Friday, September 29, 2023

Top 5 Tribute: Brooks Robinson

Earlier this week, the baseball world lost Hall Of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson. In honor of his extraordinary career, I humbly present the Top 5 cards of him I have in my collection.

1978 Topps #4

('77 Record Breaker)


 
Robinson's final appearance in a Topps base set was this card celebrating a record 23 years with only one club, a record he still shares with Carl Yastrzemski.

1989 Kahn's/Hillshire Farm

Cooperstown Collection #NNO

Robinson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983 with 92% of the vote. He became the first third baseman to be elected in his first year of eligibility.


1998 Sports Illustrated Then and Now

 - Great Shots! #21 GS

(Brooks Robinson/Frank Robinson)

From 1966-1971, the Robinsons teamed up to lead the Orioles to two World Championships. Fun Fact: Only two players in MLB history have won the AL MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and World Series MVP - that's right, Brooks and Frank Robinson!

2019 Stadium Club #12

Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", no position player has won more Gold Gloves than the 16 that Brooks won consecutively from 1960-1975. Appropriately, the statue of him outside of Camden Yards in Baltimore features him wearing a golden glove.

2021 Topps Archives

- 1989 Topps Big Foil #89BF-25

Two reasons to end this tribute with this card - that fantastic orange jersey, and that smile. Brooks Robinson was highly regarded by his peers and fans alike for his humility and friendly demeanor.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Robinson, and thank you.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Time Travelling In The Infinite Void Of My Wife's Purse

Image from D&D 5e Wiki

 
In the realm of Dungeons & Dragons, it's called the Bag of Holding - a magical item that allows you to hold an infinite number of objects. Like Dr. Who's TARDIS, they are bigger on the inside. Santa Claus has one. Magicians wear theirs on their head and pull rabbits from them. They're quite useful.

My wife has one too (actually multiple). She calls them purses, and chances are if you need something, she will have it in one of them. The only downside is whenever I need a tissue or a breath mint, I have to go digging for it. I have more than once spent up to 15 minutes looking for something inside her purse, only to have her come in and find it instantaneously.  I guess I don't know the secret incantation...

Why am I telling you this?

In the Spring of last year, I had a slight problem with my Time Travel Trading Project. Not one, but two trades never got completed. I never received my end of either trade. Both trades were initiated around the same time, and both trade partners were men of good standing/fellow bloggers that I  have traded with multiple times in the past (i.e. no reason to suspect anything faulty on their end). I assumed it was a delay in the postal service, which is common and the most likely cause. After three months, I wrote them off as lost/stolen and moved on.

Fast forward to last week. My wife handed me an envelope and said she found it while she was cleaning out one of her purses. From the timeless void, one of the lost trades had finally made it way to my hands, a mere 16 months after it was originally sent out!
 

Talk about Time Traveling Cards! 

Rather than save these cards and show them off in the next update, I'm making a special post to just add them now.

 
These cards came from Daniel (It's Like Having My Own Card Shop). At the time, he was working on completing the 1974 Topps Traded set (which happily he did finish) and picked up three cards towards that goal. 
 
These three cards are now added to the stack (and there's still a ton of great unclaimed cards if you missed the last update!)
 
Thanks again, Daniel! Now if I could only find which purse contains that other missing envelope...

Friday, September 22, 2023

Trapped In Time: Remnants Of The 42nd and 47th Trades

 
Today I'm putting in a last call on 5 cards, and highlighting another card that would have joined that group but gets to stay due to how vintage it really is!
 
Trade #42 (TCDB member Jason U.)
Traded 08/24/19: 1965 Topps #239 Doc Edwards

Received 08/24/19:
  • 1915 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America First Series (J5) #1 Quail
This was, at the time, the first card I acquired that broke the century mark. The fifty year gap between what I traded and what I received is also easily a high water mark. This Quail card is 108 years old now, and incredibly, only the third oldest card I currently have for this project. As I've stated before, pre-WWII cards deserve to stay in the Time Travel Trade Stack as benchmarks to how far back I've been able to go. I'm assuming that no one wants to trade for this (not much of an assumption as an educated guess as there aren't many collectors out there that would want such a card and be willing to part with something older to get it.) However, it will remain in the stack should any daring collector should ever desire it.
 
 
The next batch of cards I have a little more faith someone may want one or more of them. 1972 Topps is one of the most easily recognizable sets in baseball, and is popular for it's far-out design.
 
Trade #47 (Gavin: Baseball Card Breakdown)
Traded 11/04/19: 1976 Topps #50 Fred Lynn (ASR), 1976 Topps #118 Boston Red Sox (TC), 1976 Topps #193 '75 NL Home Run Leaders, 1976 Topps #597 Rookie Pitchers (Aase/Kucek/LaCorte/Pazik)

Received 11/02/19:
  • 1972 Topps #163 Tug McGraw (See Trade #110)
  • 1972 Topps #197 Johnny Briggs
  • 1972 Topps #231 Casey Cox
  • 1972 Topps #239 Tom Timmermann
  • 1972 Topps #358 Sparky Anderson (MGR) (Trade #49)
  • 1972 Topps #363 Ron Klimkowski
  • 1972 Topps #373 John Mayberry
Looking back, it hurt a little to trade so many Red Sox cards to Gavin (Baseball Card Breakdown) now knowing that only two of the seven cards coming back would get claimed. Oh well, such is the nature of the project. I don't blame any one for overlooking these cards - the 1972 Topps set is one of the more well-represented sets in the trade stack, with 47 available cards for trade!
 

If unclaimed and traded for, they'll go to my personal collection (surprisingly, only one would be a dupe!) Any takers? All it takes is an older card in return!

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Repack Haiku #324 (Ed Nunez)

Signed at age fifteen
Made his debut at eighteen
Pitched thirteen seasons
 
1986 Topps #511 Ed Nunez
 
The Mariners signed Nunez as an undrafted free agent in 1979 and made his MLB debut on April 7, 1982.


Monday, September 18, 2023

Time Travel Trading Update #81

 
We've got a relatively short update this week - only 3 trades. That doesn't mean the cards are any less impressive though!
 
We'll start things off with a trio of cards from Jeff (Wax Pack Wonders). He sent an All-Star card featuring a Hall of Fame catcher, plus two great oddballs:

I feel sorry for Brewers collectors. Those Police Dept cards, which were apparently tailored to dozens of different cities, must be a challenge to collect! This particular department wasn't even listed in the TCDB when I went to add it. 

My monthly trade with Bo (Baseball Cards Come To Life!) came in next:
 
As always, there's some great vintage baseball here, along with a lone football card.

Speaking of football, I've noticed that when football season starts up, I see an increase in football cards getting both sent and received. Brendan (The View From The Third Floor) kicks off the new season in earnest with a dozen great 80's cards.

That's all for today, although one more trade is incoming! Thanks as always to the many awesome collectors who help keep this project flourishing!
 
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:


2022 Topps Opening Day - Opening Day Autographs
#ODA-LWJ LaMonte Wade Jr. (AU)    
 
2021-22 Donruss - Magicians (basketball)
 
 
2020 Leaf Draft - Gold (football)
#66 CeeDee Lamb (AA)
#77 Collin Johnson (TD)  

2017-18 Donruss (basketball)
#75 Chandler Parsons
 
2017 Topps - MLB Award Winners
 
2015-16 Donruss (basketball)
#49 John Wall
  
2010 Bowman - Prospects Black
#BP51 Chase D'Arnaud
#BP56 Rolando Gomez

2010 Bowman Platinum - Prospects
#PP38 Brian Johnson     
 
2010 Topps Chrome (football)
#C141 T.J. Houshmandzadeh
 
2009 Bowman - Chrome WBC Prospects
#BCW18 Tao Bu 
 
2008 Topps New York Yankees
#NYY8 Jason Giambi
 
2007 Upper Deck MLB Rookie Card of the Month
#ROM-4 Ryan Braun 
 
2007 Playoff Prestige (football) 
 
2005 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia
#44 Shawn Green
 
2004 Bowman Chrome
#263 Jeff Allison (FY, RC) 
 
2004 Just Rookies - 05 Preview Autographs
 
2002 Fleer Maximum
 
2002 Upper Deck Ovation
#117 Mark McGwire 
 
2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes
#88 Andy Petitte
 
 
 
1999-00 Topps (basketball)
#12 Juwan Howard
#16 Eric William 
 
1999 SkyBox Metal Universe (football)
#116 Tiki Barber
 
1999 Stadium Club
#214 Tony Saunders 
 
1998 Pinnacle Performers
#14 Hideo Nomo
 
1997 Collector's Choice
#215 Glenallen Hill  
 
 
1997 Pinnacle Inside
#111 Matt Williams

1997 Pinnacle X-Press
#64 Craig Biggio   
 
1997 Upper Deck
#13 Mark Lemke

1996 Leaf
 
1996 SP
 
1996 Topps
#380 Jeff Bagwell
 
 
1995 Finest (football)
#124 Trent Dilfer     
 
1995 Skybox Jumanji (non-sport)
#31 Help Us Finish
 
1995 SkyBox Lois & Clark (non-sport)
#73 Be Mine!
#74 I've Always Loved You!
#75 Do You Love Me?

1995 SkyBox Lois & Clark - Holochip Etched Foils (non-sport)
#BJ3 Belle Curve 
 
1994-95 Finest (basketball)
#43 Rex Chapman 
 
1994 Finest
#413 Mark Portugal
 
1994 Panini Stickers
#207 Sean Berry
#208 Wil Cordero 
 
1994 Score
#13 Robin Yount

1994 Topps
#391 Mike Piazza/Mike Stanley (AS)
 
1994 Classic Four Sport (multi-sport)
#145 Chad Penney  
 
1994 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 500 Champions Collection (racing)
#NNO Danny Sullivan
#NNO Mario Andretti

1993-94 Ultra - Inside Outside (basketball)
#5 Dan Majerle 
 
1993 Leaf
 
1993 Classic '93 Hockey Draft (hockey)
#40 Saku Koivu 
 
1993 Classic Four Sport (multi-sport)
#246 Mike Rathje
 
 
1992 Front Row Draft Picks
#46 Ed Christian   
 
1992 Leaf - Gold Rookies
#BC-10 David Nied
 
1992 O-Pee-Chee Premier
#24 Jose Canseco
 
 
 
1992 Pinnacle
 
 
1991-92 Upper Deck (basketbal)
 
1991 Milwaukee Brewers Police - The Berlin Police Dept. and Wisconsin Power & Light
#NNO Gary Sheffield 
  
1991 Score
 
1991 Topps
#575 Robin Yount

1991 Ultra
#130 Lou Whitaker  
 
1991 Upper Deck
 
1991 Fleer (football)
 
1991 Pro Set (football)
 
1991 Pro Set Platinum (football)
#81 Lawrence Taylor
 

 
1991 Topps Desert Storm (non-sport)
#147 Working Together   
 
 
1990-91 Pro Set Super Bowl XXV Silver Anniversary (football)
#88 Nick Buoniconti 
 
 

1990 Fleer

1990 Post Cereal
#22 Pedro Guerrero 
 
 
1990 Score (football)
#436 Chet Brooks (RC)
 
1990 Topps Traded (football)
#102T Howard Cross (RC)
 
1989-90 Fleer (basketball)

1989-90 Hoops (basketball)
#64 Armon Gilliam

   
 
 
1988 Card Collectors T-206 Reprint
#NNO Matty McIntyre
 
1988 Donruss 
 
 
 
1988 Topps Toys "R" Us Rookies
#13 Mike Henneman
 
1988 Topps Traded

1987 O-Pee-Chee
 
 
1986 Donruss
 
 
1986 Fleer Baseball's Best Sluggers vs. Pitchers
 
 
1985 Topps (football)
#37 Cowboys Team Leaders (TL)
#53 Lions Team Leaders (TL)
#77 Rams Team Leaders (TL)
#89 Vikings Team Leaders (TL)
#100 Saints Team Leaders (TL)
#110 Giants Team Leaders (TL)
#177 Redskins Team Leaders (TL)
#221 Browns Team Leaders (TL)
#281 Raiders Team Leaders (TL)  
 
1984-85 Topps (hockey)
#3 Tom Fergus 
 
1984 Donruss

1984 Fleer
 
1984 O-Pee-Chee 
 
 

1983 Topps Drake's Big Hitters
#14 Dave Kingman
 
1983 Topps (football)
#109 George Rogers (TL)
#163 Jeff Moore (TL)
#331 Don Hasselbeck 
 
1982-85 Galasso Baseball Hobby Card Report T-206 Reprints
 
1982 Dover Publications Reprints National League
#15 Robin Roberts 
 
1982 Topps
 
1982 Topps (football) 
 
1981-82 Topps (hockey)
#51 Dale McCourt (TL)
 
1981 Donruss  
 
1981 Fleer
#427 Steve Braun

1981 Topps
 
 
1980 Topps 
#65 Al Bumbry
 
 
1979 Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars
#25 Darrell Porter (COR, SP)

1979 Topps 
 
1979 Topps (football)
#12 Bernard Jackson
#56 Steve Nelson

1978-79 Topps (basketball)
#118 Kevin Porter 

1978 Topps  
 

1977-78 Topps - Glossy Inserts (Rounded Corners) (hockey)
 
1977-78 Topps - White Backs (basketball)
#78 Richard Washington (RC) 
 
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 Funky Sales Corp Funky Facts Baseball
#2 In A Trance
#3 Fans Vs Players
#5 Baseballeese

1976 Topps

1976 Topps (football)
#74 Bryant Salter
 
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee (hockey)
#99 Checklist 1-110 (CL)

1975 Topps
 
 
 
1974 Topps - Traded
#43T Jim Wynn
 

 
1972 Topps  
 
1971 Topps
 
1971 Topps (football)
#8 Walt Garrison (RC)
 
1970 Topps
#2 Diego Segui
#287 Fred Talbot   #390 Willie Davis    
 
1970 Topps (football) 
 
1969 Globe Imports Playing Cards Gas Station Issue
#2♦ Paul Casanova
 
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 Topps
 
1965 Topps
#17 Johnny Romano
#20 Bob Friend
#22 Jerry Adair
 
1963 Topps
#26 Ray Moore
 
1962 Topps
#38 Gene Stephens
#67 Harvey Haddix 
1961 Topps
 
1960 Topps
 
1960 Topps (football)
#28 Jim Ray Smith 

1959 Topps
 
1958 JCM 30a Doyusha Team Name Back (solid front w/o borders)
 
1958 Topps (football)
#3 Joe Schmidt 

1957 Topps
 
1956 Topps (football)
#42 Tom Fears
#51 Ted Marchibroda
 
1955 Bowman
 
1955 Topps
 
1955 Bowman (football)
#9 Don Stonesifer

1955 Topps All-American (football)
#46 Arnie Lassman
 
1954 Topps
#215 Ed McGhee

1954 Bowman Power For Peace (non-sport)
#91 USS Coral Sea (CVB43)

1953 Topps
 
 
1939 Wills's Garden Flowers by Richard Sudell (non-sport)
#46 Sweet Sultan 

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
 
1935 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Eighth Series (J9-4) (non-sport)
#10 California Jay

1933 Church & Dwight Useful Birds of America Fifth Series (J9-1) (non-sport)
#5 Indigo Bunting 
 
1925 Sports Records (multi-sport)
 
1924 Imperial Tobacco Co. of Canada (ITC) Dogs Series (non-sport)
#4 Otter-Hound

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: 265
Unique trading partners: 71

Number of cards mailed out: 1,448
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1910-11

Number of cards received: 2,150
Year of oldest card received: 1890