SOME DOLLAR BOX PICKUPS FROM A DIFFERENT ANTIQUE MALL

 I AM FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN AN AREA FILTHY WITH BOUGIE ANTIQUE MALLS AND ONE REASONABLY CLOSE TO ME HAS A FULL BLOWN CARD SHOP WITHIN ITS PREMISES. THIS PLACE HAS EVEN HOSTED A COUPLE MINI CARD SHOWS IN THE PAST, IT'S A PRETTY DOPE PLACE. I HAD SOME TIME TO KILL BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT AND CHECKED THE PLACE OUT. SADLY MY PHONE HAD .001% POWER SO I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE A MILLION PHOTOS OF COOL SHIT (AND DEAR READERS, THERE WAS A TON OF COOL SHIT) BUT I DID FIND AND RAID THE DOLLAR BOXES SO YOU GET A FEW PICS OF NICE CARDS TAKEN AFTER THE FACT

BUYING SOME BASEBALL CARDS AND GETTING THEM PACKAGED IN A TINY LEOPARD PRINT BAG IS ONE OF THE UNDERRATED JOYS OF FINDING CARDS AT SHOPS WHERE CARDS ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT THE PRIORITY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME EITHER

2020 TOPPS UPDATE RONALD ACUÑA TURKEY RED

I BEGRUDGINGLY LOVE TURKEY RED. I BOUGHT AN ABSOLUTELY ABSURD NUMBER OF PACKS IN 2005-6 WHEN IT CAME OUT, WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THE 2007 SET AS I HAD NEVER SEEN ONE OF THE ORIGINAL BOXING CABINETS BEFORE, GOT CONCERNED WHEN IT BECAME AN INSERT SET IN 2010 AND GAVE UP ON IT COMPLETELY WHEN IT BECAME AN ONLINE FOOTBALL EXCLUSIVE. TIME HAS PASSED THOUGH AND FINDING THESE 2020 INSERTS REKINDLED MY ENJOYMENT OF THE SET. THE IMAGES JUST LOOK SO GOOD. I WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY TO FIND THE ACUÑA CARD IN THE BRAVES BOX, MARKED DOWN FROM THREE DOLLAR TO A BUCK AS WELL!

HOWEVER, THIS CARD IS GIVING ME THE WEIRDEST CASE OF PAREIDOLIA I'VE EVER HAD. EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THIS CARD I SEE DARRYL STRAWBERRY IN THE SHADOWS ON RONALD'S NECK. AND IT'S THE FIRST THING I SEE. I CAN'T NOT SEE IT NO MATTER HOW I TRY. I WENT AS FAR AS GOOGLING DARRYL STRAWBERRY SO I COULD PROVE TO MYSELF THAT ISN'T DARRYL STRAWBERRY, THAT'S A NECK BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I WAS CRACKING UP AND

IT'S DARRYL STRAWBERRY. I AM CRACKING UP. SOMEONE WITH BETTER IMAGE SEARCHING SKILLS THAN I HAVE PLEASE FIND THE ORIGINAL PHOTO THIS CARD WAS BASED ON SO I CAN FINALLY SEE A NECK 

2020 TOPPS RONALD ACUÑA 1985 TOPPS 35TH ANNIVERSARY

I LOVE FINDING CHEAP ACUÑA CARDS AND I PROBABLY COULD HAVE JUST CLEARED OUT THE BOX OF DOLLAR RONALDS BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN THAT BRAVES BOX. I COULDN'T PASS UP ON THE 1985 TOPPS  35TH ANNIVERSARY CARD, IT LOOKS TOO DAMN GOOD. THIS SERIES OF INSERTS IS A BIT FRUSTRATING AND I'M CERTAIN TOPPS WILL RESET BACK TO 1987 TOPPS AGAIN BEFORE TOO LONG BUT THE INDIVIDUAL CARDS LOOK GREAT

2019 TOPPS CHROME UPDATE HANK AARON 150 YEARS OF BASEBALL

NOW YOU KNOW WHY I DIDN'T JUST WIPE OUT THE ACUÑAS. CHEAP HANKS ARE EVEN BETTER. I COVETED THIS 150 YEARS OF BASEBALL INSERT FROM THE BASE TOPPS SET AND CHECKED A WHOLE BUNCH OF TARGET BLISTER PACKS LOOKING FOR IT WITH NO SUCCESS. THE CHROME UPDATE VERSION IS EVEN BETTER THOUGH, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S A SHINY REFRACTOR. I LATER LEARNED THAT THE ENTIRE INSERT SET FROM CHROME UPDATE ARE ALL REFRACTORS BUT THAT DOESN'T BOTHER ME ANY. ALL CHROME/PRIZM/OPTIC/FAKE PLASTICKY METAL CARDS SHOULD BE REFRACTORS. THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, USE IT!

2020 TOPPS CHROME UPDATE HANK AARON A NUMBERS GAME

ANOTHER CHROME UPDATE INSERT AARON CARD FROM THE FOLLOWING YEAR. CHROME CARDS HAVE NOT BEEN ON MY RADAR SINCE THE EARLY 00S AND CHROME UPDATE EVEN LESS SO. AND I'M CERTAIN THAT IF I HAD SOMEHOW BOUGHT A BOX OF THE STUFF IN 2020 FOR FORTY, FIFTY, A HUNDRED BUCKS OR WHATEVER THE STUFF COST, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT HAVE PULLED THE AARON. THIS CARD LOOKS SO FANTASTIC IN PERSON TOO, THE SHINY REALLY MAKES THE BLUE AND RED POP. I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT THE TWO AARON CARDS HAVE THE CLASSIC MILWAUKEE UNIFORM AND THE 1974 ATLANTA UNIFORM ON THEM. THAT KIND OF VARIETY IS NICE ON NEWER LEGENDS CARDS

2018 TOPPS HERITAGE LUCAS SIMS/OZZIE ALBIES ROOKIE STARS

SINCE MY ACQUISITION OF NEW STUFF STARTED TO TAKE A NOSEDIVE A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE PLAYERS I FEEL I'VE REALLY NEGLECTED IN MY COLLECTION IS OZZIE ALBIES. ALL-STAR SECOND BASEMEN DON'T GROW ON TREES, ESPECIALLY ONES AS FUN AS OZZIE. THIS ONE IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT MY EYE AS IT'S A ROOKIE CARD THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT RC LOGO PLASTERED ON IT. IT LOOKS JUST LIKE AN ORIGINAL 1969 ROOKIE STARS CARD! EXCEPT FOR THE TRADEMARK SYMBOLS AND LEGALESE AND WIDER BORDER AND SLIGHTLY WONKY FONTS. THAT PURPLE IN THE TEAM NAME CIRCLE IS SPOT ON. OZZIE'S ROOKIE PARTNER LUCAS SIMS ALSO GOT THE BRAVES ADAM DUVALL WHO PAYED BIG DIVIDENDS. LUCAS IS STILL PITCHING IN THE REDS' BULLPEN AT LEAST AS OF THIS WRITING

2021-22 DONRUSS TRAE YOUNG

I CAN'T BUY AN ACUÑA CARD AND NOT PICK UP A TRAE AS WELL, BUT THE BASEBALL BOXES VASTLY OUTNUMBERED THE BASKETBALL ONES. NEW HOOPS CARDS ARE A LITTLE MORE SPENDY TOO, BUT I DID MANAGE TO SNAG THIS DONRUSS BASE CARD OUT OF A DIFFERENT DOLLAR BOX. AT THE FRONT OF THE STORE THERE'S AN OLD CARDBOARD PACK DISPLAY BOX THAT WAS FILLED WITH TONS OF RANDOM JUNK AND TRAE WAS HIDING AMONGST THE ODDBALLS. I FOUND SOME OTHER COOL STUFF IN THERE LIKE A RANDOM VINTAGE KELLOGG'S CARD BUT AS I HAD NO JUICE IN MY PHONE I COULD NOT CHECK MY WANTLISTS. THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE PHOTO ON THIS CARD BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY THE SUBJECT ON A FUTURE COMC BINGE POST SO YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT 

1991-92 FRONT ROW UPDATE DIKEMBE MUTOMBO CHARTER MEMBER SILVER FOIL

THIS WAS THE LAST DOLLAR CARD I PICKED UP AND I HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. BACK IN THE CORNER OF THE SHOP WAS A TABLE FULL OF BINDERS FILLED WITH JUNKWAX SETS AND THERE WAS A DOLLAR BOX OF OLD 90S BASKETBALL CARDS. I FOUND A 1994 FLAIR GRANT HILL ROOKIE THAT TEMPTED ME BADLY BUT CHOSE THIS DIKEMBE MUTOMBO DRAFT PICK CARD INSTEAD. I REALLY LIKE GRANT HILL BUT I LOVE DEKE AND WHILE THERE ARE A TON OF FLAIR CARDS OUT THERE THIS ONE IS SORT OF AN ODDBALL. AND YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE ODDBALLS. THIS ONE IS EXTRA ODDBALLY AS IT IS NOT EVEN FROM A THE DRAFT PICK SET, IT IS AN UPDATE TO THE DRAFT PICK SET. I'D SAY FRONT ROW WAS DOUBLE DIPPING DIKEMBE BUT IT'S MORE LIKE THEY WERE QUADRUPLE DIPPING AS THERE WERE MUTOMBO CARDS IN THE FRONT ROW PREMIER SET, HE WAS IN A TOP TEN DRAFT PICKS SET AND ALSO HAD HIS OWN SEVEN CARD CARD SET BEFORE THIS ONE. AND THAT'S NOT EVEN COUNTING ALL THE PROMOS AND PARALLELS. SPEAKING OF PARALLELS, THIS ONE'S GOT FOIL! BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE:

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE POINT WHERE TRADING CARDS OFFICIALLY STOPPED BEING FUN LITTLE BITE SIZED RECORDS OF YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER AND THE ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY FOR 'ADDED VALUE' STARTED TAKING OVER HERE'S A NICE LITTLE DATA POINT FOR YOU. IF FOIL IS GOOD ON THE FRONT, IT'LL BE GREAT ON THE BACK! STAMPED RIGHT ON TOP OF THE STATS. I LOVE THE WILD WEST OF JUNK WAX SO MUCH, NO ONE KNEW WHAT THE HELL THEY WERE DOING AND WERE WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING TO SELL MORE CARDS. THIS TICKLED ME SO MUCH I HAD TO PUT POOR GRANT BACK IN THE BOX. HOPEFULLY HE'LL STILL BE THERE ON MY NEXT TRIP

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 49: SHINY AL

I WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING COOL TO MY AL HORFORD COLLECTION AND WHEN FACED WITH A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SUPER CHEAP CARDS I HAD TO MAKE THE FINAL CHOICE THE ONLY WAY I POSSIBLY COULD: CHOOSE THE CARD SO SHINY IT MADE MY EYES BLEED ATLANTA HAWKS COLORS

2013-14 PANINI CRUSADE AL HORFORD CRUSADE RED

CRUSADE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PANINI JAMS AND SHINYPRISMFRACTOR CRUSADE CARDS ARE GREAT AND SHINYPRISMFRACTOR CARDS IN TEAM COLORS IS THE BEST. BATTLING GRIFFONS AND FLEUR-DE-LIS IS A GREAT DESIGN FOR A TRADING CARD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE, IT'S JUST SO GORGEOUS. I CAN'T EVEN STOP LOOKING AT IT LONG ENOUGH TO TYPE. GO AHEAD! STOP LOOKING AT IT! I DARE YOU! IT LOOKS EVEN BETTER IN PERSON TOO. HONESTLY THIS LOOKS AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL DONRUSS CRUSADE INSERTS

THE BACK'S BORING BUT IT'S GOT THE CARTOON BIRD LOGO PLASTERED ON IT SO I'M OK WITH IT. WE GOT A SERIAL NUMBER BLENDING INTO THE DARKNESS, THIS ONE HAS 349 COPIES. DOES ANYONE CARE ABOUT SERIAL NUMBERS THAT AREN'T A SINGLE DIGIT ANYMORE? THIS COST LESS THAN A BUCK AND I SEE STUFF NUMBERED TO 100 IN QUARTER BOXES ALL THE TIME. BETWEEN THIS CARD AND A REALLY NICE LOOKING MATT RYAN I PICKED UP LAST YEAR I KINDA WANT TO START UP A LITTLE COLLECTION OF THESE THINGS TO GO ALONG WITH MY THOUSAND OTHER LITTLE COLLECTIONS. THERE'S A BUNCH OF SUPER CHEAP PRIZMS ON COMC AND IT AIN'T EVEN SALE SEASON SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON BLACK FRIDAY THIS YEAR

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 48: UNEXPECTED MINIS

AS I TYPE THIS, ARSENAL IS TOP OF THE LEAGUE. THEY ARE ALSO UTTERLY FUCKED AND ARE GOING TO GOING TO BE IN SECOND PLACE BY THE TIME THIS POST GOES UP. BUT RIGHT NOW, FIRST PLACE, BAYBEE! WHILE SCROUNGING AROUND FOR OLD ENGLISH FOOTBALL CARDS I STUMBLED ACROSS A SET THAT WAS REALLY FAMILIAR BUT HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE. I ALSO MANAGED TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE ADDITION TO MY VINTAGE ARSENAL COLLECTION! AND ASTON VILLA. AND TEAM WALES

1981-82 TOPPS ENGLISH LEAGUE FOOTBALL PAUL DAVIS, PETER NICHOLAS, PETER WITHE

 SO THIS LOOKS KINDA FAMILIAR IF YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG. TOPPS TOOK THE THREE MINI PANEL IDEA THEY USED IN 1980-81 BASKETBALL AND USED IT IN THEIR ENGISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE SET. AND THEY DID IT TWICE! THEY DID IT IN 1980-81 WITH A SET WITH PINK-BACKED PANELS AND THEN AGAIN IN 1981-82 WITH THESE BLUE-BACKED CARDS. BEFORE YOU START TO THINK THESE CARDS WERE MORE OF A SUCCESS ACROSS THE POND, THIS 81-82 SET ENDED UP BEING TOPPS' LAST ENGLISH LEAGUE SET AND MAYBE THE LAST MAINSTREAM CARD SET FOR ENGLISH FOOTBALL UNTIL PRO SET IN 1990. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL PANINI AND MERLIN STICKERS RULED THE ROOST ALL THROUGH THE 80S. UNLIKE THE BASKETBALL SET THE SOCCER VERSION DID NOT HAVE TWO DIFFERENT VARIATIONS FOR EACH PANEL TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF CARDS NEEDED FOR A MASTER SET. JUST 66 PANELS FOR THE 198 MINI CARDS IN 80-81. THE BLUE SET HAS A 187 MINIS ON 65 PANELS SOMEHOW SO 8 MINI CARDS ARE TO BE DOUBLE PRINTED INCUDING ARSENAL'S PAT JENNINGS. THIS MEANS NOTHING TO ME UNLESS I DECIDE TO LOSE MY MIND AND START BUILDING TEAM SETS FOR THESE THINGS BUT I'M GOING TO WORK ON JUST GETTING A TYPE CARD OF THESE SETS FOR THE TIME BEING

SO WHO ARE THESE GUYS ANYWAY. I DUNNO, LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER. PETER WITHE WAS A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL STRIKER WHO SCORED A BUNCH OF GOALS IN THE 70S AND 80S, WON A COUPLE ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SCORED THE ONLY GOAL IN THE EUROPEAN CUP FINAL AGAINST BAYERN MUNICH IN 1982. HE ALSO PLAYED A SEASON WITH THE NASL PORTLAND TIMBERS WHICH IS PRETTY COOL. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND PETER NICHOLAS WAS ALSO AN ARSENAL PLAYER WHEN HE WASN'T MOONLIGHTING WITH THE WELSH NATIONAL TEAM. HE PLAYED FOR A LONG TIME AND HAD HIS BEST SUCCESS WITH CRYSTAL PALACE. PETER LATER BECAME A MANAGER AND WON THE WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE WITH LLANELLI IN 2008. PAUL DAVIS WAS THE REASON I BOUGHT THE CARD, MAINLY BECAUSE HIS PANEL SAID ARSENAL ON IT. THIS TURNS OUT TO BE PAUL'S ROOKIE CARD, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. DAVIS PLAYED A TON OF GAMES FOR ARSENAL FROM 1980-1995 AND WON A COUPLE OF LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND A FEW CUPS WHILE ON THE TEAM. HE'S ONE OF THE FEW ARSENAL PLAYERS FROM LAST CENTURY WHOSE NAME I RECOGNIZED WHILE SCROUNGING THROUGH THE SOCCER LISTINGS AND THAT COMBINED WITH THIS NEAT LOOKING VERSION OF THE PANEL CARDS I LIKE SO MUCH MADE THIS AN EASY PICKUP. NOW I JUST NEED TO RESIST THE URGE TO BUY A SET OF THE STUFF. TWO SETS, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW I'LL NEED AN EXTRA ONE TO RIP INTO MINIS

BOUGHT ANOTHER PACK OF CHRONICLES AT TARGET LIKE A DUMBASS - PART 3

IT'S THE CHRONICLES PACK GRAND FINALE! NO GENERIC PANINI ANGLES. ALL SHINIES! 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?

HERE WE GO, STARTING OFF HOT

CERTIFIED JULIO RODRIGUEZ RC

1) AWW YEAH SUPER SHINY CERTIFIED

2) THIS IS BASICALLY THE 2022 FOOTBALL CERTIFIED DESIGN AND IS WAY BUSIER THAN THE ORIGINAL EARLY 00S LEAF CERTIFIED SETS AND THOSE WERE NOT KNOWN FOR THEIR SUBTLETY

3) THERE'S NO WAY I CAN BE OBJECTIVE WHEN I'M BEING DAZZLED BY A HOLOFOIL J-ROD ROOKIE CARD, ASK ME AGAIN WHEN I PULL, SAY, JOSH LOWE OR SOMEBODY. I'M OVER THE MOON RIGHT NOW

AWW HELL YEAH! JULIO RODRIGUEZ ROOKIE CARD! PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT BOWMAN'S BEST STUFF, THAT SET WAS MADE UP FOR A MOVIE, IT'S TOTALLY FAKE AND NOT REAL. THAT 2023 BOWMAN HERITAGE HAS POTENTIAL THOUGH. I HAVE NO DELUSIONS THAT THIS WILL EVER BE JULIO'S PREFERRED ROOKIE CARD, OR EVEN IN THE TOP 20, BUT IT'S MY JULIO ROOKIE CARD AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE IT, SUPER DINGED CORNER AND ALL

CONTENDERS OPTIC VIDAL BRUJAN PINK PULSAR PARALLEL RC

1)  CONTENDERS IS ORIGINALLY FROM PLAYOFF IN THE 90S AND STARTED UP WITH THE TICKET STUB MOTIF IN 1998. PANINI HAS ABSOLUTELY RUN WITH THIS TRADITION AND ADDED AN OPTIC VERSION

2) LIKE A LOT OF THESE SETS IT'S THE SAME DESIGN AS THE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL VERSIONS

3) THE TICKET STUB ELEMENT ON THESE CARDS ALWAYS MAKES THE DESIGNS A LITTLE AWKWARD BUT I'VE SEEN IT DONE WORSE THAN THIS

CHRONICLES CONTENDERS IS CONFUSING AS HELL EVEN FOR THIS MESSED UP SET. THERE'S A PAPER ROOKIE TICKETS VERSION THAT IS ALL ROOKIES AND A CONTENDERS OPTIC VERSION ON CHROMEY STOCK WITH A DIFFERENT CHECKLIST INCLUDING VETERANS, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN OPTIC PARALLEL TO THE ROOKIE TICKET VERSION, AND SINCE VIDAL BRUJAN IS CARD NUMBER EIGHT IN BOTH SETS (THE ONLY PLAYER WITH THE SAME NUMBER IN BOTH CARDS, OF COURSE) THE ONLY WAY I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THE HELL THIS WAS IS DUE TO THE OPTIC PARALLEL VERSION NOT HAVING THIS KIND OF PINK PULSAR PARALLEL. A HORRIBLE RUN-ON SENTENCE FOR A HORRIBLY COINFUSING SET. THIS IS A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER A GUY WHO DID NOT WIN THE SECOND BASE JOB IN SPRING TRAINING, BUT KNOWING HOW THE RAYS ORGANIZATION WORKS, HE MAY END UP BEING AN ALL-STAR BY NEXT YEAR

CRUSADE SHOHEI OHTANI

1) HELL YEAH CRUSADE, I LOVE THIS DAMN SET

2) IT LOOKS LIKE CRUSADE, I'M NOT GOOGLING THE VERSIONS FROM OTHER SPORTS TO CONFIRM ANYMORE

3) CROWNS AND FLEUR-DE-LIS AND A SHIELD WITH GRIFFINS ON IT THIS IS FANTASTIC

ALL SHOHEI OHTANI CARDS ARE GOOD SHOHEI OHTANI CARDS. THIS ONE HAS HIM PITCHING WHICH IS COOL BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO PICK UP HIS PITCHING SELF IN MY FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE. I HAVE LOW-KEY BECOME AN ICHIRO HOARDER COLLECTOR BECAUSE ICHIRO CARDS INEXPLICABLY ARE IN A BUNCH OF DIME AND QUARTER BOXES. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HOARD SOME OHTANI CARDS AS WELL BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING THEM IN DOLLAR BOXES EVEN

SPECTRA LOGAN WEBB

1) I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS. ALTHOUGH THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I ALREADY GOT ONE IN A PREVIOUS BATCH OF CHRONICLES CARDS, IT DEFINITELY DIDN'T STICK IN MY MIND

2) UGH, IT'S A HIGH END 800 BUCKS A BOX FOR 4 AUTOGRAPHS KINDA THING. OH WELL. KIND OF AN ODD CHOICE TO RIFF ON THE SPEED RACER CCG DESIGN FOR SUCH A SPENDY PRODUCT

3) THIS IS SORT OF THE OPPOSITE CASE FROM THE JULIO RODRIGUEZ CARD, I'D PROBABLY LIKE IT BETTER IF SOMEONE OTHER THAN LOGAN WEBB WAS ON IT. IT'S A NICE THICK CHROMEY CARD THOUGH AND I THINK IT MIGHT LOOK EVEN BETTER WITH A RED OR BLUE BACKGROUND INSTEAD OF THE ORANGE. SOMEONE SEND ME THE ACUÑA CARD SO I CAN DEFINITIVELY DETERMINE THIS FOR SCIENCE

NOTHING AGAINST LOGAN WEBB, HE'S A PRETTY GOOD PITCHER (ALTHOUGH HAVING A ROUGH TIME OF IT EARLY IN THE SEASON) AND SINCE THIS SUBSET IS ONE OF THE BLOATED 100-CARD ONES I COULD HAVE DONE WORSE. LIKE CHRONICLES THERE IS SOME FUCKERY AFOOT AND THERE ARE REALLY 162 CARDS IN THE SPECTRA SUBSET WITH 62 ROOKIE RELIC AUTOGRAPH CARDS TACKED ONTO IT. SO NO COLLECITNG THIS SET FOR ME, ALTHOUGH I DO ADMIT I COVET THE SPENCER STRIDER SHINY AUTOJERSEY

REVOLUTION WILLSON CONTRERAS

1) YEAAAAH PACIFIC CARD DESIGNS SNEAK IN WITH THE LAST CARD IN THE PACK

2) IT'S SHINY AND FOILY AND WAVY JUST LIKE EVERY AWESOME REVOLUTION CARD

3) THESE CARDS MAKE ME HAPPY, FINISHING OFF THE PACK ON A HIGH NOTE

THE REVOLUTION SUBSET IS THE OTHER 100-CARD BEHEMOTH IN THE PRODUCT ALTHOUGH THERE'S THANKFULLY NO GIMMICKS TO MAKE IT EVEN BIGGER UNLIKE CONTENDERS. I CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING SOME BIGGER SUBSETS THOUGH AS IT'S A CHANCE TO SNEAK IN SOME PLAYERS OTHER THAN THE TOP 20 VETS AND TOP 30 ROOKIES THAT ARE SEEMINGLY IN EVERY SUBSET. WILLSON IS ONLY IN THIS AND SPECTRA SO MANAGING TO GET EVEN ONE OF THEM IS A MINOR MIRACLE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WANTED A TEAM SET FROM THIS PRODUCT. REVOLUTION HAS CHARLIE MORTON'S ONLY CARD AND ONE OF THREE AUSTIN RILEY CARDS IN CHRONICLES. MEANWHILE RONALD ACUÑA HAS A COUPLE DOZEN CARDS AND SOME PLAYERS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE IN RELIC OR AUTOGRAPH FORM. I'M HAVING A GOOD ENOUGH TIME PICKING UP A PACK HERE AND THERE AND SCROUNGING THRU BARGAIN BINS THANKFULLY. 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST MY OFFICIAL SUBSET DESIGN RANKINGS FOR 2022 CHRONICLES:

MEH TIER: LUMINENCE, ROOKIES & STARS, THREADS

WTF TIER: VERTEX

OK TIER: CHRONICLES BASE, CLEARLY DONRUSS, CONTENDERS OPTIC, SPECTRA

ALLL RIIIIGHT TIER: CERTIFIED, CLASSICS, PINNACLE

FUCK YEAH TIER: CRUSADE, REVOLUTION, ZENITH

IF YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO SEE MORE CHRONICLES ON THIS BLOG YOU BETTER YELL AT ME IN THE COMMENTS BECAUSE I ALREADY BOUGHT TWO MORE PACKS

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 47: TEAM SET GET

I SNAGGED A CARD FOR THE VINTAGE BRAVES TEAM SET, SO IT'S TIME TO GET ONE FOR THE VINTAGE HAWKS TEAM SET. AND A BONUS MISCUT CARD AS WELL! ONE THAT FINISHES A TEAM SET, HUZZAH!

1975-76 TOPPS DWIGHT JONES

1975-76 TOPPS BASKETBALL IS SUPER COOL FOR TWO REASONS: IT'S THE LAST SET WITH ABA PLAYERS. IT ALSO WAS THE BIGGEST MAINSTREAM BASKETBALL SET AT 330 CARDS UNTIL 1989-90 HOOPS TOPPED IT WITH 353. A BIG SET MEANS TEAMS CAN NOT ONLY GET CARDS FOR THEIR ENTIRE STARTING LINEUP BUT ALSO HAVE A FEW BENCH PLAYERS IN THERE. ADD TEAM CARDS AND LEAGUE LEADERS AND YOU GET A NICELY SIZED TEAM SET! DWIGHT HERE WAS THE LAST CARD NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE HAWKS SET AND I SNAPPED UP THIS WONDERFULLY MISCUT CARD THE MOMENT I SAW IT. IT'S WILD HOW MISCUTS HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM BEING THE CARD YOU USED ON YOUR BIKE SPOKES OR JUST PLAIN TRASHED TO BEING HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AMONG THE COLLECTOR SICKOS CROWD. THESE USED TO BE WORTHLESS AND NOW THEY'RE GETTING SNAPPED UP AT A PREMIUM LEFT AND RIGHT!

DWIGHT WAS THE FIRST ROUND PICK FOR THE HAWKS IN 1973 AND HAD A PRETTY DANG GOOD CAREER. HE WAS ONE OF ONLY THREE PLAYERS FROM THAT DRAFT TO PLAY TEN OR MORE YEARS IN THE NBA ALONG WITH KERMIT WASHINGTON AND CALDWELL JONES. HE WAS NOT THE BEST PLAYER PICKED BY THE HAWKS IN THAT DRAFT AS ATLANTA TOOK DAVE WINFIELD IN THE FIFTH ROUND. DWIGHT PLAYED CENTER THREE YEARS IN ATLANTA BEFORE GETTING TRADED TO HOUSTON. HE NEVER TORE UP THE LEAGUE BUT WAS A SOLID CENTER AND GOT TO PLAY IN THE NBA FINALS WITH THE LAKERS IN 1983. SINCE WE GOT THE TEAM SET COMPLETED, YOU KNOW I GOTTA SHOW IT OFF

KINDA INTERESTING HOW HALF THE TEAM GOT ACTION SHOTS WITH THE 70S BLACK VOID BACKGROUND AND THE OTHER HALF GOT MUGSHOTS WITH HARD SHADOWS IN FRONT OF A BLANK WALL. THE TEAM SET HAS CARDS FOR TEN PLAYERS AND THE TEAM PHOTO SHOWS ELEVEN. OF COURSE THIS MADE ME WONDER WHO IN THE TEAM PHOTO DIDN'T GET A CARD. SO I CHECKED BASKETBALL-REFERENCE AND THEY  LIST THIRTEEN PLAYERS FOR 1974-75! MORE MYSTERY! TURNS OUT THE GUY WITH NO CARD IS NUMBER 33 IN THE MIDDLE, JOHN WETZEL, WHO HAS HAWKS CARDS IN OTHER TOPPS SETS AND WAS ALREADY WITH THE SUNS BY THE TIME THIS SET CAME OUT. THE TWO COMPLETELY MISSING FROM THE TEAM PHOTO WERE CLYDE LEE, WHO GOT TRADED TO PHILLADELPHIA AND JIM WASHINGTON, WHO WAS SWAPPED TO BUFFALO. BOTH PLAYERS GOT CARDS IN 75-76 TOPPS WITH THEIR NEW TEAMS SO THERE IS COMPLETE 74-75 HAWKS CARDBOARD REPRESENTATION. THIS LEADS TO ANOTHER QUESTION: WHO'S THE GUY MAKING A CAMEO ON DWIGHT'S CARD? AFTER LOOKING UP WHAT PLAYERS THAT MADE THEIR DEBUT IN 1965 WERE STILL ACTIVE IN 1975 AND CROSS REFERENCING THAT TO THE RED AND BLUE TEAM STRIPES IN TEH CORNER I DEDUCED IT WAS CARD #9, JERRY SLOAN. BIG THANKS TO GRITZ ON TWITTER FOR HONING MY CARD DETECTORIST SKILLS WITH HIS 'WHO'S BEHIND DON MOSSI' TWEETS

HEY KIDS, COMICS: FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023

 SUNDAY BLOGS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SET ASIDE FOR POSTING RECORDS AND COMICS AND OTHER NON-CARD STUFF BUT INSTEAD I USED MY SUNDAYS FOR BEING LAZY AND NOT POSTING ANYTHING. THE DAYS OF SLOTH HAVE REJUVINATED ME AND I'M HERE ON A SUNDAY MORNING LISTENING TO A MARX BROTHERS PODCAST AND DOING SOME BLOGGERY ACTIVITY. YESTERDAY WAS FREE COMIC BOOK DAY AND I WENT WITH THE KIDS TO MOOCH SOME GOODIES AND PICKED UP A LIL SUMTHIN FOR MYSELF. I WAS TARGETING FOUR SPECIFIC COMICS AND MANAGED TO FIND THREE OF THEM. THE ONE I COULDN'T FIND WAS THE FANTAGRAPHICS FREE COMIC AND I HAVE HONESTLY NEVER EVER EVEN ONCE FOUND THAT COMIC ON FCBD SO I WASN'T TOO DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE A BUNCH OF THE ORIGINAL FABULOUS FREAK BROTHERS COMICS AND AN ANTHOLOGY SO IT'S NOT REALLY A BIG DEAL. HERE'S THE ONES I DID PICK UP

MAD BALLS VS GARBAGE PAIL KIDS  - DYNAMITE

MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS NO WAY THIS COMIC WASN'T TRASH BUT I CAN'T PASS UP ON ANYTHING WITH ADAM BOMB ON IT. AND TO BE FAIR, TRASH IS KINDA THESE CHARACTERS' RAISON D'ETRE. THIS IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY 80S MASH UP WHICH SEEMS ODD TO MARKET TO KIDS, BUT THANKS TO STUFF LIKE STRANGER THINGS AND GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY KIDS LOVE 80S KITSCH. I'M SURE A BUNCH OF OLD GEEZERS LIKE ME PICKED IT UP AS WELL. SO, IS IT ANY GOOD?

IT'S FINE. THERE'S AN ORIGIN STORY WHERE A FAMILY OF YUPPIE SCUM MOVE INTO A NEW HOUSE RIGHT BETWEEN THE MADBALL HOUSE AND THE GARBAGE PAIL KIDS HOUSE AND THE KIDS GET TO MEET ALL THE LICENSED CHARACTERS. ONCE WE'VE INTRODUCED EVERYONE WE HAVE A SECOND STORY WHERE THE GANG SHOWS OFF THEIR SCIENCE FAIR EXPERIMENTS AND SHENANIGANS ENSUE. THEN THERE'S A FEW ACTIVITY PAGES WITH A MAZE AND A WORD SCRAMBLE BEFORE WE GET TO ALL THE ADS. THE BEST BIT FOR ME WAS THE INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST AND WRITER. IT'S BASIC BUT FUN AND I CAN SEE IT CHANGING AN IMPRESSIONABLE WEIRD 8 YEAR OLD'S LIFE JUST LIKE PLOP! DID FOR ME A MILLION YEARS AGO. IT'S A TOY ADVERTISEMENT, BUT THEY'RE FUN TOYS SO WHO CARES 

TOM HOLLAND'S FRIGHT NIGHT - AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PRODUCTIONS

A COMIC BASED ON THE GREAT 80S MOVIE, THIS ONE CAUGHT MY EYE BECAUSE I HAVE READ THE ORIGINAL FRIGHT NIGHTS COMIC FROM THE 80S AND IT'S GREAT. A NICE COMBO OF COMEDY AND HORROR WITH A FUN CARTOONY STYLE. I SAW THIS ONE ON THE FREE COMIC BOOK DAY PAGE AND WAS SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE THE COVER AT LEAST REALLY CAPTURES THE VIBE OF THE ORIGINAL. SO, IS IT ANY GOOD?

MAYBE? LESS THAN HALF THE COMIC IS ACTUAL COMICS AND HALF OF THAT IS A FLASHBACK SEQUENCE DRAWN BY NEIL VOKES WHO WAS AN ARTIST ON THE ORIGINAL 80S COMIC. THE REST IS INTERVIEWS WITH THE ARTISTS, WRITER, AND DIRECTOR OF THE FILM, A PREVIEW OF TOM HOLLAND'S SPIN OFF NOVEL, ADS FOR MORE FRIGHT NIGHT COMICS AND SOME COOL SKETCH PAGES FROM VOKES. THE FLASHBACK SEQUENCE IS BASICALLY A CLIFF'S NOTES VERSION OF THE FILM AND THE NEW STORY THAT BOOKENDS IT ISN'T FLESHED OUT VERY WELL OTHER THAN THERE'S A HOT VAMPIRE CHICK WITH BATWINGS SO THERE REALLY ISN'T ENOUGH HERE TO JUDGE IT PROPERLY.  I HONESTLY PREFER THE ORIGINAL ART STYLE TO THE NEW ART STYLE BUT THAT'S PROBABLY JUST ME BEING AN OLD CURMUDGEON. THE NEW STYLE SUITS THE VAMPIRE VIBE A LITTLE BETTER THOUGH

THE EXTRA MATERIAL IS PRETTY FANTASTIC ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIKE THE FILM. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PUBLISHER AND WHEN I CHECKED THEM OUT I DISCOVERED THEY DO A BUNCH OF OTHER HORROR TITLES AND A LOT OF LICENCED STUFF LIKE EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS AND THE THREE STOOGES WHICH IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. AS A COMIC IT'S OK, BUT AS AN ADVERTISEMENT IT'S FANTASTIC WHICH IS THE WHOLE POINT OF FREE COMIC BOOK DAY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT

I'M ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE COMIC BOOK VERSION OF ONE OF PETER VINCENT'S FAKE MOVIES FROM THE FILM, ORGY OF THE DAMNED. THAT LOOKS LIKE A REAL HOOT

FRAZETTAVERSE - OPUS

FRANK FRAZETTA'S ART IS FANTASTIC AND HAS BEEN A STAPLE OF COMIC BOOKS FOR DECADES. I FOUND A COUPLE OTHER NEW COMICS WITH FRANK'S ART ON THE COVER WHILE BROWSING AROUND DR. NO'S YESTERDAY. THIS COMIC I HAD HEARD OF BEFORE, THE BASIC GIST IS THAT THEY ARE ADAPTING COMIC STORIES OUT OF CLASSIC FRAZETTA PAINTINGS. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS BUT FRAZETTA'S PICTURES ARE WORTH WHOLE-ASS COMIC SERIES. THERE WEREN'T MANY OF THESE LEFT AND I WAS LUCKY TO SNAG ONE. SO, IS IT ANY GOOD?

HELL YEAH IT'S GOOD! THERE ARE THREE STORIES IN HERE BASED ON FRAZETTA PAINTINGS. THE FIRST ONE IS BASED ON DEATH DEALER. A VIKING LOOKING DUDE ASKS A SKULL WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AND GETS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE GIGANTIC MESS THE DEATH DEALER GOT HIMSELF INTO. THERE ARE WITCHES AND A WIZARD AND A BIG-ASS DRAGON AND EVERYONE JOINS TOGETHER IN A D&D AVENGERS SETUP TO FIGHT HELL OR SOMETHING. IT LOOKS RAD AND IS AN EXCELLENT TEASER FOR THE COMICS

NEXT UP IS FRAZETTA'S INTERPRETATION OF MOTHMAN. A SPACESHIP MOTHMAN ACCIDENTALLY CRASHES RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A METH DEALER WAR. THIS PREVIEW SHOWS WAY MORE OF THE METHHEADS THAN THE MOTHMENS BUT IT REALLY DOES WHET MY APPITITE FOR MORE CRYPTIDS. OR IS IT ALIENS? THE SERIES COMES OUT IN MAY SO YOU'LL HAVE TO PICK UP AN ISSUE TO FIND OUT

LAST STORY IS BASED ON DAWN ATTACK. A MIX OF FANTASY AND SCI-FI SHENANIGANS, A VALKYRIE SPACE PRINCESS FIGHTS A GORILLA MONSTER. NOT MUCH MORE TO THIS ONE BUT IT LOOKS COOL. THIS IS EASILY THE THICKEST FREE COMIC I SAW AND THERE'S WAY MORE COMICS THAN ADS. IF YOU LIKE FRAZETTA IT'S WORTH TRACKING DOWN

I HAD A NICE FUN SUCCESSFUL FREE COMIC RUN AND ALSO PICKED UP A NICE BOOK ABOUT WC FIELDS AND RESCUED A FEW COMICS FROM THE DOLLAR BOXES. MAYBE I'LL GET AROUND TO POSTING THOSE ANOTHER DAY. YOU ALL ENJOY YOUR SUNDAY AND MAYBE READ A BOOK AND LISTEN TO RECORD AND GET SOME RELAXING IN

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 50: ANOTHER KING

NOW WE REACH THE OLDEST CARD I PICKED UP ON THE CARD BUYING BINGE. SADLY IT WASN'T A NINTEENTH CENTURY CARD THIS TIME. BUT ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, IT IS A CARD OF AN ACTUAL KING RELEASED DURING HIS REIGN. THIS IS THE ROYALTY VERSION OF FINDING A T-206 HALL OF FAMER AT LIKE ONE-ONE THOUSANDTH THE PRICE. THIS ONE IS BEING POSTED OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE TOPICAL

1908 WILLS PORTRAITS OF EUROPEAN ROYALTY H.M. KING EDWARD VII

I GOT A WHOLE-ASS KING THAT'S 115 YEARS OLD FOR SIXTY CENTS, YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT WITH A STICK. IT'S A COOL BLACK BORDERED CARD TOO, I'VE COVETED MAYO CUT PLUG CARDS FOR A LONG TIME BUT THEY ARE SUPER PRICEY. EVEN THE REPRINT SET IS KINDA OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE.  ANOTHER COOL BLACK BORDERED VINTAGE SET IS THE OGDEN'S GENERAL INTEREST SET FROM 1901. I SEE A BUNCH OF THESE IN THE GREAT PRE-WAR CARDS BLOG AND REALLY LIKE THEM AS WELL. I HAD NO IDEA THESE WILLS'S CIGARETTES CARDS EXISTED UNTIL ONE FELL THE THE BOTTOM OF THE LOWEST PRICE ALGORITHM. I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF MONARCHY, BUT I LOVE FINDING CHEAP STAR CARDS IN THE BARGAIN BINS AND THE GUY WHO GOT THE HERO NUMBER 1 IN A SET DEDICATED TO ROYALTY DEFINITELY COUNTS

JUST LIKE THE NEW CHAP, KING ALBERT EDWARD 'BERTIE' THE VIITH WAS THE OLDEST MALE CHILD OF A QUEEN WHO RULED FOR A LUDICROUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND BECAME KING WHEN HE WAS OLD AND BUSTED. BERTIE LIKED THE WOMEN AND REPORTEDLY HAD AN AFFAIR WITH CAMILLA PARKER-BOWLES' GREAT GRANDMOTHER IF WIKIPEDIA IS TO BE BELIEVED, WHICH IT SHOULDN'T. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT HE HELPED POPULARIZE THE HORRIBLE COLLARS ON DRESS SHIRTS WE HAVE TO WEAR TO WEDDINGS AND JOB INTERVIEWS WHICH MIGHT BE THE WORST THING HE DID IN HIS REIGN. THERE ARE WAY WORSE MONARCHS OUT THERE AND AND HE HAS A WHOLE ERA NAMED AFTER HIM THAT IS VERY POPULAR ON PBS SHOWS. IF I MISSED ANY HORRIBLE DREADFUL EVIL THINGS HE DID, FORGIVE ME, I WROTE THIS IN A PANIC AT THE LAST MINUTE WHILE HOPPED UP ON INSTANT COFFEE. I ASSURE YOU I AGREE WITH HOW VILE AND ROTTEN HE WAS AND THAT WHATEVER HE DID WAS VERY BAD. ANYWAY, IT'S A COOL LOOKING CARD WITH A LOVELY BEAT UP BLACK BORDER. MAY KING CHUCKLES' REIGN BE AS PEACEFUL AS BERTIE'S, ALTHOUGH JUST LOOKING AT CURRENT EVENTS WE ALL KNOW THAT AIN'T GONNA FUCKIN HAPPEN

BLACK FRIDAY COMC PICKUPS - PART 46: GOOF

WE GOT A WEIRD ONE TODAY. AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, I AM TRYING TO WORK MY WAY UP THE TCDB MARK LEMKE RANKINGS. I DIDN'T FIND A WHOLE LOT ON COMC THIS GO AROUND BECAUSE THE COMMON CARDS I CAN USUALLY FIND AT THE LCS FOR CHEAP (AND SOMETIMES HANGING OUT IN AN OLD NEGLECTED BOX OF JUNK) AND THE ACTUALLY RARE ONES CAN BE PRICEY ON COMC. I FOUND A SNEAKY GOOD ONE THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THOUGH! CHECK THIS ODDBALL OUT

1995 DONRUSS MARK LEMKE

1995 IS A GREAT YEAR FOR BASEBALL CARDS, DESPITE THE STRIKE CAUSING MANUFACTURERS TO CUT WAAAAY BACK ON SETS EARLY IN THE YEAR. THE TOPPS DESIGN MAY NOT HAVE A LOT OF FANS AND THE FLEER DESIGN(S) HAVE BECOME A MEME, BUT THERE ARE A TON OF GREAT LOOKING SETS FROM THAT YEAR. UPPER DECK AND COLLECTOR'S CHOICE HAVE CLEAN LOOKING SETS. STADIUM CLUB AND ULTRA ARE VERY ELEGANT. LEAF, UPPER DECK SP AND PINNACLE GO HARD WITH THE FOIL STAMPING. FLAIR AND SELECT ARE TWO OF THE BEST LOOKING HORIZONTAL SETS EVER MADE. BOWMAN'S BEST, LEAF LIMITED, SKYBOX E-MOTION AND ZENITH ARE AMAZING EARLY HIGH-END SETS. MY PICK FOR THE BEST SET IS DONRUSS

THE DESIGN IS FANTASTIC, A FULL BLEED CARD WITH A SECOND IMAGE INSERTED INSIDE A HOME PLATE FRAME. THE BACK HAS ANOTHER LARGE PHOTO WITH A LOGO BACKGROUND. THERE'S A PILE OF COOL INSERTS THAT MOSTLY AREN'T IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS ALTHOUGH I ADMIT THE LACK OF FULL CAREER STATS WILL ANNOY PEOPLE AND THE NAME AND TEAM ON FOIL STAMPING IS A LITTLE HARD TO READ. THE FOIL STAMPING IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS ONE ACTUALLY, LET'S LOOK AT THE BACK

SEE THAT LITTLE BANNER AT THE TOP? 1ST 2,000 PRINTED? THAT'S SUPPOSED TO ONLY BE ON PRESS PROOF CARDS. BUT PRESS PROOFS HAVE GOLD FOIL ON THE FRONT AND A GIGANTIC PRESS PROOF STAMPED ON THE TOP. SO ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPENED HERE: DONRUSS FORGOT TO PUT THE FOIL STAMPING ON SOME PRESS PROOF CARDS OR THEY ACCIDENTALLY PRINTED UP A BUNCH OF EXTRA CARDS WITH THE WRONG BACK. THE PRESS PROOF CARDS AREN'T SERIAL NUMBERED* SO IT'S NOT REALLY POSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH HAPPENED HERE. I SPOTTED THIS IMMEDIATELY WHILE SCROLLING THROUGH THE LEMKE LISTINGS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY PULLED A FEW OF THESE CARDS FROM PACKS BACK IN 1995. I'D SHOW THEM OFF, BUT MY BOX OF DONRUSS/LEAF INSERTS HAS DECIDED TO HIDE FROM ME AND WILL LIKELY SHOW UP A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THIS POSTS. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW RARE THESE THINGS ARE BUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THEM AND I'VE SEEN THEM FOR SALE HERE AND THERE BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY SOLID INFORMATION ON WHICH CARDS HAVE THIS VARIATION. THE IRONY IS THAT I BOUGHT A NEW LEMKE CARD TO UP MY COUNT IN TCDB, BUT THE VARIATION IS NOT ACTUALLY LISTED ON THE SITE. IT'S STILL A COOL LEMMER CARD SO NO RAGRETS

*ALTHOUGH SERIAL NUMBERS DON'T COMPLETELY PREVENT SHENANIGANS, IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO CATCH THAN THE ALTERNATIVE

MINOR LEAGUE PACK FROM TEH ANTIQUE MALL

HERE'S THAT FAT PACK OF 1994 CLASSIC MINOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR EDITION THAT I PICKED UP AT THE ANTIQUE MALL RUN I POSTED ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. I FORGOT HOW MUCH I LIKED THIS SET DUE TO INCLUDING THE MINOR LEAGUE LOGOS ON THE CARDS. I PICKED UP A FEW PACKS BACK IN THE DAY AND HAVE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE SET. IT'S HONESTLY A PRETTY NICE LITTLE SET FOR 1994. NICE DOESN'T CUT THE MUSTARD THOUGH, DID I GET BEEG MOJO HEETZ??? OR AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED IN THE MAJORS

WHOIZZIT? JOHN BURKE - COLORADO SPRINGS SKY SOX

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! 28 GAMES FOR THE ROCKIES

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 1 FOR 1 IN THE PACK

BURKE WAS THE ROCKIES' FIRST EVER DRAFT PICK AFTER PREVIOUSLY BEING SELECTED BY THE ORIOLES OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE ASTROS AS THE NUMBER SIX OVERALL PICK IN 1991. REALLY NICE START TO THE PACK WITH A HISTORICAL PLAYER WHO MADE THE BIGS

WHOIZZIT? CURTIS GOODWIN - BOWIE BAYSOX

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! FIVE SEASONS IN THE BIGS

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 2 FOR 2!

A TWELFTH ROUND PICK FOR THE ORIOLES IN 1991, HE MADE HIS DEBUT FOR THE O'S IN 1995. HE BOUNCED AROUND TO THE REDS, ROCKIES AND CUBS BEFORE FINISHING UP WITH THE BLUE JAYS IN 1999. FIVE YEARS IN THE BIGS IS SOLID

WHOIZZIT? JIMMY HAYNES - BOWIE BAYSOX

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! TEN YEARS IN THE BIGS!

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 3 FOR 3!

A SEVENTH ROUND PICK FOR THE O'S IN 1991, JIMMY PITCHED A COUPLE YEARS IN BALTIMORE BEFORE GETTING TRADED TO OAKLAND FOR GERONIMO BERROA. HE STARTED GAMES FOR THE A'S AND BREWERS BEFORE SIGNING WITH THE REDS IN 2002 AND PUTTING UP A 15 WIN SEASON. IF WIKIPEDIA IS TO BE TRUSTED, JIMMY HAS THE RECORD FOR ALL-TIME WORST ERA AMONG PITCHERS WITH OVER 1000 INNING PITCHED. YOU GOTTA HAVE TALENT TO DO THAT

WHOIZZIT? TERRELL LOWERY - TULSA DRILLERS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! FOUR SEASONS

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 4 FOR 4!

TERRELL PLAYED BASKETBALL AT LOYOLA-MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY WITH HANK GATHERS AND BO KIMBLE AND WENT TO THE ELITE EIGHT IN 1990. HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE RANGERS IN 1991 BUT WAS EVENTUALLY TAKEN BY THE CUBS IN THE RULE 5 DRAFT. AFTER TWO YEARS WITH THE CUBS, LOWERY PLAYED A SEASON IN TAMPA AND ANOTHER IN SAN FRANCISCO

WHOIZZIT? MIKE BELL - CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! 19 GAMES FOR THE REDS

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? YES, ALTHOUGH MY COPY IS BEAT UP

MIKE IS THE BROTHER OF DAVID BELL AND THE SON OF BUDDY BELL. HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE RANGERS IN 1993, WAS LATER A DIAMONDBACKS EXPANSION DRAFT PICK AND EVENTUALLY SIGNED WITH THE REDS AS A FREE AGENT. MIKE WENT ON TO HAVE A LONG COACHING CAREER AND WAS THE TWINS' BENCH COACH IN 2020. HE SADLY PASSED FROM CANCER IN 2021

WHOIZZIT? SHAWN GREEN CREAM OF THE CROP INSERT

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YUP! WAS PRETTY GOOD

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? MAYBE? I KNOW I'VE SEEN THIS CARD BEFORE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY MINOR LEAGUE INSERTS ARE AT THE MOMENT. LET'S JUST SAY WE'RE AT 5 FOR 6 NOW

FIRST CARD IN THE PACK WITH MVP AND HALL OF FAME VOTES. SHAWN WAS A FIRST ROUND PICK OF THE BLUE JAYS IN 1991 AND MADE HIS DEBUT FOR TORONTO IN 1993. HE WAS A ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CONTENDER IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON IN 1995 AND AN ALL STAR, GOLD GLOVE WINNER AND SILVER SLUGGER IN 1999. TORONTO SWAPPED HIM TO THE DODGERS FOR RAUL MONDESI AND SHAWN PLAYED FIVE SOLID YEARS IN LA BEFORE FINISHING UP WITH THE DIAMONDBACKS AND METS. SHAWN ENDED UP WITH 328 HOMERS, OVER 1000 RBI AND 2000 HITS IN HIS CAREER, NOT TOO SHABBY

WHOIZZIT? KERWIN MOORE - HUNTSVILLE STARS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! 22 GAMES FOR OAKLAND

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 6 FOR 7!

KERWIN WAS DRAFTED BY THE ROYALS IN 1988 AND ALREADY HAD A BUNCH OF CARDS BY THE TIME THIS ONE CAME OUT, BUT HE MADE THE SHOW AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS

WHOIZZIT? GLENN MURRAY - PAWTUCKET RED SOX

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! 38 GAMES FOR PHILLY!

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 7 FOR 8!

GLENN WAS A SECOND ROUND PICK OF THE EXPOS IN 1989, GOT TRADED TO THE RED SOX AND THEN AGAIN TO THE PHILLIES. I'M SO USED TO BOWMAN SETS WHERE 80% OF THE PLAYERS TOP OUT AT DOUBLE-A, I'M FRANKLY SHOCKED EVERYONE IN THIS PACK SO FAR HAS REACHED THE BIGS

WHOIZZIT? JOE RANDA - OMAHA ROYALS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! TWELVE YEAR CAREER FOR JOE

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NO! 8 FOR 9! BEATING THE ODDS!

JOE WAS DRAFTED BY THE ROYALS IN THE 11TH ROUND IN 1991 FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. RANDA MADE HIS DEBUT FOR THE ROYALS IN 1995 AND WAS THEN SHIPPED TO THE PIRATES, TAKEN BY THE DIAMONDBACKS IN THE EXPANSION DRAFT, SWAPPED TO THE TIGERS, THEN THE METS AND FINALLY BACK TO THE ROYALS, WHERE HE MANNED THRID BASE FOR SIX SEASONS. I LOVE TO SEE MINOR LEAGUE CARDS FOR GUYS WHO PLAY OVER TEN YEARS IN THE MAJORS

WHOIZZIT? YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YEP, I THINK HE DID

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? NOPE!!! 9 FOR 10!

I DID IT! I GOT THE BEEG MOJO HEETZ!!! THE GUY ON THE WRAPPER! I TOLD YA, ALWAYS BUY THE FAT PACK. ALEX PLAYED 22 SEASONS AND HIT 696 HOMERS AND WON THREE MVPS AND A WORLD SERIES AND ALL KINDSA OTHER AWARDS AND EVERYBODY HATES HIM AND HE WILL NEVER BE ELECTED TO THE HALL OF FAME BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER EVER HAVE NICE THINGS ON THIS BITCH OF AN EARTH. OH WELL, I'M SUPER HAPPY WITH THIS PACK AT ANY RATE

WHOIZZIT? CLEVELAND LADELL - CHATANOOGA LOOKOUTS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? NO. TOPPED OUT AT TRIPLE-A INDIANAPOLIS IN 1996

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? YES. 9 FOR 11

SO THIS PACK WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE 10 CARDS IN IT SO I AIN'T EVEN MAD ABOUT GETTING A DOUBLE HERE. CLEVELAND WAS DRAFTED IN THE 49TH ROUND BY THE ASTROS IN 1990 AND I'M PRETTY SURE THERE AIN'T THAT MANY ROUNDS ANYMORE. CINCINNATTI LATER PICKED HIM IN THE FOURTEENTH ROUND IN 1992. LADELL ALSO GOT INTO THE 1994 BOWMAN SET SO HE DOES HAVE AN OFFICIAL ROOKIE CARD. I LIKE THIS ONE WITH THE CHATTANOOGA GOOGLEY EYES LOGO BETTER

WHOIZZIT? RYAN MCGUIRE - LYNCHBURG RED SOX

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! SIX YEARS, MOSTLY WITH THE EXPOS

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? YES. 9 FOR 12

RYAN WAS A THIRD ROUND PICK BY THE SOX OUT OF UCLA IN 1993 AND WAS TRADED TO THE EXPOS IN 1996 FOR WIL CORDERO. MCGUIRE SPENT THREE YEARS WITH THE 'SPOS BEFORE FINISHING UP WITH THE METS, MARLINS AND ORIOLES

WHOIZZIT? LUIS ORTIZ - PAWTUCKET RED SOX

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! FOUR SEASONS

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? YES, TWO OF THEM ACTUALLY

LUIS WAS DRAFTED BY THE SOX IN THE 8TH ROUND IN 1991 AND MADE HIS DEBUT FOR THEM IN 1993. HE PLAYED 16 GAMES FOR THE SOX BEFORE BEING TRADED TO THE RANGERS IN THE JOSE CANSECO DEAL. HIS LAST GAME IN THE BIGS WAS IN 1996 BUT ORTIZ PLAYED IN THE MINORS, MEXICO AND JAPAN UNTIL 2004. HE LATER WENT IN TO COACHING AND IS NOW THE RED SOX ASSISTANT HITTING COACH AND INTERPRETER

WHOIZZIT? ARQUIMEDEZ POZO - JACKSONVILLE SUNS

DID HE PLAY IN THE BIGS? YES! 26 GAMES

DO I HAVE THE CARD ALREADY? YEP, I RECOGNIZED THIS ONE IMMEDIATELY. FINAL COUNT: 9 FOR 14

POZO IS THE ONLY GUY IN THE PACK WHO WASN'T DRAFTED AND WAS SIGNED BY THE MARINERS OUT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN 1990. HE HAD ONE AT BAT WITH SEATTLE IN A CUP OF COFFEE IN 1995 BEFORE BEING TRADED TO BOSTON. ARQUIMEDEZ FINISHED HIS CAREER PLAYING IN JAPAN, MEXICO AND KOREA

THAT WAS A HELLUVA PACK ALTHOUGH KARMA CAUGHT UP WITH ME AS ALL THE EXTRA CARDS IN THE PACK WERE DOUBLES. THAT WAS A FUN RIP FOR TWO BUCKS ALTHOUGH I PROBABLY WON'T GET ANY MORE AT THAT PRICE AS I STILL NEED ABOUT 125 CARDS TO COMPLETE THE SET. PRETTY SURE I CAN FIND A COMPLETE SET FOR LESS THAN THE THIRTY BUCKS IN PACKS I'D NEED TO EVEN START TO COME CLOSE TO FINISHING IT. I REALLY LIKE HOW THE FRONTS SHOW BOTH THE MINOR LEAGUE AND THE MAJOR LEAGUE CLUB LOGOS. THE BACKS ARE PRETTY NICE TOO WITH A SECOND DIFFERENT PHOTO AND SOME DECENT STATS. ALL IN ALL A NICE TRIP TO THE TRASH MUSEUM FOR ME!