Time Travel Trading Update #27

Xander Bogaerts couldn't believe what he saw as he entered the room. Ornate display cases completely covered three full walls from floor to ceiling. Inside, the displays were filled with all sorts of baseball memorabilia. It was well known in the Red Sox clubhouse that Nomar had an impressive collection, but until he saw it with his own eyes he couldn't fathom how extensive it was.

"What do you think?" Nomar asked with a hint of pride. Xander paused, taking in a picture of Nomar with the great Ted Williams, before answering. "It's incredible. I feel like I'm at the Hall of Fame." 

"Here, let me show you my latest acquisition." With a casual flip, Nomar tossed a ball into Xander's waiting hands. A baseball - old, dirty, easily a hundred years old. The weight and feel of it was different then what was used today, but in his hands it felt as familiar as anything. Slowly, almost reverently, he turned the ball until he could see the writing: "To Nomar - Best wishes, Babe Ruth." Wow, a baseball autographed by the legendary Babe Ruth! That must have set Nomar back a.... The thought trailed off in Xander's mind as he looked at the inscription again. "To Nomar." Was this a prank? Perhaps Nomar was having fun at his expense. The writing had to have been forged, but still, the age of the ball was undeniable. He doubted Nomar would deface such a treasure for the sake of a joke.

"How is this possible? Babe Ruth died about 80 years ago himself? Where did you get this?" A sly smile formed on Nomar's face. "Would you believe I actually met him? I have some very powerful friends who've built a working time machine, and this ball is proof it works. Unfortunately, their funding has been cut, and so I've been helping solicit donations. Interested?"

Xander peered at the ball again, then gazed around at all the vintage artifacts on display. 

"Tell me more..."

**********

Some fresh cardboard was enough to entice two new trades, both courtesy of the TCDB! First off is a 2-for-1 from a collector named Dan. I don't think this was initially intended to be a Time Travel Trade, just a regular one. However, it met my prerequisites, so into the stack are a couple of Red Sox shortstops from last year's set:

Not bad for the 30th Time Travel Trade, if I do say so myself!

Next up are some cards from a TCDB member named Garrett. I sent three cards his way, and he sent these 4 back:

A couple of former Cy Young winners highlight this group of cards. I know, you may look at 1989 Fleer and think "junk wax", but I prefer to think of it as "Holy crap these cards are 30 years old!"

These new additions, plus all the rest here, are waiting for some brave soul to take them into their collection. I still have most of the new 2019 pack available too. All I'm looking for is an older card in return, whether it's a year prior like Dan's cards or "Holy crap these cards are 30 years old" like Garrett's! Make me an offer!

The Time Travel Trade Stack:

2019 Topps
#27 Mike Leake
#32 Carlos Correa
#57 Justin Verlander
#62 Elvis Andrus
#123 Jose Martinez
#189 Khris Davis (LL)
#215 Didi Gregorius
#217 Joe Jimenez
#226 Almora Albert
#274 Francisco Cevelli
#290 Steven Souza Jr.
#346 Chris Iannetta

2019 Topps - Super Stars Of Baseball
#SSB-32 Chris Carpenter

2018 Topps
#502 Xander Bogaerts

2018 Topps - Instant Impact
#II-3 Nomar Garciaparra

2008-09 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#128 Tim Thomas

2001 Upper Deck - e-Card (golf)
#E-TW Tiger Woods

1998 SP Top Prospects
#119 James Manias

1993 Classic Draft Picks (basketball)
#33 Will Flemons
#67 Bennie Seltzer

1990-91 Hoops (basketball)
#168 Glen Rice (RC)

1990-91 Pro Set Super Bowl 160 (football)
#16 SB XVI Ticket - San Francisco 49ers / Cincinnati Bengals

1990 Upper Deck
#626 Frank Viola

1990 Pro Set - Theme Art (football)
#10 Super Bowl X Pittsburgh Steelers / Dallas Cowboys 

1989 Fleer
#29 Bob Welch

1989 Score
#495 Larry Parrish

1986 Sportflics
#122 John Tudor

1986 Topps
#5 Rose Special '75-'78
#6 Rose Special '79-'82
 #401 Fernando Valenzuela (Turn Back The Clock)

1985 Topps
#694 Joe Carter

1982 Donruss
#NNO Checklist 545-653

1982 O-Pee-Chee E.T. The Extraterrestrial (non-sport)
#15 Among Elliott's Toys

1980 Topps
#143 Bruce Bochte
#157 Willie Wilson
#671 A's Future Stars

1979 Topps
#130 Bob Watson
#465 Reggie Smith

1977 Topps
#524 Rowland Office

1975 Topps
#378 Derrel Thomas
#402 Bob Tolan

1974 Topps
#38 Don Kessinger
#67 Tommy Helms

1974 Topps - Team Checklists
#NNO Montreal Expos

1973-74 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#53 Richard Lemieux

1973 Topps
#18 Leroy Stanton
#29 Tony Taylor
#36 Steve Barber
#79 Jim Willoughby (RC)
#98 Dick Woodson
#99 Carl Taylor

1972 Topps
#43 Rick Wise
#109 Jerry May
#437 Maury Wills
#438 Maury Wills (IA)

1971 Topps
#16 Ken Singleton (RC)
#63 AL 1970 RBI Leaders (Howard/Conigliaro/Powell)
#71 AL 1970 Strikeout Leaders (McDowell/Lolich/Johnson)
#90 Joe Pepitone
#95 Luis Tiant
#105 Tony Conigliaro
#146 Ralph Houk (MGR)
#183 Gil Hodges (MGR)
#195 AL Playoffs Game 1 - Powell Muscles Twins!
#208 Billy Martin (MGR)
#290 Tony Oliva
#374 Clete Boyer
#385 Maury Wills
#388 Al Oliver

1971 Topps (football)
#22 Ken Avery (RC)

1970 Topps
#47 Bob Miller
#56 Phillies Rookies - Joe Lis/Scott Reid (RC)
#103 Frank Reberger

1970 Red Rose and Blue Ribbon North American Wildlife In Danger (non-sport)
#32 Polar Bear

1969 Topps
#139 Andy Kosco

1969 Topps - Deckle Edge
#13 Mel Stottlemyre

1969 Topps (football)
#73 Bennie McRae
#154 Sam Baker

1968 Topps
#4 1967 AL RBI Leaders (Yastrzemski/Killebrew/Robinson)
#348 Larry Colton/Dick Thoenen

1968 Topps - Game
#15 Steve Hargan

1968 Topps (football)
#7 Earl Gros

1967 Philadelphia (football)
#109 New York Giants (TC)

1966 Topps
#154 Chuck Hiller

1966 Philadelphia (football)
#104 Rams vs. Browns

1965 Philadelphia (football)
#193 John Paluck

1964 Philadelphia (football)
#172 Ken Gray (RC)

1963 Topps
#155 Bill Stafford

1961 Topps
#32 Ray Sadecki
#38 Bob Lillis
#96 Billy O'Dell
#165 Gino Cimoli
#258 Jack Sanford
#267 Norm Siebern

1960 Topps
#95 Frank Thomas

1959 Topps
#289 Willie Jones

1959 Topps (football)
#80 Joe Perry

1958 Topps
#371 Marty Keough (RC)

1958 Topps Zorro (non-sport)
#83 Rude Awakening

1957 Topps
#66 Brooks Lawrence
#235 Tom Poholsky
#249 Dave Pope
#371 Bob Lennon

1956 Topps
#21 Joe Collins
#103 Willie Miranda (white back)
#156 Johnny Antonelli

1956 Topps Flags of the World (non-sport)
#70 Jordan

1955 Topps
#126 Dick Hall (RC)

1954 Bowman
#73 Don Mueller

1952 Bowman
#57 Clyde Vollmer

1938 Church & Dwight Useful Birds Of America Tenth Series (J9-6) (non-sport)
#2 Black-throated Green Warbler

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: 31
Unique trading partners: 23

Number of cards mailed out: 73
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1956

Number of cards received: 167
Year of oldest card received: 1938