tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39066448279683245842024-02-20T20:23:03.724-06:00Potch Wheeler and The Cardboard HeroesLifelong Reds fan. Cubs are in my family's blood. Regularly seen at Fort Wayne TinCaps games. Collect vintage but the new stuff often draws me in too. Closet autograph collector.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-37944956057130398542015-01-15T12:37:00.000-06:002015-01-15T12:37:03.632-06:00Winker to Spare? Anyone?Hi there friends. I hate for this to be my sole reason for posting at this point, but here's my situation. I'm taking my daughter - I hope - to see a couple of Reds players next Thursday when they send some team reps out on the road in the Ohio/Indiana area to meet fans. <br /><br />If anyone has a spare Jesse Winker card (or possibly a spare Alex Blandino card - although likely we'll only see Winker), please let me know. Just base cards - chrome not necessary due to being poor for autos. <br /><br />I'd like to either pay for the card(s) by PayPal if possible or maybe we can work out a trade if you'd rather. Thanks everyone.<br />
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I haven't blogged in a long time but I'm still collecting. I'm almost exclusively a vintage guy but my daughter has really gotten into collecting the past six months or so - spurred by being able to meet many of the local A ball players - and getting some autos on specific game days. She's in early grade school but has gone to several card shows with me in recent months and we pick up some new stuff from time to time to open together. Been a lot of fun.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-43817123511067281432014-07-14T20:38:00.004-05:002014-07-14T20:38:39.314-05:00Just Met a Former Big LeaguerHey there!<br /><br />I'm almost embarrassed to pop in here every two months or so, which seems to be the norm for the past year-plus, after I once fed this blog so regularly. I've never even updated you all on whether I went ahead and met Denny McLain a few months back at a local card show. <br /><br />I did indeed and he signed a couple of things for me - including a ball on which he added umpteen inscriptions just for the heck of it. Despite having one of the more horrifically entertaining Wikipedia pages of all past professional players, Mr. McLain was a friendly, chatty man that day. I promise to post a photo of what he signed in a post soon.<br />
<br />Tonight I'm writing because I got to chat with another old timer. This one not as old as Denny Mac but in my estimation he is definitely an MLB near-great. <br /><br />Who was it?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUK8gpR5QKSJrI_xgDryxfVS3U_JB0IlPYRDUTUs5COwKRElNEPFj647KxxeEatwxT-E1hmgiWOSQiq5WSZ_tnuBVIrQwDxLGwJczX-i-M_SJUuw4VeYnwa5est5QjcDJxSYvhMIgsfOLA/s1600/76VadaPinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUK8gpR5QKSJrI_xgDryxfVS3U_JB0IlPYRDUTUs5COwKRElNEPFj647KxxeEatwxT-E1hmgiWOSQiq5WSZ_tnuBVIrQwDxLGwJczX-i-M_SJUuw4VeYnwa5est5QjcDJxSYvhMIgsfOLA/s1600/76VadaPinson.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, clearly it was not this man. But the player did appear in this set. By the way, how cool was Vada Pinson?</td></tr>
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<br />The former player I met appeared in MLB games in parts of the '60s and '90s - along with the two decades in between. He was not a pitcher. Those are my hints for now. Leave one guess in the comments and if nobody guesses correctly, I'll add a comment with another hint.<br /><br />I don't have any great prize. I just thought this would be fun. That said, I will do my best to send you some cards of a team you collect or possibly from a set you're collecting (but those options are likely limited to 1982, 1984, 1985 Topps, 2011 Topps Chrome, 2014 Heritage and other 2011-ish sets). For the past two years, some random new pack purchases and 2014 Heritage notwithstanding, I'm strictly a vintage guy.<br /><br />Still, I'll work to put a little something together.<br /><br />By the way, I did bring some cards of this player along with me tonight as I had several from my youth collection on hand. I ended up handing four of them (three from 1976 Topps; one from 1979 Topps) to a family behind me (in the line of 12 total people) as the kids didn't have anything to get signed but toy sunglasses! They and the mom were so happy. Made my day. <br /><br />The cards I kept are likely going to me, my daughter, my nephew and (in a few years) my young grand-nephew. <br /><br />I should add that the former player was cordial enough and he was happy to sign all of my cards. He signed one ball as well and I had someone snap a pic of me and him on my iPhone. I'll share that evidence in an upcoming post.<br /><br />I'm so mysterious tonight. It's somewhat annoying, I know.<br />
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<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-57765236396166585742014-03-06T15:10:00.001-06:002014-03-06T15:10:17.761-06:00The Search for a Vintage Denny('s): Part II<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyoFhnK2xuwPOD2nnkXzmEy07bTZargNP7GcKbmbyNXxiOWUtx17yviQ3pdVIpbRH5sp8JKMOqSCpc_fMz0mi0qSN_Fic0FLhvkFLBFshNv87ieGC_IKgdDzG1J7W9aCvZ0n3bJWLES2c/s1600/vintagedennys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOyoFhnK2xuwPOD2nnkXzmEy07bTZargNP7GcKbmbyNXxiOWUtx17yviQ3pdVIpbRH5sp8JKMOqSCpc_fMz0mi0qSN_Fic0FLhvkFLBFshNv87ieGC_IKgdDzG1J7W9aCvZ0n3bJWLES2c/s1600/vintagedennys.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage Denny('s)</td></tr>
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Denny McLain is coming to town in 10 days and here I am without a nice card. <br /><br />While I'm normally not an autograph guy, he'll be at the small card show that I normally attend and so I practically have no choice but to fork over the relatively-small-for-the-game's-last-30-game-winner fee of $15. It should be interesting. By all accounts (from the fellas at the last show) it's going to be a mob. We'll see. <br /><br />I'd love a nice condition (no creases, rounded corners, etc.) '65 or '69 - or, heck, maybe even a great '68. I'll do everything possible to make it worth your while. If I don't hear from anyone soon, I'll go the eBay route by tomorrow. I have one McLain but it's not in too good of shape.<br /><br />For possible trade, I have a decent, growing collection of nice vintage star cards. I'm starting to catalogue them now. It sure would have been nice if I had completed that project so you could take a look and claim something ahead of time. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Denny McLain.</td></tr>
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The protocol for this signing is unclear. I think I need to present
something for him to sign and then return to the back of the line if I
want something else. If that's the case, and because I have a family
obligation, I'll surely only have time to get one card signed. If it's
something different, I'll try to get more than one signed. I'd say my
limit due to cost would be two.<br />
<br />The catch to this post is I really need the McLain in mail right away. Thanks for reading.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-75923656192757413362014-03-01T21:10:00.000-06:002014-03-01T21:10:48.580-06:00Denny's Grand SlammerWell, here I am again.<br /><br />While I've neglected this blog for far too long, I've been fully engaged for many months now in building my vintage (1975 and earlier) Reds and Cubs - along with select vintage stars and other vintage cards I come across that I love. I'm much more at peace with my hobby direction since I zeroed in on the cards I truly love. That said, I do still pluck a few new Reds, Tigers and Cubs while at the shows.<br />
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I'm planning to share much more about where I'm going with the hobby (and actually include scans!) very soon. Hopefully I'll be able to ramp up trading too.<br /><br />
But for now (and I'm burying the lede here) I'm writing to see if anyone happens to have any Denny McLain (Tigers only) cards from his playing days. Anyone? <br /><br />For one, I don't have any McLains. Secondly, he'll be attending a local card show in two weeks. While it's possible I'll be out of town when he's in town, I'd like to have a card handy just in case.<br />
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I'm looking for a sharp card or two. No creases or soft corners and so forth.<br /><br />I'm not an auto-seeker normally other than the year I attended The National, when I picked up a few, but with him set to be five miles away, and the price low, I figured I might go for it if I can.<br /><br />The literature states one auto per person - which means I probably cannot thank you by buying an auto for you too. I will, however, work to send you nice cards from your want lists and/or will work with you to understand what you're interested in. <br /><br />The catch is I really need the McLain(s) right away. Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-56764845542641390802013-07-24T13:50:00.001-05:002013-07-24T13:50:35.565-05:00Trade with Brad's BlogI have a confession. Several months ago, before life got crazy again, I had a couple of trades in the works. I believe I fulfilled my ends of all of them but I have a nagging feeling that somehow one got past me. <br />
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If anyone reading this is quietly fuming over the ne'er-do-well Potch leaving cards on the table (figuratively) then please, by all means, leave a nasty comment here. I do not want to be that guy! <br />
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Trading is the best part of my return to this hobby. I've been working on wrapping up some sets and trading has helped very much. I haven't even written much about my refined collection goals focusing on Reds, Cubs and select Tigers vintage - so thus far my progress with those goals has come via card shows exclusively.<br />
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There are other goals, of course, and then there are goals I didn't even know I had. I recently completed a trade with Brad of the fine blog, <a href="http://bradsphilliesblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Brad's Blog</a>. I gathered up a couple of relics in his wheelhouse, and a couple of autos I won some 18 months ago in a Wicked Ortega contest and sent them his way - along with assorted other cards and a grouping of Frank Thomas cards that he didn't have for his super Big Hurt collection.<br />
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In return, I received these two awesome autos:<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvWFsfZTLTvSCLO6Rfas0cgvfFTZYn50_ofZgOFEnT-HAER6JtGDkvBm1tZpAjuTMd6OgwTuFWD1xLZXfSkBzBYiTbau9SeWik6n88hwk31ibIgBnRM5w78scOBgB2gS1AoYUjYazV5fq/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvWFsfZTLTvSCLO6Rfas0cgvfFTZYn50_ofZgOFEnT-HAER6JtGDkvBm1tZpAjuTMd6OgwTuFWD1xLZXfSkBzBYiTbau9SeWik6n88hwk31ibIgBnRM5w78scOBgB2gS1AoYUjYazV5fq/s400/IMG_0002.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkcwy6a8-TgQSwIHkqf1IXiVVLUG-_H-kUyFycZf6lrUyl_QDiuB7zH-dCmcNMWoutbuwFqf51cQtkB5gppYwb8RmxcPtbRKMq7n5rVMnGZdrtWRsamKvskfJCW66SnQtZCQ0HN-4ol0E/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkcwy6a8-TgQSwIHkqf1IXiVVLUG-_H-kUyFycZf6lrUyl_QDiuB7zH-dCmcNMWoutbuwFqf51cQtkB5gppYwb8RmxcPtbRKMq7n5rVMnGZdrtWRsamKvskfJCW66SnQtZCQ0HN-4ol0E/s400/IMG_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea how this happened.</td></tr>
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I neither had an Aroldis Chapman card auto nor a George Foster card auto, even though I by chance <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2012/05/pt-2-hey-look-real-life-cardboard-hero.html" target="_blank">ran into Mr. Foster</a> a year or so ago. <br /><br />
I also got this card that I didn't know existed. I'm not sure what that swatch is from. Hopefully not boxer shorts. <br />
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Bobby Knight's legend has dimmed considerably in Indiana and the circles in which I run, but he's still Bobby Knight and I'm an Indiana University graduate. I ran into Knight once while visiting Assembly Hall on a random day back in the early '90s.<br />
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Brad threw in some nice recent Reds I needed, including this lovely Gypsy Queen frame of the legendary catcher and popinjay Johnny Bench. <br />
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Incidentally, anyone out there who has a GQ frame of anyone, any year, should feel free to let me know.<br />
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And, of course, that goes for autographs of Reds. I will labor to make a nice trade with you.<br />
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Thanks again for the trade, Brad.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-59521783021895526392013-07-23T15:19:00.000-05:002013-07-23T15:19:32.516-05:00Me, Mini-Me and the RedsUsually the hum of living - work, playing with our daughter, relaxing, yard work, streaming Netflix late at night, putting food on the table - keeps me happy and pushing forward to the next day. <br /><br />Other times, the reality of how fast life is going hits me hard. I might still feel like the fresh-faced 9-year-old taking in a game at Riverfront Stadium in the summer of '78; then I get a notice that some old classmates are meeting in my hometown for a 27-year class reunion. Yeah, 27. Odd, huh? <br /><br />Wasn't it just a few months ago when I watched the Big Red Machine take on the Dodgers in a twi-night doubleheader - with Bench, Morgan, Rose, the Daveys (Concepcion and Lopes), Garvey, Penguin and others holding court? <br /><br />Not according to the face in my mirror. Not mine, I have a life-size present-day Cesar Geronimo photo taped on the wall opposite my mirror. <br />
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Thankfully, my daughter, six years old next week, helps keep me feeling young (when she's not making me feel much older than my 44 years, 11 months with the piggy back rides, "bucking bronco" game and ongoing shoulder carrying requests). <br /><br />She likes to tease me about my baseball cards but she's taken an interest in my collection and baseball in general. Because of this, last September for one of our Daddy-Daughter weekends we left my wife behind and headed to Cincinnati for my daughter's first game - a battle with the old rival Los Angeles Dodgers. <br /><br />My wife scheduled it weeks in advance and I thought maybe, just maybe, it would be a playoff clincher. Well, the Reds clinched the night before, thus many starters were rested for the game we saw. But Votto played and we saw Homer Bailey's (startbeforehis) no-hitter!!! (What, not as interesting? Well, I like to think that my daughter brought him some good luck.)<br /><br />We sat several rows behind home plate - splurging on a section that has a private bathroom area and where waiters come and take your order. I wanted her to have a great view of the action too.<br /><br />The Reds lost but it didn't diminish the experience and the fun she had. She really enjoyed actually watching the game (almost as much as the popcorn and cotton candy). Speaking of which, I was up for Dad of the year feeding my daughter cotton candy at about midnight. In my defense, the game had been scheduled for 1 p.m. until ESPN two weeks before chose it as their Sunday night Game of the Week.<br /><br />More recently, on Father's Day last month, my daughter and I stole away for another Daddy-Daughter adventure. More hotel pool time and another Reds game - a win against the Brewers this time. More popcorn and cotton candy too, naturally.<br /><br />We walked away with a giveaway Reds gym bag (for me) and a Rosie Reds doll for mini-me. It joins the Brandon Phillips doll she desperately wanted (and, of course, received) at the game last fall. <br /><br />Ah, she's delightfully quirky.<br /><br />The reality I know is that while I think she enjoys the game and ambiance, she's quite possibly already indulging me a bit as I share my passion. She sees what makes me smile and wants to talk to me about it and be a part of it. That's a pretty great feeling for a Dad.<br /><br />One day, I hope she holds dear the memories (many still to come) at the ballpark with dear ol' Dad.<br />
<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-81743434924934029852013-07-17T17:03:00.000-05:002013-07-17T17:03:12.028-05:00Tradeable VaguenessExcuse the title. I'm working on perfecting the awkward headline.<br /><br />I've been getting my trade groove on this week and enjoying getting back in the swing. <br /><br />
So, this is a blatant fishing expedition to see if anyone has a want list for 2012 Heritage (including a couple of SPs), 2013 Heritage (including an SP or three) and 2013 Archives. I have quite a bit - especially of the first and the last - for trade. <br /><br />I'm desperately prowling for Heritage 2011 SPs. <br /><br />I really need to hold my SPs back for SPs, as I'm sure you can understand why. <br /><br />If
you have needs from the sets mentioned above, please direct me to your
want lists. I'm basically seeking Reds, Tigers and Cubs from those three
sets but I still need to work up my own want lists.<br /><br />This is all so very scattershot, so my apologies. Just hoping to get a trade dialogue started. <br /><br />Meanwhile, because I dislike posting sans art, here's an auto I pulled from 2011 Heritage. RED SOX LEGEND Ted Wil....er, Ted Wills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvbgYvKzTSe93kuJbHoSrLfXt74vQdtdK_BCiC-GZ_o7pOUgdCzBgnBlRQqQSApfkflVrM1HuWP7FeWz9R0jEh_DL0zEV1MIcdIeTaqUzKGT5-b4ei95Dh8B3rfABdm57J39IvhOXvnd5/s1600/11HTTedWills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvbgYvKzTSe93kuJbHoSrLfXt74vQdtdK_BCiC-GZ_o7pOUgdCzBgnBlRQqQSApfkflVrM1HuWP7FeWz9R0jEh_DL0zEV1MIcdIeTaqUzKGT5-b4ei95Dh8B3rfABdm57J39IvhOXvnd5/s320/11HTTedWills.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
I'm looking to trade this for a Heritage 2011 auto from a team I collect. Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-5357374524364081142013-07-16T11:23:00.000-05:002013-07-16T11:23:57.902-05:00You Bette It's the Oldest Card In The House<div>
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One of the coolest things
to happen on the card front during my blog hiatus last fall -
before my more recent hiatus - occurred when we attended a festival in Northeast Indiana last fall.<i></i><br />
<br />
<i>Editor's Note: Bear with me as I play a little blog catch up and
intersperse some card-related news I never posted with more updated
stuff. I've been collecting throughout my hiatuses (hiati?).
Incidentally, I have a bundle of Heritage '12 for trade, as well as some
Archives '13 and Heritage '13.</i><br />
<br />
So, it was a pretty big fest, celebrating all things apple and homey and autumn-esque. Horse rides and corn mazes and pioneer demonstrations and sheep shearing
and rifle shooting and live music and fried things.</div>
<br />There were three long buildings with crafts for purchase and
viewing. In the middle of the fray, what do you know - a man and his
wife selling cards! </div>
<br />Awesome people. The gent has traveled down from higher up in
Michigan for some 20-plus years. He had a lot of Tigers stuff and
assorted other old cards. <br />
<br />
He had a few autographed baseballs. No
certifications. He was a sports writer way back when and attended
various events with a few greats of Tigers yore - Al Kaline and Willie
Horton namely. Willie, he says, is a great guy who enjoys talking about
himself in the third person. Mr. Tiger runs hot and oh-so-very cold. No
surprise there.</div>
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</div>
<br />So, after visiting with this couple for awhile, I went back to
my family and did the festival thing. I had my eye on a few things in his booth so I
told him I'd be back. Right then, I had my other eye on some kettle corn.</div>
<br />When we all returned late in the day,
near closing time, he and his wife struck up a doting chat with my
five-year-old daughter, who had spotted some old tobacco-style minis in a
small case. <br />
<br />
She loved the cards and whispered to me that she'd like one. He
pulled out the collection - of actors and actresses from way back when -
and we both got a closer look. My daughter chose this one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNfGLMM8fWO2oUG87wgz5aLbXfgWYjQkDch6MzRUQUusSLXGCefuCEgOB-HtFoYCtV0tX6YjOuU4FvA6yorImfRT-lfRB7hqNkvhz23PfoBeqA_-Ye6N9CWyo9F2aNc7BANS4Oj1a-O-x/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNfGLMM8fWO2oUG87wgz5aLbXfgWYjQkDch6MzRUQUusSLXGCefuCEgOB-HtFoYCtV0tX6YjOuU4FvA6yorImfRT-lfRB7hqNkvhz23PfoBeqA_-Ye6N9CWyo9F2aNc7BANS4Oj1a-O-x/s400/IMG_0002.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Good choice. There's always been something about that woman. My guess is it's the eyes. <br />
<br />
This is card #10 from the Third Series of Player's Cigarettes "Film Stars" released in 1938. I guess Series One and Series Two were released earlier in the '30s. Most of the great stars of the day seem to be in the collection with some others including: Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Katherine Hepburn and Johnny Weissmuller.<br />
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Here's the back:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHYBdglX2ZSfmrLDBQqZd8DJ1ZCZ7tTR4gYt7FDIa452K9f5tIf16ttOQvMEJLnxSd3m4IQzmgOfYFyUco9k_NTK81ESVU9IvpEstY4GP1ORZyUzdEFJyBoyB01jtN7Bqva7kQicoOMQr/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHYBdglX2ZSfmrLDBQqZd8DJ1ZCZ7tTR4gYt7FDIa452K9f5tIf16ttOQvMEJLnxSd3m4IQzmgOfYFyUco9k_NTK81ESVU9IvpEstY4GP1ORZyUzdEFJyBoyB01jtN7Bqva7kQicoOMQr/s400/IMG.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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This, my daughter's card, is the oldest card in our house. </div>
<br />
As
for me, I bought, yes, one of the aforementioned signed Kaline balls. The gent had it marked
at just $30 but with no certification there was a gamble involved. He
said he'd sell it and the Bette Davis for $20 total. </div>
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Deal.</div>
<br />Later, back at home, for kicks I
looked up this guy on the Internet. Not to verify my trust but to see if
any old articles came up. Learned that he had been given a community
award at some point not long ago - for many things including being
generally a standup fella. That doesn't guarantee the ball is legit, of
course, but it was nice to read.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm not an autographed ball collector. I've
never purchased one before, although I have several that I've personally obtained - at the formerly
named Comiskey Park in the early aughts and at The National in 2011. I
also - in a pinch - had a novelty ball <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2012/05/pt-2-hey-look-real-life-cardboard-hero.html" target="_blank">signed last year by the great George Foster</a>, but I couldn't resist taking the cheap gamble on a ball
by a Hall of Famer.</div>
<div>
<br />My daughter still loves her card, by the way. She takes
it out every now and then and studies it. She loves that it's her own
and I think she enjoys knowing she's sharing my hobby. </div>
Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-75172485651871852692013-02-12T09:26:00.001-06:002013-02-12T09:26:19.769-06:00My Fantasy Baseball Expansion Plan: Interested?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwHmE-QXgUoSPavLujNWRnp3LkTi17Gfkxzxmsc4OQEmXreNKXfgj6R1R9VRGPe06gpe-y27HxXQtVxnz67zdf2pl32HlIkNTek9RfrlbBz8WSwnrMxIJbtTNpIXi5wYWEtjIpKW-6r_Q/s1600/BenchLCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />I'm an overgrown nerd. I'll freely admit it. For more than 20 years now
I've been playing fantasy baseball. I love the intricacies, the
strategies and in recent years I've narrowed my focus to a couple of
select leagues.<br />
<br />In particular, I run two pay leagues - deep dynasty setups of 12 teams (roto) and 16 teams (H2H style) with salary caps, draft pick trading and on and on. They're both on ESPN and I update everything that happens - full rosters - in a Google doc that's accessible from the front league page. These are very fun and active leagues if you love to study baseball, numbers, trends and all of that. <br /><br />What does this have to do with you? Well, perhaps nothing. Those leagues are full. We average 1 opening a year and had zero in the roto league heading into this year. <br /><br />I'm rambling instead because I've decided to open one more league that will go back to my fantasy baseball roots - a single-season league (although hopefully everyone will return year-to-year to draft fresh teams); 12 team, snake draft, mixed league, roto, 5×5. <br /><br />The lineups will be: C/1B/2B/SS/3B/CI/MI/5
OF/UTIL/9 P/1 DL/3 BENCH. <br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwHmE-QXgUoSPavLujNWRnp3LkTi17Gfkxzxmsc4OQEmXreNKXfgj6R1R9VRGPe06gpe-y27HxXQtVxnz67zdf2pl32HlIkNTek9RfrlbBz8WSwnrMxIJbtTNpIXi5wYWEtjIpKW-6r_Q/s1600/BenchLCS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwHmE-QXgUoSPavLujNWRnp3LkTi17Gfkxzxmsc4OQEmXreNKXfgj6R1R9VRGPe06gpe-y27HxXQtVxnz67zdf2pl32HlIkNTek9RfrlbBz8WSwnrMxIJbtTNpIXi5wYWEtjIpKW-6r_Q/s320/BenchLCS.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not this type of Bench. That wouldn't make any sense.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The league will be its own separate league but will also compete against several dozen exactly the same setup leagues on a fantasy baseball advice Web site. That site will do all of the league strength calculations and the winner will win a fantasy baseball champion "Members Only" jacket. No joke!<br /><br />OK, a silly prize, yes - and so we will charge $25 (payable via Paypal to me) and will pay the top two or three teams. Yet to be decided. Probably money back for 3rd.<br /><br />I'm looking for a few serious baseball fans and fantasy baseball vets, preferably. I have six in the league so far from my ongoing leagues. I expect two or three more will join and thus I'll probably need two or three additional. <br /><br />And, if you're interested then in a possible opening in the other leagues I mentioned up top, I'll put you first on the replacement owners list as currently that list is dry.<br /><br />Thanks. Sorry for the fishing expedition but I figured this was a great place to look for great owners.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-51792417757278750762013-02-10T19:57:00.000-06:002013-02-10T19:57:15.332-06:00Great Day in (My) Card Collecting HistorySeeing a post tonight from The Lost Collector reminded me that I too am celebrating two years of blogging as of today. Nearly let it slip past me.<br /><br />Appropriately, I attended a local card show today. I picked up some beauts for my collection that I'll have to write about soon.<br /><br />But, for now, this was a special day indeed. My 5 1/2 year old daughter wanted to go to the show with me after Sunday School. She's taken an interest in my card collecting for quite awhile now and likes to razz me about it. But this was the first time she said she'd come along. I can't tell you how this warmed my heart.<br />
<br />She had a nice time. She made me promise to buy her 10 cards. Well, as it turned out, a few dealers offered her some cards for free. Mind you, no 1953 Topps or 1955 Bowmans, of course, but kind gestures all the same and I was proud of my daughter for politely thanking them all.<br />
<br />
One dealer told her to pick out a card from a Reds stash. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcdBaBPtkKRikuKxEjWryec1bw10r336z_VRrFvWrwUM8Li7_fp3y2mzVMHruRooeJhtvpIYLdg5Lazq2YHPoqcZL5SOIUN4CMgqHoMnmgqNbCPelWBqOtKVniA_BvIsHRsZ8thnE-h8i/s1600/IMG1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVh0ihtdWvpnqwerD3HUnxWJMgLt46DwQnlBDc-7cVNoOhdSbShVlqUBsTkvjynPZqs1_l2hqS7mSL0dMu0BWZQuV9jmoAyS6JnTezKUdCPMPjGK3HHdPGU-6lctSecVNTSYIIBVo-OJ0E/s320/IMG.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;">From the Kahn's Wiener 1994 collection, I present to you, Schottzie 02.
The dealer then handed me a small box with assorted cards - including
several mid-80s box topper type cards and what appears to be a full set
of the Reds Kahn Wiener set. I haven't checked if they're all there for
sure, but I think so.</span><br style="color: black;" />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">
Another dealer told her to pick from a box and she chose two diamond 2011 Tigers. </span><br style="color: black;" />
<br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">
Then she saw this.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcdBaBPtkKRikuKxEjWryec1bw10r336z_VRrFvWrwUM8Li7_fp3y2mzVMHruRooeJhtvpIYLdg5Lazq2YHPoqcZL5SOIUN4CMgqHoMnmgqNbCPelWBqOtKVniA_BvIsHRsZ8thnE-h8i/s1600/IMG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcdBaBPtkKRikuKxEjWryec1bw10r336z_VRrFvWrwUM8Li7_fp3y2mzVMHruRooeJhtvpIYLdg5Lazq2YHPoqcZL5SOIUN4CMgqHoMnmgqNbCPelWBqOtKVniA_BvIsHRsZ8thnE-h8i/s1600/IMG1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcdBaBPtkKRikuKxEjWryec1bw10r336z_VRrFvWrwUM8Li7_fp3y2mzVMHruRooeJhtvpIYLdg5Lazq2YHPoqcZL5SOIUN4CMgqHoMnmgqNbCPelWBqOtKVniA_BvIsHRsZ8thnE-h8i/s320/IMG1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
This is one of those oversize cards. This is more of a personal joke for us but I still admired her good taste in choosing this fine player.<br /><br />Mustaches have long amused my daughter. If she sees a good one while we're out and about, she'll pull me aside to tell me. She laughs heartily at the very idea of a mustache. I can't tell you how much we've laughed together about them. I even grew a beard in November and December just so I could shave it into a mustache (for one day, while not leaving the house). I, let's just say, don't rock a mustache. <br /><br />In any case, it was nice to go to a show with her and I appreciated the little gestures sent her way. Another dealer went to get her a glass of water when he heard her tell me she was thirsty. Yet another handed her a team set of - oddly enough - 1992 Cleveland Indians. <br /><br />She had fun and she wants to go with me next time. I don't expect she'll be interested for too long, but you never know. Either way, I'll enjoy this while it lasts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-41731016931961795532013-02-08T18:54:00.000-06:002013-02-08T18:59:07.127-06:00Wheel (er) House Mail Cards Some of my favorite players both from teams I collect and sets I collect arrived in a trade completed this week with All Trade Bait, All The Time. <br />
<br />
I've enjoyed the fine blog for quite awhile but had yet to make a trade with the gentleman behind it. <br />
<br />
I was able to send him the card he needed to complete a 1976 subset
Topps set, and some other cards, and he sent me back a nice assortment
of cards (including a nice surprise shown at the end) hitting right in my wheelhouse (a word I like to toss around
that irks my wife for some reason).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yGuxUUAIoaPYJR2_2vlI4Lv_PzEmVXZnoH1oK_hvvWDr9cORzym94b5REh1rqqpXj4L2UPwWY7hSKQRtxLMVe1sKx-FUhwhShgaDM4IXGG29fceYDNBMtNyMKPKpKM65ZiEt1aACLeA/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yGuxUUAIoaPYJR2_2vlI4Lv_PzEmVXZnoH1oK_hvvWDr9cORzym94b5REh1rqqpXj4L2UPwWY7hSKQRtxLMVe1sKx-FUhwhShgaDM4IXGG29fceYDNBMtNyMKPKpKM65ZiEt1aACLeA/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
Tony Perez is one of my favorite players from my longtime favorite team. This card is lovely - and in person the Red uni really pops in this shot. It also fits nicely in the Vintage Red collection I've finally cataloged. I'm collecting all Reds from the beginning (not of time, but of Topps) to 1983. <br />
<br />
I also got a 1979 Expos Perez and the card below from a set I'm not familiar with. Time to start cataloging my Perez collection.<br />
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ATBATT obviously knows me (well, he doesn't but it sure seemed like it
when this package arrived) because he hit another favorite Red whom I
don't mention anywhere and an awesome oddball in one fell swoop of a
card. I seriously need to consider collecting the Crunch set of 22. Sweet.<br />
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There were (original and reprint) Whitakers and Morgans and Dawsons - including this perfect card from the 1980 set I'm chasing. <br />
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And a Morris and a Foster and Seavers too.<br />
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And then this nugget popped out! Seriously? That looks like an autographed Trammell, with ink to match the card and the hat. And an '87 DonRuss, which I kind of dig as opposed to the majority of DonRusses. Donrussi?<br />
<br />
ATBATT got two signed Trammells TTM a few years ago and sent this gem along, figuring I would appreciate it. He sure got that right. It looks awfully pretty and he's a Hall of Famer, to boot!<br />
<br />
What's that?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-87995703810439567712013-02-06T20:01:00.000-06:002013-02-06T20:01:16.538-06:00Chasing 1983: 745 and Counting<div class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
It's time to highlight another part of a deal that knocked massive chunks off of sets I've been chasing for 30 to 35 years.<br />
<br />
Along with 1978s and 1981s (part of the trade I haven't reviewed yet), Paul at <a href="http://crawfordcards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carl Crawford Cards</a> sent me 244 cards from the last set I purchased before discovering girls and trouble: 1983 Topps.<br />
<br />
Yep, you read that right - 244 cards! I kid you not. And, reminder, this was just part - the biggest part - of the deal. I posted about the first part a week ago and a link to it is at the end of this post. <br /><br />This shipment brought my in-house 1983 Topps percentage from 64 percent to 94 percent. I see light ahead! Truly, this is exciting. A couple of dozen of these cards were familiar to me as I once owned them before a basement flood at my mom's house sacked a good portion of that set (and almost all of 1979, sadly) long ago. It was nice to see them again after all these years. <br />
Below are a few favorite cards of the 1983 portion of the deal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPQpxwBbZMCbe4HHgtPthyphenhyphenZl9ExO7Q2xE_laqmGoriUj9IuzpHqDBYxQfTiCbZVQUFEVgLuV5YNiXTpi0eS-7iHKeHMKs18XaxbSTsBEa_YdVJObowcgcqoypjc3VLrA1-bDwr5wVzMw/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPQpxwBbZMCbe4HHgtPthyphenhyphenZl9ExO7Q2xE_laqmGoriUj9IuzpHqDBYxQfTiCbZVQUFEVgLuV5YNiXTpi0eS-7iHKeHMKs18XaxbSTsBEa_YdVJObowcgcqoypjc3VLrA1-bDwr5wVzMw/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
Back in 1979, I thought Kent Tekulve was the coolest nerd on the planet. I knew nothing about him. Might not have been a nerd at all. He's rockin' the ol' Pirates duds though. I do know that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd70E4SF5xmlbRlNbRcf0qarwZtiKquMHS5tm1EhSuLwpncOLPGAGC8PF3oMrZNqvKmYLxMWkyefyvPLilmgXn20SQMOgmGtaoQLlHQCXLKwYpM7BpFnf7vxWlL3orb7ZcE4d4MNlChw/s1600/IMG_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvd70E4SF5xmlbRlNbRcf0qarwZtiKquMHS5tm1EhSuLwpncOLPGAGC8PF3oMrZNqvKmYLxMWkyefyvPLilmgXn20SQMOgmGtaoQLlHQCXLKwYpM7BpFnf7vxWlL3orb7ZcE4d4MNlChw/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
Nice action shot of Mr. Pushbroom Stache. Who's that guy with him? I should know this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBpjyfedvsQ_WsZfUndc1wcYJfGRdlREfg0l7Lg2ZQO0TrYfLJ_r3YJMdHkbqbsw_IXx4qDVTndItZRzcPxsrgfLqafyLx_GREKp7JrHz51OOycwR5mog0GCl3xkwQ-4CaTAG1D4a-P4/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBpjyfedvsQ_WsZfUndc1wcYJfGRdlREfg0l7Lg2ZQO0TrYfLJ_r3YJMdHkbqbsw_IXx4qDVTndItZRzcPxsrgfLqafyLx_GREKp7JrHz51OOycwR5mog0GCl3xkwQ-4CaTAG1D4a-P4/s320/IMG.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
Jim Rice walked by me outside Tiger Stadium in the 1980s. He pretty well ignored me and the other kids nearby. I didn't think at all about autographs back then but just wanted to say "hi". Kind of hard to believe, in a way, that he turns 60 in a month.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA651JUQY3vk5Fy1PocDTQe6Wn0tPLX_3mFT-EYXX-jWhVNPy1JffHtgO_SD2wEwCNnQAJuZrhDLUvNbJegVEpAN550nk8PWMTnKwSyhuicMo-9g6ChYOsC94OxylgnxHaT_7ZkI-ltc/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA651JUQY3vk5Fy1PocDTQe6Wn0tPLX_3mFT-EYXX-jWhVNPy1JffHtgO_SD2wEwCNnQAJuZrhDLUvNbJegVEpAN550nk8PWMTnKwSyhuicMo-9g6ChYOsC94OxylgnxHaT_7ZkI-ltc/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Fergie Jenkins is my favorite Cubs pitcher of all-time. I'm efforting as of late to collect all of his playing day cards. As for Leon Durham, I met him at The National in 2011. Got a few cards autographed as the right to do so came with the VIP package my wife treated me with. I wrote all about it and other former player encounters back then.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrJb_gZ1TmP6BRkAInSAreuUp8SV-DhjWMqSryLi_oSYABOcinXE9I9O-I9ySJ-dzJbP6zeRDY1cbipVw7x44jMXzFP-H0wHg6jvu73hZiuBo6QG999WZZFDZ6v3B_EJKyDeyK5xcoi4/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrJb_gZ1TmP6BRkAInSAreuUp8SV-DhjWMqSryLi_oSYABOcinXE9I9O-I9ySJ-dzJbP6zeRDY1cbipVw7x44jMXzFP-H0wHg6jvu73hZiuBo6QG999WZZFDZ6v3B_EJKyDeyK5xcoi4/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" width="229" /></a><br />Bill Madlock is another former player I enjoyed watching who I got to meet at that The National. He signed several cards for me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPHNkWLmenueFTP1Kn3lv9BsqgVb1Fcjlwn4tTaNZZzl7T5YBgwVFSV8ysQJqpaKRw5rcQSIdOX858gOz1cooItq81aGWOi7_N_TYBIi8bUm9FA9LsQ4VK259pVP0kBWlNSJ_PLXK3lc/s1600/IMG_0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPHNkWLmenueFTP1Kn3lv9BsqgVb1Fcjlwn4tTaNZZzl7T5YBgwVFSV8ysQJqpaKRw5rcQSIdOX858gOz1cooItq81aGWOi7_N_TYBIi8bUm9FA9LsQ4VK259pVP0kBWlNSJ_PLXK3lc/s320/IMG_0009.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
Dave Collins will always be a Red in my book. Never a Mariner or a whatever the uniform he's wearing here is.<br /><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajWFdUcCSA-HpTC4c_Cpz4pTo0kpZzzrsUmiSuXsaJIgIt6h9HL319H58MDwUtIXl2jsLc8a3nWQaT9q3aGb56mfRUJ7ml75sG_beWIBz7Enqcv0wIuu9fnN7mYW9BWS-94zrlAhEjhQ/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajWFdUcCSA-HpTC4c_Cpz4pTo0kpZzzrsUmiSuXsaJIgIt6h9HL319H58MDwUtIXl2jsLc8a3nWQaT9q3aGb56mfRUJ7ml75sG_beWIBz7Enqcv0wIuu9fnN7mYW9BWS-94zrlAhEjhQ/s320/IMG_0011.jpg" width="232" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mMmBxFHaoF6h9HSS9YEbwy2fx8SMJ2EfsfgVrSUSudEalxfSfNKH2bOpqN-4askL_IrOcBUolVJ-DZymj6U0uNiFX3ZGYvUHGfyhn9tM30RFuAgp1yBE5ULP3CvAjuBf7IwdRJHnIEw/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mMmBxFHaoF6h9HSS9YEbwy2fx8SMJ2EfsfgVrSUSudEalxfSfNKH2bOpqN-4askL_IrOcBUolVJ-DZymj6U0uNiFX3ZGYvUHGfyhn9tM30RFuAgp1yBE5ULP3CvAjuBf7IwdRJHnIEw/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" width="230" /></a><br />
Never heard of the Brave but I like the card. John Denny looks a bit like God here. Just guessing.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E5skZuJZ90lpohkkyuQ4moM4vEBWKz0nnHltRdV8hnwsS-K_SpOEueyOWQ5ZPD77h05DKSPSRm421LnTQPfXCfQ69uTlFQisXxKP761-_dACZVOIMUUqGWwGQpjTkgvYa_8qvf5SRqY/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6E5skZuJZ90lpohkkyuQ4moM4vEBWKz0nnHltRdV8hnwsS-K_SpOEueyOWQ5ZPD77h05DKSPSRm421LnTQPfXCfQ69uTlFQisXxKP761-_dACZVOIMUUqGWwGQpjTkgvYa_8qvf5SRqY/s320/IMG_0013.jpg" width="233" /></a><br />Finally, Senor Orange, or something like that. I'm a big Rusty Staub fan. When I see an old Staub card, I get it. I should probably catalog this collection and see what I need. It seems he's found a way on to my player collection list.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I posted earlier today about 2013s for trade and have already worked out a couple of deals. If you missed it, take a look please. I'd love to work out some more. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Thanks for sharing the trip down memory lane and thanks again to Carl Crawford Cards. You can find more of the details of the first part of that trade in <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2013/01/chasing-1978-599-and-counting.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.<br />
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Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-13918937022850216512013-02-06T12:47:00.001-06:002013-02-06T12:47:27.520-06:002013 Cards for TradeI wanted to get some 2013 trade bait up for anyone interested. <br />
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I'm interested in offers of various Reds and Tigers minis, Emeralds, various color parallels, other inserts, Jarrod Parker inserts or parallels or nice vintage Reds and Cubs, naturally. I have a want list for older stuff linked from the front page.<br />
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I also have an assortment of base cards from most teams if anyone has a want list to point out to me.<br />
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First, I have a Jose Bautista Commemorative Patch card for trade. Looks nice. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85w9qp85PyGfj-9ye859WLJuZHJCQ9iZnOxdxg-Nm4GGKYc-6Y47DwSjxjQuyhPs5Y-eW27xpNv-VPJXr3mUwpkaUqLdW7LHeWeBg2i7KI8sNQePFm5FAGCtySUoS4KknUW1g8Cnnjcs/s1600/Bautistapatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85w9qp85PyGfj-9ye859WLJuZHJCQ9iZnOxdxg-Nm4GGKYc-6Y47DwSjxjQuyhPs5Y-eW27xpNv-VPJXr3mUwpkaUqLdW7LHeWeBg2i7KI8sNQePFm5FAGCtySUoS4KknUW1g8Cnnjcs/s320/Bautistapatch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'd deal it for any of the rookie patch cards or any other Commemorative Patch, EXCEPT for: Adam Jones, Dustin Pedroia, Trevor Bauer, Yonder Alonso, Billy Butler or Ryan Braun.<br />
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Other stuff for trade includes...<br />
<br />
Cut to the Chase:<br />
CTC-8 - Ryan Braun<br />
CTC - 15 - Dustin Pedroia<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI691w1Jjx36c6YFd4wc1LQCUZVO7qAkICqxCqe0qR1CrqosATm9MJkdPBZj2nEFDp3heTucvoEvIDCRFXVTa8zYIvSYnkKjnZKAl-uP4nAr-rymZML5QSc7Km2OhaVjNhyK3XheXEzqQ/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI691w1Jjx36c6YFd4wc1LQCUZVO7qAkICqxCqe0qR1CrqosATm9MJkdPBZj2nEFDp3heTucvoEvIDCRFXVTa8zYIvSYnkKjnZKAl-uP4nAr-rymZML5QSc7Km2OhaVjNhyK3XheXEzqQ/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Chasing the Dream:<br />
CD20 - Tommy Milone<br />
CD13- Drew Hutchison<br />
CD10 - Giancarlo Stanton<br />
CD23 - Jose Altuve<br />
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Emerald<br />
279 - Vicente Padilla<br />
95 - AL Wins Leaders<br />
168 - Kyle Farnsworth<br />
41 - Daniel Hudson<br />
240 - JJ Putz<br />
<br />
Calling Cards<br />
CC- 5 Jon Papelbon<br />
CC - 10 Tim Lincecum (possibly pending in deal, I'm unclear at this time) <br />
(I have Brandon Phillips)<br />
<br />
72 Minis<br />
2 - Dan Haren <br />
7 - Craig Kimbrel<br />
31 - Mark Teixeira<br />
35 - Felix Hernandez<br />
39 - Yu Darvish<br />
<br />
Chasing History<br />
CH5 - Yogi Berra <br />
CH26 - Chipper Jones<br />
CH34 - Robin Yount <br />
CH36 - Kerry Wood<br />
CH40 - Mike Schmidt<br />
CH41 - Johann Santana <br />
<br />
Target Reds<br />
90 - Andy Pettitte (CList) <br />
111 - Casey Kelly<br />
187 - Nick Maronde<br />
<br />
Walmart Blues<br />
I have a stack of these. I'm looking for Anthony Rizzo, Jarrod Parker (of course) and Reds and Tigers. (I already have Latos, Arroyo, Fielder and Fister.)<br />
<br />Thanks for taking a look.<br />
<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-60072949654401867632013-02-03T14:04:00.000-06:002013-02-03T14:04:31.114-06:00My First eBay Sale: Success or Failure?The other day I wrote about buying a blaster of Topps 2013 in search of Reds, Tigers, Cubs and Jarrod Parker cards. <br />
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I came up pretty short across the board in finding those cards so that night I decided on a whim to try my hand at eBay for the first time ever. After a blogger changed his mind on the patch I pulled, I decided to list it and see if I could recoup a few dollars from a somewhat disappointing purchase.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILE3lpJo2s3CNO98uN2HAbxmfZazMta0Isewd1QAHT9UkXz-zCsXHWPLKOA7p11ba0h_juBEFuyl7szIpdwRelSrIcB8rE8rVJGcfSwEZJxVO1cFmQxAHUXw2nmI3PFynjVMOMVbnPQ8/s1600/HarperPatch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILE3lpJo2s3CNO98uN2HAbxmfZazMta0Isewd1QAHT9UkXz-zCsXHWPLKOA7p11ba0h_juBEFuyl7szIpdwRelSrIcB8rE8rVJGcfSwEZJxVO1cFmQxAHUXw2nmI3PFynjVMOMVbnPQ8/s1600/HarperPatch.jpg" /></a><br />
I listed this Bryce Harper manupatch at a $4.99 start and went with the 24-hour auction timeframe. I reviewed some of the ins and outs of listing, decided instead of free shipping to go with $2.00 - and later got some great advice from a few bloggers about packaging/mailing.<br />
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Long story short, the card sold that night for $19.38, not counting the $2.00 shipping. It appears this card is going anywhere from $8.00 to $23.00 on eBay. I like the card, actually, but was surprise I got what I got. I think the appeal will wear off some as the set ages a few weeks.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, another seller popped up early in the sale day and listed the same card for an auction ending at the exact same time as mine. I was concerned as he had several other cards available and combined shipping options. He also was a highly rated seller. Choosing the same auction ending time as mine seemed bush league but all is fair I guess. <br />
<br />
In the end, it didn't matter. His card fetched almost $4.00 less than mine! <br />
<br />
I had never sold on eBay before, although I also asked bloggers about it last spring when I pulled my <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-greatest-pack-pull-ever.html" target="_blank">greatest card find</a> from a retail purchase - a Bob Gibson/Matt Holliday dual auto from a value pack at Walmart. I'm still planning to sell that card as it was going for more than $200 - although I may have missed my window on that.<br />
<br />
<br />
I'll likely rarely sell on eBay as I prefer trading but there are some
bundles of cards in my trade list that have gone unclaimed for some time
that I may end up listing.<br />
<br />
In any case, it feels good to get my first eBay sale in the books. It felt even better when the buyer paid with five minutes of winning the auction! Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-33043328345163307852013-02-01T19:30:00.002-06:002013-02-01T19:33:36.746-06:00Comfort Card Show Prep<div>
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Looks like I'm heading to a local card show tomorrow!</div>
<br />
Is
it sad for a 44-year-old man to get giddy that the wife is letting him
out so he can have a chance to stand near, while largely ignoring, a
small group of other grown men in a Comfort Inn meeting room, all of us searching
for pictures of other grown men?<br />
<br />
Don't answer.</div>
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<div>
<br />
No matter, I'll be on the prowl to see if I can knock a few more
cards off my 1976 list. I've been so darn close but in a holding period
for 18 months. I'll also look out for Topps set needs from 1978-83. I'm
foolishly working on them all at once! </div>
<div>
<br />
One great
trade helped me out greatly with 1978, 1981 and 1983. I'm still planning
a post related to the bounty I received for the latter two years.</div>
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</div>
<div>
<br />
As for the show, truth is, I'm doubting I'll find
anything from the late '70s and early '80s. I've been to this show
several times in recent months. Lots and lots of newer stuff (so I'm at
least interested this time in seeing what they have from this week's
release) and then there's one dealer with some old stuff - some late
'50s and '60s cards.</div>
<div>
<br />
That's perfectly fine with me of
course as I'm chasing all vintage Reds and a good spot of vintage Tigers
and Cubs. And, as always, I typically have an eye out for a superstar
of yesteryear - perhaps a Hall of Famer who has managed to evade my
collection.</div>
<div>
<br />
To wit, here's something I brought home the last time I attended this show a few months ago. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyCDHAaOIwPWqsaAWQ24wVMJ4R9N2zkyeUp8RKMlx3Cmojrm5nyiloD089H8c2d8FBiAhvMmZpDMRG1QEEBGzXPOKtHZvNyHespSaBviuI7I9gurYZN5VamH14z4lXUSiAV0t0DOGvrE/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyCDHAaOIwPWqsaAWQ24wVMJ4R9N2zkyeUp8RKMlx3Cmojrm5nyiloD089H8c2d8FBiAhvMmZpDMRG1QEEBGzXPOKtHZvNyHespSaBviuI7I9gurYZN5VamH14z4lXUSiAV0t0DOGvrE/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first card of this legend.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD8Ewfjn92MLC7HTD2q-j1V2Qla2xh5MclTb8uxzRFQum1yA0n8JrDOSmc1mc61c6VxRQWFZGalpCt3HKqLowNUk4QMam44U9zgmZBUyB-RvENUivgi2T_s4HTZt0sy4fLQ5mzYyrVfc/s1600/IMG4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD8Ewfjn92MLC7HTD2q-j1V2Qla2xh5MclTb8uxzRFQum1yA0n8JrDOSmc1mc61c6VxRQWFZGalpCt3HKqLowNUk4QMam44U9zgmZBUyB-RvENUivgi2T_s4HTZt0sy4fLQ5mzYyrVfc/s640/IMG4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Did you know Willie McCovey was born on May 6, 1931? You didn't? Neither did Willie, who was born on Jan. 10, 1938. After this post, I'll be selling this error card for $35,000 on eBay. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In
short, what I'm saying is I always go into a show with a plan and I
seldom stick to said plan. But that's OK. It's all about having a little
fun.</div>
And no place better for that than when standing
near, while largely ignoring, a small group of other grown men in a Comfort Inn
meeting room, all of us searching for pictures of other
grown men.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-50704181562123044002013-02-01T13:52:00.002-06:002013-02-01T13:52:39.752-06:00Giving eBay a GoI remain one of the few U.S. residents to have never sold anything on eBay. This is about to end.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping for a few tips on shipping. I know how to properly protect and ship for an eBay buyer but I'm curious if there's anything special that should be done for shipping labels and if it's critical for seller protection to get tracking with all packages. I'm certainly assuming it is.<br />
<br />
Anything else you think I should know? <br />
<br />
I appreciate any and all tips. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I listed last night some 2013 cards<a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-last-bite-on-2013-retail-flagship.html" target="_blank"> available for trade</a>. Take a look at the end of the post if you are in the market and missed it.<br />
<br />
Thanks.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-66224818749301866042013-01-31T21:22:00.001-06:002013-01-31T21:22:55.463-06:00My Last Bite on 2013 Retail Flagship <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn1QwX-px9ypAl0USJ-Rkw2z5BSXAC7Cl0kvaNVXqgqVq9sVJ375FPEXrj9WNC8oxqOy4zzFaag4gGO5EJddeTuqdtUj4U7gCpNp_GkkGKFNP6WltUq6jY2pUT_4ZXEGMav_rr2QTc3c/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
I bought a blaster this afternoon hoping for luck pulling a few Reds, Tigers and some other favored players. This is surely it for my taste of 2013 flagship (retail purchases, at least) since I'm not collecting the base set. That said, opening at least a few packs of new cards can just be fun when the day's been rough. Before I go on, I've listed a bunch of cards I'm happy to trade.<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<br />My luck wasn't what I had hoped for but I did manage to pull the Walmart blue of the entire Marlins team (shown here).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMAGVEvsxaVRyo83BAYeZpShht1u5wfHGZJni74ORGRg0M_mXzJCv2lKZDqS1rlqGcQQvXHp3_q9vF_Q8EeT8nL5EGk1AcJcXUjp7imNsDjgAIZ5zGdUpfo8Fin5KwcyF1v6Ko34DNhM/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMAGVEvsxaVRyo83BAYeZpShht1u5wfHGZJni74ORGRg0M_mXzJCv2lKZDqS1rlqGcQQvXHp3_q9vF_Q8EeT8nL5EGk1AcJcXUjp7imNsDjgAIZ5zGdUpfo8Fin5KwcyF1v6Ko34DNhM/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like Former Mike. Really not much of a shot but I'll probably keep it around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found precious few Reds in the box. Two, actually. Zack Cozart and the Walmart Blue Mat Latos.
So, also with Sean Marshall in hand and a promise of Joey Votto
and Didi Gregorious in a trade, I need everything else. Base cards,
inserts, color parallels, so on.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I had more luck with the Tigers. I snagged Ryan
Raburn, Max Scherzer and Jhonny Peralta and a Walmart blue Prince
Fielder. I also have Tigers ALDS Game 5. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I'm in the market for anything
else Tigers.<br /><br />By the way, check out the Raburn card. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaJFtObLcsZOLpmtfXAe6TJRCIk4DJLPHZAyENd2J8eJQb9NbOnV0uuLmefd8YanfUqHZMkMm02J4Ia5r30aDYab5h-7qA7GR6oDetUzLaXPGBEWhjyuCGJlGoqfG31ZN-lAjbkTdtP0/s1600/IMG007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaJFtObLcsZOLpmtfXAe6TJRCIk4DJLPHZAyENd2J8eJQb9NbOnV0uuLmefd8YanfUqHZMkMm02J4Ia5r30aDYab5h-7qA7GR6oDetUzLaXPGBEWhjyuCGJlGoqfG31ZN-lAjbkTdtP0/s320/IMG007.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first I thought maybe this was some kind of extra special annoying short print, but apparently not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Notice the couple of stray arms entering the shot from either side. How pissed you must be to be those guys. Oh so close to being on a baseball card. Wow. </div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp0P-gy_rzkopEb7IeGHiWkXTWpmrQmCVlgeoGCraT9B_3a3ub1hBZeHwL16msmjlhEZ-lKCYmyQhNKbRNNB4G5eUuYzW_WyGarnHpGhEUshXdyI2pdlXPUoTaZ2_Kskh-KWPh_APjmQ/s1600/my_house_on_mars_by_blph-d2zkzvu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div>
I suppose it could be worse. They could have made the card and been making a bizarre face - saved for card eternity. Or you could be shouting to the ages that you're a Pirates fan. <br /><br />But really, how cool will it be for those people to show their grandkids? Amazing to think, but this card will be packed away in their great-great-grandkids basements in their houses on Mars long after they're all gone.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp0P-gy_rzkopEb7IeGHiWkXTWpmrQmCVlgeoGCraT9B_3a3ub1hBZeHwL16msmjlhEZ-lKCYmyQhNKbRNNB4G5eUuYzW_WyGarnHpGhEUshXdyI2pdlXPUoTaZ2_Kskh-KWPh_APjmQ/s1600/my_house_on_mars_by_blph-d2zkzvu.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp0P-gy_rzkopEb7IeGHiWkXTWpmrQmCVlgeoGCraT9B_3a3ub1hBZeHwL16msmjlhEZ-lKCYmyQhNKbRNNB4G5eUuYzW_WyGarnHpGhEUshXdyI2pdlXPUoTaZ2_Kskh-KWPh_APjmQ/s320/my_house_on_mars_by_blph-d2zkzvu.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Pictured) Great-great granddaughter's house of the dude in the yellow shirt who's head is cut off in the card. <br />Not the Pirates guy, but the other yellow shirt. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The blaster did yield some cards I really wanted, or learned I wanted. On the Cubs, a team near and dear to many in my family, I look for a couple of Cubs (Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo).<br /><br />I pulled
zero Cubs from the base set but I snagged the Rizzo '72 mini, which is cool, and the Walmart blue
Starlin Castro - which I think is sharp with the Cub uni.</div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWMD2Q8l5L8Gh28GGZe48p4mY7fF1XUaltpfUUJsuAcnUr8GsmoxYY4zJ_8cquQEhnud4ue59HD14B7MqzXsei-eAC0BlK-peEiXUzr3vrJjNZUCkd1W4RLA8UtntedjkckU9dpmRoXg/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWMD2Q8l5L8Gh28GGZe48p4mY7fF1XUaltpfUUJsuAcnUr8GsmoxYY4zJ_8cquQEhnud4ue59HD14B7MqzXsei-eAC0BlK-peEiXUzr3vrJjNZUCkd1W4RLA8UtntedjkckU9dpmRoXg/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai94kJcnxh2zDDoG2g-ND42qN9CNar6DwrJDM_5XmxsIezhIxeh1X_4FXZnw624WEYP4sLqPFPomKQRvMVgF5cZeUL_VE8dLQCxXQYgNjSltfvapTsujSKqHYZE7FIeg6KuqPsBx6F1Q/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai94kJcnxh2zDDoG2g-ND42qN9CNar6DwrJDM_5XmxsIezhIxeh1X_4FXZnw624WEYP4sLqPFPomKQRvMVgF5cZeUL_VE8dLQCxXQYgNjSltfvapTsujSKqHYZE7FIeg6KuqPsBx6F1Q/s320/IMG.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQYXdMDJJWKTZYGnFGdSWAXFaUtwm3AfxtWJ662eIhKl1cvdbwQy5iTP_nRH4SKXpVA2XhxX0gE1HGhOaOEeisMkL8vMkhor8sQXiF7UxDbm0wA9L1GuJY2K4Z-cE8xcg-hn26lT4vTw/s1600/HarperPatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div>
<br />My patch was the Bryce Harper, commemorative patch card. It's currently promised and not available for trade. I dig the logo and I guess these have some appeal to many.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQYXdMDJJWKTZYGnFGdSWAXFaUtwm3AfxtWJ662eIhKl1cvdbwQy5iTP_nRH4SKXpVA2XhxX0gE1HGhOaOEeisMkL8vMkhor8sQXiF7UxDbm0wA9L1GuJY2K4Z-cE8xcg-hn26lT4vTw/s1600/HarperPatch.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQYXdMDJJWKTZYGnFGdSWAXFaUtwm3AfxtWJ662eIhKl1cvdbwQy5iTP_nRH4SKXpVA2XhxX0gE1HGhOaOEeisMkL8vMkhor8sQXiF7UxDbm0wA9L1GuJY2K4Z-cE8xcg-hn26lT4vTw/s320/HarperPatch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, below I'm listing the cards I have on the block. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Reminder: I'm looking for Reds and Tigers that I didn't mention above; any other versions of Castros and Rizzos; as well as cards of local product Jarrod Parker - along with Adrian Gonzalez and Clayton Kershaw. More on why those two in a future post.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
So, here are my available cards (including inserts) broken down by teams in no particular order. If I trade inserts, I'd want the same back ideally. But obviously if you have a gold parallel or pink (yeah, I'm going to look for these), those carry weight with me.<br /><br />Red Sox:<br />15 - Dustin Pedroia</div>
<div>
66 - Daniel Nava</div>
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118 - Daisuke Matsuzaka</div>
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Emerald 279 - Vicente Padilla</div>
<div>
(an additional insert card featured at end of post) </div>
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</div>
<div>
Dodgers:</div>
<div>
9 - Dee Gordon</div>
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16 - Andre Ethier</div>
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74 - Kenley Jansen</div>
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Walmart Blue 158 - Chad Billingsley</div>
<div>
295 - Brandon League</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Yankees:</div>
<div>
Chasing History 5 - Yogi Berra </div>
<div>
72mini - TM31 - Mark Teixeira</div>
<div>
52 - CC Sabathia</div>
<div>
Target Red 90 - Andy Pettitte (checklist)</div>
<div>
212 - Eric Chavez</div>
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214 - Curtis Granderson</div>
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282 - Russell Martin</div>
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329 - Rafael Soriano</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Nationals:</div>
<div>
97 - Danny Espinosa</div>
<div>
120 - Ian Desmond</div>
<div>
170 - Eury Perez (who with 3 stolen bases is just 1,403 away from Rickey Henderson's record)</div>
<div>
328 - Jayson Werth </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
Diamondbacks:<br />
Walmart Blue 131 - Ian Kennedy<br />
169 - Brad Ziegler<br />
169 (again) - Brad Ziegler<br />
240 - J.J. Putz<br />
Walmart Blue 274 - Miguel Montero<br />
<br />
Royals:<br />
167 - Luke Hochevar<br />
243 - Aaron Crow<br />
<br />
<br />
Padres:<br />
77 - Dustin Moseley<br />
Target Red 111 - Casey Kelly<br />
Walmart Blue 223 - Yonder Alonso<br />
290 - Tom Layne<br />
<br />
Cardinals:<br />
Walmart Blue 50 - Adam Wainwright<br />
188 - Brian Fuentes<br />
<br />
Angels:<br />
72mini - TM2 - Dan Haren<br />
Target Red 187 - Nick Maronde<br />
210 Vernon Wells<br />
266 - Albert Pujols (checklist)<br />
Walmart Blue 313 - Maicer Izturis<br />
<br />
A's:<br />
ChasingDream 20 - Tommy Milone<br />
48 - Ryan Cook<br />
76 - Brandon Inge<br />
259 - Bartolo Colon<br />
<br />
Blue Jays:<br />
Chasing Dream 13 - Drw Hutchison<br />
304 - Kyle Drabek<br />
311 - Rajai Davis<br />
<br />
Pirates:<br />98 - Gaby Sanchez<br />
174 - Jason Grilli<br />
262 - Kevin Correia<br />
<br />
Mets:<br />
Chasing History 41 - Johan Santana<br />
21 - Lucas Duda<br />
89 - Johan Santana (checklist)<br />
<br />
Rays:<br />
133 - James Shields<br />
Emerald 168 - Kyle Farnsworth<br />
218 - Ben Zobrist<br />
<br />
Giants:<br />
Walmart Blue 3 - Hunter Pence<br />
38 - Brian Wilson<br />
132 - Ryan Vogelsong<br />
256 - Madison Bumgarner WS Game 2<br />
298 - Pablo Sandoval WS Game 1<br />
<br />
Rockies:<br />165 - Ramon Hernandez<br />
185 - Rob Scahill<br />
<br />
Brewers:<br />
Chasing History 34 - Robin Yount<br />
149 - Yovani Gallardo<br />
307 - Norichika Aoki<br />
<br />
Phillies:<br />
Chasing Histoy 40 - Mike Schmidt<br />
Walmart Blue 6 - Ryan Howard<br />
83 - Darin Ruf<br />
<br />
Indians:<br />
17 - Shin-Soo Choo<br />
267 - Jason Kipnis<br />
<br />
Braves:<br />
72 Mini - 7 - Craig Kimbrel<br />
105 - Freddie Freeman<br />
Walmart Blue 115 - Tim Hudson<br />
<br />
Orioles:<br />
Walmart Blue 143 - Jim Johnson<br />
<br />
Mariners:<br />
Walmart Blue 252 - Dustin Ackley<br />
<br />
No Team:<br />
94 - AL ERA League Leaders (Price, Verlander, Weaver)<br />
95- AL Wins Leaders (Price, Weaver, Harrison)<br />
Emerald 95 - AL Wins Leaders (Price, Weaver, Harrison)<br />
189 - NL Batting Average Leaders (Posey, McCutchen, Braun)<br /><br />Oh, and before I go, I also found this card in the box.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jfHN57SXpKzelnjD7La9fidVVkU13h3fdkGM15QevXMimE46ulgaHXpjS-W6CVBdF4q9hJsvUriqMX8ZkPh0W6W9jmG7tYLXaxDH8USoN2b-3Cy4Tg8_1THKByNBlYpSFM2ztEgCO_E/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jfHN57SXpKzelnjD7La9fidVVkU13h3fdkGM15QevXMimE46ulgaHXpjS-W6CVBdF4q9hJsvUriqMX8ZkPh0W6W9jmG7tYLXaxDH8USoN2b-3Cy4Tg8_1THKByNBlYpSFM2ztEgCO_E/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
I pretty much would be happy with about any other die-cut in return except for: Darvish, A. Jones, Price, Cruz, Cain or Hamilton.<br />
<br />
Thanks for the pageview.Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-70870776487140125372013-01-29T20:30:00.001-06:002013-01-29T20:30:32.381-06:00Sampling the Goods, Bads and Mehs<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKkvwAHjcDvggt42su8KLt9ofvRxdmug74UpgZ1NBogAoBkXwbq1h329OcdN9hvO0hTGR5iTKq_gyTndJWJyt9P6s5JS_0rxcCEKgG46GDSU8Rgi9ao__I0gE2eGyPXpwnFHnhiVQxBA/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I'm a vintage guy nowadays. Whatever that means. I've made
that fairly clear to the two readers who stuck with me after I returned
from my half-year blog sabbatical.<br /><br />Yet, like last year, I knew I'd act like a kid again and pick up a small sample of the new Topps offering. So, that I did. <br />
<br />
In 2011, my return to the hobby, I collected the set. In 2012, I sweared
off of the new base set and stuck to it - mostly. I picked up some cards
the day of the 2012 release and absentmindedly snagged a pack once or twice.
Instead, I asked for your Reds, Tigers and Cubs and made trades to
gather them.<br />
<br />
That's my plan again.
But today, I was a kid again.</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqVI_LLU8BNhgt8qGjuT1WPxwQRQpIRzS8RKlxTv1xaqlIYm3-oB64rhmk_dQbtu3VQlNMJqOpNNLpjOGLdDM3K-RT4iwXFwnbXrGTRVeyukFd6vBmX__oamuuV8hD5JiLTHG0SZcnOI/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqVI_LLU8BNhgt8qGjuT1WPxwQRQpIRzS8RKlxTv1xaqlIYm3-oB64rhmk_dQbtu3VQlNMJqOpNNLpjOGLdDM3K-RT4iwXFwnbXrGTRVeyukFd6vBmX__oamuuV8hD5JiLTHG0SZcnOI/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" width="230" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz0kzX8AMJg45Kiwx4JOOPcsl78MecgIr2TcpSLEtCHca7C8AGxwBAKPzKQVfmgBaC43qfin7qtD9l47ttm5JWlqzsjH5dOYEXpsOuN7wIQU1GFu2Xxdwd4wjhPUJHr7vrCgyTZwlK0g/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz0kzX8AMJg45Kiwx4JOOPcsl78MecgIr2TcpSLEtCHca7C8AGxwBAKPzKQVfmgBaC43qfin7qtD9l47ttm5JWlqzsjH5dOYEXpsOuN7wIQU1GFu2Xxdwd4wjhPUJHr7vrCgyTZwlK0g/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" width="229" /></a><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The coolest shots of my modest Target hangar pack bunch included the cards above.
I pulled one other Cub.</div>
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I pulled just one Red and one Tiger card. I didn't scan those cards. Sean Marshall and Tigers ALDS Game 5, for the record.<br /><br />I did scan, obviously, the fun cards below. I can't argue with anything that makes you smile.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKinwbbyUyZFJYtsFsuToPHlTcYfxYHMWyTKo-obHChEwwrFazTV95lX0L-Dsc0_YbIfhFqqgEniq2tjYTUEYZSkYTkMkRZyBij-5-g-XZv4PHyYu4D_fjQ_Z1tsCfcUNg3l7azdJuG8w/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKinwbbyUyZFJYtsFsuToPHlTcYfxYHMWyTKo-obHChEwwrFazTV95lX0L-Dsc0_YbIfhFqqgEniq2tjYTUEYZSkYTkMkRZyBij-5-g-XZv4PHyYu4D_fjQ_Z1tsCfcUNg3l7azdJuG8w/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKkvwAHjcDvggt42su8KLt9ofvRxdmug74UpgZ1NBogAoBkXwbq1h329OcdN9hvO0hTGR5iTKq_gyTndJWJyt9P6s5JS_0rxcCEKgG46GDSU8Rgi9ao__I0gE2eGyPXpwnFHnhiVQxBA/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKkvwAHjcDvggt42su8KLt9ofvRxdmug74UpgZ1NBogAoBkXwbq1h329OcdN9hvO0hTGR5iTKq_gyTndJWJyt9P6s5JS_0rxcCEKgG46GDSU8Rgi9ao__I0gE2eGyPXpwnFHnhiVQxBA/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="231" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
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Finally, some more inserts and parallels. I'm inclined to hang on to the Yount and Kimbrel but I'm not married to the idea. Again, players from aforementioned teams are preferable (although I really like those guys). <br /><br />For a few personal reasons, I'd
also love to pick up a handful of pink parallels so if anyone has any
available, let me know. Pink Reds, Tigers and/or Cubs would be
particularly swell!<br />
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So, again, I scanned the better cards. The others didn't do much for me, including:<br /><br />Ramon Hernandez (COL), Ryan Cook (OAK), Jayson Werth, Yovani Gallardo,
Rob Scahill-RC (COL), Luke Hochevar (pretty card, actually), Eric
Chavez, Brian Fuentes (STL), Kevin Correia (PIT), Daisuke Matsuzaka,
Brad Ziegler (ARIZ).<br /><br />Oh yes, before I forget, here are the Target Reds I pulled. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir3pJPpoODpSAYMuIeBHwtZLzzJFM3pcb4hkETJm_GIVmfoU1MyzRogY4_-H91aXtO2ivb2MQLWBZdLNyJ6bHqhyZa9_ZNEZv3WqO6Ka8_SGw6-5HjFKEVLSNaC27nBVmm3zK4ZGiWno/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir3pJPpoODpSAYMuIeBHwtZLzzJFM3pcb4hkETJm_GIVmfoU1MyzRogY4_-H91aXtO2ivb2MQLWBZdLNyJ6bHqhyZa9_ZNEZv3WqO6Ka8_SGw6-5HjFKEVLSNaC27nBVmm3zK4ZGiWno/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Struck out on Reds, Tigers, Cubs - heck, even a White Sock would be nice. <br />
<br />
If anyone wants to trade, let me know. Perhaps we can expand any deal to other sets and needs.<br /><br />So that's likely it for me and purchasing the 2013 base set. If I attend a show, I'll probably grab some players I like and a few cool inserts but the bulk of my card funds will continue to go to the old stuff. Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-53752072074156901782013-01-28T20:25:00.000-06:002013-01-28T20:25:17.296-06:00Chasing 1978: 599 and Counting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day some just-because cards came my way and I'll show them off soon. It was a nice treat as I hadn't received cards in the mail for about six months after stepping away from the blogs.<br /><br />Now, today, a box - 350 count, 400 count, I don't know - came in the mail to complete my first 2013 deal (several more are happening now). It was a doozy
for me. <br /><br />
<br />
I received dozens and dozens of cards from three of the treasured sets
of my youth - 1978 (the first cards I ever saw and thus critically important to me); 1981 Topps and a very healthy load of 1983 Topps (the
last set from which I actively bought cards before discovering girls). <br /><br />Major thanks to Paul at <a href="http://crawfordcards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Carl Crawford Cards</a> for the generosity. I sent him cards from his want list last week and he had previously notified me that he had a lot for me in return. We knew it was lopsided so I sent him a wee bit to cover shipping. I believe he ended up spending more than he realized and I hope to keep tabs on his blog and hopefully get him something extra one of these days. <br /><br />
Because so many cards were involved, and because I'm so
thrilled to complete a deal after being away from the blog for six
months, I'm breaking this trade post into a few short parts. <br />
<br />
For my first post, a few of the beloved 1978s. I wrote a bit about just how beloved - three cards in particular - in <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2011/10/nostalgic-wax-three-kings.html" target="_blank">this post</a> some time ago. <br /><br />Paul sent me 47 from the set, meaning I need just 127 to complete the set. From 76 percent complete to 83 percent in just one deal.<br />
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I met Mr. Bahnsen at The National 2011 in Chicago. He was signing cards and looked horribly bored and slightly irritated. <br /><br />He signed a card for me though, so for that I'll feature his card here. You're welcome, Stan. This card reminds me that I miss the Expos.<br /><br />It's funny how a bunch of commons can mean different
things for different collectors. In the case of one card, it
reminded me of a very specific and happy memory with my grandparents.<br />
<br />When I was in fifth grade - I think that's right, not 100 percent - my
grandparents took me to meet two Cincinnati Reds at a mall in small town
Ohio. This was a huge thrill for a young Reds fan who had already spent several years trekking to Riverfront Stadium with the family and forming lifelong team loyalty as a result. One of the players was Doug Bair.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before he was Red.</td></tr>
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Doug and the other
player were, if I recollect correctly, sitting at tables with fans queued up for a couple of football field lengths, it seemed. This was big Reds country! When we got to the front, I greeted them and
received from each a photocopied - on preciously flimsy cheap white paper -
8x10.<br /><br />Today I'd fume over the cheapness of it all. But back then, Doug Bair and the other player instantly became heroes. I had those sheets of paper for two decades but they must have been lost to my mom's basement flood.<br /><br />Yes, at some point in the early '90s, when I was out of college and working in West Texas, my mom's basement flooded. Many of my cards -
long abandoned but not thrown out - perished that day. My '78s suffered
greatly. My '79s were nearly decimated - so much so that years later I
haven't even begun to decide if I should rebuild and add them to the
late '70s/early '80s sets I aim to finish.<br />
<br />Oh, and if you're still reading and wondering who the other player was
that I met that day long ago, take a guess in the
comments. (One guess per person please.) The first correct guess wins a small prize. Nothing grand or anything - probably some choices among a few numbered cards and relics and hopefully I can offer up a few cards from a set you're collecting or some players you like. If you're a fan of some teams, where I have some excess, I'd love to be able to ship a chunk of cards your way - but I know not everyone wants that.<br />
<br />This should be an interesting experiment for me to see if anyone found
their way back to my blog this month! <br /><br />Meanwhile, I'll leave you with some more 1978 magic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Players really need to bring back this look.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Astros really should bring back that logo. ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just a chap I always enjoyed rooting for. Love the uni.</td></tr>
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<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-77255089880367460252013-01-25T22:13:00.000-06:002013-01-25T22:13:05.873-06:00Outta Sight! Vintage: Freehan, B. '67<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple of months ago, while attending a small local baseball card show, I got into a chat with a dealer about Bill Freehan, the longtime Tigers catcher from the '60s and '70s.<br /><br />As a big Tigers fan, second only to the Reds, Freehan is one of those guys whose cards - particularly playing day cards - I chase. I hope to add a list of wants for him and some others very soon. <br /><br />Freehan just seemed like a classic, gritty '60s baseball player. I always wished I could have seen him play. I'm sorry to admit that when I first stopped collecting baseball cards in 1983 I'm not sure I had heard of Freehan. I may have remembered seeing his 1976 card in the sacks my grandpa had brought home from a garage sale but otherwise I would have sworn that Lance Parrish was the greatest Tiger catcher to ever live. <br /><br />It was only since my return to collecting a couple of years ago that I had began delving into the history of the sport and particularly of my favorite teams (Cubs, included). <br /><br />And, so, I discovered Bill Freehan and began collecting his cards. Here's a favorite.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAelvTeH1imwZeAZSvVcqul3-Xz7CPo_0qfu9QriPOWheKZN5j4Ll2rtOM1YAoluaNmYmp_JbKiHPcgRQfQge4W339TYivYvHlOuuv9er4T-G5Tsz5R5Q4vS_F0b5mO71HghNNSId19lo/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAelvTeH1imwZeAZSvVcqul3-Xz7CPo_0qfu9QriPOWheKZN5j4Ll2rtOM1YAoluaNmYmp_JbKiHPcgRQfQge4W339TYivYvHlOuuv9er4T-G5Tsz5R5Q4vS_F0b5mO71HghNNSId19lo/s320/IMG_0015.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1967 Freehan </td></tr>
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Obviously, posed - during Spring Training, I'm thinking (and someone out there probably knows for sure) - this is just a cool card. Freehan really frames the shot and you've gotta love how the big mitt upfront seems borderline comically large. <br /><br />What's more, 1967 Topps is among my favorite 1960s designs. I need to get in on the ranking game soon.<br /><br />Rather than write anything more about Freehan, I'll link to a <a href="http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/content/article/card-corner-1973-topps-bill-freehan/#comments">fine article</a> I read this evening. It highlights another one of Freehan's best cards (which I don't own yet) and details a lot about his fine career and life. </div>
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<br />I learned a couple of interesting things about Freehan from this article but I won't spoil them for those who don't know and want to take a look. It's a fine article.<br /><br />It was that chat with that dealer at the show a couple of months ago when I learned a third thing, Freehan's present condition, which this article discusses at the end. I was very sad to hear it at the time and hoped it was just more speculation than fact.<br /><br />But the article confirms it and, suffice to say, not a fitting cap for this good gent's life.</div>
<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-81948504803876653102013-01-17T10:19:00.002-06:002013-01-17T10:20:03.950-06:00Masterpiece '08: Single Card Swap?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the finest looking card sets to come out in recent years is the 2008 Masterpiece collection, brought to you by your old friends, Upper Deck.<br />
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Chasing the short prints has been challenging. I reviewed a post I wrote 15 months ago and since then I've picked up two more. <br />
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At a recent card show, however, I found one in a 25 cent box so I picked it up. Here it is:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd2dPg4diOXGEFR0vk9XjnvY08w3xJfLmlHaRInLLTGS_N1LFcNbqYEmsHzGwcMdw7RJignSsmt3ASFhwYKIoHHjq015N2AyLRTcf-FH_9_hpf-PYT_4b3Tl4mNNOG2bYPi0dYuA_VvY/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMd2dPg4diOXGEFR0vk9XjnvY08w3xJfLmlHaRInLLTGS_N1LFcNbqYEmsHzGwcMdw7RJignSsmt3ASFhwYKIoHHjq015N2AyLRTcf-FH_9_hpf-PYT_4b3Tl4mNNOG2bYPi0dYuA_VvY/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#119, Dave Winfield</td></tr>
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I already have it and so I offer it to a fellow Masterpiece 2008 collector. This is a shot in the dark but would you happen to have one of these from the set for me?<br />
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95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 117, 118<br />
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If not, I'm still chasing down select 2011 Heritage short prints as well, so that might be an option if you have what I need. <br />
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Thanks.<br />
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<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-54108033808507460802013-01-12T09:05:00.000-06:002013-01-12T09:06:23.160-06:00Goals: Finish What I Started 34 Years AgoI returned to collecting cards in early 2011 after stopping roughly in 1983. I got swept up in new cards and discovering what I had missed in the 28 years I was gone. <br />
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I chased Heritage 2011 - and, of course, I'm still working on the short prints. I had fun with the flagship set of 2011. I dabbled heavily with A&G 2011 and Gypsy Queen 2011 - especially the cool paper frames. Some Lineage, too.<br />
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Then 2012 arrived and I felt lost. I didn't much care for anything and felt some burn out. <br />
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So, I fine-tuned my focus. It was easy really, pursue what always makes me smile. <br />
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Vintage and the sets of my youth (arguably vintage as well).<br />
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To me, vintage is either anything from the year I was born (1968) and earlier or from the year I stopped collecting - 1983 - and earlier. I can't decide.<br />
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At many local card shows, I've grabbed old cards here and there. Guys I had heard of - stars and semi-stars - and just cool looking cards I've found. I tend to focus on Reds and Tigers (my teams) and Cubs (my Dad's team and my still-living Grandpa's team). <br />
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But I also have renewed my focus on finishing the sets of my youth. 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983. As for 1977, I never had too many of them, so I bought a hand-collated set in the fall of 2011 at a garage sale. Through some other buys, please note I have a small collection of '77 dupes.<br />
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My top priorities right now are to finish 1976. I'm very close now and this is the set from which my other Grandpa had brought cards home for me from a garage sale in the early '80s. This is a very sentimental completion goal for me. I <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-i-returned-to-card-collecting-after.html">wrote all about</a> it not long after starting to collect again.<br />
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Next priorities are to finish 1978 - the first cards I ever brought home from drugstores - and 1981 - a set I've always just had a fondness for and one I'm closer (although still far) to completing. 1979, 1980, 1982 and 1983 are taking a backseat - although I'd be happy to get them.<br />
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Many of my cards from my childhood sets were wiped out years ago in a basement flood. Sigh. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPxzKrxbYKD2O4oVPDf_akbgDklsue0kgOaidzOv4TYonYaumL58hCb1UV6_aUjyd_bHIdT380k9gqLjZUdYRGJdXEG7SfN311OmiviReZHCrEsKpDSGX3NcoqAjXOP70_flH_4eHh98/s1600/81ChetLemon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPxzKrxbYKD2O4oVPDf_akbgDklsue0kgOaidzOv4TYonYaumL58hCb1UV6_aUjyd_bHIdT380k9gqLjZUdYRGJdXEG7SfN311OmiviReZHCrEsKpDSGX3NcoqAjXOP70_flH_4eHh98/s320/81ChetLemon.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While I always took supreme care with my cards, I made up games with them and held them often. A few '81s suffered the consequences. Take Chet Lemon, for example. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dxXTpaMfi0kHGAnBSkKawlSYjyMEwAEGNzbhR8zEVwW_b6vX9wKTxvq-l2r14I-J_nLECaPRxWpmfHTC6XDgwg-0doPVvVEaJQK3B4ip96QdsBcWA5ePMbtfuYfI8nhbinuEiE_qlUA/s1600/81SteveGarvey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dxXTpaMfi0kHGAnBSkKawlSYjyMEwAEGNzbhR8zEVwW_b6vX9wKTxvq-l2r14I-J_nLECaPRxWpmfHTC6XDgwg-0doPVvVEaJQK3B4ip96QdsBcWA5ePMbtfuYfI8nhbinuEiE_qlUA/s320/81SteveGarvey.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another card I loved.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z1iEh5viMwQpulMORDSg8MGnipYQ13jaxnPIFo6yeRdU7Hr4GtTOLDmghe_135ffNBQUxhkTZGa3Wy4z6MhHF39T0iJmO79gb9NiDXmhTqjn1DAestX4ChPP-GCE4VAKQIGOYsaht3k/s1600/81DaveLopes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1z1iEh5viMwQpulMORDSg8MGnipYQ13jaxnPIFo6yeRdU7Hr4GtTOLDmghe_135ffNBQUxhkTZGa3Wy4z6MhHF39T0iJmO79gb9NiDXmhTqjn1DAestX4ChPP-GCE4VAKQIGOYsaht3k/s320/81DaveLopes.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite my loyalty to the Reds, I always respected the then-rival Dodgers (and the '81 All-Star strips and sweet mustaches).</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, it's nagging me but I believe I owe a collector an email from way back when. Had some Tiger cards, as I recall. He's probably long gone but just wanted to apologize for forgetting to return the note. <br />
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Meanwhile, part two, anyone know what happened to JABO? I was involved in his cards-being-sent-around-the-country-project. I had mailed then overseas and they came back to me recently several months later. He seems to be out of the collecting biz now.<br />
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Finally, if you care to read my <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/2013/01/now-that-im-back-to-blogging-i-plan-to.html">previous post</a> and want to vote on some all-time Indians in my pet project, please take a look and then go to the poll. A few hours left to vote and then I think I'll tackle the Giants (if anyone cares to nominate a few). Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-22165795702150054262013-01-10T13:31:00.001-06:002013-01-10T16:49:10.455-06:00Hi There! Sorry I'm Late (to the HOF Party)<i>With apologies to the Harold "Potch" Wheeler estate, I'm back - as Indianaland Baseball Cards. Potch Wheeler and the Cardboard Heroes? Awesome as a band name. Quirky as a baseball card blog name. Less than beloved by the heirs of Mr. Wheeler. </i><i>For now, on with the show...</i><br />
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<i>But first, has anyone ever changed their URL? I assume you lose all followers. Any other issues? </i><i>In any case, happy to be back. I never stopped collecting but I fine-tuned my focus. (More on that later). </i><br />
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With the Hall of Fame topic becoming old news, what better time for me to chime in. <br />
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As my wife always says, I love being invited to parties but I hate to attend them.<br />
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This year the attention surrounding the vote exposed several problems with the process. There are too many former sports writers who in the past decade-plus likely haven't followed the game as well as me you and the other guy reading this. Even some current writers surely know less about the game than us. Many cover one team. <br />
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Sure, they know about that team and how to put together a game story - but do they know the game's history, the numbers? Do they have the ability to put them into context with the era? More than the average fella, I suppose, but more than any given hardcore fan of the game? Iffy. <br />
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The Hall needs to figure out a way to revoke at least 10 to 20 percent (rough guess) of voting privileges. They can start with the writers who turned in empty Hall of Fame cards? That's a tragic joke.<br />
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Once done, commence carving out space for a select group of fans to vote - maybe 50, maybe more. I'm not talking about granting voting rights to just anyone a la the All-Star Game vote. There should be an application of some type, followed with interviews with these fans - basic questions about players through the years, statistics. <br />
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Those displaying considerable knowledge about the game would be grouped into a pool and chosen at random to vote for a five-year period. Then, the Hall can repeat that process. Throw into the fray a few former/current scouts, front office employees and perhaps a small group of players elected into the Hall in the past 20 years and I think we'd have a great mix. <br />
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As for me, a bit late to write here after the fact, but I had a decent read on the eventual voting. If we're Facebook friends, you saw my post early yesterday morning. <br />
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<i>With the steroid guys gaining eligibility and creating havoc with the voting, I think it's very possible that nobody gets the required 75% of the vote for election to the baseball Hall of Fame. Craig Biggio just might make it but if anyone else is elected, I'll be surprised. Bonds and Clemens will be voted in in the next five years but surely not on prestigious first ballot or even second and third ballots as voters "punish" them but eventually reward them for their accomplishments that occurred allegedly before steroid use. Some guys have been robbed for years and should be in. I'd vote for: Biggio, Tim Raines, Dale Murphy, Alan Trammell - and probably Lee Smith and Jack Morris.</i> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u2Ovkj6_za0BJHTd-XqNC-asw62vvY4-5WKCzRzYIx6OBF4PIFWE8OPSi6wLDpSr3qgdEKlHEeeSThSFb9ksxh0tPtMKz4MGu6DsNiptTxmPVnOQGhgdEHhO9qrsc_qU4Q7zvOIAPu4/s1600/90BiggioScore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u2Ovkj6_za0BJHTd-XqNC-asw62vvY4-5WKCzRzYIx6OBF4PIFWE8OPSi6wLDpSr3qgdEKlHEeeSThSFb9ksxh0tPtMKz4MGu6DsNiptTxmPVnOQGhgdEHhO9qrsc_qU4Q7zvOIAPu4/s320/90BiggioScore.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biggio doesn't feel too bad. He was a <a href="http://potchwheelercards.blogspot.com/p/hall-of-potch-inductees.html">Fun-Time Hall</a> first ballot inductee. </td></tr>
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I probably fly against the majority but I actually like the idea of "punishing" the steroid guys and making them wait. I don't know if they care, but I do. I know it's silly in a way. You're either in the Hall or you're not, right? I just like the idea that Bonds and Clemens are not first ballot Hall of Famers. That's the price they paid for their actions. <br />
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I'll admit I'm torn on Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell. I think there's enough suspicion to wait another year but not enough cold facts to make them wait as long as some. If I truly did have a vote, it's quite possible I would have added them both this year - certainly Bagwell, no longer a first year guy. <br />
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Next year I'd vote for: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Biggio, Raines, Trammell, Piazza, Bagwell - and probably Lee Smith and Jack Morris. I keep saying probably with the last two because I'd need to do some more research. I'm torn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMEpiGCHcLhGyoTo1JUeWylgZT-U-EHA5XMf9JnJQ_nEtS7_a6lP25pkp6uw8iBmZolEHstxffSGxsYiTj2U121zDj9vi_5kHpWB42GdErxGyLjbY8GwgjYrAaN6YwWPJHwgN_QN5D9Q/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMEpiGCHcLhGyoTo1JUeWylgZT-U-EHA5XMf9JnJQ_nEtS7_a6lP25pkp6uw8iBmZolEHstxffSGxsYiTj2U121zDj9vi_5kHpWB42GdErxGyLjbY8GwgjYrAaN6YwWPJHwgN_QN5D9Q/s320/IMG_0008.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My heart says "yes" as my gut says "Hall of Very Good".</td></tr>
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Biases come into play for everyone and I'm no exception. I met Smith briefly at The National in 2011. He signed a ball and three cards for me. Swell fella. <br />
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Morris pitched for the Tigers - one of my beloved teams. I loudly hear the arguments for keeping both out. Biases are another reason I think a mix of voters is better than sports-writers only.<br />
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As for Trammell, how does Barry Larkin get 86% of the vote while Trammell still waits? And don't get me wrong, Larkin is deserving - so say my lifelong Reds devotion biases.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zR1jWXIvLpzXqR2y8ftm87ivjhmRnXJmPE2r5GXDAfpDKN6H6rdTvn3TfTnrVKeAYH_R1Ub7OvhcYrURTuwt9tn-dBP3SiS4qD_hG46JZXLymxTyzhwgqHIQzYvsAsudPQ5WNSlWTw8/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zR1jWXIvLpzXqR2y8ftm87ivjhmRnXJmPE2r5GXDAfpDKN6H6rdTvn3TfTnrVKeAYH_R1Ub7OvhcYrURTuwt9tn-dBP3SiS4qD_hG46JZXLymxTyzhwgqHIQzYvsAsudPQ5WNSlWTw8/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
As for Bonds and Clemens, I'd make them wait. I'd be OK if they never got in but ultimately I suppose it's pretty clear you should admit them for their careers before they apparently began doping. That said, neither should get in before this guy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3cL21TQ3JASy5tzq8J5rcQa4EyGMI2XZKjRuOk6zwaYc_EVfqTACN_YJereiIGEYGdfT7s73AmimpoJ1_iBxeB2J2aa5L_jRj_sJwLn-IN3Z8iN9XK_SCxByM85d1Mgh3L5qai3QXoc/s1600/73PeteRose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3cL21TQ3JASy5tzq8J5rcQa4EyGMI2XZKjRuOk6zwaYc_EVfqTACN_YJereiIGEYGdfT7s73AmimpoJ1_iBxeB2J2aa5L_jRj_sJwLn-IN3Z8iN9XK_SCxByM85d1Mgh3L5qai3QXoc/s320/73PeteRose.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still waiting.</td></tr>
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Rose is a supreme meatball, but enough already. The man has been punished. He's the Hit King. He, ahem, hustled like few
before or after him. He didn't alter his body to build his numbers and
income. <br />
<br />
He bet on baseball. On his team. To win. Yes, you can argue as the manager he could have held back better players one game to rest them for the next (that he's betting on) but I'm not subscribing. It goes against the competitive grain of everything we know about Pete Rose.<br />
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Somehow, you know they'll make him eligible long after he's gone, so why not while he's around to enjoy it? Put him on the ballot and see what happens.<br />
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And, meanwhile, make Bonds and Clemens squirm into the next decade.<br />
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<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-44545965043938928772012-07-11T19:59:00.001-05:002012-07-11T19:59:27.757-05:00The Defiance Treasure, Part III just have to provide a link to <a href="http://journalgazette.com/article/20120711/NEWS03/307119960">this cool story</a> from the local paper - a follow-up to the one from yesterday for those who missed it. <br /><br /> Defiance, Ohio, where these 100-plus-year-old cards were found, is about an hour away from me. So close, yet so very far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiO27zinE0St94f4FW5a7ZOcOwcDdFLNEkMuLvGfCciJYL3WN7lidZOg_slAXnntwzYghjFLs324W9pmnORINK5XOu4BFBrDBJmPu0vIjDRimxvpmR0snsIVrIU0Vke-hcb7v38c5t7g/s1600/bilde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiO27zinE0St94f4FW5a7ZOcOwcDdFLNEkMuLvGfCciJYL3WN7lidZOg_slAXnntwzYghjFLs324W9pmnORINK5XOu4BFBrDBJmPu0vIjDRimxvpmR0snsIVrIU0Vke-hcb7v38c5t7g/s320/bilde.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<br />Boggles my mind that this treasure of 700 cards likely sat in that attic untouched for a solid century. <br /><br />Meanwhile, I still expect to soon begin posting about actual cards that I've added to my collection in the past two months - including a nice little prize I won from Topps! Having "liked" the company on Facebook, I left a comment for a giveaway and managed to win a random draw. Yay, me!<br /><br />I also just got some sweet cards from Jeremy at <a href="http://noonesgoingtoreadthisblog.blogspot.com/">No One's Going To Read This Blog</a>. I had sat on a mailer for him for probably a little too long after I didn't get it out before a long vacation, but ultimately I sent it along. He responded very graciously. More later. <br /><br />Thanks to the guys who commented yesterday. It was good to virtually see some familiar virtual faces. Kyle, I owe ya big time. My card blogging sabbatical came at the wrong time for you, so sorry about that.<br /><br />Have a great night all. With everyone here tucked in, I'm off to the couch to watch Part V of The Pacific.<br /><br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3906644827968324584.post-56162419092655411052012-07-10T22:36:00.001-05:002012-07-10T22:38:20.562-05:00Hello Again + Family (Not Mine) Finds Cardboard FortuneHey there! Well, I'm still around and thanks again to those of you who checked in during my absence. No real reason, just seems I needed a breather. I did have a blast with my wife and daughter in Disney World. What a great place for a little girl.<br />
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Since starting this blog, I don't think I'd ever let more than a week pass without posting until the past two months. While I've still been keeping an eye on the hobby, I had scaled back purchases for a few months with nothing from 2012 grabbing my attention like what happened last year.<br />
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I did finally find myself with some free time on Sunday and thus headed to the local card show. I grabbed some nice vintage and finally picked up a key card I need as I get preciously close to completing 1976. I'll plan to post about some of my finds soon.<br />
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I hope to catch up on the blogs in the next few days - and find out, among other things, what folks are saying about A&G 2012. Meanwhile, if I've missed anything awesome in the past two months, please point me to it. Feel free to plug a specific post or two from your blog! Or, I reckon there's probably a new blog or two out there that I've missed.<br />
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For now, I'll leave you with this <a href="http://journalgazette.com/article/20120710/NEWS11/120719967">amazing story</a>. I don't know if this is old news for the blog world today, but just in case, I thought it was more than worthy of posting. This town is about an hour or so away from me. <br />
<br />Potch http://www.blogger.com/profile/17657677176532437433noreply@blogger.com3