Monday, November 16, 2020

Time Travel Trading Update #47


OK, first things first: If you read my post from last week, you'll know I had to make another little swap with myself. (It was the only way to cure my PSC!) Anyway, I decided to replace the 1989 Fleer card I needed with an oddball card: 
 

Speaking of oddballs, when I showed off those beautiful Jay Publishing Yankees last time, I had a gut feeling that Bo from Baseball Cards Come To Life would be the one who ended up with them. Even though he gave everyone else a full day to lay claim to them, he ended up being the only one to show any interest. I sent the Yankees and a few others to him, and as usual he responded with a bevy of great cards!

Why, yes, that is the late, great Bob Gibson making an appearance:


Check out the star power in this batch!


Bo throws in a quartet of 1961 Topps as well:


We'll finish things off with a couple of great cards from 1956:
 
These are great additions, thanks again Bo! 

As always, this project only works if I have people to trade with. Any of these cards are available, and all I'm asking in return is an older card. Make me an offer!

The Time Travel Trade Stack:


2018 Topps
#502 Xander Bogaerts

2017-1018 Pocket Schedule
Carolina Hurricanes

2017 Bowman
#12 Trea Turner

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

1998 Score
#68 Scott Rolen
#74 Mark McLemore

1994 Sportflics
#113 Pete Harnisch

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

1992 Fleer Ultra
#594 Dave Righetti

1991 Upper Deck
#778 Dave Righetti

1990 Fleer
#629 Jose Canseco (POD)

1990 Upper Deck
#626 Frank Viola

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

1989 Topps Hills Team MVP's
#7 Will Clark

1989 Score
#495 Larry Parrish
 
1987 Donruss
#414 John Pacella
#458T Jim Ray
#496T Tom Murphy

1974 Wonder Bread (football)
#8 Bob Griese 

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

1973 Topps
#29 Tony Taylor 
#30 Tug McGraw
#68 1972 Leading Firemen (Carroll/Lyle)
#75 Vada Pinson
#79 Jim Willoughby (RC)
#80 Tony Oliva
#102 Rudy May
#116 Ralph Houk (MGR)
#145 Bobby Bonds
#215 Dusty Baker
#225 Albert Oliver
#230 Joe Morgan
#232 Ken Singleton
#240 Bobby Murcer
#258 Tommy John
#325 Boog Powell
#329 Ed Kranepool
#365 Rico Petrocelli
#368 Bill Buckner

1972 Topps
#33 Billy Martin (MGR)
#43 Rick Wise
#163 Tug McGraw
#197 Johnny Briggs
#225 World Series Game 3 - Manny Sanguillen
#231 Casey Cox
#239 Tom Timmermann
#266 Bobby Bolin
#363 Ron Klimkowski
#373 John Mayberry
#438 Maury Wills (IA)
#451 Tony LaRussa

1972 Topps (football)
#111 Jim Tyrer
#114 Bob James (RC)

1971 Topps
#16 Ken Singleton (RC)
#63 AL 1970 RBI Leaders (Howard/Conigliaro/Powell)

1969 Topps
#66 Orioles Rookies
#75 Luis Aparicio
#80 Norm Cash
#107 Checklist 110-218 - Bob Gibson (CL, ERR) 
#131 Chris Cannizarro 
#139 Andy Kosco
#182 Bill Rigney (MGR)
#205 Juan Marichal
#257 Phil Niekro 
#260 Jim Wynn 
#309 Ken Henderson
#60 Luis Aparicio
#348 Tug McGraw
#366 Andy Kosco

1966 Topps
#46 Howie Koplitz
#307 Barry Latman
#352 Alex Johnson (RC)

1965 Philadelphia (football)
#193 John Paluck

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

1964 Topps
#18 Billy O'Dell
#30 Ron Perranoski
#45 Milt Pappas
#92 Steve Ridzik
#341 Jim Roland 

1964 Topps - Coins 
#7 Frank Malzone
#111 Jack Meyer
#114 Hobie Landrith

1959 Topps (football)
#80 Joe Perry

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

1957 Topps
#212 Rocky Colavito (RC)
#249 Dave Pope
#406 Bob Hale

1956 Topps 
#80 Cincinati Redlegs (TC, VAR)
#284 Ike Delock

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

1955 Topps
#45 Hank Sauer

1954 Bowman
#16 Jim Wilson
#73 Don Mueller

1954 Bowman Power For Peace (non-sport)
#91 USS Coral Sea (CVB43)
 
1953 Topps

1952 Bowman
#57 Clyde Vollmer

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

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

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: 65
Unique trading partners: 37

Number of cards mailed out: 213
Year of oldest card mailed out: 1955

Number of cards received: 443
Year of oldest card received: 1915

Friday, November 13, 2020

A PSA On The Plight Of PSC

I have a testimonial, a confession if you will. I need to bring to light an issue that affects hundreds of card collectors every year. It is my hope that by sharing my story, I can break the stigma and let my fellow collectors know that you are not alone. You no longer need to be embarrassed.
 

My name is Matt, and I suffer from PSC.

 
Premature Set Completion (PSC) is no laughing matter. That high you get knowing you've completed a set is replaced by despair and panic at the discovery of a missing card. It's the nightmare of seeing the finishing line, touching it, but unable to break through.

My story began last month. I had made a trade that crossed off the last cards I needed to complete the 1989 Fleer set. I was excited to put this one to bed, cross it off my So Close page, and move on to something new. As I was putting those last few cards away in their proper chronological order, I noticed a gap in the numerical sequence. Card #25, Bob Welch, was not there. Images of the card filled my head. I knew I had it! I checked to see if it was stuck to another card. I searched the entire set making sure it was not just misfiled. The card wasn't there. I searched the box containing my doubles - not there either. I checked my collection on the TCDB, looking at the history and trying to get an idea of where it might be based on when I added it. No luck. Where did it go? I remembered seeing it, and recently too! It just disappeared...
 


Fortunately my story had a happy ending. I found the card. It was exactly where it was supposed to be - in my Time Travel Trading box! It turns out I never really had a copy for my set, just the one that was traded to me as part of this side project. I guess when I entered it into the TCDB, I mistakenly put it in my main collection instead of the separate collection I keep for the project. Easy enough to fix, and now I can safely say after multiple verifications that this set is well and truly done!
 
There are many stories like mine. That missing card mocks you, laughs at you, dares you to remember where it went. Did you trade it? Did it fall behind a desk? Did you ever really possess it? Now it is the time my brothers and sisters to come out of the shadows, to own your truth. Share your PSC stories, and know I feel your pain. We will get through this together!

Thursday, November 12, 2020

TCDB Trade Recap: Cards From Washtucna, WA

One of the things I'm finding I'm enjoying a lot about trading on the TCDB is looking through someone's trade list and finding cards that I never thought about acquiring before. Case in point, this recent trade with a guy named James:
 

In addition to a couple 1981 Topps needs, I managed to find myself some wood-grained Canadian cards, plus some Red Sox legends!
 
Favorite Card: I'm digging that box bottom Jim Rice a lot, but the photograph on Dewey's card is just phenomenal!  I'd seriously like to see a higher quality Stadium Club card with that photo!
 
Thanks for the trade, James!

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Repack Haiku #178 (B.J. Surhoff)

His dad played for Knicks
Uncle to Moran brothers
Brother Rich played too 

1987 Topps #216 B.J. Surhoff (FS, RC)

Talk about an athletic family! His brother Rich pitched in 9 games during the 1985 season, and was involved in the trade that sent Dave Stewart from the Rangers to the Phillies. His nephews Brian and Colin Moran played this year for the Marlins and Pirates respectively. His dad wasn't a baseball player, but did spend two seasons playing in the NBA!

Monday, November 9, 2020

Creative Cards That Always Should

When it comes to creativity, I consider myself to be average at best. I may have a few moments here or there, but the word "creative" probably isn't the word most people think of when my name is mentioned. 

Some of my fellow bloggers on the other hand are highly skilled at creating things, and it never ceases to impress me when they show off their latest masterpieces.

I was the lucky beneficiary of such creative genius when I saw the latest card creations over at Cards That Never Were. If you've never been to this blog, you should. It features an endless array of custom created cards that are just flat out amazing. You can even buy some of them if you so desire! The latest offering on the web site is a pack of 12 cards (plus an insert) featuring some true greats of the game and some lesser known favorites! You can even buy individual cards on eBay (His seller name is ctnwblog_8 - check it out!) Personally, I'm considering adding that amazing Ted Williams to my collection!

Due to a error, he ended up with a lot of extra copies of one of these cards, and decided to give some away. How could I not try to win a Wade Boggs/Ryne Sandberg?


This isn't a cheap production, either. It's on good card stock, and the photo quality is excellent. It really looks like it'd belong in a pack of 1982 Fleer cards (well, the card stock is better...)

Check out the back:



I love the QR code - it'll take you right to his blog. It's got a nice little write up for each Hall of Famer and you can tell he puts as much thought into the back as he does the fronts!

Thanks for the card, and keep up the incredible work!

Friday, November 6, 2020

The Golden Sox Project (Jackie Bradley Jr.)

Yesterday I highlighted a small TCDB trade with a guy name John. Even though the cards I previously showed off were great in their own way, the key card from the proposal was this latest addition to my Golden Sox Project:
 

Jackie is hands down the best defensive outfielder I've ever seen play for the Red Sox. Offensively, he has a reputation of being very hot or cold. When he's hot, he's the kind of player that can carry the team. A perfect example of this was the 2018 postseason. Bradley won the ALCS MVP award despite only having 3 hits that series. Each of those hits however were big hits that helped the Red Sox defeat the Astros in 3 different games:

  • Game 2: Go-ahead bases clearing double
  • Game 3: Grand slam that turned a small late game lead into a blow-out.
  • Game 4: Go-ahead 2-run home run

I don't see the Red Sox spending much this off-season, but I hope they find a way to bring Jackie back. The incredible catches he makes are worth watching games for alone!

Jackie Bradley Jr. is the 7th card acquired for this project, leaving me with 24 cards remaining!

Thursday, November 5, 2020

TCDB Trade Recap: Cards From Maryville, TN

This trade recap is going to be a two-part special! The main card in the trade will be shown tomorrow, but for now I'll show off the rest. This trade comes courtesy of  a TCDB member named John, who helped me cross a few modern Red Sox needs:
 
 

Favorite Card: The point of view on Mookie's 2016 Topps card is fantastic. It almost looks like he's going to knock you over!

Thanks for the trade, John!

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Repack Haiku #177 (Brett Butler)

Amazing comeback:
Started year fighting cancer
Came back in August 

1995 Ultra #394 Bret Butler

In May of 1996, Butler had a tumor the size of a plum removed from his tonsils. Many wondered if he'd ever play again, but he returned to the field less than 4 months later and finished the season with the Dodgers. His story has encouraged many ballplayers to quit chewing tobacco.
 

Monday, November 2, 2020

It Still Counts!

A goal a lot of  collector's have, especially if they're team-specific, is to have a card from a legend that was produced during their playing days. Guys like Mantle, Mays, Clemente, and Robinson are a few of the popular names that any collector would be grateful to own. 

In September, Jon over at A Penny Sleeve For Your Thoughts celebrated his blog's anniversary by giving out some free cards. One card immediately caught my eye, and I was fortunate enough to lay claim to a playing era card of the greatest Red Sox player ever:

1959 Fleer Ted Williams #5 Ted's Fame Spreads

In 1959, Ted Williams was playing in his penultimate season at the age of 40. Even though he made both of that year's All-Star teams and even got some down-ballot MVP votes, it was easily the worst season of his career. It was the only year he ever had a bating average under .300, an on-base average under .400, and a slugging average under .500! But this card still counts!

The picture itself isn't the greatest when it comes to highlighting the subject. Williams' back is facing you, partially obscured by the ump, with the pitcher centered in the middle. It's a great piece of artwork, one any baseball fan would enjoy hanging in their home. However, if you didn't know beforehand that was supposed to be Ted Williams at bat, would you have been able to tell? Me neither. But this card still counts!

I am grateful to Jon for gifting me this great card of a Boston icon. Thanks again, Jon!

Friday, October 30, 2020

The Golden Sox Project (Drew Pomeranz)

It's been awhile since I last made any progress on my little side project to obtain the gold parallels of all the 2018 Topps and Topps Update Boston Red Sox. I had an opportunity to remedy that recently with another TCDB trade with a guy named Brian. Thanks to him, Drew Pomeranz can be checked off the list:
 

Pomeranz will forever have a place in Red Sox history as one of the strangest trades ever. Pomeranz was an All-Star for the Padres in 2016. It was during that All-Star break that he was traded to the Red Sox in a straight one-for-one trade involving Boston's top pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza. Later that season, it came to light that the Padres were keeping two sets of health records - an internal one within the organization and a modified one they shared with other teams during trade discussions! The MLB eventually suspended Padres GM AJ Preller for 30 days, and the Red Sox declined an opportunity to have this trade rescinded. 

Pomeranz did not appear for the Red Sox during the 2018 postseason. He had a down year with injuries and ineffectiveness, and was left off the postseason roster during the ALDS and ALCS. He was a surprise addition to the World Series roster, but never made it into a game.

Pomeranz is the 6th addition to the Golden Sox Project, with #7 to be featured soon!

Thanks for the trade Brian!



Thursday, October 29, 2020

TCDB Trade Recap: Cards From Oak Harbor, WA

Remember last month when I highlighted a trade and waxed poetic about 1989 Fleer - a set I wasn't excited about but had so many cards that I was close to completing it? Well, thanks to a TCDB member named Gerald - 1989 Fleer is now complete!
 
 
Even though it's not one of my favorite 80's sets, it's still great when you can complete a set card-by-card through packs and trades. It's not without it's charm either - I know a lot of people don't like the grey pinstripes, but I always liked the central element to this set - the player popping out of a slightly askew parallelogram. 
 
This is also my 5th complete Fleer set (1981, 1987-90) which includes a nice little 4 year run.  It's also my 5th complete base set from 1989, leaving only Upper Deck's debut offering as the only major release left. (Man, I opened a lot of packs in 1989!)

Favorite Card: The rookie card of a Hall of Fame member is a strong candidate, but I kind of prefer Benito Santiago's sideways glance near the batting cage.

Thanks for the trade Gerald!

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Repack Haiku #176 (Orioles Franchise History)

Ripken's glowing face
Iron Man tops Iron Horse
Unbreakable streak
 
2010 Topps #428 Orioles Franchise History (FH)
 

**********

Congrats to the Los Angeles Dodgers for winning the World Series! I know a lot of people don't want to count this season as legitimate as a normal one, but having a team that has had this much recent success winning it makes it count equally among the rest as far as I'm concerned. For a year that gave us an upside down crazy season that many thought wouldn't or shouldn't be played, we ended things with some damn fine baseball games. I'm looking forward to reading the blogs of all the Dodger fans out there!

Monday, October 26, 2020

Extaordinary Blogger Kindness

 

Recently, I have been blessed with some random acts of kindness from other bloggers. Awhile back, Daniel from It's Like Having My Own Card Shop emailed me to verify my address. Shortly thereafter, I received this generous stack of cards:

All of these cards are from sets I'm So Close to completing. Daniel put a significant dent in my 1981 Topps set build, as well as including the edited version of 1989 Fleer's most famous card. The 1994 Post Griffey left me chasing one final card for that set too!

Even more recently, I received a PWE out of the blue from Chris from The Collector and The 1993. He too knocked a few cards of of the So Close page. 

 
I'm pretty sure those are the first 1988 Leaf cards I've added to my collection since I bought a box of the stuff 32 years ago!
 
Thanks again Daniel and Chris! I don't know how I deserved to be on the receiving end of  your kindness, but these cards made my day!

 
The extraordinary kindness I've witnessed lately doesn't just involve cards sent to me. All month long, Brian at Collecting Cutch has been raising awareness for breast cancer research. He's been doing this for years, every October, but this time he added another layer to his generosity: Other bloggers can post featuring pink cards, and for every comment made Brian will donate $1. So far he's raised over $300 towards his capped goal of $400! Now that is amazing! Way to go Brian! Hopefully I'll get a few comments here to up your donation!

Friday, October 23, 2020

Top 5 Tribute: Joe Morgan

No disrespect to Mr. Morgan, but I'm getting a little tired of doing these tributes. Morgan became the 5th Hall of Famer to pass away in the past 6 weeks, passing away October 11th at the age of 77. In tribute to the greatest 2nd baseman in my lifetime, I offer my top 5 favorite cards in my collection:

1971 Topps #264


The oldest card I own. I love this photo with all three people tightly bunched together. It could be a Norman Rockwell painting.

1978 Topps #300

 
Most know Morgan by his time with the Reds. By 1978 he was a household name and one of the key cogs of the "Big Red Machine" He's practically wearing his All-Star shield like a badge of honor.
 

1985 Topps #5

 
It's not often a Hall Of Famer gets two sunset cards in the same set, but Morgan got this 1985 Topps Record Breaker in addition to a base card. Jeff Kent currently holds this record now.
 

2016 Topps Archives #182


This Archives card gives us a great look at a young Joe Morgan. It makes me wonder though if Topps would ever resurrect a long gone team name and put Morgan on a Colt .45s card?
 

2019 Topps Opening Day - 150 Years Of Fun #YOF-12


I didn't get to see Morgan play, but from what I've read he was the type of player who genuinely had fun on the field. I mainly remember him from his broadcasting days, which ironically he seemed almost curmudgeonly at times. Both on the field and in the booth, he was a highly intelligent person who often shared keen insight into the game.

R.I.P. Joe Morgan - You will be missed!

Thursday, October 22, 2020

TCDB Trade: Cards From Eaton, CO

Just a quick post to show off a small trade I made with a guy named Tyler:
 
 
I remember the Red Sox trading for Aguilera from the Twins at the trade deadline only for him to sign back with the Twins as a free agent. Suppan carved out a long career capped by winning t he 2006 NLCS MVP award for St. Louis. I couldn't tell you anything about Valdez.
 
Favorite Card: I may not know anything about Valdez, but I do like his Fleer card, even though I'm not quite sure what he's doing with his hands.
 
Thanks for the trade Tyler!

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Repack Haiku #175 (Mo Vaughn)

Last Red Sox player
To wear number forty-two
To honor Jackie
 
1993 Topps #51 Mo Vaughn

 
Vaughn was one of 13 players grandfathered in when MLB retired Jackie Robinson's number in 1997. Ironically, he and another "Mo" were the last two to ever wear the number (other than Jackie Robinson Day of course!)