Going out and coming in

Of the many joys in collecting, I love making space in my dupe box. Anytime I can find a want list with cards I can fill, it brings me happiness on two levels. The first is that I will make space for organizing, cuz invariably I'm going to have duplicates. Second is that my dupes will magically transform into stuff I want.

Sooooo tell me what you want - what you really really want.

Did you not get my order of protection, Posh?

Anyway, two trade packages in a couple days showed up, and boy oh boy did they have wonder. First in the mailbox was Jeff. We have traded before, and for some reason he still isn't blogging. Jeff - just do it, alright? Jeff is a Cubs collector and filled my request by dropping his Cubs wants list to my email, along with the offer of a card I would be glad to receive. Heck - I would be glad to get a 91 Donruss of a White Sox if I didn't have one.

How about 3 I didn't have? Jeff sent those along with a few more White Sox cards. However, none of them were the card he originally referenced. No - the specific card was this gem.

Why sure - I would LOVE that card! Jeff left the card a surprise in his emails, so this was an awesome unveiling in the envelope. Jeff - the return package will be on its way later tonight.

The other envelope in my mailbox came from Tim at the awesome Home of the Toddfather. Someone with want lists that include Rockies - heck yeah! I was able to clear out some 2013 Topps as well as a few older sets, plus a good dip into a few player collections. In return, Tim dropped 3 team bags stuffed with ChiSox. His note said "hope you can use some". Boy, can I!

Minis, micros and stickers! I know I had a half dozen of the Cracker Jack Jacksons, but all disappeared. This is the first time I have ever seen the 82 Topps stickers at the bottom. In with these cards were a few 2011 A&Gs off my needs list. I still have so much to do with The Big Sort, and Tim just added to my challenge. That is not a complaint but a statement of joy, cuz now I have to sort cards like these.

For his few productive years in Chicago, I don't have many Magglio cards. I also have every version of that Konerko Upper Deck X - except this die cut gold. Now I have all the versions. Thanks Tim.

Two low number serials in the Thomas and the Konerko. And I don't remember who recently showed a card similar to that Black Jack Confex card (Nick?), but boy I liked it. Now I have one. 

Thanks again to Jeff and Tim. Do you have wants? So do I - let's help each other get what we want.

I'll tell you what you want, what you really really want.

Really, Baby? Really?

O' Canada

I've received a couple great trade packages here at the 2x3 home office, but in with those mails was another addition to the Pierce Project. I'll get to the trades tomorrow. The newest addition is another of the "cards that would not be required to fill the set, but would pick up at the right price" purchase from eBay - only $3 for this one.

1962 Post Canadian. The other Post in the Pierce Project is the US version. So, let's put the two cards side by side, compare and score.

Colors - US. Even though the Pierce image is a bit blurry from misprinting, the colors on the US are more vibrant and the brighter blue stands out better, especially as a border around the stats.

Image - Canada. I prefer the pulled back image on the Canadian version. Pinstripes, glove, stadium background - very nice très agréable.

Write up - US. To handle the dual language card, Canada had to shorten the bio far too much. Also, is "lefty" some curse word up north? What's with the quotes?

Stats - Canada. It was almost a push, but I am enjoying the dual language in this area of the card. Notice they don't play games, but have parties. Canada +5.

Layout. US, but barely. I like that Pierce's image bleeds to the edge on the US version, yet the placement of the Post logo doesn't work. It's forced in that corner. Canada has a far better card number location, but because of the dual language, the Post logo rides too low. Plus the Canadian version has the white border on the image. If the logo was better, or they had an image bleeding to the edge like the US card, the neighbors to the North would have had this round.

So in the end, the stats don't lie, with the US version beating the Canadian version 3 points to 2.

Throwback Thursday - 04.25.2013

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.

Lucas Harrell - 2012 Topps - Houston Astros

Four dimes, a nickel and a penny

46 cents. That's what a stamp runs nowadays. Put one on an envelope and you can usually send 6-7 cards in the mail. I love them. Jaybarkerfan has been making magic with them all year. Others are picking up on them. And how great can a PWE be?

Dustin, from the awesomely named Coot Veal and the Vealtones, dropped that on me because "it was too good a deal to pass up". Not sure how much "too good" would be, but I know Dustin paid less than 2 quarters sending it to me. He got a amazing price on the amount of joy I had opening it up. Thanks a ton, Dustin!

And then there were six.

Another day, another eBay. Technically, two eBay wins that I haven't shown. Total for these two cards: under a rack pack of 2013 Gypsy Queen.

First is a card that was not on the project. It does fit into the criteria of a card released during his playing days, so I really should add all the Post releases. However, I made the executive decision that they would qualify only if I got a good deal. Two bucks. That's a good deal. Little stain from tape, but otherwise this card is in amazing shape.

This 1959 All Star selection card proved to be a problem. I guess it's a high enough number card that finding this in decent shape at a reasonable price was a challenge. I could have easily scored a card that spent it's life in the spokes of a StingRay for a couple bucks. Otherwise, they were graded going for twenty plus. This card has amazing corners and just the centering issues - about $7 shipped.

I have a line on the remaining cards. I may have this project complete before the All Star break.

The Big Sort: an update

So as I starting talking about a month or so ago, I am working on sorting the volume of White Sox cards I have received in trades (by request) to determine what I have and need with regards to team sets. Currently, I am sorted through the 90's, for the most part. And I add "the most part" only because I found yet another stash of Sox in a box. But not too many 90's, more 00's.

Yet still, I need to get them together. Also, it doesn't help the organizing when I receive yet more White Sox in envelopes. That is not a complaint, mind you, but a simple statement. I quick glance at the last couple of packages not only brings a smile to my face to have received them, but also because I am fairly certain they will not duplicate cards in my Big Sort pile. Plus, there were some mighty fine cards received.

So why do I lead of with as far away from a White Sox player as possible? Now, it's not to gain favor with Night Owl, Plaschke, GCRL and the host of other Dodger bloggers out there. Should I have needed to have them like me, I have other ways. No - Mr. Billingsley completes 2013 Topps Series one. That little card came from Richard at Dawgbones. Rich jumped on my mini extras for his set building, and we worked out a nice little trade. I was able to work through my dupe box and help with a bunch of team sets. In return, he dropped on my some 2011 A&G, a few Kimballs and a nice assortment of White Sox.

Those Stadium Club most have about 30 coats of gloss on them. But all cards I don't have. And the highlight of the envelope.

Love him or hate him, Ozzie did get me to see a World Series champ before I died. Plain white, but plain awesome and a great add to my binder. Check Rich out and work out a trade - easiest thing you will do all week.

A couple days after Richard's envelope arrived, the Night Owl dropped another PWE on me. Seems to be a Pony Express trail between NY and IL with the small mailings we make back and forth. Greg matched up the Ozzie with this card.

While N.O. may not like relic cards, I love getting one, and a card with a Thome is a bonus. For those that know the Owl, what would be an envelope without one of these.

 

That's right - REEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDD LEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEER VVVVVAARRRRIIIIAAAAAAAATTTTTTIIIIIIIOOOONNNNNNNNNNNT! Of course, I mean the 75 mini. I own two - both supplied by Greg. And yes - he added the red back variation card.

Thanks as usual, Night Owl.

calcetines de color blanco

While my White Sox have done anything but disappoint so far this season, there are still a bunch of reasons I am glad I support the White Sox over the Red Sox. A big recent reason? When you prefer your hoses to be pale instead of crimson, you don't get upset when you pull something like this:

Target $13 repack box. Thank you Goudey.