HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!! Super Bowl Contest At Collector's Crack...

Hope everyone will be safe out there tonight...

Make sure you join us for ..Almost the Easiest Super Bowl Contest on the Web IV - Official Sign up Post...

Just pick who you think is going to win the Super Bowl, and the team they will beat, along with total points and turnovers.  EASY.......

I have to go with my PACKERS over the Broncos with Manning throwing 3Ints...
(Please don't wake me)

GO PACK GO !!!

See you all next year!!!!!!

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!

Jeff

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS.......

For this Holiday Season, I randomly picked 2 followers of my blog, and 1 blogger that I follow, to send a Holiday PWE to.  

Here is who is getting the Holiday PWE's...

  $30 A Week Habit

  All The Way To The Backstop

  This Way to the Clubhouse

All three have fun blogs to read and follow.  Looking forward to more in 2014.

Bob and Doug Sing 12 Days of Christmas

Christmas Vacation

Lights .... we have all been there....

What we wanted for Christmas in the Good Ole Days...

Before Xbox and PS4....

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL !!!!!

JEFF

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!

Happy Thanksgiving Blog-o-sphere

Hope everyone has a Great Thanksgiving.....................

Now for some cards.....
I went to the Minneapolis Sports Collectible Convention a few weekends ago, and besides picking up some of the newer cards, I found these poor old cards looking for a new home...

For my Packers collection...

1961 Topps Paul Hornung Record Setting card

 I also found these poor ole baseball cards from the Topps 52 set....

1952 Topps Dutch Leonard

1952 Topps John Pramesa

The Dutch card isn't to bad, but poor ole Pramesa had a corner torn off.  AAAUGH!!!

And the PIECE DE RESISTANCE.....

1960 Topps Rival All Stars Mantle & Boyer

This poor ole card looks like it was used for stable gun practice.

Also, someone was practicing their spelling of YANKEES on the back.  

But you can't pass on a cheap Mantle Card... can you????

I think the story of the Mantle Boyer card goes this way.... In 1960, lil Johnny opened a pack of Topps baseball cards.  To his amazement, he received this card.  He than proceeded to staple it to his bulletin board.  Johnny was a huge Yankee fan, so he staple a small piece of paper over Boyer's face on the card, thus only leaving Mantle's visible.  

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!
Jeff

Great Trade!!!!!!

Had a very successful trade with Robert over at $30 a Week Habit .

Here is what I received-------

For my 2013 Topps '72 minis.....

#4 Mike Trout and #66 Troy Tulowitzki

 

For my Harper collection.....

 

 

2013 CD-7 Bryce Harper Chase it Down

 

Saving the best for last...

  For my Trout collection......

 

 

 2013 Topps Heritage Venezuela #41

 

 

Thanks again for the trade Robert. 

 

Jeff

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!

Collision at The Plate !!!!!!

As I start this post, I am watching the end of the Packers / Browns game.  Hoping the Pack can hold on to win. ( 6min left GB24 CLE13 ).

Even though I try my best to find time to write a post, I do read the blogs I follow, plus new ones, as often as I can. (just about every day)
(Yes !!! Pack score again!!  Go Pack Go)

One of the blogs I like reading is Play at The Plate.  Since reading this blog, when ever I get time to sort through some cards, I like looking for those cards with a play at the plate.

Here is one I found  (wonder if he has this one)

1992 Stadium Club 

Card is available for sale / trade.

If  Play at The Plate comments he needs this card,
it is his.

   Lonnie Smith (Braves) colliding with Brian Harper (Twins).  This is a photo from game 4 of the 91 World series.  Was Smith safe or out???  Do you remember ???

If you don't remember, lets watch.......

OOOOUUUCCHHHHHH!!!!

Your Out !!!!!

(YEAH Pack wins !!!!)

This is a fabulous card, with an excellent photo of a piece of Baseball History.

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!
Jeff

WORLD SERIES TIME !!!!

Here we go ......

I would like to see a Pirates vs A's World Series.

It would be like an early 70's retro World Series.
Small market clubs rule!!!!  (to bad the Royals or Twins didn't make it)

  

BUT ....  Than reality sets in and these will most likely be the two teams playing

Detroit vs  St Louis

If you would like to make your prediction, visit Collector's Crack and enter the World Series contest.  EASY!!!!!!  Must enter before noon on Sat Oct 5.  Great Prizes!!!

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!
Jeff

VACATION !!!!!

Go Go's Vacation  ( The 80's Best Girl Band)

I have been on VACATION since last Friday.  Thought I would have posted here and update my Web Store before now...BUT.....

My wife had other plans...  THE HONEY DO LIST ...   which she continues to add to every time I turn around. 

I have been able to knock off a few things on the list, so I am able to make a quick post.

Thanks again to those following.  I am going to try and round up a few cards for my followers.

My most important agenda right now is getting as many cards as possible inventoried on The Trading Card Database site, along with more listings in my WebStore and Ebay.

Always filling your want list  :  fasportscards@gmail.com.

All reasonable offers / trades are considered at my web store.  As time permits I am updating my want list.  

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!

Jeff

1996 Leaf Signature Extended Autographs

These Autographs were issued in the 1996 Leaf Signature Extended series packs.  There were at least two per pack (so I must have bought 1 pack).

card #69 Darren Hall

card #170 BILL RISLEY

 Cards are for sale or trade!!

KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

Jeff

34th National Sports Collectors Convention

I have never been to this convention.  Every time it has been in the Chicago area, I have thought about going.  I live in MN, so it wouldn't be that far of a drive.  

But, I had a big choice to make.  My wife gave me the option of one or the other, but not both....

  The Convention this year  ---    or   THE 2014 ALL STAR GAME next year here at Target Field.

I choose to try and get tickets for the All Star Game next year.  $$$$$$$$$

If I can't get tickets for the Big game, maybe at least take part in the activities before hand.

Hope everyone that goes to the convention has a super time.

Maybe next time it's back in Chicago, I will be able to attend.  (2015??)

KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

Jeff 

1994 SP TIM SALMON

This is a great card of Angel's 90's great TIM SALMON....

1994 SP Previews # WR5
(click here to go to WebStore) 

This card was inserted at a rate of 1 in 35 packs of the 1994 Series 2 Upper Deck SP.   

Tim exploded from May 10-13 in 1994, as he had 13 hits over the span of three consecutive games, tying the A.L. record.

Thanks for reading

Jeff

KEEP ON COLLECTING!!   

1994 Tony Gwynn

PADRE'S HALL OF FAMER :

TONY GWYNN

1994 Bowman's Best #R78
(click here to go to WebStore)

FOR Sale or Trade

ADDED TO MY WEBSTORE...

I finally found a few moments to catch up on some of the blogs.

I also was able to add a few cards to my inventory in my WEBSTORE .

If you are trying to complete a set, or collect a specific team or player
check out my sites, using the tabs at the top of my blog.

Please:  Use my web store and site as another source for your collecting needs.

I have over 900,000 cards and will not be able to list them all.  So if you need anything from the 80's and 90's: I can probably help.

SELL OR TRADE !!!!

Thanks for reading and shopping!!

Jeff
KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

Poor Old Baseball Card.......

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY everyone!!!

Where has the month gone???  Busy busy busy..

Dance recitals , Band concerts , end of school activities, Prom, Graduation coming up, school senior party I volunteered to help with (I only have to cover 10pm to midnight), and of coarse the GRADUATION party (open house) with a mile and a half long honey do list to finish before Friday 5/31.

But I did have to take time for a quick blog. 

Anthony Tarantino over at Poor Old Baseball Card (POBC) is running a month long contest to win a few POBCs.  All you need to do is leave a comment on his blog for a chance to win.

Here is what I won.....

1969 Topps Bob Clemente

Here are the remaining cards that you can have a chance to win:

1973 Willie Mays

1974 Hank Aaron
1975 Reggie Jackson

So if condition doesn’t matter, visit POBC blog for a chance to win.

It’s not always about that perfect Gem-Mint 10 … Is it?”

 

Its great to get these cards and wonder where they have been.  Some kid back in 1969, that was a Clemente fan/ Pirates fan, pulled this card from a wax pack and carried it in is pocket to show his friends. Awww.. Memories...back than condition didn't matter.  If they were cards you were keeping, they were thrown into a shoe box, binded together with a rubber band.  Or you might have stuck the unwanted card in the spokes of your bike for that clack clack clack sound.

 

THANKS ANTHONY!!!!   For bringing me back into collecting the NOT Gem Mint 10 Vintage cards.

 

Thanks for reading

Everyone have a safe Holiday

and

KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

 

Jeff

 

AWESOMENESS !!!!

Here is my recent ebay purchase....................

1955 Bowman
Russ Meyer (The Mad Monk)

Best Season was in 1949 with the Phillies.  He had 17 wins, 14 complete games.
See complete   STATS   
Meyer is one of only three pitchers in Major League history to have gone at least 23-straight road starts without a loss.  He went 24 consecutive road starts without a loss during the 1953 and 1954 seasons.
Is that Ebbets Field in the background?????



1955 Bowman
Art Houtteman

Youngest player in American League (1945–1946).  Best season 1950 with Tigers.
19 wins ( 3rd behind Bob Lemon 23W,  Vic Raschi 21W).  All Star in 1950.
Complete  STATS 


And now the card I was really going after (this was a lot purchase)

1955 Bowman
Eddie Waitkus (The Natural)

 He only played 11years.  His batting avg .285, 1214 hits, 373 RBIs.  Was an All Star in 1948 and 49.
Complete STATS

Here is why I wanted this card for my collection.  Read the top line of "My Biggest Thrill In Baseball" on the back of the card.....In 1949 I was shot by a deranged girl.
Author Bernard Malamud, who was not a baseball fan himself, took the basic elements of the Waitkus story and wove them along with various baseball legends (notably Joe Jackson) into a novel, a morality tale called The Natural. The book was published in 1952, and was eventually made into a film that was released in 1984.

Info found on Wikipedia and Baseball-Reference.com.

Thanks for reading..
Jeff
KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

Chapter 13 - Reorganization !!

NO not financially!!  My Collection !!  After reading many different blogs over the past few months,  I have been seriously thinking about my collection and reorganizing it, and getting back to the basics.

It started out simple.  Back in the early 70's, there was ONE card maker, Topps.  I lived in Kansas City, and was a big Royals fan since their beginning in 1969.  As a kid I collected anything Royals, along with cards of the stars of that era.  I actually kept most commons as well, but some got traded or put in the spokes of the bike (UGH!!).

1969

1975

Than,  in the late 70's, we moved to MN and I started to follow the Twins.  Still kept up with the Royals as much as possible, but there was no INTERNET back than.  So I started to add a few Twins to my collection.

Than the 80's came ......

Topps  -------                   Donruss     ------------  Fleer

OH MY !!!

Early  80's, just graduated college, had a good job, and SINGLE!!!  What I didn't spend elsewhere, was spend on cards.  LOTS of cards!!!  The collection was going nuts.  Everything and anything..

Than the one that really changed it all.....

       

1989 Upper Deck

  

The  90's came, and I met my "Gem Mint 10" wife and had a couple kids and the collection slowed to a crawl.  I would get some boxes and packs every now and than, but not like in the 80's.  More controllable.

Today, my buying is about the same.  I look for only the items I like.  Buy a few packs or boxes here and there.  Just enough to keep the collection as current as possible.

During all this time, the only part of my collection that stayed constant was my Rookie Trophy Cup collection.  See my first blog - The Heart and Soul of My Collection!!  

The Royals collection had fallen wayside, and the Twins collection really did not get started.  I did collect the star cards.

Right now, most everything collectible is stored in boxes waiting for me to build my collectors room (aka man cave!!)  

My wife has been telling me for over 10 years now to finish this room.  It is known as the Baseball room.

But like everything else, it takes time and $$$$$.

Baseball Room NOW!!!!!

But now I think it is time to reorganize and rethink my collection.  Move lots of cards out via selling or trading.  Keep only the ones I really want for my collection and update other parts.

AND BUILD MY SHRINE FOR MY COLLECTION!!!  I will keep you posted.

Thanks for reading..

Jeff

KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

How about that...

Remember Mel Allen  .. THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL .. and his phrase -- How About That ---
Here are a few of my How About That's so far for this season.

--20 yr old Bryce Harper is the youngest major leaguer to hit 2 homers in his team's opening game of a season..

--Micheal Cuddyer [EX-Twin :0(] makes a diving catch and throws runner out at 2nd - double play 2Apr13..

--YU DARVISH (hope to see him play in person) One batter shy of becoming 24th pitcher to throw a perfect game.  Gave up a hit back up the middle, through his legs, to Marwin Gonzalez of the Astros.
8.2 innings .. 111 pitches ... 14 Ks ... 8 ground outs .. 1 fly out ... 3Apr13

HOW ABOUT THAT......

Go to MLB.com to see videos...

Send me all your unwanted??? Harper and Darvish cards....  :0b
(right..like no one wants those)

If you saw or heard any How About That moments, leave a comment.

Thanks for reading...
Jeff
KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

ALOHA

Aloha bloggers,

Just taking a quick moment to say MAHALO to my followers.

Visiting Oahu with my "Gem mint 10" wife and kids.  Fabulous!!

Sure beats the snow and cold in MN!

I did put my store on vacation mode until I return.  Sorry for the inconvience if you went there
And saw nothing.  Will be back up later this week.

MAHALO
Jeff
KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

DID YOU KNOW...

Which HOF pitcher was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, on Oct 15, 1968 as the 49th pick in the 1968 expansion draft from the Chicago White Sox?  Than was traded by the Royals to the California Angels for Ed Kirkpatrick and Dennis Paepke, on Dec 12, 1968.

 

He was on the Royals roster for only 2 months, during the off season and never pitched an inning for them. 

 

BIGGER did you know;  Was there a card made listing him as a Royal???

 

Can you guess !!!!

                                                                               *

 

 

 

                                                                               *

 

 

                                                                               *

 

 

                                                                               *

 

 

 

                                                                               * 

 

 

 

                                                                               *

 

 

 

1969 Topps Stamp

 

 

 

Information found on Baseball Reference.com

 

Thanks For Reading....

Jeff

KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

 

 

Doc's 2013 MLB Tournament

Just entered Doc's 2013 MLB Tournament at the closet.  With only 2 teams left, and living in MN,
I went with the Twins.  Sounds like a fun tournament.  Last I saw, there was still one spot open.
The Mets.  If any one is interested in playing, visit Doc's blog .

Good Luck to all playing!

And Thanks for reading my blog
Jeff
KEEP ON COLLECTING!!

2013's

WOW!! Where does the time go. Can not believe its been over 2 weeks since I posted anything.
Need to try and do better.

Going to start with the blaster box of Topps 2013 that my "GEM MINT 10" wife bought me for my birthday last month. (I know, I'm behind the times)

Can never go wrong on getting a Babe Ruth card !!!!

OR this guy..... The next Mantle or Ruth (maybe someday playing in NY???)....Mike Trout !!!!!

Clement Rookie Card Patch !!!!!  SWEET !!!!

 
AND the OUT OF BOUNDS SP  MIKE TROUT !!!!!   Awesome !!!!!!!

I think I need my wife to pick out more packs for me.  Seem she has better luck than I do...

Now to the more up to date item... Topps Heritage. 
Just out and bought a blaster and 2 addtional packs this past wednesday.  Opened one pack so far..

 

Really nothing to exciting...but I did get two for my Rookie Trophy Cup collection ..YEAH !!!!
If I get anything exciting in the blaster, I will let you know. 

UPDATE!!!
YAWNNNNNNNN!!!!  After opening the blaster box, the only exciting card was the Ryan Braun
Refractor Chrome.  And I did get a couple more Rookie Trophy cards, but not the ones I was hoping for; Trout, Darvish, and Harper.  Maybe in the next packs.

Overall, I do like the Heritage, but not like the previous years.  I like the base set of 2013 a little better this year. 
Thanks for reading
KEEP ON COLLECTING!!
Jeff

Spring Training !!!!!!

YESSSSS !!!!!

All is right with the world once again;  Baseball's Spring Training is now in full swing.
The smell of the fresh mowed grass.  The gentle warm breeze blowing through your hair.
The crack of the bat, thump of the ball into the glove.  The sights and sounds of BASEBALL
are back.  (Than I turn and gaze out the window; 2 ft of snow, Temp at 15 with windchill making
it feel like -5.  More snow coming this weekend. AGGGGHHH!!!)

Counting down the days till April, hoping not to have to wear our snowmobile suits to Target Field
to watch a game.

Here is to the start of a New Season, and may your team have a great year.
(I will be pulling for the Twins and Royals, not to be bottom dwellers) (Also a closet Yankee fan)ssshhh!

Let me know your favorite team, and how you think they will do.
Become a follower, and email your address and you could get a PWE !!

PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!

Thanks for Reading and

KEEP ON COLLECTING

Jeff

The Heart and Soul of my Collection

  Out of all the subsets put out by Topps over the years, the All-Star Rookie Trophy Card set is the heart and soul of my collection.  Since 1959, Topps has selected players for their annual All-Star Rookie Team.  The team usually consists of a player from every position, along with 3 pitchers (right hander, left hander, and reliever).  With each card set  the following year, Topps would put a trophy symbol on that players card. 
  However, in 1974 and again in 1979 thru 1986, the trophy cup was left off.  During those years, a list of All-Star Rookies were still selected by Topps.  There were also some other deletions in other years in which there was a selection made, but Topps did not make any indication on the card.  This made for a very interesting collection for me.  Not only getting the cards with the trophy, but also making my set more complete by getting those players cards with out the trophy.

NOTABLE NAMES !

  As of 2012, this sub set contains 53 rookie cards (one since 1989), 16 Hall Of Famers (with future ones coming up), and out of those, 5 are their rookie cards.

  Here are a few names :  1960 Willie McCovey, 1963 Pete Rose, 1969 Johnny Bench, and 1982 and 1983 Cal Ripken (his cards did not have the trophy on them, and so far is the only player who made the list twice).

2005 Topps Rookie Cup card set     

  I was not happy when this set came out (at first), because I felt it would take away from the sub set in the regular issued set.  I was glad they did not continue it.  However; it did provide cards of some players that did not have the trophy on their card originally.  (Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Molitor, Strawberry, etc).

Than came the 50th Anniversary inserts in 2008.  

  The only cards, out of the above sets that I put in my collection are the cards of players who originally did not have the trophy on it.  By no means are they considered, to me, as part of the original collected sub set.

  Than, in 2010 and 2012, Topps made a few short prints of the trophy cards.  UGH !!  (still looking to get the 2010 Omir Santos without breaking the bank)

  Topps has started to include the trophy in their Heritage Set as well.  (I do collect those)

They also had them on some in the Lineage Set , Opening Day, and Team sets.  I only collect certain ones from those.

I have all the cards that have come out with the trophy on them since 1960.  Still missing a few from the 80's that did not have the trophy on it.  I will be putting those on my want list soon.  

  I would like to thank Baseball Reference for helping provide the complete list of players for each year.

It made it helpful on finding those cards without the trophy on them.

Thanks for reading and

KEEP ON COLLECTING !!

Jeff