Heh heh heh

 The year is starting off okay..... so far anyways. Two weeks in and I have done pretty good (as far as cards go). Different story in the non card world. I am thinking that one of the new workers has Covid. I sent her to get tested yesterday as her grandchildren's test came back positive yesterday afternoon. They told her she would have to make an appointment on line (where they are scheduling 3 days out). This is nuts for me trying to keep my uncle safe and me too. By the time she gets a test, then waits on the results she will be over it. She is coughing and has a runny nose. I am doing most (99%) of her work so that she does not get close to my uncle. Mainly staying 10+ feet away, and just watching him so that I can do some work outside. Scary. Also, but on a better note, looks like I am getting real close to the foreclosure I am handling for my uncle on a property he holds the note on in North Carolina. Prayers appreciated on the Covid thing and the foreclosure moving quickly. (I've been trying to foreclose for 5 years). 

Now let's get to some baseball cards.

I went to the Jax. card show last weekend. I picked these 3 cards up for a total of $10.00.  

But, I made two BIG deals at show. But first, a few other side deals.

I am hoping that the Bench is an upgrade. I'll find out soon when I check the binder out. 

Okay, it is not perfect. Miscut not trimmed. This addition gets to me needing just one more rookie #614. Not a biggie either. I might even have in on order somewhere.

Here is the back of the Schmidt rookie. Alright, and some guy named Ron Cey too.

Now let's talk about the two Big deals.

Yep, dime boxes. There must have been 50+ at the show last weekend. There were also quarter boxes too. Maybe 2 dozen with nearly half of them vintage.  So I made a deal on 3 of the quarter boxes (non vintage) because I did not want to sit there and go through them with tons of people (literally) constantly at this dealers tables. I made a deal on 3 monster boxes of them. I went higher than normal for me because of the content of these cards. LOTS of current sets and all super stars, rookies, inserts and parallels. More on those in another post, but basically the deal was a nickel a piece.

The 2nd deal was on dime boxes. One dealer (not the one above) cleared out enough for me to have a seat and stay away from others while I searched. He told me to fill up a 800 count box and it would only be $20.00. I started digging. I got through two monster boxes and already pulled 3 800 count boxes worth. He had 1 other customer at the time and they day was nearly over. I waited when the other guy finished. I made my move. 7 monsters boxes. A penny a piece. I wound up in total bringing home 25,000 baseball cards. I have a lot of work ahead of me. I have gone through and sorted the 3 nickel boxes. I've scanned some lots more to scan though. I also went through the 3 800 count penny boxes I had already pulled. I scanned some of those with the nickel cards. Lots more to scan there too. Plus, I need to go through those 7 boxes. For the foreseeable future I will posting penny and nickel cards.

Here are those 3 boxes I filled by just going through 2 monster boxes (and I was leaving cards as I went through). I will be busy getting this stuff posted, but I'll get it done. I am also going to a card show back home on the 22nd. There, I should pretty much be sticking to vintage. Speaking of vintage cards. I did grab a few out of a quarter box. I only sparingly looked through 1. 

These 8 were all set build needs. I will have to upgrade that 71' and one of the 72's. I'm okay with the dirty Washington variation. I might try to "clean" it.  some of those 72's are high numbers.

How could I not spend a quarter on this.

And this pair is earmarked for Mark. I couldn't leave them sitting in the box. I even grabbed a second one of Harridge for one of my "one day Franken-Sets".

Have a great night.

Wacky Wednesday

 Okay, I know that I said I'd be starting the 1959 Wacky Plaks today. I changed my mind. Instead I will posting the complete run (3 years 73-75) of the Wonder Bread Wacky Packages. 

If you're interested in the back story on these go here.  Wonder Bread Wackys

Series 2 begins with Gadzooka.

Series 3 starts with flopp.

That covers the set. See ya.

How bout dem DAWGS!

 If'n my Gators can't get it done, then I'm jest giddy over the DAWGS winning the National Championship.

I had planned on posting this a couple of weeks ago, but you know it happens. The 2021 HOF class hit me in a odd way. Happy for all of them.

After a quick run through my dupes this is all I could find for Minnie. I'll do something about that. I didn't have many for the others....Except for.....

I figured Kaat would one day make it, so he was scattered in my "future" boxes.

\

Congrats to all of the inductees. Sometime this year I'll be updating my "PCers" then they can have a proper posting.

1974 Kellogg's

 Yep, 1974 Kellogg's.  

All of these are curled and many if not most have some cracks. None are super bad. I just don't like cracks on my Kellogg's.

I grabbed this near set off of Ebay recently.

It worked out as these combined with the ones I already owned gets me real close to finishing this set.

I am needs these: 3 (joe coleman), 6 (jim palmer), 7 (santo) cubs on back, 9 (luzinski), 10 (bell) runs 134,

34 (wood) 959 k's, 46 (blylevin).

Normally I don't want any cracks, and I didn't know any of these did, the description said light curl. HA, it was big time curl. So, overall I'm not too pleased. I do have some doubles from this lot that are not going into my PC binders (7).

Waiting

 I have been waiting a long time to get these cards. Since Topps started the "Team" sets, I try to pick up 2 sets each year. 1 to keep sealed in it's hanger package and the other to open for the team/PC sets. For the longest time, I could not find, let alone buy ANY for the 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2012 team sets. Yes, I know the cards are for the most part the same as the Flagship cards. But they are different in the numbering on the back, so they are different and for my Braves team sets I need them, want them, and must have them. With that said I have obtained 2 of the years in opened form. Almost 2 that is.

You've seen the cards before, so  only showing you these two from the 2010 set. They are both numbered ATL16. The Heyward is a variation (better seen on the back).

As you can see the non coated Heyward back compared the Lowe. Heyward also has the same Topps code as the Flagship whereas the rest do not. Now, the let down is that I still need card #1 (ATL1). 

Here we (I) have the complete team set from 2012. Finally, Now just get the 2010 card 1, the complete 2006, and 2011. If you got them send them to me please.

Have a great weekend.

R.I.P. Sydney Poitier

The bird flies in.

 I've had a package to send to night owl for awhile. It's just laying there addressed and everything. Low and behold Greg beat me to the punch. I got a mailer from him the other day.

Greg dropped these 1970 Laughlin's on me for my set build. Always appreciated.

He also dropped a bunch of 06/07 Topps Mickey Mantle Home Run History cards on me. There is just so many that I scanned one each of the different Mantle photos. Greg hit me with 33 new ones to the collection and 4 dupes. He also sent me a Braves need and team set killer for the 2006 UD team set and two set build needs for UD as well.

Thank Greg, one of these days I need to go the PO. Heck I still got those other Dodger misc. things to get out to you also. (In my defense I've had a HUGE project going on here with my Uncle's yard. Still have months of work to get it done before Spring).

Wacky Wednesday (non baseball).

Let's start tonight off with this tidbit of info.

2021 Braves cards released (so far) still more to come: 16, 271. compare that wacky number to 

2020 Braves: 12, 216

2019 Braves: 13, 451

2018 Braves: 11, 102

2017 Braves: 8,611

I think Topps was seeing the future and was squeezing every last drop out of their run.  

Okay, let's get his party started with some "Wacky" cards. Actually, Topps called these Wacky Ads way back in 1969. I had a few already and recently picked some more up off Ebay. Here are the recent additions. Well, I thought I already had a few. If I do they are probably back home in Florida and not listed on my excel sheets.

These are slightly smaller than a "normal" size post card. Just slightlylike a quarter of an inch either way. 

I think that I've posted about these before and that I believe these were the forerunner to the Wacky Packages sort of. I'll explain later.

These 6 newbies bring me to a total of 6, lol. I can't count what I don't check off my excel sheets. Anyways, the set consists of 36 ads/cards.  

Topps also released some Wacky Packages that were called punch outs or die cuts even earlier in 1967. I have one of those (punched out). It was a release of  originally 44 die cuts, that due to cease and desist orders there are an additional 12 die cut stickers. I say stickers because you were supposed to lick and stick them. It didn't work well which is why the peel and stick Wacky Packages came about 6 years later, first run were cloth and they didn't work well either. In any case the 67' release are the same as the Series 1 in 1973 cloth and normal. There were 14 titles not repeated though for the obvious reason (cease & desist orders). One of those orders was Morton (Moron) Salt, which according to data in 2008 was still fighting. Not sure where it stands now. 

Back to the 1969 Ads, they too had a forerunner. Yep, ten years earlier (1959) Topps put out an 88 card set called Wacky Plaks (noted clearly on the backs). Even smaller than the 69's Ads. They are more inline with the old Tall Boy basketball cards in size except these were horizontal. I definitely posted a few of these before, maybe last year. I just picked up 55 cards from that set to go with the few I had.  There was also a reprint set of the Plaks in 1965 in Canada same titles just different numbering, but these were called Kookie Plaks )also noted on back). Easy to identify the two from each other. Then in 1982 Scanlen's in Australia reprinted the Wacky Plaks but only 84 of them. They clearly state Scanlen's on the back. I recently picked up the entire Scanlen set and should have them in a few weeks. They are coming from down under.

For the next few weeks I'll be showing some of the 1959 Plaks. I think I can squeeze 3 posts out of them. I may just do two, we'll see. Anyway, when the Scanlen's come in, I'll just be posting one of the backs so that you can see the difference. Obviously the fronts are the same on all three printings.

Have a great night.

Just one

 Just one card today. I mentioned this card the other day and that it was on it's way. Here it is!

Rest assured I have already freed this card from its prison. It is now resting in my T206 binder whereas I have my Braves on the front page, then the rest of what I have in alphabetical order.

Have you ever?

 How many times have you read a blog and seen that the subject matter was something you planned on posting? This happens quite often for me. Greg over at Night Owl Cards did it to me just yesterday. It isn't the first time he has done such a thing. It is almost like we share a brain sometimes. We have shared some of the rough spots in life and we are just a year apart, and we both are team collectors and sort of set builders. But with that said, what was N.O. thinking yesterday about being scatter brained? He certainly has one of the most thought out blogs around. Unlike this one. Greg does okay. Now, me.... that is a whole different story. Like Greg, I have been collecting since the mid 70's. Changing up from time to time just about everything. That is until six or seven years ago. 

 My collection is pretty much growing in the same direction as I should have kept all along, but our brains get these ideas and off we go. No, I am not changing up my collection, at least not intentionally. This weekend, Saturday to be specific I was working on those "hobby goals" by clearing up some of those "stacks" of cards I have all over the place. I started with the "set build" cards that needed placed in their binders. Long story short (because this was just going to be a note and note an actual story) I still have the intentional post to get to), I was kicking butt, I moved about 500 cards from the set build stacks to another room knocking down what I was seeing everyday in those specific stacks in half. I know that doesn't get it done, but those were the Upper Deck and Pacific Brands that I haven't done much with and will be the last ones I do. I don't have room here to have binders of cards at my finger tips. I'm okay with shifting them to the other room. The other half I was knocking them out left and right until I hit a the 1965 Topps cards. (Here is the short part). I had TWO, different 65' binders. What, how, when did this happen? I have no idea, because I've been working on those binders for 6 or 7 years. Never noticed or realized this before Saturday. Now, that is scatter brained and is a doozy. Stopped what I was doing and fixed the issue. But, that wasn't the only hiccup Saturday. Now, I can not find my 1958 Topps binder. Nowhere to be found. No clue, those are two buig doozies to contend with. 

Now let's get to the scheduled post.

Picked this Pache up on Ebay for $15.00.

Here we have the final the very last Topps Trophy card needed. I now have the completed run. 

Brand New Year It's 2022!

 Here's to hoping that 2022 is better than last. Today's post will be covering last years hobby goals as well as this years.

2021 goals:

1) Take all of the completed sets (close to 50) in binders along with the two monster boxes of PC guys that I've listed and needed and the dozen or so mini boxes of misc. cards back home to Ocala.

This should have been an easy A+, but no. It was a complete failure. Totally blew it, but with good reason. I didn't make many trips back home last year, usually it was a "have to go" trip down and back in the same day. Time was limited, may not have had someone here to care for my Uncle, as well as no where left in my bedroom to drop another 50 binders. It is bad enough that my daughter uses my bathroom, but also allows my grandson in my room... 2 year old and cards..... not good.  Still yet F.

2) Finish/complete sets that are really close to being done. 

Again should have been an easy A. I did complete some sets including the most recent 1974 Topps set which I am proud of. Still not enough do give myself an A. I give me a C.

3) Add at least 1 T206 card.

This has been a go to goal each year for a while now. I did add one Brave that just came in 2 days ago. I won't be using this one for a goal this year because I also bought another card 2 days ago and it isn't here yet but will be a few days so it can't really claim that for a legitimate goal. A+

Combined with the Braves I just bought I am now down to just two more Braves. Ferguson and Bowerman.

4) Start working to organize the 5 Franken-Sets that I have been collecting for many years. 

I was hoping to get them properly listed in excel work sheets and then into binders. Complete failure for the same reasons or excuses as goal 1. F.

5) Stay away from current retail blasters other than the Holiday Mega boxes.

I did buy some this past year, but not too many just something so I could rip. I also bought my first ever current Hobby boxes (from Topps.... Update) B.

There you have it One A, one B, one C, and two F's. I am disappointed in myself. Although 2021 sucked overall (for many reasons) I am not one to pass the buck. I'll have to do better in 2022.

2022 Goals:

1) Add at least 3 T206 cards. Hey, I upped the count. 

2) Get those binders and boxes to Ocala. let's see if I can make this the A+ it should have been.

3) Might as well attempt the Franken-Sets again. I hope to at least get them somewhat organized so that I can list them in excel and binder them too at some point. This does mean digging out the boxes and binders back home and bring them here to Valdosta.

4) Stay away from current retail blasters other than the Holiday Mega boxes, if they are released. 

5) Clear away the "stacks" of cards I have sitting all over the place here. I need to put the ones for set builds in those binders. I need to not stack up cards for other people. Meaning.... get a few cards and mail them right away. This is going to take a serious commitment both to clear them away and NOT make any more stacks. Seriously, I have over 100 stacks laying around.

BONUS

6) Hit enough posts this year to make the BIG 2,500th post. I am like 209 away, and that seems to be about my average, so who knows could be a nice ending to what I hope is a great year.

Okay, there you have it. I hope everyone's first day of the year is/was a good...no a great one.

Happy New Year's and Black Friday part 3

 Let's get the greeting out of the way. Happy New' Year's! May the 2022 be a blessed year for all of us. With that said, if you should partake in the festivities on this Friday night remember AAA offers a free ride and tow (10 miles or less) whether you're a member or not. They call it there "Tow to Go" . 1-855-286-9246. They limit this program to 1 person per vehicle, and a mask must be worn.....the person not the car has to wear the mask. Now go have fun, be safe and put that number in your phone now.

Now for the wrap up tp the Black Friday haul and and end to this year. AHH.

Cheap autos and relics, even the Smoltz and the Chipper, which the black hat and shirt look way off.

Only the Horner card went over $3.00, it was $3.42. The Wood, Heyward, and Minter were steals.

Miller has a nice signature. Shame he never panned out for everyone. Hope that the Pirates get him right (his 5th team). He had/has so much potential that just never materialized. 

The top row are all SP/variations. We have another Atomic, a few more Hank's, and some Finest.

I was very happy to scoop up all of the "black" parallels numbered to 25 each for an average cost of $2.00. HOFer at that price, make it a Brave, no brainer for me.

Another trio of low numbered Smoltz cards.

I have nearly completed this team set retro-fractors and base. I think I may only need a couple of base cards.

The Chipper is the Platinum Foil parallel. The Heyward looks great sitting in the middle.

It was nice crossing off all of these needed Braves cards from the want lists.

Lots to gander at here. The pair of Crown Royale Smoltz cards. Mathews (numbered 25/25, the Spahn, Freddie DK parallel, the weird looking Smoltz on the bottom is the Aqua TEST proof, and the Dominator is a great looking card too. That leaves the Asia and Orange Bowman's, not bad either.

Finally we can call this year and end. I will have or at least should have my year end/22 goals up tomorrow. One more time to acknowledge the loss of Betty White today. RIP.

Again, be safe everyone.

R.I.P. Betty White

 We lost Betty White today, just 17 days shy of her 100th birthday. Funny lady. RIP.