Closing out 2024 and setting goals/plan for 2025.

FIRST THINGS FIRST. 5 followers made through all 4 weeks of giveaways. Each week I randomized the number of times as the week. That means week 4 was four times.

List Randomizer

There were 5 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. fuji
2. matt
3. tdk
4. ginko
5. rj

IP: 71.214.222.97
Timestamp: 2024-12-27 23:36:14 UTC

Don't use this service for giveaways! Use Multi-Round Giveaways instead 

You have randomized this list 4 times.

Mark wins. That is back to back weeks and to think he almost bailed out of week 3, but didn't. Hopefully, you bought that billion dollar winning mega millions ticket in California too :)

Now I do still have three more of those Ohtani's. I will probably have a couple of giveaways in the coming year with 2 of those.

We made it to the end of the year. The last few years I made "goals" or plans for this blog and my collection that were easily obtainable. A decade ago those "goals" would have been doable, but difficult. I decided (when I was up in Valdosta) to make them stress free goals and at the same time would take a concerted effort (not that that means much). 

Here are the 2024 goals that were set 1 year ago on the blog. Only 3 (used to do 5).

1) Add at least 1 T206 to my set build. ACCOMPLISHED. that goal years back was originally 5 then down to three, but not anymore. It goes without saying that this is a set that I will with 99.9% certainty NOT complete. My collection now has 47 (not including the Braves which I have all but one.

2) Cleanup the messes that I made November and December 2023. ACCOMPLISHED. Now I must say that I did two more boos this year that I am slowly but surely working to clean up as well.

3) Get some sets completed. ACCOMPLISHED, but still not satisfactory. I say so so I did get that 74' done, but as far as vintage big sets that was it. I did a couple of modern sets, and a couple of smaller vintage sets. 

I still give myself an "A" (I usually do).

Now onto the goals for 2025 and yes one of them actually pertains to this blog!

1) AS always add at least 1 T206 card to that set build.

2) Complete the PC update. This one is going to be a push. I have only completed through the C's. Technically I've done the A's twice, and plan on hitting the B's and C's again before resuming the D's. I spent most of December re-updating the A's and my Braves team sets mixed into the the 2 weeks of Christmas stuff. I am planning on re-updating the B's this coming week, and the C's the following. I have to do this before moving on as I've already added a couple thousand to just those 2. Can't move forward with those big stacks. Gonna get er done.

3) Actually, bring back two old themes on this blog. I've been sayign I was going to for 3 years now. I am doing it. Wacky Wednesdays and Shadow Shots are on the horizon. I also plan on trying to get the Franken-Fridays going too. No promises on that one, but I want to.

Now to finish up with this years numbers. Braves numbers that is.

As the writing of this post so far (there are several sets still to be released that are considered 2024 sets). Braves cards: 12,209. Last year there were a smidge under 15K. That will more than likely be closer to the end numbers once they are done with 2024 releases. 

I feel like I have gotten a quarter of them, but we all know better. Way too many parallels. I did get more "current" Braves this year than usual for sure. I certainly added more non current Braves this year than probably any other year. I have written down all of the numbers from every year. One day I'll post those up so you can see the changes along the way.

2024 brought several milestones for me and this blog. The top 4 highlights were:

1 million blog views

3000th OCT trades

3000th blog post.

30,000th unique Braves card in my collection.

Hard to top those so not expecting any major milestones although there is one in my eyesight (more on that when I accomplish it). 

I am looking forward to an awesome 2025. I want to thank everyone for stopping by and hope that you continue to do so. Heck, bring a friend or two, lol.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Incoming

 I've had several incoming treats this month although I didn't scan all of them. Here are some of the most recent ones to squeeze in while it is still 2024.

The cards above came courtesy of Crocodile Cards (as if you couldn't tell). A needed Braves cards and 2 for my 77' cloth set build. Thank you!

This vintage gem came from Jim Craig an OCT bud. This particular "non sports" set has 4 baseball cards and this is one of them. Jim lives in Delaware. A few years back I had an opportunity to attend a Braves game (great seats too) with my brother, a cousin, Jim, and another OCTer Boone. Good stuff.

These 2024 Topps cards were from the leader of OCT (old card traders) Len, and they closed out my Update set, and the last card for my Flagship set.

These 2024's came from Sport Lots, but were shipped direct to me rather than to my box which is my normal. I wanted them fast, and the shipping from this seller was the same either way. It only made sense to come straight to me.

The last cards for tonight came via TDK. I did already have that top Freddie card in my Braves team sets, but Freddie is a PC guy and now I have one for it. The obvious highlight is the Strider autograph numbered to just 50. Love it. It is a 2023 Topps Brooklyn Collection gold, and is only my 2nd Strider autograph. 

Thank you all, and I know there are many many more that came in and got put away before scanning. 

Be safe over the holiday. If you're going to indulge.....give up the keys. 

The end of the line: Last float in this parade.

Kind of wishing I had scanned the other dozen Ornaments from this years release, but hey they'll be there next year.

Wrapping up this year with the full set of this year's Holiday release.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone and Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas Ornaments

 Getting back to more of a traditional Christmas theme. Ornaments. Specifically, the Oversized die cut Topps Holiday Ornaments in order of their release. Bare in mind I did just get a few more in, but they didn't make into the scans.

Topps came out with the Holiday release back in 2016 with a total of 601 cards. 200 card set plus the metallic parallel, 51 relics and the rest were basically autographs. No Ornaments or variations.

In 2017: 691 cards, 66 relics and they added an additional parallel.

In 2018: 1030 cards, 66 relics, they added another parallel.

In 2019: 1214 cards 64 relics and Topps added the 3 levels of variations (100 cards)

In 2020: 1265 cards and this is when The over size die cut Ornaments (box toppers) came into play. Now I actually collect all of the relics, and variations along with the ornaments. I have to the complete set since the start. Each year has 20 Ornaments (basic ornaments- I say this because Topps has thrown a few different ones in for the 2024 release). 

In 2021: 1663 cards, added 20 cards to the base set and its 3 parallels or is it 4 now, 78 relics and more parallels.

In 2022: 1487 cards, 49 relics (but they added 3 relic parallels)

In 2023: 1999 cards, 76 relics.

This year: 3,736 cards.  

 

2020: I have 17/20.

2021: I have 8/20.

2022: I have 16/20.

2023: I have 14/20.

As for this year I now have 12 of the 20 Ornaments plus extras for PC's. I believe this was Topps' best year regarding the design of the Ornaments and the base cards. It was my favorite set of the year.

In the last couple of weeks I have added a dozen or so ornaments to my ComC inventory. I just got my Black Friday shipment in and will be using that to kick off the New Year.

The Christmas Parade continues: The Naughty List

 Starting off with this week's giveaway: The 2017 Topps Now Ohtani. 

The task this week will be the heavy lift of the month.

Those eligible are: RJ, GINKO, FUJI, TDK, AND DIAMOND JESTERS.

What you need to do (comment here upon completion by midnight FRIDAY (EST).

1) Appreciate what you already have. Seriously now. Be thankful for it.

2) Physically help another person that is NOT related to you. (this could be as simple as holding a door open at a store for a stranger), or donate can goods or clothing to a local shelter/real charity/thrift store. You have until Friday to get it done, so I believe in you- you can do it!`

Now a heads up, scantilly clad women below. Although I covered up the one card that showed a bit too much I am still advising that if you are not at least 18 years old PLEASE exit this page now.

Just to throw in some actual baseball cards that are Christmas related 1 or 2 more scans for you.

Okay one more scan.

Now that is a wrap, speaking of which I had better wrap those last 4 presents.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas: Misc. A short post

 Just a hodge podge of over-sized misc. Christmas cards. A short post to get you into the weekend. Real quick on this week's giveaway: Fuji wins. And to think he almost bowed out. Next week will be the 2017 Topps Now Ohtani. There are still 5 eligible readers for that one.

I'm still missing a couple cards from this set. Don't think I have actually every tried to find them, I should do that.

As promised a short post. Monday is going to be the Naughty list post, so be prepared.