tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65924144346008850532024-02-07T23:01:40.743-06:00Comatoad on CardsComatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-42270857988270239972022-03-08T14:09:00.002-06:002022-03-08T14:09:30.441-06:00It all works out for the best<p><br />Have you ever had something happen that seemed like somewhat of a bummer at the time, but in reality, turned out to be a good thing at that particular moment in time?</p><p>Along those same lines, have you ever had the occasion, where you think you're ordering one thing, but when it arrives, it turns out to be something completely different than what you expected? </p><p>While it can be pretty frustrating, at least in this particular case, it really turned out to be better than I imagined.</p><p>Originally, I thought I was ordering a Japanese phone card of Yokozuna Hakuho.</p><p>Of course, you remember phone cards. They were all the rage in the mid-80's and 90's, those plastic cards abort the size to a credit card, which allowed users to make telephone calls using a pay phone. You would buy the card with X-amount of minutes on it. You would then insert the card into a public phone to activate it, or in some cases, you'd use the code on the card, once you scratched it off. If it was inserted into a phone, the phone would punch a little hole on the card to let you know how many credits you had left.</p><p>It wasn't long before phonecards were used as promotional giveaways, marketing incentives and charity fundraisers. Just put a picture on them, and they became collectible gold during this time period, Companies ranging from Disney, McDonald's and Coca-Cola, to IBM, Xerox, and New York Life have released collectible phonecards.</p><p>Once cell phones began to appear, the hobby quickly fell by the wayside.</p><p>As a servicemember, the cards especially came in handy. When I deployed to Germany in 1995, the local VFW, other veteran groups, and civilian organizations would purchase phone cards for us so we could stay in touch with our loved ones. You didn't have to worry if you had enough marks to make a call - you just used the card.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR55m8mluvw39WpLNTzRCtu_sdQOLhP1IjxT5V__mSDU0GCIXO_0i4300w9XpDhd0pnU-J9E6fwTyJDjy8lkzjCDRfU5Pk-qRrHF5LihhrJE7KjDBgXlsC_TOWuc373O8acFdKIkbmjMgKigDU51TGOH5mUEnMEs2P_RyvtOwF-A9KuwPxt4ezQaNoNg=s992" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR55m8mluvw39WpLNTzRCtu_sdQOLhP1IjxT5V__mSDU0GCIXO_0i4300w9XpDhd0pnU-J9E6fwTyJDjy8lkzjCDRfU5Pk-qRrHF5LihhrJE7KjDBgXlsC_TOWuc373O8acFdKIkbmjMgKigDU51TGOH5mUEnMEs2P_RyvtOwF-A9KuwPxt4ezQaNoNg=s320" width="248" /></a></div><p></p><p>As for the phone card I thought I had ordered, in reality, turned out to be a collectible Japan Rail Railways Pass. Turns out that Japan's high-speed rail system, had also made collectible Sumo Rail Passes at one time.</p><p>After doing a little research, I also discovered these gems were also part of that collectible rail pass set.</p><p>Of course, I now have to try and track down the rest of these cards.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiymOavtmpbJKMB_fqa6-pE3oaYBKPdgiRocXfCBV8LRtz3v3rhlax-G-f2kj3R4Vvl6TmLjVeicXew4X_NZ7WwU3EdpvB325T14bNNNJo7Ao72f2BFL6DEkj2LI20QdU2OdOfdlf1NuzWwRgKsRdNPdhhH3PL_x7FTmUHkpAYEXp8SbtnZvJpkgI2t5Q=s524" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiymOavtmpbJKMB_fqa6-pE3oaYBKPdgiRocXfCBV8LRtz3v3rhlax-G-f2kj3R4Vvl6TmLjVeicXew4X_NZ7WwU3EdpvB325T14bNNNJo7Ao72f2BFL6DEkj2LI20QdU2OdOfdlf1NuzWwRgKsRdNPdhhH3PL_x7FTmUHkpAYEXp8SbtnZvJpkgI2t5Q=s320" width="220" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR6VRiEZqD8FgJWZ6Zo-18BHG5Z6s6REXZvLC5gPt962afP3pudmEeTy04j48eHkuMHQP3Gl2SW4TaEGTjX3yppahGAtloqF-YKBs-Qt9cH-Fk3rxdOn0txbK9ESo-L5UhtDWrO_Mx5zu4SW-Ld3Xkjf3r42FXA9XX1bVCRXhYSsyYHZ2b61DBQmCmHg=s511" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR6VRiEZqD8FgJWZ6Zo-18BHG5Z6s6REXZvLC5gPt962afP3pudmEeTy04j48eHkuMHQP3Gl2SW4TaEGTjX3yppahGAtloqF-YKBs-Qt9cH-Fk3rxdOn0txbK9ESo-L5UhtDWrO_Mx5zu4SW-Ld3Xkjf3r42FXA9XX1bVCRXhYSsyYHZ2b61DBQmCmHg=s320" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGC5oWtfNacV6Z6cCfrC12R3J6H7UEIy-3E55eEusttBmroP7woNUDlvGAb2_2p3suX_Hiw0Ia_DGpMzW5lXABDd3L9olh7jIG_c6f7GS7lEExftI_p1ewkV9WoC9xU-Ye-7cdG_yanOgxH-vwl7xNnzQRBBvHflE0LFKkWLeSMretKtIXCRZqnq_0uw=s540" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGC5oWtfNacV6Z6cCfrC12R3J6H7UEIy-3E55eEusttBmroP7woNUDlvGAb2_2p3suX_Hiw0Ia_DGpMzW5lXABDd3L9olh7jIG_c6f7GS7lEExftI_p1ewkV9WoC9xU-Ye-7cdG_yanOgxH-vwl7xNnzQRBBvHflE0LFKkWLeSMretKtIXCRZqnq_0uw=s320" width="190" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijYhZxZTXXLwOj4qwJkRlGEJdoqPW_AaWUqgSnitXUdgWgsXhUyJCobXAftjOC-UscclKbW1gBJqnbbUhUKxRInRt0N2QzWIM6mSI2VYfK5-xIYyxyjce9CeLf6Ui_VRncx1pBHqk9K-BmgvH2rvtzE_3FDDS3DEuNQH_0O795FAMP-oS-coK1UtoiXw=s509" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="339" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijYhZxZTXXLwOj4qwJkRlGEJdoqPW_AaWUqgSnitXUdgWgsXhUyJCobXAftjOC-UscclKbW1gBJqnbbUhUKxRInRt0N2QzWIM6mSI2VYfK5-xIYyxyjce9CeLf6Ui_VRncx1pBHqk9K-BmgvH2rvtzE_3FDDS3DEuNQH_0O795FAMP-oS-coK1UtoiXw=s320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I haven't spent much time lately posting on <b><i>Comatoad on Card</i>s, </b>I hope (<b>hope</b>) to get back on the blogging binge once again. I recently had a heel spur removed and my achilleas tendon reattached, so I'll be laid up for a bit.</div><p></p><p>Hoepfully, that'll get me time to reorganize things and start blogging again.</p><p>Stay safe and careful out there.</p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-51103335635826841732021-08-13T13:59:00.000-05:002021-08-13T13:59:07.971-05:00Farewell to 'My Two Tonys' <p> <span style="font-size: medium;">As a long-time sports fan, it's kind of hard to come up with "my favorite player." With so many great teams, and so many great players that have competed over the years, it's kind of hard to name just one or two.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, I was a huge Bart Starr fan growing up. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Stan Mikita, of the Chicago Blackhawks, has to be one of my favorite hockey players. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Being a San Diego Padres fan, there have been a few players I truly enjoyed watching play.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">However, if I have to specifically name "my favorite players," of course, other than Starr, there is no doubt. That would have to be "My Two Tonys" - Tony Gwynn of the Padres and Tony Esposito, of the Blackhawks. Unfortunately, Mr. Padre, a Hall of Famer, passed away all too soon at the age of 54, from salivary gland cancer on June 16, 2014 (my wife's birthday).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, the Chicago Blackhawks have announced that my other Tony, Esposito, passed away August 10, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe it was karma, that my beloved Padres began play as an MLB expansion team in 1969. That was also the same year the Blackhawks drafted Esposito from the Montreal Canadiens for $25,000. He quickly established himself as their number one goalie, as Chicago went from last to first, while registered 15 shutouts that year (yet a modern NHL record). By the end of that year, he would win the Vezina Trophy (top goaltender) and Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I became a hockey fan in the the early 70's in Davenport, Iowa. Late at night, when atmospheric conditions were just right, I could just pick up St. Louis' KMOX FM-radio broadcasts of the St. Louis Blues Hockey team. They always began their broadcasts with the <i>St. Louis Blues March,</i> followed by "This is St. Louis Blues hockey."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At times, I could also pick up KSHE FM (St. Louis), as well as KAAY Radio's <i>Beaker Street</i> program, from Little Rock, Ark., but that's a whole 'nother story.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In any case, living in Iowa, it wasn't long before I became a Blackhwaks fan. A friend and I would pick one game each season to go to the old Chicago Stadium. He would choose games featuring the Flyers, Rangers, or Toronto. and I would select games with the Bruins, North Stars, or Blues. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Neither one of us gave a damn about the Red Wings.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">According to a release from Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz, "Tony's number 35 has long been retired, but his career with the Blackhawks actually encompassed two marvelous chapters. After all those years of making spectacular saves and hearing chants of 'TO-NEE!! TO-NEE!!' throughout the Stadium, he joined the Blackhawks as an ambassador. He was born for that role, too, as he reached out - whether by request or on his own - to fans, sponsors, and friends of our team. He rejected thousands of pucks in his first job, he never said no in his second job."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To this day, Esposito remains the all-time Blackhawks leader in shutouts (74) and career wins (418). His career record of 423-306-151 ranks 10th in League history, and include his seven consecutive seasons of 30-plus wins (1969-76). Like Gwynn, Espo's number 35 jersey was retired, in a Nov. 20, 1988 ceremony at the Stadium. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stats like that only demonstrate one facet of Tony Esposito - that of his competitive side, By the same token, how can you not like a player like Esposto, who was incredibly loyal and giving, an a genuine ambassador of the game.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, I have built up quite a collection of Tony Esposito cards over the years.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UHdvIYZ1ekvb4qU7aovu7149RsSmP4dDtbCxtdSyfGA9jwuYarZacp6AwMpqQa1vkg5eLPJMotJZPc63GISzNve9M2bxCLFXpukD3wAbcXHGRbHFMvIyOXQDPBpJSk89fOSpv1UGg7I1/s2400/Esposito+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="2400" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UHdvIYZ1ekvb4qU7aovu7149RsSmP4dDtbCxtdSyfGA9jwuYarZacp6AwMpqQa1vkg5eLPJMotJZPc63GISzNve9M2bxCLFXpukD3wAbcXHGRbHFMvIyOXQDPBpJSk89fOSpv1UGg7I1/s320/Esposito+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">Let's start off with a 2006-07 Upper Deck Trilogy Scripts SP (#TSTE), </span><span style="text-align: left;">2005-06 Ultimate Collection Ultimate Signatures (#USTE)</span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuuPkI_NtuQFiiTjBe-aFxnarFATBtPd8auL61PaEebBBE7GtGttc1Ms2oRcE20RlOw_3IxbNic93phGbsD2RfpLmGHgPmgjAahDAzRlHSlg29ctD1m1bL6aky_aDgF4qJEu8S_-_P-3i/s2048/Esposito+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuuPkI_NtuQFiiTjBe-aFxnarFATBtPd8auL61PaEebBBE7GtGttc1Ms2oRcE20RlOw_3IxbNic93phGbsD2RfpLmGHgPmgjAahDAzRlHSlg29ctD1m1bL6aky_aDgF4qJEu8S_-_P-3i/s320/Esposito+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">2007-08 The Cup Enshrinements (S/N 9/50) (#ETE), </span><span style="text-align: left;">2006-07 The Cup Scripted Swatches (S/N 16/25) (#SSTE) </span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ejvbjU6NUn97diJ-uRp628WdnF87JsziA3b8gc2r-fZfy-lZg5nDdnHD4u6AKrC1bumq-Jin455LXILDOpEzA6TP2Wg0YJJgX2SDAWlphgi6FeBvVXjcF120uLxSkLYzeISahz6J29Gg/s2424/Esposito+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="2424" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ejvbjU6NUn97diJ-uRp628WdnF87JsziA3b8gc2r-fZfy-lZg5nDdnHD4u6AKrC1bumq-Jin455LXILDOpEzA6TP2Wg0YJJgX2SDAWlphgi6FeBvVXjcF120uLxSkLYzeISahz6J29Gg/s320/Esposito+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2001-02 Greats of the Game Sticks (#3), 2009-10 Upper Deck Trilogy Honorary Swatches (#HSTE)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSBmGpLeSq5oSyXhV_qb-5a4ZiMsjJWH3BtnwbfQyGEHaR6tUg_2jCLK52pMS7owJpDL-QY6_oLcZJ6wnVhFIEY8tT8hzuwlEtD2Qy7oN8-Bn0T29CpxbJnylipgnwmmOzsvKfWTg764g/s2048/Esposito4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="2048" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSBmGpLeSq5oSyXhV_qb-5a4ZiMsjJWH3BtnwbfQyGEHaR6tUg_2jCLK52pMS7owJpDL-QY6_oLcZJ6wnVhFIEY8tT8hzuwlEtD2Qy7oN8-Bn0T29CpxbJnylipgnwmmOzsvKfWTg764g/s320/Esposito4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">2008 Americana Celebrity Cuts Century Silver (S/N 11/50) (#89), 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee (#153), 2003-04 Parkhurst Original Six Cleveland National (S/N 8/10) (#97), 2013 Sportskings National Convention VIP (#VIP09), 2009-10 Upper Deck Champ's Red (#22), 2004-05 UD Legends Classics Silver (S/N 63/75) (#91).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Blackhawks beat writer Bob Verdi, quotes Tony's brother Phil in a recent story on Blackhawks.com, "Just so much fun to be around. Easy for me to say, because he was my brother," Phil said. "But ask anybody. Ask his teammates, ask his neighbors. Laughs, a few beers, and more laughs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"We'll laugh again about Tony, but not with him ever again. And we're not laughing now. Someday. But not now. Not today or tomorrow. So fast. So soon. Gone."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like Tony Gwynn, Tony Esposito will be sorely missed in the Comatoad household. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">RIP TO-NEE!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay safe and healthy out there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-78755902179451798182021-06-21T12:43:00.000-05:002021-06-21T12:43:21.639-05:00What's your oldest sports card?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Going through my myriad number of cards the other day raised an interesting question and one that I hadn't really thought much about - What's the oldest card in your card collection?</span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you're a fan of a San Diego Padres baseball team that has only been in existence since 1969, along with the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Kansas City Royals, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals), and Seattle Pilots (now the Milwaukee Brewers), it's a no-brainer.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZxpLljZN-MwiSoP8x_jk_QE5LTqw3rrMvlSRa7XNQeOVYK8qci86aetVwlEqtb1GeS6Zfv4DgYdFxhy2d-OrBW7827r1oACP2HHLDl0itShy7Dk2aaBEdaJlKhKcCD-ne5kemora43Lc/s1050/ollie+brown+front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZxpLljZN-MwiSoP8x_jk_QE5LTqw3rrMvlSRa7XNQeOVYK8qci86aetVwlEqtb1GeS6Zfv4DgYdFxhy2d-OrBW7827r1oACP2HHLDl0itShy7Dk2aaBEdaJlKhKcCD-ne5kemora43Lc/s320/ollie+brown+front.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe4pahxymLFSN9HEDZmoLUOv3AxqnJUgIJsA0bMvnLcUoLUY8pO12N2ZB1wYIINcS4YPWgpcIQ7wgM70D8eFVh9qV3U7_ydwTDLj206qZgWifgkeZnMdSJRfYSP5bMR2pnt1NeGaA-l4h/s560/Brwon+back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe4pahxymLFSN9HEDZmoLUOv3AxqnJUgIJsA0bMvnLcUoLUY8pO12N2ZB1wYIINcS4YPWgpcIQ7wgM70D8eFVh9qV3U7_ydwTDLj206qZgWifgkeZnMdSJRfYSP5bMR2pnt1NeGaA-l4h/s320/Brwon+back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ollie Brown, the original San Diego Padre, was San Diego's first pick in the 1968 baseball expansion draft.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Brown, an outfielder w</span>ho could throw the ball on a rope from far right field to third base, led the Padres in batting average in two of their first three seasons. He hit .272 as a Padre, with 20 homers and 208 RBIs in 458 games before being traded to the Oakland A's in May 1972. Brown passed away in April 2015, due to mesothelioma. He was 71 years old.</div><div><br /></div><div>My other sports passion involves the Green Bay Packers. As a life-long Packers fan, and Lombardi-era aficionado, the oldest Packer card honor is held by Dave "Hawg" Hanner and his 1955 Bowman card (#131). </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9aJuP9SSYZNy2VHGJtRfpwoQMeoXAayolpNRXVbiAjq6EHUs2LlsmXuyPZuarPoiaZpJXwwH1wtQ8pf6lO5k0BvKvBD2EgS8SvAtNpywZwR8DU5OKKM6-ydozBFyh479FrDEjfxdsAZU/s1206/Hanner+Front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="856" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9aJuP9SSYZNy2VHGJtRfpwoQMeoXAayolpNRXVbiAjq6EHUs2LlsmXuyPZuarPoiaZpJXwwH1wtQ8pf6lO5k0BvKvBD2EgS8SvAtNpywZwR8DU5OKKM6-ydozBFyh479FrDEjfxdsAZU/s320/Hanner+Front.jpg" /></a></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzi8dUK9ijBi-jqmttHdxs0F5T2Mua0F5coEMpVQod__-g642fTA_KeYPxwBBSQM0w7UqwiNDJuv5_lm5-4ItRCGTAAyngKgphQUkBk94entXLBt47cl5J8aH9VfuOcrF6vABo6Ctas-M/s1230/Hanner+Back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzi8dUK9ijBi-jqmttHdxs0F5T2Mua0F5coEMpVQod__-g642fTA_KeYPxwBBSQM0w7UqwiNDJuv5_lm5-4ItRCGTAAyngKgphQUkBk94entXLBt47cl5J8aH9VfuOcrF6vABo6Ctas-M/s320/Hanner+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: left;">Hanner was the anchor of Green Bay's defensive line for most of his 13 seasons, after being selected in the fifth round (52th overall) of the 1952 draft. He played in 160 (out of 164) regular season games, three of which were missed during his rookie season. He </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;">was Green Bay's defensive line coach (1965-71), defensive coordinator (1971-79) and assistant head coach (1975-79). In 2008, he suffered a heart attack, and died two days later.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the hockey side, my oldest card would be my 1952 Parkhurst Gus "Hardrock" Mortson (#27), a Chicago Blackhawks Defenseman. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRdyrKw0TjLwTaaKcamyAx15VM3a0UxC9_VUS6-jmiNRSn0_8VhkU_68IhGG9JPOvB9SvTj5txy9S6tQlBAx8xc5A7-sjddtDEA4zI_poVyKD_k4bl5v9StYIpWQeTARlEFXcgJeCHAfZ/s919/IMG_20210617_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRdyrKw0TjLwTaaKcamyAx15VM3a0UxC9_VUS6-jmiNRSn0_8VhkU_68IhGG9JPOvB9SvTj5txy9S6tQlBAx8xc5A7-sjddtDEA4zI_poVyKD_k4bl5v9StYIpWQeTARlEFXcgJeCHAfZ/s320/IMG_20210617_0002.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRmki265uVnbt4GF7zHCL_HA3jhELtNz4P3RlmW4df4OJ027K-Cer4kLY6aMTqvC7g9q4w3Y_1IrcJCelK2Q679BT3QXPc0A8R3kILMrHFa37q5t2Zire-vuOwMuK8OsrsMtI0BxVK6MY/s950/IMG_20210617_0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="659" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRmki265uVnbt4GF7zHCL_HA3jhELtNz4P3RlmW4df4OJ027K-Cer4kLY6aMTqvC7g9q4w3Y_1IrcJCelK2Q679BT3QXPc0A8R3kILMrHFa37q5t2Zire-vuOwMuK8OsrsMtI0BxVK6MY/s320/IMG_20210617_0004.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">He started out with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1946, winning four Stanley Cups, before being traded to the Blackhawks, in a deal that brought Hawks goalie Harry Lumley to Toronto. He retired in 1958-59, after part of a season with the Detroit Red Wings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>When it comes to non-sport, and I'm not entirely sure how I picked it up, would have to be this 1912 Cries of London, "Do You Want Any Matches" (#15) card. Apparently, it was a 25-card cigarette set produced by John Player & Sons, based on a series of oil paintings by Francis Wheatley, depicting real-life images of street sellers in the late 1700's.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjq6aYDj2YKMtmm9VazidHcUtWp0djHP3R7YraRZe1ZSj6y6m55RcxWyZvJzLxVQXZLUht-Et6gBQBnqWoCSI2cIwoJhLGakdS1qqnG1xwfIpWiauLY5auuQ0emD_83deIrpazgwxoaZz/s559/Matches+front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjq6aYDj2YKMtmm9VazidHcUtWp0djHP3R7YraRZe1ZSj6y6m55RcxWyZvJzLxVQXZLUht-Et6gBQBnqWoCSI2cIwoJhLGakdS1qqnG1xwfIpWiauLY5auuQ0emD_83deIrpazgwxoaZz/s320/Matches+front.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy3Sk35fxFhKnS5VdbAcb-mNbxGSqxNUhlWGd6xng6ki-vZinhVeOjSkhe9OvPl7onmoLc7Co6Bfym8M4P_RCt2qTnqK__fvrVXCrLBfQLJb4M7u3VZFkb6Ebx9arD3-u21PH5GeJpopt/s543/Matches+Back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy3Sk35fxFhKnS5VdbAcb-mNbxGSqxNUhlWGd6xng6ki-vZinhVeOjSkhe9OvPl7onmoLc7Co6Bfym8M4P_RCt2qTnqK__fvrVXCrLBfQLJb4M7u3VZFkb6Ebx9arD3-u21PH5GeJpopt/s320/Matches+Back.jpg" /></a></div></div></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, while a 1912 card is quite old, I have yet another card that's even older, and it comes from the realm of Track and Field, going all the way back to the 1910-12 T218 Champions set.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbVGcJtDr_sBxlj107o21dalXnqwRD1PJwR1i5Gshjnk3fpAqxxXrcWSBJxCtfno3YyuFyYlUI5PrJFRav_94Pi73QtYcS_4xv5tOxEwHY_7fbV7df7v1U7nHCvcojTCHNz8iaPoqTsuB/s935/Ahearne+Front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="808" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbVGcJtDr_sBxlj107o21dalXnqwRD1PJwR1i5Gshjnk3fpAqxxXrcWSBJxCtfno3YyuFyYlUI5PrJFRav_94Pi73QtYcS_4xv5tOxEwHY_7fbV7df7v1U7nHCvcojTCHNz8iaPoqTsuB/s320/Ahearne+Front.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTab6rhvWdt4vm9BGOCuMzGY-2I734lxWokqQBlfKPf1ypIlliicDrCVEo0ewGu25Z1djqThH76Q6_7oYTi49FzJ9AW8kpnXjU6PP9yFu6HfnLPAx8F6WjYpgNvuPP8Z4fLDlR8I60ne_g/s935/Ahearne+back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="872" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTab6rhvWdt4vm9BGOCuMzGY-2I734lxWokqQBlfKPf1ypIlliicDrCVEo0ewGu25Z1djqThH76Q6_7oYTi49FzJ9AW8kpnXjU6PP9yFu6HfnLPAx8F6WjYpgNvuPP8Z4fLDlR8I60ne_g/s320/Ahearne+back.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After immigrating from Ireland in 1909, Dan Ahearne (Ahearn after immigrating) was a triple jump specialist, winning eight U.S. AAU titles over nine years and setting a world record in 1909 with a 50-foot, two-inch jump. Dan competed in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, finishing sixth in the triple jump. He later became a policeman and died Dec. 20, 1942, at the age of 54.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, now the question is, what are the oldest cards you have in your collection?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stay safe and healthy out there!</div>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-45700926277674232192021-06-15T13:28:00.003-05:002021-06-15T13:28:45.637-05:00Life on the road<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">A great California-based blogger, Fuji, of <b><i>The Chronicles of Fuji</i></b> recently wrote about how he was considering purchasing a new toy, a 2021 Toyota Supra, his "holy grail" car. He said it's been 13 years since he purchased his last car and there are days when he's pumped and ready to buy it, while other mornings, he wakes up and thinks to himself, "This is a toy I just don't need."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to admit, I know exactly what those dark thoughts are swirling through his head, as our season of indecision occurred last February. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It all began innocently enough when my wife and I began watching the half-hour show,</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i> Going' RV</i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, on the Travel Channel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to their website, "Hard-working couples and families decide to ditch ordinary life for an adventure out on the open road. Take the ultimate ride as they go on a shopping trip to find their perfect RV. Whether it's upgrading an existing motor home, or going all out for a new one with all the bells and whistles, find out what happens when daring homeowners trade walls for wheels."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">They take a tour through three different campers, whether a mobile home or pull-along, and then make a decision as to which one. They are then shown enjoying their first camping trip in their new rig. </span></p><p>So, last February, we went to a local RV lot to <u>price</u> a Motor Home - we had no intention of purchasing one at that time. Both of our cars would be paid off in June, and that's when we thought we'd maybe purchase a camper.</p><p>After looking at a few RVs, we then saw this 28-foot, 2012 Thor Four Winds Siesta. It had been on the lot only a couple of weeks after the owner traded it in for a bigger outfit. Needless to say, it was love at first sight and after a few conflicted hours, we were the proud owners of a used RV, with only 19,200 miles on the odometer.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D4w09kIASOa5SEPYPzQC46YsNVAxHEhrUK8cqB2KdgN4crZ-I9OGgE3BTmTFLnB6y37dbIuYGaFtMUzuDaDmE5i6ogeSrHdgcY4NCSDm0AAlB6qBbwoavWwc0qhtl92dB7s2Ha36fRuI/s2048/Siesta+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D4w09kIASOa5SEPYPzQC46YsNVAxHEhrUK8cqB2KdgN4crZ-I9OGgE3BTmTFLnB6y37dbIuYGaFtMUzuDaDmE5i6ogeSrHdgcY4NCSDm0AAlB6qBbwoavWwc0qhtl92dB7s2Ha36fRuI/s320/Siesta+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Since mid-April, we'll camp for a couple of weekends, and then take a weekend off. I actually drove it to work on our last day of school. As soon as our last bell rang, I hopped in and drove it to our campsite, where I decompressed for a week, My wife joined me as soon as she was off work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-yCvjoUR5-L1o-n-jje43_mT10wNqu2TsNpzebQKYYLZYNqdWF4rbyWBsE0ShAC_uQ4UxixAUUw4n75Sc6x5hDfNrdDUB3XxjtR0Q9MB3CRyB-fz9WXIR7UV6kyMj5zcgGJO_P83RYC6/s960/Cutty%2527s+-+May+14%252C+2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-yCvjoUR5-L1o-n-jje43_mT10wNqu2TsNpzebQKYYLZYNqdWF4rbyWBsE0ShAC_uQ4UxixAUUw4n75Sc6x5hDfNrdDUB3XxjtR0Q9MB3CRyB-fz9WXIR7UV6kyMj5zcgGJO_P83RYC6/s320/Cutty%2527s+-+May+14%252C+2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>We're basically traveling within the state while we get used to it (my wife isn't ready to get behind the wheel yet). However, we do hope to hit Wisconsin's Door County before school starts in mid-August (I am a Packer fan after all), but we'll have to wait and see.</p><p>But perhaps the RV seed was planted even earlier, when I had the opportunity to actually have a beer with Cubs pitcher Rod Beck here in Des Moines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUEUxiZCcmqzO2UfqlYqgCUV-gBJyM2tQ4XAoMBPDU8CfYgY9Mxnus1bkKyoQE9mSfk21T6kJxnBoxPQF_PJPwZdqf0S_twr-MkdFtFWKuR9HO5y8N1N1gn5Ktg3kSbS-sj9kZlZljrrq/s400/s-l400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUEUxiZCcmqzO2UfqlYqgCUV-gBJyM2tQ4XAoMBPDU8CfYgY9Mxnus1bkKyoQE9mSfk21T6kJxnBoxPQF_PJPwZdqf0S_twr-MkdFtFWKuR9HO5y8N1N1gn5Ktg3kSbS-sj9kZlZljrrq/s320/s-l400.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1999 Fleer Ultra Rod Beck (#41)</div><p>Beck, who was on a rehab assignment in 2003 with the Iowa Cubs after surgery on his right arm, was living in a 36-foot Winnebago right behind the centerfield scoreboard at Sec Taylor Stadium. A buddy and I had heard Beck was living in an RV behind the stadium, so he bet me to get his autograph. </p><p>Beck was very personable and even gave us a Coors Light as we talked baseball, his career, and how we was working his way back to the big leagues, while "waiting for the right fit." It was a great night and Beck was a great host and an absolute hoot.</p><p>So we now have the opportunity to visit distant sporting events, card shows, and perhaps even meet some of those fellow bloggers whom I've only seen on line, in person.</p><p>After all, this is now how we roll.</p><p>Stay safe and healthy out there.</p>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-22045105289211718152021-06-09T10:29:00.001-05:002021-06-09T10:29:06.502-05:00Show me the cards!<p> Whatever happened to the sports card industry?</p><p>Over the past few months, it's been getting harder and harder to find sports cards at your big, chain department stores. We still have a card shop here in town, but with my schedule, I usually can't get there before their 6 p.m. closing time. As my weekends are usually ear-marked with honey-dos, I usually don't have much opportunity to shop then, either.</p><p>As for the local Walmart stores, all I find are empty shelves and a few collectible card games or comics. As for your local Target store, you can simply forget about finding <u>any</u> sports cards.</p><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks to dispute back in May at a Brookfield, Wisc. Target store, the retail chain is no longer carrying sports cards. You can still order them online, but where trading cards once lined their shelves, you'll now only only find a plethora of Magic the Gathering cards. However, when it comes to Topps, Donruss, NBA, NHL, or MLB, or anything regarding your favorite sports team, you can forget about it. You won't find any of them (or Pokemon cards, for that matter) gracing the shelves of your local store.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />It seems four men allegedly assaulted another man in the parking the lot as he left the store with his sports card purchase. The victim drew a gun (since he had a conceal and carry permit), and his attackers ran off. They were, however, later arrested.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLkXlE6vNW2aZtZ_L-VX8PiO7geoSXxcbaMIHVhlASXeF1xrN3Vui-445EPTRvmGmfRUi-Y8Y_s8cNPHvEKW3uJgHRtBT1FCvMAJVp0Ek5WuayhNYrAfXmvIs6ADgf0UynaVsKKuoWvKJ/s294/Target.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLkXlE6vNW2aZtZ_L-VX8PiO7geoSXxcbaMIHVhlASXeF1xrN3Vui-445EPTRvmGmfRUi-Y8Y_s8cNPHvEKW3uJgHRtBT1FCvMAJVp0Ek5WuayhNYrAfXmvIs6ADgf0UynaVsKKuoWvKJ/s0/Target.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Since their top priority is the safety of their guests and employees, according to a Target spokesman, "Out of an abundance of caution, we've decided to temporarily suspend the sale of MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokeman trading cards within our stores, effective May 14."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not only that, once you do find a few packs, they're more expensive then ever, as I discovered at a post-COVID card show. Gone were the much beloved dime boxes, replaced by common quarter boxes. I can't even imagine what a booster box of cards, much less an actual box, will set you back today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, that's it for the complaining. My broadest apologies.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On a lighter note, I will, however, show you three more of the Padres cards I picked up at the one post-COVID card show I have attended.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k0HYW9_B2x_VpSWYc5bMnihcE6aARQN0HpRfHoKW17Fwz08L0G7GtyCYItenhSG_Ula_hCfVR0uFeQ01TtvdTnYNJ6pVkI0qemuXysitoqDLOpk32UOPkjhpFy4xyciKwZsZxHyIyCY_/s2348/IMG_20210609_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6k0HYW9_B2x_VpSWYc5bMnihcE6aARQN0HpRfHoKW17Fwz08L0G7GtyCYItenhSG_Ula_hCfVR0uFeQ01TtvdTnYNJ6pVkI0qemuXysitoqDLOpk32UOPkjhpFy4xyciKwZsZxHyIyCY_/s320/IMG_20210609_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2010 Topps Gypsy Queen Fortune Teller Mini Fernando Tatis, Jr. (#FTM16), 2020 Topps Opening Day Red Foil Tommy Pham (#74) and a 2020 Panini Prism Pham (#29).</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Stay safe and healthy out there.</div>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-25338623583951060852021-03-03T09:04:00.000-06:002021-03-03T09:04:17.893-06:002018 BBM Sumo 5-Card Pack<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Since I've developed a relatively expensive interest in the Japanese sport of Sumo, I've only been able to order a few cards here and there off of E-Bay and COMC. I haven't quite got the grasp of how to use Yahoo! Japan, and Buyee, a Japanese proxy service, just has me absolutely stymied.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Recently, however, I was able to order my first actual pack of BBM Sumo cards early last month, picking up a pack of 2018 BBM Sumo Cards off E-Bay.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLARU4T_pILUTREWEd5Gnx47m-s0AgRrgjkNdzH8nsOZB0E5vpJ7-cBa_5wYyDAfTatQ2SiiJZzBztHczOAXg-rpx2ElvzPZ49i59ZRtj-AbNqy_itaJyPL8-y_9hyphenhyphenHufGG15fj7M0ElK/s1462/IMG_20210208_0008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="937" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLARU4T_pILUTREWEd5Gnx47m-s0AgRrgjkNdzH8nsOZB0E5vpJ7-cBa_5wYyDAfTatQ2SiiJZzBztHczOAXg-rpx2ElvzPZ49i59ZRtj-AbNqy_itaJyPL8-y_9hyphenhyphenHufGG15fj7M0ElK/s320/IMG_20210208_0008.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The BBM 2018 Sumo set contains 90 cards and each pack has a total of only five cards inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjyM1JfgzBQI6fr9MvrDft2ZI61XJE_JpVDRoW79bKfqI_v0RN1Kcjs4HkwNA3IU5Gf2c4q5O9Fsh-3N3zW1r6mxH0twcjbhNNylHvM4JpWjRg7MuGIfoQAUUPsBV5v4q3XhNx7-vJfYU/s1688/IMG_20210208_0014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="1688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjyM1JfgzBQI6fr9MvrDft2ZI61XJE_JpVDRoW79bKfqI_v0RN1Kcjs4HkwNA3IU5Gf2c4q5O9Fsh-3N3zW1r6mxH0twcjbhNNylHvM4JpWjRg7MuGIfoQAUUPsBV5v4q3XhNx7-vJfYU/s320/IMG_20210208_0014.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Here are cards for Kyokushuho Koki (#44) and Yoshikaze Masatsugu (#07), spreading salt to purify the dohyo before their match. After making his professional debut in 2007, Kyokushuho's current rank is Juyo #5. Yoshikaze, meanwhile, retired in 2019, after beginning his professional career in 2004, taking on the toshiyori (elder in the Japan Sumo Association) name, Nakamura. </span><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"> </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O64MgK5zHGAW36IID08lLzTHinSkoJcnxbOLCf55vb6oxeWSytzlBmUks_RtEPP5uuww_tk14k-MqC8t3kYED84b2batYMFRImQFIZd6yX1aLvE2ti4mrWSRj5kv4M8HiVZQkw2NQExk/s2552/IMG_20210208_0012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2O64MgK5zHGAW36IID08lLzTHinSkoJcnxbOLCf55vb6oxeWSytzlBmUks_RtEPP5uuww_tk14k-MqC8t3kYED84b2batYMFRImQFIZd6yX1aLvE2ti4mrWSRj5kv4M8HiVZQkw2NQExk/s320/IMG_20210208_0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Young Hopeful Ura Kazuki (#75), Yamaguchi Masahiro (#61) (retired) and Kotoshogiku Kazuhiro (#09) round out this pack. Ura debuted in 2015, winning the jonokuchi division (lowest sumo division) championship in his first tourney. Kotoshogiku, who retired last year, assumes the name of Hidenoyama, after also becoming a toshiyori. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was definitely pumped to bust my first pack of sumo cards, but it's going to take me awhile to build up a collection. That's okay, too. It just gives me the opportunity to savor and learn more about one of Japan's most ancient sports.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stay safe and healthy out there.</div><p></p>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-45897853277834391232021-02-26T09:11:00.004-06:002021-02-26T09:11:36.303-06:00COMC Delivery (Finally)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember the old Heinz ketchup commercial, with people waiting and waiting and waiting for this thick, red condiment to finally seep out of the top of the bottle, while Carley Simon's "Anticipation," played in the background?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's how I felt when I finally received a shipment of more than 150 cards from COMC's Redmond, Wash. location. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I continue to pick up the odd bit of change by doing their inventory challenge and purchased numerous cards over the past winter, spring and summer. Since they said there could be delays, I waited until late summer to order the cards, so they would arrive well before the Christmas holidays (or so I thought). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">According to COMC, I requested this shipment on August 24, 2020. While it had an estimated shipping date of Nov. 24, 2020, it didn't actually ship until Jan. 10, 2021. I wasn't able to physically hold all these cardboard goodies in my grubby little hands until Jan. 15, 2021.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you do the math, that's about a half year from when I first requested shipment, until the time I received them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O2a708DQVrvpMZT0ThGYIen2-hoy0E8rSnvvVUDk09JTdr2vqylVjx2BUc1Do9dhpbCIp0QPkiM0Y5L3dCk6qEBzkby-wO273L_DxMnWXzDyFiH0cVBbh39KCklG937fg_8r9ok6We-j/s1640/COMC-Batman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_O2a708DQVrvpMZT0ThGYIen2-hoy0E8rSnvvVUDk09JTdr2vqylVjx2BUc1Do9dhpbCIp0QPkiM0Y5L3dCk6qEBzkby-wO273L_DxMnWXzDyFiH0cVBbh39KCklG937fg_8r9ok6We-j/s320/COMC-Batman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh well, enough griping and let's start with some fun stuff. Here's a pair of 1966 Batman Black Bat cards, featuring The Bat-Gasmask (#43) and Umbrella Duel (#23). I still love Batman - my school kids get a kick out of my Batman phone case.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingQSUOj8-9OTFB1ohZeZ8Tg2sGdcBDhmeaEC6Xb4n64ous9_CDAp8KWmTavbxZISZDFkJ-rmpmvhGCORDlS6t8jYBJUJeFKUYJh32j3GALDvkBrczi1yWxjnGiszQDvjJWrUdhaGLFM3Q/s2552/COMC+Santas+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingQSUOj8-9OTFB1ohZeZ8Tg2sGdcBDhmeaEC6Xb4n64ous9_CDAp8KWmTavbxZISZDFkJ-rmpmvhGCORDlS6t8jYBJUJeFKUYJh32j3GALDvkBrczi1yWxjnGiszQDvjJWrUdhaGLFM3Q/s320/COMC+Santas+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for some kindly Saint Nick cards, I picked up a 1991 Parkhurst (#SC), 2016 Panini Black Friday Panini Collection Wedges (S/N 23/50) (#25) and a 1993 Skybox Nightmare Before Christmas International Promo (#S1).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eCyqLsueL978VC_7-DBIrZs8jyPmI50YjiicNZPJG_jFVp-D9pxIffCtVsMVdDI2MUY2mV4LRRoIEceJs8NwkJmAZIEqa9frm5n8K9MHGSdAK4YRNRRdLeFuMnpLMcAVMTNLJ21QvWvj/s2472/IMG_20210207_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="2472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eCyqLsueL978VC_7-DBIrZs8jyPmI50YjiicNZPJG_jFVp-D9pxIffCtVsMVdDI2MUY2mV4LRRoIEceJs8NwkJmAZIEqa9frm5n8K9MHGSdAK4YRNRRdLeFuMnpLMcAVMTNLJ21QvWvj/s320/IMG_20210207_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I must have been especially nice, because I also received a 1995 Coca-Cola Series 4 Santa Card (#S-32) and a pair of 1996 Coca-Cola Sprint Cel Phone Cards - Santa With Toy Bag (#18) and Santa They Remembered Me (#19).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA2ceGiSnoIifn1vqEZjBeiFh64zUvZytBrHDsjj5RVa7d-AZOa75bzVDU_biqT-qOsr0k73X7_rVIE7dKt0kXd3VHnAtea7CcdBN7IkuNbnTWZKpKDYtlWVxNgMwyc4u7tJZ6aCcZ1y0/s2932/Gwynn+COMC+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="2932" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA2ceGiSnoIifn1vqEZjBeiFh64zUvZytBrHDsjj5RVa7d-AZOa75bzVDU_biqT-qOsr0k73X7_rVIE7dKt0kXd3VHnAtea7CcdBN7IkuNbnTWZKpKDYtlWVxNgMwyc4u7tJZ6aCcZ1y0/s320/Gwynn+COMC+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, there's also the requisite amount of Tony Gwynn cards in any COMC shipment I receive. Here's his 2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball Star Signs (#BSS42), 2019 Topps Franchise Feats (#FF23), 2019 Topps Allen and Ginter Gold Border (#77), and a 1985 Topps Rub Downs, with Lloyd Moseby and Buddy Bell (#3).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlRtbrYtvs4E4buSew0V5rp0M4jbtLY2mvkyM3V3l0-9abIfdmyR9F_oEg2Rn4B3nLERe-xxn2SCkj2m9kTGk5NXlZNllvj5TYyD-gp2GWzZISNfwKzB4DWGZ4hTrlUz77K-8Pbx9EN9K/s2883/IMG_20210208_0006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="2883" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlRtbrYtvs4E4buSew0V5rp0M4jbtLY2mvkyM3V3l0-9abIfdmyR9F_oEg2Rn4B3nLERe-xxn2SCkj2m9kTGk5NXlZNllvj5TYyD-gp2GWzZISNfwKzB4DWGZ4hTrlUz77K-8Pbx9EN9K/s320/IMG_20210208_0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few Padres cards for those cold winter nights (including another Gwynn I forgot to include in the previous bunch) - 2020 Topps Gyspy Queen Fortune Teller Mini Fernando Tatis, Jr. (#FTM16), 2020 Topps '85 Topps Silver Pack Chrome Manny Machado (#85C32), 2018 Topps Walmart Holiday Snowflake Joey Lucchesi RC (#HMW40), and a 2019 Topps Historic Through Lines, with Stan Musial (#HTL18).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpTnBSi_PPOjNLbbp9iH8gofxucR6bVCHYHOKwDtHUVlxhJg1RvPh0DCzq73kqpKhBIXdXfS0Ehe3Jd76d3aDzYvvjwBQ1RqAbsUt49z5Lp_3QvHQvNyPpgm65yo1wznlgwzYOQW0OCQx/s2958/COMC_+GC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="2958" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpTnBSi_PPOjNLbbp9iH8gofxucR6bVCHYHOKwDtHUVlxhJg1RvPh0DCzq73kqpKhBIXdXfS0Ehe3Jd76d3aDzYvvjwBQ1RqAbsUt49z5Lp_3QvHQvNyPpgm65yo1wznlgwzYOQW0OCQx/s320/COMC_+GC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>As for my Japanese baseball card collection, these 1993 Kanebo Gold Cards, produced by BBM, are much like the old, raised-surface 3-D, Action-Packed cards. These particular cards feature Tomonori Maeda (#005), Yonetoshi Kawamata (#036), Kaname Yashiki (#006), and Kozo Shoda (#008).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcE2TfAy8KMCJXi2qzIvojtsLCeHSvg2d4BJablc3pA_Lgtslyk-NycqDLpMsHAiy82YKF8tfvk6_Rv3H2KD2PA0ZrbTNpt4bBgnBGdQD176F6gy2uxL_OtReLdrBP_fq_ZI0tQEnWTVO/s2048/IMG_20210208_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1827" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcE2TfAy8KMCJXi2qzIvojtsLCeHSvg2d4BJablc3pA_Lgtslyk-NycqDLpMsHAiy82YKF8tfvk6_Rv3H2KD2PA0ZrbTNpt4bBgnBGdQD176F6gy2uxL_OtReLdrBP_fq_ZI0tQEnWTVO/s320/IMG_20210208_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Rounding out my Japanese baseball cards are a 2000 Konami Field of Nine Yuuki (#64), 2013 BBM Mitsuo Yoshikawa (#169), 2016 BBM Rookie Edition Toyoki Tanaka (#47), 1999 BBM Hiroshi Shibakus (#187) and a 1991 BBM Yasunori Ohshima (#132).<div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuW_HlqDanQkA0CTQ699S1oIIzpaV1CaDU2fCTQU5eitASckrPLGrRo0fvefbaBVQXqVFawC8ZgMEC0GfysFSayaZzJ0HRrRZrh3HLQTDQvsCs-mpX2Nd0jOS_yHvgjQorkcCtc4IXI5K/s1768/IMG_20210208_0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuW_HlqDanQkA0CTQ699S1oIIzpaV1CaDU2fCTQU5eitASckrPLGrRo0fvefbaBVQXqVFawC8ZgMEC0GfysFSayaZzJ0HRrRZrh3HLQTDQvsCs-mpX2Nd0jOS_yHvgjQorkcCtc4IXI5K/s320/IMG_20210208_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As for hockey, I'm not collecting as much as I used to, but this 2017-18 Upper Deck MVP Green Script Corey Crawford (#40) and 2019-20 Upper Deck UD Portraits Alexander Ovechkin (#P30) particularly called out to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>And of course, I received a bunch of cards for my track and field collection, but perhaps I'll save those for a later date.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was this collection worth the wait? Yes and no - I finally received my order, but the anticipation between when I ordered it and when they shipped it was painful. Maybe they should have been a bit more realistic on their estimates, or even used a "TBA" for the shipping date.</div><div><br /></div><div>In any case, there here, they're mine, they're real and they're fantastic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay safe and healthy out there.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p></div>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-77306139902217140842021-01-14T09:03:00.001-06:002021-01-14T09:03:28.125-06:00A Sports Card Show in the time of COVID<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Believe it or not, Iowa has been among the top states listed amongst the COVID-19 hotbeds. Fortunately, just before our latest COVID flare-up, I was able to attend a card show in October for the first time in ages. Usually, it's hosted at the Urbandale American Legion, with dealers coming as far away as Nebraska and northern Iowa.</p><p>However, for whatever reason, the American Legion is no longer hosting these Sunday card shows. Since August, a new bar in Ankeny, Uptown Garage Brewing Co,, has been hosting this monthly event. I arrived at 9 a.m., and stayed for an hour or so. I have to say I was amused by the waitress' asking the dealers if they wanted anything to drink, that early in the morning.</p><p>Needless to say, whether it's a COVID-19 thing, or whatever, things seem to have changed quite a bit since my last show. For beginners, there were only about a half dozen dealers at the show (Usually there's 7-10). Gone were the nickel and dime boxes - the cheapest loose card box that could be found was 25 cents.</p><p>And yes, all the dealers and the majority of those in attendance were wearing masks.</p><p>While there was plenty of 2020 baseball product to be found, hockey was in short supply. Besides the "dime" boxes, it seemed as if most of the cards were priced a bit more on the expensive side. I even heard one dealer talking about a certain box running over a $1,200 (I didn't catch which one it was). I love my cardboard, but that's just pure craziness.</p><p>I was more than happy, however, to be able to find a plethora of Padres in the quarter boxes.</p><p>Where would you like to start with the highlights? Old school Padres players?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnXGfK4HTW21kgRc8L3BqfI-D1fJBPt3k9mG5s-vImV-elsKQLcC7MMtN5_RLwDxGCsX0I7ofF_xFht8hx5bV6xaDQ_9pajjxRM1VmMSNGzb2Q6AVzeZOY2SUSrZzcxqx5Sa5FaKbIKBH/s2406/IMG_20210113_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnXGfK4HTW21kgRc8L3BqfI-D1fJBPt3k9mG5s-vImV-elsKQLcC7MMtN5_RLwDxGCsX0I7ofF_xFht8hx5bV6xaDQ_9pajjxRM1VmMSNGzb2Q6AVzeZOY2SUSrZzcxqx5Sa5FaKbIKBH/s320/IMG_20210113_0010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2018 Donruss Dave Winfield (#112), 2017 Topps Gallery Hall of Fame Winfield (#HOF14), and a 2010 Topps Update Willie McCovey SP (#US15B).</div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How about shiny, new cards for that special Tony Gwynn Collection?</div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWlAcZoAC7y69-eYEeDI7zq3sqef1eNdURm_yrZovFU6NyGv3Nz-kC2yQdZT6X5iJu1pJuvV751-liNYkSIVHWr3iToRtSAs8WVxGk-WXzfiOitwx8acA-9Gy5ddo739Yd_nDo4vIysB2/s2535/IMG_20210113_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="2535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWlAcZoAC7y69-eYEeDI7zq3sqef1eNdURm_yrZovFU6NyGv3Nz-kC2yQdZT6X5iJu1pJuvV751-liNYkSIVHWr3iToRtSAs8WVxGk-WXzfiOitwx8acA-9Gy5ddo739Yd_nDo4vIysB2/s320/IMG_20210113_0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>2019 Topps Chrome Update 150 Years of Professional Baseball (#150C24), 1997 SP Special FX (#17), and a 2016 Topps Chrome Holiday Mega Box 3,000 Hits Club (#3000C12).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How about shiny, bright, colorful cards?</div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2Gn1Pzacb2dgqWpU9Uj1hLbx3YngEmsQDG6W5seWaKgBJ6Y1ZWFOZIe347u-zBgu9o1RxJbY-ROzv7NZHMV_an9fk1wM7BYZx52ns6GIFrReUydyZRmw9cZMVw3_vQFr9FTFgZhktH6i/s2948/IMG_20210113_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="2948" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2Gn1Pzacb2dgqWpU9Uj1hLbx3YngEmsQDG6W5seWaKgBJ6Y1ZWFOZIe347u-zBgu9o1RxJbY-ROzv7NZHMV_an9fk1wM7BYZx52ns6GIFrReUydyZRmw9cZMVw3_vQFr9FTFgZhktH6i/s320/IMG_20210113_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>2020 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors Adrian Morejon (#86), 2019 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors Eric Hosmer (#174), 2020 Topps Chrome Pink Refractors Andres Munoz (#149), and a 2018 Topps Chrome Update Pink Refractors Eric Hosmer (#HMT39).</p><p>Perhaps a few cards of one of the Padres' hottest players?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp54imHjZFPNEdOs7YGkZ8Gh0jNGbnvWk43yDnd-2qogI6kE5H4HNt4R1rxrzxygylpBBqz9NQ4sOUyG8l532J0tH_Z9tpu8_id26Oh_X0Dn9IxI2Vh7uZRZwv09F8tktHzphFDf0kjNba/s2995/IMG_20210113_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2995" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp54imHjZFPNEdOs7YGkZ8Gh0jNGbnvWk43yDnd-2qogI6kE5H4HNt4R1rxrzxygylpBBqz9NQ4sOUyG8l532J0tH_Z9tpu8_id26Oh_X0Dn9IxI2Vh7uZRZwv09F8tktHzphFDf0kjNba/s320/IMG_20210113_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>I missed out on El Nino's rookie cards, but here's a few other Fernando Tatis, Jr. cards I picked up. How about four of his 2020 Topps Fernando Tatis Jr. Highlights (From left to right - #FTH11, FTH27, FTH26, and FTH24).</p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHFvRhHrx7gjmfavxAhCtoGO39HIt5O7Van-CQwMckgZ6sKxpugLevPapKf-ZJn0gi0F2-bxDMhAH4YYn1hhbUyPX7wCC8aK9tyRjlLrWeDven5QQvD5ZcyVChKMV81aCy_UQPV3UXLU-/s2430/IMG_20210113_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHFvRhHrx7gjmfavxAhCtoGO39HIt5O7Van-CQwMckgZ6sKxpugLevPapKf-ZJn0gi0F2-bxDMhAH4YYn1hhbUyPX7wCC8aK9tyRjlLrWeDven5QQvD5ZcyVChKMV81aCy_UQPV3UXLU-/s320/IMG_20210113_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">I found three additional Tatis cards, including a 2020 Stadium Club In the Wings (#ITW4), 2020 Topps 2030 (#T202013), and a 2020 Topps Fire (#95).</span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"> How about a few other "cool" cards (At least, I thought they were cool)?</span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPJEglO8VWVf9Gqf8T7gjCzLyP1V7tPENhdcT2j4i9MyMdXJf9ztBmOejYe1X8_WavakCF6TCeQbMVdPZvDAxtgdtyiGNfSTVFSilUCLuHgDRJyL7Oqu8xlHkA3z-Qf0HHufaC6dGeyiO/s2430/IMG_20210114_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPJEglO8VWVf9Gqf8T7gjCzLyP1V7tPENhdcT2j4i9MyMdXJf9ztBmOejYe1X8_WavakCF6TCeQbMVdPZvDAxtgdtyiGNfSTVFSilUCLuHgDRJyL7Oqu8xlHkA3z-Qf0HHufaC6dGeyiO/s320/IMG_20210114_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></span></div></blockquote><p> 2020 Topps Chrome Sepia Refractors Michael Baez (#187), 2014 Donruss Press Proofs Silver Everth Cabrera (S/N 84/199) (#113), and a 2017 Topps '87 Topps Silver Pack Chrome (#87WM).</p><p>It was just nice to be able to pick up Padres cards from A to U, in a relatively safe environment.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPJEglO8VWVf9Gqf8T7gjCzLyP1V7tPENhdcT2j4i9MyMdXJf9ztBmOejYe1X8_WavakCF6TCeQbMVdPZvDAxtgdtyiGNfSTVFSilUCLuHgDRJyL7Oqu8xlHkA3z-Qf0HHufaC6dGeyiO/s2430/IMG_20210114_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyW7MS6fhYe4BNuHda6c2QUUoxcNVMCn1H5WhG7POyunIB0NEI_MNG96mP4IHhr_Kr4f1G-jK4NEGRhmNIl25n0sWMHYWbTS7kVOFCZrdaNENNed_EZZcCIzfm3tV0JUE-utjI-eAj2SH/s1698/IMG_20210114_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyW7MS6fhYe4BNuHda6c2QUUoxcNVMCn1H5WhG7POyunIB0NEI_MNG96mP4IHhr_Kr4f1G-jK4NEGRhmNIl25n0sWMHYWbTS7kVOFCZrdaNENNed_EZZcCIzfm3tV0JUE-utjI-eAj2SH/s320/IMG_20210114_0006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div></blockquote><p>2020 Donruss Optic Rated Prospects C.J. Abrams (#17) and a 2018 Bowman Chrome Hashtag Bowman Trending Refractors (# #LU). By the way, did you know, that no MLB team has ever had a player with a last name beginning with "X" on it's roster.</p><p>While it's hard to tell if and/or when there'll be another card show, as the virus makes yet another surge, I was happy, at least for one morning, as I was able to soothe my cardboard longings.</p><p>In the meantime, stay safe and healthy out there.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-4955934219592958882020-12-28T08:40:00.000-06:002020-12-28T08:40:12.006-06:00Keeping Christmas alive and two new collection interests<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It kind of figures...A new year is soon upon us, and I've picked up yet another pair of collecting itches - as if collecting the San Diego Padres, Track & Field, Japanese Baseball and Green Bay Packer (Lombardi-era) cards weren't enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No, my friends, my collecting instincts are now leading me in two totally different directions. I think I'll start with the seasonal bug first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For many years, I've enjoyed being one of Santa's many helpers, visiting with children, determining what they want for Christmas, and ensuring the Magic of Christmas endures. While this was the first year I wasn't actually to portray Santa, I was still able to spread Christmas cheer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUmOk3fEjgs69Q0QAU42C2gtNr-ZSxcIgkN_QZ3_bxDJ5Ifv9MawW4R_Q8NIlnCiCbtW_mfcFcWHLk_3i5UE0v4utLZifi0oHkLsrDze_p6J6m635iU_PoH6hhOmkyRZMS8Fw2qhkGw85/s2048/VFW+JFHQ+Christmas+2012+104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUmOk3fEjgs69Q0QAU42C2gtNr-ZSxcIgkN_QZ3_bxDJ5Ifv9MawW4R_Q8NIlnCiCbtW_mfcFcWHLk_3i5UE0v4utLZifi0oHkLsrDze_p6J6m635iU_PoH6hhOmkyRZMS8Fw2qhkGw85/s320/VFW+JFHQ+Christmas+2012+104.JPG" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-LU_ZitnVttw0ozQaTYXYa7ig5ad7HLUM9hSawrUjVKZ0hboXrqvhQc-jSTaRdSuvCn0NAFdW7xUNnjZhKQdw8_cntUs37Mpv37kpXwgCvdP6AMhKY2LuqChQcoT821JVdpejbbr0eYh/s2048/Santa+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-LU_ZitnVttw0ozQaTYXYa7ig5ad7HLUM9hSawrUjVKZ0hboXrqvhQc-jSTaRdSuvCn0NAFdW7xUNnjZhKQdw8_cntUs37Mpv37kpXwgCvdP6AMhKY2LuqChQcoT821JVdpejbbr0eYh/s320/Santa+2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />I work as a Recess and Lunch Supervisor at an elementary school in a Des Moines (Iowa) suburb. Our kids are completing on-line education until Jan. 4, when they return to full-time school. As our teachers are still conducting that training from our school, towards the end of the day, I put on the suit on the right (and yes, that's my real beard) and visited each of the teachers in their classroom. Four of the teachers actually called up their husbands to bring their kids to the school, in order to see Santa. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Besides getting photos with them (they were sitting on a bench, as I was standing behind them, and everybody was masked), I was able to talk to the little ones, helping keep Christmas and Santa alive for them in this time of Covid-19.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you were to see our living room at Christmas, you'd see several Santa figurines displayed around the house, many of them gifts from family and friends. I've even received a pack of the 1994 Santa Around the World Premier Edition Collector Cards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QO2LvBNKyCkt2K_JEt2-NE3Ru0r7rUwx7XS2d5wbBVHE_MsJh0z-c9IwsqfM7zbdDBaoBigRFHFCMU-CZKs0Ip_OtktH7UCQ8NzfMdPqIF_kV5P3b2SJU-4nnYQS18-9JfGX09bK7i3H/s2418/Christmas+Cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2418" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QO2LvBNKyCkt2K_JEt2-NE3Ru0r7rUwx7XS2d5wbBVHE_MsJh0z-c9IwsqfM7zbdDBaoBigRFHFCMU-CZKs0Ip_OtktH7UCQ8NzfMdPqIF_kV5P3b2SJU-4nnYQS18-9JfGX09bK7i3H/w447-h208/Christmas+Cards.jpg" width="447" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I'm not being real aggressive about it, I'm now looking to collect Santa-themed trading cards. I know Pro Set, Collector's Edge, Pacific and even Topps have released Santa-themed cards, so I figured, what the heck, I'll see what I can find. Again, for me, it's all about Christmas magic and Santa Claus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other side of the coin, however, the other specific card collecting I'm now embracing is Sumo. I've enjoyed Ryan's <b><i>Japanese Sumo Wrestling Cards and Menko</i></b> blog for some time. While I wrestled "Folkstyle" in high school, I've gotten to enjoy the ceremony, physicality and tactics of Japanese Sumo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've actually picked up my first "set" of sorts - a 6-card set of 1986 Sumo Pocket Calendar cards from Portugal. Two of the wrestlers are Konishki and Takan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkFWjlm9qyc1YimLbJN9rbPdYXx6Ea5ogfOyTAZ9KNE2WQovPqcQNYcFwuulG0Dehs2D0yP1nYg0M1uongwNjkYMwaKOPLqivMJoXLe84KH7CY9IYoXvsSazRCzvPL2HXsz27aLABA8oD/s1247/Sumo+Calendar+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkFWjlm9qyc1YimLbJN9rbPdYXx6Ea5ogfOyTAZ9KNE2WQovPqcQNYcFwuulG0Dehs2D0yP1nYg0M1uongwNjkYMwaKOPLqivMJoXLe84KH7CY9IYoXvsSazRCzvPL2HXsz27aLABA8oD/s320/Sumo+Calendar+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Konishki, a Hawaiian, became the first non-Japanese Ozeki (the second highest Sumo rank), in May 1987. Takan, Sumo's 59th Yokozuna (the highest rank), won four top division tournaments. After retirement, he ran a Sumo training stable until his death in 2011. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPzpm5_TLXl2TpXDKjy_8ck9fK_F2OY_LV0_QA6_td-oiNEhDc3wJoFrm6Mi3P0oaZAqxhgdjFlPorRD055BHxhAOZ-Co5KRrcKkSfSPS9WBDgYlEBSlPYnyHpjh2fSZtU9gQdxlwumui/s2048/Sumo+Calendar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1393" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPzpm5_TLXl2TpXDKjy_8ck9fK_F2OY_LV0_QA6_td-oiNEhDc3wJoFrm6Mi3P0oaZAqxhgdjFlPorRD055BHxhAOZ-Co5KRrcKkSfSPS9WBDgYlEBSlPYnyHpjh2fSZtU9gQdxlwumui/s320/Sumo+Calendar+1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaS5sjoTSw3Yc70okQXhonWL_wvyLHB3hSZuWRR4Ai3gxsyw2fNonh_VsqB6yjAmPt6-siEA6Im8S8N_7XJPrd9eaKUwBvOHDmE6XMeNWHxayNt__Xp5AK0m_LHvQTjbcJnWG_mLmBrag/s2478/Sumo+Calendar+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="2478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaS5sjoTSw3Yc70okQXhonWL_wvyLHB3hSZuWRR4Ai3gxsyw2fNonh_VsqB6yjAmPt6-siEA6Im8S8N_7XJPrd9eaKUwBvOHDmE6XMeNWHxayNt__Xp5AK0m_LHvQTjbcJnWG_mLmBrag/s320/Sumo+Calendar+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While it's always fun and exciting to begin collecting something new, I guess I'll see where these two new collection interests take me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Stay safe and healthy out there.<br /> <p></p>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-29832525741624303222020-08-18T11:29:00.000-05:002020-08-18T11:29:15.106-05:00A library of 1990 Collect-a-Books <p>In my last post, I mentioned how I've been checking out some estate sales and auctions and showed some of the track and field Sportscaster cards I picked up. Today, I'll show you a huge lot of 1990 Collect-a-Books I was able to find at a really decent price.</p><p>Issued by the Collectors Marketing Corp. (CMC), a division of Impel, these "books" were patterned after the 1970 Topps Comic Book Inserts. While the Topps set measures 2-1/2" x 3-7/16," the CMC set measures 2-1/2" x 3'1/2. Also, the Topps set consisted of 24 cards, the CMC set had 36.</p><p>Each "book" has eight pages and easily fits into a penny sleeve or sheet. The inside pages feature photographs and stats, as well as biographical and personal information about the ballplayer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI3cDKB-a7m1UnwGhFM649b0MNEfimcaSQ05L2fCqkTc3zO1KeagE84TaVCogBR0uGBspq7ex7PWza5urtJn-LkMdP53cxiUIDJCEx2r0PhkhLiNQb2PhmghP2pZtknoSvP_MHy4AlAXA/s1052/IMG_20200818_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI3cDKB-a7m1UnwGhFM649b0MNEfimcaSQ05L2fCqkTc3zO1KeagE84TaVCogBR0uGBspq7ex7PWza5urtJn-LkMdP53cxiUIDJCEx2r0PhkhLiNQb2PhmghP2pZtknoSvP_MHy4AlAXA/s640/IMG_20200818_0028.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ0hVx0AVN_WTBmY_dZs1-RAbN3gdSTz9VTV-rBYtMwLkECgLlns6CrGKkfqt39xQeoCDi8z4pM_tWIEXbtF1bPDBeK7zKygCqmQ4_AFEme_JWklBpHSOtilnduQ73NroIfYUttwCGpni/s1054/IMG_20200818_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="744" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ0hVx0AVN_WTBmY_dZs1-RAbN3gdSTz9VTV-rBYtMwLkECgLlns6CrGKkfqt39xQeoCDi8z4pM_tWIEXbtF1bPDBeK7zKygCqmQ4_AFEme_JWklBpHSOtilnduQ73NroIfYUttwCGpni/s640/IMG_20200818_0032.jpg" /></a></div><p>The front has a nice color photo of the player, sandwiched between the "Collect-a-Books" logo at the top and the player's name at the bottom. The back has a caricature of the player, illustrated by Ken Vandervoort, a sports illustrator who drew a syndicated weekly sports feature called "Sports by Voort," and an informational blurb, just like the back of a baseball card. Players ranged from Bo Jackson, to Ted Williams, to Bob Feller.</p><p>The collection I picked up had only 21 of the 36 cards, and there were a few copies, but for the price, I didn't really mind. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b7hQzJhlD-kPs8Dfg6oah6W22otwxvo0uE-DW7uEcusDOCegNgVy_oVXOguzcy0v-r8HIUPNkQYfzKQYHhgpNpy2QRCPUzNyb06KJfKx456GfwPVFkUPFbONL6Qbcx0a_8_MEl0fznEy/s2348/IMG_20200818_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="2348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b7hQzJhlD-kPs8Dfg6oah6W22otwxvo0uE-DW7uEcusDOCegNgVy_oVXOguzcy0v-r8HIUPNkQYfzKQYHhgpNpy2QRCPUzNyb06KJfKx456GfwPVFkUPFbONL6Qbcx0a_8_MEl0fznEy/s640/IMG_20200818_0004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMrZmjlZSLEGRZIxMgw9A8ViLuaF6tHE1seXvFQfuezUwJi6bGqCaTS3bjwC4SsTtxwzBi4dVhQdiGjsZpkwGMe4MnLDE6mzn5aezPEDG9AJWB-0pGcMfTCUH-Lr7FUcmsvmDSZy-DaZq/s2324/IMG_20200818_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="2324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMrZmjlZSLEGRZIxMgw9A8ViLuaF6tHE1seXvFQfuezUwJi6bGqCaTS3bjwC4SsTtxwzBi4dVhQdiGjsZpkwGMe4MnLDE6mzn5aezPEDG9AJWB-0pGcMfTCUH-Lr7FUcmsvmDSZy-DaZq/s640/IMG_20200818_0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrQYrS4a2uTAohI2NpLbmuJYPjQ2Wmspui3nX0DRymTHy7t7_maVeqMGWKmXKNjSyB1j1SsXneF7-pfUKXt-2lq-koAwLv5-Sg00wTXaTZtJ-a7ZFCHdiQz6j1RaV0KDrYb5xq5EZfjka/s2352/IMG_20200818_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="2352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrQYrS4a2uTAohI2NpLbmuJYPjQ2Wmspui3nX0DRymTHy7t7_maVeqMGWKmXKNjSyB1j1SsXneF7-pfUKXt-2lq-koAwLv5-Sg00wTXaTZtJ-a7ZFCHdiQz6j1RaV0KDrYb5xq5EZfjka/s640/IMG_20200818_0012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9YY0Gja_UdgTtoYlr_ctrUn9bVlFPXhs1X2cui4vMwrAFCW1J8uBA1hfz5sEPWT7wl6Sjyzi330Hz_XObOGrevhchRqkDrrD84-3Jxyph3X-ojoKP5s1eo9OPT5X1ICYM9aXygMnEaxj/s2344/IMG_20200818_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="2344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9YY0Gja_UdgTtoYlr_ctrUn9bVlFPXhs1X2cui4vMwrAFCW1J8uBA1hfz5sEPWT7wl6Sjyzi330Hz_XObOGrevhchRqkDrrD84-3Jxyph3X-ojoKP5s1eo9OPT5X1ICYM9aXygMnEaxj/s640/IMG_20200818_0016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvLL0JFqmTqco8K032SCmqR1-yMRGCgg6RsIEBk4UkvH4A75fiWoEEqqNyoAJuVJ8IDt3TZlGRUVP5TsVHwWhH1WEt0Kj7Vifb7Q0gqlK1nto8PP5C3ErlMydkRETpI0W_-WQylvA-MG7/s2364/IMG_20200818_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="2364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvLL0JFqmTqco8K032SCmqR1-yMRGCgg6RsIEBk4UkvH4A75fiWoEEqqNyoAJuVJ8IDt3TZlGRUVP5TsVHwWhH1WEt0Kj7Vifb7Q0gqlK1nto8PP5C3ErlMydkRETpI0W_-WQylvA-MG7/s640/IMG_20200818_0020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZHYX6SIkpo3Fls7bHK4rhuZH5ldWAMVXXTfWybrtKAZkO535PTJbgXGXmqAMF_KcmgM4MIM3snejJn9XRZYSM2CIZMdg1YnW5hrLNm5GzIKuz8GXmLn5sFotU5ew6fNK_hQRSlc3ou2T/s1564/IMG_20200818_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZHYX6SIkpo3Fls7bHK4rhuZH5ldWAMVXXTfWybrtKAZkO535PTJbgXGXmqAMF_KcmgM4MIM3snejJn9XRZYSM2CIZMdg1YnW5hrLNm5GzIKuz8GXmLn5sFotU5ew6fNK_hQRSlc3ou2T/s640/IMG_20200818_0024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stay safe and healthy out there.</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-80949145396002286652020-08-11T13:56:00.000-05:002020-08-11T13:56:10.692-05:00Estate Sales and Auctions, anyone?<p>Lately, I've been checking out a few estate sales and auctions, both online and in person. While I have trouble keeping my head above water with some of the sharks that prey on some of the higher end cards you may find at these sales, depending on how they break up collections, I have been able to find enough track and field, Padres and oddball cards to keep me coming back.</p><p>For example, during an online auction that piqued my interest last month, I won a bunch of Sportscasters sports cards.</p><p>Surely you remember those huge Sportscasters cards - available through subscription only (from 1977-79), with slightly rounded corners and costing less than three dollars for a 24-card pack. Measuring 4-11/16 x 6-1/4 inches, a total of 2,184 different cards were produced for U.S. distribution alone. </p><p>These cards are actually printed in Japan and Italy, and have been produced for many other countries and languages. According to the PSA, there are cards in French, Belgian, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, and the United Kingdom. Not sure of your card's country of origin? Sportscaster cards have small numbers printed on the back, for series, country and card number.</p><p>Remember when I mentioned there were 2,184 different cards in the American set? Of those, 307 cards featured running-related subjects, ranging from Steve Prefontaine, to the Penn Relays.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xz_QV3bn8AnNSZSjBenMDpez2wWyLAp2chRHcAuJ6ZwetWQP2eXjQKLWanZ-AEUnlIblaCgQNYmc3l_0BaEu0jsLJb_uJsKtUUxca0MF5YWjiWNDqWvI6_mugTbv8jKxTPxcDLykw7xh/s1940/IMG_20200811_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1940" data-original-width="1446" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Xz_QV3bn8AnNSZSjBenMDpez2wWyLAp2chRHcAuJ6ZwetWQP2eXjQKLWanZ-AEUnlIblaCgQNYmc3l_0BaEu0jsLJb_uJsKtUUxca0MF5YWjiWNDqWvI6_mugTbv8jKxTPxcDLykw7xh/s640/IMG_20200811_0008.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the front of Rafer Johnson's Sportscaster card. Johnson earned a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, winning the decathlon. He won Silver in the even during the 1956 Olympics.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerQ1-miCxbdPMEUAUjY_mQh55PK1YVaNLAcPf34l8w2VL1VyOoZj-5BWAyfqiiwp0JGcpqy2hN9kL0eE-1Ar430vxrEZmacqVM-DubRSHiAgPGfrHFlF1VaJ4SsqCZCWSVEHpJ18IV6A0/s1914/IMG_20200811_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1914" data-original-width="1474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerQ1-miCxbdPMEUAUjY_mQh55PK1YVaNLAcPf34l8w2VL1VyOoZj-5BWAyfqiiwp0JGcpqy2hN9kL0eE-1Ar430vxrEZmacqVM-DubRSHiAgPGfrHFlF1VaJ4SsqCZCWSVEHpJ18IV6A0/s640/IMG_20200811_0024.jpg" /></a></div><p>Here's the back of his card, complete with a nice, little narrative of his "Roman Glory." As far as I can gather, this is the American version (03 005) of the card, and part of set 8, card #23.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUszj3tavyc4Bn_JXoZ8rVELvnwbV5qlafAlpaHzw2gKodf0aWE1t3M_TfUUr7yiEtLbDDvJni3molpOdwgTpD47fMZmMT2gWFOFkoo96diXBFv-NOo8C840bNcjgAk46NLrZJatxUmAFy/s1968/IMG_20200811_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUszj3tavyc4Bn_JXoZ8rVELvnwbV5qlafAlpaHzw2gKodf0aWE1t3M_TfUUr7yiEtLbDDvJni3molpOdwgTpD47fMZmMT2gWFOFkoo96diXBFv-NOo8C840bNcjgAk46NLrZJatxUmAFy/s640/IMG_20200811_0002.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Russian Triple Jumper Viktor Saneyev. Saneyev won Olympic gold in this event in 1968, 1972, and 1976, as well as a silver medal (1980).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzM2cGaz4RGboLFQGsG6npzRvMauk0uiQBFxJ4F7mA0QRr1La5qwzVxrv5DWCEBHC7F4JpC6imkov6EuUpfb2kNwd_71s9ZoGwVJQER5h37C5vMlRq0626lm-jQVRP_hxVfszFDhcfhwu/s2048/IMG_20200811_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1531" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzM2cGaz4RGboLFQGsG6npzRvMauk0uiQBFxJ4F7mA0QRr1La5qwzVxrv5DWCEBHC7F4JpC6imkov6EuUpfb2kNwd_71s9ZoGwVJQER5h37C5vMlRq0626lm-jQVRP_hxVfszFDhcfhwu/s640/IMG_20200811_0004.jpg" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">New Zealand middle distance runner Murray Halberg. He won gold in the 5000m at the 1960 Olympcs. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jqIbJTBcfJi1I0t7Lw4S8Kr558ql29SRhI2Zq5qpKlh9FZwdD1N32xaBJ1lVqbC4Pwuae0qgBC6xLN9-wgoX9OI7WDK3P9NOgUnR6JY32-8C9WLCCXKT8pXgovllAVEi4y80GBephlq3/s1868/IMG_20200811_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="1404" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jqIbJTBcfJi1I0t7Lw4S8Kr558ql29SRhI2Zq5qpKlh9FZwdD1N32xaBJ1lVqbC4Pwuae0qgBC6xLN9-wgoX9OI7WDK3P9NOgUnR6JY32-8C9WLCCXKT8pXgovllAVEi4y80GBephlq3/s640/IMG_20200811_0012.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">American Shot Putter Parry O'Brien, a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. He competed in four consecutive Olympics, winning two golds 1952, 1956), and a silver (1960), before finishing fourth (1964).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylzMcCuvEPfrBpv8bGKMD_Dop_IkigdOzb1qTAJxZXiIN7OzRGDJ-u_KhQnuDx5IYGxaZKmYBXJpi9zLSiqzsnXFpX3VXLNHGq5yTNu7b5sxKqPPCu2plX_luGi0hh1PAYTIjXNT9YwNF/s1868/IMG_20200811_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1868" data-original-width="1400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylzMcCuvEPfrBpv8bGKMD_Dop_IkigdOzb1qTAJxZXiIN7OzRGDJ-u_KhQnuDx5IYGxaZKmYBXJpi9zLSiqzsnXFpX3VXLNHGq5yTNu7b5sxKqPPCu2plX_luGi0hh1PAYTIjXNT9YwNF/s640/IMG_20200811_0016.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="text-align: left;">British runner SydneyWooderson. Even though he's pictured here as an 800m runner, he set the world mile record of 4:06.4 in August 1937.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I also was found the perfect storage sleeves for these cards at <b><i>Michaels</i></b>, the hobby store. They're labelled Card Storage, from The Paper Studio. They're A7 card storage bags, measuring 5.438 x 7.313 inches. You get 20 to a package, and they're also acid free and archival safe.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And as usual, I have a few leftovers - 15 to be exact. They are Alpine Skiing (Ingemar Stenmark), Archery, Billiards, Curling, Handball (Sweden), Horse Racing (Secretariat), Jail Alai (Pelota), Powerboat Racing, Sand Yachting (Rules and Categories), Surfing, Swimming (Murray Rose), Table Tennis (Holding the Paddle), Tennis (Rod Laver), Yachting ("Kriter'-Craft), Yachting (Robin Knox-Johnston).</p><p style="text-align: left;">And as usual, they're up for grabs. They're all yours if you can send me 2-3 track and field cards (please no Impel, or 2012 & 2016 Topps Olympic Team - I have more than enough), or 2-3 Japanese baseball cards (no American-made Topps or Upper Deck products, please). </p><p style="text-align: left;">Next time, I'll feature another nice estate auction win.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Please, stay safe and healthy out there.</p></div>Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-88653994908172005442020-07-27T14:38:00.001-05:002020-07-27T14:38:16.373-05:00Two card/dice games, two countriesDespite having grown up with <i><b>Stratomatic</b></i> and <b><i>APBA</i> baseball</b>, I enjoy playing sports games that are challenging, take a bit of skill, and are dependent upon more than just a lucky roll of the dice. I even remember skipping a couple of classes while at the University of Iowa, in order to work with a friend on a board and dice hockey game using current players. I came up with the play mechanics and he came up with the player stat cards.<br />
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While there's a lot of baseball board games out there, again, <b>S</b><i><b>tratomatic </b>comes to mind</i>, there are very few actual baseball "card" games, especially those of the collectible kind.<br />
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Once I became a collector, there were two different baseball games I remember collecting and actually playing - <i><b>Sportsclix</b></i>, from WizKids, and <i><b>MLB Showdown</b></i>, from Wizards of the Coast, the same people who created <b>Magic the Gathering</b>. <i><b>MLB Showdown</b></i> came out first, from 2000-2005, with a slight overlap of <i><b>Sportsclix</b></i>, which came out 2003-05.<br />
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At the height of their popularity, a couple of local gaming shops (both since long gone), held leagues for each of these games. While I enjoyed playing <i><b>Sportscli</b>x</i>, actually becoming a <i><b>Sportsclix</b></i> Coach, or WizKids envoy, who could help adjudicate and run games, I enjoyed <i><b>MLB Showdown</b></i> much, much more.<br />
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This was a card game I could actually get into. <i><b>MLB Showdown</b></i> cards were nice, bright and fairly easy to read, with nice game action shots on the front. It was a hoot to play and the gameplay seemed more realistic, especially when strategy cards came into play, plus you didn't have to click your characters after every at bat.<br />
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The only downside, is like other Wizards of the Coast games (can you say "<i><b>Magic the Gatherin</b>g</i>") they would come out with multiple sets each year, including Pennant Run and Trading Deadline, as well as those must have strategy cards, such as "Go Up Hacking." In the 2001 printing alone, there were 462 cards in the base set (including 75 strategy cards), 175 in Pennant Run (25 strategy), and 50 "promo" cards.<br />
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For our 2001 <b><i>MLB Showdown</i></b> season, we held a pack draft. Each player bought four packs of the 2001, 1st Edition, and four packs would be opened at a time, the strategy cards were removed, and the player cards were then spread out on the table. Once you got a look at who was available, the draft began.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUdOa5N493jZzfBWIWFku2_MGeFs_N24fsks7wJRfTIsViR3rXtRHRtztrc3gCLzRXmizyE-A2FGNYE8Qs7jZNMUmmFJ44ZLIMcFtI0CqxB7DC4vJw0qm81uyC06qCeJlWUSh_9skF9Ft/s1600/IMG_20200727_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="754" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUdOa5N493jZzfBWIWFku2_MGeFs_N24fsks7wJRfTIsViR3rXtRHRtztrc3gCLzRXmizyE-A2FGNYE8Qs7jZNMUmmFJ44ZLIMcFtI0CqxB7DC4vJw0qm81uyC06qCeJlWUSh_9skF9Ft/s320/IMG_20200727_0002.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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I believe I had the third or fourth pick, so I immediately went for Randy Johnson (foil) as my number one pick. It was a wise decision, as he became the ace of my staff. If I remember right, I believe I finished fourth in our nine-team league, but for the life of me, I don't remember any of my other player cards, except for Padre reliever Troy Hoffman, who usually got the job done for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T-1crWJrJSsZjSI9Gs9WtJ_Y5_QRATGx1dDKfQ_-CkZ7mBlXn-ipWdq1HZVKM9Vi7qYgRrBFLwHEk2xSVlgsrswfR3YAx4aOfc9Vm8_WAt9Svt3ulm4rnvj8EaDI54m7bt8uuXoBYLAt/s1600/s-l1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="866" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4T-1crWJrJSsZjSI9Gs9WtJ_Y5_QRATGx1dDKfQ_-CkZ7mBlXn-ipWdq1HZVKM9Vi7qYgRrBFLwHEk2xSVlgsrswfR3YAx4aOfc9Vm8_WAt9Svt3ulm4rnvj8EaDI54m7bt8uuXoBYLAt/s320/s-l1600.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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I really enjoyed the look of these cards, as well as the gameplay. It's really a shame the game fell by the wayside.<br />
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Fast forward to 2020, where my collecting interests have since expanded to Japanese baseball cards.<br />
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Takara originally produced a 30-player baseball game set for the six-team Central League (from 1978 - 80) but expanded their print run to include each of the 12 teams from the Nippon Baseball League in 1981. Each set included two dice, a playing sheet, a team logo card, as well as a set of instructions, printed in Japanese, of course.<br />
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Recently, I found a 1990 Takara Nippon-Ham Fighters set off E-Bay, with Mat Winters, who played five years with the Fighters, showing through the front slot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05PPjBVFsBjl6pg4kS4D18hxPYySoHhMhXsMlS5mwgU9_LHuFtlJWbyffY8ZurnR894Ffkcnk1trl4mDB0gpKtUWL9FvvP9YS3HgTIQwiStvazB0y1w8XnrIBOhIlMyJ1v5JEFU8MHD7_/s1600/s-l1600+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1140" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05PPjBVFsBjl6pg4kS4D18hxPYySoHhMhXsMlS5mwgU9_LHuFtlJWbyffY8ZurnR894Ffkcnk1trl4mDB0gpKtUWL9FvvP9YS3HgTIQwiStvazB0y1w8XnrIBOhIlMyJ1v5JEFU8MHD7_/s320/s-l1600+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfkBfqIbJYJp1Qf1pxoRT3hJfZxkW0Lr_TK0502-rgjLkbyyNPKQ1APEqycqO9IvaFTn4PMI9tbr4IAlTSlgzEimKSDcF6xTxB0kB6L9NNIgFHhyphenhyphenKRyRtWTpHpQxMLaSWaK7Vfzao3J2X/s1600/IMG_20200727_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfkBfqIbJYJp1Qf1pxoRT3hJfZxkW0Lr_TK0502-rgjLkbyyNPKQ1APEqycqO9IvaFTn4PMI9tbr4IAlTSlgzEimKSDcF6xTxB0kB6L9NNIgFHhyphenhyphenKRyRtWTpHpQxMLaSWaK7Vfzao3J2X/s320/IMG_20200727_0004.jpg" width="196" /></a><br />
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These 2-1/8" x 3 - 3/8," rounded-corner cards are okay, with player shots from the chest up, as modeled by Winters. He's decked out in the Fighters' red and yellow striped jerseys, which the team wore from 1982-1992. The players' biographical information can also be found on the front of the card.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ4pP5uTKzNBCt5kRaZ5HdJcQjNXWsb2qaewjbJn0DaWa9QcfiR2hqYoCgI57RL6hf3dSTLlbIOx38pxAL_X_YIBoRhBrI2DwyRySw5D42fay8VUcBUggsCnITD2HUChjWzMq93e0zA2N/s1600/IMG_20200727_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ4pP5uTKzNBCt5kRaZ5HdJcQjNXWsb2qaewjbJn0DaWa9QcfiR2hqYoCgI57RL6hf3dSTLlbIOx38pxAL_X_YIBoRhBrI2DwyRySw5D42fay8VUcBUggsCnITD2HUChjWzMq93e0zA2N/s320/IMG_20200727_0006.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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The back of the cards, meanwhile, feature the gameplay aspects of the set, with pictograms showing what the results of dice rolls are. Yukio Tanaka and Yasunori Oshima, two Japanese Hall of Famers, are also included in this set.<br />
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One issue I've found, is since it's printed in Japanese, there are no player names, only their uniform numbers are listed. I've noticed a disparity between Gary Engel's Japanese Baseball Card Checklist Price Guide (Vers. 2.1), and the Trading Card Database website checklist. For example, Engel lists the #9 card above as Matt Winters, while the TCDB lists him as Brian Dayett. There's also a few other differences with a few of the other players in this team set.<br />
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While I trust Engel's guide implicitly, it does get a bit confusing at times.<br />
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As for playing the game istself, Dave, over at<i><b> Japanese Baseball Cards</b></i> ran a post on game play a few years ago ( <a href="http://japanesebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2008/02/takara.html">http://japanesebaseballcards.blogspot.com/2008/02/takara.html</a> ). However, I'm pretty sure I won't be playing Takara baseball - I don't think the collector in me will allow it.<br />
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I've also since found a 1990 Toyo Carp set as well, and am awaiting delivery from Canada.<br />
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Stay safe and healthy out there.<br />
Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-41520884578803795672020-07-08T15:35:00.000-05:002020-07-08T15:35:13.702-05:00San Diego memories rekindled, thanks to 1998 Metal UniverseLike most card collectors, certain cards, like certain songs, evoke certain memories. One particular card set that evokes those memories (in a good way) is the1998 Metal Universe, a 220-card set from Fleer/Skybox.<br />
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What's particularly enjoyable, is that each card front has a different image featuring locations from that team's city, etched in foil. As for the nine-card San Diego Padres set, it doesn't disappoint. Each card features an image I remember, and often visited, from when we lived in San Diego.<br />
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I'll begin with the Tony Gwynn (#178) card (I apologize for the bad scans - the etched foil has a tendency to do that).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yNNX93YqMr5KaTO4JiK8zpOo9UYJCw-UPgA6Unp_WkbHy9jEKL8f2XkBPVNU-trXCSxhcdmw5Pb6u1-Wn226VhJthwfevaeHceE2cIN2JIIJFM2LDlyBiajpZKeDEndnFKkvGh5cOzKp/s1600/IMG_20200513_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="514" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yNNX93YqMr5KaTO4JiK8zpOo9UYJCw-UPgA6Unp_WkbHy9jEKL8f2XkBPVNU-trXCSxhcdmw5Pb6u1-Wn226VhJthwfevaeHceE2cIN2JIIJFM2LDlyBiajpZKeDEndnFKkvGh5cOzKp/s320/IMG_20200513_0010.jpg" width="229" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrwK1T7F13o6cTcuHDIpCt8OM3LtZ3_o0MBck8E98QKC2KPCNpz5dFmlJ4zOJvtW_lmA9LL-ig2kpZcDU6-IYd8a4Am47LhlD_2Yl3cQBhAz1nqLkM3dMhqIVZvBGUFuJRUsqWBvkeRpf/s1600/IMG_20200513_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="714" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrwK1T7F13o6cTcuHDIpCt8OM3LtZ3_o0MBck8E98QKC2KPCNpz5dFmlJ4zOJvtW_lmA9LL-ig2kpZcDU6-IYd8a4Am47LhlD_2Yl3cQBhAz1nqLkM3dMhqIVZvBGUFuJRUsqWBvkeRpf/s320/IMG_20200513_0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the front, is the player's picture and etched city background, along with team name, player name, and a small mug shot. Gwynn's background, which doesn't appear to fit to scale with the player, looks like it's from Coronado Island, with Point Loma in the distance. The backs are fairly nice, with a nice shot of the player from the waist up, and last years, and MLB stats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIBo6yCDBBS4-tFuU0OuLF7oS1PbZMhw4srynMLycgP43Qc-IvDPia7SiP30-ZT4Em-qMJW7q5fRenqJsA_lmEjzzw8C9-sxb1rs34ovojMn06XrXHoE7kDidaGNlVXgIEPzZn4yKE8yz/s1600/IMG_20200513_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIBo6yCDBBS4-tFuU0OuLF7oS1PbZMhw4srynMLycgP43Qc-IvDPia7SiP30-ZT4Em-qMJW7q5fRenqJsA_lmEjzzw8C9-sxb1rs34ovojMn06XrXHoE7kDidaGNlVXgIEPzZn4yKE8yz/s320/IMG_20200513_0003.jpg" width="226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGahNj1m32JtDrotmbDGBZV8AEHzVpvNUoOIv97tc0-5BXfN1ysdNCg6rAzIjye3Cfzz8uypZ-C6G_9l5GX7qCRzijSlGBkKJTi2tLFFeolvuVY5a5Ipia-uuna1aVTqWdW43hbHeuAHjs/s1600/IMG_20200513_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGahNj1m32JtDrotmbDGBZV8AEHzVpvNUoOIv97tc0-5BXfN1ysdNCg6rAzIjye3Cfzz8uypZ-C6G_9l5GX7qCRzijSlGBkKJTi2tLFFeolvuVY5a5Ipia-uuna1aVTqWdW43hbHeuAHjs/s320/IMG_20200513_0004.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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Next up are Ken Caminiti (#166)and Kevin Brown (#165). Caminiti's background features San Diego's mountains and hillside (perhaps around Julian) while Brown's image depicts the kelp beds off the California coast. One of those kelp beds is just off Point Loma, and they have a machine that harvests just a little off the top, which then goes on to be used for products such as ice cream and toothpaste.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQKR_A5oy2Dtq12QPGNQp9aY5L1p21jnd8b631cvu0bapfFwC10bvhmLCUrZ5q8Dd8YDE51_aAX3wx03qpdz-dZgfUtfAuiXy_eTMCIEjh6neb8nmila2dmg3P8DsJgxjuCyKvx90Cq2z/s1600/IMG_20200513_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQKR_A5oy2Dtq12QPGNQp9aY5L1p21jnd8b631cvu0bapfFwC10bvhmLCUrZ5q8Dd8YDE51_aAX3wx03qpdz-dZgfUtfAuiXy_eTMCIEjh6neb8nmila2dmg3P8DsJgxjuCyKvx90Cq2z/s320/IMG_20200513_0007.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS87YIVWoe3E0kH19vfWXsCR3cVs2MqRpZ3RYiTF0_VdimLC3k0vEH9WXRVSZ_YYzt-i439BrSo54CFDS3wtWOJWarHaIpupvI4xUNM45G9wSq4IdF9eLk8ho2cHsZYx3PHsxrYPFEXNA/s1600/IMG_20200513_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="509" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsS87YIVWoe3E0kH19vfWXsCR3cVs2MqRpZ3RYiTF0_VdimLC3k0vEH9WXRVSZ_YYzt-i439BrSo54CFDS3wtWOJWarHaIpupvI4xUNM45G9wSq4IdF9eLk8ho2cHsZYx3PHsxrYPFEXNA/s320/IMG_20200513_0008.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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Steve Finley's (#64) card is an aerial photo of the San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge, taken from Coronado, with the Hotel Del Coronado in the foreground. Ruben Rivera's (#98) card features The Presidio, which was established in 1769 by Gaspar de Portola, becoming the first permanent European structure built within the State of California.</div>
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I have the Derrek Lee (#10) and Will Cunnane (#101) on order from COMC, so I'm not sure when I'll actually get it in hand. The only two remaining cards I'm missing are Joey Hamilton (17) (either farmland or Carlsbad's Flower Fields), and Trevor Hoffman (#197) (LaJolla).</div>
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And now, a bonus question, especially for those collectors out there with an interest in Japanese Baseball cards.</div>
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I recently bought this round Menko card off E-Bay. According to the seller, he believed it was a 1948 Bonzo Wakabayashi, but he didn't know from what set. </div>
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Henry Tadashi "Bonzo" Wakabayashi, a Hawaiian, pitched Hosei University to two Tokyo Big Six University League Baseball Championships, played 16 seasons with Osaka, Hanshin and Mainichi in Japan, managed, and became the 17th player inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.</div>
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It measures about 2-1/8 inch across. However, after digging through Engel's Guide, the closest I can find is from the JRM 19 set, but that set doesn't have the "2 of Hearts" in the top left corner. I figured that could possibly be a Tigers uniform he's wearing. Unfortunately, there's no Menko numbers, and it has a blank back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vzGuLhyphenhyphenwTz7fQSFBDIC7K0JiNxECqfvK2t04gN8S-1BuDIdiMN9AuV7wl8fHBmBVv9RRHQ-xA0qjRetK095UqnVjhdTe30sJoDYT8jJ1tJbsnALbmzTB115Q4Sx86nSixIdUIVEGH0Jr/s1600/IMG_20200708_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vzGuLhyphenhyphenwTz7fQSFBDIC7K0JiNxECqfvK2t04gN8S-1BuDIdiMN9AuV7wl8fHBmBVv9RRHQ-xA0qjRetK095UqnVjhdTe30sJoDYT8jJ1tJbsnALbmzTB115Q4Sx86nSixIdUIVEGH0Jr/s320/IMG_20200708_0002.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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The JRM 8 set also features red and green stripes (again there's no "2 of hearts,"), but it's the same type of drawing, but there's no listing for Bozo within any of the variations.</div>
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Any ideas as to who this is, or what set?<br />
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Thanks for the help.<br />
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Stay safe and healthy out there.<br />
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<br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-44283365868193070652020-06-22T10:34:00.003-05:002020-06-22T10:35:58.766-05:00Thanks for my first mailed card packetWhile I still read the occasional sports card blog posts when I was on my hiatus between <b><i>Bleedin' Brown and Gol</i></b>d and<b><i> Comatoad on Cards</i></b>, I missed the fun little packets that were fouind in the mail from my fellow card-collecting bloggers.<br />
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All that changed this past weekend, as I got a nice little envelope in the mail from Mark at <b><i>The Chronicles of Fuji</i></b>. I had put up a post about what to do with the leftovers from sets you purchase in order to get the actual cards you need to complete the sets you want.<br />
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Since I collect track and field, in this particular case, it was about leftover cards of Olympic athletes. Fuji expressed an interest in a few of the cards, so I put them aside for him. Long story short, I was finally able to get a packet in the mail to him (after a few weeks of procrastination), along with a few other goodies I though he'd enjoy.<br />
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And then, he beats me to the punch with a great packet of track and field cards. I knew he was an avid collector of Sports Illustrated for Kids cards, so I really enjoyed receiving these cards, as SI for Kids has a good representation of track field amongst their athlete cards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2IFznr_4P1KYe5nKZJUJUfxDrgKlHTT7qIcmvjwtHiiwURMC7EFI2odOpWVnMTD8AhOlf6d7PQdo8_92rU4voFdvAkJ26XP9dXBA-avm26a9O9WiQurbI56Ebb_l5LndssxfQe2Hjegs/s1600/IMG_20200621_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1600" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2IFznr_4P1KYe5nKZJUJUfxDrgKlHTT7qIcmvjwtHiiwURMC7EFI2odOpWVnMTD8AhOlf6d7PQdo8_92rU4voFdvAkJ26XP9dXBA-avm26a9O9WiQurbI56Ebb_l5LndssxfQe2Hjegs/s320/IMG_20200621_0015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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1994 Uta Pippig (#300); 2015 Kate Avery (#403); and 2018 Shelby Houlihan (#762). While Pippig was a three-time Boston Marathon winner, I particularly enjoyed the Houlihan card, as she's a fellow Iowan, who ran out of Sioux City East High School, and then competed at Arizona State as a collegian. Houlihan was named the 2011 Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year, and is the current women's 1500m world record holder, after setting the record at the World Athletics Championships on Oct. 5, 2019.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNcnSe-SVxvVshT0hYuAxUf_jfyJ71jCirhyphenhyphenaJsXZM_BSRAGI6azWYsYJZ06nyRt5aAuW9ESbX80DjAmeBS5HrAm5iRNFti8mf1_d3CvdmQuh1oDLA5O394c8spCK50F2Vpe9vwEafW74/s1600/IMG_20200621_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNcnSe-SVxvVshT0hYuAxUf_jfyJ71jCirhyphenhyphenaJsXZM_BSRAGI6azWYsYJZ06nyRt5aAuW9ESbX80DjAmeBS5HrAm5iRNFti8mf1_d3CvdmQuh1oDLA5O394c8spCK50F2Vpe9vwEafW74/s320/IMG_20200621_0017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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He added a couple more SI for Kids cards with 1989 Roger Kingdom (#53) and 1992 Mike Powell (#1) cards. Kingdom, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 110m hurdles (1984/1988) went on to serve with the Arizona Cardinals as an assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2014. Powell is no slouch either, as a two-time World Champion, two-time Olympic Silver Medalist. He also broke Bob Beamon's 23-year old long jump world record, with a leap of 8.95m during the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDitNe-3F8biNsAQfQKMb1ySJtD35pTjS_duRTOeTExk4rhfpVgI7EbIQcfghcrWe-xXFz0f6DHroEzj1BfVz_jmw14BjMTnGf4_gs8tyI0g_SPuPNhCWvIKHZd4CCdkEMbVQP8UDA-GMX/s1600/IMG_20200621_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1600" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDitNe-3F8biNsAQfQKMb1ySJtD35pTjS_duRTOeTExk4rhfpVgI7EbIQcfghcrWe-xXFz0f6DHroEzj1BfVz_jmw14BjMTnGf4_gs8tyI0g_SPuPNhCWvIKHZd4CCdkEMbVQP8UDA-GMX/s320/IMG_20200621_0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next up are a pair of 1992 Impel U.S. Olympicards of Heptathlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee (#88) and Sprinter Michael Johnson (#87); and a 2012 Panini Golden Age Babe Didrikson Zaharias (#50). After watching a 1975 TV movie about Babe Didrikson, Joyner-Kersee decided to compete in the heptathlon and long jump, despite suffering from severe asthma. In 1990, Joyner-Kersee, Sports Illustrated voter her "the greatest female athlete of all-time," just ahead of Didrikson.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp6UpFh32byZhPh7f0WIg-cUkUTophzul2NrHyN3xyKQW_4GS67f9D3k0N_6Qi2q9XdziDvSCNAwwyoggz6aNG7G_hVfJrk2iz1HKWAS17Oxf_2xaVKF7VQMgVae3z4HdiamWFFQWNess/s1600/IMG_20200621_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp6UpFh32byZhPh7f0WIg-cUkUTophzul2NrHyN3xyKQW_4GS67f9D3k0N_6Qi2q9XdziDvSCNAwwyoggz6aNG7G_hVfJrk2iz1HKWAS17Oxf_2xaVKF7VQMgVae3z4HdiamWFFQWNess/s320/IMG_20200621_0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And finally, he threw in an autograph and memorabilia card for good measure. The auto is a 2009 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions Autograph Mark Allen (#MA), and the memorabilia is from a 2012 Topps U.S. Olympic Team Relics Jerome Singleton (#ORJS). While Allen specializes as a Triathlete, Singleton, a three-time Paralympian, competes on both the track (100m, 4x100m Relay) and in the field (Long Jump).<br />
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Thank you Fuji for the great cards, and I hope you enjoy the packet I sent your way. I'm definitely looking forward to jumping on the bandwagon and getting cards out to my blogging brethren.<br />
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Stay healthy and safe out there.Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-46424457062700120102020-06-16T12:16:00.001-05:002020-06-18T11:51:05.215-05:00My First Autographed NPB CardDuring my last post, I mentioned how I was going to start collection Nippon Professional Baseball cards. I'm finally starting to get a few of my E-Bay shipments, and I think I have a rather nice beginning for my Japanese baseball card collection.<br />
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Besides the 1975 Broder Japan Top Star Wes Parker card I had, I discovered another Japanese baseball card of sorts already in hand, which I didn't realize until I started cleaning out my minor league card box.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7l5tjtDr2I6RKpTY-d2I4ARLmo1OVcmU6eHcDeEPWfUfou8-KOVIqSAQ9zacS964DG8CwiEpxrAG7EvNIZg72IUI456MjxuC9wQt1r250OlbfTH5Bx9aCRBF7m2BWsG29tQejXSv5NBd/s1600/88+Star+Miami+Kida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7l5tjtDr2I6RKpTY-d2I4ARLmo1OVcmU6eHcDeEPWfUfou8-KOVIqSAQ9zacS964DG8CwiEpxrAG7EvNIZg72IUI456MjxuC9wQt1r250OlbfTH5Bx9aCRBF7m2BWsG29tQejXSv5NBd/s320/88+Star+Miami+Kida.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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This particular card was a 1988 Star Masao Kida (#14) minor league card. In 1988, the Miami Marlins were a Class A independent in the Florida State League, as the MLB Marlins wouldn't begin MLB play until 1993. So, in 1987 and 1988, the NPB's Yomiuri Giants sent a few of their players to the States to play with the Marlins, and Kida was one of those players.</div>
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Drafted in the first round by the Giants after graduation from Nippon University High School, Kida began his baseball career with the Class A Marlins, going 7-17 with a 3.99 ERA, he returned to Japan to pitch for the Giants (1989-1997), and the Orix Blue Wave (1988). He then began racking up the frequent flier miles, resuming his career in the U.S., where he pitched for the Detroit Tigers (1999-2000), and then returned home to Japan to pitch again for Orix (2000-01). </div>
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From 2003-2005, he began his final U.S. stint, playing for the Mariners and Dodgers (and affiliates), before returning home for good, playing four years with the Yakult Swallows (2006-09), and then the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2010-12). He retired from the Fighters after the 2012 season.</div>
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After retiring, he actually closed out his career by pitching for the Ishikawa Million Stars in Japan's Baseball Challenge League (2013-14). They held a retirement ceremony for him on Sept. 14, 2014, whereupon they retired his jersey.</div>
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He now serves as a pitching coach for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.</div>
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Karma struck again, as I found a 2018 Epoch Season Achievements and 15th Anniversary Legends Kida autographed card, S/N 40 / 59 (#SGB-MKI) for a very reasonable price on E-Bay. Vying against one other bidder, I actually won it for $1.25.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-L9elws8bCuD25v1Z5i2wwDcT0R662tTcc7hKG-k36x7z30RnPylxB7PClSzubDpqXJQ_7R4r7uEoC-nKjf97tX6YOUec3afKruqJU8jeKuN5dCOF9_TWJyfl28Gf_uP9UH_RYe2Cljs/s1600/IMG_20200616_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="792" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-L9elws8bCuD25v1Z5i2wwDcT0R662tTcc7hKG-k36x7z30RnPylxB7PClSzubDpqXJQ_7R4r7uEoC-nKjf97tX6YOUec3afKruqJU8jeKuN5dCOF9_TWJyfl28Gf_uP9UH_RYe2Cljs/s320/IMG_20200616_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEBsMUpydOBSuEH2D1YQ6XYmXSLtyK4SHUO93g5ePGt_x1CSGTAArPW5-5GMk_MJFIAYDtLs-R_ItnTuFApPEIJlGZAgmGnQkGtb03Lbf5NQkYs_eyBG2K5j-93yNKKDrX12XQWZ8rBSW/s1600/IMG_20200616_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="789" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEBsMUpydOBSuEH2D1YQ6XYmXSLtyK4SHUO93g5ePGt_x1CSGTAArPW5-5GMk_MJFIAYDtLs-R_ItnTuFApPEIJlGZAgmGnQkGtb03Lbf5NQkYs_eyBG2K5j-93yNKKDrX12XQWZ8rBSW/s320/IMG_20200616_0008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd seen his signature on the 2019 Epoch Fighters Legend Signature card (S/N # / 50), but it wasn't as elaborate and whimsical as this one, as I really like the image he drew of himself. I actually found a website featuring Kida's Painter M's (Ishikawa Million Stars) Stamp that he drew of himself, and it's quite a match with the drawing on this card.<br />
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Heaven help me, it looks like I'm now well on my way with my Japanese baseball card collection.<br />
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Stay safe and healthy out there.Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-40682882415473328132020-06-11T16:41:00.001-05:002020-06-11T16:41:13.675-05:00A 2020 Fairwell to the Iowa State Fair<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcDELwqbyRbao-FVXHwnV5B2vpW2uZqmHIRaQ5zoqMa6Ys4J64YrVhmeG0-83Exz7g3hlG_zfZ5MAJLh9dso0VOv3QzrUGDP0vgN87qGuT7nFXj6qhftSV3BaIDpfQNUgm4gfYVcQjZlA/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcDELwqbyRbao-FVXHwnV5B2vpW2uZqmHIRaQ5zoqMa6Ys4J64YrVhmeG0-83Exz7g3hlG_zfZ5MAJLh9dso0VOv3QzrUGDP0vgN87qGuT7nFXj6qhftSV3BaIDpfQNUgm4gfYVcQjZlA/s400/IMG_3154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, it's now official.<br />
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August's Iowa State Fair - "Nothing Compares" - will not be held in 2020, after an 11-2 vote by the Fair Board, another victim of COVID-19. Besides being held within the throes of a pandemic, it probably didn't help that Minnesota and Wisconsin, two of our neighboring states, also cancelled their 2020 gatherings.<br />
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This was only the sixth Iowa State Fair to be cancelled, and the first since 1945. It was shut down in 1898, courtesy of the World's Fair in Omaha, Neb., and the Spanish-American War, before becoming a casualty of World War II, from 1942-45.<br />
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With an estimated budget of approximately $30 million (plus capital improvement projects), it's cancellation loses an estimated $100+ million, worth of economic impact to our state. During the 2019 fair alone, approximately 1.17 million people attended, from all 50 states and about 17 countries.<br />
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I have to admit, I am an Iowa State Fair fan. I try to be there as often as I can during its 11-day run.<br />
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To say the Iowa State Fair is a hoot, is an understatement. Where else can you find a butter cow, the best livestock Iowans have produced, everything and anything you'd consider eating on a stick, as well as great music. Last year's free acts included <b><i>Here Come the Mummies</i></b>, <b><i>Hair Ball</i></b>, and <b><i>Steven Adler of Guns N' Roses</i></b>, while the Grandstand shows included national acts, such as the <b><i>Slipknot</i></b> (an Iowa band), <b><i>For King and Country</i></b>, <b><i>Zac Brown</i></b>, and <b><i>Toby Keith.</i></b><br />
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One thing I really enjoy is roaming the Varied Industry Building in pursuit of the freebies. You'd be surprised at what you might find. For example, Iowa State Secretary of State Paul D. Pate, gave away this #BeAVoter card last year, using Spiderman to help remind Iowans to register and vote..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJTJGG8W3X9yUZNRyQDXJzlZNSy11J7iY_HQDVtbX7QjCum7kkRu6sge9uqFY4GC1b7IanvSQZAK7RoCzWJtYGo4g5YAsqq4aSdUxVJs4A2ne0fF0o9GbPNlQlWLrbovCrevfy4e4pQP6/s1600/IMG_20200611_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJTJGG8W3X9yUZNRyQDXJzlZNSy11J7iY_HQDVtbX7QjCum7kkRu6sge9uqFY4GC1b7IanvSQZAK7RoCzWJtYGo4g5YAsqq4aSdUxVJs4A2ne0fF0o9GbPNlQlWLrbovCrevfy4e4pQP6/s320/IMG_20200611_0004.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Uo9KSgLctGzU-S3QgfdB-g11SzhpKJr0bh7DzNZjXicKhQB1KGnYoEUrPM-OMnqRuljTu49hzlEEOzHEWpiWqkwOCWJQ6rpoPz5j0QHJVOH0dAUh8k1AOQYqkAZrTv_fGZ-DCjIs6cyc/s1600/IMG_20200611_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Uo9KSgLctGzU-S3QgfdB-g11SzhpKJr0bh7DzNZjXicKhQB1KGnYoEUrPM-OMnqRuljTu49hzlEEOzHEWpiWqkwOCWJQ6rpoPz5j0QHJVOH0dAUh8k1AOQYqkAZrTv_fGZ-DCjIs6cyc/s320/IMG_20200611_0008.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>There's also a guy who has a card booth amongst the vendors under the Grandstand. His prices aren't too bad, plus he has a really nice basket full of 25 cent pack, ranging from the Olympics, to baseball, football and basketball).<br />
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While I'm not one for opening packs at a later date, apparently I still had a $1 pack of 2018 Alan & Ginter from his table. I remember it, because it was the last on, and I had to almost arm-wrestle another buyer to get it. After a rock/paper/scissors session, I had the last pack.<br />
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Babe Ruth (#3); Mark McGwire (#212); and Poker Champion Scott Blumstein (#34).<br />
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Kyle Schwarber (#249); Exotic Sports - Sepak Takaraw mini (#MES-7); and a Fantasy Gold Mine Pedro Martinez (#FG-17).<br />
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As for the Iowa State Fair, there's always next year - Aug. 8 - 18 to be specific. You know I'll be there.<br />
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Stay healthy and safe out there.<br />
<br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-50318547859204915812020-06-08T10:27:00.002-05:002020-06-08T10:30:19.432-05:00Japanese Baseball Cards<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">Heaven help me (and please don't tell my wife), but I think I'm developing more than a passing interest in Nippon baseball and its sports cards. </span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">I'm not exactly sure I can point to any one thing that propelled me down this particular rabbit hole, but in hindsight, I probably should have seen the signs coming.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">1) It may very well have begun with the odd black and white card I found while digging through some of my old boxes of cards. I'm not sure how I got it in the first place, but it was in one of those boxes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2) There's some great blogs on Japanese cards I've been reading lately, such as Dave's <b>Japanese Baseball Cards </b>(featuring his collection of more than 60,000 Japanese baseball cards), and Sean's <b>Getting Back into Baseball Cards...in Japan. </b>Both blogs provide a great education on these sports cards and I've been learning something new every time I read them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">3) A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend a "Chatter Up" Zoom event by JapanBall. I was among the approximately 60 participants who got to listen to Matt Winters (Kansas City Royals, Nippon Ham Fighters), Carlos Mirabel (Nippon Ham Fighters) and Kevin Beirne, (White Sox, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Orix Buffaloes and Chiba Lotte Marines) share their experiences of playing professional baseball in Japan.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">Winters remains involved with the Nippon Baseball League, serving as a scout for the Fighters, while Mirabel serves as director for the Japan Retired Foreign Players Association. Beirne is now a pitching coach for a Houston-based baseball academy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">One of the comments Winters made which apparently struck a cord, was the fact there were a few Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tiger hats. "Maybe we can get a few of you to become a Fighter fan after all this," he said with a grin.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">4) And then there was this 2015 article I found from <b>Graveyard Baseball</b>, which brings "commentary on the Seibu Lions and NPB one shift at a time." They had a 12-part post on "Your Guide to adopting an NPB team." It gives a brief history of each team, where they play, their uniforms, their cheer songs, who they compare to in the MLB, and ends up with "Why you root for them," and "Why you don't root for them."</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">5) What may have been the final straw was when I recently PM'd a high school friend who's currently living in Japan. You guessed it, he's a Nippon Ham Fighter fan, and get this, the Fighter home stadium is less than a block away from his in-law's apartment in SW Sapporo.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">I know, it's Karma, right?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">So, th<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e prognosis is, I'm certainly digging Japanese baseball cards, despite the fact I can't read kanji. However, while card collecting can prove to be expensive enough on it</span>s own, I'm definitely not going to break the bank trying to put together those massive BBM or Calbee sets, and there's no way I'd ever match Dave's extensive collection.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">Instead, I'll pick up a few cards here and there, or perhaps a few packs or boxes as they pop up on E-Bay.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;">As an example, here's a 2000 Broccoli Seibu Lions pack I won on E-Bay from Robert Fitts, an author of five books on Japanese baseball who also sells Japanese baseball cards on E-Bay.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And just to show that I haven't totally gone around the bend (yet), here's an on-card autograph of the Chicken, from the 2020 Donruss set, I won off E-Bay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've been fans of his ever since he began as the "KGB Chicken," re-hatched as the "San Diego Chicken," and then finally, "The Chicken," and we've crossed paths with him on several occasions. Each time, he's been extremely friendly and actually talks to us, once he finds out we knew him in San Diego.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a photo of my wife getting a peck from the Chicken at an Iowa Cubs game. note her Chicken doll, circa 1976, in her hand. He always gets a kick out of seeing it. One year, he took it from her and cuddled it, before tossing it back to her, and waving his arms like it wasn't his and he had nothing to do with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And while we've gotten his autograph before, this is the first time I've actually seen him sign something with his actual name on it. Usually, it's just been "The Chicken," so I was especially happy to win this. Next on my list, is one of those game-used pieces from his costume from Donruss.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, the black and white card near the start of my blog is a 1975 Broder Japan Top Star, Wes Parker. In 1974, he played for the Nankai Hawks, batting .301, with 14 homers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stay safe and healthy out there</span><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b00110; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"></span><br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-44584587572355286052020-05-21T15:24:00.003-05:002020-05-21T15:24:40.071-05:00What's to become of the leftovers?When you collect track and field cards, it's often easier (and cheaper) to buy the entire set rather than try to seek out individual cards piecemeal. That way you ensure you're getting exactly what you're looking for in one fell swoop at a fairly reasonable cost. <br />
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Such was the case, as I've bought a few sets to get the track and field cards I needed over the past few months. Among those sets were the 1979 Brooke Bond Olympic Greats, 1992 Brooke Bond Olympic Challenge, the 1984 M&M's Olympic Heroes, and 1996 Imperial Olympic Champions.<br />
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To get those particular track and field athletes in order to complete their set collection, I only needed 16 of the 44 M&M cards, 15 of the 40-card Olympic Greats set, and 21 of the 40 Olympic Challenge cards. I think I got the biggest bang for my buck when I purchased the Imperial set. Of the 48 cards, I needed a total of 31.<br />
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So now, the question is what do you do with the rest of these cards? While the M&M set boasts only American athletes, the other three sets feature some of the world's best in their sports, to include Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay), Mark Spitz, Olga Korbut, Nadia Comanichi, Vasily Alexeyev, and Teofilo Stevenson.<br />
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Unfortunately, if they're not track and field, I really have no real use for them right now. So like your average Thanksgiving dinner at the 'Toad household, there's plenty of leftovers.<br />
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If someone would be interested in taking these cards of my hands, I'd be more than happy to share the wealth. Of course, if you'd like to pass something along in return, a few cards that I can use for my collections, I certainly wouldn't say no.<br />
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1979 Brooke Bond Olympic Greats - 16. Vera Caslavaska (Gymnastics); 17. Larissa Latynina (Gymnastics); 18. Olga Korbut (Gymnastics); 19. Nadia Comaneci (Gymnastics); 20. Nikolay Andrianov (Gymnastics); 21. Muhammad Ali (Boxing); 22. Teofilo Stevenson (Boxing); 23. Vasily Alexeyev (Weightlifting); 24. Bob Braithwaite (Shooting); 25. Johnny Weissmueller (Swimming); 26. Mark Spitz (Swimming); 27. Pat McCormick (Diving); 28. Dawn Fraser (Swimming); 29. Shane Gould (Swimming); 30. Kornelia Ender (Swimming); 31 David Wilkie (Swimming); 32. Richard Meade (Equestrian); 33. Harry Llewellyn (Equestrian); 34. John B. Kelly (Rowing); 35. Rodney Pattisson (Yachting); 36. Robi Mittermaier (Skiing); 37. Jean-Claude Killy; 38. Sonja Henie (Figure Skating); 39. Irina Rodnina (Figure Skating); 40. John Curry (Figure Skating).</div>
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1992 Brooke Bond Olympic Challenge - 6. Franz Klammer (Skiing); 7. Eric Heiden (Speed Skaing); 8. John Curry (Figure Skating); 9. Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean (Figure Skating); 10. Matti Nykanen (Ski Jumping); 11. Muhammad Ali (Boxing); 22. Olga Korbut (Gymnastics); 23. Nadia Comaneci (Gymnastics); 24. Vasily Alexeyev (Weightlifting); 25; Alexander Dityatin (Gymnastics); 26. Mark Spitz (Swimming); 27. Shane Gould (Swimming); 28. David Wilkie (Swimming); 29. Greg Louganis (Diving); 30. Matt Biondi (Swimming); 31. Tracy Ruiz & Candy Costee (Synchronized Swimming); 32. Steffi Graf (Tennis); 33. Olympic Flame; 34. Barcelona Stadium.<br />
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<span id="goog_1368893526"></span>1984 M&M's - 1. Shirley Babashoff (Swimming); 2. Phil Boggs (Diving); 3. Bill Bradley (Basketball); 4. Mike Bruner (Swimming); 5. Dick Button (Figure Skating); 6. Jennifer Chandler (Diving); 7. Cassius Clay (Boxing); 8. Barbara Cochran (Slalom); 9. Buster Crabbe (Swimming); 11. Donna de Varona (Swimming); 13. Mike Eruzione (Ice Hockey); 14. George Foreman (Boxing); 15. Joe Frazier (Boxing); 17. Bruce Furniss (Swimming); 18. Brian Goodell (Swimming); 19. Dorothy Hamil (Figure Skating); 20. Sonja Henie (Figure Skating); 22. Duke Kanamoku (Swimming); 23. Micki King (Diving); 26. Debbie Meyer (Swimming); 28. Jim Montgomery (Swimming); 29. Jim Naber (Swimming); 32 Lloyd Patterson (Boxing); 33. Oscar Robertson (Basketball); 35. Don Schollander (Swimming); 37. Billy Steinkraus (Equestrian); 42. Jerry West (Basketball); 44. Sheila Young (Speed Skating).</div>
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1996 Imperial Olympic Champions - 6. Dawn Fraser (Swimming); 7. Judy Grinham (Swimming); 9. Terry Spinks (Boxing); 10. Muhammad Ali (Boxing); 12. Gillian Green (Fencing); 15. Joe Frazier (Boxing); 18. Leonid Zhabotinsky (Weightlifting); 20. Chris Finnegan (Boxing); 24. Olga Korbut (Gymnastics); 27. Mark Spitz (Swimming); 32. Duncan Goodhew (Swimming); 36. Malcolm M. Cooper (Shooting); 38. Greg Louganis (Diving); 41. Steffi Graf (Tennis); 43. Andrew Holmessteven Redgrave (Rowing); 44. Adrian Moorhouse (Swimming); 45. Chris Boardman (Cycling).</div>
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Stay healthy and safe out there.</div>
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<br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-89614565536141518442020-05-18T09:28:00.004-05:002020-05-18T09:28:33.668-05:00Are jerseys of old players ok to wear?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Many, many years ago, I remember seeing a post in the San Diego Tribune about San Diego fans who continue to wear jerseys of players who have since long departed "America's Finest City." Apparently, their main gripe is the fact people continue to wear those jerseys long after the players have left San Diego and began careers with other teams.</div>
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Dave Winfield, Alonso Yonder, Andrew Cashner, readily come to mind for the Padres. Natrone Means, Kellen Winslow, and Drew Brees for the team formerly known as the San Diego Chargers.</div>
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Of course, there are the exceptions - Namely, those players who've spent their entire career with a single team. Dan Fouts immediately comes to mind. In baseball, Tony Gwynn has been long known as "Mr. Padres," and I still proudly rock his Cooperstown brown and yellow jersey with the large "19" and his name on the back, last wearing it on his recent birthday.</div>
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On one hand, part of the issue is with player jerseys being so expensive, Who can afford to buy a new one every two or three years when an overpaid player jumps to a new team to earn more $$$$. On the other hand, there are also those player's whose team seeks to upgrade, or trim payroll, and then trades them for better/younger player(s) or to fill a position need, or for salary cap room.</div>
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My two Green Bay Packers jerseys are perfect examples of this category of player, with Aaron Kampman and the #30 of Ahman Green.</div>
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So what's a fan to do?</div>
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My wife more or less helped me circumvent that situation. We were AHL hockey season ticket holders for the first five years of the Iowa Wild's existence. For Christmas, a few years ago, she ordered me an Iowa jersey. Instead of getting it with a player's name and number on the back, she had it monogrammed with "McDuff" and the number "36."</div>
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I wore the number 36 when I used to race motocross back when I was young and stupid (of course, I'm not quite so young, now). McDuff, of course, is a play off my name. I can still support my favorite team, but this way, I'm now doing it on my own terms.</div>
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When she got my San Diego Padres Marine Corps camouflage jersey a few years ago, she did the same thing, as "McDuff" and "36" grace this one, as well.</div>
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The Padres have since come out with a new Navy camouflage jersey for their Sunday military appreciation games. Being ex-Navy, of course, I had to snag that one too. Howver, I'll have to get it monogrammed elsewhere, as the Padres shop didn't offer it with this particular jersey.<br />
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In the meantime, I think I'll stick with a trio of San Diego Padres U.S.Marine Corps uniforms.<br />
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Top left is the 2017 Elite Extra Edition Dual Materials Luis Almanzar S/N 144/149 (#DM-LA), 2018 Donruss Diamond Collection Memorabilia Dinelson Lamet (#DC-DL), and a 2017 Major League Materials Wil Myers (#MLM-WM).<br />
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So, that's the particular way I've addressed the home team jersey dilemma. What's your opinion of wearing jerseys of players no longer connected with your particular team?</div>
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Stay healthy and safe out there.</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-60125116661819723052020-05-12T16:03:00.000-05:002020-05-12T16:03:39.639-05:00Donruss Rack Pack Dash & GrabI don't get out to the stores very often. But when I do (at least for now), I find it's about the only way for me to get a cardboard fix. Such was the case Saturday night, after we swung by Target to pick up a few items (while wearing masks and keeping our social distance), and picked up a 30-card rack pack of 2020 Donnruss.<br />
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This is the second pack of Donruss (Panini) I've grabbed, and I can't actually say I'm really blown away by this year's set. They don't have an official license, so they can only feature the city name on the cards. As for the cards themselves, to me, they seem just a little too busy for my taste, with the stripes and boxed lines breaking into both sides of the card. The lines coming up from the bottom of the card also seem a little out of place, and could have provided for a better, less cropped photo.<br />
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Despite all that, I do have to admit, however, I was rather happy with this particular pack. <br />
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I'll begin with the variation cards, of which there's a total of 38 different ones. When you look at the back of the base cards, if the Donruss logo is red, instead of black, you have yourself a variation. the variations can range from a different photo on the front, to having a different rendition of the team's name, i.e., Mike Trout's card reading "City of Angels," rather than "Los Angeles.<br />
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The variations I pulled in this pack were the Shohei Ohtani (#94) (pitching instead of batting); Javier Baez (#90) ("El Mago," instead of "Javier Baez"); Red Holo Eloy Jimenez (#121) ("The South Side," instead of Chicago); and Anthony Rizzo (#132) ("Chi-Town," instead of Chicago).<br />
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There were more pretty, shiney cards, as well as an autograph in this pack. The autograph was of the Los Angeles Angels' Matt Thaiss (#SS-MT); Holo Red Retro 1986 Paul Molitor (#235); Holo Red Anthony Rendon (#154); and an American Pride Justin Foscue (#AP15). Thaiss' auto is really lazy - I guess your initials pass as an autograph these days, when you're a first round pick. Another thing I can't quite figure out - On the Foscue card, they have him pictured on the front of the card, but yet on the back, they have another player's action photo, in this case, teammate Andrew Vaughn. Maybe they just want to give you a 2-for-1 card?<br />
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As for RCs, there's a Rated Rookie Kyle Lewis (#56) and Zac Gallen (#17); as well as RC Retro 1986 cards for Jake Fraley (#246); and Willi Castro (#236).</div>
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There were also four other Retro 1986 cards, one of which was also a variation - Barry Larkin (#211); Kirby Puckett (#217); Darryl Strawberry (#231); and Don Mattingly (#216). The variation card was the Puckett card, and the only way you could tell, was the baseball logo on the back of the card is printed black with white numbering, instead of the normal plain baseball, with black numbering).<br />
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Needless to say, this was the card I was most happiest about - a Diamond Kings Fernando Tatis, Jr. (#1). Hopefully, El Nino will stay healthy heading into his second season, while continuing to excite with ESPN highlight plays.<br />
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The rest of the pack included a Shane Bieber Diamond King (#18), and base cards of Max Fried, Joey Gallo, Sonny Gray, Mitch Hanger, Bryce Harper, Albert Pujols, Robbie Ray, Eduardo Rodriguez, Carlos Santana, Jean Segura, Justin Verlander, and Luke Weaver.<br />
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I think someone trying to put a set together would either go nuts, or broke, with all the parallels and variations in this set. I didn't pull any of the other parallels, such as Baby Shark, Emojis, Independence Day, but that's ok.<br />
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Would I buy more of this product? Maybe. I'd like to see more of what 2020 has to offer, but to be truthful, the selection has been rather limited at our local Target. Another reason it'll be nice to be able to move about the country again.<br />
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In the meantime, stay safe and healthy out there.<br />
.Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-47261373676974621682020-05-09T16:17:00.000-05:002020-05-09T16:17:18.744-05:00Happy 60th Birthday to Tony Gwynn!<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today, May 9, 2020 would have been Tony Gwynn's 60th birthday celebration. Unfortunately, he passed away all too soon, at the age of 54, on June 16, 2014 (my wife's birthday).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My two sports heroes as a youth were Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi. However, it wasn't long during my early adult years, that Tony Gwynn would become my third sports hero, As I stated in an earlier post, my wife and I had always wanted to meet him, hoping to see him at San Diego State, where he coached baseball. I guess it wasn't meant to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In honor of his 60th birthday, MLB TV is recognizing Gwynn with day-long coverage, including a documentary and four games highlighting his prowress. The schedule includes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT - "MLB Network Presents: Mr. Padre</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Noon ET/ 9 a.m. PT - 1994 All-Star Game</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">3 p.m./Noon PT - San Francisco Giants. vs. San Diego Padres (Aug. 4, 1993 - 6-hit game)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">6 p.m./3 p.m. PT - Padres vs. Montreal Expos (Aug. 6, 1999 - Gwynn's 3,000th hit)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT - Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS vs. the Chicago Cubs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I've seen the <b><i>Mr. Padre</i></b> feature before - it's really quite good. I recommend you take the time to watch it if you get the opportunity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It starts out with Tony Gwynn Jr. in the AleSmith Brewing Company, which makes the San Diego Pale Ale .394 beer (Gwynn's highest batting average). The brewery even has a museum dedicated to Tony Gwynn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It then goes on to document his career from playing basketball and baseball at San Diego State, to his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame (with Cal Ripken), based upon his 97.6 percent of the voters, and his eventual passing and acolades from players.</span><br />
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What's there not to like about Tony Gwynn. For the stat-driven baseball fan, how can you overlook his .338 lifetime batting average, 15-time All-Star selection, eight National League batting titles, or three Gold Gloves?<br />
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For the baseball purist, he played all 20 of his professional baseball league seasons with San Diego. He was only three hits shy of hitting .400 during that strike-shortened season in 1994. He never batted below .309 in any one season, and only once, in his 20 seasons, did he ever strike out more than 35 times.</div>
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For the average fan, he was humble, affable, always smiling, and had that booming voice and infectious laugh you'd recognize anywhere. </div>
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For the San Diego Padre fan, he was simply "Mr. Padre" and symbolized the team and its city.</div>
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With more than 900 Gwynn cards in my collection, I can admit a cardboard affinity for Mr. Gwynn. As far as I can recall, this was one of the first Tony Gwynn card I found when I was younger..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcrKc_q3FsB1X4r52GT-apE6-PPTTz0-1c7iF0uzrJ7_wWB6L6m01Gb_MELFz1fEK513h1g-nGwnM2rW3rIXnc7VH3UAtIAFLJnHeicpA57Q_T_STQ12-NMA2oz0mLw39NGMANSGnet7Y/s1600/s-l640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcrKc_q3FsB1X4r52GT-apE6-PPTTz0-1c7iF0uzrJ7_wWB6L6m01Gb_MELFz1fEK513h1g-nGwnM2rW3rIXnc7VH3UAtIAFLJnHeicpA57Q_T_STQ12-NMA2oz0mLw39NGMANSGnet7Y/s320/s-l640.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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I received a bunch of food issue cards from a friend when I was younger, and this 1994 Post Cereal Gwynn (#13) was included.</div>
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My last Gwynn card find?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0BVR9x8QSDsUhJOEDFEDuU3tOvV51nqG-vXgr1qlLOqcd58VdtWVBTICqn5PIBCWrrPkZe-iiDao12Y-eMjXEQYIR_m4oBB97XLKoFJo1ljRYtKKDJepLseXWtCMVWav7XK2X56DCuVx/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="979" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0BVR9x8QSDsUhJOEDFEDuU3tOvV51nqG-vXgr1qlLOqcd58VdtWVBTICqn5PIBCWrrPkZe-iiDao12Y-eMjXEQYIR_m4oBB97XLKoFJo1ljRYtKKDJepLseXWtCMVWav7XK2X56DCuVx/s320/a.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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I pulled this 2020 Donruss Holo Red Retro Gwynn (#218) from a Rack Pack at our friendly neighborhood Target store. (And yes, I was masked and maintained a 6-foot perimeter).</div>
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As for my favorite Gwynn card, that's way too easy...</div>
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It would have to be his 1982 TCMA Hawaii Islanders card. He's not Tony Gwynn the All-Star yet, he's got his whole life ahead of him, without all the pressure of being Tony Gwynn.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not afrraid to admit, I cry when I watch the end of <b><i>Field of Dreams</i></b>. Just like the Kevin Costner fil, I always get a lump in my throat when watching the end of MLB's <b><i>Mr. Padre</i></b> documentary. The show's final shot has Tony sitting in the dugout, facing the camera.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Now I just want all you fans out there to know, coming from me, no script, no nothing, this is from the heart," he says, "It has been absolutely wonderful playing major league baseball for the last 20 years. Having the opportunity to mingle and talk to you fans, I know I've enjoyed it, and I hope you have too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"So with that," he says, "I say goodbye, and thank you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">He then stands up, turns to his left, and slowly walks away, as the film fades to black.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Happy Birthday, Tony and thank you for all those wonderful memories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay healthy and safe out there. </span></div>
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Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-40924790129368639952020-05-04T15:52:00.003-05:002020-05-04T15:52:35.468-05:001989 Denver Nuggets Safety SetYou can believe me when I tell you I am not a basketball fan. While I can tolerate the college game, I have absolutely no love for the pro game.<br />
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I have to confess, however, the only pro basketball I have attended were two Denver Nugget games at McNichols Arena, when I lived in Denver. The first, I was part of the military honor guard presenting the colors at that evening's game. It was snowing like crazy that night, so we stayed for one quarter and then left.<br />
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I brought my family for my second Nuggets game, since it was military night and Denver was offering cheap tickets to the military. It was Jan. 17, 1991. I remember it vividly, because that was the same night President George Bush announced U.S. forces had invaded Iraq, turning shock into awe, as Operation Desert Shield became Operation Desert Storm.<br />
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The game was delayed for more than a half hour as Bush's speech was broadcast over the Jumbotron. Once the game resumed, the Nuggets went on to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 111-104.<br />
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A few months later, I would be deployed as part of Desert Storm myself, but that's a whole different story.<br />
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Back to basketball.<br />
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During the 1989-90 season, the Nuggets, Pepsi, 7-11, and Denver's Children's Hospital joined forces to offer a 12-card safety set. The cards were 4 - 1/8" x 2 - 5/8," with a nice action shot of the player on the front, with their name and number listed vertically along the right edge, and logos of the Nuggets, Pepsi, and 7-11.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPUK-Qe6mtjbKVtKEiJCywPUr_k5O7BpMku6XM-2bbo2dLXecT0SWvvxzm0_fNZdwiJ8Xli4_rCYxZOk1772gOdyQoyENdVwPU-G5DYtG7y9ELFXQZ1GCmkd4_p3v_E9C7rgViuSaH_ll/s1600/IMG_20200504_0006+-+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPUK-Qe6mtjbKVtKEiJCywPUr_k5O7BpMku6XM-2bbo2dLXecT0SWvvxzm0_fNZdwiJ8Xli4_rCYxZOk1772gOdyQoyENdVwPU-G5DYtG7y9ELFXQZ1GCmkd4_p3v_E9C7rgViuSaH_ll/s320/IMG_20200504_0006+-+a.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="208" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcEIh_jHcmyEZD9zyQu5-vrR2FzQoKYK_2B1qnwye9yxGKjigVoKfE0cOTOG5VmEuPaWYuG2LNOk4wcciKID4NasLpUkN2yLiom5UyT1PNZgtsx6u_zjFerUjpPeZTh42fyVqlKF_w_Rc/s1600/IMG_20200504_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcEIh_jHcmyEZD9zyQu5-vrR2FzQoKYK_2B1qnwye9yxGKjigVoKfE0cOTOG5VmEuPaWYuG2LNOk4wcciKID4NasLpUkN2yLiom5UyT1PNZgtsx6u_zjFerUjpPeZTh42fyVqlKF_w_Rc/s320/IMG_20200504_0010.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="203" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Being a safety set, the backs featured a white background with blue lettering, which included a safety tip from that particular player, as well as a number to call for a free KidSmart! Safety Quiz and poster.<br />
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All you had to do was buy a drink or a Slurpee, and you received two cards.<br />
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I believe the promotion only ran for about a month, but it got me to thinking, "I wonder what they do with those cards when they're done with the promotion?"<br />
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Again, while I'm not a pro basketball fan, I am a card collector first and foremost, so the pack rat side of me took over. After talking to the managers of four neighborhood stores, I received a case full of cards from each of them.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPUK-Qe6mtjbKVtKEiJCywPUr_k5O7BpMku6XM-2bbo2dLXecT0SWvvxzm0_fNZdwiJ8Xli4_rCYxZOk1772gOdyQoyENdVwPU-G5DYtG7y9ELFXQZ1GCmkd4_p3v_E9C7rgViuSaH_ll/s1600/IMG_20200504_0006+-+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />I ended up trading away three of the cases (one of them actually went for a Scottie Pippen Rookie card, which I then flipped for a very nice batch of Tony Gwynn cards<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNUYxqs1AyBtwK1gD5I-DtcuQOhPpNabv26vx8iVyyUzPiXt9781zb0J0uPfcEWBASGos9G2GTAxZJ8OWXMosDfPRb4B3BQrpUpiHbPiwDcG1PiEX1WPoqT4C-6dDlb78X5XA8SxX0Vb2/s1600/IMG_20200504_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNUYxqs1AyBtwK1gD5I-DtcuQOhPpNabv26vx8iVyyUzPiXt9781zb0J0uPfcEWBASGos9G2GTAxZJ8OWXMosDfPRb4B3BQrpUpiHbPiwDcG1PiEX1WPoqT4C-6dDlb78X5XA8SxX0Vb2/s320/IMG_20200504_0006.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcEIh_jHcmyEZD9zyQu5-vrR2FzQoKYK_2B1qnwye9yxGKjigVoKfE0cOTOG5VmEuPaWYuG2LNOk4wcciKID4NasLpUkN2yLiom5UyT1PNZgtsx6u_zjFerUjpPeZTh42fyVqlKF_w_Rc/s1600/IMG_20200504_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a> Eddie Hughes, Alex English, Walter Davis, Fat Lever, Michael Adams and Todd Lichti. Adams was a quick little player and was a 3-point machine, able to put the ball up from anywhere. English, however, I feel was the most exciting player on the team.<br />
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T.R. Dunn, Bill Hanzlik, Dan Schayes, Jerome Lane, Blair Rasmussen, and Time Kempton.<br />
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Which leaves me with part of a case left of a sport I don't particularly care for. If anyone is interested in owning one of these safety sets, let me know and I'll postt an envelope into the USPS with your name on it.<br />
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Stay healthy and safe out there.<br />
<br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-16402709963692124862020-04-29T11:08:00.001-05:002020-04-29T11:08:19.594-05:001990 Classic Baseball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In football and hockey, I believe Pro Set ranks at the top of the list of "junk" wax, with unlimited print runs. While the set produced a few interesting rookie cards, such as Barry Sanders, Michael Irvin, Marv Levy and Deion Sanders, overall, I thought the 1989 set was pretty unimaginiative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While digging through the boxes of cards I still have piled up around the basement, I came across one of baseball's versions of Pro Set - Classic, published by Classic Games. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Created as a sports trivia board game, cards consist of five questions on the back, each good for a base hit, or a homer. You spun a spinner to see which type of hit you could try for, and then consult the card for your trivia question. The bigger the hit, the harder the question.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the hundreds of different cards that were produced, the company actually made some "Automatic Grand Slam" cards, which, believe it or not, could allow you to "slug" a grand slam, with no one on base.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1990, Classic made a Yellow Travel set of 100 cards (actually 99, with one unnumbered card), a Blue set (150 cards), Classic Update (t0 cards) and a Classic Draft Picks (25). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think everyone has to have a few of these cards laying around, as it seemed as if the print runs were astronomical and you could find them almost anywhere back in the '90s. According to the information I've been able to find, the blue with pink cards were produced in approximately 200,000 sets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, let's start out with the Classic Yellow Travel edition (with the blue lines). If you were looking to complete a set, forget about it, as the #51 card of Willie Blair was never issued. The card without a number, which also has a blank, blue back, features picturres of Frank Viola, the "Texas Heat" duo of Nolan Ryan and his son Reid, and then Don Mattingly and Chipper Jones. That Texas Heat picture is also featured on card #T91.</span></div>
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The only three San Diego Padres depicted on the 1990 Classic Yellow set are Fred Lynn (#T59), Shawn Abner (#T20), and Greg Harris (#T13). As for 1990, it would be the only year Lynn would play for the Friars.</div>
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There would be a total of seven Padres within the 1990 Classic Blue set, with Tony Gwynn (#17), Roberto Alomar (#61), Andy Benes (#120), and Bruce Hurst (#102).</div>
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And finally, here's the three Padres from the 1990 Classic Update Pink with Blue set - Benito Santiago (#T44), Jerald Clark (#T10), and Joe Carter (#T9),</div>
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At the very least, this was an interesting concept and I think I played the game once. If I remember right, I thought it was pretty boring - it kind of reminded of the old "Bible Baseball" game we played when we were younger.</div>
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Stay healthy and safe out there.</div>
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Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-67412119941039471252020-04-25T20:04:00.000-05:002020-04-25T20:04:37.445-05:00The last pitcher of record to hit a walk-off homer to win the game?<div style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
If there's any team in baseball that's just chock-full of arcane bits of trivial information, it would have to be the San Diego Padres.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, did you know that up until August 15, 2015, the Padres and the Miami Marlins shared the distinction of being the only two teams in MLB history yet to have a player hit for the cycle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">While San Diego batters had been one hit shy of the cycle 361 times, with 258 of those falling a triple short, Matt Kemp was able to put it all together on that particular day. Considering </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the Padres have a 24-year head start on the Miami franchise, not having a player hit for the cycle until the team's 7,444th game, isn't a record you'd care to brag about.</span></div>
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Until June 1, 2012, the Padres were only one of two MLB teams yet to have a pitcher toss a no-hitter. On that day, Johan Santana, became the first New York Mets pitcher to throw a no-no after more than a half century and 8,020 Mets games. Even more impressive, he did so against the defending World Series champs, St. Louis Cardinals.<br />
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By comparison, the Padres have thrown 30 one-hitters in their history and have carried no-hitters into the eighth inning of 19 games. If you want to look at it another way, San Diego has gone nearly 7,300 regular season games (as well as 34 postseason games) without having a no-hitter to their credit.</div>
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Jordan Lyles (7 1/3), Kirby Yates (1/3) and Brad Hand (1 1/3) were the latest Padres to fall victim, having a May 15, 2018 no-hitter broken up at Petco Park by Colorado's Trevor Story with a one-out, eighth-inning single off Lyles. However, as you may well know, close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.</div>
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By the same token, the Padres have been no-hit 10 games, with two of those courtesy of San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (2013, 2014).</div>
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And now, you can add another head-scratching trivia question to your vast vault of arcane baseball knowledge.</div>
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Who was the last pitcher of record to hit a walk-off homer to win the game?</div>
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The answer came courtesy of the New Orleans-based Junior Junkie, who writes the cool blog, <span dir="ltr"><a href="http://thejuniorjunkie.blogspot.com/" onclick="" rel="contributor-to nofollow"><span style="color: #1155cc;">The Junior Junkie: the Baseball Cards of Ken Griffey</span></a>.</span> Recently, I found a package of Padres cards he had sent me a few years ago. </div>
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This was my first trade with Junior and it was a great first package of Padres palyers. But one of those cards intrigued me, as it was a hand-signed, privately-printed card of San Diego pitcher Craig Lefferts, expressing his Christian faith. </div>
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In researching this single card, I came across a really neat story of this German-born Padre.</div>
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More than 30 years ago, on April 25, 1986 (Happy Anniversary), Craig Lefferts, a Padres reliever, arrived at Jack Murphy Stadium with a 102-degree fever. Since he wasn't scheduled to pitch against the Giants that day, he hung out in the trainer's room hoping to keep cool, rested and hydrated.</div>
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Funny how things work out, though. In the top of the 9th, Goose Gossage blows a 7-5 Padres lead, allowing the Giants to tie the game. Lefferts, who was instructed to get ready in the seventh inning comes in to pitch the top of the 11th. He allows one hit and the game remains tied, 7-7.</div>
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The Giants' Greg Minton, who entered the game himself in the bottom of the 10th, continues the bottom of the 11th with another one-hit, no-run inning. Lefferts responds in the top of the 12th by allowing a run on two hits by Jeffrey Leonard and Robby Thompson and trails 8-7.</div>
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Minton, who holds the record for the most consecutive innings pitched without allowing a home run (269.1 innings, June 1, 1979 through May 1, 1982), gives up a homer in the Padres' half of the 12th, to pinch-hitter Graig Nettles to start the inning. After inducing Garry Templeton into a groundout, Lefferts comes to bat, with the score knotted 8-8, with the bases empty and one out.</div>
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Minton goes ahead 0-2 on the count, throwing a pair of sinker balls, one for a strike, the second a foul ball. Lefferts then gets a slightly-hanging curve ball, which he then deposits into the stands for a 9-8 Padres win.</div>
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For Lefferts, it was his only home run among his 132 career MLB at bats - It was also the 10th time where a pitcher hit a walk-off homer for the win. (By the way, the first came may 30, 1957, when Detroit's Lou Sleater hit a homer off of Kansas City's Wally Burnette for the 6-5 win).<br />
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Happy Anniversary Craig.</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6592414434600885053.post-55868030764419511282020-04-23T09:40:00.001-05:002020-04-23T09:40:51.194-05:00Be sure to support your local card shops <span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm telling you, the first thing I think I'm going to do when we're free to move about the country again, is visit a local card shop. And I have one particular shop in mind.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even though I live in Des Moines, Iowa, I'm a river rat, born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. We try to hit the Rock Island Arsenal Commissary and PX for some shopping every other month, or so, and then hit up either Rudy's Tacos for lunch, or Whitey's Ice Cream Parlor for some sweet snacks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, you guessed it, I try to stop by a Davenport card shop, in this case, Midwest Collectables. It's not </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">too far from my sister-in-law's place, so it gives my wife something to do while I spend my usual 1-2 hours rooting through a card shop.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, I think I was last there in January when we took my sister-in-law out for dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really like the place. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the shop is well-lit and well stocked with sports cards, comics and supplies. There's usually a few of the regular customers hanging around, and I love hearing the sports talk and Hawkeye chat, as well as the local neighborhood gossip.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing I particularly like about Midwest, is their $1 and $.25 tubs. If you do a bit a of digging, you can find almost anything. One thing that particularly helps with your searching, is the fact they add the year to the front of their clear grab bags. There's usually 9 cards in the baseball grab bags, and 8-14 football cards. Occasionally, they'll have hockey too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are a few of the packs I happened to pick up on that trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, I found these 1969 Topps baseball cards in the $1 tub. They're not in mint condition, a few are mis-cut, a few have scratches and light creases, but that's ok. It's a chance to actually see and hold some early baseball cards.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In that same $1 tub, I found this plastic case with 13, 1959 Topps baseball cards within it.</span></div>
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Like I said earlier, I can't wait for this epidemic to be over so I can actually shop at a real card shop, other than the card racks of Wal-Mart or Target for some nice, cardboard goodies.<br />
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Stay healthy and safe out there.</div>
Comatoadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13586730611415248483noreply@blogger.com2