All the way to my mailbox

Now I'm re-using title ideas.

I recently posted about a couple packages I received on the same day, but I also got another package a day or two later.  Marcus from all the way to the backstop contacted me and offered to send me cards for my 2014 Topps base set.  He even threw in the "Don't worry about sending anything in return" line (although I do have a smattering of things to send back).  If anybody out there has a stack of doubles and a want list, let me know.

In addition to all the 2014s he sent me, he also included some other gems.

I've sent off all the "Power Players" I've pulled, but this one I'm keeping.  I'm unwittingly creating a Richards rainbow (interestingly no base card):

There were some Trouts:

I had the red bullseye parallel of the "2012 AL ROY" card, but not the base card.  That 2012 Bowman looks an awful lot like his 2014 Topps base card.

There were some retro unis:

That Vaughn is yet another new to me set from the era when I wasn't collecting cards.  Ryan there is #3 in my Angels Frankenset.

But Marcus didn't just send me Angels.

Anthony Keith (what?  I said I read the backs of cards...including 80's Donruss) is one of my longest standing PCs.  These cards are pretty sharp looking with the green marble border.

But there were more Padres

Two stars I can cross of my 1979 want list.

And then there was this:

This thing is outstanding.  And totally new to me.  Ironic that a card from a haircutting franchise shows (almost) no actual hair on the card.  From the perforations I'm guessing that it was either attached to other players, or maybe more advertising?
(Update 3/5: I just now realized that it opens at the perforation.  Duh.)

Thanks again Marcus.

2 is better than 1

The only thing that's better than finding a mailer of cards in your mailbox is finding two mailers of cards in your mailbox.  And that's exactly what happened to me.  Along with the package I received from Mark of This Way to the Clubhouse was a package from Jeff over at 2x3 Heroes.  This one was kinda unexpected.  But I think I might have asked for it.  I comment on blogs all the time and forget all the stupid stuff I say (you bloggers out there know I do).

There were alot of cards in here, I don't even think I can do justice in a post.  But that won't stop me from posting anyway.

These will all go right into my new Topps base Angel binder.  Well, the 92 "winner" really doesn't fit, but I'll put it backwards in the pocket and it will go behind the base when I get one.  (No, I don't "double bag".  I like looking at backs way too much).  Is it just me, or is the 2010 design half finished?  Just a team color arc.  Then again, I like it.

Heritage is coming out soon.  I had recently formalized my decision to stick to Topps base and just collect as many Angels outside of that as possible.  But the 1965 design looks so good.  I might just have to pop for some packs (and hope to pull a Trout).

Despite Topps insistence on badgering us with parallel after parallel...... I still like them.  Can't help it.  I like the emerald parallels last year, and I like the Slayer parallels even more this year.

Has anyone tried to collect an entire documentary/biography type set that Upper Deck did?  That would be like 4800 cards, right?  It's a neat idea, but I can't imagine trying to do more than one team. 

Mid 80's oddball Fleer.  I'm liking that, its the first one I've got.  Only two other Angels in that set.  I think that Fleer Ultra design pretty sharp.  I've acquired a few of those, but these two are new to me.

Maybe its the logo/uni combination (my favorite ever for the Halos), but that 94 Donruss is a great looking card.  And so is Trumbo.  Hey MLB, give out another license!!  Seriously.

There were plenty of other cards in the package too.  And if that wasn't enough, Jeff included a note claiming that I picked a team with few cards.  Ummm, okay.  Seems like alot to me.  But he decided to throw in a bunch more of my 2014 Topps base needs.  Outstanding! (But I'm still mad at Topps for collation blah, blah, blah)

And then there was this thing.  I had seen these on the interwebs, but never in person.  I was actually rather surprised at the weight of this guy.  I had to scan it and blow up the picture to read the back though.  Just the tiniest writing.  And the day after I got it, it was poker night at my buddy's house.  I don't know if this is sacrilege to card collectors, but I took Jered with me as my card cover.  Needless to say, based on that session Mr. Weaver will continue to be my card cover.  I did well. 

I need to go looking for some Sox to send off.  Thanx again Jeff.

This Way to my Mailbox

It was a good week at the mailbox here in the land of junk wax.  I got a few bubble mailers, including two on Monday.  What a great way to start the week.  Baseball Cards!

The first mailer came from Mark over at This Way to the Clubhouse.  (I can almost guarantee I'm not the first blogger to use this post title).    I saw a couple cards on his blog and asked about them. 

He sent me the Slayer parallel (yup, that's what I'm calling them, it makes sense to me, click the link.  I'll wait) of Garret Richards' 2014 card.  These things look better in person.  I'll trade the slime parallels and mustard parallels for these any day. 

Mark also sent along the Super Veteran insert of Albert Pujols.  This is still the only insert I have any interest in this year.  And this one happens to be an Angel (1/2 Angel?), so that's a win.

That's all I was really expecting.  But Mark didn't stop there.  He sent along a big stack of my 2014 base set needs.  I won't bother scanning them because a) everybody has seen them recently and b) I'm still mad at Topps for their collation this year (real or perceived.  Doesn't matter).

But Mark didn't stop there.

I made a comment to him about Topps base cards from the time I was away from the hobby.  I've decided to put together an album with just Topps base set Angels from 1961 to the present.  These will go right in there.

As will these.  My cousin (not technically my cousin, but my aunt is his godmother, and I've literally known him since I was born.  So, close enough) went to high school with Matt Walbeck.  Sat behind him on the bench of the baseball team too.

And parallels, sort of.  The emerald green from last year.  And I almost think of Opening Day as a parallel of the base set.  I mean they're kinda redundant.  But its an Angel, so I'm all for it.

Thanks again Mark.

Infield, Outfield. Same thing

Dustin Ackley is a second baseman.

See?  Says so right there on the front.

Says so on the back too:

Right there at the top.  I'll blow it up for you.

Then again.....

Forgive me if someone has pointed this out already.  I just noticed it.
 

More Progress and a bonus

I mentioned it recently, but I still find it odd that a self professed set builder like me had sets from the junk wax era that weren't complete.  Then again, most of my sets from the 80's are 60-80% complete so maybe its not ironic. 

At any rate, Bert from Swing and A Pop-Up decided to further along some set building for me.

That Tanana is another card that I actually had in a PC, so its nice to get one into my set.  I remember how big a deal the Leiter error was at the time.

Add the Lind card to the list "I didn't have that?".  Bert also sent along a Sammy Sosa card from 1990 Topps.  I'm now only one card from completing each set (along with a variation).  Nice airbrushing on the Landrum card.  Its funny how that was kinda the norm in the 80's (mostly Traded sets, but base at times too), compared to the photoshopping we get nowadays. 

As I said, I've always considered myself a set builder.  But I can see my focus shifting (hmmmm, future post?).  I just don't see the point in building any sets after say...1992 or so.  Just way too much out there to choose from.  As a result, I've become much more of an Angel collector.  And to that end, Nick dropped a PWE on me the other day (this is the "bonus" part)

The Upper Deck icons card is a pretty sharp looking card.  I remember my cousin having Kellog's cards when I was young.  And I've seen and envied plenty of them in the blogosphere.  But I've never had one.  Until now. 

Thanks to both of you generous bloggers.

Random Carboard Fascination

I've seen many blog posts about upcoming card shows, or card show recaps.  I've only been to one card show in my life.  It must have been in 1987, because we moved out of the area in early 1988.

I remember going with my step-brothers, but I don't remember what I bought.  Except that I bought the 1987 Fleer Update set.  I've always kinda like the boxed Traded sets from Topps, although I've only got 1985-1990.  But the 1987 set is the only Fleer I ever acquired.

The most memorable card in the set for me was this:

I was immediately drawn to this card.  I had never seen two pictures of the same player on the same card in two different uniforms.  I later learned about the 1983 Fleer Joel Youngblood, but this card was unique to me at the time.  I still don't know of any others off hand.  (I wonder if Nick has this in his short term stops mini collection?)

Kevin Mitchell had come up with the New York Mets briefly in 1984, then spent 1986 as their fourth outfielder.  He was traded in the offseason in an eight player trade to the San Diego Padres in a deal that sent Kevin McReynolds to the Big Apple.   But it only took until July for the Padres to flip him to the San Francisco Giants in a seven player deal. 

Mitchell was from San Diego, and if I'm not mistaken the reason the Padres traded him away was that he had gotten involved with the wrong types of people back in his hometown.

But the two trades induced Fleer to commemorate them with the double card.  Topps included Mitchell in its Traded set, but only as a Giant.  In fact, the only other Padre cards of Mitchell are in the 1987 Donruss Opening Day set and in a set I've never heard of - 1987 Sportflics Team Preview.

Ironic Progress

1986 was my first year of mass purchasing baseball cards.  I hand collated a Topps set, and later acquired my step-brother's collection which included darn near another set.  (I have more doubles of these than I want to admit)

1987 was a repeat of 1986.  Buying boxes of Topps at Price Club can really boost a set.

I almost hand collated a 1989 Topps set, then somewhere along the way acquired a factory set.  I actually don't remember where I got it.  Maybe my mass Craig's list deal?  (Seriously, anybody who needs some of these, they're yours.  Just take them)

I'm only 2 cards away from completing the 1990 Topps set, although to be honest I've gotten help with that set in recent years.  I was buying more Fleer that year for some reason.

But for whatever reason, I never really finished off my 1988 set.   I remember trying to trade with a neighbor kid, but until recently I was only at about 2/3 of the set.  Fellow Angel collector Tom decided to help me out.  Tom has sent me many Angels in the past, but he went all set builder on me this time:

I actually have that Ryan there, but he's one of my main PCs, so the card is in that binder.

Tony Gwynn there is in my Gwynn PC too.  Funny thing about some of these cards.  I'd swear I had that Nixon and Niedenfuer.  The Wine up there too.  But I didn't.

Add Nokes to the list of "I didn't have that card?  Really?"  I know I've seen it many times.  (Who am I kidding?  We have all seen these many times.  That's why it's junk wax)

There was two more cards for a total of 29, which was about 2/3 of my list.  I only need 14 more.  Problem is, what the heck do I send Tom?  He has every Angel card I do I'm sure.  Hopefully I can figure something out.

Thanks again Tom.