Who Would Have Thought?

With the creation of the other site I've been staying away from posting these type of finds here. The gap between posts has been just over 2 months, and it was a great day so why not do it here.

For the first time in what I believe has been ten years minimum, we headed to Portland for the Palmer Antique Show. When I got custody of the daughter doing shows like this was a casualty of her living here. Not doing these shows is something that honestly didn't bother us as we did what most parents do. Moved on to doing other exciting things with the kid, or kids for some. Now though she has hit that magical age of 18, and so we can do these shows whenever we want once again. Odds are it won't happen very often. Honestly I enjoyed doing the water-slide parks, and other things we would go do while she was younger.

Originally the wife was on the fence about hitting this show, but in the end she went along. With a vacation that will include tons of walking coming up she felt this would be a good preparation for that trip. I believe she was glad she did as her big find was a Disneyland book from the early 60's which are something she loves to just look through. On my end I've started to very slowly, and I mean slowly, collect a few of my favorite Hot Wheels from when I was a kid. Going in I felt that if I could walk home with two cars this would be a successful trip.

As you can see it was a mission accomplished! Like every kid that was growing up around the same years as myself, I loved Dukes of Hazzard. While it wasn't Hot Wheels who had the rights to making these cars, I just had to add it. The car itself is a little rough, but in this collection it is just character that shows it was loved like the one I had. Not a bad find for the first thing that was bought by us at the show. The stagecoach looking car was another I liked to play with, and was out final purchase.

Down the same row as the General Lee was what had to be the surprise of the show. To say I never expected to find these would be an understatement.

When I initially saw the box these were in I took a swift look.That look got much deeper when the guy said a dollar each. How could I not look inside, and see what treasures would be found inside. If there had been a full set of these I would have brought them home. Sadly this was the only six so this is what I have.

Couldn't pass up the chance to add some other schedules from the USFL. Going into the day I not only didn't have any USFL schedules, but had a couple in the past, and have traded them away. Now I have the decent makings to a growing collection.

Out of all the stuff found in the box this is by far my favorite. As a collector of schedules of all but one Denver team these are pure gold. Not only getting a schedule, but a sticker was awesome if you ask me. I'm still trying to decide if it should go in a page with the schedule, or stuck someplace. Odds are it will end up in the page.

Closing things out are these three finds. The Mariners was a shot in the dark as to whether I needed it or not. it wasn't on the wantlist, but I just felt it wasn't a sponsor that I had.

A dual Dolphins/Hurricanes schedule was a must for the Hurricanes collection. I still to this day wonder why I keep adding to these by not only writing the school, but buying them when I see one I don't have. At this point I'm going to quit asking myself this question, and accept it.

 Last is that sweet looking old school Broncos logo sticker. As a kid I was a member of the Broncos kids club for atleast 4 years. I'd be willing to bet that I had a few of these end up in my hands during that time frame. If I did I can't remember, and what was done with them is more of a mystery.

After going through the three boxes of schedules I originally pulled 28, and whittled the final count to 22. Something in me just wasn't willing to plop down 28, or add two more for an even 30 dollars for these. At 22 the dealer was willing to take an even 20 which was a great deal. Good thing I had the self-control working as I could have easily spent 50 on this little venture. There were bumper stickers galore from the various USFL teams. I would have picked up one more batch of small stickers that would have ended up being stuck someplace, but it was a batch of 5-10 sheets that were all stuck together. Tried prying them apart, but it didn't work out.

Experiencing Some Goodwill

Although I hit atleast one Goodwill a week. The hobby room has gotten quite filled so finding treasures has become something that happens less often than they did say one year ago. I've even hit the point where a couple months ago some of the bobbleheads from the non Mariners collection made an exit back to Goodwill. It wouldn't be a surprise if it begins to happen more in the future. Things are at the point of if one comes in one has to leave.

I mention this as even the Mariners collection has gotten very tough to add to. While they are still giving out four or more a year it seems. Finding them at the Goodwill has gotten to be much harder than it used to be. All this leads me to finding not only a bobblehead I didn't have, but didn't even know existed.

To most the question might be how did you not know this existed being you collect Mariners bobbleheads?  My answer is I don't keep a running list of those missing from the collection. Maybe this should be something that gets done one day, but right now with the schedule collecting, business cards, and baseball cards. Another wantlist to research, and maintain doesn't feel like something fun. Collecting is supposed to be fun, and so I'll wait on doing a bobblehead list.

Due to all the fuss about the eclipse happening tomorrow, and living in the "Totality Zone". I had plans to be one of those that enjoyed all the chaos from my living room. We are planning to head out to the park in town, and watching at the event they have going on. Things have been way less insane than expected so I gave it a go at getting the dogs wet food, and hitting the Goodwill.

I'm glad my attitude changed as this had to be one of my more successful trips in a long time. Starting off the treasure discovery was a pair of bags filled with card sheets. How many were in each bag I haven't counted yet, but will get around to at some point. Most important is these aren't the usual 9 pocket pages. One bag was filled with 4 pocket, and the other 2 pocket. These will be used for the schedules as more, and more colleges are leaving their basketball, and football unfolded. I could fold them, but they are cooler in the 4 pocket pages. The 2 pocket are great for some schedule magnets, and some other odd sized schedules.

The real find though was this goody right here.

I can't tell how old it is, but for $3.99 it looks cool enough that I'll have a place for it in the hobby room. It even had the old owners name, and part of their phone number that  I can't make out.

The plan is one day to find an old crate or something, and toss it into this with some bats, balls, and maybe another glove or two. Currently I have two bats for the box, and sadly passed on buying a box that might have been perfect a couple months ago. Eventually another will come my direction, and the whole idea will start to build itself. Until then I'll stay on the lookout for new additions.

A Card Show End The Streak- part 2

Want to first thank the couple of you who left replies on the first edition of this post. They made me realize how much I've missed posting around here, and that I need to post something every month at the worst. There have been some finds, but I just never got to showing them off. Need to drop in, and do this more often. Second is yes, Matthew the schedules came, and thank you so much. I'm trying to work on gathering some Pirates to send your direction.

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With the back still feeling the pain of spending the time at Bill's massive collection of boxes.  I did the grazing thing which meant not stopping for long at any table. The longest stop was at the table loaded with the mascot cards. After the few minutes spent there the back started to revert back to the pain that forced me away from Bill's. As I began to leave only one table stood between me, and heading homeward. Thinking that it wouldn't put out much of a resistance I scanned, and was close to walking away. The curious person on me though couldn't help to look into a box full of these.

Ironically this was the first one I picked up out of the box. As I looked at the top card this was peeking at me.

Not long before the last post around here I bought some of these at a card show, and it got me reminiscing about building these as a kid. While I only bought these cards for a couple years around 1982 the idea popped into the old brain to build the entire run. This led to a huge wantlist that has been very slow running. Like a bunch of the sets or subsets in baseball I seem to be drawn too, these aren't something the masses collected.

I couldn't help, but ask what  he wanted for each card. It took a couple minutes as he was deep in conversation, and took some time to even notice I was standing there. Which at 6'4" and 280lbs. I'm usually tough to miss. Honestly he's always at the shows I've gone to, and someone I pass by because of this. My problem was I couldn't leave this time without learning what he wanted for these cards.

Thinking the answer would be around a dollar or so each I was preparing to pick through the box, and get 5 or so at the most. Imagine when to my surprise the answer came "You can have the entire thing for 4 bucks?" To say reaching into the wallet for the cash was the fastest I'd moved all day would be an understatement.

As I write this all I know is the amount of cards in the box which will wait until the end of this post. For now how about we learn together what the grand total of each years cards?

Starting of the fun is 1979, and a a grand total of 23 cards. Included were only two doubles which isn't bad when you think this is a set that only takes 69 cards to complete. Not a bad way to kick things off when you think about the fact this is just short of 1/3 of a set.

Another of the larger batches of these cards the 1981 set got a 21 card hit that puts it at just under 1/4 of the 88 cards for a completed set.

 With only the one card the 1978 comes in with what I think might be the ugliest of all the sets. While these aren't the prettiest of cards the yellow outline didn't help make them any prettier.

The two cards below come from the 1982 set, and was the first set of these I ever built. The original set has come, and gone with most the cards taking a beating before ending up who knows where.

In what is the most surprising find in the case is 11 of the 1977 set. The thing most surprising to me is I somehow either missed that these existed, or didn't put them on the wants because they are a kind of pipe-dream set. Having done the list over a year ago I can't remember which was the reasoning. Now neither of these matters as the set needs to make it on the wants in the future.

Closing out the amazing find is 24 cards from the year 1980. With only a single double the 23 remaining cards is a sweet hit towards completing this set of 70.

Overall the entire case was better than expected. When I bought it my original thought was it had cards for only a couple sets. Being able to hit six different sets, and not get left with a ton of doubles is an even bigger bonus. At the same time a slight disappointment comes with that as the hope was for a near completed set inside.The potpourri of sets more than makes up for that though.

Even better is when you add everything up the case included 85 cards, and at just under a nickel per card is a big win. Now I'll be spending a portion of today organizing the binder these go in, and removing the additions from the wants. Hopefully this all leads to completing atleast one of these sets in the very near future. From there the mission of finding the nearly impossible to find stickers will become the next goal on these. 

A Card Show Ends The Streak - part 1

After being gone for what has been over a year now. A great day at the Mall 205 show that gets visited by a few of the other bloggers in these parts ends the streak. For me it has been probably a minimum six months since the last visit. While that one was fairly good this one ended up rating as the second best trip ever.

Things didn't start out well as my usual trip to Goodwill before the show yielded nothing. From there things were a simple OK as I hit Gavin's favorite stop Bill first. Bill had the dime boxes out in full force where I managed to find these treasures

Bazooka Joe fits into my general Seattle Mariners binder. Kyle Seager is one of two Mariners players I collect cards for, and thus fits in that same binder. Johnson was a card I believed was missing in the Mariners Pepsi set, and luckily I was right. What the other couple are I have no idea, but I should make a list for the set at some point.

David Dahl is one of a bunch of Rockies prospects I have been gathering cards of when found on the cheap. For some of the guys on the list a dime might still be a little much, but I really like Dahl so the dime per card  was inside the window. Story, and Arenado are two of my big three that I collect of Rockies players. The third is Blackmon who I didn't find any cards for.

These three were the biggest pick ups of my player collecting finds. The top card was picked up for Jon Gray who can list this cat as a fan for life. When I did the Mariners weekend a couple years ago I got a picture with Gray who was a very cool dude, and sold me as a fan.

Happ is one of those guys in the Cubs pipeline that honestly hits two categories. First is he played for the Cincinnati Bearcats who is one of the few colleges I collect schedules for. Second, and the most important reason is he played down in Eugene, and a player we enjoyed watching while in town. Eloy Jiminez is another of those players despite not having any cards for him right now.

From there the additions were for sets that I am ho hum building. The Skylines caught my attention, and is a subset that I'll probably take a shot at if I ever come across a couple more. The Superstar Summit cards are the same type of deal. Diamond Vision is a subset that I have officially started, and fits in my stadiums binder.

Besides all these another nine cards made it home with me. It could, and should have been more as there was 5 or so more boxes I never got to. Problem is the back started to tighten up, and forced me to move on. I decided against going back as I knew I'd get sucked in again, and not last very long.

Walking around I glanced into a few boxes, but with the back I didn't feel anything was worth stopping until arriving at one of the last two tables. Giving a fast look I almost moved on, but spotted a load of 2014 Opening Day.

Tucked in there was all the subset cards that they pulled with the packs. Having what I thought was a complete wantlist I got these 9 plus three more not in the picture. Best of all these were 5 for a buck so it was a steal of a deal for cards I never seem to find for even a higher price. Once I got home I noticed that the wants might not be correct so going through the wants might be something that needs done in the near future.

All these cards I felt would be a good fit into the stadiums binder. Yes, I know there are, and honestly were at the show more of these. These are the ones I feel best fit into the stadium binder so they got to come home with me. The Kingdome card had a twin so I picked up both cards. One goes into the stadiums binder the twin went into the Mariners binder.

Last was the find that made this the second best discovery at a card show. That will have to wait for part 2 which will hopefully be coming in a couple days, or next weekend.

Latest Goodwill Finds- #1

With how slow things have been going in finding treasures from Goodwill stores these days. I thought why not start posting finds in a way similar to the way Fuji does his swap meet discoveries. Some of these probably had stories that went with them when they were originally purchased. That day has long come, and gone.

Phil Knight Bobblehead

Bought for $3.99 when I first saw him the decision to buy took some thinking. Phil was originally given away in 2014 at a basketball game between the Ducks, and USC. Finally seeing one of these at Goodwill was quite a surprise. The few times I had seen these they were on Craigslist for an insane amount of money.

Taz Salt And Pepper Shaker

Finding these had me baffled originally. Each was priced individually for $2.99 instead of banded together like they normally do their salt, and pepper shakers. Throw in that they were in the nic-nack section, and not with the other shakers. All this left me perplexed on what they were, and forced me to grab the phone for a search. After the search I went from deciding to buy just the pitcher to both.

Hillsboro Hops Ball & Daytona Shot Glass

The cheapest items in this group at .99 cents each. The shot glass is an item that I'd come across over a year ago, and walked away from. Since then my NASCAR collection had grown so the time to add the glass felt right.

The Hops baseball despite being something I've been trying to avoid buying more of was too cool to leave behind. The picture of game action on the ball was what convinced me to bring it home.  Eventually I'll start going through all these baseballs, and clear out the least favorites in the collection. 

I might be coming home with less items these days as I've been trying to be a bit more selective. There have been many an item that has been left behind as the thinking of where something will go if it's bought crosses my mind more often than it used to. 





3rd Show Of The Year, But In Beaverton

In the last month, and a half I have logged so many miles in driving that I can't wait for a slow week. I'd even go as far as to say that there hasn't been one weekend that I haven't logged over 350 miles in driving.

This weekend wasn't any better as I took the long drive north again for the Beaverton card show. If it sounds like I'm complaining I'm not. This was a show I'd wanted to hit for the last month when I saw it was coming up. The reason is while it gets a large amount of the Mall 205 dealers. It does get some new dealers that usually makes it worth the time I spend going there.

Coming home with a ton of cards that has just left me shaking my head, and wondering why I bought the cards. I did manage to come home with a decent amount of set builders as well. Any time I can find a bunch of set needs I consider that a successful trip.

If you haven't been around, and heard me talk about the 2004 Studio Stars subset. I love the look of this set, and was pleased to find two cards for the subset. Finding two cards was like hitting a jackpot being I found one originally, and added another not long ago.

These are another of those things that if you've been around you've heard tons about. After adding these into the wants, and decided to build the entire series recently. Best of all the four you see above aren't the entire find for these. The total find was eight new cards, with all being for this one set.

The crazy thing about these eight cards was I almost didn't find them. They all came from a nickel box, or 25 for a dollar. Originally I picked out ten cards, but the dealer didn't have the change. Trying to get change he sent his helper out, and while he was gone I dug into the football better than my initial search where I found these.

Closing out the finds were these 1995 Silver 'You Crash The Game' cards. Found in a quarter box where I bought eight. After getting home I learned that maybe I should have done a better job looking through the wants for these. Maybe I would have gotten something else useful instead of five doubles. Not a total loss as I'm thrilled to be crossing these three of the wants.

Overall it wasn't a bad show despite me spending more than I probably needed to. I had more money than usual, and instead of smart spending I went buckwild. Normally I'm much smarter with the budget, and try to stick with cards that either fit the set wants, or have a home already in mind. The next card show won't be for quite awhile, but it's been a great ride in the three I've hit.

Pat Is Definitely No Fool

With today being April Fools Day I have to admit that it's a tradition that is lost on me. I've just never been into the whole thing of playing pranks. Be that on April Fools Day, or any other day to be honest. Don't get me wrong though. I'm not one who will bash others who enjoy the day with a prank. Heck, if a great prank is played I'm one to give props. It is just not something I go in search of any day of the year.

This all leads me to a small package of treasures that I got just over one month ago from fellow TradingBases member Pat. What I learned from this package is Pat doesn't joke around when it comes to sending out some sweet cards.

Included was a note asking if I still collected Tex cards, or if it was a long gone player collection? It seems I have never updated the collecting desires at the TradingBases site. Something that I guess needs to be done in the near future.

While I haven't been actively seeking out Tex cards I still haven't torn the binder holding all the cards apart either. Maybe I'll toss these sweet looking cards in there someplace until I decide if I want to eventually tear it down. Who knows, maybe Tex will get back to his old form minus the injuries he's been plagued with since joining the Yankees.

Closing out the package Pat showed he was serious.

Despite all the player collecting changes I seem to go through each year. Two that have remained a constant is the Kyle Seager, and Mike Trout collections. Both guys will remain in the player wants until the day my collecting stops. Seager has a long term deal with the Mariners that will keep him in Seattle for awhile. He's even considered by many to be the teams franchise player. Some might go with Cano since he's joined the team. For my money I'll join the crowd saying Seager is that man.

Thank You, Pat for some awesome cards that I'm proud to be adding into the collection.

45 Minutes At Mall 205

Saturday was a special day for this cat as I was able to make a quick stop into the Mall 205 card show. The trip was an unplanned one that I only learned about Friday night.

After hitting two card shows at Mall 205 the plan was to take a break from this particular show for a few months. I'd felt like it had run its course for a few months when it comes to adding cards into the collection. Throw in that I plan on hitting the Beaverton show, and the Northwest Largest Garage Sale on consecutive weeks April 9th, and 16th. With those two huge events coming up I just felt more than anything that It'd be best to save up for those.

Then things took a turn that left me with the option to hit the show, and so I took it. The youngin went to visit the mother for Spring Break. Living in the Eastern part of the state we usually meet up in Redmond, but she wanted to do The Gorge for the return home. If that wasn't enough I got a text saying to meet up at noon. What this did is lead me right past Mall 205, and the card show. How can you not think that was fate telling me to drop in for a quick look through the card show? Not only that, but who am I to tell fate I'm not going to listen?

Realizing that I would only have a small window of about 45 minutes I arrived pretty close to ten, and went right to work. There would be no grazing through boxes that didn't show automatic promise as time didn't allow for that.

Starting off on a good foot I nailed down two very cool items that I will let the blogger I picked them up for show these off once I mail them to him. Soon I came across a dealer that I hadn't seen at the other two shows I'd made this year.

Selling a stack of these style cards for fifty cents, and one of them being Kyle Busch I couldn't walk away without this sweet card. It didn't hurt that it was in a pretty good hard case that is probably worth fifty cents itself.

From there it didn't take long to come across a fairly small box full of card that were 3 for $1.00.

Right off the bat I saw the Torii Hunter, and knew I needed it for the 2003 set. The other two were bought just to get me to the three cards needed for the deal. Odds are I will keep them, and do something with them unless there is a collector out there looking for one, or both cards. If you are said collector the Helton is numbered 385/475.

From there things kept rolling with my final purchase of the day. Another dealer I hadn't seen before was loaded up with tons of regional goodies. Looking back I know there was a bunch of other stuff that I should have bought, but all I walked away with was these.

1998 Mariners Upper Deck Pepsi cards. According to the sheet of paper inside there are 12 of the 19 cards for the set inside. Even as writing this I still haven't checked to see if the little sheet of paper is correct. Included are 10 extra's that I will have to figure their future out. Food issue type cards seem to be popular so if anyone wants one or more of the extra cards then they are up for grabs.

The cards I didn't get from the guy was a bunch of the giveaway team sets, and he had them on the cheap. I'm kind of torn on whether passing on them was a good idea, or something I'll regret more later on. I've picked up a couple different years in the past so it would have been cool to have a run of the cards. The big downside is they came incomplete as the idea was to trade your doubles to complete the set. What are the odds of ever being able to complete those now that it's been this long?

For only having 45 minutes I think I did really good with what I brought home. Seeing all these leaves me wondering what more could have been found if I'd only had more time? No big loss as it was a show that without the different travel plans I would have missed. So I'm just looking at these cards as gravy that I'd never known about.

The Power Of One

Back in February I had purchases a hanger pack of 2016 Topps. Having no desire to even consider building the set, or any of its subsets. I threw out that all cards from the post were available for anyone who needed them.

Wanting to cover all bases I offered the cards at the Yahoo group TradingBases for any collectors there who might need the cards. It didn't take long as one of the members Michelle hit me up needed a couple of the cards. Happy to help I put the cards in an envelope, and sent them on their way.

Not long afterward Michelle dropped an envelope of her own on me that showed how powerful one card can be.

What you are seeing is a Berger's Best card #60 from this years Topps. A card that turned what to me was a wasted pack into a pack that was money well spent. I could have bought many a packs, and odds are would have still needed to track this great card down. Thanks to an awesome trade with Michelle I was able to mark it off the needed cards list.

Most of all I learned how powerful one card can be when it comes to turning a pack around. 

There's No Excuse

While growing up we all had excuses for why things never got done. I mean who doesn't remember the classic "The dog ate my homework"? Then as we get, or got older the excuses are even more complex.

Sometimes these excuses are to get us out of things we should have done, but we didn't. Other times they are to get out of situations that we are in, but need to get out of. We've all done that at some point in our life.

With what I have done here I wanted to dream up some form of an excuse. The problem is I just can't do that. All because there is no excuse for not thanking this fellow blogger sooner than now. Heck, the guy has thanked me over, and over a few times for a pair of packages.

First we will start with the blogger that I can't make an excuse to, but just offer an apology. Chris who, runs one of my favorite blogs The Raz Card Blog. Sorry it has taken me this long to get around to showing off a card that left me with my bottom lip on the floor.

Now that I've offered up apology number one how about we start with some excuses that I could try if there was an excuse. The problem is there is no excuse, but why not give it a try.

Excuse- I've been so busy doing things that I haven't had any time to show off the great card Chris sent my way.
Truth- I've had days where I didn't do anything, but sit around watching TV. Those days could have been used for something much more useful. Something like letting Chris know how awesome the card he sent me is.

Excuse- I planned on saving the card for a planned post when the NASCAR season started.
Truth- This does have some truth to it. I did want to do a big post where I showed off the card at the start of the year. Somewhere along the way the card got buried, and I forgot all about it. How I forgot it is beyond me as I will be putting this card in a special place in the hobby room once this post is completed.

Excuse- Most days I come home from work wore out because my boss is the devil, and over works us.
Truth- Well that actually is the truth. Since getting this new boss my posting has taken a serious hit because I'm just to drained to sit here, and think about blogging. Sadly it means I have been dropping the ball when it comes to thanking people for cards like the mind-blowing card sent by Chris.

Now without further ado here it is.

This card now sits on the shelf with my Kyle Busch diecast cars, and other fun items. Thank you so much for the awesome card Chris. When I opened the mailer this card was in I was blown away, and speechless. Maybe that is the truth on why it hasn't been shared until now. I was so speechless that the words couldn't come out./

And Then There Were Two

Since creating the new blog Prowling Cat's Hobbies Madness these type of posts have been moved over there. Despite the change every so often these will appear back here, and I thought this would be the perfect time.

Starting with the fall of 2015 I was doing a full court press on attempting to finish both the NBA, and NBADL business cards. While doing well with the NBADL the NBA has been a very slow process that had still left me with three teams missing. One of those three the Charlotte Hornets got this artelope very late in 2015.

Much like the other couple years it went unanswered, and was thus sent to the lost files.

Unlike the past though, like I said a full court press is currently going on. What this meant is it was time to try something different, and scrap the artelope for the plain old request without the artwork. So a regular good old fashioned envelope was sent out in hope of a much better return. Not knowing what to expect my SASE came back this week, and jackpot!!

The Hornets sent four of the schedules on the top, and more importantly the business card below. Adding this business card now leaves the NBA at two hold outs for a full collection.

New Orleans Pelicans

New York Knicks

If anyone is in the area for these two teams I would be forever in your debt if you could nab me just one business card from the team. I'd take more than one card if you felt the need, but one card would make this cat your friend for life.

Once again, if you enjoyed the artelopes project it can be found over at The Prowling Cat's Hobbies Madness. There you will find the list for all my remaining business cards from all the sports. Even if a team isn't on the list I am always willing to take any sports team, and college athletic department business card you are willing to send my way.

Football Joins The Collecting Party

Back when I was a kid we collected football cards with more of a passion than any other sport. Then as we hit the teen years our football cards disappeared, and any collecting we did was for baseball. Not a whole lot of trading was done, but when it was baseball was king.

Then came the early 90's, and my collecting changed over to basketball, and non-sport. Baseball was a backseat that I would pick up Nolan Ryan cards for myself, and possibly the hottest new thing to sell at an upcoming card show. During this time frame pretty much all my football went to the great abyss. The black hole of I don't know where. I had maybe a couple handful of cards left, and why I had them I can't tell you because I don't even know.

Over these past years baseball has become my only collecting. The basketball cards have been slowly getting tossed into either the recycle bin, or the Goodwill box. On a very rare occasion I've been able to hit a wantlist with them. If it wasn't for those times I'd bet the basketball cards would be a handful. Right now they are the verge of that status, but haven't quite gotten there yet. Non-sport cards have been suffering the same fate as what was once two big boxes full of cards is down to one half box, and shrinking slowly.

All this purging leads me into the reason behind this post. While doing another small basketball purge I came across the small handfuls of football cards. Most of the cards were these type.

The ever forgotten about Fleer Action Team cards. If you've caught my posts for this entire year you have noticed not only mentions of these cards. You will have seen the pictures from this post already.

During those I have mentioned that a storm was brewing in my collecting habits, and these cards are that storm. Thinking about all the fun with not just these cards, but the football cards from when we were kids got me wanting to do a little football. While I have no interest of hunting down the cards sets of individual players from that time frame. What I am interested in is trying to build these sets once again.

Ironically these are tough finds, and go right along with my baseball sets building of numerous tough to build sets. Luckily I have a really great head start on the 1985 set as it was the one I found in the box of football cards. The bad news is the stickers, and making a wantlist for them will be the toughest part of this journey. To help I know the blog Fleer Sticker Project did some posts about these stickers. Eventually I plan on going through those posts, and seeing about trying to make a sticker wantlist.

Until then I have now added a link on the side under my baseball set wants, and player collecting for these cards. If anyone out there has even one of these I'd love to add it into the collection.

Next Up The Wants

Besides the player changes I have been going through some changes in my set collecting as well. Some of those changes were huge while the remaining were simply adding sets that I've picked up a couple card of, but never added to the list. First off the the huge change that was made.

Like so many other people that became more serious into collecting, or investing in the 90's. I got caught up in the craze of collecting the minor league cards. You know the whole thing of collecting the rookie card, or was it pre-rookie thing that started going on. That stayed with me when I decided to try, and complete some sets that I'd started in the 90's. Then as I've added more, and more newer sets, and subsets the pre-rookie thing still was with me. Even when I started this blog I added a couple prospect sets into the mix.

As the blogging, and collecting have become even more fun the longer I'm doing it. This winter I started to realize that I'm just not really into the whole prospect thing like I once was. Building a set of 200-300, or more cards in hopes that a couple of the players will be superstars doesn't appeal to me anymore. I am having a blast collecting right now, and want to build sets that call to me. All this transferred over to the player collecting as other than Jon Gray you will notice are established stars. No longer are there a pair of guys that I'm collecting cards of who are still trying to establish themselves.

Four of the minor league sets still remain on the wants, but their place on the list is on the edge. They only stayed on the list for now due to the set being completed, and missing a limited number of subset cards, or being close to completion for the set itself. Don't be surprised if by the end of the year these sets disappear, or I find an interested party to take them on, and complete them.

Onto the more fun, and additions into the set wants.

1995 Collectors Choice You Crash The Game

If you have ever checked out my baseball set wants you have noticed that 1995 Collectors Choice Special Edition silver signatures is on the list. While looking for cards for the set I came across these cards, and thought they would look good with that set. Picking up a couple, but not knowing anything about these cards at the time I got them anyway. Despite not being officially part of the set, they are officially part of my silver signatures subset. Just as I thought they look good in the binder with the silver signatures.

Now I am having the problem of figuring out what the home run dates are for most of these cards. I thought I had a list, but found out that the list didn't match up with the two home run dates that I have. The dates that I do know are right, and are on the wants page were because of researching them through sales on the bay.

2004 Studio Stars

Back a year ago I picked up one of these cards at a show, and showed it off on a post. Not knowing much about the cards a reader stepped up, and answered my questions about them. That has to be one of the great things about being a blogger. If you don't know about a card, or a set, another blogger or reader will know the answer.

Hooked on the cards because I have for some strange reason been a fan of the different stuff. That day I decided that this was going to be a subset that I would eventually build. Adding two cards to go with the initial one I now stand at three of the 50. Then as I started to do the still continuing collections updates, I figured now was the time to make building this subset official.

2009 Ticket To Stardom

After seeing one of these cards in the past I was undecided on if I wanted to build the set or not. Then came another shot this past weekend, and I decided why not try. While I don't collect ticket stubs, I do think they are cool. The crazy thing is I am part of the camp that honestly thinks the Authentix cards are a far better looking cards. Despite this the 2009 Ticket To Stardom cards have grown on me, and the timing is finally right for me to try for this set. Sadly I have seen some of the game-used, auto, etc cards in the past, and I passed on buying them. Who knows if that opportunity came again if I would take it, but right now I probably would.

So there you have it, three new sets into the insanity that is my set building. Besides these three sets I still need to add in the 2015 mascots list, and see if there are any other sets I haven't been updating like I should have. On the fun side, most of my sets have been put in binders for enjoyment in viewing them. A few still need to be done to complete the process, but it has been a fun project.

Player Collecting Changes

This is a post that I've actually had planned for awhile, but with my erratic blogging hasn't gotten done. Then came Spring Training games today, and some motivation to finally get this post done. So, using that newfound motivation it is time to get some serious collecting stuff done, and update all this here on the blog.

As you can tell from the post title this post has to do with updates to the player collecting. In what has become a tradition here, but usually at the first of the year. I sit down, and look over the player collections, and remove the players I am no longer interested in. This years removals contain one surprise, and one probably not very surprising player.

Last year wasn't a very good year for Zunino, and his advancement in his career. After a couple years of hearing about Zunino was the teams present, and future catcher. The Mariners eventually decided that Zunino needed more time in the minors to hopefully improve, and become the catcher they want. Whether that time paid off, or if he will start 2016 in Tacoma I haven't heard. What I do know is that with his struggles during the year I started losing interest in his cards, and gutted the collection even before the year ended.

In what might be the biggest surprise in my player collecting I am dumping Rosario. This move has been a painful one that honestly sucks after all the sweet cards of his I had accumulated since starting this blog. While I will probably keep his cards in the Rockies binder where they currently sit. My dilemma comes in the fact that Rose wasn't able to find any interest from an MLB team. No offers for an invite to spring training, or a chance to earn a spot on a team. All this led to Rosario accepting a contract from a KBO team so he could continue his career. From reading articles the number of players to make this move, and return to the MLB is very small. All this means I have to move on as collecting a guy who isn't on an MLB roster just doesn't appeal to this cat.

Now onto the additions to the players. In the past I've had the list at five as it just seems like a good number for the players to collect. Besides them there has been a few secret guys that I pick cards up here, and there while deciding if I want to make them a serious collection. That group comes, and goes with who is on it all the time.That is why it has remained a secret list as I just can't seem to decide on going full force on them, or not. Starting off this year though the list will be four as I do have one player on the verge, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on making him a serious collection. Who knows if sometime during the year I decide to add him, and grow the list back to five, or just stay at four until nest year. Until then I give to you the newest addition to the player collection.

You would think with my track record the past couple years when it comes to Rockies pitchers in the collection. Sadly Jon Gray is getting the Prowling Cat's kiss of death by joining the player collection. When we went to the brocation in Seattle last year I headed over for a selfie with Mr. Gray. The guy was awesome, and made me a fan. Out of all the guys there he is the only player that I wish I had a card of to get autographed of during the trip. Despite not being the type of person who waits around to do auto's I wish I would have done it for Jon. I can't help, but root for the guy so he had to join the collection.

Soon if not Wednesday I will hopefully have an update to the set collecting. A few changes were made to the sets I'm collecting with some being removed, and some I've been thinking about for awhile finally got put on the page.

Card Showing 2.0

While the blogging around here has been slowed to a small drizzle this year. One thing that has been going strong so far this year is my card shows. With it only being February, and two card shows at Mall 205 this year. I luckily have been able to hit both shows, a trend that I know will probably end for March's show.

Honestly I wasn't going to do the show this past weekend, but an e-mail from Rod from Padrographs changed things. Rod mentioned that he had some stuff to send my direction as he is doing some downsizing to his collecting.

Meeting at the show Rod dropped a box with bobbleheads for the collection I have.

Before running off I talked about the Jack Cain one, and how cool it was to add his into the collection finally. Mr. Cain owned the single A Bend Rockies, and later Portland Rockies. Along with those he had a few businesses that I'd been to when living in Bend. Rod added into the excitement by pointing out it was autographed on the back. While not shown in the picture these have all found a place on their respectable shelf.

When it came to cards this show was much different than the January show. During that show I made some serious strides in the set collecting with most being for the soon to be posted Fleer Team Action football. This show I didn't add a ton in cards, but what I did add were for the player collections.

Nolan Ryan is one of those players I don't list on the player collecting. The simple reason is I have most of his cards, and so putting him on the list seems crazy to me. Getting six cards was cool, but I haven't put these into the collection yet. Going out on a limb I'm going to bet that I'm only missing three of these, but at the price I took a chance on all six.

The Arenado collection has been slowly growing, and only grew by two cards as the middle card was a double. Blackmon is a player that after picking up these two I am still toying with adding onto the player list. Gray's card is the first one in the now new Jon Gray player collection. While I should know better than to start a collection of another Colorado Rockies pitcher. I came across Gray at the Mariners brocation this fall, and he seems to be an awesome guy. That interaction has stuck with me, and has led to this new player collection. After a couple Rockies pitcher collections that have been discarded you'd think I would know better than to start a new one. Instead here I am going full force into another.

Closing things out were my most expensive pick ups from the entire show. All these Trouts were cards I've missed over the last couple years, and thought why not finally getting them before getting to into the 2016 cards. This same seller had many more, but the cheapskate in me wasn't willing to go for more than the six dollars, and forty cents I paid for all these. Most of his remaining were running at three, or five dollars each.

Overall it wasn't a bad show, and will hold me over until I am able to make the trip north again. 

Joining The 2016 Topps Party

Since they came out, and haven't been very well received on the blogs. The 2016 Topps cards were a kind of thing that I was not sure if I wanted to buy any packs of. Then came today, and the daughter wanting to make a trip to the evil big box store. While There I just felt the need to buy what will probably be my only pack of 2016 Topps.

For my first card I think I did ok with Jon Lester. Ironically this is the second straight year that my first card pulled was a Cubbie. Last year it was Javier Baez attempting to turn two.

Rather than bore people with tons showing off all the cards, or listing them one by one. I am sticking with just the few subset stuff.

This card has a shiny look that the daughter noticed right away, and was fascinated by. Not a bad person to get one of these for if you ask me. If there is a Stanton collector out there who wants this card it is available.

The remainder of the subsets like Stanton are all up for grabs if you'd like any of them.

Most brutal about all the cards was not one of them fit into my personal collection. This is the reason I will be sticking with the plan of just buying the cards for my player collections. No reason to accumulate a bunch of unwanted cards when I can just simply buy the cards I need.

Next up will be the Opening Day cards that come out in the near future. Being I have been collecting the mascot subset. There are very high odds that a decent amount of packs will be bought in hopes of acquiring some of those. Currently I'm teetering on the edge of if I want to go the route of building the set, and subsets. Who knows which route I travel as I am currently undecided on my feelings about the 2016 Topps design.