Where was I?

Normally I'm pretty in-tune with what's going on in the sports world.

Whether it's checking ESPN.com or glancing up at the office TVs that are always tuned to ESPN, or a quick mid-day stroll through Twitter, not a lot happens where I feel like I'm last to know when it comes to what's trending in sports.

However, I felt like that with the passing of Al Kaline today, as I was stuck on calls all day and didn't see this until it was well into the news cycle.

Obviously Kaline was a legend of the game, and any time a legend passes, it makes you stop for a minute. While I have a few old Kaline cards, my favorite is definitely a TTM autograph on a Topps insert from 2012.

I don't love the insert itself. I've grown to hate the 2012 inserts. But that spring, Al Kaline was signing TTM autographs for $5, and while I usually don't send to guys with a fee, this one was hard to pass up.

I wish I sent it on a vintage card, but at the time I had just gotten back into collecting, and it's what I had in 2012.

2012. That was a long time ago. March of 2012, when I got this, was over 8 years ago.

While looking back at the post from 2012 here, it made me think back to where I was then in my life:

My son, now 8, was 3 months old.
I was still at my first place of employment. I'm on my fourth now.
I lived on the Upper East Side in NYC. Since then I moved to Hoboken, NJ, and then to my current town.
I lived in a rental. I've rented three homes since then. I now own one.
I was automobileless. I have bought four since (not all at once)
I had a cockapoo dog. I know have a bernedoodle dog.
I weighed about the exact same.
I had about 500 Tino cards.

Seems like a lifetime ago.

Thanks for a quick trip down memory lane, Mr. Kaline. RIP.

Al Kaline, welcome to the binder

While working on this HOF binder, I am finding that there are Hall of Famers, and there are Hall of Famers. Al Kaline falls into the latter category for me. A superstar.

I am proud to add this Al Kaline 1974 Topps to the binder. He's a brand name. When you think of the Detroit Tigers, he's one of the first names that comes to mind (you know, along with Bobby Higginson).

TTM Success: Al Kaline

I have been pretty MIA in the blog world the last few days. Just got a bit busy - had family in town, traveled for a wedding, college basketball conference tournies. Too much going on and no time for the blog. So to my one loyal reader, sorry! However, I have had a few TTM's, purchases, and trades trickle in, so I do have some stuff to share in the coming days.

Anyhow, I recently heard that Al Kaline was signing for a nominal fee. I usually NEVER, EVER send to a player who charges a fee. It's not that I'm against them charging - it's their right - I just avoid it. Well, I heard that Kaline was charging for $5, and I felt like I couldn't pass up the chance for a HOFer for such a low fee. I sent him a request and unfortunately the only Kaline card I own, this hideous 2012 Topps with a gold sticker thing that looks like it should be on a second-grade spelling bee award certificate. In just two weeks, the card came back with a perfect signature.

Awesome addition to my collection!