Throwback Thursday - 03.16.2017

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.

Mike Piazza - 2004 Upper Deck SP Prospects - New York Cubans

Hidden Gems: From the 32nd state of the union

I've been to Minnesota once in my life. Minneapolis to be exact, cuz really, what else is to see in Minnesota? (dodges rocks from HSCA and GCRL) Hey, the city was fine, and I caught a Twins games while I was there. The Humphrey Dome was not a good place for baseball, so it's nice they got a new park. But take away the Minn/St. Paul area, and the only other reference I get for the state down here is the temperature of International Falls.

There is still some great cardboard, though, with a Minnesota touch to them. I have a lot of these types of pictures in the binder, where the focus is on the player, but a bunch of stuff is still in the frame a wonderfully out of focus. I know there is a term for this view, but it escapes me at this point. It's a fantastic look on a card. The exact moment is captured and frozen, but you as the viewer can refocus the picture in your mind and make out what the other objects are. And sure, Leach's legs are chopped off, but the other three points of his body are perfectly aligned in the frame. Well done, Donruss.

The Soviettes is a band that I actually found via a CD my son had burned many years ago. Somehow it ended up in my car and this very tune brought them to my attention. I have actually posted another one of their songs here - The Land of Clear Blue Radio. And when people think of Minnesota and Minneapolis, Who comes to mind is Prince, The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, Bob Dylan.... But The Soviettes put out three really good punk albums and still play together from time to time. And they are worth a listen.

Throwback Thursday - 03.09.2017

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.

Darin Erstad - 2003 Donruss - California Angels

Dollar store repacks

I haven't done a repack wars recently because any repacks I buy tend to be junk. Lately Fairfield has been packing them with either 2015 Topps, Panini Triple Play or last 80's junk wax (Score or Fleer). And sure, the repacks at the dollar store contain junk as well, they are a far cheaper rip than $12 for 100 cards, more than 50% I know I won't need.

Over the past couple weeks, I've been forced to hit the dollar store, and each trip I picked up 4 packs. First four were the multi sport repacks of 30 cards (or so) and the 2nd trip brought home 20 card baseball only packs. Let's have some scans.

Starting with one of the 30 card multi sports, I have broken the scans down to the oldest card in the pack (this Miller from 1981), the best card in the pack for my collection (Brookens laying down a bunt) and the best card overall in the pack, which happens to be an Electric Ice of HOFer Biggio. I might build that '81 set. Though I think I will first build the 1981 hockey release.

As I mentioned, this was one of the multi sport releases. All but these two cards were baseball. Sorry Seattle, this was a good look for you. Ditch the neon green.

2nd multi sport pack, with the oldest being the man who could not keep his cap on his head, John Pacella. A 1983 Bo goes into the Sox Box. And the awesome SC release of Hudler performing an act on a dugout pole that got him called to HR was the best of the pack.

Just two non baseball in the pack. Chucky Brown's rookie from Hoops and a Collector's Choice of Valeri Kamensky. Even the hockey Collector's Choice sets were primo releases.

A couple 1985 Topps cards get the oldest designation, with the Gleaton being the only real card I would want (but don't need). How about a Mother's Nolan Ryan, though? Nice pull for 3 cents.

I thought this was interesting: pulled 3 Upper Deck Gold Reserve cards from their 2000 set.

This was the worst of the 4 multi sport packs, yielding me 5 non baseball cards. Love the jaw guard on LaFontaine's helmet. Noonan is an ex-Blackhawk. Technically, Coffey is too, for 10 forgettable games.

Last of the multi sport packs. There were a dozen of the 1981 Fleers within. Someone really didn't line up the plates well on that Trevino. One Sox on that top prospects card, so it gets the nod for the collection (I think I need it). No single card can get highlighted as the best of the pack when all this falls out...

You try and pick the best card from those 4. Anyone of you would pay a dime for those. I paid 3 pennies each.

Not a single non baseball card in the pack, so how about I show off 3 OPC cards that were in the stack? That was the last of the 30 card multi sport. Let's look at the 20 card baseball packs. Tend to be newer cards, but still some old gems to be found within.

1988 Harold Baines was the oldest in the pack, but the amazing Bo Breaker card secures both the best for my collection and the best within the pack. That man could do anything.

Here's a few other highlights from that pack. Wallach goes to you know who. An OPC Candy Maldonado. And Alomar Jr.? Note the McDonald's logo in the upper right. Oddball!

Speaking of Tim Wallach, I will now want all your '85 Mike Heath as I got two in this repack. (No - I don't. Just kidding). No cards for my collection at all, but a really nice Grace SP. I love that set. Amazing images, even if the border on the left side ruins it a bit. It was Upper Deck's version of Stadium Club.

Yeah - this was a real dude pack. I hope Mychal has learned how to sign his name. I show the Hudson for his left wrist. Someone forgot to take off his watch. Not a Rolex, that's for sure. I wonder if it has a calculator...

1987 Donruss for the oldest card. I have both the SaveMaster and the Sosa throwbacks, but I had to pick best for the collection and best card. I think that Sosa is one fine throwback. Love the card coloring when paired with the 1919 Sox unis and Sosa's wrist bands.

Mattingly without a mustache always freaks me out. Like seeing a skinny Rick Reuchel. And hey Nick, does that McDonald count as a pitcher at the plate? I think it should.

We end the 8 packs with a dud. There were 87 Donruss within, but you have seen enough, so let's show an '87 Fleer. And when a 1991 Fleer Bonds is called the best in the pack (and frigging BANK 25 years ago), you see how weak the cards for a buck were. Not a single White Sox either.

The 20 card baseball repacks, though, are always good for shiny, one or two year off sets. Or higher end, as a Hollandsworth Fleer EX and a Patterson Topps Finest will attest to. Not amazing, but well worth a nickel each.

So there ya go - eight repacks. And look - I've posted 3 days in a row! Put on your dancing pants!

Stuck in the mud

It would be an understatement to say my 1964 Topps build is mired in the muck. I'm just over the 70% mark, but still missing some of the biggest cards. There are still plenty of commons needed as well. I haven't been able to get to the Orland show and see if my cheap vintage guy has any more commons for my build.

Thankfully, CommishBob from Five Tool Collector must have his own access to 64s, as a little more than a dozen cards in a PWE. Quite fine shape, so let's take a look at a few.

Nice looks at some classic uniforms, with the KC vests and the under sleeves with TV numbers. A definite rarity to have numbers on the sleeves in MLB. The Phillies currently have a number on one sleeve. Lynch is sporting a flocked batting helmet. A few teams have gone to matte helmets in the past couple years, but I would love to see the Buccos go full fuzzy for a 60's throwback uniform.

A catcher with no gear. For the record, Haller was a Giant the previous year, so that cap is not blacked out. Zoilo laying one down. I think I have a copy of this in my bunting binder. Actually, I don't. Bummer. Perranoski is in an interesting pose. Not sure if that angle is reminiscent of his pitching motion, though.

Santo was the biggest name of the bunch and a great addition. This card would cost me a pretty penny in this area. I hope you got a great deal, Bob. Milt sticks in my head around Chicago for the many times I heard him on the radio complaining he was robbed of a perfect game by Bruce Froemming. I really hope he just used the game for fun and ribbing, but it really seems like Milt just couldn't let it go.

I already have this card in the build, and I'm certain Bob knew that. This is a sweet miscut for the binder.

Well, I am now at 71% of the set build. Maybe I can get over 90% by the end of the year.

12 Decent Dollars

Years ago, when I was laid off from my job, the fill in until I found a better paycheck was working as a security guard. Excitement. My duty was in a warehouse guarding suits. Men's suits. Seriously.

Protecting you ladies from my hotness.

I would get locked in about 5:30 and at the top of each hour make a trip through the warehouse turning a key in a fire box. The job was to make sure there wasn't a fire. These were really expensive suits. A grand or more each. I would roam around in there when I was bored and once saw a suite with the tag "Digger Phelps" on it.

Yeah - I left a note in the pocket praising Norte Dame. No idea if he ever got it.

Anyway, this was at the time where the wee hours of the night was not infomercials but old black and white movies on the TV. I snuck in a little portable television to keep me awake, and it was through that I found an appreciation for the older cinema, musicals, etc. I recall it was one night on either WGN or WFLD I saw "12 Angry Men". And if none of you have watched it, what the hell is wrong with you? Just do it. It's not currently streaming on Netflix or Prime, but you can find it. Or just rent it.

So where am I going with this? Two weeks ago I had jury duty. You are summoned for a week in Illinois, and have to call in twice a day to see if you need to report. I only got called to the court one day - Wednesday. Within 15 minutes, my number along with 30 or so others got called for jury selection. A civil case. So instead of reading my book, I was sitting while the lawyers questioned potential jurors. When we broke for lunch (with only half of us questioned), I went out to find food. Where I stopped was just in front of a Walmart, so why not a little trip to the card aisle in the front of the store. While the Walmart near my house seems to get pretty picked through, this particular store must not have a lot of card shoppers. I can usually find some decent stuff.

This was one of those days, finding a discounted blaster of 2016 Archives for just under $12 bucks. How did I do before I had to go back for my round of questioning?

For starters, this was a great box for a Sox fan. Here are all the ChiSox within. I just missed the Sox in the 1979 section of the set. Still - good haul.

Speaking of 1979 (sorry Night Owl - didn't pull any you needed), this was the only card in the blaster that had a card in the original set. Funny they moved Sutter to the Cardinals in 2016 when he was a Cub in the original. And thank goodness they did, since the Cardinals have sooooooo few cards in the set (14, for those that care).

There's that Eaton again. These were all potential binder cards, except that I already have them in the binders from other packs, blasters or blogger generosity. Into the set build they all shall go. BTW - love the 50th year patch on Scooter's sleeve.

Inserts. Later folks - I'm retiring on that Bryant. YEAH!

There is my guaranteed Bull Durham card. Dupe, as I have Millie already. The Father and Son card is a dupe too. But that Burroughs auto was a hell of a nice pull. I swear that's the player name, even if you cannot see pale orange on pale gray. Good call, Topps. But funny they put Jeff on a design that is the year PRIOR to his rookie card.

Might not have gotten the full $12 worth, but it was a fun rip and I got some good set filler.

And I wasn't selected for the trial. Makes me one for two on juries.

NOOICE!