG ATLANTA UNITED PLAYER WHO WOULD NEVER EVER LEAVE AND THEY WERE ALREADY BUILDING THE STATUE AND NOW HE'LL PROBABLY BE WITH ANOTHER TEAM BY THE TIME THIS GETS POSTED

2020 TOPPS MLS JOSEF MARTINEZ 1990 ALL STAR

ATLANTA UNITED IS OSTENSIBLY MY SOCCER TEAM ALTHOUGH THEY KINDA FLIP BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THEM AND ARSENAL FOR MY FAVORITE. I CURRENTLY HAVE TWO UNITED SHIRTS AND NO ARSENAL GEAR AT ALL SO TAKE THAT INFORMATION HOW YOU WILL. UNITED WILL ALWAYS BE AT LEAST A 1a TEAM IN MY HEART SINCE THEY ACTUALLY WON A CUP BACK WHEN ATLANTA DID NOT WIN THINGS EVER. THEY SOMEHOW BROKE THE WITCH'S CURSE ON OUR SPORTS TEAMS AND EVER SINCE EVERYONE'S WINNING ALL OVER THE PLACE*. HOWEVER, AFTER THEY WON, THE COACH LEFT FOR MEXICO AND THEIR BEST PLAYER GOT SOLD TO NEWCASTLE AND THINGS HAVE BEEN A DYSFUNCTIONAL MESS. JOSEF GOT THE FIRST HAT TRICK IN UNITED HISTORY AND WON AN MVP AND WANTED TO STAY HERE EVEN WHEN EUROPEAN TEAMS WERE SNIFFING AROUND SO HE'LL FOREVER BE A FAVORITE

I'M A SUCKER FOR SOCCER CARDS IN VINTAGE DESIGNS (GOT ANOTHER ONE IN 2022) AND THIS 1990 DESIGN IN PURPLE AND GOLD REALLY JUMPED OUT AT ME WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOSEF CARD TO ADD TO MY MEAGER SOCCER COLLECTION. THE 1990 DESIGN SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH THE 1970 DESIGN THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT - KIND OF AN EYESORE THAT REALLY GROWS ON YOU THE MORE YOU LOOK AT IT. THEY ALSO HAVE WONDERFULLY BRIGHT YELLOW BACKS. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD LOOKING UGLY CARD. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER JOSEF WILL BE WITH THE TEAM SINCE THE COACH IS AN ASSHAT WHO'S RUNNING OFF PLAYERS BUT IF HE DOES GO UNITED BETTER BE PONYING UP FOR A GOOD REPLACEMENT. IN 2013 WHEN I FIRST STARTED GETTING REALLY INTO SOCCER ARSENAL PULLED A MADNESS AND GOT MY FAVORITE PLAYER MESUT OZIL AT THE TRANSFER DEADLINE. GONNA MANIFEST IT OUT INTO THE WORLD: ATLANTA UNITED, GO GET ARSENAL LEGEND OLIVIER GIROUD RIGHT NOW. GET THAT GORGEOUS FRENCHMAN TO BOOT IN SOME GOALS AND GO OUT AND WIN ANOTHER CUP

*EXCEPT THE FALCONS. THAT CURSE WILL NEVER BREAK. GO STEELERS

TOP THIRTY CARDS FROM NIGHT OWL'S JUNK DUMP GIVEAWAY BOX - #10-1

 wooooo it's the top tem notherfuckers

WHOOPS WHAT HAPPENED THERE. LET'S JUST JUMP RIGHT IN AND SPEAK OF THIS NO MORE

#10 - 2018 STADIUM CLUB BO JACKSON

I KNOW UNLIKE THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE I'M NOT REALLY A BIG FAN OF STADIUM CLUB BUT DAAAAAAAAAMN THIS CARD LOOKS GOOD. I SHOULD MAYBE QUIT THINKING ABOUT STADIUM CLUB IN SET BUILDING TERMS AND MAYBE TO A FRANKENSET OR EVEN JUST A SINGLE PAGE PER YEAR OF SUPER COOL CARDS LIKE THIS

#9 1986 TOPPS TRADED TOM SEAVER

1986 TOPPS I AM ABSOLUTELY A BIG FAN OF. ALSO TOM SEAVER. RED SOX? MAYBE NOT. BUT AIRBRUSHING? HELL YES. I HAVE LIKE FOUR OTHER COPIES OF THIS CARD AND I DON'T CARE, IT'S GREAT

#8 - 1992 SPACE SHOTS SERIES 3 RUSSELL "RUSTY" SCHWEICKART

SO I WAS GOOGLING AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEAR THIS CARD WAS FROM AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A BIG SCANDAL WHERE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FROM A CONTEST AND PROMISED DONATIONS TO THE ASTRONAUT MEMORIAL FUND FROM THIS SET'S PROFITS WERE NEVER PAID. SHADY SHIT HAPPENING DURING A COLLECTIBLES BOOM? SHOCKING. THE SET IS STILL PRETTY DOPE AND I WISH I COULD FIND A BUNCH CHEAP

#7 - 1980 KELLOGG'S PETE ROSE

FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY VINTAGE SET I TRY TO COLLECT, PETE ROSE IS ONE OF THE LAST FIVE CARDS I NEED. INCLUDING THE 1979 KELLOGG'S SET. IT'S SO DAMN NICE TO GET ONE OF THEM EARLY ON IN THE SET BUILDING PROCESS

#6 - 1965 DONRUSS FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS

IN A WEIRD BIT OF SYNCHRONICITY, RIGHT BEFORE I GOT THESE CARDS I SAW A HERO HABIT YOUTUBE VIDEO ON THIS SET AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NEAT CARD TO TRY TO FIND. THEN THIS ONE ARRIVED. THIS PICTURE HERE IS ONE OF THE MOST BRITISH THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN

#5 2021 DIAMOND KINGS WILLIAM CONTRERAS

AWW YEAH! WILD BILL ROOKIE CARD! PLAY THEM TRUMPETS!

IN MILWAUKEE NOW, BUT PLAY THEM TRUMPETS

#4 1959 TOPPS ROCKY COLAVITO BASEBALL THRILLS

JUNK BOXES SHOULD NOT CONTAIN GREAT LOOKING 1959 TOPPS CARDS, BUT THIS ONE DID. AND EVEN BETTER, I DIDN'T ALREADY HAVE THIS CARD! THIS WOULD EASILY BE THE #1 CARD ON ANYONE ELSE'S LIST BUT I AM A WEIRDO WHO LOVES STUPID STUFF

#3 - 2020 TOPPS BIG LEAGUE RONALD ACUñA JR STAR CARICATURE

I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT BIG LEAGUE, AND THIS IS CHARITABLY AN ODD LOOKING CARD BUT IT'S AN ACUñA INSERT I DID NOT HAVE AND HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE, SO YOU BET I'M SUPER HAPPY TO GET IT

#2 1980 TOPPS YOU'LL DIE LAUGHING STUDIO 54

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE TRADING CARDS OF OLD MONSTER MOVIES BUT HAD NEVER STUMBLED ACROSS ANY FROM THIS PARTICULAR SET BEFORE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TOPICAL NATURE OF THIS JOKE, YOU'RE NOT SEEING A STUDIO 54 GAG ON A MONSTER CARD AT ANY OTHER TIME BESIDES 1980. THIS PHOTO IS FROM THE FILM "MONSTER ON THE CAMPUS" WHICH I'M PRETTY SURE I HAVE SEEN BEFORE BUT CAN REMEMBER NOTHING ABOUT

#1 - OLD-ASS THING I CAN'T REMEMBER CLAIRE WINDSOR

AT ONE POINT I FIGURED OUT WHAT SET THIS WAS FROM BUT I FORGOT ALREADY AND DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT SEARCHING AGAIN. CLAIRE WINDSOR (ORIGINALLY NAMED OLA CRONK) WAS A POPULAR SILENT FILM ACTRESS IN THE 20S KNOWN FOR GLAMOROUS ROLES. THE MOVIE MENTIONED ON THE CARD IS FROM 1922 AND IS PARTLY LOST, THE LAST TWO REELS ARE NOW MISSING. BUT HUNDRED YEAR OLD CARDS DON'T DROP FROM THE SKY VERY OFTEN AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW THE SET, THE ACTOR OR EVEN WHERE TO WATCH THE FILM THIS LAST LITTLE BIT OF EPHEMERA LETTING US KNOW IT ALL EXISTED IS PRETTY FANTASTIC

BIG THANKS AGAIN TO NIGHT OWL FOR CLEANING ALL THE CRAP OUT OF HIS CARD ROOM!

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 14: SPOOKY

ANOTHER ONE OF MY LITTLE COLLECTIONS IS TRADING CARDS OF MONSTERS AND MONSTER MOVIES AND ACTORS WHO ARE IN MONSTER MOVIES. TODAY'S CARD IS ALL THREE

1961 LEAF SPOOK STORIES
BELA LUGOSI - FOR THE LAST TIME - STOP TALKING AND GO TO SLEEP

THIS EARLY LEAF MONSTER MOVIE SET IS ONE OF THE FIRST TO USE LICENSED PICTURES FROM ACTUAL MOVIES. THE COPYRIGHT IS UNIVERSAL BUT THE SET HAS PICTURES FROM BOTH CLASSIC UNIVERSAL HORROR FILMS AND HAMMER HORROR. THE SET WAS RELEASED IN TWO SERIES IN PACKS LABELED SPOOK THEATRE AND SON OF SPOOK THEATRE BUT IS GENERALLY KNOWN AS SPOOK STORIES NOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS SAYS ON THE BACK AND CARDS ARE WAY EASIER TO FIND THAN BOXES AND WRAPPERS NOWADAYS. CARD STOCK IS BASICALLY THE SAME AS 1960 LEAF BASEBALL IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN THOSE, BLACK & WHITE PHOTO ON WHITE CARDSTOCK WITH A GLOSSY FINISH. THIS CARD IS BEAT TO HELL BUT IT'S GOT BELA LUGOSI ON IT SO IT IS GEM MINT TO ME

LIKE ALMOST ALL OTHER VINTAGE MONSTER MOVIE TRADING CARD SET THE BASIC GIMMICK IS A MOVIE PHOTO ON THE FRONT WITH A TERRIBLE PUN RELATED TO THE SCENE AND A MINIMAL BACK FEATURING A HORRIBLE AWFUL NO GOOD JOKE. KIDS DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE CHEESY HUMOR, THEY JUST WANTED A CARD OF DRACULA OR FRANKENSTEIN OR THE WOLFMAN. THIS ONE HAS A NICE SHOT OF BELA AS DRACULA CONTEMPLATING HIS COFFIN AND THE JOKE ON THE BACK IS SOMEWHAT LESS TERRIBLE THAN YOU USUALLY SEE. I ALSO LIKE THE SKEERY GHOST AND TINY BATS ON THE BACK. RIGHT NOW THIS IS JUST A TYPE CARD FOR MY MONSTER COLLECTION BUT THERE ARE A TON OF GREAT MONSTER PHOTOS IN THE SET. I'VE DEFINITELY GOT A CARD OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO ON MY WATCHLIST FOR MY NEXT COMC BINGE

TOP 20 CARDS FROM 1991 PACIFIC NOLAN RYAN SERIES 2

SOMETIMES AT THE CARD SHOP YOU BUY SOMETHING EXTREMELY STUPID JUST BECAUSE IT'S FUN. I WAS AT A CARD SHOP. I BOUGHT SOMETHING EXTREMELY STUPID. A COMPLETE SET OF 1991 PACIFIC NOLAN RYAN SERIES TWO FOR A COUPLE BUCKS. I DON'T EVEN LIKE NOLAN RYAN! I ALREADY HAVE A BUNCH OF THESE CARDS AND I DON'T WANT THEM! BUT! COMPLETE SET FOR TWO BUCKS, THAT'S FUN

THE SET FIT IN A LITTLE SNAP CASE WITH ROOM ENOUGH TO CRAM A WRAPPER IN TO KEEP THE CARDS FROM JOSTLING AROUND. WHILE I AM NOT A RYAN FAN, AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THESE GOT SO OVERPRODUCED EVEN BOOMERS THINK THEY'RE WORTHLESS, I GOTTA ADMIT THERE ARE SOME COOL CARDS IN THERE. ENOUGH TO DO A NEEDLESS TOP 20 LIST AND THEN SOME

HERE'S A PIC OF THE CRINKLY WRAPPER. ALL THE PACIFIC WRAPPERS FROM THIS YEAR WERE WEIRD SILVERY PLASTICY MESSES. HOW DID THEY GET LIKE THIS? I KNOW I OPENED A BUNCH OF 1991 PACIFIC FOOTBALL BUT I DON'T REMEMBER THE WRAPPERS BEING WRINKLED. DID THEY CRINKLE UP OVER TIME? I KNOW THEY LOOKED LIKE THIS IN THE EARLY 00'S BECAUSE I'D TAKE MY SON TO THE CARD SHOP AND HE'D PICK UP A COUPLE OF THESE PACKS BECAUSE THEY LOOKED LIKE CHOCOLATE BARS. SOME BASEBALL CARD ARCHAEOLOGIST NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS PHENOMENON

ENOUGH WITH THE TANGENT, HERE'S YOUR TOP 20:

#20 GOOSE AND NOLAN

THERE ARE A FEW CARDS WHERE NOLAN SHARES THE SPOTLIGHT IN THE SET AND THIS ONE RANKS THE LOWEST BECAUSE GOOSE HAS BECOME A MISERABLE OLD CRANK. BUT IT MAKES THE LIST BECAUSE GOOSE WAS A HELL OF A PITCHER AND HAS A COOL MUSTACHE AND WAS NAMED GOOSE. A REAL SHAME ABOUT THE MISERABLENESS THO

#19 BABBY NOLAN

I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT BABIES ARE PROBABLY NOT AN APPROPRIATE SUBJECT FOR TRADING CARDS. A WHOLE SET FULL OF BABIES WOULD BE HORRIBLY CREEPY. BUT ONE BABY IN A SET? THAT'S PRETTY CUTE. BUT DON'T OVERDO IT

#18 DRAWING A CROWD

THERE ARE TWO CARDS IN THE SET WITH A PICTURE OF NOLAN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR THE CROWD. I CHOSE THIS ONE BECAUSE THE COMPOSITION LOOKS BETTER WITH HIM FACING RIGHT AND IT'S NUMERICALLY EARLIER IN THE SET AND I HAD PULLED THIS ONE OUT ALREADY AND COULDN'T BE ARSED TO PUT IT BACK

#17 PASSING ALONG WISDOM

THIS CARD FEATURES PITCHING COACH TOM HOUSE WHO IS THE BRAVES BULLPEN PITCHER WHO CAUGHT HANK AARON'S 715TH HOME RUN WHICH PRETTY MUCH MEANS THIS IS A BRAVES CARD 

#16 NOLAN RYAN FIELD

THIS AWKWARD POSED PHOTO OF NOLAN STANDING IN FRONT OF HIS RENAMED HIGH SCHOOL FIELD IS EXTREMELY QUAINT AND I'M SO GLAD IT'S NOT IN COLOR BECAUSE THAT MIGHT RUIN THE WHOLE VIBE

#15 SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS

I UNDERSTAND WHY THE PHOTO ON THIS CARD IS CROPPED SO STRANGELY, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO GET EVERYONE ON THE CARD OTHERWISE. BUT DOING IT LIKE THIS MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ALL EXTRAS IN THE BIG SCENE AT JUPE'S PARK IN THE MOVIE NOPE. HERE COMES JEAN JACKET

#14 LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STAR

IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A WHOLE-ASS BASEBALL CARD SET ON JUST ONE PLAYER THERE BETTER BE A CARD OF THAT DUDE IN LITTLE LEAGUE. IT'S REQUIRED

#13 NUMBER 500

GONNA BE REAL WITH YOU, LIKE 80% OF THIS SET IS GENERIC PORTRAITS OR ACTION SHOTS OF NOLAN PITCHING AND THEY ALL START TO BLUR TOGETHER AFTER A WHILE. NOT THIS ANGELS MUGSHOT THOUGH. NOTHING ELSE IN THE SET LOOKS QUITE LIKE THIS

#12 NO HITTERS ENDED IN THE NINTH

SOMETIMES THE BACKS ARE MORE AMAZING THAN THE FRONTS. THIS MICKEYFICKEY ALMOST HAD TWELVE NO HITTERS

#11 NOLAN THE COWBOY

THE WHOLE TEXAS COWBOY IMAGE NOLAN CULTIVATED IS ONE OF THE REASONS I NEVER REALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS HIM BUT I CAN'T BEGRUDGE A GUY HAVING THIS MUCH FUN COSPLAYING ROY ROGERS

HONORABLE MENTION: THE NET CARD

A SHORT BREAK IN THE FESTIVITIES TO APPRECIATE ONE OF THE WEIRDER CARDS IN THE SET. AN ENTIRE CARD DEDICATED TO NOLAN STANDING BEHIND A NET ON THE FIELD. I LIKE THIS CARD, IT'S A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPH THAT YOU MOSTLY ONLY SEE ON CARDS FROM THE EARLY 90S WHERE ALL THE MANUFACTURERS WERE WILLING TO DO DAMN NEAR ANYTHING TO GET ATTENTION IN A CRAZY SATURATED MARKET. BUT THIS CARD GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND

NET PHOTOS ON THE FRONT AND THE BACK. THE ONLY OTHER TRADING CARD THAT IS MORE DEDICATED TO NETS THAT I CAN THINK OF ARE THE PACIFIC INSERTS FROM THE LATE 90S THAT HAD AN ACTUAL PIECE OF NET SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN SOME DIE-CUT CARDBOARD. PACIFIC IS TRULY THE BRAND LEADER IN NETS

OK BACK TO THE SHOW

#10 NOLAN'S FAST BALL IS JUST A BLUR

THIS CARD DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS IT DOES. THERE'S NOLAN'S FASTBALL. IT IS INDEED A BLUR. I LOVE CARDS WHERE THE BALL IS HANGING IN MIDAIR IN THE PHOTO AFTER IT IS PITCHED. YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THIS SOON

#9 ASTROS RETURN OF THE PRODIGIOUS SON

WHEN I SAID EARLIER THIS SET IS FILLED WITH ACTION SHOT OF NOLAN PITCHING THAT ALL BLUR TOGETHER I MEAN POSES LIKE THIS. WHAT MAKES THIS ONE STICK OUT ARE THOSE ADS ON THE OUTFIELD WALL OF WHAT I ASSUME IS THE ASTROS' SPRING TRAINING FACILITIES

#8 PURE SPEED

NOLAN HANGING OUT WITH ANOTHER HALL OF FAMER WHO AS FAR AS I KNOW WAS NOT A CRANK. THERE'S A WHOLE LOTTA STRIKEOUTS ON THIS CARD

#7 STRETCHING BEFORE THE GAME

THE UNIQUE POSE GOT THIS CARD ON THE LIST. THAT INCREDIBLE FACE NOLAN'S MAKING GOT THE CARD THIS HIGH ON THE LIST

#6 NOLAN RYAN JACKSONVILLE SUNS

VINTAGE MINOR LEAGUE PHOTOS ARE ALWAYS GREAT ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE FROM A WELL KNOWN FRANCHISE LIKE THE SUNS. THE TEAM IS NOW KNOWN AS THE JUMBO SHRIMP, I WONDER IF PHOENIX SUED

EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS: THE WORST CARDS IN THE SET

PACIFIC HAD TO COME UP WITH 220 CARDS TO FILL UP THIS THING AND THIS IS THE SECOND SERIES, YOU KNOW THERE HAD TO BE SOME CLUNKERS. HERE'S MY PICKS FOR THE BOTTOM THREE

#218 HARD WORK PAYS OFF

NORMALLY I WOULD APPRECIATE A UNIQUE PHOTO LIKE THIS OF AN ATHLETE TRAINING BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A CHEESY PHOTO FROM SOME ADVERTISING PAMPHLET. AND EVEN WORSE I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HECK IT'S TRYING TO PROMOTE. IS IT AN AD FOR NIKE? THE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT? THE CAYMAN ISLANDS? THE COMPANY WHO INSTALLED THE WOOD PANELING? WHATEVER IT IS SOME PR COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PHOTO. YECCH

#219 NOLAN PASSES NIEKRO

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO! PHIL STRUCK OUT ALL THOSE GUYS WITH A KNUCKLEBALL! AND BARELY PITCHED IN THE BIGS BEFORE HE WAS THIRTY! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

#220 NOLAN RYAN BANKER

IMAGINE OPENING A PACK OF CARDS DEDICATED TO YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER AND SEEING THIS NIGHTMARE. HOW HORRIFYING. SOME KID SAW THIS CARD IN 1991 AND REJECTED SPORTS IMMEDIATELY AND STARTED A LIFE OF CRIME

#5 "DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS"

ANYBODY JUMPING IN THE COMMENTS TO COMPLAIN THAT I PUT THE CARDS WITH GOOSE GOSSAGE AND BOB FELLER ON THE LIST BUT NOT THE ONE WITH ROGER CLEMENS CAN HUSH BECAUSE THIS IS THAT CARD. EVEN WITH ROCKET ON THE FRONT THE BACK OF THE CARD WHERE NOLAN IS IN A BUGS BUNNY WINDUP POSE IS SO MUCH COOLER. NOLAN'S ABOUT TO STRIKE OUT 27 GASHOUSE GORILLAS IN A ROW

#4 NOLAN BREAKS JOHNSON'S RECORD

NOLAN BREAKING A LONG HELD STRIKEOUT RECORD (AND IMMEDIATELY GETTING IT POACHED BY STEVE CARLTON, HEH) IS COOL BUT EXPOS UNIFORMS AND 123 METERS ON THE OUTFIELD WALL IS COOLER. ALSO: FLOATING BASEBALL #2

#4 NOLAN IN MOTION

IN THE EARLY 90S THERE WERE A TON OF THESE MULTI-IMAGE PHOTOS ON BASEBALL CARDS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THEN THEY SUDDENLY VANISHED, NEVER TO RETURN. MAYBE MANUFACTURERS MOVED THEIR BUDGET FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS TO AUTOGRAPHS AND RELIC CARDS BUT WE NEED THESE PICTURES TO MAKE A COMEBACK

#2 300TH WIN

300 WINS IS AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT THAT WE LIKELY WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN. BUT THIS CARD IS #2 BECAUSE OF THAT PHOTO. NOLAN FOLLOWING THROUGH, FLOATY BALL, BATTER READY TO STRIKE, OUTFIELDER POISED FOR ACTION. PERFECT PHOTO. ALSO THE FLAMING BASEBALL IS LINED UP PERFECTLY WITH NOLAN'S ARM AND IT AMUSES ME

THE BEST CARD IN 1991 PACIFIC NOLAN RYAN SERIES TWO:

NOLAN LOVES ANIMALS

WAS THERE EVER ANY DOUBT? LOOKIT THAT DOGGO. WHO'S A GOOD BOY? YOU ARE! YOU'RE A GOOD GOOD BOY. UNLESS THAT DOG'S A GIRL. WHAT A GOOD GOOD GIRL YOU ARE! PUPPER CARDS ALWAYS WIN

NON-SPORT FRANKENSET - CARD #13

LOL I WAS SO EXCITED TO POST A JACK DAVIS CARD I FORGOT CARD #13

COUNT DUCKULA! Y'ALL KNOW I AM A FAN OF VAMPIRES, AND WHY SHOULDN'T DUCKS BE ABLE TO GET IN ON THE BLOODSUCKING ACTION. COUNT DUCKULA PREMIERED IN 1988 AFTER SPINNING OFF FROM THE SERIES DANGER MOUSE. I REMEMBER IT WAS PRETTY DECENT, A SERIES ABOUT A VEGETARIAN VAMPIRE DUCK IS A NEAT CONCEPT. IT WAS NO DANGER MOUSE, BUT WHAT IS. BUT WAIT, THIS ISN'T THAT COUNT DUCKULA, THIS IS FROM A CRUMMY COMIC BOOK MOVIE

13 - 1986 TOPPS HOWARD THE DUCK - DUCK-O-VISION: COUNT DUCKULA

HEY A MARVEL MOVIE. EVERYONE LOVES MARVEL MOVIES... RIGHT? THIS ONE NOT SO MUCH, WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE IT'S A PRETTY INTERESTING MOVIE 

I DIDN'T SAY GOOD, I SAID INTERESTING

YES, IT IS A BIT LOT OF A MESS, AND THE DUCK SUIT IS KINDA GOOFY, AND THE PLOT IS BATSHIT CRAZY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF CRINGEY MOMENTS NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS A SCENE THAT EDGES UNCOMFORTABLY TOWARDS FURRY PORN, BUT! IT'S A COMIC BOOK MOVIE! WHO CARES IF IT MAKES SENSE, COMIC PLOTS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS LUDICROUS. THE MAIN CHARACTER IS LITERALLY AN ANTHROPOMORPHIC DUCK, THE SUIT IS CLUNKY BUT WORKS WELL ENOUGH. I... HAVE NO DEFENSE FOR THE FURRY STUFF. THERE ARE NEKKID DUCK BOOBIES WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES. BUT SOME PEOPLE DIG THAT VIBE, LET PEOPLE ENJOY THINGS. IT AIN'T A CLASSIC BUT THE CAST IS GREAT, THERE'S SOME COOL ACTION PIECES AND FUN MONSTERS, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO MORE EMBARASSING AND RIDICULOUS THAN 90% OF 80'S COMEDIES. IS A DUCK GETTING SUCKED DOWN TO EARTH FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION ANY MORE ABSURD THAN WHAT GOES ON IN BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS OR EVEN GHOSTBUSTERS? AND IT'S A HELL OF A LOT LESS EMBARASSING THAN SOUL MAN. THERE'S A BUDDY COP MOVIE WITH TOM HANKS AND A DOG, STUFF WAS GOOFIER IN THE 80S

I'LL ADMIT, WHEN I WAS 14 AND THIS CAME OUT I WAS AS LIVID AS EVERYONE ELSE. GEORGE LUCAS QUIT MAKING STAR WARS MOVIES FOR THIS??? UNACCEPTABLE. THE FILM HAD A LOT GOING AGAINST IT. THE LUCAS THING. COMICS WERE STILL DORKY IN THE 80S, EVEN WHEN BATMAN BLOWED UP. HOWARD WAS NOT A SUPER WELL KNOWN CHARACTER. EVEN WITH THE TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW GEORGE BROUGHT TO THE PROJECT A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY WERE TRYING TO DO DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT RIGHT. PEOPLE STRAIGHT UP WEREN'T READY TO SEE LEA THOMPSON TRYING TO PLUCK A DUCK

BUT EVENTUALLY I DISCOVERED THE ACTUAL HOWARD THE DUCK COMICS AND THEY WERE FANTASTIC. CLEVER, CYNICAL AND VERY FUNNY. NOW WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHARACTER I REWATCHED THE MOVIE AND... WELL, THE FILM DIDN'T GET A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT. IT TRADED THE CLEVER FOR SILLY AND A LOT OF THE HUMOR ENDED UP BEING UNINTENTIONAL. BUT IT GOT THE CYNICAL RIGHT, THE HUMAN WORLD IS A RIDICULOUS WORLD. AND A VERY ADULT AND SCARY WORLD AT THAT. SOME OF THE CHOICES TO SHOW JUST HOW ADULT THE WORLD IS LIKE HAVING HOWARD WORK IN A SEX CLUB AND SHOWING OFF DUCK BOOBS (A-WOO-OO) FAILED PRETTY HARD, BUT WHILE THIS MOVIE IS A FAILURE IT'S A DAMNED INTERESTING FAILURE. IT'S A BAD MOVIE BUT BAD MOVIES CAN BE A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN

ISN'T HOWARD HANDSOME IN HIS LITTLE SUIT. THAT'S ANOTHER THING WHERE THE FILM AND COMIC DIFFER, COMIC HOWARD DOES NOT WEAR PANTS. THERE'S A WHOLE STORY ARC ABOUT HOW THE OPRESSIVE OVERLORDS (LITERALLY DISNEY) FORCED HOWARD TO WEAR PANTS AND HE STILL ENDED UP CHUCKING THEM BY THE END OF IT. I'M NOT SAYING THE FILMMAKERS WERE WRONG FOR THIS. WE REALLY DIDN'T NEED HOWARD HANGING FREE ON THE SILVER SCREEN

UP NEXT: THE CORRECT CARD THIS TIME

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 13: KITTY

HERE'S A FUCKING BIG ONE

I DON'T THINK I'VE PUT A DENT IN THIS PROJECT FOR FIFTEEN YEARS AT LEAST

N25 1888 ALLEN & GINTER WILD ANIMALS OF THE WORLD

EARLY IN THE DAYS OF THIS BLOG I WAS OBSESSED WITH ALLEN & GINTER CARDS. I REALIZED I COULD BUY ACTUAL VINTAGE ALLEN & GINTER CARDS ON EBAY AND YAHOO AUCTIONS (remember them?) FOR SUPER CHEAP AND ATTEMPTED TO BUILD A TYPE SET OF THE ANTIQUE MINI CARDS. YOU CAN SEE MY PROGRESS OVER ON THE SIDEBAR ALTHOUGH I GOT LAZY AND NEVER MADE POSTS FOR A LOT OF THE CARDS. I GOT VERY CLOSE TO COMPLETING THE SET BUT THE LAST THREE CARDS I NEEDED WERE FROM SCARCE ISSUES AND THEN YAHOO AUCTIONS SHUT DOWN AND EBAY GOT SHITTY ABOUT PAYMENTS SO I QUIT BUYING CARDS ONLINE FOR A WHILE. NO MOAR CHEAP OLD NON-SPORTS CARDS FOR ME. THEN I SLOOOOOWLY STARTED PICKING UP STUFF ON COMC AND REALIZED THAT THERE IS ALSO A BUNCH OF COOL OLD NON-SPORTS CARDS THERE AS WELL. NOT THE FIREHOSE OF NEW STUFF LIKE ON EBAY BUT IT'S THERE AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEAT STUFF AVAILABLE FOR A BOTTOM FEEDER LIKE ME. SINCE I STARTED MY BLACK FRIDAY BUYS I'VE BEEN PEEKING AT THE GINTERS AND FOUND ONE I NEEDED LAST YEAR

THIS ONE IS FROM THE WILD ANIMALS OF THE WORLD SET FROM 1888. THERE ARE A BUNCH OF ANIMAL-THEMED SETS IN ALLEN & GINTER'S NON-SPORTS RUN, THE GIMMICK WITH THIS ONE IS EACH ANIMAL IS SHOWN JUST IN A PORTRAIT WITH A VERY EXPRESSIVE FACE. MY WILDCAT HERE SEEMS VERY SURPRISED BY SOMETHING. IT'S A GREAT LOOKING SET AND WOULD BE A TOP CHOICE FOR ME TO COLLECT THE SET IF THAT LOTTERY WIN EVER HAPPENS. THE MET ALSO HAS SOME NICE PICTURES OF THE BURDICK COLLECTION IF YOU'RE WILLING TO DIG FOR THEM. THIS CARD WAS NOT VERY EXPENSIVE AT ALL, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY 2021 ORDER IS COMPLETELY MISSING FROM COMC SO I COULDN'T TELL YOU THE EXACT PRICE. I'M GUESSING ABOUT 5-6 BUCKS. I GOT LUCKY THAT I FOUND A VINTAGE KITTY CAT SO CHEAP, YOU'LL BE SEEING A FEW MORE COOL CATS IN THESE BLACK FRIDAY POSTS

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST CARDS I NEEDED AS IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE OVERLY RARE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER VINTAGE GINTER CARDS. THE LAST TWO I NEED ARE DEFINITELY SCARCE THOUGH. THE N17 NAVAL FLAGS ARE WAY HARDER TO FIND THAN THE OTHER TWO SET OF FLAGS ALLEN & GINTER PUT OUT, POSSIBLY BECAUSE IT'S MADE UP OF ODDBALL FLAGS AND ADMIRALS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AS WIDELY COLLECTED, EXCEPT FOR THE GROVER CLEVELAND CARD WHICH IS PRICEY. THEN THERE IS THE 1890 N23 SET OF SONG BIRDS WHICH IS LEGITIMATELY SCARCE AS IT IS ONE OF THE LAST SETS RELEASED BY GINTER BEFORE THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY MERGER THAT KILLED OFF THE NEED TO INSERT PROMOTIONAL ITEMS IN CIGARETTE PACKS AT ALL. THAT SET WAS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM AS I REALLY WANTED THE BROWN THRASHER CARD FOR MY COLLECTION BEFORE THE NHL RIPPED OUT MY HEART FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL TIME. I CAN GET ONE NOW FOR NOT TOO MUCH MONEY EXCEPT THAT ONE OF THE RULES OF THIS SET BUILD IS I DON'T PAY MORE THAN $20 FOR ANY CARD AND I DON'T USE EBAY ANY MORE. SO NO THRASHERS FOR ME

TOP THIRTY CARDS FROM NIGHT OWL'S JUNK DUMP GIVEAWAY BOX - #20-11

ALL RIGHTY TIME FOR THE FORGOTTEN MIDDLE CHILDREN OF MY NIGHT OWL CARDS TOP THIRTY LIST WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSTED LIKE TWO MONTHS AGO BUT THEN STUFF HAPPENED AND IT WAS THE HOLIDAYS AND NOW NONE OF YOU EVEN REMEMBER THE OTHER CARDS BUT I'VE UPLOADED THE IMAGES AND I'M PROBABLY RUNNING OUT OF CLOUD SPACE SO I BETTER USE WHAT I HAVE AND CAN YOU TELL I DON'T KNOW HOW TO START THIS POST

#20 - 2014 WACKY PACKAGES THE VAMPIRE DAIRIES

I'LL NEVER SERIOUSLY COLLECT WACKY PACKAGES BUT I LOVE VAMPIRES AND THIS IS A FIRST-CLASS PUN. MOVE OVER, COUNT DUCKULA

#19 - 1978 KELLOGG'S GEORGE FOSTER

WHEN I REQUESTED A GIVEAWAY BOX, I KNEW GREG WASN'T GOING TO INCLUDE THE JUNKIEST OF THE JUNK, BUT I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT EXPECT VINTAGE KELLOGG'S CARDS OF MVP WINNERS EITHER. I HAD A VERY GOOD 2022 PICKING UP A TON OF OLD KELLOGG'S CARDS AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS TREND IN 2023

#18 - 1981 BASEBALL IMMORTALS BILL KLEM

THIS IS BEING POSTED EITHER RIGHT BEFORE OR RIGHT AFTER A HUGE POST ON BASEBALL IMMORTALS CARDS SO I'LL LET THAT POST EXPOUND UPON THE SET. LONG STORY SHORT I LOVE THIS SET AND I AM VERY BELATEDLY TRYING TO BUILD IT BECAUSE I WAS NEVER ABLE TO BUY THE FACTORY SET FROM A MAGAZINE AD WHEN I WAS A KID. ALSO, THIS PICTURE OF BILL KLEM IS FANTASTIC

#17 - 2021 ALLEN & GINTER JUAN SOTO

I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS MANY, MANY TIMES, BUT AFTER COMLETING THE ALLEN AND GINTER SET EVERY YEAR FOR LIKE A DECADE, I CAN BARELY SCRAPE TOGETHER ENOUGH TO FILL A PAGE NOWADAYS. THIS WAS ONE OF MY FIRST GINTER CARDS FROM 2021, AND ONE OF THE FEW JUAN SOTO CARDS I HAVE PERIOD SO IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THAT'S A PRETTY COOL LOGO ON THE CAP TOO 

#16 - 2011 TOPPS LINEAGE ANDRE DAWSON

LINEAGE REALLY PISSED ME OFF IN 2011 AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHY ANYMORE. I KNOW I SHOULD HOLD A GRUDGE BUT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO DO WITH GORGEOUS CARDS LIKE THIS. HAWK + EXPOS + ROOKIE CUP = 😍

#15 - 2022 TOPPS JONAH HEIM

IT TOOK UNTIL DECEMBER TO BREAK SINGLE DIGITS IN MY 2022 TOPPS FLAGSHIP COLLECTION BUT THAT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE I GOT PROBABLY THE BEST CARD IN THE SET RIGHT HERE

#14 - 2021 ALLEN & GINTER YOGI BERRA

MOARER 2021 ALLEN AND GINTER! AND I ACTUALLY COLLECT THIS PLAYER ON PURPOSE! VERY VERY NICE

*****BONUS*****

FOR SOME REASON I ACCIDENTALLY UPLOADED THE UNCROPPED SCAN OF THE PAST 9 CARDS SO YOU GET AN EXTRA BEHIND THE SCENE LOOK AT MY BLOGGERY PROCESS

#13 - 1970 TOPPS LUIS APARICIO

ALONG WITH THE FOSTER THIS CARD WAS THE HOLY SHIT MOMENT WHERE I TRULY UNDERSTOOD HOW DAMN GOOD THIS BOX WAS. VINTAGE HALL OF FAMERS ARE MOST DEFINITELY NOT JUNK. FOR SOME REASON THIS CARD SEEMS VERY ICONIC TO ME AND I'M NOT SURE WHY. I THINK IT JUST IMPRINTED ON ME AS A CHILD THAT THIS WAS A COOL CARD AND IT STUCK

#12 (TIE) - 2010 TOPPS EDDIE MATHEWS & CHIPPER JONES DIAMOND DUOS

#12 (TIE) - 2011 TOPPS JASON HEYWARD & FREDDIE FREEMAN DIAMOND DUOS

CHEATING, BUT HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN THESE TWO. I HAVE A GREAT NEED FOR AN UPDATED CARD WITH EDDIE, CHIPPER AND AUSTIN RILEY ON IT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE HEYWARD/FREEMAN CARD'S CONTIGUOUS BACKGROUND THAT LOOKS LIKE FREDDIE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM JASON IN TERROR. JASON JUST CAUGHT UP TO YOU IN L.A., BETTER KEEP RUNNING FREDDIE 

#11 - 2016 ALLEN & GINTER MOOSE MASCOTS IN THE WILD

MOOOOOOOOOOOOSE 

I HAD THIS CARD ALREADY BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE

THESE CARDS WERE SO GOOD, JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE TOP TEN COULD BE! IMAGINE HARD YOU SAW HOW LONG IT TOOK THIS POST TO COME OUT