Straight to the Point

It's been eleven days since my last post... and I've already dropped the ball on my blogger goal of publishing one post a week leading up to the holidays.  Had I taken a few minutes to look over the calendar, I would have been able foreseen this issue.

The week leading up to the holiday break is always a hectic.  There were two holiday parties (both work related)... dinner with some former students... end of the semester projects... and of course some last minute Christmas shopping for friends and family.

Plus my brother is throwing his annual holiday party this afternoon, but before I head out for that... I'm going to hammer out a post.  That might sound like one of those fifteen minute posts, but anyone familiar with those... knows it's impossible for me to write a post in that timeframe.

That being said... I am going to make it as straight to the point as possible.

Today's post focuses on a pair of PWE's from Chris a.k.a. The Collector.  Both were sent to me earlier in the year.  One was right around the start of the MLB season... and the other during the summer.

Here's quick glance at what Chris packed into these envelopes:

There's a lot of cool stuff sitting in front of me... but since I've got less than two hours until I need to head over to my brother's... I'll focus on these ten:

#1:  2019 Topps Chrome Update 150 Years of Professional Baseball #150C-4

Right out of the page, this card caught my eye.  Topps gave these inserts the "refractor" treatment, so it shines when you tilt it at the right angle.  It also features my second favorite baseball player of all-time... which is a nice bonus.

#2:  1988-89 Fleer #42

Hate the player.  Love the card.

#3:  1977 Topps #495

I love me some vintage wax stained cards... especially when the feature a hobby favorite and owner of one of the coolest nicknames in sports history:

The Mad Hungarian

#4:  2021-22 Upper Deck Allure #29

I apologize if this isn't the Yamamoto you were looking for... but I'm still very happy to add this card to my binder.

#5:  1983 Fleer #326

Another hobby favorite... and my favorite relief pitcher from the early 80's.

#6:  2022 Prestige Xtra Points Astral #387

I'm pretty sure I jinxed this guy.  A few months ago... Chris wrote a post featuring his franchise player picks for each NFC team.  I mentioned Mafe who was having a solid season up to that point.  Since then... not so much.

#7: 2022 Bowman #68

If you send me a card of Ohtani... I have to show it off.  I'm pretty sure it's an unwritten rule or something.

#8:  1982 Topps #668

I was never a big Dale Murphy fan... but seeing this card (like the Tekulve) took me back to my childhood.

Plus it's a nice reminder that the 1982 Topps card backs were green and featured cool facts and cartoons.

#9:  2018 Topps Big League Autographs #BLA-MO

Olson is a stud.  As sad as I was to hear that the Oakland A's traded him away... I'm super happy he's continued to grow and find success in Atlanta.

#10:  1989-90 Fleer #78

There was a time when I would have rather owned an autograph of this guy than almost any other athlete in sports.  Back in the 80's... I was a huge fan of the Showtime Lakers... and Mr. Scott was my favorite player on the court.  I spent a lot of hours in middle school and high school, practicing my baseline jumper in an effort to emulate him.

Okay.  It's taken me over an hour just to scan and write this post.  I'm guessing it'll take another thirty minutes to edit, format, and publish.

Now do you understand why my focus in 2024 is to keep things "straight to the point"?

Thank you Chris for the pair of PWE's.  Sorry it took so long to open them up and write about them.

Happy Saturday and sayonara!