Throwback Thursday - 03.13.2014

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.

R. A. Dickey - 2013 Topps Mini - New York Mets

More Christmas gratitude

When I did the card dump this past Christmas, it was really just to get rid of a ton of cards quickly. It would have taken me forever to PWE all those out, and at a far higher postage rate in the long run. I have been fortunate, in that some of you people feel the need to return the gift in card form. I am finding that a wonderful bonus from you readers/bloggers/followers/nocturnal fowl. It's been a nice bonus to have small envelopes with cards coming back with a note thanking me. Here's two I received over the past week or so.

John, non-blogger to my knowledge, signed up for Tigers, Braves and Mets. He, like the many of you that choose Tigers, probably didn't get to many of the English D from the lack of that team in the box. I would say them and the Cardinals were my lowest quantity teams. But I know I sent John a few bags, and in return he sent me 10 cards - all needed for the binders.

I would have to look it up, but I believe that Damon in the upper left is one that would have appeared on the baker's dozen at some point, but now will not. That Dykstra must be from the opening pitch of some season - no WAY his uniform is that clean.

Great part of all these DP cards are the amount of HOFers you see. Sandberg (and hopefully Biggio), Alomar and Gwynn. Not so fast, Skip. Not so fast...

Last card is this sweet Archives of Nellie. While it does not fit into my ground rules for the Fox Project, it does go into the binder because it is Nellie. I never said I don't collect recent releases of players. It's just that the recent releases are not part of the project. Thanks again for the envelope John.

The other letter came from Steve, another who doesn't blog. Really? I think I will run a contest where you must have a blog to enter. Anyway, Steve threw in a note saying "this isn't much, but I hope you enjoy them". Steve seems to take his comedy skills from GCRL.

Two things about this group: a) was Otis Nixon always 137 years old when he played? Man, he looks frigging ancient. b) the Polonia card is interesting. If you look at his hands, he is releasing the bat. Either he's a horrible bunter, or the ball you see in the image is coming off the bat. Usually never see a bunting card after the ball has left.

Lot of people flying left and right. Ozzie up top usually has on a red topped stirrup on his right leg. I gotta figure it's there - just hiding under the blousing. I enjoy the look on Valentin's face as he watches his throw go to first.

One more card - the best of the bunch. If you have been here enough, you may see me comment from time to time that most players don't know the proper way to bunt. It's just not taught like it should anymore. In that vein, I give you Glenallen Hill.

Wow.

)

Trade Me Tuesday #3

One thing you may learn about me - I am NOT one to give up so easily. That being said, I am a little surprised the first two offering for TMT have garnered no interest. So what you are forcing me to do is pull out the big guns. I would be willing to wager my entire Mantle rookie binder that someone will jump on this week's offering. Last week's cards are still available. Back to 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, miscut 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.

Did you see that? I added "miscut" to the potential trade. You have a miscut and I want it. Now, I DARE you people to ignore this offering.

Yup. That is five of the Cut to the Chase die cuts from 2013 packs. None fit my collection, so make them fit yours. For the love of all that is right and special in this world, MAKE THEM YOURS!

New video. Cuz I don't quit.

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.