Look out - Christmas is coming!

If you have been around here, this is the time of the year I run my Tis the Season, giveaway. I usually have started it by now, but for some reason I was REALLY behind getting it organized. I'm still going to get it started, though. I have cards mostly sorted, and I have some scanning to do. I am going to do things a little differently this year in regard to my 2014 commons, but I think it should work fine. Plus, as always, there is a gift for everyone who would like a gift. I'm shooting for Saturday for the first post, so please come back. 'K?

Did you call me, sweetie?

I still have other stacks to posts, though. Far too much kindness from you bloggers, non bloggers and generally nice people (except for Weber at Hot Corner - I just know he's going to Bip me). Dime Box Nick and I are overdue for Orland, which is nice cuz Nick is fun to hang with, talk with about cards, and we can just hand over stacks of card board in person, since we pretty much have a 4-6 week pipeline going between our homes anyway. His latest package was the standard feast for the eyes, boxes and binders.

There's always some cardboard he finds in one of the 20k worth of dime boxes he searches that I need. Here's just five of them. Love the hockey mask on Alomar, and I really would like to find more of the Cracker Jack set Topps put out 10 years or so ago. That One Dog card in the battling cage, though. That's the type of card that reminds us all how great Stadium Club was, and is back to being. Easily one of the top 50 images ever on a card. 

Ya know - I think I over reduced the size of these scans. They look blurrier than normal. Sorry. Anyway, Nick is probably in the top three of people that have contributed to my throwback and bunting binders. In this latest package were 18 throwback cards. That Berroa in the old Negro League Monarchs uniform is beautiful. 

In the bunting category, Nick added 13 to the binder total. Such the contrast between that Cracker Jack and the Guillen Fleer. Someone should put originals of each card in a capsule and launch it into space. What will the aliens think when they recover that?

I'm showing this last card for a few reasons. A) 2008 Stadium Club. B) Nice picture. C) Miscut.

Hold up. I thought it was miscut, and I wonder if Nick thought the same. That white border at the bottom screams this thing being out of line. Yet, every version of this card I have viewed on ebay has the same white stripe at the bottom. What gives, Topps? Misprint? 

Thanks as always, Nick. Let's look to hit up Orland in January or February. 

Staying organized

One of my 2014 goals was to get my collection organized. Thankfully, through getting a bunch of binder cards on Zistle, getting all my current Sox cards sorted by year in a 5k box (removing the dupes), and getting my team set needs into Google Drive (more on that in some future post), I am in a position to quickly identify the cards that fill holes in my collection, upgrade cards as needed, and put the dupes aside (which I think I will use to get my great nephew into card collecting).

Recently, I got an out of the blue envelope from Rob at Texas Rangers Cards. In with the team bag was a biz card he had written the following note:

There were a total of 29 cards in the envelope. So let's see if there is one or two I need, or maybe we beat the odds?

I didn't need the Kessinger. That isn't to say I didn't keep it, though. It was a far nicer version than the creased copy I had in my teams set, so I call that card a need. I am almost done with the '91 Ultra set, and the Pasqua was a dupe. Believe it or not, I have a lot of junk wax needs, one being that Karko. So far - 2 needs and 1 dupe.

Rob included 11 total 1990 Topps cards. I only needed Hillegas, Pasqua and Karkovice. However, I always need a rookie card of the Big Hurt, so 4 needs out of 11. Running total: 6 needs and 8 dupes.

Mish-mash of 2014 Topps, and some early UD releases. The only Garcia I have is in my bunting binder, so this card went to the 2014 team set. Keppinger is a dupe, as are both of the Fisk cards. Each 1993 UD cards (damn, what a great set) were needed in the Sox box, filling team set openings. Running total: 12 needs and 11 dupes.

Last scan from the envelope. The only piece of cardboard I didn't need was the mini Baines. I bought maybe 5 total packs of Heritage prior to 2012, so all the Heritage cards I have in that 5000 count box came from you folks.

So the final total: 29 cards sent - 17 cards added to the collection. Far, far better than the "hope you can use one or two" comment from Rob. Thanks a bunch for the cards. I hope when I get my envelope out to you I can add at least one or two new cards to your collection.

Throwback Thursday - 12.11.2014

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.

Robinson Cano - 2014 Topps Stadium Club - Seattle Mariners

Email not required

One of my side ideas to this blog, when I started it and began to make trades, was to be able to send out cards at will. No need to send an email to someone, talk about what I have, and then maybe what you have, then do you need this or that or any other of a thousand questions. Just here - have some cards. I'm getting to the point of that pretty much. An email kicks off the first time trades (you few out there I have not forgotten you - we'll get something completed), but for the most part, I just send out a stack, and in time the generosity of the receiver is returned in kind. There may be dupes in the package, but that never bothers me. And an email might go out if there is a hit or something rare, just to confirm, but throw it in the padded envelope and away it goes.

NORTON!

Here's a couple packages that just showed up. First off is a guy that blogs SO much he really needs to give his keyboard a break. Or maybe he broke it, like his phone. Chris from Old Foul Cardboard (I'll shame you until you start posting again, dude) finds all the best stuff. I'm not sure how all the ChiSox and Blackhawks cards make it to NY state, but thank goodness I have a connection in the area.

Start with a couple gorgeous miscuts with some amazing players shown. Quite the range of facial hair between the four of them.

I have pulled two Kings swatches from this year's UD. So I'll take a Hawks when I can. And newly retired Paulie cards are always welcome in my binders. Thanks as always Chris (and Kyle).

The other out of the blue came from your favorite addict and mine: TJ from Junior Junkie. Besides Tim Wallach, is there any other blogger easier to shop for? Find the Kid, mail the Kid. So for all my recent Kid's, TJ hit me back with a nice group of needs.

Shiny, goldy Durhams. Dig all those empty Yankee stadium seats. That's not a Jeet's cameo, btw. Not drafted yet in 91.

That Griff must be a dupe, and I love me some Topps Fi........ hold up. Let me fix that card........

MUCH better!! See how they look when you remove the card condom? #releaseyourfinest

Glad the 2014 Finest offering has no covering. The Johnson in the upper left is a refractor. Rienzo is wearing the "Halfway to St Patty's Day" uniform. The Sale, lower right, is a rainbow foil variation from Stadium Club (obviously) and a nice addition to the Throwback binder. I should chase the other versions: gold, electric, foilboard and Members Only. But the best for last....

Nice on card...er....scribble of Erik Johnson, and I'm not a Ventura collector, but glad to add a relic of his in my binder. Thanks as always, TJ.

BTW - TJ revealed today  that he is a huge MST3K fan, and the next time Chris writes a post is a mystery. COINCIDENCE??? This is the 3rd time I have used a version of this song. COINCIDENCE??? Sarah McLachlan is super gorgeous, damn talented, writes great songs, should marry me and does those doggy commercials, and I have a dog. COINCIDENCE???

Checking in.

Maybe I have been a little quite post wise in the past couple weeks. Sorry. A lot is going on, but mostly, I haven't been in a writing mood. I appreciate the bloggers that get something up daily or every other day. I am always reading. But I never committed myself to a schedule like that. I post when I want, and if I miss a few days, I'm not worried about it. I love all you that read and comment. If you want more from me - ask. And then I'll ignore you and stick with my own pattern.

But since Tis the Season will be starting very soon, I need to publicly thank people since my scan folder is filled. Recently, I completed a couple traded that netted me some Blackhawks hits (checks?). First off, good ol' DJ with Sportscards from the Dollar Store. Anyone willing to rip as many repacks as DJ wins a spot in my heart.

So they are aren't Blackhawks. DJ did throw some Sox cards, and a couple bunts for the binder.

Crow is having a great year. Then he goes and hurts himself leaving the House of Blues. He won't give details, but you can be sure alcohol was involved. Ray did a decent job the year he was here. Then he thought the 2013 Cup success was because of him, went to Philly and stunk it up. Guess what, Ray - your name is on the Cup, but all the other names is what put yours there. And jumping Holtby was a douche move.

Now we are talking! Me thinks I should start organizing my Toews and Kaner cards. And those to at the bottom right are stickers. Captain Serious is sooooooo foily.

These two are the highlights from DJ. Great auto of Ham Sandwiche's defense partner with Oduya. And a black Stash printing plate from 13-14 Dominion. I still owe you, DJ. Hoping next week's card show pans out for me...er....you.

The other Hawks I received came from Matt at Cardboard Conundrum. Matt rips the hockey wax I wish I could. Luckily, a Blackhawk appears here and there, and I can luck out and wrestle a few away from him. It helps when my wife wins boxes of cards via my LCS bingo.

I had my eyes on this card. Gotta love Shaw (ask my daughter). But the guy is pure Blackhawk hockey - gritty, gutsy. Everything you want in a player. Luckily, there were two other cards in the envelope.

This may look familiar as I got this exact card from another DJ package. I'm fine with that, though, as Nordstrom is doing a signing at my LCS next week, so I'll get one of them auto'd.

Blackhawk? No, unfortunately. Stanley Cup winning Blackhawk? He was in 2010. I like picking up autos of any former Hawks, and I always liked Ladd. Good for him that he wears the captain's C up north. Bad for him, cuz he won't be lifting any hardware with that plane on his chest.

Thanks DJ and Matt for the nice binder additions.

I thought I went in to hang up my clean shirts

For starters - if you haven't sent me a link to your want lists as I asked yesterday, what are you waiting for? Go back in time a leave me a comment, would ya!

Now, I know who I am. I have been pretty secure in who I am, what I am, what I like and what I don't like. I'm a guy, I've always been a guy, I like sports, girls, cards and Star Wars, and I don't like brussel sprouts, cheap beer, the Cubs or the Red Wings. But sometimes, someone sends you something that questions everything you thought you knew. And that someone is Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown. If you don't visit his blog, shame on you. He makes totally cool custom cards that glow in the dark (I happen to have one, and I hope it won't be my last), and he does a great job showing of cards as they are meant to be seen. See - me, and damn near everyone else, just scans them. Flat and boring. Gavin will take the time to animate the cards, and give more appreciation to them. And one would think that would be how he would question me: why don't I put more effort into my blog. But no, it was far deeper.

A package he sent me started with a card he posted on his blog.

A gorgeous auto from one of the pitching heroes of the Sox run to the title in 2005. I never think to seek out one of his cards, as much as I would like one. So it was nice to see this, inquire, and have Gavin send it along. And that wasn't all from Gavin.

A nice amount of Sox team sets, plus all these for my player collections. Love that Rowand 1st Bowman card. And it continued...

More Sox needs. Contreras never had a pitcher's build, but that guy could throw. That no-logo Donruss on the left is more tolerable than the no-logo on the right. But still there was more...

Gavin sprinkled in a couple custom cards. I should start doing this with the ton of 88-89 Topps I pull At least make them far more interesting to send out.

Shiny, silvery cards. Now - I should properly take 20 pictures of each card, animate them up and show you that Buehrle in all it's multi color glory, but I don't feel like it. And I think I know why. It's less my laziness and more this...

That's how are the cards were packaged - inside a bag for a girl. Does Gavin know something I don't, or I have intentional suppressed? Do I really have no idea who I am and what I like. Maybe, just maybe I desire a player collection of Dan Cleary.

Nah - no frigging way that last part is true. Thanks for the cards, Gavin. I think I still owe you, right? I'm so lost...

The post where you give ME something.

Yes. I'm gonna do it. I am going to make every single person that comments on this post give me something. So if you are not is the position to give me something right now, go collect your thoughts, then come back and leave a comment. You know you want to.

That something you're giving to me? Your want lists. See, the 3rd annual 'Tis the Season will start very soon, and if you have been around, I give away stuff. Lots of cards. And this year will be no exception. But before I start the freebies, I like to do some prefreebies. Talk about a tongue twister.

I was born on a pirate ship with...

So what I want from you: if you have a want list to fill from any 2014 product. Mainly Topps flagship, GQ, A&G, Heritage or Golden Age, link it to me in the comments. Or you can find my email address here and there (hint: try the A&G wants page!) and shoot me a file if you have it that way. Heck, if you are a team collector, feel free to send me any holes you have. Except for current year, the cards destined to leave the 2x3 corporate headquarters are sorted by team. I'll dig if needed. I would just like to file want lists before I dump a ton of cards on people. 

Speaking of cards, I really should post something other than a photo of a girl grasping her filiform papillae.

Here I am!

Here's a couple cards I picked up a while back for my White Sox relic collection.

If I recall, these Triple Threads set me back $10 total. The Beckham is another card with their Chicago America Giants throwbacks. I'll take all cards with those swatches. The Paulie is light blue - your eyes are not playing tricks. I first thought it was a bad scan of a gray swatch. Then I wondered when the hell the Sox did a one off of one of my favorite uniforms. After some digging, the blue swatch comes from the Civil Rights game they played against the Reds in 2009.

Ok. Now hit the comments and tell me what you need.