Sunday, August 31, 2014

Sunday SIL: Clubbin'!

With luck, many of your readers have signed up for Club PWE. I mean - the link is right up there! I can't make it any easier for you, can I? If you haven't, and you wonder what kind of initiation is required, I can tell you that black gym shoes and turtleneck shirts are optional. And I haven't finalized the plan on the rocket ship yet.

Though the club theme song is "Sailing".

For those that are part of the club, many of you noticed it has been a while since I mailed. In fact, I have about have the list I really REALLY need to get something out. However, many others have received recent mailings, and a couple have made comment on the envelopes. 

See - the summers here at Inn 2x3 Heroes are rough. My wife is a contract worker in a school. She kicks major butt as a speech path, but no worky mean no payee. And year after year, I seem to fail on the budgeting, so we struggle with our finances over the summer. This year was better then most, but there was little extra room. When my mom passed away in December, and we cleaned out her house, I got my hands on all the old stamps she had. My grandma got all the kids into collecting, though I am the only one to whom the collecting gene adhered. (Thanks a frigging lot, GRANDMA!) My grandma did a lot of first day issues and other stuff for us. I think it was as much a hobby for us as for her. Well, my grandma passed in 1986, so some of her stuff came to my mom's house. And now, a lot of it is with me. 

Anyway, there were a few manila folders of loose and sheets of stamps. However, because of their condition, the collector's market on them are pretty much nothing. One of the folders, in fact, is all stuck together. Gotta get steam going on those. But since stamps never lose value and are forever good for mailing (bar a couple specific releases), I figured I might as well get use out of them. While the values are low, and I have to lick (yes - lick) a lot to get one envelope out, I hope those that have received my mailing have enjoyed them. For those yet to get one, or maybe want an incentive to join up, let's scan and show off some of the stamps I have been using. Cuz this blog ain't all about cards.

I play a crucial role, though.


This is a nice two panel stamp, so I have been trying to use both sides , though I do have a few of just the one half I will have to send out. 


I was HUGE into the bicentennial, as was the rest of the US. These are some of the stamps released in 75 and 76. I know there are others in the stuck together folder.


Nope, that is not a 63 cent stamp - it's 6.3. Six and a third. These were more for bulk mailers. 




You may get Christmas stamps in the middle of October. Hell, it's pretty much the holiday by retail standards anyway. Dig Mr. Zip at the right.


Flags have always been a part of stamps with the USPS. 


This one is a nice oddball. Usually, you get 4 different designs - it makes for a nice even block. This particular release had 8, and they staggered the printing for collectors.


Who doesn't like Ike. Well, me right now. Eight cent stamp, so I have to augment the envelope with one of those 6.3 suckers I showed above. 


Sooooooooooooo purple. And use your zip codes, folks!


If I remember, here are a couple from a 4 block set, but I may be wrong. That was many years ago.


Lexington and Concord. Man, I was such a nerd in 1976. And how about a rare 13 cent on the right? Rates increased to 13 cents at the end of 1975. 


Two of my personal favorites. I was a NASA nut as a child as well. These two, plus some others, are classics in the stamp collecting. Like paper money, they are printed by engraving, so the surface is raised. The colors on these are gorgeous.


More classic engraved. Soooooo 70's. 1974 to be exact.


This is probably my favorite stamp of all time. The colors are incredible and the design is tough to beat. They truly don't make them like that used to.


Some real history in these two. On the right is the first nationwide precancelled Christmas stamps released to the public, in 1970. There were 4 images, with the two missing being a riding horse on wheels and a baby buggy. On the left, those are just the first self adhesive stamps the Postal Service dropped on us. Here's the best part - I cannot use either of these. They were doth demonetized by the Postal Service after Jan 31st, 1971. 


This last one I show is one that gives me troubles. I have enough off them, and I would love to use them, but the terminology is harsh. Granted, we are a little too PC in this world, and I tend to agree with George Carlin that when we soften the language, we do a disservice to people. But "retarded" is a little tough to slap on an envelope. If you want one, though, cuz you can mess with someone, let me know and I'll slip one in the envelope.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Forty-one

If I am doing my math correctly, then I count 41 days from today until October 9th. While that is not day one, that is the opening game for my Blackhawks in Dallas. The White Sox have stunk up the 2014 season (except for soon to be 2014 ROY Abreu, and a sweet goodbye to Konerko). The Bears are going to be lucky to win eight games this year, and frankly I could care less. The Fire....well... they need a bunch of help. We'll see about the Bulls, but at best they are playing golf after the first round of the playoffs. And if Rose gets hurt again, I'm going to call it: wasted draft pick.

But my beloved Indian Head sweater is back in action, chasing the Kings to get back the Holy Grail. I don't buy much hockey. I didn't like the offering from Upper Deck the past year for the NHL. Though, if I see cheap boxes during Christmas online, I'm picking some up. And Score is nice, but it's hard to set build from my LCS and card shows. Not a lot of commons out there. Luckily, there are two Canadian traders out there I can count on for my needed hockey cardboard.


Good eyes. You are correct in noticing those are not hockey cards. These Leaf cards are courtesy of JD at Sportscards from the Dollar Store. JD rips a crapton of repacks, and I believe, after pulling any nice goalie mask cards, I get the cast off Hawks.

And cast off White Sox from time to time. But I did said Blackhawks.....


Like failed rookies. Ruutu has better potential, but is now a third liner in Jersey. Pirri is developing too slow. A change of scenery in Florida could help him, if he makes the roster. McAmmond never materialized into what he could be, and frankly - I blame that poodle 'do.


Also some newer cards of Hawks alumni. Roenick should have never left the Hawks. And if you hear him talk, you can sense it from him as well. Pappin is a two time Cup winner with the Leafs and then gave 7 really great seasons in Chi-town.


Here's 6 guys all with their name at least once on the Cup. Love that Byfuglien sticker in the upper right. I do like the Panini Contenders card of Toews. This last card is a great addition to my hits binder.


Savie and Havlat - oh hell yeah! You can see the difference in the material from CCM to Reebok. Thanks a bunch, JD. My other Blackhawks hookup comes from Kyle at would you friggin' start a blog already, Kyle!! Kyle and I PWE back and forth. His latest contained these gems.


Have to put Hendry in the list above of failed rookies. Though, he did destroy his knee, so it's lucky he is still playing anywhere right now. I love that 75th anniversary patch you see on Roenick's sweater. That was also the better NHL logo in the center of the "75". Kyle also sent a custom card, created by his cousin.


Yeah - the customizing was to crumple up the card and crease it in a few places. I think he may have slobbered on it, too. This is not a horrible incident or a tragedy. The card will still find a place in my collection. Thanks again, Kyle.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Throwback Thursday - 08.28.2014

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Adrian Beltre - 2013 Topps Finest - Texas Rangers

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

How about an update?

I know it's not midyear - that was 7 weeks ago. But I thought I would take a look at my 2014 goals and see how I am coming along with them. For those that need a review (and a pic of Kate Upton).

The main part I want to look at, in this post, from the 2014 goals is parts 2 and 3: collection and organization. Both can be viewed through my Zistle account. The main thing I wanted to deal with for my collections was the ability to know what I had at a moments notice. Hence Zistle, which I absolutely love. I know there are a few other sites out there, but give Zistle a try. Lot of work on the initial setup, but then you fly through adding new cards. Granted, I only use Zistle for my customer collections - I have not posted every single White Sox or Blackhawks card I have on it. I may someday. But to be able to virtual dime box or be sure what I have in the stuffed binders, the site saves my bacon.

In regard to my custom collections, I had a simpe, fun, east goal of 450 different double play cards, 250 bunting, 300 throwbacks and 90 in my Ben Petrick PC. I have been doing quite well in all of those. Currently, I stand at 662 double play cards, 585 bunting (I am shocked there are this many), 443 throwbacks and 53 Petrick. I have far exceeded all my goals but the Ben collection. I am only behind, though, from lack of pulling triggers on a few shopping carts at COMC, Just Commons and Sportlots loaded with Petrick cards. But soon I will.

Of the over 1500 cards between DP, bunting and throwback, I am sure a good 50-60 are courtesy of Dime Box Nick envelopes. I swear, Nick. Within the next month or so, I'll text you to hookup in Rosemont and you can show me that awesome flea market in the old Horizon parking lot. I am sure quite a few of my latest collection additions came from his dime box pusher.


Granted, these are neither DP, bunting or throwback, but they are nice new cards into the projects for Fox and Aparicio. Love the simplicity of the TCMA of Fox.


These are new additions to my bunting binder. I hope he pulled two of Feller in the Ted Williams set so he could have one for his pitchers at the plate. Great vintage Campaneris. And I will run stats soon, but I would think the largest, unintentional PC I have is of Kenny Lofton, with all his cards bunting. (note to self: idea for another post)


One of these things is not like the other. If you picked the miscut Alou in the upper right, pat yourself on the back. All the rest made it into my throwbacks binder. Lot of the awesome World Series throwbacks the Sox wore on Sundays a few years back. Too bad Carlos Lee can't blouse his pants properly. However, here is the real highlight from the package.


Been wanting one of these '64 embossed cards for a while, and Nick hit the spot. They are really fun to have and far different in person that I expected. Though, I didn't expect too much to be different. Per Nick, this came from another magical Rosemont dime box. I am going to clean up when I get there. I may have to text Nick and make him drive to Harvey. I hear they have a mall with everything.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

3 by 3

Welcome to the blog, for today you will see
The number of scans totaling to three
And within each scan for your inspection
Are three more cards to add to my collection.

Each picture is items from a different letter
Though all are equal with none of them better
Cards I received from envelope of white
And added to my binders with sheer delight.


Thanks first go Hot Corner Cards which is run by Pat
Who's PWE contents are first on the matt
There's Harris, while turning two he did fly
Plus Howard and Uggla in uni's from years gone by.


These are from Tom at Waiting 'til Next Year
Yeah, a Cubs fan but we need to share a beer
Sox stickers and a McKnight quite offset
Then Tom said about Johnson "Why's he in the set?"


It's like having my own Card Shop is the last I will show
Run by the great Daniel, don't you know
He was surely excited to send me a few Buehrles
I'm the guy to take them - just don't call me Shirley.

So there you have it, three scans of three
From three different senders all mailed to me
Return envelopes will be sent out before long
'Til then, here is my link to a YouTube song.

 

Saturday, August 23, 2014

It's a card I don't have

Sorry about being quiet lately - it's been busy as the 2x3 domicile. My daughter headed off to college in the UP. Work has been a bit of a mental drain. I pulled a nice summer cold into my body that I am still fighting off the coughs from. I have the Night Owl pocket book going, which is known as few dollars for the month of August. That being said, I have a stack of packages to go out in about 2-3 weeks.

I have also received a ton of cardboard into my house, and I am grateful for it all. I need to get posts going to show off and properly thank each person. I promise to get to them because there are some really nice cards I now own, and the sender is due his praise.

I'm just going to keep this post quick. New addition to the Pierce Project. I have been watching a card on ebay for about 6 weeks. Fortunately, no one else jumped on the "buy it now" listings until I had the $5 needed for the cost and the shipping. It took a few times of adding it to my watch list, but then I finally pulled the trigger. New to my collection:


This card completes (to my knowledge) the 1962 run of cards put out by General Foods. Along with this Jell-o card, I have the '62 Post releases from both the US and Canada.  The Jell-o version has the image coloring of the Canadian version, but the biography and stat line of the US version. The "traded" blurb doesn't exist on either of the Post versions. though.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Throwback Thursday - 08.14.2014

Every Thursday, I post a card showing a ballplayer wearing a throwback uniform from my collection. Hopefully, he will be wearing it well, with proper pants blousing. I'll try not to duplicate a uniform. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Kirby Puckett - 1995 Upper Deck Collector's Choice - Minnesota Twins

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Space cadet

He's done it.

She's done it.

You've done it.

We have all made a purchase without taking a good hard look at what we were buying. Maybe you forgot to check your want list, or didn't make sure of the card condition. Possibly we were too blurry eyed to notice any extra fees or pay close attention to the description. But sooner or later, we all make a purchase that causes us to question our intelligence. At the very least, our sanity.

I just did it. I was at Target, getting a few needed items and made a stop by the registers. Picked up a couple packs of the new UD MVP hockey release, just to look at it, and also decided to grab a blister pack of A&G. I never like grabbing the package on the outside, so I grabbed the one behind. Hit the check out, got to my car and started ripping. Only, when I ripped the 3 card gold bordered mini insert pack, they weren't gold bordered minis, but white framed GQ cards.

Yup. In failing to look closer at what I grabbed, I bought a blister of GQ and not A&G.


The packs are sort of the same beige. Granted, the front image is nothing similar, but I think I can garner some pity in that the color scheme of the two releases are pretty similar. Right?

You go with that feeling, bro.

So will the retail gods shine upon me and make this a worthwhile purchase? The framed base cards gave me these...


Not amazing, but could be worse. The Killebrew is nice, and I know where the Pedro is headed. And the minis?


Eh. Pujols is a SP and we have retail mojo with a red bordered #/99. But not all that great. How about the inserts?


Decent in a player sense. Dreadful otherwise, because I don't need either for my set. But the base will save me, right? Out of the 13 total base cards in the pack, let's scan all I will be adding to my set.


And that's it. One. One single card, and only because it's a high number. At least it's the 2nd best lefty in the game right now. Though, with news about this little fun he has been having with the media, I think we can argue the best in the game. However, in the future, I need watch what I am doing.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Off the Cuff: Gintacuffs VI - packs 21-24 (the end)

Final four packs. One thing I am pretty certain - first place.

At this time.

Cuz no one else is done with their boxes (to my knowledge).

So I will enjoy being #1 for the time being. Oh, and I suck at math. For the Howard I pulled in pack #13, I should have added +2. I only added +1. With that correction, I am starting the final 4 packs with a point total of 133 points.

Pack 21

Decent pack, points wise. Goldschmidt is a short print base. Nice mini from OBAANDW mini (I'm too lazy to type the whole thing out). I think those are one per box. Otherwise, we have a lot of set building in the pack.
Goldschmidt SP base = +2 points
Pastime's Pastimes = +2 points
Outlaws, Bandits, etc... mini = +3 points
Running total = 140 points

Pack 22

Another pack of base set filler, in regard to the GAC point sheet. The Carpenter is a nice throwback uniform card. Another high number card with Gonzalez, and the Masterson mini scores me extra points being an A&G back.
Gonzalez SP base = +2 points
Pastime's Pastimes = +2 points
Masterson A&G mini = +2 points
Running total = 146 points

Pack 23

I read somewhere the short print A&G back minis come one per box. In that case, here is my one. And a cool one two as a nice oddball card that A&G really needs to keep in the set. More please, Topps! Rienzo scores me a point for my favorite team. Which is good cuz he's not earning any points in the real world with me. Nice rocks on the Natural Wonder card. I see a turtle. Where's the lobster?
Rienzo favorite team = +1 point
Natural Wonder = +2 points
Barbed wire A&G SP mini = +6 points
Running total = 155 points

Pack 24

Well, as you can see, no bonus hit in the box. In fact, we end with a Yankee, just was we started. I pulled the Friedlander base. So I have the base, mini and relic. Trifecta! This ends up being my 2nd 1 point pack of the box as I only score because of the insert.
One Yankee = -1 point
Air Supremacy = +2 points
Running total = 156 points


FINAL TOTAL = 156 points

So there we have it. Grand total (barring any more screw ups on my part) of 156 points. In 2013, the lowest score was 174 points, so I am hoping the scoring is lower across the board. Otherwise my hopes to win are as desolate at the scene in pack 23.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Off the Cuff: Gintacuffs VI - packs 17-20

Coming up on the home stretch. Eight packs remain. I meant to post these packs yesterday, but my stomach had other ideas. Nothing a good 11 hour sleep didn't fix. But really - who wants to hear about my body?

Me.

Seriously, let's get back to the packs. I was sitting at 109 points. Then someone (Plaschke Greg) reminded me I missed a favorite player. I pulled a Ryan Howard mini in pack #13. That's an extra point I missed. So I am starting at 110 points. Here we go.

pack 17

Here is a dud pack point-wise. No deductions, thank goodness. But barely any points. Nice to see Lasorda back on cardboard. And the mini is cool. But only the Air Supremacy gains me any value.
Air Supremacy = +2 points
Running total = 112 points

Pack 18

Well, if I didn't think I could do worse than a two point pack, I just did worse. Ruth loses me a point. And no Ortiz - you are no Ruth. Stop trying. Nice pull with the Doc Andrews and sprinter Felix, but no points gained. Ottawa saves me from a negative pack.
One Yankee = -1 point
World's Capital = +2 points
Running total = 113 points

Pack 19

And there is my promised third hit. I hope I get a bonus in the box. Still, this is FAR better than the loser blogger auto I pulled. I am highly considering mailing that auto back to the guy. I am being serious. Anyway, the relic (which may be from the shirt off his back in the photo) gains me a good score, as does the A&G backed mini and the Natural Wonder insert. Sabathia, though, knocks me down a point. 
One Yankee = -1 points
Natural Wonder = +2 points
Rosenthal A&G mini = +2 points
Friedlander full sized relic = +8 points
Running total = 124 points

Pack 20

Finish this post with a pack of good players (not so fast, Deion). Best part is two of the cards are of favorite players (Molitor & Yount) and the Wilson is a short print. 
Wilson SP base = +2 points
Molitor favorite player = +2 points
Yount favorite player = +2 points
Pastime's Pastimes = +2 points
Running total = 132 points

I am way behind last place from the 2013 Gintacuffs, however, I think the point values this year are lower. At least, I am hoping they are. If not, I will need a hug. Friedlander?