An Irishman walks into a bar...

Ok - before anyone lobs mental tomatoes at me: I am part Irish. My great great grandfather and his parents came over from Ireland in 1880. While I have a very Polish last name, I am still quite Irish, so I can make the premise of a joke about some random drunk Irishman.

Now, that being said, I am not sure where my humor came from. I never really knew my father, and from what I knew, he wasn't one to make jokes. My mother was a smart and quick thinker, but didn't strive to make you laugh. The same can be said about my grand parents. Factor in my older brothers and many would wonder how in the world I attempt to be funny all the time.

 

Yeah - why?

I consider my sense of humor one of the few redeeming qualities I received. That and my fantastic good looks.

 Yeah - why?

If there is a chance to make a joke, I'll make it. If you stalk me about the blogs and read my comments, when I am not giving props to a nice card that is posted, I am usually the one being a smartass and derailing any normal conversation. It's rare when you get me being serious. Not saying it never happens, but you have to look good and hard to find it. 

 That's what she said.

The best part is the unintentional humor. Jim from GCRL is a funny guy and probably never knew it. I received a small package of cards from him the other day. When I ripped that box of Pasttime, Jim made an ask about the Fernando auto I pulled. The moment I saw that thing I knew one of you 3,466 Dodger bloggers would get it in your collection - Jim just beat you all to it. I threw the card in with a bunch of other cards I was sending him. We have done enough trades that I knew I didn't need to work this one out. Jim would come through. Boy, did he. But let's get to the filler first, because there was plenty of binder filler to receive.

Some great throwbacks. The Sosa on the far right was the very first entry in my baker's dozen commons on the right side. It has now been replaced with a new card.

Bunting. Nick and Jeroen alert!!!!! Glavin sighting at the plate!

Double plays. Someone tell me how I have failed to get the Morel in my binder? Oh wait - because he is a third baseman and that is not a double play card. I need my head examined.

That's what she said.

But the unintentional humor from Jim came from a statement on the enclosed letter. He said "Please let me know if this in not enough - I'm not sure that it is..." So what did Jim think was not enough for a Fernando autograph?

He sends me the first real card request on my most wanted, then thinks it's not enough. Would you look at the sweet thing?! Autographed, with the blue swatch from the Sox Chicago American throwbacks. Why would I put something that amazing on my most wanted and think receiving it would not be enough? Maybe if I sent you a Ruth autograph (and the jury would still be out in that regard) but I totally feel like I got the far better end of this deal.

Thanks a bunch, Jim. But enough with the humor. Leave that to the pros.

Sunday SIL: measure twice/cut once

I have appreciated those that received mailings from the Christmas card dump I ran showing off what they received via blog posts. One of those that took part was Brian from Play at the Plate. I forgotten what I had packed in the numerous team bags, but he posted a card and made mention how it was miscut. I commented that while it was, it just wasn't miscut enough to keep. Luckily for me, P-Town Tom from Waiting 'Til Next Year noticed the comment and dropped me a two card PWE, asking if one would make it into my binder.

No - not the Quintana, but that gorgeous Forsch. Tom closed the letter "pure miscut gold", and I don't think truer words we typed. Just take in that beaut on the right. Angled. Cutoff image on the top right. Sliver of the adjoining card at the top left. The back?

Oh yeah!! Words chopped off. Gold it is. It made me think about what I consider a great miscut card. What are the requirements to get a spot in a 9 card sleeve. I narrowed it down to 4 specs.

1) Missing part of image on front
2) Showing part of next card on sheet
3) Cut off words on back
4) Card not square (90 degree angles)

That Forsch has all four - the rarity. Let's pull out a few of my faves from my miscut binder.

It's had to find more recent releases to add in the binder. So much has changed in the process, and the quality control is better. I believe I found both the Cox and the Downing in repacks. I must be the only person that would not get PO'd pulling a card that poor out of a repack. Someone sent me the Molinaro (Owl?) and I made a comment on that Fingers that Dime Box Nick pulled, and he was gracious enough to send it to me.

Nick may have sent me that Palmer too - I don't remember. I know I found that Robinson at a card show for 33 cents. I think the miscut makes it an even better card.

A rare horizontal miscut, though they should happen more often considering the print layout. Good ol' Greg from Plaschke sent that one to me. What is the oldest miscut in the binder?

I paid five bucks for that gem of a miscut from '52 Topps. My LCS thought I was nuts. And while that is a great card, I have to give the current jewel of my miscut binder to this panel of three cards.

I pulled these myself from a pack of Update. I know I commented about how most miscuts are from earlier years, and I think that is part of why these are great. How they got past QA is beyond me. But to get three cards, from the same printed page, into the same pack is fantastic. They all line up perfectly, as you can see.

My miscut binder is 22 cards strong, but there is room for many more. Did you pull a bad card? Don't want to throw it out, and don't want to keep it either. Let 2x3 Heroes give it the love it deserves.

Throwback Thursday - 03.06.2014

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.

Ozzie Guillen - 1991 Topps Stadium Club - Chicago White Sox

It's never ending.

So it snowed again today. Three more inches. I am getting pretty tired of the color white. My dog is going stir crazy wanting to run around in the back yard. They say baseball starts in 3 weeks, but that's a myth as far as I am concerned.

Speaking of never ending, do you know the last thing an artist does is sign the work? Whether a painting, furniture, sculpture or other art form, it tends to be the last thing the artist will do. When they sign the work, they say the job is finished. There is nothing more to do to it. In that vein, take a guess how many works of art (painting, sculpture, drawings, poems and the like) were signed by the great Michelangelo. Don't cheat. Think about his amazing work - the Sistine Chapel (view it in 360), David, St Peter's Basilica, Medici Tomb, Pieta..... thousands of work. How many did he sign?

I bring that up because I have two completed Projects - Billy Pierce and Whammy Douglas. Oh - didn't know I did a Whammy Douglas Project? Click the Completed Projects link above and you can read about it. Whammy was more for fun because it was simple. But back to my train of thought.

That's one dark tunnel you are in, pal.

I completed the Pierce Project a couple months back. While in the technical sense, I do not have all the cards released during his playing year,  the few I am missing are difficult because of rarity and budget concerns. I basically have the project complete. That is not to say I don't search for new additions released between 1949-1964. CommishBob from Five Tool Collector (among a couple sites he has) sent me an email saying he had something for my Pierce collection I don't already own, but was released during his playing years. Why sure I'll take that.

None of these are the item, but were in the package. Remember joining Stadium Club? I was a charter member. Still have that card, the set and the pewter thing they sent.....somewhere. How 90's is that Thomas Rock 'N Jock?

These aren't it either. The Hershberger is a needed card for my '63 team set. The Pierce Archives is always loved here in 2x3 headquarters. But what was it Bob sent?

How about a BEAUTIFUL Jay Publishing photo/card of Pierce? I have been following quite a few auctions on Ebay for one of these. Never pulled the trigger for one reason or another, and now I don't have to. Bob said he got these in a lot he scored, and I am so grateful he thought of me for this image, as well as the 4 other Jay Publishing pics he sent (Larry Doby, Jim Landis, Bubba Phillips and Dick Donovan). Bob - very much appreciated. 

So yeah - while Pierce and Douglas say "completed", they really never are. Something is bound to show up in the world that will be added to the collections. 

And BTW - the answer to the Michelangelo question is ONE. Of the thousands of work he created, he signed only one (the Pieta) and only because, in a fit of anger over comments he heard attributing the sculpture to another artist did he chisel his name in the sash. Michelangelo always regretted what he did and vowed to never sign another piece. However, up to that point, he never signed his art either. I read the reason he didn't sign his work was because he felt signing it meant he said the work was finished. And he always felt there was more that could be done to the piece.

Trade Me Tuesday #2

It's Tuesday - let's put some more cards on the block. The inaugural post for TMT didn't get any bites. It's still available if anyone wants them. I'll give them one more week and then I'm throwing them on Listia. Ok - here's this week's offering. Recall the rules?

Here's how this works. I will post 6-ish cards each Tuesday. If you would like them, first to claim in the comments takes them. The cost for the cards is 1 (one) card off my want lists. It could be a need from my general wants, my A&G wants or something that I don't have in my bunting, double play, throwback or broken bats binders. You can find the cards currently in those in my Zistle account. Any card not shown is a card I want. Hey - if you would like to send me something for one of my active (or inactive) Projects that I don't have, that would be lovely too. Random White Sox and/or Blackhawks cards, however, are not allowed.

After you claim the stack, email me at 2x3heroesATgmailDOTcom. Let me know your mailing address - the cards will go out the day I get your mailing address (unless I already have it in my database). Here's the main key: DO NOT TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE SENDING! I enjoy a good surprise.

For this week, how about some 1993 Parkhurst? I found this pack while clearing out my mom's house. Couple nice cards, but nothing that fits my collection.

There are 10 total cards (no room to scan the base of Danton Cole (who?). Claim them in the comment section.

How to spend 180 minutes.

On Sunday, I had to head up a bit north to Hillside, IL. My daughter needed to attend a driving school class. Yeah - it was court mandated. However, I am pretty certain she understood her mistakes and should be much more careful behind the wheel. Four hour class, so what was a father to do? Well, when one of your LCSs locations is just 15 minutes up the road, the decisions are made for you.

Luckily, I knew who was behind the counter, so it was nice to dig through a lot of commons boxes and just shoot the crap while digging. When I left as Ray was closing the door, he even thanked me for coming by and keeping him company. That is not to say I was the only one in there for the 3 hours. But it's always nicer when you know someone.

All my digging netted me just about 150 cards for my binders. About 50 of them hit on set builds from A&G to Golden Age to Heritage (including 3 SPs and a buyback), but I really did the damage on my special collections - bunts, DPs, throwback, miscuts and broken bats.

Those two broken bats are two not even on my radar, so nice pickups for the pages. For throwbacks, I picked up 15 new cards.

I believe that is all four throwbacks in 2013 Finest. That '93 Stadium Club is a nice early view of an old Cleveland Indians '30 jersey. It only improves when we get to the bunting cards.

We have pitchers laying it down.

As well as other stars. That Chamberlain in the center is a throwback - I need a 2nd. Can bunting get better?

You know it can!!! I think Jose is using the same batting glove in both cards. Total of 35 new bunting cards. And while dime boxes seem to have dried up recently for me and double play cards, I hit the jackpot in the commons boxes.

I think I muttered "God, I miss Stadium Club" about a dozen times yesterday. Easily 25-35 cards I purchased were from that brand.

Great multi exposure on the Womack. The Bell? Throwback. More dupes needed.

Only four vintage turns. But do I love that WS card. More proof of the greatness of '73 Topps.

While the reason for the trip stunk, it turned into a great way of passing time.

Sunday SIL: keeping it in order

It's been far too long since I have done a SIL. But a recently received package reminded me of something I like - Zistle. I'm not sure I need to explain what Zistle is. In a few short works, it helps you organize your collection online. There - promotion done. CHECK PLEASE!

No check? Really? Dangit!

When my bunting and double play collections really started filling the binder, adding new cards became a hassle. I would flip page by page to see if I had the card in hand already in the binder. It was tedious and unreliable. So I decided to look hard into Zistle, and took a few days to get all the cards listed. By a few days, it was probably 10 hours or so over those days. It was work, and a lot of scanning for any missing images online, but well worth the time. I found a few dupes in the binders that I missed, as well as getting an up to date count on each binder. Now, when I virtual dime box, I compare what I find to what know I own and can avoid bidding on cards. I don't refer to it when I am at a card show - I figure if I have the card, I can find somewhere to PWE the pick up.

I point out my love for Zistle because Scott from....I don't think Scott blogs. Am I wrong, Scott? Anyway, Scott sent an email saying he dug thru my Zistle account and found cards I did not have. He sent about 18 cards that were all missing from my binders. Bunting...

Another card of Yount laying one down. Plus a lot of turns at second. Ball still in hand...

Flying through the air...

Even horizontal cards of the start of two...

Finally, one of the most common names in the DP binder - Roberto Alomar...

Love, love love that Sportflics. Thanks a bunch, Scott! I'm going to pay you back for these.

So get your cards online. It makes them easy to track for you and for the rest of us. Whether Zistle or anywhere else.