Hate.

Being a White Sox collector in this oddball bunch of bloggers is unique. Besides Jeff at My Sports Obsession, I don't have to compete with anyone to get my Sox, for the most part. Oh sure, with everyone wanting to obtain and flip an Abreu auto, getting my White Sox on box breaks can be tough. But for the most part, I don't run head to head against anyone they way some of the Dodger collectors do, or the Yankee collectors, BoSox collectors, etc.

Also, my player collections are pretty rare. Again, besides Jeff and Konerko, I don't run into a lot of people working on Joe Crede, Aaron Rowand or Tadahito Iguchi cards. Sure, Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio are big names, but the bloggers in the groups aren't in competition with me for the cards.

However, Billy Pierce. That one..... is a struggle. See, I started my Pierce collection, and while technically it's complete, I still look for the oddball here and there to fill holes. So does CommishBob at Five Tool Collector. I didn't know I was battling against him for some items until I stole (yeah - I sniped) a couple Topps tattoos of Mr. Pierce away from him. Something I still feel guilty about. CB was very nice about it, and I'm certain he has no ill will towards me.

But I hate him.

See - CommishBob scores KILLER Pierce additions. While not always cards, he finds cool items to add into his great Pierce collection. And it makes me jealous. I am not sure how many times I can tell Commish how much I despise him in the comment section.

But it troubles me since he is a really nice guy. I mean, look at a recent package he sent me.

Awesome double play cards. Dig the height from Vina. This kind gesture starts to warm my soul. And then...

Players bunting. In fact, CB knocked seven cards from my most wanted commons list on the right. Rage subsides. Following these I pull...

Some needs for my 2014 Heritage set, and a gorgeous throwback card. I begin to see Commish in a new light as he includes...

Allen and Ginter!!! Some insert needs as well as a bunch for my minis. A sense of love and compassion fills my heart as...

Vintage? Really? Some 1964s for my set, and an amazing looking '61 Fox MVP for my Fox Project.

So I head over to CommishBob's blog to leave a comment, proclaiming my gratitude for his kindness and thanking him for the amazing cardboard sent. And then I read...

Aaaaaaaaaaand I hate you again. Thanks for the cards, but I hate you.

But thanks. I must get this anger under control.

Like Dick Clark at my LCS

During the past week, my LCS (yes, I have one very close to me) moved one of their locations (yes - they have a total of 6 stores) from Joliet to New Lenox. I have talked in the past of their pack wars drawings at their locations. Well, yesterday would have been Joliet, but since it's now New Lenox, they hold a bit of an opening day celebration. I didn't make it there during the day, but my wife and I headed out to see the new location (it's nice) and have some fun ripping packs. I was pretty busy the WHOLE night. How busy?

I ripped close to 100 packs yesterday. Packs just loaded with goodness. I pretty much couldn't stop pulling hits last night. All total, I ripped open 4 boxes. Yes - FOUR! A box of 2014 UD Artifacts, box of 2013 Panini Golden Age, box of 2007 Bowman Prospects and a box of 2013 Leaf Valiant football. Total hits (auto or relics) pulled?

16.

It was crazy. Crazy Awesome! Let's start with the Artifacts. I won this box from the raffle.

Nothing amazing. I have had better pulls from Artifacts in the past, but for a box that cost me $20 (two tickets), I am quite happy with what I have. Moving to the actual pack wars rounds, I ended up with these hits out of my packs.

Tavares came from MVP, the Gilbert fell out of a pack of Valor, and that far right card - I saw the back of the card first and saw "Congratulations" and "Payton Manning" and became really nervous turning it over. Just a relic, but still. Three hits out of $100 worth of packs. That would be all, if it wasn't for the tickets received during the ripping. From those tickets, I won an '07 box of Bowman. My hit was weak.

WHO? But the box did have a few Lincecum rookies in it, so it wasn't a total waste. Another ticket secured me a box of Golden Age.

Love the Colbert relic! Goes nicely with a Jackie O I pulled from my other box. I remember Geese from Wide Wide World of Sports. Every week I hoped it was the Globetrotters. I also pulled a bonus hit from my Golden Age.

Box topper relic FTW! And a nice one with Joe Frazier. The Thrilla in Manila. Rumble in the Jungle.

Lastly, during pack wars they do a super round. Special tickets in that round for a chance at really nice prizes. I hit it again and received a box of 2013 Leaf Valiant. Five cards, all with autos.

Too lazy to take them out of the card sleeves. Kind of meh, I guess, except for the Manti. That one is numbered to 25, and will be hitting the bay. I may sell the others, unless someone wants to talk trade.

So the three boxes and 30 random packs cost me that hundred. It was, by far, the most amazing night at my LCS. I have no reason to feel sorry for not winning after a night where the hits wouldn't stop.

Pssssst!

Hey! Buddy - come 'ere.

Yeah - you. Come over 'ere. I gots a deal I wanna talk about. You looks like a smart guy. A guy that knows his way around the city. Youse looks like a guy interested in a bargain. Am I right?

So what's says we talk 'bout a li'l deal. I gots some'ng 'ere youse should really wants to 'ave. How's abouts a trade?

SHHHHHHHHHHH! Yeah - a trade. But this ain't no normal like trade. This 'ere trade youse gonna be sending cards to me whiles I sends dis other guy some cards, and he's gonna send some to you. Whatcha think about dat?

Alright then. Just soze ya know dis in on da up n up, name's Brandon. Youse send me a couple cards I likes off your blog, I sends some cards to Tom at Angels in Order, den he sends you some cards you like. He's gots some cool stuff, ya know. Stuff like...

Dat's one of them unscratched games from UD Collector's Choice, ya know. And dig dat Ozzie Gold Rush. Bet you need one of those.

He's gots lots of great stuff too. I can tell youse a guy dat's likes color. Check dese out...

You gotta admit - dat's some tight color you see. Greens and reds and blues and golds. Only thing dat would look nicer on is one of dem ice cream cones. But Tom - dat brother gots more stuff too.

Hows about some more color, Bowman like? Plus some of dem be all chromed up! Youse be paying big money for that chrome'ing. Bet you think dis ain't gotta get better?

Dat's okay. I like you and I know dis is a lot to take in, but wait 'til you sees what he be dropping on you next.

SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Yeah - dat's vintage right dere. '64s and Hostess. Ev'rybody likes vintage. Oh, and my boy's got one more thing he thinks youse gonna like in dis deal....

So - you wants in?

Throwback Thursday - 10.30.2014

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.

Mark Mulder - 2003 Upper Deck MVP - Oakland Athletics

Corrections and connections

Before we get to the meat of the post, let me get a couple things corrected.

A) I guess that last package I posted was a Zippy Zapping, ZZ has hit me before, but man, I totally screwed up saving his address. I can't recall if I PWE'd him, but if I did the hell if it ever arrived.

B) I did that 17 month long posting from Wes, and I forgot to mention that one of the boxes was stuffed with about 40 wax packs, which were a blast to rip. Thanks again, Wes.

Ok - corrections made. Now let's make some connections, specifically with my local bud Nick from Dime Boxes. Nick has talked many times about the flea market he hits in Rosemont, and I have been trying to make it up there. Well, Sunday was the last weekend for 2014, and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. So I took the hour ride north, paid my two bucks and started walking.

Quick note: this thing is frigging huge. Far bigger than any I go to. Yeah, Kane County is probably close in size, but that is more of a craft fair than a flea market.

Anyway, I have been Jonesing for some quality dime boxing, and sure enough, the boxes lived up to the hype. And I ran into Nick, so that made digging through the boxes even more enjoyable. All total, I picked up about 130 cards between two vendors. Nick did over 50 more - the man is a machine. But along with some cards for blogger's collections, I added some nice cards to my binders.

I think these are the highlights of the 14 throwback cards I found. It was the socks that made me stop, but I had to look closer to realize it didn't say Orioles on the chest. From the patch on the left sleeve, these are supposed to be throwbacks to late 30/early 40 St. Louis Browns uniforms. Problem? They aren't. There is a missing strip down the center of the uniform. But I give them credit for the effort.

Some more great throwbacks. I recall that Bonds card on the left. I believe it is now in Arpsmith's collection, because I sent it there before I started a throwback binder. That's fine, cuz it's back, with the Kent Black Diamond partner.

In the dime boxes, I was surprised the player collections I could have started. Nomo, Bagwell, Piazza, Garvey, Dawson... all had quite the stack of cards. But I think Biggio was in there the most. Lucky for me, he has many cards that fit a couple binders. From double plays....

...to bunting.

Double plays....

...to bunting. Man, I love 2003 Donruss. I need a cheap box of that to rip. Underrated in my book.

All total, I added 30 new turns at second to my collection, which totals 717 total DP cards.

I also increased my bunting binder by 29 cards, including that amazing '78 SSPC at the bottom.

Just three broken bats. I have been hunting that Johnson for over a year, so a dime is a great price. That Payton is making me rethink the 2004 UD design. I like it.

Lastly were these three gems for the player collections. A rare Reds Konerko card, along with a team set Konerko (I snagged the team set Beckham for my rainbow), and a Petrick I was needing.

It was nice to shuffle through cards and chat up a collector next to me like Nick. His knowledge of cards surprises me. Some how he reminds me how dumb I can be in the hobby. It was a great time to dig through boxes, then stroll through and find some other cardboard. I am sure Nick will show off his pulls in time. Nick - see you in Orland in a couple months.

Calling Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew and Charlie Chan

Forgive the few days break from me. After the daily posts from Wes' gracious gift, I needed a few days away from posting (Throwback Thursday posts are prescheduled). However, while the posts pause, the post office does not, and many other envelopes have appeared in the 2x3 home office from bloggers with equal generosity as Wes. Some ebay pickups have arrived too that I am excited about.

Yet, I am going to start with this interesting package I received. The cards seems pretty normal.

Has some junk wax in it, which is great cuz I needed these three along with some others. That Black Jack rookie is an upgrade to the one I have, which didn't make it so well in a box after it slide halfway down under some other cards. That one is more Boomerang Jack.

Nice prospects in the package. Micah needs to work on his defense, and Courtney needs to relax at the plate.

I will not start a Sale collection. I will not start a Sale collection. I will not start a Sale collection. I will not officially start a Sale collection.

VINTAGE! Yummy, tasty vintage.

Last was these two beauties for the Iguchi and Crede collections. Low numbered Triple Threads Tadahito. And I have never seen that Fleer Platinum card. Let me open it up.

This sweet thing is also numbered, 46/400. Those darker spots are from the little goo that held the card closed.

Ok - if you read this far, you may have notice I haven't given thanks yet. Because I have no clue whom to thank. WHO SENT THIS? Yes, there is a return address on the envelope, that doesn't match any address I have in my database. I can read "Kenny H" as the person who sent this. But I have never sent you cards, Kenny. What sorcery allowed you to get my address!? Let me thank you properly for this amazing out of the blue package. And let me punish you whom gave up my address.

Throwback Thursday - 10.23.2014

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.

Will Clark - 1992 Doruss Triple Play - New York Giants