A W-Hoyle lot of Waitin'

Yeah, I went the route of a horribly bad pun for the post title. I was really unsure what to do with the cards in my scan folder, and for some reason a form of what eventually graces the top of the post in bold font is what came to mind. I'm not really proud of it. Given the chance, I would stop typing and go back to try again. But I have put this many words into the keyboard so no reason to stop now.

Reason #774: You think it's funny Jeff, but it never is.

Anyway, let me bop a few images from the scan folder from recent mailing here at the home office. I've been slow for the past few weeks and it's all catching up on me. Unless you have been under a rock, simple deduction states that this post is a combination of mailings from Mark Hoyle and P-Town Tom.

Mark dropped a small mailer on me, but loaded with goodness. Buehrle throwbacks are always appreciated. Folks love the 80's pajamas we wear on Sundays, but I much prefer this Sunday look from the mid 00's of the Sox 1917 World Series uniforms. Mark also included most of this year's ChiSox team set from Heritage, and that sweet Konerko playing card. Many have posted about getting playing cards from Mark, so he must have found a great deal on a few decks. Thanks pal!

If there is something you can count on from Tom at Waiting itil Next Year, it's his disappointment when the Cubs blow it again like they have for the past 108 years. Every team has a bad century, right? Seriously, the thing you can count on with Tom is quality. All his mailings knock of space after space on my binder pages. New miscuts. New bunting cards. And that Flashback card from last year's Opening Day, an insert set I am still trying to complete.

How's about some shiny White Sox. That Fisk comes from the Panini 75th HOF Anniversary set that was WAY TOO EXPENSIVE, though a pretty sweet hit release. So I'll take any of the throw in cards from that box. And I think Tom ripped a couple boxes of the Stars and Stripes, considering the Bippin' I got from Rodon and other Sox players in the set.

Oddballs made there way. And just what in the hell is that Thomas card? That is one seriously messed up oddball. But with a name on the card like Frankenthomas, I will have to replace whatever card is in the White Sox frankenset binder with that card. Just a given.

Nice TTM (or maybe IP) autos of Black Jack and Infante. Infante never panned out on the South Side. He is currently in AAA ball within the Phillies organization. On that scratch off, Luis is wearing a blue hat from the couple year uniform the Sox did in the late 60's. That would make for a great one off game wear. Especially on the road with the blue sanitaries and the white stirrups.

I saved this Seaver Topps 3D card for last, as there is a story to it. A few years ago, in one of the first trades I made with Night Owl, Greg sent a copy of this card to me. I emailed NO and mentioned I would forward it on to another collector, as while it is a White Sox, I think the Seaver-ness of it made it fit better in another person's collection (Jeff at My Sports Obsession). Fast forward to about 2 months ago, when I finally shipped the 3D Seaver to Jeff, only to have a replacement show back in office about 3 weeks later.

Thanks though, Tom. But don't do that again, It's like that damn cat from Zoom.

Throwback Thursday - 04.21.2016

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. The picture may be from the front of the card, or the back. Enjoy the uniforms from years past.

Felix Hernandez - 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen mini - Seattle Rainiers

Hidden Gems 3: Quentin in the rain

As I go through this binder and series, one thing will be apparent - bodies. In recent years, Topps has been zooming in on images they use to create the cards. I think I understand why - the focus is the player. While there are less portraits than have been on vintage cards, this return is not beneficial or positive, in my book. Action cards are where it's at.

Prime example is player hated by all Dodger fans Carlos Quentin. Sure, Topps could have zoomed in more, but someone was wise enough to realize you can get everything you need by showing everything there is. Full body crashing into the wall, the hint of white from the pocket of the beige glove, the fencing, the top of the wall - all of it together makes the entire image. We know who the player is - it's right there on the front in foil we can't read. We don't need to see his face because there are enough identifying information to know this is Carlos Quentin. Bonus points for not messing with the contrast. The latest deal with Topps running images through a filter to to bring out each fold of a uniform is overused. The stark white of the top of his pants work well with the shadowed torso and lower legs.

Electric Light Orchestra is one of my favorite bands. From Eldorado to New World Record to Discovery, I've owned a bunch of their albums. And say what you want about Xanadu, it's still a guilty pleasure. In 1977, they release the double album Out Of The Blue. Filled with hits like Turn To Stone, It's Over, Sweet Talking Woman, it was their best selling album. Side 3 (side A of album 2) is a 4 part piece called Concerto For A Rainy Day. Most famous song from that side, used in dozens of movies, is the last song - Mr. Blue Sky. But the best song, in my opinion, is the first song from the piece, Standing In The Rain.

It's a well written piece that hits you hard with a bevy of instruments and melodies, and its' staccato rhythm mimics that of a thunderstorm, which is pretty much it's intention. It's ebbs through it's 4 minutes and flows into the next track, Big Wheels. If you haven't heard the entire piece, give it a listen here.

Dr Babydaddy or: How I Learned To Stop Sleeping And Love Changing Diapers

So Junior Junkie is a new daddy. That certainly is not news I am breaking as he and his better half welcomed their first child a couple weeks back. I remember that time some 23+ years ago when my son was born. And again 20+ years for the birth of my daughter.

Plenty of us are parents, and we all have experienced the highs and low, ups and downs of being a parent. So Junkie, when you read this at 4am (and you will), allow me to pass on some advice for what to expect now that you are a daddy.

1) Forget sleep. Just forget it. At least for 12 years. From not sleeping through the night to illness, Get sleep when you can. Be ready to get less sleep that your wife, because unless you are breast feeding, you get less sleep. I once went a 9 days on 8 hours of sleep. On day nine when my son woke me up, I almost puked on him, which would have been fair if you think about it. But find the time to sleep when you can. Learn your child's nap cycles and use them to your advantage.

2) Forget privacy. Remember how you could go into the bathroom and your wife would never bother you unless it was an emergency? Yeah - that doesn't happen with kids. Lock the door or they will just walk right in. Learn to parent while you are sitting on the throne, because you will need to handle your first job while you are doing job #2.

POOP JOKE HIGH FIVE!

3) Your wife is the most beautiful woman in the world. Keep that thought in your mind - trust me on this one.

4) Kids are expensive. Like SERIOUSLY expensive. Diapers. Wipes. Food. Clothes. Accessories. If you are offered hand me downs, take them. Save everything you can if you want baby #2. All their stuff is expensive the same reason bikinis are expensive: for no frigging reason! Everything they use will either get thrown out or useless quickly because they have out grown it.

5) How do you feel about bodily fluids? Well, get over that because you will get every single fluid that can come out of a body on you, and some that you never thought existed. It's inevitable. Just know it will happen - that is the only preparation you can make for it.

6) Measure the length of your child's arms, then place all the items that are fragile and important 3 times that distance away from them. Unknown to most people, babies have a power to attract items with a form of telekinesis and metal telepathy. They will grow out of it about 6-8 years old, but get that stuff at least 6 feet away. Because of their small size, their powers are pretty weak at that distance.

I'll stop there. If I think of more I'll do a part two. But let me thank TJ for cards he sent before the birth of his child. If you remember a week or so ago, I had a post "Here, There and Everywhere Part 1". Well, I remember that this is the other stack I referenced in that post. What I don't remember is why I decided the two stacks were related. I guess that's #7 for you, Junkie. Your memory fades and it will all be replaced with Disney movies and crappy children's songs from crappy cartoons. Anyhow...

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOX! Junkie's mailing had a nice amount of new Sox cards for me. The Pinnacle in the middle is acetate, so that is a black sheet of paper behind it. Remember Colon as a White Sox? Yeah - we're trying to forget those years too.

Very parallel-y. Doyle was a 37th round draft pick who has bounced between the Twins, Japan and Mexico. Currently, he is in the Baltimore system. Adams, who happens to turn 20 today, is in A ball with the Sox. Belle, well - you all know Albert Belle. The card scanned like crap which is a shame cuz it looks nice in person.

Crown Royal. I think Junior got his hands on a stack of these as I see a lot went out with other packages. I was happy to get the White Sox group of them. So gaudy and so beautiful.

The mass of the cards from TJ were bunting. 52 total cards in the package, with almost half (25) as new binder additions. I almost bought that Alomar about a year back at my LCS, but it was a buck and I passed. Glad I did.

Yet another Butler bunting card. All the card companies liked showing him bunting. The Febles and Milledge are both cards in the on deck circle for the baker's dozen needed cards, but I can cross them off the list. The Febles scanned really nice and looks just as good in hand.

Old, new and what in the hell is that last one? Holy moley! Did someone at Fleer just get a new clip art program the week before designing those cards? There is a little bit of everything on it. I have no idea what the ultimate goal was, but "splendid" was not the first word that popped in my head when I saw that.

Lastly a couple autographs to finish the envelope. I don't have either, so the early Paulie, still as a catching prospect is pretty sweet. Johnson is on the Sox 40 man roster and currently in Triple A Charlotte. He's been up a few times and has a 7-4 career in the bigs. No idea if he will ever crack a permanent stay on the south side though.

Thanks again TJ. Now go change that diaper - I can smell that bomb from here. BTW - I really wanted to post this video (NSFW - language), but none of the copies would allow embedding, so you get Bruno Mars.

No, I won't

I am sure we have all experienced this - get some cards in the mail from a generous giver and when you look them over, there is a theme beyond the intended theme. In packages I received, there can be a theme of double play cards or bunting cards. But not too often, I'll get a group of cards that fit into a player collection I have. But that is usually rare.

However, it's very common that a mailing will have a bunch of cards from one player in them, almost prompting me to start a binder for that player. I have my running joke about my not going to start anytime soon Sale collection (nope, not starting one, but send them all), as well as cards for other players with far shorter careers.

The king of short careers.

Brian from Play At The Plate sent over a #SuperTraders mailing a week ago. Among all the cards inside, I noticed these three.

As much as I like AJ, I don't see me starting a player collection of the man, though I do need an autograph of him for my 2005 Project. But Sox was not the only team Brian sent over.

The Stanley Cup playoffs start ....well......soon. The NHL hasn't released the game times yet. But we get to beat up the Blues again this year, and that is always fun. Some older Hawks int he package with former forward Zkamnov on a Gold Reserve UD card. Alexei came over when we sent Roenick to Phoenix. Still a dark day here. Nice shot of the old Stadium behind Jim Belushi and a really great image of Bobby Smith leaping over Belfour as he makes the save.

Plain and gray, but super sweet this low numbered (#/50) swatch of Thome. And for the record, that is a throwback Jim is sporting, so into the throwback binder is goes. Thanks a bunch for the cards, Brian.

So no - just cuz you send me stuff doesn't mean you can decide what I collect.

You always have to be different, don't you?

Special ingredient for the Sloppy Joes that Friday in the cafeteria.

Are those crickets I hear?

Blogging, and this group of card bloggers, is a circle of life. Additions and subtractions happen all the time in the group, with some blogs being shuttered and others just going silent. Replacements for them will appear and we all get new reading material.

In a sense, the same holds true within a specific blog. There are days/weeks/months of flurry and writing, periods of struggle and even short times of silence. That is certainly the case with me. I blog when I feel like it. I have thought about putting myself on a schedule, but writing here is a passion, not a chore, so I have avoided placing any forced expectations on myself. When I feel inspired, I write. But then, shortly after, I'm unsure what to say, my mind void of ideas.

Pictured: the thoughts in my brain 90% of the time.

Nine months or so back, Jim of GCRL fame shuttered his blog. He had his reasons, even if I think they are probably bullsh*t. But closed it is, though he has recently spilled the beans to many of us his upcoming project -FrankenDodger. The official launch is a couple months out, so we shall all have to wait. But Jim and I still send cards back and forth, and he dropped a PWE on me recently.

Binder help for the bunting and the throwbacks. The Padres just need to go full brown and yellow and give the fans what they want (and rightfully deserve). The Grudzielanek is the back of a '97 Stadium Club, but front or back - all are welcome in my binders.

The 1959 Luis is a dupe....for the Aparicio Project. But if we go to my team set needs, then it's not, and checks another one off the '59 team set. Mr. Hendley make a nice addition to my miscut binder. In no time, I will need a bigger binder for that. And pages. First world problems. Thanks for the cards, Jim. Should have a return in the mail soon.

If you are going to get a single card, this is a fine single card. Pat, from Hot Corner Cards sent this over. I have a stack of Tigers I need to send back. Hot Corner has been dormant for 7 months or so, but Pat enclosed a note with 3 simple works - "Hot Corner Awakens?". It better, Mister! No more wrestling excuses - get your butt in front of your PC and write. Oh, and thanks.

So we know two bloggers should be back on the scene soon. Any others planning to awake from a slumber?