After all these years

One fun thing about being an adult with disposable income is picking up cards that I didn't have as a child.

I remember flipping through Beckett or Tuff Stuff and seeing the unattainable cards. They might not have even been that expensive, they just weren't accessible. Not like they are now, where we have a means to pretty much find any card we want. They were from brands that weren't carried at CVS, or from brands that weren't allowed on a budget...like little tiny boxes of Flair. 

Another source of card lust was the collections of friends. I remember being at my friend Chris's house, and not only being envious of the dedicated space he had in his room for cards, but he always managed to pull such cool Upper Deck basketball cards. No matter what I offered, I couldn't get him to part with his 1993-94 Upper Deck 3-D Standouts Triple Double Michael Jordan.

The card was so cool. Triple Double in block letters. Jordan shoot a fadeaway off one foot. A hologram. The card had it all.

I know I offered him a lot, but he just always shook his head "no." I don't blame him.

I'm not sure what took so long, but recently the card popped into my head. After a quick eBay search, I found one. I didn't have to got to all ends of the earth. I didn't have to make a financial sacrifice. It was less than $10 all in.

That's part of the fun of collecting as an adult. I've done it numerous times: picked up a card I never could have as a kid. In some instances, it's a big card, like an original Mantle. In others, it's just a good-looking insert card that I could never bring into my collection.

Eamus in the morning

P-Town Tom is not only a World Champion fan of the World Champion Cubs, he’s also a World Champion blogger and trader. Recently it looks like he did a little pre-holiday cleaning, and sent some Yanks my way with a most appreciated “I don’t need anything back” note. Now, I’m sure I’ll hit him back at some time, but I am depleted of Cubs inventory right now (and Red Sox), so I need a while to stock back up.

First and foremost, Tom sent an awesome “moving card” for my son, Joey. He knows that Joey loves sportflics types card, and this one is particularly cool. It’s a little more advanced than the 1980s set, and shows a bit more animation. It was hard to scan, so I apologize.

Enough about my 4-year-old. Time to show cards for ME.

Tom sent me some great Jeters, which I’m guessing might have come from the big estate sale haul a few months back. The Ultra Pizzazz is especially cool. There are so many amazing Jeter cards out there, as his prime coincided with endless amounts of base and insert sets from every brand. From 1996-2005, Jeter easily has the most cards out there, I’d assume. Maybe Griffey has more, but Jeter is definitely up there.

 

Any package with a hologram wins extra points.

Also, any package with Don Mattingly tenderly holding Lou Gehrig’s bat also wins major points.

Tom also included some nice autographs. Peter O’Brien was in the trade that brought Martin Prado to the Yankees in 2014. I was kind of annoyed by it because O’Brien has massive righty power, but doesn’t really have a position. He has made it to The Show with Arizona, and has 6 HRs in limited ABs. He’s probably always going to be a minor league mashers who doesn’t enjoy a ton of ML success, but I would have liked to see the Yanks stick with him in hopes of turning him into a solid DH. However, the Yankees didn’t really have that luxury with so many veterans needing time at DH. Oh well! Here’s to wishing O’Brien the best of luck and hope he finds success.

I’m not sure where this Jose Valdez auto might have come from. It’s not the same Valdez that is currently a reliever with the Angels…at least I don’t think it is.

Vintage! Just a great, great Elston Howard. Not the best choice with the yellow font, Topps, but an iconic card of an iconic player, and I'm always really thankful for cards like this that come my way.

Lastly - a Mick from Starting Lineup Baseball Greats. The action figure was not included, but I did a search and here's what it looks like.

Thanks, Tom! I hope your Christmas is filled with Cubs Championship gifts.

Playing some Jenga in the Burbs

I'm sure the horrid post title as been used. If not, no one use it ever again.

Jenga is a great game. I haven’t played in a long time, but I always enjoyed it. I’ve been to a couple bars in NYC that have board games, and it’s always fun to hear a Jenga tower falling over every five minutes.

Tony Burbs of Wrigley Roster Jenga sent me some great Yanks last week. It was our first deal, and I’m glad to have had the honor of being the first Yankees collector he has traded with. He mentioned that in the note, and also said he hopes I find these cards to be productive. He also used some sweet orange tape on his mailers.

The very first card behind his note was a James Kaprielian, so yeah, off to a great start, Tony Burbs. 

Now before I get too far and show some other cards, I needed to get to this card while I hopefully (maybe?) have your attention. Feast your eyes on this:

Holy smokes. This Pinnacle Clear Vision of Ichiro is truly awesome and one of the coolest cards I've gotten in a long time. From its refractory shine to the clearcut portion of the card, this is so pretty it makes me forget there are no team logos on there. It’s just a very special feeling card. At first, I scanned it against a dark background, but then decided to put some white against it, and the results were even more stunning, with a hidden sky type of effect. Ichiro is awesome (and a ninja), so I gotta say this is my favorite card of the package. I know that Tony agreed as well.

There was some other prospects too - past and present, which is always appreciated since I shelp these off for TTMs and often forget to replace them.

By the way, Nick Johnson was a beast in the minors. I can't even imagine the type of hype he would create now. In A+ ball he hit .317/.456/.538 and followed it up in AA with a line of .345/.525/.548 and 123 walks! 

This is my first look at 2016 Pro Debut, which is always a favorite set of mine. I like Degano, although I’m surprised he hasn’t pitched yet this season. I also like the light blue color.

So this card is exceptionally cool and I had ZERO clue it existed. I’m a little mad at myself because I actually made a Billy Crystal custom to send to him TTM (request is pending), but I would have much rather sent this card. Maybe I still will. I love this Tristar set. The cards look beautiful signed.

A new Yankees Jose Canseco! I didn’t have this one. I am definitely starting a mini Canseco Yankees PC.

Holograms need to come back. Where the hell did they go? Denny’s needs to have cards again too.

These are originals. Tony, you shouldn’t have!

There was plenty of shiny to go around as well.

I like this Jorge Posada card commemorating the first HR at new Yankee Stadium. I was at the game and remember the homer. They lost 10-2, so kind of a damper, but still cool to know I was there.

I’ll end this with a card of the Mick. I wasn’t collecting back in the late 2000s when Topps was putting out those massive Mantle sets, so I frequently receive them in trade packages. However, I haven’t seen this one. It’s a refreshing image of his. I don’t recognize it, so nice change-up there.

Tony Burbs, thanks my friend!

P(WE)-Town Tom delivers

P-Town Tom of the blog Waiting Til Next Year is quickly becoming PWE-Town Tom. I think this is the third PWE he has sent me in the past month or so. I saw a card that Tom had won on Listia asking if it was for trade. Indeed it was. I shot him an email that said "PWE trade?" and he replied, "I already shipped it out in a PWE this morning, so yes." Classic.

Here is the card that started it. I love holograms, especially holograms of Yankees. They are such an early '90s Upper Deck thing. I would love to see them as in insert in a newer Topps release (like Opening Day??), but that would be a lot to ask, of course. You know, issuing cards that are fun.

Tom stuffed the PWE with four cards. The Yankee Stadium card is awesome. I've been using these types of cards for TTMs when I don't have a card of a player, like a prospect or a retired player from way back. I like it better than the generic "Signature" cards.

A cool oddball Mattingly from 1990 Statline.

 Miller Huggins! Maybe this will go in Joey's HOF binder. I like these cards a lot. Very nice cardstock and texture.

Lastly, Michael Kay! I actually have this card signed my Kay from a TTM I sent him, but I didn't have a second copy. Luckily, I do now.

Thanks, Tom!

Sweet hologram - Mickey Mantle

Man, I love hologram cards. I’m not sure why. I’ve been fascinated by them ever since I was a kid. I remember pulling a few in packs. I even had a couple of 1994 World Cup holograms that were insert cards from Upper Deck’s World Cup set that year. In sixth grade, my science project was about holograms.

I still love them whenever I see them. I have a bunch in my collection. One of my favorite sets was the 1993 Upper Deck Then and Now hologram set. I pulled the Nolan Ryan one from a pack. Recently, for around a dollar on eBay, I was able to score the Mickey Mantle from this set. It’s pretty sweet. I may have to chase down the entire set.