Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Repack Haiku #398 (John Ericks)

Injuries cost him
A chance to earn big money
Led him to Wal-Mart
 
1991 Upper Deck #57 John Ericks (TP)

Ericks's story is of the more unfortunate ones in baseball. After establishing himself as a key bullpen member with the Pirates, his agent was close to what would have been a multi-million dollar contract. Unfortunately, Ericks got hurt before it happened, and never played again. He ended up working three jobs to make ends meet, with a minimum wage job at Wal-Mart being his main source of income.

Monday, February 17, 2025

Time Travel Trading Update #98


Hard to believe it has been 7 years. I started this idea with a single pack of 2018 Topps, and from there it has grown and grown. Over 300 trades and thousands of cards later, it's still going strong! Every year I've done this, I've added a pack from the latest Topps base set. I'm happy to say that this year I continue the the tradition with some cards from the new 2025 Topps base set:
 

I'm hoping to have a post with my initial impressions of the set soon, but for now I'll say it's a solid looking set. I'll also add that I'm not entirely sure which of the multitude of parallels the Jacob Wilson card is, but I'm fairly confident it comes from the Diamante Foil parallels.

Today's post isn't special just because the new cards, but I also have a lot of great trades that have added some amazing cards to the trade stack. I'm going to kick things off with a personal swap I did. I had a TCDB proposal come through where the other collector requested some 80's cards from the stack. To get the trade done I swapped them out for a couple of 1980 Topps cards:


The first "real" trade from this post comes from Bo (Baseball Cards Come To Life!)
 


Food Issues/Oddball cards do fairly well here, so I'm hoping these Drake's cards will be a hot commodity!

I'm super excited to show off this next one. A TCDB member named Jay sent a proposal where he would get some vintage cards, and originally offered to send close to 30 newer cards from my personal want list! It was tempting, but I ultimately decided to stick with the Time Travel Trading parameters and request older cards in return. I'm glad I did, because now I can add these beauties to the stack!
 

Up until this trade, I have never held a 1951 Topps Red Backs card before, let alone own one. They're not in the best shape, but they are still awesome. As it turns out, Jay was one of the very first Time Travel Traders, claiming a card from that original 2018 pack! Our second trade was every bit as great as the first!

Tom (The Angels In Order) clocks in next with a trio of 90's cards plus a great 1963 Topps:


I love the little insert picture for Maye!
 
Our next trade comes once again via the TCDB. A collector named Tim, who also did a Time Travel Trade with me years ago, contacted me for another match-up. This trade netted me 2 very nice football cards.
 

I am not a football card collector myself, but there's just something appealing about those vintage sets that even I can appreciate!

So far, I've been going back and forth between trades from fellow bloggers and TCDB members. This next one if from a blogger who normally uses the TCDB for our trades! Brendan (The View From The Third Floor) always sends back a nice mix of cards, and this time is no exception:


The 2009 TriStar Obak is a card in particular I'd like to highlight. It's a fun minor league card of Sammy Baugh, who wasn't much of a baseball player but eventually became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

Yet another TCDB trade, this time a single card from a gent named Samuel.


Our last trade of the day is also the biggest! Once again a TCDB member who Time Traveled once years ago comes back again for a second trade. Ben traded with me back in 2021, and this time around he was in the hunt for a large amount of 1972 Topps cards, among others.



Just want to point out that the Joe Foy is actually an O-Pee-Chee card, which is why I had him separate from the photo of 1970 cards. 1970 Topps is easily the largest set represnted in the trade stack now.
 
Thanks to all my trade partners this past month! Here's hoping for a flurry of trades!
 
As always, these cards are all available in exchange for an older card. You can claim your cards below, or through the TCDB (Kep75). Let's make some trades! 
 

The Time Travel Trade Stack:

2025 Topps
# 5 American League Leaders (Skubal/Blanco/Valdez) (LL)
#47 Blake Perkins
#52 Will Benson
#82 George Springer
#122 C.J. Abrams
#250 Bryce Harper
#294 Tamps Bay Rays (TC)
#304 Raisel Iglesias
#309 Adam Mazur (RC)
#336 Jorge Alcala
 
2025 Topps - Diamante Foil
#314 Jacob Wilson
 
2025 Topps - Stars of MLB
#SMLB-1 Nolan Arenado
 
 
 
2021-22 Donruss - Magicians (basketball)
 
2021-22 Donruss (soccer)
#183 Jose Macias (RR)
 
2020 Leaf Draft - Gold (football)
#77 Collin Johnson (TD)    

2017-18 Donruss (basketball)
#75 Chandler Parsons
 
2017 Topps - MLB Award Winners
 
2015-16 Donruss (basketball)
#49 John Wall
 

2012 Topps Stickers
#237 Bernie Brewer (MAS)     
 
2010 Topps (football)
#249 David Garrard
 
2010 Topps Chrome (football)
#C141 T.J. Houshmandzadeh
 
2009 Bowman - Chrome WBC Prospects
#BCW18 Tao Bu   
 
2009 TriStar Obak
#96 Sammy Baugh
 
2009 Donruss Americana (non-sport)
#50 Francesco Quinn
 
2008 Topps New York Yankees
#NYY8 Jason Giambi
 
2008 Topps (football)
#301 Larry Fitzgerald (PB)  
 
2007 Upper Deck MLB Rookie Card of the Month
#ROM-4 Ryan Braun 
 
2007 Playoff Prestige (football) 
 
2006 Topps Updates & Highlights
#UH172 Mike Piazza (SH)
 
2004 Bowman Chrome
#263 Jeff Allison (FY, RC)   
 
 
2002 Fleer Maximum
 
2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes
#88 Andy Petitte
 
 
1999-00 Topps (basketball)
#16 Eric William 
 
1999 SkyBox Metal Universe (football)
#116 Tiki Barber
 
1999 Stadium Club
#214 Tony Saunders   
 
1998 Donruss
#22 Tony Gwynn
 
1998 Donruss - Diamond Kings
#6 Kenny Lofton (DK, SN10000, PR9500)
 
1998 Pinnacle Performers
#14 Hideo Nomo

1998 Upper Deck Pop Weaver (racing)
#PW3 Rusty Wallace  
 
1997 Donruss Elite
#39 Jason Giambi
 
1997 Pinnacle Inside
#111 Matt Williams

1997 Pinnacle X-Press
#64 Craig Biggio    
 
1997 Scoreboard Mickey Mantle
#71 Mickey Mantle Day (1965)
 
1997 Stadium Club
#52 Rusty Greer 

1996 Leaf
 
1996 SP
 
1995 Cardtoons
#7 Fowl Boggs
 
1995 Finest (football)
#124 Trent Dilfer     
 
1995 SkyBox Lois & Clark (non-sport)
#73 Be Mine!
#75 Do You Love Me?
 
1994-95 Finest (basketball)
#43 Rex Chapman  

1994 Finest
#413 Mark Portugal
 
 
1994 Panini Stickers
#207 Sean Berry
#208 Wil Cordero  
 
1994 Classic Four Sport (multi-sport)
#145 Chad Penney   
 
1993-94 Score (hockey)
#442 Mark Recchi (LBM) 
 
 
1993 Score
#61 John Smoltz 
 
1993 Action Packed Hall of Fame (basketball)
#37 Connie Hawkins
 
1993 Classic '93 Hockey Draft (hockey)
#40 Saku Koivu 
 
1993 Classic Four Sport (multi-sport)
#246 Mike Rathje
 
1992 Diet Pepsi
#9 Bryan Harvey
 
 
1992 Front Row Draft Picks
#46 Ed Christian   
 
 
 
1992 Post
#26 Tony Gwynn 
 
1992 Score
 
1992 Score - 90's Impact Players
#77 Greg Maddux 

 
1992 Topps Batman Returns (non-sport)
#51 Sabotaging the Batmobile
#61 Oswald Outwitted!
 
1991-92 O-Pee-Chee Premier (hockey)
#127 John Cullen

1991-92 Pinnacle French (hockey)
#252 Paul Ranheim
 
1991-92 Pro Set - Collectibles (hockey)
#CC5 Wayne Gretzky (LL)  
 
1991-92 Pro Set French (hockey)
#306 Brian Skrudland (AS)
 
1991-92 Score Canadian English (hockey)
#349 Joe Sacco (TP, RC) 
 
1991-92 Upper Deck (basketbal)
 
1991 Classic Best
#346 Steve Vondran   

1991 Conlon Collection TSN
#21 Eddie Collins (HOF)
 

1991 Donruss - Bonus Cards
#BC-9 Mark McGwrire (VAR)
 
 
1991 Score
#849 Cal Ripken Jr. (FRAN)
#892 Ken Griffey Jr. (DT) 
 

1991 Ultra
#130 Lou Whitaker  
 
1991 Upper Deck
 
1991 Fleer (football)
 
1991 Pro Set (football)
 
1991 Pro Set Platinum (football)
#81 Lawrence Taylor
 
 
1991 Impel WCW (wrestling)
#157 Missy Hyatt

 
1990-91 Pro Set Super Bowl XXV Silver Anniversary (football)
#88 Nick Buoniconti
 
1990-91 7th Inning Sketch QMJHL (hockey)
#205 Eric Bissonnette

1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier (hockey)
#46 Jody Hull (RC)
 
1990-91 Fleer (basketball)
#21 Kelly Tripucka
#21 Kelly Tripucka
 
1990-91 Hoops (basketball)
 
1990-91 Skybox (basketball)
#93 Isiah Thomas 
 

1990 Fleer
 
1990 Pacific Legends
#34 Don Kessinger
 
1990 Pacific Senior League
#154 Wayne Nordhagen 
 

1990 Upper Deck
#13 Deion Sanders (SR)
 
1990 Score (football)
#327 Dalton Hilliard (GF)
 
1990 Topps Traded (football)
#102T Howard Cross (RC)
 
1989-90 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#141 Mike Allison 
 
1989-90 Fleer (basketball)

1989-90 Hoops (basketball)
#64 Armon Gilliam
 
1989 Classic
#176 Kirby Puckett 

1989 Donruss
#255 Mark Grace (VAR)
   
 
1989 Star
#51 Rich Garces
 
 
1989 Pro Set (football)
#58 Boomer Esiason
#180 Neil Smith (RC)
 
1988 Card Collectors T-206 Reprint
#NNO Matty McIntyre
 
1988 Donruss 
 
 
1988 Pacific Legends I
#11 Harvey Haddix
#71 Chuck Connors
 
1988 Score
#385 Tony Gwynn
 
1988 Topps
#70 Roger Clemens
 
1988 Topps Toys "R" Us Rookies
#13 Mike Henneman
 
1988 Topps Traded
 
1988 Topps (football)
#12 Art Monk
#144 Brian Bosworth (SR, RC)
 
1987-88 Topps (hockey)
#119 Kelly Hrudey 

1987 Donruss
#404 Bud Black
 
1987 Drake's Big Hitters/Super Pitchers
#1 Darryl Strawberry
#2 Wally Joyner
#26 Dwight Gooden
#27 Jack Morris 
 
1987 Fleer Update - Glossy
#U-69 Bill Madlock 
 
1987 Fleer Limited Edition
#16 Steve Garvey 
 
1987 Fleer Update
#U-108 Kevin Seitzer
 

1987 Topps 
 
1987 Topps Traded
#93T Pat Pacillo
#116T Mike Stanley

1987 Zoot U.S. of ALF (non-sport)

#43 Texas - The Lone Star State
 
1986 Donruss
 
1986 Donruss Highlights
#1 Will Clark
#25 Fernando Valenzuela
 
 
1986 Fleer - Fleer All-Star Team
#7 Rickey Henderson
 
1986 Fleer Baseball's Best Sluggers vs. Pitchers
 
 
1986 True Value Super Stars
#6 Fernando Valenzuela 
 
1986 Topps (football)
#243 Eric Hipple
 
 
1985 Fleer Update
#U-10 Hubie Brooks
 
1985 Topps
#403 Cory Snyder (OLY, RC)    
#758 Ray Burris 
 
1985 Topps Woolworth All Time Record Holders
#5 Lou Brock
 
1985 Topps (football)
#38 Bill Bates (RC)
 
1984-85 Topps (hockey)
#3 Tom Fergus 
 
 
1983 Donruss
#22 Johnny Bench (DK)  
 
 
1983 O-Pee-Chee
#179 Luis Tiant (SV) 
 
1983 Topps (football)
#109 George Rogers (TL)

1983 Topps The A-Team (non-sport)
 
1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints
 
1982 Topps
 
1982 Topps (football) 
#7 1981 AFC Championship
 
1981-82 Topps (hockey)
#51 Dale McCourt (TL)
 
1981 Donruss  
#8 Mark Fidrych
 
1981 Fleer
 
 
1980 Topps 
#65 Al Bumbry
#271 Dick Drago
#558 Alfredo Griffin 
 
 
1979 Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars
#25 Darrell Porter (COR, SP)

1979 Topps 
 
1979 Topps (football)

1978 Topps  
#711 1978 Rookie Pitchers (Camper/Lamp/Mitchell/Thomas) (RC) 
 
1978 Topps (football)
#461 Sam Hunt
#467 Ray Jarvis
 
1977 Dover Publications Classic Baseball Cards Reprints
#10 Lefty O'Doul
#18 Jimmie Dykes
#99 Hal Chase
#NNO Melvin Harder
#NNO Fred Merkle
 
1977 Topps
 
1977 Topps (football)

1976 Topps
 
1975 Topps
 
1975 Topps (football)
#47 Bivian Lee
#101 Bob Windsor
 
 
1974 Topps - Traded
#43T Jim Wynn
 

 
1972 Topps  
#32 Cleon Jones (IA)
 
1972 Topps (football)
#11 Bobby Joe Green
 
1971 Topps
 
1971 Topps (football)
#8 Walt Garrison (RC)
 
1970 O-Pee-Chee
#138 Joe Foy
 
1970 Topps
#2 Diego Segui
#31 Marty Pattin 
#57 Pat Kelly
#74 Angels 1970 Rookie Stars (Washburn/Wolf) (RS, RC) 
#89 Juan Rios
#95 Earl Wilson 
#102 Joe Rudi 
#108 Tom Burgmeier 
#115 Alex Johnson
#122 George Stone
#123 Don Gutteridge (MGR)
#126 Marty Martinez 
#132 Jim McGlothlin 
#153 Gary Gentry 
#164 Ty Cline
#287 Fred Talbot   
#495 Dave Morehead
#513 Preston Gomez (MGR)  
#514 Steve Hovley (RC)
 
1970 Topps (football)
#139 Craig Morton
 
1969-70 Topps (hockey)
#21 Phil Goyette
 
1969 Topps
#19 Ken Suarez
 
1969 Topps - Four-in-One Singles (football)
#NNO Ralph Baker
#NNO John Bramlett
#NNO Billy Martin
#NNO Bob Talamini 
 
1968 Topps
 
1967-68 Topps (hockey)
#30 Reg Fleming

1966 Topps
#10 Tony Cloninger
 
1966 Topps (football)
#122 John Farris (RC)
 
1965 Topps
#316 Cincinnati Reds (TC)
 
1964 Ed-U-Cards Washington Senators Baseball Card Game
#NNO Ball

1964 Topps 
 
1963 Topps
#26 Ray Moore
#109 Lee Maye
 
1962 Topps
1961 Topps
 
1960 Topps
#342 Casey Wise 

1959 Topps

1957 Topps
 
1955 Bowman
 
1955 Topps
 
1955 Bowman (football)
#9 Don Stonesifer
 
1954 Bowman
#73 Don Mueller
 
1954 Topps
#215 Ed McGhee

1954 Bowman Power For Peace (non-sport)
#91 USS Coral Sea (CVB43)
 
1953 Topps
#206 Ed Bailey (RC)
 
1952 Topps Look 'n See (R714-16) (non-sport)
#75 Elias Howe
 
1952 Topps Wings Friend or Foe (R707-4) (non-sport)
#129 PO-1W Lockheed
 
1951 Bowman (football)
#118 Frank Reagan
 
1951 Topps Red Backs
#13 Dale Mitchell
#51 Eddie Robinson 
 
 
1939 Wills's Garden Flowers by Richard Sudell (non-sport)
#38 Petunia

1938 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Tenth Series (J9-6) (non-sport)
#2 Black-throated Green Warbler
 
1938 Churchman's Boxing Personalities (boxing)
#45 Ted Broadribb
#48 Arthur J. Elvin 

1937-38  Diamond Matchbooks Tan 6 (hockey)
#NNO Glenn Brydson
 
1936 Godfrey Phillips Screen Stars Embossed (Series B) (non-sport)
#4 Robert Taylor  
 
1935 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Eighth Series (J9-4) (non-sport)
#10 California Jay
 
1935 Stephen Mitchell & Son "A Gallery of 1934" (non-sport)
#47 Lord Trenchard 

1933 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Fifth Series (J9-1) (non-sport)
#5 Indigo Bunting  
 
1930 All-Fair Authors Card Game (non-sport)
#13 Louisa May Alcott 

1928 Player's Flags of the League of Nations (non-sport)
#42 Roumania
 
1925 Sports Records (multi-sport)
 
1924 Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada (ITC) Dogs Series (non-sport)
#4 Otter-Hound
 
1924 Lambert & Butler Wonders of Nature (non-sport)
#25 Army-Worms and Fly 

1922 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Third Series (J7) (non-sport)
#7 Prothonotary Warbler

1915 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America First Series (J5) (non-sport)
#1 Quail
 
1910 Champions (T218) (multi-sport)
 
1890 N245 Sweet Caporal Actors & Actresses (non-sport)
#NNO Frankie Raymond

The Time Travel Trading Project is simple in concept. I started out with a random pack of 2018 Topps Series 1 baseball cards. My aim was to trade every card in that pack for something older. Each card I receive in turn is then made available for trade, with the goal to get the oldest card I can get.

Number of trades completed: 349
Unique trading partners: 84

Number of cards mailed out: 1,843
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1910-11

Number of cards received: 2,666
Year of oldest card received: 1890