tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83711746488175200052024-03-12T21:54:34.752-07:00Baseball Cards in OzI'm an Aussie, collecting every base-card in existence. beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-83190533011417224192023-09-02T03:07:00.000-07:002023-09-02T03:07:47.331-07:00Cards you don't see on the blogs.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBElTFC9L5CeJUl99ep1Fx0CAw0yXvE-vQppeGgwT2B_47PxIGuCF4j1oArNjXjo6QdJENw4WeTwoDzqtKvbMyVvmBrQZR7-StiQcbkWOCwsU-nsxAP-_GSgtmcLZYJqcjD2K_DgSaR9U7ME3CDcPgRqIFS0oRXK1TtYZN0xmoAdw2Np7DpbpXIUF2Hr-X/s2718/93LeafAlomar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2718" data-original-width="1783" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBElTFC9L5CeJUl99ep1Fx0CAw0yXvE-vQppeGgwT2B_47PxIGuCF4j1oArNjXjo6QdJENw4WeTwoDzqtKvbMyVvmBrQZR7-StiQcbkWOCwsU-nsxAP-_GSgtmcLZYJqcjD2K_DgSaR9U7ME3CDcPgRqIFS0oRXK1TtYZN0xmoAdw2Np7DpbpXIUF2Hr-X/s320/93LeafAlomar.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p><br /></p>So, I've never liked Roberto Alomar. Even before he was the guy who spat in an ump's face.<p></p><p>But I've always enjoyed this card. Can you think of any other card which shows a broken bat AND the ball in the same photo?</p><p><br /></p><p>Me either.</p><p><br /></p><p>Short, but sweet.</p>beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-54269061428562249502023-06-11T05:27:00.002-07:002023-06-11T05:27:21.485-07:00Silver Packs. Everyone loves silver packs.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaGnziSB8aleJKgoF8CN4829Bw0bOtoE3oAwCqlS76jpuUMOU46sOcToaa5ljhNupV3iAGYpMe_HVDlWHsFfwIxtQt29AVVzwjsnU9VhmvVA8mMTH_vWCN-DIltE2Uql08fzso-GITHBux2kDZDV0NII0oO-Zgd_eOSKRaimVQG9j3pDeI9Awoci9tQ/s2282/20230611_211606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2282" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaGnziSB8aleJKgoF8CN4829Bw0bOtoE3oAwCqlS76jpuUMOU46sOcToaa5ljhNupV3iAGYpMe_HVDlWHsFfwIxtQt29AVVzwjsnU9VhmvVA8mMTH_vWCN-DIltE2Uql08fzso-GITHBux2kDZDV0NII0oO-Zgd_eOSKRaimVQG9j3pDeI9Awoci9tQ/s320/20230611_211606.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Well, it's been a difficult time in the last few years to be able to write or blog as much as I feel the need to. As most of us know, it's an outlet and sometimes we just need to do it. I've spent most of the last ten years writing awful jokes on Twitter, mostly because brevity is appreciated there, and there's a lot of others doing the same.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back to baseball cards, 1985 Topps is one of my favorite sets of all time, mostly because of the large team name, logo, and team color-coded design. The following cards are the cards that accompanied the 2020 boxes I have bought over the last 3 years. The Strawberry is 059/199 and the Bellinger is 22/50, two of the best parallel cards I've pulled in years.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsWulAT9-J-XJ70cLGikvYgafriBQ0ZkCNw66IvJys9YOEgeVWnVlls6c3NO9QKxQBcw5AbUWLxap0OKy6DBt5pVVjA8Xnbl425r0Y4gk9eEGLfawKkYxu0-W9BhzDVReMtOfjI6y4gVGmGZWhi0xcfIVsw0CVghTWt_PwuhFgRk11h5gsmbGnxIVJQ/s2266/20230611_211702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsWulAT9-J-XJ70cLGikvYgafriBQ0ZkCNw66IvJys9YOEgeVWnVlls6c3NO9QKxQBcw5AbUWLxap0OKy6DBt5pVVjA8Xnbl425r0Y4gk9eEGLfawKkYxu0-W9BhzDVReMtOfjI6y4gVGmGZWhi0xcfIVsw0CVghTWt_PwuhFgRk11h5gsmbGnxIVJQ/s320/20230611_211702.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>None of these guys have really inspired anything on the field in 2023, but they're still great cards to have in the collection, particularly the Hiura, because I need more cards of Californians whom I had mistakenly thought were Hawaiians.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ut7xIC4tdyUudVewC3YtEhm_ByWu_AwDNQOwWMYZvYOpu9qmgraatFBZzj-tJT4TBoIU4GZ5frrkcnq9c5cRJ66ENI1DxnvEx4vwTg9z4DUxQrBKOJX92eTqD7_0bdhPqHL-miS5-faOvTlC0KwiiSi-KpfGDXljQaJRyW1YEXladj71DHppylc6Gg/s2226/20230611_211744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2226" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ut7xIC4tdyUudVewC3YtEhm_ByWu_AwDNQOwWMYZvYOpu9qmgraatFBZzj-tJT4TBoIU4GZ5frrkcnq9c5cRJ66ENI1DxnvEx4vwTg9z4DUxQrBKOJX92eTqD7_0bdhPqHL-miS5-faOvTlC0KwiiSi-KpfGDXljQaJRyW1YEXladj71DHppylc6Gg/s320/20230611_211744.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There's a lovely Griffey, which happens to include year by year career stats on the back, not that I can read them any more. I still don't know if the Bichette will be included by collectors as a version of his RC. I don't recognize it as such.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsfW_RUGXTLITxasPGQVU_RgR_GUM5L2Sy44aNdNfsbkqk-MvSzeKxpdBVZtut4GJRgtEafjQ0tENforxC74ECau6E3ge2wO6l7pXIafXuGlrpBdXU_lmfP2zxn5J5wJS9LUXnifn9ep4zYzSXj3ddjkpKqfLGw0KwZuaSUbimskta8gMnq2R2JBNEA/s2343/20230611_211841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2343" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsfW_RUGXTLITxasPGQVU_RgR_GUM5L2Sy44aNdNfsbkqk-MvSzeKxpdBVZtut4GJRgtEafjQ0tENforxC74ECau6E3ge2wO6l7pXIafXuGlrpBdXU_lmfP2zxn5J5wJS9LUXnifn9ep4zYzSXj3ddjkpKqfLGw0KwZuaSUbimskta8gMnq2R2JBNEA/s320/20230611_211841.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Not much to say here, except Kieboom has been a real disappointment. Still, cool cards to have.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKucUuJFbumpuWtAAH2Q-Sy4oviAv9Hjg1XJI0nWJBNLiOdqt2Kc1iDCxk3Gi93h95LFUM65LCkmNNs4U4eK4JdlxKOjoIHvydaOu3OoqP5Nvy28c55VMvUFyKuM0NoyR9CIein17ZsOIJNqXx7HZeXRBuSN7-WLMBGZZbxaudHHesyfmS4Tj-C_DRw/s2406/20230611_211936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2406" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKucUuJFbumpuWtAAH2Q-Sy4oviAv9Hjg1XJI0nWJBNLiOdqt2Kc1iDCxk3Gi93h95LFUM65LCkmNNs4U4eK4JdlxKOjoIHvydaOu3OoqP5Nvy28c55VMvUFyKuM0NoyR9CIein17ZsOIJNqXx7HZeXRBuSN7-WLMBGZZbxaudHHesyfmS4Tj-C_DRw/s320/20230611_211936.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Gwynn, even to this Dodger fan, makes me so happy. It's also a great thrill to own an alternative version to Roger Clemens' RC of 1985.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrp43GlIwD80VoQ3QGTlw_vXSJVsQ4m2xIpsmUkQUBrD27WV6vo55N-vYCxFTo3FH-51Kn91s1qVYyVbk6o-7M_ysrGAiQl38YSskp4srE7tfrR9UrJtk9TLtbzTAwcFyNS9qG1BFbmzV06Cywo46Ibd6SA7fi5ZX-_eiHfbAcbJLCjYHbHOi4H6oqg/s2144/20230611_212014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2144" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrp43GlIwD80VoQ3QGTlw_vXSJVsQ4m2xIpsmUkQUBrD27WV6vo55N-vYCxFTo3FH-51Kn91s1qVYyVbk6o-7M_ysrGAiQl38YSskp4srE7tfrR9UrJtk9TLtbzTAwcFyNS9qG1BFbmzV06Cywo46Ibd6SA7fi5ZX-_eiHfbAcbJLCjYHbHOi4H6oqg/s320/20230611_212014.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Some of the lesser names round out the list of 1985 Topps silver packs. I will always love these cards, as much as any of the silver pack cards from any of the years, They're just so well made and so pleasing to the eye.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w1F1FVH3ppiPf9WjYJBE3XfgHB5g-QM-1S7t6l9stSvJZJvsc_nRHydNWVrIAwA0SXDAwD5eyttxvqFnCjv2BOEcEtfRbv9t2akJ5b_fDeBbJvQGtq9Eg8mU9tsOxCoVa2I3LNwklFdEzDwCmF_Fj8tAPdi5wrzp6D829kcJy11AXfMFX8-IUrzxgg/s2194/20230611_212149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w1F1FVH3ppiPf9WjYJBE3XfgHB5g-QM-1S7t6l9stSvJZJvsc_nRHydNWVrIAwA0SXDAwD5eyttxvqFnCjv2BOEcEtfRbv9t2akJ5b_fDeBbJvQGtq9Eg8mU9tsOxCoVa2I3LNwklFdEzDwCmF_Fj8tAPdi5wrzp6D829kcJy11AXfMFX8-IUrzxgg/s320/20230611_212149.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><p>I had one more bunch of 85 reprints, because 85 is much more appeasing to the eye than 2020 Topps. That Neuse is 33/50. Buying jumbo boxes of every series in 2020 gave me no complete series like they used to, but they gave me some good 85 reprints!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-8975107982749222762023-05-13T04:04:00.004-07:002023-05-13T04:04:48.837-07:00When you become friends with a Hollywood screenwriter on Twitter.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnbOALN4leWH2zG-3IjeWVApRMOnGNz3XSRBhZyoiQI3QiLycOVdtBLmWWLdD6VWTqCS0O38NqIDXpz5x9l18eHmwzgsyXr-rQ1uC14HGmZtiQdc4HS4G2r3bjUdc2EmKgduwxYmGXFpd0ey16N4DBGmZsUVWRDwCFZ5r0jm4TTijtWWtnyzvMOaeFQ/s2048/Cheez-it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnbOALN4leWH2zG-3IjeWVApRMOnGNz3XSRBhZyoiQI3QiLycOVdtBLmWWLdD6VWTqCS0O38NqIDXpz5x9l18eHmwzgsyXr-rQ1uC14HGmZtiQdc4HS4G2r3bjUdc2EmKgduwxYmGXFpd0ey16N4DBGmZsUVWRDwCFZ5r0jm4TTijtWWtnyzvMOaeFQ/s320/Cheez-it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> This is my first post that is not on the subject of baseball cards.<p></p><p>But I just had to share it, not so much for my own gratification, but for the kindness of a stranger. It occurred back in 2017, when I was more active on Twitter, rather than the blogs.</p><p>My joke writing had caught the eyes of several Twitter "elites" and thus some of the people who actually wrote for a living. Included among this bunch, was Ed Solomon, writer of Men in Black, Charlie's Angel's, Bill & Ted. etc.</p><p>I had just complained briefly about the fact that I loved Cheez-Its, and they weren't available anywhere in Australia. Ed sent me a private message asking for my address, and I gave it to him, anticipating one box of Cheez-Its. </p><p>This is what he sent me.</p><p>What a great gesture, from a great man who has repeatedly asked for nothing in return.</p><p>Ed Solomon. What a guy. I owe him a beer or 10!</p><p>Nick</p>beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-16256430184257947902023-04-25T03:39:00.001-07:002023-05-22T04:19:15.805-07:00Look what I got! 2023 Topps Jumbo Box Review<p> No, this isn't so much of a 'Look what I Got' post, but more of an I'm still alive and I want to start blogging again as often as I can. Basically, this is my therapy. I endured 3 strokes early last year and I've only just returned to full time work after spending months in hospital and rehab. And what would someone like me do with extra cash once they were back on their feet? Buy cards, of course! I needed to catch up on the previous 24 months of cards which I had missed out on due to other circumstances. I did that nice and early. But earlier this month, I had the chance to nab a jumbo box of 2023 flagship series 1, and it arrived from NY less than a week later. By now, everyone has seen the base cards. I still need 4 to complete series 1, a trend which has become unfortunately common since 2020 series 2 jumbo boxes.</p><p>Here are my awful silver packs :</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qiUh9CynPIAgYMq1BSs5qU7Z4hZ63dGJgYQ2XAwHhN17AWrtd9uufcZBpWWru48cUoJ0CJKA9EXVN4HZiZILiccyzSRJbTzUYLagm_qYDWofLmjwXtPKUK_MSoaF3h621Uune7TTWcMDm4_3xVVtsWw_XgtPJPYmkr5FFFuw1ATl8YXcvHb_H076XQ/s1960/20230425_193750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1960" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qiUh9CynPIAgYMq1BSs5qU7Z4hZ63dGJgYQ2XAwHhN17AWrtd9uufcZBpWWru48cUoJ0CJKA9EXVN4HZiZILiccyzSRJbTzUYLagm_qYDWofLmjwXtPKUK_MSoaF3h621Uune7TTWcMDm4_3xVVtsWw_XgtPJPYmkr5FFFuw1ATl8YXcvHb_H076XQ/s320/20230425_193750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Don't get me wrong, I still love the shiny, thick cards, but this is my least preferred batch of players.<div><br /></div><div>How did I go on the regular 88's?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrcCz_CX51n8cje133C42CX0zchTgLlctSK_5WdwZOGdsKUKXc4Qk2-HTMQlM1tLuYafsOq1PML2ntHlR_T9krwXJDqKuRhxftm5wlsFWqum0WMGNgMjeL6JiGV5lrRmQNx4qplo1mRDFOenHc2LhIn-grxapB23_0NJZzCrbDYYEk9tWQ-3WuyIWPA/s1960/20230425_194038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1960" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrcCz_CX51n8cje133C42CX0zchTgLlctSK_5WdwZOGdsKUKXc4Qk2-HTMQlM1tLuYafsOq1PML2ntHlR_T9krwXJDqKuRhxftm5wlsFWqum0WMGNgMjeL6JiGV5lrRmQNx4qplo1mRDFOenHc2LhIn-grxapB23_0NJZzCrbDYYEk9tWQ-3WuyIWPA/s320/20230425_194038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>Not too bad. I'm supposed to hate the Giants and the Padres, because I'm a Dodger fan, but anything Mays and Gwynn will always make me happy.</p><p>Now it's on to the other 88's and randoms..</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiLS74-yMpq47vI-kC9rMVj3dPA05aF-_mhNMjqagaMHd7sfDujAOqcLor6KaSBLj0AE5qw-uTOOiYumQaEbRxyEny4ayNPbrr_If9pSsvZ3LwmGqJbnc88olF82U3RS3y5tNhDAhBYapjr9NJAaW-YCC2hV0mUGyVs-V0HUcJWjVGNNoVih9gGm5cg/s2447/20230425_194153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2447" data-original-width="1960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiLS74-yMpq47vI-kC9rMVj3dPA05aF-_mhNMjqagaMHd7sfDujAOqcLor6KaSBLj0AE5qw-uTOOiYumQaEbRxyEny4ayNPbrr_If9pSsvZ3LwmGqJbnc88olF82U3RS3y5tNhDAhBYapjr9NJAaW-YCC2hV0mUGyVs-V0HUcJWjVGNNoVih9gGm5cg/s320/20230425_194153.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><p>That blue bordered Maddux would look so much better if he were pictured as a Dodger. Or even a Cub.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsM_OV7HC2hnIoO0qzYQa8TfXFjmS3MtSZz7yHzAd1lB2hZBeW31qbzVyjTi6CtTvC0Eig8NrQCD6EegR4ICJeAnUcnj-n1crKMNdCMS5morKAWS_rj92fwZT1o4PK8PilaqE7wPzlnNNgeJqwa8BqdsF3FZlnC3Uz15l9XJuSFpIWis2AJVVWMkFlg/s1960/20230425_194310.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1778" data-original-width="1960" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsM_OV7HC2hnIoO0qzYQa8TfXFjmS3MtSZz7yHzAd1lB2hZBeW31qbzVyjTi6CtTvC0Eig8NrQCD6EegR4ICJeAnUcnj-n1crKMNdCMS5morKAWS_rj92fwZT1o4PK8PilaqE7wPzlnNNgeJqwa8BqdsF3FZlnC3Uz15l9XJuSFpIWis2AJVVWMkFlg/s320/20230425_194310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The Aces are by far the best insert this year, and I was genuinely happy to land an Aramis auto, instead of some rookie pitcher from the Rockies whom nobody will know about this time next year.</p><p><br /></p><p>How about some numbered parallels?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsboCV_LxdsYV4XZ3AxbxVz902Hf94Vrf8mPDCp-F1WGop5n9DW3R4-3SeTZjAEdYLdBCQ-MJsYHG5DNVYXzCihPzYo3Vb_6vjgknG6axePPX9Hd2FeZva9MLawsOb35pN-u9LQ84YcSYZxSKZ8pm1cr31-2hr916V-kuTX_dXe21gKlEPbI-zQLn-A/s2090/20230425_194529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2090" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsboCV_LxdsYV4XZ3AxbxVz902Hf94Vrf8mPDCp-F1WGop5n9DW3R4-3SeTZjAEdYLdBCQ-MJsYHG5DNVYXzCihPzYo3Vb_6vjgknG6axePPX9Hd2FeZva9MLawsOb35pN-u9LQ84YcSYZxSKZ8pm1cr31-2hr916V-kuTX_dXe21gKlEPbI-zQLn-A/s320/20230425_194529.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><p>That orange Trout is /299 and I absolutely love it. I remember getting similar looking cards in heavily discounted retail packs of 2015 Bowman from Walmart in Hawaii back in 2016.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tO6GT6Bu_9nN4cAIuHwNbfVQBmnxCBwK8xozgD1avbprJpbYXLJM9xyNAknQuxvpF4HHJgKr7305egp7so5VJwn0XuTccko0jI75-jm7y_HMX4vGtV-TxfuHxjCRUSulEeTZTnQBKCs8c9NFhVSAOVeKzHzIr-gVDgwYD01-PugYb0Pn6eSFO-e1Yw/s1960/20230425_194700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="1960" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tO6GT6Bu_9nN4cAIuHwNbfVQBmnxCBwK8xozgD1avbprJpbYXLJM9xyNAknQuxvpF4HHJgKr7305egp7so5VJwn0XuTccko0jI75-jm7y_HMX4vGtV-TxfuHxjCRUSulEeTZTnQBKCs8c9NFhVSAOVeKzHzIr-gVDgwYD01-PugYb0Pn6eSFO-e1Yw/s320/20230425_194700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Gold and silver rainbow foil cards aplenty!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVSIHK1aRyXiCXZY_H_oG2FWhTrmzo0dKZApCSG_ZGlpWPrOxFSqmL4ANLRYv_sKVfeg-RQ2HNs8V2sSdpJg3weeYotyz0zhF7YQxjECJUYTLJMH9yNEtq6G3LyvdhsI7oESMdXMfRSPt7LxtIIh5wcIUuMZp-t61dj8DJjA5QR_iaRu7EJj5xeitmA/s1960/20230425_194834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="1960" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVSIHK1aRyXiCXZY_H_oG2FWhTrmzo0dKZApCSG_ZGlpWPrOxFSqmL4ANLRYv_sKVfeg-RQ2HNs8V2sSdpJg3weeYotyz0zhF7YQxjECJUYTLJMH9yNEtq6G3LyvdhsI7oESMdXMfRSPt7LxtIIh5wcIUuMZp-t61dj8DJjA5QR_iaRu7EJj5xeitmA/s320/20230425_194834.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I think that Adley cards are overrated. Not his fault, but the fact that he was born in 1998, which makes his too old to be a hobby prospect. Like Judge in 2017.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSXDv5jMnwh23lzC5vW-E2a0R673H5gmkoLVLx7bk12tJw67AWqyLVgBBhEoSDKPjCQeSlEHHPqSHIUMIjVOeuj_godxRTbeSpAYD1Xip97a_Bt74d9wY4TwHX69iwjfsB6V3R21JYONu-M6YauOEYtatlKD3qMDIV_gsjCRhMu4OF00RJY3HlTGlYw/s1960/20230425_195029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSXDv5jMnwh23lzC5vW-E2a0R673H5gmkoLVLx7bk12tJw67AWqyLVgBBhEoSDKPjCQeSlEHHPqSHIUMIjVOeuj_godxRTbeSpAYD1Xip97a_Bt74d9wY4TwHX69iwjfsB6V3R21JYONu-M6YauOEYtatlKD3qMDIV_gsjCRhMu4OF00RJY3HlTGlYw/s320/20230425_195029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Cool, but boring.</p><p><br /></p><p>Apart from not completing the entire first series from a Jumbo Box, this was a very satisfying bunch of packs to rip. Can't wait for series 2!</p><p><br /></p><p>Nick</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-69990461942805622442016-01-22T02:46:00.001-08:002016-01-22T02:46:16.713-08:00Still hanging around...OK, folks.<br />
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Despite my lack of posting recently, I am still going strong and collecting.<br />
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This post is mostly experimental, as I haven't posted since I moved to my new house in June 2014. That was the last time I used my computer, and it has now been replaced by a phone and tablet.<br />
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Basically, if this post works, I will be able to resume blogging at a reasonable rate.<br />
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Guess I might have to take a few photos of cards with this thing!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dA44pshjRUY/VqIIHWv_jZI/AAAAAAAAAYY/cwzofVvBbzE/s1600/1453459425509-1903266495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dA44pshjRUY/VqIIHWv_jZI/AAAAAAAAAYY/cwzofVvBbzE/s320/1453459425509-1903266495.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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OK, just one to begin with. </div>
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Hope it works!</div>
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Thanks for reading, Nick J.</div>
beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-46610809437897169472014-02-02T04:20:00.003-08:002014-02-02T04:20:31.772-08:00Collecting in 2013 is complete.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Feq7HHS2JlY/Uu4xesaLJiI/AAAAAAAAAVY/ODCHeB5--14/s1600/COLLECTION093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Feq7HHS2JlY/Uu4xesaLJiI/AAAAAAAAAVY/ODCHeB5--14/s1600/COLLECTION093.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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G'day folks!<br />
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I really wish I had more time to write here these days. The above pic is what I want my stash of cards to look like. Imagine an Earthquake has caused this beautiful set of shelves to topple forwards onto the floor. That's what my stash of cards currently resembles.<br />
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The only place that I am able to read and comment in the Blogosphere is at work, and since I can't really take my cards there to photograph and post, I'm essentially confined to being just a reader & commenter.<br />
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Over the last month, I set aside about a thousand bucks to purchase sets of cards that I have always wanted, or always get. Naturally, the 2013 Topps Factory Set was first, and the complete Update Series was second.<br />
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I also found some cheap junk-wax boxes here in Australia which had free shipping - 4 boxes of 1993 Stadium Club came my way for less than $70. 1 x Series 1, 1 x Series 2 & 2 x Series 3. I had decided on 2 of the Series 3 boxes, because I knew that another Blogger has wanted the Charlie Hough Insert for a very long time. I didn't even land one of them for myself. 3 copies of the David Nied card from the same insert set made me angry at Topps collation, even if it was over 20 years ago.<br />
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Some other sets came my way : 2008 & 2009 Upper Deck, as well as 1998 Fleer Tradition, including all SP's in the checklist, and the complete '63 Fleer Retro set issued alongside the '98 Tradition set. There are some absolutely amazing cards in that set!<br />
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To the guys who may have been waiting for PWE's or Blogger Boxes from me, you've just read about the reason why I haven't sent them out yet - I really wanted to see if I could nail some wants for you with my new cards before I sent 'em out.<br />
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So, the packages have been put together, and they'll be thrown your way on Monday.<br />
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Thanks must also go to <a href="http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Night Owl</a> and <a href="http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Nick @ Dime Boxes</a> for mentioning me in the last couple weeks. To me, you guys are THE blogarometers (it's a thing!), and for me to be mentioned by you guys recently really means a lot. Expect a friendly reward!<br />
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Cheers,<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-1329485570462476822013-10-09T04:32:00.000-07:002013-10-09T04:32:36.759-07:00Father time...G'day folks!<br />
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It's been a while since my last post, but I do have a good excuse : My Wife gave birth to our first child 13 days ago.<br />
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I've looked at <i>maybe </i>100 baseball cards since that day, and it really is impossible to keep up with everything going on around here.<br />
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Mr. Night Owl, I did read your comment over at Dime Boxes, and I also found that I have the other 1995 Stadium Club card you require (Eric Karros) here in my doubles pile. It will be heading your way, along with Delino.<br />
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I will email you in the morning, man!<br />
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Hopefully I'll be able to find the time to blog about cards soon enough, but at this stage I really have to prioritize my priorities!<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-60254153671272263462013-08-13T23:07:00.003-07:002013-08-13T23:13:03.804-07:00Fielders, and their girth.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WAE2kJDyf4/UgsVlT4s-MI/AAAAAAAAATM/xc6gqIyidSo/s1600/Fielder01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WAE2kJDyf4/UgsVlT4s-MI/AAAAAAAAATM/xc6gqIyidSo/s320/Fielder01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the best, and certainly the biggest, father-son combos in MLB history would have to be the Fielders, Cecil, and Prince.<br />
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Cecil was <i>the </i>archetypal power guy in the 1990's ; massive, strong, with a quick bat and slow legs.<br />
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The 4 cards above show 'Big Daddy' in the latter stages of his career, after he'd dominated the power categories for the first few years of the decade, as a member of the Detroit Tigers.<br />
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The top 2 cards are from Fleer's 1998 Ultra release, with Cecil's brief Angels stint captured in the Series 2 card.<br />
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I chose the Upper Deck and Topps cards from 1997, because any photo of Cecil running the bases is bound to bring back some humorous memories for anyone that saw him play.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d3uVW-qvGNo/UgsYO8JkbuI/AAAAAAAAATc/OuMRqjOtrD4/s1600/Fielder02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d3uVW-qvGNo/UgsYO8JkbuI/AAAAAAAAATc/OuMRqjOtrD4/s320/Fielder02.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's some of Cecil's earlier cards, though the first two aren't <i>that </i>much earlier.<br />
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I chose the 1996 Collectors Choice 'You Make The Play' card because it showed that by 1996, Upper Deck finally had a sense of humor. That just might be the Dodger fan in me, though. See <a href="http://www.dodgersblueheaven.com/2009/03/upper-deck-hates-dodgers.html" target="_blank">Here</a> (Thanks, Dodgers Blue Heaven!)<br />
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Going into the 1996 season, a Stolen Base was something that had never appeared on Cecil's baseball card. Then, during that season, he somehow managed to steal <i>two, </i>without being caught. Who said he couldn't run!?<br />
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The 1994 O Pee Chee card is one that shows exactly why Cecil was (and probably still is) feared by anyone who should do him wrong. Guy was a freakin' Bear!<br />
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I also really like the 1986 Donruss card of Cecil depicted here. Although the card design may be lacking, it seems to suit the Blue Jays cards rather well. Imagine if Donruss had Team-Color-Coded horizontal lines that year? Red horizontal lines for Red Sox, Reds & Cardinals cards? Yellow lines for Pirates cards? I dare you to attempt to convince me that wouldn't have been an improvement!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UamVUbZluSo/UgsbqNFCJHI/AAAAAAAAATs/Q9Kja79G9eo/s1600/Fielder03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UamVUbZluSo/UgsbqNFCJHI/AAAAAAAAATs/Q9Kja79G9eo/s320/Fielder03.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Now here's some of Prince's white-bordered cards.<br />
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I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but I wish Topps had switched the Opening Day color scheme with the flagship color scheme in 2007.<br />
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There's something about the black-bordered cards that just seemed 'below-par' to me. Maybe I was just used to the white bordered sets that had been used since 2004.<br />
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Topps clearly agreed with me, as they have used white bordered cards ever since, and will continue to do so in 2014.<br />
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The top 2 cards show a perfect comparison of the Topps photoshop process at work. I think it's a shot from PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and the Brewers photo is (obviously) the real one. Maybe that's why Topps don't have "The Real One" on the front of their packs anymore, because most of the photos aren't real.<br />
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Although they're plain and simple (and similar), I really like the Fleer sets from 2006 and 2007. I chose to display the 2006 Fleer card of Prince, essentially because I've had the 2007 card for a lot longer, and the photo is old, and therefore, boring to me. Good logic, eh?<br />
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Next post will have a lot more photos of a lot more cards.<br />
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Although I haven't been able to decide on the topic just yet.<br />
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To you guys who blog about a different theme/topic each and every day : A massive tip of the cap to you. I really don't know how you get so many great ideas, and continue to do so, without any loss of quality.<br />
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You're all inspiring to a complete amateur like me, and I promise that I will try not to completely steal ideas from you. Although, if I do, I will obviously offer some kind of bibliography. Links should do it!<br />
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Cheers,<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-75346103916451407502013-07-24T05:19:00.002-07:002013-07-24T05:26:41.162-07:00Just something I noticed...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwNpBM0JuZc/Ue_DpsYDbOI/AAAAAAAAASY/jl4Z4pal3wM/s1600/DSC08493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwNpBM0JuZc/Ue_DpsYDbOI/AAAAAAAAASY/jl4Z4pal3wM/s320/DSC08493.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I know this card is one of <a href="http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Nick's</a> personal favorites, and I happened to be leafing through my Mike Devereaux collection a short time ago.<br />
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I couldn't get a nicely focused photo of the front of the card, but here's a stolen pic :<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOm_6l6mthY/Ue_EkoD1gjI/AAAAAAAAASk/660seAO1n8E/s1600/Devereaux01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOm_6l6mthY/Ue_EkoD1gjI/AAAAAAAAASk/660seAO1n8E/s1600/Devereaux01.jpg" /></a></div>
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I turned the card over, and here was the back :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KfwypmhKAk/Ue_FmhmjVDI/AAAAAAAAAS8/3m2-DouoXVw/s1600/DSC08492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2KfwypmhKAk/Ue_FmhmjVDI/AAAAAAAAAS8/3m2-DouoXVw/s320/DSC08492.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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I'm pretty sure the formatting here blows, but let me just say I think all of these pics are from the same play, based of the marks on Mike's left knee.<br />
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Man I hope the pics are aligned...!<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-77478422356596496222013-07-22T03:54:00.002-07:002013-07-22T03:55:19.945-07:00Anaheim Fish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8XDbb4e38s/Ue0MIWBEwYI/AAAAAAAAASE/nZth8X-Q-eU/s1600/RobertFishSteveFish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8XDbb4e38s/Ue0MIWBEwYI/AAAAAAAAASE/nZth8X-Q-eU/s320/RobertFishSteveFish.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Found me some fish in my collection.<br />
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They're both Angels players, so I guess they'd make a great team along with Tim Salmon and Mike Trout.<br />
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I present to you, Robert Fish (2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects #142) and Steve Fish (2000 Bowman #289). They're two more Angels players with oceanic names, and I can't recall a more seafood-named franchise in the history of any sport.<br />
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Except the Marlins, Rays or Dolphins...<br />
<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-65259501314940726302013-07-21T23:13:00.000-07:002013-07-21T23:14:16.415-07:00A Heart-Warming Short Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TkjP_3MBCa8/UezLwRQtgWI/AAAAAAAAAR0/SSK5LJb5J6o/s1600/DSC08485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TkjP_3MBCa8/UezLwRQtgWI/AAAAAAAAAR0/SSK5LJb5J6o/s320/DSC08485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Well, I think everyone out there can recall what happened last year.<br />
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After getting beaned on the first and only pitch he saw in the Majors, (I think it was 2004 or 2005), Adam Greenberg disappeared from the Majors, apparently never to be seen again.<br />
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He signed a one-day contract with the Miami Marlins last year and made it back to the Majors for a very heart-warming single at-bat.<br />
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He may have struck out on 3 pitches, but it was no disgrace. He K'd against a guy who was dominating the league on his way to a Cy Young Award, (R.A. Dickey), and I'm guessing nobody left the stadium that day with dry eyes.<br />
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I had trouble recalling if I owned a card of Greenberg's from his Cubs days, but thanks to 2004 Topps Total, I have one in my collection.<br />
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Thank You, Topps Total,<br />
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You are still sorely missed in the collecting world.<br />
<br />
Nick<br />
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<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-38257932771315344312013-07-21T19:06:00.000-07:002013-07-21T19:06:31.441-07:00Juan Two Three Four...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now I've never been a massive fan of Juan Gonzalez, but I have to respect what he accomplished in the Major Leagues. And I'll Blog about him because that's the pile of cards I'm currently viewing!<br />
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I always seemed to get his cards whenever I bought packs during his playing days. Enough of them, in fact, to land me 206 of Juan's cards.<br />
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Included in the above (blurry, sorry) photo, is a 2006 Upper Deck Diamond Collection card, which is the only 2006 card I have of Juan's. He didn't even make it into the 1250-card main set that year, which is odd. That card, visibly or not, is actually numbered 106/699, so I must have a 'Gold' or 'Bronze' variation.<br />
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The following 2 cards are from my 2 favorite sets this century : Topps Total (2004) and Upper Deck 40 Man (2002). It doesn't look like we'll ever see either of these sets again, so I'll just have to live in the past.<br />
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Lastly, the Gold-Bordered card is from the 2001 Topps Traded set, and is also numbered 0052/2001. Juan came back in a big way in 2001 after a disappointing year in Detroit. He hit .289/22/67 in 2000, then mashed .325/35/140 for the Tribe in '01.<br />
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The card at the top left is from the 2000 Topps Traded set (#97) and depicts Juan during his previously discussed 'down' year in Detroit.<br />
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The second card looks a lot like the original 1989 Upper Deck release, but it's been given the typical late-90's facelift, complete with shiny foil surface and shiny foil stamping. I never noticed until just now, but that card is also numbered 0186/4000. Just so you know, it's from the insert set called '10th Anniversary Team', which perfectly explains the 1989 design.<br />
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There's yet another very '90's-looking' card at the bottom left, from 1997 Upper Deck. It's a one-per-box insert, from memory, and is actually pretty impressive to look at when it's in your hand.<br />
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I chose to include that 1997 Donruss card because I'm a sucker for throw-back uniforms. Also, it's card #1 in that set.<br />
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We arrive at the year 1995, and, man... what a colorful year that was for cards! At least, the top 2 cards here are from 1995.<br />
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There's a 'Rising Star' insert from 1995 Ultra, and a 'Ring Leader' insert from 1995 Stadium Club. I always thought Topps tried too hard with their inserts, but I actually like the way this card refracts when you move it.<br />
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The card at the bottom left is from 1994 Stadium Club, and I think it was from a 3rd series pack. They're called 'Finest Inserts', a wildly imaginative title for the set.<br />
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I <i>love </i>Fleer Pro Visions. And this one, takes the prize of my favorite of all time. So much color. The coolest brand of bat ever, and the yellow brick road with horses near it. Just cool!<br />
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I threw in the last card there because it's from 1993 Upper Deck, and it shows Juan being kind to some kids. Good fellow, he is.<br />
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Finally, we reach some early Juan cards from 1992 down to 1990.<br />
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The first card is from the 1992 Upper Deck Ted Williams Best Hitters insert set. On the back, Williams predicts Gonzalez to be a 'Sure MVP'. Teddy Ballgame wasn't wrong...<br />
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The 1991 Ultra card is from the formerly-over-valued Update set. I think, according to Beckett, this card was worth around $20 in the middle of the 1990's. Glad I waited until 2011 before buying the set for around $5.<br />
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I love the Mirror-image Rookie Card that Donruss produced in 1990. The cynic in me says it was a deliberate error. The cynic is probably right, too. I'm just glad I found the error version in some random shop on the Big Island of Hawaii about 20 years ago. Despite being a tad faded, it still remains one of my favorite cards of Juan's.<br />
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Well, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed our quick look back at the card career of one the 1990's greatest sluggers, Juan Gonzalez.<br />
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Nick J<br />
beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-12157955226477582632013-07-20T23:45:00.000-07:002013-07-21T00:04:11.279-07:00Danny Tartabull - A Quick Look...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've decided to post a brief overview of Danny Tartabull's career in cards.<br />
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Or, at least, picture one card for each team he played for.<br />
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Danny will always be one of my favorite players of all time, not just because he was a good hitter, but because of his legendary appearance on my favorite show of all time, Seinfeld. (If you need to check it out, Danny appears in the 6th Season Episode, 'The Pledge Drive').<br />
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I chose these two cards because the borders matched the uniforms.<br />
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I <i>love </i>team-color-coded cards.<br />
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LOVE them!<br />
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Even though these two cards are team-color-coded by default, I still rate them as two of the best Tartabull cards of all the ones I own. (I just checked, and I have 127 different Tartabull cards).<br />
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I waited for years to get a card of Danny with the Athletics. <i>Years.</i><br />
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The moment that my complete set of 1996 Donruss arrived at my door, my 'Bull' collection was complete.<br />
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To this day, I still only have three cards of Danny with the A's - this '96 Fleer card, as well as the '96 Donruss #548, and the '96 Score #339.<br />
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That '92 Fleer card is from the Update set. That set was (and still is) way over-valued when it comes to a certain price guide magazine. I bought it for what I thought it was worth. From memory, it was about $10.<br />
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The final 2 cards in my collection are from Danny's years with the White Sox (1997 Donruss #97) and the Phillies (1998 Pacific #389).<br />
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I also own only three cards which showcase Danny's tenure with the Phillies, this Pacific issue, as well as the '97 Fleer #614, and the '97 Score #448.<br />
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The fact that he has at least three cards with the Phillies is incredible, considering he only played 3 games for them in 1997, with a grand total of zero hits from 7 at-bats.<br />
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Despite that, he had a great career.<br />
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And I'm sure if Danny Tartabull were here, he'd say "That's right, Nick".beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-14119263020091436952013-07-20T20:30:00.001-07:002013-07-20T20:32:07.329-07:00Multi-Tasking Pitchers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like most other bloggers out there, I love cards that depict pitchers doing stuff that aint pitching.<br />
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Upper Deck seemed to catch Charles Nagy a few times either hitting (1992 & 1993) or running the bases (1998 Collectors Choice).<br />
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For the record, Nagy strode to the plate 20 times over his 14-year career, and managed to get 2 hits, for a .105 average. He also somehow managed to score 3 runs.<br />
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His career All-Star Game average? 1.000! He led off the 8th inning of the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS199207140.shtml" target="_blank">1992 ASG</a>, and singled off Doug Jones. Perhaps that hit is depicted on the 1993 Upper Deck card, since A.L. pitchers pretty much <i>never </i>batted in those days.<br />
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Denny Neagle.<br />
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Now here's a guy who, for a pitcher, was certainly a useful bat at the bottom of the order.<br />
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For his career, he batted at a .164 clip over 628 plate appearances, with 5 homers and 44 RBI.<br />
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I love that 2002 Upper Deck card - everyone remembers Denny as a fun-loving and goofy kind of guy, and I think he may have been impersonating Larry Walker's (in)famous All-Star Game at-bat from a few years earlier.<br />
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I may have a few more cards of Pitchers-doing-stuff-they-don't-often-do elsewhere, but they may have to wait for another day.<br />
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That day could well be tomorrow, if I find them this afternoon!<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Nick J<br />
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<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-84139656623029031232013-07-19T01:31:00.001-07:002013-07-21T04:25:28.663-07:00A Dave Winfield Cardboard Tribute... (Part 2 of 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://usabaseballcardsinoz.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/a-dave-winfield-tribute-part-1.html" target="_blank">(Part 1 Here)</a><br />
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G'day again!<br />
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We're on to part 2 of my Dave Winfield tribute, in cardboard form.<br />
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I had a great time last night creating the first post, and I imagine this one will be even more enjoyable, as we will be heading into the 70's.<br />
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Brown.<br />
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Mustard.<br />
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Psychedelia.<br />
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Who doesn't love 1970's Baseball Cards???<br />
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They're all to come soon, but for now lets focus on the 1990 cards.<br />
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Wow, we nearly have 2 cards from each set represented here - save for Leaf and Bowman. Even though the Blue Donruss card is from a semi-oddball issue, it still serves it's purpose as 'Donruss Update', to me.<br />
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That Upper Deck card in the top left is my favorite card in this group. You may not be able to see it here, but the look on Winfield's face is hilarious. Looks like he is picturing Big Stein's face on that baseball...<br />
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Next in line are my 1989 and 1988 cards.<br />
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For me, the 1988 Score card stands out the most. That dark purple seems to go really well with the Yankee uniforms, for some reason.<br />
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Donruss really seemed to love the style of photo it used for the 1989 Winfield card. Hitter... Close-Up... Awaiting pitch... in batting stance...! That pose appeared on a <i>lot </i>of great hitters' Donruss cards from 1986 to 1992.<br />
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Speaking of Donruss, I really love the 1988 Baseball's Best set. I think it's referred to by some in the collecting world as 'The Halloween Set', but my main attraction to the set is the glossy fronts (an exception, rather than the rule, in those days), and the full career stats on the backs.<br />
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Now we venture into Winfield's 5-year stretch of 100+ RBI seasons.<br />
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Unfortunately for myself, and most Dodger fans, these years were Winfield's Yankee years.<br />
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But weren't they explosive! Despite all the crap that occurred between Big Stein and Winfield, he still managed to produce runs by the bunch, year in and year out.<br />
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Looking at the 1987 Donruss Opening Day card, we see yet another close-up photo of a hitter in his batting stance... etc. A true Donruss staple!<br />
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That 1986 Topps design is maligned by many, and adored by few. I'm actually sitting on the fence with this one, but that Black & White design was extremely Yankee-friendly. They have the best looking cards in that set, I believe.<br />
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Here is a nice pile of Winfield cards from 1985 down to 1983. My favorite designs in this lot? 1985 Fleer, then 1985 Topps, then 1983 Topps. The two 1985 sets, for me, are two of the best sets from the 80's. Why? Team-Color-Codedness! To quote Barney Stinson, "It's a thing..."<br />
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Looks like Donruss stole their 'Superstar Hitter Pose' photograph idea from Fleer somwhere between 1984 and late 1985. I love that 1984 Fleer card. I really miss the old Fleer sets. These days, whenever I buy a complete set, I sort all of the cards into teams. Fleer negated the need to bother with that, by doing it themselves.<br />
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We have arrived at the earliest cards of Dave Winfield as a Yankee.<br />
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Nothing too spectacular here, although that Diamond King card is one of the first 26 we ever laid eyes on.<br />
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I wish Topps would bring back something they only did once - that is, issue the Traded or Update series as a numeric continuation of the main set. In 1981, the main set had 726 cards, and the 132-card Traded set was numbered 727-858. I want my 2013 set to go from 1-990, but hey, I'll settle for what they're doing now. At least they're actually still <i>producing</i> an update set. (1996-1998 Topps, I'm looking at you!)<br />
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Finally, we have reached the coolest stack of Dave Winfield cards I own : The Padres cards!<br />
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Now, obviously the 1974 card is one I cherish, but my favorite among the 10 cards here is the 1976 Topps card. Why? Team-Color-Codedness, yet again. My favorite 1970's set? I'm going to be really original here and say 1975.<br />
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Colors, colors and more colors!<br />
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There's not much that needs to be said here, since these cards are simply awesome.<br />
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But I will say this : Every single card that I have pictured here in the last 2 days is now living in Australia. I'd guess it's probably the largest Dave Winfield card collection in this country. At least I hope it is!<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Nick J<br />
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*Edit : Here's Dave's website : <a href="http://davewinfieldhof.com/">http://davewinfieldhof.com</a><br />
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<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-81146528926324108162013-07-18T01:08:00.002-07:002013-07-21T04:26:32.417-07:00A Dave Winfield Cardboard Tribute... (Part 1 of 2)<a href="http://usabaseballcardsinoz.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/a-dave-winfield-cardboard-tribute-part.html" target="_blank">(Part 2 Here)</a><br />
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G'day folks,<br />
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I've finally arranged my entire baseball card collection in alphabetical order, and even managed to store them in adequate housing. So now, I have a little bit of time to post about some of my favorite players of all time.<br />
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Firstly, I must apologize for the lack of clarity (focus) in some of the photos. The whole scanner situation still hasn't improved. Maybe I'm <i>never </i>supposed to own a fully functioning scanner? I don't know...<br />
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Over the next couple of posts, I'll be focusing on the great Dave Winfield. He of the 3110 hits, 465 HR's and 1833 RBI. Considering he also stole 223 bases, and was a highly-ranked pitcher in College, his numbers suggest he was an incredibly gifted athlete. We will count down all of the Winfield cards I own from his playing days, since they're the ones I consider 'actual' Winfield cards. It's still nice to get some reprints, or tribute cards from 1997 - 2013, but to me, they're just not the same.<br />
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The top photo contains all of my 'Sunset' <a href="http://baseballdimebox.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">(Thanks, Nick!)</a> cards of Winfield, and my favorite one would have to be the Collectors Choice issue, at the middle of the bottom row. FULL career stats, the gold 'Tribute' logo and those great 1995 Blue Indians uniforms are outstanding. Best photo would have to be the Score card on the bottom right. Great follow-through of the great man in his last season. Score will always be one of my favorite brands of all time. Heaps of stats on the back, and most years included a color photo as well. 1988 Score was ahead of it's time!<br />
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This is the photo I really should have taken again. In fact, I should have taken it a third time, because this <i>was </i>Take 2. The lack of scanner strikes again!<br />
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All of these cards are from 1995, and although some show Winfield in Twins garb, each card lists him as being with the Indians. He was traded to the Indians in late August 1994, but wouldn't appear for them until 1995 because of that damned... well, we all know why! Topps did extremely well in late '94 or early '95 - they managed to track Winfield down at his own house, dressed him up in a Cleveland Uniform, and snapped a few photos of him. That's the unusual story behind his Topps card at the bottom on the right. Who needs airbrushing or Photoshop??? Surely the best card for Winfield in 1995 was the Stadium Club card. I love the fact Topps got him to show bunt. How often would he ever have been asked to do that in an actual game? I'm guessing never!<br />
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Change of scenery for this photo. Better lighting. Hope it worked out OK!<br />
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1994 was probably the year I bought more packs than any other year. There were just so many different sets out that year, and most of them were available in a large number of shops here in Australia. My favorite design for 1994 would have to be Leaf. I love the team-color-coded, marbleized, curved bar at the bottom of each card. I love the backs even more. More team-color-coded madness! The ticket stub. The team logo itself. PLUS : the holographic team logo in the top right corner. Almost a perfectly designed set in my opinion. One single problem : not enough stats! That Pinnacle card (2nd row, card 3) is my newest addition to the Winfield pile. I got it in a box of Pinnacle that I bought in Hawaii a couple months ago. Paula @ Paula's Sportscards, I tip my cap to you!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkfkJO6druk/Ueebo-o-Q3I/AAAAAAAAANI/UeuCQ_e1WQg/s1600/Winfield04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkfkJO6druk/Ueebo-o-Q3I/AAAAAAAAANI/UeuCQ_e1WQg/s320/Winfield04.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Man I love me some 1993 sets. I think everyone's pick of the bunch is the Upper Deck set, and I'd probably have to agree. Some incredible photos in that set, both on the front <i>and </i>the back of the cards. I also loved the Score set, primarily because it is probably the most team-color-oriented set I've ever seen. The backs sum it up perfectly. I should have taken a pic of one...<br />
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1992 was an amazing year for the 40-year old Winfield. .290/26/108??? I don't know of any un-roided player who has reached that level of production at that age. Amazing... <br />
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You may have noticed that all of the Twins cards are at the top. My O.C.D. causes me to sort all of the 'traded' or 'update' cards above the other cards that picture a player with his previous team. I just can't explain why. If you look closely at the Pinnacle card in the 3rd row, you'll notice a small pic of Dave in a Padres uniform. That's a preview for what will make up a lot of my next post. ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6c4HtqNmTf4/UeedLWQCW4I/AAAAAAAAANY/DyMqBOyNB5s/s1600/Winfield05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6c4HtqNmTf4/UeedLWQCW4I/AAAAAAAAANY/DyMqBOyNB5s/s320/Winfield05.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Aaahh... 1992. This is the year that takes up the most space in my collection. Nearly every card you see in this pic is from a complete set. Upper Deck (Gold Hologram), Ultra, Bowman, Leaf, Stadium Club, Pinnacle, Fleer (+Update), Score (+Update), Topps (+Traded), Topps Gold (+Traded Gold) & O Pee Chee. They're all there. They're all complete. I will never be able to lift my 1992 collection. <i>Ever!</i><br />
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Dave played pretty well in 1991, for a guy who turned 40(!) later that year. .262/28/86 is great for a guy that age.<i> </i><br />
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I have to say, there were no absolute stand-out designs that year. Although I do love the Triple Play set. Sadly, I only have about 50 cards from that set, and no Winfield's...<br />
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This was a shock to me. I only have 10<i> </i>Winfield cards from 1991. Yes. <i>Ten.</i><br />
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Pathetic, isn't it? This was the most over-produced over-production-era year of all-time! How can I only have TEN?<br />
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It's probably because Dave stayed with the same team from mid-1990 thru the end of 1991.He still hit .267/21/78 between the Yanks and the Angels, so it wasn't such a bad year that he only deserved 10 cards, though! I really love that Stadium Club set. I remember seeing it on the Bay about 3 years ago, for around $30, and I just had to pounce. I'm forever grateful that I did. Now, Studio is the only non-oddball 1991 set that I don't own, and I don't really care for Studio. Nor does anyone else, it seems!<br />
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Well, that just about does it for Part 1, I hope you enjoyed reading, but mostly, I hope you saw some cards that you didn't know existed, and now are on your wantlists! That's 100 of the 162 Dave Winfield cards in my PC down, and 62 to go.<br />
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Can't wait to unleash some vintage Winfield tomorrow!<br />
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Nick J<br />
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Edit : Here's Dave's Website : <a href="http://davewinfieldhof.com/" target="_blank">http://davewinfieldhof.com </a>beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-58937939835706883612013-07-10T05:10:00.000-07:002013-07-21T04:27:00.872-07:001976 Topps... Do You Feel Old Too?Hey folks, I'm still in the process of arranging my 10+ year old scanner to be returned home, but in the meantime, I noticed something rather disturbing, particularly if you were around to collect cards in 1976.<br />
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Now, most folks in the blogosphere are aware of the 'All-Time All-Stars' subset in 1976 Topps, but there's one thing I noticed on this card :<br />
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*Image Borrowed<br />
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The stats on the back say that Lou Gehrig played his last games in 1939, which is correct.<br />
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That was 37 years before this card was placed into wax packs and sold to the masses.<br />
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This year, 2013, marks exactly 37 years since this card was produced. If you were a kid in 1976, and were listening to 'old guys' talking about seeing/hearing Gehrig's famous farewell speech, then I guess you're now the equivalent of one of those 'old guys'. Wow...<br />
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Time sure flies...<br />
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Nick J<br />
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P.S. I apologize for the forthcoming photographs of cards, they're meant to look so much better, as they would on a scanner, but blah blah blah... work gets in the way of life, yet again!<br />
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<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-70475323915233074222013-07-04T05:40:00.000-07:002013-07-21T04:27:18.146-07:0074-75-76 ToppsWell folks, after about a month of 'customs-related-crap', I am extremely happy to say that the '74-'76 sets have arrived in perfect order.<br />
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I have never before seen such a legendary group of cardboard chunks in my life. After perusing <a href="http://nightowlcards.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Night Owl's</a> <a href="http://75topps.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">1975 Topps Blog</a> over the last month and a half, I became so engrossed in the '75 set that I really didn't care too much about the '74 or the '76 sets. Just as long as the 1975 Topps Set was Complete and at my door.<br />
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And indeed, it was.<br />
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Every card in the set is in great condition, save for an occasional off-center cut here and there. But, wow... I now own a complete set of 1975 Topps! It's far out, man!<br />
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I'm still in the process of adding the new cards to my alphabetically arranged collection, but it should only take a couple of days, and by then I will be able to display (read : show off) some complete player collections, such as Dave Winfield, Dave Parker, George Brett, Robin Yount, Mike Schmidt, etc.<br />
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I may even get my scanner back before I finish my task - that may result in some <i>actual scans </i>of cards, rather than some silly photos.<br />
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While I'm here, I also have to explain how unbelievably awesome my Wife is.<br />
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Unbeknownst to me, she had been reading this blog. She noticed that I really wanted <a href="http://usabaseballcardsinoz.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/nomo-in-rays-uni.html" target="_blank">this card.</a> So, what do you think showed up in the mail today? The very same card I had wanted since I knew it existed. This girl is one in a trillion, and I'm very lucky she's on my side!<br />
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For anyone that has been expecting some cards from me, I apologize, but I know your favorite teams, and I've been holding off sending the boxes out, as I knew I had more great cards on the way for you all.<br />
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I really can't wait to post some actual scans of the mid-70's cards I just received, hopefully, it will be in the next few days, otherwise, it will have to be photos (Boo!).<br />
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Nick J<br />
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<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-1608855817467689602013-06-11T05:53:00.002-07:002013-06-11T05:54:25.715-07:00Back Home...G'day you lucky folks who get to read my ramblings!<br />
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Since returning from Hawaii a couple of weeks ago, I have been lucky enough to purchase complete 1974, 1975 and 1976 Topps sets on the bay, and thus I will be awaiting their arrival before I start my 'Player Card Collection' series, particularly because I will soon have every Dave Winfield, Dave Parker, George Brett, Robin Yount & Dennis Eckersley base card to place in order for some (hopefully) cool photos!<br />
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These 3 sets will basically conclude my 'Topps Set Hoarding' run, since the '73 set is a bit too pricey, for my liking. Thanks Mike Schmidt, and your high-numbered short-printed multi-playered RC!<br />
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I would have loved to complete these sets in the good old-fashioned way, but as most would understand, it's an insanely difficult task, given my location. Best to go for the whole lot in one giant spree! As it stands right now, I have 150 '76 cards & 40 '75 cards, which will no doubt become redundant once the sets arrive. I will see if I can list them individually for those who may need some of them.<br />
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I also have a complete 1974 Dodgers Team Set, and if anyone out there truly needs it, let me know. They're all in Nr-Mt-Mint condition, but that may change, based on the condition of the cards that arrive. Obviously, I'll be keeping the best ones! (Sorry!)<br />
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Hopefully, I will get a nice gift in the mail before Friday, and I will be able to share some pics of those legendary mid-70's sets with everyone.<br />
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Until then,<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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Nick<br />
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<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-62831721087738220492013-04-23T06:43:00.000-07:002013-04-23T06:43:35.065-07:00Hawaii CardsG'day guys!<br />
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I'm seriously tired after sorting my entire baseball card collection into alphabetical order.<br />
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That's right - around 120,000 cards arranged in order of surname. I finished this mammoth task yesterday, and I was planning a few posts about certain players and their baseball card history. The only 'problem' is, I'm leaving for Hawaii in 5 days, and I will certainly want all posts to include an updated list of every player and their cards.<br />
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I know of a couple of card shops around Honolulu, along with the usual haunts, Wal-Mart. K-Mart, Target, Toys'R'Us, etc.<br />
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Chances are I will have a huge addition to my collection when I return home in about a month. So, I can't wait to post some pics of whatever it is that comes my way.<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-28281745359150118832013-03-09T03:43:00.001-08:002013-03-09T03:43:16.633-08:00It's been a while...G'day guys!<br />
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It's been quite a while since I posted here - I've been busy organizing my collection of Baseball Cards into alphabetical order. It's been a month-long job, and I've managed to get them all alphabetized by team.<br />
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Now it's just a matter of merging each and every team into a full alphabetical list.<br />
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I will be able to post 'complete' player collections once it's done.<br />
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I'm guessing it will only be about a week or so.<br />
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In the meantime, here's a cool card pic!<br />
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The only multi-player card in the 2003 Topps set that features players from different teams!<br />
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I don't condone it, but...<br />
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Puffer Bong!<br />
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Nick<br />
beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-82357810067123353302013-01-31T19:55:00.003-08:002013-07-21T04:28:24.255-07:00Vintage Part 2 : IndiansWell it's taken a couple days longer than I anticipated, but I'm ready to roll with part 2 of my Vintage Series. Work has a bad habit of getting in the way of what I really want to do around here, as I'm sure most you you would understand.<br />
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Something about these old gems just gets me excited whenever I see one. A lot of people define 'Vintage' cards as being pre-1981, and I'll probably have to go along with that. I'd class these cards as 'Extra-Vintage' because they're from the 50's & 60's. Whenever I see a 1958 Topps card depicting a Cleveland Indian, I expect to see that little packet of wieners in the background. Maybe I saw too many of those pictured in a Beckett magazine 15-20 years ago. The 1960 cards are nice, and I think a major influence of Fleer's 1995 Flair issue. Very similar fronts, albeit very different quality levels!<br />
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Man, I wish I was an Indians collector. The color scheme on these 1968 Topps cards meshes very well with the uniforms. These cards look a lot better in person, too.<br />
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I should have been paying more attention. Until that Buddy Bell card fell out of my Indians box, I had completely forgotten that it was in my collection. I cannot explain just how much I love those All Star Rookie Cups! Although most of you in the blogosphere would understand it completely.<br />
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In the coming weeks, I may start blogging about some more obscure sets from the last 20 years. Surely there can't be too many people out there with bunches of 1998 Pacific Online cards, could there? Perhaps I'll show some Topps Total or Upper Deck 40-Man cards, as I know there's a lot of bloggers out there who would appreciate seeing them.<br />
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Since I haven't made up my mind yet, we'll all have to wait and see!<br />
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Cheers,<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-25445218548881199052013-01-28T23:25:00.003-08:002013-01-28T23:25:51.101-08:00Another 'want' from 2005 Topps Total...This.<br />
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It was the only photo of card #77 in that set that I could find, and I think it's courtesy of Amazon.com.<br />
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After getting the '03 Donruss card today of Valdes (The correct spelling of his name until 2004) as a Mariner, I found out there is only ONE card of him in his Marlins garb.<br />
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Gotta find it somewhere!<br />
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It's probably not all that exciting or relevant these days, what with the release of Topps 2013 flagship, but it's still something to hope for.<br />
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Does anyone know when Opening Day boxes come out this year? I'll collect those until flagship Factory Sets come out around the All-Star Break.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
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Nick J<br />
beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-54506763481243915362013-01-28T19:58:00.001-08:002013-01-28T19:59:43.189-08:00Mailday : Part 1There is something very exciting about a mailday, especially when you know the cardboard awesomeness that lies within.<br />
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I bought 3 sets off the bay a couple of weeks ago, and they turned up at my door this morning.<br />
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2003 Donruss, 2005 Fleer Tradition, and 2007 Topps Opening Day.<br />
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I love this Ray Durham card. It's the only card I own of his that features him in an Oakland uniform. He was a late-season pick-up for the A's in 2002 when they were in the midst of the famed 'Moneyball Era'.<br />
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I had no idea that Ismael Valdes ever pitched for Seattle. That was a huge bonus for me, as I obviously had no cards of him in an M's uniform. It's got to be one of his only Mariner cards, as he only pitched in 8 games for them. <br />
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The Bartolo Colon card is on of only 2 I have that show him as an Expo, (2002 Topps Traded is the other), and I had no idea that he had a card from 2003 with him in the Expos gear. Score!<br />
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That Tim Raines card was one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to buy the 03 Donruss set. I spied it on another blog a few weeks ago, and it's one of the best 'Sunset' cards in existence. Thanks to Nick @ Dime Boxes, I have a new term for players' final cards!<br />
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The 2005 Fleer Tradition set is pretty cool, although I wish Fleer had just left the natural backgrounds on all of the photos. I chose to display these 6 cards, because, to me, they're the most significant cards in the set.<br />
The top 3 cards, I believe, are also 'Sunset' cards of very prominent players of the 90's. Until today, the last cards of Edgar Martinez, Barry Larkin and Carlos Baerga that I had were issued in 2004.<br />
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I never knew Ricky Ledee played for the Giants. I should dislike him for that, but he also played for the Dodgers, so I like him no matter what. I remembered Brent Mayne played for L.A. at some stage during the latter part of his career, but I was never able to get a card of him in a Dodgers uniform. Thank you, Fleer!<br />
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I am displaying the Roger Cedeno card for pretty much the same reason as the Ledee - I had no recollection of him playing in St Louis, but thanks to Fleer, I now have a card of him in that awesome Red uniform. This set also ticked 2 more boxes for me : It had a 'John Olerud in a Yankee uniform' card, and an 'Eduardo Perez in a Rays uniform' card. Awesome!<br />
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I'll display some of the 07 Opening Day cards tomorrow. I really think they look a lot better than the flagship set from 2007, with white borders and gold stamping, rather than black borders and silver stamping.<br />
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Also, it's exciting to see a few people out there have some 2013 Topps in their hands already - can't wait to see more pics in the coming days!<br />
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I know I'll be buying a few boxes in April-May. (The Wife is taking me to Hawaii!) The wait, I'm sure, will be worth it.<br />
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Happy box-busting over there in the States, you lucky people!<br />
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Nick Jbeefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371174648817520005.post-52081297420488333302013-01-27T17:44:00.001-08:002013-07-21T04:28:43.121-07:00Vintage Part 1 : White Sox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I like vintage cards. I think most of us in the blogosphere like vintage.<br />
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I'd prefer to own all vintage Dodger cards, but beggars can't be choosy. I scored the 2 1958 cards as part of a group of 11 on the Bay about a year ago. Not bad for $5! There was even a Dodger among the group, so that's probably what led me to buying the lot. I must say I'd never heard of Howell or Esposito prior to my purchase, so these cards are also educational in that respect.<br />
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I love the 1970 Topps set. I love these cards as well. Mostly because of how I got them. I was on my honeymoon in New York City in November 2011, and my Wife wanted to see a Broadway Show. We had previously agreed that when she went to a show, I would go out and find a baseball card shop. We were staying near the Hearst Tower on 8th Ave, and I remembered reading about a little place called Alex's MVP Cards over on the East Side. It's actually near the corner of 89th St and 2nd Ave. Those familiar with the city will know just how long it would take to walk that distance. But I did it, all for the love of baseball cards! These 4 cards were in the 10 cent - 25 cent box. I think I walked out of there with about 200 different cards. My show was better then any Broadway show!<br />
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I'm not sure if these were part of my 'NYC Stash', but they're both still pretty cool. <i>Any </i>1975 Topps cards are cool in my eyes.<br />
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The 1960 set is great. I'm not normally a fan on horizontal cards, but I am if the entire set is horizontal. Any set with Team Logos on the front in great for me. It makes sorting by team incredibly easy. That Herb Score card, from the 1961 set, was, for a very long time, the oldest card in my collection. I bought it off a friend of mine in the mid 1990's. At the time, I thought "Wow, this card came out 18 years before I was born. 18 YEARS!" It was difficult to comprehend, but then again I would have only been around 16 years old.<br />
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1968 Topps. Very similar to the 1969 set, but different enough to stand out. I like the 'thatched' borders. Cards from the first series that year really do stand out. The 'thatches' are much bigger than cards from later series. I believe the Colavito card is a nice example. I also <i>love </i>the old-style Rookie Cup on the Williams card. I wish I owned a particular card from the set that everybody wants. You know, the one with Jerry Koosman on it? :-) That card at the bottom of the picture is the White Sox Team Card from the 1964 set. I wonder if this years Heritage set will have similar team cards?<br />
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Recently, I've developed a great appreciation for the 1972 Topps set. I'd love to own a complete set, although given the difficulty of obtaining the high-numbered cards, it will probably have to remain a dream. Still, 44 of them is a good enough for me. I love the psychedelic design. The 72 and 75 sets, for me, are <i>the </i>defining sets of the 1970's, although the 1973 set has the most interesting photography. I'd always wanted a card of Goose Gossage in a White Sox uniform, and when I got it last year, I was very excited. My Gossage collection is complete! (At least one card from each team he played for).<br />
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Once my collection is in alphabetical order, I will dedicate entire posts to 'Complete Player Collections'.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed my 'walk through the 50's, 60's & 70's' White Sox edition, I believe the next edition will be the Cleveland Indians.<br />
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Nick J<br />
<br />beefmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01846881597043194968noreply@blogger.com2