Friday, December 31, 2021

Celebrating Three Holidays In One

Happy New Year! Merry Christmas! Happy Halloween!


Obviously, me wishing you a Happy New Year is expected today. You could be forgiven if you forgot (or just didn't know) that we are still in the Christmas season as well. But why would I wish you a Happy Halloween on the last day of 2021?

It's because I'm finally getting around to showing off some cards I won from Brendan over at The View From The Third Floor. He had a little Halloween giveaway, asking people to comment on their three favorite Halloween movies or candies (My picks: Young Frankenstein, Ghostbusters, and The Nightmare Before Christmas). I was randomly selected the winner and received a nice selection of cards:
 


Favorite card: I gotta give the nod to the 1972 Doc Ellis! 

Thanks for the cards, Brendan! To my friends, readers, and fellow collectors - May 2022 be filled with health, happiness, and an abundance of cards. See you next year!

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Repack Haiku #236 (Sammy Sosa)

Skinny young Sosa
Not yet called "Slammin' Sammy"
My, how you have grown!
 
1990 Topps #692 Sammy Sosa (RC)


Monday, December 27, 2021

Spring Cleaning Turns To Winter Hoarding, Box 2

Earlier this year, I took advantage of an offer made by Kerry (Cards On Cards). Kerry was doing a little "Spring Cleaning" and getting rid of a bunch of cards that didn't fit his collection. I snagged the Red Sox of course, and sent him some cards he needed in return. I was not expecting a 300-count box of cards, let alone two! 

I already showed off some favorites from the 1st box, and now it time for Box #2! Before I show off my 10 favorite cards from the box, I just wanted to emphasize how grateful I am for all these cards. Between the two boxes, there were 488 cards, spanning 165 different sets and including 186 different players. from all these cards, I needed a whopping 69% of them. That's impressive for a blind selection of cards! Anyways, a big thank you again to Kerry!
 
 
Just like before, there were too many to show, so I'm going to show off my 10 favorites:

10. 2018 Topps Chrome - Prism Refractor

#59 Hanley Ramirez 


Hanley's time in Boston may not be well-remembered, but when he was on the field, he was usually smiling. The prism refractor looks better in-hand than this photo would have you believe.

9. 2018 Bowman

#25 Rafael Devers (RC)


A rookie card of Boston's up-and-coming slugger? Yes, please! 
 

8. 1979 Topps

#645 George Scott 


I kind of wish I was an active baseball time during Boomer's time in Boston. I can't help but feel he would have been a favorite of mine. 1979 would be Scott's last year in baseball.
 

7. 2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites

#17 George Scott

 
Scott made the All-Star team his rookie season, and would go on to be on two more teams, winning 8 Gold Gloves to boot. A fan favorite indeed!  

6. 2020 Topps Allen & Ginter

#342 Mo Vaughn (SP) 


Vaughn was one of my favorite sluggers in college. I'm glad to get something recent with him on it, especially since it's a short print!
 

5. 2018 Stadium Club

#11 Tzu-Wei Lin

 
Lin was a backup utility infielder for the Red Sox for a few years, but never really grabbed ahold of a roster spot. Small consolation to him, but he's got one of the best cards in the 2018 Stadium Club set.
 

4. 2018 Stadium Club

#180 Ted Williams

 
Another great 2018 Stadium Club card goes to Mr. Williams, whose career ended up being remarkedly different than Tsu-Wei Lin's. From the curvature of the bat to the old signs adorning Fenway, this is just a sweet card!
 

3. 2012 Topps

#631 Ryan Kalish 

What a fantastic shot! Sadly, based on where he's looking, I'm thinking he didn't make the catch. Still, an impressive looking card!
 

2. 2007 Topps

#630 Daisuke Matsuzaka (RC, VAR) 


Thanks to this fun variation, I now know how the team name looks in Japanese!  

1. 2003 Upper Deck Play Ball

#10 Pedro Martinez


 My favorite has to be this great retro looking Pedro! Just an all-around aesthetically pleasing looking card.
 
Thanks again, Kerry! You're awesome!
 
 

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Merry Christmas!

 

Have a 




It's the best time of the year!

I don't know if there will be

but have a 

 of 


Merry Christmas to all of you out in blogger-land! May your stockings be filled with cardboard! (And yes, I did just repost this from last year - I'm not lazy, I just have a lot of presents to wrap!)
 


Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Repack Haiku #235 (Parker Bridwell)

His nine straight road wins
To start career bested by
Only Whitey Ford
 
2018 Topps - All-Star Game
#322 Parker Bridwell
 
He tied Brooklyn's Clem Labine for the second-longest streak.

Monday, December 20, 2021

Time Travel Trading Update #60

 
It's so hard to find good help these days. When last we traveled, I was awaiting return shipment on two trades. What I didn't elaborate on was the fact that these cards were weeks overdue from what was expected. In all honesty, I wasn't worried, as I have a good trade history with both of these gentlemen, and I was sure it was just a case of some post office shenanigans. 

Sigh...Both envelopes turned up in my wife's work bag. They must have gotten stuffed in with some other mail and forgotten until the bag was being cleaned out. All's well that ends well, and these cards are now in their rightful place in the Time Travel Trade Stack.
 
The first wayward PWE comes from TCDB member Brian, who has traveled with me once before. He loaded me up with some 70's goodness, starting with quintet of baseball:

 
But also a bunch of 1973 Topps football:


The second envelope gone rogue was this great collection of cards from Brendan (The View From The Third Floor). He only claimed 2 cards, but sent back 3 times as many, including a serial numbered auto relic refractor! (Now doesn't that just hit a lot of check marks!) 

Sometimes when cards come in, I get a feeling that another collector was in mind when the cards were picked out. I can almost sense who will claim them. When I got these cards from Bo (Baseball Cards Come To Life), I thought of a certain blogger extraordinaire:


Although the 1975 Topps will initially catch Night Owl's eye, I suspect the three O-Pee-Chee (each with updated text) will make their way into his hands. I could be wrong though. Also, Fanning's card must be the pinnacle of O-Pee-Chee's text updates. I can't think of any better.

Jeff (Wax Pack Wonders) is up next with a trio of early 70's cards and a pair of 1954 Topps! That 1970 Tony Taylor makes a 2nd appearance in the trade stack, so if you missed out on a great bat rack card the first time, now is your chance!



The most recent trade from Brendan (The View From The Third Floor) didn't play hide and seek with me, and went right from my mailbox to my hands. Brendan continues to generously pump up the trade stack with yet another autograph!
 

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:

 
2020 Sage Hit - Rookie Autographs Black (football)
#A17 Harrison Bryant (AU)
 
2019 Topps
#313 Robinson Cano

2019 Topps Opening Day

#93 J.D. Martinez
#197 Felipe Vazquez 
 
2017-1018 Pocket Schedule
Carolina Hurricanes

2017 Bowman
#12 Trea Turner
 
2015-16 Upper Deck (hockey)
#185 Alex Ovechkin
 
2014 Topps Valor - Strength (football)
#52 Richard Sherman (SN499)   
 
2013 Panini USA Champions
#56 Randal Grichuck
 
2011 Finest - Jumbo Jersey Autographs Refractors (football)
#AJR-JJE Jerrel Jernigan (AU, MEM, SN75) 
  
2010 Bowman - Prospects Black
#BP51 Chase D'Arnaud
#BP56 Rolando Gomez

2010 Bowman Chrome
#13 Brian Roberts
#122 Hanley Ramirez

2010 Bowman Chrome - Prospects
#BCP178 Nathan Adcock
#BCP186 Jhan Marinez
 
2010 Bowman Platinum - Prospects
#PP38 Brian Johnson 
 
2010 Topps (football)
#341 Peyton Manning (AP)
 
2009-10 Panini Season Update - Christmas Cards Materials (basketball)
#22 Jeff Pendergraph (MEM, SN499) 
 
2009 Bowman - Chrome WBC Prospects
#BCW18 Tao Bu   
 
2004 Donruss Studio
#218 Jesse Harper (AU, RC, SN800)
 
2004 Topps
#203 Bo Hart (ASR)

2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites
#52 Clete Boyer

2002 Fleer Greats Of The Game
#64 Frank Howard

2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes
#76 Don Larsen
 
2001 Fleer Greats Of The Game
#77 Lester Lockett 
 
1998 Score
#68 Scott Rolen
 
1996 Fleer Update
#U238 Tim Salmon (ENC) 
 
1994 Stadium Club
#448 Erik Pappas 

1993 Leaf
#271 Jay Buhner

1993 Classic Draft Picks (basketball)
#33 Will Flemons
#67 Bennie Seltzer
 
1992 Score - 90's Impact Players
#65 Ron Gant
#75 Ramon Martinez 
 
1991 Stadium Club

1991 Upper Deck
#778 Dave Righetti
  

1990 Fleer
#125 Jim Abbott
 
1990 Upper Deck
#626 Frank Viola

1990 Pro Set - Theme Art (football)
#10 Super Bowl X Pittsburgh Steelers / Dallas Cowboys
 
1990 Pro Set Collect-A-Books (football)
#NNO Jim Kelly 
 
1989 Score
#495 Larry Parrish
 
 
 
1987 Topps - All-Star Game Glossy
#10 Dwight Gooden 
 
 
1986 Topps - Glossy All-Stars
#9 Carlton Fisk #21 LaMarr Hoyt 

1986 Topps Major League Leaders Minis
#65 Tony Gwynn
 
 
#227 Danny Darwin
#238 Ray Burris
#267 Jim Fanning (CL, MGR)
#366 Ron Cey 

1985 Topps
#694 Joe Carter
 
1984 Donruss

1984 Fleer
 
1983 Topps (football)

1982 Donruss
#239 Dwayne Murphy
 
1982 Fleer
#33 Bucky Dent 
 
1982 O-Pee-Chee
#254 Jorge Bell (RC)
#275 Bob Watson 

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

1982 Topps
#125 Danny Ainge
 
1982 Topps (football) 
 
1981 Topps (football)
#18 Frank Lewis 
 
 
1980 Topps (football)
#132 Eagles Team Leaders (CL, TL)
#226 Bears Team Leaders (CL, TL) 
#118 Kevin Porter 
#129 Ray Williams (RC)
 
1978 Topps (football)
#339 Joe Ferguson 
 
1977-78 Topps - White Backs (basketball)
#78 Richard Washington (RC)
 
1977 Topps
#164 Tug McGraw
#535 Cesar Geronimo
#565 Mickey Lolich 
 
1977 Topps (football)
#350 Bill Bergey (AP)
 
1976 Funky Sales Corp Funky Facts Baseball
#2 In A Trance
#3 Fans Vs Players
#5 Baseballeese

1976 Topps
#40 Dave Kingman
 
 
 
1973 Topps
#4 John Milner
#14 Sonny Siebert
#102 Rudy May  
#563 Larry Haney
 
1973 Topps (football)
#21 Howard Twilley
#151 Ron Jessie (RC)
#154 Jim Braxton (RC)
#158 Tim Foley (RC)
#200 Claude Humphrey
#205 Willie Ellison
#229 Mike Phipps
#250 Chris Hanburger
#289 Floyd Little
#297 Mel Gray
#321 Ralph Neely
#354 Ken Burrough
#416 Jack Snow

1972 Topps  
#138 Mike Kekich
#491 Jim Hardin 

1970 Brooke Bond North American Wildlife In Danger (non-sport)
#32 Polar Bear

1970 Topps
#3 Darrell Chaney
#278 Tommie Aaron
#324 Tony Taylor
#390 Willie Davis  
#457 Rico Petrocelli (AS)

1969 Topps
#66 Orioles Rookies
 
1968 Topps

1966 Topps
#46 Howie Koplitz
 
 
1963 Topps

1962 Topps

1961 Topps
 
1960 Topps
 
1960 Topps (football)
#28 Jim Ray Smith 
 
1956 Topps (football)
#42 Tom Fears
#51 Ted Marchibroda
 
1956 Topps Flags of the World (non-sport)
#70 Jordan
 
1955 Topps
#45 Hank Sauer
 
1955 Bowman (football)
#9 Don Stonesifer
#29 Bucko Kilroy

1955 Topps All-American (football)
#46 Arnie Lassman
 
1954 Topps
#215 Ed McGhee
#222 Bill Wilson (RC)
#238 Al Aber

1954 Bowman
#73 Don Mueller

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

1953 Topps

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

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 

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
 
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: 133 (1 pending!)
Unique trading partners: 54

Number of cards mailed out: 510
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1910-11

Number of cards received: 813
Year of oldest card received: 1890